6 Ways to Wake up Easier When You’re Not A Morning Person

October 1, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Many people have to wake up early for work anyway, but how often do you hit the snooze button to catch an extra 15 minutes of shut eye? Probably more than you’d like to admit.

Getting some extra sleep every now and then actually does a body and mind good, but when you sleep in every day of the week, it can set your whole day off on the wrong note, making you feel rushed as you try to get ready for work or school. If you want to wake up easier and earlier to avoid being pressed for time, you just need to make a few simple changes.

Here are 6 tricks to help you wake up easier:

1. Set your alarm just one minute earlier each morning.

You can’t expect to wake up at 5AM tomorrow if you’ve been getting up at 8AM every single day of your life. Don’t set yourself up to fail; instead, set your alarm for just one minute earlier each day. This way, you can still achieve your goal, but it will seem much more attainable since you have small milestones set for yourself. After one month, you will be waking up 30 minutes earlier than before! And after two months, it will be an hour earlier, and so on. New habits take time to form, so don’t rush yourself; remember, slow and steady wins the race.

2. Remember your “why”.

It comes as no surprise that many successful people ease their way into waking up early so they can have more time to work on their goals. If you want it to become easier to wake up in the morning, you need to have something that drives you, motivates you, and inspires you. If you have a passion for something in life, you won’t want to sleep in. You’ll have the ambition and true desire to wake up so you can work on that dream for as long as possible, and it won’t even feel like work. Go deep within and figure out what makes you feel alive, and then work on that every single day. Then, waking up won’t seem like such a dreadful and impossible task.

3. Have early morning coffee dates with friends.

Everyone enjoys catching up with friends, so what better way to do that than over a nice, steaming cup of joe first thing in the morning? Forget about Folgers; make it a fun date with friends having coffee that actually tastes good. You’ll feel more motivated for your day after going out of your way to get up early to see them, plus the coffee will kickstart your day. You could make it a once a week type of thing, and call it “The Early Risers Club,” or something like that. Make waking up earlier fun, so it won’t seem like such a chore.

4. Adjust your environment to soften your mornings.

Is it cold in your house when you get up? Lay out a robe and slippers in a chair near your bed so you can feel cozy when you get up. Do you have to wait on your coffee in the mornings? Make it the night before and set a timer so it’s ready when you wake up. Also, set your alarm to something that will get you moving, like a radio station that plays upbeat songs so that waking up earlier will be enjoyable for you.

5. Sign up for an early morning gym or yoga class.

What better way to start your day than to get your sweat on and your body moving? Maybe a workout session first thing in the morning doesn’t sound like an ideal wake up call, but you will feel amazing afterwards, and totally energized for your day. Make it a class you really love, like Zumba or Restorative Yoga. Go to classes that fit your workout style and needs, and you won’t want to miss it, even if it’s at the crack of dawn.

6. Reward yourself for your wake-up goals.

Every day you wake up earlier, treat yourself to something small. It doesn’t have to be food, either; it could be an inexpensive decoration for your house, a new essential oil or bath soap, or just anything that makes you feel good. If you work toward a goal, you deserve to be rewarded for your accomplishments.

7 Things To Do (And Avoid) When Things Go Wrong

October 1, 2015 by Power of Positivity

You know those days when everything seems to go wrong, and nothing seems right? We’ve all had them, but sometimes, knowing how to deal with them without having a heart attack seems impossible. We want to sort out the problems and find solutions, but when that doesn’t happen as quickly as we’d like, we sometimes panic, take out our anger on someone else, or just run away from our problems. However, none of these methods will really make the day any better; they will simply add to your mounting stress. If you really want to keep a level head when things go wrong and learn to deal with problems rationally and thoughtfully, you just need to keep a few tips handy.

“Sometimes things have to go wrong. That’s life. And you have to stay strong, to survive.” –Mouloud Benzadi

Here are seven things to do (and avoid) when things go wrong:

1. Express your problems, but don’t lose your temper when things go wrong.

When everything comes crashing down in our lives, we usually turn to friends and family for support. However, just because these people love you unconditionally does not mean you can take advantage of that and expect them to take all the heat. They will probably endure your wrath, but that doesn’t mean they should. Try to take a few minutes to catch your breath and calm down, so you can explain the issues clearly without letting your anger control you.

2. Talk to your friends, but don’t drag them into your own fire.

You should always go to your loved ones for some guidance, but don’t bring them down if you have a bad day. Bring up the issues, allow them to express their thoughts, and then move on to other conversations. They might also have some issues to talk about, so remember that everyone, not just you, struggles with something in life. You can always rise above the problems by having a positive mindset and believing in yourself to get through it. Your friends can help you get back on your feet, but remember that at the end of the day, you will ultimately have to put out the fire yourself.

3. Get opinions on solutions, but don’t let others decide for you.

People just love to meddle in other’s lives and offer advice; in some ways, it should make us feel good since they care about us, but at other times, it seems like they’re overstepping their bounds. Let other people try to help you out, but don’t allow them to take the wheel and steer totally. You get the final say on what will happen in your life, so just remember that the next time people try to decide things for you.

4. Try to solve the problems, but don’t beat yourself when things go wrong.

Sometimes, as much as we try to conquer a problem, it can’t be solved. That doesn’t mean we won’t ever get an answer, but maybe we just need to distance ourselves from the issues and let them work themselves out for a while. You can’t solve every problem in the world, so don’t try. Focus on the things you know without a doubt you can change, and don’t worry yourself with problems you can’t change.

5. Meet the issues head-on, but don’t sit and dwell on them forever.

You should definitely confront the problems in your life head-on, but if they continue to linger, you can’t just let them take over your life. Trust that the universe will work things out for you, and if you’ve done all you can to sort out a problem, let it be for a while. Focus on everything you do in life well, and those areas of your life will outshine the times when things go wrong. Dwelling on problems doesn’t make them go away; it just makes them seem worse than they really are.

6. Give yourself space from the problem to figure things out, but don’t run from it.

Sometimes, we just need to distance ourselves from the problems to get real answers. Go on a camping trip, drive out into the country, or just find some quiet space in your home or workspace so you can try to sort through the mess. We can find any answers we need when we quiet our minds and go into our hearts, even if it initially seems elusive and pointless. However, going within doesn’t mean we try to escape from our problems by just listening to our inner voice and not getting out there to conquer the problems. Don’t run from your problems; rather, distance yourself for periods of time to decompress and rebalance your energies. You will feel much more prepared and resilient when you confront your problems when things go wrong.

7. Take things seriously when things go wrong, but don’t forget to have fun.

Just because this journey is temporary doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take some things seriously. For example, if you need car repairs or someone steals your credit cards, you need to take action immediately. However, you shouldn’t let your problems totally rule your life. After tackling some of the day’s problems, go out and do something you truly enjoy. Act like a kid again – buy a coloring book, play with sidewalk chalk, watch a children’s movie, or just do something that takes you away from adult responsibilities for a while. After all, being human is about letting go and giving into your inner child sometimes; growing up doesn’t have to kill your spirit totally.

5 Signs Someone Is Trying to Steal Your Energy

October 1, 2015 by Power of Positivity

There are many people out there who literally feed off the energies of those around them, attaching to a host and attempting to emotionally suck the person dry. Then, the cycle continues, as the “energy vampire” survives off of other people’s emotions. Now you know why happy, vibrant people can sometimes attract those with self-serving motives: people who try to steal others’ energy live from such a low vibrational state that they must turn to people with high energetic levels to survive.

In today’s society, you have likely encountered people like this numerous times without even knowing it. When the person supplying the energy does comes into full realization of the situation at hand, they will usually either ignore the person or let them go.

The hard part is seeing the signs of someone who is trying to steal your energy. Here’s how you can tell

5 Signs Someone Is Trying to Steal Your Energy

1. Someone trying to steal your energy will try to drag you down to their level

Not every psychic vampire steals other people’s energy knowingly or maliciously; maybe they just need a little guidance and support along their journey. In a short excerpt from Dr. Judith Orloff’s New York Times Bestseller, “Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life,” she says,

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

For these types of people, often called “poor me” types, you could easily change the subject or offer a few positive words about her relationship. This type of energy vampire usually doesn’t have underlying intentions, but may just need some assistance in getting back on a path toward uplifting their own energy. We all need help from time to time, so don’t automatically dismiss those who exude negative vibes. They may have just had a bad day, and need someone to talk to. As long as you can reach within and easily access your own positivity, this person’s energy should not affect you psychically.

2. They greet you in a great mood, then flip the switch

Sometimes when coming into contact with someone who is trying to steal your energy, they’ll initially greet you with joy, as if you’re the person they’ve been waiting to see all day. Once they know they have you in their territory, they flip the switch and leave you blanketed by the overwhelming amounts of negative energy they give off. It can feel suffocating, but you can always find a way to keep them from getting away with stealing your energy.

Simply smiling at someone who is overwhelmingly negative can carries can actually help flood them with positive energy. Think of how you feel when a stranger smiles at you on the street or in the grocery store; you instantly feel happier, right? Well, it works in the same fashion when you pass the smile on to others; ripples create waves, so make sure to keep the positive energy flowing by giving away your own happiness to others!

This doesn’t mean to let others walk all over you and deplete your energy stores, but just give off good vibes so that others may benefit from them, and even start to use these tools to enrich their own lives.

3. They try to make you feel bad for them.

People who try to steal positive energy from others can often display a self-pitying behavior without making any indication that they want to take responsibility for their own energy. In this case, you will need to contemplate letting the person go. Even if it’s a close friend or family member, you cannot have a healthy relationship with someone who refuses to take control of their life and at least work on becoming a more positive, independent person.

Don’t feel guilty for wanting to leave an unhealthy relationship; sometimes, no other options are available, and you can’t carry their burdens on your shoulders forever. Allowing the behavior to continue only enables them to keep functioning as a victim, but cutting ties with them will force them to find strength within to both uplift themselves and others.

You will be doing them a favor, so try not to feel too much remorse, especially if you’re an empath.

4. They make problems bigger than they really are.

People who try to steal your energy will often overreact to the smaller, less important things in life, simply to feed off of the strong emotional response that comes with their reaction. If the barista at the coffee shop made a hazelnut latte instead of a white chocolate mocha, they are the type that will act as if their day is ruined.

Instead of letting them overreact, be sure to make the optimistic view apparent and remind them that this whole human experience naturally comes with imperfections and disorder, because life is simply an experiment. We all came here to learn and grow, and that involves failing, making mistakes, and adjusting to whatever happens.

5. They try to make you focus on the negative

Someone who is trying to steal your energy not only wants to fuel themselves with it, but they also want to make sure that you don’t have any left over for yourself. They will consistently try to make you see the sour side of things, fill your head with doubt, and make you feel like you aren’t good enough to receive the positive energy you deserve.

Any time someone is trying to steal your energy by making you focus on the negative, immediately do something else to take your mind off of it. This shows great accountability and self-respect for your own well-being, and clearly tells the person trying to drain you that their presence is no longer welcome.

How To Achieve Your Dreams in Four Steps

September 30, 2015 by Power of Positivity

In life, we all want to achieve our dreams, but many of us have no idea how to transform those visions into reality. Many self-help books and online articles will tell you to envision your idea first and believe in it so much that it has no choice but to manifest before your eyes. However, at some point, achieving your dreams comes down to how much dedication and perseverance you have in actualizing those goals. How badly do you want it?

Many books out there mislead people and have them believe that they need to do all these rituals and following certain practices in order to achieve results. However, if you want real ways to reach your goals without wasting valuable time following guidelines that may or may not work, take the advice of Gabriele Oettingen, New York University psychologist.

On the “Psychology Podcast,” started by cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, Gabriele revealed a four-step plan she came up with after years of intensive research, proven to steer people in the right direction with achieving their dreams.

Of course, you do need to believe in yourself and think positively in order to see your dreams become a reality, but spending too much time trying to correct your thinking patterns could actually deter you from achieving your dreams. On the weekly podcast, Oettingen explained her four-step plan to Kaufman in detail, and it comes down to this motivational acronym: WOOP.

The Four Step Plan To Achieving Your Dreams:

Wish:

This part includes the visualization necessary for achieving your dreams. What is it that you want? You need to have this clearly defined in your head, and you could even write it down if that makes things easier for you. The idea isn’t to have the most grandiose wish in the world, but you can if you want; the main idea is to simply have something to work towards, no matter how small it may seem. Your wish can range from something relatively small, like waking up 15 minutes earlier the next day, to a big dream like buying a three-story house next year.

Whatever your dream is, make sure you really want it in your heart, and hold it there.

Outcome:

After you think about what you want, visualize how you’ll feel if your dreams come true. What will the outcome be if you do achieve your dreams?

“Very often, it is a feeling,” Oettingen said. “You define that outcome, and you imagine that outcome. And once you’ve imagined the outcome, really immerse yourself in these daydreams.”

This part does require some positive thinking, but you will use this step to carry you through the next ones. The key to achieving your dreams is to not just stop at the dreaming part; you have to put in the hard work to watch those dreams come to life.

Obstacles:

This step probably won’t seem that enjoyable, but it’s necessary if you want to go through the whole process of achieving your dreams. If you simply stop at daydreaming, you won’t ever have the tools you need to achieve your dreams, because following them requires both unshakable faith and dedicated action. However, many people have something inside them that bars them from achieving their wildest dreams.

After you let that feeling of accomplishment wash over you while visualizing what it would feel like to actually achieve your dreams, think about the realistic obstacles you face that keep you from those goals.

“Then you say, What is it in me that holds me back from experiencing that wish, that outcome? ” Oettingen said. “Very often it’s an emotion, it’s those same old habits. … And you imagine that obstacle.”

Plan:

Finally, you need to have action plans for each of those obstacles. Make a list of all the possible roadblocks you will face in achieving your dreams, and come up with solutions for each of them.

“Once you’ve imagined that obstacle,” Oettingen said, “you’ll understand what you need to do to overcome it.”

Sound too simple to be true? The research Oettingen has done thus far has helped people do everything from eat healthier foods to feeling more secure and confident in their romantic relationships. If you’d like to read more about her methods and research, click the link in the previous sentence for more in-depth information.

Also, remember to practice patience when trying to achieve your dreams. All the small steps you take will amount to big ones, in the end, so just make lists each day of the things you need to accomplish in order to reach your goals, and go after them! Don’t let anything, especially your own mind, hold you back from your destiny.

3 Behaviors That Ruin Relationships

September 30, 2015 by Power of Positivity

From the moment you are brought into the world, you develop relationships – with your parents, siblings, near and distant relatives, students, spouse, friends, co-workers… the list goes on. Something else that we all have in common. We want to have healthy and happy connections with others (and we all have the capacity to ruin relationships). In order to create these positive relationships, there are certain behaviors we must learn to stay away from. Three of these behaviors in particular if left unchecked can ruin your relationships. They can also have a very strong impact on the number of connections formed in the future.

Here are 3 behaviors that ruin relationships:

Withdrawal from communication (and/or emotional unavailability)

Effective communication is essential in any healthy relationship. Being open, honest, and willing to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and desires with your spouse is required. When people hold secrets or avoid genuine interactions, they create a barrier that inhibits the connection from growing and flourishing. This might result in sentiments of distrust, animosity, and disconnect.

It is essential to be able to handle difficult conversations in a calm and sensible manner in order to create and maintain a good relationship. This includes the ability to express yourself without resorting to name-calling or yelling at one another. It also entails being able to listen to your partner’s point of view while accepting responsibility for your own behaviors.

It is critical to be open and honest with your spouse in order to establish successful communication and trust in your relationship. This entails being open to sharing your thoughts, feelings, and needs, even if they are difficult to articulate. It also entails being willing to listen to your partner’s point of view and collaborate to solve any problems that may occur.

To summarize, healthy relationships necessitate open and honest communication. When people conceal secrets, avoid uncomfortable talks, and refuse to admit when someone has done or said something that has upset them, it can lead to mistrust, animosity, and detachment. It is critical to establish trust and excellent communication in order to avoid hurting the relationship.

This can be achieved by being open and honest with your partner, and by being willing to listen and work together to find solutions.

Comparing the relationship to the relationships of others

Comparing yourself to others, whether the Joneses, Kardashians or anybody else, can harm your relationships. When we compare ourselves to others, it might make us feel inadequate or as if our ties with others are insufficient. In our relationships, this can lead to emotions of lack, inadequacy, and discontent. It can also foster an unhealthy dynamic in which we are always striving for something greater rather than appreciating the beauty of our current relationships.

To prevent potentially destroying your relationships by comparing yourself to others, keep in mind that each scenario is unique and individual. It’s normal for your relationship with a friend or partner to differ from your relationship of another person.

Instead of always wishing for something you don’t have, it’s crucial to accept your relationship for what it is and to focus on its strengths and positive qualities.

It’s also vital to understand that other people’s relationships and lives aren’t always as great as they appear on social media or in the media. People tend to exhibit only the best aspects of their lives, and it’s easy to compare your own life and relationships to an edited and curated version of someone else’s.

In conclusion, keeping up with the Joneses or the Kardashians might be detrimental to your relationships. It can cause emotions of lack and inadequacy, as well as make you want for something you don’t have.

To avoid potentially destroying your relationships, keep in mind that each scenario is unique and unusual, and cherish the beauty of your current relationships. Furthermore, it is critical to know that other people’s relationships and lives are not always as great as they appear and to refrain from comparing yourself to them.

Holding on to grudges and resentments

“For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

When someone offends us, especially someone we love, it can be excruciatingly painful and leave us feeling as if we will never be able to forgive them. Holding grudges and unresolved issues, on the other hand, might lead to the notion that people cannot be trusted. This is harmful to both ourselves and our relationships.

Forgiveness is an essential component of any healthy relationship. It enables us to go forward in a positive manner by allowing us to let go of the grief and hurt created by the offense. It’s critical to understand that forgiving someone does not imply overlooking their offense or making excuses for their behavior. It is all about letting go of the bad feelings and resentments that might affect ourselves and our relationships.

Forgiving someone might also be good for our emotional health. Holding on to anger and resentment can be emotionally taxing, leading to tension and discontent. We can let go of bad emotions and achieve peace and closure by forgiving someone.

Furthermore, forgiving is crucial because it opens our hearts and brains to trusting others. When we retain grudges and resentments against people, it can be difficult to trust them and develop healthy relationships. Forgiveness enables us to move past the transgression and develop better, more trusting connections. It can be tough to forgive someone who has hurt us. Holding grudges and unresolved issues, on the other hand, might lead to the notion that people cannot be trusted. Forgiving someone is vital because it allows us to let go of the grief and hurt caused by the transgression, improves our mental health, and allows us to open our hearts and minds to trust others.

Final Thoughts on Behaviors That Ruin Relationships

Some of the practices that might harm relationships include keeping secrets, removing oneself from genuine interactions, and comparing oneself to others. Effective communication, trust, and forgiveness, on the other hand, are essential components of any healthy relationship. Being open, honest, and eager to discuss your ideas, feelings, and desires with your spouse is one of these characteristics. Furthermore, the ability to have difficult conversations in a calm and sensible manner, accept responsibility for your own acts, and let go of grudges and resentments are vital for maintaining strong relationships. If you want to keep your close relationships healthy, you should aim to foster these habits in them.

5 Signs You’re Stronger Than You Think

September 29, 2015 by Power of Positivity

In life, people often look at our circumstances from a “glass half-empty” perspective, seeing everything that isn’t there rather than what IS there. We judge ourselves and become our own worst enemies, expecting perfection and nothing less. We compare our lives to others and decide that ours must be a life of weakness that is less appealing or gratifying. However, you are probably much stronger than you think, and here’s why:

5 Signs You’re Stronger Than You Think

You Focus on What You Can Change

Unhappy people always dwell on what they can’t change, but happy people take advantage of the changes they can make. Unhappy people give every reason why something is impossible, but happy people understand that they can transcend any limits with positive, determined thoughts. If you realize what changes you can make and take active steps toward creating those changes, you have discovered one of the best ways to feel true happiness: by taking responsibility for establishing positive change in your life.

You Don’t Care What Others Think

If you feel comfortable living beyond the confines of societal norms and couldn’t care less what others have to say about how you live, you are part of a rare group of people. Many people never allow themselves to flourish because they worry too much about how others will perceive them, and don’t pay enough attention to how they perceive themselves. The day you stop caring what others think is the day you start living. If you have surpassed the need to seek approval and live life according to your own ideals, you have unlocked one of the gates to happiness.

You Aren’t Afraid of Failure

This goes along with the previous point, because living without regrets often coincides with having no fear of failure. Leaving the comfort zone behind means that you focus more on the experience rather than the result of that experience. If you accept failed attempts as part of the learning experience here on Earth, you probably live a pretty happy life because you understand that growth can’t happen without failure.

You Have a “Yes” Mentality

Adopt this mindset, and you will have a whole new outlook on the meaning of “no.” No just means that the universe is redirecting you to another opportunity, which means that a “yes” is inevitable if you just hold your intention. If you already have this mentality, you actually love the answer “No” because it challenges you to keep following your path despite the obstacles you face. Having this mentality means you say yes to life, even if life may not always say yes to you.

You See the Value in the Little Things in Life

Most people rush through life without slowing down every once in a while to take in all the beauty around them. If you can look at a flower growing in a bed of weeds and smile, you have a pretty good outlook on life. In the same way, if you can sit in a sea of cars on your way to work and feel thankful for the chance to gain patience, this shows you can find the silver lining in any situation.

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6 Ways to Wake up Easier When You’re Not A Morning Person

Here are 6 tricks to help you wake up easier:

1. Set your alarm just one minute earlier each morning.

2. Remember your “why”.

3. Have early morning coffee dates with friends.

4. Adjust your environment to soften your mornings.

5. Sign up for an early morning gym or yoga class.

6. Reward yourself for your wake-up goals.

Here are seven things to do (and avoid) when things go wrong:

1. Express your problems, but don’t lose your temper when things go wrong.

2. Talk to your friends, but don’t drag them into your own fire.

3. Get opinions on solutions, but don’t let others decide for you.

4. Try to solve the problems, but don’t beat yourself when things go wrong.

5. Meet the issues head-on, but don’t sit and dwell on them forever.

6. Give yourself space from the problem to figure things out, but don’t run from it.

7. Take things seriously when things go wrong, but don’t forget to have fun.

5 Signs Someone Is Trying to Steal Your Energy

1. Someone trying to steal your energy will try to drag you down to their level

2. They greet you in a great mood, then flip the switch

3. They try to make you feel bad for them.

4. They make problems bigger than they really are.

5. They try to make you focus on the negative

The Four Step Plan To Achieving Your Dreams:

Wish:

Whatever your dream is, make sure you really want it in your heart, and hold it there.

Outcome:

Obstacles:

Plan:

Here are 3 behaviors that ruin relationships:

Withdrawal from communication (and/or emotional unavailability)

Comparing the relationship to the relationships of others

Holding on to grudges and resentments

Final Thoughts on Behaviors That Ruin Relationships

5 Signs You’re Stronger Than You Think

You Focus on What You Can Change

You Don’t Care What Others Think

You Aren’t Afraid of Failure

You Have a “Yes” Mentality

You See the Value in the Little Things in Life

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