Life

Eating Habits that Improves Nutrition and Nurtures Healthy Living

August 3, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Proper nutrition is one of the most cardinal things for one’s health. If you want to feel happy and content with who you are, or to look slim and attractive, despite your age, start with changing unhealthy eating habits to healthy ones. Though most of our eating habits develop in childhood, it is never too late to change them. Making sudden changes or restrictions (Diet) in eating habits can lead to weight loss in the short term but is not a healthy idea of reducing your weight and would not be successful in the long run. To ensure healthy living, you need not eat less, but eat right.

Therefore, one should gradually improve eating habits through a thoughtful approach as follows-

REFLECT on your eating habits, both bad and good; and, your common triggers for unhealthy eating.

Create a list of everything you eat and at what time of the day to uncover your habits. E.g., you might discover that you crave for a sweet after the meal.
Highlight the habits that may lead you to overeat like eating too fast, eating when not hungry, eating while standing (may lead to eating mindlessly), Skipping meals.
Review the unhealthy habits highlighted and identify the triggers that let you engage in those habits. These may be opening the cabinet & seeing your favorite snack, watching TV at home, feeling bored/ tired/ stressed.

REPLACE unhealthy eating habits with healthier ones like slow eating if you are a fast eater, eating fruit to replace dessert, or drinking low-fat or fat-free milk, avoiding TV during meals. Try to replace stress eating with some non-eating activities like reading a book, exercising, going for a spa, or finding something other than food that helps you unload your distress.

REINFORCE or take action on your new, healthier eating habits and be patient as it takes time to develop new habits.

Studies have indicated that our eating habits connect with our mood, and certain foods can help manage emotional challenges, such as anxiety, anger, and insomnia. Also, a healthy diet can help fight depression. It is because the gut (stomach) and brain are connected. When people have chronic stress, there is a disruption in the stomach, which allows the harmful bacteria to overtake the good ones, and the communication between the gut and brain breaks down. Food can resolve this imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your stomach.

Healthy Eating-

Try to inculcate BRAIN FOODS in your diet where each letter reflects what should we consume-

B- Berries, for fiber and antioxidants.
R- Rainbow colors of fruits and vegetables, to provide a diversity of fibers and nutrients. Paint your plate with more colors to get more nutrient variation.
A- Antioxidants, to get rid of damaging compounds made in the body.
I- Include lean protein.
N- Nuts, a good source of nutrients.

F- Fiber-rich foods and Fruits and Veggies, which feed the good gut bacteria.
O- Oil (healthy) such as olive oil, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
O- Omega 3 fatty acid-rich foods, which have anti-inflammatory effects.
D- Dairy, which adds good bacteria to your gut.
S- Spices because certain spices have excellent brain benefits.

Eat less CRAP-

C- Carbonated drinks.
R- Refined Sugar.
A- Artificial Sweeteners & Colors.
P- Processed Foods.

Ways to Change your Eating Habits-

Select foods that promote your health & prevent ailment and maintain or reduces weight. Healthy eating provides the sustained energy our body needs. Below listed are some ways to make healthy changes in your eating habits:

Drink lemon water empty stomach, which is a rich source of Vitamin C and acts as a detoxifying agent and has antibacterial properties.

Eat lots of vegetables (3 or more servings a day), especially dark green vegetables and a variety of fruits (2 or more a day). It is advisable to eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. So, consider swapping your snacks for fresh fruits or fruit juice.

Do not skip or delay your meals and fix a time for your snacks. Some people skip breakfast, thinking it will help them lose weight. Others are so busy that eating often becomes a chore. Remember, if you ignore your feelings of hunger, you may give into not-so-healthy cravings eating much more than required.

Include more herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, black pepper, etc. They have proven benefits in boosting your immunity.

Reduce refined or processed carbohydrates, eat whole-grain, high-fiber bread, and cereals. Avoid intake of carbohydrates after 7:30 pm.

Drink low-fat or fat-free milk and eat low-fat dairy products.

