2319: Mental Capacity

Last week marked a significant achievement for me. I successfully overcame the task of sharing my newsletter and website with all my supporters on Instagram. This week, I'm aiming to do the same on my LinkedIn platform.

My goal for this week is to focus on making the newsletter more personal and relatable. Lately, I've noticed that my recent releases have been quite curated, which can sometimes make it difficult to grasp the main message.

By the way, have you noticed the weather recently? It's been consistently around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit). I'm sure some of you have experienced stepping outside only to find yourself covered in sweat due to the high humidity. Welcome to the South, right? On a more serious note, it's important to remember that nothing lasts forever, so I'm eagerly waiting for the fall season to arrive.

The new documentary, "Untold: Johnny Football," a Johnny Manziel documentary just released on Netflix. I felt unsure about watching it because I'm a huge fan of The University of Mississippi's (Ole Miss) football team. My loyalty goes back to when I watched the Cotton Bowl in 2009, where Ole Miss played against Texas Tech University. It's like the red and blue colors of Ole Miss are a part of me. So, it's tough to watch a documentary about a player who manhandled my team.

I didn't think much about watching it until a close friend insisted, saying it would be really enlightening. So, I decided to give it a chance. After I finished watching, I was truly amazed. My whole view of him as a person changed completely when I learned that he had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. This really caught my attention because men, in general, are usually the last to seek help when dealing with mental health issues. In his situation, think about being the very first player to win the Heisman Trophy as a freshman. On top of that, he took down the powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide, led by Nick Saban, setting multiple records, and even came up with the nickname "Johnny Football" – all in just one year. This is a huge load for ANYONE to handle, especially during the important growing years of life.

His diagnosis helps explain the rollercoaster of events that happened from the time he arrived at Texas A&M University until he was let go from the Cleveland Browns. This leads me to wonder, "What if" he had been diagnosed with his condition before or during his first year of college? It's uncertain if things would have changed, but it's crucial to realize that mental health holds the same significance as excelling in football, medicine, software development, data science, or education. How can you perform at your highest level if your mental well-being is struggling?

I've gone to therapy, and it's been really helpful. Sometimes I even forget how much it helps when things are going fine. So, just to remember, it's totally okay to ask for help. You can talk to a therapist, counselor, family member, or even a friend. Just know, there's nothing that can't be figured out with some support.

Until Next Week,

ZDD

Song of the week:

“Self Care” - Mac Miller

Quote of the week:

"Be kind to one another" - Ellen DeGeneres

Podcasts I recommend: *not a sponsorship!

#1. Science-Based Mental Training & Visualization for Improved Learning

Creator: Andrew Huberman: Huberman Lab Podcast.

#2. 9 Systems To Build A Life Of Abundance - Sahil Bloom

Creator: Ali Abdaal: Deep Dive Podcast