The Daily Motivation · Sep 4, 2026 · 6:05
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Check out the full episode: https://greatness.lnk.to/1973DM
Amy Cuddy says “I'm great” is actually the worst thing to tell yourself before a big moment.
Real self-affirmation isn't hype, it's naming what makes you you. Three values, ranked, then write why they matter and a time you lived them out.
She's pathologically optimistic and gets genuinely hurt when people are cruel. Some call that naive. She calls it who she is, full stop.
The trick: walk into the exam knowing that no matter the grade, you're still you when you walk out. The test can't touch your values.
College kids who did this self-affirmation exercise scored higher on midterms and had lower stress hormone levels than kids who skipped it.
You can't be great at everything, and Amy says that's fine. You're allowed to just be you, win or lose.
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Episodes: The Daily Motivation