Friday, 8 January 2016

10 Uplifting Things To Remember When Your Heart is Breaking.

Getting your heartbroken is scary. Getting dumped is horrifying.
Getting rejected is frightening. But nothing is scarier than the
fact that you may have had nice love and you selected the
absence of pain as an alternative.
It is perhaps easier to go through life being closed off to love.
It is perhaps safer and it may be painless. It could be simpler.
It might be less complicated. But it is going to actually be
extra boring. More colourless. More lifeless. And an entire lot
extra empty.
When your heart is breaking, just like the muffled sound of a
distant gunshot. It would not physically pierce your skin or tear
you to pieces, however the sensation is physically present –
the paralysing discomfort of realizing that one thing you took
for granted is leaving for good.
Although it’s hard to just accept at first, that is truly a good
signal, having a broken heart. It means you may have
cherished one thing, you have loved something, you will have
tried for one thing, and you’ve got life educate you.
Life will try to break you down sometimes, nothing and
nobody can utterly protect you from this reality. Remaining
alone and hiding from the world won’t either, for limitless,
stagnant solitude can even break you with unhealthy nostalgia
and craving.
You have to stand back up and put your self out there once
more. Your heart is stronger than you realize. I’ve been there
and I’ve seen heartbreak through to the other side. It takes
time and persistence.
You will have moments where you sob on the floor in your
bedroom. Moments wear you tear up slightly but blink it away
because you’re in public. Moments where your outward
appearance looks calm and collected but your insides are
crumbling. Every day you will feel differently and react
differently than the day before. Don’t try to plan it out. Don’t
try to understand it. Just let yourself be, let yourself feel, and
let yourself heal.
Deep heartbreak is kind of like being lost in the woods –
every direction leads to nowhere at first. When you are
standing in a forest of darkness, you cannot see any light that
could ever lead you home. But if you wait for the sun to rise
again, and listen when someone assures you that they
themselves have stood in that same dark place, and have
since moved forward with their life, often-times this will bring
the hope that’s needed.
It’s so hard to give you advice when you’ve got a broken
heart, but some words can heal, and give you hope. You are
stronger than you know!

10 Uplifting Things To Remember When Your
Heart is Breaking!

1. The person you loved in the past, who treated you like dirt
repeatedly, has nothing intellectually or spiritually to offer
you in the present moment, but more headaches and
heartache. You can mull it over and obsess and obsess
about how things turned out – what you did wrong or
should have done differently – but there’s no point. It will
NOT change anything right now!

2. Some chapters in our lives have to close without closure.
There’s no point in losing yourself by trying to hold on to
what’s not meant to stay. Someday you’re going look back
on this time in your life as such an important time of
grieving and growing. You will see that you were in
mourning and your heart was breaking, but your life was
changing.

3. Life and God both have greater plans for you that don’t
involve crying at night or believing that you’re broken. It’s
always better to be alone than to be in bad company. And
when you do decide to give someone a chance, do so
because you’re truly better off with this person. Don’t do it
just for the sake of not being alone.

4. When someone rejects you it doesn’t mean you need to
also reject yourself or think of yourself as less worthy. It
doesn’t mean that nobody will ever want you any more.
Remember that there are billions of people in the world
and only ONE person has rejected you. And it only hurts
so bad right now because, to you, that one person’s
opinion represented the opinion of the whole world. But
that’s not the truth. Sometimes it takes a broken heart to
shake you awake and help you see that you are worth so
much more than you were settling for.

5. When you lose someone or something, don’t think of it as
a loss, but as a gift that lightens your load so you can
better travel the path meant for you. Anything that hurts
you today only makes you stronger in the end.

6. When all is said and done, grief is the price you pay for
love. And it’s better to have loved, lost and learned, than
to have never loved at all. A broken heart is just the
growing pains necessary so that you can love more
completely when the real thing comes along.

7. You don’t have to have been in a relationship to be
heartbroken. Your love isn’t invalid if it was not
reciprocated. Your pain is just as real, just as strong, just
as true. But at some point, in order to live and have
experiences and open your heart up to new love, you have
to acknowledge that the person you love does not feel the
same way. It will suck. But with enough time, and with the
right person who reciprocates your feelings, you will start
to view that heartache as less of a shattered piece of
glass and more of a fuzzy image that you can no longer
make out as clearly.

8. Love and pain go hand in hand. You cannot have one
without the other. Either the love ends and you experience
deep pain, or the love continues and you experience the
lifelong pain of constant fear and worry over what you
would do if you ever lost them. You therefore have the
choice to view yourself as a prisoner of love, or as
someone who was or is lucky enough to feel so much for
one person that it actually hurts. The more hurt and
suffering that you experience, the more you will treat your
next love with as much gentleness and care and respect
and tenderness that you can give.

9. You don’t have to destroy the memories of the person
who broke your heart. You don’t have to erase them from
your life and pretend that they do not exist. In fact, you
don’t want to do any of that, or else all this pain will have
been for nothing. Just embrace the fact that you are going
to hurt for a while, that you loved someone courageously
and it did not work out, that you cannot regret anything or
question anything because all you did was love and
there’s nothing wrong with that. Learn from this
experience, let your heart get even larger than it was
before, and never let your heartache take you. Take your
heartache, because you are more powerful than you think.

10. Your mind and your heart are different. Your heart will not
simply stop loving someone just because your mind tells it
to. Embrace both your heart and your mind for the
powerful things that they are, but don’t try to make one do
the job of the other. Let your heart decide when it’s ready
to be whole again, and let your mind guide you in the
process.

Afterthought -
You are human and the human heart breaks sometimes. Don’t
fight it – fight through it!
Give yourself a chance to love again, to feel again, and to live
again.
You are alive and here to risk your heart by putting it into
something you believe in, as many times as it takes. If you
avoid taking this chance, one thing is certain, you will make it
safely to the end, feeling empty and unfulfilled.
Don’t do that to yourself. You deserve better.

Practical ways to improve your productivity.

There are several ways in which to improve your day-to-day
productivity and ensure that you’re gaining the most from your
day’s work. Here are my top 5 ways to increase your
productivity.

1, Plan Your Day.
In my mind, it’s absolutely vital to plan your day above
anything else. My first task of the morning, after my morning
workout, is to plan my schedule for the day ahead. This can
be in hourly increments, or just a general list of tasks to
achieve — you just need something to keep you on track and
moving towards your ultimate goals.
As you begin to see the benefits of planning, you may find you
can plan your entire week on a Monday morning. This will
really help you to increase your productivity and get the
results you truly desire. Always remember to build in
contingencies though. Day-to-day life has its own ways of
creeping into your schedule.

2, Establish a Routine.
Having a routine is vital for anyone wanting to get the most
from their day, and so should it be for you. From setting a
time to get up in the morning to what time you should take
lunch, having a routine will truly help you to control your day
and how you spend it.
I for one wake up every day at 5:00 am, rain or shine, and I
ensure I’m always in bed by 10:00 pm at the latest. I know I
require 6-7 good hours of quality sleep to ensure I’m fresh the
next day. It doesn’t take long for your body to adjust to a new
routine, and the more you repeat the cycle, the easier it
becomes.

3, Prioritize.
Knowing which tasks require completing first really helps to
get your day off to a good start. I always believe in
swallowing the frog first. For those of you wondering what I
mean by this, don’t be alarmed! I don’t actually eat a frog —
what this means is to take the hardest, biggest, most difficult
task and do it first. Once this task is out of the way, all the
others will feel like a breeze. You may not have difficult tasks,
but you will definitely have some tasks that are more
important than others, and it’s key to tackle these first to
remain productive.

4, Take Breaks.
Believe it or not, taking breaks when required will actually
boost your productivity. We’ve all been there, staring at the
screen trying to think. I often find 5 minutes away from the
computer helps me to gain clarity and focus better when I
return. This could be taking a break to grab a cup of tea or
coffee, or having a 5-minute walk around the office. Anything
that takes your mind away from the confusion just long
enough to help you see what you’re missing.

5, Ensure a Healthy Mind and Body.
For some this is an obvious point, but for others it’s not so.
It’s absolutely vital to ensure that you keep a healthy mind
and body. This is obtained by eating a balanced diet,
exercising 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time,
and staying hydrated throughout the day. It’s also vital to
ensure you get good quality sleep at night and wake up rested
the following day. This ties in with point number 2 — keeping
fit and healthy will help you to remain focused and energized
throughout your entire day.

If you agree or disagree, or just feel like maybe I’ve missed
something in this list, please comment below and let me
know your top 5 ways in which you stay productive.

By William Stokes

Friday, 25 December 2015

Healthy Food That will Transform your Skin


Who doesn’t love a glowing skin? We all do but we also all
have to understand that what we eat reflects on how we look
and how we feel. Some food is hair-healthy, some food is
good for our mood and this is the kind of food which can help
you control the health and beauty of your skin. It is necessary
to take care of our skin as a healthy skin helps has increased
immunity; it helps fight against bacteria and reduce dermal
contamination.
Here is a study which focuses on those kind of food and
intake that can help turn your skin health around.

WATER
Yes, water keeps your skin hydrated—and staying hydrated
makes it appear plumper and less wrinkled. Also water does
the skin more good than drinks simply because the Sugars
found in juices, sodas, and sports drinks cause your skin major
damages. When blood sugar levels are high, sugars can attach
to proteins in collagen and produce compounds that cause
skin to sag and wrinkle.
Regular hydration is skin’s best friend and the best source of
hydration is water. For nice skin glow consume water more
often

FISH
Fish Contains essential fatty acids that play an important role
in maintaining healthy skin. Essential fatty acids are important
for production of natural and healthy oily skin barrier. Salmon
contains carotene, which will give your skin a beautiful pink
glow and helps you maintain elasticity.

MILK
Biotin plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin and
proteins help in formation of new healthy cells. The milk is a
very good source of biotin, protein and other nutrients
important for your skin, such as Vitamin A. Low levels of
vitamin A can contribute to dry, cracked and lifeless skin.

TOMATOES
This is just as logical as it gets. Just by looking at tomatoes
you just might envy its skin texture. But the good news is this;
consumption of tomatoes can do your skin a lot of good.
Tomatoes are known to have a large amount of lycopene, an
antioxidant that helps skin protect itself from UV rays.
According to study, it showed that respondents who ate one
tomato per day, 12 weeks in a row, had 33 percent more
protection against sunburn than those who did not consume
tomatoes at all

MANGO
And who does not love a Sweet and delicious? Mango is the
largest source of beta-carotene, which the body converts to
vitamin A. Vitamin A is necessary for skin to be able to
constantly regenerate. If you do not have enough vitamin A in
your body, the skin becomes dry and peeling. Lack of vitamin
A is the most common cause of hair dandruff.
Vitamin A reduces the chance of skin burning during sun
exposure. Other sources of vitamin A are: carrot, pumpkin,
young potatoes, sweet potatoes.

ALMOND
Rich in vitamin E along with essential acids abundantly
contained in almonds, they help internal skin hydration. It also
protects skin from damage and premature aging and that is
the main reason why almonds are integral part of anti-wrinkle
creams.

NUTS
The Nut is an excellent source of omega fatty acids, especially
for vegetarians and people who do not eat fish. Omega 3 fatty
acids are responsible for skin regeneration and hydration and
maintaining its elasticity.

SUNFLOWER SEEDS
Seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that reduce skin stains
and smooth wrinkles. Studies have shown that the skin of
people who ate only two grams of seeds in period of six
weeks was significantly improved. And also scars, acne and
other skin irritations began to retreat. Moreover, sunflower
seeds have hydration properties that positively affect skin.

GREEN TEA.
According to a study in 2011, people who drank any beverage
containing green tea daily for 10 weeks had smooth skin
compared to a control group. One of the major advantages of
green tea is that it is suitable for calming skin inflammation.
Besides polyphenols that calm inflammation, it also contains
vitamins C, E and K, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and
iron.

Remember, most of the food healthy for our skin is also
healthy for our whole body. So rather than focusing on which
food is the best for your skin, concentrate generally on your
healthy diet. Drink lots of water, eat more fruit and vegetable.
Replace red meat with fish. Choose food that  is low in fat,
consume fruit seeds as part of your regular diet.

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

25 Very Simple Things You Need To Start Doing In The Morning, Starting Tomorrow

The mornings and how we use that time, can set the tone and mood for the rest of the day. Just by adding a few simple tasks in the morning, we can improve our mood, reduce stress, and increase our productivity for the rest of the day. Try this whole list or just pick a few of these morning habits and you may be surprised how much better you feel.

1. Think Positive

Starting out the day with a positive affirmation or quote sets the tone for the rest of the day. You can start the day off bright and optimistic, looking forward to the rest of the day. Positive affirmations boost confidence, improving your mood.

2. Wake Up At The Same Time Every Day

Having a set time to wake up makes it easier to get out of bed. If I sleep later on the weekend or my off days, those days feel so sluggish that it is hard to accomplish anything.

3. Don’t Hit The Snooze Button

It is so tempting to stay in bed longer. However, hitting the snooze button can cause you to feel more tired when you do wake up and even cause you to oversleep, throwing off your entire morning routine.

