IDENTIFY AND AVOID RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE INJURIOUS TO YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE
- People who act as if it is always all about them and treat you as totally insignificant
- People who attempt to control you – what you say – where you go – what you do
- People who stand in the way of your success by sabotaging your confidence and emphasizing that your dream can never be achieved
- People who use every means at hand to instill guilt in you if you do not give them what they want
- People who are dependent on you almost giving up control of their lives and choices to you.
- People who are always finding fault with you and downplay your accomplishments
- People who are always wearing you out by dumping on you but never ever take your advice about the problems they discuss
- People to whom you cannot express your true feelings on any issue lest they blow up in anger or sink in despair
- People who want to always manipulate you and use you to fulfill their wishes
- People who put you down and shake your self confidence
- People who abuse you with words
- Miserable people who do and say anything they can to get you to join them in their depressive tendencies
- People to who you can give your all but its never enough
- People who are hypocrites and insincere
- People who abuse people ( don’t walk away, run)
- People with whom you cannot disagree without them blowing up or cutting you off until they cool down
- Put their names in a brown paper bag and throw it in the ocean.
- Life is short and toxic relationships will make it shorter and it will make the journey unbearably unpleasant.
Reducing Your Stress as a Couple
Maintaining a healthy relationship can be a challenge, just as managing your everyday stress can be a challenge. These two challenges that we are presented with every day can actually be related, in both a positive and negative fashion. If we allow our stress to become overwhelming to our minds and bodies, then that stress can negatively affect our relationships. Particularly, our closest relationship – the one we have with our spouse or significant other.
Our stress can cause us to close in upon ourselves, to withdraw, and can act as a wedge between us and the ones we love. We cannot allow this to happen – the cost is simply too great. Fortunately for us, stress can positively affect our love relationships, as well.
You may be asking yourself, how on earth could stress possibly influence my relationship in a positive way? The answer is within yourself, literally. When presented with a problem or particularly stressful period in your lives, how will you as a couple – and as an individual – handle it?
The best answer is together. That is one of the best parts of sharing your life with another person, after all. Experiencing the good, and the bad, together. As a couple, you can reduce your stress by communicating well with each other. If your loved one is upset or frustrated, let them know that they can talk to you, even if it is just to vent. And, if you are frustrated, don’t close yourself off. Let your spouse soften the harshness of your problems by talking and venting with them, as well.
Find stress-reducing activities that you can do together, as a couple. Not only will this bring you closer together, but it will encourage you to keep doing these activities that will reduce stress for both of you. Find a yoga class to attend as a couple, take up meditation, go for a daily walk in the beach or a hike through the forest. Exercise together by running or going to the gym, or take up couple-focused dancing classes.
By leaning on each other and finding relaxing activities to do together, you will enjoy a renewal of your relationship and reduced stress in your life. Instead of feeling as though you must bear your frustrations alone, allow your relationship as a couple to help you live a happier, more enjoyable life by reducing your stress in positive, life-affirming ways.
Proper Nutrition for a Better Life
As we all undoubtedly know, weight loss is a popular topic in the news and other media, and for good reason. In fact, studies show that approximately 70% of Americans are overweight. And, being overweight or obese can have devastating physical and psychological effects on us as individuals and as a society. Although they are often related, nutrition and weight loss are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Really – they are not!
A very thin woman of a healthy weight may have horrible nutrition habits. She may eat infrequently, but grab a soft drink and a candy bar for lunch when she does, or a high-fat, fast food dinner. In this way, she might remain slender, while damaging her body with poor nutrition.
The same can be said for those who are a little bit heavier in weight. Depending upon factors like build and genetics, someone with great eating habits might never be as slender as someone with poorer nutrition. But, although people may assume things about their eating habits based on their weight, their bodies will know the difference.
Eating less and enjoying proper nutrition is the number one way to ensure a longer, happier and healthier life. It is the basis for happiness in all areas of your life; after all, it is difficult to enjoy the many blessings of life if you are constantly suffering from medical ailments. In fact, if you study societies with a high percentage of octogenarians, you will find that they tend to consume between 1500 and 1800 calories per day – far fewer calories than most Americans.
The key to good nutrition, then, is to eat fewer calories – and make the calories that you do eat serve your body in the best possible way. How do you do that? Make sure the foods that you eat are low in fat, and high in fiber. Choose to eat complex carbohydrates and a wide variety of vegetables. If you drink coffee, soft drinks or alcohol, be sure to limit your intake to a reasonable amount.
Eating is a pleasant activity, something that we often enjoy as a family or social group, a way that we celebrate birthdays and other milestones. With proper nutrition, you can enjoy food while helping to ensure your health and happiness for years to come.
Eliminate Worry for a Happier Life
When faced with a difficult problem – or even the possibility of a difficult problem – many people retreat into a world of worry. And, I say “world of worry” because it can become just that, consuming you, influencing the way you see things and slowly eroding your peace of mind.
Worry is a common issue with many people, and it can rob you of the life you should be enjoying now. Worrying too much can drain you of the happiness and joy in your life, leaving you filled with the fear and anxiety of imagined circumstances that may never come to pass.
Think back to a time in your life when you were consumed by worry, for hours or even days on end. Physically and emotionally, how did you feel? Exhausted, confused, sick to your stomach, likely in physical or emotion pain. You probably felt as though you had been awake for days without rest, even if you had not. Imagine, then, the massive amount of energy and attention you spent on worry alone. What a waste that is! As the old adage goes, worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you plenty to do (and expends a lot of energy), but it gets you nowhere.
If someone you love is facing a potential or existing crisis, he or she is going to need you. And, if the problem is yours, you will need to remain strong to weather the storm. Do not create problems where none exist by allowing worry to cloud your judgment.
Instead, at the first sign of trouble, take definitive steps to establish control over your mind and body. Resolve to remain healthy, calm and strong, empowering yourself so you will be able to make good decisions and provide meaningful support. Remember all of the energy that is wasted worrying? Resolve to save that energy for use at the appropriate time, if and when the problems at hand arise.
In this way, you can avoid the vicious cycle of worry, becoming a beacon of hope and strength for yourself and those around you. By focusing on facts and gathering physical and emotional strength, you will be able to deal with whatever comes your way in the best way possible.
The Power of Play
Imagine a couple, late at night, in a city park. They have been to a nice dinner, have talked endlessly and are now laughing as they splash each other with abandon in the park’s fountain. After a while, they wander, damp but happy, to the play area, where they swing like children for a time without a care in the world.
Many people remember the days of their childhood with utmost fondness – playing in the sand, swinging on the playground and splashing in puddles. It was a time when we could not only play, but play without guilt. We could play without feeling as though we should be working, cleaning or running errands. As children, we were free to explore our interests, from cloud watching to swimming and beyond. As adults, we can still play, if we only make the choice to do so.
Regardless of how busy your schedule may be, it is important to set aside time for yourself. Time to have fun, to do what you like to do, instead of what you feel you must do. And, your idea of fun may be anything, anything at all. But it must be something you enjoy, something you do for yourself.
When you allow yourself to play, clear your mind of worry and obligation. Let yourself enjoy the activity at hand for a while; after all, your responsibilities will still be waiting when you are done. Leave no room for guilt – you deserve to have fun, to feel all of the happiness life has to offer.
Giving yourself a chance to play helps you appreciate the world around you, and gives you more energy to focus on other tasks when needed. Play is not reserved only for children, but anyone with the heart of a child, as well.