Online Dating Mantras You Should Live By

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You may not be surprised to hear that online dating is now the second most common way couples meet. The internet offers a variety of solutions for those who want to try their luck with meeting someone online – from dating sites to dating apps, the possibilities are theoretically endless. Many people decide to try out this style of meeting people believing that everything is easier than in “real” life.

The fact is that finding a perfect partner online is very hard, and people often tend to leave false records about their life, tricking you into believing they’re someone they’re not. You have to learn how to recognize and avoid those profiles. If someone’s profile looks “too good,” then there’s probably something wrong with it. Here are few tips on online dating and relationship advice that can make your adventure with online dating a lot easier.

 

 

Online Dating Mantras To Live By

 

 

Be Honest

It should be a golden rule that lies are forbidden in online dating. Lying about yourself on your profile will only lead the other person to disappointment when you meet in real life. He/she will quickly realize that you’re not who you claimed to be. Men tend to lie about things like their height, and women about their weight, so pay attention to these categories and don’t believe everything you read. Being honest doesn’t mean that you have to reveal everything about yourself in your profile. Some things you should keep for the actual meet up.

 

Also Read: Maintaining a Close Relationship

 

Although you’re saving time for yourself and them by being honest with the basics. Basic info includes what you are looking to get out of a relationship and where you see yourself in the future. Not all individuals are looking for marriage or to eventually have children, being on the same page with notable milestones like these is a must. Think about it – even if they are okay with your lie about your height, they could be wondering what else you’d think about lying about down the line. The same honest mantra applies twofold to profile pictures!

 

Be Realistic

When you see someone’s profile, you immediately start fantasizing about life with that person. This is the wrong thing to do because you can create expectations that person may not be able to fulfill. Your date to be could wind up being the person you marry and have a house, kids and a dog with, but refrain from building a story in your head. It’s all in good spirit, but take it one step at a time. Be real and never rush with the first date. Likewise, don’t hurry with the relationship. Starting a relationship on your first date is a risky proposition – first you need to meet the person, and then you can start thinking about the next step. It is a blank canvas for you both to fill in.

 

Be Safe

You might roll your eyes with what you’re about to read, but safety should be a top priority when dating someone fir the first time. Be very careful about the information you’re giving to the other person – we don’t have to mention that giving your home address, credit card number, and similar relevant information are not wise choices. Choose a crowded place for a first date and play it safe for the first date. Something like dinner, billiards or a movie are classic first date go-to’s. Take your time with getting to know the person online via the site’s chat system or texting and social media. Read the person’s cues and schedule a meet up when you feel ready.

 

Be Level Headed

Online dating has another paramount rule – you have to distinguish the difference between relevant and irrelevant details. Don’t let emotions overwhelm you and try to always be realistic when it comes to evaluating the other person. If you two have the same favorite restaurant, ask yourself how relevant is that exactly? A favorite place doesn’t reveal a thing about that person. On the other hand, try to pay attention to what that person says and find similarities between you two. Does he/she love to read books? Does he/she seem to be an active person? These details about someone’s personality and habits can show you if you two are truly the perfect couple.

It’s important to have hobbies and passions in common. You’ll help each other to develop these further, and it will help you to build a stronger connection. Sexual attraction can only last so long; a strong mental connection will keep you set for the long haul! A healthy relationship has both, and there is a huge difference between love and infatuation.

 

Be Bold

Whether you’re the girl or the guy, be bold! Do you like the person? Take the first step and ask them to go on a second date. Send a text saying you enjoyed your time with them and look forward to seeing them again. Online dating isn’t always the easiest thing to partake in, especially if you are a touch on the shy side when getting to know someone. They’ll be flattered and relieved to know that the feeling is mutual. On the flip side, if you don’t feel a connection, it is best to mention this if your online dating partner expresses interest in another date. Don’t leave them guessing or waiting on you if it just does not feel right.

 

Also Read: 32 Fun Games To Play With Your Girlfriend

 

People who are not afraid to try online dating are often characterized as proactive and forward-thinking individuals. It would be a shame not to use all the possibilities the internet has given us. Just like in any other situation in life, when it comes to online dating low expectations are always better than high ones – if you expect nothing, and you find the perfect partner for you – you will be very happy. On the other hand, if you expect a lot, you may find yourself very disappointed in the end when you don’t find the Mr/Mrs. Just remember not to give up – there is someone out there waiting for you!

