5 Life-Changing Things That Happen When You Downsize

In our reality, we are bombarded with messages of rampant consumerism, accumulation, money, and advertisements at every turn, because our economy thrives off of people buying things they don’t really need.

We have been tricked into believing that the key to happiness lies within our purchases, when it really begins within ourselves.

Lately, though, minimalism seems to be gaining traction as more people realize that they have no use or interest in participating in conspicuous consumption anymore. If you have had enough of the idea that more stuff equates to more happiness and want to downsize,

Here are 5 life-changing things that happen as you downsize:

1. You will have less to worry about.

As you detach yourself from the endless, unsatisfying paradigm of getting into debt to buy things you don’t really want or need, you will find a very welcoming reality on the other side of that – one of sheer peace and bliss. In the end, you don’t really own the stuff you buy; it ends up owning you instead. So, as you reduce the amount of clutter in your house and focus more on lasting sources of happiness that lie within you, you will eliminate a big source of stress and anxiety from your life.

Many people report that finances are a major source of distress in their daily lives, so by drastically cutting back on your consumption, you will feel a huge weight lifted from your shoulders.

2. You will feel liberated from the expectations of others

Many people buy new things that are out of their price range to simply impress others. They want others to notice them, praise them, and feel happy for them. However, that temporary satisfaction you gain from other’s acknowledgment quickly fades, and you will always need to buy more, have more, and be more in order to keep their attention.

When you adopt a minimalist lifestyle, however, you start to remember what really matters in life. You see that you don’t need to impress others; all you need to do is feel content with yourself, and that comes from your own heart. As long as you love yourself and stay true to your character, no one else’s opinion really matters. You could have one outfit to wear and a mattress to sleep on, but as long as you feel fulfilled at the end of the day, no amount of money or possessions could ever replace that feeling.

3. You will have more money to spend on experiences rather than things.

Another bonus to living a simpler life is that you will have a newfound interest in spending your money creating memories rather than stuff. After all, studies have shown that people who spend money on experiences rather than things are much happier at the end of the day. Minimalists value a trip across the world more than buying a new suit, and it’s easy to see why.

We all just want to feel something, and find real meaning in life. Meeting new people, exploring uncharted territory, and growing as a person offer a chance to feel alive, but can you really say the same thing about new clothes, houses, and other material items?

4. You can focus more on your own passions rather than possessions.

By spending less time worrying about buying new items to replace ones that aren’t “trending” or fashionable anymore, you can put your attention toward what you feel passionate about. Maybe you have been wanting to train for a marathon or go exploring in your state, or take up a painting class at your local museum. The possibilities are endless when you strip away what weighs you down and put your energy into your personal interests and desires.

We have a limited time here in this current existence, so many of us have realized that we must truly seize the day and focus on what brings us value, not what adds superficial value to a broken system.

5. You create more physical space, as well as mental space.

Minimalism goes far beyond clearing up space in your home or apartment; it cleanses the soul and revitalizes the heart. It makes you feel empowered and liberated, leaving behind ideals that only lead to disappointment and stress from trying to make it in the rat race. It gives clarity, and a chance to start anew with fresh ideas and inspirations about what you want to accomplish, and offers a wellspring of opportunities for how to capture the true essence of life.

Downsizing isn’t just about a reduction of physical stuff; it’s about a worldwide revolution, an expansion of consciousness that will help humanity thrive, not just survive. Detachment from possessions means you can see beyond this superficial reality created by people only interested in profits into one that you have created from your soul.

This journey will help you break your chains to the modern way of living, and enter a new, exciting world that you manifest from your highest desires – and no one can take that away from you.

Money and possessions are temporary, but memories and experiences make an everlasting imprint on your soul.

5 ‘Mistakes’ You Should Never Apologize For

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

In life, a person will inevitably make mistakes as long as they don’t live inside a bubble in some remote destination. So, that pretty much applies to the majority of people living on this planet. Mistakes have been proven to make one stronger, smarter, and more well-rounded, not to mention, valuable life lessons are learned in the process.

Much of society likes to push the idea that we have evolved into “perfect beings” that should never err or slip up once in a while, but that would only make sense if we had somehow morphed into a species of super robots. In short, you should not fear, or purposely avoid mistakes.

Here are 5 ‘mistakes’ you should never have to apologize for:

1.Making decisions that you know will make you truly happy, even if others don’t agree.

In life, you may have already realized that people tend to criticize others for almost any decision they make nowadays. You find a new boyfriend or girlfriend that you absolutely adore, and others just have to rain on your parade and give you 20 reasons why you shouldn’t be with that person. You want to move to a new city, state, or even country, and everyone informs you why that will be the biggest mistake of your life.

People enjoy living vicariously through others, because secretly, they wish they had your life. They only wish they had the bravery or willingness to truly follow their hearts despite any opposition. You don’t have to answer to anyone; just live your life the way that makes you happiest, and you will eventually attract others into your life who have the same go-getter attitude.

2. Putting your needs and desires first, for once.

Somehow, making your own heart happy got twisted into a selfish, egotistical, entitled idea. In reality, no one else can ever offer the happiness that you can give to yourself, so it only makes sense to make your own fulfillment a priority.

If you have taken your life into your own hands instead of waiting on others to teach you how to live it, then you already have mastered an important aspect of self-development. We all have 100% responsibility for how we choose to live our lives, and only by putting our needs first can we ever attempt to then help others in need, too. After all, how can we help others if we don’t first address how to help ourselves?

3. Falling in love with someone who things didn’t end up working out with.

A lot of people have the tendency to look back on past relationships with regret and guilt in their hearts, wishing the relationship had never happened. However, would you be the same person today without experiencing that relationship? Would you have learned all those lessons about life had you never made the decision to be with that person?

You don’t ever have to apologize for your past to anyone; everything that happened to you played a crucial role in your evolution as a spiritual being, and everyone takes a different path in this incarnation. Only you have walked your journey, so only you can truly understand it.

4. For wanting more than your life currently offers you.

Wanting more in life does not make you ungrateful or spoiled; it makes you ambitious. It means you have goals and dreams, and want to fulfill them while you still can. It means you don’t settle for less than you know you’re capable of. Others might view you as just an unrealistic dreamer who will never truly find happiness, but it doesn’t matter what others think in the end.

You can express gratitude about what you’ve been blessed with while still aspiring for more in life, so don’t ever feel bad about having big dreams. Go after them with all your heart, and the universe will surprise you in ways you never imagined.

5. For living in a way that directly challenges the mainstream.

Others like to nitpick every aspect about people’s lives in today’s world, so much so that people actually feel guilty about how they choose to live. Just live in your truth and don’t mind what others say; remember, if anyone feels threatened by how you live your life, they might actually be jealous of you. Sometimes, people feel so uncomfortable and dissatisfied with their own lives that they must bash others in order to make themselves feel better.

If you want to homeschool your children, live off-the-grid, eat only from your own garden, let food be your medicine, and teach your children peace and love instead of what’s on television, don’t apologize. Everyone deserves to live the life they want without feeling remorseful for simply following their hearts.

كيف تعاشر المرأه ؟؟؟ وصية رائعة من الإمام أحمد بن حنبل لابنه يوم زواجه .

إلى ربات البيوت

كيف تعاشر المرأه ؟؟؟
وصية رائعة من الإمام أحمد بن حنبل لابنه يوم زواجه .
---------------------------
أي بني: إنّك لن تنال السعادة في بيتك إلا بعشر خصال تمنحها لزوجتك فاحفظها عني واحرص عليها:
أما الأولى والثانية (لأهميتها ): .فإنّ النّساء يحببن الدلال ويحببن التصريح بالحب، فلا تبخل على زوجتك بذلك،فإن بخلت جعلت بينك وبينها حجابًا من الجفوة ونقصًا في المودة.

وأما الثالثة: فإن النساء يكرهنَ الرجل الشديد الحازم ويستخدمن الرجل الضعيف اللين فاجعل لكل صفة مكانها فإنه أدعى للحب وأجلب للطمأنينة.

وأما الرابعة: فإنّ النساء يُحببن من الزوج ما يحب الزوج منهنّ من طيب الكلام وحسن المنظر ونظافة الثياب وطيب الرائحة فكن في كل أحوالك كذلك.

أما الخامسة: فإنّ البيت مملكة الأنثى وفيه تشعر أنّها متربعة على عرشها وأنها سيدة فيه، فإيّاك أن تهدم هذه المملكة التي تعيشها، وإياك أن تحاول أن تزيحها عن عرشها هذا، فإنّك إن فعلت نازعتها ملكها، وليس لملكٍ أشدّ عداوةً ممن ينازعه ملكه وإن أظهر له غير ذلك.

أما السادسة: فإنّ المرأة تحب أن تكسب زوجها ولا تخسر أهلها، فإيّاك أن تجعل نفسك مع أهلها في ميزان واحد، فإمّا أنت وإمّا أهلها، فهي وإن اختارتك على أهلها فإنّها ستبقى في كمدٍ تُنقل عَدْواه إلى حياتك اليومية.

والسابعة: إنّ المرأة خُلِقت مِن ضِلعٍ أعوج وهذا سرّ الجمال فيها، وسرُّ الجذب إليها وليس هذا عيبًا فيها "فالحاجب زيّنه العِوَجُ"، فلا تحمل عليها إن هي أخطأت حملةً لا هوادة فيها تحاول تقييم المعوج فتكسرها وكسرها طلاقها، ولا تتركها إن هي أخطأت حتى يزداد اعوجاجها وتتقوقع على نفسها فلا تلين لك بعد ذلك ولا تسمع إليك، ولكن كن دائما معها بين بين.

أما الثامنة: فإنّ النّساء جُبلن على كُفر العشير وجُحدان المعروف، فإن أحسنت لإحداهنّ دهرًا ثم أسأت إليها مرة قالت: ما وجدت منك خيرًا قط، فلا يحملنّك هذا الخلق على أن تكرهها وتنفر منها، فإنّك إن كرهت منها هذا الخلق رضيت منها غيره.

أما التاسعة: فإنّ المرأة تمر بحالات من الضعف الجسدي والتعب النفسي، حتى إنّ الله سبحانه وتعالى أسقط عنها مجموعةً من الفرائض التي افترضها في هذه الحالات فقد أسقط عنها الصلاة نهائيًا في هذه الحالات وأنسأ لها الصيام خلالهما حتى تعود صحتها ويعتدل مزاجها، فكن معها في هذه الأحوال ربانيا كماخفف الله سبحانه وتعالى عنها فرائضه أن تخفف عنها طلباتك وأوامرك.

أما العاشرة: فاعلم أن المرأة أسيرة عندك، فارحم أسرها وتجاوز عن ضعفها تكن لك خير متاع وخير شريك .
رحمك الله ياابن حنبل

Laylat al-Qadr

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر‎) (also known as Shab-e-Qadr , loaned from Persian), variously rendered in English as the Night of Decree, Night of Power, Night of Value, Night of Destiny, or Night of Measures, is in Islamic belief the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is one of the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadanand is better than 1000 months of worship. Muslims believe that on this night, the blessings and mercy of Allah is abundant, sins are forgiven, supplications are accepted, and that the annual decree is revealed to the angels who also descend to earth.

Revelation to Muhammad

Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr was the night when the Quran^[1] was revealed to Muhammad from Allah. Most Muslims believe that revelation of the Quran occurred in two phases, with the first phase being the revelation in its entirety on Laylat al-Qadr to theangel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) in the lowest heaven, and then the subsequent verse-by-verse revelation to Muhammad by Gabriel, across 23 years. The revelation started in 610 CE at the Hira cave on Mount Nur in Mecca. The first Sura that was revealed wasSūrat al-ʿAlaq (in Arabic العلق). During the first revelation the first five verses of this Sura, or chapter, were revealed.

Sunnah

Muslims often offer extra prayers, particularly the night prayer. They awake, pray, and seek Allah's forgiveness and mercy and hope that their supplications will be accepted on this night. Mostly, they perform tilawat (reading the Quran).

Those who can afford to devote their time in the remembrance of Allah stay in the mosque for the final ten days of Ramadan. This worship is called Iʿtikāf (retreat). They observe a fast during the day and occupy themselves with the remembrance of Allah, performing voluntary prayers and studying the Quran, day and night, apart from the obligatory prayers which they perform with the congregation. Food and other necessities of life are provided for them during their stay in the mosque. Devoting time to remember Allah, Muslims also hope to receive divine favors and blessings connected with Lailat ul-Qadr.

