Being true to yourself is not always easy. For fear of not being accepted, we tailor our personality, mince our words, and carve our opinions to fit in. It takes courage to be real… and it takes stamina because if you want the best out of life, it will demand the best of you time and time again. When you choose to be real—from standing up for the small things that bring you pleasure, to the public ways you try to save the world—there will likely be tough choices and 11th-hour changes. There will be misunderstandings, uncomfortable silences, and sometimes, there will be isolation.

When do you feel like giving up? What discourages you, or tempts you to doubt that sweetness is on the way? Now, write down three remedies for discouragement… lunch with your best friend; a visit to church; dusting off your diplomas, re-reading a love letter, swimming twenty laps; warm soup eaten in silence.

And, I have one more for you. Here’s the backstory: last month we did a campaign called Letters for Renewal. Thirty days of wisdom + art, for more courage, conviction, and hopefulness. You received one letter a day from a different writer to help you keep going.

It was a beautiful month. Poetry, music, dance, a few tears… We collected all the letters into one potent package, so that whether you were part of the campaign or not, you could tap into all the magic in one place.

Read it cover to cover in one sitting, or open it up every morning like a daily vitamin. Go in order, or flip it open to a random page as an oracle. Whatever you need. It’s right here for you, when you need hope, ideas, encouragement, or comfort…

Keep going,