Page 1189

3 Mistakes People Make When Searching For Their Soulmate

September 2, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Are you seeking your true love or soulmate?

“When the soul is ready, its mate will appear.” – Unknown

Before too long in life, we get bombarded with messages in movies and advertisements persuading us to believe that our soulmate will come to sweep us off our feet and save us from ourselves. The seemingly perfect, fairytale relationships portrayed make us get our hopes up and have unrealistic expectations about what a relationship should really be like. We try so hard to attract our soulmates into our lives because society tells us that we will become whole once we find that person.

However, what happens is that we wager our entire happiness on a person we haven’t even met yet because ultimately, we want someone else to take away our pain and loneliness. In this reality, the illusion of separation can still seem very real, so we just want some way to escape that. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling this way; it happens to the best of us.

But, if you really want to find your soulmate, it will take effort, some personal soul searching, and not getting too attached to outcomes. Many people long to find their soulmate, but unknowingly do more to push them away than attract them into their lives.

When searching for your soulmate, make sure you don’t make these common mistakes:

1. Searching and asking for a soulmate before you have searched within your own soul.

If you only look outwardly for answers and acceptance, you will miss out on the true power you have within yourself to stand on your own two feet. You must first take a journey deep within your soul and learn to understand yourself. Without this understanding and awareness of yourself, a relationship with anyone else will be sorely lacking. You will look to them to understand when you don’t even know yourself. Remember that soulmates will never complete you; they can only add value to your life and help you grow as a person.

You have to block out all the noise from society telling you that you need all these things in order to become your best self and be truly happy. YOU are your own happiness, sadness, comfort, compassion, understanding, and well of knowledge. Once you complete yourself, you will attract others who are complete, too. Two complete people coming together as one will create a life of sheer bliss and abundance. However, you must make a commitment to yourself first. Be in a relationship with yourself first, and learn to love your own company.

2. You haven’t cultivated a love for yourself first.

This sort of stems from our last point; you cannot find love outside yourself. Only will you recognize it once you have such an abundance of it that it has no choice but to spill out of your heart and touch other’s lives. You must totally fall head over heels for yourself if you expect anyone else to feel the same about you. We all have probably been in relationships where our partner didn’t truly love themselves – they expected us to do all the dirty work for them.

But, how rewarding and fulfilling was that? Being in a relationship with someone who doesn’t have confidence in themselves will only drain you. So, if you don’t absolutely love yourself right now, as you are, no one else can possibly offer you that love you seek.

Also, you must learn to love all of yourself, both the shadows and the light. This article by Sheila Prakash on Tiny Buddha says it best:

“I don’t think we will ever be able to love ourselves until we acknowledge all our different aspects—the “strong” and the “weak”— and start giving ourselves compassion instead of judgment. A puzzle needs all its pieces in order to be complete.”

3. You have no idea what you want in a soulmate or relationship.

If you don’t know what you want, how can you attract it? Think about it this way: what if you went to buy a new car, but had no idea what you wanted? Would you leave the dealership with a car, or just stare at all the cars in a state of confusion? Probably the latter, because you went into the situation blindly, not giving any thought to what you desired.

If you wouldn’t make a big decision like that without first thinking about what you wanted, then why treat relationships any differently? Soulmates should be given even more consideration because they will share their life with you, and rent a room in your heart. Something that serious requires a lot of your energy, time, and emotions, which means you need to have some idea of who you’d ideally like to share your life with.

You could either make a list, visualize, or create a vision board for what kind of partner you’d like to attract into your life. However, make sure when you do this that you focus on what you DO want in a relationship rather than what you DON’T want. Any thought we give our attention to creates our reality, so make sure you’re actively creating the world and the soulmate you wish to see in your life.

Which Stress Relief Technique Is Best For Your Zodiac Sign?

September 2, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Each zodiac sign has different triggers for what stresses them out, and also different stress relief tactics they use. Most people inevitably feel stressed from time to time, due to anything from job demands to financial worries to health problems, or other issues we all deal with in this modern world. Unless you’re somehow reading this from another planet in the galaxy (if so, please tell us how to get there), you have probably felt burdened by some sort of stress or anxiety at some point on your spiritual journey here. However, what stresses a Cancer out will differ greatly from what stresses a Sagittarius out.

All of us could use some sort of technique for coping with stressors, and some insight into what makes us the most frazzled can open the door for us to start dealing with the stress in a healthy way.

Here are powerful stress relief techniques for each zodiac sign:

Aries, March 21 – April 19

Rams pack so much into their day, and rarely slow down to catch a breather or just notice the little things in life. Aries can get burned out if they don’t take time to relax and rejuvenate from a very busy school or workweek. You have so much energy and use that to carry you through the week, but when your energy dwindles, this can leave you feeling like you’ve let yourself and others down.

Aries want to charge ahead full force at everything, but they need to remember to walk before they run sometimes. Take at least one day off a week to do absolutely nothing; you can replenish your energy and also have a chance to enjoy life at a slower pace.

Taurus, April 20 – May 20

A Taurus has a strong work ethic, and wants to get their work done right the first time around. They take failure pretty hard, and rather than seeing it as an opportunity to grow, they view it as incompetence on their part. A Taurus also tiptoes around people’s feelings at times, not wanting to hurt others or get into any disagreements.

Powerful stress relief techniques for this sign include going a bit easier on yourself, and not fixating on every little thing. Also, remember that you have no control over how other people will react to your words; you can only have ownership of how you handle a situation.

Gemini, May 21 – June 20

Geminis are a very dynamic and complex sign, and can change their mind on a whim. They never stop thinking, which can lead to stress if they overcomplicate a situation. Geminis thrive on good conversations and generally have a bubbly, upbeat attitude. They just want to have fun in life, and want to be around others who have this same kind of energy.

For a Gemini, their own mind can stress them out, so keeping active is a surefire way to kick stress to the curb. Geminis are a highly social sign, so any sort of activity where they can be around people is a preferable one to get involved in.

