Why is it that all your friends seem to have such perfect and lovely lives? You see them traveling the world, enjoying sunny holidays, playing with their cute pets, and raising happy families. Well it’s true, but the truth is that everybody has good and bad days. What you see on the internet is people promoting the best parts of their life – nobody wants to advertise the bad parts – it would be too dramatic.

But we all have some bad days every now and then, and depression is a real problem, especially among working class people who often feel like their efforts and going no where and are bored with life. There are a lot of things we do when we are suffering from depression that stop us from recovering as fast as possible. Oftentimes when we should be out and about learning new things and distracting ourselves, we hide ourselves inside with self pity and refuse to accept help. It’s the biggest problem depression exists. We need to stay away from bad habits and accept positive change. Here are a few bad habits we have when we are sad, the exact things we should not be doing. What should we do instead? The opposite! Stay healthy, stay active.

1. Spending too much time on the internet

Isolation is our biggest problem when we are depressed – we should be socializing and distracting ourselves but it is hard for us to get beyond our struggles in our mind. When we stay at home, what do we have to do? We play on the computer. We spend all day on our phone looking at others people’s happy lives, pictures, and events, and it just drags us down deeper and deeper. Why can’t we just be like them? They look so happy and we are not. Why do their lives look so perfect and ours are the way it is now?

The problem with social media is that we spend all day comparing their lives to ours, without remembering the fundamental fact that everyone has complicated and emotional lives, and that we only advertise our highlights on the internet. Of course everyone looks happy on Facebook – we are promoting our best parts. But when we are depressed we forget that everyone has a colourful and varied life and we suffer from tunnel vision.

Stay away from social unless you have a hardened sense of reality and can remind yourself to look past the blur and simply feel gratitude for the uplifting pictures other people will be posting.

2. Eating junk food

Yum! Cake, chips, crisps, chocolate…all these delicious things seem to be so much more delicious when we are suffering from depression. The last thing you should be eating is junk though. Your mind is under enough duress when you are depressed, and you need to keep your body in tact during this stressful time. There are plenty of comfort foods that also satisfy the sweet or salty tooth, but don’t involve eating an entire box of ice cream. Think about mom’s rice pudding, a nice fruit shake, or some gluten free desserts from a local cafe. Same great taste, not as much stress on your body.

3. Smoking…anything

I had a friend who suffered from depression for a while, and in the depths of it he immediately relapsed into an old smoking habit of his. It’s easy to want to smoke since it appears to calm our nerves and gives us something to do with our hands and mind, or perhaps gives us a reason to go outside. The truth is though, that it is a nasty habit that reconfigures what your brain and body needs, and acts as an appetite suppressant when you are probably already suffering from a decreased appetite.

My friend ended up getting to over a pack a day before he healed himself and quit cold turkey the next day. By the end of it, he barely ate and could not taste food anymore. Luckily he recovered completely and went on to live a healthy life. Just don’t do it.

4. Drinking alcohol

Perhaps some would resort to drinking alcohol instead, and the reasons are too easy to see. It’s legal, openly available and socially acceptable to drink – when you are depressed and have nothing to do, why not drink more? It gives you a reason to go out, or gives you a reason to stay in. Unfortunately, it’s not a good reason.

Alcohol does to us exactly what we should not be doing – limiting our brains, making us lazy, and actually poisoning us. We should be doing proactive things that stimulate our minds and distract us – not the opposite. It’s easy to go out and buy a bottle of wine and watch a movie – we probably do it anyways. But with a cloud of depression, a bottle of wine or beer is just a toxic combination that leads down a slippery slope to more regression, when we should be moving forward with our recovery.

5. Staying inside

The best recovery for depression is going out, meeting people, seeing your friends, and exercising. Unfortunately, that’s exactly the opposite of what we want when we are unhappy. We want to stay inside, flick through movies, listen to the same music over and over again, and have nothing to do with people. We feel trapped, and we do it to ourselves. The image of a sad person in a dark and quiet house is not just social, it’s real. Do yourself a favour and spend as little time inside as you can. It will seem futile to even go outside and go for a walk – you may feel frustrated or lonely, but anything is better than staying in. Insist that your friends ask you out, and take up the offer. You need to be distracted.

6. Avoiding our friends

Comfort is important in our life and even more so when we are suffering from acute depression. Therefore it is 100% ok to bother your friends when you feel depressed and ask for their help – that’s what they’re there for. What should you not do? Avoid your friends. Do not feel like you are bothering them. You should be, and when they ask you to go out with them, you need to accept the invitation and go with them. They are trying to help you and mean well. You are not a burden on anyone. Everyone knows that we all go through dark times. It’s acceptable and you should enjoy the hospitality. At the end of the day, your friends and family are the most important things to you. Enjoy their love and reciprocate it.

