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Doctors Explain How Laughing Literally Changes Your Health

June 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Smiling, joking, and giggling; some of our most joyful moments can be explained by how laughter affects our health. Some people have loud, contagious laughs, some snort, and some titter daintily and cover their mouths.

In the body, laughter is nothing more than a repeated contraction of the diaphragm, located below the lungs. You might laugh at a joke or a funny memory or watching someone fall down on a funny video. These are external stimuli that cause you to react with humor.

Doctors Explain How Laughing Can Change Your Health

Sometimes laughter is something we accidentally do. We have the ability to engage in both voluntary and involuntary laughter. Involuntary laughter is emotionally driven and can come even when we are feeling fear or anger. Involuntary laughter has also been called nervous laughter.

The act of laughing can change your mood quickly, which is one of the ways that doctors explain how laughing can change your health. Negative moods can be changed to positive ones, which are better for our health.

1. Reducing the impact of pain

Cancer Treatment Centers of America uses laughter therapy for their patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer. They explain the therapy and its effectiveness this way:

‘For years, the use of humor has been used in medicine. Surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain as early as the 13th century. Later, in the 20th century, came the scientific study of the effect of humor on physical wellness. Many credit this to Norman Cousins. After years of prolonged pain from a serious illness, Cousins claims to have cured himself with a self-invented regimen of laughter and vitamins. In his 1979 book Anatomy of an Illness, Cousins describes how watching comedic movies helped him recover.’

Laugher is a good diversion because patients are unable to focus on their pain while they experience laughter therapy. The positive feelings that laughter gives to cancer patients can last for hours.

2. Heart and blood vessel health

Researchers studying the effects that laughter has on our health say that laughing has beneficial effects on blood pressure and vascular tone. They also say that endorphins are released by the pituitary gland when we laugh.

The endorphins activate opiate receptors that in turn produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps protect the heart cells and it is also responsible for opening the blood vessels.

The nitric oxide produced as a byproduct of laughing can change your health by reducing the accumulation of plaque in artery walls that can lead to heart attack and stroke. Researchers also found that laughing reduced vascular inflammation. The scientists say ‘Mirthful laughter may serve as a useful and important vehicle for the promotion of vascular health.’

3. Improves mental health

Depression, anxiety, and frustration are all negative emotions that have been helped by laughter. If you find yourself experiencing a negative emotion, try laughing off the situation or even laugh at your own reaction. The less you can hang on to negative emotions, the less mental and emotional stress you will have, which is another way that doctors explain how laughing can change your health.

4. Promotes social well-being

People rarely laugh when alone so it seems that in order to get some good laughs, you will need to seek the company of some good-humored friends. Laughter can improve your romantic relationships as well because it indices good feelings which we associate with the person we are laughing with.

The social nature of laughter means that we are connecting positively to others when we laugh. Meaningful connections with other people are important to complete our total health and happy well-being.

4. Improves immune health

As we have already mentioned, laughter helps with inflammation in the blood vessels. Inflammatory diseases are becoming more widely studied. It is possible that if laughter can be shown to reduce inflammation in blood vessels, it could help with other inflammatory diseases.

Laughing can change your health in other ways that improve your immune health. Research has shown that watching comedy movies can increase the blood levels of interferon-gamma in the male participants in the study.

Interferons are signaling proteins in the body and they are produced to fight off illness. Viruses in particular are susceptible to being killed by the immune-boosting power of interferons. They help the body to activate a host of immune system fighters like macrophages and natural killer cells and they assist in the production of antigens.

Researchers say ‘Interferons have become a line of pharmacotherapy in viral infections, systemic carcinomas, hepatitis B and C, in addition to the development of antiretroviral drugs.’ While a doctor can prescribe a medication to fight your illness, and you should see one if you have health concerns, laughing with friends is an alternative solution to change your health for the better.

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

7 Messages From Your Higher Self You Should Never Ignore

June 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Our higher self, intuition, or whatever you prefer to call it, wants us to know certain things in life in order to comfort, guide, and illuminate us in the best possible way. Many people have started awakening to their higher selves recently as the Golden Age continues to unfold, and they’ve started to question everything they once perceived as truth. We can gain access to our higher selves through meditation, yoga, or simply sitting in silence, to name a few ways.

The higher self reveals many truths that we may not have recognized before, so the next time you tune into yourself, remember the following things.

7 Things Your Higher Self Wants You To Know

1. Don’t forget to love yourself, always.

Loving ourselves opens the door to pretty much everything else in life. If you don’t cultivate self-love, you will have nothing left to share with others, and nothing left to give yourself. If you want to develop positive relationships with others, you must first fill your cup with love so you can attract others who also have their self-love glasses full. Loving yourself doesn’t have to mean acting selfish and being self-absorbed; in fact, loving ourselves is actually selfless, because without this, we would have no energy to help change the world in a positive way.

Your higher self wants you to always love yourself, no matter what happens in life.

2. Meditate as much as you can!

Many studies have proven just how much meditation can heal your life, as well as connect you to your higher self! So, if you have just five or ten minutes in the morning before work, or in the evening before bed, make it a point to tune into your inner world and just notice the awareness and bliss that you feel from this. Meditation doesn’t require anything except your full presence, and willingness to accept whatever comes up during your practice. We connect the best to our higher selves and otherworldly realms during times of peace and quiet, so don’t forget to meditate whenever you have free time; your soul will thank you greatly.

3. You deserve the best in life in every situation.

We often put ourselves in situations we don’t really want to participate in, for whatever reason. Maybe we want to gain acceptance, or not cause a scene, or try to fit in, or something. In reality, though, if you don’t honor your highest self and do what’s best for your soul every day, you are living out of accordance with your true essence. Make sure you tune into your higher self often to figure out what you need in any given moment.

4. You have special gifts.

Never think that you’re anything less than extraordinary. Although mainstream society seems to put people into boxes and encourage the herd mentality, never give up on what makes you unique. Your highest self wants you to explore all of your talents and gifts, and never surrender to “normal,” no matter how easy it seems to do so. Taking the path less traveled may not result in popularity, fame, or wealth, but it will always result in a happy heart and soul, which matters much more in life.

5. Don’t forget to make time to play!

We have made life so serious that it hurts sometimes. Sure, we have bills to pay, and of course, we have responsibilities to tend to. However, why do children seem to make playtime a priority, and adults make it an option? Nothing in life should ever get in the way of what makes your soul happy, so if you have to schedule playtime in, do it! All work and no play make for a dull, unhappy existence, so enjoy your time here while you can.

6. Turn the negatives into positives.

We can’t get anywhere in life by being negative, so remember to always see the good in any situation. Your higher self wants you to know that you always have guidance and protection, and to not allow yourself to dwell too long in negativity. It will eat away at your soul, so try to remain positive even when it seems difficult.

7. Live and let live.

Sometimes, things just won’t go our way. People will hurt us, we might lose our job, or a relationship may end unexpectedly, but this doesn’t mean we should harbor negative feelings or hold a grudge simply because we didn’t get what we wanted. Life doesn’t give you what you want; it gives you what you need, so try to look at it from the perspective that everything that happens to you will help your higher self in the long run.

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

5 Signs Your Partner Is Falling Out Of Love

June 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Something is different about the way your partner is acting lately and it has you worried that they might be falling out of love. The signs of a change of heart are easy to see once you look back at the ruins of a past relationship, but seeing them before it’s too late is more challenging.

No one wants to be blindsided when a relationship ends. Being dumped is psychologically traumatic and can set you back emotionally.

Falling in love is so much more fun than falling out of love, so let’s hope that’s not what your partner is feeling. Here are 5 signs that your partner is falling out of love with you, and how you might be able to save your relationship.

5 Signs Your Partner Is Falling Out of Love

Humans like to think that we are a monogamous species, but we rarely bond with a single mate for life. Still, the romantic ideal of the one true love is something we yearn for. Scientists look at our ability to make and break relationships as an evolutionary tool.

A study in the Review of General Psychology found that ‘because romantic love is a species-typical trait, all members of the human species may come equipped with the mental hardware for both falling in love as well as for ending a relationship.’

