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Doctors Reveal 10 Foods That Beat IBS Naturally

April 26, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you need to run to the restroom soon after you eat? Do you suffer from unbelievable cramping and bloating when you eat certain foods? Have your bowel habits become so bad that you don’t want to eat out at a restaurant or go anywhere that there is no bathroom close by? You could have irritable bowel syndrome or IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a miserable gastrointestinal disorder that causes you to use the restroom more frequently than most. It’s sometimes called spastic colon or colitis because the conditions are very similar. IBS is a disorder that affects the small and large intestines functional nature.

Signs and Symptoms of IBS

IBS is a widespread problem that affects about one in every five Americans. It’s one of the most diagnosed health problems around. Studies have shown that it usually starts in the mid-20s, and it mostly affects women.

The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Since this is a chronic disorder, there is no cure. Some medications can help, but the side effects are often more severe than the condition itself.

Unfortunately, so many people become so miserable with this condition that they cannot work. They live in fear of being too far from a restroom, and it inhibits their life. Here are the most common signs of IBS:

•Extreme Fatigue
•Gas
•Bloating
•Mucus in the Stools
•Severe Abdominal Cramping
•Stomach Pains
•Anxiety
•Depression
•Headaches
•Chronic Diarrhea
•Constipation
•Urge to Have a Bowel Movement After Just Finishing One

Foods to Avoid With IBS

Many foods are a trigger for those who have an inflamed colon. Following a proper IBS diet can help to ease symptoms, but it’s not fool-proof. Here is a list of the food to avoid with IBS:

•Citrus Fruits – Oranges, Limes, Lemons, and Tangerines
•Cruciferous Vegetables – Cabbage, Broccoli, Beans, and Cauliflower
•Dairy – Milk, Yogurt, Hard Cheese, and most Dairy Products
•Chocolate
•Spicy Foods
•Caffeine
•Sugar-Free Products – Specifically those made with sugars alcohol
•Sugar
•Cigarettes (not a food, but we will still include it!)

Nature’s Healing Properties: 10 Foods to Help Calm Your IBS

Having IBS is very frustrating since you must follow a restrictive diet. There is some give and take when it comes to finding out what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan, so there will be a period of trial and error.

If you prefer to handle your problems using nature, there are some fantastic ways that you can help to heal your gut without all the side effects of medications. Here are some foods that are known to have healing properties in the gastrointestinal tract, which has a direct impact on irritable bowel syndrome.

1. Peppermint

Mint has been used for centuries to help with diarrhea and upset stomachs. To see how effective this natural remedy was on IBS, a study was conducted. The American College of Gastroenterology, as well as Alexander C Ford of McMaster University, were involved in the research.

The findings were conclusive that the antispasmodic compounds found in this plant were extremely helpful in soothing an irritable bowel. Menthol oil has been used as a topical rub for sore muscles, but taking it internally provides relief from constant gas pain.

To make this as an elixir for bowel problems, make a tea by adding a few drops of this oil to water. Taking it three or four times a day can work wonders for most people. Though, you must be careful as too much of this mint can cause heart and central nervous system problems.

This peppermint tea works wonders for IBS as well as for other healch issues.

2. Romaine or Swiss Chard

You’ve heard a million times that you need to eat dark, leafy greens. However, for those who are treating IBS naturally, it seems to be a miracle worker. There is no scientific reason why these lettuce varieties work so well to soothe irritable bowels, but it does.

3. Bananas

Bananas are often used in infants to stop diarrhea. They are so good at controlling this common problem because they have soluble fiber, which helps to absorb and expel any excess liquid that is stored in the intestines.

Another reason why bananas are so good for you is that they are high in potassium. Potassium is known to relieve both bloating and gas. Make sure the fruit is ripe and eat them at least twice a day. They can help improve symptoms dramatically.

4. Ginger

Ginger is an herb that has a wide variety of uses. It has been used to calm an upset stomach for decades. It has anti-inflammatory properties that are so soothing to an upset stomach, but it extends the same features to the intestines too.

Make ginger tea and drink it a couple of times each day. It’s always best to use fresh ginger root, but you can use premade teas if necessary. Though, you should avoid this one if you have high blood pressure as it can aggravate it.

5. Yogurt

Not all yogurts are created equal. Anything that has live cultures, like Bifidus regularis, can have a significant impact on the symptoms of IBS. These cultures are made from friendly bacteria, and they help to give your intestines an extra layer of protection.

Additionally, yogurts that create lactic acid helps to get rid of impurities or toxins from the body, which can help to ease the problems involved with irritable bowel.

6. Flax Seed

Flax seeds are all the rage in the nutrition world. Not only do they support the immune system, but they are a great support to your digestive health too. Your digestive system needs the extra fiber they provide to help remove unwanted waste.

When it comes to irritable bowel, flax seeds are an excellent cure for both the problems of constipation and diarrhea. Make sure you use the ground variety and add one teaspoon to hot water to make a tea. Allow the mixture to steep for a minute, then strain and enjoy. Not only will this mixture help your digestion, but it can help gas too.

7. Fennel Seeds

One of the problems with an irritable bowel is that there is often an overproduction of mucus in the intestines. Thankfully, adding some fennel seed to your diet can help. All you need is a cup of boiling water and a half of a teaspoon of the seeds.

Allow them to permeate the water for about 10-15 minutes. You can get rid of your intestinal bloating and painful spasms by drinking this a couple of times each day.

Fennel works wonderfully for IBS.

8. Carrots

Carrots are loaded with beta carotene that is great for your eye health, but did you know that they can also help in treating IBS? They help to control the persistent problem of diarrhea and constipation.

It’s the pectin in these vegetables that give your intestines the boost they need. All you need to drink is a cup or two of fresh carrot juice each day to reap the benefits.

9. Pears

You would think pears would be one of the foods to avoid with IBS since they are so sweet. However, these juicy wonders are great for intestine health. There is no real scientific explanation as to why they are so fantastic for the gut, but they seem to work well.

Fresh pear juice is the best elixir for an upset intestinal tract. Since most fruits are aggravating to the bowel, it’s strange that this sweet delight is the exception.

10. Chamomile

Chamomile is a calming herb that’s been used for thousands of years. It helps by reducing inflammation in the intestines that can stop the spasms, cramps, and inflammation. The tannins and antispasmodic compounds comprised of this herb are what do the work.

All you need is two or three cups of this delicious tea each day to provide the relief you need. You will find that soon your cramps and diarrhea can be a thing of the past by adding this to your daily regimen.

Diagnosing IBS

Unfortunately, there is no way to diagnose an irritable bowel officially. Your physician will want to run a series of tests to identify any medical problems that could be causing the same issues. Celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, is very similar to that of a spastic colon, and the symptoms are identical.

Diagnosing IBS requires that you have severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other common symptoms at least one day per week. Once other conditions are ruled out, then the official diagnosis of irritable bowel is given.

Final Thoughts on Eating the Foods That Beat IBS

There are other natural things that you can do to treat your irritated bowel. For instance, if you are having muscle aches and cramps, then a nice warm bath can help to relax the muscles. Also, minimize your stress as it can also be a contributing factor.

An IBS diet can help to keep symptoms at bay, but you should also try to eat smaller meals and eat slower. More substantial meals tend to put stress on your intestines, and they can increase your gas too. Though this condition is troublesome, it’s easy to manage. You can still enjoy life and learn to keep your irritable bowel in check.

15 Easy Lunch Ideas for Kids When You’re Working from Home

April 26, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Are you looking for some easy lunch ideas for kids while you’re working from home? Summer is just around the corner, and the school lunch lady will be on a well-deserved break. What will you do when your youngsters are waiting to eat at noon, and you still have work to finish?

While it’s tempting to throw a few TV dinners in the microwave, you want healthy lunches for the family. When you have a stay-at-home-job, you rarely have time to prepare a gourmet meal. If your gang is comprised of picky eaters, then making healthy lunches may be challenging.

15 Amazing and Easy Lunch Ideas

Take a deep breath and realize that you’ve got this. With some careful planning and creative cooking ideas, you can prepare delicious and nutritious meals that even the fussiest eaters will enjoy. Here are fifteen easy lunch ideas for kids when you work from home.

