Happy 112th Birthday to our friends at the U.S. Forest Service. Though forest reserves were first administered by Interior, the Forest Service was created in 1905 as part of the Department of Agriculture with Gifford Pinchot serving as Chief Forester and now manages almost 200 million acres of public land. Among these rich forests and grasslands are places of spectacular beauty, like Trillium Lake at Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. Photo by Daniel Rice (www.sharetheexperience.org).
The way you look isn’t the only thing you have to worry about when you have crooked teeth. It can also have a lot of negative effects on your general health if you don’t get it fixed in time.
Genetic susceptibility, facial injuries, premature loss of baby teeth, and excessive use of pacifiers are just some of the things that can cause crooked teeth. For some, it’s a result of thumb sucking and tongue thrusting during childhood.
Timely orthodontic treatment can help restore crooked teeth. However, since it’s time-consuming and costly, not all people are willing to undergo it.
If you are thinking twice about getting proper treatment, check out the following negative effects of crooked teeth that can help you make up your mind.
This is one of the most common consequences of having crooked teeth. When the gums do not fit firmly around your teeth, they allow bacteria to grow. This condition eventually leads to plaque buildup. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontal disease.
See Also: 3 Natural Home Remedies to Heal Gum Diseases
If you have a misaligned set of teeth, you might find it difficult to chew your food normally.
Teeth can function optimally only when they operate together and chew on each other. If you have a crooked upper or lower arch that protrudes from your jaw, normal jaw alignment is disrupted and this makes it very difficult to chew food.
It is very difficult to clean all the tiny nooks and crannies between your teeth when you have a crooked set of teeth. Despite flossing or brushing, you still won’t be able to clean the vulnerable areas between your teeth.
When your upper teeth are crooked and deviate from the arch, they are at an increased risk of trauma when you play a sport or if you meet with an accident. There is also a good chance that your teeth can get chipped or cracked.
Lingering bacteria in the mouth is one of the most common reasons for bad breath. This is due to the difficulty in cleaning the space between crooked teeth.
Crooked teeth lead to an improper bite, which wears the tooth enamel. If you suffer from bruxism (or tooth grinding) while you sleep, your enamel will get eroded or chipped. Worse, the enamel gets so weak that it breaks.
When you have a misaligned bite, you will suffer from sore gums and the inside of your cheek may get injured. This can invite excessive pain in the jaw, gums, and teeth.
Smiling lowers your stress levels and even improves your ability to think. An unimpressive smile can affect your self-esteem and lower your self-confidence.
You may not realize the seriousness of the problem of having crooked teeth but it does affect your overall health. Studies conducted by the Australian Dental Association have proven that bacteria buildup caused by crooked teeth invites oral infections.
Those infections lead to many serious medical conditions, including heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and pneumonia.
Cosmetic dentistry provides an easy, cost-effective, comfortable, and convenient solution to fix crooked teeth. Whether your teeth need a simple realignment or a complete transformation, it is important to plan and execute the treatment properly.
Seek the help of dental professionals. After checking your dental history, your dentist will also check the real cause of your alignment issues and will treat you accordingly.
Teeth straightening will not only improve your smile but also your overall health condition. You can try orthodontic treatment, like Invisalign, braces, and veneers. Advanced technology and dental treatments are undetectable and look so natural that your friends and colleagues wouldn’t even know that you are getting treated.
The post 8 Negative Effects of Having Crooked Teeth appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Oligarchical capitalism destroys legitimate competition and eats away like a cancer at the resources of a nation. Any semblance of dynamic, healthy competition is strangled by fake competition based solely on firms’ relationships with people in power. The twenty or so oligarchs in Putin’s Russia do not get access to powerful people in government because of their wealth, as is the case, say, with many billionaire political donors in America, but rather, the reverse. Russian oligarchs get access to obscene amounts of wealth because they are loyal to the only person in government who matters: Vladimir Putin.
Dysmenorrhea or painful menstrual periods is a common concern for a lot of women. Most of them have mild abdominal cramps while others experience intense pain that greatly affects their daily activities.
If you are dealing with this kind of pain each month, here are some of the most effective remedies for menstrual cramps you can try.
Believe it or not, any kind of physical activity can ease your belly pain. Exercises, like brisk walking and aerobic routines, can help release endorphins. They are your body’s natural painkillers.
So, exercising four to five times a week can help keep your menstrual cramps at bay.
See Also: 19 Ways to Get Motivated to Exercise
Carrot juice contains a lot of iron.
Drink carrot juice without fail for 3 months and you’ll see good results for sure. You can mix carrot juice with other vegetable juice as well.
Mix a spoon of turmeric powder in a glass of milk and drink this daily.
Turmeric stimulates the menstrual flow and balances the hormones. Taking it every day can greatly reduce your menstrual cramps.
The main cause of menstrual pain is the contraction of your uterine muscles. Applying heat can help relax those muscles.
There are many heating pads and patches you can try. If you don’t have a heating pad, you can just pour hot water into a plastic bottle and apply it to your abdomen. Just make sure that you have a clean fabric in between the bottle and your abdomen to avoid burning your skin.
For irregular periods, mint is one of the best natural remedies. It relieves and soothes menstrual cramps.
Mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of dried mint powder. Take it 3 times a day and continue for a few weeks.
Unripe papaya is another easy and effective solution to painful menstrual cramps. It helps in the proper contraction of the muscle fiber in your uterus. It’s a great help for delayed menstrual cycles associated with menopause or stress, too.
Consume unripe papaya for two months. Be sure to eat it before your menstrual cycle.
Consuming grapes or drinking grape juice once or twice a day can get rid of the menstrual pain you experience every month.
Yes, you heard it right.
Orgasms can greatly reduce menstrual cramps.
The uterus is more relaxed before an orgasm and there’s increased blood flow, too. Those two conditions can soothe your pain.
In addition to that, orgasms release endorphins as well. They can help your body relax so you can rest and sleep without any discomfort.
Most people don’t like having bitter gourd because of its taste. It is, however, extremely good for the health.
Chop the bitter gourd into pieces and churn it in a mixer. Once it turns liquid, you can add a teaspoon of sugar and drink it.
If your menstrual flow is light and the periods are late, you require ginger in your life. You can eat it raw or drink its juice. Both methods greatly help with painful and abnormal periods.
Asafoetida is a famous ingredient that has a lot of medicinal value. It is helpful in getting rid of hormonal disorders because of the chemical compounds it contains.
Fry little amount of powdered asafetida in clarified butter and add it to goat milk and some honey. 200 to 500 mg of asafoetida is recommended for a single day.
While these remedies for menstrual cramps are highly effective, you shouldn’t rely completely on them. Make sure to visit your doctor to find out the real reason why you’re experiencing so much pain at that time of the month.
With proper diagnosis, your doctor will be able to find and provide the best possible treatment for you.
The post 11 Remedies For Menstrual Cramps You Need To Try appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
You’re reading Easy Life Hacks for Better Organization, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Organization and productivity hacks are a hot topic right now. From best sellers like Kingston’s “Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui” to the Marie Kondo “Bringing You Joy” method, there seem to be almost as many ways to ditch your clutter as there are plans to lose weight. While studies show that one in four Americans would like to, it’s not always the easiest thing to do.
There are scientific studies that back the benefits of being organized, which makes it worth your while. First, we’ll take a look at the causes and benefits, then show you how to implement them with easy hacks for organizing your home, work-life, family, meals, and social life.
It turns out that some people’s brains are built to create clutter and it takes actual physical exertion to reduce it. A Yale School of Medicine study of hoarders found that the action of throwing something away caused pain sensors in the brain to fire. It was literally hurting them to declutter. Also, clutter can be tied to identity and nostalgia.
According to this article, storage is not a place to put all your junk. Instead, it should be about the convenience of use. Something that you store should be easy to access when you need it, not piled underneath a lot of unrelated items. The article goes on to quote declutter guru Marie Kondo who says, “Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”
A study from Princeton University discovered that an abundance of items around you makes it more difficult for you to focus.
Research shows that children from more organized households tend to perform more effectively in school and excel in future careers.
If you plan out your activity, you will are more likely to achieve your fitness goals. Planning meals means you are less likely to reach for unhealthy foods out of desperation.
A National Sleep Foundation study shows that a more organized bedroom means an improved night of sleep.
It is useful to look at organization from a multi-layered perspective. The three major elements to consider are organization of items, organization of time, and digital organization.
Designate spaces around your home for certain things and keep them organized. For example, you can organize your junk drawer, the shoes in your closet, or your desk at work. You can hide visible cables by tying them together with zip ties and labeling them with bread tags! Another great hack? Putting velcro on the back of remotes and game controllers to easily store them in the same place every time.
One of the best things you can do is invest in a paper protocol. Keep papers neatly nestled in “retain”, “archive” and “toss” piles. You’ll be amazed at how much paper you really don’t need, and you’ll know exactly where the paper you do need is!
A good rule of thumb is, if you haven’t looked at it in six months (and it’s not seasonal), go ahead and store it out of sight or toss it. You can also store creatively–like storing stuffed animals in a bean bag cover so that it doubles as a comfy seat!
Taking the time to plan meals for the week saves time (and money) and also leads to better diet choices. Use Sunday evening to plan for the week. Write down the meals on a sheet of paper and write it on a dry erase board in your pantry. You can cook several proteins at a time by using the same pan separated with foil, or cook large amounts of food in a crockpot. You can also pack ahead smaller portions of snacks for grab-and-go convenience.
Taking the time to plan your clothing for the next day or even the next week will save you time in the morning. Particularly, planning your children’s outfits will give them a sense of structure and save loads of time in the mornings.
This is an area where family members can store their keys, shoes, calendar, leave notes for each other, or grab their lunch in the morning. Knowing exactly where to look when you need these items can be super handy!
Plan to talk to family members who don’t live near you at the same time each week, that way you will always have a “catch up” date scheduled. If you’re finding it difficult to make time for your friends, schedule a quick lunch date during the work day, during the time you would have spent eating anyway!
If you are a digital hoarder it’s time to get to the bottom of it. Take 20 minutes every day to clean your inbox, and that also means unsubscribing from unwanted emails.
Clear out your social space of brands or people you no longer wish to follow, friends you’ve lost touch with or photos you don’t like. You would be surprised how much a digital house cleaning can liberate you!
Take some time to scan important documents so that you can go as paperless as possible. Try to send communication, memos and important documents digitally. Keep your digital space organized by deleting unneeded files and folders or erasing your “downloads” folder.
Ultimately it’s the old adage “a place for everything and everything in its place” that generally allows for good organizational habits. In the below infographic, you can get more tips for organization broken up into each aspect of life. Check out the infographic below for the best tips!
You’ve read Easy Life Hacks for Better Organization, 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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Since its emergence over 100 years ago, Cubism has been regarded as one of modern art‘s most famous and fascinating art movements. Cubism is closely associated with iconic artists like Pablo Picasso, whose avant-garde approach to everyday subject matter turned art history on its head.
Featuring fractured forms and topsy-turvy compositions, Cubism abandoned the figurative portrayals found in genres of art and moved toward total abstraction. This aspect—along with its unique evolution and lasting influence—has made Cubism one of the 20th century’s most celebrated forms of art.
Cubism is an art movement that made its debut in 1907. Pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, the style is characterized by fragmented subject matter deconstructed in such a way that it can be viewed from multiple angles simultaneously.
Pablo Picasso, ‘Girl with a Mandolin’ (1910) (Photo: MoMA via Wikimedia Commons)
At the turn of the century, Post-Impressionism and Fauvism—movements inspired by the Impressionists‘ experimental approach to painting—dominated European art. French painter, sculptor, printmaker, and draughtsman Georges Braque contributed to the Fauvist movement with his polychromatic paintings of stylized landscapes and seascapes.
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Georges Braque, Detail of ‘Landscape at La Ciotat’ (1907)
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In 1907, Braque met Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and designer Pablo Picasso. At this time, Picasso was in his “African Period,” producing primitive works influenced by African sculpture and masks. Like Braque’s Post-Impressionist paintings, these pieces played with form (and sometimes color), but remained figurative.
Pablo Picasso, ‘Gertrude Stein’ (1905-1906)
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After they met, however, Braque and Picasso began working together, deviating further from their previous styles and collaboratively creating a new genre: Cubism.
The post Cubism: How Picasso and Others Broke From Tradition to Transform Modern Art appeared first on My Modern Met.
Bad news.
There’s really no such thing as the most secure browser.
Want proof?
In a poll in 2013, Firefox was voted as the most secure web browser. However, in a hacking contest in March of 2014, Firefox was deemed as the least secure after it went down to four zero-day exploits.
Because you can’t really rely on one browser to protect you and your data, it’s critical that you know how to make your favorite browser the most secure browser for you.
Here are some steps you can follow:
The most convenient way to start using any device, including browsers, is by its default setting. It is, however, not the most secure way.
In fact, it can expose you to a lot of potential threats.
With your browser’s default configuration, hackers can easily access your program and even make internal changes without you knowing.
Creepy, right?
The best solution to that is to configure all your browsers as well as your operating system before use. Doing that can greatly increase your security.
Your computer probably has multiple browsers installed and that’s actually a good thing. It means you’ll be able to dedicate one browser for one activity only, limiting the risk of compromising your sensitive data.
Think of it this way:
You can use one browser to pay your bills or purchase something online. You can use a separate browser for researching and random browsing.
This way, if someone hacked the one you are using for general web browsing, the other browser won’t be compromised.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that using separate browsers will automatically protect your data. You also have to play your part to make your browser the most secure browser.
It can also help if you can make a complete browser comparison first before deciding which ones to use.
Security holes will keep on popping up as more and more security threats emerge. One of the few ways you can protect yourself is by updating your browser.
Make sure to follow your vendor’s instructions when updating your browser. If your operating system no longer supports newer browsers, it’s time to get that updated as well.
Browsers like Chrome and Firefox have an auto-update feature by default. If yours isn’t enabled, check if your computer’s firewall is preventing the auto-update or someone else has configured it the way it is.
A good anti-virus remains one of the best ways to stay protected on the internet. Just make sure that the one you are using is real as a fake antivirus software is already a security threat on its own.
And if you already have one, keep it up-to-date. Using an expired antivirus is more likely to put your security at risk.
Now, listen closely.
While you might think that the antivirus that came with your computer is enough to protect you, it actually isn’t. You see, free antivirus programs aren’t that comprehensive.
It can only provide limited protection and it can only detect certain threats. It has lower and slower scanning performance, too.
The bottom line?
Don’t skimp on your antivirus program and be sure to keep it updated.
Extensions and plugins might look harmless but they can be extremely dangerous. They have access to your every move online. And because they know everything, you can just imagine the damage they can create.
They know what you’ve been searching and they can capture your passwords. These extensions can even insert advertisements in the pages you visit.
One problem with extensions is that they frequently require access to everything. For example, an extension that’s meant to make changes in Google.com will require access to everything related to Google.
Most of the time, that includes your email and Google account.
To stay safe, use fewer extensions and plugins as possible. If you aren’t using the ones already installed on your computer, uninstall them and stick with the ones you use frequently.
If you are planning on adding more, make sure to read the permissions they require.
Ads and pages that pop out of nowhere aren’t just annoying; they can also be dangerous.
By using a pop-up blocker, you’ll be able to prevent those ads from installing harmful malware on your computer. They can also prevent your screen from cluttering.
Now, if the website you are trying to access needs you to temporarily disable the blocker, remember to reactivate it once you are done.
There are tons of untrustworthy websites on the internet. If you aren’t careful, you can inadvertently visit one of those phishing sites and expose your sensitive information.
Phishing sites are sites that are made to look legit and trustworthy so that they can get your personal details. This includes your credit card number and password in your cached data.
To stop that from happening, always turn on fraud protection. It can blacklist known phishing sites so you won’t be able to access them.
See Also: 7 Top Tips to Avoid Being Caught in a Phishing Net
Being able to log into your email or any of your accounts without typing your login details sound convenient. However, in terms of safety and security, it’s a totally different story.
Just think about what can happen when your laptop or device gets stolen or lost. It’s like giving away your personal login information to everyone.
For protection, always turn that feature off. You can do that by accessing your browser’s setting.
If you are using Chrome, for example, you can open its Setting window, select Advanced, and make the necessary changes in the Manage Password section.
In case you are using Firefox, access the Options window, select Privacy, and look for History. Once you are there, select Firefox will: Use custom settings for history and disable the Remember search and form history option.
These changes don’t take a lot of time. In fact, you can complete them in less than a minute.
See Also: How To Maintain Your Privacy Online
The post 8 Easy Steps To Your Browser Security And Privacy appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
What happens to the world around us is called exponential growth. The most powerful processor, the fastest connection, the highest video quality— all of them double in performance each time a new module is out.
If you hear someone complaining how everything sucks, remind them that this is the best we’ve been off since forever. And no matter what it seems like, the facts prove that it gets better each year.
That’s why ordinary things that surround us now will be gone soon and you will only miss them in the 90s-nostalgia-kind of way. What comes to replace them is infinitely better.
So, what are the things that will disappear in our lifetime?
Replaced by: fingerprint scanners
Passwords are already migrating inside browsers and all-in-one apps, but that entails obvious security issues. So, the clear trend would be advanced fingerprint recognition.
Surprisingly enough, the technology has been around for quite some time. In fact, the concept has been around 1859 to be exact.
In that glorious year, Sir William Herschel came up with using handprints to tell his Indian employees from non-employees during payday. It must have been a hell of a turnout in his cabin by the end of the month that prompted that idea.
There are, however, a few troubles with current fingerprint scanners.
For one, fingerprints are actually not as unique as we’d like to think. There can be other people with the same or dangerously similar finger patterns as yours. The chances that this person gets near your smartphone are low, but they exist.
Scanning your fingers when they’re sweaty can be tricky. The same goes for older people whose skin is not elastic and clear enough for their scanners.
Replaced by: smart assistants and built-in tools
You’re probably surprised to see this on the list when there are millions of apps out there. Well, that is exactly the reason why they’ll be gone.
Apps have grown too niche and small.
People don’t need 500 icons on their Macs or iPhones and people shouldn’t be forced to pick only the best apps for their phone.
That can mean wasting time assessing quality, reading reviews, and ranking choices.
That’s why apps will soon merge into a single tool that can help us do stuff.
You can already see it happening with services like Setapp. Keeping up with the spirit of shared economy and subscription-based goods, Setapp rents us apps. You pay once a month for nearly a hundred of apps that can be used without separate purchases.
You still have to look for the app you need for a specific task, but it’s way faster than browsing the Mac App Store.
The next step would be merging all the apps into one intelligent assistant that draws the tools out when the need arises.
For instance, you’ll be telling your future assistant:
“Ok, Samantha, I want to edit this picture and then have it as a closing slide in my presentation.”
And your helper goes:
“You got it, Johnny.”
Done. You get your picture in your presentation.
Replaced by: WiGig
We already have wireless internet, chargers, headphones, and laptops.
No more than twenty years ago, having such technology as everyday items was unthinkable. With the progress speed we’ve picked up, wires will be entirely gone in three to five years.
The trouble with current WiFi is that it’s too slow for the amount of data we use, like VR and augmented reality. But the new Wireless Gigabit Alliance technology allows multi-gigabit per second speed of communication, which is exactly what we needed. It just needs time to get adopted.
And the headphone jack you’ve joked about since the iPhone 7 keynote. Yeah, that will be gone, too.
Replaced by: wearable AI and the internet of things
Smartphones are slowly dissolving into watches, ear-pods, your own hands, and other small wearables. People want them gone because it’s clearly not the best way to interact with the world anymore.
The futuristic vision is obviously a built-in connection via direct brain implants, like Neuralink or digital eye lenses. If it scares you, remember that trains were once called “the devil’s machines”.
So far, we’re stuck with less intrusive tools, like small wireless headphones or watches that can call, play music, and track your heart rate.
Home appliances will soon be converted into self-controlled and mainly voice-operated systems. Also, they will eventually be unified so you won’t have to use separate interfaces or commands for lights, kitchenware, and cleaning utilities.
You’ll get a real, actual “smart home” that welcomes you back from work, cooks you dinner, and kisses you goodnight (ok, scratch that, there should be a line somewhere).
Replaced by: all things cashless
We’re already almost cashless and we’ll soon forget about credit cards as well.
The only remaining ethical question on our way to becoming a completely cashless society is the privacy of our purchases. What if you are not interested in letting your bank know your sex toy preferences?
Norway refused to adopt a nationwide cashless system because they decided to let their people buy stuff privately. However, this doesn’t seem to be a general trend or a major concern for most countries.
And after all, even if we still have cash, credit cards are over for good.
We can expect Apple Pay, Android Pay, and all kinds of pays to take over plastic cards within the next few years. When paired with advanced fingerprint scanning, it will eliminate or dramatically reduce fraud, speed up transactions, and improve shopping.
The future shines upon us with its beautiful artificial intelligence, drone deliveries, and car-charging roads. And the coolest thing is we’ve lived up to witness it all.
See Also: 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider AI Automation for Small Business
The post 5 Everyday Things That Will Disappear Really Soon appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
You’re reading YES, I Gave My Power Away, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
– C.G. Jung
When I was younger I was all about romantic love. You know like in the movies. Where the girl is finally seen and fulfilled by the guy. I’ve watched Dirty Dancing countless times and knew it all by heart (also because of the dancing, but that’s another story). I just dreamed of finding that kind of love and my happy ever after.
I clearly remember how part of growing up was plain out scary for me. I felt afraid of the future – I think to some extent because I am a sensitive and emotional being, and in my late teens and early 20s there were so many emotions that felt overwhelming, which I didn’t know how to hold and process. I think it’s not that uncommon, and luckily I had strong support from friends and partners. But I feel like it’s been a journey of discovery, trial and error that has led me to understand more clearly what it means to be human, and especially what it means to step into my own power.
There’s a pattern that has followed me unconsciously for many, many years, which was about expecting others to make me happy. To pave the way for my desires and needs. I would dream of doing things and arriving somewhere in the future, but I would feel like it was up to others or outer circumstances to get there. Often a guy.
Ever since I was a teenager I dreamt of moving to a new country, to live in a foreign place. There was this part of me that longed to be free and act boldly. But looking closer into my choices I see that for a long time I would think “I wish my partner would want to move to a different country” or when being single; “I hope I meet a man who works internationally so we can live somewhere else”.
Especially in romantic relations so much of what I felt was projected onto the other person. I would feel lonely, empty, or afraid and instead of owning these emotions (I don’t think I was even really aware of them) I would react outwardly creating drama to distract myself or experience some other emotion instead.
It wasn’t until I felt like I lost everything that I started to see what was happening. My partner of seven years and I split up and as nauseating and heartbreaking as that was, somehow I came out stronger and more aware on the other side. I think for the first time in many years I really started to see what made me truly happy – without making it dependent on a guy.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” – Aristotle
In 2011 I went on a weeklong trip to Sicily on my own. I had been nudged to take some time to think things through by my dear friend and, at the time, co-founder of our common non-profit organization. What had started as an amazing adventure and exhilarating project of creating a non-profit together had begun to feel like a place where I couldn’t be fully myself. Looking back I see how once again I was expecting things of her that weren’t hers to own. I made it her problem to help me feel confident when all of my insecurities started to surface. Once we had this fun and light partnership, now I was, more often than not, being passive aggressive and taking my frustrations out on her. And that’s when it became clear that it was time for me to look within – to look at what I hadn’t been willing to look at.
In the airport, before heading to Italy I grabbed the book ‘Freedom’ by Jonathan Franzen, simply because of the title. I spent an intense week reading the book, which became like a conversation partner to me. While I was having a deeper conversation with myself about my choices, needs, and desires, it became clear that I had to leave our project and start doing what I really dreamed of: to travel.
Not too many months later, I went on my first longer solo-backpacking trip to Thailand, which included a four-day silent meditation retreat. I’ve never experienced such clarity about what made me happy, how I could find wholeness by going within, and what I needed to do, than during those four days. It felt as if I had come home to myself. I fell in love with Northern Thailand and knew I had to live there.
In November 2012 I traveled to Chiang Mai, unsure of when I would return. And the rest is history as they say…
I now know that it’s not about being alone or not needing other people, but it’s about creating self-awareness, gaining the actual skills to be in an intimate relationship with myself and learning to express my own needs, desires, and boundaries. I can make requests of others, but I can’t expect or demand them to do anything, and in the end, I’m the one who needs to make sure that I listen to myself.
I’m still a romantic deep down, and at the same time, I can’t tell you how liberating it feels to actually take the power back and take full responsibility for my life.
Some of the questions I ask myself these days that help me stay in my power include:
What makes my heart sing?
When do I give my power away?
Am I expecting others to do it for me?
How about you? Are you in a place where you take responsibility or do you often find yourself blaming others? I invite you to explore that…
Luise Jørgensen is a mindfulness coach who supports men and women to embody their personal power so they can live a fully expressed, wholehearted and meaningful life. She recently returned to Europe after having lived five years in Thailand, spending more than 4,000 hours immersed in mind and body practices. You can connect with her on her website, on and on Instagram where she explores her passion for mindful photography.
You’ve read YES, I Gave My Power Away, 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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Sig Nordal 