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Here’s How Weighted Blankets Are Helping People With Anxiety

January 3, 2016 by Kristen Lawrence

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 40 million adults in the U.S. age 18 or older suffer from an anxiety disorder, equating to 18% of the population. Depending on the severity of the anxiety, it can completely disrupt one’s life, coming between relationships, jobs, and general well-being.

Many people turn to either pharmaceutical drugs, alternative remedies such as herbs and supplements, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or yoga and meditation to heal their anxiety. However, weighted blankets have shown promise as a remedy for many anxiety disorders.

Here’s How Weighted Blankets Are Helping People With Anxiety

Weighted blankets have plastic poly pellets sewn into compartments throughout the blanket, which helps to distribute the weight evenly. The deep pressure from the weighted blanket acts to calm the person under it. The added weight sends a message to the brain to release neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, inducing relaxation.

Initially, occupational therapists used weighted blankets on children with sensory disorders, anxiety, stress, or autism. However, they help adults with anxiety disorders as well.

“In psychiatric care, weighted blankets are one of our most powerful tools for helping people who are anxious, upset, and possibly on the verge of losing control,” says Karen Moore, OTR/L, an occupational therapist in Franconia, N.H. “These blankets work by providing input to the deep pressure touch receptors throughout the body,” Moore says. “Deep pressure touch helps the body relax. Like a firm hug, weighted blankets help us feel secure, grounded, and safe.”

How Heavy Should Your Weighted Blanket Be?

As far as the weight of the blanket, most adults prefer 15 to 30 pounds, but you should seek the advice of a doctor or occupational therapist before purchasing one. However, those with respiratory or circulatory conditions should not use a weighted blanket unless a doctor approves first.

We want to mention that weighted blankets can help people suffering from insomnia as well, in addition to anxiety. Many people with insomnia may also have mental imbalances due to the lack of sleep, so a weighted blanket can not only calm anxiety but help you get a better night’s sleep at the same time.

Because of the added weight from the blanket, make sure to keep the temperature in your room relatively calm so you don’t get overheated during the night. As cozy and comforting as the blanket may seem, it won’t work as well if you feel too uncomfortable to go to sleep.

In addition to the weighted blanket, you might also want to use a grounded sheet or bed beneath you to maximize the calming effect. Grounding means allowing your body to contact the Earth directly or using a device that creates the same result while indoors. Until modern times, we spent most of our days outdoors, soaking up negative electrons from the Earth.

In today’s world, exposure to EMFs, Wi-Fi, mobile phone waves, and other forms of technology have increased our positive electrons, which have the opposite effect of grounding. Preliminary studies on grounding have found that it can reduce cortisol levels, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain. Furthermore, it can help improve sleep and energy levels, lessen menstrual cramps, normalize biological rhythms, and much more.

Five Other Reasons to Try a Weighted Blanket (Besides Anxiety!)

While most people use weighted blankets to alleviate anxiety, they also have other benefits. Weighted blankets can help with various conditions, such as the following.

1. Decreases insomnia severity.

Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t come easily when you have insomnia. All the tossing and turning can take a toll on your mental and physical health. However, one randomized, controlled study by Swedish researchers found that weighted blankets significantly improved participants’ insomnia symptoms.

After four weeks of sleeping with a weighted blanket, participants reported reduced insomnia severity, improved sleep quality, and less daytime sleepiness. In addition, their mental health improved as they reported fewer symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and depression, likely due to enhanced sleep quality.

Participants who used weighted blankets had a 26 times higher chance of experiencing a 50%+ reduction in insomnia severity than the control group. In addition, they had a 20-fold greater chance of achieving remission from insomnia. During a 12-month follow-up period, researchers discovered that the participants maintained these positive results.

2. Reduces chronic pain.

Deep pressure therapy can induce a calming effect and reduce pain perceptions for people with chronic pain. Using a weighted blanket mimics deep pressure from a massage or tight hug and can trigger the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.

A 2021 study by researchers at UC San Diego found weighted blankets reduced broad perceptions of chronic pain in 94 participants. For one week, they used either a light (5-lb) or heavy (15-lb) weighted blanket. Those in the weighted blanket group showed improvements in pain perceptions, especially with high trait anxiety. However, their pain intensity levels remained the same.

Still, a weighted blanket could offer relief to those suffering from chronic pain.

3. Improves ADHD symptoms.

While weighted blankets aren’t a treatment for ADHD, they can help manage symptoms and improve sleep quality. For example, a 2021 qualitative study found that children with ADHD experienced better sleep after using weighted blankets. Their parents reported that the children had improved sleep routines, sleep duration, and reduced anxiety after 16 weeks.

In addition, aspects of their everyday lives, such as school participation and family interaction, improved after using weighted blankets.

A 2014 study found that weighted vests improved attention and reduced hyperactivity in children with ADHD. The researchers found that participants who used the weighted vests during a performance task enhanced in several areas.

Specifically, their attention and processing speed improved, and they remained seated for long periods. They also fidgeted much less and showed enhanced executive management function.

4. Improves outcomes of medical procedures.

Most people feel nervous about an upcoming surgery or medical procedure, whether minor or severe. However, researchers have found that using a weighted blanket during the operation could alleviate anxiety.

For instance, a 2016 study found that participants who used a weighted blanket during wisdom tooth surgery had lower anxiety and stress. A follow-up study on adolescents who used a weighted blanket during a molar extraction had similar results.

5. Increases feelings of security and safety.

Weighted blankets mimic the feeling of being hugged or swaddled, which helps calm the nervous system. Whether you have sleep anxiety, panic disorder, or other mental health conditions, a weighted blanket can induce relaxation and reduce restless thoughts. In today’s highly stressful world, almost anyone can benefit from a weighted blanket, especially those who struggle with insomnia.

Symptoms of Anxiety?

As with most mental disorders, anxiety stems from genetics, personality, lifestyle, and environmental conditions. Anxiety can cause many uncomfortable or debilitating symptoms, such as constant fear or worry, insomnia, and gastrointestinal issues. Other common symptoms of anxiety include:

Feeling nervous or tense, usually for no reason
Having a sense of impending doom or danger
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Having cold extremities
Feeling weak or tired
Difficulty concentrating
Brain fog
Having difficulty controlling worry
Avoiding anxiety triggers

Five Key Causes of Anxiety

Most experts agree that causes of anxiety include the following:

Genetic Predisposition. Mental health issues such as anxiety tend to run in families, so if your parents have anxiety, it increases your risk of developing it. However, scientists have found that anxiety disorders have a heritability of only 26%, so other factors such as traumatic events and brain chemistry, likely play a more significant role.
Brain Chemistry. An ancient part of the brain called the amygdala helps process emotions. When you feel anxious consistently, the amygdala grows larger, reinforcing feelings of fear and worry. Other parts of the brain, called the hypothalamus and hippocampus, play a role in emotional processing.
Childhood Trauma or Environmental Stress. Childhood abuse or traumatic events can cause anxiety from an early age. In addition, living with long-term stress can lead to chronic anxiety.
Drug or Alcohol Misuse. Substance abuse can cause or exacerbate existing anxiety symptoms.
Medical Conditions. Medical problems like heart disease, diabetes, or thyroid problems could trigger anxiety. By treating these underlying conditions, anxiety symptoms may disappear without additional treatments.

Final Thoughts on How Weighted Blankets Could Alleviate Anxiety

Anxiety can have a devastating impact on someone’s life, causing them to shut themselves off from the world altogether. People with severe anxiety may have difficulty maintaining their daily routine, jobs, or relationships. No one should suffer to this extent, but many people find it easier to cope with the modern world by simply avoiding it.

Treatments for anxiety include psychiatric medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. These have been proven to help, but it often isn’t enough for people with debilitating anxiety.

Thankfully, researchers have found that weighted blankets can significantly improve anxiety symptoms. In 32 adults, 63% reported lower anxiety after using a weighted blanket. If you struggle with insomnia or racing thoughts at bedtime, a comforting blanket may help calm your mind.

10 Life Lessons To Learn From Natalie Cole

January 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

The legendary singer and actor Natalie Cole has left us physically, but will live on in our hearts and minds forever. She was a woman of immense talent who left us with a legacy of unforgettable music and memories. Her life as the daughter of her famous father, Nat King Cole, was tumultuous, with many highs and lows, but she always managed to rise to the top.

Here are some important life lessons we can all learn from the legendary Natalie Cole.

10 Life Lessons to Learn from Natalie Cole

1. Classic songs go with classic beauty

“People say I look younger than the music I’m doing just because the songs are older. Hopefully I can keep my youthful look!”

2. Absorb musical wisdom from legends whenever possible

“The kind of music I grew up on was Harry Belafonte and Count Basie. Pearl Bailey was very active, Ella Fitzgerald. They came over to the house for lunch, played golf with dad.”

“The people I met were so nice, you know they were like uncles and aunts to me. They looked at me as like an adopted daughter or something because they really thought the world of our family. And I was very knowledgeable musically, I just thought that’s what music was all about. I didn’t get off into the contemporary music until much later.”

3. Embrace other cultures

“I think foreign countries really do like it when American artists sing in their language. And when you go over there and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ in their language, they love it. It makes them feel like you’re doing it just for them. We in America take so much for granted.”

On receiving a donor kidney from a woman from El Salvador: “I wouldn’t put it past the possibility that there is a spirit of Latino inside of me, because of this family, Ever since then, my passion for Spanish and everything Latin, all of a sudden became more intense. I couldn’t even figure it out myself.”

4. Pick a role model who is courageous

“My idols are Janis Joplin and Annie Lennox, who are neither of them from the typical pop culture.”

5. The school of hard knocks gives an excellent education

“I don’t think that my parents even imagined that I would be exposed to drugs. In those days, for some reason, it was not talked about, just like sex was not talked about.”

“I’ve had my share of doing things that I really wish I hadn’t done.”

“I had no fear, and I think that is one of the insanities of being on drugs, that you really aren’t afraid of anything.”

“I think your 20s are the hardest part of life. I mean, everyone goes on about how hard it is to be a teenager, but actually I think it’s tougher to be in your 20s because you’re expected to be a grownup and expected to earn your own living and be successful and I think you feel like a kid still.”

6. Faith gets you through the hard times

“God surrounded me with people of faith, people of strong faith, people of power, spiritual power, and I saw little miracles happen in their lives. By it happening in their lives, I started believing it could happen to me. I’m a little like Thomas: I doubt. I know that the Lord is good, but I have been a doubter of His goodness for me.”

“When you have put all your faith in man and continue to be disappointed, don’t you hope there is something out of there that is not of human element?”

“God was going to be to me the father that I never had, the father that I didn’t have enough of, enough time with. God was saying, ‘I can do that for you if you let Me.’ And that’s what He’s been to me. I had to learn to trust that as a father He would be there for me, that He disciplines me, that He encourages me, that He tests me, that He challenges me, that He believes in me, and that He has great things for me. All I have to do is trust and follow.”

“Never stop working on your relationship with the Lord. It is an awesome experience. He is there in our lives.”

7. Wait for the right love

“I really wanted a man in my life so badly it was pathetic. It was pathetic because it took so much of my time and it took so much out of me. I realized that every time I did that I would give myself away. I was not keeping the most important part.”

8. Take risks

On what traits of her father that she hopes she has: “His fearlessness. He was a pioneer. In so many ways He would step out on faith to do something musically he felt and he would just take that risk.”

9. Bounce back after adversity

“You know, I may be down for a minute, but once I figure it out, I can’t stay there for too long.”

10. Losing someone you love isn’t easy, but you make the best of it

On singing with her father: “I never got a chance to say goodbye so I continue to converse and tell my dad how much I love him when I get an opportunity to sing these kinds of songs.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends and family of Natalie Cole. From all of us at PoP, we send out love and light. <3

11 Things You Need To Know About Loving A Capricorn

January 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Loving a Capricorn is going to require a bit of effort on your part, but the payback in a devoted, passionate mate is worth it. They are ambitious, determined, practical, helpful, loyal, and resourceful. As the Saturn goat’s potential mate, here are some important things to keep in mind if you have a Capricorn in your life.

11 Things You Need To Know About Loving A Capricorn

Here are some character traits Capricorn will often display.

1. They are a friend indeed

Before they are ever your lover, they will be your friend. A Capricorn is very giving of themselves. They will never ask for anything in return but they will give until it hurts. A kind, generous companion is what you have when you love a Capricorn.

2. They only seem mellow until you get to know them

They can come off as shy, conservative and boring at times, but that’s only before they trust you enough to open up. Once you’ve earned their trust, they can be fun-loving, spontaneous and a lot of fun to be around.

3. They are loyal to those they can trust

Capricorn expects you to be their only love. Never give them a reason to distrust you, and they will be a devoted mate themselves. You will never have to worry about them straying unless you do first.

4. They want it their way

Having a controlling lover might sound hot, but if you also like to be in charge, you two will butt heads, and Capricorns have horns. Ouch! They can be picky about everything from their home environment to how you do the dishes.

5. Capricorn lovers have stamina

They are particular about their love nest and how it looks, but if you’re invited in, you’ll have a pleasurable experience. Capricorn is fairly traditional in their romantic habits, but they will make you feel like you’re on a steamy soap opera in the bedroom.

Your Capricorn lover isn’t terribly creative in the bedroom so don’t expect anything fancy. But this child of Saturn will keep you busy all night and wanting more.

6. Capricorns can be emotionally sensitive

Oh please be careful with a Capricorn’s heart! A goat sign can tend to be melancholy anyway so a lover who can keep them focused on positive emotions is best. If you can keep them laughing, you’ll be rewarded with a million-dollar smile that will melt your heart.

7. They are thinking about your future potential as a mate

Even if you haven’t thought of taking your relationship to the next level, be assured that the Capricorn is weighing your potential. What is your long-term earning potential? How will you be as a parent? What would you look like as you get older?

Capricorns are so practical that they are usually focused on the real-world essentials of having a relationship. They look at you as an investment. Should they buy low, hoping that you’ll increase in value over time or would it be better to invest in another partner?

8. They enjoy the courting process

Shower them with all the trappings of woo, at a modest cost. A practical bouquet purchased from the grocery store along with a dinner out at chain restaurant will do nicely for the unpretentious Capricorn. However, they do expect that your attention will continue at the current level forever.

They will have hurt feelings if you forget their birthday or your anniversary, so keep the gifts rolling in! Of course, an organized Capricorn may have already added their pertinent dates to your calendar anyway, with appropriate reminders as well.

9. Their brain is their biggest erogenous zone

Turn them on with a lot of talk about serious subjects stimulating their minds. Capricorn loves to show off the size of their brain and since they are practical, you can impress them by doing the same. Intellect is so sexy.

10. They scare easily

To win the love of a Capricorn, you need to limit yourself to convention and avoid shocking them. They want someone with no skeletons in the closet so be up front with anything that might scare them.

Anything that would be socially frowned upon is probably well outside of their comfort zone. A little light bondage is fine with them in your private bedroom, but don’t tell anyone that your Capricorn is adventurous in bed, or they will see it as a betrayal by you.

11. A patient suitor will win the love of a Capricorn

Capricorn will give their love to a persistent lover. Try to keep the courtship going as long as possible to keep your them engaged. Proving your commitment is important to your Capricorn mate since they wonder if you have staying power in the relationship.

This Brain Exercise Is The Most Powerful One You’ll Ever Do

January 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

This brain exercise might be one of the kindest things you could do for yourself.

If you could create the most perfect day imaginably, what would it look like? Many people go about their days on autopilot without making intentions or planning ahead for what they desire more of. In life, we all must make choices. Sometimes, the vast options available can make it quite overwhelming to forge ahead in any set direction, and we tend to stay where we are because it feels secure.

However, as the popular saying goes, growth never happens in the safety net, in the quiet shelter and security of the familiar. If we want growth and change to happen in our lives, we have to take action. And the first step to initiating change is to create a plan of action. If you don’t plan what you want and set clear goals, you set yourself up for failure long before you even begin.

In order to transform your life, you need a template to follow, a guideline you can refer to so you can better optimize your days.

This Brain Exercise Is The Most Powerful One You’ll Ever Do

Very appropriately named the Perfect Day Itinerary, writing out how your perfect day would unfold can give you that starting point from which to create a more fulfilling life. Many entrepreneurs have done this exercise to give themselves direction and make sure each day is jam-packed with only activities that will help them achieve their goals.

If you want to manifest the life you’ve always wanted, it helps to have an idea of how you should spend your days so that you can actively work toward realizing your dreams. The exercise consists of two parts: the macro and the micro, and we will go over each below.

Part 1: The Macro

So, to introduce you to this idea, the macro deals with the bigger picture. The overarching goals, desires, and thoughts you wish to focus on to live your best life. This exercise will lead into the micro, so the goal in part 1 is to simply get some vision in your head of what your perfect day would look like. To get started, you will need to write down some questions and answer them as honestly and thoroughly as possible. Here are the basic questions you need to answer before we move on to part 2:

What do I want every day to look like?
How will I be spending most of my time?
How do I want my life to feel?
What people will I spend my time with?
Where will I spend my time?
What passion(s) am I following?

Really take the time to contemplate what kind of life you want to live and what you wish to spend most of your time doing. For this to work, you need to have a clear idea of what you want, who you want to spend your time with, and where you will spend it. Of course, your answers might change over time, and that’s perfectly fine. You just want to go with what you feel in your heart because your intuition is never wrong.

Either write down your answers or type them out in a word document so you can refer to them later. Use the bottom half of the page to write or type out the second part of this exercise, which we will discuss below.

Part 2: The Micro

Now, use your answers to the questions above to fill out a detailed itinerary for your perfect day. If you truly want to achieve a goal, no matter how big or small, you need to have a clearly mapped out plan for how you will spend every minute of your day. This way, you can assure that your time is used wisely, and isn’t wasted on superfluous activities. Here’s an example of a Perfect Day Itinerary to give you an idea of how it should look:

7:30 a.m. Stretch, meditate, and reflect on the day ahead
8 a.m. Have a healthy, nutritious breakfast of a smoothie or bowl of oatmeal
9 a.m. Go for a run or some type of exercise
10:45 a.m. Check in to see what tasks I need to complete for the day
11 a.m. Do the first three tasks on my list
12 p.m. Have a nutrient-rich lunch at home or with an inspiring friend
1:30 p.m. Continue working on the top three tasks on my list
3 p.m. Take some time to stretch, meditate, and listen to an inspiring podcast or YouTube channel
5 p.m. Go outside to get some fresh air, play a sport with friends, walk on the beach
7:30 p.m. Make a delicious healthy dinner at home
9 p.m. Read a book or hang out with friends
11 p.m. Write down what I’m most grateful for before bed, and write down what I need to complete tomorrow.
11:30 p.m. Meditate before bed

Final Thoughts on This Journal Exercise

It seems very simple, but writing down a detailed outline of how you will spend your day can set you up to achieve your dreams and create the life you have always wanted. However, having a clear vision of what you want is vital to this exercise working in your life. If you don’t know what you want out of life, take some time to go deep within and think about what makes your heart the happiest. You might have to squeeze in some activities around work or school, but if you really want something in life, you will make it happen. You just need to believe in yourself, trust the process, breathe, and most importantly, love and take care of yourself!

7 Reasons You Need To Make 2016 Your Selfish Year

January 1, 2016 by Power of Positivity

When you observe today’s world, you might conclude that people seem self-absorbed, entitled, and selfish. In the age of selfies, self-promotion, and self-indulgence, we seem to have an obsession with garnering attention and inflating our egos…on the surface. However, if we dive deeper into this idea of focusing on ourselves, we can start to understand why putting ourselves first, having confidence, and loving ourselves serves as the foundation for building a healthy, happy life.

“I choose to honor my feelings, I choose to give myself permission to get my needs met, I choose to make self-care a priority. I choose me.” – Daniell Koepke

Before we continue, let’s first look at some definitions.

Self – a person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.
Selfish – (of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure.

What if we combined these two definitions to encompass the idea of having consideration for others by becoming better people ourselves? If you still think this sounds selfish, we hope you will hear us out as we explain why you shouldn’t feel guilty about making this coming year all about you.

Here are seven reasons why you need to make 2016 your selfish year:

1. You will have better relationships with others.

Have you ever noticed how many people have rifts and struggles in their relationships? Many relationships become tarnished and weathered by pain, guilt, anger, and just the strain of daily life, whether with their bosses, parents, lovers, or friends. Underlying these seemingly unstoppable issues is one core problem: a lack of love for oneself.

Remember, if you don’t take time and energy to break through your own barriers and become loved, you will always seek it from others. You just have you when you strip away worldly attachments, relationships, desires, and everything else. As you learn how to have a healthy relationship with yourself and not allow your ego to bring you down, all your relationships will start to go through a metamorphosis.

All relationships in life depend on how deeply you can love yourself because you attract what you are. Life is simply a mirror, so if you don’t see love and understanding when you look outside yourself, you have first to correct the blockages and negative thinking patterns within.

2. You will learn unconditional love.

This world could use some more love, but unfortunately, most people look outside themselves for acceptance. We live in an age where we pine for likes and comments on our pictures to give us self-worth, but we do little to garner this feeling ourselves. We don’t spend enough time healing our souls, wrapping our arms around our insecurities, and giving ourselves the love we deserve.

If we don’t offer ourselves affection and compassion, how can we ever expect to receive that from other people? By loving yourself wholeheartedly and unconditionally, you will have so much goodness in your heart and soul that it will overflow, attracting others who love themselves.

In the age of self-indulgence, don’t be afraid to indulge in your own love. Nothing feels better than having so much love for yourself that nothing outside of you can possibly take it away.

3. You will uplift the lives of everyone around you.

By loving yourself, others will feel better by interacting with you and being in your presence. If others see you carefree and blissful, it encourages them to act positively and see the good in themselves. Simply put, by putting your needs first and healing past wounds within yourself, you don’t just change your life; you change the world.

4. You will improve your health.

Inevitably, when people begin to search inwardly for answers, they discover that they run the show. They make all the decisions in their lives, including how healthy they choose to be. You will only want to put loving things in your body by loving yourself. You won’t want fake processed foods and sugary carbonated drinks; you’ll want foods that increase your energy and vitality and make you feel more loved and cared for. Taking time to prepare healthy meals full of living foods does not make you selfish; caring for yourself does not make you selfish. It makes you born again, transformed into an improved human being, and nothing about that is selfish.

5. You will get out of your own way.

Many of our problems exist on this planet because we don’t love ourselves or even like ourselves. We allow our minds to control us like puppets, dictating our every move and making us believe we have no value. Therefore, we create chaos and destruction because we feel we cannot control ourselves. The lack of love in our world directly reflects the lack of love for ourselves. We make the world a little less burdened when we step out of our own way, out of the shadows, and into the light. We set ourselves free by putting ourselves first and removing all the old, deflating thought patterns. And the world becomes a little lighter, in turn.

6. You will learn to become your own best friend.

Not only will you attract people who love and care for themselves, but you will also learn to be there for yourself when no one else is. You will no longer feel lonely; you will simply enjoy your alone time, without feeling anxious or depressed. Going deep within yourself and gaining greater understanding will allow you to know yourself, truly increasing your self-confidence and self-esteem.

7. You will start making better decisions for yourself.

Finally, taking time to love yourself will remove everything that no longer serves you, bringing better things and people into your life. Decision-making will seem much easier because you will know exactly who you are and what you want out of life. By knowing and loving the Self, you can make choices reflecting your new state of being, and those decisions will perfectly align with your ultimate goals and desires.

So you see, focusing on the self does not equate to selfishness. True selfish behavior means you only look out for yourself, with no regard for others. However, self-love and care are selfless in nature because you aren’t becoming a better person to obtain anything from others; you’re changing yourself to have a better relationship with yourself and others. See and appreciate yourself for who you truly are so you can do the same for others. And nothing about that is selfish.

So, be selfish in 2016; you have nothing to lose but the thoughts that hold you back from becoming your best self.

5 Signs You’re In A Spiritually Intimate Relationship

January 1, 2016 by Power of Positivity

When it comes to relationships, most of us want someone that will totally change our lives and shake up our world. However, finding this type of intimate relationship can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack because it requires two people who have evolved past their egos. It takes two people who have gone deep within and conquered themselves, who can offer unconditional love and support to one another.

When you stumble across a relationship like this, it feels like floating on a cloud because both of you lift each other to higher than you ever thought possible.

If you think you might have a relationship like this, read on to find out for sure.

Here are five key signs that you are in a spiritually intimate relationship:

Do you see these signs in your interactions with your loved one?

1. You don’t try to change each other.

In a spiritually intimate relationship, both people will accept each other wholeheartedly. They don’t want to mold one another based on their ideals of how their partner should think, feel, and act; they adore one another as they are.

For a relationship to work, both people must feel secure in themselves to accept and appreciate other people. Once they have met their egos and learned to set them aside, they can genuinely love and understand others, and this makes for a beautiful, intimate, lasting relationship.

2. You enhance one another’s lives.

A relationship shouldn’t shelter you from a storm or serve as a last resort for a happy life. Instead, it should add value to an already amazing life you have built for yourself. People in spiritually intimate relationships already enjoy their lives to the fullest and come together to keep spreading that positivity to others. People in these relationships usually share a common goal or mission in life and have united to carry out their duties here as spiritual beings.

In a spiritually intimate relationship, you can lose yourself in one another’s company and presence without having to compete, tear them down, or bolster your ego. You can savor each moment knowing that both of you have evolved past the need for outward acknowledgment. Therefore, you can fully appreciate one another. You don’t complete each other. Instead, you complement each other. You can teach each other valuable lessons in life and work on improving yourselves together.

3. You share the same outlook on life.

People in spiritually intimate relationships often share a common perspective on many important aspects of life, such as religion, how to raise children, diet, work, sense of humor, etc. Because you have many of the same beliefs, this only strengthens your bond even further. You feel you understand one another at a profound level because you have many of the same opinions and viewpoints on life.

You may not agree on everything, but you can relate to them on a profound level, and you don’t have to spend all your time and energy explaining yourself to them. Your love gets it, and you feel safe and comforted because of this.

4. You have deep, meaningful conversations.

You have a relationship that can last once the initial excitement and newness of the relationship fades. Because you have built your bond on a mental and emotional connection rather than just physical, you don’t tire easily of one another. You don’t just use one another to satisfy a base-level craving. Instead, you appreciate one another’s thoughts and feelings, and actively listen to one another without interrupting.

Besides that, you feel totally comfortable opening up to each other and sharing your most intimate, shocking secrets and dark, abstract ideas. In addition, you don’t even think twice about what you want to say. Your conversations flow easily from one idea to another, and you find that you can talk all night with them and still long for more.

5. You don’t look to your partner to save you.

Most importantly, you feel confident and whole on your own without having someone beside you. You don’t need your partner to validate your existence or accept you. You love having your partner around and know that they have an important role to play in your life. However, you have already done all the dirty work to save yourself. You realized a long time ago that only you could unlock the chains on your soul and free yourself from your mind. Furthermore, you never looked at relationships the same since.

You look to your partner as a superhero in their own way because they have also dug deep within and removed all the barriers from their hearts. You have become the best selves on your own accord, so you spend your time together building each other up, not tearing each other down.

7 Things Optimistic People Do Differently

January 1, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Personality is complicated, and it takes all kinds of people to move the world. But optimistic people just have a better outlook on life than pessimistic people do. If you don’t count yourself among them, you should definitely try to adopt some of their best practices.

Optimistic people look at every day as a new opportunity to improve themselves and their world. They take accountability for making their lives the best that they can and they know that happiness is their reward. Tomorrow they will be better people than they were the day before because they made the effort to continuously grow as individuals.

Here Are 7 Things Optimistic People Do Differently:

1. Optimistic people don’t take negative words personally

When they are on the receiving end of negative communication, an optimistic person knows that they have a choice. They can accept it at face value or they can choose not to. Just because someone has said something hurtful does not mean that they have to accept that their opinion is the truth and be hurt by it. Optimistic people choose to believe that a negative person is probably hurting inside themselves.

An optimistic person’s self-esteem comes from within, not from the opinions of those around them. If you already accept and love yourself as valuable, you know that someone who does not accept and respect you is not reflecting your values, so you choose to ignore what they have said.

2. Optimistic people say yes to new experiences

Although managing your level of involvement in activities is important so you don’t over extend yourself, optimistic people love embracing new experiences that come their way. If a friend asked them to go for a hike at 6am on a weekend, they’d be more likely to see the excitement of that opportunity and say ‘yes!’

To embrace this optimistic mindset, think more open-mindedly about the next chance to do something new. Optimistic people embrace the chance to learn a new skill or even learn something about themselves. They see the activity as a fun adventure rather than a burden.

3. Optimistic people find joy everywhere

Small moments like a smile on someone’s face are lasting moments of joy for optimistic people. They tend to frame their mindset to embrace what is right in the world rather than what is wrong which keeps them in an uplifted emotional state.

Even in the face of adversity, optimistic breast cancer patients reported their level of distress over the disease to be much lower than those who were in denial. Cancer patients used several techniques to stay optimistic including acceptance, positive reframing, use of religion, and the use of humor.

4. Optimistic people assume good intentions of others

Someone who is having a bad day and says something grouchy to you probably didn’t intentionally try to hurt your feelings. In fact, maybe they are just having a bad day themselves. An optimistic person knows that mistakes happen and everyone is human. Optimistic people assume the best intentions of their fellow humans.

For example, an optimistic person knows that when their mother says something critical of them that she just wants the best for her child. She is probably trying to express concern but it came out sounding like she was nagging.

When you look at someone as having good intentions toward you, it is hard to feel anger at them. Instead, optimistic people assume the best about others. This strategy works well for the optimistic person in social settings since people tend to like other people who are accepting of their flaws.

5. Optimistic people forgive

Letting go of past hurts is the only way for an optimistic person to move forward with their life. Eliminating negative emotions helps optimistic people to feel less stress.

Anger and resentment tend to have an unhealthy physiological effect on people and positive people dislike these negative emotions and the way that they make them feel inside.

