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Science Reveals How a Pessimistic Outlook Can Lead to Earlier Death

July 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Is your constant negativity going to send you to an early grave? Everyone strives to be happy. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to rid all the pessimistic thoughts from your head.

There’s plenty of good days, but it’s the bad days that nearly drive you to the breaking point. Dealing with people and situations alone is enough to make you feel like a pessimist. You have a choice.

You must strip away the thing in life that is bringing your spirits down. Take the time and effort to refocus your energy into being a better person. The most significant detriments to your victory are the negative side of the toxic people you encounter.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you run with the wolves, you’re going to howl?” This adage speaks volumes. If you are always with people who are negative and feed that pessimistic attitude, then it won’t be long before you lose your optimism.

Your Health Feels the Effects of a Negative Spirit

While having a pessimistic won’t give you brownie points in the office, it can do things to your health. Did you know that people who tend to be negative all the time tend to die earlier than those that glow with positivity?

Dr. Cynthia Thaik did a study on the effects a pessimistic outlook has on your body. As a cardiologist, she found that the heart feels a great deal of the strain caused by the constant oppression. If you have a fit of rage that lasts a mere five minutes, that time can inhibit your immune system for up to six hours later.

Constant negativity and anger can cause the following things:

- High Blood Pressure
- Strokes
- Heart Attacks
- Anxiety
- Chronic Headaches
- Circulatory Issues

Stress Damages Your Body

Did you know that being consistently negative can rewire your brain? Yes, just like you can make your mind prone to positivity, you can also make it likely to have a pessimistic outlook.

Take, for instance, a young woman named Crystal. She moved in with her parents to take care of them in their late years. While her mother was sweet and kind, her father was irritable and cranky. He would continuously get onto Crystal for every little thing she did. He was always negative and grumbling, and it got the best of her.

One afternoon, Crystal was trying to help her father, and he exploded on her. The two got into a shouting match. All of a sudden, she didn’t feel so good. Having trained in nursing, she ran and got the blood pressure machine to see if this was the culprit.

She nearly fell over when she saw that her BP was 200/125, and her heart was beating 132 beats per minute. She was a stroke or heart attack, waiting to happen. Thankfully, she knew that she had to calm herself down as this was going to cause her significant problems.

Crystal has never been a yeller or a confrontational person. However, her father’s constant badgering and belittling took her to a negative place where she reacted. Sadly, she became so worked up that she almost ended up in the emergency room. Was it worth it for her to stay in this place?

Crystal learned that she was in a toxic situation, and her father was detrimental to her health. She moved out and let caregivers take care of them, but she still came to visit on occasion. By refocusing her life with positivity, she was able to get her blood pressure problems under control.

Do you have a situation in your life that reminds you of Crystal’s? Maybe it’s a parent, coworker, child, or another relative that is toxic to you? You have the power to cut negative things from your life for the sake of your health.

Ways to Rid a Pessimistic Life

If you want to have good health and want others to enjoy being around you because you’re always so optimistic, here are a few ways to accomplish this task.

1. Acknowledge You Have a Problem

The first step to dealing with an issue is admitting you have a problem. If you don’t see anything wrong with your actions or feelings, then you won’t change. Make a list of all the things that are causing you to be negative.

You’re not happy with your weight, your hairstyle, or some other petty thing. If the root is a toxic person, then you can move on from them.

2. Remove Yourself from Toxic Situations

Are you in toxic situations that are weighing you down? You can’t become an optimist if you are always in a self-deprecating position. These situations can be jobs, relationships, or associations. You will feel so much better when you cut the dead weight out of your life.

3. Seek Positive Outlets in Life

One of the best ways to shape off a negative outlook is by finding some positive outlets. People generally are down on themselves and have pity parties when they don’t realize how blessed they indeed are in life. To change your perspective, why not volunteer some time in a soup kitchen or talking with people at a homeless shelter?

There are plenty of charitable acts that you can do that will fulfill your life and give you a sense of purpose. Many folks go through the daily grind with little to no consideration of how blessed they are. Start counting your blessings in life, and it’s tough to be mad for too long.

4. Find Someone to Talk To

If your life is so overwhelming that you can’t seem to get past a day without crying or feeling blue, then it’s time to get help. It’s easy to be cynical when you’re plagued with depression and anxiety.

Things are maybe going great in your life. You may have a loving family and all the support in the world. Still, that won’t take away the feeling in your heart that you’re lonely and sad. It’s easy to be cynical when you feel horrible on the inside.

Mental illness can do strange things to people, and it can make you feel in ways you never thought possible. Some of the most beautiful individuals can become quite pessimistic when their body isn’t cooperating. It’s worth having a doctor and therapist to get involved if there are no other reasons for the ongoing negativity.

5. Learn to Say No to Things That Trigger Pessimistic Feelings

Do you continuously take on more than you can handle? Do you have a hard time saying no to people even though you don’t have time? Learning appropriate boundaries is not easy, but it can change your whole life.

Anyone can be a negative Nelly when there’s no time for rest and relaxation. Your entire life can’t be about working at your job and home. It will help if you put your needs into the equation, which means learning to say no.

Signs That You’re a Negative Person

Perhaps, you’re one of the many people who don’t realize how negative you are. You may feel that nothing is wrong, though some avoid you, and you don’t even know why. Here are five signs that negativity is ruling your life.

1. You Cannot Wait to Go to Bed

One of the hallmark problems with a negative person is they are filled with stress and anxiety. These overwhelming feelings cause you to want to close the world off and be alone. Sleeping resets your batteries and gives you a boost to keep ongoing. However, it’s a sign that your negative nature is wearing you out.

2. You Always See the Negative in Life Before the Positive

Let’s assume you were offered a new position at your job. Do you automatically start thinking of all the negative aspects before you think of the positive ones? If you always find the pessimistic things first, then you may have a problem.

3. You Have a Poor Body Image

Do you know that negative people often don’t like anything about themselves? It wouldn’t matter if you were model material, you would always find something wrong with you.

4. You Complain Constantly

Is every word out of your mouth a complaint? Is there anything in life that pleases you? If you’re always complaining and murmuring about something, you need to change it to a positive outlook for your health’s sake.

5. You Turn Down Compliments

If someone compliments your outfit or your new cologne, do you find a way to throw the compliment back to them? For instance, you have a couple over for dinner, and they rave about how good your house looks, yet you point out all the flaws that tend to drive you crazy. If this sounds like you, then you may have a problem.

Final Thoughts on Getting Rid of Pessimistic Thoughts and Living a Happier, Longer Life

You’ve heard the saying that stress kills. Studies show that this is true. When you’re under stress, it raises your blood pressure, causes you to be anxious and tense, and makes life miserable.

If you want to live a long and prosperous life, you must take control of the negativity surrounding you. It’s time to take on an optimistic outlook on life for the sake of your health.

Psychology Proves a Link Between Self Esteem and Father Daughter Bonds

July 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

What is it about a father daughter bond that seems so special? And what does it mean for self-esteem?

Girls tend to favor their dad, while boys tend to latch on to their mother. These patterns are something observed throughout history. A daughter needs to have a healthy relationship with her father. Psychologists have now proven that it’s essential for the child to develop these relationships to form positive self-esteem.

Why is this relationship between a father and daughter so important? First, little girls all see Daddy as their hero, and rightfully so. He is the first male figure in her life that she depends on. A daughter develops a relationship with her parents early on as they are her entire world.

Traditionally, throughout history, here is what happened. Mothers played a pivotal role as the nurturing and caring ones. However, a father’s role was just as important. He made sure his daughter was safe and was eager to protect her. These vital roles were based on historical perceptions. Of course, modern parents can cross over into the other position or serve as both.

It’s essential for a child to feel a bond with both parents. However, psychologists have found that when the father-daughter relationship struggles early on, it can cause many emotional challenges. Additionally, a skewed view of dad can cause problems with dating and marrying a man.

The Formative Years

The father-daughter relationship develops around two years of age. Since the formative years are defined as ages 2-4, this male role needs to be in her life. The bond that develops in these years will last a lifetime.

When a child is going through their formative years, they need both the female and male role. The toddler is asking internal questions such as:

Am I okay to be me?
What can I explore today?
Will Mommy or Daddy play with me?
Who will feed me?

They learn quickly which parent will do specific roles in their care. For instance, if mom feeds the child, then when they are hungry, they will go to mom. However, if mom isn’t around, then they learn dad is a backup. Additionally, they learn the roles that dad plays in their life.

Forming a Sense of Independence

As your child is growing and learning to be more self-sufficient, they use repetition. It’s how they form a sense of independence. They find comfort in knowing that daddy will fix their doll’s arm or care for their bumps or scrapes.

Safety and security are significant self-esteem factors for young children, especially as they learn to walk and talk. Many changes are going on in their lives, and they need the united force of their parents to make them feel safe.

Should dad be demanding with the child and push them too far, it can cause them to doubt their new skills. Both parents must allow a child to use the repetitive nature that comes along during the formative years as it’s essential for growth. Your child needs everything in place so they can master their environment.

Psychology reveals the behaviors that cause children to grow up to become narcissists.

Avoiding Self-Doubt

When a child has a skewed father-daughter relationship, it can cause self-doubt to occur. Doubt can cause a child to place limits on themselves as they grow. These kids usually make derogatory statements such as:

I’ll never be good enough to try out for the school play.
Everyone else is better than me.
I can’t do that spelling bee because I fear I will mess up.

The self-doubt that starts in the formative years from a poor father-daughter relationship or other outlying factors can turn into low self-esteem. When children make such comments as listed above, some say they are shy or afraid to explore things.

The real problem is that the child is making these statements, hoping that someone will give them advice on the matter. A daughter desperately longs for her parents’ approval, and she doesn’t feel free to try new things without a gentle nudge in the right direction. A child uses the rules they’ve learned early on to set the patterns for life.

If a father doesn’t allow children to explore, experiment, and be adventurous, they won’t be curious or welcome experimentation in life.

Negative Patterns Follow Throughout Life

When a parent sees an issue with the child’s esteem, they must correct the dynamics. If these issues flourish, they will be a constant problem well into adulthood. The father-daughter bond is essential, but any negative patterns from childhood must be corrected to change their self-doubting nature.

A self-doubting child turns into an adult who is afraid to go for a job promotion as they are fearful they can’t keep up with the work. Many are so scared to try anything new or move too far away from their homestead. Girls who don’t have a good father-daughter dynamic may be scared to do anything, even in adulthood that might be a little risky.

