25 Difficult people, joy, and living freely

No. 25 – 26 May 2023

Welcome to the 25th edition of 4-TP, a weekly newsletter with the actionable insights you need.

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Article

Dealing with difficult people requires resilience. Some may be more distrustful than others, but with the right approach and mindset it's possible to connect with them.

— Read more​

Quote

Seneca, on mindset and happiness:

"It is the mind that creates our wealth, and this goes with us into exile, and in the harshest desert places it finds sufficient to nourish the body and revels in the enjoyment of its own goods. Money in no way concerns the mind any more than it concerns the gods."

Insight

Joining a group is one of the most powerful ways to build values and adopt desired behaviors.

When I joined the Army JAG Corps (Army legal branch), I was in a class full of highly talented and driven individuals—Division 1 athletes, federal prosecutors, special operations soldiers, martial artists, and Ivy league graduates.

Being part of a group increases the likelihood of conforming to the group's norms and values due to social pressure. This phenomenon is supported by numerous psychology experiments that demonstrate how quickly an individual can assimilate to a group that thinks or acts differently.

Renowned psychologist Angela Duckworth describes this as the power of culture. Eventually, the group's methods and beliefs become indoctrinated in the individual, shaping the way they behave and think.

Question

Being disliked is confirmation that we're living according to our own standards and beliefs, not someone else's.

Are you afraid of being disliked and if so, why?

Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef