As the saying goes: There is no health without mental health. It is the most important component of health. Mental health is an important attribute in our lives. It should be talked about more, considering that it affects your relationships with others and yourself, your work and activities, and your social life. Many times, people have neglected their mental well-being because they have a belief that it'll never happen to them at all.

Why You Need To Prioritize Your Mental Health This Year

However, according to the recent Singapore Mental Health Study, it shows that about one in seven people suffers from a mental disorder- be it the commonly known depression, Schizophrenia, OCD and etc. Another report from Mental Health America has stated that nearly 50 million American adults are experiencing a mental illness.

Recent Study

In fact, what many wouldn't know is that Mental disorders affect children too. These mental health problems are often clinically diagnosable and can be a product of the interaction of genetics, and biological, psychological, and social factors.

Mental Health Issues Affect Children Too

Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting they may be passed on from parents to children through genes. However, just because your mother or father may have a mental illness doesn't mean you will have it too. Other biological factors include defects or injury to certain areas of the brain and abnormal balance of chemicals such as Serotonin and Dopamine.

Biological Causes of Mental Illness

Then some mental illnesses may be triggered by Psychological trauma that happened before. These could include emotional, physical, or even sexual abuse when the person was a child.

Psychological Causes of Mental Illness

Certain stressors such as the recent global crises in generations (the COVID-19 pandemic) have had significant and far-reaching effects on many people's mental health. Countless people have lost their jobs and loved ones. Communities and families have become stressed and separated. Young people have been denied the opportunity to study and interact with others. Businesses have filed for bankruptcy. Millions of people have fallen below the poverty line. All these can trigger a disorder in a person who may be at risk for developing a mental illness.

Social Causes of Mental Illness

Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are not due to personal weakness or a character defect -- and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.

Exact Cause Unknown

Hence, when you see someone who is talking to themselves, overly depressed, or making sure that their hands are cleaned by washing their hands for more than 10 minutes or so, please do not post them on social media and forums.

What You Can Do

Instead, empathize with them. Make the effort to know them better and do not shy away from them. You'll be surprised at how friendly they can be. The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

Empathize With Them

As the saying goes, "Stigma erodes confidence that mental illnesses are real, treatable health conditions. We have allowed stigma to erect barriers around effective treatment and recovery. It is time to take those barriers down". Let's end the stigma and change lives.Remember that you are not alone in your struggles; if you need it, help is available.

Let's End The Stigma Together

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-you-need-prioritize-your-mental-health-year-rayson-choo/">Read the full article here.</a>Also, if you are interested in topics of entrepreneurship, personal development, and mindset, consider checking my podcast "The Raygacy Show" where I get to pick the brains of the best entrepreneurs around the world such as Gary Vee and Grant Cardone.Thank you all for your kind support!

Love These Ideas? Read The Full Article!

As we all know people with mental health issues are on the rise ever since the pandemic hit us hard in 2020. Let's do our part to reduce and eliminate the stigma for our friends and loved ones who are suffering from this illness!

As the saying goes: There is no health without mental health. It is the most important component of health.

health

Health

parenting

Parenting

mentalhealth

Mental Health

humanresources

Human Resources

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

For most of us, Covid-19 will feel like the mild flu, particularly if you’re fully vaccinated and have had your booster shot. To reduce the strain on the healthcare system, home recovery is now the default method of care for those with Covid-19.The silver lining of being stuck at home while you are recuperating from Covid-19 is getting to cozy up with a good book, especially one that will encourage you to think about your life and goals from new perspectives.

The 3 Books To Read When You Are Down With Covid-19

Therefore, I would like to implore you to never stop learning. Books provide you with incredible mentors and amazing insights into the minds of people who have been there and done it.Since there are so many books out there, it can be overwhelming to pick the ones worth reading. After all, you need your mindset right and you need to filter the best information to make the best decisions in a chaotic and changing system.Below are some recommendations that I would recommend you to read while self-isolating at home.

