Life Lessons 4 Ways To Silence Your Own Critic 3:13 AM Listening to the voice of discouragement makes us deaf to the Voice of Truth. Every day we deal with the voices in our heads. We can't choose what people tell us, but we can definitely choose what we keep inside our heads. We can choose what we will believe in. We can choose what to validate, accept and reject. We are our own worst critic. Worst because we live with the voices in our heads 24/7, and because when we believe what we tell ourselves, no one can tell us otherwise. Often, this voice is the echo of what the people around us say; our parents' constant reminder or comment while we were growing up, our friends who have different views from us, what the media or the society projects. Listening to the voice of discouragement makes us deaf to the Voice of Truth. It makes us forget that we are anointed to be great. We have a purpose. We can. How do you silence your own critic? 4 Ways To Silence Your Own Critic Know who you are. Know that you're not here by accident. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a child of God and God does not make mistakes. If you have self-awareness, no one can change your identity for you. Take destructive criticisms constructively. Be objective in receiving comments. Understand that the person saying it has a different point of view. Sometimes they may mean differently but because we are also dealing with other personal issues, we take it negatively. Remember that not everyone will agree with you or support you. No one can offend you unless you let them. Don't be too harsh on yourself. Sometimes we are kind with others but we are mean with ourselves. Forgive yourself if you've failed. Give yourself the chance to correct the mistake you've done. Let go of the things and issues that are weighing you down. The voice of guilt is your loudest critic. It will tell you that you are no longer capable or qualified because of what you did in the past. Don't let one mistake define your whole life. Do not condemn yourself for one mess that you've made. Take a moment of silence and go with what your heart tells you. Go with whatever it is that will give you peace of mind. You were born with goodness planted in your heart so you feel off if something is not right. Don't numb your conscience. Don't justify the means by the end. It's important to stay connected with your inner self. Listen to your body because it manifests what you really need. It will be difficult at first to silence your own critic. It will take a lot of practice to know which voice to listen to. Just remember this, the Voice of Truth will never ask you to compromise your dignity. Tweet It will never tell you to do something that will violate you or others. The Voice of Truth will leave you pumped up and inspired. The Voice of Truth will remind you of your greatness and of your purpose and will not lead you away from it. So silence your own critic to hear The Voice of Truth more clearly. Gifs from Google images. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith God Is Not Fair 8:25 PM He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers. -Matthew 5:45 God is not fair. We say that God is a just Judge, but I also believe that He could be unfair. Why? God plays favorite. I know because I’m one of them. Instead of punishing me, He shows me mercy. When I run away from Him, instead of erasing my name on the palm of His hand, He runs after me. I could not escape His love. When I want Him to leave me alone, He patiently waits for my return. Because He knows no matter how long, I will always come back home to Him. He is a Lover who does not carry a grudge despite all the pain and the heartache I give Him. He does not keep a record of my wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). I lost count of the times He showed me that I am highly favored. Now, how can you say He is just? When all I do is disappoint Him and do wrong and all He does is forgive me every time, love me lavishly and unconditionally. Care for me patiently. Provide for me generously. God is not fair. God loves everybody, but I’m His favorite. Tee hee. Linked to:
Lux Thinking Aloud First Blogging Award: Liebster Award 12:53 PM First blogging award: Liebster Award I got my first blogging award--- the Liebster Award. According to Gigi The Snooper, the blogger who was kind enough to nominate and award me with Liebster Award: Liebster comes from the German language, and it means "beloved". This award exists only on the internet, and is given to bloggers by other bloggers and it follows similar principles as a chain letter, in the sense that it should be passed forward to a certain number of people. Before I proceed with the rules to officially receive Liebster Award, I'd like to express my gratitude. Thank you for wasting a minute or two with me. For reading my thoughts, for allowing me to share my stories with you, and for being generous and respectful with the comments you leave. Thank you also to those who send me sweet messages thanking me for the encouragement they receive by just reading my posts. Special thanks to those who trust me enough to share their stories with me and even ask for my advice. I'm also in the stage of figuring out life so knowing you trust me enough to ask for my opinion is an honor. And to finally make it official, here are the things required to receive the Liebster Award: 1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. My favorite online snooper Gigi The Snooper, thanks so much for considering me worthy of the Liebster award. I love snooping around your page. You post interesting facts I don't usually see on the web. I especially love the gory, creepy, crazy story of the countess who bathes in and drinks blood. Haha. Keep snooping around! 2. Display the award on your blog. Google images 3. Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you. Why did you start blogging? Has it turned out to be what you expected? I started my blog for 2 reasons: (1) I think more and talk less. My thoughts are overflowing I have to write some down. (2) And I use it as a portfolio for online jobs. It turned out to be more than I expected. When I started receiving emails and comments about how much people appreciate what I write, and how it affected them or made them feel better, I realized that blogging is not just for my entertainment and profit anymore. It became my purpose. Now I write with the goal of informing, entertaining and inspiring others. Before I write, I consider those who will be reading; will it help them, enlighten them, make them feel good about themselves, or provoke their thoughts? Is this what God wants to tell them? I've got readers who are non believers and I also try to consider their views whenever I write. What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self? Oh, I have a looot. I wrote them on 21 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Younger and Unsolicited Advice To The Struggling 20-Something. If I must pick one, it's to believe in myself and ignore the critics. If you could live one day over again, what day would it be? I couldn't choose a day, but if I were to choose a phase, it would be when my brother was just a toddler. I especially miss those times when I have to bathe him myself, when we share stories over Koko Krunch, when he would ask me to read him bedtime stories, when he would sit on my lap and we would watch his favorite cartoons together. What is the story behind your blog name? I'm planning to change my blog name soon. I created it when I was at a rather vulnerable stage so it sounds cheesy. Now that I'm back to my normal happy self, I'm thinking of a better name, something more specific. If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Fruits! I love Philippine mango so much I can eat it everyday. What’s your greatest fear? I fear for the safety of my loved ones. When was the last time you had a good belly laugh? Just a while ago. ;) What’s your favorite quote? All things work together for good to them who love the Lord.---Romans 8:28 What has been your biggest challenge? Taking the high road and being the better person. Some people are born to test your patience. If you were going to live on a deserted island, what three things could you not live without? Things: Clean water, books, comforter. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? To forgive quickly like Jesus. 4. Provide 11 random facts about yourself. I'm an introvert. I believe I'm Italian in my past life judging by my liking for Italian food especially pizza and pasta. I'm a frustrated globe trotter. I tsunduko like all other bibliophiles. More than just a fan, I love Zac Efron. I'm a Potterhead and forever will be. I love organic products. I want to try scuba diving but I'm scared of the open water. I'm a perpetual dreamer. I'm a sucker for chick flicks. Pet peeves: People who can dish it out but can't take it. 5. Nominate 5 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have less than 1000 followers: The Beautiful Eagle Welcome To My Life Somewhere-In-Between Life Out Loud Chelsea Write 6. Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer. What drives you? What's your mantra? What is your belief or principle? What do you value the most in your life? Which TV series are/were you addicted with? The song that sums up your life. What's your greatest regret? Your favorite movie of all time. Your best childhood memory. Your dream vacation destination. If you can change one thing in the world, what will it be? 7. Rules to follow to officially accept the Liebster Award. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you. Provide 11 random facts about yourself. Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!) Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer. There you go. Now, I'm a Liebster Award recipient. 2014 has been an enjoyable year, full of surpirses. This is one of them. My heart is bursting with gratitude. See also: Liebster Award Recipient---Again! Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons Leave Your Baggage And Move On 12:17 AM If you want to move on, you need to learn to let go. -Bo Sanchez Originally written for and published on The Praying Woman Sins. Hurts. Problems. Past Mistakes. Criticisms. Limitations. Regrets. What is your baggage? Whatever it is, leave your baggage and move one. Leave Your Baggage And Move On Sins. Let go of sins. In our weakness, in our frailty we commit sin. We sometimes take the easy way out and compromise our values. After sinning, instead of repenting we choose to live in the shadow of our sins. Instead of facing the consequences, we let it define us. We sin and we feel like we're done. Like there's no more hope for us. Good news! Even the worst sinner can be has been forgiven. All we need is to accept the mercy from the Ultimate Forgiver, so we can forgive ourselves and move on. Let go of the baggage of sin and move one. Hurts. People will always, always hurt us no matter how much we try to live in peace with them. It's not about us, it's about them. Hurting people hurt people. People who are unkind to you have issues with themselves and not with you. You may have been abandoned by your parents. Your friend might have said something that hurt you in the past. Someone may have broken your heart. Yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, maybe a couple of years or a decade ago...it doesn't matter. You feel hurt and it's normal. It's normal because you care. It's normal because you're an emotional being. That abandonment, that betrayal, that pain hurt but it's not your end. It may feel that way, but it's NOT. Let go of the hurt. Leave your pain and move on. Problems. As long as you're alive, you will encounter problems. Problems may vary from minor ones---what to have for breakfast, to major ones---how to get out of your debts. Your problems will not be around forever. Behind every problem is a solution. Behind every trial is your triumph waiting. Leave your problems and move on. Past Mistakes. If you are alive today, it means you've made mistakes in the past. Nobody's perfect. Everybody fails. It is not the falling that will define you, but your getting up after the fall. Let go of your past mistakes and move on. Criticisms. Some people make it their life mission to scrutinize you, criticize you, and even shame you. Know this: if you've accepted your flaws, no one can use it against you. If you know your worth, no one can shortchange you or make you feel inadequate. How you see people is a reflection of how you see yourself. How you treat people is an extension of how you treat yourself. So when people only see the wrong in you, or treat you harshly all the time, take pity on them. They must be living a very hard life. They could be desperate for help. Again, it's not about you, it's about them. Let go of criticisms. They're just noise. Limitations. You may have been told by someone important to you that your dreams are too big for you, that you are unrealistic. Someone may have instilled in your mind that you are not capable. They're just as imperfect as you are. The only person who can limit you is yourself. Let go of limitations. Regrets. We have our could-have-been. We feel like we've missed something and regret our decisions at some point. We can choose to dwell in what we cannot change, or let go of the regret and make a brand new start. We can feel sorry for ourselves forever or make the mind-shift that everything happens for a reason. Behind all our baggage is shame. If we get rid of the shame, we get rid of the baggage and start to move one. We hang on to toxic people and stay in trashy relationships because we feel that's what we deserve. Because we're ashamed of ourselves, of our baggage. Bo Sanchez said, "You are not a garbage collector. Get rid of the garbage in your life." Gratitude defies gravity. When you feel pulled down by your past mistakes, turn it around and be grateful instead of who you are and what you have. You can't get on a plane unless you surrender your baggage first. You can't get on with life unless you let go of your emotional baggage. It's not easy, but you'll get there if you start shedding them now. Leave Your Baggage And Move On From Talk 2: Desperate of Women Gone Wild series at The Feast. Watch the video here. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons Lessons Learned On My Way To Getting There 1:25 PM If you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, you don’t know where you’re going. And if you need to know where you’re going, you’re probably going wrong. -Terry Pratchett Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like life is passing you by. One day you wake up and realize that most of your peers are now getting on with their adult lives, getting married, and having babies. And here you are...still drunk in love with your being single. It could be terrifying when negative thoughts start to enter your mind. When people make you question your choices, you begin to also doubt yourself. That is if you don’t have a solid conviction of who you really are, what you want, and where you are going. On my way to getting there, I’ve learned how to make the journey light, and I’m sharing it here with you. 1. Know exactly what you want. Where exactly is your ‘there’? Living without goals is like driving without direction. You keep on going around in circles. You don’t get anywhere simply because you don’t know where you’re heading. If you know exactly what you want, you can change your strategies or change your timetable and still know it’s okay because you haven’t forgotten your destination. You have a clear vision of where you’re going so you don’t go astray. You may have stopovers or detours, but keep your eyes on the prize. What do you really want to do, and where do you want to go? Giphy 2. Be friends with people from all walks of life. Younger friends are fun to be with because their excitement and curiosity are contagious. They keep you young and updated. Friends who are about your age share the same sentiments. You can share notes about your past experiences, struggles, and plans. They are your reality check. Friends who are more mature or are ahead of you in this life journey could be amazing life mentors. They will guide you and help you avoid making the same mistakes they did. Entrepreneurs have different mindsets and lifestyles from people in the workforce. See things from different perspectives by forming friendships with business owners and employees. Every person you meet has a story, and their story comes with lessons for you to learn. Giphy 3. Do something today that your future self will thank you for.They say money speaks only one language. “If you save me today, I will save you tomorrow.”Learn how to manage your finances. The people who laugh at your frugal ways will one day come to you and ask you for help. (True story!) Take care of your health and secure your future. Learn how to be truly rich. Enjoy the present, but don’t forget to save some for tomorrow. You don’t want to be begging for money when you’re too old or maybe too sick to work. Yes, YOLO! But you only live once, so you might as well not live miserably, right? That piece of steak looks good, but is it really worth it when you know you’re putting your life at risk? Not to mention the debilitating effect of the meat industry on the environment and, of course, the suffering of the animals just for you to get your plate of juicy steak. Your future self will thank you for your choices today. Choose selflessly and wisely for your health, the planet you live on, and the future. Giphy 4. Travel more. Visit a new place. Traveling changes your perspective. You realize that you are a tiny speck in the vast universe. Your primary concern, like your change of career, what other people would think, not having a date for Valentine’s, not having enough clothes in your closet, or not getting the latest gadget, will become insignificant. CALVIN: If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live much differently. HOBBES: How so? CALVIN: Well, when you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than people do all day. Imgur 5. Help someone. Your job title, the trophies, and the rewards you received may be impressive and could give you euphoria. But there is a different kind of high when you give without expecting anything in return. Help someone who is not capable of giving you back. At least not directly. Because kindness begets kindness. The love (or hate) you give will eventually come back to you. Have you ever been a part of a ministry and witnessed God’s work through people helping other people? You will be amazed. Giphy 6. Let go. You can never enjoy the present if you keep looking back at the past. As you age, you realize that some dreams are worth pursuing and others are not your dreams but someone’s plans for you, like your parents. Let go of the people who are holding you back. Let go of your excess baggage to make your journey getting there easier and lighter. What are the things that are weighing you down? Is it guilt? Forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness. Confess. Is it an addiction? Seek help. Is it your inner critic? Learn how to silence it. Is it worrying about what people would say? Why does it matter anyway? Is it the limitation you set yourself? Change your mindset. Is it a toxic lifestyle? Learn how to live healthily and live happily. Is it fear? Do it afraid. Is it your lavish ways? Simplify. Giphy Sometimes you get to your dreams fast, and sometimes you face detours. Sometimes on your way to reaching your goals, you realize life is more than just about pursuing a career and living according to society's dictates. Sometimes you get lost and find a better dream, and sometimes you see...a better you. I’m getting to my next chapter. Just taking it slow, enjoying each step, but getting there. How about you? Where are you going? What lessons have you learned on your way to getting there?
Books The Quickie By James Patterson Book Review 7:57 PM The Quickie By James Patterson Book Review The story is about Lauren, a wife caught in the spiderweb of lies of his almost perfect husband.One accidental discovery led to a one-night stand. And murder. One wrong choice brought forth lies, crimes, and head-spinning revelations. How far will you go for the person you love? And what if, in the process of saving him, you find yourself unmasking a scary stranger you promised to love and to hold for richer, for poorer, 'til death do you part?The Quickie By James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge Book ReviewRant and review (You've been warned)SPOILER ALERT!You know that feeling when you see a glaring red sign DANGER, but instead of turning around, you rush into it head-on?I feel like that's how Lauren, the main character in this book, feels. How can you turn around and walk away when every flip of the page, every turn of events, is an unveiling? That your married life has been nothing but a big fat lie?Men.Oh, men.Men who are cheaters, accomplished liars, two-faced monsters. Not the giant hairy monster that will get you running the other way when you see them.But monsters with beaming gorgeous smiles and dimples in a well-pressed suits.I can forgive a mistake when it's all in the past when I'm not in the picture yet.But cheating while we're together, albeit in a messy situation, is unforgivable. One wrong step, one stupid decision on a wild night because of lust, alcohol, and misery may be a misstep. But if you keep doing it and living in it, that's not a mistake anymore. That's a choice.A deliberate decision to plunge the knife into my heart again and again and again.GiphyThere you are, walking through our door every night like a good husband and responsible citizen.Walking inside a different home in another city on another day. Acting like the perfect husband and doting father to your bastard. While we're still together. Legally, imperfectly happily married.How can you look at yourself in the mirror?Calling that child an accident is another freaking layer of this beautiful wrapper to this fantastic gift that is the truth.So did you trip and fall on the woman, and then boom! You find yourselves naked with your plonker inside her warm cave? How convenient! Some magic that could put David Blaine to shame.Cheaters got me riled up. I can only imagine how this wife feels. After saving her husband's ass by covering his tracks repeatedly, risking her career and her life only to find out he's the devil's pawn driving a Ferrari in his parallel life.And him telling her it's all for the child's sake. That it's a picture of a happy family they're trying to paint for the daughter. He and the woman have long been over. Only to find a sonogram of twins in his pocket.It's like being sucker punched.Ah, the perfect family that we never will be.When is the lie going to end? When will you stop insulting my intelligence?How nice of you to be making your dreams come true while we're struggling for years to build our own family.How are you going to digest all that? In one sitting? Because I finished the book in one day.It's a real page-turner.My heart is still pounding, and my blood pressure is still high while writing this review.My heart breaks to a thousand pieces for the wife. And my heart boils for the lying, cheating sonofabitch husband she has.It's like watching Ally McBeal discover the truth about Billy moving to Chicago and ending their decades of relationship again.It's like watching Rachel break up with Ross over a quickie afresh.WifflegifRating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I give five blinding shining stars because James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge made me feel things I didn't want to in this novel.Dread. Fear. Confusion. Loathing. The gut-wrenching, soul-crashing pain of betrayal. Rage. A whole lot of rage.It forced me to look at the hideous face of infidelity, which I never wanted to see.What I like about The Quickie by James PattersonIt will get you hooked at the get-go.Happy ending for Lauren.A clean slate for the people involved.Justice. Not the one it deserves, in my opinion, but justice all the same.Made me thankful I married a faithful man.I didn't like the ugly emotions that this book gave me, but that's what an excellent, compelling book does! It disturbs you. It makes you want to scream in anger and frustration.I do love a happy ending. I'm glad that loose ends were tied in the story. At least for the time being. Because you know what they say. The truth always comes out.Unfortunately for Lauren, it did. The truth about what kind of man he married.And he didn't even have the balls or the decency to give her all the truth she deserved to hear.Evil up to the very end.What I don't likeI hate, loathe, despise, abhor - and insert all synonyms that apply - cheaters. Especially those who don't own up to their mistakes. And have the gall to point the fingers at you. Infidelity rubs me the wrong way because I'm a wife myself. I can't imagine what I'll do or feel if I were in that situation. It will take me a while to process the betrayal. The world Lauren crumbled down just when she thought everything would be alright. More than alright. Picture perfect.It's like finding your favorite toy on the far-off shelf after scouting store after store, and then suddenly, someone grabs it and breaks it into pieces right in front of you.That's how I felt when the puzzle pieces kept falling into place. As Lauren followed her too-good-to-be-true, doting, loving, perfect husband. Knocking at his other beautiful home's door, looking at his glowing face in the photographs like the ideal husband and father he is to these strangers he also calls his family.Watching him glow with pride and happiness as he plays the good old daddy paying a visit from his hectic work schedule.Lie after lie. My heart is being smashed as I turn every page.Will I recommend it?Absolutely! Especially to those who enjoy crime or cop novels or stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat.WARNING: If you don't want to be stressed out by lying husbands, don't read this book!I didn't expect it to affect me this way, but here we are.Final thoughtsI'm happy that Lauren got her chance to a new beginning. Lying husband-free.I'll get to that happy place soon. It's difficult for an emotionally involved reader like me to move on after this traumatizing roller coaster journey. But I'll get there. Not as quickly as the quickie that started this all out. But soon enough. What book has stirred your emotions?
Lux Thinking Aloud Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy 10:31 AM You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. -C. JoyBell C. As I grow older, there are crazy things I had to quit to be crazy happy. I have zero regrets in doing so. Are there things that are stopping you from living a life filled with joy? Quit them before it's too late. Don't get me wrong. I'm a believer of keeping on. That is, keeping on with the good things and chasing dreams. When it comes to the negative stuff, I am a quitter. Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy Quit crying over spilled milk When things are over and done, there's no use holding on to it. When an opportunity has passed and you failed to grab it, you'll never get it back by still wishing you should have or thinking about the what ifs. Should have, could have, what if. Simple phrases with a lot of weight to carry. Quit crying over spilled milk. You can always buy another. 😛 "Kids, you can't cling to the past. Because no matter how tightly you hold on, it's already gone." -How I Met Your Mother Giphy Quit living my parents' dreams for me I don't want to cause my folks any headache, so I let them choose my career for me. But in doing so, I was slowly killing my own purpose. Needless to say, I was miserable. You can never be happy living other people's dreams, even when you're doing it for your loved ones. That's because you have a different calling. Your heart wants to lead you somewhere else. Claiming other people's dreams as your own buries your calling deep down that when you finally want to do what you really want...it will take a long time to dig it out. You'll be walking around thinking, "But what do I want? What am I supposed to do?" So a friendly reminder to parents: let your kids discover what they're good at, nurture their gifts, and support their ambitions. Because whatever it is that they keep envisioning for themselves and gives them fire in the belly, that's what they're meant to do. That's their anointing. That's their purpose. You have no idea how much they can accomplish if you let them follow their passion. Giphy Quit waiting for things to happen I've delayed a lot of things and had to choose option B many times because I needed to wait. I needed to wait for someone to be available or I had to wait for the "perfect" timing. I've allowed stress into my life by beating the deadline because I've waited for inspiration to strike. I've waited for people to pay back money they borrowed when they obviously have no intentions to do so. I've waited for someone to accompany when I can totally go on my own. I've waited for apologies from people who never showed regrets. Waiting for things to happen is wasting precious time. It will drain you in the long run. Let go of things you can't control and make peace with yourself instead. Forgive yourself for waiting and for stealing your own joy by doing so. Giphy Quit chasing people Chasing people includes forcing myself to be friends with people who obviously don't want me involved in their lives. Some people may play an important role in a certain episode of your life, but you don't need them until the season finale to complete your story. Quit chasing them! If they want to be in your life, they will make an effort to be. Two things you will never have to chase: True friends & true love. -Mandy Hale Giphy Quit taking crap from others There's a very fine line between kindness and stupidity. The more you some people kindness the more they abuse you instead of appreciating and reciprocating your kindness. You have to accept the fact that there is goodness in everyone, but some people chose a different path. They've made their choice. Now, make yours. In this tough, cruel, wicked world (I like to be dramatic sometimes), you need to stand your ground or you'll be trampled over. When life pushes you around you have to push back. Quit settling I'm done settling for mediocrity. I'm done settling for second best. I'm done settling for a high paying job but is slowly turning me into a zombie. I'm done settling with housemates from hell, with friends who are pulling me down and hinders me from becoming more. I'm done settling with "just fine". I'm done accepting measly pays for my writing gigs. Giphy Quit toxic people Surrounding yourself with gossiping, procrastinating, condescending people will make you like them too. I'm not comfortable doing these things. I don't see myself doing the same things in the years to come. So I cut my ties with them. And boy, what a weight lifted off my shoulder. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. -Jim Rohn Giphy Quit being hard on myself I used to always blame myself when things don't go well. Even in relationships where it takes two to tango, I always thought it's solely my fault. Are you still wondering why this post is called Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy? I was crazy! Giphy Quit fixing things and people I tried to fix people who are otherwise happy with where they are no matter how messed up their lives are. I tried to make them see reason. I tried to mend broken relationships and in the process, I drained myself empty. But what's crazier is that I'v met a lot of people who are doing the same thing. This disorder is rampant. I think it's universal. We need to quit it quick. Giphy Quit fighting every battle I used to be feisty. It seems there's not a fight I would surrender to. I was fierce. Obviously, I was always exhausted and preoccupied with unnecessary things. I have little time left for self-improvement. I've realized that walking away from a fight is not cowardice, it's courage. Choosing which battle to fight is not lack of bravery, it's boldness. And some people just don't deserve your time and attention. Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. -Mark Twain Tenor Quit eating meat This is an ongoing argument in the society. And I know I mentioned here on the blog a few years ago that I went back to eating burger. But I've changed. Dare I say it, I am more enlightened now. Since I've originally written this article in 2016, a lot of things happened. From a happy carefree single gal, I got married. I quit my full time high paying job to freelance. I've traveled to different places I used to just dream about. And my dogs made me a better soon. They proved to me that animals are intelligent, sentient, kind and capable of showing love and loyalty. Sometimes, they're better than some humans. 🤷 I realized that if I will not support killing of dogs for food because they are family, why do I continue to support the torture and killing of other animals just so I can satisfy my cravings? If I will not allow anyone to hurt my dogs, why do I patronize businesses that test on animals, or use animals as commodity? It didn't make sense to say I love the planet, I support causes for the environment and I love animals when I have a dead animal part on my plate. Going vegan goes beyond diet. It's a lifestyle. It's not a hype that will go passé in the future. The future is vegan. Being vegan is about quitting cruelty and choosing compassion and kindness. I quit meat not because I'm crazy but because it's crazy to support the killing of animals for my palate's satisfaction. I quit meat because I love the earth...especially the animals. Giphy I didn't realize how crazy things in my life were making me miserable then. It took me years to finally let go most of them. I had to for the sake of my sanity. And because I have finally allowed God to fix me, and allowed myself to heal from my brokenness that caused me to do these crazy things. Loving myself more means I need to quit the things that are not contributing to my well being. I'm a quitter. And I am a damn happy one. What crazy things do you think you need to quit to be crazy happy? Gifs from Google images.
Guest Blogger 3 Tips To Make Life Stress Free 7:00 PM Getting stress out of your life takes more than prayer alone. You must take action to make changes and stop doing whatever is causing the stress. You can learn to calm down in the way you handle things. -Joyce Meyer Stress is a potential threat to our emotional and physical health. But how do you make your life stress-free when every aspect seems exposed to it? Here are some tips that can help you avoid stress, relieve anxiety, and be worry-free. 3 Tips To Make Life Stress Free 1. Things You Should Keep Close: Stress Diary A stress diary is very effective in managing stress. You can jot down the date, time, and what you were doing, and what type of feelings engulfed you during the stressful episode. Give ratings to each episode and analyze them after some time to understand the triggers of stress. By doing so, you can easily identify what causes stress in your life and maintain distance from them. HouseplantHouseplants are a natural healer and reliever for stress. Research has shown that simply looking at greenery can reduce stress. Another Washington research proved that when stressed-out people entered a room with many plants, their blood pressure levels dropped by four points. Keeping houseplants like Jasmine, Peace Lily, English Ivy, and Lavender, etc. can help you live a stress-free life. Grateful List Keeping a list of things that you are grateful for can always help you feel happy about your life. Include the little things like your family, meal, job, etc., that you are grateful for in life. Every time you feel stress cropping up, take a look at your grateful list. Soothing Playlist A playlist with soothing songs should always be on the phone, iPod, or computer all the time. It is believed that classical music can slow the pulse rate, lower blood pressure, and lead to a sufficient reduction in the secretion of stress hormones. Listening to such songs or any other songs that you like can increase dopamine and reduce the stress in life.Natural stress-relieversNature offers amazing stress-relievers. Oil extracts from lavender, chamomile, bergamot, neroli, sandalwood, orange, and jasmine are used in supplements, tea, creams, and even candles to help promote sleep and relaxation.There's also CBD oil that has been shown to alleviate depression and reduce stress. When it comes to choosing CBD products, choose the one with the highest standards in quality backed by customer feedback like Blessed CBD so you're sure to get the benefits you need.2. Things You Should START Doing Owning Up To The Mistakes One of the biggest stimulators of stress in working people is, knowing that you’ve done a mistake and anticipating what’ll happen when the boss finds out. The stress generated by this can hamper the state of mind and reflect in work as well. Owning up to the mistake as soon as possible can help you beat the stress. Agreed, the problem won’t be solved, but the prolonged period of stress would be over soon. Living In The Moment Overthinking and over-analyzing every little situation, be it what happened in the past or what may happen because of present actions, is also a cause of stress. Avoid this stress by starting to live in the moment. What happened in the past taught you the lesson it was supposed to and you certainly cannot change what’s about to happen in the future. So stop worrying and start living in the moment. Physical Activity Physical activities are a huge stress buster. Not just physical exercises and work out but simple walks, dance moves, outdoor games, aerobics, swimming, yoga, etc., are also a great way to live a stress-free life. Don’t think of it as a burden but enjoy the physical activity to achieve the best results. Saying ‘No’ Saying ‘yes’ to everything can stress out everyone. Learn to say ‘NO’ to things you don’t like doing. Everyone has certain limits and trying to do things out of the bounds can lead to unnecessary stress. Start saying ‘no’ to the things that you don’t like and are not obliged to do. 3. Things You Should STOP Doing OveranalyzingThe first thing that anyone trying to have a stress-free life should stop doing is overanalyzing things. Overanalyzing things that haven’t happened yet can cause a lot of stress. Remember, ‘today you have today’s energy, tomorrow you have tomorrow’s energy, so why to waste today’s energy on tomorrow’s issues. Stop predicting the future and start dealing with things as they come to say goodbye to stress. Being with people who have a problem for every solution Negative people tend to spread negativity and make life stressful. People who critique everything you do or say or those who always sing out their woes would always make you stressed. Stop surrounding yourself with such negative people out of obligations or courtesy. Find people with whom you can connect and feel happy. Choosing perfection over uniqueness One of the biggest stress creators in life is trying to be perfect or achieve perfection. No one can be perfect so stop stressing out. Setting reasonable standards for oneself can help in avoiding a lot of stress. Keep your aim high but do not set your standards so high that they become a cause of stress in life. Wasting energy on holding past grudges None but the person who holds on to grudges suffers the most. One might feel that holding grudges and anger against someone might be troubling them but in reality, it is you who suffer when you hold on to any grudges. Take off any grudges as soon as possible. Forgive. Life is too short to be wasted in stress.“Remember, most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust your attitude, and all that extra stress is gone.” Follow the tips listed above to help make your life stress-free. About the Author: Ankit Gupta manages ExporteresIndia.com, a leading B2B portal in India. Even after having a lot of responsibilities on his shoulder, Ankit still manages to live a stress-free life. He has jotted down his mantra for a stress-free life in this write-up. You can follow Ankit on his LinkedIn and Facebook handles to read other insightful blogs written by him.
Listicle Top 10 Blog Posts In The Past 10 Years 11:51 PM Can you believe it? We've been together for a decade now!Ten fantabulous years of writing for you. Time does fly when you're having fun. If you're new here, welcome! I'm glad you've stumbled upon this site. I hope you stay. For 10 years or more.To celebrate my 10th blog anniversary, I'll be writing 10 things about different topics. Kicking it off with my top 10 blog posts in the past 10 years of blogging (according to stats). I hope you enjoy revisiting them or reading them for the first time.Top 10 Blog Posts in the Past 10 Years1. About Hush Puppies and Finding Your One True LoveIt seems only yesterday...I was fresh from a heartbreak. In an unfamiliar place. Surrounded by the most toxic people I've ever known. I felt like Eeyore. With a constant storm cloud above me. GfycatAlas, one day...a silver lining! I received a bonus. And since my shoes then were at the end of their life, I went shoe shopping. While looking around for a good pair, I realized that shopping for shoes is like finding your life partner. Finding your one true love as with shoe shopping could take longer and could be frustrating. But in the end, it's rewarding.This is where I shared why. Pinterest2. 16 Reasons Why The Feast Is The Coolest Place To Recover Your FaithThe Catholic faith is boring and superficial. They worship sculptures. They're blind followers.That's what they say.The Feast will show you otherwise. What's The Feast? It's a weekly gathering of the LOJ Family. There's live music and worship, fun and moving talks, and it's lightyears away from boring.I went through a phase when I was thirsting for more, spiritually. I wanted to seek God on a deeper level. Going to mass wasn't enough to quench my thirst. I searched for God in other religions. I'm glad I've found The Feast. I saw God in a different light. A loving Father more than a ruler. A generous provider.An invincible protector.A loyal friend.My vindicator. God is the best life-planner and matchmaker ever.He looks at me with adoration. He's been waiting for me to return without question or judgment.I've met some of my lifelong friends at The Feast, too.The Feast truly is the best place to recover your faith. Check out the other reasons why here.Tenor3. I Choose To Be HappyThis was written when I was down in the dumps and have had enough of my situation. Dramatic but true.I realized...God didn't knit me together in my mother's womb so I'd wake up feeling dejected every day. I've had enough of the dark times. I wanted to see the light. And I realized the only person stopping me from doing so is...Myself.So, I made a choice.I chose to get up and make things happen.I chose forgiveness even when I never received the apology I needed.I chose to be happy then, and I keep choosing happiness today.Read here and find out why you should too.Tenor4. 13 Things You Should Never Apologize ForDo you catch yourself apologizing even when it's unnecessary? I'm sorry, I just have a question.I'm sorry, but I think you should leave.I'm sorry, but that's not funny. It's offensive.It's like we're too scared to rock the boat. And to show how we really feel.Women, especially.GiphyI love this quote from Marianne Williamson:Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? We shouldn't apologize if we shine too brightly for others who choose to stay in the dark.You should not apologize for being yourself (as long as you're not hurting anyone).What are the things you don't apologize for? Here are mine.Shine bright, baby!Giphy5. Life Lessons From Maleficent MovieAnother post about making a choice and how our choices affect our lives.Hold a grudge or forgive?Love or hate?To vindicate or to let go?In every choice we make, there's a consequence. Especially choosing the words that come out of our mouth. Because words are extremely powerful.Maleficent is also about the importance of not judging others based on their appearance.She may have a menacing look but she's got a good heart.She was only temporarily hateful because she was hurt. And you know what they say about women scorned.No? Read about it here.Pinterest6. The Power Of An IntrovertI scored 99% introvert in the personality test I took. No kidding.I'm at peace and at my best when I'm in my own little bubble. When I finally realized that choosing to stay home over partying is not being a killjoy but just being myself, I felt more powerful. In control. And blissful.Oh, the quiet power of an introvert and the fun things we can do.I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. -Henry David ThoreauAre you an introvert or know someone who is? You should read this.Tumblr7. 25 Powerful Declarations To Shape Your Day & Change Your LifeWords can shape your day and change your life. We all need motivation. Every day.Do you speak encouraging and kind words to yourself? Or do you wake up feeling defeated?This could help you. I love what Annie Dillard said: How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.Copy and paste these 25 declarations here.Giphy8. 10 Signs Your Partner Is A Man-Child And Not A ManBig thanks to guest blogger Tracey Clayton for this enlightening and fun read. Could it be that there are more "man-child" than we think there are? Why the interest in knowing the signs? If you're in a relationship and you're not sure if your partner is a man-child or not, this article is for you.Save yourself from a lifetime of headaches and tears. If you see a red flag, run.Gifer9. Dogs Are Family, Not FoodI wasn't vegan yet when I wrote this. I found out that there is a festival wherein people feast on dog meat. As disgusting and preposterous as it sounds, it's true. It's happening. Every year. I wrote this as a petition. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow-creatures are amusing in itself. -James Anthony FroudePLEASE sign the petition because sadly, it's still happening.Tenor10. My Birthday Gratitude ListThankful every day but especially during my birthday. I would look back at the year that has passed (because my birth month is December), and think about how blessed I am. My heart is filled with gratitude as I'm listing down my blessings.Writing down a gratitude list improves your life.You become more mindful and focused.You're more cheerful and optimistic.You'll have fewer worries. Have more energy. More motivated to do more. And you feel more confident that no matter what happens, everything's going to be okay.Make it a habit to write a gratitude list, especially on your birthday. You'll feel more special and you'll appreciate life more.TenorRereading these articles is a trip.I could picture my younger self hunched down on my laptop and baring my soul. What a wonderful 10 years of blogging it has been!Thank you for being a part of it. 😊Tell me which of these top 10 blog posts you enjoyed the most. What has resonated with you? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments below. This post here may contain affiliate links. Meaning I get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain my site. 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