How to Strengthen Your Emotions If You Overreact Easily by What Others Say

You can miss a lot of living when you're overly sensitive.

Every individual reacts differently to a situation.  Some of us are more resilient than others to quickly bounce back from any negativity they may encounter.  For others, any harsh exchanges or criticisms can be more devastating when it does not need to be. 

If you are overly sensitive, it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you.  Instead, it just shows a highly-developed capacity to pick up on other people’s feelings, which in turn can cause you needless inner pain or self-doubt.  How you coped with certain situations may need viewed in a new light in order to change your response.  Therefore, let me share some suggestions that can help keep you from getting too defensive.

Walk Away Before Overreacting

The next time that someone strikes out at you with a jab that hurts, here is what you may want to do.  Take in a few deep breaths to keep calm.  By doing so,  you’re allowing yourself to steady your heart rate and gain more control of the situation.  Thus, you can use that time to invent an excuse to leave the conversation.  You are not running away to coward because of what was said.  You are simply leaving to think and then ponder the words carefully over a period of a few hours or the next day before immediately reacting.  

Watch Out for Criticism From a Self-Appointed Expert

How many of us have a friend or co-worker that always jumps in with “expert” advice about something that they have no real experience with.  You know the type, the single career woman that criticizes something that your child or husband did that never would have happened if this was her child or husband.  In all likelihood, this “expert” wasn’t even invited to the conversation that you were having with someone else, but just had to dominate the conversation and show her importance.  

Instead of letting this “expert” unnerve you, you need to remember where this advice is coming from, a person inexperienced in child rearing or marriage.  What this “expert” brings to the conversation are just theory and not real life experience.  Besides that, this “expert” doesn’t know real details about you or your child or husband.  Listen politely, but take the criticism with a grain of salt.  If you hear something in particular that could ring true, then later discuss it with someone you trust that knows you well  to find out their opinion.  

Reinforcing  the Hurt Through Supportive Friends Is Not Productive

Friends are wonderful for emotional support.  The problem of constantly sharing your hurt feelings with them is it heightens anxiety.  Though it gives you an emotional release, the focus can be more on the pain that it caused to keep it foremost in your mind without any real answers.  You can be too wrapped up into making more of what just happened to have any opportunity to view it with a clearer head.  Instead, you could constantly be going through the same loop of telling your story and experiencing that anger and pain over and over again.  Nothing productive is ever gained when you keep yourself a prisoner of those painful thoughts.  

Perhaps, you might try a new tactic the next time by taking a walk, reading, or listening to some music to forget about the problem temporarily. Sometimes, we become so engrossed into our pain that it can be the only thing that we see.  When you give yourself a break and concentrate on something else for a little while, you may be surprised at answers or thoughts that will come to you when your mind is at rest.

You might also try meditation to help clear your mind.  Learning how to compartmentalize the problem and separate the pain from its hold on you can give you the right prospective that is healthier that you may have lacked before.

Know the Right Words When You Need to Respond Helps

There are times when you can’t help but feel the need to respond to some unwanted remark.  Therefore, you can coax more clarity of that person by saying, “Excuse me?”  This will give that person time to think or rephrase the comment, which may change the entire meaning or present his or her point in a clearer, more understandable fashion.

Another phrase to dig deeper into what the person just said is asking, “What did you mean?”  When you give that person a question like that, he or she needs to think what brought that comment on.  Incorporating a question like this can help filter out the truth from what may have been simply a misguided comment without any real substance.

Something else that is extremely helpful when you’re overly sensitive is asking that person who just hurt you to explain why he or said made that remark.   Opinions can change or stand when that person gives an explanation.  Taking the time to do this can give you more insight to better understand why this comment was said.  

Finally, you can just be honest and tell that person that he or she hurt your feelings by that comment.  Doing so, you are putting your feelings on the line and giving him or her the perfect opportunity to remedy the situation with an apology or clarification.

Strengthening Emotions Takes Practice

Hopefully, the information that I provided will help better prepare you to handle those rough patches more appropriately instead of out of proportion the next time they happen.  

Some Thoughts on How to Get More Happiness From Life

Redirecting stress and channeling it differently can improve the quality of your life.

Most people are stressed almost to their breaking points these days with everything that is happening in their lives and the world.  Some of what is going on is out of the average person’s control.  However, we are the ones that have control of our daily lives. Therefore, we can either let stress dictate how we live each day and confine us to our misery or view life differently.

Start by pinpointing the source of your tension. Of course, there will be problems beyond your control such as finding yourself or a loved one stricken with an incurable disease, injured in an accident, a victim of murder, etc.  

Yet, there are lots of other ones that can consume us from things like an unreasonable boss.  Perhaps, he or she makes you work those last few extra minutes by taking one more call, despite your computer system is in the process of shutting down.  This unfair action could cause you to miss your bus or be caught in rush hour.  A possible solution is seeing if your boss will allow you to start earlier to avoid that rush hour traffic hassle.  

Juggling schedules to take a child to the dentist, doctor or to a school activity by always being the one designated as the official driver for your children can lead to stress, not to mention resentment.  Demand some consideration by taking turns with your spouse can be wonderful for you and the entire family in general with more bonding.

Those are only two common examples, but ones that can spoil our lives.  

Another prime example of how we let stress to negatively affect us is through little things.  Think of your average day at home.  Perhaps, your child left their toys scattered on the floor instead of back in their toy box.  Yelling at their crime only solves to raise your blood pressure.  Of course, you can have dad scold them but you keep the tension and increase his as well.  Then again, you could try simply sweeping the toys off to the corner or box them up and threaten to give them away.   Instead, release only one toy at a time until the children understand if it is not back in the toy box they will not get another toy returned.

You also might want to read my earlier post on stress-busting techniques.  Stress is a killer if we let it continue to dominant our lives.  Learning to ease up on ourselves and the way we deal with stressful situations can be improved upon.  It may take practice to see a brighter side to what is going on and handling our anxiety, but it is a more productive emotion than the negative impact of stress.

How to Better Conquer Clutter Before It Takes Over Your Life!

This beauty could use less stress and these tips can help.

Accumulating things is so easy to do.  I know first hand being a blogger.  Before you realize it, our stuff can begin to take over our homes.  If you want to maintain your sanity, then you need a plan to tackle the problem with a few tips to better organize and end the chaos.

Every week, I like to begin sorting through newspapers, correspondence, magazines, and circulars instead of allowing these to pile up.  Paper stuff can be your worst enemy because it can quickly accumulate if you don’t get a handle on it right away.

My DIY Tranquility Bath Is a Healing Escape to Promote Relaxation!

Lavender is soothing, but this herb has a variety of  wonderful uses.

When life seems to get the better of me, I always have a found comfort in a soothing herbal bath helps bring on inner peace.  I had thought that I shared this particular recipe, but apparently did not when I was trying to find it among my old posts.  Therefore, let me reveal it to you now since its aromatherapy benefits of lavender, rose, chamomile, mints, and the eucalyptus is very restorative for the way it purifies the mind while easing the muscles.

Soothe Those Cares Away With My Relaxing DIY Bubble Bath Recipe!

Soaking in a tub with this moisturizing, stress-relieving bubble bath can do wonders after a hard day.

I never experimented with making a DIY Bubble Bath until recently.  My skin was extra dry and I wanted to see how well this homemade solution would perform compared to what I had been using.  Since I had the ingredients on hand, I decided to give the recipe a shot.

In a matter of minutes, I made enough for about eight baths of this homemade solution. With olive oil, honey, liquid castile soap, and one tablespoon of lavender essential oil, this mix will produce a mild, wonderfully moisturizing lather with a benefit of soothing aromatherapy from lavender essential oil as you soak.

Though you can use any type of olive oil, I recommend the extra-virgin variety since it has stronger antioxidants of its vitamins A and E for restoring the health of your skin as it soothes and moisturizes to keep it supple.  

Honey is a humectant.  This ingredient further helps in this recipe because it draws moisture from the air while warding off bacteria to better help the skin thrive.

The original recipe that I found used liquid soap.  However, I later made another batch and switched that choice out in favor of another.  I decided to use pure liquid castile soap.  Since the castile soap is pure vegetable oil olive oil, I thought it would pamper the skin that much more over the liquid soap with its unneeded extras of dyes and various other chemicals.

I hope that you try my recipe because it does lubricate the skin quite nicely while relaxing you at the same time.



My Soothing DIY Bubble Bath

1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup of honey
½ cup of pure liquid castile soap
1 tablespoon of lavender essential oil

Using your blender is the best way to thoroughly combine the ingredients.  Start with the oil and then slowly add the honey, soap and essential oil to blend for about a minute.

Pour into a bottle or jar that has a lid.

Shake well before using.  You don’t need to store this in your refrigerator.

For each use, measure out about 1/4 cup and add to your tub as you run the water for your bath.

Pamper Yourself With My Soothing Homemade Milk Bath Recipe!

Milk is a healthy drink for your body and a wonderful help for your skin.

Milk has plenty of value when consumed as a beverage.  After all, it has nine essential nutrients that include protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, D, B-12, niacin, riboflavin, and phosphorus to fuel and repair the body. But, milk can also do a body good from the outside as a fabulous way to soothe and effectively moisturize dry skin.

The lactic acid in milk helps exfoliate and clean as you soak while its fat and protein are what makes the skin supple and silky.  

At the same time, this wonderful recipe that I want to share will help relieve itching, which can be especially a problem for many during colder weather.  

Yet, my recipe also has an aromatherapy benefit.  Soaking in this milk bath after a stressful day can also help with relaxation since it contains lavender essential oil.    

I do hope you try this because it does the trick for improving both the condition of your skin and mental state!

My Soothing Milk Bath Recipe

1 cup of powdered milk
½ cup of Epsom salts
3/4 tablespoon of baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons of cornstarch
4 drops of lavender essential oil

Milk all the ingredients together before adding to your tub for a leisurely soak.

Review: L’Occitane en Provence’s Aromachologie Revitalizing Body Scrub & Relaxing Massage Body Oil

Disclaimer: This post is based on a free product provided by a company as a press sample so that I may offer my own opinion, which may be the same or differ from yours.

Aromachologie Revitalizing Body Scrub

After an immediate family member was rushed suddenly to the hospital, I was stressed and exhausted, especially more so once that loved one’s condition suffered further complications from the medications once admitted.  

I was going back and forth to the hospital.  Trying to care for the rest of the family and hold myself together wasn’t exactly easy when the doctors don’t have answers and your loved one’s condition only gets worse instead of improving. I wasn’t sleeping all that well or thinking about the blog, if the truth is known, but when I was preparing for my bath one of those nights, I saw those L’Occitane en Provence's Aromachologie products I set aside. 

I grabbed the Aromachologie Revitalizating Body Scrub and ran my bath.  This sugar scrub has a delicate lavender herbal scent with an uplifting note of rosemary that keeps the fragrance sweet but more therapeutic for the way it affects your senses with its essential oils as you exfoliate.

Though unwinding in a leisurely bath with this scrub soothed as it smoothed, I loved the Relaxing Massage Body Oil even more with its with sweet almond oil, rosemary and lavender essential oils because it somehow did more. Once I finished rubbing a bit of this satiny feeling oil into my skin and spraying some of this calming lavender fragrance on my pillow, I felt tired and ready to close my eyes instead of lying there preoccupied with my worrisome thoughts as I had been.   

Relaxing Massage Body Oil

This review for L’Occitane en Provence’s two Aromacologie skin care products couldn’t have arrived at a more opportune time for yours truly to test them.  Though I hope you won’t need to use them for the same reason that I did, I do recommend the Aromachologie Revitalizating Body Scrub ($34) and Relaxing Massage Body Oil ($34) for helping put you more at ease.  

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Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post for Travel Sweepstakes Aficionado.

Travel Sweepstakes Aficionado

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In fact, I just entered an exciting one, which closes September 10 for a trip for two to New York to attend the Food Network Magazine Event.  This is just one of those exciting escapes that you dream about while you wait to possibly win.  

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How to Better Communicate With Your Stylist for the Results You Love Instead of Hate!

How many times has this happened to you?  You have an image of the hairstyle you wanted in your head.  In fact, the picture you see is so clear that you think there can be no misunderstanding of how you wanted the cut once you finally sit in the stylist's chair. 

With an assuring nod, the stylist tells you how beautiful that cut is going to look as he drapes that plastic cape over and proceeds to wash your hair first.  You can't wait for him to start once he is about to begin.  

Once those scissors go up and hair starts to fall from the back, you peer down in horror what is now on the floor.  Instead of an inch of length, he lopped off at least three inches.   The next thing you know, you end up with a completely different hairstyle than even what you had remotely in mind.

To best prepare for a new cut, go to the salon wearing your hair naturally.  Avoid pulling it into a ponytail.  

Do cut out a few pictures from magazines and bring them along to demonstrate what you had in mind. 

Now is the time to talk to your stylist. Do you use a flat iron and normally sport a straight look or let your curls rule? The same goes with straight hair.  Do you use a curling iron for a style with lots of tempting curls or prefer a straight, blunt look?  

When your stylist sees you on a typical day and examines your hair, he can get a better feeling for what new style may work or not with your texture, any potential curl, and condition for your head.

Another consideration is  how much time do you like to devote to styling your hair every morning?  If you're constantly in a rush and want the least amount of work, you need to convey that information to your stylist before he picks up his scissors.  Explaining how much time you want to spend on your hair in the morning is a good indication how complicated a style would please you. 

By discussing these questions, you can save yourself frustration from a disappointing cut that may not have made you happy or was even possible for your hair.

Need Help Improving Your Sleeping Habits?

Sometimes, falling asleep can be difficult.  Some of us experience sleepless nights on a frequent basis, which can affect our health, mood, and relationships.  However, there are methods to improve your chances for more nights of restful sleep.

Start preparing for bed at least twenty minutes ahead of time with a scheduled nightly ritual.  Get a warm bath to soothe away your tensions and relax tired muscles or retreat somewhere quiet for a bit of reading for a pleasant distraction from reality.

Consider what you need to do the next day by making a list before crawling into bed.  Keeping track of important tasks will help stop you from lying awake worrying about what errands you can't forget.

Before you actually are about to slip into bed, you should close the blinds or drapes to keep out  the light.  Next, turn down the heat because sleeping in a dark room between 68 and 72  degrees are the best temperatures for sleeping!

How to Break the Cluttering Cycle Forever

Clutter is exhausting and can take over your life unless you organize.

Who doesn't have a junk drawer?  Others of us take it to the next level and turn closets, game rooms, attics, or garages into larger versions with things you keep just in case you might need it sometime.  However, sometimes spending a little more time downsizing your clutter can help you accumulate more money, reduce stress, and physical exhaustion.

Dear readers, you know I love stuff.  But how many times do we find ourselves wasting more time hunting for that one item than its worth?  We can get frustrated, tired searching and sometimes lose money because we missed a deadline for a bill, perhaps.  How about those coupons you know you have but can't find for that store circular in your hand?  Then again, what about repurchasing a product like a small tool because you hid it in a safe place until you needed it again?

Look over your belongings and sort through your stuff gradually.  Make piles of "must keeps" that you need or love and can't part with, "maybe keeps" the items like clothes you may look good in again if you lose ten pounds or the Christmas dinnerware that end up being used once a year, etc. The "get rid of" piles of items, such as the ugly Santa sweater your mother-in-law bought you five years ago  that only comes out of the box when she is around and others things you don't like, you can save for your garage sale or pack to sell at your local flea market to convert from clutter to cash. 

During the process, you may find hidden money.  Do check your books, magazines, jeans, pockets of jackets for money. 

Gift cards are another thing you may find.  Gather, put a rubber band around them, and keep in a universal "gift card" wallet to pack when you intend to shop with them.  If those cards are in one place, you will have easy access and can use them before any expiration.

You won't be able to clean clutter overnight.  However, if you tackle a room or a drawer at a time, then this chore will be easier.  Make a list and cross out what room will be reorganized that week and try to strive for that goal.  Be sure to label what gets stored in a box so you search.

Once you get desk or table cleared that had your mail or papers piled in stacks, then do yourself a favor and fill that empty space with a fruit bowl for that dining table or small photo for that desk, just something to use as a visual reminder of your decluttering success.

Trust me, your stress levels will improve and so will surroundings!

Make Your Own Herbal Sleep Potion Potpourri!

We all have restless nights and end up staring at the bedroom ceiling instead of getting sleep.  However, I have discovered a wonderful natural aid to help you drift off with a peaceful state of mind with this wonderful homemade recipe.

What I found especially helpful is making a sleep potion potpourri sachet bag to keep near your pillow.  This beneficial aroma has the power to soothe you when stressed, somehow, as you breathe it in.

This is a wonderful potpourri to make and save for those awful nights when sleep seems impossible. 


Herbal Sleep Potion Potpourri

3 cups of spearmint
3 cups of rose leaves
1 cup of whole cloves
1 ounce of orris root (fixative)

Dry the mint (leaves and also stems) and the rose leaves on a screen in a warm place so the air can circulate properly.  You can also resort to drying them on a sheet of newspaper in a warm spot.

When this is dry, mix with cloves and the orris root.  Put in a glass jar and cover tightly with a lid for a few weeks, stirring occasionally. 

You can just open when needed or make some sachet bags to keep handy.

This is a wonderful potpourri to make and save for those awful nights.

How Saying Thank You Can Radically Change Your Mind Set for the Better!

Thank you is a powerful word that can change your world.

You may read the title of this post and laugh at how two simple words could possibly change the way you think or feel.  But, I assure you that there is great power behind that particular set of words once you take the time to remember to thank.

If you are in doubt, I dare you the next time the occasion comes up to say thank you and watch how a smile appears on the recipient's face when you remember to acknowledge their kindness through those two words.  Smiles are contagious.  You, too, will smile while feeling uplifted and suddenly happier in return.

Try to write thank-you notes and e-mails to those that do something nice for you.  Remember that saying what goes around, comes around?  Taking that minute to remember another's kindness toward you will do wonders for positively changing that person's day but also for yourself as well. 

Good things do happen to good people is a true statement because you will find in practicing saying thank you that you attract more positive people, things, and events into your life.

Even when you need to make an effort to say thank you when stressed or angry, do yourself a favor and try to remember uttering those two words aloud.  If no one did anything that needs your thanks right then, what is in your life that you are thankful for?  Look deeply past your problem or situation and in front of a mirror say thank you for what you have--your family, a wife, a husband, the children, your health, a job, perhaps?  Things always can be worst.  But, you are lucky because you have those people and things in your life!  The actual realization and practice of speaking those two words can turn bad negative thoughts into happy positive ones before you know it.

Do something out of the ordinary to help yourself today and call or write someone that last did something nice for you that you never got around to thanking.  I guarantee you that if you practice this rule of incorporating thank you into your life that it will change both your mind set and life for the better!

What You're Risking if You Don't Get Enough Sleep

Sometimes, getting enough sleep can seem like a luxury.  However, skimping on sleep can adversely effect your health in ways you may not know.

For starters, you can gain weight when you miss sleep because your hormones that control your appetite change flow and will increase your hunger.  In this sleep deprived state, you're more prone to grabbing foods high in fat and calories to satisfy yourself. 

Without enough sleep you can also be more at risk for heart disease.  Studies have shown that women who get on an average of less than five hours of sleep each night are seriously increasing their odds of developing hypertension, which can lead to heart disease.  Without adequate sleep, the body produces enough stress hormones and other substances to build inflammation to set the stage for heart disease and stroke.

Skimping on the normal hours of sleep you need can also help you develop diabetes.  Regularly sleeping fewer than five hours a night gives you two-and-a-half times higher chance of getting diabetes than someone that sleeps a normal seven to eight hours a night.   The reason diabetes can occur is because you need deep sleep to regulate blood-sugar levels.

Another negative health impact of insufficient sleep is you will become more irritable and unable to handle your emotions very well.  This happens because part of your brain that controls reasoning becomes deactivated due to a lack of sleep.

Lastly, you will get sick more.  You need normal hours of sleep because cytokines, chemicals that help the immune system, are released to fight off disease and infection.  Being sleep deficient can lead to more infections and even affect how your body produces antibodies after a vaccination.   According to the research, sleep starved people often only produce half the flu antibodies compared to a regular sleeper.

How to Move on From Life's Problems

Life often throws us surprises.  Some are happy and others are sad, either way we are affected daily.  However, it is how we handle those bumps in the road that can either mold us into stronger individuals or crush our hopes and dreams if we can't find our way.

Regardless of being rich or poor, every person has their own unique set of problems to cope with.  No one wants problems, but we all have them.   Fear and worry drains your energy.  Those negative emotions can trap you for years if you allow it to take over your thoughts.

The real test of moving on is to learn how to be optimistic instead of letting the problem stay with you.

Some problems can force you to look differently at your life. Try to start asking yourself what if questions.  What if this setback is a wake-up call?   It can bring out new talents that you may never have thought were within you.  The problem can also open the door to the next chapter in your life. You just need to learn how to embrace each change and adapt. 

Think of life as a game, a video game to be more precise.  You need to master one level of the game or you cannot advance.  Problems test your strength and force change.  You can struggle in the same place and stay where you are or eventually see the solution.   

However, you need to play the game first to win because the challenges always keep coming while the stakes  keep getting higher!  You just need to sharpen your skills with practice.

Some Tips to Save You Time Waiting in Lines!

With our tight schedules, time is something precious.  None of us likes to waste extra time  standing in long lines if we can avoid it.  There are some tips that may help save you the hassle.

When you need to do your banking, you might think of skipping that visit near lunch hours, especially in business districts.  Another thing you should keep in mind is that paychecks usually get deposited the first and 15th of the month.

Instead, you would find it wiser to stop by your bank midmorning or midafternoon during the middle of the week for the fastest service.

Have you hunted for advertised sales at a department store during your lunch hour or on the weekends and found nothing left?  I know I have wasted more than my share of time searching needlessly until I found a better way.

Instead, your best bet would be to stop in one hour after the store opens if possible or around 3:00 to 4:00 P.M.   Another tactic would be checking the store the night before the big sale an hour before closing as the retail staff prepares to set up for the sale.  Sometimes you can buy items ahead of time.

You need to go to one of the home centers.  However, you should plan your visit around lunchtime to midafternoon instead of mornings when contractors come for their supplies.

Post office lines can take forever if you show up at the wrong time.  The worst times to go to the post office are lunch hours, upon opening and about an hour before closing. 

The best time probably to go the post office is midmorning and midafternoons.

None of these suggestions are guarantees only best bets to hopefully save you more time so you can read my blog!

How to Improve Your People Skills and Change Your Life!

You can learn an important lesson just by watching little children relate to each other.  At a young age of three or four, they see the world differently than adults.  Through their unbiased eyes, young children eagerly embrace each other and play without hesitation in those earliest years of life.   Unfortunately, the trend changes due to life experiences as children grow into adults to alter how we react later on.

Instead of letting your life disappointments trap you into a rut, you need to box them away and rethink how you deal with others.  Try to remember the ease that a child has in walking up to another of their peers and putting himself or herself out there.  There is no fear of rejection in taking an initial first step in a friendship until years of living.  Simply, do yourself a favor and take the lead from a fearless child and offer a "hi" or a compliment first, but always with a smile. 

Exchanging pleasantries with people you come in contact with may seem unimportant; however, you are sadly mistaken.  Such a small amount of kindness often is returned.  For instance, you may find more doors opening or schedules for your hair cut to nails, etc. adjusted more easily if you only take a little time to be more considerate.

People always are more receptive to smiles.  If you find it hard to smile, then you need to practice if you intend to improve your life.  Your lips are not going to break if you curve them so look at yourself in the mirror and start.  You can always work your way up to dogs, cats, birds even your pet snake before moving up the line to children and then eventually adults.  Keep in mind people always copy those smiles back and each smile that returns to you will build your confidence and better people skills.  Countless studies have proven that fact of how people instinctively smile back so making a habit of it is highly recommended.

When you need to communicate with others, you should take advantage of delivering your news, whether big or small, more in person when the opportunity arises than constantly relying on emails.  By direct contact with another, you will be using and honing in those communication skills further.   Your voice, gestures, and even facial expressions are great tools to help you in winning another person over in your dealings with others.

Just as important as communicating in person is listening to another.  Don't let your eyes stray.  Pay attention to the person talking and tune into their feelings to make a connection and  rapport.  After all, they came to you to share something and you owe it to listen, if you expect the same courtesy.  Ask questions or make comments to show you truly heard them.  You will show yourself as great company.

Trust me, if you practice this advice, then you will be pleasantly surprised how much better life becomes with just little changes and a warm smile!

The Benefits of Chewing Sugar-Free Gum!

There are lots of great reasons for chewing gum.  Besides just giving your mouth something to do like blowing bubbles, you could also be keeping your body healthy in other ways.   

For instance, chewing sugar-free gum is a good thing to do especially after eating.  The reason is because the gum neutralizes plaque and lessens your risk of getting cavities. 

Even better for you is cinnamon flavored sugar-free gum because of the natural germ-killing action once you start chewing.  Cinnamon flavored gum can also help keep your breathe fresh for about twenty minutes.

Another reason is chewing gum when stressed can be a great coping tool. 

Chewing gum can also help suppress your hunger.  One study shows chewers snacked less between meals than non-chewers.

You will burn some calories, though only about at a rate of 11 an hour.  Regardless, getting your mouth moving in that chewing action helps the body in that calorie burning way also.

Easy Ways to Boost Spirits and Let in Some Happiness!

First off, but you need to stop criticizing your faults and failures for all your problems.  Give yourself credit  for your accomplishments instead.  All that matters is realizing you did something that you're proud of even as small as hemming a pair of jeans can impact the way you can feel about yourself.  Remembering accomplishments can help lift your bleak mood and increase happiness.

Do yourself a favor and jot down everything in a journal that makes you happy.  Does chocolate make you smile?  How about the vacation you had and wished would go on forever? Maybe it's that particular dress that got you all the compliments that you may want to include.  Write about whatever comes to your mind that conjures up happy thoughts.  Better yet, you can include photos and relive those special times in your happiness journal.  Taking your book out whenever you need a smile and flipping through those pages can help accomplish miracles once you remember those cherished thoughts.

Aromatherapy can also change your mood and help put you on the road to happiness.  If you're stressed, you could try lighting a citrus-scented candle and slowly breathe in, then out.  Concentrate on the scent instead of what is triggering the stress, and this could ease your mood. 

You might also want to try a few drops of orange essence oil to some fragrance-free hand lotion can lessen anxiety as well. 

Do something nice for yourself.  Bake something delicious, go shopping even if you just browse, get a different hairstyle,  whatever it takes to get you thinking exciting thoughts of happy anticipation again.

Making someone else happy in need of a boost will help both you and the person in ways you can't measure.  Genuine kindness that you share with another that comes without thinking from your heart has amazing healing power to spread warmth and happiness.  Trust me, any unselfish act of kindness you give another always is returned in an unexpected, larger way! 

Learn to Beat Stress From Robbing You of Sleep!

Holding a pillow over his head won't help this stressed man sleep.

How many times have you gone to bed only to stare up at the ceiling due to one thought that stayed lodged in your head? 

If only people came with a switch that we could turn on and off at will, then that stress of the day would grant us that needed escape into sleep.  

Sadly there is no magic switch, but there are a few helpful insomnia cures that you should try. 

Things You Should Not Be Doing Before Bedtime

You should stay away from the computer will only stimulate your brain to keep you up.   

Do not read in bed and reserve your bedroom solely for sleep.  Eventually your subconscious will pick up on this and equate the bedroom with sleep.

Too many your beverages, especially coffee, tea or any caffeine related drink is bad and  interpret your sleep.

Teddy bear comfort won't get this beauty sleeping.

Avoid alcohol because it will only temporarily make you sleepy until it soon wakes up again from its effect on altering normal sleep patterns.

Don't keep staring at the ceiling, clock, or another spot in your bedroom waiting to feel sleepy longer than 15 minutes before giving up for now to go read or listen to music in another room.

Say no to using a part of your bedroom as on office, which can only get your brain thinking and restless.

Never rely on habitually using sleeping pills that can lead to dependence or affect how you function the next day.

The Place Where Your Bed Is Located Matters

If your bed is against a wall, put your legs up against it for support.  

Put pressure on the heel of one foot while massaging the inside portion of your other ankle below the anklebone.  

This action of elevating your legs and massaging will help you drift off to sleep.

Things That Can Help Usher in Sleep

Try a warm bath with aromatherapy from adding essential oils such as lavender or rose is one idea.

Finally, you can also try a spoon of honey.  Honey is broken down in your body in the same fashion as table sugar, which produces serotonin, the chemical that induces sleep.  This may explain the reason why the old folk medicine cure of a cup of hot milk with a spoon of honey became popular!