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12 Ways Introverts Can Increase Their Extrovert Power

October 19, 2022 by Kristen Butler

The battery life of introverts tends to be shorter than that of their extrovert counterpart. So how can introverted people find their inner extrovert power and recharge that battery? The key is finding what works best to boost yourself back to a healthy place, and you will find that quiet time often does the trick.

Some individuals find that social events drain their resources quicker than anything. There may be phases in your life where you have recharging issues, which can run you down to the point of getting physically ill. Once you master how to recharge your batteries, you will find that you live for these moments when you can gain strength and shut off the chaos and noise around you.

Twelve Ways an Introvert Can Increase Their Extrovert Power

Almost every household has a toolbox. In this box are things like a screwdriver, hammer, drill, and wrench. Each box is different based on the needs of the home. Introverts need a similar “box” of tools that helps them recharge their batteries.

Your needs are different than the person next to you, so your box of tools to boost yourself is diverse. Here are some everyday things that introverts need to utilize to recharge themselves.

1 – The Introvert Must Occasionally Spend a Day on Self-Care

Quiet time for you might mean spending the day at the spa. Many introverts need time for self-care, as it helps them to regroup. Self-care means different things to different people, so you must decide what works best for you.

Some folks like to spend their “me day” doing yoga, sitting by a lake with a book in hand, or taking a walk in the park. Whatever activities help you feel pampered–you should engage in them. Sure, it’s a little indulgent, but you deserve it. Plus, it’s going to pay you back tenfold as it’s going to help you recharge.

2 – Binge Watch TV

While watching a television show isn’t always the best activity, it can help you to calm down and recharge. If your introvert batteries are near depletion, you may not want to do any activities that require thinking.

Watching TV is great for those who don’t have the brainpower to work through a Sudoku or another puzzle. Enjoying a great show doesn’t require much thought, and laughter is always good healing medicine.

3 – The Introvert Must Take a Social Media Break

Many introverts find that social media drains the energy right out of them. Sure, you’re connecting with family and friends, but you’re also ingesting a lot of negativities. Rather than scrolling through these pages, why not get outside? Looking at memes is amusing if you don’t have to scroll through all the other garbage to see them.

4 – Spend Time in Nature

The benefits of nature are vast. Introverts need quiet time, and nature provides ample opportunities for such relaxation. When you’re among the birds, bees, flowers, and trees, you can detach from the stressors of the world around you and recharge your batteries.

For extra benefits, take your shoes off and walk barefoot, allowing you to feel Mother Earth’s cold against your feet. You can find a nice spot to escape the extrovert-centric society you live in and recharge your batteries while resting your mind.

5 – An Introvert Needs Rest

If it’s nighttime, you can rest, but there’s nothing wrong with a good power nap during the day, either. Sleep can do wonders for someone who needs to recharge, as you awaken feeling refreshed.

You can adjust your sleep schedule to accommodate your introvert hangover, which may include going to bed earlier, taking a nap, or sleeping in longer than usual. Ensure you don’t sleep in too late, as it can make you feel worse when you get your circadian rhythm off kilter. It’s a commonplace for you to feel tired after you’ve lost your energy, so what better way to power up than some rest?

6 – Hang Out with Friends or Family Members

Chilling with some of your best friends or family members may be a good recharge their extrovert powers. Although, this is inadvisable for someone extremely depleted. Everybody needs someone to whom they can vent, share philosophies about life, and exchange good conversations.

While it doesn’t take much energy, it will require a bit from you. However, being around someone positive can be more healing than quiet time for some folks.

7 – Journaling and the Introvert

Whitney Barkman is a blogger and introvert. She struggled for many years to make it through the day until she discovered how she wasn’t doing what she needed to thrive. Now, she educates other introverts on the importance of quiet time and other solitary activities.

One thing Barkman highly recommended that helped her was journaling. First, she loved journaling because she could complete the entries alone. Second, it provided an escape. It became the place to release her thoughts and anything weighing her down and draining her resources.

The best part about journal writing is that you can write whatever you want, and no one will judge you. It’s very commonplace for introverts to hold back their true feelings, so this provides a much-needed outlet.

8 – Shut Yourself Behind Closed Doors

Introverts can often find their extrovert power at home. Getting out and about is too much for some introverted folks when their batteries run low. A simple activity like closing your bedroom door and enjoying the silence may be all you need.

Some introverted folks describe it as a full-blown introvert hangover when feeling depleted. Your home base is healing for you, and it’s the spot where you feel safe and secure from what’s happening around you. So go ahead and shut the world out for just a tiny bit, as it will give you the necessary downtime.

9 – Avoid Sensory Stimulation

Sensory stimulation is a significant energy drain for introverts. There’s no such thing as some quiet time after loud sounds, bright lights, and nauseating aromas. A study published on Research Gate found that introverts and extroverts both process sensory stimulation diversely.

Going to a supermarket with the bright lights, crowds, and registers chiming might not bother some people, but you may find it exhausting. It would help if you had an introvert sanctuary to help you recharge, and it’s not going to be a shopping mall or grocery store, which the extrovert may prefer.

10 – Read a Good Book

Curling up with a good book is a great way to divert your mind from the world around you and recharge. It’s common for people with this personality to enjoy spending time in their heads.

Your inner world can be quite a fascinating place to explore, and it’s very healing and energy-boosting to visit. Books help you to dive deep into your brain, and since this is a solo activity, it’s one way to enhance your battery life.

11 – Clean and Organize Your Space to Satisfy Your Introverted Tendencies

Cleaning your space doesn’t sound like much fun, but it’s often just what the introvert needs to recharge. An unorganized area is often a depiction of your inner mind. It’s best to declutter your mind and space if you need to recharge.

12 – Mind Off, Hands On

Maybe your batteries aren’t too low, but you still need activities to help you turn off your brain for a few minutes and allow quiet time. Mindless activities like gardening, knitting, drawing, painting, pottery, or making candles can be beneficial. It will enable you to focus on something other than life and your troubles and give your brain a rest. You can spend this as quiet time or play soothing music to hum along.

Final Thoughts on How Introverts Can Improve Their Extrovert Power

When collecting tools for your introverted toolbox, you will find that the tiniest things make the most significant impact. Introverts are notorious for having a shorter battery life than others, and there’s nothing wrong with your differences. It would be best if you learned how to channel your energies properly and when it’s time to take a break.

Nature is the best place to start if you’re struggling to take a break and shut off the chaos around you. There’s something healing about being surrounded by wildlife, having the sun kiss your cheek, and the crisp breeze blowing across your skin. If you’re not a nature person, don’t worry, this list provides several other options to regroup and recharge.

Did you find any tools you can use? You may have to try a few of these tips before you find the ones that work best for you. However, once you fill your toolbox, you’ll have many options when you feel depleted and regroup.

10 Yoga Poses To Relieve Bloating

October 19, 2022 by Chris Butler

Bloating or distention of the abdomen is a horrible feeling that many things can cause. Some folks experience this discomfort when their digestive system is inflamed, yet others have it during their menstrual cycle. Thankfully, yoga poses can help you get rid of your bloated stomach and feel relief.

Ten Yoga Poses to Alleviate Abdominal Bloating

Many yoga poses are geared toward strengthening your core section, which can help reduce the uncomfortable swelling you experience. Don’t worry–science backs the efficacy of yoga to relieve bloating. A study posted on Hindawi Medical Journals showed that people who regularly engage in specific yogic moves could alleviate irritable bowel syndrome and reduce the swelling and discomfort that comes with it.

The key is to do these exercises regularly to prevent swelling. Getting sufficient exercise is the key to helping with any inflammation. Regularly practicing yoga will help alleviate water retention and allow you to have more effortless bowel movements. Are you ready for some anti-bloating yoga? Here are ten of the best poses for this common ailment.

1. Bow Pose

When you strengthen your core muscles, it will reduce the swelling in your abdomen. Some believe the bow pose will energize your organs and stimulate the digestive system. This will help you combat bloating and ease your digestive issues.

1. Lie flat on your belly on your mat. You want to keep your toes engaged in this pose, so press them into the floor. It helps to bend your knees slightly.

2. Use your hands and grab your ankles on the outside, and while you’re holding, flex your feet.

3. Inhale and lift your chest and shoulders until they reach the middle of your head.

4. Exhale and move your legs back using your hands to hold your body firm to the ground.

5. Now, lift your head and look ahead. To enhance this stretch, press the muscles in your thighs as you raise your core.

6. Hold for five breaths.

2. Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Yogis call this one the “King of Restorative Yoga Poses”)

Many folks find this pose very relaxing. Many say this is one of the poses that help with menstrual symptoms, lower back pain, as well as stress.

1. Sit on the floor near a wall with plenty of space.

2. Stretch your legs out straight in front of you.

3. Lie on your back, slowly lift your legs upwards, and place them flush against the wall.

4. Keep your feet pointing towards the ceiling.

5. Place your hand on your stomach or at your sides, whichever feels most comfortable to you.

6. Practice breathing in and out deeply. It’s best to stay in this position for fifteen to twenty minutes or as long as you can hold it comfortably.

3. Camel Pose

It’s called a camel pose because when you bend backward, your back resembles the hump of a camel. This deep backbend feels fantastic, and it’s a great way to promote openness in the body.

1. Stand on your knees in the middle of your yoga mat. Keep your knees about two fist lengths apart.

2. Keep your ankles aligned with your knees, which means your toes will be pointing backward.

3. Move your hands to your lower back for support.

4. Do some shoulder rolls by going up, backward, and down.

5. Push your chest towards the ceiling as you move your hips slightly forward.

6. Look at the back wall or the ceiling, but don’t drop your head all the way.

7. If possible, try to reach back and grab your heels. Hold for three to five breaths.

4. Knee to Chest Pose

One of the significant issues with belly pain is a buildup of air. Yoga poses like this one will help to eliminate the excess air.

1. Lie flat on your back on your mat.

2. Bring your knees to your chest area and hold them tight.

3. Hold the pose for ten to twelve seconds and breathe in and out as you’re holding.

4. Release your legs and repeat.

5. Half Lord of the Fishes

Yoga is about twisting; this pose will help enhance digestion by moving your upper body. When your yoga poses restrict your stomach and intestines, it helps to relieve stomach pain.

1. Begin by getting into the Bound Angle pose, where you sit on the floor with your knees bent towards your chest.

2. Extend your left leg straight out in front of you.

3. Now, cross your right leg over the left one, and place your right foot on the floor. It should be lying flat and close to the left knee.

4. Take your left arm and wrap it tight around your right knee and pull your knee towards your chest area. Lengthen your spine by pressing through your hips.

5. Inhale, take your right hand, and reach for the sky as you breathe fresh air.

6. Exhale and clasp your arm. Place the palm of your right hand on the floor and around the other leg. The left elbow should be on the inside of the right knee.

7. Strive to hold this pose for three to six breaths. Switch and do the other side.

6. Cat/Cow Pose (One of the first yoga poses many people master)

When you relax your spine muscles, it helps to improve flow to the digestive tract. Yoga poses like this one can help to aid in getting your food to pass quickly.

1. Get into the baby crawls position where you’re on your hands and knees.

2. Lift your head and tailbone on the inhale but keep your stomach downwards.

3. Exhale and arch your back. Strive to do this pose three to five times.

7. Marichyasana III Pose

The Marichyasana III will help with movement in your digestive system. If you have significant issues with abdominal swelling, add this to the list of yoga poses to help you digest your food easily.

1. Start in the seating pose with your hands resting on either side.

2. Bend your left leg and move your left foot close to your bottom.

3. Make sure your back is straight, reach forward, and lock your right elbow on the inner side of your left knee.

4. Keep your other hand behind you to add support to your pose.

5. Now, twist your core and chest to the left, and support yourself on your knee if you need leverage.

6. When deep into the twist, hold the pose for three to six breaths.

7. Return to the seated pose and try on the right side.

8. Downward Facing Dog (This is one of the best yoga poses for beginners!)

One of the great things about this pose is that it’s so easy even a kid can do it. It’s one of the yoga poses that’s perfect for a distended abdomen.

1. Stand on the floor with your hands and feet touching the ground, and keep your stomach pointed downward.

2. Lift your back towards the ceiling. If done correctly, your body should make a 90-degree angle.

3. Make sure you don’t let your knees touch the ground and hold for three to five breaths.

9. Upward Facing Dog

The upward-facing dog is the reverse of the downward yoga poses. It pushes excess air out and helps your spine to function better.

1. Lay flat on the ground with your belly on the floor.

2. Push your toes into the ground as you raise your head slightly. Use your hands to support you as you do in many yoga poses.

3. Try to lift your belly from the floor, though keep it close. Strive to hold for three to five seconds.

10. Bharadvaja’s Twist

When you’re in pain from bloating, rubbing the area feels great. This is one of the yoga poses that’s like giving your organs a gentle massage. This is perfect for that bloated feeling after a big meal.

Did you know that many foods you eat cause excessive gas and inflammation? According to The Cleveland Clinic, eating things like beans, cauliflower, peppers, and fried and fatty foods can cause excessive bloating. After consuming such gassy foods, you’ll appreciate this twisting motion.

1. Sit comfortably on the ground and bend your knees to the left. Your feet should be on the right, and your ankles will rest on the left foot.

2. Engage your sitting bones and push them deep into the mat.

3. Inhale and allow your spine to lengthen.

4. Exhale and twist your body to the left. It’s okay if you feel your right hip lift from the floor.

5. Lastly, turn your head. As you make this turn, press the fingers of your left hand into the ground.

6. Stay in this twisted pose as you inhale and exhale for a few breaths.

7. Release your hands and move your core to the front to come out of the pose.

8. Repeat on the right side.

Final Thoughts on Yoga Poses to Relieve Bloating

Many yoga poses can help with painful bloating, but you must choose the ones that can accommodate your stretching abilities. With yoga, there are many ways to modify the poses for those with back, neck, or other issues. However, when you implement these movements into your day, you will notice a remarkable reduction in your stomach issues.

10 Ways to Release Parental Trauma

October 18, 2022 by Chris Butler

Parental trauma is a painful echo from your past that can affect your mental health for a lifetime. It affects every personal and professional relationship you have in many diverse ways. How can you overcome the trauma and begin the healing process?

Meet Elaine, a woman in her early forties, happily married, and a mother of three. She and her husband run a successful home business. They also care for the kids and all the chores for daily living. Most days, Elaine stays focused on her work and responsibilities as a wife and mother. However, she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression that often overwhelms her. She attributes much of her mental health issues to parental trauma from childhood.

While Elaine has many wonderful childhood memories, they are overshadowed by her father’s verbal and physical abuse. He went through cycles of being the good, fun-loving dad to a raging monster. She remembers hiding in a closet while her father screamed and threatened her helpless mother.

It took years of therapy for Elaine to realize that the terrible abuse she kept hidden manifested as headaches, panic, and mental health issues. Even when she hears screaming and abuse on television dramas, it triggers her anxiety.

Although it happened over thirty years ago, the parental trauma is fresh in her mind. Her father is now in his seventies, and she sometimes tries to discuss the abuse. But he denies any wrongdoing. She tries to have a relationship with him, but the issues remain without a healing conversation.

Three Primary Types of Parental Abuse

It’s a common misconception that child abuse is only beating or sexually assaulting a child. Other forms of abuse can be just as painful and long-lasting.

1. Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse includes screaming, threatening, cursing, and calling the child cruel and terrible names.

2. Emotional abuse

When a parent or other adult demeans a child and tries to compare them to others, it’s emotional abuse.

3. Neglect

Child abuse includes not only crimes of commission but also includes those of omission. Neglecting the needs of a child for food, shelter, clothing, schooling, medical care, love, and acceptance is abuse.

Ten Ways to Release Parental Trauma and Start Healing Your Soul

If you’re a survivor of childhood abuse, you’re not alone. According to statistics from The National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, this form of maltreatment isn’t exclusive. It occurs across all cultural and ethnic lines, within all religions, and at every socioeconomic and educational level.

