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11 Secrets That Can Change Your Life

April 25, 2018 by Power of Positivity

Emotions in are mysterious things in life. They’re fallible, yet always in-flux. They make life worth living, yet can claim a life. They’re fleeting, yet can form our inner world. Emotions can be the source of a breakthrough, or a breakdown (including in logic.) Emotions are also contrasting. Love, hate; happy, sad; joyous, sorrowful. Love, our most precious emotion, forms our best memories.

When it comes right down to it, this article’s foundation can be aptly summed up in four words: humans are emotional creatures. You’ll notice, as you peruse through these words, that emotion has to do with just about every part of our experience, both good and bad, on this beautiful planet.

With that said, here are eleven things to know that may just change your life:

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ~ Isaac Asimov

1. Pain is not (necessarily) your enemy

A minority of creatures, including us homo sapiens, experience two types of pain: physical and emotional. With all the splendor our species’ highly-evolved brain has bequeathed, we’ve stumbled into a couple of blind spots.

One such blind spot is the notion that all pain is bad. It isn’t. (Stress isn’t, either.) Pain is simply there to remind us of one of two things: (1) something is amiss, or (2) something is changing.

Pain from a stab wound is bad. Pain from a workout is (or can be) good.

Pain from a partner’s emotional abuse is bad. Using that pain to find your true love is good.

You get the picture.

2. We’ve got things pretty good

Shake our heads we may, but the truth remains: most of us are pretty damn spoiled.

Don’t think so? Let’s try a 2-part experiment:

(1) Go and get a glass of water.
(2) Get back to reading this article.

Now, consider this:

– 1 in 9 people lacks access to safe water. (1 in 3 have no access to a toilet.)
– 1 BILLION people on this planet cannot read (three-quarters are women.)

Perspective matters. Gratitude matters.

3. Focus of attention is key

There are three kinds of attention: inner, outer, and other. Inner focus provides intuition and self-awareness; outer, interaction with the environment, and other, healthy friendships and intimacy.

Being able to switch between these three modes of attention voluntarily is critical to a well-lived, balanced life.

4. Pleasure can quickly become pain

Socrates said, “Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live.” This is Socrates way of saying that to live for pleasure is a fool’s errand.

Ever wonder why so many rich people are unhappy? It’s because success without meaning is worthless.

5. Discipline needn’t be harsh

We read the words ‘self’ and ‘discipline’ – and immediately, we cringe. Why? Because we’ve programmed ourselves to believe that discipline is rough and punitive.

Mindful self-discipline – or gently re-directing our attention and actions to where they need to be – is the only type of discipline needed.

6. True love is the answer

Who doesn’t know the famous Beatle’s chorus:

All you need is love, all you need is love…
All you need is love, love…love is all you need

Think about this: love is the answer to nearly every problem the world has ever faced or ever will face. Now, if we would only have the courage to end war, hunger, poverty, discrimination, and hatred…

7. “Evil” is the absence of understanding and/or love

When you think about the worst atrocities in history, the common threat in all of them is an intense hatred – or the absence of understanding and love.

When you think about the evilest people in history: Hitler, Stalin, Mao; all were driven by an intense hatred – an absence of understanding and love.

8. You are never alone

No matter what you may be going through, you are never alone. Whether your source of companionship comes from someone else, a spiritual guide, or the Universe, never feel as if you must navigate this life alone. These feelings are simply not true.

Also, it’s essential to fully understand that someone, somewhere ,wants to hear when things are going wrong. Make sure to reach out.

9. Ignorance is not bliss

Ignorance is not bliss; ignorance is ignorance. Ignorance fuels hatred and causes wars. Ignorance breeds racism. Ignorance pits our human brothers and sisters against each other. Ignorance is corruption and deceit.

Ignorance is many things – bliss isn’t one of them.

10. “It’s the destination…”

“It’s the destination, not the journey.” A bit cliché, yes, but among life’s most invaluable words of advice. None of us get into a good book only to skip to the end. None of us get drawn into a soul-touching, enthralling movie and think “When’s this gonna end?”

So, why the heck treat our precious life any differently?

11. Death may not be the end

The French Philosopher, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

While de Chardin may not have known some of the things humans have in common with the Universe: stardust and human composition; the brain and quantum activity … he may be (probably was?) onto something.

https://youtu.be/eltx2WGABkw

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

Sources:
https://theunboundedspirit.com/insights/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201507/spiritual-beings-human-journey-remembering-our-stardust

5 Habits That Improve Your Communication Skills

April 25, 2018 by Power of Positivity

“Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.” – Jim Rohn

Communication is key to navigating life’s many challenges. Everyone should know how to communicate effectively, from romantic relationships to friendships to work situations. Not everyone is the best at communicating. This is because communication is a skill that needs to be developed and practiced.

If you find you’re a little lacking in the communication department, have no fear. Developing a few simple habits can help you become a better communicator. Here are some of the best ways to learn and foster your communication skills.

Here Are 5 Habits That Give You Better Communication Skills

1. Start asking questions

Communication is about listening just as much as it is about talking. When someone is speaking, you want to take note of what they’re saying. No, you don’t need a clipboard or a notebook and pen. A good way to do this is to ask questions about what the other person is saying. Of course, you don’t want to bombard them with questions about every detail of what they’re saying. At the same time, when you identify parts of the conversation you want to know more about and ask follow up questions, you are on the way to better communication.

2. Say what you mean and mean what you say

Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S, says that having a more precise vocabulary will help you improve your communication skills. You want to make sure you’re not leaving room for misinterpretation when you speak. Two good rules to stand by are: don’t say things that you think other people want to hear, and don’t say things that you don’t want to stand behind. Part of having good communication skills is saying what you mean and meaning what you say. You will be able to communicate your ideas much more clearly when you use precise language and don’t waffle on what you mean.

3. Use your body language

Body language is an amazing tool when it comes to communication. Thankfully, our bodies are usually pretty good at communicating on their own. Still, if you want to have better communication skills, you should have an idea of what types of body language will help you express yourself clearly. For example, try to avoid crossing your arms when talking. This can make you seem very closed off, and not open to new ideas. Another way to use body language is to subtly copy the person with whom you’re speaking. It helps put the other person at ease and develop a rapport.

4. Listen

You really want to actively listen when other people talk. Listening is key when it comes to becoming a better communicator. Don’t just wait for your turn to talk. A lot of people confuse “listening” with “hearing.” Sure, you hear what another person is saying, but are you taking in what’s being said? What is the emotional state of the person talking? Can you tell the things they’re not saying, despite what they are saying? It’s important to learn how to listen if you want to improve your communication skills. After all, you need to be able to respond accurately in order to communicate in the first place.

5. Acknowledge first; speak second

When it comes to communicating, a good communicator always knows to acknowledge what has just been said before taking the opportunity to speak. For example, you can simply say, “Yes, I hear what you’re saying…” And then go on to speak. Better yet, acknowledge specific parts of what the other person has said to show that you’ve been utilizing your listening skills. “I understand that…” or, “So, what you’re saying is…” are good phrases to practice when it comes to this part of communicating.

Not only will the other person feel heard, but they will more likely to listen to what you have to say as well. When communicating, it’s important to make the other person want to listen to you as much as they want to speak.

Final thoughts

These are some of the best habits to practice when you’re trying to become better at communication. They’re all things that are practical in every conversation, especially debate or arguments. Finally, one of the most important habits is practice. You always want to practice your communication skills. Luckily, you can do this daily, with people that you talk to throughout your day! No need to wait for a special moment to freshen up your good communication habits.

https://youtu.be/vJc5VeId_Lc

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

References:
https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-strategies-to-become-a-better-communicator/

5 Things To Never Feel Bad About Doing Alone In a Relationship

April 25, 2018 by Power of Positivity

During the honeymoon stage of a relationship, all you want to do is hang out with your partner – all the time. You sleep together, you eat together, and you go everywhere together. But once you start to get comfortable, things can change. Even when you have a significant other such as a spouse or life partner, you can be alone without doing everything together.

Some people may feel bad if they enjoy an activity without their partner around. You can be assured that there are plenty of things that you can (and even should) do without your partner. What is more, you don’t have to feel bad about it! Here are some of the things you can do without your partner (that you should never feel guilty about).

Here Are 5 Things To Never Feel Bad About Doing Alone In a Relationship

“Being alone and actually sitting with our own thoughts can lead to such growth and realizations that are rare in our everyday busy lives.” – Kourtney Kardashian

1. Sleep alone

Many people get defensive over the idea of sleeping without their partner by their side. But sometimes, two people just aren’t compatible when it comes to sleeping arrangements. Some people toss and turn, while others tend to be blanket hogs or they “starfish” across the bed. If you’re not getting enough sleep at night, you shouldn’t feel bad about sleeping alone. Having a guest room is perfect for sneaking away to have the bed to yourself. After all, getting enough sleep is important for an overall healthy body, so you should never feel bad about putting your health first.

2. Watch a movie

For some people, watching a movie is a couple’s activity. The truth is, there’s no reason you should deny yourself the joy of going out to see a movie just because your partner doesn’t want to go. It’s a good idea to have some alone time when you need it, even when you have a partner or spouse. Going out to a movie alone isn’t that big of a deal. Maybe you and your partner have different tastes in movies and can’t decide on what to see. That’s okay! It’s totally normal to go see a movie by yourself.

3. Exercise

Are you a fan of your partner seeing you at your lowest and sweatiest? Didn’t think so. Exercising isn’t a lot of fun for most people. Performing this strenuous activity alongside your partner can just be awkward, or downright uncomfortable. It’s okay if you’re more of a jog-alone kind of person. Or maybe you like to use your exercise time to zone out and let your thoughts go. Some people feel about exercise the way they feel about meditation: it is a one-person activity. There’s no reason to feel bad about hitting the gym on your own or jogging around the block without your partner. Exercising alone is something everyone can do without their partner and shouldn’t feel bad about it.

4. Go out with friends

Dallan Flake, a sociologist at BYU, believes that it’s extremely important for people in relationships to have friends outside of the partnership. In fact, Flake even says that it is unrealistic to expect your partner to be able to be “everything” that you needed. Friendship is an important part of relationships. Going out with your friends – even without your partner – gives you both a needed break and gives you varied socialization that will be sure to keep you happy. You should never feel bad about going out with your friends – in fact, it’s highly encouraged!

5. Travel

Need a vacation? Maybe you want to visit friends or family that live a few states over. Traveling by yourself is something that many partnered people tend not to do. After all, isn’t traveling with your partner twice the fun? Sure, taking vacations together can be a great way to spark the romance, but traveling alone has its benefits too. It’s okay to plan a weekend getaway alone every now and again. Everyone needs time on their own, and traveling is one of the great ways to get that necessary time. Don’t feel bad about planning a trip away from your partner. You’ll both enjoy the time alone. What is more, you will both be excited to see each other at the end of the trip.

Final thoughts

Doing things alone is a great way to keep your independence, establish your boundaries, and keep a relationship from becoming stagnant. Of course, you and your partner likely enjoy doing many things together. And that’s great! At the same time, there are many things that can be done alone. No one should have to feel bad about seeking out some alone time away from their partner.

Prevent A Stroke: 15 Stroke Symptoms to Never Ignore

April 24, 2018 by Power of Positivity

Per Science Daily, around 80 percent of all strokes are preventable. As is the case with every other preventable medical condition, awareness is the key. It is also critical to understand that women often have different stroke symptoms than men, a fact which may help explain why a disproportionate number of female stroke cases are fatal.

The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions. If a stroke occurs and blood flow can’t reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won’t work as it should. ~ The American Stroke Association

Stroke is the third most common cause of death among women – fifth in the overall population – and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain either bursts or is obstructed from a blood clot. When this happens, parts of the brain cannot receive the necessary oxygen – and cells begin to die.

There are three types of stroke: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot; hemorrhagic stroke occurs as the result of blood vessel rupture, and TIA happens where there’s a temporary clot blocking the normal flow of blood to one or more brain regions. TIA is often referred to as a “mini-stroke” – but is nonetheless very dangerous as it can progress into a full-blown case.

Here are 15 possible stroke symptoms never to ignore:

1. Autoimmune Disease

Researchers from Spain found that women are more likely to suffer from an autoimmune disease that raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Inflammation of the brain’s blood vessels may be the reason, according to the study.

2. Mental Health Problems

The link between mental health problems and stroke isn’t yet clear. However, researchers from Harvard University have found a correlation between heightened amygdala activity and a higher risk of stroke.

3. Irregular Heartbeat

The heart, of course, is responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to every organ of the body. Irregular heartbeat, also known as heart palpitations, correlate with a higher risk of stroke. The Stroke Foundation of Australia specifies atrial fibrillation – a related condition – as a risk factor for stroke.

4. Premature Menopause or Menstruation

As stated, women experience stroke disproportionate to their population numbers – and hormones are a big reason why this is. Research states that either menstruation before age 10 and menopause before age 45 may be tied to increasing stroke risk.

5. Hallucinations

Vision changes are a universal sign of stroke. Women are more prone to report these disturbances as hallucinations. Regardless, if you see something that your logical brain knows isn’t there, call 9-1-1.

6. Behavioral Changes

Per the University of Michigan, women are more likely to experience a shift in mental state – and less likely to report it. This is a problem, as some stroke types target areas of the brain responsible for personality. Talk to a doctor about changes in mood – it may save your life.

7. Fainting

The brain’s consciousness center lies atop the brainstem. As a result, cutting blood flow to this region of the brain can result in fainting. Furthermore, women are more likely to suffer strokes to this part of the brain than are men. So don’t downplay any loss of consciousness – talk to your doctor.

8. Use of Birth Control Pills or HRT

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and birth control pills raise the likelihood of stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, ‘the pill’ can double your chances of stroke. Make sure your doc is affirming healthy blood pressure levels before prescribing either treatment!

9. Slurred Speech

Okay, so both men and women report this one. Slurred speech is a telltale sign that something is amiss with your noggin (provided you’re sober!) Don’t mess around. Call 9-1-1.

10. Sudden Prolonged Numbness

The limbs send signals to the brain – and vice-versa – which creates the sensation of touch. If you all of a sudden are experiencing severe, unexpected, and lengthy numb sessions, something is almost certainly wrong.

11. Nausea or Vomiting

Brain blood vessels that are swollen can create pressure in the cerebellum and cause bouts of nausea or vomiting. Hemorrhage-type strokes are also known to produce both symptoms. If nausea or vomiting are accompanied by any other sign on this list, do yourself a favor and talk to your doc.

12. Difficulty Breathing

Any, we repeat any, problems with breathing are a medical emergency – period. There may be any number of reasons why you can’t breathe, and all of them require a trip to the ER.

13. History of Miscarriages

Back to women-only symptoms. “The clotting factors increase the risk of developing clots in the heart or in the blood vessels of the brain, both of which can lead to stroke,” says Wake Forest University Professor of neurology and neurosurgery, Dr. Cheryl Bushnell.

14. Hormonal Imbalances

Low DHEA levels may reflect some relatively-minor underlying problem, but this hormone affects others too. Low levels of DHEA, in particular, are tied to increased risk of stroke.

15. Aura Migraines

Migraines, especially with visual disturbances (auras), are a proven risk factor for stroke. These vicious headaches cause the constriction of blood vessels, which may affect the oxygen supply to the brain.

Preventing Stroke

Stroke is a possibly fatal medical emergency. Those that survive the ordeal often face months – if not years – of rehabilitation to recover loss of function.

The lesson? Prevention is always the best medicine, especially for a condition as serious as a stroke. With this in mind, here are seven preventative measures courtesy of Harvard Medical School:

– Get regular exercise
– Lose some weight
– Monitor your blood pressure
– Drink alcohol in moderation
– Treat atrial fibrillation (a form of irregular heartbeat)
– Watch your sugar intake
– Quit smoking

The National Stroke Association explains the ‘F-A-S-T’ technique for identifying a possible stroke:

– (F)ace: Does one side of the face droop?
– (A)rms: Lift both arms above your head. Does one arm involuntarily drift downwards?
– (S)peech: Is it challenging to speak? Are you slurring your words?
– (T)ime: Call emergency services right away if you or someone else notice one or more of these signs.

https://youtu.be/7BNGVmwxoHI

Sources:
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/About-Stroke_UCM_308529_SubHomePage.jsp
https://strokefoundation.org.au/About-Stroke/Preventing-stroke/Stroke-risk-factors/Irregular-pulse-atrial-fibrillation
https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/8-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-stroke
https://www.medicaldaily.com/strokes-fifth-leading-cause-death-are-mostly-preventable-what-do-417944
https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/stroke-symptoms-in-women/

Scientists Explain What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Mint Every Day

April 24, 2018 by Power of Positivity

“These plants are particularly known for the cooling sensation they impart. They can be added to foods in both fresh and dried forms.” – Keith Pearson

People are always trying to find new and inventive ways to improve their health. Sometimes, though, some of the best things for our bodies have been right in front of our faces the entire time. Plants have been used for a long time to help improve our health, and they’re a simple and natural way to heal our bodies. “Mint” doesn’t describe just one type of plant.

In fact, mint is the name of a few different species of plants, though most people know about peppermint plants. Mint isn’t just used to flavor candies or other foods. Science has proven that mint has plenty of health benefits for your body. Like most plants, mint is usually used in different kinds of foods or products. When used, mint can be incredibly beneficial. Here are some of the best ways that you can use mint to help your body stay healthy.

Here Are 5 Impressive Benefits Of Mint For Your Health

1. Relieves indigestion

There’s a reason that things like GasX come in “mint” flavor! Mint has benefits for digestive problems like upset stomach and indigestion. If you have some issues with indigestion, you could try taking peppermint oil with your meals. Studies have shown that people who use peppermint oil to treat indigestion have improvements due to the food passing more quickly through the digestive tract.

According to a group of scientists, “This study showed that peppermint oil enhances gastric emptying, suggesting the potential use of peppermint oil in clinical settings for patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.”

Next time you have indigestion, try using some peppermint oil to help out.

2. Lessens cold symptoms

Getting the common cold is one of the most annoying illnesses. It’s not particularly serious, but the symptoms can make you feel exhausted and poor for a few days. However, one of the most common cold treatments, menthol, can be found in peppermint oil. It may not make your cold shorter, but it can definitely help lessen the symptoms. Especially for a stuffed-up nose, menthol can make breathing a lot easier.

“Menthol has no effect on objective measures of flow but significantly increases the perception of nasal patency,” states a study on National Center for Biotechnology Information. Next time you have a cold and have trouble breathing, make sure to get some over-the-counter menthol to help you breathe easy.

3. Adds nutrients to your diet

Eating healthy can do wonders for your body. Thankfully, adding some mint to your diet can also have the same effect. Usually, you don’t want to eat mint in large servings. However, when adding small quantities of mint into your recipes, you can get a burst of added nutrients that you wouldn’t get otherwise.

“Mint is a particularly good source of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is critical for eye health and night vision. It is also a potent source of antioxidants, especially when compared to other herbs and spices,” says registered dietician Dr. Keith Pearson.

Tea with mint in it can be a great way to get mint in your body and enjoy those health benefits.

4. Improves brain function

Staying healthy is about more than just our bodies. We need to take care of our brains just as much as we take care of our physical health. While eating and drinking mint is good for our health, so is inhaling mint, especially in the form of peppermint oil. One study showed that inhaling the aroma of peppermint oil is good for memory.

Mint can also help reduce anxiety, which is another part of keeping your brain healthy. The next time you’re thinking of picking up some aromas, try some peppermint oil to help improve your brain function and keep the stress at bay.

5. Improves IBS

IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a pretty common disorder in the digestive tract. It can cause constipation, diarrhea, bloating, indigestion, and stomach cramps. It’s not fun, and most people try their hardest to control it. However, mint has been shown to help improve the symptoms of IBS in some patients.

A group of scientists have concluded that, “A 4 weeks treatment with peppermint oil improves abdominal symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.”

For IBS, change in diet is usually the first thing people turn to in order to manage the symptoms. While mint won’t cure IBS, it has been shown to help relieve the symptoms due to the relaxing of the digestive tract. If you have IBS and suffer from uncomfortable symptoms, try some peppermint tea to see if it will help.

Final thoughts

Science has found that mint is incredibly good for our bodies. It can do so much for our digestive tract, add nutrients to our bodies, and help our brains function at 100%. There are plenty of ways to use mint in your recipes, in your drinks, or just using its aroma to help your body and boost your health.

https://youtu.be/dDn84WupgBA

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17653649
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18435479
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mint-benefits#section1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18041606
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159

Researchers Reveal The Three Keys to Happiness

April 24, 2018 by Power of Positivity

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Here are a few scientifically-valid facts about happiness:

1. Money doesn’t contribute much to happiness once basic needs are met. (There are numerous studies on this.)

2. Consumerism and materialism are associated with higher feelings of loneliness and unhappiness. (The U.S. is experiencing relative prosperity, yet doesn’t crack the top 10 in the ‘World Happiness Index.’)

3. Physical health directly correlates with a positive outlook and subjective happiness.

So what are those keys? We’re glad you asked:

1. Do What You Love…Even If It’s Just ‘Part-Time’

“…And you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” Cliche? Yes. True? Absolutely!

We spend roughly half of our waking hours at work. We’ve all got to make a living, so why not do so doing something that you love? (Or at the very least, something you can tolerate.) A big reason why this is the case is that we’ve come to embrace this notion that work and a sense of drudgery are two peas in a pod. This is ridiculous, of course, but there you have it.

Studies of the world’s happiest people (and often most successful, at least financially) have one defining characteristic: they love their jobs. Speaking of jobs, it was Mr. Steve Jobs – in his infamous commencement speech at Stanford University who said:

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

If you aren’t up to a career change, do what you love outside of the workplace! Your life will be much happier as a result.

2. Prioritize Your Relationships

It is unfortunate that some people become so infatuated with their ambitions and goals that they all but forget about those who love them. If we are completely honest with ourselves, we can acknowledge that we have – at some point or another – placed self-interest above the interests of others.

It is human nature to dream, strive, and do – but at what cost? You’ve probably heard some variant of the “deathbed story” where the bedridden person confesses that they wished they had made time for loved ones. Perhaps the reason why this old fable remains widely known is that there’s a surprising (or unsurprising?) element of truth.

Dr. Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development (a 79-year study) says “Good relationships keep us happier and healthier … Our study has shown that the people who fared the best were the people who leaned into relationships with family, with friends, with community.”

3. Get Out In Nature

Dr. Stephen Kaplan, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science and a psychologist, along with his wife Rachel, a professor of environment and behavior at the University of Michigan, began his quest to study happiness “decades ago during the horror that followed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.”

The husband and wife conduct a simple study wherever they go: they show people pictures of nature and then pictures of urban settings. They then ask people to rate how much they liked each photograph. “With a single exception, every single nature picture was preferred over every single urban picture,” explain Dr. Kaplan, “the only exception was an urban park.”

After years of research, the duo concludes that human beings have an inextricable – some would say spiritual – connection with nature. Kaplan illustrates these findings using an example from a study involving cancer patients, “The first thing (the cancer patients) wanted to do when they got their diagnosis was take a ride in the country.”

So do yourself a favor and “go play outside” whenever you can!

Sources:
http://time.com/money/5157625/ideal-income-study/
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99650&page=1
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/
https://www.lifehack.org/366451/3-keys-happiness
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-world-happiness-index-2016-just-ranked-the-happiest-countries-on-earth

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

With that said, here are eleven things to know that may just change your life:

1. Pain is not (necessarily) your enemy

2. We’ve got things pretty good

3. Focus of attention is key

4. Pleasure can quickly become pain

5. Discipline needn’t be harsh

6. True love is the answer

7. “Evil” is the absence of understanding and/or love

8. You are never alone

9. Ignorance is not bliss

10. “It’s the destination…”

11. Death may not be the end

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

Sources: https://theunboundedspirit.com/insights/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201507/spiritual-beings-human-journey-remembering-our-stardust

Here Are 5 Habits That Give You Better Communication Skills

1. Start asking questions

2. Say what you mean and mean what you say

3. Use your body language

4. Listen

5. Acknowledge first; speak second

Final thoughts

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

References: https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-strategies-to-become-a-better-communicator/

Here Are 5 Things To Never Feel Bad About Doing Alone In a Relationship

1. Sleep alone

2. Watch a movie

3. Exercise

4. Go out with friends

5. Travel

Final thoughts

Here are 15 possible stroke symptoms never to ignore:

1. Autoimmune Disease

2. Mental Health Problems

3. Irregular Heartbeat

4. Premature Menopause or Menstruation

5. Hallucinations

6. Behavioral Changes

7. Fainting

8. Use of Birth Control Pills or HRT

9. Slurred Speech

10. Sudden Prolonged Numbness

11. Nausea or Vomiting

12. Difficulty Breathing

13. History of Miscarriages

14. Hormonal Imbalances

15. Aura Migraines

Preventing Stroke

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

Here Are 5 Impressive Benefits Of Mint For Your Health

1. Relieves indigestion

2. Lessens cold symptoms

3. Adds nutrients to your diet

4. Improves brain function

5. Improves IBS

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17653649 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18435479 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mint-benefits#section1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18041606 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159

So what are those keys? We’re glad you asked:

1. Do What You Love…Even If It’s Just ‘Part-Time’

2. Prioritize Your Relationships

3. Get Out In Nature

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Sources:
https://theunboundedspirit.com/insights/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201507/spiritual-beings-human-journey-remembering-our-stardust

References:
https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-strategies-to-become-a-better-communicator/

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17653649
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18435479
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mint-benefits#section1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18041606
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159

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