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6 Signs of An Oversized Ego

July 17, 2016 by Power of Positivity

We all know at least one person who acts like they are the best since sliced bread. Like they are perfect, flawless, and never wrong. And that doesn’t mean they are confident or self-assured. It usually means that they’re a rude and self-absorbed individual. Being sure and having faith in your abilities is a great trait. But having a big ego is something entirely different. It means you refuse to see what you could improve to become a better person.

Or you don’t have the incentive to improve because you already think you’re the most extraordinary person alive. The problem with egotistical people is that they never think about others. They don’t care who they have to step over as long as they come out on top. They would forsake their friends and family to reach advantages in life. That advantage is often monetary, or even fame and image. This is a person you don’t want to have in your life. They are unreliable, and frankly, they aren’t an asset for you.

They aren’t good friends or partners, and they will probably get on your nerves. If you are the one that has an inflated ego, that’s also an issue. That’s not to say that a healthy dose of confidence can’t help. Of course, it helps, as it doesn’t allow others to trample you. But being overly egotistical is not desirable, as it doesn’t benefit anyone, not even you. So, if you want to spot an oversized ego, what are some signs you need to look out for?

The Difference Between Confidence and Ego

At first glance, these two concepts might seem interchangeable. After all, being confident means having a big ego, right? Well, that’s not the case. There is a big difference between the two concepts. More specifically, these traits don’t stem from the same mindsets.

Confidence is utterly separate from self-interest. You can be the most selfless person alive and still be confident. That’s because confidence means having faith in yourself and your abilities. Confidence is all about how you see yourself. When you learn to accept who you are, with all your imperfections, that’s when you become confident. But confidence also means being aware of what you can do to improve yourself.

A confident person is not afraid to admit that they still have a lot to learn. They even take pride in the fact that they are constantly bettering themselves. But only good people are ever truly confident. And that’s because they know who they are, and they know they are kind and selfless. And that’s the type of person you can truly have faith in.

You might think that’s incorrect. You might even think you know bad people who are confident. Well, those people aren’t really confident. The term that would best describe them is egotistical. Having a big ego can look very similar to confidence. But the main difference is that egotistical people act out of self-interest. They want to look good and to seem like they are in the right. They don’t actually care if they are doing the right thing, as long as that’s how it seems.

This behavior is also linked with the need to seek validation and approval. That’s the main reason why your actions won’t be genuine. They will just be for show and because you want others to know just how “amazing” you are.

6 Signs of an Oversized Ego

Do you see these behaviors in yourself or someone you love?

1. They Always Think They Are Right

People who suffer from an inflated ego always need to be correct. They aren’t interested in learning new things or even having a discussion. They are usually just interested in showing off. Furthermore, they have the desire always to be listened to. They think being wrong is a weakness and will make them seem less than they are.

Because they are so afraid of being viewed negatively, they will always act like they know everything. They need to be listened to and to be admired. That’s not because they want to teach others. In fact, if no one learns a thing from them, they won’t care at all. Teaching others is something that selfless people do.

But that’s not what an egotistical person wants. They desire to be seen as role models without actually putting in the work to be a role model. These people aren’t interested in discussing good faith. They want to show others that they know everything and are better than them. Ultimately, they want to be right because that’s how they get the validation they seek.

2. They Always Gossip

Usually, people with big egos are very fragile. Those big egos are easily hurt. Because of their vulnerability, they feel they can’t rely on their strengths alone to prove themselves. They also feel the need to tear others down to seem better by comparison. And the best way to do that is to gossip.

Everyone gossips to a certain extent. After all, people can have only so many philosophical discussions before getting bored. Talking about other people is something everyone does. You’ll start talking about acquaintances when you meet a friend for drinks. Gossiping from time to time isn’t that big of a deal.

But people with oversized egos don’t just gossip once in a while. They always talk about others, and they make an effort to criticize them. For example, they might constantly bring up their co-workers only to paint them in a negative light. Condemning and criticizing others feeds their egos. It also allows them to make themselves look better by comparison.

3. They are Never Satisfied

Someone with an oversized ego will always feel like they need more. That’s because they think they deserve more. For example, they will always want another promotion because they believe they are the company’s best employee and deserve it. In most cases, they don’t even earn that promotion. But that doesn’t stop them from wanting more and more.

They always chase achievements because they want to prove they are the best. So they usually go for material achievements. They aren’t necessarily interested in finding love or taking care of others. They want a better job, a new car, a bigger house, or a newer TV. Also, they look to what the people around them achieved. For example, if their neighbor gets a new car, they will want a better, newer one. All of this is to prove they are always the best.

4. They Hate Losing

Realistically speaking, no one likes to lose. No matter how selfless you might be, you’ll still be upset when you lose. But people with an oversized ego take it up a notch. Not only do they not like to lose. Indeed, they despise it with all their being. They are overly competitive and often hold grudges and will do anything to win. They are the kind of people who would cheat during a family game night without a second thought.

Losing makes them feel like they are inferior. Most of the time, that’s one of their deepest, darkest fears. They act how they act because they think they are not good enough. So, that fear is validated when they lose or when something doesn’t turn out the way they want to. Their ego takes a hit when they lose.

To avoid that, they will lie, cheat, and even gaslight others to make it seem like they didn’t lose. They will blame others for their missteps and throw tantrums if things don’t go their way.

5. They Don’t Have Friends

Egotistical people have a hard time connecting with others. They don’t see the point in spending their time hanging out with others or potentially helping them. They aren’t prepared to make sacrifices to maintain a platonic or romantic relationship. Also, according to psychologist Robin Hornstein, Ph.D., they don’t even care to remember what others say. They are always so caught up in being the life of the party that they don’t take the time to listen to others.

Additionally, they see others as inferior and unworthy of their time. Because of that, they have many acquaintances but not many friends. Those acquaintances exist for when the time comes. For example, they might be on good terms with all their colleagues, just so that someone will cover for them when they want to take a day off. But they won’t try to reciprocate and do things for others. That’s why they could never create genuine bonds.

6. They Take All the Credit for Successes

Throughout life, people will have many successes that are shared with others. That’s because an individual can’t do everything by themselves. Even in school, you had to work with other kids on projects. And if you got a good grade, that was a shared success. And the same goes for adult life. For example, most projects at work will be shared successes.

But egotistical people aren’t good at sharing success, according to Dr. Kruti Quazi. No matter what, they will try to take full credit for the work. They might refuse to acknowledge that the project was a group effort and spin it all as their creation. They will always tell the boss just how much they worked, without mentioning that others worked hard.

Final Thoughts on Signs of an Oversized Ego

Being confident is a great thing that everyone should strive towards. But be aware that having an oversized ego is not the same as being secure. And having an oversized ego is not a desirable trait.

Egotistical people tend to disregard anyone and everything as long as they can come out on top. They always want to be correct and hate it when told otherwise. Besides, they hate losing and will lie and cheat to avoid it. They are never satisfied and always want more. Because of how self-absorbed they are, it’s almost impossible for them to create genuine bonds with other people. If you know someone like this, you’d be better off without them in your life.

12 Things Only Highly Creative People Will Understand

July 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Highly creative people often feel misplaced in our logical, linear world, as if they must live on the fringes of society just to keep their creative genius alive and well.

Creative people feel different for a reason. Research confirms that their brains have structural differences that cause them to think and act uniquely. They operate more intuitive and imaginatively than their counterparts, who seem to excel in logical, analytical endeavors.

Highly creative people thrive in the world they’ve created in their minds, which makes much more sense to them than the reality we live in. If you know a creative person, you probably have gotten frustrated with their unique quirks and tendencies, but to a creative person, these characteristics only add fuel to the fire. They run on these oddities that others perceive as strange and nonsensical because their personality and how they look at the world can help them to create beautiful masterpieces out of seemingly nothing.

Here are twelve things only highly creative people will understand:

If you are a creator, these traits probably sound familiar.

1. Creative people have a million ideas running through their mind constantly.

Creative people’s minds never stop. In fact, they always have fresh, new ideas to bring to the table. But they can rarely figure out which ones to follow through with. Creative people see inspiration and possibilities where others might see a dead-end, and they draw from their imagination to start projects and find passion in their work.

2. They see challenges as opportunities.

Creative people don’t let anything get in their way of success and art; others might say no, but they don’t let this stop them. They constantly break barriers and cross boundaries, if only to feel alive, feeling something from their work. They see reality as mundane and useless without art and use their creative streak to escape the world.

3. Creative people care very much about staying true to themselves.

They would never compromise their unique self for other people. They don’t care if they make a penny or a billion dollars off their work. The feeling they get from their work drives them to continue, not the possibility of becoming famous or wealthy. They only do what feels right and don’t let others sway their opinions or decisions.

4. They have a very short attention span.

People today see this as bad, and many children sadly take pills to stay on task in school. However, the creative person sees this as an advantage, a positive thing not to be tampered with, because they thrive during short bursts of concentrated effort. They see this as an opportunity to create something amazing while it grabs their attention, and then move on to the next task or project. They can juggle multiple projects simultaneously, but they may not always complete them. For the creative person, however, the fulfillment doesn’t come from finishing a project, but from the journey along the way.

5. Creative people only work when they feel like it.

Therefore, the standard 9-5 workday doesn’t really vibe with them. They create when it strikes their fancy and don’t appreciate a boss telling them when to do what, how to do this, why they need to work faster, etc. Creative people have a strong independent streak and thrive doing the freelance work.

“To create is to swim in a sea of wonder under starry skies and moonlit nights of possibility.”
~LeAura Alderson, writer, editor, creator

6. They enjoy long periods of solitude.

The world moves quickly, and this affects the creative person particularly. They need lots of time to recharge their batteries and draw inspiration for their creative mind. They need quiet time to process the millions of thoughts going through their heads, anyway.

