What is the Difference Between Dating and Being in a Relationship?

 How do you know that you’re focusing your efforts and emotions on the right person? Some people who tried to answer this question have accidentally discovered the sometimes subtle but most of the time obvious differences between just “dating” someone and being “in a relationship” with another person.

While these labels don’t really matter for a few, who want to express love and be loved, knowing how to distinguish the two can make a huge difference, especially when setting expectations and recognizing limitations.

Here are the differences between dating and being in a relationship that you should know about.

1. Dating means no serious attachment; a relationship is a true commitment.

The level of the relationship you have with another person defines the difference between casual dating and being in an actual, committed relationship. Dating someone allows you to spend time with a person freely but with no promise of a long-lasting and long-term partnership.

2. Dating can be intimately physical; a relationship has deeper emotional intimacy.

The focus on the type and level of intimacy you have with another person also distinguishes dating from being in a relationship. While the former is more physical and less emotional, the latter involves higher intensity and expression of both.

3. Dating can be playful and experimental; a relationship is a serious and sincere decision.

Dating can really be enlightening, especially for young people, because they discover parts of themselves that they never knew existed. On the other hand, being in a relationship requires an initial knowledge of the self to make the right decisions and express more sincere and genuine love for another person.

4. Dating can be fleeting and short-term; a relationship can last a lifetime.

The longevity of both of these partnerships is also totally different. Casual dating can be fleeting and doesn’t have the power to last longer compared to a real relationship. Relationships, unlike dating, can even last a lifetime.

5. Dating poses unpredictability; a relationship offers certainty and stability.

Because of dating’s short-term nature, it can be unpredictable. On the other hand, a relationship offers certainty and stability, making it a good stepping stone to lasting commitments that can be sealed with marriage.

6. Dating is ideal for younger lovers; a relationship is meant for fated soulmates.

Young lovers enjoy dating because of the potential and excitements that it offers. However, once these people find their true soulmates, they’ll realize that dating will not be enough to celebrate their destined love – and this is where being in a relationship can give them a better promise of a future together.

7. Dating can be “open” and random; a relationship values loyalty and exclusivity.

There are different types of dating statuses, and one of these is an “open” or even random type of set up. Here, two people can freely see other dates without being tagged as unfaithful. However, in a relationship, it is more exclusive, highlighting the importance of loyalty and fidelity.

8. Dating gives you a range of choices; a relationship leads you in the best direction.

You’ll be presented with many choices and opportunities to suit your preferences when you’re just on a casual dating scenario.  In a relationship, it’s totally different. Once you are committed to one person and have an exclusive relationship with them, you already know that you’ve made your choice, and you’re already following the direction that you think is best for you.

9. Dating teaches you lessons; a relationship nurtures you and lets you grow.

Dating can be life-changing, especially because of how people can learn their lessons the hard way. Here, they’ll realize the differences between “love” and “infatuation” or between “love” and “like”.

In a relationship, you’re set to grow because the love that you share with another person is designed to nurture both of you, as a couple, as lovers, and as partners in life.

10. Dating makes you love independence; a relationship makes you value partnerships.

When you’re casually dating someone, you’re free to live your love life according to what you want to do. You have this free choice and independence to easily end your bond with another person, especially if it’s not fun anymore.

However, in a relationship, you begin to understand the value of partnerships – and how holding on regardless of the challenges and obstacles you face as a couple is important – because you know that they are worth it.

11. Dating introduces you to people; a relationship allows you to know someone deeper.

Dating allows you to meet many people who can potentially change how you see the world. However, these people might not stay in your life for good, so you only get to know them for who they are on the outside.

In a relationship, you get this rare chance of knowing someone deeper. You get to know their pains, their joys, and what defines them as a person.

12. Dating can promise you many things; a relationship is fulfilling all of these promises.

As mentioned before, dating presents a wide range of potential because it’s a place for self-discovery and even an avenue where you meet the people who may or may not play a big part in your future. Dating someone promises many things: fun, excitement, self-discovery, and sometimes, a life of love and laughter.

A relationship, on the other hand, is actually the fulfillment of all these promises. You know that you are in a good and healthy relationship if you still get to experience the things mentioned earlier – without the worries of goodbyes and sudden endings.

Should you date, or should you be in a relationship?

Remember that while dating and being in a relationship are two totally different things, they are necessary to help you discover yourself as a person, as a partner, and as a lover. Neither of them is essentially bad because the quality of bond and partnership you create with another person will always depend on your attitude and perspective.

The lesson here is to have fun while you’re young and make sure that you’re saving all the special parts of yourself for that someone willing to spend the rest of their life with you.

Charm Villalon

How To Get Ahead Of Crypto Scammers - Five Tips To Avoid Common Pitfalls

 Crypto scams keep reinventing by the year, duping millions of investors. It takes a combination of witty words and convincing ploys, but they are often effective. Some are as brazen as repeating the same scam under different names. How can people get ahead of them?

Get the Basics Right First

The basic principle of investment is committing funds to an asset in an expectation of future return. This future return can be defined or guided in a contract at the point of purchasing the asset. For most regulated assets, the expectation can fall within a range of 5% to 20% subject to the economic environment.

Considering that some assets break the norm and increase significantly over time, it’s normal to expect returns from any asset. The contrary is also true - that the asset can lose value in a given period. It can later on recover its lost value and return a modest profit.

Crypto scams thrive on defying the basics. They offer “guaranteed” returns within a week or month. These guarantees are unfounded. They hook people by “repaying” the first investment or two but end up rug-pulling the third one. Avoid the trap of “guaranteed returns” at the first sight, because the basics of investment leave room for gain or loss.

Manage Your Expectations

In addition to the basics, investor psychology is the next critical aspect of avoiding scams. Investment, in principle, takes time to yield a profit. While some investments can return a profit in less than a year, others take between five and ten years to show meaningful returns. Consistent analysis and study of an asset will show its performance or value over time.

Taking BitcoinBTC as a digital commodity, its value rose from cents in 2009 to a high of $69,000 in 2021. Many people sold off large holdings of Bitcoin in its early years when its price would dip below that year’s high. Its future was uncertain, with no guarantees of a set price that could spell a profit.

Considering EthereumETH as a crypto asset, its peak in the bull market of 2021 was over $4,500. It was founded in 2015. Many other cryptocurrencies or tokens are built within its diverse ecosystem.

Crypto scams often copy or wrongly cite Bitcoin and Ethereum as their premise of high returns. They call their “offer” the next thing you must buy into after those two cryptocurrencies. By imposing a misplaced expectation, they mislead unsuspecting investors to hope they will cash in on the next enticing profit.

Commit Your Funds to Different Investments

Funds with a purpose are more useful than those without. Financial literacy and accountability often guide the responsible use of financial resources. A personal budget, for example, can cover recurrent expenses, investments, insurance, and miscellaneous responsibilities. Aside from financial instruments, it’s healthy to invest in a holistic lifestyle. This includes meaningful courses, training, mentorship, experiences, relationships, health, and hobbies.

Such a holistic commitment of financial resources to holistic growth brings the balance to have restraint or boundaries where they’re needful. It’d be difficult, for instance, to gamble, or blow through money fast, when there’s a steady discipline in more than one area.

The irony of a crypto scam is that they target “idle” or uncommitted funds. Scammers insist on a person substituting something “unimportant” for the “deal of a lifetime”. By establishing personal financial boundaries with a firm commitment to meaningful personal goals, you can get ahead of the likelihood of being scammed.

The said, “deal of a lifetime” will pale in comparison to a holistic lifestyle.

Carry out Due Diligence

Being able to verify a project or asset’s existence or authenticity is easy in a simple search. In a sea of information, and amid false impressions, it’s needful to cross-check the people involved in a specific project. Financial records, notary, or smart contract data can be accessed through various channels and platforms.

Due diligence is a simple way of ensuring that a project, asset, or company is an actual reflection of what’s presented about it. In last week’s emerging crisis of FTX’s downfall, an inquiry of due diligence into its financial state exposed gaps in its balance sheet. It failed to meet vital criteria for liquidity, and the rumors of its insolvency worsened the situation. After about $6 billion in withdrawals, the exchange could not keep up with its cash flow. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Its situation was concealed until the key staff began to resign, and questions about its financial standing gained ground. When things didn’t add up, an unfortunate series of events led to its collapse. It’s unfortunately not the first crypto project to do so. Others had clear warning signs from over-hyped token sales and opaque dealings.

Crypto scams often lack coherent and consistent facts about their operations. Due diligence will point them out early enough.

Practice Contentment

As an investor, it’s vital to take gains when they come. Greed is often the best way to keep anticipating a profit past its viable window. Moreover, it brings misjudgment to analysis, misinterpretation of seemingly obvious facts, and a success bias.

Investing is a lifetime journey. Few people are fortunate to make significant gains in a short time. What is wise is learning from those who have, rather than trying to copy their moves. Contentment is the key to taking a profit at 15% or 75% before that asset drops by another 30%. Rarely is it possible to time that point at which the asset price will drop.

In a bear market, as this year’s with various stocks and asset categories down, the best thing to do is find undervalued assets, and begin to invest in them for the long haul. For others, the best thing to do in a bear market is to upskill or increase the value of their time so they can earn more income.

Instead of relying on that inflated promise of a crypto scam, invest in your personal growth.

Roselyne Wanjiru

12 Tips to Overcome Boredom and Loneliness

 I am like a knot tangled in a grim circumstance were to loosen it,  is not easy. Deep down in my thoughts, I want to get out of this muddled situation, but something is preventing me from unraveling what I used to have. I want to untangle every link I had and free myself from everything that keeps me doing things I badly want to do. I want to fix each tousled situation in my own peculiar way. But, how? If I don’t even know where to start?  If I can’t even secure my thoughts from thinking all the glumness I feel within this tanked-up heart of mine? I am like a mislaid cat looking for its path, worn-out and lost in the dark,  didn’t even know where to go. My life is indeed full of conundrums I don’t even know how to fix and handle.

You probably feel the way I do, but it is just a complex mental and emotional phenomenon that has survival value for people, especially those teenagers that suffer from depression, loneliness, and boredom in life. All of us, probably have experienced some degree of abandonment or all the painful and scary feeling that goes along with it. This can be a bit of confusing and can put off your game if you don’t know what’s going on and how to handle it. However, there are some exciting tips where you can follow in order to overcome boredom and loneliness.

1. Hang out with friends.

If you’re feeling lonely and bored with your life, why not try going out of your house and hang out with your friends? This will help ease the loneliness and boredom you’re feeling inside. You just need a little attention to keep your mind out of focus from all the negative vibes. Also, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to simply chat with your friend over a cup of coffee, a good conversation and simple food on the table are already enough to lessen the burden you feel.

2. Find a new hobby.

Find something to do that you’ve never before, for enjoyment purposes only. You don’t need a practical reason to do new things, the purpose of hobbies is for fun and enjoyment only. So, look for something that works for you. Keeping yourself busy will help you get out of the things that are bothering you.

3. Get a camera.

Get a camera, either your phone or a DSLR, then go out and start taking pictures of the things around. Aside from you are able to practice your photography skills this will help you see how beautiful the world is. Imagine the sunset, blooming flowers, a laughing baby, or even a barking dog as your camera captures it, filling your life with wonderful things can take your mind off of boredom and loneliness.

4. Go for an adventure.

Grab a ticket and have a vacation to escape from the lonesome and boredom you feel. Separate yourself from your regular routine, get out of the box and explore the world. Nothing beats boredom and loneliness like planning a great holiday vacation

5. Explore new career options.

Probably, you’re already too bored doing daily routines in your office so why not try to explore new options? There are surely a lot of new opportunities you’ll find online. Do some research on the field you’re interested in. Never be afraid to explore new possibilities because that will help you grow more. If you discover something that excites you, grab it and create a plan that will help you make the transition in a realistic way.

6. Watch funny videos online.

There are a lot of funny videos online, you can check them on YouTube or Facebook. You can easily watch clips of stand-up comedians and enjoy the whole day with laughter. Laughter will make the hours pass effortlessly.  The more you laugh, the more you forget your problems in life.

7. Meet new friends.

For some people, loneliness and boredom are more about not feeling connected. Connect with different people and being involved in activities create a sense of belonging and connectedness. Thus, meeting new friends, creating new memories with strangers and doing activities wholeheartedly means you are not stuck in your head.

8. Be a volunteer.

You have the power to offer a generosity of spirit to all you come into contact with. It isn’t awkward to be kind to strangers, however, it is still your choice to have a good heart.  Focusing on the needs of other people clears up your mind from all the negative and sad thoughts.  Feeding the street children and helping the less fortunate will fill you with immense gratitude.

9. Be optimistic.

Nothing is much better than viewing life on the positive side. You’re maybe going through a lot of struggles in life, probably tired of the state of the world and the unkindness you see around you. And there is indeed no doubt that it can be tough to stay positive during rough times. However, becoming optimistic can empower you to overcome problems in life and strive for happiness.

10. Find someone with whom you can share your thoughts.

It is better to find people with whom you can share interests, problems and whatever thoughts you have in mind. If you want to lessen the burden you feel, find someone you can talk to. Sometimes the only thing a person needs is someone you can burst out all your rants about life.

11. Entertain other people and make them laugh.

Sometimes, people feel bored because they find the people around them to be boring. They are just waiting for somebody to entertain them and make them laugh. But what if you will be the one to start making them laugh? Sometimes, we consider other people boring but we never asked ourselves if we are also boring for them. If you want to beat boredom and have fun, consider transforming yourself into being fun to be with. When there’s no one who’s starting a joke, why not be a resourceful one to start it and make your own environment a jolly one?

12. Help a lonely friend become happy. 

Loneliness can happen to anyone, you might have a lonely friend or acquaintances and considering the fact that you already felt loneliness, you would be sympathetic to someone who is feeling that way too. Sometimes, the best way to get rid of loneliness is to lend a  helping hand to people who are in the same boat as you. It is a great feeling to extend that blessing to people who really need it.

Most of the time, due to the circumstances we encounter leads us to loneliness and boredom. However, it is still our minds and thoughts that create loneliness and boredom, we may find ourselves in that situation but it’s easy for our thoughts to drift that away.

Marydel Mitch Flores

Can Aging Be Reversed? Scientists Are On The Verge Of Turning It Into A Reality

 Thanks to extensive research in the anti-aging field and funding by billionaires, a number of scientific startups are on the cusp of delivering age-reversal solutions.

The newest entrant in the biotech world is Altos Labs. Launched earlier this year, it boasts four Nobel prize winners as its board members. With a funding of $3bn, Altos Labs has some high-profile investors like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"Ageing is not the same as rust accumulating on a car, it's not just breakdown," Prof Horvath, one of the reputed academics at Altos labs, told SkyNews. "Rather, there are processes that can be manipulated, you can tweak it. In certain ways, I interpret aging as a software error."

Unbelievably, the oldest human to have ever lived was Jeanne Calment, who died aged 122 in France in 1997.

"There are no hard limits imposed by biology or by physics that says that we can't live better longer," Kristen Fortney, CEO of San Francisco-based BioAge Labs, told the outlet. Focused on discerning the markers of aging, BioAge Labs is using large amounts of biobank blood and tissue samples to do so.

The company has already found a drug target that slows aging-linked muscle loss in mice.

"There is a protein called apelin that circulates in the blood, and we saw that middle-aged people with higher levels of apelin in their blood were living longer, with better muscle function and better cognitive function as they age," Fortney said, according to Express.

"So, we gave this drug to really old mice and we showed that it could improve their muscle function. It helped them run faster in their wheels, it increased their muscle size, it improved their grip strength," the BioAge Labs CEO added.

All that's left is to mimic the same results in older humans, and a trial is underway to this end.

Another participant against the race of time is Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a scientific research institute in California. Scientists at the institute reversed the aging in middle-aged and elderly mice through their experiments and a method called cell rejuvenation therapy. The process involved the use of reprogramming molecules that turned back the cells to a younger state.

"We are elated that we can use this approach across the lifespan to slow down aging in normal animals. The technique is both safe and effective in mice," Juan Carlos, professor at Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory, said.

The traction anti-aging is receiving is only going to grow. According to a report by P&S Intelligence, the global anti-aging market is expected to see an astronomical rise from the current $191.5 billion to a mind-blowing $421.4 billion by 2030, as per Express.

Urja Kalyani

How To Overcome The Holiday Stress Cycle With Quick Meditation

 Between all of the social obligations, family duties, and end-of-year work responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the perceived lack of time for wellness practices during the holiday season. However, neglecting self-care is part of what perpetuates the holiday stress cycle and can negatively impact overall wellbeing. Fortunately, even quick wellness practices can make a huge difference in turning the holidays into a time of year to embrace instead of dread.

Vedic Meditation Teacher Susan Chen teaches people how to experience deep rest and harness a deeper sense of peace through meditation. As a former Wall Street research analyst, she underwent her own transformation from being over-stressed to guiding others to center themselves and enjoy the same sense of presence she has since discovered through meditation. She especially loves helping people with “big lives” figure out how to turn feelings of stress and busyness into excitement and fulfillment—without compromising ambition. Here’s what Chen had to share about taking on the holidays with mindfulness instead of overwhelm.

Olivia O’Bryon: Time feels extra short during the holidays—how can people sneak in meditation and other wellness practices during the holiday season?

Susan Chen: The last six weeks of the calendar year can feel like being on a hamster wheel of never-ending activity and busyness. Between work events, social gatherings, school functions, and family obligations, our calendars are booked from morning to evening. Time not only feels extra short during the holidays… our days feel like they belong to everyone else but us. 

With limited time to rest and recharge, the holiday season causes many of us to feel overwhelmed, fatigued and easily triggered. By prioritizing self-care through rest and meditation, we can avoid holiday burnout and keep our energy levels high, our emotional state bright, and our resilience strong.

Here are a few tips to sneak in meditation and other wellness practices during the holiday season:

1. Meditate first thing in the morning before the rest of the day begins.

There is no better time to meditate than first thing in the morning. Upon waking, keep your phone in airplane mode and enjoy some time for yourself in your practice. I always recommend early mornings as the ideal time to meditate, as the risk of being interrupted or having a scheduling conflict is less during this time. You’ll be able to take the calm and groundedness from your practice into your high-demand day.

2. Sneak out to meditate (literally).

One of the best ways to fit in a meditation or self-care practice when visiting family over the holiday season is to tack on your meditation while out running an errand or going to the store. Meditators often share stories of sneaking in a meditation in their car after running to get groceries, giving themselves a few minutes to reset and rejuvenate before rejoining the family in holiday festivities.

3. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

If you only have a few minutes to meditate, then go for it. Any amount of meditation is good for you, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Setting the intention of prioritizing your wellness amid holiday busyness, if only for a few minutes, can shift your energy into more positivity and resilience.

OO: Why is prioritizing time for meditation and mindfulness so important to our daily routines (even if it's quick)?

SC: All wellness practices, especially meditation, work best as a preventative measure to avoid stress, fatigue, and overwhelm. When we are too exhausted to meet the necessities in our day or unexpected challenges that arise, we launch into stress reactivity which impacts our activities and relationships. By meditating as a part of our daily routine, we can fill up our wellspring of rest and adaptability, and successfully meet the demands of life (especially during the holiday season).

In short, with a regular meditation practice, we get ahead of our demands instead of having the busyness of our life get the best of us. People who make meditation part of their daily routine do not fall into the trap of being a “crisis meditator.” Crisis meditators feel the stress of life overwhelm them, and in a time of distress, turn to meditation as a coping mechanism and release. As daily meditators, we don’t put our minds and bodies at risk of distress. We thrive through life due to regularly filling up in rest and adaptation energy.

As a result, times like the holidays can feel full but cannot overshadow our innate sense of groundedness, centeredness, and well-being. Daily meditators feel at ease in the present moment, even when we’re engaged in the busyness of life. It's ideal for those who want to live big, full lives without feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

OO: You specialized in teaching Vedic Meditation—what is Vedic Meditation, and how can it help those who've struggled with meditation in the past?

SC: Vedic Meditation is a mantra-based, eyes-closed practice with the unique feature of easily taking the mind from the busy, active thinking experience into a quiet, thought-free, relaxed state. In Vedic Meditation, we repeat a personalized mantra silently inside meditation. The mantra allows the mind to turn its attention from the outside world of daily thinking and inward towards an experience of stillness, calm, and sustained happiness.

Vedic Meditation is easy and enjoyable to practice. There is no force or concentration involved. In fact, effort and force work against the mechanics of the practice. Because of its effortless approach, Vedic Meditation is particularly suited to anyone who has struggled with meditation in the past and has felt that they can’t stay with their breath or focus long enough inside meditation.

While many other styles of meditation require lots of time, Vedic Meditation requires only 15-20 minutes of practice in the morning and evening, and is ideal for those who have full calendars and live big lives. Vedic Meditation also has one of the best ROI on time invested in self-care. The level of rest gained inside a Vedic Meditation sitting is profoundly deeper and more restful than sleep. Meditators report that they need to sleep less as a result of practicing daily meditation, which gives them more time back in their day. Vedic Meditation also enhances clarity of thinking and increases energy levels. By building this practice into a daily routine, one can do more in less time, and enjoy increased productivity and efficiency in every aspect of life.

OO: What are your favorite tools for getting into a daily meditation practice? What do you think about using apps for meditation?

SC: My favorite tools for getting into a daily meditation practice are 1) a calendar (digital calendar or paper diary both work) and 2) an alarm clock. A practice that works extremely well is to schedule your meditations, as you would schedule any other appointment for the week. I have all new graduates of my course look in their calendars and schedule their meditations two weeks in advance, so they make time for and block out their meditation sessions in their schedule.

An alarm clock also works well as a reminder to meditate, specifically for morning meditation. Set your alarm for 15-20 minutes earlier than you would normally wake up. That way, you can rise and meditate and meet the day with more adaptability and resilience.

Meditation Apps are a great way to be introduced to the concept of meditation and to try our different types of meditation. Many of my students had their first experience meditating with an app. One of the most common questions I’m asked with app-based meditations is, “How do I know if I’m doing it right? Is anything happening?” In this case, I always recommend learning with an expert teacher who can guide you in personalized instruction and teach you how to meditate independently. This will be a much more rewarding experience, and you’ll learn to meditate easily without frustration or wondering if you’re doing it right.

The journey to feeling happier and more grounded through meditation will be faster and easier by working with a teacher who can teach you a self-sufficient practice (a technique that you can do on your own, without the need for guidance through an app or a class).

OO: For those who dread the holiday season, what's your biggest advice?

SC: The holidays are a mixed bag of excitement, anticipation, fatigue, and overwhelm. So many emotions and responsibilities are packed into a short period of time. Whether it is the dread of meeting for a corporate event, navigating through challenging family dynamics, or feeling grief or loneliness during the holiday season, it is more important than ever to prioritize rest and self-care.

My biggest advice is to take just 30 minutes each day for you and no one else. This will be a non-negotiable time for you to tend to your own needs and recalibrate. Whether it’s sitting for meditation, taking a warm bath, or even taking the time to just be, give yourself the grace of self-love and fill up your cup. By taking this time for yourself, you will feel more calm, happy, and well-equipped to meet the demands of the holiday season.

Olivia O'Bryon

12 Simple Tips to Have a Healthy Life

 Health is wealth because it gives us more strength to work harder, to earn more, and to be persistent in achieving our life’s many goals. It also protects our personal finance, as it prevents us from spending money on medical expenses caused by sickness. Health is wealth because when we are healthy, we have more time to cherish good times and moments with our family and friends. If you care for your well-being, here are 12 simple tips to be fit and have a healthy life.

1. Eat when you’re hungry; stop eating when you’re full.

A healthy life is a matter of having self-discipline. Develop self-control to fight gluttony.

2. Sleep when you feel sleepy; get up in bed when you already feel oversleeping.

In other words, don’t deprive yourself of its basic needs, including sleep. And of course, don’t deprive it of the active life it needs. So don’t overdo sleep.

3. Answer the call of nature without further delay.

Well, if your tummy wants to go to the toilet don’t be a hindrance. Don’t ruin its regular routine.

4. Take a rest when you’re tired; try to work when you’re bored.

Do not torture your own body but protect it – give it the break it deserves. Don’t wait for someone to entertain you. It’s not somebody’s fault if you’re getting bored. Go and do something that will make yourself happier and livelier.

5. Stretch your muscles every day and do exercise regularly.

If you can lurk on Facebook and other social media websites for an entire day, why not give even half of an hour to give yourself a good workout routine.

6. Be alert and take care of yourself to avoid unexpected physical injuries.

Take extra care. Your body is delicate. You’re not a robot made with titanium – you’re a human!

7. Avoid eating refined and instant foods.

If you want instant food, go for fruits. If you want instant drinks, have a glass of pure clean water.

8. Give yourself a series of breaks when using technology.

Don’t spend your whole life with computers, television, video games, and smartphones. Instead, go on a journey with Mother Nature. Do hiking, swimming, running and even walking at the park with your dog.

9. Laugh or smile when you’re happy; cry a tear when you feel like crying.

Do not deprive your heart of its true emotions. Release what you truly feel as long as it will not hurt other people.

10. Live in peace.

Learn how to forgive your sinners; learn how to ask forgiveness to those whom you have sinned.

11. Do not waste your money on vices.

Learn how to save so that you can avoid the stresses caused by debt and other financial problems.

12. Get rid of ignorance.

Knowledge is power, which can definitely help you live a healthier life. Hence, read and learn how to be healthy and fit.

Stay humble. Don’t let pride consume your body, mind and soul.

There you are. I know those tips only sound simple but they are difficult to do. However, they are only hard to execute if you are not willing to sacrifice and give up some things. Remember that the more you take, the more you give up. Therefore, if you like to have a healthier life, give up the things that you believe are hindering you from having it. Give yourself time to think and meditate about it.

Victorino Q. Abrugar

This Is the Best Thing You Can Do For Your Heart Health Right Now

 Make these things a part of your everyday life now—and your heart will thank you later.

You know how important it is to have a healthy heart and you know there are things you can do to help ensure that you have one. But knowing those facts and actually doing something about them are two very different things. And that's pretty clear when you consider that heart disease is still the leading killer of both men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—despite the fact that both the CDC and the American Heart Association estimate that 80 percent of cases are preventable. That's pretty staggering. And with that in mind, we've put together the five best things you can do for your heart health, according to medical experts. Incorporate all of them into your daily life—starting now.

1.Avoid tobacco at all costs.

Not that you didn't know this already, but smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. It damages nearly every organ in the body, including the heart—where it destroys blood vessels, causes clots, and raises blood pressure. And not only is smoking the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to the CDC, even light smokers (about five cigarettes a day) are more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer than nonsmokers. Quitting now can add years to your life. And if you don't smoke, make sure that you also avoid secondhand smoke, and other forms of tobacco, which can be just as deadly.

2.Eat healthy fats.

Despite what some of the fad diets out there may have you believe, not all fats are bad fats. "We need fats in our diet, including saturated and polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats," says Marc Gillinov, MD, chair of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. "One fat we don't need is trans fat, which is known to increase your risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke over a lifetime." Trans fats are most often found in "industry-produced fats often used in packaged baked goods, snack foods, margarines, and fried fast foods to add flavor and texture."

3.Take care of your teeth.

Having fresh breath and a nice smile aren't the only reasons to practice good oral hygiene. "Gum and dental health is important for many reasons, your heart included," Jennifer Haythe, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, previously told Best Life. "Studies have found that people with periodontal [gum] disease have two to three times the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events." To prevent cavities and gum disease, the American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and floss.

4.Watch your weight.

Being overweight puts added strain on your heart and blood vessels, the CDC says. This puts you at a greater risk of heart disease and are other serious conditions like diabetes. However, according to Harvard Health: "If you are overweight, losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of your starting weight can make a big difference in your blood pressure and blood sugar." Don't know what a healthy weight is for your body? Visit the CDC's website to calculate your body mass index (BMI).

5.Be more active.

It can't be said enough: Sit less. Move more. Physical activity is essential to living a healthy life. Exercise has countless benefits, not the least of which is the effect it has on your heart health. According to the CDC: "Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Following the recommendations and getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases. You can reduce your risk even further with more physical activity."

What's more, "regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels," the CDC says. So, the time to get your body up and in motion is now. You'll be happy you did.

Paul Thompson