They believe that we may have evolved with the ability to fall in and out of love to find the best mates to reproduce with. Being able to fall out of love means that we can keep looking for the best genetic partner to have children with.

1. Less time spent together having fun

Sure your partner spends time with you, but when they are having fun, it is with other people, not you. You spend time together sleeping, eating, and doing chores, not playtime.

Make it a priority to schedule fun time with your partner. Work to make them laugh and do what they love doing. If you can make your partner smile, you are doing great at trying to keep them from falling out of love.

2. Not sharing emotions

You have no idea if your partner is upset, depressed or worried because he or she will never open up to you about their emotions. If your partner leaves you guessing about their feelings, it’s a sign they may be falling out of love with you.

Emotional cheating often happens before physical cheating does. Being available to your partner as a counselor to help them work through their emotions will help to keep them from seeking someone who will listen.

Researchers who study people falling out of love call it ‘mate ejection,’ like ejecting a disk from a computer drive. They say that stereotypically, ‘males are expected to initiate mate ejection in response to their partner’s sexual infidelity. Women are expected to initiate mate ejection in response to emotional infidelity.’

3. Less touching than before

Physical connection is one of the most important parts of a loving relationship because it’s what makes an intimate partnership intimate. Changes in the amount of kissing, hugging, fondling, etc., and not in the positive direction, are a sign that your partner is falling out of love.

4. Your partner is doing something new or different

Change is bad when you suspect your partner is falling out of love. Change could mean someone else. Instead of waiting around, you can act if your partner shows this sign.

Weight change, appearance change, and hobby changes are all bad signs. When one partner is considering a breakup, they often find a replacement partner before ending the relationship. Behavior changes mean they are trying to please a new romantic partner.

They never used to care about sci-fi, and now they’re attending ComicCon. They’ve never worn plaid before, and now they look Scottish. Significant behavior changes are concerning because your partner is changing to like the things their new romantic partner likes.

5. You talk less than you used to

Your partner used to ask you about your day, but now they don’t seem to be able to care enough to ask you. When we care, we ask questions because we like knowing about our partner. It’s a sign that your partner is falling out of love if they aren’t asking questions.

If this sign has you worried, try asking your partner about their day. Don’t talk about yourself at all. Instead, ask many questions and be as fascinated by what your partner says as possible.

Most people want not just to be heard but to be understood fully and deeply. Giving your partner this connection is one possible way to keep them from falling out of love.

Final Thoughts on Recognizing When Your Partner Might Fall Out of Love With You

Knowing these signs can help you remedy the situation when your relationship is slipping away from you. If you want to work on the relationship, it is time to have an honest conversation, reset relationship expectations, and work out your issues. See a relationship counselor if you need professional help to repair the rift in your love.

Doctors Explain How Choosing Your Words Actually Changes Your Brain

June 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Words have extreme power, and how you use them shapes other people’s opinions of you, as well as how you feel personally. The words we choose can either deplete our energy stores, or boost them, but most people don’t realize the importance of the vocabulary they use. We often say things without really thinking them through, and just blurt out what comes to mind first. However, words carry energy with them, so if we choose too many negative words, it can actually end up changing our brains, and not in a good way.

However, carefully choosing our words and becoming more mindful of what we say can rewire our brains in a positive way. You might be thinking, “Words don’t matter THAT much. My choice of words can’t really change my brain, can they?” Well, the answer might surprise you.

Doctors Explain How Choosing Your Words Can Literally Change Your Brain

Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at Thomas Jefferson University, and Mark Robert Waldman, a communications expert, wrote a life-changing book together called “Words Can Change Your Brain.” In this book, they wrote that“a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”

Using positive, uplifting words like “love” and “peace” in our everyday lives can literally change pathways in our brains by boosting our cognitive reasoning and making areas of the frontal lobes more effective. Using positive words in place of negative words can give you the energy and motivation to start taking charge in life, and will give you more control over yourself and your choices.

However, when we use negative words, we activate the fear response in our brains, which increases levels of cortisol and other stress hormones. Although all of us have primitive instincts to protect us and help us survive in dangerous situations, using excessive negative language will only cause us to worry unnecessarily.

Furthermore, when we repeat negative thoughts over and over in our brains, the activity levels increase in our brain’s fear center (the amygdala). As a result, stress hormones begin to take over our bodies, which explains why we feel on edge and anxious when exposed to too much negativity. While we need some level of stress and fear in order to survive, having TOO much of these can cause negative impacts on our mental and physical health. Newberg and Waldman write, “Angry words send alarm messages through the brain, and they partially shut down the logic-and-reasoning centers located in the frontal lobes.”

This excerpt from the book explains how positive thoughts can transform our brains, and our lives:

“By holding a positive and optimistic [word] in your mind, you stimulate frontal lobe activity. This area includes specific language centers that connect directly to the motor cortex responsible for moving you into action. And as our research has shown, the longer you concentrate on positive words, the more you begin to affect other areas of the brain.

Functions in the parietal lobe start to change, which changes your perception of yourself and the people you interact with. A positive view of yourself will bias you toward seeing the good in others, whereas a negative self-image will include you toward suspicion and doubt. Over time the structure of your thalamus will also change in response to your conscious words, thoughts, and feelings, and we believe that the thalamic changes affect the way in which you perceive reality.”

A study performed about positive psychology provides further evidence that using uplifting language can rewire your brain and thought processes. A group of adults aged 35-54 had to write down three positive things that happened during their day, and why they chose those things. The following three months revealed that they felt increasingly happier, and much less depressed. This small study shows that we can indeed rewire our brains by focusing our attention on what goes right in our lives, and not letting what goes wrong affect us so much.

So, what types of words do you use most often – negative or positive?

If you don’t know for sure, start paying attention to the words you use frequently, and write them down if you have to. Then, you can begin to see where patterns emerge in your thought processes, and change them if you need to. We all must grow and adapt during this lifetime, and changing how we speak can actually change our lives if we simply become more mindful and aware.

Believing This ONE Thing Makes Women Happier In Relationships

June 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Women in a committed relationship can be happier if they believe this one thing that recent research shows will help. Women in a long-term relationship have not been studied as much as women who are single. Researchers recently discovered this information that can help women to be more happy and satisfied with their partner.

Believing This ONE Thing Makes Women Happier In Relationships

The stereotype of single men is that they want sex frequently and they are likely to be attentive to any signals that women are interested in them. Although this certainly seems true, less is known about how men and women pick up on cues for sex when they are in long-term relationships.

For women in a long-term committed relationship, your men seem to think that you want sex less often than you really do. And men, your women want sex more often, even if you don’t think they don’t. Or at least that’s what researchers have found out by looking at happiness in relationships and frequency of sex.

The mind is a powerful thing, and women who can convince themselves that their partners feel this way will be more likely to be happy. Desire is often equated with love and happiness. Women who desire their partners are happy in their relationships and vice versa for men.

In pop culture, the expression of desire for a partner is equated with romantic love. In a study in the journal Personal Relationships, both women and men associated sexual desire with romantic love. Believing that your partner desires you makes you feel desirable and happy.

Researchers show how a single belief about your relationship can make you happier

Researchers in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology studied the happiness of women in a relationship and found some interesting findings. Their research uncovered a previously unexplored topic about relationship happiness.

The scientists say that although men tend to believe that women are more interested in them sexually than they really are, ‘No research currently exists on how people perceive their romantic partner’s sexual desire in the context of ongoing, intimate relationships.’ Strange, but it’s true. How do you know if your partner knows that you are interested in sex? How can your partner tell that you are interested?

Does your partner’s level of interest in sex and yours have to be the same in order for you to feel happy in a committed relationship?

The researchers found ‘evidence that men in established romantic relationships err in the direction of the opposite bias and underperceive their romantic partner’s sexual desire.‘ In other words, instead of assuming that their mate wanted them more often than their mate truly did, they thought that she was less receptive to sexual advances than she actually was.

The scientists believe that men choose to think that their women want sex less often in order to convince themselves that she is satisfied with the current frequency of sex that he is providing.

They also believe that if a man doesn’t want to feel rejected by his partner, he chooses to believe that she isn’t interested in sex. So it is helpful for men to assume that their partner is not interested in sex because then she will not reject him and his self-esteem is protected from the rejection.

Why are women happier when they believe this one thing about their relationship?

It doesn’t make sense then that women seem to want more sex than their male partners think they do (so they are less sexually satisfied), but the research shows that they are happy.

One reason for women being happier when their partners think that they don’t want sex is that the men are more likely to put in effort to romance their partners for sex if they think they aren’t interested. Buying flowers, showing off your dance skills at a club, or taking her for a nice dinner are the types of dating behaviors that can fade in a long-term relationship.

When men believe that their women want sex less often, they also believe that they have to work harder to get sex. The extra effort that men make to entice their partners into sex translates into making women happier in their relationship.

The result of these behaviors is that both men and women fool themselves by choosing to believe something that is not true about their partner and this leads to greater happiness for women in their long-term committed relationship.

The results of this study are surprising and not necessarily true for all women. Women who enjoy typical romantic activities are happier believing that their partners want sex less often than they do and are happier giving them sex less frequently so they have to romance them to get it.

All of this pretending might make you wonder why men and women aren’t just honest about their level of desire and having more sex. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be honest about your needs. Just ask.

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

5 Ways To Spot Someone With Hidden Motives

June 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

When you suspect someone has hidden motives, you can feel anxious about dealing with them. In this article, we will look at five ways to spot hidden motives and how to prevent yourself from being manipulated.

5 Ways to Spot Someone With Hidden Motives

Do you think that someone is hiding things from you? Maybe you think they are not just hiding a recent purchase but hiding how they feel about you. Do you wonder whether or not they have good intentions toward you?

No one wants to be taken advantage of, and someone with hidden motives is most likely trying to do just that. You are likely correct if you feel controlled, confused, or upset after speaking to someone you think might have hidden motives. Read on to find out if you are right.

A person with hidden motives is likely acting selfishly. In our article Five Signs You’re In A Relationship With A Narcissist, we have discussed the narcissistic or selfish personality in the past.

Let’s look at some easy ways to spot hidden motives. Then we will reveal what you can do to avoid dealing with people trying to undermine you.

1. You’re picking up some unusual body language and eye contact

People who are lying have hidden motives. A liar will try to maintain very steady and slightly uncomfortable eye contact. That’s because they believe that this proves them to be trustworthy.

If the eye contact feels forced or like staring, they try too hard to maintain solid eye contact. They are probably lying. Blinking too much is also a sign of lying, almost as if the liar is trying to clear the cloud over their eyes that keeps them from seeing and speaking the truth.

2. You have negative emotions after speaking to them

When they’ve finished speaking, you feel frustrated, confused, misunderstood, and more alone than you should. One way to spot someone with hidden motives is by how they make you feel. Your negative emotions are a warning sign that something isn’t feeling right in your gut.

You should always trust your gut feelings regarding the signs of someone with hidden motives. When you have negative emotions, it’s a sign that your needs aren’t being met. Check-in with yourself and ask, ‘What do I need that I’m not getting?’ and ‘Is this person trying to keep me from getting what I need?’

3. They always seem to want the same thing

There is a single-minded focus on someone with hidden motives, and they will keep talking about what they are trying to get you to do, over and over again. You feel like you’ve heard it a million times and are about to cave into their demands. Don’t. Instead, try changing the subject as many times as needed until they get the point; you won’t cave in.

4. Use of tactics to persuade you

Your ability to be vigilant against persuasion is tested when you think you spot someone with hidden motives. This is like a game they are playing with you; the goal is to get you to act in a way that benefits the manipulative person. Refuse to act. But pay attention to how many attempts the person makes to get you to do what they want.

Persuasion is a skill that is useful when you are negotiating for the best deal on a car that you can get. It’s not something that you want to be used against you, especially if you aren’t good at resisting pressure.

This persuasion can include sexual coercion. In a study of narcissistic men, researchers found ‘narcissism constitutes a personality trait that may foster tendencies toward sexual coercion, especially given the narcissistic propensity for self-serving interpretations, low empathy toward others, and inflated sense of entitlement.’ Do not allow yourself to be talked into anything you don’t want to do, including sex.

5. You are not the focus of your conversation

A manipulative person with hidden motives is only focused on themselves. Psychologists believe that ‘failure to complete specific essential steps in the identity-formation process results in specific forms of distrust in self and others, leaving manipulative styles in place of normal feelings and expressions of confidence, respect, and mutuality.’ People with hidden motives may be at risk of developing an antisocial personality disorder.

The manipulator may pretend to be interested in your personal life. But somehow, the conversation always returns to focus on them and their needs. Not just their needs, but what they need from you to get what they want.

Final Thoughts on Dealing With Someone Who Has Hidden Motives

Once you spot that the person you are dealing with has hidden motives, you can decide to stop dealing with them. Or, you can muster the courage to tell them that you aren’t meeting your needs. A self-focused, selfish manipulator will not listen to your needs. So it is probably best to avoid dealing with them at all.

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

4 Signs MSG Is Poisoning Your Body

June 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

MSG, or monosodium glutamate is a food flavor-enhancing additive. Many people assume it onle comes from takeout Chinese food, but that is untrue. Indeed, it could be the thing that is poisoning your body.

‘Chinese Restaurant Syndrome’ or ‘MSG Symptom Complex’ is a group of symptoms related to the poisoning effects of eating MSG. Read below for the four signs that MSG is poisoning your body.

Many processed foods contain MSG, so it’s important to know what to look for on your labels. The following ingredients in your diet always contain MSG:

Glutamic acid
Glutamate
Autolyzed yeast
Yeast Food
Gelatin
Textured protein
Sodium caseinate
Monosodium glutamate
Calcium Caseinate
Yeast Extract
Yeast nutrient

4 Signs MSG Is Poisoning Your Body

MSG was discovered in Japan as an extract from seaweed and has since become a man-made chemical ingredient. With regard to being a food additive, MSG has similar flavor properties as salt in that it seems to boost the flavors of the food that it is added to.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of MSG as a food additive to enhance flavor. Although animal research has shown poor health effects in high doses, the human research is mixed.

Many people report having the symptoms of MSG poisoning due to their consumption of Chinese food with the additive, but the FDA calls these reports anecdotal. The research literature is how they make their food safety determination.

Regardless of what the FDA says, you may find that you experience certain uncomfortable symptoms after eating MSG. These are the 4 signs that MSG may be poisoning your body.

1. Sexual health problems

A safety evaluation of MSG conducted by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) found that MSG caused central nervous system lesions in high doses in animals.

The committee reviewed 59 animal studies on mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, chicks, ducks, rabbits, dogs, and primates and found damage to the hypothalamus and that ‘neural lesions were observable within hours of administration.’

The hypothalamus is in the brain and it helps regulate levels of our hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland. Reduced function of the pituitary gland can lead to reduced testosterone levels which cause erectile dysfunction, reduced muscle mass, and hair loss in men. For women, pituitary dysfunction causes decreased estrogen, which is linked to decreased libido, hot flashes, and mood swings.

2. Liver and intestinal problems

The JECFA study also allocated an ‘acceptable daily intake (ADI) not specified’ to glutamic acid and its salts. No specified daily amount was recommended by the committee so food manufacturers can add as much as they want.

Although the JECFA says they failed to confirm a connection between MSG and physical symptoms in humans, they do say that high doses of MSG resulted in elevated liver and intestinal enzyme metabolites in the blood stream.

Elevated liver enzymes may result in symptoms of nausea, fatigue, nausea, pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, and mental confusion. Itching, unusual blood vessels on the skin surface, joint pain, loss of appetite, or bowel movements that are light in color may be a sign of elevated intestinal enzymes.

3. Mental confusion

MSG may be poisoning not just your body, but your brain. MSG negatively affects the glutamate receptors in your body. A quote from the FDA taken from Dr. Merola’s website says ‘Abnormal function of glutamate receptors has been linked with certain neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s chorea.’

These are both neurodegenerative diseases that take time to progress. It is likely that the poisoning effects of MSG are cumulative and take time to damage enough cells to notice that your mental focus is not as sharp as it used to be.

4. Chest pain and/or heart palpitations

Do not delay in seeking medical help if you are experiencing chest pain, regardless of whether or not you believe you have consumed MSG. Chest pain, pressure or abnormal heart rhythms are serious medical symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms that affect a vital part of your health. Please consult a medical professional immediately.

Chest pressure or pain could be a sign of a heart attack. Indeed, these symptoms could indicate MSG poisoning. A heart ‘flutter’ may also come from eating MSG.

After a large meal, you may normally feel pressure in your chest due to the fullness of your stomach which causes outward pressure on your organs. If the meal was suspicious food that may contain MSG, the chest pain could be due to the poisoning effects of MSG.

Cardiac arrhythmias have been linked to the consumption of MSG due to the glutamate receptors located in the heart. Difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, sweating, and dizziness have also been reported as symptoms related to MSG consumption.

This Is For Anyone Who Has Ever Had A Spiritual Awakening

June 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

The world has entered a time of deep awareness–an awakening. We are no longer standing by and waiting to be told what to believe and what to disregard.

And, once you are awake to your spiritual truth, it’s hard to go back to sleep.

You cannot relate to mass media and how things are manipulated to control us. You are not going crazy because you begin to see things differently! You’re merely witnessing the rebirth of your divine truth. Spirituality is a personal aspect in your life. It has a individual intimate definition to all. There is no right or wrong answer to how it is perceived. Spirituality is a choice on how to live consciously while bypassing the programming that has been passed on from others. You have joined many who are lightworkers.

This Is For Anyone Who Has Ever Had A Spiritual Awakening

You are not going bonkers when you begin to feel more than you can see. You are not delusional when you experience synchronicity, serendipity, and the magic of seeing beyond the veil of this dimension. Awakening is a slow process, and thank goodness for it! As an empath, you will experience illogical matters, witness incredible miracles, and find that there is no need to explain (or find explanations). Judgment is one of those facets that starts to deteriorate. Self-criticism is another. Things just happen because you allow yourself to be immersed in something larger than yourself.

Religion is a foundation to spirituality. You can be religious and not be spiritual. You can also be spiritual and not be religious. It’s all about finding belief and what works for you. It’s perfectly find to bring a deep theology as a practice in your life, as well as philosophies from all over the world. We must study history in order to view the future because there is a pattern to everything. And, when you begin to open up to spirituality, it’s important to have an anchor of belief and faith. Indoctrinated words can be guidelines.

But, what is an awakening?

When you start to awake in spiritual truth, you begin to shed the controlling ego and the fears it creates. Awakening is simply shedding control and manipulation. When you awake to God, the Divine, (or however you call THAT beautiful essence higher than our humanness), fears and anxiety start to diminish. You are still very human, so you will question everything.

After all, we are spiritual beings having a remarkable human experience. We expand by curiosity and questioning that which we don’t know. But, as you grow spiritually, you begin to also diminish the need to be right. Things just are and you accept them. There is more joy in your life. There is an acceptance of something larger than this humanness. Awakening requires the ability to step back and allow for God to guide. And, it’s in that space that you start to notice that everything you were taught was lies.

You’ll get angry and you will resent others. But you will forgive the ignorance. You’re now experiencing something that is beyond exceptional. You begin to see the world as a game and you are the main character. You get to choose how you live your life. Awakening is being mindfully conscious of the world and how you partake in it.

The process is slow during an awakening…but profound

In this slow-moving process, you will experience love. You will feel love for humanity. Sometimes you will find that what you have been doing is not fulfilling. Many folks shift careers, lifestyles, and move to other places that now call for their passion. You become authentic to your gifts, dreams, and desires. Awakening has a way of twisting, turning, and then redirecting you to follow the heart. And, because you have little fears, you trust in the knowing that everything is rigged to your favor. The famous poet Rumi said, “Live life as if everything is rigged in your favor.” This is being awakened: when you can conduct yourself in a manner that is joyous and filled with the knowing that you are creating from Source and love.

There is the matter of being present at all times. As you awaken, you shed the restrictions of time, expectations and authority. The beauty of awakening is also in the allowance that everything and everyone moves to their own lessons. We incarnate to partake in this amazing journey. We learn from one another as we collect stories and experiences. Also, we begin to attract the things that we desire, including like-minded individuals. You don’t go down the rabbit hole, like Alice did, alone. You slowly integrate your awareness with discernment. You’re here to help heal this planet and enrich others with your love. It is then that your perception, in whatever you choose, becomes your living reality.

“Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back. From then on, you are inflamed with a special longing that will never again let you linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment. The eternal makes you urgent. You are loath to let compromise or the threat of danger hold you back from striving toward the summit of fulfillment.” ~ John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: Book of Celtic Wisdom

11 Quotes To Remember When You’re In A Bad Mood

June 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Sometimes, a bad mood will strike for no apparent reason, and we feel like just crawling in bed to hide away from the pain and challenges of everyday life. However, we can’t just escape the obstacles and hang-ups that inevitably occur in life; we have to meet them head on, and deal with the bad moods whenever they arise. This doesn’t mean that you can’t feel negative emotions, but rather, learn how to understand what those feelings mean, and work through them in a positive manner. We hope the following quotes will help you to gain perspective and keep your cool whenever you feel in a bad mood.

11 Quotes To Remember When You’re In A Bad Mood

1. At some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.

Life often unfolds very differently than how we imagined it. Next time you feel in a bad mood, just learn to work through it and accept the current reality. The more you fight it, the more the same situation will keep reappearing until you’ve learned the lesson. Let go, and let flow!

2. “She was brave and strong and broken all at once.” – Anna Funder

You don’t have to fight your feelings or put on some front – accept your feelings. It’s okay to be broken and fall down sometimes; bad moods don’t last forever, though, so remember this the next time one strikes. You still have incredible strength and fortitude even in times of despair; being human means feeling a wide range of emotions, so don’t beat yourself up for it.

3. Don’t judge. You don’t know what storms someone has just walked through.” – Kristen Butler

This one goes for yourself, too. Don’t judge yourself too harshly; you’ve made it this far in life and overcome incredible obstacles, so give yourself credit. A bad mood doesn’t make you a bad person.

4. Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from negativity.

Do you feel that your bad mood came about due to your environment or people you surround yourself with? Remember that you can decide who or what to surround yourself with, so remain mindful of your energy around certain people or places. Distancing yourself from negativity can easily help you to uplift your moods.

5. When life is stressful, do something to lift your spirits. Go for a drive. Go two or three thousand miles away. Maybe change your name.

Okay, so maybe you don’t have to do anything this extreme, but the underlying meaning here is to not allow life to control you. Don’t allow your circumstances to dictate your mood – you get to decide what type of life you want to live. If your current situation makes you feel anything less than alive and puts you in a bad mood frequently, then change something! It’s never too late to make a radical lifestyle change.

6. Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of your life.

Time doesn’t stop for anyone, so enjoy your life while it lasts. Bad moods come and go, but you can still find beauty in even the darkest of places.

7. Life is too short to worry about stupid things. Have fun, regret nothing, and don’t let people bring you down.

In short, cherish every moment. Don’t let your bad mood become a bad week, month, or even year. Stop, smell the roses, and open your eyes to the neverending, beautiful miracle all around you.

8. Positive people also have negative thoughts, they just don’t let those thoughts grow and destroy them.

Before your thoughts give you a bad mood, monitor them to see if your thoughts truly reflect how you want to feel. You can transcend those heavy thoughts and bring positive energy to them so that the bad mood doesn’t even affect you in the first place!

9. Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on the beach.

Nature heals. If a bad mood strikes, try to spend some time outdoors – the fresh air, sunshine, and gentle breeze will wash away your troubles!

10. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Gratitude will quickly diminish any negative thoughts inside your mind. Thankfulness for life attracts abundance, which means that bad mood won’t last long if you remain in your heart space and choose to see the good in all situations.

11. Life is better when you’re laughing.

Above all else, remember not to take life so seriously. Laughing literally stops a bad mood in its tracks, so don’t forget to laugh today!

Weekly tips, affirmations, and small actions to feel your best.

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!