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14 Reminders For Anyone Suffering From Depression

September 14, 2016 by Power of Positivity

First of all, sorry that you are going through this and thank you for stumbling across this article about depression. Let us help you so that we can work together to help you feel better. You are an incredibly special person, incredibly cherished by your loved ones and our community, incredibly strong and brave to reach out. Your peace and happiness are your birthright and you are not alone, even if it feels that way. You are incredible, you are special, you are amazing. You truly are. If this humble article can help just one person – you, it will have succeeded greatly.

14 Things to Remember If You Struggle with Depression

Let us go through this list together. We are thinking of you every step of the way.

1. It all gets better

Even if you feel at rock bottom now, whatever life throws at you, you survive. Your wounds should be seen as a way to remind yourself that you did survive, after all, you are still alive, right? The perfect medicine for you from the Power of Positivity clinic is listening to Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees. Dosage: whenever you are feeling down. “Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother you’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive!”

2. You are far more than depression

This ailment does not define you as a person. Sure, it can alter your moods but depression is not you and you are definitely not depression. You may have seen Prince Ea on social media. He has done videos on YouTube about a plethora of topics. In one of his latest videos, he talks about depression and, using an analogy of the sky, he says: “YOU are the sky. Depression, frustration, sadness, they are passing clouds. Some are black, some are white. Sometimes they pepper the sky, and sometimes they fill the sky but they always come and go.” Using the MBCT technique mentioned previously, Penman agrees: “The idea is that you come to realise that thoughts come and go of their own accord and that your conscious self is distinct from your thoughts.” Be a warm, sunny day with no clouds!

3. Overthinking is normal

Think about it (not too much, obviously); overthinking is normal in depression, yet it causes problems left, right and center. “Not only does overthinking become a pattern with practice, but the thoughts tend to get darker over time. Negative thoughts about a specific experience can generalize or expand to color other areas of our life, causing us to scrutinize still more troublesome memories—amplifying the negativity,” states Jacqueline Marshall of PsyWeb. She adds: “Overthinking often encompasses our relationships, body image, family issues, career, and finances. It can also center on recent events such as an argument with a co-worker or friend. The things we ruminate about may be real problems that beg for solutions, but overthinking has never solved anything.”

4. Keep doing the things you love doing

Lack of motivation causes procrastination in the nation. You feel like you are not able to do anything, but completing the smallest of tasks can set you up on the road to recovery. Even more so if it is something for which you have a passion. It all comes from within, so find it in you to be the real you. Also, keep your support system tight, whoever that may be. Even if they do not fully understand, they will still help you in any way they can. Keep everyone communicating so that they can help you in the correct manner.

5. Get help

We want to help you by pointing you in the right direction, and that is towards being proactive in your recovery by way of meditation. Science backs this up with, according to Danny Penman, PhD, of Psychology Today, “a long lasting solution to the spiral of sadness”. The suggested course of action is using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which “marries Eastern meditation with Western cognitive therapy”. Penman adds: “The MBCT technique is simple, and revolves around “mindfulness meditation“. In this, you sit with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Concentrating on the rhythm of the breath helps produce a feeling of detachment.” This is followed “by gentle question-and-answer sessions modeled on those in cognitive therapy”.

6. You are not alone

You aren’t alone in your fight against depression. There are people around you who love you and are with you in the battle. They may not totally understand what you’re going through, but they love you. These people want to help you any way they can. Even at your lowest, you’re important to them. You are a good person who is worth not feeling alone in this battle. So, never give in to the lie that you are alone.

7. You have more control than you feel you do

Depression sucks. It feels overpowering, but you can control each day’s decisions. Even the smallest control is still some level of control. Depression may try to tell you things, but you don’t need to believe it. Remember, you drive your life, not depression. Even if you make small decisions about what to wear, what to eat, and where to go, this gives you control over your life. You can get together with people and talk to them. Don’t believe that you are out of control and there’s nothing you can do. You drive your life, not depression.

8. Don’t do things to make others happy

When you struggle with depression, your friends and family will have a lot of opinions about what you should and shouldn’t do. Suddenly, everyone’s an expert on the subject of depression. Even though these folks’ hearts are probably in the right place, you don’t need to feel pressure to do what they want. Most people don’t understand what it’s like to be depressed. The most important thing is that you are getting the help you need from professional counselors or whoever you’re getting help from, and following their advice. Take your time, and if necessary, ask people to please stop giving you advice.

9. God hears your prayers

Prayer is powerful. Don’t underestimate the power of your prayers. Researchers found that one-on-one prayer intervention improved depression and anxiety. It also increased spiritual experiences and feelings of optimism in people suffering from depression. Whether or not you’re religious, it’s worth finding a praying friend to pray for you. And it’s worth pouring out your heart to God. You never know, he might just surprise you with answers.

10. Allow others to love you

When you’re struggling with depression, it’s hard to let people into your world. It may be hard for you to trust people because you’ve been hurt in the past. But it’s worth it to reach out and allow people into your life. There are probably trustworthy people who want to love you and help you. They may be cringeworthy, but that’s okay. Imperfect people may be your best supporters and friends during your tough times. Family members trusted friends, and even your old gray grandma may be exactly who you need to love you and make you feel better about yourself and the world around you.

11. Write about your feelings, it’ll help you

There is something special about putting down your feelings on paper. Whether you write a story, a poem, or just a few lines about how you’re doing, it’ll help you feel better. Studies show that people who struggle with depression decrease their symptoms when they express themselves through writing. You can write in a paper journal or an online journal. Wherever you decide to write, it’ll be a therapeutic exercise and allow you a free expression of how you’re feeling and what’s on your mind. So, start writing today.

12. Never give up

Keep fighting, no matter what you’re facing. It’s not time to lie down and give up. No matter how scared you are, or how much you feel like quitting. You may feel you’re in the fight of your life today, but tomorrow will be better. Today, try to take care of yourself with these things:

Try to do a little physical activity outside, preferably
Try to eat regular, healthy meals
Do something, even if it’s a little thing. Take out the trash or load the dishwasher. Little activities matter.
Go to bed on time
Try to connect with someone else. Talk to someone.
Don’t make any big decisions until you’re feeling better
Don’t drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs. They will only make you feel worse.

13. Celebrate your small victories

Even small victories are worth celebrating. Getting out of bed is a victory. Brushing your hair, getting dressed, and going downstairs are all victories. Take note, you’re still in the battle, and you’re killing it. Give yourself a pat on the back. These small victories are huge. Congratulations!

14. Feeling are facts

Even though your feelings are legitimate, they’re not necessarily factual. It’s easy to confuse the two. But facts can be proven and validated. Feelings, on the other hand, can change depending upon the circumstances. It doesn’t mean your feelings are worthless, but it’s important to not take them seriously. Don’t make decisions based on your feelings. Try to get the facts, then decide if you should make a decision.

Final Thoughts on Caring for Yourself During Depression

Depression is an uphill battle for many people. Although it can be debilitating at times, there are ways you can take care of yourself during depression. Remember that you’re not alone. There are people who love and want to walk this journey with you. They may not understand what it’s like to go through depression, but it’s good to have a shoulder to lean on when you’re having an especially rough day. There are many things you can do to exert your control over depression, such as writing down your thoughts, praying, getting some exercise, eating well, and getting together with other people. Even if you don’t feel like doing these things, try to do one or two of them. Even small victories are still victories and worth celebrating. Most of all, you’re worth celebrating and your life is valuable. So, hang in there and don’t give up in the battle.

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

Researchers Reveal The Only Thing Someone Who Truly Loves You Wants In Return

September 14, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Your presence is presently requested. A present is not required, so just put that phone down and skedaddle (after reading this highly informative article, of course!).

The gift of face-to-face human interaction is yours by right. Sure, the distance covered thanks to today’s cutting edge technology has diminished greatly, yet paradoxically the same technology has put us further away from those whom we are with in a closer physical proximity. In other words, it brings us closer to Ed and Ted in Peru and Cebu respectively, but we are sailing away from Ned after we decided against his idea of a drink at the local bar. We would rather “like” a picture on Facebook of a dog “driving” a car… in Madagascar!

There was a young man on Facebook,
Who said to Tommy: “I’ll just have a look.”
But Tom was enraged,
While he scrolled down the page,
For more than five hours the young man took.

The Only Thing Someone Who Truly Loves You Wants In Return

You can physically hug a laptop or a Smartphone, just like you can hug a tree or a human being. Try not to laugh! Hugging technology, though, just does not have the same endorphin-releasing benefits as giving someone a hug (or even hugging a tree for that matter). It is also much easier to understand people face-to-face: intonation of words, body language, mood detection, lies. With communication through messengers or phone calls to a lesser extent, things can be misconstrued, which can cause tempers to flare up in an instant. Watch out for autocorrect; romantic relationships have ended just because of a misunderstanding caused by autocorrect. What about sending messages to the wrong people? Apologies galore!

Then there are Emojis, those mostly yellow faces showing happy, sad, angry, excited, and now there are SYMBOLS, HAND GESTURES, and even FLAGS. According to Emojipedia, there are 1,394 normal Emojis, 435 modified Emojis, and 22 Sequences and the most popular in 2015 is the laughing face. Yet these Emojis, ironically enough, can be and have been used by people without emotion attached to them.

In terms of human interactions, face-to-face (and/or body-to-body!) connections are the equivalent of using the elevator and technological ones are the equivalent of taking the stairs. You can start off and connect electronically, but sooner or later, that must be translated into physical presence. Long Distance Relationships (LDRs) are the perfect example. “LDRs are not more prone to break-ups than normal relationships,” states Long Distance Relationship Statistics. With that said, it takes on average 4 1/2 months before a LDR breaks down and 40% of all LDRs end in a break-up, it adds. The end goal of a LDR is to see each other at some point after a generally specified timeframe. This could be anything between once every fortnight and once a year, and sometimes less.

Let’s turn our attention to the tangible – presenting presents or money. To buy a little something is not essential but can help with the “absence makes the heart grow fonder” part of interpersonal relationships. However, gifts can never replace basic emotional and spiritual ties between people. What they can be is supplements to the bond, like taking vitamins in tandem with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Naturally, if there is an exchange of material goods and/or money for time spent or other activities, this would be a business transaction and would be foolish to think differently. For everything else, there’s MasterCard?v

His girlfriend Ann is a peach,
Deep in his pockets he has to reach
In the club without champagne,
It’s called on the account of rain,
For her to stay Rob must beseech.

In essence, love of the true variety is measured in time spent and memories shared with the other person or people in question. Technology is a back-up plan or a substitute and material objects are a supplement to the real deal. Love is:-

Life
Of the
Very
Existence

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

What Your Face Tells You About Your Health

September 14, 2016 by Power of Positivity

You might not know that it’s possible to tell a lot about your health just by looking at your face, but there is information revealed by just looking in the mirror.

What Does Your Face Reveal About Your Health?

The mirror has a lot to tell you when you look at the skin of your face because it can show underlying health problems. If you see some symptoms of the disease on the surface of your skin, it’s important to receive a test for health issues for the organs that correspond with that location of the skin problem on your face.

Distinctive facial features and what they reveal about your health

Researchers at the Department of Psychology of the University of Western Australia looked at the ways that body symmetry is associated with health. They ranked participants’ faces for symmetry (looking the same on both sides of their face), averageness (looking less distinctive than other people), and for distinctiveness (looking different from the average person). They found that facial distinctiveness ratings of 17-year-olds were associated with poor childhood health in males, and poor current and adolescent health in females.

Scientists then tested peoples’ perceptions of a healthy-looking face compared to an unhealthy face. When asked to rate faces for their perceived health, people gave averaged composite faces the highest health ratings, which is what they expected. Having an average-looking face is equated with being healthy. Symmetrical faces may signal a healthy mate. But we also tend to have preferences for symmetry in the design of our homes, our furnishings, and our clothes. Our pursuit of attractive and aesthetically pleasing faces may not be simply a pursuit for a healthy mate based on their face.

What does your birth month reveal about your health?

Skin discoloration

Smoking, drinking too much, and eating too many of the wrong kinds of foods can all discolor your skin. Here are some of the most common facial skin discoloration problems and what they reveal about your health.

Redness – A night of heavy drinking can make your face ruddy or red in the morning. Redness can also be due to an allergic response.
Blotchiness – Patchy redness can indicate rosacea, a skin inflammation response to an environmental irritant
Pale – a lack of blood flow to the face could indicate that a person is going to pass out.
Greenish – Usually an indication of nausea and potential vomiting. This could be from food poisoning, overeating, or excessive alcohol drinking.
Yellow – A yellow color to the skin and the whites of the eyes is a big cause for concern. This could indicate jaundice, liver disease, pancreatic disease, or gall bladder disease. Skin of the face can also become yellowish if you consume a lot of yellow or orange food that contains carotenoids like carrots or tomatoes.

Skin conditions

Dryness – Dryness is your skin’s way of asking for more moisture.
Flaky skin – skin naturally loses its top layer but flaky skin is usually more than just the surface layer of skin cells that shed. Exfoliate by scrubbing gently with a dry washcloth and apply a heavier moisturizer than usual. A few drops of coconut oil, olive oil, or castor oil will help relieve dryness.
Acne – Acne is an inflammatory response to clogged pores.
Deep Wrinkles – wrinkles are a normal part of growing older but deep creases may indicate that you are sleeping poorly with a pillow that is not conforming to your face.

What these zones of the face can reveal about your health

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and in Ayurvedic practices, acupressure stimulates parts the feet, face, and hands. This pressure can activate the body’s energy to heal other organs. There are energy meridians running up and down our bodies, similar to our veins and arteries. Along these energy meridians are corresponding points that when stimulated send energy to repair your internal organs.

Researchers studying acupuncture’s effects on the skin found that ‘In the field of dermatology, acupuncture has been reported to be beneficial for the treatment of acne, post-herpetic neuralgia [burning rash similar to shingles], psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria [itchy welts].’ They say that ‘Acupuncture is an old therapeutic method that includes both needle and non-needle acupuncture. Non-needle acupuncture includes moxibustion [smudging the body with mugwort], cupping, and acupressure.’

By stimulating these points on the face, a practitioner of acupuncture or acupressure can help heal these corresponding bodily organs.

Forehead – bladder, liver, stomach, gall bladder
Eyebrow – thyroid, liver, kidney
Chin – kidney, bladder
Nose – heart
Ears – kidney
Under eye – stomach, kidney, liver
Upper cheek – heart, colon
Lower cheek – lungs, stomach, colon
Upper lip – stomach
Lower lip – intestines
Below nose – spleen

The theory of Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine is that any skin problems in these areas relate to underlying health problems in the correlating organs. For example, a person with rosacea on their upper cheeks might have inflammation in their colon or problems with the heart or lungs.

Bottom line. Closely analyze changes in your face and skin on the rest of your body. This attention can make a huge difference in what health results you achieve. Awareness of any situation is of utmost importance, especially when it comes to your life.

4 Simple Remedies That Can Cure Smelly Feet

September 13, 2016 by Power of Positivity

“If your nose runs and your feet smell, you are built upside down,” goes the old joke.

How is your foot hygiene? Are those flippers you call feet as clean as a whistle or is it a case of “it ain’t easy bein’ cheesy”? You can tell us, your secret is safe with us…

What do you do to get rid of that nasty, horrible smell, known medically as bromodosis, from your feet? Use deodorant or perfume? If that is your weapon of choice and you bathe your feet in Elizabeth Arden, it is high time to change your plan of attack.

Here is a small, simple secret, so you can win the battle and the war. The odor is a symptom of what is really going on down there (in your feet, Dirty Den!); what you do not see is that your feet have roughly 1/4 million sweat glands on each, producing two PINTS of sweat daily between them. This makes bacteria make camp in your feet and reproduce, using your sweat as their food stuff that they crave to survive and thrive.

Regular washing is normally enough to remedy this, but what about under abnormal conditions? Athlete’s foot is a type of fungal infection in the feet, which is more common than most people realize. This particular infection comes to pass when the lowest points of our body are stuffed inside dark shoes for hours on end, and that probably means you, right? (If not, apologies.)

According to Lorraine Jones, a podiatrist – a doctor who specializes in feet, via the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom:

“Your feet sweat into your shoes all day so they get damp and bacteria start to grow. The bacteria continue to breed once you’ve taken your shoes off, especially if you put them in a dark cupboard. Then, when you put your shoes back on the next day, even if you’ve just had a shower, putting your feet into still damp shoes creates the perfect conditions for the bacteria to thrive – warm, dark and moist.”

You say: “Enough with the suspense already; just tell us what the four simple remedies to get rid of the smell are.” Alright then! Here they are if you are ready to do battle.

4 Simple Remedies For Smelly Feet

1. Change shoes/Wash insoles weekly

Rotation is the big sensation, baby! Do not use the same shoes twice in as many days. This gives the recently-worn shoes time to dry out, ready for next use. Also, it helps to have real ventilation to allow your feet to “breathe”, therefore not requiring the foot to sweat so much. The optimal material for this is leather, which is far better than any other presently.

2. Alum Powder

A bacteria killer in an antiseptic powder, although alum is better known with shaving. This remedy goes straight in for the kill, tackling the core problem – the bacteria. Sprinkle some on your feet, the soles, the ankles, and in between the toes. “However it is advised to use it every other day instead of every day,” suggests Wild Turmeric.

3. Black Tea Soak

Your proverbial white knight. This contains tannin, a plant polyphenol, an anti-bacterial substance (not to be confused with tannic acid – all tannic acids are tannins, but not all tannins are tannic acids). So, “you’ll need one pint of water (for boiling purposes) and two black tea bags. Both regular and decaffeinated varieties will work. You’ll next need to dilute the tea solution with two quarts of cold water,” states Life Hacker. Life Hacker continues: “Once you’ve created the mix, soak in it for one week, 30 minutes daily. You can lower the count to twice weekly once you see some results.”

4. Vinegar Soak

This will undoubtedly make you the bad odor conqueror. Harmless on the battlefield that is your feet, you will destroy the odor of smelly feet with this recipe, as explained by Mr. Avocado himself, David Wolfe: “Mix half a cup of vinegar with 8 cups of hot water. Let it cool until its comfortable and then soak your feet in the mixture for about 15 minutes. Then, rinse your feet. If you’d like to get rid of the vinegar smell, just wash your feet with some natural soap.”

Now fight the good fight and reclaim your territory that is your feet. Your feet belong to you, not microscopic invaders.

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

Researchers Reveal What Negative Thoughts Can Do To Your Health

September 13, 2016 by Chris Butler

We all know the phrase: “You are your own worst enemy.” What does it mean to you? Take a moment or two to pause and reflect. Nope, five seconds is not “a moment or two.” Search deep inside yourself–do you engage in negative thinking? Seriously. This is your health that is at stake.

Tick tock. Excuse me, let me grab a coffee while you work your interior magic. Keep up the excellent work reflecting.

Proof Positive: Negative Thinking Is Bad For Your Health

Done it? Good. Unfortunately, this is a one-way conversation, so your thoughts stay where they are (if someone out there has a way to convey their thoughts telepathically, we are all ears… or all minds, or whatever!). My particular sentiments on this are that it hurts. Yes, it kills me inside. It is known as “the nocebo effect,” the other side of the coin to the placebo effect. “The term nocebo (Latin noc?b?, “I shall harm,” from noce?, “I harm”) was coined by Walter Kennedy in 1961 to denote the counterpart to the use of placebo (Latin plac?b?, “I shall please,” from place?, “I please”); as a substance that may produce a beneficial, healthful, pleasant, or desirable effect,” affirms Wikipedia. Using the mind in life, we can either hurt or help ourselves.

With the placebo/nocebo effect, take Raj in The Big Bang Theory as an example, who had an irrational fear of talking to women without alcohol. With a bottle of (non-alcoholic) beer in his hand, he confidently walks up and talks to Summer Glau, a famous actress, on the train. He impresses her with his charm until Howard points out what Raj is drinking, and the poor Indian astrophysicist returns to his fearful self and timidly walks away.

Dr. Masaru Emoto’s Water Experiment

According to Dr. Masaru’s water experiments, Dr. Masaru Emoto studied water crystals for years to study the crystal structures that water forms. He landed on a beautiful piece of evidence of how negativity impacts the systems. He would play the crystals with different kinds of music and would also expose the crystals to other emotions. What Dr. Emoto found was that positivity led to beautiful crystal forms whereas hate and negativity led to the dissipation and irregularity of the crystal form.” What does this have to do with humans? I thought you would never ask: This has implications for the health of the human body as we are composed of 50-70% water.

Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D., science director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, was quoted as saying by Health.com: “Many negative emotions such as anger, fear, and frustration become problematic when those emotions turn into a more permanent disposition or a habitual outlook on the world.” Health.com does not stop there. It also talks about some negative emotional states and their impact on the physical and neurological parts of the well-being of a human being.

Cynicism and Negative Thinking

They continue… “Take cynicism, for example; a 2014 study published in the journal Neurology linked high levels of cynicism later in life, i.e., a general distrust of people (and their motives), to a greater risk of dementia compared to those who were more trusting, even after accounting for other risk factors like age, sex, specific heart health markers, smoking status, and more. This way of thinking may also hurt your heart.

A 2009 study from the journal Circulation looked at data from nearly 100,000 women and found that the most cynical participants were more likely to have heart disease than the least cynical folks. The more pessimistic women also had a higher chance of dying over the study period, versus those who were more optimistic about humanity.” Fear not, dear friends. We can change this. Simon-Thomas goes on: “We know that neural pathways are changing every minute of your entire life and that your brain is generating new cells throughout your life. And this neurogenesis is not only associated with the formation of new memories, but with mood stability, as well.”

Simon-Thomas concludes: “We can be deliberate about shifting our habits of feeling and thinking in the world.”

10 Habits To Reverse Negative Thinking and Be Happier In Life

Now that you know the reasons to bring more positivity into your life, here are some steps you can take to be more positive.

1. Seek to be grateful

Being grateful can have a powerful effect on your health. Negative thoughts take a backseat when focusing on what you are thankful for in your life. Take some time, every day, to look back at your day. Some people call this looking for the “roses” or the “thorns.” The roses are those good things that happened that you feel grateful for in your day. The “thorns” are those things that weren’t so great. Looking at both gives you a realistic picture of life. There’s the bad stuff, but there is always something to be grateful for in your daily life.

2. Take a deep breath

Breathing comes naturally, but when you’re struggling with negative thoughts, you may need to take a couple of extra deep breaths to get refocused. Breathe in deeply and slowly allow the air to escape from your mouth. Relax your body and your mind. This can reset your brain.

3. Help someone

Helping someone is a natural way to help push away your negative thoughts. Focusing on someone else and their problems put your negative stuff into perspective. It may feel counterintuitive to reach out to others when you’re feeling negative, but it’s worth the effort. Studies show that helping others improves happiness and decreases stress and loneliness. It also builds your resilience so you can face difficulties better. Some places that are always looking for volunteers include:

A soup kitchen
Churches
Schools
Local hospitals
Pet shelters

4. Be alert to your negative thinking

It’s good to understand yourself and how you think. It’s good to know your specific temptations. Being attentive to your negative thoughts helps you not be surprised by them. You know yourself well enough to realize you’re headed into dangerous waters by thinking a certain way. Asking yourself some questions can help you figure out why you’re having negative thoughts. Ask yourself things like:

Why am I feeling like this? What triggered these thoughts?
What happened that caused me to feel sad suddenly? Angry? Discouraged?
Did someone say something or do something that made me feel this way?

Once you understand what’s going on, you can redirect your thoughts away from negativity. Slowing down your negative thoughts and turning them around from the direction they’re headed is helpful. This helps you stop the downward spiral of negative thoughts and makes you feel in control of your thoughts rather than your thoughts being in control of you.

5. See the humor

Seeing the humor in your negative thoughts is a positive way to reverse your negativity. This doesn’t mean you try to pretend you’re not feeling negative, but it’s being able to laugh at yourself. It’s refusing to let the negative thoughts control you. You control them and how much they can affect your mood. Laugh at the ridiculousness of where your negativity is headed and tell them to turn around.

6. Don’t pretend

Of course, it’s never good to pretend you don’t have negative thoughts. It’s best to look your negativity straight in the eye instead of resisting them. Accept that you are having negative thoughts. You’ll feel better just being honest with yourself. Once you accept them, it’s easier to disarm their power over you. Your negative thoughts don’t need to define you. Tell yourself something like,

Yep, these bothersome negative thoughts have shown up again, but today, I’m not going to listen to them. I want to focus on what I’m doing. I don’t have time for the pain they’re trying to inflict on me.

7. Take Full Responsibility

Taking responsibility means you accept your part and make it right. If you did something and it’s bothering you, take responsibility for your part. If there’s an apology you need to make or some restitution, you should make, take action and do it. Then let go of it. Don’t beat yourself up about your mistakes. Everyone makes them. Perhaps you struggle with perfectionism, and making a mistake is awful to you. Remember, only God is perfect, so you are off the hook.

8. Write about your negative thinking habits

If you’re struggling with negative thinking, it’s essential that you deal with these thoughts before they continue. Writing your thoughts can help you feel better. It gives you a chance to express yourself and then move on. Writing your thoughts is a form of self-talk that enables you to get back into a positive mindset.

9. Choose to be happy

Every day, you can choose how you will face your day. You can decide if you want to be happy or sad. What you focus on is critical. You can focus on the good or the bad. You have the power to choose to be positive and happy about your life, even if it’s not perfect. Other ways to make yourself feel happier include:

Get out in fresh air
Be with people
Limited decisions
Stay busy

10. Learn how to handle the hard stuff

Life isn’t always easy. There are unpleasant things that happen at work, school, and even at home. People can be critical or judgmental of you. This can lead to feelings of anxiety or negative thinking. If you find this happening to you a lot, it’s essential to figure out how to respond to these things. Some things you can do when faced with criticism include the following:

Don’t react right away. Say something like, “I need some time to think about this. Get more information if required. Then digest what was shared.
See if there is any truth. Surprise, you’re not perfect. In every criticism, there could be a tiny grain of truth. Dig for that nugget. If the person is sincere in their desire to help you, you can go back and thank them for the insight. If the person is out to hurt you, skip going back.
Remind yourself about your identity. Remind yourself that this is one person’s perspective. Your identity isn’t tied to their view of you.
Don’t be a martyr. Instead, ask a friend for their thoughts on what was shared.
Don’t let negative thinking happen. Resist the urge to spiral down into negativity.

Final Thoughts On How To Replace Negative Thinking With Positivity

Everyone struggles with negative thoughts. It’s not that you have them, but what you do with these negative thoughts that is important. Understanding yourself enough to know you’re spiraling down into negativity is the first step. Taking action to turn those negative thoughts around, finding the humor in them, writing about them, or finding someone you can help are all positive steps to replace your negative thoughts with positivity.

10 Things Parents Do Differently To Raise Grateful Kids

September 13, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Many parents face the challenge of raising grateful kids. Consider this typical conversation.

– Dad, can I have a Smartphone?
– No.
– But dad, I need one to play Pokémon Go with Ted.
– No buts, Hugh. I already bought you a brand new laptop yesterday for “studying”. The answer is no.
– OMG, that’s so unfair. That laptop doesn’t count…
– It does when I paid a small fortune for it and you only use it talking smack with your friends.
– Ugh, I hate you, you useless piece of… *hissy fit continues*

If this rings any bells, they should be alarm bells. Ready to learn? Let’s get cracking.

Here are ten things parents who raise grateful children do differently:

1. Saying no consistently

Delayed gratification is the key here. If you just give children material things on a plate, they will not know the true value of anything. They need to learn that things that are earned are much more valued.

2. The importance of gratitude

This goes beyond saying “please” and “thank you” to counteract against taking tangibles and people for granted. Children are required to show appreciation for all the good in their lives. If not, make the child return material things to you, telling them that they are not ready to receive them yet, and you will keep a hold of them until gratitude is shown.

3. Set the bar high yourself

It is scientifically proven that kids follow examples far more than words. “If mum does it, so should I.” Would you donate food or items of clothing? Once you lead with your actions and stick at it, your children will follow suit. Consistency with the “stick at it” is paramount.

4. Keep an eye on 3rd party behavior

This includes close friends and family. If you chill with lazy Max too much, your children make a mental note of it and copy his laissez-faire mentality. Make sure the people who spend time with you and the family have the same or similar values to yours. If not, remember that “old habits die hard”.

5. Written thank you cards

Yes, really! Your open-mindedness is fully appreciated. Due to various distractions out there, attention spans are shorter than ever. This is a creative way to show children gratefulness, and it keeps them focused on showing it to the person who did them a good turn, instead of the violent shoot-em-ups on the PSP. Watch out for glitter in the carpet!

6. Let them pick themselves up every once in a while

When taught to “stand on your own two feet” early enough, you will find that children are resilient and find strength from within. A good example of this when your offspring has no choice but to be strong is when (s)he is suffering from a serious or life-threatening disease and needs urgent medical treatment. This mindset teaches independence and lets them know you trust them. However, having a support system is also important, so do not let them swim from New York to London just yet.

7. Keep multiples in the classroom and homework

OK, your punishment for buying Belinda the entire Bratz set is writing a thousand times: “I must not go out and buy Belinda multiples of things.” Do you think this is a joke? It is but with a serious message. Purchasing multiple amounts of things makes the child think it is easy to obtain them, therefore be much less likely to appreciate them. Stick to one. School is out on this one.

8. Have a chat with the grandparents

Grandparents tend to give their grandchildren the life of Riley, especially if they give their children the life of Brian. Is that an exaggeration? Yes and no. Yes, because it is not their intention. No, because there is no responsibility on their part. You must be clear with your wishes; the old folks will understand. You want them to give your offspring: love, attention, and happy memories. Not wanted: a shower of gifts, sweets, and money.

9. What are your child’s perceptions of the value of money?

Does (s)he think that “money grows on trees?” If so, take him/her to the bank to open a savings account and say that pocket money will be put there for him/her to manage. Inform firmly but fairly that if all the money is spent, you will only deposit the next installment at the usual time with the usual amount. Not a moment before. Not a penny more. No emergency trips to the toy store. Get ready for hissy fits galore.

10. Tell them your story

Everyone loves a good story, not just kids. Kids, however, are curious creatures by nature as they are getting to know the world around them. How did you get to where you are now in all aspects of life? Where did you and their other parent meet? How has your relationship stood the test of time if you are still together? If you are rich, how did you get all that money? Make your children identify with achievements, struggles, happiness, sadness, memories, and lessons. These opportunities provide a perfect chance to be grateful.

Happy parenting!

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Final Thoughts On How To Replace Negative Thinking With Positivity

1. Saying no consistently

2. The importance of gratitude

3. Set the bar high yourself

4. Keep an eye on 3rd party behavior

5. Written thank you cards

6. Let them pick themselves up every once in a while

7. Keep multiples in the classroom and homework

8. Have a chat with the grandparents

9. What are your child’s perceptions of the value of money?

10. Tell them your story

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