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How to Lose Belly Fat In 7 Minutes A Day

December 14, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Are you looking for a lifestyle that will shred your belly fat – and keep it from returning.

Nowadays, fitness and science are two peas in a pod. While some fitness buffs may think they’ve chiseled their physique all on their own, the odds are that they’ve had some help.

Exercise science, or the study of physiology during physical activity, has advanced as quickly – if not more so – than other cutting-edge medicine.

In short, fitness owes a lot to the brains behind the brawn – the minds being diligent scientists, researchers, and fitness buffs savvy enough to know a good thing when they see it – and distributing this valuable information.

“The popularity of high-intensity interval training is on the rise. High-intensity interval training sessions are commonly called HIIT workouts. This type of training involves repeated bouts of high-intensity effort followed by varied recovery times.” ~ American College of Sports Medicine

‘HIIT’

Over the last two decades, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been all the rage. HIIT, for the unaware, is a method of exercise involving periods of rigorous activity with small breaks in between.

Per the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), HIIT training has been shown to improve:

Aerobic and anaerobic (muscular) fitness
Blood pressure
Cardiovascular health
Insulin sensitivity (helping the muscles being exercised more readily use glucose for fuel.)
Cholesterol profiles
Belly fat and body weight
The maintenance of muscle mass

Why is HIIT so popular?

“No pain, no gain? The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) surveyed more than 4,000 fitness professionals, and the results are in: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is forecast as next year’s most popular trend in fitness.” ~ BusinessWire

HIIT is immensely popular – and there are many reasons why. Here are just a few: according to ACSM, HIIT is:

Modifiable: HIIT training can be easily modified for people of all fitness levels and special conditions. For instance, it’s effective for those with diabetes, have belly fat, or hope to lose weight.
Flexible: People can introduce their favorite activity – cycling, swimming, cross-training, walking, etc. – into a routine.
Produces quicker results: HIIT workouts provide benefits similar to endurance workouts but in shorter periods. Additionally, the frequency in which one exercises can be curtailed with the right routine.

– ‘EPOC’: EPOC is short for excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. During this period (about 2 hours), the body restores itself to pre-exercise levels; burning calories at a 6-15% faster rate.

The last two – along with the ‘endorphin rush’ – is what keeps people coming back for another HIIT.

What program is right for me?

We’ve seen a proliferation of HIIT methods. The ‘Beachbody program,’ ‘p90X’, and ‘Insanity’ are all variations of HIIT. But long before these commercially popular programs was the ‘Tabata Regimen,’ named after it’s founder Professor Izumi Tabata.

Some say that other widely-successful HIIT programs are the secondary products of Tabata’s work.

The Tabata Regimen, more commonly referred to as ‘The Tabata Workout,’ stands out for several reasons. First, it’s free. You can pay 99 cents for a Tabata app (usually a timer), but there is no profit scheme. Second, it’s well-rounded. There is a blend of exercises you can incorporate into a Tabata workout. Third, it’s fast. There’s the one you’ve been waiting for to manage that belly fat, right?

But a fair warning. While the Tabata method may be short, it’s intense.

How to Lose Belly Fat In 7 Minutes A Day: ‘The 7-Minute Tabata’

Now we’re getting down to brass tacks. If you skipped to this portion, read the information about high-intensity interval training. The above sections contain important information about HIIT, it’s effectiveness, and why the Tabata workout differs.

In other words, the preceding sections are motivators.

Here, ladies and gentlemen is the 7-minute Tabata routine to melt belly fat:

One important note: make sure to go through, at a minimum, a light stretching routine for your neck, torso, groin, hamstrings, flexors, and calves.

Do each belly fat melting move at near-maximum (95%) intensity for precisely 20 seconds. Take a 10-second rest between exercise. (Tip: Focus on taking deep breaths!)

