11 Ways To Block An Energy Vampire

April 20, 2016 by Power of Positivity

An energy vampire, or psychic vampire, literally feeds off the energies of those around them, attempting to drain their host of all his or her energy.

Energy vampires must feed off the energies of others in order to survive. They may not mean to act this way, but they have relied on other people’s energies for so long that they don’t know how to create their own energy. An energy vampire represents someone who feels vulnerable and lost, and doesn’t feel capable of surviving on their own. They also may not feel motivated enough to increase their own vibration, so they take to lowering the energies of those around them in order to boost their frequency. Sometimes, an energy vampire can conceal their ulterior motives quite well, but in general, they stand out like a sore thumb.

Now you know why happy, vibrant people tend to attract those with selfish motives: energy vampires have such a low vibration that the only way they can survive is to drain other people of their abundant energy levels.

In today’s society, you have likely encountered energy vampires many times, but you may not have known how to best deal with them in order to shield yourself from their energy draining tactics. Next time you come across an energy vampire in the flesh, try these tips to ensure that you block out their harmful energy.

11 Ways To Block Energy Vampires

1. Meditate daily.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from emotional manipulation lies within yourself. When you meditate, you go deep within and channel the energy of the universe into your body, which will provide you with the energy you need to raise your vibration. This way, the energy vampires can’t possibly steal any of your energy, because meditation will teach you to become more tolerant of various energy levels. Meditation literally changes your brain and allows you to deal with reality much easier.

As you tap into more of your own spiritual powers, you won’t allow other people’s energy to drag you down.

2. Smile at them.

You might think this one sounds a bit crazy, but when you share a smile with another person, you automatically share a positive vibration with them. This will throw the energy vampire off, as they won’t expect someone to respond to them this way. Energy vampires normally feel threatened in the presence of others who carry a high vibration, either out of jealousy or other negative emotions. So, to combat the energy vampires’ draining vibes, simply share a smile with them, and let them know that you don’t judge them for their behaviors. Rather, you want to see them happy and healthy, so a smile can help them head in the right direction.

3. Don’t engage in conversation with them.

On the other hand, if you’ve tried helping them already and shared your positive energy, but they won’t respond to your attempts, then you have to stop contact with them if possible. Some energy vampires don’t realize their actions, but for those who do, they will relentlessly try to steal your energy. If this happens, all you can do is to avoid them if at all possible, as they only have negative intentions with you.

This might seem a bit cold and heartless, especially if the energy vampire is a close friend or family member, but you can’t lift everyone up forever. At some point, they have to take responsibility for their own energy, lives, and emotions.

4. Repeat positive affirmations while in their presence.

Affirmations such as “I am a whole, vibrant, positive being of light” or “Nothing outside myself can bring me down” can really help you when you’re surrounded by energy vampires. Simply channeling in that positive energy will lift your spirits when others want to bring you down.

5. Shine so brightly that their negativity doesn’t weigh you down.

While psychic vampires live to take other people’s energy, not all of them realize their actions. Some of them may just need love and support, and have lashed out at others out of desperation or anger. In a short excerpt from Dr. Judith Orloff’s New York Times Bestseller, “Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life,” she says,

“Some are overbearing and obnoxious; others are friendly and charming. For example, you’re at a party talking to a perfectly nice person, but suddenly you’re nauseous or weak. Or how about the co-worker who drones on about how she broke up with her boyfriend for the tenth time? Eventually, she feels better, but you’re spent. The bottom line is that on a subtle energy level these people suck you dry.”

To combat this, remember that some people you encounter have just had a bad day. This does not make them a malicious, negative person whose goal in life is just to ruin other people’s vibrations. All of us can lend a helping hand to other people, so why not try to understand their situation and offer them some support instead of automatically labeling them as a negative person?

6. Attempt to help them.

Like we said before, energy vampires have simply gotten a bit lost on their path, and might need help in getting back on track. Whatever you can do to lend them a hand, do it, whether that means listening to them, offering to help out with some of their responsibilities for a short time, or referring them to a professional who can better serve them.

We all are one big family, and have an obligation to help each other during tough times. Energy vampires are just people like you and I who just need a little extra guidance.

7. Cleanse your aura.

After encountering an energy vampire, don’t forget to re-energize and cleanse your energy. How to do this? Well, for starters, make sure you meditate and ask the universe for healing energy after the encounter. Next, you could burn some sage or your favorite incense to clear the air and lighten the energy of yourself and the room you’re in. Also, take care of your physical body. Get some sunlight, eat a light, healthy diet, bathe with Epsom salt, and most importantly, practice self-love every single day.

For more tips on how to cleanse your aura, read our article about it here.

8. Keep your vibration high.

As we’ve already touched on before, you must keep your energy levels high in order to block out the energy vampire’s attempts at stealing your energy. To do this, take care of your mental, physical, and emotional health by practicing self-care and self-love. Meditate, exercise, eat healthy, nurture your relationships, get enough sunlight and rest, and eliminate unnecessary stress from your life.

9. Don’t attempt to feel sorry for them.

Energy vampires want attention and recognition, but don’t fall into their trap. They prey on empathic people because they know that empaths are easy targets, but you must not feel sorry for them. They create their own reality, and they have chosen a low vibrational one. If they try to drag you into their pity party, either walk away, change the subject, or respond with honesty about the situation. You don’t have to feel responsible for everyone’s happiness – a good life begins with positive thoughts, which they must learn how to have on their own.

10. Eat a healthy diet.

One of the best ways to protect your energy levels is to provide your body and mind with the nutrients they need to thrive. Eat a whole foods, plant-based diet for optimum physical and mental health, and make sure to fuel your body with enough calories to sustain you throughout the day.

While energy vampires do feed off of those with high energy levels, it will do you no good to have a low vibration, either. They want you to have reduced energy because it makes them feel better about their decision to operate on such a low frequency, but this won’t give you a happy, fulfilling life. In order to live your best life, look after your health and diet, as this will help you become better equipped to deal with those who just want to suck your energy dry.

11. Spend plenty of time recharging.

Finally, don’t forget to spend time alone, just cleansing yourself of negative energy and replenishing yourself. Spending time with energy vampires can really get exhausting after a while, and unfortunately, many of them walk among us. Take time each day to meditate, practice yoga, exercise, listen to music, cook or bake, work in the garden, or whatever helps you to restore your energy.

No matter what you do to block out energy vampires, remember that they don’t all have malicious intent. Some of them simply need some help getting back on their feet, so if you see someone struggling, offer a helping hand. They might not have anyone else who will support them, and if we all help each other, we will have a planet of empowered people rather than people attempting to take power from one another.

What Does Your Personality Color Reveal About You?

April 20, 2016 by Power of Positivity

There are four basic color personalities in True Colors, and the color that describes you most says a lot about how you handle relationships, process information, communicate, and more. Of the four True Colors personalities, orange, green, gold, or blue, which one will you relate most to? Read on to learn more about this unique personality assessment.

People who take the True Colors personality assessment at different times may find that their color can change over time. The developers of the True Colors personality test say that having different True Colors results is due to our changing perspectives, priorities, and interests over time.

There are four basic personality types in the True Colors personality quiz. They break down into four colors; blue, orange, green, and gold. True Colors was developed in 1978 by Don Lowry, who was working on creating a simplified group of personality categories.

True Colors specializes in group team-building activities. People learn who among their colleagues is like them and who thinks a little differently. True Colors website says ‘by recognizing and embracing differences. They learn to work together effectively. Thus, True Colors has spread to hundreds of schools, colleges, universities, corporations, government and non-profit organizations across the U.S., Canada, and worldwide.’

About True Colors and Their Personality Assessment

Companies retain True Colors to understand the strengths and opportunities of their employees. How we handle conflict, our ability to collaborate with others versus working independently, and our leadership ability, among other traits, become helpful information for Human Resource departments looking to fill specific roles within the company.

Of the four color personalities ‘Each category is associated with a color assigned intentionally to describe the group. A person is either Blue, Gold, Green, or Orange. The test results are a summation of personal rankings ranging from characteristics that are least like the individual to those most like the individual on a scale of 1 to 4, respectively. There is a variety of information about an individual that can be insinuated and determined from his or her color classification.’

The Meyers-Briggs personality test is a more in-depth look at personality traits, but it is more complex and takes longer to complete. Lowry was looking for an easy way to categorize people, so he developed True Colors. Let’s look at each personality color and what your color reveals about your personality.

When you read the descriptions of the True Colors personalities, think about what you prefer to do most, not what you are required to do. Also, sometimes you will feel conflicted over which color is more like yourself. If that happens, use whichever you feel more often.

Blue

About 15% of the population are Blue in the True Colors personalities. The True Colors website says ‘The color Blue indicates the type of person who often thinks of relationships first and values relationships above all else. This group is primarily people-oriented.’

The traits of the True Color Personality – Blue:

A love of people, socializing, and talking
Generous toward others
Likes helping others to get along peacefully
Enjoys connecting to others on an emotional level
Assumes that others have the best intentions

Green

Also, a rare type, only about 25% of the population are the True Color Green. ‘Green represents the more fact-oriented person – the student or adult who often asks, ‘Why?’ Greens question rules and regulations. Although they normally love to learn new information (they are often interested in science and math), they usually resist too much structure. Greens value teachers, structure, and institutions as information repositories and thrive when encouraged in their perpetual pursuit of discovery.’

The traits of the True Color Personality – Green:

Preferring to do research before making a decision
Likes facts and data over words and images
Loves problem solving and abstract thinking
Prefers to work independently

Gold

35% of the population are Gold in the True Colors groupings. Gold reveals a more structured, disciplined, organized personality type. Many leaders, managers, and politicians are members of the Gold group. Gold group usually does well in school and follows the rules appropriately. Gold students are comfortable within a highly structured environment.’

The traits of True Color Personality – Gold:

Taking the lead when no one else will
Planning and strategizing rather than diving into a project, but capable of acting quickly when needed
Weighing the pros and cons when making a decision
Planning and saving for the future
Strong sense of ethics and character

Orange

35% of the population are an Orange True color. The True Colors website says ‘The Orange people love action and have a challenging time sitting still for long periods. They don’t like rules, and much prefer initiating spontaneous activities at the moment without a lot of planning. Orange people care about intelligent and quick learners. However, they usually do not adapt well to a standard school environment. They prefer hands-on discovery and learning through action and movement. They may have excellent mechanical skills and are often great at sports, drama, music, art, and other active, creative, competitive pursuits.’

The traits of the True Color Personality – Orange:

Enjoying physical movement
Preferring freedom over structure
Going with the flow
Living in the moment

Pass this on so your friends and loved ones to read about the True Colors personalities so you can see what their color reveals about their personality and how they relate to your True Color.

100 of the Wisest Quotes of All Time

April 20, 2016 by Power of Positivity

In life, we constantly seek new sources of wisdom in order to help us understand this journey a little bit better. Life may not always give you what you want, but it always gives you what you need, and quotes from famous philosophers, musicians, and authors can provide you with the understanding that you seek. While the truest wisdom comes from within ourselves, sometimes you just need a little inspiration and knowledge from others.

Life can seem impossible to understand at times – after all, we all just sort of showed up here and have to learn as we go along. We may not ever have all the answers, but we can at least try to gain as much wisdom as possible during our time here. Contemplation and quiet introspection can offer a great deal of insight about life, and even though we may not ever totally understand our purpose or place here on Earth, we can all benefit from the knowledge shared below.

We have gathered some of what we believe to be the wisest quotes out there, so that you may continue to learn and grow each and every day you spend here on Earth. Keep in mind, we couldn’t possibly fit all our favorite quotes into this article, but the following contain great wisdom and perspective about life, love, happiness, and more.

Here are 100 of the wisest quotes of all time:

1. “If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” -Bruce Lee

2. “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow”. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. ‘Buddha was asked, “What have you gained from meditation?” He replied, “Nothing!” However, Buddha said, let me tell you what I lost:Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old, Age and Death.”‘

4. “The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.” – Alexandra K. Trenfor

5. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato

6. “Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

7. “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

8. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

9. “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” – George Orwell

10. Man: ‘I want happiness’
Buddha: First remove”I”,this is ego. Then remove “Want”, this is desire. Finally all that remains is “happiness.”

11. “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein

12. “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – Carl Jung

13. “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” – Bruce Lee

14. “Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” – Bruce Lee

15. “Never let school interfere with your education.” – Mark Twain

16. “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” – Rumi

17. “It is no measure of good health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society” – Jiddu Krishnamurti

18. “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.” – Maya Angelou

19. “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” – Morticia Addams

20. “The real question is not whether life exists after death. The real question is whether you are alive before your death.” – Osho

21. “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu

22. “He who controls others may be powerful but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” – Lao Tzu

23. “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Harold Whitman

24. “You have enemies? Good; that means you have stood up for something, sometime in your life.” – Winston Churchill

25. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde

26. “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” – Albert Einstein

27. “Loneliness is and will always be the most abundant source of human experience.” – Swami Vivekanand

28. “You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K. Rowling

29. “The beautiful thing about fear is that when you run to it, it runs away.” – Robin Sharma

30. “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.” – Christopher McCandless

31. “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” – John Lennon

32. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein

33. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi

34. “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

35. “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” – Henry van Dyke

36. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen Covey

37. “Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and sits softly on your shoulder.” – Henry David Thoreau

38. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” – Wayne Gretzky

39. “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle

40. “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle

41. “Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for – in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.” – Ellen Goodman

42. “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” – Socrates

43. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

44. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

45. “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” – Walt Disney Company, Mulan

46. “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

47. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anaïs Nin

48. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” – Gautama Buddha

49. “The past has no power over the present moment.” – Eckhart Tolle

50. “The truth is, everyone’s going to hurt you. You’ve just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” – Bob Marley

51. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” – Maya Angelou

52. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling

53. “A man who conquers himself is greater than one who conquers a thousand men in battle”. – Buddha

54. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

55. “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

56. “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” — Mahatma Gandhi

57. “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” — Mahatma Gandhi

58. “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” – Carl Jung

59. “People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.” – Mother Teresa

60. “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” – Mother Teresa

61. “Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.” – Benjamin Franklin

62. “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi

63. “Never be bullied into silence, never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself.” – Robert Frost

64. “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” – Wayne Dyer

65. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” – Confucius

66. “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

67. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – JK Rowling

68. “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

69. “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.” – Eckhart Tolle

70. “You yourself are the eternal energy of the Universe. You didn’t come into this world, you came out of it. Like a wave from the ocean.” – Alan Watts

71. “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T. S. Eliot

72. “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

73. “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

74. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain

75. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – Robert Frost

76. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

77. “With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” – Wayne Dyer

78. “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.”— Albert Einstein

79. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

80. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

81. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

82. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” ~ Steve Jobs

83. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

84. “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

85. “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln

86. “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” Lou Holtz

87. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” Dalai Lama

88. “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden

89. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss

90. “We’re all going to die, all of us, what a circus! That alone should make us love each other but it doesn’t. We are terrorized and flattened by trivialities, we are eaten up by nothing.” ? Charles Bukowski

91. “Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions.” – Will Smith

92. “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

93. “Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change. Kiss slowly, play hard, love deeply, forgive quickly, take chances, give everything, and have no regrets. Life is too short to be anything but happy.” – Unknown

94. “Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like its heaven on earth.” – Mark Twain

95. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?” – Marianne Williamson

96. “Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

97. “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

98. “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius…” – Steve Jobs

99. “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brené Brown

100. “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are your favorite of these wisest quotes of all time? Share with us in the comments below!

4 Things To Remember When You’re Looking For Love

April 20, 2016 by Power of Positivity

In life, there are rare authentic connections that show us the true meaning of love. In our society, we are bombarded by the propaganda of what love can sell to us. Magazine ads, commercials, movies, and books all target the heart with a deafening sense of magical connections and improbable expectations.

What can we expect from love?

We grow up feeling that we must find another in order to fulfill our needs. As we enter adulthood, experiencing heartbreaks and disappointments, many of us close our hearts to the opportunity of another. It does not have to be that way.

Here are four things to remember when you are looking for love:

1. Understand and accept your core values.

Until you understand what you want there is no way that the right person will come into your life. You will receive many lessons through another. These lessons will make you question why you even tried to find someone to share your life with. You must be conscious and ever present with your moral and core values. What do you want out of life? What’s important to you in terms of religious, spiritual, ethnicity, cultural, and political issues? Do you want children or not? Are you willing to relocate?

Your belief system has been ingrained in your psyche since childhood. Therapist and instructor at Tempe University, JoAnne White, PhD says, “These are the things about yourself that are not likely to change. They are the tenets you grew up believing and that deep down inside still seem to fit into your life no matter what else changes.”

2. Understand yourself and what you have to offer another.

One of the most challenging issues in a relationship is that we want to convert our new love to share our beliefs. Knowing what’s important to you translates into knowing what is important in a relationship. When we enter into relationships many times those things we don’t like in that person are reflections of our own insecurities. Are you willing to address them with yourself and your significant other?

If you are looking for someone who is going to raise your self-esteem you might just be putting yourself up for failure. You need to heal from past hurt and establish healthy boundaries. Entering into a romantic relationship will magnify all the things you avoid if you haven’t healed from them.

