We surveyed thousands to better understand the healthy, and not so healthy, qualities of peak performers.

February 7, 2020 8 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The following article is based on excerpts from Ben Angel's book,Unstoppable: A 90-Day Plan to Biohack Your Mind and Body for Success. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound. And be sure to orderThe Unstoppable Journal, the only journal of its kind based on neuroscience, psychology andbiohacking to help you reach your goals.

When it comes to our identity, we tend to think it's fixed forever, but the reality is, our identities evolve as we gain skillsand experience new things. Still, one factor rarely considered is our energy levels. If you take a personality test when you're feeling your absolute best, you're going to get one result, but what happens whenyou suddenly introduce a nutritional deficiency, fatigue or toxins into yoursystem? Your personality and behavior are going to change significantly. You'll most likely become depressed, anxious andeven angry, start making excusesand suddenly want to quit. In other words, the process bywhich we assesspeak performance typically looksat one side of the equation psychology at the expense of prioritizingour biology andbiochemistry.

Related: What's Your Entrepreneurial Personality Type?

In a hustle-until-you-die culture, it's important to understand that you can't pay a high psychological price without paying a high biological one. That's why my team and I consulteddoctors, clinical social workers, psychologists, neuroscientists and nutritionists and identifiedfour specific identity types of succesful people Defenders, Guardians, Synergists and Catalysts and broke down their hysical andpsychological energy capacities. We then conducted a survey of 43,000 successful business people from all over the world to get a clearer sense of their distinct daily habits.

Read through the identity types below, and see which one you can relate to the most.

This category representsthe epitome of conscious creators and peak performers. They have the physical and psychological energy requirements to go out and reach their most ambitious goals. Considered the key drivers for change in society, their biology supports all aspects of their cerebral endeavors, and they are able to combatmyriaddaily stressors. They track their progress daily and can pinpoint any issues to make corrections immediately.

Oursurvey of Catalysts reported the following:

Synergists are on the cusp of this 50 percentthreshold, and thuscould go either way. They may elevate themselves through rest and recovery and turn themselves into a Catalyst, but if they do too much psychological output, they're going to pay a biological price, which will see them drop below the 50 percent threshold and turn themselves into a Defender orGuardian.

In oursurvey, Synergists reported the following:

When we sit below the50 percentthreshold, we can experience symptoms includinganxiety, fear, depression and more. This is a situation where we actually need to go out and seek medical attention, because it's not just your psychology that's off, but also your biology.

In this case, once we biohack our biology, brain and psychology, it all comes back into alignment and we start feeling better. In this state, we're also susceptible to unconscious creation, simply because we've turned on self-preservation mode.

In oursurvey, Guardians reported the following:

If you are here, you need to get to a functional-medicine doctor immediately. Defenders are protecting what little physiological and psychological energy they have left to defend themselves from further attack from stress, toxins, inflammationand poor diet. Defender mode can be triggered by numerous changes, including a change in the stomach's microbiome, a course of antibiotics, chronic stress, inflammation, a traumatic event, poor sleep and medications.

In our survey, Defenders reported the following:

When we hit below the stated 50 percentthreshold, our primal mind takes control of the situation because our brains and bodies are starved of energy and specific nutrients. When self-preservation mode comes on, we're in that constant state of fight or flight wherewe're anxious about everything andalways thinkingthe worst-case situation is going to occur. We also make lots of excuses.

What's really fascinating is that, in surveying 43,000 people internationally, we uncovered that six percent of people could be classified as Catalysts, 39.4 percent wereSynergists and more than 54.6 percentwere Guardians and Defenders exhausted individualswho can't think clearly and experiencebrain fog and potentially depression.

So, what does this result actually tell us? That a vast percentage of the population is strugglingnot just with their psychology, but also their biology.

Related: The 7 Traits of Successul Entrepreneurs

The problem with our current society is when individuals start procrastinating ornot wanting to get off the couch, we diagnose them as having a weak mental attitude, as if they just need to toughen up and get on with the job. But the problem with willpower is its finite.

Nutritional deficiencies, gut-health issues, excessive caffeine consumption and side effects from medications andtoxinscan mimic psychological disorders including anxiety, aggression and depression. So, if someone is trying to reach an ambitious goal, but their energetic requirements don't meet the needs for them to achieve it, then the primal mind is going to make that decision. Yes, you can push through with willpower for some time, but when that runs out, you're going to burn out.

Andas we can see in the statistics for eachidentity type, an individuals overall mental health isinked to excessive chronic pain, excessive medication use, inflammation, poor dietary habits, poor gut health and a lack of purpose. Anyone suffering from these symptonsmustfirst identify what these underlying issues and triggers are, address them, get them out of the way and fuel their brain so theycan do the hard psychological work. Suddenly, you won't need to apply willpower anymore, because you'll beoperating at your absolute best. Now, what identity type are you?

See the rest here:
Identifying the 4 Unique Types of Successful People - Entrepreneur

In an embodiment of a team-first attitude and embrace of the sacrifice that comes with it, Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown has decided to play against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, despite twisting his ankle on Sunday night as Boston faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With the Celtics just 1.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for second-place in the Eastern Conference standings, it would appear that Browns focus is on the postseason and the seeding. If the playoffs were to begin today, Boston would be playing against the Indiana Pacers. If they move up to the second seed, they would be facing the Brooklyn Nets.

Neither team provides an easy avenue to the second round of the playoffs but the Pacers are a notoriously tough team to face in the postseason. Plus, with Kyrie Irving now in Brooklyn, it would give the Celtics an extra reason to take it to the Nets.

We need two big wins, says Brown following Mondays practice. Ill just push through it. Ill be alright.

Brown discusses his injuries further, saying that you cant really get the rest as you probably need to let your body recover. Its probably why I keep re-aggravating the same injury. But you know, I think its all mental.

So just lock it out and come out and do what you got to do.

Although Brown didnt practice on Monday afternoon, getting the respite from his ankles that he sorely needs, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens says that he expects the fourth-year vet to play on Tuesday.

As Brown missed Fridays game against his hometown Atlanta Hawks with an ankle injury, both of his ankles are injured.For his long-term and short-term health, its hardly advisable for Brown to play.

Nonetheless, with the All-Star Break merely days away, the Celtics swingman will be able to rest his joints soon enough.

Read more:
Injury report: Jaylen Brown pushing through ankle injuries to play vs. Rockets - Celtics Wire

Novak Djokovic has hailed the forehand of Rafael Nadal as one of the best of all time wile also praising his rivals sheer mental strength.

Nadals ability to combine both power and spin has made him one of the most intimidating players in the sports history, and its not been lost on Djokovic.

The Serb was asked to create his perfect Davis Cup player by the tournaments Youtube Channel, and unsurprisingly Nadal featured heavily.

I would choose Rafael Nadals forehand. It has been one of the best forehands of all time, with heavy topspin or flat strokes.

He can hit it from every part of the court and it is a consistent weapon that he uses to mount pressure on the opponent and also in the defence, to get back into the point.

Roger Federer wasnt eligible for this exercise as Switzerland did not qualify for the finals, but there was certainly diversity in Djokovics further selections.

As for backhand, I have to go with David Goffin; I like his two-handed backhand very much.

He takes the ball very early and hits it flat, something that allows him to dictate the rally.

You will not get many errors from his backhand as he possesses natural swing and preparation for the stroke.

He can place it both down the line and crosscourt, making it one of the most excellent strokes in his arsenal.

Djokovic also highlighted the potential of some of the young players on tour, with the Canadians especially impressing him.

In terms of talent, I pick Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, both unique players in their way.

They are young and yet to fulfil the expectations. Their potential is enormous and they have been playing very well, continually improving and with professionalism and dedication.

They are also nice guys off the court as well and I believe the bright future is ahead of them.

Speaking about the mental aspect, I choose Rafael Nadal again because he never gives up, keeping the fighting spirit and an attitude that he brings to the court every single time.

In the physique segment, Gael Monfils is my answer.

He can do splits, slide and jump. He is very dynamic and energetic, and for me, he is a perfect athlete.

Nick Kyrgios is the best server in my opinion; his initial shot is fantastic. His serve motion is very natural and dynamic, also hard to read and powerful, regardless of the surface.

Djokovic also picked himself, and who can blame him?

I would have to pick me in the return segment.

For the best volley, I have to go with some of the doubles guys, probably Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, especially Mahut; his hands are swift at the net.

When we talk about the footwork, it would be a combination between David Goffin, Rafael Nadal, myself, also Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The lightness of feet is often crucial, the ability to change direction and always be in balance for the next shot.

See original here:
Novak Djokovic: Rafael Nadal has one of the best forehand's of all time - Tennishead

New year. New decade. A good time for society to embrace a new attitude about autism, which considers the wellbeing of those who walk in these shoes. There are many on the autism spectrum who live with a compromised sense of self, who deserve to be able to work on building self-esteem without society thinking less of them by viewing autism as a disorder. Autism is also frequently described as a disability or as a condition, both of which carry the same potential consequences. Public discourse about autism that refers to it in these ways can stymie progress on self-esteem building by adversely affecting ones emotional state. I should know. I have been living on the autism spectrum for 50 plus years and had to fight for the better portion of these years to learn how to love myself.

There is arguably no greater gift than the gift of self-love, without which true happiness essentially becomes an impossibility. Too many on the autism spectrum have been denied this gift, largely because they have a difficult time coming to terms with their view of themselves as being different from everybody else, because of the unique challenges they confront on a regular basis and because of their knowledge, or belief, that they are perceived as having a disorder or as being disabled. However, it is never too late for these folks to work towards self-love and attain it. I am proof that it can happen, and I am not the only one. Every well-intentioned person is entitled to a strong sense of self. Let nothing undermine ones pursuit of it. When more of us feel good about ourselves, the world becomes a better place.

The American Psychiatric Association publishes a reference manual known as theDSM(the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The DSM is the authoritative tool used by psychiatrists and other clinicians to diagnose, defineand classify mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research.As such, the DSMs conclusions inevitably influence public discourse about the disorders documented therein.Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) appears in the fifth edition of the DSM as one such disorder.

In some respects, autisms listing in the DSM as a disorder is a good thing. As a result, clinicians are able to provide beneficial treatments and interventions, at least some of which would not be available had it not been for ASDs inclusion in the DSM. Furthermore, the DSM leads to ASD diagnoses, which entitle some on the spectrum to much-neededgovernment assistance. For those whose autism profile carries challenges that are particularly acute, disorder may be relevant. However, for others on the spectrum working on building self-esteem and who feel that their autism profile is core to who they are, the autism/disorder association is toxic.

Perhaps I am trying to have my cake and eat it, too, when I say that the work that clinicians perform in helping folks on the autism spectrum achieve better outcomes is essential, and yet, autism should not be thought of as a disorder. But then again, maybe not. Is there a rule that states that you need to have a disorder in order to be helped? All of us could use some guidance of one form or another, simply because we are human, and to be human is to be imperfect. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Clinical intervention has been instrumental for me and others, not for trying to fix or cure a disorder but for helping us find greater happiness and live more meaningful, connected lives as autistic people in a predominantly nonautistic society. I dont feel as though I have a disorder. Instead, I have accepted the fact that I am different. The help I have received eventually led me to an understanding that acceptance of the diagnosis as well as self-acceptance are required if I was to build self-esteem to the point of finally learning how to love myself.

Wondrous stories can be told of autistic folks. InGreta Thunberg, we have Times 2019 Person of the Year.10 percent of the workforce at Walgreensnow consists of disabled employees, many of whom are autistic, and perfectly capable, if not exceptional, at their jobs. The dance groupAutism With Attitude(AWA) recently appeared on the British television seriesThe Greatest Dancerto a standing ovation.Temple Grandin, Ph.D., author, professor and revered autism community advocate, is a National Womens Hall of Fame inductee. Organizations like theCollege Internship Program(CIP) are successfully preparing their autistic students and others with learning differences to thrive in positions of leadership, at the workplace and in college. And the list could go on and on. In my view, these people are not disabled. Rather, they are exceptional and use their spectrum profiles as assets. Hopefully all of them feel this way about themselves. They certainly deserve to.

It all comes down to how we choose to look at things. The DSM and society at large see autism as a disorder, although neither can tell me or anybody else on the autism spectrum that we must look at ourselves in this light. Ideally, all of us should be able to love who we are and work towards self-love if we are not yet there, though regrettably, the adverse emotive power of disorder often gets under the skin and sinks in.

Words matter. As such, lets adopt a view of autism that does not compromise the sense of self of those who have been diagnosed and who are emotionally vulnerable. Furthermore, lets communicate about autism in terms that are all-inclusive and which respect the diversity that is intrinsic to the autism spectrum. For example, autism spectrum without disorder immediately following. Profile instead of disorder, condition or disability. Challenge instead of symptom or deficit. The proposed wording is valid regardless of where on the spectrum an autistic individual may fall. Words matter. Choose them wisely.

Originally posted on TheHill.com.

Read more from the original source:
Let's Change the Words We Use Around Autism - Thrive Global

file photo.

Gathering Our Warriors, a program designed to help men who are struggling with alcoholism and addictions, began its second year on Feb. 5.

The weekly drop-in support group is based on 12-step recovery programs and emphasizes personal values and beliefs, and traditional teachings that will help the warriors heal from trauma and addiction and navigate sobriety.

Richard Jackson Jr., a drug and alcohol counsellor at Conayt Friendship Society, is co-facilitator of the program, which he says focuses on new ways to live a happier, healthier life.

Some of the things were looking at is anger management, which is very important. Becoming a warrior, the seven sacred grandfather teachings [Humility, Bravery, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, Respect and Love]. We have talking circles and healing workshops. I bring in facilitators on a gender balance, so male and female, to do workshops with the warriors. Each with a different expertise, like domestic violence, recovery, healing anything that has to do with the men becoming whole and also starting to look at abstaining from drugs and alcohol, said Jackson.

The program welcomes all men who are struggling with alcoholism and addiction, not just those within the indigenous community. The sessions are every Wednesday from Feb. to April and run from 12p.m. to 3p.m. at the Conayt Friendship Society.

We start at noon and we serve a hot lunch from 12-1 and from 1-3 we do the work, said Jackson. Two of the biggest problems I see in the addictions field, is shelter and food. Those are the two main things that they need. So, we feed them a hot meal, maybe thats the only hot meal theyre going to get for the day.

Its a very structured environment, very safe. I think its very important that the warriors feel safe and secure.

Jackson, who has sat on the board of the very successful Round Lake Treatment Centre in Armstrong for the past 16 years, believes that Gathering Our Warriors is a valuable resource to those who have made the commitment to become sober. The Round Lake Treatment Centre operates on the premise that Culture is Treatment, and Jackson brings that attitude to his work as a counsellor with the warriors.

True wellbeing is based on the balance of the traditional medicine wheel: physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health are treated as important parts of the whole.

What were trying to do is heal the spirit. Because when you take alcohol and drugs, the spirit wants to leave your body, said Jackson.

The home is your body, what you put into your home reflects who you are. So, we need to be accountable and take responsibility for our actions, thats very important. The three things I ask the warriors to do is to be open, honest and transparent. With everything they do.

Conayt Friendship Society is located at 2164 Quilchena Ave. next to Merritt Moms and Families.

See the original post:
Warriors program helps those struggling with addiction - Merritt Herald - Merritt Herald

By Shirley Bose

If its your birthday todayThe time after April is auspicious for employment. Those seeking a financier or wanting to have a joint venture realise their wishes after July. Business/career improves gradually after March and then there is too much work to deal with, which is no problem since you love dealing with challenges and remaining one step ahead of deadlines. Do exercise as advised.

Capricorn: Facing some past emotional issues with a strong desire to resolve them quickly is ideal. Circumstances change very quickly. Karmic tip: This karmic cycle favours fighting for your rights. Colours: peach/cream.

Virgo: Several important meetings keep you busy the entire day. A special friend comes to meet you. Karmic tip: Some may have second thoughts about a relationship. Take your time. Colours: lilac/white.

Aquarius: Health is good. High energy levels help complete work quickly and in time. Karmic tip: The universe/God takes care of needs if there is an attitude of gratitude. Colours: scarlet/gold.

Gemini: A plateau phase delays a solution. Some buy a vehicle soon. Karmic tip: Let others carry on with their own life. Keeping the focus on your own is best. Colours: bronze/khaki.

Libra: Light and shade are two irrevocable parts of life, so keep a balance at all times with awareness. Karmic tip: Flow wisely in this karmic cycle of smooth beginnings. Colours: blue/black.

Pisces: A happy family life is the basis for good mental health. Karmic tip: Work is suddenly challenging, so be one step ahead of all that has to be completed. Colours: black/ivory.

Cancer: This is a positive time for entrepreneurs. A financially good time draws in sever- al new deals/contracts/projects. Karmic tip: A karmic cycle of opportunities allows making several changes. Colours: cream/beige.

Scorpio: Some news youve been anxious to hear comes through against all odds. Karmic tip: Nostalgia for the good old days may be slightly impractical for life as it is. Colours: white/grey.

Aries: Those beginning a career/business enter an auspicious time. Karmic tip: Consciously letting go of a memory is wiser as what you yearned for is further and further away. Colours: tan/green.

Leo: Taking advice from too many people should be avoided. Be selective. Karmic tip: By remaining on the path of positive actions youve also drawn in karmic justice for yourself. Colours: pink/grey.

Sagittarius: A family celebration is time consuming but enjoyable all the same. Health is good. Karmic tip: You are aware that a decision taken in haste could have disastrous results. Colours: maroon/pink.

Excerpt from:
Horoscope today: Here are the astrological predictions for February 11 - Mumbai Mirror

Preparing for a labor force that doesn't yet exist.

Indian aviation has, for long, been plagued by a dearth of pilots, which has hampered the fleet expansion plans of many airlines.

Between 2017 and 2019, hiring of pilots in India rose 88%, show official data from the ministry of civil aviation. However, this is not enough to meet the additional requirement of 17,000 pilots in the next 10 years, according to a 2019 report by the Sydney-based aviation market intelligence firm CAPA.

The issue came to the fore in February 2019 when the scarcity of pilots forced the countrys leading carrier, IndiGo, to cancel as many as 30 flights a day. It tried to make up for the shortfall by aggressively hiring expatriates.

A year on, the carrier says it has tided over the problem. At the moment IndiGo is not affectedwe had difficulties in the past because hiring a pilot isnt an easy job. You cant just hire a pilot like you hire a marketing director, said Raj Raghavan, senior vice-president and head of human resources, IndiGo.

Raghavan, an HR veteran who has worked with the likes of Amazon and Genpact, says the grounding of Jet Airways came as a blessing in disguise for head hunters. We hired about 400 people from Jetno airline has been able to hire that kind of a number.

In a conversation with Quartz, he talked about the jobs outlook in the aviation industry, and the work environment at IndiGo. Edited excerpts.

What is that one job that would be the most crucial to IndiGo in the future?

There are over 70 different kinds of jobs at IndiGo, from baggage handling and airport security to network planning. Choosing the most crucial is not easy. Ill come to the skill that is most in demand, which is network planning. An airlines network is as important as its revenue management capability. Network planning is basically about which sectors an airline will fly in, and at what frequency. This also helps in determining aircraft utilisation. The more time the planes are in the air, the better it is for managing costs.

How will you hire a person for network planning? What are the challenges?

Network planning cannot be learnt through a course, like an MBA. A lot of it is acquired through experience. We cant go to IIMs and ask for a network planner, nobody teaches that. What you need is the numerical ability to understand quantitative analysis.

Availability of slots (at airports) are important to determine what sectors you plan to fly to. For instance, youll think there is a great opportunity to fly from Delhi to Colombo (in Sri Lanka). Both these nations have bilateral agreements over how many planes can land in each of these countries and, accordingly, slots are allocated to airlines through a certain bidding process.

We cant go to IIMs and ask for a network planner, nobody teaches that.

Thereafter, you need to determine how your planes utilisation will happen. If you fly at night, then that will impact the productivity of pilots and cabin crew. In most countries, including India, there is a tightly regulated work-hour rhythm for both the corporate crew and cabin crew and all of this is a part of network planning. Also, lets say a pilot needs to fly 1,000 hours a year. This needs to be allotted appropriately. The pilot cant fly 1,000 hours in six months and not be doing anything for the next six.

A network planner has a key role to play in determining not just what sectors to fly to, but also in how people are utilised efficiently.

Indian aviation is facing a shortage of pilots. How has this affected you?

Pilots are like oil to the airline industry. For instance, a plane like Airbus A320 needs a captain and a first officer but if you are flying a longer range plane like an Airbus A330, or if its an intercontinental flight, you need more pilots. We have had issues with pilot shortage before, but we have been very thoughtful about talent acquisition.

With Jet Airways shutting down, there is an oversupply of professionals. Have salaries come under pressure?

I dont think there is an oversupply. A huge demand was already there.Pilots can be categorised into captains and first officers. There isnt any dearth of first officers, but there is a dearth of captains.

There isnt any dearth of first officers, but there is a dearth of captains.

We hired about 400 people from Jet. The airlines grounding came as a blessing in disguise because no airline company was ever able to hire in such huge numbers. Jets pilots are quite sought-after since they have flown for long periods. However, you also need to invest a lot in terms of training.

