Go Go

Jan

2023

Plastics Are Forever

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Is there such a thing as forever? It is said that nothing lasts forever. Happiness ends. Relationships end. And ultimately, even our life will end. That’s why when De Beers, makers of the finest diamonds in the world, conceptualized the tagline “Diamonds are forever”; it became a hit. Since then, no marriage is complete without a diamond ring. A diamond ring became a symbol of forever in relationships. Is diamond the only thing that is forever? Unfortunately, for mankind there is another thing that is forever. Plastics are forever.

Use of Plastics

For decades now, we have relied on the use of plastics in our daily lives. Plastics have many uses from food containers and packaging, clothing, furniture, electronics and many others. It has replaced the use of natural materials such as cotton, glass and paper. It is cheaper to use. And in more ways than one, plastics have made our life a lot easier. However, the convenience that plastics brought us came with severe consequences not just in the environment but also in our health.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, when plastic was first used in the 1950s to 1970’s plastic wastes were still manageable. However, plastic production more than tripled in the 1970s to the 1990s. It became worse in the 2000s. Today, we produce about 400 million tonnes of plastic waste per annum. What’s worse, the production of single-used plastics increases at an alarming rate. Almost everything from bottles, containers, plastic spoons and forks, potato chips bags, food packaging materials are just some examples of the single use plastics that we have today.

Are Plastics Forever?

According to Professor Dan Parsons, a professor of GeoSciences in theUniversity of Hull and founding director of the Energy and Environment Institute (EEI) in the United Kingdom, fossilised plastics preserved in rocks will be around for 10 million years.

Plastic Wastes

World Data indicates that:

Only 9% of plastics are properly recycled
More than a million marine animals die each year because of plastic wastes
There is approximately 269,000 tons of plastic waste in the oceans today
About 2 million plastic bags are being used every minute worldwide
73% of beach litter around the world is plastic

The image below by Our World in Data shows which countries just dumped their plastic wastes outside landfills or in the open leading to waste leakage in the surrounding environment.

What Can You Do?

If you love your children, then it is time to do something about it. Let us give the future generation a chance to live in a beautiful and clean environment. Here are small things that you can do today:

Go straw free. If you really need to use straw, use plastic straws.
Use organic cotton buds and bamboo toothbrushes.
Bring your recyclable mugs each time you buy coffee.
Next time you order take out, say no to disposable utensils and cutleries.
Bring your eco-bag when you go to the groceries.
Stop buying bottled water. Use a built-in filter or carry with your recyclable water container.
Cook more at home. You are not only helping the environment but it is also healthier. You can get to choose fresh and natural ingredients.
Purchase second items.
Buy in bulk or big sizes.
Patronize and support eco-friendly brands.

We only have one planet. Let’s start taking care of it now.

Feature Image by Sergei Tokmakov, Esq. https://Terms.Law from Pixabay

Oct

2022

10 Etiquette Rules to Follow When Dining Out With Friends

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Dining out with friends? There are social rules to follow when you are going out with friends. Follow them and you will have a great time enjoying each other’s company. Ignore them and you might end up wishing that you should just have stayed at home and watched your favorite television show. So, here are 10 etiquette rules to follow when you are dining out with friends:

1. Discuss How you will Settle the Bill Before Ordering

Unless someone is treating the whole group, the right thing to do is to split the bill equally. Go Dutch is a term that indicates that each person present should share the expenses of the meal equally. To ensure that the bill is split fairly, make sure you reach an agreement first before placing your orders.

Will you request for separate bills?
How will you split the bill equally?
What if someone decided to just order salad?
Will you split the cost of the alcoholic drinks with a non-drinker?

These are just some of the questions that you should settle first before ordering.

2. Don’t Order What you Want if Somebody Else is Paying

If somebody is treating the whole group, don’t just order what you want. Let the person treating order for the group unless that person explicitly tells you that you can order what you want. And even if that person tells you to, be courteous when ordering. Don’t order the most expensive items on the menu just because you are not paying.

3. Put your Smartphones Away

Unless it is very important, you should stay away from you phone when you are hanging out with friends. Keep your phone on silent mode. Come on! You are in the company of fellow human beings. Communicate with them. Why do you need to connect with other humans that are far away when you can easily do so to the person that is right in front of you or beside you? Just relax. Spend the time to talk to others. Enjoy one another’s company rather than checking your social media accounts.

4. Wait for Everyone’s Order to Arrive Before Eating

It is rude to start eating while the others are still waiting for their food. Wait until everyone’s orders have arrived before you start eating.

5. Keep your Elbows Off the Table

Although different cultures have different views with regards to putting elbows on the dining table; it is generally considered rude to have your elbows on the table. So instead of figuring out whether it is rude or not, to play safe, just refrain from putting your elbows on the table.

6. Put Napkins in Your Lap

Whether the table napkin is made of paper or cloth, there is a proper way of using them. First and foremost, if someone is hosting the dinner, wait for that person to put the table napkin on his or her lap before you get yours. Yes, table napkins are supposed to be placed on your lap and not on the table nor used as a bib. Leave the table napkin on your lap for the duration of the meal. Remove it only when you are going to use it to gently dab your mouth. Never use the table napkin to blow your nose! If you are going to leave the table, gently place the table napkin on your chair.

7. Pace yourself and Eat Slowly.

Pace yourself when eating. You are not in a rush. Enjoy the food and enjoy each other’s company.

8. Don’t Talk When Your Mouth is Full

It is bad table manners to talk when your mouth is full. You won’t be able to enjoy the food fully if you are talking while eating. And besides, if you open your mouth, the food inside can be seen by others. That’s not pleasing to the eyes. And worst, you might accidentally spat chunks of food to your listener’s face. Now, that’s gross!

9. Keep your Cutleries Down

If you are talking to your friends but you are not yet finished eating, don’t hold the utensils in your hand. Keep them down. Put them on your plate on an upside down V shape with tips towards each other. Avoid gestures with your hands while holding the cutleries.

10. Don’t Complain About the Food if Someone Else is Paying

If you have a negative opinion about the food or the venue for that matter, just keep it to yourself. It is considered rude to voice out your complaints especially if you are not paying. Just thank the host for inviting you.

Have a pleasant dining experience with your friends by practicing the 10 etiquette rules to follow when dining out with friends.

First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 08.05.2019

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Sep

2022

Why Should You Care About Inflation

Reading Time: 2 minutes

You often hear about inflation on TV or read about it in newspapers these days.. However, chances are you don’t really understand what it is all about. Even if you did study economics in college, you would have already forgotten about it. Who cares! You are just too happy to finally have gotten over the course. After all, economics has been constantly voted as one of the most boring subjects ever created. But, what is it really? Why should you care about inflation?

Inflation is a very important economic concept. It should be one of your concerns. Why should you care? The answer is simple, because it affects you. It affects your wallet. It affects your finances. And ultimately, it affects your life.

What is Inflation?

In economics, when you talk about inflation, you talk about the relationship of the prices of goods and services with the purchasing power of your money. Inflation happens when there is a persistent increase in the prices of goods and services, which will ultimately lead to the fall of the purchasing power of your money.

The inflation rate pertains to the percentage increase of the general prices of goods and services. It also means the rate in which the purchasing power of your money is decreasing. In other words, if a chewing gum costs $1 (one dollar) 10; a 7.4% inflation rate means the $ 1 chewing gum will now cost $ 1.074 It also explains why your favorite food in a restaurant is either increasing in price or shrinking in size.

Inflation is a global phenomenon. No country is exempted from inflation. This means that everyone on the planet is affected by inflation, no matter where you are.

So, the next time you see the news reporting the inflation rate, listen and take a good look.

Although we cannot control inflation, there is a way on how we can cope with it. All you need to do is invest your money in investments that give a higher yield than the inflation rate.

Feature Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay

Jun

2022

5 Advantages of Traveling Solo

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Have you traveled solo? Traveling on a road trip with companions is always more fun. However, not all of your travel buddies might be available to travel with you all the time; so why not consider traveling solo? Traveling solo may seem boring but it can actually be a fun trip. You can enjoy it as much as when you’re traveling with somebody else.

Try traveling solo at least once in your life and get to enjoy some of its advantages:

1. A Sense of Absolute Freedom

When traveling alone you’ll relish a sense of absolute freedom even more. You won’t have to fit in with any one else’s agenda for the day. You’ll get to do the things you really want to do without being pressured by your peers or having to consider somebody else’s travel preferences.

2. Take Your Own Sweet Time

Traveling solo means you can spend your time the way you want. Want to spend the whole afternoon getting lost in a museum? Want to walk on foot to take pictures of the great architecture? You can indulge in what you truly want without having to cut your time short. Just immerse yourself in what you enjoy doing the most. Focus on the things that make you feel like your travel will be worth it.

**Green Goo**
Empower Change + Redefine Natural Body Care

3. Enhance Your Self Reliance

Going on a trip alone also means that you need to plan things carefully before hand. So if you’re not the type to research, you’ll have to develop the skill in order to plan your trip. During the trip, you will also learn how to ask questions on your own and ask help from total strangers when you need it. Traveling by yourself will not only help you increase your research and social skills, it will also help you build your self-confidence in the process. Be sure to observe proper etiquette when traveling to avoid any awkward situations.

4. Expand Your Network of Friends

Usually, when we travel with a group or a friend, we tend to stick with the group or with our friend. When you travel alone, you will naturally get to interact with many new people, some of which might end up as your travel companions for the duration of your trip and maybe even friends who will want to travel with you in the future. You can actually expand your network of friends when you travel alone. How many love stories were born out of meeting each other while traveling on their own?

5. Really Getting to Unplug

Traveling alone means you’re not tied to your phone to chat with your travel buddies on where they are at the moment and where you will meet next. Since you are by yourself, you can put your mobile device and other gadgets away whenever you want to and just enjoy the present moment without worrying about other people’s whereabouts.

Got more ideas on the fun you can have when traveling solo? Do share them with us.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.05.16.
Feature Image: Original Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash.

Jun

2022

Vegan Vs Regular Make-up: What Is The Difference?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The vegan cosmetic market is now on the rise. It is projected to reach up to US $21.4 billion by 2027 according to a report by Report Linker. It seems that more and more people are now putting importance on environmental wellness. Consumers are now buying products that are in line with their values. But what really is vegan vs regular make-up? What is the difference?

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When a person is vegan, it means that the person excludes all meat and meat products from his or her diet. A vegan diet only includes plant and plant products like fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes. In the same way, vegan cosmetics also excludes the use of animal and animal by-products.

Ingredients

There are thousands of cosmetics out there. Each of them uses different combinations of ingredients. Some are natural while others are chemicals. Although research indicates that the amount of harmful chemicals used in cosmetics is too small to be even considered as harmful, prolonged exposure may lead to adverse health effects including death because they accumulate on the skin. Thus, it is better to be wary of chemicals that are harmful that are contained in the ingredients. Learn to read product labels. Here are some ingredients to watch out for:

Parabens
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Polyethylene glycols or PEG compounds
Formaldehyde
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

This is not the case for vegan make-up since ingredients are mainly natural or even organic at times. Do take note however that vegan does not not necessarily mean organic. It simply means it is animal-free. In addition, although vegan cosmetics do not guarantee any adverse effect, it is still generally safer because natural plants and minerals are their ingredients. And since plants are rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, you reap the benefits of younger looking skin in vegan products.

Ellana: A Universe Where Beauty Does More

Cruelty To Animals

Before any cosmetic goes out to the market, scientists have to conduct several testings on animals. Guinea pigs, rats, mice and even rabbits are generally used by cosmetic companies in product testing. These experiments can result in blindness, organ damage, internal bleeding, distress, pain and even death to the animals. According to some estimates, about 100,000 to 200,000 animals suffered and died each year because of this.

Although vegan cosmetics are animal-free, it does not necessarily mean it is cruelty-free. Cruelty-free means no animal was used to test the products.

Make-ups can be vegan but can still use animals for testing. In the same way, it is possible for regular make-ups to be cruelty-free.

Price

Contrary to popular belief, vegan cosmetics are not more expensive than regular cosmetics. In fact, in analysis done by Cruelty Free Only; it shows that vegan cosmetics are actually cheaper compared to its regular counterparts.

So, are you ready to make the shift?

Featured Image by cottonbro:

Nov

2021

Go, Go After Something New

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Do you want to change something in your self or in your life? Are you just feeling bored or lacking excitement in your life? Then why not try to do something new? Take the risk and go after something new.

A New Perspective

Try a new perspective or point-of-view. Do you have a sibling that keeps annoying you or a co-worker who is too noisy? Chances are, you always have a negative reaction when you encounter them or you try to avoid them. Next time, try truly listening to them and engaging them in conversation. You might find that this is actually a pleasant experience and you don’t have to avoid the situation anymore. Or you might learn a lesson in patience and how not to be a toxic person. You might change your mindset and even gain a deeper understanding of why you don’t like this particular situation or what bothers you about the person. Talking to people of a different generation than you is also a good way to understand and learn from a different perspective. Try interviewing your grand parents about their experiences.

A New Look

Tired of your usual look? Why not try out a new style? All you need is in your closet. Mix and match clothes that you’ve never tried before. Imagine yourself a super model showing off the designer’s new fashion collection. Try to look more confident while showing off your new style. Wear a smile and walk as confidently as you can. Practice in the mirror before you go out the door. This should be a fun experiment. Expect to get a lot of questioning looks and even criticism but try not to mind or just smile at them. They might say you’re crazy but you might also learn how to not give a care about other people’s opinions of you. One benefit of this is you get to wear what you really want or what you usually don’t. You might end up loving your new style or find the fun in trying out a different look each time. Just go, go after something new.

A New Feeling

If you’ve been feeling bored or sad lately, then try changing that feeling. You can do it in the comfort of your own room. Play dance music and sing to it or dance to it and see how it changes your mood. You can also try drawing, sketching, painting or writing. Put on inspirational music to set the atmosphere to start your work. Then just do it without minding about the results. You might end up feeling better or feeling worse but at least you’ve practiced how to change your mood. Or you might end up with a hobby that you want to pursue or even get to unleash your genius. The best way to do this is in your safe space. It could be your room or a small nook in your living room. If you feel that your space has become uninteresting then try rearranging your furniture to create your safe space or freshen up your work space or bedroom.

A New Experience

Give your self a chance to satisfy your curiosity. Have you always wanted to try skateboarding, camping, going on a picnic, playing mahjong, etc.? Join a group or take a class to satisfy your thirst for knowledge and try a new experience. Think: “You only live once” so try something new at least once. Do something fun just because. If you like it, try it again. If you don’t like it; at least you’ve tried it. At least you’ve confirmed what you like and don’t like. You won’t be left with “what ifs”. A new experience allows you to get to know your self better and understand other people better too. A road trip is definitely an experience you should try. Traveling to new destinations will give you a new appreciation of the beauty around you. You will surely appreciate the sight of a clear sky at night when you are away from the city lights. Go, go after something new and enjoy the experience.

Start Small

To change something, it is good to start with the small details and consistently practice. The first thing you need to do is to decide that you want to change and commit to that decision. Then, take small steps towards that change and try to practice it consistently until it becomes a habit. You will just wake up one day and find that you have changed yourself; that you have found the “real you”. You will feel grateful for deciding to just go, go after something new.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Jared Sluyter on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

3 Hats of Parenting

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Are your children happy? Are they capable, self-confident and successful? Did you know that your parenting style has a great effect on who they are, how they see themselves, what they have accomplished so far and what they will become in the future? Over parenting will cripple your children while too little will make them lose their way. That is why your type of parenting is very crucial in forming the personality of a child. According to preacher and best-selling author, Bo Sanchez; there is no one style of parenting. Instead, parenting style should evolve as the child grows up. Bo Sanchez said parenting is a journey in which the parents have to wear three kinds of hats. Parents should change hats as the child grows. He calls them the 3 hats of parenting.

There are many different styles of parenting. Parents normally employ one parenting style to all their children depending on the parents’ personalities. Sometimes, parents pattern their parenting style exactly as how they were brought up by their parents. However, did you know that parents should modify their parenting style as the child grows? Parenting roles should adapt to the changing needs of the child. One type of style may no longer be appropriate for the specific age of the child.

1.Controller’s Hat

When your children are still small, you must wear the controller’s hat. The controller’s hat of parenting simply means that you should be able to teach children and give instructions while they are still young. Equally important is that you should have the ability to control the situation and make your children follow you. In other words, as parents, you should be able to manage and discipline your children.

Children are very creative when it comes to demanding what they want. They can throw tantrums, they can cry out loud, they can stomp their feet or sit down on the floor and cry their heart out. Instead of giving in to their demands, you should be able to regulate their emotions and behavior. You can’t just buy them a toy each time they throw a tantrum in the mall. You can’t just let them eat all the junk foods that they want. You can’t allow them to play with their gadgets all day otherwise they might end up being addicted to social media, gadgets or games.

There are so many things that you can teach your child. But the bottom line is you have to teach and make them do certain things. You need to make them study. You need to teach them how to tidy their room or keep their toys after playing. Making them follow a schedule or routine is advisable including setting a bedtime.

In other words, let them feel that you are in control and not the other way around. As a parent, you should make rules and enforce these rules. You need to be able to talk it out with your child. You don’t need to punish them harshly when they don’t follow. Instead, do things like praising good behavior or setting a good example.

2.Coaching Hat

When your child becomes a teenager, whether you like it or not, you need to change hats. You have to accept the fact that your child now has a mind of their own. Trying to control them will no longer work. Instead of being helpful, wearing a controller’s hat can backfire and your teenager might end up rebelling. The best way to deal with teenagers is through coaching.

By definition, a coach teaches, trains and assists. In sports for example, a coach just sits by the bench and sends the player to play alone. A coach just watches the player. A coach gives strategies but gives the player enough freedom to decide on the details of the strategy. He does not interfere in the game but he will always be there when he is needed by the player.

Just like a coach, parents of teenagers should teach, train and assist their children. Parents should be there when the child needs them. However, the child needs to be given the freedom to do his/her own thing. Parents should learn to let go and trust their teenagers. Avoid nitpicking on every little detail.

3.Consultant’s Hat

When your child becomes an autonomous adult, the parent should again change hats from coaching to that of a consultant. An autonomous adult means someone who is already working and maybe have a family of their own.

A consultant is someone who gives advice. It is different from a coaching hat because a coach can pull his player away from the game anytime. A consultant cannot do that. A consultant gives advice only when asked. In short at this point in time, the parent’s role is just to be there when their child needs them. Parents should not interfere with the child’s life especially if the child is already married and has a family of their own.

Changing hats is not an easy thing to do for parents but it is something that must be done if you want to have a harmonious and healthy relationship with your children. It is only by slowly letting go will your child be able to grow and mature through life.

Edited Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 21.08.2019.

Feature Image by Photo by Berendey_Ivanov / Andrey_Kobysnyn from Pexels

Nov

2021

Why Money Can’t Buy Love

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Money makes the world go round, but why is it that money can’t buy love? “Money makes the world go round,” is a familiar saying that we often hear. It means that if you have money; you can have anything you want in the world. Well, almost everything because we know that there are some things money can’t buy.

Memories

We know that money can buy a lot of material things. There are many material things that can make us feel happy. The act of giving and receiving gifts is one of them. Being able to acquire material possessions that let us live comfortably also makes us feel happy. Having limited edition items around us can also make us feel wealthy and even proud of ourselves.

A house and lot or an apartment unit, nice furniture and appliances, the latest gadgets, a car, and being able to spend for a vacation are things we want and need. Cooking a meal or making DIY gifts for our loved ones are priceless memories to us. All these material possessions require money to buy and maintain. The memories that we create with these things around us, can never be bought with money.

Relationships

One of the things that money can’t buy is genuine relationships. You can’t buy yourself a family who will love and support you. You can’t buy yourself friends. Your buddies and you have stuck together over the years because of your appreciation and acceptance of each other. This means that you all enjoyed the good times together but you still stuck with each other during the bad times.

Relationships are built through time and effort, respect and understanding, and constant communication. It will take money to go out for dinner and road trips with your friends. But you can’t buy respect, acceptance, understanding and the appreciation you get from those who have learned to value you for who you are.

Experiences

You can buy a good bed and mattress; but you can’t buy a good night’s sleep. You can enroll in a class, get a coach or mentor, buy a book or listen to audiobooks to learn from people’s experiences. These kinds of learning materials can be bought with money. However, most of us never really learn valuable life lessons unless we get to experience them ourselves. Even in travel adventures; we always long to go to the travel destinations ourselves instead of just admiring them in pictures.

Through personal experiences, we are able to learn how to face our fears, overcome challenges, process our hurts and move on from grief. We also learn how to transform ourselves and our mindsets to become better people. Each person has their own path in life. Money can’t buy you the courage and belief in yourself that you need to move forward in your journey.

Love

All our memories, relationships and experiences are precious to us because of the feelings we had during those events and with those people. Happy or sad, peaceful or confused, angry or joyful, are emotions we associate with many of our memories, experiences and the people in our life. Most of the things we consider beautiful don’t need to be bought. Falling in love is one of the riskiest things we can be involved in. Yet, we dive into it willingly even if the chance of getting hurt is always there.

If we think about it carefully, we can simplify things by looking at emotions as stemming from love or the lack of it. We feel loved by the people around us, or by the Universe, that’s why we feel happy, joyful and even peaceful. On the other hand, we feel unloved when people ignore us, reject us, or don’t want to be around us. Our environment feels sad and gloomy and not like a safe space at all when we are not surrounded by the things we love. Just think how giving someone a plushie has become a universally accepted token of friendship and love.

Money Can’t Buy Love

There is no love bank anywhere in the world. We cannot deposit or withdraw love as we do with money. It is not possible to purchase love directly from any store either. But we can purchase things for other people to show them we love them whatever their love language may be.

Fortunately, no love bank is needed. We can generate love on our own. If you want to increase love in your life; just do things that make you feel loved or show others your love for them. When you experience a decrease in love or a lack of it; then do the things you need to do to increase feelings of love in your life again.

During negative situations, take a breather and try to see the bright side of things. Ask yourself: Where can love be shown and increased in this situation or with this person’s circumstances? Being positive does not solve all situations. After all, we are human. It is perfectly okay to not be okay and walk away to heal ourselves first by loving ourselves.

There may also be times when we need to walk away from a person we truly love and let them go. We often call this “hard love” because it is indeed very hard to do. Our tendency is to cling on for fear of losing that person’s love for us. We do not lose love in such situations. Love is energy and it does not disappear. It only transforms into something else. All the love we give eventually comes back to us; sometimes in even more wonderful ways. Now that is the kind of interest rate that no amount of money saved up or invested can match or guarantee. That is why, money can’t buy love.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

How to Get Over the Fear of Missing Out

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Have you ever heard the latest internet acronyms such as YOLO and FOMO? YOLO means you only live once. It is about making the most of the present situation. FOMO, on the other hand, pertains to fear of missing out. It is the feeling of nervousness or anxiousness of seeing your friends having more fun than you are. Social media only exacerbates this situation. As a result, FOMO is now a big and serious issue. More and more people are feeling anxious and inferior to their peers. If left unchecked, we will have a society of anxious individuals with people trying to live beyond their means just to keep up with the Joneses. So, how to get over the fear of missing out?

Sense of Belonging

People have the inherent need to be part and accepted in a group. The sense of belonging makes people happy and satisfied. So, when you see a social media post of your friends having fun without you; it is normal to feel anxious, sad and betrayed.

Negative Effect of FOMO

The word FOMO is already recognized. In fact, it was added to the Oxford dictionary in 2013. Its official definition is “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website”.

In a world where we are always watching and liking what others are doing on social media; it is so easy to feel stressed out watching other people having so much fun. This gets magnified more if we are already feeling overwhelmed with life’s challenges. We can’t help but constantly compare our lives with that of our peers. As a result, we try to mimic what others are doing. We eat out and have fun. We travel to different places regardless of whether we can afford it or not. In the process, we end up losing our sense of identity and we begin to hide behind our persona or social mask.

Unhappiness From Within

We know that FOMO has a negative impact on our lives. But before we can get over it, we first need to understand where it is coming from. The truth is, not everyone gets affected by FOMO. Those who are caught in the FOMO cycle are actually those who are unhappy from within. Those who are self-confident are rarely affected by FOMO.

Tips on How to Get Over FOMO

1. Refrain From Checking Your Social Media First Thing in the Morning

What is the first thing that you do in the morning? If your answer is to check your social media, that’s actually a sign that you are already caught in the FOMO cycle. So, the solution is to refrain from checking your social media the moment you wake up. Why look at what other people are doing when you are supposed to be working on your dreams? Highly successful people has morning routines. This is what makes them different from the rest of the population.

2. Remember That There is More Than Meets The Eye

Remember that not all situations are as simple as what it appears to be. You don’t know the whole story. What you see on social media are all beautiful sceneries and happy events. You see the laughter and the smiling faces. But you did not see the events that transpired behind it. No one will share the negative side of the story.

3. Be Grateful

Grateful people are happy people. This is because they focus on their blessings and all the positive things in life. What you focus on magnifies itself. If you focus on the positive, you will be happier. If you are happy, you will be unaffected by what other people are doing. On the contrary, you will be happy if your friends are happy.

4. Love Yourself

Self-love is a state of appreciation for yourself. If you love yourself, you will have a high regard for your own happiness and well-being. You will not let others affect you.

Don’t let FOMO affect you. Get rid of FOMO before it consumes you!

Feature Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Nov

2021

Self-Confidence Begins at Home

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Are you a confident person? Did you know that your self-confidence begins at home? How we see ourselves today is a product of how we were brought up as children. Our self-esteem is shaped by how much we felt loved and adored as a child by our parents.

Building Self-Confidence in the Early Years

Look back into your childhood. Did you feel unconditional love and acceptance from your parents or from the people who brought you up? Were your accomplishments praised? On the contrary, have you ever felt that you were not good enough?

Studies reveal that a person’s confidence level was developed during childhood. Even as a young child, a person with a high sense of self-esteem is happy, proud, secure and feels accepted. On the other hand, an insecure person feels incompetent and lacking even at such a young age. They are self-critical and always doubt themselves. Thus, this means that the love, encouragement and attention that you received as a child molded your sense of self-worth.

Hidden Messages of Water

Dr. Masaro Emoto is a bestselling author and internationally renowned Japanese scientist. He discovered that water molecules when exposed to positive words and intentions creates a beautiful molecular formation. However, negative words create the opposite.

For example, the image above is the formation of molecules as viewed on a microscope. The water was exposed to the words or music indicated. In relation to this, the human body is made up of 60% water. So, this means that the words that you have been hearing since young which you now believed to be the truth have greatly impacted your being. Hearing “I love you” or “you are not good enough” has a contrasting effect on the individual.

Believe in Yourself

Thus, it is difficult to believe in yourself if you have been hearing the opposite all these years. And this is what self-confidence does – the trust and belief in one’s abilities and judgement. Without it, it is hard to keep up with life’s challenges, much more to handle setbacks and failures in life. We cannot undo the past but we can change this negative belief about one’s self by loving yourself.

If you are a parent, the greatest gift that you can give your child is to make them believe in themselves.

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