6. Optimistic people express gratitude

Waking up every morning grateful for the roof over your head, the food on the table and the loved ones who you hold dear is a wonderful way to start an optimistic day.

An optimistic person can even express gratitude when negative experiences happen. When something bad happens to an optimistic person, they ask themselves what is one good thing they can take away from the experience.

7. Optimistic people have high expectations

Optimistic people expect great things of themselves and others. They set their sights high and believe in their ability to achieve their dreams. When they encounter a setback, optimistic people see a problem is just a chance to find a solution.

Being optimistic really is healthier for you. According to a study in Finland, a positive attitude may help people to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Men who had higher expectations for the future over a four-year period had three times lower risk for hypertension than pessimistic men.

7 Signs of Hormone Imbalances

December 31, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Feeling off lately? It might be that the change you’re noticing is due to a hormone imbalance. No matter how much you may remember from your biology class, now that you’re focusing on your health and well-being, it may be time to re-learn what your hormones are actually doing for you.

Whether you’re male or female, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, insulin, serotonin, thyroid, and other hormones that you’ve never heard of are coursing through your body right now. When all of these work together as they should, our bodies function well.

Although women are more often accused of “being hormonal,” men also experience hormone changes that can affect their physical appearance and behavior. Women go through menopause, men go through andropause, and all of us are going through hormonal changes as we age.

When your hormones are imbalanced, your health and well-being can suffer as a result. Here are 7 signs of a hormone imbalance to talk with your medical provider about.

7 Signs Of A Hormone Imbalance

Keep attuned to what your body tells you. Do you have these symptoms?

1. Trouble sleeping

If you’ve noticed that your sleep patterns have changed, especially if you sleep less than before, you may be experiencing a hormone imbalance. For women, this could mean low progesterone and for men, this could mean lower testosterone. Read more about testosterone therapy and how it can help those who have low levels of testosterone.

Women may experience less sleep when they feel uncomfortable from hot flashes or night sweats that are associated with menopause.

Getting less sleep than usual as a result of hormonal changes is more common over the age of fifty. Women can use progesterone cream and men can use nutritional supplements to increase these hormone levels.

2. Libido changes

A reduction in your desire for sexual intimacy usually means a decrease in hormone levels for both men and women. For men, this is due to lower testosterone; for women, lower estrogen levels than normal. Women who are experiencing menopause also may see a decrease in their desire to have sex due to vaginal dryness or pain during intercourse as a result of lower estrogen.

The good news for women is that orgasm was shown to increase estrogen levels according to a study by the University of Michigan. Women can also make dietary changes to increase estrogen or get a prescription from their doctors. Men can increase the amount of muscle-building exercise to improve their testosterone levels.

Women also experience breast changes or pain as well as period changes or pain. These uncomfortable symptoms are also associated with hormone changes. Feeling pain associated with these hormonal changes can certainly have an impact on your sex life.

3. Memory Problems

Having trouble remembering where you left your car keys? Lower estrogen might be to blame. Foggy thinking can also stem from low cortisol levels. Chronic stress can leave the adrenal glands unable to continue to produce cortisol. Stress produces cortisol, which in small doses is healthy for you but chronically high cortisol can deplete your adrenal glands later in life.

4. Digestive problems

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be due to lower levels of serotonin. Women sometimes see IBS symptoms increase close to their periods as a result of changes in estrogen and progesterone.

Gastrointestinal discomfort can also come from low cortisol levels. Cortisol is naturally high in the morning to help you wake up but again, depleted adrenal glands can leave your cortisol lower than usual.

5. Appetite changes

Changes in your sleep habits may have an unpleasant result with regard to your weight. If you are getting less sleep than usual, your levels of the hormone ghrelin are higher than normal. Ghrelin makes you hungrier than usual while leptin and oxyntomodulin, suppress your hunger.

In one study of volunteers who were sleep-deprived, their ghrelin hormone levels were extremely high so they felt hungry. Being chronically tired may result in your tendency to gain weight just as a result of your increased hunger sensation.

6. Mood swings

If you’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster lately, it could be the result of hormonal changes leading up to menopause. Excess estrogen can be a cause of mood swings, whereas anxiety can be due to lower progesterone, and depression could be due to lower estrogen levels.

7. Weight changes

Lower progesterone levels and an excess of estrogen can lead to an unexplained weight gain in women while men can see weight gain as a result of excess estrogen. Weight loss for men can be a result of testosterone deficiency.

Balancing hormones may require diet and lifestyle changes or it may require the intervention of a medical professional. Some herbs have been known to help enhance hormone production as well. In Chinese traditional medicine, for example, horny goat weed or yin yang huo extract has been used to increase libido in both men and women.

You can have a saliva test done to check your hormone levels. Your physician can determine your hormone levels and consult with you about how to make adjustments to restore your hormonal balance.

25 Reasons to Eat a Banana Every Day

December 31, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Everyone knows that bananas are healthy. They’re a tremendous source of nutrients, and one of the best sources of potassium. Most people who have eaten a banana can also say that they’re pretty tasty too! Would you eat a banana every day? Containing an essential mix of nutrients, vitamins, and fibers, a banana is one of the healthiest fruits at the supermarket. So, what are the benefits of eating this yellow-skinned treat?