1. Oodles of Noodles

Do you want healthy lunches for your children that are packed with fiber? You can’t go wrong with noodles. Not only are most kids fond of pasta, but it is cheap and easy to make. What child doesn’t like mac & cheese?

Another wonder of pasta is how many varieties you can make. Choose fun shapes like elbow macaroni, bowtie, or spaghetti noodles, and you can mix it with whatever protein you have on hand. Give your kids an extra boost of vitamins and use colorful veggie pasta.

2. Breakfast for Lunch

Who says you can only eat breakfast foods in the morning? Some of your kids’ favorite foods may be breakfast items. The good news is that you can prepare some things ahead to save time.

Does your gang have an affinity for pancakes or waffles? The next time you make a stack of waffles or pancakes in the morning, make a few extra to seal and put in your freezer. For a quick, tasty lunch, microwave them and watch them disappear.

3. Tacos on the Go

Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or not, your picky eaters probably won’t turn down a zesty Mexican lunch. With this fun and simple hack, you can have tacos even during your busiest workday at home. The best part is that the kids can make them in no time.

All you need are snack-size bags of tortilla chips, pre-cooked the night ahead ground meat, and whatever taco toppings your family likes. Crunch the chips a little, open the bag, and fill it with meat and other toppings. With these quick tacos in a bag, they just use forks, and there’s no mess afterward to clean up.

4. Let’s Eat a Pita

Pita bread is inexpensive, and you can cut them in half to make two sandwiches. They are ideal for creating a leisurely lunch for kids. Your choice of fillings is only limited to your imagination, and no cooking is involved.

Some yummy suggestions could be tuna or egg salad, peanut butter & jelly, bologna & cheese, or a pizza sauce in a pocket. Are your children dippers? Slice your pita bread into triangles and let them dip them in cheese, salsa, or hummus for a light lunch.

5. How to be a “Souper” Parent

Do you want your children to have hot lunches every day, but working from home makes it tricky? Consider making homemade soup one weekend and freeze the rest. Come Monday morning, put it in your slow cooker, and it will be steaming hot by lunchtime.

Getting your finicky eaters to eat veggies can be quite a challenge. If vegetables are blended into tasty soups and stews, the youngsters will enjoy a whole bowl without thinking about the hidden ingredients.

Prepare some of their favorites, like chili, veggie soup, bean soup, or anything you can blend with some herbs in a stockpot. Plus, getting those veggies into them helps to boost their immune system too.

6. Customized Pizzas

One of the great easy lunch ideas for kids includes turning your kitchen into an impromptu pizzeria. You would be hard-pressed to find a child who turns down pizza. When they have the freedom to build their special pie, they will be more apt to eat their creation.

Purchase individual ready-made crusts and put one on everyone’s plate. Provide bowls of pizza sauce, cheese, and other toppings your gang prefers. All they need to do is top, bake, and eat.

7. Have a Smoothie

Here is another deliciously sneaky way to get your picky kids to get enough fruit and veggie servings. Smoothies are a quick and easy lunch, and it’s the next best thing to eating a tempting dessert.

Search the Internet for yummy and nutritious smoothie recipes. Use your blender or food processor, some ice, and your secret stash of healthy ingredients. The sweetness of fruit masks the taste of veggies or protein powder you use. Your brood will think they are getting a treat when it’s healthy for them.

Smoothies are quick and nutritious–you can feed the little ones in record time.

8. The Best Time for Skinny Dipping

Sorry, this lunch idea has nothing to do with the beach. As early as toddlerhood, children learn how fun and yummy it is to dip food into sauces. Take advantage of this mealtime affinity and prepare your children a healthy dipping plate.

Slice up carrots, celery, cucumbers, and other colorful veggies and arrange them attractively for visual appeal. Make small bowls of their favorite dipping sauces like hummus, peanut butter, salsa, or ranch dressing. They’ll love the taste, and you’ll enjoy the nutritious lunch with little fuss.

9. Make Lunch a Wrap

Do you need some new easy lunch ideas for kids? Are your children bored with the same old sandwiches? Turn those frowns upside down with rolled-up wraps instead. You provide the fillings, so you know it will be a healthy option for your family.

Open sheets of flatbread and spread them with softened cream cheese. Layer on thin slices of meat, cheese, and veggies. Roll the wraps tightly, cut them into circles, and serve. You could also make fruit wraps or ones with peanut butter & jelly too.

10. BLTs Hot from the Grill

One of the best easy lunch ideas for kids is to use leftover bacon from breakfast to create lunch? Turn it into scrumptious BLTs your youngsters are sure to love. You already have the crisp bacon, so now you need the lettuce and tomato.

Toast two slices of bread for each child and layer it with bacon, sliced tomato, and torn lettuce. If your kids like mayo, then spread a little on each sandwich. Bring your BLT up a notch and add a layer of tuna salad or another meat.

11. Go-Go Yogurt Parfaits

Parfait is French for perfect, and it couldn’t get any closer than making delicious yogurt varieties. If your kids like yogurt for breakfast, they will enjoy it just as much as a parfait for lunch. They will also have fun helping you prepare them.

In separate dessert cups, layer yogurt with sliced fruit, granola, or other tasty options. If you are pressed for time in the afternoon, prepare these the night before, and they will be ready for lunch. Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium and Vitamin D for growing bones. Plus, it tastes good too.

12. Nacho Mama’s Nachos

Imagine your family’s surprise when you replace the tortilla chips in their favorite nacho dish with mini hash browns? Since almost every youngster adores these tasty tots anyway, they make an easy lunch for kids.

After you bake or deep fry the tots, layer them in a casserole dish with seasoned meat, salsa, and plenty of shredded cheese. Brown it in the oven and watch the smiling faces at your lunch table. Don’t expect any leftovers with this Mexican version.

13. Ole’ for Quesadillas

Do your picky eaters prefer only cheese on their Mexican dishes? Then you’re in luck when you make simple quesadillas for lunch. They are as quick and easy to make as grilled cheese sandwiches, and your kids will ask for them again and again.

Lay a soft flour tortilla in a heated pan or grill, add plenty of your family’s favorite shredded cheese, and top with another tortilla. The quesadillas are done when both sides are golden brown, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Slice each into quarters and serve with chips and salsa.

14. Salmon Patties on the Quick

What about some easy lunch ideas for kids that includes healthy fish? Salmon patties or crab cakes are old-fashioned dishes that have been loved for generations, and you can find authentic recipes online. To save time, mix your ingredients beforehand, make it into patties, and store in the fridge for the next day.

You can also use tuna or crab meat, and the cakes will be just as delicious. It only takes a few minutes to fry pre-made patties to a golden brown in a skillet. Serve them with fries or a fresh salad. Salmon patties can also be reheated for another tasty meal.

15. Classic Sloppy Joes

If you must be the lunch lady for your kids while you are working from home, why not prepare this iconic school lunch sandwich? Sloppy Joes are an excellent way to use any leftover fried ground beef. Add a canned seasoning mix to the meat or use your favorite Sloppy Joe recipe.

Pile the mixture high on a burger bun, and you can also add cheese if you like. What do you do if you have leftover Sloppy Joes? Use it to top tasty Coney style hotdogs for lunch tomorrow.

Only parents will understand these funny quotes about life with toddlers.

Final Thoughts: Thinking Outside the Box for Easy Lunch Ideas

Lunchtime doesn’t need to be a challenge. There are so many easy lunch ideas for kids that the sky is the limit. Consider some of these quick and easy meal options. When you let your children help, you make a great lunch plus have quality time with them. Plus, anything you create for your children is made with love.

Trainers Reveal 11 Body Weight Exercises That Really Work

April 26, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Let’s face it. Exercising at home can get boring after a while. Wouldn’t you be relieved to know that many professional trainers reveal in-home body weight exercises for you to enjoy? You still get a good workout, but you won’t have the dread that many folks experience.

If you are like many people in America, you probably live on a tight budget. With all the bills and a family to care for, an expensive gym membership may be out of the question. Besides, who has time to run to the gym when you’re working and keeping up with your home life?

On the positive side, you don’t need a pricey membership to work out every day. In-home exercise routines are just as effective when you use free weights and bodyweight maneuvers. So you save money, get ripped, and do it in the comfort and privacy of your abode.

What Are Body Weight Exercises?

When you were in high school gym class, you probably remember the teacher calling your exercises calisthenics. This word is derived from Greek, and it means beauty and strength. It’s also called body weight exercise because you use your body and the force of gravity instead of machines to complete the movements

Calisthenics can also be thought of as macro-exercises because most of them affect large muscle groups in the body. Some bodyweight exercises may use small equipment minimally. When you perform these maneuvers, you create a rhythm of movement that inspired the beauty the Greeks so loved.

Before you start any exercise regimen, talk to your doctor about one that is best for you. When choosing body weight exercises, consult a certified trainer to devise a personalized workout with optimal exercises and safe technique.

How to Get Started on Body Weight Exercises

Use a spare room or create a space in another room of your house to work out. Exercise alone or get your family involved as a group fitness project. To break the monotony, pump out the music or watch tutorials of home gym workouts while you exercise.

Wear light, comfortable clothes and have fresh water on hand for hydration. Soon, you and your family will look forward to workout time. Here are some fun and innovative body weight exercises that don’t require special equipment to complete.

1. Side Leg Lifts

Who would have imagined that you could get a good workout while lying down? With this classic movement, you lie on your side and gently lift your top leg about 45 degrees, then lower it slowly. After about 10-15 repetitions, turn to lie on your opposite hand to work the other leg.

The idea is to do the movements slowly and deliberately. As you notice a little tightening feeling in your legs and hips, you know the exercise is working. Side leg lifts benefit your calves, hips, and behind.

2. Sit-Ups

Sit ups are body weight exercises that has been used for in-home workouts for generations. You must practice safe techniques when doing sit-ups so that you don’t strain or injure your neck or back. If needed, use a pillow for comfort.

Lie flat in a comfortable spot, lock your hands behind your head, and sit up slowly as far as you can go without pain. Sit-ups are an ideal way to strengthen your core and flatten your tummy. Do 10-15 repetitions, rest, then do another set.

3. Side Hops

If you like to speed skate, you are probably familiar with the movements of this these body weight exercises. Squat a bit and hop over to the left as far as you can. Land on your left foot with your right leg bent up at the knee. Then, reverse to the right side, landing on your right foot with your left leg bent at the knee.

While this exercise is almost like running in place, you want the movements to be slower. Do 10-15 repetitions for three sets. Side hops help tone your calves, thighs, and hips.

4. Jumping Jacks

When you do jumping jacks, you can’t help but laugh and have fun. Be sure you have adequate space to do the exercise safely. If you are doing it with your family, make sure nobody gets hurt.

First, stand straight with your legs together and your arms straight over your head. In one smooth movement, hop up and land with your legs spread and your arms stretched horizontally from your body, then return to the original position. Do several jumping jacks as part of your bodyweight exercises.

5. Jump Rope

This is an example of body weight exercises that requires simple equipment. You will need plenty of space for the rope to swing and not hit the wall or furniture. Jumping rope as a workout is not the same as skipping rope when you were in grade school.

Purchase an inexpensive exercise rope, and jump quickly for as many minutes as you feel comfortable. You will be working out your entire body, so allow for recovery time and rehydration. Jump rope is an excellent cardio workout.

6. Running in Place

Is the weather not cooperating, and you are ready for a morning run? You can stay indoors and run in place for a comparable workout. For an easy and safe technique, do this exercise on a non-slip pad.

Run in place at the speed and time you like, being sure to breathe deeply for optimal benefits. Listening to upbeat music puts a little kick in your step. After a running session, take a break before doing another exercise.

7. Practice Yoga

Yoga is one of the ideal bodyweight exercises that has been practiced for centuries. When you practice yogic positions, you blend them with meditation and mindful breathing for a holistic workout. If you’ve never done yoga, you can find excellent tutorials online that will guide you through an entire series.

To do advanced yoga positions, all you need as a comfortable yoga mat or blanket, and soft yoga blocks. The gentle, graceful movement tones your body and relaxes your mind. If you want a more strenuous workout, you might consider watching tutorials for hot yoga.

8. Push-ups

Pushups are an ideal body weight exercise for in-home workouts. If you feel strain on your back or legs while doing pushups, don’t continue.

You stretch your body out face down, and lift your upper body with your arms, and then lower it to the ground. Most people do 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions. If traditional pushups are too uncomfortable for you, then there are modified versions that work well too.

9. Burpee

Would you like to try a multi-movement exercise that was created by a doctor at Columbia University? Over a century ago, Royal Burpee invented his eponymous exercise that works your whole body simultaneously. Today, the burpee remains an all-time favorite for workouts both in-home and in public fitness centers.

With your feet apart and aligned with your shoulders and arms at your sides, bend your knees. Go down with your hands on the floor. Now, kick your legs behind you and lower your whole body to the floor, with elbows bent. Push up with your arms to stand again, with a little hop.

Jump straight in the air and return to your first position. Burpee devised this combination of movements as a physical fitness test. Be sure to do each step correctly and safely.

10. Pull-Ups

Fitness enthusiasts often use pull-ups to build and define muscles in their arms. If you don’t have a pull-up bar at home, then you should use the next best thing. Did you know that you can do this simple exercise by hanging on the top edge of a sturdy door?

You can also do pull-ups while lying down under a well-built table. Lie down and scoot yourself just until your head and neck are under the table. Clasp the edge of the table with both hands and use your arms to pull yourself up for 10-15 repetitions.

11. Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are inexpensive, and they are perfect to use for your bodyweight exercises. They can attach to any doorknob so you can do resistance stretches to strengthen your arms and chest. Then, use the bands to do side leg lifts to benefit your legs, thighs, hips, and behind.

Some resistance band sets can be stood on while you pull up for upper body exercises. They are lightweight, easy to store, and can be taken anywhere you go. What other gym machines can do that?

Final Thoughts on Using Body Weight Exercises to Get in Shape at Home

It’s imperative to cool down after a good workout. After you work and stretch your muscles, give them time to recover. Overdoing your workout can make you sick or strain your muscles, so rest and drink plenty of water between sets.

Enjoy body weight exercises in your home or wherever you go. You can get a healthy, toned body without ever stepping into a gym. Combine your workout with a well-balanced diet for even quicker results. Additionally, get the whole family involved, and everyone wins.

15 Romantic Indoor Date Ideas

April 26, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Going out on the town is overrated. You can create a memorable evening in the comforts of home. Sometimes the weather isn’t cooperating, or you are not in the mood to get dressed up and go out. Whatever the reasons, having a date night at home is the perfect way to spend quality time together.

Just because you are home doesn’t mean a date must consist of pizza and movies. If you decide not to go out for the evening, then you have more options than you could imagine. You and your love might enjoy it so much that your indoor date ideas require more than one night to complete.

Unique Home Dates

If romance is a cake, then variety is the icing. Nothing spices up a relationship more than creativity and spontaneity. Are you ready to spend some quality time with your one and only? Why not consider these fifteen indoor date ideas.

1. Get Things Hot in the Kitchen

Are you and your partner foodies at heart? Instead of spending a fortune in a fancy restaurant, create a dinner for two that suits your fancy. When you control the ingredients and how things are prepared, your meal may be healthier and tastier than anything you could buy.

Add some pizazz to your kitchen date and provide a theme. Travel to exotic places in your cooking and discover international foods you have always wanted to try. Set the mood with a lovely table setting that echoes your evening date’s cuisine.

2. Bring the Theater Home

Do you get frustrated with the crowds of noisy people and trying to find excellent seats in your local theater? Nix the cinema rush and bring the theater experience to your living room with some clever indoor date ideas. It’s cheaper than movie tickets, and you’ll have the best seats in the house.

Did you know that you can purchase recent blockbuster hits on your smart tv? If you and your sweetie prefer an older flick, you may watch it online for a small fee or nothing. Just plug your computer into your big screen and surround sound for a thrilling cinematic effect.

Before your movie begins, load down the coffee table or your bedroom nightstands with popcorn, candy, drinks, and other favorite snacks. Turn off your phones and dim the lights to set the mood. Cuddle up with your lover and enjoy a fun movie without interruption.

3. Have a Private Spa Night

You’ve probably seen the ads in glossy magazines about hiring massage therapists for in-home couple treatments. Doesn’t that sound like one of the best indoor date ideas ever? While this sounds relaxing with a hint of adventure, these professional services can be quite expensive.

If your budget does allow a visit to an afternoon spa or the services of a massage therapist, it’s ok. For the ultimate indoor date idea, turn your bath and bedroom into a relaxing spa retreat. With a little planning and inspiration, an exclusive spa night isn’t difficult.

Fill the room with candles, incense, and appropriate music to set the mood. You needn’t be a professional massage therapist to pamper each other with gentle, loving massages. Afterward, relax together in a warm bubble bath, complete with champagne on ice.

4. Celebrate an Evening of Wine and Roses

Are you and your love wine connoisseurs? While going on a wine tour of Napa Valley might be your dream date, it may not be possible. Instead, you should do the next best thing and taste some Vino at your place.

Purchase an assortment of wines that sound delicious, and neither of you has ever tried. You would be surprised that many quality wines are domestic and affordable. Pair your drinks of choice with a variety of cheeses, fruit, and of course, a bouquet of roses.

5. Do a Sundae this Sunday

Who says that ice cream sundaes are just for kids? Healthy relationships flourish when you are young at heart, so bring out the ice cream. For a casual, relaxing time, don’t bother changing out of your pajamas.

Line the counter with several tempting ice cream flavors and all the classic toppings, you both love. As you are making your frozen treats, watch how naturally the conversation and laughter comes. It will be a sweet occasion you will want to do again.

6. May I Have This Dance?

How often have you avoided dinner and dancing because you insist you don’t know how to dance? Now’s the time to end the excuses and learn a few steps at home, while you feel that nobody is watching you. Learning to dance together will open a whole new chapter in your book of romance.

You’ll find many basic dance step tutorials online. Clear some space in the living room, dress up, and dance to some romantic ballads. You can also cut the rug with a few fast-tempo songs. Soon, you may get the skills and courage to dance with your lover in public.

7. It’s Ok to Play Games

Knowing how to have fun and laugh together creates a healthy relationship. What could be more fun than an evening of your favorite board games? If you don’t have any, borrow some from friends or your kids.

Make some simple, yummy snacks and challenge your partner in the games you loved as a kid. You’re sure to have a romantic game night if you play Twister. Before the games begin, decide a special prize for the winner that you both will enjoy.

8. How About a Mystery Date

Years ago, there was an entertaining board game for girls called Mystery Date, where they never knew what handsome suiter would show up at the cardboard door. Put your spin on this classic game to pique some romance and curiosity.

While you already know who you’re dating, you can still add some intrigue with a mystery box. Write down one of these indoor date ideas, seal it in an envelope, and add it to a table with all the things needed. Let your lover open the wrapped mystery box to see what thrilling adventure awaits.

9. Let’s Get Crafty

There’s something about creativity that enhances healthy relationships. If you and your partner are crafty people, why not use some indoor date ideas to make your night a success? Imagine the sensuality of sketching and posing for each other.

You don’t have to be a master artist to have fun crafting with your sweetie. No matter what craft you do, enjoy it together. Display your creations at home or give them as heartfelt gifts to family and friends.

10. Plan an Indoor Camping Adventure

Do you remember being a kid and making a fort out of your parents’ blankets and pillows? Why not do something romantic and build a fort for your sweetie? If you have a tent hanging out in the garage, you can use that too.

Create a cozy hideaway that is perfect for two. Imagine all the fun you will have when you exchange scary ghost stories and chow down on great snacks. There’s something unique and intimate about the closeness camping provides. When it’s too cold or rainy on the outside, you can bring the camping adventure to the inside.

11. Tackle an Improvement Project

While it may not sound romantic to tackle a home improvement project together, it can be a lot of fun. Who says you can’t paint a bedroom, spend time together, and have some laughs too? Why not throw a little bit of paint on your spouse or paint funny things on the wall you will soon cover?

The best part about tackling these projects is that you’re getting things that must be done accomplished. However, the second part is you can justify ordering in dinner and bonding as you work away. It’s the best kind of indoor date when you make a significant accomplishment towards your home and have togetherness.

12. Plan a Scavenger Hunt

Isn’t a scavenger hunt one of the best adventures in the world? While they are typically done outside, who says you cannot bring the fun into your home? It’s best to use sticky notes to write out your clues as they are easily removable.

Put these little notes in various locations around the home. The hunt should include all sorts of little treats for your significant other to pick up along the way. The goal is to have the ultimate prize at the end. No matter how old you are, you will love pulling out an old-school adventure like a scavenger hunt.

13. Virtual Vegas Night

Do you know how much fun you could have with your spouse when you bring in some friendly competition? Why not play a friendly game that doesn’t involve money. You can trade chores, favors, or other gifts to the winner.

The family game night takes a whole other turn when you set up some little reward for the winner. Nothing is off-limits when you’re with your sweetie when you enjoy a virtual trip to Las Vegas.

14. Become a Video Sensation

If you’ve scrolled the internet lately, then you will notice that anyone and everyone is making videos. You can use TikTok or YouTube as your platform to become a superstar. Whether you sing, dance, or have a baking contest, the world will look on with glee.

All you need is a smartphone with a video recorder to launch your possible viral sensation. What better way to have fun and make memories than by becoming an internet superstar?

15. Plan Your Next Great Vacation

If you’re stuck inside your home dreaming of better days, you can turn your evening into a future adventure. The only thing better than being beachside getting served drinks is planning the great escape.

Why not grab the computer, something to drink, and your imagination? You’re about to plan the trip of a lifetime. Plus, it will give you ample opportunities to talk about your dreams. You may find out things about your spouse you didn’t know.

Final Thoughts on Trying These Indoor Date Ideas

Indoor date ideas require both thought and preparation. Even if you have an evening at home, it can be one of the most memorable nights of your life. Think outside the box, and think of a unique way to spend quality time together.

15 That’s Life Quotes That Give You Mental Strength

April 25, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you thought you could predict everything about your life, you’ve probably already figured out that you’re wrong. Life is unpredictable and will throw curveballs along the way. You can find strength in many places, but that’s life quotes for mental strength is one of the easiest ways.

Throughout life, you’ll likely make plans and thing you have everything all figured out. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go as planned.

Right now is when you need to pick up the pieces and figure out a new plan. If the plan is staying the same, you have to decide to try again. No matter the course you take, these that’s life quotes that give you mental strength may help.

That’s Life Quotes to Make You Mentally Stronger

1. “The problem with having problems is that ‘someone’ always has it worse.” – Tiffany Madison, in Black and White

It’s a part of life that there are problems and, even still, someone else will always have it worse. This reason is why you can’t compare your troubles to someone else’s concerns.
Since there should be no comparison, remind yourself that your troubles are all yours. Remember that you could always have it worse and just focus on getting through the problem.

2. “Each day is born with a sunrise and ends in a sunset, the same way we open our eyes to see the light and close them to hear the dark. You have no control over how your story begins or ends. But by now, you should know that all things have an ending. Every spark returns to darkness. Every sound returns to silence. And every flower returns to sleep with the earth. The journey of the sun and moon is predictable. But yours is your ultimate ART.” – Suzy Kassem

Although you have no control over the beginning or end of your life, each moment is a piece of your life’s art.

Think of all the moments Kassem mentioned in her quote. Each moment is uncontrollable but still beautiful and unique. Think of this when there are moments in life when you can’t control the outcome.

3. “It takes energy, mental toughness, and spiritual reinforcement to successfully deal with life’s opportunities, and to reach your objectives.” – Zig Ziglar

You have to stay strong despite any obstacles or events that stand in your way. Remain strong, and you will get through whatever life has planned for you. Then, you’ll reach your goal and have even more to be proud of than if the path had been easy.

4. “The shadows of life add depth and dimension to our journey, like route markers along our path. They are never intended to dominate our life with darkness; neither do they determine our ultimate destiny.” – Anthon St. Maarten

Things happen in life that you hadn’t hoped for or predicted. This disappointment is okay and normal because it’s all just a simple fact of life.

These moments aren’t supposed to put a damper on your life, and they’re not meant to ruin it. Instead, these moments are intended to put you on the path that was meant for you. They’re intended to be a part of your story and your destiny.

5. “We love being mentally strong, but we hate situations that allow us to put our mental strength to good use.” – Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Instead of hating the moments that require you to be mentally strong, embrace them. Think of those times as a chance to show the depth of your mental strength. Without encountering these moments, your mental strength will never develop further.

6. “A journey away from yourself does not exist. Embrace your strength and vulnerabilities. This could be the greatest lesson you can ever learn.” – J.R. Incer, in Mastering Success: The Key to Self-Empowerment and Higher Consciousness

You can’t escape yourself, nor should you want to. Each moment that tests you has the potential to be the best life lesson. Accept the parts of yourself that you cannot change and use the lessons to reach your full potential.

7. “If we never experience the chill of a dark winter, it is very unlikely that we will ever cherish the warmth of a bright summer’s day. Nothing stimulates our appetite for the simple joys of life more than the starvation caused by sadness or desperation. In order to complete our amazing life journey successfully, it is vital that we turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom, and find the blessing in every curse.”
– Anthon St. Maarten, in Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny

Without the hard times, you’ll experience in life, you’ll never know how great the good times can be. It’s the hard times that make the happy times worth it. This is all part of your life, so make the most of it.

8. “When you’re different, sometimes you don’t see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn’t.” – Jodi Picoult

In life, everyone is different from the next person. Even so, many people love you for who you are.
Unfortunately, as Picoult said, you may fixate on one person who doesn’t appreciate who you are. Try to avoid that trap, because what makes you different is what makes you great.

9. “The ability to continue moving when you are feeling scared, fearful or lazy is the sign of true mental strength.” – Matthew Donnelly

Life will get in the way of your goals. You’ll feel many different negative emotions. To get mental strength, you’ll have to push through and keep going for the goal.

10. “Just pick a goal, a goal you truly want to achieve, and take a clear-eyed look at your weaknesses – not so you’ll feel less confident, but so you can determine exactly what you need to work on. Then get to work. Celebrate small successes. Analyze your weaknesses. Keep going. As you gain skill, you’ll also gain a feeling of genuine confidence, one that can never be taken away – because you’ve earned it.” – Unknown

To reach your goal, you have to address your weak points. You need to do this so that you are more prepared for what’s to come. This way you can work harder on those weaknesses, and the small victories along the way will be even better.

11. “Some of us aren’t meant to belong. Some of us have to turn the world upside down and shake the hell out of it until we make our own place in it.” – Elizabeth Lowell, in Remember Summer

As mentioned before, everyone is different in their way. You aren’t meant to be just like anyone else, so you won’t always belong.

When this is the case, you have to do things your way to find where you belong. You will find that place, though, if you just keep figuring it out.

12. “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful.” – Mark Victor Hansen

Life is never perfect, and nothing ever plays out the way it was planned. Things are always slightly off. Just keep moving forward and those obstacles won’t seem so huge anymore.

13. “At the end of your struggles, challenges, and obstacles comes the mental strength to cross many boundaries in the future.” – Edmond Mbiaka

As long as you keep trying and never give up, you’ll find the mental strength you need to go on. There are no boundaries that cannot be crossed as long as you stay strong.

14. “Maybe life is playing the role it should: forever taking us on a journey where it makes it impossible for us to predict what will happen next.” – Nico J. Genes

Life is unpredictable, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. As long as you play along and keep rolling with the unexpected, you’ll be just fine.

15. “The wilderness journey is about transformation. For you, it could be a personal, spiritual, or professional drought. A desert season of confusion, frustration, and unproductivity. It’s an in between stage. Something significant has ended or begun. Yet it provides opportunity for expansion, wisdom, and joy.” – Dana Arcuri, in Sacred Wandering: Growing Your Faith In The Dark

No matter what life has given you, know that the hard times are only leading to something more. Those hard times are what you will learn from. The learning experiences will give you all the tools you need to work on the next step of life.

Final Thoughts on That’s Life Quotes That Give You Mental Strength

Life is highly unpredictable. Even after working so hard for something, it can disappear in an instant. While this may be hard to accept, it’s a part of life.

These that’s life quotes may give you the mental strength you need to proceed in your life. Don’t give up. Keep trying no matter what comes your way.

Dermatologists Explain 11 Self Care Tips That Help Stop Wrinkles

April 25, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you avoid looking in the mirror because you don’t like to see signs of aging? The good news is that dermatologists reveal wrinkle busting tips for self care at home. Not only are these beauty tips easy to do regularly, but they are economical.

No matter who you are, your complexion will not stay youthful forever. However, some people seem to age more gracefully than others. Is it just genetics, or do they know a secret they aren’t sharing?

Nobody wants to see sags, bags, and wrinkles looking back at them in the mirror? It’s no wonder that beauty products and treatments are a multi-billion-dollar industry in America. So many people want to preserve their youthful complexion that they will spend anything.

While it’s impossible to keep your skin flawless forever, you can do things to slow the aging process. You don’t need costly plastic surgery or painful injections to minimize small lines and wrinkles.

Try these eleven innovative wrinkle remedies for self care at home.

1. Avoid Sun Overexposure

Some of the simplest ways to preserve your skin’s vitality are common sense, such as avoiding being in direct sunlight for too long. You can always tell someone who has been a sun worshipper for years. The price of their devotion is a dry, leathery complexion that is prone to deadly skin cancers.

Of course, you need a certain amount of fresh sunlight to help your body produce vital Vitamin D. Warm sunshine improves your mood and can give you an attractive beach tan. Too much of a good thing can damage your skin and make you age prematurely.

Prevent these sun damage wrinkles and age spots by using sunblock and staying out of the sun during peak hours. Wear hats, scarves, and light clothing to protect your skin. It will keep you looking younger. It’s a natural self care at-home procedure that costs little to nothing.

Hyperpigmentation got you feeling down? We’ve got the remedies to share with you.

2. Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker, add this point to the plethora of reasons why quitting today is a good idea. Cigarette smoke is loaded with deadly chemicals and carcinogens. Not only can it destroy your lungs, but it’s detrimental to your skin.

Years of smoking clogs your pores with hazardous bi-products and leaves a sallow, wrinkled complexion as its calling card. Talk to your doctor about the smoking cessation program that is best for you. When you quit smoking, your whole body will start to heal, including your skin.

3. Change Your Diet

The condition of your skin is a tell-tale sign of your eating habits. If you consume a lot of processed foods loaded with sugar, salt, and unhealthy preservatives, then your skin will tell on you. When you don’t get adequate vitamins and minerals, you may notice more fine lines and wrinkles.

Part of your self-care at home includes a proper diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and heart-healthy fats. Most of these contain powerful oxidants that fight the free radicals which damage your skin cells.

Most whole foods are natural sources of collagen, a vital protein that keeps your body working. It is also responsible for healthy skin, strong nails, and hair. As you age, your body’s storage of collagen decreases as does your skin’s elasticity, so you must boost it with proper nutrition.

4. Hydrate Your Skin

When your skin is chronically dry and flaky, it is more prone to visible wrinkles. Is your skin thirsty? You may be one of the countless people in America who are dehydrated and don’t even realize it. It could be that you are not getting enough water.

Self care at home is just as much about what you take into your body as what you put on it. Keep your skin hydrated and younger by drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water each day. Watch your diet soda and sodium intake, which can also cause dehydration, dry skin, and wrinkles.

5. Exercise Your Face

You may already have an exercise regimen in place that keeps your body lean and healthy. Good physical fitness also benefits your skin and helps you look younger. However, did you know that you can exercise your face, too?

The Internet is chock full of video tutorials that will guide you through simple facial exercises. You can even learn how to do face yoga as one of your wrinkle remedies each day. Just as in the rest of your body, your face has muscles that need to be exercised and toned for optimal strength and longevity.

6. Do A Facial Massage

If you have ever visited a day spa, you probably treated yourself to a facial. Remember how heavenly the massage made your face feel, and you left with the assurance that you had turned back the clock. Unless you are wealthy, you can’t afford such luxuries every day.

Did you know that you can give yourself facials as part of your self care at home? As you apply your homemade toners or face masks, gently massage your skin and all the muscles in your face. You will feel your muscles relax, and your skin becomes supple, reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles.

7. Exfoliation for Wrinkle Remedies

While you sleep, your skin is continuously shedding millions of cells and replacing them. Even though many of these cells fall away without help, your face needs extra attention. A microscopic buildup of dead skin cells can irritate and dry your skin, as well as cause unsightly blemishes.

For men, shaving provides a lot of healthy facial exfoliation. However, both men and women can benefit from using a gentle face brush and cleanser each day. It will easily rub away the dull, dead cells and leave your complexion glowing and fresh.

Instead of forking over a fortune for expensive exfoliation creams, consider making some from scratch. Common ingredients like oatmeal and sugar have been used for centuries as a natural beauty regimen. Purchase a quality exfoliation brush and replace it as needed.

Read up on why being a DIY pimple popper is harmful.

8. Get Your Beauty Sleep

Remember when your mother reminded you that lovely skin required proper beauty sleep? It looks like scientific studies agree with her. When you don’t get enough rest, your skin cells don’t get the energy and replenishment they need. The results can be a tired, puffy complexion, which is prone to wrinkles.

Strive to get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night and keep a regular schedule, even on weekends. When you get proper rest, your skin has time to rejuvenate, and you look and feel younger. Also, pamper yourself with soft, silk pillowcases that don’t irritate your face while you sleep.

9. Who Was That Masked Person?

Beauty masks have been the go-to treatment for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians created fresh, hydrating masks from clay, herbs, and aloe. Now that you know the beauty secrets of legendry queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra, you can use them in your self care at home.

One of the cheapest and most effective homemade beauty masks is made from egg whites. Whip up a couple of egg whites and apply them to your face in the mornings. After they have dried in a few minutes, gently wash them off with cool water and pat dry.

You needn’t pay exorbitant prices for clay masks from high-end department stores or health spas. Buy natural clay powder inexpensively online and make your masks. Mix them with aloe or essential oils for an extra wrinkle-reducing boost.

10. Use Homemade Toner to Clarify Your Skin

When your grandmother wanted to clean her skin and make small lines less noticeable, she didn’t go to the department store. She probably reached into her pantry for all her beauty needs. You can do the same as grandma with your self care at home.

If you want to tone and clarify your complexion gently, then you should try a little witch hazel on a cotton ball. Make your skin shine and lighten age spots with fresh lemon juice or tea. Do some research to find other natural skin toners to implement in your self-care at home.

11. Reduce Your Stress Levels

You already realize that a stress-free life is a fallacy because living, growing, and learning involves stress. However, you can reduce unnecessary strain and improve your health and complexion at the same time. It’s a beauty treatment you can do anytime.

The next time you feel stressed, look at your reflection in a mirror. Stress makes the muscles in your face tense, and you will notice frown lines around your forehead, eyes, and mouth. If you are continually stressed, these lines will become more pronounced as permanent wrinkles.

Give yourself a break and find ways to minimize stress in your life. When you notice your face muscles tensing, relax them as best you can. Consider meditation, visualization, and mindful breathing to lower your stress level and reduce your wrinkles.

Final Thoughts on Embracing Beauty Treatments for Self Care at Home and Reducing Wrinkles

When you practice self-care at home, you needn’t be a celebrity or independently wealthy. You don’t need scary needles or surgeries that give you an artificial smile. Consider time-honored beauty treatments that are good for your complexion and easy one your wallet.

20 Inspired Quotes That Can Help Relieve Your Sadness

April 25, 2020 by Power of Positivity

As a normal part of life, you’ll experience sadness on occasion. You’ll also get through those sad times and be happy again with the help of these inspired quotes by some great voices.

Even if the sadness lingers for a while, try to find comfort in that fact that when you become happy again, it’ll be even better. To truly experience happy moments, you have to have sad moments to compare them to.

Accept these sad moments won’t happen overnight, but you may be able to find comfort in the meantime. Many inspired quotes can help relieve your sadness.

Inspired Quotes That Can Help Relieve Your Sadness

1. “It’s going to get harder before it gets easier. But it will get better. You just have to make it through.” – Unknown

Unfortunately, you may end up feeling even sadder than you do right now. Keep hanging on, though, because that just means you’re getting closer to the breakthrough. You won’t be sad forever. You just have to get through the hard parts.

2. “Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before – more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.” Charles Dickens, in Great Expectations

Crying can help you get through the hardest parts of being sad. It can be a way to let out some of the pain and to reflect on all that occurred. You’ll become more self-aware, which can help in the healing process.

3. “Someday, you’re gonna look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You’ll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

When you find happiness again, you’ll look back on this moment differently. Sure, you were sad, but everything was changing to lead you to where you need to be. Once you reach that point, it’ll be easier to understand why you had to be sad now.

4. “There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well.” – Nicholas Sparks

Sometimes the sadness is what makes the happy moments so great. If you didn’t know how it feels to be sad, you wouldn’t have anything to compare the happiness to.

Plus, once things change and you get through the sadness, you’ll be happy to be where you are. As Sparks said, you would be taking away your joy if you took away your sadness.

5. “To that one soul reading this, I know you’re tired. You’re fed up. You’re so close to breaking. But there’s strength within you, even when you are weak. Keep fighting.” – Unknown

You may be sick of feeling sad, and you may think that giving up is the only option left. This isn’t the case, however. You have to keep fighting, stay strong, and get through the hard times. Things will get better, and you will be happy again.

6. “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.” – Carl Jung

Without sadness to compare happiness to, the happy times would be dull. You wouldn’t know what the alternative is, so you’d end up losing what makes happiness so great. Instead, take the sad times while understanding that they’re necessary for the next happiness to be worth it.

7. “Sometimes it takes sadness to know happiness, noise to appreciate silence and absence to value presence.” – Unknown

As stated before, you must experience sadness to know true happiness. It’s the only way to appreciate the good times.

8. “Some days are just bad days, that’s all. You have to experience sadness to know happiness, and I remind myself that not every day is going to be a good day, that’s just the way it is!” – Dita Von Teese

There will always be bad days and sad moments. All you can do is remember that it’ll pass and that the happiness will return.

9. “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great.” – Stephanie Simpson

Anytime you feel this way, just remember that it means something good is coming. You just have to resist what is pulling you back.

10. “If you’re feeling sad, remember soon you’ll forget and move on with life. Your grief is transitory. If you’re going to let go anyway, why not do so immediately? If you don’t cling to your grief, you won’t suffer. Life is a river, flow with it. Don’t hold onto anything. Let go.” – Unknown

Even if you can’t forget what made you sad, you’ll forget to be sad all the time. The sadness will end, and happiness will return. The sooner you forget to be sad, the sooner you can move forward with your life.

11. “Your sadness is a gift. Don’t reject it. Don’t rush it. Live it fully and use it as fuel to change and grow.” – Maxime Lagacé

This inspired quote is a gentle reminder. Remember, happiness will be nothing if you can’t compare it to sadness. So, accept the sad moments and use the energy to move forward and grow.

12. “Don’t be ashamed to weep; ’tis right to grieve. Tears are only water, and flowers, trees, and fruit cannot grow without water. But there must be sunlight also. A wounded heart will heal in time, and when it does, the memory and love of our lost ones is sealed inside to comfort us.” – Brian Jacques

Crying helps the process, so don’t be ashamed if you do so. You can’t grow without taking care of yourself.

13. “Sometimes life doesn’t give you something you want, not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve more.” – Unknown

Things normally happen for a reason. Try to remember that when things don’t go as planned. When this happens, something better must be coming.

14. “If you’re sad, it’s okay to acknowledge your sadness. If you have pain that leaves you at a loss, it’s okay to talk about it. The reason we have difficulties is that we’re unable to accept the things that can’t be changed. Let them be and see what happens.” – Haemin Sunim

The only way to move past the sadness is to accept it. You can’t ignore it and expect to grow, so talk about it or cry if you need to. Deal with it, and you will see what is coming next.

15. “Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” – C.S. Lewis, in The Silver Chair

While it is important to cry, it is also important to stop. You have to decide to put the pieces back together and move forward.

16. “The truth is, everyone in life is going to hurt you; you just have to figure out which people are worth the pain.” – Bob Marley

If it is a person who is making you feel sad, you must decide if they are worth feeling that way. If they are, deal with the pain and move on. On the other hand, if they aren’t, decide to cut them out of your life so you can move forward.

17. “Sometimes, it takes an overwhelming breakdown to have an undeniable breakthrough.” – Unknown

It’s sometimes that moment that makes you sad that makes you realize what you want next. It may not happen right away, but when you figure it out, you’ll realize it was worth it.

18. “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

You won’t get over the loss of someone you love, but you will give over the overwhelming sadness. Healing is essential, and it will happen.

The sooner you allow it to happen, the sooner you’ll be able to move forward. You’ll be a different person because of it, but you will be happy again.

19. “Feeling lost, crazy, and desperate belongs to a good life as much as optimism, certainty, and reason.” – Alain de Botton

You won’t be able to grow or learn in life if things were perfect all the time. A good life still has sadness and negative feelings.

20. “Sometimes you’ve got to be able to listen to yourself and be okay with no one else understanding.” – Christopher Barzak

Don’t be sad because other people don’t understand something. Your life isn’t for someone else to understand, and, as Barzak said, you have to be okay with that. You know what you want and need in life.

Final Thoughts On Inspired Quotes That Can Help Relieve Your Sadness

Throughout your life, you’ll experience many moments of sadness. Always remember that you’ll get through it, and you’ll be happy again.

Accept the sadness and know that it’ll just make happy times even better. While these inspired quotes by some of our great minds won’t fix the problem, they may help you get through.

Denmark Students Have Empathy Class as Part of Curriculum

April 24, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If your children were studying in Denmark, they would be taking an empathy class as part of their curriculum. Is it possible to teach children or even adults how to feel the struggles and pains of others? Danish school authorities seem to think so.

Humans and our primate cousins are the only animals capable of empathizing. When you sympathize, you acknowledge that another is hurting, and you feel sorry for their condition. Empathy takes it a step further, and you share the raw emotion because of past experiences.

It goes beyond sympathy by being in the moment. It’s not offering judgment, advice, or platitudes. Just your compassionate presence and a listening ear are what most hurting people need.

Have we become insensitive to the pain of others in our country? Have the Danish discovered a lesson that we all could use? Consider these eight suggestions for teaching your children to have more compassion and empathy for other people.

Students Gain These Essential Takeaways from Empathy Class

1. Practice What You Preach

The best way to teach your children how to be empathetic is by being so yourself. Small children instinctively show their emotions but lack the cognitive ability to explain them. You will be their primary teacher for modeling empathy.

When your younger children are experiencing a negative emotion, be with them, and help them label and explain what they feel. By listening to you and watching how you react, they mirror the same with siblings and their peers.

2. Teach Your Children How to Be Good Listeners

Remember the wise saying that since we have one mouth and two ears, we should listen twice as much as we speak? Perhaps nothing is more accurate when it comes to empathizing with how other people feel. Active listening is a skill that many adults never learned.

How do you teach your kids to be a good listener? Try to be yourself. Listen carefully to what they say without interrupting. Of course, this assumes that the conversation is appropriate and respectful.

Model good eye contact and sincerely listen to what they are saying. Pause a few seconds before you respond. Your children will become more comfortable talking to you about situations in their lives, knowing that you value what they have to say.

With you as their example, your kids will learn how others feel when they listen to them. Becoming a skilled listener is a life-long practice. When your youngsters start early, they can cultivate excellent relationships with family and friends.

As a fun way to teach listening skills, try the iconic telephone game. Gather in a circle and whisper a short sentence into someone’s ear. The whisper is passed along the line until it gets back to you, and everyone laughs at how the story has changed.

3. Teach Empathy with a Game

You don’t have to wait until your child is feeling emotional pain to teach an empathetic lesson. Kids can identify with “what if?” games, which presents a scenario while they offer possible solutions.

For example, you could ask your children, “What if one of your favorite toys got broken? How would you feel?” Listen to their probable answers of sad, angry, hurt, and so on. Validate their responses by saying that is how other children would feel, too.

Create several scenarios that involve different emotional responses and discuss them in a way your kids can understand. Encourage your children to express and label their feelings, so others know how best to respond. The more practice they get with age, the more understanding they will be with their siblings and friends.

Remind your child of these sympathetic lessons when you need to correct a situation or behavior. Johnny sticks his tongue out at his little sister and calls her a name. He needs to know that his behavior is unacceptable and why.

“How would you feel if your little sister made a face at you and called you an unkind name?” Give him time to think about how he would feel and that his sibling would feel the same. When children identify their own negative emotions, they may be less likely to make others feel like that.

Here’s an empathy skill building game to try

Child psychologists and teachers say that playing games are an ideal way to teach children new concepts in a way they understand. Here’s an empathetic skills game your children will love. It is like the “What If” game.

Peel the labels from a gallon pickle jar and wash and dry it thoroughly. On brightly colored note cards, write different moral dilemmas that are on your children’s level. Explain to your kids that sometimes we get into an emotional “pickle” and need to empathize with doing the right thing.

Each day allows a different child to reach into the “pickle jar” to see what today’s “pickling” problem is to handle. For example: “You were in the library, and you found a wallet full of money. What would you do?” Each discussion you have teaches your children honesty, morality, and understanding of how the affected person may feel.

4. Teach Your Children the Importance of Compassion

Children often learn to value the things their parents do. If you teach your children that showing kindness to others is a top family value, they will probably practice it into adulthood. Empathizing with others is a valuable skill that is often lacking in our world.

When they identify with another’s feelings, children learn how to be kind, considerate, and accepting. Learning empathetic skills for those who are different opens your children’s eyes to new cultures and beliefs. It is a strong defense against prejudice and senseless hatred.

5. Discuss Feelings in Books or TV Shows

Maybe one of the main reasons people read for pleasure is because we often find common ground with the characters. As you cultivate a love of reading in your children, take the opportunity to discuss how the characters in the story feel.

You can encourage the same discussion after watching a movie on television. Could they understand how the characters may have felt in a situation? Ask them if they were in the story: how would they think and react?

6. Exercise Your Empathetic Skills as a Family

Reading and discussions are great, but empathetic skills are honed with real people and situations. Do you want your kids to grow up to consider the feelings of others? Be part of a positive change in your community.

Have a family meeting and discuss ways you could help others in need. Maybe your family could regularly volunteer at your local food bank or homeless shelter. Your children will discover that we are all humans who can feel tired, lonely, and afraid.

When you teach your children how to reach out, they realize the feeling of selflessness and empathetic joy. These life skills will build character and skills needed in all areas of their maturing lives. Your enthusiasm for compassion is contagious.

7. Teaching Empathetic Skills for Animals and Nature

Young children are naturally drawn to soft, cuddly animals. However, they need adult guidance to learn how to care for animals with kindness. At first, little ones assume that family pets are just another toy in their collection.

Model appropriate handling and teach your children that pets and all other animals have feelings too. Ask your children, “How do you think Kitty feels when you pull her tail?” Or, “Do you think Fido was happy that you splashed him with water?” Allow the child to imagine himself in the animal’s place, so he can experience and change the emotion and behavior.

8. Your Children Need to Know You are Human

You are your child’s first teacher of empathetic and kindness skills, but you are still human. Starting from infancy, young children view their parents as infallible superheroes who defy pain and fear. As they get older and empathize more, they realize your human shortcomings.

Not only is it okay to show your kids how you feel, but it is beneficial for everyone. Grieving is a critical time to share. “My heart is sad, and I am crying because Grandma passed away, and I miss her.” Such statements teach your children to be honest with their feelings and to be compassionate with yours.

If your child hurts your feelings, don’t hesitate to let him know. Explain on his level that his words or actions hurt your heart. Then, they should apologize for their actions. He learns that adverse effects and words are painful and that there is power in forgiveness.

Don’t be too much of an adult to apologize to your child. Did you make a wrong decision or say something sharp out of anger or frustration? Acknowledge that you were wrong and ask your child to forgive you.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have To Go To Denmark To Learn Empathy

Unfortunately, some people were never taught how to be empathetic. It’s a parent’s loving responsibility to teach our children empathy and to respect other people’s feelings.

As our children extend this compassion to those around them, they will find the same kindness coming back. Karma can be a beautiful thing if you sow goodness and understanding into the world.

Psychology Explains How to Replace Resentment with Positivity

April 24, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you are interested in improving your attitude, psychology explains how to change feelings of resentment to positivity. Trading your resentful thoughts to a positive outlook has a sound scientific basis.

In the dark recesses of your brain, you have places where you lock away past negative emotions. Each time you have a terrible experience, it may turn into a resentment that you bury deep. Does that sound familiar?

When was the last time you rattled open the rusty lock of the hidden storage spaces of your mind to take inventory? As you rummage among the tattered boxes of burdening bitterness, do you even remember the offenses that caused it?

While it is reasonable to get angry at a person or negative situations, you needn’t let the emotions weigh you down forever. As you go through the stagnant collection of negativity, and the process of freeing yourself from bitterness, be kind to yourself. You didn’t get these emotions overnight, so disposing of them won’t be instantaneous.

Get Rid of the Resentment NOW

Maybe now is the time to open that menacing door in your mind and flood the room with the light of positivity. As the brightness dispels the resentful darkness of resentment and depression, it will be more comfortable, to be honest with yourself. In the end, storing away unforgiven offenses only destroys you, not the offender.

Sorting through the bitterness of your past may stir many feelings. When you can finally let go, you will feel revitalizing energy. The sooner you start getting rid of these negative emotions, the sooner you can know the freedom that positive emotions can offer.

A Scientific Approach to Positivity

While it may be easy to chalk up the power of positive thinking to pseudo-science, it’s not the case. For years, psychologists and other medical experts have studied the effects of positive and negative energy on the brain. They have noted how both ends of the spectrum influence our emotions.

Did you know that even animals are affected by negative energies? Studies have shown that even Cows won’t produce sufficient milk when they are under stress or have experienced negative things. Having traumatic experiences can affect both man and animals.

Most fascinating are the numerous studies that involve the high and low frequencies that surround us perpetually. They demonstrate a correlation between how these frequencies affect our moods. Positive thoughts tend to have higher vibrations, while negative ones are typical of a lower frequency.

It stands to reason that if you have years of penned-up rage and bitterness, it will lower your body’s cell vibrations. The results can be a distorted sense of reality and a rampage of negativity. It’s not surprising that repressed bitterness can destroy self-worth, relationships, and cause disease.

Scientists studied how people’s lives and health change when they replace resentment with a positive attitude. Countless studies with terminally ill patients suggest that those with a more positive outlook can live a little longer than those who are negative.

Clearing your emotional storage space requires honest work in your body, mind, and spirit. Nobody progresses at the same speed or copes with their baggage the same way. Here are some suggestions that can put you on the right path.

Approaching Your Emotional Storage Space

Who doesn’t have a junk drawer or spare closet that is bursting at the seams? You tell yourself that you will clean and organize the space someday, but someday never comes. The more you dread doing a chore, the easier it is to procrastinate.

Since your earliest childhood, you have stored events that affected you positively and negatively. Your brain processes these events and their accompanying emotions. Nobody enjoys feeling negative sensations, so you pack the hurts and offensives in a bleak closet of your subconscious.

The problem is that these resentful feelings don’t go away. Instead, they fester in your emotional storage space and cause rot and contamination to your soul. Sometimes, an event will happen in your life that triggers negative memories, and you will experience the raw emotions as if it were happening again.

Have you ever felt angry and gloomy, and didn’t know why? Maybe it is a day when everything is going well, and you should be happy. Stored negativity represses your spirit and will not allow you to experience joy when it’s right in front of you.

Procrastination and ignoring the issues will not make them disappear. Instead, resolve that you will tackle the resentful emotion and baggage crowding your mind. Approach the mental door with the keys of determination and self-compassion.

Tips for Replacing Resentment with Positivity

1. Taking the First Step Inside

You don’t need to make this monumental effort alone. Call on your spiritual strength, higher power, or the universe to be at your side. As the stagnant air rushes past you, imagine that you are confronting these harmful apparitions and watch them fade into oblivion.

Remember that nobody forces you to hold a grudge. If you cling to bitterness and unforgiveness, it is your choice. Today, you will see your emotional hoard for what it is, and you will work with your higher self to make positive changes.

2. Be Honest with Yourself

Confronting your past indignations isn’t easy. Often, we want to place the blame on others or our circumstances. When it comes to embracing resentful emotions, dare to point at yourself.

Look at your stored emotional baggage as if they belonged to someone else. Are there some grudges you continue to nurse that you have even forgotten the details of the offense? Have these negative feelings done more to harm you than be of benefit?

Honesty doesn’t mean that you must be self-loathing. Allow your higher power to envelope you in mercy as you sort through past bitterness. This liberating feeling makes room for positive emotions and healing.

3. Learn to Forgive and Resume Life

Apart from having a dementia disorder, humans can’t forgive personal offenses. The adage of forgiving and forgetting is a falsehood. It is much easier to store trespasses than it is to forgive them.

While sorting the rummage of your secret room, do you see decrepit boxes and containers labeled Unforgiven? Only you have the power to cling to this emotional trash and allow it to overcome your life with bitterness. You also have the ultimate power of forgiveness.

When you forgive an offense, you return the negative forces to the universe, which replaces them with positive ones. It’s not forgetting, nor is it letting the offender off the hook. Compassion is a powerful flame that disintegrates your bitterness and allows you to go on with your life.

Weed through your pile of resentful rubbish and see where your forgiveness and grace are needed. Unite with your higher power and finally forgive others and yourself. The positive lift you receive will empower you to tackle other latent issues in your life.

Open those putrid jars of wrath that you have painstakingly labeled with your blood and tears. Call on your higher self to help you release the long-stored anger, bitterness, and guilt and allow them to be swept away with a positive light.

4. Refreshing and Restoring Your Mind

Give yourself patience as you clear away the last of your emotional baggage. Open your soul’s windows and embrace the rays of positive energy. Allow mercy and understanding to wipe away years of grime, dust, and sediment that have suffocated your joy and dreams.

Just as you would clean out your junky garage, the key to cleaning your emotional storage space is to do it and keep it that way. Enjoy the satisfaction of clean, organized shelves of memories that uplift your positive nature. Let this be your soul’s sanctuary, and refuse to let it pile up again with bitter resentment.

Do you watch the home improvement reality shows? It’s fascinating how a few minor changes can create an entirely different room. Apply the same principles to your mind-clearing process.

If you allow a newly remodeled room to sit empty for too long, you risk the temptation of junking it up again. Replace the negative clutter in your soul space with positive splashes of emotion and joy. If a knickknack of bitterness tries to find a home on your shelves, throw it away.

5. Maintaining Your Soul Space

Bitterness is like leprosy as it gradually eats away at your soul until you die emotionally. And like the ancient disease, negativity is alarmingly contagious. Have you ever noticed that when you spend time around a negative person, you soon experience the same sour emotions?

During and after your process of eliminating negative power in your life, be selective of who influences you. If you discover that a relationship is toxic, don’t hesitate to part ways. Misery may love company, but you don’t have to offer it your time or energy.

Final Thoughts on Losing the Resentment and Enlisting Professional Help

If you find this process too overwhelming, and you are experiencing depression or anxiety, seek professional help. You may have traumatic events in your life that require a therapist to help you sort them out. Your mental health professional can use therapies and techniques that are right for you.

Bringing more positive light into your life takes determination. While you can’t change the past resentments or predict the future, you can control your attitude. You must trade negative feelings for positive ones. Not only will it make you a better person, but you will give you a happier life.

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