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First Native American Woman Astronaut Set to Take Flight

September 1, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

Nicole Aunapu Mann will make history as the first Native American woman in space in fall 2022. If all goes according to plan, she will lead NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 3rd. It will mark Mann’s first spaceflight since she became an astronaut in 2013.

In an interview with Indian Country Today (ICT), she said she feels proud to represent Native American women at NASA. As a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, Mann believes Native children should realize what they can achieve. She believes most barriers keeping women and minorities from distinguished careers, such as becoming an astronaut, no longer exist. So, she hopes her story will show them what’s possible.

The mission set to launch this fall marks NASA’s fifth crewed operational Commercial Crew flight. As mission commander of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft, Mann will direct all phases of flight from launch to landing safely back on Earth. NASA reported that she would also be an Expedition 68 flight engineer on the station.

Three other astronauts will accompany her on the Crew-5 mission. They include NASA astronaut Josh Cassada, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina. The crew will remain in space for about 250 science experiments for six months. The 45-year-old Native American woman said she feels excited about potentially making discoveries to benefit human evolution.

The Inspiring Woman Can’t Wait to Explore Space

In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR), she said something called the biofabrication lab interested her the most.

“Essentially, it’s 3D printing human tissue. We could grow cells here on Earth, but because of the effects of gravity in space, we can grow them three-dimensionally. We have already produced a partial meniscus of a knee, and we’re looking at growing heart cells. And eventually, the concept is that we could grow organs. They’re really hoping to have trials in animals by the end of the decade,” she told NPR.

While on the mission, the team will also upgrade some of the solar arrays on the station. In addition, Mann said she hopes to do a couple of spacewalks since she underwent extensive training learning to walk in outer space. The Native American woman remembered the spacewalk training as being challenging yet rewarding.

She explained that engineers place you in an astronaut suit just like they would in space. Next, they “blow you up like a balloon” by pressurizing the spacesuit, filling it to about 4.3 pounds per square inch, or psi. For reference, the Earth’s air pressure psi measures 14.7, according to NASA. Astronauts require a highly pressurized suit to compensate for limited mobility in space.

After ensuring your suit fits correctly, the engineers place you in a massive pool to simulate microgravity. Engineers designed the pool to mimic the conditions and components of the space station. Astronauts navigate the giant pool and work on equipment like they would in space. Mann says it’s a cross between scuba diving and climbing on a jungle gym at a playground.

She described the training as physically and mentally exhausting, taking six hours to complete. However, it’s a realistic simulation of walking in space since you’re underwater working on the space station replica.

“It is incredible. It is some of the coolest training I think that we do. And hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to do that in space for real,” the Native American woman told ICT.

The Native American Woman’s Journey to Becoming an Astronaut

Mann didn’t always know she wanted to become an astronaut. In fact, she didn’t dream of exploring space until later in her career. She earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1999. That year, she was appointed second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

While flying a F/A-18 fighter jet, the Native American woman began to think more about her future aspirations. After earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Stanford University, she enrolled in the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Part of her training program included a visit to NASA, which inspired her new career as an astronaut.

“I got a chance to meet astronauts and really get a better sense of what do astronauts do on a daily basis other than go to space,” Mann said in an interview with Inverse. “It’s a huge team working together for this goal which is so much bigger than yourself, and that’s what really drew me towards NASA.”

After she applied to the 21st astronaut class in 2013, NASA selected Mann, along with seven other applicants, to join the agency. At the time, Mann was 35 and served as a major in the Marine Corps. She’s since climbed the ranks and serves as a colonel.

The Native American woman has achieved so much in a relatively short period. She feels thrilled to be a part of the SpaceX Crew-5 mission, but her journey doesn’t end there. In December 2020, NASA also selected Mann as one of eighteen astronauts to return to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

However, the mission will only send two astronauts to land on the Moon. If Mann is one of the lucky two chosen, she would be the first woman on the Moon.

“It’s just this really overwhelming sense of emotion in the best of ways that I can describe,” she told Inverse. “Yes, you want to be the first person to walk on the Moon, you want to fulfill that role, but really it’s not about you. It’s about the bigger mission, so you’re just excited to support in whatever role you can.”

The Artemis III crewed mission plans to land on the Moon’s South Pole, a previously unexplored area, in 2025. Astronauts have already begun rigorous training to prepare for their flight to the Moon. Mann feels ecstatic about possibly being the first Native American woman on the lunar surface. Perhaps her galactic travels will even take her beyond the Moon in the future.

Read about how NASA will soon retire the International Space Station.

Final Thoughts on the First Native American Woman to Work for NASA

Nicole Aunapu Mann will become the first Native American woman to explore space this fall. As mission commander of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, she will guide her fellow astronauts to the International Space Station. In addition, NASA selected her for the Artemis Team to return to the Moon in 2025. We’re excited to witness this inspiring woman make history! Hopefully, her story encouraged you to always aim for the stars and believe in yourself.

15 Ways to Use Anxiety to Make a Life Transformation

September 1, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Some people have anxiety disorders, while others only experience occasional anxious feelings. Either way, the feelings aren’t enjoyable and can be debilitating. If daily life tasks make you feel anxious, it’s time to use your experience to make a life transformation.

Anxiety is a natural human reaction. It can motivate you to do your best and to try new things. However, if you let it, it can hold you back and prevent progress.

Knowing how to use your stress can help you make positive changes in your life and find fulfillment. You can use your feelings as a way to reach your goals and find success. Plus, you can use it for other beneficial aspects of your life.

Research shows that hardship and adversity can improve your psychological health. When you experience anxious feelings, you can use them to your advantage. It can help you grow while pushing you out of your comfort zone.

How to Use Anxiety to Make a Life Transformation

You don’t have to let anxious feelings get the best of you. Knowing the ways that these feelings can help you is beneficial. It’ll help you shift your mindset, seeing anxious feelings for the benefit they can be.

1 – Write About Your Anxious Feelings

Writing in your journal can help you shift your thinking. It can help you focus on gratitude, positivity, and self-care. Anytime you experience anxious feelings, open your journal and get started.

Journaling helps you develop a deeper understanding of your situation. It can help you identify your triggers and find healthy ways to deal with them.

If you aren’t sure where to start with your writing, write the first thing that comes to mind. Build on that first line, and eventually, your feelings will start to come out.

When you write about your anxious feelings, it helps you develop a positive mindset. The mindset will help you through all life experiences, not just this one.

2 – Think of Anxiety as a Positive Resource

How you think about your situation plays a role in how it affects you. If you think of it as a positive resource, you’ll likely use it to your advantage.

When you think of it as a benefit, it’ll help you get further. However, it will hold you back if you think of it as a hardship. Remember that it’s all about how you look at the worry.

3 – Use the Transformation as a Reason to Be Creative

Sometimes the best time to tap into your creative side is when you feel stressed. If your stress worsens, sit down and take some time to do something creative. Doing something creative helps you refocus your anxious energy and do something useful.

4 – Learn to Focus on Alternate Thinking

Anxious thoughts can lead to you focusing on negativity. Rather than giving in to that, try to focus on alternate thoughts. Your problems don’t have only one answer, so don’t assume there’s only one right way.

You might have many thoughts running through your head. Focus on the most prevalent ones that frequently steal your attention. Use these thoughts and turn them into a positive alternative.

One way to reframe your feelings is to push away anxious thoughts. Replace those thoughts with excitement, instead. Studies show that reframing to excitement can help you forget potential threats and become more productive.

5 – Remember That You Won’t Lose Yourself

You might feel like these feelings can make you lose yourself. However, remembering that you won’t lose who you are can help you use it as a life transformation. Identify the areas of your life that need work, and rest assured that you’re still yourself no matter what.

6 – Use Affirmations to Make a Transformation

Affirmations can help you refocus your thoughts and find the positive in your life. They also prevent you from thinking of the worst-case scenario. When negativity threatens to take over, try using some affirmations to refocus.

Affirmations can help you improve areas of your life. Using them for anxious thoughts can help you make a life transformation as you focus on positivity more often.

7 – It Can Remind You to Never Lose Hope

Even at your most anxious, look for the good all around you. It is a reminder that there is hope even in a dark time.

If you’re afraid, take a leap of faith. It’ll help you see that there’s so much out there to ensure you get through.

8 – Anxiety Can Boost Healthy Competition

When you have anxious feelings, it can give you a competitive edge. You’ll want to beat those around you to prove that you can do it. If your feelings push you toward success, you’re already using them to your advantage.

9 – Schedule a Time for Anxious Thoughts

Scheduling time to worry can help you push negativity out of the rest of your life. While you might initially do it to reduce anxious feelings, you’ll likely continue to use that time.

It helps you set aside time to process your thoughts and think of a solution. This habit lets you focus on the task at hand, knowing that your time for worrying will come each day.

10 – Remember That People are More Important than Anything Else

When your anxious thoughts get the best of you, think of the people you care about the most. All the little material possessions in the world won’t mean as much as the supportive people in your life. Your anxious feelings can help you refocus on these people because they help you feel better.

11. Learn How to Center Yourself During a Time of Transformation

One way to use your worrisome thought to make a life transformation is to practice centering. It’s a seven-step process that helps you focus and quiet your mind. If you want to start learning to center yourself, follow these steps:

Choose a focal point below eye level.
Set an intention or goal for what you plan on doing. It could be a work task, art project, or anything else that shifts your focus.
Practice mindful breathing to calm your body and deactivate your stress response.
Scan your body to check for tension. If you notice tension, release it by tightening and releasing those muscles.
Find your center by looking for the area where most of your energy rests. It can help you feel calm, self-assured, and grounded.
Visualize yourself reaching your goal. Think of what it would feel, look, and smell like.
Direct your energy by using your anxious feelings as inspiration for taking steps toward your goal.

12. Anxiety Can Help Show How Much You Care

You wouldn’t be so worried about something if you didn’t care. Rather than letting that worry interfere with your happiness, use it as a transformation tool. Put your energy into doing something related to your worry that will show you feel this way because you care deeply.

13. When You’re Anxious, Put Your Energy into Doing Something Productive

Anxious feelings can be debilitating, but they don’t have to be. Use your worries to do something worthwhile and productive. You can either use your energy to stress or do something about it.

Being stressed or anxious doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish anything. Instead, it means you’ll use your thoughts and anxious feelings to progress and move forward.

Anxious feelings can give you determination and motivation to make things happen. It can also help you think more creatively, looking for other solutions that you wouldn’t have thought of before.

14. Use it to Acknowledge How You Feel

If you feel anxious, there’s a reason for it. Take the time to reflect and determine why you’re worried and how you feel. If you try to suppress the anxious feelings, you’ll never identify the underlying cause.

When you know why you feel anxious, you can do something about it. It also helps you distinguish between productive and unproductive worry.

15. Allow the Discomfort of Transformation to Force You to Focus

Anxious feelings are uncomfortable, but that’s not always a bad thing. When you acknowledge and process how you feel, it forces you to focus on your worries. Productive worries are the ones you can do something about, so it’s usually a good thing.

You can use your anxious energy to get closer to your goals. When you’re overly worried about something, you won’t be able to focus on anything else. It could be a bad thing, but make sure you’re focusing on your goals, and it’ll all work out.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Use Anxiety to Make a Life Transformation

Anxiety isn’t always easy to deal with, but you can use it to transform life. It might seem like a struggle, but shifting your mindset can make all the difference. Rather than letting it control your life, use it to your benefit.

You’ll notice a quick improvement if you know how to use anxious feelings to promote life transformation. It helps you focus on the essential aspects of your life while maintaining a positive mindset despite the worry.

15 Behaviors of Someone With Adjustment Disorder

September 1, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

How do you know if your stress reactions are typical or if you have an adjustment disorder? Do you cope well with change, or does any alteration in your life wreak havoc on your emotions? Recognizing the symptoms of this condition (aka stress response syndrome) is the first step to understanding adjustment disorders and getting help.

The primordial world of the earliest humans was quite different from today’s civilization. A vast expanse of different environments required these beings to adapt for survival. They faced incredible dangers from wild animals and natural hazards.

Fortunately, their evolving brains developed an automatic survival instinct. When they perceived a threat, their brains sent signals to their endocrine system to dump hormones into the bloodstream. Cortisol and adrenaline supply temporary strength for them to fight or take flight.

This automatic survival instinct still works in people today. However, your brain sees stress as a threat, and you can be stuck in survival mode. According to an article by The Mayo Clinic, chronic stress can negatively affect your mind and body.

Understanding Adjustment Disorder (Stress Response Syndrome)

Another reason your survival instinct may be overloaded is if you have adjustment disorder or stress response syndrome. An article published by the Cleveland Clinic explains how it’s an excessive reaction to a stressful or traumatic event. Ironically, either positive or negative changes can cause this overreaction.

It’s usually a temporary condition caused by extreme stress. The stressors can be singular, or they can be a series of several events. It affects approximately two to eight percent of the population.

15 Behavioral Signs of Adjustment Disorder or Stress Response Syndrome

Has anyone ever told you that you overreact? Perhaps you can remember a significant event that triggered this condition. These are the fifteen primary behaviors someone with adjustment disorder (stress response syndrome) often displays.

1. Someone With an Adjustment Disorder Has a Strong Resistance to Change

Nobody likes change, and most people will often try to avoid it. Fear of the unknown and loss of control often contribute to resisting growth. Those with adequate coping skills learn to adapt and accept life changes.

However, people with stress response syndrome often have a heightened resistance. You feel safe and comfortable within the perimeters of the status quo. The slightest rift in your routine can create profound anxiety and emotional turmoil.

2. They Try Their Best to Live in The Past

Have you ever met someone whose body is present, but their mind and lives are hostages of the past? Even when their history is tainted with disappointment, failure, or trauma, they idealize it. When you have an adjustment disorder, you may avoid present issues by hiding in the shadows of the past.

Many people find the present too hard to handle, so their minds seem to revert to the past for comfort. Hiding from your current situation is no more helpful than an ostrich hiding its head in the sand. Your reflections on the past may temporarily dull the stress, but they will never go away.

3. A Person With an Adjustment Disorder Always Fears the Worst-Case Scenario

People who overreact to change often tend to be pessimistic. Rather than hoping for the best, you may assume the worst-case scenario. If you have positive results, you’ll be presently surprised. Accepting adverse outcomes makes you think you’re saving yourself from shock and disappointment.

4. They Often Revise and Distort Past Memories

Listen to yourself when you recall events from the past. Are you a reliable self-historian, or do you revise your memories to improve them? If you experienced trauma, you might have developed a disorder that resists change.

This stress response syndrome may also lead to blocking or erasing unpleasant memories. Instead, you give a fictionalized account that’s all sunshine and roses, so you don’t have to admit the truth. This condition may stand in your way of healing from past traumas.

5. They Struggle with Irrational Fears

When you’ve experienced a traumatic event and barely survived, it’s understandable that you’d cope with fear later in life. Irrational fears or phobias are also common symptoms of adjustment disorder. The minor fights may cause you to overreact and go into panic mode.

6. Someone With an Adjustment Disorder Can Be Recklessly Impulsive

Stress response syndrome often presents with many symptoms that overcompensate for safety. However, the stress may cause you to be more impulsive than usual. You may develop impulsive behaviors and substance abuse problems that you never had in the past.

7. Stress Response Syndrome Also Causes Emotional Instability

Perhaps you’ve noticed that you have difficulty sorting out your emotions. Your feelings will be scattered across the board if you struggle with adjustment disorder issues. The overreaction to stress may cause an assortment of fear, anger, and extreme depression.

8. They May Become Socially Isolated

People who don’t cope well with stress often feel safer when they’re alone. Something is comforting about staying in your familiar surroundings. Nobody can judge you or do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable.

Such thinking can cause you to isolate yourself from close family and friends. Soon, you may develop agoraphobia and can’t walk outside your home without extreme fear. Social isolation magnifies fear, depression, and anxiety.

9. They Notice More Aches, Pains, and Health Issues

The human body’s survival instinct was only meant to be a temporary reaction and not perpetual. The stress hormones meant to energize temporarily can be a health hazard when they’re constantly in your bloodstream. It can lead to hypertension, diabetes, kidney disorders, mental illness, and even premature death.

You can be stuck in this mode if you must deal with changes and an adjustment disorder. You may notice chronic aches, pains, and other health issues you’ve never had before. It’s a red flag that your body is sending you that it needs help.

10. Someone With an Adjustment Disorder Wants to Be the Center of Attention

Overreacting to stress and change may lower your self-worth and self-esteem. To compensate for your depleted self-image, you may try to draw attention. Maybe you crave someone to listen to you and empathize with your exhausted emotions.

Unfortunately, some folks may see this behavior as narcissistic or self-absorbed. They don’t know that stress response syndrome makes stress and change difficult for you. This may be one of the reasons you may begin to isolate yourself.

11. They Have Difficulties Creating and Maintaining Relationships

Most people can admit that relationships take more than just love. It requires a lot of work, patience, understanding, and compromise. Stress and arguments are a given for even the most loving relationships.

Since adjustment disorder compels you to avoid stress at all costs, you may not have a lot of meaningful relationships. You might also have a history of broken personal and professional interactions. You may tend to overreact to every situation, which may be too much for most folks.

12. They Have Low Energy Levels

It takes a copious amount of energy to stay in a perpetual state of stress. No wonder you may feel exhausted no matter how much you sleep. You may be in a brain fog that can hinder you at home and work.

Instead of going out and having a good time, you prefer to stay home and take a long nap. Just the thoughts of a new adventure may exhaust you. The fear of missing out makes you depressed, and your energy levels plunge even more.

13. Stress Response Syndrome Often Causes Perfectionism

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everything was perfect and stayed the same? This is an unrealistic mindset that isn’t based on reality, and it can lead to negative consequences. However, people with an adjustment disorder are often perfectionists who refuse to do anything without making mistakes.

14. These Symptoms Connect to Life’s Usual Stressors

Maybe you’ve recognized stressors that cause your disorder to activate. These are called triggers, and you may go out of your way to avoid them. For example, maybe being in a noisy crowd reminds you of a traumatic argument in your past.

Most people with this condition can often remember the event that brought the symptoms. You’ll try to avoid repeating the situation or any remotely similar triggers. You may even plan your entire day or happy occasions around stress avoidance.

15. They Have Self-Sabotaging Behaviors

One of the most unfortunate symptoms of stress response syndrome is that you may sabotage your happiness. Rather than face the stresses of a relationship, you’ll break up to stay calm. These symptoms may also rob you of chances to advance your career or realize your life-long dreams.

Final Thoughts on Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder

Do any of these symptoms seem painfully familiar to you? The good news is that you needn’t stay in the grasp of this debilitating disorder. Life is ever-changing, and you must embrace mindful living. That way, you don’t miss even one of the adventures waiting for you.

12 Ways to Show Love for a Dying Loved One

September 1, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

Showing compassion to someone who is dying is the greatest act of kindness. Life starts with birth and ends with death, a journey each person must face. Death is feared and thought of as scary by many people, but it’s something that’s just a part of life as breathing each day.

Death and dying are challenging to face, no matter who you are in this world. Your age, socioeconomics, or where you live don’t matter. Everyone will face the same fate one day, so showing love for those going through this time is the least you can do.

Twelve Ways to Let a Dying Loved One Know You Care

Since death is difficult to deal with, many folks feel lost and helpless when someone they love is soon to pass. Showing compassion comes easier to some than it does to others, but you don’t want to have any regrets.

This is your last chance to show this person how you feel. If you have a fear of death, it’s something you need to get over to help. Here are some ways to show your love and compassion to someone dying who means so much to you.

1. Be There for Your Dying Loved One With a Heart Full of Compassion

People don’t always need rooms full of flowers or gifts as much as they need to know you’re there for them. Sitting by their bed, holding their hand, and reminiscing about life can be helpful.

Your presence can be quite healing to a heart overcome with sickness or fear. Sometimes people need to know what they mean to you, and the best way to show it is by just being there for them. They may have some good advice to help you, so these sessions are precious.

2. Assist Them with End-of-Life Decisions

Though it’s not a topic you want to discuss, making end-of-life preparations is part of the dying process. You want to ensure that you honor your loved one’s wishes in every aspect of the service. It’s becoming commonplace for people to be cremated and have a celebration of life or no service at all. You want to ensure you know what they want verbatim so that you can honor them.

3. Decide The Care in Their Dying Days

Many things must be considered when someone is dying. You want to preserve their dignity throughout this end-of-life process. It is essential to allow them to have some decision-making powers while they still can.

Some folks want to die in the comforts of their home, while others will need hospice houses or some other special care. Together, you can help them to decide what’s best.

4. Make Sure to Have a Will and Medical Directives

Having a will is essential to anyone who has any assets. Additionally, they will need to have their medical directives in place. The DNR or do not resuscitate order is something that many people feel passionately about in their passing.

Most people don’t want to be kept alive by machinery if they can go to the beyond in peace. Help them get a will in place and their directives if they don’t already have one, as this will help the family honor their wishes.

While it’s best to have an attorney do these legal documents, you can do them on their behalf. They must be able to sign them before witnesses or a notary. Each state has different laws regarding this process, so it’s best to check with these laws to thwart any issues later.

5. Keep Them Updated on Their Medical Care or Prognosis

Showing compassion for someone dying doesn’t mean keeping them in the dark. No matter how grim the news, they might want to know everything. However, you should respect their wishes if they ask you to handle things and want to be oblivious.

However, sometimes they can’t advocate for themselves and need your help. The patient knows how bad they feel on the inside, so keeping things from them doesn’t benefit anyone.

6. Help With Their Final Needs Before Dying

Sadly, people get sick and die every day, but these folks still have things that need to be taken care of. Many have bills to pay, a household to run, and other obligations. Helping to care for some of these pressing matters can relieve the stress of someone dying.

If they’re sick and need to focus on rest, having that extra hand will certainly help. There will come a day when they won’t be able to do these things at all, so you need to help them plan for that phase too.

7. Get a Music Thanatologist Involved

Music can be very calming and healing to the heart and soul. However, many studies show it can be beneficial in dying. It falls under the category of palliative care, and it’s been used more around the country to make passing peacefully in recent years.

According to Thanatology Association International, using a harp and a gentle voice helps with emotional and spiritual needs during death. There’s usually a great deal of anxiety during this process, too, so it helps to ensure that the person is calm as they pass. Giving grace and comfort to someone’s end-of-life journey is one of the best things you can do.

8. Ask a Chaplin or Pastor to Visit

If the person passing is strong in their faith, they may welcome a visit from a spiritual adviser. Some people want their last rites, while others wish for a simple prayer for their journey. Most hospice programs incorporate spiritual care alongside other services, and many find it beneficial.

9. Consider a Death Doula

While death doula may seem like a new term, these folks are becoming more popular nationwide. This person is responsible for helping the dying person to relax as they cross over to the other side. According to an article published in USA Today, a death doula is a person who stays with the family before and after the death.

The doula sits with the patient and holds their hand. They can use massage or other techniques to help calm the nerves. The goal is to transition them from this life to the next without issue.

They can help with legacy projects the patient wishes to leave behind for the family and ensure their wishes are met. They’re an adjunct part of hospice, as this person provides emotional, spiritual, and physical support during this critical time.

10. Stay in Communication

While you have a job and busy life that you must manage, you know that sitting by their side 24×7 isn’t always possible. Some battles with a person’s health are long and drawn out, so you want to save time off when they need you the most. Thankfully, most people have cell phones and can receive calls and texts to stay in communication with you.

Letting them know you’re with them in spirit, even though not in the flesh, can be helpful. It’s a long, hard road when you know you’re nearing the end, and there are many frightening things they experience and feel during these times. Having you beside them, even by a call or text, will make the process easier.

11. Bring a Gift

Some people love cards, while others prefer flowers. Please do whatever you can to make their room bright and cheery. While there’s nothing joyful about dying, having at least a pleasant atmosphere during the last days of their life is helpful.

12. Help Keep a Dying Person’s Mind Busy

Does this person like to play cards, look at old photos, or watch television? Help them to keep their mind busy with these little things. They will appreciate the compassion you’re showing them and the time you spend together, but it’s a long day when there’s not much to do.

Someone dying doesn’t feel like going to the store but may enjoy sitting outside in the sunshine. Make sure to have plenty for them to do so their mind can focus on something other than their health. Do they have one final wish? Maybe getting that wish granted will give them something to look forward to.

Final Thoughts on Showing Compassion to a Dying Loved One

Why is death so hard? It doesn’t matter how often you’ve been through it with other folks, as the journey never gets any easier. When your loved one’s life hangs in the balance, it can shake you to the core. However, there are some things that you can do to show them compassion and let them know how much you care.

You don’t want them to leave this world with you having any regrets, so you must do as much for them as possible. You will look back on these days with fond memories that you got to share the final hours of their life. Dying will never get more accessible, but being there for someone you love and care about is the least you can do.

11 Habits to Help Recover from a Toxic Relationship

August 31, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Being in a toxic relationship is detrimental to your well-being, and the effects can be long-lasting. Leaving a toxic relationship is a brave step. Now, you deserve to heal, find peace, and restore your self-respect.

These relationships don’t always start toxic, but they wreak havoc on your life and mindset. The behaviors increase gradually over time, and it can be hard to identify if you were in an unhealthy relationship. It was likely toxic if you still have lasting psychological effects from a previous relationship.

Recovering from a toxic relationship can be difficult. The feelings and psychological issues can last even years after the relationship ends. Healing from the situation is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Be patient with yourself during the healing process because it takes time. You can make it happen with persistence and support.

What a Toxic Relationship Looks Like

Unhealthy relationships are unique, so they don’t always look the same. However, there are some indicators of toxicity, including:

infidelity
mental, physical, financial, or emotional abuse
perpetual discontentment in the relationship
lack of communication
constant tension or arguing
not fixing conflict
feeling invalidated or uncertain
constant stress
feeling drained
isolation
resentment
being undermined
constant put-downs

Why It’s Important to Heal from a Toxic Relationship

Healing from a toxic relationship is essential to moving on. You might struggle to find love again if you’re harboring the effects of the past.

When you trust someone enough to be in a relationship, being hurt or betrayed is heartbreaking. It’ll make you want to hide from future relationships so that it doesn’t happen again.

Healing from your past experiences can help you move forward. You can learn to love yourself again and find a beneficial relationship.

A toxic relationship can cause you to lose your sense of self-respect. Without it, you might engage in unhealthy behaviors and live in a state of negativity.

How to Recover from a Toxic Relationship and Regain Self-Respect

Try these habits to find your way back to happiness–or at least increase self-love and self-respect.

1 – Don’t Contact Your Ex

After your relationship ends, it might be tempting to want to reach out to your ex. Doing so is detrimental and can make many negative feelings and behaviors return. It’s best to go no-contact and know that you do not need to stay friends with them.

Some tips for going no-contact include:

unfriending or unfollowing them on social media
not answering calls from them
deleting their phone number
not responding to their messages
avoiding contact with their friends or family

Some situations, like having a child or a professional relationship, make no contact impossible. If that’s the case for you, it requires limiting your contact and setting boundaries. This situation allows you to be calm around them, and they won’t have the chance to cause further harm.

2 – Don’t Blame Yourself for the Toxic Relationship

You are not the reason your ex mistreated you. Your ex’s actions are their responsibility, and there’s nothing you could have done differently.

You can’t even blame yourself for getting in the relationship because abusers don’t often show their true identity until later. When you blame yourself, it can cause feelings of regret and self-doubt.

If you struggle with blaming yourself, it’s time to practice forgiveness. When you start thinking you were at fault, shift your thoughts and remember why you left your ex. You didn’t do anything to deserve a bad situation, so don’t waste your time and energy beating yourself up.

3 – Take Time to Get to Know Yourself Again

A toxic relationship can take a toll on how you feel about yourself. You might give up on your hobbies and passions. Now that you’re out of the relationship, you can heal by getting to know yourself again.

Take the time to rediscover who you are. As you do things you used to enjoy, take time to remember why you liked those activities. Prioritize your happiness and identify what you love about life.

4 – Be Patient After a Toxic Relationship and Give Yourself Some Grace

Healing from a toxic relationship isn’t easy, and it takes time. Your healing journey will be different than other people’s experiences, so be patient as you work through the issues.

Take as much time as you need to process and heal, and be kind to yourself. Some days will be more complicated than others. So give yourself some grace for setbacks.

Don’t judge yourself, and practice positive self-thoughts. You deserve self-compassion during this process. One way to do this is to treat yourself how you’d treat a friend or loved one in your situation. It helps you forgive yourself as you realize all that matters now is healing.

5 – Let Yourself Feel Your Emotions

It’s tempting to suppress your emotions when you end a toxic relationship. However, allowing yourself to feel and experience the emotions is beneficial. Letting your feelings out can help speed up the healing process, but you must give yourself the space and time to do it.

6 – Talk to a Professional About the Toxic Relationship

Going through a toxic relationship takes a toll in many ways. You can try to get through it alone, but seeking professional help can make a difference. Some survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it causes long-lasting trust issues.

Talking to a mental health professional can help you process and work through what happened. They’ll help you understand that it wasn’t your fault. Plus, they’ll help you work through anger, grief, and other emotions.

7 – Reframe Your Thoughts About the Toxic Relationship

Negativity will hold you back and prevent the healing process. When you can reframe negative thoughts, it helps rewire your brain and shift your thinking patterns. You’ll begin looking at your experience in a new way, making it beneficial moving forward.

Think of the things you learned or where that relationship led you. There are many ways to reframe, so make it work for you.

8 – Focus on Self-Care (the ultimate form of self-respect)

Taking care of yourself is essential during the healing process. Toxicity harms your emotional and physical well-being, and you must recover from it. Take the time to focus on your health and doing things you want to do.

Some ideas include:

reading a book
taking a hot bath
buying yourself something you’ve been wanting
cook your favorite meal
binge watch your favorite show
bake something
connect with nature
get plenty of sleep
spend time alone
implement an exercise routine
eat nutritious foods
practice mindfulness meditation

There’s no wrong way to practice self-care. You’re on the right track as long as you focus on yourself and prioritize your needs, wants, and self-respect.

9 – Process Your Experiences

Recognizing and processing what you went through is essential to the healing process. Take note of what you went through, considering what you won’t tolerate in the future.

You might not want to share your experience with others, but don’t be afraid to admit what you went through. Sometimes all you can do is acknowledge it to yourself.

Write about it in your journal, or share it with your therapist if you’re comfortable. When you admit what you went through, it allows you to process your experiences.

Part of processing your experiences requires asking yourself some hard questions. Consider what you missed at the beginning that allowed this person to become such a big part of your life. You should also ask yourself what you can do differently to prevent it in the future.

Give yourself time before determining the answers to your questions. As you reflect, don’t beat yourself or blame yourself for what happened. Instead, process your situation without judgment.

10 – Don’t Look to a Toxic Relationship Partner for Closure

You might want closure, but it likely won’t do you any good. Plus, you can’t often get a toxic person to apologize or admit fault in any situation. If closure requires an apology, don’t look for it. Imploring them for help will only further lessen your self-respect.

Waiting around for something that won’t happen can be exhausting and prevent you from moving on. Let go of your desire for closure and focus on taking care of yourself instead.

There are ways you can find closure on your own. One way is to write a letter to the toxic person but never send it.

Tell them everything you want to say, and make it clear how they made you feel. It could give you a feeling of closure if you view the letter as a way of saying goodbye. When you finish, shred the letter and take a deep breath.

11 – Make New Memories

If you and your ex went somewhere together, you might be reluctant to revisit it. The bad memories may prevent you from doing things you’d participate in otherwise.

Push through the complex feelings and get out there and make new memories. When you replace your negative memories with good ones, you’ll learn to love places and experiences that your ex made you dislike in the past.

Even if there are no locations that you avoid, you can still make new memories. Accept experiences and opportunities to try new things. It can help you replace the negativity in your mind with excitement and adventure.

Final Thoughts on Habits to Help Recover from a Toxic Relationship

Recovering from a toxic relationship takes time and patience. The process is worth it because it helps you move forward without harboring negativity and restores your self-respect. Use these habits to help you recover, and you’ll notice an improvement in your life. You might experience setbacks, but with these tips, you’ll be on your way to recovering from a toxic relationship.

10 Ways to Have an Entrepreneurial Mindset

August 31, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

Have you always felt an entrepreneurial drive to start your own small business? If not for the dreamers and motivated people throughout history, the world might have remained in the Stone Age. Creating a successful company isn’t just about luck; it often involves choosing the right opportunities, such as exploring franchise businesses on the market that align with your goals and passions. To ensure a smooth and compliant business setup, consider using the best llc service texas has to offer. With the right mindset and resources, you can turn your entrepreneurial vision into reality.

From Dreaming to Reality

How often have you put your aspirations on hold because you believe success is only for specific folks? What happens if you think that only wealthy, beautiful, and perfect people realize the businesses of their dreams? If you believe these falsehoods, you’re only hurting yourself.

The first step to starting your own business is to realize that you can do anything you set your mind to achieve. There’s no other person in the Universe like you. Your dreams may be similar to those of others, but you bring your style and talents to the table. Even an old sign for sale can be an effective marketing strategy, drawing on nostalgia and authenticity to connect with your audience. Its weathered charm and history evoke a sense of trust and sentimental value, making it a memorable and impactful element in your brand’s story.

Business Law Services like the ones at roqski can help you turn those dreams into reality by providing the legal support needed to navigate the complexities of starting and running a successful business. With the right legal guidance, you can focus on your vision and creativity while ensuring your business is built on a solid and compliant foundation.

Exploring yiwu sourcing can provide unique opportunities to leverage your distinctive approach and access a diverse range of products to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. It offers a gateway to an extensive marketplace, enabling you to find innovative products and establish a competitive edge in your business. By tapping into Yiwu’s vast network, you can source high-quality goods at competitive prices, helping you to stay ahead of trends and meet market demands effectively.

Another obstacle to success is the misunderstanding about needing money to make money. Yes, you often need to raise capital or make investments for your business to work. However, it costs you nothing to believe in yourself enough to start the process.

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Don’t expect anyone else to believe in you if you aren’t entirely sold on your products or services. Maybe you’ve told yourself that the research and work will take too long and you’re too old. Ask yourself. How old will you be if you don’t reach for the stars now?

The Ten Habits of Entrepreneurial Successes

Do you want to bring your dreams of starting your own small business to fruition? Why not start thinking like those who have already accomplished this goal? Try adopting these ten habits of successful business owners into your daily mindset.

1. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Set Clear Goals

Entrepreneurial success is a life-long journey. Let’s say you want to go on vacation and pack all your bags for the trip. If you just hop in your car and start driving, you’ll end up lost in the middle of nowhere.

However, you have the good sense to know that you must plan for that journey. First, you need a destination and to prepare your route accordingly. Likewise, establishing the business of your dreams requires clear goals and a detailed plan.

An article published by the Project Management Institute explains the essential link between setting goals and success. Not only do you think about what you want to accomplish, but you consider the process and take action. The article states that you must see things as they are right now. However, you need a dream and the ability to see things in the future.

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2. Find a Mentor

One of the best ways to achieve an entrepreneurial mindset is to learn from a successful business owner. Whether they have a small business or a large corporation, their input and guidance can be a treasure trove. Most of these seasoned professionals would be happy to be a mentor to give back.

Once you’ve acknowledged your dreams and clarified your goals, consider finding a mentor in your niche. They were once a novice like you and can empathize with your nervousness. Fortunately, they speak from experience and can share the pitfalls and successes of their journey.

3. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Knows to Count the Cost

You’ve learned by now that nothing is free in this life. Often situations that appear to be free and easy have strings attached. You’ll pay much more in time and resources in the long run than you imagined. Craft a powerful saas seo strategy to outperform competitors. Contact a law firm marketing company if you want to improve the marketing campaigns for your legal services.

The next step after clarifying your entrepreneurial goals is to do some research. Not only do you need financial figures, but you also need to consider your time. How much capital do you have now, and what more do you need to start your small business?

Your mentor may suggest various venues and resources to help you get the most from your investments. Consider making a financial plan that includes present resources, projected costs, and ways to earn money. It helps you figure out where you stand financially and the possible profits you can make with your new small business. A Digital Business Card can also be a valuable tool in this process, enabling you to network effectively and present your business professionally as you seek out new opportunities for growth.

4. Become a Life-Long Student

Another habit of entrepreneurial achievers is that they use every opportunity to learn something new. They listen to their mentors, clients, and their employees. They realize there’s always room for improvement for their goods or services.

Does part of achieving your life-long entrepreneurial dream include more education? Or maybe you’ll need to attend a trade school and finish an apprenticeship for experience and honing your skills. Your education won’t stop then because you’ll constantly learn new ways to make your business shine.

5. Boost Your Creativity

The seed of every successful business venture starts in a person’s mind. It doesn’t matter if your dream is to open an art gallery or an accounting firm. Creative thinking and problem solving bring out the best in you and your product or services. Understanding “nominee director and shareholder service” can also enhance your business by ensuring effective governance and stakeholder management. For more information, visit https://www.cfoacc.com.sg/notice-of-assessment-singapore.

What are you doing now to boost your creativity? Remember that practice makes progress, and you’ll learn each step. Journaling and making vision boards are excellent ways to focus your creative energies and make them work for you.

6. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Lives in the Present

The past is a splendid teacher, but it doesn’t make a good life partner. People who have achieved entrepreneurial success aren’t satisfied with yesterday’s results. They’ve found that each new day is an opportunity to improve and expand their small business.

Living mindfully can benefit you personally and professionally. According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, this style of living can boost working memory and improve your focus. The report also states that you may also notice a reduction in stress, more cognitive flexibility, and enhanced intuition.

7. Surround Yourself with Positive Energy

One of the most outstanding entrepreneurial achievers’ tools relies on the law of attraction. It’s a simple principle that says that whatever energy and affirmations you send into the Universe, you’ll attract the same. You can’t expect to gain positive results if you’re always speaking negatively.

To stay in a positive frame of mind, you need to surround yourself with positive energy. Avoid being around negative people who have nothing uplifting or encouraging to say. Refuse to allow their negative attitude to influence you and your affirmations.

8. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Learns from Past Mistakes

Behind every entrepreneurial success is a steady stream of failures. Maybe you’re afraid to reach for your dreams because you fear failure. You’ll gain a different perspective when you learn to embrace your failures as teaching tools.

If you research the brightest industry, art, and educational stars, they’ve made their own mistakes. However, they’ve learned from their mistakes and used them to make improvements. Your small business can be everything you expect when you follow their lead.

9. Break Larger Goals into Smaller Ones

You’ve probably heard the famous mantra of dreaming big or going home. Anything worth having is worth investing your time and best efforts. However, your entrepreneurial goals may seem so great that they are overwhelming.

You can overcome this intimidation by breaking larger goals into smaller, doable ones. For example, what if you’ve always dreamed of selling your one-of-a-kind crafts for a profit? Before buying a storefront, start small and build your clientele one at a time.

Also, remember to celebrate each success you have, regardless of how small. Have you ever visited a shop and seen a framed dollar bill hanging on the wall? Every time the owner sees the first buck their store made, it’s a celebration and an inspiration.

How can you divide your entrepreneurial plans into smaller chunks? Do you get excited and even more determined with each step you take? Your faith in your talents and efforts gain momentum from small successes to greater ones.

Don’t wait for the big crowds to cheer you on in the beginning. You learn to be your greatest advocate and cheerleader on your dream journey. Celebrate your efforts and be grateful for the blessings that you have.

10. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Develop a Selective Memory

Maybe it’s proverbially lonely at the top because some people have forgotten those who helped them on their journey. If you want to be a true success, you remember everyone who’s been part of it. You are grateful and respectful to everyone who has encouraged you, regardless of their position or possessions.

On the flip side, you selectively forget toxic people and situations. You can’t ignore them, but you don’t ruminate and hold grudges. When you learn to forgive and let go, these negative energies have no power over you.

Final Thoughts on Thinking Like a Successful Entrepreneur

Some say that an incredible journey starts with your first footstep. Adopting the mindset of success can help you step out of your comfort zone from thought to action. You’re well on your way when you decide to go forward with your small business dream.

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