How to Stay Motivated on Difficult Days?

On difficult days it can be a challenge to stay motivated especially if you feel that everything is falling apart. Sometimes, you feel there is no way out of a bad situation, of bad work experience, or a bad relationship. You feel like giving up, quitting your job, and just moving on without thinking of the consequences. However, you need to support your family and can’t quit your job. It isn’t easy staying in a job where you feel uncomfortable and your boss keeps getting on your nerves due to so much office chaos.

Nonetheless, you continue to stay strong and put up with all the calamity. As soon as you get home from work, forget what happened at your job. After that take some time to relax by reading, watching a funny television show, or speak to someone that you can trust. It is also important to take care of your health. Too much stress from work can cause health problems that you might not be aware especially if you have noticed a change in appetite, losing so much weight, or gaining weight. Take one step at a time and stay positive. Seeking professional help will help you to let out your frustrations, your negative thoughts, and other hidden emotions that you might have. Here are more resources about how to stay motivated on difficult days. 

4 Ways to Stay Motivated through Hard Times:
https://everydaypower.com/4-ways-to-stay-motivated-through-hard-times/

How I Motivate Myself in Difficult Times:
https://byrslf.co/how-i-motivate-myself-in-difficult-times-79094e122131

How to Stay Motivated at Work even when it feels like Everything is Going Wrong:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-stay-motivated-at-work-even-when-it-feels-like-everythings-going-wrong

* Border frame from Pizap

* Flower Quotes from Goodreads

How to Eliminate Doubt?

Sometimes, having doubts stop you from accepting a new job offer, accepting invitations, and starting a new relationship. Doubts make you feel insecure about yourself. Fear makes you doubt even more about what the end result will be. Yet, when this is the case,  meditation, contemplation, and mindfulness should help to eliminate your doubts. Struggling to make decisions because of doubts will stop you from seeing a clear picture of what can or may not happen. 

Journaling and asking questions will help you understand why you are having doubts. Taking a few minutes to write down your doubts will clarify any hidden emotions that you may have. It will give you an idea of what is causing you to have doubts about yourself and about other people. Walking by yourself will give you some time to listen to your thoughts. Letting go of any doubts you may have will release painful emotions. 

It won't be easy to get rid of the doubts that come to your mind on a daily basis. Yet, practicing mindfulness will help you understand why you feel insecure, fearful, and worried. Also, you will realize that the doubts that come to your mind are just nonsense, harsh, or bad opinions. If you can't get rid of your doubts due to depression, low self-esteem, or for other reasons seek professional help. Here are more resources about eliminating doubt.  

6 Ways to Combat Doubt and Uncertainty:
https://chopra.com/articles/6-ways-to-combat-doubt-and-uncertainty

A Meditation to Overcome Insecurities and Doubt:
https://www.sonima.com/meditation/guided-meditations-meditation/overcoming-insecurity/

5 Steps to Deal with Self-Doubt and Trust yourself Again:
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/5-steps-to-deal-with-self-doubt-and-trust-your-self-again/

Quotes about Doubt:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/doubt?page=2

Refreshing Plum and Spinach Smoothie

Drinking spinach smoothies will give you energy. Adding celery, plums, grapes, and apples to your smoothies will help the digestive system to function better. Cilantro has vitamin A and improves skin health. Lemons have vitamin C which helps with the absorption of iron. This smoothie will keep you refreshed and give you vitality. Here is the recipe for making this smoothie. 

Ingredients:

2 Red Apples
1 Green Apple
10-12 Seedless Green Grapes
1 Celery Stalk
Baby Spinach
Cilantro
1 Red Plum
16-32 Oz of water
Half of one Lemon

First, wash and dice the green and red apples. Remove the seeds of the apples. Second, wash the green grapes and remove the stems. Third, wash the baby spinach and the cilantro. Fourth, wash and slice one red plum. Remove the seed of the plum. Fifth, wash one celery stalk and cut into pieces. Add everything in the blender with water or slowly add each vegetable and fruit in the blender. Puree everything until it is smooth or a little bit thick depending on your preference. Last add ice and lemon juice to the smoothie. This smoothie serves three or four people. Serve immediately. Enjoy! 

Broccoli & Sweet Pea Vegetable Soup

Consuming a cup of sweet peas will control sugar levels. This vegetable is full of fiber, potassium, and iron. Sweet peas help with digestion, help with weight loss, and help in lowering bad cholesterol. In addition, sweet peas have magnesium and minerals for bone health. Adding sweet peas to soups, salads, and rice dishes will also provide the protein the body needs.

Adding broccoli will also help to control sugar levels and to help with weight loss. Eating broccoli, sweet peas, and other vegetables are recommended for Type 2 Diabetes. Broccoli and sweet peas have vitamin A and vitamin C which is recommended for diabetics. In general, it is an easy way to include fiber to your meal plans. Here is the recipe for making this broccoli and sweet pea vegetable soup.

Ingredients:

1 Yucca Root

1 Can of Sweet Peas

2 Broccoli Bunch

9 Carrots

1 Cabbage

Cilantro Leaves

2 Chicken Bouillon or 1 can of Chicken Broth

1 Teaspoon of Turmeric

First, wash, peel, and chop the carrots in small pieces. Second, wash one cabbage. Chop one cabbage in small pieces. Wash and peel one yucca root. Third, Chop the yucca root. After that add the carrots and cabbage in one big pot with water. Add the yucca in a smaller pot with water. After that when the yucca is ready, slice the yucca root in smaller pieces and add the yucca with the carrots and the cabbage.

Next, wash the broccoli and add the broccoli with the rest of the vegetables. Add two chicken bouillons or one can of chicken broth and one teaspoon of turmeric. Last, wash the cilantro and remove the stems. Add the cilantro leaves to the vegetable soup. Open one can of sweet peas. Remove the water from the can. Then, add the sweet peas to the vegetable soup. This vegetable soup serves four people. Here are more resources about sweet peas. 

Why Green Peas are Healthy?:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-peas-are-healthy

Benefits of Sweet Peas on your Health:
https://panlasangpinoy.com/benefits-of-sweet-peas-on-your-health/

What are the Benefits of Pea Soup:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/478026-what-are-the-benefits-of-pea-soup/


Sweet Peas-Farmer Foodshare:
http://www.farmerfoodshare.org/veg/sweet-peas

Confidence through Meditation

Meditation can help you have confidence in yourself by stopping yourself from competing with others. After practicing meditation for a while, you will begin to accept yourself and see everything from a different perspective. Taking care of yourself by shaving, waxing, or changing your perfume or cologne, will help you to feel confident about yourself. Also, exercising will help you feel more confident. Begin to work on small projects or study new topics that you want to know more about. In this way, you will be able to build up your self-esteem and confidence. 

Take time to listen to your thoughts and talk to yourself in a positive manner. This will make you feel self-assured. Organize your closet and get rid of any clothes that make you feel sadness, remorse, or negative emotions about yourself. By dressing neatly, you will feel better about yourself and more motivated. Here are more resources about feeling confident through meditation.

Discovering Genuine Confidence through Meditation:
https://mindworks.org/blog/discovering-genuine-confidence-meditation/

How to boost your confidence through meditation:
https://chopra.com/articles/how-to-boost-your-confidence-through-meditation

Self-Confidence Meditation:
https://www.health.com/fitness/self-confidence-meditation

Confidence Quotes:
https://www.goodreads.com/

Poetry about Hope in Photo Images

What does the word hope mean to you? Today, I've written two poems about hope. The first poem is about hope for the future. The second poem is about hope in the present. Hope changes your mindset and helps you to think more positive.  Nonetheless, enjoy the last days of summer. 

Being Body Positive with Meditation

Meditation can help you have a positive body image about yourself. Avoiding negative thoughts about yourself will help you accept your body image. Also, you will be able to detect negative comments from your friends, family, and other people. First, talk about how you feel when people make negative comments about your body image. If those people continue making bad remarks about how you look, make less frequent contact with them. 

Try to surround yourself with positive people and you will feel more positive about yourself. Second, love and accept yourself. Don't change the way you look for your significant other, for relatives, or for anyone. Don't lose weight unless it is for medical or health issues. Let go of any pain, hurtful feelings, and forgive those people who have made bad remarks about your body image. 

It isn't easy but over time you will feel better about yourself and love your body. Avoid, block, or mute negative comments and negative images on social media. Do a gratitude meditation, loving-kindness meditation, guided meditation, or another form of meditation for a positive body image. Third, learn to remove negative words from your mind, such as "ugly", "fat", "hate my body", and so on.  Here are more resources about having a positive body image.  

A Practice to Help You Break Up with Your Bad Body Image:
https://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/self-inquiry-body-image

Meditation: Create a Positive Body Image:
https://www.rewireme.com/happiness/meditation-create-positive-body-image/

Positive Body Image: How to Improve Your Body Image:
https://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/health/positive-body-image/

3 Positive Body Image Activities:
https://positivepsychology.com/positive-body-image/

Sweet Cranberry Smoothie

Drinking cranberry juice can protect your heart and protects your digestive system. Cranberries have antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin K. Overall, cranberries fight infections such as the common cold and urinary tract infections. Although, there are limited studies that it prevents and fights urinary tract infections; Cranberries have healthy benefits for your teeth, skin, and organs. When you apply cranberries on your face, your skin will benefit from its antioxidant properties and its vitamins.

Cranberries will keep your skin moisturized during the winter months. Also, cranberries can lighten the marks caused by acne. Before consuming cranberry juice consult with your primary doctor. Below, you will find links for the health benefits of cranberry juice and a link to make your own cranberry face mask. Here is the recipe for making this cranberry smoothie. 

Ingredients:

1 A cup of Cranberries or Cranberry Juice

8-16 oz of water

1 Celery Stalk

A bunch of seedless green grapes (2)

1 Red Apple

1/2 Lemon

Preparation:

First, wash one apple. Peel and slice the apple. Remove the seeds. Second, wash the celery and chop the celery in small pieces. Third, wash the seedless grapes and remove the stems.  Fourth, rinse the grapes with a strainer. Last, wash the cranberries if you are using cranberries.

Add water in the blender. Next, add cranberry juice if you are using cranberry juice for this smoothie. Then, add the pieces of celery, apples, and add the grapes. Add cranberries if you aren’t using cranberry juice.  Puree everything in a blender. Last, add a few slices of lemon. This smoothie serves four people. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Here are more resources about Cranberry Juice:

Benefits of Cranberry Juice:

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/cranberry-juice-benefits

Cranberry Juice-Health Benefits, Uses, & Side Effects:
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-cranberry-juice.html

Cranberry Juice Benefits and Side Effects:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322731.php

Cranberry for your Face:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/Cranberry-for-your-face/articleshow/21162130.cms

Grapefruit Essential Oil for a Good Mood

Looking for a new scent to lift your mood? Grapefruit essential oil can improve your mood. Smelling this scent will give you energy and will help you to focus more at work.  Also, grapefruit essential oil can help you if you have anxiety or depression. This essential oil reduces your stress levels and your blood pressure making you feel calm.

Using small drops of grapefruit essential oil and using a carrier oil such as Jojoba oil can be beneficial for your skin. Due to its antibacterial properties and vitamin C, grapefruit essential oil cleans the skin. It controls the oils that the skin releases from the pores. Also, you can massage this essential oil for headaches. Here are more resources about grapefruit essential oil. 

6 Benefits and Uses of Grapefruit Essential Oil:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/grapefruit-essential-oil#section6

10 Wonderful Benefits of Grapefruit Essential Oil:

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/grapefruit-essential-oil.html

The Benefits and Uses of Grapefruit Essential Oil:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-grapefruit-essential-oil-88780

* Free Grapefruit Clip Art: 

 https://pngtree.com/freepng/cut-grapefruit_2552957.html

* Free Green Glass Container Jar Clip Art:

https://pngtree.com/freepng/green-glass-container-jar_4664318.html

* Free Background and Frame: 

https://www.pizap.com/

Free Cute Coloring Bookmarks

Today, I created five coloring bookmarks for your summer reading, back to school reading, or reading in general. These bookmarks have blank spaces to write quotes, phrases, or other words. One bookmark has hearts, flowers, and circles with other elements. Each bookmark design is drawn by hand. Once again, these coloring bookmarks are free and for personal use only. Enjoy!

How to Encourage Someone at Work?

Using encouragement stones at work is one way to motivate someone at work. It might be a small reminder to remind someone that they are appreciated at work. Encouragement stones can be bought or can be handcrafted. Another way to encourage someone at work is by writing a letter, a card, or a short note. Always giving a positive comment and a thank you goes a long way. It is best to keep it honest, sincere, and positive.

For example, you can give a key chain with a note saying thank you for all the hard work that you do. You can pick out different key chains and have different personalized notes for your coworkers. It doesn't have to be an expensive gift. Sometimes, a simple thank you with a smile is enough to show your appreciation to your coworkers. Here are more resources about giving encouragement to someone at work. 

Words of Encouragement for Work:

https://successstory.com/inspiration/words-of-encouragement-for-work

18 Simple Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude at Work:

https://wheniwork.com/blog/18-simple-ways-to-keep-a-positive-attitude-at-work/

In a Nutshell: 5 Ways to Encourage a Positive Attitude: 

https://www.hrzone.com/talent/development/in-a-nutshell-five-ways-to-encourage-a-positive-attitude

Courtesy Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Delicious Cucumber Smoothie

Smoothies are a great way to get the necessary fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients that the body needs. It also hydrates, aids in digestion, and cleanse the organs. For example, cucumbers can lower your sugar, help with weight loss, and has antioxidants for the skin. Combining cucumbers in your smoothies also help with protecting the function of the brain. Cucumbers have potassium and lower your blood pressure.

Adding green fruits to your cucumber smoothies such as green grapes will add more flavor and health benefits. Grapes also have potassium that lowers your blood pressure and reduces your cholesterol.  It protects the brain and the heart. In addition, grapes have vitamin K, vitamin C, and magnesium. Another fruit that contains vitamin C is limes. Limes protect the heart, lowers sugar levels, and helps with weight loss. Here is the recipe for making this cucumber smoothie.

Ingredients:

1 Cucumber

1 bag of green grapes

16- 24 oz of water

1 lime

First, wash and peel one cucumber. Second, slice the cucumber in small slices. Third, wash and remove the stems of the green grapes. Then, wash and slice one lime. Add water, grapes, cucumbers, and lime juice in a blender. Last, blend until everything has a smooth texture. Serve immediately. This smoothie serves three or four people. Here are more resources about grapes, limes, and cucumbers. 

7 Health Benefits of Cucumber:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-cucumber#section8

Health Benefits of Cucumbers:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/health-benefits-of-cucumbers_b_8231704

Benefits of Grapes:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-grapes#section7

Lime Water Benefits:
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/lime-water-benefits

Meditation to Identify Mistakes

Meditating can help you learn from your mistakes quicker. Mistakes can't be avoided. Yet, learning from your own mistakes will help you to stop repeating the same errors. Your brain will be able to identify the errors before it becomes a mistake. It will help you react in a different manner. 

Even if you do make a mistake, your brain will make you realize and see the mistake. Once you have identified the mistake, you will know what action to take and eliminate the wrong actions quickly. Some mistakes are easy to correct. While other mistakes can be more difficult to recover and make you feel like a failure. Don't see mistakes as being incompetent. 

Do apologize for making the mistake. Don't repeat the same mistake. Write down your mistakes so you will remember it. This will help you to build problem-solving skills and your brain will keep it in its memory bank. Here are more resources about mistakes. 

Learning from Mistakes:
https://www.mindful.org/learning-from-mistakes/

Are you making the most out of your mistakes?:
http://clearyourstress.com/beat-depression/are-you-making-the-most-out-of-your-mistakes/

How to learn from your mistakes?
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/learn-from-mistakes.htm

Quotes About Mistakes:
https://www.goodreads.com/

* Free Butterfly Clip Art: 
https://www.pizap.com/

Free Cute Binder Cover Coloring Pages

Today, I have created three binder cover pages to color. These binder covers can be used for your personal use. Each design is hand-drawn and created by me. Each cover has a blank section to label your binder. Each binder cover can be printed and ready to be colored. 

The first binder cover has hearts. The second binder cover has circles and flowers. The third binder cover has squares and other elements. These binder covers are free. Enjoy!

* Free Collage Frame from Pizap

Gardening to Relax your Mind

Gardening is a great way to relax your mind and to exercise. At first, it might seem like a chore to water your plants or to fertilize the soil. By changing the word, "chore" to the word "nurturing" your plants, you will feel less negative in taking care of your garden. You will also feel a connection with nature. Singing, walking, or reading in the garden is another way to calm your nerves.

Touching the dirt to repot your plants will send signals to the brain. This will help you to feel less stress and will improve your mood. Seeing the colors of the various flowers and plants will add a sense of tranquility. Pruning and feeling the texture of the branches, leaves, and dry flowers will help you to let go of any negative emotions. Adding stepping stones to your garden will create a fun element for a meditative walk around your garden.

Taking care of your garden is like taking care of yourself. Gardening will help you to appreciate nature. Being thankful for the food and flowers that have grown in your garden will improve your thinking pattern. Smelling and cooking the herbs grown in your garden will bring a smile to your face. Here are more resources about gardening to relax your mind.

How to be Mindful while Gardening:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/well/mind/how-to-be-mindful-while-gardening.html

Creating Your Meditation Garden:
https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/elements-meditation-garden/

5 Ways Gardening Strengthens Your Mind and Body Connection:
https://chopra.com/articles/5-ways-gardening-strengthens-your-mind-body-connection

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Free Hummingbird Coloring Pages

Did you know that hummingbirds get their name by the beat of their wings? These small birds fly backwards, forwards, and upside down. Hummingbirds eat insects and drink the nectar of the flowers. It is amazing how these small birds have an excellent vision by seeing in color and ultraviolet light. Also, hummingbirds only use their feet to scratch and to sit on branches. Nonetheless, I have created three coloring pages of hummingbirds for free and for personal use. Enjoy!

Here are more resources about hummingbirds. 

Hummingbird Facts:

https://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/facts.php

The Science of Hummingbirds:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/07/the-science-of-hummingbirds/#close

25 Fun Facts about Hummingbirds:

https://www.thespruce.com/fun-facts-about-hummingbirds-387106

* Free Collage Frame from Pizap

Stay Hydrated with a Celery Smoothie

Sometimes, it is hard to stay hydrated during the hot months of summer. Whether it is due to lack of sleep, too much caffeine, or too many sugary drinks, you can stay hydrated with a celery smoothie. This smoothie is very easy to make in the morning or in the afternoon. Once you make this smoothie drink it immediately to get the health benefits. Celery juice has vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

In addition, celery juice stimulates the immune system and helps you to sleep better at night. It has antioxidants for the skin, reduces your blood pressure, and makes your heart stronger. Another benefit of adding celery into smoothies is by adding green fruits such as a pear. Pears give a boost to your metabolism and has potassium. Also, pears have vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. By combining celery and pears in a smoothie, it will reduce any inflammation that you may have due to arthritis or rheumatism. Here is the recipe for making this smoothie. 

Ingredients:

1 Celery Stalk
1 Green Pear
1/2 of Lemon
18 oz of Water
Ice

First, wash the celery. Chop the celery in small pieces. Second, wash one green pear. Chop and remove the seeds of the pear. Third, wash one lemon and chop one lemon in half. Save the other half of the lemon for another recipe. Fourth, add ice, pieces of celery, pieces of the green pear, and water. Fifth, blend everything until smooth. 

Last, add the lemon juice to the blender. Blend everything for a second time. Then pour the smoothie into three or four cups. This smoothie serves three or four people. Serve immediately. Here are more resources about the benefits of celery and pears. 

Celery Juice Benefits: 

https://www.organicfacts.net/celery-juice.html

11 Surprising Benefits of Pears:
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/pears.html

What are the Benefits of a Green Smoothie:
https://oureverydaylife.com/334157-what-are-the-benefits-of-drinking-a-green-drink.html