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Do You See Dragonflies Often? This Is What It Means…

May 1, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Like the butterfly, the dragonfly is associated with light, transformation, and personal growth. If you see dragonflies often, you must look within and see what areas you could possibly improve on. Further, you should explore what you can shed to bring more light and freedom into your life. The dragonfly symbolizes great transformation and personal growth. Additionally, it invites you to dive into your emotions for a fuller understanding of yourself and your personal journey.

Dragonflies change direction quickly and seemingly fly without any effort at all. So, we can learn adaptability, lightheartedness, and flexibility from this gentle creature. Seeing dragonflies often may also point to a great metamorphosis coming up in your life. Pay attention to the animals and signs around you, especially if you see dragonflies often. Indeed, the universe is trying to teach you powerful lessons.

If You See Dragonflies Often, This Is What It Means

1- Show your true colors with pride

Dragonflies often have varying colors, depending upon which angle you look at them. When they glint in the light, the winged insect will appear a different color than if they stayed in the shadows. So, this symbolizes the need to show your true colors more, and stop trying to hide your best self from the world. Also, it can be interpreted to become more flexible and adaptable, so that you can adjust to new environments quickly.

2 – Dragonflies remind us to take out time to enjoy the moment

Dragonflies have a sweet, gentle nature about them, and can seem somewhat whimsical. They show us to approach life like a child, and not stay trapped in one place for too long. Dragonflies move fast. But they stop every so often to take a break and refresh their energy. We could learn a lot from the dragonfly in our increasingly fast-paced, chaotic world.

3 – Expect abundance in life

Furthermore, dragonflies have been associated with joy, light, and abundance. You can take this one of two ways – either you have recently been blessed with something and the dragonflies have come to remind you of your blessings, or the universe has wonderful plans for your future. Either way, remember to always express gratitude and focus your mind on the positives in life.

4 – Dragonflies remind us to stay attuned to our feelings

You will notice dragonflies tend to hang out around ponds or other waterways, and water symbolizes emotions and depth of character. Seeing your spirit animal might mean that you should stay in tune with your emotions, and not feel afraid to show parts of yourself that you have previously hidden away.

5 – Change is inevitable

More than anything, it signify transformation, as their colors change as they mature. Like the dragonfly, you too must shed your old skin and transform into a new, more aware being as you gain experience and wisdom. The creature invites us to question our place in life, and not feel afraid to discard our old identity if it no longer serves us.

6 – Dragonflies can signify a need for self-care

Use this spirit animal during times of transition or deep emotional cleansing. Call upon one of these graceful creatures when you feel the need to dive within to understand yourself better, or when you feel the need to go through a transformation of the self. Also, if you feel that you’ve been hiding parts of yourself from the world, the dragonfly can help you to emerge authentically and get rid of anything that no longer serves your best self.

Final Thoughts on Dragonflies

As with any other animal totem, dragonflies will show up when you need a sign from the universe to assure you that you’ve chosen the right path. The creature represents a variety of different meanings and perspectives, but no matter what path you’ve chosen in life, it can provide you with comfort and stability along your journey. The dragonfly wants you to remember to approach life with a light heart, an open mind, and the bravery to change if you feel the need to.

7 Signs It Won’t Get Past The First Date

May 1, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Our high expectations for potential love at first sight are one reason there’s pressure on a first date, but there are at least 7 signs that this potential partner clearly won’t give you the love you deserve.

We have a lot of expectations on a first date. Researchers studying peoples expectations for a first date found that people stuck to traditional gender roles; people expect women on a first date to be concerned about their appearance, talk more, and to control access to sex, whereas expectations for men focused on planning, paying for, and orchestrating the date.

Not to put any pressure on you, but all of these expectations are probably already on your mind when you go on a first date, even if you were only worrying about what your date thinks about you. But it’s okay, you might still have hope of finding your true love if you can relax, be yourself, and remember what is most important to you in finding the right partner.

But what if your date is rude, gross, not your type, or worse? Is it easy to see the signs? To help place these potential red flags in your mind’s eye, we’ve compiled these warning signs:

7 Signs It Won’t Get Past The First Date…

1. Your date shows disrespect toward you or others

If your date belittles others, based on their appearance, social status, race, political party, gender or any other group that we can think of, you can be sure to expect them to disrespect you at some point in the future. Why wait for that time to come before you leave? Picking on other people is disrespectful and disrespect is surely a sign there may be no chance.

2. Your date has already tried to push your boundaries

Researchers studying communication and sexual expectations for first dates found that ‘men have higher sexual expectations than do women, and that participants’ sexual expectations are heightened when alcohol is available.’ Just something to keep in mind is that if you are drinking, your date may already have their hopes high for sex.

If your date has tried to pressure or manipulate you, whether it is for sex or anything that you do not want to do, take it as a sign of future manipulation in your relationship. If they can’t respect your wishes on a first date, when will they?

3. You have a bad gut feeling

Gut feelings have saved people from being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and in one case for a Reddit user, listening to their gut instinct help them avoid the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 students.

If your gut is speaking to you, pay very close attention. Absorb all of the details of the person you are speaking to. Remove your filter of ‘probably a nice person’ and look again. Would you hire this person to work for you? What signs of trust or distrust are you getting? Are you in a safe location where you can get to help if you need it? When in doubt, trust that your gut is alerting you to possible danger and get out, quickly and safely.

4. Your first date shows signs of selfishness, deceit, or anger

Some personality traits are understandable once in a while, like wanting the last cookie for yourself, but if your partner acted selfish all the time, you’d hit the road.

Why waste time with someone who still hasn’t learned to share, much less to put someone else’s needs first? The same is true for any other negative personality trait that you dislike. This could be jealousy, anxiety, immaturity, or even negative personal habits that push all the wrong buttons for you.

People can change, but only if they want to. On a first date, you expect this person’s best. If they can’t give you that for even an hour or two, how can they be expected to behave differently over the course of our relationship?

5. Your first date is checking out other people

This one might be fine with you if you are not into monogamy, but most people at least expect their date to refrain from drooling over other possible romantic conquests while in their presence. Maybe they picked up on your cue that nothing sexual will be happening so they are already on to their “next prey”.

6. Your first date has goals that are not compatible and neither of you is interested in changing.

You like each other, but you can tell that your date is not likely to give up on that law school dream while you are planning to live in Paris and teach people to paddleboard on the Seine. If your first date is hooked on something so far from your goal, it might be a good idea to reconsider the second date unless one of you can out things aside for the other.

On the other hand, maybe your date could switch to international law and the two of you could still be on to a big adventure together. Life goals are a big topic for a first date, but if you’re in a hurry to move on to building your dream life, you might want to rush into these big discussions rather than spend time with someone who will only hold you back.

7. They expect you to be something other than your best self

You may have some flaws, but your date has a huge one if they want you to be anything other than the best version of you that you can be. If your first date is already trying to change something about you that you don’t want to change, it’s time to walk out gracefully.

How do you kindly let them know that it won’t be going any farther?

Thank your date for making time to meet you and tell them that you are looking for someone that has your best interests at heart, shares your goals, and that you don’t want to spend time that is not in pursuit of that relationship goal. Tell them goodbye and congratulate yourself on supporting your own best relationship interests.

5 Ways To Strengthen Your Gut Instincts

May 1, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Many of us live with fear and anxiety dictating our daily lives. The more fear we carry, the tighter we hold on to the idea of control. We want to control relationships, situations, and events. As we go through our days, we realize that there is something deeper guiding us, and that control is an illusion. The most beautiful thing you can do to honor your intuition is to accept the messages without judgment. We begin to understand that these little whispers are there for a higher purpose. This inner guidance is an internal GPS that lets you know right from wrong.

Here are 5 ways to strengthen your intuition:

1. Meditation and Prayer

The moment the mind detaches from the egotistical programming, you witness the space that flourishes and pushes intuition. Meditation changes the brain function by reducing the blood pressure and pain responses. It also awakens other parts of the brain that release hormones to help in depression and anxiety. The act of shutting down the brain and allowing for thoughts to come and go without controlling them is imperative for strengthening your gut reaction. Meditation allows for you to “check in” with the higher self. Making time for meditation and contemplation is important for reaching a higher state of awareness.

2. Visualization

Visual imagery is a form of stress relief. When you envision a happy place or visualize something you want, joy takes over. Bliss moves from a higher frequency in consciousness thus making space for intuition to take over. Visualization has no limitations. Your mind is able to create anything it desires. You can do this through various ways: journaling, painting, collages, writing, music, or any other tool that you can sense. We are moved through our sense of smell, taste, seeing, touching, and hearing. When you feel it through these senses the brain opens up and clears the clutter of negative thoughts.

3. Mantras and Affirmations

Affirmations elevate the state of your thoughts to positive intentions. The repetition of words helps with your intuitive levels. Daily affirmations create goals which provide powerful direction in our subconscious. Simply saying, “I am powerful. I am healthy. I am always balanced and centered.” are ways of stating and setting aspirations. Your mind, body and spirit are always affected by words, those you say to yourself and those you say about others. Making a practice of creating positive thoughts is an excellent exercise for the spirit.

4. Let go of the daily routines

Being spontaneous and breaking monotony helps create a balanced state of awareness. Playfulness and creativity raise you to states of euphoria. Most people have to work. Many have families and endless responsibilities. A break in normal daily activities helps overcome the “rut” of boredom. You get to decide today if you want to take a different road to work, or simply stop at that bookstore on the way back from town. You are responsible for your own joy-making activities. This simple gesture of switching things up helps raise your consciousness.

5. Detect, accept and reject.

You are human. Things will come up with self-doubt and issues of insecurity. When these things come up remember to detect them. Don’t ignore their presence. Sometimes it’s about allowing a release. Secondly, accept whatever it’s trying to move through you. Honor those emotions. You are who you are because of all that has happened to you in the past. Thirdly, reject what is not of importance. The more you disconnect from drama from others (or your own) the easier it is to listen to your inner voice. Sometimes old programming and beliefs come up when you are making a decision. Detect these stories. Accept what you can from them and reject the rest.

The mind is powerful. When we allow it to do its job without demands, judgment, and control it produces magic. Most of us live in rigid states of stress. Shutting down the ego and letting our higher self guide is the best thing you can do in your life for yourself. Your intention is your mind’s hidden potential that is there for everything you want and need. It’s like having your own genie in a bottle. The only way to strengthen intuition is to be guided by your feelings.

“Intuition is the highest form of intelligence, transcending all individual abilities and skills.” ~ Sylvia Clare

11 Life Lessons From Bruce Lee

April 30, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Most people recognize Bruce Lee as a renowned martial artist and action film actor, but along with his incredible athleticism, strength, and poise, he also left behind many important life lessons. It takes a lot of dedication, determination, and willpower to reach the level that Bruce Lee did with martial arts, and many people have considered him one of the most influential martial artists of all time. Along his journey in life, he gained much wisdom that he shared with the rest of the world that we can still apply to our lives today.

Learn from these wise life lessons from Bruce Lee.

Here are 11 life changing lessons from Bruce Lee:

1. Live your life to the fullest.

“If you truly love life, don’t waste time because time is what life is made of.”

“Real living is living for others.”

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities”.

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering”.

2. Embrace your mistakes.

“Don’t fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.”

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”

“Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.”

3. Your mind is the greatest enemy, unless you learn to master it.

“Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.”

“Do not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind for they are the weeds that strangle confidence.”

“As you think, so shall you become.”

“A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.”

4. Don’t try to control reality – just go with the flow.

“The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.”

“In order to control myself I must first accept myself by going with and not against my nature.”

5. Simplify your mind, simplify your life.

“It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”

“Be happy, but never satisfied.”

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own”

6. Only focus on becoming the best version of yourself.

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

“?The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself – do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”

“For it is easy to criticize and break down the spirit of others, but to know yourself takes a lifetime.”

“To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person”.

7. Push yourself past the comfort zone.

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”

“In the middle of chaos lies opportunity”

8. You can achieve success through persistence, but more than that, believing in yourself.

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.”

“Remember no man is really defeated unless he is discouraged.”

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

“The doubters said,
“Man can not fly,”
The doers said,
“Maybe, but we’ll try,”
And finally soared
In the morning glow
While non-believers
Watched from below.”

9. Stay humble.

“Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

10. Don’t be afraid to walk the path alone.

“Only the self-sufficient stand alone – most people follow the crowd and imitate.”

11. Always know your self-worth.

“The more we value things, the less we value ourselves”

“It is not a shame to be knocked down by other people. The important thing is to ask when you’re being knocked down, ‘Why am I being knocked down?’ If a person can reflect in this way, then there is hope for this person.”

10 Reasons Animal Lovers Make The Best Relationship Partners

April 30, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Have you ever been in a relationship with someone with a pet at home? Maybe you noticed it, and maybe you didn’t, but there’s something extra special about those who love their furry friends that also choose to love us. With an animal lover for a partner, you are sure to feel the full emotion and devotion of a loyal heart that’s wagging in time with the tail of their furry pal. Here’s why…

10 Reasons Animal Lovers Make The Best Relationship Partners

1. Animal lovers make the best relationship partners because they anticipate your needs

As much as we wish they would, our beloved pets cannot speak their wishes to us. Animal lovers make better partners because they learn to read subtle cues and provide what is needed for the ones they love. As one researcher put it, ‘Neither infants nor animals have words to express their needs, and so it is left to the caregiver to anticipate and provide for those needs.’

2. Animal lovers make the best relationship partners because they are comfortable with gross stuff

Well, any animal lover has had to clean up after Felix or Fido enough times to know that sometimes, it can be grossly loving a pet. Pet owners everywhere have had their share of messy love, from hairballs to broken baggies.

But, the good news for you is that if your partner is an animal lover, they will be comfortable with how you smell two days after you should have had a shower. Your animal-loving partner will also have no problems with bodily fluids; yours or their own.

3. Animal lovers make the best relationship partners because they can find fun in the messiness

Chocolate syrup, whipped cream, or coconut oil…having an animal lover for a partner is better because they are laid back enough to find fun in getting messy. Cleaning up is part of the fun, too, just don’t shake the water off them.

4. Animal lovers make the best relationship partners because they know what it means to love unconditionally

Animals love giving love to us, and they give it freely. Animal lovers make better partners because they have received the unconditional love of a pet, and they try to give the same love to both animals and the important people in their lives.

All the physical activity involved with owning a dog will also keep your animal-loving partner more physically fit. That translates to more stamina, which means longer fun sessions in bed.

5. Animal lovers make better relationship partners because they believe in love at first sight

Most pet parents will tell you that their animal chose THEM, not the other way around. Many also feel that they were destined to be with their animal. Many others believe that a current pet is the reincarnation of a childhood pet.

Animal lovers feel about their pets like Hollywood depicts star-crossed lovers. These two were destined for each other. It’s hard to be upset about their passion when your partner is so romantic about their puppy or kitty love.

6. Animal lovers make better relationship partners because they are better caregivers

People who care for animals form a relationship bond with the animal. Animals need people for basic care such as food, water, bedding, and veterinary care. In return for being such excellent caregivers, animal lovers receive companionship and affection and give those to their pets and humans.

7. Animal lovers make better relationship partners because they make better parents

Raising animals is much like raising kids. Even as adult animals, dogs can understand enough basic language, gestures and body language to know almost as much as a human toddler.

Our beloved pets sometimes test our energy, patience, and emotions, just like children and teenagers. If your partner can handle a pet with kindness and compassion, you know that your animal lover will also be a good parent.

When you have an animal, your family will also be more active with outdoor activities. A study found that families with kids and dogs engaged in more outdoor fun and had more social interactions than pet-free households.

8. Animal lovers make better relationship partners because they can handle a commitment

A relationship with a cat or dog can last up to fifteen years. Some domestic birds, turtles, and lizards live even longer than that. If your partner is an animal person, you know that they can go the distance despite training frustrations, health problems, financial setbacks, heartbreak, and loss.

9. Animal lovers make better relationship partners because they are positive people

Animals are excellent stress-reduction companions. The act of petting an animal has the physiological effect of reducing both heart rate and blood pressure. Animal lovers make better partners because they are less stressed out.

Dogs are so easy to make happy with a treat, and they are happy because of their lolling tongues, wagging tails, and exuberant spirits. Your animal-loving partner is probably just as easy-going, positive, and joyful with how they show you they are happy to be with you.

