7 Ways To Be A Good Listener in Your Relationship

<img alt="Image result for 7 Ways To Be A Good Listener" height="480" src="http://liveboldandbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/good-listener-e14247013841941.png" width="640" /><br /> <br /> Think about how powerful it is to be heard.<br /> <br /> In fact, reflect on an occasion when you had something to say, something important or vulnerable to share, and you knew you had the full attention of the other person.<br /> <br /> That level of attention, when you know the other person is really listening to you, makes you feel valued. It makes you feel safe, understood, and important. Being heard validates you.<br /> <br /> Now think about a time when you had something to say, but you didn’t get that level of attention. The other person was distracted, looking at their phone, clearly thinking about something else, or mentally lining up their response without acknowledging your words.<br /> <br /> You felt ignored, diminished, and inconsequential. Their inability or unwillingness to really hear you felt like a slap in the face.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, the art of being a good listener is becoming more and more of a lost art. Face to face and even phone conversations are no longer the primary way we communicate. The gatekeepers of our interactions are the computer and cell phone where we email or text in terse, abbreviated, and frequently misunderstood communiques.<br /> <br /> When we do have in-person conversations, these same devices turn us into one of Pavlov’s dogs, immediately turning our attention the minute we hear a ding. It’s nearly impossible to be a good listener when you’re on constant alert for some other more important message coming in.<br /> <br /> We all know it’s important to be a good listener because we know how good it feels when we’re heard. Most of us want to be active listeners and to have the people we care about feel heard. But the ability to listen well affords other benefits beyond supporting others and gaining their appreciation.<br /> <br /> Good listeners can . . .<br /> <div> <br /> <ul> <li>improve relationships in their personal and professional lives, as people tend to like those who listen to them;</li> </ul> <div> <ul> <li>better solve problems for others and themselves;</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>learn different points of views to broaden their own perspective;</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>retain more important information which is useful for life and career success;</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>make decisions easily because they have more information at their disposal;</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>avoid conflicts and misunderstandings, as they gain more clarity through listening well;</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>increase their confidence because they have access to information and can pass it on to others.</li> </ul> <br /> Being a good listener is similar to having good manners. It’s a quality that doesn’t seem to be a social requirement any longer, but if you practice it, it sets you apart from the crowd and makes others gravitate toward you.</div> <div> <br /> <b>If you’d like to sharpen your skills, here’s how to be a good listener:</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>1. Remove or avoid distractions.</b><br /> If you are going to converse with someone (or several people), then take a moment to anticipate possible distractions and remove them. Turn off your cell phone and put it away. Turn your computer off or turn off the sound so you can’t hear emails and notifications coming in. Turn off the TV, radio, or any other device that could be distracting.<br /> <br /> If someone needs to speak to you, and you’re in the middle of a project or task, either ask them to wait until you’re done, or stop what you’re doing to listen. Multi-tasking doesn’t allow for true listening.<br /> <br /> If you’re in a social setting, and you are speaking one-on-one with someone, try to step aside to a quiet space where you won’t be pulled away or interrupted by other people. Definitely don’t look over the other person’s shoulder while they’re talking to see who else is in the room.</div> <div> <br /> <br /> <b>2. Watch for non-verbal communication and tone of voice.</b><br /> Hearing someone’s words is just a small part of being a good listener. We communicate far more through our expressions, body language, and tone of voice.<br /> <br /> When you are listening to someone, also watch them carefully. Are their arms crossed defensively, or are they sitting in an open, confident manner? Are they saying, “Everything’s fine” with their words, but their face looks pinched and anxious?<br /> <br /> Also, listen to how they present what they have to say. Do they sound tired, depressed, enthusiastic, confused? Are they mumbling, talking too loudly, or stating everything as though it were a question?<br /> <br /> Learn the art of reading what people are really saying beyond their words. This can help you be more compassionate and understanding of people — and it can help you avoid getting involved with someone who appears deceitful, disinterested, or controlling.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>3. Be the mirror.</b><br /> A great technique for active listening is mirroring the person you are listening to. Without appearing to mimic them, try to reflect back their same tone of voice and speech pattern. You can also mirror their gestures and body language.<br /> <br /> Mirroring helps build rapport with the other person, and it encourages the feeling that you share similar attitudes and ideas.<br /> <br /> You can also reflect the concept or ideas you just heard communicated from the other person to reinforce that you understood and heard what they said. This is particularly important in your intimate relationships or in conflict situations.<br /> <br /> For example, the other person might say, “I feel really hurt when you don’t help me clean up after dinner.” You might summarize and restate, “So what I’m hearing you say is that when I don’t help you clean up, it causes you pain.” You reflect words back to show you understood them correctly and that you care what was communicated.</div> <div> <br /> <br /> <b>4. Empathize, sympathize, and show interest.</b><br /> You can show your interest and connection in a conversation through your own expressions, body language, and words.<br /> <br /> Nod in agreement to show you are engaged and listening. Lean forward toward the other person. Smile or show concern appropriately. Offer words of affirmation and kindness. Give a hand squeeze or a warm touch on the shoulder to show empathy.<br /> <br /> These subtle communications speak volumes about your level of engagement, concern, and interest.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>5. Practice silence.</b><br /> Sometimes the very best way to listen is to allow a space of silence in the conversation. A verbal response isn’t always necessary, and this space of silence invites the speaker to offer more of what they are thinking and feeling.<br /> <br /> It’s uncomfortable to sit in silence for more than a few seconds, but push past the discomfort and just sit with it. Sometimes the most powerful connections are made in that silent space.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>6. Ask probing questions.</b><br /> As a coach, I use powerful questions frequently with my clients to help them uncover answers and solutions for themselves.<br /> <br /> I use open-ended questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” response. Open-ended questions invite deeper insight and discourse between the two of you. Simply the act of asking a probing question as a follow-up to a comment shows the other person you are paying attention and interested.<br /> <br /> Be sure your questioning doesn’t become an interrogation. You want to listen more than you question, but when you do ask a question, it should be well-timed and non-threatening. Something as simple as, “Can you tell me more about that?” is enough to show you are really listening.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>7. Don’t interrupt or change the subject.</b><br /> If you want to be a good listener, you need to allow the speaker to complete a thought without interrupting them. You’ve probably encountered people who frequently interrupt, take over the conversation, and use the audience as a platform for talking about themselves or sharing their knowledge or expertise.<br /> <br /> Even if they are doing this unconsciously, it feels as though they haven’t heard a word you’ve said — or that they don’t really care about what you have to say.<br /> <br /> Before you interject your response or make your case, be sure the other person is finished speaking. Allow for a pause in the conversation long enough to ensure it’s your turn to talk.<br /> <br /> Also, don’t leave the speaker hanging out there with a conversation topic they’ve started by abruptly changing the subject. Offer a response or an additional thought to the topic before you move on to something you want to talk about.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>8. Think before responding.</b><br /> When it is your time to speak, let your words be a reflection of your careful listening. If you are truly engaged in what the other person is saying, then you aren’t focused on what you want to say.<br /> <br /> So rather that blurting out the first thing that comes to mind, take a moment to think about your response and what you want to offer. If your opinion is solicited, be sure you reflect carefully on what you just heard so you can offer a well-considered reply.<br /> <br /> Becoming a good listener is a skill you must practice. It’s far too easy to spin off into your own world of distractions, ideas, and words. Consciously work on becoming more of a listener than a talker. Learn to read other people’s expressions and body language. Watch for the things that go unsaid but that are still communicated.<br /> <br /> As you become more skilled at listening, you’ll find people gravitate toward you more for your opinion and feedback. You’ll have a skill that gives you the edge in your career and in all of your relationships.<br /> <br /> What do you need to do to become a better listener? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.</div> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> credit: <a href="http://liveboldandbloom.com/">liveboldandbloom.com</a></div>

7 Ways To Be A Good Listener in Your Relationship

Think about how powerful it is to be heard. In fact, reflect on an occasion when you had something to say, something important or vulner...

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6 Signs Your Life Partner Is Secretly Unhappy

<img alt="Image result for guy and girl unhappy" height="464" src="http://www.qlove.biz/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/woman-ignores-man.jpg" width="640" /><br /> <br /> You haven’t caught them sneaking off to make late-night calls to mysterious numbers. There haven’t been any blow-out fights that make you reconsider your entire relationship. And their behavior hasn’t been very significantly different from what it used to be. But for some reason, you still can’t shake off the feeling that something is off.<br /> <br /> Read Also: <a href="http://relftalk.blogspot.com.ng/2016/10/7-most-beautiful-places-on-earth-you.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.25s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red;">#7 Most Beautiful Places On Earth You Don't Know Exist</span></a><br /> <br /> Here are 6 signs to know whether that feeling is right:<br /> <br /> <b>1. They have been acquiring electronics obsessively</b><br /> The novelist and essayist, Charles Baxter, states in his book ‘Burning Down the House’: “People in a traumatized state tend to love their furniture.” You actually start gathering things to fight against your loneliness.<br /> <br /> In another study to confirm this same theory, Margaret Clark, a professor of psychology at Yale, revealed that “people who attach more value to their possessions may be less secure in their personal relationships than those who put less value on material goods.” A brand new PS4 isn’t going to be complicated. And a shiny new MacBook Pro isn’t going to expect much from you.<br /> <br /> <b>2. You’ve started feeling like the “Dining Dead.”</b><br /> The very first time this happened, you thought to yourself,” How nice is this, we can sit comfortably in silence as well.” But on the 15th instance, you might end up experiencing a chill so subtle that you start blaming it on the temperature in the room. There you are, sitting together in a very nice place… and have absolutely nothing to say to one another. <br /> <br /> <b>3. Instead of trying to hear you out, they’ll say, “We’ve already been through this.”</b><br /> No one in their right mind would ever want to argue with another person, especially the person they’re in love with. But if you’re in a healthy relationship and there comes a desperate time when an argument becomes absolutely unavoidable, your partner will actually make an effort to listen to what you’re saying, rather than constantly focusing on how repetitive or annoying the argument is.<br /> <br /> At times, it might feel like they’re doing you both a favor by cutting a fight short- but it can also mean that they just don’t care enough to actually figure out why you’re upset, or to look together for a solution to all the problems.<br /> <br /> <b>4. You’re starting to hear Way Too Much about Anna/John from Work</b><br /> “So Anna/John, from work, is in a really awful place with their ex,” they tell you, a little too sympathetically. You also nod sympathetically, because you remember how Anna/John has been facing some digestive problems which is why they’re eating gluten-free, and also that their aunt, with whom they were really close, died last week, and… okay wait. Why exactly do you know so much about this person from work?<br /> <br /> An overly eager friendship with someone from work might not translate into fun times in the conference room, and you’re not the kind of person who will forbid them to have friends from the opposite sex, but it could still suggest that something has been lacking from your relationship that they’re starting to look for someplace else.<br /> <br /> And they may not be aware of this either. But when they start having more sympathy for the ongoing tales of Anna/John at work than they do for your various ordeals in life, then that’s definitely more than being a concerned colleague. It’s more of a “It’s time for us to talk” memo.<br /> <br /> <b>5. They can’t seem to leave you alone</b><br /> For some odd reason, your other half can’t stop following you around all night, when all you really wish to do is finish up your chores in peace so you can move on to your true passion in life (i.e. binge watching Game of Thrones again).<br /> <br /> They keep tapping your shoulder and coming up with absurd questions about how electric toothbrushes work, and how to use the dry cleaner or what RSVP really stands for. Are they deliberately trying to annoy you? My guess is no!<br /> <br /> The truth is they’re probably hungry for some attention at this point, and are therefore resorting to the adult version of sleeve-tugging. Just give them some time and attention in order to nurture your relationship.<br /> <br /> <b>6. They go out to Guys’/girls’ Night somewhere new every week</b><br /> Every time you’re together, you order the exact same Chinese food- same place, same dishes, same dips to go with your order! You select movies of the same genre from Netflix every other weekend. You even seem to share the exact same cuddling position that has felt comfortable to you since ages.<br /> <br /> And then you go on to complain to your friends,” They never want to try anything new!” But that isn’t completely true, is it? Because when they’re with their friends, they will try absolutely anything, from skydiving to eating fried kale. When you’re in a committed relationship, you need to make an effort in keeping things exciting and passionate.<br /> <br /> You need to keep trying out new things together. And there always needs to be room for some change. Your partner should always feel comfortable enough to say:<br /> <br /> <br /> “This might sound a bit crazy, but I think we should…”<br /> <div> <br /> <b>Talk to me</b><br /> Every relationship goes through a rough patch, what matters is how you come out of it smiling. Let me know your experiences in the comments below!<br /> <br /> credit: <a href="http://www.relrules.com/6-signs-your-life-partner-is-secretly-unhappy/2/">relrules.com</a></div>

6 Signs Your Life Partner Is Secretly Unhappy

You haven’t caught them sneaking off to make late-night calls to mysterious numbers. There haven’t been any blow-out fights that make you ...

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Warning Signs Your Pillow Is Damaging Your Brain Power And Overall Health

<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <a href="http://cdn-media-2.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2016/08/21230919/13880302_1758441387747130_7063232990564539172_n-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for best pillow for neck pain" height="536" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7NkGHQRf4Rg/V87b9pu7XqI/AAAAAAAA9Uw/s3igRL4Km6c-Bj-HomMWss3JeTvoGx_CgCJoC/w426-h357/2016%2B-%2B1" width="640" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> From dust mites to dead skin, your pillows really take a beating. A bad pillow can cause serious neck pain and back pain, which can shrink your brain and reduce your brain power.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> A lot of health problems are actually associated with neck pain:</div> <ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #353535; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, San-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, Serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">severe headache</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, Serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">nausea</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, Serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">dizziness</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, Serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">anxiety</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, Serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">depression</li> <li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, Serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">always feeling tired (even after sleeping all night)</li> </ul> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> Then, how do you know when it’s time to buy a new pillow? According tothis study done by pillow manufacturers in Ergoflex, 82% of people do not know when it’s time for a new pillow. Yikes! Are you wondering if you fall into that 82%?</div> <h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #353535; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, San-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 40px; margin: 40px 0px 12px;"> Warning Sign: Pillow Too High/Low</h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> When your pillow is too high, it causes the muscles in your neck to stretch and takes the spine out of alignment. In the image shown below, the woman’s spine is curved at the top. This will leave your neck feeling very stiff throughout the day, causing it to be uncomfortable while performing daily tasks.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #575756; font-family: "Pt serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 18px;"> If you’re a “side sleeper”, the pillow will press down into your shoulder causing upper back and neck pain. To balance this out, many people tend to lift one of their legs forward (almost as if their leg was at a 90-degree angle) leading to lower back pain.<br /> <br /> credit: l<a href="http://www.lifehack.org/450958/warning-signs-your-pillow-is-damaging-your-brain-power-and-overall-health">ifehack.com</a></div>

Warning Signs Your Pillow Is Damaging Your Brain Power And Overall Health

From dust mites to dead skin, your pillows really take a beating. A bad pillow can cause serious neck pain and back pain, wh...

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8 Reasons You Should Never Throw Away Your Orange Peels

