Stay Positive

How to Set a Fancy Table Without Breaking the Bank

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Fine table settings are becoming more and more popular, especially for dinner parties. However, setting a table can be very expensive, especially if you want to make it look elegant and stylish. And if you ever want to change your dining this holiday season, you might want to visit B2C Furniture’s dining sets. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 8 ways to set a fancy table without breaking the bank!

1. Start with a tablecloth or placemats

Tablecloths and placemats are great ways to add color, style, and class to your dining room. They can also be used to hide stains or protect your tables from scratches, which is especially important if you have kids visiting often.

If you don’t already own tablecloths or placemats it’s easy enough to find them at any store that sells houseware.

2. Keep it simple, but don’t be afraid to mix and match

You don’t need to be afraid to mix and match. You can use different materials, colors, and styles for the tabletop, but make sure that you stick with a similar theme throughout the table. If you have a classic-style dining room table then it would be a good idea to keep the same color scheme on all 4 pieces of furniture in your home.

3. Flowers

Flowers are an inexpensive way to add color and texture to your table. They can be used as a centerpiece or in vases, so you can use them in many different ways.

There are many DIYs out there on how to make flower arrangements yourself, but if you don’t have time for that, then consider buying flowers! You can find them at most grocery stores or big box retailers like Target, Walmart, and Walgreens.

4. Napkins

The napkin is a crucial part of setting a fancy table. There are many different ways to use them, depending on the occasion and the person you’re seating. For example:

  • You can create an elegant look with one solid color napkin at each place setting. If you want to add some extra flair, consider using bright colors like red or yellow instead of just white or beige. They’ll make it easier for guests to see what they’re eating without having to strain themselves too much!
  • You could also choose different patterns for each guest’s place setting so that everyone feels special when they get their food onto their plate. This will help ensure that no one has any confusion about who should take which bite first!

5. Centerpieces

Centerpieces are the finishing touch to any table. They’re not just for weddings and formal dinners, though they’re also great for home parties or even casual get-togethers with friends.

Whether you want to use real flowers or fake ones, there are plenty of options out there that will make your centerpiece look fancy without breaking the bank. Here are some tips on how to make sure your centerpiece looks good:

  • Choose something unique and interesting. You don’t want something boring; instead, go with something fun like a glass container filled with sand or sea shells!
  • Think about the color scheme when choosing decorations. If your theme is red roses and white tablecloths, then go ahead and use those two colors together because they’ll match perfectly!

But if it’s black-and-white cookies instead? Don’t worry about matching everything perfectly, just stick them all around the perimeter of each plate so guests get an idea of what kind of food they’ll be eating before digging into their entrees.

6. Layering

Using plates, bowls, and cups of different sizes and colors can create a rustic look. You can also use plates to create patterns on your table, or you can use them to add color by placing them in contrasting colors. This will give you a very beautiful look that is both elegant and classy.

When setting up your table for dinner time, consider layering different materials such as wood veneer pieces, porcelain pieces, and glassware so that one item doesn’t overpower another item at the same time as well as providing contrast within themselves making sure there are no gaps between these materials which would distract from what’s going on with either one another or even just overall visual appeal overall

7. Candles

Candles are a great way to add ambiance and create a romantic atmosphere. The flickering of the flame will make your dining table look more inviting, especially if you have candles lit in multiple areas of your home at the same time. A few warm colors can also help set the mood for dinner!

Candles can also be used as a centerpiece on top of or around your dinnerware, which is especially nice when serving appetizers or desserts.

If you want something more affordable than candles but still want some color on your table, consider using colored stones instead! These types of decorations won’t call attention away from everyone else at every meal but they’ll make sure that everyone knows that it’s a special occasion too.

8. Flatware

Remember the golden rule of etiquette: “Use silverware for eating.” If you’re having a fancy dinner, it’s recommended that you use flatware made of silver. This allows for a more elegant and streamlined look when compared to plastic or stainless steel forks and knives.

The fork is the main utensil for most meals, so it’s important to make sure your guests feel comfortable using this piece of equipment during their mealtime experience. While many people may not realize this fact, certain foods require special attention when served with certain utensils, for example: if there’s soup involved in your meal, then use one.

Conclusion

The key to setting a fancy table is to start small. You don’t need a whole lot, but the best ideas are often found in the more unexpected places. We hope these eight tips have given you some great inspiration for your next dinner party or special event and don’t forget to check out B2C Furniture’s dining sets!

Author’s bio:

Mari Salome Malagar is a professional English teacher in the Philippines who is also a freelance content writer and social media content creator.  She loves to write and edit content for businesses and social media platforms. She has over 3 years of experience in teaching as well as digital media management.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marimalagar

Home Decorating Ideas

5 Tips On How to Have a More Positive Outlook on Life

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In a world where it’s become so easy to see the negative, staying positive can seem out of reach. Seeing the bright side of things doesn’t mean ignoring things that are unpleasant. On the contrary, it’s about finding ways to make the most of every situation and have a positive outlook on life.

5 Ways to Have a More Positive Outlook on Life

1. Clear Your Mind

Although it’s usually easier said than done, being more positive starts with your thoughts. Since your thoughts influence how you feel and respond to outside stimuli, the first step is clearing your mind of negative thoughts. In addition to talking to someone you trust, you can also start a journal and put your thoughts on paper. Writing out your thoughts, both positive and negative, can help get you back on track. The goal is to see how much positivity you do have in your life, even when you feel like there’s none.

2. Kick Toxicity to the Curb

You should also find ways to rid your life of toxicity. While this isn’t always the easiest thing to accomplish, it’s one of the best ways to start feeling more alive and hopeful. If the issue is a co-worker, you can address the issue with them or your supervisor. When it’s a family member you live with you have two choices. You can either confront them about their behavior or find alternative living arrangements. Since toxic behavior comes in many forms, be sure to have concrete examples of what’s causing the issue and have viable solutions as well. Your goal is to find peaceful solutions, not cause more strife.

3. Practice Self-Care

Being more positive also involves practicing self-care. Whether it’s a weekend away alone or pampering yourself at home, you need to make it happen. If you’re in school, there are tons of self-care tips for college students during COVID-19, which help you remain connected to a sense of community. Your focus needs to be on you and how you can improve your disposition. You also need to find ways to manage anything that’s causing you stress. For instance, if you’re struggling with classes but aren’t sure how to improve, reach out to your college advisor. In addition to their help, they can also refer to peer tutors who can schedule private tutoring sessions.

4. Do Something Nice

With all the sorrow we’ve experienced this past year, it can be hard seeing anything worthwhile. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still try to see the goodness in others. In fact, doing something nice for someone else can do wonders for your mental health. Helping someone in need or even paying for a stranger’s meal isn’t about recognition. It’s about sharing a little bit of unsolicited happiness each day to make the world a better place.

5. Be Mindful

No one has a sunny disposition all of the time. There are days when you just want to stay in bed and sleep. On days like these, you need to think about all the little things you’re grateful for. It can be just about anything, so don’t think it needs to make sense to others. If the sounds of birds chirping bring a smile to your face, sit back and enjoy the moment. It’s all about appreciating things that make you feel good.

Positive Outlook on Life

Conclusion on How to Have a More Positive Outlook on Life

Every time you choose to be positive instead of negative, you take a step forward to your happiness. You don’t deserve to be sad, you deserve to be happy. Every person has at least 3 reasons in every moment of their life for which they can be grateful. And gratitude generates joy and hope. And this is all you need to manage to have a more positive outlook on life.

5 Ways to Stay Positive After a Health Crisis and Get Well

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Demanding situations and obstacles are a part of our daily lives. But, if I say we live through difficult times, it might sound like an understatement or a cliché to some. However, things that are happening around us may make you worried or scared. Talk of pandemics, economic and health woes, and even bitter politics. All of which triggers anxiety and sadness.

But, what happens when you unexpectedly find yourself in the middle of a health crisis? Let’s say you’re diagnosed with chronic diseases or any expensive diseases. Of course, it would be shocking. And your life after the diagnosis would look different from your experiences before getting sick. However, it would help if you found ways to stay positive even after the health crisis.

Your life must not be gloomy while you’re in the process of reclaiming your health. Here are some of the ways to help you stay positive after a series of health crises.

5 Ways to Stay Positive After a Series of Health Crisis

1. Accept and Love Yourself

Your efforts to resist any painful emotions would do you more harm than good. For instance, resisting and trying to fight situations would increase your psychological suffering. But rather accept that you’re sick. And by a simple definition, acceptance here would mean consenting to the health results received.

Acceptance is one of the essential elements in psychological adaptation, especially to chronic illness and disability. Be mindful of yourself and purposefully focus your attention on your present moments and accept the situation. 

Better still, find a way to cope and move. Coping here would mean you incorporate your illness into your daily life. Meanwhile, if you still can, continue pursuing your goals.

Now, here is how acceptance is key to loving yourself and your growth!

When you accept the situation you are in, it only means one thing. You are taking care of your psychological or emotional growth. That means you’re kind to yourself, and that’s love. Accepting makes you recognize that being sick is part of life, and you still have to pamper yourself.

Furthermore, acceptance is about you opening up to what is happening around you and cultivating the good life you have. Develop the habit of counting your blessings despite the crisis and learn to live more in the present.

2. Sweat it out

Exercising is not only about losing, maintaining, or gaining weight, it can make you feel good too about yourself.  If you are still able to get out, staying active would be the best thing to do. If going to the gym is a hassle, your backyard is an ideal place to do some light exercises.

Through exercising, you’ll be able to work off stress and tension. This is what happens- when you exercise, your brain produces chemicals such as dopamine which is the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Meaning it’s a chemical messenger associated with pleasure or reward, and it contributes to mood, decision making, and physiological functions.

In other words, you must ensure you perform some movements as per your doctor’s directives. You can take a walk, hike, or cycle, among other forms of exercise. Just ensure you give your attention to nature or the people around you. Exercise would be your excellent mood booster since you would see yourself as healthier and vital rather than sick.

3. Write it out

You can be your enemy, and whatever you think or say to yourself can destroy or make you. Of course, the diagnosis must hit you, and your perception of yourself is likely to change. However, you must also learn to have positive thoughts and talk.

Therefore, the best way to work through your unpleasantness and negative feelings is to journal. Write down everything you’re expected to do by your doctors, and record any signs or symptoms you may have developed. Besides, journaling would be a great tool to track your symptoms and developments. Also, it would help provide the accurate time of some experiences.

4. Never cut your ties with family or friends

It’s very okay to feel bad about your situation, but it’s never wise to shut out people who are willing to help you. Of course, there are situations when you would want to be left alone, that are understood. However, completely hiding from friends is never a good idea.

You’ll only feel better when you are connected with your families or friends.

Why is that?

Not all families will indeed be supportive. However, feeling connected is very enforced to almost everyone. Besides, it contributes to happiness, mental health, and physical health.

Imagine a situation where you need support, either with your medicines, but you can’t get them. And you happened to have cut ties with everyone you could help you. You’ll definitely suffer. Therefore, seek out your squad and never close your door for those who could help you.

With your loved ones around you, you can feel connected and less likely to be depressed. But if you do, you’ll be in a better position to get out of depression because of the support you’ll get.

5. Improve your Nutrition

Nutrition is essential to a healthier life. Some of the activities that would help you stay active require that you fuel your body. Therefore, you must ensure you maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet or follow your doctor’s guide.

Besides, eating the right food makes you responsible, and you’ll feel good for taking care of yourself.

In addition to the ways mentioned above, you must also ensure you watch your digital content consumption. There is a lot of information online which is not even close to the truth. Just ensure you only consume the recommended ones. 

Stay Positive After a Series of Health Crisis

Conclusion

We are all vulnerable to health problems. But what we do after a health crisis strikes us would matter a lot. Therefore, when you have been diagnosed with any health problem, you must learn to live with the situation.

You must accept and love yourself, improve your nutrition, and ensure you are connected to your families and friends to stay positive after a health crisis. Besides, document your progress for timely experiences and ensure you do exercise to work off stress and tension.

Positive Words Research – 5 Ways to Stay Positive After a Health Crisis

Positive Affirmations Cure Depression and Negative Thought

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Negative thoughts, stress, anxiety, and depression; we all have been there. Our harsh inner critic tends to get out from time to time, causing us to worry and get anxious – positive affirmations cure our depression. If you have ever been through this or currently wrestling with low self-esteem and depression, you should know that you aren’t alone. Without a doubt, negative thought patterns can have a devastating and deteriorating impact on our life, work, studies, relationships, and health. However, there are specific steps that one can take to deal with negative thoughts.

Before we proceed to the key steps that can cure negative thoughts, we must understand that we are what we think. Our words form our present, future, and ultimate destiny. Loads of people are kind by nature, they love helping others, but they are harmful when it comes to their emotional and mental well-being. It is crucial to understand that how we treat ourselves sets the bar for how others will treat us. That said, speaking positive affirmations and carrying positive thoughts about yourself is a crucial step towards building and rising your self-esteem and curing your depression.

How Can Positive Affirmations Cure Our Depression and Negative Thought Patterns?

Some Ineffective Ways to Stop Negative Thoughts

When plagues with negative thoughts, depression, and anxiety, people try different ways to cure their negative mental state. For instance, they might indulge in drinking alcohol and consuming addictive substances to drown their sad thoughts. It is natural for loads of people to look for distractions when they find themselves in a dark phase of their life.

However, such distractions might work for the short term. Sooner or later, they find themselves still stuck in their negative thoughts. The attempt of numbing one’s pain with temporary distractions is never the solution to one’s problem. On the contrary, it only leads to an uncontrollable spiral down into the eternal abyss of depression.

The Power of Positive Affirmations to cure Negative Thoughts

If you are having negative thoughts, low self-esteem, and depression, you must practice positive affirmations. Believe it or not, but positive affirmations for depression are the ultimate cure. Wait, before you get skeptical and think of it as a hoax, we will also come with the scientific evidence of the power of positive affirmations later. Firstly, you will have to understand that our subconscious mind works like a massive filing cabinet. Every thought, memory, action, and reaction keeps getting stored in this cabinet.

Consequently, over time, this cabinet gets all cluttered with overflowing emotions, thoughts, and actions. The stored files get corrupted in layman’s terms. These corrupted files yield a negative influence on how we think, act, and behave. Resultantly we pick up bad habits, viewpoints, and behaviors and make them a routine part of our life. Now, this is where the power of positive affirmations kicks in.

Whatever thought gets stored in the subconscious mind ultimately turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Now think about the kind of power positive self-affirmations would have on your life? If you wake up every morning feeling that you will never succeed, then you will never succeed. Not because you cannot, but because whatever your brain will feed you, you will live your life accordingly.

Positive affirmations are an effective way to overcome self-sabotage by challenging your negative thoughts. When you wake up and the first thing in the morning, tell yourself that you are beautiful, energetic, and successful. You will be all those things. By repeating them as often as you want and believing in them wholeheartedly, you are set to change your life for the better.

Many people think of positive affirmations as a process of wishful thinking. However, positive affirmations are more like mental exercise. They train our brain muscles, similar to a repetitive physical activity you would do to become healthy. Those positive mental reps are effective in reprogramming our minds and thought patterns. Well, you guessed it right, with time, we will start thinking differently (positively), acting positively, and living productive and successful lives – positive affirmations cure our depression and negative thinking.

The Science behind Positive Affirmations

According to a study led by doctors, the magical power of positive affirmations was analyzed. The physical healthcare experts included fMRI (functional magnetic reasoning imaging) on the subjects and concluded that positive affirmations activate the brain’s reward centers. The reward centers are referred to as the VS (ventral striatum) and the VMPFC (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) in scientific terms.

These areas get activated when humans experience pleasure as a response to an event, such as eating their favorite food or winning a game. That said, science proves that affirmations benefit from the brain’s reward circuits – positive affirmations cure our depression. These reward circuits are essential for a positive outlook on life as they do certain things, such as diminishing pain while helping us maintain balance in the face of unpleasant and even dangerous events.

Positive Words Research – How Can Positive Affirmations Cure Our Depression and Negative Thought Patterns?

Positive Affirmations Cure Our Depression and Negative Thought Patterns

Win This Holiday Season with Content Marketing Strategies

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Did you know that according to the National Retail Federation, in 2019, people said that they intended to spend an average of $1,047 during the holiday season? That is fantastic news for most businesses because it means that they could potentially be able to make good money during the holidays with the right marketing strategy. However, just because people are willing to spend doesn’t mean they will spend on you. As you up your marketing game over the holiday season, you should remember that other businesses are doing the same thing.

One way to market during the holidays is through content marketing. This means you will focus on creating content that your viewers will find valuable. It would be best if you tailored your marketing strategy to your audience, budget, timeline, and other factors to get the most of the holiday. Before giving you 15 content marketing ideas you could easily implement this holiday season, here are seven tips to increase the chances of your marketing strategy succeeding.

Marketing Strategy

Engage Your Audience

Instead of trying to guess what your audience wants, why not just ask them? You could send them questions through your email list, or you could run a poll. Find out how your brand can help them address their goals, fears, concerns, and interests so they get the most out of their holiday.

Look at Your Current Content

If your business is more than a year old, you may already have holiday content from the previous years. Go through your current content and figure out what can be repurposed.

Align Your Content with Your Goals

What are your goals for the holiday season? How can your content help you meet these goals?

Plan Your Content in Advance

Don’t wait for the holiday season to start planning your holiday content. Start creating your content in advance so that you are just rolling out the content when the holidays come. Organize your content so that it gets the most impact. For example, a post about the best gift ideas should be followed by content on DIY gifts instead of the other way around. Organize your content in terms of timeline and priority. The main idea is to tailor this content to the holidays by adding holiday themes, colors, and ideas.

Multimedia Is Your Friend

It is not just about writing multiple long-form posts. Consider creating slideshow videos, videos, images, and gifs that would be attractive to your audience.

Cross-Platform Marketing

If you have social media accounts on multiple social media platforms, create content for each of these platforms. Your goal is to reach out to many people, and that is possible when you meet them where they are the most. Of course, if you implement this strategy, it may make your content marketing creation process more extensive as each platform needs different types of content.

Take the Data for Later

Holidays, like most things in life, are cyclical. The data for your content marketing performance this year will prove helpful next year. You may not analyze it right now but save it anyway.

With the strategy in place, it’s time for some content marketing ideas you can use.

Content Marketing Ideas

Show Off Your Holiday Spirit

Does your company have holiday traditions? You could document your employees during such events and post these videos and pictures. They are a good way to give your audience an inside look at your company’s culture and people.

Add Holiday Symbols

You have no doubt seen the banners shops hang up over the holidays. You could do the same with your website. Add some blinking lights and some banners. Make your website look festive by decorating it with holiday-themed items. Be sure not to overdo it. If you do, your website will look cluttered and become off-putting to your visitors.

Use Graphics and Quotes

Thanks to technology, making quirky, funny, heartwarming content has never been easier. Consider creating graphics that would be attractive to your audience. Add quotes you think your audience would love and tap into the feel-good feelings of the holidays.

Talk About Your Staff or Company

Give the company a human face by letting them see the people behind the brand. You can do short videos of your staff members talking about your company, your products, or even how they feel about working for you. These videos remind people that even big brands have humans working behind the scenes to make everything possible.

Take Advantage of User Generated Content

Sometimes, the best way to market yourself is to let your clients speak for you. Ask your clients if you can repost their content that features your products. Validation is important, and people will feel more comfortable using your products or services if they see other people doing the same.

Share Stories

Many social media platforms right now have a feature called stories. In most cases, stories are only available for 24 hours. You can take advantage of these to feature promotions and spirited campaigns that people would find attractive.

Appeal to Social Causes

For some people, holidays are characterized by love, sharing, family, and giving. You could run campaigns that channel part of your income from your clients into social causes they would be interested in. This makes them feel good about investing in you.

During the holiday season, particularly near the peak of the season, most businesses are either closed or fully packed. Some people would rather avoid the fray, so they choose to shop online. According to statistics, over the holidays, more than 60% of Shopify users switch to making mobile orders. You should take advantage of this trend by focusing on making your clients’ mobile experience fantastic. This may mean speeding up the checkout process, making your website more mobile-friendly, and even increasing your delivery personnel for some time.

Recap the Most Popular Content for That Year

No, this does not mean reposting your content. Instead, you can do a series covering your most popular content. You can summarize this content, add the best comments from your customers, include quotable quotes, and include a link to the actual content.

Engage With Your Audience

If you want to engage with your audience, there are many ways to go about it. You could start a live stream and take in comments and questions from the public. You could also create a poll and ask people to vote. You could ask people to send in ways you helped them that year.

For example, an essay writing service could ask students who received exemplary performance in their essays to send in their testimonials, which they could post. Using this example, a student with an informative essay as a holiday assignment will know exactly where to go to get help.

Give Your Clients a Hint of What You Have in Store for Them in the Future

Do you plan to unveil new products next year? Do you have something in store for your clients? Why not give them a sneak preview of these products and services. This may give them more reasons to be psyched up about the new year.

Email List

If you have an email list, most likely, the clients who have signed up for your mailing list are people who are interested in you and your business. You can use this platform to talk to your clients, clue them in on what you are doing and what you have to offer.

Run Promotions

Statistically, people spend a lot of money around the holidays. That does not mean they will pass up a good bargain. If you can, you should consider having holiday offers. You could sell your products in packages at a reduced cost, offer free shipping, give coupons, etc. Some businesses can use this time to clear old stock to start the New Year with fresh products.

Revamp Your Products to Match the Holidays

If it is possible, create holiday-themed products that you can sell specifically during this season. For example, if you make candy, you can make multicolored holiday-themed sweet packets or candy to celebrate the holidays.

Gratitude

Everyone loves to feel appreciated. Why not appreciate your customers for the year. You can do this on any of your social media. Thank them for supporting you and believing in you, and welcome them to walk with you in the coming years as well.

Point to Note

As you are doing your holiday content marketing, there is one fact you need to remember at all times. It’s not about the quantity but the quality. Ten fantastic posts will have a much greater effect than thirty subpar posts. Focus on making high impact content rather than filling every day and platform with content that has low chances of converting.

The holiday season is near. It is time to focus on content creating strategies that are specifically suited for the holiday season. Done correctly, you may be able to increase your sales this year while simultaneously attracting new clients for the next year. This article does not have a definitive list of content marketing ideas and strategies. However, it is a fantastic starting point you can use to lead you in the right direction.

Thomas Moore is a digital marketing professional and freelance writer who works for EssayService. He enjoys writing useful pieces and sharing his expertise. He is an author of numerous posts and articles published both online and in print media.

Positive Words Research – Win This Holiday Season with These Fantastic Content Marketing Strategies and Ideas

Holiday Season

Simple Strategies to Control Performance Nerves and Anxiety

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Sweaty palms, anxious jitters, a racing heartbeat – we’ve all been there. Pre-performance nerves are seemingly universal to the human species. If you dread the thought of presenting in front of a large group of people or fear failure in any performance-related activity, you’re not alone. Although the physiological responses of our bodies may be difficult to completely control, there are undoubtedly some practical ways you can start to improve how you respond to and cope with performance stressors, nerves, and anxiety. Let’s take a look at just a few of these helpful tips.

Be well-prepared

Confronting a stressful situation head-on is already hard enough but doing so while underprepared is much worse. Think about a time when you’ve begun something challenging without putting in the prep-work it required beforehand. There’s a high chance your performance wasn’t as successful as it could have been because you were ill-equipped for the task. The expression “practice makes perfect” is so overused for a reason – it really works. Human beings are less likely to feel mass amounts of nerves and anxiety if they are prepped, rehearsed, and organized.

Just consider how people with potentially adrenaline-inducing jobs handle their performances. Professional rock climbers and poker players both agree that working through the fear is possible by practicing over and over again, and that level of preparation is directly linked to the level of emotional energy necessary in order to perform well. Listen to the experts if you are skeptical: being prepared will not fail you. One of the most helpful strategies for calming performance-related stress is to acquire confidence in your ability to succeed. This self-assurance is best attained from knowing deep down that you have prepared as best you can.

Control Performance Nerves and Anxiety

Concerts, sporting events, university presentations, and adrenaline-inducing activities are all examples of situations that often produce nerves in their participants

Find ways to relax daily

Most people say that reacting calmly in the exact moment of an anxious experience is extremely difficult. While preparation helps dramatically, sometimes the body cannot help but feel the physical weight of stress. However, training the mind through daily practices of relaxation can provide you with the necessary tools to tackle these situations differently when in the thick of them.

Whether it’s through meditation or yoga, practice taking control of your breath at least once a day. Concentrate on every sensation in your body and let wandering thoughts enter freely, but without giving them the power to distract you from the moment. Find the right meditation technique for you and commit to practicing it consistently over a long-term period of time. While it may seem futile at first, you will begin to notice how your first reactions in moments of stress are more contained and calmer than in the beginning.

Studies show that daily meditation practices often see positive results in as short a time as three weeks

Be kind to yourself

When it comes to anxiety, our biggest enemy is often ourselves. Negative self-talk leading up to or during an important event can be cause for an emotional breakdown. Rather than focusing on the negative, the words we speak to ourselves should be kind, encouraging, loving, and true. Even if performance does not produce the result you were hoping for, it doesn’t mean you are the embodiment of failure. Speak to yourself the way you would like to be spoken to, however silly that may sound. Adopting a few positive affirmations that you can repeat to yourself in the midst of an anxiety-inducing situation can help you to remember what is true and what is not.

Another huge part of caring for yourself means filling your body with the right nutrients it needs to be happy. Combining daily exercise with healthy eating habits is a foolproof recipe for success. The truth is this: being kind to yourself is a multifaceted job that takes awareness, commitment, and practice. But, ironically, if you truly want to grab a hold of your anxiety and have the power to respond to any stressful situation with ease, the most transformational changes may begin with you.   

Healing Crystals 101: Finding the Right One for You Today

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Little do people know that nowadays contemporary medicine has pushed its way forward and brought alternative and complementary healing treatments closer to humankind. Amongst acupuncture, herbs, and other nature-inspired ways, the most notorious way might be through precious healing stones. These flabbergasting gems have a lot to offer, but the greatest benefit of them might be their unique ability to mindfully affect our body, mind, and soul. So, if you’re still wondering what exactly are they meant to do, and which one would suit you the best, here is a thorough guide that will help you comprehend their allure.

Healing crystals uplift your mood

It is essential to know that healing crystals cannot do wonders, but they can give you some unknotted energy that can utterly revive your spirit. Crystals like selenite help uplift your mood after being surrounded by an abundance of blood-sucking nagging people. By carrying some of the healing crystals either in your pocket, wallet, or around your neck, your new energy can easily fight off the energy of those seemingly anxious and negative individuals. Blue lace agate crystal can also uplift your spirit and fill you up with serene energy.

Healing stones help restore love and harmony

Most rock crystals have the genuine ability to activate the heart chakra, which means filling your body with life, love and tenderness. We all know that love and compassion are some of the biggest healing elements when you feel disappointed or let down. Rose quartz crystal, for instance, symbolizes love, calmness, and trust in oneself, just as the color suggests. Hence, if you were to try healing with rose quartz crystal your body will recharge with vibrating and loving energy, just as if you were meditating for hours. You can wear this gorgeous gem either like a ring or a pendant. 

Healing crystals reawaken your energy

When we feel down and overwhelmed, there is no need to resort to any modern medicines, but on the contrary, turn to healing crystals. Tiger’s eye crystal is known for its ability to help get rid of negativity, fear, and nervousness out of your system. Besides Tiger’s eye, there is citrine that encourages motivation, optimism, and warmth, and at the same time, helps boost creativity and energy. Only, try to keep your crystals closely by your side so you can maximally feel its energy.

Healing crystals have protective properties

Precious stones can also act as protective healers as they shield you from negativity and the world’s bad influences. Obsidian is one of the protective crystals that can keep you safe from any physical or emotional injuries. Plus, if you happen to have problems with digestion and detoxification, obsidian can help you ease up the pain. Simultaneously, amethyst is equally protective and purifying. This magnificent stone promotes sobriety and helps boost clarity. If you have any issues with lack of sleep or stress, wearing or carrying amethyst will help you relieve insomnia, pain, and keep your body and mind from other negative elements.

Healing crystals restore wisdom and vitality

If you are looking for a magic aid that will help you find inner peace, revamp your vitality levels, and encourage patience and sanity, go for sapphire, bloodstone, or ruby. Ruby triggers sensuality and enhances your intellect and self-awareness. Likewise, bloodstone can help you advance your circulation and help you push out the faulty feelings of irritability and impatience. While sapphire eases depression and attracts wisdom.