3. Become aware of your love language.

We all have ways to love and be loved. Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Languages of Love, says, “Love is a choice you make everyday. Something in our nature cries out to be loved by another. Isolation is devastating to the human psyche.” When we know how we respond to love we can also allow for it (and vice versa). Do you need words of encouragement? Do you require quality time more than anything? Are you a giver of gifts or do you require them to show affection from your partner? Once you establish your love language you can enter into a relationship with the mutual understanding of what is required to feel safe and secure.

You can be vulnerable with another and not hide behind a mask of self-doubt. Falling in love is the easy part. The challenges come in staying in a loving relationship when things don’t start to go your way.

4. Let go of expectations.

When we start to look for love, whether through online services or connections via mutual friends, we have a list of expectations that come with us. The person must be this tall, have this kind of job, be financially stable, and so on. If you know what you want then that’s enough. Expectations are a recipe for failure. There are no perfect people. There is only perfect situations that connect with our imperfections. Letting go of the fantasy of what is flawless allows for the right person to come in and show you what mutual respect and love looks like.

We have been ingrained to put our lovers or partners on some pedestal and expect them to do the same with us. This is unrealistic. Relationships that start as friends and are opened with respect make beautiful long-term commitments. You must learn to put your guard down and allow another to enter your personal space with rawness. When you share with another you both get to grow.

“You are your own worst enemy. If you can learn to stop expecting impossible perfection, in yourself and others, you may find the happiness that has always eluded you.”~Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

Allow for love to enter with ease. We are not meant to spend our lives alone because of past hurt and experiences. You can establish these small gestures of self-love and awareness while giving yourself permission to fall in love again.

7 Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency

April 19, 2016 by Chris Butler

Vitamin D plays an essential role in balancing the calcium in your body for proper bone formation and function. Decades ago, vitamin D deficiencies were common, causing conditions like rickets in children and softening bones in adults. In the 1930s, they added vitamin D to milk to eradicate rickets. Today, vitamin D deficiencies are still common.

Recent studies found an association between vitamin D deficiencies and diseases like these:

Cancer
Heart disease
Diabetes
Autoimmune disease
Depression

How to Get More Vitamin D

There are three sources of vitamin D, including the following:

Sunlight-ultraviolet light exposure
Diet-Foods are high in vitamin D.
Supplements

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

Age	Amount
Birth to 50 years	200IU
51-65 years	600 to 800IU
65 and older	800 to 1000IU

These Behaviors May Help You Beat a Vitamin D Deficiency

Try putting some of these new habits into your routine.

1 – Eat Some Fatty Fish

Add fatty fish to your diet to beat a vitamin D deficiency. Fatty fish is a rich source of omega-3 and vitamin D. In fact, both provide anti-inflammatory benefits to your body. Fatty fish high in vitamin D include the following:

Cod liver and cod liver oil
Salmon
Mackerel
Sardines
Tuna
Oysters

2 – Eat Vitamin D Rich Foods

Other vitamin D filled foods to include in your diet are as follows:

Beef liver
Mushrooms
Breakfast cereals, orange juice, margarine
Cheese
Yogurt
Butter
Leafy greens like spinach and kale

3 – Drink Vitamin D Fortified Milk

Milk is a good source of vitamin D to include in your diet. Thus, you may want to drink sixteen ounces of milk a day to help beat your vitamin D deficiency.

4 – Try Almond or Soy Milk

Even non-dairy products contain vitamin D. Almond, and soy milk are fortified with vitamins, so if you can’t tolerate milk or dairy products, you can still be sure to get the nutrients you need. One glass of almond milk contains 100IU of vitamin D.

5 – Eat Eggs

Egg yolks contain vitamin D. If you need to beat a vitamin D deficiency, add eggs to your menu. It doesn’t matter how you prepare them. Just be sure to include the egg yolk, which has the most vitamin D.

6 – Take a Vitamin D Supplement

If you’re low in vitamin D, you can boost your level by taking a vitamin D supplement of 2,000 to 4,000IU for anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. Furthermore, get your blood tested to see if your levels have come back up.

7 – Get Outside in the Sunshine

Sunlight is an essential source of vitamin D. However, you need a healthy balance. That’s because too much sunlight exposes you to the risk of skin cancer.

You can still absorb some vitamin D even if you’re wearing sunscreen. Try to go outside in the sun every day for at least ten minutes to get exposed to the UVA rays, increasing vitamin D.

8 – Maintain a Healthier Body Weight

Staying at a healthy body weight helps you feel better and gives you a better chance to fight illnesses and diseases. Stay active, eat nourishing foods and maintain a healthy body weight.

9 – Get Treatment for Your Medical Conditions

If you have a medical disorder that affects your vitamin D absorption, be sure to get the proper medical care you need. Conditions such as the following diseases:

Chronic pancreatitis
Crohn’s disease
Celiac disease
Cystic fibrosis

10 – Embrace a Preventative Mindset

Be proactive about your health before you develop a vitamin D deficiency. If you have a family history of vitamin D deficiency or conditions like osteoporosis, be sure to discuss preventative care with your health care provider.

Here Are Seven Early Warning Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency:

Given the importance of consuming vitamin D, we’ll identify seven different ways to uncover a potential vitamin D deficiency. Because knowledge is power, you will be in a better position to correct any shortfall and safeguard our health.

1. Pain and Muscle Weakness

The degree of pain and muscle weakness can vary from subtle to severe. Initially, symptoms of this type are almost non-present; however, as the deficiency becomes longer in duration, associated symptoms tend to worsen. The reason is that vitamin D, when metabolized, enhances muscle contraction – an essential mechanism for strengthening bones.

2. Impaired Immune System

When vitamin D levels are low, our immune system is inextricably affected. A high concentration of vitamin D receptors can reside in the immune cells, an area of the body that requires sufficient vitamin D supplementation. In one Japanese study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, schoolchildren given vitamin D supplements recorded fewer instances of the flu strain influenza A than those who did not receive supplements.

In another study, individuals diagnosed with an autoimmune disease also tested for low levels of D vitamin.

3. Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure) often results when the body’s vitamin D levels are low. Our body formulates a peptide that increases blood pressure through arterial restriction and water retention. Vitamin D serves as a countermeasure, suppressing this enzymatic reaction and reducing the body’s inappropriate and exacerbated response to this peptide, thus normalizing blood pressure levels.

4. Feelings of Sadness/Depression

A link has been made between sadness/depression and low levels of vitamin D. One fascinating discovery involves the correlation between seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a seasonal depressive condition, and fluctuating levels of vitamin D3. In one study, participants given D3 supplementation experienced enhanced positive effects and reduced adverse effects – both physical and cognitive. Participants reported a significantly diminished presence of various symptoms, including food cravings, hypersomnia, lethargy, and sleep disturbances.

5. Gut troubles

Certain gastrointestinal conditions affect vitamin D absorption. Those with celiac, Crohn’s, inflammatory bowel disease, and other conditions are likely to be at a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency because of these interactions. Furthermore, those with high body fat are prone to vitamin D deficiency since fat dilutes the vitamin and reduces its physiological effects.

6. Excessive sweating

A strange addition to this list is the tendency of people to sweat more without sufficient vitamin D levels. However, medical experts aren’t sure why we sweat more with low vitamin D levels. All that’s known is that there seems to be an inseparable link between low vitamin D and excessive sweating, especially around the forehead.

7. Heart Conditions

There exists a probable correlation between low vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease. Medical professionals believe that low levels of the vitamin result in higher concentrations of calcium buildup in the arteries; calcium buildup is plaque that forms in the arteries and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Besides those, other conditions linked to low vitamin D levels, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol, appear to solidify the connection between vitamin D levels and heart health.

5 Signs Your Partner Doesn’t Respect You

April 19, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Respect is often thought of as the key ingredient to a great relationship, but the concept is hard to define. At the same time, most of us know when our partner disrespects us.

What we expect when we ask others to give us respect is not easy to always put your finger on. Respect may mean different things for different people. For instance, there’s the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

Then there’s the Platinum Rule. Basically, the Platinum Rule is the ultimate definition of respect: Treat others the way they want to be treated.

In order for someone to treat you the way you want to be treated, you must be very clear about how you want to be treated, or they have to be a mind reader. If you feel disrespected by your partner, start off by using clarity in your communication with them.

When you feel disrespected, say “I need you to ____” and state the new behavior that you would prefer to see instead. For example, you might say, “I need you to speak to me with less anger in your tone.”

Little research has been done on respect, because for some time it was not defined as something that could be measured. More recently, however, researchers attempting to study respect in relationships created a definition of respect that included the following psychological traits:

loving
caring
understanding
honest
loyal
listening openly
not abusive or judgmental
considerate

In another study on respect, the same researchers found that respect was so highly correlated with relationship satisfaction that, for research participants, these two concepts basically seemed to be the very same thing.

5 Signs Your Partner Doesn’t Respect You

Do you have a baseline of respect in your relationship? Consider these points to find out where you and your loved one stand in the realm of relational respect.

1. Your partner tells you what is wrong with you

No one is perfect. You already know this, which is why you don’t need your partner to keep reminding you of it. It’s hard enough for you to accept your own faults without a reminder.

If your partner frequently speaks up about what they feel are your weak points or mistakes, this is a sign they don’t respect you. Tell them that although you may make mistakes from time to time, you would prefer to hear about all the positive things that your partner likes about you.

2. Your partner doesn’t listen to you

Listening is a basic sign of respect, and both halves in a relationship should have a chance to listen and speak their mind. When one partner interrupts, talks over, or shows disdain for the other person when they are speaking, communication begins to break down. Responding to your partner when they speak is essential to a respectful relationship.

In a study of mindfulness and relationship conflict, researchers found that being fully present in the moment could help couples feel more respect for their partner after an argument. The mindfulness study stated, “mindfulness may play an influential role in romantic relationship well-being.” If you find yourself in the middle of a conflict, try some deep breathing, tighten your abdominal muscles, and focus on maintaining emotional control while you work through the problem.

3. Your partner always gets their way

A successful partnership has to be a two-way street. One of you shouldn’t be always getting things their way. Compromise, especially on things that are not your top priorities, is key to a respectful relationship.

When your partner tries to control the relationship and insists on having things their way, it is a sign that they do not respect your needs. Try asserting yourself, especially when the subject at hand is important to you. If your partner still does not give you a turn in having things your way, tell them this behavior is unacceptable.

4. Your partner disrespects your friends or family

Your partner doesn’t have to love your friends or family like you do, but they do need to treat them with respect. As a couple, you will be spending time together in the future, and part of your lives together will include family time.

It is important to a healthy, respectful relationship for you and your partner to have a good relationship with each other’s friends and family. Even if you are only civil to each other, respect for your partner’s loved ones is important.

5. Your partner is frequently unkind

One foundational angle of respect is not causing anyone harm. This includes not hurting feelings intentionally. Everyone is responsible for his or her own words and actions. Intentional name-calling, belittling, angry words, threatening language, or even a judgmental or accusing tone are all ways that your partner might show disrespect.

Respect is a two-way street; if the “traffic” on your relationship road seems to be completely one-way, consider taking concrete steps to reroute the traffic … or take another road.

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11 Ways To Block An Energy Vampire

11 Ways To Block Energy Vampires

1. Meditate daily.

2. Smile at them.

3. Don’t engage in conversation with them.

4. Repeat positive affirmations while in their presence.

5. Shine so brightly that their negativity doesn’t weigh you down.

6. Attempt to help them.

7. Cleanse your aura.

8. Keep your vibration high.

9. Don’t attempt to feel sorry for them.

10. Eat a healthy diet.

11. Spend plenty of time recharging.

About True Colors and Their Personality Assessment

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Here are 100 of the wisest quotes of all time:

Here are four things to remember when you are looking for love:

1. Understand and accept your core values.

2. Understand yourself and what you have to offer another.

3. Become aware of your love language.

4. Let go of expectations.

How to Get More Vitamin D

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

These Behaviors May Help You Beat a Vitamin D Deficiency

1 – Eat Some Fatty Fish

2 – Eat Vitamin D Rich Foods

3 – Drink Vitamin D Fortified Milk

4 – Try Almond or Soy Milk

5 – Eat Eggs

6 – Take a Vitamin D Supplement

7 – Get Outside in the Sunshine

8 – Maintain a Healthier Body Weight

9 – Get Treatment for Your Medical Conditions

10 – Embrace a Preventative Mindset

Here Are Seven Early Warning Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency:

1. Pain and Muscle Weakness

2. Impaired Immune System

3. Hypertension

4. Feelings of Sadness/Depression

5. Gut troubles

6. Excessive sweating

7. Heart Conditions

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

5 Signs Your Partner Doesn’t Respect You

1. Your partner tells you what is wrong with you

2. Your partner doesn’t listen to you

3. Your partner always gets their way

4. Your partner disrespects your friends or family

5. Your partner is frequently unkind

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

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