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How to Be Happy Even When Life is Disappointing

April 24, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Even when life is disappointing, you can still be happy. It doesn’t require you to be delusional or resigned to negativity. You choose how you cope in every life situation.

You’ve lived long enough to understand that nothing goes as planned. No matter how hard you try or how noble your cause, there will always be learning curves and unexpected setbacks. Part of living makes you realize that there are some things you can’t control.

When we talk about upsets and disappointments in our lives, we categorize them by intensity. For example, getting a ding on your car door and wrecking your car are two different upsets. We go throughout our life, coping with adverse situations of all degrees.

Are You Happy…or Is Life Disappointing?

What is your definition of happiness? Does it represent a blissful life that is free of problems? Of course, this concept doesn’t represent reality.

When your life is on the upbeat, you probably feel what we call happiness. If something or someone throws a wrench in your plans, your happy emotions turn into a deflating balloon. So, satisfaction is a fleeting emotion that depends on the environment and circumstances.

The world bombards us with slogans, artwork, and advertisements that encourage us to be happy. Of course, marketing spends billions of dollars each year to tell you how to accomplish this. But when disappointing situations happen in your life, will materialism buy your happiness?

No matter your circumstances, you can be more than happy. You can choose optimism, which is not an emotion. When you decide to be joyful, you transcend the fickle feelings of happiness and can cope with disappointment.

Are you happy? Do the things you have, and the accomplishments you’ve made bring you joyfulness even when things are a mess? Perhaps taking an honest look at your happiness definition can answer the question.

What Makes You Content?

We’ve all made a happy list since childhood. Remember sitting in school and daydreaming about your future instead of listening to the teacher’s lecture? You were probably deciding what you wanted to be when you grew up.

No doubt, your happy list expanded and changed exponentially over the years. Few people become what they dreamed of being as a child. Your career path may have changed several times over the years, and you may have encountered disappointment along the way.

Do you have your dream career, home, or experiences? Did you marry the kind of person you have always wanted as a spouse? Do you have all the things and accomplished everything you wanted as evidence of happiness?

Why Does Life Feel Disappointing to You?

Neither being destitute nor wealth should define you. You needn’t deny yourself every comfort of life to experience happiness unless you desire a monastic lifestyle. However, drowning yourself in materialism may make you happy for a while, but unpleasant circumstances happen to us all.

Like water, humans seek their level. Remember when you pleaded for the latest fad toy in the store, and you got one as a gift? You were encouraged for a while, and then you were longing for something bigger and better.

This paradox is not limited to children. As we get older, we seek more and more to replenish our depleted happiness. Unfortunately, the more we get, the more it eventually takes to make us happy.

Even if you won the lottery, studies show that most people will be at the same level of happiness that they were before the landslide win. Millions of dollars can buy you almost anything you can imagine, but they won’t sustain your joy before you need more.

When Life Gives You Lemons

We’ve all heard the platitudes and seen the memes that encourage us to make the most of a bad situation. If life hands you lemons, make lemonade, right? What if you don’t like lemons or lemonade?

Everyone, rich or poor, has had their share of disappointing times. If your happiness depended on a perfect life, you would never have it. Setbacks in life are inevitable, and you won’t be happy every moment.

One way to cultivate joy during trying times is to dispel the myth of perpetual happiness. Every time you read a magazine, see a billboard, or an advertisement, you are bombarded with images of perfection. These visually enhanced models are surrounded by all the goods and services that society dictates you must have for happiness.

What do you do when that luxury car needs a new transmission, or the basement floods and ruins the floors in your dream house? How do you go on when your Knight in Shining Armor is seeing another damsel behind your back?

At some point, you must decide to have joy, regardless of your plight. It doesn’t mean you aren’t hurt, angry, and feel incredibly disappointed. You muster that inner joyfulness that gives you the strength to go on with your life.

Invest in Your Joyfulness

Most of the world’s religions warn of the frivolity of materialism. Instead, they prize honesty, virtue, and character above riches. Their sacred writings overflow with examples of choosing intangible gifts above material wealth.

In the same way that your bank accounts earn interest each month, your joyfulness compounds with the right attitude. Unlike cash, your spiritual accounts can never diminish, unless you choose. Making wise investments in these will bring you joyful dividends, regardless of your circumstances.

How do you make these intangible investments? You concentrate on the things in your life that truly matter. Instead of working yourself to the bone for something that won’t last, you can build on a foundation of joyfulness that will endure for a lifetime.

Gratitude is another gold standard of spiritual investment. When you are grateful for all the blessings you have, it will sustain you when things aren’t going as planned. You find delight in the smallest blessing, and you are less likely to become unsettled when disappointing things happen.

Time is a precious commodity that you can neither buy nor sell. From the wealthiest billionaire in the world to the most impoverished villager, we all have twenty-four hours in a day. Because of our limited-time account, we discover joyfulness when we spend it wisely.

When you spend quality time with family and friends, their love strengthens you when disappointment unbalances your life. Even when things don’t go as planned, you feel encouraged by those around you. It brings you the happiness that materialism can’t supply.

Reevaluate Your Expectations

In “National Lampoon’s classic Christmas Vacation,” Chevy Chase portrayed a loving husband and devoted family man who longed for the perfect holiday. No matter how hard he tried, his good intentions were foiled by family members and laughable misfortunes.

Can you see yourself in that character Clark Griswold? Is every holiday and special occasion around your place jinxed because they didn’t meet your standards of perfection? Maybe it’s time to reevaluate what you expect in life.

This reevaluation doesn’t imply that you shouldn’t dream or be halfhearted in the things you do. It merely means that you redefine what makes a joyful holiday or event. If everyone is happy and surrounded by love, then you can consider your gathering a success.

Think about the last holiday you spent with your family and how you felt. Were you exasperated trying to create a scene in time reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting? When you learn to relax and enjoy the moment, you won’t worry about perfection, and your joyfulness will overflow.

Always Have a Plan B

The motto of scouting is always to be prepared. If you believe in Murphy’s Law and have experienced it, you know that things rarely go as you hoped. Without a backup, one little mishap can make your plans topple like a house of cards.

It’s not pessimistic to expect something to go wrong, because we still live in an imperfect world. When you have an alternate plan, you can always make things work. Sometimes, joyfulness comes from taking an unexpected path.

Maybe you are one of those people who tend to over-analyze situations. You can be so busy overworking the details that you miss the whole picture. Knowing more ways than one to get to where your going is always a benefit.

Final Thoughts on Staying Happy Despite Disappointing Circumstances

Have you ever noticed that virtues are linked to each other? When you use one, the others must follow. Allowing more compassion into your life brings love, peace, and joyfulness as fringe benefits.

When you are less judgmental of yourself and others, you may notice that you don’t feel disappointed as often. As you extend grace when you or somebody else makes a mistake, you’ll discover that joyfulness doesn’t require perfection.

Practice being more patient and compassionate each day. When someone shows you the same courtesy, make it a point to be grateful. Watch how these virtues work in tandem to minimize disappointing situations.

If you want more joyful moments in your life, understand that it’s a practice, not perfection. Even when disappointing situations come your way, it’s ok to be unhappy. Then, you pick yourself up and continue your journey with the joyfulness you’ve kept in reserve.

15 Motivational Quotes for When You Are Unemployed

April 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Becoming unemployed can be devastating to you and your family. You may feel useless, money could become a problem, and there’s the potential for more stress to pile on. While it may feel like the situation is impossible, there is hope.

You won’t be without a job forever. Soon enough, you’ll be back at work as if nothing ever happened. Stay motivated during unemployment and continue trying.

Since giving up isn’t an option, the only thing you can do is accept it and move forward. This may be hard to do, but you aren’t alone. Many others have already been through this or are going through it right now, and everything worked out just fine.

Since this isn’t a new life problem, there are many motivational quotes for when you are unemployed. These quotes are intended to make you feel better, give inspiration, and to let you know that you aren’t alone.

15 Quotes to Read When You Are Unemployed

1. “Unemployment is not the situation to blame your fate or on others… It’s time to believe in yourself and unveil new employment.” – Shashank Rayal

Most often, there is no one to blame the unemployment on and to do so can just cause you to be angry. Instead, think of this as a new opportunity. Think of what else you may want to do for a career and begin looking into it. No matter your age, a new career is highly possible. You just have to believe in yourself and work hard to get where you need to be.

2. “Don’t be afraid to start over. It’s a brand-new opportunity to rebuild what you truly want.” – Unknown

You can use the time to look into something new that you’ve always wanted to try. Whether that is a different career path or a new employer, or even if it is a dream of being self-employed. This is the time to rebuild your life into what you have always wanted it to be.

3. “Life actually is this mystery and gift. And every moment of it can be full of real radical joy and wakefulness. And for some reason in our most difficult times, we have the best chance to wake up. Many people will tell you that their divorce or illness or loss of job was the wake up call.” – Elizabeth Lesser

You never know what will happen next in life. No matter how much you plan, the path can change unexpectedly. Sometimes this means taking a step back before turning down the next path.

When terrible things happen in your life, do what Lesser suggests and think of it as a wakeup call. Instead of thinking that your life is over or that everything will be bad, reassess the situation. Think about what you could be doing differently, or what you would like to do instead.

There is always something that comes next, no matter what the situation is. Try not to fixate on the discouragement you’re feeling.

4. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

If you want a better future for yourself, you can’t give up if you become unemployed. Believe in yourself and your ability to move forward and succeed. The future doesn’t belong to those who give up, it belongs to those who keep pushing on.

5. “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

You must have hope if you want to get through this hardship. The entire situation will seem less terrifying if you just keep your hope. Things will always get better, so remaining positive only helps it come sooner.

6. “Every experience in your life is being orchestrated to teach you something you need to know to move forward.” – Brian Tracy

While not having a job will be a shock, it will also be a teaching moment. This is your chance to see what’s next. Remember that everything in your life is an opportunity to learn and grow.

7. “In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” – Lee Iacocca

Being unemployed is sure to cause stress, unfortunately. Instead of giving into that stress, however, you should use that energy to move forward. As Iacocca said, turn it into something positive like learning something new or seeking a new career.

If your unemployment is temporary and you’ll be returning to the same job, then try to focus on something else. Make a list of all the things you wanted to do around your home but never had the time. Put your negative energy into positive tasks and you’ll find yourself feeling a little better.

8. “A smart couple with a healthy financial relationship is always talking about money and how they’re handling it. If there’s a medical emergency or a job loss, talk about it. If there’s a windfall, talk about it. Your financial situation is a constantly changing thing.” – Michelle Singletary

Always talk about the unemployment situation with your partner, if you have one. If you make the financial decisions alone, then spend some time thinking it over.

By talking about it and figuring it out, you’ll be able to get through it without a problem. Since finances are something that often change, it’ll be an opportunity to figure out how to manage unexpected changes.

Use the time you are unemployed to become mindful of spending habits.

9. “When you are unemployed, weekends are seven days long.” – Mokokoma Mokhonoana

So, you may not be in the mood to look at the perks of being without a job. You should try, however, because it’ll help you feel better. Remember that your situation is only temporary.

Since it is temporary, enjoy the time you have before you go back to work. Think of all the things you used to wish you had more time for. Get to work on them, and you’ll feel better about your time spent.

10. “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

Sometimes things happen that you didn’t plan for. This is one of those times. You can’t give up.
Instead, come up with a plan. Figure out what you can do to get through the situation. There is always an answer.

11. “Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.” –Theodore Roosevelt

When you’re unemployed, accepting a job you never would have before can sometimes be the best idea. It’s never too late to learn something new. Give yourself some credit because you are capable of figuring it out.

This opens many more doors for you. It gives you something to fall back on if the need ever arises again. The more skills you have, the less likely you are to be in this position in the future.

12. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” – Mark Twain

Take this unemployment opportunity as a time to explore. Think of all of your dreams and see if there are any that you can achieve now that you don’t have your job standing in the way.

You’re treading something new and scary, but you’ll make it. Be confident and give yourself something to be proud of.

13. “It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.” – Doe Zantamata

It is during the hard times that you must reflect inward and remember all that you have to offer. Remind yourself of how amazingly unique you are. Use those thoughts to overcome.

14. “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

Try not to linger on the negative feelings of losing your job for too long. Look forward to seeing what new door will open for you. There is something new out there.

15. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge

As long as you are persistent and determined, you’ll be successful in the end. Remember that as you embark on a new journey. You’ll come back strong and more ready than ever.

Think positive thoughts and stay strong while unemployed.

Final Thoughts On Motivational Quotes for When You Are Unemployed

Since giving up isn’t an option when you are unemployed, the only thing you can do is accept it. You have to move forward if you want to pick up the pieces and keep your life together.
This may be hard to do, but you aren’t alone. Many others have already been through this or are going through it right now, and everything worked out just fine. These motivational quotes for when you are unemployed can help you get moving in the right direction.

Communities Unite to Support Healthcare Workers

April 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Our healthcare workers are tired, stressed, and overtaxed at the moment. We rely on them to take care of us in our times of need. Several Facebook movements are now showing some love to those hardworking professionals. Let’s take a look at some people who make a difference.

Blue Hearts

Two healthcare workers from hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, started a movement to show support for nurses and doctors all over the world. They make tiny blue vinyl hearts for health care workers to put on their badge to show that everyone’s in this together. Workers in the health care industry have demanding jobs. And with the virus outbreak, many of them feel overwhelmed by the surge of patients.

To help workers feel less alone during the pandemic, respiratory therapist Brittany Ballard and registered nurse Hannah Fisher started the blue hearts movement. They initially gave the hearts out to health care workers in Louisville, but as word began to spread, they had trouble keeping up with the demand.

Fisher and Ballard sent 400 hearts down south to Georgia and a couple hundred to southern Kentucky. They got requests from several other states, as well as countries such as Canada and Thailand. They even had someone ask about making a car decal for them to show their support.

The two healthcare workers said that in light of what’s happening right now, it’s no wonder nurses and doctors need extra support. They hope that these tiny blue hearts bring a sense of togetherness during this difficult time.

“It’s awesome to see all these private messages we’re getting saying thank you. It’s turned something negative into a positive,” said Ballard. If you’d like to help make hearts or want to send them a request, you can email them at [email protected].

Here is how Earth is healing during the global lockdown.

Face Masks for Medical Professionals Fundraiser

Others have helped the movement by requesting donations for face masks for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In the Facebook group Face Masks for Medical Professionals, they’ve started a fundraiser to purchase 10,000 face coverings for hospitals. People donated almost $3,000 in just two days. The group founder, Lorie Beth, said that any extra money would go toward buying gallon ziplock bags to make mask packets for some medical professionals that requested them.

Located in the tiny town of Windsor, NC, Lorie Beth owns a boutique, currently closed to walk-in traffic due to stay at home orders. In addition to the fundraiser, she decorated the windows of her shop with the names of healthcare workers to honor them.

Lorie Beth’s contributions will outfit their local rural hospital and at least three other small medical centers with the masks they so desperately need.

Hearts for Healthcare Workers

Another movement thanking healthcare workers popped up in Boston a little over a week ago. Called ‘Hearts for Healthcare Workers,‘ the movement started when New Hampshire resident Tanya Russell created a Facebook page to thank those on the front lines of the pandemic. She was inspired to start the campaign because her husband works as an ER doctor. She wanted a way to thank the millions of other healthcare professionals as well.

The Facebook page encourages everyone to show support in their unique way. Some people have begun printing out thank you notes with hearts on them and posting them around area hospitals to brighten up healthcare worker’s long days.

Feed the Frontline with Boloco

In Boston, the co-founder of a burrito chain Boloco, John Pepper, wanted to get involved with the movement too. He started a GoFundMe page called “Feed the Frontline with Boloco” so that customers could make donations to buy burritos for hospital workers and EMS responders.

Coffee Gift Cards

In nearby city Wilmington, Ashley Pressico wanted to take part in the movement as well. To show support, she’s been buying $5 gift cards from Dunkin’ Donuts to give to people dealing with the pandemic. She said it doesn’t take a lot of money to give back; every little bit matters as long as you can help someone.

Read tips on how to communicate with your child about a crisis.

Final Thoughts: Small Acts of Kindness Show Big Love

Have you heard of anyone in your community helping out healthcare workers during the COVID-19 lockdown? Please share it with us on our Facebook community.

15 Quotes to Remember When You Feel Disappointed

April 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Feeling disappointed is an unfortunate problem that happens to everyone. Since there is no way to avoid it, the only thing to do is learn to live with it. By not coping with the problem, this feeling can lead to frustration and even anger.

Since you most likely feel like you’re can’t control the situation, a feeling of helplessness may come next. When you begin to feel disappointed, you should try to cope with it and accept it quickly. This acceptance can prevent all of those feelings that may follow if you cave to the disappointment.

One way to cope with disappointment is to read quotes. There are many quotes for when you feel disappointed. No matter the situation, you should find some comfort in them.

Quotes can help you learn to accept whatever it is that happened. If you can’t take it, they can help you feel like you’re not alone. Feeling disappointed happens to everyone, and these quotes can help you get through it.

15 Quotes For When You Feel Disappointed

1. “You will end up really disappointed if you think people will do for you as you do for them. Not everyone has the same heart as you.” – Unknown

Never expect anyone to be like you are. You have your own heart. Remember that before the disappointment sets in.

Just because you would do something for someone or have already done it, doesn’t mean you can expect the same in return. If you remember this, you can avoid some disappointment in your life. That also means if the same person keeps causing disappointment, you should reassess having that person in your life.

2. “It was one of those times you feel a sense of loss, even though you didn’t have something in the first place. I guess that’s what disappointment is- a sense of loss for something you never had.” – Deb Caletti, in the Nature of Jade

Disappointment is just grieving something you never had to begin with. If you think of it that way, it may help you get over it quicker. You lived without it so far. You can go a little longer.

So you can’t let what was never yours prevent you from living happily. Your goals are still there, and a slight detour shouldn’t stand in the way.

3. “One’s best success comes after their greatest disappointment.” – Henry Ward Beecher

As Beecher stated, sometimes not getting what you want right away is the best thing to happen. That just means that the next time you’ll have an even better chance at success. With the new determination, you’ll likely be stronger and even better equipped to deal with whatever life tosses your way.

4. “The best way to deal with disappointment is to acknowledge and work through the feelings it induces.” Noaman Kaysingwala, in How to Handle Disappointment in Life

Admit to yourself that you are feeling this way. The only way to get through it is to sort the feelings out and move on. If you pretend that the feelings aren’t there, you’re only setting back your coping timeframe.

5. “We deal with disappointing and depressing experiences each day of our lives. Rest assured that these difficult times are your opportunity to grow and to learn more advanced strategies in order to scale your next mountain more quickly.” – Michelle C. Ustaszeski, in Scaling Life’s Mountains

These feelings are inevitable. The only thing you can do is learn from them so that the next time you’re more prepared. This way, you won’t be disappointed the next time.

6. “Nothing in life has happened to you. It’s happened for you. Every disappointment. Every wrong. Even every closed door has helped make you into who you are.” – Joel Osteen

If one thing didn’t work out, something else will. Just keep trying and moving forward no matter what happens. Each disappointing feeling is only leading you to something better for you.
Instead of thinking that each setback is going against you, think of it as setting you up for something better. Everyone has a different story, and yours is still developing. Move forward and figure out how the story is supposed to go.

7. “The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” – Robert Kiyosaki

Not getting what you wanted doesn’t mean you failed. To handle disappointment in a graceful way shows how successful you are and will be. If your dream is as big as you’ve always thought, disappointment won’t stop it from becoming the reality one day.

8. “I’m sad, hurt, angry, mad, disappointed. But you know what? I will put on a happy face and move on. It will hurt but I will survive.” – Unknown

The only thing you should do in the face of disappointment is put a smile on your face and move on. You can have all those feelings, but the sooner you put that smile on, the sooner things will seem normal.
Remember, however, that you are allowed to feel all of those feelings. You just shouldn’t let them stand in the way of what happens next. Push through and use all of those emotions to be stronger next time.
You’ll feel better eventually, and you will survive whatever it was that disappointed you. Just remember that your journey is your story, and you can get through the disappointment.

9. “Life is all about setbacks. A life lived without disappointment is a life lived in a cocoon. People have recovered from far worse setbacks.” – Tony Clark

To reach your goals and get what you want out of life, you are going to face disappointment along the way. If you expect no disappointment, you’ll never be truly living your life. You’ll be okay, no matter if things work out the first time or not.

10. “Sometimes when you get disappointment it makes you stronger.” – David Rudisha

When you bounce back from disappointment, you’ll be stronger the next time. That means you’ll try harder and be more prepared. Get past the feeling and reassess what you’ll do next.
Remember that no one can become strong if they don’t push themselves. This is the same for disappointment and other negative feelings. You’ll be more resilient against them each time you overcome them.

11. “Life will throw many obstacles onto our life path that will make us sad or disappointed at times. Dealing positively with these obstacles is what makes the difference between them turning into worse states or being overcome.” – Jonny Oates, in Wisdom for My Son and Daughter

You have to overcome things that disappoint you in order to move forward in life. If you don’t move forward and get past it, you’ll just continue to be disappointed.

Each time you push through, it becomes easier the next time. There will come a time when feeling this way becomes less frequent.

12. “You may encounter many disappointments. Be strong. Tell yourself, “I am good enough, I will try again.” – Lailah Gifty Akita, in Pearls of Wisdom

You will face disappointments in life, but you are strong enough to get through it. The most important thing is to try again and remind yourself of your worth. No matter how many times the disappointments happen, know that you deserve all the good things you desire in life. As long as you know that, you’ll be just fine.

13. “As you work towards your goals, disappointments may slow you down, but they don’t have to keep you down.” – Catherine Pulsifer

Things happen, and plans may change a little. Don’t let a disappointment keep you from reaching your goals. Try a different way next time, or reassess the situation that is causing the feelings.

14. “Disappointment is just the action of your brain readjusting itself to reality after discovering things are not the way you thought they were.” – Brad Warner

It’s a feeling that can be shocking, but once you get used to it, it’ll feel a little better. You just have to adjust to the new situation and plan accordingly. When you thought something would go differently, it may take a while for your brain to reevaluate.

15. “Part of the challenge that comes with striving for success is how the entire journey comes with its own fair share of failures and disappointments.” Rupert Johnson, in Build for Success

You wouldn’t have much of a success story to tell if there were no disappointments to overcome along the way. The true measure of success is overcoming the hardships and reaching the goal anyway.

Final Thoughts On Quotes to Remember When You Feel Disappointed

While disappointment happens to everyone, it can be overcome. Instead of letting the disappointing feelings overwhelm you, remember that you can get through it. While the plan may have to change, you can move forward regardless.

True success doesn’t mean it happened the first time. Instead, it means that you moved past the disappointment and conquered anyway. These quotes to remember when you feel disappointed should help get through some of the hard times. Remember that you aren’t alone and that you can get through it.

20 Comebacks When Dealing with a Selfish Person

April 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

We all know a selfish person who makes everything about themself. Regardless of your intentions and actions, there is little you can do to make such people happy. No matter how hard we try to please them, something will always bother selfish people.

For instance, if you bring up a conversation about your accomplishments or problems, they bring it back to themselves. Eventually, you end up listening to their issues and opinions. That’s one of the reasons why selfish people are downright annoying.

That’s one of the reasons why nobody wants to be around self-centered people.

Dealing with a selfish person is tricky. But, the first thing to do is to define and identify a selfish person.

Here are the two primary characteristics of a selfish person:

Selfish people are always concerned exclusively or excessively with their image, health, and goals.
They have no respect for the feelings or needs of the people around them

When dealing with such people, it is foolish to expect any gratitude from selfish individuals for your help or right actions.

As much as you love or like your selfish friends or relatives, there is little hope that they will show any regard for your feelings or change their habits. While some of them can show-off moments of generosity, most of them lack the willingness or skill to be considerate. Understanding this trait will make you understand why a person fails to pay attention to your needs.

It’s not that they are not responsive. Such people can choose how they want to respond to a specific need. For instance, when you need their help, they can choose to ignore your request or pretend to be busy.

So please take a look at our collection of 20 of the most effective snappy and most effective comebacks that work when you are confronting a selfish person.

20 Comebacks for Dealing with a Selfish Person

1 – Thank you for listening to me and making it all about you!

Don’t you just wish you could say that to someone who keeps talking about themselves? Selfish people have a habit of ignoring the other person’s needs, and that’s one of the reasons why they never pay attention to your problems. Instead, they keep mentioning their own experiences. This one is best for all such occasions.

2 – Aren’t you exhausted from talking about yourself?

Just when you need someone to share your sorrows (or even joy), a selfish person keeps on ranting about how miserable they are, only to gain your sympathy. That’s not something you would want to listen to after a stressful or long day.

3 – I just returned from the center of the universe, and I wonder why you weren’t there?

Do not shy away from reminding selfish people that the entire universe does not revolve around them alone. Self-centered people have a habit of being caught up in their problems. There is no harm in giving a reality check to them every once in a while.

4 – The world does not revolve around you!

That’s another way of sending the same message across. The only problem is that a selfish person will pretend not to listen to it or simply ignore it.

5 – Please tell me less about yourself

What a polite way to stop someone from going on and on about their likes and dislikes. That comeback works great on a first date when a self-centered person forgets to ask about your preferences and life goals.

6 – No, my status is not for you

Confront your stalkers or ex-partners. It’s common for a selfish ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend to drop in a few lines in response to every status of yours. Whether it’s on Facebook or any other network, it’s essential to silence them and make them realize you have other important things going on in your life.

7 – Just get over it

What a sweet way to tell someone to shut up? You won’t feel bad, and the other person shouldn’t. After all, that’s what they need to do to make your (and everyone else’s) life more manageable.

8 – Do I only exist when you need something?

Ever had that friend who is nowhere to when you need them. But just when they need you, they will pop out of nowhere. Even if you have relocated or moved to another workplace, they will find you whenever their need arises.

9 – You are just like us!

A selfish person often things he/she is above everyone else. Probably, the last thing they want to listen to is that they are just everyone else! You are not disrespecting them or abandoning them. Instead, you remind them that they are not out of this world.

10 – I can fix my appearance, but how will you adjust your personality?

Anyone who points out to how you look, dress, or appears deserves this comeback. A selfish person who wants to throw you off guard usually starts criticizing your appearance because they don’t have any other reasons to show their disapproval. You can’t change their habits but can put them in their place.

11 – Did I ask for your advice/opinion?

Most people have solutions for all your problems and like offering tips when you need them the least. But whenever you offer them a piece of advice, they reject or refute it immediately.

Such people are insecure because they try to hide behind a false sense of supremacy. So, the next time they offer you their ‘valuable’ advice, don’t be afraid to ask this question.

12 – You’re wasting your time

Selfish people don’t mind wasting your time. But when it comes to their precious time, they would never imagine wasting it. That’s one of the reasons why this comeback works best for people who can’t stop making negative comments about your job, personal choices, and opinions.

13 – Don’t you have anything nice to say?

Selfish people love focusing on your shortcomings. Why not shift the focus on them to change the subject? Trust us; this comeback works every time.

14 – I won’t even comment on that

Sometimes the best comeback is not saying anything at all. Selfish and toxic people need to feed their fragile ego. When you are indifferent to their comments and viewpoints, it shows that they have no power or control over your thoughts and emotions.

15 – Thanks, but no thanks

Not everyone deserves your gratitude. One of the worst habits of selfish people is that they expect you to be thankful to them, even when they haven’t done anything for you. It’s not a bad idea to remind them that you don’t need their advice, approval, or opinions.

16 – What on earth made you think that?

The best trick to answer a rude person is to pose another question. You can always counter negative emotions and comments by questioning the other person. With this comeback, you may be able to silence a nosy friend or colleague.

17 – Are you aware that there are two people in this room?

One of the habits of selfish people is that they think they are the only ones present in the room. That’s probably the reason they don’t even pretend to listen to you when you are talking.

What a way to make them realize that you know what they’re trying to do?

18 – Are you always this funny?

Sometimes, narcissistic and selfish people use sarcasm or humor to mask insults, but just enough for you to identify their offensive remarks. This comeback stuns them because they expect you to smile or laugh sheepishly.

Whenever someone says something that sounds more like an insult than a joke, end the conversation with this comeback.

19 – Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t hear you. What were you saying?

No, you’re not rude. You are giving a selfish person another chance to reword his/her question or statement. This comeback shows that their comments do not affect you, and you are not open to their negativity.

20 – That makes one of us

Do not offer any explanations to prove your point. Simply disagree and move on! Your time is precious, and you certainly don’t want to waste it on people who have no respect for your thoughts and beliefs.

Final Thoughts on How to Deal with a Selfish Person

Dealing with a selfish person becomes easy when you know what to say to them and how. Letting go of their negativity will not make them assess their habits and make any changes. However, using comebacks such as these will help you to stay positive.

Moreover, selfish people don’t care about what you think or say. They live in a fantasy world and form their opinions that you can’t change. However, do not let them get in the way of your happiness. No matter how much you love someone, define boundaries so nobody can hurt you ever.

7 Ways to Find Happiness (Without Changing Your Life)

April 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Walk into any bookstore, and you’ll probably have no trouble finding a plethora of books about the ways to find happiness. However, with so many viewpoints and ideas about what can make us happy, how do we know what is right? In reality, people derive happiness from different things, but we can all probably agree on some basics to becoming happier.

The most crucial part of finding the keys to happiness lies in remembering that we already possess the tools to unlock the door. Within our consciousness, we can tap into a place where we always feel happy, regardless of what’s happening outside of us.

We’ve been tricked from an early age into thinking that the latest TV, a bigger house, or a more beautiful car will finally make us feel happy. Or, maybe we need another relationship, a fresh start in a new city, or a nice massage to discover happiness. While these may bring us short-term joy, the only real happiness will come when you decide that you control your emotions. If you always give the power to things outside yourself to make you happy, you’ll find that happiness will escape your grasp every time the initial excitement fades.

Below, we’ll go over some basic ways to find happiness without making drastic changes to your life.

Here are seven ways to find real happiness (without changing your life):

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” – Aristotle

1 – Be kind to yourself and others.

If you want to find real happiness, it starts with how you treat yourself. You can’t expect to feel happy if you eat poorly, don’t exercise, don’t get sunlight, make little time for self-care, and don’t prioritize sleep. Being kind to yourself means you’ll find it easier to show kindness to others, too. As they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Engage in positive self-talk and treat yourself as you would your best friend. If you wouldn’t say mean things to your friend, don’t tell them to yourself, either. Simply look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you deserve only the best, and self-deprecating language will not serve you in the long run.

Also, happiness, when spread, makes the world a much brighter place. Small acts of kindness such as leaving sweet notes for strangers, donating money to charities, and holding the door for someone can turn a person’s day around. Studies have shown that people who perform random acts of kindness feel happier in their daily lives, so give it a try! Making others feel good will inevitably boost your mood as well.

2 – Express gratitude for what you do have.

The happiest people focus on everything that they do have, not what they lack. If you only put your attention on the things you still need, you will never have enough. You attract what you think about, so if you always focus on everything going wrong, you’ll only invite more of that into your life. However, if you instead shift your attention to everything positive in your life, more of that will come your way.

Here are just a few things most of us could put on our gratitude list:

Good health
Running water
Food on the table every day
Our homes
The loved ones in our lives
Our livelihoods which allow us to buy what we need
Waking up this morning

Want to find happiness instantly? Just look around at everything you have and know that some people feel happy with much less than you do. Wake up every morning feeling that you have it all, and you will boost your energy levels without having to change anything.

3 – Pay attention to your thoughts.

Most of us run on autopilot, never paying attention to the thoughts inside our heads. However, if we did, we’d probably find that most of those thoughts don’t serve us very well. Our monkey minds have a hard time focusing on the present moment, wanting instead to shift to the past or future. However, if our minds can never rest in the now, we will go our whole lives not knowing the peace of diving into the still waters of real awareness.

How can we find happiness by paying attention to our thoughts? If you meditate, you will start to notice the peace between each idea, and realize that your feelings don’t have to control you. Happiness comes from surrendering to this peace and letting go of the need to analyze and ruminate all the time. Our minds have a lot of power, but most of us don’t tap into their true potential.

Studies have proven the many benefits of meditation, from boosting your mood to improving focus to even rewiring your brain! Meditation can bring a sense of peace in even the busiest, most demanding lifestyles. So, if you want to find happiness without changing your circumstances, you need only to go within and improve yourself. By doing this, your outer world will inevitably shift as your frequency increases.

4 – To find real happiness, surround yourself with positive people.

Being in the company of only Debby Downers will surely bring your mood down as well. We tend to take on the energies of those around us, so if you surround yourself with positive people, your mood will begin to change too. Studies have shown that happiness is contagious, so if you have a healthy social circle full of uplifting people, they can easily bring you out of even the worst funk!

While this tip might require some changes, you don’t have to do anything drastic. Simply look at the people you surround yourself with, and if anyone affects you negatively, try to limit your time with them. Put more effort into the friendships and relationships that genuinely add value to your life.

5 – Plan out healthy meals for the week.

With so many sources for healthy recipes nowadays, you can whip up different dishes each week that will keep your taste buds and your body happy. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, either. Food makes us happy because it provides us with sustenance as well as comfort. However, it can also have the opposite effect if you don’t fuel your body with the right foods.

Try to plan out your meals in advance each week so that you know exactly what you need at the store and how much you’ll spend. You will find that you feel better eating fresher foods that you prepare yourself, and you’ll save time by meal prepping.

Studies have shown that a balanced diet can lessen feelings of depression as well, so make sure to feed your body what it needs to thrive!

6 – Carve out time each day for yourself.

Even if you only have 15 minutes a day, try to plan out some time where you have the freedom to do things you enjoy. Whether that means painting, drawing, writing, singing, or just sitting alone with your thoughts, we all need a little time to unwind. Have a routine each night after you put the kids to the bed where you can express yourself and let out any pent up energy throughout the day. You can journal or meditate to release any stress or negativity, and after a while, you’ll start to notice how this helps your mindset.

7 – Realize that you have everything you need to find happiness.

This world makes us feel as though we always need something else to make us happy. Truthfully, we have everything we need within us already. If you let outside circumstances control your moods, you will make yourself subject to the ebbs and flows of life. However, true happiness lies in our ability to ride the waves and accept the ever-changing nature of life. Instead of being a boat tossed around by a storm, learn to dive beneath the turbulence where the waters remain calm.

By shifting your mindset and realizing that you have the power to control your thoughts, nothing in life can touch you. Happiness doesn’t mean accumulating money, likes on Facebook, or stamps on our passports. All of these things can fade, but our consciousness lives on forever. Spend your time building up your inner strength and peace, and you will not feel as powerless in the face of our changing world.

Final thoughts on how to find happiness without changing your life

In reality, happiness doesn’t have to come at the cost of our sanity, money, or time. You can find happiness right in your mind if you want to. By taking care of your health, being kind to yourself and others, expressing gratitude, watching your thoughts, and being around positive people, you can find happiness. You can also find it by realizing you already have it, knowing that it can never really leave you.

We will leave you with this powerful quote:

“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” – Dalai Lama

Therapists Explain Why People Reveal Their True Colors in a Breakup

April 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Breaking off a relationship involves the same process as grieving many times. One of the worst things about this time of grief is that people show their true colors. These shades might not be very bright. We’ve got the breakdown of why people show their true colors in a breakup.

The Science of The Impact Of Personality In Breakups

A study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin explained how people handle romantic rejection. People reported how the view of themselves changed when their partner broke up the relationship. This research showed how people see themselves after a breakup, which has a direct impact on how they can get on with life.

The true personalities of each partner come through in breakups because these traits are part of the people. Personality traits have a big role in breakups because many people cannot move on for a very long time. They feel haunted and feel as if they did something “wrong.” Being rejected boosts their personality flaws because it brings them to the surface. Many people find their true self must be wrong.

Testing a Relationship Brings Out The Worst In People

When people test their relationships, it’s the time many of them show their true colors. Breaking up is one of the hardest things for many people. It means something went wrong. Many people feel at this time that they’re not enough. When they’re put in the fire, those true colors shine in the light.

They’ve never had to show these colors before because they weren’t at this level of testing. Many people have a fight or flight mentality when it comes to tough times. A side of them comes out that might scare you, or might even surprise you. Even good people will let the worst in them come out when facing a tough time like a breakup.

Negative Behavior

As a relationship ends, some people exhibit negative behavior. They’ve been used to bottling their emotions, but their negative feelings are bubbling over, showing how they feel. Showing these negative behaviors to the partner reveals those emotions coming to the surface. The partner may have never seen this side before. The petty fights finally have a breaking point.

Perhaps the biggest issue here is that those negative feelings when breaking up are how you felt for a long time. These feelings were just hidden until you felt the need to show them. Bringing up these things you dislike about one another won’t change anything anyway. It’ll just make the other person resentful that you never loved their true self.

Dealing With A Narcissist

One of the biggest disappointments to many people when breaking up is finding out you’re dealing with a narcissist. You see the true colors of a person that reveal they’re into everything for themselves.

Your personalities just don’t align because they have no empathy, and they blame everything on you. If you never saw this behavior before, it is because a narcissist is great at luring you in for their good. They tell you what you want to hear.

Everything usually seems great until you hit a pothole. Once you hit trouble, these people show their other face. They only see things in black or white, so it’s either good or bad with them. They think if you aren’t on their side, you’re just wrong.

Thus, they feel if you’re the one leaving the relationship, you’re making the wrong decision because they’re the best thing since sliced bread. The truth is that there might not be anything wrong with you, but it’s all rooted in their personality.

The Mask Comes Off and True Colors Reveal Themselves

Sometimes people show the negative aspects of their personality because they got what they wanted out of the relationship. They don’t need you anymore, so they don’t have to hide their identity. The mask they wore during your relationship doesn’t serve a purpose anymore. They’re able to reveal their face. This face might not be anything like the mask. They don’t care because they’re done with you.

It’s a sad but true part of many relationships. During a relationship, that mask is there to fulfill their happiness. Once it’s over, why would they need it? It’s time to create a new mask for the next relationship.

The Pressure of a Breakup

When you’re going through a breakup, you often feel frayed. It’s as if the pressure of your changing relationship status might make you explode. If someone’s personality is negative, that explosion won’t be pretty. When things are happy and quiet, that pressure is chill. When things start to explode, the volcanic ash can be fiery. Pressure makes it almost impossible to wear a mask. Pressure doesn’t make a person the way they are.

This feeling of pressure just reveals this person’s personality. They collapse under the weight of all of the issues. One cannot hide who they are in pressure. It builds inside them until they have to let it all out in some way.

Pretending Cannot Last Forever

Even if a relationship lasted years and years under a mask, this pretending could not last forever. Sometimes a partner can “trick” the other for years. They show their best self. They say what the other wants to hear. And they might even do what the other person wants. Everything is perfect until the world starts to break.

This person has practiced being the person behind their mask for a long time. This pretending just cannot last forever. The work behind it gets exhausting. They start to crack as the world shakes. In truth, the partner probably saw these little cracks start popping up along the way. These cracks start to look like the world after an earthquake when you breakup. This is because pretending now has now fallen to the wayside. It has nothing to stand on, so it’s thrown to the side.

Controlling The Relationship Breakup

During a breakup, many people try to control and manipulate the other person. Controlling and manipulative behavior comes to the surface because many people feel like they’re falling without a parachute. They’re fearful, so they pull out any stops.

This type of manipulation can be emotionally abusive to the other person. All relationship tools of compromise are suddenly thrown out the window because they feel threatened. This behavior type is hard to change. People have this rooted in their personalities. It can even get worse if you’re going through a breakup where you have to divide things and make big decisions.

It’s Not Your Job To Fix Your Ex-partner

When your former partner shows their personality, don’t try to fix them. When they walk away showing off the worst parts about themselves, it isn’t your job to help them find their way back. They show themselves because they are scared.

They’re in a corner, they’re upset, and they want out. Your ex wants happiness, so they’ll do anything to get it. This desire could mean hurting you with unkind words or behaviors. Know that it isn’t your job to fix these things. You can’t fix who they are. It was never your fault that they wore a mask.

Don’t Become Uncomfortable In Your Skin

Sometimes you don’t see the personality of your partner until it’s too late because they simply aren’t being who they are. Some people are just afraid of being your true self, which is a bad thing in a relationship.

When you’re uncomfortable in your skin with another person, the relationship is built on a lie. Once you hit waves, those true colors splash out of the relationship boat. If someone doesn’t love those colors, they aren’t worth it. It’s not worth it to be someone else for years in a relationship. It’s exhausting for most people to try to please the other person by putting on a facade.

Final Thoughts about Someone Revealing Their True Colors During a Breakup

Sometimes after breaking up, you try to see through the negative behavior to who the person was during the relationship. You try to justify their actions. The truth of the matter is that you have to believe this person when they take off their mask. When they reveal their true selves, believe them. Don’t go back to the good times. These times weren’t real.

When this person was kind to you, yet they were only doing it for their good, it was never truthful. Many people want to believe in the good. Once someone shows you who they are on the inside, don’t go back. It will only hurt you in the end.

Overall, people reveal their true colors during a breakup because everything is stripped away. You might feel as if you lost all of the bright, happy times. But it is up to you to paint a new picture of the future that looks happy and bright.

But always remember–breaking up is a type of loss.

People have their ways of dealing with loss and grief. It’s impossible to change them, so it’s best to move on without them. If you don’t know the true colors of a person from the beginning, it’s only going to end in a storm.

15 Bad Habits That Reveal a Workaholic

April 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Being a workaholic is an addiction that steals your life and joy. It is an escape from solving real problems and is rooted in more profound issues. Work addiction prevents you from the identification of the real problem and getting rid of it.

People can see workaholism as an advantage and opportunity for career growth. However, that’s not true. Work addiction prevents a person from achieving success, not only in personal life but also in work. Besides, it can have a deadly and negative impact on their health and other spheres of their life.

Like any other addiction, such as drug or alcohol addictions, you must change the behaviors. Treatment begins from admitting to the problem and development of a detailed strategy on getting rid of the habit.

Before we discuss 15 bad habits of a workaholic, we will give you the first piece of advice: don’t hesitate for a minute; start to learn everything you can about the dangers of being a workaholic and its treatment. We say that because their addiction absorbs workaholics’ minds, and it is a rare occasion when they can even realize that they are in trouble.

Here are 15 habits of workaholics which they need to change as soon as possible:

1. Maintaining an Erratic Sleep Schedule

A workaholic is likely to neglect their sleep. They work more than their work requires, or they find additional occupations for themselves. However, the lack of sleep decreases the performance of an addict and only creates an illusion of productivity.

If you noticed that you have a constant lack of sleep, you should immediately establish a healthy sleep pattern. You strive for 7 to 9 hours of sleep nightly.

You need to forbid yourself from using device screens 1 hour before going to bed. Try to sleep in complete darkness. Don’t allow anything to interrupt your sleep.

2. Improper Nutrition

If you eat fast food on the go, while you are late to somewhere and your head is busy with thoughts about your work, it can end poorly.

In addition to this, a workaholic, probably, doesn’t eat food regularly and in proper time, rather, they eat a lot for one intake. That will reflect on their well-being, through conditions of the liver, stomach, skin, ability to think, and on their weight.

To prevent all those nightmarish consequences, a workaholic must set a meal schedule. It should be no less than 5-6 sessions for food intake, and it should be spread throughout the day evenly.

3. Overworking

Whether the addict works physically, or primarily with their brain, their zeal exhausts them. While a person is young and strong, they are unable to notice their fatigue and therefore do not consider it. Nevertheless, as the years pass, their bodies will give them back the lack of care in the form of pain in bones and muscles, as well as poor performance.

You can avoid this by setting strict restrictions on work duration. According to your new rules, you will work only a certain amount of hours a day.

4. Neglected Appearance

A person that is enslaved by their work routine often doesn’t consider the way they look to the extent that they should. They wear old clothes, and their hairstyles betray their self indifference. Workaholics may want to change only in the case that it becomes an obstacle for completing their working tasks.

This habit can harm a person’s socializing. They should put improving their appearance as one of the steps in the list of things to change to stop being a workaholic.

5. Lack of Socializing

Without enough social interaction, you can fall into depression, and your life will seem meaningless. If you’re in this situation, immediately try to acquire friends or acquaintances.

To have productive and enjoyable relations with people, you need to look for soul-mate people: the ones that share the same interests in life. Your world vision has to be approximately similar.

6. Neglecting Health

Workaholics see themselves as insignificant people. They often think that it’s not a big deal if they die before getting old. They may also think that as soon as they will achieve such heights, that at least they will be able to care about their body.

The truth is that their ability to work effectively will decrease with that attitude. Start to do something to fix it: visit a therapist for a consultation. Or, at least conduct research to find advice on how to maintain your health.

7. They Don’t Reflect on Their Feelings

One of our crucial needs is to reflect on our feelings and understand them. Our psyche speaks with us and can tell us if there is something wrong in our life. It may be that you need to change something or to forgive someone, or, vice versa, to stop relations with someone for your own good.

When you are not sparing any time to sort out your feelings, you may make incorrigible errors in important decisions. Include in your schedule time during which you will spend at least 20 minutes reflecting on your inner self.

8. Neglecting Exercise or Physical Fitness

It is likely that work addicts are not doing enough to stay fit. This is especially true for those who work in the office. However, even if you are working hard as a loader in a grocery store, it doesn’t mean that all groups of your muscles are all right. Also, we shouldn’t forget about cardio exercise and other workouts in which you will develop those muscles that are not exercised while you are lifting boxes.

9. Alcohol, Drugs and Nicotine Addiction

When overloading themselves, people don’t understand that they are not robots by nature. People can’t live without relaxation and relief forever. In that manner, they begin to relax and enjoy in an unnatural way.

To stop using substances it is preferable to seek help with a specialist.

10. Neglecting Intellectual Development

When a person is devoting all their time to one function, they have no time to explore the world, to discover new ideas, or to become more versatile. Soon it will become more noticeable. They think that nothing interests them and that nothing attracts them, except for their work.

They will be deeply frustrated when their profession will not provide them enough novelty. To prevent this, start to read books 30 minutes a day minimum.

11. They Forget To Have Fun

One of our bodily needs is to spend time at ease, forgetting about our problems and laughing. You will be surprised when you see what relief and mood improvement it will give you when you will practice spending time in the atmosphere of fun and jokes, from time to time.

Thus, this strict behavior is not better than other bad habits. Your career is supposed to bring some higher satisfaction to you and others, without sacrificing your comfort. However, if you are a workaholic, you are just mocking yourself.

12. They Forget to Dream

Whey is it important to dream about the future, to imagine different variations of it, and to build plans? It may happen that you don’t really like what you currently do. By imagining yourself growing in the future, you may develop absolutely different plans of action for the following years.

13. Multitasking

While a person tries to complete as many tasks as possible, the quality may suffer. It is not good for your memory either. Don’t fall into a fuss, take only the number of projects that you can complete with quality.

To suppress this bad habit, write your priorities in a journal: what are you are going to do today in the first place, and what will you do after completing the most important tasks.

14. They Do Everything by Themselves

There are numerous benefits in a skill to work in a team. If it is in your family, it gives development to your children and prepares them for mature life. It also strengthens relationships in the family.

When you do everything by yourself, you don’t give your relatives a chance to help you. Additionally, you teach your children to be egotistical.

15. They Accept All Propositions

Something in the head of work addicts makes them see themselves as obligated always to say “yes.” It can even be harmful to their career in various ways. If you say “yes” to one thing, you are going to say “no” to another. That means that you can miss more profitable projects. When you always say “yes”, people will not evaluate you fairly.

Final Thoughts on Avoiding the Bad Habits of a Workaholic

To get rid of an addiction is a difficult task. An addict should want to be successful in recovery. However, don’t hesitate; stop wasting your energy in vain. There are so many things that you can achieve if you will free yourself from that abnormality.

Your loved ones have to support you in these attempts. You should find a good therapist to instruct you in more detail.

If it is not you, but your loved one, who needs help, you have to be patient. They can become irritated when you are trying to bring them back to real life. Your close one escaped the real world for a reason. However, if you manage to help them, they will be grateful to you in the future.

5 Posture Exercises That Can Improve Your Health

April 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you sit at a desk for a large portion of your day, it’s likely that your posture has begun to suffer. The most comfortable sitting and lying down positions can often cause undue harm to the body’s posture, too!

Unfortunately, concerns surrounding bad posture aren’t just about developing a hunched back over the years. Poor posture can also potentially lead to other more difficult conditions, such as chronic back pain, increased injury risk due to bad balance, and even more serious illnesses born from poor circulation.

But don’t worry! Keep your positive thinking! Even with a taxing desk job, you can keep your posture healthy and strong with a few simple poses and positions.

Here are five posture exercises that can improve your health.

1. Plank

The plank pose is great for strengthening the abdominal muscles, both on the transverse and oblique sides. It’s also great for your back and shoulders. It’s a very simple exercise and provides numerous health benefits, including:

· Posture Improvement

The strengthening of the shoulders, back, and abs will help to keep your back straight even if you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk.

· Muscle Activation

Planks activate many different muscles – more than even exercises like crunches activate!

· Flexibility Improvement

Planks help to stretch out the lower parts of your body, and overall, flexibility provides numerous positive benefits to health, especially as you age, by improving function, reducing injury risk, and bolstering strength. Here’s how to do a high plank:

1: Start in a position akin to the beginning of a push-up, with your hands slightly further apart than a shoulder’s width, placed underneath your shoulders.
2: Press your toes into the ground, keeping your body steady and balanced by activating your glutes. Make sure your knees are relaxed, not hyperextended, or locked.
3: Pick a place on the floor that is around a foot ahead of you and look in that direction to relax and neutralize the spine and neck. Keep your back straight and in a straight line with your head.
4: Maintain the position for between 20 and 30 seconds, working your way up gradually with time to holding planks for as long as possible.
5: If this is difficult for you, you can use your forearms to rest on during a plank instead of your hands and outstretched arms.

As a bonus, planks can be easily modified to make them easier or harder as desired. For example, you can:

Do side planks, which engage the oblique abdominals and arms more.
Touch your knees repeatedly on the ground as you plank, as though walking, to challenge and activate even more muscles
Add limb extensions for arms and legs to challenge and activate even more muscles.
Rest on your knees and outstretched arms while planking for an easier exercise

2. Chest Opener

Chest openers, in general, are a common type of pose in yoga, but certain chest opening exercises provide more benefits than others. Desk work can very commonly leave your spine rounded, potentially resulting in the development of certain disorders like kyphosis that limit your mobility and, ultimately, your positive thinking.

A chest opener stretches out your chest, allowing your chest muscles to become stronger, thus boosting posture and lowering the risk of future health and back pain issues. Here’s how to do a basic chest opener!

1: Start by standing straight, keeping your feet apart at hip’s width.
2: Reach your arms behind you to clasp your hands, lacing your fingers together behind your back. Your palms should be pressed together. If you can’t do this, connect your hands by grasping a towel or similar item.
3: Keep looking forward with your head lifted, and your chest opened. Maintain a straight posture, with your spine in a straight line with your head and neck.
4: Inhale and lift your chest upwards as you push your hands towards the ground and away from you behind you. You should feel the stretch on your chest.
5: Maintain the position for a count of 5 breaths. Release and repeat as desired.
6: You can also do this while sitting down on a chair, as long as you keep your back straight when you do it!

3. Cat / Cow Pose

The cat/cow pose is a common yoga pose that helps work out the whole body. It’s a great way to stretch your muscles all over the body, including in your shoulders, neck, and torso, reducing overall stress and correcting posture.

On top of that, the cat/cow combination can help boost blood circulation. Healthy blood circulation is paramount to overall health, allowing for better immunity, organ health, and muscle strength – and a positive posture can help to achieve that, while this series of poses helps boost it further! Here’s how to do the cat/cow pose:

1: Start on all fours, balancing your weight evenly on all limbs.
2: Inhale deeply, looking up as you do so. Allow your abdomen to drop downwards towards the floor and focus on stretching your spine.
3: Now, exhale deeply, tucking in your chin to look down and rest against your chest as you do so. Allow your spine to arch upwards.
4: Repeat, inhaling, and exhaling, for about 60 seconds.

Need assistance from a chair?

You can also opt to do this while sitting on a chair to make it less potentially taxing on the limbs. Here’s how:

1: Start by sitting up straight, resting your hands on your knees.
2: Inhale deeply, looking up as you do so. Allow your chest to lift and puff outwards and upwards.
3: Now, exhale deeply, tucking in your chin to look down and rest against your chest as you do so. Allow your back to round.
4: Repeat, inhaling, and exhaling, for about 60 seconds.
5: You can also opt to do this while standing, with your knees bent and hands resting on your thighs.

4. Cobra Pose

The cobra pose is another yoga pose, primarily focused on strengthening the muscles of the spine known as the erector spinae. These muscles, as well as some other lower back muscles, that the pose engages, extend the spine, and help prevent you from falling into the habit of slouching naturally.

When done correctly, the cobra pose stretches the spine and provides added strength to the lower abdominal muscles and the pelvic muscles, and your feet and legs will also receive minor benefits. All in all, there’s a lot to be gained from this pose! Here’s how to do it:

1: Start by lying on your stomach, with your legs straight behind you. Your palms and the tops of your feet should be pressed into the ground – the former resting somewhere near the ribs. You may also begin in a plank position if you’re looking for more of a challenge.
2: Exhale deeply and engage your abdominal muscles, raising them upwards and inwards towards your spinal muscles.
3: Stretch and extend your spine as you lift your chest and head off the ground or upwards from their current position. Use your back muscles, not your arms, to do this, and make sure your hips stay on the ground.
4: Relax your neck, looking down if it helps, and lower yourself back to your starting position.
5: Repeat up to five times, then gradually increase your repetitions as your body becomes stronger.
6: To make the move even harder, extend your arms next to you, elbows straight, instead of planting them beside you.

Do note that the cobra pose is not suitable for everyone.

Those with back problems, such as spondylolisthesis or any issues with the lower back and facet joints, should consult their relevant medical professional before performing this pose. Less taxing variations of the pose can be performed if desired. Examples include:

You are pushing your shoulder blades backward, down your back, to provide additional upper spinal support.
Planting your forearms on the floor instead of your hands, allowing you to rest on your arms. Keep your elbows beneath your shoulders as you do so to better control your motions.
Do a “mini” cobra pose, where you reduce the amount you lift your chest off the ground, keeping your elbows bent instead of stretching them out to full length.
Finish with a lower back stretch of a gentle nature to help balance out the muscles and relax them after the intensity of the pose.

5. Cactus Arms (Mountain Pose)

Cactus arms are taken from a variation of a yoga pose known as the Mountain Pose. The pose in question merely involves standing straight, but it has a number of variations involving arm positioning. One such variation involves the holding out of the arms out in a goalpost-like pose, so you resemble the silhouette of a cactus.

This pose is extremely simple and is a non-taxing form of exercise that virtually almost anyone can do. It’s commonly used as a warm-up pose, so it’s not a bad option to start with this exercise before moving into the other ones. Though gentle, it still has benefits, exercising your upper back muscles and arms. Here’s how to do it:

1: Start by standing or sitting with your back straight.
2: Inhaling deeply, raise your arms upwards towards the sky.
3: Exhaling deeply, bend your elbows down to a 90-degree angle in the goalpost position.
4: Pull back your elbows and lower your shoulders, as though you’re squeezing something between the blades of your shoulders. Your chest should be raised upwards as you do so.
5: Release the pose.
6: Repeat the exercise up to 10 more times.

Final Thoughts On Some Exercises That Can Improve Your Health

Good posture is important to health, and that’s why doing posture exercises can be so beneficial to you. Even if you think your posture is okay, and even if you don’t work a desk job, there’s no harm in adding these moves to your daily routine or workout. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Of course, if you have back, joint, or similar pain issues, you should speak to a doctor or relevant medical professional first before doing any of these exercises. The chances are that if you can’t make these moves, your doctor can suggest safe ones for you!

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