A 'Serial Killer' Named STRESS

A 'Serial Killer' Named STRESS

Allow me share these shocking statistics:  As of 2022, 55% of Americans are STRESSED during the day.  Globally [across 135 countries], 35% are STRESSED.  And in the U.K., 51% of the STRESSED adults reported suffering from DEPRESSION while 61% reported feeling ANXIOUS.  Do we agree that  there is A 'Serial Killer' Named STRESS?  Ooops I'm not leading  my readers towards a 'BLAME GAME', NO sirrrrs.  And we should NOT feel guilty because this has been prevalent till now💵💴💷

Changing lifestyles, financial pressures, workload issues, multi-tasking whether at work, at home or even when on the road, all these are the very common CULPRITS leading us all towards STRESS which, when it worsens, leads to DEPRESSION.  At the end of the day, you feel unhappy, non-productive and withdrawn WHEN you are DEPRESSED📗📙📘

Experts do advise that before we deep-dive to find the very ROOT CAUSE[s] of this vicious cycle which starts off with STRESS, establishing routines filled with HEALTHY HABITS is a great way to move more efficiently through your day while expending less mental ENERGY and even WILLPOWER in the process.  Even following simple routines like exercising, eating the right food, taking ENERGY supplements, meditating, and getting sufficient sleep can considerably help to manage STRESS and even DEPRESSION💎💎💎

Cutting the crap, let's single out the low-hanging triggers of STRESS and DEPRESSION and we can start with the endless turn of STRESSFUL events like personal problems [especially financial and relationship woes], work-related pressures, amongst others.  All of these events can trigger STRESS which can lead to DEPRESSION📌📌📌

BAD LIFESTYLE is another culprit.  Drowning your sorrows with alcohol and booze is NOT a solution to your problem[s].  Unfortunately, many people make LOUSY lifestyle decisions like excessive alcohol and smoking, which can result in a spiral of DEPRESSION.  LONELINESS too is another trigger where being cut out can cause a feeling of LONELINESS.  Even a lack of social life can be a culprit too.  BREAKING NEWS though:  That 'SERIAL KILLER' named STRESS has been cornered and caught [BUT only if you have that WILLPOWER] dude❗❗❗

WHAT IF You're Not Progressing?

WHAT IF You're Not Progressing?

WHAT IF You're Not Progressing? Oh, this is a question NOT so often asked due to its sensitivity.  When I was in the middle of my high school years, I often felt that I was still the same year on year.  I just then kept doing the same thing over and over again but I felt that despite my GOOD FAITH, I seem to be just GOING THROUGH WITH THE MOTIONS💴💷💵

As a post-mortem, I noticed then that sometimes I only achieve one goal and then kept procrastinating and making bad habits.  Then, when I stepped into university, I knew it that that was the start of the homestretch of my formal studies, at least.  And I thought I should WALK THE TALK.  At the start of the academic term, I'll write in my journal notes my TARGET FINAL GRADE for each subject.  At the end of the term, I'll compare my TARGET versus ACTUALS, assessing my performance📘📙📗

My dilemma is sometimes, I DON'T feel it and I think "I JUST DO THE SAME THING EVERYDAY".  Was I right to think that way?  Today, me thinks I was WRONG then.  I then realized that even if in a worst case scenario I was doing NOTHING, it DOESN'T mean I was NOT making PROGRESS because whatever are the circumstances, we are doing something, CONSCIOUSLY or UNCONSCIOUSLY💎💎💎

At hindsight, indeed, I was actually making PROGRESS but likely, it's different depending on HOW I judge it.  In fact, in life, we always make PROGRESS.  Even during those times you felt you were kind of stagnant, even IF you feel like you DIDN'T make any PROGRESS, you are actually compounding yourself to start moving.  If you keep doing the BAD HABITS where you feel much worse over and over again, you are actually making PROGRESS.  Eventually, you will realize THAT what you do is stupid and you start moving on❌❌❌

