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3 Simple and Effective Ways to Stress Less

February 25, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Do you feel the impact of stress every day? You are in good company.

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

Encountering stressful situations on a daily basis is a near certainty. We’re overworked, overscheduled and unrested. We’re connected, distracted, and unsettled. These stressors don’t just vanish without a trace – negatively affecting your physical, mental and emotional functions.

Quite simply, stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. Stress is a normal – even positive – part of life. For example, when we procrastinate and our minds continually reiterate the importance of completing a task. This is an example of how stress is healthy for us.

However, stress can become negative – really negative. The medical and scientific communities actually have a term for this type of stress: distress. Distress can manifest itself in various ways – headaches, nausea, stomachache, irritability, trouble sleeping, high blood pressure, etc. Over the long term, this can lead to various types of diseases.

Distress is a common complaint in our society. Consider these statistics:

– 75-90% of all doctor visits are stress-related illnesses or complaints.

– 43% of all adults suffer stress-related health effects.

– 50% of all lifelong emotional disorders are related to stress.

These are exorbitantly high numbers. Up to 90% of all doctor visits are stress-related? Don’t fret, my friend…we’re going to give you some great pointers here.

In fact, here are 3 key things you can do right now to handle stress:

1. Take time away from tech

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.” – Buddha

Do you ever notice how insatiable our appetites are for technology? Phones, tablets, tablets that look like phones, phones that look like tablets, a robot that reminds you where your cell phone or is…okay, I made that last one up. I think.

Technology can be a true force for good – educational, medical and scientific communities all benefit from the tech revolution. People connect with both positive and negative outcomes. We’re more connected with our families, friends, and distant relatives. On the other hand, we’re also more distracted and less mindful.

According to a study at the University of Gothenburg, heavy use of mobile phones and other electronic devices can potentially affect mental health. The study, consisting of 4,100 people aged 20-24 revealed the following:

– Increased sleeping problems in men.

– Increased depressive symptoms in both men and women.

– Other precursors to mental health problems.

Many negative outcomes from technology overuse can be attributed to instant gratification. Facebook, email, video chat, games, and texting are all available at the tap of a finger. Make no mistake – technology can and should be enjoyed. In moderation, that is.

Do yourself a favor and disconnect the devices from time to time. Turn off the tablet, phone, or computer and get some fresh air. Take in and remember how good it feels to immerse yourself into something else – meditate, read, nap, or anything else.

2. Connect with nature

“It is better to travel well than to arrive.” – Buddha

Not so long ago – about 150,000 to 200,000 years – human beings lived outside… in nature. We were born among our animal relatives and stayed among them until we died. We built shelter, hunted animals, cooked food and raised children in the elements.

Our distant ancestors were probably tree-dwellers in some form. Now it doesn’t seem anyone is interested in trees unless we are deforesting some part of the country. Think of that: Nature gave human beings everything needed to build and sustain life, and we pay it back by uprooting a forest to build a mall.

Anyways, enough with the lecture on man’s irresponsible use of Nature’s resources. The real point I was trying to make: reconnect with nature. Take in its vastness; its beauty. Nature is truly a wonderful and diverse ecosystem.

Consider the benefits of just the sun:

– Sun rays kill bacteria on the skin.

– Sunlight lowers cholesterol.

– Sun rays lower blood pressure.

– Sunlight penetrates the skin to purify both blood and blood vessels.

– Sunlight improves oxygen circulation in the body.

– Sun exposure strengthens the immune system.

– Sunlight can increase the physical development of children; namely growth and height.

– Sun exposure can reduce or cure depression (staying inside too much initiates or prolongs it!)

3. Breathe/Meditate to Relieve Stress

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present I know that this is the only moment.” – Buddha

Breathe or meditate – in fact, do both. There’s a practice devoted to just that – breathing and meditating –mindfulness meditation.

When getting right down to it, mindfulness meditation is very simple. You sit or lie in a comfortable position, pay attention to the breath, and when the mind wanders you gently bring it back to the breath. Simple in theory, quite another in practice – but you’ll learn quickly and see tremendous benefits as a result.

So why practice mindfulness meditation? Consider a Buddhist health study done at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Heidi Wayment and her colleagues surveyed 866 Buddhist practitioners from around the world and discovered five key benefits of the practice.

Benefits of meditation:

Mindfulness meditation “strengthened the immune and physiological responses to stress and negative emotion.” (Read and re-read! This is perhaps the biggest health benefit)
It “improved the social relationships with family and strangers.”
It “reduced stress, depression, and anxiety and increased well-being and happiness.”
Participants felt “increased openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness and reduced negative associations with neuroticism.”
It “led to greater psychological mindfulness, which included an awareness that is clear, nonconceptual, and flexible; a practical stance toward reality; and present attention to the individual’s consciousness and awareness.”

Dr. Wayment had this to say on the findings of the study:

“One of the surprising findings of this study and what some others are coming up with is how much of a difference it makes to focus your mind and calm down. It actually makes a large difference in your well-being.”

What is striking about this statement is that these benefits shouldn’t be “surprising” in the least. The Buddha discussed this in detail roughly 2,500 years ago! His practices have been meticulously documented, passed down and taught throughout the generations. The scientific and medical community, in study after study, continues to learn the tremendous benefits of Buddha’s ancient wisdom – from enlarging areas of the brain to preventing diseases and stress.

8 Studies that Show How Consciousness Affects Reality

February 23, 2015 by Power of Positivity

“I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.” – Max Planck

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here was a time, not so long ago when scientists thought that the material universe was indeed the only reality – it was constructed of random pieces of matter with no order. iIn other words, “what you see is what you get.”

Physicists upended this “common knowledge” when they proved that everything in the universe exists because of energy.

Atoms are the smallest unit of matter. Every kind of matter – gas, liquid, and solid – builds from atoms. These atoms are the building block of the universe. When in balance, the atom’s nucleus presents an equal number of particles. There are two particle-types: protons and neutrons. Electrons circle the atom’s nucleus and orbit it in an oval-like pattern. They maintain their balance because of energy. Albert Einstein and Max Planck devoted much of their work towards this discovery.

A countless number of atoms make up our bodies. As a result, we are energy-creating beings by default. It is our belief, along with many others, that energy stems from consciousness. And that this consciousness connects with the material world.

Here are 8 scientific studies demonstrating the interconnectedness with consciousness and the material universe.

The Placebo Effect

In a study at the Baylor School of Medicine, surgical options were sought for patients with debilitating knee pain. The team divided patients into three groups.

First, a group had the damaged cartilage shaved from their knee. And, the second group had the damaged tissue flushed from the knee joint. Finally, researchers sedated the last group and told participants told that they performed invasive surgery. Although, in fact, they hadn’t. Amazingly, the group that received no surgery improved as much as those that had.

This is just one example of many on how we can consciously affect the biology of our bodies. The placebo effect is having a significant impact on the medical community while disrupting the industries that rely on product revenue, specifically the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry.

The heart and electromagnetic experiments

The most prolific electromagnetic forces in the human body occur in and around the heart. Using spectral analysis, researchers discovered encoded emotional information embedded in the electromagnetic field surrounding the heart.

When emotions shift, this encoded information changes. As a result, scientists continue to study the ramifications of such a profound discovery. The research includes we feel and interpret this powerful force. Specifically, they hope to learn how to use emotions such as compassion, empathy, love, and understanding to make positive changes in us and others.

Princeton’s intention and desire experiment

In a series of experiments done at Princeton University, researchers assembled about 300 people. The 300 participants then observed a computer screen that alternately showed one of two images – an astronaut or a leopard.

The beginning of the experiment involved the transition of the images on the screen at random and at various time intervals. Then, the researchers asked the audience what image they preferred. Most liked an image of an astronaut. After this, the subjects concentrated only on seeing the astronaut.

The images continued cycling at random for a short time after they issued these instructions. Then the image of the astronaut was the only one that appeared until the experiment was concluded. To many, this leads to the belief that random events can be altered with conscious influence.

The Quantum Double Slit experiment

It’s impossible to explain this experiment without writing a book. Let’s just keep it simple and say this: when two slits were created and small bits of matter were very quickly ejected from a machine through the slits, the pattern that resulted was expected – two outlines of matter roughly in the shape of the slits.

However, when photons or other particles of matter ejected through the slits, they created multiple outlines. Scientists call this an interference pattern. In the popular, peer-reviewed journal Physics Essays, the experiment has been demonstrated multiple times to explore the role of how consciousness shapes physical reality.

NSA/CIA remote viewing experiments

In conjunction with Stanford University, scientists at both the NSA and CIA demonstrated the ability of individuals to describe the appearance of remote geographical locations several hundred thousand miles away.

One participant visualized the specific rings around Jupiter before pictures of it were taken by NASA and made public. In another experiment, participants were able to see people and objects that were located in different rooms with no point of reference.

Teleportation

In an experiment done by the Peoples Republic of China, researchers documented the ability of gifted children to teleport small objects from one place to another. They did the study under blind and double-blind conditions which yielded the same results. They then published their findings in an academic journal.

Various academic institutions and the Department of Defense oversaw the study. Given the sensitive nature of the study, the government classified the results. However, various other studies and experiments have concluded that the transportation of physical objects without a bodily carrier has been known to take place.

Psychokinetic experiments

In an unclassified 2004 U.S. Air Force research project titled the Teleportation Physics Study, participants were instructed and subsequently applied psychokinetic practices. In the study, several individuals were able to bend or contort metal specimens with no physical force.

These experiments occurred in various locations, including the Pentagon and the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. Attendees and participants included military leaders – Commanders, Generals, and Colonels. Furthermore, they documented that they felt a “great deal of excitement.”

The evolution of human consciousness

The discovery that human beings can innately influence reality goes back a long, long time and continues to this present moment.

Siddhartha Gautama aka the Buddha, continually taught that our thinking and our consciousness creates reality. Scientists confirm many of his teachings, especially on mindfulness and meditation, over and again. For example, Buddha’s teaching that our thinking alters our physical being has been confirmed. Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that mindfulness significantly alters the physiology of the brain.

Now consider that Buddha lived over 2,500 years ago – approximately 500 years before Christ. Yet, he had this innate knowledge that put him years ahead of his time. Some argue that his teachings are ahead of our time.

The brilliant Max Planck quote that preceded this article is very to how Buddha describes consciousness and the manifestation of thoughts:

“What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind.”

Have you seen your reality change because of your thoughts? Share your story below!

6 Simple Ways to Love Yourself Again

February 22, 2015 by Power of Positivity

It is time to love yourself again. You deserve the kind of love you would give to someone else.

We fall in and out of love with ourselves…a lot throughout life. We temporarily lose sight of our true loving nature whenever we think negatively about ourselves. Even the ascended “spiritual masters” have had moments where they don’t like themselves; the duality of love and hate, light and dark, you and I. It’s a persistent illusion that we all struggle to see past at times. In reality, we all come from Love, whatever and wherever that place may exist.

Because you originated from a place abounding with love, it also resides within you. So, how can we uncover our true nature if we have been out of touch with it for so long?

Start with these six simple daily exercises to experience greater self-love.

Here are six simple ways to love yourself again, starting now:

1. Celebrate and love yourself as you are right now.

When you wake up each morning, thank yourself for everything that represents you. Thank your eyes for allowing you to see, your smile for making others smile, your hair for protecting your head from the sun, your body for giving you the ability to move, your mind for allowing you to think, and your heart for letting you feel, etc.

You are a walking miracle, so don’t ever forget that.

You incarnated on this Earth at an extraordinary time, when many of us got called upon to bring the planet back into alignment. Relish in every part of yourself as it is because no other being on this planet came here to do what you came here to do. No one else has the same genetic makeup or capabilities, so rejoice in all your unique splendor.

2. Give your inner child permission to come to life again.

Our inner child knows nothing of the pain we have wrapped ourselves in so tightly for much of our lives – it only knows love and compassion. He or she wants us to express ourselves fully, as we did as children. The inner child waits longingly for you to grow tired of living in the confines of a conditioned world and wants you to enjoy life again. He or she can’t wait to see you let go and dance to the music inside your soul.

Ignite the spark within you and give up the desire to fit into any societal standard; live up to your standards instead. One of the best ways to love ourselves is to be ourselves.

3. Fully forgive yourself.

Any wrongdoings or mistakes are part of your journey – you don’t have to feel ashamed or guilty about anything you said or did in the past. Fully embrace the ups and downs of this existence, and accept that your imperfections make you perfect. You didn’t know in the past what you know now, so you had to experience a few tests and trials to grow as a person. The entirety of creation dwells within you, so remember this next time you go down the path of self-destructive thoughts.

You directly reflect the cosmos, and the totality of your experiences is necessary for the universe to know itself better. Everything that you go through only gets you closer to your highest self.

4. Practice loving-kindness meditation.

Before you can show love and kindness to anyone else, you need to give it a place to live within you. You must let it permeate every cell of your being and become the qualities you seek outside yourself. One of the best ways to cultivate love and kindness within is to meditate on these states of being. Imagine yourself as a being of light, who radiates compassion and love for yourself and everyone on this Earth.

Take in this energy from the universe, and allow it to exist in your spiritual being. Do this for at least thirty minutes daily, and try not to think about anything else but love and kindness. By introducing new thought loops into your brain, you can retrain it to think more lovingly instead of fearfully.

5. You are already whole.

You don’t need anything outside yourself to become whole. Instead, you represent the entire universe and already have everything you need. You have love, compassion, strength, happiness, and all the things you seek outside yourself that you may have forgotten you already possess. You embody the consciousness that everything on this planet came from and make this universe come to life. Without you, the entire chemistry of the collective consciousness would change because you make up an intrinsic part of it. You are whole and a part of the whole simultaneously.

Never doubt your completeness; feel it in every bone in your body. Say “I am complete” to yourself daily, and you will slowly begin to remember this fundamental aspect of yourself.

6. Do what your heart wants.

Never deny what your soul longs for. After all, that call is why you’re here. Whatever you feel drawn to, go after it. If you want to travel the world, do it. If you want to start an organic garden, start it. Don’t wait until tomorrow or next month, or next year; do what you want while you can. You must nourish your soul and listen to your innermost desires to love yourself. You can’t love yourself if you reject what you came here to do. We all have different likes and dislikes, but these characteristics help us connect with our highest selves.

Follow your bliss; it will take you to a place you could have only imagined in your wildest dreams.

Final Thoughts: Are You Ready to Love Yourself Again?

If you’re ready to love yourself again, make the declaration in the comments below – “I am LOVED”!

10 Things You Should Never Sacrifice for a Relationship

February 22, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Relationships can either bring mutual growth and happiness or feel suffocating and debilitating after a while. All relationships serve their purpose, whether you stay with someone for a few weeks or an entire lifetime. Any relationship should support, encourage, uplift, and challenge you to become a better person, not drain you of energy and make you feel bad about yourself.

If you have to sacrifice any of the following things for your relationship, you might need to reevaluate what value the person adds to your life.

10 Things You Should Never Give Up for a Relationship

Stay true to yourself.

1. Freedom.

If you always have to check in with your partner or feel guilty about going somewhere with friends or family, this shows that your significant other lacks confidence within him or herself. Possessive behavior almost always points to extreme internal insecurity, often from unhealed childhood wounds, such as abandonment or neglectful parents. Even though this person deserves love and kindness, you need to cut ties with the person to allow them to heal on their own. Controlling behavior suggests that the person does not feel comfortable with him or herself, and this needs to be worked out before he or she commits to any long-term relationships.

2. Yourself.

Never change yourself for someone else; the right person will love you for nothing less than your full, authentic self. Also, the right person would never want you to change, because they genuinely enjoy your genuine essence, without you having to change a thing. Granted, relationships all require small compromises, like maybe eating at a restaurant your partner wants to try instead of the one you wanted to go to. Still, you shouldn’t have to alter your personality or beliefs for someone else. Be yourself unapologetically, and if your partner can’t accept you, you need to go for someone who will.

3. Happiness.

If someone doesn’t enhance your life and add to your joy, then what purpose do they serve in your life? Bottom line: if your partner drags you down and makes you feel crappy about yourself and experience, then it’s time to call quits on the relationship. You need someone who will match your vibration and bring vibrant energy into your life, not someone who leeches the energy from your life. Of course, he or she won’t always feel completely blissful, but if they can’t seem to find happiness on their own or offer it to you at all, then let them go…they need to focus on inner healing, not a relationship.

4. Fun.

Do you enjoy the company of your partner; do you laugh, play, act like kids, and try new things together? A relationship always comes with disagreements from time to time, but even after a long time of being together, you still should be able to do activities that bring out the inner child in both of you. You should never give up fun in a relationship – without pleasure, life can become pretty mundane, and it will only cause tension if you remain with someone who can’t relax and let loose every once in a while.

5. Your dreams.

An ideal partnership consists of two people on the same mission, supporting each other every step of the way. Or, just two people who have different dreams, but still encourage and cheer each other on. If you don’t have someone on the same path as you or even someone who has your back, don’t hesitate to leave the relationship. What you want out of life makes up a large portion of who you are, and you don’t need someone who dismisses or bashes your goals.

6. Inner peace.

Your guy or girl should make you feel a deep sense of calm that makes you forget about the chaos around you. If they make you anxious, nervous, or angry a majority of the time, they will only weaken your vibration and cause you to become vulnerable to negative energy. Your partner should have peace within him or herself and reflect it onto you as well.

7. Your desire to explore.

Life is about having new experiences often, so if your partner is unwilling to try new things and holds you back from going on your adventures, you probably won’t find long-term happiness with this person. Your partner should encourage you to take risks so you can grow as a person, so it should be a red flag if he or she tries to inhibit your free spirit.

8. Your other relationships.

Your relationships with friends and family shouldn’t have to suffer just because you have a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, or spouse. This point ties in with possessive behavior a bit because this can significantly compromise the other relationships in your life. Your partner should allow you to have friends and family time without getting possessive and trying to control who you hang out with and when. Make sure you have an understanding, confident partner who doesn’t need you around all the time to be happy.

9. Your spiritual/religious beliefs.

Some people do change their religion for their partners. Still, it’s different if you truly desire to practice that religion rather than your partner trying to force you to adopt certain beliefs. No relationship is worth compromising deeply-held beliefs or practices. Your partner should enhance your spiritual life and, hopefully, grow with you as you evolve.

10. Communication.

Every relationship requires a deep commitment to truly listening to the other person and understanding his or her thoughts and feelings. A loving, open relationship comprises two people who value one another’s opinion and don’t judge each other.

If you continually feel that your partner doesn’t make an honest effort to communicate openly with you, let them know your needs aren’t met. It’s so important to have an emotionally available partner if you want a successful, happy relationship.

Final Thoughts on Remaining True to Yourself in Your Relationship

Everyone wants a relationship, a special person to laugh with and with whom they can enjoy life’s precious moments. However, if you feel like you’re losing yourself a little bit at a time, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate. You deserve authentic, wholehearted love in your life.

Here’s food for thought from relationship expert, Dr. Phil McGraw:

“The only thing worse than being in a bad relationship for one year is being in it for a year and a day.”

If you feel like something is “off” in your relationship, trust that intuitive feeling from deep inside yourself.

8 Depression Rehab Tips That Can Work for Anyone

February 19, 2015 by Power of Positivity

Right now, more people suffer from clinical depression and are attending depression rehab than ever before, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reverse it with small, actionable steps. While depression does have a tendency to get passed down through genes, it largely results from the thought patterns you have over a long period of time. What you think about regularly, you become. Check insurance package before visiting NUMA recovery centers. They will guide you to cope with your problem.

By doing things that make you feel good and cultivating a positive mindset, you can more easily handle depression and learn what triggers it. If you have been trying to begin rebuilding a life you love, please take these depression rehab tips into consideration so you can get back on a path to living a happy, healthy life.

Here are 8 Depression Rehab Tips That Can Work for Anyone:

1. Cultivate a loving relationship with yourself.

Any discomfort or distress always originates within ourselves, which means good feelings start within us, too! How you see the world mirrors how you see yourself, so by learning to love yourself, you can love the world. It doesn’t matter where you live, what job you have if you have friends or not, or how much you make…if you love yourself and feel happy within, you have unlocked the key to true satisfaction.

Say this phrase over and over again every single day when you feel your mind going down a negative path: “I love myself.” Feel how these words change your outlook on life and even how you feel in your body. Then, you will inevitably start making loving choices like eating well, exercising, seeking positive relationships, and working at a job you love. Everything begins with how you treat yourself and what you think about yourself.

Choose love, because you don’t deserve anything less than that.

2. Spend time in nature at least thirty minutes a day.

It’s impossible to spend time in the sun and not feel those happy vibes radiate through your body. Even if you don’t live in a particularly sunny area, just feeling the wind on your face or breathing in fresh air from trees can help tremendously in treating depression. Most people don’t get have any sort of relationship with nature, which explains why most of us feel so disconnected from ourselves and each other.

Maybe you could take your lunch break outdoors instead of sitting in the break room at work – get into nature whenever you can; it works wonders in creating peace within the mind and body.

3. Channel negative energy into something positive.

Any time you start to feel your thoughts, or other people’s thoughts, drag you down, immediately think of something positive to do or say. If your friend had a bad day, ask him or her what made them smile that day. If you had a bad day, go do something that feels good. Go ride your bike, call a supportive friend, write in your journal, play a song that makes you happy…just do anything but wallow in negative energy.

Everything around us and within us is energy, we just have to learn how to direct it in order to live, not just exist.

4. Join groups or clubs in the area that promote positive thinking.

If you suffer from depression, surrounding yourself with inspiring people can slowly start to change your outlook. Also, doing activities you truly love will take your mind off of your mind, so to speak, and help you cultivate happiness again. Even if you don’t feel like socializing, talking with other positive people will stimulate your brain and help retrain it to think differently.

You can find several websites that cater to people looking for groups or clubs to join in their city, and a lot of these meetups don’t cost anything to take part in.

5. Ask yourself if you would treat others how you treat yourself.

Would you tell a friend what you tell yourself on a daily basis? If not, why do you treat yourself this way?

If you wouldn’t tell someone else that they’re ugly, don’t say it to yourself. Or, if you wouldn’t buy chemical-laced fast foods for your friend for dinner, why do you frequent those places? And, if you wouldn’t say to your friend “You’re not good enough,” why do you make it a habit of reinforcing that thought within yourself?

Pay attention to everything you say and do to yourself, and start asking yourself if you would replicate those thoughts and actions toward others.

6. Stop chasing perfection.

Depression usually stems from our belief that we just don’t measure up compared to others. That’s just it – you shouldn’t compare yourself to others, because they have their own unique path to follow. You have yours as well, so the only person you need to compare yourself to is who you were yesterday. Even if you don’t feel better than yesterday, don’t beat yourself up. Depression takes time to heal from, and it takes time to rewire your stream of thoughts.

Accept yourself now, as you are, and go from there. Accept yourself in every moment, and allow yourself to live and make mistakes. You’ll feel a lot more freedom in letting go than you will when you try to put yourself in a box of everything you think you need to be to love yourself.

7. Simplify your life.

Minimize stress by getting rid of anything superfluous that no longer serves you. This can include toxic relationships, clothing, and gadgets in your house you don’t wear or use, your old car that constantly requires repairs, the job that makes you feel miserable, and anything else that causes you anxiety.

Shape your life into something that reflects you and your interests, and eliminate what doesn’t. Most of the time, we put unnecessary stress on ourselves, so choose to end that habit today. Maximize your happiness by reducing your worries.

8. Volunteer.

Perhaps one of the most powerful methods for overcoming depression is helping someone else. When you give to people less fortunate, or just lend a helping hand or your heart to someone, you will instantly elevate your mood. This instills a sense of purpose and value within you because you have enhanced someone else’s life. You gave your time and effort to something outside yourself and chose to focus on making others feel good.

Sometimes, the best way to stop negative thinking is just to stop thinking about ourselves. So, get involved with your community. Or just rake your neighbor’s leaves or mow their lawn. Do something to make someone’s life better, and you will most certainly feel better yourself.

Final Thoughts on Putting These Depression Rehab Tips to Work For You

We hope these depression rehab tips have helped your healing process. Please add more valuable tips in the discussion below! Also, be sure to check out our Facebook group to join in on our conversations.

7 Signs You’re Sacrificing Too Much In Your Relationship

February 19, 2015 by Power of Positivity

A healthy relationship should consist of two people committed to one another who meet each other halfway on any issues or decisions. If you feel drained in your relationship, or feel that your partner takes more than he or she gives, you are probably making too many compromises to make this relationship work.

Always stay true to yourself and never sacrifice yourself for anyone.

Here are 7 warning signs you’re sacrificing too much in your relationship:

1. Your partner’s happiness seems like a constant chore.

If your partner can’t create happiness within him or herself, he or she will most likely turn to you as their source of happiness. This means that you not only have to keep your happiness levels high for yourself..you have to worry about maintaining someone else’s mood, too. Now, of course, people should aim to make one another happy, but it becomes a problem when they rely on everything outside themselves for their fulfillment. Furthermore, they don’t know how to cultivate it on their own.

2. You concede too often.

They never want to meet you halfway, and view the relationship as a one-way street. They expect you to bend over backward for them, but they aren’t willing to do that for you. Maybe it wasn’t like that in the beginning, but people can change their demeanor over time – especially if they have had a major promotion at work or gone through some other significant life change.

However, a healthy relationship requires give and take on both sides.

Here is a prime example. If your partner takes a new position at work that requires them to move out of state. But, they don’t consider your feelings first, so this should be a red flag that they don’t value your opinion very much. Or, maybe it’s smaller sacrifices, like always having to forgo your favorite vacation spot in favor of where they want to travel.

If they don’t make an effort to fulfill your desires, too, evaluate if this is a healthy relationship to be in or not.

3. You don’t feel happy on the inside.

You should never compromise your own happiness in order to make a relationship work. By staying in a relationship just because it feels comfortable, not because it feels right, you just prolong your discontentment. Make the courageous and optimal decision to leave any relationship that no longer makes your heart happy. It may hurt in the beginning, but it will pay off in the long run as you meet others who enrich your life.

4. You have to babysit their emotions too often.

Listening to your partner when they encounter tough situations in their life is different than having to boost their mood every single day. If your partner blows the smallest incidences out of proportion and can’t seem to find balance with their emotions, it’s probably time to let them work on themselves on their own without the responsibility of a relationship.

5. They have asked you to change major things about yourself.

Personal growth is terrific, but as we’ve said before, no relationship is worth changing yourself over upon your partner’s request. Even if you truly and deeply love the person, they obviously don’t genuinely love you if they don’t absolutely adore the person you already are.

Maybe you two clicked in the beginning, but people change over time, and maybe you don’t see eye to eye anymore on values or your outlook on life. Vow to step away from any relationship that doesn’t honor your highest self.

6. You don’t support their lifestyle.

Does your partner smoke, drink, do drugs, or just live an unhealthy lifestyle in general? While they can make their own decisions, it will unavoidably cause turbulence in a relationship if you don’t share their views.

Maybe you want to have a quiet night in on the weekends and watch movies, but your partner wants to go party with his or her friends late into the night. Or, let’s say you have adopted a plant-based diet and have started a workout routine, while they still eat fast food and don’t seem to care about their health. You deserve a partner who wants to go in the same direction as you, so don’t settle for anything less.

7. You always show your love and appreciation, but they don’t reciprocate.

While giving should be a selfless act without expectations, it just doesn’t feel good if your partner never shows how much they care about you. Maybe you always make dinner reservations or make them cute homemade gifts, but they don’t seem to care about doing the same for you.

Now, some people just don’t show affection or emotions as much as others, but your partner should still make you feel like you matter to them. If you have continually shown your appreciation for them, but they never make the effort to return the gestures, it might be time to walk away from the relationship.

Are you sacrificing too much in your relationship? Add your valuable experience in the discussion below…

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