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11 Habits Of People With Inner Beauty

November 15, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Have you ever admired someone and pondered over how they’ve achieved such inner beauty? It’s not about outward appearance. This stems from a lifetime of positive habits that make them a beautiful soul, genuinely.

Our world puts a lot of importance on being stereotypically beautiful. Photoshopped models and social media influencers have taken over the idea of what true beauty is – unattainable, impossible, and, on the whole, totally superficial.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be attractive. But there are many more important things in the world than that. In fact, inner beauty will always be so much more crucial to life than external beauty.

So, how can you foster your inner beauty? The best way is by learning from those who have mastered it.

Here Are 11 Habits Of People With Inner Beauty

1. They Are Selfless

A truly beautiful person is selfless. They are always happy to assist others, even when they receive absolutely nothing in return. For them, joy comes from the joy of others, and it takes a truly special soul to think that way. Besides, compassion is known for having positive effects on everyone, not just the receivers of kindness!

This does not mean that they do not take care of themselves, or that they do not consider themselves important. They just know better than to constantly consider themselves more important than everyone else. Here are some examples of selfless acts you’ll see them perform:

Giving a smile, greeting, or compliment to someone
Treating someone to a meal
Lending an ear to someone who needs it
Donating to or volunteering at charities
Helping someone with a difficult task

2. They Use Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations work wonders on the body. They make you happier, healthier, and more open-minded, allowing you to reduce stress, anxiety, and criticism sensitivity significantly. And when you feel good, you look good, too – both inside and out.

So, why do positive affirmations work so well? The truth is actually rather surprising. Psychology indicates that the human brain isn’t the best at distinguishing fantasy from reality. So when you repeat positive affirmations to yourself, your brain will slowly begin to believe them to be true – and then they will be true. You’re literally willing them into existence.

Here are some great examples of affirmations that you can use to tap into your inner beauty:

I am strong, intelligent, and capable
My beauty shines from within
I bring happiness and joy to those around me
I’m worthy of good things in life
I do what I can to the best of my abilities

3. They Stay Humble

A beautiful person is humble, not proud. They are confident, yes, but never arrogant. They acknowledge that they have much left to learn, and are happy to hear the thoughts and opinions of others.

This does not mean that someone with inner beauty has low self-esteem. It’s quite the opposite, actually! Instead, they keep themselves humble, focusing on making humility a large part of their lives. They know that excessive pride always comes before a fall.

This also helps those with inner beauty to be more giving and selfless overall, as they do not think so highly of themselves that it damages the way they behave.

4. They Don’t Compare Themselves To Others

Someone with inner beauty would never compare themselves to those around them. There are a few reasons for this:

They recognize that everyone is on their own unique journey
There is no desire to be “better” than others on a superficial level
They do not see the point in passing judgment on others; they know it is not their place to judge
They’re on their own path and know it will not be the same as anyone else’s
They’re aware that comparisons are a disservice to all parties involved
They seek to be their own best selves, not a copycat best of someone else
They are or strive to be secure in their own abilities and identity

Essentially, someone with inner beauty seeks to love themselves and others, including all the differences between everyone.

5. They Foster Peace

Someone with inner beauty doesn’t like quarrels. They don’t like war or disagreements, and they don’t like violence. This doesn’t mean they won’t stand up for themselves, defend those around them, or fight for what’s right if necessary. Instead, it means that they are pacifists at heart, and they believe in the value of peaceful discussion and compromise.

In a world often marred by violence, someone truly beautiful stands by a simple motto: “Do no harm”. Even in the most difficult times, they focus on reaching others through love, speech, and kindness, never through harshness, insults, or underhanded tactics.

6. They Don’t Focus Too Much On The Mirror

Someone with inner beauty doesn’t need to love their outer appearance – they just need to know that they are more than it. Our society often forces us to focus on the mirror and the scale, attempting to fold us down into a cookie-cutter ideal of beauty that just isn’t achievable for most people.

Those who are truly beautiful don’t pay attention much to the mirror. They know that their beauty will wither and fade as they age, and they don’t care how the world thinks of their appearance. They focus on other things that make them beautiful and make them glow from the inside out, like:

Confidence
Intelligence and wisdom
Courage
Kindness
Curiosity
Understanding
Generosity
Thoughtfulness
Love

7. They Focus On What Really Matters

A person whose inner beauty shines forth has an impeccable sense of perspective. They like to focus on what matters most in the world, and they have been able to figure out what that is. They do not focus on:

Celebrity gossip
The latest fashion trends
Social media drama
Petty disagreements
Baseless accusations

Instead, a beautiful person’s viewpoint is centered around important things that touch the world on a deeper level. This includes:

How their friends and family are feeling
Serving others around them
Social efforts that they could help with
The state of the political, environmental, or economic world
Their own mental and physical health

This is not to say that beautiful people don’t like “trivial” things, either. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying silly reality TV shows, going shopping, or keeping up-to-date on the disagreements happening among their friends or family members. They just don’t dwell on these things. They listen and observe, but save their energy for more important issues.

8. They Love All

Someone with inner beauty loves everyone unconditionally. They want the best for all people, even those who don’t want the same for them, and even those who may be undeserving in the eyes of society. Their love is equal for all, regardless of:

Race
Religion
Sexuality
Nationality
Gender identity
Social or economic status
History or past
Career

This does not mean that beautiful people extend love and spend time with negative or toxic people. It doesn’t mean giving their hearts away to criminals. But it does mean that a beautiful person will not wish bad things onto their souls. They love all and hope for change and improvement from everyone.

9. They Don’t Judge Others

We’ve briefly mentioned that truly beautiful people don’t see the point in judging others and understand it is not their place. This is a very difficult thing to do in today’s world, which often casts judgment hastily over everyone based on tiny shreds of knowledge. A beautiful person resists this type of behavior.

A person with inner beauty knows that they can never truly get the full picture of someone’s story. All they will ever have are bits and pieces which are either told by people with at least slight biases or observed through their own less-than-perfect eyes.

Someone with inner beauty knows it isn’t their place to pass judgment on to people they know. They are happy to offer insight or assistance to people when asked for advice, but the act of unfair judgment is the furthest thing from their thoughts.

10. They Are Brave

Internal beauty requires bravery. One must have the courage to truly be themselves, to be away from their comfort zones for the greater good, to try new things, and to overcome personal hurdles. They use positive thinking and hope for the future in order to fight their way to enlightenment and happiness.

It also takes courage to grow from mistakes, trauma, and difficulties – and this is something that those with inner beauty have. It makes them strong, resilient, and truly, truly beautiful. Their will is stronger than anyone without inner beauty, and they will do what is right when they must, even if it is frightening; courage is not the absence of fear, but the act of doing something in spite of fear.

11. They Are Grateful

Gratitude is an amazing tool. It boosts positive thinking and genuinely makes someone happier. No matter how bad the day, a person with inner beauty can find a number of things to be grateful for. Gratitude habits make a person appreciate life even more.

Here are some ideas of things to be grateful for:

Access to all your basic everyday needs
Friends, family, and relationships
Good health
Things you like about yourself
Things you like about your home
A reliable job
Your hobbies
Your favorite things
Opportunities to learn and grow
The positive changes you’ve made towards becoming a better person
A small or big favor someone did for you
Something good that happened
Something that made you smile

You can also start a gratitude journal, or make lists of things you’re grateful for every day. Write between three to ten things every single night, no matter how rough your day was, and you’ll begin to see all the beauty in the world – and that will make you beautiful inside.

Final Thoughts on People with Genuine Inner Beauty

Though it may be cliché to say, what’s inside is truly what counts. External beauty will go away with time, but your inner beauty will stay with you forever. Work on fostering habits to achieve inner beauty. That is what truly matters and your soul will thank you.

18 Meal Prep Hacks for the Weight Watchers Program

November 15, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Weight Watchers is one of the most popular methods for people to watch what they eat and lose weight. A large portion of the Weight Watchers program is tracking what you eat. Many people try to make it easy on themselves by doing weekly meal prep to help stick with their plan.

Meal prepping refers to the practice of planning out and packing meals in advance to make it easy for yourself to stick to your meal plan. Of course, you want to do this in the most effective way possible.

Here are 18 meal prep hacks for the Weight Watchers program.

1. Pick a nutrition plan

There are many diets out there. Before you start prepping your meals, you need to pick a direction to go in. Weight Watchers now allows participants to choose the best plan for themselves and unlocks a related list of zero-point foods.

Many people choose to go with a plan by the zero-points listing. Whatever you want, decide in the beginning. This knowledge will allow you to buy the right things.

2. Get plenty of containers

You need all of the correct storage solutions if you want to plan your meals. You will need a container for everything, from salads to protein shakes. Have a variety of different sizes and shapes to ensure you have something to hold every meal.

3. Prepare healthy snacks

You need snacks. It’s unrealistic to think that you will only follow your meal prep schedule and eat nothing in between. If you aren’t prepared, you might go off the road to health and buy a bag of chips or something equally as damaging to your goals.

Have snacks prepared? Depending on your diet, try carrot and celery sticks, rice cakes, beef jerky, or hummus and pretzel chips. Pick something that aligns with your diet plan.

4. Stock up

You should stock up on items that fit into your diet, mainly dry items that won’t go bad if you don’t eat them right away. You should purchase items like canned tuna, frozen vegetables, fruits, Greek yogurt in bulk. You’ll get a deal for buying it in quantity, and you’ll always have healthy food options available to you. You won’t be able to make the excuse that there’s nothing to eat at home.

5. Stock up on mason jars

If you have Pinterest, you know that people are creating works of art when it comes to the food they put in mason jars. Have fun with your meal prep and attempt to mimic some of these colorful, yummy creations. If your menu looks appealing, you’ll be less likely to be swayed by the bright packaging of fast foods.

Mason jars are a great way to store things since they close securely. They also don’t take up too much room in the fridge.

6. Try new meals on the weekend

If you make a fresh, exciting meal, you assume it’s going to turn out just like it did on the Food Network or online. However, this isn’t always the case. There are times we might mess up the meal or simply not like it like we thought we would. You don’t want to be stuck eating this all week. Make the weekend the time to experiment. If you don’t like the dish, you can make something else for the rest of the week.

7. Experiment with spices

Spices can make a big difference in your meals. Some diets stick to rather bland meals. This can be discouraging when you see other people eating cheesy, garlic pizza with a lot of pepper. While cheese might not be in your plan, you can undoubtedly use spices to help spice up your otherwise bland meals. Try different spices and different combinations of spices to learn what you like best.

Go easy on the salt, which can trigger fluid retention and excess weight. Instead, focus on zero-point herbs.

8. Keep a meal prep journal

The best way to know if your Weight Watchers meal prep plan is working is to record what you eat compared to your meal plan. Using your ww tracker app can make it real for you. Be sure to include everything in your daily food journal. This consists of that bite (or three) of birthday cake at the office and the one (or ten) french fries you ate off of your boyfriend’s plate at dinner.

9. Use fresh ingredients when possible

Frozen fruits and vegetables taste good. They also contain almost the same amount of nutrients as fresh fruit and vegetables. However, fresh fruits and vegetables taste better and have even more nutrients. Go to the farmers market when possible. These crisp fruits and vegetables will make your meals taste better, encouraging you to stick to your Weight Watchers meal prep plan.

10. Bust out the slow cooker

Meal prep revolves around much more than just lunch at work. You also need to plan for dinner. Many of us are busy and tired when we get home after a hard day. However, you need to eat dinner. Don’t be tempted by fast food.

Start your dinner before you even leave for work with your slow cooker. You can make delicious soups, stews, and other meals that will be ready for you when you get home. It’s safe to leave alone, and you can make something new every week. Try turkey chili or chicken soup.

11. Portion out snacks

How many times have you reached for a bag of trail mix (or chips) and just kept eating handful after handful until most of the bag was empty? One of the bad things about snacking is that we do it mindlessly. We don’t even realize how much we’ve eaten until it’s too late.

Instead, portion out your snacks. Buy small containers or use zipper-top bags. Weigh out a portion or two and put the larger pack into smaller containers. This will help prevent you from overeating.

12. Don’t forget breakfast

You need to plan for breakfast, just like you plan for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is one of the more leisurely meals to prepare since you can quickly cook eggs, oatmeal, or other yummy things for this meal. If you can have the sugar, consider Greek yogurt parfaits or a piece of fruit.

13. Make time to prep

Prepping will save you time throughout the week. However, it will cost you some time during your Sunday. You need to make time to prep. Otherwise, you might not be able to get it done. Assume that it will take you at least two hours to plan, make all of the food, and clean up. It will take even longer if you have to go to the grocery store. If you have a partner, make sure they know they will have to watch the kids during this time.

14. Make other healthy life choices, too

The things we eat make a big difference in our health. However, there are a lot of different aspects to consider, as well.

You need to make time to work out a couple of times throughout the week. You also need to make a point to stop behaviors that are bad for your health, such as smoking or excessive drinking.

Prepping is more than just a method to plan meals for the week- it’s a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Make the right decisions for your health in other areas as well.

15. Get rid of the unhealthy things in your home

You don’t need the unnecessary temptation. When you decide to get started, it’s a good idea to purge your kitchen. This can be more difficult if you have other people in your home who still want unhealthy treats. However, if possible, put the forbidden treats away from you.

16. Make it enjoyable

You don’t have to eat foods that you hate. While you have some foods you won’t be able to eat. It’s better to focus on the delicious things you can eat. Get excited about your meals. Make stuff that sounds good to you. It will make the experience that much better if you can eat things you enjoy.

17. Get friends to meal prep with you

You’ll have more fun when you get someone to do it with you. Convince your spouse or someone you work with to join your mission to get healthy. You have someone to help hold you accountable, which will help you stick to your plan.

18. Stay committed

When you start your Weight Watchers plan, it’s essential to stick to it if you want to see results. You can’t give up due to a lack of self-control. Simply tell yourself that you’ve had more than enough of the snacks you can’t have right now. You’ll have them again down the road. Stay motivated. Stay committed.

Final Thoughts on Doing Meal Prep to Keep on Track with Weight Watchers

Planning your meals can save you a lot of time and even help keep you on track health-wise. Follow these tips, and you’ll be able to prep your meals like a boss. You may also see some boosted weight loss after a couple of weeks of sticking more carefully to the program.

15 Signs Your Partner Is An Enlightened Soul

November 15, 2019 by Power of Positivity

What does it mean to be enlightened? Exact definitions vary, but the general idea is the same: that an enlightened person is someone who has had a spiritual, emotional, and psychological awakening of some kind. It is as though they are on a higher plane of existence while remaining just as human as the rest of us. Perhaps you think your partner has these qualities, or maybe you wonder if they do.

The qualities of an enlightened soul are primarily positive. They are brimming with compassion, patience, understanding, and many other attributes that make them incredible partners.

An enlightened partner has much to offer in a relationship, and they often foster healthy and unconditional bonds with those they are involved with. For that reason, an affiliation with such a person is an extraordinary and incredible thing.

But is your partner one of these people? Have they achieved this awakening? Have they transcended the simple explanations of life that words and language are restricted to?

Here Are 15 Signs Your Partner Is An Enlightened Soul

1. They Are Kind

An enlightened soul is often very compassionate. This means your partner may be exceptionally loving to you in a unique way, but they will also extend a sincere, platonic love to all those around them. This is because they:

Care about others, even if they are not cared for in return
Are not self-focused, selfish, or self-centered
Believe that everyone is interconnected and they want to strengthen those connections
Want to make the world a better place
Have opened themselves spiritually to the world and to other people
Are nourished spiritually through helping others

2. They Are Open-Minded

When you are enlightened, you become spiritually and mentally open. You realize more and more than your perspectives are not the only ones in the world. That’s what an enlightened partner sees, and that’s why they are open-minded.

Open-mindedness is a very positive trait, and it will allow your partner to see the world without preconceived notions or judgments. They will listen, observe, and seek understanding before drawing any conclusions.

So if your partner cautiously sees the world with light and love and does not make any judgments before they have all the information, they may just be a lovely enlightened soul.

3. They Are Connected To Themselves

An enlightened person values their relationship with themselves very highly. As such, they never ignore me-time. Every day, they make sure to set aside a set amount of time that allows them to get in touch with themselves.

Everyday life can distract one from their deepest thoughts and desires, and that’s why your enlightened partner may value their alone time so much. They need to reconnect with who they are through the hustle and bustle of life. They may do this by:

Enjoying a drink or snack alone in silence
Going for a walk or hike
Meditating
Reading
Doing something hobby-related
Listening to music
Pampering themselves

4. They Are Grateful and Content

An enlightened partner will understand that, while happiness cannot be constant, a feeling of contentedness certainly can be. They are always grateful for the gifts that life has bestowed upon them, so their positive thinking is still top-notch, and they do not suffer heavily from the burdens of stress and sadness.

This does not mean they are foolishly optimistic. Instead, they are happy and grateful that they are alive, and they accept that they are on a journey that has its ups and downs. They follow the coaxings of fate happily wherever they may need to go.

5. They Are Humble

Despite their enlightenment, a partner whose soul has been awakened is never proud. They are confident, certain, and sure of their value and worth. But they are not proud. In fact, they focus on humility.

Enlightened souls are always humble because they know where they fall in the universe. They need no validation, even if they appreciate it from you, and they have no interest in proving themselves through arrogance. They are gentle, sweet, and kind, and they would never consider themselves better than anyone else.

6. They Don’t Get Swayed By The Opinions Of Others

The many opinions of the world can cause you to lose sight of what you truly believe in. Your partner, if they are enlightened, will not face this problem. They have no problem going against the status quo.

Does this mean they will never take advice or criticism? Of course not! They are always happy to hear of opinions that they could use to improve themselves. But ultimately, they know that their desires, goals, and life path should not be shaped solely through the opinions of the world.

7. They Are Understanding

When someone is enlightened, they will be very understanding. Your partner may be extremely patient, especially during disagreements, during which they will do all they can to see things from your perspective.

Plus, no matter how strange you think your own perspectives are, your partner will seek to be understanding. They will not condone negative behavior, but they have forgiveness in their hearts for mistakes.

8. They Are Intuitive

Does your partner always seem just to know how you’re feeling, even when you’re not so sure yourself? They may be exceptionally intuitive, and intuition is a sign of an enlightened soul. Examples of intuitive experiences include:

Knowing when someone far away is having a bad day
Developing a strong feeling towards something or someone that turns out to be right
Thinking of someone right before bumping into them coincidentally
Accurately guessing who may be calling or texting before seeing the contact ID
Feeling like they should or shouldn’t go somewhere today and finding out later that it was a right decision

9. They Respect Others

Respect is something that an enlightened person has for everyone. They maintain positive thinking when meeting people from all walks of life. They do not participate in disrespectful behavior, such as:

Gossiping or spreading rumors
Drawing conclusions based on assumptions
Dismissing someone due to their race, religion, education level, social status, or other factors
Playing favorites with friends or family

An enlightened partner will always respect you, and they will always respect others. They will offer basic courtesy, even to people they don’t like. Judgment is frowned upon and seen as unhealthy and unproductive – which it certainly is!

10. They Maintain Their Health

An enlightened soul will know that their physical health is crucial to their mental health. They want all aspects of themselves to be in healthy, positive harmony so they can be their best selves, and as such, they will care for their physical health by:

Consuming a balanced diet
Exercising regularly
Visiting doctors when necessary

They will take care of their mental health by:

Freely expressing their emotions
Processing and working through problems maturely
Making sure to take time for themselves

They will take care of their spiritual health by:

Meditating
Drawing close to a religion or spiritual belief of their choice
Prioritizing their life journey

11. They Are Dedicated To Self Improvement

An enlightened partner will not be offended if you point out their mistakes, and they will not consider themselves to be always in the right. Instead, they want to improve themselves through open-minded learning and growth continually.

When an enlightened person makes a mistake, they process it, learn from it, and grow. They don’t spend ages beating themselves up over it or hating themselves for their errors. They know mistakes are part of being human, and they know that through these mistakes, they will become better people.

12. They Make Their Own Path, Even Against The Crowd

We’ve already briefly touched on this, but it needs to be reiterated. An enlightened soul doesn’t require the affirmative approval of a crowd to determine what they have to do. They make their own unique path and walk down it proudly.

For many enlightened souls, their lifestyle is not the same as those who have yet to achieve awakening. As such, they have to be okay with being different from the rest – and they are! What matters to them is that they are true to their beliefs and values.

13. They Are Emotionally Open

Sometimes, romantic partners wind up being closed-off emotionally or lacking emotional stability. That’s not the case with your partner. They are secure in their identity and are in touch with their feelings, allowing you to both discuss them freely and insightfully.

This also indicates that there is no strong sense of ego from your enlightened partner. They do not turn to anger in order to handle emotions they are ashamed of – they feel freely, happily, and readily, as all humans are meant to do.

14. They Are Honest and Authentic

Someone who has an enlightened soul has to have self-worth and self-esteem because they must be their true, authentic selves. They don’t want to conform to society; they want to be free to be who they truly are, and they are not ashamed of their honest selves. As such, they don’t concern themselves with:

Social media likes or followers
The status quo
Becoming an influencer of any kind
Pleasing others by changing who they are
Hiding their true identities

15. They Are Not Afraid Of The Future

The future is a frightening concept to many people, and for a good reason. It’s unknown, and absolutely anything could happen. An enlightened partner will not be afraid of it, however. In fact, they will welcome it with wide-open arms.

To an enlightened partner, change is positive, and they believe that destiny will take them where they are meant to go. They do not waste time stressing out over their inability to see into the future – they plan, they prepare, and they let the universe take them where it may as they adapt all the way.

Final Thoughts on Your Relationship With An Enlightened Partner

An enlightened partner is a scarce gem – a treasure to be cherished, respected, and loved. Whether or not you believe you have enlightened yourself, you can learn much from a partner who has achieved this goal that so many of us strive for.

So, if you have one such partner with an enlightened soul, hold onto them tightly. They are truly beautiful people to be around, and there will never be a moment where you cannot bask in their peace and wisdom.

Doctors Share the Benefits of Using a Weighted Blanket

November 14, 2019 by Chris Butler

Living with autism, a sensory processing disorder, or mental health concerns like anxiety can be overwhelming. You may have heard about how a weighted blanket can aid in treating these conditions.

Of course, some consumers were concerned that these blankets were more hype than help. However, the medical community is speaking out to support this pressure therapy. Indeed, these blankets can release oxytocin in your brain to help relax your body.

So what do doctors around the country say about this latest calming technique, and is it worth buying one?

Understanding the Weighted Blanket

Before you rush out and buy one of these blankets, you must know how they work. These covers are not like your typical ones. They have a filling of polypropylene pellets that gives them bulk.

Inside, the blanket has tiny pockets that hold the pellets. Thus, they are self-contained. Typically, you buy a comforter to fit the size of your bed. You don’t buy these king, queen, or twin blankets as they must be sized for the person.

How Does the Weighted Blanket Work?

Most households have quite a few comforters, but few have one created by a doctor. The weighted blanket is backed by years of research and the medical community’s support.

Everyone knows how to use a blanket to cover up the body to stay warm. They are soothing on a cold winter night, and even children have a favorite one they carry.

However, a weighted blanket is very soothing. Dr. Grandin was the mastermind behind these creations.

She started Temple Grandin to do autism research. She wanted to create a therapy tool that used the calming effects of a blanket with compression properties. As a young child growing up on a farm, she watched her father use a compression device on their livestock.

Whenever it was time to administer livestock vaccinations, they used this device to calm them so they could give shots more easily. A gentle squeeze made the cows calmer and more manageable.

The device fascinated Dr. Grandin because she was diagnosed with autism. She knew that as a child fighting with a sensory processing disorder, she often felt comfort and relief of her symptoms when she was being held or hugged.

She wanted to create a device that would give the benefits of a hug without the feeling of being smothered. In addition, she needed to create something that could apply gentle pressure to the entire body. Dr. Grandin knew that hugs release oxytocin in the brain and instantly calm those suffering.

So she focused on creating a blanket that would stimulate the happiness chemical to bring the same sensation as that machine used on cows. Her creation struck a chord with the medical community and people around the globe. It worked!

How Do These Blankets Help?

The reason why these blankets help so much is all about the stimulation of that neurotransmitter in the brain. When the body releases oxytocin, we instantly feel a sensation of calm, peace, and happiness. That is because touch can stimulate the production of this chemical. Thus, Dr. Grandin’s blankets can improve a person’s well-being.

Many psychiatrists and counselors have incorporated hugging and cuddling into their therapy. It’s often called deep touch pressure therapy, backed by years of research. Those suffering from anxiety, autism, and sensory processing disorders respond well to this treatment.

Conversely, those with a sensory processing disorder can often find touch unsettling. It can increase their anxiety when someone is in their personal space. However, a weighted blanket is different. It delivers the benefits of the pressure, but no one making unwelcome bodily contact.

Squeeze machines became popular many years ago. They are used in therapy centers around the world. The only problem is these devices come with a hefty price tag that the ordinary person cannot afford.

The weighted blanket brings all the same benefits with a favorable cost that can fit into anyone’s budget.

Who Can Benefit from Weighted Blanket Therapy?

There is a wide variety of health issues that are said to be helped by the use of these blankets. They are as follows:

Anxiety
Insomnia
Autism
ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Restless Leg Syndrome
Fibromyalgia

The stimulation of oxytocin can help many medical conditions. Some doctors advise their patients to use these for any issue that can benefit from deep pressure therapy.

Weight Therapy for Those With Sensory Processing Disorder

There are two forms of sensory processing disorder. A person can either be overly sensitive or under-sensitive. The hypersensitive individual will find simple things like grocery shopping unbearable.

They become overwhelmed by loud or constant noises, crowds, and others bustling by them in their space or being touched. Any of these things will send their anxiety soaring. However, those with hyposensitivity are just the opposite.

The hypo sensitive group doesn’t feel anything when presented with stimuli. They are unaffected by touch and don’t sense noises well. Under-sensitive people will seek out touch, and the under-sensitive person avoids it.

Treating someone with sensory processing disorder with pressure therapy will vary on whether they are hyper or hypo sensitive. The blankets work better for hypersensitive people because they have control over the pressure, but research shows it can work for both groups.

For the hyper group, the real benefit is that the pressure comes from a blanket and not a person. The cover can be used only to stimulate areas that they can tolerate and avoid uncomfortable ones. With the hypo-sensitive person, they get that even distribution of pressure they crave.

Weight Therapy for Autism

Dr. Grandin is the most distinguished researcher in the field regarding deep touch therapy. Since she has autism, she could test and see if her creation had benefits or drawbacks, and she could make tweaks where necessary.

She knows that autistic children love deep-pressure stimulation. Things like stroking, holding, or touching, are all excellent activities for them. She relates everything to that squeeze machine she saw as a child. The blanket she created gives just enough pressure touch therapy to calm those with difficult to manage ailments.

Weight Therapy for Anxiety

The ADAA reports that there are more than 40 million people that suffer from anxiety in the United States. Thankfully, it’s a highly treatable mental disorder. Surprisingly, only 37 percent of those suffering get the help they need.

Anxiety can make sleeping impossible, but a weighted blanket can help. As many as 63 out of 100 participants in a study showed improvement in their electrodermal activity, which means they slept better and worried less.

Weight Therapy For ADHD

A medical team from Temple University conducted a study. The goal was to see how those with ADHD responded to weighted therapy. The results were unbelievable. At least 95 percent of participants showed significant improvement.

The people involved in the study expressed a reduction in their tactile sensitivity. Additionally, they displayed fewer behavioral issues.

Weight Therapy for Insomnia

Statistics indicate that about 15 percent of the population suffers from insomnia. Everyone needs sleep, so it’s frustrating when you can’t drift away and relax your mind.

However, deep touch pressure reduces insomnia. In fact, more than 78 percent of people in a study showed that the constant pressure from the blanket reduced their angst and brought on sleep.

Weight Therapy for Restless Leg Syndrome

RLS is a major cause of insomnia. The feeling that the legs constantly need to move is unbearable. Some describe sensations that feel like bugs crawling up and down their legs or numbness from pins and needles. Unfortunately, this condition always strikes at night.

Indeed, the gentle pressure applied from a blanket with weights can calm the sensations in RLS. Additionally, since it calms anxiety and insomnia too, this group got the rest that was much needed.

Weight Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed conditions around. This autoimmune disorder brings widespread pain throughout the body. However, many people go years without getting the proper diagnosis.

It’s estimated that more than five million people in this country suffer from this condition. Myofascial release is a type of therapy often used on these patients. Gentle pressure helps to relieve pain. The weight-filled blanket can mimic that pressure, which can cause a reduction in symptoms.

Final Thoughts: Getting Pressure Treatment with Weighted Blankets

The medical community stands behind Dr. Grandin and her invention. She’s already significantly impacted the autistic community, and many more suffering from all sorts of ailments are also finding relief.

The real key is that these blankets are affordable. There have always been fancy techniques and machines that require either a great time or money commitment. However, a blanket is something that anyone can use at any time.

Science Reveals the 20 Best Foods for the Keto Diet

November 14, 2019 by Power of Positivity

You’ve probably heard someone rave about their weight loss on the keto diet. The ketogenic lifestyle is sweeping the globe, thanks to its quick results for those who adopt it. Those who enjoy keto also love the wide range of low-carb tasty foods–no calorie counting required.

While it’s been used to treat childhood epilepsy for over 100 years, the diet’s fat loss power is front-and-center in modern discussion. This is because keto breaks the cycle of ingesting sugar and flooding your body with insulin, which drives inflammation and is responsible for diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Lower insulin levels also seem to be important in preventing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases as well, like Parkinson’s. In fact, the keto seems to be one of the easiest and most effective methods for controlling or reversing type 2 diabetes.

With all of the fanfare over keto, there are a lot of businesses trying to sell “keto supplements”. The fact is that low carb, whole foods are still the best ketogenic medicine that exists. Therefore, selecting the best ones is critical to maintaining the diet for the long haul. We’re going to look at the 20 best foods for the ketogenic diet and why they’re so perfect for this way of eating.

Perfect keto fruits and vegetables

A well-formulated ketogenic diet avoids processed junk and instead focuses on clean, whole foods. Vegetables that are nutrient-dense, fibrous and low in carbs are ideal for this way of eating.

1 – Avocado

Green is a power color for keto plans, and avocado is the king of green. This little fruit is fatty, low in carbs, high in fiber and contains more potassium than a banana. Since keto depletes electrolytes, anything that provides sodium, potassium, and magnesium has a place in a ketogenic meal plan. Finally, there is research that correlates avocado consumption with a reduction in LDL cholesterol.

2 – Spinach

Spinach is incredibly low in carbs, high in fiber and packed with iron, magnesium and again, potassium. It makes a wonderful base for a salad. You may also cook it up and mix it with spinach and eggs for a breakfast with near unrivaled nutrition.

3 – Olives

The anti-inflammatory goodness of olive oil is simply a concentrated form of the oleuropein in whole olives. These little fruits are the perfect keto snack, full of fat, low in carbs and nutritionally dense.

4 – Onions

While slightly higher in carbs than other foods on this list, onions in moderation have potent health benefits. They fit into the ketogenic diet in small amounts, pleasantly flavoring dishes with the flavone quercetin. This flavone is a taste compound that is an angiogenesis inhibitor, which has positive impact on cancer prevention and suppression as well as modulating type 2 diabetes.

5 – Black, blue and raspberries

For the most part, you can’t really eat the fruit in ketosis, but berries are an exception. Because their carb-to-fiber ratio is almost 1:1, they can be eaten in small but satisfying amounts. These tasty little treats are packed with antioxidants as well, reducing inflammation.

6 – Broccoli

Broccoli and other brassicas are packed with phytochemicals that help lessen the impact of inflammatory conditions within the body. This is related to a suppression of chronic conditions with inflammatory origins, like cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Plus everyone loves broccoli covered in a keto-friendly cheese sauce.

7 – Cauliflower

Few vegetables are as immediately related to the keto diet as cauliflower. The culinary versatility of cauliflower allows you to use it in place of rice, as a base for pizza crust and as an alternative to mashed potatoes. It’s also packed with the same phytochemicals that make broccoli and cabbage so healthy.

Fish, meat and poultry

Many incorrectly view the ketogenic diet as one in which you only eat meat. While that’s not true, proteins do offer you great nutritional benefits.

8 – Shellfish

While higher in carbs than other seafood, shellfish play an important role in the keto diet. Coldwater, deep-sea animals are filled with marine collagen that has benefits on skin, eyes, muscle and gut health. Additionally, these proteins are dense in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, both of which are woefully absent in most adults’ diets.

9 – Sardines

You might be put off at the thought of these tiny canned fish, but they’re one of the most nutritionally dense fish on the planet. Packed with omega-3, protein, selenium, and calcium, they’re a great snack if you can get past the idea of eating a whole fish.

10 – Wild-caught salmon

Wild-caught is a must with most fish, as farmed fish have a dramatically different fat profile, higher in inflammatory omega-6 fats, which you want to avoid. That said, cold water, wild-caught salmon (and other fatty cold-water fish) are high in omega-3 and quality protein.

11 – Grass-fed beef

Like with farm-raised fish, grain-fed beef has significantly more omega-6 and simply doesn’t taste as good as grass-fed animals. Because of the higher omega-3 profile and the care that goes into raising them, this beef is often more expensive but it’s worth the cost. It tastes better, is far healthier for us, and it promotes a better environment for the animal to grow in.

12 – Bacon

Probably the poster-child of keto, bacon is one of the most flavorful meats on the planet, as well as one of the most versatile. You can use bacon to add great taste to vegetables. And, you’ll enjoy serving it at breakfast, lunch, or dinner (and it makes a great snack, too).

13 – Chicken

Poultry is accessible, easy to cook and relatively cheap. Chicken, especially, has such a broad range of culinary applications across all cultures such that it is a staple in most diets, keto or not. For low carb dieters, in particular, special attention should be paid to chicken thighs, as they are the cheapest, fattiest and most flavorful selections on the bird.

14 – Eggs

Though they’ve been wrongfully demonized for years, eggs are actually one of the most perfect foods on the planet. Full of everything you need nutritionally, from protein to fat and a slew of vitamins and minerals, eggs really are one of the most basic keto diet staples.

Cheese, dairy and other fats

Fat is obviously a main component of keto, but getting the right ones in your diet is crucial. Certain fats like canola oil are full of omega-6, which can be inflammatory and detrimental to your health.

15 – Nuts and seeds

Like eggs, nuts are a nutritionally complete food, full of fat and phytonutrients that are highly beneficial to humans. Walnuts are one of the healthiest nuts on the keto diet, packed with omega-3 and appear to have neuroprotective benefits, particularly in elderly people. Pumpkin seeds are a fantastic source of dietary magnesium and are so high in fiber that they make a great snack.

16 – Coconut oil

Another very visible component of the keto diet, coconut oil high in medium-chain triglycerides. These fats turn almost immediately into ketones, fueling your body and providing extreme mental clarity.

17 – Cocoa powder and dark chocolate

While eating sugar is not keto-friendly, you can combine dark chocolate with non-sugar sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia fits. You’ll create an occasional treat that fits into the keto lifestyle quite well. Because cocoa powder is high in magnesium, fiber and fat, it’s a great mix-in for keto smoothies or coffee.

18 – Coffee

Coffee has liver-protective benefits, as well as creating a small thermic effect, boosting metabolism and burning more fat. Naturally, it also is full of caffeine which boosts mental awareness and essentially is the reason offices and schools even function in the morning.

19 – Butter

Butter is accessible and delicious, great as a cooking medium or as an addition to veggies. Grass-fed butter is ideal, as it has a better omega-3 profile, but any butter is preferable to vegetable oils. Some people have even begun adding it to their morning coffee, in a ritual known as “keto coffee.”

20 – Cheese

Nothing makes keto easier to adhere to than the melty goodness that is cheese. Low in carbs, high in fat and utterly delicious, you can make cheese into chips, melt it over literally anything or mix it into eggs to boost the taste of your breakfast.

Final Thoughts: Whole food delivers the best nutrition

No matter what you eat, whole foods are always going to be the healthiest option, and the keto diet is no exception. Getting your fats, fiber, protein, and carbs from whole-food sources will dramatically improve your health in almost every conceivable marker. The very fact that we’ve based 50+ years of nutrition protocol on the idea that we could make foods “healthier” than they already come from nature is unfortunate and has likely caused significant harm.

The ketogenic diet has a tremendous amount of health benefits, from lowered blood sugar and insulin levels to improved cardiovascular health, bone density, and mental clarity. Finally, the weight loss that cutting carbs provides is often enough to make people adhere to the diet and reap the health rewards beyond just weight loss.

The above 20 foods, when eaten in healthy amounts and with exercise, can create tremendous, lasting, positive improvements in the health of keto adherents.

Obstetricians Reveal the Danger of Fast Food for Pregnant Women

November 13, 2019 by Power of Positivity

During pregnancy, an expecting mother has to not only consider her own health but the health of her unborn child, as well. With this need, it is crucial to think about which foods are healthy and which foods are a potential danger for pregnant women. Cravings do make it difficult to resist, but those fast food should be avoided whenever possible.

While junk food, food that is high in sodium, anything that contains caffeine, and many other well-known dietary restrictions are easy to determine or remember for expecting mothers, the question of take-out food is a popular one. Moreover, it is one that doesn’t seem to have a perfect answer out there quite yet.

Luckily, some obstetricians revealed the danger of fast food for pregnant women. Therefore, the answer is clearer than ever that fast food is extremely harmful to both the mother and the unborn baby. Pregnancy is hard enough without the constant worry about safe and unsafe foods, and it also may be hard to give up favorite foods without a valid explanation, however.

Obstetricians play a vital role in educating pregnant women about the foods that can either nourish or harm both the mother and baby. They are the trusted professionals who can guide expecting mothers through the overwhelming sea of dietary advice and misinformation.

A skilled obstetrician in sydney, for example, can help address concerns about specific foods and how they impact the pregnancy, offering evidence-based advice that empowers women to make healthier choices for themselves and their babies. It’s crucial to rely on expert advice when navigating the complexities of pregnancy, especially when it comes to maintaining a balanced, nutritious diet.

By replacing fast food with more nutritious alternatives, women can promote better health outcomes for both themselves and their unborn children. Obstetricians understand that the journey of pregnancy can be filled with challenges, but with proper education and support, women can confidently navigate this important time with the best care for their well-being.

Take out food contains harmful chemicals and ingredients, which are even worse for pregnant women and unborn babies than for other people. Pregnancy is a time when it is essential to consume the proper vitamins and nutrients, and knowing the dangers of takeout food or other junk food is so important when figuring out what to avoid.

The Danger of Fast Food for Pregnant Women

1. It contains high amounts of salt.

Too much sodium during pregnancy can make a pregnant mom swell up, retain water, and just feel downright miserable. Sodium can also lead to high blood pressure, which makes a heart work harder.

2. Fast food contains high amounts of sugar, chemicals, and unhealthy fat.

Take out food contains lots of sugar, chemicals, and unhealthy fat, all of which should be limited in a pregnancy diet. These ingredients aren’t healthy for anyone, but an unborn baby is put at an even higher risk than others. This type of food also contains high amounts of cholesterol.

3. Take out food causes rapid weight gain.

It causes more weight gain during pregnancy, and it causes the weight gain to happen more quickly, too. This leads to obesity and gestational diabetes, which would force a pregnant woman to follow a strict diet and cause problems for the baby.

The rapid weight gain during pregnancy may also be hard to lose postpartum since it contains high amounts of fat and calories.

Rapid weight gain during pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure, more frequent and severe backaches, and leg pain. Additionally, it can increase the likelihood of a cesarean section or cause long-term health problems.

4. It causes discomfort.

Pregnancy is already an uncomfortable time for a pregnant woman, and this unhealthy food only increases the discomfort. It can cause gas, bloating, hemorrhoids, and indigestion, among other unpleasant feelings.

5. Fast food during pregnancy is linked to allergies and asthma.

2019 study indicates that women who consumed high amounts of the sugars found in fast food had children who developed asthma and allergies. Both asthma and allergies can be life-threatening and can impact a child for the rest of their lives.

6. It can lead to low birth weight.

Take out food contains a chemical called acrylamide, which has been linked to low birth weight in babies and a smaller than average head circumference.

7. The menu has no nutritional value.

During pregnancy, the woman and unborn baby both need healthy amounts of essential nutrients. Since essential nutrients won’t be found in this junk food, an expecting mother should be careful of filling up on it.

8. Fast food can cause a lack of energy.

These foods are all highly refined, which causes a large number of carbohydrates to get into your bloodstream quickly. It then causes blood glucose levels to become too high, which stimulates the production of insulin. When this occurs, a person will feel energetic, and then one minute later feel lethargic and ready for a nap.

9. It can cause serious health complications.

The trans fats found in this unhealthy food are one of the most harmful ingredients consumed in any diet. They lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high cholesterol, and inflammation.

10. It can cause stress, anxiety, and other mental problems.

During pregnancy, a woman’s mental health is essential not only for herself but for the well being of her unborn child. An unborn child is directly affected when a mother is not in a good place mentally. The chemicals found in these foods are linked to mental health issues and severe stress, making it an option that should be avoided whenever possible.

11. Dental health may be compromised.

During pregnancy, an unborn baby gets nutrients from its mother. This means that calcium and other essential nutrients that a mom is consuming are actually taken from the mother’s body and into the baby’s. When this happens, a mother may develop brittle fingernails and weakened teeth.

Many times, a pregnant mother will find herself with cavities and other oral health issues because of this. When adding in all of the sugars that are found in takeout food and the accompanying beverages, an expecting mother’s dental health suffers even more. In order to protect it and prevent tooth decay, added sugars should be avoided.

The Lasting Effects of Fast Food During Pregnancy

It is essential to think beyond pregnancy and consider the lasting effects the exposure to the chemicals and ingredients this food has on the baby, as well. According to the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, children who were exposed to large amounts of takeout food before they were born are more likely to choose diets later in life that contain large amounts of sugar and fat. In turn, these children are more likely to become obese and develop other severe health conditions as they get older.

What Should Pregnant Woman Choose Instead

Before understanding what an expecting mother should choose to eat, it is crucial to know which essential nutrients a pregnant woman needs. Those nutrients, all important for the health of the mother and the baby, include:

Folic acid
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Omega 3 fatty acids
Calcium
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Iron
Zinc
Protein
Magnesium

If there are no healthier food options at the time, there are some take out restaurants that offer a few salad or soup options with fresh fruit as the sides. When take out is the only choice, these options usually are the healthiest ones.

Otherwise, chicken or fish sandwiches or a hamburger (all without sauce, cheese, or dressing) are the next best choice. As a drink, a pregnant woman could choose bottled water or milk in place of soda, both of which are an excellent choice for an expecting mother.

If possible, however, an expecting mother should avoid take out food. With time to plan ahead, fresh fruits or vegetables could be eaten as a snack, and seeds or nuts could be a quick protein option until a healthy meal option is available. Other healthy options for on the go include:

smoothies
roast beef sandwich on whole grain bread
a salad made with fresh vegetables at home
almonds
string cheese
a vegetable wrap with hummus
hardboiled eggs

Generally, if an expecting mother sticks to whole foods (foods that have not been – or have been only slightly – processed or refined and have no artificial substances), the food option is going to be a safe and healthy one.

Final Thoughts on the Dangers of Fast Food for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is an exciting time, and stress about food and nutrients shouldn’t keep a pregnant woman up at night. It is essential, however, to know what is safe and healthy. Additionally, you should learn what you must avoid, ensuring a healthy pregnancy and a healthy future for both mom and baby.

Obstetricians and other doctors have revealed that take out food is unsafe for expecting mothers and babies. While fast food on occasion is safe and won’t do harm to the expecting mother or baby, forming a habit of eating take out is definitely unsafe for both involved. Being the cause of many severe physical and mental problems, the dangers of fast food for pregnant women are all too real.

When possible, it is wise to plan ahead and prepare or buy healthy snacks and meal options. Choose ones that are easy for on-the-go so you can be sure you don’t get stuck in an unexpected eating situation.

Psychologists Explain How to Revive A Stagnant Relationship

November 12, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Are you not making time for romance with your partner? If you answered and unequivocal “yes,” then you might be in a stagnant relationship.

But, what do you need to do to get those feelings of butterflies back into the relationship?

The longer you are in a relationship, the more likely you will feel settled. However, that contentment leads quickly to stagnation if you fail to carefully tend to your needs and those of your spouse.

A relationship is somewhat like growing a flower. When it’s a newly sprouted seed, we tend to watch out for its needs, carefully watering it and keeping it free of pests and weeds. As it shoots towards the sun and develops a budding flower, we feel proud of our efforts and bask in the prospect of a flower. We enjoy it in full bloom. Then, though, those petals begin to wither. The plant needs our care to repeat that cycle in perpetuity.

But what about your love life? Do you expel that same level of intense energy cultivating it? Most of us do not. And so, when the petals wither so to speak, we let them drop to the earth, untended. The very roots of your relationship can grow weary from lack of care.

But, you’re not alone. This stagnation is a rather common problem. In fact, six out of ten adults reported to Psychology Today that they felt stuck in relationships that don’t satisfy them in a survey. Furthermore, of those six people surveyed, four consider ending their relationship altogether.

Naturally, the best cure is prevention but, seeming as though that ship has sailed, let us skip to the steps you can take to nourish your relationship so that you can renew that growth.

Four Ways to Deal With A Stagnant Relationship

1) Talk it out

This point might be more painful for men because of their masculine feelings of pride. However, women might also get hurt by thinking they are no longer attractive to or loved by their chosen mate. When in a suitable environment, you must conduct an open, honest discussion respectfully. Both parties should spend the time to speak and listen in equal measure.

The key to this is not just listening. It lies in hearing everything your loved one has to share with genuine interest.

The Ten Commandments of Listening

Here are the ten commandments for active listening, as suggested by Herbert G. Lingren, in the article Listening– With Your Heart As Well As Your Ears in Stronger Marriage:

Stop talking.
Put the speaker at ease. Assure your partner that you will not hold the discussion over their head like a weapon–and mean it!
Pay attention to the nonverbal language. Body language and eye cues are essential, here.
Listen to what is not said. Sometimes the unspoken words are the most telling.
Know precisely what the other person is saying. Restate what she or he says to ensure that you understand their meaning clearly.
Be aware of “tune out” words. Those phrases or words will strike an emotional chord.
Concentrate on “hidden” emotional messages.
Be patient.
Don’t interrupt the speaker.
Hold your temper! You might experience hurt feelings, but this is not the time for you to respond with emotions.
Empathize with the speaker.

Don’t be afraid to request to hold this conversation with your loved one. The chances are pretty good that he or she recognizes the need to talk about these things, too.

2) Help each other – and be consistent with it

When was the last time you offered to fill her tank up with fuel, fellas? Ladies, when was the last time you bought him something to help with his hobby? If your answer is the 3rd of never, you really ought to at least consider it.

Having a support system at home increases appreciation and affection. Indeed, it shows that you care about all the things in your partner’s head and heart. Reach out! Do not just sit there going through the motions, be there, and stick at it.

Here is a humdinger from Dehli’s Deepak Chopra:

“Success comes when people act together; failure tends to happen alone.”

3) Recovery from the pain of a stagnant relationship

Plainly put, past pains powerfully place plight, passionately persuade partner positivity. Do you want it stated another way? Of course, you do.

Alright then, let Chopra take the floor once more with another pearl of Karmic relationship wisdom:

“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”

Even if you have had the mother of all arguments, always let the past exit your system and move on in the relationship together. As we all know like attracts like. Therefore, if you offer forgiveness to your partner for their wrongs, he or she will forgive yours.

4) Rekindle the flames of your love

“No fire, no heat… no heat, no life. That’s, that’s the equation,” said Marlon Brando’s character, the psychiatrist Dr. Jack Mickler in the movie Don Juan DeMarco.

Six ways to restore the romance in a stagnant relationship

There are six ways to rekindle the flame of dying love, according to Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. in World of Psychology. They are:

Try out a new activity with your partner. Ballroom dancing lessons, skydiving, mini-golf. What you decide to experience does not matter, as long as you do it together.
Add some small, charming surprises to your relationship. When was the last time you sent her flowers? Or you tucked a note of appreciation into his lunch box on a random Wednesday? These gestures show that you care.
Do something that kicks up your adrenaline just a little bit. Couples who workout together connect regularly and find that a friendly bit of competition is a bonding experience.
Plan a weekend getaway–a mini-vacation sans kids. Reconnect without your friends, siblings, or the little ones. You will share many small moments that might remind you why you fell in love in the first place.
Touch each other casually. An arm over the shoulders or around the waist is a familiar and comfortable feeling.
Indulge in some playtime! Dance like nobody’s looking at you, sing in the rain, or build a silly-looking snowman. Your playful side will shake away any remaining boredom.

Final Thoughts on Reviving a Stagnant Relationship

Your relationship needs continuous care, just like a flowering plant. Because the truth is, no love is perfect all the time. From career to kids to just too tired to deal with it, life will get in the way. However, if you make tending this relationship one of your top priorities, you can restore those first blossoms of love.

https://www.powerofpositivity.com/stagnant-relationship-revive/

Therapists Explain 3 Reasons Why Happiness Is In Your Own Hands

November 12, 2019 by Power of Positivity

We can’t deny it – happiness is something that we all want and need. But in this day and age, happiness can seem so fleeting and so hard to hold on to. Just how do we get joy, and how do we hold on to it?

A lot of the time, it feels like our happiness is reliant on other people – either it’s from getting the praise and recognition we deserve from our boss and colleague, or the love we desire from our partner. As science has proven, however, your happiness is actually in your own hands!

Find that hard to believe? That’s understandable. Life can be cruel and makes it hard for us to feel like we have that sort of capacity. If you have ever attended therapy, however, you know that we actually hold a surprising amount of power over our own perception of happiness.

So – just what do therapists know that we don’t? Let’s find out.

Therapists Explain 3 Reasons Why Happiness Is In Your Own Hands

Take charge of your own joy!

1. Happiness and Success Aren’t The Same Things

With just how much time we spend at work, it is easy to assume the two are interrelated. This isn’t true, however. As psychiatrist Adam Strassberg explains, the concept of wealth is actually pretty recent. Once you’ve got enough money to be comfortable, no amount of riches is going to make you happier.

What’s going on, exactly? Frankly speaking, the perks your work gives you aren’t actually what you need.

Here’s the thing – work as a concept is something that’s still relatively new, and it is frankly not fulfilling any of our needs. Biologically speaking, we’re again running on hunter-gatherer software.

This means that in order to really feel happy, we need to satisfy those basic needs that are hardwired into our very DNA first – not what we’ve rapidly constructed over the last two hundred years or so.

And here’s the unfortunate thing – success at work often comes at the cost of your relationships. Here are some of the things it affects:

· Relationships with Loved Ones

Our time and energy are limited – and the only thing work gives in return is just money. If we’re pouring most of it into careers, then we just simply can’t spend time with our loved ones. You can’t precisely attend a friend’s baby shower if you have work commitments that you’d rather prioritize, after all.

· Connections With Others

Work often takes you away from other people and places a barrier of formality between you and the next person that can be difficult to cross. This is a problem since touch deprivation is actually awful for our mental health, positive thinking, and happiness. It doesn’t help that not all workplaces take kindly to employees hugging each other, either.

· Working overtime is bad for your health

This really shouldn’t be news. The CDC published a report as far back as 2004 about how working overtime is both mentally and physically detrimental to your health. In other words, there’s literally no long-term benefit from working harder than you have to at your job.

Need more real-life proof? This top-rated response from a Reddit user has got you covered. In their post, they talked about how, after so many years of work, they only found true happiness when they decided to change their attitude and pursue a closer, deeper relationship with their wife.

Luckily, this isn’t too hard for us to do either – just remember that your success has nothing to do with your happiness. Instead, consider: What sort of activities make you happy? When was the last time you had a heart-to-heart talk to your family? Who did you last have a friendly lunch date with?

If you can start answering these questions, happiness will come to you for sure.

2. How’s Your Mental Health?

Often, we think that happiness is a state of being that should occur as a reward for completing specific objectives, or is something that just happens. This isn’t really the case, however.

No matter what life gives you, feeling happy is all in the head. And as any therapist worth their salt will tell you, if your head isn’t ready to be positive and to receive joy, then you aren’t going to feel happy no matter what.

What do we mean by that? There’s a lot of talk about how you should practice positive thinking to gain happiness, but that’s easier said than done. Modern society has inflicted a lot of problems on us, including mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

And here’s the thing – as Richard Layard laid out in his books Thrive: The Power of Psychological Therapy and Happiness: Lessons of a New Science, mental illnesses affect your happiness even more than poverty does.

Struggling to see why? As an example, here are some of the things depression does to your brain:

· Causes executive dysfunctioning

Executive functioning is the part of your brain that’s responsible for things like organizing, planning, and executing ideas. When this goes downhill, so does your ability to schedule appointments, plan out meetings, and start your work for the day. Not exactly great if you want to be positive since you can’t reassure yourself that you’re productive.

· Causes serotonin deficiency

Hard to feel happy when you literally do not have enough of that happy juice. Serotonin is a brain chemical that is responsible mainly for that elusive feeling of being happy, and a lack of it is associated with low moods.

· Causes insomnia

That’s right – depression can mess with your sleep. And you only need one bad night of sleep for your spirit to be permanently darkened for the rest of the day. Imagine that effect compounding over months or even years.

· Causes lethargy

As a result of fighting off a mental illness, depression often leaves us incredibly tired and exhausted at all times. Not exactly a great recipe for getting anything done, which in turn makes our mood even worse.

If you’ve been struggling with your mental health, you may have to deal with that first before you can gain happiness. As Quora user Joe Leck noted, therapy even helps with what is otherwise simple day-to-day troubles. Once you tackle what’s causing you problems and poor mental health, happiness becomes so much more achievable.

This, of course, requires that you recognize and acknowledge that you have issues – which is sometimes the hardest part. Just know that therapy is only there to help and that it’s all worth it in the end.

3. Appeal To Your Brain

It’s a simple fact – our brains were made for variety. After several millennia, our brains – just like any other mammals’ – crave stimulation in all forms. So – just how can we take advantage of this evolutionary trait, and use it to our advantage? Why, by providing our own enrichment, of course!

We like to think that we’re smarter, more superior than most other creatures, but this is false. At the end of the day, we’re still animals – just ones with a lot more complicated thoughts. Sometimes, you just need to appeal directly to our monkey brains for that sweet, sweet dopamine boost. And the easiest way to do that is to create something!

But first – what is dopamine? Dopamine is a chemical that is often associated with the reward part of our brain, but there’s a bit more to it.

See, it doesn’t just reward you for the big things – it rewards you for the smaller things too. And by small, we mean items such as:

Drinking water
Eating
Reading this sentence
Staying on task

A little DIY does the trick

And that’s not even half of it! This means that the act of crafting something tangible, like knitting a sock or making some soup, is an incredible continuous source of dopamine. There’s a reason DIY and crafting is so popular – it makes you happy. Just ask anyone who knits, like Reddit user Klamath2046, who replicated the scarves in Season 12 and Season 18 of Doctor Who!

Won’t creating something electronic produce the same result? Unfortunately, it doesn’t. While the act of creating something virtual can make us happy, it isn’t as effective. Our brains just aren’t ready for something like that yet.

This is all further backed up by neuroscience too. In her book, Lifting Depression: A Neuroscientist’s Hands-On Approach to Activating Your Brain’s Healing Power, Kelly Lambert talks about how something as simple as the act of repairing a lamp fills your brain with that feel-good chemicals. Indeed, a crucial ingredient to happiness!

So, what does this mean for you? The answer is actually pretty simple – pick up a tool and start making something tangible! It doesn’t matter if your instrument is a pen, a needle, or even merely your fingers – as long as you get to the act of creating something, it can bring you happiness.

In fact, this is such an authoritative source of happiness that the job of an occupational therapist heavily utilizes this positive result to ensure their therapy works. And if it’s good enough for professionals, it’s definitely good enough for you too!

Final Thoughts on Achieving Happiness

At the end of the day, happiness is hard. Our modern society is built against us and has little to no room for the smaller pleasures in life. Things like merely relaxing or taking the time to enjoy the way the breeze feels against your skin are often considered a waste of time. Since our sense of self-worth is based around producing results, surely happiness must be the same.

In reality, this is a pretty toxic mindset that we all have to unlearn. Happiness and positive thinking require you to be ready for it in the first place. And to get there, you have to start by fulfilling your fundamental needs and wants first – things that are tangible and are directly related to the physicality of your brain.

Once you have fulfilled those very physical needs, then you can start trying for other stuff that will build upon this solid foundation. Sounds tiresome? It should be – happiness isn’t something that can come in grand, sweeping strokes, after all. At the end of the day, it has to start with small steps that build up over time, until one day you can look back and realize that you’ve been happy all along.

8 Morning Habits That Simplify Your Life

November 12, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Mornings can get pretty hectic. There’s so much to do, lots of things to remember, and in big homes, it can all get quite chaotic. This sort of stress first thing in the morning can greatly affect your positive thinking and set a bad tone for the rest of the day. Start your day off with good habits that simplify your life.

So, what can you do to change this? As it turns out, there are lots of scientifically proven methods that can help reshape your morning habits.

Here Are 8 Morning Habits That Simplify Your Life:

1. Figure Out What You’ll Be Eating And Drinking

The process of making food and drinks every morning can be a little time-consuming, leading to a lot of chaos as you attempt to get everything ready. If you’ve already figured out what you’ll be consuming, the process will be significantly slowed down. Here’s how to do so:

· Make Coffee Quickly

Many of us can’t fully wake up without a cup of coffee, but try making the preparation process faster. Try purchasing a coffee pot that has a timer. This will let you set things up in the evening. You can also buy a pot that lets you pre-load pods. If you’re not too much of a coffee “purist,” you can even opt for pre-made or bottled options!

· Prep Meals fo Simplify Your Life

Making breakfast early in the morning can take up a lot of time. This can make you skip breakfast on some days, which is a very bad idea. Eating breakfast provides countless positive benefits.

As such, you should try to prepare your breakfast the night before, so you can easily eat the next day. This also allows you to make a healthier breakfast. If it’s something you have to make fresh, lay out all the ingredients beforehand.

The same goes for packed lunches. If you bring your lunch to work with you, try to prep your meals in advance. That way, you can just grab your lunch and go.

· Sort Out Any Medications

If you take supplements and medications, make sure they’re all sorted out and arranged, ready for quick and easy taking. Put them near where you’ll eat breakfast so you can take them before or after as needed. You can also purchase a pill sorter to keep things extra organized.

2. Wake Yourself Up Right

The process of waking up itself can be a bit of a challenge. For many people. Here’s how to get it done the right way:

· Let The Sun In

Natural light can trigger the hormones in your brain, helping you to wake up more easily. So once you get up, let the light stream in. If you tend to wake up right at sunrise, consider leaving the curtain open when you go to bed, so you wake up to the sun streaming in.

· Don’t Hit Snooze

It’s so tempting to press that snooze button when your alarm goes off. But doing so only delays your waking up, giving you less time to get ready. It also means you’re actually more likely to be groggy by squeezing in five or ten more minutes to your sleep time.

So, set your alarm for the exact right time, and the second it rings, hit the off switch right away and get right up. If you can’t resist hitting snooze, put your alarm somewhere further away, forcing you to stand up and walk to switch it off.

· Play Some Music

When you get up, turn on some of your favorite cheerful tunes. You can play an album you love or make a playlist of appropriate songs. If it makes you want to dance or makes you feel good, it’ll probably help wake you up!

3. Prepare Things That You May Forget

Do you often find yourself forgetting the things that you need? All you have to do is get things ready in advance! If you make sure all the things you usually forget are easy to reach, you won’t have to spend ages looking for them, coming back for them, or finding alternatives to them. Here are some ideas:

Organize everything you need and place it in one specific area the night before
Keep your keys right by the door; make it a habit not to bring them into the house
Pack your car with non-perishable items in advance
Narrow down the list of things you have to bring every day
See if there are some things you can safely leave in your workplace

4. Don’t Be Distracted by Poor Morning Habits

Do you get on your phone the moment you wake up? This can eat up your time and prevent you from getting things done on time. Time passes so quickly when you’re on devices. Before you even turn on your phone or look through it, make sure you’ve bathed, dressed, and gotten totally ready.

Some people like to look at their phone, watch TV, or listen to podcasts or the radio when they eat breakfast. But this can draw out your time spent eating, too. Even reading a book or the newspaper can do this. Don’t eat while distracted! (Side note: This should fall not only on your morning habits list but become a practice for every meal.)

If you really need to check your phone in the morning, get everything else done first and set aside some time before you leave to do so. Both your schedule and your waistline will thank you for the positive change!

5. Shorten Your Getting Ready Process

Bathing, grooming, and getting dressed can take up a lot of time. This is especially true if you have an extensive skincare routine, you style your hair, or you wear makeup. But you can shorten the process of getting ready in a number of ways. Here’s how:

· Use A Timer While Showering

Don’t take too long in the shower! Set a timer so that you know how long you can take. As soon as the timer runs out, wash off the remaining soap and hop out!

· Wash Your Hair The Day Before

If you have long hair, washing your hair in the evening can be a good way to spend less time preparing it in the morning. This is especially true if you usually have to blow-dry your hair or if you style it. There are some styles you can even wear to bed, so you don’t need to bother with them when you wake up!

· Set Out Your Clothes The Night Before

Instead of rushing to put an outfit together, set aside your outfit for the day the night before. If you’ve got enough clothes, you can even lay out an entire week’s worth of outfits in advance, perhaps with an extra outfit just in case.

· Keep Your Grooming Products Organized to Simplify Your Life

Don’t make yourself look all around your room for your skincare, makeup, or hair products. Make sure they’re all organized in one convenient location.

· Lessen The Products You Use

Cut out unnecessary products from your routine. Your everyday workplace probably doesn’t require that you wear full-glam makeup or have perfectly gelled hair. You can also opt for combination products to lessen your time. Get a lipstick that can also be used as a blush product. Get a bronzer and highlight stick in one. Make your soap moisturizing. Get creative with it!

6. Draft Out A Schedule Or List

Is there any easier way to simplify life than by creating a list or a schedule? If there is, we haven’t found it yet! Here are some options:

· Make A List Of Items You Need

Tend to forget things? Set up a list of what you have to get done, what you need to bring, and more. Hang the list somewhere you can easily see it. A whiteboard that you can turn into a reusable checklist is a great idea, too. Plus, the brain reacts in a very positive way to lists, allowing for less stress.

· Make A Morning Schedule

Make a schedule of when you need to get certain things done. For example, maybe you need to finish your bath by a certain time or get done eating at a certain time. This schedule can keep you on task and on time as your new morning habits become second nature.

· Set Your Daily Activities To Songs or Timers

Having trouble sticking to the aforementioned morning schedule? Set timers that go off at the right time. If that’s too rigid, play a song playlist every day and set your schedule to each song. For example, you may know that by the time you hit song five, you should be dressed and groomed.

· Make A Schedule For Bathroom Use In Busy Homes

In a home with lots of inhabitants? Set up a morning schedule for bathroom use so that everyone can take turns. If someone misses their bathroom break, they’ll have to wait for it to be free again.

· Make Different Routines For Different Mornings If Needed

Do you have different to-do lists every day? Create weekly routines instead of daily ones. This allows you to stay organized while still being flexible and accounting for the different needs of different days.

7. Keep Your Hallway Clear

Is your hallway a giant mess? That can make it very difficult to get out. Here’s an often-overlooked way to simplify your life. Make sure your hallway is relatively organized, and get rid of unnecessary surfaces – like chairs that you dump lots of items on, a table full of unopened mail, shopping bags that never seem to move.

You should also make sure your hallway is season-appropriate. Put away winter coats and shoes in warm months. Remove flip-flops and sunhats in cold months. Anything you don’t need, put away!

8. Give Yourself A Little Breathing Room

If your schedule is so well-orchestrated that if you don’t leave at the right time exactly, you’ll be in big trouble, it’s a bad schedule. Give yourself some breathing room and extra time. If you end up not needing it, great! Then you gave more time to do something you want to do.

Preparing for potential mishaps, emergencies, and setbacks is crucial to making sure your life is simplified. It can also reduce stress, giving you a great positive thinking boost for the day.

Final Thoughts: Adopt These Morning Habits, You’ll Be Better Off for It!

Is your life pretty messy? These eight morning habits that simplify your life can really help reduce the chaos? Give these morning habits a chance, and you will enjoy a more relaxed and calm morning, which will set the tone for a more peaceful and organized day!

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Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!