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Keeping a Positive Focus Reduces Sadness in These 10 Ways

December 11, 2020 by Power of Positivity

There are two different types of people in the world: optimists and pessimists. They can be in the same situation, yet they react to it differently. Do you have a positive focus, or do you tend to dwell on the negative?

If you are a positive person, it’s not that you have a delusional sense of reality. Optimism doesn’t ignore the feelings of fear, grief, or frustration. It just helps you cope with reality in healthy ways.

Even the strongest optimists can have bad days and feel gloomy. The difference is that they don’t stay in a rut of negative self-talk. Instead, they use coping strategies to keep difficult situations in the right perspective.

When you awake in the morning, do you greet the sun with anticipation, or do you hide your head under the covers? Do you try to see the best in people, or are you sure that you can’t trust anybody? Are you surrounded by strength and joy or smothered by sadness?

If you feel depressed and discouraged, you should know that there’s hope. It’s just as easy to cultivate a positive attitude as it is a negative one. Perhaps you’ve had hurts and disappointments that hinder you from living your best life.

You can become an optimist and change your attitude about your life and circumstances. All it takes is for you to exchange your pessimist self-talk for an internal conversation of optimism. Optimistic and joyful people often attract other optimists and more blessings.

10 Ways a Positive Focus Improves Sadness

Are you ready to kick the sadness and bring more joy and satisfaction to your life? You’ll be surprised at the benefits you’ll see as soon as you make this change. Here are ten ways that keeping a positive focus can improve your sadness and increase your joy.

1. It May Reduce Depression

The fact that negativity and depression often go hand in hand isn’t surprising. People who have been diagnosed with clinical depression often say it starts with pessimist thinking. Mental health experts aren’t sure if the negative focus causes depression or vice-versa, but they know they are related.

Are you stuck living in the past? When you ruminate on past hurts and regrets, it can keep you stuck in despair. Living in the past prevents you from living a fulfilling life now.

When you have a positive outlook, it’s difficult to be sad and gloomy. You realize that nothing is forever, and you can make it as you’ve always done. Being an optimist can help reduce the draining effects depression has on your well-being.

2. Your Social Life May Improve

Remember the old saying that nobody likes a party pooper? Putting a pessimist in a social setting is like covering a campfire with a wet blanket. Even the liveliest conversations get smothered when somebody in the group has nothing good to say about anyone or anything.

However, maintaining a positive focus boosts your mood and lightens your conversation. Optimism is contagious and makes people feel good. They enjoy an optimist company because they can talk, laugh, and temporarily forget about their troubles.

3. It Helps Build Your Self-Esteem

Nobody is born with self-esteem. Instead, you depended on your parents and your growing up experience as a mold. If your childhood was adverse and unconducive to creating your self-worth, it is probably affecting you to this day.

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough and that blessings only come to other people? Perhaps you’ve never been happy with your appearance, your accomplishments, or your station in life. All this negative self-talk does nothing but undermines your esteem.

Learning to be positive can help you silence your internal negative voice, and you replace the destructive with uplifting affirmations. You begin to see that you are just as good as anybody else, and you are worthy of love, respect, and joyful life. It all starts with how you focus on yourself.

4. You Can Improve Your Relationships

Understandably, chronic pessimists usually don’t have lasting relationships. They are so busy complaining and wallowing in self-pity that they’ve no time for others. Even family relationships are strained when you are held hostage by your negative thought patterns.

Since pessimism is a small apple that rots the whole bushel, people tend to avoid those who do nothing but whine and grump. Such avoidance isn’t productive for any relationship, especially a romantic one. The more negative thoughts you entertain, the more you attract them.

Meanwhile, optimists tend to bond well with family and friends. They also make superb lovers because they can find hope in the bleakest situations. A positive attitude helps you remember who and what’s the most important in your life.

5. You Can Have More Joy

People often use the terms happiness and joy interchangeably. However, there is a difference between them. Happiness is temporary and depends on your present situation and state of mind. Even a pessimist can be happy for the moment.

While happiness is an emotion, joy is a decision. When you are experiencing hardships, and your situation seems beyond control, you have a choice. You can be miserable, or you can claim joy in your life. Either way, you still have the problems, but happiness can inspire you to work through them.

When you maintain a positive focus, you’ve decided to make joy a priority. Regardless of your circumstances, you’ll see the cloud’s silver lining. The more you practice being an optimist, the more fun you can expect to experience.

6. You’ll Give Up Grudges

Negative people not only hold grudges, but they get a skewed sense of satisfaction by doing so. Often, the nature of the offense was forgotten a long time ago. Pessimists remember that they were wronged, and they will nurture their bitterness.

Turning over to an optimistic view, frees you from a lifetime of bitterness and grudges. You’ll discover that forgiveness is a gift to yourself. Although it doesn’t excuse the offense or cancel the memory, you’ve broken the chains and can get on with your life.

7. You’ll Have More Gratitude

Did your parents ever tell you that you’ll never get more in life until you’re thankful for what you already have? It’s a sterling rule that so many adults have forgotten. An ungrateful spirit can never be satisfied and will stay embittered and jealous, no matter how blessed they are.

When’s the last time you sat down and expressed gratitude for all the beautiful people and blessings in your life? Optimists rise above materialism and petty jealousy. They are gracious and express gratitude for everything, which builds spiritual wealth.

8. You Can Develop Better Habits

When you are feeling hopelessly cynical, you often forget to take care of yourself. A pessimistic attitude may lead to mental, physical, and spiritual issues. You also may be more apt to fall into substance abuse, especially if you have an addictive nature.

A positive focus allows you to love and appreciate your body, so you’ll take care of it better. Maybe you’ll be inspired to follow a healthier diet and fitness plan as recommended by your healthcare provider. Positivity and self-love can make it easier for you to seek help to break your unhealthy habits and addictions.

9. Your Health May Improve

No, positive thinking is not a miraculous cure for diseases and disorders. However, many studies show a correlation between optimism and higher chances of recovery. Did you know that negative thoughts can foster undue stress?

Having too much stress can wreak havoc on your whole body. You can be more prone to mental illness and severe ailments like heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and many others. Positive focus can ease tension, improve your health, and enrich your well-being.

10. You Can Inspire Others

Who are some of the people you admire the most, and what are their qualities? As you reflect on your list, you’ll notice that these are individuals who believed in themselves and made a positive change in their world. Your list probably won’t have names of those who are negative and have zero initiative.

Do you want to immolate your role models? If you’re going to be like them and make an impact for good, you need positivity. Think about people like Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Martin Luther King, or Clara Barton. Their positive focus left no room for negativity or defeat, so they became the changes they wanted.

You need not be a superhero to inspire those around you. People are drawn to those who are focused on positive outcomes and joyful living. Even more than the things you say, they are impressed by your actions.

Final Thoughts on Keeping a Positive Focus to Reduce Sadness

Are you tired of being in the dumps all the time and existing instead of living? Learning to develop a positive attitude can give you the determination to make changes in your thought patterns. If you need help, there’s no shame in working with a mental health professional on your goals.

10 Tips to Help You Achieve a Slimmer Waistline

December 11, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Marilyn Monroe had a waistline that was considered perfection. At 23.5 inches, she was a size 6-8 dress size and the envy of all women. While a skinny waist has never gone out of style, today’s woman likes a little curve to go with it.

Yes, a nice round booty or some “junk in the trunk,” as people say, is said to be attractive. How does a lady get rid of the excess weight from around the waist and keep the curves that make her look desirable? The good news is that when you make some tweaks to your exercise regimen and diet, then you can develop curves in the right places while losing fat in others.

To get that waistline you desire, you need to have a body fat composition of around 40 percent. When you lose weight from the mid-section, it can emphasize those curves by making your bottom look more significant. However, if you want to be like Monroe, you’re going to have to make some drastic changes to your lifestyle.

Ways to Slim Down Your Waist

If you’re serious about that svelte figure, then you need to develop the proper mindset. Your body can be sculpted through lots of hard work, but there is no easy way to go about it. If you’re ready to jump in headfirst, then here are ten ways to slim down your waistline.

1. Don’t Skimp on Breakfast

Though there is some debate on whether you need to eat breakfast to lose weight, it’s always good to start your day on a full tank. It’s best to eat fiber and protein to help keep you fuller for more extended periods.

Also, be sure that you at least have one eight-ounce glass of water to help keep you hydrated. Did you know that many times people think they’re hungry and it’s thirsted their body craves?

2. Change/Modify Your Diet

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a woman needs to eat between 1,600 – 2,400 calories each day. A man needs around 2,000 to 3,000. Now, if you want to lose weight, you need to create a deficit in your calories.

A pound is equal to 3,500 calories, so if you need to lose 1-2 pounds per week, you need to create a deficit of around 7,000 calories. For a lady, that would be shaving off around 1,000 calories a day at the 2,400-daily level. Figure what you need to lose and what you’re eating now, and do the math on what you need to consume to reach your goals.

3. Incorporate Healthy Fats

It would help if you ate healthy fats to fuel your system. Healthy fats are also called polyunsaturated, and they include tofu, nuts, salmon, canola oil, and mackerel. These fats are essential to your diet because they help boost your brain function and lower bad cholesterol.

Unhealthy fats are called trans fats. These are used to make things like crackers, margarine, and sweet treats like cookies. The bad part about these fats is that the body doesn’t use or absorb them as quickly, so they are left behind in the abdomen. Avoid using these fats so that you can help improve your waist.

4. Get Your Daily Water Intake

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a woman needs around 2.7 liters of water each day, which is about three-fourths of a gallon. A man needs about 3.7 liters, which is or roughly gallon. Now, consider how much water you currently drink and how much your body needs?

Each of your organs has a significant percentage of water in its makeup. Plus, when the body flushes toxins, including excess fat, it uses the fluids to push it through the urinary system. If you want to lose weight, then you must get your daily water intake.

5. Do More Cardio

The best way to sculpt your waist is by doing exercise. Cardio is one of the best ways to burn unnecessary fat all over your body. Many people tend to gather fat in the hip area, which commonly spills over into the waist. Since cardio works the entire body, it helps keep your blood flowing and getting oxygen to the muscle groups.

You will burn many calories if you do just a 30-minute cardio workout, and you should strive to do this about four times a week. What are the best exercises in this group? Things like cycling, swimming, aerobics, running, and dancing are some of the most popular.

The great thing about cardio is that it’s excellent for those who don’t have ample time to go to the gym or need a little diversity in their routine. Just remember that you need to warm up and cool down after this vigorous workout.

These waist training exercises can help you get trim.

6. Wear A Waist Trimmer Workout Sweat Belt

Do you remember the old-fashioned corsets that were worn years ago? Women felt that having a small waist was an indication of beauty. Today, corsets seemed like torture devices, as many women couldn’t breathe. However, shapewear has taken its place.

If you want to get your waistline to a great range, you can try some training to use waist-cinching belts. These can be considered the modern-day corset covering only the necessary area. You can wear them under clothes. Not only do they make your waist look thinner, but it can also encourage the region to constrict by heating the area and promoting weight loss.

7. Power Up the Squats

Squats are a hallmark exercise when it comes to sculpting. They help build muscles in the legs and booty area, but they also help make the waist appear smaller. Plus, since you’re burning fat along the way, you can get rid of those love handles and sculpt that midsection.

8. Try Doing the Russian Twist

Since your waistline is the problem area, why not try an exercise that focuses on this region? Using twisting motions, you can burn the fat that harbors in your sides and tone those muscles. This exercise is easy to do.

Find a comfortable area to sit on the floor. Now, you want to keep your feet flat on the ground but bend your knees till they are near your chest.

Next, lean backward so that you have a 45-degree angle between your mid-section and your thighs. Keep your spine straight, and your feet firmly planted to keep you from losing your balance. Clasp your fingers together and put them out in front of you.

Now, turn to the right as far as you can go. Stop and pause for a few seconds, then turn your body to the left as far as it will go. Do ten reps for each side to feel the burn in your waist.

9. Fill Up on Fiber

Fiber is essential to your diet, and there are two types that you should familiarize yourself with. Soluble fibers are found in oats, carrots, beans, citrus fruits, barley, and apples.

Insoluble fiber is found in products that contain whole-wheat and nuts, beans, and leafy green vegetables. It would help if you had all varieties to help keep you fuller for longer, and it will help keep your digestive system regular as you attempt to lose excess weight around your waistline.

10. Try an Infused Spa Water to Burn Fat

Spa water is all the craze these days for those who want to flush the fat. It’s regular water with grapefruit, oranges, and lemons sliced and marinated in the H2O overnight. The citrus blend in this health drink is rich in d-limonene, which reduces dangerous toxins from the body.

Essentially, it’s going to kick your bowels into overdrive to get rid of things that aren’t good. Additionally, citrus fruits are rich in antioxidants, and they are known to help you flush the fat out with those toxins.

Final Thoughts on Having A Slimmer Waistline

Before you start such an endeavor to slim your waistline, you need to have realistic expectations. Not every lady can have a perfect 24″ waist, and it’s okay to be uniquely you. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average size of a lady’s core in this country is 38 inches.

Since each body is different, you shouldn’t expect yourself to fit into the mold of someone like Monroe, who had made poor lifestyle choices. The CDC also says the average woman weighs about 170 lbs. Where do you fall on their average parameters?

It’s okay to be different, and it’s okay to fall outside of societal norms. The key is to be healthy. However, if you want to reduce your waist size, some genius tips and tricks can help. From drinking spa water to adding cardio to your day, there are tons of little things you can do to make a significant impact.

The Adventures Of The World’s Most Charming Labradoodle

December 11, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

Reagan, a 6-year-old Australian Labradoodle, is probably one of the cutest dogs you’ll ever lay eyes on! His owner Sandy adopted him when he was eight weeks old, saying she knew he would change their lives. “That’s what puppies do. But I never imagined the positive impact he’d have on not only me and my family but on people all over the world,” she said.

Currently, Reagan has around 512,000 followers (and counting) on Instagram, and even has his own calendar, books, and website! He’s pretty much a global puppy celebrity, charming the hearts of thousands with his touching story. Sandy became a foster grandparent to an 11-month-old boy when Reagan, ironically, turned 11 months old. She nicknamed the boy ‘Little Buddy,’ and he and Reagan “clicked the moment they met and became the best of friends.”

Sandy often dresses them alike and records them hanging out, posting cute videos of them on Instagram. “Looking at photos of the two of them, you could almost feel the love they share,” she said. The uplifting, heartwarming story of their relationship led to Sandy writing three books about them. A portion of the proceeds from the books supports children in foster care, which makes the story even better!

Sandy says that she and Reagan are a perfect match because she loves photography, and he loves to model! Reagan makes people smile and is truly a light in the world for so many. Wherever he goes, people can’t seem to get enough of him. “He adds a bit of joy to an otherwise stressful day.”

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A post shared by Reagandoodle (@reagandoodle) on Jan 18, 2018 at 8:07am PST

Reagan in the limelight

From the website, when fans asked if Sandy would ever stop brightening their day with the adorable pics, she said:

“You, my friends, are the ones that brighten MY day. I love seeing your ‘likes’ on social media and reading your sweet comments. My goal, when I first started my IG, was to post a pic every day for a year. I’m happy to say that I have posted every single day so far, and in August, it was 3 years! I don’t plan on stopping any time soon – I’m having way too much fun.”

What great news, because pictures of Reagan never seem to get old! He seems to love the camera, but Sandy says it’s probably because treats are usually involved. (Dogs will do pretty much anything for some treats, after all). Most of the sessions are short and sweet, and Mom makes sure that the kids and Reagan always have matching outfits on.

Reagan now has a little sister, too. Sandy and her husband adopted a baby girl one year after Little Buddy came into the picture. She came to live with the family when she was just two days old, and everyone was immediately smitten with her. Since they are registered foster parents, they got a call asking, “A baby was just born and needs to go into care. Can you come pick her up?” They didn’t even have second thoughts about it, and she’s been with the family ever since.

A little about the Labradoodle breed

Started in Australia, the A.L. breed was founded by a man who wanted to find a hypoallergenic service dog for his wife. Reagan is mixed with lab, poodle, and a few other breeds, including Cocker Spaniel. Sandy and her husband decided on a labradoodle because they are joyful, sociable, and very clever. They are also easy to train and are very good with children and families.

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A post shared by Reagandoodle (@reagandoodle) on Jan 12, 2018 at 9:22am PST

Labradoodles have playful, comical energies and love to stay active! They quickly learn unusual or special tasks and are highly intelligent. Non-aggressive and friendly, they make the perfect service or therapy dog. Reagan is a little smaller than the average Labradoodle, weighing in at around 45 pounds.

In case you were wondering, Mom gets most of his clothes from Target, Carters, Old Navy, and Children’s Place. Apparently, kids’ clothes can work just fine with dogs, too! Sometimes Sandy puts pants on him and cuts a slit so his giant fluffy tail can fit.

As for Reagan’s diet, he eats pretty much whatever his brother is eating, if he can. His absolute favorite food is peanut butter, but his family makes sure to buy him a healthier kind that’s lower in fat. Called PB2, it contains 85% fewer calories and has no added sugar. He eats a raw food diet because it keeps his coat shiny and makes him healthy and strong!

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A post shared by Reagandoodle (@reagandoodle) on Jan 24, 2018 at 4:22pm PST

He also loves cookies, pizza, burgers, and tacos, though, made dog-friendly, of course. He enjoys any dog treats, too, so his diet is pretty versatile. However, he sticks to a mostly raw diet.

Final thoughts on Reagan the Labradoodle dog

Based on the Instagram pictures, it seems like Reagan is truly living his best life, taking it all in with his brother, sister, and loving parents. He does everything with them and hates being left alone. Although he spends most of his time with the family, they make sure he’s well-taken care of when they go on vacation. Reagan gets to stay at a special doggie Bed & Breakfast spa so he can socialize with other dogs while the family is away.

We hope you enjoy looking at some adorable pictures of Reagan! We had a hard time choosing a few from all of them, so if you’d like to check out more, you can do so here.

10 Self-Confidence Killers You Should Always Avoid

December 11, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you consider yourself a confident person, or do you use negative thinking patterns to define who you are? It’s a slippery slope that can lead you to more profound self-doubt, depression, and anxiety. The good news is that you can build your self-esteem just as you can exercise to build muscle. How? By avoiding these self-confidence killers.

It takes a commitment and changing your thoughts and lifestyle. You needn’t have anything less than fulfillment, joy, gratitude, and confidence. By nature, some people are more assured of themselves than others. Experts say that children are born with a neutral sense of themselves. How they are raised, socialization, and other factors can either build confidence or tear it down.

Your first mentors were your parents. When they used positive words and affirmations, it allowed you to believe in your blossoming abilities. Encouraging words like “you can do it” or “it’s okay, you’ll do better” go a long way to building childhood esteem.

However, verbal and emotional abuse at a young age can set the pattern for low self-worth into adulthood. Soon, you may begin to think you are unworthy, unwanted, and substandard. It forms negative thought patterns that evolve into habits that can be damaging mentally, physically, and spiritually.

No matter how old you are or how deeply ingrained your self-defeating thoughts and actions are, you can overcome them. It requires a complete reversal of how you think about yourself. Conversely, the golden rule also means that you should treat yourself just as well as you treat others.

Have you noticed any habits you have that may affect your self-assurance? With some work and possibly some therapy, you can break these habits and trade them for ones that cultivate self-worth. It’s time that you realize that you are just as good as everyone else.

Habits That Are Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence Killers

Recognizing unhealthy habits is the first step toward better thinking. You are on your way to building the esteem you deserve. Here are ten self-defeating habits that you can identify and change.

1. Staying in a Negative Atmosphere

Being in a constantly negative atmosphere is like being in a room with low oxygen. It may be okay for a while, but soon you’ll have difficulty breathing. Negativity is highly contagious and can affect the strongest person.

Do you surround yourself with toxic people who are always bringing down your mood and self-confidence? Instead, try to hang around those who create a festive atmosphere that makes everyone feel good about themselves. While you’ll always have to deal with toxic people at some time or other, you still can choose not to bring them into your inner circle.

2. Feeling Like Everyone Else Gets the Advantages

It’s only human when you are struggling to make ends meet and wonder how others seem to be blessed in every way. Self-pity and petty jealousy can create negative thought patterns that can suppress your self-confidence. You may start to think that you aren’t good enough or that you’ll always be plagued by bad luck.

Remember the old saying that nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors? Even the wealthiest people on earth have problems that weigh heavily on their minds. When you realize that materialism won’t buy you joy, you can see the blessings you do have and be grateful for them.

3. Overthinking Situations

If you want to build more self-confidence, you must stop overthinking about everything. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t do research and think about making crucial decisions in your life. When you aren’t confident in your abilities and decision-making skills, you constantly overthink things.

Overthinking about decisions and situations can make you overstressed. Numerous studies warn that stress can lead to mental issues, coronary disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and even premature death. Learn to trust your instincts and know that you can make wise decisions and that some situations are out of your control.

4. Using the Wrong Body Language

Did you know that your body language speaks louder than your voice? The next time you are around several people, make a mental note of each person’s posture and body language. When you see those who are slouching and dragging their feet, you may assume either they are ill or lack self-confidence.

How do you carry yourself? Do you have a straight posture with open, friendly body language that says you have confidence? Positive body language and good posture not only makes you feel better about yourself, but it also has a positive effect on others.

5. Living in the Past

We all know a few people who keep their minds in the past. You’ll notice that they rarely use the present or future tense when they are talking. Of course, reminiscing about the great times you had years ago can be fun and healthy, but the past can’t take over your life.

A mindset of the past can be especially harmful when you are constantly ruminating about painful memories. It drains you of any self-confidence and can fill your life with doubt, hurt, resentment, and depression. Living in the present makes you happy for who you are and what you have now.

6. Keeping Track of Your Faults and Failures

Did you know that Stephen King’s first novel Carrie was rejected hundreds of times? Still, he pushed through the sting of rejection to make the classic horror movie that has become iconic. He went on to write 86 books, and many of his books became box office hits. You enhance your self-assurance when you use your failures as learning tools for success, as King did.

You’re also not alone when it comes to faults and shortcomings. However, healthy and confident people will own their mistakes, apologize, and learn from them. Instead of using them as a battering rod, use your faults and failures as a ladder that leads to your best self.

7. Forgetting to be Grateful

Some may think it’s clichéd, but counting your blessings is one of the best life lessons you can practice. When is the last time you contemplated the beautiful things in your life? Plus, have you thought about being grateful for the things you “don’t” have?

Gratitude is a precursor of self-confidence and a radiant personality. As you note your many advantages each day, you feel blessed, joyous, and secure in yourself. Some people find it helpful to keep a gratitude journal for daily or periodic writing and reflection.

8. Comparing Yourself to Others

Unfairly comparing yourself to others is one of the main self-confidence killers! It’s human nature to size yourself up to the appearance and abilities of others. Thankfully, this comparison is part of the competition and working to better yourself. However, it becomes a problem when it erodes your self-worth.

The media and Hollywood often set unrealistic expectations of people, especially women. Most beautiful people on screen and pictures have the magic of light, cameras, makeup, photo enhancement, and plastic surgery. Remember that these are actors in fictional situations that are not a substitute for reality.

Maybe you unfairly judge yourself to friends and family you deem better looking, more successful, and more talented. When you can celebrate your individuality and be proud of your abilities and accomplishments, you’ll realize true self-confidence.

9. Allowing Fear to Take Over

Do you admire people who’ve looked danger in the eyes without flinching? Being brave and having courage are virtues that are greatly misunderstood. When you are courageous, you are still afraid, but you go past the fear to overcome your adversary.

If you are content with an attitude of defeat, it destroys your self-confidence and attracts more negativity into your life. Often, you’ll find that the things you fear the most rarely even happen. So, instead of being engulfed in the shadows of fear, you can be courageous one day at a time.

10. Keeping the Drama Going

Have you noticed that “drama” has become a buzzword in the media and many conversations? You may hear people call each other “drama queens” or quote many funny sayings about the overdramatic person. Although everyone has ups and downs in their lives, some people turn their lives into a soap opera.

Unfortunately, these dramatists often try to drag others into their negative scripts. These individual are true self-confidence killers! To sustain your self-worth and peace of mind, don’t get caught in these life-draining situations. Such negativity can only bring you down, and you’ll be cast in the soap opera again and again.

If you have a drama enthusiast in your life, refuse to be part of their games. While you can be empathetic, you needn’t take sides and be emotionally depleted. Save your time and resources for things that need your attention.

Final Thoughts on Self-Confidence Killers

You may be practicing some of these self-confidence killers without even realizing it. The remedy is to believe in yourself, stay positive, and show gratitude. When you keep these actions in mind, you will realize that you’ve always been “good enough.”

Woman Proves You Can Lose Weight Without Dieting

December 11, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

We all know the frustration of gaining weight after trying diet after diet and finding out they don’t actually work. Fed up with yo-yo dieting herself, Jacinta Mayora finally found a way to lose 30 pounds without committing to any specific diet. At her heaviest, she weighed around 220 pounds at the beginning of 2019. By committing to a healthy lifestyle and focusing less on what the scale says, she ended up finding a routine that truly works for her.

“I was always obsessed with losing weight. I’ve tried diet after diet, and at my lowest point, I even had an eating disorder,” she said. “Because of all the yo-yo dieting, I gained weight every single year, so I realized I needed a different approach to get a different outcome.”

So, she started eating healthier and going to the gym 2 or 3 times per week. Rather than following strict diets and trying to look a certain way, she simply listened to her body and intuition. “I didn’t focus on how my body looked; I just wanted to feel good.”

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A post shared by Jacinta Mayora (@jacintamayora) on Sep 30, 2020 at 9:29am PDT

Jacinta focused on health, not physical appearance

Despite not focusing as much on her physical appearance, she said not weighing herself felt scary in the beginning. She felt that she would gain even more weight if she didn’t closely monitor her calories and weigh herself frequently. However, she said, “When I let go of that thought, it was such a relief – it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders.”

Since she didn’t put as much pressure on herself, she felt a lot more freedom and flexibility with fitness and health. Ironically, not having fixed goals amped up her motivation and helped step her game up. She started going to the gym 5 times a week and got into boxing, weight training, and HIIT. “Variation made it so fun, and the fact that I was getting stronger kept me going.”

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A post shared by Jacinta Mayora (@jacintamayora) on Oct 7, 2020 at 8:58am PDT

Of course, even though Jacinta loves working out and eating healthy now, she still struggles at times. “I eat a bit too much, I gain some weight, but you know what? I don’t care,” she said. “I’m only human.” She knows that life comes with its fair share of ups and downs and that real transformation takes time.

She gives a great piece of advice in her video to us for anyone looking to improve their health: “Start from the inside cause you need to do it out of love, not out of hate for your body.”

What a powerful, beautiful truth! Every action we take will bear a consequence, so it only makes sense that hating your body will only draw more of that energy back to you. If you want real change, start by truly loving yourself as you are right now. That way, you’ll have much more positive energy to push you forward toward your goals.

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A post shared by Jacinta Mayora (@jacintamayora) on Aug 4, 2020 at 6:06am PDT

“My body is far from perfect, and yes, I still have insecurities, but it’s my living body. I finally learned to love every inch of it,” she said. “If I can do it, so can you!”

You can get a lot of motivational tips and posts from her Instagram page, where she’s amassed almost 33k followers so far. She truly shows what’s possible when you shift your energy from hate to love. Many of us struggle with choosing to love ourselves, but we all have that option. It’s pretty liberating and should give us all hope that at any moment, we can choose to write a new story.

When you resist your current reality and appearance, you only make it harder to move forward. However, by letting go of all expectations and just letting life flow through you, everything gets easier with time. Beautiful things and people will come your way, the more you trust yourself and choose to follow the path of love.

Jacinta is living proof that our bodies know exactly where they want to be if we just allow them to get there. In other words, by giving up restrictions and crazy diets, we can find our body’s natural set point. Perhaps the trick to lose weight without dieting is simple. Do not worry as much about calories, scales, and all these modern ideas about dieting that have overcomplicated health.

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A post shared by Jacinta Mayora (@jacintamayora) on Nov 9, 2019 at 7:28am PST

Final thoughts on how you, too, can lose weight without dieting

Simply move your body in a way you enjoy, eat healthy most of the time, and love yourself! Make sleep a priority, rest when you need to, and don’t hate yourself for missing a workout. We’re all on our own journeys here, and no one should feel they have to be perfect. As long as you do your best and make loving choices for yourself, you’ll feel good from the inside out.

As Jacinta learned the hard way, don’t fall for the crash dieting trap. You will only feel disappointed when you gain the weight back since your body will always try to make up the lost calories later. Consistency and persistence will get you much farther than trying to find shortcuts. So if you feel determined, you also can lose weight without dieting.

From her Instagram posts, it seems Jacinta has truly found her happy place and doesn’t cut out junk food when her body craves it. We hope you find inspiration from her story, and if you want to follow her, check out her Instagram.

Doctors Explain Why You Should Never Hold Back a Fart

December 11, 2020 by Power of Positivity

To a little boy, there’s nothing funnier than the noises they can make with their body. While it isn’t humorous to most adults, kids chuckle when they fart or burp as they feel like they’ve done something taboo. Actually, farting is quite normal, and it’s a sign that you have a healthy colon.

Some think the very mention of the word fart is offensive, so they prefer to use terms like a stinker, toot, cutting the cheese, fluffing, or the technical term to flatulate. Regardless of what you call it, you shouldn’t be embarrassed about this normal bodily function.

Did you know that the average person farts between 13-21 times each day? So, it doesn’t matter how prim and proper some try to be; their body will do what it was designed to do.

Interesting Facts About Bodily Gasses

Men usually pass gas way more than women because they’re not afraid to do it, and usually, they eat much quicker. Did you know that you’re taking in more air when you eat too fast than you should, which can build up in your system and cause gas? It sounds strange, but if you eat slower, you can better control the gas in your system.

Breaking wind releases gas from your body, which is called hydrogen, though most people think it’s called methane. This gas is almost as flammable as putting a match to fuel. Have you seen the videos where pranksters try to light their farts to see if it will catch on fire?

Sadly, many have burnt themselves because hydrogen is flammable, but it doesn’t have the potency of the gas in your car. Did you know that the size of your anal cavity can dictate how loud you flatulate? Those with larger anal openings tend to have quieter stinkers, while those with smaller ones tend to flatulate louder.

Women usually try to hold their gas in as long as possible to avoid embarrassment, but their sphincter muscles determine how long they can hold it.

This is why your dear mom or grandma might have a few slip outs when you’re around. Don’t worry if you tend to crop dust someone in the grocery store. They now make panty liners that can capture the gas and absorb it into the active charcoal layer, which means your foul smells can go undetected. So don’t hold back a fart, head for that section of the store!

What Is A Toot Anyway?

What is a fart? Gas builds up in your intestines from the air and food your body takes in. Your stomach, colon, rectum, and small intestines, are full of gaseous materials that aid in the digestion process. Only so much of this gas can be absorbed into the body, and the excess comes out in the form of a stinker.

As the gas fills into the upper part of your intestines, it puts pressure to release it on the colon wall. If you don’t dismiss this build-up, then the pressure will continue to mount. It can go as far as up into your chest area.

How many times have you heard of someone going to the hospital for chest pains only to find out they had an excessive amount of gas? Gas pains can feel as bad as those from a heart attack, and the two are easily confused.

When you flatulate, you release those gasses and bring relief to your body. Gas comes from four sources in your body; they are:

• The Foods You Eat

Some foods, like broccoli and cauliflower, have sulfur in them as they’re a cruciferous vegetable. Their high fiber content makes it difficult for the body to completely digest these veggies in the small intestines. So, undigested foods cause more significant gas content.

The flatulence from these and other similar foods often cause quite offensive gas when you release it.

• Excess Air

All-day long, you intake air into your body. When you’re talking, chewing gum, and eating, your body is intaking oxygen into your system. Did you know that carbonated beverages can also contribute to an overabundance of gas in the body?

When the body has too much air intake in the stomach and intestines, it must release it. Usually, stinkers that come from internal air won’t have such a pungent odor.

• Bacteria Overgrowth

Another reason why you pass gas is that you have an overabundance of bacteria inside the small intestines. You often see this with medical conditions such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

• Improperly Digested Foods

Your body has trouble digesting some foods, specifically complex carbohydrates. The small intestines’ enzymes work hard to digest what you eat, but they cannot fully digest foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. The partially digested foods travel down through your colon, and the body converts it into both hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Let Her Rip – Don’t Hold Back a Fart!

If you are embarrassed by breaking wind, you should know that it’s unhealthy to hold it back. Did you know that holding in all that excess gas can be bad for your health? Here are some common reasons why you shouldn’t feel bad about breaking wind.

1. It Feels Good When You Do Not Hold Back a Fart

Nothing feels better than to release the stomach pain and bloating that comes along with excessive gas. When you break wind, you release feel-good hormones in your system that are part of your rewards center.

So doing something as simple as tooting can make you feel better. Not to mention you’re releasing internal pressure that brings instant relief.

2. May Prevent Heart Disease

A shocking fact about how passing gas can help prevent heart disease and other severe conditions. When you smell the aroma from an unpleasant stinker, it helps repair things like mitochondrial cell damage. While the fumes of any gas can be toxic, a small amount can be beneficial.

3. It Warns You of An Underlying Issue

Did you know that your flatulence can tell you a lot about your overall health? People with bowel conditions or lactose intolerance or celiac disease can often help doctors diagnose their bloating and farting.

Excessive gas shows that the body has problems digesting food, indicating a medical problem that needs to be addressed. Additionally, a study found that people with diabetes tend to have more gas, especially if they take medications to remove excess glucose from their system.

4. You Gas Tells You Whether You’re Eating Right

Did you know that people who eat too many carbs and sugars tend to be gassier than people who eat a healthy diet? If you wonder if it’s true, then you should try to go a few days without eating any sugar and see what happens.

Additionally, those who overeat protein may have an issue with smelly gas. Your body will communicate with you when your digestive system is in trouble.

5. It Helps Stomach Pain

How many times have you heard that you need to chew your food thoroughly before you swallow it? Science supports that the first step in the digestion process begins in your mouth. Your teeth crush and chew the food to break it down so that the intestines can do the rest.

Once it’s inside the intestines, bacteria take over to break down the remaining bits. Bacteria automatically produces gas to help in this process. The gas buildup causes pain and boating that is uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable. When you release this gas, you will feel relief.

Final Thoughts on Why You Shouldn’t Hold Back a Fart

This topic tends to be one that proper people don’t talk about, and many try to hide. Yet, your body has specific functions that are part of the normal processes it needs to thrive. You usually get a lot of gas when the stool inside the colon is full, and the body is ready to release it.

Did you know that if you hold your stools, it can cause plenty of health issues? There are just some things that you don’t talk about with others, but you still need to know the importance of why these functions occur. Both good and bad things happen when you break wind.

Your body is releasing excessive gas, which makes you feel better. However, your system could be trying to warn you of a severe underlying issue that needs to be addressed. People who flatulate a lot can be consuming too much sugar or protein or have a problem like diabetes, acerbating the issue.

At the end of the day, if those around you can live with your gas, then it’s probably not an issue. Consequently, if you’re continually breaking wind and you can’t seem to control it, then it’s worth mentioning to your doctor.

Also, farts with pungent aromas can indicate a digestive issue. Since the gut and brain health connection is becoming more apparent, having a good digestive system is essential. Until science can fully explain, know it is unsuitable for your body to hold back a fart.

Researchers Reveal How Sea Otter Population Change Impacts the Climate

December 11, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

The size of the world’s sea otter population, changing because of warming oceans, may accelerate climate change, according to scientists. Limestone reefs that have been a part of Alaskan kelp forests for centuries have started to disappear.

According to an article shared on September 10, 2o20 in Science Daily, the authors believe that predator loss and climate change contribute to the reef destruction.

The research was performed by Douglas Rasher, a senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. He led the team alongside coauthors Jim Estes from UC Santa Cruz and Bob Steneck from the University of Maine.

“We discovered that massive limestone reefs built by algae underpin the Aleutian Islands’ kelp forest ecosystem,” said Rasher. “However, these long-lived reefs are now disappearing before our eyes, and we’re looking at a collapse likely on the order of decades rather than centuries.”

How sea otters contribute to this complex ecosystem

The coral-like reefs, formed by the red alga Clathromorphum neostriatum, have started to disappear due to sea urchins. After the urchins’ prime predator, the Aleutian sea otter became nearly extinct in the 1990s. Sea urchin populations increased dramatically. Without the sea otters keeping the urchin population controlled, they have begun to ground down the kelp forests. Now, scientists have observed that the coralline algae that form the reef is disappearing as well.

How sea otters impact the sea urchin populations

The red alga Clathromorphum produces a limestone protective skeleton that wards off predators. It has formed a reef teeming with diverse sea life over hundreds of years. However, now that kelp is quickly disappearing, urchins have begun to make their way through the alga’s hard shell to eat it. Climate change has greatly contributed to this occurrence and the decline in the sea otter population.

“Ocean warming and acidification are making it difficult for calcifying organisms to produce their shells, or in this case, the alga’s protective skeleton,” said Rasher. “This critical species has now become highly vulnerable to urchin grazing – right as urchin abundance is peaking. It’s a devastating combination.”

Scientists believe the huge reefs formed by the algae have played a crucial role in the Aleutian Islands’ marine ecosystem. Based on their age and size, they believe that they supported past increases in urchin populations. During the fur trading era of the 1700s and 1800s, sea otters were hunted almost to extinction. As a result, the sea urchin population rose dramatically, but the reefs remained virtually intact.

Rasher further explains:

“During the fur trade, Clathromorphum persisted through centuries where urchins presumably abounded. However, the situation has drastically changed this time around. Our research shows that sea urchin grazing has become much more lethal in recent years due to the emergent effects of climate change.”

Because of this, the algae adds bands of growth to its calcified skeleton each year. These bands show whether sea urchin grazing happened that year or not. By looking at these polished samples under a microscope, the team discovered that they could study the forest ecosystem’s history. This showed them that urchin grazing ebbed and flowed with the cycles of sea otter populations rising and falling. It also revealed that grazing rates had increased exponentially in recent years due to rising water temperatures.

The team also did a controlled study with live Clathromorphum and urchins in a laboratory that mirrored preindustrial and current water conditions. They also tested them in conditions expected at the end of this century. After three months, the team placed the algae and urchins together to assess the urchin die-offs due to water temperature and acidity. They found that lethal urchin grazing occurred at rates of 35-60 percent greater than preindustrial times. Under future water conditions, that rate grew by 20-40 percent.

Study outcome

This data shows that the reef decline due to urchins eating away at the alga’s defense systems is directly caused by climate change. The warming oceans and loss of diversity in the ecosystem are pushing it to a critical tipping point.

“It’s well documented that humans are changing Earth’s ecosystems by altering the climate and by removing large predators, but scientists rarely study those processes together,” Rasher said. “If we had only studied the effects of climate change on Clathromorphum in the laboratory, we would have arrived at very different conclusions about the vulnerability and future of this species. Our study shows that we must view climate change through an ecological lens, or we’re likely to face many surprises in the coming years.”

How to reverse this trend

Despite the alarming discovery, the study shows how we can stop the reef destruction by addressing climate change. Of course, we must urgently address the greenhouse gas levels in our environment. This requires the effort and coordination of governments and companies worldwide. Restoring the sea otter population in Alaska can help the region to revitalize the ecosystem and slow down reef erosion.

“This is exciting because it suggests that resource managers have opportunities to manage large predators in ways that can help slow the rate with which climate change is deteriorating our natural ecosystems,” Rasher said. “In the case of Aleutian kelp forests, restoring sea otter populations would bring many ecological benefits, and would also buy us time to get our act together on curbing carbon emissions, before this foundational reef builder is lost.”

Despite the threat of climate change, it helps to know that we can do something to mitigate its effects. If we do not curb our reliance on fossil fuels, however, the resulting ocean acidification could lead to mass extinctions.

How ocean acidification could cause mass extinctions

Ocean acidification occurs due to an increase in the hydrogen ions created from the absorption of Co2. This chemical reaction changes the pH balance of the water, causing acidity to rise. It also decreases the carbonate ions and calcium carbonate saturation levels. Furthermore, the ocean absorbs less oxygen from the environment because of the increase in Co2. This imbalance makes it very difficult for marine life to survive, as they need adequate oxygen levels.

Researchers and scientists noted in 2012 that the surface water up to 4 meters down had already warmed by .13 degrees per decade over the last century. According to a groundbreaking report in 2012 by Geophysical Research Letters, the ocean absorbs heat much deeper, up to 700 feet down.

What happens due to ocean warming?

Calcium carbonate allows much marine life, including coral, plankton, oysters, and crabs, to produce and maintain their shells and skeletons. Researchers have noted a decline in coral production, oysters, and pteropods.
Coral starts to bleach and die because of higher Co2 levels. Coral allows many types of marine life to thrive and helps maintain coastal landscapes. As they continue to die off, coastlines will start to disappear. This change will cause a huge die-off of fish and other marine animals.
FDA issued a report in 2012 stating that marine and freshwater fisheries provide 4.3 billion people with 15% of their dietary protein. The warming of our oceans will lead to massive declines in fish populations and make the surviving ones unhealthy for humans to eat. This shift could pose a huge threat to food security for billions of people.
Estimated financial losses from decreased fisheries expect to range from 10s to 100s of million dollars.
Coastal regions will likely see an increase in the frequency and severity of hurricanes, flooding, and other storms. This trend could displace millions of people worldwide.
Melting Antarctic ice shelves, as well as others in the Arctic, are contributing to rising sea levels. The oceans warm up faster in the Southern Hemisphere, and along with ocean acidification, this could devastate coastal areas.
The IPCC report in 2019 shows the warming trend continuing in recent years. The report states some of the effects of climate change will still occur even if we don’t surpass the 2C warming threshold.

Figuring out how to filter carbon dioxide out of the ocean and tackling our greenhouse gas problem should be a top priority. Although we might not be able to reverse climate change completely, we can at least stall some of the devastating effects. For future generations, we must act as stewards to our planet and its inhabitants. After all, there is no Planet B (yet).

Final thoughts on how sea otter decline contributes to climate change

You wouldn’t think sea otters would affect the climate very much, but their existence keeps other parts of the ecosystem in check. The sea otter preys on urchins in Alaska, which allows the kelp forests to thrive as well. With the decline of the sea otter, the urchin population has skyrocketed, leading to diminishing kelp forests. Urchins feed on the algae in the reefs, which is causing a threat to the entire ecosystem.

Ocean warming makes it difficult for algae to produce its protective skeleton, making it vulnerable to urchin grazing. However, scientists believe that by restoring the sea otter population, the ecosystem will return to equilibrium. The ocean warming trend may continue, but we can still do our best to protect the ecosystems of the ocean.

Brave Woman Loses Weight by Changing to a Positive Mindset

December 10, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

When someone loses weight, you probably attribute their success to diet and exercise, but mindset makes a big difference, too! Josephine Desgrand from Australia ended up losing 132 pounds in total by adopting a positive outlook. Of course, she also hit the gym and changed up her eating habits, but her newfound optimism pushed her through it.

When Josephine was 16, she reached her heaviest weight of 127 kgs, or almost 280 pounds. At that point, she realized she needed to make some serious changes, so she jumped right into a healthy lifestyle and never looked back. When someone feels that fire within and loses weight, it often ends up falling off very quickly.

“I lost in total, I’m pretty sure it was like 62 kilograms. So over 132 pounds, and that was in under 11 months! All by myself, all naturally”

Such a dramatic transformation can only happen when someone really wants to make a difference in their life. Oftentimes, it’s only by reaching our lowest point that we rise from the ashes and become our best selves. When a person loses weight, it doesn’t just change their physical appearance – they change for the better within, too.

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A post shared by Josephine Desgrand (@nolongerfatjosie) on Nov 7, 2018 at 2:59am PST

So, how did Josephine achieve such life-changing results?

“I started my fitness journey back in 2016. I was 16 years old and I was overweight,” Josephine says. “I was actually so exhausted of being overweight. I had tried so many times, so many different diets, to try and lose weight but nothing was working for me.”

She says at that time, she didn’t have the right mindset for losing weight, and hadn’t done enough research on healthy foods. So, she got to work learning all she could about food to understand what her body really needed to thrive. This served as the first stepping stone toward reaching her goals and feeling better in her own skin.

“I sat there and googled everything I could and tried to find as much information as I could.”

While she came across a lot of conflicting ideas, everyone seemed to agree on the negative health consequences of sugar and refined carbohydrates. So, she cut those out of her diet right away.

“So I started seeing results pretty much immediately. The first few weeks I could see a massive difference.”

Josephine decided not to weigh herself as she continued shedding pounds, but rather use before and after pictures to track progress.

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A post shared by Josephine Desgrand (@nolongerfatjosie) on Nov 3, 2018 at 5:59pm PDT

“At the end of two weeks or after a week I would compare my two photos, my beginning photo and my current photo, and I could see the minor little differences,” she said. “I would do that every couple of weeks and I would see so much change, and the first six weeks I lost 15 kilograms!”

That equates to around 33 pounds, which came from tweaking minor things about her lifestyle. Cutting out sugar, paying attention to the foods she ate, and getting regular exercise contributed to the weight loss. Of course, when someone loses weight, keeping up these good habits becomes a challenge. However, if you look at exercising and eating healthy as “treating yourself,” this mindset shift could make all the difference.

It’s all in the positivity

Most people view working out and choosing healthy foods as boring or restrictive. If you look at fitness as drudgery, you will have a hard time sticking to it long-term. However, if you choose to see the lifestyle change as something beneficial to your mind and body, you’ll want to keep at it.

As Josephine said, a positive mindset helped her stay on track and remain motivated to continue losing weight. She knew she didn’t feel good carrying around excess weight, but she had to shift her perspective to start seeing results. If you want to achieve any goal in life, it all begins within your own mind. Positive mantras and affirmations can greatly help you to realize your potential and move forward in life.

Just think how much you can accomplish in a year if you just get started today. You don’t have to go from sitting on the couch to running a marathon right away, either. Simply take that first step – sign up for a gym membership, cut out foods you know make you feel bad, or walk around your neighborhood. Every little step will take you in the direction you want to go.

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A post shared by Josephine Desgrand (@nolongerfatjosie) on Oct 5, 2018 at 1:54am PDT

“Today is my 2 year anniversary of the day I decided to change my life. I remember just clearly thinking, this is it – I am going to do this. I took control myself. I knew that it was me, and only me, that could make this change. I lost 60kg in 11 months and have maintained for just over a year. The biggest advice I can give is just keep going. Don’t give up. The time will pass anyway, so spend it creating the life you want. It’s your choice.”

Final thoughts on how someone loses weight through positive thinking

We all feel stuck sometimes in life, but only you can decide to take the reigns and make a difference for yourself. Don’t feel like you have to lose weight or look a certain way for anyone but yourself, either. If you compare yourself to other people’s journey, you’ll always feel inadequate. Just try to become better than the person you were yesterday, and you’ll inspire others in the process.

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A post shared by Josephine Desgrand (@nolongerfatjosie) on Aug 6, 2018 at 12:44am PDT

“Same girl, completely different life. It took me a long time to believe I could do it, but if you change your mind, you will change your body. I feel so proud seeing the results of my hard work and effort. Make the change. You got this.”

Experts Reveal 4 Ways To Access Your Mind’s Incredible Capabilities

December 10, 2020 by Lakeisha Ethans

Are you hoping to learn how to access your mind and harness its incredible power?

The brain is a mighty organ, capable of all sorts of amazing things. Sadly, most people will never get to reach the full potential of their minds, leaving a lot of that power to waste away and go untouched.

If you want to use all of your brain’s abilities, you need to know how to unlock those parts of it. Here’s how experts reveal 4 ways to access your mind’s incredible capabilities.

1. Lead Into Thought Productively

A lot of potential in the human brain goes unlocked because the brain naturally compares itself to what is common, not the very best that it can do. To change how the brain naturally begins to think of the world at bare-minimum or barely-above-minimum levels, you need to learn new ways of leading yourself into thought.

Essentially, if you don’t begin your thought process productively, you’ll wind up not being able to gain as much from your brain’s processing. Here are ways to unlock its capabilities more healthily by getting a better start, as explained by executive coach, neuroscientist, and author Dr. Robert Cooper:

· Pause

Your brain has a series of “default” settings that it immediately jumps into when confronted with a problem. You need to stop those settings from taking over before you get carried away with them. Before you allow yourself to react to difficulties, hurdles, opportunities, and challenges, intentionally take a pause. You just need a second of stopped time to dial back your brain and override it with some manual processing. Insert the delay and let yourself catch your bearings before moving forward.

· Be Curious First

In the practice of neuroscience, curiosity is actually something called the “need for cognition.” It refers to the desire to learn, know, and discover something in reaction to stimuli. Your curiosity is crucial in the adjustment of your brain, activating it to focus on learning over simply observing.

· Understand Why You’re Engaging Your Mind

It seems a little silly, but it will be hard to fully immerse yourself in a task without any purpose or meaning to your actions. Instead of thinking about extrinsic sources of motivation, like impressing your peers, think of intrinsic desire. What are your goals? What do you want to achieve? And why is an active, engaged mind so important for that purpose? Remember, life is about bettering yourself on your own terms and caring about your own opinions most. Keep your personal values and dreams in mind when you approach new, difficult, or fascinating situations and predicaments.

2. Seek New Experiences to Access Your Mind

Have you ever noticed that famous “geniuses” or inventive minds like Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci were all skilled in many different life areas? That’s because part of unlocking your mind’s potential and capabilities is exercising all areas of it, including ones you previously didn’t bother sharpening.

Cognitive neuroscience and psychology researcher Andrea Kuszewski, who works with the VORTEX Research Institute and writes about these topics, says that geniuses always look for novel and new things to learn and try. It’s a part of who they are and what makes them so brilliant.

This is because the act of seeking new things allows your brain to form new synaptic connections that continue to build upon each other over time, creating even more connections and boosting neural power. This means your ability to learn gets stronger with each new thing you pick up. It’s called neural plasticity, and studies have found that this is one of the key signs of intelligence.

Here are some recommended ways to boost your neural plasticity through the regular learning of novel activities:

· Take A New Route To Familiar Places

Most days involve a semblance of routine that makes it hard to find novel experiences. But you can create new things for your brain to learn by opting to try using different roads and shortcuts to get to your usual destinations. The brain can gain a lot of power and reveal many of its capabilities from this kind of positive learning!

· Expand Your Vocabulary

Research states that many parts of the brain are involved in learning vocabulary, including auditory and visual processing centers. Try reading more complicated works of writing and keeping a log of words you aren’t familiar with. Each day, pick one of those words to try and use five times throughout the day!

· Learn A New Language

A step up from just broadening vocabulary, this practice can provide positive benefits to multiple different cognitive factors. Bilingual people often have better visual-spatial skills, improved memory, and increased creativity levels. It can also help with switching between tasks and delaying cognitive degeneration in old age.

· Pick Up A New Skill

There are countless options for new skills that you can learn. You can start small with skills closely related to ones you already know, or you can opt to really challenge yourself with something out of your comfort zone. Either way, you’ll be boosting memory and providing positive space for your brain’s potential to break free!

3. Access Your Mind Through the Creative Process

Creativity does not necessarily refer to doing tasks related to the arts. Instead, it refers to creative cognition and creative thinking. But what, exactly, is creative cognition? Simply put, it is a form of divergent thinking that involves making associations between ideas, using cognitive flexibility to bounce between conventional and unconventional thinking forms. This also means using both sides of your brain at once.

According to Psychology of Abilities, Competencies, and Expertise Center founder Dr. Robert Sternberg, who works in research relating to maximizing intelligence, abilities are flexible, not fixed. This means that anyone can learn new skills to change to abilities, change to competencies, and finally master into expertise. Abilities can all be modified and adapted to different circumstances, creatively applied to new situations.

Of course, this does not mean that traditional forms of creativity are not equally important to your brain’s development. Rather, you should seek to balance multiple creativity types in your everyday life if you want to access the best capabilities of your mind. Here are the four kinds of positive creativity to tap into:

· Deliberate, Cognitive Creativity

This form of creativity involves collecting information about a specific subject and mixing it with all the skills you have to apply them and reach a goal. It’s most common as a feature in people who are exceptionally skilled in one area. It’s excellent for problem-solving, research, experimentation, and investigation, usually using the brain’s prefrontal cortex.

· Deliberate, Emotional Creativity

This form of creativity involves the intentional influence of emotion over productivity and progress. Those proficient in this form of creativity are often sensitive, emotional, and introverted, though they can still make decisions in logical and sensible manners as required. It’s a good mix of emotional thought with rational action that utilizes the brain’s cingulate cortex and amygdala. You’ve probably experienced this type of creativity when you have sudden moments of insight or ideas.

· Spontaneous, Cognitive Creativity

The best way to envision what this type of creativity can be is by thinking of Isaac Newton, who had a moment of sudden discovery when an apple fell on his head, and he thought of the law of gravity. This kind of creativity involves a revelation that occurs during rest after you’ve spent a long period of time agonizing over a solution to a problem without success. Essentially, it means you have sufficient knowledge, but you need a little more inspiration before you find the eureka moment. Honing this kind of creativity involves knowing when to take a break and trust that your subconscious knowledge will find its way to you.

· Spontaneous, Emotional Creativity

Most people call this kind of creativity an epiphany. It occurs when you have the same sudden revelation from the aforementioned kind of creativity and emotional variety. It’s what causes innovation and new ideas out of nowhere. It’s responsible for philosophical discoveries, scientific breakthroughs, and enlightened solutions viewed in brand new ways. They’re great discoveries and are best honed through the sharpening of artistic creativity and abstract thinking.

4. Get In Touch With Your Body

A healthy body makes a healthy mind of positive thinking. If you want to increase and access your brain’s capabilities, you need to be at peace with your body. So how can you make your mind one with yourself? Here are some ideas!

· Meditate

Meditation is undoubtedly one of the best ways to unlock your brain’s potential. It increases positive thinking, fine-tunes processing and memory, and helps you stay present and grounded. Try doing meditation daily, even if it’s just for ten minutes while you’re on the train. Over time, you can increase this duration as needed!

· Engage Your Senses

Try to engage multiple senses at once – if not all five – in the activities you do. This may have positive effects on your brain’s strength and will help keep you mindful and grounded at the moment. Pay attention to the world around you and how your senses interact with it!

· Practice Tai-Chi

Tai-chi is a wonderful form of exercise with numerous health benefits that only get more useful as you age. According to studies, long-term practice of it can actually alter brain structure and processing, leading to a larger volume of brain overall!

· Dance

Dancing is a great way to learn how your body naturally flows. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the act of dancing – especially when you’re learning dance moves – boosts your memory, speed, and processing ability. So learn some choreography online, join a dance class, or just start grooving to some music and inventing moves as you go!

· Keep Your Body Healthy

Your brain will suffer if your body isn’t in good shape. Eat a balanced diet, often exercise, get enough sleep, and keep yourself free of substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Access Your Mind’s Incredible Capabilities

No one can deny the power of the mind, and it’s a true shame that so many people waste the potential that it holds. Don’t let that be you! Start trying to access your mind’s incredible capabilities today!

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

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!