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20 Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes About Living Life to the Fullest

June 29, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Thich Nhat Hanh was a Buddhist monk and peace activist who strived to find peaceful resolutions to conflicts. He was known for practicing meditation, publishing many books, and founding non-profit organizations to help provide education and healthcare services.

Additionally, Thich Nhat Hanh introduced mindfulness to the world, helping everyone find peace in their lives. This new way of thinking and reflecting worked as a guide to living a meaningful life. He peacefully passed at the age of 95, on January 22, 2022 and will always be remembered for his wisdom and ways he changed the world.

Twenty Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes About Living Life to the Fullest

Thich Nhat Hanh also traveled extensively to give spiritual speeches. From his powerful words, people across the world have learned to live life to the fullest. His quotes are enlightening, inspirational, and profound.

1. “People suffer because they are caught in their views. As soon as we release those views, we are free, and we don’t suffer anymore.”

When you are caught in your ways and won’t change your views even as the world changes, you will suffer. To truly live life to the fullest, you must release your old views and let go of things that weigh you down. Free yourself from your current way of thinking, and everything else will change for you.

2. “It’s very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems.”

When you can spend time resting and relaxing, you will live a fulfilled and meaningful life. As Thich Nhat Hanh explains, it will prevent illnesses, tension, and worry. Then, you can think clearly, stay focused, and experience increased critical thinking skills.

3. “Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”

When you smile, the world is a more beautiful place. You will experience increased happiness, and you will notice the small wonders of the world around you.

4. “We fear that this moment will end, that we won’t get what we need, that we will lose what we love, or that we will not be safe. Often, our biggest fear is the knowledge that one day our bodies will cease functioning. So even when we are surrounded by all the conditions for happiness, our joy is not complete.”

If you experience the type of fear that Thich Nhat Hanh explains, you won’t live life to the fullest. Release your fear of the future and death, and live in the moment instead.

5. “Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity.”

Remember these wise words, and you will live a meaningful life. When you remember that you can choose to fill your life with these positive feelings, you will make a conscious effort to do it.

6. “When we recognize the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born.”

Recognize and acknowledge the greatness of the earth. When you do, you will feel connected to it, allowing love to flow freely within you.

7. “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now, we are okay. Right now today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”

You must release fear if you want to live life to the fullest. Remind yourself that you are alive and safe right now, and then look for the beauty all around you.

8. “Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. Then look at, or think of, the person triggering this emotion: With mindfulness, you can see that she is unhappy, that she is suffering. You can see her wrong perceptions. You can see that she is not beautiful when she says things that are unkind.”

When you experience an intense negative emotion, try what Thich Nhat Hanh describes in this quote. Focus on your breathing and bring your mind back to your body. Then, use mindfulness to think of the person involved and the reality of the situation.

9. “If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine. You get in touch with Mother Earth and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your roots, and that is meditation. If we chew every morsel of our food in that way, we become grateful, and when you are grateful, you are happy.”

Eating whole foods that come from the earth is a powerful way to connect with the world. Think of this fact every time you eat, and you will become more grateful and happy because of it.

10. “Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all, we need the right view that transcends all notions, including of being and non-being, creator and creature, mind and spirit. That kind of insight is crucial for transformation and healing.”

Change is inevitable in life, and it doesn’t have to be a bad experience. Focus on changing yourself for the better by adopting a positive mindset and gaining insight into the connections mentioned here.

11. “Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fear, our anger, and that is very healing. We let our own natural capacity of healing do the work.”

As Thich Nhat Hanh explains, meditation is powerful in healing your soul. As you embrace the negative feelings, you will find that the healing happens naturally.

12. “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. When you are born a lotus flower, be a beautiful lotus flower, don’t try to be a magnolia flower. If you crave acceptance and recognition and try to change yourself to fit what other people want you to be, you will suffer all your life. True happiness and true power lie in understanding yourself, accepting yourself, having confidence in yourself.”

You must always stay true to who you are if you want to live life to the fullest. Accept yourself just as you are, and embrace the things that make you different.

13. “When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?”

Spend time with the people that mean the most to you. Nurture your loving relationships, and embrace every moment spent together.

14. “When you look at the sun during your walking meditation, the mindfulness of the body helps you to see that the sun is in you; without the sun, there is no life at all, and suddenly you get in touch with the sun in a different way.”

Go for walks outside and meditate as you walk, allowing the sun into your body. It will leave you feeling fulfilled, enlightened, and connected to the universe.

15. “In order to heal others, we first need to heal ourselves. And to heal ourselves, we need to know how to deal with ourselves.”

Self-healing is essential if you want to live life to the fullest. You can’t spend all of your time trying to heal others while ignoring your needs and desires. Learn how to deal with yourself so that the healing process can begin.

16. “If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.”

If you want your family to be happy and at peace, you must be that way yourself. Everyone around you benefits when you are joyful and can genuinely smile.

17. “We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.”

Take breaks and slow down your daily pace. Give yourself time to relax and enjoy life, or you will never be able to live life to the fullest.

18. “Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.”

Your thoughts, words, and actions all contribute to who you are. Remember this quote so that you can work to better yourself in these areas.

19. “Fear, separation, hate, and anger come from the wrong view that you and the Earth are two separate entities, the Earth is only the environment. You are in the center, and you want to do something for the Earth in order for you to survive. That is a dualistic way of seeing.”

When you realize your connection to the world, you will experience fewer feelings of fear, separation, hate, and anger. Stop the negative way of thinking described in this quote, and you can live a fulfilling life.

20. “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”

Never lose hope because it can get you through the hardest days. Always tell yourself that tomorrow is another chance for a good day, and you will experience more happiness.

Final Thoughts on Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes About Living Life to the Fullest

Thich Nhat Hanh’s powerful words can teach you so much about living life to the fullest. Remember these quotes, and embrace yourself and the world around you.

Never miss a moment to appreciate the earth and your connection to it. Embrace the things and people that you love, and focus on enjoying every moment of your life.

10 Habits to Help Identify and Achieve Your Life Destiny

June 29, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Everyone has habits, and those habits can either hold you back or help you reach your destiny. The way your life turns out is a direct result of your habits and behavioral patterns. These patterns include any of your emotions, thoughts, and actions that repeat.

Your daily habits guide you and determine the path that you take. Because of that, it is essential to develop habits that help you identify and achieve your life destiny. Identifying your purpose is all about figuring out your purpose, and your habits will help enlighten you.

You have to become self-aware and work to understand what resonates within you. Then, you must figure out your direction and plan from there. Keep in mind that your path and purpose might change throughout your life, though.

Ten Habits to Help Identify and Achieve Your Life Destiny

As you work to figure out your life destiny, implement some new habits that help you achieve your goals. Many of these habits can replace old, useless, or detrimental habits. Of course, you don’t have to implement all of them, but the more you try, the better it will be.

1. Decide on Your Direction and Keep Your Sights on It

To identify your life destiny, you have to figure out which direction you want to take. First, think about the things that will make you feel fulfilled and help you get closer to your purpose in life. Then, consider which path you have to take to get there.

As you work toward your destination, keep your eyes on where you are going. Always keep your goals and purpose in mind as you live your life. Losing sight of it will get you off track and hold you back.

2. Come Up with a Plan and Follow It

Once you know the direction you want to take, come up with a plan. Write down what you want, and then think about how you can obtain it. This plan is your big picture, but you also must have plans for what to do right now.

Create a long-term plan, but you should also have a series of short-term plans. Planning out a year, then breaking that down into months, and then even further into weeks is essential. Once you set this plan, make sure you follow it consistently.

Every week, check your monthly calendar and transfer over anything for the current week. Checking each week allows you to schedule meetings, appointments, events, and specific tasks for work. As a result, you won’t be scrambling to get ready for something at the last minute and missing other essential things.

Each morning, consider your top priorities for that day. Think about anything urgent and get to those things first because the other tasks will be there later. This method allows you to set realistic goals based on what you must do to achieve your goals.

Once you know your top priorities for the day, begin with the biggest one. Starting with the most challenging task at the beginning of the day ensures that it gets done. Plus, you will do a better job because your mind is fresh and you won’t become distracted by other things.

3. Be Open to Change and Accepting Opportunities

While you should keep your sights on the direction you chose, you might want to make a change sometimes. Be open to new opportunities and switching directions when the time is right. You never know who you will meet or where your journey will take you, so keep an open mind.

Keep in mind that you can’t control things, so sometimes you have no choice but to switch directions. On the other hand, you can only control how you react to things, so coming up with a new plan on the fly is essential.

Don’t let these obstacles stop you from achieving your life purpose, though. Remember that change is inevitable, and you can adapt to anything and still meet your goals.

4. Keep Moving

Whatever you do in life, keep moving and never give up. If you want to try something new, get started and throw yourself into it. Staying in the same situation in life is never a good time because you should always be learning and developing.

Get out there and work toward your goals continually. You are in control of your body and actions, so you must have the willpower to keep moving.

5. Spend Time Reflecting

When you are taking charge of your purpose, self-reflection is essential. At the end of your day, reflect on the day’s events. Consider what went well and what could have gone better, and then think about the other options you might have had.

Spending time reflecting will also help you make tough decisions. For example, if you aren’t sure about what to do in a situation, use this time to figure out which way to go.

6. Ask Questions and Keep Learning

To identify and achieve your life goals, you must always keep learning. So ask questions when you think of them, and don’t be afraid of the response or reaction you get. Asking questions is never a negative thing because the only way you can learn new things is to obtain the necessary information.

You can also sign up for courses or subscribe to publications relevant to your purpose. Learning and developing will help you elevate your thinking while inspiring you to be better. Knowledge and information are readily available, so you can easily find ways to learn something new.

Gaining information will open up new opportunities for you and allow you to understand the world around you. With understanding and increasing knowledge, you can achieve your life destiny.

7. Release Limiting Beliefs and Create New Ones

Releasing limiting beliefs is hard, but you can do it with a little bit of determination. First, figure out what old, limiting beliefs you possess and then work to overcome them. Stay aware of your thoughts, and change them whenever you notice limiting ones.

Once you know what your limiting beliefs are, you can begin creating new ones. Do this by first writing down the limiting beliefs that stand in your way. Then, write down what you can do to replace the old with new ones.

8. Change Your Mindset

Shifting your mindset can make all of your new habits easier to adapt, and it is a new habit all on its own. When you notice negative self-thought or doubt creeping in, replace the thought with a positive one. Sometimes the only thing holding you back is your negative thoughts and beliefs.

Positive affirmations are perfect for shifting your mindset, and you can use them throughout the day as necessary. Memorize a few positive statements that resonate with you will, and it will work wonders for changing your mindset.

9. Hold Yourself Accountable

No one likes to make a mistake, but when you do, you must admit it. If you don’t own up to your mistakes, you will never have the chance to learn from them. Therefore, to reach your destiny, holding yourself accountable is an important habit to develop.

Accountability might be stressful sometimes, but it always pays off. Even when things don’t go well, it is an opportunity for growth and communication. This habit will end up being one of your most valuable.

10. Trust Yourself

Along the way, there will be times when you question yourself, the decisions you make, and the paths you take. Try not to do this and trust yourself instead. As long as you have followed your plan and kept your sight on your goals, everything will work out.

Even when things seem to be at a standstill, trust that you are in the right place. Trust your inner voice, too, when it tells you to act on something or make a change. Your inner voice is connected to your destiny, so try to follow your instincts whenever you can.

By trusting and listening to yourself, you will always stay true to yourself and your purpose. You will have a clear understanding of your purpose, helping you to achieve it.

Final Thoughts on Habits to Help Identify and Achieve Your Life Destiny

You are responsible for identifying and achieving your life destiny. It won’t happen if you stay stuck in one place without ever making a plan or moving forward. Decide on a direction in life and work toward it while never losing sight of the goal.

Remember that you can always switch directions later if something changes in your life. Right now, though, decide your life goal and figure out what you need to do to achieve it. The key is to keep moving no matter what comes up, even if you have to change the plan.

You are in control of your thoughts, behaviors, and achieving your life purpose. Don’t let anything hold you back, including your bad habits. Work to develop some of the good habits discussed here to help you identify and achieve your life destiny.

9 Ways Suffering Can Lead To Inner Growth And Happiness

June 28, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Few people in life can avoid suffering. It’s part of the human experience and gaining inner growth. It can come in mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, economic, and many other forms. Still, the bottom line is that you will eventually have to deal with the concept of suffering.

It’s challenging to look at suffering as anything other than a bad thing. Of course, suffering wouldn’t be a necessary part of most people’s life experiences in an ideal world, but that’s not the reality we live in. The fact is that you will experience suffering at some point, and there’s no way to avoid that!

But all is not lost. Just because you’ll experience points of pain and suffering, that doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to progress through those times. In fact, that hurt can even be a positive force on your life!

Here are nine ways suffering can lead to inner growth and happiness.

1. You Learn Humility

When you suffer, you gain perspectives on typical experiences that make you extra grateful for more average circumstances. For example, having your heart broken can make you more appreciative of a long-lasting and healthy relationship, and being ill can make you more appreciative of being healthy.

Suffering forces you to drop expectations that you have on life, making you focus instead on even simple things that bring positivity into your world. You don’t feel as entitled to average circumstances and learn to take note of even the smallest silver linings in your situations.

Humility is a beautiful part of personal growth and is a great trait to have. Studies have also found that humility boosts positive thinking and creates more happiness, so learning to be humble can be a great result of a negative experience.

2. Your Emotions Can Become More Fulfilling

Suffering amplifies all sorts of emotions, and this can be very harmful if your entire experience is filled with negative emotions. But, almost paradoxically, positive emotions can become stronger in times of suffering, too.

Have you ever noticed that just as simple things could dramatically ruin your mood when you were suffering, simple things of a positive note could also dramatically uplift you? You could find hope in that which usually would have slipped beneath your notice.

When you emerge from a place of suffering, you hold onto the ability to feel more uplifting by your positive emotions. You feel more fulfilled by the things you experience, and the impact and richness of the world around you becomes apparent. This is a beautiful way to grow as a person and gain happiness!

