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This Is What Happens When You Drink Honey Water Every Day

January 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Are you a fan of honey? Honey has been sweet nectar of healing for centuries and can be used as a food, medicine, and beauty treatment. You have a tasty, sweet beverage with several excellent nutrition and health benefits when you drink honey water.

To start, honey contains many essential nutrients, and it is a supersaturated solution of sugars. Honey contains small amounts of proteins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, aroma compounds, and polyphenols, which help support our health and well-being.

A tablespoon of honey has small amounts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, chromium, zinc, riboflavin, folic acid, selenium, and other essential trace nutrients to your diet.

The main nutritional components of honey are carbohydrates, mainly fructose and glucose. Although honey is a high carbohydrate food, its glycemic index varies depending on the type of honey source that the bees use to produce it.

This is What Happens When You Drink Honey Water Every Day

Because honey contains a high amount of natural sugar, people with diabetes should consult their doctors before adding honey to their diets. When we combine the nutrition of honey with the hydrating power of water, we get a sweet, nutritious drink that gives you enough health benefits to add to your daily diet.

1. Honey water can improve digestive health

The antioxidants of honey are helpful for the prevention, cure, and treat some stomach disorders such as ulcers, gastritis, and gastroenteritis. Researchers believe that honey intake stimulates the sensory nerves in the stomach, which helps reduce ulcers. Other researchers are studying how honey helps relieve diarrhea in children and rats. Drinking honey water can also help reduce gas and bloating.

2. Get an immune system boost from honey water

Honey can be applied topically to minor wounds and burns to help heal as an anti-inflammatory. In one study, honey healed infected post-operative wounds more quickly than antiseptic washes followed by gauze and was associated with fewer adverse reactions after treatment.

Honey also stimulates antibody production to help fight off illness. Honey’s health potential has even been studied concerning fighting cancer. Drinking honey water can also help with your oral health by helping to prevent the buildup of dental plaque and gingivitis.

3. Honey water helps the body flush toxins

A glass of honey water will keep you hydrated, but it will also help flush toxins from your system. Manuka honey is a variety that has particularly potent antifungal, antibiotic and antibacterial properties.

Adding lemon to the honey water adds citric acid, which will help the body naturally flush out unwanted toxins.

4. Clear up acne with honey water

The antibacterial nature of honey makes it an excellent remedy for acne. Drinking honey water helps clear your skin from the inside, but you can also apply it directly to the skin.

5. Honey water can assist weight loss

Honey keeps blood sugar more stable than other sources of carbohydrates like refined sugar. As a result, your body has energy on hand to use, but your regular blood sugar should help stave off cravings. Some sports nutritionists recommend honey water before, during, and after sustained periods of intense exercise.

Also, a tablespoon of honey in a 12 oz glass of water has about half the calories of any drink sweetened with sugar. Saving calories on a sweet beverage that is healthier for you will help reduce your overall caloric intake.

6. Regulate blood sugar with honey water

Although honey is high in sugar and carbohydrates, the effect on blood sugar is much reduced compared to refined sugar. Some researchers believe that a synergistic effect of both the fructose and glucose in honey might contribute to the relatively low glycemic response after consuming honey.

People with diabetes should still exercise caution, but drinking honey water could be a way to keep the sweetness in your diet without being concerned about having a spike in blood sugar.

7. Soothe a sore throat (Grandma’s classic use for honey water!)

Honey is a remedy for sore throat that has been used for centuries. Try warm honey water when you are feeling under the weather. Add a slice of lemon to the warm water for an added vitamin C boost.

Some people drink a hot toddy when they are feeling sick. A hot toddy would be the same honey, hot water, and lemon recipe as above with an added shot of whiskey. This is an old remedy that your grandmother may have recommended for a cold.

10 Types of Honey Water to Try

You may automatically think of the processed honey sold in plastic containers shaped like bears when you think of honey. You’re in for a treat when you discover the different types available. Flavor and color all depend on the bees and the flowers’ nectar they choose.

It’s also important to consider the quality of the honey you use. Overly processed honey often losses some of its nutrients and other benefits. Instead, opt for the “raw” honey coming from the bees in its purest form.

Generally, lightly colored honey has a milder taste, while the darker varieties have more of a bolder flavor. Some may have a higher concentration of specific vitamins and minerals depending on the pollen. Here are some popular honey varieties for you to consider.

1. Acacia

This is probably one of the most popular varieties you’ll find. It’s golden with light floral notes obtained from acacia blossoms or black locust trees. Since these trees are so prominent across the United States, it makes sense that honeybees often visit them.

Acacia honey may be a good choice if you have diabetes because it has a lower sucrose content. Its anti-inflammatory properties also may help those with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. This variety also stores well since it stays in a liquid form longer than most other types.

2. Alfalfa

If you like baking or cooking with honey, you’re probably a fan of this delightful variety. It’s produced from the purplish-blue blossoms of alfalfa, a flowering legume that’s often grown to feed livestock. Alfalfa honey has a mild flavor that’s subtly floral.

3. Basswood

Do you want a honey variety with a distinctively bold flavor? Its pure, almost transparent color is derived from the cotton-white flowers of basswood trees. You’ll appreciate this honey’s rich, woodsy flavor that makes it ideal for adding to tea or making honey water.

4. Clover

Clover honey is a cherished variety all over the world. It’s usually the variety that’s processed and sold in cute little bottles. However, raw clover honey retains more of the sweet floral essence of clover blossoms.

5. Buckwheat

Buckwheat is your pick if you want a honey variety with high iron content. It’s one of the darkest varieties with color and thickness, almost like molasses. It’s produced from buckwheat blooms and is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

6. Dandelion

Here’s another reason you may embrace the abundance of dandelions on your lawn. Bees that visit these sunny yellow flowers produce honey that’s a dark amber hue. Dandelion honey also provides possible health benefits for the host flower, like antioxidants and antibiotics.

7. Eucalyptus

Maybe you would like to try a honey variety with herbal flavor notes. Eucalyptus honey comes from Australia, home to the eucalyptus tree. It has a subtle aftertaste of menthol and is favored for soothing coughs and sore throats.

Eucalyptus honey also has related varieties like jarrah and ironbark. Each has its flavor profile as well as possible health benefits. Any of these would make a tasty addition to your healthy concoction.

8. Orange Blossom

Here’s another popular honey variety that gets its delightful zing of citrus flavor from orange blossoms. While it originated in Mexico and Spain, it’s now also produced in California, Florida, and Texas.

Its golden hue and orangey aroma are instantly familiar and energizing. Orange blossom honey provides antioxidants and is rich in Vitamin C. It may be a good choice if you need a boost in your energy or immunity levels.

9. Manuka

This unique honey variety continues to be a buzzword in nutrition and alternative medicine. You’ll understand why if you’ve read about essential tea tree oil. Honeybees produce this honey from the blossoms of tea trees, which are called manuka in New Zealand coastal areas.

Tea tree oil’s same possible health benefits may be obtained from eating or drinking manuka honey. It has marked antibacterial properties that may help with conditions from acne to digestive issues. Depending on the manuka source, this honey has a full, earthy flavor that’s not as sweet as other varieties.

10. Tupelo

You needn’t look further than the American Southeast for one of the sweetest honey varieties available. Tupelo honey comes from blooms native to swamps in those areas. It has a glorious golden glow with a faint touch of green, hence its nickname “Southern gold.”

The Importance of Hydration for Your Health

According to an article published by the USGS, your body is composed of at least 60 percent water. It stands to reason that you need proper hydration to keep your body strong, healthy, and working at optimal levels. There’s just no substitute for a refreshing glass of honey water.

When you drink water and other fluids, your body feels the benefits almost immediately. In fact, by the time you feel thirsty, you may already be dehydrated. These are some of the essential benefits of hydration for your body.

1. It Can Give You More Energy

Since your blood and other essential body fluids are mostly water, you need to stay hydrated to keep them flowing. Your blood may not circulate as quickly if you get dehydrated, and your heart will work harder. So, you can feel tired and cranky.

Drinking enough water throughout the day keeps your blood moving and gives you energy. Suppose you’ve been exhausted lately and don’t know why you’re dehydrated. Try drinking more water or honey water to boost your energy.

2. Keeps Your Joints Limber

Just like a machine, your body needs regular lubrication to work correctly. Water conditions the cartilage in your joints just like lubricants. You can bend, stretch, and stay active with less pain from achy bones and joints.

3. Detoxification

Your body has an ingenious system for ridding itself of toxins and other wastes. Water helps flush your kidneys and bowels from liquid and solid wastes. Plus, it helps your liver and lymphatic symptoms detoxify your entire body.

4. Weight Management

Are you trying to lose a few pounds? Keeping your body hydrated can help you in several ways. First, drinking enough honey water can make you feel more satisfied and won’t eat as much.

Proper hydration can also boost your metabolism. You’ll have more energy to exercise and burn more calories. The more calories you burn, the more weight you can lose.

5. Fewer Headaches

Did you know that frequent headaches may signify that you’re not drinking enough water? According to the Cleveland Clinic, headaches are often the first sign of dehydration. Your brain has a high-water composition and can shrink away from your skull, causing headaches. When you stay hydrated enough, you may discover that you don’t have headaches as often.

Finals Thoughts on Adding Honey Water to Your Daily Routine

Keeping your body hydrated is necessary for your overall well-being. When you consider enjoying a glass of honey water each day, your health may get a boost. Honey is loaded with antioxidants which help protect your heart by lowering bad cholesterol. Darker honey contains even more health benefits, so aim for these varieties when you shop. There are also other options like raw, local, wildflower, manuka, etc., each with its unique healing properties.

Research a bit and see which type is best for you.

Disclaimer: One word of caution, do not feed raw honey to infants under one year old. Non-sterilized raw honey may contain bacteria that adult immune systems can handle, but infant immune systems are not yet developed enough to fight.

The ONE Question You Need To Ask Yourself Every Morning

January 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

When we wake up each morning, oftentimes we stumble out of our beds, hurriedly get ourselves ready for work, grab a quick breakfast (if we have a moment to spare), and then rush off to our jobs. But, what if we could approach the day more mindfully? What if we took a few minutes each morning to set our intentions for the day, work on some deep breathing exercises, tell ourselves positive affirmations, and center ourselves for the day ahead?

Indeed, most people don’t take the time to evaluate their emotions and work on self-care. As a result, their lives seem to control them rather than the other way around. We all deal with similar challenges and issues in life. But if we just asked ourselves one question before our daily routines begin, we can allow for more peace and abundance to flow through us.

The ONE Question You Need To Ask Yourself Every Morning

Of course, you will probably want to preface this question with quiet meditation or yoga, just to get your mind centered and focused first. After you have silenced the chatter in your mind and you feel ready, ask yourself this simple question:

What can I learn from today?

You might ask, “What will this really do for me?” Well, before you get bombarded with life’s craziness for the day, you will have already set the intention that you want to learn something from the experiences you encounter. You will have told the universe that you want to become an active participant in your life rather than just allowing it to control you like a puppet.

You will set the intention that you wish for the universe to send you people and events that will challenge you to push past barriers in your mind. Consequently, you learn important lessons.

We all have things we could work on within us. Maybe some of us struggle with feeling comfortable in conversations with people. Others battle addictions, and still others long to find their life purpose. Even if you have conquered the demons within you, you probably still have something you wish to learn from this life.

Until the day our souls leave our bodies, we all are a work in progress. Each day, we can decide to become better than we were the day before, or spiral backwards into bad habits. We can make a conscious choice to continue growing, aspiring, learning, and opening our hearts. Therefore, we can decide to learn all we can from every experience.

Instead of attempting to butt in and dictate what will happen, allow life to simply flow. Become both the active participant and the observer. Let go and push past your self-imposed limitations, but also, remember that life is our greatest teacher. You can still surrender to life while participating in it fully; in fact, once you learn to just show up and see what happens, you say to life “I no longer want to fight you; I want to embrace you, and learn from your lessons, both difficult and easy.”

None of us knows everything about life, and most of us wouldn’t want to, anyway. So you might say, “Well what’s the point of learning anything new if we all know nothing in the end?” A very valid question, indeed. However, I think we can all agree that if we lived from a place of love and understanding, this world would become a much brighter place. So, if you take anything from this life, learn to crack open your heart and allow love to leave and enter uninhibited.

This doesn’t require any sort of critical thinking or complex formula; love represents our natural state of being, before we become indoctrinated into society and programmed with messages of hate and violence. If you set your intention to learn whatever you can from today, remember that behind every lesson, love exists. Everything that life sends your way exists in order to make you love more than you could ever imagine.

Question Your Openness to Change

If you become receptive to life’s lessons, and accept them without jumping in and trying to change the situation, you can begin to open all the locked doors inside your heart.

We all want to become more free, loving, and open, but it begins with ourselves. You can’t control life; if you try to, you will only exhaust yourself. Focus on learning to control your breath, your thoughts, and your intentions, instead. Take charge of what you wish to learn in this life, and commit to absorbing the knowledge.

In this very moment, you can control how you wish to see life. You can see it as a continuous cycle of anguish and unfairness. On the other hand, you can view it as a constant and overflowing stream of knowledge and an opportunity for incredible growth.

You get to decide, but posing the question “What can I learn from today?” will always give you the answers you need to move forward. You just have to choose what you will do with these answers. Will you ignore them and continue allowing life to control you? Or will you take charge and incorporate these lessons into creating a more meaningful, empowering life?

Remember, you are writing your story every day, either consciously or unconsciously. So, all you have to do, is own the pen.

Here’s How Weighted Blankets Are Helping People With Anxiety

January 3, 2016 by Kristen Lawrence

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 40 million adults in the U.S. age 18 or older suffer from an anxiety disorder, equating to 18% of the population. Depending on the severity of the anxiety, it can completely disrupt one’s life, coming between relationships, jobs, and general well-being.

Many people turn to either pharmaceutical drugs, alternative remedies such as herbs and supplements, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or yoga and meditation to heal their anxiety. However, weighted blankets have shown promise as a remedy for many anxiety disorders.

Here’s How Weighted Blankets Are Helping People With Anxiety

Weighted blankets have plastic poly pellets sewn into compartments throughout the blanket, which helps to distribute the weight evenly. The deep pressure from the weighted blanket acts to calm the person under it. The added weight sends a message to the brain to release neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, inducing relaxation.

Initially, occupational therapists used weighted blankets on children with sensory disorders, anxiety, stress, or autism. However, they help adults with anxiety disorders as well.

“In psychiatric care, weighted blankets are one of our most powerful tools for helping people who are anxious, upset, and possibly on the verge of losing control,” says Karen Moore, OTR/L, an occupational therapist in Franconia, N.H. “These blankets work by providing input to the deep pressure touch receptors throughout the body,” Moore says. “Deep pressure touch helps the body relax. Like a firm hug, weighted blankets help us feel secure, grounded, and safe.”

How Heavy Should Your Weighted Blanket Be?

As far as the weight of the blanket, most adults prefer 15 to 30 pounds, but you should seek the advice of a doctor or occupational therapist before purchasing one. However, those with respiratory or circulatory conditions should not use a weighted blanket unless a doctor approves first.

We want to mention that weighted blankets can help people suffering from insomnia as well, in addition to anxiety. Many people with insomnia may also have mental imbalances due to the lack of sleep, so a weighted blanket can not only calm anxiety but help you get a better night’s sleep at the same time.

Because of the added weight from the blanket, make sure to keep the temperature in your room relatively calm so you don’t get overheated during the night. As cozy and comforting as the blanket may seem, it won’t work as well if you feel too uncomfortable to go to sleep.

In addition to the weighted blanket, you might also want to use a grounded sheet or bed beneath you to maximize the calming effect. Grounding means allowing your body to contact the Earth directly or using a device that creates the same result while indoors. Until modern times, we spent most of our days outdoors, soaking up negative electrons from the Earth.

In today’s world, exposure to EMFs, Wi-Fi, mobile phone waves, and other forms of technology have increased our positive electrons, which have the opposite effect of grounding. Preliminary studies on grounding have found that it can reduce cortisol levels, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain. Furthermore, it can help improve sleep and energy levels, lessen menstrual cramps, normalize biological rhythms, and much more.

Five Other Reasons to Try a Weighted Blanket (Besides Anxiety!)

While most people use weighted blankets to alleviate anxiety, they also have other benefits. Weighted blankets can help with various conditions, such as the following.

1. Decreases insomnia severity.

Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t come easily when you have insomnia. All the tossing and turning can take a toll on your mental and physical health. However, one randomized, controlled study by Swedish researchers found that weighted blankets significantly improved participants’ insomnia symptoms.

After four weeks of sleeping with a weighted blanket, participants reported reduced insomnia severity, improved sleep quality, and less daytime sleepiness. In addition, their mental health improved as they reported fewer symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and depression, likely due to enhanced sleep quality.

Participants who used weighted blankets had a 26 times higher chance of experiencing a 50%+ reduction in insomnia severity than the control group. In addition, they had a 20-fold greater chance of achieving remission from insomnia. During a 12-month follow-up period, researchers discovered that the participants maintained these positive results.

2. Reduces chronic pain.

Deep pressure therapy can induce a calming effect and reduce pain perceptions for people with chronic pain. Using a weighted blanket mimics deep pressure from a massage or tight hug and can trigger the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.

A 2021 study by researchers at UC San Diego found weighted blankets reduced broad perceptions of chronic pain in 94 participants. For one week, they used either a light (5-lb) or heavy (15-lb) weighted blanket. Those in the weighted blanket group showed improvements in pain perceptions, especially with high trait anxiety. However, their pain intensity levels remained the same.

Still, a weighted blanket could offer relief to those suffering from chronic pain.

3. Improves ADHD symptoms.

While weighted blankets aren’t a treatment for ADHD, they can help manage symptoms and improve sleep quality. For example, a 2021 qualitative study found that children with ADHD experienced better sleep after using weighted blankets. Their parents reported that the children had improved sleep routines, sleep duration, and reduced anxiety after 16 weeks.

In addition, aspects of their everyday lives, such as school participation and family interaction, improved after using weighted blankets.

A 2014 study found that weighted vests improved attention and reduced hyperactivity in children with ADHD. The researchers found that participants who used the weighted vests during a performance task enhanced in several areas.

Specifically, their attention and processing speed improved, and they remained seated for long periods. They also fidgeted much less and showed enhanced executive management function.

4. Improves outcomes of medical procedures.

Most people feel nervous about an upcoming surgery or medical procedure, whether minor or severe. However, researchers have found that using a weighted blanket during the operation could alleviate anxiety.

For instance, a 2016 study found that participants who used a weighted blanket during wisdom tooth surgery had lower anxiety and stress. A follow-up study on adolescents who used a weighted blanket during a molar extraction had similar results.

5. Increases feelings of security and safety.

Weighted blankets mimic the feeling of being hugged or swaddled, which helps calm the nervous system. Whether you have sleep anxiety, panic disorder, or other mental health conditions, a weighted blanket can induce relaxation and reduce restless thoughts. In today’s highly stressful world, almost anyone can benefit from a weighted blanket, especially those who struggle with insomnia.

Symptoms of Anxiety?

As with most mental disorders, anxiety stems from genetics, personality, lifestyle, and environmental conditions. Anxiety can cause many uncomfortable or debilitating symptoms, such as constant fear or worry, insomnia, and gastrointestinal issues. Other common symptoms of anxiety include:

Feeling nervous or tense, usually for no reason
Having a sense of impending doom or danger
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Having cold extremities
Feeling weak or tired
Difficulty concentrating
Brain fog
Having difficulty controlling worry
Avoiding anxiety triggers

Five Key Causes of Anxiety

Most experts agree that causes of anxiety include the following:

Genetic Predisposition. Mental health issues such as anxiety tend to run in families, so if your parents have anxiety, it increases your risk of developing it. However, scientists have found that anxiety disorders have a heritability of only 26%, so other factors such as traumatic events and brain chemistry, likely play a more significant role.
Brain Chemistry. An ancient part of the brain called the amygdala helps process emotions. When you feel anxious consistently, the amygdala grows larger, reinforcing feelings of fear and worry. Other parts of the brain, called the hypothalamus and hippocampus, play a role in emotional processing.
Childhood Trauma or Environmental Stress. Childhood abuse or traumatic events can cause anxiety from an early age. In addition, living with long-term stress can lead to chronic anxiety.
Drug or Alcohol Misuse. Substance abuse can cause or exacerbate existing anxiety symptoms.
Medical Conditions. Medical problems like heart disease, diabetes, or thyroid problems could trigger anxiety. By treating these underlying conditions, anxiety symptoms may disappear without additional treatments.

Final Thoughts on How Weighted Blankets Could Alleviate Anxiety

Anxiety can have a devastating impact on someone’s life, causing them to shut themselves off from the world altogether. People with severe anxiety may have difficulty maintaining their daily routine, jobs, or relationships. No one should suffer to this extent, but many people find it easier to cope with the modern world by simply avoiding it.

Treatments for anxiety include psychiatric medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. These have been proven to help, but it often isn’t enough for people with debilitating anxiety.

Thankfully, researchers have found that weighted blankets can significantly improve anxiety symptoms. In 32 adults, 63% reported lower anxiety after using a weighted blanket. If you struggle with insomnia or racing thoughts at bedtime, a comforting blanket may help calm your mind.

10 Life Lessons To Learn From Natalie Cole

January 3, 2016 by Power of Positivity

The legendary singer and actor Natalie Cole has left us physically, but will live on in our hearts and minds forever. She was a woman of immense talent who left us with a legacy of unforgettable music and memories. Her life as the daughter of her famous father, Nat King Cole, was tumultuous, with many highs and lows, but she always managed to rise to the top.

Here are some important life lessons we can all learn from the legendary Natalie Cole.

10 Life Lessons to Learn from Natalie Cole

1. Classic songs go with classic beauty

“People say I look younger than the music I’m doing just because the songs are older. Hopefully I can keep my youthful look!”

2. Absorb musical wisdom from legends whenever possible

“The kind of music I grew up on was Harry Belafonte and Count Basie. Pearl Bailey was very active, Ella Fitzgerald. They came over to the house for lunch, played golf with dad.”

“The people I met were so nice, you know they were like uncles and aunts to me. They looked at me as like an adopted daughter or something because they really thought the world of our family. And I was very knowledgeable musically, I just thought that’s what music was all about. I didn’t get off into the contemporary music until much later.”

3. Embrace other cultures

“I think foreign countries really do like it when American artists sing in their language. And when you go over there and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ in their language, they love it. It makes them feel like you’re doing it just for them. We in America take so much for granted.”

On receiving a donor kidney from a woman from El Salvador: “I wouldn’t put it past the possibility that there is a spirit of Latino inside of me, because of this family, Ever since then, my passion for Spanish and everything Latin, all of a sudden became more intense. I couldn’t even figure it out myself.”

4. Pick a role model who is courageous

“My idols are Janis Joplin and Annie Lennox, who are neither of them from the typical pop culture.”

5. The school of hard knocks gives an excellent education

“I don’t think that my parents even imagined that I would be exposed to drugs. In those days, for some reason, it was not talked about, just like sex was not talked about.”

“I’ve had my share of doing things that I really wish I hadn’t done.”

“I had no fear, and I think that is one of the insanities of being on drugs, that you really aren’t afraid of anything.”

“I think your 20s are the hardest part of life. I mean, everyone goes on about how hard it is to be a teenager, but actually I think it’s tougher to be in your 20s because you’re expected to be a grownup and expected to earn your own living and be successful and I think you feel like a kid still.”

6. Faith gets you through the hard times

“God surrounded me with people of faith, people of strong faith, people of power, spiritual power, and I saw little miracles happen in their lives. By it happening in their lives, I started believing it could happen to me. I’m a little like Thomas: I doubt. I know that the Lord is good, but I have been a doubter of His goodness for me.”

“When you have put all your faith in man and continue to be disappointed, don’t you hope there is something out of there that is not of human element?”

“God was going to be to me the father that I never had, the father that I didn’t have enough of, enough time with. God was saying, ‘I can do that for you if you let Me.’ And that’s what He’s been to me. I had to learn to trust that as a father He would be there for me, that He disciplines me, that He encourages me, that He tests me, that He challenges me, that He believes in me, and that He has great things for me. All I have to do is trust and follow.”

“Never stop working on your relationship with the Lord. It is an awesome experience. He is there in our lives.”

7. Wait for the right love

“I really wanted a man in my life so badly it was pathetic. It was pathetic because it took so much of my time and it took so much out of me. I realized that every time I did that I would give myself away. I was not keeping the most important part.”

8. Take risks

On what traits of her father that she hopes she has: “His fearlessness. He was a pioneer. In so many ways He would step out on faith to do something musically he felt and he would just take that risk.”

9. Bounce back after adversity

“You know, I may be down for a minute, but once I figure it out, I can’t stay there for too long.”

10. Losing someone you love isn’t easy, but you make the best of it

On singing with her father: “I never got a chance to say goodbye so I continue to converse and tell my dad how much I love him when I get an opportunity to sing these kinds of songs.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends and family of Natalie Cole. From all of us at PoP, we send out love and light. <3

11 Things You Need To Know About Loving A Capricorn

January 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Loving a Capricorn is going to require a bit of effort on your part, but the payback in a devoted, passionate mate is worth it. They are ambitious, determined, practical, helpful, loyal, and resourceful. As the Saturn goat’s potential mate, here are some important things to keep in mind if you have a Capricorn in your life.

11 Things You Need To Know About Loving A Capricorn

Here are some character traits Capricorn will often display.

1. They are a friend indeed

Before they are ever your lover, they will be your friend. A Capricorn is very giving of themselves. They will never ask for anything in return but they will give until it hurts. A kind, generous companion is what you have when you love a Capricorn.

2. They only seem mellow until you get to know them

They can come off as shy, conservative and boring at times, but that’s only before they trust you enough to open up. Once you’ve earned their trust, they can be fun-loving, spontaneous and a lot of fun to be around.

3. They are loyal to those they can trust

Capricorn expects you to be their only love. Never give them a reason to distrust you, and they will be a devoted mate themselves. You will never have to worry about them straying unless you do first.

4. They want it their way

Having a controlling lover might sound hot, but if you also like to be in charge, you two will butt heads, and Capricorns have horns. Ouch! They can be picky about everything from their home environment to how you do the dishes.

5. Capricorn lovers have stamina

They are particular about their love nest and how it looks, but if you’re invited in, you’ll have a pleasurable experience. Capricorn is fairly traditional in their romantic habits, but they will make you feel like you’re on a steamy soap opera in the bedroom.

Your Capricorn lover isn’t terribly creative in the bedroom so don’t expect anything fancy. But this child of Saturn will keep you busy all night and wanting more.

6. Capricorns can be emotionally sensitive

Oh please be careful with a Capricorn’s heart! A goat sign can tend to be melancholy anyway so a lover who can keep them focused on positive emotions is best. If you can keep them laughing, you’ll be rewarded with a million-dollar smile that will melt your heart.

7. They are thinking about your future potential as a mate

Even if you haven’t thought of taking your relationship to the next level, be assured that the Capricorn is weighing your potential. What is your long-term earning potential? How will you be as a parent? What would you look like as you get older?

Capricorns are so practical that they are usually focused on the real-world essentials of having a relationship. They look at you as an investment. Should they buy low, hoping that you’ll increase in value over time or would it be better to invest in another partner?

8. They enjoy the courting process

Shower them with all the trappings of woo, at a modest cost. A practical bouquet purchased from the grocery store along with a dinner out at chain restaurant will do nicely for the unpretentious Capricorn. However, they do expect that your attention will continue at the current level forever.

They will have hurt feelings if you forget their birthday or your anniversary, so keep the gifts rolling in! Of course, an organized Capricorn may have already added their pertinent dates to your calendar anyway, with appropriate reminders as well.

9. Their brain is their biggest erogenous zone

Turn them on with a lot of talk about serious subjects stimulating their minds. Capricorn loves to show off the size of their brain and since they are practical, you can impress them by doing the same. Intellect is so sexy.

10. They scare easily

To win the love of a Capricorn, you need to limit yourself to convention and avoid shocking them. They want someone with no skeletons in the closet so be up front with anything that might scare them.

Anything that would be socially frowned upon is probably well outside of their comfort zone. A little light bondage is fine with them in your private bedroom, but don’t tell anyone that your Capricorn is adventurous in bed, or they will see it as a betrayal by you.

11. A patient suitor will win the love of a Capricorn

Capricorn will give their love to a persistent lover. Try to keep the courtship going as long as possible to keep your them engaged. Proving your commitment is important to your Capricorn mate since they wonder if you have staying power in the relationship.

This Brain Exercise Is The Most Powerful One You’ll Ever Do

January 2, 2016 by Power of Positivity

This brain exercise might be one of the kindest things you could do for yourself.

If you could create the most perfect day imaginably, what would it look like? Many people go about their days on autopilot without making intentions or planning ahead for what they desire more of. In life, we all must make choices. Sometimes, the vast options available can make it quite overwhelming to forge ahead in any set direction, and we tend to stay where we are because it feels secure.

However, as the popular saying goes, growth never happens in the safety net, in the quiet shelter and security of the familiar. If we want growth and change to happen in our lives, we have to take action. And the first step to initiating change is to create a plan of action. If you don’t plan what you want and set clear goals, you set yourself up for failure long before you even begin.

In order to transform your life, you need a template to follow, a guideline you can refer to so you can better optimize your days.

This Brain Exercise Is The Most Powerful One You’ll Ever Do

Very appropriately named the Perfect Day Itinerary, writing out how your perfect day would unfold can give you that starting point from which to create a more fulfilling life. Many entrepreneurs have done this exercise to give themselves direction and make sure each day is jam-packed with only activities that will help them achieve their goals.

If you want to manifest the life you’ve always wanted, it helps to have an idea of how you should spend your days so that you can actively work toward realizing your dreams. The exercise consists of two parts: the macro and the micro, and we will go over each below.

Part 1: The Macro

So, to introduce you to this idea, the macro deals with the bigger picture. The overarching goals, desires, and thoughts you wish to focus on to live your best life. This exercise will lead into the micro, so the goal in part 1 is to simply get some vision in your head of what your perfect day would look like. To get started, you will need to write down some questions and answer them as honestly and thoroughly as possible. Here are the basic questions you need to answer before we move on to part 2:

What do I want every day to look like?
How will I be spending most of my time?
How do I want my life to feel?
What people will I spend my time with?
Where will I spend my time?
What passion(s) am I following?

Really take the time to contemplate what kind of life you want to live and what you wish to spend most of your time doing. For this to work, you need to have a clear idea of what you want, who you want to spend your time with, and where you will spend it. Of course, your answers might change over time, and that’s perfectly fine. You just want to go with what you feel in your heart because your intuition is never wrong.

Either write down your answers or type them out in a word document so you can refer to them later. Use the bottom half of the page to write or type out the second part of this exercise, which we will discuss below.

Part 2: The Micro

Now, use your answers to the questions above to fill out a detailed itinerary for your perfect day. If you truly want to achieve a goal, no matter how big or small, you need to have a clearly mapped out plan for how you will spend every minute of your day. This way, you can assure that your time is used wisely, and isn’t wasted on superfluous activities. Here’s an example of a Perfect Day Itinerary to give you an idea of how it should look:

7:30 a.m. Stretch, meditate, and reflect on the day ahead
8 a.m. Have a healthy, nutritious breakfast of a smoothie or bowl of oatmeal
9 a.m. Go for a run or some type of exercise
10:45 a.m. Check in to see what tasks I need to complete for the day
11 a.m. Do the first three tasks on my list
12 p.m. Have a nutrient-rich lunch at home or with an inspiring friend
1:30 p.m. Continue working on the top three tasks on my list
3 p.m. Take some time to stretch, meditate, and listen to an inspiring podcast or YouTube channel
5 p.m. Go outside to get some fresh air, play a sport with friends, walk on the beach
7:30 p.m. Make a delicious healthy dinner at home
9 p.m. Read a book or hang out with friends
11 p.m. Write down what I’m most grateful for before bed, and write down what I need to complete tomorrow.
11:30 p.m. Meditate before bed

Final Thoughts on This Journal Exercise

It seems very simple, but writing down a detailed outline of how you will spend your day can set you up to achieve your dreams and create the life you have always wanted. However, having a clear vision of what you want is vital to this exercise working in your life. If you don’t know what you want out of life, take some time to go deep within and think about what makes your heart the happiest. You might have to squeeze in some activities around work or school, but if you really want something in life, you will make it happen. You just need to believe in yourself, trust the process, breathe, and most importantly, love and take care of yourself!

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This Brain Exercise Is The Most Powerful One You’ll Ever Do

Part 1: The Macro

Part 2: The Micro

Final Thoughts on This Journal Exercise

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