RE:HUMAN

In this episode, we will discuss the current state of the internet of things, how embedded biometric sensors will impact human peak performance. Which industries will be disrupted by IoT and more.   https://rehuman.com https://jolsid.com https://instagram.com/jolsid  

Do you feel like you never have enough time to do the things you plan or are on your task list? In this episode, we will go over the Law of forced efficiency and learn how to get the most out the time that we have.  https://rehuman.com https://jolsid.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jolsid Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolsid/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rehuman

Brain Tracy - Eat that Frog We all have our frogs, which mean the important tasks that we’ve put off for whatever reason. The key to success is to eat your frogs quickly, completely and with focused determination. Summary: If you want to gain control of your life, change the way you work. Action is the key to accomplishment. People who do better do things differently. They do the right things right. Eating the frog means identifying your most important task and tackling it with single-minded focus until it is completed. Launch directly into your most important tasks. Your ability to focus on your most important task will determine your success. People fail because they aren’t absolutely clear about their goals. The best rule for success is to think on paper. Write down your goals. Every night, make a list of what you want to accomplish the next day. Have a master list, a monthly list, a weekly list, and a daily list. Identify the one skill that, if you developed it, would have the biggest impact on your career success   RE:HUMAN - https://rehuman.com JOLSID - https://jolsid.com    

Steve Tendon helped with the creation of the Malta Blockchain Regulations, one of the world's first blockchain regulations that were specially designed to regulate and structure the growing bitcoin, altcoin (cryptocurrency) and blockchain industry. Steve is also the founder of Chain Strategies consulting. He is a management consultant, speaker, and mentor who works with organizations to create high-performance teams and help them adapt to new emerging technologies. In this episode, we will discuss the regulations for blockchains, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IOT) and the future of blockchain industry.

Crystal Rose is a lifelong entrepreneur. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sensay, a Los Angeles-based artificial intelligence (A.I.) and communications platform and SENSE, a blockchain protocol. In the last 3 years as an established company, Sensay has raised $21M in capital. Sense Chat is a decentralized apps for iOS, Android app coming soon. Sense Chat is powered by EOS blockchain protocol. Sense Chat allows users to have private video chats using Smart Contracts, connecting you anonymously and securely with friends without sharing your identity. This innovative project is the first decentralized messenger app on EOS, providing peer-to-peer connections with zero data storage or centralized intermediaries. Sense Chat's CEO Crystal Rose, shares her experience getting Sense Chat off the ground. Fundamentals of startups, Ethereum vs EOS and more.

John McAfee is the founder of McAfee Antivirus and later in 2010, McAfee antivirus was acquired by Intel Corporation for $7.68 billion. John has been involved in blockchain space a few years now and has great insights on the future of this emerging technology.  In this episode, we will discuss the implications of blockchain technology, the future of bitcoin, the current environment of crypto exchanges and more.

Effective verbal or spoken communication is dependant on a number of factors and cannot be fully isolated from other important interpersonal skills such as rh2kj32f ...Continue Reading  

Non-Verbal communication is perceived by our brain as a more credible source of information than the verbal one. We say fine but we are not really fine and...Continue Reading

But there are many other types of communications methods we use today, which if we understand properly can help you become an impactful communicator....Continue Reading

Functional theory takes a stand to understand different attitudes individuals have towards other people, objects or issues pertaining to different circumstances...Continue Reading

When humans are met with contracting information to their personal beliefs or values, they tend to take actions to reduce the dissonance and also possibly...Continue Reading

This theory is based on learning a new process or behaviour via the process of association. Two stimuli or events are linked together to produce a new learned response in a person or animal. Classical conditioning takes place in...Continue Reading

How people explain things, that’s attribution theory.  It’s a theory that explain why and how people perceive events the way they do. How the perceiver gathers information together to form a.... Continue Reading

Needing to know the person you are planning on pursuing is the key to any theory of persuasion. Get to know their motivations, values, personality, goals and also their challenges. The better you know your target...continue reading

The positive effect of scarcity is that it helps us prioritize things or tasks that are more important than the distractions surrounding us. It also helps to...Continue Reading

This simple act of seeking help and being rescued is so deeply embedded in our subconscious mind, that every time when we get stuck we subconsciously seek...Continue Reading

As humans, we possess a natural human need to form relationships and belong to a group. Therefore, there exists a strong motivation for us....(continue reading)

Social Proof is a psychological phenomenon that is also called informational social influence where people replicate the actions of others in attempt to be perceived as...continue reading

Consistency is what psychologists call a “decision heuristic” or a shortcut for us to make decisions. Life is complicated enough already. Consistency is a practical survival skill in this complex world by giving us....continue reading

Reciprocity - This simple gesture of giving back will increase the levels of oxytocin a brain chemical that is also responsible for love, compassion and care for others. Please listen to episode no.14 for details on oxytocin and how it can...continue reading

Persuasion is an art, because too much of it can make you look aggressive and too little makes you a pest. But when applied right Persuasion can get you what you want.   Persuasion’s first written accounts are found in ancient Greece, where all trials were held in assembly or in public setting, both Prosecution and Defence rested their case as it's done today but the more persuasive you are, the higher the chances of the decision being in your favour. Persuasion was so essential that Artistotle even provided 3 reason why someone should learn Persuasion. According to Aristotle if you lose a case or trial it’s due to lack of Persuasion skills. Therefore you must learn Persuasion in order to defend yourself. It is an excellent tool for teaching - Because as a teacher your need to have students attention so your message as a teacher can be conveyed effectively. Also, as a teacher your need to gain respect of your students and that can only be accomplished if they see you as an influencer. A good communicator must be able to argue from both end of an argument Furthermore, Aristotle provided 3 key ingredients that an effective persuasion master must have: ethos (credibility) logos (reason) pathos (emotion).....continue reading

Imagine that you’re an employee trying to transition to an entrepreneur life. You will need resources to jumpstart a great business idea. How do you get people to help? How do you convince clients or customers to go with you and not with their current vendor? If your target audience are global then how would you communicate to global audience without running into cross - cultural differences?  Another situation could be as a leader you need your employees or team to change the direction of a project, with ease without significant opposition?....continue reading

Human beings are social creatures. We need social interactions in order for us to be happy and to thrive. Also, this same notion of being social was responsible for  the growth of our civilization, it all happened by sharing ideas, developing them and critiquing them. Because of the social interactions we...continue reading Dunbar's Numbers - Relationship reboot

Many of us have experienced failure, we have failed many time and we have recovered from it. But for a lot of us the sense of failure is so profound that it takes over our mind and make it a permanent home, and because of this we start either overlooking our achievements or undermine them because we are always trying to protect ourselves from the experience of failure, so we are on a failure look out and missing out on the moments of celebration of our achievements. Fear of failure forms a self limiting beliefs that becomes a barriers to our future success.We start saying things like we can’t do this, or that won’t work, its not doable and other kinds of self limiting talks....continue reading

Today we will be talking about excuses and yes we all make excuses everything single day. Standard excuses we make usually are like,  my dog ate my homework, or telling your friend that you are busy,  but really what you feeling  like is staying in and watching Netflix. We are not talking about those excuses, even though too many of those are not good either. Excuse we will be discussing are the excuses made by Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Creatives that hold them back from achieving greatness. These are the excuses of not following through, or excuses that are direct result of bad planning...continue reading

There are two types of comparisons that we do:Downward comparisons (with those who seem to have it worse than we do). Upward comparisons (with people who seem to have it better than us) and Making downward comparisons often make us feel better about ourselves and our accomplishments.  But when we make upward comparisons....continue reading

Perfectionism can result from a rigid mindset in which you don’t change your expectations based on present situation your are in. For example, you started a business or a creative endeavor, you set certain standards and expectations for your business. But now as you get into this business even further or going deep into the creative process, you realize that only if you had access to extra resource things would be even better. Now, in order to obtain these resources you start focusing on ways to get more resources so you can achieve the standards and expectations you had initially set for this product....continue reading   JOLSID.com

So you want to be successful, happy and financially independent as soon as possible. You think you have the best idea that will help you accomplish this goal fast. Now a few months have passed and there is no change in your personal finances and your golden idea doesn’t seem to be as golden any more. You start to doubt yourself and you get more focused on the daily routine of the same job (if you have one)  or if not then the process of finding one. Now lounging around and doing nothing, feels good, but when it becomes a regular part of your life then you start to wonder what’s going on? Why am I lazy? What’s wrong with me? Is it just me or are others lazy as well? Are some people lazier than others? You ask yourself all these questions.....continue reading   JOLSID.com

Have you ever heard of the Mozart effect? A set of research results indicating that listening to Mozart's music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks. Later it was mis-interpreted that listening to Mozart can: raise IQ by focusing attention, enhance creativity, reduce stress and tension by moderating heartbeat, blood pressure, and body temperature. Other labs were...continue reading JOLSID.com

Elevated blood sugars damage blood vessels causing progressive decline in brain function. Studies conducted on subjects living with diabetes indicated deficits in learning, memory, motor speed and other cognitive functions. Frequent exposure to high levels of sugar lowers brain capacity, as higher HbA1C (hemoglobin A1c - used to measure plasma glucose concentration) levels is associated with greater degree of brain shrinkage. According to a 2011 study, there was a positive correlation between higher sugar intake and lower cognitive function, which was measured by......continue reading JOLSID.com

Choline is a water-soluble nutrient, which is grouped with the B-complex vitamins. To humans, it’s an essential nutrient because it’s used as a precursor or a “building block” of a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Inside the brain, acetylcholine acts as a neuromodulator altering the way our brain structures process information from point to point having a direct impact on mental clarity and memory.   In 1998 the National Academy of Sciences, USA, evaluated that choline as a required nutrient for humans and recommended daily intake amounts. Choline is one of those key molecules in the world of neuroscience, that has gained popularity in the past few decades due to its ability to not only enhance memory, but also tackle the big guys like Alzheimer's disease. Memory-EnhancerA study conducted in 2004 by Dr. SH Zeisel suggested that when rat pups received choline supplements (in utero or in the second week of their life), their brain function changed the development of the hippocampus in the brain resulting in enhanced memory function. Choline supplementation is......continue reading JOLSID.com

  It’s pretty common knowledge that exercise helps you feel better, physically AND mentally. But have you ever wondered what happens deep down inside our brains that give us that euphoric feeling? Science claims that there are neurobiological effects of physical exercise ranging from change in brain structure, brain function, and cognition. Doing any kind of physical activity helps, however studies have shown that aerobic activity specifically has been found to increase behavioural and neural plasticity, as well as long term effects such as: increased neurological activity, improved memory, improved stress coping and enhanced cognitive control of behaviour...continue reading   JOLSID.com

There’s one chemical that’s responsible for our mood, anxiety and sleep patterns?The star of today’s show is 5-HTP or 5-hydroxytryptophan (also known as the serotonin precursor), It’s an amino acid which our body makes by breaking down another amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that we obtain from various foods. Once 5-HTP is made, with the help of Vitamin B6 it’s converted into another chemical called Serotonin. And as we all know, Serotonin is the “happy” neurotransmitter that controls everything from our mood to our... continue reading   JOLSID.com

World today is moving much faster. Skills required for us to perform at higher levels have increased rapidly as well. Now we are expected to have the working knowledge of more than one thing. People are now acquiring more and more skills and that has raised the benchmark of what an average person needs in order to either compete in their job market or for an entrepreneur running their own business So the question is in this fast paced world of constant changes  how do we increase our cognitive performance to keep up and excel in the world...... continue reading JOLSID.com

GABA is one of the most important amino acid produced in our brain. It acts like the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, working to calm neurons that are firing in excited patterns. JOLSID.com It controls our mood, ability to focus, promotes relaxation and controls stress. Glutamate speeds things up in the brain, GABA does the opposite. So you can clearly see where we’re going with this… How does GABA work in the brain?It’s synthesized directly from the neurotransmitter glutamate de-carb-oxy-lase and can be reversed back to glutamate via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Brain GABA concentrations and systemic GABA have a reflective effect on each other, which means change in one causes change in the other. This is how GABA self-inhibits itself, by keeping the concentration inside the brain constant.......continue reading  

We recently received some great feedback from a listener. The listener asked why we don't simply focus on success hacks for Creatives and Entrepreneurs. I totally agree creatives and entrepreneurs are in a similar domain but why Athletes. JOLSID.com So, thanks to our listener for your feedback because it resulted in this episode. Entrepreneurs, if you don’t have the tenacity and self-confidence of an athlete then it will  be a tough road for you. The Athletes that don't have the creativity and the hacker mentality of an Entrepreneur than it will be hard for you as well. So, for any individual either Athlete or an Entrepreneur they must possess or either acquire the following traits:   Evolving Creativity Self-Confidence Tenacity and a Hacker mindset, which is being open-minded and always looking for efficient ways to solve a problem... continue reading  

Most of us are aware of Vitamin B12 through the VITAMIN B COMPLEX SUPPLEMENT accompanied along with other Vitamin Bs. Before we get into vitamin B 12, I would like to discuss one of the emails we received following our creativity crisis podcast.   The individual requested to be anonymous, but they had a very interesting question. Their question was and quote “I went to university and graduated with a degree with a really high GPA. I have a job in my related field, that i enjoy. I often find myself thinking of various creative ideas that i could potentially start a business with, but i never seem to stick to one idea. I keep coming up new ideas, but  I fail to execute any of them. I’m not sure where to start, my mind just keeps wandering.   In our creativity crisis podcast, we discussed that one of the traits of creative people is that they have to come up with many ideas for one good idea to implement.   For Entrepreneurs and Creatives the easy part is to come up with an idea but the tough part is to follow through with the execution of that idea. That’s why we have such a high rate of business failures. It's not because of the lack of ideas it's because of the lack of follow through and persistence.   That’s why in this podcast we decided to take the Neuroscience approach vs the fluffy feel good stuff. We just wanted to identify the factors that are responsible for someone not following through, or failing to execute, and the mindset that caused their business to fail.   After reading numerous books on motivational speaking, inspiration and strategies. We figured that not all but most are like your morning coffee that make you feel good at the moment. But they don’t have any proven method that you can replicate within your life. That’s the thing with science it can be replicated, as long as you follow the required steps, you will have the same outcome as the person before you.   But for motivational books to work, you have to buy into their belief system and most of them are like a one pill approach. But real life applications and results vary from person to person and in very few cases leave any factual evidence.   So let's take an example. Say you are super motivated and you just had an aha! moment that you can start a business of your own so you don’t have to work for anyone else. Or you can create something of value that others will pay you for. That’s great.   Now you went out and bought some books, youtubed some business gurus, checked out a few podcasts and now you are inspired like there is no tomorrow.   Ideally the initial steps are to choose your name, website and logo. Those are fun parts but by the time you actually get to shipping your final product out you will have little to no motivation to do so.   Especially if you are a creative or a content creator then you might start running out of original things, then what? Well at this point most entrepreneurs and creatives try to go for mentors and courses.   The things they don’t know but someone else might, its like you didn't get good enough sleep the night before and instead of recognizing the lack of sleep and maybe napping a bit you decide to blame things on work for making you tired.   That's the same approach we take with our new businesses, we never really look deep enough at the causes and keep running to the gurus.   There is nothing wrong with the gurus but what is wrong is going to the wrong person seeking a totally different result. It's like going to the optometrist to get your back fixed. That's the reason we share research with you so you can make an educated decision and identify your own problems and enhance your own performance.   Sorry for taking forever to answer the question and going on a tangent.   So vitamin B12 and all other supplements discussed in this podcast all have direct impact on either your motivation, mindset, mental clarity or overall well being not because we believe it, because it's science and results can be replicated. Here are a few facts about what happens when you are vitamin B12 deficient:   Symptoms of a deficiency often mimic those of dementia, such as memory loss, disorientation, and difficulty thinking and reasoning. It can be hard distinguishing deficiency from dementia, especially since older folks are at risk for both.   If Vitamin B12 persists for years, it  can cause severe, irreversible neurologic damage—like an inability to concentrate. Other permanent side effects include nerve damage, insomnia, erectile dysfunction, even difficulty with bowel   More than a couple of drinks a week can even reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 because B12 gets is stored in the liver, and alcohol consumption can impair liver function and deplete B12 stores or make it harder for the liver to use it.     As athletes, creative and entrepreneurs our brain and body are the best things we have. Even if we fail at one venture or competition  we can still have chance for another comeback as long as our cognitive abilities are in their prime. Few facts about Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 is a powerhouse supplement, because it even helps create DNA, it is crucial for Brain function, boosts Immune systems and creates new blood cells.   Vitamin B12 deficiencies are found mostly in vegan or vegetarians because most of the vitamin B12 is found in meats and dairy products. If you are over 50 and feel exhausted, rapid heartbeats and brain fog there are chances you are vitamin B12 deficient.   As you age your stomach produces less acid and acid is critical for Vitamin B12 absorption. If you are experiencing cognitive decline then as a first step you should get tested for vitamin B12 deficiency.   How to:   Unlike fat-soluble vitamins that accumulate in your body and can have side effects in excess, B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning your body only absorbs a small amount and the rest is excreted.   Supplementation of vitamin B12 tends to be around 1,000mcg (1mg) of supplemental vitamin B12 that you can buy over the counter. Even though it is a safe vitamin, please consult a licensed physician before taking any medications or unsure about the dosage. You can vist JOLSID.com and access the list of foods that are rich in vitamin B12. or by visit www.jolsid.com/resources.

