The impact of social media on mental health is a topic of significant debate and research. Several studies have been conducted on this issue, and the general consensus is that social media can have both positive and negative effects on mental health, depending on how it's used and the individual's personal characteristics. Here are some of the potential negative and positive effects of social media on mental health:

Negative Effects:

Comparison and Envy: Constant exposure to others' highlight reels can lead to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, or even depression. Users may feel that their lives are not as exciting or successful as those of others, which can lead to feelings of inferiority or dissatisfaction.

Cyberbullying: The anonymity and ease of communication on social media can sometimes lead to aggressive behaviors, online harassment, and cyberbullying, which can have severe mental health implications, especially for younger users.

Increased Anxiety and Depression: Some studies have suggested that heavy use of social media can increase feelings of anxiety and depression, especially in adolescents.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Seeing others participating in events or activities can lead to a fear of missing out, which can cause anxiety and feelings of exclusion.

Distraction and Reduced Productivity: Overuse of social media can lead to procrastination, which can increase stress, especially for students or professionals with deadlines.

Disrupted Sleep: Excessive use of social media, especially before bedtime, can interfere with sleep patterns.

Positive Effects:

Connection and Community: For many, social media provides a sense of belonging, an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and support from online communities.

Awareness and Advocacy: Social media has played a crucial role in raising awareness about various social issues and mobilizing change.

Learning and Information Sharing: Many people use social media to share and receive information on topics of interest, broadening their horizons and learning new things.

Emotional Support: Sharing personal struggles can lead to others offering advice, support, or sharing their own experiences, making one feel less alone.

Opportunities: Whether it's for business, art, or other endeavors, social media provides a platform to showcase talents, products, and ideas to a vast audience.

To make the most out of social media and mitigate its potential negative effects:

Set time limits for usage.

Take regular breaks.

Avoid using it right before sleep.

Curate your feed to reduce exposure to negative or triggering content.

Engage in face-to-face social interactions to maintain a balanced social life.

If you feel overwhelmed or notice a decline in your mental health, consider consulting with a mental health professional.

In summary, the relationship between social media and mental health is multifaceted. It is essential to be mindful of one's consumption and ensure that it aligns with one's well-being and life goals.

The World of Supplements!

Vitamin supplements: the ultimate cure-all for all that ails you! Or so we're told, anyway. But let's be real, the world of vitamin supplements can be a confusing and, at times, downright comical place.

First of all, there are so many different types of vitamins and supplements out there, it's hard to keep track of them all. There's Vitamin A for your eyes, Vitamin B for your energy, Vitamin C for your immune system, and Vitamin D for your bones. But wait, there's more! There's also Vitamin E for your skin, Vitamin K for your blood, and even Vitamin Z for, well, we're not entirely sure what that one does, but it sounds important!

And then there are the various forms these vitamins come in: pills, gummies, chewable tablets, liquids, powders, and even sprays! It's like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole, trying to figure out which one is right for you.

But it's not just the vitamins themselves that are confusing, it's also the dosage. Some bottles recommend one pill a day, while others say to take three. And then there are the ones that tell you to take "as needed," which begs the question: how do you know when you need it? Are there warning signs? Will you suddenly start feeling weak and dizzy if you don't take your Vitamin D?

And let's not forget about the "extra" ingredients that are often added to these supplements. Sure, they may contain the vitamin you're looking for, but they also come with a whole host of other things like herbs, minerals, and even caffeine. It's like buying a bag of potato chips and finding a toy surprise inside...except the toy is a bunch of other unnecessary ingredients.

But perhaps the funniest thing about the world of vitamin supplements is the way they're marketed. Have you ever noticed how every single supplement out there claims to be the "best" or the "most effective"? It's like a never-ending competition to see who can make the boldest claim. "Our Vitamin C will boost your immune system by 300%!" "Our Vitamin B will give you the energy of a marathon runner!" "Our Vitamin A will make your eyes so strong, you'll be able to see through walls!"

In short, the world of vitamin supplements can be a minefield of confusion and absurdity. But at the end of the day, we all just want to feel our best and live a healthy life. So, whether you choose to take a daily dose of Vitamin C or a handful of Vitamin Gummies, just remember to always do your research and talk to your doctor before adding any supplement to your routine.

Watch our latest episode on supplements!  

Business Drowning? This episode is the life preserver to save it!

 We've become so accustomed to seeing business gurus shouting how you can be as great as they are if you just behave how they do.  Nothing wrong with it. It's a style but it's so refreshing to listen to a road-tested professional with tremendous statistics discuss workable strategies to improve your business without yelling, YOU GOTTA GRIND BITCH!!!, once.  Well, we got that and then some when Rafferty Pendery visited the Counterparts Show Tuesday, September 6th 2022.  www.counterpartsshow.com  

The following is borrowed from his websites.  https://www.raffertypendery.com/  https://www.studio98.com/

"He started his first company at the age of 11 and has not lost his love of business since.

