10 Powerful Affirmations That Can Change Your Life

If you believe that you are what you feel, then life
truly stems from your thoughts and emotions. Affirmations or the process
of repeating positive words can boost your spirit to new levels. We
must translate our thoughts into words and eventually into intention in
order to manifest what we want in our reality.
Affirmations are proven methods of self-improvement because of their
ability to rewire our brains and have the power to change people’s
lives. Science also says that positive self-talk definitely brings about
changes in the brain. Here are 10 powerful affirmations that can change
your life.


1) I can achieve greatness

One of the most influential ones is to tell yourself on a daily basis
that you can achieve all the greatness in life. Focus on your vision and
dreams and then attach the emotion to that vision. By telling this to
yourself and believing that you can achieve greatness, it will
eventually turn into reality.


2) Today, I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy

Joy starts from within not from outside of yourself. It also
starts as soon as you rise. So make it habit to repeat this to yourself
first thing in the morning.



3) I love and accept myself for who I am

Self love is meant to be the purest and the highest form of love. When
you love yourself, you automatically start appreciating and respecting
yourself. If you have confidence and pride in what you do, you will
begin to see yourself in a new light and be encouraged and inspired to
do bigger and better things.



4) My body is healthy; my mind is brilliant; my soul is tranquil

A healthy body starts with a healthy mind and soul. If either suffers from negative emotions, the others will be affected. The number one cause of health or disease is you.
You can also remove and revoke all permission that you have given
consciously, subconsciously, to all the ills of the world because you
share that pain. You are conquering your illness and defeating it
steadily each day.


5) I believe I can do everything

You need to say this to yourself every day. Because this is something
that is so important for counseling yourself to stay encouraged. By
saying this, you are able to do anything and everything that you put
your mind to.


6) Everything that is happening now is happening for my ultimate good

There are no victims, no accidents and no coincidences EVER. They simply
do not exist in this reality as you and others will only attract what
you and they are a part of. So know from the bottom of your heart that
everything happens for a reason and in perfect synchronicity. You are at
peace with all that has happened, is happening, and will happen. Your
fears of tomorrow are simply melting away.


7) I am the architect of my life; I build its foundation and choose its contents

This is something that you should tell yourself when you wake up every
morning. Every new day offers a fresh start and also makes an impact on
others around you. You can make anything of that day that you like
because you are the architect of your own life. If you begin your day
with a positive thought and feeling it will transform your day into
something incredible. Works every time.


8) I forgive those who have harmed me in my past and peacefully detach from them

That doesn’t mean you forget what they did, but you are at peace with
what they did and the lessons served. Your strength to forgive is what
allows you to move forward and your reaction to any experience is
independent of what others think of you. You can forgive one thousand
people and even if none of them forgive you, there will always be a
sense of peace and freedom within you that they will never have until
they share that sentiment. Your power to forgive them also instantly
changes how they react to you.


9) My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite

Plain and simple, you have no limits but those you place on
yourself. What kind of life do you want? What is stopping you? What
barriers are you imposing on yourself? This affirmation will help you
address all of the boundaries.


10) Today, I abandon my old habits and take up new, more positive ones

Realize that any difficult time are only a short phase of life.
This too shall pass along with your old habits as you take in the new.
You are a fully adapting being with creative energy which surges through
you and leads you to new and brilliant ideas and the mindset that
allows that energy to flow.

10 Best Air Filtering House Plants, According to NASA

Using space station technology to ensure the safety of your home may
be easier than you thought. The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration conducted the NASA Clean Air Study to demonstrate the
effectiveness of particular plants to purify air.

As homes become more insulated and efficient, they also make it easier
to trap indoor air pollutants. Chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and
ammonia can come from household items and pollute your home’s
atmosphere without any visual warning.

Neglecting the quality of the air you breathe on a daily basis could result in serious consequences. Illness, allergies, asthma and
frequent headaches are just a few of many inconveniences that come from
airborne particles floating around your home. Air pollution is also one
of the reasons the can affect your digestive system.

There’s no need to dish out hundreds of dollars on expensive
appliances when you’ve got Mother Nature. According to NASA there are
plenty of plants that soak up harmful particles in the air and release
fresh oxygen – all while adding a decorative touch.



Where does it all come from?

One of the scariest things about indoor air pollution is the seemingly
harmless nature of its many sources. Listed below are some of the most
common ways a home can become polluted.

• Glues and Adhesives

• Carpets (especially new carpets)

• Chemicals in household cleaners (instead of using poisonous household cleaners you can make your own natural household cleaners)

• Foam insulation materials

• Paint

• Pressed-wood products (plywood, particle board, and medium-density fiberboard)

If plants are good enough for the pioneers of space travel than they
must be doing something right. They also might spark a new found hobby
of gardening as well! The plants listed below are 10 of the most
effective air filters Mother Nature has to offer.

1. English Ivy (Hedera Helix)

The English Ivy is ideal for pots because its invasive nature allows
it to spread easily. Research found it to be particularly useful in
eliminating airborne fecal-matter particles. The plant is also great for
a family with smokers in it. It’s ability to soak up carcinogens from
second-hand smoke helps to purify small areas. It’s also versatile when
it comes to growing conditions and doesn’t require much maintenance.



2. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)

NASA considered this plant one of the most effective choices for
eliminating formaldehyde. People that have struggled to keep plants
alive can rejoice – this one is incredibly hard to kill. It doubles as
an effective eliminator of carbon monoxide as well. The vines grow
fairly quickly and look great suspended from elevated areas.



3. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exalta Bostoniensis)

This lush plant functions really well as a natural air humidifier. While
it’s busy adding humidity to the environment it also does a great job
eliminating formaldehyde. Its large feathered ferns span as large as 5
feet and allow just a single plant to have a noticeable impact.



4. Dracaena (Dracaena Deremensis)

The long striped leaves of this plant can easily thrive indoors with
only small amounts of sunlight and moderate watering. It’s an excellent
way to eliminate trichloroethylene that comes from solvents and
varnishes. A single plant can grow over ten feet tall, but pruning will
keep it short if you prefer.

5. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)

The Bamboo Palm can easily fit into smaller areas with indirect
lighting. NASA found it to be one of the best air filters for benzene
and trichloroethylene, and a great humidifier. This palm is a bit
smaller than others and easy to grow in shady areas. It releases a good
deal of moisture into the air and is considerably resistant to insect
infestation.



6. Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

This plant is a widely popular option for office spaces and homes for
its attractive look and effective purifying power. It pulls xylene – a
chemical released from car exhaust, paints, and cigarettes – from the
air with little need for maintenance. It can also be potted together and
trained to grow into a braid for visual appeal and added purification.



7. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The Peace Lily is one of the most visually appealing plants on the list
with its unique white flowers. It boasts one of the highest
transpiration rates on the list as well. Use it to remove
trichloroethylene, benzene, acetone, and alcohols from the air. Just be
cautious of the plants high toxicity and keep it out of reach of
children and pets.



8. Lady Palm (Rhapis Excelsa)

The Lady Palm requires a lot of watering during the spring and summer
but makes up for it with its heavy resistance to insects. The lush
leaves of this palm grow thick and with rich color without much effort.
Its said to be a versatile and effective filter for multiple indoor
pollutants.



9. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)

The Spider Plant requires natural light but shouldn’t be exposed
directly to the sun. It thrives in moist environments with bi-weekly
watering and grows at impressive speeds. Owners prefer to place these
plants near the fireplace and kitchen where carbon monoxide may build.



10. Snake Plant (Sansevieria Trifasciata)

The Snake Plant is unique in that it sucks in carbon dioxide and
releases oxygen during the night. Many people chose to keep it in their
bedroom or carpeted living room. It’s simple to take care of and
prevents the formaldehyde that leaks from your carpet and wood furniture
from sticking around the air.

Treat Acne & Other Skin Conditions With Banana Peels!

Adult acne is a nasty thing. Just when you thought you’d put those
awkward teenage years behind you, you wake up one morning in your mid to
late twenties, and there it is: a ginormous, inflamed, middle
school-esque pimple staring back at you from your forehead…or your
nose…or your chin… Or all of the above – ewww…

Whether you’ve done your time with teenage acne or not, seeing it
again during your adult years is not fun – and I’m speaking from
personal experience! I’ve tried everything, from pills, to creams, to
Proactiv-type products. Nothing worked, at least not for long.
Fortunately for me, the problem fixed itself on its own and I now only
battle the random breakout here and there.





My younger cousin is now going through the same thing, so for the
past few months, I’ve made it my mission to find something that would
help her. I didn’t want her to go down the same path as I did with
pills, creams, etc. Now that I have this blog, I knew it was my duty to
help her find a natural, chemical-free alternative to the steroid-laden
pills and creams that are prescribed at the conventional dermatologist’s
office.



Lo and behold, this link about using banana peels
randomly crossed my path one night, and I sent it to my cousin and
never thought about it again. A few weeks later, on our visit down to
Florida, I noticed her skin looked much better and her acne scars were
starting to fade. Imagine my surprise when she told me she’d been using
the banana peels trick and loved it!

She even jokingly informed me that she’s become the “banana-nazi” so
to speak, making sure no one throws away banana peels in her presence
LOL

The steps are very simple:

• Take a small piece of banana peel and rub it on the affected area for a few minutes until the inside of the peel turns brown.
• As it dries, your skin will absorb the vitamins and nutrients in the
  peel. I leave it on for about 30 mins. and then wash it off with warm
  water. At night, I just leave it on overnight, then wash off in the
  morning.
• Do this 3 times a day, and in a few days, you’ll notice results!

Even if you don’t have actual pimples on your skin, this trick can also help reduce acne scars
from old breakouts. That’s where I come in: I used this on some old
scars around my chin and jaw line and really noticed results within a
couple days!

I’m not brave enough to share before/after pictures for the world to
see, but the original poster graciously did this for us in her follow-up post. Just seeing those pictures was reason enough for me to try it and to send the link to my cousin!

If you’re looking to do away with commercial products and harsh
chemicals on your skin, I urge you to give this a try. It’s totally
worth a shot: what’s the worst that can happen – you get some banana on
your face for a couple days? Totally worth the risk

So Why Does This Work?

Banana peels are chock-full of antioxidants, including lutein, which may help protect the skin against sun damage. They also contain esterified fatty acids, which have actually been isolated and incorporated into a patented lotion (Exorex lotion) used to treat eczema and psoriasis!

Some extra notes and other uses

• Banana peels can also be used to treat warts as
  well! Just tape a piece of the peel to cover the wart, leave on
  overnight, and remove in the morning. Continue with nightly treatments
  until wart is gone.
• To stop the itch from bug bites and poison ivy, rub banana peels on the affected area – no more itching!
• Banana peels may also help with hemorrhoids because of the sugar content, which helps them shrink.
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by rubbing banana peels on your skin, which helps to tighten and tone the skin.
• Psoriasis sufferers may also find relief by rubbing banana peels on the affected areas, and may see results within a few days or weeks.
• Banana peels contain lots of potassium, and the antioxidant, lutein.
• Use ripe banana peels, to ensure the best results!
  And make sure they’re fresh; you don’t want to use an old peel that’s
  been lying on the counter for a few hours. (So yes, you may have to
  recruit some scheduled banana eaters for you ;) 

How To Save the Banana Peels

There’s been lots of questions and ideas regarding how to save the
peel to use it for subsequent treatments, so you’re not eating several
bananas per day. And a reader (Hi Alison!) was kind enough to share her
technique, which works great:

ive fine tuned my technique to cutting a portion of the
skin from the banana at a time- just a shallow incision around a section
big enough to do my face with, then peel off and use. That way it all
stays in tact and 1 banana can go 1 or 2 days depending on size. The
fruit gets exposed to the air but still good in a smoothie at the end on
the day!

The Best Exercises to Improve Your Posture

Good posture is as important as eating right, exercising, getting a
good night’s sleep and avoiding harmful substances. Without good
posture, you can’t really be physically fit and over time your poor
posture will cause you to develop problems such as a painful back,
aching neck and shoulders, joint pain and it will also have negative
effect on your knees. Not standing and sitting up straight can set you
up for some surprising health problems such as tension headaches,
fatigue, reduced lung function, gastrointestinal pains and it also makes
you look older than you are.

The benefits of good posture may be among the best kept secrets but
the good news is that almost everyone can avoid the problems caused by
bad posture and you can make improvements at any age.

Several different muscles are responsible for maintaining upright
posture, and over time, poor posture can cause these muscles to lose
strength. In this article I will show you simple exercises that will
enable you to strengthen these muscles in order to develop and maintain
good posture.

How To Assess your posture

Stand sideways to a full-length mirror.  Close your eyes, bend
forward, then stand up quickly and gaze at the mirror to check your
posture.  Are your shoulders slumped?  Is your head tilted forward? 
Does your chest have the appearance of being caved in as if someone just
punched you in the sternum?  Is your lower back flat or excessively
arched?

Ideally, your posture would be considered good if you have a straight
back, squared shoulders that are not rounded, eyes looking straight
ahead, chest out and stomach tucked in. It’s like drawing a straight
line from your ears through your shoulder, hip, knee, to the middle of
your ankle (see the illustration below). But most often this is not the
case. Weak muscles and sitting many hours on your office chair take
their toll.





Now turn and face directly to the mirror to check your posture for
symmetry.  Is your head tilted to one side?  Are your shoulders
misaligned?  Are your hips misaligned?  Are your knees lined up?   Your
head should not be tilted to the side, shoulders and hips should be
aligned and knees should be lined up.

How To Improve Your Posture 

1. Strengthen your Neck

A good posture is when your ears are positioned above your shoulders,
but have you noticed that when you sit in front of your computer or
drive your car, most of the times your head is pushed forward ? Forward
head posture is a very common postural issue, this is due to weak and
tight areas in your neck that make it hard for you to hold your head
straight.

Awareness of the correct neck and shoulder posture is the first step
toward correction. A great way to start correcting poor neck posture is
through exercises which are designed to help gain control over postural
neck muscles which have become weak and fatigued over time.

Chin Tuck Exercise

To bring our neck and head back to proper alignment, do the chin tuck
exercise while sitting straight on a chair without tipping your head in
any direction. Pull your chin and head straight back. You will feel a
stretch at the back of your neck. Relax the chin back forward to a
neutral position. Repeat several times. You can do this exercise
throughout the day to maintain good posture, so when driving your car,
pull your chin in and push your head so it touches the headrest behind
you. Do the same exercise when you sit in front of the computer.

Stretch Your Neck (Neck Extension)

Another exercise that can improve your posture in neck extension –
drop your chin down towards your chest (moving only your head). Hold for
several seconds and release. Repeat several times a day.

2. Strengthen Your Shoulders

It is very common to find ourselves sitting or walking with rounded
shoulders. In this position our chest and shoulder muscles become tight
and shorter and our upper back is weaken. When you strengthen your upper
back, your shoulders will naturally pull back and your chest will open
up.

Shoulder Blade Stretches

Sit on a chair or a stool while maintaining good posture, then pull
your shoulder blades backwards. Hold for a few seconds and then relax.
Repeat several times.

Dumbbell Reverse Flys

Slightly bend your knees and lean over so your chest is slightly
above your knees. Start with your hands and dumbbells to your sides.
Raise your arms and dumbbells to your side, bringing them up to shoulder
level height. Keep your arms as straight as possible but do not lock
your elbows. Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
Do 2-3 sets of 8 repetitions.

3. Strengthen Your Core muscles

Your core muscles include the abdominals (abs) which are at the front
of the abdomen, the obliques which are located on the side of the upper
body that assist in turning the body from side to side, your lower back
and hips. You need to strengthen these muscles in order to have an
upright posture. By strengthening these muscles you will also improve
your balance ans stability as your core stabilizes your body, allowing
you to move in any direction, even on the bumpiest terrain, or stand in
one spot without losing your balance

Front Bridge exercise

This exercise is great for strengthening you core muscles. Suck your
belly button and keep your body as straight as possible without locking
your knees. Continue to breath and don’t hold your breath. Hold yourself
in this position as long as you can, then rest. Repeat 2-3 times.
Gradually extend the time of holding yourself in the position.

Side plank

Lie on your right side, with straight legs, resting on your right
forearm. Your elbow should be directly under your shoulder. Gently
contract your abdominals and lift your hips off the floor, maintaining
straight line. Keep your neck in line with your spine. Hold 20 to 40
seconds and lower. Repeat two to three times, alternating sides. If you
find it too difficult, start with bent knees.

Hip lifts

Lie on the floor with your arms by your sides. Your palms facing down
and your legs over your hips at 90 degrees. Feet are flexed. Then lift
your hips off the floor using your core muscles while your legs are
reaching towards the ceiling. Then return to the starting position.
Repeat 15 times.



2. Get used to tuck your tummy in when walking and sitting.

There are many more exercises that will enable you to strengthen your back and your core. I have written in the past about exercises to strengthen your back and about exercises to get flat tummy
that you can easily do at home. Start to integrate these exercises into
your daily routine. Don’t do all of them at once, but each time choose a
few different exercises to do  each day.

4. Strengthen Your Hips

A good posture is when our hips are neutral and level when viewed
from the side, but sometimes when we stand, our hips are tilted forward
(forward pelvic tilt). It is therefore important to strengthen your
thighs, butt and hip flexor muscles which allow you to lift your knees
and bend at the waist.

Kneeling lunge stretch

This exercise stretches the muscles between the front of your thigh
and the lumber vertebrae which are called hip flexor muscles. These
muscles can pull the spine out of alignment if they are too tight.
Position yourself as per the illustration while keeping yourself upright
and not leaning forward. Stretch the front of your upper thigh but keep
your hips even. Hold for few seconds and repeat on the other side.

Bend knee to chest

This exercise is for the low back and stretches your hip muscles. Lie
down on the floor and pull your knee towards your chest while keeping
your tailbone on the floor. Hold each stretch for few seconds and repeat
3 times for each side.



Raise your hips

Lie down on your back and place your hands alongside your body. Bend
your legs and keep your feet flat on the floor. Your knees should be
aligned with your toes. Lift your hips and back until only the base of
your shoulder blades remains on the floor. Try to hold this position for
3 deep breaths. Lower your hips and repeat 5-10 times.

5. Knees

Your knees can also help you to maintain healthy posture – here are two useful tips:

1. Keep your knees slightly bent and shoulder-width apart. Make sure that your weight is evenly distributed on your feet.

2. When lifting heavy load off the floor, always bend your knees and
not your back. Keep your belly tucked in. Bending your back can cause a
back injury as your back muscles are not designed for taking such a
heavy weight, but the muscles in your legs and stomach are large enough
to carry it.


































































There is no magic solution for fixing poor posture other than
consistency, awareness and exercising. It will probably feel unnatural
initially, but developing good posture doesn’t happen overnight. As time
goes on, you will develop good postural habits, and it will come more
naturally to you. Try it for yourself: stand straight in front of a
mirror and see how taller, leaner and more confident you look when you
maintain good posture.