Jumping jacks: Just like you did them in gym class, only correctly this time. Try and maintain good form throughout the movement.
Wall sit: With your back against the wall, lower yourself to the point where your thighs form a 90-degree angle with your calves. Hold for 20 seconds.
Push up: As best you can, keep your back straight throughout the movement. Lower your torso until it is about 3-6 inches from the floor. Feel free to do them on your knees until you gain the necessary strength.
Abdominal crunch: Lying on your back, straighten out your arms. Then, while keeping your arms straight, lift your upper body until you feel a slight tightness in your abdominals.
Squat: Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, and toes turned slightly out, slowly bend your knees and drop your hips. At the bottom of the movement, pause, and then forcefully push back up to the starting position.
Tricep Dips: Position your hands shoulder-width apart using a bench or stable chair. Slide your butt off the front of the bench with your legs extended. Straighten your arms, keeping a little bend in the elbows. Slowly bend your elbows to lower your body toward the floor the elbows are at a 90-degree angle. At the bottom of the movement, press down onto the bench (or chair) and return to the starting position.
Plank: Get in the pushup position; only put your forearms on the ground instead of your hands. Squeeze your glutes and tighten your abdominals, and keep a neutral neck and spine. Create a straight, strong line from head to toes – a plank, if you will. Hold for 20 seconds!
High Knees: Ever seen a sprinter run? Same concept here, but you’re adding another degree of difficulty: high knees! Start by standing hip-distance apart. Start off by jogging as your normally would; transition to a run; and lift your knees.
Lunges: Keep your upper body straight, with your shoulders back and relaxed and chin up (pick a point to stare at in front of so you don’t keep looking down). Step forward with one leg. Then, lower your hips and bend both knees at about a 90-degree angle. Switch legs.
Step-up: Start by placing your right foot on a bench or chair. Press through your right heel as you step onto the bench, bringing your left foot to meet your left so you are standing on the bench. Return to the starting position by stepping down with the right foot; then the left so both feet are on the floor.
Side plank: Place forearm on the floor (a mat helps) under shoulder perpendicular to the body. Place upper leg directly on top of the lower leg and straighten knees and hips. Raise body upward by straightening the waist so the body is ridged. Hold the position for 20.
Mountain climbers: Assume a push-up position with your arms straight and your body straight from your head to your ankles. Then, without changing the posture of your lower back (it should be arched), raise your right knee toward your chest. This movement should be done quickly.

Scientists Explain Why You Get Hiccups (And How to Stop Them)

December 14, 2017 by Power of Positivity

“*Hic*…*Hic*…Ugh. *Drinks water* *Hic*…Dang it!” ~ Anyone who has ever had hiccups

“What are hiccups exactly?”

We don’t know you. But unless you’re a doctor, you probably don’t have the slightest clue as to what hiccups are.

In short, hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm caused by complex neuronal activity within the brainstem. During normal breathing, the diaphragm will contract upwards. The diaphragm contracts downwards during a *hic* episode.

Here’s what happens during a hiccup as the diaphragm does its thing:

– The voice box (larynx) snaps shut.

– The opening of the vocal cords (glottis) closes, blocking air intake.

The hic sound results from the surge of air – caused by a forceful, involuntary inhalation – hitting the closed glottis and reverberating upwards.

In this article, we’re going to discuss a couple of things. First, we’ll try and explain why hiccups occur in the first place; second, a quick detour into the most recent medical findings; lastly, we’ll talk about some ways of getting rid of the little buggers that may work for you!

Let’s get after it!

“Why do we get hiccups?”

Hiccups don’t appear to have a specific cause. Experts have been studying this topic for years and have never reached anything close to a consensus.

However, while mad scientists all over the globe try and get to the bottom of things; we do know that the following circumstances, conditions, and illnesses have been associated with a higher risk of developing hiccups:

– After eating dry breads.

– After consuming alcohol.

– Drinking carbonated beverages (soda is the biggie).

– Eating to excess or too quickly.

– Irritation of the phrenic nerve, located near the esophagus, by hot or spicy foods.

– Excess gas in the stomach, which puts pressure on the diaphragm.

– A sudden change in environmental temperature.

– Certain medications, including benzodiazepines (Xanax), opiates (OxyContin, Percocet), and barbiturates (various).

Medical Conditions

Some medical issues have been linked to higher incidence of hiccups. These include:

– Central Nervous System (CNS) conditions, including brain tumor, encephalitis, stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

– Conditions that irritate the vagus nerve, including goiter and meningitis.

– Certain psychological states, such as anxiety, hysteria, grief, shock or stress.

– Metabolic conditions, including hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or diabetes.

– Gastrointestinal (GI) tract conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Prolonged hiccups

Though rare, hiccups that last for a few days to a few months do occur. When it does, the acute condition can cause other health issues, including:

– Communication issues: as frequent hiccup episodes disrupt the ability to talk, communication problems are often the result.

– Depression: long-term hiccups have been linked to an increased risk of developing clinical depression.

– Fatigue: hiccups place a strain on the body, throwing it out of equilibrium and resulting in exhaustion and fatigue.

– Insomnia: hiccups may surface during sleeping hours; if so, patients will likely find it difficult to fall and stay asleep.

– Weight loss: in some cases, hiccups are not only long-term but occur in intervals; if this is the case, it may be hard for the person to eat healthily.

“Isn’t holding my breath supposed to help?”

Maybe. Depends on the person. Honest answer.

Hiccups are truly mind-boggling, aren’t they?

We wish we could give you a one-size-fits-all solution for getting rid of the dastardly things, though we can’t.

But…

Some people have found a way of getting rid of hiccups that always seems to work. (We’ll provide some examples below!)

And…

Scientists may just be making a bit of headway in providing treatment for chronic hiccups.

First, here are some possible hiccup cures to try:

– Breathe slowly into a paper bag.

– Eat (slowly) a spoonful of creamy peanut butter.

– Hold your breath for three seconds, breathe out slowly, and repeat 3-4 times every 30 minutes.

– Hug your knees close to your chest for a short while.

– Lean forward and compress your chest.

– Place some light pressure on your diaphragm.

– Slowly sip ice-cold water.

– Suck on a lemon.

– Take a spoonful of sugar.

– While swallowing, put some pressure on the bridge of your nose.

Dr. Tyler Cymet, an internist and head of medical education at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine has designed a variety of treatment regiments for his patients – mainly breathing exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy, and yoga – at about a 25 percent success rate.

“Everybody gets them, but we don’t know why – we don’t know if [in terms of evolution] it’s adaptive or maladaptive,” Cymet said. “We’re still in the dark ages of understanding hiccups.”

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

Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181573.php
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/06/scientific-research-hiccups-cure-cause

5 Behaviors That Reveal Your Partner Is Phubbing You

December 11, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Is your partner phone snubbing you?

“Can you repeat that?” It’s a question nobody wants to ask, and none want a partner to ask. Imagine trying to convey your feelings, only to look up and see your partner’s eyes glued to a tiny luminous screen. In a world of constant digital buzz, where text tones often overpower heartfelt conversations, phubbing – phone snubbing – silently corrodes numerous relationships. The behavior drowns out emotional exchanges with every tap or scroll.

In these times of digital distractions, it becomes crucial to safeguard the sanctity of our relationships. With love on one side and an unputdownable device on the other, navigating the balance without toppling over demands our attention. Indeed, it is urgent to do so.

As we look deeper into this, identifying the subtle yet telling signs of phubbing and exploring ways to navigate its challenges tactfully become paramount. Your relationship might be whispering for help amidst the digital chaos. It’s high time we tuned in, listened, and turned the volume down on our devices. Instead, we should lead with empathy, understanding, and a sincere desire to rekindle connections that technology has quietly begun to sever.

Identifying Phubbing: A Silent Relationship Intruder

In an era where digital pings incessantly invade our lives, deciphering whether your partner’s phone usage is crossing into phubbing can be subtly complex. While phones are inescapable companions in our daily affairs, the thin line they tread between necessity and obtrusion in our personal spaces often blurs.

So, let’s explore how to distinctly identify when your partner’s digital interaction shifts from being merely habitual to becoming phubbing.

The Discreet Disconnect of Phubbing

Imagine you have just shared a pivotal moment of your day. But your words echo in a void as your partner nods absentmindedly, their fingers flitting over the screen. Unresponsive behavior doesn’t always manifest as stark ignorance.

Instead, it might be the diverted glances toward their phone mid-conversation, the mumbled “uh-huh” that holds no honest acknowledgment of your words, or the pauses in dialogue as they sneak a quick peek at a message.

This subtle detachment, where your voice can no longer compete with the digital world, indicates phubbing. Unresponsiveness becomes apparent in their lack of engagement or absent-minded reactions. Additionally, their feedback might seem disconnected or delayed. Recognizing this may involve paying attention to your partner’s eye contact, the continuity of your conversations, and the relevance of their responses.

Phone Priority: The Screen That Shields

Is the first ‘good morning’ in your house directed towards a social media feed? Does the phone occupy a hand even as you share a cozy dinner? When your partner consistently prioritizes their phone, placing it as a shield that hinders intimate interactions and shared moments, it sends the silent signals of phubbing.

Phone priority isn’t only about blatantly choosing to engage with the device. It could be as inconspicuous as eyes darting towards every notification. It might also present as the phone perpetually being within arm’s reach, even in moments of closeness. The invisible (and uninvited!) guest during your outings. Identifying this behavior is pivotal. You must notice your partner’s overt actions. But you must also observe the subtle ways in which their phone presence intercepts your interactions.

The Ten Signs of Phubbing Everyone Should Know

Within the cocoon of companionship, where shared glances and silent gestures weave tales of unity and understanding, the subtle invasion of phubbing often escapes the naked eye. Yet, like a gentle tide that slowly shapes the shore, its signs, although seemingly trivial at first, gradually carve discernible shifts in relational dynamics.

So, let’s unfold the often overlooked yet revealing signs that whisper the tales of phubbing in a relationship.

1 – Chronic Distraction: The Silent Stealer of Moments

A caress lost amidst a scroll, a story overshadowed by a ‘like’ or a gaze, veering towards the screen, recurrent distraction silently steals away the essence of shared moments. Your partner might be physically present. Still, their mind wanders through the digital alleys. As a result of the distraction, they leave your shared emotional and physical space vacant.

To identify chronic distraction, observe the continuity in your interactions. Notice whether their phone constantly lures them away, making your moments together fragmented and their presence intermittent. It’s not merely about them using the phone. Instead, it concerns the moments, emotions, and connections lost to digital engagement.

2 – Absence in Conversations: Silent Words in Verbal Exchanges

Conversations may turn into monologues when phone snubbing enters the scene. Your partner’s words might be present. Yet, their essence, attention, and emotional participation seem to be held captive by their device.

Take note of the words they speak. But also notice the emotion, attention, and sincerity within them. A partner engrossed in this behavior might speak. But their words often lack depth, responsiveness, and active participation. In fact, they may ignore even critical discussions.

3 – Your Partner Prioritizes Digital Interactions: The Invisible Competitor

If the ding of a notification supersedes the pulse of a conversation, your partner may prioritize their phone over you.

Watch carefully. Here are a few signs your partner prioritizes the digital space over your reality as a couple:

Responding to texts during conversations
Engaging with virtual platforms during shared moments
Sharing more smiles on social platforms than on you.

These behavioral signs are not about incidental or necessary digital interactions. Instead, they show a persistent pattern where digital engagements perennially overshadow your relationship.

4 – Emotional Reliance on Virtual Validation: When Likes Override Love

For some people, digital applause often echoes louder than silent appreciation. That response can reveal an addiction to the phone. The problem presents as emotional reliance on virtual validation.

Does your partner’s mood, self-worth, or emotional state begin to sway with likes, comments, and online affirmations? They may phub you often if they rely on emotional validation via phone.

5 – The Screen Shield: Avoiding Emotional Conversations with Digital Diversions

An additional sign of phubbing occurs when the phone screen serves as a shield. Your partner may use it to avoid vulnerability. It’s how they hide from emotional conversations and intimate connections.

Observe whether the onset of emotional dialogue sends your partner instinctively reaching for their digital device.

Is the screen becoming a convenient escape during moments of emotional complexity, a shield that safeguards from the vulnerabilities that genuine conversations demand? This behavior is not an occasional distraction. Instead, it becomes a consistent pattern where screens conveniently surface as protective shields amidst emotional interactions. Thus, they avoid authentic emotional presence.

How to Help Your Partner Realize They’re Phubbing You

A relationship where phubbing permeates can be isolating and perplexing, especially when your partner may be unaware of their behavior. Steering them toward realization without inducing defensiveness or resentment demands a delicate, empathetic approach.

Let’s explore strategies to help your partner become aware of their phubbing gently and constructively.

1 – Begin with Empathy, Not Accusation

Understand that your partner’s phubbing might stem from habit rather than intentional neglect. Approach the topic with empathy and express your feelings without casting blame. Try to use “I feel” statements like, “I feel ignored when you use your phone during our conversations.” This technique keeps the discussion centered on your emotions rather than accusing them.

2 – Use Concrete Instances of Phubbing

Instead of speaking in generalities, pinpoint specific instances where you felt phubbed. Describing particular moments where their attention veered more towards the phone than the interaction. This detail can provide clarity. It can also stop the discussion from seeming baseless or exaggerated.

3 – Establish a No-Phone Time

Introduce the concept of dedicated no-phone times or zones. These might occur during meals or in the bedroom. Explain that this is not a punitive measure. Instead, it is a way to enhance the quality of your together time. Please focus on the benefits to reduce resistance and gain their cooperation.

4 – Engage in Analog Activities

Sometimes, subtly shifting away from digital distractions can be an eye-opener. Engage in activities that require undivided attention and presence. Try some fun activities like hiking, board games, or art projects.

Conscious engagement in such activities might help your partner naturally realize the stark contrast between divided and undivided attention.

