DETERMINATION DEFINITION:Firm intention on achieving a goal; decisiveness PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: Being the first to speak Moving into someone’s personal space Using articulate words and short, strong sentences A steady, lower-pitched voice A furrowing brow Tight muscles An alert gaze A set jaw Strong eye contact A curt nod Forming the hands into a steeple Mirroring the leader’s movements Using affirmative words:Yes,andI will. Pressing the lips together Tightening fists Organizing one’s things; being prepared Standing solidly, at the ready Planting one’s feet in a wide stance Leaning in, hand on one knee Holding one’s chin high, with the neck exposed Pushing up one’s sleeves Shoulders pushing back, displaying a strong posture Precise movements Sharp hand movements (jabbing a finger for emphasis, etc.) A fast-paced stride Asking pointed questions Holding one’s legs straight out, with the knees uncrossed Thrusting the chest out Offering a firm handshake Inhaling deeply through the nose, then exhaling through the mouth Exuding calm and focus Practicing a skill Making preparations or conditioning the body Studying or gathering information Accepting criticism so one can improve INTERNAL SENSATIONS: A fluttery feeling in the chest Increased internal temperature and heartbeat Muscles tightening in readiness MENTAL RESPONSES: Planning for obstacles and strategizing ways to overcome them Mentally encouraging oneself to succeed Active listening Having an acute sense of purpose; setting goals Ignoring distractions or discomforts Extreme mental focus on the objective Running through what one must say or do Dismissing negative thoughts ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Conditioning for the task in advance A muscle clenching along the jaw line Headaches and muscle strain Ignoring pain, stress, or any outside elements Sacrificing what is needed to achieve the desired result SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Purposely adopting a languid pose Feigning disinterest (yawning, shrugging, etc.) Meaningless gestures (scrutinizing cuticles, checking for split ends, etc.) Placing one’s hands in one’s pockets Engaging in banter or non-threatening conversation Asking benign questions Laughing or making jokes meant to disarm A lack of eye contact Closing one’s eyes as if one is relaxed or dozing MAY ESCALATE TO:Hopefulness,Confidence,Satisfaction MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Frustration,Disappointment,Insecurity,Acceptance ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Anticipate, battle, compete, condition confront, counter, dedicate, defend deliver, devote, dive, fight focus, harden, persevere, plan prevent, prioritize, push, resist sharpen, strengthen, strive, tackle target, withstand WRITER’S TIP:Never underestimate the power of texture. The way an object feels against the skin can create a powerful reaction (positive or negative) and add to the reader’s emotional experience.