thoughtcatalog--2020-09-11--30 Game Show Secrets That Prove Reality TV Is A Lie

1 .
I auditioned for X-Factor .
You don ’ t go to the celebrity judges first you go in front of some ‘ off camera ’ judges .
So every terrible and horrible singer you see on the show has already been told they are better than the many talented ones not deemed ‘ tv worthy ’ which makes it a lot more disgusting to me .
2 .
They let the other girl in the Showcase Showdown ( Price is Right ) rebid after the audience booed her original bid ( something silly low like $ 10,000 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her original bid and showed only her second , winning bid .
I lost to her .
3 .
Was on a MTV game show called Fist of Zen on MTV .
Basically a group of people subjected to painful and nauseating tasks for cash .
We won every round but the producer asked us to purposefully ‘ fail ’ one to change things up .
Despite losing one round we were still paid the full prize money .
4 .
I was a contestant on the Price is Right .
They don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They interview everyone in the audience for about 30 seconds earlier in the day and decide who to pick based off that .
5 .
I was on Cash Cab .
You can ’ t just hail a cab in New York which turns out to be the Cash Cab .
There is a vetting process , but you don ’ t know you are going to be on the show so the reaction is genuine .
Also , there is a lot of awkward silence time while he is listening to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cameraman riding shotgun unseen on TV .
The money he gives is prop money for TV .
They mail you a check after the show airs .
Ben Bailey was genuinely a nice guy .
6 .
My teacher was on Wheel of Fortune Australia and he won a lifetime supply of WD40 .
It turns out with average usage a can of WD40 lasts twenty years , so a lifetime ’ s supply is four cans .
7 .
Was in the audience at a Food Network taping and Iron Chef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s not fudged .
The judging on the other hand takes foreeeeever .
8 .
My wife got a tattoo on a tattoo competition show .
They gave her headphones to wear while she was being tattooed , but she wasn ’ t allowed to actually plug them in and listen to music .
Pure product placement .
Other than that it was a really good experience !
Producers worked with her for several weeks leading up to and made sure she got a tattoo subject and style that she wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle school who won full carpeting for a house on the Price is Right when he was in grad school .
He did not own a home in grad school .
He also said you could see which games were coming up in line off on the side , and literally everyone was trying to hold out winning the first game for Plinko .
10 .
I ’ m a film carpenter and I worked on Big Brother .
The ‘ house ’ is actually inside of a huge warehouse .
I found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contestant to the games room , they put a black bag over their head and you ’ re not allowed to talk to them .
Also the camera alleys mean that anyone working on the show can just wander behind the walls and watch the contestants in any room .
I will never understand why people apply to be on that show .
It looks stressful af !
11 .
I was a judge in a segment on something called Beauty and the Geek many years back .
Not knowing much about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kinda surprised to see almost every take on the show done repeatedly , over and over until the producers/director were satisfied with the final product .
Kinda burst the balloon for me , thinking reality television was spontaneous and unedited for the most part .
12 .
I was on Pointless in the UK .
If you ’ re the first couple to answer and haven ’ t thought of anything , they just give you longer by doing some chatting with the other contestants .
Alex and Richard were incredibly friendly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve ever seen .
13 .
Alex Trebek is just as no bullshit and likable as he appears on TV .
During commercial breaks he took questions and told stories .
Communicating and joking with the audience the whole time .
14 .
I was part of the ‘ paid ’ audience for American Ninja Warrior .
I was actually with a vegetarian group that collected the money earned for charity , so that was cool .
What wasn ’ t cool was getting downtown at midnight , for there to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-hour delay .
We were only allowed to wear certain colors , no logos , and yeah they did take the audience cheering/booing to edit in later , which was honestly a good thing because at around 3 am , most of the audience started leaving .
The stands were empty so they had us moving down the course as they filmed to make it look more full .
I got to meet a couple of the warriors , we all were on tv , and we nabbed a sign from the set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My uncle ’ s friend went on Big Brother this year and was a COMPLETELY different person .
They made him the villain of the show which is completely different to him in real life .
IRL he ’ s actually a really nice footy bloke .
16 .
I was on Slime Time Live because my family visited Universal Studios Florida , including the old school Nickelodeon Studios building .
They gave my sister and me an entire change of clothes , including boxer shorts ( I ’ m a girl too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminated the first round so they took us back to get dressed in our regular clothes .
Then we got to sit in the audience for the rest of the show .
My family took 2 weeks off of school in order to make that Florida trip .
I realized that Slime Time Live only filmed on weekdays , and not during summer , so 12-year-old me came to the conclusion that you had to be playing hooky in order to get on the show .
– You ’ re waiting about half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They will film either a heat or all the finals in a single day , if you were lucky ( like I was ) you ’ d see all the most popular robots fighting it out in the finals .
– The bit where the lights go out and all focus is on the arena , after the big scary voice says ‘ Roboteers , Standby , ’ there is a pause that could be anything from 10 to 30 seconds in which the entire building is silent , you can hear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countdown and I shit you not it is one of the coolest , most intense things I ’ ve ever sat through .
18 .
Not really a game show but I was an audience member with my class for America ’ s Funniest Videos .
They literally had empty plates/cups at some tables and a light up sign telling us when to laugh .
Sometimes they would even move audience members depending on how well they laughed .
This field trip was for our school drama club .
19 .
Not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Steve Harvey show .
Holy crap is he a shallow and fragile individual .
We were told we could ask him questions between takes if he was in a good enough mood – which he would only be in if we reacted well during takes .
We also were not allowed to ask him any questions about his teeth or mustache .
He also said that his lifelong dream was always to just be on television and that ’ s it .
20 .
I was in the audience of a game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interact with us at all .
Instead , to keep the audience spirits up they had this guy joke around with the audience between shows ( I think it was 5 shows in one day or something ) .
He was funnier than the host , actually .
21 .
Not exactly a game show , but Conan plays awesome indie/alt rock during commercials and the preshow .
22 .
I was in the audience at the Price is Right .
You wait like 4+ hours just to get into the taping .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ short interview to see if you are a good prospect to make it to contestant row .
I was with a group of 4 and none of us made it .
The studio audience is significantly smaller than it appears on TV .
Drew Carey told jokes between filming .
The set is tiny .
The wheel is tiny .
No secrets to reveal except that they must use some serious lenses and angles to make it appear bigger .
It was a long day but it was a cool experience .
23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to a Jerry Springer taping .
This was about 12 years ago when it was still in Chicago .
It ’ s faker than I thought but far more entertaining than seeing the occasional episode on TV .
The guests are small-time actors trying to get screen time in .
Most of what ’ s filmed is never used and you also get tired from nonstop clapping .
However , during breaks they show live marionette sex scenes and also give beads to women if they go topless .
( These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also encouraged to antagonize the actors on stage with one-liners .
10/10 would never go back but it was fun .
24 .
In Deal or No Deal only the interesting people get picked , if you are outgoing and excited you ’ ve got a high chance of being selected .
25 .
There ’ s an indicator that tells you when you can chime in with your clicker when responding to a trivia question/clue ; if you try to ring in before it lights up , you are ‘ locked out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long enough for another contestant to ring in .
In Jeopardy the indicator is a set of lights on the perimeter of the big board ; in Win Ben Stein ’ s Money , it was literally a lamp on a lampstand sans a lampshade .
Viewers never see it because the shot is of something else ( e.g .
the contestants or a closer shot of the game board ) .
I was on WBSM in 2002 ( became the episode ’ s champion but couldn ’ t beat Ben in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 ( led at the end of Double Jeopardy but the competition was tough , bet big on Final Jeopardy but blanked , losing and coming in third ) .
For Jeopardy , they tape five episodes ( a week ’ s worth ) a day , two days a week ( the same crew works on Wheel of Fortune , which is literally next door ) .
Twelve contestants show up for the taping day : the returning champion from the previous week , enough challengers to fill in the first four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ episode , and two ‘ alternates ’ in case something happens ; the alternates tend to be locals from the LA area in case they have to come back later .
Before the final taping , if the two alternates haven ’ t gotten to appear , one of them is randomly chosen to be the second challenger on the Friday show ; the one who isn ’ t chosen is invited to come back on a future taping date , but then with a guaranteed slot as a challenger .
Selections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ random , in order to stay fair .
During the episodes ’ taping , the rest of the ‘ week ’ s ’ contestants sit in the front few rows way to the right of the audience , and thus won ’ t appear in audience reaction shots .
In the middle of the day ( after the third taping ) , the remaining contestants are sequestered and treated to lunch at the studio commissary ; if you ’ re done playing , you ’ re expected to leave/go home .
26 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to family game show with my uncle .
The theme of the show was animal life , so it featured interviews , musical performances , etc .
in between the questions we had to answer .
None of that was shot in the order you see on TV .
We shot questions and answers all in one go .
Everything else had already been shot before and they used sound effects to make you think it was sequential .
27 .
I was on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day for 30 minutes of filming .
When you win the intro round , you are taken out to get your make up on , and then they instruct you how to act when you celebrate .
The reason the audience is so completely useless ( and why you see so many press wrong on obvious answers ) is because 20-30 % of the audience is friends and family to the other seven contestants who are waiting for their turn .
We spent two days in the studio , and if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their chance .
If one contestant goes far and takes a lot of time , no one else gets a chance , so the audience tells the wrong answer on purpose .
28 .
They tell the audience to clap and cheer and they film that to edit it in during appropriate events .
If we didn ’ t cheer or clap loud enough , they had us retake it .
The same goes for grimaces/negative reactions and shock/surprise .
29 .
I was on Wheel of Fortune .
You have to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straws with other contestants to decide when you will film .
They film the entire week ’ s worth of episodes in one day .
Pat Sajak is incredibly friendly and interacted with us on every break .
The wheel is HEAVY .
30 .
A work colleague of mine was one of the couples in Married at First Sight .
She had a horrible experience , needed counseling afterwards , and is still receiving an ‘ appearance fee ’ ( read hush money ) even though her season aired like 5 years @ @

Ask Reddit has the dirt on all your favorite game shows.
1. I auditioned for X-Factor. You don’t go to the celebrity judges first you go in front of some ‘off camera’ judges.
So every terrible and horrible singer you see on the show has already been told they are better than the many talented ones not deemed ‘tv worthy’ which makes it a lot more disgusting to me.
2. They let the other girl in the Showcase Showdown (Price is Right) rebid after the audience booed her original bid (something silly low like $10,000). When it aired, they cut her original bid and showed only her second, winning bid. I lost to her.
3. Was on a MTV game show called Fist of Zen on MTV. Basically a group of people subjected to painful and nauseating tasks for cash. We won every round but the producer asked us to purposefully ‘fail’ one to change things up. Despite losing one round we were still paid the full prize money.
4. I was a contestant on the Price is Right. They don’t choose people at random. They interview everyone in the audience for about 30 seconds earlier in the day and decide who to pick based off that.
5. I was on Cash Cab. You can’t just hail a cab in New York which turns out to be the Cash Cab. There is a vetting process, but you don’t know you are going to be on the show so the reaction is genuine. Also, there is a lot of awkward silence time while he is listening to the producer in his ear. There is a cameraman riding shotgun unseen on TV. The money he gives is prop money for TV. They mail you a check after the show airs. Ben Bailey was genuinely a nice guy.
6. My teacher was on Wheel of Fortune Australia and he won a lifetime supply of WD40. It turns out with average usage a can of WD40 lasts twenty years, so a lifetime’s supply is four cans.
7. Was in the audience at a Food Network taping and Iron Chef America really is a 60-minute competition. That’s not fudged. The judging on the other hand takes foreeeeever.
8. My wife got a tattoo on a tattoo competition show. They gave her headphones to wear while she was being tattooed, but she wasn’t allowed to actually plug them in and listen to music. Pure product placement.
Other than that it was a really good experience! Producers worked with her for several weeks leading up to and made sure she got a tattoo subject and style that she wanted.
9. Had a teacher in middle school who won full carpeting for a house on the Price is Right when he was in grad school. He did not own a home in grad school.
He also said you could see which games were coming up in line off on the side, and literally everyone was trying to hold out winning the first game for Plinko.
10. I’m a film carpenter and I worked on Big Brother. The ‘house’ is actually inside of a huge warehouse. I found it kinda creepy that when they lead a contestant to the games room, they put a black bag over their head and you’re not allowed to talk to them. Also the camera alleys mean that anyone working on the show can just wander behind the walls and watch the contestants in any room. I will never understand why people apply to be on that show. It looks stressful af!
11. I was a judge in a segment on something called Beauty and the Geek many years back.
Not knowing much about how reality shows work, I was kinda surprised to see almost every take on the show done repeatedly, over and over until the producers/director were satisfied with the final product.
Kinda burst the balloon for me, thinking reality television was spontaneous and unedited for the most part.
12. I was on Pointless in the UK. If you’re the first couple to answer and haven’t thought of anything, they just give you longer by doing some chatting with the other contestants.
Alex and Richard were incredibly friendly, and Richard has the biggest hands I’ve ever seen.
13. Alex Trebek is just as no bullshit and likable as he appears on TV. During commercial breaks he took questions and told stories. Communicating and joking with the audience the whole time.
14. I was part of the ‘paid’ audience for American Ninja Warrior. I was actually with a vegetarian group that collected the money earned for charity, so that was cool.
What wasn’t cool was getting downtown at midnight, for there to be hundreds of bats flying around and a two-hour delay.
We were only allowed to wear certain colors, no logos, and yeah they did take the audience cheering/booing to edit in later, which was honestly a good thing because at around 3 am, most of the audience started leaving. The stands were empty so they had us moving down the course as they filmed to make it look more full.
I got to meet a couple of the warriors, we all were on tv, and we nabbed a sign from the set. Overall was fun.
15. My uncle’s friend went on Big Brother this year and was a COMPLETELY different person. They made him the villain of the show which is completely different to him in real life. IRL he’s actually a really nice footy bloke.
16. I was on Slime Time Live because my family visited Universal Studios Florida, including the old school Nickelodeon Studios building. They gave my sister and me an entire change of clothes, including boxer shorts (I’m a girl too) and watershoes.
Our team was eliminated the first round so they took us back to get dressed in our regular clothes. Then we got to sit in the audience for the rest of the show.
My family took 2 weeks off of school in order to make that Florida trip. I realized that Slime Time Live only filmed on weekdays, and not during summer, so 12-year-old me came to the conclusion that you had to be playing hooky in order to get on the show.
17. Robot Wars:
– You’re waiting about half an hour between each battle.
– They will film either a heat or all the finals in a single day, if you were lucky (like I was) you’d see all the most popular robots fighting it out in the finals.
– The bit where the lights go out and all focus is on the arena, after the big scary voice says ‘Roboteers, Standby,’ there is a pause that could be anything from 10 to 30 seconds in which the entire building is silent, you can hear a pin drop. Then you get the countdown and I shit you not it is one of the coolest, most intense things I’ve ever sat through.
18. Not really a game show but I was an audience member with my class for America’s Funniest Videos. They literally had empty plates/cups at some tables and a light up sign telling us when to laugh.
Sometimes they would even move audience members depending on how well they laughed. This field trip was for our school drama club.
19. Not a gameshow but was in the audience for the Steve Harvey show. Holy crap is he a shallow and fragile individual. We were told we could ask him questions between takes if he was in a good enough mood – which he would only be in if we reacted well during takes. We also were not allowed to ask him any questions about his teeth or mustache. He also said that his lifelong dream was always to just be on television and that’s it.
20. I was in the audience of a game show and the host didn’t interact with us at all. Instead, to keep the audience spirits up they had this guy joke around with the audience between shows (I think it was 5 shows in one day or something). He was funnier than the host, actually.
21. Not exactly a game show, but Conan plays awesome indie/alt rock during commercials and the preshow.
22. I was in the audience at the Price is Right. You wait like 4+ hours just to get into the taping. They come by and give you a short interview to see if you are a good prospect to make it to contestant row. I was with a group of 4 and none of us made it. The studio audience is significantly smaller than it appears on TV. Drew Carey told jokes between filming. The set is tiny. The wheel is tiny. No secrets to reveal except that they must use some serious lenses and angles to make it appear bigger. It was a long day but it was a cool experience.
23. For my 19th birthday, we went to a Jerry Springer taping. This was about 12 years ago when it was still in Chicago. It’s faker than I thought but far more entertaining than seeing the occasional episode on TV. The guests are small-time actors trying to get screen time in. Most of what’s filmed is never used and you also get tired from nonstop clapping. However, during breaks they show live marionette sex scenes and also give beads to women if they go topless. (These are audience members). You’re also encouraged to antagonize the actors on stage with one-liners. 10/10 would never go back but it was fun.
24. In Deal or No Deal only the interesting people get picked, if you are outgoing and excited you’ve got a high chance of being selected.
25. There’s an indicator that tells you when you can chime in with your clicker when responding to a trivia question/clue; if you try to ring in before it lights up, you are ‘locked out’ for a few seconds, perhaps long enough for another contestant to ring in.
In Jeopardy the indicator is a set of lights on the perimeter of the big board; in Win Ben Stein’s Money, it was literally a lamp on a lampstand sans a lampshade.
Viewers never see it because the shot is of something else (e.g. the contestants or a closer shot of the game board).
I was on WBSM in 2002 (became the episode’s champion but couldn’t beat Ben in the bonus round), and Jeopardy in 2013 (led at the end of Double Jeopardy but the competition was tough, bet big on Final Jeopardy but blanked, losing and coming in third).
For Jeopardy, they tape five episodes (a week’s worth) a day, two days a week (the same crew works on Wheel of Fortune, which is literally next door). Twelve contestants show up for the taping day: the returning champion from the previous week, enough challengers to fill in the first four episodes, another challenger for the Friday episode, and two ‘alternates’ in case something happens; the alternates tend to be locals from the LA area in case they have to come back later. Before the final taping, if the two alternates haven’t gotten to appear, one of them is randomly chosen to be the second challenger on the Friday show; the one who isn’t chosen is invited to come back on a future taping date, but then with a guaranteed slot as a challenger. Selections of challengers and even sets of clues are random, in order to stay fair.
During the episodes’ taping, the rest of the ‘week’s’ contestants sit in the front few rows way to the right of the audience, and thus won’t appear in audience reaction shots. In the middle of the day (after the third taping), the remaining contestants are sequestered and treated to lunch at the studio commissary; if you’re done playing, you’re expected to leave/go home.
26. When I was a kid I went to family game show with my uncle. The theme of the show was animal life, so it featured interviews, musical performances, etc. in between the questions we had to answer.
None of that was shot in the order you see on TV. We shot questions and answers all in one go. Everything else had already been shot before and they used sound effects to make you think it was sequential.
27. I was on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, and its all scripted. The filming took half a day for 30 minutes of filming. When you win the intro round, you are taken out to get your make up on, and then they instruct you how to act when you celebrate.
The reason the audience is so completely useless (and why you see so many press wrong on obvious answers) is because 20-30% of the audience is friends and family to the other seven contestants who are waiting for their turn. We spent two days in the studio, and if the initial contestant loses, the others get their chance. If one contestant goes far and takes a lot of time, no one else gets a chance, so the audience tells the wrong answer on purpose.
28. They tell the audience to clap and cheer and they film that to edit it in during appropriate events. If we didn’t cheer or clap loud enough, they had us retake it. The same goes for grimaces/negative reactions and shock/surprise.
29. I was on Wheel of Fortune. You have to get there at 5 AM where you draw straws with other contestants to decide when you will film. They film the entire week’s worth of episodes in one day. Pat Sajak is incredibly friendly and interacted with us on every break. The wheel is HEAVY.
30. A work colleague of mine was one of the couples in Married at First Sight.
She had a horrible experience, needed counseling afterwards, and is still receiving an ‘appearance fee’ (read hush money) even though her season aired like 5 years ago.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-11--The Best Horror To Binge This Weekend (9/11)

Here ’ s the best of what ’ s streaming this weekend : The Babysitter : Killer Queen — This is the sequel to 2017 Netflix original The Babysitter .
It was a modern camp classic about a boy ( Cole ) with a crush on his babysitter… who turns out to be a cold-hearted Satanic killer .
You know , normal high school stuff .
Equally funny and scary , Killer Queen follows up with Cole two years after the first film ends .
It looks like fun !
Sorority Secrets — If you ’ re unsure about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to the single best movie synopsis I ’ ve ever read in my life .
From Hulu ’ s site : “ A college student finds herself in grave danger after joining an elite sorority that doubles as an escort service.
” This is just a *chef ’ s kiss* of a movie idea and I ’ m thrilled we all get to watch it from our quarantines .
Nesting Dolls — I decided to just go with a spur of the moment femme theme this week and do another sorority movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty sick .
In Nesting Dolls three sorority sisters vacation together for a week at a cabin when “ catastrophe strikes ” and they are forced to work against each other for survival .
The top rated review on Amazon says “ shocking , disturbing , and powerful ” and also “ this film shook me.
” — We rated all the Final Girls .
–It ’ s all happening !
!
!
Neve Campbell has confirmed she will return for Scream 5 , set to release 1.14.22 .
Try this deep dive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you over .
— Was alerted to this extremely frightening true crime story from a few years ago that I learned happened to the brother of a friend of a friend : ( .
I guess it ’ s a lesson to stay away from strangers .
I ’ m going to mention that there are only 49 days until Halloween so we end on a good note .
Happy horror watching and stay spooky !

Hi Creepy Catalogers,
Here’s the best of what’s streaming this weekend:
Streaming on Netflix:
The Babysitter: Killer Queen — This is the sequel to 2017 Netflix original The Babysitter. It was a modern camp classic about a boy (Cole) with a crush on his babysitter… who turns out to be a cold-hearted Satanic killer. You know, normal high school stuff. Equally funny and scary, Killer Queen follows up with Cole two years after the first film ends. It looks like fun!
Streaming on Hulu:
Sorority Secrets — If you’re unsure about this pick, please allow me to introduce you to the single best movie synopsis I’ve ever read in my life. From Hulu’s site: “A college student finds herself in grave danger after joining an elite sorority that doubles as an escort service.” This is just a *chef’s kiss* of a movie idea and I’m thrilled we all get to watch it from our quarantines.
Streaming on Prime:
Nesting Dolls — I decided to just go with a spur of the moment femme theme this week and do another sorority movie because this is new to Prime and pretty sick. In Nesting Dolls three sorority sisters vacation together for a week at a cabin when “catastrophe strikes” and they are forced to work against each other for survival. The top rated review on Amazon says “shocking, disturbing, and powerful” and also “this film shook me.”
This week’s Horror Happenings
— We rated all the Final Girls.
–It’s all happening!!! Neve Campbell has confirmed she will return for Scream 5, set to release 1.14.22. Try this deep dive into little known Scream facts to tide you over.
— Was alerted to this extremely frightening true crime story from a few years ago that I learned happened to the brother of a friend of a friend :( . I guess it’s a lesson to stay away from strangers.
I’m going to mention that there are only 49 days until Halloween so we end on a good note. Happy horror watching and stay spooky!


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-11--Chakra Basics: The 7 Chakras, What They Represent, and How to Unblock Them [2020]

The Chakra system originated between 1500 and 500 BC in India .
It was passed down through oral tradition and is still widely used in the modern century .
Chakra ( Sanskrit cakra ) means wheel in Sanskrit .
It refers to the energy center of the body .
When chakras are open , energy can run through them freely .
This creates harmony between the mind , body , and spirit .
However , when they are blocked or out of balance , it can cause anger , frustration , and sadness .
There are seven main chakras that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are also minor chakras that exist in the palms of hands and soles of feet .
Each chakra point can be unlocked in a variety of ways and can cause specific problems when they are blocked .
Here are the main seven chakras that work as the energy center of the body : The root chakra , known as Muladhara or the first chakra , is located at the base of the spine .
It oversees money and financial independence .
When it is blocked , a person will feel unsure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is open , they will feel grounded .
The sacral chakra , known as Swadhisthana , the second chakra , or the navel chakra , is located two inches below the navel .
When it is blocked , a person will feel like they are losing control of their life .
However , when it is open , they will feel fulfilled creatively , sexually , and emotionally .
The solar plexus chakra , also known as Manipura chakra or the third chakra , is located in the upper abdomen .
When it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ashamed and plagued by doubts .
However , when it is open , they will feel confident and in complete control of their life .
The heart chakra , also known as Anahata chakra or the fourth chakra , is located above the heart .
This is the bridge between the upper chakras and the lower chakras .
When it is blocked , a person will have trouble letting their walls down and opening up to others .
However , when it is open , they will be deeply compassionate and empathetic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vishuddha or the fifth chakra , is located in the throat .
When it is blocked , a person will struggle to use their voice and express their feelings .
However , when it is open , they will speak their truth with excellent communication skills .
The third eye chakra , also known as Ajna chakra or the sixth chakra , is located directly between the eyes .
When it is blocked , a person will only view a situation based on the surface level .
This chakra is associated with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause headaches and hormone imbalances .
However , when it is open , they will be highly intuitive .
They might even see visions .
The crown chakra , also known as Sahasrara chakra or the seventh chakra , is located at the top of the head .
It is associated with the pineal gland , which is in the middle of the brain .
This is a spiritual chakra , and when it is open , a person will be able to access higher consciousness .
However , this is extremely rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chakra , is red .
The 2nd chakra , the sacral chakra , is orange .
The 4th chakra , the heart chakra , is green .
The 5th chakra , the throat chakra , is light blue or turquoise .
The 6th chakra , the third eye chakra , is dark blue or purple .
The 7th chakra , the crown chakra , is violet or white .
The root chakra is represented by hematite , which is associated with earth .
The sacral chakra is represented by the Tiger ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water .
The solar plexus chakra is represented by Amber , which is associated with fire .
The heart chakra is represented by Rose Quartz , which is associated with air .
The throat chakra is represented by Aquamarine , which is associated with sound and music .
The third eye chakra is represented by Amethyst , which is associated with light .
The crown chakra is represented by Clear quartz , which is associated with divine consciousness .
Chakra healing works differently based on which chakra is in question .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mudra , which is another word for a gesture , will generally help .
To get a bit more specific , here are a few different methods of healing based on which chakra needs unblocking : To open a blocked root chakra , use meditation to envision the color red , which is the color associated with this chakra .
Performing a traditional asana pose , like the tree pose , can also cleanse the root chakra .
To open a blocked sacral chakra , eat more orange foods , such as sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doing a yoga pose , dancing , and doing hip-opening stretches can also be helpful .
To open a blocked solar plexus chakra , practice guided meditation or stand in front of the mirror and recite affirmations .
Forearm planks are also an excellent way to place the mind and physical body in harmony .
To open a blocked heart chakra , pay close attention to posture .
Straighten the spine and drop the shoulders .
Volunteering , meditation , yoga practice , and visualization can also help .
To open a blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cat-cow pose .
Simply get on all fours , drop the belly , and arch the spine .
Singing and repeating positive mantras can also be beneficial .
To open a blocked third eye chakra and reach a higher consciousness , try journaling about the day ’ s events .
Energy healing can also be achieved by writing down dreams .
Keep a running record of thoughts .
To open a blocked crown chakra , spend more time in nature .
Also , spend more time pondering the bigger questions in life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual .
Although there is one specific stone associated with each chakra in the chakra system , there are multiple crystals that can help open each chakra .
Simply holding these crystals or placing them against the body will cause spiritual and emotional healing .
Root chakras can be healed by hematite , black obsidian , black tourmaline , red zincite , garnet , spinel , smoky quartz , and zirconhe .
Sacral chakras can be healed by orange calcite , vanadinite , carnelian , blue-green turquoise , blue-green fluorite , copper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be healed by citrine , amber , yellow jasper , golden calcite , yellow apatite , and gold tiger eye .
Heart chakras can be healed by rose quartz , cobaltian calcite , pink danburite , lepidolite , rosasite , vesuvianite , pink tourmaline , watermelon tourmaline , green aventurine , malachite , and jade .
Throat chakras can be healed by sodalite blue calcite , blue kyanite , chrysocolla , celestite , blue chalcedony , Angelite , blue turquoise , amazonite , and aquamarine Third eye chakras can be healed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and tanzanite .
Crown chakras can be healed by amethyst , apophyllite , Herkimer diamond , quartz crystal , white hemimorphite , white calcite , white topaz , white danburite , white howlite , and selenite .

The Chakra system originated between 1500 and 500 BC in India. It was passed down through oral tradition and is still widely used in the modern century. Chakra (Sanskrit cakra) means wheel in Sanskrit. It refers to the energy center of the body. When chakras are open, energy can run through them freely. This creates harmony between the mind, body, and spirit. However, when they are blocked or out of balance, it can cause anger, frustration, and sadness.
The 7 Symbols
There are seven main chakras that make up the chakra system. However, there are also minor chakras that exist in the palms of hands and soles of feet. Each chakra point can be unlocked in a variety of ways and can cause specific problems when they are blocked.
Here are the main seven chakras that work as the energy center of the body:
The root chakra, known as Muladhara or the first chakra, is located at the base of the spine. It oversees money and financial independence. When it is blocked, a person will feel unsure and unstable. However, when it is open, they will feel grounded.
The sacral chakra, known as Swadhisthana, the second chakra, or the navel chakra, is located two inches below the navel. When it is blocked, a person will feel like they are losing control of their life. However, when it is open, they will feel fulfilled creatively, sexually, and emotionally.
The solar plexus chakra, also known as Manipura chakra or the third chakra, is located in the upper abdomen. When it is blocked, a person will feel ashamed and plagued by doubts. However, when it is open, they will feel confident and in complete control of their life.
The heart chakra, also known as Anahata chakra or the fourth chakra, is located above the heart. This is the bridge between the upper chakras and the lower chakras. When it is blocked, a person will have trouble letting their walls down and opening up to others. However, when it is open, they will be deeply compassionate and empathetic.
The throat chakra, also known as Vishuddha or the fifth chakra, is located in the throat. When it is blocked, a person will struggle to use their voice and express their feelings. However, when it is open, they will speak their truth with excellent communication skills.
The third eye chakra, also known as Ajna chakra or the sixth chakra, is located directly between the eyes. When it is blocked, a person will only view a situation based on the surface level. This chakra is associated with the pituitary gland, so it can also cause headaches and hormone imbalances. However, when it is open, they will be highly intuitive. They might even see visions.
The crown chakra, also known as Sahasrara chakra or the seventh chakra, is located at the top of the head. It is associated with the pineal gland, which is in the middle of the brain. This is a spiritual chakra, and when it is open, a person will be able to access higher consciousness. However, this is extremely rare.
Chakra Colors
The 1st chakra, the root chakra, is red.
The 2nd chakra, the sacral chakra, is orange.
The 3rd chakra, solar plexus chakra, is yellow.
The 4th chakra, the heart chakra, is green.
The 5th chakra, the throat chakra, is light blue or turquoise.
The 6th chakra, the third eye chakra, is dark blue or purple.
The 7th chakra, the crown chakra, is violet or white.
Chakra Stones
The root chakra is represented by hematite, which is associated with earth.
The sacral chakra is represented by the Tiger’s Eye stone, which is associated with water.
The solar plexus chakra is represented by Amber, which is associated with fire.
The heart chakra is represented by Rose Quartz, which is associated with air.
The throat chakra is represented by Aquamarine, which is associated with sound and music.
The third eye chakra is represented by Amethyst, which is associated with light.
The crown chakra is represented by Clear quartz, which is associated with divine consciousness.
Chakra Balancing
Chakra healing works differently based on which chakra is in question. However, overall, chakra meditation or learning a mudra, which is another word for a gesture, will generally help. To get a bit more specific, here are a few different methods of healing based on which chakra needs unblocking:
To open a blocked root chakra, use meditation to envision the color red, which is the color associated with this chakra. Performing a traditional asana pose, like the tree pose, can also cleanse the root chakra.
To open a blocked sacral chakra, eat more orange foods, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and melons. Doing a yoga pose, dancing, and doing hip-opening stretches can also be helpful.
To open a blocked solar plexus chakra, practice guided meditation or stand in front of the mirror and recite affirmations. Forearm planks are also an excellent way to place the mind and physical body in harmony.
To open a blocked heart chakra, pay close attention to posture. Straighten the spine and drop the shoulders. Volunteering, meditation, yoga practice, and visualization can also help.
To open a blocked throat chakra, practice yoga, specifically the cat-cow pose. Simply get on all fours, drop the belly, and arch the spine. Singing and repeating positive mantras can also be beneficial.
To open a blocked third eye chakra and reach a higher consciousness, try journaling about the day’s events. Energy healing can also be achieved by writing down dreams. Keep a running record of thoughts.
To open a blocked crown chakra, spend more time in nature. Also, spend more time pondering the bigger questions in life. Think of something greater than the individual.
Chakra Crystals
Although there is one specific stone associated with each chakra in the chakra system, there are multiple crystals that can help open each chakra. Simply holding these crystals or placing them against the body will cause spiritual and emotional healing.
Root chakras can be healed by hematite, black obsidian, black tourmaline, red zincite, garnet, spinel, smoky quartz, and zirconhe.
Sacral chakras can be healed by orange calcite, vanadinite, carnelian, blue-green turquoise, blue-green fluorite, copper, and imperial topaz.
Solar plexus chakras can be healed by citrine, amber, yellow jasper, golden calcite, yellow apatite, and gold tiger eye.
Heart chakras can be healed by rose quartz, cobaltian calcite, pink danburite, lepidolite, rosasite, vesuvianite, pink tourmaline, watermelon tourmaline, green aventurine, malachite, and jade.
Throat chakras can be healed by sodalite blue calcite, blue kyanite, chrysocolla, celestite, blue chalcedony, Angelite, blue turquoise, amazonite, and aquamarine
Third eye chakras can be healed by blue apatite, lapis lazuli, azurite, and tanzanite.
Crown chakras can be healed by amethyst, apophyllite, Herkimer diamond, quartz crystal, white hemimorphite, white calcite, white topaz, white danburite, white howlite, and selenite.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--What Each Zodiac Sign Could Never Give Up (In One Word)

Ari grieves the loss of her sister deeply , yet she resists visiting the island resort where traumatic memories are @ @ @ @ @ t believe it will give her a stress-free , relaxing vacation like the commercials claim @ @ @ @ @ believe it will give her closure , either .
Even though her gut warns her @ @ @ @ @ work assignment forces Ari to visit the island—and it ’ s even more dangerous than @ @ @ @ @ .
☠ This gripping tale by prolific horror novelist , Holly Riordan , will keep @ @ @ @ @ your seat !

How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--6 Types Of Relationships That Will Drain You

1 .
One-sided relationships .
You shouldn ’ t be the only one putting effort into the relationship .
Everyone is busy .
Everyone has other responsibilities .
But that ’ s not a good enough excuse to neglect you .
Someone shouldn ’ t be in a relationship with you if they aren ’ t able to give you enough attention .
They should be dedicating just as much time to you as you have been giving to them .
If you ’ re the only one putting in the work , then they ’ re the only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not fair to you .
2 .
Almost relationships .
If someone refuses to put a label on your relationship , there must be a reason they are hesitating .
You ’ re eager to take the next step with them , so why wouldn ’ t they have that same level of excitement for you ?
You should hold out for someone who is honored to tell the world about you , not someone who hides you away and procrastinates when it comes to committing to you .
You deserve better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call you their person .
3 .
Toxic relationships .
You can never win when you ’ re dealing with someone toxic .
They will find a way to turn every argument around on you .
They will make you feel guilty when you didn ’ t even do anything wrong .
Even though they are the problem in the relationship , they will make you feel like shit every chance they get .
They will never admit to their own shortcomings because they will be too busy focusing on yours .
4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t destined to end in disaster , they are still draining .
They ’ re hard on your heart .
Instead of seeing your partner in person and spending quality time together , there is always a screen in the way .
You ’ re never as close as you wish you were .
You ’ re always counting down to a future where you ’ re together instead of enjoying the moment .
There are plenty of couples who can make this arrangement work , but even the happiest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On-and-off relationships .
Breaking up with someone is usually a sign you ’ re incompatible .
It ’ s a sign you should move on .
But when you keep getting back together with someone you thought was out of your life , it ’ s hard to decide what ’ s best for your heart .
When you ’ re together , there are a lot of issues you need to work through .
And when you break up again , it ’ s hard to move on because you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up together again soon .
6 .
Untrustworthy relationships .
Once you lose trust in someone , it ’ s hard to be in a happy relationship with them .
You ’ re always going to worry about them betraying you again .
You ’ re always going to wonder whether staying with them was a mistake .
You ’ re always going to have a hard time believing the words coming out of their mouth because you know they ’ ve lied to you in the past .
You know they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You know they don ’ t actually mean it when they say they would never hurt you because they already have .

1. One-sided relationships. You shouldn’t be the only one putting effort into the relationship. Everyone is busy. Everyone has other responsibilities. But that’s not a good enough excuse to neglect you. Someone shouldn’t be in a relationship with you if they aren’t able to give you enough attention. They should be dedicating just as much time to you as you have been giving to them. If you’re the only one putting in the work, then they’re the only one getting the rewards — and that’s not fair to you.
2. Almost relationships. If someone refuses to put a label on your relationship, there must be a reason they are hesitating. You’re eager to take the next step with them, so why wouldn’t they have that same level of excitement for you? You should hold out for someone who is honored to tell the world about you, not someone who hides you away and procrastinates when it comes to committing to you. You deserve better than someone who can’t even call you their person.
3. Toxic relationships. You can never win when you’re dealing with someone toxic. They will find a way to turn every argument around on you. They will make you feel guilty when you didn’t even do anything wrong. Even though they are the problem in the relationship, they will make you feel like shit every chance they get. They will never admit to their own shortcomings because they will be too busy focusing on yours.
4. Long-distance relationships. Although long-term relationships aren’t destined to end in disaster, they are still draining. They’re hard on your heart. Instead of seeing your partner in person and spending quality time together, there is always a screen in the way. You’re never as close as you wish you were. You’re always counting down to a future where you’re together instead of enjoying the moment. There are plenty of couples who can make this arrangement work, but even the happiest of them can become drained.
5. On-and-off relationships. Breaking up with someone is usually a sign you’re incompatible. It’s a sign you should move on. But when you keep getting back together with someone you thought was out of your life, it’s hard to decide what’s best for your heart. When you’re together, there are a lot of issues you need to work through. And when you break up again, it’s hard to move on because you’re convinced you’re going to end up together again soon.
6. Untrustworthy relationships. Once you lose trust in someone, it’s hard to be in a happy relationship with them. You’re always going to worry about them betraying you again. You’re always going to wonder whether staying with them was a mistake. You’re always going to have a hard time believing the words coming out of their mouth because you know they’ve lied to you in the past. You know they’re capable of putting you through hell. You know they don’t actually mean it when they say they would never hurt you because they already have.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--30 Things You Shouldn’t Be Embarrassed About Doing In Your Twenties

1 .
Saying how you feel .
3 .
Going out for a meal on your own .
4 .
Saying no .
Being unapologetic .
6 .
Going out not caring what you look like/what you ’ re wearing .
9 .
Asking for help .
10 .
Going out without makeup .
11 .
Farting in front of your SO .
13 .
Painting/drawing and then sharing it with strangers .
14 .
Just staring into space instead of looking at your phone .
16 .
Having sex and being open about what you want with a partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends that you love them .
18 .
Not wearing a bra when you leave the house .
19 .
Admitting to not knowing something .
20 .
Standing up for yourself .
23 .
Embracing the power of the pause .
When asking someone a question , allow the silent pause after the question to build tension that compels them to answer .
The longer the silence , the more compelling the tension the more effective to get someone talking .
24 .
Emailing your professors when you have questions .
26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 .
Looking people in the eye when speaking to them .
30 .
Being yourself .
Embracing your craziness .

A few people from Ask Reddit share what they used to be embarrassed about doing — but aren’t anymore!
1. Saying how you feel.
2. Unwrapping a tampon in a public bathroom.
3. Going out for a meal on your own.
4. Saying no. Being unapologetic.
5. Embracing pink.
6. Going out not caring what you look like/what you’re wearing.
7. Buying condoms.
8. Telling the truth.
9. Asking for help.
10. Going out without makeup.
11. Farting in front of your SO.
12. Dancing!
13. Painting/drawing and then sharing it with strangers.
14. Just staring into space instead of looking at your phone.
15. Calling other adults for adult reasons.
16. Having sex and being open about what you want with a partner in bed.
17. Telling your friends that you love them.
18. Not wearing a bra when you leave the house.
19. Admitting to not knowing something.
20. Standing up for yourself.
21. Masturbating.
22. Dropping a duce in a public bathroom.
23. Embracing the power of the pause. When asking someone a question, allow the silent pause after the question to build tension that compels them to answer. The longer the silence, the more compelling the tension the more effective to get someone talking.
24. Emailing your professors when you have questions.
25. Wearing your hair naturally. In public.
26. Going to the cinema alone.
27. Looking people in the eye when speaking to them.
28. Wearing a dress.
29. Singing out loud.
30. Being yourself. Embracing your craziness.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--You Can’t Magically Make Yourself Happy

You Can’t Magically Make Yourself Happy

You can ’ t magically make yourself happy .
You can ’ t flick a switch and watch your sadness drain away .
You can ’ t force yourself to feel okay again when you are falling apart on the inside .
But what you can do is keep moving forward .
You can keep striving to better yourself and your situation .
You can push aside your fears and keep fighting , because one day , you will end up earning what you deserve .
You can ’ t magically make yourself happy , but you can set aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy .
You can ask yourself what is missing from your life .
You can reflect on what makes you happiest and what causes you the most stress .
You can decide what you need in order to feel better and then start walking a path that will get you there .
You can ’ t magically make yourself happy , but you can put energy into the things that matter the most to you .
You can devote time to a career and hobbies that spark joy .
You can get involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re part of something bigger .
You can watch shows and listen to music that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning .
You can follow your heart and see where it leads you .
You can ’ t magically make yourself happy , but you can pick and choose who you allow into your world .
You can cut ties with the toxic people surrounding you .
You can say goodbye to the people who make you feel bad about yourself , to the ‘ friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than building you up .
You can create a new social circle who is supportive and encouraging , who pushes you to reach your goals .
You can ’ t magically make yourself happy , but you can reshape your present .
You can quit a job or move to a new town or break up with an unfulfilling partner .
You can change your life in an instant .
You have the power to completely alter the course of your future .
You just have to keep reminding yourself that you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make your decisions for you .
You are in control of your own destiny .
You can ’ t magically make yourself happy , but you can spread smiles everywhere you go .
You can make your friend ’ s day by surprising them with a phone call or present .
You can shoot a quick text , reminding your parents how much you love them .
You can give compliments .
You can share laughs .
You can make someone else ’ s life brighter because their happiness might start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t magically make yourself happy , but you can choose to chase after what you want instead of settling for less .
You can refuse to lower your expectations .
You can set your sights high .
You can promise yourself that you ’ re going to keep going , no matter what is thrown at you .
You can grow to trust yourself , to love yourself , to have unflinching faith in yourself .

You can’t magically make yourself happy. You can’t flick a switch and watch your sadness drain away. You can’t force yourself to feel okay again when you are falling apart on the inside. But what you can do is keep moving forward. You can keep striving to better yourself and your situation. You can push aside your fears and keep fighting, because one day, you will end up earning what you deserve.
You can’t magically make yourself happy, but you can set aside time to discover what would make you happy. You can ask yourself what is missing from your life. You can reflect on what makes you happiest and what causes you the most stress. You can decide what you need in order to feel better and then start walking a path that will get you there.
You can’t magically make yourself happy, but you can put energy into the things that matter the most to you. You can devote time to a career and hobbies that spark joy. You can get involved in communities that make you feel like you’re part of something bigger. You can watch shows and listen to music that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning. You can follow your heart and see where it leads you.
You can’t magically make yourself happy, but you can pick and choose who you allow into your world. You can cut ties with the toxic people surrounding you. You can say goodbye to the people who make you feel bad about yourself, to the ‘friends’ who are tearing you down rather than building you up. You can create a new social circle who is supportive and encouraging, who pushes you to reach your goals.
You can’t magically make yourself happy, but you can reshape your present. You can quit a job or move to a new town or break up with an unfulfilling partner. You can change your life in an instant. You have the power to completely alter the course of your future. You just have to keep reminding yourself that you are in charge. No one else gets to make your decisions for you. You are in control of your own destiny.
You can’t magically make yourself happy, but you can spread smiles everywhere you go. You can make your friend’s day by surprising them with a phone call or present. You can shoot a quick text, reminding your parents how much you love them. You can give compliments. You can share laughs. You can make someone else’s life brighter because their happiness might start to rub off on you.
You can’t magically make yourself happy, but you can choose to chase after what you want instead of settling for less. You can refuse to lower your expectations. You can set your sights high. You can promise yourself that you’re going to keep going, no matter what is thrown at you. You can grow to trust yourself, to love yourself, to have unflinching faith in yourself.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--What Your Birth Order Says About The Way You Text

You are a horrible texter .
You always forget to answer .
You ’ ll read a message , think up a clever reply in your head , and then completely forget to respond .
Sometimes , you will go weeks without speaking to your friends without realizing you ’ ve been acting distant .
You ’ re used to being on your own , so you don ’ t feel the need to check in with others every few hours .
You ’ re okay with living life on your own .
You can go months without seeing someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t bother you in the least .
But it might bother them .
You really only text when you have a question to ask someone .
Otherwise , you ’ ll wait to tell the other person your stories when you see them face-to-face — or you will keep the information to yourself .
You don ’ t understand why people blurt out exactly what they are thinking without stopping to think through the consequences .
You like to keep your private thoughts a secret .
You don ’ t let anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse to wear your heart on your sleeve , whether you are looking someone in the eyes or speaking to them over screens .
You ’ re the expert at keeping a conversation going .
You never say goodbye first .
You never let the conversation fade away .
When a certain topic starts to feel stale , you always come up with a new idea to keep it moving .
Even if you fall asleep , you ’ ll continue where you left off the next morning .
You never run out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is so much on your mind .
You have a lot of stories to tell , a lot of jokes to make , and a lot of learning to do , which is why you love socializing .
Plus , you can ’ t stand being alone .
You hate feeling isolated .
You ’ re always texting because you don ’ t want to be by yourself .
You send large blocks of texts that can take forever to read .
Even when someone replies with a one-word answer , you will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is running through your mind .
You won ’ t leave anything out because you aren ’ t the type to keep your opinion to yourself .
Sometimes , you even prefer to use voice messages over texting because then you can ramble for as long as you would like without being interrupted .
Honestly , you don ’ t mind one-sided conversations as long as the other person is listening .
You send texts that are short and sweet because you assume the other person will understand what you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your tone , so you don ’ t shy away from being sarcastic .
Sometimes , this can get you in trouble .
The people you ’ re texting might misinterpret what you ’ re trying to say .
It doesn ’ t help that you love to use emojis , which could be interpreted in a million different ways .
While you ’ re fun to text , you ’ re also the expert at sending mixed signals .
After speaking with you , someone won ’ t know whether you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t stand their guts .

Only Child
You are a horrible texter. You always forget to answer. You’ll read a message, think up a clever reply in your head, and then completely forget to respond. Sometimes, you will go weeks without speaking to your friends without realizing you’ve been acting distant. You’re used to being on your own, so you don’t feel the need to check in with others every few hours. You’re okay with living life on your own. You can go months without seeing someone who matters to you and it won’t bother you in the least. But it might bother them.
Oldest Child
You really only text when you have a question to ask someone. Otherwise, you’ll wait to tell the other person your stories when you see them face-to-face — or you will keep the information to yourself. You don’t understand why people blurt out exactly what they are thinking without stopping to think through the consequences. You like to keep your private thoughts a secret. You don’t let anyone into your world willy nilly. You refuse to wear your heart on your sleeve, whether you are looking someone in the eyes or speaking to them over screens.
Middle Child
You’re the expert at keeping a conversation going. You never say goodbye first. You never let the conversation fade away. When a certain topic starts to feel stale, you always come up with a new idea to keep it moving. Even if you fall asleep, you’ll continue where you left off the next morning. You never run out of things to talk about because there is so much on your mind. You have a lot of stories to tell, a lot of jokes to make, and a lot of learning to do, which is why you love socializing. Plus, you can’t stand being alone. You hate feeling isolated. You’re always texting because you don’t want to be by yourself.
Youngest Child
You send large blocks of texts that can take forever to read. Even when someone replies with a one-word answer, you will give them access to every single thought that is running through your mind. You won’t leave anything out because you aren’t the type to keep your opinion to yourself. Sometimes, you even prefer to use voice messages over texting because then you can ramble for as long as you would like without being interrupted. Honestly, you don’t mind one-sided conversations as long as the other person is listening.
Twin
You send texts that are short and sweet because you assume the other person will understand what you’re saying. You assume they will understand your tone, so you don’t shy away from being sarcastic. Sometimes, this can get you in trouble. The people you’re texting might misinterpret what you’re trying to say. It doesn’t help that you love to use emojis, which could be interpreted in a million different ways. While you’re fun to text, you’re also the expert at sending mixed signals. After speaking with you, someone won’t know whether you’re interested in dating or whether you can’t stand their guts.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--When You Feel Yourself Burning Out, You’re Allowed To Slow Down

When you feel yourself burning out , you ’ re allowed to admit it .
You don ’ t have to pretend you ’ re fine and keep going about your life as usual .
You don ’ t have to worry about making other people uncomfortable with your truth .
You can be honest about your mental state .
You can come clean about what you ’ ve been going through .
There ’ s no reason to be embarrassed about your internal struggles .
Everyone goes through periods of stress — but you don ’ t have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to keep going until you collapse .
You can allow yourself to cool down .
You can step away from work for a while .
You can give yourself a well-needed rest .
When you feel yourself burning out , you ’ re allowed to say no to favors .
You ’ re allowed to turn down friends when they ask to see you .
You ’ re allowed to tell others that you don ’ t have any more room on your plate at the moment .
You shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
It ’ s not selfish to make sure you ’ re standing on solid ground .
The better you treat yourself , the more capable you ’ ll be of supporting others in the future when they ask for your help .
But for now , don ’ t let anyone guilt trip you into doing more than you ’ re comfortable doing .
Don ’ t let anyone make you feel bad about taking care of your mental health .
You deserve to treat yourself like a priority .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest .
When you feel yourself burning out , you ’ re allowed to go easy on yourself .
You ’ re allowed to stop pushing yourself .
Even though you ’ re determined to reach your goals , even though you have your heart set on pleasing everyone around you , you have to remember there are more important things than success .
Your mental health matters more .
Your sanity matters more .
Besides , you are never going to see success if you feel like you ’ re only seconds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
You will raise your chances of succeeding by putting effort into self-care .
Treat yourself .
Pamper yourself .
Respect yourself .
When you feel yourself burning out , you ’ re allowed to take a step back from the hard work you have been doing .
You ’ re allowed to take a break , to slow down , to relax .
Don ’ t feel bad about how unproductive you ’ re being .
Don ’ t assume you ’ re wasting time because you aren ’ t crossing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Resting can be productive .
Giving yourself time to recharge can be productive .
If you never give yourself a chance to unwind , if you ’ re always going going going , then you ’ re doing yourself a disservice .
After a little bit of rest , you ’ ll have a clearer mind .
You ’ ll feel better than you have in a long time .
So please , don ’ t deprive yourself of the rest you deserve .
When you feel yourself burning out , you shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t feel like a failure .
You shouldn ’ t feel like you don ’ t have enough time to relax .
You should stop , put everything else aside , and take care of yourself .

When you feel yourself burning out, you’re allowed to admit it. You don’t have to pretend you’re fine and keep going about your life as usual. You don’t have to worry about making other people uncomfortable with your truth. You can be honest about your mental state. You can come clean about what you’ve been going through. There’s no reason to be embarrassed about your internal struggles. Everyone goes through periods of stress — but you don’t have to fight through the discomfort. You don’t have to keep going until you collapse. You can allow yourself to cool down. You can step away from work for a while. You can give yourself a well-needed rest.
When you feel yourself burning out, you’re allowed to say no to favors. You’re allowed to turn down friends when they ask to see you. You’re allowed to tell others that you don’t have any more room on your plate at the moment. You shouldn’t feel bad about putting yourself first. It’s not selfish to make sure you’re standing on solid ground. The better you treat yourself, the more capable you’ll be of supporting others in the future when they ask for your help. But for now, don’t let anyone guilt trip you into doing more than you’re comfortable doing. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about taking care of your mental health. You deserve to treat yourself like a priority. You deserve to rest when you need to rest.
When you feel yourself burning out, you’re allowed to go easy on yourself. You’re allowed to stop pushing yourself. Even though you’re determined to reach your goals, even though you have your heart set on pleasing everyone around you, you have to remember there are more important things than success. Your mental health matters more. Your sanity matters more. Besides, you are never going to see success if you feel like you’re only seconds away from falling apart at any given time. You will raise your chances of succeeding by putting effort into self-care. Treat yourself. Pamper yourself. Respect yourself.
When you feel yourself burning out, you’re allowed to take a step back from the hard work you have been doing. You’re allowed to take a break, to slow down, to relax. Don’t feel bad about how unproductive you’re being. Don’t assume you’re wasting time because you aren’t crossing anything off of your to-do list. Resting can be productive. Giving yourself time to recharge can be productive. If you never give yourself a chance to unwind, if you’re always going going going, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. After a little bit of rest, you’ll have a clearer mind. You’ll feel better than you have in a long time. So please, don’t deprive yourself of the rest you deserve.
When you feel yourself burning out, you shouldn’t push yourself harder. You shouldn’t feel like a failure. You shouldn’t feel like you don’t have enough time to relax. You should stop, put everything else aside, and take care of yourself.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-14--Why Each Zodiac Sign Is Afraid Of Modern Dating

You ’ re afraid of spending so much time on someone , only to get ghosted by them .
You ’ re afraid of opening up to someone about things you ’ re insecure about and then having them walk away with all your secrets .
You ’ re afraid of admitting you have feelings for someone then finding out they don ’ t feel the same way .
You ’ re afraid of trusting the wrong person and getting into a toxic relationship .
You ’ re afraid of getting physically intimate with someone and then having them walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
You ’ re afraid of putting 100 % into a relationship and getting back nothing in return .
You ’ re afraid of opening up too fast and scaring someone away .
You ’ re afraid of wasting too much time on the wrong person without having any idea .
You ’ re afraid of being alone forever because you ’ re too scared to make a move .
You ’ re afraid of taking a risk and being vulnerable with someone , only to be stabbed in the back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your body and never finding a real , meaningful connection .
You ’ re afraid of getting into another almost relationship where things never turn official .

Aries
You’re afraid of spending so much time on someone, only to get ghosted by them.
Taurus
You’re afraid of opening up to someone about things you’re insecure about and then having them walk away with all your secrets.
Gemini
You’re afraid of admitting you have feelings for someone then finding out they don’t feel the same way.
Cancer
You’re afraid of trusting the wrong person and getting into a toxic relationship.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
You’re afraid of getting physically intimate with someone and then having them walk away after getting what they want from you.
Virgo
You’re afraid of putting 100% into a relationship and getting back nothing in return.
Libra
You’re afraid of opening up too fast and scaring someone away.
Scorpio
You’re afraid of wasting too much time on the wrong person without having any idea.
Sagittarius
You’re afraid of being alone forever because you’re too scared to make a move.
Capricorn
You’re afraid of taking a risk and being vulnerable with someone, only to be stabbed in the back.
Aquarius
You’re afraid of being used for your body and never finding a real, meaningful connection.
Pisces
You’re afraid of getting into another almost relationship where things never turn official.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-17--Read This When You’re 28 And Starting Over

I feel like I am 18 again .
Wide-eyed and faced with too many big decisions .
I am too young to decide how I want to live the rest of my life , but the world is telling me that I have to .
I do not get accepted into my first dream school .
Or my second .
I get accepted into the third one and decide that this dream has to be the one for me .
I feel like I am 18 again , entering into a world not meant for me .
Walking through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always be inferior .
Coming from a place that you have never heard of full of people that you will probably never hear of .
I feel like I am 18 again and wondering how someone so young can experience so much hurt .
How can someone who has barely even lived a life have already lived through so much ?
How can I possibly carry on when everything around me is shattering at my feet ?
I feel like I am 18 again , and everyone around me is falling in love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while you are the shining star .
I am second best , and she is always number one .
I feel like I am 18 again and searching in the mirror for just a glimpse of someone I recognize .
I can not find myself in my eyes or my cheekbones or my chin .
I can see the sleepless nights carved out in little hollows under my eyes and the stress in small red bumps covering the ever-present concern in my forehead .
I feel like I am 18 again and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there in the first place .
Ten years later and I am 28 .
Ten years later and I am exactly where I started .
Ten years later and I still can ’ t find myself anywhere .
It is like the world is at a standstill , and time has frozen , but it is somehow still propelling me backwards .
It is Iike my feet are stuck in cement while my heart is stuck in a world that will never make sense to anyone else but me .
I do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to anyone else but me .
I am waiting for the hand on the clock to move and release me from this hell we have been told is just another year .
I am falling further away from the life I started for myself 10 years ago , and there is absolutely nothing I can do to break my fall .
I am immobile , yet I am airborne .
Flailing into a new normal that even my worst nightmares could not have predicted .
And even though I am terrified , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I know that the world doesn ’ t actually stop moving when you feel like you can not .
I know that what once was can never be again .
I know that the past is the past , and no matter how hard I wish for it to come back to me , it never will .
I will never be able to go back .
You can visit .
You can reminisce .
But you can not go back to a life no longer meant for you .
You just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am 18 again and lost .
I feel like I am 18 again and terrified of leaving everything that has been my home for so long .
I feel like I am 18 again , hurdling into the unknown .
I feel like I am 18 again , and all I want is to take it all back .
But now I know at 28 that I can not take it all back .
I can not go back .
What once was will never be back .
Today , I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I feel like I am 18 again , and I hope that means I am still able to believe in my dreams .

I feel like I am 18 again.
Wide-eyed and faced with too many big decisions. I am too young to decide how I want to live the rest of my life, but the world is telling me that I have to.
I do not get accepted into my first dream school. Or my second. I get accepted into the third one and decide that this dream has to be the one for me.
I feel like I am 18 again, entering into a world not meant for me. Walking through the doors of a building where I will always be inferior. Coming from a place that you have never heard of full of people that you will probably never hear of.
I feel like I am 18 again and wondering how someone so young can experience so much hurt. How can someone who has barely even lived a life have already lived through so much? How can I possibly carry on when everything around me is shattering at my feet?
I feel like I am 18 again, and everyone around me is falling in love. I am sitting on the sidelines, while you are the shining star. I am second best, and she is always number one.
I feel like I am 18 again and searching in the mirror for just a glimpse of someone I recognize. I cannot find myself in my eyes or my cheekbones or my chin. I can see the sleepless nights carved out in little hollows under my eyes and the stress in small red bumps covering the ever-present concern in my forehead.
I feel like I am 18 again and searching for someone who was never even there in the first place.
Ten years later and I am 28. Ten years later and I am exactly where I started. Ten years later and I still can’t find myself anywhere.
It is like the world is at a standstill, and time has frozen, but it is somehow still propelling me backwards. It is Iike my feet are stuck in cement while my heart is stuck in a world that will never make sense to anyone else but me. I do not think that I will ever make sense to anyone else but me.
I am waiting for the hand on the clock to move and release me from this hell we have been told is just another year. I am falling further away from the life I started for myself 10 years ago, and there is absolutely nothing I can do to break my fall. I am immobile, yet I am airborne. Flailing into a new normal that even my worst nightmares could not have predicted.
And even though I am terrified, I know that I have to move on. I know that the world doesn’t actually stop moving when you feel like you cannot. I know that what once was can never be again. I know that the past is the past, and no matter how hard I wish for it to come back to me, it never will. I will never be able to go back.
You can visit. You can reminisce. But you cannot go back to a life no longer meant for you. You just can’t.
I feel like I am 18 again and lost. I feel like I am 18 again and terrified of leaving everything that has been my home for so long. I feel like I am 18 again, hurdling into the unknown. I feel like I am 18 again, and all I want is to take it all back.
But now I know at 28 that I cannot take it all back. I cannot go back. What once was will never be back.
Today, I am 28. And I am starting over.
I feel like I am 18 again, and I hope that means I am still able to believe in my dreams.


thoughtcatalog--2020-09-17--Stages of Relationships: The 5 Stages of Relationships, Dating a Narcissist, and More

A good relationship requires more than true love .
It also requires effort , patience , respect , and communication .
Although each relationship is different in their own way , they tend to follow the same path .
Here are the stages of a healthy relationship that will lead to a happily ever after : The first stage of a relationship , also known as the intimacy stage or the romance stage , is when a couple is in puppy love .
During the honeymoon period , a person will only see the good in their partner .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of their partner ’ s flaws .
They will spend a lot of quality time together as their relationship grows more and more intimate .
There won ’ t be any conflict yet because they believe they are in the perfect relationship .
People who tend to jump from relationship to relationship without ever getting serious are infatuated by the honeymoon phase .
They are trying to make the butterflies last .
During the second stage of the relationship , known as the power struggle stage , the relationship will stop feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start to doubt one another as the reality of their situation sets in .
They will get frustrated with each other .
They will bicker with each other .
They will start to wonder whether they are in the wrong relationship because they will notice more of their partner ’ s flaws as the relationship progresses .
Their gut reaction will be to withdraw or break up — but in order to progress to the next stage of the relationship , they must decide to accept each other ’ s flaws and move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage of the relationship , known as the crisis stage , is when most couples break up because they can not sweep their problems under the rug anymore .
The issues between them are obvious .
They can no longer keep quiet about their complaints , so their arguments are on the rise .
They are fighting more than they ever have in the past .
Although the sudden change in dynamic might make them feel like the relationship is over , they should keep in mind arguments are a normal part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible to date without conflict .
How they deal with the conflict and resolve their issues is what matters .
At the fourth stage in the relationship , also known as the working stage , the couple will feel pretty stable .
There won ’ t be any big problems or arguments .
However , they will also start to grow restless and bored .
They will wonder whether they have chosen the right partner or whether someone better is out there waiting for them .
This is the moment when they must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a relationship and spend the rest of their lives together — or whether they want to break up and find someone who excites them more .
Only couples in a serious , long term relationship will make it to the final stage , which is the healthiest stage of all .
At this point , the couple will feel completely comfortable with each other .
They will have fun with each other .
They will consider each other best friends .
This final stage is the point where couples consider marriage and children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ futures together .
They are excited to see what tomorrow holds .
They no longer yearn for the honeymoon period from their past because they ’ ve found something even better .
Couples who reach this stage have discovered timeless , lasting love .
Each relationship stage lasts for a different amount of time .
Although the timeframe will differ from couple to couple , most relationships will follow the same pattern .
Here is an overview of how romantic love tends to develop over time : The honeymoon period is the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how fast the couple moves , it can last anywhere from a few months to a few years .
The second stage of a relationship typically lasts six months , or however long it takes for a couple to decide they want to stay together , despite their differences .
The third stage of a relationship will last about a year .
This is how long it will take to work through their issues and reach a place of stability .
The fourth stage of a relationship will last around two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple will break up before that point .
The fifth stage of the relationship has the potential to last forever .
Once the couple is in a committed relationship , they are not going to want to separate .
In addition to the five stages of relationships listed above , there is a different stage model involving ten stages .
This one tracks relationship development as well as relationship decline .
After all , love is tricky .
An interpersonal relationship is hard to make but easy to break .
1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as little as ten or fifteen seconds .
It occurs when two people meet each other and are intrigued by their appearance or personality .
2 .
Experimenting stage .
This stage is when two strangers get to know each other .
They ask basic conversational questions in order to figure out whether they want to take a chance on dating .
Most people don ’ t progress past this stage .
3 .
Intensifying stage .
During this stage , the relationship becomes less formal .
The two people develop a closeness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
4 .
Integrating stage .
This is the stage when two people officially become a couple .
They will consider the other person a romantic partner , not a friend .
5 .
Bonding stage .
This stage involves marriage — or a more informal commitment like becoming boyfriend and girlfriend .
6 .
Differentiating .
During this stage , the couple starts feeling doubtful and grows apart .
They act as individuals instead of a team .
7 .
Circumscribing .
Communication stops at this stage .
The couple keeps secrets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace .
8 .
Stagnating .
The couple actively avoids confrontation and conflict in this stage , even though they have severe problems with the relationship .
9 .
Avoiding .
The couple spends less and less time together .
They grow apart emotionally and physically .
10 .
Terminating .
This occurs when the couple decides to part ways .
This could happen amicably or it could involve a major argument .
Dating a narcissist is entirely different than being in a healthy relationship .
Although the beginning of the relationship might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving them ) will quickly become a struggle .
Be careful , because here are the four stages with a narcissist : In the beginning of the relationship , a narcissist will make their partner feel special .
They will shower their person with love , attention , and romance .
They will trick their partner into believing they are the perfect person .
They will advance the arrangement from a casual relationship to an intimate relationship in a short period of time .
Narcissists move quickly in order to create unrealistic expectations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone under their spell , they will change their behavior completely .
This stage is when the narcissist will reveal their true self and the manipulation will begin .
A narcissist will try to separate their partner from their friends , family , and any other personal relationships they have formed .
They will also start to lie , keep secrets , and gaslight .
Worst of all , they will become verbally abusive in order to make their partner feel bad about themselves .
They will want their partner to feel lucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
Unfortunately , at this stage , a partner will make excuses for a narcissist because they are still distracted by the love-bombing they experienced early on .
Love-bombing is when someone uses sweet words , actions , and behaviors as a manipulation technique .
Narcissists are never as romantic as they seem at the beginning of the relationship .
All they want is power , money , sex , and attention .
They typically don ’ t care about their partner in the same way their partner cares , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end the relationship .
After all , a narcissist will lose interest in their partner once they are no longer getting anything from the situation .
They will move onto someone new who they can easily manipulate and the cycle will start all over again .
At this point , their original partner will be given the chance to escape .
However , the narcissist might not be out of their lives forever .
It might not be long until they make a return .
Narcissists aren ’ t happy unless they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is over , they might continue to pop back up in a person ’ s life in order to cause trouble and regain control .
They could use the same love-bombing tactics they used at the beginning of the relationship to get their way .
They could also get emotional , cry , and beg for their partner back .
However , this is not out of love .
This is out of the desire to control their partner once again .
At this point , hopefully , the other person will realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will move on with their life .
After all , a narcissist is not going to change .
They are only going to make someone think they ’ ve changed so they can begin the cycle again .