5 – Seek Feedback

Ask your partner how they feel about your phone usage and whether it impacts them. This discussion creates a reciprocal conversation. It also provides them a platform to reflect and share, making them more receptive to your feelings and observations.

6 – Offer Positive Reinforcement

When your partner does commit to spending undistracted time with you, acknowledge and appreciate it. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to be mindful of their digital usage consistently.

7 – Propose a Digital Detox

Suggest partaking in a digital detox together. During that time, you will spend a designated time away from screens. This effort strengthens your bond and subtly communicates the importance of undistracted time together.

Guiding your partner towards recognizing and fixing the behavior demands empathy and open conversation. Remember that awareness is the first step towards change. With your gentle nudges, your partner can step from unconscious phone use into conscious connection.

Final Thoughts on How to Identify and Fix Phubbing

Couples must learn to recognize and repair this harmful behavior to maintain the integrity and depth of relationships. Balancing digital engagement without it permeating personal connections ensures the sustenance of quality interactions in relationships.

The strength of your connection strengthens as you grow together. Therefore, overcoming your phubbing situation is an opportunity to create a stronger love.

7 Behaviors People Who Were Abused As Children Display In Their Adult Lives

December 11, 2017 by Power of Positivity

The number of abused children is gut-wrenching

The National Children’s Alliance reports alarming 2021 statistics for the United States:

Approximately 600,000 children were victims of abuse. They also note this number is most likely under-reported.
Children under the age of one comprise the majority of abused children, equalling about 15% of all cases. Even worse, a full 28% of child abuse victims are no more than two.
1,820 children perished due to abuse or neglect.
77 percent of abusers are the child’s parents.
Across the country, neglect stands out as the predominant type of maltreatment. About 76% of those mistreated face neglect, while 16% undergo physical harm, 10% encounter sexual abuse, and a minute 0.2% become victims of sex trafficking.

As these numbers represent only instances of abuse reported to authorities, the actual statistics are likely to be much higher.

Some studies project that as many as one in four kids experience child abuse at some point in their life.

Abused Children and Brain Research

Behind the statistics, however, are the faces of our most delicate and vulnerable demographic – our kids. Child abuse is tragic on many levels; one being that the abuse occurs during the period of life when the brain is developing fastest.

Neuroimaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide significant insight into how the brain develops at a young age and how early experiences affect that development. Researchers are focusing more attention and resources on the effects of abuse and neglect on the developing brain, notably during infancy and early childhood.

Because of the tremendous work achieved by neurologists, neuropsychologists, and other experts, scientists have brought forth indisputable evidence linking child abuse and neglect with structural changes in the brain.

With this advanced brain research, scientists are now able to give biological explanations for what practitioners have long been describing in behavioral, emotional, and psychological terms.

The Brain’s Carryover Effect: Abuse to Adulthood

Peg Streep, a New York City-based psychologist, explains the correlation between childhood experiences and psychological traits later in life:

“While it’s true that everyone’s childhood experience is different … there are nonetheless broad and reliable statements which can be made about the effect of (childhood) experiences. They are invaluable to understanding how your childhood shapes your personality and behaviors.”

The reason for this “carryover effect” is two-fold. First, the forming new brain pathways – a process called myelination – is 80 percent finished by age four. Second, our brain and mind are predominantly in an “information absorption” state until age six.

Many scientists say the subconscious dictates about 95 percent of our behavior. When does this “subconscious programming” occur? From birth to six years.

In straightforward terms, what we experience during childhood directly affects who we are as adults. Which begs the question: What are the psychological aftereffects of an adult abused during childhood?

Here are seven behaviors people abused as children have as adults:

“Just as positive experiences can assist with healthy brain development, children’s experiences with child maltreatment or other forms of toxic stress, such as domestic violence or disasters, can negatively affect brain development.” ~ Childwelfare.gov

1. Social Difficulties

The chronic stress children experience from abuse may stunt the area of the brain responsible for social intelligence. As a result, adults who haven’t developed the necessary coping mechanisms or undergone treatment may have more difficulty interacting with others.

Adults abused during childhood may have difficulty understanding social cues, such as facial expressions.

2. Impulsive Behavior

Children and adolescents often display impulsive behaviors; in part, because the brain region that controls executive functioning – the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) isn’t entirely mature. Abused children are no different in this regard.

However, children who face this mistreatment are in a near-constant state of arousal – a toxic byproduct of the near-constant fear of physical or psychological harm. Without proper treatment, the adult may experience troubles resulting from impulsiveness.

3. Underachievement

Experiencing abuse at any stage in life makes concentrating on work or studies extremely difficult. Kids who are mistreated (including by their peers) often don’t live up to their intellectual capacity – and perform well below their capabilities.

In adulthood, it’s not uncommon for child abuse survivors to continue the underachievement cycle.

4. Depression and Anxiety

It comes as no surprise that abused children battle mental health issues in adulthood. Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health issues in the world. The chances of an adult developing both increases substantially with any history of child abuse.

The risk factors for an adult abused during childhood are higher because the individual often doesn’t possess the internal coping resources necessary to manage emotions healthily.

5. Poor Emotional Intelligence

Children learn to interpret emotions primarily through dyadic communication such as words and gestures. Both play a crucial role in helping the child articulate their feelings, manage fears, understand negative emotions, and develop resilience.

Without the ability to correctly interpret their emotional states, the future adult may never develop perhaps the most important individual trait: emotional intelligence.

6. Struggles With Intimacy

Child abuse is one of the most psychologically damaging experiences a human being can go through. An abused child never experiences the critical emotions of acceptance, love, and nurturing from the most important place – the home.

Fast forward to adulthood, and the individual almost certainly lives with a pervasive sense of insecurity and isolation. Predictably, when someone who exhibits acceptance, love, and affection comes along, the adult is ill-prepared to handle the situation. As a result, the adult will either (a) attach themselves to the person or (b) push them away.

This makes the development and maintenance of a healthy intimate relationship exceptionally difficult.

7. Aggression and Misbehavior

Several studies have linked early abuse to aggression and misbehavior later in life. In a study published in Child Maltreatment, researchers selected 676 abused or neglected children and 520 non-abused children at random from birth and school records.

The 1,296 participants were interviewed upon reaching the (average) age of 29. The study cites the following:

– Adults who had been abused or neglected were 38% more likely to have been arrested for a violent crime.

– Abused or neglected participants were 53% more likely to have been arrested as an adolescent.

– Prolonged abuse or neglect (per child protective service records) is “related to delinquency, drug use, and other problem behaviors” throughout adulthood.

Final Thoughts on the Impacts of Child Abuse

Child abuse is an unacceptably tragic event. Each child abuse case should be handled with the utmost urgency and confidentiality.

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, founded in 1959, focuses on preventing and treating child abuse. Serving the U.S. and Canada, the hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Assistance is provided in over 170 languages.

Per their website, the organization offers:

Crisis intervention
Relevant information
Referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources

The hotline can be reached at (1-800) 4-A-Child or (1-800) 422-4453.

Editorial note 09.06.2023: Updated statistics to reflect more current data.

7 Signs Your Partner Is About to Propose to You

December 11, 2017 by Power of Positivity

When you’re in a relationship for a certain amount of time, getting married is kind of expected by both you and everyone else around you outside of your relationship. Of course, everyone is getting ready to propose and make that commitment at their own pace. However, there are some signs that telltale when your partner is getting ready to propose to you.

“If you love someone then tell them right away; because after missing the train there is no use of yelling that you had a ticket” – Wrushank Sorte

Director of WomensHappiness.com, Paul Dobransky , M.D., says, “when a man makes is clear how special you are (obviously), by saying you’re the only woman who’s ever done fill-in-the-blank for him or made him feel this way, he’s on his way to don the tux.”

If you’re trying to figure out whether or not your partner is getting ready to pop the question, you might want to check out these signs to see if your partner is looking to get down one knee.

Here Are 7 Signs Your Partner Is Ready To Propose You

1. They’re suddenly interested in your jewelry

If you notice that your partner is suddenly interested in the rings you own and the size of the jewelry you wear, they might be preparing to get down on one knee. This means they’re thinking about jewelry—more importantly, they’re considering the kind of jewelry you love. You might soon be receiving an engagement ring crafted by classic fine jewellery manufacturers, renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and timeless designs. You can drop hints about wanting one of the canary yellow diamond rings at The Diamond Jewellery Studio.

2. They’re watching their budget

If your partner is suddenly watching their budget, they’re probably doing so for a reason. Especially if their job hasn’t changed at all, and they haven’t taken a pay cut. When your partner is being careful about money, it probably means that they’re working on making sure that their budget can last for a while. Especially if they plan on adding a new person into their family, via proposal.

3. They’ve been talking to your friends and family

It’s important that your family and your partner have a good relationship. However, it’s suspect when they start to chat with your friends and family more than usual, without your prompting. They probably are trying to gauge their reaction on your upcoming proposal, as well as trying to get your parents to give them a blessing for your hand in marriage.

4. They’re spending less time with their friends

Even when people are in a relationship, some people, especially guys, still tend to put their friends first before their significant others. Especially if your partner is real buddy-buddy with all of their friends, they probably are getting ready to leave the remnants of single life behind. They’re definitely getting ready to merge two lives into one. If they’re no longer making a big deal about hanging out with their pals or getting together for a “guys night”, then it’s a definite sign.

5. They talk about the future using “we”

Their future no longer consists of just themselves. When they say things about the future, they start including you in the decision making. They consider the future with you in it. They’re thinking of including you in all of their plans, which means that they consider you when it comes to moving, their job, and any other options that may come up. This is a sign that they’re ready to move forward in the relationship and get down on one knee. “Me” for them, is about to become “we”.

6. All of their friends are married or engaged

When all you do is hang out with people who are married or planning a wedding, it’s hard not to think about your life down the line. This is a red flag for a proposal when your partner’s friends are all suddenly married or getting ready to do so. That type of thinking will get their own gears turning. They’re definitely considering what it’s going to be like when the two of your tie the knot.

Relationship expert and author Andrea Syrtash says, “Does he roll his eyes at every wedding invitation he gets? Or moan about another double date with your married friends? This could be a giveaway that he’s not ready…yet. But if most of a guy’s network of friends is married already, he’s going to start feeling like the odd man out and be more comfortable taking the leap himself.”

Therefore, when the last of his friends gets engaged, prepare yourself for the big question.

7. Everyone is acting weird

The thing about proposals, is that you’re going you to be the last to know! Your partner has already told your parents, your family, and all of your friends. So, people tend to start looking at you funny, and waiting expectantly for you to tell them the news so they can act surprised. But, everyone knows that your partner is getting ready to pop the question – so when their eyes start flicking to your hands, consider it a sign that it’s on the horizon.

Final thoughts

You don’t want to ruin the surprise and the feeling of getting proposed to – but if you’re wondering where your partner lies in wanting to spend the rest of your lives together, these are some signs that they’re getting ready to move forward with a proposal. Don’t try to tease it out of them, or put pressure on them! Just sit back and enjoy it. Let the proposal come to you. It’s more fun that way!

References:
https://lewismalka.com/top-10-signs-he-is-about-to-propose/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/g2171/signs-he-wants-to-marry-you/?slide=1
https://honmarrymeagain.wordpress.com/

Researchers Explain 6 Reasons Why A Man Falls In Love

December 11, 2017 by Power of Positivity

What is it that makes a man fall in love with a woman?

Who is the type of woman that a man falls in love with? Women all over the world have been trying to figure this out. Popular society’s opinion makes it seems like men don’t fall for women the same way that women fall for men. Of course, that’s not true.

Relationship Coach Bobbi Palmer says, “A man falls in love when he feels like he could be a super hero with you in his life. When he feels accepted, appreciated and understood, and knows he can make you happy…he will be yours. Oh…and throw in that he thinks you’re hot!”

Women and men have the same emotions, and men will fall for women in their own unique way. Researchers have finally pinpointed several reasons men fall head over heels with women.

NOTE: We address the reasons why women fall head over heels in a separate article.

Here Are 6 Reasons Why A Man Falls In Love With Someone

“You can’t blame gravity for falling in love.” – Albert Einstein

1. He’s captivated by the whole package

The entire woman often enamors men. Her looks, personality, voice, and laughter – when men fall, they’re first captivated by the entirety of the woman.

The former CEO of eHarmony Grant Langston says, “The answer doesn’t sound sexy, but a man falls in love when his feelings for a woman reach a critical mass. He spends time with her and he sees that she is kind, loving, affectionate, loyal, fun, sexy, and of a positive spirit in quantities that reach a certain weight. One day he thinks, ‘Wow, I love this woman.’ He may not know why, but his mind/heart have taken a look at her in an in-depth way.”

Men very rarely fall for individual parts of the woman before falling in love with all of her. Even the individual woman’s scent is part of the allure for the man falling head over heals.

2. He feels he can make her happy

One of the reasons that men fall in love with women is that he feels like he can make her happy. Men and women want the same thing when it comes to love. When a man looks at a woman, he feels he can bond with her. When two people bond, they can make one another happy – and when men feel like they can make a woman happy, they also feel like she can make him happy.

3. He falls in love when she’s open to love

As much as the media loves to push the idea of women playing hard to get, men fall in love with women who are much more open to the idea of love. Women who know what they want in a partner and who they are as a lover are the type of women that men fall in love with.

“The things that makes a man fall in love really boil down to is a deep emotional connection. When you feel comfortable with being open and vulnerable with someone, you’re likely falling in love. Human beings as a whole need to feel connected to someone in order to let the walls down around them. We can only really feel anything, including love, when the walls are down,” says dating coach James Preece.

Men don’t want to fall for a woman who makes it hard to love her. Researchers find that men are more open to women who are open to them.

4. The way he feels around her

Men fall head over heels with a woman because of how he feels. When he’s around a woman, and he feels warm, happy, and full of love, it’s very easy for him to fall head over heels in love. When she makes him feel accepted and validated in his emotions, it’s precisely the feeling that makes him feel ready to take it to the next step. Men like to feel accepted and loved the same way that women do.

5. She says “Yes” to life

What’s better to a man than a woman who is ready to say “yes” to all the things life offers? She wants to try new and exotic foods, explore new places and travel to new cities and countries.

“Finding a person who fits into his life without huge disruptions is important. Men may like to ogle high-maintenance women, but they’re not the women they marry. A willingness to say, ‘Yes, I’ll try that’—whether it’s trying exotic food he likes, sports he plays, places he wants to go—makes a man fall hard,” says editor Cathleya Schroeckenstein.

Women who aren’t ready to explore new things aren’t the kinds of women who men fall head over heels with.

6. He falls in love with her purpose and passion

Men who fall in love with a woman fall in love with both the passion and purpose that she feels for life and the passion and purpose that he feels when he is with her. When a man falls in love with a woman, he becomes filled with passion, and the more passion he feels, the more love he feels. When a woman feels purpose in life, men can envision living that life right alongside of her – which makes them fall in love.

Final thoughts on why a man falls in love

Many women are often left with the question of what causes men to fall hard, wanting to use those answers to embody those traits. Men’s emotions are often shrouded in mystery because men aren’t encouraged to express them by society. Of course, any man knows that isn’t true, and women often find out that men feel just as deeply as they do. This is why researchers have found the reasons that cause men to fall head over heels in love with women.

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Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181573.php https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/06/scientific-research-hiccups-cure-cause

Is your partner phone snubbing you?

Identifying Phubbing: A Silent Relationship Intruder

The Discreet Disconnect of Phubbing

Phone Priority: The Screen That Shields

The Ten Signs of Phubbing Everyone Should Know

1 – Chronic Distraction: The Silent Stealer of Moments

2 – Absence in Conversations: Silent Words in Verbal Exchanges

3 – Your Partner Prioritizes Digital Interactions: The Invisible Competitor

4 – Emotional Reliance on Virtual Validation: When Likes Override Love

5 – The Screen Shield: Avoiding Emotional Conversations with Digital Diversions

How to Help Your Partner Realize They’re Phubbing You

1 – Begin with Empathy, Not Accusation

2 – Use Concrete Instances of Phubbing

3 – Establish a No-Phone Time

4 – Engage in Analog Activities

5 – Seek Feedback

6 – Offer Positive Reinforcement

7 – Propose a Digital Detox

Final Thoughts on How to Identify and Fix Phubbing

Abused Children and Brain Research

The Brain’s Carryover Effect: Abuse to Adulthood

Here are seven behaviors people abused as children have as adults:

1. Social Difficulties

2. Impulsive Behavior

3. Underachievement

4. Depression and Anxiety

5. Poor Emotional Intelligence

6. Struggles With Intimacy

7. Aggression and Misbehavior

Final Thoughts on the Impacts of Child Abuse

Here Are 7 Signs Your Partner Is Ready To Propose You

1. They’re suddenly interested in your jewelry

2. They’re watching their budget

3. They’ve been talking to your friends and family

4. They’re spending less time with their friends

5. They talk about the future using “we”

6. All of their friends are married or engaged

7. Everyone is acting weird

References: https://lewismalka.com/top-10-signs-he-is-about-to-propose/ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/g2171/signs-he-wants-to-marry-you/?slide=1 https://honmarrymeagain.wordpress.com/

Here Are 6 Reasons Why A Man Falls In Love With Someone

1. He’s captivated by the whole package

2. He feels he can make her happy

3. He falls in love when she’s open to love

4. The way he feels around her

5. She says “Yes” to life

6. He falls in love with her purpose and passion

Final thoughts on why a man falls in love

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Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181573.php
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/06/scientific-research-hiccups-cure-cause

References:
https://lewismalka.com/top-10-signs-he-is-about-to-propose/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/g2171/signs-he-wants-to-marry-you/?slide=1
https://honmarrymeagain.wordpress.com/

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