How Various Cultures Celebrate a Festival Honoring the Ancestors?
The notion that the deceased souls have a continuing presence and/or the ability to impact the fortunes of the living is the basis for ancestor veneration. Furthermore, ancestral reverence provides support or non-religious purpose in nurturing familial values such as family love, filial piety, and family lineage continuity. Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of festivals honoring ancestors from all cultures of the world.
While not universal, ancestor veneration can be found in communities with varying levels of political, social, and technological complexity, and it is nevertheless a significant part of many religious traditions today.
Various cultures that celebrate festivals honoring the ancestors
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China
The Qingming Festival is a Chinese festival honoring the ancestors that takes place on the 104th day after the winter peak and allows people to recall and honor their forefathers and mothers at gravesites.
Young and elderly bring wine, food, chopsticks, tea, libations to the ancestors, and/or joss paper attachments, sweep the tombs. So, this national holiday is marked on April 5 in Taiwan since it was relocated to that date by the ruling Kuomintang to commemorate Chiang Kai-death shek's on that date.
What is the Chinese way of celebrating the Qingming festival?
The Qingming festival features a variety of events. Further, tomb maintenance and renovation, kite flying, spring outings, and placing willow branches on gates have all been a feature of this celebration since the beginning.
People frequently engage in sports to fight off the cold and look forward to the arrival of spring.as a result, through its customs, the celebration incorporates both solemnity and joy.
The most significant custom of the Qingming festival is tomb sweeping.
People pay their respects to their forefathers and mothers by paying visits to their graves, burning incense, and burning or (representing money).
They clean the tombs, remove weeds, and fill the graves with fresh mud. They might decorate the tomb with willow branches, flowers, or fake plants. Qingming Festival is an annual event held in Qingming, China.
People in Qingming regularly venerate their ancestors by lighting incense and leaving 'paper money' at their gravesites. Therefore, they pray at the graves of their ancestors, begging them to bless their families. However, the tradition has been substantially simplified in recent years, particularly in cities, where many individuals just place flowers on the graves of their deceased relatives.
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Japan
The Bon Festival is a Buddhist tradition in Japan that honors our ancestor’s spirits. The tradition of Buddhist-Confucian has developed into the reunion of a family festival honoring the ancestors in which individuals are visiting and cleaning the graves of their ancestors, and when their ancestor’s spirits are said to return to the domestic altars. Moreover, in Japan, it has been honored for almost five hundred years and involves a traditional performance of dance called Bon-Odori.
The Bon Festival, also called Obon, is a Japanese festival honoring the ancestors. Although Obon is observed in various ways depending on the region, it is an important aspect of Japanese culture and is extensively observed across the country.
Obon is based on the notion that loved ones' spirits and souls, as well as dead ancestors, return to visit. However, lanterns are typically strung in front of dwellings, dances are presented, and sacrifices (ozen) are placed in front of temples, altars, and sometimes gravesites during Obon. Similarly, many people may also visit cemetery sites to clean and wash their family's gravestones and grave markers.
Lanterns and fires are extinguished at the ending of the Bon festival time to send the spirits back to where they came from. Therefore, lanterns, lit with a candle that symbolizes the ancestors' souls, are sometimes released into the river.
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Korea
Jesa is a Korean festival honoring the ancestors that is widely observed. Jesa is traditionally held on the death anniversary of the ancestors. Moreover, Gijesa is an annual funeral service held on the anniversary of a beloved ancestor's death. Gijesa is done in the residence of the eldest descendant for at least five generations of ancestors.
The memorial services held on New Year's Day or Chuseok are called as "charye." Koreans visit their ancestors' tombs on April 5th and before Chuseok to trim the grass off the monuments. Moreover, they then make bows in front of the tombs and present fruits, food, and drink. Moreover, "Seongmyo" refers to memorial services held in front of tombstones.
How is a Jesa ceremony performed?
- The 1st stage is to call the ancestors, or gangsin.
- The 2nd stage is to greet the ancestors, which is called chamsin.
- The 3rd phase is jinchan, which translates to "service the ancestors."
- The 4rth stage is choheon, or pouring a drink for the ancestors.
- The 5th phase is aheon, which involves receiving a second drink.
- The 6th stage is jonghun, which is a third drink.
- Yusik, or offering food to the ancestors, is the 7th step.
- The 8th phase is hapmun, which allows the ancestors to rest in peace.
- The doors are opened in the 9th step, gyemun.
- The last stage is sasin, which means saying goodbye to the ancestors.
- Wales
Allantide is a celebration of Cornish that is held on October 31st & is also called as Halloween in other parts of the world. So, the event, like other festivities on this date, appears to have pre-Christian beginnings; nevertheless, in Cornwall, it was generally associated with Arlan or St Allen, a known Cornish saint.
Allantide is also called Allan Day as a result of this. As a result, it's considered that the term Allantide came from the exact aged English references as Hollantide (The Isle of Man and Wales) and Halloween.
Traditions and activities of Allantide
Allantide is still observed by some people and communities in Cornwall. They can do it in a variety of ways:
- Apple tradition
- Telling fortune with the help of metal
- Other fortune telling cultures
- Turnip lanterns
How do people celebrate Allantide today?
Allantide is still observed by some people and communities in Cornwall as a festival honoring the ancestors. They can do it in a variety of following ways:
- Apple giving
- Festivals
- Dishes
- Trick or treating
- Bobbing for apples
Not Quite Halloween Allantide
You may not be aware of numerous late October festivities and festivals, like Allantide. Although it resembles Halloween in some aspects, you can undoubtedly guess by now that it's also a distinct reflection of Cornish history.
If your culture has any interesting festival honoring the ancestors, do share with the Hedoniac community.
5 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Without Diet or Exercise
Who doesn’t love to eat unhealthy and junk foods without worrying about ways to lose weight and having to watch their diet? No one. Absolutely no one. But, did you know that is very much possible? Sticking to a proper exercise routine or strictly following a diet plan is not everyone’s cup of tea. It takes a lot of hard work and self-control.
5 Effective Ways to Lose Weight
Here are a few tricks that can be helpful in our experience, even if you are unable to avoid unhealthy food.
Change your plates
Food experts say darker colored plates make you consume less food. The stark difference between the color of food and the plate makes the food more prominent and the portions seem larger. It’d make you conscious of how much you are eating.
The same logic applies to using smaller plates. This allows portion control and overeating. Trick your brain to think you’re consuming a whole plate. Another trick that is widely used at restaurants and hotels is using heavier crockery. Since it is hard to carry a heavy object for longer, people tend to wind up their meals earlier than usual. Avoid using light colors, especially white plates. The food blends in and the plates look emptier and one tends to fill it with more and more.
Eat more proteins
Intake of proteins is a great way of curbing down hunger and feeling fuller for longer. You can choose protein sources with fewer calories, e.g. fish and lean meat. This is a good option for those who want to lose weight without cutting on the nutritious value of their diet.
Eggs and dairy products are the best options, especially included in the breakfast. They are not only rich in proteins and other nutrients but also keep you full for longer. A handful of nuts is also a good alternative for any other snack loaded with oil, sugar or salt.
Fill it with water
Water is not only necessary to live but can also serve as one of the effective ways to lose weight. Drinking water on an empty stomach before meals makes you eat less. Also, use it as an alternative to other drinks you consume, like sodas, tea or coffee.
This will result in cutting down sugar intake and calories consumed. It will keep you hydrated and also benefit your skin and overall health. Water also makes you feel lighter and get going all day long.
Eat slowly to lose weight
Chew your food properly, thoroughly and slowly. This will take time and send signals to your brain that you have eaten enough. Eating quickly not only creates digestive problems but also leads to overeating. The brain takes time to process how much you have eaten and till then, you continue eating, resulting in consuming way more than you should have.
Chewing food slowly is also one of the ways to lose weight. It helps in smoother digestion and avoids common problems like constipation, burps and gas in the stomach. Distractions and talking while eating also make you eat more without realizing it. If you are not concentrating on your food, there is a good chance that you will lose track of how much you have eaten.
Good sleep and no stress
When it comes to ways to lose weight, people usually focus only on a healthy diet and exercise. A few important factors that are usually overlooked in this experience are sleep patterns and stress and anxiety. Lack of sleep directly affects your appetite and usually results in eating more, causing obesity and various diseases. And, of course, we all know about stress eating!
Disturbed sleep and stress cause the release of certain hormones that aggravate cravings for food and disrupt appetite. People usually misinterpret these signals, especially during late nights. The result is a tub of ice cream or bag of chips or food deliveries, which are seldom healthy. All those calories pile up and the result is weight gain.
Nobody grabs a pack of celery or carrot sticks or sits with a bowl of crisp green salad when they are disturbed, angry or stressed. All the comfort foods that we know of are ready-made, loaded with sugars, fats, artificial flavors, tons of calories and everything unhealthy that you can imagine. Avoid eating when you are stressed and instead go for a walk, or address the cause in a proper way to resolve it and not take solace in food.
All these habits and things mentioned here are actually small changes that you can bring about in your habits and life if you crave to experience a healthy life. These might not seem significant, but they do pay off in the long run. People usually overlook these small measures that they can take to help them in weight loss and follow a healthy diet.
Even if you cannot exercise regularly, take up on your favorite sport and go out and enjoy it with your friends once in a while. You can always find time for a little walk here and there. A few basic yoga exercises can be performed in your own place without any hassle to calm down your nerves and take off those day-to-day pressures.
If you have any tried and tested ways to lose weight, share with the Hedoniac community today!
Unhealthy Foods and What makes them NOT Healthy?
Everyone loves food and prefers to eat the most tasty foods out there. In this love for food, people forget about its quality and end up eating more unhealthy foods than healthy ones.
While ordering from a restaurant, we have experienced that we put taste over nutritional values. If you're neglecting these nutritional values, you're greeting health risks towards you. Though such foods are undoubtedly delicious, they contain saturated fats, less protein, fibers, carbohydrates and less minerals that can affect your diet in the long run.
What exactly are these unhealthy foods?
Now the real question is: What exactly are these foods that everyone keeps on talking about? To describe it, unhealthy foods are foods that contain fewer nutrients, vitamins and proteins and higher amounts of sugars, calories, carbohydrates and fats.
And here are some of those highly dangerous, unhealthy foods:
What are Highly Processed Foods?
No doubt, processed foods are convenient and an easy go when you’re busy or lazy. However, this convenience comes with a huge risk.
Basically, highly processed foods are those which include excessive sodium, saturated fats, sugar or artificial colours. They may also contain hidden amounts of extra oil and calories, which can have a harmful effect on your body.
Frozen, canned, pasteurized or dried foods all come in this category. Most of these are used in our daily lives without knowing the consequences. They include sugary drinks, chocolates and candies, fast foods, frozen items, cheese, microwave meals, tinned vegetables and so on.
Processed, high fat meats
Although they are delicious and cheaper, they can lead to unhealthy and bad lifestyle habits. The words; artificial, chemical, salting, freezing, drying, canning literally shout very unhealthy.
From the cold cuts to pigs in a blanket, all processed meats are bad. Cured bacon, hotdogs, sausages, salami, dried meat and even beef jerky are evidently worse than the protein from fresh meat, chicken and fish.
They are loaded with preservatives and saturated fats and don’t help in maintaining a balanced diet. So, it is better to avoid them.
Refined white carbs
There have been a lot of heated debates on the consumption of carbohydrates. But the end result is always that our bodies need carbs to function properly.
While refined carbohydrates are processed and stripped of all their fiber, vitamins and minerals. They leave you feeling empty and craving for more. For this reason, they are considered as ‘empty’ carbs or calories and are known as unhealthy foods.
The main sources of refined carbs are white anything and everything. There are others but white bread, white flour and white rice are the villains in this experience. They don’t offer much in the way of nutrition and are very low in fibers and nutrients.
Rather than this, opt for unprocessed carbs or whole grain versions of each food. You can also enjoy a happy, fun time by making your own homemade versions.
Flavoured nuts
Flavoured nuts have been advertised commercially as health combined with taste. They have a shelf of their own in the markets where they claim that they can’t be bad for you no matter what. Even our own parents have made us eat them thinking they are good in nutrition.
The experience of indulging in flavoured nuts is such a fun one. But it is better to change those habits. Adding any kind of flavour to them reduces their protein. Whether they’re toffee coated, soy sauce or wasabi dusted, chocolate-dipped or savory spiced ones, they are loaded with extra sugar and salt. Most people will just lick the seasoning off and throw away the actual nuts.
Roasting nuts destroys its healthy fat. The extra sugar and salt can lead to dietary problems such as weight gain, high blood pressure and stroke, making them fall under the category of unhealthy foods.
White sugar
Of course, everyone loves sugar and why wouldn’t they? But we all know that it lies in the list of dangerous and unhealthy foods. Another disadvantage is that it digests very quickly and leaves your stomach feeling empty.
Although some other sugars such as brown sugar and corn sugar are present as alternatives, they are still not the healthiest option out there. It is pure carbohydrate and has no nutrients, just empty calories.
Excess of sugar and other unhealthy foods also causes weight gain. Your blood sugar is on a roller coaster ride and adds up to your body’s fat. Sugar is happiness and happiness is hard to replace, but you can do it by using honey, jaggery and stevia.
Margarine
Contrary to popular belief, butter is actually way better than margarine is. The more solid the margarine is, the more trans fat it has. So solid stick margarine is better off being avoided.
Trans fat is more dangerous than other fats as it leads to bad cholesterol and various heart diseases. As compared to butter, it includes a greater percentage of artificial and chemical ingredients. Besides butter, you can always use olive oil or vegetable oil as substitutes.
Everyone needs a healthy, balanced diet with all the food groups in it. Excess of a certain element or missing of another is always bad.
An easy solution is to opt for healthier foods anywhere and everywhere. By choosing or making your own healthy homemade foods, you can bring joy and, quite literally, warmth to your home and life. You can experience lots of good changes in your life by avoiding unhealthy foods and choosing healthy food instead.
Let Hedoniac help you with this little adventure of yours. Join our community and stay in touch with others. Let us give you a chance to experience positive changes in your soul and mind; be it letting go of unhealthy foods or finding your soul’s mission.
Urban Gardening: An Experience that will Change your Life
It’s definitely a struggle to live in an urban area. It’s even harder to grow the food you want in such a tiny space, but urban gardening provides you with a way. It is a shift from the traditional thinking that food can only be grown in rural areas.
How urban gardening can help?
Of course, it all comes with challenges. But urban gardening provides you with a wonderful experience to change your life and here’s how:
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Try a new experience
The basic concept of urban gardening is to grow or cultivate crops in an urban environment. It opens up a whole new world to you. It gives you an opportunity to try a new experience that can teach you something.
In today’s world, people have forgotten the background and importance of food production. We are oblivious to the agricultural world around us. But through this adventure, you can learn a lot. And that’s a pretty unique and powerful skill to have in today’s world.
Try it yourself and see what difference it makes. Is it even worth all the time and effort? Do you learn something new? Do you connect with the world and nature itself?
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Build community
Urban gardening is basically a reflection of your personality. It connects you with people of the same mindset and thinking. It helps you interact with people of the same lifestyle and build strong communities.
Urban areas tend to separate you from nature and the environment around you. Most of these people have lost their connection with nature and its beauty. And thus, they suffer from issues like depression and being unhappy.
Through urban gardening, they can be brought together and connected for a common purpose in life. The purpose is to build a community that can work on bringing a change in their lives together. The purpose of growing healthy food together; the purpose of connecting, sharing and learning. It creates a society that offers people a healthy escape from all the hustle and bustle of urban civilization.
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Enables you to grow healthy, high-quality food
There’s a serious lack of healthy food in today’s generation. We all have the bad habit of resorting to fast foods and instant meals. But such unhealthy food can only cause us harm. There’s an easy way out from all this trouble.
Growing your own food literally means that you grow healthy, high-quality, nutritious foods. Gardening on your own makes sure that your food is as organic as ever and free from all chemicals, artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
It gives you control of the nutrients, water, soil and quality of food. In this way, you can grow a variety of foods that are not locally available. Home-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Their cholesterol level is low too.
It changes your life in a way that you start eating healthy and start leading a better life. Healthy and high-quality food nourishes you well and improves your physical as well as mental strength.
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Grow food in a limited space
Urban gardening is a life-changing experience that can teach you how to do things in a limited space. It shows how having a little space can’t restrict you at all. You can do just fine with a little space to grow your own food.
There are various techniques that can be used to manage gardening in a small area. Vertical, container, hydroponic and rooftop techniques and technology allow you to utilize your space really well. Contrary to popular belief, it does not damage land or soil at all.
This yields high quality and superior volumes of the product. This process makes the best use of space and energy, all while growing the food you want.
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Save money
The best thing about all this hassle is that it saves a lot of money. No doubt, it can be costly to live in a city. With food prices increasing day by day, it is hard to manage things. But there is a solution.
Although in the very beginning some of your savings may be used up, in the long run, it will definitely benefit you. A kitchen full of healthy, cheap and nutritious fruits and vegetables is the best thing you could do for yourself. All it takes is a little time and effort.
Who doesn’t want healthy fruits and vegetables? So, if you are able to grow a lot of food, you can always share it with your friends and family. This will not only inspire others to learn from you but create a happy and safe environment for your gardening.
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Improves overall well being
Gardening connects you with nature and the environment around you. The ability to grow your own food refreshes and calms the mind and the soul.
The horticulture therapy associated with this experience is a huge blessing too. It improves the mood and nourishes you. It reduces stress, blood pressure and helps you relax.
Being with plants has a very good effect on all aspects of your life. It improves the overall well-being of the human body. It even gives you a chance to exercise in your busy schedule and a refreshing dose of vitamin D.
Now that you know the benefits of urban farming, it is time to begin. It’s time to be the change you want to bring to the world. It’s time to bring positivity to your lifestyle and those around you. We here at Hedoniac provide you with a chance to begin your adventure and share your story with the world. Hedoniac puts great emphasis on its core values and wants you to be a part of them too!
Blessed Proteins - Read All There is to Know!
The world is changing at a very fast pace. We come across so many new things every passing day that we have never heard of before. So, you haven't heard about Blessed Proteins before? No worries, we are here to tell you all there is to know about them.
Blessed Proteins are an addition to protein supplements that comes from a purely vegan source. It comes from golden peas. It’s a great option for people who follow a vegetarian diet. It is a wholesome option for a vegan lifestyle with no synthetic additives or traces of any dairy products. Each scoop provides 23g of Protein with carbs as low as 4g only.
Blessed proteins help to keep you feeling full with no bloating at all. You can enjoy this as a healthy drink, mixed in water or any drink of your choice, or even add to smoothies for added nutrition and enhanced taste. The ten delectable flavours are sure to appeal to people with different taste buds!
Blessed Proteins are a true blessing
Blessed Protein is a great deal for diet-conscious people or those with certain allergies. There is no white or brown sugar in it; instead, this tasty protein supplement is sweetened with natural stevia that cuts down on sugars for you. It has delicious natural flavours that taste just great even with only water added to it.
It is not only vegan-friendly but also gluten-free. There is zero caffeine and no metals in it. Most protein-based products have been detected to have some sort of metal additive (mostly lead, cadmium, etc.) in them, but Blessed Proteins are not the one.
The raw ingredients used to make this blessed drink are all soy-free and dairy-free. This lactose-free formula makes it a good alternative to other protein supplements. Lactose is usually the constituent that causes bloating and digestive problems for most people using such supplements.
Another amazing feature is that all the ingredients are sustainable, making it environmentally friendly as well. Each ingredient is derived from all-natural, organic sources; not a single artificial element, filler, or digestive enzyme is involved in its making.
You don’t have to worry about artificial sweeteners or grit in it. It is definitely a better choice than most over-processed supplements that have certain hidden elements, though in traces, but undesired nonetheless!
Weight loss assistance
Blessed Proteins can be used in weight loss regimes. The reason is the fewer carbs and low Glycaemic index, which assist in weight loss. It also helps to curb down cravings. The high protein content with low carbs is what keeps you full for longer, hence keeping your appetite in check. However, it helps to aid muscle weight, but no fat gain at all. The high Leucine content aids in muscle repair and synthesis of muscle-building proteins.
A healthy vegan experience
You will experience more satiation and lesser urge to fill your tummy, which is really great. Unlike most vegan products, it has far lesser carbohydrates which help against bloating. All in all, it is an all-natural fulfilling experience for your body and soul, with no regrets and worries of leaving any important nutrient behind.
A healthy life is no more a stressful one, with reading the labels and counting on calories all the time, with this amazing product. It’s an inspiration for leading a healthier, happier life with just one product at hand, which keeps you from the hassle of keeping an eye on your diet.
It can even serve as a replacement for a whole meal as it contains all the necessary amino acids, in addition to plant-based protein and carbohydrates. Most people consume these supplements as smoothies in conjunction with other drinks.
The whole range of flavours of Blesses Proteins allows you to experience several flavours with the same valuable nutrition that your body needs. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and soul to lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Blessed Proteins are the latest hype, so thought we will share some information for our loyal readers too. If you try these supplements, do share your experience with us!
5 Absolute Steps to Adapt with Life Changes
Everyone faces ups and downs in their life. It is an emotional roller coaster ride with a lot of changes at every turn. But dealing with those life changes and adapting is the key. Nothing is ever as hard as it seems. There is always a way to keep up with the way things are going on.
No matter what happens, the brain needs time to adjust. It needs time to embrace the change and get used to it. So, here are a few ways to cope and adapt to life changes in the hope of becoming a better person.
Acknowledge and embrace life changes
Most often, the hardest changes to accept and adjust to are the unexpected ones. But it is important to be mentally prepared at all times for anything sudden. Sometimes we are so caught up in fighting the change that we don’t even realize our denial.
However, breaking your boundaries and accepting the change is the right way. Telling yourself that things are changing, but it’s okay can be a lot less stressful than denying it. Think of it as the ‘new normal’ in your life.
Most of us may not be planners, but as you go through major life changes, you learn how to balance things. It is better to make a plan so that you stay more organized. This makes the process easier and your intentions clearer. So rather than saying, ‘We’ll see it when it happens..’, you should instead think ‘ We will say how we handle this’.
Keep up your regular schedule
The major the change, the more important it is to keep up with your regular schedule. Your go-to routine is the retreat you look for when things are a bit too much.
Having some things and habits stay the same can give your brain time to adapt to the change. It’s one less thing that your brain has to handle.
The practise of self-care is closely related to keeping up with your regular schedule. But often, with these life changes, fear settles in. The habit of self-care goes down the drain. But taking it one step at a time and going back to your normal life is the right way to do things. It can help to start with one thing each and every day that you do solely for yourself, such as exercise, reading or any hobby of yours.
Make the most out of this chance
Change is inevitable. There's nothing you can do to avoid it but make the best of it. Such an experience can lead you to beautiful, adventurous opportunities. Whether there are pains, joy, sorrows or confusion, think of it as a story that you can enjoy.
The process might be slow and it's okay to take your time. In times like this, you might feel the fear creeping up to you. You might find it hard to balance things. But it’s okay not to live up to your expectations. The main thing is to have the strength and make the commitment to go on.
Take it as a soulful experience, as a chance to get better. When you face uncertainties with an open mind, self-care and self-love, everything becomes easier. Make the best of it by enjoying each and every moment. Add more laughter and joy into your life while it lasts. It will undoubtedly have a positive effect on your mental health too.
Eat as healthy as possible
Eating as healthy as possible is an old standard but an important one. Change, either it is positive or negative, comes with stress. And that’s just your body reacting to a sudden change. And when that happens, people tend to resort to their comfort foods.
It’s perfectly okay to soothe yourself with your comfort foods. But when those foods include carbohydrates and sugars in excessive amounts like bread, cakes, pasta, etc., they can be unhealthy. Carbs include serotonin and that’s an easy way out from all that worry.
But you should still keep track of what you consume. It is important to keep a balance between healthy and unhealthy to adapt to these life changes. This can be done by writing down what you eat every day or limiting your pantry to certain foods. When you notice what you have been eating, you rethink your life choices and choose alternatives instead.
Ask for guidance or support
It’s impossible to get through the troubles and fears of life all alone. Many major life events are the ones we expect the least. Both good and bad changes feel like you are losing something as you set/ go forward for a new life.
So, it is okay to ask for help. Asking for help means that you are accepting the challenge and not running away from it. Look around you for the people you trust. It could be a friend, a family member, a neighbour or even an old acquaintance. If not one of these options, you could always go to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
This is a healthy step in your life that will improve your mental and physical health. Just remember to take it slow and easy. Give yourself a break. Meditate and relax. Catch your breath. And then you can get back on track.
Major life changes are never easy. It needs perseverance, consistency, and most of all, never give up. It doesn’t happen overnight. Thus, it is important to always experience the change with an open mind and accepting manner.
Subscribe to and let us help you step by step to work for healthy changes in your life and how to sustain them. In this way, we can help you have a deeper connection with your soul and the world.
4 easy ways to learn soul’s mission?
Life is a journey and some people strive to spend it more productively and thoughtfully than others. People who learn soul's mission not only lead a successful life but also impact others in many ways. Such people have figured out their soul mission and do not just focus on the goal, but make every second of this process count.
Why is finding your soul mission important?
Indeed, finding soul’s mission is a valuable experience that will teach you many things along the way. However, before getting into the process of finding your soul mission, it is important to know why it is even important in the first place.
Soul’s mission is a blueprint of what you are here to seek and do. When you are unaware of what your mission is, you will end up roaming around aimlessly. You will be unsure of things and grasp onto others. Getting clear about it is like identifying your greatest power and potential.
It’s what brings you joy, motivates you and helps you make the difference you ought to make. It’s really important to find it because it opens up a new world of experience for you. When you know your soul’s mission, you’re content and happy with everything and everyone.
Ways to learn soul’s mission
Here are a few ways to learn your soul mission and be one of them. Experience it yourself and see the change.
1. Be honest with yourself
Be true to yourself - be honest with yourself and try to learn about the truth within you while respecting the journey. Ask yourself why you are doing this? If you are stuck at a crossroads in your life, don’t fret! There is always an answer. It all lies in asking questions that lead you to a place you were meant to be. This step is all about getting to know yourself.
Don’t hold back any feelings and don’t judge yourself. Reflect upon soul-awakening questions that can help you find the truth. These questions are of the type; What am I good at? Are there any clues that lead to my soul’s purpose? Who am I as a human being? Having a clear understanding of yourself and the world around you helps you hear your heart more clearly. It helps you understand the deeper meaning of things, and hence your soul.
2. Explore yourself from within
Individuality is the essence of a being; don’t tend to follow others. Live each day and feel alive. Try to explore and learn something new every day. This will enable you to grow as a being and be more productive and successful. Share what you have and gain whatever you can from others. This will help you explore your inner self and the purpose of your life.
Make each day count and live it to its fullest. Find your passion and follow it ardently. Spending time on what you love will not only satisfy your soul and make you happy but benefit you in every way. Exploring your talents shall be a spiritual journey and enrich you from within. Nurture it and try to share it with others and enhance the benefits.
3. Stop searching
The first and foremost thing you need to do is stop searching. Searching will lead you nowhere. God has created your soul mission within you since the day you were born. You just have to try to remember it and bring it to the front of your mind. The process is introspective in nature and so it requires focusing and concentrating.
There are many ways to activate your mental and emotional processes. Breathing is the voice of the soul so that’s definitely the best place to start. Meditating in a peaceful environment, near water or crystals, can also help you find your inner source of power. Keeping track of things in a private diary or journal could also be the answer.
4. It all happens in the end, doesn’t it?!
Most people feel despair and discouraged if they can’t find their soul mission early on in their life. They feel like they are useless and lose hope and no longer have faith. But that isn’t something to worry about.
Everyone has a different point in life where it all comes together when they set out to learn soul's mission. For some, it’s early; for some, it’s late; but for everyone, it’s always the perfect time. The magic of it all hits you and you can feel the change. So don’t spend your days worrying over it. If it is meant to be, it will happen.
Everything good takes time and the time spent is always worth it. Not only the goal but the struggles on the way count just as much — that is real learning and achievement. The growth that you witness each day matters a lot and that is the real experience that actually transforms you into a better being at the end.
Your hurdles during this experience to learn soul's mission will teach you how to find solutions, how to deal with different situations, and eventually how to come out as a new and improved person.
Migration Experience: 6 Key Tips to be Prepared
Keys to have the best migration experience
Migration experience can be different for many people in many ways – while some find it exciting and liberating that they can have a fresh start, others are melancholic about leaving their old life and family or friends behind.
While we cannot tell you what exactly you are going to experience after you move to a new country, there are certain things that you can keep in mind to be better prepared and settle effortlessly as an immigrant.
Download a translation app
One of the biggest trouble immigrants experience is not being able to communicate with other people if they are not well-versed in the language of the place they are moving to. It would be ideal if you could learn the language of the place, but not everyone can do that.
So, how about you download a translation app. It might not always work flawlessly, but you will thank us later when it helps you out in certain tricky situations.
Research phone and internet providers
We all rely on the internet for a routine life, but when you are settling in a new country, a working phone and internet connection becomes vital. Luckily you can research in advance and place your order (most of the time), so when you are settling and dealing with so many other things, you have a phone and internet connection handy.
You will be ordering new stuff, using the map for navigation, getting your documents sorted and settling in — and you will need a phone and internet connection for all of these things.
Convert some currency
There is nothing wrong with going to the airport or local bank and getting the currency converted there, but if you go prepared with some local currency on you, it will be one less thing to worry about.
If you have some cash with you (especially smaller notes), you won't need to worry about your lunch and dinner on the first day or other little things.
Always keep your documents in check
The worst thing that can happen in a new country is documents drama. Since it's a new country, you will need your documents to register for many things. Whether you are settling for good as an immigrant or you are a student, you will inevitably be registering for a number of things.
It will take some time to figure out what to carry and where to go. So, it is best to have printed as well as electronic copies of your ID documents, educational degrees and some financial documents as well. You may end up not requiring them, but it’s a mess standing in the queue of a government office trying to find out where you saved your birth certificate!
Arranging digital as well as printed copies of important documents might sound like quite a hassle, but with the right planning, it's all possible. Be sure to have all your paperwork and visa ready and available at all times. The good news is that once you have got it sorted and saved in an easily accessible yet secure location, you don’t have to go through the process ever again.
Another thing to remember is that all government offices work at different paces and there may be delays before you can move on to the next step. This is the point where they will test your patience; but, doing some homework will help you be prepared for such events. Do some research to plan how long to wait before each appointment.
Embrace the culture
Adjusting to culture shock is one of the biggest experiences for new immigrants. Take your time to study the new culture and understand why locals do things differently. Bond with locals, don’t offend or disrespect things they honour, show an understanding of their customs and participate in their holidays and rituals.
Participate in the festivities of the local holidays because it will help you understand their way of doing things and who knows, you might even enjoy it!
Find a convenient mode of transport
Not everyone can afford to buy a car once they settle in a new place. So, talk to some locals about the available options and choose a mode of transport that is convenient in the meantime. If you are settling permanently, then it is advisable to explore the market first. Don’t rush in to buy a car which you might regret later.
Hold on tight!
You may get frustrated at roadblocks along the way, but the migration experience is going to teach you a lot of valuable lessons. Breathe, take it in one day at a time, and you will settle in sooner than you realize 😊
Join our community and share with us your migration experience!
5 Mistakes to Avoid while Living a Vegan Experience
Mistakes to avoid in your vegan experience
No meat, no dairy, no eggs, no animal-based products of any kind?! No worries! It’s still absolutely possible to eat a completely healthy vegan meal. But skipping the major food groups means you’re missing out on vital nutrients and, alas, flavour. But there is a way, and we provide you with it.
Everything you are currently eating, you can consume in an even better way. To make sure that there are no mistakes, no misconceptions and no believing in baseless assumptions, here are some of the most common mistakes on the vegan experience and how to avoid them.
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Assuming it’s healthy
Just because a product has been labelled as ‘vegan’ or ‘vegetarian’, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s 100% healthier than the regular meals. Yes, according to studies, eating less meat is surely better for the environment, which in the long-run has a positive effect on the Earth. But that doesn’t mean it’s automatically healthier.
Most store-bought products like vegan cakes and cookies are often heavily processed in the industries. The common go-to frozen products such as veggie burgers, nuggets and meat alternatives are much more artificially processed than the regular ones. This makes them less healthy than non-vegetarian processed foods.
Don’t be fooled by the claims of package marketing. Such attractive designs are just made to attract and fool you. The products may or may not be low in fibre, protein and nutrients.
To make sure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary for a balanced meal, take a good look at the ingredients. Not having enough knowledge to analyse the ingredients list is one of the most common mistakes in the vegan experience.
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Forgetting that you can and should DIY
Surprisingly many of the best vegan foods you’ll find in the world are homemade! A common assumption is that most people end up eating lesser calories as they switch to a vegan diet. But some people actually end up eating more as they replace it with higher quality food products.
Instead of devouring vegan frozen foods that are nutritionally declining in value, take a walk down the fresh produce section. This is an excuse to stock up on all kinds of vegetables that you have never tried before. Make sure that your pantry is always loaded with beans, grains, and green leafy vegetables so that you have a fun experience cooking.
If you are planning on DIY-ing, give yourself extra time to cook. Avoid the mistake of being unprepared in the kitchen. Meal planning can help ease your transition and produce a balanced diet. If you succeed, you will learn how to listen to your own self rather than others. Trying again and again will teach you how to acknowledge yourself and your achievements.
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Overlooking important micronutrients
When transitioning from an animal product-free diet, the most crucial part is to keep in check your micronutrient consumption. Iron, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and B12, calcium, zinc, phosphorus are crucial specifically for vegans, so your body can adjust to the lack of animal diet.
Sources and intake of many of the indispensable micronutrients are reduced in the vegan experience. However, there are a variety of plant-based foods to choose from. Soy products, cereals, lentils, peas, fruits and nuts are some many choices out there.
Make sure that you know the basic sciences of how and where to get a certain micronutrient from. Turning a blind eye to such significant details is a dumb thing to do. There are certain foods that increase the absorption of one nutrient while decreasing it for the other. So keep an eye on how it works, notice and observe. Before you know it, you will avoid mistakes and as a result, they will start to get better.
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Carbohydrate crazy
Once again, we’re back to the same point that vegan doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you. But this point of view is just from one perspective. The reason besides this is that when people try to replace meat and dairy-based products, they shift to carbohydrates.
Meat and dairy products tend to be rich in protein and thus are filling. While living a vegan experience, it is necessary to efficiently replace such foods with an adequate amount of protein. Refined carbs are stripped of their beneficial fibres during processing. Carbs in such an excessive amount can only lead to hunger, fatigue and low-energy levels throughout the day.
Whether it’s vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, nuts or any other plant-based protein ---- start eating it. Switch the refined grains to rich grains for better nutrition. It is essential to keep a balance between nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and minerals – because too much of a good thing is always a bad thing!
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Inability to find a community
When you make a shift in your diet plans that is completely different from other people’s, you might feel quite lonely. At first, there can be the issue of a sense of belonging. You might question yourself now and then. Whether you even belong here or not? Are you doing the right thing?
When your close ones, your family and friends are on a different side of the food cycle, everything feels too far away. Connecting and interacting with a community that shares similar views on food choices can be a lot of support. Talking about the same thing, eating the same food, and having a broader perspective of things can be an experience to learn from. Sharing your views with a community can also be a way to practice mindfulness and embrace others.
Create an environment around you for this new life. One of the best things you can do is try to influence your family and friends in order to avoid mistakes. Educate them of the benefits of this lifestyle and be the change you want to see in the world.
5 Keys To Change Habits to Improve Your Life
How to change habits painlessly
We all have those certain habits we wish we didn't, but we still can't seem to break them. Most of the time, we think we're making decisions, although they are just the previous old habits.
We're just doing what we do and that makes us less energetic, less influential, less productive – just less anything and everything. But there is a way to improve. There is always a way. Almost everything you are doing right now, you can try to do better.
To change habits can definitely be a challenge. But if you just think it as an experience and put in a little time and effort, it all starts making sense. Here's how:
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Pinpoint the habits you want to change
Specificity is the key point here. Instead of noting behaviour, identifying specific habits that you need to work on will help you move more quickly. Practice mental scripting as well as making lists. Stop nail-biting, eating healthy, lessen your social media usage – and the list goes on.
The habits and resolutions themselves aren't that important. Writing them down is. Writing creates clarity in mind and concentrates on what the end result could be.
This process isn't about making you feel bad about yourself, but about making you aware of the things you are willing to change. Making a list also serves as a reminder of the particular habits you want to work on.
This list can obviously scare the hell out of you. It may seem overwhelming, especially if you keep on noticing more bad habits than good ones. But the thing is that we all have habits we want to change. So instead of worrying about them all, just pick one or two, and you'll notice/ see the change.
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Identify the cause
Now that you have got a list of your habits, try to find what causes them. Try to find out what triggers them or you. Knowing the root cause is the best trick to replace or change a habit.
Most habits are triggered by certain situations or surroundings. Maybe you reach for that junk food or a piece of chocolate when you're stressed. Or you lazily scroll on social media just because you're bored. Even you could accidentally lie in some situation because you're nervous.
That urge to do something even though you know it might be bad for you is quite irresistible. When you know the cue, you can determine the routine. Learning what prompts them can help you understand the process better. It might also help you come up with ideas to change your behaviour.
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Replace the habit
It takes some time and a lot of effort to form new habits. So instead of breaking your habits at first, try to replace them. You will achieve nothing if you rush into things ---- make tiny changes.
Replacing a habit with an alternative better one is the way to go. If you are entirely giving up something in this process, be sure that you are adequately replacing the needs at the same time.
Instead of munching on junk food when you're stressed, try some stress managing techniques like a walk or even meditation. Chewing gum when you want a cigarette. Eating fruit when you're thinking about desserts.
Try not to replace your behaviour in favour of something similar to the previous one. This is an experience, an opportunity for the better. If you watch television as a way to relax, don't switch to any other screen. Switch to reading, exercising, or anything else that might help you relax a bit.
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Change your environment
Your environment and surroundings play an important role in changing habits. It is impossible to get rid of a habit by staying in the same environment where it started from. Even though it might temporarily vanish, it will make its way back.
Restructure your environment, so there is nothing to distract or tempt you. Or even better ---- change it entirely. Start afresh, all over again. Get rid of all the junk food, limit your screen usage, throw out the alcohol and cigarettes. Create a new, better environment with the aim of progress in mind.
Once you get rid of the triggers, everything will be easier. Adopting a new environment and a new lifestyle will have a positive effect on your behaviour.
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Don't give up
It's natural to have slip ups. It's okay not to nail it one go. Nothing this big is ever accomplished overnight. So don't be upset about it. Don't beat yourself up if things don't go right.
Take it as an experience and don't stress. Wait for the adjustment process to kick in and continue the cycle. Remember that you are only human and that everything will work out eventually if you just keep on trying. You should be aware of the consequences that come with it. If you fall back into that old habit again, get up and go up.
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