A good relationship requires more than true love. It also requires effort, patience, respect, and communication. Although each relationship is different in their own way, they tend to follow the same path. Here are the stages of a healthy relationship that will lead to a happily ever after:
1. The Honeymoon Stage
The first stage of a relationship, also known as the intimacy stage or the romance stage, is when a couple is in puppy love. During the honeymoon period, a person will only see the good in their partner. Their infatuation will blind them to any and all of their partner’s flaws. They will spend a lot of quality time together as their relationship grows more and more intimate. There won’t be any conflict yet because they believe they are in the perfect relationship. People who tend to jump from relationship to relationship without ever getting serious are infatuated by the honeymoon phase. They are trying to make the butterflies last.
2. The Power Struggle Stage
During the second stage of the relationship, known as the power struggle stage, the relationship will stop feeling like a fantasy. The couple will start to doubt one another as the reality of their situation sets in. They will get frustrated with each other. They will bicker with each other. They will start to wonder whether they are in the wrong relationship because they will notice more of their partner’s flaws as the relationship progresses. Their gut reaction will be to withdraw or break up — but in order to progress to the next stage of the relationship, they must decide to accept each other’s flaws and move forward as a team.
3. The Crisis Stage
The third stage of the relationship, known as the crisis stage, is when most couples break up because they cannot sweep their problems under the rug anymore. The issues between them are obvious. They can no longer keep quiet about their complaints, so their arguments are on the rise. They are fighting more than they ever have in the past. Although the sudden change in dynamic might make them feel like the relationship is over, they should keep in mind arguments are a normal part of a healthy relationship. It’s impossible to date without conflict. How they deal with the conflict and resolve their issues is what matters.
4. The Decision Stage
At the fourth stage in the relationship, also known as the working stage, the couple will feel pretty stable. There won’t be any big problems or arguments. However, they will also start to grow restless and bored. They will wonder whether they have chosen the right partner or whether someone better is out there waiting for them. This is the moment when they must decide whether they want to remain in a relationship and spend the rest of their lives together — or whether they want to break up and find someone who excites them more.
5. The Commitment Stage
Only couples in a serious, long term relationship will make it to the final stage, which is the healthiest stage of all. At this point, the couple will feel completely comfortable with each other. They will have fun with each other. They will consider each other best friends. This final stage is the point where couples consider marriage and children. They start to plan out their futures together. They are excited to see what tomorrow holds. They no longer yearn for the honeymoon period from their past because they’ve found something even better. Couples who reach this stage have discovered timeless, lasting love.
Timeline
Each relationship stage lasts for a different amount of time. Although the timeframe will differ from couple to couple, most relationships will follow the same pattern. Here is an overview of how romantic love tends to develop over time:
The honeymoon period is the very beginning of a romantic relationship. Depending on how fast the couple moves, it can last anywhere from a few months to a few years.
The second stage of a relationship typically lasts six months, or however long it takes for a couple to decide they want to stay together, despite their differences.
The third stage of a relationship will last about a year. This is how long it will take to work through their issues and reach a place of stability.
The fourth stage of a relationship will last around two years before reaching the final stage — or the couple will break up before that point.
The fifth stage of the relationship has the potential to last forever. Once the couple is in a committed relationship, they are not going to want to separate.
The 10 Stages of Relationships
In addition to the five stages of relationships listed above, there is a different stage model involving ten stages. This one tracks relationship development as well as relationship decline. After all, love is tricky. An interpersonal relationship is hard to make but easy to break.
1. Initiation stage. This stage can last as little as ten or fifteen seconds. It occurs when two people meet each other and are intrigued by their appearance or personality.
2. Experimenting stage. This stage is when two strangers get to know each other. They ask basic conversational questions in order to figure out whether they want to take a chance on dating. Most people don’t progress past this stage.
3. Intensifying stage. During this stage, the relationship becomes less formal. The two people develop a closeness that makes them feel comfortable and seen.
4. Integrating stage. This is the stage when two people officially become a couple. They will consider the other person a romantic partner, not a friend.
5. Bonding stage. This stage involves marriage — or a more informal commitment like becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.
6. Differentiating. During this stage, the couple starts feeling doubtful and grows apart. They act as individuals instead of a team.
7. Circumscribing. Communication stops at this stage. The couple keeps secrets and avoids certain conversations to keep the peace.
8. Stagnating. The couple actively avoids confrontation and conflict in this stage, even though they have severe problems with the relationship.
9. Avoiding. The couple spends less and less time together. They grow apart emotionally and physically.
10. Terminating. This occurs when the couple decides to part ways. This could happen amicably or it could involve a major argument.
Stages with a Narcissist
Dating a narcissist is entirely different than being in a healthy relationship. Although the beginning of the relationship might be nice, dating them (and leaving them) will quickly become a struggle. Be careful, because here are the four stages with a narcissist:
1. Idealization
In the beginning of the relationship, a narcissist will make their partner feel special. They will shower their person with love, attention, and romance. They will trick their partner into believing they are the perfect person. They will advance the arrangement from a casual relationship to an intimate relationship in a short period of time. Narcissists move quickly in order to create unrealistic expectations. Once they feel like they have someone under their spell, they will change their behavior completely.
2. Devaluation
This stage is when the narcissist will reveal their true self and the manipulation will begin. A narcissist will try to separate their partner from their friends, family, and any other personal relationships they have formed. They will also start to lie, keep secrets, and gaslight. Worst of all, they will become verbally abusive in order to make their partner feel bad about themselves. They will want their partner to feel lucky that they are in a relationship at all. Unfortunately, at this stage, a partner will make excuses for a narcissist because they are still distracted by the love-bombing they experienced early on. Love-bombing is when someone uses sweet words, actions, and behaviors as a manipulation technique.
3. Discard
Narcissists are never as romantic as they seem at the beginning of the relationship. All they want is power, money, sex, and attention. They typically don’t care about their partner in the same way their partner cares, which is why they might be the one to end the relationship. After all, a narcissist will lose interest in their partner once they are no longer getting anything from the situation. They will move onto someone new who they can easily manipulate and the cycle will start all over again. At this point, their original partner will be given the chance to escape. However, the narcissist might not be out of their lives forever. It might not be long until they make a return.
4. Hoover
Narcissists aren’t happy unless they are in control. Even after the relationship is over, they might continue to pop back up in a person’s life in order to cause trouble and regain control. They could use the same love-bombing tactics they used at the beginning of the relationship to get their way. They could also get emotional, cry, and beg for their partner back. However, this is not out of love. This is out of the desire to control their partner once again. At this point, hopefully, the other person will realize that real love is not painful and will move on with their life. After all, a narcissist is not going to change. They are only going to make someone think they’ve changed so they can begin the cycle again.