4. Eat A Healthy Breakfast

The saying is breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having a good, healthy breakfast makes your mind work better. You are able to concentrate and focus. Plus your metabolism stays stable until lunch time.

5. Take a 5-10 Minute Breather

Choose to either meditate or just take 5-10 minutes to breathe and clear you head. This helps to relieve stress and also to prepare for the day ahead. This also helps you to be present in your current time and not dwell on upsetting moments.

6. Create A Weekly To-Do List And Review It Every Morning

If you are working to obtain a specific goal or have a project you are currently working on, having a weekly breakdown of tasks helps to keep you focused on that goal and to keep you from falling behind in attaining it.

7. Exercise

If you are like me, you have to exercise in the morning or else you will not exercise at all. Exercising wakes you up, gets your blood pumping, fills you with endorphins, and puts you in a good mood right out of the gate. Take 30 minutes to do this and you will fill great about the rest of your morning.

8. Stretch

Other than exercising, taking five minutes to stretch can also be beneficial. It keeps you flexible and further enhances your exercise routine.

9. Drink a glass of Water

For some of us, it is a challenge to get our daily water allowance. But starting the day off with a glass of water, wakes the body up, keeps you from being dehydrated, and flushes the body.

10. Follow A Morning Routine

If you have a set morning routine, your mornings go that much quicker. You know how long it takes you to do an activity and in doing it the same way every day, you can become that much faster at it. Following a routine is a great way to manage time.

11. Plan Your Day

Knowing what you need to accomplish each day is another great way to manage time. Learning small ways to manage your time, either by planning ahead or know how to estimate how long tasks take to accomplish, is a great way to reduce stress and learn how to prioritize.

12. Map Your Route

Knowing how you need to get to where you are going will save you time, especially if you know ahead of time where there is bound to be construction or if there is an accident on one of the highways.

13. Create A Backup Route

Have a backup route just in case in mid-drive an accident occurs or traffic is heavier than originally stated on the radio.

14. Listen To An Upbeat Song

Just as saying a positive affirmation or reading a positive quote can place you in a better mood or a more relaxed mindset, listening to an upbeat song can do the same. These small tasks can bring out the best in you and further help to get you ready to face the day. I suggest creating a positive playlist for either your work out or your drive to work.

15. Make Up Your Bed

Taking the time to make your bed is all about bringing focus and order to your mind. It is another task that can help you prepare for the rest of the day to come. Plus it keeps your room looking nice.

16. Floss

This is something that most people do not do although it is a healthy habit to acquire. Again, if you do it in the morning, you are less likely to put it off and not do it later.

17. Drink One Serving Of Vegetable And Fruit

Not all of us get enough of what we need. Taking time to drink one serving of fruits and vegetables puts us on the right path for the day. If you have a juicer that is even better, because you can be sure you are getting a lot of nutrients in that one glass.

18. Start Anew

Remember that this is a brand new day. Be present in the moment and let the stresses of yesterday go. If there are tasks that carry over into the new day, face them calmly and work through them.

19. Be Thankful

Being grateful for each day we face is another way to boost our moods.

20. Take Time To Write

Taking time to write in your journal is also a good stress reducer. Write about your dreams, aspirations, goals, or what was best about the day before. People who journal can communicate better and handle more stressful situations than those who do not.

21. Take A Multi-Vitamin

Taking a multi-vitamin in the morning makes sure that you will not forget later. Plus a lot of us are out of sorts because we are not getting all the nutrients that we need. Be sure to consult with a doctor prior to adding a multi-vitamin to your regimen.

22. Set Aside What You Need

Take time to gather what you will need to take with you for the day. Gathering them and setting them aside for when it is time to leave, will keep you from being late because you cannot find your keys. This also keeps you from realizing that you left your wallet at home.

23. Leave Early

You always want to allow for extra time in travelling. Whether you are driving in rush hour to work or heading towards an appointment. Arriving early can prevent stress of rushing. It can allow extra minutes to review emails or fill out paperwork, or to just get a cup of coffee.

24. Read An Inspirational Story

As with saying a positive affirmation, reading a positive quote, or listening to an upbeat song. Reading an inspirational story can be motivating. Find ones that pertain to your goals or sign up for a daily blog notification.

25. Smile

Just by putting on a smile, you can improve your own mood. Smile until you mean it.

These simple morning habits can do a lot to motivate you, reduce your stress, and inspire you to accomplish more with your available time. Overall your mood should improve and your outlook will reflect that.

Do you have any great tips or tricks that help you get off to a great start in the morning? Please share them in the comments below. We’d love to hear them.