They work,but only partly. That too in closed rooms. You are hardly likely to stay in the same room throughout your life.
First Anniversary mocktail mommies celebration contest
Plants help improve emotional health
Plants also makes me feel good .All the time every time.
This thing is so bang on, that my hubby suggested we plant trees inside our flat .
He said it as a joke .But I took up the challenge. Though I don’t have trees I do have roughly 80/90 plants in my balcony jungle.
Workout options
Nature is also great for your physical health.A nature walk ,gardening all helps you get a good cardiovascular workout .Plus it’s fun .No monotony.Research also found walking surrounded by nature is more beneficial, than on the treadmill .
Plants make unique home decor
A home full of green plants is pleasant to see .It lifts the interiors, from mundane to wow in no time.
They remove VOC ,and other impurities from indoor air and makes it clean for you.
Plants have the good biophilic bacteria in them .These act as Probiotics for your skin and hair .When you are among plants these good bacteria settle down on the exposed body parts .They are good for your skin’s health .
Plants increase creativity and caring
Being around selfless living beings in nature, helps me understand the truth about life.My writers block disappears when I gaze at my balcony jungle.My low moods lift with a bit of pottering in the garden.
I wake up with a smile when I see my window box full of flowers in the morning.
Why are you thankful for nature ?
Write with us and Link Up .Make it a green revolution.
This week our featured winner is Shalini.
Read her winning post.
Thankful Thursdays featured winner this week is Shalini of shalzmojo.in
Shalini is passionate about everything design.
In her own words…
I am in love with photography, travel and baking. My writing journey was initiated with my letter writing hobby as a child and has metamorphosed into serious blogging as an adult. I blog at shalzmojo.inand my blog, in a nutshell, is about Me. I write about my opinions & views on food, photography, travel, mindfulness, baking, books, movies and recently penned a few fictional tales too.
I indulge with reading fantasy fiction, day dreaming and sipping good wine.
Good or bad apparently it takes 21 days.So officially writing #Thankful Thursdays is a habit now.
Has it made me happier?
Absolutely.
Has it made me more thankful?
100%
Is it fun?
I am having a lot of fun, hosting this amazing thankfulness chain every week.I get to meet wonderful bloggers and read their stories.
When I wrote about keeping a gratitude journal ,I read several articles on practicing thankfulness. Some resources said write daily.Some said monthly .But most said write weekly .It makes it doable and useful.That’s what I discovered with this.
Writing weekly thankfulness post is like a breath of fresh air .
A pick me up in the middle of the week.
So what am I writing this week?
I am writing about 10 Things that makes me thankful to be human
#1
I am able to appreciate the finer things in life .Enjoying a comfortable bed ,great good, good book and beautiful people makes me thankful for this chance to appreciate.
#2
I am able to feel
Love and loss .Pain and joy.Happiness and sadness
#3
I am able to empathise .
Being happy for someone’s happiness .Feeling my child’s pain like my own.That’s the bittersweet part of being human.
#4
I am able to enjoy nature’s beauty
What would I do ,if I didn’t have my plant friends ?
They make me smile with their beauty ,grace and utter selflessness.
# 5
I am able to learn .
Learning new things everyday makes life a lot of fun.Would I be able to learn so many things ,if I wasn’t a human ?
#6
I am able to read books.
Is there any other greater joy ?Reading and reading even more .That’s something only humans do.Never heard a camel enjoy a book ,did you ?
#7
I am able to paint.
The creative arts are our way of expression. If I was a cat ,could I still paint?
Maybe. But would probably find it difficult to source paint and stuff.
# 8
I am able to atleast try to make this world a better place.
As a human being, if we all did our own work well ,things would be lot different.
Unlike animals .They can’t really do much for the world .
# 9
I am able to make friends.
Good friends are like great books and delicious chocolate rolled into one. Friends are truly the family we choose.
#10
I am able to say thank you to God for making me human being.
Yes that’s a very special “thank you”.
For the life you have given me For the opportunities you put in my path. For the challenges you bless me with.I thank you for all of them.
It’s because of my smiles as well as my tears ,that I am ,who I am today.
I have struggled with anxiety and bouts of lows for sometime.
Gardening, exercising,reading books ,Pinterest and Instagram have all played their part in helping me feel better.
Optimism and Health
But the most important thing was probably me practising thought control. Basically whenever I felt a situation or conversation was tending towards something which could make me sad .
I aggressively stopped myself from continuing that train of thought or words. Very difficult and often it makes you feel like two of you pulling at your brain.
But from my own struggles I can tell you, the only way to be mentally healthy is constantly practice positive thinking.
That’s when I came upon Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Happiness post .It was interesting how all these wonderful women focused on being happy. Life is short.It’s too short to live unhappily. A happy smile has a much deeper effect than you perceive.
Positivity and health
The mental and physical effects of positive thoughts and optimism are much more than just the obvious.
In an interesting research done by Barbara Fredrickson certain effects of positive thoughts have been described which will have a widespread effect on how we think about optimism. .
My Questions
So what makes us happy?
Is it possible to be happy all the time?
Does positive thoughts improve happiness?
Are happy people healthier?
How can we all Practice being happy?
Finding the answers to these questions were important to me as I was trying to decide the priorities in my life.
I started my favourite part of writing a post :Research. The best thing about researching health ; wealth and wisdom is that you always gain something.
My research discoveries …
What determines
Optimism?
Positive thoughts and general feelings of happiness have mainly two major influences: 1)Genes.Yes genetics have a hand in this too 2)Environment. How satisfied you are in your personal and professional space place a large role in making you happy and maintenance of this upbeat mood. So just like everything else your happiness quotient is also in your control. But what about genetics? Some families have tendency or genetic predisposition to certain disease. So does this mean they will all be suffering from that disease .Not necessarily. When people have tendency to be overweight and they eat uninhibited and don’t exercise then just blaming the genes will not work . External or phenotypic expression of your genes ,have a lot to do with environment. Controlled diet and exercise helps people stay physically healthy.
Similarly practising gratefulness and positivity helps you stay mentally healthy. You are not a slave to your genes. You are restricted only by the walls you have built yourself. Happiness is a learned habit,which you can develop yourself
Happiness Myths:
Refusing to be practical doesn’t make you happiest.
Happiness is also not something which is a one time stop,from which there’s no return. Overall happy mood has a lot to do with a balanced mood of general wellbeing rather than feeling euphoric.
I have seen even 30 min of walking or running ,everyday helps me keep blues away.
If possible walk in a park .Any activity that brings us close to nature activates the happy and positive part of your brain.
2)Enjoy every moment :Be mindful Mindfulness is the very first step.If you are concentrating on the task at hand ,it’s easier to banish negative thoughts.
I use Om chanting mindfulness meditation and gardening to help myself become more calm and content. 3 )Maintain a gratitude journal
[Tweet theme=”basic-white”]Grateful people are more positive and more likely to be happy :Robert Emmons[/Tweet]
To practice gratefulness is to live better.Sometimes it’s difficult ,but it’s those very times when you need to be more consciously grateful
GRATITUDE
4)Have Empathy 5)Do something that makes you happy everyday.
Read a good book ,garden, chatting with a friend,learn a new skill,paint (love adult colouring books),cuddle and spend time together as a family. 6)Catch up with a friend.
Optimism is a friend magnet.
Make new friends. Thank someone for some help. We are supposed to be the average of five people we spend the mist time with.
So be careful whether you are surrounded by optimists and doers or naysayers. 7)Help somebody. It might be something very small but it will make you feel good.
I have started answering health queries on Lybrate (a doctor -patient health portal). 8)Day Dream about something which you want. 9)Remember something good that happened to you.Memories! 10)Forgive somebody
So what are the health benefits of being an optimistic happy person?
1)Better cardiovascular fitness when compared to other age and gender matched population irrespective of genetics . 2)Much better immunity and healing power. Stress increases cortisol level in your blood which affects both your ,heart,moods and immunity.
Related:Optimism and Immunity 3)You enjoy better quality of life. 4)You sleep more soundly 5)You live better and longer.
The shortcut You can control what you think. Think positive You feel happier You are healthier.
It’s ironic that I am writing to spread positive stories and recollecting one of the worst attacks of terrorism India has ever faced.
What it teaches us is that human behavior is what you remember.Kindness empathy, helpfulness and just being there for absolute strangers at the cost of own life.
When the terrorists attacked the Taj Hotel on 26th November 2008 none of the hotel staff fled.In fact, it was because of their courage, empathy and quick thinking many lived.
These heroes of the Taj Hotel had their lives changed forever because they decided to stay and fight. Some of them are no more with us and some are battle-scarred.
#1 Spread more stories of positivity and hope.What we focus on grows. Today I choose to focus on the brave and good people at Taj Hotels Mumbai. The bell boys, the housekeeping, the kitchen staff, the front desk, and managers. Their contribution to this fight needs to be remembered.
#2 Grow stronger physically and emotionally.God gives us the battles we can win.So believe me we will win.
#3 Meditate.
Its one way of tackling the storm battling inside us when we think why?Oh God, why?
It’s probably the best way to calm our inner storms.
#4 Be aware .
#5 Help our Government and army as much as we can to fight those who want to spread terror.
Writing this to share the hopes of our world with #WATWB
I am thankful for family, love, loss and fights included.God gives us a family, our tribe.Our birth, death, and marriages are said to be destined.You are given a set of cards to play with and then Gods says there are no rules.
All families have secrets, most love each other and a few are fated to live and survive away from each other.
Sometimes the circumstances, sometimes our choices and often both, play a game.
[bctt tweet=”You want the perfect family but you get the one you work for. #Thanksgiving2017 ” username=”misra_amrita”]
Relationships are built over years.Shared passion, emotions, hardships, kinship and that special bond which connects survivors.
[bctt tweet=”When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching, they are your family. ”Jim Butcher #ThankfulThursdays” username=”misra_amrita”]
A childhoods friend‘s mom told me once. “marry someone who will grow with you”.Because that makes the strongest bond.I think that’s true for all relationships.A family you grow with, becomes stronger and stays together.
My maternal uncles are a shining example of this.In fact, all my aunts and uncles on the maternal side showed a tremendous lot of kinship, family loyalty, and smart money behavior.
I mentioned the last one because I have seen many families face unpleasantness due to monetary issues.
Some people have more and some have less but that’s the way of the world.
My favorite aunts and uncles always pitched in to help each other for family emergencies.Both in cash and kind.While the kindness can never be repaid, the cash is always returned as soon as possible.But some things can’t be repaid and that’s understood.What they taught me is that you can take it forwards.
How did this help?
Since this was a mutual understanding it never had to be spelled out. Money talk gets icky so that helped.
Since no one defaulted on returning, everyone had a pool of resource to fall back on when there was a financial emergency overriding personal resource.That I think is an awesome model!
I have been influenced by the kindness, clarity, and loyalty my family shows for each other.They fight, but they have each other’s back.
You must remember, the family is often born of blood, but it doesn’t depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.” Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society
Thank you family #Thanksgiving
I also believe I have extended my family to my circle of friends.
On Thanksgiving today I thank you for the blessings, the good and the hardships, because I believe all of them helped me and you.
Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”
― George Burns
The Universe only gives us the battles we can fight and the family we can survive
Comment on the posts linked up and on the host’s posts with#ThankfulThursdays hashtag.Use the #for social sharing and tag us.(We are repeating this so that you don’t forget)
Two winners and two gift vouchers are up for grabs.
A minimum of 10 blog post entries will be deemed necessary for the contest to be validated, so make sure you invite and tag 2 of your friends to enter too!
Your performance in this competition will have a score which will matter for the next part of the competition too!
Keep your posts and engagement civil. Adult content/ affiliated links/ derogatory remarks/ hatred towards any religion is not allowed.
Only posts in the link-up written on the prompt will be eligible for the contest and prize.
All decisions of the judges are final and will appreciate your cooperation in the matter.Looking forward to your thank you notes this month.Write with a Thankful Heart!
Fill up this form telling us the posts you have commented on and the links to the social share links.(Very important5 step) By entering this contest you give us(Amrita and Tina) your permission to tag you on social media and email you regarding contest updates, results and more such in the future.
General Rules of linky:(For those who are doing the challenge and those who are not)
Write on the prompt and Link Up.We have a fun new option.
You can submit tweet links and Instagram posts too.(Not for contest)
You can also link up other posts.Just comment on this post and my co-hosts post and any two of the posts in the link up.Share using #ThankfulThursdays hashtag.
We deeply believe in community spirit.Eagerly looking forward to visiting your blogs.
Generate your button code
Follow @misra_amrita @twinklingtina, on Twitter
Prompts will be announced every Wed 20:00 hrs IST
Linky opens on Thursdays 00.00 hours.
The linky closes the following Wednesday 23.55 hours.
I don’t know whether it was in class seven or eight when I read an article about how to improve your own self.Hanging out with people who inspire you to be good, is the first important step.Peer pressure, in this case, can work miracles.I have a curious nature.Whatever is interesting, makes me want to explore more.The problem of random exploring has mixed results.It’s a lot of unnecessary drama, headache, and heartburn. With experience, I am hoping my ability to choose between good exciting and bad exciting will improve.
Friends are the family you choose Jess C Scott
Today as I thank my friends I share my secret to finding my own Justice League .
5 Secrets to Finding Friends Who Grow With You
#1
Your choice of friends says a lot about you.They reflect your dreams, aspirations and your personality more than you ever could.I believe this so deeply that I married my best friend to make him my family.
That may not work for all. But friendship is the cool breeze on a hot summer evening.It’s like the deep crimson in a progressively darkening sky in the evening.It’s the fragrance of life.You may never meet, you may never talk, but you will always remember how he /she made you feel.
#2
They influence you in more ways than you think.Try to find friends who have the qualities you admire in others. Having good friends is the first step to self-improvement.If you believe you are a work in progress, this is a must.
#3
I admire, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, positive inspiring friends who don’t believe in giving up.If you don’t respect and admire the person you spend time with, that friendship is doomed.
#4
Avoiding people with bad attitudes have helped me do my thing without getting caught up in trying to change how others think.I have realized only you can help yourself.No external force can help you if you don’t help yourself.
#5
Ask yourself one question.Would you want your child to be friends with the person you are friends with?As a parent, you will want the best for your child, and you will know the truth.
Every day you have a choice.To surround yourself with good people, so choose carefully.
When I say thank you to my friends.It’s for many reasons.
They let me be me.I don’t have to put on a mask, give an explanation for my actions.They understand the little bit of crazy in me and they love me because of that.They understand.
They are there whenever I reach out.They don’t demand.They don’t impose.They believe in being kind and thankful too.
They let me grow .This one came with a lot of experience of making the wrong kinds of friends.The people in your life be it friends or family who don’t give you space to grow, pull you down and believe in being ruthlessly truthful have their own issues.Be careful if you have people like that around.They can be emotionally and creatively draining you, while being honest or what they think is being honest.
Thank you friends
Friends are full of sunshine and a light drizzle.
My good friends don’t encourage negative talk.They don’t believe in believing the worst and they definitely don’t let me drown myself saving the world.
They support me and help me find my feet in the quicksand of life.They make me believe in the intrinsic goodness of people.They let me hope that all will be well and the whole world can be friends again.As long as we respect each other, give space and maintain boundaries life will be beautiful.
[bctt tweet=”You are the average of five people you spend most time with-Jim Rohn #ThankfulThursdays” username=”misra_amrita”]
Writing this, to thank all the friends in my life who know what I am talking about.Thank you, dear friend, I would not be writing if not for your kindness.
Each and every one of you who read my blog and remain in my life is my friend.Because you make me want to write more.
Comment on the posts linked up and on the host’s posts with#ThankfulThursdays hashtag.Use the #for social sharing and tag us.(We are repeating this so that you don’t forget)
Two winners and two gift vouchers are up for grabs.
A minimum of 10 blog post entries will be deemed necessary for the contest to be validated, so make sure you invite and tag 2 of your friends to enter too!
Your performance in this competition will have a score which will matter for the next part of the competition too!
Keep your posts and engagement civil. Adult content/ affiliated links/ derogatory remarks/ hatred towards any religion is not allowed.
Only posts in the link-up written on the prompt will be eligible for the contest and prize.
All decisions of the judges are final and will appreciate your cooperation in the matter.Looking forward to your thank you notes this month.Write with a Thankful Heart!
#ThankfulThursdays November Thankful Challenge
Fill up this form telling us the posts you have commented on and the links to the social share links.(Very important5 step) By entering this contest you give us(Amrita and Tina) your permission to tag you on social media and email you regarding contest updates, results and more such in the future.
General Rules of linky:(For those who are doing the challenge and those who are not)
Write on the prompt and Link Up.We have a fun new option.
You can submit tweet links and Instagram posts too.(Not for contest)
You can also link up other posts.Just comment on this post and my co-hosts post and any two of the posts in the link up.Share using #ThankfulThursdays hashtag.
We deeply believe in community spirit.Eagerly looking forward to visiting your blogs.
Generate your button code
Follow @misra_amrita @twinklingtina, on Twitter
Prompts will be announced every Wed 20:00 hrs IST
Linky opens on Thursdays 00.00 hours.
The linky closes the following Wednesday 23.55 hours.
