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10 Things to Tell Yourself When Anxiety Attacks

September 18, 2016 by Power of Positivity

With so many people in today’s world feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, we need more collective relief than ever. The world continues to move at an increasingly fast pace, which would give even the calmest person a bit of anxiety. It happens to the best of us, but sometimes, the anxiety can feel debilitating. When will it end? When will we find the answers inside ourselves we so desperately seek?

Of course, we can all take preventive measures to keep our anxiety in check, but it can creep up when we least expect it. Anxiety weakens our defense mechanisms and keeps us on high alert, even if we don’t sense an immediate threat to our survival. Although anxiety can feel very real, it absolutely begins in mind. To correct and heal our anxiety, we must first work on calming our brains and teaching them to look at the world in a different light.

10 Things to Tell Yourself When Anxiety Attacks

If you are one of the millions of people worldwide who struggle with anxiety, keep reading because this article is for you.

1. “I love you.”

Many people feel incapable of being loved due to their anxiety and hate themselves for something out of their control. Doesn’t this seem silly when you truly think about it – to hate yourself for having a mental disorder that runs itself like a perfectly programmed machine? Anxiety seems indestructible and everlasting and conquering it can feel like a constant uphill battle. However, to truly learn how to heal or manage your anxiety, you have to love yourself fully, anxiety and all. You can’t dismiss any part of yourself that you feel is unworthy of love because anxiety makes up your being, at least partially.

It doesn’t have to rule or own you, but it’s there. So, accept this and learn to love the person inside. As they say, the first step to recovery always begins with acceptance and understanding of the problem.

2. “At this moment, is there truly anything that can hurt me?”

Oftentimes, people with anxiety have entirely different brains that those who don’t suffer from the disorder. In fact, a study published in the journal Current Biology shows that people with anxiety have less of an ability to distinguish between a genuine threat and a “safe” stimuli. Why? For brevity, people with anxiety basically have different wiring in their brains than “normal” people, resulting in a more anxious perception of the world. Their amygdala, or the brain region responsible for regulating emotions, essentially tells the mind to feel fear and sends that signal out to the other parts of the brain that help process emotions.

Despite this evolutionary response that seems stronger in those with anxiety, you CAN actually reprogram your brain through mindfulness meditation and other practices that help to calm and relax the mind. We all have synapses in our brains, gaps between two nerve cells that send impulses to the rest of the body. Although genetics do matter regarding the likelihood of having anxiety, you can learn to manage it by looking at your environment objectively. Ask yourself if anything can truly hurt you at the moment that should make you feel anxious. If not, take a few deep breaths, center yourself, and respond to the stimuli as mindfully and calmly as possible. Our brains change based on habits and learned behaviors, so give it a try yourself.

3. “Take deep breaths.”

Many times, those with anxiety have forgotten how to breathe. In our fast-paced, hectic lives, something that seems so simple in childhood can easily be forgotten. We don’t spend enough time relaxing, and therefore, our breath becomes shaky and hurried. Take a few moments to relax into slow, deep breathing when you feel an anxiety attack. This will help you to react calmly and not let your anxiety win.

4. “You CAN do this!”

Do you find yourself doubting and questioning yourself frequently? If so, this can greatly exacerbate anxiety and may even cause it in some cases. The next time you feel an anxiety attack and start to lose faith in yourself, say this powerful mantra in your mind. Many people with anxiety also suffer from low self-esteem due to the effects of their disorder, and they also tend to have high levels of sensitivity. So, boosting your own confidence can help you combat anxiety and stand up to the demons in your mind.

Believe in yourself, and anxiety will shrink in the process.

5. “Why am I feeling this way right now?”

Unfortunately, many of us have become out of touch with ourselves and our emotions. Instead of tending to everything outside ourselves that demands our attention, we don’t tune in enough to our innermost thoughts and feelings. Each day, remind yourself to slow down and pay attention to your feelings. If you find yourself feeling anxious, ask yourself why. Is something in your environment making you stressed? Can you change this situation to eliminate the source of the anxiety? Simply becoming mindful of how your mind works can do wonders in helping you treat your anxiety naturally.

6. “This feeling will pass.”

When you have an anxiety attack, it can feel like the absolute end of the world. Especially if you have a panic attack in a busy place, it isn’t easy to bring yourself back into the present moment. The panic increases your cortisol, putting you in fight-or-flight mode to have no choice but to respond to the perceived threat.

At that moment, go to a quiet place, remember to take deep breaths, and remind yourself that you have nothing to fear. Anxiety attacks can be debilitating, but telling yourself that the feeling will pass, makes them easier to manage. They won’t seem threatening anymore when you remember that what goes up must come down. In other words, anxiety causes an increase in adrenaline, but it must return to baseline levels eventually.

Once the perceived threat is gone or you can bring yourself down with relaxation techniques, you’ll feel relaxed again.

7. “You are safe, and there’s nothing to fear.”

