AN OPEN MYND

This is An Open MYND — MY(NDY's) blog where neuroscience meets real talk, and nobody's asking you to meditate on a mountaintop. I write about the messy, funny, human side of mental fitness and the science behind how you can make your brain work for you, not against you.

Prefer to watch instead of read? Catch me on YouTube at Your Brain, Explained, where I break it all down one episode at a time.

Why Fake Content Feels Wrong: The Psychology of Authenticity

LinkedIn is starting to feel like a room full of robots—and your brain knows it. This post explores the psychology of authenticity, why fake content triggers discomfort, and how mental fitness helps you build real connection, trust, and influence in a world full of noise.

Read More

Why Flexible Boundaries Beat Work-Life Balance

Delivering "the performance of your life" at 6:30am on a Tuesday might look like high productivity, but it’s often a sign that our mental fitness is being taxed by a lack of clear boundaries. I’m diving into why we say "yes" when we mean "no," and how shifting from rigid fences to flexible ropes can actually strengthen your focus and well-being.

Read More

Win the Moment: A Better Alternative to New Year’s Resolutions for Mental Fitness

New Year’s resolutions often feel overwhelming and hard to sustain. This post introduces a simpler, more effective approach: “Win the Moment.” By focusing on one small, intentional action at a time, you can reduce pressure, build mental fitness, and create real momentum that lasts beyond January.

Read More
mental fitness, personal growth Lissy Alden mental fitness, personal growth Lissy Alden

Your Brain is Starving and You're Only Feeding It Once a Year…

Gratitude isn’t supposed to be a once-a-year performance, it’s daily brain fuel. Thanks to our built-in negativity bias, one bad moment can outweigh ten good ones, leaving us mentally undernourished if appreciation is scarce. This post makes the case for turning “thank you” into a habit, not a holiday, and shows how small, specific acts of appreciation can rewire your mindset, strengthen relationships, and spark a ripple effect of positivity.

Read More