If past childhood trauma continues to affect your adult life, there’s hope. You don’t have to be the scared little one hiding in a closet anymore. Here are ten ways to learn how to deal with the past and live a brighter future.

1. Acknowledge the Parental Trauma

The first step toward healing from parental trauma is to acknowledge it and the pain it’s caused. Frequently, people try to cope by pretending it didn’t happen. Maybe your memories are too hurtful or make you feel embarrassed, so you bury them in your mind.

It’s difficult to admit that the adults who were supposed to be your loving parents hurt you. You probably still love them and may feel guilty or disloyal by acknowledging their faults. However, your mental health depends on confronting the painful truth.

2. Realize the Parental Trauma Wasn’t Your Fault

An article published by the School of Osteopathic Medicine discusses the feelings of shame from childhood maltreatment, like parental trauma. Many times, the perpetrator shifts the blame to the child. The abuse makes you want to hide and feel guilty and ashamed.

First, realize that you were a child, and the trauma wasn’t your fault. If one or both of your parents tried to blame you, that was part of the abuse. Visualize your hurting inner child, hug them, and tell them they were never to blame.

3. Focus on the Positive So You Can Start Healing

Focusing on positivity can be helpful when you’re learning to put parental trauma behind you. Being an optimist doesn’t mean you deny the past. It means that you’ve acknowledged the trauma and are using positive energy to go forward.

When you send positive affirmations into the Universe, it attracts the same. Instead of being the victim, you proclaim that you are a survivor. You are strong, and you’ll accomplish the goals you’ve set for your life.

4. Practice Meditation

The benefits of meditation are many, including boosting your mental health. It’s been practiced for thousands of years to help people learn how to live in the present. Unlike rumination, meditation casts no judgment and doesn’t cling to negative assumptions.

If you’ve experienced parental trauma, consider practicing this ancient art. You can gain greater awareness and clarity as you focus on your breath. You can confront your negative experiences and emotions with compassion and release them.

5. Learn to Recognize Emotional Triggers

The pain from parental trauma leaves a marked trail of emotional triggers. Although the events may have occurred decades ago, certain stimuli can make them seem like they are happening now. Your emotional health becomes fragile because you are hypersensitive to anything that triggers negative memories.

For example, maybe one or both of your parents were verbally abusive. They raged and belittled you if you left a minor thing undone while cleaning. As an adult, seeing anything untidy sends your anxiety into high gear.

Once you recognize your emotional triggers, you can try to minimize them. Plus, you may understand their root causes and gradually lessen your reaction. Emotional triggers are a common symptom of post-traumatic stress syndrome or PTSD.

6. Seek Refuge in Nature

The great outdoors can be a healing salve when you’re tempted to worry about past hurts. Try to spend some time each day outside to breathe fresh air and take in the beauty of nature. If you don’t have any forests close, visit a city park or any green space of grass, trees, flowers, and wildlife.

Regardless of what happens, the sun still rises, and the moon and stars shine at night. The birds still sing, and the bees and butterflies kiss each flower they touch. The storms of your past don’t have to shadow the sunshine of your present.

7. Start a Healing Journal

Have you ever noticed that it’s easier to put something down on paper than to say it? No wonder people have been writing in journals for centuries. It gives a voice to what your heart and soul are feeling.

Dealing with past parental trauma can leave countless things unsaid. You can record anything you like in your journal; thankfully, these writings are for your eyes only. Some write letters to their parents in journals about how the abuse has affected them.

8. Get Help with Substance Abuse (It Often Comes From Past Parental Trauma)

Mental health issues and substance abuse often go together. Anxiety and depression can build up until your mind desperately seeks release. Substance abuse like drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and overeating are temporary fixes, but they create their problems.

Consider talking to a mental health professional if your addiction is linked to past childhood abuse. Many programs are geared toward recovery and learning to cope with the core issues. Even if your addiction is shopping, gambling, or gaming, you can get the help you need.

9. Follow a Healthy Diet

Let’s face it, when you’re ruminating about the past and feel stressed, you probably don’t reach for kale. Instead, you reach for classic comfort foods laden with sugar, salt, and fat. Childhood trauma can affect your eating habits throughout your life.

According to an article published by The University of Southern California, children subjected to abuse are more at risk of developing adult obesity. Food becomes their coping mechanism and makes them feel safe and happy. Unfortunately, overeating can continue into adulthood and lead to severe health conditions.

Instead, adopt a healthy diet with lean proteins, low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats. Try to avoid overly processed junk food. Discuss an eating plan that’s right for you with a registered dietician.

10. Create an Exercise Regimen

Do you often want to hit something when you feel angry and stressed? Positively redirect this energy by exercising. Switching a punching bag or running laps can lower your stress, get your body in better shape, and promote emotional healing.

Even taking a walk around the block each day can strengthen your muscles, joints, and bones. Mindful exercises like yoga and tai chi include gentle poses and stretches that are beneficial. Plus, exercising can increase endorphins in your brain and give you a feeling of well-being.

Final Thoughts on Learning How to Release Parental Trauma

Unfortunately, childhood isn’t always the beautiful fairytales it should be in your life. If you’re an adult survivor of child abuse, you’ve already proven that you’re a strong person.

You have the power to overcome the victim mindset and stop the cycle of abuse for you, your children, and your grandchildren. Your mental health needs you to release these issues and move on to focusing on the present.

10 Signs Your Best Friend Is Your Soulmate

October 18, 2022 by Kristen Butler

When you mention the word soulmate, most people automatically think about lovers. However, there are relationships outside of romantic ones that can have attachments that are soul deep. You form a rare bond with a best friend, someone who is always by your side.

This person has your back when the rest of the world turns against you, and they’re not going to leave your side during one of life’s storms. When it comes to your achievements, they are your most powerful support system. Their devotion is unwavering, and they’re cheering you on no matter what you attempt to accomplish in life.

While you’ve had many friends, their friendship is notable because it’s unique and on a whole other level. They’re honest, comfort you in times of need, and are more reliable than any lover you’ve ever had. These types of friendships don’t come around very often, but they last a long time, as they’re special.

When you have someone like this in your life, their love and devotion are bliss. You can’t imagine your life without them. Even better–they feel the same way about you.

Signs of a Soulmate Friend

Do you have a deep friendship with someone you feel worthy of the soulmate title? Here are some common signs that this person is your other half and the one who completes you.

1. Your Soulmate Is Your Biggest Cheerleader

Everyone needs a person that encourages and supports them. Having a cheering section for whatever endeavors you try is imperative for success. Your friendship is your soulmate because they’re the first person to congratulate you and recognize your achievements.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve accomplished the most minor thing; they never let it go without being celebrated. Without this person whispering words of encouragement continuously to you, you don’t know how you would have made it so far in this life. Their support gives you the courage and strength to keep going when you feel like throwing in the towel.

2. You Can’t Imagine Your Life Without Your Best Friend

Your relationship is so deep that you have your language with each other. You have phrases and looks that only the two of you can decipher. It’s not only the present that you share but also your past that allows you to have such a connection.

The two of you share a history, so this allows you to talk about your memories and adventures together. Many of the greatest moments of your life include them. Moreover, you can’t fathom a life without them in it, and your mind can’t comprehend such an existence.

If friendships were gems, yours would be a ruby. You wouldn’t trade them for any amount of money in this world. When you examine your happiness, you realize that they are one of the main reasons you smile.

3. A Soulmate Will Never Judge You

Sure, you have things you’ve done in your past that you’re not proud of, but your soulmate never judges you. They would never dream of having a judgmental attitude toward you as they understand that no one makes perfect choices.

Are there times when you disagree or even spat with one another? Sure, you spend so much time together that you can’t always get along. However, you both say your peace and move on quickly. You don’t resort to childish games as you genuinely have each other’s best interests.

Your soulmate isn’t afraid to tell you when you need to face some harsh realities. They’ll never be judgmental and rude if they get mad at you. Consequently, they won’t sugarcoat things, as they have no problems telling you when you’ve done wrong.

4. You Miss Your Soulmate Terribly When You’re Apart

You two are inseparable and go together like a sock and shoe. When you’re apart, there’s not a minute that they’re not in your thoughts. You miss them deeply, as it feels like your souls are intertwined.

If you go to a social gathering without them, your mind can’t help but wonder what they’re doing. You wish they were there as parties aren’t nearly as fun without them by your side. One unique thing about your friendship is that you crave their presence continually, and you feel the happiest when they’re by your side.

5. Your Best Friend Is a Part of Your Family

Your friendship crosses traditional lines, and this person feels like family. Ironically, your family accepts them as one of them, and their relatives feel the same about you. When there’s a birthday or holiday celebration, they’re invited just like everyone else in the group.

The bond seems so close that you must remind yourself that you’re not related by blood. They blend seamlessly into your family and even occasionally argue with your siblings. When it comes to their family, you can stop by and visit without them being with you, as you feel like they’re your parents and siblings too.

6. You Are a Tiny Bit Jealous of Their Other Friendships

You can’t help yourself, as you feel jealous of your friend’s other relationships. If someone dares to call them their “best friend,” you would be ready to fight. When someone tries to get closer than you to your soulmate, you feel jealousy and want to push them away.

You don’t want to share this person with anyone else, as their friendship is priceless. You must be careful because jealousy can destroy romantic and platonic relationships alike. Dr. Rhonda Lipscomb, a counselor and life coach in Colorado, states that jealousy often stems from the feeling of losing control.

She further states that this emotion has deep roots in insecurity. The feelings of not being good enough can affect all types of relationships, but they’re undoubtedly common among friends. It’s essential to allow yourself to open the innermost parts of your heart to those who are trustworthy, as it will enable you to develop stronger bonds.

7. Your Bond is Unbreakable

If your friends for any length of time, there will be arguments. It’s impossible not to have some simple misunderstandings when you’re together so much. However, you’re not going to let a disagreement come between you, as you’re both eager to make amends after a fight.

Even if your current love relationship doesn’t last long, you know that the devotion you and your friend have will be there until you’re in your golden years. Yes, lovers may come and go, but your friend is your rock and cornerstone in life.

8. You Call Them First During a Crisis

When you’re in a crisis, there’s just one person that you want to call. You know that they will have the correct answers and be able to calm you down. Through thick and thin, you know they have your back. Even if the crisis is self-inflicted, they will not judge you but offer unwavering support.

9. Your Soulmate Has No Problem Telling You If You’re Wrong

Telling someone, they’re wrong is not something you like to do when you have a close bond. However, your soulmate has no problem putting you in your place. Telling each other necessary truths is essential. Thankfully, you two have mastered it in your relationship.

You love that this person has no hidden agenda when it comes to you, and they only have your best interests at heart. When they come to you and tell you that you’ve done something wrong, you know it’s coming from a place of love, and you need to take heed.

10. They Know Everything About You, Even Your Secrets

Vulnerability is essential in a good relationship, and you certainly have mastered that between you two. They know everything there is to know about you, as you don’t keep secrets from one another. Even if there are things you won’t share with your romantic partner, you have no qualms about sharing them with your friend.

You can be very open and honest in telling them difficult things. The air of comfort that surrounds you two is thick, and you like how your relationship has developed. According to Dr. Lisa Firestone, humans were created for socializing.

Conversely, many people want to develop deep and meaningful relationships but resist being vulnerable to get to those levels. It’s the very act of vulnerability that makes having these connections possible.

She further states that the urge to be closed off often happens in childhood, as children are keen observers. Kids can develop a “critical inner voice” that closes them off from people and doesn’t allow vulnerability to happen. Without this susceptible side, any relationship cannot have intimate interactions.

Final Thoughts on Having a Best Friend Who is Also Your Soulmate

Do you have a friend who ranks high enough to be called your soulmate? If you’ve found such a person in your life, you’ve found a gem.

This person allows you to ask for what you need, will enable you to expose your innermost secrets, and teaches you to slow down and be present. They improve the world; you can’t imagine your life without them.

10 Signs of Dog Dementia to Never Ignore

October 18, 2022 by Power of Positivity

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), or dog dementia, is a canine memory disorder that causes symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s. As a dog ages, the brain can develop dog dementia. This condition causes changes in their memory, ability to learn, and behavior. Dogs over ten are most at risk, particularly inactive canines. Because dog dementia is similar to human dementia, it’s essential to know your dog’s signs of canine cognitive dysfunction. Here are ten signs to never ignore.

Are certain breeds at risk for dog dementia?

There’s no particular breed that’s prone to CCD. Any dog can develop it, but small dogs like terriers and toys are at a higher risk of developing dementia. It may be because small dogs live longer than larger dogs. Larger breeds can develop dog dementia as early as ten.

Do veterinarians diagnose dog dementia?

A study with older dogs estimated the frequency of CCD in dogs aged 11. and how often vets encounter the condition. Interestingly, there was a 14.2% prevalence of CCD, but only 1.9% of these got a formal diagnosis from a vet. These results mean dog owners are most likely to notice CCD in their pets. You may be aware of some behaviors that seem off in your dog but aren’t sure it’s dementia.

Ten signs of dog dementia most pet owners don’t know

Check out these ten signs of dog dementia that you may have ignored in the past.

1. Disorientation might stem from dog dementia

If your dog has CCD, you’ll notice they’re increasingly disoriented. Your pup might forget where its water dish is or get lost heading to bed. Dogs with CCD get stuck under the table and run into things. As your dog’s dementia worsens, they might forget their name or not recognize familiar people. They might not even identify you. The disorientation makes them feel stressed, so they look and act confused. You might need to help your senior dog navigate furniture in your home and help them find their bed.

2. Accidents in the house can reveal CCD

If your housebroken dog suddenly starts having accidents inside, it could be any number of things causing it. It’s worth a vet trip to rule out infections or other conditions. But, accidents are a common sign of the beginning stages of CCD. Your pet’s brain changes, making it difficult for your dog to remember how to do their business outside.

It’s a challenge if your dog is doing this, and you’ll need advice from your vet on how to help your pup. You might need to start taking them outside more often to avoid messes.

3. Behavior changes may indicate dog dementia

Some dogs who experience dementia become more aggressive towards people and other pets. It’s hard to control aggression in dogs. If you’re unsure of the causes of your dog’s behavior, it’s essential to see your vet. Your dog’s vet can rule out other health problems like arthritis. Other behavior changes include:

Wandering around the house
Pacing in circles
Your canine cannot stay still
Won’t play anymore
Doesn’t want attention like petting
They don’t get excited when they see familiar people
Need extra attention than before

4. Confusion can stem from CCD

Dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction get confused easily, even at home. Confusion in your dogs looks like

Forgetting commands like “sit” or “come.”
Leaning against a wall and head pressing against it
Getting stuck in the corner
A puzzled look on their face

If you notice these things happening to your dog, don’t ignore them. If you don’t feel comfortable taking your poor confused dog to your vet, shoot a video on your phone and then show it to your vet.

5. Sleep changes might indicate CCD

Dog dementia interferes with your dog’s sleep. They may roam around the house all night and sleep all day. Similar to dementia in humans, dogs are affected by “sundowning,” which keeps them awake and agitated during the night. They might also howl, bark or whine during the night.

6. Separation anxiety might be dog dementia

While some dogs are less interested in being with family, others are incredibly anxious if you’re away from them. They may follow you around the house to be sure they know where you are. Other CCD behavior related to separation anxiety includes:

Whine when you’re in a different room
Panting
Barking
Howling
Destructive behavior

7. Staring at nothing could indicate dog dementia

It’s common for dogs with CCD to spend long periods staring out at walls or into space. Some dogs lean on a wall or press their head against a wall. It’s unclear why dogs with CCD stare at walls. However, it might be one of your dog’s first signs of dementia.

8. Repetitive or restless movements could be canine cognitive dysfunction

Restlessness is common in older dogs. It could be due to arthritis in their joints. Moving around helps them loosen up. But if your elderly dog has dog dementia, they may move around out of restlessness. Repetitive movement like head bobbing, pacing, and leg shaking. These movements are signs of cognitive dysfunction and brain degeneration.

9. Trouble eating and drinking might be CCD

If your canine has CCD, they may have trouble drinking and eating. They may not be able to find their food or water bowls. Or they drop food out of their mouth and can’t find it. These are symptoms of cognitive problems; you should not ignore them. For example, if your dog sticks up his nose at his favorite treat he usually loves, you may buy another treat, thinking they’re tired of the other one. Your dog’s lack of interest in their favorite treat could be a sign there’s something else going on for them, like dog dementia.

10. Canines may become less active due to dog dementia

Dogs with CCD are less active. They may refuse to explore and don’t respond to you like they used to. Your dog may act frightened by sounds and activities going on around them. Your dog may not get up to greet you or guests but lie in their bed and stare at you.

What should you do first if your dog has dementia?

It’s sad to watch your sweet dog go through these changes. You may feel frightened by the sudden onset of dementia in your dog. Good chance there were signs, but you didn’t notice them. If you suspect your dog has CCD, take them to the vet. Several treatable medical conditions mimic dog dementia. In addition, diseases like brain tumors, tick-borne diseases, and inner ear infections mimic symptoms of CCD.

What can you do at home for your dog with CCD?

If your dog has dementia, there are several things you can do to help them feel more secure and comfortable at home.

Diet change: Diets rich in antioxidants can reduce cognitive decline in dogs with CCD. You may also want to try supplements to relieve the symptoms.
Medication: Your vet may prescribe hydrochloride to help control CCD symptoms. Antianxiety and depression medication may also help.
Keep a routine: Try to avoid making too many changes. For example, please don’t move the furniture or your dog’s bed because it’s confusing to a dog with dementia. Instead, follow a regular daily routine.
Give your dog more potty breaks: You might need to take your dog outside to pee every two hours to avoid accidents inside the house.
Exercise: Regular exercise is vital for your dog’s mental health. Find ways to stimulate their brain with a new toy or go for a walk somewhere new for your dog.
Expose your dog to sunlight: Exposure to sunlight can help your dog’s sleep cycle. Sunlight helps your dog’s body produce melatonin, a sleep hormone.
Pet-proof the house: Put away items your dog might get into or chew on.
Doggie diapers: You may need to invest in dog diapers to avoid accidents in the house.
Anipryl: This prescription drug can alleviate some of your dog’s symptoms. It increases dopamine activity in your dog’s brain. However, it doesn’t work for all dogs.
Try supplements: Omega3 fatty acids, SAMs, Vitamin E, Cholodin, Soliquin, and melatonin to help your dog sleep. Ask your vet about the dosage of these supplements.
Herbal remedies: Neutricks-Made from a protein found in a particular species of jellyfish, studies show it’s safe and could help with dementia symptoms. They come in dog chews, so it’s easy to give to your dog.
Chinese herbs: You may want to consult with a Chinese veterinarian who uses acupuncture and herbal remedies to help your pet find relief.

Final thoughts of knowing the signs of dog dementia

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction or dog dementia is similar to Alzheimer’s disease. Like humans, dogs are more susceptible to CCD in advancing age. All dogs can get CCD, but smaller dogs like toys or terriers are at a higher risk. Also, dogs over ten are more prone to dog dementia. If you notice your dog is behaving differently, looking confused, having accidents in the house, or suddenly acting aggressively, don’t ignore it. These may be signs of a severe disease or dog dementia. Be sure to take your dog to the vet immediately to rule out other things. Fortunately, you can do some things to help your pet feel more comfortable.

With symptoms ranging from disorientation and altered sleep patterns to increased anxiety and aggression, managing CCD can be complex. Mobile veterinary services are invaluable in providing a calm, familiar setting for diagnosis and treatment, allowing veterinarians to evaluate the dog’s behavior in their own environment. Regular check-ups and tailored care plans can help ease the discomfort of CCD, improving the quality of life for dogs as they navigate this stage. By minimizing the stress of travel, mobile vets ensure that these visits are gentle, offering much-needed support for dogs and their owners alike.

In cases where CCD progresses to the point where quality of life is severely impacted, compassionate end-of-life care may become a consideration. For families in need, mobile vet services like Adelaide Dog euthanasia provide a peaceful and humane option, allowing pets to pass in the comfort of home. Such services ensure that pets are surrounded by familiar faces and settings during their final moments, which can be a profound source of comfort. With the guidance of compassionate professionals, families can navigate the emotional journey of CCD and feel reassured that their cherished pet’s needs are met every step of the way.

10 Positive Things You Won’t See on the News

October 18, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

With everything going on in the world lately, we could all use positive vibes. In the last few years, we’ve been through a global pandemic, financial and political upheavals, and myriad weather disasters. Despite all the bad news, there are still plenty of things to smile about. You probably won’t find these uplifting stories and acts of kindness on mainstream media programs, so we’ll compile a list for you below.

10 Positive Things Happening in the World to Make You Smile

If you’ve been doing a bit too much doomscrolling lately, we hope these stories will lift your spirits!

1 – Support for labor unions in the U.S. reached a 57-year-high.

A recent Gallup poll shows 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, slightly increasing from last year’s 68%. Union support was the highest in the 1950s, when about 75% of Americans agreed with labor organizations. Today, union drives have become more common as workers strive for better wages and bargaining power. Employees at some of the largest corporations in the world, such as Starbucks, Amazon, and Chipotle, have unionized.

2 – Demand for solar energy surged

Analysts predict global solar demand will increase by thirty percent by the end of 2022. Rob Barnett, a senior clean energy analyst at Bloomberg, estimates that solar capacity installations will rise by 30% globally this year. He also forecasts sustained double-digit growth in sustainable energy demand through 2025.

3 – New technology emerges that will make takeout food free of plastics.

Lithuanian researchers developed the world’s first plastic-free takeout food container. They designed the container using cardboard covered with a non-flammable material so consumers can reheat it in the oven. They come in three different sizes to accommodate various types of foods. Best of all, the containers are recyclable and compostable to show kindness to the environment.

4 – Teenager finds a way to help end illegal elephant poaching.

A 17-year-old created a simple tool to catch African elephant poachers in real time. Anika Puri developed ElSa (short for elephant savior), a low-cost prototype of machine-learning-driven software. It detects movement patterns in thermal infrared videos of humans and elephants. ElSa consists of a $250 FLIR ONE Pro thermal camera with 206×156 pixel resolution plugged into an iPhone 6. The devices then attach to a drone that flies over wilderness areas to monitor movement.

5 – The north American bison population progresses toward a comeback.

Here’s another show of kindness to animals. Sixteen bison introduced into Banff National Park in 2017 grew to a herd of at least 85.

Bison, considered an integral part of ecosystems, disappeared from Banff National Park for about 160 years before being reintroduced into the area. Parks Canada transferred 16 plains bison — 10 young females and six young males — from a herd in Elk Island National Park to the national park in 2017. Park officials accounted that the herd is thriving in their new environment and will keep monitoring their progress.

16 plains bison shipped from Alberta are the first to live in Canada’s Banff National Park after 140 year absence. https://t.co/fl5I8m0Lj8 pic.twitter.com/HkzVHyaZZE

— Sierra Magazine (@Sierra_Magazine) April 3, 2017

6 – Los Angeles high school students bought their favorite teacher a car.

Math teacher Julio Castro had to commute four hours to work each day by scooter and bus. After hearing about his grueling trek, YULA Boys High School students wanted to do something positive for him. When Castro got to the school one day, he had no idea they would surprise him with a car. The generous students had raised $30,000 to buy him a beautiful 2019 Mazda 3 hatchback!

This kind woman raised the money to purchase a car for a deserving student.

7 – Teenagers at an airport went above and beyond to help an older man.

A Reddit user described a heartwarming act of kindness she witnessed recently:

“I was at the Phoenix airport a couple of weeks ago. An older gentleman sat next to me at our gate. Both his feet were wrapped in some sort of bandage and he was struggling to get around with a cane. On his other side were a pair of teenagers just giggling over kitten videos on their phones. They were strangers but made sure this man got helped to the restroom, had a drink, carried his bag, got to his seat, and had access to a wheelchair when he got off the plane! It was seamlessly selfless. The kids are alright. They really are. I’m 47. I am seeing it around me so often.” — u/GoingApeCostume

Another user also had positive things to say about the younger generations:

“I’m a high school counselor and high schoolers today think a hell of a lot more compassionately, empathically, and globally than I did when I was in high school (20 years ago). I’m very hopeful for the future.” — u/aibrah1

9 – MMA fighter does a kind deed.

