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What if mental health isn't something you're diagnosed with—but something you train daily, like physical fitness?

Arnold Beekes watched the mental health system fail his sister. Institutions prioritized filling seats over healing people. Two of her classmates died by suicide that same week. That bike ride home changed everything.

A former corporate executive turned global citizen, Arnold created "brain fitness"—a preventative approach to mental and emotional well-being that treats your mind like you treat your body: strengthen it before it breaks.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why mental health cases exploded from 197 million (1952) to 2.4 billion (2024)—and it's not just population growth
• The difference between "mental illness" (the label) and mental wellness (the practice)
• How Arnold's near-fatal car crash forced him to rebuild his relationship with movement and safety
• The "inner cheerleader" technique that replaces self-criticism with self-compassion
• Why his sister's story taught him the hardest lesson about boundaries and willingness
• Three demanding but simple principles: be kind, be present, be creative
• Practical tools: nasal breathing, daily walks, and making space for emotions without drowning in them

GUEST RESOURCES:

Arnold Beekes Website: braingym.fitness Book: "The Adventures of Doctor Alfred Moore" 15-Week Program: "From Fitting In to Flying Out" Masterclasses available on: Curiosity, Emotions, Habits, Aging, Uniqueness

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