Remember that fear only exists in your mind due to preconditioned responses and personal perspective. What causes alarm and dread for one person may excite the next person. So, it’s all in how we look at the world. That doesn’t mean anxiety isn’t real and that your feelings aren’t valid.

However, it’s possible to reprogram your brain through habit and positive thinking. If you consistently tell yourself that you have nothing to fear and you’re capable of anything, you’ll start to believe it. The mind sees the world through a certain lens based on your predominant thoughts. So, over time, you need to choose more positive thoughts or quiet your thoughts altogether.

Then, you can see the world through an unbiased lens as it really is, rather than how you’ve been programmed to see it.

8. “I am not my anxiety.”

Many people with anxiety tend to see themselves as frazzled, worried souls. They can’t see themselves through any other lens except this one, and unfortunately that only causes greater anxiety. It’s a vicious circle, but it’s important to remember that you’re much more than your anxiety to escape. In fact, you’re not anxious at all – that’s just a response from your brain to external stimuli.

You’re a soul trying to navigate this world just like everyone else. Please don’t limit yourself to labels such as “anxiety,” “depression,” or other disorders. Again, we’re not trying to discount anyone’s feelings or diagnoses here. We want to remind you that you can take your power back by seeing the bigger picture. Your feelings aren’t you – they’re just phenomena passing through your consciousness.

9. “Be here now.”

We often feel anxiety because we want to escape a certain situation. If we fear something or feel uncomfortable, our brain signals that we run to keep us safe. Unfortunately, our ancient brains haven’t learned the difference between real or perceived threats, especially in this modern world with overwhelming stimuli. So, your brain can’t differentiate between a busy intersection and a tiger baring its teeth; it views both as threats.

However, we know rationally that we’re not in real danger most of the time. By tapping into your logical brain rather than pure emotion, you can train yourself to feel calm in any situation. Often, the only way to quell the anxiety is to sit through it and allow it to pass. You may wonder why you should put yourself through this suffering at all.

By remaining still and not reacting to the anxiety, you will teach your mind and body that they’re safe. Being in the present moment and practicing mindfulness can help you become less reactive to stimuli. So, feel the fear and remember that it will pass. Watch it as it rises and dissipates, knowing that you’re not your thoughts.

10. “I am in control.”

When you have an anxiety attack, it can make you feel out of control and unable to make decisions. We naturally want to feel safe and secure, but anxiety keeps us on alert. It doesn’t want us to put our guard down since that could threaten our survival. Once again, you have to remind yourself that you’re in control of how you react to the world.

Anxiety may want to run the show, but it only makes life miserable at the end of the day. Start thinking of your anxiety as something that doesn’t have your best interests. While it does come in handy during pure survival situations, most of the time, it only complicates life. Remind yourself that you’re in charge, and don’t let your anxiety overrule you.

When you feel scared of something, remember that you’re naturally responding to new or overwhelming stimuli. However, you can choose to move through that fear instead of succumbing to it. At the moment, you may feel completely unable to exert control, but you’re capable of overpowering your animal instincts.

Also, give yourself grace since we still haven’t evolved to this modern world yet. It takes patience and compassion to rewire our brains and adapt to living conditions that aren’t familiar to us. Hopefully, these mantras above will help you manage anxiety and feel more comfortable in everyday life.

Final Thoughts on Managing Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety attacks can come on suddenly, without any warning, and for seemingly no reason. You may not even feel anxious before it hits you like a freight train. However, people with anxiety often have chronically high cortisol, so being in fight-or-flight mode is their default nature.

If you have anxiety attacks, remember to ground yourself in the present moment and tell yourself that you’re safe. Remember that the feeling will pass, and you’re more than your anxiety. Practice mindfulness and self-compassion, and your anxiety will start to fade before you know it.

How Your Emotions Affect Your Health

September 17, 2016 by Power of Positivity

There is a growing body of evidence that illnesses in the body are trapped emotions that are affecting us in tangible, physical ways. We can heal our bodies and minds by releasing suppressed, repressed, and trapped negative emotions. In this article, we will look at how emotions affect your body. Here’s How Your Emotions Affect Your Health

You can, of course, feel emotions in your body as physiological changes. For example, embarrassment causes the face to redden with the rush of blood to your cheeks. In this way, you know how some emotions can be felt physically in the body. Similarly, fear might make you feel tightness in your stomach and muscle tension.

There is a mental component to how we process our feelings and interpret the event. For instance, if your car breaks down on your way to work, you can feel frustrated about it. On the other hand, you can feel that you have received a message that you need to slow down this morning and take care of your valuable possessions.

You decide how to feel about a physiological emotion. That’s because your body is the mental component of the mind-body connection that determines how emotions affect your body.

How negative emotions affect your health

A University of Michigan study examined whether we can cultivate positive emotions to affect our bodies and optimize health. They found that ‘Negative emotions (e.g., fear, anger, and sadness) narrow an individual’s momentary thought-action repertoire toward specific actions that served the ancestral function of promoting survival.’

In other words, our fight or flight response kicks in when we have a negative emotion. So we feel aggressive or need to hide from the feelings.

Researchers at the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, say ‘psychological factors might influence immunity and immune system’mediated disease.’ Also, the study found ‘substantial evidence that factors such as stress, negative affect [emotions], clinical depression, social support, and repression/denial can influence both cellular and humoral [lymphatic fluid] indicators of immune status and function.’

Negative feelings have a major impact on the immune system of the body.

“At least in the case of the less serious infectious diseases (colds, influenza, herpes), [there are] consistent and convincing evidence of links between stress and negative affect [emotions] and disease onset and progression.”

In other words, if you are in a bad mood, feeling sad, angry, or stressed, you are more likely to get sick from even something like the flu.

How positive emotions affect your health

Your body responds when you feel joy, happiness, excitement, hope, appreciation, respect, or love. As a result of the pleasure, it releases endorphins and oxytocin, often called ‘the cuddle hormone.’ We feel good when we have these emotions and want even more promising, positive emotions, like a drug craving.

Unlike negative emotions that can stay trapped in the body, positive emotions help remove the effect of negative emotions in the body. Positive emotions don’t get trapped in our bodies. But some believe that they trigger cellular changes that improve the body’s normal functioning.

The University of Michigan scientists say that positive emotions (e.g., joy, interest, and contentment) broaden an individual’s momentary thought-action repertoire, which in turn can build that individual’s enduring personal resources, resources that also serve the ancestral function of promoting survival.

One implication of the broaden-and-build model is that positive emotions have an undoing effect on negative feelings. So, broaden the momentary thought-action repertoire. Thus, positive emotions loosen the hold that negative thoughts gain on an individual’s mind and body by undoing the narrowed psychological and physiological preparation for specific action. Indeed, empirical studies show that contentment and joy speed recovery from the cardiovascular aftereffects of negative emotions.

How you can use this information to affect your health in positive ways

Learn to identify negative vibes in your body. Practicing self-awareness and mastery is the key. For example, where do you notice the changes in your body when frustrated? You can better identify the emotion once you feel these stress changes in your muscles and internal organs. Thus, you will better cope with both your internal processing of feelings. Furthermore, you can relax your muscles to change how you feel.

Change your processing of the feeling by reframing the thought from this is so frustrating to this is just a minor setback. Everything will be ok. Then work on relaxing the muscles of your shoulders and upper back by lifting and releasing your shoulders. Many of us carry tension here. Thus, the shoulders are a good place to start when you are re-learning how emotions affect your body.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

How Do You Express Emotion According To Your Zodiac Sign?

September 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Each zodiac sign expresses emotions differently, even signs of the same element. Your zodiac sign can reveal much about your emotional expressions, even if you do not realize it. Furthermore, your sign’s element tells a whole story about your emotional state. For example, water signs hide many emotions beneath the surface, while fire signs explode with passion and can rarely hold back.

Read on below to find your sign, and discover more about how you express emotions and what that means for your personal life.

How Each Zodiac Sign Expresses Emotion

Aries Zodiac Sign

Aries does not like anyone to know their weaknesses, so if they feel sad, it often comes across as anger or frustration. Those with this sign have a very bold personality and don’t hide their feelings(unless they feel in such a way that the other person would have the upper hand). They show emotion if someone angered them, but they won’t let you know easily if you’ve hurt them.

Taurus

Taurus don’t really like dealing with their own emotions. If they have overwhelming feelings, they tend to go off on their own and try to deal with it themselves rather than ask for the help of others. They normally hide their feelings unless something awful happens. Then, it becomes difficult to contain such emotion.

Gemini

As a very social sign, Gemini can get easily depressed if they don’t reach out to others to help them through their problems. Gemini usually puts everything on the table and leaves nothing to the imagination, so others can easily help them. However, if they wallow in their sadness, it can lead to depression and isolation.

Cancer Zodiac Sign

As one of the most complicated signs in the zodiac, Cancer doesn’t always know how to deal with its emotions. Sometimes, they reach out to others but don’t like feeling like a burden to someone else. So, most of the time, they hide their feelings and try to understand them. Cancers can either get clingy and needy when upset or hide in their shell. You never know what you’ll get with them, but a Cancer will never turn down a hug, so remember that if you ever need to comfort a Cancer.

Leo

Leos have a lot of fire and passion and don’t hold back from showing it. However, sometimes their emotions can become so strong and powerful that others have difficulty knowing how to deal with them. Leos can also seem a bit self-centered, only caring about how they feel. They can also blow things out of proportion, but they mean well.

Virgo

Virgos have a very practical way of dealing with emotions. They hardly show how they feel, instead of coping with emotions in the comfort of their room. They want to get over the ’emotional’ part of dealing with feelings so that they can look for a solution afterward. Virgos can’t really grasp deep feelings that well, so they’d rather just move on to the part where action can be taken to relieve themselves of the emotion.

Libra Zodiac Sign

Libras also have trouble showing emotions, but they have a good reason. They care so much about how others feel, that they don’t want to cause any more trouble. They want smooth sailing and don’t want to rock the boat in any way. However, these repressed emotions can backfire later, causing a lot of damage in personal relationships.

Scorpio

Scorpio’s emotions and moods can become so overwhelming that they blow up in your face, as they don’t always know how to cope with strong feelings. They have very volatile and turbulent emotions, so the best way to deal with this sign is to steer clear of them when they lash out and don’t provoke them. Scorpios love getting revenge, so don’t get on their bad side. They bottle up emotions until they explode, and you don’t want to be around for the finale.

Sagittarius

Another fire sign, Sagittarius also has a lot of passion, but they don’t show it as much as the other fire signs. Sagittarius can feel so many emotions that they get depressed, but they don’t like others to know that. If they feel sad or angry, they’ll most likely blow off some steam and revisit the problem later.

Capricorn Zodiac Sign

Capricorns don’t like letting their emotions get the best of them, so they stay grounded to the Earth as much as possible. However, they tend to see the world in a negative light. So things can get them down easily. They have a practical, analytical personality, and tend to overthink even the smallest of issues. They also have a problem with perfectionism, so all of these rigid ideals can lead to repressed emotions. Be warned – they may explode one day from their tendency to hide emotions.

Aquarius

Aquarius can be another difficult sign to figure out, as they have deep emotions but don’t know how to show them. They tend to find distractions from their feelings rather than facing them in the moment, so they might have a breakdown about something that happened months ago. When they feel lost or upset, they lose themselves in planning a trip or socializing with friends and forget about all the crappy stuff going on for a bit.

Pisces

Pisces can get lost in their own heads, even more than other water signs sometimes. Those with this water sign need to get out and socialize or do activities that keep them from brooding and dwelling on emotions. They can easily let depression and anxiety overwhelm them, as they are highly sensitive signs. However, letting feelings out in a healthy manner or doing something to distract them can help in an emotional breakdown.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

Breakups: What you need to remember if it happens to you…

September 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Everyone’s been there at some point – losing the love of their lives and having to pick up the pieces in the storm’s aftermath. We can’t predict losing someone we love, just as we can’t predict much else in this world. Sometimes, the love we thought we had just disappeared, and we must try to understand it.

We have to move on. We must also learn the lessons from the breakup and try to mend our hearts in the process. Breakups can feel as heart-wrenching as the grief you feel after a relative passes away; the hole in your heart makes you feel empty, lost, and broken.

However, even though breakups can tear you apart and steal your smiles in the short term, they teach important lessons in the long term. Also, they remind you that you can feel and that enough should make one thankful to exist on this beautiful planet.

The fact that you can feel sadness means you can, in turn, feel happy once again after the pain has subsided and your heart has healed. So, if you are/have gone through a difficult breakup recently, keep on reading for some words of encouragement.

If you’re going through a breakup, this is for you…

Take a moment, right now, to breathe. Breathe in life; breathe out fear and sadness. Breathe because it centers, grounds, and reminds you that you have a purpose. You came here to this planet to learn lessons for your personal journey, which inevitably includes getting hurt from time to time.

Even if you thought you were with the love of your life, you WILL get through this. This, too, shall pass. You have to face your feelings and not run from them. Honor yourself if you don’t want to get out of bed for a few days. Do what feels right for you, and move on at your own pace.

Get your feelings out in a healthy manner. Talk to friends and family, keep a journal, sing breakup songs, go to the gym, sweat out your anger, etc.

The worst thing you could do right now is keep those feelings inside because they will end up haunting you. They’ll sabotage your happiness and chance at moving on and create resentment. If you and your ex still talk, you might consider telling them how you feel. This way, you can release all those heavy emotions and start healing.

Most importantly, always remember that you can create a new form of happiness. If you associate your ex with happiness, remember the time before you met them.

What else made you happy before they entered into your life?

See, you can probably list at least a few things, right? Well then, you’ve reached a powerful conclusion: if you found happiness before the love of your life, then you CAN find it again. Our minds work in mysterious ways – we can get so wrapped up in the mere existence of someone that it becomes all we see.

However, once they leave the picture, we act as if we lost everything and have nothing left. In the process, we also forget about everything else we have going for us in our lives. We forget about the activities, places, and other people that bring us joy.

Don’t get me wrong, breakups absolutely hurt, and can take a while to get over. They might cause you to hide under your covers and forget the world some days, but it won’t stay that way forever. The pain will subside, and you’ll start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Final Thought on Dealing With a Breakup

So, if you’re going through a tough breakup right now, keep this in mind – no pain lasts forever, and you will find something else that makes you feel alive. It doesn’t even have to be another person; it can be a new hobby, a passion, a dream.

