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12 Ways to Break the Ice When Meeting a New Person

October 24, 2021 by Chris Butler

Meeting new people, especially if you tend to be socially awkward and a bit shy, can be overwhelming. You may find it challenging to break the ice when you encounter folks, and you don’t want the situation to be any more embarrassing. Why not make the first impression memorable for a good reason, rather than you being tongue-tied and stumbling over your words?

Twelve Effective Ways to Break the Ice

Whether you’re meeting someone for work or on a social occasion, you need tools to help you break the ice. Here are a few ways you can find common ground and get off to a good start.

1. Be Wry and Witty

Humor is always an excellent tool to have in your arsenal. If you can get people to laugh, you will win them over. Before you crack jokes, you want to feel the temperament of the room. Some people are more severe, and they don’t appreciate silliness as much as others.

You want to make sure that your wisecracks fall on the right person’s ears, or it can make matters worse. Once you find an entry, inject a little humor, and see if they fall for it. If not, you can quickly move on to other things on this list.

2. Be Complimentary

Who doesn’t love a good compliment? You want to hear how wonderful your shirt looks or that your hair is looking good. Please don’t go overboard with the compliments, as you don’t want to seem like you’re trying too hard for them to like you.

You especially need to be careful in a work setting because you don’t want to come across as a schmoozer. However, the consensus is that a bit of flattery never hurt anyone.

3. Talk Less, Listen More

You’re nervous, they’re anxious, and it’s hard to break the ice and find common ground. However, it’s always best if you talk less and listen more. Sure, you have things to say and want to get your chance to speak, but it’s wise on first encounters to only talk when necessary.

You can learn so much more by observing others rather than dominating the conversation.

4. Find Common Interests

Do you like to golf, kayak around lakes, or maybe you’re someone who is fascinated by historical sites? Find something in common with the other person to help make your first encounter easier. Now, it may be tricky to find that common ground when you know little about each other, but you can look for subtle hints to help guide you.

For instance, if you meet a lady executive for lunch to discuss business, you might notice if she’s wearing a wedding ring, has pictures of her children on her cell phone, or has a keychain with names done in beads. All these things would indicate she’s married with children. Though you don’t want to make assumptions, you can get the conversation going by talking about her kids, as this is always a safe bet.

5. Try To Build a Conversation

Is there anything worse than that eerie silence when neither of you knows what to say? If you want to build a conversation, you should try using these four everyday things:

Family
Dreams
Recreation
Occupation

These topics are good springboards for you. Conversely, make sure you avoid the following: religion, politics, top news stories, and anything else controversial. The last thing you want to do is offend someone before you ever start building a relationship. Another thing to consider is don’t ask personal questions.

While you’re sharing your life with them, you want to have them engage in the conversation with you. However, you don’t want to pry on things they might not feel comfortable sharing. It wouldn’t be polite to ask about being married etc., unless they offer such information.

6. Be Calm and Composed

According to the Lead Maker, Dry Idea deodorant came out with an ad that put their company on the map. In 1985, the phrase “Never let them see you sweat” became Gillette’s most memorable campaign slogan. While the commercials showcased sports teams and the intense pressure, people soon used this statement in the business world.

There’s something to be said about keeping your cool when you’re under pressure. One of the most intense things can be meeting with someone new. Assume you’re going for an interview for the job of your dreams. If you’re sweating, fidgeting in the chair, and stumbling over your words, you might not make the best first impression.

However, don’t let them see you sweat. You go into that job interview, and you act like that job was made for you. When you’re calm and composed, you won’t seem like a nervous wreck who can’t handle the tasks given.

7. Share a Fact

When you want to break the ice, you can start by sharing a fun fact about yourself. What have you done in your life that might surprise others? Most people love to hear about charitable works, missionary travels, and other benevolent things you’ve experienced.

Perhaps, you’ve traveled to a faraway land and explored something most people only dream about. Even if your life isn’t that amazing and you have never crossed the state line, you can find one fact about yourself that’s worth sharing.

8. Be Pleasant in Your Approach

If you do nothing else in this encounter with a new person, make sure you smile. A boarding school in Shenzhen faced distance learning and 415 students to acclimate to the new online platform. The school’s principal, Leland Anderson, was quite overwhelmed, and he didn’t want to stress the teachers and students any more than necessary.

He created a guideline for how to get through this terrible situation. One of his requests to everyone was to smile more. He instructed his staff that a smile was like a “breath of fresh air” to those overwhelmed and stressed. When you’re full of optimism and have a cheerful spirit, it makes everything much more manageable.

You might wonder why the principal insisted on smiling when there was chaos all around. See, when you smile, you’re activating those feel-good hormones within your brain, and you’re telling yourself to be happy. Many studies agree on the infectious nature of smiling, and it’s good for your mental and physical well-being.

9. Share Your Experience

It’s always a safe bet to talk about yourself. If you’re on a blind date and want to break through the silence, you can talk about some of your dating disasters. If you’re trying for a new job, take time to share your experiences and showcase your work.

It’s okay to pat yourself on the back just a little bit when you meet someone new, but don’t overdo it. You don’t want someone to think you have a narcissistic personality disorder and are over the top with your opinions of yourself.

10. Use a Cliché

If all else fails, and you can’t find any common ground, then it’s okay to use a cliché statement. If necessary, say something like, “I am sure I have seen you somewhere before.” It will undoubtedly get a conversation going, and whether you have seen them at another time or not, it may be what you need to break the ice.

11. “Hi, My Name Is….”

Sometimes, people overthink things, especially when it comes to meeting new folks. Why not just introduce yourself? You don’t need a prepared speech and all the pleasantries. Tell them your name, and go from there. Please give them the ball and empower them to speak.

12. Show Family Pictures

People love to see pictures and hear of your children and adventures if you’re in a more social setting. Why not whip out the smartphone and show them some of the things that make you get up in the morning. Sharing pictures shows more about you than what some people could talk about in an hour. If you’re trying to get through the silence, then all those snapshots might come in handy.

Final Thoughts on Finding Great Ways to Break the Ice

Another thing to remember when having the first encounter is to focus on your eye contact. You want to look someone eye-to-eye when speaking, rather than shifting your focus around the room. Additionally, make sure you’re talking to them and not at them. Engage in the conversation, and don’t leave them hanging out there alone.

Breaking the ice is not the easiest thing to do, but some folks are more skilled at the art than others. Indeed, you can find something to help you drum up a conversation with someone you’ve never met from this list of twelve new behaviors. You need only to remember to avoid certain things, like getting too personal.

Whether it’s a social situation or something for your career, you want to show up confident, in control, and seem like you’re the most interesting person in the world. With just a little bit of effort, you can have them laughing, chatting away, and have a memorable experience.

Australian Researchers Discover How to Transform Used Plastic into Fuel

October 24, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, have developed an ecofriendly, affordable way to upcycle used plastic. Instead of polluting the land and oceans, plastic can become valuable nanomaterials and clean liquid fuel.

Currently, a mere 20% of plastic waste gets recycled globally. Due to cost constraints and inadequate recycling infrastructure, increasing this number remains challenging. Often, plastic waste gets sent to third-world countries that don’t have proper facilities to manage it. So, it inevitably ends up in the environment, posing threats to marine and land animals and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Also, recycled plastic usually becomes lower-value products, making the entire process costly and inefficient. However, the new method from Australian researchers would generate income by upcycling plastic. New technology offers an opportunity to develop carbon nanotubes and high-quality fuel from used plastic.

