A few years ago, I wrote a phrase on my whiteboard: “Fearlessly helpful.” It was an aspiration, I think. I wanted to stop being afraid of offering help. Afraid that I was doing it wrong. Afraid that what helps that person might not help this person.

It’s a mixture of communication anxiety, over-thinking, imposter syndrome, and a bunch of other things. (The fact that I can identify the contributing causes helps explain why I need to address it.)

In the meantime, I understand that I’ve been helpful. But removing the hesitation is likely a good idea.

Moving into this year, I’ve thought about a couple phrases that could challenge and guide me. And one of them needs to be “fearlessly helpful.”

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People decide to read through the Bible in a year. They think about using audio Bibles. And then we hear guys with vaguely British accents reading with formality. But not much life. (I know. I’m exaggerating. A little.) This year, Annie F Downs is reading through the Gospels every month, three chapters a day as a podcast. Annie is decidedly not a guy with a vaguely British accent. And her years of Bible study, laughing, and interviewing bring life to the words. Check it out.

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I’m doing more writing at LinkedIn right now, talking about being helpful in loss (and in life). If you are a LinkedIn person, I invite you to connect there.

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When I told Nancy I wanted to read more this year. She reminded me that I do read. But 15 minutes a day on purpose from a book is a good discipline for me. I started with Bonnie Kristian’s Untrustworthy: The knowledge crisis breaking our brains, polluting our politics, and corrupting Christian community. I’ll talk more about the book in the future.