Easily Irritated By Clothing Tags? You’re Probably More Talented

Do you cut the labels out of your clothes as soon as you get them home? Can you think of nothing worse than the feeling of them scratching and irritating your skin? It may seem irrational to others but you’re not alone.

If this is you, then you may be subject to overexcitability. This term was coined by Polish psychiatrist and psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski who identified overexcitability as intense feelings within us that are caused by a heightened response to stimuli. This means you can become easily irritated by anything from repetitive or loud noises, textures of fabrics on the skin, to not liking certain foods because of texture or taste.

Of course, this can be more apparent in children – sometimes deemed fussy and particular when it comes to food or clothes – but can go on to develop into adulthood.

In children, this can mean the child can come across as difficult and challenging to teach and parent because they have an increased awareness, sensitivity, and intensity. If you think this perfectly describes you or your child then there is a positive side to these strange traits. There is a link between overexcitability and being highly gifted and talented especially in creative fields such as art, language, and music.

It seems overexcitability is a heightened excitability of the nervous system which fosters intensity and sensitivity in gifted people. So if you are identified with the irritability of clothes tags then this could include you.

The Five Types of Overexcitability

Dabrowski identified five different types of overexcitability in people, with gifted children and adults thought to exhibit one or more of these.

1. Psychomotor Overexcitability: The constant need to move and often portray their emotions through physical movements. These people may suffer from tics or nervous habits.

2. Sensual Overexcitability: This is the most common and refers to the people who need to cut the tags out of their clothes straight away, don’t like certain foods because of texture and taste, and generally have a heightened awareness of all senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

3. Emotional Overexcitability: These people use their emotions in an extreme way both negatively and positively. It is more likely that people with emotional overexcitability will suffer physically from their emotions such as anxiety headaches.

4. Intellectual Overexcitability: Mostly found in children, this shows up as a love of learning, a deep curiosity and always seemingly lost in thought.

5. Imaginational Overexcitability: These people have amazing imaginations and it usually manifests with vivid dreams and also a love of music and drama. Negatively, it can cause ideas of worst-case scenarios and general fears.

What To Do If You Are An Overexcitable

If you’ve identified with any of the five overexcitabilities then fear not. The most common is sensual overexcitability which can involve both heightened pleasure and displeasure and experience a far higher sensual input than the average person. On one hand, you can get lost in music, art and have a particular talent for languages but the problem with this increased sensitivity, is sometimes feeling uncomfortable and over stimulated at times that can be distracting and cause immense irritability.

Here are some ways to minimize these negative reactions to stimuli:

• Acceptance and appreciation are the two things that gifted people want the most and receive the least. This is especially prevalent in children so accept and appreciate yourself and others.
• Create a safe environment that limits the amount of offensive stimuli and your exposure to them.
• Be open about your overexcitability and don’t feel like you should be boxed as ‘fussy’ or ‘hard to please’.
• Focus on the positives with these being self-aware, creative, curious, loyal, energetic and enthusiastic.
• Celebrate your contribution to diversity and don’t feel isolated by other people’s opinions that your actions are not normal.

Overexcitability is an inborn trait and isn’t something you can reverse. So instead of focusing negatively on the things that stress you out, focus on the positivity of your thoughts and reactions. The fact that you are more likely to be highly gifted and talented is a great positive in itself and should also be recognized, celebrated and nurtured in anyone including adults and children.

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8 Science-Backed Secrets You Should Know To Make A Great First Impression

Someone’s first impression of you can be difficult to sway after that initial sighting or interaction, whether it’s in a professional setting or social setting. Unfortunately, a negative reaction can be damaging to your career or social life.

In fact, Vivian Zayas, a psychologist at Cornell University, said many people still “judge a book by its cover,” and surprisingly, their first impression of a person usually ends up being quite accurate. So here’s what you can do to make sure that the vibes and first impressions you exude end up wowing everyone you encounter.

Aiming For Success?

One surefire way to push through that glass ceiling or break into a circle of friends is to simply look successful, or rather, dress for success. In a British-Turkish study, people rated men in tailored suits as more successful than men in regular suits. The study participants had just five seconds to make that decision, illustrating that clothing communicates superficial, yet important, information about a person.

Are You Trustworthy?

It takes just a tenth of a second for someone to determine if you’re trustworthy. A lack of trust can inhibit your ability to form relationships and network successfully within your career. A Princeton research project shows that people drew trait inferences from others’ facial appearances. In the study, when the length of time was extended for someone to infer a person’s trustworthiness, the observer’s opinion became even more negative. So make sure you’re open, approachable and trustworthy with everyone who crosses your path.

Are You Intelligent?

Everyone knows that eye contact is crucial to establishing a positive connection with someone, but it also attributes to their perceived opinion of your smartness. A study by Loyola Marymount University professor Nora A. Murphy revealed that eye contact directly correlates with a person’s opinion of another’s IQ. The study showed that wearing glasses and speaking expressively helps boost your intelligent image, too. This will help both in the workplace and in social settings, particularly if you are hoping to climb the corporate ladder.

What’s Your Socioeconomic Status?

People tend to gravitate toward those who are of a higher socioeconomic status and dressing for that role has a positive impact on others’ first impression of you. A Dutch study found that people who wore well-known name brand clothes appeared to be of a more affluent status that those who did not wear designer clothes. The study revealed that such a perceived first impression of a societal status has its benefits in social settings, incurring preferential treatment and financial perks for those people.

Do You Like To Take Charge?

No one likes a bossy person, but being a strong, dominant person can pay off at work or in a social setting. For men who are bald, the odds are in their favor. A University of Pennsylvania study discovered that men with shaved heads were rated as more dominant that other men with full heads of hair.

Does Attire Equal Promotions?

Business attire shows that you, well, mean business. In a Canadian study, participants rated male models dressed in business attire as earning a higher income and more deserving of a promotion than men dressed in casual attire. This could have a significant impression in the workplace and outside the office, too.

Are You Adventurous?

It’s not just how you dress or smile, but the way you move that also makes an impression on others. In a Durham University study, people’s gaits were observed and it was determined in just a few steps that people with looser gaits were considered extroverts and adventurous, while those with shortened, clipped paces were seen as neurotic. If someone can’t see your face and expressions, the next thing they’ll judge is your body movements and attire. While how you walk may not be truly accurate of who you are, keep in mind when entering a party or walking into a meeting that people are watching how you carry yourself and move.

Do You Come Across As Having Poor Morals?

In one quick glimpse, people will perceive you as someone who might make poor life choices based upon whether or not you have a tattoo and are a heavy drinker. According to a British study, women with visible tattoos were considered to be less attractive and more promiscuous than women who did not have any ink on them. While this perception may not hold as true in the U.S. where body art is more and more common, this British study based negative first impressions off of how extensive someone’s tattoos were and the amount of alcohol consumed in one sitting.

Want To Make A Good First Impression?

While not everyone with a tattoo or lack of hair is a shady friend or unsuccessful co-worker, studies show that some of the factors that form people’s first impression of you do have an impact on your career path and social circle. So keep in mind this checklist the next time you head off to a party or into work.

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8 Signs You’re A Potential Creative Genius

Let me clear the air — Have you ever heard you must be born with creativity? That it’s in our DNA? Well, that’s just flat out wrong. Creativity is not born, it’s, well… created. Your habits are the deciding factor of your creativity.

Here are 8 signs you have potential of being a creative genius:

1. You’re introspective

Creativity comes from thinking critically about one’s own life. Charles Dickens, one of the best creative writers known, had a habit of walking 12 miles or more to simply get away from the world and dive into his own mind. He took this time to think critically and become introspective about his life and work. Often times, these walks provided him with content for his books. If you have a strong sense of self-awareness like Dickens, you have potential as a creative genius.

2. Your habits facilitate the use of both left brain and right brain

If you often finding yourself practicing activities that facilitate the use of left brain abalytics with right brain activity, you have potential to be a highly creative person. Writing is one such habit — trying to craft the perfect story takes creativity, but also requires some analytical, strategic thinking in order to create a plot worth reading.

3. You prefer being alone and have more “me” time

Time spent alone is good for the soul. It allows you to make time for the first sign: being introspective. In your alone time you can meditate, read, write, paint, play an instrument… the list goes on. Thomas Edison spent plenty of time with himself, and look what happening; he changed the world.

4. You have contradictions in what you think and how you behave

You often find yourself thinking one thing, then changing that thought to the total opposite. It’s almost like you’re an embodiment of multiple individuals. It’s a good thing, I assure you — it simply means you’re more creative, empathetic, and able to see things from multiple viewpoints.

5. Your learning is more lateral (understanding many topics) than vertical (specializing in one topic)

People have called you a “jack of all trades”. You love learning about tons of different topics and fields of knowledge. Rather that sticking to one industry, you thrive by having a solid foundation on a wide range of subjects. You might even have a bookshelf full of books on a hundred different subjects!

6. You don’t like jumping to conclusions

You always come up with lots of options before making a decision. While you may have an intuition about the conclusion, you want all the cards on the table before taking a stand. You never want to put anyone in the spotlight without being sure they committed the deed they’re being accused of.

7. You love daydreaming or tend to have frequent work breaks

Your daydreaming may be frowned upon by modern society, but don’t let the naysayers get you down. Daydreaming and taking breaks is actually a big sign of creative genius and success. It is the kids (and adults) who spend time daydreaming that end up being some of the most successful the world has seen.

8. You read a lot

Dragons, magic, pirates, knights in shining armor and a dansel in distress! You love the thrill of falling out of our world and into those pages. On the flip side, you find yourself yearning to learn more from the biographies and skill books available. If curling up with a good book is a part of your day, you’re probably on the path to becoming a creative genius.

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8 Ways Weather Can Affect Your Mood And Behavior That You May Have Never Noticed

Believe it or not, the weather actually has a huge impact on your mood! Depending on weather conditions, you may be ill-suited for certain jobs or perfect for others. Here are 8 ways weather can affect your mood that you may have never noticed:

1. Higher temperatures make you less depressed

Lower temperatures and less sunlight have been shown to cause SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder.) I know it’s true — it affects me every year. Higher temperatures and more sunlight, on the other hand, actually increase your mood and fight off depression! The heightened temperature speeds up the molecules in your body, making it easier to move, digest food, and think!

2. Sunny days make you more open to romantic possibilities

Since sunny days with high temperatures increase our energy, it’s only natural that we become rowdier and more open to romantic ideas. Summer is a great time for picnics, long strolls on the beach or in the woods, or time spent in pedal boats on the lake!

3. You’re more helpful on sunny days

There’s a reason writers describe happy people as having a “sunny disposition.” Sun makes us happy! Happy people tend to be more willing to help others. Therefore, on sunny days, we’re more likely to help those in need than on days filled with clouds and gloom. Next time you want to volunteer, try to pick a sunny day — you’ll be more helpful to the people you’ve volunteered with, and so will the other workers. You’ll all get more done!

4. Sunlight makes you spend more money

Summer sales, here we come! Get ready to open your wallet if you go out to a mall or flea market during a nice, sunny day. Research shows that we are more likely to spend money when it’s sunny. My theory is that the sun makes us happier and less stressed about our lives (including our financial lives) — therefore we spend!

5. High temperatures make you more aggressive

We now know higher temperatures give us more energy — unfortunately, with more energy (combined with hot, humid, sticky weather,) come higher levels of aggression. When was the last time you were really hot and uncomfortable; how did you feel? Were you easily annoyed?

6. Cold temperatures impact your performance of complex physical tasks

When we’re cold, our muscles feel slow. It’s like they don’t want to move. Have you ever tried untying a knot while your hands were cold?  Especially after a snowball fight with no gloves.) Be careful when trying to perform complex physical tasks in the cold – too much time in low temperatures can cause hypothermia! So just bring gloves any time you think you’ll be stuck in the snow.

7. Lack of sunlight makes you eat more

Bears hibernate . . . humans just start devouring everything in sight. Well, bears do that too, before they go to sleep. The cold, dark winter months make it much easier to overeat. Our body needs extra fuel to fight off the cold, and so it wants more food. Unfortunately, often times we don’t actually need the extra food because a lack of sun doesn’t necessarily mean we’re cold — what with heaters and everything.

8. Rain causes pain

Have you ever heard someone tell you they can “feel the rain coming in their bones”? It’s actually true! Rain can cause real physical pain due to atmospheric pressures. The increased pressure allows bodily fluids to move from blood vessels to tissues, causing pressure on the nerves and joints, which leads to increased pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

I hope you’ve found these emotional effects as interesting as I do! How does the weather affect you?

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Having a Sibling of Opposite Sex Makes You More Successful in Relationships, Studies Find

Your most vivid memories of you and your siblings may be fighting over who gets to sit in the front seat of the car or who gets the biggest glass of juice. What you may be surprised to discover is that this somewhat meaningless bickering could have prepared you for future romantic relationships. It turns out that the type of relationship you had with siblings of the opposite sex can have an impact or the quality and longevity of your adult romantic relationships.

Teenage romance; a result of close sibling interactions.

You may need to thank your sibling for the romantic relationship you had with your teenage sweetheart. According to a study conducted by Susan E. Doughty and colleagues at the Pennsylvania State University, mix-gender sibling intimacy is a positive predictor of romance in later relationships.

The study involved interviews with working and middle-class adolescents. In the first interview, the participants were asked about their sibling relationship intimacy, conflicts they may experience with their siblings, and issues to do with control. Two years later, the same subjects reported on the role that intimacy played in their romantic relationships.

So if you remember having a great summer romance during your adolescent years don’t forget to thank your brother or sister.

Your birth order may be affecting your relationships.

If you have an older sibling of the opposite-sex, you may be more likely to have rewarding interacts with strangers of the opposite sex, according to a study published in the  “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.”

The study involved unstructured interactions of 40 mixed sex pairs. There participants were undergraduates who each had a sibling of the opposite sex. The study looked at the various possibilities of birth order; for example, a firstborn man was paired with a first born woman, and so on. Each pair was videotaped during their initial meeting, and they then completed a questionnaire about their interactions.

The results showed that last born men talked nearly twice as long and asked more questions than firstborn men. The also evoked more gazes and verbal reinforcers, and received more self-reported liking from the female they were paired with. Last born women were more likely to initiate the interaction, and they also made their male partners smile more, than first born women.

Your birth order may be affecting your relationships with the opposite sex in more ways than you realize. If you are the youngest in the family, you may find it easier to woo the opposite sex.

Sibling favoritism and your relationship.

Siblings who reported equal treatment of themselves and their siblings had higher self-esteem and less romantic relationship distress, reported a study conducted by Amy J. Rauer and Brenda L. Volling in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. On the other hand, if siblings experienced different parental affection, all of the siblings, even if they were the favorite, reported more negative models of self and greater romantic relationship distress.

The study involved a survey that was undertaken by 200 young adults.

The results indicated that early within-family dynamics, and the treatment of siblings by their parents can have an impact on the way later relationship function.

Having more siblings may mean less chance of divorce.

A new nationwide study reveals that the more siblings you have, the less likely you are to get a divorce. Each additional sibling a person has reduces the likelihood of divorce by two percent (up to seven siblings).

“It wasn’t the difference between being an only child and having siblings that was significant. ― We expected that if you had any siblings at all, that would give you the experience with personal relationships that would help you in marriage,” said Donna Bobbitt-Zeher, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of sociology at Ohio State’s Marion campus. “But we found that the real story appears to be how family dynamics change incrementally with the addition of each sibling. Having more siblings means more experience dealing with others, and that seems to provide additional help in dealing with a marriage relationship as an adult.”

The study used data from the General Social Survey, which involved interviews with about 57,000 adults from across the United States at 28 points between 1972 and 2012.

The results showed that each additional sibling up to about seven provided additional protection from divorce.

Summation

If you find that you enjoy a fulfilling and romantic relationship with your partner in life, you may want to give your brother or sister a call and thank them.

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5 Signs Ginger Water Should Be Your Everyday Choice

Ginger is one of the most powerful spices on the market today. Its health benefits and medicinal uses are endless, and we would do well to pay attention to the positive attributes that ginger can provide us. While we probably know ginger in the root form as something we add to certain food dishes, or maybe throw into a juice if we are feeling festive or a little run down, ginger actually comes in many forms, and we are really only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Ginger is packed with nutrients and bioactive compounds that help relieve anything from digestive problems to motion sickness. The root can be consumed fresh, or it can be ground into powder; it can be juiced, dried, or turned into oil. It also can be consumed as a beverage: ginger water, which is made by boiling the ginger root down and then straining the remaining liquid. Here are five reasons and benefits of ginger water as part of your daily diet.

1. You have digestive issues.

Ginger is a flowering plant from China, and the root of the stem is the part we use as a spice or ingredient (ginger root). Within ginger is a powerful ingredient called Gingerol, which has an enormous range of health benefits and medicinal purposes. Like its sister spices cardamom and turmeric, the ginger root has been used for centuries to aid with health problems, digestive issues, stomach problems, and just general ailments — the common cold being one we associate it with today (think ginger, honey, and lemon tea).

2. You have inflammatory problems.

Going back to Gingerol, this substance in ginger has high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Gingerol is the prominent bioactive ingredient in ginger, and is found in the natural oils of the root.

So when we infuse these oils with our beverages, we are reaping the antioxidants often found in teas, but also the anti-inflammatory properties of Gingerol, which can lower our risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. By combining daily ginger water with things like probiotics and multivitamins, we can maintain a preventative level of good health.

3. You get respiratory infections from time to time.

Gingerol also fights infections. This active ingredient is known to protect against the growth of bacteria, namely infections of the mouth such as gingivitis, which is an overgrowth of plaque on your teeth and gums. But Gingerol also aids in fighting respiratory infections such as cold and flu. It is known to fight against the RSV virus (Human respiratory syncytial virus) which has connections with respiratory tract infections.

4. You often suffer from nausea.

A remedy we might be familiar with is ginger’s ability to aid in nausea-related illnesses. With its somewhat spicy flavor, ginger can sometimes be deemed as harsh for the stomach, but this is a myth.

Do you recall being offered ginger beer when you’ve had a sore stomach? Well, that’s because ginger is a highly effective remedy for stomach-related sickness, including morning sickness, motion sickness — it even has long been used as a remedy for sea sickness. It can help relieve nausea after surgery, though if you are pregnant or seeking treatment, always consult your doctor before consuming hefty amounts.

5. You suffer from pain.

If you suffer from any pain, ginger can’t hurt. With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and its help with nausea and overall healthiness, consuming ginger on a regular basis is only going to benefit you. And while differing degrees of pain need different attention, ginger water can always aid the process of recovery, and can be an easily available, simple, and quick source of medicine.

Sometimes the oldest remedies are still the best remedies — and ginger has been used by human beings for thousands of years. So love yourself, trust in ginger, and always have some root handy for a brew!

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Creativity Is Not Only About The Left Brain, Here’s Why

What do you recall hearing about the right and left brain? Did you learn that the right brain is all about logic and reason, and the left side is all about creativity?

As most of us think, the brain is made up of two parts, the left side being connected to analysis, and the right side being connected to creativity. Well, scientists are here to tell us different. There are actually a complex set of reasons as to why some people are more creative. Scientific evidence tells us that creativity is triggered in many different areas of the brain.

Do you want to be more creative? Here are reasons why you can be! It isn’t just about what you were born with.

It’s Not Just About IQ

When we think about the people with the best ideas we often think of the geniuses – the Albert Einstein’s, the Amelia Earhart’s, the Picasso’s, and the Jane Austen’s. We think of the utmost masters of the craft. However, the realm of creativity falls under an enormous umbrella. Being intelligent actually has far less of an impact on creativity than people think. Contrary to popular belief, it is not down to our IQ levels when it comes to sparking creative thought – at least not as much as we were probably led to believe.

Creativity is Made Up of Many Factors

Creativity is actually due a to a whole range of factors, including emotional characteristics, your personal morals, your levels of motivation, as well as where you stand intellectually. It isn’t IQ that is the common denominator between creative minds, but in fact a general sameness in certain character traits. These include how open they are to their inner selves, their high level of tolerance regarding chaos and disarray in their surrounding areas, their ability to be in such chaos and not only function within it, but also find a way to organize and structure it. Creative types are genuine risk-takers who thrive on individuality and independence. They are masters of the unconventional. They prefer to discover. They enjoy ambiguity. They thrive on uncertainty, for it is there that they can search for answers, or maybe even make an answer of their own.

It is a mixing pot of traits perhaps, but within this lies a bundle of oxymoronic characteristics, and possibly the reason why the brain is healthy when we exercise creativity. Creative personalities are both constructive and deconstructive. They find use in being both cultured and primal. They are sane, but they are also crazy!

The Whole Creative Brain

It seems that creative types are much more introspective about their inner selves. When they tap into creativity (or when anyone sits down to take part in a creative task) they are using many different parts of the brain as a whole, not just the right or left side. Although creative types seem to be (and probably describe themselves) as an “individual”, they are actually better described as a “multitude”. They are complex because of the different parts of the mind they tap into when exploring their inner selves.

A Healthy Imagination Means A Healthy Mind

It is very important to keep using your imagination and let your mind wander into daydream, so that these parts of the brain are being engaged. The brain is an interplay of different triggers when we are creative. It is a processing system that is activated in the inside surface of the brain, engaging the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes.

Our imagination (or our “imaginative network” in our brains) allows us to recall things easier, understand stories, have compassion for others, reflect on life, and better understand emotions that people have. Our imaginative network operates in conjunction with other brain networks, so it’s integral that we keep it as active as possible.

So, spend time with children and draw with their crayons right alongside them! It will quite literally open up your mind.

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Tip #7: Best Timing To Eat Healthy Foods

Tip #7: Apples

So tasty and easy to find and prepare, apples are a welcome addition to your daily healthy diet. There are so many different health benefits, like eating a apple stimulates the saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering bacteria levels. They contain many antioxidants which help the body in all sorts of ways. For example, red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which boosts and fortifies the immune system. This is great for when you are stressed out.

Apples are the perfect match for mid-morning or afternoon snack. They also contain a high concentration of pectin, a fiber that regulates the digestive system, as well as lowering blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels. The phrase “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away” has much truth to it!

Best Timing:

So, eat apples in the morning, mid-morning, lunchtime, and mid-afternoon. However, avoid this fruit in the evening because it can increase stomach acid, which may lead to discomfort once you lie down. While pectin has many health benefits some people find it hard to digest, especially at night. Furthermore, you might experience sore indigestion if you eat them too late in the day.

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