Clarifying Words for Head vs Heart Decisions and Awareness

When faced with a head vs heart decision, we find ourselves conflicted between what we feel and what we know.

Our intuition and our knowledge seem to oppose each other. We find ourselves unable to make a decision; we can’t simply disregard either perspective.

We value both of these perspectives because, on some level, we know that there is truth in each of them.

If we manage to reconcile these two perspectives, we can make a more informed and more effective choice than if we were to disregard either one.

Intuition vs Emotionality

Sometimes, we find ourselves emotionally inclined towards something that defies our better judgement.

This emotionality can have many sources; some constructive, and some destructive.

At its best, our intuition represents knowledge that lies just beneath the surface. When we get a funny feeling about someone or something, it is usually because we have observed something subconsciously.

It may be a discrepancy, a loophole, or something otherwise suspicious. It is something we know, yet can’t quite describe.

For instance, if we know intuitively that a certain choice could backfire, we will probably get an unsettling feeling. That makes intuition a useful tool, worth our consideration.

Our intuition is confounded when our emotions lead us astray. If we have conflicts of interest, or if our insecurities are at play, our intuition may mislead us.

Because of this, intuition alone is not a basis for a decision. Rather, intuition is a clue that prompts us to do more conscious investigation, so we can find the source of that funny feeling we have.

Knowledge vs Bias

This is how our knowledge can fill in the gaps left by our intuition. When our dilemma seems impossible to resolve, we can often satisfy our discomfort by finding the basis for our intuition.

If our intuition is caused by a conflict of interest or personal insecurity, further investigation will help us discredit it. This will lead our misplaced intuition to be replaced by a calm, secure sense of resolve.

If we really think about our choices, we can develop forethought, allowing us to anticipate and prepare for things that would have otherwise ambushed us. When we can predict the consequences of any particular decision, the choice often becomes clear.

The trouble with knowledge is our inability to know when it is incomplete. Too often, we only have half the story, even when we think we are fully informed. We may take action with full confidence of the turnout, only to find ourselves surprised and unprepared.

To make matters worse, our emotionality interferes with our knowledge, causing bias. Despite our good intentions, we may unknowingly seek out information that suits our emotions, rather than investigating impartially.

This is where our sense of intuition can help us resolve our uncertainty.

Head vs Heart

We can have the best of both worlds. Knowledge and intuition are not mutually exclusive; they are complementary.

We should strive to reconcile these two perspectives. If we choose only one, we ignore the insight that the other had to offer us. We make a less informed decision, leaving us flying blind.

On the other hand, if we can combine the insight from both our head and our heart, we see the bigger picture; we make better decisions with greater confidence.

But even with such a holistic perspective, it is true that knowledge is largely determined by our emotions. These emotional barriers can make it impossible to be certain of our own objectivity. When this is the case, we must borrow the impartiality of others.

Guidance

Asking for help is a valuable tool that can help us break through this barrier. People who are not personally involved in our situation can offer us an unemotional, non-conflicted perspective.

This perspective can offer us a constructive sense of doubt when we are too certain of ourselves, and reinforce our confidence if our perspective is clear.

Nevertheless, their interpretation is limited by the information we give them, which itself is subject to our own interpretation. They are also biased by their loyalties and preconceptions.

Vigilance

We should therefore always be conscientious. There is no such thing as total certainty; hasty confidence should be viewed with skepticism.

The closest we can get to true certainty is a calm assuredness, based on an unemotional interpretation of what we know (including an awareness of what we do not know).

We can reach this point by using all the tools in our arsenal. Through this variety, we can gain insight about our dilemmas as they arise.

As we practice this investigation repeatedly, we begin to recognize patterns, both in the outcomes of our decisions and in our personal biases. Not only do we prosper from our own good decisions; we gain wisdom about ourselves and the world around us.

About the Author: The goal of Superspective is to provide a support system and to encourage introspection; when we use these tools to self-actualize, we can each contribute to the world in our own unique way. See more of what Superspective has to offer at superspective.org

16 Ways You’re a Real-Life Superhero: Which Of Them Are You

Superheroes strike a larger than life figure, and it’s no wonder so many kids dream of growing up to get bit by a radioactive spider superhero. People are drawn to these mythic figures because they exude strength and a dedication to the common good. Growing up comes with the realization that universities don’t offer a degree in being Batman, and life is a lot harder than it looked from three feet off the ground. But how about real life superhero

The truth is, superheroes were created as allegories for everyday life. While they have fantastical adventures and backgrounds, the stories are an exaggerated retelling of normal life events. Spiderman getting bit by a radioactive spider is a coming-of-age story about a boy growing up to be a man. Not because of the spider bite, but in response to his uncle’s murder. That’s the real heart of every superhero tale ever told: the origin story. Without it, there would be no superheroes. Thus my positive words are real life superhero.

That’s the real reason these mythic figures stand larger than life. When the world punched them in the gut, they punched back. In this way, anyone can be a superhero simply by standing strong in the face of adversity. Here are 16 ways that people use their superpowers to fight back against the pressures of life.

16 Ways You’re a Real-Life Superhero

  1. Batman fights crime by night and runs a successful business empire by day. Anyone who works the 9 to 5 shift while volunteering their time on nights and weekends has a lot in common with good ol’ Bruce Wayne.
  2. The Hulk masters his anger and learns to channel that rage into fighting the good fight. A lot of people have anger issues. Anyone who has stood up to that, refusing to let it own their life, deserves a big green badge.
  3. Deadpool takes a hit like no other, mainly because losing a hand doesn’t mean that much when a new one grows overnight. Still, he keeps going through the darkest of times, never losing his sense of humor. People who can laugh in the face of hardship are definitely superheroes.
  4. Spiderman can climb and jump like no other, but it’s his precognitive ability to sense the danger that gives him the best advantage in a fight. It only works if he doesn’t question what he senses to be true. Self-trust and the ability to follow gut instincts is a superpower people use every day.
  5. Wonder Woman hails from a strong tribe of Amazonian women. In fact, she’s their princess. Women face adversity all the time. Meeting it with strength and grace is exactly what this Amazonian princess teaches.
  6. Daredevil’s acrobatic and gymnastics skills are all self-taught. Unlike many superheroes, he had no mentor. Self-education is a heroic act.
  7. Thor can enhance his already impressive powers by channeling cosmic energies using the Odinforce. Who would have guessed that meditating could be a superpower? How strong is the Odinforce? Just ask Captain America’s shield.
  8. Storm harnesses the powers of Mother Earth. Anytime a person finds a green alternative, Storm sends a little sunshine their way.
  9. Jessica Jones lives by her own rules, mainly because she knows what it’s like to be forced into living by another person’s. Slipping out from under the thumb of tyranny: total superpower.
  10. Iron Man’s greatest power is his technological prowess, and that’s something he has in common with a lot of people. Advanced tech skills used in the name of the greater good: definitely a superpower.
  11. Black Panther was the first mainstream African-American superhero, and he fights crime in the name of his fictional African homeland: Wakanda. This well-rounded superhero sees in the dark, which is a metaphorical representation of his ability to mastermind complex plans. Strategic planning and execution of goals, definite superpower.
  12. The Avengers are a close-knit group that works together to solve problems, much like people do every day when they collaborate to accomplish a common goal.
  13. Hawkeye is best known for his marksmanship, but it’s his leadership abilities that really make him a superhero. Team leaders, bosses, and anyone who manages a crowd draws on the same powers as this highly-skilled athlete.
  14. Wolverine’s adamantium skeleton doesn’t matter as much as his ability to track and sniff out of danger. Using intuition to make good decisions throughout the day is just another thing that brings people closer to superheroes.
  15. Captain America stands at the height of human physical perfection, and he used cheats to get there! Going to the gym at the end of every long day: that’s a superpower.
  16. Doctor Strange loses his greatest ability to a car crash, the use of his hands to heal others through surgery. From there, he goes on his own healing journey and finds his real power: sorcery. Choosing to fight against the forces of darkness instead of returning to his high-status life, he allows his darkest hour to lead him to his greatest destiny. That’s the heart of every superhero story. Anytime great misfortune makes someone stronger instead of weaker, that person becomes a superhero.

It’s not the superpowers that define the hero; it’s how they choose to use them, and how they choose to respond to the pressures of their lives. If adversity had broken them, they would be villains—and the world already has enough of those. Ability, skill and even magical powers come second to the mindset that determines how these characters respond to adversity. Perhaps that is the greatest thing they have to teach us.

power
Amanda Wilson

About the Author: Hi, I`m Amanda Wilson – student and a freelance writer at paperwritten.com. I believe that all thoughts were already invented and thought over by someone in this world. And my goal is to find original one and provide it to the modern life. Connect with me on Twitter.

Positive Words Research – 16 Ways You’re a Real-Life Superhero

4 Tips To Experience The Magic Of Simple Meditations

In the article How to Meditate for Clarity, Intuition, and Guidance, Jack Canfield answers the question What is meditation? with:

“Meditation is a practice where you train your mind or induce a state of consciousness, either to realize some benefit, such as relaxation, stress reduction, healing, strengthening your life force, or developing certain qualities such as love, patience, generosity, and forgiveness.”

He presents the 4 steps of the Simple Meditation: The 4-Part Meditation Technique:

1. Find a quiet place, close your eyes, and focus on slowing down your breathing;

2. Repeat an uplifting word or phrase;

3. Move into a state of quiet;

4. Imagine yourself surrounded by a sphere of light.

He also draws the following conclusions:

  • Meditation takes practice and is a natural progression;
  • Practice the above methods to calm your mind;
  • Learning to meditate is a journey, this guide will help you take the right steps.

Find at Positive Words Research a wonderful article about 20 Simple Meditations to Create Peace of Mind and Joy.

Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is the founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success.

Meditation

Top 7 Positive Words That Can Change Your Reality Now

The power of belief is one of the biggest gifts that humanity has been endowed with, opening an immense realm of possibilities at the moment when we become aware of it. Believing sincerely that something can change your reality will certainly bring about that change that you are hoping for. Having this in mind, we’re going to look at the way the power of belief works together with the power of positive words, both of them having the amazing capacity of transforming our lives and of boosting us on a higher level.

I have observed throughout my life how powerful some positive words transform at the moment when we start believing in them sincerely. Here are the seven positive words that have changed my reality and that have the immense power of changing anyone’s reality if they start believing in them.

7 Positive Words That Can Change Your Reality

1. YES, and…

During my inner exploration journeys, at some point in my life I took improvisational theater classes, which were very helpful and revealing for my soul. One exercise that we had to do there was a very simple exercise of starting all our answers with the words “Yes, and…”. We had to find ways to answer positively, no matter what we were asked, no matter if our answer would clearly be no. So for example, if you were asked “Would you like to eat a burrito?” and you were a vegetarian, you had to start your answer with “Yes” and add something using the conjunction “and” afterward, in a way that you refused the invitation in a positive way. So, for example, I could answer “Yes, and I would also like to tell you about my views regarding healthy eating, maybe you’ll reconsider eating a burrito after listening to what I have to say.”

So it was very important to replace “no” with “yes” and also to replace “but” with “and”, because we usually have the tendency to answer “Yes, but…”, which certainly diminishes the power of the positive word. After understanding the importance of this exercise I tried to use it in everyday life, formulating this intention of answering more with “Yes, and…” instead of “No” or “Yes, but…”. After a while of practice, the results were amazing and I was slowly shifting towards a much wider sense of acceptance and positive attitude towards all the proposals that I was receiving.

Try it yourselves and have the belief that it will work, magic things will happen!

2. Thank you

Being sincerely grateful for everything in our lives is something that we should all be taught to do by our parents and peers. Although “thank you” is a very common word, it is used mainly for social interaction and for expressing gratitude towards the others. Of course that this is great, but we can also learn how to say “thank you” from our heart, silently, every time that we are happy and every time that we become aware of the fact that we are learning an important lesson for our development. So thankfulness is strongly connected to a higher state of awareness, a state of clear consciousness, a state that allows us to observe things globally and to be grateful for everything that we receive from the Universe.

This way I try to be aware and say “Thank you!” in my mind every time I eat, every time I meet someone who I love, every time I am surrounded by nature, every time I have a moment of silence and bliss, every time I have a moment of chaos in my mind and I become aware of it, every time someone puts me in a difficult situation and so on. It’s very important to be thankful also when we are in difficult situations because it is from them that we learn most.

Learning to be sincerely thankful comes along with opening our hearts and understanding the way this Universe works, and “thank you” are two of the most beautiful words that can change your life.

3. Forgive me

Another set of words that can really bring wonders to our lives is “forgive me”, said in the same deep manner as “thank you”. We can whisper this phrase to ourselves whenever we have a moment when we feel down, when we become angry or when we have an unexpected reaction towards someone or something. It is important to use these words to forgive ourselves also, not only when we want to ask for forgiveness from others, as the mere act of saying them in our minds brings an immensely positive vibration to our whole being and makes us get over that moment much easier.

After I decided to open my heart completely I started to say to myself or to the Universe “forgive me” every time I said or thought a curse word, every time I had the tendency to judge other people around me and also every time I harmed the environment around me (stepping on an ant for example).

4. Should

We often have the tendency to use the verb “must” when we talk about our plans or future aspirations without realizing that we are being harsh on ourselves. It’s more realistic to say “I should start a massage course if I want to become a professional massage therapist” instead of “I must start a massage course!”, and this also applies when we are giving suggestions or advice to others. There is nothing that we “must” do, it’s a matter of choice, circumstance, will of the Universe and personal will, so it’s better to be gentle and say to ourselves or to others that we should do this or that, so that we do not fall into remorse or guilt if we do not manage to do it.

5. Wonderful

When someone asks you “How are you?”, what do you usually answer? The most common reply is, of course, “Fine, thank you!”, but how would it be if we replaced “fine” with “wonderful”? You know that our mind is at the same time our best friend and our worst enemy, so we can try to use it as our friend and learn its tricks. One of them is the power of repetition: if we repeat a word or a phrase long enough, it will become a part of our beliefs and our reality. Ever since I decided to replace “fine” with “wonderful” and answered like this every time I was asked how I was, my overall state has gradually changed. Of course, that using the word “wonderful” wasn’t the only thing I did, but it came along this decision to open my heart towards people and the Universe.

Try it out yourselves and you will slowly start feeling the different impact that a sincere “wonderful” has on people around you and on yourself.

6. Trust

“Trust” is an amazing positive word without which our lives would be unimaginably different. We need to bear this word in mind and its importance if we want to function as healthy people and if we want to find our purpose in life. Trusting people around and what they have to transmit to us is crucial in our formation and in creating a clear set of beliefs. Trust, correlated with intuition make the best buddies and are two of the greatest helpers that the conscious man can have!

Moreover, it is needless to say that trust in ourselves is the first and most important step towards trusting others. You know what they say, know yourself and you will know everything in this world. So let’s start with that and trust that our path towards self-knowledge will be the best that we can choose!

7. Beauty

When looking at this word written down, there is an amazing state and a warm feeling that starts to take over my being. Beauty is one value that brings a lot of joy in our lives and we should learn to understand it properly. First of all, beauty will always be present when happiness and clarity of the mind are present. They come together as a pack and they depend on each other. Beauty manifests itself through all the senses, through words, images, sounds, smells, movements, emotions and many other ways, giving an immense quality to the lives of humans on this planet.

We should always consider beauty as one of our core values and try to understand its deeper meaning. We should spread beauty in the world and teach other people to find their own beauty and the one in everything surrounding them! This world is beauty in its purest shape, we just need to acknowledge that!

So let’s try together to include in our thoughts these 7 positive words that can change your reality. Let’s say “Yes, and…” more often, let’s trust ourselves ant the ones around us and let’s be thankful for what we have received from them and from the Universe. Let’s ask for forgiveness whenever we feel we did something negative, let’s use “should” more often and let’s think about the world and about our state as being wonderful and let’s praise the beauty in them every day!

May all beings be happy!

This amazing article was written by Flavia-Isabela Cioceanu, an extraordinary talented articles writer, body & soul beautiful woman, and a very good Romanian – English translator.

“Article participating in the first writing contest organized by Positive Words Research. The article with most Facebook shares wins. The winner is announced on 5th December 2015.” Have you enjoyed this article and found it useful? Contribute to Flavia Cioceanu winning the writing contest. SHARE ON FACEBOOK!

Positive Words Research – 7 Positive Words That Can Change Your Reality

Kerry Darlington
Painting made by Kerry Darlington