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5 Ways To Be Less Picky and More Content in Life

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Pickiness is a trait that denotes choosiness and difficulty in making decisions or accepting certain situations and circumstances. In moderation, it can be beneficial, ensuring that you have healthy standards and don’t turn into a total doormat. But it can also cause you to become less content with your life.

In excess, though, pickiness can be non-beneficial, reducing your positive thinking and happiness by making you quickly dissatisfied and disappointed. If you’re a picky person, you probably already know the struggles that come with this behavior! So, how can you overcome it? Here are five ways to be less picky and four ways to be content in life.

Five Ways To Be Less Picky and Become More Content

Try these tips to overcome your pickiness.

content in life1.    Learn Gratitude

It can sound harsh to be told that being grateful is a cure to pickiness, and it’s certainly not something that works instantly. But counting your blessings and utilizing positive thinking have been proven to help change the way you view your options and the world around you.

It’s easy to be picky when you’re never satisfied with what you have. You covet other people’s experiences, belongings, and successes. You obsess over the things that you wish you had. At the end of the day, you can be so blinded by the items you want that you forget to even look at what you do already have! Building gratitude can be tricky. Here are some tips for doing so:

  • Write at least three things you’re grateful for every day.
  • Make an effort to appreciate and thank the people around you.
  • Take note of tiny things and be appreciative of them, even if they seem inconsequential.
  • Point out silver linings in all the dark clouds you see.

2.    Simplify Your Life

It’s somewhat of a paradox that the more options you have, the pickier you may become. As it turns out, having many different things can make you much more selective in life. It’s good to have standards, but it’s not good to get so caught up in the complexities of life that you can’t make quick, simple choices.

You don’t have to go full minimalist, but there are many aspects of a simpler, cleaner, a less possession-oriented lifestyle that can benefit you. If your pickiness tends to stem from material objects, trying out minimalist concepts may help you tame those tendencies.

Think about all the things you have. Do you need it all? How many go unused most of the time? What can you give away or clear out? What items do you need to buy less because you don’t even use them much, to begin with?

3.    Understand Negativity Bias

A negativity bias is a concept that feeds into pickiness. It refers to the tendency to pay more attention to and be more affected by negative things than positive ones. This means that, even if you’re surrounded by positivity, you may pay more attention to the tiny negative details, making you very picky about the things and people in your life.

Focusing on the negative is a natural part of the human experience, so don’t feel bad if you’re strongly swayed by negativity bias! Instead, focus on learning to pick out positive features of the world around you. When good things occur, try to remember them by taking pictures, telling others, or writing them down. You’ll gradually learn to pay more attention to good things, and your pickiness will die down as you see that things you wouldn’t have chosen before seem much more appealing now.

4.    Stop Demanding Only The Best

Perfectionism is a trait that only sets unrealistic expectations. You cannot be perfect, and neither can your plans or the circumstances surrounding you. Having high standards for yourself and others isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you need to understand that demanding the best all the time is just a recipe for failure and disappointment.

When you demand only the best when you’re picky, what you’re doing is insisting on something that can’t happen. You can’t always get what you want, and obsessing over those things you can’t have isn’t productive. Instead of demanding the very best, seek things that are good for you now. You can improve and “upgrade” with time!

5.    Take Responsibility For Your Life

There are many things outside of your control, and it’s true that many issues in the world that affect you aren’t necessarily ones you can fight. However, the fact remains that only you hold power over yourself. What you do with your life is your responsibility.

Pickiness often stems from the desire to blame other circumstances and situations for why you’re not achieving a certain goal. Instead of leaning into these thoughts, think about what you can do to get closer to your aspirations. They’re not going to fall into your lap; you have to work for them! Ask yourself:

  • What things can I change about my current situation?
  • Can I take action on or responsibility for current events in my life?
  • How am I behaving unnecessarily like a victim of these circumstances?
  • What can I do about this?
  • What can I learn from this?

disney quoteFour Ways To Be Content In Life

These behaviors can boost your happiness.

1.    Live In The Here And Now

If you want to be content, you must focus wholeheartedly on the present. This is because:

  • Focusing on the past forces you to revisit old issues and problems, tying you down to past troubles instead of taking their lessons and moving forward.
  • Ruminating over the past keeps you grounded in things that are no longer true, causing the idealization of things long past that hold you back from creating happier moments now.
  • Focusing on the future can mean worrying a lot about things that you have no control over, as you can’t predict the future at all.
  • Focusing on the future can mean getting ahead of yourself and failing to do the necessary work now to get to that visualized positive future.

This is not to say that you should never think of the past or the future. It’s always good to be prepared for what comes ahead and to have reasonable goals for life ahead of you. It’s also good to remember your history and the lessons you learned from it.

But don’t spend all your time ruminating on these timelines that aren’t relevant to where you are currently. You were a different person back then and will be a different person shortly, so why not focus on the version of you that exists now?

2.    Focus On Your Strengths

A lot of people aren’t content in life because they feel that they’re not sufficiently capable. The world has loads of expectations, and many of them start to sink their hooks into you as you are raised among such unfair goals. These things can make you feel bad about yourself, making you think you’re not capable.

To fight this, you need to start focusing on your strengths. Pick out your talents and skills and use them in work, hobbies, and your general life. Taking note of your strengths will allow you to apply them to many different situations, giving you the upper hand and proving your abilities to yourself.

Of course, you should still work on other skills that you’re not particularly good at, and every time you learn something new, you won’t be competent at first. Focusing on your strengths doesn’t mean neglecting other parts of your growth; it just means playing into your best abilities to remind yourself of what you can do.

3.    Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

Comparing yourself to other people is a surefire way to hold yourself back from becoming content in life. This is because:

  • There will always be better off than you, and there will always be people who are worse off than you; it is pointless to try to pinpoint and compare them all.
  • Everyone’s journey is different, and it is unfair to ever compare yourself to other people; that unfairness applies to both you and the other people involved.
  • The things that work for other people may not work for you, and vice versa.
  • You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors; people have a tendency only to showcase the best parts of themselves, and reality is always different than appearances.
  • You have no power over other people, only over yourself, so why focus on others?
  • Copying other people to be comparable to them will only result in you being a second-rate version of the object of your imitation; strive to be a first-rate version of yourself instead.
  • At the end of the day, you are the only person you truly will always be with – no one else’s opinions or situations matter when it comes to your personal life.

The bottom line is that comparisons are unproductive and don’t add any value to your life. If you want to be content, you must find intrinsic motivation to improve yourself for you, not to meet everyone else’s standards.

4.    Find Emotional Balance

You can’t be content all the time, and if you’re learning to overcome pickiness, it’s likely not going to come quickly to you at first. It’s okay to put a smile on and pretend to be content at first as you work out the bumps. The act of “pretending” in this manner can genuinely help your progress, as the brain tends to have trouble differentiating your false actions from real ones.

At the same time as you have to fake it till you make it, you may also have to stop and allow yourself to feel your negative emotions. Positive thinking can’t be constant, and repressing your feelings will make them worse. Allow yourself to experience the full sweep of your emotions and be an observer to them. You can learn a lot about yourself and manage your feelings by reflecting on what you feel!

content in lifeFinal Thoughts On Finding a Few Ways To Be Less Picky So You’ll Become More Content In Life

Pickiness isn’t always a bad thing, but all traits in excess are harmful, and this one is no exception. Learning to manage your pickiness can help you to feel more happy and content in life, with the world around you, and in yourself.

10 Hidden Things That Stop People from Being Happy

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The way you live your life is a direct correlation to the happiness you experience. Choices that you make each day impact the way you feel in life, including being happy. Many of these choices are ones that you might not realize are stopping you from being happy, either.

Once you know these things that stop people from being happy, you can address them in your life. Everyone wants to be happy, but you must recognize how you sabotage your happiness and make the necessary changes.

