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Therapists Explain 10 Ways to Cope With Heartbreak (+ 10 things to avoid)

May 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Everyone has their unique coping methods for getting over a breakup. However, some may be much more effective than others. It’s essential to go through your grief in the right way to get you back on your feet again. We share ten ways to cope with heartbreak (and ten behaviors to avoid). You can also learn more by checking this blog post named what to do when a heart breaks.

10 “Dos” When You Must Cope with Heartbreak

1. Do Seek Support

It’s perfectly natural to want to talk to someone about your breakup. You probably have a lot of feelings festering up inside of you. Look for opportunities to express your emotions in an appropriate setting. Go to the people who are closest to you first. Of course, you want to avoid anyone who may be caught in the middle of the breakup. Venting to them could make them feel uncomfortable.

In the case of life-altering breakups or leaving an abusive relationship, you may want to go to a therapist or support group. The damage inflicted may be more serious than a gab session with your mom or best friend can manage.

2. Do Focus on Your Physical Health

When you treat your body well, you will notice a positive change in your mental health as well. Eat well and exercise. Focus on foods filled with nutrition and not empty calories. Stay away from fried foods and processed foods. You should also make a point to get out and exercise throughout the week. A body in motion stays in motion, so your body will continue to move correctly as long as you work it out.

3. Do Stay Busy

The last thing you need is too much time on your hands. You may end up dwelling on the breakup, causing you to feel bad about yourself. Instead, fill up your calendar with different events to keep you busy. When you are out doing things every night, you won’t have time to think about the person who hurt you.

4. Do Help Others

Breakups tend to bring out the selfish side of us. We wallow in self-pity and talk about ourselves a lot. Instead, it might be more beneficial to go out and help others. Spend time with family members or volunteer at a charitable organization. You will not only be helping others, but it can also make you feel good about yourself.

5. Do Examine Your Dating Practices

While you shouldn’t place blame on anyone (especially yourself), you should take time to think about some of your dating habits. You may be able to make some changes that will help you in your future dating ventures. Do you tend to fall for bad boys? Are you too clingy? Do you flirt with other people outside of the relationship? Look at some things you can change to help yourself succeed in love the next time around.

6. Do Cry

Some people try their hardest not to cry or feel angry about the end of their relationship. However, it’s a natural reaction to feel a certain way. You should not feel bad about your emotions. In fact, it is best to take some time to explore how you are feeling.

Otherwise, you only bottle up your feelings inside of you. Take a night to listen to sad breakup songs with a scoop of ice cream to let it out. When it’s finally all out there, you’ll feel a lot better. Just don’t make it a habit.

7. Do Get a Pet

You may have a lot of love you want to share. Get a cute pet to focus your love on. You can dote on your new cat, dog, or lizard (whatever pet you’re into). Just remember a pet is a big responsibility and commitment.

8. Do Focus on Other Relationships

Your romantic relationship wasn’t the only relationship in your life. Consider all of the family relationships in your life– your parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, etc. Spend some time developing those relationships.

9. Do Find a Creative Outlet

You need to find a way to express yourself in a safe, creative way after heartbreak. Some people choose to start painting, singing, or writing. You can talk about the breakup or a variety of other topics affecting you at the moment.

10. Do Date

You should go out and start dating again–when you are ready. You may want to give it a couple of weeks or months before going on your first date. Only you know the best timeframe for you, as confirmed by research. But you shouldn’t get too used to staying inside every day. When a new dating opportunity comes up, take it. Take things slowly and casually before you fall in love headfirst again, though.

10 Don’ts When You Suffer from Heartbreak

1. Don’t Overindulge

Some people choose to make themselves feel better by overindulging in certain activities, such as drinking or casual sex. It may make you feel better at the moment, but it won’t lead to long-term happiness. Watch how much you engage in reckless behavior.

2. Don’t Contact Your Ex

Your ex was a large part of your life. It’s hard to entirely and suddenly stop talking to a person who was once so important in your life. When something good or bad happens in your life, your instinct may be to pick up the phone and give your ex a call. You may also want to call just to see how they are doing. Avoid all temptations. Contacting your ex will only lead to a complicated relationship that can prevent you from moving on and even more heartbreak. It’s over. Only talk to your ex when you need to.

Never send these text messages to your former love.

3. Don’t Talk About the Breakup on Social Media

Social media is an excellent place for people to express themselves. However, you don’t want to tell everyone about what’s going on in your life. Rants about your ex may be entertaining to other people, but it will only make you look crazy and unprofessional.

4. Don’t Stoop to Their Level

Breakups can bring out the worst in people. When someone is emotional, they may do something mean. When your ex starts making your life difficult, you may be tempted to stoop down to their level and retaliate. Don’t do it. You may only make yourself look bad or even get yourself in trouble. Even when your ex goes low, you need to stay high.

5. Don’t Let Yourself Go

After a breakup, you may not shave or do your regular skincare routine. However, you need to keep up on these things more than ever in the case of a new prospect coming along. You don’t want a new potential significant other to see you in your pajamas with no makeup during the day.

6. Don’t Hold onto Gifts/Items

You and your former partner may have gifted each other things throughout the relationship. The items will become a reminder of your relationship when they are gone. You may enjoy a certain pair of shoes or piece of jewelry, but you shouldn’t wear those items if it’s going to be a constant reminder of a failed relationship.

7. Don’t Become a Shut-in

After a breakup, the world may look scary and unfriendly. You may not want to go out and socialize with people. However, you need to overcome these feelings. Some people want some time to themselves after a breakup, but you may start to be depressed staying inside all of the time. You need to go out and experience fresh air. You should also go do things you enjoy and see people in your life. These things will put your life back on track.

8. Don’t Portray Yourself as a Victim

It can be easy to make yourself look like a victim without even trying. This would be especially true if you were cheated on or abused during the relationship. However, you need to make a point to remain strong. You should not lie about what happened, but you do not need to tell your story without provocation.

9. Don’t Stick to Old Negative Patterns

Many people who are unlucky in love may notice that they tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. You need to examine these mistakes and do what you can to make a change. In some cases, you may want to get professional help to assist you through your issues.

10. Don’t Rush Into the Next Relationship

Some people cure heartbreak by rushing into the next committed relationship. While you want to go out and date, you don’t want to jump a long-term commitment with another person right away. Take the time to get to know somebody. Allow things to happen organically. Otherwise, you’ve just headed toward heartbreak again.

Final Thoughts on Coping With Heartbreak So You Can Move On

These tips make it clear for people to make the right decisions for their emotional and romantic health after heartbreak. A breakup isn’t the end- it’s the start of something new and exciting. You just need to see it that way.

10 Ways to Make Zoom Calls with Friends More Fun

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

With more people staying home than ever, many people are turning to Zoom to stay connected with family and friends as well as working from home. If your social life seems to have taken a turn and is a bit mundane, then you may be looking for ways to spice up your social interactions.

Thankfully, there are some easy things that you can do to add some variety to these calls since it’s the best way to stay connected right now.

Four Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts

Many quick short cuts can easily make your sessions easier on this conferencing app. Here are some of the best ones to use on Zoom calls with your friends:

• Record Your Sessions

By merely using Cmd+Shift+R, you can easily record your sessions with ease. (PC: Alt+P)

• Screen Sharing

One of the best features of this video conferencing platform is the ability to screen share. To start page sharing, type Cmd+Shift+S. If you need to pause this feature, type Cmd+Shift+T. (PC: Alt+Shift+S) (PC: Alt+T)

• Mute Your Voice

It’s advisable to keep your mute button going if you’re in a video conference. Use Cmd+Shift+A to mute your voice on this platform. Use Cmd+Ctrl+M to mute everyone in the video conference. (PC: Alt+A)

• Quickly Invite Someone

Cmd+I will allow you to invite someone to your conference quickly. (PC: Alt+I)

Learn how using telemedicine can help you avoid the germs of a doctor’s office.

Making Virtual Calls More Fun

When you’re stuck at home with nothing do to the Zoom, virtual parties may be just what you need. If you lack the creativity to enhance these web-based connections, there here are six tips for you.

1. Add Pizzazz with Special Effects

Did you read the story on the internet of the lady from Washington, DC, who turned herself into a virtual potato? The hilarious part is that she had to face her colleagues in an online meeting while being a spud. There are so many special effects on these video apps that can enhance your experience.

While you may not want to be a potato, the sky is the limit when it comes to virtual choices. A few options to consider include giving yourself frog eyes or becoming an extra-terrestrial. You can go to a black and white or sepia tone, or you can even become a ghost. What could be more fun than that?

Do you want to hide the clutter of your home? Then you can put a new background on your screen so that it appears that your sitting beachside rather than in your home office. Another option that you have is to distort your image.

The options are limitless and easy to do with the click of a button. You should play around offline to see what kind of effects you can add. Remember, you must turn these effects off when you switch from personal to business roles. You don’t want to be a spud like the lady from the capital city.

2. Send Super-Imposed Videos

It can be quite annoying to send video links when you copy and paste them into a taskbar. Then, your friend must follow the link and open it in a new window.

Using Zoom or another popular app, you can send videos in real-time. Add a bit more to your videos, and you can super-impose your body over the ones in the production.

What would your friends think if they see you on an underwater diving adventure in a foreign land, or you can saddle up a horse and ride in the Wild West?

You can immerse yourself in all the video chat options that are available to you on this app. The Intel® RealSense™ technologies are changing the way people communicate with one another, and it’s all for the better.

3. Make It a Virtual Game Night

Children and adults alike have become bored with social distancing and not being allowed to venture far from home. However, why not use Zoom to bring your friends in on your virtual world? You can create game nights right from the comforts of home.

You can play video games together, or you can opt for other fun classics like Charades or Win, Lose or Draw. The key to making this a success is to get as many people together as you can. Since you are connecting via an internet server, you can see and hear them.

These new game playing sessions can become so real that you might have to remind yourself that you don’t have a house full of friends. Sure, it’s not going to be just as fun as having them in your home, but think of the mess that you won’t have to clean up when the night is through.

4. Take a Trip Down Memory Lane

Do you have boxes of old photographs stored in your closets? Are there are old films that have family gatherings recorded for the later generation to see? Zoom is the perfect way to put on a display and have the family take a walk down memory lane.

Since you are connecting with them in a manner where they can see and share videos and photographs, you can all bring your offerings to the table. Years of generational pictures can be shared with ease. Plus, you will learn a few remarkable things about the family you probably didn’t know.

Today’s generation uses digital platforms for their photos. However, back a decade or so ago, there weren’t the options that we have now. Make sure to record these sessions so that you can hear the stories time and again.

While the present seems to be wavering, why not look to the history of your family to bring you comfort. Plus, the elderly members of your clan would probably enjoy a stroll down memory lane with you and their loved ones.

5. Have an Old-Fashioned Bake Off

There is nothing better than the smell of freshly baked goodies wafting throughout your home. Do you love to cook? Do your friends, or family members also enjoy this past time? Why not have a virtual baking contest?

You can show off your culinary skills when you whip up a few fantastic dishes to entice everyone in your meeting. Teach some tips and tricks that you’ve learned over your cooking career, as well as take advice from those who’ve been baking up goodies for decades.

There are so many things that you can do with this tip if you only let your mind wander. You can charge a small fee and teach cooking classes, or you can have a hang out on Zoom for fun. Your perception only limits the options.

Just think you can show everyone what a great cook you are, and you won’t feel the pressure of having people breathing down your neck. Additionally, you can hide the mess when you’re on camera too.

Have you ever wanted to run a cooking show? Do you see yourself as one of the great chefs of our day like Rachael Ray, Julia Child, or the Frugal Gourmet? Since you’re already on camera, you might as well record these sessions. Who knows, you could be what one of those popular food networks is looking for as the next big thing in cooking.

6. Have a Virtual Dinner Date

Why talk when you can eat? Virtual parties should always begin with food. While going on a traditional date when restaurants are closed may make dating difficult, there’s nothing that says you can’t sit and dine with someone on the world wide web.

The best part about virtual dating and having these online dating sessions is that you can log off if things aren’t going as you planned. With the touch of a button, you can disconnect from Zoom.

Grab a glass of your favorite wine, a plate of delicious food, and sit in front of your computer ready to chat the night away. Thankfully, Zoom has a mute feature where you can mute your side of the conversation should you need to burp or have some other gaseous explosion. You may find that you like internet dating way better than doing them in person.

Use some of the other techniques talked about in this article to jazz up your date. Change the background to a tropical scene, or you can become an avatar with a made-up persona. It’s utterly amazing what the power of the internet allows you to do and grow when you feel that your options are limited.

While nothing is as enjoyable as holding hands, snuggling, or kissing under the moonlight, internet dating can be made possible with online apps.

Final Thoughts on How to Make Virtual Calls on Zoom More Fun

Video calls can be fun, especially if you’re both working and socializing from home. However, you can make things better using the power of technology. When you use your creative side and explore all the possibilities the internet offers, then you can see how much enjoyable the virtual world has become.

12 Ways to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle (and save money)

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

We live in a modern world where most people consume and pollute. Instead of wasting at such vast degrees, we should make a point to be as sustainable and self-reliant as possible. This effort is an excellent way to both help the earth and saves money. Here are 12 ways to live a sustainable lifestyle (and save money in the long run).

12 Tips for a More Sustainable Lifestyle

1. Grow Your Own Food

Instead of getting into the car to go to the store and putting toxins in the air and buying food that needed to be transported and possibly packaged, grow your fruits and vegetables at home.

Do your research to learn what foods grow best in your area and how to grow them. When the time comes, you’ll have the freshest vegetables possible. Plus, you will know exactly how they were raised and what they were treated with since you were the one who grew them.

Are you planting a victory garden to live more sustainably? Here are 15 plants to try.

2. Recycle

Recycling is the process of taking used material and repurposing it instead of adding to the already overfilled landfills in the world. Not everything can be recycled, but the items that can go to a recycling center which helps bring it to a new, reusable form.

Place plastic, paper, and glass in a separate container specifically for recyclable materials. In many cases, the city will provide a recyclables bin for you. In some cases, you may even be able to make money off of your recyclable materials. The following states offer money for bottles and cans:

California
Connecticut
Delaware
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
New York
Oregon
Vermont

If you live in one of these states, collect your cans and bottles. The recycling center will typically offer a nickel per item. You can help the environment while also earning some extra money. Talk to an employee at the center to learn about any other materials they would pay you for.

3. Ditch Your Car

Cars are a significant source of air pollution, especially in metropolitan areas. Many people drive to work or the store when they could easily take an alternative method of transportation. If you can take one car off the road every day by walking or biking to work, you are making a significant difference.

However, you should consider public transportation if walking or biking is not a reasonable method for you. If that also doesn’t work for your commute, create a carpool at your work. You can save gas money by taking turns driving with other people at the office. It will reduce the number of pollutants in the air, too.

Read the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle.

4. Install Solar Panels

One of the most exciting new sustainable inventions in recent years is the solar panel. You can place these on your home to generate your electricity. Of course, you still have backup power from the electric company. However, since you are producing your electricity most of the time, your electric bill will be significantly reduced or even nothing.

The solar panels collect the sun’s rays and turn it into electricity. When you need to use it, it’s distributed throughout your house. Since this method requires the sun, it works best in sunny locations.

The solar panels generally go on top of your current roof. However, Tesla has invented a roof made of solar panels. It’s expensive, but it’s attractive and saves you money in utilities.

5. Shop From Environmentally Responsible Companies

You have a lot of options as a consumer. It’s your job to make responsible decisions about who you buy from. You shouldn’t only focus on price. You need to pay attention to the way the company packages its products and their manufacturing practices. There may be a reason that a particular product is cheaper than the competition.

These items probably won’t last as long as other options, meaning you’ll spend more when you need to be a second product. Also, specific packaging and manufacturing processes are bad for the apartment.

6. Shop With Reusable Bags

Think of all of the plastic bags used when people go out grocery shopping or shopping at the local pharmacy. Even though they are plastic, these bags can not be recycled. In fact, some countries are even banning the use of plastic bags when shopping. Think ahead and bring your reusable bags.

There are sustainable bags designed to use over and over again. This habit will eliminate the need to use plastic bags. Just don’t forget to bring them with you when you head out to shop.

7. Drive an Electric Car

If you can’t possibly get rid of your car, that doesn’t mean you can’t make responsible decisions about the vehicle you drive. Some vehicles are known for being “gas guzzlers.” They consume a lot of gas. This moniker means you’ll be stuck going to the gas station more often and spending more money. Common gas guzzlers include Hummers and large trucks. Compare vehicles before buying.

Luckily, there are electric vehicles and hybrids now that don’t require as much gas. These vehicles rely on electricity or a combination of both electricity and gas. You won’t be stopping for gas as often or putting the same amount of pollution into the air. You can look for an electrical service to help you with the Installation of your Ev Charger.

8. Buy Energy Star Appliances

Most modern homes utilize refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and other appliances to help complete chores. It’s almost unheard of not to have these appliances around the house. However, these appliances use up a lot of electricity and water. As they get older, they may even require more to complete the same amount of work. Specific machines are designed to use less water and electricity than usual.

These appliances will have an Energy Star sticker on them. This designation lets you know they adhere to a certain standard of efficiency. You will save money on your utility bills. Plus, you will be more sustainable.

9. Eat Local

Think about how food gets from where it was made to your plate. In some cases, this involves an extensive long-distance journey. The journey means putting pollution into the air. Plus, the food isn’t as fresh as it once was when it finally arrives at its destination.

Instead of eating at places that require the food to come from all over the country, eat at restaurants and shop at farmer’s markets who only use food from local farmers and butchers. This food is likely less expensive since it doesn’t require travel costs.

Plus, it will be some of the freshest food you can eat. In these types of establishments, the food probably wasn’t frozen at any point. Finally, it was perhaps picked off of the vine that same day!

10. Use HVAC System Wisely

It’s completely unreasonable to assume that people will live in hot summers and cold winters without an HVAC system. This fact is especially relevant if you live in a location with an extreme climate. However, you should use your HVAC system wisely.

First, you should get a unit with the Energy Star sticker we mentioned before. Also, you don’t need to set the unit to extreme temperatures. Instead of setting it at 68 degrees in the summer, try setting it at 78. You want to make yourself comfortable, but you don’t need to overdo it. You should also consider using a smart thermometer.

The smart thermometer can change the temperature when no one is in the home. It can even set it back when people come home for the day. Finally, make sure that your ac unit gets regular maintenance from a professional ac repair technician. You may contact local hvac companies like Omni Heating & Air company to hire one.

11. Vote

It’s your job as a citizen to vote about the things that matter to you. Since we can’t vote on particular legislation, we need to vote for people who put environmental issues at the forefront. Research local, state-wide, and national politicians to learn who will support you and others who want to live a sustainable lifestyle.

When it’s time to vote, you should stop by the polls and cast your ballot. Some people only vote during national elections, but it’s important to vote in every election if you expect to see a change in your area. These changes can even result in significant savings for the government.

12. Volunteer

There are a vast number of organizations that work to help environmental issues and help sustainability efforts. Make a point to support and volunteer with these organizations. You may learn things during your volunteer service. You may also be able to make a difference in your community. Look for organizations that make an effort to clean up nature and plant trees. There are also organizations designed to help animals.

Final Thoughts on Achieving a Sustainable Life That Saves the Planet (and your wallet)

The world needs our help. We tend to make more from the planet than we give. It also doesn’t hurt that being more sustainable can save us a lot of money, too. These tips are a great place to start, but keep looking for new ways to help.

Psychology Explains How a Calm Mind Helps You Make Better Decisions

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Any decision we make sets in motion the wheels of karma, which either rewards or punishes us for our actions. The universe simply responds to our state of consciousness and the choices we make from that frequency. So it makes sense to have a calm mind when making decisions.

The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.” – Deepak Chopra

The universe may seem like a chaotic, random cluster of energy and events. But within that tumultuous energy lies order. By clearing the clutter from our minds, we can choose a path that will result in better outcomes for ourselves. Scientists and researchers have studied meditation for decades now. They discover time and again the many health benefits that can arise from the ancient practice.

People who regularly practice meditation tend to have a calmer disposition. This calm mind means they can hear their intuition much more clearly. Our intuition helps us make decisions, and if it becomes clouded by a restless mind, we might make a less than desirable choice.

“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another.

Below, we’ll go over how exactly meditation can help you increase the positive outcomes in your own life.

Here’s how a calm mind helps you make better decisions:

1 – It allows you to focus on the present moment.

Unfortunately, many people make decisions based on circumstances that happened in the past or perceived outcomes in the future. However, since we can only really live in the present, we must make decisions according to the here and now. Studies have shown that people make better decisions when practicing mindfulness meditation.

Researchers find that just a few minutes of this type of meditation can ground you in the present tense, which will help you have a calm mind. In turn, you’ll make better decisions because you can gain clarity on the situation and choices at hand.

In one study, researchers found that just 15 minutes of focused breathing meditation can help people make better decisions. Researchers from INSEAD and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania tested the hypothesis that mindfulness meditation could boost decision-making skills by increasing resistance to the sunk-cost bias. This thinking explains our tendency to continue investing in a losing proposition due to how much time, money, or energy we’ve already spent on it.

If you’ve watched a movie to the end despite not enjoying it, continued investing in a failing business, or stayed in a toxic relationship, you have experienced this whether you knew it at the time or not. Of course, these scenarios don’t seem rational, but humans don’t like to admit they’ve wasted time or energy on something.

The expert explains the link between a calm mind and making good decisions.

Andrew Hafenbrack, along with co-authors Zoe Kinias and Sigal Barsade, performed four different studies to test their hypothesis about the link between meditation and better decisions. Ultimately, they found that mindfulness meditation can effectively break the cycle of investing resources into something that no longer produced viable outcomes.

“Most people have trouble admitting they were wrong when their initial decisions lead to undesirable outcomes,” says lead author Andrew Hafenbrack. Adding, “They don’t want to feel wasteful or that their initial investment was a loss. Ironically, this kind of thinking often causes people to waste or lose more resources in an attempt to regain their initial investment or try to ‘break even.'”

For the study, one group of participants listened to a 15-minute guided meditation that told them to focus on the sensation of their breath. The other group listened to a recording that instructed them to think of whatever came to their mind. Then, researchers told both groups to decide according to various sunk cost scenarios.

The researchers discovered that mindfulness meditation, which helps people focus on the present moment and block out everything else, can help people make better decisions.

“We found that a brief period of mindfulness meditation can encourage people to make more rational decisions by considering the information available in the present moment while ignoring some of the other concerns that typically exacerbate the ‘sunk cost bias,'” explains Hafenbrack.

Mindfulness meditation increased resistance to the sunk cost bias in each experiment in two different ways.

Other researches agree

Zoe Kinias explains, “First, meditation reduced how much people focused on the past and future, and this psychological shift led to less negative emotion. The reduced negative emotion then facilitated their ability to let go of sunk costs.”

Sigal Barsade concluded, “This tool is very practical. Our findings hold great promise for research on how mindfulness can influence emotions and behavior, and how employees can use it to feel and perform better.”

So, if you find that you have trouble making decisions, try a quick guided meditation to dispel doubts and clear your mind of the constant chatter.

2 – It helps you tap into your intuition.

To make any sort of decision, you need to know what you desire in life. Most people have no idea what direction to go or what to strive for. That’s because they haven’t gotten in touch with their soul. If you want to access the deepest parts of yourself, you will have to quiet the mind and go into the heart. That introspection requires concentration and a deep longing for higher knowledge.

Many people refer to intuition as the “sixth sense.”

If you’ve ever had this gut feeling to take a different route home from work and discovered later that a bad wreck occurred on your usual route, you know the power of intuition.

Or, perhaps your intuition told you someone had bad intentions with you. Then, later on, you confirmed these suspicions. If used correctly and developed, our intuition can help us navigate the storms of life and make better decisions.

Meditation can serve as an excellent tool to develop intuition. According to a team of University of Iowa researchers, the brain’s “axis of intuition” is located in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). A 2014 Wake Forest University study analyzed the brains of 15 volunteers before and after just four days of mindfulness training. They found that in addition to brain functioning, the meditators seriously increased their vmPFC’s “activity” and “interconnectivity.” If these changes occurred after just four days, imagine how much you can develop your intuition after months or years of meditating!

By silencing the mind and focusing on the breath, we all have the potential to develop our intuition so we can make better, more informed decisions. We have unique purposes in life, and our intuition helps us steer our minds in the right direction.

3 – A calm mind eases emotional reactivity, which can help you make better decisions.

Everyone knows that in a highly reactive, emotionally charged state, the right decisions seldom happen. Our emotions can serve as a powerful tool to make decisions. But if we only go by how we feel, we have the potential to cause devastating choices. For example, in a period of loneliness, we might go back to our toxic ex just because they feel familiar. However, if we had stopped to analyze the repercussions of this decision, we would know that getting back with that person would only lead to more problems.

Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) found neural evidence that mindfulness helps people control negative emotions. The team of psychology researchers, led by Yanli Lin, an MSU graduate student, found 68 females who had never practiced mindfulness meditation before participating in the study. Researchers found that the participants came into the study with various levels of natural mindfulness.

The participants then engaged in one of two 18-minute activities. Researchers gave one group a guided meditation to listen to, and the other a language-learning presentation. Afterward, researchers showed both groups disturbing images, such as a bloody corpse. They were instructed to view the photos either “mindfully” or “naturally,” and completed a questionnaire afterward.

The study found that whether the participants had high or low levels of natural mindfulness, the brain could control negative emotions to the same degree. The meditating group recovered more quickly, however, after looking at the photos, which suggests that meditation helps calm negative emotions.

Final thoughts about how a calm mind helps you make better decisions

Having a clear and calm mind can help you make better decisions in three ways:

by keeping your attention on the present
helping you tap into your intuition
and easing negative emotions.

So learn to look at the world with an objective, rational, and calm mind. Indeed, you can quickly discern between a good and bad choice. If you haven’t begun a meditation practice, we encourage you to get started with one! Even 15 to 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference in your mindset and consciousness.

Scientists Reveal How Having a Regular Sleep Schedule Improves Health

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Many people today suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. That problem partially comes from the fact that many don’t keep a regular sleep schedule. Of course, many other factors play into the insomnia epidemic. These variables include stress, an inability to quiet the mind, unhealthy eating habits, and more. However, keeping a regular sleep schedule can help improve your life and health. And this habit will make it easier to tackle stressful situations.

A few restless nights won’t hurt. But when it becomes a regular occurrence, it can impact your health in long-lasting ways. People throughout the world suffer from insomnia. Because of the rise in technology and the stresses of life, many of us can’t seem to shut off our brains.

The statistics prove we need a sleep schedule

According to the American Sleep Association, here are some statistics about insomnia.

Nearly 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, with around 30% of adults having short-term insomnia
Around 10% of adults have long-term insomnia
Almost 40% of people are so sleep deprived that they fall asleep during the day
About 5% report falling asleep while driving (the most dangerous outcome from insomnia)

Studies show 35% of adults get less than 7 hours of sleep per night, which is the recommended minimum for adults. Certain age groups seem to report getting less sleep:

37% of people ages 20-39 get less than 7 hours of sleep
40% of people age 40–59 report problems with sleep

According to data from Sleep Cycle, people seem to suffer at an increasing rate worldwide from insomnia. Their research shows that no country gets a consistent 8 hours of sleep anymore. In the 1940s, people got 8 hours of sleep per night on average, but now they clock in at just 6.8 hours.

Here is the recommended amount of sleep per age group according to the American Sleep Association:

Adult: 7 – 9 hours
Teenager: 8 – 10 hours
Children 6 – 12 years: 9- 12 hours
Child 3 – 5 years: 10 – 13 hours (including naps)
Child 1 – 2 years: 11 – 14 hours (including naps)
Infants 4 -12 months: 12 – 16 hours (including naps)

Proper sleep impacts our lives in every single way, from our productivity to relationships to mental health. Without adequate sleep, we don’t have the energy needed to carry out necessary tasks or even enjoy leisurely activities. Below, we’ll go over how a regular sleep schedule can improve your health so you can live life to the fullest.

Here’s how a regular sleep schedule can boost your health and prevent insomnia:

Humans need routine and structure to perform their best. After all, we evolved to wake with the sun and fall asleep as it sets, and the modern world seems to have disrupted this delicate cycle. Our bodies have gotten so confused and out of touch with what they really need to thrive, and we can see that with the rise in so many diseases.

However, it all starts with the basics. So if you can recalibrate your circadian rhythm, this will help everything else fall into place.

The link between a regular sleep schedule and metabolic illnesses

First, let’s talk about how an irregular sleep schedule can impact your health. A study published in Diabetes Care found that a lack of a bedtime routine and inconsistent sleep patterns could lead to metabolic syndrome, which can raise your risk of developing heart disease.

According to the research, a person’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome increased 27% with every one-hour increase in variability of sleep duration from night to night. It also increased by 23% with every one-hour increase in the variability of bedtime.

Consider the findings of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis study. Participants wore devices that tracked their sleep for a week and filled out questionnaires about their sleep habits and routines. Researchers measured their metabolic risk factors at the beginning of the study, including a large waistline, high blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels, and low levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol. If a person has several of these conditions, it raises their risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Researchers followed participants for six years and found that those who had irregular sleep schedules had a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome at the follow-up, according to lead author Tianyi Huang. The research also found that African-Americans, those suffering from depression, shift workers, and smokers showed higher variability in sleep schedules in the study.

Understanding our internal clocks

The biological clock in humans is very sensitive to changes, so when a person disrupts their natural cycle, it impacts important metabolic processes. Erratic sleep schedules can cause irregularities in other areas of life, such as mealtimes, which can further worsen health consequences. Studies have also found that disrupted sleep over a long period of time can increase the risk of mental illnesses. Sleep deprivation and disorders such as anxiety and depression have strong correlations because a lack of sleep can severely affect moods and cognitive functioning.

Connecting sleep and neurological diseases

Some research even shows that a person’s risk for severe neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s increases as sleep regularity decreases. Poor or disrupted sleep causes harmful beta-amyloid proteins to build up in the brain, which can lower cognitive functioning and even lead to Alzheimer’s if left unchecked.

So, as much as possible, try to keep the same sleep schedule each day. Even on weekends, stick to it as closely as you can, because it can impact your health during the week if you sleep in or stay up too late on your days off. Huang says that he pushes his bedtime back by only 30 minutes on weekends so he doesn’t throw off his body clock too much. He gets up around the same time on weekend mornings.

For optimum health, the study suggests not to change your sleep duration by more than 120 minutes from day to day, and don’t alter bedtime by more than 90 minutes. Across the board, researchers found that changing sleep time and duration by more than this increased risk for metabolic syndrome dramatically.

Benefits of adhering to a sleep schedule

So, keeping a regular sleep schedule can impact your health in the following ways:

lower risk of metabolic syndrome
lower risk of diabetes
decreased risk of having a stroke or heart disease
keeping circadian rhythm balanced
less daytime sleepiness
decreased risk of chronic fatigue
better productivity during the day
lowered risk of mental illness

Read tips on how to wake up in a good mood every day.

Tips to help you get the shut-eye your body needs

Here are some tips on getting a good night’s rest if you suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia:

1 – Set aside time to sleep

As we said earlier, try as best you can to keep a regular sleep schedule. Your body loves routine, so you’ll feel much more refreshed and ready to take on the day if your circadian rhythm remains balanced. On weekends, try not to deviate too much from your sleep routine. You’ll pay for it during the week by feeling fatigued during your workday.

2 – Avoid technology before bed.

Turn off your phone and computer a couple of hours before bed. The blue light from the screens will confuse your brain and make it think it’s daytime when you really should be winding down for bed.

3 – Don’t eat heavy foods before bed.

Try not to eat anything a couple of hours before bed. Your body can focus more on sleep if it doesn’t also have to digest a lot of food while you rest. If you feel hungry at night, eat something non-sugary such as nut butter or other protein-rich foods.

4 – Don’t drink a lot before bed.

Avoid drinking a lot of water or tea before bed, as this can cause nighttime waking if you need to use the bathroom. Also, avoid alcohol since it raises insulin levels, which will lead to disrupted sleep.

5 – Practice sleep restriction.

If you have a lot of trouble falling and staying asleep, try to fall asleep only when you feel tired. Make sure to use your bed only for sleep, so your brain will associate the bed with feeling sleepy.

If you work, watch TV, or get on your phone in bed, your brain will associate the bed with activities. Each of these behaviors can lead to sleep disruptions. Increase your sleep time by 15 minutes each night to figure out how much sleep you really need.

Final thoughts about how a regular sleep schedule improves health

As you can see, chronic sleep deprivation and irregular sleep can really affect your health. We should start prioritizing sleep again and remember that we need a certain amount each night for optimal functioning. You’ll start to see your life improve as you focus on sleep because you’ll feel more refreshed, alive, and ready to tackle the day ahead.

Make sure to follow a regular sleep schedule even on weekends, because your body will have a hard time catching up on sleep during the workweek. Make your bedroom a sanctuary, where you leave all the stress and worries at the door and allow your body to rest. Good sleep hygiene will help improve all areas of your life tenfold.

5 Reasons You Feel Lost (And How to Find Yourself Again)

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

In our money-centered world, we can quickly get caught up with bills, responsibilities, chores, and careers. So it’s no wonder that we can start to feel lost in life. Also, comparing ourselves with others or taking life too seriously can add to the confusion and depression we might feel.

We all came here to learn valuable lessons for our soul’s evolution, and this planet certainly does not make it easy. The trials and tribulations we face may seem overwhelming and leave us weathered at times. However, we can find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Have you been feeling lost or defeated about life? Then, we hope you can find some clarity and hope and start to feel like yourself again. Below, we’ll go over how the dark times can lead to the brightest revelations and discoveries about yourself. We all feel this way at some point along our journeys. But it doesn’t have to be viewed as a negative thing.

“To be lost is as legitimate a part of your process as being found.” – Alex Ebert

Here are five reasons you feel lost in life:

1 – You put too much stake in other people’s opinions.

If you let other people dictate your life too much, you will undoubtedly start feeling lost and uncertain about your own life. Other people will only give you advice from their perspective and understanding, but you have to listen to your voice. People will never hesitate to offer their two cents about what you should do with your life, but only you can determine the direction you want to go.

2 – You might feel lost in life if you neglect your intuition.

Our intuition can help us navigate life when we start to feel lost; in fact, it could play a more critical role than intellect in solving tough problems. Studies show that intuition can provide just as effective results as an analytical approach to making decisions. We have lived in a world mainly governed by right-brained thinking for far too long, but the intuitive side of us seems to be making a comeback. We all have an inner voice that helps guide us through life, but we must learn to trust it and allow the rational brain to take a backseat.

3 – You engage in negative self-talk too often.

Many people feel lost in life because they just don’t give themselves enough credit. They look outside themselves for answers but forget their real power and potential. We all get caught up in the comparison trap from time to time, but this will only hinder your growth. We can implement positive self-talk in various ways, through mantras, affirmations, or even meditation.

Studies indicate that regular meditation helps increase positive thinking, which will help quiet those negative thoughts about yourself and the world. If you feel lost in life, try to shift your thinking to all the positive things happening in your life. You will feel much better and start to see more beneficial outcomes as well.

4 – You don’t know your real purpose.

Not everyone believes in having one huge purpose for being here, and it does seem a little daunting to think about. However, we can all improve the state of this planet in some way, and leave it better than we found it. If you feel lost in life, perhaps your job doesn’t bring you fulfillment, and your soul feels tired of begrudgingly clocking in and out every day. Does this sound like you? If so, make a list of things that interest you, and find out ways you can make money from them. Even if it only starts as a side business or just a hobby, it will improve your mental health and happiness just by giving it your attention.

Here are 7 miracles to remember if you’ve lost your faith.

Just remember that at your core, you’re not just a human being; you’re the whole universe expressing itself consciously, having a temporary experience here on Earth. It does get a little taxing and confusing down here in this heavy realm at times, but you came here for a reason. Remember to take time and dig deep within to find out what makes your spirit soar; that might just be your true calling.

5 – You live in the mind more than the heart.

The energy on Earth feels very imbalanced at times. But perhaps if we lived through our hearts more instead of our minds, we would see that reflected outwardly.

In other words, making more decisions based on the well-being of others and the planet as a whole instead of just our egos. Such conscientious thinking would do wonders for the state of the Earth. A world dominated by pure logic can only take us so far. But at some point, we need to add some heart and soul into the mix, so we don’t just act like machines.

If you feel lost in life, start thinking more about how you can help others improve their own lives. By taking the focus off yourself and shifting it to other people, you can truly make a difference in people’s lives, and your worries won’t seem so big after all.

If you feel lost in life, here’s how to find yourself again:

1 – Don’t bury your feelings.

First off, you can’t expect to find your way out of the darkness if you don’t explore what got you there in the first place. To truly discover yourself again, you have to get lost for a little while. In life, we all go through this, so don’t let it discourage you or make you think you’ll never see the light at the end of the tunnel. Life happens differently for everyone, so just focus on what makes you feel whole again and forget about the rest of the world.

If you feel lost in life, learn to listen to your feelings and intuition calling you back home again. You’ll learn so much about yourself if you dive deep into yourself rather than always listening to the world’s voice. Society doesn’t know your soul. Only you indeed do, so all that matters at the end of the day is staying true to yourself.

2 – Trust yourself.

You can’t find yourself if you drown out your voice and desires by always doing what the world expects of you. You have the key to unlocking the doors to your deepest self, so you must trust the process. Even if it takes you years to get where you need to go, you can’t make it there if you continually sabotage your heart’s true desires. At the end of the day, we only have ourselves, so it makes sense to know ourselves to the core and trust what our soul tells us.

You can’t ever run away from yourself, so if you feel lost in life, take that as a sign that you’ve been neglecting yourself, and learn to tap into your highest self.

3 – If you feel lost in life, learn about what makes you happy.

We often get so caught up in this world trying to please other people and take care of their needs that we forget what we even want or need. Even taking time off work for a short vacation or self-care can do wonders for your mental health and help you find yourself again.

As humans, we often compare ourselves to others and wonder if we live the right way. But just remember that all paths lead to the same place eventually. In other words, as long as you do no harm to yourself or anyone else, your way is just as valid and “correct” as others’.

No one has all the answers, and we don’t get a manual for how to live life. It only makes sense to fill your time with things that bring you joy. Whatever makes your heart happy, follow it, because it will truly lead you back home.

4 – Try new things.

If you stay inside your comfort zone too much, you won’t give your soul what it needs to grow. Getting comfortable in a routine makes us complacent after a while. So make sure to shake things up every so often. Try a new hobby or invest in learning a skill that interests you. Perhaps somewhere down the road, you could even make money from it!

You can always reinvent the wheel. So don’t let doubts or fears stop you from getting outside your bubble.

5 – Get rid of negative thinking.

Our thoughts can either propel us toward the life we want or hinder us from it. Make sure you keep your thoughts as positive as possible so you can manifest the reality you wish to see.

Final thoughts about feeling lost in life

Don’t beat yourself up in you’ve been feeling a little down or confused about your journey. Everyone goes through this, but you can’t allow those feelings to paralyze you. Learn about why you feel this way and what you can do to change it. You have all the power within to create the life you love; you just have to believe in your potential and imagine yourself as the best version of you possible!

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