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Psychology Explains Why The Oldest Child Is Often The Most Responsible

November 26, 2020 by Power of Positivity

The birth order is vital in a family. The oldest child is a test run for the parents as everything is new. They often spoil and coddle this baby because they’ve never done this before. Most parents will spend way more money and time with their firstborn as they are just learning the ropes of parenting.

When the next child comes along, they’re known as the middle sibling in the family order. The middle child doesn’t get the time or attention that the older child did because the parents are more established and have knowledge under their belt. The last child, commonly referred to as the baby, holds a particular spot in the parent’s heart.

The family is recognized as the last sibling born, and they often get special treatment. By this time, the parents have much experience in child-rearing, and they loosen the rules a bit. Many parents are advancing in age and are close to being grandparents, raising this child with a different set of rules than what governed the siblings.

Family dynamics are exciting and complicated. While each child has specific challenges that they must overcome, their position within the family unit cannot go unnoticed. Most people have heard about middle child syndrome and the perils of being wedged in between the oldest and youngest children.

However, there are some special considerations for each person born in the family. Did you know that the oldest child is often a leader and more responsible than the others in the sibling group? Is it possible that their placement in the birth order sets them up to be assertive, healthy, and one that people follow?

Examples of First Born Leaders

Throughout human history, psychologists studied the birth order and its significance on personality and life. Commonly, those born in the first position tend to be a bit bossy. Thankfully, their domineering nature comes with other good traits like being responsible, organized, and ambitious. These mature and self-disciplined people are natural-born leaders.

If you think this is all hype, you should consider some people throughout history who prove this theory to be true. The following people are the oldest child in their family:

Oprah Winfrey
George W. Bush
Winston Churchill
Emma Watson
Beyoncé
Kate Middleton
Rihanna
Sandra Bullock
Taylor Swift
J. K. Rowling
Richard Branson

Many studies state the birth order means everything regarding your personality, and then other studies refute such findings. However, amidst all the data is grains of truth that every parent should at least consider.

Do High Expectations Encourage Success?

Perhaps some of the drives that first-born children have come from their parents’ high expectations. Is it any wonder that these kids are often ambitious and strong academic achievers? They grow up with a strong sense of responsibility as their parents expect more from them, so they are often mature.

Setting high standards and making such demands forge these children into leadership. Sure, they have many expectations, but they get a great deal of affection from their parents. The parent takes time to read every book, hold them longer, take them everywhere they go and give them their full and undivided attention.

As with anything new, they dive headfirst into parenting and want to do everything right. Thankfully, parenting skills are fine-tuned, and by the time the next child rolls around, they have become more relaxed. It’s interesting to note that these kids’ high expectations seem to work as self-fulfilling prophecies.

The kids have had positive affirmations spoken to them, and now they want to work hard to live up to their parent’s expectations. It’s uncanny what spending more time and speaking positive things into a child can do for their esteem and life. It’s not that the parents aren’t doing the same thing with the other children, it’s just that the first one in the family gets so much more attention, and it seems to destine them for greatness.

Scientific Studies Back Theories on The Oldest Child

A study was conducted at the University of Texas-Austin to determine the importance of being born first and any implications it had on life. After examining the participants, they found that children born first in the family order are more than 30 percent likely to own a company, become a politician, or do something monumental in their life.

After examining their personality traits, the study found that these first-born kids are more emotionally stable. They also have a persistent nature that gives them the drive they need to keep going. They are socially outgoing, which is another personality trait that is necessary to be a leader.

Lastly, they are willing and able to assume responsibility regardless of the difficulty. First-born children take the initiative because it’s built-in them to have a take-charge nature. Another interesting notation from the study was that first-born kids tend to have higher IQs.

Oddly enough, this is believed to be caused by the strict nature and the time the parents had to invest with this child. Your words are powerful and can change the atmosphere. In recent times, the importance of positive affirmations has come to the forefront.

Speaking Positive Affirmations to Your Child

Speaking positive things over someone can have a significant impact on their life. It’s dually noted that a parent devotes more time and energy to the oldest child simply because of their family position. One of the critical things that could be the difference in this child is the amount of positivity spoken over them. Parents often say something to the firstborn like:

You’re going to do great things in this life.
You will reach every goal you set.
You could do any job that you wish when you grow up.
There’s no one as amazing and wonderful as you.
I pray blessings over you that you will have all your heart’s desires.

Now, if you speak these things into any child day in and day out, don’t think for one minute that it won’t have a dramatic impact on their life. Sayings like this can have a significant influence on a kid as well:

I love you so much.
You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I’m so glad you’re in my life.

You can easily see how building this child up like this is going to have a positive impact. It’s not that the parents don’t care or don’t try to build up the other children in the family, but they don’t devote the time and energy because their parenting styles evolve.

The Time You Spend with Your Children Counts

Some say that first parents are a bit over-zealous with their oldest child. They read to them every day, have them trying to read at a young age, and work on hand-eye coordination techniques to advance them in life. When the other children come around, there’s less time to devote to such tasks.

A study was conducted by the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth that looked at the IQs of children between the ages of 14-21. They wanted to see what impact the family order had on their intelligence. Shockingly, firstborn children often have higher IQs than those born later into the family.

Another interesting thing the study uncovered is the mother’s habits while the child was in the womb. First-time moms start prenatal vitamins earlier, get to the doctor sooner, and take better care of themselves. Since this is a new experience, they want to avoid caffeine, lunch meat, over-the-counter medications and make sure they do everything they can to have a healthy baby.

It’s not that mothers don’t care about other kids; it’s just that they’ve already done this process once, and everything turned out fine. So they adjust and relax a bit on the stringent rules.

Final Thoughts on How Parents May Instill a Different Attitude into the Oldest Child

To sum things up, the theories on the oldest child and the birth order come down to one thing; the extra time parents spend with this child destines them for success. The shifts that come about in the maternal attitudes change how the other children turn out. The parents love all their children the same, but the time restraints and methods are what evolves.

When you examine the fact that parents are teaching their kids to count, do their alphabet, and read by the age of three, it’s programming them for success. They aren’t leaving it up to the education system as they’re taking an active approach and putting them ahead of the game. The extra time and the positivity instilled in these children make the oldest child destined to succeed.

Now, keep in mind that it doesn’t mean that the middle or youngest child cannot be successful too; it just means that they don’t have the advantages of having all their parents’ attention on them, and their development puts them at a slight disadvantage.

These 15 Quotes on Gratitude Remind You to Be Thankful Always

November 26, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Being thankful can make all the difference in your life, as these quotes on gratitude will explain. It can differentiate between happiness or despair, calmness or chaos, grief or joy, and many other strong emotions. Plus, it can help those around you be happier, as well.

When you are thankful always, you will never feel like your life is lacking anything. You will be content with what you have, and it seems that further abundance normally follows. When you are constantly seeking more in life, the best things seem to come to you.

If you struggle to think of things you can be thankful for, simply think of the things in your life right now. This could be the people you love, your home, the clothes you are wearing, or just the beauty of nature. You could be thankful for having a job, reliable transportation, or the ability to talk to loved ones who are far away.

No matter what it is, you are thankful for, remember to show your gratitude. These quotes on gratitude will help you remember why you should be thankful.

Fifteen Quotes on Gratitude

1. “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” – Amy Collette

If you want to be happy, try practicing gratitude. When you are thankful for what and who you have in your life, you will find yourself happier than ever.

2. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie

By showing gratitude, you will live a fuller life. You will realize that you already have enough, and your life will simplify. All things will be better when you are thankful, and nothing can compare to that.

3. “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha

One more day in this world is something always to be grateful for. Even if things seem bad, you woke up and have another chance at life. Remember this anytime you’re having a hard time with something, and you’ll remember to be thankful.

4. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

Being thankful will lead to feeling like you have everything you need. It’ll attract more good things, too. On the other hand, focusing on the things you don’t have will always leave you feeling empty.

5. “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

If someone in your life makes you feel this way, make sure you let them know it. Show gratitude to those who make you feel alive because they are the important ones. When you show gratitude, they’ll continue to light the flame that Schweitzer describes.

6. “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle

You will always feel like you have plenty if you are thankful for what you already have. Plus, when you show gratitude, it will seem that your life becomes overflowing with great things. Be grateful for what you have and see how much you gain.

7. “Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” – Eileen Caddy

With gratitude, you can become more than you are now. Not only will you learn and develop, but you will also be happier and bring happiness to those around you.

8. “If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” – Frank A. Clark

As Clark explains, if you aren’t grateful for what you already have, you will never be thankful for anything. If you aren’t thankful, you could have everything and still feel like something is missing. With gratitude, however, you will feel like you always have enough.

9. “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

If you want peace and understanding, you have to be thankful for everything you have. You are today because of your past, so you have reason to be thankful for that.

Being thankful will help you love your life and the person you are now. Plus, it will help you see where to go next in life. With this, you can strive for a bright future while feeling happy where you are now.

10. “Gratitude also opens your eyes to the limitless potential of the universe, while dissatisfaction closes your eyes to it.” – Stephen Richards

You can do so many things in life if you are thankful, and so many opportunities will be open to you. If you are looking for the good in life, you will find it everywhere. Without gratitude, however, you will be blind to the good in the world, and you will miss out on the best opportunities.

11. “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” – Mary Davis

When you are always thankful, you will see the world more positively. You will see the good in those around you, and you will see the beauty of nature. It will bring on a new perspective that will make you feel even more grateful for the things around you.

12. “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brené Brown

Chasing excitement and beauty will never leave you feeling fulfilled, as Brown explains. Instead, bask in the environment around you right now. Pay attention to your loved ones, and to the other things that matter most.

When you think of all the great things in your life and show your gratitude, you will feel much happier. This is something that couldn’t be found if you traveled the world searching for it. It is much simpler than that, as it only requires showing thanks for what you already have.

13. “Gratitude will shift you to a higher frequency, and you will attract much better things.” – Rhonda Byrne

Being thankful and showing gratitude will lift you higher than you’ve ever been. You will feel happier and more fulfilled, and you will attract good things. When you feel like you already have enough in life, you will find that you keep receiving more.

14. “The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.” – Hannah Whitall Smith

A giving soul can find good and comfort in any situation. This requires finding the good in all situations, even when it seems hard to do.

On the other hand, those who complain will never see the good. Things will always seem off to them, and they will not be able to find peace or comfort anywhere. So, remember to be thankful always so that you can find comfort in life.

15. “There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” — Ralph H. Blum

Life often seems hectic, out of control, and overwhelming. Things get busy, and unexpected situations occur, no matter how much you have planned.

To ease all of this, take time to be thankful and show gratitude. Then, you will find that life calms down, and you feel less stressed. You will find more joy and happiness, and you will feel fulfilled.

Final Thoughts on Reading These Quotes on Gratitude

These quotes on gratitude will remind you to be thankful always. Being thankful can benefit you and the world around you in so many ways. You will be happier and more fulfilled in life, and you will always feel like you have enough.

Show your gratitude for those you love and for the things you have. You will be amazed at how quickly your life seems to improve, and you’ll find more positivity coming your way.

If you find yourself struggling to embrace what you have, remember these quotes on gratitude. They will help you remember why you should be grateful and all that you have to be grateful for. When you can be thankful always, you will see just how great life can be.

Climate Experts Explain Why Recent Hurricanes Were Stronger

November 25, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

Climatologists have found that tropical systems have become much stronger in recent years, thanks to climate change. Not only do hurricanes take more time to weaken after making landfall, but they intensify faster and dump more rain than usual.

A study published in the journal Nature on November 11, 2020, revealed that recent hurricanes carry more moisture due to warming oceans. Therefore, they retain strength for longer periods of time after hitting land.

Climate experts believe that warming oceans will only cause storm systems to become more intense in the future. The scientists project that future storms will impact communities further inland and cause even more destruction. Roofing damages caused by extreme weather conditions should be fixed immediately. If your home has roof leaks that need to be repaired, you should consider hiring a professional roofing contractor. Seek Affordable Remediation & Emergency Services if your property has been flooded and you need help with water removal and damage repairs.

“The implications are very important, especially when considering policies that are put in place to cope with global warming,” said Professor Pinaki Chakraborty, senior author of the study and head of the Fluid Mechanics Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). “We know that coastal areas need to ready themselves for more intense hurricanes, but inland communities, who may not have the know-how or infrastructure to cope with such intense winds or heavy rainfall, also need to be prepared.”

Climatologists have already established associations between global warming and hurricane intensity. However, they have done little research into how climate change impacts the rate at which tropical storms weaken. This groundbreaking research reveals how tropical systems have been slowing down in recent decades.

Warming oceans causing stronger hurricanes

The scientists analyzed North Atlantic landfalling hurricanes in the past 50 years. They discovered a direct correlation between the slowdown of storms and warming ocean temperatures. On the first day after landfall, scientists found that storms weakened almost twice as slowly as they did in the 1960s. Back then, hurricanes lost about 75 percent of their intensity 24 hours after landfall. But now, they lose only 50 percent.

“When we plotted the data, we could clearly see that the amount of time it took for a hurricane to weaken was increasing with the years. But it wasn’t a straight line — it was undulating — and we found that these ups and downs matched the same ups and downs seen in sea surface temperature,” said Lin Li, first author and Ph.D. student in the OIST Fluid Mechanics Unit.

The researchers created computer simulations of four different storms to test the association between warmer oceans and slower weakening hurricanes. They set different sea surface temperatures for each to see how the hurricanes would react. Once the simulated hurricanes became Category 4’s, they cut off moisture supply from beneath to create landfall.

Li explained: “Hurricanes are heat engines, just like engines in cars. In car engines, fuel combusts, and that heat energy is converts into mechanical work. For hurricanes, the moisture taken up from the ocean’s surface is the “fuel” that intensifies and sustains a hurricane’s destructive power, with heat energy from the moisture converted into powerful winds.

“Making landfall is equivalent to stopping the fuel supply to the engine of a car. Without fuel, the car will decelerate, and without its moisture source, the hurricane will decay.”

The study results

The simulations revealed that storms developing over warmer waters took longer to weaken, despite them all having equal intensity at landfall. Professory Chakraborty says that this proved their theory that warmer oceans cause storm systems to weaken more slowly, even after they hit land. However, they still didn’t know why this occurred.

Additional simulations revealed that “stored moisture” caused the hurricanes to retain strength longer. The scientists explained that storms carry a slowly depleting stock of moisture once they make landfall. So, even though they can’t draw moisture from the oceans any longer, they already have so much potential energy stored.

Scientists found that sea surface temperatures had no impact on the virtual hurricanes, which had no stored moisture. The tropical storms weakened at a normal rate when they lacked this accumulation of moisture.

“This shows that stored moisture is the key factor that gives each hurricane in the simulation its own unique identity,” said Li. “Hurricanes that develop over warmer oceans can take up and store more moisture, which sustains them for longer and prevents them from weakening as quickly.”

Future implications

Because recent storms contain more moisture, they consequently dump more rain on affected areas. Coastal and inland communities have seen unprecedented amounts of rainfall in tropical storms and hurricanes. For example, Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, with scientists noting it as the wettest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Some areas saw up to 60” of rain in a matter of days.

Since storms have increased in intensity and moisture levels, future climate models need to consider stored moisture. Warming oceans have dramatically altered the behavior of hurricanes, and this research shows the importance of models keeping pace.

Furthermore, the research highlights the shortcomings in simple theoretical models most commonly used to analyze hurricane decay.

“Current models of hurricane decay don’t consider moisture — they just view hurricanes that have made landfall as a dry vortex that rubs against the land and is slowed down by friction. Our work shows these models are incomplete, which is why this clear signature of climate change wasn’t previously captured,” said Li.

More research lies ahead

The scientists now want to study hurricane data worldwide to determine how global warming affects hurricane decay elsewhere.

Prof. Chakraborty said: “Overall, the implications of this work are stark. If we don’t curb global warming, landfalling hurricanes will continue to weaken more slowly. Their destruction will no longer be confined to coastal areas, causing higher levels of economic damage and costing more lives.”

Final thoughts on the groundbreaking study about strengthening hurricanes

Global warming and climate change have led to tropical storms becoming more costly and dangerous. Warming oceans have caused storms to store more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall and slower decay once they make landfall. Furthermore, hurricanes have become stronger and intensify faster due to climate change. These factors will lead to more people reeling from the consequences of storms in the future if warming trends continue.

3 Signs You’re Being Taken For Granted (And How To Fix It)

November 25, 2020 by Lakeisha Ethans

Everyone deserves to be treated with fairness, compassion, and appreciation. If you feel that you’re not being treated this way, no matter how much you treat others in that manner, then you might be getting taken for granted.

A person who takes advantage of you needs to be shut down before your connection with them becomes toxic and severely disproportionate. But how can you tell if it’s someone mistreating you or if it’s just your expectations soaring a little too high?

Three Signs You Are Taken For Granted

Here are 3 signs you’re being taken for granted and how to fix it in 4 ways.

1. The Way You Communicate Is Uneven or Changing

Communication is the heart of any relationship, whether platonic, familial, romantic, professional, or otherwise. Unbalanced or shifting communication methods can point to being taken advantage of. Here are some things to look out for:

· Conversations Are Stopped Short

When you try to have a conversation with someone, it’s reasonable that the discussion must sometimes end quickly. But if someone is always cutting short all conversations with you, it can seem like they don’t actually want to be in that conversation on equal terms.

· You Are Not Listened To

You listen to this person, but they don’t listen in return. You meet their needs and requests, but they never heed any of yours. That’s a huge sign of being taken for granted and is objectively inexcusable.

· Pleasantries Are Lost

When someone doesn’t greet you properly or take the time for pleasantries, instead of getting straight to the point of what they need, it can be a sign you’re being taken for granted. While this can be acceptable in a professional setting, among friends and loved ones, you deserve more than to hear only what the other person wants. You are not a means to an end!

2. Others Don’t Value Your Time

Time is money and is just as valuable as any other resource in the world. You have a busy schedule, just like millions of people across the globe. There is no reason that your time is worth less than any other person’s – especially your peers’. Someone who doesn’t think your time is important is taking you for granted. Here are some signs that your time isn’t being valued:

· They Are Always Late

Arriving late, a couple of times is perfectly fine. Absolutely never being on time, however, is a problem. It shows that the time you have is not being valued as if it’s fine for you to waste your time waiting for them to show up.

· You’re Not Informed Of Lateness

It’s a common courtesy for someone to inform you when they’re running late to an appointment with you. If that person is constantly arriving late and fails to let you know in advance, they’re not just bad at time management – they also don’t respect you or your time.

· Your Free Time Is Taken Advantage Of

Some people might seem to think that the existence of your free time means you should be using it for them. This is simply incorrect. Everyone deserves time to relax and unwind, and at the end of the day, you don’t owe someone the spare hours you have. If someone makes you feel guilty for having free time, they’re taking you for granted.

3. Your Efforts Are Not Appreciated

Few things hurt more than trying your best, then being made to feel like it’s not worthy of notice. Your hard work and efforts are deserving of recognition. Someone who fails to see these efforts time and time again is taking you for granted. Here are some examples of this:

· You Always Need To Give More

Even when you’ve done so much already, someone might make you feel like you need to do more. Their expectations are unfairly high and even impossible, indicating that your current efforts are being taken for granted.

· They Directly Take Credit for Your Ideas or Work

This is a pretty black-and-white sign that you’re being taken advantage of. If your actions and results are passed off as someone else’s successes, you’re not being appreciated, and the other person is behaving in a ridiculously entitled manner.

· You Feel Unworthy

If you constantly feel like you’re never good enough for someone, it’s time to take a step back and think about why you feel this way. Are you truly not doing enough, or are you just not appreciated? Is this person taking advantage of you or failing to express their appreciation? Chances are, that person is making you feel this way.

How To Fix Being Taken For Granted

1. Change The Way You Communicate

It is important to note that it is never your fault when other people take advantage of you or take you for granted. Other people’s behavior is never on you or your fault.

But with that being said, sometimes, your communication methods may encourage people to be unfair to you because they think they can get away with it, or they think you’re fine with such behavior. The School of Social Work at the University of Buffalo has some great pointers about what you might be doing that make others think it’s fine to treat you in disproportionate or less-than-positive ways. Here are some of the common traits you might exhibit:

You have difficulty saying no
Agreeing to requests that are inconvenient, inappropriate, or unfair
You do not communicate regarding shifting boundaries or problems
You are self-effacing when you express feelings, thoughts, needs, and opinions
You’re often self-deprecating and put yourself down around others
You’re apologetic when communicating
You focus excessively on how others think of you
Talking down to yourself

These communication methods are counter-productive; no one can read your mind and determine your true feelings or intentions. Even those who know of your discomfort may not feel inclined to heed your unspoken desires if they can benefit from your silence. Avoid falling into these traps, and much fewer people will take advantage of you.

2. Consider The Opposite Perspective

You likely feel hurt and pained by the actions of the person who has taken you for granted, and that is completely reasonable. But to fix it, you have to get to the root of the problem and do something complicated – consider the perspective of the person in question.

Finding a solution requires working together with the person who you think is taking advantage of you. You can’t do that if you don’t want to understand why you accept this treatment. As tough as it is, you have to meet in the middle before they can realize their wrongs and apologize. Here are some things to keep in mind as you ponder the perspective of the other person:

People do not typically negatively treat others on purpose unless there is a personality disorder or similar problem involved. According to research, it is unlikely that someone takes you for granted to do so from the get-go.
People can change over time, and someone’s behavior towards you may be affected by changes in their personal life or their feelings and thoughts on their relationship with you. It is not inherently a negative or positive factor, just an influencing one.
Accusing someone directly of intentional negative intent typically results in unproductive and ineffective arguments involving defensiveness, anger, and an unwillingness to engage.
People who are no longer interested in maintaining a relationship may perform “distancing” behavior in a passive manner, say studies. This is due to an inability to understand or figure out how to leave the relationship (be it platonic, romantic, or otherwise) in a peaceful manner. They may stop returning favors or gestures and slowly distance themselves from you in an attempt to leave gradually or convince you to leave first.

3. Communicate Directly

It’s time to communicate to the other person how you feel. It’s important to be completely honest and direct when you do this, but you still have to maintain an effective communication style. You want to be honest, factual, and simple in your explanations. Here are some ways to communicate with someone taking you for granted:

· Use “I” Statements

“I” statements are ones that are non-accusatory. Instead of saying, “You always treat me poorly,” which others might receive with shock, anger, and defensiveness, say, “I feel that I’m being treated poorly.” This is a more positive way to get your message across to make the other person more open to listening.

· Remain Calm

It’s easy to get frustrated when talking to someone about a subject like this. It’s important to manage your emotions and regulate them well to benefit from a more effective discussion. If your emotions begin to rage again, ask for a few minutes to collect yourself, then return when you have more positive thinking and repeat until the issue is solved.

· Be Assertive

When you tell someone about your needs or your current abilities, you should not be leaving room for them to walk over those factors. Be assertive when communicating to make it clear that what you’re saying isn’t up for discussion. There’s a significant difference between assertiveness and aggression, and research indicates that negative emotions can be expressed in a healthy and positive assertive manner.

4. Know When To Walk Away

Enforced your boundaries, but still, have them being crossed? Communicated, but people still ignore you? Been assertive, but still taken for granted? Consider that it might be time to remove yourself from this toxic situation.

It’s a sad fact, but not everyone is going to stop taking you for granted. Some people just don’t get it, and some will even do this with malicious intent. That’s why you need to know when it’s time to walk away and leave that person behind. You owe no one an explanation for this decision, and at the end of the day, it’s your life and your choice that you’re free to make!

Final Thoughts On Some Signs You’re Being Taken For Granted And How To Fix It

Being taken for granted hurts, and it’s not something anyone deserves to happen to them. If you feel that someone is taking advantage of you, start taking steps to fix the problem. You deserve to command more respect than that.

15 Quotes on Nature That Will Make You Want to Get Outside

November 25, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Spending time outside isn’t at the top of everyone’s list of favorite ways to relax, but it should be. Even those who don’t consider themselves a nature-lover can reap the benefits of spending time in nature. These quotes on nature help explain why it is good for you and how you can benefit from doing it regularly.

Spending time in nature can help replenish your soul and clear your mind. It can help you feel better during hard times, helping you fully process excitement or changes. Plus, it can help you relax, think things through, and make life decisions.

Quotes on nature aren’t just intended to help you feel better, either. They can help you think of and appreciate the good things in your life more, too.

Quotes on Nature

Connecting with nature is one of the best ways to promote a sense of personal well-being. You will quickly notice a difference in yourself after just a short amount of time spent outside. Remember these quotes on nature so that you don’t forget to take care of yourself.

1. “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Nature is indeed beautiful, but that isn’t the biggest benefit. As Stevenson explains, the air that emanates from nature is the biggest blessing given to man by nature. It can lift your spirits and help you experience a better sense of well-being.

2. “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery – air, mountains, trees, people. I thought this is what it is to be happy.” – Sylvia Plath

The feelings you will experience in nature are ones that are sure to make you feel better about life. Surrounding yourself with nature, and this includes other people, will make you happier.

3. “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs

When nothing else seems to be healing your spirit, head outside and take in some fresh air. Look around and bask in the beauty of the world. The more time you spend outside this way, the more your senses will come together.

4. “In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Even in your saddest times, getting outside will help you feel a little better. Nature is delightful, as Emerson explains, and being in its presence will make you feel the same way.

5. “In nature, nothing is perfect, and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.” – Alice Walker

You won’t find one thing the same as another, and everything will have its imperfections. Because of this, everything seems perfect, beautiful, and unique, all at the same time. It even seems that the imperfections make nature more beautiful than if everything were perfect.

6. “Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach of us more than we can ever learn from books.” – John Lubbock

The best teachers are those found in nature. You can learn more from the natural world around you than you can from any person or book. When you feel like you need to learn something, go outside and let yourself learn naturally.

7. “Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops, let the rain sing you a lullaby.” – Langston Hughes

While many choose to seek shelter when it is raining, be the one who basks in it. Let the rain come down on you and restore your soul.

8. “Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars, and if you have eyes, you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents, and they are not going to become rich, and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers — for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” – Osho

Take a step outside and look around at all the things in nature. Everything seems happy, and they aren’t striving to become powerful or rich. When you feel like you aren’t achieving enough, go outside and remind yourself that you can be happy anyway.

9. “To me, a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.” – Helen Keller

All of the little things you can have in your home have nothing on what you can experience in nature. You will find natural textures that are incomparable, and you can explore your senses more deeply.

10. “Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.” – Wallace Stevens

When decisions seem hard to make, take a walk outside. Find a body of water to stroll near, and you will find that your mind becomes clearer. The truths in life will become clear, and you will understand things more fully.

11. “Sunshine is delicious. Rain is refreshing. Wind braces us up. Snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” – John Ruskin

Think back to a time when you basked in the sunshine and let your body soak it in. Or, think of the rain as it refreshes your soul and mind, or the snow that makes you feel exhilarated. When life seems to be hard, remember that even in nature, there is no bad weather.

Use this mindset in your life when you feel like changes are overwhelming. Go outside and remind yourself that change doesn’t have to be bad. Instead, it can be delicious, refreshing, bracing, and exhilarating, just like the weather.

12. “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature. …I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” – Anne Frank

When life doesn’t seem to be going well, go outside and see how much it can cheer you up. While it may not fix all of your problems, being in nature can help alleviate your negative feelings. It will help you realize that life is beautiful, and happiness is possible.

13. “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature-the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson

Nature can help you feel a sense of normalcy and a sense of life always continuing. As long as morning follows night and spring follows winter, you will know that things will keep going.

14. “In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life – no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you are in a natural element such as the woods, your mind and soul will be restored. Your logical reasoning will return, as will your faith. Only in nature will you realize that all the bad things in life can be repaired by time spent outside.

15. “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” – Rachel Carson

If you can recognize the beauty in the world, you will find a strength that cannot be touched. This strength will give you everything you need to be happy in life. When you feel weak, remember this quote and get outside for a little while.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Nature That Will Make You Want to Head Outside

No matter what stage of life you are in, these quotes on nature will make you want to go outside. You will be able to bask in the beauty of the world, learn, replenish your soul, and clear your mind. Plus, you will be able to think more clearly, helping you make important life decisions.

Connect with nature and learn to enjoy all that it has to offer. These quotes on nature can serve as a reminder of why you need to head outside regularly. If you are feeling out of sorts, remember these quotes on nature and their insights on healing.

Don’t forget to spend time outside during the good times in your life, too. The beauty in the world will help you see the beauty in your life. This will lead to an appreciation for your life and an appreciation for the natural beauty around you.

15 Hacks to Help You Eat Healthier (With Less Effort)

November 25, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Choosing to eat healthier means different things to each person. The individual with diabetes tries to adapt to a lifestyle that is free of sugar, while the person struggling with obesity wants to cut carbs and eat more fat.

No matter your preference for eating healthier, there are numerous tips that you can use to make your journey easier.

Healthy Hacks You Can Use

You can make some easy switches to decrease calories and fat while you increase your nutrition. Changing your eating habits doesn’t have to be complicated, and healthy living doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are 15 tips to get healthy without requiring a lot of time or energy.

1. Grocery Shop When You Are Full

Have you ever noticed that you buy more junk food when you go to the store hungry? Since everything looks good, you have no problem loading up on all the extras. Not only will this hurt your budget, but it will also cause an issue for your waistline.

A study conducted at the University of Michigan found that people who go to the grocery store hungry often buy more non-edible things. If you haven’t had dinner and stop at the market on the way home, you could buy way more things than you need and even a few weird items, like rubber bands or binder clips.

2. Use A Smaller Plate

Your brain is a complex processing unit, but sometimes it can be tricked. One of the iconic dieting techniques is to switch the size of your plate. Have you seen the range of dinner plates these days?

The standard plate has always been 10.5 inches. However, restaurants are now using ones as large as 12 inches. Imagine how many calories you could cut by going to an eight-inch plate?

Honestly, the larger dishes can hold enough food for 2-3 people, and you feel the need to fill them up. Switch to a smaller plate, and you will eat healthier by consuming modest portions.

3. Practice Mindful Eating

Be mindful of everything you put in your body. Keep a journal and make sure you account for every calorie and fat gram each day. Most people have no idea how much they’re eating until they start calculating it.

4. Increase Your Water Intake

Water is very filling. Before you take each bite at a meal, take a sip of water. The water will trick you into thinking that your fuller sooner than you are because of its volume. Since your body is mostly made of water, it only makes sense that you should increase your intake.

5. Switch to Dark Chocolate

If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, no one says you can never have a snack again. A study conducted by the Top Institute Food and Nutrition wanted to prove or disprove the theories behind dark chocolate being good for you. They studied middle-aged, overweight men for four weeks.

At the end of the study, they found that these men had improved vascular function and enhanced their leukocyte adhesion factors. The antioxidants found in this variety of chocolate is good for your health and your heart.

6. Steer Clear of Fast Food

It’s so easy to swing into a drive-thru for a burger and fries rather than cooking. However, no matter how healthy they try to make it, fast food is loaded with sodium, fat, calories, and other harmful preservatives. It takes about 20-30 minutes to make a healthy meal, and it’s much easier on your wallet too.

7. Practice Meal Prepping

One of the biggest reasons people don’t eat healthier is that they don’t practice meal prepping. Meal prepping has two advantages. First, you can ensure that your family is getting a well-balanced and nutritious meal, and second, you can also ensure you’re not overspending at the grocery store.

8. Switch to Powdered Peanut Butter

Why is it that so many people crave peanut butter? It tastes good in-between chocolate, and there’s no better accompaniment to jelly. However, raw, unprocessed peanut butter is good for you, but much of the stuff you find on the store shelves are full of sugar and salt.

Another option to help you get that nutty flavor you crave is to use the powdered variety. Powdered peanut butter has become quite popular as an option for healthy eating. Two tablespoons of traditional peanut butter have 191 calories and 16 grams of fat.

Powdered peanut butter only has 45 calories and five grams of fat. Now, which is the better choice? You’ll be glad to know that powdered peanut butter is just dry roasted nuts with all the oil pressed out of them to make them a powder. So, it’s the same great taste, but it’s much healthier.

9. Use Unsweetened Almond or Soy Milk

Switch out your cow’s milk for an almond or soy variety. They come in so many amazing flavors, and they have lower calories and fat. You can use them the same as you would regular milk, and you won’t have to worry about lactose intolerance.

10. Share Entrees at Restaurants

For those times when you must go out to eat, why not split the entrée with your spouse or a friend? Americans suffer from portion distortion. The average serving at a local eatery is enough to serve 2-4 people, depending on the place.

When you add salads, soups, breadsticks, and other freebies they offer, then you can easily exceed your daily caloric intake in one meal. Restaurants are a great place to practice mindful eating because they want to give you more bang for your buck.

11. Choose Cold Greens Rather Than Hot Ones

While green beans, peas, brussels sprouts, and asparagus taste great, you should pile on the cold, leafy greens. Lettuce can fill your entire plate, giving you the illusion that you’re eating a lot, plus it can be filling too. The calorie difference is where you will notice the most significant advantage.

12. Dress Your Food Yourself

Never pour sauce or salad dressing directly on your food. Instead, it’s better to dip your fork into the mixture, then take a bite. You will save a ton of calories when you stop pouring stuff and eat only what you need.

Eating healthier can be so simple. No one says you need to give up your pasta sauce or ranch dressing, but you should limit how much of it you eat. Dipping your fork can save you up to 300 calories off one large meal.

People use way too many sauces and condiments these days, and it’s an unnecessary way to pack in extra calories and fat.

13. Don’t Get Caught Up in Sugar-Free or Fat-Free Gimmicks

A couple of decades ago, marketing companies figured out that they could entice shoppers to buy their products by making them appear healthier. For instance, labeling something as fat-free or sugar-free would appeal to buyers who might pass those items by. Now, there aren’t strict rules about using these labels, wherein lies a big issue.

Foods labeled as sugar-free doesn’t mean they’re low in calories. Yes, it’s possible to eat sugar-free stuff and still gain weight. To help with taste, they use sugar alcohols and sodium, both of which are bad for you. The same issue occurs with fat-free items.

To get the product to taste in a sellable way, they add other things to make up for the fat. Please read the supermarket labels carefully because the big words on the front don’t always tell the entire story.

14. Switch to Whole Grain Breads

Stop buying white bread and switch to whole grains instead. White bread is heavily processed and not good for you. Whole grains are essential to your body to keep your glucose-regulated and your intestines moving.

15. Eat Your Calories (Don’t Drink Them)

If you want to eat healthier, then you should eat your calories and not drink them. Stop buying the sodas, energy drinks, juices, and flavored coffees loaded with sugar and calories. It’s okay to have an occasional treat, but the average American consumes up to 45 gallons of soda pop each year.

To break that down a bit further, 45 gallons of soda is equivalent to 487 cans a year, or 1.38 cans per day. So think about all the people who drink way more than that? How much sugar and are they consuming?

It’s foolish to waste your calories on drinks when you can use them for nutrition to fuel your body.

Final Thoughts on Your Efforts to Eat Healthier

Some people make weight loss and healthy eating much more complicated than it needs to be. You shouldn’t put more in your system than you can burn, and you should stay away from high sugar, fat, and carbohydrate-laden foods. Finally, little tricks like going to the grocery shop when you are full and meal preparations can make a huge difference.

Did you find any tips that you can implement in your life? The best part about eating healthier is that you feel better, you look better, and life is so much easier when you’re not dealing with bloating and other food sensitivity issues.

20 Quotes on Leadership to Help You Lead the Way

November 24, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Leadership is a big role to fill, but anyone can do it if they set their mind to a goal. The best part is, no title is necessary to lead others, as you will learn in these quotes on leadership.

By being a good person, standing your ground, and working hard and honestly toward a goal, you can be a leader. If other people see good leadership qualities in you, they will want to follow and work toward the same goals.

Twenty Quotes on Leadership

Being a leader isn’t always easy, but it will always leave you feeling fulfilled and content. If you do what you know is right, you will be on a clear path to leadership. These quotes on leadership will help remind you how to lead the way, and they will give you the motivation to do it.

1. “You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.” – Henry Ford

No matter what your title is, you can be a leader. Do what is right, work for the greater good, and show others how to do it, too. This is what makes you a leader, not the title or position you hold.

2. “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand.” – Gen. Colin Powell

There will always be differing opinions and doubts when it comes to decisions. A leader will look past that and decide the best solution instead of waiting for everyone to agree. Leaders understand that there will never be a perfect answer, but moving forward is always the best option.

3. “My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.” – General Montgomery

A leader will attract those who believe in the same thing and then lead them toward achieving it. They will promote confidence in those around them as they work toward a common goal.

4. “Leadership is something you earn, something you’re chosen for. You can’t come in yelling, ‘I’m your leader!’ If it happens, it’s because the other guys respect you.” – Ben Roethlisberger

Telling people that you are a leader will not make you a true leader. Instead, you have to earn respect if you want to be a leader. Everyone will resist against someone they don’t respect, but they will listen to and follow someone they do.

5. “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude, be kind, but not weak, be bold, but not bully, be thoughtful, but not lazy, be humble, but not timid, be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” – Jim Rohn

You can be strong, kind, bold, thoughtful, humble, proud, and humorous and still be a good leader. All of these qualities described by Rohn are possible without all of the negative ones he mentions. Be a good person as you lead others, and they will stick around to help the cause.

6. “A person always doing his or her best becomes a natural leader, just by example.” – Joe DiMaggio

As stated before, you don’t have to have a leadership title to be a leader. By doing your best all the time, you will become a leader. People will follow what you are doing and strive to work just as hard as you.

7. “Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.” – Brian Tracy

Be kind, see the best in people, and be the kind of person people want to believe in. Don’t wait for permission or for a title to be this way. Instead, behave as a leader and treat people respectfully.

8. “Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal.” – Walt Disney

To lead people, you have to coordinate them to work toward the same goal. If they aren’t working together, you will never achieve the desired results.

9. “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” – Douglas MacArthur

To be a leader, you can’t always stand with everyone else. You must be willing to stand alone and stand for what you believe in, even if it isn’t easy. Make the tough decisions that no one else is willing to make, and listen to what other people need, too.

Through these behaviors, you will quickly become a leader. People will want to follow you and believe in you, and they will learn from you along the way.

10. “A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” – Max Lucado

Lucado explains it perfectly. If you want to lead, you have to turn away from what the crowd wants from you. Do what is right and guide your team to do what is right while remaining true to yourself.

11. “I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.” – Ben Carson

Good leaders recognize the good in every person and can see what talent each person has. Then, they put those talents to use in a way that benefits the entire team. Having people do what they are good at is the key to reaching goals and achieving great things.

12. “Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” – Sam Walton

Having a team with high self-esteem with be beneficial in every possible way. They will realize that they are capable of great things and put in their best effort.

13. “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes.” – Peter Drucker

Being seen and well known will not help you be a better leader. Instead, the work you put in and the results you achieve will make you a successful leader. Let other people spend time talking and making friends while using that time to get the job done.

14. “True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed… Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection.” – Sheryl Sandberg

There are no perfect leaders, only leaders who are authentic and true to themselves. They express who they are instead of doing what will please everyone else.

15. “Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.” – Brian Tracy

To be a leader, you have to focus on finding a solution and getting past the problem. Fixating on the problem won’t get you anywhere.

16. “An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.” – Jack Welch

You have to be willing to learn all the time and then put what you have learned into action. This is the only way to lead people to accomplish a goal.

17. “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt

If you choose the right people to be on your team, you must have faith that the job will get done. By meddling in their job, you will only be holding them back and causing frustration and set-backs.

18. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs

A leader has to come up with new solutions to problems they hadn’t expected to encounter. Be innovative and come up with something that others couldn’t have.

19. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – President John Quincy Adams

When you do good things, others will want to follow suit. This will give them inspiration and motivation to do what you are doing, which will make you a leader.

20. “What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” – Stephen Covey

You can’t simply tell people what you want to accomplish. Instead, you have to show them how to do it and show them that you are working hard, too.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Leadership to Help You Lead the Way

Being a leader is much more than having a leadership title, as these quotes on leadership explain. You can be a leader just by doing what is right and doing what is best to accomplish a goal. When you do this, others will begin to follow you down that path.

These quotes on leadership will help you lead others by offering tips and motivation to be a leader. Anyone can become a leader, and it just takes hard work and dedication. Set yourself apart from the rest and begin being the kind of leader you have always admired.

15 Quotes on Life to Help You Find Your Sense of Humor

November 24, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Life can be hard sometimes, especially when little things keep happening that disrupt your peace. Having a sense of humor during the unexpected challenges of life will help make it a little easier. While it can be hard to laugh during upsetting times, many quotes on life can help you find your sense of humor.

Life rarely goes exactly how you have planned it, which can be quite upsetting if you let it. Oftentimes, small hiccups occur one after the other, making you feel like you can’t catch a break. Sometimes, the things that are bothering you are more serious than small hiccups, however.

Either way, having a sense of humor can help you pull through and become stronger. Your sense of humor can help you get motivated and conquer hard challenges. Plus, it will help you through times that seem devastating by giving you a new view on life.

With humor, you will be able to see things differently and keep a positive perspective. Think of how much a funny moment can cheer you up, and keep that in mind during all of life’s hardships. The following quotes on life will help you find your sense of humor again.

Fifteen Quotes on Life That Remind You to Keep a Sense of Humor

1. “Humor can make a serious difference. In the workplace, at home, in all areas of life – looking for a reason to laugh is necessary. A sense of humor helps us to get through the dull times, cope with the difficult times, enjoy the good times and manage the scary times.” – Steve Goodier

If you can find your sense of humor, it will make all the difference in your life. As Goodier explains, it will help you through hard times and help you enjoy the good times. Look for a reason to laugh in every situation, and you’ll have an easier time in life.

2. “The ability to find humor in the ups and downs of life can give us a new perspective and a new way of viewing our circumstances.” – Heidi Catherine

With a new perspective, you can make even the worst moments a little better. The best way to do this is to find the humor where ever you can. Humor will open your mind and allow you to view the situation differently.

3. “Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” – Charles Bukowski

It is okay and completely normal to feel crazy sometimes, as it is a part of living a full life. In these moments, remind yourself of this quote and remember that with the crazy comes the good. Then, you will be able to find your sense of humor again.

4. “It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor.” – Max Eastman

You don’t have to tell or make jokes to have a sense of humor. Instead, by taking a joke, you will find your sense of humor by simply rolling with it and laughing. So, when life seems to be playing tricks on you, find the humor in it instead of getting upset.

5. “Every time you are able to find humor in a difficult situation, you win.” – Unknown

Don’t allow mishaps, no matter how big, to take over your life and make you miserable. Accept the hardships and find the humor in the situation. There is always something you can laugh at, and finding it will allow you to win, instead of letting the hardship win.

6. “Laughter provides a great feeling, and even after the moment has passed, you will still find yourself chuckling as you think back to the humor in the situation that caused you to laugh in the first place.” – Kala Stevenson

Finding something to laugh about will make the hard times easier to think back on. You will have a gem in those memories that will allow you to smile when thinking back on it. Look for an opportunity to laugh in every moment, and you’ll have a life full of humorous memories.

7. “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” – Allen Saunders

Accepting that life is never what you expect it to be will help you find your sense of humor. You can make all of the plans possible and still encounter unexpected situations. If you can roll with the changes and find the humor in them, you’ll be all set on moving forward.

8. “It’s good to be able to laugh at yourself and the problems you face in life. Sense of humor can save you.” – Margaret Cho

Leave it to a comedian to have great quotes on life. Having a sense of humor can help you in the hardest of times. They will get you by and give you a glimmer of home always. When something unexpected or even bad happens to you, learn to laugh at it instead of becoming upset.

9. “Being an adult is like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how.” – Unknown

Adults are all just winging it, figuring out what to do as they go along. This means that everyone is going to make mistakes or embarrass themselves. There is no perfect way to do it, and everyone does it a little differently.

Don’t beat yourself up over the struggle. No one else knows the right way to do it, either. Instead, laugh at yourself and remember that everyone has these moments.

10. “Handling the little things is often best accomplished with humor. The ability to laugh at things that make you the most riled up can ease your reaction when they occur.” – A. E. Dean

If you find yourself getting upset over something small, find a reason to laugh instead. Finding something to laugh about will help you find your sense of humor, making the irritating things more bearable.

11. “The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.” – Marjorie Pay Hinckley

If you had to choose between laughing or crying, you would likely choose to laugh. Crying doesn’t make you feel good, but laughing can ease even the most painful times. Since you are guaranteed to experience hard times in life, find a reason to laugh whenever you can — and check back on these quotes on life when you need them!

12. “Humor is perhaps a sense of intellectual perspective: an awareness that some things are really important, others not; and that the two kinds are most oddly jumbled in everyday affairs.” – Christopher Morley

Sometimes, you might get upset about things that aren’t very important. Even if the mishap is frustrating and inconvenient, it isn’t important at the end of the day. Being able to laugh in these moments show that you are intellectual, as Morley explains, and you’ll be more resilient.

13. “Do not take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard

Unexpected events happen in life, and hard times do, too. You have to accept this and not let it affect you too negatively. If you take everything seriously and let the little things get to you, you will always struggle to find happiness.

14. “A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It’s jolted by every pebble on the road.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Without a sense of humor, every little bump in life will make you feel bad. You’ll feel like you are continually being knocked down and that life keeps throwing hardships your way. However, if you can find the humor in life, the little bumps won’t affect you as severely.

15. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw

Have fun, do exciting things, and laugh whenever you can. Keep playing, no matter how old you get, because it will keep you young at heart and help you laugh. If you want to find your sense of humor, start playing again, and embrace life.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Life to Help You Find Your Sense of Humor

As you know, life isn’t always perfect, which is confirmed in these quotes on life. Unexpected things happen, as do upsetting events. Sometimes, it will even seem like you are dealing with one hardship after another.

Even with those experiences and hardships, you have to find your sense of humor. By doing so, you will be giving yourself the ability to get through the hard times and come out stronger. Look for the humor in all moments, or at least something small to laugh about during the event.

Don’t make your life any harder than it has to be. Make sure you have opportunities for joy, happiness, excitement, and adventure. Remember these quotes on life to help you find your sense of humor to not miss out on the best parts.

10 Effective Ways To Achieve Mindfulness

November 24, 2020 by Lakeisha Ethans

To achieve mindfulness can be best defined as the act of being completely present and stay in the moment. It entails releasing thoughts of the past and fears of the future and instead existing in the here and now. It means being grounded in your current time, focusing on the world around you as it is, and controlling your thoughts to stay with you where you are.

Being mindful can sound both simple and difficult to try and practice mindfulness. As a concept, it doesn’t sound complicated but learning to fully dictate how your mind moves are harder than it sounds. For some, it might even sound like a fantasy altogether! But with the countless scientifically-backed physical and mental benefits to mindfulness, it’s a practice to add to your life.

So, what is it like to be mindful? Here are 10 effective ways to achieve mindfulness that will help you answer that question.

1. Let Yourself Daydream

Daydreaming isn’t just fun and relaxing – it’s also healthy. It means that even when it’s not engaged in a serious task, it’s thinking, moving, and flexing its muscles of creativity. Research has seen many positive effects of daydreaming, and one of the lesser-known benefits is how it can help mindfulness.

The act of having a “busy” brain, or a brain that is almost always engaging in something interesting, is believed to help alter your awareness of your mind. Your brain is wandering, like brains naturally do, and you become aware of that. You allow the brain to go where it pleases, and then when you need to, you bring it back to the present without judgment. That’s a good first step into mindfulness, all on its own!

2. Get In Touch With Your Senses

Your senses are what ground you in the present, which is a key aspect of mindfulness. Learning to engage your senses to keep you rooted in the current moment is a great way to begin learning mindfulness.

This is because when your thoughts control you and you get lost in them, you likely aren’t paying much attention to your senses. Here are some ideas on ways to start getting more in touch with all those aspects today:

· The Sense of Sound

Listen to the sounds in your home you don’t usually pay attention to, like the whirring of a fan. Appreciate the subtle instrumentation of your favorite songs. Listen to the clinking of plates as you wash dishes.

· The Sense of Sight

Observe and appreciate the colors and shapes of the objects you interact with every day, like your phone or coffee mug. Notice the details in the patterns of items around you. Take a closer look at the people in the background of TV shows and movies.

· The Sense of Smell

Breathe in, and love the scent of your tea or coffee. Guess the underlying notes of your soaps, shampoos, and lotions. When you walk by shops, please take note of each scent they emanate.

· The Sense of Taste

Pay close attention to the distinct flavors of the food that you eat. Notice the strength of your toothpaste and mouthwash. Chew gum to engage your taste buds when you feel ungrounded from the world.

· The Sense of Touch

Observe the textures of the clothes you’re wearing and the objects you interact with daily, like your computer mouse or bed sheets. Feel the different textures of the ground beneath your feet and shoes as you go about your day. Take note of how the water feels when you wash your hands and how soap changes the sensation.

3. Eat In A Mindful Way

Many people eat while distracted. You might:

Check your phone
Read the newspaper
Watch TV shows or videos
Shovel down food quickly while thinking of your to-do list
Work while you eat
Engage in constant conversation

While these seem fine to do, they actually cause you to become engaged in an autopilot mode that means you ignore what you eat. On a physical level, it means you don’t notice when you’re full and can overeat. On a mental level, you’re losing mindfulness.

Studies have shown many benefits to mindful eating, and it can certainly help you become more mindful. Be present in your actions. When you eat, focus only on eating. When you drink, focus only on drinking, if possible.

This doesn’t mean to shun social interaction while you eat or drink, but it means putting the act of eating first before all else. Don’t try to do a million other things when you’re supposed to have a meal! Focus on your food taste, how much of it there is, and even the texture. It’s a kind of mindfulness that’s underrated, and the practice will come in handy when you actually need to be mindful later.

4. Listen With All Your Heart

When someone is speaking, you might:

Focus on what you’re going to say next
Make judgments on their words
Get completely lost in your thoughts
Have half a mind on things you need to do
Be self-conscious about your posture or appearance

These acts mean you’re not truly listening to those speaking to you. Not only is that disrespectful, but it’s also bad for you if you’re trying to be mindful.

So the next time you’re listening to someone, open your heart and mind to simply listening with all your heart. Trust yourself to know what to say when it’s your turn. Leave judgment at the door. Focus only on the words you hear and their meanings. The other person will feel more listened to, and you’ll be honing your mindfulness.

5. Start Small

Mindfulness doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and most people take time to learn how to put it into practice. So don’t be discouraged if you have trouble doing so at first. Start small and take baby steps into achieving mindfulness.

Beating yourself up over not being good at being mindful right away is completely counterproductive. Work on small things, one at a time, until each one comes naturally to you, and you can move on to the next challenge. There really are no shortcuts, so take your time and challenge yourself to achieve your mindfulness goals!

6. End Each Day In A Positive Way

No matter how badly each day went, try to end each day with positive thinking by focusing on its best parts. Be thankful for all the little moments of positivity, even if they’re as simple as drinking a good cup of tea or smiling at someone on the train.

When you end your days positively, you take back control from the crazy cycle of life and put it in your hands. No matter how your day went, your mindfulness allows you to have noticed its good sides, and you can focus your energies on appreciating them instead of being caught in the bad times.

7. Use Your Strengths

Using your strengths doesn’t just mean playing into the things you’re good at. It also means turning negative moments into ones that highlight your abilities. Instead of assigning bad things to yourself, see the good that lies in the bad and focus on how to bring out the positive above the negative.

Here are some examples of how you can do this:

When your mind wanders a lot, please do not focus on how difficult it is to concentrate. Instead, focus on the creativity of your mind and how you’re able to be aware of its wandering.
When you dislike your perfectionism, think about how it can be used to make a good schedule that you can easily stick to because you want to meet your expectations.
When you think negative things about your appearance, appreciate your humility and think about how useful an asset that humility would be if it were well-placed, fair, and accurate instead of hurtful and overly judgemental.

8. Lose Yourself In The Things You Love

You’re likely to have things you’re passionate about in your life. When you do those things, they’re a great way to allow your mind to become entirely focused on just those actions. It’s a form of mindfulness that’s often overlooked, and it’s a wonderful way to begin practicing the concepts of presence in mindfulness.

You don’t have to do anything big to achieve mindful passions. You can be:

Walking
Cooking
Singing
Gardening
Painting
Writing
Dancing

Any of these options – and any others you can think of – work for this purpose, as long as you genuinely enjoy doing them. Lose yourself in your actions, let go of your worries and fears, put on some positive thinking, and have a good time!

9. Fill Your Waiting Time

There are brief moments of respite that you’ll have in your daily rush of life. For many people, waiting can be annoying, especially if you’re waiting in traffic, in line, to arrive at your stop, or for an appointment.

Instead of considering this waiting time boring and annoying, use it to practice mindfulness. You can easily get 10 minutes of effective but discreet mindfulness meditation while you’re riding a train or spend a few minutes grounding yourself as you wait for your food order to arrive. You’d be surprised how much mindfulness practice you’ll get in a day by using your “boring” time to engage in it!

10. Practice Visualization

Visualization is an amazing practice. All you have to do is shut your eyes and imagine something positive and pleasant. It can be:

Going to your happy place
Thinking about people or things you love
Imagining your life goals

The most positive way to do this is probably through goal visualization. This is because visualization is an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to achieving personal dreams and aims. In fact, studies indicate that visualization can actually have notable immediate self-fulfilling effects and even spur you towards taking actions that will bring about your goals faster!

Final Thoughts On Some Effective Ways To Achieve Mindfulness

Achieving mindfulness can take time as you break cycles and patterns that you’ve become accustomed to for years. Just remember that you are in complete control of your mind and can coax it back into your control with impressive ease if you try! If you need help achieving mindfulness, there are plenty of online resources to help you, and most mental health professionals can aid you in the learning process, too.

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Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!