Does stress make you fat? The answer is: yes, it can. When we are in a state of stress, our bodies release adrenaline, which gives us enough energy for a fight or flight response. High levels of stress also cause the release of cortisol, which, at normal levels, helps our bodies maintain our metabolism. When you have too much, it messes with your appetite, telling your body to eat to replace the energy spen preparing to fight or run away.

You are now more likely to make bad choices, give into temptation and deal with your stress throught the comfort of eating, which does lead to weight gain. High-fat, sweet and salty foods give an instant sense of pleasure, which is why we keep going back to them - we've trained ourselves to!

Meditation can help you create a clear vision for your future. You can use meditation to fuel your vision by creating as much specificity in your mind as possible.

It's been proven that our thoughts do affect our reality, and although we can't rely solely on meditation to solve our problems, it makes a radical difference in how we use our time and our ability to make progress in our life. 

Sit for even a few minutes in the morning or at night to visualize what you want to bring into your life and how you want to live from your heart. You may be surprised how quickly the resources you need either show up or pop into your mind.

The power of positive thinking can help us overcome stress. It sounds easy, and it can definitely take time to get into that mindset if you've been down in the dumps or feeling like you've been pushing a stone up an endless hill. If we can switch our brains from focusing only on what we are worried about or take a pause from letting the spinning thoughts take over, we can fill that space with more cheerful thoughts. 

The next time you're feeling particularly overwhelmed, give yourself five minutes to think about a few things you are proud of or grateful for having. Sometimes a simple reminder of all that we have achieved can be enough to put the worries about what we haven't into perspective and calm us down or help us deal with what's in front of us.

Did you know that smiling alone activates feel-good chemicals in the brain? Smiling and laughing boost serotonin and endorphins in our brains, and surprisingly, also reduces the stress hormone, cortisol. 

Share a laugh with a friend. Check out a comedy show. Watch a funny movie. Even, fake it till you make it. Turn that frown upside down! Improve your mental health, appearance, and relationships by smiling a little more. You will feel happier, less stressed, and lead a much more fulfilling life. 

Are you (or is someone you know) healing from a breakup? Meditation can ease the pain we feel after concluding a relationship.

The term "conscious uncoupling" is a great reframing of an event we often think of as negative. When we sit and find gratitude for what we learned and send the other person genuine love, we expedite the healing process. This helps you overcome the feeling of lack that comes from inverted thinking, where our thoughts are turned inward at ourselves. Think about how you can lift others, not how others can lift you, and you're going to heal much quicker.

 Lacking motivation? Feeling kind of ‘blah’? The Law of Attraction states that what you put into the universe is what you get back. If you are putting negative vibes out into the air, then you are likely only going to receive the same energy back.

Manifest your unlimited potential. Be what you want to be. Make a choice and decide to make a change. Wake up today and decide to put positivity out into the world around you. Smile. Be kind to others. It may take time, but you will notice a change. Maybe things will bother you less. Maybe people will be kinder to you. The power of positive thinking goes a long way. Your mental health will improve, and you’ll feel happier, more motivated, and ready to tackle anything that comes your way.