7. They need a creative space to call their own.

No matter what type of creative work they do, whether it’s writing, drawing, acting, building, playing music, etc, all creative people need an inspirational nook to work in. They might find their flow in their room at home, a yoga studio, or perhaps the branches of their tree in the backyard. Whatever space they work in needs to feel conducive to creativity, and ultimately, inspire them to turn their thoughts into reality.

8. Creative people are highly sensitive.

Perhaps this trait makes them feel the most misunderstood. Creative people run differently than others, often fueled by emotions rather than logic. In fact, throughout most of the day, they make decisions based on how they feel in the moment, or what their intuition tells them. They get hurt easily and often draw inspiration from their pain.

9. Their emotions change constantly.

Creative people can go from joyful to melancholy in a matter of seconds. Because they feel so deeply, everything affects them to the core of their soul, and they live in a world run by emotions and feelings. Logic makes little sense to them, and they must endure the waves of emotions that run through them because they have been wired to do just that. Creative people let their emotions spill into their writing, belt out lyrics from the heart, and never hold anything back. They don’t bottle up their feelings, instead of allowing their work to provide them an outlet to express them.

10. Creative people draw inspiration from experience.

They get bored and quickly uninterested when they don’t experience all that life can offer. This explains why creative people don’t feel fulfilled working in “normal” jobs or listening to a lecture in a college classroom. They need unconventional ways of learning and growing, and to them, this means getting hands-on experience in unique ways, such as traveling the world. They learn much more from living than from reading about how others live or watching from the sidelines.

11. They invented procrastination.

Creative people are notorious for completing a project at the last possible moment. Indeed, they don’t try to do this, but it seems their best work comes to the surface under enormous pressure.

12. Creative people will never grow up.

Creative people see the world through a different, less serious lens. They don’t care about dollars and numbers and playing it safe; they care about adventure and living the hell out of this life, and they do this by giving in to their curiosity. While it might kill the cat, it also brings life to the spirit, and they live for the chance to feel alive, if only for a moment in time. They play, learn, laugh, love, and see the world through innocent, whimsical eyes. Their sense of wonder and awe never left them, and they still get excited about what the world can offer them.

15 Little Frustrations Every Introvert Can Relate To

July 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

According to a 1998 National Representative Sample by the Myers-Briggs organization, 50% of the population identifies as an introvert. So, this means that at least half of you reading can identify with the following frustrations that just come with being an introvert in an extroverted world.

15 Frustrating Things Every Introvert Can Relate To

1. People talking to you when you don’t really feel like it.

Us introverts wonder when people will finally get it – if we have headphones in, or our head in a book, or look content being by ourselves, then we probably don’t want to talk. Better yet, if we want to talk, we’ll approach you first. (This probably won’t happen, but sometimes, us introverts can surprise you).

2. Needing to know who will be at an event so you can decide whether to go or not.

We decide whether to go somewhere not based on the activity, but based on who will be attending. We prefer a quiet activity, of course, but as long as we love the people around us, we can handle doing something out of our comfort zone for one night.

3. Feeling uncomfortable in overly crowded places.

Noisy, crowded places stress us out. Rather than take us to them and expect us to just chill and deal with it, bring us somewhere relaxing, preferably in nature, or at a bookstore or coffee shop. Too many people + too much noise = immediate annoyance, frustration, and us scrambling for the exit.

4. Getting asked the question: “why are you so quiet??”

This tops the list of frustrations for almost any introvert out there. We don’t bother you for being too loud, so don’t ask us why we’re so quiet. People have different personalities and dispositions, so we just ask that you respect us, and we will respect you. We actually enjoy talking, but not about petty things like gossip or shopping. We enjoy deep conversations, so if you really want to hear us talk, ask us about something that will make us think.

5. Wanting good conversation and meaningful relationships, but struggling to find it.

We just want deep connections and meaningful relationships like everyone else, but what can we say – we have high expectations and we won’t apologize. Introverts need people who won’t question them or try to change them; they want someone who will pick their brain and dive deep down into their soul. They have no energy for shallow relationships, but struggle to find real connections. They cherish their close friends and family who truly know and love them.

6. Being put on the spot and people expecting a response immediately.

Introverts don’t hate talking in front of others necessarily (unless they’re also shy), but they need a little time to prepare. If you can, avoid putting them on the spot without at least a little warning.

7. Just wanting peace and quiet in a far too noisy world.

Introverts gain their energy from alone time, where they can relish in peace and quiet at last. The world drains them greatly, as the noise, chaos, and fast pace don’t match up with their personality. Don’t get surprised when they go off into the woods for a while – nature revitalizes their spirit.

8. People mistaking you for a shy, antisocial, unfriendly person.

Not all introverts are shy, and not all shy people are introverts. It’s about time we put those stereotypes and misconstrued ideas to rest – most introverts DO enjoy talking to others, but at the right place, time, and about the right subjects.

9. Not getting enough alone time.

Introverts also get annoyed when they don’t have enough time alone. They need ample time to recharge from spending time with others, or from working in a stressful environment.

10. People constantly misunderstanding your need for solitude.

We need LOTS of time to ourselves, and we don’t feel the need to apologize. Spending time alone doesn’t make us antisocial or cold – it helps us to put our best selves out there and rejuvenate our spirit. We don’t tell you how to spend your time, so don’t try to show us how to live, either.

11. Getting calls from unknown numbers.

We hardly like talking on the phone anyway, but getting a call from a stranger definitely means we will hit the “decline” button, or just let it go to voicemail to avoid frustration.

12. Having to call someone rather than email or text them.

In today’s world, why call anyone when you can just shoot them a quick email or text? Also, websites that don’t have an online ordering option really frustrate us, since we’ll have to talk to an actual human being to get our food.

13. Getting to class on the first day and having to introduce yourself.

Remember those icebreakers and introductions in school? Yeah, we have some awkward memories from those times, too.

14. People interrupting your “me time.”

So, you know that we need alone time, and plenty of it. Just leave us alone while we recharge, and only interrupt if it’s an emergency, or you’re bringing us food, of course.

15. Having too many plans on the weekend.

Weekends for some people mean parties and socializing. For us, it means Netflix, food, bed, cuddling, and nature.

Nothing Is Solid & Everything Is Energy, According to New Research

July 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

‘If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet. Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.’ – Niels Bohr

The ground under your feet and that coffee cup in your hand may seem solid, but physicists have proven that they are really just energies with movement. The implications of this non-solid reality are mind-blowing.

We continue to seek to understand our universe and our place in it. The more we learn, the more curious we become to understand deeply. The meaning of life may come from scientists who seek knowledge of these concepts through the study of quantum physics.

How Scientists Prove That Nothing is Solid

We have known for some time that every object is made of tiny molecules and that molecules are made up of even tinier atoms. Atoms are made of tiny sub-atomic particles called neutrons, protons and electrons. This invisible world that makes up the solid objects of our environment is the world of quantum physics.

Molecules and atoms vibrate slower in a solid state and faster in a liquid or gas state. Think about the examples of ice, water and steam. All of these are water in its various forms. The only difference between ice and steam is how much cold or heat we apply to the molecules that make up water.

Maybe you remember from chemistry class that water is made up of one Hydrogen and two Oxygen atoms, which is why we represent water as H2O. The atoms are made up of sub-atomic particles that are the nucleus, consisting of protons and neutrons and the outer part, which is where the electrons are found.

Electrons are energy. Electrons are where we get electricity. Electrons have a negative charge and protons have a positive charge, whereas neutrons are neutrally charged. When electrons move from one atom to another, there is a current of electricity created.

Physicists Prove That Nothing Is Solid

There are spaces between the atoms that make up the molecules that make up the water. In fact, if you had one molecule of water and were able to look for the part that defines the ‘stuff’ that makes water a tangible, physical, wet thing, you wouldn’t be able to find it.

This is because there is no structure to the atoms that make up the molecule. All that is really there is some spinning energy and empty space. That’s it. And that spinning energy and empty space is all that everything solid is made up of.

Recent Implications of This and Other Scientific Discoveries

Our understanding of our world and how we interact with it are constantly evolving with new scientific discoveries. You may recall the recent news of the discovery of the God particle (The Higgs boson particle) through the giant Hadron particle collider.

The God particle is the stuff that makes up the empty space between atomic particles. Scientists believe that the God particle gives things their mass because it creates resistance as other particles push against it.

Empty space isn’t empty; it’s full of stuff that we just don’t know much about yet. Your molecules and the molecules of the air around you are all just spinning tiny energy particles dancing with each other.

So what makes your molecules decide to be you-shaped and the air molecules decide to be air-shaped? Is it free-will? Is it God? Is it magic?

How your perspective will change now that you know that noting is solid

Armed with the knowledge that all matter, including our physical bodies, are just bits of spinning energy, your mind becomes open to possibilities. Open-minded, positive, universal unity becomes an emotional focus and goal for you.

We are all the same. All human beings are the same spinning energy. So are trees, stones, water and air. All of this spinning energy is moving and creating and being and we are a part of it.

The esoteric, spiritual, global implications for your world-view are pretty amazing. You may be feeling very new-agey right about now and that’s a part of a spiritual evolution that much of the planet is going through at this time.

Sophia.org puts this mind-bending process like this:

‘Acknowledge and know that you are just a human being, experience the oneness of a diverse organism called the universe. What we must understand is that all there is, all we ever know or we think we know or believe is our imagination; now imagination is everything. Your sense organs are part of the imagination. They are a way to transmit and receive reality. Reality isn’t real you create it with your imagination. You cannot be sure of anything and tying down to any belief system is constructing barriers for the imagination. The Imagination is limitless, it has no boundaries; only the ones we set for ourselves. The true reality is infinity. We are part of that infinite paradox of evolution.’

6 Health Reasons To Eat Spicy Foods More Often

July 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Many people from different cultures and backgrounds worldwide have a special place in their hearts for spicy foods, and it turns out that these foods don’t only taste great, but provide wonderful health benefits as well.

Although everyone prefers a different level of spice in their foods, it doesn’t actually matter how much your food burns your tongue, but what type of spice you use in your cooking. Spices can serve as wonderful alternatives to medicines and other conventional healing modalities and have been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments, including aches and pains. Many spices have antimicrobial properties, which explains why they make wonderful alternative remedies.

“Studies show that many different herbs and spices offer health benefits,” says David Heber, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, and director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. Much of the existing evidence supports use of cinnamon, chili peppers, turmeric, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary, Heber tells WebMD.

According to Heber, a compound in chili peppers called dihydrocapsiate increased fat-burning capacity in a study where people ate the spice three times a day. Furthermore, a study in Cell Metabolism showed decreased blood pressure in lab animals that consume capsaicin, the component in chili peppers that makes them spicy.

If you don’t know which spices to add to your food, start out with the simple ones we’ve listed above. Thousands of spices exist in the world, but if you don’t use spices often, it’s best to begin with “safer” spices that you might be more familiar with. You can easily replace salt, sugar, or other additives with spices, which have no added calories or salt.

If you need more convincing to add spices to your food, read on for more of the benefits you can expect to receive.

6 Health Reasons To Eat Spicy Foods More Often

Learn about six foods that can help relieve joint inflammation.

1. Spices can help you lose weight.

Many spices have properties that increase body heat, which will help to boost your metabolism, and therefore lose weight. Others, such as cinnamon, help to balance your blood sugar so that you stay full longer.

Furthermore, as we mentioned above, spices can serve as a substitute for other additives such as sugar, which contains calories but no nutrients. More commonly, people use spice to replace salt, which can pack on the water weight due to bloating.

Spices will help to make your food more satisfying, which means you won’t need as much to feel full.

2. Spices can increase your metabolism.

According to Better Nutrition, the capsaicin in chili peppers increases your body heat, which therefore amps up your metabolism. This goes along with our first point, but it’s still worth mentioning. Eating spices can serve as an easy way to increase your energy and metabolism, plus make your food taste better. Sounds like a win-win, right?

3. Spices can prevent heart disease.

Garlic, ginger, and cinnamon specifically have been proven to help prevent heart disease. According to Dr. Sinatra, an integrative cardiologist, “Garlic, one of the most healthy herbs and spices in the world, is both a powerful antioxidant and blood thinner. It is commonly recommended as a cholesterol-lowering agent, and has been shown to help lower triglycerides – blood fats that are closely linked to heart disease. Garlic can even lower blood pressure as effectively as some drugs (as shown in studies where subjects supplemented with daily dosages ranging from 600 – 900 mg over a period of 3-6 months.”

He also lists cinnamon as one of the best healing herbs and spices for increasing antioxidant levels in the blood, and ginger as a natural blood thinner.

4. Spices can also alleviate sinus trouble.

This one seems pretty self-explanatory, as we’ve all had spicy food at one time or another, and had to run for the tissues in the middle of our meal. Because of the incredible heat present in spices, they cause the sinuses to become unclogged, which explains the runny noses and watery eyes.

If you ever have sinus issues, just reach for your favorite spice to add to your cooking, and you’ll see some relief in no time.

5. Eating spices could help you live longer.

According to a study done by Time, people who ate spicy foods one or two times per week had a ten percent reduced risk of death, compared to those who ate spicy food once or fewer times a week.

You can see why spices might make you live longer, as they decrease your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other life-threatening issues.

6. Spices can serve as a natural remedy for anxiety and stress.

According to Dr. Cynthia, a holistic doctor, passionflower, kava kava, turmeric, and lavender have the potential to decrease anxiety and stress in a healthy, nonaddictive way. L-theanine, an amino acid found mostly in green and black tea, can reduce anxiety as well.

So, there you have it, six science backed reasons to eat more spicy foods; remember, incorporate spices into your foods slowly, so that you don’t overwhelm your taste buds. Then, once you feel comfortable, you can experiment with bolder spices that also make your food taste great!

8 Ways Sociopaths Try to Manipulate

July 16, 2016 by Power of Positivity

You may feel like you are going crazy if you have ever been the victim of a manipulative sociopath. But the reality is, you are in danger of being manipulated again. In this article, we will talk about some of the ways that a sociopath will try to manipulate you. We will also discuss what you can do about it when you realize what is happening to you.

The many ways that you interact with others, cooperatively, through connections built over time, sharing and trusting each other in different levels of intimacy, are how most normal people act socially. A sociopath sees all the people and things in their life as pieces in a game that they have to win at all costs.

As a result of this game playing, you and anyone who comes into contact with a sociopath is a potential part of their game. You will not likely win in a game against a sociopath because the sociopath has been manipulating people since their early childhood.

Author Martha Stout writes in her book The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus The Rest Of Us,

‘This is exactly what happens to the human mind when emotional attachment and conscience are missing. Life is reduced to a contest, and other human beings seem to be nothing more than game pieces, to be moved about, used as shields, or ejected.’

8 Ways Sociopaths Will Try To Manipulate You

Sociopaths and serial killers share the same lack of remorse for their actions, but neither of these antisocial personalities is created over night. Psychologists say ‘People develop sociopathy as a result of genetic predispositions for neurological differences and antisocial behavior combined with, traumatic childhood experiences. The serial killer is the sociopath that takes the next step and makes a conscious decision to kill. That element of choice is what distinguishes the sociopath from the sociopathic serial killer. ‘

One of the only ways to get out of a sociopath’s game of manipulation may simply be to ask them what they ultimately want and help them to get it. The other option to dealing with a sociopath is to document and report their behavior as well as to avoid becoming a pawn in their game.

1. Flattery

Making you feel good about yourself is a way that a sociopath will try to manipulate you. That’s true especially if you tend to have low self-esteem. The sociopath can sense your need for approval and they will give it to you if it gets them what they want.

2. Sex

A sociopath enjoys sex as one of the only pleasurable parts of living other than dominating the entire game of life. As a result, they tend to have active sexual lives that they involve others in as a manipulation. Do not be fooled; the sociopath is not capable of love so this is just about sexual gratification for them.

3. Staring

The predator stare, the dead eye, the reptilian stare, the shark gaze, the annihilatory stare; this look of emotionless eyes is one that is effectively used by a sociopath to manipulate you. The first one to blink loses, and you just lost to a sociopath who has been practicing this much longer than you have.

4. Silence

The first to speak also loses in the manipulative game of a sociopath, and a lengthy, uncomfortable silence is another tool that they use. By the time you’re feeling the discomfort of this awkwardly long quiet moment, the sociopath has you right where they want you.

5. Pretending

Playing a role or wearing a disguise is what a toxic people do. The most frightening thing about a sociopath is that they look so normal to everyone, but their behavior is only always self-serving.

6. Blaming

A sociopath will call you, hang up on you, and make you feel like it was your fault. A sociopath knows how to use just the right amount of guilt to make you want to make it up to them. Again, this is one of the game playing tactics that a sociopath uses to get what they want.

7. Shaming

You feel badly for even thinking these negative thoughts about someone who looks like such an upstanding citizen, and the sociopath may even imply that if you tell anyone about their behavior they will only think you are crazy.

8. Intimidation

Scaring you into doing what they want you to do is one way that a toxic person will try to manipulate you. Usually this is not by threats, however, the sociopath is subtle. For example, they may tell you that they used to torture animals as a child and then later use that information as a psychological weapon to manipulate your fear of what they are capable of.

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What Does Your Handwriting Reveal About Your Personality?

July 15, 2016 by Power of Positivity

You might not have realized it before, but the way you write can reveal a lot about your personality. Whether you write with a left or right slant, little or great pressure, large or small spacing, and big or little letters, your handwriting speaks volumes about you as a person. Science actually backs up this theory with an area of study known as Graphology, involving how handwriting relates to personality.

Graphology came into the public’s eye in 1622, when the first book was published about the subject. Jean Michon of France came up with a word for the study, however, later on in the 1870s. The field of graphology gained traction in the 19th century when psychology became a profession.

Graphology focuses on four main areas: size, slant, pressure and spacing. By analyzing these four aspects of one’s handwriting, much about their personality can be uncovered. Kathy McKnight, expert Graphologist, says that the practice of analyzing one’s handwriting can reveal 5,000 different personality traits alone.

If you want to find out what your handwriting says about your personality, write out a short sentence, such as “I am thankful for my life” and then read on for more information.

What Does Your Handwriting Reveal About Your Personality?

Size

Large letters

Writing with large letters may indicate that you have an extroverted personality. You enjoy being around other people more than you enjoy being alone. You express yourself fully and comfortably, and don’t hold back in life.

Small letters

On the other hand, this points to an introverted personality. You have the ability to focus intently on the task at hand, and block out anything else that might distract you. You have great concentration skills and willpower, but you might struggle with social skills and getting out of your shell.

Slant

Right Slant

You allow your emotions to steer your ship in life. You make decisions based on appeal to emotions rather than logic. You also have a spontaneous and impulsive nature. You might get in the car with no destination in mind, just to see where your intuition leads you. You cherish your personal relationships, and are there for your friends and family at the drop of a hat when something goes wrong.

No Slant

You approach life very logically and practically. You don’t let your emotions get in the way of your decisions. You don’t have a spontaneous nature, and like to plan out the details of something before doing it. You think before you act, so to speak.

Left Slant

You have a reserved personality, but you aren’t shy. You simply enjoy your alone time more than most people, and would rather work with objects or a creative process than people.

Pressure

Heavy Pressure

You have a strong spirit, and wear your heart on your sleeve. You are also opinionated, and have strong reactions to issues you hold close to your heart. Your emotions run deep, but you don’t always say what’s on your mind.

You care for others deeply, even strangers, and would gladly step in to help them in a dangerous situation without even thinking of your own life first.

Light Pressure

You don’t let the small stresses of life weigh you down. You go with the flow, not being burdened by the trivialities in life. You feel your emotions, but don’t let them rule you. You accept and embrace every experience without resisting it. You accept life for what it hands you, and don’t question what happens.

You have a low-stress approach to life, not getting too invested into things mentally or emotionally.

Line Spacing

Little Spacing

You have a lot on your plate, and not enough time to handle it all it seems. You don’t manage your time well, often scheduling so much in one day that you get burnt out. You might arrive late for things, and don’t take a lot of time for yourself.

Even Spacing

You have great time management skills, on the contrary. You arrive before an event takes place, prepared and organized. You only schedule what you can comfortably manage for one day, and ask before showing up somewhere.

7 Signs Your Partner Is A Narcissist

July 15, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Relationships require both partners to give and take. They are built on mutual respect, love, trust, and compassion. When you are in a relationship with a narcissist, those components often cease to exist after a short period of time. Narcissistic people are not empathetic. They aren’t willing to hold another up the ladder of success. They need complete attention and expect their partner to put them up on a pedestal.

In a case study by Susan Heitler, PhD called Narcissism: A Redefinition and Case Study of Treatment, she points out the conflict-focus in couples therapy and how narcissistic personality disorder affects relationships. In her findings she lists,

“The histories of many narcissists involve having been treated as extra-special. A parent may have conveyed that they were “mommy’s little prince” or “daddy’s special girl. The narcissistic individual also may literally have been taller than others (common in male narcissists), prettier (women narcissists), more popular, athletic, smart, wealthy, politically powerful, or more in any dimension, leading to a generalized feeling of specialness. Parents who hyper-focus on children’s specialness, however, sometimes alternate this adulation with devaluation via harsh criticism or cold ignoring, creating a substratum of insecurity beneath the over-evaluation.”

There are deeper facets to narcissistic behavior than just selfishness, huge egos, and a lack of compassion.

Here are 7 signs your partner might just be a narcissist:

1. Narcissists are controlling.

The narcissistic persona is overpowering. They want to control everything from finances to decisions in the home. They cannot accept that their partner could take credit for anything. Their nature goes above and beyond obsessive compulsive behavior. Sometimes the control can become abusive. When this happens, it’s time to set huge boundaries for your safety.

“Hate is the complement of fear and narcissists like being feared. It imbues them with an intoxicating sensation of omnipotence.”~ Sam Vaknin, Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited

2. They are jealous.

Narcissistic people are envious of everyone who may overshadow them. In a relationship, they require to be the center of attention. If your partner can’t support your success, or puts you down to make you doubt your goals, this might be a sign of narcissism. They need to be the ones who take the power. They might seem like amazing gift givers, but it comes with a price. If it’s not recognized, jealousy is destructive.

“For the most part people are not curious except about themselves.”~ John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

3. They can’t commit.

Narcissistic people suffer from lack of emotional commitment. They must be the star of the show at all times. As relationships go, they need to be praised often or they will find the attention elsewhere. They have a difficult time providing stability when the newness wears off. The narcissist is always in fear that his insecurities will be exposed.

“That which he projects ahead of him as his ideal, is merely his substitute for the lost narcissism of his childhood – the time when he was his own ideal.”~ Sigmund Freud

4. They are overly charming and charismatic.

These should be positive attributions in a person, however, when dealing with narcissism, it becomes their form of manipulation. Narcissistic people are great at selling themselves to anyone. They suffer from grandiose perception. These folks are charming to a fault. They can say things that sound truthful and honest, but it’s a toxic pattern.

“I don’t care what you think unless it is about me.” ~Kurt Cobain

5. Narcissists don’t respect boundaries.

The narcissist utilizes others for the extension of their needs. They’ll prey on the weakness of their partner to get what they want. They have little respect and awareness of privacy. They feel entitled to everything in the home, in a business, and in every aspect of a relationship. That old saying, “What’s mine is mine. What yours is mine.” They are judgmental and highly critical of what they want in their partner and from their home. Because of their charm, a narcissistic person doesn’t show these issues until a person is already living with them.

“Relationships with narcissists are held in place by hope of a “someday better,” with little evidence to support it will ever arrive.” ~ Ramani Durvasula, Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist

6. They are the only hero in their lives.

It goes without saying that a narcissistic person is not only in love with who they are, but they create dramatic stories to come out as heroes. They may also have relationships with people who need them financially just to feel the desire of control. Because rules don’t apply to them, the narcissist will participate in dangerous matters and see destructive behavior as a positive trait. In the end, there is no one like them.