10. Animal lovers make better relationship partners because they know how to be loyal

Just like our animals would never leave us in our worst moments, neither would an animal-loving partner desert you. At the end of the life of a beloved pet, an animal lover is right there deciding to ease suffering with the veterinarian.

Animal lovers have such tender, loving, caring hearts, and they give love selflessly to their life partners, including the furry, feathered, or scaly ones.

Which Bird Personality Type Are You?

April 30, 2016 by Power of Positivity

We love personality tests because they teach us more about ourselves, and now you can learn what your bird personality style says about you.

Yasir Osman of Leadernomics.com says the ‘DOPE [dove, owl, peacock, eagle] personality test divides people into four bird groups, i.e. the ‘neutral dove’, ‘analytical owl’, ‘relational pea- cock’ and ‘decisive eagle’. These bird groups represent different personalities. All the birds have their different basic desires, emotional needs, controlling factors and characteristics.’

What Does Your “Bird Personality” Reveal About You?

The 4 Bird Personality Test was created as a way for people to easily relate to the four personality categories. Because we are familiar with the 4 birds used, dove, owl, peacock, and eagle, we can relate the image of the animal and the typical personality traits that we might assign to each.

This makes it easier to remember your own personality style as represented by a bird. Representing personality styles with one of the four birds also helps you to picture a coworker, friend, family member, or romantic partner as a different bird personality style than your own.

Knowing the personality style of those around you helps you to partner better with them because you can see how they have a different perspective, strategy, and preference than you do. Each bird personality type has a different way of handling relationships, emotions, communication, and conflict.

About the Bird Personality Test

Richard M. Stephenson of richardstep.com created the 4 Bird Personality test, also known as the D.O.P.E. or dove, owl, peacock, eagle test) ‘based off of the original four personality types test formulated by Dr. Gary Couture.’

We can easily understand the personality traits most closely associated with these four birds. We have seen representations of wise owls, peaceful doves, etc., so we can quickly categorize people as one of these four personalities once we know a little about them.

For example the following traits apply to the four bird personality types:

Dove – peace-loving and kind
Owl – logical and intelligent
Peacock – showy and outgoing
Eagle – bold and decisive

Personality tools like the Four Bird Personality Test can help people to become more aware of their own instinctual responses to conflict. A study by the Marquette University Law School found that these types of personality tests help people to understand the behavior of others, especially when it comes to negotiating conflict.

Knowledge of another’s personality gives you insight into their strengths and weaknesses. It also helps you to learn their preferred way of making decisions so that you can make sure to provide all of the information that they need, help them to manage their feelings about the decision, and try to create a win-win for both people.

Remember as you read the description that this is meant to be a tool used for guidance learning about strengths and opportunities, and helping you to work your best with other bird personalities. Let’s look more in-depth at what your bird personality reveals about you.

You can take the 40-question 4-bird (dove, owl, peacock, eagle or D.O.P.E.) personality test online through this link. Here are the summary descriptions of each bird personality.

Dove

The dove has a high emotional intelligence, while being very passive with communication.

Positive traits of the Dove in the four bird personalities:

Patient

Giving
Trustworthy
Introverted
Avoids risk-taking
Respectful
Honest
Reliable
Easygoing
Negative traits of the Dove in the four bird personalities:
Dependent
Predictable
Follower
Gullible
Dependent on others

Owl

The owl has a high logical intelligence, while being very passive with communication.

Positive traits of the Owl in the four bird personalities:

Introverted
Calm
Meticulous
Just
Mindful
Determined
Conservative
Detail-oriented
Careful
Curious

Negative traits of the Owl in the four bird personalities:

Distrusting
Self-centered
Indecisive
Vindictive
Short-sighted

Peacock

The peacock has high emotional intelligence, while being very active with communication.

Positive traits of the Peacock in the four personalities:

Talkative
Open-minded
Energetic
Emotional
Charismatic
Social
Enthusiastic
Adventurous
Competitive

Negative traits of the Peacocka are these:

Scattered
Emotional
Selfish
Controlling
Dominating
Power-hungry

Eagle

The Eagle has high logical intelligence while being very active with communication.

Positive traits of the Eagle personality are the following:

Charismatic
Honest
Takes initiative
Independent
Driven
Aggressive
Motivated
Compelling
Fearless

Conversely, negative traits of the Eagle are:

Blunt
Unsympathetic
Egotistical
Controversial
Impatient
Pushy
Stubborn

The eagle is the most common personality type of the four birds, with just over 29% of the general population being an eagle type.

Here is one example of how to gain some valuable insight from this personality tool:

Ask your coworkers to find out what their bird personality reveals about them. If you find out that you are an eagle, for example, and your coworker is an owl, you may need to draw them into a conversation by asking questions.

9 Things You Need To Do If You Love A Taurus

April 30, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Keeping your Taurean mate’s heart throbbing for only you is pretty simple if you do these 9 things for your partner. Earthy Taurus born April 19 to May 20 is rooted in the physical world and they relate best to the senses of touch and taste, which can be a wonderful benefit for you if your partner is a Taurus.

Many people feel a strong connection to astrology because the personality descriptions seem so much like us. Researchers believe that we may start to develop our personality based on repeated readings about our zodiac sign and descriptions of how our sign typically behaves. We feel a connection to the positive traits of the description, and we seek to change our behavior to be more like that of our astrological sign.

Researchers in the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality found that college students who knew their astrological signs, were more likely to feel a connection to a description of the personality for their sign (when they did not know that it was their own sign’s description) as compared to the personality description of another astrological sign.

At the University of Helsinki, Finland, researchers found that the belief in astrology could be used as a coping strategy for dealing with upsetting events. They found that those who believed in astrology felt that it gave support to their self-concept and that they could turn to an astrological chart reading for positive guidance during a crisis.

9 Things You Need to Do If Your Partner Is A Taurus

Don’t worry though because your Taurean partner is good in a crisis. In fact, your relationship should be easy for you if you can just relax, and do these 9 things that your partner needs you to do if he or she is a Taurus.

1. Let them set the pace for your intimate time

Your sex life is probably pretty outstanding if your partner is a Taurus. Not only that, but cuddle time is also pretty much mandatory daily. Taurus loves to be adored, and looking into your eyes, seeing your love for them, hearing how much you love them, is one of your partner’s favorite places to be.

Taurus can be quite passionate and energetic, so you may notice them initiating intimacy more often that you do. If your Taurus partner wants it every day and you’re fine with twice a week, you might be seduced on the days you’d rather pass.

2. Let them have it their way; most of the time

Partnerships are supposed to be equal, but the Bull is usually pretty bossy about their living space preferences, eating preferences, clothes, finances, you name it.

3. Accept their sometimes brutal honesty

Taurus loves you, just as you are, but they will also offer advice on how to make you even better. It’s up to you to resist, accept the feedback, or to let your Taurean partner mold you.

4. Let them express their gratitude with gifts

The easiest thing to do if your partner is a Taurus is to accept their overwhelming generosity and incredibly touching, perfect, thoughtful gifts that they give. Lucky you.

5. Honor their trust in you, always

Really Taurus is not that angry, rage-filled, snorting bull that some imagine, that is unless you break their trust. Taurus is so loyal and trusting of those closest to them. But you need to avoid angering the bull when your partner is a Taurus.

Before they decided to trust you, your Taurus partner was cautious in choosing you as a trustworthy person. If you break your Taurean partner’s trust, they may never forgive you.

6. Learn to love routine and consistency

Taurus is not boring. At least they don’t think so. But they do like things their way, which means that dinner should be carrots Florentine, served in the dining room at 5:30, followed by their favorite TV show, cuddling under a blanket while sipping their favorite beverage for an hour, followed by – you get the point.

Your life is kind of planned out for you when you attach yourself to a Taurus for a partner. The good thing is that you won’t have any unexpected surprises from your partner, but the bad thing is that things are pretty much the same day in and day out.

7. Help develop their self-esteem

Only Libra rivals Taurus in the love of all things beautiful. Taurus likes what life has to offer; Venetian glass, hand-tooled Corinthian leather, imported champagne. If your partner is a Taurus, it’s important to bolster their self-confidence. Don’t be afraid to tell them they have excellent taste, make great choices in their clothes, etc.

