Here’s Why You Should Stop Drinking Bottled Water Forever

December 31, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Bottled water is a $35 billion worldwide industry, and the United States is the largest consumer of these products. You can bet that this billion-dollar industry has a lot at stake to keep you hooked on the bottle.

Health and safety are definitely a concern for people who drink bottled water. However, in some cases, laws for regulating the safety of tap water are more stringent than those for the bottled water industry. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, citizens can demand to know the quality of public drinking water. Still, the consumer’s right to know does not extend to commercially produced bottled water at this time.

Why You Should Stop Drinking Bottled Water Forever

Let’s examine why you should ditch drinking bottled water for good.

1 – Bacteria levels

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council website,

City tap water can have no confirmed E. coli or fecal coliform bacteria (bacteria that indicate possible contamination by fecal matter). FDA bottled water does not have to follow these rules.
City tap water from surface water must be filtered and disinfected. There are no federal filtration or disinfection requirements for commercial operations.
Commercial bottling plants must test for coliform bacteria just once a week; engineers test big-city tap water one hundred or more times a month.

Natural mineral water usually flows from springs and occasionally from borehole sources. Various organisms, including coliforms, can be found in mineral water and will survive for a considerable length of time, particularly in uncarbonated water supplied in plastic bottles or bottled by hand. Drinking bottled water has recently been identified as a possible risk factor for Campylobacter infection acquired abroad.

2 – The environmental and economic cost of bottled water

According to the Pacific Institute, a global sustainable water think tank, producing water bottles for American consumption in 2006 required the equivalent of more than:

17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation.
The process of bottling produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.
It took 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of final, sellable product.

Although recycling is widely available, only one out of every seven discarded units ends up in recycling plants. Most end up in landfills; unfortunately, some end up as litter on our planet. Lying there exposed to the elements, they take 450 to 1000 years to degrade.

Financially, we spend thousands of times the amount of money on bottled water than we would on tap water. The typical gallon of water for a household costs only a penny. Ever wish you had more money? Quit spending it on bottled water, and you could save your family hundreds of dollars per year.

3 – Plastic in our water

Petroleum products and other chemicals go into manufacturing the plastics used for bottling. Depending on the production methods used and the storage conditions for the bottled water product before you purchase it, the plastic container can begin to degrade, causing plastic compounds to leak into the water.

The plastic chemical compounds found in the containers include bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), tert-octylphenol (tOP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di(n-octyl)phthalate (DNOP). A study found that “Most of these compounds were detected in bottled water from different brands purchased from local market.”

You may have heard by now that bottled water manufacturers are discontinuing bottles containing BPA due to public pressure. This is because studies have shown that the plastic compound can leak into the water. BPA acts like a hormone in our bodies linked to a higher rate of breast cancer.

4 – Better water purity is a myth

Many people prefer bottled water’s convenience, taste, and perceived cleanliness. Consumers believe that they are getting better quality than tap water. This is despite reports of many quality contamination incidents with commercial products.

In one study of bottled water versus tap water, bacteria levels were higher in most of the bottled water samples taken than they were for the tap water. In some cases, the bacteria was much higher than the tap water.

The researchers say that “The 15 samples of bottled water that were not as pure as tap water contained significantly more bacteria. Of those 15 samples, the bacterial counts were more than twice that of the most contaminated tap water sample drawn from the water plants to almost 2000 times that of the highest tested tap water sample.”

Read how canned water may soon replace bottled water…and why.

Final Thoughts: Alternatives to these bottled water products

A stainless steel, insulated, wide-mouth thermos is a sustainable way to carry your own water with you. The insulation keeps your drink cool or hot, and the wide mouth lets you clean it more easily. Handwash your thermos every other day with a stiff-bristled brush, warm water, and a bit of anti-bacterial soap to keep it fresh and germ-free.

You can find a link to your own local tap water quality Consumer Confidence Report through the Environmental Protection Agency’s link. You can also purchase a water quality tester that will allow you to test the water quality in dissolved solids parts per million for your home tap water. Home filtration systems will give you an even more purified water source at your tap.

6 Reasons You Need To Add Hemp Seeds To Your Grocery List

December 30, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Grocery stores all over the world are stocking massive amounts of hemp seeds. This non-psychotropic seeds of the cannabis plant will give you a big health high, but not a THC high. Regardless of not getting high off of them, they are making a huge comeback in healthy eating and holistic health. The variety of hemp that is grown for agricultural purposes has very little of the chemical compound that makes you feel high, and what little there is gets removed during processing.

Hemp seeds and the oil produced from cold-pressing them contain a unique fatty acid profile. They have ab excellent content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This combination of essential fatty acids have a positive impact on our health in many ways.

They contain a protein similar to that found in egg whites. Albumin and edestin are the two primary proteins,, and both are rich in the amino acids that are essential to our health. As such, they are a great protein source for vegetarians and vegans.

Here is a quick look at the nutrition found in hemp seeds.

Nutritional values in milligrams per 100 gram serving of hemp seeds:

Vitamin E 90.0
Thiamine 0.4
Riboflavin 0.1
Phosphorous 1160
Potassium 859
Magnesium 483
Calcium 145
Iron 14
Sodium 12
Manganese 7
Zinc 7
Copper 2

Hemp seeds also give us carbohydrates for energy, and are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber for digestion.

