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Psychology Explains How Pets Increase Positive Thinking

June 29, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Most people love animals and either own pets or wish they had at least one little furry buddy. Pets are some of the most genuine and cute beings alive, so it’s easy to understand why they can steal our hearts in seconds. Interacting with your furry friends can increase your positive thinking and overall positivity in life, confirm psychologists.

Of course, pet owners know how much they can improve someone’s mood. Each time you get home, they are waiting for you, and you can see how excited they are to see you. The connection you can create with a pet is genuine and wholesome, and you can feel that. So, after a demanding day at work, feeling the love your pet has for you is the best thing you could ask for, and that’s why taking care of them even when you’re not home is important, so you should learn to use online resources, like https://petboarders.co.uk/catteries/, to choose a cattery for your feline’s next getaway.

And they don’t ask for anything in return. Your furry friends love you unconditionally and they will always be there to cheer you up when you are going through something. But pets aren’t just good companions who can lift your spirits for a moment. They can completely change who you are as a person. Having pets has been shown to increase positive thinking. By hanging out with your pet for a couple of hours a day, you will become generally increase positivity.

How Pets Increase Positive Thinking

It seems logical that pets would make you happier. But how exactly can they change the way you think? Well, psychology can explain the link between pets and positive thinking.

1. Pets Change Your Mood to a Place of Positivity

Pets don’t just make you happy by being adorable for a moment. The change in mood that they cause isn’t temporary. It’s permanent, as playing with a pet has been shown to create changes in the hormones your body releases. Playing with an animal has been proven to increase oxytocin and decrease cortisol.

Thus, your stress levels will inevitably go down. This is the reason why pet therapy can be so effective. Because there’s a clear biological link between being around an animal and a decrease in stress, people with depression or anxiety have something to gain by being around pets. Studies explain the effectiveness of pets as therapy. They also showed that playing with an animal is tied to decreased heart rate and blood pressure. This is because oxytocin, besides inhibiting the release of stress hormones, also plays a role in the cardio-respiratory system.

It slows someone’s breathing rhythm and heart rate, thus reducing blood pressure. Oxytocin can help the body heal, either physically or psychologically, whenever it needs to. For example, it allows the body to create new cells, making people’s bodies healthier. Because of this, oxytocin makes people feel generally happy. This happiness, coupled with lower depression and anxiety levels, promotes positive thinking.

2. Pets Help You Socialize

This isn’t the case with all pet owners. For example, if you own a snake, you don’t have to walk it. But most pet owners know that their pets are a great conversation starter. This is especially true if you own a dog you must walk daily. And this is something all dog owners can attest to. Whenever someone walks their dog, at least one person will come up to them and ask something about the dog.

Pets dogs can help you socialize and create new friends and encourage positivity in the community. For example, if you just moved into a new neighborhood, simply taking your dog on walks will help you meet all your neighbors. A survey shows that pet owners are 60% more likely to meet their neighbors than non-pet owners. But some studies show that even owning other pets, like a cat, a rabbit, or even a snake, can help you socialize. That’s because having a pet can be a great conversation starter. This is especially true if you have an uncommon animal. People will be curious to hear about a snake if you have a snake. Or, if you are traveling with your cat, people will inevitably come up to you and ask you about the cat.

There are many cases where owning an animal can open new doors and help you meet new people. As everyone knows, isolation has disastrous effects on someone’s mental health. It can lead to depression, anxiety, and even physical issues. But the socialization you can engage in because of your pet will help you avoid those issues. And you don’t just avoid being alone. You can even create a solid social circle, which will help you become a happier person.

So, having a pet who can help you socialize can help you increase positive thinking.

3. Having a Pet Boosts Your Self-Esteem, Thus Boosting Positive Thinking

Owning a pet has been shown to boost your self-esteem and improve how you see yourself. This is especially true for people who have owned pets since they were children or teenagers, but it can also happen for adults. This seems to be the case because kids don’t worry as much about how other people view them when they have a pet. If they have these thoughts, they’ll fade as soon as they see their pet.

Because they have that companion who will never leave them, they don’t have to worry about popularity. Even if their peers don’t accept them, they’ll still have someone who does and who loves them unconditionally. And, since childhood is when someone’s behavior is shaped, this child or teenager will have a healthier development. The outcomes of this development will always be positive.

But improvements in self-esteem can be seen in adults too. The changes won’t occur as quickly, but your behavior will see some difference. Again, having that companion will make you feel better about yourself. You won’t worry as much about how others view you, which will improve your mental health. And it’s important to note that a person with higher self-esteem will tend to be more positive and engage in positive thinking.

4. Having a Pet Helps You Be More Mindful

Psychologists say that mindfulness is based on attention, intention, compassion, and awareness. Thus, a person cannot be mindful if they don’t know how to empathize with others or even pay attention to what their body is telling them. Being mindful is about being aware of your feelings and needs and others’ feelings and needs.

Mindfulness is an excellent trait to have because it improves both your physical and psychological health. When people think of mindfulness, their mind immediately goes to meditation. While meditation is an essential tool for becoming more mindful, it’s not the only tool. You can’t learn to be more compassionate by simply meditating. But you can understand it by having to care for another being.

So, having a pet is one of the best ways to become more compassionate. This being is dependent on you to provide them with food and shelter. Simply knowing that their life is in your hand will make you empathize more and be more attentive. As you might know, mindfulness is one of the best ways to become more positive.

Once you become aware of your needs, as well as others, you will be more likely to cherish what you have and engage in positive thinking. Along with these benefits, your life will respond with positivity as your mental and physical health improve.

5. Caring for a Pet Adds Structure to Your Life

Having structure is one of the essential things in someone’s life. It can help you manage your tasks better, thus lowering your stress levels. But that’s not the only advantage. Routine and structure will give you a guideline for how your days should look. When you know what you need to do and where to aim, you are more likely to see things in a positive light. But it can sometimes be hard to create that structure.

Most times, people don’t want to schedule every minute of their life or walk around with a planner in their bag. But that’s the beauty of owning a pet. They add structure to your life organically, and they change your thinking patterns such that they become natural. When you have a pet, you need to care for them every day. You need to feed them, clean their living environment and make sure they exercise. For pet sitting Charlotte contact For Pets Sake Pet Sitting & Dog Walking. In time, all these tasks will become structured routine. You will always provide them at the same time. You will regularly clean their tanks, cages, or beds and walk your dog every day at the same time.

This routine is often very calming. You don’t need to worry about what you’ll do with your day. You’ll already have a plan that you can stick to no matter what. This way of planning and making routines will expand in all areas of your life. As you become a more structured person, you will find that you’ll engage in positive thinking more often. Your stress levels will decrease, and you will always find comfort in your routine. Instead of stressing out about some minor inconvenience, you will look forward to getting home and feeding your pet.

Final Thoughts on How Pets Increase Positive Thinking

Having a pet is a beautiful experience. They bring joy into your life on even the darkest days. They are always full of positivity and excitement. Because of how joyous a pet always is, it’s hard not to have positive thoughts around them.

Pets aren’t just cute and cuddly. They are the best companion someone could ever ask for. They help you become a better person and engage in positive thinking more often. Having pets has been associated with a decrease in stress levels and loneliness. They are always there to comfort you when you are feeling down, thus lowering levels of depression and anxiety.

Because of how drastically they improve your mental health, they’ll inevitably make you a more positive person. Besides that, they help you meet new people and become more sociable. They also help boost your self-esteem and make you more mindful. Lastly, they add structure and routine to your life, which allows you have a goal. Overall, if you’ve ever asked yourself if getting a pet is a good idea, the answer is an undeniable yes.

Psychologists Explain the Best 12 Ways to Clear Your Mind

June 29, 2022 by Kristen Butler

When you think of clutter, you probably instantly picture your closets and other areas of hoarding that occur in your home. However, few realize that your mind can become just as cluttered as your abode, and the consequences can be just as severe. Here are a few signs that prove you need to take the time to clear your mind:

Negativity
Worrying about things that might not occur
Past hurts and regrets
Anger
Sadness
Ruminating on your problems
Dreams and plans
External distractions
Continuous sensory input
To-do List

A little clutter won’t hurt, right? Sure, you’re not going to get your mind 100 percent free of every thought, as it’s impossible. Consequently, the problem exists when it becomes overloaded. Have you ever opened too many browsers on your computer, and it causes your CPU to run slow?

The same thing happens in your brain. You can’t be present at the moment and engage in mindful living when your mind is chaotic.

Twelve Ways to Clear Your Mind

A position of mental confusion causes you to become distracted and disorganized in your life. You cannot define what’s a priority from things that can wait, and it’s impossible to make sound decisions. The key is to build mental muscles to help you declutter your mind.

You need space in your brain to organize your time and keep up your energy, and it all starts by unraveling the unhealthy thought patterns you’ve picked up along the way. If you want to clear your mind and release these patterns, here are a few ways to accomplish this task.

1. Decrease Multitasking to Clear Your Mind

Employers often extol the virtues of those who multitask efficiently as the best employees and parents. However, new research proves that your mind cannot handle so much at once, as it overloads your brain. Instead, you need a to-do list that allows you to focus on one task at a time, which can avoid the mental overload that occurs.

An article written by the American Psychological Association cites research by Dr. Robert Rogers and Dr. Stephen Monsell. Studies found that people who focus on one task have more significant mental strength than those who try to do many things simultaneously.

How often have you got lost in all you have to do, and it’s hours later, and not much has been accomplished? Try setting a timer for each task and making yourself accountable for your time. When the timer sounds, you move on to something else. This little tip will give you a gentle push to help clear your mind and desk.

2. Clear Your Mind With Journaling

One way to get all those thoughts floating inside your mind out is by journaling. If you have notes, to-do lists, and other things swirling inside your brain, you can let go of them by putting them on paper. Decluttering your mind is simple when you use journaling to help you.

3. Reject Negativity

Do you engage in toxic self-talk, feelings of sadness, or hopelessness? Is the negativity you ingest each day suffocating you? You need to reject negativity and angle your perceptions towards reality. Be careful what you allow into your mind and heart, as it can profoundly affect you.

Changing your mindset isn’t easy, but you can do it. Ways you can do this are through positive affirmations, replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, relaxation techniques, and practicing gratitude. Your brain isn’t always right, but you can help guide it along the way with positive reinforcement.

4. Get Restful Sleep

Your sleep directly links to your mental state. When you don’t get sufficient rest, it causes you to have “brain fog.” Have you ever had those days where you can’t think straight or remember anything?

It likely comes from a disrupted sleep cycle. Not getting sufficient rest disrupts your mind, and your cells cannot properly communicate with one another. When you want to clear your mind, the best and easiest way is by getting more sleep.

5. Limit Social Media

Every day your mind is flooded with sensory information. One significant way to clutter your brain is by limiting social media. Did you know that these channels can dramatically impact loneliness and depressive states?

Social media is skewed only to see what the actor wants you to see. They give snapshots of the perfect life and family, as most people don’t like to air their dirty laundry. It’s effortless to feel down on yourself when you can’t measure up to the façade created on these channels. If you find that negative feelings from social media trigger you, it’s time for you to take a break.

6. Clear Your Mind by Prioritizing the Chaos

Is your to-do list growing longer by the minute? Do you feel completely overwhelmed and don’t know a good place even to start? Think of your brain as an empty house where vagrants have moved in.

When you take control of the property and move out the uninvited guests, you have the space you need to work. You restore order by setting priorities and following through with them. Sometimes you need to dump the data and organize it accordingly.

Some things are urgent, while other matters can wait. Prioritizing your mental hoard can help you ensure that things get done promptly. Additionally, it feels so good watching things get crossed off a list, as you have a sense of accomplishment.

7. Share Your Burdens

Everyone feels mentally overloaded at times in their life. However, sharing your deepest thoughts with someone you trust is one way to unload all this negativity. Mentors can help you gain perspective and clarity, and they can help lighten your load.

8. Practice Decisiveness to Clear Your Mind

When you have a brain full of clutter, think of all this stuff as delayed decisions. Your life is all about choices, and some of the decisions you must make are simpler than others. If you become too overwhelmed with all that’s on your plate, you may avoid making any choices.

Did you know that procrastination is one of the biggest reasons your mind is so full of clutter? Each day, you face so many “what ifs,” which can be overwhelming. Relaxation is challenging when your mind’s full of stuff, and you can develop analysis paralysis.

Thankfully, when you practice being more decisive, you can let go of all the unanswered questions and things that keep you up at night.

9. Declutter Your Atmosphere

What would you say if you found that your environment directly impacts your mental clutter? Chaos creates confusion, and it’s challenging to focus when there’s an excess of stuff around you. In an article by the New York Times, Dr. Ferrari conducted a study to see how clutter or hoarding affects mental wellbeing.

The results were quite shocking, as those who kept their space neat fared better than those who had excessive stuff.

10. Meditation

Meditation is like a tow truck that pulls a stuck car out of the ditch. When you need to clear the area effortlessly, this is the vehicle for the job. Meditation gets rid of negativity and confusion and allows you to focus on what’s most important. Using this ancient practice every day lets you clear your mind and stay grounded.

11. Get Outside to Clear Your Mind

Those who spend more time in nature have better mental health than those who don’t venture out much. A study cited by the National Library of Medicine states that people who get fresh air and sunshine have lower rates of depression and anxiety. If you feel overwhelmed and your mind clogged, then a stroll outside may be what you need to clear the clutter.

12. Take a Break

Sometimes you need to hit the reset button on your life and clean up the chaos by getting away. It’s often very taxing when you get stuck in a mundane rut. A change of scenery, new faces, and experiences can do you good.

If you don’t have time to take a week off, don’t worry, as just a couple of days will do the trick. Even if you have an evening to unwind, prop your feet up, and read a good book, it can be all you need to do to hit the reset button.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Clear Your Mind

Are there any tips from the list that you can implement to help clear your mind and relax? Remember, you’re not trying to make it empty, as that’s impossible. Who wants to remove the dreams, ideas, and beautiful memories you have stored there?

These little tips will help you bring clarity, organize your thoughts, and increase productivity. Since life is so unpredictable and you never know when the next curveball is coming your way, at least you will have the mental muscles to handle it.

Counselors Share 20 Behaviors for Positive Mental Health

June 29, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

The number of people that suffer from mental health issues is staggering, especially given the things this country has been through in the past few years. What is your mental health? It comprises your mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. Your brain has a specific way of handling stress, and your stress response can affect how you think, feel, and act each day.

The cost of mental health care encompasses over five percent of all health care costs. In 2019, people spent $225 billion to combat mental illness, and these numbers are only increasing. Experts found that many people in specific areas or states had more significant mental health needs than others, so your atmosphere does dictate a lot about your mental health.

Twenty Behaviors for Positive Mental Health

Just like your physical condition, your mental health is something that you must strive to keep in good shape. You can’t just eat a salad one day and expect all those years of bad eating habits to go away, nor can you do things to enhance your mental wellbeing just once and expect anxiety to disappear. Here is a list of things that counselors have found can benefit and improve positive mental health.

1. You Enjoy Positive Mental Health if You Laugh Often

Do you laugh every day? It would help to laugh as often as possible, as it’s like good medicine for your soul. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the concept of laughter took center stage in the 1970s.

Norman Cousins was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an excruciating type of arthritis. As a journalist, he documented his journey to heal himself with laughter. He found that laughing increased his oxygen consumption and altered his brain’s chemicals, which helped his body kick his sympathetic nervous system into high gear.

His groundbreaking personal study proved that laughter could be quite healing, even when facing a debilitating condition. So, how much more can it do for your mental health?

2. Listening to Podcasts

Podcasts are motivational, primarily when you tune in to those people who’ve overcome significant trials in their life. Listening to positive things allows you to ingest them into your spirit, and it’s hard to be negative when you’re filling your vessel with optimism.

3. Practice Gratitude

It’s always amazing what a dose of reality and counting your blessings can do for your mental health. Some people get so caught up in the things they want and lack, but positive mental health naturally comes when you stop focusing on material things and start looking at all the Universe has given. Many people pray for the things they take for granted each day.

4. Sleep Six to Eight Hours

You cannot function without sufficient rest, nor will you have positive mental health when running on empty. Make your bedtime a priority so that you can attempt to refresh each day.

5. Journaling for Positive Mental Health

Everyone needs an outlet, as there’s no way to avoid negativity. It all comes down to what you do with the negativity you ingest, as you need a way to get it out of your mind and heart. Journaling allows you to write down all the things bothering you, which means purging them from your being.

6. Write a Book

While you’ve got your pen out from journaling, is a book inside you waiting to come to life? Have you overcome significant triumphs, and your testimony could help someone? You can self-publish a book on many outlets, help folks in similar situations, and make some money on the side.

7. Turn off the TV

Spending too much time in front of the TV is unsuitable. You must get up and move your body rather than become a couch potato. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can never watch TV, but you should limit mindless activities that cause you to be sedentary.

8. Awake Your Inner Creative Being

Do you have a creative side ready to burst out of you? Why not try playing a musical instrument, painting in a studio class, or spinning the potter’s wheel to make a fantastic creation? People have used various art forms as it dramatically affects their positive mental health and is fun, too.

9. Break the Daily Grind

Engaging in positive thinking when stuck in a monotonous rut is challenging. The daily nine-to-five can be tedious, and you need to break free from this rigid schedule. Go away for a day or two or even a week, as it will do wonders for your mental health.

10. Increase Positive Mental Health by Changing Your Eating Habits

Are you a healthy eater, or do you prefer to grab fast food and not worry about a mess? While eating on the go works well in your twenties, all those carbs and calories will catch up to you when your metabolism slows as you age.

You must fuel your system with fruits, vegetables, and protein to keep everything running efficiently. Vitamin deficiencies can cause you to feel horrible, affecting your mental health.

11. Take Evening Walks

There’s something tranquil about the still of the evening. It helps to boost your positivity as well as burn some calories. Nature is quite healing in many regards, as it has a way of grounding you. Why not try tree bathing to help heal your mind and clear the chaos?

12. Create a Vision Board

Where do you want to go in life, and have you made goals for the next year, five years, or even ten? A vision board is a great visual tool that helps you see where you’re at right now, where you want to be in the future, and plan how to get there.

Counselors often use this tool to help folks mentally heal, as it’s easy to get caught up in the big picture and feel overwhelmed. Breaking it down into small, manageable steps is helpful.

13. Exercise

Perhaps one reason why so many people don’t exercise as they should is that they think it’s boring. There are plenty of maneuvers that are fun and can burn calories.

Some fun methods include dancing, skating, cycling, and isometric exercises. There’s no reason why working out must feel mundane and boring, as you can spice it up with something new and exciting.

14. Visit Family and Friends

When did you last visit your family or friends for dinner and fun? Everyone has a support system that’s helped them get where they are in life, and these people play a vital role in keeping you mentally sane. If you feel your mental health slipping, they can help your positive thinking by just being in their presence and feeling their warmth and love.

15. Use Positive Affirmations

No matter how bleak things might look, you can alter your perception. How you respond to things means everything, such as seeing the glass as half full or half empty. Try speaking positive affirmations each day before you begin, and watch the profound difference it has on your day.

16. Change Your Vocabulary

Did your parents have words you weren’t allowed to speak as a child? Some parents don’t like these words because they don’t sound good, but what about the works you use that have negative undertones? Why not take words like can’t, don’t, and won’t from your internal database? Start using words like “can,” “will,” and “do,” and see how it changes you for the better.

17. Clear the Clutter

Your closets, garage, basement, and other home areas often become cluttered as you lack time to sort through the stuff. If your home is overwhelmed with clutter, it can put your mind in chaos.

How can you rest or be organized when there’s stuff suffocating you? Pitch and donate things that take up vital space and declutter your abode to enhance your positivity.

18. Limit Social Media

Limit the time you spend in online worlds where people can post anything they want, whether true or not. Instead, spend your time with folks who can have great conversations and lift your spirits.

19. Embrace Mindful Living

Mindful living lets you let go of the past and focus on the present. You look within for peace and contentment instead of on the outside. You let go of expectations and perfectionism that will only hold you back, and you cherish every moment that you have a breath in your body.

20. Pray or Meditate for Positive Mental Health

Whether you believe in God or the Universe, you have a spiritual side, and embracing this side of you can increase your positive mental health. Praying or meditation clears your mind and allows you to allow peace to surround you. It’s a good move for positive mental health as you’re purging negativity and inviting the ease and comfort of your spiritual side to rule.

Final Thoughts on Behaviors for Positive Mental Health

What behaviors do you think you can practice to help enhance your mental health? Don’t try to do too many things at once, but you should start with a couple of things that you can utilize to help your overall mental well-being and build positive habits.

Counselors Reveal 17 Relationship Rules of Successful Couples

June 29, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes a relationship successful. There are many aspects to consider, and some relationship rules can set you on the best path. These considerations can help you build a foundation for a strong relationship.

Everyone creates rules in their lives, and you should do the same for relationship rules. Developing a healthy romance is essential to your well-being if you’re in a relationship. You don’t want to have too many relationship rules, but you want enough to ensure happiness and fulfillment.

Many relationships fall apart after the initial excitement dissipates, but yours doesn’t have to. These rules can help keep things fresh and meaningful, promoting a solid relationship.

Setting relationship rules can be difficult, but you’ll be glad you did. Counselors reveal the benefits of these relationship rules, helping us see their importance. Use the relationship rules that work for you and your partner, and personalize them for your relationship.

Seventeen Relationship Rules of Successful Couples

If you want your healthy romance to last, you must set some relationship rules. Talk to your partner and decide on your relationship rules because they’ll affect you both. Whether you’re in a new relationship or want to enhance a long-term one, these rules can help.

1. A Strong Relationship Includes Fun and Laughter

Having fun with your partner helps build your connection and enhance your bond. Find an activity you both enjoy and make it a point to participate often. Some ideas include biking, camping, playing a sport, or engaging in another hobby.

You can choose anything, as long as you like doing it together. Finding ways to laugh together is beneficial, as well. Laughter can ease tension and make you feel closer to your partner.

2. Relationship Rules Dictate the Need to Communicate

Communication is essential in a healthy relationship. Even if you don’t want to, you must discuss big topics, including money, fidelity, children, and religion. If you’re passionate about something, it’s worth discussing early on.

As you become closer, keep your lines of communication open. Being open and honest prevents you from drifting from your partner. It doesn’t matter how tired or busy you are, but you must communicate.

3. Don’t Question Their Intent

When you disagree, you should avoid questioning your partner’s intent. They may have made a mistake or upset you, but it doesn’t mean they intentionally caused a problem. Remind yourself that they have good intentions, which will help you remember how much you love them.

4. Appreciate One Another

Don’t forget to appreciate your partner regularly. They do so much and bring joy to your life, even on the bad days. Compliment them often so that they know how you feel.

5. Respect One Another (One of the Most Fundamental Relationship Rules)

Being respectful in your relationship can make all the difference. Don’t underestimate the power of manners, no matter how long you’ve been together. Say please, thank you, and you’re welcome whenever necessary.

Using manners isn’t the only way to be respectful. You can show respect during arguments by avoiding name-calling and hurtful phrases. Additionally, let your partner speak without interrupting, regardless of whether you agree.

6. Define a Healthy Relationship Together

Healthy relationships aren’t identical because every romance is different. Sit down with your partner and determine your idea of a healthy relationship together.

Consider aspects like being gentle, seeing the bigger picture, and acknowledging the other’s efforts. Healthy relationships allow both partners to grow and develop without stifling who you are.

7. Compromise Is in the Relationship Rules Book

You won’t always agree with your partner, but you can always compromise. However, don’t demand things from one another. Instead, discuss the situation and come up with a plan. For instance, offer to watch their favorite movie with them if they’ll take you somewhere they don’t love.

8. Switch It Up

Successful couples don’t get stuck in a repetitious pattern because they often switch it up. Falling into routines is easy, but you must get out of the habits.

If you or your partner seem to be getting bored, think about what you can change. Getting bored and not doing anything about it can lead to dissatisfaction, potentially leading to the end of your relationship. Try something new, visit a new location, or take up a new hobby together.

9. Maintain Separate Lives

While a relationship brings two people together, they also must maintain separate lives. Successful couples know to maintain friendships outside of their romance. They go out without their partner or go to events with friends.

Sometimes, people even spend time alone at home, allowing them to unwind and reflect. Use this time to further your career, engage in your hobbies, or relax.

Doing things without your partner allows you to miss them and promotes your well-being. You must retain a sense of independence no matter where your relationship leads.

10. Set Healthy Boundaries to Establish a Strong Relationship

Setting boundaries in a romantic relationship is one of the best ways to make it last. Talk to your partner about the things you won’t tolerate, and ask them to discuss their boundaries.

The sooner you talk about these things, the better your relationship can be. However, it’s not too late to discuss it now, even if you’re in a long-term relationship. The conversation might not be much fun, but it can help ensure a successful relationship.

11. Don’t Threaten a Breakup

Some people threaten their partner with a breakup to get their way. During a fight, it’s easy to throw these words around. However, threatening to end your romance is highly detrimental to your relationship.

When you threaten your partner, it creates a power imbalance. It disrupts the level of respect and equality, causing issues for you to handle. Make this one of your relationship rules to avoid ruining your relationship and hurting your partner.

12. A Safe Space Builds a Strong Relationship

If your relationship isn’t a safe space, it can cause anxiety and depression. It can also lead to an unhealthy power struggle, interfering with your chance at a healthy relationship.

Make sure your romance is a safe space where your partner can feel appreciated, understood, and supported. It gives both of you a place to go to destress, celebrate, or express any other part of your life.

13. Let Go of the Need to Be Right

It’s more important to embrace your relationship than to be correct. Letting go of the need to be right can help you focus on resolving conflict and accepting personal choices.

Put your relationship first and avoid an argument, even when you feel like you are right. It’ll bring fulfillment and happiness to your relationship, and no disagreement is worth the sacrifice.

14. Prioritize Physical Contact

One relationship rule to implement is to hug as often as you can. Studies show that physical touch increases oxytocin, the hormone associated with love. It also reduces cortisol, the hormone that triggers stress.

Include hugs in your daily routine, and hold on longer than usual. Additionally, hold hands when possible, and don’t hesitate to put your arm around your partner when you walk together.

15. Don’t Compare–Every Set of Relationship Rules Will Be Different from Other Couples

Comparing your partner or relationship to others is never a good idea. When you compare your relationship to others, it can cause unhappiness and a lack of fulfillment. It gives you a false sense of what your romance should be.

Likewise, avoid comparing your partner to other people. No one is perfect, and your partner is bound to have imperfections. If you compare them to other people, remember that those other people have flaws, too.

Remember that what you see from other people is likely their highlight reel. When other couples post on social media, they typically aren’t sharing the hard parts.

The perfect partner or relationship doesn’t exist, so don’t give in to the fallacy that it’s there somewhere. Avoid unhealthy comparisons if you want a successful relationship.

16. Celebrate

Celebrating special days is essential for a strong relationship. Don’t miss out on celebrating the day you first met, your first date, the day you officially became a couple, or your wedding day. Also, celebrate birthdays, the date you got engaged, and other special events.

Celebrating these experiences keeps the feelings fresh. You’ll remember how you felt at that point in your relationship, reminding you why you’re with them today. It also deepens your bond and creates new memories.

17. Show Interest

You don’t have to love your partner’s hobbies or activities, but you should show an interest. Keep your negative comments to yourself and attempt to understand what your partner enjoys. Show interest by asking questions and having a conversation about it.

Final Thoughts on the Relationship Rules of Successful Couples

These relationship rules of successful couples can help you have a healthy romance. A strong relationship requires time, effort, and love, and it is worth every bit. Spend time nurturing your partner and relationship; it’ll only continue to blossom.

Setting relationship rules with your partner can strengthen your bond and create a lasting relationship. The rules help keep your relationship fun and exciting while ensuring respect and love.

Science Explains How Psychedelics May Reduce Depression

June 28, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

Mounting evidence reveals that psychedelics such as psilocybin can effectively reduce the symptoms of depression. While people respond differently to treatments, many have found relief with “magic mushrooms.”

About 30% of people have treatment-resistant depression, meaning psychiatric medications don’t work for them. In that case, they may turn to a natural antidepressant-like psychedelics to alleviate symptoms. Experts believe that biological differences cause people to respond differently to treatments.

Plus, antidepressants can take several months to work, and some patients don’t want to wait that long. Treatment-resistant depression can cause debilitating symptoms, so scientists have ramped up efforts to find solutions. Some believe that making psychedelics available for therapeutic uses could transform depression treatments.

What Is Psilocybin?

Previously, several clinical trials found that psilocybin, in particular, can offer rapid relief for depression. A study found that it can also alleviate anxiety and depression that occur as a result of cancer. However, until recently, scientists didn’t know precisely how psilocybin acts on the brain to reduce depression.

Psilocybin comes from mushrooms belonging to the genuses Psilocybe, Panaeolus, and Copelandia. These psychedelics interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, causing altered states of consciousness.

Prior studies have used functional MRI scans and found that psilocybin reduces activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. This brain region governs several cognitive functions, such as attention, habits, memory, and inhibition. Psychedelics can reduce connections between this region and the posterior cingulate cortex. This area of the brain aids in regulating emotions and memory.

Usually, the brain maintains an active connection between these two regions, called a default mode network. This network becomes active during periods of rest or passive moments. For instance, focusing on internal mental states, recalling the past, or planning the future activates this process. Our brains default to this state when we’re not engaged in externally oriented tasks.

How Psychedelics Can Reduce Depression and Negative Thinking

Scientists believe that reducing activity in this network removes the separation between the internal self and the external world. Many people who have taken psychedelics report feeling more open and receptive to the world around them. They become more aware of their connection to others, and some even feel more loving.

Furthermore, studies show that rumination causes increased activity in the default mode network. This makes people less interested in the surrounding world and more focused on their internal self. Since depressed patients often ruminate on the past or self-perceived flaws, psychedelics may offer relief in this regard.

Now, groundbreaking research published in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals how psilocybin reduces depression. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial compared two groups of people with depression. The first group took psilocybin, and the other patients took escitalopram, an antidepressant.

A Separate Study on the Impact of Psychedelics on Depression

A separate study published in the Nature Portfolio journal Scientific Reports analyzed these findings. Researchers performed fMRI brain scans on participants and compared these results with fMRI scans from a previous clinical trial.

The findings showed powerful psychological effects just one day after patients took their first dose of psilocybin. fMRI scans revealed a marked increase in connectivity between various regions in the brain. In people with major depression, these networks usually have decreased activity.

