1. Avoidance behaviours or avoidance coping is a very common but ineffective way of coping in which a person alters their behaviour in order to avoid feeling, thinking about, or doing tough things. A person who uses this behaviour completely avoids stressors instead of confronting them. There can be numerous reasons why we choose to ignore or avoid situations instead of confronting them. It can be because we feel inadequate, the problem seems way too big for us to handle alone, we have no idea where to start, and we are anxious and fearful.
 

Avoidance coping is a problem because then we don’t learn how to confront problems and deal with stress. According to Melanie A.  Greenberg, a clinical psychologist in Marin County, “[We] train our brain that this is something we should be fearful of and we are [incapable] of getting through a difficult situation.” It might come as a surprise to you but avoiding stress and not putting yourself out there in stressful situations is not an ideal way to reduce stress. Facing and dealing with stress, on the other hand, is one of the best approaches to managing stress.
 

This article shares six simple ways to start dealing with and ideally overcome avoidance behaviour.
 

Read full article here: How To Overcome Avoidance Behaviour. 
 

2. Do you often feel the need for constant validation? If yes, then know that you are not alone. Most of us want to be acknowledged, understood, and accepted. Even if life feels unfair and everything goes upside down, we like people to tell us that it will be okay. However, it is impossible to get all the validation you need from others. Receiving validation does not only motivate an individual but keeps them affirmed. However, do you not think it also makes us increasingly dependent on others?
 

Here is where the concept of “self-validation” jumps in. What is self-validation? It is the act of accepting and encouraging ourselves. When a person practices self-validation, they often seem to be more confident about their decisions. It raises one’s self-esteem and lowers the need to rely on others to make them feel good. Requiring validation from others leads us to doubt our abilities, thoughts, and judgment. It leads to a lack of self-trust and the belief that others know more and better than we do. Although, when you self-validate, it helps you trust your abilities and give importance to your thoughts and feelings. Both of which are essential qualities to lead a good life.
 

Want to learn more about how to self-validate? This article will introduce you to various ways you can do so.
 

Read full article here: How to Self Validate. 
 

3. Did you know that helping others can do wonders for your health? As surprising as it may sound, when we help others, we are not only making the world a better place, but we are also helping ourselves to become better. Studies have shown that helping others boosts our confidence, happiness levels, overall sense of well-being, and health. Volunteering or helping others in any other way offers a plethora of benefits for both our bodies and mind. These acts give people a sense of purpose and make them happier and more satisfied with life.
 

In this article, I’m sharing nine scientifically proven health benefits of helping others in need.
 

Read full article here: How Helping Others is Good for Your Health. 
 

4. You might have often heard the advice to ‘be wise’ or ‘choose wisely’. Have you ever wondered how one becomes wise? 
 

The quality of being wise means having experience, knowledge, and the ability to act in situations while applying both. It is how a person contemplates what they already know, draws upon it and reacts accordingly. Having wisdom is being sound and understanding while using insight and common sense. A person can perceive their inner qualities and relationships. Thus, wisdom is far more than merely a word.
 

Knowledge and wisdom are two words that people tend to use interchangeably. However, there is a unique yet important difference between both the terms. Knowledge is the learned information you understand and store in your mind. At the same time, wisdom is the second step, where you soundly apply the acquired information to different situations in life. For instance, knowledge is the acquisition of learning by reading, writing, and understanding.
 

In comparison, wisdom is practically putting that learning to use. Knowing that exercise is good for health is knowing. Inculcating work out in your daily routine to gain fitness is an act of wisdom. Simply put, wisdom can also refer to putting knowledge into action.
 

Wisdom is a characteristic that has to be developed, and it is not innate within humans. 

Do you wish to gain wisdom and become a wiser person? Here are a variety of vaious ways and tips to practice and increase your wisdom. 

Read full article here: How to Gain Wisdom. 
 

5. According to psychology gaining proper rest is not only essential for life and survival, but for the creative capacities that will power the knowledge industries of the future. You may at times feel super active even at the end of a busy day which would convince you that there is no need for rest. However, that is not right. Quality rest is important for all of us. Whether you like it or not overworking yourself will likely create detrimental effects in the long run. One of the key rules to self-care is resting both your mind and body properly to ensure efficient functioning.
 

To work on gaining proper rest you need to know the true meaning of what it actually is. Resting is not merely putting yourself to sleep. The literal definition of rest is ‘ceasing work in order to relax or recover strength. Moreover, there are different types of rest. From physical and mental rest to social and emotional. And from creative rest to sensory and spiritual. All these various types of rest greatly help you to take a break and unwind often. Be it sleeping a little earlier than usual or meditating. Apply whatever form of rest you like best and you can feel the change within yourself. This signifies how important it is to boost your restfulness along with resourcefulness.
 

Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities”. 
This article focuses on some physical and mental health benefits we can acquire by resting properly.  
 

Read full article here: The Importance of Rest for your Physical and Mental Health. 
 

6. It is considered a part of human nature to attempt to avoid harm and conflict however possible. We tend to be vigilant of much that is around us to protect ourselves from potential threats. There is no wrong with it as it is a common yet beneficial practice for one’s safety. However, when this condition elevates (and then generalises), it can result in hypervigilance. This is a state where a person becomes increasingly sensitive toward their environment. Their surroundings may include any existing factor as well as the people around them. A person is likely to perceive extreme threats even from normal day-to-day situations. It can result in hypersensitivity in individuals that can have an adverse impact on their lives.
 

Hypervigilance, however, is not a condition in itself. It often has deep-rooted underlying causes that can trigger the state as a person ages. Trauma is one of the most common origins of hypervigilance. Other related reasons can be early childhood trauma, combat experience, or someone with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hypervigilance can also be easily related to anxiety. When you become concerned about your surroundings it leads you to be highly aware. Growing abnormally cautious regarding your safety is one of the major signs of hypervigilance. Research has proven that avoiding certain situations, overestimating dangers, and fixating on potential threats are the most usual symptoms of hypervigilance.
 

This article explains various ways how to reduce hypervigilance. However, do seek the assistance of a professional if it starts to cause real problems in your life that you feel unable to change yourself.
 

Read full article here: How to Reduce Hypervigilance. 
 

7. For many of us, life is all about being with the ones you love. Sharing your happiness and sorrows with them while looking out for them. But in this regard, we often tend to forget something equally (if not more) important. Putting yourself first is what many of us neglect in the quest of caring for or looking out for others. Whenever the urge arises for doing something solely for oneself, it can become paired with guilt. Somewhere in the back of our mind we constantly think that it might seem ‘selfish’. If you think it through, can you really pour water from an empty jug? This is the reason why it is important to put yourself first without feeling guilty about it. You become better equipped to those that you love and serve if you are well yourself.
 

Prioritising yourself is far from being selfish. You need to realise that self-care is just as important as caring for anybody else. Sometimes you must attain the best form of yourself to be able to give out the best. To be capable of looking out for others you may need to look out for yourself. If not, you may be less equipped for the ones you give out to. Moreover, life benefits from balance. Being considerate and kind to others is made much more effective if you look after yourself. Reaching this equilibrium should not be a choice but a necessity. Ask yourself this, how can you help anyone else if you cannot help yourself? Thus, you may need to cater to your needs first.
 

This article walks you through some of the benefits of putting yourself first and the ways to do so without feeling guilty about it.
 

Read full article here: How to Not Feel Guilty About Putting Yourself First. 
 

8. The human brain is incredible. Many regard it as the most advanced computer in existence. Our brain has the capacity to receive and process lots of new information every second. I’ve written often about the brain – boths facts and myths. Reading about all the more interesting facts about the human brain can be really mind-bending. It controls so much of our world and our experience of the world – what we think, see, imagine, and list goes on. The complexity of this vital human organ never fails to amaze me.
 

An average adult human brain weighs approximately three pounds and consists of 100 billion neurons which have 100 trillion connections. This unbelievable organ can process up to 70,000 thoughts every single day. It is safe to say that the human brain is one of the most highly functioning organisms we have encountered as a species. It’s the command center of the human body which has a direct influence on every facet of life. It controls our emotional, sensory, cognitive, and motor functions almost effortlessly. A healthy mind is the result of a healthy brain. Thus, it really makes a lot of sense to cater to our brain health and keep it nourished and healthy.
 

There is no doubt that ageing has an impact on our mental capacity. Poor mental functioning as years pass by is common. Despite this, you have the capacity and strength to boost and protect our brain health to keep our brain healthy and comparatively young. Developing the habit of maintaining your brain health at an early stage in life can help delay mental decline. Especially, in today’s age where stress and anxiety are two of the most prevailing problems, it is vital for many to boost our brain health. Not only does it impact our mental health but also have favourable effects on your physical well-being. Maya Angelou once said, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within”. If you start to prioritise your mental health today you’ll reap the rewards. Today, I’m seeking to unravel some of the amazing ways you can boost your brain health.
 

Read full article here: How to Boost Brain Health.