(Almost) everything you desire lives on the other side of fear. — “Is this how stupid people die?” I heard the voice in my head say as my fear spiraled a little. Okay, a lot. The car was slowing down, and I had no idea if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Yet, I was clearly out of options…

Tap into the concept of Post Traumatic Growth. — In 2000, the king and queen of rock climbing were 21-year-old Tommy Caldwell and 20-year-old Beth Rodden. Tommy had just recently completed one of the hardest rock climbs in the country. An equally impressive Beth Rodden had also been the youngest female to complete the hardest grade achieved by a…

How to master the language of emotional intimacy to unlock deeper connections and transform your life. — Mark is one of the most intellectual people I know. He’s one of those people you go to for financial advice, or as I jokingly like to say, “Adulting advice.” As a highly successful software engineer, it’s safe to say that he speaks data and facts like a literal pro. …

Luckily, statistics also tell you how not to. — Once upon a time, I met the person I’d been asking the universe for. We even met in the exact way I would have wanted to. I was on a solo rock-climbing road trip and through a series of fateful and unlikely events, we happened to be the only two…

Every good parent deserves it but would never think to ask for it. — When I was a little girl, my father was my hero. I remember trying to arm wrestle him and thinking that beating him would literally never be possible. Once when we were going on vacation, we placed our bags on a scale and quickly realized that we had overpacked. My…

Do you have hard physical boundaries but no emotional boundaries? — My coworker Alayna prides herself on having hard boundaries — she says no to working weekends, refuses to lend money to family, and never, ever has sex with someone before the third date. You would think that Alayna would be someone who has a peaceful mind, one that is impermeable…

How you can apply the evolutionary benefits that scientists believe sadness provides. — When I was six years old, I remember slipping on a step and skinning my knee. As the tears threatened to fall down my face, I heard my father’s stern voice, “Don’t cry.” To this day, I recall the physical sensation of gulping the tears back down. My father was…

Use The Briefcase Technique and give them something to say, “Yes” to. — Note: Specific details have been changed to maintain the anonymity of the people that this article is based on. Years ago, I was the program manager on a remote site. We were hit with a patch of bad weather which affected the ability of all our contractors to get equipment…

They are the only ones who will have the answers you’ve forgotten about. — “I don’t know why you’re so scared. It seems pretty easy to me,” she stares at me with the casual innocence and defiance that she is so famous for. “You’re just writing, right? Type words in and hit publish? That’s it? No snakes or spiders?” I nod tentatively. I hate…