In our last +1, we talked about the fact that CONSISTENCY is the exponentially powerful variable that helps activate our Soul Force.
We discussed our Soul Force equation and the fact that, from my perspective, activating our Soul Force is a function of getting your Energy Focused on What’s Important Now CONSISTENTLY.
Today, I want to talk about the fact that cultivating what we call our Heroic Soul Force superpower was, essentially the WHOLE point of ancient Chinese philosophy as well.
Seriously.
We talk about this in our Notes on Edward Slingerland’s GREAT book Trying Not to Try—which, for the record, has become one of my all-time favorite Notes that I have reread many times. Check it out! (We also talk about this in our +1 on Virtuous, Charismatic Power and in our +1 on the Four Different Approaches to Wu-Wei).
Here’s the short story.
Ancient Chinese philosophers like Confucius and Lao-tzu were all about helping people experience the state of wu-wei (pronounced ooo-way).
We translate wu-wei as “effortless action” or “spontaneous action” but it, like so many of the beautiful ancient words we explore, has a deeper meaning—something closer to effortless NOBLE or virtuous action.
In other words: The ancient Chinese philosophers wanted to help people get to a point where they effortlessly showed up as the best (most Heroic!) version of themselves. All day, every day. (Sounds a lot like eudaimonia and the point of all of our work together, eh?)
HOW did they help people do that?
By helping them cultivate what was known as de (pronounced duh, as in ‘no duh’).
What is de?
As Slingerland says: “People who are in wu-wei have de, typically translated as ‘virtue,’ ‘power,’ or ‘charismatic power.’ De is radiance that others can detect, and it serves as an outward signal that one is in wu-wei.”
Slingerland also describes that felt sense of power as “moral charisma.”
VIRTUOUS, CHARISMATIC POWER.
Also known as…
MORAL CHARISMA.
Also known as…
SOUL FORCE.
← How’d you like some of THAT?!
Think of the most radiantly alive person you know—the one you most respect and admire.
Imagine yourself in their presence as they shine.
You know that energy you feel from them?
That’s their moral charisma or…
As we like to say, their…
SOUL FORCE.
And…
That brings us to the point of Today’s +1.
Imagine YOURSELF as the most radiantly alive version of you.
See yourself going through your day EFFORTLESSLY expressing the best version of yourself. Feel the eudaimonia and the virtuous, charismatic power of your Soul Force being fully expressed.
Got it?
Fantastic.
Go BE that best, most Heroic version of yourself…
TODAY.
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