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I Am Gradually Learning Not To React To Everything That Upsets Me

By
Riley Cooper

I am gradually realizing that I don’t have to let everything that happens to me affect me.

I am gradually realizing that I don’t have to let every worry, challenge, and temptation life throws my way and every negative person that walks into my life get to me.

I am gradually understanding that the time and energy I have to invest in reacting to every harm that befalls me and every manipulative, selfish person that tries to take advantage of me drains me and sucks the happiness out of me.

I am gradually realizing that every problem and every bad person I concentrate on prevent me from seeing the good, valuable things in life. They prevent me from appreciating the people who genuinely love and care about me. They prevent me from feeling grateful for the unswerving support and unconditional love my family and close friends have been showing me all my life.

I am gradually learning that not everyone will like me. That not everyone will like and support my opinions, ideas, decisions, and goals. That not everyone is going to treat me the way I deserve to be treated – and that is fine.

I am gradually learning that trying so hard to please everyone around me is pointless and absurd. It’s impossible. Because there will always be someone who will judge and criticize me for my opinions and decisions. There will always be someone who will say that I’m not trying hard enough to make others happy.

I’m gradually realizing that trying so hard to make everyone around me like me is just a waste of energy. It’s a source of distress and happiness. Because not everyone will accept and cherish me for who I really am. Not everyone will accept me with my annoying habits, whims, insecurities, and fears. Not everyone will find me perfect with all my imperfections.

I am gradually understanding that not reacting to everything that upsets me doesn’t mean I am fine with it. It only means that I am willing, resilient, and tough enough to rise above it and move forward. It means that I am choosing not to let selfish, inconsiderate people undermine my confidence and self-esteem.

Not reacting to every negative thing that happens to me doesn’t mean that I’m ignoring it. Instead, it means that I am choosing to accept it as a valuable lesson and learn from it. It means I am choosing to allow it to make me wiser, stronger, and braver.

Not reacting to every bad person and thing life sends my way doesn’t mean that I lack the will and strength to deal with them. It just means that I am choosing to preserve my mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It means I am choosing not to let anyone and anything take my happiness away.

I am gradually realizing that life is too short to deal with immature, fickle, inconsiderate people.

I am gradually understanding that I don’t need unnecessary drama in my life, nor do I need to surround myself with individuals who create it.

I don’t need to be surrounded by people who only care about themselves. People who are only interested in taking advantage of others so as to meet their needs. People who think are superior to me.

I am gradually realizing that sometimes not reacting at all to someone’s crappy behavior is much better than complaining to them about it or yelling at them about it. Why?

Because it will not change anything. It won’t make them suddenly start respecting and loving me.

I am gradually understanding that sometimes you just need to let things be. Don’t complain. Don’t pick a fight. Don’t look for answers. Don’t beg for explanations. And don’t expect others to understand your story. Why?

Since reacting to everything that upsets you allows someone else to have power over your feelings and reactions. It allows them to mess with your mind and manipulate you. It allows them to control your life. It allows them to destroy your happiness and shatter your hopes. It allows them to prevent you from living your life the way you want to.

10 Definite Signs Your Man Is So Into You

By
Riley Cooper

When it comes to men and the way they behave in relationships, there’s a general misconception that it’s very hard to figure out their feelings and whether they’re serious about you because they’re not usually vocal about their feelings.

But, as I said – this is just a misconception. Because the truth is that when it comes to expressing their feelings, men are not complicated at all. When a man falls deeply in love, his actions speak louder than his words.

When a man falls for you hard, his feelings make him act in certain ways. He doesn’t have to tell you, “I love you” five times a day for you to understand that he’s crazy about you.

Because all of a sudden, the look in his eyes and the warmth of his touch say more than his words ever could. All of a sudden, the energy that he radiates when he’s around you reveals that you occupy a special place in his heart.

So, if you find yourself wondering whether your man is in love with you, here are 10 sure signs that he is so into you:

1. He spends the majority of his free time with you.

You know a guy is so into you when he goes out of his way to rearrange his schedule so that he can spend more time with you.

When a man is madly in love with you, he can never get tired of you. Instead, he enjoys being around you. And it doesn’t matter if he has to cancel plans with his buddies over text to hang out with you – it is the precious time he spends with you that means the most to him.

2. He treats you like a lady.

He treats you with kindness and compassion. He treats you with respect and dignity. He showers you with affection, sweet words, and compliments. He doesn’t wait for your birthday to come to buy you flowers or your favorite box of chocolates. He holds the door open for you. He simply acts like a real gentleman around you.

3. He constantly talks about you to his family and friends.

You know how you can’t shut up about him to your besties? Well, guess what? Men talk to their pals too.

You may think that guys are reserved and cold when it comes to expressing their emotions, but the truth is that when a man is dearly in love with you, he won’t shut up about you to his family and buddies.

4. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

He is not ashamed to show how he feels about you. He’s not afraid to tell you those three powerful words, I love you. Because he knows that you two are destined to be together. He knows you two are meant for each other.

And knowing that God, faith, the universe, or you name it, brought you two together helps him wear his heart on his sleeve and undress his soul in front of you.

5. He fully commits to you.

When a man is deeply and madly in love with you, he doesn’t hesitate to fully commit to you. He imagines you as a part of his future. He lets you know that you mean the world to him and that he’s ready to devote his entire life to loving you and making you happy.

6. He notices every little thing about you.

When a guy is head over heels in love with you, he notices things about you that others fail to see. He notices the way you move your lips when you smile. He notices the way you tie up your hair in a ponytail.

He notices all those parts of your character that you desperately want other people to notice and embrace. Because this man loves every little thing about you, including your weaknesses and imperfections.

7. Your happiness means the world to him.

He doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice his needs and desires for your happiness. He is not afraid to leave his comfort zone and do things he’s never done before if he knows that this will contribute to your happiness in some way.

You can see that your happiness matters the most to him in the way he looks at you and comforts you when you’re feeling down in the dumps. You can see this in the things he does for you when you’re going through a rough time in life. You can see this in the way he boosts your confidence when you’re feeling weak and doubting your worth.

8. He is proud of you.

When a man is honestly and wholeheartedly in love with you, he feels proud of you. He’s proud of everything you are and everything you do. He enjoys talking about you to his friends and family and telling them how blessed he is for having such a beautiful, smart, and amazing person as you are in his life.

9. You’re the one he calls first whenever something important happens to him.

Because you mean the world to him. Because he’s more than pleased to share his interests, goals, achievements, successes, as well as problems with you. Because he wants to share his life with you.

10. Other women don’t interest him.

When a man is genuinely in love with you, he only has eyes for you. He doesn’t flirt with other women, nor does he notice when other women hit on him. Because in his heart, there’s a place for only one woman –you.   

Top Tips for Staying Healthy This Summer

By
Elizabeth Williams

In the summer, it can be quite challenging to stay healthy 24/7. Even though it’s easier to get lots of exercise by going to the pool or hiking with your friends, for some reason, it seems like you’re barely doing it. You’re outside all the time, but it seems like you’re just feeling dehydrated constantly, and eating and drinking way too much anytime you’re invited to a barbecue. Who knew it could be so hard to stay healthy during the summer? Sure, it’s not as bad as being healthy during the holiday, but it’s pretty close.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips for staying healthy this summer. By using these strategies, you can work healthy habits into your everyday schedule, which is key to staying healthy not just now but during any time of the year.

1 Hydrate constantly

We’re always telling ourselves to stay hydrated because we know it’s good for us. But how often are you drinking water (and not soda or beer), and is it enough? The fact is that we’re supposed to be drinking two liters of water a day, which is equal to about eight 8-ounce glasses. That’s so much that you can’t just drink water in the morning or when you’re thirsty. You need to make it part of your day.

Set reminders on your phone to drink water, and carry a bottle around with you. If you spend a lot of time at the office, have a large bottle right at your desk, so that you can hydrate anytime. If you don’t like the taste of water, add a couple of slices of lemon or flavored drops–it’s way better for you than other beverages!

2 Drink less alcohol

We’re all for staying hydrated, as you can see from above. But if you’re mostly staying hydrated by partying hard and drinking lots of alcohol this summer, it’s probably smart to cut down. Just because you’ve been invited to summer events such as weddings and birthday parties, that doesn’t mean that you have to drink all the time. Keep track of how much you drink, and if it’s more than the suggested four or fewer drinks a day for men or three or fewer drinks for women, make a point of drinking less. Not only is alcohol toxic to the body, but it’s also unnecessary calories.

If you think you might have a drinking problem, join a group like AA or see a therapist. Sometimes, excessive drinking is caused by depression. If you’re asking yourself, “why do I feel this way?” think about your mental health.

3 Keep track of what you eat

They say that health starts in the kitchen. And this is very true! No matter how many times you go out during the summer, you need to think about what you’re eating. For some people, a low-calorie diet works; for others, a low-carb one. Figure out what’s best for you, and track what you consume using an app like MyFitnessPal, which has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating in the App Store. That way, you’ll feel in control, and won’t drive yourself crazy saying no to everything. These apps make it easier to consume what you want in moderation, so, go ahead, enjoy that slice of apple pie if you’ve been healthy all week!

Additionally, don’t forget the value of cooking at home. Instead of getting takeout when you stay late at the office or buying unhealthy sandwiches for lunch, bring home-cooked food with you. Cook in batches so you don’t have to worry about it every day. If you have a family, educated everyone about the importance of eating well!

4 Schedule exercise into your schedule

In theory, summer’s a great time to exercise. There’s always swimming at the pool as an option, which is not only good for you but also refreshing and fun. But telling yourself that you’re going to go and doing it is a totally different thing. That’s why you need to schedule a time for exercise so that it happens. Go two to three times a week, and if going to the gym isn’t really your thing, do anything else athletic, from runs to yoga. As long as you’re getting your heart rate up, you’re good. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, so if that is something you struggle with, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. But going to the gym can help you get healthier!

These are some of the best ways to stay healthy this summer. What other strategies do you use to stay healthy, whatever the season?

Don’t Settle For Just Any Guy: Settle For The One Who Imagines His Future With You

By
Riley Cooper

This goes to you – the woman whose heart has been broken many times.

Trust me – I know how you feel. I know you’re still trying to erase the trace his kisses left on your lips. You’re still trying to erase him from your memory and your heart.

I know you still hope that time will soon erase every wound he inflicted on your soul.

I know you still think about him. You still dream of him. You still try to figure out whether all of it was your fault or his.

You still wonder why he couldn’t see you in his future, why he didn’t love you, why it was you whose heart he had to steal, why you weren’t good enough for him. Hundreds of whys hover over your head. Hundreds of questions keep you awake at night.

But, let me tell you the truth: He never saw you in his future. He never imagined himself standing at the altar next to you. He never imagined growing old beside you. Why?

No, it was not because you weren’t good enough for him, pretty enough for him, or smart enough for him. It was because he wasn’t worthy of your love. He wasn’t worthy of your attention.

He didn’t deserve you.

He didn’t deserve your trust. Your patience. Your kindness. Your compassion. Your empathetic soul. Your efforts.

Therefore, instead of wallowing in self-pity and reviving memories of someone who wasn’t worthy of your love, let this be a valuable lesson to you. Let this teach you that you should never settle for fickle, immature, manipulative, selfish men. Let this teach you that you shouldn’t settle for just any man, but rather wait for the man that imagines his future with you.

Don’t settle for just any man – settle for the one who chooses you every day. The one who goes out of his way to put a smile on your face. The one who feels the happiest when you’re happy. The one who is not afraid to make compromises and sacrifice his needs and desires for your happiness. Someone who enjoys waking up next to you.

Don’t settle for just any man – settle for the man who loves you with every part of him. The man who loves you honestly. Selflessly. Deeply. Wholeheartedly. Passionately. Unconditionally. The man who keeps you in his heart no matter where he is and what he is doing. The man who only has eyes for you. The man whom you mean the world to.

Don’t settle for just any man – settle for the man who accepts you and cherishes you for who you are. The man who knows all your annoying habits, vulnerable sides, insecurities, and fears, but who also knows that your weaknesses and imperfections don’t define who you are. He knows that they’re just a small part of you – a part that makes you different and more interesting and beautiful than other women.

Don’t settle for just any man – settle for the one who doesn’t leave at the first sign of trouble. The one who doesn’t walk away when the first worries and problems begin to appear in your relationship. The one who is not afraid to work through your relationship problems together with you. The one who is willing to invest time and energy in your relationship.

Don’t settle for just any man – settle for the one who wants to keep you in his life forever. The one who is not afraid to walk through fire or fight monsters if that’s what he needs to do to keep you by his side forever. The one whose only fear is losing you.

Don’t settle for just any man – settle for the one who gets excited about spending the rest of his life with you. The one who wants to fall asleep and wake up next to you until the rest of his life. The one who craves your presence. The one who craves your touch, the warmth of your lips, and your smell. The one who wants you in his life now. Tomorrow. Forever.

Let’s Face It: There’s No Such Thing As Bad Timing, Only Bad Choices

By
Stephanie Reeds

If you have chemistry, you only need one other thing. Timing. But timing’s a bitch.

We’ve all heard this saying and we’ve all related to it at some point in our life.

Personally, I have always genuinely believed that the only reason for my failed relationships is bad timing. For a long time in my life, I was convinced that bad timing is the main villain in my life. I didn’t know any better.

You cannot imagine how much time I’ve spent cursing timing in my life… Until one-day reality hit me. Until one day I realized that I’ve been lying to myself all along.

Until one day I said to myself… “Maybe timing has nothing to do with my mistakes. Maybe I am the one who is to blame”

The truth is, timing will always be messy. Timing will always be fickle and inconsistent. It is out of our control. How could someone ever think that there is good timing in life?

There is no good or bad timing. It took me a lot of time, a lot of heartbreaks and many broken promises to finally understand that timing has nothing to do with it. My choices do.

I suffered a lot; I blamed my destiny and life itself for my bad, failed relationships and disappointing experiences in life for a long time. But now I get it. There is no such thing as a perfect moment in life. There is no such thing as “the right time” to do something, meet someone, enter a relationship etc.

There are only right or wrong people. Meeting them or being with them is a direct result of your own choices. Bad or good, you are the only one responsible for them.

If a person wants to be with you, and I mean truly be with you, they will. If someone wants to give their love to you and let you inside their world, they won’t hesitate even a minute. They will be ready. It is as simple as that. Trust me. When love is real, there is nothing that can prevent it from happening. When love is pure, there is no bad timing. Every moment is right. Every moment is perfect.

I needed a lot of time to process this, but I am glad I finally did. This has been one of the greatest lessons that life has ever given me. And I am lucky for that.

So, now it’s your turn.

Stop what you are doing and think about your life for a second. Who do you think it’s responsible for most of your failed relationships and disappointments? The timing? Your fate? Life, itself?

It is you, my dear. Your choices shape up your life and eventually, your future. It’s all you. The sooner you realize that the better off you’ll be.

8 Reasons Why Most Men Feel Intimidated By Strong And Smart Women

By
Riley Cooper

The more independent, stronger, and smarter a woman is, the more likely she is to roll solo. How sad it is to realize that it is the 21st century and the stigma that’s attached to tough, deep women still exists. A lot of men still feel intimidated by intelligent and confident women.

So, the question is: Why is this so?

Well, the liberated, wild nature of independent and tough women is a big threat to the ego of men that have low self-esteem. When a woman carries herself with an air of depth, intelligence, and class, she can be intimidating to a guy that lacks confidence and feels unlovable or incompetent.

Following are 8 reasons why a strong and smart woman is intimidating to most men:

1. SHE IS UTTERLY SINCERE

A strong and confident woman is not afraid to speak her mind. In her conversations with other people, she’s not afraid to express her opinions and ideas, no matter how different they are from those of the person standing in front of her.

And when it comes to telling the truth, this kind of woman never beats around the bush. Instead, she tells it like it is.

2. SHE IS SELECTIVE ABOUT THE PEOPLE SHE LETS INTO HER LIFE

A smart, deep woman is not going to waste her energy or time on just about any man. This kind of woman craves genuine emotional intimacy. She needs someone with whom she’ll be able to have intellectually stimulating and interesting conversations. Someone who will encourage her to grow and gain new perspectives on life.

3. SHE IS NOT EASY TO DECEIVE

Controlling and conniving men that tend to manipulate and take advantage of insecure women can’t fool a smart, deep, confident woman. They can’t mess with her mind and lure her into their trap with their lies and manipulation techniques. Why?

Because this kind of woman is not naïve. She can sense a lie from a mile away. She can see through people and their intentions.

4. SHE DOESN’T SETTLE FOR MEDIOCRE RELATIONSHIPS

An intelligent, deep woman has no time or energy to waste on guys who are only interested in flings and no-strings-attached relationships. When this woman loves, she loves honestly, wholeheartedly, and intensely. That’s why she’s looking for a man who will be able to handle the intensity of her love and who will be ready to fully commit to her.

5. SHE IS INDEPENDENT

A strong, smart, confident woman has a strong sense of independence. She lives her life in accordance with her own principles and beliefs. She doesn’t bother to fit in with the crowd and please everyone around her.

Additionally, she doesn’t care about what others think of her. She knows very well who she is and she knows exactly what she wants in life and how to get it.

6. SHE NEVER SHIES AWAY FROM INTIMACY

A deep, confident woman is in touch with her emotions. She expresses her love to her man openly and confidently. She’s not ashamed or afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve and undress her soul in front of the man she loves.

7. SHE HAS LITTLE PATIENCE

When this kind of woman decides to engage in a serious, meaningful relationship, it has to be with a guy that will be invested in the relationship as much as she is. A guy who will be her equal. A guy who will respect her boundaries. A guy who will be sure that he wants to be with her, not some immature, fickle guy who can’t decide whether or not he wants her.

8. SHE ASKS DEEP QUESTIONS

Because everything which is shallow and superficial has no meaning for her. When she’s truly in love, she wants to know everything about her beloved’s life. She wants to know what makes him happy, what his life purpose is, what his deepest fears and insecurities are. 

Unfortunately, questions like these make most guys feel insecure and not ‘macho’ enough.

It’s Okay To Love Someone Who Doesn’t Feel The Same As You

By
Stephanie Reeds
it doesn't feel the same

Falling for someone who doesn’t feel the same…

Love doesn’t happen when you want it to happen. Sometimes love happens when you least expect it. And sometimes it chooses the worst possible person for you. It makes you fall for someone who cannot love you the same way that you love them.

And you do. You fall head over heels with this person even though there are flashing, red signs everywhere around you telling you that what you are doing is wrong. You let our emotions consume you and you no longer see anything other than that person. They become your entire world. The air that you breathe. The food that you eat. The sweetest, most addictive drug that you’ve ever tried.

You know that you will never be together the way you want to be. The way you’ve prayed for your whole life to be with someone. But you cannot stop your heart from feeling what it feels. You simply cannot tell your heart who to love. You are not strong enough to make the right choice because the love that you feel overpowers your mind.

You thought you are stronger than this but turned out… you aren’t. So, you are out there all alone, pitying yourself. Trying hard to let go of those feelings. Crying your soul out over the fact that you two are not destined to be together. Hating your guts forever falling in love with him.

People are looking at you with despise. They are judging you for being so naïve.

BUT, refuse to be one of them. Maybe it’s because I’ve already been through the same pain that you are experiencing. Maybe because I am not quick to judge. Especially not people with sadness in their eyes.

Because only you know how it feels. And only you know what you are going through.

It is okay to love someone who doesn’t feel the same way as you. It is fine to leave an open window of hope in case they ever change their mind. As long as you are ready to accept the consequences if they decide they want to leave you.

So, love them if that is what your heart wants. It’s okay. Don’t listen to what people have to say. It’s your life and your choice.

But just know that you can never force them to do anything against their will. Know that you might wake up tomorrow and realize that they’ve given up on you. Know that one day they may break your heart in a thousand pieces. Most importantly, know that if it ever comes to that, you are the only one who can get yourself out of that mess.

The impact of meditation for recovery

By
Elizabeth Williams

The early months of recovery can be a particularly trying time for addicts. As they attempt to adjust to life without drug abuse, they may struggle to think clearly – a symptom termed as ‘mental fuzziness.’ They’ll often struggle with stabilizing their emotions as well.

Unfortunately, those who fail to overcome these challenges in this period are more likely to relapse. Thankfully, there’s an excellent tool available that enhances their chances of achieving a full recovery: mindfulness meditation.

What is mindfulness meditation?

Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice the involves the focusing of the mind (such as your thoughts, emotions, and sensations) in the present moment. It’s the act of paying attention to whatever you are experiencing, as it occurs in real-time. Practitioners of mindfulness meditation have more control over their emotions and often experience enhanced mental clarity.

How does mindfulness meditation work?

But – can the benefits of mindfulness meditation be quantified? Well, research says yes – it seems that you can create new neural networks within your brain by retraining your mind through mindfulness practice!

For example, if you have issues with aggression, you can tap on mindfulness meditation to temper that aspect of yourself. Mindfulness meditation can allow you to become assertive and clear about your boundaries without entering into a self-sabotaging, hostile, and competitive mindset.

And mindfulness meditation’s benefits extend beyond temper regulation. It is capable of rewiring your left prefrontal cortex – a region associated with optimism, compassion, and self-observation – of the brain.

Ultimately, when daily attention is devoted to being mindful, you’ll learn to master the mind and open the doorway to the creativity available in open-mind consciousness.

So – how does it help with rehabilitation? 

Mindfulness meditation can be an incredibly useful tool for recovering drug addicts, explaining its popularity in great amount of holistic recovery programs. Let’s further examine why:

Reduces stress and anxiety 

The early recovery period can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. As a recovering addict, you need to overcome withdrawal symptoms, practice self-control, and (possibly) deal with the emotional backlash from family members who’ve now found out that you’re struggling with drug addiction.

Thankfully, the practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance your ability to manage stress; you’ll place focus on the present without excessively fretting over the future. Given that stress is a known contributing factor to the development and continuance of addiction problems, the management of stress and anxiety levels through mindfulness meditation can help you better deal with the highs and lows related to recovery.

Better control over cravings

No matter where you are in your recovery journey, you’re bound to face cravings – it’s merely an inevitable part of the process. The practice of mindfulness can teach you how to observe your thoughts related to cravings without being carried away by them.

As a result, you’ll come to realize that you are not always responsible for your thoughts, and nor do you have to be a victim to them. As a result, you’ll be able to make much better decisions, such as that of you staying clear of harmful drug usage.

Fosters better interpersonal relationships 

Recovering from addiction is challenging; the presence of an inner circle of supportive family members and friends can provide you with crucial encouragement, guidance, and comfort for those particularly tough days. Research has shown that social support has consistently been found to predict positive outcomes in overcoming addiction.

But – what if you face damaged interpersonal relationships because of your addiction issues? Well, mindfulness meditation can help; those who practice the technique find it easier to manage their interpersonal relationships.

The practice of meditation may serve as a critical first step in repairing the crucial relationships you hold dear to your heart. You’ll have your support group back in no time.

Types of mindfulness meditation

In general, recovering addicts undergoing a holistic rehab can choose from many different types of mindfulness meditation, depending on their preferences and goals.

Here are the six most common tactics employed in holistic drug rehabs:

  1. Traditional meditation – A practice in which you focus on your breath, or similar action. There are ten recommended objects that people can focus on when it comes to Buddhism.
  1. Moving meditation – This practice cultivates a meditative state – a shift of consciousness – while doing simple movements. It’s a way of calming the mind and creating awareness. This technique highlights the fact that movement can also pave the way to contemplation. Tai Chi and yoga are the two activities commonly used in holistic drug rehab centers.
  1. Walking meditation – The art of walking meditation teaches you how to be aware as you walk – to use the natural movement of walking to cultivate mindfulness and wakeful presence. Walking meditation is always carried out with small, measured steps.
  1. Body scan – Practitioners of body scan meditation focus attention on physical sensations in the body. This practice is completed through the ‘scanning’ of one’s awareness through the length of the body on a micro level; you need to give attention to every single inch of your body. The body scan is a useful practice to learn self-awareness about how physical experience is inherently tied to emotional experience.
  1. Loving-kindness meditation – A practice that teaches you to foster positive feelings of care and love, initially toward a close loved one, and then to yourself. You’ll also learn how to extend these favorable feelings to others, and eventually the whole world.
  1. Observing-thought meditation – A practice that teaches you to notice as thoughts arise, label them – for instance, as negative or positive, focused on others or yourself – but prevents you from getting absorbed in them.

The Bottom Line

Mindfulness meditation can be useful for recovering addicts who find themselves overwhelmed with thoughts of using again during the initial months of addiction recovery. If you’re a recovering addict seeking to glean the benefits of mindfulness meditation, be sure to set aside a daily time for formal meditation.

Start from 20 minutes, and build from there. Full recovery is just around the corner and a few meditations away! 

About the Author 

John Adkins is a professional writer and volunteer who deals with issues of mental health, addiction, and life in recovery. Also, he works with a foundation that helps drug addicts, so he has a clear insight into their problems. John is currently a writer for Addiction Resource.

The Path to Perfection – Why Today’s Fountain of Youth is Laser Skin Resurfacing and Scar Removal

By
Elizabeth Williams

Where do you go when your natural model potential is tarnished by unsightly scars?

Who can you turn to for your magical cure-all, the answer to all the problems and worries holding you back?

With so much at our disposal to reach the pinnacle of physical perfection, it seems a shame to allow events beyond your control to mar your chances or block your route to looking as fantastic as you feel.

There are plenty of at-home remedies you can take to keep you looking young and healthy, but what about rejuvenation on a deeper level?

Sometimes, life deals us a hand we’re simply unable to play without scarring. This is a truth well-known to Doctor Nathan Holt and his specialist team at Cambridge Laser Clinic, who embrace aesthetic procedures as a science and art.

Laser treatment to resurface skin or remove scars is one of the most advanced options available to restore your unblemished shine. A mighty weapon in battles against ageing and a whole host of scar tissues, not to mention a comfortable and convenient process.

Surely if Ponce de León had such a remarkable choice before him, his quest for the fabled Fountain of Youth would have been marked a resounding success.

If you’re ready to discover your miracle and say sayonara to scars from acne or trauma, sun-damaged skin, pigmentation irregularities, mottled and rough skin textures or the fine lines, wrinkles and laxness of ageing, you’re in the right place, and you hardly need to be a conquistador or embark on an epic journey, either.

How laser skin resurfacing removes scars. 

Firstly, there are many different types of lasers for the various categories of scars and work at hand. Depending on the resurfacing you need and the laser clinic you’ve found, experiences can vary.

The lasers practitioners use create beams of thermal energy which are targeted with pinpoint precision to vaporize damaged skin. Adjusting the type of laser used, dermatological experts like Nathan Holt and his team can effectively neutralise even the most obnoxiously defiant scars.

There are two main methods accompanying the array of lasers fit for the task.

Traditional laser skin resurfacing involves exposing the entire surface of the skin to the laser, removing the older layers to free the fresh skin beneath.

Fractional laser resurfacing only exposes part of the skin surface, leaving the uninjured skin surrounding the treatment site which acts as a barrier and promotes rapid recovery. Most skin and laser experts recommend this method.

Because of the way laser scar removal works, your body’s natural healing is stimulated. This provides the best possible outcomes as both old and new damaged cells are replaced with healthy, radiant skin.

What to expect from laser treatment. 

Just as with any bespoke diet or training regimen, the best first step is seeking expert advice.

During your consultation, you’ll get a feel for how many treatments you’ll need based on your goals and lifestyle.

The treatments themselves can be painful, but the local anaesthetic takes care of that to ensure minimal discomfort. For readers considering laser skin resurfacing for larger areas of scarring, it’s worth noting your procedure might need to be performed in a hospital under general anaesthetic instead. Night night.

After the treatment, your skin may feel similar to a minor sunburn. This tenderness can last a few days, and some of you may experience some swelling or flaking. This is all perfectly natural, and you’ll have had every opportunity to discuss this with your dedicated dermatologist beforehand.

Good news for those who hate their jobs, there’s a chance you’ll need some time off work while your skin heals. Again, your doctor will advise you during the consultation of the likelihood as this depends entirely on the scope of your treatment and the lasers used.

While healing, it’s important to accept you might need to modulate your activities. After all, you wouldn’t want to undo any of the miracle effects, would you?

Aftercare is always down to you, so make sure you take care of yourself and try to avoid situations which could put you at risk of infection with you heal, like public swimming or gym time.

But best of all?

The results are not only immediate but they’re progressive, too. This means that, even though your skin feels softer and silky smooth post-procedure, that velvety texture will only improve.

In the months which follow, your skin will appear flushed with new life, looking brighter and boasting more even tones. Can anyone in their right mind decry laser skin resurfacing and scar removal as the key to eternity?

Who should do the procedure? 

Choosing a professional practitioner is a vital first step in your journey to smoother skin with laser resurfacing.

While laser treatments could not be safer under optimal conditions, in the hands of the poorly trained they are equivalent to trusting your dietary plan to Santa.

To avoid causing more harm than good, do your research and be sure to pick a highly trained professional. Experience, training and qualifications are a stamp of excellence, one you should have eyes peeled for if you long for laser resurfacing to help your dream self rise to reality.

A true expert like Doctor Nathan Holt at his laser clinic in Cambridgeshire, UK, knows the points to discuss during the consultation. Dedicated dermatologists will understand the results you’re seeking and instil authentic faith in you that you’re dealing with a trusted specialist.

They will know the best lasers to use, and might even advertise the range at their disposal so you know the ones chosen for you are the right choices, not the only ones.

True laser removal specialists have trained eyes to recognise types and classifications of scars, enabling the optimal choice of therapy.

Did you know there are over eight categories of scarring, or how rare it is for a patient to present only one type?

Experts of the Cambridge skin and laser scene, Doc Holt and his team are among the pinnacle of restorative perfection, and you should settle for no less than the same.

Take advantage of your consultation to grill your prospect on everything which makes your situation unique, and force them to wrap you in the security of their abilities.

This is your body and beauty on the table, here. Treat it like royalty.

If your purported professional seems lacking in skills, equipment, knowledge or ethical standards, think twice.

Don’t sell yourself short on cheap alternatives. Professionalism need not break the bank, and at the Cambridge Laser Clinic, you can take those first steps with absolutely free consultations with no obligations.

Is the treatment suitable for everyone? 

The short answer is, maybe.

While it’s true that those with darker skin tones may experience less than ideal results, or that those prone to dermatological conditions, such as cold sores or blisters, could be unsuitable, this is no one size fits all sweeping statement.

This should be the final convincing you need to seek a consultation with a renown expert. Someone with proven experience you can trust, who can advise and guide you safely through to the other side of the Fountain of Youth.

If you’re ready to take that journey, check out Nathan Holt’s scar removal and laser skin resurfacing.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY E-LIQUIDS INSTEAD OF CREATING THEM YOURSELF

By
Elizabeth Williams

A lot of people have recently turned to make their own e-liquids because they think it saves money. Even if we were to believe this argument, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Today we’re going to go over these disadvantages and tell you why you should just buy e-liquid instead of making it. 

SAFETY 

Safety is the utmost concern when you’re dealing with chemicals. Regardless of how much practice you’ve had, working with chemicals in an uncontrolled environment can still be a massive risk and one wrong calculation or one clumsy mistake can cost you more than just money and time. If you do not have the right safety equipment then chemical burns and nicotine poisoning is a genuine risk. 

COMPLEXITY 

Making your own e-juice isn’t a simple as mixing a few chemicals together. It takes calculations and thorough thought to produce a high-quality e-liquid. Having the wrong amounts of chemicals in your mixture could affect more than just the taste of the vapor and you could be inhaling the wrong concoction causing all manner of health complications. 

INCONSISTENT RESULTS 

If you’re not working in a controlled environment, you’re going to end up with very inconsistent results. A chemical reaction is not the same as cooking and different light and atmospheric factors can have a massive impact on the overall taste and feel of the e-liquid. There’s a reason why some states have laws to produce these products in controlled environments. Consistent results allow for consumer satisfaction. 

HAZARDOUS WASTE 

Considering you’re working with chemicals, a good amount of thought has to be put into the disposal of any residue or leftovers. The reason there are strict conditions under the law regarding the disposal of chemical waste is the level of risk it poses to the public if proper precautions are not taken. Not only would you be putting yourself at risk, but you could also be endangering innocent bystanders in the process. 

COST 

While many argue that one of the benefits of creating your own e-liquid is to that it saves money, the truth is it really doesn’t. Even if done properly and consistently, it still doesn’t change the fact that you’re spending a decent amount of time perfecting the recipe and then storing it. Buying e-liquid ends up being a lot cheaper when you consider the return on time and opportunity cost. 

LIMITED OPTIONS 

While you could make your own e-liquid, chances are you’ll be stuck making only one flavor of e-liquid at a time. The process is complex enough as it is and making two different liquids at the same time is just foolish especially since the above risks are potentially doubled. To “save money” you’ll have to make a pretty big batch too meaning you’re stuck with the flavor for a while! 

As you can see, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Other than just diluting the experience of vaping, the health hazards of making your own e-liquid should discourage you from even trying this venture. Let the professionals do what they’re good at and the rest of us can just enjoy the experience.

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