If you could go back to the exact moment your "Performance Folder" was created—the instant you decided you had to be perfect, useful, or invisible to be seen—what would you say to that younger you?

In this pivotal solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles introduces The Luma Effect: the lifelong cascade that begins when a child internalizes the truth of their intrinsic worth before the world hands them a conditional script. Building on his powerhouse conversations with Rebecca Goldstein on the mattering instinct and Daniel Coyle on the art of flourishing, John explores how we can decommission the "outdated reports" in our heads to reclaim our significance.

As we count down to the February 24th launch of his children’s book, You Matter, Luma, John explains why the window between ages four and eight is "wet cement" for a child’s soul. He reveals how the Luma Effect serves as preventive medicine against the Arrival Fallacy and the Optimization Trap, offering a practical roadmap for parents, leaders, and high achievers to move from "treasure hunting" for worth to "treasure creation" from within.

Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering.

Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/luma-effect-performance-script-intrinsic-worth/

All links gathered here: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Companion Reflection & Integration Resources

Inside The Ignited Life, each episode in the You Matter series is paired with guided reflection prompts and grounding practices. This week, we explore how to "re-parent" your inner child by applying the Luma Effect to your own daily self-talk.

Explore the community: https://TheIgnitedLife.net

Connect with the Ecosystem

• Pre-order You Matter, Luma (releasing February 24): https://youmatterluma.com/
• Start your ripple journey
• Support the Movement: https://StartMattering.com
• Watch on YouTube: Search for Passion Struck with John R. Miles

In This Episode, You Will Learn

• The Luma Effect Defined: The mechanics of the "truth ripple" and how it serves as the positive inverse to the speech impediment of the soul.
• Treasure Creation vs. Hunting: How to apply Daniel Coyle’s and Barry Schwartz’s philosophy to move away from a performance-based identity.
• The Wet Cement Window: Why ages 4–8 are critical for solidifying self-concept and how early affirmations strengthen executive function and resilience.
• The Bending Tree Lesson: Using affective neuroscience to build a spirit that bends with life’s storms instead of breaking under the weight of comparison.
• The Arrival Fallacy & Burnout: Why "one more win" never fills the hole in the soul and how intrinsic mattering acts as a permanent buffer.
• The Wordless Tie in Action: How the simple ritual of reading You Matter, Luma creates a dual-healing moment for both the child and the adult.
• The Pass the Ripple Challenge: Practical steps to move from internal worth to external kindness through a global initiative.

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Disclaimer

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