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5 Awkward Feelings You Have When You’re On The Right Path

5 Awkward Feelings You Have When You’re On The Right Path

This might come as a surprise, but the right path doesn’t always emerge paved in gold, blanketed with comfort. Many times, when you follow the right path in life, you will inevitably experience uncomfortable feelings. Why? Well, think of it like this. When you’ve become accustomed to certain beliefs or a way of living for so long, and your life radically changes, it will feel foreign, and maybe even scary at first.

When you go through an internal awakening and realize you cannot keep living like you have been, you might begin to question everything you once knew. Don’t worry, everyone goes through this from time to time. You can’t expect the right path to appear and your life suddenly becomes devoid of challenges or upheaval. In fact, uncomfortable feelings can indicate that you have found the right path; after all, why would we ever follow through with a decision if we didn’t feel the least bit of apprehension? Isn’t life about taking risks, and going forward even if we feel scared? Oftentimes, the things that scare you will actually contribute to your growth as a person, which means you should follow through with them as you continue on your journey.

Here are 5 uncomfortable feelings you have when you’re on the right path:

sad feelings

1. Nervousness/anxiety

Anytime we face something new in life, we will start to experience feelings of apprehension. After all, anxiety and excitement are basically the same emotion, expressed differently. Maybe what we feel anxious about, can actually turn into what we feel excited about later on. As you continue on your journey, you might find that old ways of thinking simply don’t match up with your life choices anymore. You might begin to see the world as a hostile, scary place, and wonder how you fit into it all. Don’t worry or beat yourself up, this feeling is normal.

Oftentimes, it takes feeling utterly bewildered and on the verge of a breakdown to see things clearly. Feeling anxious simply means you have been resisting change, so just let go and let flow. Everything will work itself out in the end.

However, if you feel anxious the majority of the time, here are some ways to combat those emotions.

2. Feeling lost

You might begin to feel disassociated with everything around you, and feel totally disconnected from yourself and others. Again, these feelings will pass. All this means is that you’ve begun to awaken to your true identity, and all the old layers and false beliefs will start to melt away. If you feel like you’ve lost your direction, don’t let this overtake your senses. Remember, you have to lose your way to find it, as we live in a universe of duality. You cannot know yourself until you lose yourself, so consider this a blessing.

3. Insomnia

As you start to follow the right path in life, you might find that you have trouble falling, or staying, asleep. While this might seem harmful and very destructive, it can lead to incredible breakthroughs and new ways of thinking about life. Remember, it must get worse before it gets better, so losing sleep can indeed lead you to discover a totally new way of living that will help you feel more fulfilled, relaxed, and happy, thus resulting in better sleep.

These times might seem difficult and scary, but also remember that you are not alone here. 7 billion other people have to occupy this planet and share your struggles and fears as well, so find solace in this fact.

4. Isolation

Awakening to the right path can seem incredibly isolating at times. Others might imply that you’ve lost your mind, but don’t pay them any attention. Oftentimes, we find our inner truths in silence and solitude, so embrace them. You don’t need to feel afraid of your own company; instead, learn to love it. Make friends with your darkest shadows and your brightest light, and you will find that you don’t feel so alone by yourself after awhile. Isolation gives us a chance to define ourselves, instead of allowing our group of friends or family members define us.

5. Realizing that you don’t know who you are

It’s perfectly normal to release old labels and ways of identifying yourself. You don’t need to have stringent labels placed on yourself in order to function in this world; embrace yourself as the beautiful, cosmic being that you are, and keep an open mind. Being present and realizing that we can change moment to moment will help you on your path, as you strip away all the labels that no longer serve you.

9 Things You Owe Yourself

Daily self-care rituals provide a sense of stability and regularity in our hectic daily lives; they give us an opportunity to establish healthy habits for living a more fulfilling life. You probably perform small rituals each day without even realizing it. Your morning routine of making coffee, having breakfast, and getting the kids ready for school serves as a ritual. The activities you do in the evening after work count as a self-care ritual, also. Maybe you come home, light some candles, and take a warm bath. Or, maybe you hit the gym or go for a run.

All of these things help us establish a routine, and allows our life to flow from one activity to another, smoothly and effortlessly. If you don’t already give yourselves some of these things daily, they will seriously help improve the quality of your life.

Here are 9 Things You Owe Yourself (Even If You Think You Don’t)

owe yourself

1. You owe it to yourself to write in a gratitude journal.

Feeling grateful doesn’t just sound good on paper; it actually has science backing up the benefits of expressing gratitude. A slew of studies have linked gratitude to lower levels of stress, higher immunity, better sleeping habits, lower overall body fat, and a happier mood overall, to name a few benefits. You’ll want your gratitude journal to be separate from your regular journal, just so you can focus your energy in the moment of what you feel grateful for.

This way, you can also look back on your journal and see how your gratitude has grown over the course of your practice. You can either write in your journal at the end of the day, when you wake up, or both, and don’t hold back. If you only feel grateful today that you had hot coffee, write that down. If you feel grateful for a million things that day, write them all down. Most importantly, remain honest with yourself and don’t hesitate to write down little things that might seem “silly” to others.

2. You owe yourself an easy start to your morning.

How do your morning rituals look right now? Do you hop out of bed, rush to your phone to check emails and notifications, and hurriedly run to the bathroom for a quick shower before grabbing a piece of toast on the way out? If this sounds like you, you might want to consider moving at a slower pace, and practicing mindfulness in your morning routine. Get out of bed slowly, stretch your limbs, and just sit for a while. Don’t run straight to your phone or computer, forget about getting ready for the moment, and just breathe. Allow your body to wake up, and simply train your brain to relax into the present moment.

These simple rituals can really transform an otherwise hectic, chaotic day, and give you a new perspective.

3. You owe it to yourself to meditate.

Obviously, we fully support the practice of meditation, and have mentioned it many times before, because it provides so many benefits in our daily lives. Meditating regularly can actually alter your brain chemistry, lower stress, boost your immune system, give you a more positive outlook, increase mental clarity, and so much more. If you have wanted to start a meditation practice but don’t know how, please refer to our previous article about meditation for beginners here.

4. You owe yourself a healthy breakfast

Many people skip breakfast, but it costs them later in the day when their energy levels start to drop. In order to get your day started on the right foot, opt for a healthy breakfast consisting of a smoothie, oatmeal, or a bowl of fruit with a piece of toast or some sort of grain on the side. Fuel your body with the nutrients it needs so you can feel your best throughout the day. Skipping breakfast might seem more convenient, but our bodies need food regularly to stay energized. If you have to, wake up 30 minutes to an hour earlier each day so you can prepare a nourishing breakfast.

5. You owe yourself exercise.

By now, you probably have heard all the benefits of exercise, but we’ll reiterate them here anyway. To list just a few, regular exercise improves your mood, releases chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin to leave you feeling happier and relaxed, helps you maintain a healthy weight, boosts self-esteem, lowers the risk of health problems, boosts energy levels, increases immunity, and much more. The key is to find something you really enjoy, and do it regularly, at least three to five times per week. This way, it won’t seem like a chore, but rather, something to look forward to in your routine.

6. You owe yourself a few deep breaths.

Deep breathing can stabilize your stress levels, give you peace of mind, and even lower your blood pressure. Breathing correctly can improve your mental, emotional, and physical health, and can also help you sleep better at night by calming your mind.

Here are 5 Breathing Exercises That Relax You Immediately

7. You owe it to yourself to be a decent human being

In our society, we tend to focus so much on paying our bills, doing our errands, and just trying to survive that we often forget about the mutual benefits of helping others. Getting in the habit of offering a helping hand to at least one person per day will give you a greater sense of self-worth, while also making someone else’s life a little easier.

8. You owe yourself the power of positivity.

Complaining does nothing but drain our valuable energy, and sucks the life out of us eventually. Complaining keeps us focused on the negatives, so try going at least a week without complaining at all, and see how much better you feel. A positive mindset gives way to a positive life, so keep this in mind next time things don’t seem to go your way.

9. You owe yourself time away from your phone.

It’s no secret that the bright lights from our electronics can keep us awake at night. The light plus the action of playing games, watching YouTube videos, or checking emails stimulates our brain, which is exactly the opposite of what we need to be doing before bed. Try reading, meditating, taking a warm bath, or drinking tea before bed instead of staying glued to technology, and see how much better you sleep at night.

What Does Your Tongue Reveal About Your Health?

Our tongue is probably the least thought about organ in our body. Most of us know that the tongue allows us to taste food and helps us form words, but is there anything else that’s worth knowing about this fleshy, muscular organ?

In fact, there is. As it turns out, our tongue can reveal important facts about our health. When we go and see our doctor, they’ll often have us open our mouth and extend our tongue. They do so for good reason: our tongue is one of the most visible representations of our overall health.

The best way make a determination of our health while examining our tongue is to match its appearance to potential causes. With that said, let’s take delve into some common health conclusions that can be made when the tongue appears or feels a certain way.

What does your tongue reveal about your health?

1. Tongue contains brown or black fuzz

While this look can be alarming and deeply troubling, it’s actually just a matter of oral health. A tongue that contains brown or black fuzz is the a strong indication of bad oral hygiene.

Papillae –tiny bumps we see on our tongue – normally become worn down simply by eating and drinking. However, they can sometimes experience overgrowth which makes them prone to concentrations of bacteria and discoloration. Doctors point out that the root causes of this visually unappealing condition are normally smoking, drinking coffee or dark teas, or just bad dental hygiene.

The remedy is to simply eliminate the habit that caused it. Stop smoking, drink less coffee or tea, and practice good hygiene. Tongue scrapers are also available that make the removal of fuzz easier.

2. Visible patches of white

A frequent symptom among tobacco users, patches of white underneath the tongue, around the gums, and on the insides of our cheeks (called leukoplakia) are usually caused by an irritant of some sort.

Although leukoplakia isn’t normally dangerous, is can be potentially serious. Most patches of leukoplakia are benign (non-cancerous), but some can show early signs of cancer. Tobacco users, especially smokers, that display these lesions have between a 5 to 17 percent chance of the patches becoming cancerous. Doctors point out that these precancerous patches will normally disappear when tobacco use is stopped.

3. Burning sensation of the tongue

Burning sensations of the tongue are quite common – 15% of people will experience it sometime in their life. Women are seven times more likely to get a burning sensation, as it sometimes occurs post-menopause.

If the tongue appears normal yet burns, it can mean a couple of different things. Hormonal changes, wrong toothpaste and allergies from toothpaste can create a burning sensation. Many toothpastes get their foamy appearance from an ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which has been known to cause stinging and burning – even suddenly. In this instance, it’s advisable to change to a paste that does not contain SLS (Sensodyne is a popular brand for this reason).

In many cases, the burning sensation will subside without intervention. For cases when the symptom is persistent, doctors will often prescribe antibiotic rinses or neuropathic medication.

4. “Geographic tongue”

Affecting roughly between 1 to 14 percent of the population, Geographic tongue is a medically coined term that refers to a sporadic, rutted appearance resembling bumpy terrain. Fortunately, this is a very common, normal condition that doesn’t normally indicate any health concerns.

Experts are somewhat unclear about what causes Geographic tongue, although it’s believed that the growth and degeneration of taste buds could play a role. When this growth and degeneration of is uneven, it creates a visually noticeable effect.

This condition of the tongue doesn’t usually require medical intervention. However, if they become painful it’s advisable to see a doctor, who will usually then prescribe some type of anti-inflammatory steroid paste or antihistamine rinse.

5. Small, painful sores (Canker sores)

Canker sores are painful sores that form on the tongue and cheeks. Most people reading this have had canker sores at one time or another…and they’re a nuisance. Fortunately, they’re not dangerous or cause for any type of health concern. Canker sores are not contagious – not be confused with cold sores (lip sores) that are very transmittable.

Common as they are, health professionals aren’t quite certain what cause them. However, doctors say that canker sores are probably some sort of virus. People that are burnt out and stressed are more susceptible to canker sores, so we all have another great reason to reduce our stress levels.

6. Wrinkles

Our tongue is not exempt from the aging process, which is usually the cause of a wrinkled tongue appearance. Noticeable crevices in the tongue are typically harmless, although poor oral hygiene can spur an infection within these crevices.

If an infection occurs, it is usually treated with an antifungal medication of some sort. Doctors also point out that dental fixtures – such as dentures – can cause hollows to form on the tongue. For the rest of us, wrinkles on the tongue can be somewhat counteracted by drinking enough water, practicing good dental hygiene and brushing our tongue.

7. Bright red tongue

If our tongue starts to take on the color of a red apple, it’s time to check our vitamin intake. Papillae on the tongue require vitamins – especially iron and B12 – in order to develop normally. When we’re deficient in these two vitamins, our tongue can appear very red and smooth.

In rare cases, this condition can cause burning when eating certain foods. Vegetarians are also susceptible, since their diets often do not contain an adequate amount of B12. For some vegans, medical professionals advise taking supplements with a doctor’s recommendation.

3 Things You Need To Know As Mercury Retrograde Ends

Mercury retrograde gives us an opportunity to slow down, go deep within, and do some internal processing. Things can seem to go haywire during Mercury retrograde, but this tests our patience and teaches us valuable lessons in the process. Communication may not seem as clear or concise, technology might break down, and we just feel frustrated and a bit out of sorts. However, this Mercury retrograde in particular was a powerful one for inner reflection, healing, and positive change.

Here are three things you need to know as Mercury retrograde comes to an end:

1. This is a time for exciting new developments.

Since January 5th, Mercury has been retrograding in Capricorn, which means you might have thoughts of a new career path, different hobbies, or just totally restructuring your life and the way you approach it. The recent full moon helped facilitate these aspirations towards newfound career goals and life paths, as the Leo full moon governs our creative expression, and requires us to put our hearts into whatever passion we choose. As far as the opposing sign, Aquarius, you might have also noticed a shift in your interests.

Maybe you have a desire to learn more about a particular subject, such as science, or maybe you just want to dive right into any intellectual conversation. Leo governs our hearts and feelings, but Aquarius governs our minds. You will likely notice developments in both your mind and heart as we exit Mercury retrograde, so prepare yourself for exciting changes!

2. Consider your personal goals and career choices carefully.

You will also likely notice that your thoughts about your career and personal goals will change during this time. Don’t be surprised if your career path changes drastically, as this particular Mercury retrograde challenges us to release the old and bring in the new. Mercury retrograde, along with a full moon, bring with it intense energy. Not to mention, Mercury is conjunct Pluto and and square Uranus, so these energies might bring about a sudden need for independence and freedom, which could signify a shift in your life goals.

Even if you have been stuck in the same job for years, now is the time to consider if it’s truly the right choice for you. Also, reassess your goals outside of work. You might find a new hobby or project to work on, while also tackling all the other goals you had previously set for yourself. Don’t hold back; now that we have begun to exit the retrograde, it’s time to unveil everything we have been hiding and truly awaken to our highest selves.

3. Expect a total transformation and rebirth of the self during mercury retrograde.

You will likely have the desire to go deep within, rip out old wounds, and center yourself for the days to come. What passions do you have that you haven’t yet chased? What dreams have been sitting inside your mind, unfollowed? Use this time to deepen your connection with yourself, and figure out what you truly want and who you are in this vast universe. You can decide who you will be, never forget that. No one can define you but yourself, so allow yourself the opportunity to grow as the universe continues to expand.

However, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, either. Everything will unfold as it should, so don’t force or fight anything. Just go with the flow, while also remembering to follow your heart no matter what. During the retrograde, you might’ve felt a bit sluggish, off center, and imbalanced. However, don’t allow this energy to carry over into this week.

The Mercury retrograde gave us an opportunity for deep reflection, but as we exit, we can use what we’ve learned to better our lives and truly shape them into what we have always imagined. If you want to learn a new skill, now’s your chance! If you want to volunteer somewhere, or start up a business, or practice yoga, or learn how to draw, don’t stop yourself!

Always listen to your heart, because it will never lead you down the wrong path.

5 Things That Happen When You Meet Your Soulmate

When you meet that special person who is the soulmate that you’re meant for, you can expect special things to happen in your life.

To ensure you are on the right track with your partner, read our article here. If this person is your twin flame, ideal match, and destiny, you will be in for a wonderful journey together.

A Gallup poll stated the following:

“While marriage is losing much of its broad public and institutional character, it is gaining popularity as a ‘SuperRelationship’ — an intensely private spiritualized union, combining sexual fidelity, romantic love, emotional intimacy, and togetherness.”

5 Things That Happen When You Meet Your Soulmate

signs of soulmate

As you and your soulmate bond, you will find that this one important romantic connection will shape other things that will happen to you.

1. Miracles begin to happen

Finding the one who was meant for you, your soulmate, can feel like a miracle for you. Why would it not be possible for other extraordinary things to happen? With your new sense of love, fulfillment, and belonging to another, you will begin to notice other happy coincidences.

The connection of you to your soulmate was a part of your destiny. Now that you are on the path to completing this part of your life’s purpose, other pieces will also begin to fall into place for you.

2. Your soulmate helps you solve problems that you had no answer for before

Not having a loving partner was like having a problem that needed to be solved. Now that the hole in your heart has been made whole, you can focus your energy on other things that need fixing.

Neil Clark Warren, the author of Date or Soul Mate?: How to Know if Someone is Worth Pursuing in Two Dates or Less, says that your soulmate will be someone who is your financial partner for life, roommate for life, and joint parent to every child you will have for life. When you have found a soulmate, these crucial decisions are no longer a concern for you. Having someone to rely on that can support you in these ways relieves a huge burden.

With your soulmate’s help, you can work to find solutions together. Two minds and hearts are far better than one at overcoming any obstacle. Your partner supports your dreams and wants you to be happy, so they will focus their energy on helping you do what needs to be done.

soulmate quotes

3. You connect more deeply with friends and relatives

Once you have met your soulmate, the other meaningful connections in your life also become more meaningful. You have found a way to bond so deeply with one person that you appreciate the value of that strong connection to people. So you begin to seek out opportunities to connect closely to the other special people in your life.

You begin spending more time with family, asking your parents, relatives, and friends about their love lives. You learn to appreciate the love that created you and your soulmate.

Friends who support your relationship will be ones that you keep. But anyone who feels that you have not made the right match will be gone from your life quickly. You have no room in your life for someone who can’t support your connection to your true love.

4. Love happens for other people around you too

Once you have met your soulmate, you start to help others to see the possibility of love connections around them. The quality of a soulmate is now one of the most desirable traits in a partner, according to a Gallup poll of men and women aged 20 to 29. Now that you have found your soulmate, you want your friends also to find their soulmates. That’s because you want them to experience the happiness that you have.

Knowing yourself, your dreams, fears, values, morals, likes, and dislikes is an excellent first step to finding the right soulmate connection, according to Neil Clark Warren. With your perspective on true love and a good knowledge of your friend’s personality, you can help them find mates that will feed their soul, not starve it.

soulmate

5. Your worldview changes

Your soulmate will begin to help you see things differently. You have a positive, energetic outlook that you might not have had before. Your soulmate has helped your heart open and you will be more forgiving, loving, and accepting of others.

You begin to think about the legacy you will leave for future generations. Will you build a family together? How will the world look for your future family? Even if you don’t decide to have children, you begin to wonder how you can help others see true love is indeed possible, even in a cynical world that doesn’t believe in soulmates.

7 Green Superfoods You Need To Be Eating

There are several so-called “superfoods” that possess incredible health benefits. Superfoods span across the food pyramid – from the well-known strawberry to the inconspicuous watercress vegetable (anyone?). Apparently, the watercress is a spinach-like vegetable with a heavy dose of nutrients – including Vitamin K, beta-carotene and a few other important cancer-fighting types.

This article is going to focus more on the green superfoods. We’ll discuss the vast nutritional benefits of our personal favorites and also the lesser known nutritional powerhouses.

Here are seven green superfoods you need to be eating:

1. Apples

Okay, so apples come in colors other than green – but they’re still a tremendous food. Apples are free of fat, cholesterol and sodium while being a nutrient-dense treat. A good source of fiber, apples can help aid in losing weight and fighting off obesity. Apples also contain an important antioxidant called Quercetin, which is believed to block free radicals from damaging brain cells. They’re also good for the heart – in a study published by the Journal of Functional Foods, those who ate an apple a day for 4 weeks lowered their bad cholesterol levels at a 40% higher rate than those who did not.

2. Avocados

Guacamole is just one reason why avocados are such an awesome food. Despite the common belief that avocados should be avoided because of its high fat content, they consist of very healthy fats that our diets need. They’re incredibly nutrient dense, containing about 1/3 of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin K and folate. They’re also a great source of vitamins B6 and C. Avocado also aids in digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, improves eye health, and can help with weight loss.

3. Brussels sprouts

A somewhat bitter vegetable, Brussels sprouts have gained a reputation as something to be avoided. Looking past this, it is an incredibly healthy veggie and can taste very good when combined with something tangy or savory. On the nutritional side, these sprouts are a great source of vitamin K, folate and iron. Just one cup of cooked Brussels sprouts contains 130 percent RDI of vitamin C, as well. It’s also rich in fiber, manganese, potassium, choline and B vitamins. However, they’re not just a nutrient-dense veggie; they also have cancer and chronic-disease fighting properties in the form of phytochemicals such as antioxidants.

4. Kale

It seems that these green vegetables are just packed with antioxidants, and kale is no different. In fact, kale has one of the highest antioxidant levels of any vegetable. Only a few – arugula, beet greens, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and raw garlic – have a higher antioxidant (ORAC) rating. ORAC is short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, which measures foods ability to absorb potentially damaging free radicals.

Free radicals are molecules that can damage the body at the cellular level, and are a problematic presence in the formation of diseases and disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. But besides being a wonderful and powerful antioxidant, kale has been shown to have cancer fighting properties and promote urinary health.

5. Nopales (or Nopal Cactus)

Okay, so who has heard of these superfoods? Nopales have been a stable of Mexican cuisine for a long time (let’s all forgive Taco Bell). It is a desert plant and resembles the texture of a cactus, with spikes and all. Interestingly, this superfood also produces both fruit (in prickly pear) and vegetable (green pad; its skin). It apparently tastes pretty good, as it has found a culinary following in both the United States and Europe.

Health-wise, the nopales is beaming with an assortment of nutritional goodies. It has a high level of B-Complex vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin – all essential to the body’s metabolic functions. It’s also been traditionally known to reduce the symptoms of inflammation and diabetes. Rich in antioxidants, it’s good for an assortment of important immune system functions. Finally, the Nopal Cactus helps support healthy blood sugar levels through a slow, timed release of sugars.

6. Pistachios

Who doesn’t like pistachios? Not only are these things absolutely delicious (they make Pistachio flavored ice cream…ice cream!), but they’re absolutely rich in vitamins and nutrients. This nut is rich in fiber and protein; while just a one-ounce serving has almost as much potassium as a whole banana. Pistachios are also known to reduce our bad cholesterol levels, increase our good cholesterol, and boost our antioxidants. Pistachios are also well-known for helping to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Rich in Vitamin E, pistachios protect the skin and also contain carotenoids – helping to shield our eyes from damage.

7. Spinach

There’s a reason this tasty vegetable was the first thing Popeye reached for when he needed to beat down Bluto for messing with Olive Oyl. Consider this: Spinach contains more nutrients per calorie than any other food on earth. Seriously…we could write an entire article on Spinach alone (which we just may). But here’s is a rundown of this incredible vegetable:

  • Packed with vitamins A, K, D, and E
  • An excellent source of Omega-3’s
  • Carries anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory antioxidants
  • Protects the eyes against diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration
  • Balances the acidity that many of us ingest through our processed diet, which can drain energy and increase obesity

Here are a couple of other tips to maximize this wonderful food. First, try choosing only organic spinach as non-organic can contain high levels of pesticides. Second, look for the greenest spinach, as this likely indicates the highest level of vitamin C.

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