Ways to Achieve Your Goals

Every year, each of us tries to promise ourselves that we will achieve a goal—may it be in one’s career, health, lifestyle, etc. However, we may get busy with our other engagements, thus, we tend to do little to no action to achieve our goal. We won’t notice but the year is about to end again and a lot of time has passed. This may also give the feeling of guilt. In order to avoid this, here are some tips on how one can achieve his/her goal. Identifying specific goals will make it easier for you to know what are tasks to focus on. Writing it on a piece of paper is also helpful as it will get the goal out of your brain into the physical world. It will also serve as a reminder for you from time to time. Telling a friend is also beneficial as it will hold you accountable for your progress and it will add pressure on you. If you have big goals, you should break them into small ones to make them more realistic and achievable. Some experts also say that it is important to reassess your goals from time to time to tailor them according to the changes that might have happened in your life. Lastly, it is not the goals, but its pursuit that keeps us going day by day. Thus, we should make sure that we are getting the best out of every experience.

Questions to Ask Before You Marry

What keeps couples together is compatibility. To know if one is compatible with you, you should ask questions. But what exactly are the questions one should ask? Here are some of the most often questions asked on several websites. First, ask what kind of debt your partner has and how he spends money. This question is necessary as financial problems are among the top five reasons why couples fight. Another
important question is on the household and their feelings about clutter. It is also a need to ask how much time your partner spends on social media or other technology
because studies show that couples with the same interests are more likely to have a successful marriage. Questions on having children are also important as these may be irreconcilable and even a deal-breaker for some. One should ask about the partner’s criminal records. But aside from this, one should also ask the history of gambling, overusing alcohol or drugs, or, perhaps, violence. Lastly, one should ask about the partner’s need for alone time. It is essential because one may take it
personally when the partner is not spending so much time alone, while others may feel trapped when they spend so much time together. Asking these questions may be a bit uncomfortable, but that is better than a future full of conflicts. It is also
important to note that a partner’s hesitation in answering these questions may not be a good sign.

Science Fiction Writer’s Fame Grows Years After Death

N.K. Jemisin read her first Octavia Butler novel at a young age. Butler wrote science fiction and creative nonfiction about happenings in the future. “Dawn” was the title of the book Jemisin read. It tells the story of a black woman who wakes up 250 years after a nuclear tragedy. Jemisin remembers being stunned that a black woman existed in the future because science fiction had not done that before. Jemisin’s own book “The City We Became” is selling very well. In her own day, Octavia Butler was considered to be a revolutionary voice. Since her death 14 years ago, she has become much more well-known. According to Butler’s former literary agent, Merrilee Heifetz, her novels sell more than 100,000 copies each year. Now, a generation of young authors, including Jemisin, say that she has had a significant impact on them. Toshi Reagon, an American musician, has adapted Butler’s novel “Parable of the Sower” into an opera. Octavia Butler is also regarded as a visionary writer as her works address current issues such as climate change and politics.

Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About the 4th of July

The United States observes its Independence Day on July 4th, with massive outdoor festivals of music, fireworks, and food usually held in cities and towns throughout the country. In 1776, Former US President John Adams wrote that this day shall be memorialized in American history. He was, however, referring to the second of July. That was the day the Continental Congress voted to secede from the British Empire, where colonies were given the status of self-governing nations. Independence Day, meanwhile, was declared on the fourth of July, which is why Americans have celebrated on that day since 1776. Celebrations include barbecues, parades, and fireworks. Some people also rejoice by devouring as many hot dogs as they can. Since the early 1970s, Nathan’s Famous, an American company that operates a chain of fast food restaurants, has organized a race to see who can consume the most hot dogs in 10 minutes on July 4th. The competition features 30 to 40 contestants who are split into two groups based on their gender. This year, on the contrary, celebrations are limited as the country is banning or refusing large crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the U.S., Some Men Are Helping Women Give Birth

These days, the number of pregnant women who choose to work with a doula is increasing. Doulas are neither nurses nor doctors but professionals who help ease the pain of the mother giving birth. CAPPA and DONA are some of the doula training organizations in the United States. According to them, most doulas are women but, in the present day, more and more males are being trained to be doulas. According to Brian Salmon, a male doula, the attitude of people to male doula has already developed through time. Before they were met with hesitations but now, they are met with open arms. As expected, not everyone will accede to the idea of a male doula, just like how some are uncomfortable with male doctors. On the other hand, Yale Nogin, a father and a doctor, is working on different methods on how to include men during childbirth. He leads a class to help other men prepare for childhood. He added that through being educated and informed on the matter, they will be able to earn their partner’s trust. It really is important for the father to have a role in childbirth especially if he is well-informed. Furthermore, when a woman is giving birth, she is most at ease and content when she sees and hears the face and voice of someone she cares for.

Negative Self-Talk Can Hurt You

Sometimes little self-criticisms are necessary. However, too much of this can be detrimental to one’s brain and eventually, life. Negative self-talk is that little voice inside your head which tells you that you are not good enough. It also keeps on bringing back the memory of your faults and mistakes in the past. The effect of negative self-talk was seen firsthand by a professor. He wondered how his students despite being always present in class and doing well in all other school works, still have a hard time when it comes to exams. He said that these students fold under pressure when taking an exam. This is called “test anxiety.” This is suffered by students as they realize that in taking an exam, there is a lot on the line. Being reminded that their future may depend on these exams, brings them a lot of pressure, which prevents them from focusing on their studies. The professor talked to one of his students about the matter. The student told her that when she is about to take an exam, she keeps on hearing negative self-talks such as why is she tense and why is she not remembering what she studied. After hearing this, the professor engaged his student in positive self-talk. When the student tried doing it, her grades became higher compared to her previous exams. This is also used by the professor to her friends and neighbors. The goal is to regain one’s self-confidence.