Not to mention, the process would provide a solution for upcycling agricultural waste simultaneously. Researchers found that they could transform organic waste into a carbon-rich, valuable type of charcoal to accelerate the upcycling method.

About the study

The team published their revolutionary two-step process in the Journal of Environmental Management. The study focused on polypropylene, a standard plastic used for packaging and parts for machinery such as cars.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Kalpit Shah explains that the process would benefit both the economy and the environment. Upcycling these enormous sources of waste into a circular economy generates profits and eliminates plastic pollution simultaneously. He said this about the project:

“Our method is clean, cost-effective and readily scaleable. It’s a smart solution for transforming both used plastic and organic waste — whether tonnes of biomass from a farm or food waste and garden clippings from household green bins. We hope this technology could be used in future by local councils and municipal governments to help turn this waste into genuine revenue streams.”

Turning plastic into valuable nanomaterials

The new plastic upcycling approach provides an eco-friendly option for producing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These hollow, cylindrical molecules consist of a hexagonal arrangement of hybridized carbon atoms. They’re formed by rolling up either a single sheet of graphene (single-walled carbon nanotubes, SWCNTs) or multiple sheets of graphene (multiwalled carbon nanotubes, MWCNTs).

Because carbon nanotubes tend to rope together, they have highly conductive thermal and electronic properties. They can produce durable, low-weight materials and have applications such as the following:

electronics
fuel cells
biomedical technologies
hydrogen storage
composite materials

The demand for carbon nanotubes continues to rise, mainly in the aerospace and defense sectors, creating lightweight parts. Experts estimate that the global market for CNTs will approach $5.8 billion by 2027.

The process converts plastics into clean fuel and nanomaterials simultaneously.

The first part of the process transforms agricultural or organic waste into a carbon-rich form of charcoal. Called biochar, the substance can help repair and fortify the soil. The biochar also eradicates toxic chemicals like Poly-cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or PAHs. As the plastic waste breaks down into gas and oil, the biochar helps filter out any remaining contaminants.

After the toxic substances get eliminated, the process converts plastics into clean liquid fuel. Simultaneously, the carbon in the plastic transforms into carbon nanotubes that cover the biochar. Then, industries can use the nanotubes, or farms can apply the improved biochar to the soil needing remediation.

The study marks the first to use affordable, easily accessible biochar to accelerate the process of upcycling plastics into fuel and nanomaterials.

Shah, the Deputy Director (Academic) of the ARC Training Centre for Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource at RMIT, revealed even more positive news. Even though the study only analyzed one type of plastic, this method could apply to many other plastic varieties.

Shah explained:

“We focused on polypropylene as this is widely used in the packaging industry. While we need to do further research to test different plastics, as the quality of the fuel produced will vary, the method we’ve developed is generally suitable for upcycling any polymers — the base ingredients for all plastic.”

Researchers will conduct future experiments using a hyper-efficient reactor

Researchers conducted the experiments in a laboratory using a three-zone furnace fixed bed reactor. RMIT also developed and patented a new hyper-efficient reactor that dramatically improves heat and mass transfer. This helps reduce overall operating costs and optimizes the process.

According to their research, the polypropylene became pyrolyzed (decomposed through heating to a high temperature) in the second zone. Carbon nanotube production followed in the third zone. Researchers determined the best crystalline structure of CNTs formed at about 900 degrees C using biochar as the catalyst.

In the next phase of upcycling research, the team will use complex computer models to make the process more efficient. Next, they will conduct pilot trials using the new reactor. The research team from RMIT’s School of Engineering also hopes to collaborate with plastic and waste companies. The partnerships could offer opportunities to discuss potential applications of the plastic upcycling process.

An Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship helped support this research.

Besides converting to fuel, here are some other promising ideas to reduce plastic waste

University of Portsmouth researchers developed a “super enzyme” called PETase that can break down plastic in just a few days!
A plastic-eating worm called the waxworm could solve the plastic pollution crisis. These worms have a particular enzyme to help digest plastic.
Many countries like Mexico have started banning single-use plastics. Alternatives to plastic include bamboo, glass, stainless steel, natural fiber cloths, and ceramics.

Final thoughts: Researchers have found a new way to upcycle plastic into fuel and nanomaterials

Plastic pollution may have already reached a tipping point. Our oceans and living spaces have become littered with plastic, and it’s starting to affect our health. However, scientists discovered that plastic might serve a better function than simply becoming consumer products.

Australian researchers developed a two-step process to convert used plastic into clean fuel and nanomaterials. Upcycling plastic and agricultural waste would create a circular economy to generate revenue and heal the environment simultaneously. In the future, they hope to work with plastic companies to discuss options for upcycling discarded materials.

Harvard Astronomers Now Have a Better Idea of How Stars Form

October 24, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Harvard astronomers have discovered an enormous cavity in space that may shed new light on how stars form. They unearthed the sphere-shaped phenomenon while analyzing 3D maps and sizes of nearby molecular clouds. This massive cavity may explain how supernovae lead to star formation.

The cavity spans about 150 parsecs, or nearly 500 lightyears, according to the research published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. It’s located in the sky among the constellations Perseus and Taurus. The research team from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics believes ancient supernovae that exploded 10 million years ago created the cavity.

The Perseus and Taurus molecular clouds, a star-forming region, surround the peculiar cavity.

“Hundreds of stars are forming or exist already at the surface of this giant bubble,” says Shmuel Bialy, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) who led the study.

“We have two theories — either one supernova went off at the core of this bubble and pushed gas outward forming what we now call the ‘Perseus-Taurus Supershell,’ or a series of supernovae occurring over millions of years created it over time.”

The discovery implies that the Perseus and Taurus molecular clouds are interconnected rather than independent structures. Scientists believe that they formed from the same supernova explosion.

“This demonstrates that when a star dies, its supernova generates a chain of events that may ultimately lead to the birth of new stars,” Bialy explains.

Mapping Molecular Clouds to Show How Stars Form

Astronomers gathered data for the 3D map of the cavity and surrounding clouds from Gaia. The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the space-based observatory. The researchers published a separate study in the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ), analyzing the 3D maps of the Perseus and Taurus molecular clouds.

For both studies, the team used a dust reconstruction model made by researchers from Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany. In comparison, previous images of the molecular clouds consisted of just two dimensions, the latest maps created 3D images of the clouds for the first time.

“We’ve been able to see these clouds for decades, but we never knew their true shape, depth, or thickness. We also were unsure how far away the clouds were,” says Catherine Zucker, a postdoctoral researcher at the CfA who led the ApJ study. “Now we know where they lie with only 1 percent uncertainty, allowing us to discern this void between them.”

In addition to revealing more information about the molecular clouds, the maps also serve other purposes. It’s another step forward to understanding the vastness and complexity of space and how stars form.

“There are many different theories for how gas rearranges itself to form stars,” Zucker explains. “Astronomers have tested these theoretical ideas using simulations in the past, but this is the first time we can use real — not simulated — 3D views to compare theory to observation, and evaluate which theories work best.”

The 3D Visualizations Offer New Ways to Learn About Space.

This new study represents the first time the American Astronomical Society (AAS) published astronomy visualizations in augmented reality. Now, scientists and the public can interact with the visualization of the sphere-shaped cavity and its surrounding molecular clouds. After scanning a QR cold in the paper using their smartphone, they can access the universe at their fingertips. This helps not only scientists but the public better understand how stars form.

“You can literally make the universe float over your kitchen table,” says Harvard professor and CfA astronomer Alyssa Goodman. She’s a co-author on both studies and founder of glue, the data visualization software used to create the 3D maps.

Goodman refers to the latest research as examples of the “paper of the future.” She says the 3D visualizations in the studies pave the way for greater interactivity and replication of science. AAS committed to these standards in 2015 in a pledge to modernize publications in our technological age. Since many people learn better with visualizations, it may help deepen the public’s understanding of space.

“We need richer records of scientific discovery,” Goodman says. “And current scholarly papers could be doing much better. All of the data in these papers are available online — on Harvard’s Dataverse — so that anyone can build on our results.”

Goodman hopes that future scientific papers will frequently include audio, video, and augmented reality features. This will make it easier to explain scientific discoveries in layman’s terms for the general public.

She added, “It’s 3D visualizations like these that can help both scientists and the public understand what’s happening in space and the powerful effects of supernovae.”

Other interesting findings from the study

Taurus and Perseus: The Taurus and Perseus molecular clouds are about 500 and 100 lightyears, respectively, away from the Sun. They sit at the front and back sides of the Per-Tau Shell (the sphere-shaped cavity).
Tau Ring: Researchers found a prominent ring structure in the Taurus molecular cloud called the “Tau Ring.” After analyzing the 3D maps, they discovered that the near side of the Tau Ring connects with the main body of Taurus at a distance of roughly 500 lightyears (150pc). The farthest part extends to a distance of about 220pc or nearly 720 lightyears.
The Fictitious Connection: A filament seems to connect Taurus to Perseus. However, scientists found that it’s only a coincidental projection effect that makes this connection appear natural. Instead, the filament is located at the distance of Taurus and doesn’t physically connect to Perseus.

Final thoughts on Harvard Astronomers Gaining aBetter Idea of How Stars Form

Harvard astronomers recently discovered a vast sphere-shaped cavity among the Perseus and Taurus constellations. The hole spans about 150 parsecs, or nearly 500 lightyears, according to the research. Scientists believe that an exploding supernova 10 million years ago created the mysterious “bubble” in space.

They used 3D maps for the first time to gain more insight into the molecular clouds and how stars form. The team hopes that most studies will include 3D representations of data and other augmented reality features in the future.

4 Effective Ways To Deal With A Passive-Aggressive Loved One

October 24, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Passive aggression refers to the act of indirectly expressing negative emotions or thoughts. As opposed to open honesty and direct communication, it isn’t easy to interpret. Your passive-aggressive loved one might tend to have bitterness and resentment that they don’t know how to voice. Instead of communicating how they feel, they try to drop hints by saying something positive while acting negatively.

It’s hard to deal with passive-aggression at all. But it’s especially tough to manage that behavior when it comes from someone you care about. Unfortunately, it’s a widespread problem. Whether you want to save or escape the relationship, you’ll still have to be able to handle that behavior well. Here are four practical ways to deal with a passive-aggressive loved one.

1. Don’t Get Sucked In By A Passive-Aggressive Loved One

Passive-aggressive behavior is tempting to get pulled into. You want to respond the way others treat you. You want to defend yourself, or you want to do anything to fix it. And of course, you want to make sure that they don’t dislike you and may want to prove yourself to them. These are all traps and are part of the terrible machinations of passive aggression.

Once you get sucked into the passive-aggressive behavior of others, it’s hard to get out. With loved ones, this can set up a destructive and toxic pattern that could even become abusive. You’ll need to do your best to avoid getting pulled into their fights, pettiness, and bitterness. This response requires, for the most part, the use of rehearsed positive thinking patterns.

You Might Think These Things

Dealing with passive aggression can mess with your head. That’s why you need to prepare and practice various thinking patterns that help you break free. For example, if a loved one begins to display this behavior, you can think these to yourself:

“They’re passive-aggressive towards me. I love them very much, but I won’t allow this to continue to mess with me and my confidence. They’re doing this because they’re bitter about (problem or situation), but it’s not right for them to take it out on me.”
“They’re intentionally behaving in this backhanded way to try and get to me and trip me up. They want me to react negatively so they can use that against me. If I fall for it, it’ll just make things worse for me so that I won’t do it.”
“They keep saying and doing these things because they think they can get away with it. I need to enforce boundaries now and stand up for myself. Once I communicate and enforce my limits, it’ll be more obvious who’s in the wrong.”
“Their actions are a reflection of their issues and problems. The words they say to me aren’t accurate but phrases designed to push my buttons. I won’t let their words affect me because I know they’re not real.”

Other things you should do so you don’t get sucked in are:

Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault that you’re being treated with passive aggression. If someone wants or needs something or has a problem, they have to communicate directly!
Please don’t blow up on them. Getting angry will make things worse. If you get too mad, disengage and take a break.
Don’t play the game. Don’t get caught up in a power struggle. Do not get yourself into a win-lose situation. Don’t be controlled by them.
Don’t respond with your passive aggression. It would be best if you didn’t stoop to their level, or it’ll make dealing with the situation much more difficult.

2. Call Out Your Passive-Aggressive Loved One, But Positively

It’s not always recommended that you directly engage with a passive-aggressive individual, especially while they’re displaying that behavior. But with loved ones that you care about and want to work things out with, you’ll need to make it clear what they’re doing.

The tricky part, of course, is making a call-out that’s genuinely positive. But that’s the best way to ensure the situation gets diffused. It will also allow you to be the bigger person in the conflict. If nothing else, do it for the sake of your sanity! Here are some tips for calling out someone’s passive aggression in a positive way:

· Ask For Honesty

Passive aggression occurs when someone tries to express their negative thoughts or emotions indirectly. They don’t want to be open and honest, often due to fear or personal issues. As such, they try to get their message across without explicitly saying it. You can trip this up by directly confronting it with an honest, gentle question. Make sure you keep your tone friendly and calm. For example, you might ask, “Why do you say that?”. Or you might get more specific, like “Does this idea bother you?”. I met with denial, reiterate, “You said (statement) earlier. Did you not like what I said or did?” This can encourage the person to come clean.

· Stay Gracious

Your goal when you have to engage with passive aggression is to not stoop to that level. Listen with empathy to them and show that you’re trying to understand. Be gracious even when they’re behaving poorly. Show them kindness, so they have less reason to continue their tirade. Make it clear that you understand where they come from, express empathy, and validate their emotions. Express that you want to hear their genuine opinion and won’t judge them for it. Remember, this does not mean excusing poor behavior. It just means responding in a positive way to achieve the quickest resolution. When this graciousness has helped calm things down, you can bring up more serious topics.

· Use Humor

If you’re good at using humor wisely and tactfully, this is a great time to deploy that wit. Mood can lighten a situation, and studies show that when mindfully used, it’s effective at managing conflict. Do note that there’s a thin line where humor becomes condescending or sarcastic behavior. Crossing that line will likely make things worse! So don’t use humor unless you know you can pull it off.

· Don’t Be Brushed Off

Passive-aggressive people can resort to gaslighting, blame-shifting, and other adverse actions when called out on their behavior. They may insist that you’re sensitive or that they didn’t do anything that you’re describing. Stand your ground and stick to the facts by repeating the truth. You can even keep a record of things said and done to support your points.

3. Communicate With Your Passive-Aggressive Loved one

Communication is the heart of any healthy interaction. Relationships can’t survive without it. If you want to salvage a situation with a passive-aggressive loved one, you might need to take the first step. It’s not easy to be the first to reach out with communication. Here are some positive ways to do that:

· Set Boundaries

Passive aggression infringes on personal space and can cross a lot of lines. The goal of a lot of behavior like this is to get you to compromise on typical boundaries. That’s why it’s more important than ever that you create and accurately outline your boundaries with passive-aggressive loved ones. Make it clear to them where your limits lie and what will happen if they’re not respected. When boundaries are crossed, enforce reasonable consequences. It can be helpful to get boundaries out in writing first, especially if your loved ones tend to lean into gaslighting.

· Note The Beginnings Of Bitterness

If you’ve started to notice the warning signs of bitterness in your passive-aggressive loved ones, try nipping it in the bud. When you see that feeling form, start a conversation to clear the air. This doesn’t work with all people, but it can help curb passive aggression and diffuse building tension.

· Explain Your Feelings

Your feelings are hurt when your loved ones are passive-aggressive. It’s good to acknowledge that. After someone behaves that way towards you, explain to them how it made you feel. Use “I” language, such as “I felt…” and “It hurts me when…” to promote understanding and avoid sounding accusatory. Leading with vulnerability may encourage your loved one to be open and vulnerable, too.

4. Know When To Cut Things Short With A Passive-Aggressive Loved One

The best way to deal with specific toxic passive-aggressive patterns is to stop dealing with them. There comes the point where it may become apparent to you that a loved one has no interest in bettering their actions. There may also be times when you can’t resolve a problem right then. This is when you need to know when to cut everything short, including your time spent with them. Here are some ways to do this:

· Stop Relying On Them

Loved ones who are close enough to you may do different things for you in everyday life. This is especially true for parental figures or familial types of relationships. You might have even relied on them to some degree. But if passive-aggression is a constant factor, it may be time to stop letting them do things for you. This will only feed the bitterness and give them more ammunition, and it’s simply not healthy.

· Put Your Needs First

Ultimately, sometimes you have to be a little selfish. Then again, is it selfish to make sure your needs are met? Regardless, when a loved one’s behavior cuts into those needs, it’s time to slip away from their control. Passive aggression can be an effective guilt trip, but you need to remember first to be there for yourself.

· Recognize That Change Is Not Always Possible

You can’t control or change other people. Only they can change themselves. Sometimes, change isn’t going to happen, and your loved one won’t want to improve. In that scenario, you can only work with what you have. Sometimes, that involves lowering expectations and reducing contact. Other times that involves cutting them off completely. It’s up to you.

· Reduce Contact

There’s wisdom in recognizing a lost situation. Someone who doesn’t respect your communication and has no interest in changing isn’t someone you should keep in your life. In a worst-case scenario where someone has become too toxic, you may need to end the relationship. With loved ones, this can involve steady reductions in levels of contact. Stop spending time alone with them, reduce the frequency of calls and texts, and entirely cut them off if necessary.

Final Thoughts On Some Effective Ways To Deal With A Passive-Aggressive Loved One

Passive-aggression hurts. It can damage relationships, break communication down, and decrease your positive thinking. Knowing how to deal with a loved one’s passive aggression can help you keep your sanity as you navigate conflict.

Prosperous People Display These 16 Behaviors Without Realizing It

October 24, 2021 by Chris Butler

Most people define their success by the amount of money they have in the bank or the status they’ve achieved. However, no matter what your position in life, there are many aspects that prosperous people hold dear. While you may see dollars and cents, they want others to see them as a person.

How often have you seen or heard of someone rich just wanting someone to love them for who they are and not their money? It’s a long and lonely road to the top, but once a person arrives, it doesn’t mean that it changes their morals or personality.

Sixteen Behaviors of Prosperous People

Think of the greatest success stories throughout history? What were the traits that allowed them to overcome adversity and be prosperous? Here are sixteen characteristics of prosperous people that make them great.

1. Prosperous People Have A Deeply Rooted Competitive Streak

The need to compete is something that drives most folks, not just those who are prosperous. A competitive edge is necessary to get ahead in life, and the most successful people seem to have a natural-born instinct to compete. They can turn anything into a friendly competition, but it’s what helps them push through the naysayers to get where they are in life.

2. They’re Not Anchored by the Past

Prosperous people don’t let the past define them. Take, for instance, Oprah Winfrey. She had a horrible upbringing in poverty and abuse. She’s been very open about her past, but she empowers others by showing others how to rise above.

According to the Motley Fool, her estimated net worth is $2.63 billion, but she’s as common as the next person. She uses her money for good. While past trauma could have destroyed her, she uses it to fuel her passions.

3. Prosperous People Always Strive To Be Better

Someone who has achieved prosperity doesn’t ever feel like “they’ve arrived.” They know that there’s always going to be more they can do. People usually say that these individuals are never satisfied, as they always want bigger and better.

4. They Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

If you cry over spilled milk, then you’re going to be sobbing a lot in life. To be successful, you have to let the small stuff roll off your back. You need thick skin to be prosperous, so there’s no time for a pity party.

One of the enduring facts about prosperous people is they try not to get too upset when things don’t go their way.

5. They Keep Track of Their Achievements

Every achievement the prosperous people make is a milestone towards where they want to be. Now, they don’t keep track to lift themselves and put others down, but they want to recall each adversity they’ve overcome to get where they are today. They can tell you every victory and tell you exactly how they did it.

They take winning very personally, and they keep a mental list of their successes.

6. Prosperous People Possess an Ability To Relentlessly Work Their Network

You’ve heard the saying that it’s not what you know but who you know in life that counts. The prosperous people know how to work their network. They will call in favors, lean on their friends, and use whatever means necessary to get the job done.

One of the reasons why they are where they are today is because of their ability to network. They can’t imagine not having a solid group of people to lean on when they need to get things done.

7. They Take Time To Take Care of Themselves

You often see the prosperous on vacation or taking time with their families. They know that working is essential to survival, but they also know that they must care for their needs. Self-care and taking downtime are critical to these folks.

While they may bring work along on the trip, they certainly make time to get away from it all and rest.

8. They’re Incredibly Grateful

Some of the humblest folks you will ever meet are prosperous people. They remember the days when they had nothing and had to fight to climb their way to the top. So, they’re so grateful for everything the Universe has given.

Most of them don’t like to brag about themselves, as they will let others do the talking. They see each team member as vital to where they are today, and there’s no need to puff themselves up.

9. Prosperous People Keep Their Sense of Purpose & Direction in a Crisis

There will be plenty of crises when you’re on your way to the top. However, prosperous people know that keeping your purpose and direction during these times is vital. They don’t go off on a tangent when things don’t go their way, and they never divert their course just because of a few waves.

One of the most endearing qualities about these folks is their drive to get things done no matter what tries to stop them. They’re some of the most resourceful folks around.

10. They’re Trustworthy

If you want to get anywhere in life, you must strive for authenticity. The prosperous know that you’re only as good as your word. They go out of their way to show others that they’re dependable and can be reliable.

11. They Own Their Failures

It’s not how many times you fall that defines you, but it’s the number of times that you rise to the top. Being able to own your failures is crucial as it keeps you humble. Take, for instance, Michael Jordan.

Jordan is known as one of the greatest basketball players, but he wasn’t always so impressive at his game. According to Goal Cast, he made the varsity team in high school, but he was cut for his height and abilities. While it was a massive blow to his ego, he dried his tears and decided to fight.

While he might not have been the best at that moment, he turned the NBA on its heels when he brought the Chicago Bulls national attention for their wins. His college coach remembers when Jordan told him he would work harder than anyone has ever worked to make his dream of joining the NBA come true. A strong will, the ability to own his failures and work hard truly made Jordan a superstar.

12. They Advocate for Their Customers

Every person on top knows that they are nothing without their customers behind them. These folks will advocate for those who believe in them and their products or services. Even the wealthiest CEOs will become the model of charm and reverence when there with their customers.

13. They Don’t Let Success Get to Their Head

Staying humble is essential when you become prosperous. One of the endearing qualities about these folks is they don’t get a big head. They know that people don’t like folks who think too highly of themselves, and they strive to stay focused and driven more than they pat themselves on the back.

14. They Encourage and Motivate Others

One of the examples you can learn from Oprah Winfrey is that she used her experiences to encourage and motivate others. From her successful talk shows over the years to her rags-to-riches story, she shows others how you can take the adversity you’ve been handed and turn it into a steppingstone. People find her endearing because she doesn’t try to skip over the bad parts of her life, but she uses them to help other folks.

15. They’re Open To New Ideas

Even the prosperous know that being closed-minded isn’t going to get you anywhere. They’re always interested in learning new and exciting things, and they may have a way they prefer, but they’ll listen to your ideas. Part of being successful means that you know that things aren’t always your way.

Now, that doesn’t mean they don’t become territorial over things they mastered or created, but they like to engage in new ideas and theories, as they’re always eager to do and learn more.

16. Prosperous People Give Back to Their Communities

Another thing you will commonly find in the prosperous is their desire to give back. Successful people believe in philanthropy, and they tend to be some of the most generous. Mark Zuckerburg is the creator of the famous social media platform Facebook.

While Zuckerburg is a self-made billionaire, he strives to give back. Did you know that he has a net worth of $40 billion, according to Start-Up Talky? However, he and his wife have given $1.6 billion to charity. He’s agreed to donate half of his wealth throughout his life to help others.

Final Thoughts on Adopting the Behaviors of Prosperous People

Many people think that riches define prosperity, but there’s something bigger inside these folks that drives them to be greater than money. While not all people who make it to the top are endearing, most remember their humble roots. They are never too rich to help with charity, defend their customers, or encourage others along the way.

Science Explains How Wave Energy and Floating Solar Farms Can Phase out Fossil Fuels

October 24, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

A new clean power project in Europe combines floating solar farms with offshore wind turbines. It also uses waves to generate clean energy. While converting waves to electricity hasn’t gotten much spotlight in recent years, it’s a viable form of power. However, wind and solar power have typically been a more significant part of the conversation.

In Europe, officials have realized the untapped potential of wave energy. They plan to place wave conversion devices along with floating solar panels throughout the oceans surrounding Europe. First, they will discuss where to house the offshore energy devices in often congested coastal waters. This will prove challenging, but it’s a necessary first step to launch the project.

The new project, called EU-SCORES, stands for “European Scalable Offshore Renewable Energy Sources.” The project’s primary goal is to pair solar devices with wind turbines to reduce marine energy usage. The Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC) will lead the project, aiming to demonstrate the world’s first bankable hybrid offshore energy parks.

Ideal spots for floating solar farms

Two locations for the groundbreaking project include the following:

A 3MW offshore solar PV system by Oceans of Energy off the Belgian coast combined with a bottom fixed windfarm and;
A 1.2MW wave energy array by CorPower Ocean in Portugal paired with a floating wind farm.

The €45 million marine energy project aims to finish the hybrid parks across Europe by 2025. The EU-SCORES will tap into the vast potential of wind, wave, and offshore solar farms, which will slash emissions considerably. Currently, global annual electricity use is around 21,000 TWh, and it’s estimated to double by 2050.

To reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by this time, the world must begin transitioning to renewable energy. To achieve this goal, the EU set targets to reach 230-440GW and 40GW production of offshore wind and ocean energy by 2050, respectively.

Combining solar, wind, and wave energy to phase out fossil fuels

The EU-SCORES project aims to prove the benefits of harnessing wind, sun, and wave energy, providing constant power outputs. Combining these energy sources will “create a more resilient and stable power system, higher capacity factors, and a lower total cost per MWh,” according to DMEC. Project developers and utility companies will collaborate to create these hybrid offshore parks on a commercial scale.

The hybrid parks will maximize power output and capacity per km2 to reduce the marine space needed. This way, it will leave vast areas untouched for recreation, fisheries, shipping routes, and environmentally protected zones. Additionally, co-using critical electrical infrastructure and advanced autonomous systems will lower costs per MWh. Finally, the European project will highlight the stability and resilience of the continent’s energy systems while keeping marine ecosystems intact.

Benjamin Lehner, Project Portfolio Manager DMEC:

“For a successful energy transition, we have to move fast without jeopardizing the reliability of our electricity grid. EU-SCORES can be a game-changer doing so. The multi-use of offshore space presents a favorable business case with major potential to accelerate the transition, while the hybrid approach will enable more reliable electricity provision.”

Matthijs Soede, Senior Policy Officer at European Commission DG Research: “We have very high expectations from the EU-SCORES project, which perfectly fits with our aim to realize the Green Deal. They show great ambition by demonstrating different energy sources considering efficient use of the seas, and their success will support the clean energy transition.”

While wave energy shows promise in the world of renewables, it does face some challenges. First off, it’s relatively expensive to transfer wave energy from generators to coastal areas. However, co-locating the wave energy infrastructure with existing wind turbines will help lower costs.

In addition, wave energy isn’t as stable or predictable as solar and wind energy. Conditions can differ vastly from location to location, making it challenging to predict budgets and recovery potential.

Wave energy is in its infancy but offers vast potential for growth

The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory said: “Wave energy technology is still an emerging form of renewable energy for which large-scale grid-connected project costs are currently poorly defined.”

“Ideally, device designers would like to know the resource conditions at economical project sites so they can optimize device designs. On the other hand, project developers need detailed device cost data to identify sites where projects are economical. That is, device design and siting are, to some extent, a coupled problem,” the lab added.

Even still, researchers and scientists around the world see the potential of wave energy. In Portugal, the EU-SCORES project will use devices that resemble buoys to harness wave energy and attach them to offshore wind farms. The wave harvesting devices were developed by CorPower Ocean, a Swedish company collaborating on the project.