Rafferty has worked on projects with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency and co-authored research papers on using online technology to create public awareness and participation in analog research projects. This has earned him a spot as one of the youngest members of the prestigious Explorers Club.

He founded an online marketing firm 10 years ago which has serviced a wide range of businesses ranging from small and mid-sized companies to Fortune 500’s. Through acquisitions and the creation of new ventures, he now owns a group of 6 companies with staff and clients all over the world.

His companies have done work for brands such as Time Warner, Ashley Furniture, Super Shuttle, Red Bull, Hilton, Humana, Double Tree, Mizuno, HP, and many more.

He is an international speaker who has helped thousands of businesses around the world with organization, expansion strategies, social media, and online PR and marketing."

As you can see, he's a powerhouse in building strategies to help any business worldwide.  In the next few days, we'll be sharing some golden nuggets he gave us that I know will help anyone who wants to improve their reach in their current business or just maybe start that business you've been dreaming about for years.  There is really no better time to start a business than today!

Thank you to everyone that watched the episode!  Watch the show LIVE every Tuesday at 7pm Central 8PM EST where we Spotlight Conversation with Creative Minds.  Visit www.counterpartsshow.com  

They are Starving for your Potential

 Remember you become a serious threat to those who can't bring you down to their level. They secretly hate you for it but they might hang around you in the hopes that they can slow you down from winning. Some don't even know they're doing it. They just can't imagine winning at the levels you're striving for. It's not real to them so it shouldn't be real to you. They will try to make you think it's not real. It's a sad fact that negative people don't know their negative. They blame others for everything bad in their lives and take no responsibility for any of it. Do NOT allow one ounce of your potential and drive to be stolen by someone with very low or no potential or drive. JHS

 April 29th 2020 and December 8th 2021. What a difference studying and spending all those hours on webinars and workshops trying to figure this out. Sometimes having to clear almost every word in an article just to know what the hell they're talking about. Trying to explain to friends and family why I was doing this and sometimes I was trying to explain it to myself. But here we are and I'm truly grateful.

Thank you to anyone that watched the early shows where I had a weak signal, choppy audio and all you saw was a blurry Puerto Rican with a goatee that changed colors!
The guests were always great and I know the value was there and it's the main reason I kept going. Now I've done hundreds of hours on interviews, Live streams, plus being a guest other hosts podcasts, and more. The future looks great and I thank you all for the support on this journey. we're just getting started. Love, JHS

Watch This Before You Make Another Decision

Just make a decision and never look back. Stop dwelling....

Empathy is a Powerful Tool

Empathy is not sympathy. Giving someone sympathy devalues them and makes them feel worse. Empathy is understanding a person's situation and helping. In business, empathy is lacking and has been for a long time. It's destroying companies and alienating consumers and employees. Its time for a change and I feel a change coming. Whether you're into social media or not you must admit that it's forced some businesses into uncomfortable areas by making them have to be accountable for, not just the product they sell, but also their employees from the top to the bottom. It's a new day and I feel the change. I choose to try to stay ahead of the game and implement empathy as part of my strategy. Social media moves fast and all I can do is try to keep up. I'm behind many but more importantly, I realize I'm ahead of many as well and that's what's exciting. For me, this moment and 2019 will be a year to rediscover my purpose, nurture my family and move at a faster pace as an artist. It's going to be fun and I look forward to taking this journey with all of you. Thank you for reading and your support. ❤ JHS

The Kool-Aid is cold and ready!!

I don't like the political game but I'm fascinated by the lack of full education on the issues. Everyone has half the story and some of it is wrong. They hear snippets here and there and draw one conclusion based on it. The media outlets together decide the buzzwords of the day and they use it to get the people under a spell. Just go to YouTube and check out the videos of the major networks doing this. It's pretty crazy. Word for word! My favorite is, "This a danger to our democracy" Type that into YouTube and see the kool-aid being prepared for you.

I use to question everything when I was young in the South Bronx. Someone once said that rock and roll is a fad and will be going away soon. They said dance music was taking over. Some other dope said Rap would never become mainstream. I thought that was crap. I knew it was going to be around for a long time. But whenever I would ask where did they hear this, They would say said MTV or some news channel. They had nothing but the news media. Just what someone told them. This, of course, being pre-internet where all the truth can now be found ;) it was easier to argue a good point. Today you can't argue because there are so many half-truths being thrown out there that people get hypnotized and can't even see a POSSIBILITY that someone is rigging the game and not using the whole truth. I'm sorry to say but the game is rigged, my friends. I can't even imagine what we would be listening to today on the radio If CNN was around back then!! JHS

Kick-Ass Successful Actions

The core of my upcoming book are these 10 actions for success that I wrote in 2013.  I was coming out of two of the roughest years of my life and I thought to myself, what are the basic components I use in my life that I've always followed that bring me happiness?  Then I tried to find out, what are the components of my life that when I violate them, my survival goes down and it brings me misery?   After asking myself these 2 questions, I started coming up different items which eventually ended up being this list.  I'm sure more can be added but these work just fine for me and I feel they cover every important aspect of life.  Of course, I'm not perfect.  I try to follow these!  I don't always succeed but having them has made a big difference in my life and has brought me comfort.  I would like to share them here with you now.

My 10 Successful Actions.

1. If you're unhappy with your current situation, change it. Something can be done about it.

2. Don't hate anyone for being successful even if the work isn't your cup of tea.

3. Surround yourself with people that will motivate and inspire you and always motivate and inspire others. Those that don't find value in what you're doing don't matter so don't pay any attention to them. They will go away eventually when they realize they can't win.

4. Don't be afraid to promote your work and do it often. If you believe in what you're doing, that will communicate to others. Remember, this is Show Business so showing your business is part of the game. Can you name that famous person that never promoted anything? Me neither.

5. If you're having problems or feel stuck, ask someone you trust for some
help or advice. But never ask someone to give you work because you have a
relationship with them. And always make yourself available to help
someone.

6. Take time every day to do some personal enhancement. It can be a new
course, read a book on your art or life, a seminar. Learn something new
every day.

7. Find a solid platform for life that works for you and that you're willing to die
for. It can be a religion, a faith, belief or a philosophy of life that gives you
tools to improve your conditions and help you reach your goals.

8. Be true and honest with your partner. Get them on your side and helping you
achieve your success. At the same time help reach their goals too. You
should never have to convince a partner or anyone to help you succeed.

9. Use your time wisely. We have 168 hours in one week. After we sleep, eat
and commute we are left with anywhere between 50 and 70 hours. With
that time you need to spend time with family and work on your goals. It's
plenty of time. If you're working more hours or you feel it's not enough
time, then please refer back to # 1 on this list.

10.Take care of yourself. Eat foods that will give you energy and take good
quality supplements if needed. You need to be able to control the body at
will and make it do things. Sometimes you might be tired and want to veg
out as some say but the only goal a vegetable has is to be cut up in a salad
then devoured. Don't be devoured! Move!

Chasing Butterflies with Someone Else's Net.

How many epiphanies can one man have before finally getting comfortable with not giving a shit about epiphanies?  Well, apparently a lot!  I for one have had more AH HA moments than I can count but it's always lead me to the next AH HA moment.  But I guess that's part of living a life of purpose and always having to readjust your big boy pants and keep moving.  Purpose!  I'm not really sure how someone goes through life without purpose but believe me, it happens.  I know this to be a fact because it seems to keep happening to me!  I'm not saying I don't have a purpose but I seem to get sidetracked by someone else's purpose and when I've finally had enough, I get the AH HA moment which has become quite famous in my home.  I run around the house yelling, "AH HA!!  I GOT IT!!" My wife just looks at me now and says, "You said that before and I always agree with you so why don't you just keep doing that!"

Well, last week I had another one!  Ok Ok!!  I'm sorry but this time it's different!  I swear!  This time I'm remembering it clearly and documenting it here in this blog so the world can read it and call me out on it next time I try to bring to fruition someone else's dreams.  Now don't get me wrong, I want to help others find their way but not at the expense of my happiness or the risk of losing opportunities.  Those lost opportunities are also people I could've helped and didn't because I was chasing butterflies with someone else's net.

This is my advice.  Wake up in the morning and think about the one thing you would want to do that day.  Now don't get cute and say sleep or coffee.  Really think about it and find out what's the one thing that you would love to do more than anything else.  When you find what it is, write it down on a piece of paper and stare at it.  Really look at it.  What will you feel?  Are you in pain by it or happy because it's what you're getting ready to spend your day doing?  It's at this moment when you will either make the biggest decision in your life or just put it aside and make excuses because you have bills to pay.  The hard fact is that most people won't even write it down.  The thought alone is painful enough.  All I can say is that you're heading towards a life of pain and struggle if you don't at least take a look at it.  You don't have to radically change your life (although it might be a good idea) but you can start making a plan to move towards your goal and passion.  Save the piece of paper and work on it.  Find people who do what you want to do and ask them for help.  You'd be surprised how many are willing to help.  I know I would be flattered if I were asked to help someone find a life living and working in their passion.  I hope the best for all of you.  JHS

Two IMPORTANT Items to apply on your Journey...

