We have compiled for you a list of articles on letting go, which appear on our blog. We hope you will find them informative, interesting and useful.
Why you need to let go?
What does letting go mean?
What does emotional detachment mean?
How to let go?
Read the articles mentioned below, to find the answers to these questions.
Did you know that letting go means detachment and releasing old and outdated thoughts and beliefs? It also means freeing yourself from bad habits, and unchaining from people and situations that bind and limit you.
Letting go also means freedom from attachment to painful memories, worries, and negative habits.
“Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” – Deborah Reber
Articles on Letting Go and Releasing Negative Thoughts, Memories and Habits
7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t be Offended by What People Say There will always be people who will disagree with us, criticize us, and say some not nice about us. This is part of the human nature, and we need to accept it and not let this affect how we feel and how we react.
If you wish to handle this issue effectively, stop taking things personally, and stop getting offended by what people say, you need to develop a certain degree of emotional detachment.
How to Detach Yourself from Someone Who Distresses You There are people, who only speak about their troubles and problems, and suck the energy of the people around them. They are often focused on themselves and are not really interested in other people. It is tiring and exhausting to be around such people.
Discover how to detach yourself from someone who creates stress.
What Is the Meaning of Letting Go? Letting go means detachment, the removing of attachments to anything that makes you suffer or unhappy. It means lack of attachment, and non-involvement with matters that do not concern you, or which make you suffer.
It is the act of detaching yourself from unpleasant, meaningless or harmful thoughts and feelings. In this process, you free yourself from emotional burdens, stop taking things personally, and remove from your life anything that keeps you in the past.
This skill, and it is a skill, helps you keep your poise in difficult situations, and enables you to avoid dwelling in the past and occupying your mind with negative thoughts.
Detachment and the Story of Two Monks and a Woman Thinking over and again about the past, repeating unpleasant and negative thoughts in your mind, and letting anger and unhappiness occupy your life is like carrying a heavy load on your back.
Learn about the two monks, one who had detachment, and the other who did not.
What Does Emotional Attachment Mean? When you build up emotional attachments, you might find it difficult to let go when something gets wrong. You will also be unwilling leave your comfort zone and do something different, meet new people or change your beliefs.
How to Let Go of Old and Outdated Thoughts and Ideas Letting go of your old, outdated thoughts and ideas, means being more open-minded and willing to learn and try new things. It means rising above limited and fearful thinking and behavior.
Developing a certain degree of detachment toward your old and outdated thoughts and ideas, habits and behavior, would take you a big step toward developing the ability and skill of letting go.
What Are the Benefits of Emotional Detachment? Emotional detachment is actually, the ability to let go. It means letting go of the past, of fears, worries, and negative thoughts. Letting go of everything that disturbs your mind and your feelings.
Emotional detachment has it positive aspects. It is a skill and attitude, which enables you to react calmly to people and to situations, without losing your composure. It also enables you control your reactions, and stay relaxed and undisturbed by what people say or do.
How to Let Go of Anger, Resentment and Hurt Feelings If you wish to light a campfire, you start it with a few twigs, a few pages of a newspaper and a box of matches. Afterwards, to keep the fire burning, you need to feed it with more twigs and branches, otherwise, the fire will go out.
Anger resembles fire. Like the fire, if you keep feeding the fire of your anger, it will grow stronger and harm you.
5 Reasons Why You Need to Let Go at Work A remark from your boss or from a colleague might wreck your whole day, make you think over and again about the words said, and analyze why they were said. These words, inflamed by your thinking and emotions can create stress, anger and unhappiness.
Letting Go Quotes for a Happy and Better Life Read our compilation of letting go quotes, to help you release the past, get rid of negative thoughts and emotions, and free yourself memories that cause pain.
“Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.” – Daphne Rose Kingma
Learn How to Stay Calm and Poised in Stressful Situations
Stop taking everything too personally and becoming upset by what people say and do. Get the Detachment eBook
About the Author
Remez Sasson is the author and creator of Success Consciousness website, which he has been running since 2001. He is the author of books and articles that teach and help people to improve their life, achieve success, gain inner strength and inner peace, and become more positive and happy.
The human mind is an incredible thing: it absorbs our experiences and thoughts and helps us to form our sense of identity. Yet, with the change of our life circumstances, we tend to ask ourselves ‘Who am I really?’ as we no longer relate to the way we used to see ourselves.
That’s exactly what happens when one experiences an identity crisis. Let’s talk about what identity is, how to spot an identity crisis, and how to deal with it.
What is Identity or Who Am I Really?
By identity, we mean all the experiences, values, beliefs, relationships, and memories that form the human’s sense of self.
An identity crisis develops when we feel a disconnection from what we previously established as our identity. That’s what is studied in college in Psychology classes, and education plays an important role in how a person deals with identity questions.
Writing an essay about who am I is a very common practice for every student to implement their knowledge on the concept of identity and create a vivid picture of themselves at the moment. Students publish free essays on the topic to share their insights with others.
Signs of an Identity Crisis
An identity crisis is a developmental process that involves a person questioning who he/she/they are. In other words, it’s one’s inability to identify oneself in this world. People may experience an identity crisis after any change of status quo in their lives.
Below is the list of most common events that can propel it:
Marriage or divorce
Losing a loved one
Birth of a kid
Change of health condition
Moving
Quitting or finding a job
Gender reassignment surgery
How to Spot an Identity Crisis?
The identity crisis isn’t something very obvious. However, the most surefire way to figure it out is to ask a person a few questions and see if they can answer them confidently:
What are you passionate about?
Can you describe yourself?
What are your values?
What is your role in society?
How happy are you with your current activity?
Do you feel fulfilled at this point in your life?
If you experience a lot of negativity, you notice you’re in a low mood and those things that once brought you joy don’t entertain you anymore, consult with a professional, as together, they can indicate depression.
How To Deal with an Identity Crisis?
An identity crisis can cause a lot of troubles for the person: you can see how your productivity falls (because you doubt whether you do exactly what you want or have to), you may lie to other people (as you’re preoccupied whether they will accept the changes that occur), and you can experience other physical conditions.
How to deal with it?
Contact a psychotherapist. Playing the same thoughts over and over in your head won’t do any good – you need professional intervention. Talk to the person you trust and visit a few sessions to see if this particular specialist can help in your case.
Medication. Only if it’s prescribed by your doctor. If identity crisis is accompanied by depression or other disorders, chances are you’ll be prescribed medications on top of psychotherapy.
Explore your beliefs and interests. Being honest with oneself is a great step towards reassuring one’s identity. It’s ok if you don’t like swimming anymore, so what do you like now?
Reconsider your goal. Maybe the previous goals didn’t have anything to do with you and were reflections of others’ opinions. What do you strive for now?
Welcome your support. Your closest people see that something’s going on – don’t isolate yourself from them. Talk about what bothers you and who knows, maybe they will plant a seed or two that’s worth thinking about.
Conclusion
Answering the question of who am I is not always easy, as this issue is not widely discussed in society and family. It’s expected that we’ll figure it out somehow and for many people it becomes a lifetime struggle.
While essay and book reading will educate you on the theoretical side of the issue, dealing with it will include some more actions. Reconsider your goals, set up an honest interview with yourself, and quit something that you don’t like doing.
Bio: Ezra Patel writes about personal growth, life and motivation.
Thankfully, societal concern for mental health is growing daily, and awareness is being spread far and wide about the danger.
There is a wealth of online and offline information about the causes of this issue, but despite all the buzz, one significant cause has not been touched on until recently, cultural identity.
This factor has an astounding impact on mental health, and because it has been left ignored for so long, countless people have fallen victim. Delightedly, students are now beginning to study cultural identity in college and high schools. Many of them are conducting research projects regarding this issue, writing essays, making group projects to learn more on the issues.
Hopefully, their efforts will help to study this phenomenon and spread awareness to the general population.
As a modern society, we have advocated the tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversity for so long. It is important that people can freely identify with their culture without the fear of being scorned.
What Is Cultural Identity?
That satisfying sense of belonging and participation you feel when you are amongst a particular group you identify with is cultural identity.
More extensively, belonging to a particular group based on culture, gender, age, and religion. It is maintained by language, traditions, and statutory norms.
The Link Between Cultural Identity and Mental Health
The link between cultural identity and mental health is dependent on how well a person is allowed to express themselves and their culture.
This can be seen in two ways:
1. Monoculturalism 2. Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism
This represents the coexistence of different cultural groups operating together under one harmonious disposition. In this type of society, none of these cultures are being oppressed or prejudiced, and there is liberty for any of these cultures to express themselves however they feel.
How It Affects Mental Health
Freedom Of Expression
When you are amongst a group of people you identify with, freedom of expression comes easy. You are not ashamed to be true to yourself, because you are sure that every other person would feel the same.
When you are allowed to express yourself freely without any form of discrimination, it positively affects your mental health.
Security
Identifying with a particular group is like a shield; it protects you from outside judgment and lets you feel safe. You are sure these people like you, and because of that, you are confident.
This takes mental health up another notch.
Self Esteem
The knowledge that you belong and conform to a particular section of society is thrilling, instilling a deep feeling of ease and confidence. You don’t stick out like a sore thumb, and it makes you feel great about yourself – another positive strike to mental health.
Monoculturalism
On the other hand, monoculturalism refers to the repression of a particular cultural group by a culture perceived to the majority. In this type of society, the repressed group is coerced – directly or indirectly – into dropping their traditions and taking up the majority group’s culture.
In a society where other cultures or ethnic groups are not allowed freedom, the minorities suffer. For so long, people of ethnic minorities have fought for respecting everyone’s cultural identity in America, and although there are improvements, the fight is still underway.
How It Affects Mental Health
Stigma
The people of ethnic minorities are castigated or looked down upon for their culture. Any member of this group who was bold enough to express themselves was shamed and made fun of.
For example, for so long, blacks have been criticized for their nappy hair. This, drove so many teens and adolescents into straightening their hair.
Discrimination
A 2016 U.S. study shows that almost 52% of the Hispanics in the states have been treated roughly because of their race.
This unfair treatment was meted out due to oppression, and these people cannot fight back because they lack security. This takes a great toll on their mental health.
Lack of Social Support
In culturally diverse settings, people from ethnic minority groups are left out. They find it hard to make friends, which makes it hard to get support when needed.
Conclusion
Cultural identity and cultural diversity should be crucial topics of school syllabuses and educational programs because these issues are important to the lives of many in our society today. Every culture should be appreciated, and none should be remanded for the other.
Bio: Jack Reed is an author who mainly writes about mental health and psychology.
Increase your motivation with Les Brown quotes, and fire up your inspiration, enthusiasm, determination and self esteem.
Leslie Calvin ‘Les’ Brown is an American motivational speaker. He was born on February 17, 1945, and was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1977 to 1981.
Below you will find a compilation of Les Brown most inspirational quotes to keep your motivation high.
Let his words move you to achievement and fulfillment.
Les Brown Motivating Quotes
“Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.”
“Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.”
“Do what is easy and your life will be hard. Do what is hard and your life will become easy.”
“You are the only real obstacle in your path to fulfilling it.”
“There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning.”
“Most people fail in life not because they aim too high and miss, but because they aim too low and hit.”
“You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.”
“Believe that you possess a basic goodness, which is the foundation for the greatness you can ultimately achieve.”
“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.”
“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.”
“Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.”
“Just because Fate doesn’t deal you the right cards, it doesn’t mean you should give up. It just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.”
“If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness and to strive and achieve.”
“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”
“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.”
“If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you.”
“Reading about the lives of other achievers and their impact on our world inspires me to continue to help others realize their greatness.”
“Making things happen in your life requires a faith, or an ability to believe that is unshakable, regardless of your circumstances.”
“Set a goal that’s meaningful and compelling enough, and your skills, your knowledge and your effectiveness will expand in order to reach that goal.”
“Building your feelings of self-worth is critical to overcoming your fears.”
More of Les Brown Inspirational Quotes
“I don’t dwell on the things that are too late to fix, but I do my best to get life’s lessons and put them into action.”
“Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.”
“The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today.”
“No one will take better care of your dream than you.”
“Luck is nice, but work is something you can control. So get working!”
“If no one answered right away, just keep knocking until you wake them up!”
“You can get the kind of results that you are looking for in life if you are willing to work smart to achieve them.”
“You gotta be hungry”
“Honor your commitments with integrity.”
“Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.”
“Make a conscious effort to let go of fear and act from a sense of consciousness that will empower and protect you. You are strong. You are greater than the fear!”
“Get your ideas on paper and study them. Do not let them go to waste!”
“Life is more meaningful when you are always looking to grow and working toward a goal.”
“Think big when you set your goals. Dare to think big and then set a series of smaller goals to get you there.”
“Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.”
“There are winners, there are losers and there are people who have not yet learned how to win.”
“You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.”
“If you allow your self-esteem to erode, your fear will eat at you; ultimately it could destroy you.”
“very day, we can either choose to be a victim or we can choose to live life victoriously.”
Remez Sasson is the author and creator of Success Consciousness website, which he has been running since 2001. He is the author of books and articles that teach and help people to improve their life, achieve success, gain inner strength and inner peace, and become more positive and happy.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch
How about doing just one thing a day that will take you out of your comfort zone?
Doing things that you avoid doing, and which are uncomfortable to do, increase your willpower and confidence, and bring you new experiences.
Your comfort zone is your safe place, safe haven and hiding place. To live a greater life you need to leave it.
“Great things don’t come from comfort zones.” – Roy Bennett
Stepping of your comfort zone, even only once in a while, would make your life more interesting and exciting. You would feel energized, alive and happy.
Here are quotes to help you get out of your comfort zone and start living.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone Quotes
“The comfort zone is the great enemy of courage and confidence.”– Brian Tracy
“Each one of us has a comfort zone. The problem comes when we are unwilling to leave it.”– Bill Courtney
“You have to be uncomfortable in order to be successful, in some ways. If you stay in your comfort zone! You would never do the things that you need to do.”– Lights Poxlietner
“The best things in life are often waiting for you at the exit ramp of your comfort zone.”– Karen Salmansohn
“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”– Max DePree
“The further you get away from yourself, the more challenging it is. Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun.”– Benedict Cumberbatch
“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”– Les Brown
“The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.”– Dan Stevens
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”– Dale Carnegie
“We have to be honest about what we want and take risks rather than lie to ourselves and make excuses to stay in our comfort zone.”– Roy Bennett
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”– Neale Donald Walsch
“Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones. We have to break the rules. And we have to discover the sensuality of fear. We need to face it, challenge it, dance with it.”– Kyra Davis
“Your comfort zone is not a place that you want to remain in. Dare, discover, be all that you can be.”– Catherine Pulsifer
“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.”– Denis Waitley
“The only thing that is stopping you from where you are to where you want to go is your comfort zone.”– Dhaval Gaudier
Exciting Comfort Zone Quotes
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”– Abraham Maslow
“Most everything that you want is just outside your comfort zone.”– Jack Canfield
“Your comfort zone is your danger zone.”– Greg Plitt
“The shell must break before the bird can fly.”– Alfred Tennyson
“Your comfort zone is made of the ropes that tie you to where you are. If you wish to progress you need to untie these ropes.”– Remez Sasson
“You wish to succeed? Jump out of the shallow pond of comfort in which you live.”– Remez Sasson
“Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.”– Billy Cox
“The comfort zone is always the most desirable place to be. But in settling for comfort, there is a price to pay and it comes in the death of ambition, of hope, of youth and the death of self.”– Simon Barnes
“Comfort zones are overrated. When you embrace the unfamiliar and uncomfortable in all areas of life, your progress will start soaring.”–Francis Shenstone
“The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”– Pope Benedict XVI
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”– Nelson Mandela
“Anything you to do to stretch yourself out of your comfort zone will ultimately enable you to take larger risks and grow.”– Leslie Evans
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great.”– Steve Prefontaine
“Comfort zone has the most comfortable bed in life where dreams become alive in your mind but never become a reality because you never get up from bed to make it happen.”– Oscar Bimpong
“Step outside of your comfort zone and go beyond the boundaries that you and others have set for yourself.”– Julius Veal
“If you always do what is easy and choose the path of least resistance, you never step outside your comfort zone. Great things don’t come from comfort zones.”– Roy Bennett
“Outside your comfort zone is the only place worth living.”– Karina Bliss
“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”– Roy T. Bennett
“Coming out of your comfort zone is tough in the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and awesome in the end, because in the end, it shows you a whole new world.”– Manoj Arora
“Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.”– Peter McWilliams
Feeling comfortable and cozy is great. Staying in the same familiar and known place gives a feeling of safety.
However, to live a greater life and achieve your dreams and goals you must be willing to leave your cozy place. You have to be courageous to do things you have never done before.
Remez Sasson is the author and creator of Success Consciousness website, which he has been running since 2001. He is the author of books and articles that teach and help people to improve their life, achieve success, gain inner strength and inner peace, and become more positive and happy.
A collection of power quotes, about the power of words and about the power of love. Let them help you make the world a better place.
People have always craved for power, from ancient history until now.
You can do good things with power, but it can also be used for selfish purposes. It’s the same with the forces of nature.
Fire can burn and destroy, but it can give heat and cook the food for us. It depends how we use it.
It’s the same with political power, the use of power in relationships, and power at the workplace.
Used in the right way it can be beneficial, but used in the wrong way, it can cause problems.
Power grants its possessor the ability to control, dominate, command and lead.
When you are in a position of strength and control, be careful to use it only for the good and for improvement.
Always use your power in any situation for the greater good of others.
Power Quotes to Empower You
“Power is dangerous. It corrupts the best and attracts the worst. Power is only given to those who are prepared to lower themselves to pick it up.” – Ragnar Lothbrok
“Find people who share your values, and you’ll conquer the world together.” – John Ratzenberger
“The great secret of power is never to will to do more than you can accomplish.” – Henrik Ibsen
“The measure of a man is what he does with power.” – Plato
“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.” – Edmund Burke
“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“Power is not an institution, and not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with; it is the name that one attributes to a complex strategical situation in a particular society.” – Michel Foucault
“The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest.” – Markus Zusak
“One man with courage is a majority.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Power attracts the corruptible. Suspect any who seek it.” – Frank Herbert
“The power to do good is also the power to do harm.” – Milton Friedman
“Words embody power to inspire or motivate us, but it is only we who have the power to open up to see and feel it.” – Anuj Somany
“Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.” – William Pitt
“There is a source of power in each of us that we don’t realize until we take responsibility.” – Diane Nash
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” – Peace Pilgrim
“With great power there must also come great responsibility!” – Stan Lee
“Power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand. “ – Leo Tolstoy
Words have the power to build and to destroy. What you constantly repeat in your mind you will eventually attract into your life.
Your words have the power to affect people’s life, behavior and future. You should be careful with the words you say.
Here is a collection of the power of words quotes.
“The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest.” – Markus Zusak
“The power of words is immense. A well-chosen word has often sufficed to stop a flying army, to change defeat into victory and to save an empire.” – Emile de Girardin
“Words are containers for power, you choose what kind of power they carry.” – Joyce Meyer
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa
“Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you may stick with someone for a lifetime.” – Rachael Wolchin
“Words are sacred. If you get the right ones in the right order you can nudge the world a little.” – Tom Stoppard
“We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.” – Winston Churchill
“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” – Blaise Pascal
“Never underestimate the power of words to heal and reconcile relationships.” – H. Jackson Brown
“There is power in words. What you say is what you get.” – Zig Ziglar
Power of Love Quotes
Love is a powerful force that unite people, bring happiness and joy, and can affect deeply one’s life.
Here are words and quotes about the power of love.
“Your greatest power is to show love, to receive love and to be love.” – Oprah Winfrey
“The way of peace is the way of love. Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things.” – Peace Pilgrim
“It is my belief that the only power which can resist the power of fear is the power of love.” – Alan Paton
“The more love you give in your day-to-day life, the greater the magnetic power of love you have in the field around you, and everything you want will fall at your feet.” – Rhonda Byrne
“Power is of two kinds: one is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
“The power of love and caring can change the world.” – James Autry
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Laozi
“Where there is love there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Remez Sasson is the author and creator of Success Consciousness website, which he has been running since 2001. He is the author of books and articles that teach and help people to improve their life, achieve success, gain inner strength and inner peace, and become more positive and happy.
Do you have a difficult time starting your mornings with positivity?
You are not alone. In fact, according to Gallup, just 43% of adults aged 18 to 34 describe themselves as “morning people.”
Practicing mindfulness in the morning, however, is an easy way to transform your day before it’s even begun.
Mindfulness is the concept of remaining present in the moment while staying aware of our thoughts and emotions.
Practicing mindfulness can provide a huge variety of benefits from less stress, to improve sleep and overall wellbeing.
By shifting our mindset into a place of positivity in the morning, the day ahead of us will reflect that same mindset.
There are many different techniques that one can use to begin living and more mindful and fulfilling lifestyle.
Try some of the following exercises to see what works best for you.
Morning Mindfulness Exercises
Journaling
Journaling is my personal favorite way to start the morning because it allows me a moment to let my thoughts be just that: thoughts.
By releasing our thoughts from our minds and putting them down on paper, we are able to reflect upon them and ultimately shift our perspective on negativity.
Each morning, I take a moment to write down 5 positive things in my life. Or, 5 things that I am grateful for.
I will always include one thing that I have today that I did not have last week, as well as one small thing that made me smile.
This practice of gratitude allows me to remember and reflect on all that I already do have in life. It also creates room for positivity in the day ahead.
Breath Work
Breathing exercises are a great way to realign your energy before starting the day.
Personally, I like to do my breathing exercises first thing in the morning before I’ve ever left my bed.
One of my favorites to do while laying down in bed is a technique called belly breathing.
To begin, sit or lie flat in a comfortable position (In this case, your bed).
Place one hand over your belly button and the other on your chest.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, concentrating on the feeling of your belly pushing out against your hand.
Then, breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Notice the feeling of the air leaving your belly as your hand sinks down.
Repeat this breath up to 8 times or until your concentration has fully focused on your breathing.
Affirmations
Similar to compliments, affirmations are positive words or phrases used to uplift someone and provide them with a more positive mindset.
They are a great option for incorporating mindfulness and positivity into your morning routine, particularly due to the ease in which you can recite them.
For the purposes of this article, I’ve provided a list of a few positive affirmations for you to add to your morning routine.
Take a moment to repeat one to yourself out loud, or write it down in a journal for added reflection.
The physical form in which your affirmations take is not as important as your attitude while reciting it. This means that you need to believe in what you are saying in order for it to be effective.
I feel strong and healthy today.
I can conquer any challenges that today throws my way.
I am happy and content with my life.
I am joyful every day and create joy for others.
Today is going to be a great day!
Exercise
Getting your body moving in the morning is a great way to begin the day with more positive energy. It has also been said to reduce stress and improve overall mental health.
This is because it trains our minds and bodies to stay alert in the present moment.
By focusing on something like running, walking, or stretching, we are able to strengthen not only our physical muscles, but our minds attention span.
My personal favorite way to get my body moving in the morning is with yoga. I prefer it over high-intensity workouts like running because it allows me to focus on a specific intention or feeling.
Not to mention, yoga is great for flexibility, heart health, and even depression.
It’s especially great if you can complete your morning exercise out in nature. This will allow you to feel more grounded with the beauty of the earth and focus on something bigger than yourself.
So – there you have it.
Four mindful ways to begin your morning with a more positive attitude and outlook.
Remember, however, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for everyone. You may want to dedicate one morning to each approach and see which works best for you.
Or, if you love them all, you can create a morning routine that accounts for time for each exercise.
About the Author Rita Thompson is a writer for The Joy Within, an online school for meditation, happiness, and personal empowerment. As a writer, Rita strives to help shed light on underexplored topics to help others flourish and access their fullest potential. Learn more at thejoywithin.org or on Instagram @the_joy_within.
“Positivity is about living in the moment. And above all, being positive is a matter of choice, a conscious choice in fact.” – Om Swami
Most people would agree with this statement, nevertheless over the years, with ever-demanding lifestyles and professional competition, we find it difficult to imbibe it in our lives.
An interesting aspect is that our flighty thinking patterns differ in subtle ways.
Truth be told, most of us experience plenty of negative thoughts all through a day, yet longing for a blissful life.
That said, we find it hard to shift our negative thoughts and direct them towards positivity and fulfillment. This is a common problem and affects many of us, but then the good news is that it is possible to overcome this challenging scenario.
You must have heard the term “Positive Psychology” that’s thrown around a lot. Many psychologists aimed to seek knowledge of what makes life worth living or how people flourish under extreme circumstances.
Martin Seligman expounded that positive psychology is a scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings, and behavior, with a focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, building the good in life. It strives to enhance the well-being of an individual by including optimistic thoughts, speech, and conduct.
I firmly believe that ‘Positive Attitude’ is not the absence of negative thoughts, but the presence of well-being and purpose.
The goal isn’t to suppress the unwholesome thoughts but to better understand what allows us to boost our well-being. Simply put, our thoughts create our feelings, and changing our thoughts changes how we feel.
Just imagine a snowball, our thoughts are just like one, rolling along the ground, and as it rolls, it becomes bigger and larger. Somehow, it exhibits the impression that it has a life of its own, restlessly running towards an unknown direction that probably has no end.
That’s what one small negative thought can turn into; a huge snowball of malice. Notwithstanding the fact, a small positive thought can have the same effect of advancing, however much towards evolving.
6 Ways to Stay Positive
Awareness and Acceptance
One of the key steps toward shifting our negative thinking patterns is ‘Awareness’. Accompanying awareness with ‘Acceptance’ can make our resolve much stronger. Once our subconscious mind accepts its present reality, it helps in fostering positive thoughts and emotions effortlessly.
Drop the Thought
Our thoughts are conscious choices and can range from severely negative to extremely positive.
If we start following the unpleasant thought trail, it will rapidly gain momentum. That is the moment when we need to drop out thought consciously. The trick to do so is difficult but doable.
One of the greatest tools that helps in dropping a thought is ‘Mindfulness’; it helps in bringing us back to the present moment. Om Swami Ji’s suggestion for this aspect is simple yet tremendously effective:
“You can build mindfulness by asking one important question to yourself. If you ask this question, it will infuse mindfulness in you immediately without effort. The question is: ‘What am I doing right now?’ As soon as you ask this question, you come back to the present moment of what you are doing at that time.”
Letting Go
Being positive is a matter of mental preparedness. Most people are not unhappy because of wrong actions, they are unhappy because of the wrong choice of words and wrong contemplation of thoughts.
Holding on to our unpleasant memories, thoughts, or emotions and worrying about the future can be comforting as a matter of habit, however, the real strength comes forth when we let go of the past/ future and try living in the present moment.
Whenever we ruminate about undesirable events, we lose the mere essence of life i.e., being at peace.
Gratitude
Negative thoughts are the ones that pull us down, tempt us to veer from our path of self-fulfillment and purpose, and often, make us forget how blessed we are.
They are usually born out of a fear of the unknown or when dealing with adverse situations. Gratitude helps us overcome them, or turn them into something positive.
Keeping a simple journal of what we are grateful for and doing gratitude-guided meditation has helped many of my clients bounce back to positivity.
Kindness Counts
Every kind of thought evokes a certain positive emotion, eventually propels us to take up the Random Acts of Kindness in our daily life.
When we fill our world with goodness and kindness, it generates ripple effects, spreading it in our consciousness, in our inner world, and gradually in our outer world too.
We start realizing that our outer world is a replica, projecting our inner world, and that our thoughts, desires, and emotions are the building blocks of our inner world.
I gather that Positive Attitudes are like magnets, having the capacity to attract positivity in the outer world too.
Big Smile for a Larger Life
When we smile, it supports enhancing positive thoughts; it can remarkably and instantly elevate our mood.
One easy way to improve our mood right now is to recall a pleasant memory and re-live the emotions that we felt at that time. Focus on your heartening feelings and smile. Try it to believe it!
I’ll like to share my own experience from my 12 years of practice as a counsellor and a therapist. While taking sessions, on multiple occasions; seekers use to come with a heavy heart, distressed, and having no hope in life.
The clouds of dense emotions would not let any of my motivating words penetrate; however, when we took up this exercise, I use to witness an instant shift in their energy and their smiling faces radiated optimism.
That’s the power of our thought! It has the power to create a Positive World with the help of a Positive outlook in our life.
Keenly observing the patterns of people and practicing as a life guide at os.me, I reckon, that what really boosts someone’s well-being is a strong inner relationship, finding their passion, living in the present, gratitude, kindness, mindfulness, and leading a meaningful life.
Taking time to cultivate these traits and doing so persistently has helped many individuals to foster happiness and wellness in their lives.
In Srimad Bhagawat Gita, (Hindu scripture) Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna:
“You are your own worst enemy and your own greatest friend. Nobody can teach you the art of how to live. It is something that you will have to learn yourself. If you have made a commitment to being happy, nothing can affect you.”
About the Author Sushree Nishtha is a psychotherapist and os. me member who loves to share her insights with the Os. me Online Community and wider audiences, who want advice on mental health.
You probably think that it’s impossible to expect having a great day, every day, but it’s possible, achievable and doable, even if you live a busy daily life.
Why?
Because it’s all up to you. Therefore, enjoying your day is possible and within your reach.
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“Having a good day is not a miracle, it happens because you envision it ahead in your mind.” – Dorina Sasson
How to Have a Good Day
So, you want to make your day a good day. Here are the steps to turn your day into a wonderful day.
Step 1 – Become aware of the way you start your day
You need to be aware of the way you start your day.
I have prepared a few questions to ask yourself. These questions, and your answers, would make you realize how you start your day, and how to make it better.
If you change the way you start your day, you would be able to alter the course of your day, and have a great day, despite obstacles and problems you might face.
Question no. 1 – When do you wake up in the morning?
Do you wake up at the last minute in the morning, preparing yourself for the new day in a hurry and absentmindedly?
Or do you give yourself some time to prepare yourself for the new day, even if you have young children?
If you realize that you wake up at the last minute, and do everything in a hurry, then gradually change it.
Tomorrow morning, get up 10 minutes earlier, and after a few days, get up 15 minutes earlier.
Waking up earlier than you usually do, would give you ample time to prepare for the day calmly and with no hurry and tension.
You can also give yourself some quality time in the morning, when waking a little earlier.
This will reduce the morning stress, and help you start your day feeling calm and relaxed.
Question no. 2 – How do you begin your day?
Are you tired, stressed and impatient in the morning, or do you wake up feeling calm, happy and motivated to begin your new day?
If you stay awake late at night, watching an meaningless program on TV, you’ll wake up tired and grumpy.
Therefore, I highly recommend you to make the right choice, and prefer a good night’s sleep, over any useless activity.
This will give you the inner strength to begin your day energized, and fully capable of doing your best during the day.
Question no. 3 – What type of thoughts fill your mind in the morning?
Do negative thoughts about the day occupy your mind?
Do you expect unpleasant things to happen?
Are you afraid that you might not succeed to carry out all your plans and obligations for the day?
Or maybe you think positively about the new day:
Do you have positive thoughts about your new day?
Do you expect to have a great day, even if you might encounter unpleasant situations.
Are you are determined to enjoy your day, even if things wouldn’t turn out exactly as you have planned, and people might be displeased with you?
It’s important to display a positive attitude during the day, no matter what you encounter.
I will not go into detail here, on how to adopt a positive attitude to life. However, I wish to say a few words about it.
Positive thinking is an optimistic state of mind, which sees the bright side both in positive and negative situations.
This attitude focuses on looking for solutions, rather than dwelling on problems and difficulties.
Positive thinking is a mental attitude that highlights the good and constructive in life, rather than emphasizing the negative.
Positive thinking is about BELIEVING IN YOURSELF.
And most important, it is about NOT GIVING UP, but going on, until reaching your goal.
I am not living in a fool’s paradise, expecting everything to turn out exactly as we plan.
I am very much aware of unexpected “surprises” we all encounter in the morning, and all along the day.
The purpose of step 1 is to make you aware of the way you start your day.
It also makes you realize what type of thoughts fill your mind as you wake up, and whether you expect your day to be a big flop, or you plan to make it a good day.
This action would inspire you to deal confidently with any problem that might arise.
It will increase your ability to enjoy your day, rather than become stressed and unhappy.
We all have ups and downs in life. We might have difficulties, broken family ties, a demanding boss, stressful co-workers, and so on.
Yet, we MUST look for the silver lining, rather than focus on the difficulties.
So, start looking for the good things you have in your life, and count your blessings.
When counting your blessings, do not underestimate “small” things. You are lucky to have them.
Here is a short list of good things you have in your life, for which you should be grateful.
You woke up and you are breathing – be grateful.
You get out of bed by yourself, and can take care of yourself – it’s a fantastic day.
You have one or more family member who loves you – Halleluiah.
You have a working place to go to, and it pays your bills and mortgage – It’s excellent.
You have love in your life, a wife/husband/ cute dog/ any pet – you are very fortunate.
You have a roof above your head – it’s wonderful.
You have a friend who cares for you, and you can call him or her any time you want, and have a heart to heart talk. – You are very fortunate.
And so on…
Make yourself a list, and count your many times a day.
I would like to reiterate and emphasize: When counting your blessings, do not underestimate the “small” things you have in your life. You are very blessed to have them.
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“The type of attitude you choose to embrace, will determine the type of day you’ll have.” – Dorina Sasson
Step 3 – Imagine in Your Mind the Great Day You Are about to Have
You can set the course of your day, by planning and expecting a fantastic day.
You can make a decision not to allow obstacles, arguments, or difficulties you might encounter, to spoil your mood and your positive attitude.
Here is how to do it:
At night, while lying in bed, before falling asleep, imagine how wonderful your day is going to be.
In your imagination, see how everything is turning out okay, with joy and satisfaction.
This is just like daydreaming. Imagine a happy and satisfying day, and expect it to be as you have imagined it.
During the day, carry in your mind the mental image you have created, even though you might face obstacles or difficulties.
Holding in your mind a mental scene of success and happiness, would help you maintain calmness and a positive attitude, despite any unpleasant issues you might encounter.
We don’t live in a “perfect” world, where everything turns out exactly as we want. Most of us have a busy life with stressful situations, maybe an annoying boss, and multiple tasks we have to carry out each day.
The purpose of this step is to keep carrying in your mind the positive image of having a good day, rather than thinking on the negative issues you have encountered.
Step 4 – Repeat Affirmations about the great day you’re going to have today.
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are positive statements that describe in a few words the goal we wish to achieve.
When affirmations are repeated frequently, with intent and attention, they make a strong impact on our subconscious mind, and prompt it to help us get what we want.
Affirmations are powerful words, which motivate and help us achieve what we want in life.
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“Affirmations are small seeds of success that you plant in your mind.” – Remez Sasson
Why You Need to Affirm?
When you repeat affirmations often, you engrave them on your subconscious mind.
Repeating affirmations frequently, with positive feelings and a strong belief, motivates you to overcome obstacles, look for solutions and achieve your goals.
Affirmations motivate and inspire us to take action. They make us aware of opportunities, and help us change our behavior and attitude, in accordance with the words we are repeating.
How to Affirm
Affirm only with positive words.
Affirm with attention and a strong belief.
Affirm anytime, anywhere, and as many times as you want.
You can affirm silently or audibly. However, hearing yourself affirming, makes a stronger impact on your mind, than affirming silently.
It is most important to affirm in the evening before going to sleep, and in the morning as you wake up.
Here is a list of great affirmation for having a wonderful day:
Good morning world. Today is a wonderful day. I’m smiling, I’m energetic, and I’m happy.
I’m having a wonderful day today.
Today is an amazing day, full of joy and positive outcomes.
I choose to be content and feel satisfied under all circumstances.
I am happy and satisfied with my life.
Tranquility is my constant inner feeling.
I am content with myself.
There is always a positive and bright side to everything that happens.
I am thanking the omnipotent power of the Universe for the great day I’m having.
Day by day, my feelings of happiness and satisfaction are increasing.
I see the positive and bright side in everything I do and experience.
Today, I experience feelings of joy and contentment.
I love and appreciate myself.
I feel good about myself.
I choose to love myself and live in peace with myself.
I think positive thoughts about myself.
I am beautiful, smart and talented.
Affirmations to repeat, when encountering an unpleasant situation:
I am aware of the difficulty I am experiencing, and choose to take care of my physical and mental health, and remain calm, poised and smart.
I am choosing inner peace and tranquility under all circumstances.
My physical and mental health is my priority.
I am taking good care of myself.
What people think of me is none of my business. I’m smart, talented and content with myself.
I love and appreciate myself, and I am proud of myself in every situation.
Have a Good Day Quotes
Read the following quotes often. These quotes will fill your heart with positive feelings, and help you understand that having a good day is entirely up to you, even if your road of life gets bumpy from time to time.
1. “Every day is a good day; some are just a little better than others”.” – Jeff Garthwaite
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2. “Having a good day is not a miracle. It happens because you envision it ahead in your mind.” – Dorina Sasson
3. “I wake up every day and I think, ‘I’m breathing! It’s a good day.’” – Eve Ensler
4. “Every day should be a good day. People fool themselves that they’ll be here forever.” –Stephen A. Schwarzman
5. “I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day. And if you are not, just know that in every new minute that passes, you have an opportunity to change that.” – Gillian Anderson
6. “Every single day is a good day, no matter how bright or dark it is, because it always brings an opportunity to start a positive beginning in your life.” – Edmond Mbiaka
7. “Every day is a good day to be alive, whether the sun’s shining or not.” – Marty Robbins
Read the above ‘have a great day quotes’ and make them part of your life.
Here are tips to help you have a wonderful and fantastic day.
At night, when lying in bed, tell yourself a few times, how good it is to wake up early in the morning, relaxed and with positive thoughts.
Focus on enjoying your day. Don’t anticipate unpleasant events.
Trust yourself, no matter what people say, and believe that you can do anything you want, easily and successfully.
Read a few inspiring quotes before you go to work. This always improves the mood and the way we feel.
Find a quote you love, and write it down on your cellphone, then look at it from time to time.
Expect a lovely day, a beautiful day, a day filled with pleasant surprises.
Put a smile on your face from time to time. You will feel better, and people will treat you nicer if you smile.
Listen less to the news, and more to your favorite music.
Have an awesome day my dear reader.
About the Author Dorina Sasson has been trained in Louise L. Hay’s teacher training course, and is a certified teacher for “You can heal your life” study course, and “Love yourself, heal your life” workshop.
Running is a great way to build muscle, improve your cardiovascular health, and work off any extra calories you may have consumed.
Running brings considerable advantages not only to your physical health but to your mental health as well.
Let’s look at how to keep yourself mentally sharp through running.
1) Physical Benefits of Running
Before we list out how running keeps you mentally sharp, let’s have a quick look at the physical benefits of running. These are:
A) Runners gain around three years of life over non-runners
Running leads to better body composition in terms of less fat, greater cardiovascular fitness, excellent control over sugar levels, lower cholesterol, better hormone regulation, and stronger bones.
Many studies have shown that the knees of novice marathon runners had achieved sustained improvement in their articular cartilage and their bone marrow.
Furthermore, long-term running in middle-aged endurance runners exhibited lesser age-related declines in their lumbar intervertebral disc height, i.e., the space between the discs in their spine looked better the more years they’d been running.
C) Running helps weight loss
Since running involves moving your entire body weight continuously, it tends to burn more calories than a lot of other physical activities. You’ll burn approximately 100 calories for each mile that you run.
Of course, to achieve maximum efficiency while running, you should wear the appropriate attire to protect yourself from the elements.
For example, wearing a running hat that is ultra-lightweight helps keep the blazing sun out of your eyes. Furthermore, a running hat that uses moisture-wicking fabric helps keep sweat or rain from obscuring your vision.
D) Running helps regulate blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity
Various studies have shown that aerobic exercise such as running is a drug-free treatment for people who suffer from hypertension.
What’s more, running also improves your insulin sensitivity. Your blood sugar levels will come down during a run since your muscles will be using glucose or energy.
2) How Running Keeps You Mentally Sharp
Running regularly can help your mental health tremendously. Some of the positive effects of running on your mental health are:
A) Manage stress better
After a run, your body releases endocannabinoids, a biochemical substance that is similar to cannabis. This chemical, floods your bloodstream and reaches your brain. As a result, you feel a lot calmer and can manage your stress levels better.
B) Running acts as a mood booster
Regular runs are great for reducing depression and anxiety. When you run, more blood is pumped into your brain. Consequently, the part of your brain that improves your mood gets positively affected.
C) Running can help recovery from mental health issues
Studies have shown that running on a regular basis can have positive effects similar to the kind that medication has when it comes to relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety. Many therapists encourage running to help alleviate many symptoms of mental illness.
D) Improves your daily sleep
Running can help you stick to a regular sleep schedule. Specifically, chemicals that your body releases during and after a run help you relax and achieve deep sleep at night.
Sleeping as per a regular sleep schedule is great for your brain and positively affects your mental health.
In Summary Running has a lot of benefits for your physical health. Not only that, research has shown that running regularly leads to you staying mentally sharp as well.
Regardless of whether you’re a casual runner or a more serious one, a regular running routine can have a significantly positive effect on your mental health.
About the Author Sarilaya Cada is a freelance content writer. She is interested in a wide range of fields, from project management, to education, to engineering.
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