Some of the pilots who flew an Airbus 330 aircraft may find it easier to fly an Airbus 320, but it isnt the same for everyone. It isnt like you leave your job one day, and the next day you can start working at IndiGo. Pilots experienced in flying an Airbus 330, required four months training to start flying with us. And then they had to get their licences renewed and certified again from DGCA (Director General of Civil aviation, the sector regulator).

I dont think compensation packages have been impacted. It hasnt gone down at least at IndiGo.

Troubles at Indian airlines have tarnished the industrys image in recent years, has that made it harder for companies such as IndiGo to attract good talent?

The industry continues to be a place professionals want to be part of. Its true that some airlines had troubles, but that can happen in any industry. For example, in automobiles there have been losses at auto-component companies and the manufacturers. The same is the case in financial services, and telecom. Aviation is no different. Its an industry that has a very high reliance on safety and costs and those who cant manage the costs face troubles. I do not agree that it has impacted the sectors image.

Do you think artificial intelligence (AI) can take over traditional jobs like that of ground staff at airports?

Fungible jobs that do not require intense training can be taken over by AI. However, some of these jobs require special training. For instance, in an AAI (Airports Authority of India) airport like Chennai, you need to be a certified scanner for checking flyers luggage. The job of a loader also needs special trainingthese require human intelligence.

What are the qualities you look for, when you hire?

Competence in the job is the minimum requirement. Then I look for attitude. Customer service is an attitude, to be able to work in a team is an attitude. To have a point of view, and be respectable to others is all part of attitude.

What initiatives have been launched by IndiGo to upskill its workforce and enhance efficiency?

The big components of the HR function at IndiGo are learning and development. We have training centres known as IFly, one in Gurugram and the other in Bengaluru. There are around 1,400 people training for about 70 different courses. Some are regular training programmes, while others are soft skills training programmes among others.

Have IndiGos employees been impacted by the ongoing disagreement between its promoters?

I dont think its affecting our employees at all. The promoters have their own ways of handling it. It does not bother us. We are here to do our jobs and to safely manage our planes and to serve customers.

How seriously does IndiGo take the mental health of its employees?

A lot of the training is focussed on keeping the mind clear with yoga. We have started using music as a way to calm the mind. So, we are experimenting a lot. We also have a professional arrangement with an external firm One Health. Our employees can contact their experts in order to sort out issues that are bothering their mental health. The practice is completely confidential. Not even the HR knows the details.

Read the rest here:
Even IIMs can't teach you the most important skill at IndiGo - Quartz India

Published: February 9, 2020 2:06:02 pm

By Karishmma V Mangal

Whether you work full-time, or few hours a week, childcare is an important commitment as a parent. Nothing matters more than ensuring your child is in a safe, caring and stimulating environment. Also, as a parent, when you sow the seeds of empathy, compassion and care early in the life of your child, theyre likely to be happier and successful when they grow up.

Most parents make the right choices while supporting their child. A good caregiver thinks and identifies beyond basic needs. A parent must focus on cultivating the right mental and physical health. A childs early home environment has a significant role on their development. Brain imaging research suggests that growing up in a disadvantaged environment causes the childs brain to develop differently.

Physical environment: The effect of physical environment on a childs development cannot be understated. If they are raised in an environment that is affected by chaos and filled with aggression, changes in the brains stress system can occur which can further lead to vulnerability to chronic diseases later in life.

Family bonding: Family has an important influence on the childs mental and physical development. It is important to provide an environment that addresses their mental, physical and emotional needs. Parents should make it a habit to spend few hours a day with their child in the form of reading a book, watching a cartoon or playing a sport. This helps in developing motor skills and team spirit.

Health and nutrition: Nutritious food is a basic need of a childs physical health. As a parent, it is your duty to inculcate healthy eating habits in them. Excessive eating can lead to a host of complications in the future.

Learning: Few parents have this belief that learning is only meant for school. Remember, more than school, your home environment stimulates your childs mental health. Provide your child with a loving home where they can develop cognitive, motor and emotional skills.

Read| Mental health issues are real, even for toddlers

Nutritious food

Adequate exercise

Healthy living environment

Unconditional love from parents love and acceptance should be at the heart of family life.

Safe and secure surroundings encourage them to thrive in an atmosphere that will promote their physical, social, mental and emotional well-being.

