Investing capital in China is both risky and is wildly unpredictable given the country’s lack of transparency, weak accounting standards, absence of the rule of law, and poor regulatory oversight.

Worse, the fate of the Chinese economy and business environment is almost entirely dependent on the domestic and global aspirations of a single man, Chinese authoritarian President Xi Jinping.

China is not a democracy and does not abide by the rule of law. Chinese Communist government’s sweeping control over the economy puts businesses, especially American-based firms, in a delicate position in trying to avoid the ire of President Xi and the Chinese government.

Hedge fund manager Kyle Bass, founder of Hayman Capital Management and long time critic of Communist China, has long proclaimed, “You have to say, each country run by maybe a despotic authoritarian should be re-reviewed and maybe not invested in.”

Bass cautioned against investing in Chinese stocks. He highlighted the risk of accounting fraud due to a lack of financial audits in China, and the prospect of further regulatory crackdowns on Chinese companies in the U.S. and crackdowns on American companies in China.

References:

1. https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/07/08/chinese-stocks-are-crashing-buy-the-dip-or-stay-aw/

September is Healthy Aging Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adults aged 65 and older need:

• At least 150 minutes of exercise a week (for example, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking. Or they need 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity such as hiking, jogging, or running.
• At least 2 days a week of activities that strengthen muscles.
• Activities to improve balance, such as standing on one foot about 3 times a week.

If chronic conditions affect your ability to meet these recommendations, be as physically active as your abilities and conditions allow.

Examples of Aerobic Physical Activity
According to the CDC, aerobic physical activity or “cardio” gets you breathing harder and your heart beating faster. From pushing a lawn mower, taking a dance class, walking or biking to the store – these types of activities and more count. As long as you’re doing aerobic physical activities at a moderate- or vigorous intensity, they count towards meeting the aerobic guideline. Even something as simple as walking is a great way to get the aerobic activity you need, as long as it’s at a moderately intense pace.

Intensity is how hard your body is working during physical activity. Try a few of these aerobic activities:

• Walking or hiking
• Some forms of yoga
• Some yard work, such as raking and pushing a lawn mower
• Bicycle riding (stationary or outdoors)
• Water aerobics

“Higher intensity exercise had greater improvements for depression and anxiety, while longer durations had smaller effects when compared to short and mid-duration bursts.

“We also found that all types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga

https://tinyurl.com/mt2j67jy

African American Experience During World War II

The book provides a historical perspective of the 1.2 million African American service members’ experiences on the unit and personal level serving in a segregated U.S. military and for an American society that denied them equal opportunity and basic civil rights. African Americans served in every military branch (Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marine Corps).

Besides serving in segregated units, they were assigned menial tasks, provided inferior training and resources, denied opportunities to serve in combat units, and faced racism despite fighting for liberty, justice and freedom abroad while being denied those platitudes at home. Basically, they battled for liberty and freedom on two fronts? home and abroad.

Mindfulness helps us put some space between ourselves and our reactions, breaking down our conditioned responses. Here’s how to tune into mindfulness throughout the day:

1. Set aside some time. You don’t need a meditation cushion or bench, or any sort of special equipment to access your mindfulness skills—but you do need to set aside some time and space.
2. Observe the present moment as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not quieting the mind, or attempting to achieve a state of eternal calm. The goal is simple: we’re aiming to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment. Easier said than done, we know.
3. Let your judgments roll by. When we notice judgments arise during our practice, we can make a mental note of them, and let them pass.
4. Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment.
5. Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself for whatever thoughts crop up, just practice recognizing when your mind has wandered off, and gently bring it back.

That’s the practice. It’s often been said that it’s very simple, but it’s not necessarily easy. The work is to just keep doing it. Results will accrue.

References:

1. https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

Relying on a single source of income can be risky, as unforeseen circumstances can lead to financial instability. By diversifying your income sources, you not only increase your earning potential but also create a safety net in case one stream dries up.

Whether it be starting a side hustle, investing in the stock market, or monetizing your skills, having multiple income streams gives you financial flexibility to better weather economic storms.

Take control of your financial future by diversifying your income streams and setting yourself up for success!

Below are seven income sources you can pursue:

1. Earned Income – this is the money you receive in exchange for your time, skill and labor.
2. Profit Income – this is the money you earned from sales or providing products and services.
3. Rental Income – this is the money you earn when you rent out a property you own or collect rental income from an investment.
4. Portfolio Income – this is the money you earned from investments from stocks, dividends, bonds and interest.
5. Royalty Income – this is money you received from sources such as royalties or through a contractual agreement for work.
6. Passive Income – this is money you earn through channels that don’t require your active participation.
7. Capital Gains – this is money you receive when you sell a capital asset such as real estate or stock.

https://links.myneurogym.com/think&growrich-jafb

“If you truly want to change your life, you first must be willing to change your mind.”

How to make the crucial leap from faith to action in bringing your dreams to life.

Believe in yourself…Have faith and be confident in your abilities. But faith alone is often not enough. You require Applied Faith.

The greatest application of applied faith is learning the art of keeping your mind focused on what you want.

You need to know how to transform belief into action, and faith into real-life plans.

Application, Enthusiasm, Action are the three keys required to do more than just adapting a “believe in yourself” mindset–but to actually become the person you want to be.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/goalachieverswithjohnassaraf/permalink/839508644520679/

5 lessons from Napoleon Hill’s book “The Law of Success”

1. Definiteness of Purpose: Success starts with having a clear and definite purpose. You should have a specific goal in mind and should work towards it with persistence and determination. Without a clear goal, you are unlikely to achieve success.

2. Self-Confidence: Self-confidence is paramount in achieving success. He explains that a person should have faith in their abilities and trust themselves to succeed. Without self-confidence, a person is likely to give up or be easily discouraged when faced with obstacles.

3. Mastermind Alliance: The power of collaboration and the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people who share a common goal. A Mastermind Alliance is a group of individuals who work together towards a common purpose, and this kind of collaboration can lead to greater success.

4. Applied Faith: Faith in yourself, others, and a higher power are crucial for success. Applied faith involves taking action towards your goals while believing that success is possible. It’s importance to persist in the face of adversity.

5. Personal Initiative: Successful people are proactive and take action towards their goals, rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them. And, they take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 NIV