10 Principles for Peace of Mind

10 Principles for Peace of Mind

Life is long and full of challenges. Most of those challenges are internal, and depends on how WE choose to accept and interpet them. Our lives can go on very different paths, depending on what we do and how we look at what happens to us along the way. Here are 10 points of advice that if followed, will guarantee a better life, one that brings with it true peace of mind.

1. Do Not Interfere In Others’ Business Unless Asked.   Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others’affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction.  No two human beings can think or act inexactly the same way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.

2. Forgive And Forget.   This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste on such trifles. Forgive, forget, and march on. Love flourishes with giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave Recognition.   This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.

4. Do Not succumb to envy and jealousy.   We all have experienced how envy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you envy?   No. Remember everybody’s life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere, it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment.   If you try to change the environment single-handedly, chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem more congenial and harmonious with your goals.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured.   This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew.   This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. An uncluttered mind will produce greater feelings of peace.

8. Meditate Regularly.   Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty three and a half hours. Your mind will not be as easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant.   An empty mind is the devil’s workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or charity work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret.   Do not waste time in protracted wondering ”Should I or shouldn’t I?” Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past.   DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilled milk?

9 Tips for Keeping Your Happiness!

9 Tips for Keeping Your Happiness! 

Happiness is a tricky word, heavy with possibilities. It seems like we chase it down our whole lives, trying to get it to keep, to last and to grow. We want to be happy more than almost anything else, we pray for it and we change everything about ourselves for it, and yet, it is a slippery concept.

Well, we don't know you enough to solve your life's problems, but here are some tips that may make happiness just a bit easier to reach...

1. Lower the temperature

Most people equate happiness with a summer vacation in some remote island paradise, but it turns out that a snowy mountain in colorado may better improve your brain's mood. Research conducted by Michigan university found that breathing cold air through the nose enhances the mood much more than the effects a hot burst of air has on our brain. So if you want to raise your mood, lower the heat.

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action. 

Benjamin Disraeli 

2. Don't undervalue the power of nostalgy

Granma and grandpa may have known what they were doing after all. According to Dan Botner, the author of the book 'Thrive: Finding happiness the blue zones way', when we exchange stories about our highschool prom or that trip we took as children, we look at ourselves in a positive light and strengthen our social links to the enviornment. In addition, he recommends decorating the entirety of the house with photos and memorabilias from our history. He claims that decorating our house with objects of emotional value is a good way to connect with things that make us happy.

Don't wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you've got to make yourself. 

Alice Walker 

3. Don't chew yourselves over and over

To think about past failures can be a tempting thing, as we struggle to give them new meaning or to avoid repeating past mistakes. But actually, this kind of mental behavior, over time, can lead to a sense of helplessness. Research shows that this is the quick road to depression. "You start with an obsessive thought that clouds your mental clarity, and as a result you may lose your self confidence and feel miserable." Says Suzan Hoxima, professor of psychology at Yale. So instead of rethinking the same thought or event, distract yourself with a movie, book or a new challenge.

The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past. 

 

Andre Maurois 

4. Share the wealth

Many researchers have found that giving money and resources to others make the person happier than if they had spent it on themselves. The same thing goes for buying things for others and not ourselves. So if you are going to a coffee shop with a friend, offer to pay the bill. The profit will still be yours.

Your successes and happiness are forgiven you only if you generously consent to share them. 

Albert Camus 

5. Eat a snack around 2PM.

"Around this time, the levels of serotonin (the chemical in the brain that helps set our mood), can plummet," Says Eric Braverman, author of 'The edge effect'. Ideally, it is better to choose a snack that offers essential nutrious energy, such as B vitamins and complex carbs.

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. 

Abraham Lincoln 

6. Stay Moving

According to social psychologists, excercizing 3 times a week for half an hour each time, may supply the same benefits as some of the most powerful psychiatric drugs. Research shows that in those 30 minutes of physical activity, the human body can increase the production of neurotropic proteins in the bran, which have an anti-depression effect. Yoga as well has relaxing effects for the brain and the parasympathetic nervous system (the ones that calms the body down).

Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness, but it is greatness. 

 

George Bernard Shaw 

7. Limit options

"When we make a choice, we usually want the best for ourselves," says psychologist Barry Schwartz. This means we tend to consider everything that we can do, which can be a stressing burden. Schwartz maintains that every time we find ourselves unable to move from the overbearing stream of possibilities, we should try to cut down the options to a minimum and then make a quick, non-apologetic choice. It is the conflicting that makes us feel low and stressed.

 

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. 

Omar Khayyam 

8. Start Baking.

Well, it doesn't have to be baking. Hoola hooping or knitting will do the same, anything that will demand 100% of your attention while doing it. According to Minhaly Csikszentmihalyi, professor of psychology and management in Claremont University in California, "This will give your the kind of motivation and focus that bring with them happiness."

It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. 

Charles Spurgeon 

9. Make your bed

"In a research I conducted for a book about happiness," tell us author Gretchen Robin, "making the best was the number one change people testified made their day better." It turns out people are happier when they complete small daily chores in their lives. So if you don't have a maid doing it for you, check those little way you can make your life more efficient and pleasant. Whether it's making your bed, setting a doctor's appointment or water the plants. Each day, try to complete one task that will make you happier.

 

Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing. 

Napoleon Hill

Keep Hair Loss Down with These Great Remedies!

 Home Remedies that Encourage Hair Growth

Most people will get a bald spot some time in life, and a pattern of baldness will start appearing. Some suffer from overall thinning of the hair all over the head, gradually, until they go bald. There are many reasons for heavier-than-usual hair loss and most of these can be effectively treated from within the home.   Keep in mind that it is normal to lose some hair, and the average person loses about 100 hairs every day. But for those going bald, this is something that's very hard to live with, and so we bring you some easy home-made remedies that might persuade your hair to grow again.

The most common causes of hair loss: •    Rapid shedding of hair after child birth •    Hair loss after fever •    Sudden weight loss •    Some medications •    Certain illness and infections •    Severe stress •    Thyroid problems •    Anemia •    Age •    Poor diet Symptoms Of Hair Loss •    Clumps of hair falling out •    Loss of more than 100 hairs in a day •    Thinning of the hairline After we understand the cause behind hair loss, it is time to treat it with some effective home remedies that will keep your scalp and follicles clean and encourage healthy growth. Home Remedies That'll Encourage Hair Growth: 1. Aloe Vera Aloe vera can be used to moisturize your scalp and will prevent it from getting dry and itchy, while balancing its PH levels. Apply pure aloe vera gel directly on the scalp and gently massage it with your fingers for about 10 minutes. Then, wait for a few hours with the gel on your scalp and wash with lukewarm water. Repeat this procedure twice a week for best results. 2. Hot Oil Massage: A very effective home remedy for hair growth, massage the head and scalp with hot oil has several benefits: it can rejuvenate your hair follicles, improve the blood flow to the scalp, prevent dandruff and prevent hair loss. Using either almond, olive, coconut, jojoba, rosemary or lavender oil - massage your scalp daily. The oil should be warm or lukewarm.  Leave the oil on the hair for at least 30 minutes, then wash it off. For best results, leave the oil overnight and wash it in the morning. 3. Onion Juice You may not know this, but onion juice is one of the olderst remedies for encouraging hair growth. The sulfur in the onion juice promotes the creation of collagen proteins and aid in the growth of new hair. Chop a few red onions (or shallots) into small pieces. Then, squeeze the juice out of them. Apply the juice to your scalp for 15 minutes and then rinse off with a mild shampoo. Do this every other day for best results. 4. Apple Cider Vinegar Is there nothing this material cannot do? Even when it comes to scalp cleaning, this vinegar will keep it clean and healthy and prevent infections (and dandruff). A clean and healthy scalp will definitely have faster hair growth. Shampoo your hair well, and then rinse it with diluted apple cider vinegar for healthy, shiny hair. 5. Egg A simple egg can provide a good mask for your hair that  will provide it with needed proteins. The egg also provides a few other essential nutrients the hair needs, such as: Iron, Selenium, Phosphorus, zinc, sulfur etc. Take a regular egg and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and honey. Mix them well and apply the resulting paste to your hair. Leave it like that for about 20 minutes and then rinse with cool water and shampoo. 6. Green Tea A powerful antioxidant, green tea can be used both as an external and internal solution.  Drinking 3-4 cups of green tea a day will help your overall body health as well as promote regrowth of hair follicles. You can help this by applying some warm green tea to your scalp and leaving it there for about an hour. Then, rinse off the green tea with cool water, and your hair will become shiny and soft. 7. Oil of Vitamin E Oil enriched with vitamin E has powerful antioxidant properties and can remove the free radicals that damage our cells. In addition, it can purify the oxygen supply to the scalp and blood flow, which help in healthy hair growth. Take the oil and massage it gently into the scalp, leave overnight and wash it with a mild shamppo when you get up. 8. Coconut Milk Coconut milk is heavy in protein and happens to also contain large amounts of iron, potassium and various fats that are essential to the body. Using coconut milk on your scalp and hair will reduce your hair loss while strengthening your individual hairs.    9. Henna Henna is a natural conditioner. Apply a bit to make your dry hair softer and smooth. Henna strengthens the root of the hair as well. Mix 2 tablespoons of henna powder with half a cup of yoghurt, and let it stand for 2 hours. Then, apply the mix to your hair and leave it there for about 1 hour. Then wash it off in cold water. 10. Banana and Honey Banana and honey make for a powerful mix that can perform as a conditioner and moisturize your hair. Mash one banana and add a tablespoon of honey to create a mix. Apply this mix to your hair, leave it for 45 minutes and then wash it off.

Great Creative Ideas to do Yourself!

Great Creative Ideas to do Yourself!

Some great creative ideas to do yourself around the house using only every-day items! Create artistic and useful items in the simplest of ways!

Make a Sharpie Mug

Turn a T-Shirt into a Work-Out Tank

Ombre Nails with a Sponge

Transfer a Photo onto a Slab of Wood

Nail Polish Key Covers

Build a Bookshelf With Two Ladders and Planks of Wood

Or Make a Bike Rack out of Those Wooden Pallets

Fill a Mason Jar With glow stick material

Ramekins, Coffee Beans and Tea Lights

Screw Cheap Furniture Knobs Into Wood for a Necklace Holder

Use a Window Shutter as a Mail Holder

Stack PVC Pipe/Paint Cans as Shoe Storage

Cut Up an Old T-Shirt Into a Tie-Front Tank

Make a Stool Using Old Magazines, Two Belts, and a Pillow

Sew Five Pillow Cases Together to Create a Body Pillow

Turn Clothes Hangers Into Shoe Hangers

Make a Lamp Out of a Water Jug and a Headlamp

Wrap a Scarf to Make a Draped Skirt

Turn Inexpensive Frames Into Chalkboard Signs

Color Your Shoe Soles With Nail Polish

Letter Bottles With a Hot Glue Gun

Make a Braclet with String and Hexagonal Nuts

Glue Corks into a Picture Frame to Make a Bulletin Board

No-Sew Pillow Cover

Use Bookends as Floating Bookshelves

12 Fantastic Fat-Burning Foods

12 Fantastic Fat-Burning Foods

On the quest to create the perfect fat-burning diet, there are a number of obstacles in the way. One of the biggest ones are non-fat foods, which should actually be avoided because they are usually high in sugar and other additives. Here are some great and mostly natural ways to fight fat that can be easily and effortlessly be integrated into your daily diet.

1. Greek Yogurt This tangy and filling yogurt is praised for a number of its health benefits, one of them being its fat-burning powers. Greek yogurt contains higher than normal levels of protein, which stays in the stomach longer to keep you feeling full and satisfied. The protein not only suppresses your feelings of hunger, but your body burns more calories digesting protein than carbs. Try and buy the low-fat, low-sugar or non-fat renditions to maximize the fat-burning properties. 2. Quinoa A grain that hails from dryer climates in South America, quinoa is a great way to get your carbs into your slimming diet. The grain has about 8 grams of protein that fights off hunger and 5 grams of fiber in just one cup. Quinoa is a great substitute for rice or pasta, and is just as easy to make! It also contains nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium and vitamin E that are important for any balanced diet. 3. Cinnamon It's not secret that this popular and full flavor spice is one of the healthiest out there. Cinnamon is noted for its ability to stabilize the blood sugar, which could curtail appetite, especially in people with diabetes. Although the taste may be overwhelming for some, gradually adding it to your diet, either at breakfast or in your favorite desert is a great way to sweeten things up without adding extra calories. 4. Hot Peppers You may not be a fan of hot peppers, but their fat burning qualities are remarkable. Hot peppers contain a compound called capsaicin that curbs your appetite and can speed up your metabolism for a short time. Although hot peppers probably don't have a significant impact on weight loss, many nutritionists and doctors believe that when you eat spicy foods, including hot peppers, you tend to eat less. 5. Grapefruit A favorite for a light breakfast or healthy snack, grapefruits do not actually burn fat, but are so filling that you are sure to feel satisfied for a few hours. Grapefruits not only taste great and have almost a cleansing feel to them, they are super low in calories and high in good types of soluble fiber. So eating grapefruit for breakfast or drinking a glass of fresh-pressed grapefruit juice before a meal is sure to help you pack on fewer calories during the day. 6. Watermelon A summertime treat, watermelons are high in sugar, but also water content so they take up more room in your stomach. When you eat enough watermelon, your body sends out signals that it can't take in anymore food and you feel less hungry. But sugar and water aren't the only things watermelon has in store; it is rich in an antioxidant called lycopene, which has been shown to prevent some common cancers, and is a great source of vitamin C too. Just watch out on how much and how often you eat watermelon because it is high in sugar. 7. Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are the regular potatoes lost and often forgotten cousin. When you order a loaded baked potato at a restaurant, you are just asking to pack on the pounds with the sour cream, cheese and bacon bits. Instead, try eating a sweet, delicious and filling sweet potato that are low in calories and full with great nutrients like potassium, beta carotene, vitamin C and loads of fiber. 8. Eggs Although eggs have been tabooed as a high cholesterol food, they are actually one of the healthiest foods, when eaten proportionately, that you can add to your daily diet. Certain studies suggest that eating protein, especially eggs, in the morning will keep you hungrier than if you ate a carb-loaded meal. One egg contains only 75 calories, but also has 7 grams of protein and other important nutrients that you need to keep your body strong. 9. Oatmeal If one thing is for certain about oatmeal, eating it in the morning will keep you feeling fuller longer. It is also rich in a slew of healthy benefits such as: fiber, whole-grain oats, water, and its hot. According to most nutritionists, hot foods are better to eat when you are on a diet because they take longer to eat, and because they usually contain a lot of liquid that will help you feel full. Oatmeal is also simple and easy to make, so don't buy the pre-made kind that is usually full of sugars and other additives. Instead, make your own and sweeten with cinnamon (another fat-fighting food mentioned above), nutmeg or honey. 10. Vinegar Adding vinegar to your salad dressing may actually help fight fat cells, according to recent research. Although the studies have yet to be confirmed, it is believed that vinegar may have ingredients that help the body break down fat. It is also full of flavor and makes your salads taste more satisfying, so you don't go back for more. Also, it is calorie free! 11. Nuts Eating nuts is a great way to curb hunger between meals and they are full of tons of great nutrients! An average nut is high in protein, fiber and heart-healthy fats that can promote weight loss and improve cholesterol levels. It is important to buy nuts that are not salted or roasted, because they are usually soaked in oil that piles the fat back on. Having a handful of nuts daily is a great way to control how much you eat at meals! 12. Beans Most people shy away from beans because their high carbohydrate content makes them feel sluggish and tired. Well, the belief that beans are a carbohydrate is actually a myth! They are a vegetable, a protein and a great source of fiber that should not be missed in your daily diet. They also help keep you full longer and have very few calories. Beans are a great addition to soups and salads, or they can be mashed up and used as a dip.

The Insane Mask Festival of Burkina Faso

The Insane Mask Festival of Burkina Faso
During the dry season of every year, villages in Burkina Faso in West Africa hold mask festivals, with every year new masks and costumes are added to the 3 day event. The masks represent the spirits of the village, those that guide and guard the lives of the humans and that of mother nature.
They come in colored pairs and dance around the villagers as visiting ghosts before retreating back into the forest.  The Spirits are made in the shape of wooden owls, butterflies, antelopes, buffaloes, and hyenas.
Then the second phase begins, with men covered in straw costumes perform amazing and athletic flips and twisting jump turns, representing the evil spirits. With each stunt, the crowds are driven further into a wild frenzy, but are whipped back into place by volunteer guardians.
In the end, the good and evil spirit dancers mix and dance together in pairs. The masks are then displayed to the villagers. This festival is the social highlight of the year, but the ritual is also intense and even scary to those travellers not accustomed to the energy of this festival.