Cancer, June 21 – July 22

As a Cancer myself, I can attest to the fact that Cancers are often misunderstood and get hurt easily, leading them to retreat into their hard shell instead of telling others how they’re feeling. Cancers need to feel secure, and when they don’t, their stress builds until their shell finally cracks, exposing their true emotions. Cancers, instead of relying on others to nurse your feelings and make you feel safe, give that security to yourself.

Practice deep meditation and do things that make you feel the most protected. Also, give your motherly energy to other people – volunteer at a nursing home, help someone out to the car with their groceries, or anything that will get your mind off your emotions and onto other people.

Leo, July 23 – August 22

Leos want to be in control of everything in their lives, and can’t stand when they have no say in how things will go. A Leo loves the spotlight and must be the leader in everything they take part in, whether that’s a work project, a business deal, or anything else that requires leadership.

Leos need to learn how to let go and live in the moment, instead of trying to control every aspect of their lives. A fiery Leo thrives on respect and adoration from others, but make sure you Leos give that same attention to yourself first instead of expecting it from other people.

Virgo, August 23 – September 22

Virgos also think too much, like Geminis. Virgos have a very logical thinking process, and hardly do anything in life without thinking every little aspect through to the fullest. Without making lists to organize their thoughts, Virgos can easily let stress get the best of them. They also can be very critical of themselves and others, and enjoy a profession that requires paying attention to minute details. They are problem-solvers, and will help others solve any issues they’re having in life. However, getting to the bottom of their own problems is a difficult task.

Virgos would do well to put their thoughts and ideas on paper, and also not scrutinize themselves and others so much.

Libra, September 23 – October 22

Libras get very stressed out when people treat them unfairly. They hate confrontation and will spend hours deciding what to say to someone who’s hurt them, and if they should even bring up the issue or not. Libras are the sign of balance, after all, and don’t like anything to go unresolved, making their scales tip too far in one direction.

Libras are wonderful at creating harmony and have an airy sense about them that makes others feel comfortable and at peace. You treat others well, but this isn’t always reciprocated. If something bothers you, make sure to confront others, but keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Your peaceful nature will keep any confrontation from getting out of control, anyway.

Scorpio, October 23 – November 21

Scorpios, like Cancers, are a sensitive sign that hides their emotions beneath their hard scorpion shell. They enjoy having their privacy, and in general, don’t like being around very noisy or inconsiderate people. Scorpios also tend to hold grudges and like to get revenge on others who have done them wrong.

Scorpios, make sure you speak up if any boundaries have been crossed, and don’t allow others’ actions and choices to get under your skin too much.

Sagittarius, November 22 – December 21

Sagittarius’ need constant movement in order to feel at peace. They don’t like being told what to do and feel stressed when they must follow rules or adhere to boundaries set by others. They are very impatient, impulsive, and sporadic, and don’t like situations where they must act “proper” or behave according to other people’s standards.

People born under the sun sign of Sagittarius must make sure they stay active and get lots of time outdoors in order to not feel constrained.

Capricorn, December 22 – January 19

Capricorns have high expectations for themselves. They can easily overwork themselves if they don’t pay attention to their own needs. Thus, these folks don’t usually make a lot of time to unwind. They like telling others what to do, and often meddle in other people’s lives.

They, like Leos, must have everything under control. However, life doesn’t always go according to plan, so Capricorns need to remember to relax and let life happen sometimes. Also, don’t take work too seriously; make enough time for play, too.

Aquarius, January 20 – February 18

Aquarius is very witty, inventive, and adventurous people. They live a no-strings-attached kind of life, and any sort of commitment or attempt to reign them in will have them running for the hills. Aquarius is full of excitement, and will always show you a good time no matter what you’re doing. However, they can also be a bit detached emotionally, and let their stubborn streak get in the way of listening to others’ opinions. They don’t like to admit when they’re wrong and tend to think in an objective manner, not letting their emotions get in the way.

Aquarius need to remember that life doesn’t always go their way, and to let it unfold as it should.

Pisces, February 19 – March 20

Pisces are very secretive, creative people, and don’t like to be in the spotlight. Feeling exposed is a major stress trigger for Pisces, and they can even get sick due to negative energy from others invading their space. They prefer quiet atmospheres and shy away from loud people and situations.

Pisces need to make enough time for themselves to recuperate from putting themselves out there, and also work on increasing their vibration in order to shield themselves from any negative energy.

25 Things The Ancient Practice of Acupuncture Can Heal

September 1, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Acupuncture: some people swear by it and others attribute it to nothing more than a placebo effect. It is an ancient Chinese Medicine practice of strategically placing very fine needles into the skin to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions.

The job of the needles is to recreate balance by stimulating Qi. Qi (pronounced “chee”) is what the Chinese refer to as the life force of the body. It is this stimulation that begins to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and diminish symptoms of some diseases.

Acupuncture is gaining credibility in the Western world as being an effective partner with institutional medical practices for combating certain diseases and ailments.

An ultrasound study, from the University of Vermont, showed that when acupuncture needles were used on specific meridian points, the tissue in the vicinity of the needles sent signals throughout the body that stimulated blood flow and tissue regeneration.

One area where Western medicine and this ancient traditional practice are working together is when surgery is required. There are a plethora of studies that show recovery time from surgery and the need for pain medication following surgery is significantly lowered when acupuncture is performed before and after the surgical procedure.

Even the World Health Organization (WHO), an international authority on health-related matters, weighs in on the effectiveness of acupuncture. In a report it issued on the effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety ailments, it says:

“Over its 2500 years of development, a wealth of experience has accumulated in the practice of acupuncture, attesting to the wide range of diseases and conditions that can be effectively treated with this approach.”

The biggest question most people have when contemplating acupuncture is “does it hurt?”

There is something about the fact that needles are used that cause people to pause. Today, acupuncture needles are about as thick as a strand of hair, are sterilized and designed for single use. They do not actually cut the skin like needles used for injections, but instead they separate the skin for easier and pain-free penetration. It doesn’t generally hurt and most likely you will feel only a slight prick.

Acupuncture is rarely a one-time thing. The initial appointment is almost always a thorough exam that includes questions about your symptoms, behaviors, and lifestyle. You might be questioning the decision to try acupuncture when your acupuncturist is asking about how you’ve been sleeping, what you’ve been eating and your stress levels when all you are looking for is a little relief from your back pain.

Every ailment, according to Chinese Medicine, is an interruption in the flow Qi. Acupuncture is a total well-being practice, and it is important that a complete picture is gathered before the course of treatment is decided. A course of six to eight treatments is common, but the number may vary based on why you are being treated and how severe the condition is.

The next big question often asked is, “what can acupuncture heal?” Well, it might be easier to list what it can’t heal or at least treat and relieve symptoms for. From that same WHO report mentioned earlier,

Here are 25 of the most common conditions the ancient practice of acupuncture can heal:

Low Back Pain

Neck Pain

Sciatic Pain

Tennis Elbow

Knee Pain

Mild and Severe Sprains

Facial Pain, including Lockjaw

Headaches and Migraines

Dental Pain and Gum Disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Joint Inflammation

Induction of Labor

Correction the Fetus in the Breech Position

Morning Sickness

Nausea and Vomiting

Postoperative Pain and Stiffness

Stroke

Essential Hypertension

Primary Hypotension

Renal Colic

Leucopenia

Adverse Reactions to Radiation or Chemotherapy

Asthma, Hay Fever and Irritation of the Nose

Depression both Chronic and Situational

Peptic Ulcer

Acute and Chronic Gastritis

The above is not a complete list of acupuncture benefits by any means. In fact, the studies into the effectiveness of acupuncture on specific diseases and conditions are ongoing, and more ailments are added to this list as the information becomes available.

If you are undecided about whether to try acupuncture or not, do your research and start to look at healing yourself in a new and integrative way. It doesn’t have to be all of one type of medicine, and if the latest findings are any indication, then an approach that combines the best of Western and Chinese medicine may be right for you.

Acupuncture practices are popping up in hospitals, clinics, and private facilities. And because acupuncturists can operate without the need for electronics and machinery, they can even be found in war zones, refugee camps and disaster sites around the world.

Acupuncture is certainly worthy of further investigation. It may or may not be right for you, but if you have a specific condition that you believe might be a candidate for treatment with acupuncture, it is worth having a discussion with a trained professional and your doctor.

5 Questions That Stop Negative Thoughts In Their Tracks

September 1, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Negative thoughts are the beginning of a destructive spiral that instantly takes over our lives and can keep a grip on them if we let it. Negative thoughts, if kept uncontrolled, will be destructive to us and those around us. We lose self-confidence, lack belief in ourselves and others and after a short time; we don’t even try to better out lives because we assume we’ve failed before we start.

It is very important to overcome the negative thinking at the very first possible opportunity to be successful and achieve our biggest goals and dreams.

Self-reflection is an important strategy that benefits us more than we can imagine. It helps us to stop and truly look into our lives, behaviors, and our relationships and think about what we’re doing right – and wrong.

When we do that, we will see the changes we have to make so we can improve our well-being. Reflection is one thing that’s good for our soul; so long as we keep it positive. We might have negative thoughts that become burdensome, but with the habit of positive thinking, we can reframe those thoughts to better serve us.

Positive affirmations are another strategy that can help us reflect with positive intention so that we can help chart the path of our day. There is no truly defeating our negative thoughts. Instead, we need to learn to manage them. And the initial step is to recognize them. It’s important to discover the weaknesses and triggers in our thinking we experience.

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself that stops negative thoughts:

These questions are meant to help us discover our negative thoughts and understand where they’re coming from. When you know their source, you can begin to make changes to address the negativity.

1. How exactly do these negative thoughts truly serve me?

The response to this question is usually ‘It doesn’t serve’. Much negative thinking is just unrealistic and inaccurate, and it serves no actual purpose. Negative thoughts only exist to remind us to take the appropriate actions. When you ask the benefit of the negative thinking, you can often discover that the negative thoughts simply start to disappear.

2. How else can we look at the situation?

With this question, we’re motivating ourselves to look at the situation from various perspectives and break down the feeling of belief that has led to our negative thinking.

3. What will somebody else think about my thought?

This is a good question to help view things from another person’s perspective. When we begin to look at ourselves through another person’s eyes, we’ll view the circumstances more clearly and draw a much more reasonable conclusion.

4. What’s the worst that can happen?

We can easily get caught up with negative thinking and see all kinds of things that can go wrong. To help overcome this spiral of negative thinking, it is important to spend some time figuring out the worst thing that can happen. Usually, the worst thing isn’t as bad as our imagination. Perspective is very important, and when we can keep things in perspective, they become less scary.

5. Can I handle the worst situation?

Often the worst situation might not be that bad. When we realize this, we have confidence that we can handle any outcome that comes up, and it will motivate us to move forward.

Life is full of unanswered questions, and it is the determination to ask enough of the appropriate ones that will eventually lead us to understand ourselves better.

We could spend our life wallowing in a sea of negative thoughts like -Why me? Or we could be grateful that we have made it this far. We are here to live another day. We have the ability to think for ourselves which means we can choose the course of those thoughts.

Negative thoughts can easily dominate our life and destroy our authentic self. When we allow negative thinking to consume us, we hold ourselves back from going after our goals. We won’t be able to think achieving our big goals is a possibility.

We might try to act like negative thinking doesn’t affect us, but that’s just a way of avoiding it. Make no mistake about it, negative thoughts do affect us and those around us.

Once we accept this, we can start to discover and challenge the negative thinking as it appears. As we keep challenging the negative thinking, we will quickly improve our self-confidence and begin a successful path towards achieving our goals.

Our goal is to start questioning our negative thoughts. Start with the five questions on this list or use questions that make sense to you. Do that and you will be surprised at how quickly your thoughts begin to change for the better.

5 Ways To Help Others Believe In Themselves

September 1, 2015 by Power of Positivity

When it comes to becoming successful and achieving our big goals, it is important that we believe in ourselves. But it’s also important that we help others believes in themselves, too. Helping others believe in and achieve their goal can accelerate the manifesting of our own.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Believe you can, and you are halfway there.” Sometimes that belief comes from a supportive circle of friends. That is not to say that we don’t have the ability do it ourselves, but the more support we have, the easier it is for things to fall into place.

The belief we have in ourselves allows us to take action. And sometimes, our belief in someone else also prompts them into action. To rely on that support when we need it, we must be willing to provide that support to someone else.

Here are five ways to help others believe in themselves:

1. Encourage them to believe.

Simple words of encouragement are among the easiest and most efficient things that we can do to help other people believe in themselves. Consider times when we’ve been in pursuit of a goal, or maybe just going through the motions of your day. How do you feel when someone pays you a sudden compliment or recognizes an attempt that you have been making?

Hearing something positive and encouraging lifts our spirits, motivates us and raises our self-esteem. Getting this kind of positive feedback doesn’t just make us feel good and capable instantly, it also serves as the necessary motivation to keep us pushing forward.

“You’ve got this. – I know you do.” Simple and effective. Honest encouragement will go a long way in helping someone believe in themselves.

2. Acknowledge the good.

When trying to encourage someone, find them doing good and right things and tell them. When you take the time to notice their good deeds, it helps them realize they are on the right path. This will build their confidence, making them more effective and productive.

Write a note. Send a card. Call them. Praise them in front of other people. When people good about what they’re doing, it has a positive effect on everything they do. And it’s not just at work, it can impact their home life, their workout life, and even their creative life.

Kindness breeds kindness, so more than likely, they will start acknowledging the good deeds of others. It means that acknowledging the good of someone can spread to others – all from a simple note or phone call.

3. Challenge them.

The term challenge has a few negative connotations. In terms of helping others believe in themselves, we are challenging them to be the best they can be. It might be hard at first, but it is hard to do great things if we aren’t operating at our best.

Start by reminding them of their desire to bring their very best and give a challenge. “I challenge you to ignore the naysayers and keep going with the real work at hand, do the job, make the commitment, etc.”

4. Listen to them.

When we listen to people around us, we tell them they matter and that their ideas are worth hearing. Also, we’ll begin to understand what they cherish, what exactly their goals are, and we will know how to motivate better and inspire them.

Listening is the important thing. We shouldn’t ask so many questions that we begin to overwhelm them. It makes us seem less accessible and less helpful. Unless they specifically want you to help them see both sides of the coin, listening is a powerful tool to show your belief in what they are doing.

5. Believe in their good decision-making.

Decision-making is one thing that happens throughout our day. We make all sorts of decisions, important ones and superficial ones, urgent ones and long-term ones.

Making so many decisions can lead to decision fatigue. When we reach this state, it is hard to know if we are making the right decisions or just making them to make them. Sometimes just being told we are doing good work can make all the difference.

When we focus on helping other people, our potential shows. Make an intention each morning to show kindness and help someone become better. This not only helps the other person, but it helps your personal development as well.

Make it the real heart’s desire to help other people, and you’ll be successful in business and life. To give of ourselves is a good thing. We cannot put a price on making a positive impact on somebody. There’s no time like the present to focus our time and efforts on helping others.

5 Ways To Detox From Sugar Without Making It Difficult

August 31, 2015 by Sarah Barkley

For many years, people assumed fat was the culprit for society’s obesity problems. However, that theory has changed, and sugar has become a common cause. You can detox from sugar, but it’s hard if you don’t know how to do it.

Research backs the idea that it is sugar that causes high obesity rates. It doesn’t stop at obesity, either. Sugar plays a role in many chronic diseases, including heart failure, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and depression.

While sugar is harmful to your body, you likely still have cravings for it. Studies show that sugar is addictive, with some reports saying it is up to eight times more addictive than some drugs. As if that isn’t bad enough, sugar addiction is growing.

Some estimates say up to 70 percent of Americans are overweight, and one in two have pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes thanks to sugar addiction. Many people probably wonder if they are addicted to sugar but don’t know what to do about it. Learning what a sugar addiction looks like and how to detox from sugar can help you live a healthier life.

How to Know if You Have a Sugar Addiction

There are a few things to watch for if you want to know if you have a sugar addiction. Some signs of sugar addiction are more challenging to notice than others, but you are more likely to recognize the characteristics if you know what to look for.

You’ll want to watch for the following:

craving certain foods and indulging when you aren’t hungry
you allow certain foods that you know you shouldn’t
feeling tired, bloated, and depleted energy after eating.
frequently overeating
having an energy slump in the afternoon
you feel tired most of the time
making a habit of after-dinner sweets
you prefer sugary treats with your coffee
consuming soft drinks and soda frequently
you don’t enjoy greens
always choosing sweet food over healthier options
wanting chewing gum often
frequently using artificial sweeteners

These habits aren’t easy to overcome, as starting to detox from sugar can be challenging. You’ll need motivation and willpower, but knowing what to watch for will help you.

How Long Should a Sugar Detox Last?

A sugar detox is different for everyone, and it is up to you to decide how long you want it to last. Most of the detoxes last for one or two weeks, but some last for an entire month. When you set your timeframe to detox from sugar, make sure it’s reasonable so that you don’t get burnt out and give up.

Five Easy Ways to Detox from Sugar

Try these easy methods to break this high-carb habit.

1. Go Cold Turkey

Going cold turkey sounds complicated, but it is the best way to go with a sugar detox. Sugar is an addictive substance, so even a little sugar intake will keep the addiction alive and have you craving more. Going cold turkey means eliminating most packaged foods, flours, including whole grain flour and artificial sweeteners.

It’s essential to read labels and pass up anything that contains trans or hydrogenated fats or MSG. The problem with food labels is there are often hidden sources of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients.

Additionally, when it comes to hidden sugar, you’ll want to watch in some unexpected food sources. Some of your favorite foods that don’t seem sweet contain high amounts of sugar. Get into the habit of reading the labels on any food, even if you assume it’s healthy.

Some of the less apparent foods you should watch out for include the following:

ketchup
barbecue sauce
pasta sauce
reduced-fat salad dressings
bread
baked beans
flavored coffee

Aim to eat only whole, non-processed foods, including these:

fresh meat
poultry
fish
vegetables
whole grains
beans
nuts and seeds
high-fiber foods

Another way you can help yourself when you go cold turkey is to eat regular meals with snacks in between. You don’t want to let yourself get too hungry because extreme hunger can cause poor food choices.

2. Choose The Right Carbs

Some carbs are healthy, but you have to choose the right kind. Carbs from low-starch vegetables are the way to go. You can choose from greens, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and much more.

Avoid carbs from starchy vegetables, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and beets. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid refined and white carbs because they lead to sugar cravings. Avoiding these foods means that you should avoid bagels, chips, French fries, white bread, pretzels, crackers, and pasta.

Starchy foods are complex carbs, and your body breaks them down into simple sugars. It can make your blood sugar spike and crash, resulting in more sugary cravings.

3. More Fat And Protein

Stabilizing your blood sugar helps dimmish cravings and keeps you feeling full. You can stabilize it by consuming good fats and protein at every meal and snack throughout the day.

Good proteins are grass-fed and raised without hormones and antibiotics. They include nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, chicken, and meat. That’s because proteins take longer to digest, which is why they make you feel full longer. Plus, proteins give you an energy boost that lasts for longer than sugar does.

Good fats include olive oil, coconut butter, avocados, and Omega 3 fats found in fish. These fats help control your blood sugar and keep you feeling good throughout the day.

Aim to start your day with a protein-rich breakfast with a healthy fat option, too. Many breakfast options are high in carbs, so be careful to avoid those foods. Instead, opt for things like omelets or poached eggs paired with avocado.

4. Toss Trigger Foods

We all have foods that are more problematic for us, and it’s usually easy to pinpoint them. Whether it’s a tub of ice cream, a bottle of soda, or any other sugary treats, trigger foods are hard to resist. Any food that causes you to over-indulge is a trigger food, and it’s best to get rid of it.

When you detox from sugar, it’s too tempting to keep your trigger foods in the house. The first few days are the hardest, but it’s sometimes best to keep them out of your home for good. It’ll be hard to throw good food in the trash, but it’ll be worth it to remove the temptation.

If you’re a frequent coffee drinker, you’ll want to cut back to one cup a day if you don’t want to eliminate it. Consuming too much caffeine triggers cravings, making the detox from sugar more difficult. It’ll be hard at first, but you’ll quickly notice that you feel better with only one cup of coffee.

Another trigger you should consider eliminating is alcohol. While it’s not a food, alcoholic beverages can trigger sugar cravings. Plus, most of these drinks are full of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients.

5. Get Good Sleep

Sleep is the best way to recharge and energize your body, so you won’t crave the energy that comes from a sugar high. A lack of proper sleep affects our appetite hormones by increasing our hunger hormones and decreasing the hormones responsible for appetite suppression.

People tend to overeat when they aren’t well-rested and what we choose to eat when we are tired are often sugar and refined carbs. Get a whole night of sleep, at least seven hours, to help ease the detox symptoms.

Work on developing a regular sleep schedule and before-bed routine to help you relax a little. As you implement patterns, you’ll find that you can get enough sleep. You can also try mantras that help you sleep better at night.

What About Artificial Sweeteners?

When you give up sugar, you also must give up artificial sweeteners. While they might seem like a good alternative, they are unhealthy. Plus, they can trigger sugar cravings just as much as the real thing would, too.

Using artificial sweeteners also prevents you from curbing your sugar addiction. You’ll still get that taste for sweets, so you’ll never stop craving sugar. The only way to overcome your sugar cravings is by eliminating artificial sweeteners, too.

It’s also important to note that craving something sweet likely means your body requires something nutritious. Opting for something with artificial sweeteners leaves you feeling hungry and wanting more.

What to Look for On a Food Label

When checking your food labels, you must look for more than just the word “sugar” on the ingredients list. Sometimes, sugar is listed as other names, including these:

Molasses
Lactose
Dextrose
Brown rice syrup
Evaporated cane juice
Agave nectar
Malt syrup
Glucose
High-fructose corn syrup
Sucrose

Final Thoughts on Ways to Detox from Sugar

If you want to live a healthier life and feel better, detoxing from sugar is the way to go. With sugar being highly addictive and the cause of many health concerns, it’s essential to make a change in your life. Remember, the first few days of your sugar detox are the hardest, so keep pushing through, and it’ll pay off.

Stay hydrated during your detox to help flush the sugar out of your system quickly. The sooner it’s gone, the easier it will be to avoid sugar whenever possible. You’ll also quickly find new favorite foods, and healthy options will taste better for you.

As you detox from sugar, stay diligent and listen to your body. By listening to your body, you’ll begin to understand your cravings and determine which vitamin or nutrient you need. As you end the vicious cycle of poor food choices, you’ll quickly feel better overall.

11 Important Life Lessons We Can Learn From Wayne Dyer

August 31, 2015 by Power of Positivity

“Heaven on Earth is a choice you must make, not a place you must find.” – Wayne W. Dyer

One of the most beloved and influential motivational speakers, self-help authors, and spiritual teachers of our time, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, has passed away, according to information from his family. He impacted the lives of thousands of people through his words and teachings and awakened many people to the reality that lies beyond the one we see everyday. He wrote many notable books about spirituality and how we can realize our own potential by simply looking within, quieting our minds, and living through our hearts. Some of his works include Your Erroneous Zones, one of the best-selling books of all time with 35 million copies sold, The Power of Intention, and The Shift.

He was not afraid of dying and simply saw it as another adventure to go on. Even though the universe has taken him elsewhere to live out his soul’s plan, he left behind many important lessons we can all apply to our lives today.

Here are 11 important life lessons we can learn from Wayne Dyer:

1. Wayne Dyer explains, only you can control your reality.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”

“When you abandon making choices, you enter the vast world of excuses.”

“Your reputation is in the hands of others. That’s what the reputation is. You can’t control that. The only thing you can control is your character.”

“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”

“You must become the producer, director and actor in the unfolding story of your life.”

“A non-doer is very often a critic- that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It’s easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.”

2. All change begins from within.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”

“The more you see yourself as what you’d like to become, and act as if what you want is already there, the more you’ll activate those dormant forces that will collaborate to transform your dream into your reality.”

“You’ll see it when you believe it.”

“Not only do you become what you think about, but the world also becomes what you think about. Those who think that the world is a dark place are blind to the light that might illuminate their lives. Those who see the light of the world view the dark spots as merely potential light.”

3. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.

“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.”

“Practice being the kind of person you wish to attract.”

“My goal is not to be better than anyone else, but to be better than I used to be.”

4. You can set the standards for how amazing your life will be, according Wayne Dyer.

“Here is an affirmation for today: I feel passionately about my life, and this passion fills me with excitement and energy!”

“Once you believe in yourself and see your soul as divine and precious, you’ll automatically be converted to a being who can create miracles.”

“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”

“By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.”

5. Live your passions.

“Begin with the end in mind. Start with the end outcome and work backwards to make your dream possible.”

“Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.”

“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”

“Don’t die with the music still in you.”

6. Wake up each day with thankfulness in your heart.

“Upon awakening, let the words Thank You flow from your lips, for this will remind you to begin your day with gratitude and compassion.”

“Each experience in your life was absolutely necessary in order to have gotten you to the next place, and the next place, up to this very moment.”

7. Have a “yes” mindset about life.

“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it.”

“I am realistic – I expect miracles.”

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”

“I have absolutely no limits on what I intent to create.”

8. Spread kindness like you’ll never run out of it.

“When you are able to shift your inner awareness to how you can serve others, and when you make this the central focus of your life, you will then be in a position to know true miracles in your progress toward prosperity.”

“When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace”

“If you meet someone whose soul is not aligned with yours, send them love and move along.”

“Love is my gift to the world. I fill myself with love, and I send that love out into the world.”

9. Correct your mindset, and your life will transform.

“Heaven is a state of mind, not a location.”

“No one can create negativity or stress within you. Only you can do that by virtue of how you process your world.”

“What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.”

“The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of the state of your mind.”

“You leave old habits behind by starting out with the thought, ‘I release the need for this in my life’.”

10. Don’t let fear or rejection stop you from following your dreams.

“You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be.”

“We are divine enough to ask and we are important enough to receive.”

“Remind yourself that you cannot fail at being yourself.”

“I am thankful to all those who said no. It’s because of them, I did it myself.”

“There’s no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.”

11. Learn to appreciate silence, advises Wayne Dyer.

“Make peace with silence, and remind yourself that it is in this space that you’ll come to remember your spirit. When you’re able to transcend an aversion to silence, you’ll also transcend many other miseries. And it is in this silence that the remembrance of God will be activated.”

“Embrace silence since meditation is the only way to truly come to know your Source. ”

What are some of your favorite Wayne Dyer quotes? Share with us in the comments!

5 Negative Thoughts To Stop Listening To Immediately

August 30, 2015 by Sarah Barkley

It is impossible to completely rid ourselves of negative thoughts, even if people often advise us to stop thinking negatively. Since you can’t eliminate them, the only other beneficial option is to stop listening to them. You can recognize negative thinking and put it into perspective to help shift your mindset.

Negative thoughts can make you anxious, and they can lead to depression. Getting stuck in a cycle of negativity can take the joy out of your life and take a toll on every area. Your inner thoughts can be destructive, or they can be beneficial to your well-being.

Research shows that the mind-body connection can affect your health, too. If you can switch to positive thoughts, you’ll experience the following benefits:

Decreased blood pressure
Lower risk of heart disease
Stronger immune system
Lower stress levels
Less anxiety
It prevents and helps overcome insomnia
Reduces pain
Makes you happier
Optimism about the future

Five Negative Thoughts to Stop Listening to Right Now

Since you can’t eliminate negative thoughts, you must learn to tame and ignore them. There are certain things you might think to yourself that you should stop listening to immediately. Knowing the thoughts that you should forget every time will help you get them under control.

1. “I Don’t Have the Time.”

Saying things like, “I’m too busy” and “I don’t have the time” are common excuses, but they aren’t good reasons. Those statements are not reasons at all, so don’t listen to them.

When something is important to you, you’ll find the time and energy to make it happen. If this thought creeps into your mind, take a few minutes to consider whether the task is something you genuinely care about.

Saying that you don’t have the time only makes that an easy excuse anytime you don’t want to do something. Stop listening to these types of thoughts so that you don’t get stuck in a cycle of excuses.

2. “I’m Not Qualified to Do That.”

Thinking that you aren’t qualified to do something will hold you back from achieving your highest potential. You will be afraid to chase your dreams and tackle the bigger goals in your plan.

Being in a state of self-doubt causes you to look for any reason to avoid taking risks and moving forward. You convince yourself that because it’s easier to stay where you feel safe, even if that’s not the case.

Even if it is easier to stay, you’ll miss out on so much, including opportunities and exciting experiences. If you are committed to your personal growth, stop listening to this negative thought immediately.

3. “People Won’t Understand.”

When you consistently tell yourself that people won’t understand, it upsets you without reason. Your decisions will upset people sometimes, but that doesn’t mean you should question yourself. Even if no one understands your choices, you must do what is best for you.

If you want to decide but assume you shouldn’t since people won’t understand, you interfere with your well-being and life path. This life is yours to live, so ignore any inner thoughts that tell you other people won’t understand it.

You owe it to yourself to make the best decisions, and doing so is a positive habit to form. The people who truly matter and love you will understand and support you no matter what.

4. “I’m Not Ready.”

Even with preparation, you’ll never be fully ready to do anything. If you wait until you prepare for something, you’ll never get anywhere. While you should spend time planning and scheduling, you also have to take the first step at some point.

Please don’t hold off too long, and stop listening to your negative inner thoughts when they say you aren’t ready. The first step is the hardest, so push away that negative thought and get started. Then, you can learn from your mistakes and the lessons that you encounter along the way.

If you make it a habit to say you aren’t ready, you’ll start saying it about everything. You’ll even miss out on chances you were entirely prepared for because you’ve convinced yourself that you aren’t prepared for anything. Stop listening to this thought immediately so that you can experience all that life has to offer.

5. “I Don’t Have The Energy.”

This negative thought is another excuse that doesn’t give a good reason. No one has an easy life, but if everyone used this excuse, nothing would get done. A happy life takes work, but you find the energy to do the essential things for yourself.

If you know that you have things to do, ignore this thought and get it done. Likewise, if someone in your life has something important going on, push this thought away. It’ll hold you back and cause you to miss out on experiences, memories, and relationships.

How to Steer Away from Negative Thoughts

Now that you know the harmful ideas to avoid, here are some ways to adopt new and healthier habits.

1. Recognize The Negative Thoughts

You can’t do anything to steer away from the negative self-talk until you recognize the attitudes that hold you back. One way to do this is by writing down any negative thoughts you had throughout the day. You should especially make sure to write down all of the self-limiting beliefs that you have.

When you write down the thought, you should also write down what you were doing at that time. If you do this, you can see patterns emerge, allowing you to recognize your triggers. Writing it down and identifying your triggers help you develop more positive habits.

Another way to recognize these thoughts is to notice when you’re being self-critical. Once you start to see, you’ll be able to shift your mindset and stop listening to them immediately. Then, make it a point to think things about yourself that you would say to a friend or loved one.

2. Question It

Once you recognize your limiting inner thoughts, it’s time to question them. Figure out whether your beliefs are true or not and why they might be true. Asking yourself questions until you get to the root of the problem helps you put it into a realistic perspective.

Chances are, the thoughts aren’t true, and you don’t have to believe them. Your mind is just a tool for you to use, but you still control it. You get to decide which things you think and which ones you don’t.

By questioning and rejecting your limiting thoughts, you’ll change your belief system. Making a habit of this means that you’ll have an easier time not believing the thoughts. Plus, you might experience fewer episodes of negative self-talk.

3. Reframe It

To change the thought, you must reframe it into something that serves you better. You can’t take all of the ideas and make them positive, but you can use this method of reframing. You take a more realistic approach to relieving the hold they have on you when you reframe your attitude.

While you can’t always stop a train of thought in its tracks, you can change the intensity. Change the negative words to positive and more gentle words. Replace “I can’t” with “This is challenging” and “I hate” with “I don’t like.”

When you reframe the negative thoughts, their power decreases. They won’t have a hold over you anymore, and you’ll change it into something encouraging and accurate.

4. Let Go of Negative Thoughts

With the newly-reframed thought, it’s time to let go of the less serving thoughts. You recognized the negative thinking, knew it wasn’t true in its original form, and reframed it to reflect reality.

Now, it’s time to let the thoughts go. Surprisingly, something as simple as writing it down on a piece of paper and throwing it away can help your mind let it go.

The voices in our heads can be overwhelming and sometimes even paralyzing. They grow louder and infiltrate our self-esteem the longer we leave them there. Initially, they formed and grew from influences in our lives, but we are the ones that feed these thoughts by letting them stay.

Don’t fight the thoughts because fighting expends too much energy in a negative space. Instead, refuse to accept the negativity at face value and question them relentlessly until you get to the truth.

5. Share Your Feelings

Sharing your feelings with someone close to you can make all the difference in steering away from these thoughts. Everyone experiences negativity sometimes, and talking about it can help you get another perspective. While you already know the idea wasn’t accurate, it’s always nice to hear confirmation.

Plus, talking about your feelings can help you overcome them. As you vocalize your situation, you’ll begin to understand your thoughts a little more. Doing this will help you eliminate the unhelpful thoughts that sometimes creep into your mind.

Final Thoughts on Negative Thoughts to Stop Listening to Immediately

You owe it to yourself to challenge the negative thoughts in your head. Don’t allow your inner thoughts to convince you that you aren’t good enough or ready for the next step in your life.

Your thoughts aren’t always worth your attention, especially when they break you down. However, you can’t always entirely stop these thoughts, but you can learn which ones to stop listening to immediately. Use this list to help you determine which views to ignore and how to steer away from them.

10 Things That Bring Couples Closer Together

August 30, 2015 by Sarah Barkley

Knowing your partner well is essential in an emotionally solid and committed relationship. As you go through the different stages of love and get to know the other person more, you’ll feel more connected. Creating a connected and solid relationship is hard work, but you can make it happen with these tips to bring couples closer together.

Before your relationship can grow to its full potential, some things need to happen. You must start by enjoying each other’s company and then developing those feelings into something more profound. Additionally, you must believe in the love your relationship holds.

When you have a healthy relationship, it can make you and your partner better as individuals. At the beginning of your relationship, you likely feel like connecting is easy. However, as time goes on, the initial connection fades away.

Ten Things That Bring Couples Closer Together

If you don’t want the bond to disappear, you’ll want to find things that bring couples closer together. Even if your relationship is great right now, these tips will help you, too. Developing a deeper bond and getting closer is essential, so use these ideas to make it happen.