Few months ago CBS covered the story of Matcha Madness and they went into great length to interview Matcha enthusiasts and its supporters as to why they were so supportive of this Green Tea. Especially, when we look at the numbers and how Matcha has increased 10 folds in popularity within North America in last few years.   As you know we never take things just on face value, so we went ahead and did an experiment of our own. Details of which we will share with you in how to section of this podcast.   Now as Professionals, Creatives, Athletes and Entrepreneurs you are always looking for ways to enhance your cognitive performance within your respective areas of expertise. Well Matcha is a good tool to have in your Neuro Enhancement arsenal. Especially when you need to combat stress and fatigue with all the benefits of coffee, without any of its side effects.   So, let’s examine this closely and see what is in Matcha that makes it so popular? Matcha literally means “powdered tea”. Normally when you consume green tea, you order a traditional green tea, which is when the green tea leaves are infused with hot water, and then the leaves are discarded. When you order matcha, which is a form of green tea, you are actually drinking the leaves. The fine powder is made into a solution by mixing about a teaspoon of matcha powder with a third cup of hot water, and then whisked with a bamboo brush to make it nice and frothy.   Unlike traditional green tea, matcha preparation involves covering the tea plants with shade cloths before they’re harvested. This triggers the growth of leaves with better flavor and texture, which are hand selected, steamed briefly to stop fermentation, then dried and aged in cold storage, which deepens the flavor. The dried leaves are then stone-ground into a fine powder.   Matcha offers many health benefits because it is made from high-quality tea, and you are ingesting the whole leaf. This packs it full of more nutrients than regular steeped green tea. Matcha is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been tied to protection against heart disease and cancer, as well as better blood sugar regulation, blood pressure reduction, and anti-aging.   Since you are consuming the whole leaf while drinking matcha, you actually consume as much caffeine as you would in a brewed cup of coffee. BUt the good news is, you won't experience that same caffeine buzz because matcha contains l-theanine (please check out our episode 9 for details on theanine), which induces more of an alert calmness. Theanine works by increasing the production of GABA in the brain. Similar to the effects of meditation, it also stimulates alpha brainwaves naturally associated with deep states of relaxation and enhanced mental clarity. l-theanine may increase learning, attention and sensations of pleasure as well. These effects are likely due to the natural dopamine boost brought on by l-theanine.   Why take it? Green tea shows promise for protecting our brain health. In a study presented at the 2015 International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases, those who drank green tea one to six days a week had less mental decline than those who didn't drink it, or who drank black tea or coffee.   Research done at the Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science in Japan and the team led by Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara, MD, from Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, revealed that 12 healthy volunteers, who received a beverage containing 27.5 grams of green tea extract showed increased connectivity between the parietal and frontal cortex of the brain compared to those who drank a non-green tea beverage. The increased activity resulted in improved performance on working memory tasks and decreased chances of Dementia.   According to another study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, catechins, commonly found in green tea, can penetrate into the eye tissue, protecting it from glaucoma and other eye diseases.   Green tea or the Powdered potent form called Matcha in addition to its cognitive benefits, it also showed significant reduction in prostate cancer.    How to take it? Now our experiment with Matcha Sid, our co-host that you heard in the intro, started with half a teaspoon and felt great focus throughout the day but felt that it didn’t give him the the same as rush as coffee. So, the next day he increased the amount to 1 teaspoon and he didn’t feel good. He felt like puking right after he had Matcha but the cognitive effects were exactly the same as the half teaspoon.   The next day Sid went ahead and increased the dose to one and half teaspoon and within minutes of drinking Matcha, he rushed to the bathroom and started puking.   We researched into it and found that Matcha has detoxifying properties in it and drinking one cup is the same as drinking 10 cups of tea, according to Lifehacker.org. The nutrients and vitamins loaded in Matcha are super beneficial for your fat loss, Neurological function, detoxifying  and anti-oxidants properties.   So please go slow with increasing your dose and due to L-Theanine present in Matcha you will not feel the jitters you get from coffee. Please do not repeat the mistake that Sid did just to experience the rush he used to get from coffee.   We suggest that you locate an organic Matcha because You do not want to be ingesting pesticides and other chemicals that can cause harm to your body.   A healthy Matcha green tea should be certified organic and ideally come from Japan where the organic certification is of a stricter standard than in the USA or China.   If you are drinking matcha for the first time, please start with a ½ teaspoon in a cup of almost boiling water, and slowly work your way up to 1 teaspoon over a few weeks. To make matcha properly, you should use a bamboo whisk to whisk the match with a little bit of water to make a paste first, and then pour in the rest of your water. If you are in a rush put the matcha in your mug and pour the water in and just stir, it tastes almost as good, but you might not get the frothiness. Recipie that you might want to try for boost in the morning. Add all ingredients below as per your taste: Acai Berry Ginseng Barley Grass Spirulina (another super duper food) Raw organic honey (if needed) Lemon Matcha green tea has a natural delicate sweetness and it’s best enjoyed without sweetener, especially not fattening white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Try it without sweetener first and see how you like it. If you need to put sweetener in try something like a single drop of stevia.

Today’s topics is more of a thought provoking question which we can only solve collectively. This is a topic that has impacted all of us and is now a part of our daily lives.   If you wait until the end we will share with you how you can check your current stress levels.   So, Even though Stress is subjective just like pain, we all experience it differently. But it's something we can’t deny that we are all going through. I don’t think there is anything we can do that will eliminate stress from our daily lives.   Either you are a mom or dad staying home and taking care of your family and kids, or you are a professional, or you own your own business and love what you do, or you are an astronaut living outside this planet. We all have one thing in common besides being human, it is that we all face everyday problems and that they evoke stress in our lives.   So what is STRESS? There are two kinds of stresses: Physiological Stress - When there is an imminent danger to our well being or body, our nervous system activates the response by increasing our oxygen intake with deep breathing, increased heart rate to send blood to the muscles required in the body to defend us from the threat, the blood vessels in non active tissues contract or become narrower to reduce blood flow to nonessential parts. And the after effect of the Physiological change is fight or flight.   Psychological Stress - When we are not in an imminent danger but there is something wrong with either our surroundings or within our body like digestive disorders etc.   What do standing frustrated in a checkout line or sitting in a traffic jam have in common with fleeing from predators when compared to our ancestors 1000s of years ago? Clearly, these activities are very different, yet they provoke the same responses in the body— the release of hormones (glucocorticoids and epinephrine) to improve memory, boost immune function, enhance muscular activity, and restore physiological balance. Over long periods of time, as these hormones continue to be released, the consequences can be negative: memory is impaired, immune function is suppressed, and energy is stored as fat. Both kinds of stress are important and are even beneficial in short bursts but when our body experiences these in prolonged sessions and become chronic, that is when it becomes damaging to us.   A study conducted in 2014 by Dr. Jean Twenge, a professor of Psychology at the San Diego State University and the author of more than 90 scientific publications and books. Her study compared the Differences in Depressive Symptoms in the U.S. between people born between 1982–2013 Across four surveys that took in to account 6.9 million Americans. The subjects reported substantially higher levels of depressive symptoms, particularly somatic symptoms, between 2000s–2010s compared to the 1980s–1990s. High school students in the 2010s (vs. the 1980s) reported more symptoms of trouble sleeping, thinking, remembering, and shortness of breath and were twice as likely to have seen a professional for mental issues. College students in recent years (vs. the 1980s) were more likely to report feeling overwhelmed and to believe they were below average in mental and physical health, but were less likely to say they felt depressed.   How can that be? Most people don’t realize that having trouble sleeping and remembering are symptoms of depression. Many people admit to being stressed or overwhelmed but don’t consider themselves depressed. The problem is that stress (psychologists usually call it anxiety) is a risk factor for depression, and depression doesn’t always appear as extreme lethargy and sadness – it often shows up in bodily symptoms. But the important question is Why are we suffering more with stress now?   Dr.Twenge  suggests in her article in Psychology Today that there three causes of stress:   Relationships -  and community ties are weaker Goals -  That all our goals and aspirations are either based on directly or indirectly either gaining More money, Fame or to improve Self-Image. There is nothing wrong in gaining in the previously mentioned things but when your entire existence and life’s success or  failure is dependent on these factors that does cause stress.   It causes stress because all these things are controlled by numerous external factors that are not entirely in our control. So it's like leaving home for a vacation but without booking a flight, and just hoping everything will align. Just imagine how stressful that would be.   Expectations - Our expectations are not exactly aligned personally with us but they are adapted social norms or adapted ideas like “you can be anything you want to be” and if one person can do it then you can to. There is nothing wrong with these ideas or mindset but now lets try to apply them to real life, If you don't have a skill, talent or physical capacity to achieve certain expectations then just by thinking you can do it won’t really do it.   There is a theory and then their is real life applications. Theories sound promising, and even dare us to try something new. But the faster we understand that certain things are only theoretically possible either due to application shortcomings or lack of technological advancements they are not applicable in real life.   So just subscribing to one mindset and not adapting to the changing world and upcoming ideas can create more long term stress and eventual depression.   Today we don’t have many how to: because we wanted this podcast to initiate a discussion about what are other major causes you think are impacting our world today?   Please send us your feedback and responses at hello@jolsid.com along with your twitter handle so we can give you a shout out on this podcast. If you prefer to stay anonymous but would like us to read your feedback on this episode please mention that in your email.   But we would like to summarize today’s podcast with a tiny HOW to: 1-Mingle more and build more relationships with people that impact your life in a positive manner, either over social networks or in person. No matter how you think just go and find your tribe that you feel you belong to the most.   2- Set goals that are more internal and you have control over - for example personal development and ongoing education is something you have control over and it will benefit you no matter what.   3 - Expectations - Set high expectations but be prepared to fail fast and fail often. Always keep adapting to new things. Remember change is the only constant.   We also, have two links to the Stress test on JOLSID.com/Resources   Thanks for tunin it.