Jon Cena flew to Amsterdam to meet a teenage fan who had to flee Ukraine.

Misha, a non-verbal teen with Down’s Syndrome, didn’t understand why his family had to leave Mariupol, Ukraine. When the boy’s mom told him the news, Misha became anxious and stressed. To appease Misha, his mom told him they were traveling to meet his hero, John Cena.

At the time, she had no idea this story would become reality. When Cena heard about the family’s story, he flew to Amsterdam to meet them! The WWE star gave Misha a positive experience with kindness in an otherwise scary, dark time in his life.

Misha, a non-verbal teen with Down’s Syndrome, didn’t understand why his family had to flee Mariupol this year.

To placate him, his mother told him they were travelling to meet John Cena.

Cena heard… and went to Amsterdam to oblige.

Just brilliant. pic.twitter.com/vix2OhkXZs

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 11, 2022

9 – We saw progress in the fight to end colorectal cancer.

A small rectal cancer drug trial saw tumors disappear in every patient. In a recent trial testing the experimental colorectal cancer drug Dostarlimab, tumors vanished in all 14 patients. They remained in remission one year after taking the medication and no longer needed chemotherapy or surgery in follow-up treatments. It marks an unprecedented breakthrough in the quest to cure cancer.

10 – An elephant shows compassion and befriends a child.

An elephant returned a toddler’s shoe after she dropped it into a zoo enclosure.

When a young girl lost her sandal while visiting a zoo in Weihai, China, a 25-year-old elephant stopped to help. The sweet animal used its trunk to give the sandal back to the youngster. Then, the child returned the positive gesture with her own kindness by feeding the elephant some grass. What a heartwarming story!

Final Thoughts on Positive Stories Around the Globe

Amidst the constant turmoil and depressing news over the past few years, we could all use a break. Hopefully, these positive news stories above will add positivity to your day and give you a reason to smile! When the world seems scary, always remember that darkness cannot exist without light.

10 Meditations You Can Do to Be Happier (In Two Minutes or Less)

October 17, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Meditation is one of the most underrated ways to calm down, clear your mind, and become a happier person. You don’t need special skills or tools to give it a try. Meditation isn’t something only people with a perfect lifestyle incorporate into their lives. On the contrary, it’s ideal for everyone! It helps even if you are struggling with anxiety or you can’t make sense of what your life is. But the pursuit of happiness isn’t the only reason people meditate.

Sometimes, having a few minutes alone with your mind is good. It allows you to make sense of everything that’s happening with you. But people are apprehensive about the idea of meditating. That could be because they associate it with mental health issues and would rather ignore them. Also, if someone suggests you meditate, you might feel offended at needing to fix something.

People usually freak out when anyone suggests there might be something about them that needs changing. But meditation has never been forced on people. Instead, it is a suggestion. Not only that, but it’s very flexible and can suit everyone’s needs. If one type doesn’t work for you, try the next one. The only thing that needs to be the same is the aim and purpose of meditation.

It’ll work out if you take the time to clear your mind and become one with yourself. Still, it’s hard to research all the best meditation practices on your own. So, here are ten meditations you can do to be happier. And the best part, most of them take less than two minutes to do.

10 Meditations You Can Do to Be Happier

These meditations can help you achieve peace and happiness in life.

1 – Focused Attention Meditation Can Help You Be Happier

Focused attention meditation is one of the most simple and effective types of meditation. It’s so simple that you might have been doing it without realizing it. The premise of the exercise is to focus your attention on an object and concentrate. Then, whenever you feel like your mind wanders, you need to bring your attention back to the focal point.

The main reason focused attention meditation works is that it aims to lower stress. You can anchor yourself as you stay focused and have a visual aid. You can remain present and slow down your inner thoughts. The significant difference between this and traditional meditation is that you still stay present. Because you remain anchored in the present, you can solve the issues that stress you the most. The result? You will clear the negativity to make space for a happier you.

2 – Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction to Calm the Mind

Mindfulness is a broad topic that we could discuss for days. But, in this immense sea of practices, there’s one technique that you could incorporate into your life. If you are ever stressed or overwhelmed, try mindfulness-based stress reduction. It’s a meditation therapy usually designed for stress management and is now used to treat many issues. It’s not just good for mental health issues, such as depression, but it can also help you manage things like cancer and diabetes.

You can do this as an extended program employing many techniques for a few weeks. But that can be tiresome and complicated. The more straightforward thing you can do is use mindfulness to learn a few exercises which are quick and efficient. For example, you can use awareness mindfulness. This practice helps you to focus on your thoughts from an outside perspective as if they were someone else’s. First, you need to be still, take a few breaths and try to disconnect. Then, visualize your thoughts as if they were objects. Doing this allows you to detach from your beliefs, which helps you see issues objectively.

3 – Yoga Can Help Make You Happier and Also Increase Physical Well-being

Everyone has heard of yoga as the mainstream meditation technique. But people think of it as a fancy way to exercise, not as meditation. So they don’t end up reaping the benefits of whatever yoga classes they take.

Remember to focus on your movements and breathing if you have already taken yoga classes. Make an effort to quiet the mind by pushing all unwanted thoughts away. Take stock of what you feel and think. Yoga is excellent because it focuses on balance and pain relief. If your body is not at its peak, you can always meditate to stretch your muscles and relax. Taking care of your body can focus on more pressing issues, like how your mind feels and what it’s struggling with.

4 – Transcendental Meditation Brings Peace of Mind

This technique is quite different from the ones in which you focus on your breath to enter a state of mind. With this technique, you need to repeat a word or phrase repeatedly to enter a state of restless awareness. The aim is to have a relaxed but aware mind. As you meditate, the active mind will settle inward until you enter a state of pure consciousness.

Because it’s a mantra-based technique, it helps you have a better mood and improve your physical health. In addition, you should try transcendental meditation if you’re battling depression, anxiety, and other concerns.

5 – Walking Meditation

Walking meditation is what it sounds like. It’s when you use the outdoors and walking to your advantage. Just be warned, it’s not as easy as it seems. If you wander, you won’t reap the benefits. Instead, you need to walk purposefully and understand what your intentions are.

You’ll start drifting as you focus on the feeling of your feet being picked up and put down again. Your mind will begin to fill with thoughts. Allow those thoughts and the feelings of your body and surroundings to take over. At the end of the walk, make an inventory of your feelings. If you’re still anxious or scared about a sure thing, you need to fix that.

When practicing walking meditation, ensure you’re away from highways or high-traffic roads. Safety is essential, so it’s best to engage in walking meditation in a place free from cars, like a beach.

6 – Visualization Meditation Helps to See a Happier You

This technique is better suited for dealing with short-term issues. That’s because you need to visualize the outcome of a task before doing it. For example, if you’re scared of speaking in public, you can picture what it would look like to give a public address. Then, imagine what it takes and feels like to give an entire speech and receive a round of applause. This method works because it helps you think you can achieve anything you set your mind to. When you see yourself succeeding, you’re teaching your body how to act to reach that goal.

7 – Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana meditation is an insight technique and has been around for a while. The aim is to practice self-observation in a non-judgmental way. This way, you can pinpoint things you need to change without being toxic and self-deprecating.

All you need to do is be still and observe yourself. Don’t try to control anything. Just let things flow. Allow yourself to breathe and be still. The aim is to quiet the mind and allow you to experience what your body is trying to tell you. All the feelings and sensations you’ll feel will help you be present and accept your thoughts.

8 – Zazen Meditation Helps You Become Happier and at One With the Universe

Buddhists invented this meditation at the heart of the Zen practice. Zazen is the study of self. It’s a form of seated meditation you can do anytime and almost anywhere.

It’s best to sit on the floor or flat surfaces when practicing this meditation. First, you need to be in a seated position, usually something like the full lotus. Next, you need to look inward, which can achieve by counting your breaths. This meditation aims to understand that the mind, body, and soul aren’t separate entities. Instead, they are interconnected, and we can only understand them as such.

9 – Body Scan Meditation

Body scan meditation is more or less precisely what it sounds like. First, you need to lay or sit down and scan your body for it to work. Then, you can allow yourself to feel the sensations coursing through your body and mind. For example, maybe you are in physical pain, making your life difficult. A body scan could tell you that.

Gradually scan from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes. As you go down, make sure to release all your pent-up tension. Then, slowly breathe through the sensations until they disappear, and you become peaceful.

10 – Third Eye Meditation

Third eye meditation is the most complicated technique you’ll learn today as it involves mudras and chakras. Mudras refer to the specific positioning of your fingers and hands. But third eye meditation had more to do with the positioning of the eyes. In this case, you must fix your inner gaze toward the center and slightly up to between your eyebrows.

That point is known as the third eye. That’s the mudra you need to practice. With some practice, you’ll start to feel aware of your third eye, so you’ll be connected with your inner self. The inner eye isn’t something that physically exists; it’s just a way to describe consciousness. The more you learn to focus on it, the better you’ll be able to meditate.

Final Thoughts on Meditations You Can Do to Be Happier (In Two Minutes or Less)

Meditation is such a great practice, but not many people understand it. Even if you know how to do yoga, that doesn’t mean you understand meditation. Unfortunately, few people are ready to learn about meditation and give it a shot. It can be easier for them to overlook it and believe that meditation is nothing but a placebo.

There are many ways to practice meditation, as you can tailor it to suit your needs. Because of that, many techniques are short and straightforward. Sure, that’s not how everyone practices it. For some people, meditation takes at least a few hours per day. But you have more straightforward options for those who don’t have that time or skills.

Most of them don’t even need anything but you and your body to make things work. Yoga, mindfulness, and body scan meditation are just a few techniques to become a happier person. But if they don’t work for you, you are sure to find something that fits you on the list.

6 Wrist Exercises to Relieve Carpal Tunnel Pain

October 17, 2022 by Chris Butler

Do you have numbness, tingling, or weakness that causes you to drop things due to your hands and wrists? You may have carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is commonly found in women but can also occur (less frequently) in men. Fortunately, you can get relief by doing wrist exercises.

The median nerve runs through the wrists and up into your arm. When the nerve is compressed by doing repetitive movements, it causes uncomfortable sensations. Anyone who works with their hands is susceptible, but it’s common among people who type or make repetitive motions that cause compression in this area.

While there have been many studies on this common ailment, there’s still no definitive cause. According to the National Library of Medicine, more than eight million people in this country are affected. Additionally, they state that it’s the most common nerve issue, accounting for ninety percent of all neuropathies diagnosed yearly.

When it comes to risk factors, they’re so diverse that it’s nearly impossible to prevent them. Experts identify a vital component between lifestyle and genetic factors but can’t rule out specific medical issues either. The symptoms vary depending on the degree of compression, so the amount of pressure on the nerve will dictate your symptoms. The good news is that wrist exercises can bring relief.

Six Excellent Wrist Exercises for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Some physicians feel the best treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is surgical intervention, but there are more natural methods for those who want to avoid the knife. While you can’t prevent this compression from occurring, you can be proactive to reduce the chance of experiencing symptoms. Here are six of the best wrist exercises to bring relief.

1. Wrist Flexor Stretch

This stretch is commonly used among athletes in warmups, so it’s perfect for a typist or anyone with a significant compression issue. Doing it a few times daily can help to take the pressure off that nerve.

1. Start by standing up straight and extending an arm forward. The other arm should be at your side.

2. Next, turn your palm facing upwards and bend your hand backward. If you do this correctly, the palm side should feel the stretching.

3. To deepen the stretch and work that compression, take your other hand, and help it to pull back this hand even more.

4. Strive to hold this pose for thirty to sixty seconds but stop if you feel any pain.

5. You want to do two to four reps on the one hand, and then you should switch and do the other.

2. Prayer Stretch

No, you’re not praying, but it’s not a bad idea. Use this familiar pose for spiritual practices to get your carpal tunnel in check. Here’s how to do it.

1. Stand or sit comfortably. Place your hands together like you’re in prayer mode, and make sure they are positioned right under your chin.

2. Slowly push your hands and direct them towards the waist area. You should feel some resistance and stretching sensations if you’re doing this correctly. If you feel pain in these movements, stop and try something else.

3. Strive to hold the pose for thirty to fifty seconds.

4. You should repeat this exercise two to four times a session.

3. Wrist Extensor Stretch

If you know that you will be doing activities that will provoke the nerves in your wrist, this is one of the great wrist exercises to help prevent pain while working. Did you know that constantly picking up your phone and scrolling can cause problems with these nerves? Yes, smartphone injuries are becoming more commonplace.

The less you aggravate the carpal tunnel, the fewer symptoms you’ll experience. This is the exact opposite of the flexor stretch.

1. Stand or sit in a comfortable position. Stretch your right arm in front of you, and make sure your palm is facing downward.

2. Bend the hand so that it’s facing toward the ground, and if you’re doing this right, you will feel stretching in the back of your wrist area.

3. Like in the flexor stretch, you should use your opposite hand to intensify the stretch.

4. Hold the position for thirty to sixty seconds.

5. Strive to do two to four repetitions on the right and then switch to the left.

4. Hand Push Ups

Who knew that you could do push-ups with your hands? It turns out that it’s a very effective form of wrist exercise that can benefit your carpal tunnel syndrome. This exercise stretches the palmar fascia and can quickly be done at work or home. Here’s how to do it.

1. Being by putting your hands together in a prayer pose.

2. Point your fingers down towards the floor.

3. Slowly spread apart your fingers and use your fingers to push your palm away from the pose. If done correctly, the prayer pose will only be held by your fingers being joined.

4. Bring the fingers back together and the palm back to the traditional prayer pose.

5. Strive to do ten to fifteen repetitions or as much as you can comfortably do.

5. The Shake

If you’re looking for easy wrist exercises that bring fast relief, then the shake will help you out. Have you ever felt pins and needles shaking your foot to bring relief? The medical term for this is paresthesia.

Your nerves send electric impulses from your spine to your extremities. These sensations give you the feelings you experience. When a nerve is compressed or has pressure, it’s like putting up a roadblock and closing the street.

The electrical impulses that flow and give you the sensation of touch are disrupted. So, it causes paresthesia, which is known as pins and needles. Using wrist exercises like the shake helps to release the compression and allow the electric impulses to flow. Here’s how to do the shake.

1. Take your left hand and shake it vigorously for one to two minutes.

2. Now, switch and do your right hand.

3. Of the wrist exercises listed, you must do this several times a day. Keeping the pressure off the carpal tunnel will reduce the feelings of pins and needles.

6. Median Nerve Glide

Before doing these wrist exercises, you will need either a heating pad or something that will apply heat to the affected area. You should warm up the region for around ten to fifteen minutes. After you warm it up, you want to cool it down with an ice pack.

Ice the area for another ten to fifteen minutes. Hot/cold therapy is necessary because it helps prevent swelling while exercising and works the medial nerve. As you go through each step of these tasks, you must hold them for five to seven seconds each.

Apply heat to your hand and wrist for fifteen minutes before doing this stretch. After, use an ice pack for twenty minutes. This will help prevent swelling.

1. Begin by making a tight fist with both hands and holding it for five to seven seconds.

2. Release the fist and extend your fingers outward. Make sure your thumb is resting tightly beside the other fingers. Hold the pose for five to seven seconds.

3. Bend your hand backward towards your upper arm and hold this for five to seven seconds. Just move your hands and try not to move your forearm with it. You will feel some burning in these nerves and muscles the first time you do it, but you must try to keep going.

4. While holding the position with your hands, move your thumb away from your fingers and extend it towards the side. Hold this for five to seven seconds.

5. Now, slowly rotate your hand in this position so your palm faces upwards. Be forewarned that you will feel a lot of stretching when you do this, which is why hot-cold therapy beforehand is essential.

