As part of its commitment to reduce drowning rates and keep kids safe in and around the water, the Muskegon YMCA is increasing access to swim instruction and water safety for children from underserved communities in the Muskegon area.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages one to 14 years old. In ethnically diverse communities, the youth drowning rate is two to three times higher than the national average, according to a USA Swimming study. Additionally, 64 percent of African-American children, 45 percent of latino children, and 40 percent of Caucasian children have no or low swimming ability.

Educating children on how to be safe around water is just as important as teaching them to look both ways before they cross the street, says Andi Switzer, Youth Program Director at the Muskegon Y. The Y teaches children of all ages and backgrounds that water should be fun, not feared, and this practice not only saves lives, it builds confidence.

The Y believes this is especially true following 2020s COVID-19 shutdowns. In a typical year, the Muskegon Y teaches 1,100 third-graders in their Safety Around Water programthis decreased to 200 students in 2020. We know there are children in our community who are now more at risk due to the need to maintain social distancing in 2020 and we want to make every effort we can to reach those kids this year, says Switzer. In order to fill this gap, the Muskegon Y is providing their Safety Around Water program to fourth-graders who were unable to participate in the program as a result of COVID.

The Muskegon Y has been a leader in providing swim lessons and water safety in the community for more than 20 years. The Y continues to help youth and adults experience the joy and benefits of swimming, so they can be healthy, confident and secure in the water. There are a variety of programs offered, including Safety Around Water, SPLASH water safety lessons for families, and the Muskegon Y Swim Team.

In addition to learning lifesaving water safety skills, children can increase their physical activity by swimming. Swimming motivates children to strive for self-improvement, teaches goal orientation and cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem. It also teaches life lessons of sport and sportsmanship, so that children can learn how to work well with teammates and coaches and how to deal with winning and losingskills that last a lifetime.

To learn more about the Muskegon Ys swim programs, please contact Andi Switzer at 231.722.9622 x204 or aswitzer@muskegonymca.org.

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Muskegon YMCA increasing access to its learn-to-swim programs - shorelinemedia.net

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have transformed the world of digital art, music, and other creative sectors. However, as technology advances, it is being explored in new and innovative ways which include the areas of meditation and personal transformation. People have become more interested in meditation and mindfulness practices in recent years as they seek ways to reduce stress and improve their mental and emotional well-being. Many meditation and mindfulness applications and platforms have emerged to meet the demand as technology has advanced.

However, one application for NFT technology could be the development of a more secure and transparent system for exchanging digital content related to meditation and personal growth. NFTs might ensure compliance by utilising blockchain technology.

So how might this work in practice?

One way could be to create NFTs representing guided meditations, affirmations, or other transformative experiences. These NFTs could be sold on a marketplace, allowing creators to monetize their work and buyers to own a unique digital asset. For example, an NFT could represent a guided meditation that is designed to help people reduce stress and anxiety. The NFT could be purchased and then redeemed for access to the meditation, which could be delivered via an app or website. The buyer would have full ownership of the NFT, which would be a unique and non-replicable digital asset.

Another potential use of NFT technology for meditation and mindfulness is to create a marketplace for digital content related to personal development. This could include everything from guided meditations to courses on self-improvement, all of which would be represented by unique NFTs.

By using NFTs, creators could protect their content from being copied or shared without permission, while also ensuring that buyers have a clear understanding of their ownership rights. This could create a more secure and transparent marketplace for digital content, making it easier for creators to monetize their work and for buyers to access high-quality content.

NFTs could help to establish a more equitable system for creators of meditation and personal growth content. Currently, many creators rely on subscription models or advertising revenue to monetize their work, which can be difficult to sustain for a longer period of time.

With NFTs, creators could sell their content directly to buyers, without the need for a middleman. Also, the use of NFTs could allow creators to create limited edition or exclusive content, which could be sold at a premium. This could create a new revenue stream for creators and allow buyers to own unique and valuable digital assets.

There are also potential challenges and limitations to using NFTs in the context of meditation and personal growth. For example, there is a risk that the technology could be used to promote low-quality or even harmful content, which could undermine the credibility of the emerging industry as a whole. With careful regulation and responsible use of the technology, NFTs could have a positive impact on the world of meditation and personal growth.

Creating a more secure and transparent marketplace for digital content could help empower creators and buyers alike, creating a more equitable and sustainable industry over the long term.

The use of NFT technology for meditation and transformation is an exciting area that is still in its infancy. As technology evolves and more creators and buyers enter the space, it will be interesting to see how NFTs are used to shape the future of the industry.

(The author is the Founder and Research Scientist at Sensorium)

Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd. Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is subject to market risks. Readers are advised to seek expert advice and read offer document(s) along with related important literature on the subject carefully before making any kind of investment whatsoever. Cryptocurrency market predictions are speculative and any investment made shall be at the sole cost and risk of the readers.

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NFT For Meditation? How Non-Fungible Tokens Can Transform Wellness Experiences - ABP Live

Tim Henson is one of the players we look to when were looking to up our game. He is one of electric guitars futurists, and his partnership with Scott LePage in Polyphia has yielded some of instrumental prog guitars most daring arrangements.

But who do you turn to when you are Henson and you need to expand your repertoire? As it turns out, you give Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders a call.

Speaking to Reverb (opens in new tab), for a video segment shot in which he and LePage discuss gear, technique, songwriting and more, Henson said he found himself at an impasse in 2020.He needed to bring something fresh to his game, and it just so happened that Tosin Abasis name was in his contacts.

Every album I just try to level up my playing, and I was like, Okay, well its probably time I learned thumping because I wanted to learn it eight years prior, says Henson. And I had tried. It was too hard. I said, Fuck that! I had started hanging out with Tosin and I was like, Well, I personally know Tosin now, so let me just ask him if he will teach me something. I offered him a thousand dollars for four guitar lessons and he said sure.

But even for Henson, getting the hands around the Abasis percussive thump guitar style was no gimme. He had to work on his fingerstyle technique. He needed more digital independence in his picking hand, and Abasi had an idea.

He showed it to me [in] the first lesson and it was so foreign and then he was like, Okay, yeah, also, if you are not that well-versed in using your fingers try these classical pieces, said Henson. And one was La Catedral. That was one of the pieces that I had to learn to kind of just get used to using these other fingers because, prior to that, we were just hybrid picking.

Written by the Paraguayan virtuoso Agustn Barrios, La Catedral is a doozy. Henson demonstrates a neat version of its first measures in the video, also demonstrating just how useful that nylon-string mode is on his Ibanez TOD10 signature guitar for getting close to the tone without reaching for a classical guitar.

Ultimately, Henson got his thumping technique down, expanding the sounds available on Remember That You Will Die. But he and LePage admit they approach it totally differently.

Were playing a bunch of the thumping shit on tour and I am watching us during practice and rehearsal, and I am doing it the way I learned from Tosin then Scott is just doing it a way he taught himself, and it is two completely different-assed things but they are sounding the same! said Henson. If you just listen, close your eyes, Yeah, that sounds right. But then you look; our right hands are doing something completely different.

All that matters is that is sounds okay. But even then, theres always the sense that Polyphia write some things that are so out there that not they, not anyone, can replicate it live.

Speaking to MusicRadar in November 2022, Scott LePage said they just go for it in the studio to make the song sound as good as it can be and worry about if they can play it later. So what if they have to change something?

There was one moment during Chimera when, mid-song, LePage was playing an eight-string guitar and decided he was going to tune the low string down a half-step just because he wanted that note.

What we do when we write is we think in serving the song, right? Most of the time anyway, said LePage. There is a small aspect of, Okay, this needs to be performable. But sometimes we just do cool shit for the sake of doing cool shit and we worry about it later. If we have to change some stuff, we do that.

You can check out the rest of Henson and LePages conversation with Reverb above. And if you want a lesson from Tosin Abasi but can't find his number in your Rolodex, you can always check out MusicRadar's Tosin Abasi lesson in which he breaks down his picking and tapping techniques.

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Polyphia's Tim Henson offered Tosin Abasi $1000 to teach him ... - MusicRadar

A concoction of f-words, Gen-Z lingo, and the usual hows and whysthe titles of self-help books are eye-catching, much like their vibrant hardbound covers. These hardbacks sell like hot cakes at bookstores. Consider this: according to market data, the estimated worth of the self-improvement market is $16.6 billion in the US alone. Titles like Get Your Sh!t Together by Sarah Knight who is also the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k, or Mark Mansons The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck have many takers, with the latter going insanely viral on social media in 2016. Back home in India, with the start-up boom and the rise of venture capitalism, entrepreneurs who shot to fame are now coming up with self-help books to teach young entrepreneurs the ins and outs of scaling a business in the Indian economy.

The controversies that Ashneer Grover addressed in the book grabbed headlines and piqued India Incs interest as opposed to the business advice he offered.

Case in point: BharatPe co-founder and former Shark Tank India judge Ashneer Grovers debut book Doglapan, in which the businessman shares his personal experiences as a serial entrepreneur, or Emcure top honcho Namita Thapars The Dolphin and the Shark, where the pharma czarina chronicles Emcures early days, while narrating anecdotes from Shark Tank Indias sets.

Admittedly, Grovers Doglapan delivers what it promisedthat is, his take on entrepreneurship and life. But it was mostly the controversies he addressed in the book that grabbed headlines and piqued India Incs interest as opposed to the business advice he had to offer.

Or consider Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo, yet another Amazon bestseller where a start-up guru shares gyan on business, life, success, failure and the usual humdrum. At what point do self-help books stop being improvement guides and become a brand-building exercise for star entrepreneurs?

More importantly, can self-help books be considered improvement guides in the first place?

One of the many Amazon bestsellers where a start-up guru shares gyaan on business, life, success, failure and the usual humdrum.

To put things in context, BharatPe has sued Grover and his wife, Madhuri Jain, for Rs.88 crore on the charge of swindling the company. How fair is it for super-rich entrepreneurs to advise the working class on scaling business and, perhaps unknowingly, sell them a false hope of upward social mobility? What impact is it likely to have on the mental health of budding entrepreneurs? Mehezabin Dordi, a Delhi-based clinical psychologist, says: Self-help books are not created equal. Neither do they have the same impact on all readers, all of whom have different personal experiences and ideas.

Dordi believes that self-help books which help readers tackle mental health issuesfor example, Jay Shettys Think Like a Monk which claims to help folks become less anxious selvesoften urge readers to avoid or dismiss their problems. Ideally, they should be addressing the deep-rooted psychological concerns that the reader may have. Imagine you have a cracked wall which you know needs to be broken down and built again. Self-help books quickly apply a nice coat of paint on it and pretend everything is okay. The reader, too, is convinced, thanks to the placebo effect. Except that after a short while, the issue resurfaces.

Dordi says, Suppression of emotions is never healthy. It is important to scientifically validate the advice offered by self-help authors.

Dordi, whose practice is in Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, believes the failure of readers to better themselves or meet their own expectations is a double whammy and is likely to worsen their mental health, leading to a vicious cycle.

Self-help books often have eye-catching titles.

In fact, a 2015 study on self-help books by the University of Montreal in Canada showed that people who read self-help books may be more sensitive to stress and show higher depressive symptoms. So why do people who read self-help books feel they are moving on the right path, even if that feeling is short-lived? The reason is the placebo effect.

Dordi explains: A lot of behavioural and emotional challenges that readers face come from severe mental health issues that perhaps go undiagnosed. Some readers do not realise that these challenges require long-term care and they instead go for a quick fix, which seems to work for a short while, thanks to the placebo effect. The reader has the illusion of having things under control, giving them a feeling of short-term accomplishment.

Another important concern with self-help literature that warrants a discussion is the responsibility of the self-help author towards the reader and society. After all, advice, if not taken in the right spirit, can be disastrous. Dordi, for one, thinks that readers have a greater responsibility here than the authors.

The responsibility lies with the reader to check the credentials of the author and verify the sources. It is their responsibility to confirm the accuracy of the advice, use Google search, and read up on the literature available online. Readers of self-help books must also have a certain level of self-acceptance and self-awareness while setting goals based on self-help books, she says.

Dordi also raised a rather pertinent point on the contradictions within the self-help genre. One self-help book gives you a recipe of looking at life in a certain way and another one gives you the exact opposite. The reader often ends up even more confused than they were in the first place.

Beyond the obvious contradictions, self-help books also sell a dream of upward social mobility to the working class, urging them to hustle hard, and even promote toxic positivity. How does this impact the well-being of the reader? Dordi says: Readers of self-help books need to accept that it is okay to make mistakes and that they will not always have answers to all questions. To put it simply, while reading the self-help book of a millionaire, readers must realise that everyone cannot become a millionaire by reading a book.

Of course, one cannot deny the push that self-help books receive from capitalism, which can be best described as a self-fulfilling prophecy. The moment readers start seeking emotional fulfilment instead of success, capitalism steps in and renews their desire to transcend their social class and climb up the ladder. Dordi agrees with the notion that the desire to acquire wealth and materialistic things can push one towards self-help literature.

However, she also thinks that self-help books by billionaires should not all be painted with the same brush. There are, obviously, self-help books which get it right, books which inform and educate readers. Some of them are written by rich entrepreneurs. On a parting note, Dordi adds that self-help books are self-enhancement tools, not self-replacement books. We need to take self-help books with a pinch of salt.