As per the Quran (Sura Qadr), Angels come down on the earth with all things (destiny of the people for the coming year). "The angels and Jibreel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair" (97:4)

Date

Sunni Islam

Laylat al-Qadr is to be found in the last five odd nights occurring during the final 10 days of Ramadan. There is no mention in the Quran as to when the specific date is. Therefore in Islamic countries and Sunni communities all over the world, Laylat al-Qadr is found to be on the last nights of Ramadan, mostly in on one of the odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th) whereby night precedes day. Many traditions insist particularly on the night before the 27th of Ramadan

Shia Islam

Similarly Lailatul Qadr' is to be found in the last ten odd nights of Ramadan but mostly on the 19th or 21st or 23rd of Ramadan. The 19th, according to the Shia belief coincides with the night Ali was attacked in the Mihrab while worshipping in the Great Mosque of Kufa, and died on the 21st of Ramadan. Shia Muslims worship and regard these four nights as greatly rewarding.

Many Shia Muslims, who make up the largest minority of Islamic followers — including the Ismailis and Dawoodi Bohras — observe Laylat al-Qadr on the 23rd night of Ramadan, in keeping with traditions received through Ali and his wife Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter and the Fatimid Imams.^[5] The tradition is also said to have been articulated by Ja'far al-Sadiq and other Shia Imams.

Religious importance

Quran

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:
Peace!...This until the rise of dawn!

—Sura 97 (Al-Qadr), āyāt 1-5

The verses above regard the night as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive [give more effort] harder in the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylat al-Qadr could be one of the odd-numbered days in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, seventh or ninth). Normally, some Muslims from each community perform iʿtikāf in the mosque: they remain in the mosque for the last ten days of the month for prayers and recitation. Women also observe i'tikaf. They remain in prayer and meditation mostly, although they are allowed to do the minimum domestic work to run the family .When Muhammed observed i'tikaf in a tent, he saw a few tents around his. His wives joined him by pitching tents .

تصنيع خلايا شمسية رخيصة الثمن لتوليد الكهرباء من "قشر الجمبرى"

(لندن (أ ش أ

فى سابقة أولى من نوعها، نجح فريق من العلماء بجامعة "كوين مارى" فى العاصمة البريطانية لندن، فى تصنيع وتطوير خلايا شمسية لتوليد الكهرباء من مجموعة من المواد الكيميائية العضوية المستخلصة من قشر الجمبرى، وعدد من القشريات البحرية.

وأوضح العلماء البريطانيون أن تواجد مادتى "الكيتين" و"الشيتوزان" فى قشور الجمبرى، وعدد من القشريات البحرية بوفرة، جنبا إلى رخص ثمنها مقارنة بإنتاج الرقائق المعدنية المكلفة مثل "الروثينيوم" الذى يشبه البلاتين والمستخدم حاليًا فى صناعة الخلايا الشمسية ذات البنية النانومترية، يشكل نقطة تحول فى آلية تصنيع الخلايا الشمسية.

وقال العلماء إن كفاءة الخلايا الشمسية المصنوعة من هذه المواد العضوية المشتقة من الكتلة الحيوية ما تزال منخفضة، إلا أنه فى حالة تحسينها سيمكن الاستعانة بها فى شحن العديد من الأجهزة التى تحتاج إلى شحن يومى مثل الهواتف والساعات الذكية.

من ناحية أخرى، عكف باحثون فى كلية الهندسة وعلوم البناء بجامعة كوين مارى فى لندن، على استخدام عملية تعرف باسم "الكربنة المائية" بتكلفة منخفضة، حيث توافرت فى قشور القشريات البحرية، ليقوموا بعد ذلك بتغليف أعواد النانو بأوكسيد الزنك لتصنيع خلايا شمسية.

وقال الدكتور جو بريسكو أحد الباحثين المشاركين فى المشروع "يمكن أن يشكل هذا الاتجاه طريقة جديدة ورائعة لإيجاد تنوع وسرعة فى تصنيع وتطوير الخلايا الشمسية من مواد متوافرة ومستدامة فى البيئة، وفى حال نجاحنا فى تحسين كفاءة هذه الخلايا الشمسية المطورة يمكن استخدامها فى أى مكان، خصوصا فى الأجهزة الإلكترونية التى هى بحاجة إلى الشحن بصورة يومية والمستخدمة فى حياتنا اليومية مثل الهواتف والساعات الذكية".

وفى هذا الصدد، أضافت البروفيسور "ماجدالينا تيتريشى" أستاذ تكنولوجيا المواد المستدامة فى جامعة " كوين مارى": "يعنى توفير تقنيات جديدة، تمكننا من إنتاج مواد جديدة من المواد العضوية المتاحة بسهولة بالفعل فى البيئة المحيطة بنا، فالمواد المستدامة يمكن أن تكون ذات تقنية عالية وتكلفة منخفضة"، مضيفة "أننا استخدمنا أيضا الكتل الحيوية، وفى هذه الحالة الطحالب، لتصنيع أنواع المكثفات الفائقة والتى يمكن استخدامها لتخزين الطاقة فى مجال الإلكترونيات الاستهلاكية، فى أجهزة مثل تنظيم ضربات القلب، واستعادة الطاقة فى المركبات".

5 Ways To Humble Your Ego

The  ego, also known as the “false self,” wants you to believe that you are a separate entity from the rest of your reality. It must maintain control and power at all times in order to survive, and this is why we see so much destruction and pain in this 3D paradigm. As a collective, we still allow our egos to dictate our lives, and as such, we see the same patterns repeating themselves over and over.

One of the hardest battles you will fight in life is the one against your own ego, because it constantly needs attention and validation. The ego, ruled by the mind, tricks you into thinking your identity is built on your worldly labels, such as your job title, how much money you make, what religion you follow, the color of your skin, your ethnicity, your political views, etc.

Everyone is born from the same consciousness, only knowing love and compassion for others. However, at an early age, most people are taught that their worth lies in other’s opinions of them. This leads people to seek attention, love, and acceptance outside of themselves, which means they are operating on the terms of the Ego.

So, how can you humble your ego so that you can start living through your higher, more conscious self? Truthfully, it takes consistent commitment and practice in order to truly master yourself, but these tips can get you started on the right foot:

1. Ask yourself who you are outside of your earthly labels.

When you first wake up in the morning or before you go to sleep at night, sit quietly in your room and just ask yourself “Who am I?” Allow your thoughts and feelings to come to the surface, and don’t judge them. Just observe what comes up, and notice if most of your thoughts center around your job, possessions, money, or other things you’ve accumulated. You see, your thoughts don’t represent you, because you don’t own your thoughts. We don’t even truly own our bodies; we simply borrow them in this lifetime.

As you delve deeper into your true identity, as you strip away every false layer of your old self, you will find that you are simply the universe expressing itself through form. You are a fragment of this grand consciousness, swirling through space with endless possibilities. We are all Light in pure form, and as you realize and accept this truth, all the outdated beliefs and thought processes that stem from fear will melt away.

2. Help others often.

The Ego gains even more power as one obsesses over him or herself and attaches those thoughts or beliefs to his or her identity. However, when you volunteer or just lend a helping hand to others, you forget about your Self for a while, and instead shift your attention outward to your fellow humans in need. This paradigm shift going on is about releasing our obsession with “I” and instead focusing on “We.” Offering your hands and heart to others will help you dissolve your ego and feed your soul, an ever-lasting body of energy, instead.

3. Listen more, talk less.

Another habit of those who live through their egos is talking more than they listen. The ego always wants to be heard, and can’t stand when others have the floor. The false self wants all the limelight and praise, and finds it difficult to let others have attention for any length of time. One way to overcome this is to develop a new habit: listening more than you talk. Allow others to fully finish what they have to say before you respond or bring up a new topic; this way, you will learn to have a balanced relationship with others rather than one solely built on an out-of-control ego.

This will also help you relax and go with the flow rather than always having to control a situation and overtake the conversation.

4. Make meditation a habit.

Now, with all this talk of the ego, you might think you should fight the ego since it constantly wants control of you. However, resisting the ego will only cause more problems, because as you might know, what you resist persists. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the ego; after all, we must have some sense of self in order to ward off predators, establish relationships, develop self-worth, etc. It becomes an issue when you allow your ego to take control and dictate your whole life; when you believe that your ego IS you.

Meditation can help you see past your ego and get in touch with your higher self, the one that most accurately represents your soul. Breathe deeply and just let go – explore yourself beyond your thoughts and feelings, and you will get to know a whole world that exists inside yourself, where you can run and play freely without any attachments or limiting beliefs.

5. Resist the urge to always be right.

A trademark of the ego is that it always wants to have the last word, and it can’t handle being wrong in any way. It must always fight back until others see through it’s eyes, but this can never happen. When the ego rules, it’s a classic scenario of the revolving door; it must repeat itself infinitely because it will always need validation. It cannot survive without this, and any opposition causes the ego to go on a rampage.

To overcome this, remember that others will always have different opinions than you. Realize that their opinions don’t invalidate yours; they simply see things from a different point of view, and they’re entitled to that. Once you allow others to express themselves and be themselves without feeling offended, you have made a marked step on the path to dissolving the ego.

12 Surprising Habits That Can Block You From Happiness

“Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality, but of attempting to make reality fit one’s emotions,” – Ayn Rand

In our quest to live a happier life, we find ourselves doing more. We know staying focused on our goals and getting more done will make us happier. Or will it?

Sometimes we think we are doing all the right things only to be led further away from the happier life we crave. So how do we know if our habits are serving us or hurting us? The simple answer lies in how you feel.

How we feel at any moment is a great guide as to whether our actions at that moment are right for us or not. It seems so simple, yet we often go through our day ignoring our gut instincts.

To help you recognize common things that might be hurting you, here are habits, that if left unchecked, could actually block you from happiness:

1. Being Extremely Honest

Of course we’ve all heard the saying “honesty is the best policy.” Well, it isn’t always. Sometimes being honest is used as a disguise for complaining. So while honesty can be the best policy, make sure it is serving everyone.

2. Taking on Multiple Projects

Our sense of productivity can mistakenly lie in how many projects we take on at once. It is a fallacy that doing more, or multi-tasking, makes someone more productive. The opposite is true. Tackling one project at a time will not only result in better work, you will also get more work done.

Related article: Why You Should Stop Multitasking

3. Working Through Lunch

Our mind and our body require breaks to keep performing optimally. A working lunch to clear our to-do list may be doing us more harm than good.

4. Eating 3 Meals a Day

Eating three meals a day may seem like a good idea and for some it might be. Don’t mistake eating three squares with good nutrition. Limiting your eating to specific periods may lead to overeating during mealtime because you begin the meal hungrier than if you ate smaller meals more frequently.

Studies show there are benefits to eating more regularly including more energy and better sleep. Of course, the best plan is the plan that benefits your body the most.

5. Constant Cleaning

There is a big difference between being clean and constant cleaning. Being focused on a spot-free environment, takes us out of living in the moment and puts our attention on something that isn’t really achievable (especially with kids!)

6. Staying Focused on the Goal

When we are too focused on the goal, we become indifferent to what is happening around us. Working towards our goals is admirable and even needed to live a life that involves more happiness, but doing so at the cost of enjoying life itself is counterproductive.

7. Helping Your Friends Without Them Knowing

Sometimes we think we know what is best for a friend, but only they truly know what is best for them on their path. Our time would be better spent talking to our friend about how we can help them achieve happiness and creating a plan together, rather than simply trying to rally the troops behind their back.

8. Sharing Credit for Your Successes

In an attempt to be humble, we often share the credit for our successes with others. It seems the admirable thing to do, after all. However, we must remember that it’s important to accept responsibility for the decisions and choices we make to honor our truth.

9. Never Giving Up

Perseverance is a trait of successful people, but successful people also know when to cut their losses. When you stay focused on a certain result without constant evaluation, you may miss out on valuable opportunities and happiness along the way. Persevere when it makes sense, otherwise move on.

10. Loyalty

Being loyal is an important trait in developing a strong social network. Blind loyalty, however, is another matter. It isn’t uncommon to grow apart from people that once mattered. However, staying in relationships out of loyalty, we are depriving ourselves of happiness by not spending time with people that can provide a more positive impact.

11. A Strong Sense of Right and Wrong

A community of people with a solid moral compass is what helps societies function, but living in a black and white world can erode that very foundation. When we stand so firmly in our beliefs that we can’t compromise and find the gray, we end up putting our relationships and own happiness at risk.

12. Being Helpful

Being helpful is one thing. Being helpful at the cost of taking care of yourself is another. We all want to show compassion and kindness to those in need, but it’s important that we make ourselves the priority to truly achieve happiness. By taking care of ourselves first, we will be better positioned to help others.

Do you want to be closer to happiness each day? It’s time to listen to how your body responds. Do more of the things that make you feel good and stop doing the things that don’t – it seems easy, but once you master it you will see remarkable changes happen in your life.

6 Things Sensitive People Do Differently

Sensitive people, or empaths identify deeply with the emotions and vibrations of other beings, both human and non-human. They can instantly read a person upon meeting them, and have an innate intuition about others.

In short, sensitive people can understand other people on a deeper level than most humans, and their friends and family that know them well may often call them “too sensitive.” Empaths are said to be more psychic than their less sensitive counterparts due to their close ties to the spiritual realms. Sensitive people also make some of the best spiritual healers due to their uncanny ability to relate to others on such a profound emotional scale.

Science continues to show that humans are hardwired for empathy. A studyperformed by researchers from the University of Virginia aimed to measure the brain activity of 22 participants who were under the threat of receiving mild electric shocks to either themselves, a friend, or a stranger. All of the volunteers were monitored with fMRI scans during the experiment, and the results were astounding.

The researchers found that when the participants’ friends were threatened, their brain responded in an almost identical fashion to the direct threat of shock.

Even though most humans can empathize with the pain of others, some people just have more finely tuned senses when it comes to understanding the emotions of their fellow humans.

But what do sensitive people do differently than other people, exactly?

1. They have an intrinsic desire to communicate a more positive world.

Empaths are highly inquisitive people, and want to get to know others on a deeper level. They don’t have much tolerance for small talk, but instead want to talk about more pressing and relevant matters, such as how to impact the world positively, why we’re here, the possibility (and probably the reality) of life on other planets, etc.

They also have a yearning to connect with others outside their culture, religion, or race, because they can absorb a taste of others’ perspective and background through the other’s emotion about it.

2. They see everyone as equal, no matter their race, size, ethnicity, etc.

They see past the worldly labels we place on everything, and know that the spirit of love transcends all physical boundaries. They see a janitor, successful businessman, scientist, mother of five, and everyone else in the same light. At the end, we all go back to the same source, so sensitive people know that our titles or occupations here on Earth don’t mean much in terms of our character.

Sensitive people seek out the similarities in people rather than their differences, and don’t judge anyone for how they live their life, how they appear outwardly, or what opinions they may have.

3. They listen more than they talk.

Many sensitive people don’t really enjoy talking about themselves, and would rather listen to others speak about their lives. Sensitive people usually have a quiet, introverted nature, and don’t like to take the spotlight. People often come up to them at random to share their life story, and sensitive people don’t really get surprised when this happens to them. Others can just sense their compassionate, kind nature, and feel comfortable opening up to them. Because of this, empaths do best when listening to others and giving short pieces of advice rather than talking too much.

They also go within frequently to regain balance after taking on the energies of everyone around them, and naturally have a quieter nature due to this.

4. Sensitive people listen to gut instincts.

Sensitive people are ruled by emotions, not thoughts, and listen to their gut instincts when making important decisions. While they do tend to overthink quite a bit, their thoughts usually center around how they feel, or how they think others may feel. Empaths often act on impulse, and are seen by others as sporadic, even irresponsible at times. They may feel misunderstood and isolated since their friends and family usually can’t relate to their deep understanding of the spiritual world, but they never stray from their true nature.

5. They put themselves in other people’s shoes.

They enjoy living life through other people’s eyes, wanting to understand as many people as possible. They may even try out a totally different life to really appreciate what others have been through, and to connect with people on an even deeper plane. As they say, to really know someone, you have to walk a mile in their shoes, and sensitive people may take that literally.

6. They spend a lot of time in solitude to recharge and reconnect.

Highly sensitive people (empaths) might be seen as loners or outcasts living on the fringes of society, but they know that in order to cleanse themselves of the energies they take on from others, they must recharge often.They truly enjoy spending time in nature, and while they have infinite love for other beings, they can best express that if they take the time to decompress.

They also have a knack for creativity, and use their time alone to further develop their imagination. They might live in the clouds, but sensitive people make the world a more beautiful place through their originality and sensitivity to all creatures.

Join the discussion: Can you relate to this personality type? How has being a sensitive person changed your life?

4 Ways to Disarm a Manipulator

Akey element to a happier life is being surrounded by a supportive and influential network of friends and acquaintances. Sometimes, though, we can mistake influencers with manipulators and it can be hard to tell the difference.

It’s rare to find those who will invest time and energy into something that doesn’t have the potential for some personal gain. Just like in business we calculate the ROI (return on investment) for our friendships, maybe not in such a black and white way, but it happens.

A manipulator knows how to get what they need with little effort from themselves but at great cost to others. They find ways to work around the system (or you) for their benefit, so even though your ROI is low, you still take the time to invest in the relationship.

Manipulators people spend a lot of time and energy creating an environment where they can control the outcome, so their needs are constantly met by others. The biggest problem of a manipulative relationship is we often don’t even know it’s happening, and we allow it to continue.

Here are 4 ways to disarm a manipulator:

Recognize the Problem

It should come as no surprise that you must recognize there is a problem before you can solve it. The first sign of a problem is leaving an encounter with someone not feeling quite right and questioning the outcome. If you have questions and doubts around something you promised or agreed to, it might be time to start questioning the motives behind the request.

Here are some characteristics of manipulators:

• Their needs take precedence over everyone else’s.
• They expect you always to be available on a moment’s notice.
• They are often in a crisis that requires immediate action.

Another key indicator of a manipulative relationship is when other friends start to notice the imbalance of the give and take with someone else. Pay attention to the people around you and their opinions. It is often easier to see things from the outside looking in.

Ask Questions

Part of a manipulative relationship is the never-ending demands that are put upon us. They are usually phrased in such a way that we should feel privileged at the opportunity to help.

Because a manipulator thrives on control, it is helpful to take away some of that control by putting the focus back on them by asking questions. The right kind of questions can help make them aware of the one-sided value to the request and can signal that you are aware of their behavior. For example:

• I see how this helps you. Can you help me understand how this benefits me?
• Do I have a say in how this goes forward?
• Does this seem like a reasonable request to you?
• Does it seem fair to you that you are asking me to do …?

When you ask probing questions, you are shining a light on the true nature of their request. If there is any self-awareness, then they will usually see the situation for what it is and change the request or withdraw it altogether.

Say “No” and Stand Firm

You can only control your actions. That is important because you will not be able to change the behavior of a manipulator, but you can stop being their victim. That happens when you start saying “no.”

We are manipulated because we allow it and refusing to be manipulated is the first step in breaking the cycle. Manipulators are good at what they do, so pay attention to their response. They are likely to say or do things that pull at the heart strings. We should stand firm in our “no,” knowing that we are taking the first step towards freeing ourselves from their influence.

Use Time to Your Advantage

Manipulators are good at what they do and will have all sorts of responses to our objections. They also know their best opportunity to get us on board with their scheme is to get us to agree immediately. Instead of committing to the request, we can try using time to our advantage.

“Let me get back to you.”

That one statement puts the power of the situation back in our court. It gives us the ability to really assess the situation and allows us to find a reasonable and respectful way to decline if that is what we want to do.

We stay in a relationship for all sorts of reasons, but we should only stay in it if it is serving us. And one of the ways our relationships serve us is by us serving them. So while someone important might need more attention and help from us because of a major life change, over time the relationship honors the needs of everyone.

Needless to say, a manipulator doesn’t buy into this philosophy. Remember it is okay to create boundaries and say “no” for our well-being. After all, we are better prepared to help others when we put ourselves first.