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United Nations Urges Humankind to End the “War on Nature”

October 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Recently, the United Nations held the first summit on the climate change crisis. Scientists warned that high temperatures, rising sea levels, and numerous chemicals in the air cause an imbalance in nature. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminded world leaders that they promised to help save the environment a decade ago. But they have failed to step up their efforts.

Guterres said that diseases like HIV, Ebola, and viral infections continue to spread due to the influences of the following?

Climate change
Deforestation
Food production

He also warned that as many as one million species face extinction.

Guterres made the following plea:

“Humanity is waging war on nature. And we need to rebuild our relationship with it. Degradation of nature is not purely an environmental issue–it spans economics, health, social justice, and human rights.”

He urged the heads of state who were turning in via video link or in-person to stop the assault on the environment to save the Earth. He reminded them that they committed themselves to save the Earth decades ago but did nothing. A number of other world leaders echoed Guterres’s words, saying that 2021 should be their year of action to save the Earth’s environment.

Another well-known proponent of conservation, Sir David Attenborough, an English broadcaster and natural historian, is also outspoken about the need to save the environment. He recently suggested earmarking $500 billion for the earth’s conservation every year due to its serious needs.

Climate change concerns continue to rise.

Proponents suggest that forest fires and the Arctic ice levels are signs of the earth’s pending demise.

Attenborough has definitely become a celebrity. He recently went on Instagram to share his concerns, and after six days of being on social media, he had five million followers.

He said that years ago, he sensed that global warming was occurring in the 70s. According to Attenborough, he knew that it was a life and death issue when he saw a dead coral reef on the Barrier Reef in the 1970s.

Sir David suggests that it’s very simple to solve the world’s environmental problem. “I think there are two things you could do: One, it’s perfectly simple, don’t waste. Don’t waste power, don’t waste paper, don’t waste food, don’t waste time,” said Attenborough. “The second thing is, convince the man or woman who represents you politically of what you’re concerned about in whatever political system you live in.”

Producer, Alastair Fothergill, agrees with Sir David Attenborough that saving the Earth is a simple fix. He said, “It really depends on your lifestyle, and this is the difficulty in talking about the solutions; we have to always talk about what the human race needs to do as a whole because everyone’s lifestyles are different. You know you could already be vegetarian or maybe you walk to work.”

Alastair’s newest film about the environment, “A Life On Our Planet,” came out in theaters in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand. You can watch it on Netflix.

A film that serves as a wake-up call

The film “A Life On Our Planet” depicts the growing environmental destruction through the decades in the eyes and career of Sir David Attenborough. The film’s goal was to help people relate to the topic, so it was less abstract or disconnected from real life. Attenborough warns that as wildlife declines, our own destruction isn’t far behind. He addresses each decade of his life, explaining how the natural world’s decline is near and any vestiges of wildlife face certain doom. It’s a scary film. But most reviewers were infatuated with Attenborough calling him much loved and respected. In his native United Kingdom, he is, indeed, a national treasure.

The film has gotten high reviews for the emotional appeal and somber mood. Many people who believe the film’s claims wonder if the much loved and respected Attenborough’s urgent appeal is enough to make the changes needed.

Interestingly enough, in an interview in 2018, Sir David Attenborough suggested that giving dire warnings about devastating environmental issues was a “turn off.” He said that emphasizing this type of warnings about the planet would be acting like an “alarmist” and would be like “proselytizing.”

It would seem from watching “A Life On Our Planet,” that he’s changed his mind on being an alarmist. Most who watch the film said the film is horrifying until the last 30 minutes when Attenborough offers a glimmer of hope only if everyone on the planet completely changes the way they live.

Interestingly enough, there are no disagreements with Attenborough and his film’s assessment of the earth’s condition. Typically, on controversial issues, there are many opinions. But on this issue, if there are opposing sides, they are either quiet or not allowed to share their disagreement.

Learn about the algae power plants could help to reduce emissions.

The climate change controversy

Today, one of the most polarizing scientific debates related to the environment is climate change. It’s as controversial for the public and for scientists as well. Although there are a growing number of people who adamantly disagree with climate change, you don’t hear about it very much. For the most part, the public believes most scientists support the idea that climate change is human-made. The public also hears messaging that a catastrophe on the earth is shortly due to climate change.

But like other scientific debates, an oversimplification occurs. People begin to mistrust science so that people either decide that climate change is an absolute real problem or they decide it’s a complete hoax. In reality, scientists rarely agree on any scientific issue.

Geoffrey C Kabat, in his scientific article, “Taking Distrust of Science Seriously,” said the following:

“To overcome public distrust in science, scientists need to stop pretending that there is a scientific consensus on controversial issues when there is not.”

Telling the public that 97% of scientists believe something is a political and confuses the public. Many people have far less, if any, scientific knowledge. These scare tactics emphasize catastrophic situations. Scientists call those who view things in this nuanced way deniers of the truth. The fact is that climate change is very untestable and very complex. There are many missing pieces of the puzzle.

Scientists have few controlled studies on climate change. They have measurements of temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levels. The idea of greenhouse gas isn’t new; researchers discovered it over a hundred years ago. Scientists have some specific points of disagreement about climate change. What they know and what remains unknown puzzles most. Regardless, the public is led to believe that scientists understand everything about climate change.

This oversimplifying or politicizing the climate change issue for research funding or career gain puts scientific studies on climate change at risk. Science is rarely as neat and tidy as politicians or media would suggest.

Final thoughts on the United Nations warning and trusting the world’s scientists

You must decide how you can help the environment. Of course, it’s unrealistic to believe that everyone on the planet will contribute to the cause of saving the environment. But for those who take these issues seriously, they will make the necessary life changes. Regardless of the warning signs, many people wonder if the earth is in such a decline as the United Nations warns.

So far, it’s hard to find anyone who denies that we are polluting the planet. Some controversial scientific debates continue over climate change–that’s how science evolves. You must attempt to understand both arguments before making a judgment call. And we must each do our part to save the planet.

12 Red Flags Someone Is Too Assertive

October 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

The world is full of assertive people that have made their stamp in life. Sadly, these people are often misunderstood, or others feel that they have bad intentions. Just because someone speaks their mind and has moxie, it doesn’t make them a bad person.

How do you know if you’re a bit too assertive? Having a bit of force and self-confidence goes a long way, but you might need to tone it down since many misunderstand you. Here are some signs that you need to watch your self-assertive nature a bit.

Here Are Twelve Signs That Someone Might Be Too Assertive

Be honest. Do you exhibit these behaviors?

1. Assertive People Are Not Afraid to Speak Their Mind

It’s okay to speak your mind and let people know where you stand. What isn’t okay is saying things that are hurtful towards others. Even if you don’t like the dress or suit they’re wearing, some opinions need to be kept to yourself.

Evaluate your statements before you speak. If anything you say might be misunderstood or hurtful towards someone, then bite your tongue.

2. You Scare Some People

Do people fear you because they don’t know what you will say or do? Do others tiptoe on eggshells when you walk into a room? While it’s good to have a commanding presence and others’ respect, you don’t want people to be afraid of you.

People who fly off the handle and have rage might be assertive, and it could be an underlying medical condition and not self-confidence. If you find yourself being aggressive with your assertion, then it’s time to reevaluate yourself.

3. People Listen When You Talk

It’s a good thing when you talk that people listen. However, do they listen because they value what you say as a coworker or family member, or do people look like they’re afraid if they utter a word, you might slaughter them?

Make sure that people want to hear what you say because you’re engaging and not threatening. There is a big difference in why people draw crowds, and it’s not always good ones.

4. You Use Your Clout to Make Things Happen

Are you guilty of using your position to get things done? While there is certainly nothing wrong with dropping names or calling in favors from others to accomplish tasks, you should avoid blackmail and other unscrupulous methods. You want to be a mover and shaker and not someone underhanded like a mob boss.

5. You’ve Been Called Names a Time or Two

Assertive people are often misunderstood, and while some people want to be just like you, others hate the ground you walk on. It’s not uncommon for people with strong personalities to be called names. Even with the best of intentions, you can still ruffle a few feathers.

The real problem comes into play when you people have more hate than like for you. Being assertive and getting the job done is all well and good, but life sure is lonely if people misunderstand you so much that they don’t want to be around you.

6. Assertive People Rarely Ever Sugar Coat or Beat Around the Bush

Have you ever told someone to “Give it to me straight?” You’re not one that likes to beat around the bush or sugarcoat the truth. You will openly say what needs to be said without fear of any backlash.

The good thing about people that “shoot from the hip” is that you always know where you stand with them. The bad thing about people who are so straightforward is that they offend many people along the way. If your assertive nature is more offensive than helpful, then tone it back a bit.

A good rule of thumb to live by is that you should never tell people things they already know. They know the things they need to work on and what’s wrong in their lives. They don’t need you to point it out and offer unsolicited advice.

7. You’re Always a Leader

Have you been a leader since childhood? You would never dream of following someone else’s lead as you always have a clear-cut path to victory. While being a leader is an integral part of society, you need to learn when to step back and let someone else be in charge.

Do you often seem to take over a group of people no matter what the situation? You may even step in and try to control things over someone else that has already been designated as in charge.

Your assertive nature is good for leadership, but you can’t always be the leader. Learn when to follow sometimes too.

8. Your Passion and Opinions Are Often Misunderstood

Do you often feel like people misunderstand your motives or passions?

Let’s look at a real-world example of this.

Imagine this. You are a manager at your workplace and developed a strict policy about not allowing people to take time off, other than for vacation or illness. You cannot fathom workers who want to take their pets to the vet or want bereavement time for a loss is not acceptable.

To others, it may come across that you only care about work and the bottom line rather than your employees. Others view animals as members of the family. The loss of a dog or cat is a painful ordeal. Sadly, what many people don’t know is that you once loved pets. You just got your heart broken when your dog of 15 years died. You vowed you would never have another pet again.

While you’re passionate about the acceptable reasons people call off, you must allow a little leniency for individuality. You must remember that you can have an iron fist as a ruler, but you must still have a big heart.

9. Success is Not an Option

You decide that you want to do something, and you won’t stop until your dream comes to fruition. In your world, success is not an option but a destination. There’s nothing wrong with being goal-driven, and it’s easy to pour yourself 100 percent into your endeavors.

What’s not okay is to step on everyone else on the way to your goal. You can’t use people, play dirty, and even resort to blackmail tactics to get what you want. Sometimes people want something so bad because they cannot have it.

However, once they get the item they longed for, they realize they didn’t want it anyway. How many times has that happened to you with unrequited love? You pine after a man or woman so much that you can hardly sleep or eat.

You may go months or even years in the pursuit of this particular person. You’ve played things up in your mind to the point where you will die if you don’t have them for your own. Then, once you get them, you realize it wasn’t all that you made it up to be in your mind.

Be careful of what you consider a success in your life. Watch the people you must step on to reach your goal.

10. Your Confidence Intimidates Others

Do you find yourself intimidating? Have you ever heard someone has an “icy beauty” but is unapproachable? While the world acknowledges that this person is beautiful, they also want to point out that they are cold as ice on the inside.

Do you want to be so intimidating? True, people don’t climb their way to the top of the corporate ladder by being nice, but you should make friends on your way up and not enemies. Being assertive and self-confident is essential, but you don’t want others to think you’re a bully.

11. You Ask More Questions Than a Reporter

Assertive people often tend to be a bit nosy. Do you find yourself always asking tons of questions? Inquiring minds want to know, but what are you doing with the information that you’ve learned?

Many leaders know that one day they will need the information they have learned to benefit them. So if every conversation you engage in goes filed for later use, you may be too forceful in life. It’s okay to have everyday conversations for no reason but to engage with others.

12. Assertive People Take No Crap, and Everyone Knows It

People wouldn’t dare cross you because they know that you won’t put up with it. They fear what you might do in return. It’s okay for people to have a bit of respect for you that you won’t put up with their garbage, but they shouldn’t fear for their job or life if they are at odds with you.

Final Thoughts on Being Overly Assertive

There are all kinds of people in this world, and variety is the spice of life. However, there are strong personalities, and you or someone you love might be one of them. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a strong character and to be a commanding presence.

What’s not okay is resorting to name-calling, blackmailing, or methods of violence to get what you want. It would help if you never used someone else as part of your master plan to get where you want to be in life. Are you too assertive, or do you have just enough grit to get you where you want to go?

Elon Musk Provides Broadband Internet Access to Native American Tribe

October 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Across the United States, there is a large gap in the availability of reliable internet services. The COVID pandemic only exacerbated this problem, as schools and jobs suddenly relied heavily upon computers and internet service. The urgent need to connect families in most rural areas became apparent. Perhaps the best solution to accommodate all these needs is satellite broadband.

Before the COVID shutdown, Elon Musk, a well-known entrepreneur and CEO of Telsa, planned to build a satellite broadband service called Starlink. His space transportation service company, SpaceX, would manufacture an entire constellation of these Starlink satellites. These satellites will launch into Earth’s low orbit to provide broadband internet services, like the ones from the business phone and broadband deals, in many of these hard to reach areas of the United States. Those who would like to boost their online privacy when connected to their phone’s internet should buy Mobile proxies.

Recently, Musk announced the launch of 60 new Starlink satellites. He announced on October 6, 2020, in the following Tweet:

“Once these satellites reach their target position, we will be able to roll out a fairly wide public beta in (the) northern US & hopefully southern Canada.” he wrote on Twitter. “Other countries to follow as soon as we receive regulatory approval.”

What is SpaceX?

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation or SpaceX is a privately funded rocket company created by Musk. The company’s goal is to create a reusable rocket and launch system that lowers the cost of space flight for transportation services in the future. SpaceX made history by launching a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, and in 2020 the Dragon spacecraft, a liquid propellant rocket, became the first commercial spacecraft when it delivered a load of cargo to the International Space Station.

In February 2018, SpaceX made history again when it sent a Tesla electric sports car operated by a mannequin named Starman dressed in a spacesuit sitting in the driver’s seat. The Roadster sports car with Starman at the helm sat upon the Falcon Heavy rocket. The goal was to have the roadster orbit around the sun. Not only was the launch successful, but the roadster is still orbiting the sun as if it was a planet. Starman and his electric sports car have been in space for over 600 days and will continue its orbit for hundreds of years.

Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, leads America back into the stars.

What is a satellite broadband internet service?

Satellite internet service isn’t a new concept. It’s been around for decades. Broadband internet delivers into a location through a satellite. You may remember the satellite television that was so popular in the 90s. Satellite companies sent an internet connection to the satellite dish in your yard at high speeds so you could watch a variety of tv shows. Today’s broadband speeds are even faster. As of 2020, two major companies provide satellite broadband services. You’ve used one broadband service connection through a company called Viasat if you ever used the WiFi on an airplane or a cruise ship.

SpaceX is using low-Earth orbit constellations like Starlink because they’re closer to the ground. Thus, the information doesn’t travel as far, causing less lag time in the internet service.

Why is Starlink better than traditional satellite internet?

Starlink goes beyond all other traditional satellite internet services. SpaceX says that Starlink satellites will provide services 10 to 40 times faster than traditional internet services. Plus, Starlink will be more affordable than other services and provide fewer signal dropouts than traditional internet services. SpaceX says that the installation of Starlink internet will be less difficult than regular satellite services of old. So, instead of a large satellite dish sitting in your yard or on top of your house, the Starlink’s dish is much smaller, 20 inches in diameter. Buyers should be able to install the dish themselves.

What does the launch of Starlink satellites mean?

Starlink could be the cutting edge technology we need to provide internet to thousands of people. “The COVID-19 crisis has significantly accelerated attention to and investment in satellite technology,” says Babak Beheshti, a professor at the New York Institute of Technology and Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences. “Why? Because schools, local governments, and others suddenly needed to have broadband internet access in areas where there was really no infrastructure in place.”

Musk is determined to make the Starlink satellite broad services available to those with poor internet services.

Native American Tribe first to receive Starlink

The Hoh Tribe has lived on the Pacific coast of the Olympic Peninsula area of Washington state for decades. The tribe had been experiencing extremely slow internet and poor connection for many years. As a result, the Washington State Commerce Department, knowing their needs, arranged for the tribal to be introduced to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite team, who connected them to Starlink satellite service. Using the Starlink service has completely changed the way the tribe uses the internet.

Overnight, the tribe went from little to no connectivity to high-speed internet. Starlink is opening the door for this tribe to have access to remote learning and better healthcare. This grateful community is excited to be some of the first recipients of SpaceX’s new space-based internet service.

The Hoh Tribe acknowledged their appreciation to Musk and SpaceX by tweeting the following statement on October 7, 2020:

“What a difference high-speed internet can make! Our children can participate in remote learning, residents can access. We felt like we’d been paddling up-river with a spoon on this. Starlink made it happen overnight.”

In the not too far off future, SpaceX hopes to provide Starlink satellite-based internet services to other communities who struggle to get internet services.

The Starlink constellation keeps growing.

Musk says that currently, there are 770 Starlink satellites in orbit. SpaceX hopes to launch another 2,000 to add to the Starlink constellation by the end of 2021. Long term, SpaceX plans to launch up to 12,000 satellites all approved by Congress. Moreover, because the company does things a big way, they applied to Congress to launch another 30,000 satellites in 2019.

When is blast off?

It’s only a matter of time before Starlink’s broadband internet service is launched. SpaceX says the launch of its new broadband network in North America is just around the corner with greater capacity to reach people at faster speeds with the internet than ever before.

SpaceX’s ultimate goal is to provide broadband internet that’s reliable, inexpensive, and easily available. In the United States, beta testing is beginning in various parts of the country that have poor internet service. In September, people began signing up to be participants in the beta tests. This groundbreaking service will no doubt launch major competition between other internet providers.

Final thoughts on the delivery of broadband services to rural communities

SpaceX’s Starlink has dreams of dominating the satellite broadband internet industry. They boast that their internet service will outperform all the other satellite companies. Starlink will cost less, have higher speeds, and be more reliable. Such goals may seem unrealistic. But with a growing need for more reliable internet for online learning and remote jobs during the pandemic, many people hope they accomplish their goals. The urgent need to get people broadband service reinforces the idea that SpaceX and Musk may indeed be on to something that will change how we and the entire world use the internet.

France Joins Other EU Countries in Banning Circus Animals

October 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

In September of 2020, France gave an official nod to ban circus animals. This comes on the heels of a growing number of other European Union (EU) countries banning the use of wild animals in traveling circuses. It’s a historic move for France.

Over the next few years, elephants, bears, lions, and other wild animals will no longer serve as entertainment attractions within the country.

“Our attitude to wild animals has changed,” said France’s Ecology Minister, Barbara Pompili, during a press conference where the ban was announced. ‘It is time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings no longer translates into situations where their captivity is favored over their welfare.”

When will these changes occur?

France gives no exact timeline for how or when these changes will occur, but it’s thought it could take years for all animals to be removed from all the countries’ traveling circuses. The ecology minister also banned breeding and raising of mink for fur. She also announced that an immediate change would occur in the marine parks. They are now forbidden to breed or hold captive dolphins or orcas. There is talk of creating a sanctuary for retired circus animals being held in captivity since they can’t return to the wild. These restrictions do not apply to zoos since they are permanent attractions.

What was the first country to ban circus animals?

In 2009, Bolivia banned the use of wild and domesticated animals for traveling circuses. Bolivia’s congress passed the 4040 Law of Circuses without Animals bill stating, “the use of animals in circuses constitutes up an act of cruelty.” Bolivia distinguished itself as the first country to ban circus animal use. The nation led the way for other countries to follow suit in the banning of animals in circuses.

Countries against the use of circus animals

Today, there is a growing long list of other countries that have banned or restricted animals’ use in the circus. This listing include the following nations:

Austria
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
El Salvador
England
Estonia
Finland
Greece
Guatemala
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Luxenberg
Latvia
Lebanon
Macedonia
Malta
Mexico
The Netherlands
Norway
Paraguay
Peru
Romania
Scotland
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Taiwan
Ukraine
Wales

These countries took seriously the need to protect animals from the cruelty of circus life.

United States’ ban on circus animals

In the United States, the decades-long controversy over wild animals’ circus use subsided in 2016 when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants performed for the last time. Studies show that controversy about the welfare of animals being used by humans is nothing new. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organization founded in 1980. They fought the use of animals in research laboratories and businesses like fishing. Animal use for human entertainment is changing. Critics suggest where in the past, animals performing in the circus accepted by the public. Today circus animal performances are viewed as inhumane and cruel by the general population.

Life for animals in the circus

Animals in their natural habitat enjoy walking, swimming, and exploring. In contrast, circus animals lead lives confined in cages or trailers while being transported across thousands of miles. From city to city, the animals endured long hours without exercise, adequate water, food, or preventative care. They have little to no social interactions with their own kind, leading them to boredom and lack of mental stimulation. It forced them to perform tricks under stressful conditions or punishment. Chained to tents or held in small holding areas added to the animal’s daily cruel environment. Unusual behaviors were common among the animals, such as pacing, chewing their legs, repetitive head-shaking, and agitation. The cruelty the animals experienced often led to an early death.

Those against animal use in circuses suggest these five major reasons for banning the practice:

1 – These creatures spend far too much time caged

Some activists suggest that these creatures spend as much as 96% of their lives in cages. Sometimes caged up to 26 hours, they force these animals to endure almost their entire life alone behind bars.

2 – Weaned from their mothers too early

Keepers separate new babies from their mothers almost immediately after birth. In their natural habitat, elephants, in particular, are very social–they thrive in packs. But in the circus, keepers force them to live in isolation, removed from their mother far too early. The babies become stressed, depressed, and anxious.

Among all species, the mothers also suffer from cruel mental torture. These mother animals can become agitated from wanting to find their baby. This often leads to punishment and abuse.

3 – Physical punishment by unkind handlers

Investigations into circus animal training have revealed physical abuse, such as the use of tight collars, whips, electric prods, and bullhooks. Often, the circus animals have deformities of their legs, joints, ord backs from the repeated beatings.

4 – They develop physical disabilities as a result of neglect and cruelty

Many circus animals have physical disabilities because of severe physical punishment, poor nutrition, and dehydration. Captive wild animals, in general, live shorter lives, mental problems, and long-term physical pain.

5 – Nutrition and water deprivation

The training of circus animals sometimes involves food and water deprivation. Cruel trainers punished the performers by not giving them food or water because they didn’t perform well in the show. Because it took so long to feed all the animals, the animals endured dehydration and near starvation.

Retired elephants find a new home.

In her announcement, France’s ecology minister also emphasized that they cannot simply release these magnificent creatures into the wild. Since the circus held them in captivity for such a long time, the animals can’t function in the wild. They must find a safe sanctuary where they can live in natural surroundings while receiving much-needed protection.

One circus animal relocation success story involves moving 35 retired Asian elephants to a new spacious new home in central Florida. These 35 elephants, formerly used in performances by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, got sold to White Oak Conservation five years ago when the circus’s phased out animals in their shows. The elephants’ 2,500 acre home is still under construction, hoping to welcome the new residents next year. The former circus animals will enjoy a landscape of wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands. There are eleven waterholes for drinking and bathing.

Dan Ashe, the President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), made the following statement:

“AZA strongly supports White Oak Conservation’s efforts on behalf of elephants. By providing these elephants the space to explore, to interact with one another, and to engage in natural behaviors, they are being given a key element in animal welfare and wellness — choice.”

Final thoughts on discontinuing the use of circus animals

France’s decision to ban circus animals puts them in line with other European countries and other countries around the world. Animals used for entertaining were popular at one time, but today people realize it’s a form of cruelty. Aware that this new ban adds a burden for circuses, France’s commitment extends beyond the circus animals. “We’re asking the circuses to reinvent themselves, this is going to be a period when they will need support, and the state is going to be at their side,” said Pompili. That transition will spread over several years because it will change the lives of many people and creatures.

Plastic Straws and Stirrers Now Banned in UK (Will the USA Follow?)

October 20, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

A law prohibiting single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds went into effect earlier this month in the UK. The legislation makes it illegal for businesses to sell or distribute these plastic items. April was the original deadline for the ban to go into effect. However, the government postponed it due to the pandemic. Due to disruptions in the supply chain, it would’ve caused even more upheaval to enact the ban at the height of the virus.

In almost all circumstances, businesses are now prohibited from using or selling the single-use plastics listed above. However, exceptions exist to allow hospitals, bars, and restaurants to provide plastic straws to disabled people or those with certain medical conditions.

Even though the legislation had been postponed, Environment Secretary George Eustice says the government is “firmly committed to tackling” the plastic pollution issue. He says the ban on single-use plastics marks a big first step in the battle against plastics in the environment. Protecting the oceans and planet for future generations begins with eliminating harmful waste items from distribution, including single-use plastics.

Other environmentally-friendly policies that started in the UK

He goes on to say that the UK leads the way in the global fight against plastic pollution. In fact, beginning in 2015, the government enforced a policy that would allow supermarkets to charge for single-use plastic bags. They will double in price from five-pence to ten starting next spring.

So far, Eustice says that sales of plastic bags in the main supermarkets have decreased by 95% due to the policy. They estimate that nine billion bags have been taken out of circulation.

In addition to the ban on single-use plastics and the decision to charge people for bags, microbeads have been banned as well. Two years ago, the government prohibited the sale of all products containing microbeads, which are tiny pieces of plastic. You can often find them in cosmetics and personal care products such as soaps, face washes, and toothpaste. Because they don’t dissolve in water, they make great exfoliants and can effectively scrub away dirt or oils built up on the skin. However, due to their durability, they wreak havoc on the environment and threaten wildlife.

“The effect is similar to grinding up plastic water bottles, other products of concern to environmentalists, and pumping them into oceans and lakes,” The New York Times wrote.

What makes microbeads so harmful?

Microbeads measure less than 1 millimeter in length. The tiny size makes it easy for them to pass through filtration systems at water treatment plants. This means trillions of microbeads seep into waterways, harming marine life and humans who drink the water. In the U.S., 808 trillion microbeads get washed down the drain each day, according to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology by the American Chemical Society.

Experts estimate that around 8 trillion microbeads enter directly into rivers and lakes at the wastewater treatment plant. That equates to covering 300 tennis courts every day with microbeads and then dumping the waste into waterways. The other 800 trillion beads end up in sludge, which later becomes a part of fertilizers used on grass and soil. Those microbeads may enter into water sources via runoff.

Just one shower can result in 100,000 microbeads being released into the ocean, British MPs said. The US passed a law banning plastic microbeads in soap, toothpaste, and body washes beginning in 2015.

Plastic bottle deposit program

The UK government also plans on tackling the single-use water bottle pollution problem. They want to introduce a deposit return scheme to reduce the number of bottles in circulation and increase recycling rates. In the UK alone, consumers buy around 13 billion plastic drink bottles per year. More than three billion get incinerated, sent to landfills, or end up polluting the environment.

To deal with this problem, the government wants to try a program that would pay people for returning their bottles. They would use ‘reverse vending machines’ where consumers insert a can or bottle, and the machine returns the money. Once the bottle gets returned, then businesses make sure they get recycled. In Germany, this has led to a 97% recycling rate, and Denmark and Sweden have similar programs as well.

How does the UK program work?

In those countries, consumers pay an up-front deposit when they purchase a drink, ranging from 8-pence in Sweden to a hefty 22-pence in Germany. They get the money back when they return their drink; the UK government wants to enforce a similar program. Although, they discussed doing away with the deposit and just giving out cash rewards for returning bottles.

It seems that Europe leads the way when it comes to enforcing environmentally friendly policies. In the UK, the government sees the most recent ban as another important step toward a cleaner planet. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said the UK went through around 5 billion straws, 316 million plastic stirrers, and 1.8 billion cotton buds yearly.

While the government sees the ban as a huge success, activists like John Read, founder of Clean Up Britain, say much more needs to get done. He says the government deserves credit for getting people to clean up their act. But he also notes that people will have to change their behavior, ultimately.

He says a national behavioral change campaign needs to really question their actions and how they coexist with the environment. Finally, he goes on to say that people need to understand that they pollute the environment every time they buy single-use plastics. Since we can never truly throw things “away,” we should ultimately consume less or choose more environmentally friendly products.

A new challenge emerges.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has shed light on another problem: disposable PPE. All around the world, people have been taking pictures of masks that end up in waterways or on city streets. In the UK, the RSPCA’s Head of Wildlife Adam Grogan says they’ve been getting calls about animals getting caught up in masks.

“We are seeing an increase in numbers of animals getting caught up in things like masks… they’ve got their legs or other parts of their bodies entangled in things like the elastic bands that go over the ears.”

He says that the ban on single-use plastics should bring attention to the problem of disposable PPE in light of the pandemic. Grogan says that we should try to use washable masks when possible, as this will greatly cut down on PPE pollution.

Plastic bans–coming to the USA?

While the plastic pollution problem may take decades to solve, it’s promising that many countries have started to take action. These policies will help people become more aware of their consumption habits and perhaps cause them to question their lifestyles. Banning straws, cotton buds, and stirrers in the UK will eliminate trillions of unnecessary plastics from waterways and streets.

In the U.S., some places have already banned plastic straws, including the following:

California
Seattle, WA and Edmonds, WA
Washington, D.C.
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Miami Beach, FL and Fort Myers, FL
New York City and Hawaii have pending straw ban legislation

Plastic straw alternative products:

However, in a world where many people enjoy eating out and getting take-out beverages, we need to think about alternatives. According to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a global alliance of more than 1,200 organizations, here are some alternatives to plastic straws:

glass straws
metal straws
collapsable plastic-free straws
bamboo straws
sustainable disposable straws (made of paper, grass, seaweed, etc.)
heritage grain straws
pasta straws (who knew you could make straws this way?!)

If you click the link above, you can get some more ideas. But it’s good to know that so many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic exist. A little human creativity and ingenuity can go a long way in eliminating waste on our planet. Everything we do can either help or harm our environment; we just have to remember our connection to the bigger picture.

Much of the plastic we use ends up as waste in landfills, the ocean, and in the stomachs of wildlife. It also ends up inside of us, from the food and drinks we consume daily. If we want a cleaner future, we must act now and make more sustainable choices for ourselves and future generations.

Final thoughts on the plastic straw and stirrer ban in the UK

The UK government recently enforced a ban on plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds. This will eliminate trillions of plastic items from the environment and serves as an important step in creating a better future. The UK also banned selling products containing microbeads a couple of years ago and plans to create a deposit return scheme for water bottles.

Hopefully, the U.S. will follow suit on the plastic straw ban. So far, California and several cities across the U.S. already ban plastic straws. While straws make up only a small portion of plastic pollution, banning them will help us transition to a more eco-friendly world.

15 Quotes on Motivation to Remember When the Going Gets Tough

October 20, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Life gets tough sometimes, but you can’t give up when it does. These quotes on motivation are ones you should remember when things get hard. They will remind you of why you need to keep moving forward and can give you the motivation to do it.

Success can happen at any time, and the only thing that will stop you is giving up. Stay motivated and find a way through all of your troubles. Then, you’ll be able to look back and be proud of how far you have come.

These quotes on motivation are from those who have reached great success themselves. They offer their insight and experiences into staying motivated during the tough times. This can help you get through tough times, too.

Fifteen Useful Quotes on Motivation

We all face tough times. When the road ahead looks too long to keep driving it, read these quotes on motivation.

1. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

Life gets tough no matter how much we prepare. Unexpected obstacles and hardships happen all the time, but you can always get through them.

If things don’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean you have failed. As long as you get up and try again, you are still on the right path. This is where your greatest glory lies; in all the times you kept trying and pushed through.

2. “Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill

Each time your life gets tough, remember that you will receive an equal amount of good in return. Oftentimes, the benefits you get in return are even greater than the hardships you went through. You may not see it now, but things will work out.

3. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine

If life was always easy, it would get boring pretty quickly. You wouldn’t be very motivated to learn and grow if everything was quickly achieved.

While challenges are hard and often unpleasant, they make life worthwhile. You wouldn’t realize how great the good times are if you never experienced tough times. Plus, you wouldn’t ever realize what you are capable of if you never faced challenges.

4. “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” – David Brinkley

There will always be people who try to bring you down. Whether by words or other actions, they may not want to see you succeed. When this happens, remember that they can’t hinder your progress unless you let them.

Use their words and actions in a way that benefits you. When their words and actions make you feel bad, put all of your energy into moving toward your goal. Then, you’ll be letting that negative energy out but doing so in a way that benefits you.

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

You never know how close you are to success, so never give up. Even when it seems hopeless and like you are making no progress, keep trying.

Most successful people have felt the same way you are right now but they kept working toward the goal anyway. Remember that the next time you feel like giving up.

6. “You gain strength, courage and, confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

When life gets tough, it doesn’t have to be a completely bad situation. Remember that you learn from all of these situations. You grow and develop strength, courage, and confidence, as Roosevelt explains.

Each time you face a new hardship, you are being prepared for the next one to come. As you become stronger, you’ll be able to take on many things you thought you’d never be able to.

7. “The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is opportunity for growth.” – Unknown

Hardships and obstacles are the situations that you grow the most in. As stated before, you will become stronger and better able to handle the tough times. Don’t let them keep you down, you have to keep moving forward.

8. “I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed: and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I fail and keep trying.” – Tom Hopkins

Failure happens to everyone, even the most successful people. This isn’t what determines their success, however. What determines their success is the number of times they kept trying until they achieved something great.

Success isn’t easy and you have to keep fighting for it. Giving up isn’t an option, and no one will judge you for failure. Instead, they will judge you for the success you achieve once you’ve reached the goal.

9. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou

You wouldn’t be able to learn or grow if you never experienced new situations. If you didn’t have to figure things out and make new plans, you’d never use your mind any differently, either. Use the tough times to learn who you are and what you are capable of.

10. “You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.” – Mary Tyler Moore

If you never experience new situations and tough times, you’d never know how to be brave. When bad things never happen, you aren’t able to develop in that way, as Moore explains. To be brave, you have to fight through tough times and learn how to overcome them.

11. “Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” – Earl Nightingale

Just because something will take a while to achieve doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. In five years, think of where you will be in life and what you will be doing.

That time will pass no matter how you spend it, so you might as well work toward your goals. Be the person who looks back all those years later and is proud of themselves for achieving so much.

12. “There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is merely the comparison of one state to the other. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss.” – Alexandre Dumas

If there was no comparison between happiness or unhappiness, you wouldn’t ever know what true happiness was like. You have to experience the hard times to understand the good times. Think of the tough times as situations that will improve the good times.

13. “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” – Randy Pausch

Remember this quote when you encounter an obstacle because the hardships are there for a reason. They are there to stop those who don’t want to reach the goal badly enough.

This is your chance to show the world just how much you want to achieve. If you can stick it out and get through the tough times, you’ll reach your goal and feel success. Keep going and create a new plan to get around the obstacles.

14. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” – John Quincy Adams

If you can be patient and keep pushing through the hard times, they’ll seem to disappear. You won’t know exactly when the tough times are going to end, but they will. Remember that as you push through so that you aren’t tempted to give up.

15. “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” – Thomas Edison

There is always a way to get through the tough times. If you think you have tried everything, you have to keep thinking and trying to figure it out. There is always a way through, you just have to keep trying.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Motivation to Remember When the Going Gets Tough

These quotes on motivation will help you get through the tough times. Remember that you have to keep trying because success can happen at any moment. The only time you won’t reach your goals is if you give up.

Keep pushing through and looking for other ways to achieve your goals. There is always a way, you just have to find it. Think of these quotes on motivation the next time you’re in a tough situation and you’ll be able to persevere.

15 Lovely Quotes About Parenthood Never to Forget

October 19, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Parenthood is an amazing part of life, and these lovely quotes about parenthood help affirm that. While no one is ever fully ready to be a parent, it is one of life’s greatest experiences. You will find yourself while learning to raise your child.

These lovely quotes about parenthood will help you remember that parenthood is an amazing opportunity. Being a parent is a blessing, and if you can always remember that, you’ll bask in it. This isn’t to downplay the hard times, however, it’s simply to remind you of the good parts.

While parenthood is amazing, it is still hard sometimes. During the hard moments, it can be harder to remember all the great parts of it. That’s where these lovely quotes will help because they’ll remind you of how special parenting is.

Fifteen Lovely Quotes About Parenthood

Read these lovely quotes to remind you of how precious is the gift of children.

1. “No one is ever quite ready; everyone is always caught off guard. Parenthood chooses you. And you open your eyes, look at what you’ve got, say “Oh, my gosh,” and recognize that of all the balls there ever were, this is the one you should not drop. It’s not a question of choice.” – Marisa de Los Santos

Parenthood isn’t something you can ever be ready for. Unless you’re already a parent, you will never know what to expect, no matter how much you prepare. Parenthood can be planned or it can be unexpected, and either way, you won’t be fully ready.

You don’t have to be reminded that it is one of the only things in life that you can’t mess up. There is no redo when you mess parenting up, so you have to work hard to do it right. Even so, it is the most beautiful and amazing experience. Parenthood is hard, but it’s worth every difficult moment.

2. “Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word, every movement, and action affects. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than a parent.” – Bob Keeshan

No matter what you do or say, your child is watching and learning from you, which is quite flattering. Never forget this because you want them to grow up and be the best they can be. So, be conscious of the way you behave so that your children have the best possible role model.

3. “I don’t remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.” – Anne Lamott

As Lamott reiterates, you learn about parts of your heart that are only available when you have a child. The love you will have for them is incomparable to anything else and will bring you more joy.

4. “A mother is a person who is seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” – Tenneva Jordan

As a parent, you will make sacrifices such as this one. You won’t be upset about it, you’ll simply be happy that everyone else has pie. These parental sacrifices tend to make you happier because, in return for your sacrifice, your children will be happy. The lovely quote reminds us that we must be selfless in our parenting.

5. “Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” – Matthew Jacobson

Parents tend to believe their children can do anything, and they are correct. If a child has a parent who believes in them, then they will go on to be successful.

6. “Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry.”- Alvin Price

As a parent, it is your job to raise your child’s self-esteem. You are capable of raising their self-esteem so much that anything the rest of the world says won’t affect it. Along the way, you will feel happier as you see your child developing in this way.

7. “In the external scheme of things, shining moments are as brief as the twinkling of an eye, yet such twinklings are what eternity is made of — moments when we human beings can say, ‘I love you,’ ‘I’m proud of you,’ ‘I forgive you,’ ‘I’m grateful for you.’ That’s what eternity is made of: invisible imperishable good stuff.” – Fred Rogers

As a parent, you’ll experience many of these shining moments that Rogers refers to. All the small things are what will make your parenting journey the best one possible. It’ll bring good feelings to both you and your child.

8. “The most beautiful thing in the world is to see your children smiling and knowing that you’re the reason behind their smile.” – Unknown

When you do something that makes your child smile, it is an indescribable feeling. This is the ultimate happiness for a parent. It makes all the hard times well worth it, and it’ll awaken your spirit.

9. “Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child’s life and it’s like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities.” – Gary Smalley

When you use affirming words with your child, they will bask in it. It will help them see their potential. Plus, it will make them confident enough to try new things and pay attention to new opportunities.

10. “When you look at your life, the greatest happiness is family happiness.”- Joyce Brothers

Out of all the things in your life that make you happy, your family is the greatest of all. They are there for each moment and you will make your best memories with them.

11. “We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.” – Henry Ward Beecher

It’s hard to understand how much your parents loved you. The only time you will truly realize it is when you have children of your own.

While you are loving your children, remember how much your parents loved you. This is the type of love only parents will understand and feel.

12. “The affection of parents makes infants feel safe in this dangerous world and gives them boldness in experimentation and in exploration of their environments.” – Bertrand Russell

A parent is a child’s comfort, especially for infants. They trust you more than anyone else in the world, and you give them the basis for exploration. When they feel safe, they’ll learn more as they explore and experiment.

13. “For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.” – Michelle Obama

Becoming a parent is life-changing, but that change is a benefit in all aspects of your life. You will become better at all things you do because you have a child who is watching. Let them see you work hard and achieve your goals. Then, they’ll know how to do it themselves when the time is right.

14. “The depth of the love of parents for their children cannot be measured. It is like no other relationship. It exceeds concern for life itself. The love of a parent for a child is continuous and transcends heartbreak and disappointment.” – James E. Faust

As stated before, the love a parent feels for their child is indescribable. It can’t be measured because there is no limit to it. Even when your child disappoints you, you will still love them through it all.

15. “A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times divided.” – Robert Breault

Parents with multiple children sometimes worry that they won’t have enough love to go around. Once the multiple children are brought into the world, however, parents see that this isn’t the case.

Since there is no limit to a parent’s love, there is enough love to go around no matter how many children they are. Parents can love all children without taking love away from any of the other children. It’s an amazing and miraculous concept, but it has been repeatedly proven.

Final Thoughts on Lovely Quotes About Parenthood Never to Forget

After reading these lovely quotes about parenting, you are probably feeling lucky. Parenting is special and amazing, even during the hardest moments.

You are so special to your children, and you are their safe space. This is an amazing feeling because it’s an honor you won’t get from anyone else in life. Knowing that they rely on you, watch you, and go to you for comfort is a blessing.

Always remember that parenthood is a unique opportunity and a blessing that can’t be replaced. You’ll discover a love you never knew you could have and it can make you happier than you ever thought possible. Remember these lovely quotes about parenthood and you’ll always remember how blessed you are.

6 Easy Ways To Increase Your Resilience

October 19, 2020 by Power of Positivity

With all of the difficulties that life can bring, one must learn to be strong. But strength doesn’t come naturally to most people. It’s something that must be worked on and built over time. Still, learning to build up that mental strength is no simple feat. It can feel like an uphill battle to improving that fortitude. To help you out, here are 6 easy ways to increase your resilience.

1. Get Some Emotional Space

When you’re close to a situation, it can be difficult to gain insight from it in a wholly rational manner. By nature, you can’t be unbiased towards your own situation, after all! As such, what you need to do is try to separate yourself from things that test you.

This doesn’t mean to avoid hardship, of course. Instead, when confronted with hardship, it means to step back from it and put yourself in the position of an observer. If you were on the outside looking in, how would this look to you? Studies have shown that distancing yourself emotionally from a situation makes things less intense, allowing for more positive methods of self-reflection.

You can apply a similar concept to memories that haunt you. When these memories crop up, watch them as if you are watching a movie. Separate yourself from the person in your memories. It’s not even a stretch to do, since you have likely learned, grown, and changed since that moment in time.

When performing this exercise of self-separation, you can help the process by asking yourself questions such as:

Would an outsider looking in be able to see why this situation is negative for you?
Would an outsider looking in be able to see the points of view of the others involved in this scenario?
Could an outsider interpret a situation differently to you, or even be on your side at all?
What would an outsider’s fair evaluation of what they witness be?

2. Break The Catastrophizing Cycle

Catastrophizing refers to the act of imagining all the worst-case scenarios instead of the more reasonable ones. For example:

When you hear about a storm hitting your city, you immediately fear that your home will be destroyed.
If you feel ill, you worry about having a life-threatening disease.
When you lose a job or fail a pitch meeting, you feel your career is permanently over.
If your partner breaks up with you, you think you’ll never find love and that you’ll die alone.
When an electrical appliance breaks down, you worry that it’s going to explode.

Those examples may have been somewhat extreme, but catastrophizing can also involve more minor negative thoughts. Regardless of the severity, this kind of thinking is linked to decreased positive thinking and symptoms of depression, especially in individuals who are already in somewhat difficult circumstances.

It is somewhat important to be aware of multiple possibilities, including the bad ones, so that you can prepare for different outcomes. You certainly shouldn’t only ever expert the best, as that means you won’t be ready for the many times when the best outcome isn’t the one you’ll get.

But going too extreme into the negative territory is unrealistic and unnecessary, and you can’t be resilient while you’re fretting over those thoughts. Learning to control that negativity is incredibly powerful!

3. Learn To Forgive

Over the course of your life, many people will do you wrong. If you spend your time hating everyone who does something bad to you, you’re going to wind up being held back. In many cases, the act of bearing grudges and refusing to forgive can harm your mental and physical health, according to research.

Learning to forgive can be a complicated process, but it’s compelling to take control of your emotions and life in this way. Here are steps you will take in your journey towards forgiving others.

· Step 1

Acknowledge what happened and the pain that it caused, and recognize how it continues to affect your life till this day.

· Step 2

Commit to forgiveness. Forgiving someone is not something you can be wishy-washy over. You must decide to release ill will and resentment at the moment and commit to that.

· Step 3

Understand what forgiveness requires. You don’t need to let someone get away with their wrongs, speak to them, or make nice with them to forgive, so if that isn’t necessary, focus on forgiveness from a distance.

· Step 4

Find the opportunity for growth. This past pain has changed you. How has it made you better? How can it keep making you better?

Of course, forgiveness isn’t necessary for all circumstances. You may fully forgive a small number of people who have harmed you in excruciating and significant ways, and that’s okay. The recovery process from trauma and pain in those extreme situations can sometimes benefit from relieving yourself of the need to forgive.

But learning where a lack of forgiveness is holding you back is important. In almost all cases, forgiveness is going to have a more positive outcome for you. Learn to let go of grudges and move on with your life. You deserve better than to be held back by the pain of your past.

4. Have Lots Of Positive Thinking

Positive emotions and thoughts are crucial in becoming a resilient person. Life will throw all sorts of curveballs at you, and if you’re in short supply of anything happy or positive, you could wind up in trouble as you struggle to stay afloat.

This is based on a psychological concept called the broaden-and-build theory. This theory refers to positive emotions as adaptations that evolve over time to serve as mental and even physical resources for the body. The goal in life, then, is to gain more and more positivity to get rid of old negativity and become stronger through those endeavors.

There are other benefits to learning to increase your bandwidth of positivity, though. Longevity, good physical health, and more fulfilling life outcomes are associated with a higher level of positive emotions. This means that these good thoughts don’t just help you get stronger. They also help your entire life improve!

Sure, it’s difficult to stay positive in bad or disappointing times. But that’s a skill that you can sharpen and improve over time, so get started right away!

5. Practice Mindfulness to Increase Resilience

Mindfulness has become increasingly popular in the world of mental health over the last several years. Whether done in the form of meditation, in conjunction with a form of exercise, or brief few-minute bursts throughout the day, there’s no denying how commonly it’s spoken about and performed.

The reason mindfulness is such a hot topic is that it works. It is the act of focusing on the present and living in the moment, becoming aware of yourself, and simply existing. When mastered, it’s a potent tool for positive thinking, mental strength, and overall happiness. Don’t believe how effective it is?

Here are some studies that prove it!

“Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. A meta-analysis” in Journal of Psychosomatic Research (2004). This research paper roundly showed the positive benefits gained from mindfulness treatment across multiple groups of participants with different health statuses and conditions.
“Mechanisms of mindfulness: emotion regulation following a focused breathing induction” in Behaviour Research and Therapy (2006). This interesting study showed that 15-minute breathing induction exercises in mindfulness would allow for decreased severity in emotional responses to a variety of different images.
“Mindfulness-based stress reduction: a literature review and clinician’s guide” in Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (2008). This study indicated that mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment provides therapeutic qualities to healthcare providers and helps those with stress, anxiety, and chronic illness to manage their daily lives. It also found that all effects were positive, with no bad side effects to the treatment.
“Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program” in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine (2008). Performance of mindfulness practices, especially in conjunction with other calming or relaxing mindfulness-enhancing activities, leads to improvements in psychological wellbeing. The study also found that it reduces symptoms of mental and physical illness and brings down perceived stress levels.

There are plenty of guides online for how to perform acts of mindfulness. If you have a therapist, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or similar medical professional, you can also ask them for tips.

6. Remember, This Too Shall Pass

Resilience isn’t exactly easy to build. It takes a lot of time and effort to learn to be strong in all situations, and even then, you’ll have your moments of weakness because you’re still human.

The best way to begin building resilience is to apply strength in your everyday life. And sometimes, strength lies in just managing to get through the day, even when it’s difficult. The common phrase “this too shall pass” encompasses that message perfectly. Bad things happen, and sometimes your resilience will come not in fighting those things, but in outlasting them.

This is a powerful method of fostering positive thinking and hope. Knowing that a future is waiting ahead of you where this pain will be gone is an incredible way to empower yourself. It can reduce the distress you feel and remind you that even when things feel terrible, the world isn’t ending, and you will push through. Thinking of yourself as a strong warrior who survives all their worst days is a wonderful way to build your resilience.

This isn’t all just fancy talk, either. Research actually considers this method of thinking to be an effective and positive way of regulating emotions and focusing on the silver linings. Thinking about the future and realistically placing yourself in it will help you get through it. Need some help? Ask yourselves questions like:

Where will you be in five years?
What will you be doing in five years?
Will this matter to you anymore in five years?
How will this make you feel in five years?

Final Thoughts On Some Easy Ways To Increase Your Resilience

It is never effortless to increase resilience and strength, but taking simple steps in that direction can be all you need to see long-term improvements. By beginning to work on yourself now, you’ll be naturally improving your strength already! So don’t waste any time in getting started on your journey to better resilience.

Therapists Reveal 8 Ways To Regulate Anger And Solve Problems

October 19, 2020 by Lakeisha Ethans

Anger is a powerful emotion. Sometimes, it can be rather all-consuming and challenging to control. If you’ve ever felt so enraged that you started seeing red, there’s a fair chance that you, in the process of directing that anger at others, said or did hurtful things that you didn’t mean. But that still did not help you solve problems!

There’s no excuse for lashing out in anger, no matter the situation. But even if you bottle up your rage, you might still be handling it in negative ways, like by holding it pent up within you or expressing it in other harmful manners. It’s also not good if that anger stops you from fixing mistakes or solving problems.

That’s where emotional regulation comes into play! It can help prevent the worst effects of an emotional response or even dissipate it entirely, in a healthy way. But what is emotional regulation? Well, it’s what it sounds like – the act of balancing strong emotions to prevent disproportionate reactions. It is meant to bring feelings down to more manageable levels.

So, how can you perform this skill on your robust and blazing anger? How can you find rationality in the heat of the moment? Here’s how therapists reveal 8 simple ways to regulate anger and solve problems.

1. Own The Anger

There’s no point in denying anger when it occurs. While you shouldn’t allow it to make you act out violently or in extremes, there’s nothing wrong with knowing and recognizing the anger and admitting to it.

Communicating your emotions to those around you may be the better option, states licensed clinical psychologist, author, keynote speaker, and professor Andrea Bonior, Ph.D. This preference is because:

To resolve something, you have to face it, and you can’t meet your anger if you don’t admit to yourself that you have it.
Your anger targets may not be aware of how you feel, which may escalate the situation.
It allows you to suggest a possible way to solve the issue or communicate your needs; for example, you could explain a need to cool off, request to change the subject or be guided through the problem.
It reduces your internal conflict.

2. Take The Action You Need To Calm Down and Solve Problems

You’ve admitted that you’re angry – not it’s time to calm down. According to prolific author, licensed clinical social worker, and therapy trainer Robert Taibbi, this is an essential step in emotional regulation.

Do whatever you need to do that helps you calm down. If you need to leave the room for a few minutes, do so. It might be a good idea to get active, as studies indicate that exercise can have a positive effect on anger. Regardless, what you do to bring yourself to reality is up to you. You can:

Take a walk
Listen to some music.
Punch a pillow
Take a shower
Practice deep breathing or mindfulness meditation
Play a video game
Journal

Do note that if you significantly struggle with emotional regulation and can’t quite seem to get a handle on your emotions, you may want to speak to a doctor or relevant mental health professional. Though many people need to learn emotional regulation, severe difficulty in the matter can point to a mental illness such as borderline personality disorder, according to research.

3. Make Modifications

The situation you’re in might not be one you can change. Still, there’s a chance that you can make small modifications, says Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Gerontology professor, writer, and researcher Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. This is why you can pinpoint the emotion you want to reduce and focus on finding a positive way to calm down.

As an example:

Emotion: You’re feeling disappointed.
Identify the situation causing the emotion: You planned to handmake a lovely gift for a family member, but your expectations were too high. The gift doesn’t go as planned.
Modification: Choose a handmade gift that is within your abilities to do well.

These small modifications can be all you need to help alleviate your anger. Remember, setbacks don’t have to be the end of the world! You can find ways around them!

4. Evaluate How to Solve the Problem

At some point in your anger, you have to ask yourself – is there an issue here? Once you’ve calmed down a little, look at the problem again. Ask yourself:

Was the crisis exacerbated or created due to my emotions?
Is there an external factor causing a disproportionate reaction to my circumstances, such as a lack of sleep or tiredness?
Is this a problem for me due to past experiences and trauma that likely won’t carry over to the present moment?
Are there more significant problems beneath the one on the surface?
Has this happened before? If so, how did I handle it then? Would that method work now?

Asking yourself all these questions should be able to chop down the problem into bite-sized pieces concisely. If a real problem remains, now you know its rational extent. This means you can now take appropriate action, says Taibbi. This is a crucial step in emotional regulation, according to research.

5. Change Your Patterns

A lot of people are creatures of habit, in a sense. Their actions, reactions, and behaviors follow specific patterns. It can be challenging to get around that sort of thinking, as it’s so deeply ingrained into your psyche. But sometimes, that’s the best way to learn to regulate anger and solve problems, says Whitbourne. Here are some things you can change to manage anger better:

· Thought Patterns

Everything we say and do is influenced, in some way, by our thoughts. So what are your thoughts and beliefs? What is it about them that leads to anger or sadness in certain situations? You’ve likely heard of the phrase, “don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.” That’s what you have to do about your thoughts. Instead of your beliefs centering on loss, center them on the joy of experiences. Yes, you’ll still feel negative emotions for a little while, but the positive thinking will get you through a lot!

· Attention

Often, what you choose to give your attention to is what is behind your negative thoughts and emotions. For example, you might dislike eating dinner outdoors because you’re obsessing over calorie counts, or you might feel inferior to people at parties because you don’t think you look as nice.

In that example, your focus would be on appearance. So shift that attention to something else! Think about the special treat of the outside food and how it can motivate you to give it your all at the gym later, or think about how you want to show off your cool swimsuit! Better yet, focus on you. If you keep paying the most attention to your own business, you’ll find that this thinking method comes naturally in the future.

· Responses

The way you respond is your last line of defense between any given emotion trigger and emotional dysregulation. Learn to take control of your anger before it gets the better of you. Take several deep breaths and do what you need to do to calm down. Learn to get used to saying, “I’m feeling pretty angry right now, and I’d like some time to calm down. Can we continue this in a few minutes?”

6. Know When To Progress

At some point, you’ll be cooled down enough to look at the problem in the eye and solve it. According to Taibbi, you should now:

Have clear, calm conversations with people who hurt you or angered you
Stop mulling, obsessing, or wallowing in the emotion
Be willing to find compromises, and understand that something you can’t get your way
Apologize if you’ve made outbursts of anger that have affected others; don’t attempt to justify, excuse, or shift blame
If needed, discuss with those involved how you can avoid this in the future; if not required, think to yourself how you can prevent this in the future

7. Share It

Sharing your emotions can feel quite cathartic, according to Bonior. But you need to be careful about who you share these things with. Not all people will be prepared to hear what you have to say, and some won’t be supportive or validating of you regardless of how close they are to you.

It’s a good idea to choose close, trusted friends or family members to discuss these problems with. Make sure you let them know upfront if you’re letting off steam or want their input. There’s also the option of going to a therapist or counselor for an unbiased, outside opinion on the situation.

Can’t share what you experience with anyone? Write it down or express it in another way, such as by writing poetry, painting an angsty picture, or even heading to the gym to have a go at the punching bags.

8. Check-In With You

The goal of learning to regulate your anger is to learn to train your brain to get itself under control so problems can be dealt with. Ideally, you’ll want to start learning to prevent anger from overflowing past a certain point, says Taibbi. Here’s a great, simple way to begin performing check-ins on your emotional state:

Rank your rage on a scale. Determine what number on that scale is the “dangerous” number that you have trouble dialing back.
Every hour, do a little check-in to see how you’re feeling and rank your anger on that scale you made.
If you’re getting close to the point of no return, take steps to dial it back. You know you’re getting close to the boiling point – now cool it down!

Final Thoughts On Some Simple Ways To Regulate Anger And Solve Problems

No one can deny that anger issues make solving problems and living peacefully with others very difficult. Unfortunately, emotional regulation can be challenging to get a grasp of. If you’re neurodivergent, you may even need the assistance of a qualified professional to help you with this skill.

Still, regardless of who you are and the circumstances of your life, there’s no shame in seeing a counselor or therapist about emotional regulation. These experts are trained to help you and can help you improve your positive thinking with their unbiased, professional techniques. Just remember: your anger doesn’t define you, nor does any emotion, and you are strong enough to control it!

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