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Sticking with the Resolution – 5 easy tips

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Every year when January arrives, many feel resolved to make some changes to themselves. Hence, many are jumping on board and joining the New Year’s Resolution bandwagon. But by February these resolutions will be long-gone. Sometimes these aspirations will be revisited the following new year – only to be forgotten again soon afterwards. Why is it so difficult sticking with the resolution? There are a couple common reasons why most resolutions eventually fall by the wayside. While most are able to quickly think up a goal or two, most don’t take the time to really develop them. Or, once a resolution is broken it is quickly abandoned and written as a lost cause.

 

 

Sticking With The Resolution

 

 

You may have even heard the joke about the failure of Resolutions. It goes like this: a new place opened up locally called “Resolutions.” In January it’s a gym for working out, and then it turns into a bar for the other twelve months once everyone has given up. Rather than making a New Year’s Resolution that’s not going to stay around, read the five tips below to find out how to make a New Year’s Resolution and how to actually accomplish it.

 

Pick one goal

Yes it would be nice to lose weight, be more organized in life, save more money, volunteer more, and save the whales. But trying to accomplish all of these things at the same time is a tough order to fill. Taking on too usually results in nothing being accomplished at all. Rather than trying to completely change every single aspect in your life focus on just one goal. Change is hard enough. Being able to concentrate on that single goal will be much easier to manage than trying to juggle several.

Often times too, making a positive change in with one aspect of life helps other areas as well. For example, by making a goal and designing a plan for weight loss, this automatically is going to help someone become better at organizing their commitments in life. One positive change often defaults to other positive areas of change without the individual even realizing it!

 

Write it down

It’s easy enough to think up a goal in one’s head; it’s another matter to write it down. By keeping it stored only in your head it makes the resolution much easier to dismiss. And while writing it down on a piece of paper isn’t exactly a binding contract, it does make the goal more resolute.

To make your goal even more official it is helpful to write it down a few times and display it in a variety of places. Seeing your goal in writing over and over makes it more a part of your life. A written resolution prevents you from being able to easily dismiss your goal.

Having multiple copies will help serve as constant reminders throughout the day. This will allow you to stay on track better. Some good locations to display your resolution are as follows: on the fridge, on your desk at work, on your nightstand, bathroom mirror, and the dashboard of your car. By constantly having your goal stare at you throughout the day you will have higher chances of sticking with the resolution. It’s also beneficial to tell those close to you of the resolution so they can support you with your goal as well.

 

Develop a Specific Plan of Action

Setting a goal is usually relatively easy. But getting there is the hard part. Strategizing a plan of action makes reaching a goal much more attainable. It is especially beneficial to make that plan as specific as possible.

Let’s take the resolution of losing ten pounds as an example. Setting a goal of ten pounds seems feasible, but how are these pounds going to vanish? Since it won’t happen by magic it’s beneficial to spell out how this is going to be achieved. Is this going to involve exercise? If so, how often? Is eating right going to be part of the plan? And what exactly does “eating right” entail? The more details you lay out the better for sticking with the resolution.

It is worth taking the time to think through the specific steps required to achieve a goal. By establishing specific steps it definitely makes the ladder much more feasible to climb. In addition, by thinking through the process you will hopefully get to envision yourself doing those items of action. Usually by making it a mental process first, it is much easier to turn that plan into a reality for yourself.

 

Accept the ups and downs

One of the problems many have with sticking with the resolution is they don’t allow themselves any forgiveness. They expect continued perfection of themselves. If they slip up, they write the goal off as a complete failure and cast it aside. Rather than give up on the resolution it’s helpful to keep in mind to expect good days and bad ones. When things get tough it’s tempting to abandon the New Year’s Resolution ship; but stay the course and ride out the waves.

Certain days are going to be tougher than others. If you’re trying to lose weight understand that events like Super Bowl parties are going to make it difficult to stay the course. But you’re not powerless, there are measures you can take. For example, bring a veggie tray or mixed nuts. That way there are options that you can partake it.

If you do reach for the nacho cheese dip one too many times then it’s okay to chalk the day as a bad one. But DON’T chuck the resolution away. Tomorrow is a whole new day; give yourself permission to make adjustments to get back on track.

If you find that you are constantly involved with situations that are a threat to your goal, it may be wise to strategize and establish a mental game plan in advanced. For example, if you’re trying to give up caffeine it can be hard to do this if coffees, teas, or sodas are a common staple at your workplace. To combat the temptation, you may have to enter the office battlefield with your own caffeine-free beverages. Even though the caffeinated drinks are going to be preferable at first, having your own resolution-abiding drink in hand may prevent you from grasping a cup of a caffeinated beverage – mentally and physically.