6 Reasons You Need to Eat Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds lend a nutty flavor to your favorite dishes and can also give you several significant health benefits. Here are 6 good reasons you should eat hemp seeds in your diet.

Read 9 science-proven reasons why you should add black seed oil to your supplementation plan.

1. Lower cholesterol

The polyunsaturated fat and linoleic acid can help reduce the bad cholesterol and increase levels of good cholesterol in our blood. A higher total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio is associated with coronary heart disease and is especially unhealthy following a heart attack. One study showed that healthy individuals who added hemp seeds to their diet for 4 weeks had a lower total to HDL cholesterol ratio.

2. Lower blood pressure

Results reported by The International Study of Macro-Micronutrients and Blood Pressure, a study that included over 4500 people, suggested that linoleic acid in the diet may contribute to prevention and control of high blood pressure. Hemp seeds are a good source of linoleic acid in your diet.

3. Reduce atherosclerosis

Hemp seeds contain high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both of these fatty acids have had healthy effects by decreasing blood levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). TNF causes inflammation and kills certain healthy cells in our bodies. Flax seeds have been shown to have beneficial effects for reducing atherosclerosis in animal studies so the same should be true for hemp seeds.

4. Coronary heart disease

Some studies have shown reductions in coronary risk with the use of a diet that is rich in linoleic acid. This product gives us a good source of dietary linoleic acid so we can help to reduce our risk of coronary heart disease by eating hemp seeds.

5. Immune system benefits

The fatty acids in the oil are similar to that of black currant seed oil, which also seems to have a beneficial impact on immune system health. People who use hemp seed oil have reported that it has helped with many illnesses. For example, the oil may help heal minor cuts and burns, helps recover from the flu faster, helps with allergic symptoms and inflammatory diseases like arthritis.

6. Skin health

We have been using plant-based oils to hydrate and nourish our skin for centuries. Keeping your skin moist helps prevent the signs of premature aging. Some organic cosmetic companies have started adding the oil to their lotions, lip balms and skin treatment creams. Hemp seed oil can also be used alone as a massage oil. Applying the oil to the skin will add moisture and won’t clog pores.

As a skin treatment, this product can help patients with eczema and acne. However, the improvements came after patients ate hemp seed oil as a supplement to their diet rather than applying it to their skin. These improvements were most noticeable after eight weeks of consistent use of hemp seed oil in their diet.

If you’re wondering how to start adding hemp seeds to your cooking, you can find some tasty recipes through this link. Shelled hemp seeds can be eaten raw and they have a similar taste to sunflower seeds but are less crunchy. You can sprinkle them on a salad for added texture and flavor. You can also find toasted hemp seeds.

Finally, look for a high-quality cold-pressed and unrefined oil at your natural food grocery store. You can use the oil for salad dressing and it will lend a fresh, nutty flavor to your food. Cooking with the oil is not recommended as the heat can breakdown some of the beneficial compounds in the cooking process. So go ahead–add these seeds to the grocery list!

5 Things You Should Remind Yourself Of Every Day

December 30, 2015 by Power of Positivity

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of the things that really matter. Between paying bills, stressing about work deadlines, and everything else we have to manage, we can easily overlook all the little things that make life so beautiful. However, these seemingly insignificant parts of our journey here can totally alter our outlook on life, if we choose to remind ourselves of them.

Here are 5 things you should remind yourself of every day:

1. Remind yourself to remain grateful for all the blessings in our lives.

Maybe your car broke down yesterday, and you can’t afford the repairs at the moment. Perhaps you just lost your job and can’t find a replacement. Maybe you forgot to pay the electric bill this past month. But really, when you reflect on your life as a whole, do these things really matter in the end? Will you allow these trivial parts of modern life to take away your peace? Instead of thinking about everything that seems to go wrong, start directing your thoughts toward things that go right. Express gratitude for your family, friends, the fact that you woke up to a beautiful sunrise, the nourishing breakfast you had today, and anything else you feel thankful for.

Notice how your whole outlook changes when you silence the negative thoughts, and instead allow positivity to color your life. All change begins within our mind, so if you don’t like your current situation, start examining and questioning your thoughts. They might just have gone off on a tangent without you even noticing.

2. Remind yourself that the only limits that exist are in our minds.

Limitations only exist if we allow them to. As a human being occupying this planet, you come from the universe just as we all do. You represent a fragmented part of the cosmos, which means that the universe gets to express itself through you. Don’t let the monotony and hardships of modern life make you believe that you only exist to pay bills and die, because that will only perpetuate the idea that you must live within societal expectations and limitations.

Every morning, remind yourself that you have unlimited potential, and no one can dictate your abilities and lifestyle except for you. You control your vessel, and you get to decide where to sail. You have supreme control over your life, and no one can live it but you. Rise above the status quo, and aim to reach your full potential – you deserve to become the best version of yourself.

3. Remind yourself that happiness begins and ends with us.

No matter your attitude, you chose it right when you woke up this morning. You either woke up thinking of everything you had to do today, and how little you wanted to do it, or you woke up thankful for another day, feeling excited for new opportunities. With each new sunrise, we have the power to transform our lives through our thoughts, because we ultimately become what we predominantly think about. If you want a happier life, then start creating it with more positive thoughts.

Gratitude, humility, and dedication will get you there – you just have to have patience with yourself. You can’t change your whole life overnight, but the small changes you do make will accumulate, and your life will finally start to look like the one you’ve envisioned.

Of course, no one can feel happy 100% of the time, but if you strive to look at the bright side of every situation, then happiness seems much easier to achieve.

4. Remind yourself to give unconditional love.

All of the problems we experience here on Earth stem from the fact that people don’t really love themselves. If everyone filled up their own cups with love and care, they wouldn’t feel the need to take from others. While people may have different definitions of love, we can all strive to go within more and heal ourselves with positive affirmations, meditation, and self-care. By showing ourselves love in abundance, we will never again feel empty.

So, when you wake up tomorrow, say to yourself “I love you, no matter what. You’re doing the best you can, and I will never give up on you.” If you show yourself some compassion and make a habit of doing so, the clouds begin to roll away slowly, and life begins to look like a much brighter, less hostile place.

5. Remind yourself that you choose how to occupy your time.

Many people unfortunately don’t like how they spend the majority of their time. If you don’t enjoy your job or your degree plan at school, you need to sit down and reevaluate your goals and dreams.

Will your current job get you closer to your ultimate goal, or does it simply pay the bills and put food on the table? Do you enjoy what you’re learning in college, or do you feel uninterested and restless during most classes?

We all deserve to live fulfilling, meaningful lives, and if you don’t remember your “why,” then remaining in school or at the job that drains your energy will only continue to drag you down. Don’t waste your life doing something you hate just because you feel afraid to see what will reveal itself when you strip away everything that no longer serves you.

Each morning, ask yourself if you feel excited for the day ahead. If not, think of how you’d rather spend your 24 hours, and build your life around that. We can all live our passion; it just takes believing in ourselves and committing to following our hearts, no matter where they lead us.

5 Things That Improve Your Thyroid Health

December 29, 2015 by Power of Positivity

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that is located in the front of your neck. A small, unassuming gland; many people overlook the value of a healthy thyroid. In fact, most people wouldn’t be able to say where this gland is even located, much less articulate the importance of it. So, what does the thyroid gland do and why is it important?

The thyroid gland actually supports all of the other organs in the body. This gland produces thyroid hormones that affect our metabolism rate; in effect, determining how fast or slow organs such as the brain, liver, heart and other parts of the body work.

The importance of this function and its wide-ranging effects on other parts of the body ultimately determines how we feel. For example, without sufficient levels of thyroid hormones, we’ll often feel tired, groggy or even cold. Too much of the available hormone often creates feelings of anxiety, nervousness or excessive warmness.

The pituitary gland – a small, pea-shaped gland located at the base of the brain – determines the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. The pituitary monitors and regulates the thyroid’s hormonal level by adjusting the output of the thyroid hormones produced. If the pituitary detects a low level of thyroid hormones, it will pump out more of the hormone. If it detects a high level of thyroid hormones, it will scale back production to stabilize our body.

Signs of Poor Thyroid Health

Watch for these symptoms.

Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can produce a multitude of symptoms, including:

Excessive tiredness
Weight gain
Constipation
Dry skin
Feelings of coldness
Stunted growth (in kids)

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can also product a multitude of symptoms, including:

Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Wakefulness (inability to fall asleep)
Diarrhea
Dry skin
Feelings of warmness
Weight loss

An underactive thyroid is, by far, the most common type of thyroid disorder. In total, it is estimated that approximately 430 million people are currently affected by some kind of thyroid problem.

As with a multitude of other disorders, thyroid disorders often originate from a diet lacking in essential nutrients. One of the common causes of thyroid dysfunction is iodine deficiency. This nutrient can be difficult to obtain from our modern diets, but it is available in some foods as we’ll discuss later.

Here are 5 things that improve your thyroid health:

On a positive note: all of the essential nutrients necessary for healthful function are available from food. Subtle changes in our diet can help the thyroid function normally, which we are going to show here.

1. Alternative dairy products

It has been discovered that there exists a link between Vitamin D deficiency and Hashimoto’s disease – the most common type of hypothyroidism. Alternative dairy products fortified with Vitamin D, such as almond or soy milk, can help regulate the levels of Vitamin D. Most alternative dairy products are also a good source of calcium, iodine and protein – all nutrients that assist with healthy thyroid function. Coconut yogurt is a good food for thyroid function as well, as it helps support the production of good bacteria in our bodies while providing most of the recommended daily intake of iodine in just one cup.

2. Cranberries

As mentioned, healthy iodine levels are essential to normal thyroid function. In addition to providing fiber to our diets and delivering a healthy dose of daily vitamins, cranberries are one of the most iodine-dense foods out there. Consider this: just one cup of cranberries contains 267% of the recommended daily intake of iodine. If the taste of cranberry is a bit sour for the palette, consider adding ½ to one cup of cranberries to a smoothie to dilute the effect.

3. Hemp seeds

Omega-3 foods are becoming the new craze, and for good reason. In addition to supporting a healthy heart and brain, foods rich in omega-3 also contain a good amount of iodine. Most nuts and seeds contain high levels of this nutrient, which can help decrease inflammation and boost our immune system.

4. Coconut oil

Considered the healthiest saturated fat food on the planet, coconut oil is rich in fatty acids – supporting many important bodily functions. Now, there is growing evidence that coconut oil not only helps with thyroid hormonal production, but helps mitigate the side effects caused by an underactive thyroid, including: weight gain, slow metabolism, dry skin, and irregular blood sugar levels.

5. Seaweed

Somewhat an enigma to most Western diets, seaweed is an incredible source of nutrients. Containing rich amounts of both iodine and selenium, seaweed effectively provides the two of the most critical nutrients to healthy function. In fact, seaweed has the highest level of iodine in any available food product. Seaweed also contains high levels of calcium, iron and magnesium, while providing more vitamin C than oranges.

How To Master Your Mind: Part One

December 29, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Most of us have – at one time or another – thought about the mind and how to reach its full potential. We’ve all heard of the great philosophers and thinkers of the past – Confucius, Socrates, Aristotle, Descartes, and so forth. What we may not know is that all of them discussed the importance of controlling our minds and, in doing so, controlling our destinies. This discussion continues today.

“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” – Lao Tzu

We often hear the mind being described as powerful, limitless, complex, and transcendent. We hear such phrases as “mind over matter,” “be mindful,” “our mind only limits us,” and “the mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

Indeed, the mind is incredibly powerful…if used properly.

You see, the mind is either (a) our greatest ally or (b) our greatest foe. There is no in-between or gray area; either our mind is used to our advantage or to our detriment. This is because a mind not fully engaged does not fulfill its purpose. We shortchange ourselves and the world in not giving all of us.

To that end, we’ve created an engaging two-part series on mastering this – at times – an ambiguous entity known as “the mind.” In this part, Part One, we will discuss what hinders our mind and allow some time for recognition and contemplation. In Part Two, we’ll give you guidance on overcoming obstacles and embracing your mind’s full potential.

Please understand, this is not a “know-it-all” piece. The author is just as fallible and prone to mental lapses, and miscues as anyone else. In fact, this piece was written as much for the author’s own knowledge and application as it is for you, dear reader.

Let us begin.

How To Master Your Mind

Where is your head?

From the moment we are formed until the moment we depart, our mind never stops working. Not one time. Even when we sleep, our mind is extrapolating and synthesizing the information taken in during the day and using it to shape our world. Consider that in just one day, we have around 70,000 thoughts. 70,000 thoughts in one day… over 25 million thoughts a year.

This poses the question: what are your thoughts?

Our mind is extraordinary as it is complex. This complexity often results in our mind’s racing and jumping from one idea to the next – seemingly without rhyme or reason. Even the most storied, gifted people of the past have contemplated the reason this intriguing occurrence.

Buddha once described the human mind as being filled with “drunken moneys,” fledgling from one thing to the next, to the next, to the next. This discovery allowed Buddha to become one of history’s most cherished figures, and the reason why the practice of meditation has become so prevalent.

Buddha realized that – without intercession – the mind would continually run an endless race. He was insightful enough to realize that, as powerful as the mind is, it requires taming; discipline. This school of thought begged the question: what about our mind requires attention?

The “Four Horsemen”

The “Four Horsemen” is terminology often used to describe apocalyptic events. Don’t worry; we’re (definitely) not going to do that here. But for the sake of our mind, we should think of these four horsemen as enemies to be defeated, foes that deserve no mercy. Let’s introduce the Four Horsemen of the human mind without further ado.

Horseman #1: The Critic

Recognize this one? The horseman often tells us that we’re not worthy of success. Indeed, this horseman takes what other people say about us and makes it fact. This is the horseman that spews all types of nonsense, only for us to turn this nonsense into a sermon of truth.

This also happens to be the horseman responsible for addiction, infidelity, depression, illness, anxiety, co-dependence, and even suicide. And this doesn’t even scratch the surface of what this infestation of the mind has produced.

He doesn’t deserve our attention or contemplation. He’s simply a by-product of what Buddha talked about over 2,000 years ago – a figment of the mind that deserves nothing other than to be ignored.

Horseman #2: The Wanderer

“Where’d I put those keys?” “Where are my shoes?” “At what time does that one thing I can’t remember need to be at that one place that I forget?” Distraction after distraction after distraction…

Folks, meet The Wanderer. Wanderer, meet the folks. Oh, you’ve already met like a thousand times today? Okay, carry on. Actually, don’t.

He’s the one that causes us to jump on Facebook when working; the one that has us mindlessly reach for that last doughnut; the one that causes us to never get anything done without starting over for the umpteenth time.

“Lack of concentration”, “lack of self-discipline”, “lack of focus”…these are all just aliases of this annoying character. We’ll discuss how to deal with him in Part Two.

Horseman #3: The Worrier

A close relative of all three Horsemen, The Worrier embodies all that is exasperating in one annoying, fictional character. Well, at least, he should be fictional. But, we’ve managed to keep this incessant nuisance around for a long time.

We’ve met this delightful acquaintance when we’re driving to work and then, unexplainably, think about losing our job; when our kids are outside playing and we constantly peek through the window; when we’re studying diligently for an exam only to think about failing.

The Worrier can manifest itself into all types of physical and mental ailments using nothing more than our insecurity. He can cause all types of problems in our relationships, at work, our finances, and our self-esteem.

Horseman #4: The Settler

Stuck in a job you hate? In a relationship that is going nowhere fast? Putting your dreams on permanent hold?

None of this is possible without The Settler. The fourth Horseman gets us to accept less than what we deserve – most times without a fight. In fact, The Settler has few scratches to show for what should be a 12-round brawl.

The most subtle of the Horsemen, the Settler will often operate without us even being aware. We just get up, go to work, come home and sleep… all without much thought. After all, we’re managing to get by just fine. Yeah, we get by just fine…get by…get by…get by…We despise much of what’s required of us, but hey, we’re getting by.

Until we reach the end of this precious life and we realize that we’ve gotten by for most of it.

Which of the four are your biggest foes? Fear not my friend, we’ll conquer them!

Stay tuned for “How to Master Your Mind” Part 2!

8 Things You Should Never Believe About A Relationship

December 29, 2015 by Power of Positivity

If you believe that your relationship should be a certain way, you might be setting yourself up for failure. And when that happens for some, you’re left wondering what went wrong, when all that happened was that no one could live up to your ideal of a perfect relationship.

Maybe you were jaded; thinking that the world would be your fairy-tail filled oyster when you fell in love. To say that there aren’t plenty of amazing relationships out there would be a mistruth, but many are lead down the lane of love believing things about a relationship that for the most part, are simply not true. For that, we’ve come up with 8 things you shouldn’t believe to be true in relationships today:

Here are 8 Things You Shouldn’t Believe About A Relationship

1. Happy couples don’t fight

Conflict is perfectly natural in relationships; expressing anger with violence is not. Happy couples do argue but they have learned to express their feelings in a more productive way that works toward a solution.

Compromise and collaboration are the tools that successful couples use to solve conflict. You can read more about how to communicate positively with your partner in this article.

2. You have more sex in a long term relationship

It is perfectly natural for couples to have sex less often the longer they are together. In a study of couples over the lifetime of their relationships, couples reported that sex did happen less often over time. Reasons given by the couples for having less sex include age, health problems and sex becoming a routine.

In a successful relationship, partners have many ways to be intimate with each other and only one of those is having sex. If you are looking to increase intimacy in your relationship, you can read more about reigniting passion in your relationship here.

3. Having children is the death of passion in a relationship

Adding another small person to your couple doesn’t have to spell the end of your sex lives, but it won’t fix problems in your relationship either. Children can add great joy to relationships, but they also bring stress and added work.

Expressing your fears to your partner about what changes you will experience with regard to your sex lives by having children. Take your role as a spouse just as seriously as you do being a parent. Make a plan with your partner and devote equal time and energy to sustaining an intimate connection as you do to raising a family.

4. If your partner really loved you, they would know how you feel

No one can read minds, although close partners do pick up on the facial expressions and body language of their other half and they know what they mean. You have to continue to communicate your feelings and desires to your partner throughout your relationship. Strong listening and effective communication skills are important throughout the lifetime of your relationship.

5. If your partner isn’t jealous, it’s because they don’t care.

Jealousy as a healthy emotion is a relationship myth. Trusting partners don’t become jealous over their partner looking at or talking to other potential romantic partners.

Instead, jealousy is often a sign of one partner’s insecurity over the stability of the relationship or their own self-esteem. Trust in relationships is key. Feeling secure in a couple means that you do not question your partner’s loyalty.

6. Happy couples don’t have to work at it

Happily ever after is definitely a relationship myth. Having a caring relationship means continuing to care for and nurture your partner as they do for you.

To make sure that your partner is happy, you can do the relationship equivalent of asking your partner for a performance review. Ask what more you can do to help your partner to be fulfilled in the relationship.

When each half of the partnership is committed to working on being the best person that they can be for their partner, the relationship is in a state of continuous improvement.

7. If it’s not working, you can make your partner change

You’ll never be able to force someone to change. You can help shape behavior with rewarding language like ‘thank you’ when your partner does something that you like. You can tell your partner what you want them to do but you can’t make them do it.

When it comes to major personality changes, your partner has to want to make a change. If your partner has a general negative outlook or is neurotic in some way, it is unlikely that you can undo these personality traits that were likely developed in childhood.

8. Happy couples don’t look for help outside of the relationship

Couples do seek counseling to work out their problems. Unfortunately, they get professional help when things have seriously deteriorated in their relationships.

Licensed couple’s therapists offer premarital counseling to help partners iron out problems before they make the ultimate commitment. Seeking help early in relationships is best before problems become severe. If one of you has already given up on the relationship, it will be too late to fix it with the help of a counselor.

How to Become an Extroverted Introvert: Practical Tips to Enjoy Socializing Without Burning Out

December 28, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Many people see socializing as easy — a casual chat at the coffee machine, a laugh over dinner, or a quick “how’s your day?” in the hallway.

But for introverts, it’s not always that simple. Learning how to become an extroverted introvert means finding ways to enjoy these moments without feeling drained.

Extroverts often draw their energy from crowds and conversations. Introverts, on the other hand, recharge in quiet spaces, savoring small groups and meaningful exchanges over loud, bustling scenes.

Still, being introverted doesn’t mean avoiding people altogether.

In fact, human connection is something we all need to thrive—it just looks different depending on our personality.

