Page 491

10 Surprising Things Most People Can’t Do

November 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Everyone has a unique talent, but did you know some people can do strange with their bodies that most people can’t do? Here’s the list of the 10 most surprising things most people can’t do. See if you can do them. It is fun to try!

Here Are the Ten Things Most People Cannot Do

“Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh , the Places You’ll Go !

1. Touch your tongue to your nose

If you can touch your tongue to your nose, you are part of a small majority of people. Around 10% of the general population can do this. This ability to do this is called Gorlin’s sign, which means you may have a connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS. This disorder affects your joints, skin, and sometimes your blood vessels. Your joints may have too much flexibility, so they get dislocated easily.

Other symptoms include:

Translucent or glassy-like skin
Elastic skin
Your bruise easily
Dilation of blood vessels
Prone to rupture of blood vessels if not careful

Treatment includes medication and physical therapy or occasionally surgery.

2. Wiggle your ears

Being able to wiggle your ears is unusual. Only 10 to 20% of the population can do it. Because the muscles that control your eye movements affect your ear movements, your ears withdraw a bit when you look left or right. When you swallow, it also affects your ear muscle area. But don’t worry. You can teach yourself how to wiggle your ears! It would help to concentrate on moving your ears without making your eyes go up and down. Practice wiggling your ears using other muscles in your face.

3. Raise one eyebrow

Approximately 30-40% of the population can raise one lone eyebrow. According to research, only one muscle controls both eye movements. It’s thought that people with this ability may have one side of the muscle disconnected, so it’s easier for them to raise one eyebrow. Some people suggest that they really aren’t raising one eyebrow but keeping one eyebrow lower while raising both eyebrows simultaneously, which makes it look like they are raising one eyebrow. If you want, you can train yourself to do this.

4. Fold your tongue in half

Studies show that the ability to fold your tongue in half or twist your tongue is affected by your ability to speak certain languages. These unique tongue movements are also related to your genes. Besides folding your tongue in half, try these other cool tongue-folding ideas

A cloverleaf shape
Double folded tongue
Roll it lengthwise
Twist it upside down

5. Bend your thumb backward

Bending your thumb backward or Hitchhiker’s thumb is hyperextensibility of your thumb. It’s an inherited condition passed down through a gene appropriately named the “Bendy thumb gene.” If you have this condition, your thumb will form a 90 angle across your palm when you rest your hand. Fortunately, Hitchhiker’s thumb doesn’t hurt, and you can still use your thumb without any problems, but you may want to show off your cool-looking thumb to impress your friends.

6. Sneeze with your eyes open

Sneezing with your eyes open is possible, but it takes effort. Sneezing with your eyes closed is an involuntary reflex your body does to keep microbes and dirt from getting in your eyes when you sneeze.

Sneezing is your body’s way of eliminating pollen, dirt, dust, and pet hair in the air. You also sneeze when you have a cold because your nasal cavity gets swollen and more sensitive, triggering a sneeze. One old wife’s tale about sneezing with your eyes open claims that you keep your eyes closed because your eyeballs will fall out if you leave your eyes open. Sneezing with your eyes open is okay, but it may not be healthy since all the stuff you’re sneezing out will get into your eyes.

7. Wiggle your nose

Sorry to burst your bubble. It’s not possible to wiggle your nose. The nose won’t wiggle, but moving your lips back and forth gives the impression of your nose twitching. You can teach yourself to wiggle your nose by looking in the mirror and moving your mouth back and forth quickly. Some people puff out their cheeks from side to side, giving the illusion of nose wiggling. Give it a try!

8. Touch your elbow with your tongue

Only a very few people can touch their tongues to their elbows. Why they want to do, it isn’t important. It seems fun, especially since many people can’t do it. You need to have a smaller forearm and a long tongue to do this trick. But, even with these unique features, you’ll still need flexibility and an extreme desire to show off your unique ability.

9. Perfect pitch

The amazing talent of perfect pitch is scarce. This means that every time you open your mouth to sing, you hit every note correctly. Only 14% of Americans can hit every note perfectly. Interestingly enough, speaking Mandarin can help you have perfect pitch because it has many different tones that train your ear to hear musical notes better. Of course, the downside to having a perfect pitch is that you notice every wrong note someone hits when they sing or play an instrument.

10. Gleek

Gleeking is the ability to shoot water out of your mouth using your tongue. Gleek doesn’t serve a great purpose unless you are a middle-school-age boy who wants to impress your friends. You may accidentally gleek if you have a lot of saliva in your mouth when you sneeze.

Other strange facts about your body that you may not know

The human body is amazing. It can do all kinds of things. Here are some really cool facts about your body you may not know.

You have enough acid in your stomach to dissolve a razor blade:

Your stomach acid is pretty powerful. It has a pH level of 1 or 2, which is really high compared to your blood, 7. 4. Amazingly, your stomach’s lining isn’t bothered by this high acidic level. Just don’t try the razor blade trick to see if they dissolve.

As you age, you become more ambidextrous:

As you age, you become more able to use both hands. One study found that when people are young, they typically have a dominant hand they use, but once they hit 70, they can use either hand. This is primarily because your dominant hand grows weaker as you age, becoming your weaker hand.

Sleep deprivation is more dangerous than not eating:

Did you know that you can last longer not eating than you could not sleep? Going without sleep for a week can make you not totally dysfunctional, while not eating for a week makes you feel tired and weak, but you can still function. You could survive eight or nine weeks without eating if needed, but it’s not recommended.

Fear makes you stronger physically.

When lifting heavy things, you typically only use about 65% of your strength. But if you’re afraid, your body blocks your pain and gives you an adrenaline rush to suddenly lift huge amounts of weight. The stories of mothers lifting a car off of their kids may be a stretch, but there are many amazing stories of how people saved someone’s life by lifting a heavy object off them.

A baby has over 300 bones, but adults only have 206:

So, what happened to all your bones when you grew up? As you grew, many extra bones fused to form single bones. A baby’s head is one example of this. They have a soft spot on their head. This spot eventually goes away around the age of one. The eight small bone segments in the baby’s head fuse.

Your mouth makes enough spit in your lifetime to fill two swimming pools:

Your body averages making 25,000 quarts of salvia in your lifetime. Salvia helps you eat your food, prevents tooth decay, and helps you swallow.

Final Thoughts on Trying These Things That Most People Can’t Do

Can you perform the tricks that most people can’t do? The human body is so amazing.

Some people seem to be able to do strange things with their bodies that others cannot master. Whether you can do some of these ten surprising things or not may be due to your genes. Or you may be able to do them because you’ve practiced them enough to know how to do them. Have some fun and see if you can learn to raise your eyebrow or wiggle your nose just for fun. Who knows, knowing how to do these things could come in handy.

10 Ways to Spot People Who Waste Your Time With Bad Intentions

November 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Wouldn’t it be a lifesaver if all the good people of the world had halos and those with bad intentions had horns? It would be a lot easier to distinguish who you would allow in your life and those you would avoid. Unfortunately, that’s not an option, and you must watch for red flags and use your intuition to make choices in your inner circle.

Since the beginning, the world has had a diverse mix of good and bad people. Sometimes good people make bad mistakes, and even the most morally corrupt individuals can do a random act of kindness. Nobody enters a personal or professional relationship to be taken advantage of or burned.

Maybe you’re like a lot of folks who think there’s good in everyone and will take your chances. Conversely, you may have survived a toxic relationship that resulted in you building a wall of defense and mistrust. How can you tell if a colleague or a new love interest doesn’t have good intentions?

No one is perfect, and anybody can make a bad decision that unintentionally hurts someone. The difference in character is noted when the person in the wrong apologizes and makes amends, while the toxic individual attempts to shift the blame to you.

Trusting your professional career or your love life to other folks is a gamble. Some people may seem incredible at first until you realize they are really snakes. Their toxicity may bite you before it’s too late.

10 Warning Signs That a Person Has Bad Intentions

You may not see halos or horns to differentiate the good folks from the bad, but there are clues. Some of them may be more subtle than others. Here are ten ways you can spot people who don’t have your best interests at heart.

1. They’re Habitual Liars

Anyone who says they have never told a lie is not being honest. Who hasn’t told a little white lie or stretched the truth a bit to save face or avoid hurting someone? However, it’s a red flag if a colleague or a new love interest is a pathological liar. When everything that comes out of their mouth is a lie, and you’re constantly catching them in mistruths, be assured there are more lies their hiding.

The strange thing about pathological liars is that they will lie about the most insignificant things for the sake of lying. To hide their mounting pile of falsehoods, they must tell more untruths. You may get a significant clue if you hear them telling friends and family things you know aren’t accurate.

2. They Enjoy Other People’s Pain

Someone who derives pleasure from other people hurting is bound to have dark psychological issues. If they’re rolling with laughter after you fell down the stairs or cut your finger, you’re dealing with a toxic person. These types of characters also find great amusement when others make painful mistakes or have a series of misfortunes.

Toxic people are often bitter and jealous of the world. They see people who are happy and prosperous as the enemy who causes their misery. When these perceived enemies have a crisis, the toxic person is often smug and delighted that their misfortune is avenged.

3. They’re Cruel to Animals

Whether it’s a beloved pet or the livestock grazing in the meadow, there is no excuse for animal cruelty. Countless studies on incarcerated murderers show a common link with the animal brutality that morphs human abuse and homicide.

Anybody who could be sadistic enough to harm or torture a defenseless animal would have no qualms about hurting a human. How do they treat pets or animals in the wild they come across? Do they cheerfully hit the accelerator in the car to kill an innocent creature crossing the road?

The first hint of animal cruelty or neglect should be enough for you to stay away from this person and report them to the authorities.

4. They Give Bad Vibes

Although science can’t explain how it works, human intuition is a powerful survival instinct. Have you ever been around people who just left you with a weird impression? Maybe it was nothing apparent, but your gut instinct told you to “beware.”

How do they make you feel when you are together? Do you feel natural and relaxed, or does their presence make you tense? When they touch you, do you feel butterflies in your stomach, or are you overcome with weirdness?

Do yourself a favor and trust your intuition when you have doubts about someone’s character. Some of your trusted friends might be getting the same vibes. Toxic people prey on those who are gullible, so listen to your gut feelings and walk away from the toxicity and bad intentions.

5. Their Humor is Hurtful

Remember the immortal words of Shakespeare that many truths are said in jest. Almost everyone loves people who have a good sense of humor. Even some good-natured teasing is okay if it’s between two close people.

However, toxic people frequently make crude and hurtful remarks while ending them with a “just kidding.” It’s unacceptable for somebody to degrade and hurt you in the pretense of a joke. The same goes for back-handed compliments that add even more humiliation.

These bullies use perverse humor in their evil intentions to control and degrade others.

6. They Show No Remorse or Guilt

While a sociopath is usually someone who has inappropriate emotions in public before thinking, a psychopath’s evil intentions are planned. Suppose you work with someone or have a love interest who is devoid of empathy, you better lookout. They could be a classic psychopath who can deliberately hurt someone without any remorse or guilt.

Not only are people like these toxic in a relationship, but they can also be dangerous. A blend of psychopathy and another severe mental illness could create a perfect storm for a homicidal person. At the first hint of remorseless behavior, you should run.

7. They’re Blatantly Sexist or Racist

Some toxic people don’t even try to hide their hateful sexist or racist attitudes. They may try to justify their obnoxious views by twisting religious texts. You can never be happy around a person making inappropriate hate speech about gender or race.

Keep your distance from people with bad intentions who thrive on creating an atmosphere of ignorance, hate, and intolerance. Refuse to be part of their damaging war against individuals who are different. These people are their own worst enemies, and you don’t need their company.

8. Most People Avoid Them

Over time, toxic people with bad intentions are discovered and shunned. Like most folks, you probably have an obnoxious relative who everybody avoids at family gatherings. Fortunately, you needn’t tolerate a loud and vulgar old uncle but once a year.

You’ll find that many toxic people burn bridges with others in a series of broken relationships. They may not have many friends or relatives who want to be around them. While many people are loners because of preference, toxic people are usually abandoned because of their bad intentions.

9. They’re Users

Beware toxic people who just use others for gain and then toss them aside. If you have a potential love interest, is the new relationship mutual or one-sided? Are you generous with your time and money, but your kindness is never reciprocated?

The classic case of a person with bad intentions is one who plays on your sympathies. They would like you to ignore his toxic and unacceptable behavior, and they will use guilt on you. If you don’t break ties, they will drain you physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially.

10. They’re Manipulators

People with bad intentions are usually master manipulators. Oftentimes, they will gaslight their partners so that they can have control. They may subtly try to get you to doubt yourself while shifting any blame to you.

It won’t be long, and you will have severe issues with self-confidence and your sanity. They may be accepted initially, but you must watch for subtle clues that they’re trying to manipulate you. Perhaps they will try to make you look bad in front of your family and friends. Someone who loves you doesn’t need to control your life.

One of the greatest mistakes people make in a toxic relationship is staying to change the toxic person. Not only is this plan unrealistic, but it also can backfire and keep you shackled in a relationship that is painful and possibly dangerous.

Even if they don’t display all ten of these warning signs, one should be enough to get your attention.

Final Thoughts on Spotting People Who have Bad Intentions

You should never be part of someone’s evil personality or bad intentions. Let these red flags be a warning that tells you not to get involved. When you look for the signs of toxic people and follow your gut feelings, you may save yourself many heartaches and possibly your own life. You don’t need the drama or the toxicity.

15 Reasons People Cheat, According to Psychology

November 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Unfortunately, cheating is quite common in relationships. While there may be reasons men and women cheat, the outcomes are still the same. Both parties get hurt.

Cheating can be quite simple, or it can be complicated. Psychologists have many theories behind the reasons men and women cheat. It may seem that the cheater is simply a jerk or a horrible person, but psychology suggests that these issues may run deeper than that. The next section dives into the psychology behind cheating.

Psychology Behind Cheating

Understanding cheaters can be hard, especially if you’re the one who has been cheated on. Victims often fall into a pattern of blaming themselves, wondering what they did wrong to make the other person cheat. The truth is you can’t make a person cheat. That’s a personal choice that they make due to underlying issues they may have.

According to clinical psychologist Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., most people cheat for more than one reason. It’s due to a collection of psychological patterns. These patterns don’t usually have anything to do with the person being cheated on.

Dr. Robin Haight, a clinical psychologist, believes that people who cheat are looking for their partner to make them happy. However, that doesn’t happen, so they end up cheating. It’s not that they want to cheat, it’s that they’re looking for something. “It can get complicated,” says Dr. Haight.

Despite the complicated psychological background of cheaters, there are some surface reasons men and women cheat that are easier to understand. The next section covers 15 of these reasons.

Reasons Men and Women Cheat

1. Lack of communication in the relationship.

It can be incredibly frustrating when there is a lack of communication in a relationship. Without open and honest communication, one or both people in the relationship can feel ignored and unimportant. After dealing with this for an extended period, it can lead to cheating.

Cheating due to a lack of communication is a way that the cheater is expressing themselves. Since they feel they can’t do this with their partner, they find alternative ways to do it. Some people choose drugs or alcohol. Others choose to cheat. Either way, it’s devastating to a relationship.

2. They’re punishing their partner.

As odd as it seems, some people use cheating as a form of punishment to their partner. It could be payback because their partner cheated, or it could be some other reason. What is clear is that the cheater is angry with their partner and this is the way they are showing it.

Sometimes, punishing their partner in secret can be more satisfying than doing it in person. With cheating, the idea of secret infidelity makes the cheater feel better. It’s the feeling of power and control that the cheater likes, not necessarily the infidelity itself.

3. They feel like their partner doesn’t appreciate them.

No one forces anyone to cheat. That’s all a personal decision. However, decisions can be influenced by how a person feels like they’re being treated.

Notice that the sentence says, “feels like”. A person may not be mistreated, but they simply feel like they are for whatever reason. It could be a lack of communication, a lack of passion, or even mental instability.

The point is they feel underappreciated and they probably feel invisible in the relationship. This can lead to infidelity because they simply want to feel wanted or needed.

4. They want to break up, but they don’t know how.

One of the big reasons men and women cheat is that they don’t want to be in their current relationship, but they have no idea how to tell their significant other. They don’t want to hurt their partner and they don’t want to be the bad guy. It’s possible that they don’t want to appear as a failure to others.

Not being upfront about feelings can easily turn a person into a cheater. In this case, they may not even try to hide the cheating very well. They want to get caught so they’ll have a way out of the relationship. Sometimes this is easier than words.

5. The passion disappears from the relationship.

One of the biggest reasons men and women cheat is that passion disappears from the relationship. It’s not that they don’t care about their partner. They may love their partner with everything they have. However, the relationship has just grown stagnant or boring and they can’t figure out how to fix it.

It’s extremely hard to maintain a long term relationship with no passion. Sometimes love simply isn’t enough. Having a good connection and a strong sexual desire is a must. Without it, the relationship will degrade because the romantic needs aren’t being met.

6. The person has commitment issues.

Commitment issues can lead to cheating in a number of different ways. The first is the most obvious, they’re afraid or unwilling to commit. Cheating is basically they’re way of not committing. There is a whole psychological reason behind this and that’s information for another article.

Another way to look at this is that people have different definitions of commitment. Communication problems are usually to blame for the misunderstanding. One person may think a certain stage of the relationship means monogamy while the other doesn’t think the relationship is at that point. Good communication is the best way to avoid this problem.

7. They feel lonely.

Loneliness can make people act out of character. This can be a result of a lack of communication or from the person not getting enough attention from their partner. Humans aren’t meant to be lonely, which is why they seek out meaningful relationships. Friendships help, but interactive romantic relationships are a necessity.

At first, the cheater may feel revitalized. However, after those initial feelings of revitalization disappear, they’re often left feeling confused and lonelier than ever. After all, they didn’t gain the attention from their partner that they really want. This may lead to more cheating in an effort to fill the void.

8. Someone’s needs aren’t being met.

Some people simply aren’t a good fit for each other due to different needs. Sure, they may love each other but one person may be incapable of meeting the other person’s needs. Sometimes, both people can’t meet the other’s needs.

This can manifest itself in many ways. Two people may have different sex drives, different emotional needs, different definitions of the relationship, different religious beliefs, or different desires for the amount of quality time they spend with their significant other. When a person’s needs aren’t being met, it can drive them to cheat.

9. Some people have an unusually high sex drive.

In cases like this, people cheat because they just want to have sex – a lot of it. It doesn’t mean there are problems in the relationship, that their needs aren’t being met, that they’re insecure, or anything else on this list. They just simply can’t control their sexual desires.

This compulsive sexual desire is known as hypersexuality. This behavior is a mental disorder in which the person will need to seek professional help. Often the person will feel ashamed of their behavior so they may hide it as long as possible. Hopefully, they can get the help they need before their relationship is ruined.

10. They have low emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to control and express your emotions properly as well as the ability to properly handle interpersonal relationships. Some people simply don’t have this ability, or they may not be good at it. In other words, they don’t really know themselves well enough to carry on a relationship.

A low emotional intelligence could also result in a person not knowing how to communicate what they really want. This means that their partner won’t know either, so the person ends up cheating due to being bad at communicating.

11. They cheat in an effort to save the relationship.

This may seem backward, but some people cheat to save their relationship. This almost never works, but for some reason, some people think it will. This usually happens because there is a need or needs that aren’t being met, but the cheater still wants to keep the relationship.

Their reasoning is that if they can meet that one needs in some other way, they can live without getting that need from their partner. It almost makes sense except that the cheater must live a double life and when their partner finds out it can ruin the relationship they fought so hard to keep.

12. They may not think that cheating is a big deal.

Just like people have a different definition of commitment, they can have a different definition of cheating. One person may think flirting is cheating while the other thinks it’s harmless. One person may believe that sex without love is not cheating, while the other sees it as a major violation.

This is another communication issue. Most people don’t want to discuss the idea of cheating, but it’s important that couples discuss this early in the relationship, just like they should discuss commitment or any other aspect of the relationship. Making sure you’re on the same page as your partner can help prevent cheating (or point out that your partner has no plans to be faithful).

13. The cheater has low self-esteem.

It may seem strange that low self-esteem could make a person cheat, but it’s not as strange as you think. People with low self-esteem can look for validation by being with as many partners as they can. It’s not that they are trying to add notches to their belts, it that they eventually feel like the person they’re in a relationship with doesn’t really love them.

As insecurities begin to surface and they feel less and less loved, they start seeking attention elsewhere. In the next relationship the same thing will happen. This leads to a vicious cycle of cheating because they never fix their insecurities.

14. The opportunity presents itself.

Some people have exceptionally low will power. If the opportunity to cheat without getting caught presents itself, they’d be more likely to take the opportunity. There may not even be any serious problems in their relationship. They just can’t help themselves.

People like this will almost always feel extremely guilty afterward. They may even end up telling their partner out of guilt. However, this doesn’t mean there was no motivating factor. Any of the reasons men and women cheat listed above could be combined with the opportunity and be enough to push the person over the fence.

15. The cheater is a narcissist.

If the cheater is a narcissist, they probably don’t care how their cheating makes their significant other feel. In fact, they may rationalize the cheating. Even worse, the narcissist may convince their partner that it’s the partner’s fault.

Narcissists are so bad that they may not even attempt to hide their infidelities very well. They are incapable of considering their partner’s feelings. If the cheater is a narcissist, the cheating is probably the least of concerns about the relationship.

Final Thoughts on Reasons Why People Cheat

There are many reasons why men and women cheat, even more than the reason on this list. Cheating almost always has some psychological driving factor behind it. Sometimes it can be a mental or emotional problem (such as in the case of hypersexuality or the case of a narcissist).

No matter what the reason is, it’s still wrong. No one deserves to be in a relationship with someone who will constantly be unfaithful. It may be possible to fix the issues that cause a person to cheat, but they must be willing to work on it and the trust must be restored in the relationship. Psychologists all agree that while it may be hard to repair the damage, it’s not impossible.

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.

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

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!