3. You Can Get Smarter During A Period Of Inner Growth

Intelligence isn’t always inherent. It’s something that can be built over time, and suffering can help you gain more of it. The smarts you gain from suffering contribute significantly to your overall happiness and growth over time, and you’ll be better equipped for the future after you’ve learned from your suffering. Here’s how:

You learn to solve problems.
Learning to cope with negative experiences and build resilience
You get better at finding creative ways to think and solve
You know from your time of suffering so you can avoid it in the future
Learning from your mistakes
You sharpen your mental skills overall
You learn more about yourself and what works for you.

4. You Become More Compassionate

Everyone knows that compassion is valuable, and most people understand that being kind is something to strive for. But it’s also fair that not everyone has this compassion naturally. Sure, everyone is some sort to some degree, but you’re a human being – you’re driven by selfishness and self-preservation, too.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to be kinder, suffering can give you that benefit. You know about hardships and understand the feelings of others on a deeper level, allowing you to better empathize with those around you. It can imbue you with a desire to give back to others, as the kindness shown to you while you’re suffering is a kindness that you will remember.

Practicing compassion regularly is a critical component of happiness. The people with the most positive thinking are those who are kindest, and they often have better self-esteem, too. And, of course, you can’t deny that being more compassionate makes you a better person!

5. You Can Explore Your Emotions

Sometimes, you don’t understand the depth of your emotions until you have no choice but to feel the full sweeping power that they hold. You may have been repressing certain feelings and avoiding addressing issues that are rooted in your subconscious.

Suffering often brings these emotions bubbling to the surface and to recover. You have to dig into those emotions and find what their true sources are. You’ll have to confront ugly truths and painful realities that you had previously been unaware of, or even ones you’d been openly avoiding.

To explore your emotions during suffering, you can:

Ask yourself the source of your suffering and go beyond that answer, continuing to ask “why” until you get to the root.
Use a journal or similar medium to spill out all that you think and feel in an unfiltered, uncontrolled manner so you can reflect on them later.
Seek to truly understand yourself on a deep psychological level, even the parts you dislike.

Being able to explore your true emotions grants you helpful insight that is instrumental for personal growth. Digging out the roots of those emotions can also be a meaningful way to increase your happiness levels.

6. You Feel The Good Times More Strongly

Suffering is just a part of life. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and all bad times come with some good and all good times come with some bad. And, of course, things can’t be negative or positive forever. That’s just reality.

When you have had your fair share of suffering, you begin to look at the good times in a more favorable light. Gone are the days when you would take the bright times for granted. You notice every detail of your positive phases and appreciate them on a deeper level when you’ve suffered in the past. This isn’t just great for your happiness, but it also makes you a more grateful person, a crucial part of personal growth.

7. You Can Gain More Empathy

Empathy refers to the ability to relate to and feel for others with high emotional intelligence, allowing you to comprehend their emotions and experiences better. It can be an essential trait, but it’s not something that comes naturally to everyone.

Suffering shows you more experiences that can put you into the shoes of others. You learn how it feels to be in a wrong place, and you’ll be able to understand better those who are suffering, too. This valuable trait of empathy builds better connections and facilitates improved inner growth, and as your social circles grow more meaningful, your happiness benefits, too.

8. You Can Use Pain To Fuel Your Inner Growth

In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to feel pain to be motivated. But if you’re in a position where you think that you’re suffering, you can turn that into positive forward momentum and use it as a driving force that fuels you to succeed, achieve goals, and emerge from challenges.

Many people falsely believe that the only way to “fuel” yourself is by always using positive thinking. While it’s an admiral idea, it’s also not always realistic. Sometimes, this can lend itself to dangerous habits of toxic positivity, where you invalidate and repress your negative emotions for the sake of maintaining a positive experience on the outside. And let’s face it – truth can be harsh, but a problematic truth is always better than a nice-sounding lie.

There are some situations where pure positive thinking isn’t possible, and that’s okay. Suffering can be used as motivation, and, almost paradoxically, the act of channeling suffering correctly can take you out of suffering. This can happen by:

Gritting your teeth through the pain and building resilience to it in the process.
Honing your feelings of determination to overcome obstacles and challenges.
Inspiring you to want to rise against unfair and unacceptable circumstances.
Challenging you to be stronger and to grow so you can overcome your suffering.
Giving you a reality check to put you on a more productive and informed path.
Teaching you survival skills.

9. You Can Decide To Change

Many people become overwhelmed when they realize all the things that they can’t control, but they go so far as to become blind to the things they can handle. If that describes you, then suffering may teach you to break out of that cycle.

There are many things in life you can’t choose, but there are also many decisions that you have the power to make. When you suffer, you have to actively choose to get better, choose to stay strong, and prefer to keep going. You have to get out of your head to survive, and in the process, you may realize that you always could control your reactions and choose how you handle different situations.

Once you learn this lesson, you can apply it beautifully to many different parts of your life. You realize that you always choose to change aspects of your life and self that need improvement, and this realization can drive a lot of inner growth and make you happier overall.

Basically, you realize that you’re the captain of your ship and the master of your fate, and that’s a powerful thing to become aware of. At the end of the day, the way your experiences are perceived by your eyes is entirely up to you, and how you channel your inner growth to each is your decision, too.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways Suffering Can Lead To Inner Growth And Happiness

It’s hard to want to look at suffering as something that can be positive, but the lessons that you can learn from these experiences can be precious to your growth and happiness. If you learn to harness pain and transform it into something positive, the suffering you face will have a thicker silver lining, and you may even be glad for the lessons it taught you once it is behind you!

If You See Bears Often, This Is What It Means

June 28, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

If you start to see bears often, it could mean that they are spiritually trying to tell you something. Many people fail to recognize when they meet their spirit animal. But repeatedly seeing a specific species could be a meaningful sign of a connection.

It is up to each of us to pay attention to the signals by learning to be aware of the Universe and the messages it’s sending to us.

What Bears Symbolize

This powerful animal is a symbol of many things, including these things:

energy
confidence
healing
peace
solitude
motherhood
understanding
courage
activeness
optimism
majesty
resurrection

As a spirit animal, a bear can show you how to overlook issues so you can appreciate the beauty of life. They guide you through your life journey and help you stay connected as you continue on your path. Please don’t ignore the symbolism that a bear represents because it could be a divine connection intended to help you.

When you begin to see bears often, please pay attention to their demeanor and environment. Both of those things will give insight into the message they are sending you.

Spiritual Characteristics of a Bear

Bears have many spiritual characteristics, revealing a beautiful and dynamic spirit. They are a source of strength, protection, and ferocity, especially when it comes to their loved ones. If the bear is your spirit animal, you likely have inner strength, an assertive personality, a powerful inner voice, and a spirit that is always ready.

Spiritual History of a Bear

Throughout history, the bear has been celebrated and worshiped by North American indigenous groups. They worshiped the bear as the creator of the universe, the ultimate protector, and the source of life. One belief was that when the universe wanted to send a message, the message will take the form of a bear.

This powerful animal signifies a celebration of the cycles and rhythms of life and the seasons. They are a reminder that we are all connected because we are all a part of the earth. A bear also indicates the beauty in that shared connection.

Some groups request permission before hunting a bear, and they hold a ceremony after the death. Deep respect is given during the process, as it is considered a great sacrifice.

During a battle, warriors would wear a bear claw as a necklace as an extra layer of protection. Warriors believed it would help them be more powerful as they entered the battlefield.

Ten Things It Means If You Often See Bears

Keep attuned to the signals you might otherwise miss.

1 – You are Experiencing a Spiritual Awakening

This powerful animal indicates energy that allows for a spiritual awakening. It will lead you to a new beginning and give you the courage to keep moving forward spiritually. If you feel like you have been spiritually asleep, this could be the reason you are seeing bears more often now.

2 – Your Life is Taking a New Direction

A bear sighting could indicate that your life is taking a new direction. The new path could come with starting a new career or relationship, birthing a child, or adopting a new mindset.

When your life takes a new direction, it can be hard to see things clearly and move forward comfortably. The bear signifies that your life is changing, but you are strong enough and capable of handling it.

With the promise of a new season, it is up to you to choose how to engage, and the bear will guide you. The bear wants you to shed the past and embrace the present and future.

3 – It’s Time to Shed Some Baggage

Carrying extra baggage along your journey is never a good thing, especially if you never asked for it. On the other hand, you might be carrying burdens that aren’t yours to hold, and the bear wants you to stop doing that.

Reflect on what you need and what you are content with carrying. Then, let go of the rest.

4 – You are Gaining Courage and Strength

Seeing bears often indicates they are giving you their courage and strength. It will help you feel fearless and confident as you go through obstacles. You will also have an easier time navigating the conflict between your head and heart.

If you feel helpless or weak, the bear will give you all the strength you need. So even during the most challenging times, you are up to the task and can get through it.

Seeing a bear could also indicate that you are a strong support system for others facing a hard time. You can fight until things settle without losing courage.

5 – You Need Balance in Your Life

Seeing these animals often can indicate that you lack balance in your life. They might want you to balance your temper and ferocity with love and reflection instead. By following their guidance on this, you can develop a deeper spiritual understanding of the world around you.

The bear will lead you on a healing journey once you find the balance that you need. Finding balance isn’t to say that you must choose love over ferocity always, but that you can use the two together. It is a path to living with intention.

6 – You Will Soon Experience a Restoration of Harmony and Healing

The bear is known to be a healer, and their guidance can lead you to harmony. Their hibernation schedule indicates a re-awakening, which is why they guide you to the restoration.

Once a bear comes out of hibernation, they nourish themselves, but when winter comes again, they spend time rejuvenating. So while you can’t hibernate, you can follow their patterns by working on healing and fulfilling your life.

7 – A Reminder to Stay True to Yourself and Find Comfort in The Things That Scare You

The bear’s cave is a sign that you should be comfortable with who you are. On the other hand, it could be a message that you must set boundaries with others to protect yourself and your well-being.

It also indicates that you should find comfort in the things that make you uncomfortable. While you should always keep your boundaries, trying new things is essential. When you do this, you are staying true to yourself and honoring your worth.

8 – You Should Trust Change

Change is a common occurrence in life, no matter how much you want things to stay the same. As your life progresses and things begin to change, trust the process. Bears often appear to remind you that it doesn’t have to be a negative situation when things change.

Your life journey will be full of ups and downs, and you should trust it all along the way. Know that everything that happens is getting you one step closer to where you are supposed to be.

Along with bringing comfort during times of change, seeing bears is a sign to examine your surroundings. Pay attention to the way you engage and to what makes you feel fulfilled. As things change, keep focusing on your mindset as you embrace the change and use it to your advantage.

9 – You Might Be Called to Accept an Authoritative Role

Sighting a bear could be a sign that you will soon be in an authoritative role. The bear is asking you to accept the new role and help guide the lives of others. They want you to demand respect in your role as you engage and inspire, too.

10 – Someone Needs Protection

Seeing a bear could be a sign that someone in your life needs protection. These strong animals protect their loved ones, and their presence will warn you when someone in your life is in trouble. Remain watchful and vigilant of the people in your care, especially your children.

What it Means to Dream of Bears

If you see bears in your dreams rather than in real life, it is usually a good sign. It could mean that you will receive good luck and experience independence, strength, and renewal. In addition, the bear in your dream could be a message to bare your soul and listen to your inner voice.

A bear in your dream is likely a sign to show you that healing must occur in your life. In addition, it is an indication that you should spend time reflecting and opening yourself up. This reflection and openness will help you live a more fulfilling and engaging life.

When you see a bear in your dream, move with caution and pay attention to your surroundings. These powerful animals rarely appear without reason, so heed their warning or their message.

Seeing a bear in your dream is also a good indication that you should be more flexible and adaptable. Reflect on the situation that you are in and see if this meaning applies to your life.

Final Thoughts On What It Means If You See Bears Frequently

When you see bears often, please don’t ignore them. They are likely sending you a spiritual message to help guide you through life. Think about the situations you are in and consider the message that the bear is sending you.

Embrace the qualities you share with the bear and allow them to guide you on your life path. The bear is powerful and spiritually divine, and you should never ignore their presence, even if it comes in a dream.

Trust that having a bear as a spirit animal is guidance to help you achieve your life purpose. If you listen to your intuition to discover the meaning, you will find that your life improves.

This German Shepherd Loves Helping With Housekeeping Chores

June 28, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Have you ever met a German Shepherd that enjoys doing housework? We haven’t either, but that’s what makes one dog named Anya special. She’s the sweetest dog ever, going above and beyond to help her family. Anya’s an angel in dog form, and her mom Lori feels incredibly lucky to have her.

“Anything I’m doing, she wants to be a part of and tries to help out however she can,” Lori says. If we have groceries, she wants to help bring in groceries, if I drop something, she has to pick it up for me. If I’m carrying something heavy, like the garbage, she has to take it out of my hand and take it out for me.”

What an amazing doggo with a heart of gold! Lori says what’s incredible about this is that they didn’t train her to do any chores. She does them on her own because she genuinely wants to help. Perhaps this is Anya’s way of saying ‘thanks’ for adopting her when no one else would.

“We found a random ad on Craigslist, and she was the last puppy left. She was three months old, and it seemed nobody wanted her,” Lori explained. “So, when we saw her sitting there all by herself, we were so excited, and we knew that we wanted her right away.”

It seems like fate brought them together that day. Anya desperately needed a forever home, and Lori’s family just so happened to come across her. Anya seems to show her gratitude by helping out with chores around the house. She’s a light in their lives, and if there were a Dog of the Year award, she’d definitely win!

How Anya the German Shepherd helps her family with housekeeping chores

“The positive things about Anya that she brings to our life, there are so many. She just loves to help out around the house,” Lori says. “It started out when she was a little puppy. She started sticking her head in the dryer, and she would just hand the clothes to me from the dryer. Then, from there, it went to other things.”

Eventually, Anya started helping with all kinds of household chores. She even helps put up the laundry! In the video, you can see her putting clean socks into an open drawer. Anya also helps pick things up around the house. If you sneeze, she’ll even grab you a Kleenex! German shepherds are known for their intelligence, but Anya takes things to a whole new level.

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“She started bringing clothes to the washer, and then when I was bringing in groceries, she would help bring in groceries. If I’m outside doing something, she tries to mimic [me] and tries to help me, and do whatever I’m doing,” Lori explains.

Anya will even help unload the dishwasher and bring you food! Another part of the video shows her bringing a plate of donuts to Lori. She also makes sure to close any open doors or cabinets. She will even grab the vacuum, so the carpets stay fresh and clean. It seems like there’s nothing this dog can’t do!

Anya’s not always doing chores, though; like any good housekeeper, she needs downtime, too. There are a couple of activities she enjoys the most.

Here’s what Anya loves to do when she’s not “working.”

“She is crazy about Frisbee. She loves to play with the cat.”

Lori also says,

“She will just pick up the cat’s toy and start playing with her. We didn’t train her to do this; she just one day picked up the string and started playing with our new little kitten. From there on out, anytime one of her toys is sitting out, she will just pick it up and start playing with her.”

The family also adopted another dog – a half Yorkie, half Eskimo dog named Cookie. Anya also loves playing with her. In the video, you can see her pulling Cookie around on a sled in the snow. Clearly, Anya works hard, but she plays even harder!

“We have put words to her actions to try to communicate with her. She definitely has a little happy spirit, and she loves to just do things out on her own,” Lori says. “Sometimes, she’ll just randomly go to the refrigerator and get you a beer or water. And she’ll come back wagging her tail like she knows she’s silly being and funny. Or, she’ll go steal a cheese, and she knows she’s not supposed to. She’ll be running around with her tail all wagging. It’s like she just wants to do stuff to make us laugh.”

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Not only does Anya, the German Shepherd, do housework, but she also loves to put a smile on people’s faces. It seems like Anya just has an endless supply of positive energy, and she inspires us all! We hope to be more like Anya when we grow up. She’s just a bundle of joy, and we hope her story brightened up your day as it did ours.

“She is just very playful, loving, kind, just this beautiful soul that has so much to offer. We just feel so blessed to have her, and I am just so grateful to know such a beautiful soul,” Lori says lovingly of her dog angel Anya.

Final thoughts about the German Shepherd Anya, who loves to help with chores

You won’t meet many dogs that help out around the house as much as Anya. Sure, some dogs like to fetch the mail or newspaper now and then. But, Anya’s the 2.0 version of dogs. She does everything from laundry to unloading the dishwasher to picking up around the house. If you have a dog like this, consider yourself extremely lucky!

In today’s world, it seems like the list of chores only gets longer each year. With dogs like Anya around, though, it lightens the burden a little bit. Lori feels so thankful to have her German Shepherd Anya in her life. We can see why, because she’s the best companion and helper you could ever ask for!

3 Effective Ways To Deal With Teenagers + How To Strengthen The Bond

June 27, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Teenagers can be a handful, and they can feel like they’re drifting further and further away, too. It can be overwhelming to see your child behave in new and unfamiliar ways, and you may not know how to handle this at first.

But don’t worry – you can navigate these problematic parenting years with positive thinking and understanding! Here are three practical ways to deal with teenagers and three ways to strengthen the bond you share.

Three Effective Ways To Deal With Teenagers

Try these techniques when you must deal with a hormone-riddled teen.

1. Enforce Rules And Boundaries In A Positive Way

All households need a set of rules, but parenting a teenager while ensuring boundaries are respected can be difficult. Here are some tips for doing so:

· Establish And Stand By Rules

Boundaries and rules need to be communicated to your teenagers to know what is expected of them. Initially, some compromise may be requested, so feel free to discuss things with them first until you come to a reasonable agreement. At the same time, remember that many teens like to push boundaries, so stand firm on boundaries once they’re agreed upon. It may be helpful to write down rules and have your teen sign off on them.

· Stay Calm When Rules Are Broken

Teenagers can be rule-breakers, and it’s not unusual for your kids at that age to begin testing limits and seeing what they can get away with. This means that you should prepare for the possibility that your teens will break the pre-agreed rules. It can be very aggravating when this happens, and you may feel angry as a result, but it’s essential to stay calm. You can walk away or take some deep breaths if necessary so that you can confront the behavior in a reasonable and fair but firm manner. Being led by anger will result in you taking action you’ll regret later on!

· Be Reasonable

Some parents can be extremely authoritarian with rules, setting nearly impossible boundaries and encroaching on the space of your teenager. For example, you shouldn’t set a bedtime of 7 pm for a 15-year-old – that’s not possible! But this extends to individual, less clear-cut circumstances, too. If your teenager has trouble with organization, it may be unreasonable to rule that their room must always be spotless. Have open discussions with your teenager about your concerns and the rules you wish to create, and take their input into account when deciding on reasonable boundaries.

· Enforce Consequences

When your teenager does break the rules, enforce reasonable consequences based on calm and rational thought. You don’t want to be so lenient that your teenagers don’t think the rules matter, but you also don’t want to turn into a dictator who makes harsh decisions that are disproportionate to the “crime.” When enforcing consequences, explain to your teenager what they did, why that has got them into trouble, and what the consequences now are. If this becomes a point of contention, you and your teenager can work on pre-agreed consequences to go with pre-agreed boundaries.

2. Keep An Eye On Areas Of Problems

Lots of teenagers get themselves into trouble over the years. Keeping a watchful eye on areas of note can be crucial to ensuring you nip the worst things in the bud and are ready to give support in other areas. Here are some tips for doing this:

· Be Aware Of Problem Actions

Teenagers like their privacy, but you still need to look out for them. This doesn’t mean you should disrespect their need for space – but you should be aware of specific actions and behaviors that indicate problems may be arising. Take note of behaviors like hiding things, lying, behaving in unusual ways, hanging out with the wrong people, becoming more withdrawn, and other notable actions. It is not uncommon for teenagers to act out, too, as a form of seeking attention for deeper problems, so pay attention and stay alert.

· Emphasize Trust Over Suspicion

When you have concerns about problem behavior, it’s good to bring them up. When you do so, focus on your trust in your teenager over any suspicion you have. Explain that you have concerns but want to trust their judgment and emphasize the need to set boundaries regarding the new problematic activity. Show that you want to trust them first and encourage them to open up by asking genuine questions instead of making your assumptions.

· Treat Threats Of A Crisis Seriously

If your teenager talks about doing harmful behavior or threatens to do something dangerous, take that seriously. Too often, parents roll their eyes and think teens “act out” in fake ways for attention. But even if that was the case, a teenager faking something for attention still needs attention. Take crises seriously, and don’t think twice about taking action or seeking help from professionals if your teen talks about harming themselves or others.

3. Don’t Compromise On Your Position As Parent

Parents often make the mistake of trying to be friends with their teenagers, but that’s not really what a kid needs! You are a parent in a position of authority, and wielding that power wisely is crucial to dealing with teens effectively. Here’s how:

· Manage Conflicts Intelligently

It’s tough to be a parent of a, particularly intense teenager! But it’s your responsibility to handle conflicts with your teen as a parent and adult would. Don’t stoop down to the level of your teenager, even if they’re acting out in negative ways. Express empathy for your child’s predicament, keep your cool with positive thinking and seek to pick your battles wisely. Remember, you are not on even footing here – you are an adult and a parent, and your teenager is growing, developing, and learning. They will make mistakes and be unfair, and you will have to be the “bigger person” – that’s just what it means to be a parent!

· Take Charge Of Reframing

It is a parent’s role to guide their child, and if your teenager has developed a negative view of the world, you can help them reframe it. Shift their perspective and draw their attention to the positive sides of a situation. Remind your teenager of the people around them that their actions affect. The better you get at modeling positive reframing, the more quickly your teen will follow suit.

· Don’t Give Away Your Power

Difficult teenagers may intentionally try to get a rise out of you in a “power move.” Don’t let them push your buttons! Stay calm and rational and, if needed, take a breather. Shut down any button-pushing with firm but reasonable correction, reaffirming your spot as an authority figure.

Three Ways To Strengthen The Bond With Teenagers

Here is what teenagers who inflict self-harm are trying to tell you.

1. Respect Your Teen’s Individuality

Your teen is a whole person all on their own, and as a parent, it’s your job to understand that and to appreciate and respect the individual features of your teen. Here are some ways to do so:

· Let Their Friends In

Your teenager is going to have their friends, and you may not like all of them. But the best way to get to know those friends and learn more about your teen’s friendship dynamics is by letting their friends into your home. Make a space in your home that they can all hang out, preferably in an open area where you can casually walk by and keep an eye on them.

· Support Interests

Your teenager is bound to have a ton of personal interests, and you should support them where you can! If they like to dance, pay for lessons. If they enjoy theater, make sure you go and watch their shows. Or if they prefer sports, sign them up for related clubs and coaching sessions.

· Remember That Respect Goes Both Ways

It’s normal for parents to expect the respect of their kids, but your children deserve your respect, too. It’s a two-way street. Your teenager should be treated with kindness, patience, respect, and empathy, so don’t call them names, demean them, or ignore them.

2. Keep Lines Open

Teenagers tend to withdraw to themselves, but by keeping lines open, you can circumvent this. Here’s how:

· Use Effective Communication

You want to ensure that positive communication is a part of your relationship with your teen. Keep communication lines open and be kind and non-judgemental, so your teenagers always feel comfortable going to you with their questions or for advice. If your teenager doesn’t talk a lot, you can write notes to them, text them or use other forms of communication.

· Be Empathic

Your teenager wants to feel understood, and you must develop the empathy necessary for that. Instead of automatically assuming the worst, listen to your teenager carefully, express your understanding of what they face, and focus less on fixing things or reprimanding them. Support them, validate their thoughts, struggles, and experiences, and don’t judge them for what they feel and their questions.

· Be Available

Being available as a parent provides a teenager with the support they need for positive effects on their performance and personal wellbeing, and self-esteem. Please make yourself available for your children of all ages, and keep them in top priority above your other non-familial commitments.

3. Allow Desires For Independence

It’s natural for teenagers to want to be independent. You can’t take the reins off them entirely, but you should find a balance that lets teens explore their desires for such intelligence. Here’s how:

· Be Flexible With Freedom

Teenagers are in an exploratory phase of their lives. They want to experience independence and learn responsibility, and you can help facilitate this by being flexible with their freedoms. The goal is to teach your teenager that their personal decisions determine the outcomes they face. You are free to extend and retract levels of freedom for your teenager, as long as you communicate why you’re doing so in a positive way.

· Give Them A Chance To Solve Problems

It’s tempting to want to jump in and take over for teenagers, solving their problems for them, but you should give your kids a chance to solve things on their own. After you’ve listened and been empathetic, encourage your teenager to find solutions independently. Of course, you’re always available to offer help, but you should make it clear that you want your teenager to solve their problems, face their consequences, and walk their path.

· Treat Them Like A Teenager, Not A Child

While you shouldn’t treat a teenager as an adult, you shouldn’t treat them like a child. Though they may always be a baby in your eyes, your teen has grown up from that stage. Remember to treat them like teenagers instead of like children, and this will give you more perspective into how much independence they should have at this stage of their life.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Deal With Teenagers And Ways To Strengthen The Bond

Parenting can be challenging, but it’s certainly rewarding. The teen years are often hard to deal with, but if you manage those things well and strengthen your bond with your teen in the meantime, you and they will turn out just fine!

5 Ways Keeping Time May Be Holding You Back

June 27, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Time management is a valuable skill! Few people will tell you that it isn’t. But there’s a point where even good skills and habits can wind up being extreme enough to cause harm to your life and personal growth. Excessively keeping time is one such example responsible for holding you back

Time-keeping in excess refers to the act of constantly being aware of the time that every single thing in your life takes. This often means allowing yourself to be dictated by time and feeling emotionally attached to its passage. This can prevent you from achieving your goals in many different ways. Here are five ways keeping time is holding you back.

1. It Makes You Lose Focus

If you tend to keep time, you are likely often worried about being late. Indeed, this doesn’t seem bad on the surface because punctuality is essential. Thus, the fact is that being too obsessed with being on time can be counterproductive.

It’s okay to want to be on time; in most cases, being tardy can negatively affect you. But there’s a difference between being aware of your responsibilities and constantly checking the clock. Repeatedly shifting your attention to timekeeping or staring at watches while you try to make new mini-plans based on remaining time is entirely inefficient.

When you behave this way, you disrupt your brain’s focus on a task and create more panic and distractedness for you. You can’t stay concentrated if you keep needing to look at a clock, and your brain can only handle so much switching without losing productivity. This means that, ironically, trying to prevent lateness can make you later!

2. It Makes You Uneasy

Keeping time seems like an excellent way to stay on task, manage goals, and even handle anxiety, but in reality, it’s only going to make your worries and fears worse. You can become uneasy because you have learned to view time as a transaction. For each moment you spend doing something random, you’ve “lost” the time you could’ve spent elsewhere.

When you view time this way, you’re actively making yourself too anxious to get anything done correctly – or even to live your life in peace! Not sure if this describes you? Here are some signs that keeping time is just making you feel uneasy:

· You’re Anxious When You’re Free

When you look forward to something relaxed for once, you also wind up not enjoying it once that time arrives. Essentially, you spend your free time feeling anxious or unhappy that you’re not working on more “productive” things. You are aware that the time you spend “freely” is time that you’ll never get back, but instead of understanding that this is a fair and valuable use of your time, you panic instead.

· You’re Never Satisfied

Even when you’re productive, keeping time means you could be extra hard on yourself about that productivity. You don’t feel satisfied with anything you manage to get done, as you always feel you could have done more. You don’t even realize when these thoughts reach excessive levels.

· You Need Everything To Fit

Being on time and schedule is excellent, but needing everything to fit perfectly into pre-planned time and unable to adapt is holding you back! You feel stressed out when anything happens that takes away planned time for certain activities, leaving you stuck if even one thing goes wrong. And if you’re expecting an excessive number of things to fit into a certain amount of time, that’s even worse!

3. It Makes You Rush All The Time

When you try to keep time, you can constantly feel like you never have enough time to do what you want to do. You may also worry that you’re wasting time and feel like you need to rush to prevent that wastage. This isn’t a rational thought and can be, ultimately, bad for your life, work, and health. Here’s how rushing can hold you back:

· It Results In Subpar Performance

While procrastinating and taking too long to do simple tasks is bad, rushing through them is equally problematic for your performance. Rushing means you’re more likely to make mistakes, and it also means you’re likely not giving the task the attention and focus that it deserves.

