In 1988 folic acid was added to bread, pasta, cereal, cookies and crackers as required by federal law. Folic acid is a form of vitamin B, to be specific vitamin B9.
Folic acid can be easily found in natural foods such as – leafy vegetables, okra, beans, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, broccoli, tomato juice, orange juice, eggs, animal liver and kidney.
Folic acid deficiencies include – extreme tiredness, lack of energy, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, heart problems, psychological problems such as depression, confusion and neural tube defects.
CDC implores women to consume 400 mcg of folic acid for those considering reproduction in order to prevent birth defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida.
A research study finds that folic acid reduces incidents of neural tube defects in infants.
Remember a day when you just got frustrated with anything to anyone. It could be something at work that engages you for hours and you come home with thoughts that just makes you feel irritatable.
We all have days which aren’t just as sunny. But while I say that it’s important to not forget that all days aren’t rainy either. It’s just like a spectrum which has variations and of course variables.
You will be surprised to know that too much complaining has a negative impact. The more you practice it the more your brain gets rewired. A research from Standford University has shown that — complaining shrinks the hippocampus. Hippocampus is the area of brain that is responsible for critical thinking, learning and memory. 🧠
Here are 2 ways and you can choose either:
1. Shift your perspective towards things you are grateful for because complaining won’t get you anywhere either. Complaining sometimes leads to release of cortisol, too much release of cortisol is not good on a long term. So, try to cultivate an attitude that helps you.
2. Complain but with a solution-orientation. Think about why you are complaining and how can it be resolved. Try to identify the purpose, what are the different ways of looking at it and what are the ways to get over it. Obviously, it’s not a day thing but try a constructive manner.
And lastly, excess of anything always results in danger☠️. When you see yourself engaging in complaining, remind yourself to stop and break the wiring.
Nearly everyday whether you are at corporations or at school or at home, communication is like salt to every dish. Imagine a day with zero communication – merely the thought of it is panicking.
Pick any job description and read it – one of the points or requirements will be excellent communication skills.
So, here are essential 5 C’s of Communication to help you improve or keep in mind –
1. Clarity – it should be simple in explanation and objective.
2. Coherent – the flow of content should be appropriate.
3. Concise – keep it short, begin with short sentences.
4. Credible – it is a good idea to add facts.
5. Creative – just like a beautiful architectural design attracts attention and interest. Try an element that’s unique of you.
There is more than these C’s but just for you to remember I attempted at making short and perhaps write more on it in my next blogs! Here is one interesting paper that you can use to develop effective communication skills.
You can use these C’s while communicating face to face or in emails.
Grit is one word many of us would have come across when we look at job descriptions while applying or hear someone talking about it. Why talk about grit at all and why it is so important?
Angela Duckworth is a leading expert on “grit”. She explains grit – is passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement, with no specific concern for rewards or recognition. It goes along with resilience, ambition, and self-control in the pursuit of long-term goals.
She in her ted talk explains how we need to look beyond IQ in our education. We need to implore and look at what is it that makes an individual stick to their goals despite the challenging situations. She talks about grit in great volumes. Grit is sticking with your future. Grit is living life not a sprint instead of a marathon.
So how we can develop it?
Data shows that by developing a growth mindset one can surely get closer to grit.
Carol Dweck studied human motivation and attempts to bridge between developmental psychology, social psychology, and personality psychology, and examines the self-conceptions.
She draws attention towards a growth mindset which is based on the belief that one’s basic qualities are things he/she/ they can cultivate through efforts.
Here are 3 quick ways to work on it:
Dive deeper into authenticity – stick to your uniqueness, it could be something you can do better or your own qualities. Pretending to be somone diminishes who you really are.
Be brave at facing your challenges – try looking at those challenges as an opportunity to outgrow your own fears. Each challenge has can add to your experience.
Censor your thoughts and words – it is really important to pay attention to your thoughts and words. If your thoughts and words are low how can you expect a positive outcome? The way you speak to yourself is integral to your own value and ethical standard.
Building on grit might be an extra effort. However, once you are in practice, the mental processes work for you, resulting in a greater possibility that you get the results.
OnPathToGrowth 