Good Morning! 🌞 

We owe you a little apology! Yesterday’s Mind Stretcher featured the same riddle as the day before—our mistake! Looks like our brains needed a little stretching, too. 😅

To make it up to you, we’ve got a fresh new challenge today—one that’s sure to keep you thinking. Thanks for sticking with us, and we appreciate your sharp eyes (and patience)!

Now, let’s get back to the fun—ready to give today’s puzzle a go?

Environment

Southeast Asia’s Thriving Fisheries

Southeast Asia’s fisheries have defied global trends of overfishing and biodiversity loss, maintaining ecological balance while supporting a growing population. A recent study by Professor Matsuishi Takashi Fritz of Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Fisheries Sciences explores the reasons behind this regional success. His findings reveal valuable lessons for sustainable fisheries management around the world.

Over the past three decades, Southeast Asia has experienced the world’s highest growth in fish production, although this growth has plateaued since 2018. Interestingly, the region has one of the lowest productivity rates per fishery, largely due to the prevalence of small-scale fishers—participation in the fishing sector is 3.4 times higher than the global average. Most of these fishers operate at a subsistence level, harvesting just enough to support their local communities. According to Prof. Fritz, this model offers key advantages: it creates employment, reduces the risk of overfishing, minimizes ecological impact, and ensures fresher, higher-quality catches that can command better prices.

What sets Southeast Asia apart is its unusually high proportion of under-fished stocks—three times the global average—despite having similar rates of overfished stocks as other regions. This resilience is attributed to the region’s emphasis on multi-species fishing, which avoids putting pressure on just a few species and helps maintain marine biodiversity. Prof. Fritz concludes that promoting small-scale, habitat-friendly, and multi-species fishing practices is essential to sustaining the health of fisheries and marine ecosystems worldwide.

Pop Culture

A ‘Dopamine Dresser’

Kerry Jones, a 40-year-old artist from Manchester, proudly calls herself a “dopamine dresser,” embracing bold colors as a way to boost her mood and confidence. For Jones, fashion isn’t just about style—it’s a form of emotional expression and self-care. On tough days, she deliberately chooses the brightest pieces in her wardrobe, believing that vibrant tones like orange, yellow, red, pink, and lilac help energize her and shift her mindset. “The process of getting dressed changes my mood,” she says. “Bright colors make gloomy days feel better.”

Her passion for fashion began early, with her mother recalling how Jones always had strong opinions about her outfits as a child. While motherhood briefly pulled her away from her signature colorful style, she eventually returned to it, embracing bold fashion as a core part of her identity. With her striking orange hair and a wardrobe full of thrifted finds, Jones now fully celebrates her love for expressive dressing, seeing it as both empowering and creatively fulfilling.

Jones also believes that dressing with intention can impact more than just mood—it affects her productivity, especially when working from home. “If I don’t get fully dressed, I feel sluggish,” she explains. For those curious but hesitant about dopamine dressing, she suggests starting small with colorful accessories like earrings or socks. Her philosophy is simple: getting dressed should be a joyful, energizing ritual that uplifts both body and mind.

Lifestyle

The Trick to Changing Minds

If you want to change someone’s mind, how you communicate is just as important as what you say. Research suggests that people are often more open to dialogue than we assume. In one recent study, participants overestimated how much others wanted to argue and underestimated their willingness to listen and learn. This insight highlights the power of curiosity over confrontation—approaching conversations with an open, inquisitive mindset can make a meaningful difference.

A simple yet effective technique is to ask follow-up questions. A Stanford experiment found that when people were encouraged to elaborate on their views rather than simply state them, they became more open to discussion and alternative perspectives. Shifting your language slightly—by asking, “Can you tell me more about why you think that?”—can change the tone of a conversation and make others more receptive to dialogue.

Personal stories also carry surprising persuasive power. While facts and data are important, people are often more moved by firsthand experiences. Research shows that arguments grounded in personal narratives are perceived as more rational and credible, making them more effective in changing minds. And just as vital is civility: dismissive or rude behavior tends to alienate rather than persuade. Respectful, empathetic conversations—even on polarizing issues—foster a space where genuine understanding and change can happen.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I make you think, I twist your mind,
A hidden answer you must find.
Some say I'm tricky, some say I'm fun,
Solve me right, and you’ve won!

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

The first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured