relationships

Network Online Like a Pro

2017-12-10T13:55:39+00:00

If you have ever felt like your social group is rather small and claustrophobic, you are not alone.  Having a small circle of close and trusted confidants is essential, but if you have not met your significant other or want more friends, then it might seem somewhat restricted.  The secret here is learning to network online like a pro, which might sound slightly like a minefield.  Fear not we have some great tips.

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Spring Clean Your Contacts: First of all, it is worth subscribing to more than one social network.  So if you only have Facebook, get looking at some of the others.  Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are the most social rather than business platforms after giants Facebook.  Next you want to shake up your contacts.  Most people start with the friends they actually know, maybe old school chums and often colleagues at work – but where do you go from there?  Adding random friends on Facebook can be slightly stalker-like. However, the app does offer a helpful connections section where informs you of mutual connections.  If you have over 50 people in common with another friend it might be worth a punt to add the person.  Twitter and Instagram are brilliant for following randoms.  It is entirely acceptable to find and follow anyone you like without looking like a cyber stalker – so make sure you add new people every week.  On both platforms, you can use hashtags to find like-minded souls.

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Get Active: The best way to network on Facebook and meet new likeminded folk is to join interests groups.  There are groups for just about everything, from dog lovers to those suffering from a specific illness, those who love reading to people looking for the best locations for music festivals.  Whatever your interest you can bet your life there is a group on Facebook.  So get joining.  However, you cannot be a wallflower!  Once you are in, start interacting.  People will often be seeking advice or having discussions so dive on in.  Yes, there are keyboard warriors a plenty so having strong opinions can leave you open to rebuttals but you can also find yourself chatting with like-minded individuals and often a friend request will find its way to you.  If you have been talking with the group to one person in particular then why not ask if you can add them.

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Start Your Own Community: If you have an interest why not start your own group on Facebook.  They are free to start, and the process is simple.  Then just get sharing among your existing social groups with a friendly ‘please share me’ request attached.  Post your group into other groups (you may need to check with admin that this is acceptable), and before long you have created a whole new social set.   Above all try and stay polite and respectful of other people opinions, and think about whether you want friends you may later meet in person or that remain virtual (people in other countries, for example, can become great friends but you probably won’t ever meet them).

Let us know your experiences of networking online!

Network Online Like a Pro 2017-12-10T13:55:39+00:00

Relationships Without Future: Should You Stay?

2017-12-10T14:06:37+00:00

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It’s true that nothing’s ever certain in life.
  The same goes for relationships.
  There always comes a moment when we unconsciously think about the future, and it could make us feel either daunted or relieved. If it’s the latter, then congratulations – it seems the future is bright and promising for you and your SO. But if it’s the former, then don’t panic. This may just be the right time for you to re-evaluate your relationship with your SO from the good and the bad, and either start making changes or take a hike!
  If you’re looking for a more serious relationship but suddenly have the revelation that you actually don’t see a future with your current SO, here are five important questions you should consider asking yourself and your partner.

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1. What do you and your partner seek in relationships at the time being? Are you on the same page?
– Are you looking for a serious, long-term, committed relationship or not? Is he looking for the same thing? It’s important that both of you set your terms and expectations for you to settle what kind of relationship you are in.

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2. When you think about your partner and your relationship, how does it make you feel?
– Can you count more times when you are angry or sad than when you’re happy? Does your partner make you feel comfortable, safe, nurtured? Or do you constantly struggle between setting your wants and needs to the way they treat you? The very basis of any romantic relationship should be friendship and mutual respect, but if there’s none of those and you don’t feel as though your partner takes you or your feelings into consideration, then perhaps it’s time to move on.

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3. Do you completely trust and support each other?
– Your partner should be your number one supporter; going out of their way to make sure that you achieve your goals and picking you up when you’re down. They should never do anything to potentially threaten your relationship or be one-sided in this aspect. And vice versa.

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4. Are you both equally invested in your relationship?
– It takes two to tango, as they say. True partnership means that you are a team, and it certainly can’t be unfair. Sacrificing or compromising your all into this relationship or to your partner, wouldn’t be healthy for you or for your relationship.

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5. When you think about the future, do you see your partner included in it?
– Here it is, the BIG picture. So you’ve got plans on how you move forward with your life, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be anything specific. Let’s say, you don’t see yourself working long-term in your job at the moment, and you have dreams of changing your career path in another state, city or country. The thing is this, do you see your partner in that picture? That no matter how both of you move forward in your life, you are still together and you consider each other’s life goals as your own to support one another?

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  If you don’t, it’s okay. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of choice. We all want different things, and if this SO of yours makes you feel happy and fulfilled, then there is no reason to break things off for now. What is also important is that you consider the questions given above, and that you set your own expectations of having a possible end date or the possibility for both of you to carry on…

Relationships Without Future: Should You Stay? 2017-12-10T14:06:37+00:00

Kick Out Societal Standards

2017-12-10T14:08:18+00:00

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In a world where you can basically Google anything and find a wide array of articles dictating to you what you should do, what you should give and receive, what or who you should be, who you should be with (this article is no exception, apparently), doesn’t it all get confusing? Everywhere you turn you receive tons of voices screaming the type of standards you should have, in every aspect of your life. And sure, it can be quite helpful at times, but maybe there are times when trusting our own instincts should come into play. So let’s challenge the status quo for a little bit…


  When it comes to dating, there are certain so-called “rules” we get to follow. And these are the typical rules – ie. how women shouldn’t be the ones who would initiate courtships; how men should pay for dinner dates; how if someone was your soulmate, women wouldn’t have to communicate how they feel because men should just “know,” and the list goes on and on. Some still follow these to this very day, others don’t. And for those who do, they might think that once these rules are broken, it’d be a total dealbreaker.


   It doesn’t just stop there at all either. When one talks about their relationship with other people, they’d receive tons of opinions which could probably cause more confusion. You’d start questioning yourself and your sense of judgment, leading you to blow things out of proportions and failing to realize the more important values we should all be looking at.


   External pressures won’t be able to sustain a relationship, especially if it comes from a society that asks you to conform. Remember that not everyone’s situation in their relationships are the same, and so we should face them all differently by setting different expectations and being more understanding. These standards or ideals don’t exactly apply to everyone. It might be nice to tick off all those checklists that might make someone look good on paper, but how one treats you or what values and traits they hold, should be significantly considered.


   Setting your own standards to simply please what others say they want for their own isn’t going to help you achieve the long-lasting, nurturing relationship you oh so crave to have. Hold off on the judgment. Be true to yourself and stop looking at the superficial facets. From there, you’ll build deeper and meaningful connections.

Kick Out Societal Standards 2017-12-10T14:08:18+00:00

The Thing about H.E.A.’s

2017-12-10T14:09:16+00:00

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   Or y’know, Happily Ever Afters?

   It’s a format that many story writers use for years and years, and it has been an ongoing conversation for the audience as well. For a theme that people think has been overused, overrated, overly predictable, and what-overly-have-you’s, it’s something that still sells. And regardless whether it does or not (or whether someone actually admits it), a well-written story with a happily ever after can actually be good for the mind, body, and soul.
   But is Happily Ever After on the way out? Our team decided to ask some people on what they actually thought about it. The insights we received were mostly skeptical, which weren’t all too surprising. We see that people today like relatable characters, and stories where everything isn’t as simple as black and white. Most did not believe in the goodness and power of Happily Ever After’s, since it sets an unrealistic approach and expectation in life.
   Or they just think it’s a load of crap, deluding us into believing in our own naivete…
    How sad is that, right?
    So why all the skepticism to this kind of closing theme? Is it because of the daily  turmoil and endless struggle in our lives? And what of the everyday tragedy in our world that floods the news? Is it because it’s nothing but a cliche – too out of this world – that we don’t want to waste time thinking things could be different? And if so, is it too unreasonable to be glad for any bit of happiness we can get in a span of two hours, or three-hundred or so pages?

   There was one who was more optimistic than the rest. Here’s what she said: “Happily ever afters, in my opinion, are quite idealistic but makes everyone happy. It gives this sense of hope to people that even after all the struggles and heartache that the character, and whoever goes through in the end; everything would be worth it. Kinda like a rainbow after the rain.”

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Not all that happens in movies or books are real. And true enough, there’s nothing wrong with hoping for something better at the end of the day. Happily Ever Afters are not only a form of escape, but something that could possibly motivate you to keep going. And as long as you know for yourself what sets apart reality from your own expectations and mere fantasies, it’s good to also remember that we can take command of our own ship if we really want to make the H.E.A.’s happen.

The Thing about H.E.A.’s 2017-12-10T14:09:16+00:00