85 How to be instantly more assertive with this hidden superpower

No. 85 – 21 Jul 2024

Welcome to the 85th edition of the True Progress Newsletter, a weekly newsletter on mastering fear and anxiety for optimal performance.

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INSIGHTS

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Countless studies show that true success and happiness come from morals and virtuous action, not goal achievement, wealth, possessions, or status.

Practically, it's having moral character—knowing right from wrong and acting on what's right.

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Your personal constitution, i.e., moral character, acts as a superpower. It allows you to move with intent and make deliberate choices. You build self-confidence since you're consciously choosing to live based on your values, not someone else's.

And you build strong relationships because your decisions and attitudes become consistent and trustworthy.

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“In the realm of high performance, moral character is not a nice-to-have; it’s an absolute necessity. It fuels our ability to sustain excellence, build meaningful relationships, and leave a positive legacy that endures long after we are gone.”

— Jim Loehr

EMOTION TO MEET

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

Here's 1 to explore:

Elevation

Definition | The positive feeling experienced after seeing an act of virtue or human moral beauty.

Example | After witnessing how selfless this man acted to help his elderly neighbor, I experienced a sense of elevation.

Origin | Late Middle English: from Latin elevatio(n- ), from elevare ‘raise’.

CHALLENGE

Having a list of core values is one of the most powerful ways to stop overthinking and be more assertive. Do you know yours?

Create a list of values that resonate deeply with you. Keep it close and review it often.

How to do it: Reflect on when you are most proud of yourself—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Think about the times when you are at your best. Identify 3-5 one-word descriptors that best capture who you are in those moments. These are your values.

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Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef