The Polite Way of Telling Someone That You Are Not Interested

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It is inevitable that you are going to be faced in situations within your life where someone conveys their interest in you and you are not interested. You might be in the dating world where you are looking to find a partner but along the way you come across people who like you and it simply is not mutual. It can also happen while you are taken and someone tries to make a move on you. While it can be awkward at times to tell someone that you do not have a romantic interest, it has to be done or else it can become an ongoing problem and just a straight up annoyance that could have been avoided from the get go. So what can you do about it?

No matter how you go about it, you need a proactive approach and to be firm with your message. The problem is, sometimes people deliver a message but it becomes a mixed message because it was not firm enough or it can be misinterpreted. I truly believe the BEST way to make the message clear is to spell it out verbally. To some extent, I understand this is avoided because people do not want to hurt people’s feelings but is it really worth guarding someone’s feelings and living a lie in the process? I just do not see the point in doing this which is why you need to just directly say something. If you are married or in a relationship, it is very easy to just tell someone this because you are telling the truth and it should be understood by the other person that if you are taken, that you are not available in which you really do not owe any further explanation. If you are single, you have a few more options in how you want to go about it. Personally, I do not see the harm in telling someone, “I only see you as a friend” or “I do not see a connection and wish the best for you.” These lines are both truthful and polite. You also gain the other person’s respect by delivering the truth and by saving their time.

People often think the solution is to ignore someone which might be effective on some level but oftentimes it is not because it is too passive aggressive and does not really provide any closure. As a result, it can cause the other person to chase you even more to gain any little bit of your attention which is the opposite response you would want. It can also leave the other person to feel emotionally unsettled because even if they got the hint that you are not interested, curiosity will most likely still linger in the back of their minds as to why you blew them off or stopped talking to them altogether. It is also for this reason why I do not think it is a good idea or that it is right to not say something because in most scenarios, it is beneficial to provide some form of closure with your words. If the person is a stranger or someone you had not interacted much with, I suppose it is okay to just keep it moving but if it is someone that you were dating or talking to for a short amount of time, then it is best to just verbally express how you feel in whatever way feels most comfortable to you. Remember that at the end of the day, you are ultimately doing the other person a favor by telling them you are not interested, even if that means some initial emotional discomfort on their end at first. They will eventually move on and find someone that is just as interested in them in return–and that’s a good thing! ❤

Why Having Substance Is Your Greatest Asset and How to Possess More of It

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People focus much of their attention on appearances and by that, I do not just mean their outward appearance such as their physical looks but also how they appear to other people. We live in a society that very much judges others based on what is seen on the exterior. I understand that it is for this reason why people put such a huge emphasis on how they come across and are seen by others in real life and on social media. However, people should really put more of their attention towards building up their substance as individuals and who they are in the inside and not just the outside.

This is why you often hear, “don’t judge a book by its cover” because there is definitely validity behind this common adage. I can think of a handful of times where I misjudged people based on appearances and I was totally wrong about the person. I am sure everyone has experienced this before for the good or for the bad. This goes with attraction too where someone might not be as physically attractive in your eyes but because the person has substance and truly is beautiful in the inside, this makes the person an attractive one despite the exterior. In contrast, you might meet someone who you find to be incredibly good looking but because there is a lack of substance and/or chemistry, you do not view the person as attractive anymore. It is kind of like an optical illusion where what you see is not what you get which is why looks really are not everything!

Substance is an asset that often is never mentioned but holds so much value and in some, is never really fully developed. The good news is that there are ways to build up substance and to make this a focal point in your self development. I believe the best way to do this is to cultivate your passions and interests on an authentic level. In other words, do not go through the motions of doing things for the sake of it or because you see everyone doing something on social media. You need to figure out what brings you joy and what are the things that you most naturally gravitate towards most. Everyone is born with their own unique set of talents, interests, strengths, and abilities. It is your job to determine what they are and to expand on them. This will not only bring you genuine happiness in life but oftentimes it will fulfill a purpose by providing meaning and substance to the core of your soul. Substance is what carries you in life and serves as a helpful tool to attract the right opportunities and people into your Universe which is why it is a necessity to possess a good amount of it.

My Thoughts on Inflation and What Can Be Done About It

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It is no secret that inflation is at an all time high right now. It is said that the rate of inflation has not been this high in about 40 years. While there are many contributing factors such as the pandemic, supply chain shortages within many industries, the war in Ukraine which affects the global economy, and many other things that are not within our control–there is something that we can all do to control the situation. The answer is: ADAPT. While I know on the surface, that might come off as ignorant because not everyone is in a good place in life or have the financial means to simply “adapt” but what I want to address is the point that we as individuals have to take life as it comes. People are so quick to complain about exterior things or to blame the outside world for the problems that we face or how we are impacted on a personal level. While I admit that I by no means am in favor of inflation, I do not let it get the best of me and you won’t hear me make an issue of it. Why? For one, in the grand scheme of things, it is the least of my concerns in that I choose to put my mental focus on the positive things in life and what I am most grateful for. Internally, we all have control on how we react to situations and it is best to not let the outside world bring our lives down. I know that might not seem easy at times but it is something that we all can consciously get better at. As I mentioned previously, it is all about how we choose to adapt to situations.

Although I am not a science person whatsoever, I do want to point out the basic principle that what goes up must come down. While this explains gravity, this concept actually applies to so many things in life! Inflation is inevitable but the high elevation rate in which we are experiencing right now is only temporary and is not sustainable. Eventually prices on certain things such as gas and real estate will eventually have to drop in price. People have to learn to stay positive and hang in there during these uncertain times because things are bound to level out over time.

If you are someone who is having a tough time keeping up with the rate of inflation as far as your finances are concerned, my advice is to take this as a time to level up your life. That might mean putting in more hours of work a week, picking up a second job, finding an extra source of income, or cutting back in certain areas of your life if it comes down to that. It is easy to blame inflation for not being able to keep up with daily expenses but I look at it that the underlying issue in this situation is SELF and not inflation. In other words, the money issues probably existed before inflation so rather than declaring that as the problem, it is better to take a deeper examination of self and find ways to develop better spending habits and finding ways to make more money so that you can live a more comfortable lifestyle that does not leave you struggling during these times of uncertainty. It is essential to both save and invest your money not only for a brighter future but also when unexpected emergencies arise such as situations like this where having extra funds as backup is incredibly beneficial.

Why You Can’t Always Trust “Fitness” Influencers – Along with A Much Healthier Approach to Fitness

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Nowadays thanks to social media, there is so much information about health and fitness. People post everything ranging from their workouts to what they eat each day. Just about anyone and everyone can post including normal people who are fitness enthusiasts, actual professionals who work as trainers or within the fitness industry, or people who call themselves fitness influencers who might have a massive following but do not have a professional background. You might also notice that fitness influencers try to sell fitness programs that are marketed to help you train to look just like them or try to obtain a certain physique. While I also like to turn to places like Instagram to learn new fitness moves or as fitness inspiration to help me vary my workouts, that is the extent that I rely on social media for this information because I know that there are many people out there who might make fitness claims that are not valid. For example, it often is a taboo subject to talk about plastic surgery or any type of body procedures; however, there are some people that have had work done but say that they look that way thanks to their workouts and programs. This is false advertising! That is why I don’t think you can take everything that you see on social media all too seriously. Also keep in mind that everyone’s genetics are designed differently so a specific diet and fitness routine that works on one person might not necessarily work as effectively on someone else.

I believe the healthiest approach to fitness is to first set realistic expectations and fitness goals that apply to you personally. From there, you can create a game plan to determine how you will reach these goals and then develop the right habits that you can adapt on a daily basis that will help you achieve the results that you are looking for. Consistency is the key and as long as you are consistent with your efforts, you will notice that you will make progress over time. It is natural that there will be off days but never let that bring you down and know that you can always pick right back up from where you started or where you were previously. It is much healthier to focus on your own fitness journey than to compare yourself to others because the majority of the time, the people who might have a major social media following are not always the most knowledgeable and/or might be taking extreme measures to appear “healthy” when they actually are not. It is important to find what works for you and to apply it in your everyday life so it becomes a lifestyle as opposed to feeling like a chore which is why that it is also beneficial to find physical activities that you love paired with a healthy diet that you find enjoyable.

J.Lo’s Second Engagement to Ben Affleck – Can Love Be Rekindled Much Later in Life?

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Not to get too caught up with celebrity news; however, headlines recently broke out that J.Lo announced her (second) engagement to Ben Affleck, just a few days ago. If people remember back in the early 2000’s when they were referred to as “bennifer” along with them being previously engaged. Unfortunately, their engagement and relationship ultimately ended and they both went on with their lives to marry different people and have families of their own. Even though they were initially together about 20 years ago, I actually remember quite vividly their romance and that they were consistently in the public eye to be seen as one of Hollywood’s biggest celebrity couples at the time. So when they called it quits, I know many people were shocked–myself included.

Fast forward to the present day and it appears that they have picked up from where they have left off and plan to create a future together which now includes marriage. Although I have mixed feelings regarding this, it makes you wonder, can love be rekindled much later in life? For example, I have heard scenarios of high school sweethearts who went their separate ways only to reconnect much later in life after a failed marriage or simply after an extended time away from each other. Can this happen and is it possible for love to be successful the second time around? Although in most circumstances, I would have to say that it is very unlikely and that the chances are slim to none, as the saying goes, “never say never.” In other words, there are those rare instances where two people might not have been ready to be together but after a substantial amount of time has gone by, both people are ready to make it work for the long haul. It can take a series of life experiences to occur first before two people are ready to make it more serious. In addition, it is possible after a lot of time has gone by, that it had left room for one or both people to miss what they initially had because the grass is not always greener on the other side. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what would cause two people to get back together because it is situational but I have seen that this happens every so often and sometimes the couple is stronger than ever after being away from each other for so long.

While it is easy for me to judge on the outside negatively and say that this is unlikely to work out if it did not work out the first time, as I just mentioned, when it comes to love and most things in life–anything is possible. Although the past very much shapes the future, life can take many turns along the way and in certain cases that might mean opening a door that was once closed. Remember that your destiny is always evolving and your instincts will help guide you along the way. If that means rekindling a past love, so be it and just go with it because what is meant to be will be! ❤

What To Do When Someone Does Not Meet Your Standards

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It is natural to meet people who are not on the same level as you or perhaps does not give you the same level of respect, love, and support that you know that you deserve. And guess what? That is OKAY because you always have control in how you interact with others. Too often, people forget that they have this power and allow people to take advantage or waste their time. It is also common to see someone make an attempt to teach the other person what their standards are or to try to shape the other person to adapt. While that might work in certain scenarios, if it does, usually the results are SHORT TERM. In other words, the other person might go through the motions of “adapting” but realistically this person is only doing so to please the other person or to keep them in their lives. Most people are who they are which is why it tends to be an arduous task to change any individual. Usually it does not happen and it is wasted energy in my opinion because there is a far better solution–stop wasting your time on people who are not on your level.

I know that is something that not everyone wants to hear but that is the underlying issue at hand. Rather than settling or trying to fix someone, you are better off walking away. Even if you see some positive qualities, “some” usually is never enough. It is important to set the bar high at all times and this includes the people that you choose to be a part of your life. It is not worth being left disappointed all the time or feeling as though someone is constantly falling short. Trust me when I tell you that there are plenty of extraordinary people out there and that there are people out there who exist who you will find admirable and who inspire you. These are the types of people that you should try to associate yourself with and keep close to while the ones who do not meet your standards you can dismiss altogether.

How to Cut Spending Without Feeling Deprived

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I haven’t really written a financial related blog in quite some time and I feel that while this is always a topic of interest, proper money management is also a much needed life skill. As important as it is to amp up your salary or to find multiple streams of income, someone can make all the money in the world and not know how to manage it or overspend it where they do not have much money at all. That is why it is beneficial to know how and when to cut spending but to do so without feeling deprived so that you can still live your life in abundance.

Which leads me to the point that although it sounds like an oxymoron to preach about having an abundant life but then you have to cut back on spending money, the truth is that you can actually do both at the same time. For one, it is important to be thankful for what you currently have because practicing gratitude actually attracts more abundance into your life. Also consider that if you are happy with what you have, you will likely be spending less money on things that are not a true necessity which is a good thing because that means that you will be spending less money on things that you do not need.

Everyone has different areas in their lives that they are willing to spend more money on and things that they do not care about or prioritize as much. I would suggest establishing what areas that you can cut back on and the ones that you are willing to splurge on. For example, for me personally, I think it is a waste of money to buy lunch all the time or to purchase coffee daily so I do not spend much money on these items as I prefer to save the money and make my food and coffee at home. On the other hand, I know that there are people who find it to be quite enjoyable to buy their lunch and/or coffee on a daily basis because it is a luxury to them and just makes their lives more convenient. My point is, what I might label as a “waste of money” might be something that is very valuable to another individual so that is why I said that everyone needs to determine what they like to splurge on and then what areas that they can save their money on. This way you will have a balanced approach to your spending where you can have the things that you really care about but then you can also save money as well by cutting back on the things that are not essential to you personally.

Why I Find Astrology Absolutely Fascinating – Does It Matter in Forming Relationships?

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While many might have mixed views on astrology, I actually find astrology to be very interesting and insanely accurate. When I say astrology, I am not referring to people’s daily horoscopes in which I do not really follow horoscopes because I think we as individuals determine our destiny based upon our daily choices more than a horoscope could ever predict. However, when it comes to learning about the different astrological signs and their character traits, it is fascinating how precise they can be.

Will your astrological sign have an impact on the relationships that you develop in your lifetime? Of course people of any sign can get along with other signs but there is no denying that some signs naturally get along better than others. For example, when looking back on my childhood and my three very best friends that I met as a child–they ALL happened to be the same sign: Virgo. Their birthdays are September 6, 8, and 19. It is not like I knew a thing about astrology as a young kid and that I went up to people asking what their sign was as a deciding factor of choosing them as a friend or not. These friends that I naturally gravitated towards and developed strong friendships with happened organically. I am not a Virgo but I am a Capricorn and both signs are the same element which is Earth. If you look up traits of “Earth signs,” they are listed to be grounded, hard working, stable, and practical people. Why this matters in relationships whether it is a friendship or with a significant other is that as the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” People that naturally have the same foundation and way of thinking tend to get along very well. So while some of you may think that it is a coincidence that all my childhood friends are Earth signs like me, I do not believe that it is a coincidence whatsoever and it makes complete sense from an astrological point of view! I believe if people took some time to actually study astrology and examine an individual’s traits based on their sign, not only would they learn a lot about this person but it would explain many things such as their behavior, motivation, goals in life, and other fundamental parts of their inner being. When making friends or within the dating world, it is very helpful knowing this information to determine if you have some general similarities or if compatibility is even a possibility.

If you find astrology to be of interest, it is also beneficial knowing your birth time and location in which you can have your birth chart analyzed. This would tell you what your moon and rising signs are which are different than your sun sign aka your birthday. While your sun sign gives you a general sense of one’s personality, you can rely on the moon sign to determine a person’s emotional side and the rising sign which exemplifies how a person is on the outside such as their outward appearance. This would explain why two people who have the same birthday can still have many differences because of their moon and rising signs in combination with their sun signs are not all the same. Needless to say, when studying astrology, there are many factors that contribute to a person’s personality so while it is easy to make generalizations, there is more to the assessment than just knowing a person’s birthday. However, at the very least, it definitely is a good starting point and the information is still very valuable.

J.Lo – “I’m Just Getting Started” – Why Aging Should Never Be an Excuse or Setback

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Last week at the IHeartRadio Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez was awarded the 2022 Icon Award at the age of 52 years old. As she graciously accepted the award, she stated, “Let me tell you something else, I’m just getting started.” While many won’t have a career as remarkable as J.Lo, that is not the point. It is her mindset that is the takeaway and something that anyone can adapt besides her. She essentially is saying that this is only the beginning of many more achievements and things are going to keep getting better–(aka an abundance mindset). It is clear that she does not view age as a setback and embraces it knowing that she has even more to accomplish. This is not only a positive outlook to have but also an empowering way to look at life.

Many seem to associate aging or getting older as a bad thing and that age dictates our lives in a very negative way. Why does it have to be that way though? Even if that is what someone else might think or what society might portray, who says that you have to think that way? People too often use aging as an excuse as to why they let themselves go or that their social lives are not as exciting as in their youth or that things essentially go downhill over time. Again, it does not have to be this way unless you choose for it to be this way. If anything, I think that people need to possess the opposite mindset. With age, there are many spiritual gifts added to enhance your life including more life experiences, success, wealth, happiness, security, and much more. Age might bring upon more responsibilities such as raising a family or added job roles within a career; however, this can be expected and it is always better to be progressing in life than staying stagnate where there is little to no change.

Each year of life is a blessing and should be seen as an opportunity to expand life and make it an amazing one. People should not be stating that they are “too old” to do anything or whenever a birthday passes by. It is also important to keep in mind that age is just a number and certain life experiences and milestones that you are striving for might come sooner than expected or perhaps arrive later in life which is okay because everybody’s life path is different. Don’t ever let age be seen as a setback or used as an excuse as to why your life is not a spectacular one. Getting older should never serve as a roadblock against success, love, or happiness. As far as I am concerned, life should only get better with age and it is apparent that J.Lo feels the same way! 😉

Tracking Your Life – You Improve What You Measure

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Often times I write about the importance of tracking things such as your goals, finances, and other vital areas in your life as a way to measure your progress. While some might think it is a waste of time or that it is unnecessary, I do believe that taking the time to track it down will put you on the right path of success and that as a result, you are bound to make improvements in your life. This is because you are putting a focus on what you want and paying attention to your progress over time. If you want to maximize your potential, it is time to start tracking it!

For me personally, I like to write things in a physical journal by hand although there are other options such as tracking digitally on a spreadsheet or on a phone app. There are many phone apps today that make it easy to track things such as your fitness and financial goals. Everyone has a different approach so it is good to find what works best for you. All that matters is that you start and make it a daily habit. It is amazing to look back at where you started and satisfying when you can see actual progression over time. In order to improve your current life and to achieve what you desire most, it is time to get serious about your goals by not only writing them down but also keeping tabs on your progress by recording it each day.