5 Empowering Tracks From Female Icons To Make You Feel Inspired
Sometimes we all need a little lift. Whether you’ve had a recent knock to your confidence, have been going through stress in your personal or professional life, or have always struggled with your self-esteem, music is an essential tool for lifting your spirits and making you feel better about yourself.
According to a study by Heriot-Watt University, the type of music you listen to not only influences your mood, but also your personality, with indie and rock/heavy metal fans reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem, while fans of jazz, blues, opera, classical, pop, rap and soul all reported high levels of self-confidence.
So if you’re having a ‘down day’, why not boost your spirits by listening to some powerful, uplifting tracks? Here are five perfect confidence boosters.
Britney Spears – Toxic
Britney’s own struggles with her mental health and conservatorship have made her an inspiration for many people across the world.
This classic song is timelessly sensual, and the heavy beats throughout make it impossible not to dance to. A welcome blast of nostalgia, this tune has filled dance floors across the globe with fans old and new.
The video features Britney as a female spy playing the sexy flight attendant, seducing her passenger before she makes her escape on a motorbike and breaks into a high-security facility guarded by a laser security system.
This track and video is a guaranteed way to feel invincible, and deserves a place on your playlist no matter your mood.
Kelis – Milkshake
A cheesy classic that is guaranteed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside, Kelis pumps up the heat in this 00’s RnB track. Underpinned by intricate drum beats and electric elements, Kelis’ self-confidence is infectious, and it’s hard not to find yourself smiling at the lyrics.
This track is a great way to get into a flirtatious mindset, making it a great choice before going on a date or heading out for the evening.
And if you’re staying in? It’s a great mood lift. But beware! You may find yourself craving a sweet treat.
Eve (ft. Gwen Stefani) – Let Me Blow Your Mind
This RnB classic will capture your attention with its assertive rhythm and powerful vocals from 00’s icons Eve and Gwen Stefani. Featuring a laid-back – yet self-assured – beat, and catchy guitar riff, this is a great track for driving, and its empowering feel is sure to help you feel motivated.
Got a job interview lined up, or thinking of asking for a raise? This anthemic number is a quick way to feel positive and more assertive.
The video features Eve and Gwen Stefani crashing an exclusive event on quad bikes, causing a stir among the privileged attendants, and shoving the performer off stage to perform their own music, before finally being arrested and taken to the station in a police van.
This ‘baddie’ track helps you to tap into the hidden ‘bold’ side of your personality, and lifts your mood while keeping you feeling calm and cool.
Fergie – MILF$
If you have kids, it can be difficult to feel sexy. When you’re running around cleaning the house, changing nappies, or up to your elbows in dishwater, you can easily forget your sensual side – leaving you feeling frumpy and lacking in confidence and motivation.
Thankfully, Fergie’s comeback track is a quick remedy to your low mood and lethargy.
Featuring attractive mothers dressed in curve-hugging latex and silky lingerie going about their daily life in a dreamy, colourful suburbia, this track is a quick way to transform your self-esteem and transport you to a world where you are not just a mother, but a goddess too.
Why not shake off the day and tap into your feminine energy with Fergie, your sexiest PJs, and a bottle of your favourite wine?
Marina And The Diamonds – How To Be A Heartbreaker
Low confidence after a breakup? You’re not alone. Having your heart broken can leave you feeling depressed, undesirable, and unmotivated. So flip the tables on your ex and become a heartbreaker with Marina’s catchy club classic.
This empowering dance track will make you want to move your body and get in touch with your bad girl side, with its heavy beat and pounding rhythms.
Plus, if your libido has suffered as a result of your low mood, take a sneaky peek at the video – it will get your blood pumping with its steamy shower shots and smoking hot male models.
Inflation: Causes, Perceptions, Concerns, Strategies, Actions!
The reality of economic conditions is, we either experience, inflation, recession, or some condition, in – between! In recent memory, over the course of time, it usually is, a matter – of – degree, because, it seems, regardless, what the so – called, experts, claim, prices appear to go – up! We are experiencing, what appears to be, an inflationary period, in the past few months, with prices, rising, in nearly, every area of life! Prices of homes, cars. building materials, groceries, etc, all, are more expensive! However, it is important to remember, and consider, we just went – through, one of (if, not, the worst), pandemics, in this nation’s history, including: quarantines, business closings, supply – chain challenges/ disruptions, etc, and, no one, knows, for sure, what the future, might bring! Is this period, going to be, a longer – term, or shorter – term, challenge/ obstacle? With, that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly, consider, review, examine, and discuss, the possible causes, perceptions, concerns, strategies, and actions – forward.
1. Causes: Simply, speaking, inflation is an extended period of rising prices, across the economic – spectrum! Precisely, what causes this, varies, but, most of us, recall, several inflationary periods, as well as other periods, of steadier, economic conditions/ costs/ pricing! How much does the pandemic, have to do, with what we are currently, experiencing, and what else, may be factors? Because, of concerns, because of unemployment, business closings/ challenges, government subsidies, federal deficits, and, historically – low, interest rates, many components, of our economy, are impacted!
2. Perceptions: Our citizens’ perceptions have a significant impact, on our economy. When, consumer confidence, is higher, people, spend more freely, and, across – the – board! When, it isn’t, the overall, economic conditions, slow – down!
3. Concerns: The concerning part, of inflationary conditions, is our fears, of losing ground, to the ever – increasing, cost of living! How long, will people be willing to pay, the huge increase, in the price of buying a house? How long will interest rates, remain, at historic lows? When food, gasoline, and, most other things, become more expensive, and, eventually, salaries/ wages, no longer, keep – up with that pace, what will happen to the overall economy?
4. Strategies: This nation, politically, is a divided country! We have never witnessed, the degree of partisan politics, we see today! How much, should the government, subsidize, what should be the priorities/ goals, and for how long? How much is too much, versus, too little? Perhaps, the greatest, potential difference, may be, the inability of our elected officials, to look, at the bigger – picture, in a relevant, sustainable manner, as opposed, to taking the path of least resistance, and using the populist approach?
5. Actions: What the end – result, and ramifications, of inflationary periods, may depend upon, the strategies, and actions, those, in positions of leadership, pursue, and take!
Wake up, America, and, recognize, the potential impacts, of inflation, both, in the shorter, and longer – periods! Will you demand, responsible action, or accept, the same – old, same – old, excuses, etc?
Capital Gain Hikes Vs. Corporate Innovation
The two major American political parties are in a constant tug-of-war over their policy agendas and spending proposals.
The Democratic Party believes in increasing taxes on corporations and capital gains to pay for social service programs that benefit the poor and middle-class citizens. The Republican Party believes lowering taxes on corporations and capital gains will allow businesses to become more innovative.
The Republican economic philosophy is more innovation leads to more organizational growth, jobs, and higher wages. But the counterargument from the other side is only the wealthy and powerful have assets with capital gains. Because of this, the wealthy can afford to pay higher capital gains taxes to fund the welfare of the working poor.
What is missing from this counterargument is the possibility of innovation. Wealthy venture capitalists and investors are responsible for helping new and innovative companies grow into large corporations employing thousands of people.
One of the reasons why investors take these kinds of risks is to enjoy a potential profitable return. Unfortunately, capital gains tax hikes make investors more reluctant to invest in innovative companies with the potential to change the world. If politicians increase capital gains taxes, it usually forces investors to move their money toward a safer investment, such as bonds or stocks that pay a high dividend.
Friedrich August von Hayek once said, “I do not think it is an exaggeration to say history is largely a history of inflation, usually inflations engineered by governments for the gain of governments.” Capital gains tax increases to fund social welfare programs will lead to higher inflation and less innovation. Hayek understood that all inflation throughout history could be attributed to tax increases and government overspending.
A society cannot evolve if a government funds the welfare of its people. It can only evolve through innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. That is what Hayek believed over 50 years ago, and his philosophy is still relevant today. However, there is a significant portion of the modern population that identifies as socialist and progressive. Their thinking is more in line with famous social economists like Karl Marx.
“Capital is independent and has individuality, while the living person is dependent and has no individuality.” Karl Marx thought capitalism robbed people of their freedom and individuality for the benefit of the upper class. A society that puts innovation and money above the welfare of people would lead to internal tensions and conflict. That is the Marxist economic philosophy.
Overall, a society with more social welfare and less innovation cannot create more jobs and opportunities. If progressive politicians want to keep funding social programs with money that does not exist, it will only reduce innovation and increase inflation. Even if the rich did pay higher capital gains taxes, the government does not generate enough income to pay for all its proposed social programs.
The Pandemic Effects on Hospitality Industries and How They Overcome It
The COVID-19 pandemic affects many aspects and many sectors of life. As a result, economic sectors are fully affected, and the hospitality industry is no exception. The hospitality industry is known to be the source of job opportunities and supports many livelihoods of millions of workers and their families. Because Indonesia is primarily reliant on the service sector, the tourist industry plays an important part in the country’s growth. The increase of the COVID-19 cases has brought about a huge increase in the number of workers getting expelled or having their work ended. How did the hospitality industry survive in this era? The pandemic has provided several opportunities for numerous hospitality industries to use specific mechanisms in order to overcome pandemic difficulties.
Tourism and hospitality industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including hotels, restaurants, resorts, travel agencies, travel and transportation, and real estate, show a significant losing number of tourists. According to the president of the Indonesia Tour Guide Association (HPI, 2020), 45,000 visitors have cancelled their plans to visit main tourist spots in the country between January and May. Furthermore, According to UNWTO (2020), 100-120 million direct and indirect activities were in jeopardy, and foreign tourist numbers decreased 56% year on year from January–May 2020. These noteworthy diminishing numbers primarily influenced the Indonesian financial state. For example, hotel profits have dropped by up to 40%, having an effect on hotel operations and risking business continuity. The drop in international visitors has an effect on the salary of restaurants whose clients are more prevailing than foreign visitors (Block, 2017). Following the dropping, many hospitality industries are taking awareness of tourists’ health risks and protocols taking an advance.
The recovery of hospitality industries is indistinguishable from the progressively sophisticated information innovation utilized to pull in potential visitors to choose to travel. The regaining of tourist attractions after a pandemic is required to utilize other promoting techniques to advertise their items inventively. First, social media marketing reaches many internet users who are looking for tourist information hospitality industry. This strategy is helpful in advertising and attracts many tourists to find more information related to a tourist attraction in the designated region. Second, Tourism industry players and visitors, as well as government action, are required to arbitrate between the two groups. Government policies must be in the form of the finest judgments to characterize the middle ground between commercial actors and visitors (Anggarini, 2021). This means that provided policy in the hospitality sector during-post pandemics maintains the best solution for both tourists and hospitality owners. Last, all tourism-related activities must adapt to current conditions, in which humans must live alongside Covid-19 (Anggarini, 2021). By all means, many factors, including health issues, hygiene, and safety for tourists, are priorities.
In conclusion, even though the pandemic is really affecting the hospitality industry as a whole, it gives many advancements of movement done by the hospitality industry to survive. Many resources are being used as the development of technology to provide data destinations insight. In addition, the sophistication of information technology can also facilitate the government in supervising the implementation of safe travel in accordance with government recommendations. All these initiations are good examples of overcoming pandemic situations while running hospitality industries.