<img alt="Image result for orange peel" height="426" src="https://topnaturalremedies.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/orange-peel-and-its-benefits.jpg" width="640" /><br /><br />Every time I eat an orange, I always start by skinning it and throwing away the peels. Apparently, I’ve been doing it wrong my whole life! Just beneath the skin peels lies an abundance of fruit acids and vitamin C. The peels even have more phytonutrients and flavonoids than the inner pulp – which most of us have been tossing down the drain.<br /><br />Here are 8 reasons I’ve recently discovered as to why you should never throw away your orange peels.<div> <br /></div> <b>1. Peels Improve Skin Tone</b><br />Orange peels can remove skin blemishes and dark spots! Their vitamin C content maintains your skin’s suppleness, prevents dullness and adds a healthy glow. It even acts as a natural sunscreen by blocking harmful UV rays! (Note: I wouldn’t use this as a replacement for sunscreen.)<br /><br />Here’s how:<div> <br />1. Mix 2 teaspoons each of orange peel powder and plain yogurt along with 1 teaspoon of honey to make a paste.</div> <div> <br />2. Apply the paste to your face and neck, and gently massage in a circular motion.</div> <div> <br />3. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.<br /></div> <div> 4. Use this face mask paste 2 to 3 times per week.</div> <div> <br /><br /><b>2. Fights Aging Signs</b><br />Orange peels contain tons of antioxidants, which fight off the free radicals responsible for wrinkles and sagging skin. This also works as a great skin toner!<br /><br />Here’s how:<br /></div> <div> 1.Mix 1 tablespoon each of orange peel powder and oatmeal powder with enough honey to make a paste.<br /></div> <div> 2. Apply this paste on your face and neck area.<br /></div> <div> 3. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.<br /></div> <div> 4. Apply once a week for the best results.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>3. Whitens Teeth</b><br />You know that yellow tinge on your teeth? Orange peels can remove it! They contain a compound called d-limonene, which helps reduce teeth staining (even from smoking!)<br /><br />Here’s how:</div> <div> <br /><ul> <li>Rub the inside of an orange peel (the white portion) over your teeth for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse. Do this twice a day until you’ve got those pearly whites.</li> </ul> </div> <div> <br /><ul> <li>Alternatively, you could mix some orange peel powder and some water to make a paste. Add dried leaves for bonus points. Use this paste on your toothbrush and brush your teeth. Repeat twice a day for a few weeks.</li> </ul> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>4. Aids Weight Loss</b><br />Vitamin C has been shown to help you lose weight. Orange peels have tons of the stuff. In order to aid your weight loss goals, replace coffee or soda with orange peel tea.<br /><br />Here’s how:</div> <div> <br />1. Dry the peels from some organic oranges in a cool, dry place.</div> <div> <br />2. Put 1 tablespoon of dried peels in 1 cup of hot water.</div> <div> <br />3. Cover and steep for 10 minutes.</div> <div> <br />4. Remove the peels and add some raw honey.</div> <div> <br />5. Drink 2 cups daily.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>5. Lowers Bad Cholesterol</b><br />Orange peels can reduce low-density lipoproteins (LDL or the ‘bad’ cholesterol) in your body. LDL increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. The pectin in orange peels helps to reduce cholesterol and even lower blood pressure!<br /><br />All you have to do is drink the orange peel tea I talked about above twice a day, every day.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>6. Regulates Bowel Movements</b><br />Orange peels can improve your digestion! The high dietary fiber in them helps regulate your bowel movements and prevents constipation. This is also a good treatment for various digestive disorders, including indigestion, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and heartburn. Oh, and that awesome pectin in the peels promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut!<br /><br />After you finish eating, just (you guessed it!) drink a cup of orange peel tea.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>7. Works as a Natural Air Freshener</b><br />Let’s face it: Oranges smell fantastic. Their peels smell fantastic as well. That strong citrus smell is great at masking unpleasant odors across your home.<br /><br />Here’s how:</div> <div> <br /><ul> <li>Put a handful of fresh orange peels, some lemon juice, and some cinnamon sticks in 2 cups of water. Boil for 10 minutes. Strain, allow the mixture to cool and then transfer it into a spray bottle. Use as needed!</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>Put some orange peel powder in small bottles and use them around the house.</li> </ul> </div> <div> <ul> <li>Put dried orange peels at the bottom of your trashcan to stop those awful smells from cropping up.</li> </ul> <b><div> <b><br /></b></div> 8. Repels Mosquitos and Ants</b><br />Bugs suck. But you’re in luck – they hate orange peels! They don’t like the limonene (which contributes to the citrus smell) in the orange peels. This actually works with all citrus fruit peels.<br /><br />Here’s how:</div> <div> <br /><ul> <li>Make some orange peel powder and put it in areas where bugs congregate.</li> </ul> </div> <div> <br /><ul> <li>Rub fresh orange peels all over your skin to act as a natural bug repellent.</li> </ul> <br />There you have it – don’t throw out those orange peels!</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> credit: <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/450482/8-reasons-you-should-never-throw-away-your-orange-peels">lifehack.com</a></div>

8 Reasons You Should Never Throw Away Your Orange Peels

Every time I eat an orange, I always start by skinning it and throwing away the peels. Apparently, I’ve been doing it wrong my whole life! J...

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Relationship Help: 10 Ways To Keep Your Love Evergreen

<img alt="Relationship Help" height="426" src="http://liveboldandbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/photo-1459259191495-52eccde892c7-1-e1476120836689.jpeg?x55655" width="640" /><br /> <br /> The excitement that stems from a new relationship can make you feel on top of the world. As the newness wears off, the relationship can feel like it’s growing stale. You aren’t doomed to remain in a dull and boring relationship, however. There are some steps you can take to keep a mature relationship fresh and exciting.<br /> <br /> Read Also: <a href="http://relftalk.blogspot.com.ng/2016/10/7-most-beautiful-places-on-earth-you.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.25s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red;">#7 Most Beautiful Places On Earth You Don't Know Exist</span></a><br /> <div> <br /> <b>1. Keep the Element of Surprise Alive</b><br /> <br /> Surprise your partner from time to time in a variety of ways. Arrive home with a small gift, cook your partner’s favorite meal or book a surprise weekend getaway. These types of surprises will keep the excitement alive and prevent you from getting stuck in a relationship rut.</div> <div> <br /> <b>2. Send Romantic Text Messages</b><br /> When you’re apart, send romantic text messages to one another. This can build anticipation for when you’ll see each other again. Use texting to send short messages of love, admiration, and encouragement. Don’t be afraid to send some sexy text messages to spice things up. It is a simple and easy way to keep the romance in your relationship.</div> <div> <br /> <b>3. Schedule Regular Date Nights</b><br /> <br /> Most couples go on dates regularly during the initial phase of their relationship. However, going out to dinner often gets traded in for sitting on the couch. As a result, the relationship can become a little dull. Schedule regular date nights so you can spend quality time together as a couple.</div> <div> <br /> <b>4. Verbalize Your Loving Feelings</b><br /> <br /> Don’t forget to use your words to express your feelings. Sometimes people forget all those mushy things they used to say to one another once the relationship matures. Say, “I love you,” often and don’t shy away from words that truly express how you feel.</div> <div> <br /> <b>5. Try Something New Together</b><br /> Participating in a new activity together can keep the relationship exciting. Take a Chinese cooking class, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or take golf lessons together. A willingness to learn something new can help you grow together as a couple.</div> <div> <br /> <b>6. Spend Time with Other Couples</b><br /> <br /> Spending time with couples who have healthy relationships can be good for you. Look for couples who share your values and who have a strong relationship. It can help reinforce the importance of commitment and help remind you to keep the relationship exciting.</div> <div> <br /> <b>7. Establish Goals Together</b><br /> <br /> Create some goals that you can work on together as a couple. It may include a financial goal, such as saving a certain amount of money to go to on a vacation. Or, it could include a fitness goal, such as running a half marathon together. Working toward your goals can help you feel like a team and gives you new things to talk about and do together.</div> <div> <br /> <b>8. Discuss Your Hopes and Dreams</b><br /> It’s likely that when you were dating, you talked about your hopes and dreams. However, over time, those sorts of conversations can fall by the wayside. Set time aside to continue to discuss your dreams for the future and support one another in making those dreams a reality.</div> <div> <br /> <b>9. Ask Meaningful Questions</b><br /> The types of questions people ask one another often change over time. Questions such as, “What was your life like when you were growing up?” often get replaced with questions like, “What do you want for dinner?” Ask meaningful questions about your partner’s past, thoughts on current events, and feelings about a variety of topics. Try to get past superficial day-to-day conversations and dive deeper.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b>10. Greet One Another with Excitement </b></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The way you greet one another after being apart can set the tone for the rest of the day. Changing small habits, such as the way you greet your partner when they get home, can be key to a lasting relationship. Greet your partner at the door with a hug and a kiss and express your joy at being together again. This can start things off on the right foot and set you on the path to reconnect after being apart.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> credit: <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-ways-keep-your-relationship-exciting-and-fresh.html">lifehack.com</a></div>

Relationship Help: 10 Ways To Keep Your Love Evergreen

The excitement that stems from a new relationship can make you feel on top of the world. As the newness wears off, the relationship can fe...

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27 Signs you’re with a Man who Actually Respects You

<br /><img alt="loveinjustine " height="583" src="https://thoughtcatalog.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/screen-shot-2015-04-22-at-7-03-03-pm.png?w=786&h=716" width="640" /><br /><br />1. Every time he introduces you to a friend or a family member, his short description of who you are makes you blush a lot because he never fails to exaggerate your best personality traits and your talents.<br /><br />2. When you passionately express a strong opinion while chatting with someone you’ve just met or to a group of old friends at a dinner party, it turns him on. You might even catch him at the corner of your gaze, just sitting back, smiling, and watching you make crazy gestures as you try to establish your point. <br /><br />3. He turns to you for subjects that you have more knowledge of. And he will ask you meaningful questions on these topics because he genuinely loves learning more from you. <br /><br />4. If he feels like he’s the expert on a specific area, he won’t act pompous or arrogant about it. If anything, he always takes pride in sharing the knowledge he has with you. <br /><br />5. When you mess up or struggle a bit with anything in life, he finds it endearing instead of taking it as a sign of weakness.<br /><br />6. He will consider it an accomplishment if he ever proves you wrong about anything because in his head, you’re right at least 75 percent of the time or so, whether or not you actually were. <br /><br />7. He will keep pushing you, sometimes even beyond your comfort one, just so you can pursue all your ambitions and dreams. That’s how much he believes in you.<br /><br />8. He always stays as excited about making you orgasm as he is about getting himself off.<br /><br />9. His sexual goals are usually focused on your pleasure instead of his own, like making sure you climax multiple times in a row, or trying out the new positions he researched that are supposed to feel great for a woman. <br /><br />10. He will get a bit jealous if you refer to another guy in your life- someone you actually respect and interact with on a regular basis. This isn’t because he can’t trust you, but because he knows how amazing you are and he’s always a little bit scared of losing you.<br /><br />11. In the rare instances when he doesn’t like what you’re wearing, he will manage to let you know without sounding offensive. In fact, he will even turn an outfit critique into a compliment, by saying something like: “This dress isn’t doing justice to your sexy body.” <br /><br />12. He isn’t scared of superlative when he compliments you. You are “the most amazing woman”, “the most perfect partner”, and the “smartest person” he has ever met. <br /><br />13. Every now and then, he also ends up saying something grandiose like “You mean everything to me” or “You are my entire world.” <br /><br />14. After some time, he might even come up with a semi-embarrassing hashtag in a social media post that’s a not-very-subtle ode to your relationship, something like #mylife or #Forever.<br /><br />15. He would rather help you study or do a project or perform some mundane chores with you than letting you go through these things alone, no matter how unappealing or dull the task sounds.<br /><br />16. He asks for your opinion on every single thing: wardrobe, current events, politics, career strategies, the authenticity of the latest celebrity rumors, etc. <br /><br />17. He isn’t scared of expressing his opinions, even when they differ greatly from yours. Because he knows it will result in a healthy debate instead of an angry fight.<br /><br />18. And while he always hopes to be heard, he will never expect you to just change your mind- unless it happens naturally. And in that case, he will feel extremely satisfied because he truly values your thoughts.<br /><br />19. He keeps forwarding you articles he knows will be interesting to you- about the things he never would have even opened before you started dating him. <br /><br />20. He has been your number one fan and he also considers you his.<br /><br />21. Any time you feel upset or stressed out about something, your bad mood triggers a desire inside him to be a better partner, and to start doing his best to help you get out of a difficult situation, even though he realizes that your problems aren’t hinging on him alone.<br /><br />22. If you say something really nasty or end up going to an extreme during a fight, he doesn’t allow this to impact his view of you. He understands that he is equally capable of saying or doing something stupid in the heat of the moment.<br /><br />23. If he ever hurts you, he takes the pain you feel seriously. And he makes a heartfelt apology and commitment to be more mindful of your feelings in the future.<br /><br />24. He isn’t shy about leaning on you when he’s sick, sad, exhausted or just in need of some extra attention and love.<br /><br />25. He stays committed to dividing all your free time as a couple between your different friend groups and he keeps making efforts to integrate the two groups whenever it seems reasonable. <br /><br />26. He goes the extra mile to take you along on social events or work-related gatherings, even if he’s aware that he will be the only guy there with a plus-one. <br /><br />27. And if he does end up heading some place without you, he will send you a text saying that he wishes you were there with him. And he won’t do this just to flatter you, but because he actually does have more fun whenever you are around.<div> <br /></div> <div> credit: <a href="http://www.relrules.com/27-signs-youre-dating-a-man-who-actually-respects-you/3/">relrules.com</a></div>

27 Signs you’re with a Man who Actually Respects You

1. Every time he introduces you to a friend or a family member, his short description of who you are makes you blush a lot because he never ...

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Top 8 Reasons your Girlfriend might End up Breaking up with you

<img alt="Image result for girls" height="398" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPb04KHjROqeXqPrvifPLhafir4QNpdjn97jErR-8XRzS5uZpe" width="640" /><br /><br />Many studies have revealed that women are much more likely to initiate a breakup than men. One particular survey even revealed that 50% of women only give their partners the half-truth as to why they’re leaving him. Well, we’re here to enlighten you a bit on this topic so that you can finally get some closure or maybe even save your relationship from crashing down.<br /><br />Here is a list of 8 most common reasons why your girlfriend might end up breaking up with you:<div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>1. You’re not spending enough time together</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b>Research has revealed that one of the biggest reasons why a relationship fails is attributed to a lack of time spent together. A girl loves having some “us time”. Now I’m not saying she expects you to spend every waking minute of your life with her, but there should be some sort of balance.<br /><br />What’s the point of being in a relationship if your partner can’t even seem to take some time out for you on a weekend, a holiday, or after work? If you don’t dedicate any of your time to her, she will start feeling like you’re not interested in staying in this relationship. And she might decide to end it before you do.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>2. You haven’t put a ring on it… for years</b><br />The ultimate realization that she might never become your wife, especially when it’s the one thing her heart desires, might push her away from you forever.<br /><br />Author, life coach, and motivational speaker Tony Gaskins stated in his blog that he believes that if a man dates a woman for 3-5 years and hasn’t proposed, he’s just passing time. A woman will be quick to pick up on this attitude and she will leave.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>3. Bad sex</b><br />Yes, as much as all of us like to believe that sex is not as significant as other aspects of your relationship, it is still very much significant. Tammy Nelson, Ph.D., a Board Certified Sexologist and Certified Sex Therapist advised that a couple who has bad sex eventually becomes discouraged about their future together.<br /><br />It isn’t only the physical aspect of sex that will turn a woman away. It’s also the sexual communication or lack of it that will really grind her chain. If you’re actually willing to talk it out and listen, she might be willing to try different things as well.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>4. Huge Differences</b><br />Opposites do attract but when two people just aren’t able to see eye to eye on extremely crucial issues in life, then they will only end up doing more harm to their relationship than good. This might be because your careers are at very different places or she wants to have kids while you want to adopt or you wish to live in the city while she has always dreamed of having a cozy house in the countryside.<br /><br />Whatever the reason might be, there are some issues where you just can’t reach a compromise. She wants what she wants without having to make you feel bad. So it’s better for her to just leave.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>5. You’ve been emotionally unavailable</b><br />Marriage Counsellor, Justice Schanfarber, stated in an article that women end up leaving because they feel that their man is not present, even if she still loves you and even if you have children together.<br /><br />She needs to know that you’re there for her. If you always stay absent-minded, it will make her feel like you’re taking her for granted. She wants to know that the passion is still alive between you two and if she isn’t able to feel that connection, she will choose to leave even if it hurts.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>6. Bad Communication</b><br />You haven’t been man enough to discuss an issue face to face with her or you only talk to her through a gadget or even worst- on some social media platform. No communication, rare communication, or virtual communication aren’t enough to build a strong relationship. Founder and CEO of Balanced Life Academy Group, David Oragui, advised in his article “Why is Communication Important in a Relationship” that “Communication in a relationship is extremely important because it acts as the judge jury who has the final say on whether your relationship lives or dies.”<br /><br />Let this sink in for a while and answer this: are you a good communicator?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>7. Financial instability</b><br />This goes deeper than just being broke. This covers the ambitions and goals you have in life, and your drive to actually do/be something. While your girlfriend can understand how the economy has been rough, one thing that might not sit well with her is if you’re never there to support her financially even if it’s only to split a bill.<br /><br />One matchmaking service revealed that over 95% females answered “yes” when they were asked if income is important to them. Your financial stability acts as a reflection of your ambition. Every girl loves an ambition man even if she is keen on staying independent and providing for herself.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /><b>8. Abuse</b><br />Abuse can be physical, verbal, or emotional. But whatever the type you make her go through, she will end up taking her battle scars and leaving. She is a human being just like you.<br /><br />She deserves to get respect for her body, her emotions, and her thoughts. Damage any of that and your relationship will get broken forever. Steven Stosny, Ph.D. advised in hyschologytoday.com that an emotionally abusive relationship is bound to undermine her worthiness, confidence, trust or growth, and will make her feel unstable and manipulated with shame.<br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> credit: <a href="http://www.relrules.com/top-8-reasons-your-girlfriend-might-end-up-breaking-up-with-you/3/">relrules.com</a></div>

Top 8 Reasons your Girlfriend might End up Breaking up with you

Many studies have revealed that women are much more likely to initiate a breakup than men. One particular survey even revealed that 50% of w...

Read more »