Patients had reduced activity in the default mode network but increased connectivity between this region and other networks. This supports previous findings as well.

Some patients had greater connectivity than others, likely due to biological differences. However, studies found that people who showed the most significant increase in connectivity still had improved symptoms after six months.

After six weeks of treatment, the group who took antidepressants had no connectivity changes between brain networks. Researchers suggested that escitalopram might take longer to start working in the brain. However, for people who have treatment-resistant depression, psychedelics can offer nearly instant relief.

The Future of Psychedelics in Treating Depression

The study authors have a theory on why psilocybin had a more pronounced effect on depression. They propose that psychedelics have a more concentrated impact on serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors than antidepressants. These receptors become activated by serotonin in various brain regions, including the default brain network.

Since research already shows that psychedelics bind to serotonin receptors in the brain, this is no surprise. However, researchers still aren’t sure how this activation causes network connectivity changes.

So, whether successful depression treatment depends on connectivity changes between brain networks is unknown. Since some people taking antidepressants show improvements without these brain changes, it creates more questions than answers. The study found that both groups had improved symptoms six weeks after treatment.

However, the findings revealed that the group taking psilocybin had a better response to treatment. 70% of this group showed reduced depression compared to 48% taking escitalopram. Furthermore, 57% of patients taking psychedelics showed improvements after six weeks compared to just 28% of the other group. However, some patients didn’t respond to the psilocybin or relapsed a few weeks after the study period.

This proves that treating depression doesn’t have a universal answer. It depends heavily on biological and environmental factors, making it crucial for patients to access various treatments.

The future of depression treatments involving psychedelics is unclear at this point. However, the studies above provide hope for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Perhaps in the future, psychedelics like psilocybin will be used to treat other conditions, like anxiety or PTSD.

Final Thoughts on Using Psychedelics to Alleviate Depression

While studies have previously shown that psychedelics can improve mental health, researchers didn’t know how until recently. They have revealed that psychedelics reduce activity in the default mode network in the brain. This region of the brain becomes active during rumination or internal reflection.

In a clinical trial, researchers showed that patients had increased connectivity between this part of the brain and other regions. Psilocybin “switched off” areas of the brain that focus on repetitive negative thinking. It also enhanced activity in all brain regions, making people more open and receptive to external situations.

The future of mental health treatments involving psychedelics looks promising, especially for those who don’t respond to conventional therapies.

20 Behaviors That Reveal a Failing Relationship

June 28, 2022 by Chris Butler

Are you in a failing relationship or one that’s thriving? The honeymoon period only lasts for so long, and reality hits you like a ton of bricks. Even the best couples have things they must overcome. Don’t let troubles fester for too long because if you don’t resolve things quickly, it could be the end of something great.

Twenty Signs of a Failing Relationship

No one wants to suffer a breakup, but are there any warning signs that things will sour? The first six months to two years are “the honeymoon” phase as everything is new and fresh. Love is exciting, and this time is unlike any high you will experience.

No matter how high the euphoria is initially, it’s a whole different ballgame once you become accustomed to one another. Remember the old arguments that he left the seat up or she left the cap off the toothpaste? Well, those are just common complaints that don’t amount to anything.

The real trouble comes into play when you must deal with finances, children, family members, and pressures from work. Here are some signs that reveal a failing relationship.

1. No Intimacy in a Failing Relationship

All the laughs, intimacy, and fun date nights disappear once you settle into a routine together. You’re headed for trouble when you don’t make time for each other romantically. While intimacy is just one part of a relationship, it’s a vital part you need to stay connected.

When they no longer want to be with you, you need to get to the bottom of it. It may be a medical or stress-related issue, but you must investigate something going on.

2. Cheating

Infidelity is a big sign that something is wrong. It doesn’t mean the problem is yours either, as it may be your partner’s issue to manage. When one of you goes outside of the relationship to have your physical desires met, something is lingering under the surface that needs addressing. For some folks, cheating is the final straw and the reason to end things.

3. Resentment

Resentment comes from not resolving things right away, and it can lead to a failing relationship if it’s not fixed. You bury those hurt feelings, and they fester like cancer deep inside. Maybe your partner is deliberately embarrassing or belittling you in front of others, so you build walls to keep from getting hurt. Resentment is a big sign that a breakup is imminent if things aren’t addressed.

4. A Failing Relationship Has a Lack of Trust

A lack of trust always follows poor communication. When you don’t talk as you should, it leaves room for unjust suspicions, hurt feelings, and people that live two separate lives.

5. Dishonesty

There’s never a reason to lie to one another. If they’re being dishonest with you about some things, you wonder what other things they’re lying about. Trust is one of the foundations of your relationship, and once it’s broken, it’s a challenging aspect to repair.

6. Always Fighting

Remember the days of pure love and bliss? You’ve forgotten about all of that because all you do is argue. You don’t even know what you argue about anymore, as it seems just being in the same room with them is all it takes, and the feuding begins.

7. Financial Troubles

one reason why so many relationships fail is money issues. You must both be on the same page about finances and have an active role in management, or there will be problems. Many couples keep things separate to avoid such issues with money.

8. You’re Miserable in Your Failing Relationship

The only thing worse than being single is being with someone wrong for you. You can be more lonely and miserable in a relationship than when you are all alone. If you notice that you’re just sad with your partner these days, it’s a sign of a failing relationship.

9. You Both Do Whatever You Want

You once did everything together, but now it seems you lead independent lives. Vacations are taken separately, and nights out are now spent with other people. You’re not investing any time into your relationship, and it’s apparent on the home front.

10. Disrespect

Disrespect occurs in many ways. Your partner may speak ill of your family and friends, constantly judge and belittle you, or they may criticize you and try to hurt your feelings. It seems you can’t do anything right these days in their eyes. The person who once praised you and was your biggest cheerleader now puts you down and doesn’t have a kind word to say.

11. Physical or Verbal Abuse

This is one sure sign that your relationship has turned sour. When you start verbally or physically abusing one another, you must get out of this failing relationship. There is never any reason to put your hands on your partner in anger or to call names or destroy their self-esteem.

12. Ignoring Issues

Stonewalling becomes a typical behavior when someone wants to ignore the obvious. They would rather sweep problems under the rug than deal with them. When you confront your partner about an issue, they use this coping mechanism to disconnect from the situation as it overwhelms them emotionally.

13. A Failing Relationship Is Fraught With Jealousy

It’s healthy to have a little jealousy in a relationship, as you want to feel wanted and needed. However, jealousy can turn into cruel and destructive behavior. If your partner has unwarranted jealousy, constantly accuses you of affairs, or becomes suspicious of people you talk to, it’s a significant indication that something is wrong.

According to the American Psychological Association, jealousy is almost always a sign of someone with poor self-esteem. This person can quickly develop a preoccupation with losing someone they love. However, it also indicates control issues and underlying mental health disturbances.

14. Power Imbalance

Relationships are 50/50, and this is the way it works best. However, if one person tries to take control of the other, the power imbalance can cause issues that lead to a failing relationship. This can also occur with children, finances, and your household schedule. You’re both equal, and it’s devastating when one thinks they are better or above the other.

15. No Emotional Support

Empathy is a big part of any relationship, and one reason you need a partner is to hold you when the days are rough. Consequently, you may notice that the emotional support isn’t there anymore. They may downplay the situation and make you feel as if you’re overacting.

16. You’re Lonely

No rule book says that you won’t be lonely just because you’re in a relationship. When things aren’t going so well, you may find that you spend your days and nights alone. Your partner can be right by your side, but you still feel on your own when they won’t talk or spend any quality time with you.

17. Absence of Affection

Many people confuse affection and intimacy, but they are different. Love can occur in the bedroom in a romantic relationship, but it’s more about how you display affection outside the bedroom. For instance, it includes holding hands, kissing, hugging, snuggling, and just being there for one another. It’s little ways that show that you care deeply. When these little acts are gone, it’s devastating for a relationship.

18. Isolation from Family and Friends

Does your partner try to isolate you from friends and family members? This is a common trait of a narcissist who fears that if you are around others, they will talk you into leaving or see the error in how they treat you.

Isolating yourself from others is very dangerous and can cause you health problems. According to the American Psychological Association, being shut off from the world can affect your immunity. It can cause you to be in a long-term “fight-or-flight” situation, which means your body is under stress.

This causes inflammation that can destroy your immune system. Don’t let anyone isolate you for their gain, as it can damage your health.

19. Avoid Coming Home

One or both of you may avoid coming home. You will find errands to run or people to have dinner with to avoid facing your partner. Avoidance behaviors are a big sign that something has failed on the home front.

20. No Dependability in a Failing Relationship

The person you could count on for everything has suddenly become the most irresponsible individual you know. They’re always late, don’t answer phone calls or texts in a reasonable time frame, and never do what they say they will do. How can you be in a relationship with someone who is so undependable?

Final Thoughts on a Deciding How To Move Forward in a Failing Relationship

It would help if you remembered that no relationship is perfect, and there will be many ups and downs. It’s essential to recognize the signs that something is amiss and get counseling or help before it becomes a failed relationship. Even if things don’t work out and you go your separate ways, at least you know you’ve tried.

It’s always best to maturely address things together than to use stonewalling and avoidance behaviors and pretend like nothing’s wrong. There will be bad times if you’re together for long, but it’s all about learning what to do during these seasons to keep your relationship healthy and strong.

15 Psychopathic Traits Never to Ignore in Your Partner

June 28, 2022 by Chris Butler

Are you dating a psychopath? It’s not easy to spot the signs initially, but as some time goes by, you will soon notice psychopathic traits. The psychopathological person can’t keep up the façade for long, as their true colors will come shining through.

You hear the term used often in the media and mental health, but how do you know if a person has psychopathic traits? The medical community diagnosed people suffering from their mind or soul as a psychopath in the early 1800s. There are some apparent signs that indicate psychopathy, and you should be careful should you see any of these red flags.

Fifteen Common Psychopathic Traits

The challenging part about this person is their ability to blend into the background like a chameleon. They become undetectable and can go unnoticed for years. Consequently, when you’re in an intimate relationship, it’s easier to see the discrepancies in their façade as they can’t keep up this game for long. Here are some signs that your partner has psychopathic traits.

1. Superficial Charm One of the Most Common Psychopathic Traits

Someone with sociopathic traits is very charming, but this appeal only goes skin deep. They turn on the charm to allure a partner, as they know how to use the correct vocabulary to make you go weak at the knees. Sadly, this is a common trait of someone who is psychopathic and playing games with you.

2. Disengaged, Cold and Callous Behavior

This person is so caught up in themselves and their needs that they can’t look beyond to see others. Your partner may come across as cold or callus if you’ve had a bad day, a death in the family, or suffered a major upset.

They’re not very comforting and probably would never hold you or try to comfort you in your time of need. However, when their world is crashing around them, they will expect you to drop everything to be there for them.

3. Habitual or Pathological Lying

Lying can fall into three separate categories. Those who lie to keep themselves from trouble are pretty different from habitual or pathological liars. Most people will tell a little white lie to keep from getting reprimanded, but a pathological liar is someone who lies to manipulate others.

If they want someone to feel sorry for them or appear more critical than they are, they will be deceptive. According to the National Library of Medicine, a habitual liar tells stories compulsively and without any apparent benefit to them or others. They are tricky because they can find emotional satisfaction in their tales that reality doesn’t provide.

Experts believe that pathological and habitual liars fall into the same mental illness category: borderline personality, sociopath, or narcissist.

4. Lack of Conscience

It’s always someone else’s fault when dealing with someone with psychopathic traits. They don’t accept responsibility for their actions even if they’re caught red-handed. They prefer to blame shift and make someone else take the fall for their deeds.

5. Masters of Deception

This person is out for number one, and they don’t care who they hurt in the process. The underlying mental illness is the real driving force here, and if you’re dealing with someone who is a narcist, they will use and abuse you to get their way. They are incapable of having any sincere, long-term relationships.

6. Broken Relationships

A big red flag that someone has psychopathic traits is that they have no friends or family members in their inner circle. These people can’t develop any relationship that lasts long, as their devious ways always ruin things between family and friends. This person will usually lack romantic relationships as people can generally see through their smoke and mirrors pretty quickly.

7. Grandiose Views of Themselves

People who think so highly of themselves don’t need anyone else to be their cheerleader. A constant opinion categorizes this person’s impractical sense of superiority: they’re better than everyone else. They criticize people, embellish their capabilities, and make others feel inferior.

8. Inability to Control Behavior

This person can become forceful, harmful, or violent actions they can’t control. When they’re angry, they will turn to threats and verbal and physical abuse. They don’t think before they act, which comes with severe consequences. Their temper is out of control.

9. Unrealistic Long-Term Goals

The person with psychopathic traits often sets unrealistic goals for themselves. However, it doesn’t mean that you have a mental illness because your goals are unreasonable. Setting unrealistic goals is commonplace in the narcissistic crowd as they are not practical or attainable.

They can’t focus too long on one thing, and they will burn out before they even get halfway. This person also doesn’t hold down jobs very well because of their short-term attention span, though some use their positions to manipulate others.

10. Irresponsible Behavior Goes Along With Psychopathic Traits

You can count on a person who has psychopathic traits. They will tell you one thing and do the other. They will make date plans and never show up. Indeed, they function much like a teenager in an adult’s body, as their level of responsibility is lackluster at best.

11. Thrill-Seeking Behaviors

Their impulsive nature will get them into trouble, especially in relationships. They have no qualms about cheating, engaging in illegal activities, and doing whatever feels good. Their impulsive nature is much like a person with ADHD but to a more severe degree. They don’t think through their actions, which causes them great trouble in life.

12. Freeloading Lifestyle

Many sociopaths like to freeload because they can’t hold down jobs for long and don’t like to be accountable. Remember, they can’t set or achieve long-term goals, so they would rather sponge off the kindness of others. They’re very frustrating in a relationship because they won’t work but expect things to be handed to them.

13. Need for Power, Control, and Dominance

It’s common for this person to desire positions that give them power and authority. Since they like to dominate and control others, it gives them a platform to do so. Their immoral and manipulative tendencies are often used in corporate situations where they have the power to carry out their wishes. They have a hunger for power and control that can’t be quenched.

14. Contempt for Policies, Laws, and Social Norms

People generally have a code of ethics to get through the world. However, the sociopath doesn’t go by the same compass, as they do immoral things and have no problem doing criminal activities. While not every sociopath is a violent criminal, they don’t fear the consequences of their actions or learn from them.

15. Psychopathic Traits Often Experienced Childhood Behavior Problems

Most personality disorders are present in the teen years, and the signs and symptoms are apparent. These adults may have shown signs of an antisocial personality or conduct disorder before they reached sixteen. Some folks who have a more severe case might be able to trace troublesome behaviors back to their elementary days.

Children with these tendencies were often a handful in school and engaged in bullying, cruelty to animals, fistfights, and a total disregard for any authority figure.

Understanding the Psychopathic Traits in a Person

Most sociopaths see each individual they interact with as a means to an end. They will feel no remorse for their actions, as they don’t believe what they’re doing is wrong. They lie with ease, and the way they relate to other folks is very distorted.

This person may be unpredictable, impulsive, and aggressive in interpersonal relationships. They don’t follow social rules and feel like they don’t fit in, so they must put on a façade. According to the National Library of Medicine, experts believe that this disorder is the only way the mind can cope with past events.

Most of these folks have experienced a traumatic upbringing, becoming vulnerable. Perhaps they grew up in the foster care system, had an abusive parent, or their parent had substance abuse issues. Being neglected, abused, or tossed from home to home has a profound effect on a child, likely behind the mental disturbances you observe.

Final Thoughts on Psychopathic Traits

Abnormal psychology can be present in many ways. A person with psychopathic traits might be selfish or have an antisocial or borderline personality disorder. The severity of the symptoms and the trauma the person experiences can dictate a lot.

Some are more likely to be involved in crime and violence, while others are just manipulative and have a hard time with relationships. It will not be easy, no matter which version you face with a partner. These people don’t usually respond well to treatment, so you should steer clear if you don’t want to be their next victim.

You need to take care of yourself. Suppose you’ve had interactions or intimate relations with a sociopath. In that case, you need to find a therapist who can help you overcome the poison they ingested into your mind and the abuse you likely suffered.

15 Journal Prompts to Help Express Gratitude in Life

June 28, 2022 by Kristen Butler

When life gets hard, it’s sometimes hard to express gratitude. One way to switch your mindset is to use journal prompts. These journal prompts are also helpful if you can’t think of topics. When you spend time journaling, it allows you to process your thoughts and feelings.

Journal writing helps you identify your emotions and work your way through them, as it takes time to get the words out. Rather than jumping from one thought to another, you fully process the situation.

When things get complicated and don’t work out, remembering what and who you love can make a difference. You have many things to be thankful for, and these journal prompts can bring them all to mind.

How Journal Prompts Work

A one-sentence writing prompt can inspire you to write a full page or more. The sentence might give you other ideas, too, encouraging you to write something entirely different.

Journal prompts give ideas for your journal writing, allowing you to discover new topics and ideas. They also help you tap into your inner thoughts and feelings, allowing you to tune into your subconscious. Whichever the prompt works for you, get your pen to the paper.

Writing makes your thoughts and feelings more permanent, too. You have time to embrace what you’re writing about, and it sticks with you. These writing prompts can help you identify the things you’re thankful for, promoting happiness and fulfillment.

How to Start a Journal

Starting a journal is easy. All that you have to do is grab a notebook or a cute journal and get started. You can write about whatever you want, and targeting specific areas can improve your life. When you write about gratitude, you’ll experience more thankfulness each day.

Gratitude journal prompts can improve your life, even when nothing else changes. It’ll help you see the good in your life, transforming your mindset.

As you write, focus on the things that consume your thoughts. Write about the essential people and things in your life. When you write about these things, you’ll experience more positivity.

Writing every day is best, but you don’t have to. Do whatever works for you, from jotting down a few lines to writing a couple of pages and anywhere in between. Repetition will help you dig deeper, honing in on the best parts of your life.

Set aside 20-30 minutes at a tie to write about gratitude in your journal. It’ll help you experience a positive change in your life and mindset. Plus, it’ll help you approach the complex parts of life a little better.

Start small, and keep an open mind. You might only want to write about simple things at first, but it’ll turn into deeper topics. Plus, allow your brain to flow from these journal prompts and write about whatever comes to mind.

Fifteen Journal Prompts to Help Express Gratitude

Gratitude doesn’t eliminate your problems, but it helps you focus on the good parts of life. You’ll feel happier and better able to manage the hard times. These gratitude journal prompts can change your mood and improve your overall well-being.

Journal Prompts That Make You Reflect

1. Discuss something you accomplished today or in the past.

Writing about your accomplishments and how you feel about them can help you express gratitude. As you write about the things you’ve achieved, don’t forget the people who helped you. Recalling successes can help you remember that your life is pretty good and you’re on the right track.

2. Write about something hard that happened in your past, but you’re now grateful for.

Think back to a hard time in your life that resulted in something great. When things don’t go the way you’d hoped, it leads to devastation and hardship. However, time proves that these hard times often lead to something better.

Write about a time you thought of as a negative experience but turned out to be a good situation. Even when you thought it was a dark time in your life, it worked out for the best. It helps you remember how seemingly hopeless moments can turn into something better.

3. Brainstorm ways you can show how grateful you are.

Writing about how you can show gratitude helps you think of all the good in your life. Think of ways you can make someone happy or improve their life. Identify the good things you can do for those who have helped you, including making them laugh or smile.

When you reach out and show someone how grateful you are for them, it’ll make you both happy. Plus, thinking of how you can bring joy to someone else will help you appreciate them more.

One option is to write a thank-you letter in your journal. You don’t have to give the letter to anyone, but get your feelings out. It’ll help you learn to express gratitude and see the good in your life.

Journal Prompts to Explode Your Growth

4. List and discuss five things you’re grateful for this week.

Don’t overthink it when you sit down to use this journal prompt. You can list small things as long as they bring positive feelings to your life.

If you want, you can focus on writing about one thing at a time. List the five things you’re grateful for, and then write about one each day. It helps break it down a little, allowing you to focus on individual people and things.

5. Write about a challenge you overcame and the growth you experienced from it.

The challenges you overcome can become some of the best experiences of your life. You learn from every obstacle, and you also realize your inner strength.

Write about your biggest challenge, what you learned from it, and how it helps you today. You can re-use this journal prompt, writing about a different challenge each time.

6. Talk about the last time you laughed until you cried.

The moments you laugh until you cry are experiences to be grateful for. Looking back on these moments can bring a smile to your face while helping relieve good memories. Even when things aren’t going well, the memories help you experience gratitude.

Journal Prompts That Help You Appreciate Your Relationships

7. Who are the people you’re most grateful for at this time?

If possible, start by describing your favorite person. List all of their good qualities and what you love about them. If you can’t choose one person, make a list of all the people you’re grateful for and work your way down the list.

You can make this journal prompt last for a few days if you have multiple people to describe. It helps you avoid taking people for granted, encouraging you to appreciate their presence in your life.

8. Discuss an act of kindness you received or witnessed.

Reflecting on acts of kindness can help you express gratitude in your life. If someone does a random act of kindness to you, it is worth embracing and recording. It will help you see the good in your life, encouraging fulfillment and meaning.

You can also write about acts of kindness you witnessed happening to someone else. These actions can also make a difference in your life, allowing you to see the good in your community.

You might see volunteers helping around town or someone doing something kind and unexpected. No matter what the situation is, don’t miss out on the opportunity to write and reflect.

9. Think about something good that happened to you, and write a thank-you letter to anyone who helped you.

You’ll always find someone who helped you during your life. Use your journal as a chance to write a thank-you letter to someone who contributed to something good that happened. Write about what happened, how that person helped, and how grateful you are for their assistance, no matter how small.

Journal Prompts That Examine Your Habits

10. Reflect on five childhood memories you are grateful for.

If you had a good childhood, spend some time reflecting on it. It’ll help you feel grateful for your experiences, allowing you to feel fulfilled in the present. Write about the positive impact your parents or other caregivers offered, the sacrifices they made, and how they expressed their love.

11. Discuss your favorite hobby and why you love it.

If you have a hobby that you love, consider writing about it in your gratitude journal. Writing about how good it makes you feel can open your eyes to the positive aspects of your life.

12. What made you smile today and why?

You can always find something to smile about, and it’s a good prompt for your journal writing. As you make this a regular part of your writing, you’ll start looking for more things to smile about throughout the day.

13. Write about the most exciting thing that’s happened to you this year.

Think about one of the most exciting moments this year. Reflect on how you felt at the time and how you feel about it now. Thinking about aspects of your life that changed for the better can help you express gratitude for what you have.

Journal Prompts to Help You See the Positivity in Life

14. Discuss the one thing you’re most grateful for in your life.

This prompt helps you recognize the good parts of your life right now. Even if you don’t like your job or things didn’t go as planned, you can find something beneficial.

Write about something that cheers you up when you’re feeling sad, whether an animal, a person, or an activity. Detail how and why it makes you feel better, and you’ll think of this good part of your life frequently.

15. List things you like about yourself, and then delve into each point.

Writing about the things you like about yourself will help you express gratitude. It might be hard to come up with ten things but keep at it until you do.

You can write that you like your confidence level or you have a talent. Or, you can also write about your favorite qualities and unique characteristics. If it’s easier, break this prompt up for ten days.

Final Thoughts on Journal Prompts to Help Express Gratitude in Life

These journal prompts will help you express gratitude in your life. With gratitude, you’ll feel happier and more fulfilled. These helpers are perfect if you are confused, stressed, or overwhelmed. It helps you identify the good in your life, allowing you to express gratitude even during the hard times.

12 Reasons Why Empaths Feel Like They Don’t Belong Here

June 28, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

Being sensitive to others’ feelings is considered a virtue. It’s a sign of maturity when you can put yourself in someone’s place. Although can it be a case of being overly empathetic?

Almost everyone is familiar with sympathy cards sent to families whose loved one has passed. Signing “with deepest sympathy” acknowledges their loss and your sadness for them. While you can express your polite condolences, it’s not the same as being empathetic.

These two concepts are related, but they’re not synonymous. As a sympathetic person, you can feel sorry for someone and go your way. Empaths not only express sympathy, but they “feel” for those who are hurting.

Sympathy says you’re sorry someone fell, while empathy reaches down to pick them up. It mirrors the embarrassment of taking a tumble and the pain of a bruised ego. There’s a thin line between healthy empathetic feelings and having too much of a good thing.

Emotional Saturation

If you’re a strong empath, any group situation can be challenging. You can immediately feel the charge of the atmosphere, be it positive or negative. Empathetic people naturally absorb both until they are saturated.

The good news is that if you surround yourself with positive folks, you connect with positivity. If you allow yourself to be bogged down by pessimists, you’ll take on their negativity like an emotional chameleon.

Are you the only person in this world who has this emotional condition? An article from the National Library of Medicine shares that at least twenty percent of Americans are susceptible. Ironically, it’s a condition to which you can easily relate.

Twelve Reasons Why Empaths Don’t Feel Like They Belong

Are you an empathetic person who feels trapped in your world of absorbed emotion? Understandably, you may feel different from everyone else. Here are twelve reasons why empaths may feel like they don’t belong here.

1. Empaths Are Usually the First Person to Sense Others’ Moods

You can often see a friend or stranger and “read” their mood without them saying anything. Perhaps you’re one of the unusual empaths who can see other people’s auras. The person can be smiling, joking, and laughing. However, you instinctively know the pain hidden behind the façade. You also know just how to approach people according to their feelings.

2. You’re Bothered by the Smallest Things

Some people may accuse empaths of being petty because little things get to them. You may often have problems wearing your emotions on your sleeve if you’re highly empathetic. Insignificant actions and words may leave you feeling puzzled or resentful.

For example, a coworker invites you to a cocktail party, and you ease into a group conversation. Another coworker says they are surprised to see you. While this person was probably expressing their happiness, you wondered if they had a double meaning. Worse, you cannot shake the question from your head.

On a positive level, your attention to detail can be a blessing. You can often see the whole picture or a piece that’s missing. Your sensitivity is helpful if it doesn’t turn into perfectionism.

3. You Confuse Other People’s Emotions with Yours

Empathy allows you to walk in another’s shoes. You not only identify their feelings, but you experience them as well. If you’re already highly sensitive, you have enough profound emotions on your own.

Sometimes, it may be challenging to tell if the emotions are another’s or yours. You may be so emotionally vested in the other person’s situation that you feel overwhelmed. The best way to avoid such confusion is to spend more alone time decompressing.

4. Empaths Can’t Watch Any Horror or Violence

Many people get a strange thrill from watching horror and graphically violent movies. However, empaths like you aren’t among this crowd. You realize that it’s all make-believe, but evening fake violence and suffering become too real for you.

It only worsens when the violence, pain, and suffering the media broadcasts are real stories. All the reports and rumors about victims of crime, war, and other horrors are too much for you to absorb. Consequently, you may rarely watch the news or read the papers because you can’t bear the negativity.

5. You Can’t Tell People No

Empaths despise drama and try to keep everyone happy. According to an article published by UC at Berkeley, people-pleasing doesn’t serve you well. Eventually, you’ll be less genuine to your own needs and wants.

Do you always say “yes” to people’s demands just because you want them to like you? Even though it’s a strain on your time and resources, you would somewhat agree that it causes ill feelings. When you learn to say “no,” you empower yourself to choose what you do and what you want.

6. You Battle Depression and Anxiety

Try to picture the brain as a bustling highway in a major city. Like the sea of countless vehicles coming and going, so are impulses in your mind. Sometimes, your thoughts and emotions become like bottlenecked traffic and affect your brain.

When highly sensitive, you’re more apt to face depression and anxiety. You may still be clinging to the past while worrying about the future. Healing comes when you decide to live in the present and release negative emotions.

7. You’re an Old Soul

It’s common for empaths to feel out of sorts with their body and surroundings. Do you have experience déjà vu and other unexplainable sensations? Undoubtedly, friends and family have dubbed you an old soul born out of your time.

Past eras may hold a fascination for you. You sense familiar sights, sounds, and scents when you read about them. Proponents of reincarnation explain these phenomena as remnants of your past lives.

8. Empaths Don’t Like Too Much Change at Once

The only thing that’s static in life is that nothing stays the same. Change can be difficult for everyone, especially highly sensitive people. You get used to the status quo in your life, and then the rug gets pulled out from under you.

A study published by Stanford University discusses the psychology of change. According to the survey, self-affirmation and adaptation are tools for coping with change efficiently. It may take your sensitive personality longer to get used to a new normal, but you can do it.

9. You Crave Solitude

Empathetic souls like you need time to sort their feelings. Therefore, solitude is a place of healing and comfort. While you may be intuitive with people, you’re probably an introvert.

During your times of seclusion, meditation may be a valuable tool for decompressing. This ancient practice may help you live more mindfully and detach from unhealthy attitudes. Some folks enjoy the benefits of lowering their stress by writing their thoughts and feelings in a journal.

10. You Often Struggle with Emotional Fatigue

Dealing with emotions requires a lot of energy, especially if you are highly empathetic. Not only do you face your feelings, but you also deal with the ones you’ve absorbed. It’s little wonder that you often feel drained physically, emotionally, and mentally.

People with heightened senses often experience stress to the point of breakdown. You must practice self-care and realize that you can’t fix the world. Sorting your feelings can promote emotional healing and more positive energy.

11. You’re Hunches are Often Right on the Mark

Empathetic personalities often have a strong sense of intuition. You notice patterns and are usually more in tune with your inner voice. You trust your gut instincts, and they often prove to be correct.

For example, say you were planning a vacation but felt subtle reservations. After heeding your intuition and rescheduling the trip, a hurricane hit where you would have been. Is it just coincidence, or is it just a thread in the tapestry that’s you?

12. You Have Difficulties Sometimes in Intimate Relationships

The ability to empathize with others is one of the mainstays of a healthy, lasting relationship. You have a deeper understanding of your partner’s feelings, and you can offer affirmation. Empathetic people are usually excellent listeners and are willing to discuss a compromise.

Conversely, empaths can often be loners and don’t want their solitude violated. You may be okay with an intimate relationship as long as you maintain your own space. Making a long-time commitment or moving in together may be problematic.

Final Thoughts on Empaths and Feelings of Not Belonging

Being an empathetic person can often be a two-edged sword. Your compassionate nature can be a blessing, or it can leave you with feelings of isolation. When empaths learn to destress and practice self-care, they can bring that sensitivity back into balance.

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