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10 Signs of Gifted Children That Every Parent Should Know

November 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

All parents consider their children to be pretty darn special. Part of being a parent is watching your child grow and learn. Many of those moments can make us extraordinarily proud. There is no doubt that your child has shown signs of intelligence. However, not all kids are gifted children.

Being gifted refers to a child’s ability to learn rather than being a standard measure of intelligence. A gifted child can be gifted in a number of ways. It’s important to know if your child is intelligent or not so that you can help them make the most of their abilities throughout their education. There are special schools and classes for kids who want to continue learning beyond what they are offered at school. If you think your child is gifted, you may be right. Here are ten signs of gifted children every parent should know.

10 Traits of Gifted Children

1. Individual thought

It can be easy to memorize and regurgitate information for some kids. That does not necessarily make them gifted. It’s a unique type of intelligence when a child can solve problems and think for themselves. They don’t need a teacher or a book to tell them how to do things. Indeed, they learn how to do things on their own. They learn how to solve other problems by incorporating those other skills. Finally, they know how to take knowledge from one area and incorporate it into another area with ease. These are the children who don’t necessarily need directions when given an assignment.

The child should not only be able to come up with their own solutions to problems, but the answers should be effective and efficient. Some kids go on their own path, but the trail doesn’t quite get them to the destination they want to the end they wanted. Look at the results of creative problem-solving.

You can always teach a child to solve the problem in the correct way. However, a gifted child will have the intuition to get them to the solution without as much guidance. This intuition cannot be taught and shows an innate compass that is right on track.

2. Curious nature

Some children want to relax and enjoy the world as is. Others wish to explore and learn. While there’s nothing wrong with a content child who likes to enjoy rather than jump into the way things are, curiosity is a sign of a gifted child.

Curiosity demonstrates that the child automatically gravitates toward learning. Many kids exhibit this characteristic from a very young age. Even some babies tend to be more curious by nature. These are the babies that might get in trouble by grabbing things or eating things unknowingly. When a child has this characteristic, it means they will continue to strive to learn for the rest of their life. Rather than seeing learning as a chore, they feel satisfaction from getting the questions answered.

They tend to ask a lot of questions. They may even question authority figures in their questioning. This isn’t necessarily a sign of defiance. Indeed, they most often sincerely want the answer to the question.

3. Exceptional focus

It’s hard to produce results without attention. Many kids come close to being gifted but lack the focus. Gifted children tend to show excellent focus when they work on something. They give it their undivided attention and tend to finish things before moving on to the next thing.

It’s important not to confuse a lack of focus with boredom since they can look similar. Many kids may seem unfocused in class when, in reality, they are further along and simply bored by the lesson cause it’s repetition to them. Try giving that child more challenging things to do to see if the focus increases. If it doesn’t, they may have some sort of attention disorder. Fixing this may fix any academic problems they may be experiencing.

To maintain focus, some gifted kids may get upset when someone or something interrupts them unexpectedly, such as a loud noise. It’s best to give them peace to work on their projects. Of course, rudeness should not be tolerated.

4. High emotional intelligence

There are a lot of areas of intelligence. Gifted children show levels of high emotional intelligence. They are kids who understand how to control their emotions. Most of the time, this is because they are too busy with their goals of attaining knowledge that they don’t have time to throw a fit.

They tend to be more grateful for the things around them, as well. Not every gifted child will demonstrate high emotional intelligence right away. You may need to work on this aspect with your child.

5. Desire to spend time with older kids and adults

Peers typically don’t stimulate gifted kids. To get that stimulation, they may seek out older children and adults to offer more stimulating conversation. A gifted kid would rather talk to an adult about something intellectual than kids their age about the most popular television show.

6. Expansive vocabulary

A gifted child typically has a far more extensive vocabulary than other kids their age. The baby talk and slang they hear sounds odd to them. They will usually speak in grammatically correct sentences, as well. They may even use words that most adults don’t even know.

People develop their lexicon based on the things they do and the people they surround themselves with. Gifted children tend to learn advanced words and proper grammar in their quest for knowledge. The books and articles they read use more sophisticated language than books for kids. The older people they seek to hang out with also have more advanced language skills. The child will pick up on this and incorporate it into their own communications.

7. Sense of humor

Gifted kids create jokes and goof off because they have the intelligence to develop those jokes. This does not include jokes that they heard from other people or saw on a television show. They should be able to create jokes, puns, and riddles on their own.

Many famous comedians are known to have been extremely intelligent, such as George Carlin. However, he was also known to rock the boat. Not every parent will appreciate this aspect of a gifted child, but it’s wise to allow them to explore their humor. Even if it doesn’t help them academically, it can become a great way to handle the pressures of life.

8. They recognize patterns easily

Everyday life is full of patterns. You will notice patterns in history, politics, at work, in relationships, and in nature. While incidents might not always follow these patterns, it’s a sign of intelligence to be able to recognize these patterns, especially at an early age.

Gifted kids will see patterns in puzzles and brain teasers before other kids. They will be able to take this ability with them in other aspects of their life. While not always accurate, it can help them make educated decisions when other people simply have to guess.

9. Ability to learn quickly and retain a lot of information

Some people can read a page in a book and forget what they read ten minutes later. Other people will remember every single word on the page and comprehend them. Gifted kids can internalize a lot of information. As a parent, test your child regularly.

A parent can simply ask them memory questions about the day. A gifted child should be able to recall a lot of details about the day and what they did. You can also pay attention to how quickly they learn things at school. Even more important, pay attention to if they retain the information down the line.

10. Creativity/ exceptional skill in one area

A gifted child doesn’t necessarily have to be gifted in school. Many gifted kids aren’t particularly gifted in math or science. However, they may be gifted in other ways, such as art or music. This love for the arts should be encouraged and supported.

You may have the next Picasso or Jimmy Hendrix in your home. Give them space to practice and explore. Of course, you can’t let artistic aspirations take away from academic achievements. They will still need fundamental education to help them navigate life.

Final Thoughts on Being the Parent of a Gifted Child

All kids are gifts, but only some are gifted. There are a number of ways to test your child if they show many of the signs, and you suspect they are gifted. If your suspicions are affirmed, what now? Gifted kids may benefit from specialized training or education to help them use their gifts to the best of their ability.

As a parent, it’s your job to give our children the tools they need. If your child shows several of these signs, talk to them about how they want to move forward in their education. They may choose additional classes or a different type of school.

10 Super Healthy Vegan High Protein Foods to Eat

November 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

If you’re thinking about becoming a vegan, you will be in good company; according to a 2018 Gallup poll, 3 percent of the U.S. population is vegan. It is also worth noting that there are numerous health benefits associated with following a vegan diet, including the ability to maintain a healthy weight, improved kidney function, and a lower risk of developing heart disease.

And, following a vegan diet can even help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Given these health benefits, it is not too surprising to find that more and more Americans decide to eat vegan every day.

10 SUPER HEALTHY AND HIGH PROTEIN FOODS THAT VEGANS SHOULD EAT

Going vegan means eliminating high protein sources like eggs, fish, beef, and poultry from your diet. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to forgo protein altogether. Some of the vegan-friendly foods that contain this valuable nutrient include

1. SOYBEANS

For those who may be unaware, tofu, tempeh, and edamame are all derived from soybeans and are all considered high protein foods. Therefore, they provide the body with the same essential amino acids that would typically come from consuming animal protein, such as eggs, fish, and beef, for example. Let’s take a closer each of these ingredients individually to understand better why these foods should be part of a vegan diet:

Tofu – Made from condensed, unfermented soy milk, tofu is a vegan-friendly food that acts like a sponge. Indeed, it absorbs the flavors of the sauces and other ingredients that you cook in with. That quality means you can prepare it to taste like fish, chicken, beef, and many other foods.
Tempeh – This meat substitute comes from fermented soybeans and has a very distinct flavor. It serves as a popular choice for vegans seeking a replacement for fish. However, you’ll also use it in many other dishes, including chili and certain stews.
Edamame – In addition to being an excellent source of protein, edamame is rich in folate and vitamin K. You can press these soft, green soybeans into patties to make veggie burgers or leave them in their pods to serve up as appetizers.

Tofu, tempeh, and edamame all contain iron, calcium, and as much as 19 grams of protein per 3.5 ounces.

2. FORTIFIED SOY MILK

Fortified soy milk contains as much as 7 grams of protein and is also a great source of vitamin D as well as calcium. You may add this delicious milk to a variety of vegan-friendly recipes, including smoothies, cakes, other baked goods, or even enjoyed on its own. Best of all, you don’t have to go to a specialty store to find it as fortified soy milk is readily available in nearly all major supermarkets. There are also unsweetened variants for those who are trying to maintain a healthy weight or want to shed a few unwanted pounds. All in all, fortified soy milk is an excellent alternative to cow’s milk for those following a strict vegan diet.

3. LENTILS

If you choose to go vegan, making lentils part of your diet is a great way to get your recommended daily intake of protein. Studies show that these delicious legumes contain as much as 18 grams of protein per cooked cup. More than that, they are rich in fiber, which promotes gut health and helps keep you regular. And the health benefits do not end there as they also contain antioxidants that can help combat free radicals in the body that would otherwise contribute to premature aging and certain diseases.

4. WILD RICE

Wild rice is the perfect complement to lentils and contains significantly more protein than basmati, long-grain, or brown rice. Studies show that wild rice contains as much as 7 grams of protein per 1 cooked cup. And when combined with lentils, it’s an easy way to get your daily recommended intake of this valuable nutrient. Wild rice also contains omega-3 fatty acids that can help lower high cholesterol, according to a study published by the National Institute of Health.

5. OATMEAL

Oatmeal first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day off on the right foot. This hearty breakfast cereal contains as much as 6 grams of protein per half a cup along with magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and folate. Like many of the other foods on this list, oatmeal is incredibly versatile. For example, it can be used to make veggie burgers or grounded into oat flour and used as an ingredient in recipes that call for baking.

6. VEGETABLES

If you’re a fan of vegetables, you’ll be happy to know that broccoli, spinach, asparagus, artichokes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts each contain 4 to 5 grams of protein per cooked cup. There are also several ways to prepare them; they can be steamed, grilled, or made part of a delicious stir-fry meal. For even more flavor, consider sprinkling your vegetables with a vegan parmesan cheese of your choice.

7. EZEKIEL BREAD

Ezekiel bread is yet another high protein food that perfectly complements a vegan diet. This bread, which is made from sprouted grains, contains as much as 4 grams of protein per slice, according to Nutritionix, the largest verified nutrition database in the world. Furthermore, the sprouted grains make this hearty bread an excellent source of folate, fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Ezekiel bread is also low in gluten and chock-full of enzymes that can help improve digestive health.

8. QUINOA

Quinoa is a gluten-free, pseudo-cereal packed with fiber, antioxidants, folate, magnesium, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which make it a favorite among vegans and vegetarians alike. A diet consisting of quinoa has been shown to help lower the risk of developing kidney stones, reduce high blood pressure, relieve constipation, and protect against certain cancers. One cup of cooked quinoa contains about 8 grams of protein.

9. SEITAN

Seitan is another one of the many high protein foods that have become a go-to for many vegans. This preference is particularly true for those who prefer vegan-friendly foods that look and taste like real meat. That said, this amazing meat substitute is made from gluten and contains roughly 21 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving. Seitan is also rich in selenium and contains trace amounts of calcium, iron, and phosphorous. As far as health benefits are concerned, a diet that includes seitan can help improve heart and digestive health and also reduce high cholesterol.

10. BEANS

Despite their small size, beans are high protein foods that can complement nearly any meal. Studies show that pinto, black, and kidney beans all contain 15 grams of protein per 1 cooked cup. Beans are also rich in potassium, phosphorous, manganese, iron, carbs, and many other nutrients. In fact, these bite-sized, high protein foods may help reduce cholesterol, lower high blood pressure, and stabilize blood glucose levels.

WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE CHOOSING TO FOLLOW A VEGAN DIET?

Now we’ve detailed the ten super healthy and high protein foods that vegans should eat. So let’s now take a moment to explore why so many people are choosing to follow a vegan diet.

In addition to better health, many people become vegans for the following reasons:

To save animals

Some animal-rights groups estimate that humans slaughter nearly 150 billion animals all over the world for food. In most cases, these animals had to endure severe pain before dying. Not surprisingly, this is something that tugs at the heartstrings of countless people and ultimately motivates them to become vegans. And for many of these same individuals, consuming fewer high protein foods that contain meat is a small price to pay. That’s because it leads to saving the lives of animals.

To protect the environment

Human production of meat and meat-based products for human consumption leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions versus growing and harvesting plant-based foods. For those who are concerned with protecting and saving the environment, this information is often more than enough to motivate them to adopt a vegan diet and lifestyle.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON CHOOSING MEAT-FREE HIGH PROTEIN FOODS

You can consume these high-protein plant-based, high protein foods instead of meat to provide your body with the nutrients that it needs. You’ll find that following a vegan diet can go a long way toward improving your health. And, as a bonus, you’ll contribute to saving animals and protecting the environment.

4 Steps to Stop Thinking (If You Can’t)

November 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Just in case you haven’t noticed: your mind is an incessant chatterbox. You might feel that you are thinking too much, perhaps even depriving yourself of sleep. Estimates regarding how many thoughts we have are various. Some estimates place the number of times we think daily at 12,000, 15,000 on the low end, or even as high as 50,000 to 70,000.

There exists much debate as to the accuracy of these numbers. For apparent reasons, it is impossible to quantify or place a number on something as abstract as ‘thoughts.’ Few people will argue that thinking a little less would be nice.

The good news is that, while we can’t stop thoughts, we can slow them down drastically. Contemplatives have been doing so for centuries. But you needn’t be a Buddhist monk or live in an ashram to slow down your thinking.

This article will provide a simple 4-step method of slowing down those racing thoughts. It is vital to know how the brain produces ideas – if not only for your sanity. This knowledge alone may make it easier to relax – and thus, have fewer thoughts.

Let’s get to it!

Why do we think so much?

“The human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron connected to 10 thousand other neurons. Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe.”

~ Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist

We, humans, are head and shoulders above the intellect of any animal. One need only look at the accomplishments of humankind for this fact to become crystal clear. However marvelous the human mind may be, it’s the sole source of all our misery.

No honest scientist can answer the question, “What is a thought?” They don’t know. The only thing that we know is that all of us have them. But we do know a few things about the human brain. For example:

– It contains nearly 100 billion neurons (‘brain cells’). Each of these cells connects to another 10 thousand neurons.

– There are trillions of neural connections within the brain.

– Thinking correlates with certain parts of the brain, most of which sit in the outer part of the brain, the cortex.

– The frontal lobe is responsible for complex thinking tasks, including reasoning, planning, voluntary movement, and some speech. It resides under the forehead.

Michio Kaku, the man quoted above, is one of the world’s most respected theoretical physicists (Einstein’s line of work). Theoretical physics is an extraordinarily complicated field that “employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects to rationalize, explain, and predict natural phenomena.”

But, according to Kaku, it’s not the most complicated. Not even close. What is? The brain.

The Intricacy of the Human Brain

To put it mildly, the human brain is inconceivably intricate. Neuroscientists and other experts freely admit that we are in the dark about how the brain works. This unclarity includes how we think.

One of the things that we know is that a bunch of areas of the brain are associated with an activity that is always on. Scientists call these parts the default mode network or DMN. Links occur between DMN activity and mental disorders–depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

In short, the intricate connections across all brain areas have much to do with why we think so much. To say nothing of the more primordial structures of the brain such as the amygdala and medulla, which keep us in an “always-ready” mode. Little doubt that habitual thinking is influenced by these areas as well.

Internal and External Distractions

“…information consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” Herbert Simon, Nobel Prize-winning Economist We, humans, have rather poor attention spans. Even before the massive influx of mobile gadgets, humans have struggled to maintain their focus on anything. The former sparked an enormous research effort in the mid-2000s to determine if attention had “shrunk.” Fortunately, this turned out not to be the case.

Instead, the inherent structure of the brain is to “blame” for our limited attention skills. The brain circuits responsible for focusing attention always face a “pull” from internal and external distractions.

Internal distractions are those that originate from our bodies and minds. For example, anxiety, boredom, and tension. External distractions are those that stem from elsewhere. These include outside noises from people and events.

In his book Focus, The Hidden Driver of Excellence, Daniel Goleman puts internal distractions into two categories: sensory and emotional. Goleman adds: “The sensory distractors are easy … Your brain weeds out the continuous wash of background sounds, shapes and colors, tastes, smells, sensations, and on and on.”

The emotional distractors? Well, those aren’t so easy. “More daunting is the second variety of lures: emotionally loaded signals,” Goleman says. Even the most focused individuals, Goleman continues, have difficulty sustaining attention during “the emotional turmoil of our lives.”

4 Steps to Stop Thinking (If You Can’t)

“Thinking has become a disease. Disease happens when things get out of balance.”~ Eckhart Tolle

First and foremost, we must understand one crucial thing about stopping thinking: we can not force it to happen. Need proof?

Try to not think of a pink elephant in your mind’s eye. Sit quietly for the next five minutes and try not to think of a pink elephant.

If you’re anything like 99.999% of humans, one of the first things that you think of is a pink elephant. Why? Because of the power of suggestion. Your brain’s structure and function are designed to create novel mental images (such as a pink elephant.)

Again, stopping or slowing down thinking has nothing to do with willpower. It is this willpower that gets us into trouble in the first place. We cannot force the mind to do something it doesn’t want to do.

However, we can train the mind. It’s not easy, but we can do it. And we should.

Here are four steps to help you stop overthinking:

1 – Relax

No, we’re not kidding. Mental and physical tension is a slippery slope to negativity and fruitless thinking. Before you can even get a whiff of what it’s like not to think, you must bring your body and mind to a state of ease.

The Relaxation Response, an empirical method to counteract the “fight or flight” mechanism of the brain, is an effective way to initiate relaxation.

Here is how to elicit the Relaxation Response:

1) Sit in a quiet, comfortable place

2) Close your eyes or leave them just slightly open

3) Progressively relax all muscles of the body, starting with the feet, upwards to the head

4) Count your breaths. Silently say “one” on the inhale and “one on the exhale; “two” on the next inhale and “two” on the next exhale. Do this to a count of ten and start again.

5) Practice for 10 to 20 minutes. Remain seated for a few minutes as your mind and body adjust.

2 – Practice acceptance

Acceptance is crucial to slow down thinking. What is acceptance? It is the removal of aversion. Aversion is the mind’s constant need for things to be different than they are in the present moment.

When we want things to be different than they are, we often contemplate our current situation. Actually, ‘contemplate’ is too sweet of a word. We ruminate. We can’t stop thinking about how we wish for things to be different.

Practicing acceptance, while a simple concept, is compelling. In a study published in the Journal of Dual Diagnosis, participants with depressive symptoms who undertook a three-month Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) course “had higher quiet rates and lower depressive symptoms” than other non-study participants.

How do you practice acceptance? By actually perceiving and acknowledging your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In other words, not running away from things. Again, pretty simple – but not easy.

3 – Manage and train your attention

Too often, we allow our attention to be pushed and pulled around by internal and external influences. It is crucial that we systematically eliminate these influences. This is called managing your attention – and it is essential.

Here, again, we cannot force the mind to do anything. But every one of us can choose to rid ourselves of the things that threaten to hijack our focus. “Concentration requires a kind of relaxed attention,” says Mark Ashton Smith, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Essex, “not one that is over-controlling.”

We train our attention by engaging in activities that strengthen our base level of concentration. Perhaps the best attention training platform is focused attention meditation or FAM.

FAM involves choosing an ‘anchor’ of attention, usually your breath or a mantra, and focusing on it single-pointedly. Whenever you notice that your attention has wandered, gently bring it back to the anchor. (Notice the word gently. Do not be harsh with yourself.)

4 – Begin again

We’ll keep this last one short. It is human nature to want to strive to “achieve” something, even if it’s slowing down your thinking. What we need to do now is to let things progress naturally. Stop the business of striving.

When you fall short in these practices, dare to begin again. Training your mind to stop thinking is tough work. Your mind will, no doubt, try and derail your efforts.Don’t allow that. Simply begin again.

Never Ignore These Foods to Help Avoid a Stroke

November 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Sometimes things happen in life that you cannot control. These can include life disasters, unexpected car accidents, and family illnesses. What you can do is do your best to prepare for these through preventative actions that will minimize their impact if they occur. You don’t drive your car without a seatbelt, for example. You should also consider implementing stroke prevention by selecting healthy foods.

Granted, you might not be able to know 100% if you’ll have a stroke. But you can take steps to avoid one.

Eating a well-balanced diet and exercising are keys to staying healthy. You have the power to take charge of your choices and make the right ones. Learn the foods that can help you in this fight.

What is a stroke?

Doctors classify most strokes as ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes though in both cases, the same result happens.

Ischemic stroke

The most common type of problem, the Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the neck or the brain gets blocked. The blockage can be a blood clot, thrombosis, which moves throughout the body to plant itself in the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic problem is one that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Hemorrhagic strokes are most common in people with high blood pressure.

What are the signs of a stroke?

Not everyone will experience all the signs of strokes, but you should be aware of what could be happening to you.

1 – Physical Weakness

You might mistake the weakness for fatigue, but it is more of a weakness that seems to permeate your body. The feeling may confine itself to only one side of your body, face, or limbs. Your face may even reflect the weakness of the impending problem with one side dropping.

Your limb or limbs might tingle, or they may feel like there are pins in certain portions of your body. If you have any of these sensations, you should call 911 as soon as you can. Treatment is available in the emergency room, and doctors can minimize the impact with prompt treatment.

2 – Headache

A severe headache is a common occurrence in the strokes that happen in younger women. Experiencing an acute headache or migraine can be a sign that one may be coming, and your risk has increased. This symptom happens to older people who are at risk for strokes, as well.

3 – Disorientation

Many women who are at risk can start to have vertigo with the feeling of nauseous and dizziness. These signs are easy to ignore, as many people would think they are just fatigued. It may be just a minor feeling, but if nausea results in vomiting and doesn’t end, then it’s a sign there may be more of a problem than a severe stomach bug.

Your behavior might also indicate a problem with your head as hallucination and agitation are common signs of a pending problem. You may not be acting like yourself during this time. Your agitation and slurred speech indicate a more significant challenge.

4 – Trouble walking or moving

Problems walking are also a sign as an ominous sign. You might feel the disorientation and lack of balance as you try to walk. You might have difficulty standing or even doing basic walking. Your coordination problems can be because of a lack of blood supply to your brain. T

The lack of blood to your brain can also result in sudden seizures or fainting spells. A medical test can indicate whether there is a blockage or if there are other unknown problems.

Understanding the risks of having strokes is key to knowing what might be happening to you.

What causes a stroke to occur?

There are several reasons for you to have strokes, and most of them are lifestyle-related. Knowing the signs of having strokes and why they can happen are keys to trying to avoid them happening.

1 – High blood pressure

Having high blood pressure damages your arteries. Having damaged arteries makes it more likely to cause a blockage. There are ways to take charge of high blood pressure through diet and exercise.

2 – Tobacco use

Tobacco use, smoking, vaping or chewing tobacco increase the buildup in your arteries and cause severe constriction. Your chance of having strokes increases if you smoke. Just being around the smoke, called second-hand smoke, increases your chances of having strokes.

3 – Heart disease

Heart disease with irregular heartbeats and defective heart valves can results in strokes as the body is unable to function correctly. Damaged blood vessels make the likelihood of strokes occurring more probable.

4 – Alcohol

Drinking alcohol in large amounts results in the increase in your blood pressure and the chances of strokes. Alcohol raises your blood pressure, which causes strokes. You are also more likely to develop other types of problems like diabetes.

5 – Lack of exercise

Being overweight comes with numerous health problems, but there it is directly connected to having strokes. Exercise helps you lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk. You also make your blood vessels stronger and less likely to have strokes. Your blood vessels are stronger and will be less likely to have strokes through blockages.

6 – Medication

Multiple types of medicines can increase your chances of strokes. Birth control pills, hormone therapy, and blood-thinning drugs can cause strokes. Reading all the possible downsides of medications is a must before taking them.

7 – High cholesterol

Eating a poor diet full of saturated fats can cause blockages and cause strokes. Cholesterol is found in dairy, meat, and eggs and in consumed in large amounts, can cause plaque to build up in your arteries. While the body does produce and need small amounts of cholesterol, a diet that contains large quantities can be detrimental to your overall health.

Foods that help prevent a stroke

Eating a well-balanced diet can do amazing things for your brain and your body. Eating foods that are natural blood thinners can help as well, like turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon.

1 – Citrus Fruits

The connection between fruit and a reduced risk of multiple health problems form many studies even today to gain more information. The consumption of citrus fruits is notable because they are full of flavonoids, which reduces the risk of developing clots and other things that can damage the brain.

2 – Leafy Green Vegetables

Many leafy green vegetables are incredibly healthy for you and provide an extensive list of reasons to eat them. Increased servings of vegetables, five or more a day, lower the risks of strokes.

Eating a Mediterranean diet, which includes a large helping of leafy greens, can reduce the risk of having strokes by up to 60 percent.

3 – Whole Grains

Whole grains are good for multiple health benefits. Consumption of whole grains adds a rich dose of fiber to any diet. They are also full of antioxidants and other beneficial components for the health of the entire person; the higher the whole grain intake, the lowers the risk of strokes.

4 – Dark Chocolate

Most people do not need a reason to eat dark chocolate, but dark chocolate is full of polyphenols, flavonols, and other antioxidants, which are extremely good for you. The extreme concentration of cocoa on LDL cholesterol and insulin makes it an excellent way to give yourself a treat and fight health problems.

5 – Nuts

Adding an ounce of nuts to your daily diet can reduce the chance of strokes by at least half. Foods rich in healthy fats reduced the risk of having strokes considerably.

6 – Coffee

Coffee is an excellent way to start a day. It is also a way to help reduce the risks associated with having an ischemic attack. It requires at least 4 cups a day to be preventative, though.

7 – Tea

Green tea, when prepared with distilled water, helped to remove the free radicals in the body. Green tea offers you some of the most amazing antioxidants, and it includes the ability to protect the brain from injury and help the body stay functional.

8 – Bananas

Eating a banana a day will leave you with a healthier heart and a hefty dose of potassium. Consuming at least 4,000 milligrams of potassium a day can help you reduce your chances of having strokes. A banana is 500 milligrams of potassium, which is a good start for any day.

9 – Garlic

Garlic provides for a decrease in LGL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) with an increase in HDL cholesterol (Good Cholesterol). The reduction of risk for an Ischemic attack by at least 50%.

10 – Probiotics

Eating a diet loaded with probiotics can help clean up your system. Probiotics are gut health microbes that help clean the digestive system and help you digest food. Yogurts, some cottage cheese, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kefir are terrific ways to ingest these live active cultures.

Foods to Avoid for Aiding in Stroke Prevention

You should eat specific foods, only sparingly or not at all. The damage these foods do to the body can result in strokes.

1 – Red meat

Red meat can be part of a regular diet, but large portions of red meat are not suitable for your body. It has large amounts of saturated fat, which indicates a 50% increased chance of having a stroke. Saturated fat blocks arteries and red meat is full of it and should be minimized or eliminated from a regular diet.

2 – Salt

Adding large amounts of salt to foods or eating canned or processed foods adds large quantities of salt to your diet. Salt is both a seasoning and preservative. Although the body does need some salt to function, the amounts contained in processed and canned foods raise blood pressure and increase the chances of having a stroke.

Final Thoughts on Becoming Resistant to Strokes Through Your Foods

Sometimes genetic factors create the situation for strokes, but often how you live your life can make these problems higher. Being aware of what you can do to make yourself healthier can help you take charge of your health. Eating a well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats like fish can make your body stronger and reduce your risk of stroke.

There are many different types of food you can eat that will help keep yourself active and healthy. Making healthy food choices is in your power, and you can make the right choices for your future. Seasoning food right and making it taste incredible can help you make your transition to a healthy lifestyle.

Scientists Explain How Lithium Can Be Used to Fight Climate Change

November 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Much of our everyday life is powered through lithium-ion batteries, including cell phones, laptops, power tools, and vacuum cleaners. To us, they make things more portable, are lighter, slimmer, rechargeable, and last decently longer than their counterpart batteries made of nickel-cadmium. In short, they make things more convenient. Many governments around the globe see lithium as the new “Gold Rush.” Furthermore, they view it as a crucial resource for fighting climate change.

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries has spotlighted the intricate and often challenging supply chains that support their production. From mining raw lithium to refining it for battery-grade materials, every step requires meticulous planning and advanced technology. The extraction process begins with mining lithium-rich minerals like spodumene or brine, often concentrated in regions like Australia, Chile, and Argentina.

Companies like Austroid are leading the charge by not only focusing on sustainable extraction but also streamlining the refining and production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. This specific battery type is gaining traction for its safety, longevity, and suitability in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. By prioritizing clean energy solutions within their operations, Austroid and similar companies aim to reduce environmental impact while supporting the growing global demand for greener technologies.

President Trump stated that it, along with a few other resources, is vital to our national and economic security. To science, lithium is the answer to climate change. Scientists explain how lithium humankind can use this material to fight climate change.

What is lithium?

Some of us know lithium as the medication to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium carbonite is one of the oldest medicines that doctors prescribe for bipolar disorder. A different component of lithium is what we use to power many of our standard devices.

Lithium-ion has competed with nickel-cadmium batteries since the 1990s. Lithium-ion is proving to be more beneficial for the future of climate change. Its energy density is twice that of nickel-cadmium, and it discharges its energy at half the amount. Yet, its life length can be inconsistent. Some last a year where others last up to 5 years. That is an issue that manufacturers have been working on and are making good strides. Storage temperatures have proven to play a factor. Lithium is best stored in colder environments and should always maintain a 40% charge even when not in use for sustainability.

It also is very sensitive to heat. As a result, all lithium-ion batteries have a protection circuit to limit its voltage output to prevent overheating or exploding. For this reason, lithium has travel or transporting limitations. Above a particular strength, it requires specific safety regulations to transport.

There is another form of lithium used, but it fails, so far, to produce enough energy to be overall beneficial. This is a lithium polymer. It is wafer-thin, and rather than creating a charge, it allows for ions to transfer. This version is used primarily in the strips of our credit and debit cards, identification cards, security cards, and such.

Where is lithium found, and how do we extract it?

Lithium is found in a small percentage of the earth’s crust. While it makes up a small percentage, it is relatively abundant but can be costly or difficult to mine. Oddly enough, lithium prefers to be in the water, so it tends to travel within the earth’s crust, following the groundwater.

Certain areas around the globe contain more lithium than others. For instance, there is a desert basin that is located in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. And, volcanic rock in Australia, the United States, and Canada and have clays comprised of lithium.

Lithium occurs naturally when volcanic rock mixes with a lot of water and high heat. The movement of tectonic plates under the earth’s surface stirs the mixture together. There are three varieties of lithium which serve as the source; clays, brine, and pegmatites, or volcanic rock.

Pegmatites

Pegmatites are the result of multiple, incompatible minerals converging as magma from volcanoes slowly cools. Since the minerals are incompatible, they resist forming together to create one crystal for as long as possible. Eventually, certain minerals do join together, forming crystals and separate from the magma. Lithium prefers to be in a liquid. Therefore, it remains in the magma until it concentrates and is locked into the cooling and hardening magma.

Before the 1990s, this was the primary source of lithium despite it being a costly process.

Brine

If you cook, you know of brine as a saltwater concentration. Researchers discovered in the 1990s that lithium creates a brine as well. Due to its preference for being in a liquid, there are naturally made brine deposits of lithium in groundwater. The largest current source is the Lithium triangle of Argentine, Chile, and Bolivia.

It is located within the salt flats that exist there in the Andes mountains. Obtaining it is relatively easy in that they pump out the water into a large area and allow the water to evaporate. After the water has evaporated, miners add certain minerals to separate the salt from the lithium. Currently, this is the most significant source of lithium.

Clay

Clay is essentially hardened mud. In the quest for lithium, we are searching for locations in which a volcano had existed, deposited pegmatites, and groundwater is currently washing over these rocks. That groundwater, now enriched with lithium, flows to a larger water source, like a lake where it then deposits the lithium.

Understanding this process makes The United States a prime area for such deposits. Our continent is rich with old volcanoes and lake beds.

The downside to this process is that it requires open mining and additional extraction of the lithium to separate it from other minerals. Multiple companies are working on finding a cost-effective manner in which do this.

Our future in lithium

The competition to become a source for the production of lithium is akin to oil production. As countries are moving from global interdependence to a more self-dependent economy, being a country that can provide lithium for its uses plus sell it to other countries holds a substantial financial key to their future success.

According to Science News, almost half of the demand for lithium will be for electric-powered vehicles by 2025. Demand globally should increase by 300% over the next decade or two. This anticipated demand arises from the increase in electric cars. Currently, there are 2 million electric vehicles. Statisticians predict 24 million such vehicles on the roads by 2030. This demand includes electric buses, trucks, and planes. This does not include the continued need for our tech, electronic goods, and energy grids. Many states and countries are looking to provide an alternative for consistent electricity in place of inconsistent solar or wind.

One new method of providing clean energy is utilizing already operating geothermal plants to extract minerals, primarily lithium. The idea is based on the fact that geothermal plants already are operating below the earth’s surface, where the internal water temperature is already scorching and has created a brine. This hot water is piped out, producing steam as it cools. It is this steam that turns the turbines that generate electricity. The now cooled water is then re-piped back to the reservoir to continue the process.

Final Thoughts: Mining Lithium for Fighting Climate Change

It has been the intention to take advantage of this process to extract minerals rather than establishing a separate mining operation. Up until recently, this has not been able to be put in place successfully. One company, EnergySource, believes it has found a method and is working on creating it in the Salton Sea located in Imperial Valley in California.

In addition to creating a new method of lithium extraction, researchers hope to reactivate geothermal plants that have decreased in use due to their expense. Geothermal energy production is a clean energy source that has proven to be more consistent than solar and wind. With the addition of lithium extraction, its benefits toward a greener climate and clean energy could make a significant impact.

Lithium has permeated our daily lives in its multitudes of uses. It provides us medication to grease to shatter-proof glass and batteries. It has a wide range of benefits for the future of green and clean energy. If there is anything we have learned from our past exploits in mining out a mineral, there are repercussions as well. Scientists explain how lithium can be used to fight the speed of climate change by reducing fossil fuel use and by conjoining with geothermal energy plants.

We could limit the harmful impact mining can have on the environment by taking advantage of reinitializing geothermal plants. This also creates clean energy that is already drilled into the earth’s crust, which means we’ll gain two great clean resources while limiting the rate of climate change.

5 Ways Mentally Strong People Control Their Emotions

November 7, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Many in society right now are expressing pent-up emotions regarding injustices, unfair acts, and world tragedies. People feel an increased need to feel they are heard and understood once they uncap that bottle. Mentally strong people recognize this.

Being able to express yourself is essential to growth and your own mental and physical health. With that expression, control of your emotions is also vital. Learning to control your gut reactions does not mean you cannot express yourself.

Instead, it means you can recognize that your emotions come and go like the tide, and you don’t need to hold onto them. Having a grasp on your feelings is a sign of maturity and mental strength. Here are five ways mentally strong people use to control their emotions.

The power of expressing your emotions

Many of us have been taught to “suck it up” when we have strong emotions. This result is us “sucking it up” by smoking cigarettes, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, being anxious, and possibly depressed. Yet the study above and other studies have shown that emotions’ initial biological and physiological responses are instantaneous. We have relatively no control over experiencing them. Yet once we can tell ourselves, ” I feel angry, sad, frustrated,” or whichever emotion, we become aware, can decrease its effect and then take control. It is not about attempting to suppress or deny our inclinations. It is the exact opposite, which makes them controllable.

Learning healthy ways to express emotions is vital to mental and emotional health. A study conducted at UCLA provided an image of the brain after the participant received a label. Subjects were given pictures of an angry or sad person. A particular region of the brain called the amygdala lit up. The amygdala is responsible for setting off alarms to other regions that we are in danger.

When the subjects labeled the image as an “angry face,” the activity in the brain decreased in the amygdala but increased in the right prefrontal cortex. This area is responsible for thinking in words about emotional responses as well as possibly processing emotion and suppressing behavior. This is a display of how putting words to our emotions can help decrease their intensity.

Suppression is not the same as controlling your emotions

Attempting to suppress emotions just makes them worse. Your body is now just building up the initial emotion and whatever garbage you are throwing on top in an attempt to bury it. You still felt the emotion, but now you compounded and confused it with other feelings. This state creates stress on your mind and body.

That stress creates various physical responses that mimic the physiological reaction of different emotions. Until you have identified the initial emotion, de-tangled the additional emotions that became added in, and acknowledged what it made you feel, the stress will continue. Thus, you will continue to trigger or feel that emotion.

Emotions vs. Feelings

Did you know that emotions and feelings are different? The majority of people use the words interchangeably, but they do have different meanings.

Emotions are a reaction to a stimulus, either internal or external. We can react to a memory or to hearing a baby cry. This reaction releases hormones and neurochemicals in our brain and body. These chemicals are to ensure that we are physically able to respond.

Feelings are still a reaction but with a meaning behind it. In other words, there is a recognition of the emotion you are feeling, mixed with your interpretation of it based on your life or the meaning you place upon the event triggering the emotion.

Further distinguishing differences include:

Length of time they last. Emotions are almost instantaneous and leave almost as quickly. Feelings are what we have attached to the emotions and will last longer. Such as, being happy to see someone can become a feeling of love.
Which came first? We form feelings off of emotions. Therefore, emotions come first.
Which has a stronger reaction? Emotions are more intense because they are created to spur us into action. Feelings entail more analysis lessening their intensity.
Which are processed? Emotions are almost instant. Therefore we do not process them as quickly. Feelings are thought out, resulting in more processing.
Emotions, due to their intended purpose, are difficult to control. Feelings can be controlled over time and with proper methods.

Being able to recognize that emotions are sudden reactions and are meant to be felt and then discarded if no action is required is an important understanding of how to control our emotions and feelings. You are going to have strong gut instincts that may or may not make sense at the time. They are just a flash of a stimulus. It’s the feeling that we place on those emotions that can make or break us. By understanding that we can label these sentiments and then let them go as they are meant to, we gain control.

When we cling to our responses and give them more meaning than they should have, it is when they begin to control us.

Methods mentally strong people use to control their emotions

Given the previous section, it is more our feelings than our emotions that mentally strong people learn to control. After all, the emotion is gone. What is left is the feeling that we associated with that emotion and the meaning that we give it. Here are five ways mentally strong people use to control their emotions and feelings.

1 – Label the emotion and feeling.

The first part of this article emphasized the importance of labeling an emotion. We don’t need to create a long story about how or why we felt the emotion. We felt it. What was it? Give it its name.

It is additionally beneficial to become more emotionally intelligent. In other words, they become more familiar and specific with a variety of names for emotions. We have quite a few simple and complex feelings. The more specific you can be, the better. Just saying “I felt hurt” may not truly express what emotion you felt. Whereas saying I felt “rejected” puts a more specific meaning to the general hurt and labels the feeling.

2 – Respect your body’s needs.

What this means is that your body and brain are processing all of your gut reactions and feelings 24/7. It requires a release of that stress through exercise, time to process through proper sleep, and energy through a balanced diet and hydration. We cannot emphasize this reality enough.

Studies continue to show that these three things are essential for your brain to process information. A lack of sleep, improper diet, or not relieving stress has shown to exasperate your anxiety level, decrease your ability to problem solve, concentrate, and plan. All of these are negatives if you are looking to gain control of your responses and feelings.

3 – Question the emotion and feelings.

Too often, we hang onto emotions and feelings because we think they must have some greater meaning.

“Omg. I must be stressed about this test because I am not prepared”.

It is possible that you are stressed about that test because tests make people feel pushed to perform, and emotions are created to spur us into action. Your body is creating a physical sensation of anxiety to give you that extra push it believes you need. Therefore, take a few deep breaths, calm your body, and your mind will follow.

Ask yourself if you need that emotion or if it is doing more harm than good. Anger is great when you need to defend yourself physically, but not so good when you react violently unnecessarily.

4 – Don’t dwell on the negative, dwell on the positive.

People who struggle with depression tend to stay on the sad or negative things happening in their lives. They then attribute those occurrences to perceived negative traits about themselves, thus creating negative feelings. This is called rumination.

Mentally strong people understand that this also works in reverse. They will make a list of positive things that occurred to them. Maybe visualize it throughout the week, write it in a journal, or make a gratitude list. Not only is writing a great way to express yourself, but handwriting reinforces concepts and thoughts into memory. The more positive memories you can recall, the less likely you are to attribute emotion to a negative event, therefore not creating a negative feeling.

5 – Do things that make you feel happy.

Mentally strong people use tools to boost their capability to feel good. A great tool is to incorporate little things that boost dopamine in the body or replicate feeling good. For example, start the day by lifting your arms up to the sky and giving the world a great big smile. Another tool is to listen to music that makes you want to dance and sing or makes you feel like a superhero.

Final Thoughts on Controlling Your Emotions

Everyone experiences emotions and has feelings. Mentally strong people have recognized that our natural reactions don’t need to control them and that feelings can be manipulated to their benefit. That is a very strong realization, but the practice takes work. Mentally strong people weren’t born with this ability. They either had great role models or mentors or gradually learned these methods through life experience. What makes that great is that you, too, can use the same five ways that mentally strong people use to control their emotions.

8 Reasons Why You Fail (Even When You Work Hard)

November 7, 2019 by Power of Positivity

You work as hard as you can, but you still fall short. You do everything you can to keep up, but it just doesn’t work out. It seems like you’re met with failure, obstacles, and setbacks at every turn, even though you’ve never worked harder in your life. You still continue to fail. Why?

Failure is a part of progress, but too much failure can be very discouraging and indicate that something you’re doing is wrong. Awareness of your negative habits that lead to failure can help you to prevent similar issues going forward.

Here Are 8 Reasons Why You Fail, Even When You Work Hard

1 – You Don’t Accept Feedback

Feedback is one of the most important parts of hard work. Without being able to respond to feedback, your hard work isn’t going to get you anywhere. Here are some aspects to consider:

· Humility

Humility is one of the most positive traits that someone can have. (Do note that we do mean humility, not being a doormat!) Arrogance and a large sense of pride prevent you from listening to anyone and improving because you already think you’re the best.

· Advice

When someone advises you, is your immediate reaction to shut them down? This doesn’t mean you should listen to everyone, but those with more success, experience, or knowledge than you should at least be listened to. They may be able to help your journey.

· Criticism

When someone gives you negative criticism, how do you take it? Lots of people hate being criticized, and this prevents them from learning and moving forward. Many times, others can see problems that you’re too close to see.

· Learning From Mistakes

When you fail, you may feel very upset. And that’s totally valid. But after processing the failure, you need to be able to take the mistakes and learn from them. Being too hung up on failure and ignoring the lessons it can teach you will harm you in the long run.

2 – You Procrastinate

Many people face difficulties in staying on-task and focuses. Procrastination means putting something off for as long as humanly possible before doing it, resulting in rushed and shoddy work. You can work hard at the beginning of a project and work extra hard towards the end, but it means little if you don’t continue working in the middle, too.

If you procrastinate, your productivity levels will drop a lot. You may have trouble starting projects or you may have problems finishing projects. Here are some simple tips to overcome procrastination:

Recognize the behavior and determine what causes or triggers it
Commit fully to a task and stop avoiding work
Ask someone to hold you accountable
Get the least pleasant tasks done first
Set up rewards for yourself at regular, reasonable intervals or upon work completion
Maintain a schedule and a to-do list
Set mini-deadlines and goals throughout the day
Use apps to help you manage your time

3 – You Have Unrealistic Expectations

Managing your expectations is crucial for success. If you aim too high and work for that unachievable goal, you’ll work yourself into the ground with no success, then beat yourself up for failure.

You may also want instant results or expect success much too quickly. This means that your idea of failure could just be slower progress than you expected, and you’re being unfair to yourself.

There is also an issue of setting your expectations too low. This means you think you’re doing well because you keep achieving your low goals, but in the long run, you’ll crash into a wall because you’ve been too lenient with yourself.

4 – You Don’t Commit

Committing to the work you’ve set up for yourself is crucial. If you’re not committed, everything will fall apart and you won’t be motivated enough to see each task through. You’ll wind up with half-finished efforts everywhere. Here are some signs that you lack work commitment:

· You Tend To Give Up

Small setback? You lose motivation. You throw in the towel. Basically, you stop trying. It’s okay to be upset by mishaps, but after a short period of time to process it, you need to get back on your feet. After all, one thing is certain: giving up directly relates to failure.

· You Can’t Commit To Decisions

You’ve made a decision, but a few days in, you switch to the other option. Or you make a decision and, several months later, decide to backtrack. These are both bad options. While you can definitely change your mind sometimes, doing it too often will only hurt you in the long run.

· You Lack Dedication Or Persistence

Without dedication to your work, you’re always at a risk of failure. You need to give something your all for it to work out. Yes, knowing when to jump ship is important, too, but that should be an absolutely last resort, not your first decision.

5 – You’re Bad At Adapting To Change

Change is inevitable. When it arrives, you have to be able to adapt to it. If change stumps you and makes you unable to function, then you have to figure out how to overcome that problem.

An inability to adapt to change points to an issue with flexibility. It means that the second life throws you a curveball, you’ll drop it. No matter how hard you work, the unexpected will happen, and you have to be ready for it.

6 – You Are Restricted By Fear

Fear can be extremely powerful, and it could be what’s holding you back in your work. It means that there is always a part of you being held back. It’s okay to be scared, but your bravery has to win that battle. Here are some signs that you are restricted by fear:

· You Don’t Take Risks

Playing it safe works sometimes, but most big successes lie at the end of your ability to take risks. This doesn’t mean being impulsive, it just means knowing when taking a leap of faith could be worth it. Practice positive thinking and dive in!

· You Don’t Network

Networking is crucial to career success, but it can be intimidating for many, especially if you’re on your own in your efforts. You may feel most comfortable sticking to the people you know, but there’s only so far you can help each other.

Networking is one of the most common factors in positive career changes, and you need to take chances and believe in yourself. The more you network, the better you’ll get at it!

· You’re Terrified Of Failure

Often, a fear of failure is the culprit behind the failure. Yes, the idea of failing can be paralyzing, but failing teaches you crucial lessons and will help you be more prepared for the future. Not trying counts as an automatic failure, while trying even though it’s scary gives you a chance at success.

7 – You Make Excuses And Dodge Responsibility

It’s your life, your career, and your job. You are responsible for it. But what happens when you can’t stop making excuses? Failures happen more and more because you’ve given them a reason to occur. You may make excuses constantly, such as:

I was just too tired
I’d no way of knowing
I did all that I could, so whatever
I just wasn’t at my best
It wasn’t even what I was trying to do anyway
I just didn’t want it that much

Do note that excuses aren’t the same as reasons. You can have valid reasons for failure. The trouble starts when you blame everything on external factors.

This is where dodging responsibility comes into play. If you don’t want to take responsibility for mistakes, for your work, or for anything else, you are almost certain to fail. You need to take responsibility, not deflect blame. Deflecting blame may involve statements like:

It wasn’t my fault
My business partner/friend/family member ruined this for me
I had no control over this situation
This setback messed me up, it caused this to happen
You can’t expect me to take the blame for this

Learn to take responsibility for everything in your career: the successes, the failures, and everything in between. Taking responsibility also means you’re taking control over the direction of your career, and that’s a powerful thing to do.

8 – You’re Not Confident

Everyone deals with insecurity issues. But at what point do those issues start to affect your everyday life and sabotage your progress?

If you severely lack belief in yourself, you could begin to doubt your own ability. You may consider yourself unintelligent, lacking in talent, or simply not capable of progressing. You may doubt your every action, or believe that you cannot succeed. This can cause discouragement and a lack of motivation that ultimately leads to failure.

You can repeat positive affirmations to yourself every day in order to help change your mindset. Some examples of good affirmations are:

I am smart and capable
I achieve success
I’m worthy of the success that I desire
I reach my goals
Good things will come to me
I speak with wisdom and persuasion
I can do whatever I set my mind to

You can also foster more positive thinking by doing the following:

Write a gratitude journal, where you record what you are grateful for every day
Surround yourself with positive people and cut off those who whine and complain
Choose a positive friend circle full of people who lift each other up
Learn to speak with positivity instead of with negativity
Set aside time for self-care and give yourself alone time to recharge
Take care of your health; eat well, exercise, and see a doctor when necessary
Make time for your hobbies and to learn new skills
Be kind to yourself and to those around you

However, do note that a severe lack of confidence in yourself may require therapy or other visits with a mental health professional. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, especially if you are very seriously struggling.

Final Thoughts: Break the habits that cause you to fail

It’s okay to fail sometimes. You’ll never encounter someone who has never failed before. But learning to improve yourself in order to prevent failure can do wonders for your progress. Still, don’t consider failure the end of the road. It’s just another hurdle that you need to jump in order to achieve your goals!

Doctors Reveal 12 Useful Ketogenic Diet Hacks

November 7, 2019 by Power of Positivity

The ketogenic diet is taking the world by storm, and there’s a good reason for its always-increasing popularity. These low-carb, high-fat meal plans have a wide range of health benefits, including better cholesterol, improved heart function, and higher degrees of weight loss. The lifestyle is even recommended for seizure reduction in children with epilepsy!

Before you get started with a ketogenic diet, however, there are a few things that you should know while cleaning out your cupboards. There are also a few tips and tricks that you can learn for maximum dietary benefits.

Are you ready to change your life with a keto diet? Grab a notebook and start taking notes!

1. Create a Cheat Sheet

If you’re trying a keto diet for the first time, you might be surprised to learn which foods are allowed and not allowed.

Good:

Dairy (milk, cheese, butter)
Leafy greens (spinach, lettuce, broccoli)
Meats (beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish)
Nuts and seeds (peanuts, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds)

Bad:

Fruits (apples, oranges, mangoes, bananas)
Grains (bread, cereals, rice)
Sugar (including fruit sugars and natural sugars like honey)
Starches (potatoes, pasta)

As you can see, a ketogenic diet is pretty restrictive. Drastic results require drastic changes. However, you don’t have to jump into the deep end immediately; you can experiment with “keto-lite” meal plans before you go cold turkey on your favorite lasagna dishes. Getting healthy with a keto diet should be a celebration, not a downer!

2. Prepare Meals and Snacks in Advance

One of the most complex parts of sticking to a diet is being disciplined to prepare healthy meals instead of reaching for low-effort, low-nutrition junk foods.

Fortunately, you can combat these lazy urges by preparing meals and snacks before you need them. You can wash and peel your veggies before freezing them for later. You can whip up some batch meals and stick them in portioned containers for busy days when you don’t feel like cooking.

You know your own habits better than anyone. Anticipate the weaknesses that you’ll have with a keto diet and take measures to prevent them.

3. Get Off the Couch

The whole point of a ketogenic diet is to make your body to burn fat instead of carbs. That’s why your meal plans have more fats and fewer carbs, and that’s why keto diets are so good for weight loss.

Exercise is another way to force your body to burn fat. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder; you can kick-start your metabolic processes with all sorts of low-impact exercises, including walking, jogging, swimming and yoga. It doesn’t matter how you get your blood pumping as long as it’s going strong.

Say no to the remote control. Take a walk around the block instead. Your waistline will thank you, and your keto diet will thrive.

4. Watch Out for the Keto Flu

The keto flu is a condition that can strike people who are trying a low-carb diet for the first time. Its symptoms include nausea, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and intense cravings for sugar or other foods.

The cause of the keto flu is shock. Your body freaks out because it isn’t getting the carbs it usually does. This is especially common in people who switch to a keto diet from a junk food diet; as we’ve pointed out before, many breads, pastas, grains, and sugars are a no-go on a keto diet. If you go from pizzas every night to keto every day, your body will require an adjustment period.

The good news is that you can take steps to prevent the keto flu. For example, by upping your magnesium and potassium levels, you’ll be able to reduce the shock to your system when you suddenly cut out carbs. Consider adding a supplement to your keto plan.

5. Make Substitutions in Your Diet

If you’re struggling to take your favorite foods out of your keto diet, you might have better luck with substitutions rather than removals.

For example, let’s say that you love rice. Instead of saying goodbye to your mom’s casserole, learn how to make cauliflower rice instead. It has the same taste and texture as regular rice, but it isn’t a starch, and it can help you with everything from weight loss to keto success.

Another potential substitution is almond flour instead of wheat flour. It’s low-carb and gluten-free, so you’ll check off multiple diet boxes at once and won’t even taste the difference in your favorite recipes!

6. Consider Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is when you only eat during certain times of the day.

It requires a lot of willpower, but studies have shown that it can have health benefits worth a rumbling stomach. Fasters tend to consume fewer calories on the whole than non-fasters, and fasting can also maximize the production of specific weight loss hormones.

Talk to your doctor and ask about intermittent fasting. You shouldn’t do it without their approval, but if they give you the all-clear, it can be a great way to shed some pounds.

7. Shine a Light on Hidden Carbs

Hidden carbs are the carbs that you don’t expect to see on a nutritional label. They can be found even in healthy foods that are good for you in other ways!

For example, yogurt is a source of hidden carbs. This is especially true in flavored yogurts that come with a lot of additives to mask their naturally tart taste. There are also sneaky, little-known carbs in baked beans, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, and protein bars.

You’ll have to decide whether these carb-heavy foods are worth the trade-off for their other health benefits!

8. Utilize MCTs

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are human-made fats that help with ketone production. As you might be able to tell from the name, ketones are a good thing in a keto diet.

There are many ways that you can incorporate MCTs into your everyday life:

MCT oils. You can add these consumable oils to tea, coffee, and other drinks. It isn’t recommended that you cook with them; they have a low smoke point, so they’ll start breaking down and losing their efficacy around 320°F.
MCT powders. These powders are like other supplement powders. Add them to smoothies; sprinkle them over oatmeal; dissolve them in hot drinks.
Products that include MCTs. These products aren’t necessarily “MCT products,” but they contain the same compounds and will have the same health benefits. For example, coconut oil can be used interchangeably with MCT oil, and you can cook it to boot.

Long story short, MCTs are a good thing in a keto diet, and they’re worth hacking your diet to include them!

9. Steal From Other Diets

Keto diets are compatible with many other diets, and you can cherry-pick the best parts of complimentary meal plans to improve your ketogenic experience.

For example, since keto diets remove wheat products from your diet, many keto recipes are also gluten-free by default. You can invest in some gluten-free cookbooks to keep your dinner ideas from getting stale.

Keto diets can also be vegan or vegetarian. They encourage you to eat veggies, nuts, seeds, and other natural products, so you can easily experiment with vegetarianism while on a ketogenic diet.

10. Look Into Exogenous Ketones

“Exogenous ketones” is a mouthful, but it’s a simple thing. Endogenous ketones are produced inside of your body; exogenous ketones are supplied from the outside. So “exogenous ketones” is just a fancy way of saying “ketones that you get from external sources.”

There are two main ways to get exogenous ketones: salts and esters.

Ketone esters are somewhat rare. They’re liquids that are mostly used for research purposes, so you’ll only see them in the occasional sports drink or imported supplement.

Ketone salts, on the other hand, are readily available for purchase. You can find them in powders, liquids, capsules and many other types of supplements.

If you want to put the keto in your ketogenic diet, consider exogenous ketones. They’ll stimulate your weight loss and burn those fat cells, and you won’t have to wait for your body to produce them naturally.

11. Change Your Coffee Order

You don’t have to give up coffee on a ketogenic diet. It can become of your biggest boosters in a low-carb weight loss plan.

The first thing to know is that coffee can be surprisingly good for you. It’s packed with antioxidants, and it can be used to combat certain inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that moderate amounts of coffee can even help you live longer.

As for your keto diet, many coffee additives will fit right in with your nutritional guidelines. Milk, cream and butter are all keto-approved dairy products. You can also add some MCT oil to your lattes.

12. Make Positive Lifestyle Changes

Last but certainly not least, try making your keto diet a part of an overall lifestyle change. Try to sleep more, exercise more, drink water, reduce stress and think positive thoughts.

Be humble. Be grateful. Open your eyes each morning and greet the day with enthusiasm.

A keto diet is a great thing in terms of mental and physical wellness. If the kitchen is the only place you’re making changes, your waistline will be the only thing that reflects the newer, healthier you. Try to transform yourself inside and out with positive changes on multiple fronts.

Final Thoughts on a Making the Ketogenic Diet Easier to Follow

Ketogenic diets can help you turn your life around, but you have to be willing to take a chance and make a change. Are you ready? Yes, you can do it! Let’s get started!

8 Ways To Always Make The Right Decision

November 7, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Making decisions can be extremely difficult. After all, you have so many different aspects to consider in the process. Which one will make you happy? What if one of them ruins your life? How can you tell up from down in this confusing time? It’s a challenge to make the right decision always.

Everyone wants to make the right decisions constantly. But is that possible? Truthfully, it isn’t. No one’s perfect, after all. But you can sharpen your choice-making skills so that you can more reliably make the best possible choices at the time.

Here Are 8 Ways To Always Make The Right Decision

1. Keep Calm

Impulsive decisions are often made when you’re feeling less than calm emotions. You may feel anxious, frustrated, stressed out, pressured, or angry. These emotions are not ideal for making good decisions. Before doing so, you should opt to calm yourself down.

Here’s a great calming exercise you can perform to bring your positive thinking back:

#1: Start by sitting straight in a relaxed position.
#2: Put one hand on your stomach so it rests just beneath your ribcage.
#3: Put your other hand on your chest.
#4: Inhale deeply and slowly over a count of around four, through your nose. Let your mind and respective hand focus on how your chest feels as your lungs fill with air.
#5: Hold the breath you inhaled for approximately two seconds.
#6: Exhale gently and slowly over a count of around four. You can breathe out through your mouth or your nose.
#7: Repeat the whole process. Try to do this between six and ten times every minute over the course of 10 minutes.

Can’t take 10 minutes to breathe? Need to make an urgent decision? Close your eyes if you can and take some breaths deeply and slowly to give yourself a quick calming boost.

If you have more time, you can do things that relax you, such as:

Going for a walk
Listening to music
Exercising
Journalling
Meditating
Playing with pets

2. Free Yourself From Negative Thoughts And Feelings

Negative emotions can be highly detrimental to making smart decisions. Acting on them can lead to choices that aren’t logical or rational, and it can cause you to make choices that prevent you from improving and advancing. Some emotions you should eradicate are:

· Desperation

When you’re desperate, you’ll hop on virtually any possible solution impulsively. It’s important to keep your positive thinking. Yes, it can sometimes feel like the world is ending, but remember that it isn’t truly ending! There is a good solution out there, and you can find it.

· Fear

When you’re afraid, you can make decisions that feel safest. This can prevent progress and keep you stagnant. You need to take some time to consider the truth of the situation so you can be brave and overcome your fears.

· Guilt

Many people make decisions out of guilt. You may be made to feel like you have to make a certain decision due to outside pressure. This will ultimately result in you making a decision that you will regret later just to make someone else happy.

Wait until you have more positive thinking, and don’t let anyone guilt-trip you into a choice you aren’t 100% sure about.

· Impatience

If you feel like you need a decision made immediately, you may make quick, impulsive decisions that aren’t well thought out. Impatience will virtually always cause terrible choices.

3. Gather Information

It is important that you keep yourself informed before making any sort of decision, ever. If you don’t have all the information, you can’t possibly make a choice that is definitely the best one for you. Here’s how you can gather information:

· Do Research

If your decision could benefit from some research, then do it. Hop onto the Internet and look up all sorts of things.

Choosing between which apartment to move to? Research the reviews of tenants, what is nearby, how long your daily commute will take, and more. You can also explore apartment for rent Langley to find a place that suits your needs.

Deciding whether to start your own business? Look up what is needed in that process, how much funds you will need, what the market is like, and how the legal process works.

No matter what your decision is, the Internet is your friend! It has all the information you could possibly want to know, right at your fingertips.

· Ask Questions

If your decision is being asked for by a person, don’t be afraid to ask them questions. Don’t feel ashamed of wanting more information from them. Someone who wants you to make a choice should have no problem with your desire to make an informed one in a positive way.

· Don’t Believe Biased Parties

Does this mean that you should call everyone biased a liar? Of course not! Most people are at least subconsciously biased towards one side or another. But it does mean that you should take what everyone says with a grain of salt. Gather all the information and consolidate them into cohesive information.

4. Ask For Opinions

Confused about your decisions? Talk to someone you can trust and ask for their opinion. Friends, family, colleagues, or anyone else you can trust are all options for asking for opinions. But don’t get too many opinions at once, or you may further confuse yourself!

You can also look for other people who have to make similar decisions before or those who are knowledgeable in the related sector that your choices lie in. Online communities will likely have plenty of people, many who may be happy to help you!

5. Be Patient

We’ve talked already about impatience makes for decisions that are less than ideal. If you want positive choices to be made, you need to make sure you’re not rushing into it. Here are some bonus tips:

· Take Your Time

You need time to weigh your options. Pause, reflect on the possible decisions, think about your reactions to them, and breathe. If a choice is demanded from you immediately, ask for more time to deliberate if possible.

· Let Yourself Sleep On It

Sleep is a fantastic thought resetter. After you think you’ve made your choice, sleep on it and see if you feel the same way in the morning.

· Allow Thoughts To Be Punctuated By Space

A lot of people get their best ideas when they’re not focusing on coming up with them. Consider your options, then let it go. Distract yourself with other things. Let the space between your thoughts grow. You never know, the true solution may come to you when you least expect it!

· Be Your Own Devil’s Advocate

Play devil’s advocate for yourself. Attempt to argue for the other side of the decision. If you start to make sense to yourself, you may need to reconsider your position. This is a very common form of decision-making that academics have found to make a positive impact on your thought process!

6. Get Your Thoughts Organized

The thoughts that plague your head when you have a big decision to make can be very disorganized. It’s important to get them organized before making your choice. Here are some ways to do that:

· List Down Your Options

What are all the choices you have? List them all down in an organized manner. That way, you can objectively see what your decisions are without the mess of tangled thoughts interfering.

· List Down The Outcomes

Now that you know your options, list down the possible outcomes of these decisions, too. This will help you to see which choices will have the best long-term results.

· Make A List Of Pros and Cons

Are the decisions still difficult to choose between? Write out the pros and cons of each one. Some cons might be deal-breakers, and some pros may be too good to pass up!

· Talk It Out

If all else fails, talk it out. You don’t even have to talk to anyone, just to yourself! Speaking out loud to make sense of your jumbled can work wonders for untangling thoughts.

7. Make A Decision That Keeps A Clear Conscience

Your decision should not weigh negatively on your conscience. Your choices should align with your personal code of morality and ethics. Here’s how to make sure you’re making the right decision in this respect:

· Think About The People Who It Will Affect

Will your decision affect other people? Yes, ultimately, you get the final say on decisions that change your life, but you may want to consider how these choices affect those you care about.

· Stay True To Yourself

What is important to you? Do you value family? Ambition? Social justice? Monetary gain? The law? Whatever it is, let that value guide your choice.

· Do Not Make Choices To Spite Others

Sure, you can some petty joy out of your success unintentionally making someone who has been cruel to you jealous or hurt. But that shouldn’t be your main reason. Besides, the best option is to move forward with kindness and forgiveness.

8. Trust Your Instincts

Your intuition and instincts are worth trusting. If all else fails, remember the first impressions you felt. These are often indicative of your innermost preferences. Of course, don’t jump right into it, but if you truly can’t figure out which decision is the best, your instincts are a safe bet.

Basically, don’t overanalyze. Those who make choices based on feelings when they have to can actually wind up with more positive feelings towards the resulting decision. Take a moment to reflect by yourself and get in touch with what you truly desire.

In fact, the better you get at making decisions, the more your intuition will be accurate from the beginning. So keep practicing! Soon, your instincts will be extremely reliable.

Final Thoughts on Mastering Making the Right Decision

Making decisions is a skill, and it’s one that you can hone. The more choices you make, the better you’ll get at it. So don’t be afraid to experiment, and if you make the wrong decision, learn from the mistake and move on!

More than anything, trust in yourself and in your ability to make the choices that work best for you, and trust that you can adapt to change and anything life throws your way! You’ve got this, and you don’t need to make the right decisions to live your best life.

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