It seems to me that one of the big characteristics of people with emotional flexibility and freshness is a willingness to do challenging emotional work. I have noticed this. I note that people who make the effort to change hard parts of themselves are the freshest people. It requires a huge amount of courage and guts. It is something I respect. It is something I respect in myself and in culture when people are supported, encouraged, and understood to be works in progress rather than flawed people who should really just be perfect instead.

The willingness to do hard work, to be uncomfortable, and to take risks is a big deal. I see it among Peruvian friends who have separated themselves from painful parts of Peruvian culture by figuring out where their own biases are, their own sources of insecurity, and differ than many people around them. I admire this.