“Heroic ambition seemed to have been the cause of much of the world’s pain then – quite like it is now. No villain ever saw himself a villain: he only saw himself a hero; and this goes just as no hero ever saw himself a hero: he simply did what he had to do. No true hero initially sets out with intentions of being deemed a hero.” ~ Criss Jami

7. Narcissists are master schemers.

Narcissistic personalities require constant change. They have to be plotting and scheming to keep the attention going. Often times, they fall into the victim role to get what they want. They will use the love of their partner to feel sorry for them. They will cheat, lie and regret nothing. These partners blame and project their own insecurities onto their mates.

“From where I’m sitting, I AM the centre of the Universe!” ~ Sebastyne Young

5 Signs It’s Time To De-Clutter Your Life

July 15, 2016 by Power of Positivity

In the world we currently live in, you can find clutter almost anywhere you look, as our system seems to promote the idea of excessive consumption and greed. However, just because advertisements and companies want you to believe that material goods will buy happiness, does not mean that you should buy into this idea. Time and time again, we’ve seen the successful CEO or entrepreneur crippled by depression, as they have a lot of material wealth but still feel empty.

Companies spend a lot of money convincing us we need certain things for happiness, when in reality, the key lies within ourselves.

Lately, though, the trend of minimalism seems to keep growing, as more people seek real, heartfelt experiences rather than material goods that only provide temporary happiness. If you’ve had enough of collecting possessions and would rather collect memories, then you probably need to de-clutter your life, so read on to find out how.

5 Signs It’s Time To De-Clutter Your Life

1. You have a lot of worries, financial and otherwise.

Owning a lot of stuff means the stuff owns us, in the end. Think about it: in order to buy most anything in life on a large scale, it requires us to go into debt. So, we have the additional burden over our heads of paying back the debt, plus the upkeep of whatever we purchased as well. Even if you don’t go into debt buying things, the items still won’t bring a sense of fulfillment, as things can’t connect to us like experiences and other people can.

If you have a lot of worries in your life, you might want to look at what you own to see where you can eliminate stress.

Many people report that finances cause them a lot of distress in their lives, so by getting rid of what you don’t need and trying to eliminate debts, you will feel a huge relief.

2. You only have possessions to impress others.

Many people buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t even like…but why? At the end of the day, people do this because of lack of self-love. They seek validation and attention from others in order to feel fulfilled, but this way of seeking happiness will never work. Any time you seek acceptance outside of yourself, you will never become satisfied because you’ll always base your self-worth off of what others think of you.

If you care so much about what others think that you buy items you don’t even want just to feel worthy, then you definitely need to de-clutter your life.

It doesn’t matter if you have $5 to your name or $1 million, as long as you feel happy, whole, and healthy at the end of the day. Don’t buy something to impress someone else – only buy things that add genuine value to your life.

3. You don’t spend money on things that make you happy.

Studies have shown that people who spend money on experiences rather than things feel much happier than those who accumulate material items. Minimalists don’t skimp on experiences, they just pass up the latest iPhone or TV or sale on jeans. Why? Because they’ve realized that buying the latest and greatest gadgets or clothing will only bring fleeting happiness, and that an inanimate object can never provide what the soul really needs – love, compassion, connection, and understanding.

We all just want to feel alive, but can you feel that from a new toy, car, or gadget? Exactly. If you buy things that don’t make you feel more alive, more whole, or more human, then you need to reevaluate your purchases and de-clutter your life.

4. You can’t think clearly most of the time.

Our material purchases only add superficial value to a very outdated, selfish system. When you strip away what you don’t need, you can focus on the things you do need in life, and bring back mental clarity. While not thinking clearly could point to a variety of issues, de-cluttering your life can literally help you declutter your mind as well.

When you have more space in your home or apartment, you create more mental space as well. We all require some sense of organization, believe it or not, and organizing your immediate space can help you sort through your thoughts and get rid of that mental fog we’ve all felt at some point.

5. Your space literally feels cramped and cluttered.

If you don’t feel comfortable in your own living space, then you probably need to de-clutter your life. When you clean up your physical space, you also make room in your heart and soul for new ideas, inspirations, and opportunities. Minimalism goes far beyond simply decluttering your apartment or home; it means going deep within to eliminate thoughts or ideas that no longer serve you. It means questioning your thought process and figuring out what thoughts uplift you and which thoughts weigh you down. Minimalism provides a fresh slate to work with – a total cleanse of your life.

Getting rid of things you don’t need makes you feel free, because you’ve literally lightened your imprint on the world. You’ve taken away that which creates chaos and clutter to make room for that which brings clarity and space.

You can’t take your money or possessions with you when the time comes, so why accumulate them in the first place? Why add more stress and anxiety to a world already overrun with these emotions, when you can feel so much better by living simply and treading lightly?

The minimalist journey might not seem easy at first, but it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

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