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Feb 9 - I CAN do it vs. I CAN’T do it.

Feb 9 - I CAN do it vs. I CAN’T do it.

🍌 I CAN do it vs. I CAN’T do it.

February 09, 2024

MENTAL FITNESS FOR THE MODERN MYND 🧠💪🏼

Ah, the power of a single letter … it can transform “can” into “can’t” and turn “curious” George into “furious” George. This week’s newsletter is inspired by hard things; those things we can do, can’t do, want to do, don’t want to do, will and won’t do.

We recently tuned into a podcast by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. In this episode, he sat down with the extraordinary, inspiring, and incredibly resilient David Goggins. For those who may not be familiar, David Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL, a highly accomplished ultramarathon runner, a best-selling author, and an influential public speaker. His story, along with his attitude and perseverance, is truly mind-blowing.

Their recent episode is a must-listen (be warned, explicit content and no f’s given). Trust us, it will fire you up —particularly if you're like us: occasionally in need of a coach who is going to push you...hard. Spoiler alert: there are no shortcuts in mental fitness or in life.

In addition to Goggins's remarkable story, Dr. Huberman imparted some incredible wisdom on the impact that difficult tasks have on our brains. Here are a few key learnings:

The Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (aMCC) is a part of your brain structure. A wealth of new research in humans indicates that engaging in activities one finds undesirable (re: you don’t want to do) leads to an increase in the size of this brain area.
This growth is specifically associated with doing things you don't want to do - like taking a cold shower, putting down the cupcake, and/or going to your neighbor’s Galentine’s party - rather than just adding more activities to your life.
This area of the brain tends to be smaller in obese individuals; however, it enlarges when they adhere to a diet. It is more pronounced in athletes and expands in individuals who view themselves as facing challenges and overcoming them. It also maintains or is larger in people with a long lifespan.
Your aMCC (willpower) can grow throughout your lifespan by regularly doing undesired things, that we define as hard.
Note: This part of your brain is extremely malleable and just as easily as it expands, it contracts.
Final Note this time: Dr. Andrew Huberman describes this phenomenon not merely as an indicator of willpower but as a testament to the will to live. YES YES YES!!!

So, the next time you do something hard, visualize your brain literally (!) expanding and remember that it just as easily shrinks if you don’t continue to do the hard things.

If you need a sign (or a little tough love) to do something today, here it is folks.

What is one thing you can do today that you don’t want to do?

Let’s get it.

Speaking of hard things - the next evolution of MYNDY is underway. After consistent customer feedback (thank you all!), we’re building the everyday mental fitness application for the modern-day, high-performing professional. We’re looking for incredible MYNDYs to share feedback and ideas on some really exciting prototypes we’ve been working on. If you’re interested, drop us your e-mail below and we’ll be in touch to arrange a 15-minute call.

Let us know here!

INSPIRATION

(Why we share this: This is a spark of info + research that gets you excited to practice Mental Fitness)

“Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

- Michael Jordan

PERSPIRATION (Why we share this: These are fun + small exercises to work out your MYND for impact)

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we are bringing you two riddles that made us laugh - hard!

What did the hamburger buy his sweetheart?
What did the two volcanos say to each other on Valentine's day?

CELEBRATION

(Why we share this: This is a way to celebrate your MYND and the MYNDY community)

It’s time to celebrate your to-DONE list! We all know what it feels like when our to-do list becomes overwhelming. The Zeigarnik Effect, as explored by Roy Baumeister and EJ Masicampo at Florida State University, describes our mind's tendency to fixate on unfinished tasks. In order to calm the fatigue that is often associated with unfinished, derailed, or overwhelming tasks lists, creating a system for organizing your to-do lists as well as being sure to celebrate and acknowledge your done (or to-done, as we like to say) tasks are great ways to make your infamous to-do list more rewarding.

Go get yourself a cookie, latte, pizza for the things you to-DONE’d today.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Like us, Nike is all in on a holistic approach to wellness. Debuting in London, Nike is launching it’s global wellness festival and will travel to Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Milan and Paris later this year – LET’S go!!

This weeks perspiration challenge answer:

1. An onion ring

2. Do you lava me like I lava you!

Hat tip to Riddles.com for this weeks perspiration challenge.

How was the newsletter this week? We’d love quick your thoughts:

Loved it 🤩 | So-so 🙃 | Not for me 🥴