A couple of continents away, London-based self-help author and psychotherapist Charlotte Fox Weber talks about her book What We Want: A Journey Through Twelve of Our Deepest Desires, which takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and seeking the purpose of life. Asked about her thoughts on self-help literature, Weber said: Self-help is a category that should also be called self-destructionit helps us get better if we understand the darkness within us [and destroy it]. Confronting the dark side of human beings is essential for understanding how we can live richer lives.

Being a psychotherapist, Weber acknowledges the need to address negative feelings and make space to discover them first and eventually accept them. Being honest about gratitude, for instance, requires facing the ways you dont feel grateful. Cultivating playfulness and creativity and love means looking at the oppositesthe writers block, the loss, and the sorrow. Making space for darkness is more comforting and is therefore needed to move towards betterment, Weber says.

Asked about which self-help books one should avoid, Weber says, Books that promote instant fixes end up wasting time. Avoid them. On billionaires lecturing the working class on hard work and hustle, Weber says: Its a form of deception when someone immensely privileged overlooks the factors for opportunity. Its punishing to suggest that its each persons responsibility to determine lifes fate. Whats equally harmful is oversimplifying possibilities and suggesting that hard work determines everything to come in life.

On the self-help books one could read, Weber says: Books that are honest and illuminating about suffering as well as joy can uplift far more than self-help books that push for reductive approaches. She, too, recommends books which are honest and provide long-term solutions.

Beyond billionaires, motivational gurus and start-up honchos whose self-help books are popular in the Indian subcontinent, many self-help books overseas are playing a key role in helping people manage their lives better, sans the toxic positivity.

Sallyann Beresford is a UK-based publisher and a self-help author who writes books which support pregnant women and enable them to have a positive birthing experience. An antenatal teacher by profession, Sallyann Beresfords self-help books Labour of Love and The Art of Giving Birth aim to educate couples to help them feel more confident about their ability to conceive naturally while also urging women to take ownership of decisions surrounding their pregnancy.

Beresford is aware of her limitations as a writer. My birth planning journals help by looking at mindset and physical abilities to maximise the chance of achieving a natural birth. This might not suit all pregnant women, she says.

Elaborating on the nuances of the self-help genre, Beresford says: Some self-help books may be internalised by the reader and they could feel overwhelmed by the recommendations given. Inevitably the purpose of self-help books is to recognise what you might need to change in order to reach your full potentialbut that potential will mean something different to each reader.

Back home in India, Chintan Girish Modi, a journalist and book reviewer, thinks self-help books might be beneficial, after all. Some readers want to learn how to manage stress, others want to get over their social awkwardness. Some want to learn a new skill but dont have the money to sign up for it. So they go for self-help books. I prefer to see self-help in this light, he says, rather than assuming that all of them promote toxic positivity, hustling or productivity. People who pick them seem to have a genuine desire to transform their life circumstances or at least their approach to what life throws at them. They are willing to try new strategies and ideas instead of giving up on life. His empathetic take on the self-help conundrum is based on the belief that everyone needs support, and that support can look different for each person. Whether its going to a therapist or a life coach, having regular meetings with a mentor, nurturing a spiritual practice, or applying what one learns from a book that seems beneficial.

Deepansh Duggal is a writer based in New Delhi. He writes on cinema, culture, and mental health issues.

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ESSAY | Self-help books: Of little help? - Frontline

It might be difficult to figure out what to do when a man distances himself from you. But there are certain signs he will come back after pulling away. These indicators can range from ongoing communication to making an attempt to visit you, indicating a shift in behavior, displaying jealousy or possessiveness, and physical or verbal cues.

Although these indications may seem encouraging, its crucial to keep in mind that a change of heart doesnt guarantee a healthy relationship. Open communication and honesty are still essential for rebuilding a bond. If youre grappling with questions like Should I go back to ex? or What to do when he pulls away?, you must plan your next steps carefully and pragmatically.

That said, the shift from seeing the signs of a man pulling away from you to him gravitating back toward you is definitely encouraging if youre intent on making things work with him. If thats what his actions seem to convey to you, pay attention to the signs he wants to get back together and then decide your future course of action.

It can be a living nightmare when a man pulls away, whether physically or emotionally. Your mind is clouded with questions like Will he come back?, Have I lost him for good?, Is he already involved with other women? and whatnot. The uncertainty and fear of not understanding what may be going on in his mind can be overwhelming.

In this situation, its natural to want to do whatever you can to bring him back to you and it can make you look for signs he will come back after pulling away. If he has been pulling away from you lately, keep in mind that it does not always spell the end of your relationship. Here are 11 promising signs that he will come back after pulling away:

Effective communication is important in every healthy relationship. If he has been upfront and honest with you about his feelings and the reasons for their pulling away, its a good sign that he is willing to work through any problems in the relationship. Even if you dont agree with him, its crucial to actively listen and try to comprehend his point of view, especially after a guy pulls away from their relationship.

You can make your partner feel heard and understood by providing a secure and open environment, which may go a long way toward resolving any problems or issues that may have led to him pulling away.

Related Reading: 11 Expert Tips To Communicate Better With Your Partner

If he expresses remorse or guilt for his behavior or the way his decision to distance himself affected you, its one of the signs he will come back after pulling away. Some ways he might express remorse or guilt for his actions are:

These gestures should be recognized and appreciated because they show that your partner takes accountability in the relationship and is committed to making things better.

A crucial component of any serious relationship is spending quality time together. If he has recently been making an effort to spend time with you after pulling away, its a sign that he still values the relationship and wants to rebuild what has been lost. For instance, you may find him grabbing your hand and saying stay just a few more minutes when its time to part ways.

Spending time can also include things like making plans for the future, going on dates, or simply spending hours talking and enjoying each others company. This indicates that he is definitely not losing interest in you and he wants to come back. You and he may deepen your new relationship and restore any lost intimacy by prioritizing your time together and making an effort to reconnect.

Improvement, behavioral or otherwise, can be a lifesaving factor for every long-term relationship and does not happen out of thin air. Improvement can act as a rope to help your relationship climb out of the breakup pit. Just the fact that he is taking steps to better himself is one of the tell-tale signs he will come back after pulling away.

He is prioritizing working on the relationship as well as his own life and rebuilding the love and the lost connection with self-improvement. This could include things like:

Even if these steps are more focused on personal growth, they can still amount to your relationship improving, as he does.

Related Reading: 5 Cute Ways To Improve And Strengthen Your Relationship

If he still has your belongings, it can indicate that he hasnt completely closed the door on the relationship and may still have feelings for you. If he hasnt come to retrieve his things, it could mean that hes not ready to completely sever the tie between the two of you. Maybe keeping your things is his way of keeping you present in his life while he figures out his feelings and future plans. Or maybe he is planning on using your belongings as a segue to re-enter the relationship.

A research paper published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships says, Memories reside in our minds and are enhanced through the physical objects we keep. Note that alternatively, this could also mean that he just might not have found the right time or the right way to ask for his things back or return yours. While this alone may not be the strongest sign he will come back, if you notice it in conjunction with other signs, it definitely counts.

This could be one of the signs he will come back after pulling away and he is waiting for you. When most guys pull themselves away, they generally end all mutual connections. If he is in touch with your friends and family even after the breakup, there is a good chance he is still thinking about you and considering the possibility of getting back together.

You could use this as a golden opportunity to find out the reasons for his pulling away through them. That will help answer the will he come back question to some extent. Here are a few additional pointers to keep in mind as you try to gain insight through other people:

An ex who initiates contact and is reaching out to you, whether its through phone calls or text messages, sends strong signs youll get back together as it can mean hes still thinking about the relationship. Its important to pay attention to the content of these messages, as they may be trying to gauge your interest in getting back together. For example, an ex who sends a message saying, I miss you and I wish we could talk, may be showing interest in getting back together.

A research study about staying friends with ex-romantic partners mentions, Finally, an unresolved romantic desire seems to be an intuitive reason why one or both members of the dyad may desire to stay friends. It is possible that one member did not, in fact, want to terminate the relationship and that the opportunity for maintaining some relationship with his or her former partner is preferable to the alternative, especially if there is perceived hope for romantic renewal.

Related Reading: Everything On How To Be Friends With Your Ex

If your ex still sends a message or a gift on special days such as your birthday, just like he did during the early stages of your relationship, then its one of the signs he will come back after pulling away. If he not only remembers these special dates but goes out of his way to let you know that he remembers, it can be for one or more of the following reasons:

In this virtual age of people blocking people on social media first and properly thinking about it later, if youre still friends with your ex on social media, it can be a subtle indication that he will come back to you. Generally, after pulling away, a person is no longer interested in the other. If your ex is still following you on your social media accounts or liking your posts, it could be a sign that theyre keeping tabs on your life.

It is important to note that their presence on your social media does not necessarily mean that they want to get back together, but it could mean that theyre still interested in how and what youre doing. It could also be a sign of lingering feelings or unresolved emotions. If this is the case, you may want to take a step back and evaluate if he is showing other signs that he will come back before you ask yourself the question, Should I go back to my ex?

This is where your mans hero instinct kicks in. If your ex is still willing to be there for you during a difficult time, its one of the signs your ex is waiting for you because he still cares about you and wants to be there for you. This shows that your ex values you and that you still have a strong connection. However, its important to consider if this level of contact is healthy for you and what kind of fundamental support you are looking for from them.

If hes reaching out and being there for you in your times of need makes you feel good, here are a few ways you can reciprocate:

Related Reading: 17 Signs He Still Loves You After The Breakup

He wants to relive a special moment with you whenever you are together, whether it be in the same room, on the phone, in person, or over social media. Hes been reflecting on the good times you two have shared. And he might already be picturing the happy times you two could share if you reconciled.

His reflection on the past could mean any of the following:

If you notice any of these characteristics in his words or actions, it might be one of the clear signs your ex is waiting for you.

When your significant other starts pulling away, it can be a confusing and stressful time. You may feel hurt, abandoned by this push-pull relationship pattern, and unsure of what to do next. Everybody deals with certain situations in their own ways. Many women get caught up on questions like what to do when he pulls away, or maybe you might ponder if the relationship is worth fighting for and if its time to go on.

But if your partner eventually comes back after pulling away, it can be a whole other emotional rollercoaster, and then you will be riddled with questions like Should I go back to my ex? On one hand, you may feel relieved and happy that he has returned. On the other hand, you may feel hesitant and uncertain about whether or not you can trust them.

So, what to do when a guy pulls away and then comes back? Here are a few steps to consider:

Before you even think about reconciling with your partner, its important to take some time for yourself. This a tailor-made advice. This is a chance to reflect on your feelings and priorities and to decide what you want in a relationship. During this time, try to focus on self-care and self-love. Do things that bring you joy. This might include:

On a similar note, give him some time as well. When he pulls away, do nothing.

Once youve had some time to process your feelings, its important to communicate with your partner about what happened. Through this, hell realize his shortcomings and work on them. Although having this starter conversations can be challenging, doing so is essential in moving forward.

During this conversation, try to be honest and open about your feelings. Talk about why your partner pulled away and how it made you feel. Also, let him know what you need to feel loved and supported in the relationship.

Related Reading: 11 Ways To Improve Communication In Relationships

If you decide to give him another chance, its important to set clear boundaries in the relationship. This might include setting limits on how much time you spend together or establishing rules about communication and trust. These boundaries can help to create a sense of stability and security in the relationship, and also help you feel more in control.

Managing a relationship can be difficult, especially if youre dealing with trust issues or other challenges. It can be helpful to seek support from friends, family, a highly trained relationship coach, or a therapist. A therapist can provide a safe and neutral space to talk about your feelings and work through any issues that may be impacting your relationship. This can be genuinely helpful in developing coping strategies and communication skills that can be useful in the future.

After your man decides to come back, its important to take things slowly and not rush into things. This is especially true if youre feeling hesitant or unsure about the relationship. Dont make a big deal out of it. This is where you shouldnt make him feel guilty all the time. Try to focus on building trust and creating a sense of stability in the relationship. This might involve spending more time together and getting to know each other even better than before, or finding ways to show him that you care and support them.

Remember, its important to take the time to carefully consider all of these factors before deciding on getting back together with your ex. Its also a good idea to seek the advice of friends, family, or a therapist to help you weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for yourself. To make the process a tad easier, we bring you this should I get back with my ex quiz using which you can address certain underlying questions you need to ask yourself to come to a conclusion:

If youve answered yes to more than 6 of these questions, you could consider getting back together with your ex. While yeses or nos in a quiz cannot be the only parameter influencing your decision, this should I get back with my ex quiz should help you understand your feelings about your ex and the relationship in a better light, which can lead to you making a healthier decision for yourself.

In conclusion, several signs could suggest a man who has backed off will turn around. These consist of maintaining contact, making an attempt to visit you, body language, displaying possessiveness or jealousy, expressing regret or remorse, and indicating a behavior change.

For all we know, pulling away could just be his defense mechanism to avoid conflicts. But its crucial to keep in mind that these indications are not promises and shouldnt be used to infer something about someones thoughts or intentions. Dealing with a partner who comes back after pulling away can be a challenging experience. It is best to look out for all the signs youll get back together and have an honest chat with the person in question if you are unclear about where you stand with them.

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11 Promising Signs He Will Come Back After Pulling Away And ... - Bonobology.com

Its a tale as old as timegirl meets boy, girl falls for boy, and girl talks to best friend on the phone for months ad nauseam about the anxious doldrums of a situationship. Said girl, well call her Carrie, talked to her best friend Miranda on the phone for months about this tepid romance with a Massachusetts boy who was very boring, but also not very nice. Miranda was patient with the spiraling conversations about Mr. Boringfriends can be tedious, but being annoying isnt a sin, right? One day, the tables turned and Mirandas own boyfriend broke up with her. She texted Carrie, Hey me and Steve just broke up and its been really painful. Can we talk on the phone? Carrie replied: You know Ive been going through a lot with my own romantic life and I dont have the bandwidth to take on any more right now. We can talk on the phone but Id prefer if we didnt talk about that.

A friend relayed this story to me and once I was done cackling, I felt bad for Miranda. The comical unfairness is blatant, but what stuck with me was the negotiation. The idea that Carrie was willing to have a conversation if Miranda was willing to ignore the central crisis in her life. She offered to go through the overtures of friendship with none of the substance. In that moment, empathy was a currency that Carrie wasnt willing to spend. It confused me so deeply that Im still trying to untangle the tactlessness of that exchange months later. Was it the disingenuous formality? Denying permission to have emotions? Defining your capacity to give a shit? I tried to dress it up with a lot of analysis, but at the end of the day, I was just left with an eerie feeling. Put simply, it gave me the creeps.

For the record, Im no Miss Congeniality. I love a hard boundary. I love Airplane Mode. I have enough unread texts, e-mails, and Instagram notifications to give a Virgo a heart attack. Weve all negotiated dicey boundaries, heartbreaking friend breakups, and the long-con ghosting of that annoying person who only talks about themselvesbut the above conversation is pointing to a much more sinister trend. I feel the need to emphasize that yes, self-care is good. Yes, boundaries are healthy. Yes, we all have an elastic emotional bandwidth that we need to protectput your mask on before helping another passenger, blah blah blahbut the fact that I have to defensively explain these definitions is part of the issue. There has been a flattening of language that leaves conversations devoid of nuance. Self-care = good. Boundaries = good. Positive thinking = good. If for any reason you exceed the appropriate limit: Toxic. Toxic self-care. Toxic positivity. Toxic individualism.

The language itself is overplayed and hyperbolic, but there is a common thread in all these trends: Western individualism run amok. In America, self-care was divorced from its roots of avoiding burnout and mutated into rampant narcissism. My favorite spoof of this phenomenon is the Instagram account @power.of.self.care, mostly because when their posts pop up in my feedlike, Always prioritize comfort over growth. Read that again.the aesthetic and language are almost indistinguishable from all the other sincere self-care messaging I see online. We all cringed at that I am actually at my emotional capacity meme template that made the rounds in 2019, satirizing the cut-and-paste ease with which you can dismiss a friend in an emotional crisis. America went ahead and did what it does best: took (largely Eastern) concepts of wellness and mindfulness and tried to shove it into the machine of capitalism. It used to be: Take care of yourself so you can best care for your community. Fill your own cup before trying to fill others. Americas rugged, pistol-swingin individualism made a drastic edit: Take care of yourself so you can best care for yourself. Fill your own cup, so your cup is always at its fullest. In short: everyone elses needs are a constant threat to your own self-improvement.

This isnt a bi-partisan issue. Yes, radical individualism is well-illustrated in the anti-masker protests. The idea that a slight inconvenience is not worth the health and safety of our society as a wholeany degree of discomfort is a violation of our freedom. But Carrie and Miranda are staunchly democratic, vaxxed-up, mask-wearing liberals. We liberals are all about compassion, and yet, the same callous individualism still pops up. When I was at my liberal arts college in Boston, a girl in my co-op made a spreadsheet for her social engagements. To be clear, this existed so her friends could make appointments to hang out with her. After marveling at the pompousness of said spreadsheet, it clued me in on a core idea: the commodification of our personal time.

At the center of all this toxic individualism, toxic self-care, and toxic positivity is the same idea: Friendship is a reciprocal exchange of goods, you must optimize the time to fulfill your greatest potential, and anything that isnt directly related to your personal journey is a waste of time. It has evolved into a brutal formalization of conversations. I grant you permission to talk, with the understanding that every moment that goes by is a vampiric draining of my bandwidth. When I am at capacity, I will ask permission to waste someone elses precious energy. When did it become implicit that friendships are about merely tolerating another person while they talk about themselves? Call me old-fashioned, but I love my friends. Their thoughts and feelings are exciting to me. When they are in pain, I dont hesitate to help. Yes, sometimes its at an inconvenient time, but we figure it out. Talking to them doesnt feel like passing a conversational batonwhen you have the talking stick, you get to monologue about yourself.

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Has Toxic Self-Care Sparked An Empathy Crisis? - Coveteur

Getty / JLco - Julia Amaral The Third Mercury Retrograde of 2023 Is Lighting Up Your Healing Era

The time between the tail end of August and the beginning of September tends to host both last summer hurrahs and our initial flirtations with fall. In other words, it's the perfect transitional season. By the end of that transition, you can't help but hope to feel like you're stepping into a whole new chapter. But unfortunately, that new chapter might be a tiny bit delayed in 2023, thanks to the third Mercury retrograde of the year.

When the planet of communication, transportation, and technology appears to move backward from our vantage point on Earth, we're nudged to review, reflect, and revise, as opposed to pushing forward on new endeavors. Occurring in Virgo, the service-oriented mutable earth sign symbolized by the Maiden, Mercury's backspin officially kicks off on Aug. 23 and wraps up on Sept. 15. Thankfully, understanding the themes of this particular Mercury retrograde can help you make the most of it.

To get a sense of what Mercury retrograde entails, it can help to understand how the planet functions when it's direct (or moving forward). Typically, Mercury, the messenger planet, speeds up our ability to connect, supports our mental energy, and keeps technology and transportation running smoothly. But three to four times a year, for three weeks at a time, it appears to slow down and move backward through the zodiac. And when this happens, miscommunications abound, transportation gets hairy, and our devices glitch out.

But again, it's not all doom and gloom. The planet of communication's frequent slowdowns encourage us to rest, recharge, take a step back, and contend with the past in order to make room for the future.

Mercury is retrograde in Virgo (ruled by communicator Mercury itself) from Aug. 23 to Sept. 15. As such, the overall tone of this particular retrograde is cerebral and self-reflective. It might also bring more blasts from your past social life as a result of Venus, the planet of relationships, being retrograde as well from July 22 to Sept. 3. You will most likely run into people who are total blasts from the past, have to figure out how to text - or avoid texting - an ex, and take special care to avoid misunderstandings in one-on-one bonds.

Thanks to Virgo's influence, it's actually an ideal retrograde for research, revision, and editing anything that has been throwing off your inner balance, especially on a day-to-day basis. The detail-oriented earth sign is, after all, associated with the sixth house of wellness and daily routine.

That said, Mercury's retrograde in Virgo can compel you to tackle everyday to-dos that you've put on the back burner and also rethink how you're caring for your health and being of service to others and to yourself. While fellow earth sign Taurus tends to get all the credit for being the sign that innately values self-care, one of the Maiden's key lessons is self-love and self-acceptance. So don't be surprised if you find you're being tested on these themes - and find yourself stumbling into sweet, everyday opportunities to hone how you're caring for yourself not only physically but also emotionally and mentally.

Given the cerebral and self-improvement vibes of this retrograde, these three weeks can be a wonderful time to go even further with ongoing self-work. Keep in mind that, around this time, you may also find yourself revisiting themes that came up around Aug. 3-23, when Mercury was cruising ahead through this same spot in the sky.

To better understand how you'll experience these often confusing but ultimately enlightening three weeks, read on for your Mercury retrograde horoscope, and be sure to read not only your sun sign but also your rising sign.

The messenger planet's backspin in your sixth house of wellness and daily routine will turn your focus to health matters. If it's been a minute since you've gotten a particular checkup or you're itching to rework your fitness routine, now's your chance.

The trickster planet heads back through your fifth house of romance, potentially stirring up communication with old flames but also encouraging you to revisit a favorite date-night spot or go back to the drawing board on an artistic undertaking.

Mercury retrogrades just about always clobber you over the head because the messenger planet is your ruler, Gemini. This time, Mercury moves backward through your fourth house of home life, nudging you to tend to any loose ends related to family issues or, quite literally, your home.

The messenger planet cruises back through your third house of communication, so don't be surprised if those classic retrograde tech glitches and misunderstandings rear their ugly heads. It's a reason to slow down and be more intentional about how - and with whom - you're exerting your social energy.

The messenger planet's backspin in your second house of income is an opportunity to revisit your budget, values, moneymaking game plans, and relationship to material possessions. You'll also do well to reflect on whether you're being adequately valued for what you bring to the table in business endeavors.

The planet of communication lands back in your sign and first house of self, which can help you revise the way you're putting yourself out in the world. You might want to edit your rsum, rework your website, or refresh your wardrobe ahead of pursuing a major personal goal.

As Mercury moves backward through your 12th house of spirituality this time around, you might feel a bit stalled and sleepy. But you can also pour your energy into imaginative pursuits and mind-body routines you've previously adored.

Mercury's backspin through your 11th house of networking can help you revisit collaborative undertakings, team efforts, and platonic bonds that'll have you feeling more connected. Sure, wires could get crossed with colleagues and friends, but you can reframe these moments as opportunities to hone communication skills in this context as well as your sense of teamwork.

Mercury moves back through your 10th house of career, which allows you a chance to reflect on your approach to long-term professional goals. Now's your chance to review and revise your game plan for making your mark and earning recognition for putting your nose to the grindstone.

As Mercury moves back through your ninth house of adventure and higher learning, you might be inspired to hit the books, brushing up on a particular skill set or planning a trip to a beloved long-distance spot where you previously spent time. Yep, even though you always hear that travel is a no-no during Mercury retrograde, revisiting a place from the past could lead to personal growth.

Mercury's backspin in your eighth house of intimacy requires you to review joint resources and what makes you feel comfiest when connecting with someone special physically and emotionally. Initiating tough conversations about past emotional wounds might not feel like the easiest thing to do, but it can be incredibly healing now.

Mercury will move backward through your seventh house of partnership, which urges you to reflect on your one-on-one relationships, reciprocity within these bonds, and goals you're working toward with a friend, colleague, partner, or loved one. It's time to address unfinished business as part of a pair.

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The Third Mercury Retrograde of 2023 Is Lighting Up Your Healing Era - msnNOW

Aries: The alignment of the planets suggests that your career may take an unexpected turn today. It could be in the form of a new project, a promotion, or even a job offer from a different company. Embrace these opportunities, but remember to evaluate them carefully before making any hasty decisions. Trust your instincts, but also rely on your rational thinking to make a well-informed choice.

Taurus: Stay focused and prioritise your tasks accordingly to ensure you meet your deadlines today. Collaboration and teamwork will play a crucial role in getting the work done on time. Engage with your colleagues and leverage their expertise to enhance your own performance. Share your ideas and listen to the input of others. This will not only lead to better outcomes but also help foster a positive and supportive work environment.

Gemini: Although it's natural to be excited about your prospects and eager to prove yourself, it's important to temper that enthusiasm with humility and self-awareness today. Keeping your ego in check allows you to cultivate healthy relationships and navigate the professional landscape more effectively. Unnecessary conflicts or power struggles can hinder your progress and create a negative work environment.

Cancer: Today is an exceptional day for you to unleash your creativity and push the boundaries of conventional thinking. It is an opportunity to step into uncharted territory. By embracing your imaginative ideas and a unique perspective, you have the power to distinguish yourself from your peers and captivate those in positions of authority. This will enable you to uncover hidden opportunities and undiscovered potential.

Leo: This is an excellent time to invest in self-development. Consider attending workshops, enrolling in online courses, or seeking mentorship from seasoned professionals. The more knowledge and skills you acquire, the more valuable you become in your industry. Continual learning will not only expand your horizons but will also equip you with the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market.

Virgo: Challenges may arise today in the form of unexpected obstacles or conflicts with colleagues. Stay calm and composed in these situations, as your diplomatic skills will be essential in resolving conflicts and finding mutually beneficial solutions. Avoid getting caught up in office politics and stay focused on your goals. Your ability to adapt and find common ground will be appreciated by your superiors.

Libra: While the day promises many positive opportunities, it is essential to maintain a balanced approach. Don't get overwhelmed by the demands of your career. Remember to take breaks, relax, and recharge your energy. Self-care and maintaining a healthy work-life balance will contribute to your long-term success and well-being. Engage in some activities that help rejuvenate your mind and body.

Scorpio: Today is a propitious day to start exploring your career change or pursuing a new path. Embrace your aspirations, trust your instincts, and seek guidance to navigate this transformative journey successfully. Remember that a career change is not an overnight process; it requires careful planning, research, and dedication. Take the time to explore different industries and network with professionals.

Sagittarius: Effective communication is crucial for conveying ideas clearly and minimizing misunderstandings. When expressing your thoughts, it is important to be mindful of your communication style to ensure that your message is understood accurately. Additionally, be mindful of the tone and style of your communication. Use a respectful and considerate approach and avoid ambiguous statements.

Capricorn: Your eloquence and persuasive skills will help you navigate complex situations with ease. You'll excel in presentations, negotiations, and meetings, leaving a lasting impression on those around you. Your ideas and opinions will be highly sought after, and people will be more than willing to listen to what you have to say. People will seek your counsel, eager to benefit from your insights and perspectives.