Never Stop Learning

"Reading is to the mind like exercise is to the body and prayer is to the soul. We become the books we read."

This book is absolutely fantastic as every 20, 30, and 40-year-old should be reading this. Why? He gives you access to some of the world’s most powerful people, which most of us won’t have the privilege of interviewing & meeting in real life. The pieces of advice provided by his interviewees such as Gary Vee, Ray Dalio, Susan Cain and etc are helpful and interesting. Each interview is a few pages long. Through reading it, I’ve learned to ask better questions, embrace failures, and be discerning about taking advice.

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝗪𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 by Tim Ferriss

Thought-provoking, important, and actionable. In this wise and practical book, Gary discusses the 12 qualities (human ingredients) that have contributed to his success and happiness and offers exercises to help you cultivate these qualities as well. He also shares what the “half” is—that emotional ingredient of leadership he’s weakest at and makes the most effort to improve. Working through the ideas and exercises in the book, he teaches you how to discover your own “halves” and offers insight on how to strengthen them.

Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success by Gary Vaynerchuk

Now, I get it. When you have Covid-19, you are going to think of all the repercussions and side effects that it'll cost you. Post-Covid conditions such as difficulty thinking or concentrating, sleep problems and etc. But if you feel that life is an emergency and could use some peace in your life, this book is a great choice for you. It is beautifully written with small chapters each encouraging the reader to self-evaluate and bring about the much-awaited change in life.

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff And It's All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

I hope these books will help you in your journey toward your recovery from Covid-19, self-awareness, getting motivated, and getting clear on what you want to achieve in the remainder of 2023.With that, I would like to wish those of you who are affected by the coronavirus to hang in there and I wish you a swift recovery!

Final Message

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6899725818860314624">Subscribe To My Newsletter Here!</a>Also, if you are interested in topics of entrepreneurship, personal development, and mindset, consider checking my podcast "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-raygacy-show/id1435706344">The Raygacy Show</a>" where I get to pick the brains of the best entrepreneurs around the world such as Gary Vee and Grant Cardone.Thank you all for your kind support!

Love These Ideas? Listen To My Podcast!

I hope you guys will find these ideas useful.  I've recommended books by Tim Ferriss, Gary Vaynerchuk & the late Dr. Richard Carlson, co-authored by Kristine Carlson which I believe can accompany you during these trying times. With that, I would like to wish every one of you a great weekend ahead, and take care! Stay safe everyone!

For most of us, Covid-19 will feel like the mild flu, particularly if you’re fully vaccinated and have had your booster shot. To reduce the strain on the healthcare system, home recovery is now the default method of care for those with Covid-19.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

habits

Habits

books

Books

Have you ever wondered why some people succeed more quickly than others? I do. In fact, these extraordinary people aren't born this way. Instead, according to Brendon, they relied on these 6 different habits:1) Seek Clarity2) Generate Energy3) Raise Necessity4) Increase Productivity5) Develop Influence6) Demonstrate Courage

High-Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way

High performance requires good habits and confidence. High performance has nothing to do with personality or natural abilities. Brendon Burchard looked at people from 190 different countries to see how they attain their goals.High performance has little to do with gender, race, age, or personality attributes. However, crucial habits such as "keeping yourself fit" play a significant role. What matters is what you do, not who you are. These aren't simple "life hacks" in the traditional sense. It takes a lot of effort to build these habits, and all of the people studied have worked hard to do so.

High Performance Requires These 2 Things

Another aspect of high performance is the development of strong confidence, which comes from consistent practice. As you master more and more difficult skills, your confidence rises continuously."Confidence is your belief in your ability to figure things out." Brendon Burchard

Importance of Confidence

Seeking Clarity is the first habit. It entails asking yourself tough questions like "What do I want to be remembered for?" and "What do I want to do with my life?" on a regular basis. Constantly asking these gives you a sense of purpose and direction.You first need to understand what kind of person you want to become. This could, for example, be kind, attentive, and humble. Then you need to ask yourself whether you have been behaving this way to date, and what needs to be changed.

