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12 Tips for Self-Expression Through Journal Writing

September 30, 2022 by Kristen Butler

Learn why writing a daily entry in a positivity journal can be a freeing experience.

Have you ever considered writing in a positivity journal? as an effective tool for self-expression? Journaling of some form has been used for thousands of years by cultures worldwide. You may be surprised at how rewarding spending time in quiet reflection can be for you.

Twelve Ways to Journal Writing for Self-Expression

Keeping a diary is a gift that you give to yourself. It can be done as simple or fancy as you please; nobody gets to read it but you. Here are twelve tips for using your journal to express yourself.

1. Record the Highlights of Your Day in a Journal

Have you ever wished that you could remember an event from the past? The original concept of keeping a diary was to chronicle daily events. You can still use journaling to highlight memories with a touch of self-expression.

You needn’t record every hour of your activities. One suggestion is to create a bullet list of the most important things that happened. It’s a way to preserve your history and remember important events.

2. Self-Expression of Your Deepest Emotions

According to an article by Berkely’s Greater Good Science Center, it matters what you think about your emotions. Recognizing them may help you from developing anxiety and depression. You can benefit your entire well-being when you realize that you can control your feelings.

Many people like to chart their daily emotions in their diaries as self-expression. You can put your feelings into words or draw simple faces to represent them. As you reflect on past journal entries, you might identify any triggers that led to negative emotions.

3. Self-Expression of Your Long-Term Goals

A key to self-expression is recognizing what you want in your life. While you’ll always need variety and spontaneity, you also need goals for the future. Living without purpose or aspirations is like going on a trip without a destination.

Try designating a section of your journal to list your goals. Divide them into sections according to short-term and long-term objectives. Seeing these in writing can provide greater clarity and richer self-expression.

4. Use Your Journal as an Autobiographical Sketch

How would you want to be remembered if you passed away at this moment? Your family and close friends probably know your vital statistics like your birthday, place of birth, and your profession. But do they know your dreams and how you worked to make them a reality?

Of course, your journal is personal, and nobody has a right to invade your privacy. However, there may be memories and events in your life that you want to share with others after you pass. Writing an autobiographical sketch is an exercise in self-expression for future generations.

5. Self-Expression of Your Artistic Side

Think of the daily musings in your journal as a spiritual extension of yourself. Your self-expression isn’t limited to words and can include drawings or pictures that tell your story. Famous diarists like Leonardo DaVinci, Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, and Anne Frank filled theirs with doodles, figures, and beautiful artwork.

There are no limits to how creative you can be when journaling. Buy some colored pens, pencils, or markers and enhance your writing with drawings and other artwork. Feel free to add clipped magazine pictures, quotes, or anything beautiful that speaks to you.

6. Write Yourself a Letter in the Confidence of Your Positivity Journal

Often you’re overcome by feelings that you can’t express verbally. They can be too awkward or painful to say to someone in person. Perhaps a missed conversation can’t happen because the other person passed away.

Maybe one of your journal entries can be a heartfelt letter that’s long overdue. Compose it as though you were writing a letter to someone or yourself. Pour your heart and express everything you’ve kept bottled up for too long.

This self-expression allows you to be honest with your feelings without judgment or retaliation. Perhaps it’s the only way you can confront someone who hurt you in the past, even if it’s afterward. It’s a supportive tool that can help you acknowledge hurtful events and toxic people and leave them in the past.

7. Self-Expression of Gratitude and Counting Your Blessings

What if you awakened tomorrow, and the only people and things you had were those you were thankful for today? Such a profound question can emphasize the importance of daily gratitude. Countless folks keep a dedicated gratitude journal as a reminder.

An article published by NPR discusses the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal. These include possibly lowering stress, boosting sleep health, and improving relationships. Although gratitude lists don’t benefit everyone and aren’t a cure-all, they can offer you hope.

8. Record Your Dream Destinations

Have you always daydreamed about traveling the world and visiting exotic destinations? Before you pack the first suitcase, every journey starts with a dream. Use the law of attraction to project positive affirmations into the Universe, and you’re well on your way.

If you are a jet setter, why not dedicate part of your journal to travel? Find postcards, pictures, and other vivid descriptions of your destination. Use the self-expression in your traveling journal as a vision board for daily reminders.

Of course, you don’t want to forget journaling while you travel. It’s a fun and easy way to remember the sights, sounds, and feelings during the visit. As you travel to the places of your heart’s desire, you’ll see the benefits of working toward a goal.

9. Learn to Know Thyself

Remember the dreaded interviewer questions when they asked you to name your top strengths and weaknesses? It’s surprising how difficult it can be to answer those questions from the top of your head. That’s why most people make a mental list of such queries before the interview.

Your positivity journal is an efficient tool for genuine introspection and seeing yourself as others do. Do you live up to your potential when you reflect on your self-image and self-expression? Keeping an honest self-list can help you accentuate your strengths and see areas in your life that need work.

10. Self-Expression of What You Want to Do Nextdia

In high school biology class, you learned that all living things go through changes to grow and survive. Many insects, like butterflies, go through stages of metamorphosis to become entirely different organisms. While change is often difficult, it’s worth it once you realize you have wings.

You’ll never realize your full potential until you’re willing to take risks and be flexible with changes. Journaling can help you sort out your feelings about changes and inspire you to explore new options and higher aspirations.

Some people call these life stages a reinvention of yourself. As a unique being, your life was never meant to be static and boring. If you stay stagnant long enough, you can develop depression, anxiety, and regrets.

Use your diary ideas to gain more knowledge and new skills. You may be one of those daring folks who step out on faith and do something they’ve always wanted. You don’t have to live with the fear of missing out.

11. Communicating with the Divine

You may recognize the Unknown Force as a deity, the Universe, or your Higher Self. No matter the name, it’s human nature to seek the face of the Divine. Your spiritual being is innately connected with your physical and mental being.

Spiritual communication is profoundly personal and doesn’t necessarily involve religion. The spiritual traditions of most cultures include relating to the Divine by the spoken and written word. Such writings are preserved in books that are considered sacred to these cultures.

Your journal can represent your intimate conversations with the source that’s sacred to you. Use it to record all your most profound questions and how your intuition responds. You can record any dreams you have and your attempts at interpreting them.

It can be used to write notes while studying sacred volumes or work in other spiritual traditions. However, use this section of your journaling for inspiring thoughts and ideas that spark positive energy. You may find that your journal will guide you in how it wants to be written.

12. Use a Positivity Journal to Identify Those Important in Your Life

The most outstanding achievers from the beginning until now started with nothing. Everyone has at least one person who guides them in the right direction. Who were the people who made a significant difference in your life?

Your supportive mentors may have been parents, guardians, teachers, or trusted friends. Have you made these generous folks a part of your gratitude list? Consider listing them and the knowledge and skills they shared.

Consequently, you can write a letter in your journal to each. Let their generosity and inspiration urge you to be a mentor to someone else. You can take this exercise further and mail the letters to them.

Final Thoughts on Journaling for Self-Expression

You needn’t be a best-selling author to reap the benefits of keeping a positivity journal. You may discover things about yourself that you never knew. It’s an easy and satisfying way to listen to your heart and give voice to your feelings.

12 Secrets Women Don’t Understand About Men Until AFTER They Fall in Love

September 29, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Women have secrets that their partner doesn’t find out until later, but men also have secrets. They keep things to themselves to hide their insecurities or thought processes.

Many women think that men have it easy regarding dating, but it’s not true. Everyone hides things at the beginning of a relationship, and you may not know the truth until you fall in love.

By learning the secrets women don’t understand until they fall in love, you’ll become more aware of your partner. Understanding these secrets can promote success in dating and developing healthy relationships.

Some secrets may go against everything you thought you knew about male behavior and thoughts. Lacking insight on this topic can cause communication issues because each sex communicates and thinks differently. Take the time to learn these secrets to have your best shot.

Editorial note: If any males are reading this, don’t think you’re the only one who keeps secrets until you fall in love. Women do the same, as you can see in a similar article. We acknowledge that no two relationships are alike; some of these behaviors may represent all genders.