 

Celebrate Successes in a smart way

You don’t necessarily have to wait until you’ve successfully achieved your goal to see successes. Making a personal change is especially difficult at the start. Even if you’ve managed to go an entire a week resolutely sticking with your resolution, it is worth celebrating. So pat yourself on the back and celebrate. But celebrate appropriately. In other words, don’t celebrate in a way that could jeopardize your goal.

If you’re trying to give up alcohol, don’t celebrate soberness with a night of drinking. Don’t smoke a cigarette if you are trying to quit. Choose rewards that don’t have the power to set you back. Rather, celebrate with an ice cream sundae, reward weight loss with a new outfit instead. This will make sticking with the resolution much more efficient.

But even if the amount is small, or the period brief, don’t short-change your successes. Recognizing minor achievements will give you more motivation to sticking with the resolution. A reward system can be especially helpful on those days that the climb is harder and it seems like it’s taking forever to get to the top. Everyone takes different strides and accomplishes at a different rate and it’s important to recognize your own journey.

Regardless of what your goal is, you’ll be less successful if you make it on a whim. Put some thought into it; and then put yourself into it. And if the entire month of January has passed you by and you haven’t given New Year’s resolutions any attention at all, there is no time like the present. There is no law that states resolutions and goals are only to be drafted in the month of January. Regardless of the time of year take some time for self- reflection. Then put your goal into a plan of action!

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Maintaining a Close Relationship with Friends

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Friends! They are our second family and play a huge role in day to day life and throughout milestone achievements. Take a moment to think about who your friends are and how you feel about your relationship with them. Did you just think about how great it is and how thankful you are to have them in your lives? If so, awesome! If not, try to think of what in particular isn’t as you had hoped for it to be. Good companions are never something we should let go and have fizzled out. Here are some tips on maintaining a close relationship and propel them forwards. These tips are ideal for new friendships and longstanding pals.

 

Maintaining a Close Relationship

 

Keep Communication Flowing

Maintaining a close relationship means that open and honest communication between you and your friend is crucial if you want to keep hanging out in the future. And by “communication” we don’t just mean talking about the weather and what you did the day before, but also talking about your deepest fears, desires and plans. Don’t be afraid to open yourself up to another person – allow others to get to know who you really are. If you have a problem – go through possible solutions with your friend.

Ask them for advice and remind them that they can be as honest as needed! Healthy communication is the key to maintaining a close relationship. You don’t need to spill all of your secrets on day one, but let things progress organically. Don’t feel the need to keep things to yourself. Something as simple as text every day is a good way to let them know that you are thinking about them. See a funny picture? Share it with them on Facebook! Life gets busy, but there’s always time for a quick message.

 

Best Friend Dates

Fun is one of the FUNdemental parts of friendship! Having a lot of fun together will help in maintaining a close relationship. Falling into a routine is a very common thing today, and you have to shake it up a bit by adding some fun activities. Talk to your friend and agree on doing something you both enjoy.

Also Read: 32 Fun Games To Play With Your Girlfriend

Take an exercise class together, try a new restaurant or see the latest movie in theaters. Go bold and plan something adventurous like parasailing or racecar driving. The possibilities are endless, and the choice is up to you two. That time spent together, in combination with lots of laughter, will create unforgettable happy memories. Life can get crazy busy, but do make time for your friends. Going too long without seeing each other is an unfortunate way that a significant amount of friendships fade over time. Are you both swamped with work? Coordinate lunch breaks and sneak out to grab a bite at a quick café!

 

Make Traditions

 

Take these “friend dates” to the next level and have them evolve into longstanding traditions. Traditions are usually associated with family and around a holiday or reoccurring event. Do your friendship a favor and cultivate unique traditions between you and your group of friends. Girl’s weekends, a friend Thanksgiving dinner the night before the holiday, a present exchange or following a band on tour are some exciting traditions to enact. Promise each other to always make these events a priority and that there are no excuses for ditching! Soon, it’ll be something you both look forward to and cherish. Take photos and videos each time and save them in a special place to make a collage down the line. Looking back at all of the fun times you’ve had is a powerful way to acknowledge a friendship. Those pictures and memories will be worth well beyond one thousand measly words.

