When people act empowered — being true to themselves despite potential consequences — seven or eight times out of ten, the feared consequence doesn’t materialize. The moment before taking the action, people are usually convinced the worst outcome is inevitable. But speaking truth to a spouse rarely ends the marriage; being authentic at work rarely gets you fired.
“When people act empowered, eight times out of ten the consequence that they’re scared of doesn’t come to pass, even though the moment before they take that action they’re pretty sure it’s inevitable.”
Even in the cases where the feared consequence does occur, things eventually align with your truth. A wife might leave, but a relationship that works for you eventually follows. As you act from your truth, “the world that can handle your truth surrounds you and that becomes your reality bubble.” Acting as if your vision is already true — like a civil rights leader acting as if they’re already equal and free — bends reality toward that truth.
This is distinct from performing success. The POW camp story illustrates the difference: optimists who attached their hope to specific timelines collapsed when those timelines failed. Those who simply maintained an unshakeable vision of eventual freedom without fragility survived. True empowerment doesn’t break down when signs of failure appear.
Related Concepts
- Avoidance of fear invites the feared outcome
- Vulnerability produces love, not rejection
- Being yourself gets you promoted or freed