Home Blog Page 518

10 Amazing Alternative Health Ingredients and How They Can Change Your Life

By
Elizabeth Williams

It seems like everyone is trying to eat healthier today, which is a great trend to bring into your life. The problem is that it’s hard to tell the fads from the real thing when it comes to alternative ingredients to use you in your meals.

When you’re stuck between wondering what to use and what to leave out, here is a quick and easy rundown of 10 of the most amazing alternative health ingredients that you should be using daily and how they can change your life.

Healthy Alternative Ingredients for Your Diet

1. Cinnamon

It’s an all-in-one powerful spice that is found in everything from your lattes to the pumpkin pie you love. But not only does it have a great flavor that enhances just about every food, but it also has excellent health benefits.

Cinnamon’s medicinal properties come from the cinnamaldehyde in it, which, while it doesn’t sound too healthy, is actually what makes it so impressive. This potent spice is an antioxidant that is commonly used as a natural way to lower blood sugar levels. It slows the breakdown of carbs and improves insulin sensitivity.

This mega spice also helps to fight inflammation, lower cholesterol, and improve triglyceride levels.

2. Valerian root

A lot of our mental tension comes from our physical bodies, and valerian root is a natural herb that helps reduce anxiety, hysteria, and over-excitability. The valepotriates and isovaleric acid are the reason for the calming sedative effect in the valerian root.

With all of these relaxing properties, it’s no wonder that this root is often used to help with insomnia. It also regulates the nervous system, though, so it can help with spasms that trigger pain from tension. Valerian root is used to calm period cramps and migraines, too.

3. Peppermint oil

From the gum you chew to the oils you burn, adding peppermint into your day is a remedy that has been used for millennia. But peppermint oil itself is used to improve pain that stems from irritable bowel syndrome, a chronic condition that millions of people all over the world suffer from.

Peppermint oil relaxes the muscles in your colon and reduces abdominal bloat. Other studies show that just the aroma of peppermint can be used to relieve nausea and chewing peppermint gum or candy can enhance your alertness.

4. Turmeric

If you eat a lot of Indian food, you’ve probably already got this spice in your diet. It’s commonly used in curry to create the yellow color, but more importantly, the curcumin in it is an incredible antioxidant. It’s used to fight damage to your body caused by free radicals, boosts your body’s natural antioxidant enzymes, and reduces the signs of aging.

Curcumin is also used as an anti-inflammatory, so taking turmeric daily can help your body fight against many diseases. It is thought to improve brain function and fight Alzheimer’s, too.

5. Ginger

Another excellent anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory herb is ginger. It’s commonly used in many foods, including salad dressing. Studies have shown that it can help reduce nausea if it is ingested early enough, so it’s a strong natural remedy for everything from morning sickness to chemotherapy. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties are also used to treat arthritis.

6. Garlic

The health benefits of garlic are extensive and still being discovered, even though it has been used for hundreds of years as a medicine. While it’s definitely not good for use in toothpaste due to the allicin in it that gives it its smell, it does have a lot of other benefits, including its great taste.

Garlic is used to help improve the immune system and fight the common cold. It’s also used as a supplement to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

7. Cayenne pepper

Often used in spicy foods like chili, cayenne pepper has an ingredient called capsaicin in it. Capsaicin is used to reduce appetite and increase fat burn, so it is found in a lot of weight loss supplements. It’s thought to work best in people who don’t generally eat spicy foods, though.

Capsaicin in cream form is often used to reduce joint and muscle pain, lower back pain, and nerve pain.

8. Sage

Sage has been used as far back as records have been kept for its incredible healing properties. Today, it is thought to have the ability to improve brain function, helping avoid the cognitive memory decline that comes with diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Many studies have also shown that sage can be used as a supplement to help strengthen weakened bones due to osteoporosis. It’s also used to improve the quality of sleep, lower bad cholesterol levels, and reduce blood sugar levels.

9. Berries

Go ahead and add berries to every meal without guilt. These incredible antioxidants are a superfood that can neutralize free radicals that damage cells and lead to many chronic diseases. Your body loses its ability to make antioxidants as you age, so supplementing with spices that have antioxidant properties in them, vitamins, and foods like berries that are rich in these powerful ingredients can help you live your best life and fight aging.

10. Dark, leafy greens

Adding dark, leafy greens like kale and spinach to your diet is an easy way to get a load of vitamins, minerals, and more than your body needs. These superfoods contain a mixture of vitamin C, magnesium, folate, iron, antioxidants, and so much more. There’s a reason they’re called superfoods!

The great thing is that you can mix many of the herbs and spices into your leafy greens and make a healthy meal simply by replacing basic iceberg lettuce and other, not quite as healthy choices with these darker counterparts.

Live Your Healthiest Life Yet

You can pick and choose the ingredients you want to incorporate into your meals or add them all – either way, your body will thank you! Avoid processed and junk food, chemicals, and synthetic coloring, and use these amazing alternative ingredients to take your body to its optimal health today.

Different kinds of stamps are enhancing the creative abilities of crafters

By
Elizabeth Williams

Whenever we talk about stamps, two things come to our minds – the traditional rubber stamps and the mostly for official purposes and the philatelic or postage stamps. However, crafters and those familiar with craft would know that there are many variants of the rubber stamp used for crafting. Stamping is a dedicated form of craft extensively used for creating design impressions on various surfaces like paper, fabrics etc. Stamping helps to recreate the same design with the same kind of perfection as many times you want. Since stamps have a long life, it becomes an asset for stampers who maintain an inventory of different types of stamps including those offered by PRIMA MARKETING.

Different kinds of materials are now used for making stamps that include everything that crafters need. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crafter, there are some kinds of stamp available for all.

Types of stamps

Classification of stamps is easy because it is either mounted or unmounted. The stamp might be placed on a wooden block to make it easy to use, but some would prefer stamp without mounting because it is easy to carry and store. Again, stamp types may differ according to the material used for stamp making because there are many new materials in addition to rubber that is now available.

  1. Mounted rubber stamps

Rubber stamps can produce the design wanted by crafters and can capture a multitude of styles that create very detailed images. However, the nature of the rubber stamp differs according to the surface on which you want to use it. For stamping on soft surfaces like fabrics, air dry clay or pottery, you need a deep etched rubber stamp. For ease of use, the wooden block that carries the rubber stamp is provided with a handle. Mounted stamps are ready to use because you need only an ink pad to create the impression.

  1. Unmounted rubber stamps

A stamp cut out from a die in its bare form comprising only of the replica of the design on rubber without any mounting arrangement constitutes unmounted rubber stamps.  To use such stamps, you must make use of some temporary mounting system like cling foam along with acrylic blocks. Whether to use mounted or unmounted stamp is the choice of the user.

  1. Acrylic stamps or clear stamps

Replacing rubber with acrylic has resulted in the discovery of acrylic stamps that have been in use for quite some time. Acrylic blocks support the stamps temporarily during its use that makes it easy to position the design at the right place. The stamps are available in sheet form and are highly cost-effective.

  1. Foam stamps

 For stamping large and bold images, you would need foam stamps. These lightweight stamps are a favourite among children and using it with paints gives the best results. These are ideal for smaller stamping projects and suitable for interior decoration, too.

  1. Digital stamps

These stamps use digital images downloaded on a computer and duly manipulated before converting it into printout for making stamps.  Stampers get much more opportunities to meet their creative needs.

The Man Who Is Truly In Love Knows That One Woman Is Enough

By
Riley Cooper

In these modern dating times, it’s hard to find that real man that will accept and cherish us the way we are.

It’s hard to find that real man who will treat us as we deserve and who will fight for our happiness.

It’s hard to find that real man who will be able to love us wholeheartedly, intensely, and unconditionally. The man whom we’ll mean the world to.

It’s hard to find the man who will make you feel like you’re the only woman in the world.

The man who is truly in love knows that one woman is enough.

He perceives love and the woman he’s with in a different way from the rest. He doesn’t consider the guy who is dating a couple of women at once as a “stud” or “Mr. Big,” but as a selfish, inconsiderate, lustful as*hole.

The man who is truly in love knows that the guy who jumps from one relationship to another is not a real man.

The man who is truly in love knows the meaning of love.

He knows that there’s no better and more powerful feeling in the world than love. He knows that genuine and honest love is difficult to find, but  it’s worth waiting for a lifetime. He knows that a healthy, meaningful, happy relationship is built on mutual trust and respect, honesty, loyalty, and love.

The guy who is truly in love embraces and cherishes you the way you are.

He doesn’t try to change you or turn you into someone you’re not. He doesn’t make you feel ashamed of your weaknesses, insecurities, fears, and mistakes. Instead, he finds beauty in all your imperfections and makes you feel comfortable around him.

The man who is truly in love makes sure you know how much he loves you and how much you mean to him.

He never makes you doubt his love for you or wonder where you stand with him. He chooses you every day and makes you a priority.

He treats you with kindness, compassion, dignity, and lot of affection.

The man who is truly in love sticks with you through thick and thin.

He doesn’t leave you to deal with your problems and heartbreaks alone. Instead, he gives his best to help you overcome whatever is bothering you and alleviate your pain.

He understands that truly loving someone means always being there for them. It means being happy for them and celebrating with them when they achieve success, but also staying by their side when they’re going through tough times.

The man who is truly in love makes sure you know you can always count on his help and support.

The man who is truly in love knows that you’re the most amazing thing that has happened to him.

He knows that you’re the love of his life. His soul. His best friend. His companion. His greatest help. His most devoted fan. His guiding light.

Therefore, he makes sure you two always stay in love. He does everything in his power to keep the original flame of passion between you always alive.

He does his best to make you feel protected, safe, happy, and fulfilled. He makes sure you know how much he loves and admires you.

The man who is truly in love is not afraid to commit.

He’s not afraid to fully commit to you because he knows you’re worth it. He’s willing to settle down because you’re the most important person in his life. You’re the person that occupies the most special place in his heart.

He’s willing to commit because he can’t imagine his future without you.

He’s not afraid of commitment – the only thing he’s afraid of is losing you.

The man who is truly in love is proud of everything you are and everything you do.

He is proud of who you are as a person and of your achievements and successes.

The man who is truly in love knows your worth and more importantly, he makes sure you’re aware of it as well.

The man who is truly in love knows that one woman is enough.

He knows that his woman is worth every fight, every sacrifice, and every compromise. He knows that she deserves the best and that she’s the only queen of his heart.

The Power Of Positivity: This Is How Your Words Can Restructure Your Brain

By
Stephanie Reeds

“The words you speak become the house you live in.”

Regardless of whether you agree or not, the words we use can literally change our lives.

“But how?”, one might ask.

Dr. Andrew Newberg, a well-known neuroscientist at Thomas Jefferson University, and Mark Robert Waldman, a communications expert collaborated on this topic and they published a book called “Words Can Change Your Brain.”

In their book, they explain how positive thoughts have to power to affect our lives, or better yet how “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”

According to their research, when we use more positive words like “peace”, “joy”, “ love” we change the way our brain functions by increasing our cognitive reasoning as well as strengthening the areas around our frontal lobes.

As a result, we activate our brain’s motivational centers.

On the other hand, when we choose to express ourselves with negative words, our organism is instructed to prevent the release of certain important neuro-chemicals that contribute to our stress management.

“Angry words send alarm messages through the brain, and they partially shut down the logic-and-reasoning centers located in the frontal lobes,” explain Newberg and Waldman.

The truth is, as humans we are all programmed to worry. It is our basic, primal instant to always focus on the worst possible scenario because that is our brain’s way of protecting us from potential threats and dangers.

But, when we allow the negative flow of thoughts and words into our system, we are actually increasing the activity in the fear center in our brain and as a result, we attack our body and flood our system by releasing stress hormones.

Furthermore, the book elaborates on how the right words can actually help us change our lives and restructure our brains:

Additionally, another study associated with the effect of positivity done by Positive Psychology chose a group of people aged from 35-54 and asked them to start writing at least three things they were proud of each day.

The results showed that by focusing on positive emotions, ideas and thoughts, we can eventually influence our overall well-being and improve both our mental and physical health.

So, what words do you usually use? What do you focus your energy on?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experience in the comment section below.

And remember. Words can create heaven. They can inspire. But they also have to power to destroy. Choose yours well.

7 Toxic Relationship Habits Most People Perceive As Healthy

By
Riley Cooper

There’s no manual or book on how not to be a crappy girlfriend or boyfriend. Yes, when it comes to understanding how romantic relationships function and how they should be nurtured, we are not given any pointers.

We all want to ensure our relationships are based on trust, understanding, respect, loyalty, and of course, love. But the problem is that society has taught us to objectify and romanticize love. For example, we admire romantic love, you know – the one presented in the Hollywood movies which give us unreasonable, false expectations about love and relationships.

We’re also taught to objectify our partners, i.e. see them as an asset rather than someone with whom we can share emotional support and help each other grow.

The family atmosphere we grow up also plays an important role in the way we see love and relationships.

For example, when a person grows up in a healthy, harmonious family, with parents who teach them about real values and moral principles, and what true, unconditional love looks like, they grow into a mature, kind, and unselfish individual, and they can distinguish between genuine, healthy love and one that is toxic and damaging.

On the other hand, when a person grows up in a toxic, abusive family, with parents that constantly display unhealthy, bad habits, they end up repeating the same habits later as adults.

So, whether or not the way we perceive love and relationships has been influenced by the culture we live in or our lack of knowledge, it’s a fact that many couples break up because one or both of the partners displayed toxic habits that they considered healthy.

Are you wondering what they are? Then continue reading …

1. Blaming your partner for your own problems.

Blaming your partner for your own feelings and problems is not only bad but it’s also a sign of selfishness. For example, if you’re having a really bad day and you don’t tell anything about it to your partner, then you can’t blame them for being “unsupportive,” “insensitive,” or “distant.”

What you need to remember is that your partner can’t read your mind and that blaming them for things that are not their fault is not going to make you feel any better.

So, next time your boyfriend/ girlfriend asks you if there’s something wrong and if something is weighing you down, share your worries and problems with them instead of keeping them to yourself and suppressing your emotions.

2. Controlling your partner.

When you are in love with and committed to someone, it doesn’t mean that you have the right to limit their freedom, choose their friends or career, impose your own opinions and attitudes on them, or disrespect their personal space.

You and your significant other are together, but you need to remember that both of you have different opinions, interests, desires, and priorities. Both of you have your own lives.

Therefore, you need to make sure you give your boyfriend/girlfriend enough space to pursue their goals and passions and hang out with their friends. You have to support and encourage them to grow, and you must never interfere with their decisions and choices.

Of course, if you think that they’re displaying self-destructive behavior or maybe hang out with people that have a negative influence on them, then talk with them patiently about it.

But most importantly, let them know that you are not trying to tell them how to live their life, but that you truly care about them and don’t want anything bad to happen to them.

3. Sugarcoating.

If your partner is displaying some super irritating or bad habit that’s really getting on your nerves, or if they’ve done something that hurt you, you have to talk to them about it as it is, not beating around the bush or p*ssyfoot around them like they’re 9.

4. Keeping score of your partner’s mistakes.

Couples that are in healthy and meaningful relationships don’t count their partner’s mistakes and try to pay them back – they forgive them. They don’t keep a track of how many promises their partner has broken, how many dates they’ve canceled, or how many times they’ve said something that hurt their feelings.

So, instead of wasting your energy counting your partner’s mistakes, forgive them and forget. Work together to resolve your problems and arguments as quickly as you possibly can, and of course, refrain from digging the past.

5. Justifying your partner’s behavior.

Just because you’re in love with and committed to your partner, it doesn’t mean that you have to make excuses for their wrong and bad behaviors, or let alone blame yourself for their own mistakes and wrongdoings.

So, if your partner has said or done something that hurt your feelings, or if they often do something that makes you feel uncomfortable and upset, talk to them about it. Don’t let your feelings for them make you justify their behavior and affect your decisions. What is bad is bad and no one should put up with their partner’s bullsh*t.

6. Sharing details of your relationship with other people.

Whatever is happening between you and your partner should stay in the relationship. Talking about your relationship problems and fights to your family or friends as well as letting them influence your decisions is damaging to your relationship. It can destroy the trust between you and your partner and create confusion.

So, unless your partner is emotionally, mentally, or physically abusing you, don’t share your relationship problems with other people. Keep them within the relationship and try to solve them together with your partner.

7. Constantly asking about your partner’s whereabouts.

Constantly asking your partner to tell you where they are, what they’re doing, who they’re hanging out with, or when they’re coming home, or even asking them to give you their passwords to their accounts, is not only a toxic behavior, but it’s also a sign of lack of trust.

If you can’t trust your partner, then what’s the point in being with them? Being suspicious about everything they say or do will cause stress and unnecessary problems in your relationship.

Therefore, learn to trust your partner and avoid being controlling. When you ask them where they are and what they’re doing, make sure you sound pleasant and relaxed, not bossy.

9 Powerful Ways To Relax Yourself And Soothe Your Anxious Mind

By
Stephanie Reeds

Every person feels anxious from time to time. We’re exposed to so many sources of stress throughout the day, that is inevitable to eventually crack under the pressure.

However, some people simply find it harder to cope with the struggles of their noisy mind. Some cannot handle the daunting white noise inside their minds and overthink. That overthinking eventually leads to an obsession that ultimately becomes the reason for many repressed issues.

If you are someone who is struggling with anxiety, here are 9 powerful strategies to unwind and soothe your noisy mind:

1. BE MINDFUL

Don’t be so quick to react to your thoughts. Instead, stop for a second and try to observe them as they flow. Close your eyes and imagine your thoughts floating above you. Be present at that moment. Practice mindfulness.

2. ATTEMPT COGNITIVE DISTANCING

When a thought crosses your mind try to perceive is as a guess, not a fact. Most of the time, our minds are actually protecting us by predicting a certain scenario, but it is very important for us to understand that just because something might happen, doesn’t actually mean that it will.

Why are you so sure that the negative outcome will come true? What if the opposite thing happens instead?

3. THINK OF YOUR THOUGHTS AS MOVING DATA

It’s a fact that our brains are truly sensitive to a potential threat. This is the way it has always been. Alertness helps us handle unforeseen situations and possible dangers. Therefore, some of our thoughts are automatically generated to help us survive in a given moment.

But what if you could perceive them just as data flowing through your mind?

4. FOCUS ON THE REALITY AND YOUR EXPERIENCE

Our minds tend to create stories as a result of all of the experience that we’ve accumulated in our minds. But sometimes these stories are not really accurate. Sometimes our minds are influenced by negative situations from the past.

That is why it is very important to learn how to make difference between what is actually happening and what might eventually happen. Focus on reality.

5. START LABELING YOUR THOUGHTS

It’s simple. Instead of paying attention to the content of your thought, label it. When you notice a judgmental thought crossing your mind, put it in the box labeled Judging. Or when you start criticizing yourself, put it in the box criticizing. That way you can avoid wasting your time on the content of the thoughts and focus on your mental progress.

6. BE PRESENT

Remember. Just because you’ve experienced something bad in your past, doesn’t mean that the same thing will happen again. Stop living in the past. Focus on the present moment.

7. THINK OUT OF THE BOX

Sometimes we are more focused on the potential threats of a situation than on the whole picture. And that usually triggers our anxiety. It forces us to think more narrowly instead of thinking out of the box.

Ask yourself. Does this threat really exist, or it is simply a scenario that your mind made?

8. GET UP AND GET MOVING

More importantly, try to remember that worrying over something without doing anything about it won’t actually solve your issues. It will only make life insufferable for you.

That is why, sometimes it is better to leave everything aside, get up and do something else for a change. Occupying your brain with something new, or something creative might change your current perspective and improve your coping skills.

9. ANALYZE WHETHER YOUR THOUGHTS ARE HELPFUL OR HARMFUL

And last, but not least, remember this. Even though a thought might be true, that doesn’t always mean that it can also be beneficial for you. Pay attention to what flows through your mind and carefully decide what is helpful and what is harmful.

He’s Everything You Want But Also The Last Thing You Need

By
Riley Cooper

When the man you’re with is everything you want, you’ll overlook all his bad habits, whims, and mistakes, and only focus on his positive sides.

You’ll ignore all his lies and false promises.

You’ll turn a blind eye to every sign that you’re in a toxic relationship.

You’ll make irrational, wrong choices and decisions.

You’ll give your best to fix your relationship, even though those who truly love and care about you will tell you that he’s just making a fool of you.

When he is everything you want, you’ll let him know it.

You’ll let him know that by the way you treat him – with kindness, affection, respect, and dignity. You’ll let him know that by the way you look at him – with eyes full of warmth, love, and passion.

When he is everything you want, you’ll put his feelings, opinions, needs, desires, and problems first, and you’ll forget about your own. You’ll forget to take care of your priorities and problems.  You’ll forget to follow your goals and dreams.

You’ll be more interested in making him feel happy and fulfilled than yourself.

When he is everything you want, you’ll believe that you’ve finally found the love of your life. You’ll believe that he’s your missing half. Your soulmate.

You’ll fight for his happiness at the cost of your own.

You’ll forget about your needs, desires, and priorities so as to take care of his.

You’ll boost his ego while bringing yourself down and wrecking your confidence.

You’ll constantly tear yourself into pieces in order to keep him whole and complete.

You’ll forget loving yourself.

When he is everything you want, you’ll fight for him.

You will care about him too much. You will love him hard and unconditionally.

You’ll unselfishly give him your love and support even though he doesn’t even deserve a second of your time.

You’ll be satisfied with the small amount of time you spend with him and the crumbs of love you receive. You’ll be satisfied with less than what you deserve.

When he is everything you need, you will allow him to have control over you.

You’ll let his charm, compliments, sweet words, and great stories deceive you. You’ll think your life is a fairy tale because that’s what he wants you to believe.

You’ll turn a blind eye to his lies and lame excuses. You’ll believe his promises and accept his apologies.

You’ll let him involve you in his devious, little mind games and play with your feelings.

But sometimes the person who is everything you want is the last thing you need.

And when he is the last thing that you need in your life, you’ll feel broken, empty, and lost. You’ll feel hurt and hopeless.

You’ll feel confused because you can’t believe that the person you loved with every part of you and to whom you gave everything you’ve ever had could hurt you in such a way.

You can’t believe that the person you fought for with every fiber of your being has never loved you.

When he is the last thing you need, you’ll think you’re less smart and important than him. You’ll think you’re not good enough for him and that he deserves to be with someone better than you.

When he is the last thing you need, you’ll spend many sleepless nights wondering why he hasn’t still responded to your messages and calls.

When he is the last thing you need, you’ll feel responsible for all your relationship problems. You’ll feel guilty and take the blame for things that are not your fault, but his.

When he is the last thing you need, he’ll drain your energy and slowly kill your happiness.

He’ll make you doubt your own logic, perception, judgment, and sense of reality.

He’ll hurt your feelings.

He’ll break your heart.

And the sad thing is that you won’t be aware of anything of this. Everyone will notice it, but you.

Everyone will watch as your smile turns into a frown, the light in your eyes turns into darkness, and your joy becomes sadness.

They’ll feel angry when they see you give him a chance over and over again. Their hearts will break to watch you destruct yourself with his help.

They’ll tell you to leave him and move on. But nothing of this will change your feelings for him.

They’ll tell you he’s toxic and that you deserve someone way better than him, but you won’t listen to them.

But let me tell you something: This isn’t love.

Because love is not control. It’s not manipulation. It’s not lies and broken promises.

Love is not stringing someone along and playing with their feelings.

Love is not taking someone for granted. Love is not feeling the need to put someone down to increase your confidence.

Love is not feeling the need to see someone hurt to feel stronger and better about yourself.

Love should not make you feel weak, hurt, empty and hopeless, but strong, fulfilled, and complete.

Love should not exhaust or suffocate you.

Love should not make you tear yourself apart. Instead, it should make you feel whole and fulfilled, and help you grow and become the best version of yourself.

This Is What Holding Space And Being There For Someone Else Really Means

By
Stephanie Reeds

Have you ever sat by a loved one who was in pain and simply existed at that moment without saying a word to them? Yes, I know you’re all familiar with that feeling.

We’ve all done that. We’ve felt the sadness within a person’s heart. We’ve all sensed the sorrow inside their soul. We’ve all held space for them.

But what does “holding space” really means?

We’ve all used that term but not all of us know the real meaning of holding space for someone else.

Well, “holding space” is a concept that is really hard to describe. Because you aren’t really holding anything. You aren’t holding another person, nor are you holding their fear, sadness or pain.

Holding space is about accepting someone. It is about being in that exact space with them.

When your friend calls you in the middle of the night and needs to talk to you, and you listen, you are holding space for them.

When your partner comes home frustrated and exhausted from all the work he had, and he just wants to vent about it, and you give him your unconditional support, you are holding space…

When your mother has a middle age crisis, feels too tired and opens up to you about everything she was silent before and you are there for her, you are holding space for her.

When you are going crazy over something and someone replies to you “It’s fine. I’ve been through it myself. You will make it.” … That is what holding space really means.

It’s about being present. It is about fully experiencing something. Seeing someone for who they are, without judging them. Holding space is realizing that we are all flawed and that we all make mistakes every once in a while, but that deep down we are much powerful than we believe we are.

It is opening the door for someone and letting them experience something new for the first time. It is allowing them to completely open up their souls and express their fears, insecurities, desires, and passions, by simply being there beside them.

When we hold space, we’re accepting. Ourselves, the moment, our feelings, the people around us. We’re embracing everything that flows through us and we’re allowing ourselves to feel those sensations, but also to learn from them.

Because holding space doesn’t always have to include another person. You can hold space for yourself. Whatever you’re experiencing, no matter how positive or painful the experience is, you can always hold space for yourself by first finding self-compassion within you.

Dr. Kristin Neff explains that self-compassion has three important components.

Common humanity is that inevitable reminder that we all struggle. It helps us get back on our feet by showing us the reality that every single one of us is vulnerable, fragile and flawed. And that suffering is simply a part of the process called life.

Self-kindness, on the other hand, is the support and understanding we have for ourselves whenever we feel miserable. Self-kindness means accepting our pain and finding a way to heal our scars instead of ignoring our sorrow.

Mindfulness is balancing the approach to our emotions. It’s an objective way of observing both our negative and positive emotions and becoming aware of everything we carry inside without suppressing the parts we dislike. It’s about unconditional acceptance.

The thing is, we cannot feel compassion for another human being if we ignore our pain. We cannot help another human being or simply hold the space for them if we’re incapable of holding space for ourselves.

We need that space, even if we don’t always understand why. Because in that space, we are free. In that space, we feel what unconditional love means. Regardless of whether it’s self- love or love for another human being.

That is where our strength comes from.

Being in a constant state of unconditional love means synchronizing all of our thoughts, actions, and words. It means letting them flow like the mightiest river and submerging everything and everyone around it.

Holding space doesn’t benefit us only.

Holding space means sharing that unconditional love with the whole world.

8 Things Alpha Women Don’t Give A F*ck About And You Shouldn’t Too

By
Riley Cooper
alpha woman

An Alpha woman – it sounds so powerful, doesn’t it?

I’m sure you’ve already noticed her because the strength, confidence, and charm she oozes attract everyone’s attention. Her badass nature leaves no one indifferent.

An Alpha woman is strong, smart, independent, self-respecting, ambitious, and fearless. She knows who she is and she knows what she wants in life.

She lives life in accordance with her own beliefs, values, and principles, not the rules of others. When she disagrees with someone, she’s not afraid to speak her mind. And when others criticize her, this woman knows how to stand up for herself.  

She lives her life without worrying about what tomorrow may bring. She’s been through rough times and she has problems just like everyone else, but what differentiates her from the rest is that she doesn’t let her worries affect the quality of her life and stand in the way to her happiness and success.

This tough, smart, and mature woman understands that some things in life are simply not worth stressing over. She knows that life is what we make it and she ensures she makes it worthwhile.

Here are 8 things Alpha women don’t give a damn about:

1. Whether other people accept them.

An Alpha woman doesn’t bother to fit in with the crowd. She embraces her true self and lives a truly authentic life. Conforming to stereotypes, conventions, and boring, outdated rules that society imposes on her is out of the question.

An Alpha woman simply exists out of the box and if others don’t agree with the way she lives, well, there’s nothing she can do about it.

2. What other people think about them.

An Alpha woman lives her life for her, not for anyone else. She doesn’t let the fear of being disliked or rejected stop her from being her true self. She accepts and cherishes herself the way she is – with all her flaws.

She knows her worth and respects herself enough not to feel the need to seek other people’s approval. She knows that no matter what kind of person you are, people will always judge. So, if someone doesn’t like her, well, that’s not her problem!

3. Having a “90-60-90” body.

Alpha women don’t buy into all that “perfect female body shape” stuff which is heavily propagated in the fashion industry and all media. Alpha women love themselves and their bodies as they are. They find beauty in all their imperfections.

They know that we’re all different and that we possess unique characteristics, and this is what makes us beautiful and special.  

It doesn’t matter to an Alpha woman whether she has a pound more or pound less because she understands that her body weight and dimensions don’t make the person she is and they certainly don’t define her worth.

The only thing that matters to her is to always keep her body healthy and maintain her mental and emotional well-being.

4. Following fashion trends

If she doesn’t care about her body weight and dimensions, why would you think she’d care about following some stupid, boring fashion trends? If short, tight, black dresses and high-heels are not her style, there’s no chance she’ll wear them, be that at dates, parties, meetings, or you name it.

Alpha women only wear clothes that they like wearing and that they feel comfortable in. And what matters is that whatever they wear, they wear it with confidence.

5. Being always right.

Being always right? What?! This attitude is only for immature, unambitious, ignorant people. And Alpha women certainly don’t fit into this group. These women are open-minded and curious. They want to expand their knowledge of any topic and gain new perceptions of the world.

Any smart, ambitious woman knows that there’s no such person that knows everything. Therefore, she’s not ashamed or afraid to admit when she’s made a mistake or said something wrong. What matters to her is the fact that she can always learn something new and useful from her mistakes.

6. Leaving toxic relationships.

Any smart, self-respecting, confident woman knows that when it comes to her happiness, inner peace, and well-being, there are no compromises. Therefore, she surrounds herself with people who benefit her and add happiness and value to her life.

She respects herself enough to know that selfish, phony, manipulative, and controlling people deserve no place in her life. So, whether it’s a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or partner, she’s not hesitant or afraid to end her relationship with them if they have a toxic influence on her and prevent her from living a fulfilling, happy, successful life.

7. Being shy in bed.

Being shy and submissive in bed? The hell with it. When an Alpha woman is truly in love with someone, she’s not ashamed or afraid to give in to passion. She’s not ashamed to share her wildest erotic fantasies and desires with her partner.

This woman is an equal partner in bed, and she demands what she wants.

8. Being popular on social media.

An Alpha woman knows who she is and she knows her worth. She doesn’t need to receive hundreds of likes on her selfies and posts or have a thousand friends on her Facebook or Instagram profile so as to feel accepted and valued.

Instead of spending her energy checking how many likes her photos on social media have received or what other people have posted, she focuses on doing something which is beneficial for her and enhances her personal and professional life.

11 Ways To Recognize A Misogynist

By
Stephanie Reeds

We’ve all heard about the misogynists. Heck, some of us even dealt with them. But, what most of the people out there fail to realize is that misogynists can be everywhere around us.

They can be the person you believe in the most. They can be the ex-boyfriend who supposedly still cares about you. They can be your current partner. And believe it or not, they can even be the loudest, pro-feminist guy out there.

These people don’t walk around with a warning sign attached to them.

But, what is misogyny?

Misogyny is the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls.

The truth is, some misogynists are not even aware that they hate women. This is because in most cases, misogyny is unconsciously developed as a result of a past trauma that involved a female person they probably trusted.

Whether it is an abusive mother, a negligent sister, a toxic girlfriend, a mean friend, or a teacher, their behaviors can easily plant a seed inside a man’s brain earlier in life, affect his emotions and eventually be the reason for him developing a hatred for women.

Here are 11 ways you can recognize a misogynist:

1. He will carefully analyze a woman and pick her as his target. The woman in question might not notice his hidden intentions and let her guard down since the misogynist is usually very fun to be around, exciting, charismatic and flirtatious at the begging.

2.  As time passes by, he will reveal a Jekyll and Hyde behavior. This means that he may go from incredibly kind and irresistible to extremely rude and inconsiderate within seconds. The real type of social chameleon.

3. He will make crazy promises to women, but he will never bother to keep them. But, when it comes to his male companions, on the other hand, he will always do the things he said he would.

4. A misogynist doesn’t respect women. He will always be late to his dates or his meetings with women. However, when it comes to his business with men, he will always keep his word and be as punctual as he can.

5. He is competitive and extremely intimidated by women who are more successful than him. He considers that a personal attack on him.

6. A misogynist is usually very cocky, rude, condescending and domineering towards women. He thinks highly of himself.

7. He will consciously discriminate the women in every social setting, whether it’s his workplace, a meeting, or a social gathering. A misogynist will do everything in his power to make men superior to women.

8. A misogynist will do whatever it takes to make a woman feel bad about herself. He will humiliate her in public, he will manipulate her by withholding sex in the relationship, he will make offensive jokes on her account in front of people, he will string her along, he will trigger her insecurities and he will use her ideas without giving her the credit for it.

9. He will also try to sexually control the women he is with by avoiding their needs and paying no attention to their sexual pleasure. A misogynist will always ask to be sexually satisfied, but he will never do anything to please his partner.

10. He will cheat on every woman he is with. Because a misogynist does not believe in monogamy. He has no respect for women.

11. A misogynist may completely ghost on the people he is in a relationship with and then come back after a few months with a silly explanation designed to trick his partner to take him back.

The thing is, not all of the misogynists out there possess all of these traits. That is exactly what makes it difficult for people to recognize them and avoid them. Their alluring charisma and attractive appearance only make it harder for women to spot the caution signs that these people are toxic.

1...517518519...705Page 518 of 705

Follow us on Instagram @curiousmindmagazine

© Curiousmindmagazine 2015