 

Not Always Roses

Your friend is not your clone – it’s okay (and completely normal) for you two to disagree sometimes. If your friend decides to make a move or do something when you think that it isn’t is the right thing to do, don’t interfere. Just let them do their thing. It isn’t fair of you to try and control your friend or tell him/her what to do just because you’re friends. Don’t try to influence your friends’ lives because that’s how you put your friendships in danger.

Also Read: Moving Beyond a Relationship Betrayal

Nobody likes to be told what to do, and your negative reaction to their decisions will sadly do more harm than good. But, do let them know that you’re there for them and let them know that you are happy to give your advice if they want it. Conflict in small doses is healthy, and it leads to a deeper understanding of your friend’s inner workings. Weather the storm and prosper!

 

Grow Your Circle

The more, the merrier has never been truer when it comes to friendships! Expand your social circle and build a flourishing network of friends. Tell a good friend to bring someone they know to an event and do the same. As you all get to know each other, common hobbies, likes and dislikes will pop up in conversation. Meeting up at a central location for drinks or coffee is easy and brings us all back to our roots. Challenge everyone to leave their phones in their purses and be present in the moment. Initiate group texts over the course of the week and be the reason that everyone has a midday pick me up with laughter and dear sentiments.

Friends come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. Being open to making friendships and taking the time to learn from the people around you will help in maintaining a close relationship. It’ll help you grow as a person and analyze personality traits. Deep down, humans, in general, are social beings, and friends can have a great influence on their decisions in different stages of their lives. Many tend to think that a friendship (or romantic relationship) should be effortless. It is quite the opposite! Do your best to put your friendships first and make time for the people in your life that are important to you. By doing so, you and your pal will grow together and be able to tackle anything that comes your way.

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Promoting Wellness Through The Healing Arts

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When it comes to reducing stress many doctors and health professionals emphasize the importance of exercise. Other professionals, especially those in the mental health field, advocate reducing stress through meditation or deep-breathing routines. Participation in the healing arts incorporates all of these things. The healing arts are creative practices that promote overall wellness, supports personal change, healing, and coping. Such activities usually incorporate music, artistic movement, and focused breathing.

 

Healing Arts

 

 

Yoga and tai chi are a couple of forms of healing arts that are becoming increasingly popular. They both utilize physical movement, stretching, and mental focus. Yet, they are also distinct. For starters, they have different origins. Read on to learn about these unique, creative practices and to discover how these healing arts can help alleviate stress.

 

Yoga

History

Yoga dates back to over 5,000 years ago; it started in northern India. Even in its native form, yoga was considered more than merely exercise and stretching. The movements of this healing arts were spiritual and meditative. Early yoga practices were tied to the faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Yoga spread to the western cultures in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. In the 1980’s yoga started to be viewed as a form of healthy exercise, and since sees an increasing number of participants. Over time different forms of Yoga have emerged. And many new forms of yoga continue to evolve. The most popular forms include the following: Hatha, Raja, Ashtanga, and Bikram Yoga.

 

How To Start

If you are looking to get started most gyms and recreation centers offer Yoga classes. There are also a variety of videos that are available for purchase that show the basic moves of yoga. While it’s nice to exercise in the comforts of your own home there are benefits to joining a class. An instructor can assess whether you are doing the moves correctly. Also, participating with others often serves as an empowering source of motivation.

Wearing comfortable clothing is essential to yoga. Many prefer to wear attire that is fitted yet moveable. This healing art requires frequent changing of positions and you don’t want your clothes to impede with these movements. Rather than shoes, most practice yoga sporting their bare feet.

When experiencing a Yoga class for the first time it can be intimidating. Those who are experienced with Yoga are usually pretty flexible. Watching the complicated poses of yoga is usually baffling for a newbie as well. Maneuvering through these positions as a novice is often difficult and maintaining them can make you feel shaky. But with time and practice it gets easier.

Most starting out with Yoga generally take a class in Hatha yoga. You will learn the basics of positions as well as breathing. After getting comfortable with these movements, you may then want to explore some of the other forms of Yoga.

 

Health Benefits

Many continually participate in yoga to strengthen muscles, stretch and tone muscles of the body. Yoga is also a great way to increase flexibility. This healing art provides numerous benefits to the novice and veteran alike. Ten additional health benefits of yoga are as follows:
1) Improves respiration and breathing
2) Leads to weight loss and helps to stabilize metabolism
3) Increases energy throughout the day
4) Enhances athletic performance – even in non-yoga sports
5) Improves bone health
6) Reduces blood pressure
7) Improves overall mood
8) Helps to improve concentration
9) Releases tension
10) Enhances quality of sleep

 

Also Read: Benefits Of Touch Therapy

 

Drawbacks

Because of the flexibility required for a multitude of the positions in yoga, it is possible to obtain an injury if you aren’t careful. For those that are beginners it is important to understand that being able to successfully maneuver through many of the stretches takes time. When instructors work through the exercises they often show a modified version. If you are new to the healing arts, or have physical issues, it is a good idea to use these modifications, otherwise you run the risk of injury.

Even for those who are experienced with yoga is very important to warm up sufficiently. Twisting or bending too soon into a position results in tweaks and strains. If you ever do experience more than just a mild stretching sensation during the exercises, it may be wise to modify those positions.

One of the areas of yoga that has recently come under scrutiny is Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga is a type of yoga where the temperature of the studio is kept at 95 – 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity is at 40 percent. Hence, the environment is very hot. Some claim that the sweltering condition is unhealthy. However, advocates say the hotter temps lead to more flexibility and fewer muscle injuries.

However, if you are new to yoga, you may not want to choose Bikram as your first yoga experience. And those who are sensitive to heat may want to choose a different form of Yoga as well. But if you are ready to heat things up with Bikram, it is extremely important to stay hydrated throughout your workout.

 

Tai Chi

History

Another one of the healing arts many are trying out is tai chi. Tai chi started in China. Even though it is based on martial arts that originated thousands of years ago, tai chi was developed in 1670.

Tai chi incorporates three main fundamentals which are health, meditation, and martial arts. While martial arts includes fast movements, tai chi is much slower paced. Religious influences also played a role in the development of this healing art. The following religions played a role in the conception of tai chi: Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

Just like with yoga, the forms of tai chi have evolved over time. The most common styles of tai chi are Chen, Yang, Sun, and Wu. Although generally similar, the styles differ mainly from each other in the tempo and the size of the various movements.

Tai chi was first taught in San Francisco in 1939. Since that time, more practitioners have taught Tai chi in the United States. Now tai chi is taught all over the country, especially in cities.

 

How To Start

If you live in an urban area you may want to check with your local gym, multicultural, or community center to see if tai chi is taught. Many local colleges and hospitals offer classes frequently as well. In addition, many different tai chi videos are out on the market and can be purchased or downloaded.

While instructors of tai chi may be clothed in their native, authentic attire, students can participate in the movements without a uniform. Participants should attend their tai chi class wearing loose, comfortable clothing. It is important that the attire easily allow for movement. Clothing should also be made of breathable material.

An average tai chi session runs 60 – 90 minutes long. When watching a class for the first time it may look like the participants are moving into different positions very slowly. Although this is true, learning and practicing correct posture is essential to tai chi.

Learning the various movements is usually challenging for beginners. Try to avoid jolting around when moving, and be as smooth as possible. Also, don’t rush the movements. While the exercises are taught in class, they should be regularly practiced at home.

 

Health Benefits

Along with the other types of healing arts, tai chi provides health benefits. Since tai chi encompasses many similar attributes as yoga, the health benefits of yoga are generally applicable as well. Ten additional health benefits of tai chi are as follows:

1) Increases upper-body and lower-body strength
2) Improves overall balance
3) Provides aerobic exercise
4) Decreases stress levels and anxiety
5) Increases stamina
6) Promotes a healthier heart and circulatory system
7) Helps to foster a healthy immune system
8) Reduces inflammation
9) Lowers depression
10) Studies show it helps to improve conditions for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease

 

Drawbacks

Even though tai chi offers numerous health benefits, there are some disadvantages that come with it too. For starters, many see the slow movements of tai chi and assume it is easy to do. But the truth is that mastering these moves takes a lot of practice. Practicing regularly the moves then becomes a major time commitment.

Another drawback of tai chi concerns the availability of lessons. Other healing arts offers multiple types of classes at a variety of locations. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a tai chi instructor that holds classes for the public. This is especially true if you live in a rural area.

Furthermore, if you are someone who holds a strong interest in one of the specific styles of tai chi it is even more difficult to find a class. Those who are pursuing tai chi for health reasons will generally have an easier time finding a class. Those who want an emphasis for a martial arts application are more limited in their options.

Just like with all exercise, you may want to consult a physician before pursuing the healing arts. Even though tai chi and yoga are less impactful on the joints than other forms of exercise, injury is still possible. Certain health and physical conditions could be negatively affected by the various movements. And if you are pregnant you should consult your doctor as well to make sure the activities are safe for you and your baby.

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