1. Strong Couples Stay in Touch During the Day

Close couples usually stay in contact with one another throughout the day. Staying in touch isn’t to say they never stop talking, but they connect at least a few times. You might call to speak for a few minutes, send a text or e-mail, or even send a selfie.

By staying in contact, it shows that you’re interested in what the other person is doing. It also shows your partner that they are in your thoughts and puts you on their mind if you weren’t already. You can also send pictures of things that make you think of your partner.

You don’t have to go in-depth or send anything profound. All that you have to do is reach out in some way to let your partner know they’re on your mind.

If you don’t live with your partner, you can also use mornings and nighttime as a chance to connect. Send a good morning and goodnight text every day because these small things result in a deeper connection.

2. They Send Love Notes

Love notes are a personal and meaningful way for a couple to show their love and appreciation for one another. When you send a note, it can cheer someone up or offer encouragement and positivity. The surprise of a love note never dulls because of the effort and thought put into each one.

If you’re a competitive couple, you could even make it into a competition. Try to one-up each other with creativity and surprise factors in each note.

While it’s easy to stay in constant communication digitally, sending a love note is unique and exciting. People don’t tend to forget meaningful messages, and you can personalize them in any way you want.

3. Strong Couples Continue To Date Each Other

Closely connected partners don’t take their relationship for granted and know it requires work to keep it healthy. They schedule regular date nights with each other, but they go beyond the typical dinner and a movie type of date. They explore new interests and hobbies as a way of keeping things fresh and new.

Trying new activities together is one way you can explore new hobbies while dating each other. Choose an activity neither of you has done before and make a date out of it. You can sign up for a class, learn a new skill, or explore somewhere new.

As you continue to date one another, you’ll keep learning about each other, too. One of the most exciting parts of a relationship is getting to know each other, and it never has to end. No matter how long you’ve been with your partner, you can always learn more.

Continuing to date and get to know each other will strengthen your bond and bring you closer together. Plan for regular date notes, and make it a priority to be available for the date that night.

4. They Dance It Out

If you and your partner like to go out, find a place for dancing. You can get out of the house and into the perfect dancing environment, allowing you to connect through music and movement.

However, if you’re a more laid-back couple, you can have a dance night at home. Pick a dance you want to learn together, and spend some time laughing and dancing together. You can also take a professional dance class to learn something new. Dance classes are fun and force you to work together to get the steps right.

Another way to use dancing to become closer to your partner is by using it to release tension. Dancing and music can lighten the mood and help the two of you get back on the same page. While it won’t solve the problem, it’ll bring the tension down enough to work it out productively.

5. They Properly Say Hello And Goodbye

Don’t take your partner for granted if you want to get closer to them. Use each greeting or goodbye as a chance to show your love and appreciation for them. When you greet them, look into their eyes as you say hello, and form a physical connection.

Hug your partner tightly and kiss them sincerely to express your sincere affection. Research shows that greeting your partner and kissing for six seconds can deepen your bond. A six-second kiss is a perfect way to feel intimate during a busy day or when you haven’t seen each other all day.

If you give a six-second kiss as you leave your partner, the thought of it will linger with you. It’ll help you feel better and more connected to your partner. Thinking about the kiss, you’ll give when you see them again gives you something to look forward to, promoting positive thinking about the relationship.

6. Close Couples Practice Gratitude Together

Strong relationships are based on gratitude, not only for each other but for their relationship and life together. They often share their appreciation, making sure each feels valued, loved, and supported.

Vocalize your thoughts and feelings so that your partner knows how thankful you are for them. Expressing these thoughts will also encourage your partner to do the same, allowing your bond to deepen.

7. They Regularly Go Off-grid

Close couples spend time disconnected from electronic devices. They go off-grid together to spend some time connecting on a deeper level. When you spend time with your partner without distracting text messages coming in or a show playing, it’ll bring you closer.

Spending time off-grid with your partner gives you a chance to revitalize your relationship. It also helps keep the lines of communication open, giving you both a safe space to talk about things.

It’s easy to become distracted when spending time with your partner, so make it a point to disconnect together. Set aside time each week where you put the phones away, turn off your TV and spend time being present with your partner.

8. They Make Common Goals

While it’s essential to have personal goals, you should also have common goals with your partner. Strong, healthy relationships involve couples that have life goals together. Having life plans together is an integral part of growing into a long-lasting relationship or strengthening the bond you already have.

Spend some time setting goals and making plans for the future together. You can start with planning a vacation and then move on to more serious things when the time is right.

A fun way to come up with your plans is to make a date night out of it. Make a vision board together about what you want something in your future to look like. You can make it about your dream home together or the perfect vacation for the two of you.

9. They Are Interested In Each Other’s Schedule

Close couples are interested in their partner’s daily schedule and knowing what their day looks like. Being interested in your partner’s schedule goes beyond asking about their day. Ask about how they spend their time and if they have anything different going on each day.

Being interested in your partner’s schedule doesn’t mean that you are needy or codependent. It simply means that you are interested in their life and want to know more about it. Plus, it helps when making plans or spending time together.

10. Close Couples Know How to Fight Fair

Fighting fair will help bring you and your partner closer together. By fighting fair, you will respect each other’s opinions and work to find a compromise. You won’t be selfish and unwilling to budge, and you’ll be kind and loving even when you’re angry.

Arguments occur in all relationships, but they don’t have to drive you away from one another. Instead, allow the fights to bring you closer when you see how you can work together for a solution. As you tackle the problem together, it’ll help with positive thinking and working through it.

Final Thoughts on the Ten Things That Bring Couples Closer Together

Perfect relationships don’t exist, but strong and healthy ones do. Use these tips to bring couples closer together, and you’ll find that your relationship quickly improves. Be respectful, kind, show appreciation, and have fun together.

Even when things get hard, you can strengthen your bond and value one another’s feelings. Begin implementing these tips in your relationship right away so that it can bring you and your partner closer together.

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

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!