During the healing process, truly take time to get to know yourself again. Breakups, while painful, make a great opportunity to explore yourself further and grow as a person.

Many times, we lose pieces of ourselves during a breakup or an unhealthy relationship, so consider it a blessing from the universe. It wants you to rediscover the parts of yourself that you lost, and become a whole person again.

Breakups may feel like the end of the world, but they’re just the beginning of a whole new one. Never forget that.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

10 Reasons to Try Oil Pulling

September 15, 2016 by Power of Positivity

You brush twice daily, you use mouthwash, you floss meticulously. Why do we need to even bother with something that sounds like a process akin to siphoning engine oil from a combined harvester? Yes, Old McDonald did have a farm, but in his mouth it is “with an Ugh! Ugh! here, with an Ugh! Ugh! there”. This particular technique – oil pulling – is centuries old that can make your mouth’s day… and week… and month… you grasp the concept. It is also au naturel, so there are no harmful chemicals and your smile will shine brighter than JLo’s rocks when she was still Jenny from the block!

What is this technique? And what happens to my mouth?

First up, we must clarify what it is. Long story short, it is putting organic oil in your gob (e.g. coconut oil), swishing and swirling it in there for twenty minutes just like a mouthwash, then spitting it out. However, not down the sink because that can clog up your pipes; you have been warned. It works as the oil sticks to bacteria in your mouth, killing the bacteria stuck in the process. Now, on to what happens after twenty minutes of goodness. Here are the benefits below provided by James Colquhoun at Food Matters.

These Ten Things Happen To Your Body When You Try Oil Pulling

1. Oil pulling helps get rid of bacteria

“The oil possesses natural antibiotic and antiviral properties that helps break down plaque to clean teeth, which may result in a whiter appearance

2. Increases energy

“Removing the noxious culprits (bacteria) in the first instance by oil pulling lowers the amount of work our body has to do to function, which leaves us feeling a whole lot better.”

3. Detoxes the body

“The gateway to the body for such contamination (caused by bacteria) is the mouth. Therefore, in removing the toxins at the source before they get a chance to spread, the body undergoes a complete detox.”

4. Aids hormonal changes

“Without having to compete with foreign substances, hormones can behave as they should, functioning to their best ability without being thrown off balance.”

5. Reduces headaches

“When the body is under toxic stress, headaches and migraines occur. By eliminating bacteria from the body via oil pulling, headaches can be avoided.”

6. Oil pulling keeps the skin clear

“Removing toxins from the body that would otherwise make it into the bloodstream means the skin has a chance to shine (along with more JLo bling perhaps?). Rashes and skin issues often reduce dramatically, or even clear up completely.”

7. Promotes oral hygiene

“Oil pulling is highly effective at reducing tooth cavities and at eradicating bad breath. It also helps with plaque-induced gingivitis.”

Please remember not to give up if you do not get the desired effect. Every case is different with varying factors, as explained by Colquhoun:

8. Prevents gingivitis and cavities

Another health benefit is that it prevents gingivitis and periodontitis. Oil pulling with sunflower or sesame oil, especially if they’re cold-pressed oils, removes bacteria, protozoa, and viruses from your mouth and oral cavity. They found that oil pulling for 40 days with sesame oil can reduce oral bacteria that cause dental cavities. Oil pulling reduces plaque build-up associated with gingivitis and cavities when used along with mouthwash, brushing, and flossing. Almond oil was the best oil to prevent gingivitis, and olive oil was the best oil to slow down plaque build-up.

9. Oil pulling improves your gum health

Oil pulling can reduce the bacteria responsible for cavities, peritonitis, and gingivitis. Your gums will get healthier, pink, and healthy. Practicing regular oil pulling improves the health of your gums and reduces inflammation.

10. Benefits your other organs

Your oral health affects your organs, such as your heart, kidneys, and lungs. Oil pulling reduces the bacteria and toxins from your body by getting trapped in the oil and then spit out.

How to Perform Oil Pulling

You should practice oil pulling first thing in the morning before breakfast while your stomach is still empty. Take one tablespoon of your preferred oil and swish it around in your mouth for at least twenty minutes. Force the oil out of your mouth, spitting it out between your teeth. The oil should become white and thin. After spilling out all the oil, rinse your mouth with warm tap water. Afterward, you can brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash. Never spit out the oil into your bathroom sink because it’ll clog up your drain. Instead, spit the oil into a paper towel or a trashcan.

Warning:

Avoid swallowing the oil while oil pulling since it contains bacteria and toxins. Be careful not to aspirate the oil into your lungs. Always stand or sit when you are oil pulling. You can practice oil pulling several times a day. Just be sure your stomach is empty between meals for the best effects.

Other Benefits of Oil Pulling

There are other benefits of oil pulling that are worth noting. These include:

Improve your hair condition
Can help reduce joint pain
Strengthens your gums, jaw, and teeth
Helps improve body odor
Increase your metabolism
Helps sore throat
Strengthen your senses

What are the negatives of oil pulling?

As with so many things, oil pulling has some potential negatives. These include:

Use of oil pulling instead of regular oral care-It’s important that you continue to practice good oral care such as regular brushing, flossing, and mouth wash.
It’s time-consuming.
The strain on your mouth-Vigorous swishing can make your mouth and jaw ache.
The oil tastes bad
You need to be careful not to swallow or aspirate the oil

What are the best oils to use for oil pulling?

Several oils work effectively. These include the following:

Sesame oil
Olive oil
Sunflower oil
Coconut oil

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

Editor’s Note: Updated 11/30/2023 to remove direct claim of whitening, but to aid in breakdown of plaque, resulting in a whiter appearance.

Do You Fidget? Here’s Why It’s Actually Good For Your Health

September 15, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Some people just cannot sit still for extended periods of time. They bounce their legs, play with pens in their hand or rock back and forth in their seat. Normally this is distracting and annoying if you are sharing a beach seat with a leg shaker, in a movie theater. But recent research has shown that bouncing your leg up and down while seated has some remarkable benefits to your health.

Do You Fidget? Here’s Why It’s Actually Good For Your Health

Sitting for long periods of time can create deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in your lower legs. A DVT is a blood clot that lodges in the veins in your lower leg. This can lead to swelling of the ankle and pitting edema around the joint. Basically, blood backs up in the veins and prevents fluid from crossing the barrier into the vein, creating the swelling in the area. The pitting means that when you push into the flesh with your finger, it does not immediately bounce back like normal but leaves an indentation. This usually stems from an underlying cardiovascular issue.

When you bounce your leg up and down, you increase blood flow to the area, preventing your platelets from sticking together and creating a clot. The sheer stress of flowing blood keeps the venous walls smooth and prevents clots and other blockages from occurring. The researchers knew that bouncing your leg would have some cardiovascular benefit, but were surprised to find just how much such a small action could have on sedentary people. They tested twelve subjects and had them bounce only one leg on and off for three hours. They then measured the blood flow through the popliteal artery in the lower leg. They found that the fidgeting leg had an increase in blood flow, while the stationary leg had a decrease in blood flow over the three hour period.

While the researchers only tested one leg, they recommend that people who do work while sitting at a desk for long periods of time bounce both legs every few minutes to help promote blood flow to their lower legs. While this is no substitute for regular walking or other exercise, any movement in the legs of sedentary workers is better than no movement at all. You can also do this while watching your favorite television show, at a sports game or even in a long movie. It is also recommended that on long airline flights, you keep your legs moving and get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour.

Cardiovascular disease describes a large range of conditions concerning the heart, and is one of the leading causes of death in the US. Fidgeting at your desk is not a replacement for a regular exercise program and healthy eating habits, but it can help. Another thing that helps with cardiovascular health is to take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator. Get up and move around every hour at your desk for a few minutes during the day, even if you just stand up and walk to the water fountain for a drink or to use the restroom. The body needs to stay moving in order to be healthy, and studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time is bad for your health and can lead to a host of medical conditions.

Something else that has become increasingly popular is to raise your work station high enough that you can stand at it while you work on your computer. Once the domain of eccentrics like Hemingway, standing while working has been proven to eliminate the health risks of prolonged sitting. Some people have even gone as far as mounting their laptops on a treadmill so they could slowly walk while they work.

These Vibrational Energy Experiments Prove How The Music You Listen To Alters Your Reality

September 14, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Water sustains a large part of our human anatomy. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%. The molecular structure, H2O, has unique physical and metaphysical properties. Water adapts to carrying all types of information in the body. It is affected by vibrational patterns.

In his famous research, Japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto discovered the vibrational properties of how water molecules change in regards to frequency, energy, and sounds. He captured these images in photographs and documented his findings in his book, Hidden Messages in Water. He concluded that water can read and store the frequency and energy of anything. This could be via a physical object or thoughts and emotions.

Water, as it turns out, can be changed by the thoughts that you carry. Dr. Emoto took pictures of the patterns that the molecules created with thoughts, music and other vibrations once the water was frozen. He exposed the water to many degrees of sound, affirmations and prayers.

These Vibrational Energy Experiments Prove How The Music You Listen To Alters Your Reality

The scientist also studied how music affected the composition of water. Water that was exposed to different types of music showed a variety of results. Music that was soothing and relaxing, such as classical, produced lovely crystals, while crystals exposed to heavy metal, aggressive or sad music deformed them. The vibration of music via words or tone changed the water compositions in a drastic manner.

Can you imagine how every thought, sound and environmental change influences your body structure? We can heal ourselves by shifting our thoughts and emotions to positive ones. We can alter our DNA by also changing the music that we listen to. It’s incredibly empowering to be able to adjust our senses, how we think, what we see, and what we listen to in order to heal our bodies. The water in our bodies and in the earth are healed by how we choose to process the things around us.

Aristotle said, “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” Could he have tapped into the secrets and hidden messages of water? Music can alter the neurotransmitters in the brain and hormones, therefore the water in our bodies is being altered.

Through all the examples that Dr. Emoto used for his experiment, there was a huge change in one type of vibration. Music, words, or affirmations that used the word “Love” became the most beautiful of all shapes. The most powerful effects of crystals was formed when he used the phrase, “love and gratitude.” This suggested that anything that vibrated to a high frequency carried a much stronger energetic influence in the body. Therefore, soft music, love songs and melodies that raise you to feel good also alter your health. For example, the song, “Amazing Grace” has one of the most beautiful crystallized compositions, while the song by Elvis Presley called “Heartbreak Hotel” shows the crystals distorted.

According to ancient studies, A= 432 Hz is said to be the mathematics of universal and sacred geometry. 432 Hz vibrates with the math fundamental to nature. According to Brain T. Collins, a musician and researcher, the standard pitch (A=440 Hz) does not harmonize on any level that corresponds to cosmic movement, rhythm, or natural vibration. The greatest musicians, such as Mozart and Verdi, based their music on the natural vibration of A=432. It’s true that it is only 8 vibrations per second different from the standard tuning, but this small difference seems to be remarkable to our human consciousness.

There’s a growing musical and metaphysical movement for recovering optimal integrity in the music industry and spirituality through the 432Hz tuning. In April 2008, Dutch journalist Richard Huisken founded the ‘back to 432 Hz’ committee, claiming that this original tuning was used in ancient cultures and is found on antique instruments like the Stradivarius violin.

The sounds you listen to alter your perception of everything around you. As in Dr. Emoto’s studies, vibrations can hurt or cure you. But, how does music affect our bodies?

Music brings about emotional and altered states of reality. Music can make a person feel different things. Dr. Emoto says, “To give your positive or negative attention to something is a way of giving energy. The most damaging form of behavior is withholding your attention.” He also concluded in his research that “Dramatic and sudden changes in the body’s frequency result in great pain and damage. In such cases, treatment must involve equal or stronger frequencies to be effective — often having to do with the scalpel. Sharp instruments, by nature, have a higher frequency….” Therefore, changes in music can also alter your thought processing, your behavior, and your perception to what is your reality.

How we react to the world around us influences our bodies and actions. Picking the type of music you listen to isn’t so much a conscious choice as it is a feeling. Learning to keep your vibrational body intact requires a little work. When you shift your music choices, you are also affecting your body in a metaphysical level. The vibration of your music can make you mentally, spiritually and physically ill or cure you from some major issues. Dr. Emoto says, “Water carries our thoughts and prayers, as you are water yourself. No matter where you are, your prayers will be carried to the rest of the world.”

Prepare For A Huge Energy Shift on September 16, 2016 – RARE Lunar Eclipse In Pisces

September 14, 2016 by Power of Positivity

The month of September is remarkable for astronomy and astrology in that there is both a new moon and solar eclipse on September 1st and a full moon and lunar eclipse on September 16th. Not only that, but there is a second new moon in the month of September falling on the 30th. In addition to all of that, as if it weren’t enough, Mercury is in its retrograde path right now through September 22nd. This article will tell you what all of these astrological events can mean for you in the coming month so read on and know how to prepare.

We won’t be able to see the lunar eclipse on September 16th in North and South America, but the rest of the world may be able to. Not to worry, because the moon will be in its new phase, making it difficult to see anyway. The eclipse will also begin during daylight hours for North and South America and after the moon has already set in the East slightly before 8:00am Eastern time, which is another reason why it will not be visible. Although you may not get to see it, the eclipse’s impact can often be felt.

The Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse on September 16th: Here’s What It Means For You

This will be a penumbral eclipse which means that the moon is passing through the lighter part of the Earth’s shadow, not the darkest part. As a result, those who will get to see the eclipse will only see a slight fading of the light of the moon’s normal light. The eclipse will be visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the western Pacific Ocean.

What science tells us about the full moon lunar eclipse on September 16th

Does the eclipse affect human behavior? We believe that it does, but in ways that might not be as noticeable for us as it is for other animals. Most research has focused on the effects of the full moon for humans, which are many, and which happen regularly every month. These can be anything from problems falling asleep during the full moon, to more hospital admissions.

The full moon may affect some likelihood of accidents, for people who may be distracted by the full moon and the eclipse as they see it, and also for our pets. In a study of 11,940 cases at the Colorado State University Veterinary Medical Center, researchers found that there was an increased risk of emergency room visits for cats and dogs, 23 percent higher for felines and 28 percent higher for canines on the days surrounding the full moon.