Seeking Clarity

Second, you should attempt to make your interactions with people as positive as possible. So for upcoming meetings or lunch dates, high performers always try to shape those meetings in a positive way.

Make Your Conversations Positive

Third, high performers know which skills to develop. This means that high performers approach their learning as specialists rather than generalists. They concentrate on a single, fundamental skill, devoting time to practicing it in an environment free of distractions. They then get feedback about their skill and proactively look for what needs to be improved.

Develop Specific Skills

Last but not least, high performers also focus on service, and working on behalf of other people, in order to give back to them. This provides them with purpose, motivation, and meaning. "Who needs me?" and "What are the contributions I can make right now to leave a lasting legacy?" are questions they ask themselves.

Be Of Service

The second major habit is “Generating Energy”. According to research, most CEOs have energy levels similar to professional athletes. Neuroscience has proved that regular exercise increases the production of neurons in your brain that are related to learning and memory. Exercise also boosts your mood and lowers your stress levels. All of these factors add up to improved leadership qualities.

Generating Energy

Exercise is a regular, scheduled activity for high performers, and they do not make excuses to skip exercise (unless if they have a fracture like mine). To generate higher mental energy, high performers only focus on the positives in life. Their personal lives are just as difficult as everyone else's, yet they choose to be pleasant and optimistic. They do not dwell on negative thinking at all.

Have Regular Exercise

To maximize mental energy and positivity, take a few minutes each morning to go over what you look forward to the most each day such as:1) Solving a challenge2) Meeting a friend for dinner3) Celebrating Valentine's Day with your other half.Neuroscience proves that anticipation of positive events releases as much dopamine (happy hormones), as when you’re actually experiencing the event. This means that if you anticipate happy events, you will experience twice the joy: once when they occur and again when they occur!

Anticipate Positive Events

The third habit is “Raising Necessity”. Before every major activity, high performers raise their psychological necessity regarding why it is important for them to perform well. If two athletes are going to race, and one is wishing to win because he had enough practice, while the other one wants to win for his mother, the second athlete is probably going to win, because his stakes are higher.

Raising Necessity

In addition to their own desires, high performers have an "outside commitment" that motivates them to work more. To raise necessity, always know whom you're doing it for. Ask yourself, out loud, "Who needs me to be on my A-game right now?" When I sit in front of the laptop, I literally say, "Who needs me on my A-game right now?" and it brings my focus back.

Have An Outside Commitment

The fourth habit is “Increasing Productivity” which involves separating important work from unimportant tasks. Simply said, high performers, increase the outputs that matter. Email is a great example of unimportant work. People spend quite a fair bit of time answering emails, which gives them an illusion of being productive. But in reality, it's distracting them from their work.

Increasing Productivity

As mentioned by Brendon, we have to constantly remind ourselves that "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing". High performers have clear and challenging goals and deadlines. They fight distraction, maintain focus and keep their energy up in order to meet the deadline.They will ask themselves this: "If there were only 5 major moves to make that goal happen, what would they be?". This helps them to be able to maintain strict deadlines, and not lose forward momentum.

Prioritisation Is Key

The Fifth Habit is the “Developing Influence”. High performers develop influence by teaching people how to think and challenging them to grow.When you teach people how to think, it'll change their lives. They tend to ask people questions such as: "What kind of person do you want to be remembered as?" or "What would life look like you if gave your all?Over time, they train the people around them how to think -- because when you impact someone else's thoughts in a positive way, you have influence.

Developing Influence

The sixth and final habit is "Demonstrating Courage", which is an act of risk-taking. High performers still have fear and do realize that bold actions involve a higher risk of failing, otherwise they would not be considered bold actions. They opt to act despite their fears because bold actions give them a rush. There's a lot of fear and terror at first, like bungee jumping, but it becomes easier. Just like bungee jumping, there’s initial panic and dread, but eventually, it’s easier.

Demonstrating Courage

Just as important, they "honor the struggle." Higher performers see an opportunity for growth in each new challenge. They know that to reach the next level, they can’t avoid every uncomfortable change, but instead welcome changes with a smile.If you want the courage to stay the course, overcome obstacles, to honor the struggle, don't focus on changing the world. Decide whom you're doing it for, and then work hard for them. That will give you all the courage you need.

Honor The Struggle

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1401952852/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk">Get Your Book Here!</a>Also, if you are interested in topics of entrepreneurship, personal development, and mindset, consider checking my podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1435706344">"The Raygacy Show"</a> where I get to pick the brains of the best entrepreneurs around the world such as Gary Vee and Grant Cardone.Thank you all for your kind support!

Love These Ideas? Read The Book!

Are you feeling stuck in your career, despite working hard every day? Or are you looking to take your performance to the next level? Check out this summary of 1 of my favorite books "High Performance Habits" by Brendon Burchard. Let me know how you all find it and I hope it adds value to all of you #deepstash fam, thank you!

THESE HABITS WILL MAKE YOU EXTRAORDINARY. Twenty years ago, author Brendon Burchard became obsessed with answering three questions: 1. Why do some individuals and teams succeed more quickly than others and sustain that success over the long term? 2. Of those who pull it off, why are some miserable and others consistently happy on their journey? 3. What motivates people to reach for higher levels of success in the first place, and what practices help them improve the most After extensive original research and a decade as the world’s leading high performance coach, Burchard found the answers. It turns out that just six deliberate habits give you the edge. Anyone can practice these habits and, when they do, extraordinary things happen in their lives, relationships, and careers. Which habits can help you achieve long-term success and vibrant well-being no matter your age, career, strengths, or personality? To become a high performer, you must seek clarity, generate energy, raise necessity, increase productivity, develop influence, and demonstrate courage. The art and science of how to do all this is what this book is about. Whether you want to get more done, lead others better, develop skill faster, or dramatically increase your sense of joy and confidence, the habits in this book will help you achieve it faster. Each of the six habits is illustrated by powerful vignettes, cutting-edge science, thought-provoking exercises, and real-world daily practices you can implement right now. If you’ve ever wanted a science-backed, heart-centered plan to living a better quality of life, it’s in your hands. Best of all, you can measure your progress. A link to a free professional assessment is included in the book.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

timemanagement

Time Management

THESE HABITS WILL MAKE YOU EXTRAORDINARY. Twenty years ago, author Brendon Burchard became obsessed with answering three questions: 1. Why do some individuals and teams succeed more quickly than others and sustain that success over the long term? 2. Of those who pull it off, why are some miserable and others consistently happy on their journey? 3. What motivates people to reach for higher levels of success in the first place, and what practices help them improve the most After extensive original research and a decade as the world’s leading high performance coach, Burchard found the answers. It turns out that just six deliberate habits give you the edge. Anyone can practice these habits and, when they do, extraordinary things happen in their lives, relationships, and careers. Which habits can help you achieve long-term success and vibrant well-being no matter your age, career, strengths, or personality? To become a high performer, you must seek clarity, generate energy, raise necessity, increase productivity, develop influence, and demonstrate courage. The art and science of how to do all this is what this book is about. Whether you want to get more done, lead others better, develop skill faster, or dramatically increase your sense of joy and confidence, the habits in this book will help you achieve it faster. Each of the six habits is illustrated by powerful vignettes, cutting-edge science, thought-provoking exercises, and real-world daily practices you can implement right now. If you’ve ever wanted a science-backed, heart-centered plan to living a better quality of life, it’s in your hands. Best of all, you can measure your progress. A link to a free professional assessment is included in the book.

Brendon Burchard is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Brendon Burchard has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Brendon Burchard's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Brendon Burchard

High Performance Habits

As an avid reader, I encourage many of my friends to read too. So if you're looking to fall in love with your next page-turner, I've put together some useful tips to both read more and get added enjoyment out of books in the year ahead.

How To Read More?

Have you ever heard your family or friends or even Yourself complaining: “Dad, mum I hate reading books. They are boring, plus I’ve got to do my homework. I’ve got no time for them.” or ” Books are not worth my time. I would rather hang out with my friends or binge-watch my favorite TV Series on Netflix or play PS5″. In my opinion, these are just EXCUSES. Don’t mind me saying this as this was what I thought of when I was younger. I started to realize the power of books, especially self-help books when I started to read and apply them ever since 2014. I could see drastic changes in myself.

Why We Don't Read?

Here’s a short list of tips that have helped me form good reading habits over the years. Stash it as much as you like. "Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary." Jim Rohn

Tips To Form Good Reading Habits

Also, read stuff you like. If you are enjoying a book, you are more likely to make time for it. If you don't like what you are reading and it's not required, read something else.

Create Or Make Time For Reading

Instead, think about your Tech time as Reading time. This mental trick will hopefully urge you to see the value in sitting down with a good book. Those three hours you'd usually spend bingeing You or Manifest, maybe use at least half of that time to finally try out reading.

Cut Down On TV, Computer, And Smartphone Usage.

If your schedule permits, take time for yourself and set aside anything from 15 minutes to an hour for reading rather than scanning through your emails or starting the day's to-do list right away.

Read Before Bed Or When You Get Up In The Morning

Do you want to make more of your morning commute? You can dedicate some time to reading if you use public transport to get to work. Instead of watching Youtube videos or your favorite Netflix drama, grab a good book to read. Studies show reading can make you more empathetic, help you see the world better outside of yourself, and slow down mental aging. And, let’s face it, reading makes you smarter.You can start with a small goal to read a certain number of pages on your commute and see where it takes you.

Read During Your Commute

Any time waiting for something can be used for reading. I acknowledge that reading a hardcover or paperback book is not for everyone. Crowded buses, subways, and <a href="https://commuterbenefits.com/blog/impact-of-ridesharing-on-commuting-culture">e</a>ven that long queue at Coffee Bean may make this impossible. But if you can do it, this method will keep you from stopping a chapter and switching over to TikTok to watch some videos.

Carry Your Book Or E-Reader At All Times. 

Audiobooks are a perfectly acceptable form of reading. If you have to stand on a crowded subway train, for example, the audiobook may be your best option. Yes, it’s no Spotify playlist to soothe the <a href="https://commuterbenefits.com/blog/3-ways-to-improve-your-career-during-your-commute">commuting blues</a>, but it will help you read more on your commute.

Listen To An Audiobook

It might be difficult to even consider trying to finish a multi-chapter novel after buying a new book. To be clear, reading is not a race. You can finish a story as fast or as slow as you wish. To maintain your preferred pace, in addition to keeping yourself accountable, create personal goals. This may mean reading two chapters a week, 20 pages every day, or completing the book by the end of the month. Everything that fits into your schedule is doable.

Take Your Time and Set Reading Goals 

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-read-more-rayson-choo/">Read the full article here.</a>Also, if you are interested in topics of entrepreneurship, personal development, and mindset, consider checking my podcast "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1435706344">The Raygacy Show</a>" where I get to pick the brains of the best entrepreneurs around the world such as Gary Vee and Grant Cardone.Thank you all for your kind support!

Have you ever wondered how Warren Buffett read 600-1000 pages in a single day? Check this out and hope you enjoy the read!

Have you ever heard your family or friends or even Yourself complaining: “Dad, mum I hate reading books. They are boring, plus I’ve got to do my homework.

writing

Reading & Writing

education

Learning & Education

How To Read More

When was the last time you read a book or a substantial magazine article? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or the directions on your instant oatmeal packet?I’ve found that no matter what I read, the act of reading every day has helped me in nearly every aspect of my life. If you’re one of the countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out: reading has a significant number of benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

Why Reading Can Make You A Better Entrepreneur

Burying your head in a book is a great way of taking your focus of attention off your everyday troubles and worries for a while as it transports you to seemingly better places of dream-like and fantasy worlds. When I’m reading a book, my mind shifts gears. When I might have had a stressful day, a book can easily distract me. Fiction books such as Roald Dahl’s classic Charlie and The Chocolate Factory are fantastic for this. Please remember to check the time when reading your favorite novels.

Reading Reduces Stress

Yeap, you’ve got that right. Books are very powerful, they change and transform lives. Nearly all successful people will tell you that there is at least one book that they read that completely turned around and transformed their life. As for me, I began to take reading seriously after watching Tai Lopez’s videos on the importance of reading in 2014.What I’m saying is that I’m not forcing you to read a book a day which was suggested by Tai himself. What I’m suggesting here is that reading can allow you to learn more and also learn from the respective experts on topics that are new to you.

All Influential Leaders and Successful People Read

The benefits of reading are enormous. You'll get inspired by certain literature. Reading about other people's success stories or how they have overcome near seemingly impossible feats that needed tremendous guts and tenacity might inspire you to pursue your goals with the assurance that if they have previously been accomplished, you can too.Reading is important, everybody who wants to better their life should read a book every month. When we stop learning we stop growing and in this life, you do one of two things, you either move forward in life or you stay where you are.

Reading Helps You To Grow

You don't have to read a book a day which was suggested by Tai himself. What I’m suggesting here is that reading can allow you to learn more and also learn from the respective experts on topics that are new to you. This is what many of the great leaders of our time, such as Barrack Obama have done. If you are someone who likes to take it slow and easy like me when it comes to reading, then start by reading 1 book a month. Co-Founder and CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs in one of his famous quotes state the importance of reading. He stated that reading and learning are so critical to success.

Don't Rush

If you think that you don’t have enough time to start reading, you’re wrong. How do I know? Because we make time for the things that are important to us. How much TV do you watch? How much time do you spend on social media? You could easily replace reading with those activities. If you’re worried about the cost of books, check them out at the local library or you can borrow them from your friends. There’s really no excuse to start reading on a regular basis. The benefits far outweigh the costs, and more knowledge never hurt anybody. Remember: The more you learn, the more you earn.

No Time To Read? No Money For Books?

Here’s to you and your journey in finding good books to read plus applying what you’ve learned from them!"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." Richard Steele

Final Thoughts

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-reading-can-make-you-better-entrepreneur-rayson-choo/">Read the full article here.</a>Also, if you are interested in topics of entrepreneurship, personal development, and mindset, consider checking my podcast "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-raygacy-show/id1435706344">The Raygacy Show</a>" where I get to pick the brains of the best entrepreneurs around the world such as Gary Vee and Grant Cardone.Thank you all for your kind support!

As famously said by Jim Rohn: "Formal Education Will Make You A Living, Self-Education Will Make You A Fortune."  As an entrepreneur, you will hear time and time again that learning is essential: learning from your mistakes, learning from your mentors, learning from seminars, learning from videos, and so on and so forth. Discounting alternative learning methods is not my intention. But I believe reading is also a good method too. Check out this article that I've written on why entrepreneurs should read in order to improve themselves. :)

When was the last time you read a book or a substantial magazine article? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or the directions on your instant oatmeal packet? I’ve found that no matter what I read, the act of reading every day has helped me in nearly every aspect of

Why You Need To Prioritize Your Mental Health This Year

The 3 Books To Read When You Are Down With Covid-19

High Performance Habits

How To Read More

Why Reading Can Make You A Better Entrepreneur

Rayson Choo