Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up a daily dose of care designed to support you, cheer you on and remind you, always, just how wonderful you already are.

In Today’s Edition:

Your differences make you unique, special and extraordinarily you.
Treasure all that you are because all that you are is a lovely gift to us and the world.
Thank you for being you and for being here with us!

^{In this series, we explore common thinking patterns (cognitive biases) that can limit well-being and practice loosening its grip, to empower our thoughts, increase resilience, and live to the fullest.}

Our brains are wired to make sense of social situations quickly. But sometimes that turns into mind reading: assuming we know what others are thinking or feeling without actually checking.

Mind reading often leans negative. We assume someone is judging us, upset with us, or thinking poorly of us, even when we don’t have clear evidence. Over time, this can increase anxiety, create distance in relationships, and chip away at confidence.

The tricky part? It feels like certainty, not a guess.

Common ways mind-reading shows up:
• 😬 Assuming someone thinks you’re awkward, annoying, or not good enough
• 📱 Interpreting a short text or delayed reply as negative
• 🪞 Believing others are focused on your flaws or mistakes
• 😶 Assuming silence means disapproval or rejection
• 🎭 Changing your behavior to avoid imagined judgment

Ways to gently reality-check mind-reading:
• 🥠 Ask: What actual evidence do I have for this?
• 🔍 Consider alternative explanations (they’re busy, distracted, neutral)
• 💬 When appropriate, ask for clarification instead of assuming
• 🧠 Remind yourself: I can’t actually know their thoughts
• 💙 Practice letting uncertainty exist without filling in the blanks

Not every thought is a fact, especially the ones we assign to other people.

✅ Action step: The next time you catch yourself assuming what someone else is thinking, pause and ask: What else could be true here?

^{Love, Lola Graham}

A study of over 111,000 adults for more than 30 years found that people who engaged in a variety of physical activities had a 19% lower risk of death from all causes, even after accounting for total exercise volume.

This means moving is important, but it is not just about how much you move, but what types of movement you do. Walking was linked to a 17% lower risk of death, tennis and racquet sports 15%, weight training and running each at 13%.

But the people who mixed different types of activity had a 13–41% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease compared to those who stuck to fewer types of movement.

It is important to note that this is observational research, so it cannot prove cause and effect, but the takeaway is still interesting and should be taken into consideration. Moving your body in a variety of different ways seems to matter, and you know what they say… variety is the spice of life!

✅ Action Step: If your movement routine is mostly one thing, think about one new type of activity to add this month, maybe go for a swim, a strength session, a bike ride, etc.

^{By: Joshua Graham | Source: PMID: 41574252}

^{A gentle invitation to integrate lived experience with kindness, perspective, and care.}

Where did you choose kindness over harshness this week, toward yourself or others?

Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!

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With love and care,

Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team

^{Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.}

^{Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).}