The Mind-Body Connection

Hi there! We are in the last week of September and the rainy season is in full swing here! Today, I want to talk about physical self-care and its impact on our mental health while sharing my personal experience but first..

Weekly Inventory Check

It's the last week of September and the rainy season is in full swing here. Summer is officially over, and soon it'll be fall. Have you accomplished the things you wanted to or worked hard for this month? What are your holiday plans for this year? If you haven't made any plans yet, I suggest you start planning and write them down. Writing your plans can serve as a reminder and motivate you to work hard to achieve those goals.

The Mind-Body Connection

So, the main topic I want to discuss is the importance of physical health for mental well-being. I want to talk about last Sunday. On that day, I decided to play football after almost a year of not doing so. I realized I needed to become more physically active, especially since becoming a father. I had been mostly sedentary, and I wanted to change that.

I strongly believe that physical health and exercise have a positive impact on our bodies. However, I didn't realize it could have negative effects too. When I played football last week, my thighs suddenly gave me excruciating pain. I thought it was just a result of being out of shape and figured it would improve with time. Despite the pain, I played for an hour, thinking my body would warm up and the pain would go away. But it didn't. When I got home and woke up the next day, my legs weren't functioning properly. They hurt, and I couldn't bend them. This wasn't new; I often experienced post-football pain. Usually, I'd either visit my physiotherapist to fix any muscle knots or stretch daily to alleviate the discomfort.

This time, though, the pain on my right side didn't improve; it got worse. I hoped it would heal on its own, but it didn't. Now, why am I sharing this story? Because this whole week, my usual routine was disrupted. I usually wake up at 6 a.m., spend time with my daughter, and then engage in various activities throughout the day. However, due to the pain, I could barely do anything for five days straight. I'd wake up, take care of my daughter, and go back to bed because I was in too much discomfort to do anything else. The issue isn't just the physical pain preventing me from functioning; it's the lingering irritation and discomfort affecting my mental state.

This experience made me realize the significant impact physical health has on mental well-being. When we're not physically well, it can affect our mental state. We often overlook this connection until we're in a situation where we feel far from normal. We need to prioritize our physical health alongside our goals, desires, and habits because neglecting it can lead to these nagging irritations that affect our mental state.

Want More?

· This article talks about a research conducted to find out how poor physical health can serve as a strong indicator of poor mental health and the data revealed that poor physical health, particularly when it involved the metabolic, liver, or immune system, was a better indication of poor mental health than brain changes that show up on an MRI.

· This article talks about why having a healthy body is crucial for a healthy mind and provides practical tools to enhance your physical well-being.

· In this article, we explore scientific research that highlights how mental health challenges can contribute to physical disabilities. We also delve into specific diseases that can become more painful and challenging when mental health is unstable.

Read of the Week

Reasons to Stay Alive is a novel and memoir written by novelist Matt Haig, published on 5 March 2015. It is based on his experiences of living with depression and anxiety disorder, which he suffered from the age of 24 and how he fought with his illness.

Thoughts to leave you with

Our physical health affects how we feel mentally. I'm challenging myself, and I encourage you to do the same. In October, my wife and I are taking on a "no takeout" challenge. It's not just about saving money; it's about seeing how we feel when we stop eating unhealthy fast food. We believe it's not just about the finances; it's about our bodies. Right now, we eat a lot of unhealthy food, and we want to see how our bodies and minds change when we make healthier choices.

So, in October, I'll be exercising more and eating better, and I'll let you know how it affects my mental state by the end of the month.

The Weekly Vasl Podcast

Our Episode on Generative AI is out now! You can watch it below! Ahad and Phil address the pressing concern of how generative AI could diminish the demand for human expertise. They stress the significance of striking a harmonious equilibrium between automation and the unique human capacities of judgment and intuition. This dialogue offers a well-rounded view of generative AI's capacity to revolutionize industries, showcasing both the advantages it brings and the hurdles it poses. Additionally, it underscores the necessity for flexibility and ethical deployment of technology as we chart our path forward.

We also are on Spotify, Apple, Google, and wherever you listen!

The Vasl Meetup

This week, we had our very first official meetup of . It was a lot of fun, and I want to thank everyone who joined. The meetup was all about asking good questions and having great conversations. If you want to stay updated on future events, register on this link.