Researchers studied primates and their responses to the natural cycles of sunlight and moonlight. They discovered that for monkeys, and likely for other primates, exposure to moonlight is necessary for their normal behavior. The monkeys were observed to stop moving entirely during the dim light of three lunar eclipses. The eclipses fell during a time when the nocturnal animals would normally be highly active.

What you need to know about the lunar eclipse and your astrological sign

This lunar eclipse falls in the sign of Pisces, which means that for this sign, born February 19th through March 20th, it will have a special significance. Also highly affected by this eclipse will be Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius.

Darkstarastrology.com has the following insights regarding the full moon lunar eclipse on September 16th:

Wild mood swings affecting many people during this time. You may also notice greater relationship instability. People will be more aware of their public persona and how they are perceived by others during the eclipse. We will be driven to seek attention and we may act out because of this need. We should seek to focus on healing inner issues of self-worth so that the self is valued and is not dependent on the opinions of others.

Two stars from the constellation Pegasus are also involved with the full moon lunar eclipse. They will bring good luck to those who are willing to work hard, mental focus and clarity, help for those who are working toward a cause, and both good and bad luck in the form of accidents. Caution is recommended, especially during travel at this time.

The moon’s position relative to Venus may bring people’s desire for justice to a boiling point. Seeking revenge to balance the scales for past hurts is not advisable, now or ever. You may be overly attentive to the needs of others, so feel free to reserve some time to focus on yourself instead.

Mars in Sagittarius at the time of the eclipse is a good reminder to watch your tongue because you may accidentally hurt others with your sharp words when you didn’t intend to.

All of this astrological activity is also happening at a time of Mercury being in retrograde August 30th through September 22nd. Focus on keeping communication lighthearted and positive because you might be pulled into arguments too easily. Prepare for potential delays, frustrations, and lost items. Backup your data often, just to be safe and be extra cautious when planning travel. Keep spending to a minimum and avoid large purchases. The time of mercury retrograde is also a time when you are advised to avoid starting new work or signing any legal documents.

Why Strong People Attract Difficult Relationships

September 14, 2016 by Power of Positivity

It is never smooth sailing for strong people. They go and tackle every obstacle, solve every problem, pass every test put in front of them. Still, they seem to attract difficult relationships.

Yet they get home only to find out their dearest love is upset with them for having forgot that it was their turn to do the dishes. You would think that their life is all rosy and from the outside looking in, it appears that way. This could not be further from the truth.

Sometimes these relationships are actually the hardest tests that strong people have in their lives. It is not unheard of to have both mental and physical violence in them, along with manipulation and constant rowing.

Why is this?

Why Strong People Attract Difficult Relationships

The answer may lie in the fact that these people are completely in their comfort zones, and this changes when coexistence is in play.

This makes the strong suffer with more baggage to deal with than first thought, having already exorcised their own demons by themselves. There is also the explanation of wanting to go through another process of self-discovery of learning more and growing further via another, like a repeat of the butterfly leaving its cocoon.

There are three types of relationships that strong people are attracted to: the soulmate relationship, the healing relationship, and the karmic relationship.

Soulmate Relationship

They attract this type so much that they have had a few of them. Working on this type requires a lot of it. It is exhausting, stressful, yet it can be rewarding. However, soul growth is the main aim here.

It is in this type of relationship that the aforementioned self-discovery is attained. This is because, when in a romantic union, their flaws are apparent. As understood from earlier, soulmate relationships do not necessarily imply that it will last forever, but the effects of the relationship could.

Healing a Difficult Relationship

Strong people tend to be healers also. They are the go-to person for a consoling hug, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a proverbial sponge to soak up sadness. Therefore, they attract someone who requires this kind of strength.

The benefits are never one-sided, unless the someone in the relationship is taking advantage. If that is the case, abort mission now! Also, if the strong feel emotionally “drained” from constant healing, take a step back and just enjoy being in the company of the other half. That is what life is about, after all.

Karmic Relationship

Baggage from this life is tough, let alone past lives, the breaking of the shackles of things that happened long ago. It can make you feel confused and annoyed, stopping you from moving ahead. This type of relationship can be full-on, especially at the start when euphoria from something new and exciting is at its highest.

There can be an intense pull or revulsion, depending on the mood of both participants of the relationship at the time. Releasing old hurts is very therapeutic and rewarding, which is why the Universe is throwing strong people from one into another, purifying and cleansing along the way.

What can strong people do? In a nutshell:

1. Let go and allow themselves to go into autopilot within the relationship. Like the cliché says: “Go with the flow.”

2. Move past obstacles hampering their reception of love. Strong people, due to their independence, do not let many in emotionally, therefore minimising the likelihood of being vulnerable.

3. Let the experiences strengthen them as people and as lovers. Let these experiences nurture them and learn from them.

4. Concentrate on the self. Loving yourself truly will help immensely towards reaching goals within the current relationship.

5. If the relationship is difficult, embrace it and move forward. Sometimes the most difficult relationships are also the most helpful.

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