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25 Behaviors That Reveal You Are Chasing Money Instead of Happiness

March 29, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Are you chasing money, or do you desire to be happy in life? Money doesn’t buy happiness, but many people strive to hoard cash in bank accounts, investments, and the stock market. Why is the love of money referred to as the root of all evil?

You need cash to survive. You wouldn’t have a house, car, or groceries on your table without income. Where is the line that you must draw between needing a job to provide for your family and becoming obsessed with making cash?

It’s a ticklish balance that some mismanage. Your ego needs you to provide for your family to be successful, but other things in life are more meaningful. Money isn’t going to hold your hand when you’re sick, and it won’t be there for you when you take your last breath.

You can’t take it with you when you pass, and it will give your children something to argue about for years to come. Why do people make their whole journey on the planet earth about making the beloved green stuff?

25 Behaviors That Show You’re Chasing Money

How are your priorities in life? Does your family come first, or do you look to your job and becoming successful as your most important drive?

Though many say family is the most important thing in their life, their actions speak much louder than words. Here are some signs that you’re chasing money and not happy in your life.

1. You’re Focused on Materialism

Your main objective in life is building your stash of wealth. You feel that your accomplishments measure your importance, and being profitable means having bigger and better things.

2. You Put Family and Friends Aside for Your Career

Your family and friends play second fiddle to your job and aspirations to obtain more money. You will miss the kid’s sports games and make up excuses to your spouse on why you can’t do things around the home or spend time with them.

3. You Neglect Self-Care to Work More Hours

Due to your drive to have a bigger and better bank account than most, you probably lack self-care. You could suffer from things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and anxiety.

You may have a sleep debt due to burning the midnight oil. Since you won’t take the time to go to the doctor, you may have many days where you feel sick. However, you keep on going anyway.

4. You Brown Nose to Climb the Corporate Ladder

You schmooze with the best to get where you need to be. Maybe you don’t choose your friends based on who you like. Instead, you select your in-crowd to be those who can move you up the corporate ladder.

5. You Have No Hobbies

You’re all work and no play. Who has time for hobbies when that could cost you a big sale or money you need to put in the bank?

6. Your Often Told You Work Too Much

You’ve heard a time or to from friends or relatives that you work too much. However, you feel that your workload is expected from someone who has high aspirations of being something in life. You secretly think that some of these naysayers don’t work enough.

7. You Work Longer Than What’s Required of You

You don’t mind working more than the average person. If you check back through your hours worked, you probably are busy with your job way more than most people.

8. You Devalue Personal Priorities

Your family can’t count on you for things around the house or relationship needs. Everyone knows you are married to your career and the pursuit of money, so you have little time for anything else.

9. Who Needs Lunch Break Anyway?

Who has time for lunch when you have things that need to be done? You get so caught up in chasing money that you work through your breaks and eat while you work. Your health suffers because your diet consists of whatever you can grab on the go.

10. You Are Stressed When You’re Not Working

If you take time off, you feel stressed out. Your mind is a million miles away because all you can think about is making more money and all the work you have waiting for you.

11. Who Needs A Vacation?

You probably haven’t taken a vacation in a long time. Even if the family ropes you into a trip, you will bring a laptop and work using remote access.

12. You Work Even When You’re Sick

Sick days equals downtime, and you have no time to be down. You go to the office even if you feel like you’re on death’s door.

Here are five compelling reasons to stop trying to be perfect.

13. You Hide Work from Loved Ones

Whether it’s on vacation or at home, you often hide work from your family to keep the peace. How many times have you snuck your laptop into the bathroom or made a run to the local carryout to make business calls?

14. You Tend to Micromanage Everyone Around You

You’re a dictator because, in your world, you know what needs to be done and how it needs to be accomplished. Your family thinks you micromanage them because you cannot leave the management role as it’s who you are.

15. You Don’t Know How to Say “No” To Business Opportunities

One problem that you have is that you can’t say no to anyone, especially your boss. You run yourself ragged because you fear you say no; it could burn a bridge to another great opportunity.

16. Your Friends Stop Asking You to Go Out Because They Know You Won’t

You have friends, but they know that you’re always too busy to go out with them. You may not answer texts or phone calls, so they don’t even bother anymore.

17. You Overbook Yourself Continuously

You meet yourself coming and going. Perhaps you want so badly to have a secure future that you don’t have a minute to enjoy life. You remember a day when you just relaxed.

18. You Always Dream of Being Rich

While other people are having daydreams of romance and weddings, you daydream about how much is in your bank account. You think about hitting the lottery or how you will live when you make it rich.

19. You Won’t Spend a Dime Even If You Need Too

Those who are chasing money tend to be penny pinchers. Every dime counts, so you will scrimp on the necessities so that you can save your money for things to impress others or to hoard into a bank account.

20. You Stay with a Job You Hate Because You Like The Pay

Who cares if you don’t like your job and it makes you miserable? You were meant to work, and that doesn’t always mean it’s going to be pleasant. You stay with a company based on pay and not your comfort level.

21. Everything in Your Conversation Is About Money

People often find it hard to talk to you because all your conversations are about money. You are obsessed with the green stuff and make everything in your life about it. It’s a boring conversation for those who want to be happy and could care less about materialism.

22. Never Satisfied with What You Have – Always Wanting More

You can’t remember a time in your life where you have ever been satisfied with what you had financially. There is no set limit on where your comfort level is, as there is always room for more.

23. You Look Down on Others Who Don’t Focus on Wealth

Those with less money are just those who are lazy and won’t work. You see no reason for anyone not to have money when there are so many opportunities out there. You tend to be a bit judgmental of others who are down on their luck.

24. You Choose the Wealthiest People as Your Friends

Not just any friend will do for you. You surround yourself with movers and shakers who have plenty of money to spread around. You wouldn’t be caught with people who don’t have prestige and immense wealth.

25. Your Self-Worth Is Defined by Work Success

Like others, you define your self-worth in this life by how much money you make. If you don’t provide enough for your family, then you feel worthless. Your workaholic ways are stemming from feelings of insecurity about yourself.

Final Thoughts On Chasing Money and Missing Out on Your Long-term Happiness

It’s effortless to get your priorities out of alignment when the world you live in is focused on bigger and better. You strive to “keep up with the Smiths and Jones” as it’s socially acceptable. However, chasing money will never buy you any happiness.

Oh sure, the euphoric thrill that comes from buying a new home or car lasts for a while, but those material possessions can never keep you warm at night. Put your focus on being content, being kind to others, and loving your family. All the rest will be just bonuses from the universe.

10 Habits That Will Grow Your Self-Confidence (In 30 Days or Less)

March 29, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Self-confidence can best be defined as a feeling of near-certainty or clear-headedness regarding a topic. Whether it involves skill level, knowledge predicted outcomes, or yourself. Being confident in yourself is a massive benefit to your overall self-esteem and self-perception, and it’s a valuable trait that can open doors and help you grab opportunities.

For many people, self-confidence is challenging to come by and hard to build. Thankfully, there are things you can do in your everyday life that boost that feeling. Here are ten habits that skyrocket your self-confidence.

1. Reading

Reading is a lot of fun, but did you know that it may help your self-confidence on top of that? Whether you read fiction, non-fiction, or even non-traditional books, you can aid your self-esteem through reading. Here are some ways that this works:

· It’s Escapism

The task is a beautiful method of escapism. It’s almost akin to meditation – it transports you to other worlds, allowing you to stop thinking about your worries and stress. While you shouldn’t simply ignore all your negative feelings, sometimes a little time away from them can grant you new insight or reduce those feelings.

· It Breaks Cycles

Negative loops of thinking are a widespread cause of decreased self-confidence. Reading is capable of taking you out of that mindset, bringing your mind elsewhere. When you return to groundedness, you’ll have broken the negative cycle and can revisit your thought patterns anew.

· It Teaches

Non-fiction books can teach you all sorts of new skills and knowledge, and what you learn can be carried forward into your everyday life. This boosts your self-confidence in your abilities and skills.

2. Seeking Discomfort

It can seem strange to seek out discomfort. Why would you want to actively leave your comfort zone and give yourself more anxiety and stress? What a wild concept! But, as it turns out, a reluctance to go anywhere beyond a safe little bubble is actually very, very bad for you.

You won’t be able to grow for as long as you stay within your comfort zone. This sounds nice, but it also means that any unplanned-for situation that puts you outside of what you’re used to can send your self-esteem plummeting. You’ll be out of your depth with no practice in managing anything out of the ordinary!

This is why confident people challenge themselves so much. Putting yourself at risk by seeking discomfort seems daunting, but it also ensures that you’re continually moving forward. It allows you to:

Sharpen new skills and learn new things
Realize how much you’re capable of and what you’re able to do
Have new experiences that broaden your perspective of the world
Get comfortable with less-than-ideal situations.
Get better and smarter at taking intelligent risks.

There’s no feeling quite as confidence-boosting as the ability to climb out of a difficult situation with your head held high. So go out there and seek a little bit of discomfort in your life!

3. Meditating

Meditation is often ridiculed for being some weird form of spiritualist habit, but it’s scientifically proven to have positive results on your mind, body, and confidence. It can reduce anxiety, stress, and more by merely lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure.

For many people, stress and anxiety are the fundamental causes of drops in self-esteem. It’s hard to feel good about yourself when nothing feels good anywhere. Meditation allows you to get in touch with yourself, letting you confront your problems safely and mindfully while building your confidence through introspection.

4. Socializing

There are endless jokes about how introverted people hate socializing or how social activities are scary to the average person. But if you continue to perpetuate the idea that you shouldn’t socialize, all you’re doing ruin your self-confidence even more.

There are many different ways to socialize, and each method brings you closer to others and allows you to practice your relationship skills. Finding people you connect with boosts your confidence thanks to your support system while interacting with anyone keeps you in touch with the world, so your spirit stays up. You can socialize by:

Joining online communities for things you love
Networking with people in your industry
Being active on social media
Contacting friends and family regularly
Going on outings with friends and family
Meeting new people

5. Celebrating Differences

A lot of times, your differences could be what make you dislike yourself. You compare yourself to others, see where you don’t meet arbitrary standards you’ve set in your head based on others, and then hide what you perceive as your “flaws.”

It’s easy to see how this kind of thinking would slowly but surely ruin your self-esteem. You always chase after unfair ideals and fall short, so all you can do is wish you were like other people. It’s a toxic way of thinking and doesn’t help anyone.

You need to stop thinking that differences are bad things! It’s okay to be different, and in fact, it’s usually better that way. The world needs all sorts of diversity to function in any exciting or workable capacity. Your weaknesses are someone else’s strengths, and your powers are someone else’s weaknesses. Instead of driving each other apart due to comparison, working together is the real way to live more fully!

Celebrate your differences and the differences of others. You’re unique, and one-of-a-kind and your variations should be embraced and showed off. Use your positive thinking and focus on all the ways that your differences make you great!

6. Being Prepared

Some people believe that being unprepared is a sign of confidence. They think that coming in with nothing and showing off how well they can improvise proves just how much confidence they have. It’s an appealing idea, but it’s also not one that’s recommended, especially if you want to improve your self-esteem.

Self-confidence is not about ignorance, arrogance, and immaturity. No one has all of life figured out, and no one is invincible. While over-preparing isn’t good, under-preparing is arguably worse, and you’ll find yourself confronted with enormous problems you’re not equipped to solve. If anything kills confidence, it’s too out of your depth too quickly.

Confident people are those who do have a plan. They collect information, practice their skills, and get ready for potential challenges. This preparation gives them their confidence, as they know they’re sufficiently equipped to handle most hurdles and will only be met by worthy challenges.

So don’t try and become a master improviser (unless that’s your line of work!). Instead, focus on learning and growing in the background, so you’re always picking up new tips and tricks that you can use in your endeavors. You’ll feel empowered by that knowledge.

7. Exercising

Exercising is often over-hyped as the one right way to solve all problems. While it isn’t a miracle cure, it’s also scientifically proven to have its fair share of benefits. When it comes to confidence, exercising gives you:

· Positive Hormones

Feel-good hormones are released whenever you exercise that boost your positive thinking and make you feel happier and better about yourself. It’s a great way to lift your mood without using unhealthy or toxic habits quickly.

· A Healthier Body and Appearance

Many confidence issues are tied to body image, and exercising can change the way you look. Even if you don’t wind up losing weight or reaching your “ideal” appearance, you’ll see remarkable changes in your posture, stamina, and strength that will make you feel more confident.

· Openness To Challenge

Exercising is all about pushing your limits. The more you work out, the more comfortable you’ll feel with the concept of going above and beyond to improve yourself. This is sure to boost your confidence levels as you use those principles in all sorts of other areas in your life.

8. Positive Sleep Routines

Getting enough sleep allows you to feel rested and alert the next day. You’ll make fewer mistakes, perform better in all areas of chores and work, and have a clearer head with more positive thinking in general.

Your routines should give you the right conditions to benefit from REM or the deep sleep cycle. This sleep phase is highly restorative and will make you feel much better when you wake up the next day. Sometimes, if you feel especially low in confidence, a good night’s rest is all you need to perk up again!

9. Maintaining Good Posture

Have you ever noticed that people who have their backs straight, shoulders pushed back and down, chest puffed, and head straight look more confident? It’s not just a random impression – it’s because they genuinely are more confident.

Studies have found that individuals who sit up straight and maintain good posture aren’t just viewed more positively. They also feel better in general. As it turns out, the way you hold yourself and position your body changes your brain’s chemical activity.

Open postures and “power poses,” instead of closed and constricting postures, change the way your hormones move. You feel more energetic and become less stress reactive, and within just two minutes, you’ll feel better and much more confident. So straighten your back, put on good posture, and let your body work its magic.

10. Contributing and Volunteering

For many people, a sense of self-confidence is tied into feelings of self-worth. Though there are many ways you can raise your self-worth, one of the best and healthiest ways to do so is by performing acts of kindness. You can:

Volunteer for a cause you believe in
Do a favor for a friend, family member, colleague, or loved one
Pay someone a heartfelt, genuine compliment
Go out of your way to do something nice for a loved one
Donate to charity

Getting involved with good causes for a community benefits them and you at the same time. You feel good about giving to others, which boosts your self-esteem, and you can see the impact that your actions have on the world around you. Your positive thinking will skyrocket with your self-confidence all at once!

Final Thoughts On Some Habits That Will Skyrocket Your Self-Confidence

Confidence is key to many positive emotions, and without it, you can feel stuck or lost. Learning to boost your self-confidence through positive habits will allow you to reach your best potential!

7 Ways To Break Free From Emotional Captivity (And How To Prevent It)

March 29, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Have you ever felt trapped in your own mind? Do you often feel that your emotions control you, not the other way around? It’s a frightening and suffocating situation, but it’s one you don’t have to be defined by.

Being trapped in mental chains can be overwhelming, as you have to free yourself from bindings that you cannot see. But fret not: it can be done! Here are 7 ways to break free from emotional captivity, and how to prevent it at the same time.

1. Release Cognitive Fusion

Cognitive fusion refers to a concept whereby you become “fused” with certain thoughts. This means that you start to feel as if you are your thoughts, preventing you from distancing yourself from negative things that enter your mind. This can mess with your sense of self and lead to decreased positive thinking, worsened mental disorder symptoms, and captivity in your emotions.

Emotions can come from anywhere, but they shouldn’t define you. When things go wrong, you need to make sure you view your thoughts as separate from you. Avoid saying things like:

I mess everything up!
I’m a failure!
I’m such an awful person!

These kinds of statements fuse your sense of self with what you feel, even when what you feel isn’t a real reflection of who you are. It’s a dangerous form of emotional captivity. Instead of using these sentences, try instead:

Wow, that was super embarrassing; I’d better learn from this!
I made a mistake, but I’m capable of fixing it!
I’m a good person, so I will apologize for what I did!

2. Notice Your Patterns

Emotional captivity involves a series of cycles. It means trapping yourselves in the same situations again and again, often not realizing that they’re recurring. If you tend to always find yourself in specific predicaments even though everything else around you has changed, it’s time to look inward and see what your issues are. Pay extra attention if you often say:

Why do I never get the chance to…
This always happens!
Everyone always treats me like this.
No one ever lets me…
I just keep getting hurt all the time!

If your complaints today are the same ones you’ve had for years, pause. Look at yourself carefully. Why are these problems continually happening to you, even when the people in your life are different and you’re physically in a different place?

It hurts to acknowledge that you may be a part of your own problems. But even when your own role is one where you aren’t entirely responsible for your predicament, remember – these things are cycles. If you find yourself in a cycle, it’s time to think about how to get out.

3. Be Kind To Yourself

Self-compassion is something often overlooked. People talk about self-care but neglect to realize that being kind to yourself is about more than just that.

When you are stuck in emotional captivity, you may find that you simply cannot be kind to yourself, no matter what you do. You talk down to yourself, you don’t cut yourself any slack, your expectations are high, and you forget that you’re a human being who makes mistakes.

Being kind to yourself is one of the most important parts of breaking away from the mental chains that hold you back, and science supports it. Here’s how self-compassion can help you free yourself from your emotional captivity:

· Increased Happiness

When you’re kind to yourself, you are more likely to experience a positive mood, better happy characteristics, and even improved optimism. This includes improving your personal initiative, bravery in curiosity, and even your wisdom!

· Stronger Resilience

Emotional captivity gets worse when you face adversity, which can further trap you in its clutches. Being compassionate to yourself can help you face your hurdles head-on, according to research, often resulting in faster emotional recovery from difficult events.

· Better Body Image

For many, body image issues play a huge role in emotional captivity. Self-compassion can help reduce feelings of body shame and aid in the development of more positive views of your body. This may include appreciating your body more, being less obsessed with appearance, and being less concerned with weight.

· Reduced Psychological Distress

Anxiety, depression, and even stress can add to the strain of emotional captivity. But studies show that being kind to yourself can reduce the severity of symptoms from these mental health issues.

· Boosted Motivation

Breaking free from emotional captivity requires a desire to change and motivation to improve, and being kind to yourself can help improve that! Research has found that the positive thinking that comes from self-compassion can help people feel more motivated after experiencing failure.

· Better Self-Worth

There are many factors that go into healthy self-esteem, but one of those factors is self-compassion. Studies have found that being kind to yourself can help you stay positive regarding yourself, even when directly faced with evidence of perceived imperfection or inadequacy.

While high self-esteem often depends on external circumstances and social comparisons, self-compassion comes from within. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Personality Psychology Compass reports that self-compassion allows you to continue feeling good despite instances of failure, perceived inadequacy, and imperfection.

4. Limit Negative Thoughts

Have you heard of the concept of positive affirmations? The science behind them suggests that the more you tell yourself good things, the more you internalize and manifest that good in your life. As it turns out, that same concept applies to bad things, too.

It’s easy to get caught in cycles of negative thoughts, and it’s much harder than it seems to snap out of them. But research indicates that these types of cycles can result in negative outcomes for your mental and physical health, suggesting that positive thinking can do the opposite of that.

In other words, emotional captivity can be self-imposed, and it can also be self-fulfilling. Trapping yourself emotionally by repeatedly thinking only the worst thoughts can cause those thoughts to become true. Scary stuff! That’s why you need to limit your negative thoughts in order to free yourself from their trap-filled downward spiral.

5. Detach Yourself In The Right Ways

You shouldn’t detach yourself from your emotions, from your truth, or from your goals in life, but there are some things that you should separate yourself from. Emotional captivity can often be further locked in when you put too much stock into certain unimportant factors. The trouble is that those unimportant factors can seem awfully important at first. Here are some things you should detach yourself from if you want to detach your mental chains:

· What Others Think

People will always have something to say, no matter what you do. Determine whose opinions truly matter to you and start caring only about those. And, even with those special and lucky people, make sure you never consider their opinions more crucial than yours. It’s great to receive and learn from feedback, but you shouldn’t be controlled by others and their thoughts about you!

· Material Things

It’s tough to deny that having nice things is fun, but they don’t mean anything in the long run. This isn’t to say you should commit to a minimalist lifestyle, though! It just means finding a balance between the things you own externally and what truly matters, which is what you have within you.

· Fear

Fear is a part of life, and you can’t eradicate fear from your journey – but you can learn to detach yourself from it. Remember, bravery is not the absence of fear: it is about learning to find strength even when you are afraid. Understanding that fear shouldn’t control you is a powerful way to break free.

· Resentment

Resentment and grudges can build up and tether you to old trauma. You don’t have to outwardly forgive someone to detach yourself from resentment. Simply decide that these people are in the past and that your energy is better spent on future endeavors, not on them. You deserve more than for those who hurt you to hold you back.

6. Let Yourself Cry

Some people equate crying with weakness, but that’s not what it is at all. When you cry earnestly, especially when you sob your heart out and release your emotions, you’re letting go of stress and pain. It’s a positive, self-soothing behavior, and it can lead to mood lifts afterward.

Sometimes, you just need a good cry, and there’s no shame in that. Emotional captivity can be caused by holding in all of your feelings. Simply letting yourself sob as hard as you need to can be enough to help you feel better, and it’s a powerful first step out of your mental chains.

7. Take Responsibility

Holding yourself accountable may be the most important step in freeing yourself from emotional captivity. Realizing that your entrapment is in your hands and that it is your responsibility to break out is tough, but it’s also necessary. Once you realize that the power lies with you, then only can you move forward. Here are some ways to take responsibility for the act of freeing yourself from emotional captivity:

· Stop Blaming Others

Circumstances, people, and life situations can always cause some struggle in your life. But at the end of the day, you decide how you react to these situations. You can make the best of them, learn from them, and find ways to get out, or you can sit there and wallow. If you wallow for months or years, that’s on you!

· Learn From Mistakes

Each mistake comes with lessons to learn. So learn them. Instead of letting errors suck you in further, recognize your part in those mistakes and learn how to prevent or avoid them in the future.

· Be Aware Of Your Emotions

Getting caught in your emotions isn’t fun, but you can learn to stop this pattern. When you feel those negative emotions, learn to recognize them quickly, identify what triggered them, and find your way to resolve or manage those feelings in healthy ways.

· Choose Differently

As we’ve mentioned multiple times, emotional captivity is about cycles. So the next time you find yourself in a cycle, choose to not continue it. Choose to do something different. Choose to learn, grow, and deviate from the well-worn path. Only you can make that choice, so take responsibility for it!

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Break Free From Emotional Captivity

Emotional captivity is a horrible prison, but it’s one you can free yourself from. In your journey towards freedom from these chains, you’ll find your strength and power, and that in itself is a beautiful thing!

Great Green Wall in Africa Will Protect Villages and Create Jobs

March 29, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

The Great Green Wall in Africa will span 8,000km across the continent, creating jobs and providing food security for millions. Since the initiative came to life in 2007, workers have completed around 15% of the wall. The natural wonder restores the rapidly degrading landscapes in Africa, creating a better environment for everyone along its path.

The wall provides a solution to many urgent problems facing the world – namely, climate change, drought, famine, and migration. After the wall’s completion, it will measure three times the size of the Great Barrier Reef. The wall will then become the world’s largest living structure.

About the Great Green Wall Project in Africa

The Great Green Wall began in Africa’s Sahel region, at the southern edge of the Sahara desert. Millions of people here live in poverty and face devastating impacts of climate change. Due to global warming, the area experiences frequent droughts, food insecurity, conflicts over scarce resources, and mass migration to Europe. However, because of the wall, communities here have a reason to stay.

Now, abundant life springs forth from creating the wall, improving people’s well-being and stability. With the wall comes jobs, food security, and a better quality of life for millions. The creators of the wall say that the impacts are far-reaching. It goes beyond just the Sahel region’s people – it symbolizes that humanity can heal the Earth together.

While climate change impacts us all, we can choose to work with nature to lessen the consequences. If nature can grow back in such arid places like the Sahel, it shows we can overcome adversity everywhere. The wall is a beacon of hope for humanity, a reminder of how we need nature to survive.

The wall will support life for generations to come, helping communities not just survive, but thrive. Last month, the wall initiative received millions of dollars to aid in its completion.

Africa is brimming with such inspiring stories, and exploring its rich landscapes offers a unique way to witness this transformation firsthand. Platforms like African Budget Safaris make this possible by offering tailor-made, private safari experiences that are accessible to all.

Whether you dream of standing in awe of Africa’s breathtaking wildlife or ticking off your bucket-list adventures, this platform provides a carefully curated list of tours designed to bring you closer to the magic of Africa without breaking the bank. From the golden savannas to vibrant wetlands, African Budget Safaris ensures that every traveler can experience the continent’s wonders in a meaningful and affordable way.

Here, the spirit of resilience and harmony that built the Great Green Wall comes alive, allowing you to connect deeply with Africa’s stories and beauty.

Funding for The Great Green Wall in Africa will help meet sustainability goals.

The Great Green Wall for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (GGW) recently received at least $14.326 billion US dollars in additional funding. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the news after the virtual ‘One Plant Summit for Biodiversity’ held in Paris on January 11. The Great Green Wall Accelerator provides 30 percent of the $33 billion needed to complete the wall by 2030. Top financiers include the French Government, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank.

“The mobilization of this additional funding will contribute to the achievement of the Great Green Wall goals,” said Mohamed Cheikh El-Ghazouani, President of Mauritania and the Chair of Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Pan African Agency for the Green Great Wall.

The Great Green Wall makes an important contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (known as the SDGs). These 17 goals created by world governments aim to eradicate poverty and inequity, creating well-being for all.

The complete list of sustainable development goals by the UN include:

No poverty
Zero hunger
Good health and well-being
Quality education
Gender equality
Clean water and sanitation
Affordable and clean energy
Decent work and economic growth
Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
Reduced inequalities
Sustainable cities and communities
Responsible consumption and production
Climate action
Life below water
Life on land
Peace, justice, and strong institutions
Partnerships for the goals

The Great Green Wall will contribute to an astonishing 15 of these 17 goals. By 2030, the wall aims to restore 100 million hectares of desolate land and create 10 million green jobs. The founders of the wall also aspire to capture at least 250 million tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere. To reach their goal of restoring 100 million hectares, they will have to repurpose 10 million hectares each year.

If you’d like to give power and a voice to this movement, you can share the page on social media. Also, you can sign a pledge which will help them lobby governments or donate directly here.

The natural wonder in Africa has come a long way.

The initiative began in 2007, originally involving 11 African countries. The wall provides an eco-barrier along the southern Sahara Desert from the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea. In the 1970s, the region once teemed with life and greenery. However, population growth, poor land management, and climate change transformed the oasis into a barren landscape.

Fast forward to 2019, and nine more countries decided to join in the movement to save Africa. Volunteers planted drought-resistant acacia trees across the width of the continent. A couple of years ago, the wall had only reached 15% completion but had made lasting impacts on participating countries. Over 12 million acres of barren land had been restored in Nigeria; 30 million acacia trees had been planted in Senegal. An astounding 37 million acres of land had been restored in Ethiopia as well, a remarkable achievement.

“The Great Green Wall is an inspiring example of ecosystem restoration in action,” said Susan Gardner, Director of UN Environment Program’s Ecosystems Division. “It is rapidly becoming a green growth corridor that is bringing investment, boosting food security, creating jobs, and sowing the seeds of peace.”

While the pandemic has created financial challenges for Africa, the ‘wall accelerator’ will keep the project on course.

Ghazouani said that it would,

“Enable our countries, in accessing the necessary funds, to increase local investments within the framework of the five pillars adopted and to strengthen the capacities of the national agencies of the Great Green Wall.”

“Pandemic recovery is our chance to change course. With smart policies and the right investments, we can chart a path that brings health to all, revives economies, and builds resilience. Innovations in energy and transport can steer a sustainable recovery and an economic and social transformation. Nature-based solutions – such as Africa’s Great Green Wall – are up-and-coming,” said António Guterres, UN Secretary General.

Final thoughts: The Great Green Wall in Africa will ensure the well-being of millions

This ambitious project in Africa shows the world what can happen when we work with nature instead of against it. With the completion of the wall, it will contribute toward many of the UN sustainability goals. The wall will also provide jobs, natural wonder in Africa, and improved life for communities along its path. Hopefully, the massive movement will inspire other similar projects around the world.

10 Habits That Cause You to Make Comparisons With Other People

March 29, 2021 by Power of Positivity

When you compare yourself with other people, you’re contrasting your life with theirs. This mindset causes you to either believe that other people’s lives are better than yours or worse than yours. It’s hard to break free from the comparison trap. Here are ten habits that you may be doing that cause you to make unfair comparisons about yourself to others.

Professor of organizational behavior Thomas Mussweiler explains comparison like this, saying, “It’s one of the most basic ways we develop an understanding of who we are, what we’re good at, and what we’re not so good at.”

These Ten Habits Cause You to Make Unfair Comparisons

Of course, if you’re always making unfavorable comparisons about yourself, you’ll feel like you’re not good at anything. The lens you use to look at your life will make your life look worse than everybody else’s life. These thoughts will destroy your self-esteem over time.

1 – Envying other people

Envying people causes you to feel jealous of others. According to one study, envy is looking downward or upward in social comparison. It divides rather than unites. When you envy others, you end up making negative comparisons with yourself. Typically, when you’re feeling envious of somebody else, you won’t feel good about having these negative feelings. Being envious of others will cause you to not focus on the things you need to do because you’re distracted by your envious thoughts.

What’s the difference between jealousy and envy?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, envy is your discontent with what other people have and their advantages. It’s having covetous feelings about another person’s looks, possessions, or career. Jealousy is feeling suspicious and upset by someone who is your rival. Jealousy and envy get used simultaneously by most people even though they are very different.

2 – You see people as your competition

When you see others as your competition, you rank them as better than you or worse than you. You feel like you need to “beat” them in looks, dress, and how well your kids behave. This type of comparison is exhausting because you are always on alert, making sure they aren’t “winning.”

Your self worth gets tied up in how well you think you’re doing compared to everyone else.

3 – Judging other people before you know the facts

Judging people causes you to assume you know other people’s motives. You’re critical of what they do, even if you don’t see why they’re doing things. You see them as either better or worse than you. You don’t like what they do or how they do it. At the same time, you may feel intimidated by them.

Judging is never helpful. It can lead to gossip and rejection of people. Judging can come back to bite you since you’ll gain a reputation for being overly critical and challenging to get along with. In the end, you’re the big loser when you judge others and compare them to yourself.

4 – Believing that others lives are perfect

Perfection is overrated, plus it is not reality. No one’s life is perfect, no matter how it looks to you. Social media can give you the illusion that other people have perfect lives. Online people tend to share the good stuff, but you don’t see the other stuff going on in their life. It’s easy to compare your life to these people and feel like you got a bad deal. Remember, for every “perfect” post that gets shared. There is a whole story behind it that you don’t know.

5 – Feeling like your life is more demanding than everybody else

Years ago, your parents or a teacher at school may have told you, “Life isn’t fair.” You probably didn’t like them saying that. It felt so harsh. Surely life must be fair. Sadly, as you’ve gotten older, you probably realize this truth.

But you may still be tempted to feel like everyone else has a more comfortable life than you do. When you compare your life to others, you feel discontent and irritated about your life. Everyone has difficulties in their life, and sadly, some people have more challenging things than others.

But focusing on all that’s wrong with your life won’t help you. You will feel miserable and angry. Step back from your life and get a good evaluation of what’s good and less favorable.

Are there things you can change to make your life better? If so, try to do them, but if many of the hard things are out of your control, it may be time to look for the small bit of light in the darkness. This can help you guard against bitterness and anger.

5 – Preoccupied with your past mistakes

It’s easy to focus on your mistakes. Perhaps you’ve made some bad choices in your life, or even more complicated, maybe somebody made terrible choices for you. Perhaps the decisions you have caused your life to be tough. When you’re preoccupied with the mistakes, you miss out on what you’re doing right.

Your mistakes don’t define who you are or how you live. If you compare yourself to others because you’ve made some bad mistakes, it hinders you from trying new things. You worry you’ll make another mistake. Don’t live in the shadow of your past errors or other people’s mistakes.

Instead, choose to look forward without comparing your life to others.

6 – Anxious thoughts

Sitting around ruminating about all the things that aren’t right in your life causes you to compare yourself with others. You’ll feel negative and unhappy as you dwell on how bad your life is in comparison to your neighbors, your church friends, or the parents of your child’s best friend.

Anxious thoughts weigh you down and keep you from enjoying your life. Resist the urge to give in to your anxiety and worry about your life. Stop comparing it to others whose lives look so much easier.

7 – Dwell on what others do right

But when we dwell on the highlights of other people’s lives, it can quickly become toxic. We’re wired for connection and belonging, but if we always compare ourselves to others, we’re putting our happiness, confidence, and mental health at risk.

8 – Ungrateful for what you have

If you find yourself wishing you had more all the time, good chance you struggle with feeling grateful for what you do have. It’s human nature to compare yourself to others, but if you become obsessed with comparing yourself all the time, you’ll miss out on the good in life. Step back and take a look around.

There is probably a long list of things and people you can be thankful for. Even the smallest good thing in your life is worth celebrating. Shift your focus and see what you have rather than what you don’t have in life.

9 – You do not accept yourself

You are a unique person. There’s no one like you. Perhaps you don’t like this truth, because you wish you were someone else. When you compare yourself with others, they become your standard of measure; they are what you think you want in your life. It’s important to value who you are, even with all your imperfections. Celebrating who you are can help you stop comparing yourself, so you are free to live your life growing, creating, and caring for others.

10 – Too much social media

One habit that accentuates comparison is too much social media. If you’re bombarded with other people’s success, wealth, and beautiful houses, it makes you feel like you have a dreary life in comparison. We are not all skinny Instagram models! Even if these people share their hardships online, you may feel like their worst days can’t be as bad as yours.

One study found that too much online social networking is linked to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Keep your social media in check. Give yourself a break once in a while and find other things to read or do online. You may be surprised how happy you feel.

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others and Re-gain Self Esteem

There are some positive ways not to compare yourself to others. Here are a few practical steps you can take.

Gratitude:

Taking time each day to look for things you’re grateful for in your life can help you overcome the comparison trap. Keep a gratitude journal. Write down the good things in your life. You can reread what you wrote on challenging days.

Contentment:

Contentment gives you a sense of satisfaction that your life is enough. You can be happy with where you’re at in your life instead of worried about what others are doing. You can set goals in your life, but not because you’re trying to “beat” out other people. Remember to set goals to grow and become the best you that you can become.

Celebrate others:

When you’re comparing yourself to other people, you are self-focused. It blinds you to the good others are doing. When your friend tells you they’ve gotten a promotion at work, you can’t feel happy for them because you are focused on yourself. Try to look up and outward, see what others are doing, and enjoy their good fortune.

Final Thoughts on Kicking the Habits That Cause You to Make Unfair Comparisons

When you compare yourself to others, it eats away at your sense of identity since you’re always looking to others to figure out who you are. It’s hard to break free from the comparison trap, but it’s worth it. Find ways to stop comparing yourself to other people and enjoy who you are and the life you have. You’ll be surprised how happy you feel as you embrace being you.

Mexico City Joins Other Cities in Banning Single-use Plastics

March 29, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Mexico City recently enacted a ban on single-use plastics, joining dozens of other cities around the world. This expands upon the restriction of plastic bags, which the city banned last January. The broad ban on plastics includes items like straws, forks, containers, and balloons. After more than a year of preparation, the ban took effect on January 1, 2021.

That day, Mexico City’s environmental secretary Tweeted that “from today on Mexico City [is] without single-use plastics.” The message encouraged people always to bring reusable containers for groceries or other store-bought items. Mexico City lawmakers first passed the ban on plastic bags, utensils, and other single-use items in 2019. In the past year, businesses and vendors have been adjusting to the new laws and researching plastic alternatives.

At street vendors’ stalls, light, biodegradable plastic bags have become more commonplace. Plastic straws have gradually been disappearing off street corners. Besides, buyers have been seen using their clothes or plastic to wrap around fresh tortillas. However, without the law being enforced with fines, some vendors still choose to use plastic.

On New Year’s Day, a tamale vendor used a plastic bag to wrap the food and offered customers plastic spoons. She said she knew about the ban. But with the pandemic, authorities haven’t been enforcing it. However, the woman said other vendors hadn’t been complying with the ban either. They’ve still been trying to figure out how to serve customers without resorting to plastic.

Hopefully, as time goes on, the government will help supply businesses with proper alternatives to adhere to the ban. According to the city’s environmental agency, Mexico City produced around 13,000 tons of garbage per day in 2019. Given that statistic, the ban seems quite necessary to quell plastic use throughout the city.

Mexico City isn’t the only city banning plastic.

China recently banned plastic straws and single-use bags as well. Other disposable plastic bans will follow while the country integrates biodegradable alternatives. Last March, the European Union banned single-use plastics in 28 countries, and the laws went into effect this year. Many other tourist destinations throughout Mexico have also seen new rules pass regarding plastics. According to the environmental organization Greenpeace Mexico, five municipalities and 22 states in Mexico have enacted bans on plastics since 2017.

The state of Quintana Roo in Mexico also banned plastic bags, utensils, and other disposable plastics, starting within 12 months. These laws will apply first to the islands of Holbox, Cozumel, and Isla Mujeres. They will then be enforced throughout the rest of the state, including Cancún, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. Of course, most of the laws will roll out in stages to start introducing alternatives gradually.

Mexican beach destinations have also started enforcing bans, extending from the Caribbean coast to the northwestern peninsula. Baja California Sur passed a law in July 2018 banning plastic bags, cups, straws, and polystyrene containers. The ban will go into effect in the state beginning this year.

In the U.S., some places have banned plastic straws, such as the following:

California
Seattle, WA and Edmonds, WA
Washington, D.C.
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Miami Beach, FL and Fort Myers, FL
New York City and Hawaii have pending straw ban legislation.

In 2019, San Francisco also banned the sale of plastic bottles. It became the first city in the U.S. to ban plastic bags in 2007. Hawaii and New York also have plastic bag bans. Delaware, Maine, and Rhode Island have statewide “labeling, recycling or reuse” programs.

How plastic harms wildlife, humans, and the environment

All over the world, cities and countries have started saying no to plastic. It seems the world is headed in the right direction, as more governments show concern about the environment. Because plastic doesn’t decompose, it creates hazards for wildlife and humans alike. Sadly, scientists estimate that humans swallow a credit card worth of plastic per week.

Studies show that plastics expose the human body to numerous hazardous chemicals. One of the most harmful is Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in plastic bottles and containers. A Canadian research team found BPA in the urine of a whopping 95% of the adults tested. Di (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), used to increase plastic’s flexibility, is another dangerous chemical found in plastic. Long-term exposure to both of these chemicals can result in these health issues:

Reproduction problems
Early sexual maturation problems
A decrease in male fertility
Promote aggressive behaviors
Increased insulin resistance
Obesity

As for the environment, a study by ecologists from the University of Toronto found that waterways have been disrupted by plastic pollution. The study published in September of 2020 reveals this about the scale of the plastic problem in our environment:

“The cleanup alone would require at least 1 billion people participating in Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup. This would be a Herculean task given this is 660 times the effort of the 2019 cleanup.” ~Stephanie Borrelle, University of Toronto

Some statistics on the plastic pollution problem

100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste.
An estimated 100,000 marine animals die from getting entangled in plastic yearly.
12-14,000 tons of plastic are ingested by North Pacific fish yearly.
In the past ten years, we’ve made more plastic than in the last century. By 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will outnumber the fish population.
The largest trash site on the planet is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which measures twice the surface area of Texas. Plastic there outnumbers sea life 6 to 1.
China is ranked #1 for mismanaged waste and plastics. However, the US is in the top 20, with more plastic consumption per person.
300 million tons of plastic is produced yearly, weighing as much as the entire global population. 50% is single-use only.
There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste estimated to be in our oceans. 269,000 tons float, while 4 billion microfibers per km² dwell below the surface.
Scientists have recently found microplastics deep in the Arctic ice.

Final thoughts: Mexico City joins many other cities in banning disposable plastics

Along with many other cities globally, Mexico City enacted a ban on single-use plastics, including plastic bags. Other towns throughout Mexico have followed the lead since 2017. Hopefully, one day we can have a plastic-free world so all life on Earth can thrive.

Is It Persuasion or Manipulation? Watch for These 12 Red Flags

March 29, 2021 by Power of Positivity

If you have a significant other, it’s normal to have a difference of opinion on occasion. It’s also a given that you both will use gentle persuasion to get your lover to have a change of heart. But even when you are trying your best to be persuasive, it still stays within the perimeters of love and respect.

The manipulative mate couldn’t care less about your opinions and will use anything in their power to control you. According to an article published by the Psychiatric Clinics of North America, manipulative and toxic relationships are often a sign of a narcissistic personality.

Red Flags That You’re Being Manipulated

Having meaningful conversations about differences of opinion support a healthy relationship. If one partner is a manipulator, the results are damaging to the other’s entire well-being. Here are 12 red flags that will show you the difference between gentle persuasion and cruel manipulation.

1. They Stay on Their Turf

If you are a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of the home-court advantage. It’s the psychological boost of confidence you feel when you are playing on your turf. Manipulators are the same way; they seem to work their best when you are on their territory.

Those who use persuasion don’t mind where they are discussing issues. Be aware when someone insists that you be at their place or in their office before you can have a meaningful conversation. They are hoping that you feel at a disadvantage when you’re in their space.

2. They Use Your Words Against You

Another classic tool of manipulative people is that they are masters at twisting the truth. Manipulators are excellent listeners, but not because they care about what you’re saying. They hang on to each phrase to figure out their next move.

When you least expect it, they will take your words and conversation out of context to use against you. They will put a little slant it in to make you look foolish or like a liar. If the ruse works, you may end up agreeing with them.

3. They Move Too Quickly in a Relationship

When someone is gently persuasive and wants a closer relationship with you, they don’t mind taking the time. Whether or not you believe in love at first sight, successful relationships aren’t built overnight. However, a manipulator with a hidden agenda works at warp speed to get in your good graces.

Are they a bit too touchy-feely before you even know them well? Perhaps they’ve already declared you both to be a couple before you’ve even considered it. Are they making big plans while you’re wondering about a second date?

4. They Twist the Facts for Their Advantage

Persuasive people don’t have to lie to make a point. However, manipulators thrive on twisting facts and conversations to make their opinions seem credible. They also aren’t above lying to secretly make you look like the bad guy and make them out to be the saint.

For example, suppose you plan an outing with your friends, and the manipulator isn’t happy about it. He may twist one of your friends’ words or concoct a reason why you shouldn’t go on your adventure. They may also exaggerate the facts to make them seem worse, so you’ll always side with them.

5. They Try to Outsmart You

Someone once said that nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Education, experiences, and talents were meant to be used as gifts and never as weapons to hurt people. Many manipulative people try to use their experiences and credentials to overpower or demean others.

It creates a toxic relationship that can make simple conversations seem like a battle. Does your significant other try to act intellectually superior to you? When they are trying to force their opinions, they may try to use their education as leverage.

Instead, those who use persuasion value your intellect, experience, and skill. They appeal fairly to your intelligence to decide on a personal or professional relationship. Manipulators pull out all stops to make their methods better than yours.

6. They Constantly Criticize You

A true lover brings out the best in you and offers sincere praise for your accomplishments. When you’re with them, you feel loved, worthy, and appreciated. If you are being manipulated, your self-esteem may burn out quickly due to the toxic environment. Manipulative people gain attention to themselves by belittling those around them, mainly their significant others.

It’s normal for a couple to argue and spew out a few criticisms. Some of the gripes may be false, but others legitimate. A manipulator is quick to criticize everything you do and speak. The plan is to eventually break you down until you feel too stupid and unworthy to say “no.”

7. They Try to Make You Feel Guilty

Nobody is above using a few guilt tactics to get their point across to another person. However, people who are easily guilted into doing things they don’t want can be targets for manipulators. These toxic personalities are virtual travel agents for guilt trips.

If your lover is using persuasion, they will highlight the positive aspects of their opinions. Manipulators depend heavily on guilt and goading. They usually have good memories and can use any past mistake against you so you wouldn’t dare speak up for yourself.

8. They Don’t Validate Your Concerns or Feelings

Someone who loves you and cares about your well-being will be empathetic to your feelings. Even if your perception is a bit off, nobody has a right to tell you how to feel or think about things. A true lover will validate your feelings as important and worthy to be heard.

Don’t expect such well-deserved courtesy from a manipulative mate. No matter your emotions or how passionate you feel about a subject, they’ll completely disregard you. They will spout off a scripted list of reasons why your feelings are unrealistic, petty, selfish, and worthless.

9. They Make Backhanded Compliments and Jokes

Shakespeare wisely penned that many truths are said in jest. Toxic and manipulative people have the skewed idea that you can negate an insult by saying, “just kidding.” They don’t care that they are the only one who’s laughing.

“Hey, I thought you said you lost weight. Just kidding.” These tormenting personalities use backhanded compliments. What may seem like a compliment at first is a disguised insult. If you are dealing with such manipulative abuse, understand that it’s cruel and has nothing to do with your sense of humor.

10. They Often Play the Martyr’s Card

A martyr is one of the four personality archetypes explained by an article published in the Journal of the Society of General Systems Research. Unfortunately, manipulative people are talented actors when it comes to persecution. The only difference is that they are pretending, and they’re only out for their benefit.

They know how to make the long, sad expressions and speak in a somber, long-suffering tone. How could you decide something on your own after all they’ve done for you? They’ve committed to memory any small deed of kindness they’ve ever offered you, plus some. They know how to turn the tables to make you look like you are taking advantage of their generous and loving nature.

Like most actors, manipulators do their best performances before a crowd. They can quickly tweak the conversation to make you look bad in front of friends or family. These award-winning acts are also meant to garner more support of them and less for you.

11. They’re Always Better

In every group of family, friends, or coworkers, just about everyone has that irritating person who is a “one-upper.” No matter what you’ve done or seen, they have done or seen better. If anyone is daring enough to mention an accomplishment, look out for the volley of “better than” statements.

It’s even worse in a toxic relationship when your lover is trying to manipulate you. They will often try to minimize any of your skills or achievements so you will back down. After all, they think that they are better at everything, including running your life.

12. They Engage in Gaslighting

This term was coined from an iconic movie starring Ingrid Bergman. According to the story, her character’s husband was a manipulator and tried to make her think she was losing her mind. He would do little things like leaving the gaslights on downstairs and convince her that she forgot to turn them off.

This eponymic trick is still a favorite of manipulative people. They may try to put words in your mouth or make you seem unbalanced in front of others. The whole time, they act with false sympathy as they continue to erode your confidence and independence.

Final Thoughts on The Difference Between Persuasion and Manipulation

When your person is using persuasion, you may change your mind and feel good about it later. However, subtle manipulation can use verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, and you may not even realize it. If you are in a toxic relationship with a manipulative person, your next independent decision may be to walk out the door.

10 Life Lessons to Learn from Beverly Cleary

March 27, 2021 by Deborah Tayloe

America is mourning the loss of Beverly Cleary, one of the best-loved children’s authors of all time. Ms. Cleary left this earth on March 25, 2021.

Beverly Cleary connected with children and helped them sort through daily life problems in a relatable, easy-to-read manner that captivated generations of children. Some of her beloved characters include:

Ramona
Beezus
Ralph S. Mouse, aka Ralph the Motorcycle Mouse
Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy
Socks the cat

According to the author’s official website, she based her characters and storylines loosely on her personal experiences growing up in the small town of McMinnville, Oregon.

Although she’s gone, the lessons that we learned from Ms. Cleary’s stories live on in our hearts. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable final words of wisdom from Beverly Cleary.

10 Life Lessons to Learn from Beverly Cleary

The wisdom of Beverly Cleary gave so many of us a good foundation–kindness, empathy, and a love of learning. We share some valuable takeaways along with corresponding Beverly Cleary quotes that prove each statement.

1 – Learn to be proactive in making change.

“If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” ~Beverly Cleary

This advice echoes the famous “be the change” quote from Mahatma Gandhi. Life is what you make of it. You have the power to shape your outcomes in a very intimate way. Instead of complaining about things not being the way you wish, set a goal and take action.

In a very literal sense, this quote almost certainly inspired many authors to muster up the courage to transfer the words that dance in their brains onto paper.

2 – Reading is fundamental to lifelong learning.

“Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.” ~Beverly Cleary

Children who enjoy reading are more likely to perform better in school and develop better study habits than their peers who don’t perceive reading as pleasurable. That’s not just an opinion. The National Assessment of Educational Progress report agrees.

Year after year, the study concurs that reading is the fundamental basis for developing good learning habits and determines whether a student enjoys academic success.

So how do you make reading more pleasurable for your little ones? Try these things:

Take your child to the library to choose their own book.
Read to your children from an early age.
Cut off electronic devices, gaming systems, and the television. Instead, carve out time for reading.
Be a reader yourself!

3 – You are your child’s first and most influential role model.

“Children want to do what grownups do.” ~Beverly Cleary

That segues well into the next life lesson. We mentioned above that you should be a reader to inspire your child to form better reading habits.

This concept is important because your children are watching you…always. Even if you think they are engaged in another activity, they still tune in to you from time to time.

When you develop a positive habit, like taking up reading as a hobby, they will want to emulate that behavior.

However, you can also inadvertently influence your child to form negative behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs. For example, Columbia University warns that children of people who use nicotine products are more likely to struggle with nicotine addiction when they grow up.

So remember always–their little eyes are watching, and little ears are listening. They want to do everything that you do.

4 – Take time “offline” to experience an authentic life.

“We didn’t have television in those days, and many people didn’t even have radios. My mother would read aloud to my father and me in the evening.” ~Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary came into the world on April 12, 1916. Her childhood was far different than the world our children explore today.

In a broad context, this quote represents Cleary’s reflection to a simpler time, family togetherness, and treasured evening spent with her parents in a wistful, poignant memory.

But how does this relate to raising happy children in our fast-paced society?

“Unplug” your life. Release those you love from the stress of keeping up with friends on social media and online peer pressure. Plan activities with your friends, family, neighbors, and village. Let them experience their senses through the real world, not a virtual wasteland. You and your loved ones will grow from the opportunity to forge authentic connections.

5 – Develop empathy to grow your relationships

“What interests me is what children go through while growing up.” ~Beverly Cleary

Perhaps the reason that we all loved reading one of Ms. Cleary’s stories was that it felt like she wrote it just for us. Each individual learned to navigate life during our formative years with her guidance every step of the way.

The remarkable empathy and care that Ms. Cleary used as she shaped each story are evident as we look back.

Imagine how you could grow your own relationships if you applied that same empathy in your life! If you really understand how another person perceives the world and understands their thoughts, you can build a stronger bond. So put yourself into someone else’s shoes and dig in deep. Then watch how your relationship with that person can flourish.

6 – We must all become problems solvers.

“Problem solving, and I don’t mean algebra, seems to be my life’s work. Maybe it’s everyone’s life’s work.” ~Beverly Cleary

Everyone needs to develop a way of solving the everyday problems we encounter throughout a lifetime.

Every person has a unique set of circumstances and struggles. You never know what someone is going through. Some people might be caring for ailing parents while someone else has financial distress. Life will always throw curveballs. But you can reclaim your power over those unexpected (and sometimes unwelcome) problems by learning to take them in stride and solve them one by one.

Learn how to play to their strengths and find a support system to help them when they need an assist. Because asking for help in resolving a problem is definitely an okay strategy, as well!

7 – Spare no expense in sharing love with other people.

“Love isn’t like a cup of sugar that gets used up.” Quote from Ramona the Brave

When you love someone, you might find it hard to express how deep the love is for that person. This love can be romantic in nature or “agape” love for a friend or neighbor.

You pour out your love to people in both large and small ways every day. Whether it’s doing a big favor for a friend who asks you to help them move across a state or a little act of kindness like tucking a sweet note into your partner’s lunchbox, you show love through action.

But just because you do these things, you don’t run out of love! Continuing to demonstrate how much you treasure someone does not deplete the reserves of love in your heart.

So continue to be kind and loving to those around you, knowing that this emotion is immeasurable — pour some out, and it will replenish itself in your soul.

8 – People will misunderstand you sometimes.

“Nobody understood. She wanted to behave herself. Except when banging her heels on the bedroom wall, she had always wanted to behave herself. Why couldn’t people understand how she felt?” ~Quote from Ramona the Pest

The quote above expresses Ramona’s feeling of frustration. She feels misunderstood and all alone, so she rails at the unfairness she feels at that moment.

But the truth is, we all feel that way many times during life. It’s up to each of us to check our emotions and rectify these situations. Only by dealing with these misunderstandings can we flip from a negative place and back into positivity.

The key to doing this is through honest, open, and clear communication. Don’t avoid those difficult discussions. Set some ground rules for a safe conversation, hash out the misunderstanding, admit your fault in it, and move forward.

9 – It is normal to change your mind.

“I wanted to be a ballerina. I changed my mind.” ~Beverly Cleary

We all change our minds about things; this change is a normal part of life. Some call it change, while others call it growth or progress. Regardless, feel free to evolve without worrying about being judged by other people. This path is yours to walk.

10 – Make time for yourself.

“That was the trouble with this house. A girl couldn’t even carry on a telephone conversation with any privacy.” ~Quote from Fifteen

Ms. Cleary wrote these sentences through the eyes of Jane Purdy, the teenager in her coming-of-age novel, Fifteen.

But does this not sound familiar to you still today? It might feel like you can’t take ten minutes of me-time to chat with a friend, grab an extra-long shower, or take an evening walk to enjoy some fresh air.

You need these moments for self-care both to physically distance yourself from the rigor of daily living and as a mental break to prevent feeling overwhelmed.

A study published by the National Institutes of Health agrees that people who embrace the concept of self-care enjoy a more positive life. So don’t apologize for it. Instead, explain to your loved ones that you must set a boundary. Please start taking care of yourself!

Final Thoughts on Learning Life Lessons from Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary taught us life lessons that we carry with us today in adulthood. She helped us walk through childhood, and many of us are blessed to have children who are now learning the same things from this incredible author.

Belgian Researchers Pinpoint the Exact Cause of IBS

March 26, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Belgian researchers have recently traced the cause of IBS to certain biological mechanisms in the body. The KU Leuven team hopes that their findings will lead to better treatments for IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders.

The study, published in Nature on January 13, 2021, was performed in both mice and humans.

Around 20% of people globally suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes acute abdominal pain or discomfort following a meal. Other common symptoms of IBS include:

cramping
bloating
gas
diarrhea, constipation, or both
loss of appetite
indigestion
inability to eliminate bowels
nausea

What causes irritable bowel syndrome?

The cause of IBS may include the following:

Muscle contractions in the intestines. The intestinal walls have layers of muscle lining them, which contract as food passes through the digestive system. If the contractions last longer and seem more intense than normal, it can cause symptoms like diarrhea or bloating. On the other hand, weak intestinal contractions lead to slow digestion and constipation.
Overactive nervous system. If the nerves of your digestive tract become imbalanced, you may experience more discomfort after meals. Scientists believe weak signals between the brain and intestines are one cause of IBS. These signals may cause the body to overreact to stages of the digestive process, resulting in abdominal discomfort.
Severe infection. An infection caused by a bacteria or virus can also lead to IBS. Scientists believe that excess bacteria in the gut is another cause of IBS.
Childhood trauma. This one may seem surprising, but researchers have found that early life stress can cause symptoms of IBS. Stress seems to negatively affect gut bacteria, which in turn can lead to gastrointestinal issues.
Gut dysbiosis. In other words, this means an imbalanced gut. When your microbiome becomes unhealthy, it can create problems throughout the body. Changes in bacteria, fungi and viruses within the gut may lead to IBS.

The research from Belgian scientists sheds new light on the cause of IBS

As you can imagine, this disorder can severely impact one’s everyday life. While remedies such as gluten-free diets can help, scientists are still baffled as to why this works. Since patients don’t have allergies to gluten or other foods, researchers believe there’s a deeper biological reason behind it.

“Very often these patients are not taken seriously by physicians, and the lack of an allergic response is used as an argument that this is all in the mind, and that they don’t have a problem with their gut physiology,” says Professor Guy Boeckxstaens, a gastroenterologist at KU Leuven and lead author of the new research. “With these new insights, we provide further evidence that we are dealing with a real disease.”

How histamine plays a role in IBS

The Belgian team identified a mechanism that becomes activated when foods with histamine are consumed. Called mast cells, histamine can cause pain and discomfort in some people. Previous studies by Professor Boeckxstaens and his colleagues found that blocking histamine leads to improvements in people with IBS.

However, in a normally functioning intestine, the immune system doesn’t overreact to foods. So, scientists wanted to pinpoint the mechanism causing the intolerance to histamine. People with IBS frequently report that they start having symptoms after coming down with a gastrointestinal infection like food poisoning. So, scientists decided to study how an infection in the gut might cause an overreactive immune response to a particular food.

They started by infecting mice with a stomach bug and simultaneously feeding them ovalbumin. This is a protein in egg whites that is frequently used in experiments as a model food antigen. Antigens are any molecules that trigger a reaction in the immune system. Once the mice got over the infection, the researchers gave them ovalbumin again to test their immune response.

Results from the study on the cause of IBS

The team found that the ovalbumin by itself triggered a histamine release. This caused digestive intolerance and abdominal pain in the mice. However, the mice that didn’t get an infection or receive ovalbumin did not have this response. The researchers could then pinpoint what events in the immune response connected the ovalbumin to the histamine release.

Scientists found that the infection triggered an immune response only in a specific part of the intestines. In other words, the team didn’t observe more general symptoms typical of a food allergy. Professor Boeckxstaens explains that this finding suggests a spectrum of food-related immune diseases.

“At one end of the spectrum, the immune response to a food antigen is very local, as in IBS. At the other end of the spectrum is a food allergy, comprising a generalized condition of severe mast cell activation, with an impact on breathing, blood pressure, and so on.”

The researchers then wanted to see if people with IBS had the same reaction. The team injected food antigens linked to IBS (gluten, wheat, soy, and cow milk) into the intestinal walls of 12 patients. They found that the antigens triggered a localized response like the one observed in the mice. In healthy volunteers, the team said no reaction took place.

However, since the sample size was so small, more studies will need to be done in the future. So far, though, it seems that the research is promising since earlier clinical trials showed IBS patients improved with antihistaminics. A larger clinical trial of the antihistamine treatment is currently in progress.

“This is further proof that the mechanism we have unraveled has clinical relevance,” Professor Boeckxstaens says.

“But knowing the mechanism that leads to mast cell activation is crucial, and will lead to novel therapies for these patients,” he goes on. “Mast cells release many more compounds and mediators than just histamine, so if you can block the activation of these cells, I believe you will have a much more efficient therapy.”

Final thoughts: researchers believe histamine release in the intestines is the cause of IBS

In this groundbreaking study, a Belgian research team found that a biological mechanism that triggers histamine release may cause IBS. They also discovered that people are more vulnerable to developing IBS after getting food poisoning or other infections. The team hopes that their research will lead to improved treatments for IBS in the future.

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