You might not like to admit it, but you have likely been lied to hundreds of times in your life. For the most part, these lies are usually small, inconsequential comments that don’t have much of an impact on your life. However, sometimes these lies hurt or seriously mislead us. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to spot a lie before it affected your life? Below are nine ways that you can stop a lie before it negatively impacts your life.

• They Have a History of Dishonesty

If you think someone is lying to you, the first thing you should consider is your history with them. Have they lied to you before? Are they typically dishonest? This might not identify them as a liar outright, but it is a red flag to consider.

• Establish a Baseline

One of the biggest indicators someone is lying is when they start acting differently than usual. For example, research shows that lack of eye contact on its own isn’t an indicator of deceit, but if the person normally meets your gaze, then it may be. Watch for out-of-character actions.

• They Use Hand Gestures After They Speak

Many of us use hand gestures as we talk or before we talk, but professionals have noticed that liars tend to make their hand gestures after they have spoken. It is almost as if keeping up with the lie in their head slows down their hand gestures.

• They are Rocking Back and Forth or Fidgeting

If you find that someone is fidgeting back and forth a lot, then they may be lying. Keep in mind there are plenty of reasons a person may be fidgety, including medical issues and shyness. However, if the fidgetiness is out of character, that’s a red flag.

• They Are Overly Vague

A sign someone might be dishonest is if the story they are feeding you is super vague and avoiding any kind of detail. They might be glossing over important details or ignoring others altogether. This vagueness is certainly something to keep an eye out for.

• They Repeat Questions Before Answering Them

This is a classic technique for a liar to buy some more time before they answer. You have likely dealt with this before. Have you ever been part of a conversation like: “Where were you last night?” “Where was I last night?” That last question is likely someone trying to buy some time to think about an answer.

• What Does Their Smile Say?

A fake smile is often a good indication that someone is lying to you. If they are faking the smile, what else are they dishonest about? A good way to spot a fake smile is if the lips are smiling, but it doesn’t reach the rest of their face. A genuine smile reaches a person’s eyes and brows.

• Ask Them a Lot of Questions

Remember we mentioned that liar’s stories are often vague? This is because they don’t want to keep track of the details. Don’t give them a chance. If you think someone is lying to you, ask them questions, and keep asking them. You are likely to catch them red-handed when they get tripped up and forget one of their details. 

• Are They Speaking in a Higher-Pitched Voice?

One potential sign someone is lying is if their voice is higher-pitched than usual. This is easier to notice in someone you already know. If you know they don’t usually talk in a high-pitched voice but are all of a sudden; then you might be listening to a liar.

Do you ever feel a little bit awkward?

If so, don’t worry – you are far from alone. Many people feel a bit socially awkward in certain situations. If you feel awkward now and then, it might be as simple as not picking up on social cues or misunderstanding body language. Whatever the reason, the following nine tips can help you address that awkward feeling once and for all.

1. Get Out of Your Head

This tip is easier said than done, but you need to get out of your head. If you are constantly worried about being awkward, you likely will be. If you find your mind is spiraling with worry and self-doubt, you will struggle in social situations. Try to center yourself, and engage in social situations with an open mind.

• Learn More About Social Norms

A lot of awkwardness comes down to not knowing social norms. You might not have learned these social cues growing up, so it doesn’t hurt to brush up on them. There is no shortage of information on the internet to help you learn more about societal norms and how to react to them.

• Keep Your Phone Handy

Your phone can be your savior in awkward situations. For example, I hate elevator small-talk, so I make sure I am immersed in my phone when someone gets on. You don’t want to be constantly on your phone in social situations, but feel free to use it if it will defuse an awkward situation.

• Don’t Show Up Late

Showing up on time or early to social engagements has two main benefits. First, it gives you time to get used to your surroundings. More importantly, when you show up late, all eyes will be on you, which will certainly exacerbate your awkwardness.

• Put Yourself Out There

If you feel awkward in social situations, you aren’t doing yourself any favors by avoiding them. You need to embrace social engagements as often as you feel comfortable doing so. The more you put yourself out there, the easier it will be to fit in.

• Invite a Close Friend Out With You

Having a close friend with you is a great way to battle your awkwardness. This is especially true if you bring along one of your friends who is socially adept. You can learn from them by mirroring their behavior. Also, it’s nice to have someone trusted you could turn to if things start getting a bit awkward.

• Develop Your Confidence

This is another tip that is a bit easier said than done. However, there are ways you can build up your confidence, and you must do so. A lot of awkwardness is born from a lack of confidence. If you are more confident, you will feel more prepared and less awkward in social situations.

• Ask More Questions

If you are in a conversation that seems to be lagging a bit and bordering on awkwardness, try to ask more questions. Focus on open-ended questions that keep the other person talking. You’ll quickly learn that you can easily avoid awkwardness by giving certain people a chance to talk about themselves.

• Worry Less About Others

A lot of our awkwardness is born out of worry about what others will think of us. We worry that they will think we are weird, stupid, or annoying if we say something. The reality is, most people aren’t that interested in others, to begin with. Worrying about other people’s opinions will do nothing but contribute to your awkwardness.

No matter how introverted or isolated you may feel at times, we all live in a “society.” Brushing up on our social skills is vital to our success. Our era’s social and technological changes have made social skills an absolute necessity, especially in our careers. There have been studies done to try and prove this point. Research from Greece has shown how important employers and colleagues find social skills.

If you want to brush up on your social skills, focus on these nine for ultimate success.

• Empathy

Essentially, empathy is the ability to understand other people and what they are feeling. Empathy is an important skill for anyone who deals with any clients. Knowing what makes people tick can also help you better navigate the corporate world as well.

• Communication

Communication is a vital skill when it comes to success. You could be the smartest person in the world, but if you can’t effectively communicate your ideas, then no one will ever know. An important part of communication is listening, as well, so make sure you practice your active listening skills.

• Leadership

Even if you aren’t in a leadership position, this is an important social skill to have. You never know when you will be called upon to take up some sort of leadership role. Whether you work for yourself or others, you will often find yourself in a position to manage others.

• Adaptability

This skill could have easily been top of the list, especially in our fast-changing world. When it comes to social skills, adaptability means you can fit in seamlessly. If you need to take on a leadership role, you can handle it. But, if you need to play the role of worker-bee, you can handle that as well. You can accept the role needed, and you can thrive working with all sorts of people.

• Body Language

You can say a lot without ever opening your mouth. It is important to learn about body language because it is a big part of any first impression you make. Unchecked body language can lead to misunderstandings and reflect poorly on your attitude. Conversely, you can use body language to your advantage by projecting confidence.

• Positivity

Positivity might not seem like a “social” skill initially, but it can certainly help your social interactions. Being positive will attract people and helps to foster an overall enjoyable social experience. Just think about it; would you rather spend time with positive or negative people?

• Conflict Resolution

No matter what your career or business is, you will deal with conflict. Conflict is simply a part of business, and more aptly, life. Being able to navigate these conflicts and diffuse them will make a world of difference in your day-to-day life and career.

• Patience

Most of the time, our impatience runs thin because of other people. Maybe they are late, or you are waiting on a response, or you need them to finish something so you can move on with your work. Fostering patience in these scenarios is important. You don’t want to be a pushover, but you need to manage your expectations. If not, you will stress out yourself and your team.

• Affability

What is the point of working on your social skills if people don’t want to be around you? Affability is just being friendly or easy to talk to. This skill is vital for just about all of your social interactions. Being the type of person people want to spend time with can only help your journey towards success.

If you’re having trouble improving your mindset, part of the problem might be limiting beliefs that are holding you back. A limiting belief is a false belief about yourself, other people, or the world around you. These beliefs develop in childhood and have to be overcome as adults in order to grow.

Why does your brain develop these beliefs? Quite simply, it does so to keep you safe. Your conscious mind isn’t developed until adulthood, which means your unconscious mind is in charge, and it can’t reason or rationalize. It only makes simple rules -good, bad, yes, no, this but not that -that are all designed to keep you safe and meet your basic needs.

There are an infinite number of limiting beliefs out there. A common one is “I can’t do X.” Whatever X is, you tried to do it or something like it as a child and got hurt, physically or emotionally, so your brain created the limiting belief that you can’t do it. It sounds silly, and it is -to an adult. It’s a serious matter to a child, and your unconscious mind never progresses beyond that stage.

If a limiting belief is hampering your mindset, you’re going to have to overcome it to move forward. The first step is identifying the limiting belief. You need to put it into words. This may be easier said than done. Do you think you can’t do something? Are you afraid of success (or failure)? Figure out what it is and write it down.

Next, figure out what benefits you’re getting from continuing to hold the belief. Your brain thinks it’s keeping you safe.

Safe from what?

Write these down. Thank the belief for its help in protecting you.

• Ask yourself if the belief is true. Are you always unlikeable?
• Are you always bad with money?
• Is every other person out to hurt you emotionally?

Of course not. Now, what is the emotion underlying this limiting belief? It’s often fear but can also be shame or embarrassment.

The next step is to determine what will happen if you continue to hold this belief. There are negative consequences to all limiting beliefs. Will you never get the promotion? Be single forever? Finally, reframe the limiting belief into something positive and turn it into an affirmation. Continue trying whatever you’re stuck on while repeating the affirmation. Don’t give up. Overcoming your limiting beliefs is hard but you can do it!

Do you suffer from anxiety?

If so, you’re not alone. Anxiety is running rampant in society today. More than 18 percent of the adult population in the U.S. alone suffers from an anxiety disorder every single year (that’s over 40 million people). Millions more suffer from less severe manifestations of the disease, which nonetheless affects their mental health and daily lives. In other words, you’re in good company.

What does anxiety have to do with a growth mindset? A lot, as it turns out. No, people who have more of a fixed mindset aren’t any more likely to experience an anxiety disorder than those with a growth mindset, but researchers have shown that people who already have issues with anxiety who attempt to cultivate a growth mindset end up with substantially lower rates of anxiety and are less likely to develop depression as well.

Researchers have studied this extensively, using mindset interventions to help cultivate a growth mindset in the subjects. This effect has been seen in many studies, in both men and women, and in both adults and adolescents. These effects are persistent as well. That is, they don’t disappear after the study ends but last for the long term. One study found them persisting almost a year later.

To put it another way: cultivating a growth mindset can reduce your anxiety over both the near and long term.

The mindset interventions used in these studies were generally the same ones recommended to help anyone cultivate a growth mindset, including journaling, affirmations, trying new things, and meditation. As expected, different treatment methods worked better on different people; everyone is a unique individual who responds differently to different stimuli.

Cultivating a growth mindset had other benefits than just lowering anxiety in the studies. It reduced stress, increased resilience, and encouraged participants to keep trying difficult tasks. The same results the practice has on everyone, in other words, but magnified.

There’s no downside to trying to change your mindset, either; you don’t have to worry about side effects or developing other problems while fixing the one that’s bothering you.

If you suffer from anxiety, working to cultivate a growth mindset is one of the best ways you can manage your anxiety and reduce it over the long run. It may not cure your anxiety, but it will make it significantly better. Start today and begin living the life you were born to lead!

Important note: if you have a genuine anxiety disorder and not just anxiety, it’s unlikely that cultivating a growth mindset alone will be enough to treat your anxiety.

Please seek help from a licensed healthcare professional as well.

Here are five more habits you can try to help improve your mindset. Each of these has other benefits in addition to its effects on your mindset. Any of these will help you improve your life overall. They will also help you cultivate your growth mindset. Don’t think you need to attempt all of them; try a few and see which ones work for you.

1. Eat healthy food Food is fuel for the body and the mind. What you eat affects how much energy you have, how well you can focus, and your overall mood. Make a habit of eating healthy food and you’ll be rewarded with better health and a better mindset. This doesn’t mean you should never eat junk food, but it should be a rare occasion.
2. Start an exercise habit Exercise is good for you in so many ways and has profound, positive effects on your mindset as well. Occasional exercise will help you improve your mindset but making it into a habit is better. You don’t need to train for a marathon. Get in the habit of taking a daily walk, go swimming, take up yoga or another gentle workout like tai chi, or do anything else that appeals to you. The main criteria is that you make it into a regular habit, at least several days a week.
3. Prioritize sleep Nothing makes you feel better than a good night’s sleep. And nothing makes you feel worse than a bad one. Most people in the modern world are chronically sleep-deprived. If you want to cultivate a growth mindset, don’t be one of them. Prioritize getting a good night’s sleep every night. Aim for 7-9 hours every night and you’ll be refreshed and ready to go the next day.
4. Take regular breaks from social media Social media is fun and lets you connect with friends, but it has a downside. Too much social media lowers your self-esteem and makes you more prone to depression. It’s all too easy to forget that most social media posts are people’s highlights and not their daily lives.
5. Do something creative Creativity is one of the most necessary yet often neglected aspects of being a well-round person. The challenge involved in it will make you grow and improve your mindset. Aim to do something creative every day, or at least several times a week. Write, color, paint, draw, play a musical instrument -the options are endless.

Changing your mindset takes time and work. There’s no magic that will let you do it overnight. There are some habits you can adopt, however, that will make the process easier and take less time. Here are 5 of them.

1. Create a morning ritual to get your day off to a good start What makes you feel best in the mornings? What can you do to set yourself up for success every day? Maybe it’s journaling over a cup of coffee or going for a morning run. Maybe it is taking a few minutes to meditate or stretch before you get in the shower. It might even be something as simple as making your bed before you leave for work. Figure out a ritual that works for you and prioritize doing it every day.
2. Reflect on your day Every night before you go to bed, take a moment to reflect on your day. What went right? What went wrong? Did you get done what you wanted to do? Why or why not? What can you do to make sure tomorrow goes well?
3. Practice gratitude daily Find at least one thing you can be grateful for every day. No matter how bad things might be going, you have some good things in life you can be grateful for. Stop and be thankful for them every day. This only takes a few seconds and can be done any time of the day.
4. Always be working towards a goal Big or small, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you always have a goal you’re striving for that makes you stretch and challenge yourself. When you reach one goal, move on to another. Break big goals down into subgoals that will help you see quick progress.
5. Start journaling Use prompts to write a journal entry about your mindset 2-3 times a week. Or free write and see what comes out. You don’t need a fancy journal; a pen and a sheet of paper or a notebook are all you need.

Again, none of these habits are magic. They won’t change your mindset overnight. What they will do is support you and help you along on your journey. They will motivate you to keep going when things get tough and to feel your best. That will help you cultivate your growth mindset. It may not be magic, but it’s helpful!

Did you know that your environment has a big impact on your mental health? This includes your mindset. It’s true; research has shown that the spaces you spend the most time in (your home and your workspace) have a dramatic impact.

While it won’t work miracles, improving your environment to make it more conducive to a growth mindset will not only improve your mindset but boost your mood and increase your personal growth.

Here are several ways to do it.

1. Bring in natural light
   Humans are designed to spend lots of time outdoors. Our ancestors spent most of their time outside. Only in the modern era have we reversed that. An easy way to make your environment more conducive to a growth mindset is to let in more natural light. Open windows or doors and let the sun in.
2. Add light, bright colors
   Dark, somber colors can make you feel down and suck your energy. Neutral colors have little effect, and bright or light colors do the opposite. You might not be able to change the colors of the walls and furnishings, especially at work, but you can bring in plenty of brightly colored accents.
3. Declutter
   Cluttered spaces raise our stress levels and make us feel scattered. This effect may or may not be conscious. Get rid of the excess and see how much better you feel.
4. Tidy up and organize
   Keeping things neat, clean, and organized to help boost your mood make your space a better place to work on your mindset. Get organizational supplies to put must-have items neatly away out of sight.
5. Add lots of greenery
   Plants have the same sort of effect on mental health and mindset that natural light does and for the same reason. Bringing plants into your home will make you feel better and immediately boost your mood. Over the long term, tending to plants and keeping them alive and healthy is great for growing your mindset too.
6. Start a vision board
   A vision board is essentially a collage of what your goals are. Do you want to buy a house? Find a picture of the type of house you want and put it on the board. Do you want to go to Paris? Pin up a picture of the Eiffel Tower. Put the board up somewhere you can see it, such as above your desk, and look at it often.

There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. After all, making mistakes is one of the key ways we learn, grow and build all sorts of important qualities like persistence and resilience. Mistakes become a problem when we keep repeating the same ones. When we continually repeat the same mistake, we aren’t learning anything from it. Worst yet, repeating the same mistakes stalls any positive progress we may be making in life. If this sounds familiar, and you are ready to stop making the same mistakes, consider these nine tips.

• Identify the Mistakes You Repeat

You can’t take action on your mistakes until you identify and acknowledge them. Strive to be more aware of the present moment. If you make a mistake, ask yourself if this is something you keep doing. Once you have an idea of the mistakes you keep making, you can correct them.

• Why Does This Keep Happening?

Once you have singled out a mistake (or more) that you keep repeating, ask yourself why this keeps happening. Getting to the root cause of why you are repeatedly making the same mistake is important because it allows you to address the underlying cause.

• How Do My Mistakes Harm Me?

A great way to avoid making the same mistakes again is to carefully consider how they are harming you. When you identify your mistakes’ negative impact, you will naturally feel more motivated to stop them.

• Learn a Lesson from Your Mistakes

A mistake isn’t a problem if it teaches you a lesson. Make sure that you take a lesson from each mistake you make. When it comes to recurring mistakes, the lesson should be identifying ways to avoid making a mistake again.

• Make a Plan

If you are struggling to avoid certain mistakes, make a plan of attack. Take the time to write down steps you can take to address the mistake. This simple act not only gives you a plan to take action on, but it also helps your subconscious recognize the mistake (hopefully) before it happens again.  

• Change Your Habits

If you keep doing the same things, you are going to keep making the same mistakes. It might be time for you to switch things up a bit. By building positive habits (or avoiding negative ones), you change the way you do things. Ideally, this means you will get different results, which may be enough to avoid certain recurring mistakes.

• Address Your Weaknesses

Once you have identified your recurring mistakes, check to see if they are caused in part by any weaknesses you have. If so, consider taking the steps needed to address those weaknesses. If you can’t address a weakness on your own, consider asking a close friend for help.

• Apologies Must Mean Something

If you repeatedly make the type of mistakes you have to apologize for, remember that an apology has to mean something. Take time to consider how you may have harmed someone else, and when you apologize, do it thoughtfully and sincerely. When you recognize the severity of your mistakes, it’s easier to avoid them.

• Surround Yourself with Honest Friends

A great way to break the cycle of repeated mistakes is to have friends that aren’t scared to tell you how it is. When you have loved ones that feel comfortable calling you out, it helps you avoid making the same mistakes repeatedly. They will tell you the things that you might not want to admit to yourself.