Finding the love within...

Letter to Yourself :)

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” Anne Frank

Journaling is a form of self-reflection. It gives a break from the world. Either it can be planning for the day ahead or writing about past experiences. Find what works for you. Simply realize that it might end up being the most significant thing you do throughout the day. We have kept our schedules so busy that we hardly have time to reflect by pausing to spend time with yourself. Maintaining a journal to write down your emotions is a way of expressing. Sometimes all we need is self-talk to guide us and keep that spirit to overcome challenges in difficult times. It’s you who is working through your issues by clearing your head. Describing some past trauma that is only deep within yourself. And the journey towards healing the pain.

Have you thought of a past event during a tough time were now in the present its no longer a big deal? Of course, we all have been through phases where we give up and lose the faith of why everything is falling apart. We all needed someone to guide and stand beside us through such tough times. What if you had a chance of guiding yourself? The answer is by maintaining a journal or simply a letter to yourself. Assume that the future you who has achieved all the goals you have in the present is your mentor to get you to where you are supposed to be. You will be stunned by how great you feel after.

“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, is not only life-changing but life-expanding.” Jen Williamson

Maintaining a diary can be helpful not for yourself but also can be a guide to the next generation for a source of motivation and hope. Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most popular books which were published in many languages. It is a perfect example of how she can be such an inspirational person.

Benefits of Journaling :

Decreases stress and depression.
Knowing yourself better.
Stronger emotional intelligence.
Gives yourself time for healing.
Spending time towards self-reflection and self-care.
Strategizing futuristic goals.
Self-talk boosts confidence levels.
Analyzing life issues and rough times.

The first step to start to indulge in your schedule always needs some guidance. Writing letters might not be for everyone, in that case, you can use these apps

Reflectly
Journey Diary
Headspace
Calm
Happify
Reflect

You can either journal in the mornings to start the day with positivity and tasks to do. Else it can be in the night time before going to bed where you can write about the highlight of the day and what emotions did you go through. I prefer to do in the night as its more time for self-talk and clearing the mind. Sometimes, all you must start thinking back what you did today. It can be some project you are working on or some workout which you can do which has increased your productivity. There will be days when you need to be your inspiration and use positive affirmations in your letters to yourself. You will have to push yourself toward achieving the target.

Gratitude is another topic to write as most of the times we are not grateful for what we have in the present. Appreciating the individuals and parts of your life you are thankful for. There will be times where we start self-analyzing on a situation by asking yourself questions like “Who am I?” and “What did I do well/wrong?” Consider what you could improve or what is keeping you down and write about it in your diary or letters to yourself.

In the end, I would conclude by saying that you can always modify what you want to write depending on your mood or preference. So, let’s start this self-love journey by writing letters to ourselves. Why do we need to wait for someone to give us those love letters when we are there for ourselves? That is what self-love journey is all about prioritizing yourself first.

“The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal.” Robin Sharma

Hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any other recommendations which worked for you do mention in the comments section. Let us keep spreading positive vibes. Be healthy and safe. Stay tuned for a new post till next week!

Magic of Positive Affirmations

“The way you choose to think and speak about yourself (to yourself and others), IS A CHOICE! You may have spent your whole life talking about yourself in a negative way, but that doesn’t mean you have to continue that path.” – Miya Yamanouchi

Life is not about how we show our happy faces on social media. There are going to be rough phases where you want to shut yourself down and just cry your heart as loud as you could. As humans, we do have negative feelings which makes us feel lost. Being an adult, it’s okay to cry as it’s a way to express pain. Having a plan in our mind which doesn’t work, gives power to that plan where we feel as if life is going to fall apart. It’s said there is a reason behind everything, and we need to trust the process. At times it gets difficult to navigate in the darkness no knowing that the light that guides you is within. It is easy to say but then once we calm our minds by accepting the feeling it gets easier to deal with the situation instead of overthinking or ruminating over the past.

We must buckle up and be our hero. We need to have our future version of ourselves as a cheerleader for the present us. Knowing our worth we all have a picture in our mind what or how we want to be in the future. Why not be our motivation?

Our mind needs to be trained to practice positive affirmations when we feel stressed and anxious. Positive affirmations help to stay focused. It will build self-confidence and self-worth. It is advised to say the affirmations in the present tense as the mind learns to accept those statements. If the affirmations are in a future tense then there is a possibility of contingency or assumption of a particular scenario to happen which is usually not the case.

“Watch what you tell yourself, you’re likely to believe it.” – Russ Kyle

Here’s a list of positive affirmations that can be used for different situations.

Start the morning with these affirmations:

I am going to face whatever comes today with a positive attitude.
This is a new day I begin a new claim and create all that is good and so it is.
Today I create a wonderful new day and a wonderful new future.

When you feel low use these affirmations

My self-esteem is high because I honor who I am.
I am a unique and beautiful soul.
All I seek is already within me.

In case of anxiety the following can be helpful to calm your mind :

I am enough.
I believe in myself and trust my own wisdom.
I am loved and peace lies within me.

When you are feeling disappointed or dealing with failures say the following:

I am in the process of positive change.
I deserve all that is good.
It is okay to make mistakes and I am stronger as a result.

Before going to sleep it is better to have a clear mind else we might have trouble falling asleep. The following can be useful to avoid insomnia and have a peaceful goodnight sleep.

I am in harmony with the universe.
I am grateful and relaxed with where I am in life right now.
I am letting go of all my tension in my body and mind.

I would conclude, by saying self-talk with positivity is very essential to get our mind back on track. The above positive affirmations can be used in other situations as well apart from the ones mentioned. Meditating with these positive affirmations also goes along very well. Since our mind is choosing to relax with meditation music in the background. Focusing on the present is the main goal. In case you have other affirmations do share in the comments where it will be useful for other readers.

“It’s what you do in the present that will redeem the past and thereby change the future.” – Paulo Coelho

Know your Worth! :)

“Self-worth comes from one thing – thinking that you are worthy.” Wayne Dyer

When we acknowledge and recognize, and know, that we are worthy, our life can take a new turn. Often, we stick to a job or around people where we do not feel respected and appreciated. Each one of us is unique and has an energy that they give to the universe. We cannot let anybody treat you like you are normal when they don’t see our value. It is said that you get what you settle. You should encircle yourself with the individuals who see your self-esteem, who love you, who regard you, who support you and develop you to a more significant level. Don’t underestimate yourself since you can accomplish anything.

Remember:

Know your worth. Know the difference between what you’re getting and what you deserve. Do not settle for anything less
Never allow yourself to be defined by someone else’s opinion.
Always be prepared, always be yourself, and always be honest. That is a good recipe for self-respect, self-love, and self-worth.

We have all been there – feeling exploited or compared in professional or personal life by people who have treated us badly. It’s a simple to bring others at fault and degrade them. Yet if you begin to think back about the scenario, you may understand that there is one common person in every situation and circumstance, which is you. To some extent, it unknowingly affects our mental health. You allow people to treat you the way they do.

“Sometimes We Only See How People Are Different. But If We Look Hard Enough, You Can See How Much We’re All Alike.”- Princess Jasmine, Aladdin

There are plenty of movies that have a glimpse of an eye-opener towards our value. Being a Disney fan, I would relate it to the movie Aladdin, where he thinks that the only way to win Jasmine is to change himself. That is where he lies to be Prince Ali instead of being himself as Aladdin who was poor which made him ashamed of his situation. All he had to do is be himself which would be the best thing instead of assuming that Jasmine does not deserve him. We see hidden values behind this story of being proud of oneself irrespective of how bad society treats you. No one must change themselves for other’s happiness or social norms.

Here are 3 ways to boost your self-worth:

1.Be your own hero –

It is always good to charge of the situation. No one can treat you badly unless you give them the power to pull you down. If you know yourself well then you know where you are compromising. Take a deep breath, and be brave to get out of the comfort zone. There’s no wrong method to do this. No one else gets to control your life story so it is better to do things that make you happy in the long run. Instead of ruminating over someone who does not value you enough to see what your caliber can do.

2. Build your happy place –

It is never too late to start loving ourselves. Learn to value ourselves by not being too hard on ourselves. Self-care isn’t selfish. It includes having a proper sleeping pattern, healthy habits, staying hydrated. We often do things for others without putting ourselves as a priority. We need to build a happy place where we know our potential that no one can dare to break us.

3.Identify your strength –

Self-love is a way to invest in your goals and future strategies. We all have strengths and weaknesses. People like to point out our weaknesses which pull us down. If we know our self worth then we can build our self-image. It also boosts our confidence by focusing on our strengths.

All I will conclude that we do not need anyone who constantly lets us feeling worthy irrespectively of in a relationship or at work or any other situation. We should stand up for ourselves.

“We are stars wrapped in skin, the light what you are seeking has always been within”- Rumi

Enhance your soul! :)

“The soul has been given its ears to hear things that the mind does not understand.” – Rumi

Our soul is a spiritual aspect that is connected to our body and mind. All three of them have to be healthy for expanding our true potential. We need to push our boundaries by getting out of our comfort zone. Is there a limit where we cannot go beyond it? If it was body then yes its limited. After a certain time, we cannot work out or exercise and the body needs to rest. It doesn’t work that way for our soul as there is no limit. Our soul is a significant part of life that can be pushed aside when things get hectic. The soul expresses the most profound version of oneself. It is like the mirror image of the real you which had to be discovered with time. The purpose to nourish our soul is inner growth towards a positive uplifting in life.

Each soul is unique and rare. We need to discover our soul so that we know ourselves better. Our body needs food to grow and stay healthy, similarly, we need to find ways to nourish our soul. Our habits play an important role in building a personality and routine. In the long run, there will be powerful results seen. If our foundation is strong then we can have a better soul connection with ourselves and others. Often we get stuck in negative feelings or toxic people which doesn’t let our soul fulfill its true purpose.

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but your soul.” – Swami Vivekananda

Every relationship in life has a profound reason that helps us to develop and stay grounded. The most challenging people in our life bring the best in ourselves. From them we learn to be patient, forgiving, enduring the pain, and other emotions. In that phase, we feel that there will be only more bad things happening without having any ray of hope. We tend to look for answers and validations outside. We forget to look within ourselves where all the hidden answers can be found. Enhancing our soul with little steps daily can help to face difficult situations and making life simpler.

We often have pre-conceived notions of who we are and what we are capable of accomplishing. We make the mistake of letting the past define us. Remember, don’t let who you were yesterday limit who you can become today. Each day is a learning experience. How much ever we know things about ourselves is never complete. Always there will be a time where we find our hidden talents which we weren’t aware of. We need to be open to seeing different aspects of ourselves even if they are at first uncomfortable or unfamiliar to us.

“Remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” — Snow White

We have all been raised to accept that a bustling life is a secret to a happy life, however, that is not the truth. Our world has become more materialistic over the years. Stress has been part of the modern lifestyle. We need to pause and cleanse our soul to uplift it. Here are FIVE ways to enhance the soul:

Detox and self-reflect –

We have been so glued to our phones or computers that life outside the box is ignored. We do not pay attention to the people in our room. We should find a day or a time slot where we detox from technology. We need to pause and self-reflect. With our constant busy life, we hardly get time to think if we are heading in the right direction or not. Make a list of negative people who have drained your energy. Try to avoid them so that your mental health is not a victim. Learn to forgive yourself and people who did bad to you. Self-reflection is so significant for our self-awareness. Self-reflection helps you with your identity and makes more space for positive thinking.

2. Clean / Declutter –

Cleaning and rearranging the room helps to create a psychological relaxing feeling. When we see a mess in the room we tend to have feeling of frustration and negativity. Small habits like making our bed when we wake up also are effective as when we come home after a long day we at least have our bed clean and ready to sleep.

3. Eat healthy food –

A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and soul. Our body and soul are connected. The way we eat and our body immediately has changes in case we modify our diet similarly it affects our soul as well. We need to invest in our health towards eating all the necessary ingredients our body needs.

4. Meditate

Mindfulness starts with meditation. It can be simply done by letting go of the thought which keeps running in our mind and focus our attention on our breath. There is a study that says that mediation is useful for our mental health. Our soul needs to find inner peace. Calming your mind helps to decrease stress. Whether it’s writing all your thoughts on paper before bed or meditating in the morning, make it a priority to calm your mind at least once a day.

5.Pamper yourself –

It is never too late to start investing in yourself. Pampering yourself can start by being kind towards yourself. Prioritizing yourself is never a bad idea. The more you discover things about yourself the more skills you need to work on. We get triggered emotions that we don’t deserve what we are given. Some way or another we didn’t earn it, which implies that we are battling with unworthiness and an absence of self-love. We can brighten up our day by investing our time in doing small things that we love to do. Remember you are always worthy and you deserve happiness!

“Don’t be afraid of discovering that the ‘real you’ may be different than the ‘current you.’” – Rabbi Noah Weinberg, zt”l

In the end I would conclude that we all have to enhance our soul each day for a better life. It will create an positive attitude towards reflecting on ourselves and not being a victim of the bandwagon effect where we end up doing things just for the sake of pleasing the society. Self-love is the most powerful tool in the path of self-development. If you have more ideas to nourish our soul then do share in the comments section.

Overthinking!

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – Winnie the Pooh

There are hidden life messages in cartoons that we tend to ignore. Winnie the Pooh is the only one who can look cute while he thinks. In the end, Pooh chooses to let go of the worry not because he is a silly bear we have grown up with but he is wise to know to overthink won’t serve anyone. But when we try to imitate then we give a chance for negative thoughts to take control. Overthinking ruins friendships and relationships by creating problems you never had. It makes you feel like you’re stuck in one spot, and in case that you don’t act, it can enormously affect your everyday life. Overthinking can immediately put your health in danger.

We, humans, are said to be the smartest species, where only we can think. Our minds often start thinking about things and scenarios which are far from reality. It leads to overthinking and creating anxiety and worries. Overthinking is to consider something too much or for a long time. This can be either in a situation of decision making or could be insecurities where you cannot escape your head. Like rumination, overthinking goes over in the same cycle which can be exhausting for our mental health. Usually overthinking happens when we have too much free or ideal time when our mind wanders and starts making stories that won’t happen. It is seen that sleep is the first thing that is affected because of overthinking causing insomnia. The thoughts we get while going to bed are often a negative or unrealistic situation that troubles us in life. Our mind keeps repetitive asking the why and how questions either about the past or planning the future.

If we realized how powerful our thoughts are we would never think negatively again. Some energies control the world. We all have thoughts that are associated with strong intangible energy. We need to recognize our thoughts to transform energy and not overthinking. Being aware of our energy is where we cannot be held a victim of our thoughts. Our subconscious mind creates situations without even knowing. We give power to this inner world which dwells in our minds by assumptions. Overthinking is negative energy that ruins our happiness with doubts, non-existing obstacles, jealousy, and insecurities. It makes us feel low and frustrated.

Put your thoughts to sleep. Do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking.”.— Rumi

Three Ways to get rid of overthinking:

Manage your story –

We need to let go of the past. Our late-night thoughts are mostly regrets or chances we didn’t take, or how some scenario would have been better as per our happy ending in our head. To be honest, there is no perfect moment. We give them the power to things or situations for our happiness. If we are waiting for some particular scenario then are we getting things done? We need to focus on the emotions. It is okay to have those negative thoughts and overthinking, we all do and it is normal. We need to learn to live in the present without overthinking about the past or future. The only thing we have control over is the present and a choice to make where to focus our energy. The situation could make people bad, but it doesn’t last forever. We are always evolving in our life phases.

2. Tame the emotions –

It is important to recognize thoughts. We need to tell ourselves to stop. Focusing our attention on something else will end negative thoughts. Meditation can be helpful since it teaches us to live in the moment and let all the worries go away. We need to try finding a solution in case there is a problem and we keep overthinking all the consequences and the conclusions way before it happened. Remember there is a difference between fear and intuition. Overthinking is more of a fear of the unknown rather than having a gut feeling and still not listening to it. We need to tame our emotions and our thoughts.

3. Be Self-aware –

We should learn to have self-talk with ourselves. Spending too much alone time makes our minds think too much. We need to change our approach from this negative outcome to an opportunity of learning and experience. If we ask, “Will this matter to me 5 years from now?” Most of the times the answer is NO. Look at-in in this way, when was the last time we were overthinking in the past and today we are in a completely different and better phase. If we had not given our thoughts so much power to drain us, we could have had better sleep in the past. If it can work at that time, then why ruin our present by overthinking. Self-talk is the key as it allows us to have self-awareness of the situation. We need to learn to be more action-oriented instead of delaying the action. Also setting a time for decision making can be helpful so that we know what the outcome is instead of having n number of situations in our head.

“The more you rationalize, the more you move farther away from your authentic self.” ― Shannon L. Alder

In the end, I would conclude that we all must take care of our mental health and stop overthinking. Remember, do not be too hard on yourself and show some self-love towards yourself. If you have any more tricks to calm your mind from overthinking let me know in the comments sections. Also share it with your circle and whom you know might be an overthinking.

Toxic Positivity!

We live in a world of social media where the news gets viral in a few seconds. Finding motivational words from people who should actually inspire us but they hurt us more. It only fuels our bad phase while making us sad. Although the people always do not intent to bring us down some words unknowingly do. We keep scrolling our newsfeeds with all happy moments about our friends on social media where all are showing a happy side of life. Some of them look positive all the time and we keep wondering how this person can be so calm in all this chaos what is happening during this pandemic. As humans, we cannot be happy all the time. It is okay to be sad but not okay to stay there forever. The ups and downs are part of life. During the phase when we feel low it is crucial to stay positive but then at some point, it is not the way to approach the situation.

You can’t control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.” – Bernie Siegel

What is toxic positivity?

Toxic positivity is the idea that keeping positive, and keeping positive just, is the correct method to carry on with our life. It implies just concentrating on positive things and ignoring negative feelings. It is always easy to say but no one actually does in real life.

It is contradictory that how can positivity be toxic as it’s good energy. Basically, too much of anything will be harmful similar is with positivity which becomes harmful. Toxic positivity seems to be fake words used to calm down a person. For example “everything will be fine”, “Stay positive”, “cheer up” “Everything happens for a reason”, “This too shall pass” or “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Maybe they said, “It’s going to be okay”, “You’ll get through this” or “Don’t worry, you’ll find someone else”. Or, maybe they tried to make you feel better by sharing, “I know someone who had that same type of situation and they’re doing great now”, “Never Give up” or my favorite, “It could be worse”. Although the words or phrases used are positive but that is not what we want to hear while going through tough times.

“Feel your feelings but do not let them become you” – Dr. Ruth Ziemba

Sometimes we cannot run away from toxic positivity. It starts affecting our emotional health since one can tend to overthink. But perhaps these 3 ways might be helpful :

Stop being too hard on yourself-

Toxic positivity usually affects us in a manner where we start by comparing our lives to others. Acceptance is an important aspect and the first step to protect our emotional health. Do not feel guilty about what you are going through as each one has their own journey which is part of life. We are human and go through a lot of emotions in different phases. We can not stay positive all the time. And sometimes we need to stop being so hard on ourselves. It is okay to feel sad and accept the emotion. Do not have an attitude of it is what it is. It leads to shame and suppressed emotions

2. Pressing the pause button –

Giving space to the person who is going through a hard time is important so that they can reflect. In case someone is going through the hard phase they should detox from people who make them feel positive or hurt with those statements which do not help them grow. Most of the times the best way to heal is by pressing the pause button to accept and let it go. Toxic positivity has an impact on the relationships around us. At times someone might just try to shut down instead of expressing as each time they tried they felt inferior to have feelings of pain and being stuck.

3. Changing the words we speak –

We can change our sentences so that the impact will not be toxic to another person. Talk to someone who will comfort you instead of making you feel more vulnerable.

In the end I would conclude that we need to take care of our and loved ones emotional health. Lets be kind towards the people around us.

Mindfulness

“Meditation makes you capable of being alone and joyous, with no need of the other, and love makes you capable of sharing your joy with others. Meditation is inner love is outer.” – Osho

We are half-way through 2020. Can’t believe its July already and we are still in the middle of the pandemic. Daily the news keeps our anxiety levels high. We need a way to calm our minds and find inner peace. Meditation is a recommended way to have strong emotional health. Over the years, awareness about the mindfulness has increased. People have started taking care of their mental health. By practicing meditation we can be aware of our environment and acknowledge the present. Mindfulness is a method of discovering joy and satisfaction in regular things which can increase your happiness levels. Training our brain to have focus attention and emotional regulation with mindfulness techniques.

Mindfulness is reflecting while allowing our mind to take a self-pause on all the stress and worries in the day. We need to learn to accept our life and problems. It takes time to start meditating to a point where you achieve inner peace. It reminds us that we should appreciate what we have. By continually being progressively thankful throughout everyday life, we can turn out to be less self-centered and materialistic.

“Praying is talking to the Universe. Meditation is listening to it.”- Paulo Coelho

Benefits of meditation

Stronger physical health
- Lower blood pressure and improves blood circulation
- Lower heart rate
- Less perspiration
- Slower respiratory rate
- Improves sleeping pattern
Mental & emotional health
- Control anxiety
- More feelings of well-being
- Natural stress stabilizer
- Deeper relaxation and mindfulness
- Improved self-image
- Positive attitude towards life
- More attention span
- Controls addiction
- Improves patience levels

“One of the great things of meditation is it makes stress very easy to get rid of. It just kind of floats away instead of like finding a home in your mind. You learn how to just let go of things.” – Jerry Seinfeld

Similarly in the movie Kung Fu Panda, we have seen how meditation is a path to attain inner peace. If we are emotionally strong most of the problems are solved in a better and effective manner with a calm mind. By bringing attention to our breathing, we can stay grounded. The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present.

I would recommend that Insight timer as a meditation app which I use every day. But there are other apps like Headspace, Serenity, Calm, Daily Meditation app.

Our mind always has some thoughts going on throughout the day. Daydreaming or negative thoughts can make our minds go crazy. Our wandering mind must be calm down so that we self-reflect. It is a process and daily effort to mediate. We need to be able to feel emotions and not react to them. If we think before reacting our life will be better. We all experience pain but suffering is a choice. We can choose our reaction. It is similar to having different opinions about a scenario when we tell our family or friends. Each one has a different comment since it depending on their emotional intelligence. We need to be reflective and not reactive. A calm approach to a situation can have fewer conflicts and build relations.

Personally when I started to mediate it was difficult at the start. And if you are a beginner you too will face the same. Remember not to be too hard on yourself. The type can vary from keeping your eyes open or closed, guided mediation, or music, whether its sitting or laying down. Whatever is your choice the purpose is to find your style of mindfulness. I would suggest starting with a guided mediation for beginners where the instructions make you focused on each body part and breathing techniques.

And in the end, I would like to conclude that mindfulness has been a very useful way to build our emotional intelligence. It has been practiced for ages and we should continue to indulge it in our lives.

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” – Buddha

Hair Care Diaries…

“The hair is the richest ornament of women.” ~Martin Luther

Self-care means nurturing yourself as you can be your best for others. It is about showing some tender love like you give everyone else. Self-care is often confused with big elaborate things. Its simple things as taking some time to read or journal or a relaxing bath or a walk or time in nature. Being there for others but never leave yourself behind. Hair care is a form of self-care. A good hair care routine proves to be useful in keeping your hair healthy. It is said that one should invest in their hair as it’s a crown you never take off.

Few months ago, I started this blog with the name of Curly hair diaries and it would be unfair if I didn’t write anything regarding hair care. In this article, I am going to share some of the tips which I read about on the internet and tried it myself for lustrous hair results. There was a phase where I had a major hair loss by losing half of the volume of my hair. It was scary and most of us have faced that. I looked up for some home remedies on the internet. And in a few months, I saw my hair fall was less than usual. Also over time, I grew my hair longer. It helped me to not only make my hair strong but also promoted hair growth. As a woman, her hair is the source of beauty that a person sees when they look at her. Having a good hair day always brightens up a person’s mood.

“Hair brings one’s self-image into focus; it is vanity’s proving ground. Hair is personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.” ~Shana Alexander

Rapunzel is one character which comes in my mind when I have to picture someone with long hair. The way she was known to let down her hair from the top window of the tower which described how long her hair was. If someone wanted a good volume of hair they have to take some time from their busy schedule for self-care towards their hair.

Here are some of the do’s

Try cold or warm showers than the hot shower which can damage hair roots.
Do not wash your hair daily
Have a balanced diet
Massage regularly with hair oil
Wear a scarf or hat to protect hair from pollution and the sun.
Use hair masks regularly

Here are some of the things we should avoid so that we have healthy beautiful long hair.

Don’t change shampoo frequently
Cut down on hair dryers n other styling products
Don’t brush wet hair
Avoid tight hairstyle and ponytails

There are many beauty products available in the market for all different types of hair types. It is necessary to first know your hair type before landing up in a wrong hair product. There is plenty of hair masks ready to use but I prefer making it home. I would like to share how we can find the ingredients easily available in our kitchen to make a hair pack or hair mask.

Lemon Juice

If someone is suffering from the problem of dandruff, lemon juice can work wonders. Apart from that, it enhances hair quality and growth. It is recommended to apply fresh lemon juice to your scalp and hair 15 minutes before you shampoo.

2. Onion Juice

Onion juice has been said to have great results for hair growth. This remedy is regarded as one of the most effective and oldest ones. If you can handle the smell of onion juice, you may find that the benefits are worth it. Don’t let its strong smell keep you away from using it, because it goes off just after one rinse. Onion juice is also thought to improve circulation.

Cut an onion or half onion and blend it along with a little water. Press out the juice. Apply the juice to your scalp and hair and leave in for 15 minutes. And then shampoo normally.

3. Egg mask

For a quick and natural hair growth an egg mask can be helpful. It gives your hair a natural shine along with making it silky. This can sound a little disgusting at the start. But once you try it then the results will make you repeat it regularly. Some say to use only the egg white but I have used the york as well in my hair pack.

For the egg mask, separate one egg white in a bowl and add one teaspoon of olive oil ( you can also use grapeseed oil or lavender oil )and honey. Make a paste of it and apply it all over your hair and scalp for about 20 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water and some shampoo.

