Home Blog Page 559

8 Devious Things A Narcissist Will Do To You In A Relationship

By
Riley Cooper

Loving someone with every part of yourself is totally fine, in fact, it’s an amazing thing, but not if the other person is someone who only loves themselves. Yes, you guessed it – the narcissist.

These unsympathetic, selfish, conceited people are extremely difficult to handle, and being in a relationship with such a person is quite a rough ride. Their inflated self-esteem and sense of superiority are just a mask behind which they hide their real, insecure, wounded self. They’re so self-absorbed that they’re not able to treat anyone with care and affection.

If you’re not aware of their malicious nature and if they see you’re an easy target, they’ll suck the happiness and life out of you before you blink. So, if you suspect that you may be dating a narcissist, know that there are a few things you need to pay attention to so that you don’t end up being emotionally and mentally abused.

Here are 8 things a narcissist will do to you in a relationship:

1. They’ll earn your trust.

Of all the manipulation tactics a narcissist will use to gain control over you, gaining your trust will be the first one. They’ll be charming, caring, and tender so as to make you believe they’re good and deserve your trust. They’ll make you feel free and comfortable to tell them everything.

Once they have your trust, it’ll be easier for them to manipulate you and make you act in ways that suit their needs. They won’t think twice before they use your weaknesses and secrets against you, especially if they notice you want to leave them.

2. They’ll change you.

To make you act in a way that suits their own needs, a narcissist will change you, but, of course, not in a good way. They’ll do anything in their power to wreck your confidence and self-image.  They’ll manage to destroy your perception of reality and even make you doubt your own logic without you being aware of it.

You’ll get so used to being the person they want you to be that by the time you leave the relationship, you’ll be broken and lose your sense of self. You won’t even remember who you were before you got into the relationship. So, please, make sure you get out of that kind of relationship on time, before you miss all chances of saving yourself.

3. They’ll enchant you with their flattering, honeyed words.

To keep you in their life, a narcissist will shower you with loving, sweet words. They’ll often tell you “I love you” just so that they hear it back.

Yet, when this kind of person utters these words, they have quite a different meaning compared to the original one. Their “I love you” means “I want to make you fall in love with and worship me. I need to feel I’m loved and wanted.”

4. They’ll point out your flaws.

They’ll amplify all your faults, insecurities, and fears so as to make themselves feel and look superior to you. Instead of accepting and loving you for who you are, they’ll criticize you for your faults and make you feel unworthy.

Moreover, when something goes bad in the relationship, they’ll make you their perfect scapegoat. They’ll never own up to their mistakes and wrongdoings. Instead, they’ll make sure you’re the one who will always take the blame.

5. They’ll isolate you from the people you love.

A narcissist is aware that your family and friends will see their true self and intentions before you do. So, in order to prevent you from seeing their true colors, and, of course, leaving them, they’ll cut everyone out of your life and make themselves the center of your world.

They won’t bother to show consideration for your feelings. They’ll badmouth the people you hold dear and poison your mind to turn you against them. This kind of person will ensure they’re all you have.

6. They’ll trap you inside their vicious world.

They’ll trap you by making you feel inferior to them in all aspects of life. They’ll make you feel less smart, capable, and important than them. They’ll use all their manipulation skills to make you fall in love with and get so attached to them that you’ll think you can’t live without them.

Even worse, they’ll make you think you’re lucky for having them as a partner because they love and appreciate you despite all your faults and weaknesses. You’ll think no one can love you the way they do.

7. They’ll destroy you.

When they’ve transformed you into a person that perfectly fits into their vicious world and taken everything they possibly could from you, and you don’t serve their purpose any longer, a narcissist won’t think twice before they throw you away like a disposable puppet.

They’ll focus their attention on looking for a new victim, leaving you feeling wounded, used, and destroyed, and racking your brain wondering what happened.

8. Yet, they’ll give you a chance to be reborn.

If you want to rebuild yourself, you need to get out of the relationship first. Leaving the narcissist will feel like waking up from the worst nightmare.

In the beginning, you’ll probably feel lost. But, you’ll soon realize that all the terror and pain the narcissist put you through have made you grow stronger and more resilient and that by leaving all this behind you, you have the chance to be reborn.

8 Things You Should Know When Dating An Alpha Woman

By
Riley Cooper

Alpha woman. It sounds powerful, doesn’t it? Well, it’s undeniably the term which best describes the type of woman who is strong, independent, resourceful, and driven.

However, there’s a common misconception that strong women don’t want love and relationships. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can say they don’t need a man so as to feel happy and make their way through life, but they do want an equally strong partner who will be able to keep up with them in every aspect of life.

If you ever have the privilege to date an alpha woman, let me tell you that this is going to be the most amazing, rewarding, and unforgettable experience you’ll ever have. It’ll be a pleasant journey on which you’ll learn a lot of lessons.

But before you fall hard for this kind of woman, there’re 8 things you should know first:

1. Don’t expect her to beat about the bush.

If you have important things you want to discuss with her, be that a personal problem or one related to the relationship, you’ll have to be straight with her. Likewise, when there’s something weighing on her mind, she’ll openly tell you what it is about.

She’s not the type of woman who will sweep problems under the carpet or waste time beating around the bush. Oh, and I almost forgot –if she has to tell you something that could be painful to you, she won’t try to make it sound more pleasant or sugar coat it. She always talks about things as they really are.

2. Don’t expect her to be jealous.

There’s nothing wrong with being jealous – it’s actually a sign that you love the person you’re with and you don’t want to lose them. But, don’t expect that she’ll fall for your silly, immature games, such as flirting or posting selfies with other women on Facebook.

This woman knows who she is and she has confidence in herself. She also knows who deserves  her love and attention and who doesn’t.  

3. Don’t expect to have meaningless conversations.

Alpha women are smart and educated. They can’t stand superficial conversations, such as small talk, petty arguments, or gossip. So, if you think you can get her attention by talking to her about everyday, unimportant, boring things, you’re so wrong.

Unless you have something intellectually stimulating and interesting to share with her, don’t even try to start a conversation with her.

4. Don’t expect you’ll be indecisive.

This woman is already used to making important decision and choices, no matter if they’re related to her work or personal life. But, if you think she’ll get used to hearing you say: “Hm, I don’t know. Where do you want to go tonight?” every evening, know that you’re not the person whom she’d like to have as a partner.

An alpha woman doesn’t want to be the only one who will make the decisions related to the relationship, and she certainly won’t wait for you to make up your mind about things. Instead, she wants you to take control of things. She wants you to be able to make plans and decisions by yourself.  She wants you to be decisive and determined.

5. Don’t expect she’ll put up with you if you’re flaky.

An alpha woman wants to have a mature, responsible man by her side. If you’ve said you agree about a particular idea or plan, then stick to your opinion. Similarly, if you’ve promised to do something, make sure you do it.

Of course, we all sometimes fail to fulfill our promises, but if this turns into your habit, you can be sure she won’t waste her time with you.

6. Do expect to be motivated.

An alpha woman is always on the go. She has goals and a clear vision of her future. She’s driven and she works hard to fulfill her goals and dreams. With her actions and achievements, she’ll motivate and inspire you to reach your full potential, learn new things, and do your best to achieve your goals.

7. Do expect to gain new experiences.

Excitement, passion, and fun are inseparable parts of her life. While sometimes she enjoys just relaxing on the couch and watching TV, other times, her adventurous spirit comes to the surface. This woman is always looking forward to having new, interesting, fun experiences.

If you’re lucky to be loved by this kind of woman, know that she will ignite thirst in you for doing things and practicing hobbies you didn’t like before. With this woman, your life will never be boring  – you can take my word for it.

8. Do expect her to completely commit herself to you.

If this woman chooses you out of so many guys, you can consider yourself lucky. When an alpha woman loves, she loves deeply and intensely. She’s fiercely loyal to her man.

This woman will treat you with affection and she’ll make sure she always keeps the passion between you alive. And once she’s sure you’re the one who deserves her love, she’ll fully commit herself to you.

 

8 Behaviors That Show Your Guy Has Lost Interest In You

By
Riley Cooper

You and your partner have been going through difficult times lately, but it’s not like he’s lost interest in you…or have you just missed the warning signs?

Determining if your significant other has lost interest in you or you are just imagining things can be hard, but it’s even harder to be in a relationship with him while you’re struggling with doubts about his feelings for you. And this is certainly not something that couples who are in healthy, meaningful, successful relationships deal with.

If his interest in you has really started to wane, then get prepared to face the truth that there isn’t much you can do about it. You can’t manipulate somebody else’s feelings for you and you can’t force them to love you. Because the reason is simple: Love is never forced – it always comes naturally.

Your concerns about the stability of your relationship may or may not be founded in reality.  And the best way to find out whether your guy has really lost interest in you is to pay attention to the way he behaves.

Here are 8 things men do when they lose interest in you:

1. He spends more time with his buddies than with you.

You used to see each other every day and he always managed to squeeze you into his busy schedule. Making time for you was always his choice, never an obligation. And now, he always acts like he’s busy and up to his neck in work.

And when he has free time he prefers to spend it with his friends than with you, and he feels free and comfortable to tell you that.

Of course, he has responsibilities and tasks he has to take care of every day, and no one expects him not to do that. But, using this as an excuse not to spend time with you and bailing on you without any shame is totally unacceptable and a sign that he’s no longer into you.  

2. His kisses are no longer passionate.

You used to feel your whole body tremble when he kissed you because his kisses were passionate and warm. And now, his kiss no longer feels the same. It’s brief, cold, and it’s certainly not affectionate. Sometimes, he even doesn’t bother to kiss you on the lips and he just kisses you on the cheek or on the forehead.

I mean, what kind of a man who is supposed to be madly and deeply in love with you does that?

3. He no longer plans your dates.

Your guy used to plan all your weekend dates and all you had to do was to guess what romantic surprises he had for you. And now, he has simply stopped taking you out on romantic dates.

Now, you’re the one who organizes your dates, he just waits for you to tell him when and where you’re going.

4. He’s not ashamed to flirt with other women in front of you.

Do you often catch him checking out other women from head to toe and back up? Does he flirt with them even in your presence? If your answer is yes, then what other proof do you need that your “beloved” has not only lost interest in you, but he also doesn’t care about you and your feelings?

The fact that he’s openly flirting with other women in front of your eyes is not only disgraceful, but it also shows that he doesn’t want to commit to you.

5. He refuses to talk about your relationship.

Whenever you try to talk about your relationship to him, he changes the topic right away. He prefers to sweep your problems under the carpet rather than openly discuss them with you and try to reach a solution that will be the best for both of you.

He seems uninterested in anything related to you two. He also refuses to put a label on your relationship on the pretext of needing more time. And chances are this is a warning sign you two are not headed in the same direction.

6. He constantly picks fights with you.

He starts arguments with you for no reason and knows how to push your buttons. His behavior makes you feel angry and disappointed and you sometimes even think about leaving him.

But, chances are you might be missing an important point here. He may be spoiling for a fight so as to provoke your anger until you lose your mind and start verbally attacking him.

And of course, to someone who doesn’t know what’s really going on between you, he’d look like he’s the good guy who is in a relationship with a too sensitive, irrational, unstable woman and has the absolute right to leave her.

Are you sure you want to be with such a manipulative guy?

7. He’s become moody.

We all have our good and bad days. But, if your guy doesn’t care about whether he’ll say or do something that will hurt your feelings, and if he doesn’t apologize for his behavior when he’s in a bad mood, this can actually mean that he’s dissatisfied.

If he gets irritated and grumpy over the smallest problem, this could indicate that what he’s doing in the relationship is totally different from what he really wants to do. And this may sound harsh, but chances are he’d rather be somewhere else than with you.

8. He’s stopped taking care of himself.

During the first months of the relationship, he used to make sure he always looked good around you. And then…poof. Where did that neatly dressed guy disappear?

It’s not like he has to wear the most expensive colognes, or perfumes, or the latest haircut. But, if he doesn’t care at all about the way he looks around you, let alone impress you, this could be a sign that the romance is dead and he doesn’t give a damn about it.

When You Love Someone You, You Get Out Of Your Way To Understand Their Emotional Triggers

By
Stephanie Reeds

Love is not only pink skies, rainbows, joy, and happiness.

A bigger part of it is simply facing the darkness together. Confronting our inner demons. Understanding what makes us so damn paranoid when there’s no logical explanation for it.

Trying to find a reason for behaving ridiculous, terrified, or confused. Getting out of our way to discover the deepest, scariest depths of your lover’s soul, and finally, understand their profound emotions by learning what triggers their fears and insecurities.

It is simple.

When you love someone, you accept them for who they really are.

You don’t get mad at them because they had another emotional outburst or an uncomfortable reaction to something they heard or saw. You don’t get frustrated just because they were acting silly and you simply don’t shut down because you feel like it wasn’t your fault.

You try to get inside their mind. You try to understand what haunts them. You try to communicate. You do your best to reach out to them and make them listen, no matter how bad they want to deny their fears and hide behind the cloak of  “I’m fine”.

Then you try to help them.

You don’t judge them. You don’t criticize them. And you simply don’t humiliate them.

You’d be surprised to learn that trauma sometimes reveals itself in extremely odd ways. So, if you haven’t struggled with the same issues, it is likely that you won’t be able to immediately understand their pain. Still, that doesn’t mean that what they feel isn’t real.

You see, love is a learning process. You may think that your person is simply upset over something trivial, you might think that they had a bad day, or they’re just tired, but the reality may be completely different.

There might be a thousand layers of guilt, fear or anxiety underneath their cool, calm exterior. There might a whole new world in which they secretly reside.

Their emotional triggers can be anything. A daunting silence. Raised voices. Fast cars. Loud places. Blood. The scent of a perfume. A certain song. Strangers.

You cannot allow yourself to judge them before you get inside their shoes and explore every inch of their secret world. You cannot accuse them of being over dramatic. You cannot calm them down by saying that it’s all in their head.

“It’s not that big of a deal”.

To them, it is a big deal.

So, instead of making them feel foolish, validate their feelings.

Even if you cannot fully understand their mind, and you cannot predict their reaction. Just be there. Let them know that it is okay to feel lost. That they need to feel free to open up and share their pain with you. That you are there beside them, no matter what.

Because when you genuinely love someone, you learn what makes them tick, what pushes them over the edge, what drives them crazy, and what soothes them. You understand what makes them uncomfortable and you never do that again.

You go out of your way if you have to, and you try hard, but you learn what triggers them and you understand their emotions because at the end of the day they’re the ones who have always done the same thing for you.

I’m Done Trying To Save This Relationship – This Is Me Giving Up On You

By
Stephanie Reeds
im done trying

Tell me… how is it so easy for you to make promises while I’m right there beside you, watching you break them?

How can you do that to me? How can you do that to another human being?

For so long, I hoped that this is just a phase. That every couple reaches this inevitable stage in their relationship and eventually overcomes the obstacles by deciding to work together instead of against each other.

I somehow convinced myself that every relationship requires patience, effort, and a lot of work. I refused to believe what others said about you because you somehow knew your way around me. You knew exactly what to say and when to say it. You were the most charming silver-tongued devil.

So, I stayed. Each and every time you messed things up, I forced myself to believe that is just how relationships are. I forced myself to forgive you hoping that tomorrow will bring a better day.

I believed in your lies that you love me, and you’d do everything for me. I even believed in your foolish promises that you’ll change. Yet, the only thing you changed was your promise.

You were the one who broke me. The one who destroyed my hopes. The one who taught me how to break the promises. The one who robbed me of my feelings and the one who forced me to give up on love. You made me believe that love is just a temporary fling; a powerful emotion that will eventually set me on fire and burn me to ashes.

So, here I am today… I’m finally choosing myself over you. I’m finally giving up on everything.

I’m done trying to fight for something that is already dead and rotten. I’m done living a life of illusion.

I’m done trying to make things work. I’m done wasting my time.

im done trying

This is me finally giving up on you.

This is me letting you know that I’m out of chances. I’m done being the shelter for your issues. I’m done being the victim.

This is me making it clear that I’m finally done fighting for a place in your life. I have no strength left in me. I have no desire to be a part of your world. You are simply not worth my time, nor my energy.

This is me letting you know that I’m done playing your games. I’m done believing in your bullshit.

This is me forgiving myself for letting you in my home, in my world.

This is me finally cutting you off my life for good.

This is me saying my last goodbye to you. After this, there’s no turning back.

This is me starting my new journey. Our paths will never cross again. I guarantee you.

So, thank you for showing me the way.

She Never Stopped Caring About You, Even After You Broke Her

By
Riley Cooper

I know the first thought that comes to your mind when you hear stories like this one is that it was her own fault. You will say she was naïve, she was stupid. You may even say she brought all this upon herself because she was weak and she didn’t stand up for herself. But, I don’t blame you for thinking that way – you don’t know her story.

NO!

She was not weak. She was not stupid, naïve, or weird. She knew what she was getting herself into. But, she was honestly and madly in love with him. She believed her love for him would change him. She didn’t want to give up on the person she loved the most without a fight.

She didn’t know any other way of loving but that.

And she knows she deserves better. She knows you were unworthy of her love, attention, efforts, and tears. She knows you didn’t deserve her.

She knows she shouldn’t give a damn about a guy like you. A guy who left her with her heart broken without turning back to see the havoc you created in her life. A guy who dimmed her soul. A guy who wrapped her whole world in darkness.

Yet, although she’s aware she has to forget about you and rip you out of her heart, she can’t. Although she knows she should leave you in her past, she still cares about you. She’s still thinking about you and wondering what you’re doing. She still struggles to stop herself from calling you just to hear your voice.

For sure, she’ll never let you know that she’s still thinking about you. She’ll never let you know she still cares about you because she doesn’t want you to know what a powerful influence you’ve had on her life.

She doesn’t want you to know that she still keeps you in a special place in her heart. She doesn’t want to make herself look like she’s still into you even though she knows you’ve already forgotten about her.

That’s the reason why she’ll act cold when you run into her in public.

That’s the reason why she’ll remove you from her friends list on Facebook.

That’s the reason why she almost never talks about you to her friends.

She behaves like she doesn’t care about you. Because this is how it’s supposed to be.

She’s supposed to get angry when someone mentions your name because you hurt her. She’s supposed to wish you felt empty because that’s how she’s felt since you left her. She’s supposed to stop caring about you because you took her for granted. Because you let her beg for your attention and love.

She’s supposed to forget about you completely because she wasn’t enough for you. Because you failed to see the beauty of her soul. You failed to see what an amazing person you had in your life.

She’s supposed to hate you because you let her fall in love with you. You fed her hopes with your lies, empty promises, lame excuses. You carved yourself into her veins. And just when she thought that was it, that you were the love of her life, you took her heart and broke it into millions of tiny pieces and left her to pick them up on her own.

She’s supposed to hate you because you took everything away from her. Because you wrecked her hopes. Because you gave her every reason to hate you. Because you tore her heart out.

But, nothing of this is true. The only truth is that she never stopped caring about you, even after you broke her.

The only thing she stopped doing is caring about herself. She forgot how to love and treat herself with kindness and affection. She forgot how to love her reflection in the mirror because she got used to believing that there was something wrong with her, that she was full of flaws, and that this caused you to leave her.

She knows you’re nothing else but a worthless, heartless being. She knows you’re the cause of her misery and broken heart. And, still, she keeps you in it.

She knows she should despise you for everything you did to her, but she’s only hurt. She knows she should regret meeting you, but she only regrets letting all this happen.

Although your mistakes and the way you treated her were enough to make her hate you, the truth is – they never changed her feelings. She feels angry, but her heart is still beating for you.

I can just hope you’ll realize that you never deserved her nor ever will you. She’s so much better than you in every aspect and she deserves the best, too, and nothing less than that.

10 Surprising Facts About Astrology That You Should Know

By
Elizabeth Williams

Astrology is the ancient science that maps your behavioral traits on the basis of planetary positions at the time of your birth and studies their influence on your past, present, and future. An expert astrologer can unravel your questions; tell why you behave in a certain way and what you can expect to turn up in the coming time.

For centuries, this mystical method of divination has been used to foretell the future and help the humans to take the right direction in life. Despite having been there for a long period of time, astrology remains a subject of fascination for the human race. There are facts that you may know and there are others that you may learn from time to time. Here are 10 surprising facts about astrology that you should know:

  1. Astrology was first used in India, China, and Greece

The roots of astrology have been traced in Mesopotamia in around 3000 BC. Following this, it spread across continents as other cultures embraced the concept and changed it according to their belief. India and China associated the planetary science with religion and came up with the concepts of Vedic astrology and Chinese astrology respectively.

Greece blended the Greek mythology with astrological star signs to give a different twist to astrology. Gradually, the science grew in popularity and has millions of believers across the globe today.

  1. Zodiac signs come from the Sun

Though people generally associate zodiac signs with the date and month of birth, these are closely related to the position of the Sun at the time of your birth. An astrologer will draw a horoscope chart based on these planetary positions to give you a personalized reading if you want an accurate overview of your life and future. The ones based only on zodiac signs are rather generalized because these relate to all natives who have the same sign.

  1. Your star sign may not be what you think

Amazingly, you may have thought all your life that you belong to a specific star sign but it may not be so. This is because planetary positions keep changing and common people have no idea about it. Precession is a phenomenon that explains the Earth wobbling on its axis and this may have an impact on a person’s star sign. Normally, the star sign is determined on the basis of the sun’s position at the time of birth but it may change if the position of the earth is different due to precession. Expert astrologers take precession into account while calculating star signs, which is the reason that yours may differ from what it appears.

  1. The zodiac is divided into Fire, Air, Water, and Earth signs

There are 12 zodiac signs in all and these are grouped into four elements, namely Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are Fire signs, Aquarius, Gemini and Libra are Air signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are Water signs and Virgo, Taurus and Capricorn are Earth signs. Each of these groups shares similar personality traits which are characteristic to these four basic elements of life.

  1. Astrology associates star signs with specific qualities

Astrologers explain the qualities in a person are linked with their star signs. Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are the cardinal signs that are associated with the initiation of seasons. Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, and Taurus are fixed signs and these people tend to be steady and sometimes stubborn. Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, and Pisces are the mutable signs, which makes them flexible and open to communication.

  1. Each zodiac sign has favorable colors

Another surprising fact about astrology is that zodiac signs are closely linked with colors. This is the reason that people tend to gravitate towards certain colors, knowingly or unknowingly. This too has an astrological background because zodiac signs have favorable colors that bring the natives good luck and generally please them by exuding positive vibes. So the next time you feel that a certain color favors your fortune, it is because your stars make them do it.

  1. Certain astrological combinations make best relationships

While astrology defines your personality, it says a lot about your relationships too. According to experts from Psychic 2 Tarot, the romantic compatibility between two people depends greatly on their horoscopes. Moreover, it can be used to determine the fate of their relationship in the long run, whether it will be short-lived or last for a lifetime. Consulting an expert astrologer before getting committed in a relationship is, therefore, a good idea.

  1. Your sign may even influence your appearance

This may sound incredible but your star sign may affect your physical appearance too. Astrologers believe that there are certain physical traits that are prominent in people who belong to certain zodiac signs. For example, Gemini natives are small-boned and possess refined features. Scorpio natives have intense eyes and muscular bodies. Even though these traits cannot be generalized for all people of the same star sign, but the traits are usually visible in a majority of them.

  1. The moon has a deep impact on your behavior

Though the Sun is regarded as the center point of the astrological system, the Moon has an equally important role to play. In fact, it is said to have a deep impact on the human behavior. Astrologers believe that it influences the body vibrations in the same way as it affects the ocean waves during the tides. Even scientific studies have proved that people behave strangely during the full moon nights because this is one planetary body that is deeply connected with the human mind.

Now that enough has been told about astrology, you should also understand the importance of consulting a trustworthy astrologer to get an accurate reading. There are several unscrupulous people who do not have real knowledge but only look to take advantage of people with smart talking. Rather, find someone who is reputed and experienced as well as is committed to help people by guiding them with accurate readings and prediction.

I Know You Are Hurting – I Just Hope You Find The Strength To Carry On

By
Stephanie Reeds

I can feel your pain. I can sense the heaviness inside your heart. It almost feels like it’s a part of me.

I can see the emptiness in your eyes. I know that look.

That is the look of a sufferer. A human being who is on the verge of a freaking breakdown. A person who is just about to give up on everyone and everything. I lost soul who has trouble finding their way back. Someone who has lost all hopes for a better future.

I know all of this because there was a time when I was a sufferer myself. A martyr.

I know that your world is crashing down. I know that nothing really makes sense anymore. And I also know that no matter how hard you try, you cannot possibly keep your thoughts straight.

Your heart is torn. Your mind is scattered. Your soul is adrift, wandering the world, trying to find the will for its perseverance. You feel broken and it feels like there’s nothing you can do to fix it.

But, let me tell you something.

It is always darkest before the dawn. It just the way it is.

Every cloud, no matter how loud, no matter how ominous, thunderous and threatening, has a silver lining. And just because you might not see it now, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.

I know it’s easier to hide inside your world of pain and forget the strength you have within you when life puts you to the ultimate test. It is easier to give up.

But, believe me, there’s a strength in accepting your vulnerability. There’s a strength in knowing that you cannot be strong all the time.

And that’s the same strength that will eventually bring your hopes back, make you believe in a better life and help you trust that fate has something amazing in store for you.

You must remember that you are stronger than you think. You are loved more than you know. You are not alone. This does not define you. It’s just another obstacle along the way.

Your being radiates with strength, confidence, will, and persistence. Those powerful emotions cannot be easily overshadowed by your fears and insecurities. And even if you feel that they are, you cannot lose hope.

You are still the person you used to be. You just got lost on your journey of self-discovery.

That doesn’t mean that this is the end.

There is still hope, believe me.

There’s hope in opening your eyes and breathing in the morning air. There’s hope in your heartbeat. There’s hope in your tears. There’s hope in your small efforts to make things right again. There’s hope in your shy innocent, confused smile.

You just need to embrace the changes and have faith that everything is happening for a reason.

I know it is hard… I just hope you find your way out of the darkness.

Let’s Dance! Neuroscientists Have Finally Discovered The Key To Anti-Aging

By
Stephanie Reeds

Growing old has always been and will be a part of life that most of us dread. As time goes by, and our skin begins to wrinkle, some people start developing a negative relationship with themselves. They refuse to accept the reality that they’re well past their youth.

However, luckily for them, neuroscientists have finally found the secret to slowing down that aging process.

It seems that after all, we can be forever young.

Because, according to a study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Journal, people who are physically active can slow down the aging process in their brain. And apparently, dancing has the most profound effect on reversing the signs of aging.

But, why dancing?

The study revealed that physical exercise has an anti-aging effect on the hippocampus region of the brain – an area that controls memory, learning, and balance.

According to Dr. Kathrin Rehfeld, lead author of the study, physical exercise has a powerful impact on both slowing down the aging process and preventing the decline in the mental and physical activity in the brain.

“In this study, we show that two different types of physical exercise (dancing and endurance training) both increase the area of the brain that declines with age. However, in comparison, it was only dancing that lead to noticeable behavioral changes in terms of improved balance.”

The researchers selected 52 elderly volunteers with an average age of 68 and divided them into two groups. The first group was assigned an eighteen-month weekly course of learning dance routines, and the second group was assigned an endurance and flexibility training.

Both groups showed a significant increase in the hippocampus region of the brain.

However, even though the research has shown that physical activity can prevent an age-related brain decline, scientists had to discover which exercise was more effective.

To access that, the researches made significant changes in the exercise routines. The traditional fitness training program focused on more repetitive exercises, while the participants in the dance group took different dance lessons each week with a constant change in choreography which moves they were told to memorize.

“We tried to provide our seniors in the dance group with constantly changing dance routines of different genres (Jazz, Square, Latin-American and Line Dance). Steps, arm-patterns, formations, speed, and rhythms were changed every second week to keep them in a constant learning process. The most challenging aspect for them was to recall the routines under the pressure of time and without any cues from the instructor.” says Dr. Rehfeld.

The results were surprising. This time, only the volunteers in the dance group had an increased volume of other subparts in the left hippocampus.

In other words, dancing had increased the volume of one part in the right hippocampus called the subiculum. 

The study proved that dancing, especially when it’s followed by a constant change in choreography is much more beneficial for our health than repetitive activities such as walking or cycling.

So, people. Put on your red shoes and let’s dance the blues!

There’s no such thing as no rhythm. All you have to do is let the music flow through your body and be present in that exact moment. Don’t think about how you look, don’t listen to what others say.

Music has many therapeutic benefits – let it heal you.

👠 Shall we dance? – it’s never late to start taking dance lessons

👠Fun ways to relieve stress

👠How your brain responds to music

Top 12 Characteristics All Empaths Have, But Don’t Like To Admit

By
Riley Cooper

Empaths-the healers of the world. They’re the kind of people who are able to make special connections with others because they have a gift – they can literally feel the feelings and energies of the people and surroundings they encounter.

If you happen to be an empath, then you know how challenging this can be. While most people feel compassion and concern for a person when he/she feels sad or hurt, empaths do not only feel, but they also take on those feelings as their own. This characteristic undoubtedly makes them stand out from the rest. Yet, it’s also the reason why empaths are often misunderstood by others.

People usually mislabel them as “too emotional” and “depressive” and think of their gift more as a curse than a blessing. But, while it’s true that empaths often feel overwhelmed and tired due to their ability to internalize the feelings and energies of others, including the negative ones, still, being an empath isn’t a curse.

And the reason is simple: empaths can learn how to handle the stimuli they encounter and differentiate between their own feelings and those of others.

If you have an empath in your life, be that a family member, a friend, or a partner, know that you’ve been blessed because this means you’ll always have someone by your side who will understand exactly how you feel, especially during tough periods, and will do their best to alleviate your pain.

Yet, you should be aware that even though empaths know they’re different from the rest, they have a hard time admitting it. So, remember that it would mean a lot to them if you’re able to understand them as well.

Here are the top 12 characteristics all empaths have but don’t like to admit:

1. They’re highly intuitive.

An empath can tell how you feel and what’s going on in your mind without being told. They simply know stuff. They can feel what’s about to happen and also sense if you need any help or support.

They experience everything through their intuition and they always listen to their gut about people, which enables them to protect themselves from dishonest, manipulative people.

2. They’re kind and compassionate.

Empaths are kind, caring, and compassionate people who like helping others. They treat everyone with respect and dignity. Whether they come across a child looking sad and lost, standing in the center of the square or a beggar on the street, they’d never walk past them without trying to reach out to them.

Having these big-hearted people in your life is a true blessing.

3. They need to have some alone time to recharge.

They’re constantly feeling and internalizing the feelings of those surrounding them and this takes a toll on their overall well-being. That’s why they need to spend some time alone so as to disconnect from others, reflect on their own thoughts, emotions, and problems, and rejuvenate.

4. They’re true to themselves.

An empath would never pretend to be someone they’re not. They never hide their emotions from others, including themselves. When they’re sad, they cry. When they’re happy, they laugh. With an empath, you always know where you stand. What you see is what you get.

5. They tend to be introverted.

Crowds and public places, such as clubs, malls, concert venues, hospitals or other places which include a lot of people and noise, make empaths feel overwhelmed. That’s why they prefer one-to-one contact or small groups.

Hiking in the mountains for miles can be less exhausting for them, than spending a Saturday night in the best club in the city with their friends.

6. They love being in nature.

Nature makes them feel calm and comfortable. It enables them to recharge their batteries a lot quicker and relax. Being in the presence of green trees, animals, and water simply nourishes them and fills them with peace and happiness.

7. Their sensitivity makes them an easy target for energy vampires.

People such as narcissists, complainers, drama queens, manipulators, and those who love playing the victim role are all energy vampires who suck empaths’ energy and peace of mind. These people know how to use empaths’ sensitivity and kindness against them so as to get what they want.

And those who are only concerned with themselves can even make empaths feel unworthy. That’s why empaths need to be very careful and make sure they distance themselves immediately from a person the moment they feel he/she’s phony and manipulative.

8. They often feel stressed and fatigued.

Feeling and internalizing the emotions and energies of others often makes empaths feel extremely tired. They feel emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. Whether they have a lot of tasks to complete at a time, or they’re in contact with energy vampires, or they’re just hanging out with their friends, empaths easily get stressed out.

This is the reason why they often have difficulties falling asleep, and even when they do so, they wake up several times during the night.

9. They can instantly tell when someone is lying to them.

One reason why their highly developed intuition and ability to read other people’s emotions and state of mind is beneficial for them is that they can easily recognize if someone is lying to them.

They can spot liars, manipulators, and dishonest people from a mile. They can just look at a person’s face or listen to the tone of their voice, and they instantly read their true intentions.

10. They can be prone to mood swings.

And this is totally expected. Due to all the emotions and energies they absorb from other people, empaths can get moody from time to time. For example, if they’ve absorbed too many negative feelings, they’ll be quiet, pensive, and disconnected.

The thing is, empaths can’t stand pretending to be cheerful when they’re sad, anxious, or angry. The way they feel on the inside always matches the face they show to the world.

11. They can’t do things they don’t enjoy.

This is not to say that they’re lazy. The thing is, they have a hard time forcing themselves to do things they don’t find fulfilling. Whether it’s a conversation or a task at home or at work that they have to complete, if it’s not mentally stimulating, they’ll simply switch off and end up daydreaming.

12. They love honestly and deeply.

When empaths love, they love intensely and unconditionally. Whether they’re your friend, a family member, or your partner, they will be there for you through thick and thin.

You can always count on them for their help, support, and loyalty. Once they let you into their heart, you can be sure your relationship will last a lifetime.

1...558559560...709Page 559 of 709

Follow us on Instagram @curiousmindmagazine

© Curiousmindmagazine 2015