A father must be encouraging his daughter. They should motivate them to try new things, be adventurous, and be on the sidelines, cheering them on in life. Remember, they will make errors, but you need to be there to pick up the pieces. Mistakes are a part of life and how you learn.

Both mothers and fathers must support their children as they grow and make blunders. When required, offer advice, but make sure you are a support system and a shoulder to cry on.

Here are 15 rules of etiquette every parent should teach their kids.

Setting The Stage for a Happy Life

Children are a product of their environment. Have you ever heard the statement, “She has daddy issues?” While it’s natural for a girl to want to marry someone like her dad, if the father-daughter dynamic is toxic, it causes problems.

Conversely, a boy who never had a mother be there for him can have issues trusting women in life. The most significant gift a dad can give their daughter is to teach them respect. Respect is not something that comes freely, as it must be earned.

You can show your daughter the true meaning of respect by treating her mother and other siblings well. Being that constant positive in her life sets the stage for how her husband and sons will treat her. She will know what to expect and won’t settle for anything less.

Mothers and fathers can both put the wheels in motion for healthy patterns. Girls tend to gravitate to what is familiar to them. It doesn’t matter if her father was a positive or negative force in her life; she will look towards comfortable things.

Being a father is one of the biggest job titles that come with the most significant rewards, so dads have a lot of pressure not to mess up.

Promoting Father-Daughter Bonding

Some dads have a hard time relating to their daughters, as it’s easier to relate to males. However, it would help if you could bridge the divide and do things your daughter likes. For instance, take her to a movie and out to ice cream.

No one is going to refuse a good flick and a sweet treat. Most cities have those daddy-daughter dances around Valentine’s Day. While it may be out of your comfort zone, you must go for the sake of her self-esteem. The memories you will make with her will be priceless.

Try building something together, and you may find that your little girl has a liking for power tools. You can take a cooking class and then use your skills to create dinner for the family. Many girls love to shoot hoops or take a drive in the evening with the music blasting.

When you think about it, you and your daughter would like to do tons of things together. It doesn’t matter what you do. Make sure you let her be a part of the selection process so you validate her opinions.

Final Thoughts on the Father Daughter Relationships and Developing Healthy Esteem

Thankfully, it’s never too late to work on your relationship with your daughter. Even if you weren’t there for her in her formative years because of divorce or work, you could be there for her now. Did you know that women who grow up and have positive relationships with their parents are generally more confident and well-rounded in life?

Women with confidence choose better partners, have emotionally healthy ways to deal with stress and drama, and often have well-balanced relationships with males and females. The joy of raising a good child is one of the most significant accomplishments you can have in life.

Working on your father-daughter relationship is imperative as it means everything to raising well-adjusted girls with self-esteem–and who don’t have “daddy issues.”

11 Ways to Get Rid of Belly Bloat Naturally

July 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Ugh, your bloated stomach makes you feel uncomfortable and unattractive. Everybody gets an occasional bloated tummy. It’s usually just a temporary thing. So, what are some natural ways to get rid of your belly bloat?

Bloating is the heavy, tight feeling you get in your gut after eating. It could be due to a gastro problem like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But researchers say that around 50% of people who complain of a bloated stomach don’t meet the criteria for IBS. So, what causes belly bloat?

Foods that cause your belly bloat issues

Bloating is somewhat of a moving target for doctors to diagnose, but there are some well-known foods that cause an irritated tummy.

1 – Beans

High in protein and fiber, beans are good for you, but they are one of the most common foods that cause bloating and gas. Beans contain a complex sugar which your body can’t easily break down. This causes fermentation to occur in your gut.

This gives off a gas that causes bloating and discomfort. To offset bean’s gas, add a couple of teaspoons of cumin when you cook them. Also, eat black beans or pinto beans since they don’t cause as much gas as other kinds of beans.

2 – Carbonated Drinks

Carbonated drinks cause a lot of bellies-bloating. The carbon dioxide in the sodas and other carbonated drinks give off a gas you swallow as you drink. You may burp out some of this gas, but some gas gets trapped inside your digestive system. You feel bloated and may even pain. Switch to plain water or flavored waters to minimize your belly bloat.

3 – Wheat

Wheat contains gluten. Many people complain of feeling bloated after eating bread or pasta. Gluten may not get completely digested in your digestive system. At the end phase of digestion, fermentation causes gassiness and discomfort. Gluten products can even cause diarrhea. If, after eating gluten products, you notice if you are bloated, you may have a gluten allergy. Try going off gluten for a month to see if you feel better. Replace wheat oats, quinoa, coconut flour or almond flour for wheat.

4 – Cruciferous vegetables

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are all part of the cruciferous vegetables. They are common gas-producing veggies to should avoid if you don’t want a bloated tummy. Sometimes cooking cruciferous veggies helps reduce their gassiness.

5 – Dairy products

Around 75% of people across the world are lactose intolerant. Gas, cramping, stomach pain, and diarrhea are common side effects of lactose intolerance. Fortunately, there are lactose-free dairy products available today. Substitute cows milk products for almond milk or coconut milk in ice creams and yogurts.

6 – Garlic and onions

Garlic and onions are notorious for making you feel bloated. They’re hard for your gut to digest. Cooking them can help reduce some gassiness you feel, but you may need to stop eating them.

7 – Beer

Beer is a huge contributor to your bloated tummy. Beer is made from fermentable carbohydrates like barley, corn, or wheat. These combined with the carbon dioxide in beer produce bloating and gassiness. Wines are a good alternative to beer without the tummy bloat.

Eleven ways to get rid of belly bloat naturally.

Besides not eating certain foods, here are some other natural ways to reduce your belly bloat.

1 – Don’t overeat those foods that cause belly bloat

It sounds too easy, but just eating less food at meals can minimize your belly bloat. Large fatty meals overload your digestive system making it work hard. This causes you to feel bloated and uncomfortable.

Try eating more often with less food each time. Many doctors suggest eating five smaller meals a day is best. You’ll have less bloat and feel better overall.

2 – Don’t eat your meals (or snacks) too fast

When you gulp down your food, you accidentally take in air into your digestive tract. This builds up in your gut, causing belly bloat. Eat slowly, deliberately chewing and enjoying your food. You will be surprised how less bloated you are, plus you will notice a flatter stomach from simple habit change.

3 – Take a walk after you eat your meal

Getting a little exercise after a meal aids your digestion and helps reduce the gas build up in your gut. Walking gets your blood pumping, so you feel clear-headed and more relaxed after a meal.

4 – Peppermint candies work wonderfully well

Did you ever wonder why some restaurants give you a peppermint with the check? It’s a complimentary digestive aid for your tummy. Peppermint relaxes the muscles of your stomach. This helps the bile move to help digest fats causing food to pass through your stomach faster and more efficiently.

5 – Reduce salt in your meal

Sodium from the salt in your food can cause a bigger belly after you eat. The salt retains fluids making your tummy more swollen. Reduce the amount of salt in cooking and avoid salting your food. Putting away the salt shaker is an easy way to kiss your belly bloat goodbye.

6 – Take a warm bath or shower

When you feel bloated, try taking a warm bath or shower. The warm water relaxes your stomach muscles making your tummy feel less bloated. You can add several drops of peppermint or lavender essential oil in warm water for a wonderful, relaxing spa experience. Warm baths and showers are especially helpful to ease the bloating you experience during your menstrual cycle.

7 – Avoid sugar-free foods and drinks

Artificial sweeteners are a common contributor to belly bloat. Sugar-free products are very popular because they’re so low in calories. But studies show that although artificial sweeteners are considered safe, they do affect your gut. Several artificial sweeteners like saccharin, sucralose, and stevia change the composition of your gut microbes. Researchers are still studying the effects of these sweeteners.

Diet drinks and other sugar-free drinks could be the reason for your bloating. Try drinking flavored sparkling waters for a low-calorie natural alternative to diet drinks. Use honey instead of artificial sweeteners in your coffee or baking.

8 – Take probiotics

Probiotics are living microorganisms that can restore and strengthen your gut’s flora. Fermented foods like Greek yogurt, kefir, and kombucha contain natural probiotics. Try adding these items to your daily menu for a natural boost to your gut health. There are many over the counter natural probiotics you can buy. These are effective too.

9 – Eat foods with natural digestive enzymes

Your body has several organs that create digestive enzymes to break down foods for digestion. There are three types of digestive enzymes: Proteases, lipases, and amylases. If your body doesn’t have enough digestive enzymes to break down foods, you’ll end up with food intolerances.

There are many over the counter digestive enzymes that aid digestion, but you can eat foods that are naturally high in digestive enzymes. These include:

Honey
Pineapples
Papaya
Mango
Bananas
Avocados
Sauerkraut

10 – Try drinking lemon water

Drink a cup of warm lemon water whenever you feel bloated. It enhances your digestion plus relieves your grumpy tummy. When you’re bloated, it’s important to drink extra fluids.

Lemon water hydrates you, plus it acts as a natural diuretic to flush out extra fluids in your body. The combination relieves your bloating and flattens your stomach.

11 – Let the farts rip

Your body will rid itself of excess gas that causes your stomach discomfort by farting. Farts are a natural part of the digestive process. They are nothing you should feel ashamed of. So, feel free to excuse yourself from polite company, seek a private location, and let them rip. You will feel instant relief.

Doctors explain twenty surprising things that cause farting.

Final Thoughts on Reducing Belly Bloat Using These Natural Techniques

Belly bloat is no fun. You feel uncomfortable and sluggish. Fortunately, it’s a temporary experience. You can take control by following these natural practices to reduce that uncomfortable feeling for good.

15 Red Flags That Reveal Gum Disease

July 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Gum disease is scary. Left untreated, it leads to periodontitis, which causes severe health problems. The CDC reports that 48% of adults in the United States over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Fortunately, once you know the signs you are developing this problem, you can address it promptly.

What is gum disease?

Healthy gums are attached at your jawbone, pulling up over the roots of your teeth for protection and support. It’s not healthy for gums to recede, so the pink areas at your roots are exposed. If receding gums aren’t treated, it leads to tooth decay, infection, or even the loss of teeth. If you lose any of your teeth, you may get a tooth implant to have it replaced.

Gum disease connects to heart disease, strokes, premie or stillborn births, and even cancer. Gingivitis and periodontitis are late stages of gum disease that require dental treatment and sometimes surgery.

Watch for the red flags of gum disease.

You may wonder if you have gum disease. Here are 15 red flags that warn you that you have it.

Pain when you brush your teeth

If your teeth hurt when you brush, it could be a sign of gum disease. As your gums recede, the roots get exposed. This causes pain when you touch your teeth with your toothbrush. Poor brushing habits also contribute to tooth pain including

Brushing too hard
Brushing the wrong way
A toothbrush that is too hard or too soft
Applying too much force when you brush

Bleeding gums when you floss

If your gums bleed when you floss, it could mean you’re headed towards gum disease. Your gums may suffer if you don’t floss regularly, or you’re flossing too hard. But if this isn’t the case, there’s a good chance you could have the beginning of gum disease.

Bad breath

Everyone has bad breath once in a while. This can be due to a cold or sinus infection or a stomach upset. But if you consistently have bad breath, even after you brush and rinse with mouthwash, this could be a sign of early stages of gum disease. Bad breath occurs when bacteria grow around your teeth or in your gums. Growing bacteria release a smelly gas that gives you stinky breath.

Pain when you eat hard foods

Painful sensations when you eat raw vegetables, crunchy chips, or chew meat could show you have gum disease. The roots of your teeth are where you feel pain. If they’re exposed or not fully covered by your gums, this will trigger pain when you eat solid foods. Be sure to tell your dentist if you have pain when you eat. Your dentist can prescribe a less abrasive toothbrush and treat your gums to lessen your pain and slow down the gum disease.

Loose teeth

If you have any loose teeth, contact your dentist immediately. This indicates the later stages of periodontitis, which could be dangerous to your health. Your gums help secure your teeth in place. Receding gums encourages bacteria to grow, causing tooth decay. Decay wears away at the roots of your teeth, loosening your teeth. Inform your dentist of any loose teeth so they can treat prevent further damage.

Swollen gums

Swollen gums are painful. They may bleed when brush or floss. You may also have sensitivity when you drink or eat. Swollen gums are a big red flag that your gums aren’t healthy. Healthy gums should have a textured look to them. This is because gum tissue has ridges and lines. In the early stages of gum disease, your gums lose this the stippled look. Instead, gums get very smooth and swollen around your teeth.

Sensitivity to hot or cold

Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks is another red flag of gum disease. This can be because of receding gums exposing your roots to the hot or cold beverage. It could also be because of a thinning of tooth enamel that covers the outside of your teeth. Either way, your teeth are left unprotected. Over time, this sensitivity will get worse. Tell your dentist right away if you have hot or cold sensitivity.

Red-colored gums

Has the color of your gums changed recently? Normal, healthy gums are a dark pink color. The more red your gums are, the more significant the chance you’ve got a growing infection. If you have an advanced stage of gum disease, your gums will turn dark red or even purple color. This is a bad sign of severe infection. Tell your doctor right away if your gums change color. Your dentist can check for infection and treat it before it gets too advanced.

Change in your bite

If your bite changes, it may be a sign that your teeth have shifted because of gum recession. Loose teeth move ever so slightly. This changes your bite, which increases the chance of a more gum recession. Your dentist or periodontist can return your bite to normal with braces. Realigned teeth help slow down your gum recession.

Gaps between your teeth

Similar to a change in your bite, gaps in between your teeth occur if your teeth shift. If your gums aren’t holding your teeth securely, they lean in or sideways, causing ugly gaps. Sometimes you don’t realize this is happening until you notice a large hole. Your dentist might prescribe Invisalign braces Melbourne to realign your teeth and get rid of the gaps. This invisalign treatment is widely considered to be the world’s most advanced clear aligner system, a clear alternative to metal braces for kids, teens, and adults.

Never do these nine things to your teeth.

Pus in between your teeth

Infection is a side effect of untreated gum disease. If you see any signs of infection like pus or smell a putrid odor, this is a sign you have gum disease. Infections left untreated cause you to lose your teeth. But worse than this, infections can lead to heart diseases because the virus gets passed through your bloodstream to your heart or other organs. Contact our dentist immediately if you see any signs of infection between your teeth or around your gums. Antibiotics will clear up the infection. Your periodontist may suggest further treatment to prevent new infections.

Your teeth look longer.

If you notice that your teeth look more significant or more extended, it could be because your gums are pushed back. Receding gums cause the teeth to look longer. You may also see the very tips of the roots of your teeth. This is a big red flag that you have the early stages of gum disease.

You can see the root of a tooth.

Seeing the roots of your teeth is a red flag. Your gums have receding leaving your roots exposed to damage and infection. Your dentist or periodontist will measure the depth of the area between your gums and your roots to determine how bad the gum disease is and prescribe treatment.

Pockets under your gums

The little pockets under your gums are areas. These gaps are parts of your gums that have receded away from your teeth. When you go to the dentist, they will probe the areas and measures the gaps to estimate the damage. Your dental hygienist cleans these areas thoroughly to remove any infection that might hide in these pockets.

Dark-colored gums

Dark pink or purple gums are a sure sign of gum disease. This color of gums is a sign that your gums have receded and are being slowly destroyed by gum disease. The darkness shows a lack of oxygen getting to your gums. Infection grows well in this kind of condition. Your dentist or periodontist will check your gums regularly and prescribe a deep cleaning to prevent disease.

Final thoughts on the causes of gum disease

Is it your fault that you have gum disease? Maybe, but maybe not. Here are typical reasons why you may have gum disease including

Crooked teeth
An injury to your mouth
Genetics-If your mom or dad has gum disease, you can inherit it from them.
Hormonal changes from pregnancy or oral contraceptives
Medications
Particular disease like autoimmune diseases
Stress
Smoking
Grinding your teeth
Poor dental hygiene

Talk with your dentist about any predispositions you may have towards gum disease. Maintain good oral hygiene-brush, floss, and swish with mouthwash twice a day. Avoid smoking and try to lower your stress.

Research the side effects before you take certain medications or oral contraceptives. Protect your teeth the best you can with regular dental visits at least every six months. Following these simple practices will give you your gorgeous smile back.

15 Signs You Have a Not So Secret Admirer

July 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if someone is a secret admirer or if they’re just an amicable person. It would be embarrassing to assume someone is interested in you only to find out that’s how they treat everybody. But usually, there are telltale signs that someone has a crush on you. Actually, they’re relatively predictable signs.

15 signs that you have a not so secret admirer

Unclear on whether someone is casually glancing or crushing on you? Here is how you can tell.

1. Constantly looking at you

The person who admires you will watch you every time you walk into the room. They may smile or try to catch your eye. They’ll attempt to say hello as you walk by their desk. During the day, when you look up from your computer, you’ll notice they’re staring at you.

They may smile again or nod their head. It’s all a ploy to get your attention. They want but don’t want you to realize they’re interested. It’s the beginning of a cat-and-mouse game that not so secret admirers like to play.

Body language

Your secret admirer may act nervous around you, fumbling with papers, or repeatedly dropping their cellphone when they’re talking to you. Or they may show their nervousness around you by non-stop talking. Secret admirers aren’t always good at hiding their adoration and love. To impress you, they may become a bundle of nerves resulting in clumsiness or over talkativeness.

It’s painful to watch a poor guy bumble his way through a conversation. Some guys try to impress by acting super cool and funny. This may be effective to get your interest and make you laugh. This makes a secret admirer happy because they feel you noticed them.

Notes on your desk

You may find funny little notes on your desk with funny sayings or pictures referring to things you’ve said or things that happened in the office. Or you may find a little note stuck to your car windshield at the end of the workday. These notes may look like a second grader wrote them or typed officially. The notes may be funny or silly, cute, or sweet, anything to get your attention.

The notes probably won’t contain hearts unless your secret admirer is getting bold. But if it’s around Valentine’s Day, you may receive a card with hearts and references to being in love with you. It’s best to enjoy the attention, but not make any judgments yet until you’re sure you know who your admirer. You may not have to wait long; Valentine’s Day has a way of pushing a secret admirer into action.

Little gifts

When you have a secret admirer, little gifts may suddenly show up on your desk or at your front door. You may receive your favorite hot drink, your favorite kombucha drink, or a bouquet. Your co-workers will be curious. They may smile and roll their eyes when you tell them you don’t know who sent these gifts. It’s best to downplay the whole thing and tell everyone your mom is going over the top for your birthday this year…months ahead of time.

Include you in group activities

Your secret admirer will invite you for a drink with a big group of co-workers at a nearby bar. They may ask you to join the office baseball team or a bowling team. They’ll go out of their way to include you in office or church activities. They want to be with you, but so they include you in lots of group activities. This way, they can still admire you without revealing their fondness for you.

Smiling at you all the time.

Secret admirers are often compared to a lovesick puppy. They’ll have an enormous smile plastered across their face. They’ll smile at you and at everything you say. They are over the top infatuated with you, and it shows on their face. It may be challenging to know if you’re the reason for the smile, but a good chance their smile will grow more glowing when you’re around. If you talk to them, their smile will be radiant, and you may wonder if their face will break from all the stretching from their big smile.

Telling you about themselves

Admirers like to tell you important things about themselves. They may tell you about their dog or their family or what they like about eating vegan. They will watch your reaction as they tell you about themselves, hoping you’ll agree or want to know more.

They’re looking for acceptance and an affirmation that you are interested in them. They may tell you about their great aunt’s fascinating shark tooth collection or how they got to shake hands with Elon Musk. It should dawn on you by now that this person is interested in you.

It’s up to you to show interest back or not. If you’re not interested in them, be firm, but gentle in letting them know you’re not interested in their aunts or their famous handshakes. If you don’t tell them now, it will make the conversation more difficult later on.

They seem to be where ever you go.

Your not so secret admirer will suddenly show up at your local grocery store, even though you’ve never seen them at this store before.

They’ll pretend to run into you and mention they shop for organic foods. Or you’ll stop by your favorite coffee shop on Saturday morning, and there is your secret admirer sitting at an outside table. He’ll smile and wave as if he’s surprised to see you then ask you nonchalantly what you’re doing over the weekend.

You may feel this person is stalking you, so trust your gut. If you feel unsafe, stop going to your regular stores for a bit. Alert your friends and family members about this person and ask them not to give out your information to anyone. If things get worse, call the police or go stay with friends for a few weeks to figure out what to do.

But if this person isn’t stalking you, but just a sweet guy who’s afraid to come forward to ask you out, maybe you should take the first step and ask him to have coffee with you.

They remember things you said

A secret admirer remembers everything you say. They’ll ask you how your dog is doing after her surgery because they heard you mention your dog was having surgery at lunch with your co-workers the day before yesterday. They are into details about you and your life. If you don’t like it, don’t talk about personal things in a group setting and tell your friends not to tell the admirer stuff about you. Friends like to arrange romantic relationships, so tell your friends to back off and give you some space.

They follow you on social media.

Not only will your secret admirer follow you on all your social media sites, but they will like everything you post. They’ll be the first ones to like your posts, adding cute smiley faces or thumbs up. They’ll agree with you or add a few thoughts hoping to get a conversation going with you on the internet. They just can’t help themselves.

They’ll buy you a drink when a big group of you go out for lunch.

If you’re out with a group of co-workers or friends, your admirer will secretly buy you a drink. He’ll tell the server to deliver it to you. It’s fun for him to watch your reaction when the server hands you a free drink. Quickly look around to see who’s watching you. If someone catches your eyes and smiles, good chance, he’s your secret admirer.

They’ll agree with everything you say

It’s no secret that your admirer wants a relationship with you. He wants you to know he finds you attractive. In conversations, he will agree with everything you say. He’ll be your biggest cheerleader at work or church, commending your intelligence and ability to solve problems. It may be reasonably obvious he’s your secret admirer since he’s the guy jumping up and down every time you say something. Of course, your friends will ask what’s going on, but you can pretend not to know until you decide if you are as interested in this guy as he seems to be in you.

They’ll tease you

Sometimes the easiest way to know someone likes you is to see if they tease you. Teasing is a roundabout way of flirting. It’s showing interest playfully without coming out and saying it. If one guy is teasing you all the time, maybe he’s too shy to ask you out. Go along with it and tease him back if you’re interested.

Drawing you into conversations

Secret admirers aren’t always discreet. Your secret admirer will suddenly pull you into conversations at work to get your opinion or ideas on things. They will love your ideas and suggest to the group to use your ideas. They’ll stop by your desk to ask you a project related question. You’ll suddenly be their go-to person on work issues, tech issues, or if they want to gossip about the boss.

Your other co-workers may roll their eyes and tell you this person has a crush on you. It’s probably worth listening to your co-workers’ observations since they’re watching the whole thing unfold. You could corner your secret admirer and ask them why they’re suddenly interested in you. Or, you could wait for one more sign that they’re a secret admirer.

Asking you about yourself

Your secret admirer will be immensely curious about you. They’ll pepper you with questions until you’re exhausted answering them. They ask you things along these lines:

Where you grew up
Where you went to college
Your best job growing up
Your favorite music
What movies you love
Your favorite restaurant
Your favorite coffee shop

Final Thoughts on Understanding Your Not So Secret Admirer

If you haven’t figured out who your secret admirer is when they ask you these questions, it should be the most significant sign that this is the person. Only a secret admirer or your mother shows this amount of interest in you.

The best thing to do at this point is to ask the person why they’re so interested in you. Hopefully, they’ll admit they’re fascinated with you and want a relationship. If the feeling is mutual, you can invite them out for dinner to your favorite restaurant since they know already know what it is.

Physicists Prove That We Actually Live in An ‘Energy-Verse’

July 20, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Most of us go about daily life without realizing just how strange the universe is. We instead choose to focus on the practical: paying the bills, getting to work, taking care of the kids, and so on. But what if we lived in an energy verse? Some scientists assert that we do!

For those who do a bit of digging, you might find a storehouse of treasures, the implications of which can be potentially life-transforming. It will almost certainly shift how you think about existence – and you’ll never take life for granted again.

Perhaps you heard the phrase “Everything is energy” or “Energy is everything.” If you’re like me, you probably shrugged it off as some new-age bunk.

But it’s not new age. It’s science, and science concludes that everything – everything – stems from energy. The screen you’re reading from, the chair you’re sitting in, the brain you’re comprehending with, and the air you’re breathing – all of it is energy.

If you think that’s mind-bending, wait until you hear this.

Our reality may be a 3-dimensional hologram. What’s a hologram? This is is a physical recording of an interference pattern. It uses diffraction to reproduce a three-dimensional light field. Thus, the resulting mirage retains the original scene’s depth, parallax, and other properties.

Joseph Selbie, the author of “The Physics of God,” calls this holographic universe the Energy-verse.

Proof We Live in an Energy Verse

There’s a ton to unpack here, and we’re going to make it as easy to understand as possible. Let’s start first by understanding the limitations of the human senses in interpreting reality.

Point #1: Matter is a light-show illusion

“The visible world is the invisible organization of energy.” ~ Heinz Pagels, former executive director, New York Academy of Sciences

To our senses – sound, hear, taste, touch, and sight – all matter (natural material) appears to be stable. Indeed, our entire reality involves seemingly constant interaction with physical matter.

We see a solid, physical sun; sleep in a solid, physical bed; eat solid, physical food – and so on.

The fact is, however, that we only perceive about 1 percent of what’s “out there.” Our eyes detect only visible light. Our ears only pick up a small fraction of all sound frequencies. Our senses of smell, taste, and touch are equally limited.

The fact that our senses are so limited is probably a good thing. We’d quickly become overwhelmed by sensory input without such filters in place.

But what would we experience if our senses were heightened?

For one thing, we’d see that matter is a light-show illusion of vibrating energy. This includes our body, made up almost entirely of empty space.

It was Albert Einstein, who was the first to declare that matter isn’t at all what it seems. In 1905, Einstein published his paper on the Special Theory of Relativity, which included history’s most equation E = mc². In fact, this equation successfully proved that matter wasn’t stable.

Einstein mathematically proved that energy equals matter – and that both are interchangeable.

Weird? Yes. But it’s going to get weirder.

Enter the double-slit experiment.

Point #2: Matter requires an intelligent observer

“I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as a derivative of consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, [suggests] consciousness.” ~ Max Planck, physicist, and recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics

In the 1920s, the pioneers of quantum physics discovered that light could behave as a particle (“solid” energy) or a wave (potential energy). This was found by passing a single beam of light photons through two side-by-side vertical slits (||) onto a backdrop.

What would you expect to see? Well, let’s pretend that you cut the same || design into a cardboard box and threw sticky pellets onto a white backdrop. Of course, you’d expect to see a pattern on the backdrop that resembles the || pattern of the cardboard. You’d be right too.

But this doesn’t happen with light.

Instead, there’s an interference pattern that shows up on the backdrop. After being “shot out” of the apparatus, light photons spread out like a water wave in a pond. The end result is … multiple vertical patterns onto the backdrop? Wait, whaa-?

Physicists, naturally, were curious about the whole thing and set up another experiment – this time, sending out just one photon of light at a time. The result was the same. What the heck is going on?

“Okay, we’ll record and measure it. That’ll give us some insight,” they said. So, the scientists set up sensors and recording devices at the slits to see what in the world was going on.

Lo’ and behold, the || pattern scientists expected to see the first two times was there. The question is, why? Why would light demonstrate a wave-like pattern only to take on a more predictable material form when monitored?

The fact is that nothing changed besides the fact than an intelligent observer (the scientist) watched the event.

You are now entering the Twilight Zone.

Point #3: We can’t account for all energy in the universe

“The astral universe, made of various subtle vibrations of light and color, is hundreds of times larger than the material cosmos.” ~ Sri Yukteswar

As you probably already know, the universe is continuously expanding. What it is expanding towards and why it’s expanding and not contracting – as logic would suggest – is far beyond the scope of this article (and the comfort zone of most materialist scientists.) As such, we’ll keep observations and hypotheses within the range of “reasonable” observations and interpretations.

You may also know that gravity curves space. As a result, the universe has no fixed edge where it ceases to exist; hence why may individuals (scientists included) believe the universe to be infinite.

These activities and properties of the universe require massive amounts of energy, which, for some strange reason, can not be accounted for. Scientists estimate that the detectible energy of the universe accounts for just around 5 percent of total gravitational energy.

So, where’s the rest?

Well, if you’re like the genius physicists who postulate M-theory, the remaining energy is superimposed by an underlying, two-dimensional energy-verse that creates (and sustains) it. Moreover, these energies are so subtle as to be undetectable by modern scientific instruments.

Point #4: People have experienced the energy-verse

“There are many different Heavens … Everything is regulated by vibration, current, and frequency.” ~ Christian Andréason, near-death experiencer

The history books are awash with stories of transcendental experiences that all seem to have a common thread: the interplay of light and energy.

Many individuals who’ve had a near-death experience (NDE) tell us about traveling through a tunnel towards a luminous light. Others “reach the other side” and observe colors that are far more vivid and beautiful than anything on the color spectrum.

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” ~ Nikola Tesla, founder of Alternating Current (AC) power

Meditation masters achieve superhuman mental states and travel to these worlds, which they say are right here and now. Unsurprisingly, these masters often travel towards a light to get there. Still, others experience healing light energy that renders neutral any pain or worry from having died.

Here’s a snippet of biophysicist Joyce Hawke’s NDE testimony:

“I was at the very top peak of [my field] as a biophysicist scientist … science was the whole deal. I had no belief in an afterlife, and greeting me at the entrance to the light was my grandmother and mother… Then [I went] into a place that was exquisitely beautiful with rolling hills and lights … and then into the presence of a being of light.”

Final Thoughts: The universe in non-material

“In this way, our lives on this plane of existence are encompassed, surrounded, by the afterworld already … The body dies but the spiritual quantum field continues. In this way, I am immortal.” ~ Dr. Hans-Peter Dürr, former head of the Max Planck Institute for Physics

The simplest atom is not so simple when we get down to it. Despite being minuscule, the atom isn’t the smallest thing in the known universe – those would be quarks. Quarks are indivisible units of pure energy that give structure to the atom, which, in turn, gives form to matter.

The conclusion seems rather apparent; does it not? The fundamental component of any unit of matter is energy.

No energy, no matter.

No intelligent observer, no matter.

If one accepts that energy is non-material, then we must conclude that the universe is the same.

What are the implications of this non-materiality? Does it suggest an intelligent designer of some sort? If not, what gives rise to the laws of energy? What creates and sustains this theoretical multi-energy-verse?

It’s the consensus of all of history’s greatest sages and seers that we must find out for ourselves.

Pain when you brush your teeth

Bleeding gums when you floss

Bad breath

Pain when you eat hard foods

Loose teeth

Swollen gums

Sensitivity to hot or cold

Red-colored gums

Change in your bite

Gaps between your teeth

Pus in between your teeth

Your teeth look longer.

You can see the root of a tooth.

Pockets under your gums

Dark-colored gums

Body language

Notes on your desk

Little gifts

Include you in group activities

Smiling at you all the time.

Telling you about themselves

They seem to be where ever you go.

They remember things you said

They follow you on social media.

They’ll buy you a drink when a big group of you go out for lunch.

They’ll agree with everything you say

They’ll tease you

Drawing you into conversations

Asking you about yourself

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