Tip: Try having a cold or warm shower. Avoid using very hot water else there are chances to have scrambled eggs in hair which is hard to get rid of.

4. Sour cream

Sour cream makes the hair softer, gives them shine and a healthy appearance. It saturates the scalp and nourishes it. Sour cream can either be used directly or can even add modify the hair pack by either mixing it with egg or honey along with some vitamin oil. Similar to other hair packs apply it and keep it for 20 mins and then rinse.

5. Heena / Mehendi

Heena is known as a natural conditioner to hair. It is also used for hair color in case someone wants to have a natural color to the white or grey hair.

You may apply this blend covering all your hair and leave it on for a period term between ½ hour to 6-7 hours if you need to color your grey hair. The more you leave it on, the more profound will be the Heena’s coloring impact. In case it is for the condition then half an hour is fine. Weekly conditioning with this pack works wonders on hair texture, growth, volume, and shine.

“Hair is a beautiful form of self-expression”. Carolyn Aronson

You can always mix and match the hair pack ingredients as per your own convenience. Remember have patience as the results take months but it all will be worthy.

Emotional Breakdown!

Little people belittle people. Great people make people feel great. – Rick Warren

The month of May is known as a mental health awareness month. Although we are in June does not mean that it cannot be discussed. Life has its ups and downs. No one is spared from problems and traumas. The way we react, behave, and approach only is different. The grass is always green on the other side. Hence it is said to be kind to everyone you meet as you do not know what battle they are facing within. Pandemic has been the highlight of 2020. In this phase, we all have had more feelings of negativity, anxiety, sadness, loneliness which all are causes of depression.

Most of the times the society or the people around us bring us down. I’m still not sure what is the outcome apart from giving the victim a sense of worthlessness. Growing up in a conservative society where we can’t do what our hearts say because we think of what people will think. Won’t people judge irrespective if you do as per the social norms or what your heart wants? So many dreams have been killed inside because of the fear of being the change to society. Breaking the rules for the sake to peruse what your heart wants is not wrong at all. We all have nosy relatives or people around who like to know everything in our life while giving us life advice which was never asked for. And there is a point where that advice has got on your nerves as if that will be the life-changing experience. For example, A person in their early 20s usually faces advice of getting married. If someone is married, then there is advice about starting a family. Whatever you do in life these nosy people are never satisfied and want more with high expectations. Can that affect a person’s mental health if they are constantly reminded of the things to do to survive in society?

There must be a way for a judgment-free society. Why can’t people prioritize their as well as other’s mental health?

I related nosy people to the character of Scar from the Disney movie, The Lion King, where Scar tries to manipulate and threaten Simba. Similarly the intentions are to break us emotionally with their words. Most of the time we get trapped with their words and taunts which hurt us making us sad. It can lead to a nervous breakdown as they bring us down. Instead of appreciating the achievement which we have accomplished, they keep reminding us of the things we should do or sometimes it is about our failures. We all do have freedom of speech but we should use our words wisely. Like the bullet from the gun which cannot be undone similarly the words spoken cannot be taken back.

Loneliness is a sign you are in desperate need of yourself.” — Rupi Kaur

Celebrities have also faced depression. It’s been a common disease that everyone goes through. some are brave to accept and smile over the fact while overcoming it. While others can’t take it anymore and choose to end their life. It’s sad to see how famous people like Sushant Singh Rajput, Avicii, Chester Bennington, David Berman, etc have committed suicide. It’s high time we need to make mental health awareness a priority. On the brighter side, there are famous people like Lady Gaga, Sarah Silverman, Owen Wilson, Demi Lovato, J.K. Rowling, Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock, Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Shah Rukh Khan, etc who have confessed that they suffered from depression and they have overcome it.

The ones who go through an emotional breakdown may have behavior changes. The reasons can be internal or external which can vary from work pressure or major life changes or mishap which haunts. In case you or any close one is having a pattern of any of the below it is recommended to seek help immediately. They tend to avoid socializing and prefer being isolated in their house. Their eating and sleeping habits are tremendously affected.

I would recommend that someone who faces nervous breakdown must have a source to vent out. I am not a medical expert professional on mental issues but they should seek help. It is okay to feel not okay. It is not okay to stay that way in pain and misery. These tips might be helpful for how to help them:

Listen without judging the person
Be Kind
Have empathy along with words of motivating
Help them to cope

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the great make you feel that you, too, can become great. – Mark Twain

If each one of us use our words without having evil speech our world will be a better place. Also, most of the mind games to pull someone down will be ended forever. For someone who is going through this rough phase I would suggest the following:

Always remember never to let anyone treat you badly. You are unique in your own ways. Appreciate yourself.
Find a source to vent out either by talking to a friend or consulting a therapist.
Meditate or do yoga where inner peace can be attained. Practicing breathing exercises will help to be grateful in life.
Listen to your body and have a healthy diet along with forming proper sleeping patterns.
Detox technology since most of the information makes us feel sad building negativity in our minds.
Live in the present by appreciating what you have in life rather than being frustrated about what is uncontrollable.

I would conclude by saying that we all have to learn to deal with nosy people as well as cope up with negative feelings like a warrior in a battle. Be Strong!

Shoo away the negativity!

“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” – Zig Ziglar

We cannot have good and positive thoughts all the time. Although it is said to keep positivity in life, in reality, it is difficult. Our mind is most of the time occupied thinking about some issues which are the source of our negativity. It leads to having traits of a pessimist. Dark energy makes us feel sad and depressed as if we are stuck in a room of darkness. Have you ever felt as if things are not working as per your plan? Do you feel as if there is an energy that is pulling you down and you are helpless even if you want to save yourself?

Our thoughts depend on what we feed our minds. Remember its okay not to be okay. What is not okay is to decide to be there without bulging and blaming the situation. We need to manage negative emotions and thoughts without ignoring the feeling of being vulnerable and weak. When we let negative energy take control then it creates a sense of self-doubt that pulls away from the positive mindset. The negativity drowns us so deep that we find ourselves suffocated and cannot swim to survive. The feeling of despair and loss of hope gets stronger. It breaks our self-confidence drastically. We can change it by self-improving and feeding our minds with positivity. Do not let the negative spirit drain your energy. We need to keep finding motivation in our daily life so that the negativity does not take over our minds.

“As soon as you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you will start to get positive results.” – Willie Nelson

Negative thoughts are like those villains in the movies who want us to be trapped which will only ruin us. I would relate negativity with the Dementor from the Harry Potter series. If you haven’t been a Potterhead then let me brief you. Dementor feeds on good memories and sucks all the happiness leaving a person with a bad experience. Similar way negativity makes us stop seeing the brighter side of life. Dementors can be defeated only by one happy memory from the past with the spell “Expecto Patronum”. Wouldn’t life be easy if we could use the Patronus spell in real life and shoo the negativity away? From this, we can conclude that need positivity to overcome negativity.

Negativity influences everyone’s life. It gives us feelings of disappointment, stress, anxiety, and worries. We should not let it affect our life. We need to change the negative to positivity. Here are three ways:

Pep talk –

Inspiration and motivation are like taking a shower daily where we need to keep our daily hygiene. Similarly, our mind needs its daily dose of positivity every day. It can be in the form of a podcast, TedTalks, webinars, tv shows, books, etc. Find ways for positive vibes which will help to build your happy place. Having some famous people who can be ideal can help as they will inspire the energy resulting in positive outcomes. It can even be talking to a person who encourages you when you feel low. We constantly need that pep talk when we find ourselves lost with negativity so find the best way which suits you.

Break the cycle –

If you do not act towards them having a change there will be a feeling of déjà vu. Unless there is a different approach or solution for the problem, we end up running in circles. The more you hold on to that energy it will only keep harming you by being grumpy or bad mood. We often tend to give power to the feeling to control our day. At times that is even seen by getting angry on petty issues or using someone as a punching bag for removing that negativity. Learn to let it go and clear that mind space for inner peace. Take some time off as being alone self-reflection and solutions work better rather than having people or things keeping you occupied.

Manifest –

The law of attraction is a simple way to manifest our life. It states that our mind has the power to control our emotions. The energy we give the universe has a way of returning it to us. So, if we think of something bad it will happen so, and likewise, if it is for something good then the results will be positive. It is very important in which direction and how do we process our thoughts for the outcome. Like the proverb, you reap what you sow is how the power of manifestation works.

I would like to conclude that life is full of experiences and we should not overthink or underestimate the power of positivity. We all have our struggles and are on different levels of life. We could be battling the same demons of negativity in various avatars. The result should be winning with a positive attitude. Managing negative feelings is about acknowledging the way that we are feeling them, asking ourselves why we are feeling this way, and listen to the hidden messages that this situation is trying to teach us to move ahead. Once the hard times pass we see ourselves grown stronger than before. Eventually, we find the way out of the dark forest with a positive mindset of not giving up and keeping the ray of hope.

“Love yourself. It is essential to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out.” – Jenn Proske

Self Respect as High as the Skyscrapers? :)

“They can’t take away our self-respect if we cannot give it to them” – Mahatma Gandhi

There are times when we keep holding on and don’t value ourselves enough. Most of the situations we get caught up in emotions because of having a people-pleasing personality. At the end of all this trauma, we land up hurting ourselves by putting our self-esteem on a toss. Where does the self-respect disappear in that situation? Are we so blind in love to save the relationship that we can’t see how we are lowering our standard just for this person to take us for granted? I’m sure someone’s picture crossed your mind when those questions arise.

Our environment/societies have hidden inspirations which we can see only if we change our perspective. Have you stood below a skyscraper and looked at it till the top and got mind blown? Or vice versa just reach the top floor and look down to the road. Both have different views but they do share something in common. In either case, it’s you who is changing the perspective. It’s better to have high values and standards rather than settling for something you think you deserve just for the sake of this materialistic world demands. And if we keep our self-respect as high as skyscraper then I’m sure no one standing on the ground will dare to break us likely.

“Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it.” — Elastigirl (The Incredibles)

Self-respect is a form of self-love wherein a person values his or her unique approach to life. It is having an understanding and appreciating one’s qualities. And the most important and difficult thing we learned growing up is making life choices and decisions which partly are affected by how much we put ourselves before. Self-respect is a condition of acknowledgment that an individual is important and valued. A self-respecting person can recognize his or her strengths and weaknesses. Instead of getting disappointed with the weaknesses, they see the situation as areas of improvement.

I listed, in brief, how can we start self-respecting ourselves more which most of us have learned from life experiences.

“Your self worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are” – Beyonce

Know your worth

Once you realize your value you’ll never settle for anything less. Self-respect is always a hidden aspect where we most of the times don’t understand how it can be lost. With years most of us realize not to let someone treat you as an option only because they are lacking the confidence to prioritize you. Do you want a person who doesn’t prioritize you but wants you to be there for them? Remember you’re so worth more than being mistreated. And we learn to filter the people we want in our life. The people we choose to represent our TRIBE so be wise as they influence our habits, thinking, and lifestyle.

Power lies within

You have more POWER than you know instead of going with the flow. Take that decision. Time to stand up for yourself for the respect which you are worth it. You don’t need validation from others whether you should be respected or not. The choice lies within where you put yourself above everyone. Listen to the faded away voice which says “YOU’RE WORTHY”

Make a decision

If you want to find the person who will change your life, take a look at the mirror. No one else can take control of your life unless if you give them the power to someone elsewhere there are rare possibilities it will not make you miserable. Never let anyone take you for a ride where you’ll end up in a vicious circle of getting emotionally drained each day and losing the real you. Even if you want to save the relationship it’s always better to choose yourself over anyone else since they don’t care about you.

Take pride to set boundaries

Honor the person you are. It is always easy to say but once you take the courage towards the first step which is accepting the love and respect you deserve you’ll be unstoppable. And it will result in self-care where you will learn the art to say NO.

In the end, I would conclude by saying that self-respect will make you feel happy and satisfied with your personal, professional, and social life. You feel incredible and a sense of responsibility for your life.

“Don’t take the burden of the world’s problems upon yourself. Don’t ignore them either”– Rabbi Tar’fon put it – “The work is not upon you to complete but neither are you exempt from trying” – Talmud

Lets sore our self respect high as skyscrapers and keep spreading the positive vibes in this universe. Stay tuned for another interesting topic next Sunday until then be safe and healthy.

Date Yourself!? (:

“You, yourself as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve all love and affection” – Buddha

Irrespective of what age we become we should not stop loving and appreciating ourselves. Whether you are having a significant other or single does not mean that you should stop self-care towards your body and soul. Self-care is a crucial step in understanding your identity.

If you just rely upon others for satisfaction, you will land up being sad. In any case, if you take a little bit of your time and devote it carefully to yourself by putting your telephone on quiet and concentrating only on investing energy with yourself like you would with someone on a date. You will gradually find the inner peace that you were depending on others to discover.

Investing time alone assists with self-reflection and becoming acquainted with yourself better, like a date with someone else. Dating yourself is a great type of self-care, where you settle on decisions considering just your satisfaction and prosperity. It allows you to be content with or without a partner. Have an attitude of understanding yourselves first where other opinions about us do not matter.

“The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself. The more you learn, the more you’ll earn”– Warren Buffett

Dating yourself strengthens the possibility of the love and joy within. It eventually puts less pressure on potential partners to be responsible for your happiness. Also, when you know who you are more deeply it will boost your self-esteem and worthiness. Unless you note what qualities, you possess you will never know how to flaunt about your strengths. It is okay to be picky in finding a potential partner when you know your self-worth.

Now you would think about how someone can date themselves in it real especially in this worldwide pandemic. Its easy we all have almost the day to ourselves so I am sure we can give at least 10-20 minutes for a little reflection and practicing self-love. It is never too late to build a happy place. We can always do one good thing each day for our body and soul. The motto is that each person should find and enhance their path to happiness in a different way.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?” -Talmud

These simple ideas are approaches to work on getting to know and date yourself. Also, when we top off self-esteem, we are progressively competent to love others. It is a win-win situation for everybody.

Make it happen – Set up the time and location of the date. Of course, now since its pandemic must be home itself. Dress up and ladies put on that makeup. You never dress for others but yourself. It can be ordered in or take away from your favorite restaurant. If it were normal or pre-pandemic life would have suggested eating and enjoy the food in the restaurant environment. Even going for a walk in the park or museum or anything which an ideal date would be can be done alone while self-dating yourself.
Do Self-care stuff – Do something to relax and detox your body. It can be as simple as a bubble bath. Perhaps I believe to do things in low key so I would not recommend spending money over a spa which some people do to find pleasure.
Get those Gifts – Online shopping has been the best way to self-pamper. Yes, we all have experienced it. Most of us have even tracked the package. The best feeling is when the package arrives. The joy in our eyes is as if someone gifted us whereas it is us only who order certain stuff. We can self-gift ourselves for building inner happiness
Choose yourself – Find ways to empower yourself towards boosting your confidence levels. By choosing to take care of yourself you tend to even care for others. Like it is said in the airplane instructions to put your safety mask first before helping others similarly we need to prioritize ourselves.

Attempt one of the ideas above for dating yourself. I am sure there are more ideas about how each one pampers or dates themselves. In the end, it is our body and soul which must be nourished. Let me know in the comment section. Stay tuned for another article next Sunday. Till then be healthy, safe, and keep spreading the positive vibes.

“The things that make me different are the things that make me ME.” — Piglet (Winnie the Pooh)

Trust your instincts !!

“All you have to do is to pay attention, lessons always arrive when you are ready and if you can read the signs, you will learn everything you need to know to take the next step”- Paulo Coelho, The Zahir

Whenever we are in a difficult situation to make a choice all we have been suggested to do is listen to our inner voice. But then sometimes we think how is it even possible? It can be merely a decision stuck between heart and mind. Sometimes we think practically what must be done and other times we make decisions emotionally because we are often attached and cannot let it go. Does our inner voice guide us? How do we hear them in all this busy life?

We all know to trust our instinct as they never lie. The inner voice can be referred to as our gut feeling or instincts. It can be even our sixth sense which we need to listen so that we can be saved from a problem. It helps us direct our life decisions. I am sure we all have been in situations where we felt that something is fishy by either a person’s vibe or a certain environment. Sometimes we do ignore that inner voice or feeling which warns us and intent to jump into the unknown area without being aware of the consequences. And once we get more clues of this hidden mysterious person or scenario all the missing dots connect easily.

No one is born having an expert feeling of what can be wrong but with the experience, we learn. And our gut feeling or instincts develop with time. For example, when we introduce a new friend to our parents, they will immediately know who can be toxic for us and hence they warn us. In most cases parents are right and we tend not to obey them.

“Always let your conscience be your guide.” — The Blue Fairy (Pinocchio)

We live in a world with people who have good as well as bad energy. We can be blinded to some sugar-coating good vibe which might be harmful to us in the long run. The feeling of how you are in the situation or with the person can never lie.

Being a Disney fan, I relate the movies with the hidden life meaning which it is trying to convey to us. In the Pixar movie Inside out, our emotions were given a face and how all of them try to control a scenario. Our intuition is one of the feelings of fear which tries to warn us by giving us second thoughts. But the character is so cowardly that it can hardly make his voice count in all the other emotions. And it can be like our inner voice or instincts which is within us but cannot be loud or courageous so that it is clear to us. It doesn’t mean that emotion is not at all there but just very feeble.

Intuition is the voice of our soul. Our body and soul are interlinked. And when we allow our soul to express itself then it is called freeing our spirit. Our body silently absorbs experiences that give us emotions like goosebumps or déjà vu. Our body has memory and stores emotions through past experiences. It remembers the feeling since the trauma is still living in us deep within. Our gut feeling resists and protects us which might make us uncomfortable. If we ignore the signs, then we will feel vulnerable and suffocated. Being aware of the pain and trauma can be a blessing. We need to take care of our bodies.

“Faith requires following the power of a whisper.” – Shannon L. Alder

There are two ways where we can enhance our inner voice so that we can listen to it with more clarity.

Pay attention to emotions –

We can only reflect and analyze if we have some time off or are in a silent environment. We should keep in mind that not to numb the pain else it will feel crushed. Also, do not let your mind take over. It will merely end up overthinking. Observing the most powerful feeling is a way to understand ourselves better. Do not be too hard on yourself if it is not happening the first time. Since it can only enhance with time and experience as they are the best life teachers. Our intuitions have a pattern and it often is expressed with our body language or feelings. We need to understand and observe so that we can be aware of when it is warning us to be cautious.

2. Create space for inner voice –

In our busy lives, it is difficult to be an expert on making the right decision without rationally thinking of the consequences. We need to find a quiet space that can help our thoughts in a better manner. It can be done in three ways: prayer, meditation or take a walk alone. Prayer is the most powerful way of spirituality. The mind needs to be calm to find a proper solution and meditation can be the best tool. Meditation helps to realize all the unwanted thoughts towards clarity and self-worth. Last is taking a walk which is not only as an exercise but also when we spend time alone, we tend to reflect more adequately.

Every individual is gifted with the ability to their inner voice. When we hear it that is when our inner wisdom can be manifested. In the end, it will help you have clarity in thoughts, predictable, and better in decision making.

“The more you trust your intuition the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, the happier you become” – Gisele Bundchen

Stay tuned for the next week with a new article. Stay safe and healthy. Keep spreading the positive vibes. 🙂

Practicing Gratitude :)

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty instead of upon your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” Charles Dickens

Growing up we all have been taught plenty of values by our parents. Using golden words of saying “Thank You” was one of them. How often did we keep the same practices today? Does it mean we forgot the values which our parents tried to teach us for being good humans to society? It is never too late to obey them and practice gratitude in our daily life. We must be thankful to the people and things in our lives. This will create a path for inner peace and happiness. America celebrates a “Thanksgiving” holiday where that weekend/month everywhere people were talking about how grateful they were to the people they have. When I celebrated this holiday the first time here, I felt why do we have to remember just one day to be thankful for what we have in life? Why can’t we be thankful towards life in regular intervals whether its weekly if not daily?

We can get away from this materialistic world to a spot where individuals are esteemed more. This pandemic has caused us to reflect on our behavior towards appreciating life. We will look at the world differently when we exchange our expectations for appreciation.

Why practice Gratitude?

Gratitude is essentially setting some time to reflect and consider all the positive things throughout your life instead of ruminating on the negatives. It does not require telling any other individual you are appreciative of the things they have done. Even though, that makes a difference. Gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools for towards joy. Research shows it is the single most powerful method of increasing happiness. Having an attitude of gratitude doesn’t cost any money. It doesn’t take much time.

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” – Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh

Individuals who experience the most appreciation tend to appreciate the contributions of others to their well-being. They also recognize and enjoy life’s small pleasures. They develop a sense of abundance in their lives by expressing gratitude. Regardless of whether being thankful come to you normally, focusing on life’s positives can prepare and train your mind to be appreciate life.

Ways towards practicing gratitude :

Pause and Reflect – A grateful person is a joyful person. People who are lacking happiness wonder about the missing ingredient. When you master gratitude yourself, you will easily recognize that the missing ingredient was: Gratitude. This pandemic could not be a better opportunity to pause, reflect and be thankful for the things we love and the relations we have in our lives.
Maintain a Gratitude journal – Recognizing these things on paper, with words will assist you with developing an attitude of appreciation. And it boosts your levels of happiness. Writing could be hard especially where to start. In today’s world, everything is on our fingertips so I would recommend apps like Reflectly, day one journal, 365 gratitude, Happier.
Think, Speak, and Act – There is no mystery about how to become a person who mastered the attribute of thankfulness. Think gratefully. Speak gratefully. Act gratefully. When you consistently do these three things, you are consistently thankful. Even before this pattern has become consistent for you, every little bit of thinking, speaking, and acting this way makes you more grateful than if you would not have thought, spoken, or acted this way.

I can conclude that apart from creating happiness, practicing gratitude can have an impact on a person in the following ways:

Personality – Gratitude can help a person can have a strong character trait which leads to being more optimistic in life. It can help to boost self-confidence. Also, a person can be less materialistic where human relations are valued.

Health– Gratitude can affect a person’s well being with good health and better sleeping patterns.

Emotional – A person’s emotional health is improved by being thankful and kind. There are more positive sentiments and less jealousy in relations. The mind is more relaxed which creates happier memories.

Career– Professional relations can be built by the improved network in the workplace. Goal and targets can be accomplished easily since there is much coordination between coworkers. Who would know that a simple humble behavior can have such a drastic change in the environment?

Social – Gratitude will make you a down to earth person. It will help in increasing the social circle with more networking and friends.

“Thankfulness has an inner connection with humility. It recognizes that what we are and what we have is due to others and above all, to God.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Let’s practice gratitude towards building a better world. Stay tuned for more in the next blog (next Sunday)! Be kind to spread your aroma in the world! 🙂

Materialistic world

“Our lives are fashioned by our choices. First, we make our choices. Then our choices make us.” – Anne Frank

Are we living in a materialistic world? Do we give importance to things over emotions? Unfortunately, we do and have adapted it as a mandatory trait in society. The materialistic world consists of where people give prestige to reputation, wealth, and all other non-living objects. This type of world which we have built is temporary and fake. It has made society with emptiness without emotions. Everyone just wants to compete and impress to owe some particular brand valuables to show off among their circle. Isn’t that true? There is no end to this toxic attitude which results in jealousy.

The constant comparison with friends or someone whom you want to show off only causes depression and anxiety. It leads to manipulative behavior which is socially destructive.

If you are a product of a materialistic universe, how is it that you don’t feel at home there? –C. S. Lewis

There can be a thin difference between good and bad materialism. Sometimes there are things which are basic necessities whereas others can be luxurious in order to show prestige. Here are two daily routine habits that most of us go through.

1. Shopping-

How often we shop for the branded and expensive stuff which we need to show off in the next event? If you paused and nodded yes then you will agree it’s a materialistic trait. Gone are the days when we used to shop and not repeat the dresses just because your friends have already seen it. And today during this pandemic we open our wardrobe and see all these branded clothes lying there as it is. Now we all wonder when we will be back to our normal life where we can wear our favorite dress again. The book “Confessions of a Shopaholic” by Sophie Kinsella is the perfect example of this scenario, where the girl gave so much importance for updating her wardrobe by shopping most of the time, that she missed out on the important relations in her life. Shopping can be addictive which will always have a short of contentment. We need to question ourselves “Is the product we are purchasing the real need for the hour? What is the purpose or intension for the purchase?” Often, we invest in things for the sake of social prestige or peer pressure for some bandwagon effect. Can’t we live in simplicity?

2. Social media –

Of course, we all use it regularly. Before this pandemic, we all had so much to share and post about our life. We depict good positive vibes and happy pictures. But when someone is sad or unhappy in their life, they do not share it or grab attention. Have you thought social media is sometimes (or most of the time) a fake world we try to live in.? It does not mean we have to delete our social media. Like others, I am no different even I am part of the same vicious cycle. But we need to curb the intake of news which pops on our newsfeeds. Also, too much time on our phone makes us miss the present moments. Instead, we should value people who are around us. Human relations are not built by having plenty of friends online but none of them want to talk in real. Isn’t that weird?

We all can escape this materialistic world to a place where people are valued more. We all know that money can’t buy happiness, yet we chase and try to bribe our fake emotions we show the world. This pandemic has made us self reflect and pause our actions. Let’s elevate ourselves towards practicing gratitude. In the end, it is our relations with others that are more valued than our possessions. I can conclude by the takeaways of:

Being humble is the key to maintain relations.
Being thankful for all valuable people in life.
Building a happy place.
Prioritizing yourself in all situations all the time.
Making a motto in life and you will always be happy.
Appreciating small things happening on a daily basis.

“Acknowledge your gifts and be grateful to the source. Because if you know from whom you are receiving, you can always go back for more.” – Rabbi Noah Weinberg

Hope this was helpful. More intense topics in the next blog. If you haven’t subscribed yet then please do. Till then stay positive and stay strong. Keep loving yourself because in the end its your body and soul which is there with you in all phases of life! 🙂

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