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51 Best Falling In Love Quotes

January 9, 2019 by Power of Positivity

There are many amazing moments in life; buying your first car, receiving your first kiss, going on your dream vacation, etc. Falling in love for someone is definitely at the top of the list.

What if you can’t find the proper arrangement of words to express your love for the person you’ve fallen for? What if you’ve forgotten what it felt like to fall in love and you long to feel that emotion again?

No matter what the reason, these falling in love quotes will certainly help you with the problem you’re facing. Continue reading to find Falling at First Sight Quotes, Soulmates Falling in Love Quotes, Falling For Her Quotes, Falling For Him Quotes, and Falling For You Quotes.

51 Falling in Love Quotes That Will Give You Butterflies

Falling at First Sight Quotes

1. “I knew right away that you were it for me, there were no reservations or second thoughts, I saw you and in an instant knew in my bones, my soul had known your soul lifetimes ago.” ~Beau Taplin

2. “When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.” ~Arrigo Boito

3. “This is going to sound crazy, but… from the moment I first set eyes on you I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. ~Leigh Fallon, Carrier of the Mark

4. “I didn’t plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt if you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met, it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us.” ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

5. “Just one kiss. Sometimes that’s all it takes for a heart to lose its balance.” ~JM Storm

6. “It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight.” ~Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita

7. “It’s not exactly love at first sight. It is more like soul recognition.” ~Lynette Simeone

8. “I didn’t choose you. I just took one look at you, and then there was just no turning back.” ~Unknown

9. “This was love at first sight, love everlasting: a feeling unknown, unhoped for, unexpected–in so far as it could be a matter of conscious awareness; it took entire possession of him, and he understood, with joyous amazement, that this was for life.” ~Thomas Mann

10. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” ~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Soulmates Falling in Love Quotes

11. “I cannot remember exactly the first time your soul whispered to mine, but I know you woke it. And it has never slept since.” ~JM Storm

12. “You cannot look into someone’s soul and not fall in love with them. I looked into your soul once, I am trapped for eternity.” ~Cynthia Go

13. “There is something unusual about us. Something deeply spiritual. The way we fall into one another so naturally as if our love was carved from the earth. There are star systems bursting at our fingertips when we touch. We are in tune. Our hearts croon the same old song. The universe planned for it. I know it. I know it.” ~Beau Taplin

14. “…And then my soul saw you and it kind of went, “Oh, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.” ~Iain Thomas

15. “Falling for him wasn’t falling at all. It was walking into a house and suddenly knowing you’re home.” ~R.I.D

16. “It was instinctive, the way I fell for you. Like an effortless intake of breath.” ~Josh Walker

17. “I think some souls have a way of connecting without our knowledge. That’s why you can meet someone for the first time, but inside you just know. You know it is not the first time you’ve felt them.” ~JM Storm

18. “Do you think the universe fights for souls to be together?
Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences.” ~Emery Allen

19. “I got a little close and that is all it took. I was captured. Because sometimes that is what happens when the heart recognizes home.” ~JM Storm

20. “They knew it. Time, distance, nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real.” ~Meg Ryan, Sleepless in Seattle

Falling For Her Quotes

21. “They told me that to make her fall in love, I had to make her laugh. But every time she laughs, I’m the one who falls in love.” ~Tommaso Ferraris

22. “And in her smile, I see something more beautiful than the stars.” ~Beth Revis, Across the Universe

23. “She is delightfully chaotic; a beautiful mess. Loving her is a splendid adventure.” ~Steve Maraboli

24. “I love how she makes me feel like anything is possible, or like life is worth it.” ~Tom Hansen, 500 Days Of Summer

25. “He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” ~Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

26. “He sweeps her hair back from her ears; he swings her above his head. He says she is his émerveillement. He says he will never leave her, not in a million years.” ~Anthony Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See

27. “To love her is to dance to whatever music her heart is playing.” ~John Green

28. “I never saw so sweet a face. As that I stood before. My heart has left its dwelling place … and can return no more.” ~John Clare

29. “I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it.” ~Nicolas Cage, City of Angels

30. “But to see her was to love her, love but her, and love her forever” ~Robert Burns

Falling For Him Quotes

31. “I do believe his mouth is heaven, his kisses falling over me like stars.” ~Richard Siken, Saying Your Names

32. “but he reaches over and he touches you, like a prayer for which no words exist, and you feel your heart taking root in your body, like you’ve discovered something you don’t even have a name for” ~Richard Siken, You Are Jeff

33. “He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ~Catherine Earnshaw, Wuthering Heights

34. “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t do anything but think about him. At night I dream of him, all day I wait to see him, and when I do see him my heart turns over and I think I will faint with desire.” ~Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl

35. “…the thought of him gone—no more—makes your chest tighten up and maybe this is your fairytale. Maybe this is your castle.” ~Charlotte Eriksson

36. “If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I.” ~Michel de Montaigne

37. “She loved him, there was no question about that. But she loved him in a way that he had yet to understand. Yet, she loved him anyway.” ~JM Storm

38. “and every night she would change herself, stay up late and grow deeper in love.” ~R.M Drake

39. “She knew one hundred little things about him, but when he kissed her she couldn’t remember her own name.” ~Michelle Hodkin

40. “She belonged to him. Not because it was something he demanded, but because it was something she couldn’t help.” ~JM Storm

Falling For You Quotes

41. “I realized I was thinking of you, and I began to wonder how long you’d been on my mind. Then it occurred to me: Since I met you, you’ve never left.” ~Unknown

42. “Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart.” ~Robert Sexton

43. “I keep myself busy with things to do, but every time I pause I still think of you..” ~Cecelia Ahern

44. “I swear I couldn’t love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow.“ ~Leo Christopher

45. “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.” ~Alfred Lord Tennyson

46. “If I know what love is, it is because of you.” ~Herman Hesse

47. “You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had.” ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

48. “And I’m feeling it’ll just be you. All of my life…” ~Stephen Bishop, All of My Life

49. “For you see, each day I love you more. Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.” ~Rosemonde Gerard

50. “My love for you has no depth, its boundaries are ever-expanding.” ~Christina White

51. “You’re always the first and the last thing on this heart of mine. No matter where I go, or what I do, I’m thinking of you.” ~Dierks Bentley

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, our words get jumbled up and we can’t find the right things to say to the person we love. We may also want to relive memories through words and find that strong emotion we once felt before.

We hope these 51 in love quotes were able to trigger your fondest of memories and help you find what you were looking for.

21 Foods That Boost Metabolism to Lose Weight Fast

January 9, 2019 by Power of Positivity

With the New Year upon us, many of us are thinking of ways we can lose weight or just get healthier overall. Thanks to our recent indulgences, some of us are left with sluggish metabolism and pants that fit a little too tightly.

With the adoption of New Year’s resolutions, you might be on the lookout for tasty foods that also boost your metabolism. A healthy metabolism is an integral part of good health; let’s read on to discover what Mother Nature has already provided.

Here are 21 foods that boost that fat burning furnace:

What Role Does Metabolism Play In My Health?

Metabolism is a two-part process consisting of anabolism and catabolism. During anabolism, energy is created and stored in your body. Catabolism releases that energy. Your body works to convert everything you ingest into some form of energy. Your body will use some of this energy immediately while your body stores some for later. The faster your metabolism, the faster you can burn calories, even while sleeping.

While everyone burns calories at a slightly different rate, certain factors affect its function. These include genetics, age, gender, and weight. You can either increase your energy production by eating the right foods, or make it even more sluggish by ingesting the wrong combinations. Why not crank it up a notch? Eat the following, and you’ll shed some of those unwanted pounds in no time:

Almonds

Almonds are the perfect portable snack. Power-packed with healthy fat, protein, and fiber, all these elements keep you fuller longer. They also benefit your cardiovascular system; just 14 almonds a day can dramatically reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke! Use almonds for a mid morning pick me up. Munch on a few just before going to bed to tide you over until morning. Your heart and your waistline will thank you.

Asparagus

Asparagus is a low-calorie, nutrient dense food that will naturally detoxify your system. It will speed up your metabolism at the same time. This vegetable contains B2, known to increase metabolism by aiding the absorption of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Beans

Beans are packed full of fiber, which helps to promote healthy digestion. They also contain resistant starch, which is linked to faster metabolism and reduced fat storage. Add a heaping helping of black beans to rice and chicken for a healthy, low-fat meal that will satisfy you on many levels.

Cruciferous Vegetables

All cruciferous vegetables—cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage–have very high water and fiber content. This combination increases metabolic rate by over 30 percent.

Celery

One very thermogenic food, celery is a natural fat burner. Celery has very high levels of calcium, which inhibits the body’s ability to produce calcitrol, a hormone that promotes fat storage. Pack a few stalks in your lunch for a power-packed afternoon snack, and watch those pounds fly off!

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil’s unique chain of fatty acids provide a very powerful effect on the body. Just 15-30 grams of these fatty acids will create an overall burst of energy production by 5 percent, or 120 calories. Over time, this will compound itself and cause those extra pounds to drop.

Coffee

Coffee is a God-given gift that not only metabolizes fats, it can boost metabolism by as much as 11 percent. You no longer have to listen to those caffeine naysayers who preach the evils of excess consumption. Drink up!

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a natural diuretic, and they will help hydrate your body while providing vitamins, nutrients, and dietary fiber. They are also rich in vitamin C, which will naturally boost metabolism.

Berries

Berries are very high in fiber, which acts like a fat-absorbing sponge as it moves through your digestive system, carrying excess baggage with it. Blueberries and raspberries in particular contain the flavonoid anthocyanin, which is known to boost metabolism.

Ginger

Ginger has long been used for its medicinal purposes. Recent studies have also revealed its metabolic benefits as well. One study performed in 2012 showed clear connections to a higher state of thermogenesis and lower levels of hunger. Add this pungent spice to many Asian dishes for a boost of flavor and fat burning benefits.

Green Tea

Consuming green tea is one of the easiest ways to stoke the fat burning furnace. Consumption of this delicious drink can increase fat burning benefits by as much as 4 percent over a 24 hour period, and its natural boost of caffeine keeps you mentally alert and ready for what your day throws at you.

Turkey

Turkey, known for its high protein and low fat content, is a great way to add lean muscle to your physique. A study performed at Pennington Biomedical Research center concluded that, among 16 adults who were fed excess calorie diets, those who consumed higher levels of protein and leaner foods stored those extra calories as lean muscle, not fat. Bring on the drumsticks!

Citrus Fruit

Lemons, limes, and grapefruit not only have an invigorating and refreshing flavor, they are natural fat burners. High levels of vitamin C present in these fruits help to safeguard against insulin spikes that might cause excess fat storage.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a well-respected health food; with its high fiber content and presence of beta glucan, it will aid in keeping hypertension, insulin resistance and high levels of fat in the blood at bay. As little as one bowl per day will keep you full and satisfied for hours and balance out your blood sugar, making you less prone to snacking between meals.

Peppers

A chemical compound in peppers called capsaicin is known to increase heart rate and boost metabolism. In fact, studies show that consumption of capsaicin will increase metabolic rate by as much as 20 percent within a few hours after ingestion. Peppers with a heat factor also crank up the fat burning furnace in your body, burning more calories per hour than mild peppers in comparison. Don’t be afraid to make those taste buds sizzle as you burn off those extra pounds. Can you stand the heat?

Spinach

Chowing down on that spinach salad will give you an extra dose of magnesium, a crucial mineral for a healthy body. Lightly steamed spinach with a lightly seared chicken breast makes a delicious and satisfying dinner as well. People who consume adequate magnesium are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Water

Never underestimate the power of a fresh glass of water! It is recommended that a person drink half his or her own body weight in ounces daily. It may seem excessive at first, but this recommendation is based on bringing your body and all of its systems into a state of optimum efficiency. Drinking lots of water not only aids the body in organizing its own natural detoxification process, it is known to boost metabolism by as much as 30 percent!

Salmon

Rich in omega 3 fatty acids and dripping with protein, salmon can boost natural fat burning enzymes in the body. Metabolic rate improves by as much as 400 calories daily; find a grocer that offers fresh fillets on a regular basis and make this a staple in your new, clean diet.

Apples and Pears

Apples and pears have known weight loss benefits. Both are rich in fiber and have a high water content which promote fat burning. The phrase, “an apple a day” takes on a new meaning as we see those who consume 2-3 pieces of this fruit daily drop some serious weight.

Soup

Whether you eat warm soup in the dead of winter or a nice, cool gazpacho in the summertime, soup will fill you up while slimming you down. There is no shortage of delicious flavors and combinations that become available to you as you sip and savor a cup, a bowl, or a whole tureen of your favorite. If you have a sweet tooth that must be indulged, then try a blended fruit soup, which is not only refreshing but deliciously nutritious as well. Stay away from the cream-based soups, and opt instead for powerful combinations of veggies, lean proteins, and wholesome broth. Yummy!

With all of these options for getting healthy while burning fat, it seems that there is an abundance of food that you can choose from to chow down and slim down. Now the only question that remains is, do you have the willpower to stay away from those foods that can slow down your system? The New Year is upon us, and it’s a perfect time to change your eating habits, incorporate some exercise and movement into your daily routine, and watch that waistline dwindle away! Best of luck to you as you uncover your best self this year!

5 Hidden Behaviors of An Emotional Manipulator

January 9, 2019 by Power of Positivity

An emotional manipulator is an incredibly difficult person to deal with. They drain your energy, they’re exhausting to be around, and they can bring your self-esteem down quickly. The worst part is that you may not even notice what they are doing.

Emotional manipulation is toxic. As such, it’s important that you recognize when someone in your life has a pattern of manipulating you and those around them. This will prevent you from getting hurt or being dragged into unwanted situations.

In order to avoid the negative effects of being around people like this, you need to be aware of the warning signs and red flags. Here are some hidden behaviors of an emotional manipulator to keep an eye out for.

Here Are 5 Hidden Behaviors Of An Emotional Manipulator

1. Everything is about them

An emotional manipulator constantly needs to make everything that is happening relevant to them. It’s like they’re always demanding for all eyes to be on them. They want sympathy, attention, and open, willing ears all at once.

Since no one is always naturally in the spotlight, an emotional manipulator is willing to perform a variety of toxic behaviors in order to keep themselves there. Here are some ways a person like this would make everything about them.

a) One-upping

If you tell an emotional manipulator about something negative happening in your life, they’ll be sure to inform you of how much worse they have it. They’ll imply that your problems are nothing compared to theirs in an effort to gain your sympathy.

Basically, these people turn misery and suffering into a contest instead of recognizing that everyone’s problems are just as valid as their own. They’ll inform you that you have no right to complain because they want the attention you’re receiving.

b) Craving Attention

An emotional manipulator will make up all sorts of stories in order to gain attention. They’ll exaggerate their stories, interrupting other people’s stories to tell their own, made-up “better” ones.

You may notice that, when you’re around an emotional manipulator, you find yourself always listening and never getting a chance to speak.

c) Playing The Martyr

When an emotional manipulator seems to agree to do something positive, things might seem good at first. Whether it’s volunteering, helping someone out, or taking on an extra task, they’ll seem eager to assist.

But then, things go bad – fast. The person begins to complain about all the work they have to do. They act like they’re taking on a huge burden and constantly demand praise from everyone around them. Needless to say, they pretend they’re not reluctant at all and really want to help. Because they’re good actors, you might think they’re just a good person with positive thinking … until the complaining begins.

2. Twisting words, facts, and situations

Facts are the enemy of an emotional manipulator because they prove that their actions are wrong. This is why many individuals who seek to psychologically manipulate others try to twist facts, statements, and even incidents in their favor. Here are some ways they do so.

a) Gaslighting

Gaslighting is an act whereby someone attempts to trick those around them into questioning their perception of reality. If you confront an emotional manipulator about something, they will lie and twist everything to make it look like you’re wrong and they’re right. This means that an emotional manipulator may:

Lie about a sequence of events
Make you believe you said something you didn’t
Convince you that you misheard, misspoke, or misremembered something
Insist that your problems aren’t real

This is very dangerous and toxic behavior to be around. It can make you question your sanity. A manipulator will do this to take advantage of you and make you believe you’re crazy. It’s a very dangerous tactic

b) Playing the victim

Emotional manipulators want you to know that they are never, ever in the wrong. They are quick to blame others and insist that nothing is ever their fault. No matter what they’ve done, they’ll be sure to point fingers at everyone except themselves.

If an emotional manipulator fails to complete a task, they will blame your high expectations of them. When their partner breaks up with them, they will call them afraid of commitment. If they make you angry, they will say you are too sensitive. If they get fired, their boss was a jerk.

Basically, emotional manipulators never take responsibility for their mistakes. They refuse to be held accountable and will be the first to throw others under the bus to protect themselves.

c) Outright lying

Emotional manipulators will lie to your face with no remorse. Many of them have symptoms of pathological lying and may fib compulsively. They might:

Twist your words to make you sound bad
Exaggerate situations and spin them in their favor
Claim to forget information that they should know
Make excuses that aren’t valid
Justify their negative behavior

Be careful when listening to an emotional manipulator. If you’re remembering what happened completely differently from how they claim things went down, they could be lying to you.

d) Playing dumb

Pretending not to know something can make someone look innocent. This is probably why emotional manipulators do this so often. They play “dumb” in order to be released from obligations or hide truths. Seeing as they know nothing, how can they be in the wrong?

3. They fight unfairly

We know that disagreements are a part of life. But there are healthy, effective, and efficient ways to have a fair and reasonable argument.

According to Preston Ni, who works at Foothill College in their Communication Studies Department, an emotional manipulator does not abide by these methods. Instead, they go out of their way to use any unfair tactics they can to gain higher ground over those they argue with. Here’s how they might do so.

a) Taking you out of your element

When someone wants to manipulate you and win a debate, they’ll want to be on their home turf. Someone who only ever wants to pick a fight with you in their home, office, or personal “territory” is trying to gain a psychological upper hand.

b) Listening first

At first, it seems like someone’s decision to listen to what you have to say first is a positive thing. But they’re not just trying to hear you out – they’re mentally memorizing your points in your argument and finding ways to refute them.

Emotional manipulators also use this opportunity to catch a glimpse into your personal ideals and perspectives, so they can evaluate your weaknesses and strengths.

This tactic is used by those in sales and marketing, too. It’s definitely not pleasant coming from someone who isn’t trying to sell you anything more than a manipulative argument.

c) Aggression

Sometimes, manipulators try to intimidate you or make you feel uncomfortable by being overly aggressive. They might use strong, harsh language, gesture in wild or fierce ways, or speak very loudly in order to derail any chance at a fair discussion.

d) Information overload

There’s nothing wrong with using facts to support an argument. In fact, it’s recommended and a great way to have a good discussion. But manipulators will use only “alleged” factual information with no proof in their arguments.

This means an emotional manipulator might throw out random statistics and present inaccurate data repeatedly to overwhelm you and pressure you into believing them. They don’t seek to educate you – only to win with falsehood.

e) Pressure

It’s reasonable to expect a person to need some time to think about making a decision or coming up with a response. An emotional manipulator will relentlessly pressure you to make a choice before you’re comfortable.

This is because this pressure creates a sense of urgency that is entirely false, prompting tension that might just make you give in to their argument or desires.

4. Guilt tripping

The ever-famous guilt trip is a tactic utilized by most emotional manipulators. It involves trying to make you feel guilty for something that happens in order to gain an upper hand and make you fold to them.

If you feel bothered by something they do, they will try to make you feel guilty and unreasonable for feeling that way. When you have plans that don’t involve them, they will act upset and claim that you care about others more than them. If they make a mistake, they’ll tell you how hard they tried and how awful it feels to fail.

An emotional manipulator is always ready to turn something positive into something negative. They are experts at using your conscience against you, prompting you to feel guilty even when you have done nothing wrong.

If you find that the person you’re around always makes you feel like you’re in the wrong, you are likely dealing with an emotional manipulator. The same goes for someone who makes you feel bad just because you’re having fun or enjoying yourself.

You should also watch out for an emotional manipulator who makes sure they always sound sweet and genuine, no matter what. They might pretend to be concerned about you but then they’ll say something that subtly provides a guilt trip and makes you feel bad.

This type of behavior is often overlooked because an emotional manipulator will look and sound sincerely kind and thoughtful when they do this; however, their end goal is still to guilt trip you into doing what they want.

5. Judging and criticizing constantly

Everything you do can be wrong in the eyes of an emotional manipulator. Many people who behave this way are seeking to control you. They can do so by making you feel insecure and constantly criticizing your actions.

The worst part is that this behavior likely ties in with the other four behaviors we’ve discussed. This means an emotional manipulator might tell you that you take things too seriously when you get upset. They might encourage you to lighten up and learn to take a joke. They may tell you that you need to work on your positive thinking.

However it plays out, being the subject of judgment from an emotional manipulator is toxic and isn’t easy to avoid. You will have to actively work to cut that person off or allow their criticisms to go unacknowledged.

Final Thoughts On Hidden Behaviors Of An Emotional Manipulator

Emotional manipulation is a kind of abuse often overlooked. Many people make the mistake of believing that, because it is a non-physical form of negative behavior, it isn’t that serious. This is far from the truth.

An emotional manipulator can ruin your self-esteem, make you feel inadequate, and cause crippling self-doubt. As such, keeping an eye out for these 5 hidden behaviors of an emotional manipulator will help you protect yourself against this serious form of toxicity.

21 High Protein Foods For Weight Loss

January 9, 2019 by Power of Positivity

High protein foods are an important macro-nutrient that helps our bodies recovery from strenuous activities such as running or lifting weights as well as from normal everyday wear and tear. Without protein, our bodies would not be able to function properly.

When most people think of high protein foods, they typically think of meat. For a vegan trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, while losing a bit of weight, this doesn’t help much. What many are unaware of though is that there are plenty of non-animal-based high protein foods that are perfectly fit for a vegan diet!

Read on for a list of 21 great vegan high protein foods that aid in weight loss:

1. Seitan

Seitan is one of the most popular sources of protein amongst vegan and vegetarian dieters, and with good reason!

Commonly marketed as a meat alternative, Seitan is made from wheat gluten. One 3.5 ounce serving can provide you with 25 grams of protein, making it the richest plant-based protein source!

Aside from Seitan’s high protein content, it is also a great source of selenium while also containing a good amount of calcium, iron, and phosphorus!

2. Lentils

Lentils are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, whether you’re a vegan or an avid meat eater! Coming in at 18 grams of protein per cup cooked, lentils and an amazing source of vegan protein!

Lentils are incredibly versatile and lend themselves well to a range of dishes, from soups to salads, stews and curries!

Lentils are also a great source of fiber which is vital for satiety and gut health and contain the vitamins folate, iron, and manganese in substantial amounts!

3. Tofu

Tofu is a good product produced by the fermentation of soybeans. This soy product is one of the few complete proteins available to those following a vegan diet and so should be a regular feature of yours! A complete protein is a food that provides your body with all of the amino acids deemed essential for health.

Tofu by itself has a mild flavor and is easily able to absorb the flavors of other ingredients it is used with. This makes it incredibly versatile!

4. Chickpeas

One cup of cooked chickpeas packs a whopping 15 grams of protein! Like other beans and legumes, chickpeas are high in fiber as well which makes them a great addition to anyone’s diet!

Besides chickpeas’ high protein and fiber content, they’re also an amazing source of iron, phosphorus, folate,
potassium, manganese, amongst many other beneficial nutrients!

Several studies have been done that indicate a diet rich in beans or legumes can help control blood sugar levels, lower your blood pressure, and decrease cholesterol!

5. Spelt and Teff

Spelt and teff belong to a category of food commonly referred to as ancient grains. Both spelt and teff pack a whopping 11 grams of protein per cooked cup, making them a great source of protein for the vegan looking to lose a bit of weight!

Fiber, complex carbs, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus are all found in high amounts in both spelt and teff, making them a very nutrient dense and healthy protein rich food choice

6. Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is sold in either powder or flake form and is made from a deactivated strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. It is commonly used as a cheese substitute and can be enjoyed in dishes such as mashed potatoes or can be sprinkled on top of pasta in place of cheese.

Nutritional Yeast is another complete protein source and per one ounce serving it contains 14 grams of protein plus 7 grams of fiber! You can find fortified versions of nutritional yeast that make it also a great source of magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, and all the essential B vitamins!

7. Green Peas

A single serving of green peas contains more than 25% of the fiber you need in a day! Packing 9 grams of protein per cup cooked, peas are a nutritional powerhouse and a great addition to anyone’s diet!

Besides being a great source of fiber and protein, green peas contain Vitamins A, C, K, folate, thiamine, and manganese in substantial amounts!

8. Hempseed

Hempseeds are the seeds of the Cannabis Sativa plant, known more commonly as marijuana! No need to worry about catching a buzz, hempseeds contain only minuscule amounts of THC, the active compound in Cannabis that produces its euphoric effects.

Hempseeds are another great complete source of vegan protein, containing 10 grams per one ounce serving. Hempseeds are also a great source of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium and also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the ideal ratio for human health!

9. Sprouted Grain Breads

Bread made from sprouted grains are typically much higher in protein and fiber, making them a great option for a vegan looking to drop a few pounds. It’s not uncommon to find wheat, barley, millet, spelt as well as lentils and even soybeans in just a single loaf of sprouted grain bread!

A typical serving of sprouted grain bread can contain up to or more than 8 grams of protein, which is significantly more than what’s commonly found in bread.

10. Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green colored algae that is packed with nutrients and protein. Two tablespoons contain 8 grams of complete protein as well as many other nutrients; Iron, thiamin, copper, magnesium, riboflavin, manganese, and potassium are all found in substantial quantities!

Spirulina also contains Phycocyanin, a powerful anti-inflammatory with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties!

11. Soy Milk

One cup of soy milk contains 7 grams of protein, making it a great vegan alternative to cow’s milk! Soy milk is commonly fortified with other vitamins and essential nutrients such as vitamins D, B12, and calcium!

If you’re trying to lose weight, avoid the sweetened varieties and opt for an unsweetened version. Unsweetened soy milk is much lower in calories and makes it easier to fit it into your diet!

12. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of the healthiest complex carbohydrate sources available but did you know that it also contains 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per half cup serving? Moreover, oatmeal is a great addition to a vegan diet; it’s packed with essential nutrients and provides long-lasting satiety.

Vitamins found in abundance in oatmeal include zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and folate.

13. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds hail from Mexico and Guatemala and are sourced from the Salvia hispanica plant. Containing an astounding 13 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein per 1.25 ounce serving, chia seeds are hard to pass up when filling out a vegan diet!

They’re very mild in taste and so go well with almost everything! Containing iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids, chia seeds really are a superfood!

14. Wild Rice

Compared to other long-grain rice types, wild rice contains over 1.5 times the protein, including both brown and basmati rice! One prepared up of wild rice contains a healthy amount of fiber as well as magnesium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, and B vitamins. With 7 grams of protein provide per cup, wild rice is an excellent option for anyone’s diet

Like brown rice, wild rice is not stripped of the bran which contains the majority of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber found in rice. This makes it an easy choice over white rice among carbohydrate and protein rich foods.

15. Black Beans

Black beans are considered one of the healthiest beans and legumes, and is one of the greatest sources of antioxidants among them!

Less starchy than other beans, their dark color lends them to a much richer antioxidant content! Per half cup, black beans contain 8 grams of protein, making them the ideal choice for the vegan on a diet!

16. Quinoa

1 cup of Quinoa contains 8 grams of protein as well as magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants in good amounts! Technically a seed, but used similarly to other grains such as oats and wheat, quinoa is a great gluten-free, vegan, protein rich foods choice!

17. Artichokes

When one thinks high protein foods, artichokes usually doesn’t cross one’s mind. A half-cup serving of artichoke hearts contains 4 grams of protein, which for a vegetable makes it a great choice for protein rich foods while on a vegan diet!

Regularly eating artichokes offers you a great opportunity to boost your fiber and protein intake while enjoying a lower calorie food that is still filling!

18. Amaranth

Similar to quinoa or teff, Amaranth is lumped into the ancient grain category and offers numerous nutritional benefits. 1 prepared cup of amaranth packs 7 grams of protein, making for an excellent protein source for the vegan looking to drop a few pounds.

Amaranth is also a great source of B vitamins as well as magnesium and iron, making it nutrient dense!

19. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds don’t usually make it on the vegan’s radar but should not be overlooked! In just a quarter cup, pumpkin seeds pack a whopping 8 grams of protein!

An excellent source of iron and magnesium, pumpkin seeds are a great, portable, vegan snack that is hard to pass up!

20. Tempeh

Tempeh, similar to seitan or tofu, is derived from the soybean. It is fermented which makes it high in probiotics and easier to digest than many other protein rich foods.

Per 1 cup serving, tempeh contains 12 grams of protein! Tempeh is low in calories and is one of the best sources of vegan proteins available.

21. Spinach

Spinach is a very low calorie leafy green vegetable that makes a great addition to the vegan diet. Per cup, spinach contains 5 grams of protein as well as many other essential nutrients, which makes for an excellent option to anyone’s diet!

Wrapping Things Up

When people think about the vegan diet, they don’t typically associate it with high protein foods. This does not have to be the case though!

With so many great tasting, healthy vegan options for high protein foods, there really is no excuse for anyone to be deficient in protein!

How To Practice Mindful Breastfeeding + Health Benefits

January 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Newborns signify a new dawn on earth. Their mothers are always the proudest people on such days. Sooner or later, with the onset of life, nursing comes into play. It is then a mother realizes that she just signed up for an exhaustive job that has no clear working hours. Breastfeeding.

The baby could wake up in the middle of the night wanting to be fed, and the mother has to do her job definitely. Breastfeeding benefits are therefore turned into boring excuses.

However, a few mothers have realized the secret and changed this extremely exhaustive chore into mindful nursing where they meditate and infuse peace within their core centers during the latter. Mindfulness has numerous applications such as in childbirth, parenting, and nursing.

For those who’ve tried various mindful breastfeeding tips, there has been a significant improvement in their health, and general lives let alone having a stronger bond with their children.

How to practice mindful breastfeeding

Mindful nursing involves tuning your body to the different senses it has to produce inner peace and also relax to be able to do things like nursing easily without the pressure of what will happen in the next few moments or what you failed in as a mother. It tunes your attention to the moment at hand alone and eliminates worry and thoughts about the future and past.

This, therefore, means that to have the best nursing sessions, you must be in touch with your body.

Here are a few mindful breastfeeding tips you may want to consider:

1. Create a peaceful environment

A noisy environment is distractive and draws your attention away from the general mindfulness process. If you stay in an urban environment, finding a calm atmosphere might help you achieve a successful mindful nursing session that would have otherwise been impossible.

A peaceful environment reduces the strain on your body senses like hearing and eye movement which makes them easy to control and tune for mindfulness. It is, therefore, necessary one finds a good environment and sit in it for a while during nursing.

2. Practice relaxation breath

An excellent example of mindfulness is performing controlled breathing with intervals for several separate times in a day for week or months. Breathing exercises slow down your heart making it easy for you to think clearly.

This also calms the sea of thoughts that are swirling in your mind making it easier to focus on nursing alone. Besides, these exercises teach you in the discipline of concentration where you have to concentrate your whole body and mind to your breathing pattern.

Here is a simple strategy for mindfulness through breathing;

Achieve a natural upright and comfortable nursing position and posture. It would help to avoid sitting with your back curved.

Determine the rhythm of your breath and make a mental note of the pattern.

Without changing your breathing intervals, try as much as possible to focus your whole mind on the ongoing breathing process. Whenever your thoughts move away from the breathing, force them back immediately and hold them for as long as you can.

The time spent on focusing your mind on breath has no limit. You can do this all day and have reasonable results.

Since for most mothers finding time to practice the latter is hard, the best time to do this would definitely be during nursing as only the breast is under use and the baby is mostly quietly feeding on the milk.

The mother is mainly always just seated thinking of other things which may make nursing a catastrophe! All the baby needs is the milk.

3. Using mantras while nursing

Chanting mantras has for a long time been known as a way of self-hypnosis or as a way to convince other people of absolute truths. You can speak various mantras to your baby or to yourself during nursing to make it possible to be mindful.

A good example is saying, ‘I am filled with inner peace.’
Repeating these mantras while focusing your mind on them is a vital mindfulness habit.

4. Using podcasts

There are numerous podcasts available free of charge or even excellent ones that can assist you to practice mindfulness during nursing. These podcasts are a great way to train your mind to focus on the tasks.

5. Making yourself aware of your baby’s environment

Our brains recognize and adapt to situations based on their knowledge and past experiences. This is called neuroplasticity. Creating awareness for your mind by being kind and compassionate to the nursing child enables the brain to adapt positivity and add control to your meditation.

Use the baby’s actions and movements such as sucking and breathing paces to bring your mind back whenever it wanders.

6. Avoid covering the baby during nursing

Covering your baby during nursing can prevent us from having the first-hand view of the experience going on and also make it difficult to connect to the baby through her actions.

Many mindfulness coaches have listed nursing your child openly as one of the best breastfeeding tips and also one of the best practices for successful mindfulness.

7. Relaxation apps

Relaxation apps have a wide range of meditation formulas and mindfulness tips that could help you become focused on nursing and center yourself. Some apps have breastfeeding tips meant for lactating mothers.

Practicing the above breastfeeding tips calms and centers you as a mother without having the need or the presence of an instructor and no effort is made physically.

Mindful nursing has huge benefits; not only on the mind but also on general body health.

Health benefits of Mindful breastfeeding

1. Mind benefits

Mindfulness is drawn from the word mind, which means that the brain is involved in mindfulness. Coupling nursing with mindfulness has numerous benefits on the mind and body let alone the satisfaction that rests on the mind.

Tracing back the sources of fear and anxiety becomes easier since concentration is present

This helps solve worries and concerns in mothers, contrary to traditional therapy methods, which took long to find out the source of such thoughts.

During nursing, a mother is more likely to be open to talk about her experiences, which helps them or the instructor uproot any negative thoughts in the mind that may be preventing full potential productivity.

A confidence boost is generated once anxiety causes are eliminated through mindful breastfeeding.

The notion of nursing as a bad chore is eliminated

Once mothers start seeing the process as an opportunity to get in touch with their inner selves and meditate, nursing no longer bears the name ‘exhausting and boring.’

It becomes a way to focus one’s energy to solve personal problems which give the mind peace, increasing productivity.

Mindful nursing is an excellent way to get rid of tension and stress which is responsible for causing diseases such as blood pressure and ulcers. Many causes of stress could be easily countered by practicing mindfulness during nursing.

2. Physical body

The body is more relaxed and relieved

This improves the body’s general health and makes the body less susceptible to diseases. This is because less energy is spent on worrying and more power is directed towards the immune system.

Growth is quick and assured as the body and mind is less overworked as a result of mindfulness.

Breathing exercises mentioned above help relieve insomnia known to cause various unwanted effects on the body.

Sex drive is improved since the body has more time to produce hormones associated with sex.

3. Baby

There is a bloom in the relationship between you and your baby that will last your entire lifetime. Nursing regularly strengthens the bond between a mother and her child. Thus you minimize the chance of problems arising from having a poor relationship with your child.

This betters the mothering experience.
The connection and emotions surrounding nursing influence the production of hormones that bring the mother and child closer to each other.

Breastfeeding mindfully also helps in the development of the baby. This is because the milk flows naturally from the breasts. Thus, you need no artificial enhancements to control the flow of the fluid.

This ensures the baby gets healthy milk directly for the mother. This is common in situations where nursing is a problem due to anxiety and fears.

Final thoughts on mindful breastfeeding

Nursing is one of the best experiences of motherhood besides seeing your kid grow into a responsible adult. It is meant to make the whole mothering process fun. It is, therefore, necessary to be keen to avoid turning it into a natural necessity.

Practicing mindful breastfeeding has been proven to be of many health benefits let alone the time and dime it saves you! It is wise to start slowly and graduate to complex mindfulness practices during nursing as the days progress.

The earlier you start, the better and keep in mind that nursing is for a short period. Also, remember that if a specific mindfulness practice worked for your friend, it does not necessarily mean that it will or will not work for you. Finding your pace and niche is therefore advisable.

If you cannot wholly practice mindfulness alone, it might be best to seek a partner or an instructor. Mindful nursing has numerous benefits, and we believe that with the tips mentioned above, nursing will become a whole new unexplored adventure.

10 Reasons You Need To Try The Mediterranean Diet (#4 Is The Most Effective)

January 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

The Mediterranean diet offers numerous health benefits that are good for the whole body. With a focus on fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, whole grains, and nuts, the Mediterranean diet offers numerous health benefits. Benefits of this diet include a reduction in the risk of developing depression, cancer, cognitive decline, and heart disease!

A growing body of evidence shines a light on the many excellent health benefits of this diet. A marked reduction in blood sugar and apparent improvements in memory among practitioners are just a few highlights of this diet. Touted by many as one of the healthiest diets, with few dietary restrictions and a laundry list of benefits, this diet is easy to stick with!

Some essential guidelines of the Mediterranean diet are:

Consume a handful of nuts a day
Consume five or more servings of vegetables a day
Eat two or more servings of legumes a week
Consume healthy fats from sources such as fish, nuts, and olive oil
Consume protein from lean sources such as eggs and fish two to three times weekly

To give you a better idea of what the research says, we’ve broken down 10 of the significant Mediterranean diet health benefits you can enjoy:

1. Lowers Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

A study compared the Mediterranean diet with other healthy diets such as vegetarian, low-carb, vegan, high-fiber, high protein, or low-glycemic diets and discovered that it resulted in more positive effects for those dealing with high blood sugar or diabetes.

The study attributes the reductions in blood sugar and cholesterol in diabetes to the diet’s focus on consuming healthier foods high in monounsaturated fats such as nuts, olive oil, some fish, and foods high in fiber such as vegetables and fruits.

By focusing on healthier unsaturated fats, followers of this diet benefit from improvements to their insulin response, in part likely due to a reduction in saturated and trans fat consumption.

2. Fights Off Cancer

Recent research showed that this diet’s practitioners benefited from a noticeably reduced rate of suffering cancer or mortality due to cancer.

More specifically, this diet has shown positive signs of preventing or reducing the chances of postmenopausal women developing breast cancer!

3. Encourages Healthy Weight Loss

Compared to other diets, this diet is not nearly as restrictive, which lends to it being much more accessible to stick with over the long run than other diets with more stringent food choices, resulting in a higher rate of weight loss success! Enjoying your favorite treats on occasion while remaining full throughout the day makes a healthy diet easy to stick with for the long haul!

It is best to stay with it for six months or more. However, you’d truly benefit most from planning to remain on the healthy eating streak for the rest of your life! This diet makes that possible!

Carbohydrates such as bread are okay and even encouraged in moderation while following this meal plan. Be mindful of portion sizes with these types of food, though, as they’re higher in calories per serving than other foods, and going overboard can trigger your weight loss to halt or even head in the other direction!

4. Helps to Maintain Healthy Heart Function

Where the traditional diet is most similar to that of Mediterranean nations, heart disease occurs at a much lower rate. This comes from the increased physical fitness, emphasis on family, and healthy food choices, all of which result in a healthy body and heart especially!

Due to the diet’s positive effects on “bad” cholesterol levels, a reduction in the death rate resulting from heart disease often occurs.

It is not just the food guidelines that promote improvement in heart health among followers of this diet. Indeed, it is also the suggestions on what to drink. Light consumption of red wine is typical with this diet. But the critical thing here is to keep it moderate. A general rule of thumb is not to consume more than fine ounces a day.

5. Assists The Body In Fighting Off Inflammation

Researchers observed the diet’s effect on the inflammation biomarkers in the body in those especially susceptible to inflammation. They noted a reduction in these markers. The body is better able to keep inflammation in check, acting as a preventative means of fending off conditions commonly associated with chronic inflammation.

One of the main factors that cause inflammation, oxidative stress, is less likely to be experienced by the body when eating the antioxidant-rich foods promoted by this diet.

To further improve your body’s response to inflammation, increase your consumption of egg yolks and soybean, both high in choline, and spinach and beets, both vegetables that betaine is found in high quantities. Betaine and choline both offer noticeable effects against inflammation.

6. Offers Improvements To Cognitive Health

Improvements in cognitive abilities often happen for followers of this diet! Studies indicate that improved attention, memory capacity, and focus can all happen due to following the rough guidelines of this diet! Also improved is the brain’s ability to process language.

Those both young and old can benefit from the Mediterranean diet’s brain-boosting effects! Peak brain function is much easier to maintain while following this diet. Further, it can be held throughout all of the dieter’s life! As a result, improved performance at work, improvements to one’s quality of life, and an overall healthier mindset can be attained!

7. Reduces Parkinson’s Disease Risk

People whose diets closely mirror that of Mediterranean countries consume healthier, antioxidant-rich foods in high amounts, which results in a startling reduction in the risk of Parkinson’s disease developing, sometimes by as much as 50%!

By encouraging the consumption of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and healthy fats, all foods high in antioxidants, your cells are less likely to experience the harmful process of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is something that you want to avoid. It underscores the development of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, and can cause a lot of damage.

Researchers admit that more studies need to be completed to get a better picture of what effects nutrition has on neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. It is promising though, and the diet appears to offer many benefits to those with a genetic predisposition to the aforementioned conditions.

8. Reduces Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Due to this diet’s ability to improve cholesterol, sugar levels, and the cardiovascular system as a whole, a significant reduction in the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s development is likely.

Cognitive decline may be slowed or halted entirely if one follows these dietary guidelines, research has indicated.

Medical practitioners for years have encouraged their patients to adopt healthy eating habits that closely follow these dietary rules. Many believe is enhances the body’s ability to fight off cognitive conditions like dementia.

9. Offers An Improvement To Your Mood

People with ADHD, anxiety, and depression may all enjoy the improvement in cognition gained as a benefit of this diet.

The foods featured heavily in this diet all promote your body’s ability to regulate many different hormones. These include dopamine which is the chemical responsible for mood regulation, body movement, and the processing of thought. As a result of sticking within the guidelines of this diet, namely the consumption of healthier fats such as nuts and olive oil, and high-fiber foods, improvements to overall brain health and mood are likely!

Researchers are still on the fence about whether or not this diet could replace traditional treatments for these conditions. However, most view it as an excellent tool to be used alongside therapy and medication. Give it a try and you may find that you don’t need to medicate after all!

10. Improvements in Your Body’s Pain Management

Due to the magnesium-rich grains and higher fiber fruits and vegetables, this diet creates measurable effects on the body’s ability to manage pain. By way of providing relief from stress and a reduction in the body’s inflammation response, it’s likely that improvements in the body’s ability to deal with pain will be noticed!

The key nutrient responsible for the diet’s ability to positively affect pain management and offer pain relief is Magnesium. To gain this Mediterranean diet health benefits, include fish, legumes, nuts, spinach, chocolate, and whole grains prominently in your diet.

More and more research is coming out all the time that indicates the Mediterranean diet is a great choice for those looking to lose a little weight while maintaining peak health. Health and wellness is a hot topic these days. Of course, this diet is an easy choice for those looking for a simple diet to stick with for life!

With copious Mediterranean diet health benefits on offer, the Mediterranean diet offers you the chance to enjoy real improvements in your mood and health as a whole!

7 Things Good Listeners Do Differently

January 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Most people believe they are good listeners. They think that they are listening in the proper way by sitting quietly while someone is talking, or by responding through body language and facial expressions, or by repeating what the other person told them word for word.

But a study from Wright State University involving 8,000 participants revealed that only 25 percent of people listen effectively. Apparently, good listeners do more than just sit quietly, elicit non-verbal reactions, or repeat what has been said accurately. Here are some things that good listeners do differently than the rest.

Here Are 7 Things Good Listeners Do Differently

“Good listeners, like precious gems, are to be treasured.” – Walter Anderson

1. Good listeners create a safe environment for the other person

Many professionals in the field of counseling and therapy utilize active listening skills to communicate with their patients in the best way. Active listening enables a good listener to pay attention to another person, show acceptance, and be emphatic to their situation.

It is very important to be focused as an active listener. But more than paying close attention, good listeners also try to create a safe environment for the other person who might want to unload their emotions. So, good listeners prefer to have conversations in a quiet area, without any distractions or interruptions like phones and other gadgets. They also make sure that they are seated comfortably next to the speaker.

Deep conversations can be heavy, complex, and quite difficult to reveal. They can evoke pain, irritation, and discomfort. But good listeners know they need to be comfortable with what may be uncomfortable. They also have to let the other person feel positive in that they can safely open up, drop down their guard, and freely talk about their feelings.

2. Good listeners maintain eye contact

Eye contact is a vital part of communication. It conveys your interest in the conversation and establishes your connection to the person you are conversing with. But maintaining eye contact can be difficult and uncomfortable for some people. In fact, others may experience eye contact anxiety and avoid looking intently at someone during a conversation.

It’s also easy to make an embarrassing mistake when you are maintaining eye contact. You can either become distracted and immediately look away or stare too long at the other person and look like a stalker.

According to Michigan State University, it takes a lot of practice to learn how to maintain eye contact. Because at least 70 percent of your conversation will involve eye contact, rehearsing interactions in front of the mirror can be helpful.

To avoid any mistakes when making eye contact, you should:

Establish eye contact the moment you are in a conversation with someone.
Hold your gaze for four to five seconds, then take a glance to the side before re-establishing the eye contact.
Slowly look away from side-to-side without darting your eyes or immediately glancing at another focus.
Avoid looking down.
Look for other spots in the person’s face and refocus on this every few seconds.
Use head gestures to break your gaze, such as nodding, so that it will look more natural.

If you’re speaking to more than one person, you can still establish eye contact by looking at one person for a few seconds before shifting your gaze to another person. Make sure that you give equal focus to everyone in the group.

3. Good listeners use body language well

Aside from eye contact, good listeners use positive body language to convey their interest in the other person’s issues. This technique makes them more receptive and approachable, and shows they are better communicators. Some examples of effective body language techniques that good listeners convey include:

Nodding their head to show they are responsive and engaged in the conversation.
Tilting their head to show curiosity and involvement in what the speaker is saying.
Leaning in when someone is talking to show interest.
Being aware of their hands, mouth, and facial expressions; they smile, raise eyebrows, or cringe their eyes when responding.
Mirroring the other person’s expressions or posture as a gesture of agreement and to build a rapport.
Uncrossing their cross their arms or legs when the other person is talking to convey openness.
Removing any barrier across them like a desk or a bag.
Resisting the urge to fidget; keeping their fingers and hands under control.

Showing the right body language helps keep the conversation calm, especially when you’re discussing a sensitive issue with a friend or a family member. It will help defuse a tense situation.

4. Good listeners probe and ask the right questions

Asking questions allows good listeners to uncover additional information. It helps the person sharing something to be more elaborate and to explore their feelings. It seeks to provide clarity to what’s really going on and enable reflection that may greatly help the person dealing with an issue.

At the same time, good listeners know to avoid questions that may put the other person on the defensive. They don’t ask questions to pry or encroach and sow intrigues. Instead, they probe because they hope to help resolve the issue, provide a better understanding of what’s really going on, uncover reasons or evidence, analyze some assumptions, and look at a different perspective.

Some of the most effective questions to ask may be:

Why do you think he/she said that?
Could you give an example of [the issue]?
Can you think of reasons…?
Can someone confirm or support your view?
What do you think [the issue] implies?
How does [the issue] relate to those involved?
What effect would this issue have on those concerned?
How might he/she respond?
Do you think there are alternatives?

Good listeners know how much people like to talk about themselves. Asking questions shows interest and also creates a conversation that won’t feel so one-sided.

5. Good listeners are not judgmental

The ability to listen actively and effectively takes practice but the ability to listen without judgment takes heart and character. The key to listening without judgment is empathy. It’s showing an understanding of what a friend is going through and then setting aside your own views and values to avoid becoming critical of his or her situation.

Every person has a bias and it’s this bias that may sometimes push you to have a closed mind on certain issues. In fact, we often tend to form an opinion even before a friend has finished confiding their problem.

But good listeners are different in that they don’t make assumptions or jump to conclusions when hearing someone out. They have an open mind and accept what they hear or learn, even if this goes against what they believe.

Good listeners have a great grasp of another person’s reality. They are keenly aware that while what they hear and learn might be tough to process, it is somebody else’s situation that requires some help and guidance.

For instance, your best friend admits to you that she is cheating on her partner. You value loyalty and faithfulness in a relationship so you greatly disagree with what she did. But as much as you’re against this, you patiently sit down and closely listen to her issues. It might be tough to hear but showing empathy may eventually help her find the right solutions to her relationship problems.

As a good listener, you validate whatever your friend is emotionally going through even if you think it’s a mistake. You don’t necessarily support what she’s doing but you support what she’s feeling and try as much as you can to understand and get to the bottom of those emotions.

6. Good listeners reflect and restate what’s been said in a helpful manner

If you’re listening closely and giving your full attention to the person confiding in you, then you can repeat what they’ve said. But good listeners are different in that they can summarize the details without losing the main thought. They also reflect and restate the idea in a helpful manner.

Good listeners paraphrase what has been said in order to clarify what the other person really meant to say.
They just don’t parrot the thought to where they end up sounding phony and patronizing.
Instead, they give the other person – who could be confused because they are in the middle of the muddle – a better read of their situation.

Paraphrasing also gives the other person a chance to correct or clarify something that may be causing a misunderstanding. Oftentimes in conversations, what you usually hear is not really what the person meant to convey. For this reason, it will help to restate and reflect on those statements.

7. Good listeners know when to give great advice

People like playing amateur psychiatrists especially if they have experienced similar situations and problems. While this might be helpful to a friend or a family member struggling in a situation, good listeners know to avoid giving unsolicited advice. They also hold off giving solutions to another person’s problems, especially when it’s not requested. They don’t lecture and dictate what their friend in trouble should do.

In most cases, people seek confidants because they need to rant or unload their feelings. They want to rehash the things that are bothering them because their minds are so bothered and boggled. They might not really need advice and solutions.

Some people may actually be offended if they tell someone their issues and then start getting advice, especially if it concerns relationships. But good listeners recognize that they can still be helpful without having the answers; they just need to have great listening skills.

Final Thoughts On Things Good Listeners Do Differently

Every person is capable of listening but the ones who are really good at this are more mindful of their actions and reactions, especially the non-verbal ones. They are also careful not to escalate tensions or conflicts by remaining empathetic to the feelings and thoughts of the one talking. They can set aside their biases and keep their mind open so that the communication becomes more enlightening and valuable.

Good listeners are emotionally intelligent; developing this skill can take years of practice, learning, and interacting with different kinds of people. But their ability to focus while creating a bond with another person makes them different from other people. Research shows that good listeners actually make the best leaders as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFkgY5qE_s

21 Inspirational Quotes That Will Change Your Life

January 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Sometimes, it can feel like the world is against us and there’s nothing we can do about it, which is why we have inspirational quotes. We have more power than we realize. A few words of inspiration can make a profound difference in our lives.

By taking a moment to read some inspirational quotes, we can unlock the strength that’s been inside us all along. It’s all about knowing that just because things aren’t going great now, it doesn’t mean they can’t get better.

Each of these 21 inspirational quotes is special in its own way. By taking them to heart, you can take the darkness out of your most difficult days. Inspirational quotes about life can remind us of all the value that life has.

1. “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting, in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.” – Zig Ziglar

If you want to be successful, you don’t need to be so obsessed with the results. Instead, you can pride yourself on the fact that you’re putting in an effort at all.

2. “People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed. Similarly, when someone is failing, the tendency is to get on a downward spiral that can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” – Tony Robbins

Getting down on yourself is only a solution if your goal is to not have any success whatsoever. You can inspire success in yourself by recognizing your achievements for what they are and going from there.

3. “A woman is a full circle. Within her is the ability to create, nurture, and transform.” — Diane Mariechild

One person can make a difference. Even if you think that you alone can’t change the world, without your presence, this world would be a very different place. The more you realize this, the more of an impact you can make.

4. “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” ? Paulo Coelho

Trying and not succeeding should never be considered failure. The only thing that should be considered failure is being so paralyzed by fear that you never take any action.

5. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

When on the verge of a breakthrough, too many people throw in the towel. Every step forward is a step closer to lasting success.

6. “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” – Ingrid Bergman

Take a look around and reflect on your life. You might realize that what you’ve been looking for has been in your clutches all along. You just needed to take a moment to appreciate it.

7. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” – Rikki Rogers

Inspirational quotes about life like this help remind us that getting past our limitations is a key to personal freedom. Being able to turn “I can’t” into “I can” is a feeling that should never be taken for granted.

8. “Stop chasing the money and start chasing the passion.” Tony Hsieh

When you’re doing what you love for a living, that’s more rewarding than any massive paycheck. Being financially stable is important, but what’s more important is knowing that what you do matters.
9. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers

There’s a difference between reflecting and dwelling. When you reflect, you learn from the past so you can make your future better. When you dwell, you become preoccupied and obsessed with past mistakes to the detriment of your future.
10. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Addair

Dealing with fear isn’t about getting rid of it and then acting. It’s about having the fear and acting anyway. Fear wants you to get the best of you, but you can outsmart it through pushing ahead (1)
11. “Buckle up, and know that it’s going to be a tremendous amount of work, but embrace it.” – Tory Burch

The road to success is as gratifying as the success itself. Every day that you’re working towards a goal is a day worth cherishing.
12. “Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” – Robert H. Schuller

You’ve made so much progress in your life. Things that once seemed like they were insurmountable obstacles can now be done with ease. Remember this the next time you think something is impossible.

13. “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

When you encounter challenges, you need to learn to not feel like you’re being weighed down by them. Instead, you need to develop a strategy to work through them.

14. “You cannot afford to live in potential for the rest of your life; at some point, you have to unleash the potential and make your move.” – Eric Thomas

“Someday” is a promise that we never fulfill to ourselves. If you want to make a change, you need to start right now. Inspirational quotes like this show how much it matters to be living to your fullest potential.

15. “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” — Helen Keller

If you think the key to safety is to avoid taking any risks, you’re in for a rude awakening. You need to put yourself out there and cherish the fact that you’re not just staying in your comfort zone. Inspirational quotes about life like this remind us that taking action opens all kinds of doors for us.
16. “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Negative emotions take us away from the positive emotions that are so key to making life worthwhile. When we feel happiness, we’re better equipped to handle any challenges that might come our way. (2)

17. “It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi

Nobody is keeping track of your failures except for yourself. Inspirational quotes like this remind us that what matters is being able to take difficult situations in stride. Sure, you might have to find new strategies for your subsequent attempts, but that’s better than becoming complacent.

18. “Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” –Judy Garland

Trying to please everyone means that we lose sight of who we even are. Being yourself doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to work on. It just means that you know how best to present your strengths.

19. “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.” – Robert Tew

Whatever hurdle you’re working to overcome now, it’s nothing compared to the glory that awaits you. Every part of your journey is important, even the ones that give you trouble.

20. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Satisfaction in life doesn’t come from avoiding trouble completely. It comes from getting yourself out of bad situations through resilience and faith in yourself. No matter how tough things might seem, your own internal toughness is what matters.

21. Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live in?” — Caroline Myss

Life is short, and it becomes even shorter if it’s one that’s not actually lived. You need to live for the moment so that years from now, you can feel proud, not just about the decisions you made but the fact that you made decisions in the first place.

These inspirational quotes come from people of different backgrounds, time periods, and careers. However, what they have in common is that their speakers are people who not only have amazing accomplishments but who wanted to share their secrets to a fulfilling life.

As you go forward with your day, remember any and all of these inspirational quotes about life. You may find yourself inspirational quotes of your own that you pass along to others in hopes of inspiring them.

8 Habits That Unclog Your Arteries

January 8, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Many people don’t realize how important it is to unclog your arteries. Arteries are part of the body’s intricate and critical circulatory system. Your body’s health could be at grave risk when they do not function properly.

When a blockage build-up occurs in the body’s vessels and arteries, they form plaque. This plaque comprises fats, waste, cholesterol, and calcium. It causes the arteries to narrow, slowly causing less and less efficient and effective transmission of blood through one’s body.

Essentially, this clogging causes fresh, oxygenated blood to have more difficulty traveling around one’s system. This can lead to various health problems, many of which can result in severe and potentially fatal diseases. That’s why taking good care of your arterial health is so important.

To clear out your arteries and vessels in a natural manner, there are some habits you can incorporate into your daily life. Here are some habits that unclog your arteries, and how they work.

Here Are 8 Habits That Unclog Your Arteries

1. Have a healthier diet

The main cause of clogged arteries is a poor diet. What you eat greatly affects the health of your heart and entire body, so a positive diet is always a good habit to encourage. If you’ve eaten badly for years, it can take a while for the body to recover, but there’s no time like the present to do so.

To unclog your arteries, you’ll need a mindful diet. You will have to be aware of what you eat and make changes. Here are some areas to pay attention to.

· Add good fats

Unsaturated fats are healthy, tasty, and filling, and they’re the best kinds of fats to eat. You can get them from foods like fish, nuts, olives, and avocado.

· Cut out trans fats

Trans fats are the worst kinds of fats you can eat. They tend to come in overly processed foods, such as junk food, fast food, and confectionary products. Remove them entirely from your diet!

· Reduce saturated fats

Dairy products and meat with lots of fat left over are saturated fats. These are far from your best diet options. Instead, go for lean meat and opt for plant-based meals more often.

· Reduce sugar

Processed sources of sugar, such as candies, soft drinks, ice cream, cakes, and cookies, offer a lot of calories with little to no proper nutrition. If you’re craving something sweet, opt for fruits, which are full of natural sugar as well as lots of vitamins and minerals.

· Add fiber

Good amounts of soluble fiber are great for lowering bad cholesterol. Eat oats, vegetables, beans, and lentils to get soluble fiber.

Changing your diet for the better can be difficult, but with positive thinking and proper planning, you can pull it off. Eating healthy is a fantastic way to unclog your arteries and keep them clear for a long time to come.

2. Get enough sleep

If you’re sleep-deprived, your body is already suffering, to begin with. The body requires between 7 and 9 hours of sleep daily, which is crucial to unclog your arteries. Without enough sleep, you could experience symptoms such as:

Weight gain
High blood pressure
Irritability and mood swings
Less focus and productivity
Reduced positive thinking
Excessive fatigue
Memory problems
Weaker immune system

A lack of sleep can also drastically raise the risks of developing multiple different conditions, including:

Obesity
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease

Why do all these conditions become easier to develop when you lack sleep? Shortened or fragmented sleep has been found to clog up and even harden the arteries, thus leading to worsened heart health. If you have difficulty falling asleep or have a sleep disorder, speak to a doctor about ways to make your nights easier.

3. Drink tea

Tea is full of healthy and strong antioxidants, and one of them is called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG. Not only has this compound been found to be relatively effective in Alzheimer’s disease treatment, but it has also been found to reduce fat deposits along the arteries.

What tea is best to drink for this purpose? Green tea is the most renowned for heart health, and it can even bring down bad cholesterol and fat to unclog your arteries more quickly. If you’re not such a fan of green tea, you can also opt for:

Oolong tea
White tea
Black tea (be careful with the caffeine content!)
Chamomile tea

Drinking between three and six cups of your tea of choice per day can reduce your chances of developing heart disease by up to 36% later in life. Green tea is the most effective, so consider discussing it with your doctor first for other teas.

4. Exercise

Physical activity is crucial to keeping the body relatively fit and healthy. The American Heart Association states that approximately 75 minutes of high-intensity or 150 minutes of moderate weekly exercise is required for most positive results. Examples of vigorous exercise include:

Walking briskly
Dancing
Gardening or chores
Cycling
Bodybuilding

Examples of moderate exercise include:

Jogging
Running
Swimming
Aerobics
Hiking
Jump rope
Basketball
Soccer

Participating in these activities will help to boost your stamina and keep your heart healthy. They can help your cardiovascular health, improve positive thinking, and, most importantly, unclog your arteries.

If you haven’t worked out for a while, build up to regular exercise. Work your way up to thirty minutes of exercise five days a week for best results. You’ll find yourself feeling healthier – and losing weight – when you put in the effort. Speak to a medical professional before you begin any new physical activity regimen!

5. Try natural remedies

There are a variety of natural remedies and supplements that can have a positive effect on the arteries. Here are some of them.

· Pomegranate

Pomegranate, especially the fruit juice, has been known for its health-improving properties for many years. Now, studies have found that it has strong antioxidant properties within it. These antioxidants help the fruit and its juice to unclog your arteries. They also help lower blood pressure.

· Coenzyme Q10

Known also as CoQ10, this chemical helps a cell to take energy from consumed foods. Essentially, it helps the heart work better and can reduce the body’s oxidative stress significantly while boosting enzymes.

CoQ10 is well-known for its ability to reduce cardiovascular risk risks, thus presumably being good for artery health.

· Potassium

Potassium has been found in studies to reduce blood pressure and combat the negative effects of a diet high in sodium. Of course, you should try not to overeat salt, to begin with, but taking supplements can help combat symptoms from high salt consumption.

· Omega-3 Fatty Acids

These nutrients are great for reducing inflammatory effects caused by clogged arteries. Omega-3s are fantastic for lowering trans fat levels and breaking down artery plaque blockage. They also help reduce blood pressure and prevent heart disease.

· Magnesium

Magnesium supplements have been shown to bring down blood pressure. They’re excellent for combating heart disease and helping the heart.

Please also remember that natural remedies and supplements can only go so far. Always speak to a doctor before attempting any of these remedies, and go for more serious methods if your arteries are in bad shape.

6. Stopping smoking and drinking alcohol

If you’re a heavy drinker or smoker, stopping these habits can make your arteries healthier.

Tobacco and cigarettes are known for causing damage to vessels, arteries, and the heart due to the harmful chemicals they contain. They can further increase the amount of plaque in one’s arteries and result in bad heart diseases. Quitting this bad habit can certainly lead to plenty of positive effects.

Meanwhile, alcohol is well-known for causing heart strain. Moderate alcohol consumption can be good in some cases, but too much can make you unhealthier and put you at risk for heart problems.

Quitting vices is never easy, so speak to a doctor if you need help rehabilitating yourself.

7. Lose weight

Obesity and an overweight body are commonly associated with blocked arteries. Extra weight on the body can lead to negative cholesterol buildup in the body, thus boosting chances of bad blockages and plaque forming in arteries.

There are plenty of health benefits to weight loss; even losing between 5 and 10% of your current weight (if you are overweight) can prompt huge change. Here are just some of the benefits:

Clearer skin
Less pain
More positive thinking
Improved skin
Better intimacy
Higher immunity
Longer lifespan

The good news is that incorporating the other habits we mentioned, such as regulating your diet, quitting alcohol, and exercising, can help your weight loss efforts.

8. Taking medication

Sometimes, if your arteries are too clogged, you must take medication to remove the blockages. Lifestyle changes can help significantly, but there is no shame in requiring more serious medical intervention in extreme circumstances.

Don’t be afraid to speak to a doctor about getting a little assistance in your journey to a healthier lifestyle. He or she may be able to give you effective cholesterol medication that will break down plaque in your arteries and promote better overall health. Sometimes, you need an extra push in the right direction to unclog your arteries.

Final Thoughts On Different Habits That Unclog Your Arteries

The best “cure” for artery blockage is to prevent it from ever happening. Of course, that is not always possible, and that’s why these habits that unclog your arteries should be kept in mind.

Many medical procedures can be performed to treat badly clogged vessels and arteries. However, these treatments are often quite invasive, and it’s no surprise that more natural methods are sought after. Do remember, though, that if you experience severe symptoms, you should speak to a doctor!

Caring for your body is key to a long, healthy, happy life. To prevent the build-up of gunk and plaque, make these habits that unclog your arteries part of your routines. You might just be surprised at how much better you feel.

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