· It Stops You From Enjoying Life

Have you ever heard the phrase about stopping to smell the roses? It’s an idiom that very much rings true in today’s fast-paced world! If you don’t slow down now and then to see all the little positive things in life, you’ll wind up in a bad mood and won’t be able to appreciate life’s beauty. That’s bad for your mental health, and it can give you a skewed view of the world.

· It Prevents You From Enjoying Leisure Time

As strange as it sounds when you have free time, the act of keeping time can still exist and further hold you back. It would be best if you had this free time to rest, but your time anxiety prevents that. How? Well, for example, if you wake up later than expected on your day off, you may immediately begin to panic or feel bad, thinking about all the time you’ve lost by waking up late. This means you feel awful and rush through your leisure activities, and it may even prevent you from enjoying them! As such, you won’t feel rested when it’s time to get back to your responsibilities, damaging your ability to perform. Breaks are necessary for positive thinking, productivity, and wellbeing, so ruining your breaks by keeping time is very harmful.

4. You Don’t Find Your Purpose, Because Time Obsession Is Holding You Back

A lot of times, a sense of purpose can help you feel more fulfilled. Most experts agree that having a sense of purpose is crucial for mental and physical wellbeing, giving you a positive view of yourself and the direction you’re heading in. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes, feeling like you don’t have a purpose can manifest in time-keeping behavior.

Why does this happen? You might keep time because you feel like everything you’re doing will waste since you have no sense of direction from a purpose. You wonder what you’re doing here and why you’re doing it, or if there’s any point at all. This lends itself to feelings of depression and even a desire to withdraw and stop trying at all because of how hopeless it seems.

Ironically, time-keeping to the point of depression can prevent you from finding your purpose. Understanding that you may find your purpose later in life will help you to feel comfortable with living each day at the moment instead of worrying that it’s being wasted with each minute.

5. You Think Life Is A Race

Life is a varying thing, and everyone experiences it differently. When you keep time, you tend to forget about how unique and individual your life can and should be allowed to be. This means that you might think life is a race that you either have to win or catch up to in time, which isn’t true. Here are some signs that keeping time is holding you back by making you believe that life is a race:

· You Feel You’ve Missed Your Chances

You think that certain milestones in life have age limits. For example, if you didn’t finish university by the age of thirty, you think it’s too late for you ever to get a degree.

Or if you never got to learn to play the piano and you’ve now discovered you love it at the age of fifty. But you feel that it’s too late to bother.

Perhaps you think you’re too old to rock colored hair, find love, or learn a skill that young people enjoy. These kinds of thoughts are inaccurate! In life, there is no point at which you are cut off from specific experiences. There are no pre-set turnoff points for different paths and opportunities. So don’t be held back by such ideas that diminish positive thinking.

· You Compare Yourself To Others

Keeping time can make you view your accomplishments, milestones, and successes against other people’s, judging your journey by how well you measure up to theirs. You compare your victories to the victories of others and are less interested in seeking your path or taking things at your own pace. This mindset is counterproductive because it means you compare your actual, full version of yourself and all your opposing sides against the positive views others present themselves to the world.

You don’t know why someone is going faster or slower than you. Besides, it’s not fair to try and “beat” them in a race that only you are running in. And, of course, that kind of thinking means you feel bad when you succeed at a slower rate and become complacent when you grow more quickly.

· Your Successes Feel Less Significant

If your successes come after other people’s, you may feel that this diminishes the positive outcome you’ve achieved. You wind up downplaying your abilities and treating your good victories as subjects of underwhelming necessity. You may even become ashamed of them if you were “slow” to achieve them!

· You Make Impulsive Mistakes

Impulsive behavior is often harmful to your wellbeing, and studies have shown that it is linked to not just decreased positive thinking but multiple mental disorders and conditions that are risky. When you think life is a race and you’re running out of time for certain milestones, you are likely to make impulsive decisions to reach the turnoff point that you think exists.

For example, if you feel you need to be married by the time you’re 30, you may quickly rush to marry someone at the age of 29. Indeed, you might make this move even if they’re not suitable for you.

· You Become Overwhelmed

When you think you’re running out of time to reach a particular milestone in the fake race of life you envision, you can become overwhelmed. You think you have limited time. So you feel the need to rush. But that only serves to make it harder for you to achieve any positive goals at all!

Final Thoughts On Some Ways Keeping Time Is Holding You Back

It’s good to manage your time, but there’s a difference between positively using time instead of it holding you back. Instead of ironically wasting your time on keeping time, focus on living your life one moment at a time and don’t let everything you do be dictated by the clock and calendar.

These Are The Most Disciplined German Shepherds You’ve Ever Seen

June 27, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

If you’ve never heard of long coat German Shepherds before, you’re in for a treat. Their long, luscious fur comes from a recessive gene that any dog can carry. However, most German puppies have the classic short-hair coat. Long coat German owners should consider themselves lucky since this breed is so rare.

Today, we’ll share one woman’s experience with these beautiful dogs. Chloe’s had German shepherds her whole life but only adopted long-coated dogs after discovering dwarfism in German Shepherds when she got older. So if you’ve been longing for a new dog, these fluffy pooches may steal your heart.

Chloe said,

“I’m gonna go back in time because my parents have always had German shepherds. And don’t get me wrong; they were not trained. So, I always promised myself that if I got a German shepherd, I’m gonna put in the time and they’re gonna be well-behaved and trained.”

She stuck to her promise as she trained her two long coat German shepherds, Kaos and Mayhem, quite well. Her two dogs mean the absolute world to her. Kaos is now three-and-a-half, almost four. Mayhem is the little pup, just six months old.

They both came from breeders in South Australia, and Chloe had them flown to Melbourne. She was a bit taken aback by Kaos’ massive size, however. When he and his sister came to Melbourne, Chloe saw the sister first. She couldn’t believe how big she was until she saw Kaos. She jokingly said: “He was huge compared to his sister.”

Mayhem also got flown in from South Australia, along with his two brothers. Chloe loved getting to meet the other owners and hear their experiences with the long coat German shepherds.

The brothers didn’t always get along, but now they’re best friends now

Before Mayhem came along, Kaos had to overcome many challenges. As a puppy, he had angiodysplasia, which affects the intestines. He had to undergo an operation and now takes joint supplements. Also, he has arthritis. But that challenge doesn’t stop him from living a full life.

“He has the best life possible; he gets spoiled rotten. My best memory is when these two bonded. So when I got Mayhem, Kaos wasn’t a fan,” Chloe recalls. “He didn’t wanna play with him, he didn’t wanna give him any time of the day until I’d worked with them both. I’ve done some training, I got them bonding, and after two weeks, they got along like gas on a fire.”

Now the brothers love to play together and show off their beauty on Instagram. However, behind the scenes, Chloe puts in a lot of work with their training. Since long coat German shepherds are so intelligent, it’s important to nurture that. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to thrive.

“I definitely recommend everyone that’s got a dog or a German Shepherd to do lots of training. That’s why the police use German shepherds. It’s because they love to work,” Chloe says. “So with Kaos, I started him at eight weeks old. He was a little champ; he had done really well. And it’s definitely showing off on how well-behaved he is because he’s actually been on TV; he’s been in lots of photoshoots.”

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Chloe says that, due to all the training, Kaos remains calm no matter where he goes. He does well with strangers and also loves cuddling with his family at home. Who wouldn’t want cuddles with such a gorgeous fellow like him?!

