Jon Acuff is a New York Times bestselling author and someone I've followed for years. He's also a good friend.

Jon's story is that he got his dream job, wrote a book about it, and then walked away from it. Through the challenging and confusing experience of beginning again (which he shares in his latest book), he learned what bravery is all about.

During our conversation, we talked about comparison and the fear of missing out. In being a writer, there's always the temptation to watch what others are doing and think you ought to be doing that, too. But just because something is working well for someone else doesn't mean it's right for you.

We often overfill our calendars and say yes to any opportunity that comes our way. But pretty soon, we're no longer doing our best work. The way we get back to putting first things first, according to Jon, is to be honest.

Sometimes, it's easier to tell people what they want to hear than to tell them the truth. Jon is an honest writer who cares about people. Relationships aren't always easy, he admits; they're often awkward and messy. But connecting with others is worth the struggle -- there's value in community.

Jon's writing is full of humor and truth that's presented in a way that's easy to digest. "I share intuitive ideas in counterintuitive ways," he told me. And I couldn't agree more. That's never been more evident than in his latest book, Do Over, released earlier this week. If you're feeling stuck, this book will give you what you need to begin again.