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15 Red Flags That Reveal a Diseased Liver

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Your liver is the largest organ in your body. The size of a football, your liver keeps you healthy through its many functions. But if your liver gets diseased, it can be life-threatening. Here are 15 red flags that reveal you could have a diseased liver.

What does your liver do?

It sits just under your ribs, on the right side of your stomach. Your liver filters your blood that’ coming from your digestive system before it goes to the rest of your body. It also removes chemicals and metabolizes drugs you take. The bile secreted by your liver goes back into your intestines, where it’s eventually removed as waste. Your liver also does these five things for your body.

Produces bile
Removes bilirubin, cholesterol, drugs, and hormones
Activates your enzymes for metabolism
Stores glucose, minerals, and vitamins
Helps your blood clot properly

Diseases in the liver

Some liver problems can be inherited from your parents, others can be caused by viruses. Some liver ailments go away over time, but others can turn into very serious illnesses leading to death if they aren’t treated properly.

Fatty liver disease

This liver disease can affect kids and adults. Your liver contains very little fat. But if fat builds up in your liver’s cells, it causes swelling and eventually damage. The excess fat can lead to cirrhosis, cancer of the liver, and sometimes liver failure. Studies show that in the last decade, about 30% to 40% of Americans have fat in their liver. Overindulging in too much alcohol can also cause a fatty liver, but the biggest problem today is obesity. Being overweight can cause your liver to build up fat.

Lifestyle changes are the best way to avoid fatty liver disease. Lose extra weight, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. Doctors suggest that even losing as little as 5% to 8% of your body weight to help reverse liver damage.

Viral hepatitis

Another common liver disease is viral hepatitis caused by five different hepatitis: A, B, C, and D depending upon the type of infection. Only 20% of all people in the world are affected by a hepatitis virtual infection, but the numbers are growing. In the United States, the most common viral diseases are A, B, and C.

You get exposed to hepatitis A and E through contaminated water or food. Other hepatitis viruses are passed by unsterile injections, coming in contact with blood, or other body fluids. Hepatitis B, C, and D are spread through sexual contact. Because those who have hepatitis don’t show any symptoms, they can spread the disease without realizing it.

If you get viral hepatitis, it can be treated with medication. Hepatitis A, B, and D are preventable if you get a vaccination. Other ways to prevent hepatitis include these precautions:

Washing your hands
Avoid contact with infected blood
Not eating contaminated foods or water
Avoiding drugs that can cause liver damage like too much acetaminophen (Tylenol), NSAID (Ibuprofen), and aspirin. It’s the most common cause of sudden liver failure.
Stay at a healthy weight
Exercise
Limit your alcohol
Eat a plant-based diet, consisting of organic foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

15 red flags that reveal you have a diseased liver

Liver disease can show up without much warning. Often there are little to no symptoms at first, so it’s easy to miss. Here are symptoms to look for.

1 – Jaundiced skin and whites of your eyes

Jaundice is the yellowing of your skin or eyes. The yellow is due to a high level of bilirubin, a yellow-orange color of bile.

2 – Abdominal pain and swelling

Fluid builds up in your stomach due to liver disease is called ascites. It’s one of the first symptoms of liver failure and advanced liver disease. This causes your stomach to swell and look big. You may feel like you can’t breathe, too.

Symptoms of ascites include:

Trouble breathing
Hernia
Fluid in the chest
Infection
Discomfort in the swollen stomach area

3 – Swelling in the legs and ankles

Edema is the buildup of fluids in your body tissues. When your small blood vessels start to leak fluids and it builds up in the surrounding areas. You may have a puffy face, legs, ankles, and feet if you have chronic hepatitis. Some people get stretched, shiny skin, or pitted skin where the fluids have collected. If you have mild edema, it may go away, and your doctor can give you a diuretic to help your body flush out the fluids.

4 – Joint pain

Hepatitis C activates your immune system to attack the viral infection. Because your immune system is hyped up, it causes joint and muscle pain which in turn increases your chance of getting more inflammation in your joints, making them hurt even more.

5 – Dark urine

If you suffer from hepatitis, your urine may turn a dark yellow almost orange color. This happens because of bilirubin being excreted through your kidneys. The high amounts of bilirubin can cause inflammation to your liver and sometimes a blockage of the bile ducts.

6 – Pale stool color

One red flag that reveals a diseased liver is clay-colored stools. Normal bile is a brown color due to bile salts, but when you have a liver infection, the production of bile gets blocked. This makes your skin turn yellow and your stools look pale, like clay.

7 – Chronic fatigue

If you’re fighting a liver infection, you may feel fatigued. Plus, if your liver isn’t functioning properly, you will also feel tired and listless.

These ten things can make you feel sluggish.

8 – Nausea

Hepatitis causes fluid to build up in your stomach so you feel nausea. Also sometimes bile ducts get blocked, which may cause you to feel nauseous and not like eating.

9 – Low-grade fever

If you have hepatitis, you may feel as if you have the flu with nausea, tiredness, achy, and loss of appetite. You may get a low-grade fever due to the infection because your immune system kicks in to fight off the infection.

10 – A tendency to bruise easily

If you have advanced hepatitis C, you will bruise and bleed easily. Some of this is due to the slow production of platelets that help your blood clot properly. In extreme cases, your nose, gums can start bleeding and you’ll have blood in your urine.

11 – Diarrhea

Hepatitis B and A sometimes causes nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These symptoms can develop slowly over time, eventually leading to jaundice and other symptoms.

12 – Loss of appetite

Studies found that loss of appetite is one of the main symptoms of chronic liver disease. It’s unclear what causes the lack of a desire for food, but it may be that foods don’t taste normal.

13 – Malaise feeling

Doctors define malaise as the feeling of something being “off.” If you have liver disease, you may not feel quite right, but you are unable to put your finger on what’s wrong. You may feel extremely tired or sleepy.

14 – Bad breath

Another red flag that reveals a diseased liver is musty or sweet-smelling breath. This means your liver isn’t filtering out toxic chemicals and substances in your blood. Sulfur builds up in your bloodstream, making its way to your lungs. So you emit a strong odor when you exhale air.

15 – Itchiness

Pruritus is another word for the itchiness you may feel if you have hepatitis. If you have cirrhosis, you may get pruritus because of the toxins that build up in your body since your liver isn’t working completely. So, the toxins accumulate in our bloodstream causing jaundice and itchiness. The itchiness can keep you awake at night. You may feel itchy in your feet and hands.

Some people even feel as if their internal organs are itchy. Doctors report that the itching is so severe that patients report feeling suicidal. Your doctor can give you some medication to stop the itchiness.

Final Thoughts: See Your Doctor Immediately if You Have any Signs of a Diseased Liver

Your liver keeps you healthy. If your liver gets infected or diseases, you may not know it at first. But over time, symptoms will begin to show up. You may feel like you have flu, become jaundiced, with a swollen stomach and fluid build up.

Eat healthy, exercise, and stay at a good weight to avoid a fatty liver, a huge problem right now in the United States as obesity continues to soar. If you travel overseas, be sure to get vaccinated to not get hepatitis. Limit your alcohol. All these things add up to having a healthy liver.

Don’t Ignore These 15 Symptoms of Heart Disease

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Your heart is an indispensable organ. It beats around 100,000 times per day, which averages out to around three billion heartbeats in your lifetime. A little larger than your fist, your heart is a muscle that pumps blood through your circulatory system. Because your heart is so important for your good health, it’s important to be aware of symptoms of heart disease. Here are 15 symptoms of heart disease you should never ignore.

What is heart disease?

The term heart disease is an inclusive term for several conditions that affect your heart’s function and structure. Heart disease includes blood vessel diseases like coronary artery disease, heart rhythm issues like arrhythmias, and congenital heart defects. Heart disease is often referred to as cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease includes the narrowing or blocked blood vessels so your body can’t get enough oxygen. Blockages cause life-threatening problems like the following:

Heart attack
Angina
Stroke
Arrhythmia

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Heart structure

Your heart has two separate pumping systems or chambers. There are a right side chamber and a left side chamber of your heart. The right side of the heart gets blood from your veins and pumps it into your lungs. In the lungs, this blood gets oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. The left side of your heart gets blood from your lungs. It then pumps the blood to your arteries and the other parts of your body.

15 symptoms of heart disease (or cardiovascular disease)

1 – Chest pains or twinges

This is a common symptom of heart disease. The pain is due to a blocked artery. You may feel a tightness or some pressure in or on your chest. Everyone describes it a bit differently. Some people say it feels like a big animal is sitting on your chest. Other people say they have a burning feeling in their chest. It can last a few minutes. It can happen when you’re active or resting. Call 911 if the symptoms don’t go away after a few minutes or if they get worse. Don’t drive yourself to the emergency room.

2 – High blood pressure or hypertension

Hypertension is when your blood is too forcefully hitting your artery walls. Your doctor measures this force by taking your blood pressure. There are usually no symptoms of high blood pressure. Check out the chart below to see the different blood pressure ranges from the American Heart Association.

If you don’t lower your blood pressure, you can have a stroke or heart attack. Exercise, eating less salt, and eating a healthy diet can help lower your blood pressure. If none of these things work, your doctor will give you medication to control your blood pressure.

3 – Stomach ache along with indigestion

During a heart attack, some people experience indigestion, nausea, or stomach ache. Women tend to have this symptom during a heart attack more than men. If you have stomach pain and any other heart attack symptoms, call 911 right away since you could be having a heart attack.

4 – Arm pain

Pain radiating down your left arm a classic heart attack symptom. The pain usually moves from your chest outward. Some people’s main symptom of a heart attack is only arm pain, so never ignore this symptom.

5 – Dizziness

If you have a combination of dizziness and chest discomfort, you may be having a heart attack. The dizziness is from your blood pressure dropping quickly because your heart isn’t pumping correctly. Call 911 right away. Never drive yourself to the emergency room.

6 – Jaw or throat pain

This is an unusual symptom of heart disease. But if you have jaw or throat pain and chest pain, it could indicate you have a heart attack. You should call 911 right away if you have this symptom, along with other heart attack symptoms.

7 – Sudden fatigue or extreme tiredness

This is a subtle symptom that is easy to ignore. If you notice that you’ve been exhausted over the past few months, you should make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor. Little changes are significant, so don’t ignore them. It could be a sign of early heart disease.

8 – Snoring

If you snore loudly, almost sounding as if you’re choking or gasping, it could be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea means you stop breathing while you’re sleeping. This puts stress on your heart and may cause heart disease. Make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss these symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe you a CPAP machine, which can help you breathe easier at night.

9 – Cold sweats

If you find yourself breaking out in a cold sweat and you’re not exercising or doing anything strenuous, this could be a sign of a heart attack. Usually, this symptom will show up with other heart attack symptoms. Don’t hesitate to call 911. Better safe than sorry.

10 – A long-lasting cough

It may surprise you to hear that having a cough that has lasted for many months could be a sign of heart disease. If you are coughing up a pinkish or white-colored mucus, this is a sign of heart failure. This happens because your heart can’t keep up pumping blood throughout your body, so blood leaks back into your lungs. Make an appointment with your doctor to have your lungs and heart checked.

11 – Swollen legs, ankles

Edema is a red flag for heart disease. If you have swollen legs, ankles, or fingers, your heart isn’t pumping properly, so that your blood is getting backed up in your veins resulting in bloating. Heart disease makes it harder for your kidneys to remove water and sodium from your body. This is another reason for edema.

12 – Irregular heartbeat

Everyone’s heart races once in a while, usually when you’re excited or nervous, but if it happens quite often, it could be a sign of heart disease. Talk to your doctor about what it feels like. Some people say it’s like drinking too much caffeine, and your heart beats fast. It could be a sign of atrial fibrillation, which needs to be treated medically.

13 – Migraines

Studies show that heart attacks are more common during a migraine, especially if you get migraines with auras. If you have heart disease in your family, you may not want to take migraine meds called triptans since they narrow your blood vessels. Talk to your doctor about controlling your migraines and your chances of having a heart attack during one.

14 – Being a parent

Okay, this is not as much a symptom as a lifestyle factor that contributes to heart disease. But parents have a great chance of having heart disease, and the chances go up for each child. It’s true of both men and women. For women, if you have your first period before 12 years old and your periods stopped before you turned 46, then you have a greater chance of having a stroke. Also, women who have had a miscarriage or a hysterectomy are at greater risk for heart disease.

15 – Being short

It doesn’t seem fair, but being short puts you at greater risk for heart disease. Every 2.5 inches less than the average height you are, it raises your heart disease chances by almost 10%. The average height for women in the United States is 5 foot 4 inches. The average height for men is 5 foot 9 inches. Short people have a greater risk of heart disease because shorter people typically have higher cholesterol levels.

How do you keep your heart healthy?

Heart health means eating foods that are low in saturated and trans fats. Eat a diet high in vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains. Limit your amount of sugar and salt. Eat lean meats and add fish to your diet at least twice a week. Other good heart-healthy choices include the following habits:

Exercise: Because your heart is a muscle, it needs a lot of exercise on your part to stay strong. Working out is a great way to avoid heart disease.
Stop smoking: This goes without saying. Smoking is hard on your heart and your lungs.
Lose weight: Keep your weight done to lower your cholesterol levels and prevent blockages.
Don’t overeat: Overeating leads to weight gain. Follow the American Heart Association healthy nutrition guidelines.
Limit your stress: Stress affects your heart. Of course, you can’t limit all stress, but find ways to relieve your stress like exercising.
Take vitamin D: Vitamin D is a great heart-healthy vitamin to include in your diet.

Final Thoughts on Dealing with the Symptoms of Heart Disease

You can keep your heart healthy and strong by eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and having an annual physical check-up. But even with these preventative heart measures, your heart may get diseased. If you have several of these symptoms of heart disease, don’t hesitate to call 911. You could be having a heart attack. Be sure to have an annual check-up every year so your doctor will check your cholesterol levels and your blood pressure levels. If they are high, your doctor may have you do a stress test to see how your heart functions.

Talk to your doctor if you have a long-lasting cough or feel like your heart is beating irregularly. These could be early symptoms of heart disease. Heart health is important for you to be at your best. It’s never too late to take care of your heart.

11 Secret Powerful Ingredients Of A Loving Relationship

November 27, 2020 by Lakeisha Ethans

Everyone wants their relationship to be full of love and happiness. But sadly, as divorce and separation rates rise across the world over time, it becomes clearer and clearer that not everyone has the right components for the most positive relationship possible.

Worried that your relationship won’t make it in the long run? Keep your positive thinking because you can always work on improving it with your partner! The trick lies in knowing what your relationship needs to be loving, appreciative, and supportive. Here are 11 secret but powerful ingredients of a loving relationship.

1. Humor

Have you ever heard people talking about how funny people are the most attractive? There’s scientific truth to that! It’s not just because a sense of humor is inherently desirable, but also because laughter has numerous interpersonal, mental, and physical benefits. It relieves stress, boosts positive thinking, and fosters togetherness – and of course, it’s undeniably desirable!

Here are some other reasons humor tends to win out the day when it comes to a loving relationship:

An ability to laugh at yourself means an ability to learn from mistakes and accept wrongs.
An ability to laugh at others’ mistakes indicates a tendency to forgive and move on.
Laughter means opening yourself up to intimacy, often resulting in emotional connections.
Compatible senses of humor mean every day can be a fun and exciting adventure.

2. Compromise Is Key to a Loving Relationship

In a relationship, two unique and separate individuals are living and growing together. This is always going to involve some measure of conflict, especially in desires, ideas, and goals. The secret to maintaining a loving relationship through all of that lies in compromise.

Compromise can be best defined as the act of a settlement between two different desires or opinions, typically reached by parties on all sides making concessions. In other words, it’s meeting in the middle whenever you can.

Does this mean that all situations require a 50/50 compromise? Not necessarily. While workable, it can be very calculative and is typically not possible in the long run. However, it does mean learning the art of give and take – when to stand your ground and when to let your partner have the day. In short, healthy compromise involves:

Trying to meet in the middle while understanding that’s not always possible.
Intentionally creating harmony as much as possible.
Seeking the most workable situation for both parties.
Balancing the amount of giving and take from each partner
Knowing when wanting to get your way doesn’t mean you should
Being willing sometimes to get the short end of the stick
Knowing what things can’t be compromised on (or where your boundaries lie)

3. Loyalty

The person you’re in a relationship with isn’t just your fling – it’s your partner, someone who you’re hand-in-hand for the long-term. Without loyalty, a relationship cannot bloom.

It’s not just about simply not cheating, either. Many different factors contribute to the creation of loyalty. Typically, each relationship has its own definition of loyalty. This can include:

Prioritizing and standing by each other
Never give up on each other.
Keeping promises and date plans

4. Fighting Positively

It’s common to associate arguments with an unhealthy relationship, but that is not the case! Fighting isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In many relationships, it can help forge stronger bonds. The trick lies in how you fight.

A study of divorce rates and their links to marital conflict revealed three common fighting styles:

· Destructive

This is a negative form of fighting, involving screaming, shouting, insults, and explosive arguments.

· Withdrawal

Withdrawing is an avoidant strategy where you avoid the fight by simply retreating. There are two ways you might do this: by leaving a situation or by simply falling silent during the fight.

· Constructive

This is the positive form of fighting everyone should aim for – it means trying to find solutions and working together to solve the conflict.

As is likely obvious, constructive fighting was the best indicator of a long-lasting, healthy relationship. It’s a positive way to handle conflict, and it makes you stronger as you and your partner have to work together to solve the problem you both face.

5. Patience

Few can deny that relationships are hard work. They require patience, and you’re going to go through bad times when you need mountains of it. Each person in the relationship has their own motivations, reactions, responses, and feelings, and you’re not always going to like those factors. That’s just how it is!

More importantly, relationships involve a strong element of learning and growing together. There are very few quick processes of growth. When a problem is encountered, it may take months or even years for you and your partner to work on your negative traits and improve on them.

Pressuring your partner to improve more quickly is likely to make them feel guilty and even unsafe, potentially leading to counterproductive actions. You will need their patience as much as they need yours, so try to keep that in mind. Give them space to grow and claim your own space, too.

6. Physical Chemistry

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s often significantly taken for granted in long-term, comfortable relationships. There are many different factors involved in physical chemistry, and without it, relationships can quickly become boring and dull. Here are some indicators of physical chemistry:

Presence of a “spark” between partners
Physical attraction to your partner
Compatibility in intimate desires
Comfort and physical safety
Frequency of physical contact
Satisfaction with bedroom affairs

Do note that while bedroom activities of intimacy should by no means define an entire relationship, studies have shown that unhappiness with such intimacy leads to decreased relationship satisfaction. If your relationship is allosexual, try to keep things exciting in the bedroom!

7. Understanding in a Loving Relationship

Feeling understood and accepted by a partner is crucial in a loving relationship. It sounds simple, but it’s often harder in practice. It involves:

Being able to put yourself in your partner’s shoes
Understanding the ways your partner’s upbringing and experiences have shaped them
Taking note of subtle quirks and signs of your partner’s mood
Listening to your partner without judgment
Empathizing with your partner’s emotions
Knowing how not to take things personally
Giving your partner space or time they need to process things
Learning their love language
Realizing that they will express themselves differently to you

It’s a lot to take in, but it can be simplified like this: you and your partner need to accept that you are both different people and have to want to understand each other’s point of view, even when it contrasts significantly with your own.

8. Positive Eye Contact

Eye contact is powerful. It affirms close connections and helps create a stronger bond between two individuals. It can seem silly, but it’s common knowledge that making this sort of contact is key to a deeper and more meaningful interaction. Eye contact:

Encourages empathy and positive feelings towards someone, making it harder to be seriously angry at them
Creates a connection between two people that makes interaction more meaningful
Subtly coveys information or messages nonverbally, even in public, forming a “secret language” between partners
Is a quick and easy way to forge a split-second connection with a partner, even in times of business

9. Attention

Attention is a genuine component of a positive and loving relationship. Feeling neglected, unwanted, and uncared for is a quick way for a relationship to turn sour. You want your partner’s focus because you want them to be included in your life and for you to be included in theirs. Here are some ways to give attention to a partner (that you should also receive from them):

Answering calls, texts, and questions promptly
Setting aside time each day for your partner
Listening when your partner talks about troubles, passions, or their day
Of course, attention must be given in balance. You don’t want to suffocate or smother a partner with overflowing waves of focus. You both need your own space, too!

10. Respect

It’s simple: no relationship can function without respect. We’re not just talking about basic human decency when it comes to respecting, either, as that should be a given and is the bare minimum, not something to have to work for. How are you supposed to maintain a positive connection with someone who you don’t think highly of? Here are some examples of respect in a loving relationship:

Caring about each other’s goals, dreams, and aspirations
Offering only constructive criticism when you have concerns or issues
Appreciating the unique talents, abilities, skills, and strengths that you each bring to the table
Admiring each other’s qualities, personalities, and beliefs
Understanding and abiding by each other’s boundaries
Valuing each other’s opinions, even when they differ from yours

11. Communication

You’ve heard it time and time again, but it still bears repeating. Communication is the number one key to success in any relationship. You can’t read each other’s minds – you need to tell each other what you want the other person to know, and you need to know when you need to talk about something so that they understand it.

Not sure if your relationship has positive communication? As yourself the following questions:

When you explain things, do you talk with your partner or at them?
Do you interrupt your partner when they speak, or do they interrupt you?
Is your dialogue productive and reaching effective solutions and conclusions?
Do conversations tend to be one-sided, or do you both get relatively equal talking time?
Are you able to understand each other’s communication styles?
Do you often feel dismissed after discussing your issues with a partner?
Do you tell your partner when you have an issue, or would you rather keep it to yourself to avoid conflict?

Final Thoughts On Secret, But Powerful Ingredients Of A Loving Relationship

No one can deny that relationships are hard work, and sometimes, maintaining a loving and compassionate relationship can be difficult. There’s no shame in walking away from a relationship that’s no longer working out, but before you do that, try working in these powerful ingredients of a loving relationship. Small improvements to your daily life with a partner can make the difference between a break-up and “till death do us part.”

10 Everyday People Who Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Have you lost confidence in humanity?

It’s easy to focus on all the bad things going on in the world, but if you take a look around, you will find positive, everyday people doing nice things for other people. Motivated by their own unique situations, these people find creative ways to make the world around them a happier place.

We live at a break-neck speed, with life throwing hurdles in our way as we run through our lives. We can get caught up in all the bad things in the world around us. Instead, let’s slow down and find the good people who remind us of our own humanity and kindness.

Ten Kind People Who Restore Your Faith in Humanity

Here are ten people’s stories who will restore your faith in humanity.

1 – This woman provides and jobs for the disabled

When Erin Willman lost her vision at fifteen, people assumed she couldn’t do many things. But Erin refused to allow her disability to slow her down. Several employers declined to hire Erin. Instead, she decided to start her own business, and now she is the CEO of White Cane Coffee.

Her storefront coffee shop selling freshly brewed organic coffee to the residents of the small community of Warren, Pennsylvania. Plus, her company is impacting the lives of blind and autistic people through practical on-the-job skills. Erin’s White Cane Coffee shop currently provides jobs for eight disabled workers. Her goal is to inspire hope and the freedom of independence to her employees.

Because she experienced first hand the difficulties of living with a disability and feeling left out, Erin decided that every package of her coffee would include Braille on the label. Today White Cane Coffee is the first company to label its products in Braille.

“If you can change one person’s life, you are changing the world.” ~Erin Willman

Besides providing a liveable wage to each of the employees, the company donates some of its proceeds to The Sight Center for Northwest Pennsylvania, an organization that trains leader dogs for the blind.

Erin also works with schools that teach the blind and disabled. During her regular visits to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in Pittsburgh, she emphasizes the importance of work and self-reliance to the students and their need to grow in independence.

Erin spoke at the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her message of hope to those in attendance began with this statement,

“When you lost your vision, people stood in line to tell you what you can’t do, now let’s talk about what you can do. You have value, you have worth, and you can live an independent life.”

Another program close to Erin’s heart is the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center. White Cane Coffee created a special blend of coffee to raise support, so a portion of the proceeds from this special coffee’s sales goes to the center. Erin has inspired so many people. She says she never dreamed of being a CEO of a company, but she did dream of changing the world. Today Erin is doing this by providing jobs and hope to the handicapped community.

2 – Funny teachers go remote to provide stress relief for kids and parents

These ten teachers found themselves in a whole new teaching mode last spring. Just like their students, the teachers suddenly had to learn how to maneuver online learning. There have been many up and down during the year, but the teachers decided to make the best of it and have fun along with the kids. So, they created funny videos of themselves, played rock music to keep the kids’ attention, and posted silly teaching bloopers to encourage kids and parents to hang in there.

These ten teachers show their dedication and love for kids while keeping a good sense of humor about all the things that can go wrong. If laughter is good medicine, then these fun-loving teachers keep kids and parents healthier and happier despite the unusual circumstances.

3 – Dancing doctors blow off steam during the pandemic

In the midst of the stress and strain of the current pandemic, these doctors and health care workers found a positive way to release their stress. At first, they danced for its fun, but after realizing how helpful and uplifting it was for even their patients, they decided to create dance videos. When the videos went viral, other health care workers from other hospitals around the country joined in with their own dances.

Dancing is a great exercise and stress reliever. And as these doctors prove, dancing boosts your mood and makes you feel happier. So, take a cue from these docs and blow off some steam by dancing.

4 – One veteran’s passion for fitness leads him to help others

James Coley, an Air Force Veteran and personal trainer in Tampa, Florida, is making a huge difference in people’s lives. While helping friends work out at the gym, Coley suddenly realized he loved helping other people get into shape. His passion for physical fitness impacted lives, especially those who had significant weight to lose. His compassionate, caring attitudes inspired those who wanted to lose weight without making them feel judged.

One of his clients tipped the scale at 316 pounds, but after working with Coley, they weighed 175 pounds. Coley says he’s learned how to help others from his own experiences in life in the military.

He contributes the 3 D’s: dedication, determination, and discipline as what has helped him and what he uses to inspire others to get fit. He’s a great example of someone who has impacted many lives by simply doing what he loves: helping humanity.

5 – Dancing against stereotypes

Twenty-seven-year-old Erik Cavanaugh set out to show that stereotypes are meant to be broken. Cavanaugh has been a dancer since he was 16. Today he dances professionally in Nashville, Tennessee. His dancing has gone viral, showing people that you can still perform graceful dance moves no matter what your body size. He competed on America’s Got Talent, where he did a ballet performance.

Cavanaugh hopes to inspire others to pursue dance if they choose. He creates videos to display his talents and depict his mood each day. He’s had 70 million views so far, and there’s no sign of his popularity letting up. His dedication inspires all of humanity to become more accepting.

6 – Inspirational marriage poem

When 25-year-old Taylor Myers posted her poem about divorce, millions of people found it helpful for their own relationships. Her “Relationships for Life Class” inspired her to write the poem. She said the class transformed her view of relationships and that her own relationships are healthier now.

As part of the class’s homework, Taylor had to interview dozens of adults who had been married and were now divorced. She asked each person if love was an emotion or a choice. Every person told her it was a choice you decide to make every day with a person who has the same commitment.

The people also told her that you couldn’t build a strong, lasting relationship based on feelings because feelings change all the time. Taylor says the interviews have changed her view of humanity and inspired her to write her now-famous poem.

7 – This inspiring teen raises money for cancer

When she was four years old, Megan Cross was diagnosed with AML Leukemia, a rare form of cancer. Fast forward to today, the 16 years old is celebrating 10 years of being cancer-free by raising thousands of dollars at the Terry Fox Run, a 10-kilometer run to raise money to fight cancer. Megan says she has strong memories of being in the hospital, getting chemotherapy, and all the ways people reached out to care for her and her family. She hopes to keep raising money in different ways, saying, “I think in 2020, we just need to keep moving and making the world a better place..”

8 – From custodian to nurse practitioner

Jaines Andrades started working at Baystate Medical Center ten years ago as a custodian cleaning operating rooms. Being in the medical environment inspired her to pursue a medical career. Today, she’s a certified nurse practitioner in trauma surgery. After getting her nursing degree, she worked as a nurse at Baystate.

But she wasn’t done pursuing her ultimate dream.

While keeping her job at Baystate, Andrades returned to school studying to become a nurse practitioner. She got the job as a nurse practitioner and was offered the job as a nurse practitioner in her current job. She’s inspired others to be humble and ready to work hard for your dreams. Her days as a custodian reminds her to treat everyone with dignity.

9 – Cancer survivor and mom inspires others

Today, six-year-old Kingston Forrest has a lot of energy. He wasn’t always so energetic. Diagnosed with leukemia at the age of one, Kingston endured many rounds of chemo for his cancer. He never lost his happy smile but found ways to entertain other patients in the hospital. Back then, the Pinky Swear organization supported the Forrests during Kingston’s cancer.

Today, both Kingston and his mom, Michelle, are both volunteers with Pinky Swear to support other families through their cancer journey. They’ve raised money for the organization and look for ways to encourage people they meet.

10 – Free ukulele lessons

Duncan Perry, a retired college professor, wanted to give back to others, so he played his ukulele for hospice patients. The patients loved hearing him play, and he loved bringing joy to humanity in the midst of their suffering. After he moved to a different state, he volunteered at a trauma unit to help people who were injured or dying.

But when Covid-19 hit, he couldn’t visit the trauma unit to play his ukulele. At first, Perry was tempted to feel useless that he couldn’t help anyone, but he came up with an idea to offer first responders free music lessons. He knew they needed an emotional outlet and that music could help them. Perry says music gives people peace.

He offered free ukulele lessons to first responders at Maine Medical Center, and instantly his classes were a hit. Each student was given a donated loaner ukulele for their lessons, and Perry played a song in the first lesson.

One student said that this year had been challenging for her as a nurse, but having these free ukulele lessons helped relieve her get through. In return, Perry says he’s found joy in sharing the gift of music and helping the first responders who have done so much to help others.

Final Thoughts on Meeting These Ten People Who Restore Faith in Humanity

During challenging times, we lose sight of the things that are most essential to a well-lived life. Stressful days erode our faith in humanity. But these ten people remind us that we still share this Earth with many wonderful people.

3 Mistakes To Avoid If You Want to Find The Right Partner

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you are trying to find the right partner, you’re not alone.

About half of the United States population is single, and only half of the singles out there are looking for a partner. This means you only have 25 percent of the population to pick from. These numbers may sound low but consider that only 22 percent of the population was single in 1950. That really narrowed down the pool of prospects.

Since the pickings seem to be slim, you should probably make it count while you are dating. In other words, stay on your best behavior by avoiding certain mistakes. Here are three mistakes you should avoid at all costs.

Mistake #1: Misrepresenting Yourself

An unbelievable number of people pretend to be someone or something they’re not when dating. Online dating is even worse – you’re lucky if people even use a real picture of themselves. At first, misrepresenting yourself seems like a great way to attract a lot of potential mates. It works, but it doesn’t last.

Most people seem not to realize that shortly after you meet someone, the truth will come out. They will realize you’ve been lying to them, and just like that, trust is broken. You cannot build a relationship without trust, so the potential relationship is over before it can even get started.

Catfishing

In the case of misleading online pictures and profiles (known as catfishing), you may as well not even bother. Unless you are only looking for an email relationship, the person will see you and know that you aren’t the person in the picture. It makes no sense to use fake pictures.

The same can be said for outdated pictures. If you have gained 100 pounds, don’t use a picture of yourself when you were skinny. Do not use a picture of yourself from a decade ago or from high school. Current photos are the best and most honest policy.

One annoying habit that some people have when posting profile pictures is posting a photo with other people. Don’t have people guessing which person is you. Make sure you are the only person in the photo.

Creepy Coincidences

Coincidences, when they occur, are not creepy. What’s creepy is when it seems like you like every single thing as a potential partner. Their favorite color is blue? So is yours! Their favorite food is chicken cordon bleu? How crazy is it that you eat that all the time! At first, pretending to like everything a potential partner likes may seem cute, but it will get old fast.

There are not that many coincidences in the world, and people are a lot smarter than you give them credit for. Eventually, they will catch on to the fact that you’re lying about what you like. They won’t be able to trust you after that, and a potential relationship will have gone sour.

Mistake #2: Being Too Picky

Have you ever met someone with a long checklist of qualities that their perfect match needs to have? You can bet your paycheck that they will still be single a few years from now. Being too picky is a great way to stay single.

You must realize that no one is perfect. A match can be perfect for you, but not perfect. You will have a better chance of hitting the lottery than you will of finding someone that has every single quality you want in a partner.

Having Standards vs. Being Picky

The difference between having standards and being picky can be confusing because it’s such a thin line between the two. Indeed, you should not be picky, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have standards and deal breakers. Standards and deal breakers will ensure you find the right partner, but being picky will likely result in you missing the right partner.

So how can you tell the difference? Here is an example. Amy’s perfect match must make six figures a year, drive a nice car, and not have kids from a previous relationship. Michelle’s perfect match needs to earn a decent living that can support a family, have a vehicle, and not have kids from a previous relationship. They both choose traditional gender roles and want a partner who provides for a family.

At first glance, these ladies seem to be searching for the same thing. In fact, there is nothing wrong with what they have listed. This is called standards. However, things switch over to picky if they are not willing to negotiate.

For example, Amy may meet a man who earns $65,000 a year as a medical resident, so should she turn him down? Michelle may meet a man who doesn’t earn a decent living but has an inheritance that can take care of him and his entire family for a lifetime. Should Michelle skip over the man because he isn’t “earning” his living?

In both cases, these men can support a partner and children, but they would get overlooked because they don’t match Amy’s and Michelle’s picky standards. Finances aren’t the only area where you can be too picky. It could be any quality on your list. Have your standards, but don’t be so rigid that you find the right partner and skip over them for something petty.

Potential vs. Laziness

When you’re trying to find the right partner, you should know the difference between potential and lazy behavior. Standards are what ensures that you don’t fall for someone lazy in life. Standards are important but don’t overlook potential because of your standards.

Let’s be honest. No one wants a lazy partner (unless they are equally as lazy). Most people are trying to improve their lives, so they need someone who can go out and hustle for the better things in life just like they can. If you’re gunning for CEO of a Fortune 500 company, you likely aren’t going to pair well with someone who is satisfied being a burger flipper at a fast-food restaurant. That statement does not mean that one job is better than the other. Instead, it reflects an almost insurmountable gap in career goals.

However, don’t make the mistake of dismissing someone who is showing future potential. They may not have it together right now, but they may be pushing hard to be successful every day. A good example is someone who is in college. They may be broke right now, but when they graduate and land a decent job, you will wish you had given them a chance.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Intuition

In the famous words of DJ Khaled, “don’t play yourself.” That’s exactly what you’re doing when you ignore intuition. Unfortunately, it is common for people to ignore intuition. In fact, that is how so many bad relationships occur.

You have probably heard of women’s intuition numerous times throughout your life, but men have excellent intuition as well. Intuition is some subconscious part of you is telling you that the person isn’t the right one. It will be a nagging feeling that you cannot shake.

Many people choose to ignore intuition. Some people will marry their partner even though that intuition has been present throughout the entire relationship. That’s when the worst usually comes out – after you’ve said, “I do.”

Why People Ignore Their Intuition

Unfortunately, many people of both genders ignore this intuition because they are so into a person. The results can be very disappointing and sometimes even devastating. Most people know this, but they still silence that inner voice anyway.

When it comes to dating, it can be disheartening to find someone that seems so perfect but must face the fact that there is just one thing that is so major it’s a deal-breaker. This is especially true if you have been having trouble finding the right person. Disappointment hurts, and it can make you feel like you will never find the right partner.

Another reason people tend to ignore their intuition is that society tends to groom you to ignore it. According to Dr. Lindsey C Pratt, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, MA, LMHC, NCC, trusting your intuition is a skill that needs to be practiced and developed daily. If you are not trusting yourself daily, this could be a reason you ignore your sixth sense when it comes to dating.

It is important to listen to your inner voice, not just for dating, but for almost everything in life. When a potential partner is not right, you’ll know it. Identifying this early can keep you and the other person from getting hurt and allow you to be free to find the right partner.

Final Thoughts on Mistakes You Should Avoid to Find the Right Partner

In many cases, when people are making these mistakes, they don’t mean any harm. They don’t realize the damage it can do even before a relationship sparks with a potential partner. People are just trying to find the right partner the best way they know-how, and some people get desperate and resort to unhealthy dating practices.

No one is perfect, so don’t beat yourself up if you are guilty of any of the mistakes listed here. After all, you’re reading this to be a better dater. This information is intended to help you grow, become a better partner, and ultimately find the right partner, so soak it all in and find that special someone!

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How to React to Someone Who Flirts With Your Partner, According to Psychology

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

What could be more wonderful than to meet the person of your dreams and fall in love? Perhaps yours may have been love at first sight. But what if someone else experiences that same attraction and flirts with your partner?

There’s no denying that humans are sexually driven beings. If not, the human race would have died out in the beginning. However, it’s the mature people who know how to control their sexuality and be faithful to their partners.

Were Humans Always Faithful to One Mate?

Anthropologists and psychologists aren’t positive that human beings were always monogamous. Studies indicate that our earliest ancestors probably practiced serial polygamy. However, the experts note that humans still gravitate to an exclusive relationship between only two partners.

This doesn’t include sexual encounters that are outside of long-term relationships. Nor does it provide for instances where people have another partner after one has died. Generally, you are usual to want to have your significant other to yourself.

Remember in junior high school when everyone was honing their flirting skills? According to studies on human relationships, flirting is hardwired into our brains. Science classifies this as a primordial function that tells potential mates that we are interested, much like a mating ritual.

When you think about it, how did you get your significant other’s attention? You probably saw each other from across the room, smiled, and started to flirt mildly. Just because your significant other is taken doesn’t stop others from looking and flirting.

You will encounter at least one person who flirts with your mate. Although it’s inevitable, how you deal with it is the key. If the flirting happens often and your mate plays along, your relationship may be in trouble.

How To React When Someone Flirts with Your Partner

Some people don’t care to flirt with people who are obviously with somebody else shamelessly. How can you deal with these situations without looking like the green-eyed monster? Here are some helpful ways to react when someone flirts with your partner.

Psychologists point out that online flirtations are also on the rise. So keep that in mind as you read these points.

•Appraise the Situation

Picture this scenario: You are having a night on the town with your significant other, and you notice someone obviously flirting with them. It happens to everyone at some time in a romantic relationship. Before you lose your cool and do something foolish, take a breath and appraise what’s happening.

First, was it a stranger who was making eyes at your person? On a crowded dance floor or in a busy restaurant, it may be impossible to know if people are a “couple.” This stranger saw what you saw the first time you met your mate and did what comes naturally.

If it’s someone you don’t know, it’s probably a harmless faux pas you can ignore. Was it a simple, flirty smile or a little wink? Try not to make a big fuss over something when the person meant no harm. As long as your partner doesn’t return the flirtation in kind, you’ve no worries.

If it makes you feel a little better, stand close to your partner, hold their hand, and smile. Then, you can give a quick, polite smile toward the person who flirts with your partner. Most people with any scruples will back off and flirt with someone else.

• How Does Your Partner Respond?

Here’s where a little innocent wink or flirty smile gets complicated. Did your mate even see the person flirting from across the room? It would be harder not to notice if the flirtation were face-to-face and it’s in front of you.

Try to maintain calm and watch how your partner reacts. If you are in a loving and faithful relationship, your partner will ignore it. When it’s up close and personal, expect them to speak up and say, “Sorry, I’m taken.”

Since your partner didn’t reciprocate, you don’t want to shift the blame to them. Place the blame on the flirter. A person who loves you won’t entertain flirty suggestions from others.

Look for any decent person who unknowingly flirts with your partner to make a quick exit. Chalk it up to you being with a darling, attractive person. Let it go, and enjoy the rest of your romantic time together.

• When the Flirtation Continues

Say you have noticed somebody flirts with your partner, and they haven’t taken your apparent hints. What do you do if the shameless flirt keeps trying and makes you and your partner uncomfortable? It gets even stickier when you see that the person has cornered your significant other while you are across the room.

These are the cases when it’s time for you to step in to diffuse the situation. You can intervene without raising your voice or risking your dignity. Step over to your partner, hug them, and introduce yourself as their partner to the flirter.

Make good eye contact with the person and give a determined smile. You may also ask, “Have we ever met?” Stay by your partner and wait until the offender has gone their way. Unless this person has no decency, this should be all your necessary intervention.

• Be the Bigger Person When Someone Flirts With Your Partner

It’s difficult to watch someone flirt with your partner when you are in love with someone. If you keep your cool and rationalize the situation, you take the high road. It shows that you are secure in yourself and your relationship.

The last thing you want to do is make a big scene. Not only will it make you look bad, but it will be a great embarrassment to your significant other. Be the bigger person and keep your dignity.

• When It’s Time for a Confrontation

It’s one thing when a total stranger flirts with your partner, but it’s quite another when it’s someone you know. Realize that some people are naturally flirty and mean no harm. Even then, you have a right to say what you will and won’t tolerate.

Are you tired of being in a group setting, and that same person who flirts with your partner starts? After you’ve tried everything to show that their advances are unwelcome, it’s time you speak your mind. The French call it “en tete a tete,” meaning a face-to-face confrontation.

Be assured that things don’t usually get to this point with reasonable people. However, some people are so flirty by nature that they don’t even realize what they are doing. For those who are being intentional, a confrontation.

The way you handle this conversation is crucial. You want to do it in a way that doesn’t seem hostile. Still, you must convey your message to the person who flirts with your partner. Choose your words wisely, calmly, and unapologetically. Set firm boundaries!

Most strangers will be gone once you introduce yourself as your partner’s significant other. The situation is more complicated if the flirtatious offender is a friend or family member. If a friend or a family member has the gall to flirt with your partner, they must lack respect for you.

• What To Say

If you must confront someone for their offensive flirtation with your mate, do it when calm. A conversation in the heat of the moment will probably go south quickly. When you’ve had time to assess the situation and talk to your partner, you can ask the flirter for a little talk.

It’s not a good idea to discuss in front of people. If need be, you can bring your partner for support. Be firm and polite but direct about how you feel about the situation.

Tell the person you wanted to bring something that’s been bothering you to their attention. Then, be direct: “I know that you enjoy flirting and may not mean anything by it. However, you know my partner is with me and isn’t looking for anybody else.

“When you’re flirting, it makes both of us feel uncomfortable and disrespected. I do value our relationship, but this behavior needs to stop. If not, we are going to have to part ways until you can respect our wishes.”

You can’t be any more honest and direct than that. You’ve given the offender enough room to apologize and make the necessary changes. If it’s a friend or relative, you’ve acknowledged that you value their relationship, and they’ll be fine when they stop the offensive behavior.

• The Dead End

Should you deal with a narcissist or a sociopathic person, your conversation may fall on deaf ears. If the behavior continues, follow your word and cut ties with the flirter. You don’t need a relationship with them if they are that dense and disrespectful.

Final Thoughts on Dealing With a Person Who Flirts With Your Partner

Flirtation is a natural part of human attraction. Although most flirtations may be harmless, it may come to a point when you must speak up. Do so while maintaining your dignity and the respect of the partner you love.

A Patient Person Does These 10 Things Without Realizing It

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

One of the most challenging qualities to learn is patience. When you were a child, your parents probably used wise sayings to help you remember. You may have heard that “good things come to those who wait,” and “patience is a virtue.”

Like most good character traits, patience must be taught from the cradle and developed over a lifetime. If you have children, you know that being patient doesn’t come naturally to them. When they want something, they want it now, and they don’t want to wait.

Unfortunately, impatient children often grow up into intolerant adults. One definite cause is our technological society that usually provides instant gratification. When you order food from a drive-thru or press a button on your computer, you want it now, no excuses.

It was once assumed that animals don’t have the level of patience that humans do. However, recent studies suggest that this assumption may not be entirely accurate. When most people are faced with getting something now or waiting until later, it’s challenging to be patient.

Most of the world’s significant religions promote being patient as a divine command. Many sacred writings, books, and poetry have been devoted to quality. On the other hand, impatience is equated with misfortune and immature spirituality.

When you browse the shelves of self-help books in the library or bookstore, you’ll notice that many of them discuss how to have more patience. Many life coaches teach that being patient may reduce your stress and anxiety levels.

Humans don’t like to wait, and nobody has perfect tolerance. It’s called a “practice” because you’ll spend a lifetime improving on it. Having the desire to be more patient shows that you are making a step in the right direction.

10 Habits of Patient People

Do you consider yourself a patient person? Maybe you’ve noticed that you get a bit angry when you are standing in line or put on hold. If you want more tolerance in your life, consider these ten habits of patient people.

1. They are Humble

Those who have cultivated fortitude in their lives also display other cardinal virtues, like humility. Have you ever noticed people who lean toward narcissism or have a false sense of entitlement? They often have haughty attitudes and aren’t the most likable people when their demands aren’t immediately met.

However, people with patience usually are humble and treat others how they want to be treated. They realize that some things take time regardless of who you are or your socioeconomic status. Those who practice patience see others as equals.

The next time you are in line in a store or restaurant, notice how each patron treats the service people. Those who have tolerance will be the courteous ones, while the impatient ones may be a bit snarky and rude.

2. They Practice Active Listening

While some people are naturally good conversationalists, active listening is a skill that takes time and practice. Someone once said that you should listen twice as much as you speak since you have two ears and one mouth. Those who have learned patience also know how to be good listeners.

Do you want to follow the example of these people? Practice good listening skills when you are talking to others. Use neutral body language, lean slightly toward the speakers, and nod your head occasionally.

Instead of thinking about what you will say next, listen intently to what the speakers say without interrupting. Mirror the emotions they are showing and try to restate their points if you need clarification.

People who’ve learned patience are often the best friends to have in a crisis. Instead of overwhelming you with corny lectures and advice, they listen to you. Theirs is a “gift of presence” that you’ll remember for years to come.

3. They Gather All the Facts

Remember the iconic phrase “just the facts” from the classic detective TV show? It’s challenging to decide an issue without pertinent information. People with patience have learned that they can save themselves a lot of frustration if they don’t get in a big hurry.

This individual gathers all the facts before doing anything. When you practice tolerance, you find that taking your time can work in your favor. Quick remedies aren’t always the right answer.

Think of a time when you said or did something before you knew the whole situation. It probably didn’t work out very well. Patience is a tool that helps you do your homework before acting.

4. They Center on Positive Thoughts

Where do people get the energy to be so enduring? Perhaps it’s because they are usually positive. If you have a negative mindset, it’s easy to get irritated if you must wait for something.

Easygoing people have an aura of positivity around them. They know that time can be a friend, and waiting may be a good thing. Other people enjoy being around them because they are usually upbeat.

5. They Have a Good Sense of Humor

What could be worse than being around people who are sour and lack humor? Multiple studies support the old saying that laughter can be good medicine. It can lower your stress level and make you a happier person.

For the people who practice tolerance, humor often comes naturally. Instead of getting hot-headed when things aren’t going their way, they deflect it with spirit. They are also the first to laugh at themselves instead of taking things so seriously.

When’s the last time you had a good belly laugh? Have the burdens of life made it difficult to laugh or even smile? Being enduring and tolerant can help bring joy back to your life.

6. They Don’t Waste Time

Just because people aren’t in a rush to do something doesn’t mean they waste time. They see time as a precious commodity and don’t waste it by being pessimistic and throwing fits. Sure, they like to see things done promptly and efficiently, but they don’t let it be a burden.

Long-suffering people don’t have time to gossip and complain. They feel that their time is better spent working out their problems. Others often look to them when they need a project done correctly.

7. They Are Peacemakers

Did you know that patience usually goes hand in hand with peace? Think of an instance when you were angry and impatient with someone. The conversation probably went south rather quickly.

Being tolerant helps calm your nerves so that you can think rationally. Instead of losing your cool in a moment of frustration, you may be the first to call a truce. Peace also takes time.

8. They Are Considerate of Others

Isn’t it fascinating how much about adult life you learned in kindergarten? Most of these rules were centered around tolerance and how to treat others. When your teacher instructed you to raise your hand for questions, take turns, and share, you were learning how to wait politely.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all remembered our kindergarten lessons? People who practice patience are usually the first to prefer others before themselves. They are empathetic and exercise kindness.

9. They Are Good Planners

Have any of your children ever informed you that they had a big school project due the next day? They neglected to tell you that they had two weeks to have it done. It’s a hard lesson to learn how procrastination creates impatience and frustration.

If you are a good planner, you are also probably a person with perseverance. You know how to allot your time and break a project into smaller goals. You stay well organized, and you don’t wait until the last minute to get things done.

10. They Know How to Cope with Stress

Countless medical research shows a connection between high-stress levels and disease. When your body is overstressed, the brain goes into survival mode and pumps up the cortisone and adrenaline. Too many of these stress hormones can affect your physical and mental health and even cause premature death.

People who practice patience give themselves a time out for recharging. They often use stress-reducing tools such as meditation, visualization, yoga, and tai chi. It doesn’t take their problems away, but it can change how they react to them.

One of the things you’ll often see in eager people is that they are usually frazzled and stressed. The stress affects their nerves and can make them short-tempered. Learning patience can ease anxiety and make you feel better.

Final Thoughts on the Habits of Patient People

If you talk to people who have patience, they will tell you that it doesn’t come overnight. You must patiently wait while you learn this beautiful practice. It’s a virtue that is well worth your while and will benefit your body, mind, and spirit.

15 Quotes on Hope That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity

November 27, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Sometimes it may be difficult to hold onto hope and your faith in humanity may waver. Luckily, many quotes on hope will help restore your faith and help you see the good in the world.

Even when things aren’t going well and you can’t immediately see good things, remember that they are there somewhere. There are always good, loving people in the world, and there are always beautiful things and experiences.

As you go forward, you may need reminders to stay hopeful. These quotes on hope will remind you and they will help restore your faith in humanity.

Fifteen Quotes on Hope

With hope and faith, you will be able to make a huge difference in the world. You will be able to pave the way for change, helping to make the world a better place. When things seem out of control, remember that you are capable of making a difference, as long as you keep hoping. Read these fifteen quote on hope during those challenging days.

1. “Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” – Lin Yutang

When one person has hope, it will lead others to have hope, as well. Eventually, that hope will become reality, as more and more people join in. Keep hoping so that you can help pave the way for the change you wish to see.

2. “Just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.” – Ellie Wiesel

In a way, hope is contagious. It spreads from one person to another, just as despair does. Instead of losing hope and spreading despair to others, remain hopeful, and spread hope to others. This is the only way to see a positive change.

3. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

Just when you feel like giving up hope, the important things might happen. You will never know unless you keep hoping and trying to make things better. If bad things keep happening, keep hoping and reminding yourself that it means the important things are coming soon.

4. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Disappointing things happen to everyone, and sometimes the world around you will seem out of control. Life can never be perfect all of the time, so disappointment is unavoidable. Even so, you have to keep hope, as Dr. King describes in this quote.

5. “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Just because there are some bad people in the world, it doesn’t mean the entire world is bad. It is still beautiful, and there is still good everywhere. Remain hopeful and remember that there are good people out there.

You can’t lose faith because of a handful of bad people. Remind yourself that there are people out there who have good morals and that together you can make a difference.

6. “I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” – Anne Frank

Even in the hardest times when people seem the most awful, there is beauty to be seen in the world. Instead of focusing on the bad things, focus on whatever bit of beauty you can find. This will help restore your faith in humanity.

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

Without hope, life would be unbearable. There would be no reason to go on, and no reason to try for anything. Don’t allow your life to become meaningless by losing hope, because you’ll be much happier if you can find it.

8. “Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning.” – Barbara Kingsolver

Hope can never run out completely, as long as you remain open to experiencing it. Each time you wake up in the morning, you have a new chance at hope. If you give it a shot each day, you will be able to restore your faith and find the good in the world.

9. “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope.” – Thomas Merton

Life is unpredictable, and no matter how much you prepare, things may not go as planned. Even still, you have to remain hopeful that everything will work out. Embrace the unknown and be courageous as you move forward in life.

10. “Hope is the companion of power and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles.” – Samuel Smiles

Without hope, you will have no power and little success. Only with hope will you be able to accomplish great things, because this is where the gifts in life come from.

11. “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” – Barack Obama

Don’t sit idly as you lose hope, letting life pass by without you striving for a change. The only way to restore hope and faith is to stay active and keep working toward your goals. You won’t find the good in the world if you aren’t out looking for it.

12. “There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

No matter what has happened, there are good people and good things in the world. If you aren’t finding any good, then you need to change your environment. Begin looking for the good, and then use it to fight for the change you wish to see.

13. “What is true of the individual will be tomorrow true of the whole nation if individuals will but refuse to lose heart and hope.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Your thoughts and desires for the world can only become reality if you remain hopeful. As Gandhi explains, one person’s hope can change an entire nation. Stay hopeful and spread that hope to others so that there is a greater chance of positivity in the world.

14. “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” – Woodrow Wilson

Life is more than going to work and earning a wage. You were born to change the world and to offer your insights, hopes, and spirits. Remain hopeful and keep striving to make a change, no matter how small, so that you will be fulfilled.

15. “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.” – Howard Zinn

While you may feel foolish to remain hopeful when it seems all hope is gone, you should still keep that hope. The reason hope is still so important is that history has shown that there is always good in the world. Even in the most tragic of times, compassion, sacrifice, courage, and kindness have been present.

Final Thoughts on These Quotes on Hope Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity

Having hope is important to living a fulfilling and happy life. Without hope, you wouldn’t be able to achieve anything or make a change in the world around you. You wouldn’t be able to look forward to anything or dream of a brighter future.

With hope, however, anything is possible, as these quotes on hope explain. Even when it seems that there is no hope left and that there seems to be no good left in the world, you have to keep holding on. Remain hopeful, because that hope will help pave the way for change.

As these quotes on hope detail, the more hope there is in the world, the greater the chance of change. Do your part and remain hopeful so that you can spread that hope to others. Only then will you be able to see a change in the world.

Scientists Explain How One Workout Can Boost Brainpower for 2 Hours

November 27, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Your alarm blasts alerting you that it’s time to start a new day. You push the snooze button as many times as you can to get a few extra minutes of necessary sleep. You finally drag yourself to the kitchen to put on the coffee and boost your brainpower. Without this caffeinated drink, you know you will be lethargic and sluggish till lunch.

This common scenario happens in nearly every home in America. People are exhausted from a lack of sleep and stress. They try to self-medicate their fatigue by using things like caffeine and other harmful stimulants. The truth is that your body is crying out for something else that can give you the boost you need without any side effects.

You can boost your mental abilities with sugar or caffeine only to crash a short time later. Or you can get your blood flowing to your brain with a cardiovascular workout. A study done in Germany proved that when you exercise, your brain functions better, and your cognitive performance increases.

Boost Your Brainpower with Cardiovascular Exercise

How long has it been since you’ve been to the gym? Perhaps, you bought expensive equipment that has become excellent storage for your clothes or other household items. Your body was meant to move, and when you allow it to remain in a stationary position, you are causing more harm than good.

People have developed a sedentary lifestyle because of technological advances. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected data from American workers over the age of 18. Shockingly, they found that 44 percent of the participants have a job that keeps them sedentary.

These people said that they barely move at all. Only three percent of the participants moved more than four hours each day. Wow! It’s easy to see why the obesity epidemic is so out of control in this country.

With computers, smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart televisions, and all the other devices out there, people have become lazy regarding exercise. Sadly, as a person ages, they automatically experience cognitive decline.

However, aerobic exercise has been proven to give you better brain functioning and enhance memory, concentration, and learning. Remember the last time you hiked up a mountain, jogged in the park, or did a vigorous cardiovascular workout. The chances are that you felt energized when it was completed.

Instead of trading your desk chair for a seat in the cafeteria at lunch, why not go outside and do a brisk walk to boost your brainpower? It could make the difference in how you feel at the end of the day and give your brain the jolt it needs.

Boost Your Brainpower Without Harmful Substances

When you do a workout, you will think clearer, and you won’t have to pump yourself full of coffee to get a similar effect. You will lift the brain fog and tackle each happenstance with a crystal-clear mind. Think of your brain as a light bulb.

When you turn on a compact fluorescent lamp or a CFL bulb, it takes a few minutes for them to illuminate fully. They start with just a dim glow, and it’s hard to see when they are in this initial warm-up phase. Slowly, they get amped-up, and they can shine to their fullest potential.

Your brain functions like these CFL bulbs. When you first get out of bed, you’re sluggish because your brain waves slow as you sleep. While your mind is still alert, it’s shut down many of your body functions so that it can heal and restore damaged areas.

The fact is that you can’t go from zero to 100 with your brain with the snap of a finger. It takes time to boost your brainpower. Many people are doing this all wrong with harmful substances when a good workout is what they need. A one-hour workout has the power to increase your cognitive functioning for about 120 minutes after you’ve finished.

Sweat More, Stress Less

Have you ever tried going up and down the stairs several times? When you climb stairs, it’s easy to sweat. The sweat is a sign that you’re breathing is increasing, and so is the blood flow to the brain.

Your brain is getting oxygen and blood to each cell, which is necessary for function. When you work your muscles, they send a rush of hormones straight to your head. Inside your brain, they mix with your brain chemicals to help with your mood, cell growth, and learning processes.

An excellent way to think of it is like giving your brain a dose of miracle grow, much as you would do to a plant. It’s those hormones that alter how you feel. How many times have you heard someone say that you need to boost your serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine levels to combat anxiety and depression? These vital transmitters are responsible for your focus, tension, and anxiety, as well as your overall wellbeing.

When these chemicals become unbalanced, you will suffer in your mind and body. However, you can take control of these issues without expensive trips to the doctor or pharmacy counter. When you get your body moving, everything goes into perfect balance.

Now, here’s something that will shock you; exercise can work the same for you as antidepressant medication. That’s right; many people are popping pills, and all they need to do is get their body moving. They have the power to control their depression and anxiety by simply moving more and charging their hormones.

If you did a workout for one hour a day, three days a week, then you would see a significant change in your mood and overall cognitive function. Another exciting fact about boosting your brain power with exercise is that it increases your hippocampus area’s size. This part of the brain is responsible for both your learning and memory capabilities. Your recall and concentration levels will improve.

When you’re doing a dreaded task like balancing the checkbook or working on your taxes, it may be a good idea to do a workout first. Since cardiovascular exercises will improve your attention, enhance your memory, and help you with accuracy, why aren’t more people learning that you have the power to fix the sluggishness you feel?

The Mental Benefit

A study found that individuals who exercised on lunch and breaks at work are 23 percent more productive on those days. The research looked at people that engaged in an aerobic workout to see how it influenced their body. They found that a pulse-pounding exercise session was as stimulating as coffee, plus there are no harmful side effects.

Workouts that get the heart pumping have such a powerful effect on the mind that many experts dub the phenomenon as cardio-induced clarity. People who learn how to time their workout sessions exactly right can ensure they have the adrenaline boost they need for specific periods during the day.

Now, what about your ability to remember names and other important details? Forgetfulness is something that many people struggle with as they get older. However, if you just run on your treadmill for 20 minutes, it can increase your problem-solving abilities. Keep in mind that the more intense your workout, the better clarity you’ll experience.

It’s the end of the workday, and you barely have the strength to make it to your car and do the drive home. You pull into a houseful of children who are waiting for dinner. How are you ever going to make it through the evening with all you need to accomplish?

You’ve already had a ten-hour day, and you have at least another six hours of stuff to do at home. There’s nothing that says that you must workout at a particular time. You can do several small sessions to boost your brainpower when you need it most.

Why not get the kids together and dance to the oldies for 20 minutes before cooking dinner? Not only will they have fun jumping around and spending time with you, but you will help everyone with their clarity, focus, and energy.

Final Thoughts on Using Exercise to Boost Your Brainpower

Feeling sluggish all day is not a unique problem. Some say that a low diet and lack of exercise is why so many people are stressed and exhausted. You need vital nutrients to help fuel your system, and exercise helps fire those neurons and get critical blood flow to the brain.

If only people would learn that the answer is not taking one medication after another to combat something that can naturally be taken care of. How many times do experts recommend a diet that consists of no sugar, red dyes, wheat, soy, and dairy products for the child with ADHD? The reason is that stimulant medications can do the same thing for you as alterations you can make without using prescriptions.

Those who currently take medications must talk to their primary care physician before stopping any medications, but natural remedies work. You can boost your brainpower, improve your mood, and have a better life when you get moving.

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