You are the only person that can decide on your mindset, so it is up to you to make the changes. No one else can make you happy, either, so looking for someone to do that won’t work. People can indeed influence your mood, but in the end, it is entirely up to you.

Ten Hidden Things That Stop People from Being Happy

It is never too late to focus on being happy and making the changes that it requires. The things that stop you from being happy are only holding you back in your life. All of the changes will be beneficial in many ways, and you will find happiness once again.

being happy1. Blaming Your Problems on Others

When you constantly blame other people or factors for your problems, it will prevent you from being happy. Placing blame will make you feel powerless to change. Plus, you will always be waiting for someone or something else to make things better for you.

You might blame your parents for the issues in your life. Parents often get blamed because adults feel that their parents didn’t teach them enough in childhood. Or, they might believe that their parents didn’t do enough to help them.

When you stop blaming your problems, you will begin to see that you can create the life you want. You are responsible for everything that happens in your life, and you are the only one that can make a change. Placing blame, however, makes it so you can’t change your situation, even if it brings temporary relief.

2. Not Prioritizing Your Health

It would be best if you took care of yourself, which involves taking care of your health. Your health should be a priority because if you aren’t healthy, you can’t be happy. If you want to live your life to the fullest, move your health to the top of your priority list.

3. Worrying About Your Future or Ruminating on the Past

When you don’t live life in the present, it can seriously interfere with your happiness. While you should make plans for a positive future, you shouldn’t constantly worry and stress about it. When your thoughts of the future interfere with the present, you will experience dissatisfaction with life.

Over-worrying about the future manifests itself in a handful of ways, including:

  • being a workaholic
  • neglecting your friends and family
  • refusing to take time for self-care
  • putting your happiness on hold

Additionally, dwelling on the past can interfere with your happiness, too. You might focus on experiences that didn’t go well and obsess over what you could have done differently. Doing this brings about feelings of shame, regret, and anger.

When you focus on the past, it can stop you from moving forward positively. It hinders opportunities that would have been available to you if you were focusing on the present. While you should learn from the past, you should never allow it to haunt you in the present.

4. Comparing Yourself to Others

Frequently comparing yourself to others will leave you feeling miserable. There will always be someone that seems to be ahead of you in life, but you can’t fixate on that. Everyone progresses at different levels and does things differently.

Remember that the things you see about other people’s lives are only what you want them to see. There might be many things going on behind the scenes of their life that they hide from everyone. Comparing yourself to others will make you feel unworthy or less valuable, which isn’t true.

Instead of comparing yourself to other people, try to compare yourself to the past version of you. If you have made progress from where you once were, then you are on the right path.

5. Self-Limiting Beliefs and Not Trying to Better Yourself

Every person has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, yourself included. Self-limiting beliefs cause you to fixate on your weaknesses rather than using your strengths to your benefit. If you aren’t sure what you are good at, do some self-reflecting to figure it out.

Your strengths are the things that you are naturally good at or love to do. When you focus on your strengths, you will be happier, and your self-limiting beliefs will diminish. Focusing on your strengths isn’t to say that you should ignore your weaknesses, however, because you should work on managing them.

Once you have recognized your weaknesses, work on bettering yourself in those areas. As you learn, grow, and develop, you can improve the person that you are.

Tell yourself that you can improve the areas of your life that you struggle with. If you convince yourself that you can do it, then it will be easier for you to improve. Then, look for ways to practice your weaknesses, and you will notice a drastic improvement in your happiness.

happiness6. Putting Other People Before Yourself

The people you surround yourself with and the way you treat them have an impact on your well-being. If you surround yourself with people that you must put before yourself, you will be unhappy. You should be able to put yourself first and not sacrifice your happiness and well-being.

Putting yourself first doesn’t mean that you are selfish, despite what society tells you. Instead, it means that you care enough about yourself and those important to you to take care of your needs and desires, too.

7. A Lack of Self-Control

If you struggle with self-control, it could be interfering with your happiness. One example of this is spending more money than you can afford or more money than you’re saving. If you lack the self-control to make good life choices, you might not realize that you are making yourself unhappy.

Money isn’t the only thing you should exhibit self-control about. You must have self-control towards all indulgences in life and think long-term about how things will affect your well-being.

8. Focusing on the Negative

When you consistently have negative thoughts, you won’t find happiness. Likewise, if you always discuss negative topics or focus on the negative aspects of situations, you will experience unhappiness.

Even though upsetting situations will occur, you shouldn’t get in the mindset of thinking nothing will change. You can’t obsess over things that didn’t work out, so you must focus on the positives as you move forward.

If you begin to think negatively when something undesirable happens in your life, change your thought process. Look for the good in all situations, instead, no matter how small it might be. Making it a habit to look for the positives in your life will help you become a more positive person.

9. Spending Time Doing Things That Don’t Benefit You

Wasting time on things that won’t benefit you is a big problem when it comes to happiness. Spending time relaxing or doing things that make you happy does benefit you, so those don’t count here. Instead, this is in regards to anything that doesn’t bring value to your life.

One example of this is scrolling on social media. People tend to lose track of time while they engage in what everyone else is doing. This mindless scrolling doesn’t add value to your life but takes away valuable time.

10. Thinking That Your Responsibilities Will Work Themselves Out

You can’t sit back and expect life to work out the way you want it to. If you do that, you won’t get anywhere, and you will feel stuck in an unhappy situation. To live a happy and meaningful life, you must take charge and handle your responsibilities.

By taking care of the things that you are responsible for, you can move forward positively. You won’t be overwhelmed by what you haven’t done, and it won’t cause unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Your responsibilities won’t work themselves out, and chances are, no one else will do it for you. You must work hard and put in the effort if you want to be happy.

being happyFinal Thoughts on Hidden Things That Stop People from Being Happy (Without Realizing It)

If you can’t seem to find happiness in your life, it could be due to some of the things discussed here. Many things in your life could stop you from being happy, and you likely don’t even realize it.

Once you have identified the problem areas in your life, you can make the necessary changes. These changes will help you find happiness and move through life positively. Don’t stand in your way of being happy because you deserve to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

How to Reparent Yourself If Your Parents Were Absent as A Child

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If you grew up with an absent parent, you likely already know it causes issues for you as an adult. Without parents to guide you and help you develop, you might have missed out on many essential life skills. Luckily, you can reparent yourself and develop the skills that will help you through life.

Reparenting is when you teach yourself the things you didn’t learn from your parents. Some parents don’t realize that their children need more than just food, clothes, and shelter. When they don’t know or care, then they fail to teach their child social-emotional skills.

Parents should teach their children to set limits for themselves, regulate their emotions, self-soothe, and treat themselves with kindness and respect. They should also set examples of unconditional love, healthy relationships, and how to overcome issues. If your parents didn’t teach you these things, then you will likely struggle with them well into your adult years.

If you are in this position, you can begin to reparent yourself and develop the necessary skills. Learning these skills will help you in your personal and professional life.

Fourteen Signs You Might Need to Reparent Yourself

reparentBefore you can learn to reparent yourself, you must know which skills might have been missed in your childhood. Knowing the areas that you should focus on can help you get on the right track to develop these skills.

Figure out what you need and what you didn’t learn as a child. Think about which emotional needs weren’t met by your parents. Some of the areas you might want to focus on include:

1 – Communication Skills

Adults should know how to express themselves. If you can’t do that, then this is a skill you should focus on teaching yourself.

You will notice a lack of communication skills if you aren’t able to resolve conflicts directly. One sign of this problem is the use of passive-aggressive behavior.

Communication skills are essential for both professional and personal life. Without it, you might be stuck in the same position at your job, or your relationships could suffer. Communication is key when it comes to moving forward and bettering your life.

2 – Self-Care Skills

Parents are supposed to teach their children to recognize their needs and fulfill them. Absent parents don’t always do this, though, leaving you lacking in that area. You deserve to take care of yourself and find comfort in life because your needs matter, too.

3 – Being Aware of Your Feelings and Accepting Them

You must be aware of your feelings if you want to understand and accept them. Otherwise, you will constantly feel like you don’t know what is going on with you.

4 – Emotional Regulation

Not only should you be aware of your feelings, but you also must know how to manage them. Absent parents often miss teaching their children to calm and comfort themselves in a positive way. They likely didn’t teach you to respond positively instead of over or under-reacting in an emotional situation, either.

With emotional regulation, you can handle unpleasant emotions with positive coping skills. You will know when and how to respond to certain situations and keep your emotions under control. Without emotional regulation, though, you can become caught in a cycle of negativity.

5 – Self-Validation

Your feelings and decisions are valid, and you can confidently reassure yourself of that with self-validation. Knowing that you and your feelings matter and that you have done everything you can is enough. Unfortunately, if you had absent parents, you might struggle with this skill.

6 – Developing and Enforcing Boundaries

Respect and trust in relationships are essential. You must speak up and make your expectation and boundaries clear. Then, enforce those boundaries by surrounding yourself with people that respect you.

7 – Maintaining Healthy Relationships

Another skill that you might have missed if you had absent parents is how to maintain healthy relationships. You must also know how to recognize unhealthy relationships and end them right away.

8 – Self-Discipline

Knowing when to cut back on unhealthy activities is something every child should learn. If your parents were absent, you might have missed learning about creating healthy habits that benefit your life. The habits could be as simple as going to bed on time or limiting the amount of junk food you consume.

9 – Self-Compassion

Treating yourself kindly is something that is usually learned during childhood. Instead of beating yourself up when you’ve made a mistake, you should allow yourself room to learn and grow.

10 – Accountability

If you take responsibility for your actions and apologize when necessary, you have likely already learned this skill. Otherwise, you may have missed it, but you can reparent yourself to learn accountability. Another sign that you need to develop this skill is if you struggle to follow through on commitments.

11 – Resiliency

Learning to overcome obstacles is something most people learn as a child. Believing in yourself and having faith in your abilities is also a part of being resilient.

12 – Accepting That You Won’t Always Get Your Way

Most children learn that they don’t always get what they want, and they learn to accept it. If this is something you struggle with as an adult, you likely need to reparent yourself. It would be best if you were mature as you handle upsetting situations and avoid throwing a fit.

13 – Love and Respect

Parents should teach their children to love and respect themselves, but absent parents often don’t do this. With self-respect, you can set boundaries and speak up for yourself.

Likewise, parents should teach their children to love and respect others, too. You should know to accept differing opinions and beliefs and avoid forcing your beliefs on others.

14 – Self-Confidence

Children should learn self-confidence, but if you didn’t, you could still teach yourself. With confidence, you can take steps to reach your goals rather than being afraid to get started. You will know that failure is only a learning opportunity and that you can try again.

blessings memeTen Ways to Reparent Yourself

Now that you know what to work on, are you ready to do this important work?

1 – Spend Time Learning

The most important step in reparenting yourself is to learn all that you can. Determine which areas you need to work on, and then start researching those topics. You can find self-help articles, books, and podcasts on any of the skills you might need.

2 – Find People You Can Look Up To

Observing others is one of the best ways you can learn and develop your skills. Choose people that are good at these things so that you can have a positive example. They should foster healthy relationships and manage their emotions well.

Choosing the right person can make your reparenting journey so much easier. If you can, go a step further than observation and ask them for tips.

3 – Go to Therapy

Therapists have formal education and training for dealing with these issues. They are experts at social-emotional skills, and they can help you determine your problem areas. The best part about therapy is that it offers a safe, comfortable space to try out your new skills.

4 – Practice

You can’t expect to develop these skills overnight. Instead, make it a goal to practice your targeted skills each day. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away because everything takes time.

5 – Avoid Perfectionist Behavior

You will get discouraged if you expect to master these skills perfectly. Even the people that are great at these skills struggle sometimes. Give yourself grace and compassion, even on your bad days.

6 – Write in a Journal

As you learn to reparent yourself, keep a journal of your journey. Write about the things you have learned and spend time self-reflecting, as well. When you write your thoughts out, it is easier to understand them and grow.

7 – Pay Attention to Your Thoughts

Part of reparenting yourself includes keeping your thoughts in check. If you notice that your self-talk is turning negative, refocus your thoughts on positivity. Focusing on your thoughts and shifting them when necessary can help you make better decisions and practice better self-love.

8 – Practice Self-Care

Taking care of yourself is essential when you are working to develop these skills. Take care of your physical and mental health, and focus on being kind to yourself all of the time. Set aside time for self-care each day, even when you feel like you don’t have time.

9 – Use Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations can help with anything you are going through in life. Use them each morning to start the day on the right path and to keep your mindset where it needs to be.

10 – Let Go of Your Shame

When you are a child, you can’t control the way your life is. Many adults blame themselves for the things that happened during their childhood and feel shame looking back on situations they couldn’t do anything about. If you experience those feelings, let go of them because you carry a burden that isn’t yours.

reparentFinal Thoughts on How to Reparent Yourself If Your Parents Were Absent as A Child

Now that you know the things you must teach yourself, you can focus on learning these skills. As you reparent yourself, try a few different methods so you can have the most beneficial experience.

By reparenting yourself, you are improving your life in many ways. Your mental health will improve, and your personal and professional relationships will strengthen. Give yourself everything you deserve in life by teaching yourself these essential life skills.

A Broken Heart is a Real Illness, According to Research

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Have you ever gotten your heart broken? The earth-shattering, world-upending experience is a significant roller coaster of emotions, memories, and a lot of complex thoughts. You may become drained, feel unmotivated, or feel stuck or trapped in the awfulness of your feelings.

With how severe a broken heart can feel, one wonders if it’s a more severe problem – specifically, one that requires medical attention. Is a broken heart an actual illness, and how can you move on? Let’s talk about that and three ways to help you heal.

Is A Broken Heart A Real Illness?

We rounded up the research proving that heartbreak can sometimes be an actual ailment.

broken heart1.    Why Does A Broken Heart Hurt?

If you’ve ever had your heartbroken, you know that it can manifest with physical pain in your chest, even when your heart’s health is otherwise fine. The language around the concept of a broken heart often involves physical terms, too, such as how it feels “gut-wrenching,” like your heart’s been “torn out,” or like you’ve been “slapped in the face.”

This kind of language indicates how human beings experience physical pain when it comes to a broken heart. This happens because of hormones. When you experience positive feelings, powerful ones like love, your brain releases many different neurotransmitters that make you feel good, like oxytocin and dopamine. It’s what makes you feel attached to someone and want to be around them.

When your heart is broken, these hormones suddenly and dramatically plummet, replaced with cortisol. A potent stress hormone is released when you enter fight-or-flight mode. This can cause many different physical responses, including anxiety, panic attacks with chest pains, acne, and even physical experiences of pain.

2.    Can A Broken Heart Become a Medical Illness?

Getting your heart broken can contribute to mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and other similar disorders. But can a broken heart itself be a medical illness? In most cases, it’s a simple temporary case of pain, discomfort, and low mood. But in some situations, it can escalate into a recognized medical problem.

“Broken heart syndrome” is the common phrase used to refer to this phenomenon, but the medical terms are Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, stress cardiomyopathy, or simply Takotsubo syndrome. This is a form of cardiomyopathy when the heart muscles weaken in a non-ischemic and quick manner. It typically occurs after a significant emotional stressor, through physical means, can also induce it.

A rather complex disorder, there aren’t definite causes for it, though most research leans towards the suggestion that the dramatic release of stress hormones can “surprise” the heart and “stun” it. This can cause the cells and blood vessels of the heart to change, weakening the left ventricle and preventing it from efficiently pumping oxygenated blood for the body’s use. Although 28.5% of individuals who experience broken heart syndrome don’t come with clear triggers, the most common causes are:

  • Tragedies such as natural disasters or accidents
  • Intense, violent, or emotionally tense arguments and disagreements
  • Unexpected deaths of loved ones
  • Severe financial losses
  • Unexpected medical diagnoses, especially of a severe, chronic, or terminal illness
  • Exerting a lot of physical effort in excess
  • Surviving or handling domestic abuse
  • Conflicts among family, relationships, and even at work
  • Facing significant fears or phobias
  • Physical ailments, such as head trauma, surgery, or severe onset of diseases
  • The presence of mental health disorders, which increases risk according to studies
  • Positive stressful events, like a pleasant surprise

3.    Symptoms Of A Broken Heart As A Medical Illness

Many physical symptoms of a broken heart don’t constitute medical illnesses. They can result from panic, hormonal changes, and other similar forms of distress and usually go away with time.

If you do develop broken heart syndrome, be aware of symptoms that crop up a few minutes to a few hours after stress exposure, such as:

  • Irregular or uneven heartbeat
  • Chest palpitations
  • Chest pain
  • Breathing or respiratory difficulty
  • Fainting and loss of consciousness

These symptoms cover a wide range of heart-related problems, so their presence should be treated as a possible medical emergency, even if you believe it is only Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. On that note, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that heart attacks and broken heart syndrome aren’t the same things. It is not a heart attack if:

  • EKG tests don’t produce any results similar to those of heart attacks
  • There are no blockages of the arteries in the heart
  • Blood tests don’t produce any signs of heart damage
  • There are no odd movements, swelling, or changes of the left ventricle of the heart
  • Recovery time occurs very quickly, often within the span of a few days or a few weeks

4.    Can You Die From A Broken Heart?

Naturally, the most common concern of broken heart syndrome is whether or not it is fatal. The good news is that most individuals who experience it will recover, even if the initial onset seems very grave. Most of them will not continue to experience any complications as a result of the syndrome. In other words, the prognosis is highly positive. This outcome includes when:

  • The systolic function of the ventricles is significantly compromised in the beginning; most cases of this kind begin to get better in a few days and then resolve within a few months.
  • In-patient care is necessary for the acute initial stages; most individuals improve even in awful conditions.
  • Recurrence of broken heart syndrome happens due to similar exposure to an additional trigger; this is rare to begin with, and can be treated when it occurs.

However, all illnesses carry some form of risk, so it is a good idea to be realistic and reasonable. Adverse outcomes may occur when:

  • Arrhythmia, or irregular rhythm of the heart, escalates to lethal levels or causes heart failure.
  • Cardiogenic shock occurs as a result of the syndrome.
  • The heart walls rupture as a result.
  • The heart becomes significantly weakened following the onset of the syndrome.
  • No treatment is provided to the symptoms when they occur.

3 Ways To Heal From A Broken Heart

choose people memeHere is how to start recovering from heartbreak.

1.    Take Care Of Yourself

If your heart has been broken, you may become overly focused on the cause of the pain and be unable to think of yourself or manage your life well. It is outstanding to need a few days to recover from the initial pain, but don’t forget that healing requires self-care in the following ways:

  • Eating a relatively healthy diet and steering clear of junk foods that trigger inflammation, promote depression, and make you feel worse.
  • Getting enough sleep, so you are sufficiently rested and recharged every day to heal and recover.
  • Requesting help and support when needed instead of withdrawing and overloading yourself by trying to get into it.
  • Understanding feelings of guilt, shame, or self-loathing that have cropped up from the incident and being gentle with yourself instead of leaning into them.
  • Paying attention to your needs and trying to meet them or acknowledge them in positive ways, even if that requires re-evaluating them in the process.
  • Stopping the act of rebounds into impulsive arrangements and situations to distract yourself, as this action will only worsen the effects and make you feel more negative, as studies

2.    Allow Yourself To Feel

The healing process involves… well… processing! This sounds a little convoluted, but it simply means that you need to process your emotions to recover from them entirely. This means that, no matter how much pain you’re in with your broken heart, you have to allow yourself to feel the full spectrum of that hurt.

It is natural to avoid or try to escape the negative emotions you experience, insisting on positive thinking. Many people make the mistake of trying to push their feelings away and ignore them, burying them in the recesses of their minds. Those emotions fester and grow deep down, and they begin to shift and change into different, complex feelings that attempt to cover up the initial root.

Don’t let this happen to you. While it is okay to find ways to distract yourself sometimes, the healing process means you have to sit with your feelings intentionally. It will hurt tremendously, but in the long run, it will also heal. Let yourself cry, rage, and express your feelings through art by ranting to a willing listener or pondering them.

3.    Remember To Validate Yourself

Your emotions are real and valid, and they deserve to be believed, comforted and understood. As you recover from your broken heart, there will be moments when you question yourself or even feel guilty about your healing process. This can be detrimental to your overall recovery as it makes you ashamed of your process.

Remember, then, to validate yourself and how you feel with positive thinking. Here are some things to keep in mind:

·         There’s No Time Limit For Healing

Some broken hearts are easy to mend, and others take a long time. While you should always be working towards recovery, remember that it’s okay if it takes you a long time to finish the process, and remember that it’s natural to be affected by something that profoundly hurts you, even a while after the fact.

·         It’s Not A Contest

Some people bounce back quickly, and you may think you’re taking too long as a result. Some people may grieve openly and powerfully, and you may feel guilty that you’re not able to express your feelings fully. There are so many different people in the world who will handle a broken heart differently from you, with different coping mechanisms and varying degrees of openness. It is not a competition. Focus on yourself and what works for you.

·         Be Kind To Yourself

You are going through a difficult period, and you deserve your kindness. Too often, people are harsher on themselves than they will ever be with others. Treat yourself as you would treat a loved one or close friend, and remember that it’s okay to feel how you feel.

broken heartFinal Thoughts On Some Ways To Heal From A Broken Heart

It’s not easy to recover from a broken heart. There is no shame in needing support or help from others, whether professionally or socially. Whether you have broken heart syndrome (which requires medical attention) or simply an aching broken heart, it is okay not to be okay, and it is okay to take your time to heal and feel better.

15 Things That Bring Fun and Adventure Back Into Your Life

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It is easy to get stuck in a rut and lose your sense of adventure when dealing with daily tasks. You can change this, though, even if you can’t travel right now. You can do things to restore your sense of adventure that doesn’t even involve leaving your home. Of course, if you can get out in the world to travel and explore, you should do so. These behaviors will help those who plan on traveling, too, as they can apply to anyone.

15 Things to Help Restore a Sense of Adventure

Whether you are planning a trip right now or only dreaming of one, try implementing these behaviors into your routine. You will feel more adventurous, helping you to enjoy your life a little more.

adventure1. Try Needs Foods

While this seems like a simple behavior, trying new foods is adventurous. Whether you make the food yourself or order it, you will enjoy experiencing foods you never have before. Trying new foods can help restore your adventurous side as you experience new things. You could even sign up for a cooking class, but make sure it is a type of food you’ve never had before.

2. Take a Risk

Taking a risk can make a huge difference in your sense of adventure. Make sure it is a calculated risk, and only do it once you have thought it through. You could start by applying for a new job or a different position, or you could even take a class or invest in something.

3. Make a Travel Journal

Your journal could be in a notebook or scrapbook, on your computer, or in a note on your phone. Of course, you could opt for a regular journal, too. It doesn’t matter what you choose to use for your journal as long as you get your thoughts and ideas down. As you sit in front of your journal, let your mind wander to all of the places that you want to visit. Don’t leave it at only places, however. Think about all of the things you have wanted to experience, too. Once you are thinking of all of the things you want to do and places you want to see, let the inspiration flow. Begin journaling about those places without thinking about the time or money it would cost to do those things. Keeping a travel journal is free, and it helps you feel more adventurous.

4. Take a Class

Cooking classes were mentioned before, but you could take any class to learn a new skill. Think about hobbies you might be interested in or outdoor skills that would be handy to know. You could also consider a class to teach you about a new profession. Whatever class you choose to take, make it something that you haven’t done before. As you try new things, a sense of adventure will rekindle within.

5. Go Somewhere New

Going somewhere new doesn’t have to mean that you travel far. Instead, it could mean that you simply take a new route to or from work each day. Another option is to choose one day a week or once each month to take a road trip. You could bike or drive to the destination and explore the new area. Of course, you can also travel farther away. You can aim to visit a new state or country once or twice a year.  And if you’re searching for a trip to some of the best places like New Zealand for travelers aging 50s, 60s and beyond, you can visit some reliable sites like moatrek.com for great help!

6. Gather Travel Guides

It is easy to ignore travel guides, but they are a helpful resource. The guides offer a plethora of free information including:

  • local attractions
  • hiking and fishing information
  • scenic drives to take
  • area parks
  • resorts or places to stay
  • camping information

Many other things can be included in travel guides, too, so it is best to check them out. If you are already in that area, you can even squeeze in a couple of the suggestions. These guides can restore a sense of adventure in you by inspiring you to get out there. If you aren’t in that area right then, save the travel guide for later. Look over it, even if you can’t go, and allow the images and words to restore your adventurous side, instead. You could even add them to your travel journal by cutting out pictures or facts to include.

7. Say Yes

Saying no is tempting, but it won’t help you feel adventurous. You shouldn’t take on more than you can handle or let anyone take advantage of you, but you should say yes anytime you can. If someone asks you to go out with them or try something new with them, then go. Don’t stay at home because you are afraid to try or because it makes you uncomfortable. Even if you want to say no, refrain from doing that and do what you were invited to do. A fun way to do this is to decide on a certain number of things you will say yes to. If you choose the number three, then you must say yes to the next three opportunities that come your way. Remember that you won’t be good at everything, but you won’t know until you try. If you fail it, at least you will have a new funny story to tell. The point is to experience new things to restore a sense of adventure, not to become a professional.

adventure8. Look on Travel Websites and Social Media Pages

Looking at travel websites can help you discover new places and new activities. You will find places and things you never knew existed. Doing this can help you feel adventurous as you imagine yourself there. Plus, you can use the information you gained from the travel websites when you plan a trip. You can go back and look at all of your resources to help you plan something perfect and adventurous. Another option is to check social media for updates and events in the areas you’re interested in visiting. Social media is the place to find information that isn’t mentioned anywhere else.

9. Do a Project

Doing a project may seem like it has nothing to do with being adventurous, but that couldn’t be further from the case. By doing projects, you are reminding yourself of all that you can accomplish. Then, a sense of accomplishment will help you become comfortable with new things. Spend time each week working on a project, and make sure you finish it. Let inspiration strike naturally, and then use tools and materials you already have on hand to make something. Being innovative and creating something with recourses you already have will boost your sense of adventure.

10. Meet New People and Make Friends

Meeting new people and making friends will help you feel adventurous. Since everyone has different backgrounds and viewpoints, it can open your mind up to so much more. You will be challenged to think differently, and your new friends will help you experience all new things, too.

11. Be Active

Being active will give you a rush of adrenaline, which will give you what you need to try new things. Push yourself physically and try new exercises to switch up your routine. If you are a runner, switch up the course you take on your daily run. Between the physical activity and the new sights, you are sure to feel more adventurous.

12. Explore Outdoors

Getting outside is one of the best ways to help restore a sense of adventure. Get back to the basics and spend time basking in the beauty of nature. If you can, go camping and test your skills to see how many things you can do without modern tools. Since camping isn’t always an option, you can spend time outside hiking and exploring new areas. Whatever it is you choose to do, spending time outdoors can help you feel more adventurous. And if you choose to go camping, remember to bring important camping accessories with you.

13. Start Planning

Even if you can’t go on a trip right away, plan it anyway. Sometimes the planning process is just as much fun as actually going on the trip or doing the activity. Figure out what you will need to take and if you need to learn any new skills. You can also figure out how much it will cost and where you would stay. As you plan your next adventure, you will begin to feel more adventurous.

14. Face Your Fears

You can’t restore your sense of adventure if you don’t face your fears. If you are afraid of heights, hike to the top of a mountain or go skydiving. Likewise, if you are scared of the ocean, go to the beach and get your feet wet. You don’t have to choose something dangerous to face your fears. You simply have to experience them and stop avoiding things because of your fears.

15. Go Places Alone

Going out of dinner or to a movie alone is something that makes many people uncomfortable. If you can do it, though, you will feel a little more adventurous. Buy a single concert ticket if no one will go with you, and see what happens once you get there. Either you enjoy the time alone as you boost your self-esteem, or you meet a new friend to enjoy it with. Whatever happens, you are sure to experience a sense of adventure as you do it.

do fun things meme15 Things to Help Restore a Sense of Adventure

There are so many places to visit and explore and so many activities to try. If you can, get out there and start experiencing as much as you can right now. On the other hand, if you can’t do anything right now, you can still work to restore a sense of adventure within. Try implementing the behaviors discussed here, and you will begin to feel more adventurous right away. You will find things that you never knew existed and can begin exploring near and far.

6 Simple Ways To Improve Your Mood Right Now

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Now and then, one needs a pick-me-up. Everyday life can be stressful and random, unexpected events – whether minor or significant – can bring down your emotions, and it’s not always easy to figure out how to improve your mood on bad days.

Well, guess what? It doesn’t take much to help your brain feel a little bit better, and you can do many different kinds of things to improve your emotional state in a pinch. Here are six simple ways to boost your mood to feel better right now.

1.    Breathe In Some Nice Scents

Scents are a powerful way to engage your sense of smell to improve your mood. The scents you inhale can change the way you feel. Using essential oil diffusers, perfumes and soaps, scented candles, and even air fresheners in the good smells can provide you with the pick-me-up you need. The most effective scents to try are as follows:

improve your mood·         Citrus

Orange, lemon, and lime are all great citrus scents, and research indicates that they can help relieve anxious thoughts and feelings while improving mood.

·         Grass

The smell of newly cut grass can be good for your mood, giving you stress relief and happiness, according to studies. This may be due to the chemical that freshly cut grass releases, so you may have to find newly mowed grass to test this out!

·         Lavender

Famous for its calming effects, lavender has effects on GABA, a kind of hormone that regulates emotion and stress. Studies have found that it has positive effects on feelings of restlessness, agitation, aggression, and anger, thanks to how it affects nervous system responses.

·         Vanilla

Studies have found that vanilla beings can increase positive thinking, relaxation, and even feelings of joy.

2.    Get Attuned To Music

You know that your sense of smell can boost your mood – and your sense of hearing can too! More specifically, though, music is capable of changing your attitude dramatically for more reasons than just the engagement of your ears. There’s a reason many people turn to music to set moods, hype themselves up, or even encourage a good cry. If you want to improve positive thinking with music, here are some ways to do so:

·         Listen To A Cheerful Song

Upbeat music is a great way to boost mood. Studies have found that you can feel much happier when you listen to feel-good songs. So when you need a way to perk up, put on some cheerful tunes, or even make a playlist that you have ready to go when you need it!

·         Dance

When you play your cheerful music, dancing along can help bring the mood up even more! Not only is dance a form of exercise, meaning it releases feel-good neurotransmitters like endorphins, but it also enables you to feel freer and more relaxed, according to studies. If dancing isn’t your thing, you can go for a brisk walk while listening to tunes for a similar – though not as strong – result. However, there’s something to be said about learning to let loose and dance, even if it feels silly!

·         Sing

Once again, cheerful music can have even better effects if you sing along to them. Research indicates that positive hormones like oxytocin and endorphins, which make you feel happy and reduce stress, are released when you sing. Singing in groups is one of the best ways to get these benefits, but even just singing alone can help soothe you and bring your mood up.

3.    Seek And Be Grateful For Positive Things

Gratitude is often overlooked in life. Everyone’s so busy that it can be tough to stop and appreciate everyday things. This is a mistake for those seeking mood boosts, though! Research finds that expressing gratitude and appreciation – or even just feeling those emotions yourself – can improve your mood and change the structure of your brain for long-term happiness.

Gratitude doesn’t have to be something big and fancy. You can experience and express gratitude for positive things in your life by seeking out the good in the world. You can also:

  • Revisit good memories and feelings
  • Reflect on life lessons and experience to find silver linings
  • List three things every day that you are grateful for
  • Thank people more often for what they do

pop meme4.    Engage In The World Outdoors

Human beings were never meant to spend their entire lives cooped up in concrete buildings 24/7. Engaging in the world beyond your walls can improve your mood and is just good for your psyche and wellbeing in general. Here are some specific ways to boost mood with the great outdoors:

·         Be Amongst Green

Head outdoors and go to a nearby park or any location with some nature in it. Five minutes spent wandering in a lovely green space can be sufficient to boost positive thinking, according to research.

·         Go For A Walk to Improve Your Mood

Spending an hour or so strolling in a natural setting can be beneficial to your overall mood. Nature walks have a wonderful way of calming the mind because they decrease activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, according to studies. It is this part of the brain that, when overactivated, contributes to feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

·         Look Out The Window

Can’t go outside at the moment, but need that good mood boost? Expose yourself to sunlight from your window and observe the world outside. Natural light exposure has immeasurable positive benefits for your wellbeing, and basking in the warm sunny glow can help take your mind off your stress for a moment.

·         Volunteer For Nature-Related Causes

If you need more excuse to spend time in the great outdoors, you can opt to volunteer for a charity organization that spends time outside often, such as a Wildlife Trust, an animal shelter that needs dog-walkers, or anything similar. You’ll get the mood boost from doing a good deed, the motivation to continue the practice, and the positive thinking from nature exposure all in one!

5.    Make Yourself Express Good Mood

Expressing positive feelings can further intensify them, adding to the overall already good mood you’re in. But did you know that expressing positivity when you don’t feel any is actually a fairly reliable way to improve your emotional state?

As it turns out, the human brain often can’t tell the difference between real and acted happiness in itself. So when you display common signs of good emotions, it begins to produce feel-good hormones regardless. It’s a neat trick! Here’s how to use it:

·         Smile

Smiling can be the reason you feel good instead of the other way around. This is because the expression releases feel-good hormones like serotonin, endorphins, and dopamine while also producing neuropeptides, which are crucial in stress management. Research has found that smiling can enhance positive experiences, so faking a smile may actually make you happy!

·         Laugh

Laughter is a wonderful way to bring up your positive hormones and reduce stress. It works best when genuine, and fake laughter certainly feels awkward. So you can try watching or reading funny media, trolling the Internet for silly videos, or talking to friends who always make you laugh.

·         Seek Good Things In Life

Good things aren’t always obvious. Sometimes, they’re even hidden. Make it a point to find silver linings and notice them. This will change the way you say the world in the long term, but it will still benefit a little mood boost in the short term. There’s something comforting about knowing that, no matter what happens, there is always something positive to be found in it.

6.    Interact With Others

People often joke about social interaction being the bane of their existence. While introverts and those with social anxiety can experience difficulty in high levels of social interaction, just a little bit of contact with others can boost mood significantly.

Different people enjoy different levels of social activity, so the trick is knowing how much you personally need to work with. Once you determine that, you can use interaction to help boost mood when you need a little help in your day. Here are some ways to do so:

·         Call A Friend

Staying in touch with friends can be a great way to feel socially connected to others. If you’re not able to see them in person, calling each other now and then, whether via simple voice call or video call, can help you feel happier. Do note that it’s the quality of your friendships, not how many friends you have, that makes a difference! So stay in touch with positive people and give them a call to cheer both of you up!

·         Chat With A Stranger

Not everyone is happy talking to strangers, but you don’t need to have an in-depth conversation with a fellow commuter on the bus to enjoy the benefits of a chat. A little small talk, a quick “how are you” or “good morning,” a brisk compliment given respectfully, or even a little eye contact and a friendly nod can help give you the positive boost to your day you didn’t realize you needed.

·         Hug Someone

Physical touch with others produces feel-good hormones, specifically oxytocin, which is commonly called the cuddle hormone. This can help you feel more secure and safe while promoting mental wellbeing, according to studies. A hug is a fantastic way to give and take warmth while lowering stress. If a hug isn’t available, receiving a pat on the back or engaging in any positive physical touch can provide similar benefits.

·         Pet An Animal

If interacting with humans isn’t something you have the energy for today, or if you can’t contact people right now, petting an animal can provide some of those socialization benefits, say studies! Feel-good hormones like oxytocin, serotonin, and prolactin are released when you play with, cuddle, and pet your furry friends, like dogs or cats, and you’ll find that your stress levels are dropping too.

improve your moodFinal Thoughts On Some Simple Ways To Improve Your Mood To Feel Better Right Now

It’s perfectly normal to have ups and downs daily, which is why learning how to make yourself feel better quickly and conveniently can be useful for everyday mood and productivity. Use these little pick-me-ups whenever you need a bit of help perking up!

15 Ways to Cope with the Emotional Loss of Being Fired from a Job

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Being fired from a job can be devastating. You are likely to feel many negative emotions such as anger, sadness, and stress as you cope with the emotional loss.

If you are struggling to cope with the loss of your job, you won’t be able to move forward. You can’t give up, though, because there are many other opportunities out there. Think of it as a chance to start fresh learn something new.

How to Cope with the Emotional Loss of Being Fired

Many people identify who they are by what they do for a living. If you are one of those people, then being fired can cause you to feel like you have no purpose in life. This isn’t the case, though, and there are ways to cope with the emotional loss.

fired1. Let it Out

You inevitably feel bad after losing your job. You can’t ignore the sadness, anger, betrayal, fear, or sense of loss that comes. Feel free to cry or vent to your friends and family, but avoid complaining to your co-workers from that job.

Don’t let the negative feelings overtake your life, though. Once you have gotten it out, begin moving on. The first step to coping is to let the feelings out, so make sure you allow yourself a few days to do so.

2. Look at Your Finances

While the thought of looking over your finances after losing your job is daunting, it must be done. First, you must figure out how long you can stay afloat on the money that you have. This will help you determine how long you have to find another job.

You can look into unemployment benefits or other benefits that may be available to you. Doing so may help you get by until you find another job, and you won’t feel the need to settle.

3. Start Looking for a New Job or Career

Before you start sending in applications, think about what you want to do. You don’t have to stay in the same career you worked in before. This could be your chance to try something new.

Whether you stay in your current career field or decide on something else, you must begin as soon as possible. With a little more free time, you can start fine-tuning your resume and updating your cover letter and LinkedIn profile. Plus, you have more time to send in job applications.

You could also think about taking some online courses to learn a new skill. Online courses could also help you advance your current skillset. Whatever you do, keep focusing on the future and working toward something new.

4. Remember That it Happens to Many People

While this thought alone won’t make your problem disappear, it could help you feel better. Lots of people lose their jobs and for many different reasons.

Losing your job doesn’t mean you will never be successful. Instead, it means that you weren’t in the place you are meant to be. The right opportunity will come when the time is right, so try to be patient.

5. Turn to Your Support System

It might be hard to tell your friends and family that you got fired, but it will help you cope. You need someone to turn to for support if you want to get over the emotional loss. Plus, they can offer words of encouragement or tips on what to do next.

If you don’t have a support system, consider talking to a professional. You don’t want to keep negative feelings bottled up, or it could get worse, so reach out to a therapist or counselor.

6. Write About Your Feelings

Writing seems to make most things better in life. Losing your job is a big source of stress, and writing about it can be a positive stress reliever for you. Plus, it will help you get your emotions out without taking it out on those around you.

7. Don’t Freak Out

You have every right to be upset when you lose your job, but you can’t freak out if you want to cope. Even if you are angry, refrain from yelling at anyone, saying hurtful or mean things, or getting physical. You might feel like they deserve it, but if you let your emotions get out of control, things will get worse.

pop meme8. Don’t Cut Ties

You won’t have to talk to your former employer again, but you shouldn’t cut ties with former co-workers. If you enjoyed their company or the conversations you had, continue the relationship. By keeping a relationship, you will be less bitter about the job loss.

Another benefit to staying in touch is that they might have information that can help you. Since you work in the same field, they may have connections or know who is hiring. It is also helpful to maintain positive professional relationships, even when you no longer work together every day.

9. Embrace the Learning Opportunity

Every situation in life is a learning opportunity, even when you are upset. Learn from the mistakes you made, and evaluate your fault in what has happened. This way, you can learn from losing your job, and it will help you become successful in the future.

Learning from the situation will help you cope with the emotional loss of being fired. Plus, you will become more aware of your actions and behaviors.

10. Avoid Guilt-Tripping Yourself

Even if you made a mistake, giving yourself a guilt-trip will not help. Instead, remember that everyone makes mistakes, and many people lose their jobs. Feeling guilty will not help you fix anything, and it will not help you cope.

If you are guilt-tripping yourself, think back to your achievements in the past. Consider what you accomplished, learned, or developed. Doing this will help you feel confident again, and the personal guilt-trip will cease.

On the other hand, if you know you did nothing to deserve the job loss, remember how great you are. When you have done nothing wrong, then you have nothing to be guilty about, anyway.

11. Get Answers

It can be hard to cope if you don’t answer the questions running through your mind. Ask any question that comes to mind, but make sure to find out why you’re losing your job. If your employer gives a vague answer, ask for a better one.

Getting answers won’t only help you figure out why you are being fired. It will also give ideas and motivation for improvement. Real feedback can make all the difference in your future endeavors.

While seeking answers, remember to be respectful and calm. Being rude won’t get you the information you need, and it could cause you to burn bridges.

12. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is important all of the time, but it is even more essential when you’re upset. Suffering an emotional loss like losing your job is life-changing and can be devastating. Give yourself time to come to terms with it and accept that you must move forward.

As you work on coping with the situation, practice self-care whenever you can. Self-care will trigger happiness, reduce stress, and help you experience a sense of well-being.

Part of self-care is also developing a routine. Giving yourself a daily routine will give your day direction and help you get things accomplished. A schedule will help as you look for a new job and help you get over the loss.

Make sure you include hobbies and relaxation in your daily routine. It will help you feel better while taking your mind off of your emotional loss.

13. Avoid Social Media

When you are feeling down, social media will only make it worse. Most people compare themselves to others they see on social media, which will cause you to feel bad about yourself. You are likely already feeling bad enough, so don’t put yourself through more.

Avoid ranting about your job loss on social media, too. Talking negatively about it can make you look back to potential employers.

14. Make Connections

Making connections will help you find your dream job. Talk to people you know and meet new people as often as possible. With connections, the perfect job might fall into your lap.

Even if a new job doesn’t come so easily, it will still help you find options. When people get to know you, they can recommend you to new employers or give you new ideas.

15. Accept It

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to change the situation. Your boss made their decision, and you have lost your job. Once you accept what has happened, you can begin to move forward.

While losing your job is still painful, coping requires acceptance. Once you have let your feelings out, you must let them go. Bringing up your negative feelings will only prolong this step, which will hinder your ability to cope and overcome.

fired

Final Thoughts on Ways to Cope the Emotional Loss of Being Fired from a Job

If you have been fired from your job, you know how devastating it can be. It might come as a shock, making it even harder to accept. You can get through it, though, and you can cope with the emotional loss.

Don’t let this setback cause you to give up on life. You are strong, and you will push through. Remember these ways to cope with the emotional loss of being fired from a job.

10 Habits to Implement Mindfulness and Be Happier

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There are a lot of talks these days about being mindful and living in the present. However, mindfulness can confuse people because you already live in the present or the here and now.

Shockingly, you may be surprised to learn that you’re only about ten percent aware of the things around you, according to Forbes Magazine.

Your mind and body are awake, but you only exist daily. Did you know that many people walk around in a dream-like state because they’re so disconnected from the world around them? When your mind drifts, you cannot focus on the things around you.

For many folks, past seems to be ever-present in their mind. Other people worry about the future and ensuring they have enough to sustain themselves. Then, you have churning thoughts caused by judgments and responses to the things you pay attention to.

It’s sad that you are missing out on so much of your life. No wonder so many people feel shallow, hollow, and have an unsettled sense on the inside. The good news is that you can take steps to correct these issues and be much happier.

Adopt These Ten Habits to Help You to Implement Mindfulness in Your Life

mindfulnessAre you ready to be more connected with the here and now? Do you long to practice mindfulness to enhance your life and be happier? Here are some easy habits that you can implement into this new lifestyle of being present in the moment.

1. Connect with Your Senses

You’re driving down a country road with the radio blasting great tunes. Suddenly, you pull into your destination without realizing the turns you made or how you got there. All you know is that you went from point A to point B and made it safely.

Many people experience these types of happenstances because they’re on autopilot. Your brain takes over and knows what to do, so you temporarily check out a bit. Should a car honk at you or you must slam on your breaks, you would instantly break this autopilot sensation.

How different would your trip be if you rolled down the window, let the fresh air hit you in the face, smelled the fragrant flowers permeating the air, and gazed at the sunshine? Getting in touch with your senses is an excellent way to be present at the moment. Mindfulness is about not missing those little opportunities that enhance your life.

2. Eating Thoughtfully to Improve Mindfulness

How often do you grab something to eat in the cabinet without giving it much thought? You don’t consider how much protein you’ve had that day or if your carbohydrate consumption is too high. You eat because you’re hungry.

To eat mindfully is to pay attention to what you put in your mouth. When you take inventory of your diet, you will feel so much better. According to the USDA, you need 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

When is the last time that you met that goal? Paying attention to every bite you take will make it easier to maintain weight, improve your mental health, and live a happier life.

3. Examine Your Breaths

Have you ever noticed your breathing? When you’re running or walking up a flight of stairs, it becomes more labored. However, when you’re resting in bed, it’s quite shallow and slower. Did you know that mindfully breathing is a great way to control anxiety and panic disorder?

You can stop anxiety in its tracks by observing your breaths and learning how to control them. The American Institute of Stress states that those who spend just 20-30 minutes a day doing controlled breathing can ease their anxiety. Additionally, you can decrease your heart rate as well as muscle tension.

4. Walking Thoughtfully

It may sound bizarre to say that you need to walk mindfully. However, you should pay attention to the beauty around you. Take your shoes off to connect you to Mother Earth.

Each step you take should feel like you’re kissing the ground with your feet. Watch how you move your body as you stroll by and feel each muscle group working in your support. Take note of five things with your senses, such as colors, sounds, smells, and feelings.

You may walk the same street every day, but when you start practicing mindfulness, it may look like a new area you’re exploring.

5. Listen Passionately

One common complaint among women is that their husbands don’t listen to what they’re saying. Sure, they’re sitting there and nodding their head, but they have zoned out and couldn’t repeat what they’ve been told. Men, no doubt, say the same thing about their wives.

Try really listening to your spouse, family members, and friends. Hear every word they say, and act as you care about their conversation. Even if they seem to prattle on things that don’t interest you, be present in the conversation. Mindfulness can teach you about respect and compassion for fellow human beings too.

