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This Is What Happens When You Place An Ice Cube At This Point On Your Head

November 12, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Get ready to open your freezer and crack your ice cube trays. Ice therapy is a simple self-help treatment that you can do at home to ease many different aches and pains.

Putting ice on a specific point in your head won’t cure what ails you, but it could make you feel a whole lot better in just a short amount of time, and without the doctor’s office. Here’s what you need to know about helping yourself with this treatment.

What’s the Point?

There are four hundred acupuncture points on the human body, and twenty meridians connecting those points, according to The Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature published by the World Health Organization (WHO). The one we are looking closely at is called Feng Fu.

Feng Fu is the name of just one of the 400 pressure points in our bodies. Feng Fu is located at the skull’s base and the spine’s top. This vital area contains our brain stem, spinal column, muscles and tendons that support our heavy brains, as well as our major arteries and windpipe.

The name Feng Fu translates to ‘Wind Mansion’ in English. In acupuncture theory, a ‘pathogenic wind’ is responsible for certain symptoms. The Feng Fu point is where the practitioner will apply tiny acupuncture needles to relieve the cause of the problem.

The Feng Fu point is number GV 16 (GV stands for Governor Vessel) and in the technique of acupuncture, and it is also called a Ghost Pillow point. In the ancient origin of acupuncture, mental illness was originally thought to be caused by angry spirits. The Ghost Pillow point was treated when the spirit had gained access into the brain.

According to acupuncture, Feng Fu is also a Window of the Sky Point. This means it is a crucial communication point between the mind and the rest of the body. Any issues with the extremities of the body could be related to a restriction in this center.

Although acupuncture is best left to a professional, knowledge of the body’s pressure points can be a useful tool for self-healing. If you would like to consult with a Certified Acupuncturist, you can find one through this link.

Why Ice?

When tissues are inflamed by injury, illness, or environmental factors, they swell and pressure the surrounding area. Like a puffer fish that inflates itself in defense when attacked by a predator, our tissues inflate with blood to fight disease.

Inflammation is our body’s way of mobilizing the immune system to fight illness. Blood rushes to damaged internal tissues so that white blood cells can get to work healing our bodies. But inflammation is also painful when tissues become red, hot, and swollen.

Applying cold to the area of the inflammation reduces the swelling and helps relieve the pressure on surrounding tissue. Ice is a cheap, drug-free way of treating the pain associated with inflammation.

Placing ice at this point on your head is not a cure for the cause of the inflammation, but it treats the symptoms and discomfort. Consult a physician if pain becomes severe or lasts for several days. Although icing this point on your head is believed to help with breathing problems like asthma, you should also talk to a doctor if breathing or swallowing are difficult.

Brain Freeze

Icing the base of your head is all about relieving pain. The time needed to see relief from symptoms can vary but start by trying ice for ten minutes. After the initial ten minute trial, check your symptoms to see if you have noticed any decreased pain. Try varying the amount of time, up to twenty minutes.

To avoid dripping ice water down your neck and back, try putting ice in a freezer bag and wrap a thin washcloth or clean rag around the bag. Applying ice directly to the skin can cause frostbite, so always use a cloth between your skin and the ice.

Treatment for frostbite is similar to treatment for burns. Ice applied directly to the skin can cause blisters and skin damage that, when severe, can require surgery. Never ice any injury for more than twenty minutes at a time.

Final Thoughts on Understanding What Happens You Place an Ice Cube at This Point on Your Head

You’ll reduce pain due to the following:

Headache and migraine relief
Dizziness, numbness, twitching, tremors
Chronic neck and shoulder pain
Throat swelling
Earache
Nosebleeds
Eye pain
Aphasia (trouble speaking, as in laryngitis)
Spinal cord problems
Tooth pain
Lockjaw

According to acupuncture theory, icing the Feng Fu point on your head may also help with mental health concerns such as fear, suicidal thoughts or manic behavior.
Please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 if you have suicidal thoughts.

Although seeing a licensed psychological therapist might be more helpful for these types of mental disorders in the long run, people who suffer from minor mental distress can certainly benefit from applying ice to their heads for quick relief.

Whether you seek relief from anything from a minor headache to the twitching associated with restless leg syndrome, placing an ice cube on your head is an easy home remedy. So head to the kitchen, open your freezer and give yourself a very quick and inexpensive ice therapy session.

6 Things An Empath Does Differently

November 12, 2015 by Power of Positivity

By definition, an empath can understand and share the feelings of another, and it seems to be on everyone’s mind these days. From business leaders to front-line salespeople, from medical doctors to school officials, everyone is trying to become more empathic to better serve their community.

Highly empathic people know they are different from the people around them. They are highly sensitive and overly emotional beings that feel what other people feel. While they thrive on the loving and positive feelings, they are unable to escape feeling negative emotions that can be somewhat daunting. Feeling so deeply makes it difficult to adjust to new situations and forces the empathic person to proceed slowly when meeting new people or taking on new projects.

Empaths can sometimes feel as if they are cursed, but being in tune with the energy of the world is a blessing. Sure it’s difficult to live in the world where the majority of people are less sensitive, but there are many good things to being an empath.

Dr. Judith Orloff, the best-selling author of Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, says, “Empaths are naturally giving, spiritually attuned, and good listeners. If you want heart, empaths have got it. Through thick and thin, they’re there for you, world-class nurturers.”

Here are 6 Things That Make an Empath Unique

1. An empath will look at the world with wonder and curiosity.

Empathic people are learners by nature. They maintain their sense of wonder and curiosity from childhood that most of us grow out of when we become adults. They are naturally inquisitive and ask questions without judgment purely to learn and feel the experiences of others.

2. They act on their strong intuition.

While most of us may pay attention to our feelings of intuition, we often require more information before we know what to do with them. That’s not the case for an empathic person. They not only pay attention to their intuition, but will take action solely based on it. They know their intuition is their inner guide and will not lead them astray.

3. They can put themselves in someone else’s shoes.

It is easy for an empathic person to put themselves in other people’s shoes because they can feel what they feel. This connection to feelings makes an empathic person someone who makes decisions carefully and thoughtfully, knowing the impact it will have on the people around them.

4. The emapth manages their environment.

Being highly intuitive and sensitive to the world around them, an empathic person creates their environment to support this heightened awareness. They are selective in the work they do, the commitments they agree to take on and the people they allow into their inner circle.

5. They are fully present.

Empathic people can see and understand things beyond what is on the surface. This ability paired with their natural curiosity keeps them in the present moment. They feel it’s their obligation to learn, and share what they learn from their observations with the people that will benefit. This sense of duty keeps them tuned into what is happening around them at any given time.

6. The empath inspires others.

Empathic people are inspiring. They commit to the things they believe in, and that belief becomes contagious to the people around them. They feel the need to take up the causes that address human inequalities because they feel their pain. In doing so, they are fully capable of leading a movement.

Here is an amazing quote by Anthon St. Maarten:

“Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate. It is not the empath who is broken; it is a society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally disabled. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are at times described as being a ‘hot mess’ or having ‘too many issues’ are the very fabric of what keeps the dream alive for a more caring, humane world. Never be ashamed to let your tears shine a light in this world.”

Empathy is an important skill today and plays a role in all aspects of life, including business. Many people believe feelings and emotions don’t belong in the workplace, but the contrary seems to be true. The Center for Creatively Leadership conducted a study that revealed that empathy can contribute to positive job performance. So it seems any business would benefit from inviting empathic people into their offices.

Everyone is born with natural empathy, but somehow loses it as they grow. That doesn’t mean we have to live the rest of our lives without it. Empathy is something we can develop and foster within ourselves. One of the best ways to do that is to become curious about the world. Ask questions, be interested, commit to learning and start to form new connections that will develop the empathic person within.

Why Laughing At Yourself Is Healthy For You

November 11, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Ever heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine?” More and more studies have come out showing the importance of laughter, despite living in a seemingly serious world. According to research, the average child laughs 300 to 500 times a day, while the average adult laughs only 15 times per day. Obviously, we could use more laughter in this world, because no harm comes from too much laughing. People who laugh more often have been shown to have better health overall, and display a more upbeat, carefree mood.

In the unprecedented study referenced above, Ursula Beermann of the University of California, Berkeley, and Willibald Ruch of the University of Zurich studied 70 psychology students to measure their tendency to laugh at themselves or not. The findings of this study lend further evidence to the fact that having the ability to laugh at oneself can create the foundation for a good sense of humor, optimistic, energetic personality, and even better overall health.

The volunteers in the study had to rate their ability to see the humor in the problems they faced in daily life. The researchers also asked one or two friends to rate each person on the same characteristic. While the students filled our the questionnaires, a camera mounted on the wall secretly took photos of each participant’s face. The researchers then distorted the pictures using Mac PhotoBooth software, in order to make them look like the faces you’d see in a funhouse mirror.

This is where the experiment really gets good: the volunteers then had to rate the images of people they didn’t know. Their own pictures were part of the sequence, as well. The participants were videotaped as they looked at their own images, in order to see whether they laughed at themselves. Afterwards, researchers analyzed the data using a highly rated system of emotional expression, in order to gauge the authenticity of the volunteer’s expressions.

The results came in with 80% of the participants genuinely laughing or smiling at themselves when they saw their picture. Also, the volunteers who claimed to have the ability to laugh at themselves – and whose friends vouched for this statement – laughed and smiled more frequently and intensely than the others.

Additionally, people’s perspective about how easily they could laugh at themselves didn’t quite match up with their friends’ ratings, which implies that people overestimate their tendency to laugh at themselves, or that they would like people to think they laugh at themselves easily.

Interestingly, the study found no link between how much people laughed at their own images and how often and hard they laughed at the distorted images of others, which means that the ability to laugh at oneself is an inborn, distinct characteristic. It depends on one’s own personality, rather than just people’s ability to laugh at silly pictures.

The participants in the study who laughed at themselves more also had a more cheerful, upbeat personality, and seemed less serious. Also, researchers observed that they seemed in a better mood on the day of the experiment compared to others who didn’t laugh at themselves as often.

Although this study might not seem to indicate much or serve as a particularly vital piece of history, it actually sheds a light on the link between personality and health. People who have a more light-hearted, optimistic approach to life have been proven to be healthier overall, as laughter and a positive outlook can lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and keep depression at bay, among many other important health benefits.

Also, understanding certain jokes requires a particular set of social skills that people with certain conditions, such as autism and schizophrenia, often don’t develop. Studying the ins and outs of humor can therefore help scientists better understand how the brains work of people with mental and physical handicaps, which can help all of us communicate better in the end.

More than anything, this study should remind us to laugh more often, and not get caught up in the seriousness of life that brings so many of us down. While situations and events can seem like life or death in the moment, you will likely look back on your day and think how much energy you wasted worrying about certain things. So, if you haven’t yet laughed today, hopefully this will remind you to get your daily dose(s) of laughter, and encourage you to adopt a more carefree approach to life. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes that seems simple enough, but holds so much truth:

“Don’t take life too seriously; no one makes it out alive anyway.” – Van Wilder

25 Things You’ll Never Regret Doing

November 11, 2015 by Power of Positivity

We can’t control how life plays out; we might have plans, but usually, destiny sweeps in and changes all of the nicely packaged and perfectly ordered blueprints of our life, leaving us wondering if we’ve made a wrong turn somewhere. Truthfully, we can’t ever really know, so why worry or feel regret? Why spend any amount of time pondering what could or should’ve been when all we have is the present moment?

We don’t know how much time we have on this planet, in this existence, so do regrets have a purpose? They only make us speculate and second-guess ourselves when we could experience the ultimate freedom of living life to the fullest with no intention of looking back.

Here are 25 things you’ll never regret:

“Accept everything about yourself – I mean everything, You are you and that is the beginning and the end – no apologies, no regrets.” – Henry A. Kissinger

1. Saying those three little words that can change everything.

If you feel it in your heart, tell someone you love them. Life’s too short to hide your true feelings.

2. Taking silly pictures with your friends and family.

You might regret them in the moment, but later, you’ll find that those are some of your best memories, and you get to look at them whenever you want.

3. Going on a spontaneous road trip with no particular destination in mind.

Why have plans? Just go, and see where life takes you.

4. Chasing your dreams.

What else are we here for, anyway, except to follow our hearts and become the best versions of ourselves?

5. Seeing the beauty in everything.

Look around you, look within you, and breathe. Slow down and notice the little things, because those will be the big things later on.

6. Loving with all of your heart.

This includes loving yourself unconditionally, too. Give and receive love fully; it’s scary, but there’s no other way to truly experience life in all its glory.

7. Not holding back an ounce of your being.

Just because some people can’t handle you, doesn’t mean you should ever stop being yourself.

8. Being yourself, even when the world tries to tame you.

Run free and wild; the right people will run right along with you.

9. Acting before thinking.

This world thinks far too much; go with your instincts and don’t look back.

10. Smiling at strangers.

Smiling never hurt anyone, and you might make someone’s day with your beautiful smile.

11. Giving people compliments.

Lift people up, make them happy, and never stop doing it.

12. Quitting a job you hate.

Why work somewhere that doesn’t make you 100% happy? Quit, and find something you can’t wait to do each day.

13. Choosing happiness every single day of your life.

No matter what happens, see the silver lining in every situation. It will make life much easier.

14. Facing your biggest fears.

Fear doesn’t exist; we make it up in our heads. Let this empower you to go beyond yourself.

15. Taking time for you.

Self-care is vital to one’s health; don’t ever feel selfish–or regret–for taking care of you.

16. Acting like a kid when everyone tells you to grow up.

We take our lives far too seriously, so play in the sand, roll around in the grass, get a little lost, and never stop exploring.

17. Opening up to people despite the walls you’ve built around your heart.

After a while, we tend to close ourselves off to new people in fear of getting hurt. But, when you shut out people, you shut out love. Try leaving a tiny crack in those walls so someone worthy of your love can find a way into your heart.

18. Giving people a second chance.

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, so don’t write them off entirely. Give them another try.

19. Becoming your own best friend.

Love yourself like you’ve never loved anyone else before; your relationship with yourself sets the stage for every other relationship in your life.

20. Being able to laugh at yourself.

No one’s perfect, so stop expecting that from yourself. Laugh at your flaws and mistakes; others will probably laugh with you.

21. Going to all the concerts you possibly can.

Music sets the soul on fire, so spend your money to see your favorite people in concert. What do you have to lose?

22. Learning new things.

If we aren’t learning, we aren’t living. Keep an open mind, and stay curious.

23. Eating junk food every once in a while.

A healthy diet (most of the time) is wonderful. Restricting yourself from foods you really love is painful. Find a balance.

24. Stargazing with your favorite people.

We live in such a vast, complex, fascinating universe. When you look up at the stars, you will remember just how small and big you are at the same time.

25. Living while you can.

Life’s too short to worry it away. Just set your soul free of regret, and watch the miracles that happen.

9 Ways To Tell If Your Partner Will Love You Forever

November 11, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Forever is a long time. But when you find the right partner, that’s exactly how long you want to be in love together.

According to a study in the Journal of Social, Psychological and Personality Science, out of 274 couples who were married for more than 10 years, over 45% reported that they were still ‘very intensely in love’ with their partner.

So how do you know if your love will last? Here’s a list of 9 things to look for in your partner to know if you’ll be together long term.

9 Ways to Tell if Your Partner Will Love You Forever

1. I Only Have Eyes For You.

Others may complain that their partner secretively checks out others when they aren’t looking, but you don’t have to worry. Your partner makes you feel like you’re the only person they want to be partnered with. You’ve never felt jealous about the way they act with anyone else because they wouldn’t treat you with disrespect in that way.

2. Honestly, I do.

Your partner tells you their secrets and asks you about yours. They want to know you deeply and nothing is off the table. If you’ve discussed your hopes and fears, your family, your faith, your finances, and the things that you won’t compromise on, then you are on the right track to forever love.

3. We Value Your Opinion.

In the 1990s, psychologist John Gottman observed the interactions of 130 couples over six years, identifying one behavior as being key to long-term success in marriage. This key behavior was what he termed ‘turning toward’ your partner. When you bring up a topic in conversation, your partner shows interest by engaging in a positive discussion.

When your partner asks you what you think and genuinely seems interested in the answer, you feel appreciated. You know that they value your input and want to include you in the decisions that they have to make, big or small.

4. Listen up.

Whether you’re venting about work or raving about the deliciousness of the cronut, your partner loves to listen. They ask questions about your preferences, take mental notes, and remember what is important to you. You wonder with amazement how they remembered that it was your Aunt Jenny and Uncle Roger’s 36th wedding anniversary.

When your partner supports you by listening to understand you, and then validating what you have said, they demonstrate a deep caring for you. Another study of 79 dating couples found that supporting your partner’s good news with enthusiasm was a predictor of current and future happiness.

5. Time is Money.

How we spend our time is a reflection of our priorities. If your partner makes sure to spend time with you, then you can bet that you are important to them. If given the choice between a steak dinner out with friends or soup at home with you, they’d pick you up every time.

6. Intimate Ways.

If your partner is intimate with you in more than just the bedroom, you’ve got a forever kind of love. Sex is an important part of being a human, but connecting with someone without sex is also healthy. Touching, teasing, talking, and playing are all ways that we can connect intimately with our partners. Your partner finds ways to bond with you that make you feel a physical connection.

How often couples have sex was also reported by study participants to be strongly linked to intense love. But even 25% of couples who reported no sex in the past month still rated themselves as intensely in love with their partner. On the other hand, couples in the study who had no physical intimacy or cuddling reported the most marital unhappiness.

7. Promise to Compromise.

When your partner loves you, they are willing to work to find a compromise that will make both of you happy. You hate olives but s/he loves them? Then a half a pie will do with custom toppings for each of you.

By being generous with your partner you build a relationship of respect and appreciation that builds long-term bonds. Kindness and generosity have been linked to long-term love and marital happiness.

8. Fight Right.

You’ve had a huge fight and it wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, you learned from it and you now know what your partner feels strongly about. If your partner worked to repair any damage that was done in the way of hurt feelings, you now know that your relationship is even stronger and you’re on your way to forever love.

In a study in the Journal of Marriage and the Family, couples who were the most negative in a conflict could be predicted to divorce with a 93% accuracy. If your partner learns the hot button topics that will set you off and avoids those subjects, then they have made an unspoken gesture of kindness toward you. Their respect for your preferences helps to avoid conflict in the first place.

9. I Feel Your Pain.

When you hurt, your partner hurts. They are so connected to you that your emotions become their own. A setback for one of you is a setback for both of you. This empathy is an emotional bond that strengthens your connection. When a challenge presents itself, you can hold each other close, work together to build the other back up, and come back stronger as a team than you were individually before.

5 Toxic Things That Can Ruin Your Smile

November 10, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Did you know that most people notice your smile before anything else about you? When you first meet someone, you usually greet them with a handshake and a dazzling display of your pearly whites, so of course, your smile plays a pivotal role in how people perceive you.

According to a survey by Delta Dental, 47 percent of Americans listed a smile as the most important physical feature of a person, followed by eyes and physique. Also, 64 percent said a person’s likelihood of success is partially determined by their smile.

With all that emphasis on your smile, you need to make sure you take care of your oral health so that you not only feel great but also present your best self to others. Certain lifestyle habits and substances can compromise a beautiful smile, so avoid these things if you want to keep your smile intact.

Here are five toxic things that can ruin your smile:

1. Diabetes

Unfortunately, diabetics have a higher likelihood of developing periodontal disease than others. People with problems balancing their blood sugar have a greater risk of gum decay, but brushing and flossing regularly can reduce the possibility of developing periodontal diseases. By maintaining proper gum health, diabetics can can even lower the amount of insulin they need to take.

2. Wine

Despite all of the claims and studies that have come out citing wine as perfectly healthy, it can take quite a toll on one’s tooth enamel, and also cause discoloration of the teeth. You might not consider the effects of drinking wine on your oral health, but drinking even one glass a night elevates your risk of mouth cancer, sucks the calcium from your teeth, promotes bad breath, and can severely dry out your mouth, creating an imbalanced pH level. However, if you enjoy drinking wine, just make sure to avoid swishing it around in your mouth since this greatly contributes to enamel erosion. Instead, drink small sips, and rinse your mouth with water afterward.

3. Black tea and coffee

Our world practically runs on coffee, and while it’s delicious, it can cause discoloration of the teeth. Some people choose to drink dark tea and coffee through a straw, but if you can’t picture yourself doing that, simply drink more water each day to counteract the coffee or tea, or add milk to lower the beverage’s acidity.

4. Forgetting to floss

While many of us probably don’t jump up and down at the thought of flossing, it should be a regular part of your dental routine. Flossing removes plaque from hard-to-reach spots between your teeth, helps promote a whiter smile, and can even make your breath smell better. It takes a few minutes to do, and while it might hurt at first if you haven’t flossed in a while, your teeth will feel much healthier and cleaner.

5. Whitening products

While your pearly whites might look better on the surface after using whitening agents, these abrasive products can cause quite a lot of damage under the surface. The bleach in whitening strips can severely weaken tooth enamel and cause irreversible tooth damage in some cases. If you want whiter teeth, some of the easiest ways to obtain a brighter smile include eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, cutting out or limiting soft drinks, caffeinated beverages, and sugar-laden foods, drinking plenty of water, and flossing regularly.

No need to put your oral health at risk just to get an artificially brighter smile; you can do that much cheaper and more effectively by reaching into your fridge and grabbing some healthy snacks!

Final Thoughts on Having a Radiant, Healthy Smile

Finally, remember that a healthy, radiant smile doesn’t just have to do with how bright and polished your teeth look; you also need to take care of your mental and emotional health. Working on your physical appearance is not good if you have underlying causes of unhappiness and distress. The best smiles come from the heart, so make sure you take the time to give yourself the love and care you deserve, and that will start to reflect outwardly in your smile and overall demeanor.

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What’s the Point?

Why Ice?

Brain Freeze

Final Thoughts on Understanding What Happens You Place an Ice Cube at This Point on Your Head

Here are 6 Things That Make an Empath Unique

1. An empath will look at the world with wonder and curiosity.

2. They act on their strong intuition.

3. They can put themselves in someone else’s shoes.

4. The emapth manages their environment.

5. They are fully present.

6. The empath inspires others.

Here is an amazing quote by Anthon St. Maarten:

Here are 25 things you’ll never regret:

1. Saying those three little words that can change everything.

2. Taking silly pictures with your friends and family.

3. Going on a spontaneous road trip with no particular destination in mind.

4. Chasing your dreams.

5. Seeing the beauty in everything.

6. Loving with all of your heart.

7. Not holding back an ounce of your being.

8. Being yourself, even when the world tries to tame you.

9. Acting before thinking.

10. Smiling at strangers.

11. Giving people compliments.

12. Quitting a job you hate.

13. Choosing happiness every single day of your life.

14. Facing your biggest fears.

15. Taking time for you.

16. Acting like a kid when everyone tells you to grow up.

17. Opening up to people despite the walls you’ve built around your heart.

18. Giving people a second chance.

19. Becoming your own best friend.

20. Being able to laugh at yourself.

21. Going to all the concerts you possibly can.

22. Learning new things.

23. Eating junk food every once in a while.

24. Stargazing with your favorite people.

25. Living while you can.

9 Ways to Tell if Your Partner Will Love You Forever

1. I Only Have Eyes For You.

2. Honestly, I do.

3. We Value Your Opinion.

4. Listen up.

5. Time is Money.

6. Intimate Ways.

7. Promise to Compromise.

8. Fight Right.

9. I Feel Your Pain.

Here are five toxic things that can ruin your smile:

1. Diabetes

2. Wine

3. Black tea and coffee

4. Forgetting to floss

5. Whitening products

Final Thoughts on Having a Radiant, Healthy Smile

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