Sadly, there are people WHO never realize that they're PROGRESSING, even until they die.  NOW that we're aligned on that aspect, the tricky question is why does PROGRESS differ?  Some make BIG PROGRESS while others make SMALL PROGRESS.  Is SMALL PROGRESS that BAD?  NO sirrrs not at all.  Even SMALL PROGRESS can help in the building blocks for your FOUNDATION.  BUT don't make that SMALL PROGRESS as your comfort zone because SELF-LIMITATION is NOT conducive for your IMPROVEMENT.  That's akin to the GROWTH MINDSET.  Start visioning BIGGER than you could till you'll realize you made big strides in PROGRESSING❗❗❗

Coffee For Your MEMORY WOES?

Coffee For Your MEMORY WOES?

Coffee For Your MEMORY WOES?  Before we jump into that, let's agree that MEMORY is indeed a fickle thing.  Sometimes we will remember something significant that did happen a decade ago BUT not what you had for dinner last night OR maybe, you're simply FORGETFUL with those little things, like misplacing your keys, reading texts/SMS but forgetting to respond, and oh yes, forgetting to pay the overlapping bills💴💷💵

Yes it's true, everyone FORGETS things every now and then BUT if you're often FORGETFUL, with important things just out of grasp in your mind OR words right on the tip of your tongue, it can feel debilitating and beyond frustrating.  BUT here's the breaking news.  We got an unexpected ally in COFFEE!  Yes, COFFEE!  Multiple studies showed this. That 1948 research at University of Colorado found in its epidomiological study that COFFEE is associated with the decreased risk of developing forgetfulness, heart failure or even having stroke📗📙📘

 A 2018 study of University of Toronto determined that another chemical produced while brewing coffee, called PHENYLINDANES, seemed to stop the buildup of toxin proteins in the brain that have been linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.  Recently, the 2022 report from the Annals of Internal Medicine determined that drinking from 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee daily had up to 30 percent lower chance of dying from any cause💎💎💎

A 2018 study of University of Toronto determined that another chemical produced while brewing coffee, called PHENYLINDANES, seemed to stop the buildup of toxin proteins in the brain that have been linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.  Another recent study from University of Tsukuba say they investigated how TRIGONELLINE [TG] , a plant alkaloid found in coffee, affected the memory and spatial learning📌📌📌

Setting aside the results of these various studies, one COST-FREE practice with direct impact to help address FORGETFULLNESS is having SUFFICIENT SLEEP.  Experts say that SLEEP has many health benefits, including improving memory.  NOT to have sufficient SLEEP can affect our ability to learn new things, UP TO 40% and it can affect the HIPPOCAMPUS part of your brain which is responsible for making new MEMORIES.  And that certain sleeps, including REM SLEEP, are directly associated with MEMORY CONSOLIDATION or that process of newly learned information being transformed into long-term MEMORY.  Our takeaway:  SLEEP WELL and drink reasonable cups of COFFEE and you'll have lesser MEMORY WOES❕❕❕

PRESSURE, Anyone?

PRESSURE, Anyone?

Many of us DON'T hate PRESSURE.  Truth is, ALL OF US hate PRESSURE.  PRESSURE, Anyone? The GOOD NEWS is that studies show that PRESSURE is a PRIVILEGE.  For most of us, the thought of being under any sort of PRESSURE can be overwhelming.  However, the brightest diamonds are formed under PRESSURE💴💷💵

Let's talk about our careers or any aspect of our life.  It is imperative and important to understand that PRESSURE is a good thing.  That said, it is also important to know HOW to avoid collapsing under its weight.  Despite the NEGATIVE stuff and connotations that come with it, there are zillion reasons WHY PRESSURE is indeed a GOOD THING for us📘📗📙