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Our perception is often guided by our personality. It is often said that we see what we know to be there.

Take just now this quick and easy quiz and let us find out your darkest secret based on what you see first!

Can We Guess Your Deepest, Darkest Secret Based On What You See First?

 

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Leave a comment below to tell us how accurate was the answer!

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Most people think that being an entrepreneur is difficult and complicated. While some aspects of entrepreneurship might prove complicated, it’s not all that difficult. What’s important is that you have dedication and knowledge about this sort of work and that you play it smart. Not everything will be easy, and you’ll most likely encounter some obstacles along the way. The key is motivation and commitment because success doesn’t come when you give up on the first hurdle. If you want to become a successful entrepreneur, then these tips are perfect for you. Here are twelve success tips for young and aspiring entrepreneurs!

Give yourself challenges

Life isn’t easy, and it will give you a hard time. No job is easy, no matter what people think. I’ve had people say that writing is a piece of cake only for them to go back on their opinion after they try writing something that I usually write. It’s best if you set yourself some challenges and overcome them. You’ll be feeling much better about yourself, and you’ll be very positive. Finally, you will be able to say ‘Yes! I did it!’

Get over your fears

Your fears can be your downfall. We understand that you might be scared of the unknown and that you can’t do some things that require you to step into the unknown but trust us, there’s nothing to worry about. Fight your fears and show them who the boss is!

Love what you do

I’ve always said that you shouldn’t do something you don’t love or work at a workplace where you don’t feel comfortable. Your potential is massive, and you shouldn’t confine yourself doing something you hate. If you truly want to become an entrepreneur, you’ll need to love the business because only then you can become maximally successful!

Plan your financing

Controlling your finances can make or break your business. Divide your finances accordingly and with the future in mind. Don’t simply spend money on unnecessary things just because you can – be smart and spend only what you have to. Leave the rest for emergencies because they are bound to happen at least once!

Be willing to take risks

Risk-taking is widely accepted as one of the most powerful traits you can have. Sure, risk takers sometimes make a mistake, and they end up causing more damage than good. But on the other hand, once they realize their goals, the gains are significant. Playing it safe isn’t something you should be doing if you’re an entrepreneur, but you also shouldn’t make rash decisions. Take calculated risks to prevent any big problems from appearing! If you plan on selling high-risk goods, you will need to find a good high risk payment gateway.

Know what you want

You can’t be running around trying to accomplish everything. It’s not how the world works. You also shouldn’t try to become an entrepreneur until you figure out what exactly you want. If you don’t do that, you’re going to find yourself in a weird situation where you don’t know what to do because you don’t know what you want. Don’t let this happen!

Listen to complaints

The people around you are the ones that notice if you’re doing something wrong. They will come to you and tell you what to fix, and you should listen to them. You aren’t perfect; no one is. Try to improve anything that isn’t working out!

Learn from your mistakes

Once your colleagues or workers tell you what you’re doing wrong, fix it. After that, look back at your mistakes and try to learn from them. There was a reason behind each mistake – try to figure out those reasons. Don’t repeat the same mistakes because chances are, the next time you do; it might be even worse than the first time.

Take action

You should constantly be working on making your business and yourself better. Even when you achieve success and think that you are in a position to relax; you shouldn’t simply sit around and do nothing. If you don’t care enough about your business, especially when it becomes successful – it will start falling apart.

Put in your time

Each job or activity that you do requires your full attention and time. No one likes people who don’t finish their job completely or people that don’t care about what they’re doing. Plus, if you end up like this, it will cause major issues with your business and reputation!

Set goals

Don’t go about your business without clearly set goals. Goals are great because you can constantly evaluate your business’s success and if something isn’t working out, you’ll be able to figure out what to change. You should always have clearly set goals for yourself and your business.

Understand your customers

Your customers are what make your business what it is. You need to be connected to your customers because you’ll need to talk to them, promote your product to them, and various other tasks that depend on your understanding of your customers!

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Irrespective of our age and gender, we all want beautiful skin that is free of blemishes, pimples, dark circles and other skin problems. But the science behind taking care of your skin is not very complicated

Want to know the best ways to get clear, glowing skin? Let’s take a look at the following tips.

Moisturize

If you are a person who suffers from dry skin, then it is particularly critical for you to moisturize your skin daily using a good moisturizer.

Choose a moisturizer that contains the ingredient glycerin as it has the capability to lock in moisture. The goal is to restore and replenish moisture levels for better skin. Also, remember to reapply the moisturizer after you shower irrespective of the fact whether you shower in the morning or night. The need to moisturize is very high in the winter as the skin is more prone to dryness.

Choose The Right Cleanser

Always be sure that you are using a cleanser that is not very strong for your skin. Strong cleansers may eliminate natural oils from your skin. If the products are made for blemish prone skin, then it might result in over-drying and will make the skin vulnerable to many environmental hazards.

Exfoliate

It is important to exfoliate your skin regularly to get rid of dead skin cells and also to improve skin turnover. This will drastically improve your skin’s texture by adding glow and softness to your skin. To boost blood flow, massage your skin using a facial scrub in a circular motion.

Be extra careful with the eyes

It is important to be extra careful with the skin around your eyes. It is said to be ten times more delicate than the skin present on other parts of your face. So, you should do ample research on everything from choosing an eye makeup remover to selecting items for cleansing. Some cosmetics can cause irritation and itchiness. So be extra careful.

UV Protection

Do you think that the sun’s rays can cause damage to your skin only in summer? Well, UV rays can be proficient in other seasons as well. So, always apply sunscreen before stepping out. You can also ask your dermatologist for advice on getting a sunscreen that will not be very harsh on your skin as you plan on wearing it often.

Think Holistic

Take care of your skin from inside out. You can do so by drinking lots of water, eating water-rich vegetables and fruits. This will help you stay hydrated and will make your skin radiant and plump. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is needed to combat tight, flaky and dry skin.

Making better decisions regarding your diet can also help a lot in improving the overall health of your skin. Ensure that you consume dark leafy greens as they provide omega – 3 fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E. These nutrients will nourish your body and also give you a glowing complexion.

Getting at least 8 hours of sleep is extremely crucial as your skin ends to repair itself during your sleep.

Exercise

Exercising not only keeps you fit but also gives a glow to your skin. When you improve your heart rate through cardio and aerobic exercises, you are providing an adequate source of oxygenated blood to your skin. Regular exercise can also keep stress-related hormones in check. This way it can combat aging and aid in collagen production.

The process of sweating will cleanse your pores and combat problems like acne. Once you finish working out, wipe your face with a fragrance-free wipe. Avoid exercising with makeup on.

Other Tips

•  Limit your Caffeine intake as it can negatively impact your skin. Caffeine can contribute to skin dryness and will make moisturizing less effective. If your caffeine intake is more than the recommended limit, it can cause dark circles and dehydrated skin.

•  Never squeeze or press your pimples. It may leave permanent scars on your skin. Refrain from smoking and alcohol as they can negatively impact your skin.

•  Use a toner to shrink enlarged pores and keep your skin fresh.

•  Use a nourishing lip balm. This will keep your lips healthy.

Following the tips listed above can be of great help in fighting skin problems. Be ready to welcome healthy and glowing skin.

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No matter how old you are, breakups are hard and life changing, even if they are little flings. It’s something that adds colour to our life, and sometimes it’s a dark colour when our relationship is coming to an end. But fear not! Being single is actually a lot of fun – when you’re not busy catching up with friends you can enjoy picking up new hobbies, learning new things, and reflecting on your life to improve your future. You always have to look on the bright side of things.

1. It’s time to get things done!

Look at this – you’re recently single and suddenly your schedule has a lot of empty space. Time to get all those things done that you’ve always wanted to get to. Take a private trip to Mexico, take pictures on the beach, meet people, date, go to bars, start jogging and exercising again, learn to write poetry…anything! You can do anything, all to yourself, without trying to make awkward plans with anyone else first. If you’ve always wanted to travel the world, now’s the time to do it. If you’ve ever wanted to learn something time consuming, now’s the time to do it. Get busy.

2. Be you first!

If you are in a relationship with someone that allows you to be yourself first and foremost, then you are one of the lucky ones. But to many many people, it’s just a dream. Many women and men are in relationships where they are forced to take on a new personality or adapt to new conditions because they feel forced into it. Maybe your spouse doesn’t allow you to enjoy astrology, or doesn’t approve of your “nights out” with the guys. Could be anything. If you’re single, now’s your time to do whatever you want! Recollect who you are, dig up your personality and expose it to the world in all gusto. Go for it! Show us who you are, and evolve that person even more.

3. Learn from your mistakes

If you’re single and coming from a relationship, chances are that something didn’t work out. Don’t start blaming her or him or you or it, or whoever – review what happened and identify your errors. You probably made some wrong moves and despite years of practicing living your life, it’s hard to admit that we can still make mistakes at it. But we do. Look at what mistakes you made and try harder not to do them again. You are not a bad person, you just said the wrong thing again. It’s not a big deal, because next time you finally won’t do it again, and you will feel better for succeeding yourself.

4. Living a zero drama life

No boyfriend, no problems. The only drama you can bring into your life now is the stuff you attract yourself. When you’re single, there’s no jealousy, lying, cheating, ex’s to deal with, parents, in-laws, nothing. Just you and the world, all the millions of people. Go out and interact on a different level and enjoy the freedom of peace of mind.

5. No more balancing emotions

Do you love her? Do you love him? Or don’t you? What’s an appropriate gift? Do you really like that habit of his? How will you feel next weekend? Say goodbye to all those issues in your new single life – the only emotions you need are your own. You feel exactly how you want, whenever you want, and don’t have to explain it to anyone. Brilliant! You’ll have peace of mind and heart. If you need attention or emotion, you can now date and experiment with others. If you need time alone, you have it. Perfect.

6. See your friends more often

Your friends always commented that they never saw you anymore when you were with that guy. You never made it to game nights anymore because you were spending too much time with her. When you’re single your friends can only complain about seeing you too much because you will have all the time in the world for them. Go out and have fun with them, enjoy gossip and comfort food and go on weekend trips with different people.

7. Someone else will come along

Maybe you’re just stuck hating everything because you’re single now. Well, let me end by assuring you that someone else will be coming along, at any time that is appropriate for it to happen. That’s how you met the last person, wasn’t it? You might be a little depressed now because your phone isn’t vibrating as much and you don’t have someone to cuddle with, but it’s all meant to be. Focus on all those fun things I mentioned up there instead, and enjoy the time you have to yourself.

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With this being a time of ever increasing change in our world, from governments and politics to climate change and human rights, many people seek to fight for one cause or another.  In truth, “fighting” for anything comes from a more negative energy space that aligns with anger, fear, judgment, frustration or irritation; taking the cause of choice further away from positive change, instead of in the direction of it.  When that negative energy is amplified by the masses, chaos can ensue and people begin to turn away because the negative energy drags them down; the cause gets lost in the shuffle as a result.

Taking a more enlightened perspective can make it possible to be engaged and advocate without being dragged down by or engaging with negativity.  A mindful approach that is centered on discernment and not judgement, understanding and not demeaning, kindness and not hate, action oriented and not reactive; is possible with a practice of mindfulness.  No matter what is occurring in our world, maintaining your own peaceful state makes the biggest impact for positive change.

It is absolutely possible to create change in our world, but the ballot box and protest march will never be as powerful as your own vibration, actions and words.  Many people are passionate about a candidate or cause that advocates for a desired change.  Whatever the issues, our passion can be an incredible motivator and communicator; but when that passion turns from heartfelt, positive enthusiasm to sarcasm, frustration, resentment or anger; you go from advocating for change to complaining about it.  That energy only creates a negative force instead of a positive paradigm; making the very change you seek slip further and further away.

Mindfulness is understanding that true change and peace are not about any outward manifestations in our world; they can only come from within.  Life is absolutely what you make it despite any external circumstances; so in truth there are in no injustices, but rather lessons that individuals need to learn or teach on their path (no matter how difficult they are for us to comprehend). Our reactions are what create the problems and take us away from the source of peace that we each truly are.  Much of the media, some corporations and many political systems are in the business of fear mongering; they must make us sick so we need them to get better.  Deciding to shift your focus from complaint and argument to restraint and understanding is mindfulness.

If you desire change of some sort, it will not solely come from any vote you cast; there must be action and it must be a complete reflection of that desired change.  For instance, if you desire peace on Earth; choose to conduct yourself in a peaceful manner and lead by example to strive to bring calm wherever you go and to live peacefully (ahimsa).  Or, if you want to promote honesty in business, conduct yourself in that manner by avoiding corruption and insincerity.  To fight for peace and protest corruption only makes the focus the very things you to change.  To mindfully advocate for change, it must first come from within and you simply must live it and spread it wherever you go; making yourself a walking and talking example of it and focusing your time and energy on it to create more and more of it (it’s truly a ripple effect).

Here are 5 ways mindfulness can create peace and positive change:

1. Energy mindfulness:

ENERGY IS EVERYTHING!  The Law of Attraction doesn’t judge, it is constantly working for each and every person all the time.  What we focus our time and energy on individually matters; you can only control your part in the bigger picture of the world.  Being mindful of your energy is vital in creating what you desire, no matter the circumstance.  World peace is created one person at a time, it starts with your own individual state of peace that must come from within.  Create practices that help you be more peaceful and you become an example for it, inspiring others to do the same.  Being angry, irritated, sad, judgmental or unkind, even if it is justified, takes you in the opposite direction.

2. Action mindfulness:

The way you behave and treat others matters.  Kindness matters.  Action mindfulness is how we lead by example and be the change.  By embodying your beliefs, you show people the way and create more of it.  You cannot on the one hand speak against discrimination and unfairness and than turn around and make assumptions about people; categorizing them by superficial and stereotypical speculations.  Act with discernment, not judgment.

3. Discernment mindfulness:

Discernment is about making choices that align with positive, heart-centered beliefs and feelings.  It is not about judging other people for how they choose to live, or even what they believe.  We can never truly understand the path (or history) of another and what creates their beliefs, we can only control our reactions and our choices.  When you react negatively to the toxic or hurtful behavior of others, you add more negative energy into the world.    Use discernment mindfulness to focus on aligning with your positive beliefs, without engaging in low vibrating energy by reacting with negativity.

4. Understanding mindfulness:

Understanding is defined as a state of cooperative or mutually tolerant relations between people.  The truth is, we do not have to agree to be kind or to be understanding or to simply accept that the beliefs of others do not have to affect our purpose (unless we choose to let them).  Anger will never bring about positive change, because in anger we become part of the problem and move further away from being part of the solution or leading others.  Understanding is about behaving in alignment with your beliefs while mindfully advocating for them.

5. Mindful advocation:

Our world is currently filled with many frustrated people over government, corporations, treatment of our planet and the sheer inhumanity that can exist.  Many see their role as being an agent for change by criticizing what they do not like or want; taking it to the streets, asking for laws to ensure things change or organizing ways to harm those they view as the cause of injustice.  While some of these methods might bring about a temporary fix, lasting results of a desired outcome are better in the form of the change you seek.  Gandhi did not say we should talk, yell, argue or force the change we want to see in the world; he said to BE THE CHANGE.  Anything other than that simply perpetuates that for which you supposedly fight against.  Fighting is a negative force, it never leads to positivity (and certainly not to peace).  Be mindful in your advocation.  Seek not to convert nor condemn; rather merely to convey by being the example of what you desire in the world.  As more and more and more of us turn inward for peace and express it outward with our actions, words and deeds, we will be able to have truly lasting transformation.  That is the kind of change that can shift souls and create an awakening.  Anything else is divisiveness in disguise; no matter how right or just the cause may seem.

If you seek to promote positive change of any kind; your must first seek it within and then extend it without.  The world becomes a better place every time one person decides to become a better version of his or her self; sharing that goodness with others without forcing opinions or passing judgment for not being or thinking the same.  We are truly one, each connected; do you want to be connected to anger or peace?  Once you are the reflection of your desires, you can only be surrounded by them; that is how mindfulness changes the world, one person at a time, with a powerful ripple effect of love and peace.

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“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

Listen to any motivational speaker and they will emphasize the importance of having a positive attitude.  The same goes for any successful person who has shared publicly the attributes that have led to their success.  While some may believe that a positive attitude is something we either have or not we are always in control of our thinking and feelings and therefore capable of changing our attitudes at any time. All that we need is the desire to change, the knowledge of what we need to do to change and the willingness to do the work that is required to make that change.

Here are 7 Habits of people who have developed highly positive attitudes.

Developed their emotional intelligence

Realizing that their emotions are what motivate and drive them, positive people have learned how to manage their emotions.  We all experience ups and downs regularly in our lives. Frustration, disappointment, fear, sadness and anger are feelings that are part of being human.  While experiencing these feelings like everyone else, positive people don’t let themselves become overwhelmed by negative feelings. Instead they manage them and continue on with their lives, realizing that everything passes with time. They also don’t make decisions when feeling strong emotions but wait until they are able to think rationally and are on an even keel.  They force themselves to keep moving and take on tasks even when they don’t feel like doing so, realizing that once they get moving their feelings and attitude will improve.  They are aware that beginnings are often difficult but things will improve once they get further along and they will feel a sense of accomplishment for having overcome their initial resistance and carried on.

Believe in themselves and their abilities

While having experienced failures like everyone else, positive people know that to be successful we need to take risks and push their boundaries.  They approach new challenges with the belief that they will either be successful or take away lessons from the experience that will lead them to be successful in the future.

Continuously set goals

Positive people feel the need to accomplish and are constantly striving to reach new goals that they have set. They use goals to mark their progress and as a way of motivating them to stay on target. Goal setting is a way of life and once they have reached one goal they set another one.  Having something to constantly strive for adds substance and meaning to their lives. While they are happy and grateful for what they have, they are never satisfied, always striving to learn, grow and accomplish more.  They are curious and always looking for new ways to push their barriers and strive to reach their potential.

Have developed an attitude of gratitude

While they are always looking for challenges, positive people are grateful for what they have.  They look for ways to thank those who have helped them along the way and are careful to give credit where it is due.  Regardless of their circumstances or the conditions of their upbringing they are very aware of and thankful for the gifts that have been bestowed upon them.  They realize that being happy with where they are will help them achieve more in their lives.

Always look for the good in all situations

Positive people are a pleasure to be around since they tend to bring the best to all situations that they are part of. They frequently use humor to brighten up and liven up events and look for the silver lining in everything that goes wrong.  Instead of looking to blame they look for solutions and lessons that can be gleaned from every situation and event that has not gone well.

Surround themselves with positive people

Misery loves company and miserable people will quickly realize that they will not get any support or encouragement from those who are positive.  Positive people also love company, but in the form of other positive people.  Their demeanor and energy that they emit tends to attract other positive people to them.  Surrounded by other people similar to them has the benefit of helping them stay on the bright side and even increase it.

Continuously learning from successful people

Whether attending lectures, reading an autobiography of a successful person or listening to a motivational recording while driving, positive people are on a life long journey of continuous improvement.  They frequently have mentors and are always seeking to learn from those who they consider to have been successful in the area of their lives that they have a strong interest in.  Highly passionate, they are constantly asking questions and looking for ways to learn and improve themselves.  They are the people that it feels good to be around as they show an interest in our lives and are always asking us questions about ourselves.

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We all try to be the best person we can be, and although some of us know that we have some bad habits, we ultimately never want to be accused of being narrow minded or ignorant. We should try to be as open to ideas and possibilities as we can – after all, that is how science, math, religion and policy developed to create the world that we have today. The goal of humanity is to learn, share and dream together so that we can learn as much as we can and develop to be as strong as we can.

Unfortunately, racism, phobias, and narrow mindedness persists. Here are a few traits of narrow minded people, and how you can avoid those kinds of habits yourself.

1. The “know it all”

This is the kind of person we have all had in our life sometimes, and try not to become ourselves. The know it all; he or she is first person who speaks up, and knows the answer to everything, regardless of what you tell them.

A video of a comic news reporter went viral recently when he went to a political rally and spoke to people about the current President, asking the uninformed public generic questions and receiving laughable responses. One lady was not shy to accuse the President of many things – terrorism, lying, being of a different religion than he claims, and other such offenses that beg research. She could not be swayed by any other opinion – her mind was made up.

These kinds of people elicit a negative reaction in us because as human beings we like to learn and debate. We don’t mind being proven wrong if we can learn something new, and we are open to new perspectives. The know it all is not interested in learning anything new – they have already learned everything there is, and are not shy to tell you about it.

2. Easy to pass judgement

People with a closed mind are not afraid to point fingers and judge everyone around them in public. I think we all do this to some degree but the catch is that we know when we are doing it, know when we are serious or joking, and know when to stop. Narrow minded people judge others with serious intent, without knowing anything about them. They don’t mind assuming that guys with dreadlocks are poor hippies, that people with tattoos have impure lifestyle choices, or any other sort of stereotype that could be done.

We have to avoid stereotypes and judgements and see the forest for the trees. That we all have a backstory, regardless of how we look or choose to do. Ask, and who knows what you may learn.

3. Deeply habitual

There is nothing wrong with being a creature of habit – in fact, it’s healthy for you to develop a routine that you enjoy and apply it to your life. The danger comes when the habits are bad for you mentally or physically. This could be a subconscious addiction to your phone, or develop into a fear of traveling or leaving the house – things like that. If you become too attached to your routine, you will be unable to escape your comfort zone, and run the risk of becoming, perhaps, a crazy cat lady. We should enjoy our habits but not let it control our lives.

4. Tendency to assume everything

Narrow minded people are ok with assuming pretty much anything. Stereotypes, tastes, judgements, concepts or ideas – nothing is immune. These are situations when people refuse the opposite; they are convinced that they do not like red wine, that they will be uncomfortable flying, that they do not like pumpkin pie – all silly examples, but examples nonetheless that lead to narrow minded behaviour and do not let you reach outside your bounds of life that you’ve already made for yourself.

5. Get offended easily

Some people have very rigid values, others not so much. Older generations for example are strongly tied into the ideas that they had when they were growing up during the 40s, 50s and 60s, when social and civil rights were a few steps behind where we are at now. People who stay in their bubble are only exposed to those ideas that they have always had, and are prone to become easily offended by outside tastes and perspectives. The idea is that we should never be afraid or shy to learn about how other people do things. The more we attach ourselves to our predisposed beliefs, the more we distance ourselves from other ideas that we could be learning from.

6. Xenophobia

Likewise, these people may be the same people who carry fear – fear of age, race, religion, etc. Xenophobia is the fear of strange things, but relates to anything – homophobia or racism applies. These are the kinds of people that may be strongly opposed to immigration or international aid; people who fear muslims; people who fear refugees. Whether it is a good or bad idea when our countries accept refugees is one thing, but to fear and criticize it is another, usually when the course of it generally does not affect most of our personal lives at all. This is fear, this is xenophobia.

7. Having trust issues

With all this rooting that narrow mindedness bestows, it makes sense then that those with a closed mind have trust issues. They may not trust the baker because he is Indian, or the product, because it is from Vietnam. Perhaps there is a tactile reason for those examples, but the psyche roots deeper into our head and we begin to be unable to trust things we normally might trust, affecting our friends and family in the process. Instead, we want to be able to love and trust as much as we can, and hope that others love and trust us as well.

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The next time you’re feeling burned-out, overwhelmed or just ready to slack off, don’t be afraid to kiss it all goodbye.

Turns out, doing nothing is something intelligent people do all  the time.  So says a three-decades old research study from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Researchers determined in the experiment, via a series of tests ,whether a pool of candidates fell into either a cerebral or non-cerebral category.  They then monitored the activity of both groups of people for a full week.

Their findings, considered both robust and highly statistical, were published in The Journal of Health.  It showed the “thinking” group as far less active than the “non-thinking” group.  At the end of the experiment they concluded more intelligent people tend to be a little, well, lazier.

We’ve all heard the idiom ‘work smarter, not harder’.  This study proves factual evidence to back it up.  Others who have conducted similar studies liken this to the hamster wheel conundrum.

A hamster goes ‘round and ‘round, working harder and harder begetting the same results.  In this routine he gives himself, and his imagination, zero time to see the bigger picture.

Shut off your phone, shrug off the guilt.

The truth is, thinkers or non-thinkers, we all need step away from the hustle and bustle from time to time.  In fact, our bodies and minds crave it.

Exhausted, overworked, stressed out, just plain out of ideas?

These feelings are signaling our bodies; pleading with us to slow down.  Quite often, it’s only when the mental or physical strain becomes so great that we finally heed the warnings, and step away.

This study suggests that it is not only more beneficial for our productivity to steer clear of the breakdown, but literally the smarter choice.

The problem?  Sitting idle can be very, very difficult for most of us.

Most of us are firm believers in the philosophy that doing is equal to being productive, stepping away feels counterintuitive.  This idea has been cemented deeper in our minds, over the last 10 years, with smartphones barely allowing us a moment of downtime.

Are we accomplishing more by working harder?

If this study tells us something, the answer is no. Working all the time, in fact, can be in direct opposition to productivity.

We all have something called a Default Mode Network (DMN).  This mode is the state our brain goes into early in the morning, late at night or during the day, when you are focused on nothing in particular.

Essentially your DMN lights up when your activity slows down.

Researchers believe going into our DMN mode at intermittent times during the day increases our creativity, productivity, forms stronger memories and reenergizes our enthusiasm.

Our DMN also improves our sense of self. They found that after a moment of reprieve people actually feel more confident in their endeavors when they got back to them.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why the occasional day of doing nothing is not only good for your health, but good for your pursuits.

1. Napping for productivity

Resting, napping, or going out for a stroll in the middle of the day may seem odd to some.  Though, it is a method practiced by many great thinkers, including Albert Einstein, and Salvador Dali.

Dali practiced a method he called “slumber with key”.  Everyday, Dali would take a micro-nap while holding a key between his forefinger and thumb. Soon after falling asleep, the key would inevitably slip through his fingers to the floor, and he would wake up.  Thus accomplishing a micro-nap, which he relied upon to revitalize his mind.

2. Daydreaming for creativity

When you daydream, or even just let you mind wander, you brain enters into default mode as mentioned above.  This is the same mode you enter during meditation.  To ensure you get into this mode at least once a day you can schedule it through a morning meditation practice. When your mind is in this space you unconsciously form new connections, find solutions to problems, and new ideas come forth.

3. Laziness for ingenuity

Bill Gates was caught saying, ‘I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.’

Laziness is okay as long as you don’t let it hinder your progress.  When used in a proactive, creative way, laziness can be a virtue.  It allows you to find new, novel ways to solve a problem as opposed to following traditional methods.

Take a breather, turn off the news, let go of the worry and zone out.  Tomorrow is a new day!

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Uncertainty—it’s something we all encounter in life in varying degrees.  It’s something that most of us avoid at all costs because it’s an uncomfortable space to inhabit.  But what is uncertainty really?  When you pull back the curtain, the motivation comes through.  It’s fear.  I like to think of fear as an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real.  I used to be a big fear junkie.  At times its grip on me would be so severe it would paralyze me from moving forward or making decisions that were pertinent to living the life I truly wanted.

Right now, in the U.S., there is great uncertainty.  A presidential election just took place and there are many in this country right now that are unhappy, distraught and downright scared for what the future holds.  Uncertainty can get a bad rap, yes.  However, uncertainty can be a tremendous gift.  While looking at it from one perspective may show fear, viewing it from another sheds a different light—one of limitless possibility.

When we are in the throes of the fearful side of uncertainty, though, it can keep us stuck.  The fear cycle keeps perpetuating and the situation either goes nowhere or starts a steady decline.  The good news is we always have a choice.  We can take control over the situation by how we react to it and perceive it.  When I realized this, things started to open up and the positive aspects of uncertainty expanded.

How to embrace uncertainty:

Be Kind

It is absolutely essential that you stop beating yourself up.  We can have a tendency to be our own worst critic and that doesn’t serve us one bit.  Take the time to be gentle with yourself.  Regardless of your situation and the level of uncertainty, casting blame or being overly critical does not serve you.  Exercise kindness toward yourself and others because we’re all dealing with something.

Flip It

It is so easy to get caught up in the dreaded “what if” game of worst case scenarios.  That isn’t healthy.  We replay it over and over again and find ourselves worrying about something that hasn’t even happened or may never happen!  Worrying about something takes the same amount of energy as being hopeful.  Why not make the choice to use your energy to be positively minded?  Turn those “what if’s” around to be something positive and get excited about it!  Take the negative, the worry, the doubt and flip it in your favor.  The future doesn’t exist, we have to create it, so why not start creating positive scenarios.

Stillness

Our minds can go a million miles an hour with over 60,000 thoughts a day!  When we’re in uncertainty, we can go into overdrive with chaotic worrisome thoughts that trigger like dominos going from one negative thought to the next and into a very troublesome downward spiral.  When we take the time to get still and centered, we can more easily find ways to quiet those thoughts.  This doesn’t have to look like sitting on a mountaintop for hours on end meditating.  This can be five minutes with your eyes closed, listening to soothing music.  Or five minutes walking through nature.  Or five minutes of reciting a positive affirmation.  Yes, those thoughts will still try to invade your mind.  However, if you let them in and let them pass through without judging them, they won’t stay and you’ll eventually return to a more peaceful state.  Quiet time is essential in this very busy age with constant demands and increasingly fast technology.  Going into stillness not only helps us to get more control over our thoughts, but to slow down and get back into the flow of life.

Be of Value

Giving massive value is one of my favorite ways to move out of shaky uncertainty and into positive possibility.  When we’re spinning in our thoughts and letting fear get its grips on us magnifying the negative end of uncertainty, we are internally focused.  We’re consumed with our own agenda.  However, when we take the focus off of ourselves and elect to give or provide value to others, our negative thoughts and magnification of uncertainty simmer down.  They take a backseat.  When we are in a state of giving from our hearts to contribute value to a person, place, thing, or cause, our focus becomes external.  We not only benefit others by providing value, we receive the benefit of knowing we’ve done something good and as we continue to do this, our feelings of positivity grow, shifting our focus.

As we move through all of these stages, we start to feel better.  When we feel better, we place ourselves in a more advantageous energetic position to get ourselves unstuck, to start moving forward toward what we want, to leave behind the negativity of uncertainty.  We start to embrace the positive aspects of uncertainty like excitement, adventure, and miracles!  When we take the time to move through these four steps, we access our own powers of transformation, our own magical alchemy laced with the potential to move us toward what we desire most.

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