So rather than trying to prevent loneliness, I’m going to try use the techniques and reminders I have for the past few years to cope with the discomfort. While the current state of our world may be feeding into those feelings of loneliness as we sit at home, here are five things to think about: Our society tends to pathologize it by portraying lonely people as flawed, weak or not enlightened enough; yet these are unhelpful products of our independence-valuing culture....

As an empath, you are naturally wired for very intimate connection with others, and because of this you also need to pull back and create space from others in order to stay in balance. It’s an empath paradox! Toggling between these two polarities consciously—opening up to energetically commingle with others and mindfully separating—is key to a sensitive person maintaining nourishing relationships of all kinds. When witnessing and observing individuals, groups, or the collective, you remain firmly anchored in your own energy....

If you find yourself writhing with stress a few months into a relationship, constantly feeling like you’re going to be “found out,” you may be struggling with a pervasive need for external approval. Here, signs your need for approval is sabotaging your love life. In most of these cases, researchers found that LSEs were often so preoccupied with their volatile self-image that they misinterpreted positive affirmations from their partners. A person with low self-esteem and a deep need for approval, for instance, might hear their partner say, “I love you,” but they’ll find a way to rationalize the sentiment....

The process by which a seed sprouts into a little baby plant is called germination. In order to break through its seed coat and successfully germinate, a plant needs plenty of light, oxygen, moisture, and heat—and that’s exactly what these kits are designed to deliver. While you can go the au naturel route and grow seeds outdoors from the start, indoor kits give you more control over the germination process and make it so that you don’t have to worry about pests, extreme temperatures, or storms ruining your harvest before it’s even gotten started....

Following an anti-inflammatory diet meal plan can help combat chronic inflammation2, potentially slowing and/or reversing these disease states and promoting longevity—not to mention making you feel better and happier overall. “Overall, an anti-inflammatory diet consists of eating foods that are primarily anti-inflammatory and avoiding foods that are pro-inflammatory in nature,” says Pooja Mahtani, PharmD, M.S., CNS, LDN, IFMCP, a licensed dietitian-nutritionist specializing in functional nutrition. “While there are general guidelines for what foods are considered anti-inflammatory vs....

How you enhance your cupid’s bow, though, is ultimately up to personal preference: Some wish to blur out the peaks for a more muted lip; for others, that little dip is the main character of their entire beat. The good news is, we’ve compiled makeup artist tips for all types of cupid’s bows—prominent, round, or somewhere in between. Although, experts have yet to determine whether the cupid’s bow actually has a scientific purpose—whether yours is pronounced or more rounded, it doesn’t seem to matter....

Try following these seven simple healing practices, and note how quickly you notice changes in your own body: The best way to shift that balance is to eat fewer inflammatory foods and much more anti-inflammatory food. The latter include wild-caught fish, loads of nonstarchy vegetables, low-sugar fruit like berries and avocado, raw nuts and seeds, and cultured and fermented foods. Stop and consider, for instance, that our ancestors ate nearly an equal ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids—whereas today we are eating 20 times (sometimes higher)2 of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids....