Having Friends May Improve Health, Happiness, and Even Life Expectancy

Studies show allowing friendships to fade away in stressful times is harmful to mental, emotional, and physical health. During turbulent times, stress hormones spike. Being with a friend reduces the levels of these negative hormones. Friends can also help increase life span. Psychologists estimate the chance of dying over a ten year period increases for people who live socially isolated lives compared with people who have a strong support network. The socially isolated tend to have more difficulty fighting off infections, have higher rates of cancer, heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.  Engaging in a weekly activity or club, volunteering, and getting out with a pet dog are all ways to meet new friends.

Read full article here: Friends Nourish the Body and Soul

Help With Handling Stress for Women

We women expect perfection in everything we do, but work and family stressors are difficult to manage. Three common sayings can help relieve stress. First, don’t be so hard on yourself. We set incredibly high standards and feel stressed if we fall short. Objectively, you know no one is perfect, so be nice to yourself. Next, don’t tell yourself you will be happy only when circumstances change. Decide to be happy in your current situation; happiness is found only in the present. Finally, learn to adjust. If you feel overwhelmed, make changes to your plans, prioritize your activities, and eliminate unnecessary demands. Apply these three tips, and your stress will be much easier to manage.

Read full article here: Women and Stress Be Kind to Yourself

Four Common Mistakes in Communicating With Others

Miscommunication can be frustrating, but learning to recognize these four common mistakes can help. 1. Using “you” language is the verbal equivalent of pointing your finger. Phrases such as “you should…” and “you have to…” sound like blame or coercion. 2. Avoid “universal” words such as “always,” “never,” or “every time” which take the current issue and turn it into a blanket condemnation. 3. Be careful never to attack the person, but rather to call attention to the behavior. 4. Finally, don’t invalidate the other person’s feelings. Language that says the other person’s feelings do not affect you or are of no consequence can be interpreted to mean he or she is not important to you.

Read full article here: Are You a Poor Communicator? Stop the Damage and Improve Relationships

Does Our Society Foster Too Much Independence in Children?

Parents want the best for their children. Years of nurturing, care, and life lessons can create responsible, self-sufficient, and independent adults. Once children are grown, they may move away, focus on a career and family of their own, and the strong ties between parent and child can loosen. However, interdependence in family relationships is also important.  Because people are living longer than ever before, adult children have the opportunity to build a special relationship with their parents unlike that of their childhoods. Then as parents age, the children become the caretakers. They may not be the ones to nurse parents, but adult children typically insure that parents receive needed care.

Read full article here: What to Do With Your Mother Once You’re a Grown-Up

Why It Is Important to See the Good In Others

It’s easy to focus on other people’s bad qualities. However, when we do, we find ourselves living in a realm of negativity in which it’s natural to feel insecure and unsupported. Taking time to see the good in others is vital for us to feeling happier, more loving, and confident. There are five pieces to this process. Take time to search for good qualities in others. Look for positive intentions. Acknowledge the abilities of others.  Find positive character traits in others. And don’t forget to recognize the good in yourself. It’s there, or you couldn’t recognize it in others. Taking time to live this process each day can transform your personal world.

Read full article here: See the Good In Others