There are things in life that you wish you have control of. Disasters would be a good example. You will always hear people say during these times “If only I could do something”, knowing that there is nothing to be done. It is as if the Lord has asked for it, planned it; used His resources to make these things happen.

Ten years ago, September 11, 2001, a tragedy that changed the world had happened. There was a simultaneous four-series suicide attacks occurred in New York and Washington D.C. A total number of two thousand nine hundred ninety six have died, their families grieving, crying their hearts out for their unfortunate relative. Just the thought of it brings shiver and fear in mind.

Ten years after, September 11, 2011, people are still haunted by this shaking event. There is a ceremonial being held in ground zero for the people died, a tribute perhaps. But is this tragic event worth remembering? Does remembering re-traumatize or strengthen our resilience?

There is a saying that to memorialize is the most natural of human traditions besides being the most special. But does this include the unfortunate events that happened? Maybe. Relatives of dead family members for example, will always put space here on Earth for their lost loved one. That’s why we have cemeteries or altars or crosses you see on the side of the road. These are their ways of saying that they love and respect them and will forever remember them.

In fact, there was a monument created for the lives that have lost in 9/11. It gives not just emotional impact but also educational impact for those who have gone there. It shows that even a great tragedy has happened, we can always learn from it.

But not all people are strong enough to remember. There may be some who use these memorials as a healthy, healing role. They cry for a while then realize that it is just a part of the cycle of life so they move on. But moving on does not mean they don’t love their lost love one anymore, it just means that life will be consistently accompanied by death. Some cannot take this. They have trouble in coping, so memorials and death anniversaries will just add to the pain they’re carrying. These kinds of people would need their family’s support more than ever.

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So is 9/11 worth remembering? People may have different answers to this question. There are actually a lot of things that 9/11 reflects. The event emulates not just a terrible event but also bravery and camaraderie of people. Do not forget that a lot of ordinary people had turned “heroes” ten years ago. People rescuing strangers, people praying for the lives of strangers, people showing nationalism. Apparently, the families of the people who died on 9/11 and rescue workers say that they do not want that day forgotten. For them anniversaries and memorials about the tragedy is good because if there is none, it would mean that the lives of their lost family member were not worthy and meaningless. They say their relatives deserve a mark in this world, for their lives are the reason why people have become “heroes”, nationalistic, from that time until now.

Most have healed, but some still grieves. May be confront the reminders without being overwhelmed and set them aside without feeling guilty is something that is hard to learn for those who are still grieving. Their living families should always be on their side, remind them that the present is more important than the past and life must go on. Assure them that there will always be a rainbow after a rain.

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Everybody undergoes a dream state during slumber. But many are at a loss to account for their dreams.

Dreams could reveal something you are subconsciously or unwittingly doing in your waking days. Here is the experts’ take on a few of the most common dreams and what they could possibly mean.

Celebrities

Dreams about celebrities can be something you don’t want to wake up from.

By and large, every celebrity has a message to convey related to accomplishing things. Therefore, if you are dreaming about a celebrity, you may be yearning for a success-endearing trait tied to that celebrity, such as empowerment, cunningness, or health.

Death

Dreaming about death means you are at the threshold of a period of uncertainty. Either you have come from or just beginning to experience a pivotal event.

Psychotherapists think that death is a symbol for the end of something, e.g. a relationship or work. Dreaming about death does not mean the person would perish in real life.

Dreams are often intended for you to learn something about yourself that the others and even you don’t know. “Bad dreams” like death give you an opportunity for introspection. They help you determine whether you are completely at peace with the end of something or not. You can take things from there.

Falling

Essentially everybody has dreamt about falling or experienced the feeling of doing so while asleep. This kind of dream frequently occurs a little after you go to sleep, although you can dream of this anytime during slumber.

Unlike many dreams in this list, falling could be physiological in nature. When you sleep, the heart rate descends, blood pressure drops, and the nervous system calms down. As a result, these physiological changes may lead to a dream situation wherein you experience a sensation of plummeting.

In psychoanalytic terms, falling could represent a situation in your life of which you are losing control. Use your waking hours facing your fears and sorting out this situation.

Falling teeth

Young and old alike have dreamed of teeth falling out. Like many in this list, this dream chooses no demographic.

Before anything, determine whether the tooth in the dream is yours or another person’s. If it is yours, it could mean your ability to eat is being compromised. On a deeper level, this may mean your ability to be alive is being undermined, hence impending disease. If the tooth is someone else’s, you may have an issue awaiting resolution with him or her.

Looking for something or being lost

This dream suggests anxiety over adjusting to a new situation in your life.

It could be an expression of your apprehensions regarding, say, a new job, wherein you think your abilities are not up to par, or a new place where you have to make a new social circle.

Pregnancy

Dream analyzers reckon this kind of dream to be a sign of a very creative period of your life. If you dream of being pregnant, you must be yearning for a chance to be more creative. You may be conceiving a brainchild that would eventually be birthed into existence.

A fetus, in psychoanalysis, tips off a personal desire or mission you have yet to own up to. Those who have refused to acknowledge it often dream of pregnancies.

Dreaming about being pregnant is very usual for women, by default. If you need to stop recurring dreams of pregnancy, concentrate on things you have sired or fulfilled already. Then rear them from hereon.

Running away from someone

Now this is one everyone can relate to. Being chased is one of the human species’ most ubiquitous dream situations. At some point in your life, you are bound to have dreamt of being chased.

In analyzing a dream of being chased, it is important to put it into context, i.e. identify the one chasing you. All in all, dreaming of being chased is your unconsciousness’ way of telling you that you are evading a person or issue. Or it could be that you are turning away from certain emotions. In any case, you are avoiding something unpleasant.

Being chased may be the jolt you badly need to stop avoiding an issue, lest you want this dream to recur.

Spiders

Dreams of spiders, which affect both males and females, young and old, mean deceit and manipulation because of the webs they weave. If you dream about spiders, either you are being manipulated or you are the manipulator.

Dreaming of spiders is an opportunity for you to take stock of your life, i.e. if you are being manipulated by someone. If yes, identify ways how to get yourself out of this web of lies and deceit. Better yet, avoid falling into one. Otherwise, if you’re the manipulative one, it’s time to change ways.

Water

Dreams of water may arise just because you spent a lot of time around a body of water, e.g. a sea or river. Otherwise, they represent an ongoing flux in life.

Water symbolizes purification and new life. A dream about it can be interpreted in many ways, depending on its context. If a person is pouring it for other people, water likely means purification or changes in your life. But if the water is represented by torrential rains or storm, it may symbolize changes too overwhelming for you to handle.

Psychologists offer another explanation. A dream wherein you are being submerged in water may just be the effect of the brain translating a shift in the sleeping cycle.

***

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Do you tend to sweat the small stuff when things seem to not work your way? Experiencing the out-of-control feeling that blows your top off is never good if you aim for a healthy lifestyle. This psychological stress is harmful to health, leading to heart disease and depression.

Some people are so gifted that it seems being cool and collected is just the normal thing. So how can we be more like them and what things can we learn from these people?

Learning to detach from things that irk us and mastering control can change everything for our benefit. Thankfully, these positive behaviors can be learned.

First, try to clear ones thoughts in stopping these outbursts. Thinking before acting helps you in being “in control”.

So try not to sweat the small stuff and take note of these great ways in keeping your cool:

Looking Glass

Self-awareness brings clarity of the mind and helps you to learn more about yourself. What could be your initial feelings when a friend won’t call back? Instead reacting negatively, take a good look at the situation and you’ll soon realize that it’s not about you at all.

Self-regulation

Trash negative inner dialogue and control your tongue. Speak positively and distracting yourself with positive thoughts about loved ones, a vacation spot or an enjoyable activity. Relaxing methods like deep breathing or meditating can help.

Communicate?

Open up and put your ideas on the table. Others will find it interesting and will expect engaging thoughts from you. Aside from speaking up, take time to listen to others as well. Simply flow with the interaction of exchanging ideas and points of view.

Be Proactive

Get to work and find ways and solutions to any problem. Avoid sitting idly and define your problem, remember your goals and think about how to really achieve goals. If tardiness is a problem, then getting up 10 minutes earlier is a sure way to beat it.

The Art of Persuasion

People who are successful in influencing people, think about the situation at hand. Skills of persuasiveness, conflict management and taking a leadership position help them in rising up from any situation, good or bad.

Saying No

Learning to be decisive and saying no is important if you need to assert your needs without collapsing into a pile of mush or stepping on everyone’s toes. Be simple, courteous and directly say no.

Empathize with Others

Putting yourself into the shoes of others can alter your perspective. Being others-centered means acknowledging the fact that everyone has a bad day.  Still, in the end, you come to realize that it’s not all about you.

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Gratitude and counting your blessings are common attitudes among happy and joyful people.

As a child, Chris Peterson considered writing thank-you notes as nonsense until in his 40s, he had to face it. While, he asks his students to write a “gratitude letter,” a kind of belated thank-you note to someone in their lives, it proves to be a mood booster and the students felt happy “100 percent of the time.” Though his students are experiencing the benefits of writing them, he still thought it would be corny to do it until he tried to “speak from the heart.”

The Snowball effect

Gratitude is a sentiment people like to cultivate. Feeling thankful and expressing thanks makes you happier, heartier and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

The biggest plus is in experiencing habitual gratitude. Even skeptics can benefit from a short-term mood boost. Starting is half the battle, so try to practice.

Writing gratitude letters and reading them aloud to the person you’re thanking can create measurable improvements in your mood. Studies show that for a full month after a “gratitude visit” (in which a person makes an appointment to read the letter to the recipient), happiness levels tend to go up. It lessens boredom and other negative feelings. Gratitude visits are one of the effective tools used in positive psychology today.

Personal happiness list

The attitude of being grateful on a daily basis can take a few minutes only. Try to list things you are thankful for, include even the simplest things, like the right to vote. People who follow this routine feel better, more energetic and alert. It can also bring physical changes like having better sleep, loving exercise and gaining general contentment that may counteract stress and contribute to an overall healthy lifestyle.

Gratitude exercises do call for a certain amount of openness. One should put much thought or care into this task. Exercises like these can be done with skepticism and not be cynical about it.

For starters, try to fake it!

Fake it until you can make it. Say “thank you” enough and the mind will fall in line with the words. Think you don’t have anyone to thank? Gratitude is not dependent on circumstances.

One can be thankful for just about anything. It can be the neighbor for a car pool, to luck for meeting your spouse, to nature for a scenic view or to fate or a higher power for your safety. Thankfulness creates a perspective that you are the object of love and care. It can increase your self-esteem when people do things for you.

A conscious and active focus on gratitude can remind one of the things people easily and usually take for granted. Take note that consistent blessings such as family, health and home are more important. Grateful reflection can let you relish the good in life.

Being thankful reverses your attention from what you don’t have to things you are enjoying in the moment. Consistently ungrateful people tend to think that material goods (e.g., big-screen TV, winning the lottery) but life’s truest happiness is found in the fulfilling relationships we make along the way. It can cut back feelings of being envious and harboring comparisons with the Joneses.

Get noticed

Traumatic memories and troublesome thoughts fade and come with less intensity when we focus on being grateful. It leads to emotional healing and aids the brain to fully process events. By providing closure of negative thoughts, it can result into a generally positive outlook.

Having a daily gratitude journal can make you connect more to the world. The differences tend to be noticed by others. They become more helpful, give bigger tips etc. Thankfulness also creates a happy cycle of rich friendships bringing joy that gives you more to be grateful for, which then leads to friendships once again. Gratitude can make the world a happier place due to the relationships that it glues together.

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Food consumption is the most obvious reason for gaining extra weight. However, other factors like drugs and health condition could contribute to your weight gain without you noticing it. If you are having difficulty losing weight and not sure why, you may need to work on these possible culprits:

Aging

Menopause could cause fat accumulation in waist, thighs and hips. However, it is aging, not menopause and lower estrogen level, that mainly causes weight gain among women in their 40s and 50s. Aging people experience slower metabolism. Their body fat takes more time to metabolize. Failing to continue a healthy lifestyle is also a reason why older people tend to gain weight. They exercise less often, so fewer calories is turned into energy.

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Stress

When the day becomes stressful, our body adapts internally by secreting cortisol, also know as stress hormone. The result is increased appetite. This explains why stressed people are quick to reach for snacks and high-calorie foods, thus gaining extra weight.

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Lack of Sleep

Those who sleep late at night are likely to eat more snacks, thus increasing their calorie intake. But there is another way by which sleep deprivation can cause weight gain. People who lack sleep tend to feel hungrier when they wake up. Certain hormones that regulate appetite are activated when people lack sleep. So even if these people eat a balanced diet, they may still feel hungry and thus eat more than the normal amount of food.

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Quitting From Smoking

Those who have quit from smoking tend to gain 4 to 10 pounds. Abandoning smoking means giving up nicotine, which is an effective substance for controlling appetite. Those who quit from smoking feel hungry more often, thus they are likely to overeat. Moreover, eliminating nicotine from daily life makes taste buds more sensitive and slows down metabolism.

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Antidepressants

Twenty-five percent of people who have been using depressants for a long period of time are likely to gain weight. However, it is quite normal for some people to eat more during the start of their medication since their mood is improving, which in turn increases their appetite. If you feel that you are gaining weight due to antidepressants, possible alternatives you should opt for are natural antidepressants.

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Corticosteroids And Other Prescription Drugs

Anti-inflammatory steroids are known to be a weight booster. Steroid-induced weight gain could be due to fluid retention, increased appetite or both. The amount of extra weight depends on the dosage of the steroids and how long the steroids are being used. Some users may also see their body fat being distributed to other body parts like face, abdomen and back of the neck.

Other prescription medicines that can lead to extra weight are antipsychotic drugs like those indicated for mood disorders such as bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. Drugs for seizures, high blood pressure, migraines and diabetes can also cause weight gain. If you feel that you are gaining weight because of any of these medications, you should try natural remedies.

Birth control pills like estrogen and progestin do not increase body weight. Women who take these pills are in fact more likely to lose weight because of nausea.

Do not stop taking prescription drugs simply because of weight concerns. Since some drugs add weight due to fluid retention, be patient as you finish your therapy. Thereafter, your weight should normalize. In the meantime, have a low-sodium diet.

Also, keep in mind that not all people have the same reactions to drugs. Some drugs can cause others to lose or gain weight, but your body may react differently. So always ask your doctors when making decisions related to prescription drugs.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS mostly affects women in their childbearing age. PCOS patients suffer from ovarian cysts and hormonal imbalances that disrupt the menstrual cycle, leading to acne flareups and growth of excessive body hair. This condition is resistant to insulin. PCOS-induced weight gain is often seen in the abdomen, thus increasing the risk of heart disease.

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Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excess level of cortisol. This hormone is responsible for weight gain and other symptoms. Cushing’s syndrome can be triggered by corticosteroids indicated for arthritis, asthma and lupus. This condition also develops when your body secretes too much cortisol. Cushing’s syndrome patients usually have the extra fat in their face, upper back, neck or waist.

Hypothyroidism

If your thyroid (the gland found in your throat) does not produce the normal amount of thyroid hormone, you would feel weak and tired, which could lead to weight gain. Lack of thyroid hormone also slows down metabolism. Weight gain is also possible when thyroid only produces the minimum hormone requirement.

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To forgive and forget is so easy to say but doing it can be pretty hard but these choices can be powerful.

Wise moves if you wish to forgive and forget

Forgiveness can be viewed as a result of authentic love – a gift given freely to those who have hurt you or simply put, by grace one is forgiven.

Forgiveness benefits both the forgiven and the forgiver as well. It works both ways and the person showing forgiveness can experience a multitude of good effects and paves the way for emotional balance as part of a healthy lifestyle. It can lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, a drop in the stress hormones circulating in your blood, disappearance of back pain, stomach problems, and headaches and can lessen anger, bitterness, resentment, depression, and other negative emotions.

Walking the talk is difficult when it comes to forgiving. Almost everybody loves the thought of forgiving until they are tested with a difficult situation where forgiveness is needed. And forget about the goal of forgetting in the process.

As the old cliché goes, ‘forgive and forget,’ for most people this is impossible. This does not speak about literal forgetting but rather forgiveness that comes from pure hearts – that is remembering with grace. Any connection of negative thoughts of contempt are done away with.

Sure stress buster: Forgiving (and Forgetting)

A study was conducted among 71 college students. Those who dwell on injustices and focus on unforgiving responses their blood pressure surged, their heart rates increased, brow muscles tensed, and negative feelings escalated. When it comes to imagining themselves forgiving the offenders, forgiving responses induced calmer feelings and physical responses. Truly, harboring unforgiveness comes at an emotional and a physiological cost.

Cultivating forgiveness

Be cognizant that love, can’t be forced. You can’t just will forgiveness. There are instances where forgiveness is possible. By practicing skills that banish hostility and self-pity, positive emotions and heartfelt release of resentment will soon naturally surface.

Encouraging forgiveness in life

Being thankful and practice the art of acknowledging what’s good in your life.

Gratitude is simply guarding your thoughts and focus on the positives that life brings. This creates a biochemical experience, making forgiveness a lot easier.

Best stress fighters can be by meditation, deep breathing, or relaxation exercises, as well as cognitive reframing. Acceptance of the situations that we cannot control is likely to occur if we practice these in our lives.

Still wishing for a better mother or a better lover? But when you come to think of it, the world is the way it is.

Finally, try to change ones attitude or perspective in life. Appear more like survivors who are hopeful about the future rather than victims with a grievance.

Why not change pessimistic thoughts of, ‘I hate my mother because she didn’t love me,’ to, ‘life is a real challenge for me because I didn’t feel loved as a child’. With this in mind, forgiveness is attainable.

Classifying forgiveness patterns

There are basically two types of forgiveness. Decisional forgiveness involves choosing to let go of angry thoughts about the person you feel has wronged you.

Sometimes, we have the tendency of disillusion ourselves with decisional forgiveness. These consists of statements like, ‘I am not going to seek revenge,’ or, ‘I am going to avoid that person’. One can choose decisional forgiveness but still carries the baggage of  emotional unforgiveness.

Keep in mind that the main goal is emotional forgiveness, that is purging out resentment, bitterness, hostility, hatred, anger, and fear. These are to be replaced with love, compassion, sympathy, and empathy.

The healthy option is to emotionally forgive and disengage from ruminating on the wrong and ugly things done to you. This can ruin your mental health and could lead to psychological disorders like being obsessive-compulsive, anxiety and depression.

REACH ing for forgiveness

Here is an amazing 5-step program called REACH to bring out a healthy lifestyle of being forgiving.

1. Recall the hurt with an open mind,stop the blame game and thoughts of self-victimization.
2. Empathize by looking at the viewpoint of the erring person.
3. The altruistic part involves remembering the moments of receiving the grace of being forgiven as well.
4. Time to commit to forgiveness. A crucial decision to make.
5. Finally, one must then hold on to forgiveness.

This was proven to be effective when the creator of REACH applied it to his own life. He recalled when his mother was beaten to death with a crowbar in 1995, and yet, within 30 hours he was able to forgive the youths who had committed this horrible crime.

When it is okay not to forgive

For people who cannot forgive, then it is still okay. For some individuals, recognizing that you don’t need to be obligated in forgiving comes as a huge relief. One can simply resolve their feelings and say, ‘I can never feel OK about these terrible things, but I’m not going to be vengeful.’

A 3-step process to help achieve this resolution:

1. Re-engagement - decide to think about what happened.
2. Recognition – look at the details of every feeling you are experiencing, ask questions like ‘why do I want revenge when in fact revenge is the result of powerlessness?’
3. Reinterpretation of the injury  – understand the person who caused it. It determines whether you are truly a forgiver or not. Try to go through this process and thoughts of self-victimization  will not haunt you.

Indeed, forgiveness produced benefits for the forgiver. What is important is to work it through and achieve a resolution even if it leads to forgiveness or not. Forgiveness is a journey and a daily affirmation that you need to do. When you find yourself not wishing  them ill, it’s a good sign that you are almost there of getting over it!

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The long, busy week is over, so what is left to do? For those feeling stressed out from the entire month’s workload, consider giving yourself a healthy treat.

Here are some of the affordable ways to delight yourself while boosting your health.

Sip a Cup of  Natural Tea

Although coffee shops are almost everywhere, Americans still consume a total of 2 billion gallons of tea every year.  One of the main advantages of drinking tea is easing of tension. Research findings revealed that those who drink four cups of black tea every day release less stress hormone after performing a demanding task  as compared with caffeinated fruit drinkers. Green tea gives the same benefits as well.  So if you have time to sit down and relax, grab a cup of tea and enjoy both its taste and soothing effects.

Have a Fresh Tuna Steak

Take a break from canned foods and get a slice of raw succulent tuna steak for dinner.  Revive your taste buds and nourish your body with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, the good fats that improve heart functions and store energy. What treats could be healthier and more refreshing than a nutrient-packed tuna for dinner?

Hug And Kiss to Your Heart’s Desire

Your wife is waiting for you until late night. Doesn’t she deserve a big kiss from you? Kissing your spouse as you return home from a busy work helps strengthen your marital relationship, not to mention the extra calories you would burn by giving a two-minute passionate kiss.

Watch Funny Movies

Spend a night of laughter as you watch funny movies. Research showed that laughing can reduce stress, improve the flow of blood, strengthen immunity, and normalize blood pressure. Chuckling may bring down sugar level and improve digestion as well. Surprisingly, even mere anticipation of laughter can have a stress-reducing effect. So just waiting in line at the rental shop as you read the synopsis of comedy DVDs could lighten up your mood.

Go to a Manicurist

Your hands have been working like bees as you touch type for hours or scrub the floor and dishes. So why not give yourself a manicure? Pamper yourself with a manicure and feel a renewed self-esteem. Having a manicure is an experience similar to having a message – relaxing and sensual.

Make Love

You’ve spent hours listening to meeting and cramming to meet the deadline. You missed your favorite TV shows and dinner. Isn’t sex a good way to regain your life?

Sex is a powerful stress reliever. Scientists found out that sex can lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system and improve self-esteem. Who says that sex is not a part of a healthy lifestyle?

Fill Your Room With Lavender Scent

Who wouldn’t enjoy lavender-scented pillows and pockets? Lavender has been used in aromatic preparations for centuries. Now, research suggested that there must be a good, healthy reason for doing so. Although the findings are not conclusive, they suggest that lavender could help relieve headaches, anxiety, sleeping difficulty and depression. If you are suffering from sleeping problem or stressed mood, you may find relief from a lavender-filled pillow or lavender-scented candle.

Indulge on Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is one of the most irresistible treats you can give to anyone. Its enticing smell and rich, creamy taste are beyond comparison. But be sure to take just an ounce of dark chocolate a day. When taken in moderation, dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure and improve cholesterol profile and blood flow.

Stretch Out

With work taking all your day’s time, you hardly have time to work out. The solution is to stretch out while watching your favorite TV show. Stretch your arms slowly and wait for 10 seconds before you change your pose. Stretching eases tired muscles and improves your range of motions and blood circulation. Furthermore, stretching fights stress.

Enjoy a Chair Massage

Although massage chairs can be expensive, it is worth your money. It is one of the few luxuries that are beneficial to your mind and body. Receiving a massage triggers your body to release natural painkillers called endorphins. Massage also reduces stress hormones, eases anxiety and strengthens the immune system.

Having a chair massage is a convenient and fast way to free yourself from a stressful environment. Chair massage costs $1 per minute. You can get chair massage at malls. Some chair massage providers also operate in office buildings.

Shop for Exotic Fruits

Excite your taste buds with tropical fruits. Spend some money on those star-shaped fruits displayed at department stores. Grab some purple berries and tiny lemons. In addition to their refreshing taste, fruits offer a lot of health benefits. Fruits make you less prone to heart diseases, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.

Go Out And Enjoy Nature

Connect with nature and experience more serenity and introspection. Watch out for the flocks of birds as they return in spring, or the falling of leaves in autumn. Observe the resurgence of winter plants as the snow covers the entire ground. Take advantage of the changing of seasons and the beauty of nature to reflect and develop inner sense of peace.

Call Your Best Friends

Call your good friends during your leisure time. Do so even if you see them every day at work or neighborhood. Nurturing friendship promotes a sense of belonging, self-worth and purpose. Having friends is also good for mental health.  So do not hesitate to give your best buddies a warm call during weekends, holidays or special occasions.

Move Around

Keeping yourself moving is a simple way to maintain a good mood, improve sleeping behavior, and increase energy level. It is different from a workout. Taking a short walk, playing with your kids or digging the garden would do. The important thing is to keep yourself from being sedentary. Spending ten minutes for each activity could improve your resistance against colds and improve your brain power.

Take a Restful Sleep

Recharge yourself this weekend with a long sleep. It is quite a challenge to take a nap between works, so having a full sleep at night is a priceless reward. Having a restful sleep is important to health. It prevents fatigue and conditions your mind to learn and memorize. Adults should get around eight hours of sleep every night.

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Having a first baby is such a treasure to couples. But taking care of a baby is not a simple task.

Newborns are fragile. Extra care should be rendered by providing their needs well. Becoming first time parents can be stressful. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle by overcoming stress as new parents.

Here are 6 tips on how to overcome the pressure in parenting:

1. Prioritize your health

After giving birth, mothers should continue visiting her doctor to follow up her health. Nutrients from the mother are used by the baby after giving birth. Supplements should be taken to replenish the lost nutrients from the mother. Hygiene is very important for cleanliness. Taking a bath everyday will prevent the risk of infection especially if mothers had undergone cesarean section. If you don’t have the appetite to eat, then eat small frequent meals. You need enough energy to nurture your baby.

2. Plan a schedule for care

Babies usually wake up at night or early in the morning that deficits sleep from parents. Parents are exhausted with daily routines like this. Sleep deprivation can alter your behavior and can cause physical and mental impairments. Insufficient rest can lead to mood swings, inability to think, and incapability of handling stress. Both parents shouldn’t wake up when the baby cries. Parents should take turns so that each one can get enough rest. If you’re a single parent, you can ask a family member or babysitter to assist you.

3. Have quality time for yourself

Stress free activities for you can boost your health. Have personal time for yourself. It doesn’t mean that having a baby eliminates your other activities. Take some time walking, reading, shopping, or talking to a friend to cope up with stress.

4. Don’t hesitate to ask help from others

Are you happy of having a baby but still feel sad or upset? Are you confused about what you feel? Postpartum depression is common among women who just had delivery. It’s normal to encounter this after giving birth. Depression should not be restrained with adding more stress to your life. It is better to ask help from others. The family should be there to cheer you up or supervise you in caring for your baby. With support systems, stress experienced by the mother is reduced.

5. Share your understanding to other first time moms

Interaction with other first time moms can acquire a deeper understanding of what you feel because they also share the same experience with you. You could plan a weekly meeting for activities such as yoga classes or a house party.

6. Personal time with your partner leads to a good relationship

Mothers are normally busy nurturing her baby and neglect the fact that she has a partner that also needs her attention. A dinner date or time alone together will keep your relationship solid. Don’t allow a dull moment in your relationship. Don’t worry too much and allow a babysitter or close friend to take care of your baby while you and your partner are having a good date together.

First Baby Later in Life

Delivering a baby 40 and beyond can be too risky. Complications might occur but this doesn’t stop mothers from recovering in parenthood. You might be a little old to have that energy but you are more prepared emotionally. You are patient and satisfied in having a baby than younger mothers.

Recommended natural remedy for post partum support:

• Birth-Heal – Homeopathic remedy that reduces pain and promotes healing after natural or C-section childbirth
• MamaGize Pick-Me-Up Spritzer – Uplifts, invigorates and energizes the spirit – just spray on body or in any room
• Nature’s Milk Drops – Promotes healthy breast milk production for trouble-free breastfeeding
• NewMama Drops – Supports health, vitality and hormone balance after childbirth
• Nipple Conditioning Cream – Promotes healthy skin around the nipples for comfortable breastfeeding
• PureMother Flower Essence – Promotes natural mothering instincts, balanced mood and a joyful spirit of parenthood

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Are you excited to have your first baby? As a mother, you’re responsible for preparing yourself and the baby’s need for birth. Being pregnant is stressful to the mother. You become moody and irritated. You fear about giving birth. You ask so many questions to your doctor, family, and friends about pregnancy.

Physical changes occur to a pregnant woman. You gain weight and you usually experience fatigue and pain that can cause too much stress. The best way to do is to implement comfort in your daily activities to prevent pre-mature birth and to keep your baby healthy.

Physical and mental changes are not the only stressors when it comes to pregnancy. Financial need and education are also factors of stress to pregnant women. With less income, you are problematic about your hospital expenses, your needs like vitamins and milk, and your baby’s future.

Anxiety in Early Pregnancy

According to researchers, women who undergo anxiety in the early stages of pregnancy and hyperactive children ages 8 to 9 has similarities. This shows that severe anxiety experienced by the mother on the early stages of pregnancy can affect the baby’s mental health and has a great percentage of experiencing emotional disorders as he/she grows old.

The fetus inside the mother’s womb will also feel what the mother feels. So if the mother’s heart rate increases, the fetal heart rate also rises. The fetal development is a crucial stage during pregnancy. Emotional health by the mother will likely affect her baby. As much as possible, mothers should avoid severe stress.

To avoid high risk pregnancies, maintain a healthy lifestyle by taking nutritious food, drinking plenty of water, enough rest and sleep, exercise, and intake of supplements for the baby and mother.

Facts about Pregnancy and Stress

Women are able to surpass stress because of support systems like family, friends, and the health care team. Researchers believe that long period of stress in the early stages of pregnancy are likely to cause psychological effects in the baby than stress experienced in the late stages of pregnancy.

Traumatic events like loss of a loved one and serious personal problems are considered as major stressors to pregnancy. Other risk factors include your weight, age, and pre-existing health conditions.

How to Fight Stress

Our body’s system should fight against stress. The key to control stress is based from our lifestyle. One of the most important aspects of a healthy pregnancy is having the right diet. The baby consumes what you eat. Nutrients from your body will be used by the fetus for development. Take note that eating too much can’t be tolerated because you might be overweight- a factor for high risk pregnancy.

Are you used to smoking and drinking? These vices are very dangerous to the health of the unborn child. Too much consumption of alcohol might cause birth defects or pre-mature birth. Another way to avoid stress is limit traveling. Pregnant women usually are exhausted when traveling. Focus more on relaxation and getting enough rest and sleep.

Don’t forget to have a weekly check-up with your gynecologist. They know what is best and they require you to take laboratory tests for early detection of UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), anemia, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy related conditions.

Share What you Feel

During times of distress, your family and friends are always there to comfort you. Stress in pregnancy is crucial to the mother. Have someone to talk to. Share your problems, concerns and feelings. You will surely feel relieved after sharing your concerns. Instead of worrying too much about your baby, divert your attention to other activities like reading a book, breathing exercises, or pregnancy classes.

Help From Nature

It’s crucial that first time moms maintain their physical and psychological health during both the conception and throughout pregnancy. Click here to find a comprehensive set of natural remedies to help you manage conception and pregnancy naturally and safely!

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Are you a timid type of person?

Are you afraid to show the world your talent and abilities?

Don’t be!

Break out of from your shell and show everyone the best assets you have.

Being shy is not a mental disorder but a personality problem. A shy person is scared of social events and meeting new people. They don’t want to perform or talk in public because they want less attention. They are often self- conscious, uncomfortable, or insecure.

What Causes Shyness

Being shy can originate from childhood. Experiences from your childhood years affect what you are in adulthood. Factors for shyness include genetics, past experiences, and social encounters.

The level of shyness depends on the individual. Slight reactions like blushing can be severe to others like panic attacks that can cause heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and nausea.

People who weren’t able to overcome shyness develop phobia in groups of people or anxiety disorder. They do everything just to avoid a certain situation or event.

Help For The Shy And Timid People

There are several approaches to help shy people bring back their self-confidence. One remedy is by taking natural remedies and homeopathic methods to decrease anxiety and stress during shyness.

Herbal supplements like Lavender, Passiflora incamata, and Melissa officinalis helps the body to relax.

A homeopathic ingredient, Gelsemium, is used to alleviate sweating and shaking.

Chocolatum manages rapid heartbeat and Silica is recommended for children who undergo nervous exhaustion.

We ould recommend the use of these ready made natural remedies:

• SocialFear Relief – Homeopathic remedy that relieves social fear, anxiety, nervousness, shyness and stage fright
• K-OK Kiddie Calmer – Homeopathic remedy that relieves nervousness, worry, shyness and separation anxiety in children

Tips To Combat Shyness

• Ask help from people you trust like your family and friends. Practice socializing by maintaining eye contact during conversations.
• Know your insecurities. Is it because your fat or you find yourself ugly? Try to think positive and don’t feel ashamed of yourself.
• Believe that no one is perfect in this world. Even a famous person has failures and insecurities.
• Identify your talents and skills. Focus on that talent of yours and have a goal to improve it. Express yourself by drawing, singing, or dancing.
• Be grateful of what you have. If you lack that self confidence, then learn to appreciate what you have in life. Eliminate the feeling of dissatisfaction.
• Start a conversation by yourself first. Don’t wait for others to approach you. A simple compliment or smile when meeting new people is a great start.
• Practice speech in front of the mirror. When conversing with someone, don’t make it too scripted. Go on with the flow. Sharing of ideas and personal experiences are always the best.
• Find a group which matches your interest. Talking to a group with the same interest will allow you to open up your thoughts and feelings.
• If you suddenly get nervous during a conversation, then make appropriate excuses by saying you need to go the bathroom or you need to get something. Give yourself time to calm down and organize your thoughts for a few minutes before you return back for a conversation.
• Always be yourself. Don’t act as if you’re somebody else. Don’t be afraid to show your uniqueness to others. Your personality is a bridge in making new friends.

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