7 Fun Facts About Love

1. "Broken Heart" Isn't Just a Saying- When a person is experiencing emotional trauma, like from break-ups or loss of a love one, the brain actually releases chemicals that have been shown to weaken one's heart.

2. The Four Minute Theory- It only takes approximately 4 minutes for a person to decide whether or not they like somebody else. It has a lot to do with your body language, and the tone and speed of your voice.
3. Butterflies- Everyone has experienced it, the tingly nervous feeling in your stomach that happens when you interact with your "crush." Well, the body actually releases adrenaline, which in turn causes that "butterfly" feeling in your stomach.
4.  The heart symbol was first used in the 1200's to symbolize love.
5. Philophobia is the fear of love. By definition, it is the fear of emotional attachment, which includes the fear of both love and friendship.
6. Love Drugs- When you're in love, the brain releases dopamine. Scientists noticed that the same areas of the brain light up when someone is in love and when someone is high on cocaine. So, love is actually comparable to drugs!
7. Monogamous- Monogamous basically means to be exclusive to one person. Humans are (usually) monogamous when in a relationship, and some animals are too! Penguins, swans, bald eagles, wolves, and even cockroaches mate for life.

The Animals' Compatibility

These days people are obsessed with figuring out what personality type they are. You can use your personality type to figure out who you are, what occupation would be best for you, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and even who would be the best soul mate for you! My favorite way to classify personalities is to figure out which animal you are: a lion, an otter, a golden retriever, or a beaver? In fact, just the other day I wrote a post about how to decide which animal you are, and their different traits. (To read the original post, click here! I promise, this post will make a lot more sense if you do.) Now I'd like to take it one step further and talk about the animals' compatibility with each other. Which animals work well together? Which ones should never mix? Which ones are soul mates? Which ones are best friends? Read on to find out!

The Lion and the Golden Retriever

The lion is a task-oriented leader who enjoys being in control. They love challenges and arguments, and they show no fear. They often come across as arrogant and uncaring. The golden retriever is people-oriented and craves security. They like to have a small group of close friends and they make people feel welcomed and loved. They're good listeners, very loyal, and will avoid conflict at any cost. These two sound like polar opposites, don't they? I guess it just goes to show that opposites really do attract. The Lion/Golden Retriever is the most common pairing when it comes to marriage! They work together like peanut butter and jelly. The lion loves the golden retriever because they're a good listener, compliant, kind, and easy to get along with. The golden retriever loves the lion because they're strong, focused, and make them feel safe. Because they're so different, they can bring each other to become a more balanced person. The biggest issue in this type of relationship is that the golden retriever will sometimes view the lion as "too harsh" while the lion will often view the golden retriever as "too wimpy." Fortunately, they will always work through they're differences and accept the other for who they are.

The Beaver and the Golden Retriever

Another great pairing in the "animal kingdom" is the beaver and the golden retriever. These two personalities are very similar. The beaver is someone who likes to have lengthy, intelligent conversations with someone who really understands them. The golden retriever is the perfect person for the job. They are both quiet introverts who prefer to sit back and watch the action than be in the midst of it. The beaver is prone to depression, and will spend a lot of time comparing themselves to others which leads to a lack of self confidence. Luckily, their golden retriever pal is there to listen and offer support. When you think of best friends, your mind should immediately jump to these two!

The Golden Retriever and the Otter

These two might not be as close as the golden retriever/beaver pairing, but they're still BFFs! The Otter is cheerful, enthusiastic, has a ton of friends, and will talk your ear right off. The Golden Retriever is calm, collected, has a few very close friends, and is a great listener. These two are BFFs! The otter has an intense desire to please people and be accepted, therefore they are easily offended and can be insecure at times. Because the golden retriever is so thoughtful and understanding, they can make the otter feel better about themselves. Likewise, the otter brings the golden retriever out of their shell and can get them to be more adventurous and lively.

The Otter and the Lion

The Otter and the lion go together like mustard and strawberry jam. In other words, the two should never be mixed. The lion is a no-nonsense person who likes to focus on a task and get it done right. The otter on the other hand is laid back and fun loving, but not so responsible. If these two were paired in a group project, the lion would snap at the otter and call them things like "selfish" and "lazy" and "a waste of space." The otter would retaliate by calling the lion "uptight" and "a jerk" and wonder why they can't just go with the flow. If you try to put these two together, whether in a work setting, a marriage, or a friendship, one thing's for sure: heads will roll.

If you want to take the test to figure out which animal you are, you can do so via this link: http://thaoski.com/2013/04/02/5-minute-personality-test-lion-beaver-otter-golden-retriever/ 

How To Make Friends

Yeah, I know, it’s a stupid title for a blog post. I actually typed "how to make friends" in the Google search bar. And I felt pretty pathetic. But if you need help making friends, never fear, the Compatible Battle is here! (Apologies for how cheesy that last sentence was.)

Some peoples' personality can make it more difficult for them to create friendships, while other people have no trouble making friends. But for anyone out there who needs it, here are some do’s and don’ts to create long lasting friendships.

1. Do Spend More a Time Around People

Self explanatory, right? The first step in making friends is to be around people. Engage in conversation, and try not to be negative. You can try joining a club or sport that you enjoy to meet people with similar interests. Social media can also be a good way to meet and connect with other people.

2. Don't Be Pushy

Don't try to force anyone to be your friend, or make them feel guilty about not wanting to be best friends with you. True friendships are not created by being clingy, rude, or by trying to be someone that you're not. Friendship should be mutual, and being pushy will not create the kind of connection most people are looking for.

3. Do Pay Attention

Humans like being listened to and feeling appreciated. By simply paying attention to another person, whether it be their strengths or their weakness, makes them feel valued. But don't overstep any boundaries. And if they confide secrets in you, don't tell the entire world. By simply being there for them you can create good friendships.

4. Don't Give Up

It can be hard to make friends. Sometimes, even when you think you have made trustworthy friends, they can turn out to be totally different than you expected. Sometimes people aren't looking to make new friends. But don't be discouraged. Even if it takes time, and you feel like you want to give up, keep trying. In the end, it will all turn out well.

For more tips, go to WikiHow and type in “How To Make Friends.” Seriously, go do it. It’s hilarious.

Lion, Otter, Golden Retriever, or Beaver?

Around 400 BC, a Greek physician by the name of Hippocrates figured out that human beings, as a general rule, can be divided into four different sections: Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, and Melancholy. He named these the four humors, and they were based on our personality traits. Something that I read that I found very interesting is that Hippocrates's philosophy was that our personality traits were based on our level of bodily fluids. Florence Littauer, the author of a series of books based on the Personality Plus system, renamed the four humors using alliteration: Powerful, Popular, Peaceful, and Perfect. But my favorite way to think about the system is the way Dr. Gary Smalley came up with, using animals as the different humors: the lion, the otter, the golden retriever, and the beaver. Below is an overview of these personality types.*

The Powerful Choleric Lion

People who fall into this category are generally extroverts who likes to take charge. They are strong leaders, no doubt about it. They're good at delegating tasks and making sure everything gets done. They're known to set challenging goals, believe in fairness, and have little to no patience for small details. (They're "big picture" people.) Lions will always stand up for what they believe in, regardless of what other people think. They are the least sympathetic/empathetic out of the four personality types, but they often accomplish more than any of the others.

Strengths:

• No-nonsense
• Logical
• Diligent
• Self-suficient
• Multi-tasker
• Responsible
• Well-spoken
• Strong leader
• Goal-oriented
• Strong
• Direct

Weaknesses:

• Cold/Emotionally distant
• Argumentative
• Egotistical
• Aggressive
• Overly competitive 
• Bossy

The Popular Sanguine Otter

You pretty much have to be an extrovert to fall into this category. Otters are the life of the party. They love to tell funny stories, will never back down from a dare, and tend to have extremely loud voices. Basically, they love to be the center of attention. They're very friendly and love other people. Shy is not in their vocabulary. In fact, they can sometimes be so cheerful and friendly that they might seem fake or come on to strong. They tend to speak before they think. They live in the moment, and go with the flow. Otters are normally the most likable out of the four personality types.

Strengths:

• Warm
• Loving
• Sincere
• Optimistic
• Enthusiastic
• Goes with the flow
• Good at making friends

Weaknesses:

• Selfish
• Irresponsible
• Talks to much
• Desperate for approval from others 
• Doesn't form deep relationships
• Careless/Reckless
• Easily offended

The Peaceful Phlegmatic Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are introverts who enjoy peace and quiet. They're enjoyable to be around, but tends to disappear into their own little world. They're laid back and don't get excited about much. They don't often get in trouble with authority, or anyone else for that matter, because they will do anything to avoid confrontation. They're very witty, and have a dry sense of humor. They don't get very involved in activities, but when they have to be they are very diligent workers. They are kind and loving to anyone and everyone and can fit into any situation. If a Golden Retriever loves you, they will be the most loyal friend/lover you ever had. 

Strengths:

• Peaceful
• Easy going
• Happy-go-lucky
• Diligent
• Calm
• Passive
• Loyal
• Compassionate
• Form deep relationships

Weaknesses:

• Over sensitive
• Indecisive
• Indifferent
• Passive
• Holds other accountable
• Not good with change

The Perfect Melancholy Beaver

If you are a Beaver, then you are most likely extremely introverted. Beavers are typically what adults (especially teachers and parents) would call the perfect person. They need everything to be done perfectly and are obsessed with small details. They would rather have a long, quiet conversation with one intelligent person than a short, meaningless conversation with a bunch of loud idiots. They constantly analyze themselves and others. They don't have many friends (mostly because they absolutely hate group gatherings), but they have a few close friends who they are extremely faithful to. They're big on self-sacrifice and feels very intense emotions, but are good at hiding them. They are perfectionists. They're prone to depression because they compare themselves to other people.

Strengths:

• Systematic
• A thinker/philosopher
• Studious
• Organized
• Responsible
• Self-disciplined 
• Creative
• Diligent
• Intelligent

Weaknesses:

• Unrealistic expectations of self
• Compares themselves to others
• Prone to depression
• Easily hurt
• Difficulty being flexible
• Difficulty expressing emotions
• Antisocial

If you are interested in finding out which personality type you are, you can take the test at http://thaoski.com/2013/04/02/5-minute-personality-test-lion-beaver-otter-golden-retriever/ 

*Please note that you may not have all the traits in a certain category. The one you classify as is the one you have the most traits in common with. 

Social Media and Friendship

In the past 10-15 years, social media has been connecting people from all around the world. This post will look at some of the pros and cons of social media like Facebook, Foursquare, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and how they affect friendship.

Pros:

• True Internet friends- Meeting people over the internet can be a very wonderful thing. If you don’t share your personal identity, people that you meet over the internet don’t know what you look like, how popular you are, etc., so they are friends with you because of your personality that you portray on the internet.
• Connection with Current Friends- Personally, I talk to my “real life” friends via social media. It’s easy to schedule plans, to share funny things, and to stay connected with what’s going on.

Cons:

• Fake Internet Friends- Meeting people over the internet can be a wonderful thing, but other times it is not. One of the beauties of the internet is anonymity. If you don’t want anyone to know who you are, they don’t have to. You’ve heard people say: “don’t share personal info on social media, don’t say you age, don’t share where you live, etc.” But people rarely heed that advice,  and that can be used as a weapon against them.
• Over-connection- We all know someone who has it: the dreaded phone-glued-to-hand-syndrome. They are constantly on their cell phone, checking their social media, texting, etc. In this generation we are so closely connected to everything that is going on because of the constant access we are given via the internet.This can be a problem, especially if someone is in a social setting, and is not interacting with those around them.

We can pretty much all agree that cell phones and social media are amazing things. Just remember to put your phone down every once and a while and interact with those around you!

Friendship

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, then alone in the light.” -Helen Keller

By definition, the word friend means “a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.” But, the science and psychology behind friendship goes much deeper.

Friendship is often compared to alliances that one would have in war. When creating friendships, humans subconsciously choose people who will be there in times of need. Peter Descioli and Robert Kurzban are researchers that have created a hypothesis called “Alliance Hypothesis for Human Friendship.” This hypothesis states that we create friendships based on “cognitive mechanism aimed at creating a ready-made support group for potential conflicts.” Think back to the caveman times: when something threatened you, such as a predator, you needed someone trustworthy to be there. In this day and age, there aren't lions that are going to jump out of the bushes while you’re gathering food, but there are threats. Conflicts are going to arise, and having “allies” makes it easier.

When we see friends, or interact with someone, the brain releases “feel good” chemicals like dopamine and endorphins. Even just thinking of a friend or close family member releases dopamine. Scientists have recently been researching how friendship can affect mental health. People with depression often have less friends, or less quality friendships. In a study published in the Public Library of Science Medicine Journal, the mortality risk of having a weak social circle was even compared with smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Just goes to show how important friends are!

4 Reasons Why Cuddling is Good For Your Health

People often dismiss the act of "cuddling" as something that only happens in short-lived teenage romances and cheesy romantic comedies. So you'll be surprised to learn that cuddling is actually highly beneficial to your health. Physical touch is a necessity for humans from the time we are babies. Studies have been done where they raises infants that were never held or cuddled by a real human being, and these infants failed to thrive. Some of them even died. If that's not a good enough reason to take some time out of your busy schedule and snuggle with someone you care about, then here are four other reasons.

1.) It feels good. Seems silly, right? It's not. Cuddling releases oxytocine--otherwise known as the "Feel-Good Chemical"--in your brain. It also releases endorphines, which is the same chemical that gets released when you exercise. This doesn't just apply to couples either. Getting a big hug from your friend can sometimes be the highlight of your day. Cuddling increases your overall happiness and it makes you feel good!

2.) It reduces stress and blood pressure. Research has proven that physical contact actually reduces stress. Hugging, kissing, or even something as small as hand-holding increases your oxytocine levels (which in addition to the Feel-Good Chemical is also known as the "Bonding" Chemical). It even reduces the risk of heart disease in your future!

3.) It Bonds Women with Their Babies. Cuddling has a biological role in bonding infants with their mothers. This bonding is extremely important, especially within the first hour of the baby's birth. This hour should be spent cuddling. It's as simple as that.

4.) It Helps Couples Communicate Better. Most marriage counselors agree that cuddling--and we're talking about non-sexual cuddling--is very beneficial to communication within the relationship. In fact, if your marriage counselor doesn't agree with this, you should probably find a new one. Cuddling is a way of saying, "I know what you're feeling. I understand you. I love you." It allows you to communicate things that words can't convey.