consciouslifenews--2020-07-15--Your Ultimate Guide for Astral Projection and Out of Body Experiences

I ’ ve been having intentional out of body experiences ( OBEs ) for about a year and a half .
Ever since I had my first experience by accident , I had become obsessed with trying to recreate the experience to learn all about it .
I read everything I could get my hands on .
I watched countless tutorials and tried all sorts of different techniques .
It took me several weeks of daily practice to finally have one intentionally .
It was amazing , exhilarating , and totally mind-blowing .
I didn ’ t know such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One Woman ’ s Account of Her Powerful Out-of-Body Experience Read about one of my craziest experiences or listen to my interview on the Glimpse of Brilliance podcast .
TL ; DR – If you want the skinny without reading this massive wall of text , try this : Set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed .
Busy yourself for 15 minutes and go back to bed .
Try to stay aware as you drift off to sleep .
When your body starts buzzing with energy , stay still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your “ self ” fall through the bed or float up .
You are now out of the body !
If it doesn ’ t happen , do it again the next night .
And the next .
It takes practice !
Read on for more explanation : So what is an out of body experience ?
Whether it ’ s called astral projection , OBEs , or lucid dreaming , it ’ s one of those things that you don ’ t really know if it ’ s true until you experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone claim they had an OBE or read about people having an NDE ( near-death experience ) .
The stories range from “ I suddenly found myself floating above my body in bed ” to “ I flew through the universe , spoke to God , and got all the answers to life ’ s biggest questions.
” It ’ s all about consciousness .
Is there one reality that everyone experiences ?
Or does each person experience their own reality inside their heads ?
Where do we go when we dream ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake up ?
What is reality anyway ?
Some people are skeptical if OBEs are real or are just a “ trick of the mind.
” You can debate about this all day but the point is to try to experience it for yourself and come up with your own answers .
Whether it ’ s “ real ” or not doesn ’ t matter .
What matters is that you definitely experience something completely extraordinary .
It will leave you questioning everything you thought was possible .
Why would you WANT to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I didn ’ t realize I wanted to have an OBE until after I already had one .
Once I experienced it , I knew it was something I wanted to keep exploring .
But what ’ s the point ?
Why keep exploring ?
What am I ultimately after ?
To put it simply , to have direct experience of spiritual and metaphysical concepts .
Instead of reading , trusting , or having faith in what you ’ ve been told by religions , science , or gurus about the nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself .
Instead of endlessly seeking answers in books or belief systems , you can use dreams , astral travel , or OBEs as a learning tool or playground of consciousness .
Related Article : How Transcendental Consciousness Can Take Away The Fear of Death Instead of looking “ out there ” for answers about spirituality , metaphysics , God , Heaven , angels , demons , aliens , ETs , faeries , spirits , ghosts , psychic powers , telepathy , remote viewing , or any of that stuff , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , depending on your belief system or current worldview , results may certainly vary !
But the potential is infinite .
You may have heard the phrase , “ we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.
” This is just one way , albeit a very dramatic way , of experiencing this for yourself .
How you have an OBE ?
I ’ m going to cut to the chase and tell you the method that works well for me .
I call it my “ fuck it ” method .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I tried lots of other techniques and when they didn ’ t work , I said “ fuck it ” and rolled over and went to sleep .
Then after I stopped caring or trying , I ended up having one .
So there you go !
The Wake Back to Bed ( f*ck it ) method This method was adapted from the popular WBTB method .
This was the one that helped me the most !
Let me first say something really important .
It ’ s not necessarily the technique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mindset and effort .
To have an OBE you must first have an open mind .
Be open to the possibility of there being more to reality than what you experience with your five senses .
The second thing is effort and practice .
If you put in the time every single day to thinking about , learning about , and practicing , you ’ ll be more likely to experience something .
Many people try haphazardly and give up and say it doesn ’ t work .
Some people try for weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and still never had one .
I can ’ t explain why it comes easy for some people and harder for others .
Get rid of any judgments , stereotypes , or misconceptions .
If you believe you can do it , you are more likely to do it .
If you believe you can ’ t or it ’ s not real , then you ’ ll likely have a harder time .
Just allow for the possibility to exist in your mind .
What have you got to lose ?
Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or expectation .
And finally , don ’ t take MY word for it , I ’ m just sharing what I know .
I certainly don ’ t have all the answers !
Try this out for yourself .
Put in the time and do your own research .
On with the Method : Note , I know this is a wall of text .
Let me repeat the TL ; DR from above : Set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed .
Busy yourself for 15 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay aware as you drift off to sleep .
When your body starts buzzing with energy , stay still , let go and relax .
Let your “ self ” fall through the bed or float up .
You are now out of the body !
Read on for more explanation : 1 ) Set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed .
Yup , you ’ ll be getting up in the middle of the night to do this .
For most of you , this is probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason for this is to get some REM sleep and dream cycles in .
You are more likely to have an OBE or lucid dream after you ’ ve already been sleeping for a few hours .
You will be more relaxed and more “ ready ” so to speak .
2 ) Keep yourself occupied for 10-20 minutes .
You ’ re staying awake long enough to not fall immediately back to sleep .
What worked for me , in the beginning , was to read about OBEs or lucid dreams .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about this a lot during the day .
I also think meditating ( or sitting in silence ) for 5-10 minutes relax the mind and body and get you in a state of mindfulness .
Mindfulness helps you stay aware as you drift off to sleep .
3 ) Go back to bed , but NOT in your normal bed .
Try the couch or a spare bedroom that you don ’ t normally sleep in .
The slight difference in familiarity will keep your mind more “ alert ” so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Remember , we ’ re trying to delicately stay aware while our body drifts off to sleep .
This is easier said than done , but it IS possible with practice .
4 ) Lie still for at least 30 minutes .
I know , this sounds hard , but this is important .
Try lying on your back in a relaxed position .
If you want , listen to a guided meditation or OBE instruction .
I listened to Robert Monroe ’ s audios .
Especially the explorer series because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but you might be able to find them for free online to try it out .
Look up Hemi-Sync or binaural beat meditations on YouTube .
Here ’ s an example .
Another alternative is William Bulhman ’ s How to Have an Out of Body Experience audio instruction .
He ’ s talking about a “ target technique ” where you picture a location that you know well and hold your focus on that location for as long as possible .
If successful , as you fall asleep your consciousness will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t use that technique , but I heard it helps .
5 ) If nothing happens , just go to sleep .
I would lie in bed listening to these guided meditations and binaural beats for sometimes up to an hour , with no luck .
I couldn ’ t get relaxed enough to fall asleep , my mind was too alert .
If this happens to you , which is likely , just say fuck it and roll over and go to sleep .
Forget about having an OBE tonight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay attention to any hypnogogic imagery ( imaginations , visuals , colors , etc ) .
Don ’ t have any attachment or expectation .
You already did your practice , so good work .
6 ) Notice the Vibrational State when it happens .
If you notice a shift or change in your body where it ’ s now vibrating or buzzing with energy , this is the magical state you need to be in !
This is a huge milestone , even if you aren ’ t able to actually project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the vibrational state , I wrote about it after these steps .
7 ) Project out by rolling , standing up , or simply floating down .
There are various ways to project out when in the vibrational state .
If you read online , you might find info on the rope technique , target technique , etc .
These are all just what worked for that particular person and not right or wrong .
I found surrendering and letting go to be what worked for me .
If I noticed myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply stop resisting , stay still , relax and keep letting go .
Just relax and relax and notice yourself floating down or up .
I will float down through my bed and out of my body that way .
8 ) Think , demand , or declare “ clarity now !
” When you have begun to feel the separation , if you aren ’ t automatically “ out ” yet , you can use your conscious intention or thoughts to say “ clarity now !
” or “ doorway now !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though .
My first time having an intentional OBE I didn ’ t know these tricks .
I just tried to physically get out and I noticed I was standing outside my body in my living room .
I was able to walk around and act as if it were a “ real ” life .
I later learned that sometimes the environment gets fuzzy or you start to phase back to physical reality .
And if that happens , you can rub your hands together ( for immediate tactile sensations ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice that your reality gets clearer , more vibrant , and more real !
9 ) Leave the house , fly , or do something !
Once you get out of the body and things seem stable , do something !
I typically leave the house through my front door ( by habit ) .
I know that I could walk through the walls or even think of myself to a new location , but I ’ m not that advanced yet .
While I ’ m out , I just notice how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different than the “ real world ” I just came from .
Sometimes I talk to people that I see ( are they other astral travelers , dream characters , dead people , or what ? )
.
I sometimes look at my hands or what I ’ m wearing .
I look in the bathroom mirror for weird results !
This is up to you .
There ’ s an infinite amount of things you can do in this state , and once you get here , your only limit is your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you know you ’ ll be able to go out of the body .
This is what is commonly called the “ vibrational state.
” In other words , it ’ s the moment between sleeping and waking where your body falls asleep , but your conscious mind is still awake .
This is also called sleep paralysis .
You may have felt this in the past and often associate it with fear or scary hallucinations .
In fact , I used to have night terrors as a kid and have learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OBEs , astral projection , and lucid dreams .
It ’ s all related to the subtle phase between sleeping and waking .
Many people refuse to attempt to enter sleep paralysis consciously because they have had scary experiences during it .
But it was actually my night terrors that opened the door for positive out of body exploration .
I simply became aware of my night terror about to happen and when I didn ’ t resist and stayed mindful , that ’ s when the fear went away immediately and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was my first OBE and it changed everything !
Most of the time when you lie down to go to sleep at night , your mind is thinking a lot .
It ’ s cycling through what happened earlier that day , what needs to be done tomorrow , etc .
There ’ s lots of self-talk and daydreaming happening here .
What happens for most people is they begin to fall asleep and they aren ’ t aware or mindful enough to notice it happening .
They enter their first sleep stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep consciously .
We keep hearing about mindfulness these days .
It ’ s about awareness .
Expanding your awareness and learning how to focus it .
What are you paying attention to ?
Are you walking around sleepwalking through life or centered , present , and aware ?
The more mindful you are , the more equipped you will be to have an out of body experience .
Practice meditation daily and use lucid dream reality checks throughout the day .
Constantly ask yourself “ am I awake ?
” or “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My favorite reality check is to try to push my finger through my other hand .
If it comes out on the other side , I ’ m dreaming/OBE .
How do you know when you ’ re in the vibrational state ?
Your body will fall asleep ( sleep paralysis ) and you ’ ll feel a variety of sensations during this process .
The sensations range from a full body “ buzzing ” feeling , to feel “ tingly ” all over , to intense energy resonating throughout your body .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as buzzing in the ears or what sounds like radio static or even voices !
It can be scary if it ’ s your first time experiencing this .
Try to be mindful and open rather than fearful or resistant .
It can be weird at first , but eventually , you get comfortable !
It ’ s a paradox I know .
You have to put in the effort , but you can ’ t try too hard otherwise you won ’ t be able to relax .
Imagine meditating “ really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind-blowing out of body experience .
It ’ s not gon na happen ( I tried ! )
.
The trick is to keep letting go and relaxing .
This is why getting up in the middle of the night is so helpful , it ’ s easier to relax .
If you find a technique that works for you , keep going with it .
Don ’ t hold on to any particular method .
Don ’ t try to be perfect or get all upset if you can ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , practice , and dedication .
But also openness , allowing , detachment and letting go .
Good luck with your practice !
Below you ’ ll find some of my favorite resources for an astral project , lucid dreaming , and out of body experiences .
Feel free to share your own tips or experiences in the comments !
Dive in !
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE…

By Jeff Finley | Evolve and Ascend
I’ve been having intentional out of body experiences (OBEs) for about a year and a half. Ever since I had my first experience by accident, I had become obsessed with trying to recreate the experience to learn all about it. I read everything I could get my hands on. I watched countless tutorials and tried all sorts of different techniques. It took me several weeks of daily practice to finally have one intentionally. It was amazing, exhilarating, and totally mind-blowing. I didn’t know such a thing was possible!
Related Article: One Woman’s Account of Her Powerful Out-of-Body Experience
Read about one of my craziest experiences or listen to my interview on the Glimpse of Brilliance podcast.
TL;DR – If you want the skinny without reading this massive wall of text, try this: Set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed. Busy yourself for 15 minutes and go back to bed. Try to stay aware as you drift off to sleep. When your body starts buzzing with energy, stay still, let go and relax. Let your “self” fall through the bed or float up. You are now out of the body! If it doesn’t happen, do it again the next night. And the next. It takes practice!
Read on for more explanation:
So what is an out of body experience?
Whether it’s called astral projection, OBEs, or lucid dreaming, it’s one of those things that you don’t really know if it’s true until you experience it for yourself. You may hear someone claim they had an OBE or read about people having an NDE (near-death experience). The stories range from “I suddenly found myself floating above my body in bed” to “I flew through the universe, spoke to God, and got all the answers to life’s biggest questions.”
It’s all about consciousness. Is there one reality that everyone experiences? Or does each person experience their own reality inside their heads? Where do we go when we dream? Why does it feel real until we wake up? What is reality anyway?
Some people are skeptical if OBEs are real or are just a “trick of the mind.” You can debate about this all day but the point is to try to experience it for yourself and come up with your own answers. Whether it’s “real” or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that you definitely experience something completely extraordinary. It will leave you questioning everything you thought was possible.
Why would you WANT to have an out of body experience?
I didn’t realize I wanted to have an OBE until after I already had one. Once I experienced it, I knew it was something I wanted to keep exploring. But what’s the point? Why keep exploring? What am I ultimately after? To put it simply, to have direct experience of spiritual and metaphysical concepts. Instead of reading, trusting, or having faith in what you’ve been told by religions, science, or gurus about the nature of reality, you can experience it for yourself. Instead of endlessly seeking answers in books or belief systems, you can use dreams, astral travel, or OBEs as a learning tool or playground of consciousness.
Related Article: How Transcendental Consciousness Can Take Away The Fear of Death
Instead of looking “out there” for answers about spirituality, metaphysics, God, Heaven, angels, demons, aliens, ETs, faeries, spirits, ghosts, psychic powers, telepathy, remote viewing, or any of that stuff, you can experience a non-physical reality for yourself. Now, depending on your belief system or current worldview, results may certainly vary! But the potential is infinite.
You may have heard the phrase, “we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.” This is just one way, albeit a very dramatic way, of experiencing this for yourself.
How do you have an OBE?
I’m going to cut to the chase and tell you the method that works well for me. I call it my “fuck it” method. The reason I call it that is because I tried lots of other techniques and when they didn’t work, I said “fuck it” and rolled over and went to sleep. Then after I stopped caring or trying, I ended up having one. So there you go!
The Wake Back to Bed (f*ck it) method
This method was adapted from the popular WBTB method. This was the one that helped me the most!
Let me first say something really important. It’s not necessarily the technique, it’s more about your mindset and effort. To have an OBE you must first have an open mind. Be open to the possibility of there being more to reality than what you experience with your five senses. The second thing is effort and practice. If you put in the time every single day to thinking about, learning about, and practicing, you’ll be more likely to experience something. Many people try haphazardly and give up and say it doesn’t work. Some people try for weeks and months and years off and on and still never had one. I can’t explain why it comes easy for some people and harder for others.
Get rid of any judgments, stereotypes, or misconceptions. If you believe you can do it, you are more likely to do it. If you believe you can’t or it’s not real, then you’ll likely have a harder time. Just allow for the possibility to exist in your mind. What have you got to lose? Don’t get attached to any outcome or expectation. And finally, don’t take MY word for it, I’m just sharing what I know. I certainly don’t have all the answers! Try this out for yourself. Put in the time and do your own research.
On with the Method:
Note, I know this is a wall of text. Let me repeat the TL;DR from above: Set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed. Busy yourself for 15 minutes and go back to bed. Try to stay aware as you drift off to sleep. When your body starts buzzing with energy, stay still, let go and relax. Let your “self” fall through the bed or float up. You are now out of the body! Read on for more explanation:
1) Set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed. Yup, you’ll be getting up in the middle of the night to do this. For most of you, this is probably around 3 or 4 AM. The reason for this is to get some REM sleep and dream cycles in. You are more likely to have an OBE or lucid dream after you’ve already been sleeping for a few hours. You will be more relaxed and more “ready” so to speak.
2) Keep yourself occupied for 10-20 minutes. You’re staying awake long enough to not fall immediately back to sleep. What worked for me, in the beginning, was to read about OBEs or lucid dreams. It also helps if you read or think about this a lot during the day. I also think meditating (or sitting in silence) for 5-10 minutes relax the mind and body and get you in a state of mindfulness. Mindfulness helps you stay aware as you drift off to sleep.
3) Go back to bed, but NOT in your normal bed. Try the couch or a spare bedroom that you don’t normally sleep in. The slight difference in familiarity will keep your mind more “alert” so you don’t fall asleep as easily. Remember, we’re trying to delicately stay aware while our body drifts off to sleep. This is easier said than done, but it IS possible with practice.
4) Lie still for at least 30 minutes. I know, this sounds hard, but this is important. Try lying on your back in a relaxed position. If you want, listen to a guided meditation or OBE instruction. I listened to Robert Monroe’s Hemi-Sync audios. Especially the explorer series because it guided you along. They are expensive, but you might be able to find them for free online to try it out. Look up Hemi-Sync or binaural beat meditations on YouTube. Here’s an example. Another alternative is William Bulhman’s How to Have an Out of Body Experience audio instruction. He’s talking about a “target technique” where you picture a location that you know well and hold your focus on that location for as long as possible. If successful, as you fall asleep your consciousness will project into that location. I don’t use that technique, but I heard it helps.
5) If nothing happens, just go to sleep. I would lie in bed listening to these guided meditations and binaural beats for sometimes up to an hour, with no luck. I couldn’t get relaxed enough to fall asleep, my mind was too alert. If this happens to you, which is likely, just say fuck it and roll over and go to sleep. Forget about having an OBE tonight, try again the next night. Loosely pay attention to any hypnogogic imagery (imaginations, visuals, colors, etc). Don’t have any attachment or expectation. You already did your practice, so good work.
6) Notice the Vibrational State when it happens. If you notice a shift or change in your body where it’s now vibrating or buzzing with energy, this is the magical state you need to be in! This is a huge milestone, even if you aren’t able to actually project out just yet. For more info on the vibrational state, I wrote about it after these steps.
7) Project out by rolling, standing up, or simply floating down. There are various ways to project out when in the vibrational state. If you read online, you might find info on the rope technique, target technique, etc. These are all just what worked for that particular person and not right or wrong. I found surrendering and letting go to be what worked for me. If I noticed myself in the vibrational state, I would simply stop resisting, stay still, relax and keep letting go. Just relax and relax and notice yourself floating down or up. I will float down through my bed and out of my body that way.
8) Think, demand, or declare “clarity now!” When you have begun to feel the separation, if you aren’t automatically “out” yet, you can use your conscious intention or thoughts to say “clarity now!” or “doorway now!” This is somewhat an intermediate step, though. My first time having an intentional OBE I didn’t know these tricks. I just tried to physically get out and I noticed I was standing outside my body in my living room. I was able to walk around and act as if it were a “real” life. I later learned that sometimes the environment gets fuzzy or you start to phase back to physical reality. And if that happens, you can rub your hands together (for immediate tactile sensations) or demand clarity and you’ll notice that your reality gets clearer, more vibrant, and more real!
9) Leave the house, fly, or do something! Once you get out of the body and things seem stable, do something! I typically leave the house through my front door (by habit). I know that I could walk through the walls or even think of myself to a new location, but I’m not that advanced yet. While I’m out, I just notice how things look. Often they are slightly different than the “real world” I just came from. Sometimes I talk to people that I see (are they other astral travelers, dream characters, dead people, or what?). I sometimes look at my hands or what I’m wearing. I look in the bathroom mirror for weird results! This is up to you. There’s an infinite amount of things you can do in this state, and once you get here, your only limit is your imagination!
Key Point: The Vibrational State
There is a certain moment when you know you’ll be able to go out of the body. This is what is commonly called the “vibrational state.” In other words, it’s the moment between sleeping and waking where your body falls asleep, but your conscious mind is still awake. This is also called sleep paralysis.
A note on sleep paralysis
You may have felt this in the past and often associate it with fear or scary hallucinations. In fact, I used to have night terrors as a kid and have learned those night terrors are indeed related to OBEs, astral projection, and lucid dreams. It’s all related to the subtle phase between sleeping and waking.
Many people refuse to attempt to enter sleep paralysis consciously because they have had scary experiences during it. But it was actually my night terrors that opened the door for positive out of body exploration. I simply became aware of my night terror about to happen and when I didn’t resist and stayed mindful, that’s when the fear went away immediately and I floated out of my body. That was my first OBE and it changed everything!
Entering sleep consciously
Most of the time when you lie down to go to sleep at night, your mind is thinking a lot. It’s cycling through what happened earlier that day, what needs to be done tomorrow, etc. There’s lots of self-talk and daydreaming happening here. What happens for most people is they begin to fall asleep and they aren’t aware or mindful enough to notice it happening. They enter their first sleep stage unconsciously. The trick is to enter sleep consciously.
Mindfulness Matters
We keep hearing about mindfulness these days. It’s about awareness. Expanding your awareness and learning how to focus it. What are you paying attention to? Are you walking around sleepwalking through life or centered, present, and aware? The more mindful you are, the more equipped you will be to have an out of body experience. Practice meditation daily and use lucid dream reality checks throughout the day. Constantly ask yourself “am I awake?” or “am I dreaming right now?” My favorite reality check is to try to push my finger through my other hand. If it comes out on the other side, I’m dreaming/OBE.
How do you know when you’re in the vibrational state?
Your body will fall asleep (sleep paralysis) and you’ll feel a variety of sensations during this process. The sensations range from a full body “buzzing” feeling, to feel “tingly” all over, to intense energy resonating throughout your body. This is often accompanied by sounds such as buzzing in the ears or what sounds like radio static or even voices! It can be scary if it’s your first time experiencing this. Try to be mindful and open rather than fearful or resistant. It can be weird at first, but eventually, you get comfortable!
Experiment, Don’t Try too Hard
It’s a paradox I know. You have to put in the effort, but you can’t try too hard otherwise you won’t be able to relax. Imagine meditating “really hard” so you can have a mind-blowing out of body experience. It’s not gonna happen (I tried!). The trick is to keep letting go and relaxing. This is why getting up in the middle of the night is so helpful, it’s easier to relax.
If you find a technique that works for you, keep going with it. Don’t hold on to any particular method. Don’t try to be perfect or get all upset if you can’t do it. It takes time, patience, practice, and dedication. But also openness, allowing, detachment and letting go.
Good luck with your practice! Below you’ll find some of my favorite resources for an astral project, lucid dreaming, and out of body experiences. Feel free to share your own tips or experiences in the comments! Dive in!
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE…


consciouslifenews--2020-07-15--Declining Eyesight Improved By Looking At Deep Red Light

Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can significantly improve declining eyesight , finds a new UCL-led study , the first of its kind in humans .
Scientists believe the discovery , published in the , could signal the dawn of new affordable home-based eye therapies , helping the millions of people globally with naturally declining vision .
In the UK there are currently around 12 million people aged over 65 : in 50 years this will increase to around 20 million and all will have some degree of visual decline because of retinal aging .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCL Institute of Ophthalmology ) said : “ As you age your visual system declines significantly , particularly once over 40 .
“ Your retinal sensitivity and your color vision are both gradually undermined , and with an aging population , this is an increasingly important issue .
“ To try to stem or reverse this decline , we sought to reboot the retina 's aging cells with short bursts of longwave light.
” In humans , around 40 years-old , cells in the eye 's retina begin to age , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part , when the cell 's mitochondria , whose role is to produce energy ( known as ATP ) and boost cell function , also start to decline .
Mitochondrial density is greatest in the retina 's photoreceptor cells , which have high energy demands .
As a result , the retina ages faster than other organs , with a 70 % ATP reduction over life , causing a significant decline in photoreceptor function as they lack the energy to perform their normal role .
Researchers built on their previous findings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which all found significant improvements in the function of the retina 's photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to 670 nanometres ( long wavelength ) deep red light .
“ Mitochondria have specific light absorbance characteristics influencing their performance : longer wavelengths spanning 650 to 1000nm are absorbed and improve mitochondrial performance to increase energy production , ” said Professor Jeffery .
The retina 's photoreceptor population is formed of cones , which mediate color vision and rods , which provide peripheral vision and adapt vision in low/dim light .
For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 12 female ) , aged between 28 and 72 , who had no ocular disease , were recruited .
All participants ' eyes were tested for the sensitivity of their rods and cones at the start of the study .
Rod sensitivity was measured in dark-adapted eyes ( with pupils dilated ) by asking participants to detect dim light signals in the dark , and cone function was tested by subjects identifying colored letters that had very low contrast and appeared increasingly blurred , a process called color contrast .
All participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take home and were asked to look into its deep red 670nm light beam for three minutes a day for two weeks .
They were then re-tested for their rod and cone sensitivity Researchers found the 670nm light had no impact on younger individuals , but in those around 40 years and over , significant improvements were obtained .
Cone color contrast sensitivity ( the ability to detect colors ) improved by up to 20 % in some people aged around 40 and over .
Improvements were more significant in the blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vulnerable in aging .
Rod sensitivity ( the ability to see in low light ) also improved significantly in those aged around 40 and over , though less than color contrast .
Professor Jeffery said : “ Our study shows that it is possible to significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy system that has declined in the retina cells , rather like re-charging a battery .
“ The technology is simple and very safe , using a deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina that supply energy for cellular function .
“ Our devices cost about £12 to make , so the technology is highly accessible to members of the public .
”

Source: Science Daily
Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can significantly improve declining eyesight, finds a new UCL-led study, the first of its kind in humans.
Scientists believe the discovery, published in the Journals of Gerontology, could signal the dawn of new affordable home-based eye therapies, helping the millions of people globally with naturally declining vision.
In the UK there are currently around 12 million people aged over 65: in 50 years this will increase to around 20 million and all will have some degree of visual decline because of retinal aging.
Lead author, Professor Glen Jeffery (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) said: “As you age your visual system declines significantly, particularly once over 40.
“Your retinal sensitivity and your color vision are both gradually undermined, and with an aging population, this is an increasingly important issue.
“To try to stem or reverse this decline, we sought to reboot the retina's aging cells with short bursts of longwave light.”
In humans, around 40 years-old, cells in the eye's retina begin to age, and the pace of this aging is caused, in part, when the cell's mitochondria, whose role is to produce energy (known as ATP) and boost cell function, also start to decline.
Mitochondrial density is greatest in the retina's photoreceptor cells, which have high energy demands. As a result, the retina ages faster than other organs, with a 70% ATP reduction over life, causing a significant decline in photoreceptor function as they lack the energy to perform their normal role.
Researchers built on their previous findings in mice, bumblebees, and fruit flies, which all found significant improvements in the function of the retina's photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to 670 nanometres (long wavelength) deep red light.
“Mitochondria have specific light absorbance characteristics influencing their performance: longer wavelengths spanning 650 to 1000nm are absorbed and improve mitochondrial performance to increase energy production,” said Professor Jeffery.
The retina's photoreceptor population is formed of cones, which mediate color vision and rods, which provide peripheral vision and adapt vision in low/dim light.
For the study, 24 people (12 male, 12 female), aged between 28 and 72, who had no ocular disease, were recruited. All participants' eyes were tested for the sensitivity of their rods and cones at the start of the study. Rod sensitivity was measured in dark-adapted eyes (with pupils dilated) by asking participants to detect dim light signals in the dark, and cone function was tested by subjects identifying colored letters that had very low contrast and appeared increasingly blurred, a process called color contrast.
All participants were then given a small LED torch to take home and were asked to look into its deep red 670nm light beam for three minutes a day for two weeks. They were then re-tested for their rod and cone sensitivity
Results
Researchers found the 670nm light had no impact on younger individuals, but in those around 40 years and over, significant improvements were obtained.
Cone color contrast sensitivity (the ability to detect colors) improved by up to 20% in some people aged around 40 and over. Improvements were more significant in the blue part of the color spectrum that is more vulnerable in aging.
Rod sensitivity (the ability to see in low light) also improved significantly in those aged around 40 and over, though less than color contrast.
Professor Jeffery said: “Our study shows that it is possible to significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy system that has declined in the retina cells, rather like re-charging a battery.
“The technology is simple and very safe, using a deep red light of a specific wavelength, that is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina that supply energy for cellular function.
“Our devices cost about £12 to make, so the technology is highly accessible to members of the public.”


consciouslifenews--2020-07-15--Do I have Anxiety: 9 Signs of Anxiety Disorder

One of the commonly known problems in the modern age is anxiety .
Nowadays , people have become more work-centric , which in the process , hinders their health and mental wellbeing .
The anxiety symptoms can be exhausting and can affect the life of an individual drastically .
However , if you have the right help or can identify the early signs of anxiety , you can fight it .
Anxiety tends to affect the reflex response , makes you think endlessly , stresses you now and then .
Let ’ s do a quick rundown of early symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychological term for ‘ situations that trigger the possibility of getting worried ’ is ‘ avoidance coping ’ .
This serves as one of the vital factors .
When people suffer from anxiety , they tend to hyper-control the surroundings before it causes further issues and pessimistic thoughts .
Socializing is one such activity that fear leaves behind .
But it is not necessary for you to socially distance yourself from friends or people to identify anxiety symptoms .
Track your state of affairs and determine what you have left behind .
2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be talked down .
It is easier to calm people down and talk about their worrying thoughts and problems when they do not suffer from any anxiety disorder .
However , this is not the case with people who have an anxiety disorder .
Those suffering from anxiety do not return and answer to treatments .
Calming or talking them out is next to impossible in such situations .
Rational ways do not work as worries related to anxiety do not accept such methods .
So , if you are facing such issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since muscle tension is not directly associated with an anxiety disorder as one of the primary symptoms , it is still a crucial symptom you shouldn ’ t ignore .
If you happen to suffer from anxiety , the muscles will experience tenderness or even tension .
Constant worrying plays a considerable role in determining the severity of muscle tension .
So , if you face such a situation where you ’ re not aware of what ’ s going to happen one can take A panic attack is another form of anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear and pessimism lead to panic attacks .
When you observe such a symptom , make sure that you track other factors like increased heart rate , sweating , breathlessness , shivering , nausea , and losing control over yourself .
Tracking these semi-symptoms is vital .
Usually , panic attacks take place when you are alone , but if you experience them recurrently , it might be a result of panic disorders .
Even though anxiety leads to many situations and implications , there is always a sense of control you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can either be over your surroundings or people that you are associated with .
If you fear you ’ re losing control over yourself in the course of managing everything around , make sure that you ’ re not indulging in over-engagements and micro-managing your environment .
All of these factors lead to developing certain OCDs , which is one of the symptoms of anxiety disorder .
One of the crucial factors through which you can identify anxiety disorder is through the irregular sleeping cycle .
If you are always attentive during night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger , you might be a disaster waiting to occur .
Distracted and distorted sleeping cycles are regular in an individual suffering from anxiety , but it ’ s a dangerous condition .
So , if you ’ re facing this , report to a doctor immediately .
The easiest way to identify such a symptom is to keep track of worrying thoughts that result in restlessness .
When you overthink about a particular situation , you give birth to semi-symptoms like increased heartbeat , sweating , physical restlessness , and overthinking .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do not miss out on such factors that lead to restlessness .
It is , however , essential to acknowledge it and react by going through specific therapies .
More often , we get resistant , irritated , and a bit snappy .
But , if any of these persist for an extended period , it can be alarming .
Irritability is one of the early symptoms of an anxiety disorder in which an individual suffers to deal with overthinking and anxiousness .
Such an issue can lead to a quick snap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irregular sleeping patterns , overthinking , and restlessness .
Getting tired very often is something you should not ignore .
Fatigue happens to be one of the major factors or signs that result in anxiety disorders .
Such a situation can lead an individual to anxiety attacks or muscle tenseness , which directly impacts the chemical imbalances within your body .
If you are worried and draining out more often , it might be a sign of anxiety .
Several factors lead to anxiety disorders ; as a result , you should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , it is near to steep , even to acknowledge a single sign that might result in further anxiety development .
But , if identified , there are several natural ways and solutions you can undergo to prevent such factors from pushing you .
Tags : `` featured , anxiety disorder , different signs of anxiety , featured , signs of anxiety , signs of anxiety disorder

By Liz Thomson
One of the commonly known problems in the modern age is anxiety. Nowadays, people have become more work-centric, which in the process, hinders their health and mental wellbeing. The anxiety symptoms can be exhausting and can affect the life of an individual drastically. However, if you have the right help or can identify the early signs of anxiety, you can fight it.
Anxiety tends to affect the reflex response, makes you think endlessly, stresses you now and then. Let’s do a quick rundown of early symptoms that lead to anxiety disorder.
1. Avoiding circumstances that cause worry.
The psychological term for ‘situations that trigger the possibility of getting worried’ is ‘avoidance coping’. This serves as one of the vital factors. When people suffer from anxiety, they tend to hyper-control the surroundings before it causes further issues and pessimistic thoughts. Socializing is one such activity that fear leaves behind. But it is not necessary for you to socially distance yourself from friends or people to identify anxiety symptoms. Track your state of affairs and determine what you have left behind.
2. People with anxiety can’t be talked down.
It is easier to calm people down and talk about their worrying thoughts and problems when they do not suffer from any anxiety disorder. However, this is not the case with people who have an anxiety disorder. Those suffering from anxiety do not return and answer to treatments. Calming or talking them out is next to impossible in such situations. Rational ways do not work as worries related to anxiety do not accept such methods. So, if you are facing such issues, plan on going through therapy.
3. Muscle tension is a critical condition.
Since muscle tension is not directly associated with an anxiety disorder as one of the primary symptoms, it is still a crucial symptom you shouldn’t ignore. If you happen to suffer from anxiety, the muscles will experience tenderness or even tension. Constant worrying plays a considerable role in determining the severity of muscle tension. So, if you face such a situation where you’re not aware of what’s going to happen one can take CBD cream for pain or visit a doctor and undergo cognitive therapy.
4. Frequent panic attacks.
A panic attack is another form of anxiety disorder that is quite normal. Constant fear and pessimism lead to panic attacks. When you observe such a symptom, make sure that you track other factors like increased heart rate, sweating, breathlessness, shivering, nausea, and losing control over yourself. Tracking these semi-symptoms is vital. Usually, panic attacks take place when you are alone, but if you experience them recurrently, it might be a result of panic disorders.
5. Developing various kinds of OCDs.
Even though anxiety leads to many situations and implications, there is always a sense of control you would want to have. This controlling nature can either be over your surroundings or people that you are associated with. If you fear you’re losing control over yourself in the course of managing everything around, make sure that you’re not indulging in over-engagements and micro-managing your environment. All of these factors lead to developing certain OCDs, which is one of the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
6. Developing a distorted sleeping cycle.
One of the crucial factors through which you can identify anxiety disorder is through the irregular sleeping cycle. If you are always attentive during night hours, worried and alert about potential danger, you might be a disaster waiting to occur. Distracted and distorted sleeping cycles are regular in an individual suffering from anxiety, but it’s a dangerous condition. So, if you’re facing this, report to a doctor immediately.
7. Restlessness leads to anxiety disorder.
The easiest way to identify such a symptom is to keep track of worrying thoughts that result in restlessness. When you overthink about a particular situation, you give birth to semi-symptoms like increased heartbeat, sweating, physical restlessness, and overthinking. Before observing anxiety disorder, make sure you do not miss out on such factors that lead to restlessness. It is, however, essential to acknowledge it and react by going through specific therapies.
8. Irritability plays a crucial role.
More often, we get resistant, irritated, and a bit snappy. But, if any of these persist for an extended period, it can be alarming. Irritability is one of the early symptoms of an anxiety disorder in which an individual suffers to deal with overthinking and anxiousness. Such an issue can lead to a quick snap. Moreover, irritability is accompanied by irregular sleeping patterns, overthinking, and restlessness.
9. Developing higher levels of fatigue
Getting tired very often is something you should not ignore. Fatigue happens to be one of the major factors or signs that result in anxiety disorders. Such a situation can lead an individual to anxiety attacks or muscle tenseness, which directly impacts the chemical imbalances within your body. If you are worried and draining out more often, it might be a sign of anxiety.
Final thoughts
Several factors lead to anxiety disorders; as a result, you should be aware of their early symptoms. At times, it is near to steep, even to acknowledge a single sign that might result in further anxiety development. But, if identified, there are several natural ways and solutions you can undergo to prevent such factors from pushing you.


consciouslifenews--2020-07-15--How Purpose Changes Across Your Lifetime

Purpose is the stuff of inspirational posters and motivational speeches .
When we find our purpose , they say , we ’ ll know what we are meant to do in life .
The path will be laid out before us , and our job will be to keep following that vision with unwavering commitment .
But is this really what purpose looks like ?
Alongside the self-help hype is a body of research on purpose across the lifespan , reaching back more than 30 years .
Following people as they grapple with their identity as teens , settle into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shift to retirement , this research paints a more complicated picture of purpose—but a hopeful one , too .
Here ’ s the upshot : We don ’ t have to worry about finding our one true purpose ; we can find purpose in different areas of life .
In fact , purpose isn ’ t something we find at all .
It ’ s something we can cultivate through deliberate action and reflection , and it will naturally wax and wane throughout our lives .
Like happiness , purpose is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a practice .
That means it ’ s accessible at any age if we ’ re willing to explore what matters to us and what kind of person we want to be—and act to become that person .
This “ is a project that endures across the lifespan , ” as purpose expert Kendall Bronk and her colleagues write in a 2009 paper .
If we ’ re able to revisit and renew our sense of purpose as we navigate milestones and transitions , suggests this research , then we can look forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A purpose in life is not just any big goal that we pursue .
According to researchers , purpose is a long-term aim that is meaningful to the self—but goes beyond the self , aiming to make a difference to the broader world .
We might find purpose in fighting poverty , creating art , or making people ’ s lives better through technology .
That process begins when we ’ re teens , as we explore who we are , what we value , and what we want out of life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claremont Graduate University .
As they try different interests and activities , like music or volunteering , some teens start to discover paths they want to pursue .
Other teens have challenging life experiences , like a parent being diagnosed with cancer or shooting in their hometown , that spur them to work on particular causes .
Others are inspired by role models who are leading purposeful lives , from parents to coaches .
Mariah Jordan from Cleveland , one of the winners of the GGSC Purpose Challenge Scholarship Contest , often accompanied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a child .
Over time , witnessing her grandmother ’ s experiences , she began to see the racial inequalities that existed in health care .
She went on to volunteer in a medical setting and conduct research on cancer in African Americans , working to eliminate health disparities and bring more cultural sensitivity to the field of medicine .
William Damon , author of and a professor at Stanford , has spent nearly 20 years studying how people develop purpose in work , family , and civic life .
As he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chemical reaction that takes place when our skills meet the needs of the world .
Young people must identify something in their environment that could be improved , whether it ’ s politics or modern jazz music , and recognize something in themselves that they can bring to bear on that problem—leadership skills , say , or creativity .
Knowing your skills and your interests—and in a larger sense , your identity—seems to be key to pursuing purpose .
In a 2011 study , high school and college students answered surveys about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as their sense of identity—how clear they were on the kinds of jobs , values , friendships , politics , religion , and sex roles they would have in life .
Researchers found that the more solid their sense of identity , the more purposeful they were .
In turn , they were also happier and more hopeful for the future .
A 2012 study by the same researchers had a similar finding , but in the opposite direction—with young people who felt purposeful building a more solid sense of identity over time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intertwined processes , ” write Patrick Hill of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Anthony Burrow of Cornell University .
At this age , though , only about 20 percent of teens have a strong sense of purpose in life , at least according to Damon ’ s work .
Others have pie-in-the-sky dreams , or fun hobbies , or they ’ re just trying to get through high school .
More often , childhood and adolescence seem to be the time when the building blocks of purpose are established , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want out of life .
According to Damon , most people who find purpose do so in their 20s and 30s .
This is when we tend to start building a career and a family—both of which are major sources of purpose during adulthood , along with religion and volunteering .
In the family realm , we may find a deep sense of purpose from raising children , as well as taking care of aging parents .
At work , we might feel fulfilled in supporting our coworkers , making a difference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Damon writes .
When education professional Paul LeBuffe found out that he was raising a special-needs child , it was a turning point for his family and his career—and his sense of purpose .
Since then , he has been working to promote resilience in children and adults , and within his own family .
Working in that field means he ’ s always learning things he can apply to his own life , which helps give him a sense of balance .
While finding purpose can feel like an exciting adventure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gap years or try interesting electives in college , purpose becomes more urgent for adults .
In a 2009 study , Bronk and her colleagues surveyed people of different age groups , including nearly 400 young people ( in their teens and early 20s ) and over 400 adults ( around age 35 ) .
When they were searching for purpose , young people were more satisfied with life—but this wasn ’ t true of adults .
In fact , the more they were still actively seeking purpose , the less satisfied they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes down to cultural norms and the expectations adults have for themselves .
“ In our culture we expect young people to explore what matters most to them , but by midlife , we expect them to have sorted this out , ” write Bronk and her colleagues .
At some age , lacking in purpose becomes unpleasant—but Bronk points out that having purpose isn ’ t always a picnic , either .
Going after a big , long-term goal can be stressful and discouraging ; as anyone who has raised a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t always bring us day-to-day fun and good cheer .
While there may be struggles , though , people who have that sense of direction and purpose do ultimately tend to have more satisfying , healthier , and even longer lives .
Midlife and beyond : A crossroads of purpose While purpose tends to be highest in adulthood , old age can come with a diminishing sense of purpose and direction .
In one survey of people ages 50-92 , only 30 percent reported feeling purposeful .
The causes aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest sources of purpose for adults , work and family , take a major hit when we retire and when kids leave home .
Suddenly , we wake up to days that aren ’ t structured by meetings and deadlines , by soccer games and homework help .
It can feel like the things that defined us—our very identity—are slipping away .
On top of all that , niggling health problems can make it physically harder to stay involved with activities and people that might keep us feeling engaged .
Gerontologist and AgeWave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society doesn ’ t recognize the value and wisdom of older people , writing them off as feeble or irrelevant , and elders don ’ t always put in the work to learn new technology and connect with younger people .
While society might be telling them to relax and enjoy their golden years , he says , many older adults just feel adrift .
Not everyone has this experience , of course .
People who have strong relationships and a positive attitude toward aging tend to fare better .
In one study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified the ones who were able to maintain or increase their sense of purpose over the decade .
Those individuals often turned their efforts inward to become better human beings , learning new skills or tackling long-held emotional struggles .
As Damon explains , the pause of retirement and an empty nest can be an invitation to introspection , in ways that weren ’ t possible in our chaotic midlives , and a reconnection with the things that truly matter .
John Leland , a reporter , had the opportunity to follow six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get an intimate glimpse into their lives .
They became his friends , he says , and their stories were featured in his book about happiness .
He observes that the elders who held on to a sense of purpose thrived because of their flexibility .
They rolled with the punches as their lives changed and evolved , and they remained open to new experiences .
“ Those who are able to understand their roles as constantly changing , constantly evolving—it ’ s a story that they ’ re still writing—are able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we all confront better than people who see themselves as fixed in one point , ” he says .
In many ways , the pursuit of purpose as an older adult looks a lot like it does for teens .
Marc Freedman , founder of the generation-connecting organization Encore.org , sees this parallel , too : Instead of internships , Encore.org offers fellowships where older people spend up to a year working in nonprofits , foundations , and other social sector organizations .
The experience is designed to help them find an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity that serves the greater good and contributes to the world they ’ ll leave behind .
Gary Maxworthy , who won Encore.org ’ s Purpose Prize in 2007 , was 56 when his wife died from cancer .
After more than three decades in food distribution , he wanted to give back .
He started volunteering at a food bank , where he quickly noticed a big problem and a big opportunity : Growers were having to send lots of “ imperfect ” produce to landfills , because they couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was too difficult for food banks .
He created Farm to Family to solve that problem and ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables make it to families in need .
Other Encore.org fellows include retired doctors caring for underserved patients and retired tech company executives helping to improve online government services .
Meanwhile , organizations like Stanford ’ s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Modern Elder Academy offer college-like experiences for older adults looking for a fresh start .
In Freedman ’ s experience , very few of us will wake up one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
Instead , he observes people draw on the skills , knowledge , and values they ’ ve cultivated over a lifetime to start a new chapter .
That ’ s good news , because it means the building blocks of purpose are already within us when we reach maturity .
Years ago , Bronk interviewed young people about their sense of purpose , hoping to gain some insight into how it developed .
Afterward , she was surprised to hear how much the participants enjoyed the conversation .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with young people about the things that mattered to them actually increased their sense of purpose in life—an outcome the researchers hadn ’ t even been looking for .
That ’ s partly why Bronk believes , deep down , that everyone has a purpose , even if they don ’ t realize it or know what it is yet .
“ We all have things that we care about , we all have special talents that we can apply to make a meaningful difference in the world around us , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can a sense of purpose even if you can ’ t write it down in a simple sentence : “ My purpose is… ” As we ’ ve seen , we can have multiple purposes that rise and fall in importance over our lifetime , as schedules are juggled and priorities shift .
When we face transitions , whether it ’ s changing careers , going through divorce or illness , or hitting a milestone birthday , we may be prompted to slow down , reflect , and reprioritize .
In other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something Leland took away from his time with New York ’ s “ oldest old.
” “ They believed that purpose was something you created , not something you sought , and it would be something that you have to keep creating , ” reflects Leland .
“ I think they would say that happiness would be the same thing .
It ’ s something that you have within you , and you have to tap it and recognize it and cultivate it rather than waiting for it to come your way.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative on “ Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan , ” supported by the John Templeton Foundation .
In a series of articles , podcast episodes , and other resources , we ’ ll be exploring why and how to deepen your sense of purpose at different stages of life .

By Kira M. Newman | Greater Good Magazine
Purpose is the stuff of inspirational posters and motivational speeches. When we find our purpose, they say, we’ll know what we are meant to do in life. The path will be laid out before us, and our job will be to keep following that vision with unwavering commitment.
But is this really what purpose looks like?
Alongside the self-help hype is a body of research on purpose across the lifespan, reaching back more than 30 years. Following people as they grapple with their identity as teens, settle into the responsibilities of adulthood, and make the shift to retirement, this research paints a more complicated picture of purpose—but a hopeful one, too.
Here’s the upshot: We don’t have to worry about finding our one true purpose; we can find purpose in different areas of life. In fact, purpose isn’t something we find at all. It’s something we can cultivate through deliberate action and reflection, and it will naturally wax and wane throughout our lives.
Like happiness, purpose is not a destination, but a journey and a practice. That means it’s accessible at any age if we’re willing to explore what matters to us and what kind of person we want to be—and act to become that person.
This “is a project that endures across the lifespan,” as purpose expert Kendall Bronk and her colleagues write in a 2009 paper. If we’re able to revisit and renew our sense of purpose as we navigate milestones and transitions, suggests this research, then we can look forward to more satisfying, meaningful lives.
Teens: Seeking purpose
A purpose in life is not just any big goal that we pursue. According to researchers, purpose is a long-term aim that is meaningful to the self—but goes beyond the self, aiming to make a difference to the broader world. We might find purpose in fighting poverty, creating art, or making people’s lives better through technology.
That process begins when we’re teens, as we explore who we are, what we value, and what we want out of life, says Bronk, an associate professor at Claremont Graduate University. As they try different interests and activities, like music or volunteering, some teens start to discover paths they want to pursue. Other teens have challenging life experiences, like a parent being diagnosed with cancer or shooting in their hometown, that spur them to work on particular causes. Others are inspired by role models who are leading purposeful lives, from parents to coaches.
Mariah Jordan from Cleveland, one of the winners of the GGSC Purpose Challenge Scholarship Contest, often accompanied her grandmother to doctor’s appointments as a child. Over time, witnessing her grandmother’s experiences, she began to see the racial inequalities that existed in health care. She went on to volunteer in a medical setting and conduct research on cancer in African Americans, working to eliminate health disparities and bring more cultural sensitivity to the field of medicine.
William Damon, author of The Path to Purpose and a professor at Stanford, has spent nearly 20 years studying how people develop purpose in work, family, and civic life. As he describes it, purpose is something of a chemical reaction that takes place when our skills meet the needs of the world. Young people must identify something in their environment that could be improved, whether it’s politics or modern jazz music, and recognize something in themselves that they can bring to bear on that problem—leadership skills, say, or creativity.
Knowing your skills and your interests—and in a larger sense, your identity—seems to be key to pursuing purpose. In a 2011 study, high school and college students answered surveys about their sense of purpose, as well as their sense of identity—how clear they were on the kinds of jobs, values, friendships, politics, religion, and sex roles they would have in life. Researchers found that the more solid their sense of identity, the more purposeful they were. In turn, they were also happier and more hopeful for the future.
A 2012 study by the same researchers had a similar finding, but in the opposite direction—with young people who felt purposeful building a more solid sense of identity over time. “Identity and purpose development are intertwined processes,” write Patrick Hill of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Anthony Burrow of Cornell University.
At this age, though, only about 20 percent of teens have a strong sense of purpose in life, at least according to Damon’s work. Others have pie-in-the-sky dreams, or fun hobbies, or they’re just trying to get through high school. More often, childhood and adolescence seem to be the time when the building blocks of purpose are established, but we’re still exploring what we want out of life.
Adults: Busy with purpose
According to Damon, most people who find purpose do so in their 20s and 30s. This is when we tend to start building a career and a family—both of which are major sources of purpose during adulthood, along with religion and volunteering.
In the family realm, we may find a deep sense of purpose from raising children, as well as taking care of aging parents. At work, we might feel fulfilled in supporting our coworkers, making a difference in the organization, or contributing to society, Damon writes.
When education professional Paul LeBuffe found out that he was raising a special-needs child, it was a turning point for his family and his career—and his sense of purpose. Since then, he has been working to promote resilience in children and adults, and within his own family. Working in that field means he’s always learning things he can apply to his own life, which helps give him a sense of balance.
While finding purpose can feel like an exciting adventure for young people, who might take gap years or try interesting electives in college, purpose becomes more urgent for adults.
In a 2009 study, Bronk and her colleagues surveyed people of different age groups, including nearly 400 young people (in their teens and early 20s) and over 400 adults (around age 35). When they were searching for purpose, young people were more satisfied with life—but this wasn’t true of adults. In fact, the more they were still actively seeking purpose, the less satisfied they were. The researchers surmise that this comes down to cultural norms and the expectations adults have for themselves.
“In our culture we expect young people to explore what matters most to them, but by midlife, we expect them to have sorted this out,” write Bronk and her colleagues.
At some age, lacking in purpose becomes unpleasant—but Bronk points out that having purpose isn’t always a picnic, either. Going after a big, long-term goal can be stressful and discouraging; as anyone who has raised a child knows, things that bring us meaning don’t always bring us day-to-day fun and good cheer.
While there may be struggles, though, people who have that sense of direction and purpose do ultimately tend to have more satisfying, healthier, and even longer lives.
Midlife and beyond: A crossroads of purpose
While purpose tends to be highest in adulthood, old age can come with a diminishing sense of purpose and direction. In one survey of people ages 50-92, only 30 percent reported feeling purposeful.
The causes aren’t too surprising. Two of the biggest sources of purpose for adults, work and family, take a major hit when we retire and when kids leave home. Suddenly, we wake up to days that aren’t structured by meetings and deadlines, by soccer games and homework help. It can feel like the things that defined us—our very identity—are slipping away. On top of all that, niggling health problems can make it physically harder to stay involved with activities and people that might keep us feeling engaged.
Gerontologist and AgeWave founder Ken Dychtwald sees a pattern where society doesn’t recognize the value and wisdom of older people, writing them off as feeble or irrelevant, and elders don’t always put in the work to learn new technology and connect with younger people. While society might be telling them to relax and enjoy their golden years, he says, many older adults just feel adrift.
Not everyone has this experience, of course. People who have strong relationships and a positive attitude toward aging tend to fare better. In one study, researchers interviewed people ages 61-70 and identified the ones who were able to maintain or increase their sense of purpose over the decade. Those individuals often turned their efforts inward to become better human beings, learning new skills or tackling long-held emotional struggles. As Damon explains, the pause of retirement and an empty nest can be an invitation to introspection, in ways that weren’t possible in our chaotic midlives, and a reconnection with the things that truly matter.
John Leland, a New York Times reporter, had the opportunity to follow six New Yorkers over 85 for a year and get an intimate glimpse into their lives. They became his friends, he says, and their stories were featured in his book about happiness. He observes that the elders who held on to a sense of purpose thrived because of their flexibility. They rolled with the punches as their lives changed and evolved, and they remained open to new experiences.
“Those who are able to understand their roles as constantly changing, constantly evolving—it’s a story that they’re still writing—are able to deal with the ups and downs that we all confront better than people who see themselves as fixed in one point,” he says.
In many ways, the pursuit of purpose as an older adult looks a lot like it does for teens. Marc Freedman, founder of the generation-connecting organization Encore.org, sees this parallel, too: Instead of internships, Encore.org offers fellowships where older people spend up to a year working in nonprofits, foundations, and other social sector organizations. The experience is designed to help them find an “encore career,” a purposeful activity that serves the greater good and contributes to the world they’ll leave behind.
Gary Maxworthy, who won Encore.org’s Purpose Prize in 2007, was 56 when his wife died from cancer. After more than three decades in food distribution, he wanted to give back. He started volunteering at a food bank, where he quickly noticed a big problem and a big opportunity: Growers were having to send lots of “imperfect” produce to landfills, because they couldn’t sell it, and accepting fresh produce was too difficult for food banks. He created Farm to Family to solve that problem and ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables make it to families in need.
Other Encore.org fellows include retired doctors caring for underserved patients and retired tech company executives helping to improve online government services. Meanwhile, organizations like Stanford’s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Modern Elder Academy offer college-like experiences for older adults looking for a fresh start.
In Freedman’s experience, very few of us will wake up one day with a totally new purpose in life. Instead, he observes people draw on the skills, knowledge, and values they’ve cultivated over a lifetime to start a new chapter.
That’s good news, because it means the building blocks of purpose are already within us when we reach maturity.
The practice of purpose
Years ago, Bronk interviewed young people about their sense of purpose, hoping to gain some insight into how it developed. Afterward, she was surprised to hear how much the participants enjoyed the conversation. In fact, she and her team discovered that talking with young people about the things that mattered to them actually increased their sense of purpose in life—an outcome the researchers hadn’t even been looking for.
That’s partly why Bronk believes, deep down, that everyone has a purpose, even if they don’t realize it or know what it is yet.
“We all have things that we care about, we all have special talents that we can apply to make a meaningful difference in the world around us,” she says. Other researchers agree that you can have a sense of purpose even if you can’t write it down in a simple sentence: “My purpose is…”
As we’ve seen, we can have multiple purposes that rise and fall in importance over our lifetime, as schedules are juggled and priorities shift. When we face transitions, whether it’s changing careers, going through divorce or illness, or hitting a milestone birthday, we may be prompted to slow down, reflect, and reprioritize.
In other words, purpose is a constant practice—which is something Leland took away from his time with New York’s “oldest old.”
“They believed that purpose was something you created, not something you sought, and it would be something that you have to keep creating,” reflects Leland. “I think they would say that happiness would be the same thing. It’s something that you have within you, and you have to tap it and recognize it and cultivate it rather than waiting for it to come your way.”
This article is part of a GGSC initiative on “Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan,” supported by the John Templeton Foundation. In a series of articles, podcast episodes, and other resources, we’ll be exploring why and how to deepen your sense of purpose at different stages of life.
About the Author


consciouslifenews--2020-07-16--Reliable SEO Services for Increasing Organic Traffic

The initial tasks for a search engine optimization company to implement an SEO plan SEO optimization of your business website is a guarantee of success on the Australian market regardless of the industry , company ’ s size , products and services you offer .
The goal is to attract visitors who are ready to act .
The only way to catch the attention of users and convince them to buy is to increase organic traffic through a carefully developed phased strategy .
Thus , investing in , experts in site promotion must be ready to : • conduct SEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the hidden opportunities that can boost your ranking potential and not only bring your web resource to the TOP positions in Google , but also easily convert users into loyal customers ; • draw up a plan for the elimination of technical issues and flaws on web pages for ensuring the proper crawling and indexing and improving user-friendliness ; • take care of the correct display and functioning of the content on mobile devices ; • create unique content , regularly refresh outdated content on web pages , add not only texts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animations , videos , 3D graphics ; • use additional tools and platform that will enhance SEO and attract high-quality organic traffic ( social media marketing ( SMM ) , contextual advertising ( PPC ) , etc . )
What else included in SEO services If you want your investment to pay off , and all stages are competently executed , you must pick a reputable and trustworthy Australian SEO company .
As apart these mentioned above basic SEO objectives , dedicated and honest professionals must take care of the following : Blogging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Update relevant and useful articles on a blog is an integral part of the marketing plan .
This is undeniably the most reliable source of organic traffic as people like to be informed .
Thus , share not only information about your offer but also news and materials related to your industry .
Catch the attention and encourage users to choose you .
Analysis of the competitors .
For keeping your positions and staying ahead in the world of business , you must know your biggest competitors .
Go on a website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spy on their actions , try to predict their next step , and allow SEO experts to use their experience to improve the efficiency of your site .
Make sure they don ’ t copy but only adopt some useful solutions .
It is the task for a search engine optimization company to introduce flexible , ready for change , but at the same time , innovative and unique strategy .
Progress monitoring .
In order to know precisely which solutions are good for SEO and which one is better to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using Google Analytics .
The efficiency of particular keyword phrases that , in fact , are the foundation of the whole project , must be also analyzed .
They also have to determine the source of organic traffic and develop it even more .
Tips on cooperation with an Australian SEO company To reach the top in all senses , you must know your goals , present them to the SEO agency , and find out if it can meet them , providing hassle-free , productive solutions .
One of such agencies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shtudio .
The expertise of the team will impress you with a comprehensive approach and a customized plan based on your needs and specifics of your brand .

The initial tasks for a search engine optimization company to implement an SEO plan
SEO optimization of your business website is a guarantee of success on the Australian market regardless of the industry, company’s size, products and services you offer. The goal is to attract visitors who are ready to act. The only way to catch the attention of users and convince them to buy is to increase organic traffic through a carefully developed phased strategy. Thus, investing in SEO services , experts in site promotion must be ready to:
conduct SEO analysis of your website to shed light on the hidden opportunities that can boost your ranking potential and not only bring your web resource to the TOP positions in Google, but also easily convert users into loyal customers;
draw up a plan for the elimination of technical issues and flaws on web pages for ensuring the proper crawling and indexing and improving user-friendliness;
take care of the correct display and functioning of the content on mobile devices;
create unique content, regularly refresh outdated content on web pages, add not only texts but also develop visual content such as animations, videos, 3D graphics;
use additional tools and platform that will enhance SEO and attract high-quality organic traffic (social media marketing (SMM), contextual advertising (PPC), etc.)
What else included in SEO services
If you want your investment to pay off, and all stages are competently executed, you must pick a reputable and trustworthy Australian SEO company. As apart these mentioned above basic SEO objectives, dedicated and honest professionals must take care of the following:
Blogging as the core of a powerful tactic. Update relevant and useful articles on a blog is an integral part of the marketing plan. This is undeniably the most reliable source of organic traffic as people like to be informed. Thus, share not only information about your offer but also news and materials related to your industry. Catch the attention and encourage users to choose you.
Analysis of the competitors. For keeping your positions and staying ahead in the world of business, you must know your biggest competitors. Go on a website of other business players in your niche, spy on their actions, try to predict their next step, and allow SEO experts to use their experience to improve the efficiency of your site. Make sure they don’t copy but only adopt some useful solutions. It is the task for a search engine optimization company to introduce flexible, ready for change, but at the same time, innovative and unique strategy.
Progress monitoring. In order to know precisely which solutions are good for SEO and which one is better to remove and replace, experts must track metrics using Google Analytics. The efficiency of particular keyword phrases that, in fact, are the foundation of the whole project, must be also analyzed. They also have to determine the source of organic traffic and develop it even more.
Tips on cooperation with an Australian SEO company
To reach the top in all senses, you must know your goals, present them to the SEO agency, and find out if it can meet them, providing hassle-free, productive solutions. One of such agencies that can become your long-term SEO partner is Shtudio. The expertise of the team will impress you with a comprehensive approach and a customized plan based on your needs and specifics of your brand.


consciouslifenews--2020-07-16--How Does Doctor-Patient Communication Break Through Language Barriers?

The world is struggling against a deadly virus !
By the time this article was written , the number of Coronavirus cases all around the world exceeded , leaving people with anxiety and uncertainty about their future .
While governments continue to apply full and partial lockdowns , doctors and medical staff are overwhelmed with the number of cases that flow to the hospitals everyday , not to mention the fears of those who contact them to report early symptoms .
In addition to social distancing and self protection tips , the United Kingdom National Health Service ( NHS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system once they feel any of Covid-19 ’ s early symptoms .
British people are encouraged to get in touch with their official healthcare service providers online or over the phone to seek medical advice or ask for a rapid antigen test .
This has been the case in many parts of the world , where people are staying home and become suspicious once they catch a single flu symptom .
How OPI bridged the language gap in remote medical communication ?
These remote communications go smoothly when both ends are speaking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not !
What if a foreign patient or patient ’ s family is in need of medical advice and can not get it because the doctor speaks a different language ?
How would a doctor and a patient who do not share any common language communicate with each other over the phone in an emergency case ?
The simple answer to these questions is .
OPI is a remote language solution developed by the language service providers with the purpose of facilitating telephone communication between foreign speakers across various industries .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hard or when communications are done remotely , the need becomes imperative for an over-the-phone interpreter who simply joins a conference call and interprets the words instantaneously .
For the past few years , OPI was widely used in the medical sphere , but the outbreak of the current pandemic spotlighted the critical importance of such a helpful language service .
More medical conversations are now taking place over the phone and the OPI solutions are much in demand .
The OPI and video-remote interpreting ( VRI ) market value in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in 2019 , according to .
Whether it is a pre-scheduled appointment or an urgent call , it all begins with a call to a trustworthy language vendor in your country and requesting the language pair you want .
You then receive a call from a highly qualified medical interpreter who joins the phone conversation and introduces both ends to each other in their native languages .
The call then proceeds along with real-time interpretation .
It is fair to say that OPI services have rendered a phone conversation on symptoms or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical practitioner who speak different languages possible .
However , choosing the right service provider is of extreme importance as only experienced and well-trained interpreters , who are fully aware of the medical jargon , can handle phone medical conversations instantaneously and accurately .
It is your responsibility to stay safe Amid the world ’ s current frightening scene , it is everyone ’ s responsibility to stay safe until the world gets back to normal .
OPI is one of the language industry ’ s contributions to the global struggle against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , keep away from people , sanitize your hands regularly , use masks , and make sure to get instant medical advice whenever you feel symptoms like fever or respiratory illness such as shortness of breath or dry cough .
If you can not communicate effectively or fully understand your medical advisor , do not hesitate to contact a and ask for professional medical OPI services .
On the other hand , if you are a doctor who does not understand your patient ’ s language , OPI services will help you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , diagnose it better , and prescribe the right medicine .
We are all in this together , and we all have a lot to do to help humanity !
Please , stay safe !

The world is struggling against a deadly virus! By the time this article was written, the number of Coronavirus cases all around the world exceeded 7 million , leaving people with anxiety and uncertainty about their future. While governments continue to apply full and partial lockdowns, doctors and medical staff are overwhelmed with the number of cases that flow to the hospitals everyday, not to mention the fears of those who contact them to report early symptoms.
In addition to social distancing and self protection tips, the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) urges people to contact the healthcare support system once they feel any of Covid-19’s early symptoms. British people are encouraged to get in touch with their official healthcare service providers online or over the phone to seek medical advice or ask for a rapid antigen test. This has been the case in many parts of the world, where people are staying home and become suspicious once they catch a single flu symptom.
How OPI bridged the language gap in remote medical communication?
These remote communications go smoothly when both ends are speaking the same language, but what if they do not! What if a foreign patient or patient’s family is in need of medical advice and can not get it because the doctor speaks a different language? How would a doctor and a patient who do not share any common language communicate with each other over the phone in an emergency case? The simple answer to these questions is over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) services.
OPI is a remote language solution developed by the language service providers with the purpose of facilitating telephone communication between foreign speakers across various industries. When the physical presence of a professional interpreter is hard or when communications are done remotely, the need becomes imperative for an over-the-phone interpreter who simply joins a conference call and interprets the words instantaneously.
For the past few years, OPI was widely used in the medical sphere, but the outbreak of the current pandemic spotlighted the critical importance of such a helpful language service. More medical conversations are now taking place over the phone and the OPI solutions are much in demand. The OPI and video-remote interpreting (VRI) market value in the US only was estimated at USD 1.2 billion in 2019, according to Statista .
How it works!
Whether it is a pre-scheduled appointment or an urgent call, it all begins with a call to a trustworthy language vendor in your country and requesting the language pair you want. You then receive a call from a highly qualified medical interpreter who joins the phone conversation and introduces both ends to each other in their native languages. The call then proceeds along with real-time interpretation.
It is fair to say that OPI services have rendered a phone conversation on symptoms or drug prescriptions between a patient and a medical practitioner who speak different languages possible. However, choosing the right service provider is of extreme importance as only experienced and well-trained interpreters, who are fully aware of the medical jargon, can handle phone medical conversations instantaneously and accurately.
It is your responsibility to stay safe
Amid the world’s current frightening scene, it is everyone’s responsibility to stay safe until the world gets back to normal. OPI is one of the language industry’s contributions to the global struggle against the spread of the malicious virus. Stay home, keep away from people, sanitize your hands regularly, use masks, and make sure to get instant medical advice whenever you feel symptoms like fever or respiratory illness such as shortness of breath or dry cough.
If you can not communicate effectively or fully understand your medical advisor, do not hesitate to contact a reliable translation company and ask for professional medical OPI services. On the other hand, if you are a doctor who does not understand your patient’s language, OPI services will help you get a full grasp of the case, diagnose it better, and prescribe the right medicine.
We are all in this together, and we all have a lot to do to help humanity! Please, stay safe!


consciouslifenews--2020-07-16--Things To Keep In Mind When Creating YouTube Video Intro For Your Business

There are more than 500 videos uploaded every day on YouTube .
It is estimated that approximately 100 countries and 70 languages collectively are watching YouTube videos on a daily basis .
If you are thinking to launch your own YouTube videos there are two possibilities for you : • There are ample opportunities for you to create YouTube Videos .
• There is a lot of competition as well .
Video marketing is one of the most effective marketing mediums to bring in sure-shot results .
In today ’ s date , people will always prefer to watch videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been proved that YouTube videos can help bring desired awareness to the brand and reach out to the maximum people globally , which is beneficial from a business perspective .
Engaging , interesting , and rich in content YouTube videos can help attract a lot of viewers .
Why Your Business Needs YouTube Intros ?
If you think that by making a bunch of videos on YouTube , you will build your brand , that ’ s a partial truth .
Creating an engaging YouTube intro video is like a logo to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand hence it is important to make a couple of these introduction videos that tell the story of your business .
But the challenge lies in the duration of these intro videos as it shouldn ’ t belong to more than 5-7 seconds .
Intro videos are important as they let your audience know about your business brand .
The video will quickly provide your audience with an understanding of what to expect from the forthcoming videos .
It helps you to gain consistent followers , ensuring a steady fan base for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of professionalism that you have made an effort to create a separate video for introducing your brand .
This itself conveys a lot to your target audience , portraying a positive image .
• The video will work its way to reinforce your brand , increasing your presence on YouTube .
• It helps in creating a clear and constructive image of your brand , and your viewers know what to expect from the videos .
• The video can be used as a narration source for Vlogs , for any formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a simple 5-7 seconds short video where you can talk about your brand features , have some music and animation , or can hire a media agency to give a professional look .
You can make multiple videos conveying different stories of your brand , adding some exciting content to it .
Things To Keep In Mind While Creating Intro Videos for Youtube If you can engage your viewers in your intro videos , chances are they are going to watch videos made on your products and services .
In this cut-throat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective marketing technique to gain your business awareness .
There are many video intro makers that you can use to derive the desired outcome for your brand .
Here are the reasons why your brand needs intro video : Defining a purpose for your intro video will help you develop something relevant and fitting to your channel .
It will help strengthen the bond with your audience .
Having an intro video also demonstrates the dedication towards your business .
It is effortless to go overboard with the video visuals since you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Less is more is the mantra when you create your intro video .
Create a video that develops a visual interest in your viewers .
Ideally , the right duration is 3-8 seconds .
If your brand already has a soundtrack , it is always advisable to use that one .
Your viewers will be able to relate immediately to the video content .
The second option is to have it done professionally .
If you have a restaurant vlog , it will look good if you have different music for every video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uniformity .
Ensure that the visuals you are using are of good quality .
A bad image will tarnish your brand .
Eventually , you will lose your viewers .
Having a high-definition visual will convey your professionalism , portraying the fact that you are serious about your brand .
The video content should be interesting , engaging , and unique .
You will only get a few seconds to capture the attention of the audience ; hence it is essential that you have the right mix of content to impress them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ note that it can leave a good impression on your viewers .
It also acts as a “ Call to action ” to know more about your products and services .
Keep it going .
If you are hiring an agency to do the work , keep that route , and if you are doing it yourself , take help of online tools to ensure that your creativity remains optimum .
You must stick with the pattern and theme that you have fit your video intro .
Make sure that you remain consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are sharing after the intro video .
If you are a beginner , there are several online video editor tools available online through which you can make flawless intro videos .
Research well ; before you make one .
Create an engaging and exciting video that attracts a good fan base .
Make sure you remain consistent as maintaining quality is a great way to establish your brand and have a growing audience .

There are more than 500 videos uploaded every day on YouTube. It is estimated that approximately 100 countries and 70 languages collectively are watching YouTube videos on a daily basis. If you are thinking to launch your own YouTube videos there are two possibilities for you:
There are ample opportunities for you to create YouTube Videos.
There is a lot of competition as well.
Video marketing is one of the most effective marketing mediums to bring in sure-shot results. In today’s date, people will always prefer to watch videos over reading material. Also, it has been proved that YouTube videos can help bring desired awareness to the brand and reach out to the maximum people globally, which is beneficial from a business perspective. Engaging, interesting, and rich in content YouTube videos can help attract a lot of viewers.
Why Your Business Needs YouTube Intros?
If you think that by making a bunch of videos on YouTube, you will build your brand, that’s a partial truth. Creating an engaging YouTube intro video is like a logo to your business. It speaks about your brand hence it is important to make a couple of these introduction videos that tell the story of your business. But the challenge lies in the duration of these intro videos as it shouldn’t belong to more than 5-7 seconds.
Significance Of Making Intro Videos
Intro videos are important as they let your audience know about your business brand. The video will quickly provide your audience with an understanding of what to expect from the forthcoming videos. It helps you to gain consistent followers, ensuring a steady fan base for your channel. How to buy YouTube views that are real by VentureBeat.
Advantages of making intro videos are:
It conveys a higher level of professionalism that you have made an effort to create a separate video for introducing your brand. This itself conveys a lot to your target audience, portraying a positive image.
The video will work its way to reinforce your brand, increasing your presence on YouTube.
It helps in creating a clear and constructive image of your brand, and your viewers know what to expect from the videos.
The video can be used as a narration source for Vlogs, for any formal events, etc.
It should be a simple 5-7 seconds short video where you can talk about your brand features, have some music and animation, or can hire a media agency to give a professional look. You can make multiple videos conveying different stories of your brand, adding some exciting content to it.
Things To Keep In Mind While Creating Intro Videos for Youtube
If you can engage your viewers in your intro videos, chances are they are going to watch videos made on your products and services. In this cut-throat competition, YouTube marketing can be an effective marketing technique to gain your business awareness. There are many video intro makers that you can use to derive the desired outcome for your brand. Here are the reasons why your brand needs intro video:
Purpose
Defining a purpose for your intro video will help you develop something relevant and fitting to your channel. It will help strengthen the bond with your audience. Having an intro video also demonstrates the dedication towards your business.
Video duration
It is effortless to go overboard with the video visuals since you want to stuff everything all at once. Less is more is the mantra when you create your intro video. Create a video that develops a visual interest in your viewers. Ideally, the right duration is 3-8 seconds.
Music
If your brand already has a soundtrack, it is always advisable to use that one. Your viewers will be able to relate immediately to the video content. The second option is to have it done professionally. If you have a restaurant vlog, it will look good if you have different music for every video and a tutorial theme video will require uniformity.
Visuals
Ensure that the visuals you are using are of good quality. A bad image will tarnish your brand. Eventually, you will lose your viewers. Having a high-definition visual will convey your professionalism, portraying the fact that you are serious about your brand.
Unique and engaging
The video content should be interesting, engaging, and unique. You will only get a few seconds to capture the attention of the audience; hence it is essential that you have the right mix of content to impress them.
Impressive closing
End your intro video on an important note that it can leave a good impression on your viewers. It also acts as a “Call to action” to know more about your products and services.
Keep it consistent
Keep it going. If you are hiring an agency to do the work, keep that route, and if you are doing it yourself, take help of online tools to ensure that your creativity remains optimum. You must stick with the pattern and theme that you have fit your video intro. Make sure that you remain consistent with the quality of the main videos you are sharing after the intro video.
Final Thoughts
If you are a beginner, there are several online video editor tools available online through which you can make flawless intro videos. Research well; before you make one. Create an engaging and exciting video that attracts a good fan base. Make sure you remain consistent as maintaining quality is a great way to establish your brand and have a growing audience. Know more about such tools.