Twelve Secrets Women Don’t Understand About Men Until AFTER Falling in Love

The secrets don’t apply to all men, but many share the same characteristics. Everyone is different, and this article serves as an informative piece about secrets many men keep. These secrets include these:

1 – Men Would Rather Fix Problems Without Discussing Feelings

Males aren’t always great at identifying or discussing feelings. They prefer to come up with a solution and fix the problem without delving into the emotions associated with the issue.

You might get annoyed when your partner doesn’t want to talk about feelings. Most people don’t realize that he might want to fix the problem and move on because he assumes your discussion is a plea for a solution. He may not realize that you desire a discussion because he’s thinking of how he wants to handle it.

Once you fall in love, you’ll begin to catch onto this secret, learning to work around it and make a positive change. He doesn’t do this because he doesn’t care. Instead, he does it because it’s the way his brain works.

When a man has a problem unrelated to the relationship, you might not hear about it at all. They deal with things alone without talking about them, unlike how many women communicate.

2 – They Aren’t Good at Reading People

Males might pretend to be a good judge of character and read people well, but that’s not usually the case. Women tend to have better social skills, allowing them to read cues. In most cases, women can also converse better.

Your guy will likely try to keep up with social situations but may miss a couple of cues from others. They’ll admit this issue to you once they fall in love because they feel more comfortable being vulnerable with you then.

3 – Forgetting Details Doesn’t Mean They Don’t Care

Males tend to remember things differently than women, often forgetting things females remember. They care about what you say but don’t place importance on the details.

4 – They Don’t View Your Body the Same Way You Do

Your insecurities might be beautiful to your partner. Your partner thinks you look good on days you criticize yourself. They don’t care about your flaws the way that you do.

Since they don’t view your body the same way, you don’t have to stress about it as much. You likely won’t learn this about them until you fall in love. When you understand it, you’ll find that they love you all dressed up or when you’re comfortable in loungewear.

5 – They Like Women to Make the First Move

Your partner likely won’t tell you that he wants you to make the first move until you fall in love. Society implies that males should act first, and men don’t love that pressure. If you make the first move, your partner knows you want them when they don’t make a move first.

Research shows that males on dating websites feel like they don’t get enough messages from women. This information indicates that they want you to reach out first sometimes. They don’t always want to be the ones to start a conversation or make the next move.

6 – He Doesn’t Like Asking for Help

Men don’t like asking for help and won’t even mention it until you’re already in love. They might think that they are supposed to be independent and able to do everything alone. It makes them shy away from admitting they could use some help.

Once you fall in love, you’ll learn to recognize when they need help but won’t ask for it. Before you reach that point, you may wonder why they struggle but refuse assistance at the beginning of the relationship.

7 – They Deal with Lots of Pressure

Men might face an expectation to have skills in interacting with women. They feel pressured to flirt, interact, and easily attract a partner. This idea pressures men, making them feel stressed about dating and falling in love.

Sometimes their pressure causes them to avoid talking to people they’d like to get to know. A man might shy away from introducing themselves if they’re with their friends. They don’t want to get rejected in front of their friends because it often leads to ridicule and teasing.

If you see a guy you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to smile and make eye contact. It can let him know you’re interested, giving him the confidence to approach you. Remember that men deal with lots of pressure, sometimes hard to realize unless you’re already in love.

8 – They’re Confused About What Women Want

Males become confused about what women want early on. He follows advice only to find out it wasn’t correct, making it a frustrating guessing game for them. During the early dating stages, they won’t tell you that they don’t understand, potentially annoying for both of you.

This confusion is even more prevalent in niche spaces like widowed dating, where individuals are navigating both new relationships and the emotional weight of loss. Here, men may struggle even more to decipher what their partner needs, as they are balancing both affection and the deep sensitivity required to engage with someone grieving a past love. However, they’re more likely to let you know they don’t understand what you want once they become comfortable and fall in love. It’s often a guessing game for them, and they’re left to figure it out alone. Remember that they won’t always get it right, but it’s not from a lack of effort.

They get so many conflicting suggestions that they can’t even begin to guess what is best anymore. Additionally, all women are different, so they get another surprise when they think they understand them.

9 – They Think About Different Things Than Some Women Expect

When males get quiet, you might pressure them to share their thoughts. The man might say they aren’t thinking about anything, leaving you feeling frustrated or confused.

However, you’ll understand it could be accurate after you fall in love. Males tend to get quiet when they are living in the moment and truly have nothing else on their minds.

Other times, they think about random experiences that haven’t even occurred. They might play out scenarios and experiments in their head, causing them to get quiet while lost in thought. You never know if they’re thinking about something as random as how their mouth moves when they say a specific word.

10 – They Don’t Care if Women Wear Makeup

Early in your relationship, you might spend plenty of time making sure your makeup looks perfect. You might even go into the bathroom to reapply lipstick or eyeliner during a date.

However, you’ll quickly catch onto their secret after falling in love. Men don’t care how much makeup you wear or if you don’t wear any. They like you for you and appreciate your natural beauty.

11 – They Don’t Require Much to Enjoy Life

Women tend to overdo it when they first start dating someone. They assume their partner requires quite a bit to find happiness and enjoy the relationship. You’ll soon learn that they need much less than you thought.

If he enjoys sports, he’ll feel content and fulfilled sitting down watching a game. Likewise, if he enjoys doing a specific activity such as fishing or camping, that’s all it’ll take to enjoy his life.

A man doesn’t always like disruption when doing things that bring contentment. He’ll be happier if he can focus on what he loves rather than adding other aspects to it that distract him.

12 – They Risk Rejection More Than Women, and it Takes a Toll on Their Emotions

Since society usually expects males to make the first move and approach women, they experience more rejection. Women can give subtle clues that they want someone, protecting them from direct denial.

On the other hand, males must eventually be bold enough to make a move. Once he makes a move, there’s a chance he’ll get rejected, decreasing his self-esteem. It requires confidence and results in rebuilding it each time rejection occurs.

This secret isn’t to make you less likely to reject a man. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you aren’t into someone or feel uncomfortable with their advances. However, try not to get frustrated if you think someone takes too long to make a move.

Final Thoughts on Secrets Women Don’t Understand About Men Until AFTER They Fall in Love

Men have many secrets you won’t understand until they fall in love with you. They hide things that make them seem vulnerable or that society teaches them to cover up. However, they’ll get comfortable and let their guard down to someone they love.

Remember these secrets when dating someone new. The things that frustrate or confuse you likely occur for a reason, and they’ll get revealed if the relationship deepens.

15 Motivating Success Quotes to Never Forget

September 29, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Being successful takes hard work and determination. You might sometimes feel like you want to give up, and persevering is the only way around it. Luckily, many success quotes can help you find the motivation to push through.

Success means something different for everyone, with some wanting to climb the career ladder and others building brands. Still, you’ll find some people who want to work on various terms with stipulations. Whatever the case for you, these motivating success quotes can help you achieve your goals.

Success requires getting into the right mindset no matter what your goals include. You’ll likely have days where you don’t think your efforts are worthwhile. On those days, these success quotes can help you learn what it takes to become successful and motivate you to keep going.

These success quotes are from successful people who have been through it before. They persevere and continue growing, allowing them to see what’s possible and stay motivated.

Fifteen Success Quotes Never to Forget

Staying motivated requires focusing on your goals and doing what it takes to achieve them. These success quotes can help you reach your dreams and push through even when you don’t want to.

1 – “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington

The obstacles you overcome to achieve your goals so more about your success than anything else. Everyone begins their journey at different starting points, some encountering more obstacles than others.

Your ability to overcome setbacks and hardships defines your journey more than anything else. Don’t compare your situation to anyone else or think you failed because you’re not in a higher position. Instead, think back on all you overcame to be where you are now.

2 – “The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.” – Mark Caine

Don’t let your environment hold you back because you must start somewhere. You can use what you have right now and get started, gathering what you need along the way. Progress can start small and make a big difference.

You’ll wait forever if you want the perfect time. Instead, grow out of your environment and see how quickly things develop.

3 – “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin

You can’t move forward if you don’t continue growing and learning. As Franklin explains, improvement, achievement, and success don’t mean anything without growth.

You can use each moment as a learning opportunity to move forward without making the same mistakes twice. When you reach success, you’ll be thankful for all you went through to achieve your goals.

4 – “We were all born with a certain degree of power. The key to success is discovering this innate power and using it daily to deal with whatever challenges come our way.” – Les Brown

Everyone has power and strength within them. However, you must be willing to look within and let those qualities shine through.

When you discover and use your strengths, you’ll find success in overcoming obstacles and setbacks. Remember this quote, and you’ll know you have what it takes to persevere and stay motivated.

5 – “The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.” – Zig Ziglar

You can’t just work your way through life without having admirable qualities. Success is more likely if you make a habit out of the characteristics mentioned by Ziglar in this success quote. Be true to yourself, stick to your values, and be a good person if you want a successful life.

6 – “Once you have figured out what to do, be unstoppable about getting your small handful of priorities accomplished quickly. I have yet to meet a slow-moving person who is very successful.” – Sam Altman

If you have your goals figured out, determine a plan to move forward. Determine your most essential priorities and focus on those first.

Get your priorities accomplished quickly, so you can keep working toward success. If you don’t move fast, you’ll lose motivation and focus, holding you back from achieving your dreams.

7 – “There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.” – Ray Goforth

Don’t listen to the people who don’t want to see you do well or those who are afraid of failure. Instead, listen to those who are already where you want to be in life.

You can also talk to people who are growing and learning with you. Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you.

8 – “Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso

You can’t find success if you don’t act. Come up with a plan and take it one step at a time without stopping.

Every time you cross a step off the list, it’ll motivate you to do bigger and better things. Keep going and persevere through setbacks because an action is what will get you where you want to be.

9 – “For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded.” – Jack Canfield

You’re sure to reach obstacles and setbacks, but you can’t let them stop you. Remind yourself that many other people faced the same obstacles and overcame them. You can do the same, persevering until you find a way through.

Your circumstances don’t always make your journey easy, but they make it worth it. Success means so much more when you must overcome hardships. It makes your story meaningful and gives meaning to your path to success.

10 – “I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

Success doesn’t come easy, and you can’t sit back and wait for it to find you. Instead, you must stay dedicated and work hard to achieve your dreams. Stay devoted to your goals, not stopping until you reach success.

Once you reach your goals, set further ones to keep pushing your limits and testing yourself. You’ll find that you can achieve anything if you stay motivated.

11 – “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” – Arthur Ashe

You’ll have an easier time reaching success if you have self-confidence. When you feel good about yourself and your abilities, it’ll help you achieve everything you desire.

As Ashe explains, the best way to find self-confidence is through preparation. Plan for each event, task, or meeting, and you’ll feel confident going into it.

12 – “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn

Everyone would be successful if it were easy. However, it takes hard work and a willingness to persevere. Rather than wishing success was easier, shift your mindset and learn to be better.

13 – “The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire, the size of your dream, and how you handle disappointment along the way.” – Robert Kiyosaki

Success is different for everyone, but how it’s measured remains the same. You’re on the path to success if you have a strong desire to achieve big things. Additionally, handling disappointment and moving forward despite anything else shows your accomplishments.

14 – “Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.” – George Bernard Shaw

Everyone makes mistakes and experiences failure. These things don’t mean that you won’t find success. Don’t let it get you down, but make sure you take the time to learn from it.

Learning from your mistakes allows you to do better next time since you already know what not to do. Success requires trying differing methods until you find something that works.

15 – “Your true success in life begins only when you make the commitment to become excellent at what you do.” – Brian Tracy

Following your passions is helpful to stay motivated, but it isn’t everything. You must build on it and learn more about it constantly learn more about doing it better. As Tracy explains, when you commit to improving your skills, you’ll find the success you desire.

Final Thoughts on Motivating Success Quotes to Never Forget

Success isn’t a straight path without obstacles. You can overcome setbacks and embrace learning opportunities along the way. Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated, and these success quotes can make a difference.

You can stay focused and find ways to learn from mistakes, move forward, and be successful. With motivation, you’ll have what it takes to keep taking steps toward your goals.

Follow your path rather than letting anyone else sway your course. Staying motivated requires doing things how you want and need to. Everyone is different, but these quotes can help motivate anyone on their unique path.

10 Ways to Assess Your Own Personal Strengths

September 29, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Understanding yourself requires knowing your personal strengths, which requires self-assessment. Identifying how you excel can help lead you on a path of success and fulfillment. It can also help you identify areas of your life you might improve yourself.

Assessing and identifying your personal strengths can be a challenge. However, it can help you determine how to make an impression on the world.

You’ll experience successes and failures, giving insight into your personal strengths. You’re not guaranteed success, and determining what you’re good at can make a difference. There are different ways to achieve goals while using your strengths.

Determining your strengths allow you to reduce your risk of failure, although it might still occur. Each time you fail, you further define what you’re good at doing. It helps you get closer to your goals, allowing you to reach your full potential.

Ten Ways to Identify Your Personal Strengths

Sometimes it’s hard to identify your personal strengths, and doing so can make a difference. When you know what you’re good at, you’ll understand how to utilize these aspects of your life. These tips can help you if you’re unsure of how to assess your personal strengths.

1 – Learn Your Personality Type

The Myers-Briggs Foundation indicates sixteen personality types; the most prevalent is ISFJ. The INFJ person is a mixture of an introvert with judging, sensing, and feeling. Learning your personality type can help you identify your strengths and lead an effective and productive lifestyle.

2 – Make and Revisit a List

Making a list of your skills and knowledge can help you determine your strengths. Take the time to write a list of the less-obvious strengths you possess. These skills are often more fundamental and help you follow the best path for your life.

Don’t forget about your list after you make it. Revisit the list often, modifying and reflecting each time. Be specific when you make your list, and don’t hesitate to categorize and rank it.

3 – Maintain Your Individuality

When trying to hone in on your strength, it’s essential to acknowledge who you are as an individual. Strong people know who they are and stay true to themselves, allowing them to understand their strengths.

4 – Assess Your Attempts and Failures

Examining your attempts and failures allows you to become more self-aware. While you want things to work out the first time, it doesn’t always go that way. Sometimes you’ll make an attempt and experience failure, but it’s a learning opportunity.

There is a learning opportunity in every attempt and failure, as long as you look for it. When you think you’re going through hard times, look for what you can learn. When you do this, it helps identify your strengths and areas you should improve.

Assessing your attempts and failures helps you become better equipped to recognize dangers or lessons in the future. When you look at your mistakes or failures, you can learn more than in any other instance. You can work to minimize the issues that hold you back and maximize what you’re good at doing.

5 – Get to Know Yourself

Self-awareness is one of the best ways to assess your personal strengths. Evaluate who you are and what you’re good at to determine how you should move forward.

Get to know yourself by reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses and determining which areas can help you. Taking the time to get to know yourself allows you to address your foundational background. It also allows you to take the best steps to reach your goals.

6 – Reflect on Your Successes–They Reveal Your Personal Strengths

Success shows that you’re doing something right, but it can still be a learning opportunity. It can teach you how to utilize your strengths and improve each time. Even when you do well, you can find areas to gain experience.

7 – Identify Your Passions

Think about what you want to do for the rest of your life if you could choose anything. Dream big as you think about what you love and how you want your life to turn out.

Following your passions allows you to focus on your personal strengths while working toward your goals. Consider what you love at your job and in your personal life.

You might find opportunities to bring your passions into your work life. When you know what you’re passionate about, you can determine your strengths and embrace endless possibilities.

8 – Reflect on Past Feedback

If a supervisor or anyone else gives constructive criticism, spend time reflecting on it. Additionally, if they gave positive feedback, think about that, too. Think about what people compliment you on to begin assessing your strengths.

Other people can see things about you that others don’t. While cruel people might say hurtful and untrue things, others want to see you do better. Their feedback can help you identify your strengths, helping you make better progress.

9 – Ask People You Trust What They Think of Your Personal Strengths

Don’t be afraid to ask people you trust about what you’re good at doing. They can likely recall things quickly that you hadn’t considered before. While reflecting on past feedback helps, people don’t always openly tell you what they think.

Asking a friend about it can enlighten you to beneficial characteristics of yourself. After they tell you what they think you’re good at, think about if you feel it’s an accurate assessment of who you are.

Additionally, asking others removes potential biases that occur in self-assessment. It’s also helpful to take your self-assessment to a friend for feedback and to check for areas they agree with you.

10 – Think About Your Past

Consider the activities you enjoyed and what excited you in the past. These feelings are evidence of using natural strengths and can help you determine what you’re good at doing. Think about why you enjoyed each task or experience and how you can utilize it in the present.

You can also consider how you approached the tasks you enjoyed. Your approach can make all the difference in utilizing your strengths.

Another option is to think about times you outperformed others. Reflect on why you did so well and which strengths you used to accomplish it.

How to Use Personal Strengths

After assessing your personal strengths, it’s essential to determine how to leverage them to improve yourself. Using your strengths in the best possible way makes a difference, and your skills won’t go to waste. You can use your strengths as a foundation for growth in the following ways:

Invest in Self-Improvement to Sharpen Your Personal Strengths Continuously

Working toward self-improvement is essential if you want to keep strengthening your skills. Your personal strengths won’t improve if you don’t improve yourself. Invest your time, energy, and money into doing things that allow you to improve yourself.

Consider the Tasks That Help You Work the Most Effectively

Think about the parts of your workday you enjoy diving into the most. Time might seem to fly while you’re working on those tasks, and it’s a good indication of your strengths.

Once you determine the tasks you’re best at and enjoy, consider why that’s the case. You may want to write down why you enjoy these tasks the most, helping you focus on developing your personal strengths.

Strategize Around Your Weaknesses

When you know your personal strengths, you can strategize to make your tasks easier. If something doesn’t play to your strengths, consider if it’s necessary or if there’s another way.

You can sometimes find a new way to do things, avoiding your weakness and using your strengths productively. However, if the task is necessary, you’ll know that you must get better at it.

Strategizing allows you to spend more time on your strengths and things you enjoy. It can improve your life by making you more productive and joyful. Strong people don’t focus on their weaknesses, but they are self-aware enough to know how to strategize around them.

Remind Yourself Why Using Your Strengths Matters

You might have set your goals, but that doesn’t ensure you accomplish them. Using your strengths to reach your goals requires staying motivated.

Thinking of why using your strengths matter can motivate you to keep working. You might find motivation in personal accomplishment, so remind yourself of what keeps you going.

Implement the Strength into Your Routine to Improve Yourself

You can set a time each day to practice using your strength. Focus on one of your strengths daily and do something that allows you to develop and utilize your skill. It helps you make strength a habit and use it more throughout the day.

Consider using the strength in a new way sometimes. Try an activity you haven’t tried before or tackle a project you’ve been meaning to do.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Assess Your Personal Strengths

Assessing your personal strengths can make all the difference in achieving success. When you know what you’re good at, you can focus on and utilize these characteristics more. It not only makes tasks easier but also improves your overall happiness.

Once you identify your personal strengths, use them as often as possible to improve yourself. Spend time developing the skill and learning more about it so you can use it to your advantage. You’ll find meaning and fulfillment in life if you focus on your strengths.

10 Reasons To Express Your Inner Child As An Adult

September 29, 2022 by Chris Butler

Do you long to reconnect with your inner child and enjoy playfulness again? Many people lose the gift of playing in the frenzy of adult life. The good news is that you can regain the boundless joy of childhood and still be a responsible adult.

There’s something magical about the playfulness of a child. Every day is a new adventure overflowing with fun and laughter. They don’t take themselves too seriously and can always find a reason to play and be happy.

Reflect on your childhood memories, and consider how much your worldview has changed. Your world was limited to a tight circle of family and friends. You didn’t have to worry about adult problems, and your main goal was to have fun. Perhaps the only stressors you had were school and arguing with siblings and playmates.

Ten Reasons to Practice Playfulness in Adulthood

Many literary scholars believe that the central theme of Alice in Wonderland is a loss of childhood wonder. Alice magically travels from the blissful world of childhood into the mysterious and cynical world of adulthood. It’s a parallel universe of contradictions with very little amusement.

Do children know the secret to live their best life with joy and gratitude? Once you’ve reconnected with your childhood self, you’ll find you’ve always known how to do it. Try these ten reasons to practice playfulness as an adult to get you started.

1. Playfulness Reduces Your Stress Levels

There’s no such thing as enjoying a stress-free life, but you can do something to minimize the pressure. An article published by the Mayo Clinic warns that chronic stress can put your entire well-being at risk. You can benefit physically, mentally, and emotionally when you learn how to manage your tension effectively.

The next time you feel tense with stress, try doing something playful. It’s challenging to ruminate when you’re having a pillow fight with your partner. Let your inner child show you how to relax and be cheerful for a while.

2. Improves Your Relationships

Nobody likes to be around someone cranky and negative all the time. Such pessimism creates a dark cloud that dominates the atmosphere. People who take everything and themselves too seriously usually have troubled relationships.

When you learn to use playfulness again, you’ll notice an improvement at home and work. A good sense of humor can put everyone. Notice how others tend to congregate around those who are jovial and smile a lot.

According to a study published by the American Journal of Play, many people are attracted by a playful attitude. Appropriate humor and a relaxed mindset can also benefit you at work. While you must maintain professionalism and an excellent work ethic, some fun can boost everyone’s day.

One of the closest relationships you can improve is with your children. They’ll never forget the times you spent playing with them. Quality time makes a difference, whether it’s a sport, video game like 온라인 카지노, or just goofing around.

3. Playing Boosts Your Creativity

Your inner child will permanently be attached to crayons, fingerpaints, and making up stories and games. Some of the creative skills you developed as a child have served you well as an adult. Most jobs require creative problem solving and using your imagination.

You can tap into your creative genius if you maintain playfulness in your routine. You don’t have to be another Picasso to enjoy drawing and painting. A recent trend in stress relief is adult coloring books as a way to connect with your inner child.

The best way to learn how to play again is to spend time with children, whether your own or your family. Instead of plopping in front of the tv for another depressing news hour, play a board game with the kids. Draw and color pictures together and display them on the refrigerator.

4. Playfulness Revitalizes Your Energy

Yes, the adult world requires heavy responsibilities that can be overwhelming. When you’re trying to juggle family and work duties, it’s no wonder you’re exhausted. Your mind doesn’t get a break, and you feel drained no matter how much you sleep.

If you want to revitalize and energize your body, try using some playfulness. Try outdoor games that get your body moving. The healing touch of nature and physical activity may give you needed energy.

5. Playing Improves Your Brain Function

Your inner child can quickly get bored and restless, and your brain craves a challenge. Beat the doldrums and exercise your brain cells with stimulating activities like crossword puzzles, find-a-word, sudokus, and other mind teasers. Find a colorful jigsaw puzzle and work on it alone or with your family.

An article published by Harvard Medical School discusses the possible benefits of brain games for increased cognition and memory skills. Some studies note the positive link between playing games and preventing memory loss. It can be anything that challenges you to think critically and remember.

6. Playfulness Enhances Your Communication Skills

Have you ever eavesdropped on a couple or a group of youngsters playing? You’ll notice how they communicate the entire time according to their age and maturity. They often make up the rules and keep a running dialogue when pretending.

Children use play and make-believe to teach them how to express themselves more clearly and effectively. Channel your inner child and use some playfulness to communicate. It may help you have more confidence if you must speak in front of a group.

Find some games or puzzles that feature writing or building your vocabulary. Many of these are so enjoyable that the kids can play and don’t realize they’re learning something. Games that require groups to discuss possible ideas and answers are ideal for boosting your conversational skills.

7. Playfulness Increases Your Self-Confidence

How do you feel when you’ve made the winning move on a board game? Although you know it’s just for fun, it gives you a kick of confidence. Maybe you have the same sense of joy when you finally solve a word puzzle.

Even minor victories can encourage you to keep going and conquer bigger things. In real life, celebrating achievements gives you the nerve to set higher goals. You know you can be a winner because you’ve done it in the past.

Participating in sports is a great way to practice setting and achieving goals. It also provides some friendly competition that urges you to do your best. The more you practice, the more your skills improve, and you’ll also notice that you’re having fun simultaneously.

8. Playing Promotes Better Sleep

For most people, occasional sleepless nights are expected. However, chronic insomnia may be a symptom of an underlying physical or mental condition. Either way, you’re in a brain fog the next day and feel miserable.

Children who usually stall at bedtime are soon fast asleep after a long day of fun activities. They don’t stop to think that active play is an ideal exercise for their body. As an adult, walking, swimming, and other activities can make you pleasantly tired, so you’ll sleep better.

Another light-hearted routine you can adopt is reading to your youngsters before bedtime. Choose an age-appropriate book and use an animated voice for each character. Not only will this time of gentle playfulness relax their little minds, but it will also relax yours.

9. You Release Your Inner Child, Increasing Your Empathy

While many kids are tenderhearted at a young age, genuine empathy is a learned skill. They learn it from parents, teachers, and other significant adults who model it correctly. However, they practice what they learn through playing with other children.

For example, Michael strikes out in the ballgame during recess at school, and his friend Joey offers a few encouraging words. Joey knows what it feels like to lose and how encouragement from others helps him. These simple impressions are the beginning of showing empathy as an adult.

You’ll never stop learning, and engaging in leisure activities and light-hearted fun teaches you about considering others. It’s easier to get to know people in a casual atmosphere. Hone your active listening skills when the conversation isn’t so heavy, and you can laugh a little.

10. Encourages Mindful Living

Trust, faith, and living in the moment are natural gifts of your childhood. Unfortunately, negative experiences and toxic people may have jaded your perception as you mature. Your adult mindset may ruminate about the past and worry about the future.

It’s almost impossible to fuss and worry while playing an exciting game. Yielding to your inner child can help you focus on the here and now. Practicing mindful living can benefit every facet of your life.

Final Thoughts on Reasons to Practice Playfulness, Even in Adulthood

Life is too short to spend every day in a mind-numbing rush. The kindest gift you can give yourself is a merry heart and some playfulness. Once you’ve learned how to balance work and play, you’ll never have to worry about having a dull life.

7 Things Men Do When They Want a Serious Relationship

September 28, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

In the complicated nature of the dating world, it’s hard to tell a prospective partner’s true intentions. If you date to begin a serious relationship, it can be frustrating to meet others who are only interested in flings and no-strings-attached arrangements instead of true love.

Many people have learned how to behave to give off the appearance of someone who wants a commitment, only to turn around and ghost you once they get what they want. This article is for you if you’ve struggled to determine if a man is genuinely interested in commitment. Here are seven things men do when they want a serious relationship.

Editorial note: We acknowledge that both men and women might desire a new love relationship. This article expressly addresses some typical male behaviors. You can find the behaviors of a woman who seeks a serious relationship in a separate article.

1 – They Put You First When They Want A Serious Relationship

As cliche as it is, a man putting you first in his life is probably the clearest sign that he desires a serious relationship. This desire signifies a deeper, more meaningful sort of affection known as compassionate love. Research shows that these selfless acts, no matter how small, are a sign of high levels of romantic feelings.

Compassionate love doesn’t just involve huge gestures and grand sacrifices. Realistically, these aren’t the kinds of things to expect out of a man who you’re not in a serious relationship with, anyway. Besides, how often do genuine opportunities for such gestures arise? So instead of seeking big signs of self-sacrifice, look for signs of compassionate love. These may include a man:

Letting you choose the places you go, the spots where you eat, or the activities for your dates
Offering to run to the store for something you need, or even something you want, like a bag of chips or a soda
Supporting you when you need a listening ear or someone to cheer you on
Set aside time to talk to you, spend time with you, or go on dates. He pushes you up his priority list so he can balance you with his other top priorities in his life

2 – Men Who Want A Serious Relationship Will Respect You And Your Boundaries

Someone’s respect for your boundaries is non-negotiable, and it’s a bare minimum behavior for anyone to respect them. Genuine interest in someone can make you overly lenient when forgiving a few small oversteps. You may interpret a man’s pushiness as eagerness or as a sign of falling in love.

In reality, a man who wants a serious relationship with you will be careful about how he interacts with you. He will not want to do anything that could risk turning you off of him. Instead, he’ll play it safe and always respect you, your boundaries, and your communication. So don’t fall into the trap of thinking a mild infringement of your limits signals a man in love!

3 – They Are Protective Over You

When a man has no interest in a serious relationship, he’s unlikely to care much about you. He may ask how you’re doing once in a while. However, he doesn’t feel the desire to protect you or keep you out of harm’s way.

Though the concept is a little outdated, many men want to feel like a hero to the people they care about most. This is especially true for romantic partners, studies show. So if a man has grown protective, it’s a good sign of falling in love. You may not need a hero in your life. But that doesn’t mean he won’t play the part when you let him!

Take note, of course, that protectiveness should never be confused with control. It’s reasonable for someone to want what’s best for you, but not to the point where they act like they have authority over you or your life. A man’s loving protectiveness must not include any of the following behaviors:

Attempts to stop you from doing things you enjoy
Attempts to isolate you from your friends or family under the guise of them not being “good” for you
Overly jealous attitudes to the point where you feel guilty about having any men as friends or interacting with any man for any reason

4 – Men Who Desire A Serious Relationship Invest In You

When discussing investments here, we’re not necessarily saying financial investments. People of all genders make different kinds of investments in their relationships, ranging from investments in time to investments in effort. These investments can and often do involve money, but that’s not the heart of what they are.

This is a well-known enough phenomenon that research has a term for it–the investment model of relationships. This model is a predictor of the level of commitment that someone has to a partnership.

People who are fully satisfied with their prospective partner often consider themselves “invested” in the relationship already. However, they manually invest in that partnership because they have mentally committed. This investment shows in numerous ways, including:

Deleting dating apps and no longer looking into dating other people, as he doesn’t think there’s anyone else more suited for him out there and isn’t worried about missing out on someone better
Going out on regular dates where he spends money on you or your time together, whether he foots the whole bill or you both split it
Doing time-consuming things to express his admiration for you, such as writing letters, planning more complex dates, or making gifts for you by hand
Spending his free time on you, whether to go out with you, call you, or hang out, primarily when this time spent does not involve physical intimacy
Helping you run errands or tick things off your to-do list, typically without seriously considering them favors that you need to repay

A man who doesn’t want a serious relationship will not bother investing in you. However, if he’s genuinely interested, you’ll have noticed him investing because he thinks you’re worth those investments and can see you both going the distance.

Note that a man’s exact investment method in you may differ depending on his love language. For example, a man who expresses his love through words may write you a love letter, while a man who expresses love through acts of service may complete a task for you. Therefore, try to get to know a man’s love language before concluding his investment!

5 – They Make Future Plans With You

When men want a serious relationship, they think about the future. This doesn’t necessarily mean fantasizing about being married to you – though some men certainly do this! Instead, it means including you in their future plans. This may mean that a man:

Plans a date with you for an important event month into the future
Talks about his goals and dreams, listens to yours and talks about making them work together
Always speaks about upcoming plans as if you will be present with him during them
Discusses the things he wants in his life long-term, such as thoughts on cohabitation, marriage, and having pets or children
Uses the word “we” a lot when talking about both present and future events

Planning for the future is one of the most evident signs that a man desires something serious. He’s already discussing things involving long-term commitment, not in a pressuring way, but reassuring way.

6 – They Try To Make A Good Impression On The People In Your Life

Meeting friends and family members is usually reserved for those wanting a serious relationship. Most men will refuse to meet the people in your life if they’re not interested. If the man you’ve been seeing does agree to meet your family and friends, how do you know if he’s serious or just going along with it?

The most significant sign to look out for is how this man interacts with the abovementioned people. If he wants a serious relationship, he’ll do his best to get in the good graces of those you care about because he hopes to become one of the people who’s with you long-term. As such, he expects that he’ll see these people regularly and that getting in their good books will ensure they approve of him.

Men who want a serious relationship are often eager to meet the people closest to you. Of course, this doesn’t mean they won’t be anxious or unsure – everyone can get nervous under these circumstances! But it does mean his desire to meet them will be strong enough to make him happy.

7 – Men Who Crave A Serious Relationship Work On Themselves And Your Relationship

Self-improvement is one of the hardest things to stay motivated to do. While no one should change themselves solely for a relationship, many individuals draw drive and motivation to push themselves to be better people. For example, a man who wants a serious relationship will want to be the best possible version of himself around you. So when he feels ready to be a part of your life, he will put his best foot forward.

This goes double for men you’re already in a tentative relationship with that has flaws and struggles. Men who desire a serious relationship with you will put aside their pride to do their part to improve the relationship. This will include:

Listening closely to you when you talk about issues and concerns
Validating your concerns
Maintaining an open discussion and conversation about problems in the relationship
Learning to manage conflict and his emotions and reactions to it
Communicating with you clearly about issues and concerns that he has about the relationship

This isn’t to say that men will know the perfect way to react and behave to every hurdle you both face. That would be unrealistic! Even the most in-love man will make mistakes and have trouble working on some aspects of himself. But, a man truly wants to be with you will do his best to do the necessary work to ensure a happy, healthy relationship.

Final Thoughts On Some Things Men Do For A Serious Relationship

Men who want a serious relationship with you will not play games. You’ll be able to see their interest in commitment through their actions and their prioritization of you. If you’re in doubt, start a conversation with the man in your life to see if you’re both on the same page. Be aware of the signs to look for to ensure that he’s here to stay!

10 Warning Signs of Emotional Burnout

September 28, 2022 by Chris Butler

Anyone is prone to emotional burnout, whether it’s your career, homelife, relationships, or caregiving for a loved one. Sometimes, the process is so gradual that you don’t realize it. You may consider burning out as a weakness or failure on your part, but it’s nothing of the sort.

These things often happen because you’ve been strong for too long. Your body is a susceptible machine that will give you warnings if you’re in tune with it. Whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues, your body will let you know what it needs. If you feel stress to the max, it’s time for a change.

Ten Red Flags of Emotional Burnout

What is your inner voice trying to tell you about current situations in your life? Have you lost your joy and enthusiasm and feel like the world is crumbling around you? Pay attention to these ten warning signs of emotional burnout.

1. You Feel Less Patience and Tolerance

When you are inspired and bursting with energy, you’re usually more tolerant of interruptions and setbacks. A tell-tale sign of emotional burnout is chronic exhaustion. If your energy level is nearly zero, your tolerance level will match.

For example, the little quirks that didn’t bother you in the past become emotional triggers. Losing patience and tolerance also leads to frequent bouts of anger and frustration. Any changes in plans may irritate you to the point of hopelessness.

The situation can worsen if you don’t have healthy coping tools. Many people soothe their stress by substance abuse. If you engage in such risky habits, you may be masking the signs your body is giving.

2. Emotional Burnout Causes a Cynical Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude when you’re burning out at home or work is nearly impossible. You begin to question if your job or relationship is worth the effort. Soon, you stop focusing on the positive and magnify anything you perceive as unfavorable.

Part of this shift in your attitude may be what experts call negativity bias. According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, it’s the tendency for negativity to have a more substantial impact than positivity. It’s an evolved survival instinct that prompted early humans to err on the side of caution.

For example, you may be more upset one day about a glitch in your computer than excited about new business opportunities. Your emotional burnout may turn your negativity bias into chronic pessimism. Perhaps you’re so disenchanted with your situation that nothing in your world satisfies you.

3. Burning Out Increases Forgetfulness and Absent-mindedness

Although the human brain has a profound capacity for memory, everyone occasionally forgets something. Life can be hectic between home and work; you can forget a dentist appointment or misplace your car keys. Absent-mindedness can usually be shrugged off unless it becomes more frequent.

People who are burning out often notice that they forget important things daily. Most of the problems can stem from being overburdened physically and mentally. Your frazzled brain can’t keep up and may be overwhelmed with emotional burnout.

4. Emotional Burnout Might Cause Gradual Disorganization

Let’s face it; everybody has their system and level of organization. Maybe you’re one of those who must have everything in perfect order to work. If anything is out of place, it may kick your anxiety into high gear.

Conversely, you might be the type who is comfortably surrounded by chaos, yet you have a system. It may look disorganized to others, but you can usually find whatever you need. These are the two sides of the spectrum, and your organizational habits can fall between them.

If you or others notice a significant change in your style, you may be experiencing burnout. It could be that you don’t have enough help and are too overwhelmed to organize anything. The results are a downward spiral of disorganization and frustration.

5. Burning Out Informs Apathy

If you have teenagers, you’re all too familiar with their moodiness. Try to have a serious conversation with them, and they’ll often roll their eyes and say, “Whatever.” That dull retort has even entered the adult vernacular to display absolute apathy.

Sometimes you feel so frustrated and locked in a situation that you don’t even care anymore. As an early warning sign of emotional burnout, apathy is a way of your body saying “enough.” You’re overworked, tired, uninspired, and ready to walk away from everything.

When you stop caring, your work will reflect your attitude. You may do the absolute minimum, or your tasks may be uncharacteristically subpar. The things you took pride in overwhelm you, and you lose interest.

6. Unexplained Aches and Pains

When you continually struggle with personal or professional responsibilities, it’s an open invitation for anxiety and depression. An article published by the Mayo Clinic explains that depression often manifests as unexplained aches and pains. Headaches and backaches are some of the most common complaints.

Such physical pains are especially concerning if you don’t have a history of them. Another tell-tale sign is if your job, relationship, or other aspects of your life trigger these pains. Since emotional burnout is often linked with depression, these unexplainable aches are a red flag.

You also may notice that your sleep patterns are being affected. Emotional pressure can keep you tossing and turning all night. Consequently, you have even less energy during the day, becoming a severe pattern.

7. An Imbalance of Work and Personal Life May Worsen from Emotional Burnout

The beauty of your triune being is that each facet is intrinsically linked. All are affected if any part is unbalanced, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. Your journey from birth to death is a process of learning how to find balance and harmony.

Remember the adage that all work and no play will make you dull? One of the quickest ways to face burnout is to ignore self-care. You put so much time, effort, and resources into work that you burn out physically and mentally.

When was the last time you took a relaxing vacation alone or with family? Conversely, are mounting stresses in your personal life affecting your job performance? An imbalance could indicate that you’re overwhelmed in one or more areas.

8. Extreme Mood Swings Accompany Emotional Burnout

Have you ever watched a heart or brain monitor when it’s attached to a person? The regular up-and-down patterns are indications that the patient is alive. If the pattern goes in a straight line, then life is in jeopardy.

Likewise, your moods will follow a regular pattern of ups and downs. Anybody who says they are happy all the time isn’t being honest with themselves. If your spirits don’t vary too drastically, you needn’t worry.

If you’ve noticed extreme mood swings, it’s time to act. You may usually be even-tempered, but lately, you have lost your temper over simple things. When your emotions are going haywire, you may be experiencing emotional burnout.

9. Burning Out Connects to a Lack of Motivation

You’re enthusiastic when you are mentally and emotionally vested in a job, relationship, or situation. Whenever there’s a challenge, you work to find a solution. You see purpose and inspiration in your work, which keeps you motivated.

There will always be times in your career when you get in a rut. Resting and getting a fresh perspective can bring you back to life. Your vision is revived, and you want to continue what you’re doing.

Your motivation may dwindle to complete apathy on the edge of burning out. Any task may become a dreaded chore, and you don’t even want to get up in the morning. You’re left with physical and emotional emptiness when you’ve given until you have nothing else to offer.

10. Strained Personal and Professional Relationships

Emotional burnout not only affects you but everyone else who deals with the fallout. You may have lost your edge and have distanced yourself from others. If the burnout is on your job, relationships with bosses, coworkers, and clients can be strained.

You’ll have the same consequences if you suffer emotional burnout in a relationship with a partner, family, or friend. The relationship can become toxic for both of you unless you take steps to remedy it. Sometimes, you must be the one to call it quits.

When the situation involves being a caregiver for a loved one, it’s called caregiver burnout. It follows the same signs and symptoms and can lead to profound guilt and resentment if not addressed. In any case, burnout can affect relationships so seriously that it can cause irreparable damage.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Red Flags That Reveal Emotional Burnout–and Taking the Down Time You Deserve

There’s no shame in admitting that you’re close to burning out in a situation. If you don’t heed the early signs, they may develop into severe health conditions. Practicing self-care techniques like meditation, journaling, and talking to someone can help give you some direction. You deserve this time to yourself without any apology or explanation.

When you carefully listen to your body, it will warn you that emotional burnout is close. It’s your cue to step back and review your priorities at home and work. Perhaps it’s the Universe’s telling you that you need to make some changes.

5 Signs You Are Ready to Forgive Someone

September 28, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Forgiveness is something all people struggle with. Sometimes, you hold petty grudges when you should have let them go a long time ago. Other times, you forgive people who don’t deserve your kindness. But the worst thing you can do is forgive people when you aren’t ready. Just because someone asks for your forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to offer it.

People often struggle with knowing when they are ready to let go of something that hurt them. Sometimes, you pretend to let go of things in the hopes that you’ll be able to move on. But, of course, everyone always preaches about how forgiveness can heal you, and part of that is genuine. But no one remembers telling others they can’t be forced to forgive.

As long as you do it at your own pace, you’ll be able to move on. But people often pressure others into forgiving everyone, no matter the cost. So, if you’re fighting with your partner, the advice you’ll get will be to move on. If your boss mistreats you, perhaps you’ll brush it off as a workplace scuffle.

Scenarios like these happen way too often, to the point where forgiveness has lost meaning. Now, it’s just a sign of someone having good manners. But no matter what others tell you, you should remember one thing.

Five Signs You Are Ready to Forgive Someone

Never forgive someone unless you want to and are ready to do so. Otherwise, you won’t be able to heal and move on.

1 – You Are Ready to Forgive When You Don’t Want to Dwell on the Past Anymore

After you’ve been hurt or betrayed, chances are you’ll feel the need to reminisce on the past. That could be because you want to relieve the good moments before you were hurt. Or, more often than not, it’s because you need to understand why they hurt you. Everyone wants to understand what happened that made someone else act the way they did.

You might believe that you caused their behavior when you get hurt. So, you dwell on the past to get a clearer picture of what happened. You might find yourself going over the same scenes over and over again. One of the scenes that are most likely to pop up in your head Is the fight.

What did they say?
How did you react?
Could you have done something better?

You will want to talk to friends and family about everything that went down. But, you might wonder, wouldn’t forgiveness allow you to move on? It does the opposite. When you forgive someone before you are ready, you won’t ever be able to let go of what happened. You’ll have forgiven them through words, but the words weren’t genuine.

You’ll hang out and talk to that person again, which only means seeing them often reminds you of the past. You can only be genuine in your forgiveness after you’ve let go of the past. Letting go of the past is a sign that you’ve come to terms with what happened. Then, one day, you’ll wake up, and their betrayal won’t be the first thing on your mind. That’s when you’ll know you’re ready to forgive them.

2 – You are Ready to Forgive if You Can Talk About What Happened

Forgiveness is a process. You can’t just wake up one day and decide everything is fine now. It would help if you talked things through; otherwise, you’ll never get the complete picture of what went down. But talking to the one who hurt you is never easy. Or at least it isn’t easy to have a profound and meaningful conversation. You might want to tell and scream at them, but it will take some time before you can calmly talk. Finally, when you feel like you are ready to hear the whole truth, that’s when you’re prepared to begin the process.

Remember that being ready to talk doesn’t mean everything will return to normal after that talk. You might be willing to begin the process, but the other person might not be ready to ask for forgiveness. You can’t force someone to feel genuine remorse. On the other hand, maybe they aren’t able to talk yet, so you must decide. You’ll need to choose between waiting for them and giving up for good.

Also, the talk might not go the way you expect it to. Maybe the other person is ready to talk but doesn’t realize what they’ve done. Perhaps they don’t feel sorry about it. You can force someone to ask for your forgiveness. But, even if they don’t ask for it, talking to them will still allow you to move on. At least you’ll know where they stand, and you’ll be able to sort through your feelings about them.

3 – You Have Let Go of the Negativity

Being mad at someone is never fun. All that anger and hurt bring a lot of negativities into your life. This negative energy can feel like a burden. Still, it’s hard to release that burden because you usually don’t realize that you’re carrying it. The first step towards being able to forgive is to know you are assuming all that negativity. It would help if you also were ready to let go of it.

Being mad at the one who hurt you might feel comfortable for a short period. You might even want to see them hurt just as much as they hurt you. If you think about it rationally, you’ll realize that anger turns you into a person you don’t want to be. Still, it feels good to act on your instincts at that moment.

And it would help if you allowed yourself to feel your emotions. Just remember that you’re hurt doesn’t give you a right to hurt others. So, please don’t go all crazy ex on someone and slash their tires. That’s not going to solve anything. What is going to help you is letting go of all that negativity. Allow yourself to feel whatever you need to feel.

One day, you’ll wake up and won’t be mad anymore. You won’t carry that burden on your shoulders. You know you are ready to forgive the one who hurt you.

4 – You Have Forgiven Yourself

Even if you are the victim of someone’s hatred, you will still feel inclined to blame yourself. For example, say someone cheated on you. You know that behavior is unacceptable, but you might wonder if they did it because you weren’t good enough. Could you have prevented it if you had been prettier, more intelligent, or kinder?

First things first, you need to know that there’s nothing you ever did to deserve being hurt. You need to remember that if you want to forgive yourself. The only mistake you could have made is reacting wrong. Maybe you yelled and flipped out. That’s an understandable reaction that you shouldn’t beat yourself up over. Still, it’s not the most reliable reaction.

Secondly, you need to talk about what happened. Confide in friends, family, and even specialists. That’s how you can get outside confirmation that you haven’t done anything wrong. It’s easier to forgive yourself when you have someone backing you up.

With the support of others, not only can you forgive yourself, but you can figure out the best way to move forward. The people you confide in can be your support system if anything goes wrong. Once you have forgiven yourself, you can forgive the other person.

5 – You Want Them Back in Your Life

You can’t truly forgive someone unless you want to have them back in your life in one way or another. If you never want to see the one who hurt you again, you will never be ready to forgive them. And it would help if you didn’t forgive someone who hurt you so much you don’t want them back.

Only someone who still has a place in your life is someone truly worth forgiving. That doesn’t mean the two of you will go back to normal. Maybe your relationship will never be as tight as it used to be. But at least your care for them is still stronger than your resentment. Still, you can miss someone and want them in your life even if they don’t deserve your forgiveness. Being ready to forgive someone doesn’t mean that you should.

For example, you often want to have your ex back, even if they cheated on you. Even if they lied or neglected you. You must be careful and understand if they still have a place in your life. Missing someone hurts a lot, but it’s not a good enough reason to pretend nothing happened. You might be ready to forgive them, but make sure they are genuinely sorry about what they did.

Otherwise, you’ll allow a toxic person back in your life. Missing someone hurts, but being constantly betrayed and disrespected by someone you love hurts more. Make sure that you don’t give your forgiveness to just anyone. Some people aren’t worth forgiving.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Five Signs That You Are Ready to Forgive Someone

Forgiveness is not something you should treat lightly. It’s not something you should throw around, hoping that all your problems will go away. Only forgive someone when you are ready to do so. But you also need to ensure you don’t hold on to grudges. If someone accidentally ripped a book you liked, that’s not a reason to hate them forever. Letting go of petty grievances will do you a lot of good.

But it’s hard to know when you are truly ready to forgive someone. Sometimes, you think you are because you want to forgive rationally. But that doesn’t mean you are emotionally prepared. But there are a few signs that you should consider before rushing to forgive someone. For example, maybe you stopped dwelling on the past and are ready to talk about the event. That’s a sign.

You must also release negativity and anger from your soul. This process is how you know you are emotionally available and ready to let go of what happened. Finally, you must grant yourself some grace. Otherwise, you won’t understand why you should even forgive someone else. Lastly, you need to want that person back in your life. Otherwise, your resentment will be too much to allow you to forgive them.

15 Mindful Quotes That Make You Think About Your Health

September 28, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Reading mindful quotes about health can help you prioritize your health and well-being and develop better habits. Living a healthy life can help you experience fulfillment and happiness. It allows you to live your best life and overcome challenges, but it isn’t always easy.

Maintaining a healthy body and mind takes continuous work. However, once you notice the benefits, including improved well-being, you’ll know that the hard work is worth it.

Don’t take your health for granted or assume it’ll all work out. Prioritize your health and put it before work and other responsibilities.

If you ever want to give up or think you can’t do it, remember these mindful quotes regarding health. Maintaining your physical well-being during tough times can also help you maintain your mental and emotional health. You can use these mindful quotes as motivation to change unhealthy habits and develop better ones.

What is a healthy lifestyle?

A healthy lifestyle includes a nutritious diet and regular exercise. However, it also goes beyond that as it involves the following core needs:

physical
emotional
spiritual
intellectual
social

If you neglect any of the five areas of health, it can impact your overall well-being. It interferes with your life and prevents you from finding meaning and joy. Many mindful quotes remind you to think of your health and make better choices.

Fifteen Mindful Quotes That Make You Think About Your Health

These mindful quotes about health encourage you to prioritize your well-being. Making changes to put your health first makes a drastic difference in your life. These quotes help you remember to think long-term and resist giving into temptation.

1 – “The body loves routine. Try to eat, sleep, and so on at the same times every day in order for the body to function at its optimum efficiency. The body loves consistency.” – Theresa Hearn Haynes

Having a routine will help your body function effectively. Follow a schedule for eating, sleeping, exercising, and doing other things for your health. Consistency will help you feel better and improve your overall well-being.

2 – “If you achieve all kinds of things in the material world, but you lose your health or your peace of mind, you get little or no pleasure from your other accomplishments.” – Brian Tracy

If you put your job or money before your health, it’ll backfire in the long run. Without your mental and physical health, you won’t get to enjoy the material things you have. You’ll miss out on fulfillment and joy as you turn to items that don’t help you.

3 – “We now know that food is medicine, perhaps the most powerful drug on the planet with the power to cause or cure most disease.” – Dr. Mark Hyman

Practice mindfulness when choosing what to eat to avoid temptation and mindless munching. Grabbing junk food because it’s easy is detrimental to your health and can lead to disease.

However, taking the time to think about your health encourages you to choose healthier options. As Hyman explains, food can wreak havoc on your body or heal it depending on what you choose to consume.

4 – “Keep your vitality. A life without health is like a river without water.” – Maxime Lagacé

Without health, you won’t function as you should be able to. You must nourish your body and take care of it if you want to experience a fulfilling life.

Don’t hold yourself back by ignoring your health and well-being. You deserve more and can experience vitality if you care for your health.

5 – “No matter how much it gets abused, the body can restore balance. The first rule is to stop interfering with nature.” – Deepak Chopra

It’s never too late to make beneficial changes to your health. No matter what occurred in the past, you can implement healthier habits.

As Chopra explains, don’t interfere with how your body should work. Focus on eating healthy foods, getting enough exercise, and taking care of yourself overall.

6 – “Eating fruits for breakfast is a healthy way of breaking the overnight fast as this is a gentle way of waking up your digestive system.” – Bogdan Ivanov

Start your day on a healthy note by eating fruits for breakfast. It will make you feel good, but studies show it can also decrease your risk of disease and illness. You can switch it up daily by trying a new fruit or put all your favorites into a fruit salad.

7 – “As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.” – Adelle Davis

This mindful quote helps you remember that you can either care for yourself or increase your disease risk. When it comes to your health, there’s no in-between.

8 – “Nurturing yourself is not selfish – it’s essential to your survival and your well-being.” – Renee Peterson Trudeau

Taking time to care for yourself allows you to make it through each day. You’ll handle things better and feel good while doing it. It also allows you more energy to help others, so it’s far from selfish behavior.

9 – “Over the past two decades, extensive research all over the world has shown that laughter has a positive impact on various systems of the body. Most noteworthy is laughter’s ability to unwind the negative effects of stress: the catalyst for many of our health problems.” Madan Kataria

Thinking mindfully of your health requires considering things other than eating well and staying active. One way to promote your overall health is by finding something to laugh about. Kataria indicates that laughter can help your body recover while improving overall health.

10 – “He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” – Thomas Carlyle

With good health, anything is possible. You can hope for anything in life and work to achieve it. Your health means more than you think, especially when it comes to hope for the future.

11 – “Sleep is the most important ‘repair’ mechanism our body has, and getting enough of it will ensure you’re feeling fit and energized the next day.” – Jason Smith

Getting plenty of rest is essential to staying healthy and repairing your body. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep every night to be at your best the next day. You’ll feel better and have enough energy to complete your tasks and get through the day.

12 – “Every living cell in your body is made from the food you eat. If you consistently eat junk food then you’ll have a junk body.” – Jeanette Jenkins

You can’t expect a healthy body if you only consume junk food and drinks. Instead, focus on filling your body with essential nutrients, vitamins, and water. You can exercise as much as you want, but you won’t feel your best if you keep eating junk.

13 – “Gaining control over your health and well-being is one of those times in your life that you get to be completely selfish and not feel bad about it. If you want to meet your goals, you have to make it about you. You have to make it work for you and you alone. Anything less is a setup for failure.”- Jennifer Hudson

Being healthy takes time and effort, and you shouldn’t feel bad about prioritizing yourself. Set your health goals and do whatever it takes to achieve them. As Hudson explains, this is the time to be selfish and work for what you want.

You won’t reach your health goals if you don’t prioritize yourself. Take the time you need, even if it would be quicker to choose unhealthy options.

14 – “Take a few minutes each and every day to ensure that your mind is nourished properly and positively. After all, a healthy mind leads to a happier view of life and with a happier view of life it is much easier to counter the negative impact other issues will have on us.” – Catherine Pulsifer

Spending time alone to think and reflect is essential to your mental health. You may not have a positive view of life without a healthy mindset.

Making a change to focus on your mind can help you deal with negative issues and other obstacles. It’ll also help you think about your health and prioritize your well-being.

15 – “Values are related to our emotions, just as we practice physical hygiene to preserve our physical health, we need to observe emotional hygiene to preserve a healthy mind and attitudes.” – Dalai Lama

Taking care of your emotions is essential for prioritizing your health and well-being. You clean your body and make sure you look acceptable, but you also must cleanse your mind.

Let go of things that don’t serve you, and set boundaries that allow you to feel good. Your mind is essential to your ability to function, so don’t neglect it during your health journey.

Final Thoughts on These Mindful Quotes That Make You Consider a Healthy Lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle might take hard work, but it’s well worth it. Even when it’s easier to be unhealthy, go out of your way to choose a healthier option. Taking care of yourself helps increase your chance of living a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Reading mindful quotes to think about your health can help you stay motivated on your journey. You’ll want to keep pushing through even when it would be easy to give up. Remember the quotes that resonated with you so you can use them throughout your day.

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

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!