Reduce intake of saturated fats and choose foods that contain unsaturated fats instead, such as vegetable oils or olive oil, and avocados. Saturated fats cause blood cholesterol to increase, which enhances the risk of heart disease.

Reduce the daily intake of salt or sodium because it can raise your blood pressure and increases the chances of heart disease or a stroke. Try to avoid salt after 7:30 pm.

Restrict Junk food as it contains refined white flour, solid fats, added sugars, and are high in sodium.

Reduce or eliminate sodas and other free sugar-added drinks that are high in calories and lead to weight gain and tooth decay. Use product labels to check how much sugar the foods contain. Instead, drink 100% natural fruit juice.

Drink enough water (at least 3-4 liters) to stop you from getting dehydrated and helps in detoxification. Place a water bottle at your desk or use an app to track how much you drink. If your body craves for a sugary drink, try to drink fruit infused water.

Drink water between bites. It will help you to feel that you are full so that you do not stuff yourself. But avoid water immediately after finishing your meal as it dilutes the digestive enzymes and can lead to poor digestion and acidity.

Take a pause, chew more, and eat slowly because it helps the food break down and help you revel in the flavors, textures, and smell, which makes you appreciate food more, eat less. When we eat fast, we tend to eat more than our body wants as the brain realizes in around 20 min that your stomach is full.

Serve your snacks on a plate rather than eating from the package. It helps you control how much you eat.

Find a way to include the foods you love without overindulging, as this is part of being healthy. Do not ignore your craving, but do not go overboard while trying to sate your desire. A small piece of dessert will not impair your goal.

Save the best bite for last so that you leave your meal satisfying your craving without overindulging.

The food that you eat, in turn, affects your health. You may require to change some of your daily habits to eat healthier. But you need not change all your habits at the same time. Awareness is the start. Proceed with small changes, try to sustain them, and then build on your healthy habits. Over a period, these small changes can make a big difference in your health.

The food that you eat can be the safest and most potent form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. So, do not focus on short term diet but a long-term lifestyle change, which concentrates on making you healthier. When we begin to change our relationship to food, we change the way we live!!

Catch the Rain Where It Falls: A Revolution in Water Harvesting and Management

August 2, 2020 by Bob Singhal

As I was growing up, when it rained, I always used to wonder where does all the water go? Once I understood, I realized what a waste of a billion liters of water it is, till the time I heard and understood the concept of Rainwater harvesting. You may recall your grandfather talking about the old rain cistern(tank) on his farm. The tanks were water storage for cattle and other livestock. They would use gutters and connect rooftop rainwater into the reservoir for storage. Cisterns like these were a step in the evolution of rainwater harvesting but were far from the point where rainwater harvesting began.

The Need for Water

Why collect rainwater? Ancient civilizations had basic needs to survive as we do in the present age. Water, food, and shelter were a continuous need and struggle, especially in dry climates where water was scarce. But, there was a solution, and people came up with brilliant methods of storing water. One such idea that became a sustaining source throughout thousands of years was rainwater collection and diversion.

Origin of Rainwater Harvesting

It is nearly impossible to find out as to which civilization used rainwater harvesting first. The basic structure of these systems often involved a large rock formed into a basin using clay and other stones to seal it from leaking. Water would be stored using different diversion tactics and used for drinking, washing, agriculture, irrigation, and more.

The process of collecting and storing rainwater, rather than allowing it to run off is known as Rainwater harvesting (RWH). Rainwater harvesting systems capture rainwater by diverting it from large surfaces (e.g., roofs) to an underground holding tank (water sumps). It is essential, especially in areas with low water levels. Rainwater is free from harmful chemicals, making the water suitable for irrigation purposes because it does not harm the crops. It reduces the demand for potable water. The harvested water is then filtered and pumped directly to the appliances or a header tank. The water is ready for use for domestic or commercial applications include washing, flushing toilets. The most common method of rainwater harvesting is rooftop harvesting.

Rainwater harvesting measures should begin four months before the monsoon is to arrive. If we undertake rainwater harvesting in every house, we can replenish the groundwater on a vast scale. For each square meter of area, we can collect about 1,000 liters(appx) of water per year. A house of 200 square meters area can conserve 2 lakh liters of water every year. Rainwater not harvested is wasted. A systematic harvesting system would benefit all.

Rainwater harvesting, if carried out on time, correctly and by everyone, will save the misery resulting from waterlogging, and submerged subways and underpasses. Waterlogging points to poor infrastructure but also that had proper and stable structures been in place, especially on roads and flyovers, waterlogging would not have caused so much disruption in terms of loss of life and property.

Collected rainwater has several uses, no matter what type of rainwater harvesting system you have.

Collecting your rainwater is an excellent way to conserve this precious resource. A basic rainwater collection system catches water from your roof or other surface and channels it into a container for storage. There are many uses for collected rainwater, no matter what type of rainwater harvesting system you have.

Drinking and cooking.

Rainwater, if collected without touching the surface, is high-quality water for consumption. It’s pure and doesn’t contain any chlorine or other chemicals otherwise used in sanitizing tap water. The problem occurs when rainwater collected from roofs or other dirty surfaces is made available for drinking purposes. By either installing a filtration system, boiling, or distilling it, you can make rainwater safe to drink. Some systems can also directly collect rainwater for drinking purposes.

Bathing and laundry.

Washing clothes account for about 22 percent of indoor water use, Showers 17 percent, and baths 2 percent. If you alternate with harvested rainwater for all these purposes, you could reduce your municipal water usage by over 40 percent. Depending on how clean and clear you want your washing water, you could either treat or untreated rainwater.

Flushing toilets.

Another considerable water drain, toilets, use almost 27 percent of water in your home.

Watering gardens and houseplants.

Rainwater, naturally designed to water plants, can easily be used for indoor and outdoor gardens and lawns. You can either use rainwater in watering cans to water plants by hand or connect any rainwater storage tanks or reservoirs directly to an automatic irrigation system.

Water for wildlife, pets, or livestock.

You can use recycled rainwater for birdbaths. Water is also typically safe for pets or livestock to drink or wash in, especially if you have a direct method to collect clean rainwater.

Rinsing vegetables

Rainwater is excellent for rinsing vegetables straight from your garden, especially root vegetables. Try filling a large bucket with water, adding some carrots, potatoes, beets, or other hard vegetables, and swish them together to knock the soil off.

Outdoor water bodies

Filtered rainwater is useful for fountains or other water bodies with pumps. You can fill your outdoor ponds and pools with any collected rainwater.

Washing vehicles and equipment

Washing vehicles is another excellent use for untreated rainwater. Cars, garden tools, lawnmowers, tractors, and even the driveway and sides of your house are perfect candidates.

Need Of The Hour- Water Conservation

The level of groundwater is decreasing because of deforestation and ecological imbalance. Due to urbanization and industrialization in urban areas, the demand for water supply is increasing. The reason for this is the use of excessive groundwater which is going downwards. The danger of water shortage will increase in the future, proving to be an end of human life if there is no immediate action.

Water harvesting is beneficial for meeting various needs like a recharge of groundwater, reducing the electricity bill spent in supplying water, and supplying pure water at any time whenever required. The increase in the water level of 1 meter will save the power of 0.4 kilowatts.

It`s not an overstatement that the next war will be over water. Any constructive measures that you take, big or small, counts and will be better for the society as a whole. There are many options available to store water, and the awareness for this is of paramount importance worldwide. All we need to do is implement necessary, simple measures.

Love & Compassion Towards Animals and its Impact on Our Lives

July 31, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Do you own a pet? Did you ever have one? If not, do you love animals?

Do you know that Human beings are called Social Apes? The primary difference between a human being and an animal is that humans have a better sense of right and wrong; they can speak their hearts out. Have you ever experienced that feeling of kindness and love for animals? Love and bonding with an animal? It might either be with your pet or wild animals. When we talk about pets, people generally restrict themselves to dogs and cats, which is not true. People also tend to keep rabbits, birds, horses, turtles, fishes, etc. as pets.

In the past, animals were domesticated for specific use like dogs for tracking and house safety, and cats for killing rats. However, today, owning a pet is primarily because of bonding and love towards animals, as pets are considered a part of the family. Most of the pet owners would agree that their pets sleep in their room or their bed as well, in a few cases, at night; they celebrate their pet’s birthdays, or they grief their demise as it leaves an emptiness in their life and completes their pet’s last rites just like that of humans.

Kindness and love for animals are closely associated with the goodness of one’s character. Also, one may confidently advocate that the one who is cruel and harsh to animals cannot be a good man. Developing connection and empathy with animals is a vital part of our social development as well. One of the findings in some research is that people with pets survive longer than people with human social support alone. When we play with a pet, oxytocin, a love hormone, is released in our body and has multifold benefits. Our interactions with animals can impact physical and emotional health, and the following are some of the importance of animal compassion in human lives-

It reduces stress.
It diminishes your aggression and increases generosity.
It improves mental health by reducing loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
It increases your trust, bonding, and attachment and overall socializing skills.
It Relaxes our autonomic system, which includes blood pressure, cortisol, and epinephrine levels.
It minimizes the possibility of cardiovascular diseases and increases longevity by lowering our BP and cholesterol.
It promotes empathy and compassion in people.

Girl Sleeping with Cat — A Girl Sleeping with her Cat

However, owning a pet makes you their master but does not give you the right to abuse them. When you love animals and are kind to them, they repay that love exponentially. However, each of them has a different way of expressing it. They tend to express their affection commonly by licking, cuddling, tail-wagging, jumping in the air, offering their paws to shake hands, leaning against, and following their master. Whatever the case is, being compassionate towards animals makes you nothing but a kinder more gentle, and giving person.

Do you know why some people love animals so much?

Have you ever wondered why sometimes we love our pets more than our relatives or next-door neighbours? Does this astonish you that how two completely different species can make each other so happy? Or ever thought why should we be compassionate towards animals? It is because people disappoint and betray, but the animals will never do. A few reasons are as below-

Animals are a great companion. Dogs are often known as the best friend of a man. There is nothing comparable to the joy of coming home to see a companion who eagerly waits for you.

Pets love you unconditionally and without any expectations. They do not care if you are skinny or obese, rich or poor, black or white. All they demand is your presence, your love, your voice & touch, and nothing else.

Pets are loyal to you. In a world where humans can’t trust each other, you can blindly trust your pet as they cannot talk behind your back and never betray you.

Animals are the most supportive audience without any argument. You can always talk to them, confide in your darkest secrets with them. They are there all the time when you need them, and they ask no questions and pass no criticisms.

Pets bring you contentment. No matter how tiring or unpleasant a day you had, they will always be there to welcome you and make you feel pampered and relaxed.

Animals are divine mirrors, and the more you love them, they will reflect the same. They do not understand evil or jealousy. They also do not judge you, unlike humans.

Animals share emotions. They can laugh when you laugh, cry when you cry, and feel distressed when their master is sad.

Animals also help lonely people to discover a sense of meaning or purpose in their lives by filling a void.

Even when you do not treat your pets well, they still come to you and teach you forgiveness, love, empathy towards them, and other humans as they are increasingly becoming desensitized towards others.

Pets bring you closer to Mother Earth and let you stay connected to your roots. When we watch wild animals in their territory, it reminds us to be humble about our strength and dominance.

As they say, ‘A part of our soul remains unawakened until we have loved an animal.’ So, having a pet can be an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience. It comes with great responsibility and is a privilege too. It will take nothing away from you to be kind to an animal. Instead, it will give you all their love and affection. Loving animals will make you rich beyond measure, despite the few possessions or little money you have. However, love towards animals is not just restricted to household animals if you do not have an animal as a pet, you can show your love by feeding the hungry stray animals or helping the injured or sick animals by contacting animal welfare agencies to provide them shelter and treatment.

To conclude, I believe being compassionate towards animals will make more room for compassion among people, weaving more empathy, and fill us with respect, dignity, and love for others. Make sure the next time when you look into an animal’s eyes, you do not see an animal. You should see a living being, a friend, a soul, and a companion.

Benefits Of Transforming Your Bathroom To Lush Green Lawn

July 28, 2020 by Bob Singhal

The Bathroom offers that momentary space of seclusion and a great place to unwind from the tensions of the day with a nice hot shower or warm bath. In this, the Bathroom becomes much more than just another room in the house; it becomes a safe space. So, your Bathroom needs a new appearance. When you add plants to your bathroom, they don’t just look attractive; they purify the surrounding air, keep pollutants away, and eliminate unpleasant odors. They also ease stress and make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, which is why you must keep greens in your bathroom.

What do plants do to the Bathroom

Indoor plants are useful in so many ways: They are a lovely visual addition to space, creating warmth, and adding color. They function in the opposite direction of what we do when we breathe: release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, which not only freshens up the air but also eliminates harmful toxins. Aside from their air-purifying qualities, plants provide style. If you love to add plants to your home but cannot keep them breathing, consider placing them in your Bathroom. Plantlife in your Bathroom adds warmth and fresh oxygen to spaces that can sometimes be sterile. But, keep in mind that plants require natural sunlight. Plants generally strive on the regular doses of moisture that come from your shower.

Grandma's Green Bathroom — Grandma’s Green Bathroom

How do I place Plants in my Bathroom

Simple Hanging

To add aesthetic into your Bathroom, choose a simple plant to hang. Opt for something flowy that ensures the plant will fill up space on the wall. You can use the ceiling to hang or use a towel hook to keep it right at eye level.

Go Tiny

Small-scale plants, along with sleek planters, will fit perfectly on any countertop or shelf. If you’re tight on space area, this is the perfect approach to try.

Shelves display

Use the shelves to exhibit some vibrant greens. From plants that tend to swirl to ones that grow big and bushy, an empty shelf or two is ideal for these greens to thrive. For using the shelves, make sure you’re working with plants that don’t necessarily require sunlight. A bold choice like a Boston fern is an ideal choice.

Bathtub Display

Explore the side ledges of the bathtub, and place small potted plants. Choose plants with different heights to create a little anecdote that will feel like a miniature jungle of your own.

Use Excess Space

Declutter some of your essentials into storage baskets to make way for a small plant on your shelves. Also, a hanging plant uplifts the bathroom when placed on a shower curtain rod.

Plants as per the nature of Bathroom

Choose plants for a bathroom with the assumption that they need to tolerate humid conditions. Yet constant humidity is present only in the master or family bathrooms, where the shower or bathtub usage is more frequent. In a guest bathroom, the conditions may be relatively dry most of the time and darker than in a family bathroom. Make sure to consider the nature of the Bathroom and pick plants that are suited to those conditions. Plants for a guest bath need to have a good tolerance for drier, darker conditions.

A lot of plants can survive in the bathroom that has a window and gets natural light. Keep the plants away from the source of water (so don’t place them on the floor of your shower) Opt for planters with drainage holes.

Living plants turn bathrooms into pleasant places for users, improving the decor and air quality. And the Bathroom can be a suitable environment for plants. A warm, humid bath provides the perfect setting for plants, and water to irrigate the plants is always close at hand. But, still make your choices tactfully. The bathroom temperature is not perfect all the time for all the indoor plants.

Even though there is warm, humid air during shower time, the room can become colder when not in use for hours, especially after dawn. These fluctuations in temperature are not suitable for many indoor plants.
Not all plants survive in high levels of humidity. Plants like Succulents prefer drier conditions and will rot if kept consistently moist. Several other plants develop powdery mildew in high humidity.
Some bathrooms are darker, which means low levels of sunlight. You can overcome this restriction with fluorescent bulbs, which provide plenty of light in wavelengths that plants can use.

The above three factors should be kept in consideration while choosing the plants for the Bathroom. The following are some suggestions for plants that will do in average bathroom conditions.

1. Asparagus Fern

This plant loves the humidity of a bathroom. It grows well in either moderate or bright light, so a spot by a window is best. The plant is highly toxic—keep away from pets and small children.

2. Begonia

Many types of begonias grow very well in containers, and they enjoy the warmth and humidity of a bathroom shelf—begonias like humid conditions. Begonias famous for their flowers need a bright spot in the Bathroom, with some direct early morning sunlight.

3. Bromeliads

Bromeliads readily produce long-lasting blooms in locations where most house plants can not blossom at all. These are ideally suited to grow in the Bathroom’s humidity, but they also need the right amount of air circulation. The bathroom exhaust fan could run for a few hours each day.

4. Cast-Iron Plant

It is one of the rare indoor plants that will bask near the full shade in the bathroom. As the plant does not require high humidity, it makes it suitable for guest bathrooms, not used frequently.

5. Chinese Evergreen

These large-leaved, tropical perennials will grow even if you forget to water and feed it. On the one hand, it loves humidity, and on the other hand, it will also tolerate dry air, provided put away out of cold drafts, which can damage the leaves.

6. Croton

These plants require bright, but indirect light, and lots of humidity and moisture, although they do not like to sit in wet soil.

7. Ferns

Many ferns make great houseplants. These plants can survive the temperature fluctuations in a bathroom, and they grow well in humidity. Some can even be placed right in a shower stall, where they are regularly soaked.

8. Gardenia

These tropical evergreens are not particularly easy to grow indoors since they respond poorly to cold drafts or sudden blasts of heat. Still, they can work well in the Bathroom’s humid conditions, provided they get enough bright light.

Ways to Achieve Forgiveness in Life

July 25, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

In a world where people believe in ‘An Eye for an Eye,’ taking revenge seems easier and brings more satisfaction, but it takes courage and strength to Forgive someone. The need for retaliation poisons our mind, and if we take a break from planning to take revenge, and think about the benefits of forgiving others, we become happier, and joy knocks our door.

A good relationship has two things- Love and Forgiveness. Forgiveness is a voluntary action to let go of the feeling of anger, bitterness, vengeance towards someone who has hurt you. It is a conscious decision to subdue negative emotions. Forgiveness is when a person gives up his right to hurt you for hurting them.

Do you ever regret fighting with someone and holding on to grudges for long and wasting the valuable time that you could have instead spent together? Everyone has flaws. Everyone tends to make mistakes, which leads to disagreements, fights, sorrow, etc. Life is too short to continue holding on to regrets as later, and these petty issues do not even matter in life. Therefore, one should learn to forgive quickly.

We cannot even decipher the healing power of forgiveness. It depends on us whether you decide whether to let go of the person or let go of the situation that makes us angry. Sometimes, it is the greatest challenge to forgive. It might take time and might require a sense of compassion that we feel the other person does not deserve, but we deserve that solace. So, forgive because it is the attribute of the strong and not the weak.

What does Forgiveness not mean?

When one forgives, it does not mean that:

They forget what is done to them.
They accept the wrongful acts of others.
It gives the other person a room to hurt them again.
They are obligated to resolve differences with the person.

Why should we Practice Forgiveness?

Whenever you are angry, you cannot let the feeling fade away within seconds with someone’s apology. But always question yourself- that Is the anger worth it? Will this feeling hurt you or bring you peace? What matters more- relationship with the person or your temper? You can either be harsh or let it go. Forgiveness is a choice. If you exercise it, you can reap the following benefits-

Restores positive thinking
Eliminates negativity and depression
Reduces anxiety, stress, and blood pressure
Boosts Self-esteem
Reinstates relationships
Enhanced conflict management skills
Earns respect from others
Attains Inner peace and becomes happier

Ways to Forgiveness?

Take time to act on your anger and resentment about what happened and communicate about what you felt terrible. Practice anger management to soothe your mind.

Think through the Pros and Cons– Question your inner self- if you do not forgive, how will it impact your happiness, relationship with the person/ with others, problems the pain can cause, your work/ family/ you from becoming a better person.? And then think of the benefits of forgiveness i.e., how it makes you happier; free you from the pain and the past; improve your relationships.

Commit yourself to Let go – Holding on to anger is like drinking poison expecting the other person to die. Try to forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness but because you deserve peace by letting go because it means to give something up for yourself and not for them. It takes time to get over something. Don’t rush to do that instantaneously. But commit yourself to change and let go because the pain hurts you more than it hurts others.

Enlarge your perspective & Empathize– Rise above your self-centered story and step into the other person’s shoes and recognize what the other person might be going through. Try to understand why the other person did this, what he could have been thinking, what he could have felt, and how he felt afterward? Just because they did something wrong, don’t forget all the things they did right.

Conquer the Suffering– We often focus more on the wounds and let ourselves be carried away by “what happened to me.” Even if it was horrible and has taken away everything, you can only defeat it by not letting it destroy your joy and peace.

Realize you have a choice– You cannot control other’s actions, but you can control yours and your thoughts. You can choose to move on. Don’t let your emotional baggage take control over you and pull you down from exercising this choice.

Take responsibility– You cannot clap single-handedly. Don’t perceive yourself as the victim, rather understand your role in that situation. Try to figure out how you could be partially responsible for being in this situation. What could you have done to avert it now and in the future? Seek peace and understanding by blaming people less and taking offenses less personally.

Focus on the present– It is vital to find happiness in life as it happens. You cannot move back in time to fix your mistakes. So, stop reflecting on the past as it causes unhappiness and stress. Instead, learn from them, look for beauty, love, and kindness around you. Bring your focus back to the present. Amend the way you look at the past to remind yourself of your heroic choice to forgive. Forgiveness enlarges the future than changing the past.

Allow peace to enter your life– As you focus on the present, try to focus on your breathing. Imagine that pain and past are getting released from your body and mind with each breath going out. And imagine peace filling you up with each breath coming in.

Feel compassion and Forgive– It may take time but let the love for them grow in your heart. Ask yourself- what is the best thing you can do for both of you? Is it having a conversation to resolve or getting a neutral opinion of the third person or creating some space for a while to cool down or amending the way you think? Finally, forgive them and learn that in forgiveness, as you move on, you allow yourself to be happy.

Golden Rules to Cultivate Forgiving Attitude

You can steer through the storms in your life by fostering an attitude of forgiveness-

Forgive for minor offenses and hold no grudges by the time you hit your bed at the end of every day.

If you have a laundry list of unresolved grievances, consider one at a time and forgive those involved.

Even when you have bruised pride, Don’t wait for an apology to forgive. Remember the time someone else forgave you. Bear with the faults of others, as someday you would have them bear with yours.

Once forgiven, Don’t allow your mind to brood over previously overlooked offences as there is a risk of bitterness knocking your door a second time.

Remembering a wrong is an enormous burden on the mind. So, always forgive your enemies as nothing is more annoying to them. Forgiveness is the process where we disarm our opponent with patience and remember that making peace is the greatest revenge you can take. Don’t let an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation govern your life. Practice forgiveness as it gives you another chance to make a new beginning!!

Happiness Is A Choice To Be Made Not To Be Chased

July 24, 2020 by Bob Singhal

Happiness is something that can’t be put in words. It can only be felt from someone’s expression or a smile. Likewise, happiness is a signal of a kind and prosperous life. Moreover, happiness comes from within, and no one can steal it from you. When you feel well-being, joy, or content, that’s when you feel happy. When people are successful or safe, or lucky, they feel comfortable. Happiness is the state of emotional well-being and being content. Happiness is revealed through joyful moments and smiles. It is a desirable feeling that everybody wants to have at all times. Your state of happiness is swayed by conditions, triumphs, and other incidents. Happiness is a personal attribute that mirrors the state of mind. A relaxed state of mind is considered to be happy. The emotional state of happiness is a mixture of pleasure, comfort, gratitude, euphoria, and victory.

How Happiness Is Achieved

Happiness is achieved psychologically by having a peaceful state of mind. Happiness is also achieved through the realization of goals that are fixed by individuals. It’s known that happiness follows triumphs, and the outcome is the feeling of victory and fulfillment.

To desire happiness in life, a person must prioritize himself first and have good self-perseverance. Staging on top of what makes you happy first, instead of putting other people first is a genuine quest for being joyful. In life, people give you a setback, and tagging them as a priority will reduce contentment for individuals. There is also the concept of self-love and self-acceptance. Loving and prioritizing oneself is the key to happiness because it will mean that it will not be challenging to put yourself first when making decisions. It is recommended that matters that give you a stressful state of mind should be eluded.

Happiness is a personal decision that is characterized by the preferences made. A common phrase on happiness, “happiness is a choice,” is true and real because people choose to be happy. Circumstances cause happiness, and people have the liberty to select those circumstances and remain distant from those that give them unhappiness.

Happiness is also attained through the class of support systems that an individual has around him. Having family or friends that are supportive and loving will enable you to achieve happiness.

Can Money Buy Happiness?

Every day we see and meet individuals who look happy from the outside, but deep down, they are broken and sad. For the majority of society, money is the number one cause of happiness or grief. But this doesn’t seem right. Money can buy you food, luxurious house, healthy lifestyle servants, and many more facilities, but money can’t buy you happiness.

Easy Ways to Be Smiling Each Day

Simple modifications to your daily habits will put you on the fast track to happiness. Below are easy, quick, and no-cost methods to indulge and effectively experience and spread joyfulness.

Get Seven to Nine Hours of Sleep

Getting adequate sleep is a prerequisite for a happy, energetic, and productive day against a disturbing sleep, which can lead to reduced alertness and logic and general health issues such as obesity.

Wake Up 15 to 30 Minutes Early

Waking up 15 to 30 minutes early than your usual time will allow you to get a positive and enlightening commencement to your day. You’ll immediately see a difference in your outlook.

Meditate

Starting your day with meditation also sets a positive intention, allowing you to detach from habitual thought barriers and keep you alert and active. Meditation also helps prevent stress and anxiety.

Declutter

Accumulating things which are not required ultimately harms your mental, emotional, and physiological well-being. Once the clutter gets removed by spending a few minutes to remove the items collecting dust, your mood and happiness will effectively improve.

Learn Something New

Learning something new boosts your well-being, builds your self-confidence, and keeps you sharp. Focusing on making progress every day puts us in a state of flow, which has been shown to foster happiness.

Walk It Out

Thirty minutes of walking a day help to adjust your nervous system, thus reducing anger and hostility.

Disengage From Social Media

When you are too much into social media use, it harms your mental health. Instead, use that time productively by reading the news, playing a brain-boosting game, or listening to a fun or thought-provoking podcast. You’ll take real joy from the activity and, at the same time, become a better version of yourself without changing a thing.

Perform A Random Act Of Kindness

Kindness is contagious. Giving back without expecting any reward is truly a win-win situation. The recipient, as well as the giver benefit. You feel better and happy, knowing you’ve positively impacted someone’s life.

Surround Yourself With Happy People

Find the most positive and engaging people with whom to interact. This will motivate your level of happiness, sense of achievement, and even open new doors in your professional or personal life.

Don’t Gossip

Just drive the focus away from the negative! Try to keep away those who always talk and spread negativity.

Journal

Get into the routine of writing just 50-words at least three times a week about anything. Forming this simple daily habit builds a myriad of mental and emotional benefits.

Practice Self-Care

Utilize the time each day to indulge in something that will get you joy and relaxation, such as listening to music, cooking a great dish, or reading a book. You’ll be surprised at how simple acts of self-care improve your mind, body, and soul.

As you can now see, there are innumerable ways to shake up your day and get out of boring routines. So pick one, and let the fun and life begin!

Conclusion:

Happiness is a relevant emotion that influences how we live and feel daily. There are a lot of simple ways to achieve happiness. People have the freedom to choose happiness because any circumstances for life do not bound us. Factors that control happiness are those that contribute to emotional well-being. Physical well-being also affects happiness. Every individual finds happiness on their own because they know what makes them happy and what doesn’t.