Page 225

10 Warning Signs of Emotional Burnout

September 28, 2022 by Chris Butler

Anyone is prone to emotional burnout, whether it’s your career, homelife, relationships, or caregiving for a loved one. Sometimes, the process is so gradual that you don’t realize it. You may consider burning out as a weakness or failure on your part, but it’s nothing of the sort.

These things often happen because you’ve been strong for too long. Your body is a susceptible machine that will give you warnings if you’re in tune with it. Whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues, your body will let you know what it needs. If you feel stress to the max, it’s time for a change.

Ten Red Flags of Emotional Burnout

What is your inner voice trying to tell you about current situations in your life? Have you lost your joy and enthusiasm and feel like the world is crumbling around you? Pay attention to these ten warning signs of emotional burnout.

1. You Feel Less Patience and Tolerance

When you are inspired and bursting with energy, you’re usually more tolerant of interruptions and setbacks. A tell-tale sign of emotional burnout is chronic exhaustion. If your energy level is nearly zero, your tolerance level will match.

For example, the little quirks that didn’t bother you in the past become emotional triggers. Losing patience and tolerance also leads to frequent bouts of anger and frustration. Any changes in plans may irritate you to the point of hopelessness.

The situation can worsen if you don’t have healthy coping tools. Many people soothe their stress by substance abuse. If you engage in such risky habits, you may be masking the signs your body is giving.

2. Emotional Burnout Causes a Cynical Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude when you’re burning out at home or work is nearly impossible. You begin to question if your job or relationship is worth the effort. Soon, you stop focusing on the positive and magnify anything you perceive as unfavorable.

Part of this shift in your attitude may be what experts call negativity bias. According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, it’s the tendency for negativity to have a more substantial impact than positivity. It’s an evolved survival instinct that prompted early humans to err on the side of caution.

For example, you may be more upset one day about a glitch in your computer than excited about new business opportunities. Your emotional burnout may turn your negativity bias into chronic pessimism. Perhaps you’re so disenchanted with your situation that nothing in your world satisfies you.

3. Burning Out Increases Forgetfulness and Absent-mindedness

Although the human brain has a profound capacity for memory, everyone occasionally forgets something. Life can be hectic between home and work; you can forget a dentist appointment or misplace your car keys. Absent-mindedness can usually be shrugged off unless it becomes more frequent.

People who are burning out often notice that they forget important things daily. Most of the problems can stem from being overburdened physically and mentally. Your frazzled brain can’t keep up and may be overwhelmed with emotional burnout.

4. Emotional Burnout Might Cause Gradual Disorganization

Let’s face it; everybody has their system and level of organization. Maybe you’re one of those who must have everything in perfect order to work. If anything is out of place, it may kick your anxiety into high gear.

Conversely, you might be the type who is comfortably surrounded by chaos, yet you have a system. It may look disorganized to others, but you can usually find whatever you need. These are the two sides of the spectrum, and your organizational habits can fall between them.

If you or others notice a significant change in your style, you may be experiencing burnout. It could be that you don’t have enough help and are too overwhelmed to organize anything. The results are a downward spiral of disorganization and frustration.

5. Burning Out Informs Apathy

If you have teenagers, you’re all too familiar with their moodiness. Try to have a serious conversation with them, and they’ll often roll their eyes and say, “Whatever.” That dull retort has even entered the adult vernacular to display absolute apathy.

Sometimes you feel so frustrated and locked in a situation that you don’t even care anymore. As an early warning sign of emotional burnout, apathy is a way of your body saying “enough.” You’re overworked, tired, uninspired, and ready to walk away from everything.

When you stop caring, your work will reflect your attitude. You may do the absolute minimum, or your tasks may be uncharacteristically subpar. The things you took pride in overwhelm you, and you lose interest.

6. Unexplained Aches and Pains

When you continually struggle with personal or professional responsibilities, it’s an open invitation for anxiety and depression. An article published by the Mayo Clinic explains that depression often manifests as unexplained aches and pains. Headaches and backaches are some of the most common complaints.

Such physical pains are especially concerning if you don’t have a history of them. Another tell-tale sign is if your job, relationship, or other aspects of your life trigger these pains. Since emotional burnout is often linked with depression, these unexplainable aches are a red flag.

You also may notice that your sleep patterns are being affected. Emotional pressure can keep you tossing and turning all night. Consequently, you have even less energy during the day, becoming a severe pattern.

7. An Imbalance of Work and Personal Life May Worsen from Emotional Burnout

The beauty of your triune being is that each facet is intrinsically linked. All are affected if any part is unbalanced, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. Your journey from birth to death is a process of learning how to find balance and harmony.

Remember the adage that all work and no play will make you dull? One of the quickest ways to face burnout is to ignore self-care. You put so much time, effort, and resources into work that you burn out physically and mentally.

When was the last time you took a relaxing vacation alone or with family? Conversely, are mounting stresses in your personal life affecting your job performance? An imbalance could indicate that you’re overwhelmed in one or more areas.

8. Extreme Mood Swings Accompany Emotional Burnout

Have you ever watched a heart or brain monitor when it’s attached to a person? The regular up-and-down patterns are indications that the patient is alive. If the pattern goes in a straight line, then life is in jeopardy.

Likewise, your moods will follow a regular pattern of ups and downs. Anybody who says they are happy all the time isn’t being honest with themselves. If your spirits don’t vary too drastically, you needn’t worry.

If you’ve noticed extreme mood swings, it’s time to act. You may usually be even-tempered, but lately, you have lost your temper over simple things. When your emotions are going haywire, you may be experiencing emotional burnout.

9. Burning Out Connects to a Lack of Motivation

You’re enthusiastic when you are mentally and emotionally vested in a job, relationship, or situation. Whenever there’s a challenge, you work to find a solution. You see purpose and inspiration in your work, which keeps you motivated.

There will always be times in your career when you get in a rut. Resting and getting a fresh perspective can bring you back to life. Your vision is revived, and you want to continue what you’re doing.

Your motivation may dwindle to complete apathy on the edge of burning out. Any task may become a dreaded chore, and you don’t even want to get up in the morning. You’re left with physical and emotional emptiness when you’ve given until you have nothing else to offer.

10. Strained Personal and Professional Relationships

Emotional burnout not only affects you but everyone else who deals with the fallout. You may have lost your edge and have distanced yourself from others. If the burnout is on your job, relationships with bosses, coworkers, and clients can be strained.

You’ll have the same consequences if you suffer emotional burnout in a relationship with a partner, family, or friend. The relationship can become toxic for both of you unless you take steps to remedy it. Sometimes, you must be the one to call it quits.

When the situation involves being a caregiver for a loved one, it’s called caregiver burnout. It follows the same signs and symptoms and can lead to profound guilt and resentment if not addressed. In any case, burnout can affect relationships so seriously that it can cause irreparable damage.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Red Flags That Reveal Emotional Burnout–and Taking the Down Time You Deserve

There’s no shame in admitting that you’re close to burning out in a situation. If you don’t heed the early signs, they may develop into severe health conditions. Practicing self-care techniques like meditation, journaling, and talking to someone can help give you some direction. You deserve this time to yourself without any apology or explanation.

When you carefully listen to your body, it will warn you that emotional burnout is close. It’s your cue to step back and review your priorities at home and work. Perhaps it’s the Universe’s telling you that you need to make some changes.

5 Signs You Are Ready to Forgive Someone

September 28, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Forgiveness is something all people struggle with. Sometimes, you hold petty grudges when you should have let them go a long time ago. Other times, you forgive people who don’t deserve your kindness. But the worst thing you can do is forgive people when you aren’t ready. Just because someone asks for your forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to offer it.

People often struggle with knowing when they are ready to let go of something that hurt them. Sometimes, you pretend to let go of things in the hopes that you’ll be able to move on. But, of course, everyone always preaches about how forgiveness can heal you, and part of that is genuine. But no one remembers telling others they can’t be forced to forgive.

As long as you do it at your own pace, you’ll be able to move on. But people often pressure others into forgiving everyone, no matter the cost. So, if you’re fighting with your partner, the advice you’ll get will be to move on. If your boss mistreats you, perhaps you’ll brush it off as a workplace scuffle.

Scenarios like these happen way too often, to the point where forgiveness has lost meaning. Now, it’s just a sign of someone having good manners. But no matter what others tell you, you should remember one thing.

Five Signs You Are Ready to Forgive Someone

Never forgive someone unless you want to and are ready to do so. Otherwise, you won’t be able to heal and move on.

1 – You Are Ready to Forgive When You Don’t Want to Dwell on the Past Anymore

After you’ve been hurt or betrayed, chances are you’ll feel the need to reminisce on the past. That could be because you want to relieve the good moments before you were hurt. Or, more often than not, it’s because you need to understand why they hurt you. Everyone wants to understand what happened that made someone else act the way they did.

You might believe that you caused their behavior when you get hurt. So, you dwell on the past to get a clearer picture of what happened. You might find yourself going over the same scenes over and over again. One of the scenes that are most likely to pop up in your head Is the fight.

What did they say?
How did you react?
Could you have done something better?

You will want to talk to friends and family about everything that went down. But, you might wonder, wouldn’t forgiveness allow you to move on? It does the opposite. When you forgive someone before you are ready, you won’t ever be able to let go of what happened. You’ll have forgiven them through words, but the words weren’t genuine.

You’ll hang out and talk to that person again, which only means seeing them often reminds you of the past. You can only be genuine in your forgiveness after you’ve let go of the past. Letting go of the past is a sign that you’ve come to terms with what happened. Then, one day, you’ll wake up, and their betrayal won’t be the first thing on your mind. That’s when you’ll know you’re ready to forgive them.

2 – You are Ready to Forgive if You Can Talk About What Happened

Forgiveness is a process. You can’t just wake up one day and decide everything is fine now. It would help if you talked things through; otherwise, you’ll never get the complete picture of what went down. But talking to the one who hurt you is never easy. Or at least it isn’t easy to have a profound and meaningful conversation. You might want to tell and scream at them, but it will take some time before you can calmly talk. Finally, when you feel like you are ready to hear the whole truth, that’s when you’re prepared to begin the process.

Remember that being ready to talk doesn’t mean everything will return to normal after that talk. You might be willing to begin the process, but the other person might not be ready to ask for forgiveness. You can’t force someone to feel genuine remorse. On the other hand, maybe they aren’t able to talk yet, so you must decide. You’ll need to choose between waiting for them and giving up for good.

Also, the talk might not go the way you expect it to. Maybe the other person is ready to talk but doesn’t realize what they’ve done. Perhaps they don’t feel sorry about it. You can force someone to ask for your forgiveness. But, even if they don’t ask for it, talking to them will still allow you to move on. At least you’ll know where they stand, and you’ll be able to sort through your feelings about them.

3 – You Have Let Go of the Negativity

Being mad at someone is never fun. All that anger and hurt bring a lot of negativities into your life. This negative energy can feel like a burden. Still, it’s hard to release that burden because you usually don’t realize that you’re carrying it. The first step towards being able to forgive is to know you are assuming all that negativity. It would help if you also were ready to let go of it.

Being mad at the one who hurt you might feel comfortable for a short period. You might even want to see them hurt just as much as they hurt you. If you think about it rationally, you’ll realize that anger turns you into a person you don’t want to be. Still, it feels good to act on your instincts at that moment.

And it would help if you allowed yourself to feel your emotions. Just remember that you’re hurt doesn’t give you a right to hurt others. So, please don’t go all crazy ex on someone and slash their tires. That’s not going to solve anything. What is going to help you is letting go of all that negativity. Allow yourself to feel whatever you need to feel.

One day, you’ll wake up and won’t be mad anymore. You won’t carry that burden on your shoulders. You know you are ready to forgive the one who hurt you.

4 – You Have Forgiven Yourself

Even if you are the victim of someone’s hatred, you will still feel inclined to blame yourself. For example, say someone cheated on you. You know that behavior is unacceptable, but you might wonder if they did it because you weren’t good enough. Could you have prevented it if you had been prettier, more intelligent, or kinder?

First things first, you need to know that there’s nothing you ever did to deserve being hurt. You need to remember that if you want to forgive yourself. The only mistake you could have made is reacting wrong. Maybe you yelled and flipped out. That’s an understandable reaction that you shouldn’t beat yourself up over. Still, it’s not the most reliable reaction.

Secondly, you need to talk about what happened. Confide in friends, family, and even specialists. That’s how you can get outside confirmation that you haven’t done anything wrong. It’s easier to forgive yourself when you have someone backing you up.

With the support of others, not only can you forgive yourself, but you can figure out the best way to move forward. The people you confide in can be your support system if anything goes wrong. Once you have forgiven yourself, you can forgive the other person.

5 – You Want Them Back in Your Life

You can’t truly forgive someone unless you want to have them back in your life in one way or another. If you never want to see the one who hurt you again, you will never be ready to forgive them. And it would help if you didn’t forgive someone who hurt you so much you don’t want them back.

Only someone who still has a place in your life is someone truly worth forgiving. That doesn’t mean the two of you will go back to normal. Maybe your relationship will never be as tight as it used to be. But at least your care for them is still stronger than your resentment. Still, you can miss someone and want them in your life even if they don’t deserve your forgiveness. Being ready to forgive someone doesn’t mean that you should.

For example, you often want to have your ex back, even if they cheated on you. Even if they lied or neglected you. You must be careful and understand if they still have a place in your life. Missing someone hurts a lot, but it’s not a good enough reason to pretend nothing happened. You might be ready to forgive them, but make sure they are genuinely sorry about what they did.

Otherwise, you’ll allow a toxic person back in your life. Missing someone hurts, but being constantly betrayed and disrespected by someone you love hurts more. Make sure that you don’t give your forgiveness to just anyone. Some people aren’t worth forgiving.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Five Signs That You Are Ready to Forgive Someone

Forgiveness is not something you should treat lightly. It’s not something you should throw around, hoping that all your problems will go away. Only forgive someone when you are ready to do so. But you also need to ensure you don’t hold on to grudges. If someone accidentally ripped a book you liked, that’s not a reason to hate them forever. Letting go of petty grievances will do you a lot of good.

But it’s hard to know when you are truly ready to forgive someone. Sometimes, you think you are because you want to forgive rationally. But that doesn’t mean you are emotionally prepared. But there are a few signs that you should consider before rushing to forgive someone. For example, maybe you stopped dwelling on the past and are ready to talk about the event. That’s a sign.

You must also release negativity and anger from your soul. This process is how you know you are emotionally available and ready to let go of what happened. Finally, you must grant yourself some grace. Otherwise, you won’t understand why you should even forgive someone else. Lastly, you need to want that person back in your life. Otherwise, your resentment will be too much to allow you to forgive them.

15 Mindful Quotes That Make You Think About Your Health

September 28, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Reading mindful quotes about health can help you prioritize your health and well-being and develop better habits. Living a healthy life can help you experience fulfillment and happiness. It allows you to live your best life and overcome challenges, but it isn’t always easy.

Maintaining a healthy body and mind takes continuous work. However, once you notice the benefits, including improved well-being, you’ll know that the hard work is worth it.

Don’t take your health for granted or assume it’ll all work out. Prioritize your health and put it before work and other responsibilities.

If you ever want to give up or think you can’t do it, remember these mindful quotes regarding health. Maintaining your physical well-being during tough times can also help you maintain your mental and emotional health. You can use these mindful quotes as motivation to change unhealthy habits and develop better ones.

What is a healthy lifestyle?

A healthy lifestyle includes a nutritious diet and regular exercise. However, it also goes beyond that as it involves the following core needs:

physical
emotional
spiritual
intellectual
social

If you neglect any of the five areas of health, it can impact your overall well-being. It interferes with your life and prevents you from finding meaning and joy. Many mindful quotes remind you to think of your health and make better choices.

Fifteen Mindful Quotes That Make You Think About Your Health

These mindful quotes about health encourage you to prioritize your well-being. Making changes to put your health first makes a drastic difference in your life. These quotes help you remember to think long-term and resist giving into temptation.

1 – “The body loves routine. Try to eat, sleep, and so on at the same times every day in order for the body to function at its optimum efficiency. The body loves consistency.” – Theresa Hearn Haynes

Having a routine will help your body function effectively. Follow a schedule for eating, sleeping, exercising, and doing other things for your health. Consistency will help you feel better and improve your overall well-being.

2 – “If you achieve all kinds of things in the material world, but you lose your health or your peace of mind, you get little or no pleasure from your other accomplishments.” – Brian Tracy

If you put your job or money before your health, it’ll backfire in the long run. Without your mental and physical health, you won’t get to enjoy the material things you have. You’ll miss out on fulfillment and joy as you turn to items that don’t help you.

3 – “We now know that food is medicine, perhaps the most powerful drug on the planet with the power to cause or cure most disease.” – Dr. Mark Hyman

Practice mindfulness when choosing what to eat to avoid temptation and mindless munching. Grabbing junk food because it’s easy is detrimental to your health and can lead to disease.

However, taking the time to think about your health encourages you to choose healthier options. As Hyman explains, food can wreak havoc on your body or heal it depending on what you choose to consume.

4 – “Keep your vitality. A life without health is like a river without water.” – Maxime Lagacé

Without health, you won’t function as you should be able to. You must nourish your body and take care of it if you want to experience a fulfilling life.

Don’t hold yourself back by ignoring your health and well-being. You deserve more and can experience vitality if you care for your health.

5 – “No matter how much it gets abused, the body can restore balance. The first rule is to stop interfering with nature.” – Deepak Chopra

It’s never too late to make beneficial changes to your health. No matter what occurred in the past, you can implement healthier habits.

As Chopra explains, don’t interfere with how your body should work. Focus on eating healthy foods, getting enough exercise, and taking care of yourself overall.

6 – “Eating fruits for breakfast is a healthy way of breaking the overnight fast as this is a gentle way of waking up your digestive system.” – Bogdan Ivanov

Start your day on a healthy note by eating fruits for breakfast. It will make you feel good, but studies show it can also decrease your risk of disease and illness. You can switch it up daily by trying a new fruit or put all your favorites into a fruit salad.

7 – “As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.” – Adelle Davis

This mindful quote helps you remember that you can either care for yourself or increase your disease risk. When it comes to your health, there’s no in-between.

8 – “Nurturing yourself is not selfish – it’s essential to your survival and your well-being.” – Renee Peterson Trudeau

Taking time to care for yourself allows you to make it through each day. You’ll handle things better and feel good while doing it. It also allows you more energy to help others, so it’s far from selfish behavior.

9 – “Over the past two decades, extensive research all over the world has shown that laughter has a positive impact on various systems of the body. Most noteworthy is laughter’s ability to unwind the negative effects of stress: the catalyst for many of our health problems.” Madan Kataria

Thinking mindfully of your health requires considering things other than eating well and staying active. One way to promote your overall health is by finding something to laugh about. Kataria indicates that laughter can help your body recover while improving overall health.

10 – “He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” – Thomas Carlyle

With good health, anything is possible. You can hope for anything in life and work to achieve it. Your health means more than you think, especially when it comes to hope for the future.

11 – “Sleep is the most important ‘repair’ mechanism our body has, and getting enough of it will ensure you’re feeling fit and energized the next day.” – Jason Smith

Getting plenty of rest is essential to staying healthy and repairing your body. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep every night to be at your best the next day. You’ll feel better and have enough energy to complete your tasks and get through the day.

12 – “Every living cell in your body is made from the food you eat. If you consistently eat junk food then you’ll have a junk body.” – Jeanette Jenkins

You can’t expect a healthy body if you only consume junk food and drinks. Instead, focus on filling your body with essential nutrients, vitamins, and water. You can exercise as much as you want, but you won’t feel your best if you keep eating junk.

13 – “Gaining control over your health and well-being is one of those times in your life that you get to be completely selfish and not feel bad about it. If you want to meet your goals, you have to make it about you. You have to make it work for you and you alone. Anything less is a setup for failure.”- Jennifer Hudson

Being healthy takes time and effort, and you shouldn’t feel bad about prioritizing yourself. Set your health goals and do whatever it takes to achieve them. As Hudson explains, this is the time to be selfish and work for what you want.

You won’t reach your health goals if you don’t prioritize yourself. Take the time you need, even if it would be quicker to choose unhealthy options.

14 – “Take a few minutes each and every day to ensure that your mind is nourished properly and positively. After all, a healthy mind leads to a happier view of life and with a happier view of life it is much easier to counter the negative impact other issues will have on us.” – Catherine Pulsifer

Spending time alone to think and reflect is essential to your mental health. You may not have a positive view of life without a healthy mindset.

Making a change to focus on your mind can help you deal with negative issues and other obstacles. It’ll also help you think about your health and prioritize your well-being.

15 – “Values are related to our emotions, just as we practice physical hygiene to preserve our physical health, we need to observe emotional hygiene to preserve a healthy mind and attitudes.” – Dalai Lama

Taking care of your emotions is essential for prioritizing your health and well-being. You clean your body and make sure you look acceptable, but you also must cleanse your mind.

Let go of things that don’t serve you, and set boundaries that allow you to feel good. Your mind is essential to your ability to function, so don’t neglect it during your health journey.

Final Thoughts on These Mindful Quotes That Make You Consider a Healthy Lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle might take hard work, but it’s well worth it. Even when it’s easier to be unhealthy, go out of your way to choose a healthier option. Taking care of yourself helps increase your chance of living a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Reading mindful quotes to think about your health can help you stay motivated on your journey. You’ll want to keep pushing through even when it would be easy to give up. Remember the quotes that resonated with you so you can use them throughout your day.

17 Reasons to Keep Old Friends in Your Life

September 27, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Some of your best memories include old friends. The memories might come to mind unexpectedly, leaving you wondering how that old friend is doing now. Keeping friendships in your life allows you to stay in touch and create new memories.

Life isn’t as exciting or fulfilling without friends, with the friends who knew you the longest being around for all of it. They teach you about how people work outside of your immediate family. Many of them are there for you when life gets overwhelming, guiding and supporting you through every hardship.

As you age, you may lose touch with some of your friends. You’ll create new social relationships, and others will fizzle without a cause or reason. However, you should foster those friendships and stay in touch as often as possible.

You might not be able to see old friends often, but you can find ways to reconnect. Even if you’re each on entirely different life paths, you can stay in touch and influence one another.

Seventeen Reasons to Keep Old Friends in Your Life

1 – Old Freinds can give another perspective

If your old friends aren’t in your usual social group, they can offer another perspective. It’s good to have friends that offer their opinion because they can give you an unbiased thought or solution. When you’re in the middle of a problem, it can be hard for you to see a logical answer.

2 – Friendship is one more good reason to go on vacation

If the person lives far from you, keeping in touch can give you a reason to go on vacation. While this reason is superficial, it offers a nice escape to spend time together.

You’ll make memories with your friend during your trip, allowing your friendship to last forever. These trips will be experiences you’ll never regret.

3 – Friendship improves your mental health and makes your friend happy

Connecting with old friends can improve your mental health. It also boosts your friend’s mental health, making it helpful for both of you. Your old friend will appreciate it every time you reach out to them.

4 – You don’t have to impress old friends

Lifelong friends know you as no one else does. You’ll never have to impress them or feel like you must put on a show. These are friends you can go to when you’re at your worst because you know they’ll accept you as you are.

You’ll be that person for them, too, because they know they can let their guard down. It’s a powerful connection, and you can both appreciate the benefits. These relationships can be hard to come by, so don’t let go if you find one.

5 – Nostalgia

When you spend time with old friends, you’ll experience nostalgia as it brings a feeling of youthfulness. Memories will come rushing back, making you feel comfortable and safe. You can spend time remembering how things were before, basking in the joy of your memories.

6 – Friendship eases loneliness

Connection eases loneliness and symptoms of mental health conditions. People supporting you can make you feel good and find meaning.

You can continue staying in contact if your old friend lives far away. Studies show that electronic interaction is beneficial and can decrease the risk of depression and loneliness.

7 – Old friends understand your past

When you’ve known someone for a while, they understand your past. They’ll know how your family functions and what causes stress. These friends make good people vent to when you experience family problems because they’ll understand you and offer helpful advice.

Your old friends will also know what makes you tick and how you approach conflict. They know the little details others might not recognize, showing how much they understand who you are.

8 – Remind you of imagination and innocence

Childhood friends can help you remember the feeling of imagination and innocence. You knew them when life seemed simple and it was about playing together. If you still have a friend from early childhood, it’s a blessing you shouldn’t let dismiss.

9 – Provides comfort

A friend who knew you in older periods of life can give you comfort that you can’t find elsewhere. It’s an opportunity to talk about intimate details and heartache after a tragedy. You might not feel comfortable voicing these details in other social relationships but can feel safe with an old friend.

10 – Honesty

Your old friends will likely be honest with you because they’ve known you for so long. They’ll speak up when necessary and won’t tell you what you want to hear unless it’s the truth. While you must make your own decisions, you can trust their opinion on essential topics.

11 – Old friends influenced your social network

Your high school friends helped shape your social behavior and ability to connect. They taught you that it’s essential to have support from someone other than your family. Your friendship with these people impacts how you interact as an adult, and they can continue to help you grow.

12 – Seeing how your paths connect as adults

The people you were close to in the past might lead a completely different life now. However, you might have some similarities you hadn’t considered before. Spending time with them helps you see how you’re alike later in life.

You grew together for a while, and while you branch out, you still hold a connection nothing can take away. Everyone goes on to live separate lives, and it’s always fun to catch up and reconnect with the people that knew you so well.

13 – Old friends encourage growth

Staying in touch with someone you knew from the past can encourage you to keep growing. You’ll remember how much you’ve grown since then, and it’ll push you to keep going. Or you might realize that you haven’t grown as much as you’d hoped, and you’ll get motivated.

14 – Helps you remember your journey

Your old friends can help you remember where you came from and all the obstacles you overcame. They can also help you remember all your fun and memories. You’ll see how you have evolved while you embrace the past and remember your journey.

15 – Old friends know how to make you happy

Your oldest friends know what it takes to cheer you up and make you happy. They can sense if something’s wrong and start working on brightening your spirits before you even say anything. Old friends remember the things that cheer you up and won’t hesitate to make it happen.

16 – You can see how much you’ve changed

Your relationship helps you see how much you’ve changed if you have friends you only see occasionally. These friends know you at all points in your life, reminding you of your progress. They can also help you experience gratitude for where you are now.

Seeing how much you changed can help you remember where you began. It can also push you to keep growing because you see how far you’ve already come.

17 – Intellectual conversation

Experts indicate that college friends offer academic and social support involving intellectual conversation. You likely shared enlightening moments with these friends, including voicing concerns about the future and questioning everything.

College friends also saw you in intimate moments when you let loose and had fun. They may have helped you through rough nights and been there for you during your first experience away from home. These friends will support you and challenge your thoughts or ideas as you grow.

