We’ve been indoctrinated to feel shame about our bodies, and to thoughtlessly shame others about their bodies. That’s an accepted societal norm with devastating impacts that writer and activist Sonya Renee Taylor names “body terrorism.” In her groundbreaking book “The Body is Not an Apology,” now in a bestselling second edition, Taylor introduces readers to a practice of thinking, being, and doing to change how we relate to our bodies—and to everybody around us.
For all the parents feeling exhausted by the cooking, cleaning and planning of a million meals during the pandemic, there’s some good news. Commensality, or the sharing of food with others, is beneficial for your physical and mental health.
If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what would it be? Would you choose to be nine years old, absolved of life’s most tedious responsibilities, and instead able to spend your days playing with friends and practicing your times tables?
Aristotle thought that plants possess what he called a ‘vegetative soul’. Centred on growing and reproducing, this primordial, unthinking state of being was encompassed and far surpassed by the ‘rational soul’ of humans. Friedrich Nietzsche, however, believed that, in the overwhelming confusion of considering how we might live, there was much we could learn from plants – deeply rooted in the ground and yet limitlessly expressive as they are.
Having the ability to be kind to yourself is one of the most important life skills, especially during difficult times. It helps you to perceive the world differently, become more positive about life in general, and feel happier overall.
Everyone knows that romantic relationships must sometimes come to an end, but many people are reluctant to end a friendship. While it’s never fun to have to end something that has been positive for you in the fast, sometimes friendship fades or becomes toxic.
As you walk through the office, you see your co-workers glance at you. They begin speaking to each other in whispered tones. You naturally start to feel self-conscious and start worrying about what they are saying about you.
Diet plays a key role in mental and physical health, but it’s no secret that eating healthy places more strain on your wallet, especially if you buy packaged foods marketed as better for you.
If you could say one thing to your future self, what would it be? If you’re still lamenting a difficult time in your past or holding onto an ex-partner, your words of wisdom could be filled with regret, anger, and bitterness.
Do you ever feel like you could do better? Treat your body better? If your answers are affirmative, you are not alone. There is always room for improvement, and many people are aware of this. However, walking around with the constant thought that you should be doing more for your body can be a problem.
Living a life of abundance might seem like an unattainable dream to many people. However, the truth is that most people already possess what’s needed to live an abundant life. It’s just a matter of developing the right attitude and mindset to make you realize and appreciate everything that you have.
Relaxation techniques are physical methods or exercises that are used to reduce muscle tension and promote feelings of calmness. These practices also lower other physiological signs of stress, such as high blood pressure and anxiety. Muscle tension is actually a reaction to mental stress, but it also has the effect of putting stress on the body.
Obligations, work, plans, unforeseen complications- all of these eat into the little precious time that you have for yourself. It can be hard to plan and honor a time slot for “me-time” with all of the things you have to do, but it’s possible with a bit of determination and willpower.
Living your absolute best life sounds awesome, but in the fine print, you’ll find that actually doing it takes some real grit. If you need a bit of a hand building up your moxie, take advice straight from your favorite celebrities already enjoying the spotlight.
Forgiveness can be difficult. When you ask someone to forgive you, you know what you want. But when someone else wants you to forgive them, it’s not so straightforward. Should you act as though they’ve done nothing wrong?
It’s been rough for everyone. It’s been challenging, maddening, and exhausting. Each day that goes by brings its own set of challenges and questions, but each day is also a new opportunity to experience joy and to slow down and realize what’s important in life.
If you are one of the many people who have a phobia or irrational fear, you will know how debilitating it can be. What is a tolerable experience for some, can cause a sense of dread in others.
Many people struggle to maintain a positive mindset. When things are going badly, they can’t see anything outside of their rut. Even when things are good, they focus on the negatives. A negative mindset can be so powerful that, when absolutely nothing is wrong, you find yourself inventing negative scenarios for the future and putting the worst possible spin on the present.
As with many long-running, trend-defining internet destinations, Reddit can be intimidating to newcomers. Motivating other people towards specific Reddit trends or memes can be a lost cause, but many would be surprised to learn how easily they can “lurk” on the site’s most uplifting and delightful content with minimal investment.
Showing your gratitude to others is one of the most desirable attributes that you can have. Furthermore, it offers benefits to your own life by teaching you to be more grateful for what you have, as well as making you a happier person.
There are many ways to be happy, but we can also find comfort in the knowledge that our constant dissatisfaction is what makes us human. Questions about happiness, purpose and goals remind me of Don Quixote, the dreaming knight in Miguel de Cervantes‘