The good news is that you can learn to enjoy socializing without feeling like you’re hiding or depleting your mental energy.

In this guide, we’ll explore what it means to be an extroverted introvert, why certain interactions leave you worn out, and practical ways to socialize at your pace—while still being true to who you are.

🌗 Understanding the Extroverted Introvert

An extroverted introvert is a personality type that blends introvert and extrovert traits. If you’ve ever wondered about the meaning of an extrovert-introvert, it refers to someone who can enjoy socializing in appropriate situations while still valuing their alone time.

You can enjoy meeting new people and even thrive in certain social situations—but only in moderation.

Too much interaction, especially with large groups or shallow conversations, can leave you feeling mentally drained.

Imagine yourself enjoying a deep, one-on-one coffee chat with a friend, yet attending a loud networking event feels like a mental marathon.

This isn’t about being shy or antisocial—it’s about how your brain processes stimulation.

Although you may appear outgoing to others, you are actually carefully managing your social energy.

Recognizing this about yourself is empowering.

It allows you to choose environments, activities, and people that fit your personality. You don’t have to force yourself into every party or say yes to every invitation.

Instead, you can create a social life that’s balanced—energizing without being exhausting.

💭 Why Socializing Feels Draining for Introverts

If you’ve ever left a party feeling like you need a nap, even if you enjoyed yourself, you’ve experienced the classic introvert recharge need. The reason lies partly in the brain.

Research from psychologist Hans Eysenck suggests that introverts have a naturally higher level of cortical arousal, meaning their brains are already more alert and sensitive to stimulation.

So when you’re in a loud, crowded environment filled with conversations, music, and movement, your mental “energy tank” empties faster than an extrovert’s.

It’s not that you dislike people—in fact, introverts often value deep, meaningful connections. It’s just that large doses of interaction can feel overwhelming.

Compare it to a phone battery: extroverts might have a social “power bank” they can keep charging mid-event, while introverts have a smaller battery that drains faster and needs a quiet corner to recharge.

Understanding this isn’t an excuse to avoid socializing—it’s your guide to choosing environments that keep you feeling balanced instead of burned out.

Introverts

Extroverts

🔋 Energy drains faster in crowds

⚡ Energy increases in crowds

🧠 Higher baseline cortical arousal
(*Eysenck’s theory*)

🙂 Lower baseline cortical arousal, seek stimulation

🔇 Prefer deep, one-on-one talks

🗣 Thrive in group discussions

🛑 Need breaks to recharge

▶ Gain momentum with continued interaction

🌟 The Benefits of Socializing (for Introverts)

Although introverts may naturally gravitate toward quieter environments, building meaningful connections can provide powerful benefits—both mentally and emotionally.

In fact, social interaction is a key factor in overall well-being, regardless of personality type.

🧠 Better Mental Health

Studies show that maintaining strong social connections can lower stress levels, reduce feelings of loneliness, and even decrease the risk of depression. For introverts, the goal isn’t more interaction—it’s better interaction. A single heartfelt conversation can elevate your mood more than having a dozen polite small talks.

🚀 Opportunities for Growth

Every new person you meet offers a fresh perspective. Socializing can lead to unexpected opportunities, from career advice to discovering a hobby you never considered.

❤️ Emotional Support Network

Life has its ups and downs, and having people you trust makes those challenges easier to navigate. For introverts, having a few deep and reliable friendships can be more valuable than maintaining a large social circle.

Socializing doesn’t mean losing yourself in a crowd; rather, it’s about finding connections that nourish you instead of draining your energy.

Discover Where You Fall on the Introvert–Extrovert Spectrum

Take the Personality Insights Journey

🤝 Ways to Be More Social Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Becoming more social as an introvert doesn’t mean forcing yourself to accept every party invitation or pretending to be someone you’re not.

Instead, it’s about finding activities that feel natural, energizing, and enjoyable. Here are seven introvert-friendly ways to expand your social circle without feeling drained.

☕ Frequent Coffee Shops, Bookstores, or Quiet Local Spots

Choose places where you feel comfortable and at ease.

Coffee shops and bookstores often attract like-minded individuals who enjoy calm, focused environments.

If possible, visit at the same time each week—familiar faces make starting conversations easier. Even a friendly nod or a casual “good morning” can open the door to more meaningful exchanges over time.

📅 Join Community Meetups

Websites like Meetup.com and local Facebook groups offer events tailored to a wide range of interests, from hiking to poetry nights.

Start with smaller gatherings so you can get to know people without feeling lost in a crowd. If you’re nervous, bring a friend along for moral support.

🎨 Take a Class in Something You Love

Classes provide a built-in topic of conversation and help you meet people who share your passions. Plus, learning something new can boost your confidence, making social interactions feel easier.

🧘 Try Yoga or Meditation Groups

If you prefer a calmer setting, yoga and meditation classes are perfect. These spaces naturally foster connection without constant talking. Before or after class, you can chat with others about your practice or share tips. It is a low-pressure way to bond over wellness.

🥾 Jog, Hike, or Bike on Public Trails

Outdoor activities are a wonderful way to meet people casually.

When you see familiar faces on the same route, conversation flows more naturally. You might even join a running group or a hiking club, which allows you to blend exercise with social time.

🤲 Volunteer for a Cause You Care About

Whether you are helping at an animal shelter or organizing a community garden, volunteering puts you alongside people who share your values.

Having a shared goal makes conversation effortless and rewarding.

🏡 Host Small Gatherings at Home

Start with just two or three people so you can keep the environment relaxed. Game nights, potluck dinners, or movie marathons are perfect low-pressure ways to connect without the chaos of a big event.

🔋 Energy Management Tips for Social Introverts

You don’t have to choose between being social and protecting your energy. With the right habits, you can enjoy social connections without feeling like you need a week to recover.

Here’s how to keep your social battery charged:

🗓 Schedule Social Days Wisely

Space out big events so you have downtime in between to recharge.

🛑 Learn to Say No

Declining invitations that you are not ready for is an act of self-care, not rudeness.

🏠 Choose Familiar Environments

Meeting in a familiar place reduces sensory overload and anxiety.

⏳ Set Time Limits

Create an exit plan for yourself so you can leave when you feel your energy dip.

🧘 Recharge Intentionally

After socializing, spend time on solo activities that relax and restore you.

❌ Common Mistakes Introverts Make When Trying to Be Social

Even with the best intentions, introverts can sometimes make socializing harder than it needs to be. Avoiding these common mistakes can make your experiences much more enjoyable.

• Overcommitting to too many events—saying “yes” to everything can quickly lead to burnout.

• Choosing the Wrong Settings—Loud, crowded environments can be overwhelming; smaller, calmer spaces are more effective.

• Ignoring Your Boundaries—Feeling obligated to stay longer or interact more than you are comfortable with can quickly drain your energy.

Remember, successful socializing for introverts isn’t about quantity—it’s about quality and comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can introverts really become more outgoing?

Yes, but it’s less about “becoming outgoing” and more about learning how to enjoy social situations that feel authentic to you.

How do I talk to strangers without feeling awkward?

Start with small talk based on your surroundings—a comment on the coffee shop music, a compliment, or asking about their favorite menu item.

How can I avoid social burnout?

Space out your events, schedule recovery time, and choose activities that genuinely interest you.

What if I still feel uncomfortable even after trying?

That’s okay. Social comfort builds over time. Keep practicing in low-pressure settings.

Are some activities better for introverts than others?

Yes — activities with built-in focus (classes, hobbies, volunteering) often make conversation easier than purely social events.

💬 Final Thoughts

Being social as an introvert doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not.

It’s about finding a rhythm that lets you connect with others while honoring your need for peace and solitude. The key is quality over quantity—focusing on the relationships and experiences that make you feel seen, heard, and valued.

You don’t have to dominate the conversation or work the room like an extrovert.

Your quiet presence, thoughtful listening, and ability to connect deeply are strengths in their own right.

Start small. Say yes to the activities that truly interest you. Protect your energy, but don’t be afraid to stretch it now and then. With time, you’ll build a social life that fits—one that’s both energizing and deeply rewarding.

And remember: you don’t need to change who you are to belong. The right people will appreciate you exactly as you are. 🌟

7 Things You Need To Learn About Your Temper

December 28, 2015 by Power of Positivity

A temper is something in all of us that is at the heart of much of the negative energy that we have seen in our history, both recent and ancient. Anger is a very natural feeling, but how we behave in response is what can get out of our control. The following are important facts about your temper that everyone should keep in mind.

7 Things You Need to Learn About Your Temper

1. You are still learning how to be angry

You observe how other people respond to frustration all the time. When someone throws the remote at the TV in anger, you make a judgment that you don’t want to act that way. You see someone else who is frustrated with an incompetent clerk at the store. They are clearly frustrated but their response is to sigh heavily, tell the clerk to take their time so that they get it right and then they turn and apologize to the people in line behind them. You know which response you’d prefer to have yourself and you make that choice.

By seeing others in stressful situations, we select our behavior role models and try to follow in their footsteps. We tell ourselves that next time we get angry we will try a deep breath first.

2. You are still angry about your childhood

Your parents treated you differently from your siblings. One of your parents wasn’t there for you when you needed them. Your parents fought too much. Almost all of us can identify with one or more of these statements because these are inevitable parts of growing up.

If someone let you down and you were unable to stand up for yourself as a child, you might still be feeling resentful about it, even to this day. If you lived with siblings, you always felt that your parents liked them best and you were angry about it. You wish that your dad or mom was there more often when you needed them and you are still angry that thy weren’t.

Have a chat with yourself and ask what you’re still upset about from your childhood. Work through those issues on your own, with your parents, or find a licensed therapist to talk to about your lingering anger.

3. Managing your anger can help you succeed

Successful people are the picture of grace under pressure. That stereotype is one that hiring managers are looking for. In fact, they will almost always ask you in an interview about a time when you faced a lot of pressure and how you responded in a time of crisis.

How you appear outwardly when you are under pressure can say a lot about how you are perceived by those who might promote you. If you can never let them see you sweat, you’ll go farther than if you do.

4. The health of your relationships is at stake

A major cause of broken romantic relationships is the anger of one partner over the behavior of the other. Expressing anger rather than hurt feelings can mean that the relationship is doomed. Expressing hurt communicates to your partner that you acknowledge what they said but that you took it personally whereas expressing anger blames them for your hurt feelings. In a study of positive versus negative patterns of emotional expression in childhood and teenage years, researchers could predict subjects’ success in future romantic relationships. Those who had a negative pattern of emotional expression with anger had more conflict in their relationships.