How to Reach Out to an Old Friend When You Haven’t Spoken for a While

Many people lose touch with old friends and feel awkward about reconnecting. However, there’s nothing to worry about because they’ll likely be happy to hear from you. Either way, it’s worth the attempt.

You can call the old friend, send a text message, or reach out another way. Tell them you’ve been thinking of them and ask how they’re doing. Depending on the conversation, ask if they’d like to get coffee and catch up.

When You Shouldn’t Reconnect with Old Friends

While keeping old friends in your life can be beneficial and enjoyable, there are some instances when you should avoid them. Only reach out if you can recall positive interactions with the person. Reaching out to harmful or toxic people can be detrimental to your well-being.

Consider a few things before you reconnect with an old friend, including:

if it could be harmful to either of you
what you want from the reconnection
if you’re thinking of your best interests
whether you’re willing to share details of your life
if you feel comfortable with them

Avoid reaching out to someone if your relationship with them is unhealthy or abusive. Taking the time to understand why you want to reach out can help determine if you’re doing it for the right reasons.

Final Thoughts on Reasons to Keep Old Friends in Your Life

Old friends are treasures that you should keep in your life. They know you in ways no one else does and can bring positivity to your life.

If you’ve lost touch with old friends, reach out to them to reconnect. You’ll be glad you did, but make sure you’re not rekindling unhealthy friendships.

These reasons to keep old friends in your life can motivate you to reconnect. Don’t be afraid to invite them somewhere to catch up. Remember that they might be as happy as you are.

Science Explains What Happens to Your Body When You Start Strength Training

September 27, 2022 by Chris Butler

Have you ever considered adding strength training to your exercise regimen? Lifting weights can be ideal for building and preserving your muscles. Plus, you can tailor an effective workout according to your abilities and fitness goals.

Although strength training takes many forms, the concept is the same. You may know it as resistance, muscular, or weight training. It uses free weights, machines, or resistance bands, states Harvard Medical School.

What Happens to Your Body When You Start Strength Training?

Do you want to tone and strengthen your body while boosting your health? Lifting weights may be one of your best options. You can target a muscle or group of muscles by lifting weights combined with other exercises.

Maybe you already have an exercise routine, but you want to give it a boost. It’s easy to incorporate strength or resistance training into any workout, backed by science. Here are ten good things that can happen to your body when you start working out and strengthening your muscles.

As with any new exercise routine, please check in with your family doctor before you start lifting weights.

1. Strength Training Helps Manage Stress Better and Improve Your Mood

Everyone has occasional bad days, and you want to go to bed and hide under the covers. Although a certain amount of daily stress is inevitable, chronic stress can be detrimental to your well-being. The overflow of stress hormones can lead to several physical and mental diseases, even premature death.

Many researchers concur that exercising can help lower stress levels. Aerobic exercises like weightlifting release endorphins or “feel good” hormones, and you may notice a mood boost. It may also help alleviate symptoms of chronic anxiety and depression.

Some of the best strength training exercises to elevate your mood are ones that move several muscle groups simultaneously, called multi-joint exercises. Try lunges, squats, or free-weight workouts. It offers a double benefit because you’re strengthening your muscles and improving your mental health.

2. You’ll Improve Memory and Brain Health

A sobering fact of life is that you slow down physically and mentally as you grow older. Your cognitive and memory functions gradually decline. However, staying active may support your brain health and minimize aging.

Neuroplasticity is the ability of your brain to create new neural connections and adapt to environmental changes. Strength exercises and other workouts move your body, increasing blood flow to your brain and boosting these vital connections. Increased neuroplasticity can keep you mentally sharp and more flexible in stressful circumstances.

Suppose you begin strength training and weightlifting while young; you’ll have a significant head-start. However, it’s never too late to start, even as a senior. You can still benefit your brain health and strengthen your body at the same time.

3. You’ll Burn More Calories and Fat With Strength Training

You’ve probably heard that adopting a healthy lifestyle includes more than just a balanced diet. You also need to exercise every day if you want to burn calories and melt excess fat. It means a total lifestyle change and commitment, not a fad diet or other questionable weight-loss gimmicks.

Do you have a few stubborn pounds that you haven’t lost? Being overweight or obese can be a significant health risk, especially if the fat is around your gut. This is called visceral fat–too much of it can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other dangerous conditions.

4. You’ll Be More In-Tune With Your Body

If you pay close attention, your body will subtly speak to you and tell you how it’s doing. Strength training and lifting weights help you focus on your senses. You know your breathing and drive when you do squats, burpees, or lift dumbbells.

While you shouldn’t feel pain during a proper workout, you will notice stretching and tightening in your muscles. Your joints and bones will also speak to you during your daily routine. Being in tune with your body lets you know when things are going well or if something is wrong.

5. You’ll Build Stronger, Healthier Bones Through Lifting Weights

You know that strength training benefits your muscles. Did you know it can also strengthen your bones and keep them healthier? Weakened and brittle bones usually accompany aging, especially for post-menopausal women. You may lose bone mass due to lower estrogen levels.

An article in the National Institute of Health discusses the work of Dr. Julius Wolffe concerning bone strengthening. Known as Wolff’s Law, he found that forces acting upon bones can make them stronger. So, lifting weights and other strength training can help your bones stay strong and healthy.

6. Strength Training Can Help Reduce Back pain

Perhaps there’s nothing more debilitating than back pain, especially if it’s chronic. The cause is often difficult to diagnose because so many of them exist. Injury, tension, unstable core, and weak knees are just a few that can contribute to an aching back.

Maybe your struggles with back pain are the result of a domino effect. Your muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissue work together for each movement. This process is called biomechanics; if any part is out of sync, it affects the entire group.

Sometimes, a muscle or group of muscles will overcompensate for a weaker one, causing pain or injury. For example, weak glutes or hip flexors can negatively affect your lower back. Any imbalance or weakness will eventually become a painful problem in your back or any area of your body.

The key to strengthening weak muscles is exercising and using weights. They’ll be back in sync with their muscle groups as they get stronger. You may notice less pain, less weakness, and fewer painful episodes.

7. Lifting Weights and Aerobic Activity Both Benefit Your Heart

When you consider that your heart is a muscle, it makes sense that weight training can benefit it. As you do aerobic exercises, it increases your pulse and blood flow. A stronger heart and vascular system can lower blood pressure and improve circulation.

Another way resistance training benefits your heart is that it can help manage your blood glucose levels. Proper diet and exercise can also mean a leaner body, contributing to better blood sugar numbers. These lead to a healthy heart and can lower your risks of diabetes.

8. Boosts Your Flexibility and Mobility

One of Newton’s Laws says that a body at rest tends to stay at rest unless another force acts upon it. The law works in physics as well as with your body. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you’ll remain sedentary until you start exercising.

Lifting weights and other strength exercises can make your body more flexible. It’s even more crucial that you keep moving as you get older. Daily workouts can also boost your mobility and increase your ability to stay active.

9. Strength Training Elevates Your Self-Esteem

Do you feel good about yourself when you look in a mirror, or do you cringe? Poor eating habits and little exercise can increase your weight and make you look tired. You may feel anxious and depressed, making your lifestyle even less healthy.

Once you start eating better and exercising, your body will change as well as your self-esteem. You’ll be proud of your leaner body, stronger muscles, and higher energy levels. You also boost pride when you have more endurance and can lift heavier weights.

10. Strength Training Lowers Your Injury Risks

If any part of your body is weak or sore, you don’t move easily. You’re more apt to strain a muscle or fall and hurt yourself. Strength exercises can help improve your range of motion and strengthen muscles and joints.

How to Get Started With Strength Training

You’ll be glad to know how easy it is to begin a resistance training routine. All you need is some space, comfortable clothes, and appropriate weights. These are some pointers to consider.

1. Start with Basics When Lifting Weights

If you’ve never trained with weights in the past, realize that it’s a gradual process. You don’t want to start lifting weights that are too heavy, nor do you want to overwork your body. First, try strengthening workouts without weights, such as pushups, squats, or planks.

These basic exercises focus on balance, core strength, and fundamental movement patterns. If these basics are already part of your fitness regimen, gradually add weights or resistance bands. You can also use exercise machines that provide resistance training.

2. One Step at a Time

Begin with the lowest weight or resistance band that’s right for you. Once they become comfortable in your workout, go to the next level. As you gradually increase the load, you’ll see more results in your body.

3. Easy Does It

The idea of weight and resistance training isn’t to see how much you can lift at any cost. If you feel any pain during your workout, stop immediately. Lifting free weights that are too heavy or working out too strenuously will only hurt you.

Final Thoughts on Strength Training and Its Healthy Impact on Your Body

This is the only body you have, and you want it to stay healthy for a long time. Adding strength training by lifting weights into your daily workout can help you accomplish your fitness goals. You have nothing to lose but extra pounds while you get fit and get the most out of your life.

15 Mantras That Help You Stay Calm Through Chaos

September 27, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Mantras are often used interchangeably with affirmations. They focus on positive thinking and improving your well-being. Repeating affirmations encourage you to focus, meditate, and do what’s best for your life.

Consistent repetition is the best way to use mantras because it helps your mind view it as truth. Telling yourself that you are calm can help you achieve that mental state. You’ll gain strength and energy as you repeat them and embrace what you deserve in your life.

While you can’t prevent all chaos, you can control your reactions during the experience. These mantras can help you make the best decisions for yourself amidst the chaos. As you read through the affirmations, write the ones that resonate within you.

By choosing the ones that you relate to, you’ll help yourself make beneficial changes. You can use the same affirmations each day or switch it up at any time. These mantras will help you refocus on what’s important in life while resisting the chaos around you.

Fifteen Mantras That Help You Stay Calm Through Chaos

1 – I am safe right now, and everything will be okay.

When the world around you seems to be in shambles, remind yourself that you’re okay. Anxious thoughts during chaotic moments can make you feel like something detrimental will happen to you. Remembering that you’re okay can help you stay calm and get through anything.

2 – I deserve love and give myself the attention I need.

When life gets crazy, it’s easy to think you don’t deserve love and attention. However, you deserve all the good things in life, and you don’t have to wait for anyone to give them to you. Focus on self-love, and you’ll feel your worries ease and your self-worth increase.

3 – I am relaxed and calm no matter what occurs around me.

Telling yourself that you’re calm can help you relax through the power of self-belief. Your mind believes what you say, so repeating this mantra can help. The more you tell yourself that you’re relaxed and calm, the better you’ll feel.

4 – I feel my tension melting away.

When you tell yourself that you feel your tension melting away, you’ll likely experience less stress. Try to use visualization as you repeat this affirmation. Visualize the tension leaving your body and positivity flowing throughout.

5 – I know that my worries are temporary.

Hard times and worrisome moments don’t last forever. When chaos seems to take over your life, use this affirmation to remind yourself that it’s only temporary. The negative feelings won’t last forever, and reminding yourself can make the good times come sooner.

6 – I am at peace with my life and the world around me.

Being at peace with your life can help you resist external chaos. It limits the effect of stress if you tell yourself that you’re peaceful. Self-belief will allow you to have an easier time staying calm and letting the hardships pass.

7 – I am focusing on my breathing and letting everything else go.

When the chaos around you becomes too much, this affirmation can help you refocus. Tell yourself that you’re focusing on your breathing, and you’ll start to do just that. As you breathe, you can visualize letting everything else go, including worry, chaos, and negativity.

8 – I am calm and centered in every situation.

Tell yourself that you’re calm and centered, and you’ll feel more in control of the situation. Don’t let hardship and chaos disrupt your well-being.

Use this affirmation every morning to prepare yourself for the unexpected. You can also use it throughout the day when the chaos becomes overwhelming.

9 – I am releasing my negative thoughts and replacing them with positivity.

Negative thoughts can send you into a chaotic spiral, questioning everything about yourself. This mantra helps you release the negativity and focus on the good things in your life. You’ll experience positive self-talk and notice that you don’t turn to negative thoughts as often as before.

10 – I am focusing on being the best version of myself.

When chaos occurs around you, you might forget to focus on who you are. You behave in ways that aren’t like you, worsening the situation.

Rather than giving into the chaos, use this affirmation to focus on being your best. Not only will it help you stay calm, but it also increases your sense of self-worth.

11 – I am overcoming my fears and living courageously.

Don’t let your fear hold you back, even if you feel like you can never do something. Instead, turn to this mantra to guide you forward and help you face your fears.

It’ll help you take on new challenges and opportunities while opening you up to many experiences you wouldn’t have otherwise. The situation might seem chaotic at the time, but once you convince yourself that you can overcome your fears, you’ll be glad you pushed through.

12 – I am setting and enforcing boundaries that allow me to feel comfortable.

Setting boundaries allow you to regain control of your life when everything seems crazy. You can set boundaries that make you comfortable, and you’re allowed to enforce them whenever necessary. Using this mantra helps you remember that boundaries are okay and that it’s not okay for anyone to cross them.

13 – I release tension when I feel stressed.

If your coping mechanism isn’t healthy, you’ll need to find a new way to cope with chaos. This mantra helps you remember that lashing out or doing anything detrimental won’t help your situation.

Instead, releasing tension and focusing on your thoughts can make all the difference. Use this affirmation every day if you struggle with pent-up anxiety or coping in negative ways.

14 – I feel my mind slowing down and relaxing.

This mantra can help you focus on mindfulness as you start the day. It can also help you calm your mind before falling asleep. Either way, repeat it until you feel your body relaxing.

You might want to focus on your breathing as you repeat this mantra. Or you can use it during mindfulness meditation. It’s beneficial in many instances and helps you stay calm no matter what’s happening around you.

15 – I will look for the positive aspects of all experiences.

When you look for the good in all situations, chaos won’t affect you as much. There are positive aspects to even the most difficult situations, so make a conscious effort to identify them. When you look for the positives, you can stay calm, knowing there is hope.

You can use this affirmation anytime, but it’s especially beneficial if you know you have a challenging experience to handle. It’s also helpful to repeat as you get ready in the morning to remember to look for positivity.

Besides Mantras, Try These Seven Ways to Stay Calm in Chaos

These mantras can help you stay calm, but there are other things you can try. Use your affirmations every day and try other helpful techniques along with it.

Identify your triggers: When you identify the moments that trigger your stress, you can find ways to calm yourself. Think about what happens when you experience your triggers and consider how you feel during those moments. Once you’ve identified your triggers, you can think about ways to avoid those triggers or react differently. If you have a plan, you’ll feel in control, allowing you to stay calm during chaos.
Get active: When stress and chaos seem to consume your life, staying active can help you remain calm. Exercise is helpful because it releases endorphins that make you feel good and ease stress. It’ll reduce stress and pain while encouraging euphoria.
Practice Deep Breathing: When you’re worried, breathing can release negative feelings quickly. Focus on taking long, deep, and calming breaths until you feel yourself calm down.
Focus on something else: You don’t have to focus on the chaos all the time. Take some time to do something you enjoy or keep your mind busy. Walk away from what worries you so that you have time to reflect and destress.
Go outside: Fresh air can help you stay calm in stressful situations. If you start getting worked up, go outside to get some space. It’ll help you calm down, and the change of scenery can distract your thoughts.
Eat something: Lacking nutrients can worsen stressful situations, so make sure you eat something. Even eating dark chocolate can help, as it can boost your brain health and reduce stress. Eat a meal, snack, or healthy drink to help reduce your stress levels and allow you to stay calm.
Listen to music and dance along: Listening to your favorite music can help you stay calm. It has a calming effect, allowing you to relax your mind. Research shows that dancing can also help reduce worry as it eases depression and anxiety.

Final Thoughts on Mantras That Help You Stay Calm Through Chaos

These mantras can help you stay calm through chaos, even when it seems nothing can protect you. Use these affirmations when you wake up in the morning, throughout your day, or before you go to bed.

Using them in the morning can help you focus on positivity throughout the day. Reciting them throughout the day can help you keep going without giving in to the chaos.

Write the mantras that resonate within you so you can read them whenever necessary. It can make all the difference in your life and help you see positivity during the hard times.

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!