MINDSET
The Mental State of The World

In this week’s newsletter, I want to discuss a recent report called.

"The Mental State of The World"

This big report gathered thoughts from over 419,000 people across 71 countries in 13 languages.

What it found is pretty worrying…

The UK has one of the lowest scores for mental well-being out of all the countries looked at.

I'm here to break down the six key areas the report talks about and give you some friendly advice on boosting your own scores in these bits of your life.

Let’s dive in!

Area 1: Mood and Outlook - This is all about intelligently handling your emotions and keeping hopeful about what's ahead.

My Advice: Think about growing a bit every day. When things happen, try to see them as opportunities to learn something new.

Like the old thinkers, the Stoics said, "Amor Fati" – it means loving what life throws at you.

There's no straight-up good or bad; it's all in how you see it.

An interesting study from the National Institute of Ageing found that the most optimistic women were more likely to achieve exceptional longevity, defined as living over 90 years.

Area 2: Drive & Motivation—This is about setting goals and going for them, starting and finishing things in your daily life.

My Advice: Goals are essential. Write them down. Most folks don’t bother with goals, but those who jot them down are likelier to make them happen.

Surveys of the general population have shown that 83% of respondents don't have goals, 14% had plans but not in writing, and only 3% had written goals.

Research has shown that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if they are written down.

Area 3: Cognition - How well you think things through and keep a cool head about the future.

My Advice: Get to know yourself better. Most of us think we do, but real self-knowledge is rare. Being more here and now helps you understand your choices better.

In 2014, a team of researchers embarked on a large-scale scientific study of self-awareness.

In 10 separate investigations with nearly 5,000 participants they found that even though most people believe they are self-aware, self-awareness is a truly rare quality:

They estimated that only 10%–15% of the people they studied fit the criteria for being self-aware.

Area 4: Social Self—How you get along with others and see yourself in the big wide world.

My Advice: Step away from your screen. Too much smartphone or social media use messes with young people's heads.

When did you last spend a whole day offline?

Set a day to catch up with mates face-to-face.

Area 5: Mind-Body Connection - Keeping your mind and body in harmony.

My Advice: Balance stress with rest. Push yourself, but also take time to recover. This works for your brain as much as your body.

Area 6: Adaptability and Resilience—The ability to change with the times and bounce back from tough spots.

My Advice: Hard Things, Easy Life. Cold showers, hitting the gym, and learning a new skill build your strength inside and out.

To wrap up, boosting our mental well-being is a journey that touches different aspects of our lives, from how we process our emotions and tackle goals to how we connect with others and keep our minds and bodies in sync.

Remember, small, daily actions lead to big changes.

Whether you jot down what you're grateful for, set clear goals, spend time away from screens, or challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone, every step counts toward building a stronger, more resilient you.