Recover

5 Ways How Positive Thinking Can Help During Addiction Recovery

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People’s perceptions of the world are shaped by the thoughts they cultivate. Those who are pessimistic not only see the world through a fog of gloom but may also be laying the groundwork for future suffering. On the other hand, positive thinking has been shown to affect mental and physical health positively. This approach won’t solve all your problems, but it will help. Those in addiction treatment can benefit significantly from adopting a more optimistic outlook. Continue reading and find out how positive thinking can help during addiction recovery. Hopefully, we’ll inspire you to fully adopt this new outlook on life and stay positive after your crisis.

Think positive on linen as a featured image for a post about ways positive thinking can help during addiction recovery
Think positive always!

How can positive thinking help during addiction recovery?

Developing an addiction isn’t the result of a lack of strength of character, but it takes much more than sheer will to overcome it. No matter how bad things look or how many times you’ve tried and failed in the past, there is always a chance for a relapse. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the problem you’re dealing with before finding the right ways to resolve it. 

Woman smiling and holding a balloon with a smiley face on it
There are plenty of ways positive thinking can help during addiction recovery

Admitting that you have a problem and deciding to make a change is often the most challenging aspect of beginning the recovery process for many people battling addiction. However, even then, it’s very common to start questioning your readiness for recovery and your will to stop using. That’s why, besides strength and perseverance, positive thinking is a crucial element of successful addiction recovery. Further in this article, you’ll find out how positive thinking can help you stay sober.

#1 Positive thinking can help reduce stress during addiction recovery

When things don’t go as planned, we’ve all heard the phrase “think positive!” or “look on the bright side.” Despite how painful the truth is, it deserves to be stated. Stress is reduced, and one’s outlook is brightened due to practicing positive thinking. It is especially true regarding addiction recovery, a complicated process filled with roadblocks and stress.

People who adopt an optimistic frame of mind and live in sober living facilities have better coping strategies for managing stress and challenging situations. They are also less likely to turn to substance misuse to cope with difficult times or thoughts. The good idea is to choose one of the powerful affirmations to return to in case you feel too overwhelmed or stressed.

#2 Positive thinking helps boost self-efficiency

In a nutshell, self-efficiency means believing in yourself, and addicts in recovery have a better chance of succeeding at sobriety when they have faith in their abilities. It’s the conviction that you can achieve the desired outcomes through your efforts. It can alter one’s mood, outlook, and behavior.

Woman wearing a yellow t-shirt looking at a mirror and smiling
Thinking positively will help you gain more self-confidence and learn ways to pick yourself up whenever you have doubts about your recovery

Your mood, actions, and drive can all affect your confidence in your abilities. Therefore, it has potential utility in the field of substance abuse rehabilitation. Positive thinking can help you establish a strong sense of effectiveness. Another method that can help is picking a goal you would like to attain and planning how to get there. For instance, consider what you need to alter and devise a strategy for dealing with difficulties and accomplishing other goals.

#3 Positive thinking can improve the immune system and one’s ability to fight off illness

Positivity does more than make you feel better. New studies show that keeping a positive outlook can help the immune system. As measured by a study, cell-mediated immunity is higher among more optimistic first-year law students. In inverse proportion to the decline in hope, cell-mediated immunity also fell. As a general rule, those with a sunny outlook on life enjoy better physical health due to their decreased susceptibility to viruses and illnesses.

#4 Positive thinking means less depression

Mental health issues and addiction often go hand in hand. Substance abuse sometimes starts as a coping mechanism for the distress associated with mood disorders. However, in some circumstances, mental health issues emerge after several years of substance abuse. A decrease in mood is common in the weeks following rehabilitation, even for those who have not been diagnosed with depression.

Therefore, the question of which comes first – addiction or depression – isn’t important. What matters is finding ways to cope with addiction recovery in a way that won’t affect your mental health. That’s another superpower positive thinking has. Recovering addicts are less prone to experience symptoms of depression if they keep an optimistic outlook on life.

#5 Positive thinking can help you motivate others during addiction recovery

Lastly, positive thinking can help you motivate others going through addiction recovery. Living in a sober facility means spending a lot of time socializing with other residents that are going through the same things. Many pessimistic people under the same roof can negatively affect everyone’s recovery. Negativity, especially during addiction recovery, can spread like a disease.

Pair of glasses in front of a motivational poster on a wooden table
Positivity is contagious, and just one smile or a positive word can change a person’s day

However, the same is true when it comes to positive thinking. If you nurture a positive outlook on life, you are more likely to inspire others to follow you. By being positive, you can influence and inspire your peers to stay sober and enhance their level of positivity. 

The bottom line

We hope this article helped you understand how positive thinking can help during addiction recovery. Always remember that even positive words have more power than you imagine. It’s good to remember when you’re going through a hard time, whether because of an addiction or any other reason.

Meta Description:

Battling addiction is in no way a simple process, but you can make it easier. We’ll let you know how positive thinking can help during addiction recovery.

Author bio:

Lisa Marin is a school guidance counselor who volunteers at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center during her free time. She is a mom of two teenage boys who share her passion for volunteering. So instead of seeing them on the soccer field, you’re more likely to find them in an animal shelter. They are Lisa’s pride and joy, and her favorite part of the year is the summers they spend on camping road trips.

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

How to Get Back to Normal Life After Losing Someone Close

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Dealing with the loss of a near and dear one can be one of the most challenging times in your life that you may face. The sorrow or losing a close friend or family member can be quite intense. We all know that death is a natural part of our lives, yet it can be overwhelming when we have to face it. The sadness usually becomes less over some time, and grieving is essential to overcome the sense of loss and comes to terms with the absence of that person.

Every person reacts in a different way to the loss of a loved one and uses a different coping mechanism. However, the time needed by each person to go back to their normal lives varies. Research has shown that people who seek help or assistance during this period recover faster than those who try to deal with it by themselves. Trying to stay strong by suppressing one’s emotions not only lengthen recovery time, but it can also have long term repercussions. Even though human beings are resilient, some people struggle more to cope up with sorrow than others. They are not able to partake in their regular routine and find it difficult to go back to normal life. That is why it is advisable to seek help from positive sources to overcome the sorrow of your loss.

Most people think of consulting a psychotherapist or psychiatrist when they need help to deal with emotional turmoils. But these days more and more individuals are turning to psychics to understand how it is possible to stop missing someone who was one of the closest people on earth to them. Psychics are gaining popularity as the new wellness coaches.

How Can a Psychic Help?

Psychics are gifted individuals who use their abilities to support other human beings. They are also natural empaths who make the other person comfortable enough to be able to share what they are going through. If you are struggling to cope up with your emotions, maybe you are not getting the right avenue to express your feelings and emotions. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a close friend of a family member. Reaching out to a psychic will allow you to express your grief and share your thoughts that are bothering you. If your relationship with the deceased was complicated or difficult, you might be feeling guilty. Or you may feel that you were not able to express your love to the person who passed. A psychic can help you to understand how you can heal yourself and come to terms with the absence of the person.

Many people think that psychics and mediums are the same. Although all mediums are psychics, not all psychics act as mediums to connect with the spirit of a person. Depending on your expectations, choose whether you want to see a psychic or a medium. Psychics who act as mediums can help you to ask a question or get a message from the deceased. If you are not able to move on because you have unresolved thoughts about the other person, or you are concerned about how they are in the afterlife, you can seek help from a medium to communicate with the soul of the deceased.

Moving on With Life

Coming to terms with the loss of someone dear to you can take a substantial amount of time. It helps to establish a renewed purpose or direction for your life. These are some of the ways that can assist you in coming to terms with your loss.

Talk About It

The first step to recovery is sharing your thoughts and emotions. Keeping them locked up inside can be detrimental to your emotional well-being.

Accept Your Emotions

Coming to terms with a range of emotions can be overwhelming. Feeling sad, angry, and exhausted at the same time might confuse you, and you can find it difficult to differentiate between one feeling from another. That is why it is essential to seek help if you are not able to understand what it is that you are feeling.

Help Others

Sometimes being a part of a support group is not just about being about to share what you are going through. You can also help someone who is going through the same situation. Helping someone gives you a renewed sense of purpose and might provide you with the closure you are seeking.

Staying healthy, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can also prove helpful in coming to terms with the loss of a loved one. Remember that others are connected with your life too, and it is still worth living for them, but most importantly for yourself.

Positive Words Research – How to Get Back to Normal Life After Losing Someone Close?

How to Get Back to Normal Life

Best 9 Tips On How to Use Journaling for Mental Health

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As teenagers, most of us kept diaries. We used to write what we were going through and then hide them somewhere safe. A diary was the only place we could confess our fears and struggles without being judged or punished by anyone.

It really felt good getting all of those thoughts and emotions out of your chest and down on paper. Everything seemed clearer after performing this exercise.

Most of us stopped using diaries when we reached adulthood. As an adult, you are faced with struggles on a daily basis which may result in stress, anxiety and depression. Journaling is as important today as it were during your teenage years.

In fact, it is much more important for you to start doing it now especially if you have children. If you are stressed or depressed, your children will definitely be affected.

Journaling helps you gain control of your emotions. It improves your mental health. Today, we are going to discuss how to journal for mental health. But first, let’s understand effective journaling and its benefits.

1. Effective Journaling Defined

Effective journaling is a practice that helps you achieve your goals or improve the quality of your life. Every person has different perspectives and expectations when it comes to journaling. However, the effects are always positive.

 Journaling helps in clearing the mind and making crucial connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Mental illness is also reduced drastically. You might be asking yourself how a piece of paper and a pen can impact your mental health. It is surprising that such a simple practice does work. Especially for those people struggling with mental illness.

Journaling uses both the left brain and the right brain. It requires an individual to use the logical left side of the brain. While the lefts side is occupied, the right side which is normally the creative and emotional side is given the freedom to play and wonder. Journaling enhances and expands your creativity which makes a huge difference in your life.

2. Benefits of Journaling

Journaling or writing in an expressive way boosts the mood of individuals, enhances a sense of well-being, reduces the symptoms of depression before a crucial event such as an exam or job interview, reduces avoidance and intrusion symptoms and improves memory.

Journaling is really beneficial to those with a history of trauma or PTSD. Creative writing enhances mental health by guiding a person to face his or her inhibited feelings. It helps him or her analyze difficult or painful events and compose a clear narrative about his or her experience.

For those without traumatic experiences, writing is still beneficial to their mental health. Writing can make you aware of sneaky unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors before they take control of you. It helps in putting things in proper perspective. In fact, writing helps in shifting from a negative mindset to a positive one thus improving your self-esteem.

For journaling to impact your mental health positively, you need to have an appropriate method in place. Simply writing words on a page may feel wonderful at the moment but there is little proof that it will enhance your well-being and decrease your depression symptoms.

3. Journaling Effectively for Mental Health

The following tips will ensure your journaling or expressive writing is comprehensive and constructive thus beneficial to your mental health:

  • Write in a personalized space that has no distractions
  • Write at least three times in a day
  • After writing, give yourself enough time to reflect
  • If you are journaling to overcome trauma, you do not have to write about the traumatic event. Write what you are feeling at the moment.
  • Structure your writing the way you want.
  • Your journal is private. It belongs to you – not your therapist, spouse, family or friends. You can always discuss your experience with your therapist.

The Center of Journal Therapy has an effective journaling guideline that can help you improve your mental health. When you are journaling, keep in mind this simple acronym: WRITE

  • W – What are you writing about? Think of your thoughts and feelings and what is going on in your life right now. Think of your goals and what you are trying to avoid. Write it down on paper.
  • R – Reflect or review. Take a moment and be still. Breath calmly and focus. In this step, mindfulness or meditation is important. When writing, focus on the present moment with sentences such as “Today…”, “In this moment…” Start your sentences with “I” statements such as “I think…”, “I feel…”
  • I – Investigate your thoughts and emotions through writing. Just keep writing. If you feel you have written everything or your mind starts wandering, take a moment and reflect. Meditate. Or read what you have written and keep on writing.
  • T – Time yourself. Write for at least five minutes or whatever time your therapist has advised you. Write your start time and the projected end time at the top of your page. Set an alarm or timer.
  • E – Exit in a strategic way with introspection. Go through what you have written and take a moment to review and reflect. Sum up everything in one or two sentences. Start with statements like, “As I read this, I feel…”, “I am aware of…” If you have an action plan or a series of steps to follow, write them down.

4. The Science Behind Journaling or Expressive Writing

The outcomes of journal writing are evident across the world. Journaling is very effective in helping people identify and accept their thoughts and emotions, manage stress and reduce or eliminate the symptoms of mental illness.

It has been revealed that journaling affects physical well-being. Michael Grothaus, an avid writer and journalist notes that journaling strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, improves the quality of your sleep and keeps you healthier in general.

There are other benefits for people struggling with mental issues.

5. Journaling Can Help You Manage Depression

Journaling is an effective tool in helping a person manage his or her depressive symptoms. Keep in mind that journaling is not a substitute for professional help especially when depression is severe. However, it can be used together with various forms of therapy treatment.

Journal writing has proved to manage depression in the following ways:

  • Journal writing reduces depression symptoms in women who are struggling with the effects of intimate partner violence.
  • Writing a journal is as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy when it comes to reducing depression symptoms in adolescents.
  • In some cases, expressive writing may not decrease the frequency of intrusive thoughts in depressed people but it can moderate depressive symptoms hence reduce the symptoms.
  • Journaling can reduce brooding and rumination among college students. Brooding and rumination are the biggest factors of depressive symptoms.
  • Individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder reported lower depression scores after only 3 days of journal writing, twenty minutes every day.

Journal writing gives them an avenue to release negative thoughts and emotions and create a positive state of mind which ultimately leads to a sense of well-being.

6. Journaling and Anxiety

Journaling is well-suited to help you deal with anxiety. It always has positive outcomes. Barbara Markway, a popular psychologist says that there is no better way to understand your thoughts and emotions than to write them down. To address any problem, you have to know what it is first. Journaling is tool that helps in identifying the problem and getting it out.

Expressive writing positively affects your anxiety through:

  • Clearing and calming the mind.
  • Releasing negative feelings and stress.
  • Releasing negative thoughts.
  • Enabling you to explore your experiences with anxiety.
  • Helping you understand your successes and struggles.
  • Enhancing self-awareness and understanding about your triggers.
  • Tracking the progress of your treatment.

Journaling has helped students suffering from anxiety by improving their engagement and enhancing meaning in the classroom.     

7. Journaling and Stress Management

Journaling is great tool for anyone who wants to manage his or her stress to prevent it from pushing him or her to anxiety and depression. Keeping a journal will help you understand your emotions, connect thoughts and experiences and release tension. Additionally, it can help you do away with sources of stress to reach your goals.

Journaling can help you manage stress through:

  • Improving the functions of your mind.
  • Decreasing or eliminating several health conditions.
  • Strengthening the immune system.
  • Proper planning through considering several possible outcomes of a situation.  
  • Decreasing rumination while enhancing action.

8. Journaling and Recovery

Journaling can help you heal fast regardless of the event, disorder or habit you are struggling with.

If you are struggling with the effects of trauma, expressive writing will enable you to see the good side of life. It can change your perspective and help you discover the advantages of the trauma you are experiencing which ultimately reduces severe symptoms that come with trauma.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, journal writing can be a source of your healing and recovery. Keeping a journal will help you stop avoiding issues and instead confront them head on.

If you are grappling with a psychiatric condition, expressive writing can help you understand your thoughts and stop worrying over them. This will ultimately free up your mind to cope with stress and manage your feelings.

One of the most traumatic events is the death of a loved one. Journaling can help you deal with this as well. Expressive writing will give you a chance to think about the loss and reduce severe symptoms that come with grief. This works even for children dealing with the loss of a loved one.

To fully recover, journaling is an important exercise because it allows you to write your thoughts, emotions and emotions. Doing this maintains and solidifies your identity. It gives you a chance to reflect on your experiences and rediscover yourself.

9. When You Have No Idea What to Write About

Some days, you will simply have no idea what to write about. You should not put your journal away if this is the case. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Describe an experience – Sometimes, all you can do to start writing is describing what you worked on today or what you thought about. You will definitely have more to say than you thought.
  • Affirmation – When you have run out of ideas and your self-esteem is low, write affirmations such as, “I like myself” or “I am a great writer.” After this exercise, you will find something to write about and at the same time, boost your confidence and enhance your well-being.
  • Gratitude – Writing with gratitude works like magic. Write about the people and everything in your life that you are grateful for. Gratitude will help you get ideas to write on and enhance your well-being.
  • Self-Analysis – Ask yourself deep questions such as “Who am I?”, “What did I do right today?” and “What will I do differently next time?” Once you answer these questions, ideas will start flowing in your mind.

Conclusion

Journaling has many positive outcomes for everyone. However, it has its negative side such as dragging up memories that you forgot, overwhelming emotions and pushing you into introspectiveness. The good news is that its benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

Journaling can help you manage stress, anxiety and depression. It is a tool that can improve your mental health. And you do not need to be a terrific writer to write down your thoughts and emotions. If you need help to process all your thoughts and emotions that can arise from journaling, try speaking to a licensed therapist.

Remember, your journal is private. Keep it somewhere safe after use. And write every single day.    

About the Author

Tiffany Harper is an experienced writer from New York (USA) and an extremely active woman. She began her career as a journalist, now she works as a consultant with professional essay writers, essay writing service uk, UK Assignment Holic, makes researches for rush essay, Essay Mama writing service, and UK Assignment Holic. Also, Tiffany works as a special mentor with RushMyEssay, BestEssay, boom essays reviews, AustralianWritings, mostly in wellness and healthy lifestyle area. She gets inspiration for writing from travels and meeting new people, feel free to contact her on Twitter.

Positive Words Research – How to Use Journaling for Mental Health

How to Use Journaling for Mental Health

How to Stay Positive While Paying off Massive Debt Today

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One of the most anxiety-triggering factors that stress an individual is paying off massive debts. Some people who are in this dilemma might lose hope or might get depressed thinking that being stuck means unable to recover. But, think about it closely, debt does not really hurt at all. It is the shame that people might cause you if you won’t be able to pay your debt, most likely if it is borrowed from a person. How bad as it may seem, is there any way to treat this seemingly failure into something good?  This article finds a way to share with some important insights on how to stay positive amidst paying off massive debt.

Check your Credit Report

In order to stay positive, you have to see reality first. People are usually mistaken to only focus on the delusional zero debt without doing something. To see the reality means you see your credit report which contains your good and bad records of your financial history. If you don’t have a copy then order your report first. In the report, check if your standing is good as presented by the credit rating and good remarks. Likewise, see also if there are missed payments and negative remarks. Pay close attention to the terms of payment and the amount assigned. In doing this, you are practically dissecting your debt in bits making it more possible to pay-off.

Earn More

Obviously, if your debt is massive then you also need a massive source of income. If your current job doesn’t make you earn that can pay off your debt, then add a sideline or sell something. In this area, you may prefer to maximize your hobbies or interest. More than that, you can save something from your salary and allocate it in an investment facility that has the capacity to make your money grow. What you earn from this is called a passive income. It is passive because it is the money that is working for you. Hence, by having more than one source of income adds to your confidence and makes you stay positive.

Spend less

To double the effort, spend less than what you can. Some people have a bad habit when they earn big they also spend big. Worse, some earn only a little but spends big. If you are like this, then it becomes problematic. However, when you increase your income and lessen your expenditures it gives you more sources to allocate in paying off your debt. As result, without you knowing, your debt is over and you have increased your savings coming off the excess. You may now use it in things more productive for you.

Aim for the Goal

Most people paying off debt are only focused on the debt. Meaning they work only to pay their debts and this is something to regret if you are in this position. But, to stay positive, instead of focusing on paying a debt, why not focus on achieving goals. These goals maybe some of your ambitions or dreams like travel or house or something to look forward. Consequently, you make yourself feeling excited and motivated rather than become anxious about your debt. Besides, it is happier to work hard for something you like, than work out something so that you can escape.

Develop a Growth Mindset

Debts could be devastating but it’s all in the mind. Most people are preconditioned that you have loans then you are doomed already. However, debts are just like roads wherein you will just pass by it and it will be over. Meaning to say, you may treat your debts as part of the hurdles for you to pass on and become victorious in the end. By overcoming this, it will contribute a significant level of change and maturity. So develop a growth mindset and aim for continuous development.

Conclusion

Debts may not be detrimental by far because we can still stay positive despite it. Being positive means choosing to be one. It is not something that you feel out of experiencing something. You can stay positive by focusing on reality, adding something valuable, and lessen the cause of the problem. Just like happiness, it is always a choice. Everyone can choose to be happy. That’s why even in debt, you can still enjoy life.

Author’s Bio

Dennis Martin Eivan is a graduate student currently in his thesis writing phase finishing a Master’s Degree Major in Clinical Psychology. His research and writing interests are in education, entrepreneurship, finance, motivation, nutrition, psychology, and social sciences.

Positive Words Research – How to Stay Positive While Paying off Massive Debt

How to Stay Positive While Paying off Massive Debt

Top 7 Workout Tips to Maximise Muscle Growth Today

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If you look on the internet for how to build muscle, most sites will tell you simply to hit the gym and eat as much as possible. Whilst this is good advice, there’s a lot more to it than just that. Sure, you can make good progress with this basic advice, but can you make the best?

Alongside just eating more and working out, there are certain tips and tricks you can implement to maximize your progress. Some of these you may have heard of, but others are ones that people frequently miss out on.

Below, you’ll find the 7 best workout tips for building the maximum amount of muscle and strength to make sure that every workout is a good one.

1. Consume Protein Before Your Workout

When you exercise, your muscles get broken down and need to be repaired. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually build muscle in the gym – you build muscle outside of it through your recovery. In the gym, you actually lose muscle because the whole aim is to break down the muscle fibers, and the most important macronutrient for rebuilding them is protein.

Current research suggests that eating 0.75-1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight is optimal for avid lifters. Therefore, a 180lb person would need to eat between 135 to 150 grams per day split out evenly across your meals. Having one of these doses before your workout ensures that your muscles are being drip-fed amino acids as they get broken down.

2. Don’t Skimp on the Stretching

It’s easy to gloss overstretching at the start of your workout, but it’s actually an incredibly useful tool for maximizing performance and muscle growth. Stretching means that we can take our muscles through a longer range of motion, creating more stimulus with each muscle. It also means that we feel fewer aches as we work out, meaning that we can handle more. As well as this, it reduces our risk of injuries which could leave us away from the gym for days, weeks, or even months. The key to long-term progress is to avoid injury at all costs.

3. Eat Foods Rich in Potassium

Potassium gets taken from our body during intense bouts of exercise, meaning that we need to replace it afterward. Alongside sodium and calcium, potassium helps to provide energy to our muscles. The less potassium we have stored up, the less our muscles can do. Therefore, it’s a wise idea to include bananas or potatoes in your pre or post-workout meal.

4. Focus on Compound Movements 

Compound movements give us the most bang for your buck as they not only train more musculature but also teach us how to use our muscles simultaneously. Isolation movements have their place, but if you’re interested in building serious muscle fast, then you need to put compound movements at the top of your priority list.

5. Pick the Right Exercises for Your Body Type

Not everyone’s body is the same. Some of us have longer arms or shorter legs than others, because of this, certain exercises can be easier or harder. If you’re finding a particular movement uncomfortable, then it could be down to the way you’re built genetically. Try using a few different variations until you find that sweet spot.

6. Train a Muscle in Different Positions of Tension

Opposed to just hitting your muscles from one angle, try to hit them from various different points to ensure that you’re leaving no stone unturned. For instance, if you’re looking to build your biceps, then putting your elbow in different positions from in front of you to the side to behind you make sure that you hit each head as well as move the maximum amount of weight.

7. Get More Sleep 

Sleep is invaluable when it comes to any health or fitness related goal. The less sleep you get, the less your body can recover, the more fat you’re likely to put on, the more muscle you’re likely to lose. Not to mention, you feel much groggier. Aim for 7-9 hours per night.

7 Workout Tips to Maximise Muscle Growth

Good Nutrition Make or Break Your New Year’s Resolution

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Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people across the nation vowed to eat healthier in 2018. It’s a popular New Year’s Resolution. But even if you strayed from the old standby and chose a different resolution, good nutrition can help you get there.

It’s truly amazing what good food can do for your body. Food can lift you up or knock you down. It can impact all areas of your health and even can affect your sobriety. If you’re serious about sticking to your own resolution, it’s important to eat right.

Here’s how good nutrition can make or break your New Year’s Resolution.

Energy

Food is energy. Eat the right foods and you’ll feel energized and alive. Eat the wrong foods and you’ll feel sluggish and tired. You’ll find it easier to achieve any goal with more energy unless you’ve set a goal to take more naps.

Consider one of the following energy-giving foods:

  • Oatmeal – Carbs are the food equivalent to your body as gasoline to your car. But not all carbs are good for long-term energy. Oatmeal, on the other hand, is absorbed slowly and gives you a longer energy boost.
  • Strawberries – Fruit like strawberries give your body a natural boost from fruit sugar. Fiber helps slow down the energy flow to give you a lasting result throughout the day.
  • Spinach – Nitrates found in spinach help fuel the mitochondria, which are the energy powerhouses of each cell.

Immunity

Whole foods that come from the earth are typically rich in antioxidants that fight free radical damage. Try to eat a rainbow of colors from natural sources to get a full spectrum of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Fermented foods like sauerkraut also contain probiotics that help balance the gut flora and build immunity. Universally beneficial foods, known as “Superfoods”, are also a great addition to any meal because they help fortify the immune system.

Good nutrition can help build up your immune system and keep you from getting an illness that will set you back from your goals.

Bone strength

Typically, resolutions offer ways for us to become better versions of ourselves. We do this because we want to gradually improve as we get older. Like a fine wine, we can all improve with age. The only difference is that we have to work at it.

Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and phosphorous all work together to keep our bones and teeth healthy. These vitamins and minerals are abundant in a healthy skeletal strength.

Skeletal Strength

Several nutrients work together to keep your bones and teeth strong. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body and it is the primary component of your skeleton. You also need vitamin D from your diet so calcium can be properly absorbed. Additionally, calcium works alongside phosphorous to create bone structure. Copper is a mineral you need in very small amounts each day, but if you don’t get adequate amounts of copper, you may lose bone mass and increase your risk of osteoporosis.

Author’s Bio

Trevor is a freelance writer and recovering addict & alcoholic who’s been clean and sober for over 5 years. Since his recovery began, he has enjoyed using his talent for words to help spread treatment resources and addiction awareness. In his free time, you can find him working with recovering addicts or outside enjoying any type of fitness activity imaginable.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

good nutrition

Take Back Your Sobriety: 5 Steps to Begin Your Recovery

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When you hit rock bottom (or close), it’s common to reflect on the negativity in your life. But that’s not what’s going to bring you out of this funk. Instead, you have to reframe your thoughts and learn how to have a positive outlook.

Once you’ve made the decision to recover, you have many reasons to be hopeful. The journey will not be an easy one, but taking your life back is a priceless reward.

Here are five steps to take back your sobriety and regain control over your life.

1.      Find a rehab center

If addiction has taken over your life, you will most likely need professional help to recover. The best place for this is one that is designed to help people regain sobriety. Find a rehabilitation program that seems like a good fit for you. They all have the same goal, but some rehabs use different methods to get you there. For example, you may find a faith-based or spiritual rehab to be a good fit. Or, you may want a rehab that focuses heavily on reconnecting with nature. You have many options.

2.      Check with your insurance provider

Your insurance will likely cover some sort of rehab program, but the rules vary drastically by insurance providers. Check with yours to see what is covered and what isn’t.

3.      Take time off from work

The most important thing you can do is to get help for your addiction. If that means losing your current job, it’s still your best bet. If you continue working through your addiction, chances are good that you’ll eventually lose your job anyway. It’s better to get help now before your addiction gets worse.

With that said, you should know that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects you from discrimination. This doesn’t mean your employers have to keep you employed while you’re actively using, but they cannot let you go for getting help.

Some employees may qualify for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows them to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave.

If you think it’s an option, talk to your boss about a medical leave.

4.      Find a supportive friend or relative

You’ll probably make new friends in rehab and/or in sober support groups, but it’s important to have someone on your side back home. This person may be a member of your family or someone you’re close with. Whoever you choose, make sure they do not have a problem with addictive substances or alcohol. Your old drinking buddies are not a good fit for this job.

5.      Get your affairs in order

Before you go off to rehab, take care of any loose ends that may cause you stress. For example, make sure your rent and other bills will be paid on time. Find someone to water your plants and take care of your pets. While you’re at rehab, you don’t want to worry about anything going on at home.

Going from addiction to sobriety is never an easy process, but with some planning and a positive outlook, it can be a rewarding one.

Author’s Bio

Joshua is an ex-addict and founder of the Ohio Addiction Recovery Center. Since his recovery began, he has enjoyed using his talent for words to help spread treatment resources, addiction awareness, and general health knowledge.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

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