Page 1581

8 Signs You Have A Potassium Deficiency

June 24, 2016 by Kristen Lawrence

Many of us hear that potassium is essential in one way or another. What many of us do not know is precisely why. We may be aware that a banana has high potassium, but what about other foods? Do we know the functions of this nutrient?

Potassium is a macromineral, the most critical type of mineral. Also within this class are calcium, chloride, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, and sulfur. It is also an electrolyte – a mineral that carries an electric charge. This helps to explain why the mineral is vital to neural capabilities partially.

In terms of function, potassium is essential to nerve and muscle networks, such as allowing each to communicate. Potassium is also necessary for transporting nutrients into cell bodies and eliminating waste products from cells.

Potassium deficiency is precisely that: minimal to low levels of potassium. We will cover eight of the most prominent signs of a deficiency.

We’ll also list some terrific sources of this vital nutrient to get us (potassium neglecters) back on the right nutritional track.

Here are eight signs of potassium deficiency:

1. Abdominal cramping or bloating

The digestive tract is lined with smooth muscles tissue and controlled by the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. As mentioned, potassium is an electrolyte that helps stimulate functions of the neural network – including digestion. When potassium is lacking, the intestines do not function normally, which compromises healthy digestion.

2. Constipation

Since we’re on the topic of digestion, it may be best to get this one out of the way. As some of you have undoubtedly guessed, yes, abnormal potassium levels can cause constipation. It’s also worth mentioning that too much potassium can cause the same effects.

3. Brain fog

Low potassium levels can also interfere with regular electrical activity in the brain. It may lead to brain fog – overall feelings of confusion, sluggishness in thinking, and inability to concentrate. Getting enough potassium is essential to brain function, especially for individuals with demanding occupations or when in school.

4. Fatigue

This is perhaps the most common symptom of potassium deficiency: feelings of fatigue and exhaustion. Potassium is involved in the functionality of every cell in the body. Every. Single. One. Potassium is an essential part of a well-balanced diet and a critical component of energy production. Of course, not consuming enough of something that produces energy can result in less energy.

5. Feelings of thirst or frequent passing of urine

Feeling thirsty or frequent passing of urine can occur when the blood’s potassium levels are too low. This is particularly true when the body’s sodium levels are also depleted. When this happens, the kidneys’ ability to retain water is suppressed, which needs to be released in urine. The body loses its ability to regulate water balance, creating frequent or extreme thirst feelings.

6. Heart Palpitations

Potassium is essential for the proper regulation of blood pressure. Blood pressure directly affects our heart rate, which means that adequate potassium levels are vital to our heart rate. As such, low levels can potentially result in irregular heartbeat and even heart palpitations.

7. Skin Problems

Dealing with a chronic potassium deficiency can manifest into skin problems, including acne and dry skin. As potassium is involved in the healthy functioning of every cell in the body, it is probable that this nutrient also serves some capacity in keeping our skin healthy.

8. Ringing or vibrating in ears

Since potassium has such an effect on blood pressure and heart rate, inadequate potassium levels can indirectly result in ringing or vibrating of the ears. These are often secondary symptoms of irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations. Therefore, maintaining healthy levels of potassium consumption can indeed assist with two problems related to potassium deficiency.

Now that we have a list of potential symptoms, here are some great sources of potassium. Nearly every case of potassium deficiency is diet-related; in other words, extraneous factors (e.g., genetics or environment) have minimal effect.

8 Foods that Boost Your Potassium Levels

Most of the time, potassium deficiency occurs due to dietary habits such as consuming too much salt, which causes electrolyte imbalances. Luckily, there are plenty of healthy, plant-based foods you can incorporate into your diet to boost potassium.

According to the FDA, the Daily Value (DV) for potassium is 4,700mg for healthy adults. You can easily reach the recommended potassium intake by consuming the foods below.

1. Various Types of Potatoes

Potatoes aren’t just delicious. They also have potent antioxidants and essential nutrients. Plus, you can use them in various dishes such as stews, casseroles, and soups. If you want to reverse a potassium deficiency, sweet potatoes, in particular, should be a staple in your diet.

A 1-cup (328-gram) serving of mashed sweet potato contains 16% of your recommended daily intake. If you choose to eat whole sweet potatoes, a medium one boasts 541mg of potassium while a large one contains a whopping 900mg. Sweet potatoes are also rich in Vitamin A, an essential nutrient that promotes cell growth, immune function, and vision health.

Some people in the health community frown upon regular potatoes, but they have essential nutrients. One medium boiled potato contains around 12% DV.

In addition, all varieties of potatoes have complex carbs, protein, and fiber along with minimal fat. There’s a reason why cultures worldwide have centered their diets around potatoes, as they’re a nutrient powerhouse.

2. Yams

These starchy tubers originated in Asia, Western Africa, and the Caribbean. They’re very similar to sweet potatoes in appearance, but they aren’t nearly as sweet. They also have white, yellow, purple, or pink flesh compared with sweet potatoes’ orange interior.

Yams are rich in potassium, with one cup (136 grams) having 19% of the DV.

3. Bananas

When most people think of curing a potassium deficiency, bananas immediately come to mind. While other foods have higher potassium levels, bananas still boast around 9% of the DV or 422mg for an average-sized fruit. Besides this mineral, they have important vitamins such as B6 and C and various phytonutrients and antioxidants.

4. Dried Fruit

If you have a potassium deficiency, dried fruit makes a delicious, healthy way to boost your intake. Since they’re shelf-stable, they won’t get moldy like fresh produce, so that you can enjoy them for quite some time.

Just 1/2 cup of dried apricots provides 16% of your daily allotment of potassium, and a whole cup boasts over 1,500 mg! They also have other essential nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium and make a great addition to trail mixes.

If you’re not a fan of apricots, you could also try prunes, raisins, dried plums, peaches, or figs.

5. Tomato Products

Tomato products such as juices, sauces, and pastes can help reverse a potassium deficiency. You can also eat tomatoes raw, but processed products contain higher potassium levels. In fact, just three tablespoons of tomato paste pack over 10% of your DV, or around 486mg.

You can get even more potassium from sun-dried tomatoes, which have over 1,800mg in just one cup! They’re also filled with protein, fiber, and vitamins and can boost immunity. In addition, tomatoes contain antioxidants such as lycopene that can lower inflammation, insulin resistance, and cancer risk.

6. Seafood

Not everyone enjoys clams, but if you do, they can provide around 534mg of potassium in a 100-gram serving. Clams also have around 78% of the DV for selenium and generous amounts of iron and B12.

In addition, they’re high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower inflammation and reduce the risk of various diseases.

Other types of seafood, such as lean and fatty fish, can increase your potassium intake. For example, half a fillet of cooked cod contains 12% of the recommended intake, and a whole fillet (150 grams) of haddock provides 11% of the DV.

Furthermore, half a fillet of cooked salmon offers a staggering 21% of the DV, and the same serving of tuna serves up 17% of the DV.

7. Beans and Legumes

Most lentils and beans have tons of potassium, fiber, and other vital nutrients. For example, just 1 cup (179 grams) of white beans offers twice the amount of potassium as a banana, providing around 21% of the DV. The same serving of black beans boasts 17% of the DV. Kidney beans have over 600mg of potassium in one cup, making them a great choice.

Lentils also offer a hefty dose of potassium, containing about 15% of the DV for one cup. Other legumes such as chickpeas, soybeans, and peanuts provide 10%, 19%, and 23% for the same serving. In addition, all of these foods provide an excellent source of protein for vegans and vegetarians.

8. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens provide a lot of potassium and other essential minerals to keep the body and mind functioning properly. For instance, a cup of cooked spinach contains over 800 mg, while the same serving of Swiss chard provides a whopping 1,000 mg of potassium, about 20% of your DV.

Plus, both of these green vegetables contain Vitamin A and K and magnesium, folate, and fiber. Since they’re low in calories, you can enjoy them without worrying about overeating.

Final Thoughts on Identifying a Potassium Deficiency

Sadly, a growing number of people worldwide suffer from a lack of this vital nutrient due to eating more processed foods. Plant foods such as greens, potatoes, and lentils have high potassium, but they take time to cook.

Since many people are pressed for time, they opt for fast food or other unhealthy options. However, getting back to the basics and eating from nature can restore our health and relationship with food.

If you have a potassium deficiency, you may notice abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, and brain fog. If you’re curious, you can ask your doctor for a blood test to check your nutrient levels.

7 Excuses A Liar Will Try To Give You

June 24, 2016 by Power of Positivity

You asked for something or you expected things to turn out differently than they did. But now the liar talking to you is trying to give you one of these seven excuses about why they couldn’t do what you asked for.

We have all lied at some point in our lives, often to those we love most to avoid something we don’t want to do. Researchers believe that lying is a social construct that is useful to balance the power in relationships when the person you are lying to has more power than you do and you want to take away some of their power.

Let’s look at some of the seven excuses that a liar will try to give you are, and learn how to see them clearly.

7 Excuses A Liar Will Try To Give You

1. There wasn’t enough time

A liar will try to give you this excuse when they mean that they didn’t have enough time for themselves. Someone who is lying to you about not having enough time to do whatever it is that you have asked for is saying that they wanted that time for themselves.

2. I forgot

A liar will use the excuse ‘I forgot’ because it wasn’t important to the liar. Forgetting something that was important to you means that the liar is excusing themselves from caring about you. This can hurt, but we also are prone to lapses of memory ourselves. If this is an excuse you have heard before, let the liar know it and make sure that they know you won’t tolerate their excuse either.

3. I’m really a good person

People may lie to maintain a false image if themselves. In other words, someone who thinks they are more attractive than they are might believe everyone is flirting with them. Believing the lie is better for their self-esteem than believing the truth so they choose to tell a lie.

4. I didn’t want to hurt you

Withholding the truth or even telling a white lie is sometimes thought of as okay in social settings to protect the feelings of another person. For example, if your partner asked if their outfit made them look fat, you might reply no, even if you thought that it did.

5. No one told me it was wrong

In a study of medical students’ ethics as they were supervised by faculty, researchers found that some students got mixed messages about whether or not it was okay lie to a patient about their likely health outcome. For example, faculty in one case said that saying that everything was okay after a successful surgery was not morally wrong, even if the patient’s overall health was still poor, because it was not a lie to say that the surgery itself went well.

Sometimes a liar will give you the excuse that they didn’t know it was wrong. This can be true if you fail to set good boundaries with people or if you fail to give consequences when you find out that you were lied to.

For example, you might tell your friends that you always want them to be honest with you, even if they think it might hurt your feelings. This way, you have made a clear statement of values for your friendship. If a friend lies and you find out about it, you might also tell them that there are consequences, like not helping them the next time they need it.

6. There’s a grey area

Things are not always black and white when it comes to the truth. There’s your side of the story, my side of the story and the truth which lies somewhere in between. Sometimes the words that a person uses to describe events are not the same ones that you would use to describe the same thing. That is the only difference between one version of an event and another perspective.

7. You would have done the same thing yourself if you had been there

Asking you to be empathetic is one way a liar will try to get you to see their side of the story. We have a self-serving bias when it comes to judging right and wrong when a lie is told, meaning that if we told the lie, we believe there was a justifiable reason, but if we find out that someone else told the same lie, we blame the other person more harshly for the same crime.

Psychologists call this the ‘fundamental attribution error’ of human logic that what someone else does is selfish. But when you do it it’s justifiable.

Researchers studying the reasons and consequences of lying found that ‘Two of three lies are told for selfish reasons, and three of four are told to social or economic superiors,’ meaning that we are more likely to lie to people who we think are wealthier or have more status than we do in order to level the playing field.

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

What Being Left or Right-Handed Reveals About Your Thoughts

June 24, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Left or right-handedness is something you might not give much thought to, unless you have to use lefty scissors. However, what it reveals about how you think might surprise you.

We have one brain but it has a left and right half. Scientists call these hemispheres, and they connect in the middle. Each hemisphere of your brain does different tasks. Indeed, whether you are right or left-handed relates to how you think about problem-solving, your preferences, and it is also related to other personality factors as well.

Let’s look at what being right- or left-handedness says about how you think compared to people who use the opposite hand.

What Being Left or Right-Handed Says About How You Think

Researchers in the Journal of Experimental Psychology created an experiment where people looked at fictional characters called Fribbles and chose either a Fribble on the right or on the left column that looked the most trustworthy, attractive, smart, and other traits. They found that right-handed people had a bias toward selecting the Fribble on the right and left-handed people toward selecting the one on the left.

This side-bias also reflects negative traits but in reverse. For example, when asked to pick which Fribble is the most deceptive, unattractive, or unintelligent, right-handed people choose the Fribble on the left. Conversely, left-handed people chose the one on the right. Clearly, we associate good things with the side that our dominant hand is, and we associate bad things with things that are on the side of our opposite hand.

Awareness of this side-bias is helpful to make sure you are thinking clearly when making decisions. If you know that you tend to prefer things on the right side of the aisle, see what you’re missing on the left. Mind blowing!

Side Dominance

Are “righties” also right-eye or right-leg dominant? It appears that this is the case for most people. Only about 1% of the population is ambidextrous, meaning that they can equally use their left or right hand. Being one-side dominant in how you approach everything from dancing to sighting a target makes you different than your other-side-dominant friends.

How Right-Handed People Think and Their Personality Traits

The good news for right-handed thinkers:

Right-handed people have it easier at school than left-handed people. Conversely, teachers often encouraged lefties to change hands when writing.
Right-handed people score higher on intelligence tests. But testing is not everything, right?
Right-handed people live an average of nine years longer.

The bad news for right-handed thinkers:

Right-handed people have very few downsides to being right-handed. However, they may fail to see the more creative left-handed way of thinking as a viable option. Not being able to see more creative solutions may limit a right-handed person’s thinking to fewer options.

One other small piece of bad news for right-handed thinkers; a study of psychiatric patients found that ‘among psychotics in general there was a higher proportion of fully right-handed subjects.’ Being right-handed does not cause you to be psychotic, it’s just that coincidentally more psychotics use their right hand than their left.

How Left-Handed People Think And Their Personality Traits

The good news for left-handed thinkers:

Left-handed people only make up about 10 to 15% of the population, so you are a rarity if you are left-handed. Additionally, left-handed people tend to be more creative in the arts and in creative problem-solving skills than right-handed people.
Left-handed people score higher in measures of trust than right-handed people.
Lefties people are slightly more likely than right-handed thinkers to be geniuses.
Left-handed men are more likely to out-earn right-handed men, by as much as a 26% increase in income if they were also college graduates.

The bad news for left-handed thinkers:

Left-handed thinkers have to adapt to a world created by right-handed people. From your computer desk layout to the can-opener, you find struggles in places that the right-handed majority cannot appreciate. Here are a few differences in how left-handed people think.

Left-handers score lower on intelligence tests than right-handed thinkers
Left-handed people tend to be better at creative problem-solving tasks
Left-handed women are more likely to be introverted and have fewer close friends

Other interesting facts about left-handed people

Interestingly enough, being left or right-handed might be coincidentally connected to sexual preference. Researchers found that gay participants in a study were 50% more often left-handed than heterosexual people in the study. Homosexual men had 82% greater odds of being non-right-handed than heterosexual men. However, the difference was only 22% greater odds of gay women being non-right-handed than heterosexual women.

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

Should You Put Onions On Your Feet Before Bed?

June 23, 2016 by Power of Positivity

You may have heard that people are slicing onions to put on their feet before bed. So out of curiosity, you wondered what would happen.

In this article, we will look at the reasons you should put onions against your feet and in your socks before you go to bed, and why you might want to try this interesting health remedy.

Here’s What Happens When You Put Onions On Your Feet Before Bed

Our skin is our body’s largest organ and it can absorb chemicals, ions, minerals, drugs, cosmetics, and other things that we put on it. Transcutaneous absorption is the name for the process by which substances are absorbed through the skin.

Studies show that it is possible that you can absorb some of the nutrients from onions when you put them on your feet as you sleep. Researchers studying the skin of newborns found that coconut oil and safflower oil rubbed onto a baby’s skin resulted in a rise in the triglycerides and fatty acids in the bloodstream of the baby. The oil that was rubbed onto the skin actually showed up in the bloodstream as though the babies had eaten it.

Foot reflexology, Ayurvedic medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, and traditional Chinese medicine all have healing practices that involve stimulating areas on the feet that correspond to the health of our overall body. The points at which you stimulate the feet correspond to energy meridians that lie in the body.

Antibacterial Properties of Onions

whfoods.org says that onions are similar to garlic in their antibacterial properties, but have not been as widely researched as garlic has been. The San Francisco Globe’s online newspaper quotes Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, who says: ‘Onions feature a variety of sulfur compounds that have antibacterial activity. … Furthermore, cutting an onion triggers the release of enzymes that initiate a chemical reaction producing propenesulfenic acid, which in turn decomposes to yield sulphuric acid … sulfuric acid also inhibits the growth of bacteria.’

How To Put Onions On Your Feet Before Bed

Slice any type (white, yellow or red) to about a half-inch thickness. Place a slice of onion against the bottom of your foot covering the bottoms of the toes and slide your sock on over your foot and the onion until it covers the first onion slice. Add a second or third slice of onion to cover the arch and heel of your foot before pulling your sock on all the way.

If you have any hard skin growths on your feet, also known as corns, onion can also help remove them while you sleep. First, soak a slice of onion in vinegar and then place it on top of the corn on your foot before you slip on socks and go to bed. The combination of the acetic acid in vinegar and the sulfuric acid from the onion will help soften the skin of the corn and may make it easier to slough off the skin on the corn when you use a pumice stone or foot file.

Nutritional Benefits Of Onions

Onions are a stinky food that we love to add to pizza, salads, salsa, sandwiches, and other foods to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients. The stinky reason that onions smell this way is sulfur.

Sulfur is a very important nutrient in our diet because it helps the formation of proteins. When you put onions on your feet before bed, you are making a source of sulfur available to your body to absorb while you rest.

Sulfur is important to building healthy hair and fingernails, for making insulin in the body, and for building muscles. Putting onions on your feet before bed allows the onion oil to penetrate your skin, providing sulfur for your body. Of course, you can eat onions to get this benefit as well, just don’t eat the same ones.

Health Problems That Improve By Putting Onions On Your Feet

Onions have been used to ‘purify the blood’ for centuries as far as folk remedies are concerned. There are several health problems that may be helped when you put them on your feet before bed.

Liveandfeel.com lists the following health problems that you might help by applying onion oil to the skin:

Common cold and flu
Gland imbalance
High blood pressure
Immune system complaints
Inflammation
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Weakness

Buying oil in concentrated form is also an option for those not looking to wear slices of onions to bed. Look for a high-quality, organically grown essential oil variety. To apply the oil to your feet before bed, mix 2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or avocado oil. Rub the mixed oil on the soles of both feet before bed and wear socks to keep your sheets from getting messy.

4 Simple Exercises That Improve Balance and Strength

June 23, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Graceful fluidity of motion can be something you either lose with age or can improve upon every day by doing 4 easy exercises for strength and balance. Aging doesn’t have to mean that you lose your joint mobility and strength, but keeping active does help prevent the decline of your physical abilities.

Dancers are highly aware of their body position in the dance floor space. The same is true for athletes within the space of their sport.

People who give great attention to their physical form are said to have excellent proprioception.

Proprioception is your sense of your physical body and the force or effort it takes to move your body concerning your surrounding environment. This back-and-forth communication from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain is important for strength and balance. Improving communication by doing these four daily exercises will give your movements more fluidity.

Doing These 4 Exercises Every Day Can Improve Your Strength And Balance

Your posture, movements, and the force you use to move your arms, legs, and torso all require your brain to talk to your body. Your brain begins the process by sending a signal to your body to move, and the brain also tells your body the amount of energy to use when it moves.

For example, jumping from a standing position up to a platform one foot high requires less force than jumping to a platform two feet high. Your brain knows that, but your body doesn’t.

In our example of jumping on a platform, when you jump up, your feet and ankles send signals back to your brain about the position of your feet. Then the brain uses this information to decide if another movement is needed. For example, if you jumped onto a slippery surface, which your feet would know by their position and movement, your brain might need to decide to move again quickly.

Working on speeding up your brain-body communication is the easiest way to improve your balance and strength, as well as your posture and reaction time.

1. Joint position matching

As we age, we lose some of our body-brain communication, and we can fall more easily. Instability for elderly adults can be dangerous as it can result in hip joint fractures that result in limited mobility and decreased quality of life.

In a study of patients who had ankle injuries, muscle weakness and poor ability to perceive the position of the foot with eyes closed resulted in greater instability and the likelihood of another fall and injury.

Practice joint position matching with a partner or physical therapist to prevent injuries. To practice joint position matching, lie down, close your eyes, ask your partner to move your arm or leg into a specific pose, and then return your arm or leg to a flat resting position. With your eyes either open or closed, try to duplicate the arm or leg position and have your partner check your guess.

Your goal is to duplicate the exact body position and angle from the resting posture. The better you are at re-creating the angle and position of your body, the better your awareness of your muscle and joint position.

2. Plyometric exercises

Stretching and contracting muscles at a fast pace is a type of conditioning exercise called plyometrics. Plyometrics is also called jumping or jump training due to the use of trampolines and 18 platform jumping exercises for the lower body.

When jumping from a height, the joints and muscles are shocked when they hit the ground. This force then translates into upward momentum, which enables the body to jump higher. The muscles stretch when you land and contract as you jump up.

In a rehabilitation study after shoulder injuries, researchers used plyometric exercise equipment such as trampolines, weighted balls, and elastic tubing to test proprioception and mind-body communication in patients. They found that plyometric exercises can help nerve changes that enhance mind-body awareness and muscle performance.

3. Balancing exercises

Balance ball, wobble board, one-legged, and hand or shoulder stand yoga poses all help improve balance as well as muscle strength. While you are in a safe place and practicing balance, close your eyes and focus on your body position.

4. Strengthening exercises

Weight training isn’t the only strengthening exercise. Resistance bands provide the effect of weight training, as do isometric muscle exercises. Yoga is beneficial for both strength and balance, as is Tai Chi.

The muscle fibers are tested with strengthening exercises until they send pain signals to the brain. The brain learns the force it takes to create the pain signal and the mind and body connect to learn if the movement should continue or stop. Small tears in the muscle fibers are responsible for increasing muscle mass and the body tells the brain to initiate the repair of the muscles.

Believe it or not, certain strengthening exercises are best for certain personality types. You can read more about your Ayurvedic personality type and the exercise recommendations of Ayurvedic medicine in our related article What Exercise is Best for Your Body Type.

4 Steps To Healing After A Breakup

June 23, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Through every breakup we are left depleted, heartbroken, and undergoing several stages of loss. Many times there is shame, disbelief, unworthiness, and other traumatic emotional issues that arise. You can heal after a breakup. You can regain your confidence and place your heart back in balance. After the initial shock, anger, sadness and acceptance, you can pass on to the greatest source of healing, which is forgiveness.

An article in HelpGuide.Org shares that “breakups launch us into uncharted territory. Everything is disrupted: your routine and responsibilities, your home, your relationships with extended family and friends, and even your identity. A breakup brings uncertainty about the future. What will life be like without your partner? Will you find someone else? Will you end up alone? These unknowns often seem worse than an unhappy relationship.”

Romantic relationships give us tremendous highs of joy and hope for the future. When they fail, we experience the sense of loss beyond words. This leads to emotional and physical issues including stress, anxiety, and grief.

Here are four steps to healing after a breakup:

Try these four steps to begin healing your heart.

1. Mourn the loss during a breakup.

It doesn’t matter how long you were in a relationship. Breakups don’t take time into consideration as to how much the pain will be endured. You still must go through the 5 stages of loss that were first proposed by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler- Ross in her 1969 book, “On Death and Dying,” whether it was two months or twenty-two years.

Five stages of loss:

Denial and isolation. Sometimes a breakup catches us by surprise. We didn’t notice the red flags (or maybe there weren’t any). The moment it happens, and we are done with the relationship, we begin to deny that it happened. We return time and time again to the scenarios. It is then that we isolate ourselves from the world. Denial and isolation are defense mechanisms dealing with the shock.
Anger. This stage usually comes from vulnerability. We begin to blame the other person for doing this to us. We question everything in the relationship, angry for not taking action sooner. Anger can be explosive. It even escalates and magnifies guilt and shame.
Bargaining. This is the middle point to the stages of loss. We begin to rethink any decisions and even feel hopeful about a possible rekindling with our loved one. We begin to bargain with everything, including spiritual beliefs, friends, and egos.
Depression. Once bargaining ends its cycle of getting nowhere, we enter into the stage of deep sadness and depression. We begin to worry about what others think, how you will be talked about in social circles, and start regretting ever falling in love. This stage can linger for a long while and it’s important to get help. Depression can mask itself into feelings of hopelessness and even desperation.
Acceptance. Finally, when you are out of the darkness of deep grief, you enter acceptance. Acceptance is a deep breath of hope. Coping with any loss is a personal experience. Acceptance is finally acknowledging the loss. And, it’s in this stage that you can let go of all resentments, regrets, and start healing.

It is ok to get help!

While you are undergoing the deep mourning process, it’s important to seek help. This can be through conventional therapy, spiritual counseling, friends or other support groups. This is not the time to retreat into your own little space. It’s important to write, create, and talk about your feelings.

2. Start taking care of your body, mind, and spirit.

The first thing we deprive when we are sad is our health. We stop exercising, eating right, and doing the things we enjoy. You don’t have to return to normal habits immediately. You get a grace period to mourn. However, the faster you begin to care for your physical body, the easier it is for your emotional body to also heal.

Be in nature. Give yourself the gift of breathing clean air. You don’t have to start running or hiking, but you can just walk around the neighborhood. Sit outside under a tree. Allow nature to heal your soul.
Eat better. Cut out the sugars and fatty foods that you have been craving. Recognize any addicting habits that have taken over such as alcohol and drugs. Return your body to the equilibrium of continuum health by slowly integrating back your dietary needs. Watch cooking shows or search for recipes on the Internet for inspiration.
Join a gym or support group. Sometimes you need a new environment to start over. Take a yoga class. Join a cycling group. You can check your local newspaper for hiking or other groups. It is important to put yourself out there in new experiences. Check out spiritual gatherings or other like-minded subjects you have put aside because of the relationship.
Have a makeover. Get that haircut you have been thinking about getting. Buy new clothes and donate old ones. Get that beard shaven or trimmed. Rearrange your closet and your home to make it only yours.

3. Give of your time to heal from your breakup.

Volunteer for a hospital, church, library, homeless shelter, or other organizations. It’s satisfying to give of your time. You can’t focus on feeling sorry for yourself when you are seeing others who need so much more. Giving time to a charity raises your self-esteem and you begin to feel good about yourself.

Read to an elderly person. Many assisted living facilities to encourage volunteers to spend time with their folks. You will witness gratitude from these people who usually have no one come to visit.
Adopt a pet. Giving your love to a new animal has many healing benefits. You will start to feel an immediate unconditional love in return. Pets bring out the selfless generosity in us.
Babysit for a neighbor. Children can teach us how to play. They can show us how to take things lightly and enjoy life.

4. Meet new people.

As you begin to heal from the trauma of the breakup, it’s just as important to go out again. Reinvent yourself and put yourself in healthy places where you can be enriched and supported.

Go out with friends. Start going out to movies, dinner, or other social gatherings. You don’t have to go to a nightclub or a bar. You don’t have to rush into exposing yourself into social interactions. Restart socializing and feeling good about yourself.
Use your creativity to meet others. You can join a writing or book club. You can take a cooking or pottery class. Creativity opens you up and brings you joy.

Breakups are difficult events in our lives. We begin to question everything about ourselves. Remember that for every ending, there is a new beginning. You might just be making room for something much better in your love life.

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

Here are eight signs of potassium deficiency:

1. Abdominal cramping or bloating

2. Constipation

3. Brain fog

4. Fatigue

5. Feelings of thirst or frequent passing of urine

6. Heart Palpitations

7. Skin Problems

8. Ringing or vibrating in ears

8 Foods that Boost Your Potassium Levels

1. Various Types of Potatoes

2. Yams

3. Bananas

4. Dried Fruit

5. Tomato Products

6. Seafood

7. Beans and Legumes

8. Leafy Greens

Final Thoughts on Identifying a Potassium Deficiency

7 Excuses A Liar Will Try To Give You

1. There wasn’t enough time

2. I forgot

3. I’m really a good person

4. I didn’t want to hurt you

5. No one told me it was wrong

6. There’s a grey area

7. You would have done the same thing yourself if you had been there

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

What Being Left or Right-Handed Says About How You Think

Side Dominance

How Right-Handed People Think and Their Personality Traits

How Left-Handed People Think And Their Personality Traits

Other interesting facts about left-handed people

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

Here’s What Happens When You Put Onions On Your Feet Before Bed

Antibacterial Properties of Onions

How To Put Onions On Your Feet Before Bed

Nutritional Benefits Of Onions

Health Problems That Improve By Putting Onions On Your Feet

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

Doing These 4 Exercises Every Day Can Improve Your Strength And Balance

1. Joint position matching

2. Plyometric exercises

3. Balancing exercises

4. Strengthening exercises

Here are four steps to healing after a breakup:

1. Mourn the loss during a breakup.

Five stages of loss:

It is ok to get help!

2. Start taking care of your body, mind, and spirit.

3. Give of your time to heal from your breakup.

4. Meet new people.

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

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

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

Stay Connected With

Us

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

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