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11 Reasons you Should Declutter your Home and Life

June 19, 2018 by Power of Positivity

Living life to the fullest is an attitude that most people share. Does that mean filling every nook and cranny in the home with objects? Like healthy plants in a garden, healthy people require space and time to thrive. You claim breathing space when you declutter your home and living space. You can discover more time for people and activities you love as you declutter life.

Clutter is similar to weeds in a garden. Weeds steal nutrients and water from the soil. Clutter steals time and energy from people. Initially, it takes time to declutter your home, just like pulling weeds from the garden. But positive momentum quickly develops and build as places in the home open up, and new possibilities arise. As Robert Browning so simply put it, “Less is more.”

When you declutter your home, you will realize that a decluttered life is an automatic and recognizable benefit.

11 Reasons you Should Declutter your Home

1. Safety – In extreme cases, the clutter becomes a safety issue as items spill out of closets when the doors are opened. This can be dangerous. Also, normal indoor traffic patterns fill with objects and debris that can pose a hazard as the occupants might trip over objects and get hurt.

2. Maintenance – Because of clutter, areas in poor condition might go unseen. Perhaps a windowsill begins to rot, or a leak in the roof allows rain to damage a wall. All of this could be hidden by clutter.

3. Health – It’s a fact that homes have dust and dust mites that compromise air quality. When a home is full of clutter, it will be difficult to eliminate the dust that attracts mites. There can be such an obstacle course that a window cannot be opened to let in fresh air.

4. Clean – A clutter-free home will be easier to clean. Rodents and insects like living in conditions where items are stacked up, leaving room for garbage to fall in secret crevices, going unnoticed. Remove the piles, and the pests will often leave.

5. Time – Dusting around all the knick-knacks, moving piles to vacuum, and shuffling papers from place to place all take time. As you uncover more ways to declutter life, you find more time to participate in enjoyable activities.

6. Energy – Having many belongings can make it difficult to make choices. Decision fatigue is what some are calling this agonizing process. It takes a lot of mental energy to go back and forth between items picking the one that is perfect yet worrying that it isn’t!

7. Space – Whether a home is large or small, defining the space can be difficult during times of transition. However, when you declutter your home and garage for storage or for a new phase in life, you’ll find room for that home office or the bedroom needed for the college kid who visits home. You can’t enjoy rooms that have too much excess stuff. Therefore, it’s time to relocate or re-purpose items. Remove unwanted or unnecessary things from the home to liberate the needed space.

8. Freedom – Belongings are meant for enjoyment. Belongings often tie people down because upkeep takes so much work. Some people feel shame because of the mess in the home. Cleaning out an area lifts the mood and frees a person from heavy shame or embarrassment.

9. Peace – The brain can experience stimulation overload from clutter. An orderly home is more appealing to the eye, visually calming.

10. Money – A yard sale can bring in money from selling unwanted goods. Save money by not repurchasing.

11. Fun – When you declutter your home, you will want to celebrate by hosting a party. This gathering will establish fun memories in the home. But you can’t enjoy that time if objects displace guests. Visitors will feel welcome and want to linger in such a beautiful, open space.

The time to act is now! If you are reading this, you’ve identified a place to start. Create a pile to give away, a pile to throw away, and a small pile to keep. Sort through one room. If that seems overwhelming, just do one closet or one drawer. Immediately after you categorize the items, put them away. Put them in the garbage can. Or put them in the care to take away or where they belong in your home.

You will feel so much lighter once your space is less cluttered. As you declutter your home, you will experience the exhilaration of reclaiming and personalizing your corner of the world.

How I Stopped Being Jealous Of Others Success

June 19, 2018 by Power of Positivity

We have all done it. That eye roll we unintentionally let go of when we hear other people talking about their successes. Whether they are flaunting or not, it is very hard not to immediately compare ourselves to those doing the talking, and wondering whether we are “OK” in our current situation, or if we should attempt to be more like them.

In reality, jealousy is a filter for human thought. It only filters details of what we decide to believe, based on the very limited information that we get about others. Jealousy also colors and shapes our opinions, making them very flawed and, many times, quite unfair.

Here are 5 ways to overcome jealousy and shift toward a positive mindset.

1. Recognize that you feel jealous

Do not ignore the feeling. Recognize when you feel jealous, or you will not feel the urgency to overcome jealousy and nip insecurities right in the bud. Once you allow yourself to recognize your jealousy, you will be able to ask yourself all the right questions. Questions such as:

What facts about me are making me feel this way?
Is it the person’s success or my lack of success what is making me feel this way?
Would I feel jealous if I were in the same level as the person talking?

The answers to these preliminary questions will help clarify half of your concerns and may help you feel better right on the spot. After all, learning the reality behind your thinking is the first step to being more proactive than reactive.

2. Ask yourself how the person achieved his or her goals?

The reason why this is good advice is because you will likely NEVER know the whole story on how the other person achieved his or her goal. All you get to hear about is the finished product. You will not know in detail how the other person’s journey toward achieving the goal began. Also, you will likely never learn about the struggles, tears, and sacrifices that the other person had to undergo to get there.

3. You will never hear the backstory

Continuing with the previous paragraph, the reason for this statement is that people are often too proud, or too shy, to share the darker side of their tale. However, most journeys begin with some major shakeup. Rest assured that big successes never come easily, nor quickly. If anything, learn from others about resilience, motivation, and the grit it took them to keep trying. Feeling jealous will not help you move forward to achieve your own goals.

4. What’s in it for you?

Rather than feeling angry, or jealous, ask yourself the following:

How can the success of that person be beneficial to you?
Is this person celebrating the completion of a college degree that could end up helping you, like a lawyer, or a medical doctor degree?
Can this person become a mentor to you?
Is this person’s ranking high enough for you to use him or her as a reference for a future job?

5. Allow the success of others reflect on your social circle

It is always a good thing to have friends in high places. Rather than moving away from them due to jealousy, embrace them and see how they can be of help to you or your loved ones. Think about this: Would you rather have friends who can’t achieve anything and are always complaining? Also, celebrate the fact that the success of someone else is weight off someone else’s shoulder. The more independent and successful all of us become, the less we will become a burden to others. That is always a good thing.

Final Thoughts

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the Theft of Joy”

He was correct. The moment we stop looking within, and start living our lives through the failures or successes of other people, is the moment we stop investing time and efforts toward our own success. Jealousy is a waste of time: it only filters the negative preconceptions we have about ourselves. It does not help us improve our lives, or move forward quicker toward our goals. What it does, however, is prevent us from recognizing that other people’s successes can influence our own lives for the better. We can learn from people’s successes, benefit from them, and even celebrate them!

The basic rules are simple: We must recognize the feeling, ask ourselves the questions proposed here, and shift the mindset. Avoiding altogether the feeling of jealousy is one of the best favors we can do ourselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0gbfQUEk7A

How to Teach Yourself to Live a Purpose Driven Life

June 19, 2018 by Power of Positivity

When you think of what it means to live a purpose-driven life, what visions come to mind? Most people think of fancy homes, having a lot of money in the bank and working an enjoyable job. While these goals are important, they are not what defines. They also can’t give us the feeling of living a purpose driven life. If having more money was truly the answer to living a life of purpose, you would never see stories on the news about celebrities and athletes who end up filing for bankruptcy.

People who are living a purpose-driven life wake up each day with energy and excitement. These people can sit back and take in the little things; they observe the world around them with merriment and amazement. Indeed, they love sharing their experiences, knowledge and insight with family, friends and strangers.

To find your life’s purpose, you need to closely examine your beliefs, thoughts, and values. If you have ever set superficial goals that center around tangible things or money, you probably have felt a sense of worry, anxiety, dread, or fear over the process and steps needed to acquire these things.

This happens because your desires internally and subconsciously conflict with your inner core beliefs and desires. Here are some purpose driven life tips you need to take to begin the journey into discovering who you are and what you are meant to do in this lifetime.

Tips to Live a Purpose Driven Life

Make A List

Lists are powerful motivators and great self-reflection tools. To begin this exercise, go to a quiet space to relax your mind. Close your eyes, and begin to inhale and exhale deeply to move your mind and body towards a feeling of serenity. Once you are completely relaxed, you can begin to jot down the qualities or things you value most in this life. You can start with as many as you can list,. But the goal is to eliminate all but a few; this leaves you with the core values you treasure most and should nurture and focus on in this lifetime.

A sample list could include family, friends, and love. Perhaps a list for you looks more like this: ambition, drive, and elegance. Once you have a firm grasp of the traits and people you value most, you can shift your mindset to align your vision and goals with a mission that embraces these fundamental desires. As you begin to set goals for yourself in your path to career and relationship enlightenment, you will quickly be able to see if your goal matches your core values.

If it does, you will achieve harmonious results. If it does not closely align, you will likely be met with discontent and discord in attempting to achieve the goal.

What You Believe Is What You Manifest

When it comes to leading a purpose driven life, the most pivotal shift you can make to seeing the world through a different lens is to shift your mindset. Every thought we have. Moreover, every single thing we see in our spectrum is energy. When you are engaged in a negative thought about money or are judging an idea with negativity, you send that vibration out in the universe. The universe will always respond and present you with what you send out subconsciously into its realm. Positive thought attracts positive results. Thoughts become things, as The Secret tells us.

When you begin to practice self-awareness and self-compassion, you begin to feel more confident about who you are and what you have to offer the world. With confidence comes creativity, abundance, prosperity and passion that leads to endless opportunities and growth.

Giving Is The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

Ask any philanthropic person how it feels to give. They’ll likely respond with a radiant glow and an ethereal smile. The best way to enliven your soul and ignite your inner spark is to give selflessly or go out of your way for someone: a stranger, friend, family member or person in need. When you give of yourself freely in the form of time, money, conversation or energy, you profoundly impact the person you are helping. You have an even more significant impact on your spirit and will begin to uncover a purpose-driven life by selflessly giving.

If you take some time to do some soul-searching and ask yourself some critical questions, you will unlock your unique belief system. As a result, you’ll receive the clarity and direction you need to learn to live a purpose-driven life. Start implementing these purpose driven life tips one at a time until they become second nature. Practice self-love and give freely to begin leading a purpose-driven life.

12 Steps to Move on Peacefully for a Better Life

June 19, 2018 by Power of Positivity

What do I expect from myself? This is a question you must reflect on in order to process and move on from life’s challenges. You’re only going to get what you expect from any situation.

Heartache, job loss, illness, death; any of these can incarcerate your thoughts, making you feel burdened; ushering you into self-doubts and whys. However, it is in the healing steps, the vulnerable moments, that you find your strength. Here are simple steps that will help you move on in life.

12 Steps to Move on Peacefully for a Better Life

1.Breathe

Breathing is life and is going to be your best friend when learning how to move on.

When studying what causes emotions(1), psychologist and scientist insist you invoke joy by breathing slowly, deeply and through the nose; breathing regularly while relaxing your rib cage.

You do not have to join a yoga class — it is suggested, see step 10 — or cognitive therapy group in order to breath right; just use this highly underrated life necessity to guide you into the surrender; use slow, belly deep breaths to help combat anxieties.

2.Surrender

“Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.” Eckhart Tolle, The Power Of Now(2)

At some point you have to accept controlling everything isn’t possible, self-control is. Manifesting positivity forces you past the darkest of situations and into serenity.

If you allow the circumstances five minutes ago to infest the present, you have not surrendered. Breathe! Surrendering to yourself is the torch lighting the path to move on. Surrendering allows calmness and unloads a bountiful flow of self-compassion.

3. Feel

You need to go through the emotions, allowing them to pass; holding onto them is dangerous.

Denial
Grief
Anger
Regret
Sadness

These are just a few feels you can go through, don’t take them personally. They are real and part of moving on but do not define you. Allow yourself to accept feelings and in accepting, you become aware of how to relieve suffering.

4. Observing Emotions

Once you’re able to unload, you must observe.

1. Observe the cause of the emotions. You’ll start getting those “uh-huh” moments and you’ll be able to stop consuming-thoughts.
2. Observe the actual emotion. Take a deep breath and watch your newly surrendered self tap-out of the ring of negativity, allowing those feelings to wrestle there way out.

This step allows you to take each feeling and use what’s needed. Be mindful and inhale, dismissing what isn’t.

5. Forgive

Forgiveness isn’t for others, Indeed, it is for you. The Mayo Clinic (3) suggest that being unforgiving allows the past to affect future life stages, assisting depression and anxiety, which can keep you from creating new connections.

There is no guide on forgiving, you just have to do it; in between breaths. Forgiving isn’t weakness, it’s action.

6. Examine Life, Presently

“When I say “life”, I am talking about life, per se, not what you do. You generally think life is your family, your work, your business, your wealth, whatever else you possess but these are all accessories of life.”, explains Sadhguru (4).

Deeply examine the freedom of circumstance once you have forgiven or grieved (5), observed and surrendered.

What is left? You are left; the whole you!

Only pain left with the sadness: examine you, embrace you, love you, forgive you.

7. Create

“Learning to use all your emotions creatively is very important, “ Sadhguru says.

Now in motion, move on motivationally by creating the space you deserve. Start manifesting all those wants and wishes.

Opening up to your creativity can release hidden emotions. The subconscious likes to assist the ego in opening baggage when we start feeling good.

When used appropriately, creativity can really manifest some good stuff. Paint, draw, write, do pottery, or anything that has, or is, striking your passions. This can redirect your energy, aiding in peace.

8.Nurture

Just as we observed the negative, we must observe and nurture the positive; apply that you are learning how to move on.

Continuously remind yourself of the process you are going through. To nurture is to award progress.

9. Relax

Take some time to process the process; meditate or just breath. Allow yourself time to mend.

Enjoy the peace, sit back, and take in the successes of breaking through. You’ve moved on from the problem and into the relaxation of the mind.

10.Interact

Now, breathing normally, get out and enjoy life. Take a yoga class maybe, to center and keep your breath. Enjoy nature and the presence of others. Discuss it with others.

There are people out there that have gone through your situation before and want to listen. People appreciate progress in conflict. You may be what someone needs to get through their surrender.

11. Reflect

Reflect on who you were in the beginning compared to who you have become; a more centered, self-loving individual.

You used your oppression as progression. These little steps are sustainability for consistant subcontious assistance.

12. Release

Let go of it all and exhale! You are still here and stronger because of it.

So take those memories and keep them as ammunition against future struggles. You are free to lead a better life!

How to Deal with Stress and Fight your Fears

June 19, 2018 by Power of Positivity

Approximately 44 percent of Americans suffer from stress, which can increase in severity with age. Stress is not only challenging to experience. But it can result in many different side effects that include insomnia, depression, and high blood pressure. Most people suffer from moderate to high-stress levels. This stress elevation can make it challenging to think clearly and remain productive throughout the day.

For many adults, it can be challenging to break habits or practices that trigger stress or allow it to build. Although stress is common, there are many steps to take to deal with stress.

Tips to Deal with Stress

Perform Self-Care

Only 27 percent of people who suffer from stress make it a point to exercise and stay active throughout the week. This movement can result in unhealthy habits and a poor diet that lacks proper nutrients.

You can deal with stress by finding an activity that you enjoy performing, which can include dancing, bike riding, playing tennis, or light jogging. You should exercise three to five times each week to ensure that you’re increasing your heart rate.

Self-care also includes finding time for yourself during the week without any interruptions. There should be one day that is set aside to have off where you can practice hobbies or activities you enjoy, which can improve your mood.

Consider Supplements

There are many different natural supplements that can reduce anxiety and stress to ensure that you remain healthy and balanced. Valerian root is ideal if you suffer from a sleep disorder or are restless at night due to stress because it has a tranquilizing effect. It is proven to lower anxiety because it can alter GABA receptors. Omega-3 fatty acids are also important to obtain for the body because studies show it can reduce stress by 20 percent. Kava-kava is used as a sedative that is becoming more common in Europe and the U.S. and can calm your nerves when dealing with stress.

Avoid Procrastinating

Stress is often triggered by deadlines or feeling rushed to complete activities in your personal life or in the workplace. You’ll want to break the habit of waiting until the last minute to complete items on your to-do list to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you scramble to catch up, you’ll feel under pressure and can have difficulty focusing or thinking clearly. Providing yourself with breaks can make it easier to remain productive.

Get More Sleep

Many people who suffer from stress also have poor sleeping habits because they can have difficulty relaxing at night or allowing their brain to rest. When you want to know how to deal with stress, write down your thoughts or reminders to clear your head and make it easier to relax when you want to deal with stress.

Melatonin is considered an ideal product to use to fall asleep easier at night and is considered to be a natural sleep aid. Consume two to three milligrams approximately two hours before bed to feel the effects.

Limit Your Caffeine Intake

You may enjoy caffeine to wake up in the morning. However, it can also have adverse reactions to increasing stress levels. The stimulant is known to make many people jittery or anxious, making it necessary to switch to decaf coffee. It’s also necessary to cut out other foods that contain caffeine from your diet to deal with stress. These foods include chocolate, soda, tea, and energy drinks.

Try Relaxation Techniques

There are many relaxation techniques that can be practiced to ensure that you feel more at ease and ready to conquer the day when learning to deal with stress. Yoga or meditation can make it easier to slow down and control your breathing. You can also listen to music, write down your thoughts in a journal, and read a relaxing book to ease your nerves and feel less tense. Stepping back from your schedule and routine can allow you to remain more positive and at peace when you need it most.

Spend Time with Loved Ones

Those who have difficulty finding the time to socialize or spend time with their family members and friends are at a higher risk of suffering from stress. Isolation and a lack of human contact during the week can make it easy to feel more alone and also lead to depression. If you want to know how to deal with stress, you’ll need to prioritize visiting loved ones or making phone calls to maintain your relationships. Studies show that spending time with those you care about release oxytocin, which is a natural stress reliever.

You’ll likely laugh and feel more at ease when in the company of another person. In turn, the laughter brings more oxygen to the body and organs. Laughing can even relieve tension and relieves your stress response.

Maintain a Balanced Schedule

In our society, many people are overworked and have too many obligations to manage. You may have the habit of overcommitting yourself to too many activities throughout the week. Of course, that can make it challenging to have downtime. When dealing with stress, make it a point to have a balance by limiting your commitments. Practice saying no and turning down requests to ensure that you can protect your health and well-being.

5 Psychological Tricks That Boost Productivity

June 18, 2018 by Power of Positivity

According to most psychologists and behavioral experts, procrastination is a basic human instinct. The reason is quite simple: we are far more attracted to the allure of instant gratification than to the productivity level that is good for us in the long run.

An excellent example of this phenomenon is saving money. Americans are some of the worst savers in the world. Consider the following two statistics: (1) 75 percent of full-time workers say they live paycheck-to-paycheck. (2) Nearly 40 percent of Americans have nothing in savings. We know that we should save money for the future – but our impulses get the better of us.

Productivity works much the same way. We delude ourselves into thinking we’ll always have time, so we rationalize wasting it. We are going to talk about this a bit more.

Here are five awesome productivity hacks you can implement RIGHT NOW.

“Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own.” – Bruce Lee

With a bit of discipline and a slight shift in mindset, you can become your most productive self!

Let’s get to it!

1. Know Thyself

When are you at your most productive? Are you a morning lark or a night owl? What are your “I’ll do it later” triggers? (Email, instant messaging, unexpected calls, etc.) Do you work better in alone or with others?

Know where you are most productive and start from there. Don’t worry about appearing unconventional or ruffling feathers. If necessary, explain your choices to others (manager, co-workers, and such). Tell them that making the most of your time at work is important to you. Chances are that you can come to a mutually-beneficial relationship.

2. Keep a Notepad

We humans have a big problem with following irrelevant streams of thought. One minute we’re focused like a laser and the next we’re obsessing over what we’re going to eat for lunch. Or how long it is until the next break time. Or how many vacation days we have.

When a something comes to mind that requires your attention, write it down. Get this extraneous stuff out of your head, and you’ll be much more productive (not to mention relaxed) as a result. Consider scheduling 15 to 30 minutes at the end of the day taking care of the “extra” stuff that crops up in your mind during the day.

3. Control Your “Spotlight”

“A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” This quote is attributed to Herbert Alexander Simon, a Nobel Prize-winning American economist and political scientist who devoted much of his career to the study of human decision-making.

In simple terms, we must be judicious in managing our attention. Scattered thoughts manifest into disordered, negative energy; whereas centered thoughts manifest into focused, positive energy. So watch where you direct your mental energy. Disregard the unimportant, choosing instead to cast your spotlight on things that generate a high return.

4. Get Grit

Angela Duckworth, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (an awesome book!) says “…there are no shortcuts to excellence. Developing real expertise, figuring out really hard problems, it all times time – longer than most people imagine.”

While some are born with a bit more “stick-to-itiveness,” all of us take the path of least resistance at times. In this regard, Duckworth writes – and research shows – that grit can be developed by “…working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it … it’s doing what you love, but not just falling in love – staying in love.”

Grit and self-discipline become easier the more we stick to it. When you feel like you have hit a wall, keep going! Eventually doing even the unpleasant things will become second nature.

5. Manage Your Energy

There are plenty of hacks that you can use to manage your energy – and it is critical that you make every effort to do so. Our productivity (or lack thereof) often comes down to what we’ve got left in the tank. You can be the grittiest, most disciplined, intelligent, and focused person on the planet; however, if you don’t have the energy to manifest these traits, it all amounts to less a hill of beans.

With this in mind:

Eat a good breakfast: consume protein and some natural sugar in the A.M. to get your day started right.
Carry a water bottle: drink at least 64 ounces of water throughout the day. The brain and body function best when well-hydrated.
Take regular breaks: more isn’t always better; this certainly applies to extended periods of work. Make sure you’re taking mini-breaks throughout the day.

Sources:
http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2010/04/02/attention-and-intelligence/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/adaptation/201707/5-productivity-hacks-actually-work

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Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

11 Reasons you Should Declutter your Home

Tips to Live a Purpose Driven Life

Make A List

What You Believe Is What You Manifest

Giving Is The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

12 Steps to Move on Peacefully for a Better Life

1.Breathe

2.Surrender

3. Feel

4. Observing Emotions

5. Forgive

6. Examine Life, Presently

7. Create

8.Nurture

9. Relax

10.Interact

11. Reflect

12. Release

Tips to Deal with Stress

Perform Self-Care

Consider Supplements

Avoid Procrastinating

Get More Sleep

Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Try Relaxation Techniques

Spend Time with Loved Ones

Maintain a Balanced Schedule

Here are five awesome productivity hacks you can implement RIGHT NOW.

1. Know Thyself

2. Keep a Notepad

3. Control Your “Spotlight”

4. Get Grit

5. Manage Your Energy

Sources: http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2010/04/02/attention-and-intelligence/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/adaptation/201707/5-productivity-hacks-actually-work

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Rise and Shine On! Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist

Stay Connected With

Us

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

Sources:
http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2010/04/02/attention-and-intelligence/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/adaptation/201707/5-productivity-hacks-actually-work

Rise and Shine On!
Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist