55 Embracing stress, FOPO, and criticism

No. 55 – 22 Dec 2023

Welcome to the 55th edition of the True Progress Newsletter, a weekly newsletter on beating fear and anxiety for optimal performance.

If you’d like to share this newsletter issue via text, social media, or email, just click here, then copy and paste the link from your web browser.

Article

One of the biggest mistakes people make is wanting to eliminate all stress, but a healthy amount can propel us forward.

— Read more​

Quote

Plato, on idleness:

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being.

Insight

Fear of people's opinions (FOPO) has the power to stop you in your tracks. It makes you miss out on countless opportunities at work and in social settings. How can you push past those fears next time they creep up on you?

Emotion Signpost

Neuroscience and brain-imaging research shows that properly naming an emotion is critical to managing and taming it.

It's key to decreasing fear and anxiety, becomes a pause for reflection, and increases understanding of yourself and others.

Here are 2 to explore:

Rushed

Definition | Short of time; hurrying.

Origin | late Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French ruser‘drive back’.

Pressured

Definition | To feel persuaded or coerced into doing something.

Origin | late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin pressura, from press-‘pressed’, from the verb premere.

Question

People will try to bring you down, attack your character, or go out of their way to humiliate you when you're making moves to get ahead.

It makes total sense—they've got insecurities they haven't yet dealt with and brought to light.

If the goal is to live your best true self, you must stay the course despite the friction.

What can you do to stay on track when the heat is on?

Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef