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10 Red Flags That Reveal You’re About to Get Ghosted by Your Partner

June 15, 2020 by Chris Butler

Getting ghosted is the process of someone breaking up with you disrespectfully by not answering phone calls or texts at all. Most of the time, there are signs to make you aware of the problem before it takes you by surprise. Here are ten red flags that reveal you’re about to get ghosted by your partner.

10 Signs You’re About to Get Ghosted

Do you see any of these hints of a partner who wants to move on but lacks the courage to tell you?

1. Unenthusiastic Texting Habits

When a couple is interested in each other, they will keep in contact. One of the easiest ways to stay in touch nowadays is via text. You can tell a lot about how someone feels about you based on their texting habits.

Who is the first one to initiate texts? If you are always the one starting conversation, that could be a sign they don’t care to reach out to you.

Do they text in one-word answers? When you ask someone about their day, and they merely respond with “ok” or “fine,” they aren’t trying to engage in an entire conversation. They could be busy, but they also might not want to talk.

How long does it take to get a response? You want and deserve someone who prioritizes you throughout their busy day. You shouldn’t have to wait for days for an answer. Eventually, a couple of days will turn into absolutely no response at all.

2. Limited or No PDA

Public displays of affection (PDA) are things like holding hands and kissing in public. While gratuitous PDA can be inappropriate and somewhat gross, some public displays are adorable. It’s also a way to show everyone you are with someone.

If your partner refuses to partake in any PDA, it’s a sign they aren’t interested. They want to appear single to the rest of the world.

Now, some people aren’t that into PDA; it makes them uncomfortable. You may even be one of those people yourself. However, when combined with other signs on the list, it could point to someone who will eventually ghost you.

3. Canceled Plans

When you make plans with someone, you should follow through with those plans. However, when someone isn’t very interested, they may cancel those plans when something better comes along. If your date canceled plans, it’s a red flag.

Granted, there are some legitimate reasons why you may need to cancel a date. For example, you may feel sick or have a family matter to tend to. When someone has a legitimate excuse, they will make a point to reschedule. He will also show regret. And, he’ll make the cancellation up to you with a special date or surprise later.

Finally, they will let you know as soon as possible instead of leaving you waiting around for them. Be understanding if it happens once, but you should not allow it to become a pattern. One of these days, you will stop trying to reschedule.

4. Constantly Distracted When Together

You and your date are finally together! Yay! Now, you should pay attention to how attentive they are to you. You don’t want to be out with someone barely paying attention to you. They should not be always on their phone, dazing off into space, or staring at other women the entire night. They should be providing eye contact and engaging in conversation.

Your partner should try getting to know you at every opportunity. It could be a sign they aren’t engaged with the idea of dating you if they aren’t engaged.

According to the National Institutes of Health, attentive mannerisms signify a healthy relationship. Here is what they have to say:

You feel safe talking about how you feel, you listen to each other. You feel valued, and you trust each other. ~NIH

Try asking open-ended questions to get them talking. You can also try telling them they seem distracted, in case they aren’t aware. If they don’t change their behavior to show you the attention you deserve, they may not plan to show you much attention in the future.

5. Not Introducing You to Friends/Family

When someone pictures you in their life, they will also picture you with the other people in their life. If your date hasn’t introduced you to their friends and family after time, they may not plan on ever making you a real part of their life.

Even worse, when you are out together, they see friends but fail to introduce you. It can feel like they are trying to hide you from people. Some people need time to take the next step and introduce you to friends and family, but it shouldn’t take more than a few months.

6. Excessive Pet Names

You may think it’s cute when you get called “babe” or “honey” by your date. It’s a term of endearment that can make you feel affection. However, this may not be as cute as you thought it was.

Some people use pet names as a way to disassociate someone. If they use pet names, you are less of a person to them. Plus, they won’t accidentally call you by another person’s name. Instead, you want to have them use your actual name. Excessive pet names are just a sign that you might soon get ghosted.

7. Not Trying to Impress

If you want to impress somebody, you put time and effort into your appearance. You will shower, get your nails done, shave, do your hair, do your makeup, put on makeup, put on perfume, and wear pretty clothes.

Some people may not be as high maintenance as you, but they should put some effort into their appearance when they know they will see you. Your partner should care not only about their appearance but also the appearance of their home. They should try to clean up a little bit for you.

How does your date look when you come over? Are they a disgusting mess, or have they put some effort into it? Even people who don’t care about how they look will put on a fresh tee shirt and maybe a splash of cologne. They may be thinking about breaking up if they can’t be bothered.

8. Not Opening Up

When you date someone, you will start to get to know each other. You will learn about each other’s interests and hobbies. You will also learn about their aspirations in life and the people who matter to them. At least, you should. Some people aren’t as quick to open up as others, but there should be progress with time.

When people open up to each other, it brings them closer together than ever before. This is how you develop a relationship. If your date isn’t so keen about opening up, you should ask questions. Start by asking questions that aren’t too personal and gradually up the intensity.

Do not talk about things that could be considered too personal at first. You should avoid those conversations for the first couple of dates. With time, you can ask more and more. If you are going to be ghosted, they will likely do everything possible to avoid being vulnerable in front of you.

9. No Talk of the Future

The point of dating is to develop a future together. If you are going to get ghosted, your date isn’t going to want to think about the future with you. It starts with plans.

Can you make plans for the following weekend, or is that too far in the future?
Do you make plans for upcoming events and holidays?
When you talk about the future, do you put each other into that conversation?

You may be picturing a house and family while they may not be thinking past the following day. Some people just aren’t thinking about their future in general. You may need to consider breaking up with someone who seems to be in a perpetual state of adolescence.

Some experts report that shared goals make a couple more likely to begin planning their lives together.

“Notice if you are able to talk about what you want in the future and if your partner is also able to do so as well.” ~Jill Weber Ph.D.

10. You Feel It Coming

You need to learn to trust your intuition. Sometimes you need to get in touch with your feelings and be honest. If you can feel the lack of interest, you need to admit it and move on instead of trying to be with someone who doesn’t make you feel wanted. This can get complicated if you tend to have bad intuition. If you have weak intuition, you should make a point to talk to your partner and let them know if you are worried about getting ghosted. They may hear you and reassure you.

Final Thoughts on Getting Ghosted

Getting ghosted is much worse when you don’t anticipate the end of your relationship. If you are going to get ghosted, you’ll see some of these signs. Use these red flags to prepare yourself for the hurt of this breakup. The more red flags you spot, the better the chance that you will soon be single.

15 Surprising Foods That Cause People to Burp

June 15, 2020 by Power of Positivity

When it comes belching, we all burp from time to time. And some might argue doing so is part of the human experience. To understand why this occurs, it helps to take a look at this involuntary action from a physiological standpoint.

In many cases, burping occurs when we swallow too much air and that air then becomes stuck in the esophagus, a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. When this happens, the body will push any air still in the stomach out through the mouth. And it will do so with enough force to cause belching. However, for some individuals, underlying health problems or their choice in foods will cause belching as well.

Can Excessive Belching Signify a Serious Health Problem?

Something to note when it comes to the human body is that it has an uncanny way of alerting you whenever something is wrong, often by triggering specific symptoms. And the digestive system is no exception in this regard.

According to a study published by Harvard Health Publishing, excessive burping can sometimes be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Additionally, it can also point to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, and stomach ulcers. In cases where excessive burping stems from gastroesophageal reflux disease, it can indicate that pre-cancerous changes are taking place in the esophagus, according to Dr. Roshini Raj, an assistant professor of medicine with NYU Langone Medical Center.

So while an occasional burp is a natural bodily function, excessive burping can sometimes be a sign of a severe health problem requiring prompt medical attention.

Learn eleven telltale signs you might have a food sensitivity.

15 Foods That Make You Burp: What You Should Know Before You Eat

Many of the foods that cause flatulence are the same ones that can cause or make belching worse. That being said, some of these foods include the following:

1. Beans

Because they contain raffinose, a soluble sucrose derivative, legumes not only cause you to burp but also fart.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, beans that should be limited by those seeking to keep gas-induced burps and farts to a minimum include kidney beans and black beans as well as garbanzo, lentils, and pinto beans.

Of course, you shouldn’t avoid beans altogether as they do offer significant nutritional value. As a staple in the Mediterranean diet, these tiny, delicious legumes can help protect against certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, and a host of other chronic illnesses, according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health.

2. Cruciferous Vegetables

Although cruciferous vegetables, such as brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli, contain fiber that can help keep you regular, consuming too much of them can also cause excessive gas. As the body tries to rid itself of this gas, it can lead to unpleasant belching and farting.

Fortunately, it is possible to reap the health benefits that come with adding more of these vegetables to your diet while keeping gas to a minimum. According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, consuming cooked cruciferous vegetables rather than eating them raw, can go a long way toward keeping gas under control.

Similar to beans, cruciferous vegetables contain gas-causing raffinose. Cooking them breaks down raffinose and minimizes the gassiness would otherwise come from eating them raw.

3. Dairy

While calcium found in milk, butter, cheese, and other dairy products can help strengthen teeth and bones, these same foods can also cause digestive problems, especially in those who are lactose intolerant. In short, dairy contains a form of sugar known as lactose that can be difficult to digest. When dairy-based foods are not properly digested, it can lead to bloating, constipation, and gas, and much more. To properly digest dairy, the body must produce a sufficient amount of lactase. For those unfamiliar with lactase, it is an enzyme responsible for the biochemical reaction needed to break down foods that contain dairy. And this is not physiologically possible for those who are lactose intolerant. Therefore, when they consume even small amounts of food that contain dairy, they quickly regret ever doing so.

4. Beer

If you enjoy beer, you’re probably well aware that consuming too much of it causes excessive belching. And this is because beer, much like soda, releases carbon dioxide gas in the body. In response, the body attempts to rid itself of this gas by causing you to belch.

5. Fruit

Most nutritionists, dieticians, and physicians will agree that fruit, while healthy, can take a toll on an individual’s digestive system. And this has a lot to do with sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that contributes to the sweet taste associated with fruit but is metabolized slowly in the body. The slow metabolization process can cause belching and may also leave some people struggling with severe gassiness. Some of the fruits that contain large amounts of sorbitol include the following:

Apples
Cherries
Apricots
Peaches
Pears
Prunes
Dates

6. Spicy foods

Although flavorful, most spicy foods contain a compound known as capsaicin that slows down digestion and irritates the lining of the esophagus, both of which can trigger heartburn. When this happens, it not uncommon for some individuals to start burping. Capsaicin is commonly found in the following:

Horseradish
Hot sauce
Jalapeños
Red chili paste
Salsa
Wasabi

7. Green bell peppers

Even though green bell peppers are not spicy per se, they contain enough capsaicin to trigger belching, flatulence, and other digestive problems.

8. Garlic and onions

Fresh garlic and onions both contain allicin, a sulfur compound that can cause heartburn, which, in turn, leads to belching. Fortunately, dehydrated garlic and onions, which contain little to no allicin, can make food just as flavorful without causing digestive problems.

9. Acidic foods

If you’re already prone to excessive belching, it would be a good idea to avoid or limit your intake of acidic foods, such as fish, grains, beef, and turkey, for example. These particular foods can cause more acids to form in the body, which can lead to acid reflux, belching, heartburn, and many other digestive problems.

10. Fried food

Although fried chicken, French fries, onion rings, and other fried foods might be deliciously satisfying, they can cause belching. For those who might not be aware, fried foods are high in trans fat. And this type of fat takes longer for the body to digest. It can also increase the risk of developing high cholesterol and heart disease, especially when eaten regularly.

11. Tomato sauce

If you’re a fan of pizza and spaghetti, you should know that they both contain very acidic tomato sauce. That said, consuming too much of these foods can lead to acid reflux, heartburn, and excessive belching. According to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the pH, which denotes the acidity in foods and drinks, in a single can of tomato sauce is between 3.5 and 4.7. When it comes to measuring pH, the lower the number, the higher the acidity.

12. Tea

Although tea usually has a calming effect and is a great way to reduce stress, consuming too much of it can cause heartburn and excessive belching, especially those teas that contain peppermint or spearmint.

13. Eggs

Even though eggs can make for a delicious breakfast, they should be either avoided or limited by those who have an egg intolerance. The high protein and sulfur-containing compounds in eggs can make it difficult for those with an egg intolerance to digest. The longer eggs remain undigested, the more likely an individual is to experience belching and other digestive problems.

14. Gluten

Gluten, which is a unique protein in wheat, rye, and barley, can cause a host of digestive problems for those with celiac disease or are otherwise sensitive to gluten. For these individuals, consuming even a small amount of gluten can cause heartburn, belching, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence since they are not able to produce enough of the enzymes needed to digest it properly.

15. Gum and Candy

While not technically a food per se, gum as well as candy, if chewed or sucked on for a long time, can cause belching. Engaging in either of these two acts often leads to swallowing excessive air, which negatively affects the digestive system.

Final Thoughts on the Foods That Cause People to Burp

In summary, many of our favorite foods can trigger and intensify belching. The best way to go about getting things under control is by making a few changes to your diet. However, if the belching continues, it would be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a physician as soon as possible.

13 Sneaky Ways Narcissists Get Away With Blame Shifting

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Narcissistic people are tricky to deal with because they are all into themselves. Whenever they are at fault for something, they try to lay the blame onto other people because,

A) it hurts their egos to think that they were wrong and,
B) Even if they know that they are wrong, narcissists want to avoid acknowledging it at all costs—even if they are unethically avoiding the truth.

Here are thirteen sneaky ways that narcissists shift blame to others around them

1 – Ignoring the Facts

A narcissist person might try to move fault to others by completely ignoring the part of the situation in which he/she is at fault. He might altogether refuse to acknowledge aspects of the situation where he did something wrong. For example, in conversation, he might adamantly refuse to talk about something and pretend that it did not come up. The person might even refuse to speak to you.

2 – Citing Religious Reasons

In a situation where there are highly religious people, a narcissistic person might use religion to shift fault onto another person. This is done by using twisted religious rhetoric to justify why someone else is at fault. For example, let’s say that something terrible happens, and it’s the fault of the narcissistic person. The narcissist might turn the failure on other people by saying, “This happened not because of what I did, but because you did something and God didn’t like it.”

3 – Playing Victim Card and Victim Blaming

To shift blame to others, a narcissist might attempt to play the victim card. For example, if the narcissistic person was wronged to some extent, he may over-emphasize that fact in a quest to get pity from others and shift blame onto someone else. He might try to make it seem that his being victimized overrides the fact that he is at fault.

4 – Overt Manipulation

Manipulation is one of the main tools that narcissistic people have in their arsenals. They know the emotional states and psyches of the people around them, which they use to sculpt the things that they say and do. Manipulation can take many forms.

One manipulation tactic is to act overly emotional and sad. For example, a narcissistic person might try to avoid being blamed by crying and acting vulnerable. She might try to accuse you of being a terrible person for not being sympathetic if you are wise to the tactic and refuse to succumb to it.

On the other hand, a narcissistic person might act angry and aggressive, hoping that you’ll forget all about putting the fault on them out of fear. They could yell around or physically abuse people.

The person could play on whatever insecurities you have about yourself and life. The gamut of manipulation tactics is endless.

5 – Adopting a My Way or the Highway Attitude

Narcissistic people like to talk over others and monopolize conversations. A narcissistic person who wants to accuse other of being at fault others might speak over other people—keeping them from getting their words in. Narcissistic people think that if they over talk and yell over people, it will get it into everyone’s heads that they are not the ones at fault.

Know the ten red flags that indicate you are dating a narcissist.

6 – Gaslighting Others

Gaslighting is when you try to make someone think that they are crazy for having their beliefs, concerns, and thoughts. This behavior is a manipulation tactic in which one person works to make another person doubt himself or herself.

A narcissistic person can use gaslighting to the fault onto someone else. For example, someone might understand that the narcissistic person is in the wrong for a variety of different reasons.

The narcissistic person might combat this by saying, “Oh, you’re simply crazy. Your concerns about me being in the wrong are results of you being off-balanced!”

This behavior is emotional abuse, plain and simple!

7 – Telling Outright Lies

A narcissist could straight out lie about the situation and fabricate circumstances that were not there. He could accuse you of doing something that you never did. She could make up a part of the situation that never happened—all of this just to make it look like she is not at fault.

Lying is especially harmful because the sky is the limit when it comes to what someone can lie about. Lies can cause a lot of trouble. The problem is that when a narcissistic person lies, what can you do? What can you do if the person completely refuses to utter truthful words? If you are wise to this tactic, then you can easily avoid feeling that you are at fault. The real problem comes when other people believe the narcissistic person.

8 – Making Unfair and Untrue Accusations

Some narcissistic people like to shift blame by throwing out random accusations. For example, a narcissistic person might say things like: “You punched me,” “You abused me,” “You’re mentally ill,” “You never loved me,” “You’re stalking me,” and whatever other accusation they can think of.

The point of throwing out accusations is to take attention away from the narcissist’s faults. Narcissistic people do this so that the idea that someone else did something worse and is at fault for something is introduced into the conversation.

9 – Acting Dramatically

A narcissistic person might shift blame onto other people by acting overly dramatic and saying things aloud that makes it sound like others are to blame. If others are in the room, they might see the narcissist behaving dramatically and think that there is something terrible going on and that you are to blame.

10 – Bringing Up Old Situations

A common trick that narcissists do to avoid blame is to bring up past situations in which you were at fault or faced a shortcoming. The circumstances may have absolutely nothing to do with the current situation that they should be blamed for. Whatever conditions the narcissistic person brings up could be completely irrelevant.

11 – Bringing Up Your Faults

A narcissist might also try to dodge the blame by talking about the faults of other people. They behave this way to detract away from their shortcomings. Again, the person might bring up things that are utterly irrelevant to the situation to divert away from being blamed.

12 – Making Arguments About the Argument

A narcissistic person will try to pull fault away from themselves by arguing about the argument that you are having with them. For example, the person might laugh at how you speak or what you say. He might disagree about the way that you are arguing. She might even accuse you of doing what she is doing.

13 – Manipulating Those Around You

If the issue is only between two people—you and the narcissist—it is easier to remedy the situation by being wise to the narcissist’s tactics. However, if there are other people in the room who can get easily triggered by things that the narcissist says and does, you are out of luck.

This is because other people may not be wise to the tactics that the narcissistic person uses. Also, the narcissists might bring up certain things about you that other people have gripes about. Being triggered to think about their grievances might make them less likely to see the current situation for how it is.

Even if a narcissistic person is unable to manipulate you into thinking that they are not at fault, they may be adept at manipulating other people. If they succeed in swaying other people, they might get their way, even if you know their number.

For example, a narcissist who accuses you of doing something to trigger someone else in the room to be on their side. Here is an example.

If a narcissist randomly accuses you of assault, there might be someone else in the room who takes such accusations very seriously. The people in the room who hear those accusations might be apt to believe that you beat up the narcissist. And even if you never did, those around you could buy into the narcissist’s story. Suddenly, the blame is off of the narcissist and now on you.

Wait. What?

Anything can be a trigger for the people around you. You are emotionally intelligent enough to deal with a narcissist. However, that does not mean that the people around you are wise to their tricks. Someone narcissistic could try any of the tactics mentioned above on the people around you. A narcissistic person who weeps and acts vulnerable might pull at the heartstrings of other people. Not showing sympathy toward the narcissistic person could make you look bad in front of other people.

Final Thoughts on the Sneaky Ways Narcissists Always Shift Blame Onto Others

In conclusion, these are the ways that narcissists try to place blame on other people. They bring up old situations from the past that are irrelevant to the current situation, use manipulation tactics, try to manipulate those around the initial person who they are talking to, lie, make up false accusations, act overly dramatic, gaslight people, ignore any conversations about them being at fault, talk over people and act aggressively whenever people try to point out the truth.

10 Ways to Teach Children Problem Solving Skills

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Problem-solving is a learned skill. As parents, you hope that your kids grow into adults who can think come up with ideas and solve problems. Many parents wonder how they can instill these skills. So, what are 10 ways to teach your children problem solving skills for life?

The definition of problem solving

Problem-solving is when you see a problem and understand what’s causing it, and you choose the best solution for it and solve it.

The National Institute of Health says problem-solving, “Identifies problems, and uses logic, judgment, and data to evaluate alternatives and recommend solutions to achieve the desired organizational goal or outcome.”

Teach your children the seven steps to problem-solving

Problem-solving involves several steps. You can lead your child through these steps in hypothetical scenarios in everyday life. Then as they come up against their own problems at school or home, you can help them walk through the steps. This works for different ages.

Figure out the problem. Talk about the problem with your child. (example: I can’t find my shoes)
Come up with some solutions. Brainstorm potential ideas to solve the problem. (I look for them, I ask for help; I try to remember where I put them last)
Think about the pluses and minuses of using different solutions.
Choose one solution (I tried to remember where I put them)
Test out your solution. (I couldn’t remember)
Try a different solution if the first one doesn’t work (I asked for help)
Solution (My brother found them under the kitchen table)

This process is something we have learned as adults, but these steps need to be taught to your child. Otherwise, she’ll stand in the hallway and scream, “I can’t find my shoes!” Giving your child the tools to figure out a problem will make them feel good that they can solve problems on their own.

Roleplay problem-solving scenarios with the kids

You borrowed your brother’s favorite skateboard. While you’re using it, it breaks. What could you do?
Your teacher is busy in class. You have a question, but she doesn’t see your hand. What could you do?
Your friend is being really loud in the cafeteria. You can’t hear your other friend talk to you. What should you do?
You finish all your work during math class. What should you do?
Your friend is angry at you because you got a better grade on a test. What could you do?

Emotions and problem solving

Emotions are usually attached to problem solving. And often, before a problem can be solved, you need to understand your emotions. The same goes for your kids.

When your child is upset because they don’t understand a math problem, they need to know how they feel and what to do about it to better solve the problem.

This is especially helpful to young kids who are just learning to control their emotions, but these tips are helpful at any age.

If you’re frustrated or angry because of a problem, find a way to calm yourself down. Try taking several deep breaths. Go to the bathroom. Just walking to the bathroom and back gives you a mental break.
Think about why you feel so frustrated about this problem.
Try to think of three ways you could solve the problem.
Then think about what would happen if you picked each solution. How would other people feel? Is it fair, would it hurt someone else?
Pick your solution and try it out. Did it work? Why or why not?

Critical thinking and problem solving

Another aspect of problem-solving uses critical thinking. Critical thinking is essential to a part of solving problems. Problem-solving and critical thinking both use knowledge, information, and data to solve problems.

It’s thinking on your feet, so to speak, and figuring out the problem and finding a solution. These two overlap a lot. They are equally important skills to teach your kids.

Encouraging your child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills

1 – Stay close without hovering

Micromanaging your children to fix their problems is never a good idea. Don’t be overly ready to show them how to do things the correct way. It suffocates their own learning and ability to solve problems. Encourage their attempts, their persistence, and small accomplishments. Be specific, “I like how you came up with an idea to organize your socks.”

2 – Allow your child to solve their problems

You’re more experienced in life and you understand how to solve problems. But your child needs to learn this. You can solve their problems easily by telling them what to do, it’s actually faster than letting them figure it out. But it’s not helpful for good brain development.

Example:

Your 4-year-old must put on his winter coat before he can go outside to play in the snow. You could do it for him, but he needs to learn how to put it on by himself. Let him wrestle it out. He may get mad, but he’ll figure out a way to do it if he wants to play in the snow.

3 – Give your kids time to play

Playtimes are perfect for learning critical thinking and problem-solving. Young kids learn how to do things by themselves, how to solve problems with other kids, and what they enjoy. Pretending gives them creative outlets.

4 – Give your kids the room to learn and fail

Let them wrestle with their problems and think for themselves to discover solutions. Allow them to make connections. Try to not intervene right away. Let them fail at their attempts, then talk with them about the results.

5 – Ask your children thought-provoking questions

Help your children think through solutions and choices, Here are some excellent open-ended questions to get the conversation started.

What’s happening?
What do you think about it?
Why?
What would you do?
Do you have ideas to share?
What seems logical to you? Or What makes sense here?
How could you fix it?
What would you do if you could do it differently?
What other things would work?

6 – Encourage their creativity

Allow them to experiment and try creative solutions. Encourage their creativity when they find a solution, even if it’s not the best solution. They’ll figure out soon enough why the solution doesn’t work. That’s okay because it’s part of the learning process we all go through of eliminating until we find the best solution.

7 – Teach your child to agree or disagree

This is an important critical learning skill for kids. It’s a learned skill to listen to other’s opinions when you don’t agree. Good manners come into play here. Teach them to listen to others and be able to share their opinion without anger or frustration. Part of life is learning to agree to disagree. Many things in life have several solutions, and it depends upon the person’s views as to what is most important.

8 – Teach your child to explain their answers

Ask your child, how do you know this? Why do you think this? Teach your child to defend their answers. Help them use evidence rather than feelings for their answers. Encourage them to think about where to get information to support their thoughts.

9 – Cause and effect

This helps your child come up with ideas, then test out their solutions. They’ll see what works and what doesn’t work.

Example:

Allow your child to plan when they’ll do their homework every day. Will it be right after school or in the evening? A week later, talk to them about how this idea has worked out. Did they get their homework done every day? What caused them to not homework finished?

10 – Working with others

Encourage your kids to work with others to solve a problem. Get them to talk to siblings, friends, or others to brainstorm ideas. Praise their willingness to collaborate and listen to other ideas. This critical learning skill emphasizes the importance of getting other’s ideas so they can better solve their problems.

Fun activities to enhance problem solving and creative thinking skills

Look at that cloud

This is an old game, but still lots of fun for kids and adults. On a sunny day, take your kids outside, tell your kids to look up at the sky and tell you what they think the clouds look like. Allow them to come up with different answers-a dog, a dinosaur, or a bunny. What is that animal or thing doing? This simple game teaches your kids abstract thinking skills.

Let’s make a silly meal

Look around the house. Find silly ingredients you could turn into a meal. The basket of socks could be a basket of bread. Or the red chair is pizza sauce. Let them run with their ideas after you give one or two examples. Have them “cook” their meal, then pretend to eat it. This little game teaches your kids to look at things in a different, out of the box way.

So, what do you think?

Ask your kids questions such as what do you think our dog thinks about all day? What do you think the sofa wishes she could do? What do you think that little boy across the street is thinking about?

Allow your child to come up with their answers. This helps them be creative and learn how to express their ideas.

Final thoughts on teaching problem solving skills your child will carry for life

Problem-solving is a learned skill. Your kids start problem-solving from a young age. When they’re little, they may need to solve simple problems like how to put on clothes and how to get the fork up to their mouth to eat.

As they get older, they’ll need to learn how to solve problems with other students or math problems. You can teach them problem-solving steps, especially how to deal with their emotions associated with solving some problems.

Helping them learn how to be good critical thinkers will help them solve problems and become successful in life.

Trainers Explain How Aerobic Exercise Melts Belly Fat

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Remember those vintage cereal commercials that asked if you could pinch an inch? The premise was that if you could pinch an inch of belly fat, you needed to lose it on a diet program that included their vitamin-fortified cereal. A cereal diet may not do the trick, but healthy eating and aerobic exercise can help you lose that stubborn belly fat.

Not many people can say they weigh the same weight they did in high school. Even if the scales haven’t changed that much, your body has altered. Unfortunately, the older we get, the more difficult it is to lose weight and body fat, especially for women.

Why is it that you can see results on the scales when you adopt a healthy diet but still battle stubborn belly fat? Along with a fat-busting eating plan, you also need a fitness regimen tailored for you, like aerobic exercise.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a medicine or a procedure that would magically make your extra fat disappear? However, fat miraculously melting away is only a fantasy. Your body needs a certain amount of fat to insulate your body and to cushion your internal organs.

Medical experts claim that genetics can also be a factor in how many fat cells you carry. Fatty deposits, also known as adipose tissue, vary slightly according to individuals. So, no one burns fat precisely the same.

Fat Differences and Gender

The distribution of adipose tissue often depends on gender and your ancestry. Women tend to store a little more fat cells than men because of their role in childbearing. However, studies show that women often burn more extra fat than men do.

If you’ve always blamed your mother for your problematic hips and behind, realize it’s not all her fault. Fat distribution for women is usually in their lower body, including thighs, buttocks, and the lower abdomen. Men often store their extra fat in their upper abdomen, hence the notorious “beer gut.”

Why is Belly Fat so Complicated?

Even healthy people with leaner bodies still have a protective layer of belly fat, also known as visceral fat. This adipose layer surrounds your internal organs for protection and to maintain warmth. While you do need some of this fat, it’s the extra fat that poses a risk to your health.

Your body has another type of adipose tissue called subcutaneous fat, or the fat under your skin. This is the bothersome fatty deposits on your arms, legs, buttocks, chest, and face. When you diet and exercise, subcutaneous fat seems to melt quicker than stubborn belly fat.

Health Risks of Excess Belly Fat

While you must have some belly fat, the key is to make sure it’s not in excess. Not only does extra belly fat erode your self-esteem, but it can also put you at risk for serious health problems.

Aerobic workouts may help shed unwanted pounds. Have you heard of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis? These dangerous disorders are typically found in the last stages of alcoholism. Sadly, excess belly fat can also put you at risk for fatty liver, even if you don’t drink.

Carrying extra body fat around your belly makes you prone to Type 2 diabetes, cardiac disease, hypertension, and other serious disorders. Overeating, stress, and alcohol abuse are contributors to an overabundance of belly fat. Another factor is the lack of proper exercise.

Say Goodbye to Extra Belly Fat

The good news is that you are not doomed to hold onto your excess belly fat and deal with the health consequences. Making good nutrition and fitness part of your lifestyle can make a big difference. It takes determination and patience, but you will reap the rewards of improving your health and self-confidence.

Have you been dieting and exercising and feel frustrated with those last few pounds of belly fat that won’t budge? Although these fat-burning plateaus are discouraging, they are completely normal. Maybe you need to ramp up your fitness routine and try aerobic exercise combined with weight training.

What is Aerobic Exercise?

Aerobic exercise, also called cardio workouts, has been around for years. These are exercises that vary in intensity to increase your heart rate and intake of oxygen. This process can raise your body’s metabolism to burn fat more efficiently, especially belly fat.

During the 1980s, aerobics came into the limelight. Fitness trainers and some celebrities donned neon leggings and headbands to make videos with pop music. They encouraged everyone to get off the couch and get moving.

You may have some of those old VHS tapes in your attic. While those Hollywood productions seem cheesy and dated now, their premise is still good. Getting your body to move is critical to reset your metabolism.

Any exercise that gets your heart pumping and your lungs bringing in fresh oxygen are considered aerobic. Jogging, bicycling, gymnastics, and even yoga are forms of aerobic movement.

Getting Started on Aerobic Exercise

Before you begin any exercise regimen at home or at the gym, talk to your professional healthcare provider. You can also consult a certified fitness trainer to devise an aerobic exercise plan that’s right for you. Remember that weight training can be beneficial, too.

You needn’t dig out your neon orange leotards from high school to do aerobics. Your preferred aerobic workouts may be gentle or intense, but either can help burn belly fat. The slower-paced workouts will just require more time.

Are you ready to get in shape and feel better about yourself? It just takes 15-20 minutes a day to see results. Here are some aerobic exercises that are combined with weight training that will say so-long to your big belly.

1. Walking/Jogging

Have you always thought that running was the only way for you to lose weight? However, fitness experts say that a brisk walk for at least 15 minutes a day can boost your fat-burning process. Plus, you won’t have the risks that running takes on your bones and joints.

If you want to take your walking regimen up a notch, you should consider jogging. When jogging, you get an extra boost of oxygen in your system without going into a full run. Walking and jogging burn fat and provide other health benefits.

2. Riding a Bicycle

They say once you learn how to ride a bicycle that you will never forget. If you want to benefit your body and be kind to the environment, why not ride a bike? It’s a powerful aerobic workout that will help burn your extra belly fat.

Commuting by bicycle is commonplace in most European countries. Many of America’s largest cities have designated lanes for people riding their bikes to work. It’s a win/win situation because bicycles don’t expose the environment to fossil fuels like an automobile.

3. Go for a Swim

Swimming is one of the best aerobic workouts for burning fat. It involves working your whole body. You can swim outdoors during warm weather and indoors at any time of the year.

Water aerobics are specialized exercises meant to burn fat, tone your body, and benefit bones and joints. Seniors and those completing physical therapy often swim and do water aerobics because the water’s density makes it easier to move. However, it’s an enjoyable activity for all ages.

Here are the changes you could see in your body if you swim every day.

4. Get Your Groove Back

Did you know that dancing can significantly trim your waistline? Dancing to music is as old as civilization itself. Whether you waltz, line dance, or breakdance, your body will be moving.

Pump up your favorite tunes and dance by yourself or with your partner. It will increase your heart rate, breathing, and boost your metabolism. Dancing is often part of aerobic workout classes.

5. Cardio Machines

What exercise machine should you choose at the gym for a good aerobic/cardio workout? Pick one that is comfortable for your pace but still makes you work. For a low impact but beneficial session, try the treadmill and walk your way to a healthy body.

If you want a higher impact workout that will really make your fat burn, do some time on a rowing machine. It involves your whole body as if you were rowing on the water. Stair steppers and spin bikes also provide high energy workouts essential for fat burning.

6. Jumping Rope

When you think of jumping rope, your mind probably goes back to playground games in elementary school. While that was good exercise, you can graduate to a sports jump rope. You often see boxers and other professional athletes jumping rope to stay in good shape.

With a quality jump rope and a comfortable pair of shoes, you can jump your way into a thinner belly. Jump for 10-15 minutes at a speed that is comfortable for you. Your goal is to increase your heart and breathing rate.

Final Thoughts on Trying Aerobic Exercise To Say Bye Be to Stubborn Belly Fat

These are just a few of the exciting aerobic exercises that you can combine with lifting weights. Most don’t require individual workout machines and can be done at home. When you incorporate aerobic exercise into your fitness regimen, the only thing you must lose is stubborn belly fat.

Psychic Reveals 12 Signs You Might Have ESP

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Have you always felt like you had a sixth sense, or ESP, about things? Extrasensory perception essentially means you have psychic abilities that allow you to tap into a hidden realm of more profound knowledge about the universe.

For instance, when you get a gut feeling about something, and it turns out to be accurate, this can be classified as ESP. Maybe you had a warning about the future, and you see it play out in real life a few weeks later, for example.

People all over the world claim to have ESP in various ways, whether they can predict the future or use their abilities to talk to people’s deceased relatives. It all comes back to having an inner knowing about things most people can’t see and following one’s intuition for ultimate guidance.

How Your Senses Connect to ESP

According to psychic medium Rebecca Rosen, different types of psychic abilities correspond with our four senses, called clairsenses. Below, she explains how each of our minds holds intuitive psychic gifts that can help us navigate through life.

Clairvoyance means clear seeing.

This ability allows you to see visions of the past, present, and future through your third eye. If you often have premonitions that come real later on in life, you might have clairvoyance.

Clairaudience means clear hearing.

This awareness happens when you hear words or music that seems to pop into your head out of nowhere. Spirit sometimes sends us messages out of the blue when we least expect them, so if you happen to hear a voice out of nowhere, pay close attention. Your clairaudience psychic ability could be telling you something important about your life.

Clairsentience means clear feeling.

Clairsentience means the ability to feel things about yourself or others using your intuition. For instance, “gut” feelings fall into this category because they allow you to know something about a person or event without having direct sensory input. When you feel someone’s energy, you’re using clairsentience. Most people have this ability, but some people are more developed, such as empaths or energy healers.

Clairalience means clear smelling.

This gift is the ability to perceive odors that don’t seem to have a natural source. For instance, if you smell your deceased grandmother’s perfume all of a sudden, it could be a sign that she’s sending you love and warmth from the other side. If you have clairalience, you may find that certain smells seem to enter your field of awareness out of nowhere, connecting you to memories or people in your life.

Clairgustance means clear tasting.

This is the ability to taste something that you aren’t eating or drinking at the time. This experience usually happens when a deceased relative wants to remind us of fond memories where we ate or drank certain things with them. If you have clairgustance, you will find that your taste buds seem to have a life of their own, creating tastes that don’t have a natural source.

Claircognizance means clear knowing.

This is when we have knowledge of people or events that seems to come from sources outside of our thoughts. Spirit may send you messages about events to warn you and others about them. Prophets have this ability, for instance, but anyone can have ESP about future happenings. If people often turn to you for your predictions, and you seem to have a track record of accurately forecasting events, you might have this psychic ability.

Now that you know about how ESP works through the various senses, we’ll go over some other signs you might have psychic abilities. Most people do, but they just haven’t tapped into them yet.

Here are 12 signs you might have ESP:

You are very intuitive.

If you can sense someone’s intentions based on their energy or know things before they happen, you probably have some level of ESP. For example, if you suddenly urge to call or text someone and they end up messaging you, you probably have well-developed intuition. Things others may call coincidences, you know have a deeper meaning to them.

You have experienced déjà vu before.

Have you ever felt like you’ve met someone before or been to a specific place at some point in your past? Then you’ve likely experienced déjà vu. This means you’ve had past lives where you’ve met certain people or traveled to various places that will seem very familiar in this life.

You have frequent visions.

Whether in your dreams or in waking hours, you have visions of the past, present, or future. This ESP ability allows you to predict future events using knowledge that seems to come from somewhere outside your mind, but you have an inner knowing that it’s true.

You have gut feelings about people or events.

Similar to the visions, you get a lot of warnings about people or places using your gut feelings. If you can feel people’s vibes and often have an accurate perception of their intentions and overall demeanor, you probably have ESP.

You experience telepathy.

Do you feel like you have a mental connection with people where you can read their thoughts? Perhaps you just know what someone is thinking and can finish their sentences for them. This experience is a clear sign of psychic abilities and means you have developed intuition as well.

You’re a highly sensitive person.

You often feel overwhelmed in large crowds or noisy places. You need a lot of solitude to recharge and connect to your higher self. People who have psychic abilities often do the best working for themselves or in quiet places where they can hear their thoughts. Sensitive people may get made fun of, but they tend to have psychic abilities because of their heightened awareness.

You have psychometry.

Psychometry, or the psychic ability that allows someone to know a person’s or object’s history just by touching it, is a rare but powerful gift. Psychic mediums who can hear a deceased person’s voice and relay messages to loved ones have this ability. People who can recall details of a person’s life just by holding their hands also have this psychic ability.

You have very vivid dreams.

If you wake up and remember vivid details of your dreams, this is a sign you might have ESP. People who experience lucid dreams usually remember symbols and essential themes related to their current situation. They may have recurring dreams that have deep-rooted meanings about people or events in their lives. People with vivid dreams may also feel they are warnings about the future.

You can just sense when something terrible is about to happen.

Do you have flare-ups of anxiety or depression before something big happens? For instance, before major political events or a global crisis, you might have this gut feeling something will occur soon. Or, you may have trouble sleeping or experience nightmares. All of these point to ESP, because your heightened sense of awareness and intuition allows you to know something before it happens.

You gravitate toward healing careers or hobbies.

Do you like working with energy? For example, people who enjoy massage therapy, reiki, acupuncture, or other healing modalities as careers may have ESP. If you’d instead work with the energies you can’t see instead of working with tangible objects. You probably have psychic abilities.

You can heal.

If you’ve ever laid hands on someone who’s sick or in distress and they instantly feel better, you probably have ESP. This gift is a clear sign of having intuitive gifts because you’re able to heal someone just with intentions and focused awareness.

You can sense the energies of two places at once.

Have you ever been sitting in a cafe somewhere and had a strong premonition about an event happening halfway across the world? If so, this is a sign you might have ESP. People who are highly intuitive and psychically gifted tend to feel the energies of multiple places at once. If you feel as though you’re actually at the destination in your vision, you probably have psychic gifts.

Final Thoughts on the 12 Signs of ESP

Most people have some level of psychic abilities, but not all are aware of them. To sum it up, if you feel like you have an inner “knowing” about something, or have compelling visions of the past or future, you likely have ESP. Also, if you identify as an empath or highly sensitive person, this is another indicator that you probably have psychic gifts.

Those who can tap into the hidden energies that make up this universe have essential knowledge and awareness to bring into this realm. If you’d like to tap into your gifts, learn to meditate and get to know your higher self, as this will help you access your intuition.

10 Ways to Naturally Beat Fatigue (Without Medicine)

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

We’ve all had one of those days where we just can’t seem to move very far. For some people, this feeling sticks with them every single day. They aren’t lazy but suffering from fatigue. Some people don’t want to use medication to regain energy. Here are the secrets they follow to beat fatigue, naturally!

10 Home Remedies to Beat Fatigue (and skip the medicine)

1. Keep a Journal

When you’re tired, the last thing you want to do is think about being tired. However, if you’re going to fix the problem, you need to look for patterns.

Keep a small journal to record your energy levels every day. You should also record how much sleep you got the night before and what you eat and drink. When you look back at the journal, you may be able to notice certain things.

For example, maybe you tend to feel tired when you don’t eat much throughout the day or when you have a lot of caffeine. Don’t forget to record if your energy levels changed throughout the day. Not only will you get the chance to go back and examine your behaviors to look for a cause, but journaling also causes you to focus on your energy levels.

When you focus on it, you will be more likely to make changes.

2. Natural Supplements

Vitamins are a simple way to make up for any vitamins you aren’t getting in your diet that day. Vitamin B, in particular, is known for being associated with energy. Another advantage of vitamin B is that it can help speed up your metabolism, hopefully helping curb your appetite. Look for a once a day supplement specifically designed to increase energy. Most importantly, don’t forget to take your vitamins.

3. Drink Water

Our bodies run on water. It’s what allows them to work correctly. That’s why it’s so important to drink as much water as you need. Numbers can vary based on weight, but you typically want to drink about eight glasses of water a day.

It’s best to carry a portable water bottle with you so that you always have water on hand. This practice is a purely natural remedy that can help with several other ailments as well. It can help contribute to a healthy weight as well as a better immune system. Try adding lemon to your water to make it especially useful for you.

You should also make a point to avoid things known to dehydrate the body. For example, drinking alcohol will leave you dehydrated. If you indulge, drink plenty of water. Also, drink in moderation.

4. Exercise to Beat Fatigue

If you suffer from fatigue, you may not be excited to go out and exercise, but it can be the best thing for you to do. When you put your body in motion, it can give you energy instead of wearing you out. It’s a great way to start the day with a little boost. The exercise will also make you feel good.

Exercising releases endorphins, and the endorphins contribute to a feeling of euphoria. It’s essential to pick an aerobic exercise you enjoy to get the best results. You do have plenty of options, though. Pick something you enjoy doing so that you will be more motivated to do it.

5. Quit Bad Habits (like alcohol and tobacco use)

It’s okay to have a drink every once in a while or maybe eat an edible, but you need to do everything in moderation. Cut back or eliminate drugs, alcohol, and tobacco from your lifestyle. If you do partake, do so in extreme moderation.

If you drink too much, you may find yourself less than motivated the next day. This is because alcohol, like many other bad habits, destroys you from the inside. These substances hurt your body and stop it from working at top capacity.

If you struggle to quit cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs, look into free options in your area for help. There are many meetings and support groups to help you succeed.

6. Get Adequate Sleep

If you want to feel refreshed and energetic, you need sleep. However, we have so much to do during the day. It can be challenging to fit in all of the rest you need. The first step is making sure you don’t squeeze too much into your day.

You might be proud to be a go-getter. But you should make sure that you don’t put so much on your plate that you’re up until all hours of the night. Reduce your daily to-do list a bit if you have to. A human adult needs over 7 hours of sleep to work best, so you should allow yourself for that much sleep every day.

If you struggle with getting to sleep at night, you may feel frustrated. However, there are things you can do to help yourself drift away.

First, put away the phone and turn off the television. These items produce stimulation that keeps your brain active, but you want your mind to slow down. Also, you should make your room comfortable. Get sheets and a blanket you enjoy. You should even fill your bedroom with subtle yet pleasant aromatics like lavender essential oil.

Read about the best essential oils to use for reducing anxiety and stress.

7. Manage Stress Levels

Many people experience stress throughout the day. This stress can be both emotionally and physically draining. If you want to have more energy throughout the day, you should focus on reducing the amount of stress in your life.

Start by eliminating stressors, if possible. You should also make a point to take time to meditate throughout the day or take yoga. These are simple ways to center yourself and boost your energy. Try doing this in the middle of the day when you see yourself nodding off. If you can’t seem to shake your anxiety levels, it may be time to talk to a professional.

Consider going to a psychologist or psychiatrist. In severe cases, the doctor may prescribe medication. Remember to mention your fear about your energy levels when talking to your doctor since some medicines can hinder progress by making you more tired.

8. Eat Healthily to Beat Fatigue

The food we eat is what fuels us. We need to eat the right things to get the fuel we need to give us energy. You want to eat things filled with nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains.

You need to start your day off right, but coffee and caffeinated drinks can make you more tired later. Instead, try one of these drinks to increase your energy. It can also help to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of a couple of large meals.

If you have a bit of excess weight, it can also help to stick to a low-calorie diet. If you lose weight, it can also increase energy levels. Avoid processed foods and foods high in calories but low in any nutritional value.

9. Change Your Mindset About Your Fatigue

One of the first things you need to do is change you how you think about fatigue. When you wallow in your exhaustion, it will only make you feel it more. Soon, it will get more challenging to get up and finally get moving. You need to try to distract yourself instead of being miserable. Look for things to pay attention to or force yourself to get up and get active.

When you do this, you won’t be focused on your fatigue. When you put your energy somewhere else, you may find your strength. The power will come from whatever distraction inspires you the most. This motivation will get rid of your fatigue. At least for a while.

You should also just go through life with a positive mindset in general. When you wake up and feel tired, encourage yourself.

10. Go to the Doctor

It’s essential to get a professional opinion about your condition. The fatigue could be a sign of a much bigger problem.

Some of the most common causes of fatigue include:

acute liver disorder
anxiety
cancer
chronic fatigue syndrome
diabetes
heart disease
multiple sclerosis
sleep apnea
traumatic brain surgery

A proper diagnosis will help you move forward in the best way possible since you have pinpointed the root of the problem. This means you need to go to the doctor. Schedule an appointment to talk about your symptoms.

Go to a doctor as soon as you notice signs of a problem to ensure you catch any severe ailments immediately. If you wait too long, the condition can get worse. You always want to catch a health problem quickly.

Final Thoughts on Using Natural Remedies to Beat Fatigue

Pick a natural remedy or two and start increasing your energy today. Soon, you’ll notice the dark circles under the eyes aren’t there anymore. You’ll have a lot more energy to tackle the day. You will feel like a new person when you beat fatigue. Plus, you’ll look fabulous without those pesky dark circles under the eyes.

15 Psychopathic Traits Never to Tolerate In A Partner

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you’re dating someone new, then you don’t know that much about them. It takes months and sometimes years to learn everything there is to know. Everyone has good in them, but it’s those psychopathic traits that you want to watch.

Does your new love interest scare you sometimes? Do they say things that send ice down your spine? If you believe the person you’re dating isn’t everything they’re cracked up to be, then you have a right to be concerned.

Does My Date Display Psychopathic Traits?

A psychopath is a person who has a mental health disorder that causes them to have aggressive, violent, and abnormal behaviors. This is not the kind of person you want to bring home to meet the family.

If you feel that you may be dating someone with this mental health issue, then here are some things to watch for.

1. A Pathological Liar

Most people have no problem telling a little white lie to keep from getting in trouble. However, a pathological liar is on a whole different level. These people lie about anything and everything, and they are so good that they believe their lies.

The pathological liar will concoct the most amazing stories without blinking an eye. These are the people that can fail a lie detector test with ease. If you notice their stories don’t add up or they’re telling blatant lies, you should be wary of them.

2. No Signs of Remorse or Guilt

Everyone should have some degree of remorse or guilt in life. The hallmark psychopathic traits for someone who is mentally unbalanced is they have no empathy. These are the people that could shoot someone in cold blood and never think twice about it.

If you notice that your new love interest can do something, like stealing from a family member, and acting as if it never happened, you should run.

3. Impulsivity Can Reveal Psychopathic Tendencies

An impulsive person acts now and doesn’t think of the consequences. Many people do criminal acts in the heat of the moment and then live with regrets later. Someone with psychopathic traits can do something impulsive but never think about it again.

While being a little impulsive on a date can be fun and exciting, it can also be perilous when you don’t know how to set appropriate boundaries. Their zealous nature can get you in trouble too.

4. Irresponsible

Is your new love interest irresponsible? Do they forget to pay the car payment, call off work because they feel like it, or do downright ignorant things? Being reckless is a kid’s trait.

However, many adults are just as irresponsible as a child. If this new interest lives their life like they don’t have a care in the world, then their careless nature can be concerning.

5. Behavioral Problems

It sounds strange to talk about an adult and speak of behavioral problems. One of the most critical psychopathic traits to watch for is someone who acts like a child throwing a temper tantrum.

Revealed–the behaviors of a compulsive liar.

6. Lack of Empathy–a Classic Psychopathic Trait

A lack of empathy is one characteristic that many mental health professionals watch for, as it’s a sociopath’s hallmark. The person who lacks understanding can look down on others who have no food to eat and not feel sorry for them.

They could watch a parent pass from this life to the next and never shed a tear. These people are so wrapped up in their world that only their feelings count.

7. No Realistic Long-Term Goals

Everyone has a goal and a dream for their life. Well, almost everyone does. Some people live in the moment and take no thought for their future. If your new love interest seems to not care about the future, then it can be an alarming sign.

One of the psychopathic traits that are often observed is that someone takes no thought for the future. The mind can’t and doesn’t function that far ahead, so they tend to focus on the here and now.

8. Won’t Accept Responsibility

Have you caught your love interest in something, yet they adamantly deny it? Dealing with a sociopath is like dealing with a child with their hand in the cookie jar; they deny it even when you catch them.

Some say that one of the psychopathic traits is to be childlike and not accept responsibility for their wrongdoings. No matter what they’ve done, it’s always someone else’s fault. They love to point fingers and even go as far as making you the scapegoat for their acts.

If you find that your love interest is never wrong and seems to point the finger at everyone else, it’s annoying and concerning.

9. Manipulative

Everyone has a little bit of a manipulative nature about them when it comes to getting what they want. However, one of the psychopathic traits that you need to watch for is always manipulating to get their way.

A manipulative person can make you think or feel in ways that you never thought possible. They can turn situations around and make you apologize for the things they have done. If you do something that they don’t like, they may give you the silent treatment in hopes of making you cave in to their demands.

The manipulator will play all sorts of games with your emotions to get you to do what they want when they want it.

10. Grandiose Self Worth

A sociopath often has a high sense of self-worth. While it’s not wrong to think of yourself as a great person, their opinion is inflated to the extreme. This person feels their ideas, beliefs, and life is better than everyone else.

It’s not unrealistic for them to think that they can tackle Mt. Everest in life. They believe there is nothing they can’t do, and they often come off as arrogant. Don’t ever do a battle of words with them because they will always trump you.

11. Jealousy

They say that jealousy is as cruel as the grave, and indeed this saying is true. Frequently, a sociopath is jealous because they are fearful of losing something close to them. Also, they will project their guilt onto you.

For instance, have you ever been accused of being a cheater when the accuser was the guilty party? They project their guilt to soothe their conscious. Someone intense with their jealousy is often very insecure and wants to hold on to someone they fear will not stick around.

12. Guilt Trips

Guilt is another common trait of someone with psychological problems. They will use guilt as a form of manipulation. They can make you feel horrible about yourself until you cave to their demands.

For instance, they may want you to call off work so that you can be with them. Their jealousy may get the best of them, and they fear that if you get out of their sight, it could mean the end of your relationship.

When you don’t give in to their demands, they may use guilt to make you feel bad. Remember, these people are master manipulators and will stop at nothing to get their way.

13. Bullying

Sadly, many people who have psychopathic tendencies are bullies. They are judgmental and aren’t afraid to tell people what they think. They can come across cruel and look down on others who are not up to their high standards.

They’re not afraid to resort to name-calling or taunting someone because they don’t like them or their actions. Don’t be fooled into thinking that they won’t treat you this way too. Even though things may be right in the beginning, if you don’t do exactly what they want, you can also be bullied by their sharp tongue.

14. Adrenaline Junkies

Sociopaths are often adrenaline junkies. These are not the people that love roller coasters or bungee jumping, but they often seek dark acts that give them a thrill.

They may have an extensive criminal record because they break the law to satisfy their need for a high, and they may try to bring you to the dark side too.

15. Few Friends

Since these people have manipulative behaviors, are jealous, can be downright cruel, and their life is seemingly unbalanced, they have few friends. Their relationship with their family is usually strained too.

If your new love interest has no friends or family to introduce you too, then you might want to investigate why. If they’ve isolated all those around them, then there’s usually a significant reason.

Final Thoughts on Seeing the True Colors of a Person with Psychopathic Traits

There are so many fish in the sea of life, and you want to be careful and avoid the sharks. Just because someone appears to have it together and be the perfect person doesn’t mean that your perception is correct.

It takes time and effort to get to know someone, and you don’t want to rush into something you should avoid. Additionally, never put up with behaviors that bring you down. A good partner will encourage and uplift you, not make your life miserable.

13 Surprising Reasons To Include Prunes In Your Diet

June 14, 2020 by Power of Positivity

When you hear the word prunes, does it strike fear in your heart? Do you imagine a colony of senior citizens eating dried plums to keep away unsavory digestive issues like constipation and a bloated belly?

If you wrinkle up your nose yourself when thinking about prunes, you are not alone. Most people view prunes as unsavory and distasteful, yet the reality is that they are packed full of flavor, vitamins, and minerals that can improve your health.

All about prunes

These delicious fruits are dried plums. They have a sticky, sweet taste and a chewy texture that makes them an excellent addition to sauces, smoothies, and even desserts. To boost consumption recently, the prune industry briefly changed its name to “dried plums,” and it worked!

We think that this delicious fruit has gotten a bad rap, and we are here to set the story straight about what this delightful food can do for your mind, your body, and your health.

Let’s take a look at how its dried deliciousness came to be, and how it can change your world, even if you are “new to the chew.”

History of prunes

Coming originally along the silk route from China, the plum tree literally took root in the Mediterranean and spread westward as the fruit grew in popularity. To preserve the plum and make it consumable year-round, even when trees were not producing, harvesters began stone baking or letting plums dry in the sun and voila! The prune was born.

The modern production of the fruit starts when plums are picked at their peak for color and flavor, then they are dehydrated for 20-24 hours to retain maximum freshness. Some prunes that are dried for less time have a moist and chewy texture. However, they do not have a long shelf life and must be consumed more rapidly to avoid spoiling.

13 Reasons to Eat Prunes (or Dried Plums)

Just a serving of four “dried plums daily provides a third of your daily requirements of vitamin K, a dose of daily fiber, and over 290 milligrams of potassium. Let’s take a look at some other benefits of this fruit, as well as how it can be incorporated into your diet for optimal health and nutrition. Why do we need to include them in our diet?

1. They aid in digestion

Dried plums are rich in fiber, and they help to prevent digestive issues such as IBS and constipation from occurring. Constipation can be problematic for older adults as well as children; this painful condition can quickly cause other health issues if digestive regulation is not corrected. Some loyal consumers of this fruit also note that its juice is a powerful laxative agent, thanks to its high sorbitol content. With daily recommendations for most adults being 30-40 grams of fiber daily, this fruit is an excellent way to meet that quota, regardless of whether you consume it in solid or liquid form.

2. They help to prevent overactive bladder discomfort

Overactive bladder is an uncomfortable and embarrassing condition where you continually fight the urge to urinate. Adding more fiber to your diet can relieve pressure on your bladder, some of which may actually be caused by constipation.

Soluble fiber will also pull water from your elimination system to bulk up the digestive process in your colon, reducing your urge to urinate as well. A modest serving of extra fiber daily will make you feel more comfortable overall.

3. Prunes are high in potassium

This super fruit is very high in potassium, which is a critical electrolyte that assists in several metabolic processes in the body. It is said to aid with digestion, elimination, regulation of heart rhythm, nerve and muscle impulses, and blood pressure. The body does not produce potassium on its own; a serving of prunes provides almost 20 percent of your daily requirements of potassium.

4. They are high in vitamins

Not only rich in potassium, but dried plums also contain several vital vitamins needed to metabolize food and function at optimal levels. Dried plums contain vitamin K, A, riboflavin, B-6, and niacin, which are all required by the body for cellular metabolic and detoxification functions. The more efficient your cell function is, the more likely you are to be in a state of vibrant health.

Read up on the benefits of another healthful fruit–plums!

5. They are excellent for your heart

While exercise and a proper diet contribute to heart health, consuming a serving of this sweet fruit certainly can’t hurt! Its fiber rich flavor helps to lower cholesterol and keep heart and blood vessels healthy, reducing the risk of heart disease.

This reduction in cholesterol keeps inflammation at bay and helps to keep arteries clean and plaque-free, making your entire cardiovascular system more efficient.

6. Prunes help promote eye health

As you slip on your sunglasses for your next outdoor adventure, think about popping some dried plums in your bag to keep your eyes healthy.

They are rich in vitamin A and beta carotene, two nutrients that are essential in protecting your eyes from damaging UV rays. Snack on a handful on your next nature walk, and you’ll be on the right track for better eye health.

7. They fight colds and other viruses

Move over, vitamin C! Take a backseat, oranges! This fruit is the next big thing when it comes to packing antioxidant power and battling nasty viruses during cold and flu season. They provide you with crucial vitamins that assist in cellular healing processes; viruses cannot invade a healthy cell environment. They are the perfect snacking companion for you at the office, for your kids at school, and anywhere else, you might come into contact with free-roaming bacteria that threaten your health.

8. They help to build muscle

Yoga and strength training are excellent ways to train the body and promote healthful muscle tone. However, you simply cannot out-train your fork. What you put into your gut does matter.

Luckily, a serving of this power-packed goodness contains enough boron to properly rebuild muscle tissue, improve muscle coordination, and increase your mental clarity. Why would you not take advantage of the benefits?

9. Dried plums treat anemia

Anemia is a condition caused when your body is iron-deficient. This can manifest in the body as fatigue, tiredness, and even shortness of breath. Dried plums are packed with iron, a mineral critical to proper metabolic function and natural energy. Iron is needed to build essential blood structures; consider adding this fruit to your diet for healthy blood and healthy iron levels.

10. They provide natural energy without blood sugar spikes

Prunes provide you with a natural energy spike without any spikes in blood sugar. A unique combination of fructose and sorbitol affords you sweet energy without all the sugar issues. People with diabetes and people with glucose sensitivities can enjoy the natural sweetness that this wonderfully nutritious fruit provides.

11. They may help with weight management

Fiber-packed morsels of sweet and chewy goodness help keep you fuller, longer. People who snack on dried plums report that they satisfy their sweet tooth as well as maintain a feeling of fullness that makes snacking obsolete.

12. They may protect against respiratory disorders

COPD, emphysema, and other lung diseases may be significantly improved with antioxidant-rich foods. This sweet and satisfying fruit supplies you with many antioxidants that will protect lung tissue and work to repair compromised areas for improved respiratory function.

13. Dried plums help improve bone health

These vitamin-rich beauties have shown to be the most effective fruit when it comes to protecting bone health and preventing osteoporosis, thanks in part to the abundant phenolic and flavonoid compounds present in every delicious bite. Who needs to wait until their forties and fifties to protect bone health? Start snacking on dried plums in your youth, and you’ll have strong and healthy bones for years to come.

Possible side effects of eating too many prunes

Undoubtedly, prunes are delicious, and they have several health benefits. However, this fruit can cause some unsavory side effects when you consume it in excess.

Some of these side effects include:

Bloating and gas–sorbitol and fiber present in the fruit can cause excess gas to form.
Diarrhea–insoluble fiber may make stools frequent and uncomfortable.
Constipation–excess fiber can absorb liquids that you are ingesting.

To prevent these issues, introduce dried plums into your diet slowly.

Here are some wonderful reasons to eat lemons every day.

Final Thoughts: Adding prunes (aka dried plums) to your diet

If you are wondering how to incorporate these vitamin-rich, delicious morsels to your diet, consider these easy ways:

Take them along to work or school for a quick snack.
Add them to breakfast cereal and oatmeal.
Mix them into nuts and chocolate for a delicious trail mix
Add to cookies, brownies, and other baked goods.
Blend them into drinks and smoothies.
Puree them and make them into jam.
Add them to sauces and stews.
Drink their delicious juice.

With such a rich and tasty way to enhance your diet, you really have no excuse not to incorporate them into your daily meals and snacks. Bon Apetit!

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