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schoe1995 · 4 years

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Solo Traveling

I’ll first start off by saying and acknowledging that I do come from a well household. My mom runs her own dry cleaners and my dad works at a hospital for computer programming. Wasn’t like that always. In elementary school, I had classmates leave school to go on vacation. Super jealous that they went because I hated being in school 🤣🤣🤣 so the few times I could go on vacation was during like the major breaks or holidays. As I got older and family tensions increased, i began traveling with other people. Let’s just say after a series of not knowing other people’s personalities, cliques, and plus ones....I called it quits with group traveling. It’s a huge part of why my extroverted personality changed to more of an introvert/ extrovert. Since I have my own money, why not travel by myself.

I’ll talk about the cons of traveling solo first.

It can be very expensive: even if you do go with a group...be prepared to shell out a couple of dollars depending on where your going, staying, and activities

Have to be more aware of the surroundings: there has been a couple of times I’ve been exhausted because I was trying to be more aware of what’s going on. I have to watch my own back without relaying on somebody.

It can be scary: not going to lie...the day of trips I get really bad anxiety that I kinda want to throw up. Scratch that, I have thrown up. For example, when I went to D.C, I wasn’t worried about Lyft or Uber because my big bro was picking me up. However other airports....I have no idea where lyft or Uber would pick me up. Certain airports like O’Hare Chicago airport has two levels. One is for traditional friend/ family pick up. The other level is for rideshares. Ever since that mess I decided to look up airports ahead of time and look at maps for where to find the designated area. Helps a lot of stress out.

Benefits of solo traveling

Lollllll there wasn’t a whole lot of cons. Granted not everyone is going to have the same experience as me. So this is all from my personal experience.

Planning can be fun: When you travel alone, YOU are in charge of everything. I’m every pop culture orientated so I’m looking for the best spots for photos, food, shopping, etc. it’s the millennial (probably spelled it wrong) in me.

Moving at my own pace: so this was the best part for me. I’m a huge theme park junky! When I went to Orlando with my parents back in 2017 we did Disney World all in one day. Yes it can be possible to visit all 4 parks in one day😂 but that trip in general had the most arguments I had with my mom. She basically complained about all the walking we had to do. Also couldn’t watch fireworks. Everything was so rushed that back in 2019, I did a redo Disney World trip. Oh! I’ll definitely be doing a multi part blog for that. So when you travel by yourself you don’t have to deal with “I don’t want to do this!” “Why we going here?” Less arguments...PERIODT

Moving at your own time: this kinda goes with your own pace. I’m a huge HUGE be on time person. One of my sayings is “If your early, ya on time. If your on time, ya late. If your late...don’t bother showing up”. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves when people aren’t on time. Idk if it’s just Asians but Asian people AINT NEVER ON TIME FOR ANYTHING! So you have free reign with time.

Flexibility: This was one of the things I found super awesome when it came to solo trips. My schedule to travel had so much flexibility. And since I was working in retail, I could do what I want...per say. If my days weren’t approved I’d still go on this trip🤣 but I found traveling during the off season for holidays or non busy or non important seasons were a lot cheaper. That’s what I kinda wanted to make up for; not being able to travel when I was younger and leaving school to go 🤣 now that I can...✌️

No cliques: personality wise, I describe myself as a walking tv show. So picture every Disney show, Nickelodeon, and VH1 reality shows all in one person. I really don’t fit into a mold so I call it an outsider habit. I thought I’d get super lonely when traveling alone but oddly...I’m more comfortable with it. There is this no judgement zone when traveling alone. When I went to Universal Studio with my parents, it was “why do you want to buy this” or “how old are you?” First of all...you can never be too old of anything:) This might be a con for others, so it all depends🤷‍♂️ besides with technology I’m able to FaceTime, Live Stream, record things I want others to see. Ha! This is what this blog is for!

In no way shape or form am I throwing shade to group trips. I call those experiences that helped shape my travel knowledge. I’m always grateful for that. But the couple solo travel tips I’ll give is this.

Research! I can’t stress this enough. Knowing where you are going can save so much hassle. If your traveling internationally know where your country embassy is just in case. Second, the culture of the city or country. Being knowledgeable can help avoid any cultural ignorance, stereotypes.

Flights: alright flights can be very touchy subject. I usually find great deals with Southwest when they offer sales. Sometimes buying two - one way tickets is cheaper than round trip. They also offer two free checked bags, one carry one, and one personal items. If Southwest is a little out of your budget, don’t worry! Other airlines have great prices. I use Google Flights.

Train: if your destination is a couple hours away, I’d suggest taking Amtrak. Believe it or not Amtrak depending on what city you go too have awesome deals. If you follow them on Instagram they have beautiful photos of scenic railways. When I was younger I had a huge obsession with trains. I had every train from Thomas The Tank Engine. 😂 anyways, trains also have dining cars, and sleeping cars. Some have observation decks so you can do a 360* of the surroundings

Car: I put this last for transportation. Believe it or not, traveling by car may sound cost efficient but it’s really not. Just from my personal experience from driving to Branson Missouri, Tennessee, Chicago. There is gas you have to pay and hotels can charge a ridiculous amount for overnight parking x the amount of nights your staying. WHEW CHILEEEE THE MESS!

Hotels & location: This is the boujee side of me. I like to be comfortable after a day of riding rides or exploring. Just being able to act like this is my home for the time being. I usually use Bookings.com, Trivago.com, etc. to find the best one. Use filters if you need to find exactly what you need. When I travel to concerts, I try finding hotels close to the venue. That way I’m not paying extra for lyft, Uber, or taxis. BTW, don’t ever take taxis after concerts. Such a rip off...idk if there is a law that prevents them for jacking up their prices.

Air BnB’s: So I found this to be half and half. Sometimes it’s less expensive sometimes...not so much. Air BnB is pretty much either paying for a room or whole house for a certain amount of days. My big bro introduced me to it when we went to LA. I used it on my road trip to LA with a “friend” who is no longer a friend. But it was more of other situations I don’t really use. Honestly after seeing videos of how people were being racist to other guests, that was a major turn off to me. Second I had a friend who posted a conversation of a Air BnB host who tried to play her. Yes the app does have host ratings and reviews but there are so many fees and rules that it’s like, I might as well pay for the hotel. Again it’s totally up to you but staying at a random strangers house....Issa no dawg if I’m traveling by myself.

BUDGETING IS CRUCIAL!! Anytime I go anywhere I budget how much I’m spending. So with that being said, I get all information from attractions I want to go see, restaurants, ride share, everything. You don’t have to be so exact like me but it certainly helps me to know exactly how much I’m spending. Lol

Oh!!!! Sign up for reward programs at any restaurant you eat, shops you shop, or hotels! I do it all the time because for a lot of reward programs just by signing up you get a freebie. So why not take advantage of it.

So I wrote this blog up at like 5:30AM in the morning 🤣🤣🤣😭 I know I’m in for a struggle. But I decided to do this blog post because I was just going through my social media of all the travels I did. I really hope it does help you guys out a lot.

#travel #solo travel #travel blog #travel tips #blogger #blog #solo traveller

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dualitysdownfall · 7 years

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Problem: I’m sensitive and needy, and no one likes people like that, and it makes me get sad and think about my whole future and life

I can’t stand being yelled at or bossed around.

I constantly feel incompetent and worry that I am doing something, or failing to do something, that may result in another person’s dissatisfaction.

SOCIAL ANXIETY. Please, for the love of God, don’t make me ask the employee for help, or whatever.

Unable to put words to my thoughts and feelings, especially in face-to-face conversation. I would much rather type or write.

Picky eater. I despise the fact that I can’t just go to any food place and be satisfied with whatever’s on the menu. I’m well aware it’s a major inconvenience when I’m in social situations centered around eating. And I’m sure everyone who saw me fill my plate is thinking “Why doesn’t she get more? Why does she only have like two different types of food??” But I guess I’d rather do that than to eat something I don’t like.

I need routine and to know that what needs to happen will happen.

I’m easily scared, and people like to laugh at it. I’m scared of a lot of things, actually, and highly highly doubt I can get over it.

I want people to support me and have my back in whatever I do.

But I also don’t want to be told I’m wrong when I’m talking negatively about myself, even if what I’m saying is an exaggeration.

In fact, I hate being wrong at all. I’ll accept it if it’s something like a scientific fact that I wasn’t previously aware of, but that doesn’t mean I’ll enjoy it.

I’m easily angered, especially by people who are ignorant or rude or by people who refuse to listen to me and respect my wishes.

I may hate a lot of these limiting traits of myself, but I’m stubborn in my belief that I can’t change them, or that they wouldn’t change even if I tried to.

I can’t stand being made fun of. Thankfully it doesn’t happen often, usually it’s at home with my family. (Actually that might be bad too.)But I hate when negative or unpleasant aspects of myself are brought into the light for the sole purpose of others’ amusement. I take a lot of offense from it even if that wasn’t the person’s intent.

I take a lot of things personally, even if (maybe especially if) they aren’t aimed directly at me. Opinions or comments of distaste, teasing, dissatisfaction, etc about things I love (games, shows, music, people, etc) are like a punch in the gut to me and I will not hesitate to jump to the defense of the thing I like, as well as get mad at you.

There are posts all over the place expressing impatience and exasperation at certain characteristics of “annoying” people. Some of those traits are things I relate to. So the fact that you don’t like it really stings. I could speak up and say “hey, I’m someone like that and I don’t think this is very nice to say,” but that puts me at risk of being ridiculed, and like I said, I’m super sensitive and take everything personally.

I also take everything literally. Unless you’re clear in your tone that you are being sarcastic for the sake of humor, I might see a comment that’s asking a question or pointing something out and think someone actually needs clarification, to which I will, being the kind and knowledgeable person I am and knowing the feeling of being hopelessly confused, explain it to the person only to be met with garbage like, “DUh, everyone knows that, I was being sarcastic, are you stupid??????”

Sometimes I’ll just want to do something a really specific way and even if there’s an easier way, it’s best to just leave me doing it the way I know works accurately and effectively. I might even be aware of the easier options but refuse them anyway because … well, actually, I don’t know why, but just leave me doing it the way I want. It’ll work out. I promise.

Just in general I’m very particular in my ways and refuse to change them regardless of the inconveniences.

I’m terrible at remembering things that fall under the categories of “what I need to do” and “how I need to do it”. You’ll have to write out a list of tasks and steps that I can refer back to, as well as include either pictures or a hands-on demonstration.

I hope you don’t mind the grammar police, because I embody like all of them.

I also hope you don’t mind dictionaries and long explanations that you probably don’t care about.

also spontaneous singing. In an ideal world, I can sing whatever I want, whenever I want, however loudly I feel like it and in any location at all.

I’m afraid of death and loss. Never talk to me about potential disaster (I’m deathly afraid), and don’t remind me that you “aren’t always gonna be there.” Trust me, my anxiety is damn well aware of that. Talking about it is just gonna make me cry.

If you suggest something to me that I should do that involves going somewhere and/or making an appointment, you might as well just set it up yourself and drive me there, ‘cause otherwise, no matter how much I want to do it, I’ll never do anything about it.

Speaking of driving, even though I am, by age, legally allowed to start learning, I absolutely do not trust myself in the slightest with motor vehicles. Like I said, I’m bad at remembering long sets of rules and how to do things, and I’m utterly terrified of death because I don’t know what happens after that and no matter how sure religious people are that I’ll be okay, I have to see it to believe it, and I can’t see it unless I die, and no way am I leaving that up to chance. Also one time I got to drive my own go kart at the amusement park and I accidentally accelerated when I meant to brake, and that kinda screwed up any chance of me thinking I can handle being in control of any sort of vehicle ever again probably. So if you end up being my partner, friend, roommate, etc in the future, I hope you’re okay with driving me everywhere. TV taught me that people will do that. Please don’t prove me wrong.

As you can see by this extensive–and extensively self-negative–list, I’M EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT AS A HUMAN BEING. It’s awful and terrible and I hate it but I’m also still alive so at least it works. I’d love to be more wiling to, like, try some things. Like doing flips off a diving board, or food that’s something other than American, Americanized, or snack foods. But that’s too dangerous in my mind, and my mind is extremely set in its ways.

See, the thing is though, no one’s gonna be willing to deal with all that. They’d have to memorize routines and lists, remember to tell me what to do and how to do it, know what foods I like and don’t like and what physical activities I’m willing to do that aren’t too scary. They’d have to order the food every time we go out to eat, they’d have to ask people to help me, they’d have to drive me everywhere, they’d have to remind me of things and be n time and do stuff for me. I’m like the opposite of a convenience store: I’m not very convenient and I don’t have much to offer in return. Also, I’m not on every street corner. (I’m an anxious introvert.)

Who on earth would be willing to put up with all that and still appreciate things like my art, my music, my opinions, my jokes, my intelligence, my whatever-I-have-that-might-make-someone-fall-in-love?

As far as I can tell, no one.

I’d love to be in a romantic relationship one day. When I imagine myself as an adult, I see a cozy home with a spouse who loves me and helps me and understands and lets me hug them for a lot longer than they were anticipating because I forgot to mention I really love hugging and hand holding and snuggling and whatnot.

I don’t like thinking I might never find someone like that. I know I have plenty of traits that are less than desirable, which can and will become major sources of inconvenience and irritation in a future adult life. But I’d like to believe that someone can still look past all that, see my true intentions and hopes, and love me anyway.

I don’t like thinking about my future. I don’t. There’s nothing about it that I know. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, or what to study in college or what college to go to. In all likelihood, during and after college I’ll be living with my parents long after my little sister leaves home and gets married or something, and I’ll work a boring, bland, low-paying job to save up for the point in my life where I do know what I want to be and do. I’ll have plenty of creative hobbies, mostly internet-based, and maybe some of them will snag me some bonus money here and there if I’m lucky (the internet is pretty amazing that way, after all). But I’ll still wish for bigger and better things, and also a datefriend, because I feel like I won’t have a datefriend at that time.

I guess that’s not so bad… but the ideas of being single and of not having an enjoyable and fulfilling job, just don’t really appeal to me. I don’t want to just be another one of those normal people rolling out of bed for a boring job and then coming home and doing nothing with their life. I wanna make change in people’s lives, especially in young lives, queer lives, and the lives of weirdos like me who get attached to fictional characters because they either represent me and my life experiences or act as a second home when reality is being crappy. And I don’t see myself making those changes from a basement, or attic, or side bedroom, or at a boring, unfulfilling job even if it’s steadier than an art-based job (which still screws me up because if it weren’t for that I’d know exactly what top three things to study in college).

It really does get me down sometimes, thinking about that dreary life.

But wait.

Is it really so sad? Must I be so negative and pessimistic??

Sometimes ranting is really all one needs to solve one’s own problems. It allows you to think hard about what you’re feeling and why you’re afraid, so that you can put it into words. But in that hard thought, you can find a solution.

Go up a couple of paragraphs and I mention not only working a bland, boring job but also “having plenty of creative hobbies, mostly internet-based, and maybe some of them will snag me some bonus money here and there”.

What if all the great, inspiring, creative, change-bringing things don’t manifest themselves in my day-to-day, for-money job, but in my hobbies taking place at home afterwards?

That could work. Part-time/half-day job of some sort that I don’t mind doing, then come home and do fun things that other people enjoy seeing? I love the internet…

And hey, not only do I have a head start in that case, but it could eventually be the gateway to all that other stuff I was worried about, like a datemate and a more interesting, better-paying job.

Thanks for the talk, internet!

#rant #melancholy-starlight rants #life #school #anxiety #college #fears #future #thinking about my future #thinking about my life #School Sucks And I Am Not Afraid To Spend Five Hours Explaining Why I Hate It

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thesecondsealwrites · 6 years

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What Are Empaths? 14 Empath Traits And Scientific Theories

In science fiction and fantasy stories, empaths are able to detect and understand the emotions of people around them. So, are empaths real? As it turns out, there is credible scientific evidence of empaths. Intense empathy isn’t supernatural. Rather, it’s an evolved form of intuition that may relate to a range of biological and psychological differences between you and other individuals. While there are undoubtedly enormous benefits to being an empath, there are also significant struggles associated with this skillset.

If you have high levels of empathy, they must be carefully managed in order to prevent burnout. This guide will help you understand what being an empath means and can help you learn how to tell whether you are one of them. We’ll also explore the latest scientific research on empaths, such as studies revolving around mirror neurons in humans. These studies may be able to shed light on why some people develop in this unique way.

What Are Empaths?

In a nutshell, empaths are individuals who pick up and absorb the emotions of others around them. Sometimes described in terms of reading another person's energy, this skill comes to the fore both in close relationships and in superficial interactions with strangers. This high level of sensitivity means that empaths are highly capable of offering understanding and compassion. Similarly, it also means that they can easily become overwhelmed.

It's also important to note that many empaths aren't limited to detecting emotions. They may also pick up physical sensations and can sense someone's spiritual orientation. They may also be able to tune into a person's motivation or immediately read their intentions.

In some cases, empaths are entirely aware that they are experiencing feelings that don't belong to them. However, in other cases (and especially in early life), empaths may be genuinely confused by what they pick up. Consequently, they may find it hard to know what they really want. Self-reflective journalling and therapy can be extremely useful to an empath; these processes allow them to examine their thoughts, emotions, and desires without the usual level of interference.

With this broad picture in mind, we can now move on to look at the main traits that are commonly seen in empaths.

Are You An Empath? 14 Traits Of An Empath

Empaths can experience their gifts differently, especially depending on when (or whether) they realize that they are significantly different from the average person.

In addition, empathy (like all traits) comes by degrees, so some empaths will notice all fourteen major signs while others may only spot a handful. However, if you're an empath, there's a good chance that you've had most of these experiences at least once in your life.

Think of the following list as a kind of empath test; if you’re asking “Am I an empath or just sensitive?”, canvassing these traits may help you to clarify your self-conception.

1. Empaths are highly sensitive and emotional.

Empaths are very open, easy to trust, and very responsive to emotional experiences (whether their own or someone else's).

This sensitivity means you can experience the highest highs, but it also curses you with the lowest lows, and with a propensity to be deeply hurt by fractured relationships. If you're an empath, you may go through a wide range of emotions every day, both because of your own responses to life and because of what you pick up.

2. They are often introverts and need alone time.

While you likely love intensely and genuinely care for people, your propensity to take on their emotions means that alone time is essential. Indeed, most empaths recharge when they're on their own, rather than deriving energy from social situations (like extroverts do).

So, if you have higher than average levels of empathy, there are probably many weekends when you'd rather curl up at home with a good book than accept an invitation to a party.

3. Unfortunately, empaths are easy targets for manipulators.

Your empathy means that people may sometimes take advantage of you. Consequently, they may manipulate you into a position where you meet their emotional needs and get very little out of the relationship yourself.

For example, you may have noticed that you often attract narcissists (who are at the opposite end of the empathy spectrum) and victims (who need to be “rescued” by compassionate individuals). Consequently, empaths need to be careful about who they let into their hearts.

4. They have great intuition and keen senses.

One of the most obvious empath traits is the ability to pick up on subtle cues way earlier than most people. So, you might notice a potential romance between two friends before anyone else does or you may pick up indications of danger very quickly. Plus, you probably have a talent for taking calculated risks.

This intuitive sharpness is one of the great benefits of empathy and gives you an edge in many areas of life.

5. They take on other people’s feelings and issues.

As noted above, being an empath makes you susceptible to muddling your emotions with those of others. For example, you might take on the bad moods of colleagues and end up fighting with your partner. Or, you may passively absorb the views of a group that do not typically represent your values.

Creating and maintaining boundaries between yourself and others is a vital part of living with enhanced empathy, allowing you to identify what's really yours.

6. Empaths tend to be incredibly creative.

The heightened emotions and experiences of empaths gives them an enormous wealth of material to express in creative ways. If you're an empath, it's likely that you are frequently inspired because of what you feel.

Some empaths are traditional artists, musicians or writers, while others are actors, dancers, or physically expressive in other ways. In many cases, creative acts help empaths release pent-up emotion in a healthy, productive way.

7. People say they are great listeners.

Unsurprisingly, the friends and family of empaths often report that they are fantastic listeners. This is because being a truly good listener requires putting yourself in the other person's shoes; no one is better at doing that than someone who intuitively picks up emotions.

Empaths are often wonderful at putting a loved one's feelings into words, making them feel understood, respected and less alone. Consequently, empaths often gravitate towards jobs that involve listening (e.g. counseling and teaching).

8. They hate to say no.

Due to being able to feel other people's disappointment, desperation and sadness, empaths really hate to have to say no. This means they often take on way too many commitments! Unfortunately, this is usually all so that they can meet the need of their friends, family members or co-workers. If you're an empath, you're also so used to doing emotional labor for other people that you may just automatically expand this to induce general favors, even if you're already over-burdened.

9. Empaths are human lie detectors.

In general, you'll benefit from the ability to pick up lies in other people. It can help you make early decisions about whether to trust someone with a secret, for example. It can also help you protect your loved ones from liars. The less pleasant side of being a human lie detector is that it allows you to see through someone when you'd rather stay in the dark. This can be painful, even though it's helpful.

10. They often suffer from fatigue and anxiety.

There are many positive effects of kindness on health. However, if you’re an empath then the level of kindness you extend to others may be downright exhausting. You can be so busy trying to carry other people's emotions, listening to their issues and helping them solve their problems that you become physically fatigued or emotionally strung out. As a result, empaths are susceptible to chronic fatigue syndrome and to mental health issues likes anxiety and depression.

11. They can be easily overwhelmed by their empathic powers.

Even once you understand your empathy quite well and have learned techniques to separate your emotions, it's very easy to tip back over into being overwhelmed again.

For example, if someone you love is in distress, you might be utterly swamped by their sadness. Meanwhile, if you're in a large crowd then the proximity of so many minds and emotions can feel too much to bear. These are some of the many reasons why empaths need time alone.

12. Empaths love to be surrounded by nature.

Everyday life tends to be hectic and noisy, so it's no wonder that empaths thrive in nature. If you have a high level of empathy, being out in wide-open spaces can feel wonderfully quiet and replenishing. In fact, many empaths cite being by the ocean or going for walks in the country as necessary ingredients of their self-care routines. As well as offering peace and quiet, time in nature can give you a sense of release.

13. They are chronic daydreamers.

One of the less obvious empath signs is consistent daydreaming. This is often associated with the vivid imagination of the empath. Consequently, this allows you to contemplate an endless range of scenarios (especially scenarios that are highly emotionally evocative).

In addition, daydreaming can feel like a way of escaping everyday life. So, many empaths will turn to the power of their creative minds. This can help to distract them from the overwhelming emotions of others around them.

14. Empaths often neglect themselves.

Empaths can become so focused on the needs and feelings of others that they effectively begin to “tune out” their own needs. In extreme cases, this can lead to self-neglect, leading you to become physically or emotionally unwell. To live a full, happy life, someone with high levels of empathy needs to deliberately spend time noticing their own thoughts and feelings. A daily mindfulness or meditation practice can help with this, cultivating a habit of self-reflection.

6 Scientific Theories Behind Empathy

Now that you have a better sense of whether you qualify as an empath, you may be wondering what on earth accounts for this ability. Intuiting the feelings and thoughts of others can feel downright bizarre and unnerving sometimes. Meanwhile, if you don't identify as an empath and find yourself becoming an empath skeptic, you are probably wondering whether there is really any credible evidence that such individuals actually exist.

As it turns out, there are at least six plausible scientific explanations for what may seem, on the first inspection, to be an implausible superpower. We'll summarize the latest research below. Plus, we will try to explain the ramifications it could have for developing a better understanding of empathy in the future. While the jury is still out regarding why exactly some people develop an enhanced capacity for empathy, it's highly likely that one or more of the following hypotheses will prove correct.

1. Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory processing disorder is a condition that makes the affected individual's brain struggle to work through the information absorbed from the world around them. It can make you oversensitive to everything from smells to sounds and light touches on the skin. This process can be perceived as painful. And when life gets too noisy or over-stimulating in some other way you may wobble on your feet, trip up easily, and find it difficult to judge distances. Some people even report dizziness, as well as increased anxiety.

Now, how does all of this relate to empathy? Some scientists have suggested that sensory sensitivity may also occur at the level of emotions in some people. This would make them much more aware of the feelings of others. On this view, enhanced empathy is the emotional equivalent of feeling pain at the gentlest touch on your arm.

As for what causes sensory processing disorder in the first instance, the evidence is mixed. Some studies indicate a genetic component (so empaths may have at least one highly empathetic parent), and others link sensory processing disorder to abnormal brain activity that occurs in response to noise or light.

2. Empaths Could Have Overactive Mirror Neurons

In the simplest terms, mirror neurons are brain cells that have a proven link to human compassion. It is because of these neurons that the majority of us are able to experience at least minimal empathy. For example, feeling sad when someone is hurting, or experiencing happiness in the face of another person's joyful success.

Studies show that the mirror neurons activate during empathetic engagement between physicians and patients. Brain scans indicate that when we see someone experiencing an emotion, these mirror neurons fire in areas of the brain that correspond to those observed emotions. Scientists have found that mirror neurons also play a role in the behavior of other animals, especially primates.

The connection between mirror neurons and empaths is that there's a strong possibility that more neurons may lead to more intense empathy. So, if you're an empath, you may have a larger than average proliferation of these brain cells. Once again, there is likely to be a genetic component in play here.

However, research into other determining factors is ongoing. Meanwhile, people who have some form of antisocial personality disorder (e.g. sociopaths and psychopaths) may have fewer than average mirror neurons.

3. Electromagnetism

On an entirely different note, many of the above empath symptoms could be explained by electromagnetism. This particular theory derives from some fascinating work conducted by researchers at the HeartMath Institute, who have explored whether our electromagnetic fields are capable of influencing the magnetic fields of others.

In particular, the HeartMath Institute has discussed findings suggesting that our hearts and brains generate their own, unique electromagnetic fields. These fields are thought to be able to communicate certain content about the individual's feelings, desires and beliefs, even those among us who are not natural born empaths.

Utilizing my heart energy was the key to finding my Intention Point and manifesting my dream life. Be sure to discover more about how the Intention Point can help you manifest the life you really want.

Once you master your Intention Point, you can unlock visualization exercises that feel 5,000 times more powerful!

If you want to learn how I discovered The Law Of Attraction and my Intention Point, be sure to watch and listen to my story by clicking here now.

These facts about electromagnetism mean that it is possible that empaths have a heightened sensitivity to the electromagnetic fields by the hearts and brains of people in their vicinity. Consequently, the empath could become so sensitive that this process is emotionally and physically draining. It remains an open question whether empaths can do anything to regulate this sensitivity.

Other promising areas of future research include whether the impact on the empath varies depending on facts about the field produced by the other individual. If so, we could conclude whether this indicates anything significant about the potential depth of relationship that might develop between the empath and the other person.

4. Hormone And Chemical Sensitivities

Parts of empath psychology could also relate to hormone levels, and to levels of neurotransmitters (i.e. chemical messengers in our brains).

One particularly promising contender is dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in how we respond to pleasure (and how we learn to develop habits that promote pleasure in the longer term). Studies on dopamine levels in the general population indicate that introverted people are most sensitive to dopamine when compared to extroverted individuals. This means that introverted people tend to need lower levels of dopamine in order to experience happiness and pleasure. It's possible that this tendency generalizes.

So, if you're an introverted empath, you may just be more sensitive to small chemical changes in the body, including those that are induced by contact with other people. In addition, there may be other hormones and neurotransmitters in play when it comes to empathy.

Further research may reveal other links between empathy and biological sensitivity. This could, in turn, lead to research on how we might enhance empathy in those who lack it.

5. Emotions May Be Contagious

We are now beginning to understand just how contagious emotions can be. Emotion contagion is now a documented phenomenon; it helps to explain how and why we pick up the feelings of those around us. Even the average individual is impacted by emotional contagion. For example, babies cry when they can hear other infants becoming upset. Plus, if one person exhibits signs of anxiety then it can quickly begin to spread throughout a bigger group.

Positive emotions can be contagious too. For example, random acts of kindness statistics show that people become more compassionate when they receive compassion, and the benefits of acts of kindness can also extend to those who merely observe compassion.

To trace out the implications that this has for our scientific understanding of empaths, consider that empaths may be biologically or psychologically more likely to “catch” emotional contagions. However, the exact mechanism via which this might occur still remains mysterious. There is also a positive piece of learning here for empaths. Specifically, research on emotional contagion shows how empaths can surround themselves with upbeat, happy and encouraging people in order to deliberately catch good feelings from others.

6. Synesthesia

The final hypothesis worth considering is that empaths may experience a unique form of synesthesia. Synesthesia is a neurological trait that links two different senses that wouldn't normally be associated with each other. For example, some individuals with synesthesia will taste particular flavors when they see certain colors. Others will associate numbers with a musical sound. In addition, some forms of synesthesia might include smelling scents when listening to songs. Or, linking particular colors to specific bodily sensations. Many people say this is a key part of their creativity; they simply don't know what life is like for the rest of us!

However, in the case of empaths, some researchers have theorized that something called mirror-touch synesthesia is occurring. This type of condition would allow the empath to literally feel what other people are feeling. This is described as though these emotions are originating in their own bodies and not outside them. On this view, excessive empathy is a medically benign neurological abnormality that comes with benefits and challenges, just like all forms of synesthesia.

To investigate this hypothesis further, scientists may want to test whether empaths tend to have other, overlapping forms of regular sense synesthesia as well.

In Conclusion…

While many wonderful and perplexing questions remain, we have seen how the experiences of empaths may be explained from a scientific perspective. We've also looked at how we can distinguish enhanced empathy from mere sensitivity. Try to consider some of the ways in which you might get the best out of being an empath. However, make sure you continue to protect yourself from some of the associated dangers.

What are your experiences of empathy, both in yourself and others? Do you wish you were more or less empathetic, and why?

Please comment to let us know if you are an empath! Tell us whether the description in the article rings true to you.

The post What Are Empaths? 14 Empath Traits And Scientific Theories appeared first on The Law Of Attraction.

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lindyhunt · 6 years

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The Ultimate Guide to Brand Awareness

Have you ever heard people refer to themselves as “Apple people,” “Nike people,” or “Trader Joe’s” people?

This is what brand awareness can do for a brand: embed itself into people’s lifestyles and purchase habits so that consumers don’t have to think twice before becoming a customer, time and time again.

This guide will help you better understand brand awareness, establish it among your audience, and build campaigns that allow it to continually grow and morph with your business. Let’s dive in.

Brand awareness might seem like a vague concept, and in truth, it is. For those marketers and business owners out there who like to gauge success with neat and tidy numbers, brand awareness will likely ruffle your feathers.

But just because it isn’t a metric that can be perfectly determined doesn’t mean it doesn’t carry value. Brand awareness is incredibly important for business success and overall marketing goals. Here’s why.

Brand Awareness Fosters Trust

In a world where consumers rely on extensive research and others’ opinions before making a simple purchase, brand trust is everything. Once a consumer bonds to your brand, they’re more likely to make repeat purchases with little to no forethought –– which then bridges the gap between trust and loyalty.

Brand awareness establishes that brand trust. When you put a proverbial face to your brand name, consumers can trust easier. Brand awareness efforts give your brand a personality and outlet to be sincere, receive feedback, and tell a story. These are all ways that we, as humans, build trust with one another. The human/brand relationship isn’t any different.

Brand Awareness Creates Association

When you’ve had a paper cut, I bet you’ve put on a Band-Aid. When you had a pressing question, I’m sure you’ve Googled it. When you needed to make a few copies, I’m guessing that you Xeroxed them. And when you’ve packed for a nice picnic, I’m willing to bet you grabbed a Coke to drink.

Am I correct? Most likely. But ... notice how the some of the words above are capitalized. These are brands, not nouns or verbs.

Speaking in brand-less terms, Band-Aid should be referred to as bandage, Google, as a search engine, and Xerox as a copier. But it’s more fun to refer to the brand itself, even if we aren’t using their specific product.

That’s what brand awareness does. It associates actions and products with particular brands, subconsciously encouraging us to replace common words with branded terms. And before you know it, simple paper cuts or picnics are doing the marketing for us.

Brand Awareness Builds Brand Equity

Brand equity describes a brand’s value, which is determined by consumer experiences with and overall perception of the brand. Positive experiences and perception equal positive brand equity, and the same goes for negative notions.

Here are a few valuable things that come from positive brand equity:

Higher prices due to higher perceived value

A higher stock price

The ability to expand business through product or service line extensions

Greater social impact due to brand name value

How does a brand establish (and increase) brand equity? By building brand awareness and consistently promoting positive experiences with the brand. Brand awareness is the foundation of brand equity.

Once a consumer is aware of a brand, they start to recognize it without assistance, seek it out to make a purchase, begin to prefer it over other similar brands, and establish a loyalty that not only spurs on other purchases but also inspires recommendations to family and friends.

That, my friends, is why brand awareness is so important. It establishes trust with your customers, creates positive associations, and builds invaluable brand equity that allows your brand to become a household name and consumer staple.

How to Establish Brand Awareness

Brand awareness among your audience and the general public doesn’t happen overnight. It also doesn’t happen from a simple advertisement or marketing campaign.

Strong brand awareness is a result of multiple simultaneous efforts that extend beyond trying to get paying customers.

If you expect to raise awareness of your brand by running a few product advertisements on Facebook, you won’t get very far. Not only will the consumer be focused on the product (not the brand), but the ad will also lack impact beyond a simple sale.

Here are some ways to establish a solid brand awareness foundation and make a lasting impact with your audience:

Be a Person, Not a Company

When you get to know a new friend, what do you like to discover about them? I like to learn about hobbies, passions, likes and dislikes, and more. I also pay attention to how they speak, what they like to talk about, and what stuff gets them excited.

These are the traits your brand should determine and promote about itself. To leave an impact with your audience, you’ve got to define yourself as more than a company that sells stuff. How else would you define yourself? What words would you use if you had to introduce your brand to a new friend?

Socialize

Introvert or extrovert, outgoing or quiet, all humans benefit from social contact and spending time with one another. It’s how we stay connected, learn new things, and become known by others.

The same goes for your brand. If you only attempt to connect with others when trying to make a sale or get support, you won’t be known as anything beyond a business with a singular intention (and the same goes for a person).

To raise awareness of your brand, you’ve got to be social. Post on social media about things unrelated to your product or services. Interact with your audience by asking questions, commenting on posts, or retweeting or sharing content you like. Treat your social accounts as if you were a person trying to make friends, not a business trying to make money.

Over 50% of brand reputation comes from online sociability. Being social leads to greater awareness and simply being known.

Tell a Narrative

Storytelling is an incredibly powerful marketing tactic, whether you’re marketing products or promoting your brand. Why? Because it gives something real for your audience to latch onto.

Crafting a narrative around your brand humanizes it and gives it depth. And weaving this said narrative into your marketing inherently markets your brand alongside your products or services.

What should your narrative be about? Anything, as long as it’s true. It can be the narrative of your founder, the tale of how your business had its first product idea, or the little-engine-that-could story of how your small business made it in this big world.

People like hearing stories about each other. Authenticity is impactful, and it can lead to a big boost in brand awareness.

Make Sharing Easy

Whatever your industry, product offering, or marketing strategies, make it easy for your audience to share your content. This could be blog posts, sponsored content, videos, social media posts, or product pages. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s shareable.

Word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective way to establish trust and familiarity among customers. If someone sees that a friend or family member is recommending a product or service, they’ll take notice of that product … and brand. Is this a brand worth exploring? Do they have other great products I can rely on? What are their social accounts like, and what do they talk about?

If you make it easy to post about your stuff, consumers will raise brand awareness for you by simply clicking “Share”.

Brand awareness is about impact.

It’s about interacting with your audience in ways that don’t only ask for money, participation, or loyalty.

Imagine if you met a new person who wanted to be your friend. If they asked for any of the above, you’d probably laugh and walk away, right? Not only is that a shallow approach to friendship, but it also leaves no lasting impact on you.

The same goes for establishing brand awareness among your audience.

How to Increase Brand Awareness

What about expanding your established brand awareness and building on that strong foundation? What can you do as a brand to campaign for awareness and constantly increase it?

Here are a few campaign ideas to boost your brand awareness:

Offer freemium

Freemium is a business model that offers a basic product or product line for free, only charging for any products deemed premium or enterprise-level. It’s a popular pricing strategy for software companies, like HubSpot and Trello.

Offering a freemium option allows customers to get a taste of your brand and product before making a purchase. It’s a try-before-you-buy opportunity that can, technically, last forever (as opposed to a free trial period that some companies choose).

It’s common to offer a freemium option with the condition that the brand’s watermark will be shown on any public-facing parts of the product or service. This makes freemium a win-win situation: The consumer gets the product for free, and the brand gets free advertising when consumers use it.

TypeForm is another great example of this. TypeForm offers a freemium option of its survey software, but customers must include a thank-you page that features the TypeForm logo and message.

Depending on your type of business and product offer, Freemium may be the best way to raise awareness of your brand among your audience.

Create free content

Nowadays, creating content is easier than ever … which is a good thing because today’s consumers turn to the internet for any and all questions, concerns, and DIY projects.

Content is a fun way to raise awareness of your brand because it’s the easiest way to show personality and share opinions and positioning on issues — two major components that personify and humanize your brand.

Content doesn’t have to be in written form, either. You can also create videos, infographics, podcasts (which we’ll cover below), and more. Sure, written content like blogs and downloadable guides are arguably the easiest, but they’re definitely not the only option.

Content doesn’t have to live on just your website, either. Guest posting and sponsored content provide opportunities to get in front of new audiences and diversify the type of content you create.

If your brand isn’t creating content, you might be missing out on some major brand awareness opportunities. Content provides an amazing way to authentically connect with your audience while getting your brand name in front of people.

To learn more about content creation, check out our guide here.

Sponsor events

How many festivals, concerts, fairs, and exhibitions have you attended? These types of events are typically not possible without the help of brand sponsorships. (Take a look at a t-shirt, koozie, or string backpack you likely grabbed from the event. See any brand names?)

Sponsoring events is a surefire way to get your brand in front of hundreds, thousands, or millions of people that likely fall into your target audience. From banners to flyers to water bottles, your brand name will be everywhere if you sponsor an event.

Sponsoring an event also allows you to pin your brand name on an event that matches your personality, interests, and passions, meaning consumers will then associate your brand with that event and its aesthetic and character.

Consider Red Bull. Red Bull is an energy drink, and without any brand awareness efforts, we’d simply consider it an energy drink. But, thankfully, Red Bull took their marketing to the extreme — literally — by sponsoring extreme sporting events like cliff diving and motocross. They also sponsor athletes. Now, we inherently associate Red Bull with daring and adventurous … and believe that, if we drink it, we can be the same.

Give your brand a personality

Treating your brand as a person and defining your narrative are the first steps to giving your brand a personality. The next step would be infusing this personality into your marketing efforts.

When you market your products and services with personality, you can’t help but boost your brand awareness because your brand will shine right through. Sure, your consumers will take note of the pants or pasta you’re marketing, but they’ll also experience your personality through your advertising.

This is a great strategy when mixing your traditional marketing campaigns with brand awareness campaigns. They don’t always have to be one in the same, but they definitely can be.

Consider Old Spice. (Did you just picture the man on the horse? I did.) Their advertisements for their hygiene products are overflowing with personality and humor, and they still mention their products throughout. The advertisement not only makes an impact on its viewers, but a mere mention of the “Old Spice man” also sends consumers back to YouTube to watch the commercial … and to the store to buy some deodorant.

Produce a podcast

In the last year, six million more people have started listening to podcasts. There’s no doubt podcasts play an important role in our lives … and marketing efforts.

Podcasts used to be a complicated process, only created by those with a studio and fancy microphone. Now, it’s easier than ever to create and release a podcast, and doing so can do wonders for your brand awareness efforts.

Why? Because podcasts, like written or visual content, provide a way to connect with your audience authentically. Instead of blatantly promoting your product or service (which we’ve agreed isn’t the best way to go about boosting brand awareness), podcasts give you the opportunity to educate, inform, entertain, or advise your audience and build trust by doing so.

Here are some examples of great podcasts produced by brands you know and love:

#LIPSTORIES by Sephora

Trailblazers by Dell

The Growth Show by HubSpot

See how these brands have chosen podcast topics that relate to their 1) overall brand message and 2) products or services? Doing this helps them relate the podcast back to their brand and continue to raise awareness, too.

For more information on podcasts, check out our guide here.

Building and growing brand awareness is a never-ending process, just as maintaining a friendship or relationship never really ends.

Boosting your brand awareness through campaigns gives you a chance to dabble in marketing and advertising opportunities you’d otherwise not invest in — meaning new, powerful ways to connect with your audience.

How to Measure Brand Awareness

How do you know if your brand awareness efforts are working? How do you know if you need to change direction, top the competition, or fix a crisis? Just like any other marketing metric, you measure it.

Wait … I thought you said brand awareness couldn’t be measured!

Aha! You’ve been listening. I appreciate that.

You’re right — brand awareness can’t be measured in the traditional sense. But, you can still review activities and metrics that’ll help you gauge where your brand stands in terms of popularity and consumer awareness.

Here are a few ways to gauge your brand awareness and learn where you can tweak your efforts:

Quantitative Brand Awareness Measures

These numbers can help you paint the overall picture of your brand awareness. To measure quantitatively, check out these metrics:

Direct traffic. Firstly, direct traffic is the result of people intentionally typing in your URL and visiting your website. Your direct traffic number will tell you how much your marketing is prompting people to visit your website. This is an important metric, as many consumers today discover brands through social media, advertisements, or by typing in keywords related to your brand or product. When consumers go directly to your site, it means they were aware of your brand beforehand.

Site traffic numbers. This number just reflects overall site traffic, which will tell you how much of the general internet population is checking out your content and spending time with your brand. It won’t quite tell you where people came from, but that doesn’t matter, because they’re aware of your brand enough to check it out.

Social engagement. Engagement can refer to followers, likes, retweets, comments, and more. It’s a reflection of how many people are aware of your brand and socialize with it, as well as how impactful your content is. For instance, sites like Sparktoro can give you a specific score for your Twitter impact.

Qualitative Brand Awareness Measures

This step is where your brand awareness “score” gets a little murky. But these tactics can still help you gauge who and how many people are aware of your brand. To measure qualitatively, try:

Searching Google and setting up Google Alerts. Doing this gets you up to speed with how your brand is being talked about online. It will alert you to any news or mentions by third-party press. As your brand grows, its internet real estate will expand beyond your website, so keep an eye on that.

Social listening. Social listening is monitoring social media management tools for organic mentions and engagement. Who’s tagging your brand, mentioning it in comments, or using your hashtag in their posts? These tools can help you discover that. And the more your audience is discussing your brand on social media, the more they’re aware of it.

Running brand awareness surveys. This process involves getting direct feedback from your customers and audience and can be incredibly helpful with not only understanding who knows of your brand but also what they think of it. You can release surveys through SurveyMonkey or TypeForm and share them on social media or directly with your customers. This guide will help you create and promote them.

These quantitative and qualitative metrics will help you understand your brand awareness among your audience and the general public. It’ll never be a perfect number, but keeping your pulse on this measure will help influence campaigns and stay connected to your audience. Regardless of how you gauge brand awareness for your company, avoid these common mistakes when measuring brand awareness.

Over to You

Brand awareness is a powerful (albeit vague) concept that can have a major impact on your marketing efforts, consumer perception, and revenue.

Follow these techniques for establishing and building awareness for your brand, and you’ll find yourself with a loyal audience that recognizes your brand among competitors, chooses your products time and time again, and recommends their friends and family do the same.

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russellthornton · 7 years

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What Do You Do for Fun? Life Begins at the End of This Question

What do you do for fun? It’s a harmless question, right? Maybe it is, and maybe it’s not. So why does it feel so important? Let’s find out.

Everyone’s so cool and fun and incredible… they’ve got shades on, lil’ cute doggies, dope fashion senses, loud laughs, CEO Co-Founder tags under their LinkedIn names. Weeeeee. Obviously, people talk a good talk and front a good front. Looking like you have a fun life isn’t the same thing as actually having one. But what do you do for fun?

So right off the bat I want to emphasize that, in my humble opinion, no one can tell you what is or isn’t fun to you. You decide that.

If you’re looking to score some action with the guys or gals by being seen as fun, that’s a whole different story. Now we’re into the sales and marketing and personal branding area. But I think that’s still short of the true mark. You can be fun and still be real about it – you feel me? That way, you don’t have to front or overthink things. You’re just that person who’s got it made like that.

Your potential

My favorite things to do for fun 10 years ago were: video games, wanking off, learning, reading fiction books, making music, plus a few other creative endeavors. Quite a few things were going on there. However, if you asked me, I didn’t feel proud of my lifestyle. What I did for fun seemed lame or shameful.

The question, what do you do for fun, mattered so much to me back then. It felt like it would reveal a part of who I was as a person. It would make me wonder ‘am I actually living an exciting life?’ And even when no one did ask the question, it still seemed important. This was because I wasn’t sure if I was living up to my highest potential. As a result, I didn’t feel PASSIONATE.

So I propose to you, the question of whether you’re living up to your full potential is probably the central reason why you are reading this feature right now. And it’s probably why the question ‘what do you do for fun’ feels affronting. When we fall short of our potential, it becomes hard to feel excited about life. [Read: How to let go of your past and be excited by your future]

In this feature, I’ll dig deep into how to turn up the levels on that amplifier. How to fire up that flamethrower. How to flick that light switch. How to – well I think you get the picture. Let’s go…

How to answer the question: what do you do for fun?

#1 Getting asked the question. What should you say when you get asked, what you do for fun? Pretty simple… I just start speaking without trying. I don’t take the question as some kind of test. It’s not a big deal. I don’t need to explain and defend what I’m into.

In the words of R&B singer 2lack on his song ‘High Rules’: ‘Rule number 1 no explaining.’ If you find your answer is full of securities, then you’ve been given the gift of feedback. Work out what is causing you not to be proud of your own day-to-day. [Read: Feeling stuck in life? How to change directions and live your dream]

#2 Are you in touch with your dark side? What’s more fun than entertaining passions of ego, pride, and your dark side? And what’s more imprisoning than always having to be polite and agreeable?

Being a pushover sucks and makes you naive. In a competitive unfair world, having some swagger about you makes you impressive and difficult to contend with. Embodying the drive to climb, to win, and to show your value allows you to truly have fun when playing the game of life. To be an active participant, not a pawn.

#3 Do you make yourself laugh a lot? This is at the heart of having fun I think. When I’ve had a bad week, or even few months, there’s a sucky momentum about it. In that negative momentum, I will probably give myself less permission to be amused, be silly, to laugh, or to playfully provoke, and this will keep me in a serious mindset towards life.

But when I find reasons to laugh, stupid silly reasons, it becomes an upward momentum. I like to: watch comedies, watch stand-ups, go out with friends somewhere fun, listen to a really cool audio book, etc. All of these things build up on each other. [Read: 13 happy things you need for a perfectly happy life]

#4 Are you hustling? Just having fun all the time becomes hedonism. It’s like going to an amusement park and never leaving. The ‘fun’ becomes completely empty. Slipping, when it comes to taking care of business and work, feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

However, being on game when it comes to work can be deeply fun just by itself. It’s satisfying to know that you’re making progress towards your goals. Anyone who says otherwise I think is lost. Try avoiding this one and you’ll have major boredom problems.

#5 Are you taking risks? Who has the most fun? The hero. The rock star. The rebel. Cool fun people I know do things that put themselves out there like:

-Organizing events

-Doing public speaking

-Meeting new people

-Shipping personal work and projects

-Going out into the unknown

Fun and scary are like closely related cousins. So you’ll probably never be short of fun when you’re living close to your edge. [Read: How to be more outgoing and step out of your comfort zone]

#6 What’s your social life like? I have a friend who I hang out with every now and again. We have cool conversations about anything and everything. I have another friend who I meet sometimes weekly and go about the town with.

Most humans are very social creatures. So, if you don’t have people you hang out with, you will have a lot less fun. It’s the people who know and like you that provide the friendship aspect of a fun life – not strangers. Your close friends allow you to reveal parts of your nature that would otherwise go unnoticed and shrivel up.

#7 What are your hobbies/past-times? This is probably the question most people think of when asked what they do for fun. It doesn’t need to be something major, just something that suits your lifestyle and that you enjoy.

For an extrovert, this could be a group gathering. For busy parent of two, it could be reading a book in the evening when the kids are sleeping. If you have no outlet that you look forward to during your day and week then… that’s pretty lame.

Social event websites like Meetup.com allow you to meet people who are into sports/specific hobbies and connect over a game or event. Also, screw it if people think what you’re into is lame. If you’re into landscaping, own that! Make a YouTube channel about why it’s so cool. Go all out. [Read: How to be happy in life and life it to its fullest]

#8 What’s your personality like? My granduncle recently passed away *Rest In Peace*. When he was alive, he was a raging extrovert. From a young age, he found nothing more energizing than to have lots of conversations and to meet random people. He wasn’t usually happy to stay in one place. He had an uncanny ability to see the person behind the stranger at a moment’s notice.

But I’m more introverted than I am extroverted. I prefer intense extroversion in shorter bursts. If I tried to be like my granduncle, I’d be frustrated. I’m passionate about alone time, creativity, deep focus, and deep connection. I use this self-awareness to incorporate experiences into my lifestyle that suit me and get me excited about life.

#9 Do you have fun anywhere, any time? If an activity needs to be epic to feel like you’re having fun, then I wonder if you’re setting the bar too high. The most fun people I know could make any situation feel more fun simply by being in the same room as you.

Sometimes ‘having fun’ really is just a practice. It’s having a habit of amping yourself into a fun state of mind. For example, you see a colleague at work Monday morning and they say hello:

Colleague: ‘Hey good morning, did you have a good weekend?’

You: ‘Yes, I was amazing. Were you also amazing? Please say you were.’

Colleague: ‘What?’

You: ‘No I’m only kidding, LOL, yeah it was cool.’

No one can make you crank out an uncreative, predictable response, or take yourself too seriously. The more you let your sense of humor and playfulness out, the more you begin to understand what it actually is. And how to articulate it in an enjoyable way.

At first it may feel forced. But as long as you persistently keep searching for that true resonance, you will eventually find it. [Read: The rules of life – 22 secrets to never be unhappy again]

#10 Are you creative? You’ve probably heard people using the word creativity in the way that includes everyone. Problem is, if we apply a word to everyone equally, then those words lose their meaning. Clinical psychologist Jordon Peterson describes how, scientifically speaking, some people are highly creative, while most people aren’t creative AT ALL.

Words are used to discern. There are some people who don’t reach even close to the threshold of what might be considered creative relative to others who are.

Some people become truly miserable if they are not able to create: books, architectural designs, music, artwork, accessories, etc. So asking yourself this question tells you a lot about what fun might mean to you. Ask yourself what you’ve created in the last year and if it matters. [Read: Follow your dreams – All the amazing reasons why it’s totally worth it]

#11 Do you tell the truth when it’s inconvenient? Think of a comedian shocking his audience into laughter. Having fun often involves risk and bold honesty. This is especially the case when that truth is not convenient to tell.

For example, if you always feel the need to get on the good side of a person, you’ll eventually be dishonest with them. You’ll do this in order to not provoke them.

From my experience, once you go down the lane of deception, up becomes down, and down becomes sideways. From such a place, even when you try to sincerely have fun, it will feel forced.

[Read: 25 memorable life lessons to perfect your life]

If you don’t feel proud of how you’re living, then your passion will naturally die out. You’ll also lose connection to your unique interests, compulsions, and sense of what fun actually is. Take risks, tell the truth, have friends, follow your gut, and make sure you hustle like you’re supposed to! So what do you do for fun again?

The post What Do You Do for Fun? Life Begins at the End of This Question is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

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