I know most of the time we are with our loved ones or friends. Enjoying the talk and the ambiance of the scenery we are in at that moment. It is nice to spend time with people. But for someone who is an introvert it may be hard since after the socialization one felt drained from all the energy exerted from it. Then one may spend some time alone to feel rejuvenated and relax. And for someone who is that person, I love practicing communicating with other people by socialization. I want to know more about their perception about something, their opinions. But at certain times, I feel exhausted from all of the talking and chitchatting with them. One of the main reason it was exhausting for me because I get affected by their own energy. Some of their emotions were too intense and for someone like me who thinks calmness is important in every situation, it somewhat brings a headache to me. There were times I feel excited to share some exciting information to others, but the vibes I’m showing wasn’t reciprocated. I also thought why they did it. I am always willing to listen to them, but when it is my time to share mine they just weren’t into it. Here is another thing, you know when someone loved to visit this new café or go to this place you wanted to ask your friend to go with you, right? Most of my friends back then love to go to a certain place to enjoy, they will talk to me about the place and ask me to accompany them. But, when it’s my turn they can’t go with me. It happened for a couple of times. And the ending was always been the same, me not being able to enjoy the stuffs that I really want. It feels like I am constantly lending them my time, making them feel comfortable and happy but forgot to looked out for my own feelings and emotions. There is no mutual understanding, the vibes and energy wasn’t reciprocated. And I feel like it is the time to walk away from it, since I began to understand my own worth. To let go of the ones that doesn’t serve me. At first it was hard for me to adjust with my situation. But, I felt I was able to breath freely. I started to realized there is no point in going back to that kind of set up since I always ended up feeling hurt and sad by it. I also realized that it is now the time to do the things I want to do even if I’m alone. I began to feel comfortable with my solitude. I mean, to tell you all honestly I felt better when I cut them off my life since I admit our friendships were pretty toxic. I focus working on towards my self-development journey. And didn’t have any regrets for all the things that happened to me in the past. I accepted my own mistakes did the best as I can to heal from all of those experienced that brought me pain. Back then I didn’t like the idea of doing things alone, I guess I became dependent and attached to those people that I thought I wouldn’t be able to do things without them. For all the times I spent in by myself. It is relaxing for me. I was able to know myself more. Work on with my bad habits and formed new and healthy ones. Learned to embrace the darkness that I have in me and started to change it into something that brought me towards the light. I learned that I was able to do things better, in tuned with my thoughts though at certain times it weren’t that great. Started to feel new and embrace the positivity. I learned to addressed the problems of my past and was able to look at it in a more positive great. My faith in the Lord, was strengthened. I’ve realized that all the pleas I prayed to him back then were all answered. I changed my mindset, from getting caught up with all the negative ones I was able to change it into something that is more positive. Overall, I learned that it is importance to love myself more. From doing the healing by myself and with the help of God, I was able to progress as an individual that I am today. Now, I am genuinely happy and I am more that grateful than ever. Because if it wasn’t for all the pain people in the past had caused me I wouldn’t be able to learn a lot of lesson and become this person that I am today. That is why, thank you to them. I was able to see my progressions in life and was able to pushed myself towards becoming the person that I really want to be. All of it served as my motivation to go higher. I also thought that there is no need for being vengeful and wanted to get even with them. I will leave it all to the universe and I hope they will be able to handle dealing with their karma. I was thankful I didn’t give up, and I didn’t let them ruin me. I also learned that I shouldn’t blame myself for all of it, since I know my intention were pure. And I am loving my life and enjoy being present in the moment. And I am going forward towards my next journey through life, I know I can be able to handle all the obstacles that will come my way. Because, I learned lots of great lessons. The journey through life will never be a straight path. For me, the journey can be compared to a maze. You may get lost along the way, but you will be able to help yourself finding you way out. And be able to continue, until you will be able to reach your destination. Taking a leap of faith will be a great help for you. Enjoy the ride, be able to love and cherish all the moments you will get to experience. Don’t forget that there are lots of amazing people out there, that will be able to welcome you with open arms. And as you go through your own journey, learn the importance of enjoying your own company with patience and determination. And as we will about to reach the end of this book, I will be sharing the different ways I followed and did for being able to learn how to love myself, being able to feel happiness and contentment with my present life, and learned the value of my own existence here.
[Journaling]
Journaling generally involves the practice of keeping a diary or journal that explore thoughts and feelings surrounding the events of your life. Journaling, is a stress management and self-exploration tool, and it works if it’s done consistently, but even if it’s occasional, sporadic journaling can be stress relieving. Journaling is a habit that we develop and it is something that we actually need most when we’re feeling anxious, hurried or just not in the mood. Journaling can also be a check-in-tool. There are seasons in our lives when we feel balance and motivated, and we have got our priorities straight. And at other times we are stressed and wonder what it is all for. But the value you can put up with journaling comes through when we stick with it despite the ups and downs. Journaling offers many powerful benefits, but it is not always easy to get into the habit of writing every day. So, I thought it is better to do some experiment and find the ways that works for me. The joys and benefits of journaling outweigh the necessity of writing on a paper or doing your journal first thing in the morning. Sometimes – even a few sentences in your note app when you are on the subway – is much better than nothing. Journaling can also help you to focus on the areas of your life that you like to focus on more often. Overall, it is a great practice for stress reduction as well as self-knowledge and emotional healing. And if you are new to journaling , here are some several tips and practices to try. See if what works best for you.
1. You don’t have to keep a paper journal
The usual advices is to write on paper because writing in cursive forces you to slow down and relieve stress. Experiment and find whatever works for you to get into a writing habit. You need to be self-aware while writing your journal. Try a few ways of keeping a journal and observe how it makes you feel. Do you obsess over your handwriting when you are writing in a paper journal? Try downloading an app for gratitude journaling that will give you daily prompts you can simply type in. Are you more of a visual person who struggles with words? Start an art journal and express your emotions with daily sketches and doodles that incorporates some writing. Experiment with writing on a paper, on a laptop, or on your smartphone and find whatever works best for you.
2. You don’t have to write first thing in the morning
There has been a lot of talk lately about Morning Pages – the practice of filling 3 sheets of A4 paper each morning with your stream of consciousness thoughts when your mind is still fresh. Except my mind needs to drink one glass of water and a cup of coffee before it wakes up – and even longer to formulate a decent thought. So I have been journaling at night before bedtime, when the house is quiet and when no one will interrupt my flow of thoughts. I do love the thought of making Morning Pages, but there’s still a myriad ways to journal. The only way that’s right is whatever works best for you. Writing in the morning let’s you plan out your day, reflect on how you’ll deal with any anticipated challenges or even jot down whatever you’re grateful for. Evenings, for their part are great for reflecting back on your day, what you’d do differently and what’s on your to-do list for tomorrow. Whether you write in the morning or at night, both practices have their advantages. Try writing at different times of the day and notice the difference. When are you at your best, and when does it feel most valuable to journal?
3. Get some accountability
There is something very motivating about being in a group of like-minded people pursuing the same goal – even if you don’t consider yourself competitive. Getting accountability is a powerful tool. Whether that is a challenge online or an app to keep track of your writing progress.
4. Start small and keep your expectations realistic
Do you imagine yourself with a beautiful smile on your face as you fill up the pages and pages of insightful prose that your grandchildren will treasure? That is not going to happen. The key whenever you are building a new habit is to keep your expectations realistic. Keep journaling a habit going – even if you only have few minutes a day – is infinitely better than settling unrealistic goals. It doesn’t matter whether you write a single line or three pages – what matters is in the beginning you form a habit. Make your journaling a part of your daily life and anchor it to another habit – like your morning coffee. And get that journaling in there until it becomes a routine and automatic that until you are no longer fighting with yourself about how badly or well you are doing it. Just do it, and then refine the how you do it later.
5. If you’ve got writer’s block, write about gratitude
Writing about gratitude will lift your spirits and get your thoughts flowing again on the days you are tired or filled with self-doubt. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with what is front of you – your laptop or journal, in the balcony or at the desk with your morning coffee. Then describe your emotions in detail. Instead of trying to fill up a page with all the things you are grateful for, try focusing on a few and really let yourself feel the emotion of gratitude. Gratitude journaling can be life-changing when it is used in difficult situations or downright irritating relationships. Ask yourself, despite all the bad, what can you learn from a difficult day? What qualities do you admire in you. This is a highly effective strategy for relieving stress because it helps you to focus on the resources you have in your life already and create a more positive mood at the moment, both of which have been shown to build long-term resilience. A bonus benefit is that you are left with a record of many nice things that have happened throughout your days, so if you’re feeling down in the future, you can cheer yourself up with the few pages with reminders of the things you have to appreciate in your life.
6. Try a new environment
Sitting out on a terrace gives me something to write about. A different setting gets my senses going and inspires my thoughts. If you are feeling uninspired, then change your surroundings. Step out unto your balcony or grab a chair in your garden and journal from there. Take your journal to work and jot down a few lines on your lunch break. Pick it up in the evening and doodle as you watch TV. There is no right time and place for journaling. It is all about finding whatever works for you.
7. Schedule your journaling into your day
At other times you might never make the time for it – and journaling whenever you are in the mood and inspired is bound to fail. Journaling lifts you when you are not feeling in the mood and that means sometimes you just have to get it on with it even when you are feeling unmotivated. And when your schedule journaling into your day, you will be less likely to make excuses or rely on sheer willpower alone. Inspiration will find you, but only when you are writing. To make journaling a part of your daily routine, set aside a time for it. Anchor it to another habit you are already great at maintaining. You won’t always feel like writing, but a journaling routine will keep your habit going. If you drink coffee religiously in the morning, make it a habit to write a few lines when you get halfway through your cup. Or if you unwind with a Netflix series at night, make it a point to scribble down a few lines before you hit play.
8. Track your journaling habit
We humans love to make a chain of habits and we hate to see it break. I use an app to mark off each day when I have journaled, even if it was just for 5 minutes. It so satisfying psychologically to see those marks add up to a streak. And so on the days when I am not in the mood to journal, I open it up just for 5 minutes for the sake of keeping the habit streak going. Very often once I am past those 5 minutes, I find myself wanting to keep going. And that is the beauty of journaling. It is not about willpower but about forming a small daily habit that you will eventually think less about. Journaling becomes a routine as brushing your teeth.
9. Use different journaling techniques
Keep journaling interesting and spicy by using different journaling techniques. It doesn’t have to be the same every day. If you are feeling overwhelmed at work or in school, brainstorm some solutions to problems you are facing and make a streamlined to-do list that puts your real priorities at the top. If you are just in a mood for some TV, make a list of your favorite Netflix series that you can watch. Make your journal work for you. Let it be there in whatever capacity you need. There are dozens of journaling techniques for almost any purpose and occasion. From writing an angry unsent letter when you need to vent to sketching ideas for your next quilting project, a journal is your space for whatever you need. A journal can help you plan your day or track your projects and hobbies. Fill it in with your favorite movie quotes, notes on recipes you’ve tried or reflections on how you are growing up as a person. If you find yourself bored with journaling then shake things up and try something new.
10. Make your journal personal and messy
Does the thought of writing in a spiral bound notebook bring back memories of dull school meetings that should have been sent as emails? Or maybe a beautiful notebook seems like a shame to fill with your illegible handwriting? Your journal should feel like it is yours and it should fit your personality. Maybe that is a leather-bound notebook that you can whip our comfortably. Or maybe that is a worn cloth-bound notebook filled with painted daisies. Your journal should make you look forward to writing. If you’re cracking the new notebook open and looking for an ice breaker, then fill that first intimidating blank page with a favorite song lyric or inspirational quote. Making your journal and unique inspires you to write more. And don’t obsess with your handwriting. You are probably out of practice and it will look messy in the beginning. Handwriting gets better – and more legible – with practice and plenty of patience. So don’t let an un-Instagrammable handwriting stop you. Make some messy doodles or scrawl some quotes into the margins to further break that ice and smash those high expectations. Your journal is your tool – not an Instagram flat lay waiting to happen.
11. Keep your journal handy in your bag
When you are stuck in a bus traffic, just pull out your journal and jot down your thoughts or vent your anxieties. An additional journal kept in your bag is useful whenever you are in a waiting room, a traffic jam or any situation with time on your hands. A journal can also be a great substitute for smart phone scrolling. Whenever you find yourself restless and reaching your smartphone, pull out your journal instead. Sure it may be awkward during a dinner party, but a dentist’s office or in a bank can be a perfect setting for your journaling sessions. When you are in a vacation, a travel journal can be an incredible tool to write down your sensations when they are still fresh in your mind. Use your journal to plan your trip and keep track of any great restaurants you’ve tried or museums you’d love to revisit. A journal kept in your bag makes a great pastime when you are suddenly hit with an unexpected wait times. If you are intimidated to write your journal in public, then don’t worry. It get easier with time and it is helpful to remember that people may shoot you odd glances, but they actually have no idea whether you are drafting up a plan or complaining about your ex.
12. Make journaling a pleasure
Journaling should be a pleasure and a treat – not a chore you knock off in your daily list. Invest in a fountain pen to make your writing flow like silk. Brew your favorite herbal tea infusion and settle back in a comfortable corner or turn on your favorite playlist. You will begin to associate these little indulgences with journaling and they will make your writing time a real pleasure. But don’t overthink it. Expecting that your journaling process to be impossibly hygge will only disappoint when reality hits.
13. Analyze what isn’t working
What do you hope to get from journaling? Do you want to manage your anger? Get inspired? Identify your goals and then look back at your journal to evaluate if you achieved what you wanted. Or try journaling about your journaling. Do you feel bored and dread of the 15 minutes of writing, or do you look forward to it? Be mindful of your emotions and how journaling is making you feel. Do you feel energized at the end of your journaling session, or felt relieved that it is over? Being self-aware and analyzing your journaling habit helps you avoid what is just isn’t working for you. And if you feel that journaling doesn’t work for you and bring you any results, then it wont be easy to maintain your daily journaling habit. Make time to look at what isn’t working and experiment to find what journaling technique suits you the best. Be candid with yourself and make journaling work for your real life.
14. Use your journal for stress management
Journaling has been called the most effective form of therapy – and it is absolutely free too. Whenever you are feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, or anxious, there is nothing like pouring your frustrations out into your journal. Once you fill a page or two, you’ll gain some much needed distance from your troubles. You will probably realize things aren’t as bad as they seem and you might even see that silver lining. And once you’re done, let your entry sit for a few days and read it back later. You will begin to realize that your daily frustrations are rarely worth stressing over.
15. Write for your eyes only
Journaling is a wonderful therapy but it is difficult to write honestly unless your journal is absolutely private. When you write in hope or fear that others will read your words, it becomes harder to write truthfully and even express your real emotions. You won’t write for self-awareness but to impress others to prove a point. Write for your eyes only and your journal will be more intimate and honest. Keep your journal in a secure place. And if you are still worried that others may stumble upon it, then find a hiding place or use a laptop protected with a strong password.
16. Keep a list of journaling prompts for a speechless day
Writing about a variety of topics and prompts keeps your journaling fresh and interesting. Keep a list of journaling prompts ready in your notebook or in a word doc for the days you are at a loss for words. Pinterest is a gold mine for journaling prompts for any good mood or occasion. Create a board for your journaling and gather some prompts – or if you’re not on Pinterest then take some screenshots to have handy.
17. Don’t wallow or self-blame
Journaling can be anything from a fun hobby to a form of meaningful therapy. But you won’t get much benefit if you only wallow in problems or constantly blaming yourself. It is a great release for those pent-up emotions to write it in your journal and it is helpful to have a rant. But eventually you will want to brainstorm about solutions or jot down some things you are grateful for. If your journaling gets dark and it stays there, chances are it won’t help you grow.
Certain topics you can write or discuss in your journal:
• Rain
• The Future
• Reality
• Friendship
• Dreams
• Flowers
• Hopes
• The best thing about fall/winter/summer/spring
• Little things that make you happy
• Places that feel like home
• Places that you don’t feel like it’s your home, those places that make you feel uneasy
• Things you love
• Where you would rather be right now
• Childhood memories
• Scary things about the future
• Things to do less of
• Things to do more of
• Books to read
• A description of how you how you feel right now
• Where you hope to travel
• Wishes you made as a kid
• Things you wish you were better at
• Factors that lead you to become the person you are today
• What heavy things have been weighing your heart down recently
• What is happiness to you?
• Things that scare you about the world right now
• If you could rewrite one thing about your story, what would it be?
• The questions you have been asking yourself lately
• When was the last time you cried?
• What place feels like a huge breath of fresh air?
• What things are different about you this year than last year?
• What would you want people to remember about you?
• Things you can do now you never thought you would be able to do
• What is the alternate-universe you like?
• Listen to your favorite song- Draw it, then write down what it makes you think of
• Why do you love the people you love?
• Your favorite kind of adventures
• What are you thankful for today?
• Are you actually experiencing life? Or are you just going through the motions?
• Advice you would give to yourself
• Things to do for your own personal self-care
• Ways you can say the word “I Love You”
• The people you admire the most
• Your top five short term goals
• Your top five long term goals
• Problems you’ve solved and challenges you’ve overcome
• Your favorite meals and desserts
• Foods you want to try
• 100 things you’re grateful for
• Gifts you want to receive ( in case anyone asks)
• The most important life lessons you’ve learned
• Your strengths
• Your weaknesses and the ways you can do to deal with those weaknesses
• Things you would like to improve about yourself (because we are all a work in progress)
• What is your secret desires?
• What is the worst thing you have ever done?
• Your pet peeves
• What was the biggest mistakes you had made in the past?
• Your first dance
• Close your eyes and imagine the kind of world you would like to see. What is it like?
• What qualities do you want in a romantic partner?
• Was there anything noteworthy about your mother’s upbringing?
• How do you think others see you when they meet you for the first time?
• When did you feel truly independent for the first time?
• Is there something you are reluctant to tell someone? Write a letter to help you organize your thoughts
• Write a letter to someone you need to forgive
• As a child, who was your favorite relative?
• Did you ever get lost?
• The holiday traditions you are always looking forward to
• How do you deal with anger?
• Your saddest memory
• How easy is it for you to forgive those who have caused you pain?
• The most terrifying moment of your life
• The biggest lie you have ever told is
• Do you have a plan?
• Is there any particular worry you can’t shake?
• A letter for your past
• A letter for your future self
You may also want to look at these few examples of quotes I have written in my journal and you can write whatever that comes to your mind when you read them, you can also find some references with these:
• “What in your life is calling you? When all the noise is silenced, the meetings adjourned, the lists laid aside, and the wild iris blooms by itself in the dark forest, what still pulls on your soul? In the silence between your heartbeats hides a summons, do you heart it? Name it, if you must, or leave it forever nameless, but why pretend it is not there? – The Terma Collective
• “If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; tell yourself you not poet enough to call forth its riches.” – Rilke
• “Our aspirations are our possibilities.” – Robert Browning
• “It is okay to be scared; it is normal to experience fear in life. Fear is a natural human emotion and we shouldn’t let it overpower us. We’ve already come this far. We’ve already accomplished many things, whether big or small. We shouldn’t stop now. Fear shouldn’t stop us from achieving our dreams. Believe in yourself.”
• “I hope you learn to let go of everyone’s opinion of your life. I hope you start to see, from a place that lives within you that there is no universally correct way to live a life that is solely your own. Every human being has different goals, has different concepts of what happiness looks like, has a different concept of what it means to be alive. And, because of that people will judge you – the world will try to change you, but you must continue to move in your own direction, you must continue to go at your own pace, because if you allow them to alter your path you are going to end up living someone else’s life. I hope you learn how to make life your own. I hope you learn now to make your time here something you are proud of.”
• “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe
• “If you wish to succeed, you should use persistence as your good friend, experience as your reference, prudence as your brother and hope as your sentry.” – Thomas Edison
• We are all scared of disappointments. We, humans do not like disappointing others. But if we look at the bigger picture. Shouldn’t we be more terrified of disappointing ourselves than disappointing others? Because life is always full of disappointments, and it is hard to satisfy everyone around us. But it is not hard to satisfy ourselves more than others do. So live life with no regrets. Live life, making sure you are not disappointing yourself. Live life knowing your future self would be proud of you.”
• “This being a human is a guest house. Every morning is a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meaness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor… Welcome and entertain them all. Treat each guest honorably. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever who comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” – Rumi
[ Affirmations ]
If you are wondering what does affirmation mean, here are a few definitions:
• It is a short sentence that motivates, inspires and encourages you to take action and to realize your goals.
• It is a sentence that you repeat often, in order to imprint it on your subconscious mind. This repetition can change your habits, behavior and your point of view.
• Words and thoughts have power. When you repeat them often, they can in various ways affect and make changes in your environment.
• It is a positive thought and belief that can change your thought patterns and overcome negative self-talk.
As stated earlier, the word affirmations is derived from the verb “affirm” – to state that something is true. These are sentences aimed to affect and program the conscious and the subconscious mind, so that in turn they can change our behavior, thinking and patterns, habits and environment. The words composing the affirmation, often bring up related mental images into the mind, which can inspire, energize, and motivate. The words you repeat, and the resultant mental images get engraved in the subconscious mind which changes our actions and reactions according to repeated words.
What Affirmation Do?
• They motivate.
• They keep the mind focused on the goal.
• The repeated act of affirming changes the way you think and behave in your interaction with the world.
• They are positive statements that make you feel energetic and active, therefore, put you in a better position to transform your inner and external worlds and make them better.
When And How To Repeat Affirmations
• Devote some special times during the day for repeating them.
• Repeat them whenever you are, and whenever you want and have time.
• Use the present tense, because you want results now, not in the future.
• Before starting, ask yourself whether you want to affirm for. If you have doubts and are not really sure that you want it, your doubts will stand in your way. This is the one of the reasons why people don’t get results.
• Affirm with love, faith, feeling and interest, and feel and believe that your desire has already been fulfilled. This kind of thinking will accelerate the fulfillment of your goal.
It is natural for the mind to bring up doubts and negative thoughts, especially if your current environment and situation are very different from what you want to achieve. If this happen you may want to persevere, and do not let your negative thoughts and doubts conquer you. Here are list of some positive affirmations, you may want to give them a try.
- “I love myself”
- “I am amazing”
- “I am filled with love”
- “Good things always happen to me”
- “My mental health”
- “I am worthy of love and respect”
- “I am the most amazing person I have ever met”
- “I am extremely beautiful”
- “I flourish in everything I do”
- “My life is filled with nothing but happiness”
- “I constantly attract good things into my life”
- “I am abundant in all areas of my life”
- “I accept myself”
- “I am whole and complete”
- “I can do anything”
- “I am limitless”
- “I am a winner”
- “Whatever happens, I can handle it”
- “I appreciate my health and the strength of my body”
- “I choose to remain true to myself”
- “I enjoy everything as I do to get closer to my goal”
- “I let go of my fears by living here and now”
- “Today is a good day”
- “I’ll take chances I can get”
- “In everything I do. I am the best version of myself”
- “Let’s just get through today”
- “The wins along the way make up for the losses”
- “I’ve pulled myself out before, I can do it again, I am not afraid to do it again”
- “One step at a time”
- “When I look back in five years, this won’t seem daunting”
- “I am grateful for all that I’ve gone through”
- “I can be anything I strive to be”
- “I am so much more than my mistakes’
- “I am growing from my past”
- “I am learning from my shortcomings”
- “I will live a life that is filled with love, curiosity, and compassion for myself and others”
- “I trust that I am in the right path”
- “My mind is open, my heart is resilient and I am evolving into my best self”
- “I am beyond blessed in every area of my life”
- “I am so grateful to live life to the fullest”
- “My life is always turning out better than expected”
- “I am full of radiant health and youthful energy”
- “I accept my flaws and love myself unconditionally”
- “I am balanced and in flow with life”
- “I choose to surround myself with people that love and adore me”
- “My goals are realistic and I will reach them”
- “I consciously release the past and live only in the present”
- “I am calm and in control”
- “My ideas are important. I allow creativity flow through me freely”
- “I am lovable and desirable being”
- “My self-worth is not based on my success”
- “I am a natural born leader”
- “I am breaking patterns and cycles that had kept me stuck”
- “I am successful”
- “I release any doubts or fears in my abilities”
- “I listen to my inner truth, I honor and care for myself”
- “I have enough, I know enough, I am enough”
- “I am creative and strong, I am capable”
- “I permit myself to fully enjoy everything that I do”
- “I trust my life is unfolding exactly as it should”
- “I easily speak my truth, I easily express myself”
- “I honor my body, as a temple of my soul”
- “I am powerful, radiant, magnificent being of light”
- “I joyfully nourish my mind, body, and spirit.”
- “I am an asset whenever I go”
- “I am limitless”
- “I have the face of an angel”
- “I am the sculptor of my reality”
- “I am divine”
- “I am the epitome of human perfection”
- “Excellence is my birthright”
- “I am always the first choice”
- “I am the main character”
- “I allow happy thoughts”
- “I am developing the happiness habit”
- “I deserve to be happy right now”
- “Success loves me and always seeks me”
- “All the systems of my body are functioning properly”
- “Day by day my health is improving”
- “I am extremely confident”
- “I am the person that has it all”
Start by respecting yourself and others will respect you even more. Those that don’t respect you aren’t ones to keep around, and that includes friends and family. Affirmations are also tools to change your vibe, the energy you send off to others and to the universe. If you are embarrassed about doing affirmations out loud, practice them mentally, or when you are in your room alone. You can also write them out on a sheet of paper and throw it away once you’re done. Now you know the change affirmation can do, it is the time to begin working with them.
“Every thought we think is creating our future.” – Louise Hay
[Meditations]
What is meditation? Meditation is a precise technique for resting the mind and attaining a state of consciousness that is totally different from the normal walking state. It is the means of fathoming all the levels of ourselves and finally experiencing the center of consciousness within. Meditation is not a part of any religion; it is a science, which means that the process of meditation follows a particular order, has the definite principles, and produces results that can be verified.
Types
Meditation can take on many different forms, but there are two main types: concentrative meditation and mindfulness meditation
1. Concentrative Meditation
It involves focusing all of your attention on a specific object while tuning out everything else around you. The goal is to really experience whatever you are focusing on, whether it is your breath, a specific word, or a mantra in order to reach a higher state of being.
2. Mindfulness Meditation
It involves the state of being aware of and involved in the present moment, and making yourself open, aware, and accepting.
How To Practice
- Choose a quiet spot that is free of distractions.
- Set a time limit.
- Pay attention to your body and get comfortable.
- Focus on breathing.
- Notice your thoughts.
Some of the other psychological, emotional, and health-related benefits of meditation include:
- Better management of symptoms of anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorders, pain issues, and high blood pressure.
- Better stress management skills
- Changes in different aspects of attention and mindfulness
- Increased self-awareness
- Improved emotional well-being
- Improved working memory and fluid intelligence
- Improved immunity
- Greater empathy for yourself and others
- Headache relief
If you are interested in trying meditation, here are some tips that can help you get started on a beneficial meditation practice.
- Start slow. Begin by doing short sessions of around 5 to 10 minutes a day, and then work your way up progressively to longer sessions.
- Set a schedule. Try meditating at the same time each day for a few minutes first thing in the morning for example.
- Get comfortable. Sitting cross-legend on the floor is one option, but comfort is the real key. You need to be in a position where you can sit for several minutes without getting comfortable, stiff, or restless.
- Focus on what you are feeling. Breath naturally and notice the feelings and sensations that you need to experience as you breath in and out.
- Don’t try to suppress feelings. Your mind is bound to wander as you meditate. And sometimes this can lead to thoughts and feelings that are uncomfortable or even distressing. The goal isn’t to clear your mind of such things. Instead, acknowledge these thoughts without judging them, and gently guide your focus back towards breathing.
Don’t expect meditation to solve all of your problems. Instead, treat it like a part of your self-care routine that plays a role in helping you feel better and less stressed. It is also important to be aware that meditation is not without some risks. The intention of meditation is to bring a more compassionate, calm and accepting approach to whatever happens.
[Tea]
Tea is a beverage produces by steeping in freshly boiled water young leaves and leaf buds of the tea plant. Looking back from my younger years I was never really into tea, since I find it bland and it doesn’t taste that good. I preferred drinking beverages such as juice and carbonated drink. But as I grow older, I learned to love drinking water and tea, as it is a lot healthier compared to others. And by consistently drinking it, I was able to see a difference and I feel a lot healthier than before. Here are some of the key health benefits that scientist reckon tea drinking can bring:
- Tea reduces the risk of heart disease. It can potentially improve the blood flow around the body, by widening key arteries and reducing the risks of clots. Tea also contains antioxidants called “flavonoids”, which may slow down the onset and risk of heart disease.
- Tea hydrates the body. Although high in caffeine, tea is still great for hydration as it provides a rich and flavorsome source of water.
- Tea prevents of tooth decay. Believe it or not, a regular supply of tea can really strengthen your teeth and lower the risk of tooth decay. Tea is a great source of fluoride, which can boister tooth enamel. The antioxidants contained within a cup have also been known to fight against bacteria and gum disease.
- Slimming through tea drinking. Some scientific studies have suggested that regular tea drinking can help to keep the body fat down by speeding up the burning of calories. If nothing else, it is less fattening than sipping a soft drink.
- Boosting memory power. Many scientists believe that certain types of tea, such as green tea, can strengthen memory cells in the brain, and other protection from the development of dementia and even Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Beating cancer through the power of tea. Some high-profile studies have recently suggested that tea drinking could seriously help your chances of avoiding cancer. Although research is still developing in this area, reports indicate that prostate, mouth and breast cancer causes are much more lower amongst those who regularly drink five or more cups of tea a day.
Different types of tea you may want to try:
1. Black Tea
Black tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. Leaves of the plant are crushed, curled, rolled, or torn and then left to oxidize before they are dried and sold. It helps support the body’s protection against oxidative stress ( which happens when damaging radicals are left unchecked in the body)
2. Green Tea
It is the most heavily studied type of “tea”. Research suggest that green tea may give these benefits; support mental alertness and acuity, support heart health, support brain health, and is great for fasting.
3. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea has antioxidant compound including EGCG, theaflavins, and thearubigins. These compounds can help support the body’s protective measure against free radicals and oxidative stress.
4. White Tea
White tea is thought to have especially high levels of good-for-you catechins. It may help support the body’s response to inflammation. It may helps dental health thanks to the fact that it contains fluoride, catechins, and tannins that may support the management of plaque bacteria in the mouth.
5. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a pretty elegant and fragrant herb. Chamomile tea is made from dried flowers of the chamomile plant. And it offers the following health benefits; It can help you feel calm and support digestion.
6. Ginger Tea
Ginger is well known for helping with nausea and cope with motion sickness.
7. Hibiscus Tea
The red brew is simultaneously sweet and tart. It can be enjoyed as iced tea and is good for a refreshing drink. This tea is packed with potential benefits of high antioxidants, healthy cholesterol management and helps support liver health
8. Mint Tea
Peppermint tea is the most popular herbal tea around and is used in a myriad of different herbal infusions. Peppermint tea may deliver some benefits for instance; It helps in digestion and may make your belly feel a little bit better, it can also help in relaxation and helps ease spasm in the gut.
9. Pu-erh Tea
It is a fermented tea. And if often the most expensive one. This tea may have these several positive effects; it can help support mental alertness, support heart health, and may help to have healthy skin.
10. Rooibos Tea
This tea is well-known for its rich, red hue, sweet earthy slightly floral flavor. It is loaded with antioxidant compounds ( including aspalathin, nothofagin, and quercetin), which may help for the protection against oxidative stress.