Finding the right healing crystal for you might seem like a difficult task but not an impossible one. Once you touch or sense its powers while just holding it, you might immediately recognize which one suits you the best.

Healing Crystals

How You Can Build Emotional Resilience with BetterHelp

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Certain circumstances may leave you feeling on edge, such as an abrupt change or loss. Since the pandemic, people have experienced more nervousness and anxiety due to increased uncertainty about their current situation. People may not understand how they should respond when overwhelmed with emotion. Building emotional resilience encourages healthy behaviors to help you cope when things become stressful. It puts your mind at ease and things in perspective to promote productive actions and behaviors.

Emotional Resilience Defined

Emotional resilience is developing strength from within to empower yourself to cope with unwanted emotions. Life is filled within letdowns and unwanted blows. Things are well one minute and quickly go south the next. The key is to accept things as they happen and learn how to rise above the pain to see what is possible.

Emotional resilient people share specific characteristics that help them get through challenges differently than others. They understand they are not victims of what happened and take responsibility for their actions, whether good or bad. They realize they have choices and take time to access them before taking action. They know the significance of being in control and what they can control.

Emotional resilient people are aware of their thoughts and actions. They practice self-awareness by understanding the physical signals of their mind and body. They are aware of when something doesn’t feel right, and they can shift their way of thinking to obtain focus or their center. They know the significance of perseverance and willing to do what is necessary to achieve success. A setback is an opportunity to improve, and they learn how to trust their abilities.

In difficult situations, emotionally resilient people find what is positive and use it to be optimistic. They believe they have the strength to get through it, avoiding the feeling of feeling helpless. It helps possess a mindset able to shift from fear to empowerment to make decisions.

Ways to Build Resilience

Building resilience requires practice and patience. It is a skill that can make a difference in how you face challenges and uncertainty. Effective ways provide protection against anxiety. Overcome emotional stress using the following tips.

1. Keep your mind on what you can control

When in situations of uncertainty, it is crucial to remember what you can control. It affects how you interpret the problem and how you respond to it. Maintain a daily routine, including your priorities and responsibilities to build and maintain structure. Stay grounded with goals and milestones to achieve during the day. Such actions also create positive emotions, along with a sense of control.

2. Seek meaning

You may find meaning in stressful situations by taking a moment to look for it. When faced with a problem out of your control, instead of letting fear take over, consider looking deeper. You may learn more about yourself and how the world around you changes as a result. Finding meaning helps acknowledge what you are feeling to confront assumptions. As you search more in-depth, it may help you see how you can move forward through the challenge productively.

3. Engage in regular exercise and physical activity

Resilience helps the mind gain mental strength. Physical exercise helps the brain produce hormones crucial to fighting stress. You promote positive feelings that are beneficial to your wellbeing. Mixing physical activity with relaxation techniques help minimize emotional and physical stress. You can be creative as you want with activities from walking, biking, or workouts. Make the time spent enjoyable to encourage yourself to keep the habit going.

4. Focus on the present

Practicing techniques such as mindfulness and meditation help you stay focused in the moment. Sometimes it helps with seeing possible outcomes to a situation that’s not obvious. It enables you to take things with perspective instead of speculating or focusing on the worst-case scenario. You can channel your energy toward being productive instead of allowing negative thoughts to take over.

5. Get in good company

Surround yourself with people that like you for who you are. Be with people that give positive energy. Think about people you know who inspire and want what is best for you. They should be part of your support system when you need to talk. People with uplifting energy make it easier for you to bounce back when things don’t go your way.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

When times get difficult, know your options. Besides talking to friends and family, consider a support group with peers that can relate. Talk to a therapist or counselor through online therapy or online counseling like BetterHelp. Having someone you can turn to, it makes facing challenges easier.

7. Embrace your fears and learn from failures

Fear can hold you back. Learn how to use fear to help you move forward by confronting it. As you embrace it, it enables you to gain emotional strength, especially since the feeling of fear is temporary. Like fear, failure is a part of life. Some think you should celebrate it instead of allowing it to turn into anxiety and shame. Failure is simply a mistake that shows you were willing to take a risk. It means you tried, and you learned not to do such actions again.

Building emotional resilience includes tapping inner strength that empowers you. Instead of giving up when things don’t go your way, look for ways to keep the spark going by believing in yourself.

How To Transport Your Electric Bike Ideas and Tips To Enjoy

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Your electric bike is an excellent way to commute around your neighborhood. Once you’re ready to venture out and try out bike trails further from home, you need a convenient way to transport your bike. Find out how to properly travel with electric bikes for men and women. Follow these steps to avoid any accidents on the way and to keep your investment safe.

Pick Up a Car Rack

First, you’re going to need a car rack. Check the weight rating of your rack, as electric bikes are heavier than traditional ones. You may not be able to transport multiple electric bicycles without a specialized bike rack. While convenient to ride, these bikes are typically 20 to 40 pounds heavier than a standard bicycle.

Consider ordering a rack online from your electric bicycle manufacturer to be sure it will work with your two-wheeled ride. Car racks come in three basic types:

  • Roof rack
  • Trunk rack
  • Hitch rack

A roof rack isn’t recommended due to the weight of your electric bike. Most of these bicycles weigh over 50 pounds, making it strenuous or even dangerous to attempt to lift over your head. As long as you verify the weight rating, both trunk and hitch racks can work well with your bicycle.

Even if you can safely lift a bicycle on your roof rack, your rack may not support the weight of your electric bicycle. A trailer is another option for transporting your bike, but this can be larger than necessary. The right trunk or hitch track gives you the convenience you need to find a trailhead in a new city or state for an unforgettable adventure.

Remove Your Electric Bike Battery

Once you find the right rack, it’s time to store your bike. Most electric bicycles have removable batteries, so consider removing yours before placing it on the rack. This will save you several pounds and help reduce the load on your rack. Place your battery safely inside your vehicle before lifting and placing your bike on the rack.

Before you store your battery, be sure it’s fully charged. Check the temperature of your vehicle. Extreme hot and cold temperatures may affect your battery, so keep it inside your home until you’re ready to hit the road.

Double-check all the straps and other restraints on your rack. There’s nothing worse than a loose electric bicycle falling out of your car rack as you cruise to the next trailhead. Proper security features help you enjoy a hassle-free ride to your destination. A bike lock gives you peace of mind as you travel on a road trip to a backcountry trail or new city bicycle path with your electric bike.

Prepare for Your Next Electric Bike Adventure

A modern electric bicycle gives you the freedom to cruise confidently on long trails all across the country. Prepare to adventure down a new trail or city path with your favorite mens or womens electric bike. Prepare to transport it safely using these steps and don’t forget to charge up your battery for hours of exploration and adventure.

Positive Words Research – How To Transport Your Electric Bike

Parkour Playgrounds For Safe Extreme Teenagers Tips

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Parents often feel insecure let the children play parkour games. It’s challenging for kids and risky at the same time. Injuries are common though the death rate is statistically very low. Making outdoor sports equipment safe for extreme teen can make the area risk-free and engaging. Ordinary parkour playgrounds have workout tools like pull-up bar, climber, gymnastic structures, and many more. Safe equipment makes the playground safe.

Now, the question arises, is the ordinary playground safety measures enough for extreme teens? No, Parkour playgrounds should have few more issues to cover. According to the European security standard, the design of equipment need to pass all factors for the practice and development of the principle of parkour.

Parkour games encourage teens from all levels, revealing an individual’s physical as well as mental limits. This type of sports is considered as a method of training for making the body and mind function. Moreover, parkour sports develop liberty and adaptive ability in any circumstance. The sports focus to develop effective qualities like determination, self-discipline, confidence and self-reliance from the core of the soul.

Parkour playgrounds

European Standard doesn’t allow anyone under 8 years old participating in any parkour sports.  This limitation is to protect from being hazard that they might be unable to foresee. Especially, when using the equipment in a manner that can be anticipated.

Making a parkour playground safe for the teenagers, equipment are required to specify the height, flow, location, including other facilities. These are applicable for the installation and maintenance of a playground.

Before parkour activity, proper training is a must. Most of the accident occurs due to the lack of proper training. Under the guidance of a trainer, teenagers can fully engage in parkour playground. The following skills are required to perform parkour.

Landing is the basic of the play. First focus of parkour training is a smooth landing that saves from being injured. It is one of the most difficult skills that requires serious focus on the body. The best advice is to make quite landing. The less noise you make is the less fraction is happening among your body parts and the surface. When your body lands quietly, that means you have optimized the fraction and absorbed many effects silently.

Taking off is not less important than landing. It’s a must for a successful landing. Before taking off to another milestone, you need to take some quick decision about the distance, height and the surface. As it is the fast and flexible movement-related sports, any unconscious decision may cause serious injury.

Besides, falling technique is another factor to learn for safe parkour games. There are multiple ways of falling and you need to learn those to show your skill. Falling techniques make the difference between two parkour sportsman. Techniques defer from place to place and often you may need to improvise yourself for your safety according to the circumstance.

Parkour playgrounds

Moreover, time and distance management is the key to your hazard-free parkour activity. Your need to calculate the distance properly and arrange the actions of taking off for a safe landing. The best way to avoid injuries is the conditioning a sudden fall or any unwanted landing. Conditioning allows to survive sudden fall and make flexible to handing.

Furthermore, you need to careful to avoid environmental dangers. The best way to avoid environmental danger is to practice more and more. Practicing in a softer place like sand or grass is required for safe parkour playing. When you take your skills outside be sure that the weather is good to perform. Playground itself should be risk-free and lot of practice is needed before featuring your skill.

Parkour is not intended in any way to be dangerous but injuries happen due to many reasons. Before moving to bigger stapes, you should practice the basic moves on ground. Often people get interested in parkour because what they have seen YouTube. But, they forget to remember the thousand hours of practice before the video was filmed.

Finally, if something looks SCARY, don’t do this. Use your common sense and this is not about to overcome your fear but to aware yourself. Don’t do what you are planning to do if you don’t feel confident enough.

Positive Words Research – Parkour Playgrounds For Safe Extreme Teenagers

How Positivity Can Help in Recovering from Addiction Relapse

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Your attitude will make a big difference in how you navigate the ups and downs of addiction recovery. A positive, can-do attitude can get you over the difficult times ahead. It can help you cope with the negative emotions and situations that can lead to relapse. If you fall – and this is common – a positive attitude can help you get back on your feet.

Understanding Triggers that Can Lead to Addiction Relapse

When you’re combating addiction, you’re bound to face triggers that can lead to setbacks in your recovery. You may meet people or visit places that remind you of your addiction, tempting you to relive those days. Stressful situations in life can lead to emotional upheaval and a weakening of your resolve to keep fighting. Stress can put you on a downward spiral, making you more susceptible to negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and depression – all of which can lead to relapse.

Overconfidence, social isolation, complacency, loneliness, and reminiscing are additional triggers that pose a risk of relapse in addiction recovery. By recognizing your triggers, you can take measures to avoid them in order to avoid relapse.

When triggers overwhelm you, consider seeking help and support from loved ones or medical professionals from substance abuse facilities in your local area. Temptation is normal during recovery. A positive attitude can keep you from succumbing to temptation so you can stay on track in reaching your recovery goals.

The Benefits of Positive Thinking in Recovery

Positivity can be an invaluable tool to help you succeed in recovery. The benefits of a positive, can-do attitude are boundless when it comes to overcoming setbacks to your recovery. Here’s how staying positive helps in addiction recovery:

Combats negativity – A positive mindset can help you cope with the negative feelings that relapse can bring. It keeps you from succumbing to stress, anxiety, and depression so you can get back on track with your recovery. A positive attitude can keep you moving forward when your emotions aren’t cooperating.

Increases self-efficacy – Positivity increases self-efficacy to give you greater hope that you can reach your recovery goals, even when you relapse. The more you believe in yourself, the greater your chances of succeeding in recovery and in life.

Improves health – A positive attitude can help improve your physical health and well-being. Positivity can help you combat illness to stay healthy. If you’re sick, positivity can help you recover quicker. Good health can make it easier for you to stick with your recovery.

Motivates you to succeed – There’s nothing like a positive mindset to help motivate you and others to succeed. You can be a tremendous influence in the lives of others by projecting a positive, can-do attitude. It’s especially important to stay positive after a setback or relapse in your recovery journey.

The Dangers of Negative Thinking

Negative thinking, sometimes known as stinking thinking, can threaten your recovery and general outlook. Stinking thinking consists of negative thoughts and feelings such as pessimism, cynicism, resentment, and bitterness over the past. Left unchecked, negativity can suck the joy out of your life, leaving you without hope for the future.

Stinking thinking is dangerous for you and those around you, as it can pull your peers down as well. If you find yourself in a negative spiral, cognitive behavioral therapy may be able to help. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, you can learn how to break negative thinking habits and develop positive thinking skills that will help you cope with the difficulties of recovery.

Ways to Maintain a Positive Mindset

Staying positive isn’t easy, especially when you’re healing from an addiction. You will have ups and downs on your recovery journey. On bad days, you may be tempted to give up altogether.

Maintaining a positive attitude, however, is essential to a successful recovery and a brighter future. A positive outlook will give you greater purpose and meaning to your life.

Here are a few ways to maintain a positive outlook when the going gets rough:

Meditate: Take time to meditate daily for peace and relaxation. Meditation can help calm your mind and spirit when stressful situations arise. When meditating, make an effort to think about the present, not your past. Consider the wonderful benefits you’re receiving from your new substance-free life.

Own your life: Own your life by taking responsibility for past mistakes and striving to create a better future. Your determination to better your situation can help propel you forward into accomplishing your goals.

Surround yourself with supportive people: Welcome the help and support of family, friends, and colleagues who want to see you succeed in your recovery. Avoid toxic influences whenever possible. If you need additional help, seek professional recovery services or join a local support group.

Practice self-care: Eat right, exercise daily, and get the rest you need to stay in good health. Good health can improve your mood and outlook on life. Treat yourself by participating in activities you enjoy. Take up new hobbies and interests that challenge your creativity. Read, listen to, or watch inspirational material that keeps you motivated and inspired to reach your goals.

Give back to your community: If you have extra time on your hands, consider volunteering to help others in need. Look for causes you believe in and causes where you enjoy giving your time and effort. Volunteering can boost your confidence and self-esteem as you do your part to help improve the lives of others.

Set recovery goals: Set short- and long-term goals for your recovery to challenge you to keep making progress. Celebrate every goal you achieve knowing that it brings you one step closer to freedom from addiction.

Keep a gratitude journal: Remind yourself constantly of the good in your life by writing down positive things that occur during the course of the day. Journaling can help keep life in perspective when difficulties arise so you’re not tempted to quit making progress.

All this is to say that positivity can be a valuable asset when you’re traveling down the road of addiction recovery.

Sources

shatterproof.org – The Reality of Relapse

inpathybulletin.com – The Power of Positive Thinking in Addiction Recovery

brainline.org – How to Clean Up Stinking Thinking and Cope Better

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery

sobercollege.com – 10 Tips for Staying Positive in Early Recovery

How Positivity Can Help in Recovering

Claim Your PIP Dues By Dialling The PIP Claim Contact Number Now

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Personal Independence Payment by the UK government is an initiative that has made life simpler for the disabled in the UK. The proper standard of living is an essential part of life and through the PIP, the UK government ensures every life has a proper living standard.

Started by the UK government with an initiative to help the ones from the disabled community, the PIP has two components of payment. The procedure for claiming the PIP involves pre-assessment followed by regular checks on the condition. If the condition improves, then the further decision on the PIP rests in the hands of the authorized medical staff.

Procedure for claiming the PIP payment

In order to claim the PIP payment, you must dial the PIP claim contact number to know about the further procedure. After you made the call, you need to prepare yourself for the medical assessment test. The assessment test includes the basic testing which checks how much your disability limits the daily activities.

We suggest you to be honest during the assessment test. Once the assessment test is over, based on the results, the decision is made. It is re-assessed every year if the disability has chances of improvement over time.

Are children eligible for the PIP payment?

As per the lar of the UK, the children below 16 years of age are not eligible for the PIP payment. Instead, they come under the umbrella of DLA of the UK. It covers both children and the senior citizens, who have formally not been moved to PIP payment.

Components of the PIP payment

The PIP is made up of two separate payments. You can claim the daily living component if you need external help to perform daily life activities. On the other hand, if you need assistance for mobility, it is essential to claim the mobility component of the PIP.

Moreover, depending upon the degree of the disability, there are two different sections of the payment. Standard and the enhanced payments are made depending on the severity of the disability. The PIP is not an employment fund that is given to UK citizens.

Instead, PIP doesn’t come under any taxation slab. It doesn’t depend on the employment status of the individual.

If you have been receiving the DLA till now, with the new rules of the PIP, it will affect your eligibility of the DLA. But, you need not worry as till you are not eligible for PIP, you will continue to receive the payment for the DLA.

Having a proper explanation of the disability

It is important to note that PIP payment is not made for the disability, rather how it is affecting you. Thus, it is important that you explain how the disability is affecting your health and day to day activities. There will be a form that you need to fill in, you need to take proper care about the in-depth analysis of the details.

You must call the PIP claim contact number to know more about the procedure of claiming the PIP amount. 

Positive Words Research – Claim Your PIP Dues By Dialling The PIP Claim Contact Number Now

PIP help