59 Perspective, cruelty, and healthy anger

No. 59 – 19 Jan 2024

Welcome to the 59th edition of the True Progress Newsletter, a weekly newsletter on beating fear and anxiety for optimal performance.

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Article

We can all be exposed to the same things, but have a very different perception or opinion of it. With practice, you can change your perspective on almost any reality, reduce your worries and fears, and live a more carefree life.

— Read more​

Quote

Leo Roskin, on being a gentle monster:

“It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.”

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:

Peaceful

Definition | Untroubled by conflict, agitation, or commotion.

Origin | Latin pax, tranquility, absence of war.

Safe

Definition | Secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss.

Origin | Middle English sauf, from Anglo-French salf, sauf, from Latin salvus safe, healthy.

Question

Anger is a natural response to perceived threats, injustices, or frustrations. It's a signal that something is amiss and therefore helps us.

However, if suppressed, denied, or projected onto others, anger can become unhealthy, cause inflammation, and even attack our own immune system.

And it lowers our self-esteem and impairs our emotional regulation.

When was the last time you held back your anger or unfairly projected it onto others? What can you do to express it in a healthier way?

Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef