Happy birthday, Mount Rainier National Park! Established in 1899, our 5th national park has been amazing visitors for 119 years. Home to the tallest mountain in Washington, the park is a wonderland of history, wildlife and natural beauty. Gorgeous in every season, there’s nothing quite like the park’s summer wildflower blooms. Put this park on your bucketlist! Photo by Danny Seidman (www.sharetheexperience.org).
The threats of economic retaliation, the mobilization of patriotic social-media fury, rigged protests, and demands for apology—for any activity involving Tibetan resistance to China’s repressive rule, any statement favorable to the Dalai Lama, or any expression of sympathy for the desire of democratic Taiwan not to become part of authoritarian China—are now well-established practices employed by China to enforce obedience to its dictates, beyond China’s borders as well as within them. Stellenbosch University resisted the pressure, but Daimler, Marriott, Delta Airlines, and other multinational corporations yielded to it.
Have you ever asked yourself how people lose weight and manage to keep it off?
You are thinking losing weight and staying fit is a matter of genetics, metabolism, and the willpower to change one’s habits. Although those things play a part in losing weight, building muscle, and improving one’s general health, the most important component to change happens in your brain.
According to Tony Robbins’ book, Awaken The Giant Within, human beings are motivated to take action by two things: pain and pleasure.
We do the things we do to move from pain to pleasure.
That can be eating, sleeping, finding a partner in life, quitting a job you hate, drinking, smoking or gambling.
We associate eating with pleasure because it removes the pain of hunger.
See Also: 8 Bad Food Habits That are Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Goals
We sleep to give our exhausted bodies and minds some rest.
We spend a good portion of our lives looking for a partner so we can share our joys and sorrows.
Even people who drink associate alcohol with pleasure. Maybe it’s to help them forget about their problems or to help them de-stress after a hectic work week. Perhaps, they enjoy socializing and alcohol just happened to be a part of most gatherings.
How do people suddenly find the motivation they need to lose weight?
I used to wonder if there was a switch you can turn on in a person’s head to make him decide to change for the better.
It turns out there is a name for that switch. It’s called the pain threshold.
Tony Robbins described crossing the pain threshold as the ultimate motivator to create change. Once you associate so much pain to something, you would do everything in your power to change it and move yourself to pleasure.
Most people who decided to lose weight crossed the pain threshold, which can be in the form of health issues.
Arthur Boorman was in so much pain from walking. So, he decided he had to lose weight or he would never walk unassisted for life.
Jared Mollenkopf was so out of shape that he got tired just sitting in front of a computer. Since he has an office job, imagine how much pain he’s in, having to sit for 8 hours a day.
Stacey Morris got embarrassed each time she had to put on extension seat belts whenever she flies. Since her job requires her to travel a lot, she had to endure that situation often.
It’s also pretty common to see people choosing to lose weight because of their family. Not living long enough to see young kids grow up or not having the energy to be there for the family during special occasions can be a good source of motivation to shape up.
The most important thing to ask yourself is this:
What do you really want?
Think about what is really going to give you joy and what gives you sorrow. Once you’ve figured that out, create leverage on yourself by associating pain to not changing NOW. Leverage is the key to get yourself into taking massive action.
In my case, there was a point in my life when I felt exercising took a lot of effort and I had little to no time for it. I ate junk foods and sweets often because they tasted good.
It’s funny because I didn’t find time or energy for exercise but I could always squeeze in some time to go to the bar with my friends.
Was it fun eating anything I desired and drinking alcohol with friends instead of exercising and eating healthy? Absolutely.
Until one day, I took my shirt off and looked in a mirror.
I looked nothing like I used to be. I wasn’t really overweight, but my belly was starting to stick out. My hairline was starting to recede and my cheekbones and jawline where nowhere to be found.
I always felt like I needed more sleep and had low energy level to do anything physical.
I was in the worst shape of my life and I was only 29 years old!
The pain I felt looking and feeling older than I am was overwhelming. I knew right there that if I didn’t change something, things would go downhill fast and I was not prepared to accept that.
One thing I learned was that if I wanted to get different results, I had to do something I’ve never done. It definitely took a lot of courage to try something I knew nothing about but the pain of failing and gaining more weight weighed more than the fear of the unknown.
I took action. I bought weight loss programs online, which totally changed the way I trained. Slowly, I renewed my commitment to eating healthier, too.
You’ve decided what you really want, you’ve gotten leverage on yourself, you changed your habits and approach and you’ve gotten the results you’re looking for. You started seeing results.
Well, it’s not enough that you lost some weight. You need to find a way to keep the fat off.
The danger with not creating new habits is that you can easily slip back into the things you were used to doing.
I mean, I could have stopped training. After all, I lost weight already. I could have gone back to enjoying my weekends watching movies, eating anything I wanted, and drinking beer.
But the joy I found with my new self meant more than eating junk foods and laying on the couch. My weekends were replaced by pickup games with friends or trying out new ways to do cardio, like biking, going on long walks in the park or hiking.
Hearing compliments about how much weight I lost felt good and it motivated me to train harder. That’s also enough motivation for me to take it easy on junk foods and alcohol. I became committed to staying healthy.
I still have my cheat meal and beer occasionally but I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. After all, being healthy, strong, and confident give me my ultimate pleasure.
Now that you understand how to set your mind to lose weight and keep it off, it’s time for you to give it a try.
First, know what motivates you and what ultimately gives you pain and pleasure. Figuring out how to lose weight with training and proper nutrition will follow as long as you’re committed to making changes. After all, there are lots of materials available on the internet from people who have done it before you.
Just find out what will work for you. Figure out what you like and what you don’t like. Go on and take that first step.
The post How to Set Your Mind to Lose Weight appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Lotteries are among the world’s most favorite gambling pastimes, with hundreds of people made much richer because of them. So there’s no wonder lottery ticket sales are huge when there’s a massive jackpot on the line. With state and national lotteries all completely checked by third-party audits, people play knowing that the results of each draw are completely fair and random; and yet people still manage to concoct strategies for playing the lottery.
Strategies by their very nature need to have an aim in mind, with the strategy itself built to advance towards that aim. However, as lotteries are completely random, the term of a “lottery strategy” may seem to be somewhat of an oxymoron. But, thanks to online records that are available, people have been able to devise methods which indicate to more likely outcomes based on previous results, and there are also general rules to give into to increase your chances of winning the lottery based on how much you spend on it.
So, let’s dig into some of these lottery strategies, and see if your chances of winning a massive prize can be enhanced.
It’s commonplace for someone to say that you’re more likely to be hit by lightning than you are to win the lottery, but that’s not even the rarest occurrence that has a greater likelihood of happening to you than winning the lottery. For example, if you live in the United States, you’re more likely to become the president of the USA, or become a movie star, be drafted by the NBA, or even be crushed by a vending machine. But every ticket has the same chance of winning, in theory. In reality, there are ways in which you can boost your odds of winning the lottery.
The results of any lottery are completely random, but there is one certain combination that, should it come in, would disappoint many. In 2017, it was found that around 10,000 people per lottery draw in the UK selected the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. So if those numbers came in, each would have walked away with about £400 ($551.96).
Avoiding incredibly popular number combinations like the one above is important because it would mean you wouldn’t win some if you did win, but it’s also important to embrace the randomness. When it comes to lotto strategy, the best way is to be as random as the game itself. As many peoples’ lottery numbers derive from key dates in their lives, many of the larger numbers are missed out. Being as random as possible is the best way to play.
In a study performed over thousands of games in the Australian Lottery (a six-pick, 45-number lotto), it was found that certain patterns showed up with far more prevalence than others. The most frequently observed pattern way by picking one number in the range of 1-9, two in the range of 10-19, and then one in each of the ranges of 20-29, 30-39, and 40-45. With that pattern occurring 24 times rather than the expected calculated frequency of 18.7, it shows that the numbers have fallen more favorably into that pattern.
Another way sometimes suggested is to buy all of the possible combinations, but of course, that would be extremely time consuming and costly. So instead, to better your odds in a similar vein without spending much more, you could pool with friends or co-workers. Everyone in the pool chips in an equal amount to get an agreed upon the number of tickets per person, buy different tickets with each buy-in, and share the multi-million prize when it comes in.
While developing a strategy in a completely random game with rather long odds seems odd, there are ways in which you can boost your chances of winning the lottery.
The post Betting on the Lottery: Is There a Strategy? appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Vitamin B12 is essential to the human body. It has an incredibly important role in your central nervous system as it ensures the health of your nerves and blood cell. It plays a huge role in the production of DNA, too.
Because of its functions, it’s highly important that you get enough of this vitamin, whether through your diet or by taking supplements. If you do not get enough vitamin B12, then your blood cells will not be able to function properly. This can cause anemia. Although it isn’t always a medical emergency, you still need to take it seriously.
A healthy adult should consume 2.4 mcg of the vitamin a day. Good sources include meat, eggs, and fish.
Vegans and vegetarians may find it harder to get enough of the vitamin because of their diet. So, finding supplements with the right dosage can help. You can also eat foods fortified with B12, such as soy milk.
Given the fact that vitamin B12 is so important, you are probably wondering what can cause its deficiency.
Here are some of the most common causes:
Vitamin b12 deficiency is actually relatively hard to detect. In some cases, it can remain undetected for years.
However, if you suspect that you may be at risk of developing a b12 deficiency, then you may want to be tested. This is particularly true if you are experiencing any symptoms, such as:
To be properly diagnosed, you may have to undergo a number of tests and examinations, like routine complete blood count. After being diagnosed, you may need to make dietary changes and take vitamin supplements. It can either be in the form of a tablet or a shot, depending on your condition and its cause.
Failure to get treated can result in a number of complications. You can end up with depression, megaloblastic anemia, and progressive nerve damage. There is also mounting evidence that low levels of b12 can actually increase your likelihood of developing Dementia.
To find out more about the causes, the symptoms, and the forms of treatment for b12 deficiency, check out the infographic below.
The post Vitamin B12 Deficiency: What You Need to Know appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
You’re reading 5 Things You Need To Know About Improving Your Mental Well-Being, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
A person who is mentally well and happy is also a healthy and happy person overall. Our mind is the engine that runs everything, and happiness and well being are like the oil change that keeps it going and never lets it shut down. Right from the time we are born, each and everything thing we do, learn and experience, molds the brain into a solid organism. This organism runs everything and makes sure that we function through every day the way we’re supposed to.
Of course, we’re human, and that was just an analogy. Unlike machines, we have more flaws and cannot be understood or predicted using a manual. Each of us function differently, process information differently, and also have similar brains but very different minds. Our mind’s well-being depends a lot on how well we take care of it and how much importance we give to keeping it healthy and stable.
It refers to a mental state where you are balanced, secure and in complete control of your mental responses. These responses are nothing but your emotions, your reactions and your decision making power. It’s important for you to understand yourself, your mental needs and your feelings first before you look for answers elsewhere. Believe it or not, mental well-being can be a major factor that shapes up a person’s personality and their future in many ways.
A happy person, or rather an optimistic person, usually has a very positive and hopeful personality. They tend to look for the silver lining in even the worst situations and do not struggle with coming to decisions.
Now, let’s talk about a person who has a sad or aggressive demeanor. Their state of mind is more negative than positive, and can directly affect their outlook on life as well. As a personality, a negative person finds it harder to look at the brighter side of things.
Of course, there are those who are rather neutral with their emotions. Such people are usually more balanced with their thoughts and do not have very strong emotional responses to any given situation.
Now, the objective here is not to label any mindset as “good” or “bad”, but to highlight the fact that we are all innately different in the mind, so it’s important for each of us to understand our mental needs well.
Is it possible for you to improve your own mental well-being and be responsible for having a healthy mind? Definitely.
Here are some important tips you need to know about improving your mental well-being:
The need to take a step towards improving your mental state and health should come from within you; an initiative that stems de your own interests and ideals. Self-motivated improvement is the most effective form of improvement, which also has more value and meaning attached to it. Getting to the bottom of your motivation, you have to be the one holding your own flag of progress.
Is it your choice to improve your mind’s health? Are you the driver and protector of your of your mental state? If yes, then you know that you’re on the right path.
You have to be aware of what are your reasons to improve your wellness. Each of us perceive motivation is different ways. For some, it’s all about discovering themselves. For others, it’s all about growing past mistakes and flaws and becoming more evolved individuals. Well, whatever your reason might be, it has to be one that is concrete enough to keep you going. A motivated and inspired mind is one that is easier to shape, easier to build on and also easier to work with. Have your reasons charted out for you, and you’ll be traveling in the right direction.
Self-love can be healing and is the perfect catalyst for the growth of a happy and healthy mind. When you love yourself enough, your wellness automatically becomes a top priority. Self-love is not about being selfish or having a one-track mind; it’s all about being sure of how important you are to yourself. On a priority list, you need to mention yourself too. Self-love should seem like an easy feeling, but a lot of us struggle with it. Hence, sometimes you need to make a conscious effort to say “I love myself”.
Your goals need to be clear, and your mind won’t have to feel clustered or stressed at any point. Even if you have to write it down, do it, but remember to declutter your mind and keep it like an empty canvas that will allow improvements, growth and positive changes.
Using Nootropics for cognitive enhancement and better performance might just be a good idea, if you’re willing to give it a shot. These drugs are specifically meant to improve your mental health and keep your brain in an alert and active state, which is good for your mental growth.
Your mind is your jewel, one that you need to take utmost care of. And, before you move into finding ways and remedies to improve your mental state, you need to make sure that you’re in full control of your mind and its responses.
You’ve read 5 Things You Need To Know About Improving Your Mental Well-Being, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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Whilst nobody fails intentionally the lessons are brutally forceful and change one’s life forever; sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse as many lose purpose and experience severe loneliness through the incredible mental and social toll of failing.
The past, in Poland, is not a foreign country; it is morality drama and passion play, combining high ideology and down-and-dirty politics. One recent manifestation of history’s significance has been the creation of several ambitious and architecturally inventive museums dedicated to central events and themes in the Polish past.
Nicholas Rankin’s sprawling book Defending the Rock: How Gibraltar Defeated Hitler spreads itself far and wide in trying to reconcile the details of Gibraltar’s own peculiar history with the world events in which it was frequently caught up. Describing the bloody progress of World War II from the vantage point of a tiny British colony is like trying to watch a battle from a badly placed rabbit hole, and to get closer to the action, Rankin often has to park his local narrative and make long detours to places such as Abyssinia and Berchtesgaden. The book frequently seems out of control. And yet for all its waywardness—not least in its deceitful subtitle—Rankin’s account is rewardingly informative and often delightful in the telling.
Sig Nordal 