Today we we have an interesting topic about Emotions vs Feeling. This is also a very important topic because both Emotions and feelings make us who we are and how others perceive us. Basically, they run the show.   We will be going over  What is an Emotion? and What is a Feeling? What can we do about them? Because usually we end up with their aftermath and try to make sense of it all, just for it to repeat again.   Without wasting anytime let’s do this   We use EMOTIONS and FEELINGS interchangeably in our everyday day speech.   For the past 2 decades there has been an  intense amount of interest in these two topics and that is reflected on the total amount of ongoing research on both Emotions and Feelings. Currently there are many theories about Emotions and Feeling from different disciplines of science like Psychology, Neuroscience, Sociology, History, Medicine, Philosophy and even Computer Science. The computer science’s focus is to understand the science of customers emotions on the internet. Emotion…. in the most simple terms. It is the mental state that influences bodily actions, whereas Feeling is a bodily response that impacts our mental state.   Scientifically speaking   The discoveries made through neural mapping of the limbic system, the neurobiological explanation of human emotion is that when subject’s cognition analyzes a given situation, it in turn starts a biological change or a physiological response which is activated by various hormones and neurochemicals like dopamine, nor-adrenaline and serotonin.   There are two key components of an emotion Cognitive analysis and Physiological response Furthermore the physiological response can potentially initiate an Action and Expression which in turn can provoke feelings.   Now here is how it will play out in the real world.   imagine yourself you are standing in a playground and you see a snake approaching, your brain will now interpret or assess this event -  meaning you will try to make sense of the situation based on your social norm,  that it is a snake and snakes are dangerous, then this cognitive analysis will starts biological changes such as increased heart rate or pituitary adrenal response which in turn will activate neurochemicals like dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin.   now based on your interpretation of snakes and the physiological response you will experience fear as an emotion.   But further more if you choose to run away from that snake that would be an action you took based on your cognitive analysis and physiological response. Now while running from this snake you start to scream, the screaming will be an EXPRESSION and if, let’s say you fall on the ground and land on a rock hurting yourself and you experience pain, this pain is the FEELING. And then this feeling of pain registers back in the brain and this experience forms a memory.   So, in short - You experience Fear an Emotion and that Fear caused feeling of pain.   While emotions are temporary,  the feeling that they evoke can remain or even grow over a lifetime.   Dr. Sarah McKay a Neuroscientist and a TEDx speaker said it perfectly that quote“ Emotions play out in the theater of the body. Feelings play out in the theater of the mind.”   And now let's think about it, how many times we have used Emotions and Feelings interchangeably in the past.   Also, there are 5 basic emotions, which can further be divided into sub categories which we will cover in our later episodes.   The 5 basic emotions are: Anger Fear Sadness Disgust and Happiness   Now it's the HOW to: Since we know and can now identify the differences between and Emotions and a feelings, what can we do about them?   Well if you are a Creative, an athlete or an Entrepreneur, now let’s say you experience temporary emotions of anger, fear, sadness but that emotion evokes a feeling that in turn creates a long term memory or even worse a phobia or a condition, that can potentially hinder your future performance or even make you give up on a dream or a passion.   Can you maybe think of a time when you experienced an emotion that was temporary,  but the feeling that it evoked stayed over time or even got worse?   Things that can be detrimental to you when mixed with a strong emotion accompanied with intense feeling:   Decision making Risk taking Creativity   Now how to:   Step 1: Go to the bookstore and please buy a journal that will be your SUCCESS journal. Step 2: You will start with the most recent strong emotion and an intense feeling that was provoked by that emotion. Before you begin describing the scenario, create two columns in the corner of the page and label one part as Emotion and the second as feeling. now clearly identify what emotion it was that you experienced and the feeling it evoked. It could be anger and that anger made you cry (crying is a physiological response) that crying made your eyes hurt (the pain) was the feeling.   Usually, we deal with Emotions, Feelings and their aftermath without knowing what to do. We try to fix external factors that caused. Not knowing that just by simply being able to identify the difference between Emotion and feeling alone can significantly enhance your emotional intelligence, quality of relationships and productivity.   Not only that, its will even have social benefits and might even make you are social rockstar.   To learn more about Productivity episode 3 and for Emotional Intelligence episode 5. Thanks for tuning in.

Creativity is the phenomenon by which something new is created and the newly created creation is somewhat of a value to either the receiver or the creator. The new creation could be intangible like a song, a theory, an algorithm, or  a software. it can also be tangible like a painting or an invented device.   According to numerous authors, we are currently in a creativity crisis because first of all, creativity decreases with age, and secondly our new generations are turning out to be less creative when compared to their parents at the same age. We are getting smarter every decade and our IQ levels are rising but creativity is declining.   In 2005 Dr. KH Kim conducted a study where she analysed all the studies published between 1965 and 2005 that presented any relationship between intelligence and creativity. And she concluded that there was a very negligible relationship between creativity and intelligence. Even though you have a high IQ that does not make you a creative person.   To get further clarity and confirmation reagrding her findings of this 2005 study, Dr.Kim gathered a total of 272,599 TTCT scores from Kindergartners to adults. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). the most reliable creativity test that has been translated into 40 languages around the world.   She even included scores of participants from Canada.   Dr. Kim’s objective was to analyze each element of creativity. The elements of creativity are: Fluency score: represents total number of ideas generated Originality score; explains how unique those idea are Abstractness of Title score: explain how symbolic and abstract  the ideas are Resistance to Premature closure score: describes how receptive and open minded the subjects are   After a rigorous peer-review process Dr. Kim’s study results were published in the Creativity Research Journal in November 2011. And the results are as follows: Fluency score had declined since 1990. Fluency score is  really important because in order to come up with a unique or good idea you have to be able to generate many ideas first.   Originality score had also declined since 1990 indicating that we are less able to generate unusual ideas. Originality is one of the most critical elements of creative thinking.  Rationale for this decline is Psychologically, most of us are uncomfortable with the change,                   uncertainty, new ideas, challenges, and risk that accompany creativity and creative behavior.           In order for thinkers to present original ideas, the climate needs to be receptive, or at least not               hostile to expression and consideration of unusual and wild ideas.   Abstractness of title score also saw a decline since 1998, this is what allows some people to recognize and describe patterns and the essence of problems without distorting the information.   Resistance to Premature Closure scores are on the decline as well since 1998 and it indicates that better solutions require keeping an open mind in order to take the time to understand the problem and to consider all of the potential solutions to the problem.   Keeping an open mind about different people and what they have to offer broadens the scope of potential resources, which also leads to new and better solutions.  Accepting and celebrating diversity is one way to foster creative thinking because considering different points of view or putting seemingly different things together helps us with solving problems or inventing.   This study along with many others provides ample evidence of an era of continued decline in creativity. Acknowledging these declines in areas like creativity, self-awareness and social bonding. This why we decided to start this podcast in order to bring the community of like minded rebels together who want to make an impact on this world.   Now here is the how to: First, if you are a creative or consider yourself one or even if you are intrigued by this study please send us an email right now at hello@jolsid.com with a request for Creativity test and we will forward you the test along with the instructions for free.   Try to create CAT in your daily routine or identify people who can. If you would like to know how to select those individuals in your life please listen to our yesterday’s podcast or blog by clicking this link, for further details mentioned there along with the research.   Now back to Creativity, so creativity requires CAT, not actual cat, I think that wouldn't be bad either but this  CAT is an acronym for : Creative Climate, Creative Attitude, and Creative Thinking.   Displaying Creative Attitudes requires an encouraging Creative Climate.  As the Climate becomes continually antagonistic to creative expression, Creative Attitudes will diminish, Creative Thinking will diminish, and creative potential will be lost.

How many friends can you really have? Is there really a maximum number of meaningful friendships we can have? JOLSID.com Scientifically speaking how many people can you potentially maintain a stable social relationship with? Just to clarify by social we mean in person not on Twitter or Facebook.   Basically these are relationships in which an individual knows who each person is and how each person relates to every other person.   According to Anthropologist Robin Dunbar this can vary between 150 - 250 people. After numerous studies of Primates,  nomadic tribes, and historical military groupings the final number of maximum stable relationships never reached a common consensus among the researchers.   Dunbar theorized that the limit of people we can have truly stable and meaningful relationships with is a direct function of our neocortex- which is responsible for our cognitive abilities. Damage to or disorders of the neocortex can develop neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, Dementia, and long term memory loss.   Therefore according to Dunbar the size of the neocortex is directly related to the total number of relationships an individual can effectively have, which is 150-250. This number also includes past relationships, such as colleagues, teachers, and high school friends, with whom a person would like to reacquaint themselves with.   Dunbar's number have become an area of interest in anthropology, evolutionary psychology, statistics, and business management. For example, developers of social software are interested in knowing more about Dunbar’s Numbers because the developers need to know the size of the real life social networks their software needs to take into account;   Further in 1996 Harvard University Press published Robin Dunbar’s book Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language.   The book presents an argument that gossip is a vocal equivalent of manual grooming - in primates grooming is a form of bonding where individuals harness relationships by grooming each other in order to maintain their alliances.   The basic principle is you scratch my back I scratch yours   Once humans start to develop larger brains and start to live in increasingly larger groups, manual grooming was too time consuming and the audience was much larger, so we developed a cheaper medium to groom and that was vocal sounds. Eventually this vocal grooming evolved into a language, initially it was in the form of “gossip”.   This study has a direct impact on  Entrepreneurs and Creatives because it is more than just the exact number of friends you can have, it's more about being selective and initially identifying your target audience, customers, and clients precisely vs being the everything to everyone approach.   There seems to be a Relationship Opportunity Cost Now we aware that we can only handle certain numbers of relationships effectively. It might sound a bit harsh but this study suggests picking and choosing relationships, individuals, clients,  audience or customers very wisely. Maybe this is your time for a “relationship audit”. Try to identify customers, clients, audience, friends, who influence your life in a positive manner. Those who provide constructive feedback, they help you move forward as opposed to holding you back. Also, be mindful of the diversity of talent that you surround yourself with. Just like a team or any good machine, we need different talents, strengths and skills - I read a blog by Steven Johnson that mentions people are like spare parts and differents parts of different shapes come together to build the best machines or systems.   So, for example in a group if you have a doctor, an accountant, a social media consultant, an HR person, an engineer, and an entrepreneur you will find diversity of ideas that make any organization or team successful.

OXYTOCIN is a hormone and it is often called the “love hormone” because of its crucial role found in relationships, social bonding, maternal behaviour and intimacy. Oxytocin spikes are found to be the highest during an orgasm or during an act of kindness.   Oxytocin is a powerful hormone and a neuropeptide that is produced in the hypothalamus and also secreted from the Pituitary Gland. Oxytocin was discovered in 1952 and is currently listed on WHO - World Health Organization's list of Essential Medicines (the most important medication needed for healthier function of human health system.)   An example of oxytocin is when two individuals are attracted to each other and the feelings of care and compassion arise, that’s all because of the rising levels of oxytocin, which we further call Love.   So Why is this hormone so important? Well, this one hormone has the power to change the world and we literally mean it .   Here is a study to back this claim. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, when we perform acts of kindness, the giver and the receiver both were found to have spiked  levels of oxytocin and the individual watching this act of kindness also reported the spiked oxytocin level.   In a recent study in New England Journal of Medicine a 28 year old person walked into a clinic and donated a kidney. This set off a “pay it forward” ripple where the recipient's family further donated their kidneys to someone in need and this domino effect eventually helped 10 people who received kidneys as a consequence of that anonymous donor.   Its very similar to the pebble that creates waves when it's dropped in a pond. The act of kindness ripples outwards touching many lives and inspiring the wave of kindness.   Why should you care about this hormone? Besides the fact the it makes you fall in love and is responsible for feelings of care and compassion.   Oxytocin exposure has also been studied to reduce social anxiety and fear. In 2015 a study conducted by Monika Exckstein and Benjamin Becker at the University of Bonn in Germany. Their aim was to prove that Oxytocin Facilitates the Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Humans.     This study had 62 participants in randomized, double blind and placebo controlled design. These individuals were exposed to the fear conditioning paradigm  by showing them photographs of faces and houses but they were accompanied by random electric shocks. Since, these photographs were non threatening and were neutral in nature, the brain couldn’t respond with presupposed fear.   30 min later they received brain scans and and the activity in their amygdala was recorded. The group was now given a mix of placebo and oxytocin nasal sprays. Then 30 mins later they were exposed to the same photos of faces and houses but without an electric shock. The subjects who received the oxytocin spray when shown the same photos as before without the electric shock, had increased activity in the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for controlling fear.)  Therefore their brain controlled their fear significantly better than the placebo group. How to:   Those of you who are interested in knowing how to apply oxytocin and its ways in your business, team or an organization should look for the Ofactor study from Drucker Institute (we have the detailed study and links on our website jolsid.com ).   According to the Drucker Institute and quote   “ when managers  implement policies that raise trust, colleagues at work have the incentives and resources to perform better, boosting organizational performance. The neuroscience provides precise predictions for how to best practice Ovation (give praise), build eXpectations (set clear goals) and promote the other OXYTOCIN factors.” go check it out on our website.   Now for your personal use  If applied effectively under the supervision of a physician Oxytocin can increase trust, reduce anxiety and fear, promote a ripple effect of kindness. Any Creative, Entrepreneur or Athlete looking for an edge by building better personal relationships, stronger business connections, and larger fan bases must first start with an act of kindness, give more hugs and cuddle if possible (just in appropriate places please).   You can also talk to your physician if you think you have low levels of Oxytocin. But please do not take oxytocin on your own because excess use of this hormone has been linked with autism.   So, love everyone and try to spread the ripple of compassion and kindness and we can all collectively change this world.

Serotonin, is another neurotransmitter that is integral for some of the most intense and positive emotions we feel in our daily lives. www.jolsid.com Before we jump into the technical side of Serotonin, I want to share some of the benefits that it has in your life and how it indirectly impacts your success. Also, how Serotonin is Different than Dopamine. Appropriate levels of Serotonin  promotes the feeling of comfort, contentment and well-being. It has also been called a “happy” neurotransmitter.The  deficiencies in serotonin can lead to depression and fear. Feeling contentment and sense of well-being is responsible for continuous progression. If we lack contentment and sense of well-being in our daily lives then we opt to live daily on instant gratification lifestyle or things that provide thrill and excitement in the moment. Even though instant gratification is healthy for us in the moment, it tends to create addictive behaviours which could eventually lead to habits that can be destructive for our long term growth and well-being.   For example If we start eating 2 sweets  per day and each time we eat them we get a combination of thrill, benefit and exhilaration for that specific task at that moment (not in the future but at that very moment). This is also simplified to instant gratification that makes individuals become addicted to substances or certain destructive habits. Because the combination of thrill, benefit and exhilaration in the moment sends a wave of Dopamine in our brain telling us that we are happy and excited in the moment, which is not necessarily bad. But If we repeat this action every single day eventually 2 sweets or the reward will become the new baseline and we will not feel the same feeling of happiness that we used to. Now we will have to  increase the stimulus or in this case those sweets in order for us to achieve the same level of excitement or happiness we felt with the 2 sweets initially. That’s where we lack the feeling of contentment and get busy in the chase of that emotion that we felt the first time.   Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that rewards us when there is slow progression and it keeps us motivated though the journey as opposed to seeking the reward now and abandoning the path of growth and slow progress.   Now let's talk about science and history of Serotonin. Serotonin was first discovered by Vittorio Erspamer in Rome in 1935. But it was not isolated and named until 1948 by Maurice M. Rapport, Arda Green, and Irvine Page of the Cleveland Clinic. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter released by neurons in the brain. It's made from the amino acid tryptophan, which is a component of protein that we consume in our daily routine.  Tryptophan can be found in foods like Brown rice, Turkey and Chicken. The majority of Serotonin in humans is present in the enterochromaffin cells of the digestive tract, where it is involved in regulating movement of the gut.   Effects of Serotonin Relaxation A "feel-good" hormone, serotonin helps people to feel relaxed and content. According to Macalester College. Low serotonin levels are linked to anxiety and depression. Like many hormones and brain chemicals, serotonin functions best when it's at optimal concentrations. Normal levels of the chemical promote relaxation, but be cautious that extra Serotonin won't necessarily increase feelings of well being--it may just make the individual feel sleepy. But one of the 2010 studies on excess serotonin viewed sleepiness as One of the benefits of excess serotonin. As sleepiness, which is not necessarily a benefit at the wrong time of day, is certainly welcome at night.   This study in the scientific journal "Sleep" notes that if the brain's serotonin transporters are misshapen, patients experience insomnia. Further, individuals who have difficulty sleeping have long been advised to try a glass of warm milk before bed. Milk, like many sources of protein, contains the amino acid tryptophan, which signals the brain to make more serotonin and which may produce feelings of sleepiness. There is also some speculation that the familiar "Thanksgiving Day coma," wherein people feel tired after a big meal, may be due at least in part to high levels of tryptophan found in turkey meat.   Serotonin receptors are also being considered as targets for drugs useful to treat psychosis and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia according to the research conducted by  H. Y. Meltzer, B. W. Massey and M. Horiguchi. The conclusion of their research was and  quote “Multiple 5-HT receptors contribute to effective treatments to reverse adverse effects of NMDA-RA which model psychosis and cognitive impairment.”   How do you know if you have low levels of Serotonin? Some of the symptoms of low Serotonin are: anger carbohydrate cravings and binge eating constipation digestive disorders feeling overwhelmed insomnia joylessness low self-esteem migraines poor cognitive function There are also Serotonin blood test that you can request from your Licensed Physician or family doctor. And they can discuss potential treatments if needed.   Why should Entrepreneurs, Creatives and Athletes care about Serotonin. Entrepreneurs, Creatives and Athletes ideally deal with high amounts of stress. Which can eventually result to low levels of Serotonin, which can adversely impact your performance and can even eventually make you give up on your goal, aspirations and dreams. Especially if you experienced combination of stress and loss or poor performance at the same time. Entrepreneurs, Creatives and Athletes success is not in the moment but is a slow process or journey. Sometimes they are even called futuristic when it come to planning their lifestyles and their goals. Steve Jobs, Elon Musk & Richard Branson are all Creatives and Entrepreneurs who are considered futurists.   How to: The chemical 5-hydroxytryptophan, commonly called 5-HTP, is made from the essential amino acid tryptophan. 5HTP converts in the body to a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which passes signals between brain cells. According to the University of Maryland, 5HTP’s ability to raise serotonin levels means it may be helpful for certain health conditions. 5HTP supplements are available over the counter but should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare provider. www.jolsid.com

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or a brain chemical that regulates our movement and emotional responses. It enables us to not only to see rewards, but to take action to move towards them. In simple words dopamine is responsible for drive and motivation. But dopamine has always been simplified and linked to pleasure and rewards. For example when addiction is discussed especially with substances like alcohol, drugs, chocolate, food, porn etc. It's not the pleasure that’s driving it, it's a more deeper combination of thrill, benefit and exhilaration of that specific task at that moment that makes individuals become addicted to substances or certain destructive habits.   During a conference at the society of neuroscience in Chicago it was the emerging view that drive and motivation are the key attributes of Dopamine. It's about figuring out what you have to do to survive and then doing it. A few key attributes of Dopamine are Dopamine Boosts our drive, memory and focus. Dopamine is responsible for the feelings of bliss, enjoyment and even euphoria. Its makes us competitive and provids the feeling of thrill in everyday situations like work, entrepreneurship, sport and love.   Dopamine helped our ancestors survive by giving them an energy boost when presented with a great opportunity, such as locating a new source of food. Who would have thought that we’d need to be motivated to find food. Yet alarmingly, one research in mice suggests that with dopamine deficiency, mice are so unmotivated they starve to death — even when food is readily available to them.     Low levels of Dopamine can lead to you feeling fatigued, hopeless, and forgetful. It can also lead to insomnia, mood swings, inability to handle stress, and an inability to lose weight. People with low dopamine activity may be more prone to addiction. Dopamine deficiency can result in Parkinson's Disease, which is a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremors, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement.   The dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain right behind the forehead, is responsible for executive functions, cognitive behaviour, personality, expressions and decision making.  An increase of prefrontal dopamine is thought to contribute to schizophrenia.   A study published in December 2008 in the journal of Nutrition & Metabolism, by J. Reinholz and colleagues suggested that our brains use dopamine to tell our bodies when to stop eating. Therefore, low dopamine levels may play a role in overeating for people with a genetic predisposition to low dopamine levels. How to Increase dopamine?   L-Tyrosine is an amino acid and the building block of dopamine. You can take an L-tyrosine supplement to boost your dopamine levels. The recommended dose is 500 to 1,000 mg first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. And then another dose between lunch and dinner. Caution: It may raise thyroid hormone production since it is a precursor for its synthesis, so those with a hyperactive thyroid should be wary Additionally, it could theoretically block the uptake from the gut of some drugs that resemble certain amino acids such as levodopa Our brains are composed of 60% fat with DHA omega-3 fat being the most prevalent.  DHA has a very unique structure, it can bend and change shape very rapidly. This rapid change happens billions of time per second in our brain cells, which facilitates the rapid transfer of electrical signals, which become our thoughts and emotions.   Poor electrical signals in our brain cells have a direct effect on dopamine production. Essentially all disorders of the brain, including dopamine-related disorders, are associated with decreased levels of DHA in our brain tissue. DHA boosts dopamine by supporting the brain's electrical signals.   Scientists have discovered that DHA is converted into a compound called neuroprotectin D-1, which helps protect the brain and nerve cells from stress and toxins. Neuroprotectin D-1 helps maintain the integrity of the dopamine-producing cells as well as the receptor cells. Overall, omega-3 supplementation trials have shown to increase dopamine levels up to 40%.

JOLSID.com - The word “chocolate” has been traced back to the Aztec word “xocoatl” which referred to a bitter drink brewed with cacao. The Aztecs also believed that cacao seeds were a gift from their God of wisdom, and the seeds were so valuable they were used as a form of currency. We now know that cacao is indeed very valuable for its health benefits.   Many of us have heard that dark chocolate is a superfood, and that eating dark chocolate has been linked to many different health benefits. These health benefits include stress reduction, improved heart health, and new studies have revealed that dark chocolate can actually make your brain smarter and improve memory. Raw dark chocolate, which is at least 70% cacao, is a major source of flavonoids, mainly flavanols, which are most famous for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits.  It is the cacao flavonoids that are found to have brain benefits.   Just so we all understand the difference. It isn’t until after the cacao beans are roasted and processed that they are called cocoa. Most cocoa powders have additives like sweeteners or cocoa butter. Once roasted and processed (turning cacao to cocoa), the beans lose much of their nutritional benefits. When you see cacao nibs, powdered cacao (or cacao powder) in the grocery stores, the bean is in their raw state—uncooked, additive free, and unprocessed contain antioxidants.   These flavonoids  have been shown to create enhanced expression of neuroprotective and neuromodulatory proteins that promote neurogenesis and brain connectivity (brain growth). When the flavonoids are absorbed they penetrate and accumulate in the brain regions that are involved in learning and memory, especially in the hippocampus. The hippocampus plays an important part of our limbic system, the region that regulates our emotions. It is also associated with long-term memory and spatial navigation.   Lee Berk, who is part of a California team’s initial studies at Loma Linda University have shown that absorbed cacao flavonoids penetrate and accumulate in regions of the brain associated with learning and memory. Berk believes that the consumption of cacao results in nerve-altering and protective proteins that promote nerve cell growth, increase brain function and brain communication, improve blood flow and promote the formation of blood vessels in the brain and sensory systems. He states that “we have for the first time shown that there is a possible connection of neuroelectric activities that initiate the mechanisms of cacao’s beneficial effects on brain reasoning and intellect, synchronization, memory, recall, mood and behavior.”   Lee Berk presented his findings at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in Chicago in late October 2015. He said that this study provides evidence that EEG, gamma wave band frequency, is started by cacao consumption. Cacao can regulate various levels of sensory awareness and increase the density of different EEG frequencies. The most interesting finding is that the EEG gamma wave band frequency associated with the brain’s highest level of mental processing, enhanced memory and recall, and physiological benefits.   Research done at Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre at the University of Nottingham tested 16 healthy young subjects blood oxygenation levels. The data presented shows an increase in the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal intensity in response to a cognitive task following ingestion of flavanol-rich cocoa (5 days of 150 mg of cocoa flavanols). A pilot study evaluated the relationship between cerebral blood flow and a single acute dose (450 mg flavanols) of flavanol-rich cocoa and showed that flavanol-rich cocoa can increase the cerebral blood flow to gray matter, suggesting the potential of cocoa flavanols for treatment of vascular impairment, including dementia and strokes, and thus for maintaining cardiovascular health.   A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition performed by Dr. Giovambattista Desideri studied the cognitive effects of cocoa flavanols on men and women aged 61-85 years of age, with no evidence of cognitive dysfunction. The participants were given one of three flavanol groups. A drink containing either high (993 mg), intermediate (520 mg) or low (48 mg) amounts of cocoa flavanols every day for eight weeks. The nutritionally matched drinks were specially prepared. The high- and intermediate-flavanol cocoa drinks were produced using Mars’ patented Cocoapro® process, while the low-flavanol drink was made with a highly processed, alkalized cocoa powder. Other than the inclusion of the test drink, normal diets and regular lifestyle were maintained throughout the study.At the start of the study and again after eight weeks, cognitive function was assessed using a battery of tests that examined memory, retention, recall, as well as executive function. Among those individuals who regularly consumed either the high- or intermediate-flavanol drinks, there were significant improvements in overall cognitive function after only eight weeks. As cognitive function was normal for this aged population, this study shows that even cognitively healthy individuals can quickly benefit from the regular inclusion of cocoa flavanols in their diets.   How to take: According to David Wolfe in his book, Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future, a low intake of cacao would account to 3-4 cacao beans for each 100 pounds of body weight. Cacao is high in the omega-6 fatty acids, which can potentially increase inflammatory responses in the body. 100% Organic - and beware that “Organic” does not mean “100% Organic” Fair Trade > 70% cacao Not processed with alkali

Research   Leaders at one point in time worked as regular employees. Most of them had to leave their comfort zone to become leaders. It could be for reasons that they didn’t feel ready for a new responsibility, they had never had people reporting to them, or they didn’t feel they could measure up to expectations. Whatever the reason may be, we all get pushed out of our comfort zone at some point in our lives. And with this push is how we grow.   Some leaders attach themselves to their authenticity as an excuse for staying in their comfort zone. It makes them feel like they are being true to themselves. But in all honesty they are holding themselves back, and in cases it can backfire on them. Just imagine an employee that has been promoted to be the supervisor of a department of five. She has always believed herself to be a quiet individual.   Her team notices that their new supervisor just stays in her office and doesn’t have much of a presence in their department. They start walking all over her and going above her head. This supervisor thought she was being true to herself, when she really needed to step out of her comfort zone and communicate more with her department.   A 2013 Gallup poll found that only 13% of employees worldwide are engaged at work. Out of roughly 180 million employees studied, only 1 in 8 is psychologically committed to his or her job. A few key reasons for this are frustration, burnout, disillusionment, and misalignment with personal values are cited among the biggest reasons for career change. Companies are encouraging their leaders to discover their “true” selves so they can increase employe morale.   Two psychological profiles about how leaders develop their personal styles have been identified by psychologist Mark Snyder, of the University of Minnesota. The two psychological profiles are “high self-monitors” and “low-self monitors”.   High self monitors or “chameleons” are naturally able and willing to adapt to the demands of a situation without feeling fake. These are people who care about managing their public image and mask their vulnerability. Since they can adapt to situations, they often advance rapidly. The downside of high self monitors is that people perceive them as dishonest. Low self-monitors or “true-to-selfers” tend to express exactly how they think and feel. The problem with low self-monitors is that they stick too long within their comfort zone and this prevents them from meeting new requirements, or evolving their mindset.   How to:   Research done by Herminia Ibarra, a professor of organizational behaviour and the CORA Chaired Professor of Leadership and Learning at Insead suggests a few ways to get started on being a more authentic leader:   Learning from a diverse set of role models   Nowadays nothing is original, all learning involves some form of imitation. An important aspect to consider when thinking of being an authentic leader is to take elements for other people’s styles and behaviours and make them your own. Don’t just focus on one person, look for a wide array of role models and pick and chose leadership traits from everyone of them, and compile them into your own mix.   Work on making yourself better   Setting goals for ourselves is very important. By setting goals for learning we get the chance to experiment with our own identities without feeling like imposters. When we do this, we understand that we are in the process of learning and that we won’t get everything right from the start. We get the chance to really explore what kind of leaders we can really become. As per some experiments done by psychologist Carol Dweck from Stanford,when we are concerned about how we will appear to others we actually end up inhibiting our learning of new or unfamiliar tasks.   Don’t just stick to “Your Story”   We have all gone through some defining moments that have defined who are today. Consciously, or unconsciously we use these moments to guide us in new situations. Psychology professor at Northwestern, Dan McAdams describes identity as “the internalized and evolving story that results from a person’s selective appropriation of past, present and future.” What he means is that we need to believe in our own story, but we also need to embrace how it changes over time, especially with respect to what we need our story to do. Visualize different stories of you in your head, and keep editing them until you're happy with the one that fits the situation you need it in.

JOLSID.com -  An essential amino acid for our health is Phenylalanine, which we acquire from food. Our body changes phenylalanine in to tyrosine, which is non-essential amino acid that is used to make proteins and neurotransmitters or brain chemicals, including norepinephrine, epinephrine,dopamine, and thyroid hormones. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells communicate and influence mood. Tyrosine also helps in the function of organs responsible for making and regulating hormones, including the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands. L-Tyrosine can also be metabolized into glucose and used for energy production. Tyrosine works as a converter for the neurotransmitter epinephrine, by converting it into an amino acid that is released from your adrenal gland. Epinephrine is more widely known as adrenalin, which we all know increases our heart rate and breathing. This in turn produces oxygen-rich blood that travels to your brain and muscles, which increases your energy, sharpens your senses, improves your memory, and decreases your pain sensitivity. Tyrosine produces epinephrine in times of stress or danger so you are better able to cope with the situation. Dopamine helps us stay motivated and assertive throughout the day. Tyrosine helps make this neurotransmitter. Dopamine allows your to deal with your daily stresses and problems. However, lack of sleep and too much stress can lower your dopamine levels, making your brain less active. One of the effects that Tyrosine supplementation has on our brain is cognitive improvements. It helps to reduce the effects of both stress and fatigue on cognitive task performance, which makes it easier for us to stay focused while studying or working for long periods of time. Research done at the Department of Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Amsterdam studied the effects of the amino acid tyrosine on cognitive task performance on a group of 21 cadets during a demanding military combat training course. Ten subjects received a protein-rich drink containing 2g of tyrosine daily for five days, and the other 11 subjects were given a carbohydrate rich drink with the same amount of calories. Assessments were made of the cadets immediately prior to the combat course, and then on the 6th day of the course. The group supplied with the tyrosine-rich drink performed better on a memory and a tracking task than the group supplied with the carbohydrate-rich drink. These findings suggest that supplementation with tyrosine may, under operational circumstances characterized by psychosocial and physical stress, reduce the effects of stress and fatigue on cognitive task performance.   Another effect of Tyrosine supplementation is that it can help protect us against the effects of stress. When we experience stress, our brains release noradrenaline, or norepinephrine, which is a neurotransmitter. Noradrenaline stimulates your central nervous system and increases your energy and mental power. It takes time for our bodies to replenish levels of noradrenaline once they are depleted, which can leave us feeling sluggish. Tyrosine increases the rate of noradrenaline synthesis so that you are less susceptible to stress and do not experience an energy crash.   Another study conducted at the University of Amsterdam in the Department of Psychophysiology tested the effects of tyrosine on performance under stress on 16 healthy young subjects.Subjects were tested on two separate days, one test was given after ingestion of 100mg/kg tyrosine and another test after a placebo, in random order. The tests were performing a number of stress sensitive tasks. Subjects were exposed to a stressor consisting of 90 dB noise. Tyrosine was found to improve the performance on two cognitive tasks, which were performed 1 hour after administration of tyrosine and which could be characterized as highly sensitive to stress.   How to Supplement with Tyrosine   For general needs, you should be getting 47 mg (0.047g) of tyrosine for every 1 g of protein in your diet according to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine.   In 2007 in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience researchers discovered that most studies used anywhere from 2 to 20 grams of tyrosine daily for stress reduction and improved cognitive function Caution: It may raise thyroid hormone production since it is a precursor for its synthesis, so those with a hyperactive thyroid should be wary Additionally, it could theoretically block the uptake from the gut of some drugs that resemble certain amino acids such as levodopa

Science of Being Alone and Success There is a lot of talk nowadays about introversion and extroversion. You might already know which one you identify with, but do you really understand the difference between the two. The way our brains are wired and our brain chemistry can help us understand what’s really going on in the minds of introverts and extroverts that make them who they are. In the 1960s, a psychologist named Hans Eysenck proposed a theory that extroverts had a lower level of something called “arousal”. He believed that extroverts required more stimulation from the world to feel more alert and awake than introverts. Introverts were easily over-stimulated. This theory helps to explain why extroverts require constant social company, and have a stronger sense of risk-taking and challenges. These activities stimulate them. Introverts on the other hand prefer alone time, thriving in place such as their own home, libraries and peaceful parks. Introverts are working on lowering their overstimulation. This theory helped paved the way for scientists to dive a little deeper into our minds to help understand what defined these two different personalities. A 2012 study completed by Randy Buckner of Harvard University discovered that introverts tended to have larger, thicker gray matter in their prefrontal cortex than extroverts. This is the region of the brain that has been linked to personality, expression, decision making, and abstract thought. Buckner concluded that this might be the reason why introverts’ tended to sit alone and thoroughly think things through before making a decision, while extroverts’ ability to live in the moment and take risks without fully thinking everything through. But research completed over several decades has shown that the brains of introverts and extroverts are activated differently depending on their circumstances, and it has a lot to do with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls the brain's reward and pleasure systems. In 2013, a study conducted by Cornell University’s Richard Depue showed a difference in the release of dopamine levels in each of the two personality traits. For extroverts, dopamine was released at a greater rate upon receiving a reward. Introverts who prefer to spend some time alone experience less dopamine releases, thus they do not seek rewards in the same way as extroverts. But it’s not always black and white. We all exist on a spectrum between introversion and extroversion, demonstrating qualities of each depending on the circumstance we are in. If you have partied all weekend, then your extroverted side has been more present. And on Monday you might want to just veg out and watch Netflix in your pajamas by yourself and let your introverted side come out. Being an introvert has many negative connotations to it but it doesn’t mean being a hermit, it just means your need some alone time to recharge.   Real LIFE application   Choose with Confidence (Better Decisions) Letting your introverted side come more often isn’t a bad thing. When you enjoy your alone time and really get comfortable with yourself, you become your own best friend. This can actually serve you well for many different reasons. One of the main reasons is that you become more confident in yourself and in the choices you make. You will have less stress around what other people think and you become less focused on being a member of a group, you can start to focus on what is in your own best interest. One of the reasons introverts don’t seek the approval of others is explained by Jonathan Cheek, a psychologist at Wellesley College: “Some people simply have a low need for affiliation.”   Analytical Thinking Referring back to the 2012 study done at Harvard University and stating that introverts have more grey matter in the prefrontal cortex than extroverts do, leads to the fact that introverts are more analytical thinkers. Introverts love to spend time alone  and to think more analytically about their choices. When it comes to making big decisions, this can significantly increase the likelihood of selecting the best possible option. Dr. Maryam Jahdi, a physician at Ohio State University, explains that for those who prefer time alone, “behavior is guided more by consequences and less by rewards.” Being less impulsive can help with all sorts of challenges — everything from wasting money on the latest new trends - to fitting in - to holding out for that bigger, but more elusive, promotion. Holding back, analyzing the situation, and contemplating precisely what move is the best option will help you get ahead.     3. Be in control of your Life For those who know consequences matter more than rewards, it can be much easier to spend money wisely. Those who love to spend time alone know how to think through decisions and come up with the best possible solution for themselves. This is perfect for making financial decisions which require, “avoiding bad decisions, negative consequences and missed opportunities,” according to Dr. Jahdi. You don’t need to look any further than Warren Buffet to see this is a key to success. In a US News interview, Buffet is described as “a classic example of an introvert taking careful, well-calibrated risks.” If there is one thing that can help someone achieve success, it’s being smart with money. So, embrace your alone time and use it wisely — it may be your key to a successful life.

Procrastination - we all do it in some shape or form. We make plans to do something, but then don’t take any action, or we stop halfway. We leave our assignments to the last minute. But why do we do this to ourselves? This problem is so common to all of us and dates back centuries. Let’s go back 1,000’s of years ago to the ancient Greeks. Aristotle and Socrates developed a word for procrastination, Akrasia. Akrasia, according to the Oxford dictionary is defined as “the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will.” We all try to overcome procrastination, but it affects some of us more than others. There is growing evidence that indicates procrastination negatively impacts our happiness, and our future success.   Science of Procrastination: There is a behavioural economics term called “time inconsistency” which helps to explain why procrastination rules our lives. Time inconsistency refers to the tendency of the human brain to value immediate rewards more highly than future rewards When our brain makes long-term plans for ourselves, like losing weight, or writing a book, or learning a new language. You are essentially making plans for your future self. You are visualizing what you want your life to be like in the future. While you are conceptualizing your future self, it is easy for your brain to see the value in taking action for these long-term benefits. But when the time actually comes to taking action on the plan that you had made earlier, you are no longer taking actions for your future self, you are now working on your present self. According to researchers your brain finds higher value in the present than in the future. And your present self likes instant gratification, not long-term payoff. This is one of the reasons why you might go to bed feeling motivated to make a change in your life, but when you wake up, you find yourself falling into old habits. A study conducted by the department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University studied 1000 children from birth until the age of 32 years. The study revealed that self-control as an executive function helped to promote the brain’s frontal cortex. This is the part of the brain responsible for planning complex cognitive behaviour, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behaviour. Low self control is direct contributor of early mortality, psychiatric disorders, wealth related problems and criminal convictions.   How to decode Procrastination:  IMAGINATION - Imagination is a powerful technique for improving willpower. The body often responds to imagined situations in the same way it responds to experienced ones. Close your eyes, or write out a detailed description of what you want to achieve. Manage your STRESS - Stress depletes your willpower. When we are stressed our body releases a hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol increases our cravings for carbohydrates. Which can lead to unhealthy habits like overeating and alcoholism or simple sugar intake. Eventually this becomes our habit to deal with stress and it depletes your willpower. Best way to reduce stress is music or something that can elevate your mood. CAFFEINE - A caffeine-triggered surge of adrenaline and dopamine works to enhance your motivation. Caffeine can positively alter how we experience what we are doing. An article in Scientific American suggests that taking caffeine consistently can artificially induce a sense of interest in what we would otherwise find uninteresting and might help us tolerate a long-term goal.   www.jolsid.com

Theanine is a compound that has similarities to amino acids such as L-glutamine which might help gut function, your immune system, and it provides “fuel” (nitrogen and carbon) to many different cells in your body. Theanine can be found in certain plants and fungal species, as well as green tea. In common preparations, such as teas and supplements, theanine is absorbed in the small intestine after oral ingestion. It can also cross the blood-brain barrier intact. Many of us have ingested caffeine and experienced the jitters that come along with it. As well, some people experience high blood pressure, dehydration, trouble sleeping and increased anxiety. Ingesting caffeine and theanine together can help reduce or even eliminate the negative effects of caffeine alone.There have been numerous studies done indicating that theanine has positive impacts on mood, relaxation and alertness. Especially when taken with caffeine, the combination can improve focus and attention span. First I will discuss some researcher that has been done on theanine, as well as theanine taken with caffeine, and then I will discuss when and how much of each to take. Research done in the journal of Nutritional Neuroscience by Gail N. Owen, Holly Parnell, Eveline A. De Bruin and Jane A. Rycroft studied the combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. This study was done to compare 50mg of caffeine, with and without 100 mg of L-theanine on the cognition and mood of healthy volunteers. Researchers wanted to test the effects of the combination of caffeine and theanine on word recognition, rapid visual information processing, critical flicker fusion threshold, attention switching and mood, and compared the results to a placebo in 27 participants. Performance was measured at the baseline, 60 min interval, and 90 min after each treatment, and these treatments were separated by a 7-day washout period. Caffeine alone improved subjective alertness at the 60 min interval, and accuracy on the attention-switching task at the 90 min interval. The combination of Theanine and caffeine improved both speed and accuracy of performance of the attention switching task at 60 mins, and reduced susceptibility to distracting information in the memory task at both the 60 min and 90 min interval.   Consuming caffeine alone cause us to get a jolt of energy, but we may find it hard to focus on one task. Caffeine causes our Beta wave brain function, which is responsible for for alert, energetic, and distracted type thinking, to increase. L-Theanine encourages alpha wave brain function, which is typically created when we are daydreaming or consciously practicing mindfulness or meditation. The bonus is that L-Theanine overrides caffeine’s stimulatory effects that promote beta wave function.Theanine can enhance your alpha brain wave activity, and consequently your mood, relaxation and alertness. Studies done at Unilever Food and Health Research Institute tested that L-Theanine significantly increases activity in the alpha frequency band which indicates that it relaxes the mind without inducing drowsiness. Another study done at the Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory in New York used 100 mg of L-Theanine and 50 mg of caffeine to measure both cognitive behaviour, as well as brain waves in 16 healthy subjects. Subjects were given either a placebo, 100 mg of L-theanine, 50 mg of caffeine, or L-theanine and caffeine combined. They were tested each day for 4 consecutive days. The theanine alone, nor the caffeine alone had any discernible effects, however, together they improved the subjects performance on cognitive tests. Brain waves were also tested in the subjects, and alpha brain wave activity increased in those taking the combination of theanine and caffeine. Alpha brain waves are associated with effortless alertness, and are believed to be the underlying mechanism for the cognitive benefits. To supplement caffeine and L-Theanine: for veteran coffee drinkers, take 200 mg of each supplement 30 minutes before you need increased focus and attention People that are not used to caffeine should start with a 100 mg L-theanine dose taken alongside 50 mg of caffeine Taking caffeine and L-theanine on an empty stomach can increase the rates of absorption. If this upsets your stomach, please take with food.