Aquarius: You may feel a desire for intellectual stimulation and learning today. You have a curious mind, and today you may find yourself drawn to acquiring new knowledge or exploring innovative ideas. Engage in professional development activities or seek out mentors who can help you expand your skillset and broaden your horizons. By actively pursuing intellectual stimulation, you open doors to new opportunities and foster personal growth.

Pisces: This is the time to focus on your emotional well-being in the workplace. Take note of any emotional triggers or stressors and seek ways to address them. Creating a harmonious and supportive work environment will not only benefit you but also enhance your productivity and effectiveness. Strike a balance between your own needs and the demands of your work. Practicing stress-management techniques will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Neeraj Dhankher

(Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi)

Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in

Url: http://www.astrozindagi.in

Contact: Noida: +919910094779

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Career Horoscope Today, May 10, 2023: An unexpected career turn - Hindustan Times

My friend Kim was the one who dared to say it.

One night, as my group of 40 and 50-something female friends were in the pub, she looked round at us all and announced: 'I'm sick of my friends not looking like themselves any more.'

It was true, at least of me. I was in my late 40s and I'd been using Botox and fillers for over ten years.My face did indeed look not 'like me'.

Sometimes, after a particularly cack-handed job, I looked alien and weird.Once, I even had those embarrassing fish lips, a true trout pout.

At other times, the doctor's needles made me look better: prettier, younger. But my friend was right: my real face was essentially hidden beneath each treatment.

As I listened to her I felt slightly ashamed for not being able to grow old with confidence and grace.

And then, ever the addict, I suggested she try something small and natural, like the collagen-boosting injectable Profhilo . . . It is only now, at the age of 53, that I have finally been able to kick my Botox habit.

I'd like to say it's because I've fully embraced my wrinkles and sags, but the truth is to get rid of them would require more and more injectables.

For the sake of my sanity and my bank balance I had to put a stop to using my own face as a game of Mr Potato Head, in which I endlessly tried on different features that were not, strictly, my own.

For a while now, there have been mutterings about the decline of Botox and fillers.

Influencer and Love Island contestant Molly-Mae Hague, for example, decided to stop the injectables after suddenly realising she 'looked like someone on Botched' (an American TV show about bad cosmetic medical work).

Actresses Courteney Cox and Melanie Griffiths have apparently had their filler dissolved. Yolanda Hadid, mother of supermodels Gigi and Bella, and previously something of a superfan of self-improvement, has had dermal fillers removed too.

At the same time, however, invasive cosmetic surgery, involving scalpels and anaesthetics, is booming.

More than 31,000 surgical procedures were performed in the UK in 2022, a 102 per cent rise on the previous year the highest since annual figures began being recorded in 2004.

Why is Botox down and actual surgery up? I suspect because, like me, women are realising that once you reach a certain age, the needles just don't work any more.

Where a little prick here and there does wonders in your 30s and 40s, as you get older the face needs more and more. For results that are natural, surgery is the only answer.

Even the cosmetic doctors admit it. 'Once you tip over that curve in your 50s and 60s when you need ten to 15 syringes of filler, it can never look natural,' says Rita Rakus, who has a successful clinic specialising in injectables in London's Knightsbridge.

That doesn't mean the over-filled, over-done face has gone away. Sometimes I can hardly believe how quickly women with outlandish faces have become normalised.

I thought this as I watched the emotionless, glassy faces posing for cameras at the Met Gala this month.

From the youngest Kardashian to the wife of the former President of France, all sported to some degree those pouty lips and puffed up cheeks. I cringe to see them.

How can these be the most beautiful people in the world when their mouths are uniformly like that of a sex doll?

And yet I understand the compulsion too the obsession, almost because I have been there.

My own Botox addiction started by accident in 2007 when I made a documentary for Channel 4 about the cosmetic medical sector.

Back then it was still relatively niche. Even the jargon words like dermal filler, ablative lasers and botulinum toxin (Botox) seemed like the mad and pricey preserve of the rich and vain.

The documentary kicked off with my crumpled, lived-in face being picked apart by a panel of beauty experts, alongside the sweetheart-shaped face of a teenage model.

This may seem cruel but all we wanted was to replicate what happens every time we benchmark our attractiveness against those women endlessly thrust upon us as beautiful on screens and magazine pages.

I was 38 and spent what I thought was a reasonable amount of time and money on my appearance.

I dyed my hair to cover its grey-flecked mouse; I had my eyebrows expertly threaded and several parts of my body waxed. In all, I probably spent about 150 a month keeping myself groomed.

And yet as soon as my film crew and I walked into the office of those cosmetic doctors and they suggested a host of fillers and Botox, I was a goner.

I practically leapt into their chairs and told them to 'do it!' When I saw the beneficial results, I was hooked.

I liked being prettier, I liked the ravages of time and bad behaviour being erased from my face. I liked it a lot.

The following day I went to interview Dr Fredric Brandt at his New York clinic. Madonna's 'injector' at the time, Brandt was nearly 60 and had a face like a melting waxwork.

Despite that, when he offered to 'do' my lips, I leapt into his chair too. To give Brandt his due, I received a beautiful enhancement of my lip shape a result no doctor has managed to achieve since.

When we moved on to Beverly Hills, a doctor suggested the best solution for my tired looking eyes was not another syringe of filler or Botox, but some kind of fat transfer from my belly to my under-eye area.

I was so gung ho, I said yes before common sense prevailed and another doctor intervened. Thank God, too, because one of the fillers used on my face in New York turned out to have been a bad call, and could have reacted very badly with a fat transfer.

Nonetheless, I let the second doctor remove some of my eye bags with a ferocious Fraxel laser, which partially resurfaces the skin, leaving me looking like a vampire after a night on the tiles with bleeding eyes and seeping wounds.

I'll be honest, I found it all a bit of a thrill. Back in London, the panel of fashion photographers, beauty editors and make-up artists looked again at my face and this time they loved it. So did I.

For the next decade or so, my grooming regime was just like the old one, except now it included Botox and dermal filler at a cost that started at around 700 a year and rose to 4,000.

I was always susceptible to suggestion I'd go to one doctor for a modest amount of Botox and come away with more.

I even submitted my face to the Godmother of Botox herself, Dr Jean Carruthers, the Canadian ophthalmologist who, almost 40 years ago, noticed the botulinum toxin she injected to stop eye misalignment and correct squints was causing a welcome side-effect the temporary erasure of wrinkles too.

In 2016 Carruthers gave me injections backstage at a medical conference. I could hardly contain my excitement: what would the new improved me look like? It takes a week for Botox to kick in and by the time it had, I felt like I was made of oak. Nothing moved and my face felt leaden.

Seeking once more the beautiful lips Brandt had given me, I went doctor shopping and came away from one procedure with a mouth area that can only be described as looking like a duck.

I had paid several hundred quid to be a laughing stock. This was self-mutilation. But even this didn't make me stop. Back I went for more, just like an addict.

Yes, sometimes the results were amazing too amazing. I looked attractive. But I did not look like me.

Later, I went to a very serious young doctor called Joanna Christou, whose work was largely with the sort of women and men who work in broadcast media, the law and finance.

Not looking like a sex doll is clearly crucial in these professions and Dr Christou's work was correspondingly grown-up and subtle.

She was exceedingly expensive though. I asked her to make it look as if I had had nothing done, but the bill still came in at more than 2,500. No wonder so many women succumb to the cheap deals on the High Street.

I haven't seen one of my closest male friends frown in years. He says he does it for work. I believe him; ageism is rife. And he isn't even 50 yet. It's not just a female thing.

Yet as we get older, those injections themselves become the problem. Marc Pacifico, the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and a specialist facelift surgeon, says: 'Too much Botox and fillers are making people look unnatural. People have long expected injectables to be able to fix everything.

'Of course these products have a role to play, but you get to a certain age and Botox and fillers can't address [the ageing process].

'In fact they will cause aesthetic issues: that look of having been 'alienised', which is when someone walks into a room and you can tell they don't look quite right.'

I don't want an alienised face in my 70s. I wonder about the fillers I've had over the years, I worry they might not be as temporary as doctors thought.

In a report for the Mail earlier this year, the journalist Alice Hart-Davis had an MRI scan that showed she had 35ml of filler in her face despite not having had any injections for four years.

Rita Rakus, meanwhile, believes non-invasive treatments using machines are the future and I hope she is right.

Recently I tried them. They use what Rakus calls 'energy' to stimulate the body to create its own volume by working muscles and mildly traumatising the upper skin layers.

I was satisfied with the results, but not ecstatic, which was a less addictive sensation.

A month or so after using them, however, I rang Rakus' clinic to ask if there was a quick fix for my marionette lines, and later that week I was lying back in her chair.

The results were great. And yet as the filler went in, I was thinking to myself, what will it be next? The creases between my eyebrows? The excess skin on my eyelids?

Frankly, it's a journey I wish I had never started.

I'm not ready to think about going under the knife but I know I have to step back from needles entirely and find a more dignified ageing process in a decent hair cut, good skin, fitness, and surely the greatest asset of all, good health.

Three years ago I stopped dyeing my hair too and let myself go grey, a move intended to promote a deeper love and acceptance of myself and one that has kind of worked.

And grey hair and no Botox means I do definitely look older. When I go to the pub with my girlfriends now, I know I look far more dowdy than many of them, with their more elaborately fixed up faces and burnished hair.

I'm told there is nothing wrong with just wanting to look your best. But the question remains: is looking different to who you are really looking your best?

I put it to myself when I look in the mirror every day, and see my real face staring back at me.

Is that my best face? It's not a question I have answered entirely to my satisfaction yet, but after almost 16 years of trying to change it, yes, I think it might just be.

Continued here:
I've ditched Botox and fillers after 16 years... so I don't look like an alien when I'm 70 - Daily Mail

Are you considering hiring a coach or mentor but arent sure which one would be the best fit for your needs? Its a valid question after all, there is definitely a difference between coaching and mentoring!

Before making any decisions, though, its essential to understand the differences between these two services. This article summarises exactly what each entails so you can quickly determine which solution will better meet your goals.

What are the core differences between these two approaches?

Have you ever wondered what really sets coaching apart from mentoring? While the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are some core differences between these two approaches to guidance. Coaching often focuses on specific goals and skills, providing feedback and guidance that helps individuals to improve their performance in a particular area.

Mentoring, on the other hand, tends to be more long-term and relational, with an emphasis on career development and personal growth. While theres some overlap between the two, understanding the differences can help you determine which approach is best for your own personal or professional goals.

The benefits of coaching

Hey there! Have you ever considered hiring a coach? Whether you want to improve your career, maintain a healthy work-life balance, or simply enhance your personal life, having a coach by your side can be incredibly beneficial. They can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and provide accountability and support throughout the journey.

Research has shown that coaching can lead to increased productivity, improved relationships, and higher levels of satisfaction and achievement. So if youre ready to take your life to the next level, why not give coaching a try? Who knows, it could be the best decision you ever make!

The benefits of mentoring

Mentorship can be the ultimate game changer for personal and professional growth. Having someone whos been through the ropes and is willing to show you the way is invaluable. Its like having a personal guide whos invested in your success, knows your strengths and weaknesses and is committed to helping you hone your skills. Mentors bring a level of insight and perspective that can be hard to come by on your own. Theyre able to offer guidance and advice that can help you realise your potential, identify areas for improvement and navigate challenging situations.

A good mentor challenges you to step outside your comfort zone, encourages you to take risks and supports you through setbacks. Ultimately, mentorship is about creating a space for meaningful dialogue and growth. Its about building relationships that can last a lifetime and unlocking opportunities that you may not have even thought possible.

The importance of finding the right mentor or coach

Finding the right mentor or coach is crucial for personal and professional growth. Think of it as a long-term relationship, where you want to find someone you click with and feel comfortable opening up to. Your mentor or coach should challenge you, push you out of your comfort zone, and provide guidance and support as you navigate through different stages of your career or life.

But most importantly, they should understand your unique strengths and weaknesses and tailor their approach to suit your learning style. Dont be afraid to shop around and ask questions before committing to a mentor or coach. After all, the right fit can make all the difference in achieving your goals and becoming the best version of yourself.

Setting goals with your coach or mentor

When it comes to setting goals with your coach or mentor, its essential to go beyond just stating your objectives. You need to know how youre going to achieve those milestones and stay on track throughout the process. Thats where your coach or mentor comes in. With their guidance, you can develop a plan of action that includes specific steps and timelines.

Taking the time to work through the details and breaking down big goals into smaller, more manageable tasks can increase your chances of success. So, dont be afraid to lean on your coach or mentor for support and guidance with their help, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Discover practical tools and strategies for making progress

Do you ever feel like youve hit a wall when it comes to achieving your goals? Its okay; weve all been there. Thats where a coach or mentor can step in and guide you towards success. But what if you dont know where to begin? Thats where these practical tools and strategies come in.

From time management techniques to goal-setting worksheets, weve got you covered. With the help of a coach or mentor and these resources, youll be unstoppable in your pursuit of success. So what are you waiting for? Its time to take action and start making progress.

Coaching and mentoring are powerful tools to help you reach new heights in your professional and personal life. Exploring the differences and relative benefits of these two approaches will help you learn what approach is right for you, set goals with a mentor or coach, and use practical tools for success.

Asking questions such as How can I best benefit from coaching or mentor relationships? and ensuring that you find the right fit are key components to ensuring growth in areas of self-improvement. Taking the time to research and establish an effective system with a coach or mentor can pay off immensely; its never too late to learn how to become your best self!

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE

Original post:
What is the difference between Coaching and Mentoring? - Times of India