Author Archives: The Next Steps Academy

6 Ways for Decoding Emotions in Text Messages

Is she mad at you? Is he in love with you? Here are some ways to find out. How do you decode emotions in text messages? It’s easy when people say they are angry or sad or excited, or if they tack an emoji to the end of a text. But when they don’t? GivenContinue reading “6 Ways for Decoding Emotions in Text Messages”

How to Control Your Emotions Now

Feeling really amped up or upset? Try these strategies to take back power over your emotions. We’ve all been there: We’re freaking out about something that just happened to us — what someone did to us, said to us, or didn’t do for us. And we’re pissed or terrified, or defeated — our emotions haveContinue reading “How to Control Your Emotions Now”

5 Ways to Beat Loneliness

Are you digitally connected but still feeling lonely? These strategies can help. The great irony is that even though we are increasingly “connected”—on social media, video calling, and messaging—we feel lonelier than ever. And even though we may use technology to feel more connected, it may be exactly what’s leading us to feel lonely. That’sContinue reading “5 Ways to Beat Loneliness”

How To Cultivate Self-Awareness in 2023?

5 ways to become more self-aware. Self-awareness involves monitoring our stress, thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. It is important, because it’s a major mechanism influencing personal development. Our lives can get out-of-control pretty fast if we are unaware of how and under what circumstances our emotional nature is triggered. How do we increase self-awareness? Self-awareness requiresContinue reading “How To Cultivate Self-Awareness in 2023?”

4 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

Strategies that boost positive thinking, according to science. When you think positive you just can’t help but be optimistic, even when everyone around you is miserable. As a result, you are happier and more satisfied with your life. So how do you get your stubborn brain to start thinking positive? ​ 1. Practice gratitude I’llContinue reading “4 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking”

How to be More Thankful

How to express more thankfulness in your daily life. Thankfulness—which might also be referred to as gratitude or appreciation—is a positive, other-focused emotion (Emmons & McCullough, 2004). It generally involves positive feelings about another person’s actions, but it might just be for the other person’s existence—e.g., I’mjust thankful to have you! Thankfulness may just beContinue reading “How to be More Thankful”

How to Listen Activley to the ones you love

Discover tips and techniques for better listening. Listening is a passive process of hearing (Nemec, Spagnolo, & Soydon, 2017). For the mostpart, this process is automatic and doesn’t require us to do much of anything. On the otherhand, active listening is the active process of listening to understand. It often involvesresponding both verbally and nonverballyContinue reading “How to Listen Activley to the ones you love”

How to Cope With Emotional Unavailability in a Healthy Way

Discover how to open up in relationships (or deal with others who dont open up). Researchers define emotional availability as “an individual’s emotional responsiveness andattunement to another’s needs and goals” (pp. 80, Emde, 1980). Based on this, emotionalavailability involves not only negative emotions like anger or sadness but also positive emotionslike happiness or excitement. OneContinue reading “How to Cope With Emotional Unavailability in a Healthy Way”

Assertive Communication and How to Do it Properly.

What is assertive communication and how do you use it to improve your relationships? Imagine that you’re on a tight deadline for a specific project (e.g., a school assignment or worktask) and have a full plate. One of your close friends asks you to do a last-minute favor for her.You want to say no soContinue reading “Assertive Communication and How to Do it Properly.”

%d bloggers like this: