Ep 1: Identity

Dear Friends and Family, Deepak here:

I am excited to start this weekly newsletter, dedicated to helping students excel in their education <3 

In each, very brief, edition, I will share a valuable pro tip related to the world of learning. Whether it's for yourself, a friend, or a loved one, these insights will be applicable and beneficial.

As a future Family Physician, I aim to serve as a resource hub for learning and wellness in our community (yes, that includes you!). This newsletter will help me experiment with doing just this. This will also be an outlet for me to share my experiences within the American healthcare system (and how you can benefit!), as well as my experiments with productivity tools like Notion, which have enhanced both my work and personal life (and hopefully, yours too).

This journey brings back the stellar memories I have of tutoring math and preparing students for exams/ISEE/HSPT at your dinner tables. Those experiences shaped my decision to pursue Family Medicine, where continuous learning is a fundamental aspect of the profession. With each patient, young or old, I will keep growing and learning throughout my entire career.

If this newsletter is just not your jam, I’m sorry and you can totally unsubscribe with no hard feelings at all. I want to stay respectful of your time!

If you might be inclined, read ahead!

<1 min reading time

The first topic we'll explore is adopting an identity shift to form new habits and achieve goals effectively.

James Clear's book, "Atomic Habits," has been a significant influence on my approach to behavior change. Clear argues that focusing on our identity is key to achieving real outcomes. For instance, rather than saying, "I will get my homework done," we should affirm, "I am someone who gets their homework done." This mindset shift can lead to lasting change and success.

If you're interested in personal growth or helping others reach their goals (perhaps your kids!), I highly recommend reading "Atomic Habits." If reading a whole a$$ book is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of book summaries, like the one hyperlinked here.

Learn by playing

The very first (and best) way to learn is by playing. So, play with this idea! Try it for a few days and see how you or your kids feel. It could be a fun conversation to have at breakfast for a few days. I am a loving, intelligent student. I am someone who helps clean the kitchen after breakfast 🙂 A bit of a Jedi mind trick, you might say… try it! And may the force be with you~

On a personal note, I'm thrilled to announce that I'm just one year away from graduating from medical school. These learning fundamentals have become even more crucial as I study for exams and care for patients. Every step brings me closer to providing the best (health)care possible.

Before I sign off, I wanted to share a remarkable image from the James Webb deep space telescope, a breathtaking reminder of our small place in the universe.

Photography, astronomy/physics, and science, in general, is a genuine passion of mine.

Each flicker in the image represents not a star but an entire galaxy, teeming with billions of stars (and each star with its own set of planets). It's a humbling reminder of how small but a small part we are in the greater universe, an atomic component, you might say :)

If you made it this far, you likely found some interest or value in what I'm offering.

If you did, please share it with your friends who might also benefit from this and the many insights to come! Or not, I’m happy either way!

See you next week & have a great weekend!~

xo

Deepak