Self-confidence and self-esteem If they make mistakes, forgive them. Unconditional love, affection and support will boost their confidence.

In recent years, its no big secret that playtime has decreased tremendously. Instead of going out and playing, kids spend time in front of their iPad screens. As a parent, you must encourage them to go out and engage in physical activities. To nurture relationships with your little ones, playtime is important. Heres how:

When you make time to play with your child you re-establish a bond that began at infancy.

Colouring with your child or playing a board game with them is a great opportunity to spend time together.

Parent-child relationships also help the latter to improve their social interaction skills.

Remember, the goal of building a safe environment is to teach your child self-control. As a parent, it is important for you to know the warning signs of poor physical and mental health in your child:

Decline in school performance

Regular anxiety

Aggression

Temper tantrums

Depression, sadness and irritability

Develop caring and loving relationships with your kids.

Provide opportunities for children to practice care and attitude.

Be a strong role model and mentor to them.

Create a safe and positive home environment.

Praise them when they do well.

Exposing your child to the right kind of environment will have a direct impact on their behaviour, learning and personality.

(The writer is Director and Trustee, Thakur International School Cambridge.)

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Excerpt from:
Kids mental and physical health: Why the right environment matters - The Indian Express

Thursday isnt Friday Eve: QUIT living for the weekend and start living!

Recently, a friend noted that hating your job is like another full-time job. If you have ever had a job you hated, you know this is the truth. I used to work at a non-profit where the office was clean and tidy, there were ample snacks and bottomless coffee, there were holiday parties, and people generally seemed to get along with each other. All this was negated by a few repressive regulations that made employees feel they werent considered sovereign beings capable of making adult choices. For example, the company had an irritatingly old fashioned dress code; skirts had to be below the knee, and pants couldnt reveal an ankle, hello Victorian Era! But generally, the organization was healthy with a diverse team, fair working hours, and average pay (when you factored in the excellent benefits).

With all of that, it was difficult for me to understand why by Wednesday, people were already saying, in the knowing tones of co-conspirators, more than halfway done (with the week) and were almost there. By Thursday, well, we didnt even have Thursday. All of my colleagues were ready to be done with the workweek by Thursday and had deemed it, Friday eve. The bottom line was people didnt like working there.

For some reason, this Friday-eve mentality affected me deeply. I found it depressing and deflating. I liked my job. I felt good about the work I was doing was pleased to be serving my community. I tried to figure out the origin of my colleagues feelings. It came down to two things. First, the disrespect inherent in a strict dress code. And next, the simple fact that as a culture, weve evolved past the 40-hour workweek. Many companies have employed me over the years, and except for on-demand positions like cashier, food service, and teaching, a focused employee can often get the work spread across 5-days done in 2-3. Its time to rethink the standard 40-hour workweek and cut the fluff. That said, I think its counter-intuitive to spend time loathing what you do. It drains your very precious energy. And more significantly, the whole, is it Friday yet? mentality is a subtle attack on the self, discounting the value of your work. This is true even when your office is hostile or toxic, expending energy hating your job males it even harder to get out, it drains more of your resources. Trash-talking the way you spend 40-hours of your week subtly undercuts your self-esteem. It also puts all the expectations of an entire life on the fantasy of a very brief weekend where you can truly live and be yourself. It treats the week as a time when you have to disconnect and be a lifeless robot-automaton. Its mentally and physically unhealthy.

Its true that at work, most people share only a limited amount of personal information. There are aspects of your personal life that have no place in the office (though Id also contend that if being unable to share is negatively impacting you, maybe you need to find a more suitable office environment). Still, there is always a way of being yourself while not completely revealing yourself. This is one of the key differences between maintaining your integrity and feeling diminished. You can be you even if you cant cover your desk in crystals, hang tapestries, and burn incense in the office. You express the core of who you are through all of your actions and attitudes.

There are myriad reasons to stay in a job that drains you. Maybe you need the money and havent found anything better yet. Perhaps you are feeling too tired and depressed to look for a new job. Or you may feel a diminished sense of self-worth after being at a job you despise for a while and lack the confidence to pursue something new. These reasons and any others you may have are all very reasonable excuses for being (temporarily) stuck in a position that doesnt suit you. Unfortunately, the price you pay for hating what you do can be higher than you may realize. In addition to physical and mental health issues that can result from work stress, inevitably, it bleeds into your personal life and can cause conflict and dissatisfaction at home.

If youre stuck in a toxic office, or one that doesnt challenge you or compromises your true nature, youre in danger. Hitting snooze, taking mental health days, and suffering from the Sunday evening blues are all strong indications your work is negatively impacting your life. If youre thinking about your job after work or dreading Monday all weekend, its time to take action. I was in a toxic work situation once and was driving home from work when I looked behind me to see police lights flashing. When the officer approached my car, he was furious. Whats going on? I have been following you with my lights on for three miles? He demanded. I was shocked. I was so caught up in thoughts about my terrible job that I was driving a car impaired by them. I actually thanked the officer for the ticket I clearly deserved. This kind of work preoccupation is just plain bad for you. Loathing what you do can lead to physical and mental health problems such as:

And there are other, more subtle impacts.

Beyond Friday eve

If youre a Friday eve person, below are a few suggestions to help you start building yourself up and living your best life all week long.

First things first:

When youre in the office:

Getting ready for the future:

Always remember that you have control over your emotions. You have the power to reset your attitude about work until youre able to find something better suited for you.

More here:
Thursday isn't Friday Eve - Thrive Global

What you have to offer has a deeper more personal impact on your customers lives than you learn, lead, and leverage right now! Whether you are selling an appointment, a service, or a product, its not what you know about your offering that matters most, its what you know about your customers. No doubt, you have a great message, but if you never get your message through to others, it really doesnt matter. The business of our business is people, not products or services.

Too many professionals struggle to get their customers to want to engage, want to listen, and want to move forward. The best communicators build their personal influence by asking the right questions at the right time so that they can appropriately align with what already drives their customers. Make no mistake, the right questions lead to the right conversations; the right conversations lead to the right personal connections, the right personal connections lead to the right opportunities, and the right opportunities lead to sales.

There are four types of power questions. They are relating questions, resonating questions, differentiating questions, and activating questions.

1. Relating Power Questions

Customers buy for their reasons and not ours. Relating questions help you position yourself and your offering to align with your customers, what they want, and what best serves them.

These power questions help you discover who your customers are, their character and values; they help you discover where your customers are, their knowledge, skills, and attitude; and they help you discover where your customers want to go, their desired change, and their desired state of affairs. Face it, customers dont care what you know if you dont know them.

2. Resonating Power Questions

Customers best respond to value that is personal, powerful and unique. Resonating questions help you tailor your approach and your language so that your value message is fully received, and that your customers get it.

These power questions help you learn why they are who they are; they help you learn why they are where they are at; and they help you learn why they want to get to where they want to go. Understanding your customers why, allows you to communicate your value in a way that makes the deal bigger, more personal, and more meaningful to your customers.

3. Differentiating Power Questions

The differences lie in the details. Differentiating questions help you stand out among the crowd, and effectively gain priority over price and the competition.

These power questions help you discern the details of whats most important to your customers; and they help you also discern the details of what should be most important to your customers. As Steve Jobs said, People dont know what they want until you show it to them. It is up to you to really lean-in, lead with questions, and help your customers connect the dots.

4. Activating Power Questions

If your customers cant see it, they likely wont risk it. Activating questions help you instill certainty and clearly communicate in a way that compels your customers to take action now.

These power questions help your customers experience in their minds having already moved forward, as well as experience in their minds the cost and consequences of not taking action. Your enthusiasm for your offering is important, but it is your customers mental picture that reigns supreme.

Your customers dont want a verbal brochure. They want a professional who gets them and makes the process fast, fun, and interactive! You have a great offering and a great message, but there is far more to the story you tell. In order to accurately and completely tell your story, you need to genuinely know the characters. You need real insight, and that insight can only come from asking really good questions.

The right questions lead to the right conversations; the right conversations lead to the right personal connections, the right personal connections lead to the right opportunities, and the right opportunities lead to sales. The right power questions have the power to positively affect how and what your customers think on, focus on, and take action on. Remember, its the way you treat each customer and the way you communicate your value which matters most.

If you would like help in crafting your specific power questions and boosting your personal influence, email me at [emailprotected]

Mike is obsessed with helping others build personal influence, become trusted advisors, and leverage solutions that are aligned with their customers' most powerful buying motives.

The rest is here:
4 Types of Power Questions that Boost Your Influence - Dealer Marketing Magazine