“C’est banana! Hahaha! Miam miam!” – Minions

Here are 25 health benefits of a banana, and why you should eat one daily:

1. Bananas help with depression.

Someone with depression usually has a chemical imbalance of serotonin in the brain. Containing a high level of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, bananas can help alleviate symptoms of depression.

2. Boosts energy.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – fructose, glucose, and sucrose, and are a good dose of fiber. This potent combination provides an instant and sustained boost of energy. Just two bananas provide enough energy for a 90-minute workout!

3. Help you lose weight.

At just 100 calories a serving, bananas are a good option for people trying to lose a few pounds. They also contain three grams of fiber, helping us feel more full and keep cravings at bay.

4. They’re great brain food.

Bananas release energy slowly, which helps the brain stay alert for a longer period of time. The high potassium levels keep us more alert and the magnesium helps the brain to focus.

5. Boosts libido.

Containing a high level of potassium and B6 vitamins, bananas are a good source of nutrients necessary for hormone production.

6. Relieves heartburn.

The high potassium level of bananas helps reduce the stomach’s acidity, while the fiber helps aid digestion; both of which are essential to alleviating heartburn.

7. Lowers blood pressure.

Research has shown that eating two bananas a day can lower blood pressure by 10%. For those with blood pressure issues, bananas contain low sodium and high potassium, making them a great dietary choice.

8. They’re good for our blood.

Containing a good amount of iron, bananas are great in keeping the blood healthy and lowing the risk of anemia. Containing high levels of B-6, bananas also aid with the production of white blood cells.

9. They’re good for our bones.

The nutrients in bananas helps build and sustain strong bones by increasing calcium absorption.

10. Protects against illness.

Bananas contain a high level of antioxidants, providing cell protection against free radicals that cause illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and muscular and tissue degeneration.

11. Help you quit smoking.

While potentially a contentious claim, it needn’t be. Bananas contain a potent mix of potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6. Together, these nutrients are known to reduce nicotine withdrawal, which is crucial to kicking the habit.

12. Treats stomach ulcers.

While doctors in India have been proclaiming the benefits of bananas to treat peptic ulcers for generations, it wasn’t until recently that doctors in England discovered the same thing: bananas contain sitoindosides (sigh-toe-in-doe-sides), which prevents and heals ulcers.

13. Helps with hangovers.

By containing high levels of electrolytes, bananas are good food choice for somebody that had one-too-many. Thus, they’re great for regulating electrolyte levels and getting the body back to a healthy state.

14. Helps with constipation.

Okay, so perhaps not the most pleasant thing to discuss, but we’re all adults here, right? That said, bananas are high in fiber, and fiber aids in the normalization of bowel movements. Not really a surprise, as we’ve already discussed bananas and their positive effect on digestion.

15. Protects against brain disorders.

Rich in magnesium, bananas aid in the conversion of fatty acids into DHA, an important Omega-3. Scientists have discovered an important link between DHA deficiency and neurological disorders such as ADHD and Alzheimer’s disease. Containing a high level of B-vitamins, bananas also assist in preventing Parkinson’s disease.

16. Improves memory.

Technically, this should have been filed under #4, but since so many people are worried about their memory it deserves its own number. Yes, bananas can help improve and sustain memory because of high levels of tryptophan, potassium and magnesium.

17. Promotes heart health.

Not really a surprise here, given the banana’s high levels of nutrients and vitamins. Increasing potassium intake and decreasing the intake of sodium is probably the most important thing someone can do to protect their heart, and the banana is a high-potassium, low-sodium food. The fiber, vitamin C and B6 ingredients in the banana also promotes health and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

18. Reduces the risk of asthma.

Imperial College of London conducted a study in which researchers found that children who ate at least one banana a day had a 34% less chance of developing asthma.

Impressive. Anything we can do with the peel? Well…

19. Can shine your shoes(?)

Apparently rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a leather shoe and then polishing it with a dry cloth can produce a nice, quick shine.

20. Whitens the teeth.

Another interesting use for a banana peel: rubbing the inside of the peel on the teeth for a quick whitening job! Some ingredients in a banana, including magnesium, manganese and potassium, aids with whitening tooth enamel. Interesting.

21. Soothes itches.

Banana peels can help relieve the itchiness caused by bug bites, such as those caused by mosquitos. Also, the properties of banana peels can relieve the effects of contact with poison ivy.

22. Removes splinters (!)

Woodworkers and clumsy people, unite! So just tape a piece of banana peel to a splinter and within ten minutes, the enzymes will remove the wood shrapnel.

23. Relieves burns and cuts.

Okay, now…parents unite! If the little one falls and cuts themselves or burns something, grab a banana peel and let the little guy or girl rub it on their boo-boo. In short, that pain will be gone pretty quickly.

24. Meat tenderizer.

Adding a banana peel to a roast can add enough moisture to prevent the meat from becoming dry.

25. Helps with the garden.

Banana peels provide a versatile gardening by-product in performing a variety of functions, including tomato plant fertilization, aphid, and pest control, and can be suitable food for roses.

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

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!