Unleashed: Openness, Alter Egos, Metabolism & Longevity, and the Power of Intentionality
February Newsletter
Hi everyone! 👋
Welcome to the February edition of my newsletter. I'm a 15-year-old innovator at The Knowledge Society, a global community of the world’s most curious, driven, and ambitious people that want to make an impact. 🌎
The primary purpose of this newsletter is to be able to deliver monthly updates that concisely and quickly outline my progress. My monthly newsletters will include everything I do, including projects I work on, lessons I learn, and life experiences.
This month, I'm taking inspiration from Tim Ferriss for the layout of my newsletter. If you're familiar with his "Five Bullet Friday" format, you'll recognize the quick and easy-to-read style I'll be using. Stay tuned to see my list of five things I've been enjoying or working on, including books, podcasts, quotes, and more.
A mindset shift that's transforming my life
This past month, I have been working towards improving my growth by an exponential amount. A persistent mindset that has transformed my life is intentionality.
Intentionality is essentially being conscious and astute. Having an intentional mindset allows you to have clarity on what specific things you want to accomplish. Think of your goals: they are set to ensure that you have a purpose and a clear intention. Without intention, you will never get to your destination and will most likely be following a conventional path.
Living with intention entails making a conscious decision to create the life you want rather than allowing others to determine your feelings and actions.
Here are some examples of times I set intentions throughout the month:
DECA Provincials
Ontario DECA is a great organization that provides students with valuable leadership and professional development opportunities. It allows students to gain real-world experience in the field of business. Ontario DECA offers numerous networking opportunities and the chance to participate in competitive events at the local, provincial, and international levels.
This month, I competed in the provincial competition against 125 other students from grades 9-12. I competed in a cluster centred around entrepreneurial mindsets and was able to win an award for the top 10 in the competition.
Going into the competition, I made sure to practice intentionality. I decided to be very conscious about the roadmap of my case, ultimately allowing me to have a well-structured presentation.
Touring the Klick Health lab
This month, I was able to go on a Lab tour at Klick Health. Klick Lab is a digital marketing and technology company that helps healthcare and life sciences organizations to develop innovative solutions and improve patient outcomes. The company uses data-driven insights and cutting-edge technology to deliver personalized experiences and drive meaningful engagement.
During my visit to Klick Lab, I practiced intentionality by actively seeking to learn and understand the company's operations and culture. I was able to listen attentively and actively engage in the tour. By being intentional in my approach, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of Klick Lab and make the most out of my visit.
Researching the importance of skipping snacks to stay wrinkle-free
Over the past 2 weeks, I have been delving deep into the connection between caloric restrictions and lifespan. By limiting the number of calories you consume and taking breaks from eating, you’re essentially giving your body a chance to rest and recharge. And just like how a fully charged phone can last longer and perform better, a well-rested body may be able to function better and potentially even live longer.
Both caloric restriction and intermittent fasting result in an overall reduction in caloric intake, which can also contribute to lifespan extension through a variety of mechanisms, such as reducing oxidative stress and increasing autophagy.
Calorie restrictions work through nutrient and stress-responsive metabolic signalling pathways, including TOR, AMPK, IIS/FOXO, Sirtuins, and autophagy. This improves cellular function and prevents age-related diseases.
Calorie restrictions and intermittent fasting hold promise as effective interventions for improving health and preventing age-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer, improvement to cognitive function, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory disease.
To learn more about the intersection of your metabolism and longevity, check out my article ⬇️
A quote that’s on my mind
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein
This quote explains that how we live our lives is a matter of perspective and that by choosing to see everything as a miracle, we can transform even the most ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. Your approach to life is the underlying contributor to your happiness and success:
Approach #1: Nothing is a Miracle
Approaching the world thinking nothing is a miracle cultivates a very apathetic mindset. While it may seem like a neutral or harmless state, apathy can have noticeable effects on a person's demeanour and behaviour. Seeing nothing as a benefit leads people to take life for granted, to become bored and disillusioned, and to miss out on the richness and diversity of the human experience.
Seeing nothing as a miracle can also lead to a sense of entitlement or complacency, where we expect life to be easy or perfect and become disappointed when it is not. This could ultimately lead to a lack of motivation, which can affect a person's ability to pursue their goals and interests.