If you’re about to venture on an exciting trip, like the one I’m currently on, but you’re terrified, well, join the club! But also remember that it’s not you that’s afraid. It’s the idea that others will know you're afraid and might try to discourage you. This sometimes comes as a playful dig to you by someone that loves you but it still creates the same effect. It creates doubt which leads to fear. Just know that the fear is exterior to you as a spiritual being so that means it’s not part of you. Someone else created that fear and you accepted it as your own. It’s created somewhere else. If you eat some nasty fast food and get a stomach ache then that’s you because you allowed it to enter your body. You have control to NOT let fear enter your body or your mind in this case. Here are two simple tools that I follow every single day. The first thing that I apply is that I’m organized with my daily goals and I keep moving forward no matter what enters my space or like Dory sings in Finding Nemo, Just keep swimming Just keep swimming. If you’re moving forward at all times then someone who's trying to prevent you from succeeding will just have to either move over or you can run them over and they’ll become roadkill and then you can look in your rearview mirror and giggle. Yes, I intended that to be rather cruel and dramatic because it is and you shouldn’t put up with anyone trying to prevent your happiness. Family members and close friends tend to be the biggest culprits in this area. Look for it, stay organize and keep moving! The second thing I apply is to stay focus on your daily goals. You should have at least one item that you want to accomplish every single day towards a goal. That’s right. 7 days a week 365 days a year. It can be as simple as emailing someone with an idea or just studying a book, article or film for an hour. It’s not impossible to do and once you start you’ll be amazed at how much time you have to spend with your true friends and supportive family.  This is not always easy but necessary if you want to have the kind of life that YOU control. Your job as a living breathing spiritual being is to find solutions to problems and not make excuses. You will always have problems but how you confront them will judge how well you do in life. People who make excuses for a living never reach their full potential of ability or happiness and that is tragic. A person’s happiness can be measured by how far they can see into the future and then reach for it. Just standing idle staring at it will not get you there. So move!  Thank you for your time.  JHS
www.johnhenrysoto.com

I Grew up in the Ghetto and I don't use it as an Excuse to not Produce....

I know that's a long title but like I said I have no excuses to NOT produce so I produced a nice long title for you.  You're welcome.  So why am I writing about growing up in the South Bronx during one of the darkest days of that community?  70s 80s and 90s.  Well, because it goes hand in hand with just about anyone who's looking for excuses to not have to work hard to produce and just "Take it easy."  In my case, I could have used the excuse of growing up poor and in a violent neighborhood or not getting a good education etc... and you what, people around me would have supported that viewpoint and never push me to reach for more.  Shame on them!  Accountability was lost when I was growing up.  We just weren't expected to live long enough to achieve anything so they tried to make us feel better by excusing our laziness and lack of effort and candy coat their excuses by calling it "support".  That's so messed up.  So today, when someone throws a line out at me like, "Don't work so hard." or "Take it easy." it drives me a little batty because I remember what it took to get out of the South Bronx and extinguish the ghetto mentality that was instilled by a scared community.  And the sacrifices.  A lot of sacrifices.  Now, don't get me wrong, There's a big part of the South Bronx in my heart and I have a lot of love and admiration for the neighborhood.  I just refuse to use that experience as an excuse to not try to reach for the stars. Ok, maybe that's a little corny but it's heartfelt and really the main reason why I don't let anyone get away with making excuses that sound super lame.  I hear it all the time and I make sure I comment on it because I feel it's my responsibility to help them see what I've worked so hard to see.  And that is, the control you have on your future is based on the actions you decide to take today and not the hand you were dealt.  Take a really close and honest look at the actions you take towards your future.  Are they exactly what you should be doing?  If things don't work out are you using a million excuses to justify those actions?  And lastly, can you see movement towards your goals or are you sitting in your excuses.  You need to seriously look at that.  I want you to have a chance.  A chance to create exactly what you want.  You deserve it and you can do it.  Thank you for your time.  JHS
www.johnhenrysoto.com

The Admiration of it All...

To find happiness, you must admire living.  That means all of it.  The bad and the worst not to mention the so messed up that you want to kick kittens.  (Don't kick kittens)  It's so easy to walk around and love life when things are great.  Admiration of the struggle can feel just as good as loving everything because your lover is loving you lovely.  The present moment is where people fall behind.  They forget that life is based on a series of moments back to back to back and so on.  It never stops.  Not even after you're dead.  A dead corpse is decaying one moment to the next and who knows how long that process goes on a molecular level.  So the key is to always be in this moment and that moment that's about to arrive.  If you're walking into your office, then walk into it as if it's the first time.  Admire that moment.  This is not easy and most of you will roll your eyes when you read this but just admire that you read this, admire the moment and admire your sarcastic rolling eyes.  Because that moment existed whether you were aware of it or not. It happened.  And you know what, I admired the moment you rolled your eyes.  Thank you.  JHS
The photo is a mold of my hand holding my wife's hand.  
www.johnhenrysoto.com