And one of the obvious reasons WHY PRESSURE is a GOOD THING is that it reflects the person's status of their ABILITY-LEVEL.  If you're in a situation where you are being put under a lot of PRESSURE, it probably means you have proven yourself to a certain level so MORE is expected of you.  In addition to giving you a major confidence boost, this level of PRESSURE also lets you know WHERE you are in the FOOD CHAIN.  If a lot of people need you for a variety of tasks, that is a clear indication that they have confidence in your abilities and can count on you to get it done✅✅✅

BUT here's the catch.  PRESSURE has its downsides!  There are times WHERE too much PRESSURE can be applied to someone due to unreasonable expectations and in some cases, people find themselves in a position they DIDN'T earn because of either luck or a mistake.  In those situations, PRESSURE can take a heavy toll as the person DOESN'T need the position they are in❌❌❌

PRESSURE usually reveals a person's TRUE COLORS.  If they are incapable of doing WHAT needs to be done OR willing to do dishonest things to reach their goals, those are the signs they AREN'T suited for the role and eventually it will all become too much of a PRESSURE for them.  So WHAT'S our takeaway?  It is important to remember WHAT got you there in a situation.  And there are many ways that you can work with your PRESSURE in order to make the most out of it❗❗❗

Do You START Strong? OR Do You FINISH Strong?

Do You START Strong?  OR Do You FINISH Strong?

I've got a giveaway question for this weekend.  Do You START STRONG?  OR Do You FINISH STRONG?  Surely, we'll receive mixed answers to this quite polarizing topic and if I look at the landscape, I would hear more clamoring to FINISH STRONG and not far away from the wilderness, I could hear a motley group pushing to START STRONG.  So, where do we stand here📗📙📘

In competitive sports and athletics, they never cease to scream FINISH STRONG.  And that's NOT debatable at all.  BUT I am very much convinced that that tells us only HALF of the story.  Let's look at the annual BOSTON MARATHON which gathers no less than 30,000 marathoners.  If at the START, you are already at the tail-end, how can you expect yourself to FINISH STRONG?  That means you will run twice as fast as the next 29,000😌😌😌

Well, in life, if you want to SUCCEED, you must COMMIT to three things.  First you must START STRONG.  Second, you got to be CONSISTENTLY STRONG.  And lastly, you got to FINISH STRONG.  Too bad there is no middle-of-the road case here.  You need to be willing to do the things necessary to SUCCEED your pre-set goals no less✔✔✔

I DON'T need to look at anyone except my life.  I humbly admit that I started off STRONG.  I left my supposed laidback life in the province at the raw age of seventeen.  To cut the long story short, I was focused with the lofty goals I set for myself to achieve and along the way, I was garnering SMALL WINS while I was on-track for that FINISH LINE✅✅✅

BTW, I need to qualify my definition of that FINISH LINE.  It doesn't mean I'm referring to the retirement time, nope, not at all.  I equate my FINISH LINE to my pre-set timelines to achieve my pre-set GOALS, name it, being successful in your career, running a stable life after planting the solid foundations of your family.  And obviously BUT most importantly, STAYING HEALTHY.  So, yes, I START STRONG and I FINISH STRONG❗❗❗

When You're On A Ledge

When You're On A Ledge

How often do hear someone that he's On A Ledge?  Likely NOT so often.  In fact, very RARELY, if at all.  Swinging back to ourselves, have you been there?  So, IF and When You're On A Ledge, how is it?  Are things as crystal clear as the potable waters?  OR are they as murky as the polluted or stagnant canals?  Seriously though, When You're On A Ledge, this is the worst ever situation one can ever get into.  Think of the worst-worst ever scenarios.  Someone who's contemplating to quit a job although he's got NO alternative income-earning option yet.  Someone who's gonna go on a sabbatical leave [WOW, what a polite and professional tag]💵💷💴

From a science perspective, if you jump OFF THE LEDGE and accelerate towards the Earth, in turn, the Earth will accelerate towards you at the same time.  That's NEWTON's Third Law. BUT throwing away all the scientific jargon, let's take a step back and envisage that YOU'RE ON A LEDGE.  And the obvious upside is that the closer you are to the LEDGE, the less you're able to see the danger and the more alluring the view gets📗📙📘

From a hiker's perspective, you would hear like:  THE BIGGER AND MORE DRAMATIC DROP OFF, THE BETTER.  Which is really ironic to the typical Tom, Dick and Harry because most of us are afraid of heights.  Imagine in real life, edging closer to the edge, to the ledge, and much as you want to look down [for curiosity sake].  Let's to run a sampling.  An eating disorder.  One's negative coping skills.  If we're in either of those predicaments, the better you're doing, the farther away you are from the LEDGE.  Though, from a safe distance, you can still see the LEDGE but you can also see how dangerous that LEDGE is as you look out into the abyss from a safe place😒😒😒

So, indeed we are at the precipice of getting closer ON A LEDGE, what are our FIXES?  So, when life starts to get HEAVY, and you start to use eating disorder behaviors, OR your mental health is suffering in another way, you start EDGING close and closer to the LEDGE.  The CLOSER you are to the LEDGE, the less you are able to see the danger and the more alluring the view gets, right?  You completely forget how dangerous the LEDGE is because you get so smitten with the view as you look out and down.  You edge CLOSER and CLOSER and the view gets enticing, that you end up having a hard time staying ON THE LEDGE❌❌❌

And as you look down, you see things that are beautiful, like control and lack of pain.  Eventually, the time comes that you get too close, the view becomes too enticing to stay away from, and you jump OFF THE LEDGE.  BUT at the bottom of that LEDGE is PAIN and DANGER and LACK of CONTROL.  The tricky thing is that all those things are disguised as you look down on them.  ONLY when you reach the bottom do you realize that things ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEMED as you looked down FROM THE LEDGE.  Tough Calls, dude❎❎❎

Containing Loneliness

Containing Loneliness

Loneliness itself is a weird feeling.  Sometimes we feel LONELY in a room full of people.  Sometimes, we feel LONELY in an empty room.  Sometimes, the memories haunt us.  Sometimes, the future haunts us.  Sometimes, something does NOT make sense.  Sometimes, that same thing makes sense.  BUT most of the time, we're NOT comfortable with this feeling.  Feeling LONELY sucks, honestly.  Then we start to believe that there's something fundamentally wrong📗📙📘

No exception, surely everyone of us would have gone through some situations when we feel insignificant or worse, unworthy.  Then, we start thinking how FLAWED we are.  Then, in our attempt to fix things, you browse with Mr Google everything about LONELINESS.  And expectedly, some of our browsing results will resonate with us while others DON'T

Then, somehow, we tend to navigate through this overwhelming feeling of LONELINESS until it hits us [AGAIN!] and again and again, UNTIL one day we will realize we've transformed into an entirely different person.  So how do we fix this?  Honestly, I am NO expert in counselling so I'll dip into my past decades of life.  Here we go.  Primero, let's remember and realize that we remain connected to many more millions who are going through the same things like us💧💧💧

Segundo, let's realize WE ARE IN CONTROL.  Let us use our inner power to make positive changes in our life.  Relaxing, reflecting or doing a new hobby, these are cost-free and almost effortless.  Tercero, EMBRACE CREATIVITY.  Many studies ended up with this FIX.  Own your experience.  Take its power away💥💥💥

Cuarto, remember you are CARED FOR.   You may be living on your own now but surely, most of your loved ones are either a call away, a message away, a tweet away, an emoji away.  In these times when social media's takeover of our lives CAN'T be denied, containing loneliness should NOT like a steep mountain to climb, NOT ANYMORE!!!

The Day I Learned I Was A NOBODY

The Day I Learned I Was A NOBODY

For several decades, hospitals were as foreign to me as the planetary bodies.  Many times I even boasted and bragged that the only time I got hospitalized was during my executive checkup UNTIL two Decembers ago, I went under the knife for the first time in my life.  Now I confess that was The Day I Learned I Was A NOBODY.  THAT I was NOT infallible.  THAT I was vulnerable.  THAT I was just human.  And WHAT does this tell me?  That SELF-EXAMINATION is one of the hardest things we humans can do.  Since at times our own ego is bigger than what we can handle, it takes an enormous amount of effort to recognize and accept our FAULTS💴💷💵

Although I grew up in our family where financial struggles was the norm ALMOST EVERY DAY [BUT that's not to heap the blame to my parents BUT I always accepted it as the harsh realities of life], I did develop that feeling of invincibility when growing up.  Ironically, going through the shackles from our family's financial struggles during my childhood DIDN'T deter me or shoot down my willpower.  BUT how can I blame myself.  When I was 19, while I was 'RAW', I guess many teens would blurt the same thing, 'WHAT CAN GO WRONG'📘📗📙

Incredibly, my solace was partly the knowledge that I have my entire life ahead of me.  So, I asked myself, 'WHY WORRY?'  Indeed, I took more chances than anyone I knew, even among my classmates and contemporaries.  While I did NOT live for the thrills, I did live for the CHALLENGES which indeed did wet my appetite and hunger to aim for more.  If I got a bit misguided, it was my [skewed] thinking that I could come up unscathed.  Only then much later in life did I start questioning NOT only my life BUT also my PURPOSE.  Suddenly, the 'thrills' ceased to be WHAT they once were💎💎💎

Then, at some point, I became increasingly disappointed [frankly, I was MORE frustrated than disappointed] in myself and everyone around me.  I then felt confused and anxious.  I was looking for something that I couldn't name, couldn't even pin down, something that would satisfy my SEARCH for something I DIDN'T even know WHERE to find, whew❌❌❌

Before I ended up stuck with credit-grabbing, WHAT woke me up were these undeniable facts.  My name?  WHO gave it to me?  My ID or even my driver's license?  WHO issued it to me?  Did I school yourself?  NOPE, I went to a place of learning.  And how about my IDEAS?  NOPE, I followed and did embrace the IDEAS of others.  And I settled for standards?  NOPE, they were the RESULTS.  In the shortest words, I am a CARBON COPY of millions like me, who follow the rules.  Regardless of culture, society labels us compulsively.  It's demanded that we do, to show our value.  BUT we already ARE.  To borrow the jargon of theologians, WE ARE THE ESSENCE OF DIVINITY ITSELF❗❗❗

Why Is CONTENTMENT So Elusive?

Why Is CONTENTMENT So Elusive?

Many people believe that having tons of money would solve all their problems.  However, even people WHO can afford great luxuries can find themselves UNHAPPY in their lives.  The key to well-being ISN'T the number in your bank account BUT your ability to feel CONTENTMENT wherever you are in life.  So, Why Is CONTENTMENT So Elusive? Have you ever bought a lotto ticket and allowed yourself to imagine all of the things you would buy with money❓❓❓

Becoming rich overnight would be absolutely amazing, whew!  It's true, in lotto, from time to time, someone really wins the jackpot worth hundreds of millions and on that note, it may be safe to assume most people today wish they had more money and making that kind of money WOULD help solve their worries, fears and/or pain.  Right? Maybe I guess.  BUT hey, most people DON'T play lotto and assuming we do, the winning probability could be the slimmest ever you could think of💧💧💧

Some of us get into a profession [like a doctor or a lawyer] where it's true, we have a good chance of earning more BUT will all our woes simply dissipate in thin air?  OR perhaps any of these professions DON'T seem doable so we end up focusing on something else.  We turn our focus towards making enough money to pay our bills and saving up so we can retire comfortably in the future with the goal of travelling the world.  Making just enough money to be comfortable would be wonderful.  MAYBE💥💥💥

You're probably wondering WHY I ended up sharing that scenario with a MAYBE.  BUT isn't wealth the ultimate path towards happiness?  After all, if we had access to all of the things rich people had access to, life would be great.  MAYBE.  Having wealth, in and of itself, is neutral.  It DOESN'T make us unhappy OR happy, it just is.  Wealth can provide nice thrills like flying first-class or going on fancy dates.  You may have always wanted BUT you just DON'T have the funds right now.  OR maybe you live in a loud and rowdy apartment and you find yourself daydreaming about living in a home overlooking the ocean💦💦💦

Our takeaway:  True, wealth can give and offer a lot for us BUT one thing wealth CAN'T guarantee us is happiness.  We may know people personally OR can think of a celebrity WHO has access to all of the comforts and thrills BUT remains unhappy.  Many people will assume that wealth brings long-lasting happiness BUT that ISN'T always the case.  To understand WHY this happens, it's important to differentiate between thrills and contentment.  Thrills may be drugs for a drug addict, skydiving for an adrenaline junky OR travelling the world for a jet setter.  Many people DON'T interact with these thrills OR can't access them yet they seem content and at peace with their lives.  So, CONTENTMENT is NOT elusive after all😀😀😀

Why Is Our FREE-TIME MORE Important Than Our 9-5 Work?

Why Is Our FREE-TIME MORE Important Than Our 9-5 Work?

Why Is Our FREE-TIME MORE Important Than Our 9-5 Work?  Before I get accused and/or bashed that I am inciting unproductiveness OR inefficiency at work, allow me to pre-empt such brickbats.  BECAUSE at work, we're more efficient because of work procedures.  BECAUSE at work, we're more productive because of company policies. BECAUSE at work, we're more conscious because of that FEAR of losing our job.  So, our problem is managing our FREE-TIME.  WHY?  BECAUSE we are NOT bounded by RULES in managing our FREE-TIME.  BECAUSE we DON'T fear if we end wasting our FREE-TIME.  BECAUSE we [wrongly] thought and think [TILL NOW] that there are NO ramifications if end up NOT efficiently utilizing our FREE-TIME.  BECAUSE there are no practices or traditions in any culture that our FREE-TIME be utilized efficiently💵💴💷

Now, when we think about SUCCESS at work, we tend to think about the behaviors and strategies that people manifest and exemplify at work.  We think about WHAT people do during the 9-5 working hours, and whether they extend those hours by coming in early OR staying late to tackle projects.  WHAT they do WHEN they get home, OR on weekends, WHEN they're away from the office and away from their computers, DOESN'T enter your mind.  BUT here's the thing:  IT SHOULD📗📙📘

HOW people spend their FREE-TIME can actually have a BIG impact on their SUCCESS in their professional world.  SUCCESSFUL people tend to spend their FREE-TIME in more meaningful ways.  LIKE they read [whether it's fiction OR non-fiction] as READING is a lifelong skill.  LIKE they have hobbies.  Focusing exclusively on work MIGHT SEEM like a FAST-TRACK to SUCCESS.  BUT this approach has a downside.  it will stress you out and sets you up for BURNOUT📌📌📌

LIKE volunteering.  Volunteering, no matter WHERE or HOW you do it, it is beneficial for you and maybe, even your community.  WHETHER you're providing mentorship or a community work, your time goes a long way towards benefiting the beneficiary of your VOLUNTEER work.  I remember years ago when I had that sizable FREE-TIME, I was a Volunteer Probation Officer with the Singapore government's Ministry of Community Development.  And frankly, I felt a huge achievement for sharing my FREE-TIME with my Singaporean teenager under probation then.  And that extended to his parents as well who I gave my counselling too✅✅✅

And of course NETWORKING comes in.  There are one too many NETWORKING events outside the realm of corporate hours.  SUCCESSFUL people are willing to step outside their comfort zones in an effort to meet new people regardless of any professional circumstances.  WHY?  The wider your network is, the more opportunities you'll have down the road❗❗❗