A psychiatrist explains the real difference between the left and right side of the brain

 

We’ve all heard that the left part of the brain is “logical” and the right side of the brain is “creative”.
That theory enjoyed huge popularity in the 60s and 70s, but is it really true?
According to psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist, it might just be one of the biggest misconceptions that’s ever reached mainstream thought.

In the brilliant video below, he debunks the left brain/right brain myth and explains why both sides of the brain are profoundly involved in all different creative and logical tasks.

However, he also points out that the brain IS deeply divided…just not in the way most people think.
Check it out here and prepare to learn something new about your own brain.


For those who can’t watch the video right now, here it is in text:
Iain McGilchrist says that mainstream neuroscience has largely stopped talking about the differences between the left brain and right brain since that theory was debunked.

But, contrary to what most neuroscientists believe, Iain McGilchrist says that the brain is still profoundly divided. What’s more, over the course of human evolution, it’s become even more divided.

The ratio of the corpus callosum to the volume of the hemisphere has got smaller over evolution. And the plot thickens when you realize that the main function of the corpus callosum is in fact to inhibit the other hemisphere. There’s something very important about keeping things apart from one another.
Not only that, but the brain is profoundly asymmetric.

It’s broader at the back on the left and broader on the right of the front of the side.
What’s going on here?
It’s not just humans that have divided brains. Birds and and animals have them as well. Birds and animals quite reliably use their left hemisphere for this narrow focused attention and they keep their right hemisphere vigilant for anything that appears randomly. They also use their right hemisphere for making connections with the world.

When it comes to humans, this kind of attention is one of the big differences.
The right hemisphere gives sustained, broad, open vigilance, and alertness. Whereas the left hemisphere gives narrow, sharply focused attention to details. People who lose their right hemisphere have a pathological narrowing of the window of attention.

He says the big things about humans is their frontal lobes. And the purpose of that part is to inhibit the rest of the brain, which enables to do what humans do best: outwitting the other part and being machievellian.

It’s about interacting with the world and using it to our advantage.
For example, we mainly use the left hemisphere to use our hands to make tools and food. We also use that part for language to grasp things we say and pin them down.

It’s where we already know what’s important and what to be precise about. And we need that to have a simplified version of reality. It’s difficult if all this information is in front of you and you can’t nail down to the specifics and what really matters. It’s not real reality but it works better.

The right hemisphere, however, is always on the look out for things that might be different from our expectations. It sees things in context. It understands implicit meaning, metaphor, body language, emotional expressions etc. In deals with an embodied world, in which we stand embodied in relation to a world that is concrete. It understands individuals, not just categories.

However, this understanding has nothing to do with the old concept of the left brain/right differences. For imagination, you need both hemispheres. For reason, you need both hemispheres.

Instead, Iain McGilchrist lays down the real difference between the left brain and right brain:
The left hemisphere is dependant on denotative language, abstraction, yields clarity and power to manipulate things that are known and fixed.

The right hemisphere yields a world of individual, changing, evolving, interconnected, living beings within the context of the lived world. But the nature of things is never fully graspable or perfectly known. This world exists in a certain relationship.

They both cover two versions of the world and we combine them in different ways all the time. We need to rely on certain things to manipulate the world, but for the broad understanding of it, we need to use knowledge that comes from the right hemisphere.

Iain McGilchrist explains that we now live in a world that is paradoxical. We pursue happiness, and it leads to resentment, which leads to unhappiness. We pursue freedom, but we now live in a world which is monitored more and more by CCTV cameras.

Iain McGilchrist says we’re living in a western world that is being controlled by the left hemisphere – where everything is fixed. We need control, which is leading to paranoia. The right hemisphere doesn’t have a voice.

But we need to engage in our right hemisphere for a more broader view of reality, and a more balanced society.
He believes a quote from Einstein sums it up best:
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

SIX THINGS THAT REALLY P*SS BUYERS OFF WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME.

Nambour Real Estate - Victor Realty Sales & Property Management Specialists

Page Liked · 18 July ·

 

SIX THINGS THAT REALLY P*SS BUYERS OFF WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME.

When you put your home on the market there is one, and only one outcome, you are aiming for –

Attract qualified buyers who will see value in your offering, make offers and allow you to sell for a price that makes everyone happy.

But nothing happens unless the first part of that statement is fulfilled.

“Attract qualified buyers…”

Without buyers, you have nothing.

And even when you do attract them, there are some actions, or inactions that you or your agent may undertake that really can give buyers the sh*ts and make them wonder whether or not your home or property is worth pursuing.

1. No Address on The Listing

Buyers like to do some research before they are willing to take the next step and make a direct enquiry on a property. Not displaying an address can drop buyer enquiry levels by up to 25% because they think, “why are they hiding the address?” Making buyers suspicious is a poor way to build trust.

2. No Price on The Listing

Another turn off for buyers. Yes, they must be searching (online) in the price range you are hoping to achieve, but seeing no price or ‘By Negotiation’, or ‘POA’ can agitate the keenest of buyers. They want something to aim at and ‘no price’ properties make buyers suspicious that you may want to much for it in the first place.

3. Not Returning Their Calls or Emails Promptly

I know for a fact that some agents can be guilty of this, however if you want to sell your home your agent MUST respond to every buyer enquiry as quickly as possible. The one they fail to get back to in a reasonable time is the one that may have been ready to dive into a dream deal.

4. Not Telling The Market You Have Contract

Up until the time you have an unconditional contract your agent should engage other interested buyers in case the current deal falls through. Tell buyers exactly that, “We have a contract and will let you know if it falls through.” When your contract locks in, unconditional, make sure your agent changes the status of your listing to ‘Under Contract’ so buyers are under no misconception and can push forward with their search.

5. Advertising an Open Home and Not Running It

Believe it or not, I have heard of agents not turning up to advertised Open Homes and leaving buyers cranky and disappointed, not to mention the sellers! If buyers see it advertised on the net, and are keen to see it, they WILL turn up. If you have to cancel an open home, remove the time and stick a sign out the front that says, ‘Open Home Cancelled’.

6. Agents Hovering Like an Attention Seeking Puppy at an Inspection.

When your agent conducts any inspection – whether it is an Open Home or one-off appointment – hire one that won't hang around the buyers like a panting puppy whilst they are trying to look. A good agent will give an overview of your home; then LET THE BUYERS GO with a comforting, “Please ask any questions you may have.”

Let them explore, let them discover and keep a reasonable distance whilst being on hand if they do have any questions - that's what buyers like. No buyer can concentrate on taking a good look if you an agent yapping over their shoulder.

Once again, the key to any successful sale is to attract, qualify, facilitate, engage and encourage offers – then do a deal!

Don’t give buyers any reason to doubt your motivation or your agent's ability to get down to the business of selling your home.

Doritos Chips Linked to Cancer and Other Diseases

Deadly processed foods are very addictive.  Americans currently spend about 90% of their food income buying processed junk like popular Doritos. Doritos are statistically listed as the most popular chips worldwide. Why are doritos so bad? Take a look at the ingredients.

Doritos Ingredients:

Whole corn, vegetable oil (corn, soybean, and/or sunflower oil), salt, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), maltodextrin, wheat flour, whey, monosodium glutamate, buttermilk solids, romano cheese (part skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, onion powder, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, corn flour, disodium phosphate, lactose, natural and artificial flavor, dextrose, tomato powder, spices, lactic acid, artificial color (including Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40), citric acid, sugar, garlic powder, red and green bell pepper powder, sodium caseinate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, nonfat milk solids, whey protein isolate, corn syrup solids.

Whole Corn:

Genetically modified foods (especially corn) contain toxic chemicals and pesticides that can wreak havoc on your digestive system over time and tax your organs of elimination such as liver, kidneys, bladder, lymphatic system.
According to the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT):
“Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMO food including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.”

Vegetable Oil:

Most vegetable oils are genetically modified. Almost 90 % of canola and corn oil in America is GMO. Soy, corn, safflower and canola  oils are dangerous to cook with as they contain very high amounts of Omega-6. Omega-6 is only beneficial for our bodies if the ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 is 3 to 1.  Omega-3 sources include fatty fish and cod liver oil. As a nation, we do not consume enough of these. The current ratio in America is at 50:1.   Our culture is way to indulged in processed pre-packaged food, so adding foods cooked with vegetable oil make matters even worse.

Cheddar Cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes):

Pasteurized cow’s milk on an industrial commercial level is loaded with unhealthy components such growth hormone and GMOs.  Doritos contain hormones that lead to breast cancer.

Yellow #6:

Can cause cancer, hyperactivity, allergic reactions, diarrhea, vomiting, nettle rash, migraines and swelling of the skin.

Yellow #5:

Can cause allergic reactions, hyperactivity, cancer.

Red #40:

Damages DNA, causes swelling around the mouth, hives, hyperactivity in children and cancer.

Maltodextrin:

Maltodextrin is a commercial sweetener made from cornstarch. Almost all the maltodextrin used in health foods, vitamins, and supplements are derived from genetically modified corn. Abdominal bloating and flatulence can be experienced; other problems relating to digestion can also become a problem such as constipation and diarrhea.

Citric Acid:

Citric acid is used as both a flavor enhancer and a preservative ingredient. Citric acid has been known to irritate the digestive system , causing heartburn and damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach. According to a few European studies, citric acid could be responsible for promoting tooth decay as well.

Corn Syrup Solids: 

This is precisely the ingredient that is contributing to the obesity in the United States. Fructose can disturb your metabolism, elevate blood pressure and triglycerides, cause weight gain, heart disease and liver damage, and even deplete your body of vitamins and minerals.

Other Flavors:

Buttermilk, Romano cheese (part skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, onion powder, corn flour, natural and artificial flavors, dextrose, tomato powder, lactose, spices, wheat flour, salt, lactic acid, citric acid, sugar, garlic powder, skim milk, whey protein isolate, corn syrup solids, red and green bell pepper powder, sodium caseinate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate. All these ingredients can cause serious chronic diseases and are the norm for processed snacks.

Doritos also contain acrylamides — toxic substances formed when carbohydrates are cooked a high temperatures. Acrylamides are linked to cancer and other serious diseases. One study shows that eating acrylamides increases the risk of kidney cancer by 59 percent
Remember, you are what you eat. The choice is yours!

Mix THIS With Fresh Orange Juice Every Morning To Flush Nicotine Out Of Your Body

Mix THIS With Fresh Orange Juice Every Morning To Flush Nicotine Out Of Your Body

It’s a known fact that trying to quit smoking is a pretty hard ordeal. Well, we will show you a great new way you can quit smoking and improve other health immensely! Find out how our two-ingredient drink could improve your health forever!

Nicotine in Cigarettes

Cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. It is extremely toxic and can cause many diseases to develop in your body. Almost 30% of American adults smoke, despite knowing the basic knowledge of its health implications.(1) Considering the addictive qualities of nicotine, people find it tough to quit, and if they do try, they experience withdrawal symptoms such as; ‘depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, and craving’. (2)

Quitting has never been easier with our top tip to squash those cravings and make your lungs sing with clarity! By having a glass of orange juice mixed with half a teaspoon of cream of tartar every day, you will notice quitting smoking is easier than you thought.

The vitamin C in the orange juice will also help you regain any vital vitamin loss. This study shows how cigarette smokers do not absorb vitamin C as well as non-smokers. So drink that orange juice!

Cream of Tartar Revealed

Cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate; it comes from the winemaking process when grapes are fermented. Commonly used in cooking and cleaning, cream of tartar has many different purposes.(4) Below are 5 incredible medical uses for cream of tartar!

Quit Smoking

Different sources say that cream of tartar is a great trick to use when quitting smoking. It literally pulls the nicotine out of your body and reduces the number of cravings. This study showed a decrease of potassium levels in blood plasma in smokers. This means that by consuming cream of tartar, which is rich in potassium, you will help balance out the levels in your body.

You may be wondering why we need potassium levels to be on point. Well, ‘Potassium has many biological functions. It is a co-factor for many enzymes, and it is required for insulin secretion, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein synthesis.‘ (6) So it’s pretty important in keeping your body functioning properly and efficiently!

So drink 1/2 a teaspoon of cream of tartar mixed into an 80z glass of orange juice every day, and you will notice fewer cravings.

Reduce Arthritis Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common form of arthritis that affects about 300,000 Canadians, affecting 2-3 times more women than men! (7) It can affect small joints in your hands and feet, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and ankles.

(8) This study shows that people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis have a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is important in the maintenance of joint cartilage, so by consuming the right amount of magnesium you can lessen the effects of arthritis.

Magnesium is found in abundance in cream of tartar. So you can help heal arthritis and soothe the aches and pains by soaking in a bath of cream of tartar and Epsom salts.

Watch the video below to make a DIY bath bomb containing cream of tartar and all natural ingredients!

Reduce Blood Pressure

Once again, potassium levels are important in keeping blood pressure at the right point. Potassium is an essential mineral involved in regulating blood pressure.

(11) By consuming the same recipe of orange juice and cream of tartar as mentioned above, every day, you will help lower your blood pressure to a healthy level.

Hyperkalemia Disclaimer

Too much potassium can also be detrimental to your health.        
Hyperkalemia can be an unfortunate side effect of high concentrations of potassium in your body; it’s symptoms are usually quite nonspecific, ranging from fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling.

(12) Very high levels of potassium in the blood can lead to cardiac arrest, which can the cause death.

Please Note: If you are planning on trying to integrate cream of tartar into your diet, make sure you consult with your doctor beforehand, as it contains high levels of potassium. High levels of potassium can mix with other medications and affect your health in different ways, so always make sure you can take it before you try it. better safe than sorry!

From quitting smoking to lowering blood pressure, by either consuming cream of tartar or soaking in a tub of it, you will help improve your health. Why not give it a go, you may not even know you need it!

This is how your brain physically changes when you consume turmeric This is how your brain physically changes when you consume turmeric

This is how your brain physically changes when you consume turmeric

Turmeric is often looked at as a sort of ‘miracle’ spice, backed up by the over 600 experimentally confirmed health benefits it has shown. This is largely attributed to curcumin as the primary source of this, but did you know the whole turmeric could actually help with brain regeneration? And it’s not just from curcumin like you might expect!

An Overlooked Benefit

Aromatic-turmerone is a fat-soluble component of turmeric that has been studied by German researchers on adult rats and in vitro for its effects on neural stem cells.

What they found in the petri dish was that the neural stem cells (NSCs) increased in number by as much as 80% when exposed to ar-turmerone, indicating there was a healing effect happening.

When used the on rats, they formed healthy new brain cells in the subventricular zone and the hippocampus, the place where new neurons are grown. They also noticed a size growth in both these areas (1 , 2).
On its own, ar-turmerone is a powerful regenerative that can aid NSCs in brain regeneration, and could eventually lead to aiding degenerative diseases like stroke or Alzheimer’s (3, 4). The biggest draw of ar-turmerone in the brain is that rather than just promoting stem cell proliferation, it also differentiates stem cells into neurons, which is a major goal of regenerative medicine.

Scientists also suggest that curcumin can improve the overall memory of Alzheimer’s patients. Although, the research sourced in this article is comprised of studies where scientists have conducted their tests on rats as opposed to the human brain.

So What Does This Mean?

As mentioned earlier, some of these remedies are only supported so far by preliminary studies with either a non-human subject like rats or mice or only a small group of human subjects. While scientists do further research to support these remedies, you can talk with your health practitioner about using one or even several of these natural options as an alternative to riskier drug-based methods. 

Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice or treatment because of something you have read here. Many of these tricks have been passed down from generation to generation, and continue to be based on people’s success with them.

Many people think that using a curcumin extract on its own is enough to reap the benefits, but using the whole turmeric offers a range of therapeutic compounds they might miss out on.

For instance, for colonic inflammation or polyps, it is better to use the whole plant over an extract because the extract can likely be absorbed by the small intestine before ever getting to the large intestine where it’s needed most.

The effects of the brain using ar-turmerone are still relatively unknown, but this recent study shows there is definitely a regenerative factor embedded within. So go ahead, add a pinch to your smoothie or curry next time and you’ll thank yourself for it in the future!

Healing plants are often composed of hundreds of beneficial compounds, so it’s inaccurate to assume that one, in particular, is responsible for all the healing powers. Although curcumin and ar-turmerone have been found to have substantial positive benefits to the body and mind, turmeric as a whole will reap the most benefits.

Here are some great ways to include turmeric in your diet.

• Turmeric Butter
  
• Sauerkraut With Turmeric
  
• 10 Turmeric Anti-Inflammatory Recipes
  

Here’s Exactly What You Need To Do To Create Chemistry With Someone (Without Using Any Words)

What does it take to create powerful chemistry between a man and a woman? And not just any chemistry but strong chemistry? The chemistry that will make them fall in love with you?
All of us are aware of the importance of body language when it comes to creating chemistry with someone we like.

And upon considering all of the various body language methods out there to attract the person we like, perhaps the most crucial of all is eye contact.

 

Now, you will read many articles about how important it is to make good eye-contact with the person you like and so on. This article is different though. In this article I’m not just going to tell you to make good eye-contact with the person …but I’m going to show you a little trick that will allow you to magnify the power of making good eye-contact 10-FOLD.

You won’t find this trick online, in the bookstores, or from aspiring pickup artists. Trust me!
It is a trick that I discovered myself. By pure accident. And it is capable of creating the type of chemistry between two people that will in time lead to love.

The First Time I Discovered this Chemistry Building Strategy

Several years ago, there was this girl in my hometown. We always talked whenever we met and we had a great time. Something drew me to this girl like none of the girls in town.
Why was this happening? What was so special about her?

Do you think it was love? Do you think it was destiny? NO! Just keep on reading …

Over time, we started dating. But our relationship did not turn out as I expected. For the two of us, it just kind of died down. What I initially perceived to be a promising relationship just fell apart like a cheap unicycle.

So, why had I been drawn to this particular girl …just for our relationship to fall apart so easily? BANG! Then it hit me and I realized why I had been drawn to this girl in the first place.

Lingering Eye Contact

Even though she was good looking, charming, and amiable …she was a bit SLOW. Slow, as in, not very bright.
But it wasn’t that in and of itself that drew me to her. It was a by-product of this slowness that tricked me into having feelings for her and wanting to go out with her.

When I would say something to this particular girl, it used to take a while for her brain to compute what I had just said. From the time I had finished speaking, to the time she would figure out what I was saying …there was a pause of about 1 to 2 seconds. During this pause, her eyes would often linger at me in silence before she would respond to my question.

My subconscious mind interpreted this innocuous gaze as her way of trying to establish an emotional connection with me. In short – creating chemistry. And strong chemistry at that.

 

This, of course, was not what she was trying to do, but my subconscious was tricked by it …and then, in turn, my subconscious tricked me into developing feelings for her in response to what my subconscious had interpreted as her way of trying to build a connection to me.

Basically, she accidentally created these personal and private moments between us from the time I would be done talking …to the time she would finally respond. Over the span of several weeks up to the time we started dating, these small successions of personal eye contact occasions resulted in me becoming emotionally attached to her.

And I only accidentally found out! Some of the finest discoveries in life were done by accident.
Alexander Fleming discovered the first ever antibiotic, Penicillin, in a petri dish he had already thrown out from his laboratory. And when Percy Spencer was trying to make a new and more efficient radar detection system, he ended up inventing the microwave open.

Even if my budding relationship with this girl died down after only several weeks of dating, the eye contact trick she was unconsciously doing was strong enough for us to begin a relationship together. And for a few individuals, if you are capable of starting a relationship with someone you like, it can often result in a relationship that does go somewhere. Often to marriage.

So, This is What You Must Do…

During the next occasion, you get the chance to talk to somebody you like, allow your eyes to linger on that person for a few seconds prior to making a reply. By doing that, you will make a special moment. A special moment that can only be felt by the both of you …and nobody else.

And its little private moments of chemistry, like these, that can ignite love in someone else for you.

 

It is during moments like this, that your subconscious can be programmed into thinking that you are gazing at “The One” and that destiny paved the way for the two of you to meet. When a person believes that a certain person is their ultimate destiny, love is never far away. 

9 Quotes by Will Smith to Inspire You to Live Life Your Own W

9 Quotes by Will Smith to Inspire You to Live Life Your Own Way

I love Will Smith. His movies are awesome. His acting is great and you know something?

He’s an inspiring dude. He’s not just some celebrity. He’s a goldmine of inspiration and intelligence.

You’d be surprised how much you can learn from him when it comes to living your life your own way to attain the success you deserve.

Here are 9 quotes by Will Smith to inspire you to live life your own way.

 

1. “Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.”
That really puts fear in perspective eh?
Just imagine that fear is a separate entity altogether. And then you can do anything you want with it.
Mostly, just throw it away.


2. “If you’re absent during my struggle, don’t expect to be present during my success.”
That’s the thing about people and so-called friends. So many people care not for your journey to success.
They only see the success and what it can do for them.

So be very wary. The people who are not around during your struggles are not really your friends. The ones who are are the ones who will stick to you forever.
The former aren’t doing you any favors. So chug them!


3. “Don’t chase people. Be yourself, do your own thing and work hard. The right people – the ones who really belong in your life – will come to your. And stay.”
Yep! Be yourself. CHASE yourself!
The rest, will take care of itself.


4. “Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings & emotions.”
In other words, these people don’t matter, at all.
Focus on the other important ones instead.



5. “Money & success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.”
First of all, don’t chase money and success. It doesn’t work that way.
The money and success you eventually gain won’t change your life. It’ll only make it easier.
So with that in mind, never doubt yourself. Be confident, even without the money or status.


6. “Life isn’t how many breaths you take, but it’s the moments that take your breath away.”
Because you shouldn’t just live to function.
You should live to be excited, passionate, happy and of course, have tons of fun.
There’s a time limit on those breaths by the way.


7. “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
That is how people end up in debt.
Stop trying to please everybody. You can’t. It’s impossible.
Stop aiming to meet the expectations of others’. Only yours matter.
And stop spending so much on luxuries. They can only make you happy for so long.


8. “The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is, I am not afraid to die on a treadmill. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me. But if we get on the treadmill together, there’s two things.
You are getting off first. Or I am going to die. It’s that simple.”
Watch this on YouTube in one of his interviews.
This is to me is about simple confidence and determination.
Forget being realistic or “faking it till you make it.”
For once, psyche yourself. Just be.


9. “If you’re not making someone’s life better, you’re wasting your time.”
Because way too many of us always chase things just for ourselves.
That’s normal, but here’s the twist: Sometimes in life, if you want to feel better yourself, you just have to help others.

Perhaps a time for all of us to look in the mirror.

July 7, 2017

When You Feel Like You Are Not Good Enough, Remember These 5 Things

1. Feeling not good enough is a necessary step to get you to where you need to be.

 

 This may sound absurd, but it’s a must. When you feel like you are not good enough, do not deny it. Face it. Sometimes, we do have a tendency of picturing ourselves out to a certain ideal – we must be this, and that – and we couldn’t accept that we are feeling something opposite of what we’ve expected ourselves to be in. But no, do not be a coward. Face it.

You need to acknowledge this feeling because it means there is something you have to improve about yourself – something innate, something that has to be well-thought of. Perhaps, it’s the lack of self-love. Acknowledging what you feel is actually a great start in knowing what to do next.

2. Choose your thoughts wisely.

 Most of the time, your enemy is yourself. It’s not other people. The problem is what you think about yourself and this is a lot harder when you let your mind have a complete power over you. “Do not believe everything you think,” because some thoughts are just a result of overthinking and not feeling good enough is actually one of them. Why? Because when you overthink, you focus on the negative things about everything, including yourself.

It is indeed important to change the way you think about yourself. Instead of focusing on the negatives, choose to look on the positives. Yes, easier said than done, but you just have to do it. Remember, everything starts and ends with a choice. Thus, choose your thoughts wisely and you’ll be amazed on how it would turn out.

3. Your failures do not define you.

 You define yourself.

Again, easier said than done. What usually happens when you fail is you blame yourself. You question yourself. You hate yourself for not being good enough. Then, you start believing that you are the most miserable person on earth. But no, this shouldn’t be the case. Do not ever let your failures define you – let them refine you.

Whether you like it or not, you will forever have the scars life has left you with. You see those scars every single day, but you have a choice to see them positively. See your scars as symbols of your strength. Your scars mean you have endured a multitude of pain, learned a million lessons, and moved forward. Thus, your failures actually even helped you become a better version of yourself.

However, it’s important to never let yourself be a victim of your failures. If you fail, get back up. When people use your failures against you, refuse to believe what they say. You know yourself better, and always put in mind that: “Failure is an event, not a person.”

4. Stop seeking validation from others.

 When other people accept you and your decisions, you feel great about yourself. When they give negative comments, you feel like crap. Truth is, when you give so much time and effort to listen to what other people think about you, you’re actually putting your true self behind.

You can never please anyone. Whether you like it or not, people will always have something negative to say. Even when you’ve done everything they say, some people would still find it inappropriate. When you are like this, you actually end up becoming a slave to what others want. You try to push yourself to what others think you “should be.” And if you do not meet their expectations, you feel that you are not good enough. This is because you are not living your own life. You are living on theirs.

If you find yourself in this situation, stop it before it’s too late. Make a decision to start living your own life. How? This leads to my last point.

5. Start by believing in yourself.

 The only the only thing that you have to be TRULY concerned aboutis your opinion about yourself.

 This is hard to do, but knowing the world we live in, we must create our center. A center that is stable, constant, and never changing. What could that be?

If you accept and embrace this truth by heart, you stop pleasing other people. You stop seeking for validation. You stop putting your own worth on how other people treat you. Then, you start living in peace. You start believing that you are loved. You start believing that you are enough, because you are wonderful an have a clear perception of who you are, because the truth is – you can accomplish anything you want. 

Six ways to overcome loneliness

Usually, loneliness comes from old memories or events, and not because you are completely abandoned and alone. You may be going through a hard time with the current situation, but that does not mean that things will always remain the same. The feelings of loneliness can completely engulf you sometimes and leave you feeling hopeless and helpless about the future. Remind yourself every chance you get that loneliness is an emotion, and like all emotions come and go, so does loneliness. There is more to your future than this current feeling, and it will pass along when other events start taking place.

2. Accept That You Are Feeling Lonely

When we are faced with a negative emotion, our first instinct is to run away from it. We numb ourselves to the experience of the negativity, either by ignoring it, denying it or picking up an activity that distracts us, like indulging in drugs or eating incessantly. By doing this, we don’t accept what is right in front of us, but it always finds a way to come back and let us know it exists (usually in worse ways). Accepting that we feel lonely will make us feel worse at the point of time, but once it is expressed, it will find a way to dissipate. You can write how you’re feeling down, or draw and paint something, or create a song, or do anything that you feel will help you express the emotion. Once we understand how we are feeling, our next step will be to tackle it.

3. Notice And Deal With The Accompanying Negative Thoughts

Loneliness has far reaching consequences sometimes, such as affecting our self-esteem or leading us into depression. Some thoughts that come out during this time might keep the negative loop going and keep you stuck in the negativity. You might feel like you’re lonely because people don’t like you, or people don’t value your company, or that people just don’t care for you, or there is no one in the world that can understand you; all thoughts that stop you from taking steps to deal with your loneliness and push you further into it. As soon as these thought turn up, it is important for you to recognise them and deal with them. Remind yourself of the people that are already in your life and care for you, and remind yourself that you are still of value to your family and friends. Once you recognise the negative thought loop, it will become easier for you to deal with the negativity.

4. Reach Out To People Around You

The first step in getting out of isolation is to reach out to anyone you can. You could call an old friend to catch up, meet someone you know in your locality, or you can call a family member that you can talk to. You could also reach out to support groups, where you will be able to meet a lot of people who are going through similar struggles. Building a community or a support system will lessens the load you are carrying, and your positive influence in other people’s lives will also play a role in changing your negative thought processes.

5. Find Ways To Accommodate Being Alone

There is a big difference between being alone and being lonely; and being alone is not a bad thing. Solitary activities like reading a book, listening to music, exercising and taking a bath can not only soothe you, but make you more comfortable with the prospect of being alone. Being alone can also help you to reflect on your thoughts, and help you to gain new perspectives about the situation you are dealing with.

6. Get Involved With Volunteering And Other Activities

Reaching out to talk to people and share your thoughts is one one, but getting out there to do something you really like is another thing. Think back to the activities you enjoy the most: sports, cooking, trekking, pottery, photography (it can be anything really). With the internet at the tips of our fingers, we can find a lot of people who like the same thing meeting up to take part in these activities. Sign up for classes or find meetup groups around your area and get back to your passion. You can also volunteer at local groups and NGOs to do your part for the world. If you enjoy doing the activity, you won’t want to miss out on it and you’ll definitely invest more time in making connections and building friendships.

8 Bad Habits You Can No Longer Get Away With In Your 40s

Jun 30, 2017
by CureJoy Editorial

Entering your 40s can be a strange experience because you’re definitely not getting any younger but mentally, you don’t really consider yourself as an “old person”. You may still want to continue the habits you have built over your 20s and 30s but the unfortunate truth is that no matter how young you feel in your mind, your body always keeps the clock. If you’re someone who’s entering their 40s soon or is already there, here are some habits you should look at again because they may cost you more dearly than you think.

1. Working Late Into The Night

According to the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans falls short of the recommended 7 hours of sleep a night. And getting a good night’s sleep becomes even harder once you hit 40. Some of the factors that affect your sleep include shifting circadian rhythms, a natural decrease in melatonin, and the hormonal side effects of aging. When you’re in your 40s, it’s important that you organize your day well and stick to your sleep schedule to get at least 7 hours of shut-eye every night.

2. Giving Into Sugar Cravings

When you’re in your 40s, don’t be too eager about digging into that bucket of ice cream or finishing off the leftover cake. Having too much sugar can disrupt your body’s ability to process it, which can lead to insulin resistance, putting you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is most common in people over 40, start cutting back on sugary foods. According to the American Heart Association, your sugar intake should be 25 grams per day or less.

3. Slacking On Dental Care

Most people don’t like going to a dentist and make an appointment only when they absolutely have to. This attitude has to change as you step into your 40s. As you get older, not taking care of your teeth can have some serious health issues. Your oral health is also directly connected with your overall health and is absolutely necessary for keeping gum disease, heart disease, and diabetes at bay.

4. Letting A Bad Mood Linger

While depression is more prevalent in women than in men, being in your 40s puts you in the age group most likely to have this condition. According to the CDC, only about 35% of people actually seek help for their symptoms. If you’re not feeling like yourself and are feeling low for more than two weeks, what you’re going through might be more than just a bad phase. Talk to your doctor about what you’re going through and seek help.

5. Overlooking Eye Exams

If you’ve been lucky enough to have perfect vision even in your 40s, you may not see any need to see the eye doctor. However, after you turn 40, you’re more likely to experience eye problems that can lead to vision problems, like glaucoma. You should start getting comprehensive eye exams once you turn 40 because early signs of vision problems and eye conditions can begin at this age.

6. Skipping Strength Training

As you step into your forties, you need to take a good hard look at how you’ve been doing things and how you should be doing them hence. While cardio burns calories, improves endurance, and reduces your chances of stroke, you should start invest time in lifting those weights too. You begin to lose muscle mass and bone density as you age and this process accelerates at age 40. Strength training helps you maintain your muscle while making your bones stronger. And more translates to higher basal metabolic rate.

7. Forgetting Your SPF

Whether you’re in your teens or 40s, sun exposure is never a good idea. But as you age, it becomes even more crucial to protect your skin from damage. Ideally, a woman over 40 should be applying a facial moisturizer with sunscreen in it every morning. Also, it’s a good idea to set an appointment with your dermatologist for a baseline skin exam. But don’t stop that from doing a self-exam to check for new moles or unusual pigmentation.

8. Putting Off Mammograms

If you’re a woman in your 40s, you need to be especially careful about your health. In your 30s, your risk of getting breast cancer is 1 in 228 but after you turn 40, the odds jump to 1 in 69. So add those mammogram appointments to your yearly calendar today. Doctors advise that most women should start getting a mammogram at 40 and continue getting them annually or bi-annually, depending on your risk factors.