Inspirational quotes6. Stop and Think Before You React

Many folks have automated responses or actions to things. For instance, when you get an email, you jump to open the app and see what it’s about. When your children yell for you, you instantly respond.

What if you sat back and took a minute before you did or said anything? How many times have you been told that you need to think before you speak? There were indeed occasions when you wish you could take back some of the words or actions that were done without thinking.

Mindfulness teaches you to slow down and not to be so quick to respond. Think about the words you use as well as your reactions. This simple habit can change your life.

7. Mix Up Your Routine

Remember how you were driving and arrived at your destination without any thought? Well, it’s because you’re on autopilot from your routine. If you awaken at 6 am, shower at seven, and arrive at work by nine, you’ve become so automated that your life is boring.

Is it any wonder that people become depressed or anxious? The old saying that variety is the spice of life is undoubtedly an accurate adage. If you want to be happy, learn to relax, and have a good time, then you need to mix things up a bit.

Random trips can help refresh your mind, body, and spirit. Marriages and relationships take work. What would happen to your garden if it never received water? Your crops would perish, and you would get little to no harvest.

If you want relationships and your life to be excellent, throw a little “water” on them. Having fun, laughing often, and enjoying your life is what your existence should be about. Life is not about working all the time.

8. Learn to Meditate for More Mindfulness

Meditation is a great way to learn mindfulness. When you’re deep breathing, pushing away negativity, and taking time to decompress, it can make you so much happier. The best thing about meditation is that you can do it anywhere or anytime you need to feel more grounded.

9. Embrace the Things You Love

Do you love to paint, swim, cook, or garden? Why not embrace those things that make you happy? Your life can’t always be about working around the clock. Learn to have fun, and pick up a hobby that makes life interesting.

Life is way too short to be miserable. Get involved with people and activities that put a smile on your face.

10. Start Journaling

You can’t stop thoughts from coming to you, but you can make sure they have an outlet. Journaling is an excellent way to get rid of negativity and all the random thoughts you deal with daily. You don’t need to write a book, but jot down everything going through your mind that day.

You can even use your journal to write down your goals, dreams, and anything else that comes to mind. This is a private collection for your eyes only, so you can be honest.

mindfulnessFinal Thoughts on Implementing Mindfulness To Be Happier

Did you learn anything that can help you on your journey to being more mindful? Additionally, you need to ensure you don’t talk or think harshly about yourself. Watch the words you speak when you’re referencing yourself.

Try adding positive affirmations to your day to help you along your journey. How can you expect anyone else to if you don’t love yourself?

Mindfulness will help you to be a happier and healthier person with a better outlook. You can be an individual who strives to be present in the here and now. There’s so much to see that you don’t want to miss a single thing during your life.

Maryland Scientists Discover Why Cold Foods Can Cause Tooth Pain

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Have you ever gotten tooth pain from drinking something cold? Maryland scientists have finally found the reason behind this painful phenomenon.

“It’s a unique kind of pain,” says David Clapham, vice president, and chief scientific officer of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). “It’s just excruciating.”

He and an international team of scientists have discovered how teeth can sense something cold. They’ve also figured out the molecular and cellular processes behind why this occurs. The team found that in both mice and humans, tooth cells called odontoblasts have cold-sensitive proteins that sense lower temperatures. These cells then send a signal to the brain, alerting it of the painful sensation.

The team published these results on March 26, 2021, in the journal Science Advances.

Cold sensitivity and tooth pain

The study reveals why the popular natural remedy, clove oil, alleviates tooth pain. Clove oil, which dentists have used for centuries, contains a compound that blocks the cold-sensitive proteins.

Electrophysiologist Katharina Zimmermann, who led the work at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, explained why this works. She says that developing drugs that more specifically target this sensor could eliminate tooth sensitivity to cold. She says this:

“Once you have a molecule to target, there is a possibility of treatment.”

Teeth begin to decay when bacteria and acid erode the enamel, the protective layer covering teeth. As the enamel wears away, cavities start to form. Around 2.4 billion people, or about a third of the global population, have untreated cavities. This can lead to toothaches, which can occur due to drinking icy beverages.

Before this study, scientists didn’t know how teeth sensed cold temperatures. However, scientists speculated as to what caused it and came up with a theory.

Inside each tooth, tiny canals contain fluid that moves when it detects temperature changes. Scientists proposed that the nerves sense the direction of the movement. This then signals whether a tooth had been exposed to hot or cold, according to some researchers.

“We can’t rule this theory out,” but there wasn’t any direct evidence for it, says Clapham, a neurobiologist at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus.

Figuring out why cold beverages cause tooth pain was a process of elimination

The scientists said that fluid movement in teeth and tooth biology aren’t easy subjects to study. Scientists have to cut through the enamel, the hardest substance in the body, and an additional tough dentin layer. This is very difficult to do without crushing the tooth’s soft pulp, blood vessels, and nerves.

Sometimes, the whole tooth “will just fall to pieces,” Zimmermann says.

However, Zimmerman, Clapham, and their colleagues didn’t aim to study teeth. They focused mainly on analyzing ion channels, pores in cells’ membranes that function like molecular gates.

The channels detect signals such as chemical messages or temperature changes. Then, based on the signal, they either shut tightly or open wide to allow ions into the cell. This causes an electrical pulse to move from cell to cell. This sends information quickly and serves as a crucial function in the brain, heart, and other tissues.

Around 15 years ago, Zimmerman worked as a postdoc in Clapham’s lab, where the team made an important discovery. The ion channel called TRPC5 showed extreme sensitivity to the cold. However, the team still wasn’t sure where the channel’s cold-sensing ability was located in the body.

In the study, they did eliminate the skin as a receptor for TRPC5’s ability to sense cold. The team discovered that mice that didn’t have the ion channel could still detect the cold. They reported these findings in 2011 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

After that, “we hit a dead end,” Zimmermann says. One day at lunch, the team was going over the study when they finally had an idea.”David said, ‘Well, what other tissues in the body sense the cold?’” Zimmermann recalls. The answer? Teeth.

The experiment that led to the discovery of teeth detecting cold

Study coauthor Jochen Lennerz, a pathologist from Massachusetts General Hospital, examined teeth in adult humans. He found that teeth do have TRPC5, and most of it resides in teeth with cavities.

The researchers used mice to test their theory. This experiment proved to them that TRPC5 does function as a cold sensor. They decided against cracking a tooth open to examining the cells instead of looking at the whole tooth. They studied the jawbone, teeth, and nerves within the teeth. The team then recorded neural activity after applying an ice-cold solution to the teeth.

They found that the temperature drop triggered nerve activity in normal mice, showing that the teeth detected the cold. They didn’t observe this in mice without TRPC5 or in teeth treated with chemicals that blocked it. This proved to the team that the ion channel could sense cold, Zimmermann says. Another ion channel the group studied, TRPA1, also seemed to detect cold.

After confirming that TRPC5 could sense cold, they traced its location to a tooth cell called odontoblasts. This sits between the tooth pulp and dentin in the teeth. When someone bites down on something cold with a dentin-exposed tooth, this sends a pain signal to the brain.

Clapham says that even though many people experience this sharp pain, it hasn’t been studied very extensively. He says that while tooth pain isn’t widely acknowledged in science, “it is important, and it affects a lot of people.”

Zimmerman says that the team’s discovery about why cold sensations cause tooth pain took over a decade. She says that determine the function of specific molecules and cells isn’t easy.

“And good research can take a long time.”

tooth pain

Final Thoughts: Scientists finally discovered why cold foods or drinks cause tooth pain

After more than ten years, scientists studying ion channels discovered that TRPC5 detects pain when exposed to cold. This ion channel in tooth cells called odontoblasts reacts strongly to cold sensations, and it is especially prevalent in cavities. Hopefully, this knowledge will lead to better treatments targeting this sensor and eliminate tooth pain resulting from the cold.

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