Final Thoughts on Carpal Tunnel Exercises

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s best to see what degree of compression you’re dealing with in your wrists. Exercise can help relieve some pain but will not eradicate compression. Other remedies people use are wrist splints, frequent breaks from repetitive activities, hot/cold therapy, and injections.

Doing wrist exercises and other movements is part of developing a healthy routine for your body. While there are six exercises listed here, you don’t have to limit yourself to these few, as there are many more you can incorporate. When you’re working and moving these tender areas, you’re increasing your movement, circulation, and mobility of your wrists.

Lastly, it would help if you were cautious when doing these maneuvers, as it will be tender working areas that are often inflamed and tender. It’s only natural for you to feel some pulling and cramping as you move regions unaccustomed to these movements, but you should stop if you feel any sharp or stabbing pains.

Stabbing pains indicate that something is wrong, and a doctor must evaluate you to ensure the safety of continuing such exercises. However, most people find that doing these maneuvers a few times a day can be life-changing in the battle against carpel tunnel syndrome.

6 Ways to Use Anger to Create Instead of Destroy

October 17, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Anger is one of the hardest to control emotions that humans experience. But, of course, it’s a normal feeling that everyone experiences. But that doesn’t mean it’s desirable. That’s because nothing good comes from anger if that rage isn’t reigned in. Being angry, in its natural form, will only push you towards destroying. But it’s harder to learn to use all that anger to do good.

There are two things you can do when you are struggling with anger. Either work to stop feeling it or work to learn how to use it. The first option can work, but it’s contingent on never getting mad again. But let’s face it. People feel things. People get angry, and sometimes they feel like they want to burn it all down. So don’t shove your feelings under the doormat in those instances.

They’re just going to resurface, eventually. So, instead, learn to channel all that energy towards better things. Instead of succumbing to impulses and destroying everything you see, learn to create. This channeling will help you process everything healthily. So, remember to use your anger to create something instead of keeping it all in.

6 Ways to Use Anger to Create Instead of Destroy

Try these six tips to turn negative energy into positive.

1 – Understand Why You Are Angry

When people get angry, they are destructive because they blame everyone, including themselves. But they keep blaming people without trying to take action. Indeed, you’ve got angry before and wanted to destroy everything. That’s because understanding what you feel and how to fix it can be hard to figure out. But that’s what you need to do when you are mad.

Sure, this will be hard to do right when you get angry. But the moment that rage takes over, you must give yourself a few minutes to take it all out. Yell at the walls if that’s what it takes. Just make sure you don’t take it out on anyone or do anything else you’re going to regret. Then, when you feel calmer, take a few minutes to sift through your thoughts.

Your anger will still be fresh, but you won’t be raging anymore, so that’s the best time to sort through your thoughts. The most important thing is to make it your mission to solve issues. If something or someone made you mad, understand why. Was it their fault only, or did you lose your temper too quickly? Did you trigger a fight, or was it something that got out of control?

It’s better to be introspective if you want to be productive after a fight. Then, when you get your answer, you’ll know what to change in your life to avoid issues like this from happening again.

2 – Remove the Bad Parts from Your Life

A study from 2017 revealed that anger is essential to human survival because it helps people overcome obstacles. In the same way, it enables you to get rid of the less desirable people and things in your life. But that occurs if you know how to use it. Intuitively, people would get their anger out and start being destructive aimlessly.

You might even take your anger out on people who have done nothing wrong. When you are angry, you could end up yelling at an innocent person simply because they asked you what’s up. If you want to avoid that, you need to use anger wisely. Anger gives you the desire to eliminate the bad parts. But logic will be what helps you select what those people or things are. If you have a friend who always tells you gossip that makes you angry at others, maybe they are the problem.

Remember that it’s easy to oversee the truth when you are angry. It’s easy to take the first explanation for why things are happening. If you want to be productive, use your anger to motivate yourself to tackle things.

3 – Enforce Boundaries to Avoid Anger

Anger is nothing more than your brain telling you it wants protection from whatever angered it. When you have lived through any injustice, you’ll want to ensure that it never happens again. But you will never be able to do that if you just set fire to everything and everyone that angers you. When you are destructive, people will tend to respect you and your boundaries less.

So, you’re essentially getting nowhere. But if you take that anger and use it to create a clear list of boundaries, that’s way more productive. Most people don’t understand what the point of boundaries is. But, as you live and people start angering you more and more, you’ll understand quickly.

Boundaries are just basic rules that tell others what not to do around you. For example, if you have been traumatized in an abusive household, it will probably trigger you to get yelled at. Boundaries should always protect things like that. So, if you want to create something out of anger, develop a set of boundaries. It’ll save you from more pain than you might think.

4 – Focus on Things That Matter

Anger is one of the best sources of motivation out there. It can help you put things into perspective and focus on the long game. But that’s if you don’t allow yourself to spiral and succumb to the anger. If you do that, you’ll only focus on how to get your revenge. But that’s never something desirable. Instead, it would be best to consider how to move on and make the best out of a bad situation.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity and wanting to destroy everything, use that anger to motivate yourself. If your personal life is falling to pieces, that might be the time to focus on your career. The more you want to destroy things, to more value you’ll give them. And that’ll disallow you from moving on. So don’t focus too much on things you can’t change. You can be mad, but don’t let rage take over your whole mind and soul.

Instead, list things you can still do and be good at. Those could be things already working well or things you are confident you can improve. Either way, make a plan and stick to it. And remember, the long term is still what matters most. It’s no use that you went off on someone, and you feel good now when you know you’ll feel guilty after.

5 – Find Activities to Engage In

If you want to ensure you are productive when dealing with rage, take it as an opportunity to start something new. This could mean starting a new hobby or simply trying something, even if it might not work. When you are angry, you have the most energy to put into things like this, so make good use of it. These new interests will distract you and help you move on.

Or, if they don’t distract you, at least they’ll allow you to blow off steam. And you need to be sure you can do that in a safe environment if you want to release your anger. So, for example, it’s better to try drawing or building houses whenever you are angry rather than drinking your sorrows away. Or, if you find it easier, do the same thing every time you are mad.

That could mean that whenever you are angry, you draw. Or it could mean that you blow off steam in other ways. For example, one of the most common passions amongst angry people is sports. Running, playing basketball, or even competitive racing, are all things that burn through anger in an instant.

It’s no wonder that most professional athletes talk about how they channel their anger into being the best. It’s because anger is one of the best emotions you can use to become motivated. Just be careful not to end up on the other extreme. Don’t destroy yourself or others in an attempt to blow off steam. Going for a run is always good, but yelling at a loved one isn’t.

6 – Work on Yourself to Keep Anger in Check

Whenever people are angry, they tend to blame everyone for all the bad things happening. If your friends are all leaving you, that’s not always their fault. It might be a sign that the one who needs to change is you, not them. So, instead of pushing people away because you are mad, take time to work on yourself.

You might find that, though some people and things are not suitable for you, that’s not the only problem. Maybe one of the reasons why you aren’t happy is because of yourself. Keep in mind that being on the journey towards growth is something respectable. You should never be ashamed of learning, as no one ever stops growing.

Remember to take some time to reflect or meditate whenever you are angry. Make sense of everything you are feeling. That might give you an idea of why things aren’t working as they should. Then, use all that energy to become better. Meditate more, exercise, and eat healthier. All these changes will help you be happier.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Use Anger to Create Instead of Destroy

Anger is never a fun emotion, nor is it easy to ignore. When you are angry, you must process everything; otherwise, you’ll end up spiraling. If you would only hurt yourself during the process, that’d be one thing. But it would still be wrong and something you should change. But anger is dangerous because it makes you hurt people you would never dream of harming.

Anger is so intense that it’s enough for someone to be around an angry person, and they risk getting yelled at. Everyone has made this mistake before, and you’ll keep doing it if you don’t learn how to fix it. You need to know to use anger to create, not destroy.

There are many things you can do to use anger, but most have to do with how you act. Use anger to reach your goals, create better boundaries, and focus on what matters. Make sense of what you feel and how you can change that. And, most importantly, find healthy ways to cope. For example, try a new hobby or even get into sports to help you blow off some steam.

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