When we take things for granted, we often stop paying attention to them or taking care of them. This can lead us to miss out on opportunities for growth, learning, and connection. Think of your health as an example: If we take our health for granted, we may neglect self-care practices or engage in unhealthy habits, which can lead to long-term consequences.
Approach #2: Everything is a Miracle
Seeing everything as a miracle encourages people to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the world around them, to be grateful for the small things in life, and to seek out new experiences and adventures.
It encourages us to cultivate a sense of curiosity, wonder, and gratitude, to approach each day with an open mind and an adventurous spirit, and to see the world as a place full of opportunities, rather than limitations. By choosing to see everything as a miracle, we can transform even the most ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.
Seeing everything as a miracle does not mean that we ignore or deny the challenges and difficulties of life. Rather, it means that we approach them with a sense of openness and curiosity, and seek to learn and grow from them. It can also help us to develop a sense of purpose and meaning, by recognizing the interconnectedness of all things and our role in the world.
A podcast that's been fueling my thoughts
Key Takeaways 🔑:
Failure is integral in the pursuit of success
Hamilton discusses how he's learned to embrace his mistakes and setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. He believes that failure is an essential part of the learning process and that we could learn more from our failures than from our successes.
By embracing failure and seeing it as an opportunity to learn and grow, we can become more resilient, adaptable, and ultimately more successful in the pursuit of our goals. Known to be the best F1 driver, he shares that rather than getting discouraged or giving up, Hamilton uses these experiences as opportunities to reflect on what went wrong and how he can improve in the future.
Authenticity > Conforming to societal expectations
Society defines success in terms of material possessions, status, and external validation. But, this definition of success may not align with our personal values, passions, and purpose in life. It's important to take the time to reflect on what success means to us and to define it on our own terms. This involves identifying our core values, passions, and aspirations, and aligning our goals with these factors.
Hamilton emphasizes the importance of being true to ourselves and pursuing our own dreams, rather than trying to conform to societal expectations or seeking external validation. Growing up, Lewis Hamilton struggled with fitting in, being bullied from the age of 6. His passion was not promoted but instead judged, reinforcing how in order to be truly fulfilled, you need to pave your own path and dictate your own future.
Pursue your passions with intention and purpose
Hamilton also talks about the importance of taking deliberate and intentional action toward our passions. Rather than simply dreaming about what we want to achieve, he believes that we need to be proactive in taking steps towards our goals and to be willing to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to succeed.
In the podcast, Hamilton shares examples from his own life where he's pursued his passions with intention and purpose, such as his love for racing and his commitment to environmental activism. He believes that by aligning our passions with our values and purpose, we can create more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
A must-read book recommendation
“The Alter Ego Effect” is a book written by Todd Herman, a performance coach who has worked with high-level athletes and business leaders. The book explains how creating an alter ego can help individuals overcome their limitations and achieve their goals.
By adopting a different persona, people can tap into their hidden potential and access traits that they might not otherwise be able to access. Here are my top 3 lessons from the novel:
Creating an alter ego can help you overcome self-doubt and limiting beliefs
Many people struggle with negative self-talk and limiting beliefs that hold them back from achieving their full potential. Creating an alter ego allows you to step outside of yourself and adopt a more confident, powerful persona. By embodying the qualities of your alter ego, you can break through your limiting beliefs and take bold actions that you might not otherwise take.
Alter egos are not about faking it or being inauthentic
Some people might worry that creating an alter ego is inauthentic or fake. However, the author emphasizes that alter egos are not about pretending to be someone you're not. Instead, they're about tapping into your true potential and embodying the qualities that are already inside you. Your alter ego should be an extension of your authentic self, not a replacement for it.
According to Herman, one of Ali's secret weapons was his use of an alter ego, which he called "The Greatest." By embodying this persona, Ali was able to overcome his fears and doubts and tap into his inner confidence and self-belief. By adopting "The Greatest" as his alter ego, Ali was able to achieve unparalleled success in the boxing world, including winning the heavyweight championship three times and becoming one of the most recognizable and beloved sports figures of all time.
Your alter ego can be a powerful tool for achieving your goals
Whether you're an athlete, an entrepreneur, or simply someone looking to improve your personal life, your alter ego can help you achieve your goals. By creating a persona that embodies the qualities you need to succeed, you can tap into your full potential and unlock the power of your imagination.
That’s it for this month! Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin and send me a note if you enjoyed reading this post or have any questions. You can also follow my Medium page and remain updated on all the content I produce!