As an older dog, Kaos now knows how to behave. Since Mayhem is still a pup, however, it’s a different story.

Little mister Mayhem, he has been trouble. But you know what? You work through it, and it does take time. You’ve gotta put in the effort to see the results,” Chloe reiterates. “Please make time for them, please do lots of training with them, because they love learning.”

She says when she gets home from work or errands, she immediately takes them outside. Going on neighborhood walks or playing with the dogs outdoors allows them to put their skills to the test. Chloe also makes them enrichment toys and spoils them rotten because she loves them! Both the long coat German shepherds and Chloe got pretty lucky in life now that they’ve found one another.

A little bit about long coat German shepherds

Due to their genetic “fault,” long coat German shepherds are frowned upon by the American Kennel Club(AKC). The dogs can still compete in shows but likely won’t win since their coats aren’t “standard” for German shepherds.
German shepherds are known for their strong work ethic. However, long coat German shepherds aren’t as suitable for working as their short-haired cousins. Since they lack an undercoat, they don’t have the same weather-resistant versatility.
They were originally bred in Germany as herding dogs. Now, they’re the second-most popular pet in the US. Besides, trainers raise the for police and service work.
Long coat German shepherds are courageous, loyal, and affectionate. They tend to be sweeter than the short-haired breed since they’re not working dogs.
As expected for a long coat dog, they shed A LOT. Make sure to brush them at least once a week. Also, they may require baths more often, so their fur doesn’t become matted.
Only 10% of German shepherds have long coats. Both parents must have long hair or carry the gene to have long-haired offspring.

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Final thoughts on the disciplined long coat German shepherds Kaos and Mayhem

It’s not every day you encounter this beautiful breed. There’s just something about a flowing, luscious coat on a dog that makes him stand out. Luckily for Chloe, she’s got two of these gorgeous German shepherds to keep her company.

While the AKC may look down upon long-haired Germans, they’re some of the best companions around. Like all Germans, Kaos and Mayhem have so much love to give and are endlessly loyal. Have you ever seen a long coat German shepherd? Let us know in the comments!

UMass Scientist Learns How to Improve the Taste of Vegan Protein

June 26, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

As veganism continues to grow worldwide, food scientists have been working to improve the taste of vegan protein. They also want to create healthier, more sustainable plant-based proteins, as many existing products have fallen short in these areas. Products they’ve been working on perfecting include the following: plant-based meat, fish, milk, cheese, and eggs.

Food scientist David Julian McClements, a distinguished professor from the University of Massachusetts, says it’s no easy feat. He’s the lead author of the study in the latest Nature journal, Science of Food, which published the research.

McClements, a pioneer in food design and nanotechnology and author of Future Foods: How Modern Science Is Transforming the Way We Eat, says this:

“With Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods and other products coming on the market, there’s a huge interest in plant-based foods for improved sustainability, health, and ethical reasons.”

Vegan and vegetarian products have grown increasingly popular in the last five years. Many people cite animal rights, environmental concerns, and human health as significant reasons for going vegan. As a result, companies have responded to the demand and developed plant-based proteins that look and taste shockingly similar to meat.

In 2019, plant-based food sales in the U.S. alone reached almost $5 billion. 40.5% of the sales came from the milk category and 18.9% from plant-based meats. In just two years, the market value of vegan protein grew 29% from 2017.

While sales of these products have skyrocketed, developing vegan protein is an intricate science. It takes years of research and testing to create a final product.

“A lot of academics are starting to work in this area and are not familiar with the complexity of animal products and the physicochemical principles you need to assemble plant-based ingredients into these products, each with their own physical, functional, nutritional, and sensory attributes,” McClements says.

Perfecting the taste of vegan protein

Many vegan proteins exist today, but there’s still room for improvement. Wanting to create better plant-based protein, McClements organized a multidisciplinary team at UMass Amherst. Part of that team includes co-author and assistant professor Lutz Grossmann, who has experience with vegan proteins. They received funding from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Good Food Institute for research and development.

“Our research has pivoted toward this topic,” McClements says. He goes on to say this:

“There’s a huge amount of innovation and investment in this area, and I get contacted frequently by different startup companies who are trying to make plant-based fish or eggs or cheese, but who often don’t have a background in the science of foods.”

Plant-based foods continue to grow in popularity, and new products hit the market frequently. However, McClements says in the study that “a plant-based diet is not necessarily better than an omnivore diet from a nutritional perspective.”

To replace meat, milk, and eggs, plant-based products have to be fortified with certain micronutrients. Vegan protein doesn’t have vitamin D, calcium, and zinc naturally, so these must be added. Companies also have to ensure the plant-based proteins are digestible and have all the necessary amino acids.

Unfortunately, McClements says that many vegan proteins fall short in terms of health and taste. Most plant-based products are highly processed and full of saturated fat, salt, and sugar. This makes them more palatable but not healthier than meat by a long shot. However, McClements notes that highly processed foods don’t have to be unhealthy, necessarily.

“We’re trying to make processed food healthier,” McClements says. “We aim to design them to have all the vitamins and minerals you need and have health-promoting components like dietary fiber and phytochemicals so that they taste good and they’re convenient, and they’re cheap, and you can easily incorporate them into your life. That’s the goal in the future, but we’re not there yet for most products.”

The team will continue to perfect the vegan protein products. To create the healthiest, tastiest plant-based options, they’re taking a holistic, multidisciplinary approach.

Four plant-based proteins to try

In the meantime, you can choose from plenty of healthy plant-based products on the market. Here are just a few options that provide nutritional value and taste great, too:

Tofu:

Since tofu doesn’t contain any additives and comes from a whole soybean, it’s an ideal plant-based protein source. Make sure to choose non-GMO or organic, if possible.

Tempeh:

Like tofu, tempeh comes from whole soybeans. However, tempeh is fermented. This process provides the added benefit of improved digestion. You may also absorb more nutrients from this vegan protein. In fact, it contains more protein than tofu and has high amounts of calcium, manganese, and iron.

Beans and lentils:

When in doubt, add some beans or lentils to your meal. Many vegans and vegetarians consider beans a staple in their diet because of their fiber and protein content. Plus, they’re a versatile ingredient; you can add them to salads, soups, stir-fries, burritos, and more. Some people even make their own veggie burgers at home using beans.

Seitan:

Known commonly as “wheat meat,” seitan is made from wheat gluten. The texture is very similar to meat proteins, and the taste resembles earthy mushrooms. However, with some seasoning, it mimics the taste and texture of chicken quite well. Add it to salads, stir-fries, or curry, or you can even grill it with veggies!

Final thoughts on how scientists are improving the taste of vegan protein

Vegan protein options seem limitless nowadays. If you look in the frozen section at your grocery store, you’ll probably notice a vast meatless area. You can find anything from burgers to nuggets to breakfast sausages and everything in between. However, many of these products have a ton of ingredients and little to no nutritional value. Not to mention, they don’t all taste like meat (some taste far from it, actually).

That’s why food scientists from the University of Massachusetts have taken it upon themselves to perfect the taste and quality of vegan protein. Companies like Beyond Meat gave the meat industry a run for its money. But, there’s still a lot of room for growth and innovation when it comes to lab-created meats.

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