Kevin Rebenius, the company’s Commercial Director, explains:

“By generating electricity also when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, wave energy can help fill the gaps and thereby become an important part of the mix to stabilize future electricity system.”

CorPower Ocean’s wave energy device involves a pumping system, which functions much like the human heart. The device can create five times more electricity per ton than competing technologies. It’s small, affordable, and produces energy even during storms, making it a viable technology for the future of wave energy.

CorPower aims to make its wave energy devices commercially available by 2024. They also hope their technology could help ramp up green hydrogen production. Currently, the global supply of hydrogen comes mostly from natural gas and coal. However, with the launch of the EU-SCORES project, green hydrogen sourced from wave, wind, and solar energy could become a reality soon enough.

Final thoughts: The world is one step closer to clean energy with the EU-SCORES project

If you turn on the news, you probably will come across headlines about climate change and the race for clean energy. Luckily, the ambitious EU-SCORES project will help the world transition off fossil fuels by harnessing solar, wind, and wave energy. The project will reach completion by 2025, marking a giant step toward slashing carbon emissions in Europe.

20 Habits of People Who Have Meaningful Discussions

October 24, 2021 by Chris Butler

Meaningful discussions are a rarity in a world of quick blurbs and sound bites. If you want deeper discussions, there are some habits you can adopt to turn even small talk into a more significant conversation.

Meaningful conversations allow you to express yourself and learn about others. It can forge relationships and connect you to people you usually wouldn’t get to know. Having substantive conversations also gives you a greater sense of wellbeing compared to small talk. Small talk tends to make no difference in a person’s level of happiness, but it can lead up to more meaningful conversations. These conversations also help you build social connections. Adults who are socially connected experience better health and live longer than more isolated adults.

Here are twenty suggestions to facilitate more meaningful discussions in your life.

Try to adopt these behaviors to connect with people better.

1 – Take the conversation to a deeper level

When you’re in a conversation, you can move even the most mundane discussion to a deeper level, instilling a purpose. If you’re talking about someone’s kid’s sports team losing, you can say, “How did that make you feel as a parent to watch your kid lose a game?” Moving the conversation to their feelings moves the conversation to a deeper, more personal level. Some people may not want to talk about their feelings, but others will respond. You’ll soon know who enjoys deeper conversations and who doesn’t. You can’t force someone to speak on a deeper level, but you can help facilitate a more meaningful conversation.

2 – Don’t show off your knowledge

You would never do it intentionally, but if you know a lot about a topic, you may be tempted to talk too much about it. It’s easy to slip into this, especially if you’re excited about the subject. Try to avoid taking center stage. Allow the other person to contribute thoughts, even if they don’t know as much as you. Let them know that their opinions are important to you.

3 – Be a learner

Do you like to learn? Meaningful conversations are great places to learn things about people. You can ask them questions about their

Ideas
Culture
Beliefs
Fears
Knowledge
Experiences

As you learn about people, places, and things, your world grows a little bigger, and you’re a better conversationalist.

4 – Small talk has a purpose in meaningful discussions

You may dislike small talk and feel as if it’s not necessary. That could be true, but even small talk can lead to deeper conversations. Don’t sweat the small talk. It can help you get to know someone better. Over time, the conversations will go from small talk to more heartfelt discussions. It won’t happen overnight, but in time, the person will feel comfortable enough with you to begin to open up about their feelings.

5 – Lightweight opinions

Someone once said that opinions should be light as a feather, not heavy like a brick. It’s a good picture of how an opinion affects you. Even if you’re passionate about your idea, you can share it in a winsome, gracious way. If you hurl your thoughts at someone, good chance, it will kill the conversation.

6 – Be curious

Curious people wonder about things and people. Their curiosity gets them up in the morning because they see the world with a curious mind. They have an insatiable desire to understand. Interest will help you initiate conversations with people and be willing to go deeper with them. If you’re curious, you won’t be afraid to ask, “What is it like to do that in your world?” People enjoy talking about themselves, so let your curiosity open up an opportunity for someone to talk about themselves.

7 – Hold that thought

If you’re overly eager to share a thought, you aren’t focused on the speaker. You’re thinking about what you want to say. Even if you have a great idea, be patient and give the speaker time to finish their thoughts before jumping into the conversation.

8 – Maintain eye contact to effect more meaningful discussions

If possible, try to keep eye contact with the person you’re talking to. It helps them know that you’re interested in what they have to say. Eye contact is also a way to stay focused on what someone is saying. It’s hard to drift off if you’re looking right at a person.

9 – Stay focused

If your mind drifts off to where you put your car keys or what you’re eating for lunch, you’ll lose focus on the conversation. Try to pull your thoughts back into the present. Even in the most exciting discussion, you can get sidetracked, so try these ways to stay focused.

Maintain eye contact
Don’t shift around in your seat
Lean forward in your chair
Move to a closer seat to the person
Turn off your phone

10 – Make it about them

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who talked endlessly about themselves? Some people are clueless about how they dominate a conversation. Showing an interest in the other person facilitates an exchange that isn’t one-sided. Ask open-ended questions about them. Or compliment them about something they’ve done or said. Show a sincere interest in them to fuel a two-sided conversation.

11 – Disagreements don’t need to shut down a conversation

If you want to have meaningful discussions, disagreements could happen. Don’t be afraid of disagreements. They don’t need to shut down your conversation. Ask questions to try to understand better what the person is saying. Share your thoughts, too, but you may want to say something that defuses the situations like this:

Well, this is just my opinion, but I think_________.

I could be wrong, but my opinion is that ____________.

This non-threatening approach can diffuse a heated discussion. The person sees you’re not out of a fight, just a good conversation about a tricky subject.

12. Ask good questions

Asking good questions encourages people to open up. Good questions include asking someone what they think or feel about a situation. It could be a mundane conversation, but bringing feelings into it will make the conversation go deeper.

13. Be aware of your surroundings

Don’t plunge into a deep conversation while sitting in the bleachers at your kids’ soccer game. It’s just the wrong place. Choose a calm atmosphere where you and the person you’re talking with can feel free to speak openly.

14. Read body language

A person’s body language is a good indicator of whether they’re engaged in a conversation. If the person is shifting in their seat or looking at their watch, it could signify they’re ready to finish up the discussion. Other non-verbal clues include

Clearing their throat
Eyes dropping down or look around
Scratching
Backing up
Their voice goes up in pitch

If you notice this type of body language, you should end the conversation. Thank them for hanging out with you.

15 – Paraphrase their statement

One helpful tool for enhancing your conversations is to paraphrase back to the person what you think they said in your own words. It makes the person feel like you were listening to them. Plus, paraphrasing helps resolve misunderstandings. When you paraphrase back what someone said, you can say something like

If I heard you correctly, you’re saying__________?
Did I understand you correctly when you said______________?
So are you saying_________?

16 – Give regular feedback

When you’re in the middle of a conversation, be sure to give regular feedback to encourage the other person you’re listening to. Say things to assure them that you understand, like:

Okay
Sure
I agree
That makes sense
Uh-huh

17 – Don’t rush a meaningful discussion

Don’t rush your conversations. Share your thoughts in a slow, reflective way that allows your listeners time to absorb what you’re saying. Setting a calm atmosphere will also relax your listeners so they can share their thoughts without hurrying.

18 – Give specific well-thought compliments

Be sure to give well-thought, helpful compliments, and comments as the person talks with you. Please show them your listening by encouraging their line of reasoning on a topic or commenting on how well they’ve researched something. Your comments will build their confidence and help them feel like you understand them.

19 – Be that friend

There are those people who are just plain easy to talk to. They’re not only good listeners. They’re good at making people important because they encourage others to exchange ideas. They won’t judge but may push back thoughtfully. You can be that kind of friend to other people. Be the person that’s willing to talk on a deeper level. They make people feel accepted.

20 – Choose your words well

Choose your words when you’re sharing your thoughts and feelings with people. Develop your vocabulary so you can articulate your feelings. Choosing your words carefully equips you to share what’s going on in your heart more precisely and clearly.

Final thoughts on facilitating meaningful discussions

Deeper conversations help you connect with others and enhance your relationships. According to science, when you pursue deeper conversations, you’ll feel happier.

It’s within your power to delve deeper with the people. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you grow in initiating heartfelt and meaningful discussions with the people you know and meet.

15 Behaviors That Prove Someone Has a Charitable Heart

October 24, 2021 by Chris Butler

Someone with a charitable heart has a soft spot for those in need. You might think that these folks give money to charities, but they do so much more than that. People with charitable hearts are passionate about the welfare of others. They display their charity in ways you might not always notice.

What’s the definition of charitable?

Charitable has two definitions. The most common meaning used today is to be concerned about the welfare of others. She enjoys doing charitable work for homeless shelters. Another meaning of charitable is when someone is kind or understanding. At the game, they were less than charitable towards the umpire.

15 Behaviors That Prove Someone Has a Charitable Heart

Here are some characteristic behaviors you will see in someone who has a charitable heart.

1 – A charitable heart will donate time

Someone with a charitable heart makes time for those in need. They’re the people who volunteer every week at the animal shelter or the food bank. Helping someone else gives them energy. You may feel like they never take time for themselves, but in fact, caring for others invigorates them. So, don’t talk your charitable friend out of going to the homeless shelter every weekend. She can’t even imagine not helping others because it’s so much fun for her.

2 – Donate blood

There is an excellent chance your kind-hearted friend considers the welfare of others by donating blood. There’s always a need for blood. Approximately 4.5 million people receive blood transfusions every year. Blood banks rely on donations from people with different blood types to stay fully supplied with blood for accidents, injuries, or surgeries. Not only does giving blood saves lives, it is also healthy for you. Every donor gets a quick health check when you donate blood. The labs check:

Your iron levels
Your blood pressure and pulse
The donated blood is checked for many different diseases. If anything shows up, they’ll notify you.

Your charitable friend who donates her blood is also getting other health benefits. Donating blood improves blood flow, which reduces the chances of an arterial blockage. Donating blood also regulates iron levels. Plus, people who donate their blood are 88% less likely to have a heart attack. So, if your charitable friend wants you to go with her to donate blood, it might be a good idea!

3 – A charitable heart willingly gives money

Being charitable means giving money for a worthy cause. You may have read one of Jesus’ teachings that says, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” (NIV Acts 20:35)

It turns out there is biological support for this idea. One study found that your brain’s pleasure area gets activated when you donate money to charity. Researchers could look at an MRI of a person’s brain and tell whether they were egotists or unselfish people who cared for others. The charitable people had stronger brain reactions to philanthropic donations than the egotist. These folks had an even stronger response when they could give their money voluntarily rather than out of compulsion.

4 – Raise funds for a good cause

As you may have guessed, another characteristic behavior of someone with a charitable heart is being a fundraiser. These folks love to raise money for a worthy cause like dugnad russ almost as much as they love giving money. Generous people have a unique ability to inspire other people to join them in their fundraising. Whether they’re organizing a charity run to raise money to fight cancer or setting up a local restaurant partnership for kids in need to have school instruments, they envision others to feel excited about helping them. So, don’t be surprised if your generous friend pulls you into her latest fundraising scheme. It may be hard to resist her sincere concern for those in need.

5 – A charitable heart is quick to encourage you

Of course, being charitable isn’t just financial. A person with a charitable heart also displays the second definition of charitable, being kind and understanding. Those who possess this characteristic are quick to give praise and encouragement to others. You will feel well cared for if you have a friend who possesses a heart for charity. They will point out even the most minor thing you do, making you feel you’ve just done the greatest thing in the world.

6 – Ready to go the extra mile

Charitable people will go additional miles to help you without considering how much it affects them. They’re ready to be wherever you need them, no matter the distance or cost. It could mean a long drive or shopping at several stores to find something. They like the challenge of helping people, even if it means doing extra to accomplish it. Because helping others brings them so much joy, it’s not worth trying to stop them from doing this.

7 – A charitable heart isn’t afraid to give tough love when it’s needed

Generous people aren’t naive. They know that once in a while, tough love is what is most needed. They’re ready to give a harsh word if that will be the most helpful. They understand human nature enough to know that sometimes people need a push to step up and help themselves. Generous people are ready to speak truthfully but kindly when it’s appropriate.

8 – A charitable heart sees the needs of others

A person with a charitable heart sees a need often before others do. Because they’re like this, they might show up with food, clothing, or medical supplies. They’re intuitive about people’s needs. This is in part because they’ve cared for people for many years, so now, it’s second nature to them. It only makes sense they are aware of who has needs.

9 – Donate their stuff to those in need

Another characteristic of a giving person is that they quickly donate their things to charities, thrift stores, or hospitals. They give away computers, smartphones, household items, or cars. If they hear of a need, they’re on it, ready to give away their stuff or to find it somewhere. They know the best places in their area to find things, whether it’s a thrift store or consignment shop. They also know what days these places have sales on certain items. Charitable people also know the most extensive needs. Whether it’s a food bank or family shelters, they can direct you where to give away your stuff.

10 – A charitable heart will help in a disaster

When there’s a natural disaster, charitable people help in a big way. It may be through sacrificial giving or by actually showing up with boots on the ground to help. You often see the same people helping during hurricanes or tornadoes. They’re the folks who fly or drive to the location at their own expense. Their reputation for being ready and willing to help sets them apart.

11 – Creative ways to give

Someone with a charitable heart is creative in the ways they help others. They love surprising and delighting people. So instead of showing up at someone’s front door with a bag of groceries, they’ll take the entire family to two different groceries stores so they can pick out the food they want. They’ll organize a giant birthday for a bunch of needy kids to celebrate their birthdays. Their creativity makes the giving and the receiving fun and memorable.

12 – Aren’t pushy

Although generous people encourage others to join them in giving, they will never push you to help. It may be hard for them to understand why someone wouldn’t help, but they’re kind, so they don’t want to pressure you. They won’t make you feel like you’ve done something wrong but will encourage you that you’re doing the best you can.

13 – Give away frequent flyer miles

Charitable people are creative in how they help others. If they know a needy person must fly somewhere, they’ll help them. They’ll do their research to find the best deals and any charitable organizations to help those in need who must fly. Today, most airlines have charity or donation programs for folks who want to donate their frequent flyer miles.

14 – Someone with a charitable heart is often a secret giver

Charitable people often choose to give in secret. They donate anonymously, so others don’t know who gave the money. Secret giving makes them happy because they aren’t giving to get attention. If you have a friend helping people, and other people don’t realize it, you may be tempted to expose her generosity. Don’t do it. If your generous friend gets joy out of her stealth giving, allow her the pleasure of her secret generosity.

15 – Sincere concern

Being charitable is best shown by concern for the welfare of another person. Whether that’s providing money, physical needs of a kind word, someone who truly has a charitable heart is sincerely concerned for others.

Final thoughts on the Behaviors of a Person With A Charitable Heart

After reading these fifteen behaviors of someone with a charitable heart, you may be thinking of someone you know. If your friend possesses these characteristics, be sure to thank them. That’s because they probably give in secret, so they don’t get the thanks they deserve. So, you can be the person who shows them that they are making a difference in the lives of people all around them.

20 Quotes to Read When You Need an Emotional Cleanse

October 24, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

There will be times in your life when you feel like you need an emotional cleanse. When you face problems or struggle emotionally, it can be hard to overcome. However, no matter what happens in life, you can cleanse yourself emotionally.

You can’t control experiencing setbacks and obstacles, but you can face them positively. As you deal with uncomfortable or undesirable situations, you’ll notice healing taking place.

Shifting your mindset can help you remember that every situation is temporary. With perseverance and strength, you can get through anything that comes your way. There will be times when you struggle, but these quotes can help you when you need an emotional cleanse.

Twenty Quotes to Read When You Need an Emotional Cleanse

Do you need to let go of sadness or anger? Read these quotes to help let go.

1. “Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you — all of the expectations, all of the beliefs — and becoming who you are.” – Rachel Naomi Remen

When you need an emotional cleanse, the best thing to do is let go of the things that don’t serve you. Release the expectations of others, and focus on following the things you believe in. If you can do this, you’ll release some of the negative energy within.

2. “The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” – Caroline Myss

Your soul knows what needs to happen, so find ways to silence the negative thoughts in your mind. You can distract yourself by doing something productive, or you can try meditation. Whatever you choose to do to silence your mind, make sure you’re doing it positively.

3. “The most important conversation is the conversation you have with yourself each day.” – James Clear

Your inner thoughts play a massive role in your life. If your thoughts are negative, you’ll struggle emotionally. Focus on your internal dialogue and make sure your conversation is positive and beneficial.

4. “Each time you meet an old emotional pattern with presence, your awakening to truth can deepen. There’s less identification with the self in the story and more ability to rest in the awareness that is witnessing what’s happening. You become more able to abide in compassion, to remember and trust your true home. Rather than cycling repetitively through old conditioning, you are actually spiraling toward freedom.” – Tara Brach

Acknowledge your emotional patterns and admit that they are issues in your life. If you try to ignore your emotional patterns and pretend everything is fine, the situation only worsens. When you identify the problems, you become more aware of how they affect your life.

Then, with awareness and presence, you can focus on positive aspects of your life. Emotional cleansing is often about recognizing and paying attention to your old habits.

5. “The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” – Hubert H. Humphrey

When you need an emotional cleanse, turn to your friendships and the people that you love. With supportive people in your life, you’re sure to feel better. They’ll help you overcome your struggles while reminding you of how loved you are.

6. “Your pain needs to be recognized and acknowledged. It needs to be acknowledged and then released. Avoiding pain is the same as denying it.” – Yong Kang Chan

When you want to heal, you must acknowledge the pain you are dealing with. With acknowledgment, you can release it and move forward. Denial will only hold you back, so don’t push your emotions away before you’ve dealt with them.

7. “We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.” – Marianne Williamson

If you constantly think about the past and dwell on how things happened, you can’t move forward emotionally. You must release the past and accept it for what it is. Then, you can live in the present and feel emotionally refreshed.

8. “When we accept and embrace our emotions as the way they are rather than what we wish them to be and discover that in the deepest darkest moments, we are okay – this is the true emotional healing. Emotional healing is when you face your worst fears only to realize you are okay. You have no control over what life throws at you, but you have control of how to relate to whatever comes your way.” – Susan Wenzel

If you can accept and embrace your emotions, you will experience emotional healing. As Wenzel explains, you must face your fears and accept whatever comes your way in life. While you can’t always help how you feel, you can control how you handle it and react.

9. “Each and every meditation practice brings internal emotional healing in one way or other.” – Purvi Raniga

Meditation is one of the best ways to experience emotional cleansing. It will help clear your thoughts and help you recenter yourself. You can shift your mindset through meditation, allowing you to move past the things holding you back.

10. “Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.” – Tori Amos

You already have everything it takes to cleanse yourself emotionally. As long as you have courage, which you do, you can overcome anything and refresh your mind. When things get hard, search within yourself to find the courage you need to face the situation.

11. “We’ve all been hurt in some way. Don’t think of the marks left behind as scars. View them as tattoos to wear with pride, reminders of your strength and growth.” – Karen Salmansohn

Everyone experiences hardship in life, but we also all handle it differently. If you can think of these experiences as opportunities for growth, you’ll benefit emotionally.

12. “The moment you start feeling whole and grateful is when your brain starts to begin healing.” – Joe Dispenza

Focus on the things in your life that you are grateful for. When you spend your time on things that make you feel fulfilled, you’ll experience healing and cleansing.

13. “By healing the parts of ourselves that are frozen in the past, we are able to bring them back into the present – and each time we do this we become less fragmented, and more whole.” – Jessica Moore

You can’t continue living in the past if you want to experience an emotional cleanse. Bring your thoughts to the present, and you’ll feel whole again.

14. “Self-forgiveness is essential to self-healing.” – Unknown

If your emotional troubles are related to guilt, you must work on forgiving yourself. With self-forgiveness, you can cleanse yourself emotionally and move forward.

15. “Laughter completely engages the body and releases the mind. It connects us to others, and that in itself has a healing effect.” – Marlo Thomas

When you need an emotional cleanse, find something to laugh about. You’ll feel connected to those around you, and you’ll experience healing in all areas of your life.

16. “As my sufferings mounted, I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

You can’t control everything that happens in your life, but you can control how you react. Choose to respond positively, and you’ll feel better overall.

17. “Healing does not mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” – Akshay Dubey

You can’t change the things that have happened, but you can control how you let them interfere with your life. If you can stop letting the damage affect you, you’ll experience the emotional healing that you need.

18. “Stay positive, your body hears everything you think.” – Karen Gibbs

Negative thoughts will stop you from healing. When you realize negativity has crept in, replace those thoughts with something beneficial instead.

19. “Emotion is created by a cause, whether that cause is factual or imaginary does not matter, as longer as the believer holds it as true.” – Bangambiki Habyarimana

If your thoughts are misleading you to believe negative things about yourself or your life, change your mindset. Tell yourself that those things aren’t true, and keep pushing forward toward your life goals.

20. “You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we’re not. We always have the power of our minds… Claim and consciously use your power.” – Louise Hay

No matter what happens, you can heal. Use your mind to overcome your situation and regain power over your emotions.

Twenty Quotes to Read When You Need an Emotional Cleanse

Life isn’t always easy, and there will be times when you struggle emotionally. When that happens, reading quotes can help you experience an emotional cleanse. Remember these quotes to help you through tricky times. You aren’t alone in your human journey, so follow the advice of those who have been there before.

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

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