Page 491

20 Short Quotes That Will Help You Be Happier Again

November 21, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Sometimes life gets to be too much, and it’s hard to be happy. In times like these, many short quotes will help you be happier again.

These short quotes will offer reminders of why and how you can be happy again. You will be able to change your way of thinking and enjoy the little things in life that make it meaningful.

Through these short quotes, you will recover from the hard times and work on being happier again. Write down your favorite ones, or bookmark this page, so that you can look back when you need a happiness boost.

Short Quotes That Will Help You Be Happier

1. “The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” – William Morris

You can only be happy if you choose to show interest in all parts of your life. Showing interest will bring peace and contentedness, eventually leading to true happiness. No matter how small it seems, every moment of your day is what will lead to happiness.

2. “Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” – Joseph Addison

You can’t sit idly and expect to find happiness. Instead, find something you love to do and spend your time doing it. Give yourself things to love and things to hope for, and you will be happier again, as Addison explains.

3. “Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” – Earl Nightingale

You can decide to be happy, which is essentially important to do at every moment of your life. Please don’t wait around for something or someone to make you happy because it will never happen that way. To be happier, you have to decide to enjoy your life even in a seemingly small moment.

4. “On the whole, the happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so.” – William R. Inge

You may notice that the people who don’t have everything are the happiest. This is because happiness is simply a state of mind rather than a state of having everything you may desire. Choose to be happy simply because you can be, and you will find that this works better than anything else.

5. “Happiness consists more in conveniences of pleasure that occur every day than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.” – Benjamin Franklin

Instead of waiting for big, fortunate moments to happen, find happiness in everyday occurrences. If you choose to appreciate the small things that happen daily rather than waiting for big events, you will be happier.

6. “Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase and is never attained.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne

You can’t force happiness, and you can’t chase after it and obtain it, either. Instead, you have to wait for it to come to you. This often happens when you change your mindset and show gratitude for all the things in your life.

7. “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” – Frederick Keonig

You can get anything in the world and still be unhappy. This is why people with lots of money and material possessions are often still seeking happiness. The path to being happier is to appreciate what you already have and avoid becoming upset about what you don’t.

8. “Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest.” – Sri Chinmoy

Being judgmental and unforgiving will not help you become happy. Instead, avoiding these mindsets will be what brings you happiness. Stop judging others, learn to forgive everyone, and show love always, and you will quickly become happier.

9. “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.” – Chinese Proverb

As you can see, happiness can come in stages, but it always has to follow appreciation for something. There isn’t much that can bring lifelong happiness, although there is plenty that can bring moments of happiness. The only thing you can count on to bring lifetime happiness is helping someone else, which will bless you eternally.

10. “It’s the moments that I stopped just to be, rather than do, that have given me true happiness.” – Sir Richard Branson

Bask in the moment and give yourself time to think and reflect. Taking a moment to be present will bring more happiness than doing other things.

11. “There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.” – Freya Stark

If your actions go against your beliefs, you will never be able to find happiness. You will constantly be battling with yourself internally, and your happy moments will be severely diminished. Instead, make sure your actions are in line with your beliefs, and happiness will quickly follow.

12. “Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky

If you can stop counting your troubles and begin counting your blessings, you will be a whole lot happier. You will see that your blessings are enough to outweigh the troubles.

13. “It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” – Dale Carnegie

The only thing that can truly determine your happiness is your thought process. If you can change the way you think about things, you will be happier again.

14. “Happiness is a function of accepting what is.” – Werner Erhard

Accept things as they are, and you will find happiness. There are always going to be things you wish you could change, but you have no control over. The key to happiness is accepting those things and letting go of the need to change it.

15. “So, we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” – Hunter S. Thompson

If you feel like you can’t be happy, try to stray from shore a little. Do something that makes you uncomfortable or pushes you to new limits. By doing this, you will remind yourself of the excitement of life and your capabilities.

16. “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” – Mark Twain

To be happier, you should do something that will make other people happy. Find someone who needs a boost and do what you can to give it to them. You will find that it makes you happier again, too.

17. “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Denis Waitley

No matter where you go or what you buy, it does not guarantee happiness. Instead, you can be happier by showing love, grace, and gratitude, as Waitley explains.

18. “Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it.” – William Feather

Take your time as you go through life and enjoy the little things that happen each day. By basking in the joys, you will find happiness.

19. “Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though it were his own.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When you value others and strive to see them happy, you will feel happy yourself. By treating others well, you will benefit every time.

20. “Happiness is being content with what you have, living in freedom and liberty, having a good family life and good friends.” – Divyanka Tripathi

To be happy, you have to be content with what you already have and avoid wishing more. Live life freely and form good bonds with family and friends. These are the things that will make you happier.

Final Thoughts on Short Quotes That Will Help You Be Happier Again

Sometimes all you need to be happier again is a few short quotes. These short quotes offer optimism, reminders, and tips for being happier all of the time.

When you find yourself feeling down, remember these short quotes that will help you be happier again. You will be thankful for them in those moments, and you’ll be reminded of how to be happy.

10 Times It’s Wise to Keep Your Sense of Humor

November 21, 2020 by Power of Positivity

It’s no joke that keeping your sense of humor gets you through life. When you’re able to laugh at situations in life, you improve your physical health, enhance your relationships, and boost your emotional health.

So, when should you laugh? Check out situations–these are times you really can rely on your sense of humor.

10 times it’s wise to keep your sense of humor

Keeping your sense of humor shows you’re able to keep perspective in any situation. It means you don’t take yourself or your circumstances too seriously. If you have a hard time laughing at situations, you may a perfectionist and lack flexibility when things don’t work out the way you want. If you want to grow in having a sense of humor, here are some situations for you to apply laughter.

1- Keep your sense of humor when you drive

Long commutes to and from work can take a big chunk out of your day. Plus, dealing with angry, rude drivers makes the commute unpleasant and frustrating. If there’s a time to keep your sense of humor, driving is at the top of the list. If you can laugh in the midst of this stressful situation, it will help you not lose your cool. When some people get behind the wheel, they lose all sense of civility, but you can maintain yours by keeping a good sense of humor along the way.

Check out these funny driving school jokes to keep you laughing when you drive.

Q: When is a car, not a car?

A: When it turns into a parking lot.

Q: What did the traffic light say to the car?

A: Don’t look. I’m changing.

2 – Keep your sense of humor when you go shopping

You need to shop for food, clothing, and all the other stuff you and your family need. Depending upon where you go shopping, it can be stressful with long lines and hard to deal with people. If you like to shop online, you avoid dealing with people, but you inherit other stresses. Who hasn’t had to talk to a customer service person only to be put on hold for what seems like hours?

Then there are the challenges of picking the right color and size, and last but not least, the frustration of returning an item. Keeping a sense of humor when you shop prevents your getting a headache and high blood pressure. Laughing at your shopping problems keeps perspective. Here are two jokes to make you laugh when you go shopping the next time.

Q: What is a math teacher’s favorite day to shop for sales?

A: Prime Day!

Q: Did you hear about the monkeys who shared an Amazon account?

A: They were prime mates.

3 – Keep your sense of humor as a parent

Parenting is a tough job. It requires all your mental and physical energy to take care of small children and their needs. When your kids are teenagers, it requires all your emotional energy to help them work through all their issues. Some people feel that parenting is the hardest thing they’ve ever done. To keep your sense of humor as a parent is necessary to survive, especially when you’re going through a hard time with your kids.

Being able to laugh, not at your kids, but at yourself helps. Laughter is good for your heart and mind when things are stressful. Sometimes, there is nothing to do but laugh at how overwhelmed you feel, and that’s okay. Here are some funny children versus teen jokes to keep you laughing as a parent.

Children enjoy doing donuts for breakfast… teens enjoy doing donuts on people’s lawns.
Children scream and fuss when it is time to go to bed… teens scream and fuss when it is time to wake up.
Young children break the rules because they “don’t know any better”… teens break the rules because “everybody else does.”
Children enjoy manipulating playdough… teens enjoy manipulating adults.
Little kids gain knowledge by asking many questions… teens already know everything!

4 – Keep your sense of humor in your marriage

Laughter in your marriage is really a way to show that you love your partner. If you can laugh with them, it means you feel comfortable with them. It also means you aren’t taking yourself too seriously. In a relationship, sometimes laughter can help break through those tense moments between the two of you. Being able to laugh relieves the stress and anger of the moment and allows the two of you to see the situation from a new perspective.

Figure out what makes your partner laugh. Find ways to lighten their day with a funny text or cartoon you find. Encourage their sense of humor by telling them how much you love to laugh with them.

5 – Keep your sense of humor at work

Your job can produce a lot of stress in your life. Studies found that laughter therapy helped student nurses deal with their stress at work. Employment stress can result in anxiety, depression, frustration, and physical illness. Researchers are finding that laughter significantly reduces employment stress. Workers who experienced laughter therapy were happier and more productive. Don’t underestimate the power of a good laugh. Here are some good laughs about work.

I get plenty of exercise at work: jumping to conclusions, pushing my luck, and dodging deadlines.

Q: Why did the can crusher quit his job?
A: Because it was soda pressing.

Whoever stole my copy of Microsoft Office, I will find you! You have my word!

6 – Keep your sense of humor when you’re with family

If there is a second most necessary time to keep your sense of humor, it’s when you are with the family. Aunt Ellie’s political rants and Uncle Fred’s discussions about the moth’s evolutionary metamorphosis get old quickly. Maintaining a good sense of humor helps you not run out the door. Remember that everyone’s family has complicated stories and people. It’s part of being in a family. Here are two jokes to keep you laughing about your next family get together.

Family reunions get a bad reputation. This is way better than jury duty!
Do you want to know what the best part is about an annual family reunion? You get a full year to recover.

7 – Keep your sense of humor when you’re going through a hard time

Life can be hard when you face sickness, death, loss of a job, or divorce. Although none of these situations are funny, it may be helpful to look for a bit of humor when you’re in the midst of the situation. You can still grieve your loss or feel sad, but you can find humor to get through. Maybe you think it’s wrong to laugh at difficulties. You may take a serious view of life and its troubles. Life is short, and everyone goes through hardships in their life. Laughing makes people feel connected to you and more approachable. When you laugh at hardships, you realize that you can get through even the most difficult situations.

8 – Keep your sense of humor with difficult people in your life

Everyone has a difficult person in their life. It could be a family member, co-worker, or neighbor. There is always someone who irritates you. The person will probably not go away, so you need to learn how to deal with having them in your life. Being able to laugh at the craziness of dealing with this person is helpful. You may not know what to do to keep the difficult person happy, but you can at least learn to laugh.

9 – Keep your sense of humor to improve your health

Researchers have found that laughter really the best medicine. Studies found that laughter can improve your pain maintenance and boost your immune system. Laughter can also do the following:

Lower your stress
Helps anxiety and depression
Increase your pain tolerance
Improve your cardiovascular health
Improves your oxygen levels
Lowers your blood pressure

10 – Keep your sense of humor as you age

Getting older is a fact of life. You may feel young at heart, but the face in the mirror doesn’t lie. As you age, you find that you have physical limitations you didn’t have when you were younger. Perhaps you can’t jog anymore because the cartilage in your knee is wearing out. Or your teenage daughter told you that you look older than her friend’s mom. Keeping a good sense of humor helps you on your aging journey. Laughing at your limitations and the funny things you can’t do helps your perspective on life. If you’re too serious about it, it will be depressing.

Final Thoughts on Keeping Your Good Sense of Humor

A sense of humor will get you through the hardest some of the hardest times in your life. It helps you keep perspective and eases the difficulty of the situation. Researchers are learning the value of laughter to improve your health, lessen your stress, and boost your happiness. Laughter therapy is now being used at work, school, and nursing homes to help people cope better.

4 Types of Grief That Most People Don’t Know About

November 21, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Grief is a feeling of deep sadness caused by the loss of something or someone important to you. It is a natural reaction to a loss, and it can involve shock, anger, disbelief, guilt, and overwhelming sadness. Everyone experiences grief multiple times in their life, and there are many different types of grief.

While it is most often associated with death, there are surprisingly many other losses that cause grief, as well. These things may include the following responses:

going through a divorce
ending a relationship
losing a job, changing jobs, or retiring
financial instability
miscarriage
inability to conceive a baby
losing a pet
acknowledging that you might not fulfill your dreams
diagnosis of a chronic or potentially fatal illness
losing your sense of safety
losing a selling a cherished home
graduating from college or leaving home for the first time

You’re Only Human

With so many things being capable of causing grief, it is only expected that there are many types of grief. Some types are more well-known, but most people do not know some types of grief. These types are sometimes the most severe, but few people understand them since they are not well-known.

Understanding the types of grief can help you understand what you are experiencing and feeling. Plus, if someone you know is grieving, you can understand their feelings and behaviors better, too. Either way, this knowledge will be beneficial.

Symptoms of Grief

Grief does not only impact you emotionally, but it can have a physical effect, as well. It is also important to note that everyone is affected by grief differently, so the symptoms may not apply to everyone. Most people will only show some of the signs instead of having all of them at once.

Emotional Symptoms

shock or disbelief
profound sadness
feelings of emptiness or loneliness
crying and feeling emotional instability
guilt or regret
anger
fear
anxiety and/or panic attacks
helplessness and insecurity
loss of motivation

Physical Symptoms

nausea and vomiting
fatigue
decreased immune system
aching body
insomnia or excessive sleeping
weight loss or weight gain

Types of Grief

1. Anticipatory Grief

Before you even experience a loss, you can begin grieving if you know the loss is coming. This can happen when a loved one has a terminal illness or any other loss you know is coming. Sometimes it is experienced before and during a divorce process, too.

Sometimes anticipatory grief can lead to feeling guilty because it feels like you are giving up hope. You may also go back and forth between wanting to spend time with the person and wanting to keep your distance. While you want to feel their presence, you may also want to start detaching to prepare for the loss.

Other times, anticipatory grief is experienced when you do not know what will happen next. If your life feels out of control, it may feel like something important may be stripped away from you. Or, you may know something will happen, but the question of when and how is still unknown.

In addition to the guilt mentioned before, you will likely experience anxiety and fear with this type of grief. Studies show that it causes depression, as well, and can be more intense than grief that happens after the loss.

2. Grief from Losing the Ability to Care for Yourself

Both physical ailments and financial hardships can cause this type of grief. With physical ailments, you may feel like you have lost the ability to do things for yourself. Whether it is from an illness or the loss of cognitive abilities, the loss may be devastating.

The elderly often face this type of grief, as well. When they can no longer care for themselves, they will likely grieve the loss. They may feel helpless and unworthy as they come to terms with their new way of life.

Financial hardships can also cause this type of grief, especially if they had financial independence previously. Leaning on others for support or looking for other assistance can cause serious grief. You may feel like you cannot take care of yourself and your family, even if it is a small setback.

These things can cause grief because it causes a sense of life being out of control. You may even feel like you are losing who you are. For others, it causes a feeling of despair, failure, and limitations.

No matter what, however, the situation often leads to a drastic change in lifestyle. It may also require giving up important things such as a family home, a job, or a hobby you loved. Sometimes, it is only the loss of independence that causes grief, however.

3. Grief of Lost Dreams or Expectations

If you have dreamed of and expected a certain situation to occur, and it does not happen, it can cause grief. Since you had lived so long imagining the expected scenario, it truly is a loss when you realize it may never happen.

This often occurs in situations where a couple cannot conceive. Most people spend their lives dreaming of their future children and the life they envisioned with them. When they find out this may not happen, it can cause anger, a feeling of unfairness, envy, and failure.

Young adults often experience this type of grief, as well. When their newfound adult life is not what they expected it to be, they may begin to grieve. As they struggle to find a way in the world and adjust to reality, they will likely experience profound sadness.

Another instance might be when you do not land your dream job. If you spent your entire life working toward a position but cannot secure it, grief can occur. This is true of any dream or expectation you have had.

4. Grief of Losing Your Identity

There are many reasons you might feel like you lost an identity, such as losing a role or an affiliation. If you lost your job, switched jobs, or retired, you may experience a loss of your professional title. Parents may experience a loss of identity when their children grow up and move away from home.

This situation could also happen when going through a divorce. You may have to change your name, but you will no longer have the “husband” or “wife” title. For some people, this is a huge change, and will adjust before it can be accepted.

With this type of grief, you will not only grieve the lost part. You may also grieve what is coming because you have to start over and create a new you. Plus, if the loss was unexpected or you did not have a say, the grief will be even more profound.

Even still, those who have a say in the change can still experience grief. Not only will they experience grief, but they will likely also experience guilt. If this is the position you are in, remember that you are entitled to grieve as much as anyone else.

How to Cope with Grief

While there are different types of grief, it is important to cope with all of them. No matter which types you are experiencing, you have to find a way through it so you can move forward. If you do not cope, you will experience serious emotional and physical effects.

Since grief is different for everyone, it is only expected that everyone might cope differently, too. The way that you choose to cope is entirely up to you and will depend on many factors. Most importantly, you have to give yourself time because the process cannot be rushed.

Even though everyone will cope differently, there are certain steps that everyone will have to take. The steps to coping with grief include these actions:

Acknowledging and facing your pain
Accepting the many unexpected emotions
Finding a way to grieve that works for you
Seeking support from loved ones and close friends.
Finding ways to care for yourself both emotionally and physically
Watching for signs of depression so that you will know when professional help is needed

Final Thoughts on Types of Grief That Most People Don’t Know About

While most often associated with a loved one’s death, grief can be caused by any loss. From the loss of a job to the loss of your identity, many things can trigger grief. Because of this, there are many types of grief, as well.

Remember that grief is a natural part of life, and it is entirely normal to experience it. You should never feel bad about grieving, and it is important to grieve in a unique way that will help you. Being sad and experiencing other intense emotions because of a loss is expected, so give yourself some grace.

You do have to find a way to cope with the grief, however. Otherwise, you will experience serious physical and emotional issues that will only get worse the longer you avoid coping. Knowing the type of grief that you are experiencing will help along the way.

15 Quotes on Kindness That Remind Us to Be Patient

November 20, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Kindness is a quality that can help you fight your battles, accomplish your goals, and feel better about yourself. Plus, it can help make the world a better place by spreading kindness and patience from person to person. While it is sometimes hard to remember to be kind, many quotes on kindness can help remind you.

Being kind doesn’t mean that you have to give in to everything or let people take advantage of you. You can still say no, set boundaries, and have differing opinions while being kind. There are ways to make a point or disagree with someone nicely.

By choosing to be kind even in disagreeable moments, you will be heard more clearly. This means that what you are saying will be more likely to be heard and considered fairly. Plus, it is believed that being kind can slow the aging process, too.

Quotes on Kindness

On those days when you don’t feel like being patient or kind, these quotes on kindness will help. They will remind you why you should be patient, and of the way being kind makes you (and others) feel.

1. “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” – Fred Rogers

As Rogers explains, if you want to be successful in life, you have to always be kind. It isn’t enough to only be kind when you feel like it or when it will benefit you. Instead, it would help if you always focused on being kind, and success and positivity will follow.

2. “Perhaps more than any other factor, kindness gives meaning and value to our life, raises us above our troubles and our battles, and makes us feel good about ourselves.” – Piero Ferrucci

Even if you think that your kindness is getting you nowhere, keep doing it. You have to be patient and push through the feelings that your kindness doesn’t matter because it always does. Even if it doesn’t seem like it’s helping anyone else, it will make you feel better.

3. “Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Unknown

Everyone can see and hear kindness. Always remind yourself that someone will notice, and keep being kind always. It’s a universal language that can be understood by all.

4. “You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.” – Publilius Syrus

Being angry, mean, or malicious will not get you what you want. Instead, it will make even those who share your beliefs rally against you.

If you are nice, however, you will be able to accomplish much more. This will get people to listen to you and consider your ideas with an open mind. Then, you will be more likely to accomplish what you set out to do.

5. “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart

If you are kind, you will be helping to grow kindness everywhere. Kindness reaches out to all of those around you, normally making them behave nicely as well. From there, the roots of the kindness will continue to branch out, spreading farther than you ever imagined possible.

6. “Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am what of what is true.” – Robert Brault

Sometimes, it is best not to speak what is on your mind. While honesty is normally the best option, there are times when it could hurt someone. In these instances, be kind and keep the truth to yourself.

You will know when these times are necessary as long as you remember that kindness should come first. For example, this situation may occur if someone asks if you like their new hairstyle and you truly don’t. This is an opportunity to tell a small white lie to be kind and spare the other person.

7. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

The things you said and did would mean nothing if you made people feel bad. Feelings are what live with people forever, and kindness is a huge contributor to feelings.

Remember that people will remember you by how you made them feel, as Angelou explains. If you can remember this, you will be reminded to be patient and kind to everyone.

8. “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” – Charles Glassman

No one is perfect, and everyone struggles in different ways. The similarity here, however, is that every person struggles. Remember this when you feel your patients waning, and you will be able to stay kind regardless.

9. “If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we might just set the world in the right direction.” – Martin Kornfeld

When you are feeling impatient, you likely want to see some change. By being kind in these situations, you may see the change sooner than you think.

Your kindness will encourage others to behave in the same way. Plus, people will listen to you more if they know you are kind. They will take your opinions, thoughts, and suggestions into consideration.

10. “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” – Barbara De Angelis

Never feel like being kind or showing love is a waste. These are two things that bless both the giver and receiver, so they will always be worth it. Remind yourself that if you are kind, you will feel better later, too.

11. “We can’t heal the world today, but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, an act of kindness.” – Mary Davis

Every little bit of kindness helps make the world a better place. By remembering this, you will be reminded of how important it is to be patient with others. Continue being nice, and your efforts will be rewarded.

12. “I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage, bravery, generosity, or anything else… Kindness—that simple word. To be kind—it covers everything, to my mind. If you’re kind, that’s it.” – Roald Dahl

To people like Dahl, kindness is the most important virtue to have. If you are kind, you are courageous, brave, and generous, as well.

13. “Kindness is spreading sunshine into people’s lives regardless of the weather.” – Raktivist

No matter how negative a situation is, you should continue being kind. You have to spread your kindness no matter how you are feeling about what is happening. Your feelings about a person shouldn’t interfere with being kind, either.

Being kind doesn’t have to mean you give in, of course, and it doesn’t mean you have to like the person. You can still be firm and have boundaries while being kind. Remember, as mentioned in previous quotes on kindness, you will accomplish more if you are kind, too.

14. “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Being kind will not weaken who you are. You can be strong and tough while showing kindness, even to those who do not make it easy. Being patient will help you continue being kind, so remember this quote the next time you are angry or upset.

15. “Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they’re nice, but because you are.” – Roy T. Bennett

The character of another person should never affect your character. Be a kind person, even when the person you are dealing with isn’t being nice. You will feel better about yourself, and you may be able to spread a little kindness their way.

Final Thoughts on the 15 Quotes on Kindness That Remind Us to Be Patient

These quotes on kindness remind us always to be patient. If you want to be kind, you have to be patient with others in all situations. Understand that everyone makes mistakes, has different opinions, and reacts differently.

By being kind in all situations (even those you disagree with), you will get farther and accomplish more. However, even more, it is essential that you will feel better, and you will be spreading kindness and patience to others. This is the way to change the world, and even the small moments make a huge difference.

Remember these quotes on kindness the next time you need a reminder to be patient. They will remind you of how important your kindness is and the positive feelings of being kind.

3 Self Destructive Habits That Take Away Happiness

November 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Are you a self-destructive person that is guilty of robbing your own happiness? Do you let circumstances and people steal your joy? You’re not alone, as many individuals are guilty of this habit.

Have you ever heard someone say that you were your own worst enemy? Life is hard, and things aren’t always going to go the way you want them to. However, it would help if you made a conscious choice in life to be happy. Do you think happy people don’t have struggles and things in their life that make them want to throw in the towel?

The Power of The Spoken Word

Happiness is a choice, and it’s something that only you can decide. An excellent way to change your mindset is to start by incorporating positive affirmations into your day. For instance, when you wake up first thing in the morning, try saying something like this to yourself:

•I love me.

•I am going to have a great day.

•I’ll meet and exceed all my goals.

•I will be a team player and help others.

•I’ll smile today at everyone I meet.

•I won’t let the stresses of the day get me down.

•I choose joy and happiness.

It only takes a minute to affirm your worth.

It doesn’t seem like a huge task to quote a few positive things each morning. The moment that you step out of your bed, the stresses of the day begin. Before the children cry for breakfast, and your spouse needs you to find their shoes, take a few minutes to choose joy and happiness.

When you put these positive affirmations into the universe, you are making a declaration to be optimistic. Did you know that people who start with such affirmations do better than those who leave their day to chance?

The Annenberg School for Communication did a study on what they believe is the magical powers of self-affirmations. They conducted scans of the brain while the participants were reciting these positive things. Shockingly, when you speak optimism into your life, it activates the pleasure receptors of your mind.

To summarize their study, taking a few moments to be positive can impact taking an antidepressant medication. Shockingly, your words have such power over you. Could the words you speak steal your joy if you use negativity? Sadly, yes, you can self-sabotage yourself by being negative.

Three Self Defeating Habits (Please Stop!)

Starting your day on the right foot isn’t going to change everything; here are the top three destructive habits that can steal your happiness.

Bad Habit #1: Stop Complaining

Now you know how powerful the spoken word is to your life. So, you can work on morning affirmations, but what about all the complaining you do each day? Do you even realize how much you complain? Do you ever say any of these things?

•I can’t stand the people I work with at my job.

•My boss plays favorites, and I am not one of them.

•My children don’t do anything around this house, and it’s trashed.

•Why can’t I have the kind of life my sister does?

• I’m not too fond of this car. It’s nothing but a piece of junk.

Does any of these things sound familiar? When you speak negativity, you forget about all the items you’ve been blessed within your life. While you may not have the car you want, you do have transportation.

Many people don’t have anything to drive and rely on the bus. While you may not have the best people at your job, at least you have employment. The average unemployment rate in this country is 6.9 percent, but you have a steady paycheck.

Your children may be a bit lazy, but most children don’t like to clean. Another thing you can be thankful for is that you have a roof over your head. Stop complaining about all the things that are so wrong, and you need to count your blessings. Your robbing your own joy by being so pessimistic.

Sadly, your children hear what you say, and they will learn these bad habits. No one likes to be around a negative person, so watch the complaining and think on the sunny side.

Bad Habit #2: You Won’t Forgive

Forgiveness is a difficult thing for many people. If someone has wronged you, it’s easy to let bitterness and grudges form into the inner fibers of your being. If you want to be forgiven for your wrongdoings in life, you must also learn how to forgive others.

Now, it’s understandable that some things are easier to forgive than others. For instance, you can easily make amends with your child that put a scratch on your car long before you can have a spouse that is guilty of infidelity. So, there are degrees of offenses that will take longer to process and come to terms with.

Even if you can’t forget about what the person has done to you, you can still forgive them. Think of unforgiveness as a sore that festers and becomes infected. Soon it starts to affect the tissue around it.

When you don’t forgive someone that has done you wrong, then you are hurting you, not them. You’re trying to protect yourself from pain, but it’s just hurting you even more as it steals your happiness. A feud with a relative will be an ever-present reminder at the holidays and other family gatherings.

What’s even more concerning is that unforgiveness doesn’t just affect you but also those around you. When you let go of grudges you’ve been harboring, then you are releasing the negativity from your mind, body, and spirit. You will clear the pathway for both peace and improved health.

Some say that the only way you can truly get over something, like infidelity, is by utilizing forgiveness. Do you have any grudges that are robbing you of your joy in life?

Bad Habit #3: You’re Living in The Past

Somebody once observed that the past is an excellent place to visit but not to live. Do you often find yourself speaking in the past tense or constantly ruminating on old memories? Yes, you learn valuable lessons from the past only when you can apply them to the present.

If part of anxiety disorders stems from worrying about the future, trying to live in the past can lead to depression. Maybe you’re caught in the delusion of playing “what if” or “if only.” Not only are these unrealistic thought patterns unhelpful, but they can boost feelings of guilt and resentment.

It may be useful to remember that the past is finished and only exists in your mind. There’s no way you can alter to make you or anybody else feel better. Even though the future is yet to come, you have power in the present to do things to make it benefit you.

When you are shackled to the past, you can’t appreciate the things you have now. Traumatic events and regrets create blinders that prevent you from living your best life. Rumination is as futile as trying to dip the ocean dry with a teacup.

Positive energy is only available in the present form. Do you often feel sluggish and cope with unexplainable aches and pains? Negative thought patterns zap your energy and can eventually destroy you physically, mentally, and spiritually. If you hold on to negative experiences from your past, these patterns will repeat themselves in your present and future life.

Other Things to Help You on Your Journey

Though these are the top three things that keep you from being happy, many other things can also inhibit it. One thing that will rob your joy is stress. While you can’t avoid stress, you can stop taking on more than you can handle.

Learn to say no and set healthy boundaries for yourself and your family. It would be best to have adequate time for your job, spouse, children, and household responsibilities. Remember, an empty cup can’t pour into others, so you need time for yourself too.

When you are already overwhelmed by life, don’t take on anything else. Learn to stand up for yourself. Whether it’s at your job or with your family, learn how to say “no.”

Final Thoughts on Choosing Happiness Over Self Defeat

What are the self-destructive habits that are robbing you of joy and contentment in this life? Are you harboring grudges against those who have done you wrong, or are you stuck in a miserable state where all you do is complain? Only you have the power to change your outlook by altering your thoughts.

When you are thankful for the things you have, then the universe will reward you with more. Never become envious of someone else’s gain because the grass always looks greener over on the other side. Today can be a defining day in your life where you stop complaining, feeling sorry for yourself, and living in a world of pessimism.

You must make a conscious choice to be happy. You only get one life to live, so it should be filled with happiness and joy. Additionally, your optimistic outlook might rub off on someone else who is caught in a self-destructive rut.

Psychologists Explain Why Truth Equals Trust

November 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

The truth matters. It affects your relationships in your family, at work, and school. Merriam Webster defines truth as a body of real things, events, and facts. When you tell the truth to someone, you’re honest with them. But it can be difficult to be honest because you don’t know the person will react to the truth.

Kindness counts and goes hand in hand with revealing the truth

The truth should always be shared with kindness. Plus, knowing the person you’re talking to is important. If you’ve just met someone, it may not be the right time to be honest with them about their bad breath. But with a close friend, you can comfortably tell them you’re upset with them about something. Of course, you should be kind even then. Bullying or belittling someone and saying, “I’m just being honest” is honesty motivated by unkindness. You don’t want to help the person, but hurt them with your words.

What’s the opposite of honesty?

The opposite of honesty is flattery or insincerity. Most people would rather hear the truth instead of being flattered. Flattery isn’t motivated by a desire to tell the truth but to get some time. If someone flatters you, they aren’t as interested in you as they are themselves. Truthful people are trustworthy friends. You know they’ll always tell you the truth no matter what because they want the best for you, even if it’s hard for you to hear it.

How to be a truthful person

Here is how to come to terms with your lying ways and find a more honest approach.

“If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.” Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles

1 – A truthful person honestly explains their struggles.

Learn how to share your struggles and weaknesses with people. Sharing your struggles makes you seem like a normal person. Without realizing it, you may come across as having it all together. When you share about the hard things you’re trying to work out, people can relate to you. But honesty must be shared without wrong motives. Some wrong reasons to share your struggles openly could be to elicit the following outcomes:

Make people feel sorry for you.
Get someone to do something for you.
Draw attention to yourself
Vent anger at someone

This is just complaining rather than sharing honestly about your life. People get tired of hearing people complain, so check your motives before you start blogging about your hard day at home with the kids. Rather try to share but bring a positive out of it, something you’ve learned or how you’ve suddenly understood yourself better because of the experience. This not only allows you to be honest, but it helps the people you share with.

2 – A truthful person’s actions should match words.

If you tell someone, you’re their good friend. Then your actions should show this is true. You will text, call, and hang out with them. If you ignore them, they will feel like you weren’t truthful with them. When actions and words don’t line up, you are seen as dishonest and untrustworthy. People will doubt that you’re truthful if you aren’t authentic.

3 – A truthful person can accept and give constructive criticism.

Criticism is a form of truth-telling. People are often afraid of being criticized for fear of being judged. But getting constructive feedback isn’t judgment. It’s not to hurt you, but to help you grow. Some jobs, like being a writer, require that you learn to listen to constructive criticism.

Psychological studies conclude that some people lie because of negative thoughts, such as fear-based emotions or guilt.

Here are a few tips for receiving constructive criticism.

Learn how to sort through the criticism: Not everything someone shares with you will be spot on. But it would help if you realized that there is probably a grain of truth in what they are sharing. Look for those little grains of truth and apply them to your life so you can improve or grow.
Thank the person for being honest with you: It’s not easy sharing constructive criticism. It’s tempting to tell people what they want to hear, rather than being honest. If you have someone who shares their constructive criticism with you, it’s a gift.
Learn to have thick skin: The more you experience constructive criticism, the better you will accept it without feeling devastated. Keep in mind that the person is trying to help you. They are pointing out your weak areas so you can grow and improve.
Don’t listen to hateful people: Of course, some people aren’t trying to help you but want to wound you. Don’t take it to heart when someone purposely tries to hurt you.
Learn how to give constructive criticism with honesty and kindness: You will be a valued friend to those around you if you learn to share honest, constructive criticism with them. They will know they can trust you to be totally honest with them.

4 – A truthful person speaks honestly.

Seek to be honest with people. It’s okay to say, “I felt left out that you guys didn’t call me to join everyone after work.” You don’t need to play the victim, but be honest about your disappointment. One psychological study found that many people aren’t comfortable with this kind of honesty. They have learned to hide their true feelings and even justify it as “I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings by telling them how I really feel. If you can be honest without being manipulative or unkind, that is being a truthful person.

You may have learned to lie about their true feelings in childhood. Perhaps your parents got mad at you when you told Aunt Edna that you didn’t like the clown sweater she knitted for you. Parents often misinterpret their children’s honesty as rudeness. But it’s important to teach your kids to tell the truth with kindness. They can be at least grateful. One mom taught her kids to say, “Thanks for making this. You must have worked hard.” Being thankful and grateful for something is truthful honesty.

Pet owners reveal the true reasons they canceled their plans with friends.

Why don’t you tell the truth?

We all lie once in a while, but if you lie a lot, there could be some reasons why you. See if any of these hits close to home for you.

You feel like you aren’t worth knowing.

Because of this, you embellish the truth a bit to portray yourself as smarter, stronger, and more successful than you are. You may feel that if people really knew what you were like, they’d be unimpressed.

You fear being judged.

You’re afraid of people’s bad opinions of you. You want to please your boss, so you always say yes to extra work, but you tell your co-workers how much you dislike the boss, so they won’t think you’re sucking up to your boss. It’s a tangled web to keep lying, to avoid people’s bad opinions of you.

Research confirms that many people lie to cope with peer pressure or to boost self-esteem.

Your fear of being rejected

You feel the need to be liked by everyone and accept you. You exaggerate, brag, and show off to be liked. You’re the clown at work or school. You are afraid if people wouldn’t like the real you, so you hide.

Vulnerability is scary

It’s hard, to be honest, to be really yourself around people. You may feel too vulnerable and out of control when you are honest. Or perhaps you were hurt in the past for being vulnerable, so you feel it’s too dangerous. You may lack wisdom in who to trust. If you’ve made mistakes and thought you could trust people who weren’t trustworthy, it may cause you to back off and refuse to be honest with anyone.

How to start being truthful and trustworthy

There’s no time like now to begin a new season of being truthful. It can change your life and the lives of those around you when you begin to be an honest person. Here are some simple tips for beginning your truthful journey.

1 – Be honest with yourself.

Tell yourself the truth. If you aren’t truthful with yourself, you won’t be with others. It’s okay not to be the prettiest, smartest, most successful person at work or school. You have things to give, but don’t evaluate your worth based on what you think others want. Try saying thing like

“I’m___________and that’s okay, because I’m a worthy person.”

“I’m not good at _______________and that’s okay.

“I will never be able to ______________, but there are many other things I can do.”

2 – Stop the lie when it begins.

If you have a habit of lying about your family, don’t lie when you talk about them. Begin to tell the truth about them.

3 – Don’t try to be anybody else but yourself

Social media bombards you with how you should look, dress, and act. It’s easy to compare yourself with celebrities, bloggers, and other seemingly successful people. You may be tempted to try to look or act like they do instead of being yourself.

4 – Begin sharing your feelings with people

Start opening up about your feelings. If you’re having a hard day at work, tell your co-worker. It’s okay to feel down or overwhelmed sometimes. Start small and share with people you can trust. In time, you’ll begin to be honest about your feelings without fear.

5 – See a therapist if necessary

If you feel like you have to lie, it may be time to see a counselor or therapist to help you break the habit.

Final Thoughts on Why Telling the Truth Equals Trust

Truth equals trustworthiness in the eyes of your family, friends, and co-workers. Today, why not start speaking the truth to yourself and others so you can enjoy newfound freedom. There is no other way around it–to be trusted, you must tell the truth.

10 Behaviors That Make You More Likable

November 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you consider yourself more likable than the next person? Do you go out of your way to help others and are never too busy to offer a shoulder to cry on? There are two kinds of people in this world: self-absorbed and those who consider their fellow man.

Why is it that the people in life who are rude, blunt, and very impolite are the ones that climb the corporate ladder with ease? If you consider the most successful business owners, you will likely encounter someone who is not afraid to be pushy and manipulative to get where they are today. Now, not everyone is like that as there are plenty of good people in this world.

However, it takes moxie to get to the top, and these people aren’t usually likable. When you’re building both business and personal relationships, you want to engage with folks who are pleasurable to be around. Individuals who have a pleasant personality, are polite, modest, and agreeable are the genuinely likable ones.

Behaviors of Those More Likeable

Why are individuals more enthralled with those who have these endearing qualities over someone assertive and impolite? How do you think that others view you? Do they see you as someone who is true blue, or do they shy away from you? Here is a list of ten behaviors that you should consider to help make you more likable.

1. Laughter is Commonplace

Have you ever been around someone that oozes with joy? Their laughter is infectious, and they draw you in with their sense of humor. One thing that is enduring about these folks is that they can admit when they make a mistake.

The difference between them and other individuals is they laugh off their wrongdoings and try not to make the same blunder again. They don’t care if they look silly and are in situations where they didn’t show their better side. These happenstances make great stories to share with others.

This person’s oddity is that people respect them more for being so jolly and open rather than thinking they’re weird. To be more like this person, it’s okay to admit when you screwup, and it’s okay to let your guard down on occasion.

Remember the old saying that when you laugh, the world laughs with you, but when you cry, you will cry alone? It’s easy to see why this rhetoric is so accurate. Plus, laughter is always good medicine for the mind, body, and spirit.

2. They’ve Never Met A Stranger

Some folks are social butterflies. They talk and share their opinions with you, but they also want to know what you think. They have an innate ability to make others open up to them.

Their superpower is in making people feel like they are valued, and their opinion counts. To be a budding socialite, ask sincere questions to your friends or coworkers and engage in good conversation. These people can talk for hours to someone they meet during a chance encounter.

To get to this level, you must learn to engage with others with interesting conversation and a friendly tone. These people never want for friends as they have an extensive social circle.

3. Respect for Others

To be more likable, you must learn the value of respect. Simple things like maintaining eye contact, smiling frequently, and never cutting someone short when they’re speaking will go a long way to make you approachable. Hone in on the non-verbal cues that can keep you in tune with the conversation and help you bond.

4. Say Less and Listen More

One of the most frustrating things about some folks is their incessant chatter about themselves. They want to tell you all about their life, but they’re never seems to be a time in the conversation for you to talk about yours. Being respectful of another human being means that they get a chance to speak too.

The people that tend to talk about themselves continuously are the ones who are usually self-centered or narcissistic, and you don’t want them as a friend. To make yourself more likable to others, give them the floor to speak to. What they have to say is just as valuable as your commentary.

5. Be Vulnerable

There’s nothing worse than someone who tries to one-up you by bragging about their success. These people may talk about all their connections, the things they’ve accomplished, and they want to engage in chatter about who’s more successful.

These unstated competitions are unsavory, and if you want to be more likable, you will avoid them. These people won’t ever admit that they have a weakness or have failed in things. If you do something great, their life’s events will always be greater than yours.

To avoid being unlikable, you need to share your successes with others and be willing to congratulate theirs. If you’re confident enough within yourself, then you won’t mind being a little vulnerable. You won’t need to impress folks with artificial or embellished stories, as they will like you for who you are.

6. Avoid Name Dropping

If you want to be more likable, then don’t flatter people by name dropping. Sure, you met Bon Jovi at a concert once, but your friends don’t want to hear about it continuously. Folks who always want to point out the “big wigs” they’ve encountered in life are bragging.

Bragging is annoying, and it’s not an enduring behavior. Sure, it’s exciting if you get to meet someone famous or rub elbows with someone great, but telling your friends once is all that’s needed. Likable people may hobnob with the rich and famous and have connections, but they don’t talk about it incessantly.

7. Always Remember Names

There’s nothing worse than forgetting a name you should remember. It’s essential to remember the smallest of details as they make you feel proud of yourself. Plus, people love it when others can remember the names of their kids, dogs, spouse, and all those little things they’ve discussed before.

Most important, don’t forget the person’s name as that makes you seem ingenuine. Folks place individuals in their inner circle for their willingness to engage with them in life, and how can you develop a relationship if you can’t even remember their name?

8. Be Agreeable

No one likes indifferent people, and some might call these folks contrary. If everyone in the office wants McDonald’s for lunch, they’re the ones that want Subway. They are always going against the flow and trying to cause disagreements.

Now, you don’t want someone that agrees with everything and doesn’t have an opinion, but you don’t want a person that is always going in the opposite direction either. If you’re going to be more reliable, then learn how to agree to disagree in life. It’s okay to share your views, but don’t turn a difference of opinion into an argument.

9. Be Kind

One good gauge about how people treat others is to take them to a restaurant. Observe how they act with the server. Are they demanding, indifferent, and speak to staff members as if they’re beneath them?

The server test is a great way to see someone’s true colors. If they treat the wait staff in this manner, then you can guarantee that they will eventually treat you that way too. If you want to be likable, servers should always be worthy of your respect and kindness, even if there are minor issues.

10. Effectively Use the Power of Touching

Did you know that touch is a powerful behavioral influence? Take, for instance, a person crying because they got bad news. Wrapping your arms around them can be healing and helpful to their mental state.

Nonsexual touch doesn’t have to be a hug. You can shake hands or pat someone on the back when they’ve done an excellent job. Touch is an incredibly powerful behavior that goes a long way to show your endearing side.

When you offer yourself to reach out and touch someone, it only helps reinforce your words’ sincerity.

Final Thoughts on Being More Likable

There are all kinds of people in this life that you will encounter. With each person you meet, you will remember one thing about them. It could be a perfume or cologne they’re wearing or their infectious smile that lit up the room.

The real question is, what will they remember about you? If you want to be more likable in this world, you need something that helps you stand out. Things like being kind to others, showing venerability, honesty, good communication, and your joyful demeanor are all things that are important for others to see in you.

When you strive to be more likable, you will be amazed at how quickly your social circle grows.

Research Reveals Kids Are Dealing With School Closures Better Than Expected

November 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

No one could have imagined that the whole world would come to a halt. Children didn’t even receive a full year of education in 2020 due to school closures. Even when schools slowly opened back up – many offered virtual learning, so children still weren’t going to school.

There was a fear that not going to school was going to hurt children in the long run. They were missing that valuable face to face instruction that they get from teachers.

Their social lives were also destroyed since they couldn’t go to school and interact with others their ages. They didn’t even have social lives at home – they had to stay in the house, away from friends for a large part of the year.

School closures and lockdowns were hard on everyone, but especially hard for children. However, research is showing that you may not need to worry as much as you thought. According to a study published in August of 2020, kids deal with school closures a lot better than people thought they would.

The Study

The study was done by Peter Gray, Ph.D., a professor at Boston College and author of Free to Learn and Psychology (a textbook). It was a simple but effective study that involved having paid participants to take surveys. The participants were all from the United States.

Parents or children could fill out the survey. However, it was either one parent or one child per family, not both. The study included 798 parent surveys and 762 child surveys for a total of 1,560 participants. The survey was open to families with students between the ages of 8 and 13.

The selection pool of participants included multiple races, with the percentage of each race being similar to the U.S. population’s racial makeup. Forty percent of the parent surveys were fathers. Over 50% of the families that participated had annual incomes between $25,000 and $100,000 per year.

The results were not what people expected. Overall, it seemed that children were doing well with online schooling, and many of them even enjoyed it better than a traditional school. In fact, the survey revealed that many of the children were learning to become more independent and responsible.

Some of the statistics of the survey were:

Around 91% of the students were completing their online assignments as they should.
Out of the children completing the assignments, 48% were a little stressed about making mistakes or not understanding the work.
It takes children an average of three hours to do their school work versus the six hours they spend at traditional school.
Fifty percent of parents said their child was getting more sleep than ever before.
On the parent’s survey, 85% indicated that their child was happier now than before. On the child’s survey, 62% indicated they were happier than before.

Parents seem to also be happier with the online elementary and online high school arrangement. A majority of parents indicated that children are learning new things on their own, doing more chores around the house, and doing more things on their own. They are also happy to see their children handling the lockdowns so well.

Dr. Grey conducted a second study of the same nature a month after the first study. The overall results showed that happiness, independence, and responsibility had improved even more for parents and children. Stress levels were less. Based on the results from the surveys, it seems that children are thriving during school closures.

Why School Closures Seem to Be a Good Thing for Some Children

While this survey was designed to reveal how children are doing with at-home learning during school closures, it also reveals something else. If children can do this well on their own, there must be a problem with the modern school system. The education system in the United States has been a hot topic of debate for decades. Many educators, parents, students, researchers, and more say that the modern school system is outdated. Here are some statistics from the U.S. Department of Education on the education system in the United States:

The United States has one of the highest school dropout rates in the world.
The U.S. ranks 12th in the world for college attainment.
Among students in the U.S. that go to college, half of them need remedial courses their freshman year.
Among college students in the U.S., half of them never graduate.

The results of these surveys, paired with these alarming statistics, show that it’s time for an education system overhaul. It’s not easy to redesign the education system from the ground up, but many schools had already implemented some ideas (before school closures happened).

Learn how depression is skyrocketing in our urban areas.

Recent Changes to the U.S. Education System That Has Been Working

In 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act was implemented. The purpose of this law was to ensure that all children had equal access to a high-quality education. The goal was for all students in elementary and secondary schools to meet or exceed state standards in reading and math by 2014.

The program was a moderate success at that time. Many improvements were seen across the country, especially for schools that were desperately in need of funding and supplies. However, the program quickly became outdated, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) areas. After a while, children started being left behind again.

Race to the Top

In 2009, the Obama Administration launched an initiative called Race to the Top. This was a $4.35 billion grant program that would give funds to schools that desperately needed it after the economic policies of the Bush administration. However, the administration didn’t just give the money away. They turned it into a contest of sorts – a challenge for schools to meet the Common Core State Standards.

These standards were optional for states to meet, and many states were not pushing to meet them. Race to the Top gave them an incentive to meet the requirements. As the Common Core Standards, Race to the Top was optional for states to participate in. But because they need the money so badly, 46 states and Washington D.C. participated in the program.

Problems with No Child Left Behind

Race to the Top didn’t replace or change the No Child Left Behind laws. It was simply a way to entice states to meet these standards. It worked for a while until it became evident that many states could not meet the standards.

The Obama administration answered this problem with an “opt-out” program, but the catch was that teachers would have to be evaluated with the students’ standardized testing programs. This angered educators and unions all across the country. It would seem that the No Child Left Behind laws weren’t working.

Every Student Succeeds Act

Despite the issues with No Child Left Behind, the 2015-2016 school year saw a high school graduation rate of 83.2%, the highest it had ever been. In the same year, the Obama administration enacted the Every Student Succeeds Act. This was a complete overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act and was much more successful. Obama’s goal was for the United States to be the number one country in education by 2020.

In 2016, when Donald Trump became president, his administration’s goal was to overturn the Every Student Succeeds Act. That didn’t happen, and the United States is still not number one in education in the world. The Trump administration may have been able to enact policies that could make the goal happen in time, but school closures due to the coronavirus got in the way.

Ideas for Future Changes in Education

Education, as the world knew it a year ago, is drastically different now. However, with this change has come positive results that no one really expected. Things are not perfect, but educators could take a few pointers from the current situation to improve the country’s education system in the future. Some suggestions are:

Shorter school hours.
More independent assignments.
Change the school week from five days of in-person instruction to three days of in-person instruction.
More emphasis on technology.
Smaller class sizes.
More parent involvement.

It will take a lot of analysis and time to get the education system back on track in the United States. Hopefully, administrators and the education department consider these ideas since they seem to be working well during the lockdown.

Final Thoughts on the Studies and School Closures

These times are unprecedented, and not just where education is concerned. However, the studies show educators, administrators, politicians, parents, and most of all. Students have adjusted with flying colors. It’s much better than anyone could have hoped for.

As we advance, everyone must keep in mind how well students are doing now. This crisis revealed a peek into the dilemma of improving the United States’ education system. Hopefully, the powers that be are listening.

Science Explains 10 Healthy Reasons to Eat Ghee

November 19, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you are an enthusiast of Indian-inspired cuisine, you probably recognize one of the main ingredients called ghee. It’s an ever-present condiment in Indian homes and is often referred to as “liquid gold.” Did you know that this classic butter product can offer you several health benefits?

Anthropologists say that early humans first were nomadic hunters and gatherers. After they domesticated pasture animals like sheep, goats, cows, and yaks, they eventually added animal milk to their diets. Like many world-changing inventions, dairy products like butter, yogurt, and cheese were probably invented by accident.

Food historians believe that the process for churning butter was discovered around 4,000 BCE in the East. It wouldn’t take long for this creamy concoction’s popularity to spread around the known world. People invented butter churns and used the dairy product as an essential staple in most world cuisines.

The Beginnings of Ghee

In the modern Western world, people usually consider butter as a product of cow’s milk. However, butter can be produced from other large mammals. For thousands of years, countries in the East have enjoyed tasty butter made from the milk of sheep, goats, buffalo, and yaks.

Although butter will remain stable at room temperature, warmer weather can make it melt and go rancid. Most of India has a tropical climate, making keeping butter difficult in times before refrigeration. The heat is incredibly oppressive in the Northeast section of India, so the people discovered a way to make their butter stable in hot weather.

Nobody knows how they got the idea of cooking the butter until the milk solids and water evaporated, leaving pure butterfat. But once these early food scientists did, they found that it would stay fresh and delicious even in the scorching weather. The discovery was probably around 2,000 BCE, and the Indians called their creation ghee.

It was so venerated in India that they called this butter product the “sacred fat.” Holy Hindu scriptures say that the gods sent it down as a gift. Not only did they use it for cooking, but it was used as a health tonic and for religious ceremonies.

Sacred temple candles are still often made of ghee. Since this dairy wonder lasts a long time and doesn’t require refrigeration, it didn’t take long to become popular worldwide. In Europe and the West, this creation is often called clarified butter. After the milk solids and water has cooked and evaporated, the remaining butterfat has a lovely, nutty flavor.

If you are following a healthy diet, should you even consider using this ingredient? After all, it is pure fat, and you’ve been trying to avoid fatty dairy products. The good news is that clarified butter is a healthy fat that you can use in moderation.

DIY Clarified Butter

Most major grocery stores sell jars of massed produced ghee in the shortening and oils section. You might be in for a case of sticker shock because it’s not cheap. Fortunately, a little goes a long way, and it can last for up to three months on your counter or up to a year in the refrigerator.

If you want to save a little money and learn a valuable skill, you can easily make this butter product at home. All you need is a pound of quality unsalted butter. You’ll also need a sterilized jar and lid for storing the finished product.

How To:

Slice butter into small, roughly equal chunks and set aside. In a Dutch oven or heavy skillet over medium heat, add butter and gently stir until it melts. Reduce the heat to low and allow the liquid to simmer. Note that butter and margarine are not the same, so you must use real butter.

As the liquid simmers gently, it will start to bubble, and the milk solids will separate. These solids will come to the surface, leaving water and fat underneath them.

Carefully use a spoon to skim away the floating milk solids. You can sell these in a container in the refrigerator to flavor mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables. Continue removing the milk solids until nothing is floating on the surface.

Although the surface milk solids are removed, you will notice some that have stayed on the bottom. Allow these to continue simmering in the liquid until they turn a light caramel color. This will give the final product its hallmark warm, nutty flavor.

As soon as you notice that the bottom solids have browned, immediately remove the skillet from the heat. Set it aside and allow it to cool for about five minutes.

Use a fine-mesh strainer and three layers of cheesecloth to strain the liquid into a glass measuring cup. Discard the solids and carefully pour the golden liquid into your storage jar. You can keep it on the counter for up to three months or store it in your refrigerator for up to a year.

Remember that your butterfat will become a soft solid at room temperature. You can use a spoon to scoop out what you need at a time. In the unlikelihood that your butterfat becomes discolored or has an off odor, discard it.

Ten Possible Health Benefits of Ghee

Ghee has a higher smoking point and is ideal for frying and sautéing. If you are lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy this product because the lactic acid is gone. Besides cooking, here are ten health benefits that you may receive when you use ghee.

1. It’s Good for Your Heart

While this dairy product does have saturated fat, it also is a valuable source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Your body needs a certain amount of these “good fats” for healthy cardiovascular and brain health. Again, moderation is the key.

2. Get Better Sleep

Who would believe that enjoying a tasty butter product would help you sleep better? In the ancient traditions of Indian Ayurvedic medicine, many Indian people use ghee as a massage oil. Some Ayurvedic practitioners recommend rubbing your temples with some of this liquid gold to help you relax and go to sleep.

3. Soothing Arthritis Pain

If you have arthritis or other joint issues, you know how painful it can be. Some research suggests that consuming moderate amounts of this butter product may help reduce painful inflammation. Perhaps it’s from the healthy fats that your body requires for lubricating your joints.

4. May Benefit Your Body Cells

Ordinary chemical reactions in your body often leave free radicals floating around in your bloodstream. In their efforts to bond with other molecular material, these rogue radicals attack and damage cells throughout your body. This pure butterfat provides several antioxidants that may defend your cells against this damage.

5. May Boost Your Immune System

Like all the other systems throughout your body, your immune system requires essential vitamins and minerals for optimal performance. This delightful butterfat provides the usual dairy vitamins of A, K, E, and D. These nutrients can boost your immunity and keep illnesses at bay.

6. Possible Digestive System Benefits

Although dairy products provide essential calcium and Vitamin D and K for healthy bones and teeth, they are often hard on the digestive system. Here’s some excellent news for people who have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

When you consume this butter product, it may help soothe and repair damage in your stomach lining. Plus, you needn’t worry if you can’t tolerate dairy products because it’s lactose-free. It may also help you digest your food better.

7. May Promote Healing for Burns and Wounds

Did you know that many people in India use ghee as a topical ointment? Since some of its compounds have anti-inflammatory properties, it may be used for minor wounds and burns. It can reduce swelling and promote healing.

8. Use as an Ideal Moisturizer

It’s no wonder that many Indians prefer to use their liquid gold as a natural moisturizer. The rich vitamins and butterfat can soothe and repair dry skin, making it soft and supple. You can also use a bit as a conditioner for shiny, healthy hair.

9. It May Help You Lose Weight

Consuming butterfat may go against everything you’ve come to believe about losing weight. This butter product is an excellent source of beneficial fats like CLA and Omega 3 fatty acids. Studies have linked these good fats with reducing fat cells while building lean muscles.

10. Use it For Better Eye Health

This possible benefit may be challenging to believe, but thousands of years of anecdotal evidence from India may convince you. If your eyes are dry, itchy, and tired, most Ayurveda practitioners recommend ghee for a healthy eyewash. Just a couple of drops in each eye can nourish and soothe them while providing essential vitamins for better eye health.

Final Thoughts on the Many Benefits of Ghee

Once you taste the smoky, toffee-like goodness of this liquid gold, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t tried it years ago. Not only is it delicious, but research has connected it with several possible health benefits. Discover the tasty benefits of this butter product and why many people in India consider it a food of the gods.

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

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!