5. Others can sense your anger

We have evolved to have the ability to sense anger as a strategy to protect ourselves from harm. This makes sense when you are faced with an angry bear coming at you, but we have also adapted to learn to detect anger in human speech.

Your voice conveys anger to others whether you know it or not. A Swedish study found that anger can be recognized 83% of the time from speech intonation, even if angry words are not used. The research is being used to develop a voice recognition tool to help telephone call centers to get irate customers helped faster.

6. Your temper is a killer

Rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, increased cortisol hormone levels, and muscle tension are the physiological signs of anger. They are also the signs of stress and we know that living in a state of chronic stress leads to heart disease and other illnesses.

Not only that, intense anger that is out of control can lead to violent outbursts that cause people to kill each other. If you are concerned about violent thoughts that may lead you to violent actions, please contact a Crisis Counselor.

7. You can learn a lot from your anger

When you notice that you are angry, ask yourself, ‘Why am I angry?’ This will help you get to the root cause of your anger and you can learn about how to manage your temper better.

You can also learn to not be angry. When something happens that provokes your temper, you can chose not to get angry. You can choose to slow your breathing, relax your physical body and change your thoughts to reframe the event. Instead of taking it as a personal attack, try thinking of it as that person feeling tired and lashing out at you.

What You Can Tell About Someone’s Personality In 10 Seconds

December 27, 2015 by Power of Positivity

They say that you can’t judge a book by its’ cover, but first impressions are often lasting impressions. Making a quick judgment of someone’s personality is something that we do subconsciously when we first meet someone.

Whether we are looking to date someone, hire someone, or partner with them, we need to know if we can rely on them. So we must see if they are compatible with our own personality. Further, we need to determine if we click with them.

Our perceptions of others sway our decisions about how to treat them. We do this with everything from making a decision about who to vote for in the election or whether to accept a date from someone. Although making a snap judgment about someone or having someone do that to you may seem unfair, it happens.

Sometimes even evidence to the contrary cannot sway our initial impression of a person. Imagine this. You see a tatted woman riding a motorcycle. You presume she’s rough and tumble. However, you strike up a conversation and learn she’s the CEO of a non-profit dog rescue agency. Would you change your first impression now that you have more information? Or is your first impression too strong to change?

What You Can Tell About Someone’s Personality in 10 Seconds

1. Trustworthiness

As part of our human evolution, we learn quickly to judge trustworthiness in order to protect ourselves from harm. In the first 10 seconds, people believe that they can get a gut feeling for whether or not they should trust someone. You can read more about how to tell if you are being lied to here.

2. Attraction

In a culture of speed dating and swiping right, we can most easily tell if we are initially physically attracted to someone based on their appearance. You probably know your type and if you’re set on a brunette, then blondes just won’t do it for you. We tend to be attracted to people who are similar to us, so we look for similar traits in our potential mates and tend to rate them as more attractive if they are more like us.

Sexual orientation is also something that we think we can determine based on appearance, and according to one researcher, we can. People who were allowed to view photos for less than a second were accurate at guessing sexual orientation 60% of the time, even when those photos had no makeup, piercings, hairstyles, glasses or tattoos.

In a study of speed dating, women initially said that they were looking for someone with a good earning potential while men chose attractiveness as their preferred trait. However, these traits were not what the daters actually ended up selecting in their eventual romantic partners. What we think we want in our mate may not be the deciding factor for us.

3. Extroversion

Is the person you are meeting an outgoing personality, or are they shy? This personality trait is fairly easy to determine in the first ten seconds. Indeed, we learn someone’s social intelligence from these cues:

Body language
Eye contact
An excitement in their voice
Animated facial expressions
Hand gestures

4. Neuroticism

Germophobic behavior like avoiding a handshake, fidgeting, personal hygiene, and some repetitive habits like nail biting are things we can also tell about someone in a short amount of time. We may assume someone behaving this way is anxious, even if the reason for the fear is not obvious to us.

5. Competence

Researcher Alexander Todorov studied people’s responses to faces and found that subjects perceived photos of people with thin lips and wrinkles at the eye corners as distinguished, intelligent, and determined. Photos of people who were baby-faced were judged to be physically weak, naive, and submissive, although they also thought they were honest, kind, and warm.

In another study about how voters choose candidates based on appearance, participants were asked to rate photos of congressional candidates for how competent they looked. The study participants selected the candidate who turned out to have won for 71.6 percent of the Senate races and 66.8 percent of the House races based only on how competent-looking they thought they were.

6. Openness

Body language is easy to tell if someone is open in a 10-second initial meeting. If they are receptive to you, their feet should both be pointing toward you, arms relaxed, shoulders back, and their head should be up, and they will make eye contact with happy facial expressions.

When someone is not receptive to you, their body language will be more turned inward. Their shoulders round forward, they cross their arms, they avoid eye contact and their facial expression seems more disagreeable.

According to Nicholas Rule, a researcher who presented his findings at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, “Not only should people not assume that others will be able to overcome aspects of their appearance when evaluating them, but also those of us on the other end should be actively working to consider that our impressions of others are biased.”

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