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14 Benefits Of Stress On Your Body

July 8, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Most people view stress negatively – and, indeed, it is primarily a negative experience. But that does not mean that you will not find a silver lining! Like many situations, stressful emotions come with a fair share of good and bad.

But how can that be true? Anyone who’s felt stressed out can vouch for the fact that stress is mostly unpleasant, so how can there be positive sides to stress? The answers might surprise you! Here are 14 unique benefits of stress on your body.

1. It Can Boost Short-Term Memory

Stress does a lot of things to the body – and one of the key things it does is prepare itself for any necessary defense. This response can be a positive thing, especially if you’re in a situation that demands a sudden boost.

Here are some of the things stress does when boosting you temporarily:

Temporarily increases interleukin production for a defensive boost
Increases mobilization of immune cells
Increases your body’s readiness for injuries or infections

2. It Helps You Learn

As it turns out, positive thinking doesn’t always do the trick. Sometimes, it’s just easier to pick up things when you’re in an emergency fight-or-flight mode – even a simulated one,, as discovered by a study.

That said, it is important to distinguish between positive and negative stress. Here are some of the things good stress does to help you learn better:

Increases excitement when learning something
Boosts focus and motivation
Boosts one’s energy for the task
Improves performance
Improves one’s decision-making skills

3. It Makes You Tougher

Indeed, stress is never easy to handle – and in most of our ideal worlds, we won’t ever have to deal with it. In reality, however, studies have shown that learning how to deal with stress properly is important – to the point that it’s even incorporated into Navy SEAL training.

In other words, learning how to deal with stress healthily helps you better yourself. Here are a few examples:

It teaches you how to manage stressful situations – both present and future ones
You learn how to develop healthy psychological and physical control
Helps you develop resilience
Encourages and promotes psychobiological resilience
Teaches positive thinking in the face of struggle

4. It Gives You A Rush Of Adrenaline

When you are experiencing stress of any kind, your brain informs your body to produce all sorts of stress-related hormones and chemicals. One of these hormones is adrenaline – a hormone that is well known to give you a boost in emergencies.

But if the term ‘adrenaline junkie’ signifies anything, it is that triggering your fight-or-flight instinct isn’t always an unpleasant thing. Here are a few instances where you might enjoy that adrenaline rush:

Extreme sports
Public speaking or performing
Competitions

5. It Can Improve Cognitive Ability

At first glance, this may seem counterintuitive. After all, there are plenty of studies that show stress has a negative effect on our brain’s performance. That said, you may have personally noticed that you seem to do better when you are under deadlines or stressed.

While that is certainly true in the long term, studies also show us that in the short term, it can instead provide the temporary boost that we need. Here are some of the ways stress can boost our cognitive performance:

Strengthens brain neurons
Increases focus and attention span
Improves short term memory

6. It Can Provide Some Motivation

If you’ve ever found stress being the kicker you need to get going, this may seem familiar with you. It isn’t just your imagination – stress creates a cognitive dissonance between our baseline values and our environment.

This disarray is often something we want to put back in sync – and thus, the source of our motivation. Here’s a few examples where stress can be a motivating factor:

Presentation deadlines
Project presentations
Upcoming examinations

7. It Can Improve The Development Of A Child

Chronic stress is undeniably unhealthy, both to a parent and to an unborn child. Our brains and our minds intertwine in such a way that the negative state of one will inevitably harm the other. As a result, it comes as no surprise that most parents will want to avoid stress during pregnancy.

Generally, avoiding stress is a good idea. A study by Johns Hopkins, however, has proven that normal stress in moderate levels may be helpful for the development of the fetus. Here are a few examples of how it helps the babies:

More advancement in early developmental skills
Quicker neuron connectivity
Faster brain development

8. It Can Boost Bonding

Ever noticed how people who have been to hell and high water together come out of such situations closer? Stress can be a relationship killer, yes – but research has shown that if you know how to handle it healthily, it can also be ultimately a positive bonding experience.

It may seem strange that stress can create stronger bonds. To convince you, here are a few reasons why this is the case:

You’re more likely to reach out and connect with others who will help you
There are higher levels of oxytocin in your bloodstream – the chemical responsible for bonding
You learn how to better appreciate those that you love
You learn how to work together with loved ones through a stressful situation

9. It Can Point To A Longer Lifespan

There are two ways you can look at a stressful situation – you can see it as something that will crush you, or as a positive opportunity for growth. Yes, it is a simple fact that chronic, long term stress will affect your physical health. This is unavoidable.

We aren’t completely helpless, however. Research proves that just how you tackle and handle that stress has a significant impact on the outcome – and doing so positively obviously has good benefits. Here are a few examples of how it can turn out for the better:

Lower risk of death, even when compared to those in low-stress situations
A better understanding of how to translate stress-related energy into productivity
Better handling and management of stress, reducing its impact on one’s health

10. It Can Promote Competition

Healthy competition in a safe environment is important – it teaches us how to push ourselves to our limits, where our limits are, and how to handle them. Here are a few other things that competitive stress can help us out with:

It teaches us how to address and grow from our failures and shortcomings
It allows us to assess both strengths and weaknesses, and how to manage or improve them
You receive an opportunity to see where we can accept help from others to cover where we lack

11. Stress Can Challenge You

Challenges are an unpleasant but necessary part of life. The struggles involved in overcoming a challenge can – and often will – be stressful, but it is often a golden opportunity to better ourselves one way or another.

There’s a reason for this – in order to understand your limits and issues. You would first have to be pushed beyond your comfort zone. With that in mind, here are some of the things that stress can help you out with when you overcome a challenge:

Boosts confidence and self-esteem
Provides new perspectives and depths to an experience
Creates positive transformation in personality
Adds more dimension and layers to your personality
Improves adaptability

12. It Gives You The Warnings You Need

Stress isn’t a normal state of being to be in – in fact, it is a vital part of your warning system. When you’re stressed, your body prepares itself for an emergency situation. This can be anything from mundane events like dealing with a test, to life-threatening ones like avoiding a potential car crash.

In order to do this, the brain responds to stress by ordering the respective glands to flood the body with emergency chemicals and hormones. Here are some of the things those chemicals and hormones help you in a do-or-die situation:

Heightens your senses
Increases your blood pressure and heart rate
Increases the sensitivity of your reactions
Sharpens your focus

13. It Can Give Your Life Meaning

It’s hard to appreciate what you have until it’s gone, but such ups and downs are a natural part of life – and it is arguably necessary. After all, you cannot truly embrace experience in its entirety if you choose to discard the negatives that punctuate it.

As it turns out, this life experience that we are all bound to learn is backed by research as well. Here are a few reasons why stress can help underscore the good things in your life:

It forces you to take on a new perspective, which can shed new light on your life
It can be a source of enrichment, deepening your experiences
Sometimes, it can help you realize what’s significant and important in your life
It can make your life feel more meaningful

14. It Can Help Your Social Life

Considering the kind of problems stress tends to place on any and all relationships, the idea that it can help with your social life might seem like a contradiction. However, research conducted by the University of Freiburg has actually proven otherwise.

For anyone who has ever played an ice-breaker game, this technically shouldn’t come as a surprise. As the name of such games indicates, it actually becomes easier to bond after going through a simple, low-stress situation. Here are a few extra points on why this is the case:

Stress makes you more likely to bond with others.
Going through a stressful situation with a partner increases your level of trust with them.
Stress encourages you to give and share with others.
Stress helps you exhibit an increased amount of prosocial behaviors.

Final Thoughts On Some Unusual Benefits Of Stress On Your Body

While stress has its benefits occasionally, do keep in mind that it still must be managed correctly. Chronic or constant stress is always more negative than positive, and it’s important to find a balance through proper handling of stress and symptoms of anxiety and tiredness.

If you are experiencing severe levels of stress that interfere with your ability to do everyday tasks, speak to a mental health professional. Abnormally high or chronic states of stress are not normal and require treatment.

10 Belly Fat Melting Tips That are Better Than A Tummy Tuck

July 8, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Belly fat is hard to lose. Many people choose surgery to get rid of this stubborn fat. But tummy tucks aren’t safe for everyone. Fortunately, there are some healthier ways to get rid of your belly of fat. Here are ten belly fat melting tips that work better than a tummy tuck.

Why is belly fat harmful?

Studies show that women who carry excess fat around their middle are at risk of early death from heart disease and cancer. But why is it so hard to lose your stubborn belly fat? Your abdominal fat cells are always busy producing hormones.

These hormones upset the natural hormonal balance of your body producing chemicals called cytokines. Cytokines raise your risk of heart disease. Your belly fat hormones change your body’s insulin levels and increase blood pressure.

Belly fat, called visceral fat, is also linked to higher cholesterol because of its location. It raises your LDL, which is bad cholesterol, and lowers your HDL or good cholesterol and makes you insulin resistant. Being insulin resistant means your muscles and liver cells aren’t responding correctly to insulin. This causes your glucose levels to up, making you more at risk for diabetes.

Are tummy tucks safe?

Like any major surgery, tummy tucks do carry risks. Studies suggest that tummy tucks aren’t safe for people with heart, and lung problems, cirrhosis of the liver, or diabetes.

Also, if you smoke, getting a tummy tuck is not a good idea because smoking reduces the proper blood flow in your stomach area. Tummy tucks have potential side effects. These include

Bleeding
Numbness
Infection
Ugly healing
Discoloration
Scars
Your skin gets loose again
Vein problems
Breathing or heart problems during surgery
Pain

Melt your belly fat

Finding an alternative to surgery is always safer and more effective. Here are ten belly fat melting tips to get rid of your belly fat safely.

Avoid sugary foods

Sugary foods like cookies, muffins, candy, frozen yogurts, flavored coffees, teas, and sugary sodas cause excess weight gain in your belly. Sugar is composed of part glucose and part fructose. Studies suggest that glucose and fructose cause different effects on your health.

Many foods today have sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. The glucose and fructose in sugar and high fructose corn syrup are broken down differently in your liver. The high-fructose corn syrup causes a reduced breakdown of food in your liver, while glucose seems to protect it.

Scientists aren’t quite sure if sugar is safer than high-fructose corn syrup on your health, but they know that eating a diet high in fat and fructose has an adverse effect on your health. You may be surprised how many foods are made with high fructose corn syrup. This choice is primarily because high fructose corn syrup is less expensive.

Here is a short list of foods with high fructose corn syrup

Salad dressings
Bread
Ketchup
Frozen foods
Juice
Granola bars
Cereals
Crackers
Coffee creamer
Processed oatmeal
Deli meats
Peanut butter
Canned soups

Reduce your calories

You can’t spot-reduce to lose your belly. But if you reduce your overall calorie intake daily, you will lose belly fat, too. Don’t starve yourself, but reduce carbs and try eating more protein-rich foods. Eat more protein so you’ll feel fuller. Some people suggest if you cut 100 calories from your diet for 365 days, you’ll lose 10 pounds.

Intermittent fasting

Studies have found that intermittent fasting improves your overall health. It helps reduce your chances of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and brain disorders. When you practice fasting, the main advantage is that it causes your body to change where it derives energy. You will get your energy from glucose stored in your liver. This affects your cells and organ functions by improving overall glucose distribution and lowering your body’s stress and lowering inflammation. Fasting can help you slim down while your metabolism is working better.

One popular method of intermittent fasting is to fast for 14 to 16 hours a day, from when you finish your meal at night until lunch the next day. You then eat for the next 8 to 10 hour period. During your fast, you can drink water, coffee, or seltzer water or anything without sugar. Of course, this fast isn’t an excuse to eat a bunch of junk foods or go way over your calorie intake. That won’t work, and you may gain weight. But intermittent fasting can boost your metabolism from 5 to 15%.

Do HIIT exercises

HIIT training involves short bursts of aerobic exercise, usually lasting no longer than 20 to 90 seconds. You take short breaks between the HIIT exercises, but your body still burns calories. Over time, add extra seconds to your HIIT exercises. HIIT revives up your metabolism to burn calories and belly fat.

Stomach strengthening exercise

Of course, besides reducing calories, the best way to melt belly fat is to do exercise to work your stomach muscles. Crunches are a great go-to exercise for fat burning in the tummy area. Add oblique exercises to your crunches by doing this exercise.

These involve lying on your back, legs straight up, and crossed. With your hands behind your head, raise slowing, keeping your shoulders back, and your focus on the ceiling.
When you raise, bend sideways to one side. Then lie back down. This is one.
Repeat changing the sides you bend towards each time. After you’ve done 25, switch your crossed legs, so the leg that was on the bottom is on top.

You’ll feel the burn in your stomach, thighs, and shoulders. In no time, you’ll have a flatter belly better than any tummy tuck.

Up your fiber and protein

Fiber is plant parts that your body can’t digest completely. It moves through your stomach and small intestines then out of your body. There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fiber is gel-like. It lowers your blood cholesterol and glucose levels. You get soluble fiber from plant-based foods like oats, oranges, carrots, apples, and barley.
Insoluble fiber moves digested foods through your body, so you have more regular bowel movements. It helps you avoid constipation. Whole wheat, nuts, green beans, potatoes, and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower or broccoli have insoluble fiber.

One reputable study found that a diet high in fiber can boost your weight loss when you’re trying to lose weight. Besides eating a lot of fiber to lose belly fat, add healthy protein to your diet. Foods high in protein include the following:

Tofu
Beans
Lean meats like chicken and fish
Nuts
Peanut butter
Greek yogurt
Quinoa
Eggs

Walking

Walking is a great way to slim down. It’s like a natural tummy tuck. Fast walking, around three miles per hour, gives you a full-body workout, revs your metabolism, and strengthens your heart. Walking has so many benefits and requires so little to get started. Here are just a few benefits of fast walking.

It’s free
You’ll not need equipment, except for a good pair of walking shoes
You can walk anywhere-while traveling for work, on vacation, or around your block
You can enjoy walking with others

If you eat a healthy diet and walk for at least thirty minutes a day quickly, you will lose weight and reduce inches in your hips, legs, waist, and belly.

Maintain your weight

Maintaining your weight over a long period trims belly fat. Studies found many factors contributing to your weight control, including your environment, family history, genetics, metabolism, and health habits. You can’t control your genetics or family history, but you can energize your metabolism with exercise and eat a healthy diet. Once you’ve reached your ideal weight, it’s essential to maintain your weight. Here are some suggestions on how to do this.

Know what triggers unhealthy eating and find ways to offset them.
Stick to your exercise routine. Exercise will help you maintain weight and stay mentally sharp. The endorphins released when you exercise lift your mood. You’ll also have more energy when you exercise.
Have a group of friends or family members who inspire you not to slip down into bad eating habits.
Be accountable to yourself. Keep an eating journal to gauge your eating habits. Don’t fool yourself into thinking eating that extra helping of pasta is okay.
Join a yoga class, jogging club, or another exercise group to stay inspired to live healthily.

Eat healthy carbs

Choose whole-grain carbs, called complex carbs, instead of simple carbs, which are low in fiber, like white rice or white flour products. Complex carbs help your gut function better. Complex carbs include:

Lentils
Quinoa
Beans-black, pinto, kidney
Onions
Oatmeal
Spinach
Whole wheat bread
Sweet potatoes

Drink for a healthy belly

Reducing your alcohol intake to lower your belly fat. Also, avoid sugary juices or drinks that are high in caffeine. Instead, drink natural juices like celery juice, pineapple, or carrot juice. Choose mint or ginger teas, hot or cold. Drinking green tea, the kind that is extracted, and a concentrate of catechins and caffeine may be helpful for weight loss. Plus, one study found that drinking as little as three teaspoons of vinegar every day helps you reduce your body weight.

Final Thoughts on Avoiding a Tummy Tuck with Healthy Lifestyle Upgrades

Before you go under the knife for a tummy tuck, consider natural alternatives that work just as well to reduce your belly fat. They’re safer, cost less, and you won’t experience adverse side effects.

6 Things That Happen to Your Body When You’re Burnt Out

July 8, 2020 by Power of Positivity

According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 23% of full-time employees felt burnt out often or always, while around 44% reported experiencing burnout symptoms sometimes. This statistic equates to approximately two-thirds of employees feeling overly stressed out while working. Of course, burnout can occur in other situations, such as school, parenting, or taking care of a loved one. But work usually accounts for a vast portion of people’s stress.

People experience burnout when they get so mentally and physically exhausted that it interrupts their ability to perform daily tasks. Repeated exposure to highly stressful situations, such as being a caretaker for a family member or working long hours, can lead to chronic stress. Some stress can help motivate us. But too much over an extended period can wreak havoc on our minds and bodies.

However, most people don’t recognize the symptoms of feeling burnt out. They might brush off the crippling anxiety as just a part of life, or vow to get the aches and pains in their back checked out eventually. In today’s fast-paced society, people simply don’t prioritize health because they feel that earning money and keeping up with responsibilities takes precedence.

What is burnout?

Coined by the psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in the 1970s, burnout entails feeling highly stressed for long periods, which can lead to a complete nervous breakdown or chronic exhaustion. It differs from chronic fatigue, however, in that burnout describes psychological symptoms while scientists believe physical ailments cause the above condition. One’s mental state can become so impaired that they may not even feel like getting out of bed in the morning.

Who suffers from burnout?

Anyone can feel burnt out depending on their life circumstances, but the people most at-risk tend to work in highly stressful jobs that demand long hours. Nurses, doctors, first responders, and other healthcare professionals tend to experience burnout at higher rates than people in different fields of work. Also, those who care for children or elderly parents have high vulnerability to developing this condition.

One study found that mothers and fathers can feel burnt out just as much as corporate executives and people in healthcare. Also, those who have a “Type A” personality tend to suffer from burnout more often.

Now that we’ve given you a bit of background on burnout, let’s discuss some red flags to watch out for in your health.

Here are six things that happen to your body when you’re burnt out:

You always feel exhausted.

If you almost always feel like you have no energy even after a good night’s sleep, you may have developed burnout. Feeling exhausted doesn’t just mean you don’t feel like getting out of bed, either. It can also mean you feel emotionally depleted, which can mimic depression.

You have trouble sleeping.

People who experience burnout often report having trouble falling or staying asleep. Because of the highly stressful demands of daily life, many people have insomnia due to not being able to shut off their brains. If you frequently toss and turn at night, you may have high cortisol levels, which prevent you from relaxing into a restful sleep.

Researchers reveal how pink noise can help you get a good night’s sleep.

You suffer from anxiety and depression.

A combination of high-stress levels, lack of sleep, and a dissatisfied mental state can lead to anxiety and depression. However, if you don’t usually have anxiety and depression but suddenly start experiencing symptoms, you might be feeling burnt out instead. Many of the symptoms can overlap, so visiting with your healthcare provider might help clear up any confusion.

You get sick more often.

If you’ve been feeling burnt out, you might start noticing the following physical signs of sickness:

lower immune system
frequent cold sores or rashes
you get colds or flu more often
more viral and bacterial infections
frequent headaches
gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, diarrhea, stomachaches, and digestive problems
general unwell feelings

Your muscles feel tight and tense.

When you have high-stress levels, your joints and muscles get stiff because your body wants to prepare you for a perceived threat. However, if the stress becomes chronic, you will start to feel muscle weakness and fatigue, which can be a symptom of anxiety as well.

Your risk of developing cardiovascular problems increases.

The American Heart Association links prolonged stress with an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. When the body produces too much adrenaline and cortisol over an extended period, blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol increase. All of these conditions can lead to a heart attack or stroke. These risk factors mean you should take burnout seriously if you start noticing symptoms.

12 stages of burnout

You may not even notice symptoms of burnout, because it doesn’t come on all at once like a cold or flu. Psychologists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North have outlined the 12 phases of feeling burnt out:

Excessive drive/ambition. People with Type A personality often have a strong work ethic, which can lead to working excessively in new jobs where they feel they need to prove themselves.
Pushing themselves too hard. As they gain traction and acceptance in their job, they will take things to an extreme to remain on top.
Neglecting self-care. They may sacrifice workouts, sleep, or eating well to keep up with the increasing demands at work.
Blaming others for your workload. Instead of admitting that you have created the problem, you blame your company, boss, or colleagues for the amount of work on your plate.
You make work your life and have no time for anything else. If you decline invitations to hang out with friends or family because it feels more like a chore than a fun outing, you might be feeling burnt out.
You pick out the faults in those around you to deflect from your issues. Also, you grow impatient and irritated with people more easily.
You withdraw from friends and family. They start to notice that you’ve become more quiet and uninterested in daily life aside from work.
Behavioral changes. Loved ones may say you’ve become more irritable and aggressive, having a short temper with them.
You may feel you have no control over your life and start to dissociate from even your work.
Feeling anxious. To cope with the anxiety, you may start to depend on substances or thrilling experiences such as gambling or reckless driving.

You start to feel empty inside and no longer find any meaning in life.
Nervous breakdown. Feelings of burnout finally become unbearable, and you may need psychological treatment.

As you can see, burnout can appear subtle at first but lead to disaster if left untreated. To prevent burnout, make sure to follow these tips:

How to avoid feeling burnt out

– Exercise at least a few times per week. Working out releases feel-good endorphins that can help mitigate symptoms of stress and anxiety. Even walking outside for 15-30 minutes a day can have a dramatic effect on your mental and physical health.

Eat a balanced diet. Make sure you avoid processed foods and eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and seeds. Eat minimal animal proteins, if you choose, such as salmon, poultry, eggs, and milk.
Get plenty of sleep. Many people today undervalue sleep and don’t prioritize it. However, your mental and physical health will suffer if you don’t give your brain time to rest. Make sure to avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed, stay off technology a couple of hours before bedtime, and establish good sleep hygiene.
Meditate or do yoga to reset your mind. To have a balanced mental state, we need to check out of daily life and tune into our inner beings once in a while.
Delegate tasks and ask for help. To avoid become overloaded by work, make sure to ask others for assistance. No one can do everything on their own, so don’t feel bad about asking for help. Lean on friends and family during difficult times for support as well.

Final thoughts on what can happen to your body when you’re burnt out

Many people brush off feelings of anxiety or stress, but you shouldn’t take these symptoms lightly. If you experience chronic stress, it can lead to a nervous breakdown or burnout, eventually, which can disrupt your daily life. Make sure you take care of yourself by allowing time each day for relaxing activities.

Don’t make your responsibilities your whole life; while everyone needs to make a living and take care of loved ones, we can’t pour from an empty cup. Eating a balanced diet, sleeping well, exercising, and taking care of your mental state will keep you healthy overall and help you avoid feeling burnt out. This world places a lot of demands on us, but sometimes, you have to forget the world and take care of yourself. If you gain the world but lose your peace and joy, is it worth it anyway?

15 Comebacks for Dealing with Mean People

July 8, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

When you’re dealing with mean people, it is important to stay positive.

Whether it’s a stranger, a co-worker, spouse, or any other person in your life, knowing what to say is essential. You don’t want to be rude in return, as it could only make the situation worse. Plus, it could irreparably damage a relationship that is important to you.

It’s vital that you don’t let people be mean to you, though, no matter who they are. You’ll let them know that the behavior isn’t acceptable by speaking up and coming back with a quick response.

If you have someone in your life who tends to be rude at certain times, remember these comebacks to use next time. These comebacks could stop their behavior on the spot and help them be nicer in the future, too.

Tips for Dealing with Mean People

Stay positive and calm
Avoid being rude
Don’t take on their same attitude
Smile
Be firm
Think about what you want to say before you say it
Be empathetic
Take a deep breath
Comebacks for Dealing with Mean People

1. I’m sure you didn’t intend to sound so rude, but that’s how it’s coming across to me.

Disagreeable people sometimes don’t realize they are being rude. When it comes naturally to them, it may be useful to point it out. Then, they will likely think about how they speak to you or what they say.

This way, they know how they are making you feel. Plus, they’ll know that you are trying to be still nice and positively interact with them.

2. I can see that you’re having a bad day.

If you say this, they’ll start thinking about why you think they are having a bad day. They’ll realize that how they speak is giving you a bad vibe.

Sometimes a simple comment like this is the perfect comeback. The person you say it to may start speaking more nicely when it is pointed out to them.

Another way this comeback could work is that it could make the person believe that you said it because you are worried. This could soften their personality a little when they are communicating with you.

3. What is your motive for asking that?

Sometimes people ask rude questions to make you uncomfortable. They may want to embarrass you in front of others or they just want to hurt your feelings.

When you are in this position, ask the person their motive. You’ll likely get your point across by turning it around and asking them this question. They’ll know that you are not interested in discussing it.

Plus, if others can hear the conversation, it could shame the person who asked. Even rude people don’t want to be called out in front of others.

4. I’ll consider what you said, but I’d like to end this conversation now.

Even if you don’t agree with what was said, saying that you will consider it should normally do the trick. This way, the unfriendly person understands that you don’t want to talk about it and will hopefully stop. Then, you can forget it ever happened or you can take some time to consider it later.

Remember that most rude people say things that aren’t true and aim to hurt you. If you consider what they said, don’t take it too literally.

If you find some truth to what was said, you can make a change. On the other hand, if there wasn’t any truth in it, move on and forget it.

Then, you can answer honestly the next time that person brings it up again. You would tell them you already considered it and don’t want to discuss it again.

5. I’m finished with this conversation.

Sometimes, you have to be blunt. If you’ve tried reasoning with the person and tried other comebacks, it may be best to end the conversation.

It isn’t as rude as ignoring them, but you’re letting them know that you aren’t going to be talking anymore. There is no use in arguing or going back and forth, so end the conversation and move on.

6. Have a great day!

This is another way of ending the conversation. As you end the conversation or walk away from them, a positive statement is the way to go.

They can’t be angry at you for telling them to have a nice day. Plus, you’ll be able to walk away as a better person.

7. Thank you.

If someone makes a rude comment about you, thank them. While you aren’t appreciative of their rudeness, it’ll let them know that you heard them. When you don’t react in the negative way that they were likely hoping for, they’ll be disappointed.

Most people won’t keep trying to get under your skin if they see that it isn’t working. So, when you give this simple reaction, they may let the conversation go.

8. I’m trying to empathize with you, but you’re making that difficult.

When someone is spiteful, it could be because something difficult is going on in their life. For this reason, reminding yourself that they could be having a bad day may help.

However, if they cross a line, it’s important to speak up and let them know. Let them know you are trying to be understanding but are struggling with their rudeness.

9. Could you please stop being so negative?

If you often deal with this person and you know that this is always how they behave, speak up. Don’t let them get you down or ruin your day. Instead, call them out and ask them to stop being so negative.

It isn’t rude, but it gets the point across. Maybe your question will also help them think about their future behavior.

10. I don’t appreciate the way you’re speaking to me. Could you please speak more nicely?

You should always be clear that you don’t like how you are treated. You can do it in this way because it’s stern but polite. If the person continues speaking that way after you’ve nicely asked them to stop, it’s time to walk away.

11. Excuse me?

By asking the person to repeat what they said, they’ll realize that you didn’t like what they said. Oftentimes, they won’t repeat it. If they do, try one of the other suggested comebacks.

12. I appreciate your opinion.

Sometimes, people like to give their opinion when it isn’t wanted. Their opinion probably doesn’t even matter to the situation, which can be beyond irritating to you.

Instead of getting angry or rude in return, thank them for their opinion. After you’ve thanked them for sharing, they shouldn’t have anything more to say. Remember, their thoughts and opinions on your life don’t matter, so try to stay positive.

13. Are you okay?

When you ask someone this question, a couple of things may happen. First, they’ll likely ask why you’re wondering.

If they ask, you could explain to them that they seem in a bad mood. Or, you could be more vague and tell them that they seem different.

The other thing that may happen is they may open up to you. They’ll see that you care and aren’t angry at them for being in a bad mood. If something is wrong with them, you’ve just opened the communication that may be what they need.

14. Anything else?

This comeback will let them know what they say isn’t bothering you. When their comments don’t affect you, they’ll be disappointed. Furthermore, they’ll be even more discouraged when you invite them to say more.

This should stop them from being mean to you at the moment. Plus, it’ll also make them think twice in the future before they are rude to you again.

15. Say nothing at all, just smile and laugh.

Sometimes, the best comeback is to say nothing. Even better, smile or laugh at what the spiteful person has to say. No one wants to be laughed at, so reacting this way will be the perfect response for any rude person.

Final Thoughts on Comebacks for Dealing with Mean People

You will inevitably experience mean people in your life. No matter where you go, you will surely encounter it on a somewhat regular basis. You have to stay positive, though, and graciously deal with them.

These comebacks for dealing with negative people can help you change that person’s behavior. The comebacks will stop the behavior immediately and could even influence that person.

Hopefully, your stern but kind comebacks will help the spiteful person think before they speak in the future. In the meantime, however, these comebacks will help you get through your experience with that mean person.

Dentists Reveal the Causes of Bad Breath (And How to Beat It Naturally)

July 8, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Remember the thrilling myths of brave Medieval knights battling fierce dragons? These beasts could incinerate anything in their path with their fiery breath. No wonder people today refer to bad breath as “dragon breath.”

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a nuisance we all deal with, especially in the morning. Usually, brushing your teeth and rinsing with mouthwash will quench the evil dragon’s breath. Halitosis is ranked high with body odor as socially offensive. Nobody wants to be greeted with a blast of putrid breath as soon as another person opens his mouth.

Have you ever so discreetly puffed a quick burst of air into your closed hand to check your breath? It’s a safeguard we’ve all practiced before meeting someone or going on a date. If a bit of halitosis lingers, you probably carry mints or a travel toothbrush kit.

While it’s not unusual for most people to have bad breath in the morning, some people battle it chronically throughout the day. It’s easy to assume that someone with rank breath has poor oral hygiene, even though this may not be true. Are you constantly doing a breath check, worried that your breath may be offensive?

Common Causes of Bad Breath

Halitosis isn’t a respecter of persons and can plague even the most beautiful people. However, some people seem to have it chronically. What causes our mouth to become an unexpected source of stink?

Just like offensive body odor, halitosis is caused by a build-up of bacteria. Your mouth is filled with billions of good and bad microbes. When they die, a chemical reaction produces offensive smells that linger on your breath.

How do these microbes build up in your mouth? Are there ways to prevent it? Here are the most common causes of bad breath.

1. Dry Mouth

Why do you wake up in the mornings, and your breath smells like you’ve been chewing on a dirty gym sock all night? If you’re like most people, you probably sleep with your mouth open, and your breathing dries out your mouth and throat. It’s why your mouth may often feel cottony on awakening and you’re dying of thirst.

This inherent lack of saliva during sleep increases the bacteria that cause halitosis. Many prescription medications cause dry mouth, leading to chronic bad breath. Some medical conditions may also affect your saliva glands and cause these issues.

Have you noticed the abundance of irritating infomercials on television about prescription drugs? You’ll probably hear dry mouth mentioned as a common side effect. Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you suspect your medications cause dry mouth and foul breath problems.

2. Improper Oral Hygiene

There’s a good reason that your parents insist you brush your teeth after every meal and before you go to bed. Good dental hygiene keeps your teeth and gums healthy but also fights the bacteria that cause tooth decay and halitosis.

Brush your teeth with an effective toothpaste, and remember to floss daily. Consider using a refreshing mouthwash to complete your dental regimen. If you have chronic breathing problems, talk to your family dentist about a proper hygiene plan for you.

When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Did you know that your toothbrush can harbor bacteria after a while and can redistribute it in your mouth? Keep your mouth healthy and your breath smelling fresh by replacing your and your family’s toothbrushes at least every three to four months or right after an illness.

If you want to get a head start against fighting odor-causing bacteria overnight, don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth before you go to bed. Food particles cling to your teeth and gums and are notorious for causing the dreaded morning breath. Make sure as well to visit your dentist at least twice a year.

Habits for whiter teeth and healthy gums.

3. Using Tobacco Products

Here is another reason you should stop using tobacco today. In addition to causing cancer and a host of other health maladies, tobacco spoils your breath. Who wants to kiss someone whose breath smells like stale smoke? Even if you smoke or chew flavored tobacco, the burning process and chemical residue build up on your teeth and gums, producing putrid breath.

4. Eating or Drinking Certain Foods or Beverages

Have you ever guessed what someone had for lunch just by smelling his breath? Foods rich in sulfur, such as onions, garlic, cabbage, and broccoli, are often the culprit. Zesty spices, alcohol, and coffee can also lend an unpleasant scent to your breath.

Indigestion and acid reflux can also affect the way your breath smells. Stomach acids have a strong, disagreeable scent that can linger in your throat and mouth. Your healthcare provider can suggest ways of dealing with these digestive issues.

5. Infections and Illnesses

Infections in your mouth, gums, or throat can also wreak havoc on your breath. One of the tell-tale signs of sinus or ear infections is smelly breath. Tooth decay is another source of halitosis that needs medical attention.

If you have diabetes, you can often tell when your blood sugars are high by a strange, sugary smell to your breath. Many other diseases can cause halitosis, as well as some prescription medications. It’s worth mentioning to your professional healthcare provider.

How to Fight Bad Breath Naturally

Are you tired of fighting chronic bad breath? One of the bothersome symptoms of halitosis is that you often don’t realize it. Having smelly breath can hinder you professionally, socially, and romantically. People tend to avoid those who have halitosis.

While there may be health conditions requiring medication or treatment for chronic halitosis, most cases are an easy fix. Do you want to get rid of your dragon breath in a snap? Here are six natural remedies to kill the odor and freshen your breath.

Avoid bad breath and dental diseases with better oral hygiene.

1. Water

Since dry mouth is a major source of foul breath, your best line of defense is water. Certain medical conditions and sleeping with your mouth open can dehydrate your mouth and throat. Drinking 6-8 glasses of water will hydrate your mouth and keep the dreaded dragon breath at bay.

2. Proper Dental Hygiene

Combat odor-causing bacteria on your teeth and gums with thorough brushing when you awake and after every meal. Flossing and mouthwash can destroy microbes between your teeth and your mouth that you can’t reach. Consider using a tongue scraper to scrape away gently, smelly buildup on your tongue each day.

3. Mints to the Rescue

Have you ever wondered why manufacturers flavor most dental hygiene products with mint? It’s because these beneficial herbs are natural antibiotics and antifungals. If you notice your breath is a little funky, mint can eliminate the odors quickly.

Use fresh mint or try a dab of food-quality mint oil such as peppermint or spearmint. Not only will they create a sweet-smelling breath, but they can also promote good dental health and leave a refreshing taste.

4. Use a Little Lemon or Lime

The scent of citrus fruit is a quintessential refreshment for our senses. Did you know that lemon and lime juice can also freshen your breath? Wash a small piece of peel and chew on it for an emergency case of halitosis. Citrus oils kill odor-causing bacteria and leave a pleasant smell and taste in your mouth.

Instead of your usual mouthwash, try this citrusy blast. Add some fresh lemon or lime juice to a cup of warm water and gargle as usual. It will make your whole mouth tingle clean with a citrus-fresh breath you will enjoy.

5. A Two for Tea

Here is a natural remedy that makes green tea even more appealing. Did you know that your favorite cuppa can also combat foul breath? Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that benefit your body’s cells. It also acts as a natural antibacterial to destroy germs in your mouth that cause halitosis.

To refresh your breath, you can also make a quick green tea mouthwash for your morning dental routine. Pour a cup of brewed green tea into a sealed container and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Use it to rinse after you have finished brushing and flossing.

6. Another Shout Out for Herbs & Spices

Medical research continues to confirm the positive health benefits of many traditional herbs & spices. Among these benefits is their ability to destroy odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. Their antibacterial and antiseptic properties strongly defend them against microbes that cause dental problems and halitosis.

Did you know that the original purpose of garnishing a dish with parsley was for an after-dinner breath refresher? Many other beneficial herbs and spices are found right in your pantry, and you can use them to kill dragonbreath. When your breath needs an odor eliminator, chew on a couple of whole cloves, fennel seeds, or some star anise.

Final Thoughts on Taking Care of Managing Your Embarrassing Bad Breath

Do you want to avoid the embarrassment of having bad breath? Try adding these natural remedies to your regular dental routine. If you’ve done all you can and still have chronic halitosis, discuss it with your general dentistry specialist or professional healthcare provider.

20 Quotes from Yogananda To Bring You Hope In Hard Times

July 8, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Paramahansa Yogananda (born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952) brought the ancient teachings of yoga meditation to the United States, which earned him the title “Father of Yoga in the West.”

Born into a devout and well-to-do Bengali family, his family knew from a young age that Yogananda had a spiritual understanding and awareness beyond the norm. An Indian monk, yogi, and guru, Yogananda introduced millions of people to meditation and Kriya Yoga, an ancient scientific method of expanding consciousness.

He founded an organization called Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF)/ Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of Indian and spent his last 32 years of life in America. Both his parents had spiritual training under Lahiri Mahasaya, a well-known guru in the SRF lineage who helped reintroduce Kriya Yoga in modern India. As Yogananda’s mother held him as an infant, Lahiri Mahasaya blessed him and foretold: “Little mother, thy son will be a yogi. As a spiritual engine, he will carry many souls to God’s kingdom.”

When Yogananda turned 17, he became a disciple of the Bengali yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar. During the next ten years spent with him receiving intensive spiritual training, his master told him he was chosen to introduce Kriya Yoga to the west. Yogananda knew he had a mission to unite the Eastern and Western religions and to show the importance of balance between physical growth and spirituality, especially in the United States.

His life’s work lives on today in the hearts of many of his students and disciples. His dedication to God and loving service to humanity helped bring peace and lasting fulfillment to the souls of many. In honor of his life and legacy, we want to share some of the best quotes from him to bring hope during difficult times.

Here are 20 quotes from the great master Paramahansa Yogananda that will give you hope:

“Why worry? Do your best, and then relax. Let things go on in a natural way, rather than force them. Then everyone around you will be relaxed, too.”
“If we could but realize the effect of the burdens we often place upon the mind, we might wonder that we have not had a breakdown long ago. Taxed with all kinds of worries and anxieties, the mind is soon overwhelmed by the load. Fear creeps in as a result, and we lose our mental poise and spiritual balance. The trouble is that instead of living only in the present, we try to live in the past and in the future at the same time. These loads are too heavy for the mind to carry, so we must restrict the amount of the load. The past is gone. Why continue to carry it in the mind?”
“To love those that love you is easy. To love those that love you not is not so simple. If you want to change anyone, set a better example. Show more kindness, more understanding, more love. That has a sure effect. To those who are not kind, show kindness. To those who are mean, show bigness of heart.”
“We are what we think we are. The habitual inclination of our thoughts determines our talents and abilities and our personality. So whatever you want to be, start to develop that pattern now.”
‘This Self [Soul] is never born, nor does it ever perish; nor having come into existence will it again cease to be. It is birthless, eternal, changeless, ever-same (unaffected by the usual processes associated with time). It is not slain when the body is killed.’ (The Gita II:20)
“Forget the past. The vanished lives of all men are dark with many shames. Human conduct is ever unreliable until man is anchored in the Divine. Everything in future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now.”
“You are, and ever will be, a perfect reflection of Spirit. You were Spirit; now you imagine yourself to be mortal, but by meditation on your true Self, and by performing God-reminding actions constantly, you can remember your forgotten Spirit-nature and remain in that consciousness through all futurity. Since you are immortal, do not burden yourself with earthly limitations.”
“So long as a person has obsessive desires for the excitement of viewing motion pictures, so long he will seek no higher pastime. Similarly, so long as a man is interested in and attached to the drama of his present incarnation, at death, he will depart with unfinished desires and be compelled to return to earth to experience other motion picture sequences, until all his fascinations have been fulfilled.By nonattachment, by beholding the scenes of life as a divine panorama, and by meditation and ecstasy, man gradually realizes that God is the sole Director of the cosmic cinema. The wisdom so acquired brings about the reunion of the individualized soul with Spirit, thus ending—at last and forever—the long separation.”
“Creation is light and shadow both, else no picture is possible. The good and evil of Maya must ever alternate in supremacy. If joy were ceaseless here in this world, would man ever desire another? Without suffering, he scarcely cares to recall that he has forsaken his eternal home. Pain is a prod to remembrance. The way of escape is through wisdom. The tragedy of death is unreal; those who shudder at it are like an ignorant actor who dies of fright on the stage when nothing more has been fired at him than a blank cartridge.”
“Do not take life’s experiences too seriously. For, in reality, they are nothing but dream experiences. Play your part in life, but never forget that it is only a role.”
“Mind is the creator of everything. You should, therefore, guide it to create only good. If you cling to a certain thought with dynamic will power, it finally assumes a tangible outward form. When you are able to employ your will always for constructive purposes, you become the controller of your destiny.”
“Never do anything that taints your mind. Wrong actions cause negative or evil mental vibrations that are reflected in your whole appearance and personality. Engage in those actions and thoughts that nurture the good qualities you want to have.”
“It takes long time-many incarnations of right action, good company, help of the guru, self-awakening, wisdom, and meditation-for man to regain his soul consciousness of immortality. To reach this state of Self-realization, each man must practice meditation to transfer his consciousness from the limited body to the unlimited sphere of joy felt in meditation.”
“Hope is the eternal light held aloft by the soul as man travels the pathway of incarnations to reach God. Never relinquish hope, for you would then have to wait miserably in darkness, unable to resume your journey toward the Divine until you can choose to raise once again the searchlight of hope.Through meditation, you can permanently avoid the state of hopelessness. Seek happiness more and more in your mind and less and less in material things. Bring the living God of unalloyed joy to the altar of your heart, and worship Him there with the incense of love. Realize that you and He are one.”
“If you have given up hope of ever being happy, cheer up. Never lose hope. Your soul, being a reflection of the ever joyous Spirit, is, in essence, happiness itself.”
“It is very difficult to reach God. If even a concert pianist must work hard to become successful in his profession, how much more earnestly must the devotee “work” at meditation in order to realize the Infinite! Here, however, is an encouraging thought: Everyone who makes a sincere effort on the spiritual path will surely reach his goal. You cannot say that of worldly ambition. Not everyone can become a famous pianist, no matter how hard he tries. For in every field there is room at the top for very few. All men, however, can claim their sonship equally with the Heavenly Father.”
“By the practice of meditation, you will find that you are carrying within your heart a portable paradise.”
“You cannot buy peace; you must know how to manufacture it within, in the stillness of your daily practices in meditation. When you think that you have reached the utmost depth of silence and calmness, go deeper still. In the silence you will receive from God the answers to your life’s problems.”

Final thoughts on quotes about hope from Yogananda

We hope these quotes from the renowned Yogananda will give you strength and hope during this difficult time. Remember that this too shall pass. And, if you go within to seek peace and fulfillment, nothing outside yourself can touch you.

Perhaps the recent events in the world have been a wake-up call that we should collectively slow down. Let us look to ourselves for the answers. Valuable lessons sometimes wear disguises of difficult teachers. But, to have hope for a better world, we must do the work within ourselves to create this reality.

Avoid sugary foods

Reduce your calories

Intermittent fasting

Do HIIT exercises

Stomach strengthening exercise

Up your fiber and protein

Walking

Maintain your weight

Eat healthy carbs

Drink for a healthy belly

You always feel exhausted.

You have trouble sleeping.

You suffer from anxiety and depression.

You get sick more often.

Your muscles feel tight and tense.

Your risk of developing cardiovascular problems increases.

Comebacks for Dealing with Mean People

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1. It Can Boost Short-Term Memory

2. It Helps You Learn

3. It Makes You Tougher

4. It Gives You A Rush Of Adrenaline

5. It Can Improve Cognitive Ability

6. It Can Provide Some Motivation

7. It Can Improve The Development Of A Child

8. It Can Boost Bonding

9. It Can Point To A Longer Lifespan

10. It Can Promote Competition

11. Stress Can Challenge You

12. It Gives You The Warnings You Need

13. It Can Give Your Life Meaning

14. It Can Help Your Social Life

Final Thoughts On Some Unusual Benefits Of Stress On Your Body

Why is belly fat harmful?

Are tummy tucks safe?

Melt your belly fat

Avoid sugary foods

Reduce your calories

Intermittent fasting

Do HIIT exercises

Stomach strengthening exercise

Up your fiber and protein

Walking

Maintain your weight

Eat healthy carbs

Drink for a healthy belly

Final Thoughts on Avoiding a Tummy Tuck with Healthy Lifestyle Upgrades

What is burnout?

Who suffers from burnout?

Here are six things that happen to your body when you’re burnt out:

You always feel exhausted.

You have trouble sleeping.

You suffer from anxiety and depression.

You get sick more often.

Your muscles feel tight and tense.

Your risk of developing cardiovascular problems increases.

12 stages of burnout

How to avoid feeling burnt out

Final thoughts on what can happen to your body when you’re burnt out

Tips for Dealing with Mean People

Comebacks for Dealing with Mean People

1. I’m sure you didn’t intend to sound so rude, but that’s how it’s coming across to me.

2. I can see that you’re having a bad day.

3. What is your motive for asking that?

4. I’ll consider what you said, but I’d like to end this conversation now.

5. I’m finished with this conversation.

6. Have a great day!

7. Thank you.

8. I’m trying to empathize with you, but you’re making that difficult.

9. Could you please stop being so negative?

10. I don’t appreciate the way you’re speaking to me. Could you please speak more nicely?

11. Excuse me?

12. I appreciate your opinion.

13. Are you okay?

14. Anything else?

15. Say nothing at all, just smile and laugh.

Final Thoughts on Comebacks for Dealing with Mean People

Common Causes of Bad Breath

1. Dry Mouth

2. Improper Oral Hygiene

3. Using Tobacco Products

4. Eating or Drinking Certain Foods or Beverages

5. Infections and Illnesses

How to Fight Bad Breath Naturally

1. Water

2. Proper Dental Hygiene

3. Mints to the Rescue

4. Use a Little Lemon or Lime

5. A Two for Tea

6. Another Shout Out for Herbs & Spices

Final Thoughts on Taking Care of Managing Your Embarrassing Bad Breath

Here are 20 quotes from the great master Paramahansa Yogananda that will give you hope:

Final thoughts on quotes about hope from Yogananda

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