8. Pick up on the MAJOR hints about gifts

One of the strange things that you need to do if your partner is a Taurus is to understand that they already have their own birthday gift picked out. They also have the perfect wrapping paper, card, cake, and dinner planned out. Just ask them; it will make it easier on you.

Now the hard part is trying to exceed your partner’s expectations. This may be impossible, but your Taurean partner already has their next 10 gift-giving occasions on their Amazon wish list, so head there for some inspiration.

9. Avoid surprising your Taurean partner with anything unpleasant

We’ve already mentioned that Taurus likes things planned out, and when your partner is a Taurus, you should avoid startling them with something they weren’t expecting, especially if it might upset their plans that they have had for six months.

4 Signs You’re In A Selfish Relationship

April 29, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Nothing makes a relationship more imbalanced than selfish behavior. We all can, and will, be selfish at some point in our lives, especially when we want something badly. However, if being selfish is a constant occurrence in your relationship, it’s probably time to take notice and make a decision. There must be a state of equivalence that assures harmony in our loving relationships.

Dr. Srini Pillay, author of Debunking Myths of the Mind, wrote an article stating that “Selfish lovers are often hiding something they are very ashamed of as well. Giving makes them feel out of control and threatened as they worry that the reason for their shame will be revealed.

With this strong feeling of having to cover up all the time, they hold onto their love very tightly because giving it up makes them feel as though they are sliding on ice.”

There is a point when you need to stand back and ask yourself, “Is this self-love and preservation, or just plain selfishness controlling this relationship?

Here are 4 signs that you are in a selfish relationship:

1. In a selfish relationship, your partner is always nagging and belittling you.

There is a difference between someone pushing and pulling you to reach your goals with a cheerleader personality, and another making you feel worthless. A selfish person will never take your needs into consideration. They will do anything possible to make you feel worthless so that things are always about them. The focus can only be on what they are accomplishing. If you find yourself giving and never receiving this is the imbalance of a selfish relationship. Psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, writes: “Self-absorption in all its forms kills empathy, let alone compassion. When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands. Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection – or compassionate action.” A relationship that is one-sided cannot flourish.

2. Your partner believes that what he or she does is more important.

Selfish people do not waste their energies considering the needs of another, even those of a life partner. They want what they want and believe that they have the right to put themselves first. There is a difference between self-love and being selfish. This behavior is a form of betrayal. If you don’t stand up for what you want your partner doesn’t feel the need or desire to stand up for what you desire either. You must show your worthiness and love in order to combat any selfish behavior in a relationship. A selfish behavior that is repetitively present is emotionally draining and toxic. It’s unhealthy. You begin to put yourself second and eventually any respect will disappear from the relationship.

“In an individual, selfishness uglifies the soul; for the human species, selfishness is extinction.” ~ David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

3. Your partner is competitive and insecure.

There is an extra entity in your relationship and it is a green-eye monster called Jealousy. A person who is always trying to outsmart or be better than his/her counterpart is an insecure person with a severe degree of selfishness. If your partner is envious of you it is because you have something he/she doesn’t have and they know it. In a healthy relationship both people growth while bringing out the best of each other.“Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy – in fact, they are almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

4. Your partner doesn’t apologize in a selfish relationship.

This is a big one! If your partner can’t say “I am sorry” when they have done something offensive or hurtful, it’s a sign that they might suffer from a narcissistic disorder. Moral values do not exist in this psychological disorder. The narcissist doesn’t know resentment or wrongdoing. It’s all about them. You are not important enough to stop them from seeing their mistakes. One selfish soul in a relationship diminishes the ability to love fully with joy. If your partner is driven by an egotistical nature that never regrets anything, you have a selfish soul in your presence.

No relationship is perfect, but when there is no consideration, respect or trust, it can become an abusive partnership. You are the only who can decipher if a little selfishness is good, or if it borders on narcissism. Self-love and self-worth exist in loving and healthy relationships.

9 Things You Never Knew Your Brain Could Do

April 29, 2016 by Power of Positivity

In terms of brain research, we’ve discovered more in the last twenty years than all previous years combined. Much of this can be attributed to the frantic pace of brain imaging technology and other medical advances. As there are currently no signs that this pace is slowing, it is fair to state that we’ll continue to discover amazing tidbits about the brain.

For such a complex structure, the brain is not very large…at all. Roughly the size of our two fists pressed together, our brain weighs no more than 3 pounds (or 1.4 kilograms). For such a small entity, the amount of complexity involved in the brain’s circuitry has earned it the title “the most complex structure in the universe.”

The intricacy of the brain is surpassed only by its ingenuity. Truly, all of the greatest feats the world-over have been a direct result of the brain’s marvelous abilities.

No other brain in the animal kingdom is capable of generating the kind of higher consciousness associated with human ingenuity, with our ability to make plans and write poetry. Yet the most complex structure in the known universe – as it is often described – is more mysterious than the least-explored regions of the deepest ocean. – The Independent (UK)

9 Incredible Things Your Brain Can Do

We’ll discuss nine things that you may not know the brain can do. The human brain can…

Function after death

Near-death experiences (NDE) are a relatively common occurrence. One study undertaken at a hospital in the Netherlands reported that 18 percent of the 344 cardiac patients considered clinically dead recalled having life experiences after the fact.

Pam Reynolds is perhaps one of the best known cases. In Reynold’s case, her brain had been brought to a nonfunctioning state by brain doctors in order to perform surgery. Despite this, she was still able to recall relevant information pertaining to doctor’s conversations, surgical tools, etc.

http://profezie3m.altervista.org/archivio/TheLancet_NDE.htm

Process information faster than any personal computer

Notice that we included the word personal. Amazingly, engineers at Fujitsu designed a super computer that processes information faster. This computer also happens to be huge and inefficient. Our neat, compact brain will work just fine, thank you. Joking aside, the processing power of the human brain steamrolls nearly every man-made tech device.

Power a light bulb

The sheer number of electrical connections firing at any given time is quite staggering. These electric impulses are so numerous that it could hypothetically power a light bulb. In terms of units of power, the brain can produce the equivalent of about 25 watts.

Clear out toxins

Wait, doesn’t the immune system help clear toxins from the body? Yes, but the brain does as well. Scientists at the University of Rochester discovered activity in the brain of sleeping mice that showed the “clearing out” of damaging molecules often associated with neurodegeneration. This experiment serves as additional evidence that sleep is important to our brain health.

The brain performs better when tired

Contemporary thought is that our brain works better when we’re fresh and alert. While this is the case for work that involves logic and analysis, we’re actually more creative when we’re tired. It is simple logic, really: we’re not as good at filtering out distractions when tuckered out. Additionally, we’re less able to remember connections between ideas and concepts. These are two benefits to creative thought. It’s common for creative breakthroughs to occur when one is sleeping.

Shrink in size

While this is not a desirable attribute, it is true nonetheless. Stress is the most common cause of changes to brain function, and it has been discovered that stress can also decrease brain size. Animal studies show that chronic stress can cause the brain area known as the hippocampus to shrink. Currently, studies are underway to discover whether or not Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can shrink the hippocampus in patients.

Grow in size

Conversely, the brain is capable of growing denser in certain areas. Known as neuroplasticity, the brain has the remarkable ability of forming new neural connections throughout life. While our brain will never develop at the rate it does in early childhood, newly-formed neural networks can slightly increase the mass in certain areas of the brain.

You can rewire the brain

The brain is remarkable in its ability to adapt. Meditation brings a host of benefits to practitioners by lowering anxiety, increasing focus, and improving self-control. It is even possible for the brain to become wired for enhanced creative ability and improved memory.

Can make itself smarter

Early scholars thought that intelligence was a direct result of genetics, and that it was fixed in life. It turns out that neither of these are true. While genetics undoubtedly plays a role in one’s innate intelligence, it is not the sole determinant. In fact, in an article published in Scientific American, scientists came up with four truths about the brain:

(1) Fluid intelligence is trainable

(2) Intellectual challenges increase intellectual capabilities

(3) Anyone can increase their brain’s cognitive ability

(4) Numerous tasks exist that can increase one’s intelligence

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

Function after death

Process information faster than any personal computer

Power a light bulb

Clear out toxins

The brain performs better when tired

Shrink in size

Grow in size

You can rewire the brain

Can make itself smarter

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!