Personal Growth Cafe – Page 8 – Empowering You to Live Your Inspired Vision!

October 23, 2019March 27, 2018

Seven Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Home

Does this picture describe your happy home?

The baby’s crying while you hurriedly put the fast food on the table, the dog is throwing up on the floor, the hubby’s got the TV on full-blast, and your teenager just angrily slammed the door on his way out.

Unfortunately, it’s a typical scene for many of us.

However, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

There are, in fact, things you can do to ease this stress and create a more harmonious environment so that you and your family can look forward to coming home!

Although some degree of stress is inherent as you deal with the varying phases of your family members, if you strive to uphold a core set of values and go with the flow, you can maintain a happy and healthy home.

Here are some specific ways you can reduce the stress at home:

1. Get organized. Life can quickly become chaotic when you don’t maintain organization.

An organized home runs smoothly, while an unorganized home leads to stress and lost time.

A good tip is to start small with your organization efforts.

Start with one room or even a portion of a room.

The idea is to think of it as a series of small projects instead of one overwhelmingly huge one.

2. Communicate. Your family will certainly benefit from actively working on communication skills.

When you fail to communicate effectively, you may not get what you want and can even cause upsetting misunderstandings.

Working on communication will allow all family members to feel loved and appreciated and help the household run efficiently.

3. Eat dinner together. Everyone in your family likely has a busy life of their own.

It’s easy to suddenly realize that you have no idea what’s going on with your spouse or child.

When you make it a point to eat dinner together every night, you make time to connect with your family.

You’ll learn how to work as one even with busy lifestyles.

4. Have fun together. It’s important to schedule time to have fun together as a family, even if these times can’t be as often as you’d like.

Schedule family nights in advance and allow each family member a chance to pick that evening’s activity.

5. Show unconditional love. Be sure to practice the art of unconditional love with your family.

This leads to secure attachments and will ultimately keep everyone in your family happy and stress-free.

Children and parents alike need to know that, when they make mistakes, they have a loving family that will back them up and forgive them.

6. Give support. Go out of your way for your family members.

It might not be an ideal Friday night to go to your daughter’s art show, but just think of how they’ll feel when they see that they have your love and support.

Actively express your support by really being there for your family – no matter what.

Just thinking about how much you love them is not enough!

7. Family rules. Having a set of family rules will help with organization and allow everyone to know what’s expected of them.

Schedule a family meeting to establish the house rules.

Make sure everyone has a chance to participate and share his or her concerns.

You’ll likely find a compromise that allows everyone to be happy.

A happy and stress free home is one built on love.

Don’t be too hard on yourself and others, and you’ll have the basis for creating an excellent home life.

What are the major causes of stress in your family?

What is your favorite bonding time with the family to reduce stress?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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October 22, 2019March 27, 2018

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

October 22, 2019March 27, 2018

Nine Ways to Ignite the Passion in Your Relationships

After you’ve been in a relationship for a while, you’re likely to encounter a time when the passion dies down.

However, it’s not something you should completely live without either.

Everyone falls into certain patterns that are comfortable.

But, by breaking out of your comfort zone every so often, you’ll experience a sense of newness in your relationship.

It’s important to seek out that certain spark you felt when you first got together with your partner.

Those feelings are still there, you just might need to be creative in finding ways to bring them out again.

Here are some ways that you can reignite the passion in your relationships:

1. Go out of your way. Remember at the beginning of your relationship how you would go out of your way to make your partner extra happy?

Make these efforts again!

It’ll surprise your partner and be a reminder about how much you love them.

It doesn’t have to be an everyday thing, but everyone deserves a little “above and beyond” treatment!

2. Show your gratitude. You often think to yourself how grateful you are that your partner did something for you, and it’s important to let your partner know of your gratitude, too.

You can do this through better communication and positive actions.

Many times a simple, “Thank you for…” statement will let him know how much you appreciate his efforts.

3. Be considerate. Sometimes your partner is the only one who will allow you to be blunt and abrupt.

It’s important to vent, but remember to act considerate around your partner as much as you can.

4. Spend time alone together. Everyone is busy, but you need to make the extra effort to have alone time together.

It’s still important to make dates with each other and do things you’ve never done before.

5. Show affection. There are certainly ways to show your affection for your partner beyond bedroom activities.

Show your love for each other with gentle touches and hugs.

Snuggle together on the couch and just enjoy the closeness.

6. Seek adventure. Everyone has his or her own definition of adventure.

You and your partner may even find different things adventurous.

Do some of these activities together.

Engaging in exhilarating activities can certainly ignite the passion.

7. Enjoy your own alone time. On the other side of the coin, it’s a good idea to spend time away from your partner as well.

Everyone needs space at times.

Also, time apart can build up the anticipation for some of the things you may have planned with your partner.

8. Share your goals. Keep an open conversation with your partner about your future plans.

Things may not always go according to plan, but it’s good to talk about your dreams and goals.

While it’s fun to discuss what things were like at the beginning of your relationship, it’s also enjoyable to discuss where you think things are going.

9. Surprise! Surprise your partner with a gift.

It doesn’t have to be something expensive; in fact, you could even make it yourself.

Just explore some thoughtful ideas that will let your partner know that you care about them.

You’ll find passion in your relationship as long as you make an effort to break up the monotony.

Communicate well, spend time together, and explore new activities together.

When you do, you’ll discover the keys to a successful passionate relationship.

How passionate is your relationship right now?

What activities can bring passion back into your relationship?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 21, 2019March 27, 2018

Nine Ways to Pick Yourself Up After Failing

Failure is simply a stepping-stone on your way to success.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s easy to deal with or something that should be taken lightly, but how you deal with failure will determine not only your future success, but also how easy it will be to achieve.

Everyone has different coping mechanisms and ways they react to failure.

However, learning the ways that more often lead you to success can help you enormously!

Here are some tips on how to pick yourself up after you fail:

1. Learn from your failure. There is a lesson to be learned each time you fail.

Discover what this lesson is and keep it in mind during future attempts at success.

If you don’t learn from your failure, you’ll keep repeating the same mistakes.

2. Forge ahead. It’s completely normal to feel like giving up when you’re first hit by failure.

The most important part of failure is what you do afterwards.

So strive to have confidence in yourself.

This experience may very well be your last step before you reach great success!

3. Surround yourself with good people. It’s a good idea to be surrounded by like-minded and positive people.

This is especially important when you’re dealing with the negative emotions that may accompany failure.

Positive people will inspire you to pick yourself up and go further than you thought you could go.

4. Set goals. If you’ve failed at a large task, think about setting smaller, immediate goals.

If you build your way up to completing a difficult task using small steps, each step may not feel so overwhelming.

When you’re finished, you’ll be amazed at what you achieved!

5. Visualize your dreams. Fight the negative thoughts that creep up after failure by visualizing yourself meeting your goal.

Take the time to picture yourself successfully going through each step it will take to reach your goal.

6. Be enthusiastic. When you first set out to achieve something big, chances are you approached the task at hand with a great deal of enthusiasm.

If you meet failure once or even several times, it’s important to maintain the enthusiastic force to give you the energy and drive to continue toward your goal.

7. Write it down. Keep a journal that details your personal thoughts, goals, and attempts.

It will help you stay organized and focused on success.

Another good exercise is to write your goal on a piece of paper and place it somewhere where you can see it several times each day to remind yourself to take action toward this desire.

8. Don’t dwell in the past. The past doesn’t have to be your present or future.

Just because you had a setback, it doesn’t mean that it will continue to be the case. The only way to achieve your goals is to keep trying.

9. Think about the worst case scenario. What’s the worst thing that can happen if you fail?

Some people are so concerned with success and have such a horrible fear of failure that they don’t consider whether or not the worst case scenario is all that bad!

Realizing that failure may only mean a small delay toward your eventual success can alleviate some of your fears and give you the confidence to succeed.

Just Keep Trying

It’s likely that you can think of someone you know who set his or her mind on a goal and would stop at nothing to achieve it.

It’s not just some kind of story or fantasy – this could be you, too!

Adopt this drive and apply it to your situation.

When you believe in yourself and your abilities, you’ll gain the drive to keep moving forward and you’ll feel unstoppable.

How easy or difficult is it for you to overcome failure?

What lesson did you learn from your last failure?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 21, 2019March 27, 2018

To fly, we have to have resistance. – Maya Lin

October 20, 2019March 27, 2018

10 Foods That Fight Stress

It’s easy to forget the importance of everything we put into our bodies.

While you can’t always eat a completely balanced diet, you can reduce your stress levels simply by choosing stress-fighting foods.

Since everyone is different, some stress-relieving foods might work for you while others may not.

Your best bet will be to try them all and then incorporate the ones that work for you into your regular diet.

Here are some foods that can help alleviate your stress:

1. Green Leafy Vegetables. Leafy greens contain a lot of magnesium.

Magnesium is an important mineral that has the power to relax muscles.

2. Fish Oil. Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that help with serotonin uptake in the brain.

Serotonin makes you feel good mentally and enables your brain to better cope with stress.

You can get your fish oil from certain kinds of fish, such as salmon, or from supplements.

3. Milk. There is a reason that milk is sometimes referred to as a “wind down” food.

The proteins in milk can help reduce anxiety while the calcium is another mineral that can help with muscle relaxation.

4. Chocolate. A small piece of dark chocolate each day can actually provide you with many health benefits.

Chocolate has a stimulating effect.

The caffeine also helps to increase serotonin.

It’s okay to indulge in chocolate in small amounts!

5. Red Wine. Many experts believe that a glass of red wine each day provides health benefits.

The only drawback is that it’s easy to overdo it when drinking alcoholic beverages.

Wine is packed with beneficial antioxidants and can temporarily lower blood pressure and help you relax.

6. Oatmeal. Oatmeal and other carbohydrates also help increase serotonin levels in the brain.

In fact, your brain needs carbohydrates in order to function normally.

This is why it’s essential to include good carbohydrates like oatmeal in your regular diet.

7. Lean Meats. Lean meats can help you combat stress by providing a good source of protein.

Turkey, eggs, chicken and fish are all good choices because they contain necessary amino acids for healthy brain function.

Remember not to eat fatty meats because the fat can interfere with proper digestion of the amino acids.

8. Coffee. Yes, caffeine is a stimulant and there is also a risk of developing an unhealthy habit.

However, moderation is the key.

Coffee can help stimulate the brain into working with more energy and efficiency, helping you feel more motivated and less stressed.

9. Nuts. Nuts help you maintain your proper blood sugar.

They also contain plenty of the vitamin B complex, which combats fatigue.

10. Spinach. Spinach is one of the world’s super foods. It contains many vitamins, antioxidants and omega 3’s.

This means it would be hard to eat spinach and not feel good!

Vitamins & Supplements

Of course, it’s always best to get your nutrients from the natural source.

If this isn’t possible, or if you can’t stomach a certain food, it’s best to look for vitamin supplements so you can still derive some benefits from it.

Vitamin supplements help your body get the nutrients it might be missing.

Once you start consuming these necessary nutrients, you’ll be on your way to feeling healthier and stress-free.

How often do you do stress eating?

Which of these foods will work best for you? Why?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 20, 2019March 27, 2018

I banish thoughts of giving up with one more push.

October 19, 2019March 27, 2018

10 Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety can take over your life without you really knowing it.

It’s important to stay in touch with your inner self to maintain balance and notice when there might be a problem.

If your anxiety is severe or causes you to panic, be sure to see a health professional.

However, for day-to-day anxiety, there are natural ways you can reduce anxiety by yourself.

Here are some herbs, tips, and techniques you can use to alleviate your anxiety:

1. Passionflower. Passionflower is a popular herb that has been known to help reduce anxiety.

For many, passionflower is as effective as some prescription drugs.

It also helps with insomnia since anxiety and insomnia often go hand in hand.

2. Self-Hypnosis. Hypnosis can be a great way to relax and get in touch with your subconscious.

Self-hypnosis enables you to perform techniques on yourself instead of requiring someone else’s assistance.

3. Proper Nutrition. Sometimes you may forget about the intense connection between how you feel and what you put into your body.

Simply paying attention to getting a natural, well-balanced diet can help you reduce anxiety.

If eating right is difficult for you, be sure to take a multivitamin and avoid chemicals, processed foods, and caffeine when possible.

4. Time Management. A hectic schedule can cause anxiety.

Perhaps it’s time to drop some activities or manage your time in a more efficient fashion.

Remember to schedule time for yourself to focus on activities that relax you.

5. St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort has been used as a supplement for centuries.

It’s a natural herb that can help with both depression and anxiety. It’s best used for mild to moderate cases.

6. Acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient art that can reduce your anxiety by enabling you to feel calm and relaxed.

It involves the use of thin needles that are used to relax your muscles.

7. Worry Time. If you feel that all you do is worry, it’s time to pick a worry time.

Choose a period of the day – maybe 5 to 6 PM – where you allow yourself to worry as much as you want.

Worrying is simply not allowed or tolerated during the rest of the day.

Every time you feel worries arise during other times of the day, tell yourself that the worries have to wait for your worry time.

You’ll soon find that you won’t really worry all that much during your worry time!

8. Exercise. Studies have shown that regular exercise can reduce anxiety.

Exercise produces serotonin (the “feel good” hormone), relieves stress, increases oxygen levels throughout the body, and relaxes your muscles.

9. Meditation. Pick a time each day when you can meditate.

Find a quiet, relaxing place and focus on your breathing while you relax.

Next, immerse yourself in visualizing that you are living the life you desire.

Meditation can relax, inspire, and motivate you.

10. Valerian Root. This is another natural anxiety herb.

It’s an excellent choice if you also have trouble sleeping.

Valerian root can be taken as a tea or a capsule and should be taken approximately two hours before you go to bed.

Whether you choose a natural herb, activity, or life change to reduce your anxiety, you’re making a good decision when you opt to go with a natural solution to your problem.

How do you feel about your anxiety level?

How are you working on reducing your anxiety level?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 19, 2019March 27, 2018

You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself be. – Lou Holtz

October 18, 2019March 27, 2018

10 Natural Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress is something that affects everyone.

Stress does serve a purpose and there’s even such a thing as good stress.

However, when you feel like your stress is getting out of hand, the best thing you can do for your body is to look for natural stress relievers.

Here are some techniques you can use to reduce your stress level:

1. Practice yoga and meditation. Yoga and meditation are ancient arts that have been proven to work.

They can be practiced separately or together.

When you connect the mind, body, and spirit in a healthy, peaceful fashion you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated.

2. Enjoy the benefits of green tea. Green tea is a natural herb that you can drink or take in capsule form.

It’s loaded with beneficial antioxidants to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle.

It’s a natural stress reliever and helps boost metabolism to energize you. It may even help with weight loss.

3. Go for a walk. Many people think that going for a walk is only good for your physical fitness.

However, walking can benefit you spiritually and mentally as well.

Staying even moderately active increases oxygen levels in your brain, which also improves your mental state.

Plus, a 20-minute walk gives your mind a chance to reflect and rejuvenate.

4. Keep a diary. Keeping a diary can help you unload your thoughts in a private manner.

You have the benefits of knowing that your secrets are safe and you can still vent in the process.

Venting on paper just might prove to be a great stress reliever.

5. Try aromatherapy. Many herbs can be used in aromatherapy to calm you in a natural way.

Try lavender, rosemary, or peppermint for some popular choices.

6. Get a full body massage. A massage is a great way to relax your muscles.

It also helps to get blood flowing properly throughout the body, which naturally reduces stress.

7. Listen to music. You may want to try some traditional relaxing music such as classical or world music.

However, everyone is different, so experiment with different types of music that you might find relaxing.

8. Use stress-reducing herbs. Herbs are affordable, natural, and a great way to relieve your stress.

There are many herbs that have been known to promote calmness and overall feelings of well-being.

Some of them include chamomile and St. John’s Wort.

9. Take a warm bath. Taking a warm bath is beneficial to your body and mind.

The warmth will help your body relax while the peaceful time to yourself will help you achieve a balanced mindset.

10. Do something funny. The saying “laughter is the best medicine” is no joke!

Laughing can definitely help you to relax and therefore reduce stress.

Do something you personally find funny, like going to a comedy show or hanging out with a good friend.

You’ll soon find that there are endless possibilities for natural ways of reducing your stress.

Your job will be to find out what works best for you personally.

As long as you take time out of each day to take a break and unwind, you’ll be well on your way to reducing your stress.

How much time do you take each day to clear your mind and relax?

How can daily relaxation help eliminate stress from your day?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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