Social media has become the main space for people to express all the good and bad things that happen to them every day. It seems like people feel happy and satisfied when they share pictures, thoughts and quotes online - especially when it comes to big news, like an engagement.

Miranda Levy, like so many future brides, shared her announcement on Facebook. Levy posted a picture of her and her boyfriend on the couch showing off an engagement ring. With the picture, Levy thought she was simply announcing their engagement. Initially, people started to congratulate them, but then the congratulations turned into questions.

What they thought would be an expression of love became a reason to question the young bride. The questions started coming when people noticed a surprising object at the bottom of the picture.

The picture not only included the a new engagement ring, it also included a pregnancy test.

Levy tried to ignore the questions, pretending not to understand their comments. However, she couldn't ignore the questions for long. She had to admit that in fact, she and her fiance were expecting a baby ... and that they were basically getting married because Levy was pregnant.

When reading stories like Levy's, it is hard not to think about the hundreds of times that we have tried to give our Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat followers the idea that life is pretty perfect. We want people to accept us, so we try to share posts, images or events that will grab people's attention and make us look like successful, happy people.

Without realizing it, little by little, we are falling into the game of disguises that all social media platforms have turned into. Here are five dangerous ways we disguise our reality on social media (without even noticing):

1. Uploading photographs that make us look happy

This is the most common way that people tend to pretend they're having a perfect day or a happy life. Just think about the occasions when you've uploaded a photograph where you're smiling broadly or posing in some beautiful place, but in reality you weren't happy.

We also put on a disguise when we upload photos of ourselves that are edited. We cover up imperfections in our face or body and don't allow others to see ourselves as we really are.

2. Publishing the highlights about everything that we do, feel and think

Social networks have given us the chance to communicate to virtual friends what we are doing, feeling and thinking on a minute-to-minute basis. Most of us want everyone to think that our life is going wonderfully, even if this is not the case, so we post only the highlights.

It's important to remember that we all have intense days at work, hard times in our relationships and just bad days, even if that's what isn't portrayed online.

3. Sharing posts that don't interest us, but we think others will like it

This may come as a surprise, but many people post stories and links that don't interest them at all, but they think it will give them more likes, comments or friend requests. In our eagerness to receive attention, we end up disguising our true interests.

4. Adding too many "virtual friends"

There is a lot of pretending online, especially when it comes to your social status. People add hundreds of people to their network, even if they don't know them. They put up a front that says "I am popular", when in reality, they may be lonely and isolated people. They aren't able to make real friends because they are too busy on social media getting "new" friends.

5. Getting lots of "likes"

Without realizing it, many of us have become dependent on the number of likes we get on each post. We think that getting "likes" will be an antidote to overcoming depression, loneliness or sadness.

The important thing is to be a genuine on social media and remember that not every post you see is real - it will be a difficult adjustment, but it will bring you greater happiness.

This article originally appeared on familias.com and has been adapted and translated with permission.

The post She thought they would congratulate her, but people noticed something else when they saw her picture appeared first on FamilyToday.

Your home (whether it's small or large, an apartment or a single room) is the place where you spend the most intimate moments of your life. You laugh, cry, embrace, kiss, talk and love here, knowing you are perfectly comfortable and safe in your home. The home is the space where family, marital, personal, professional and spiritual aspects of a person are strengthened.

Don't you want to make your home the best place it can possibly be? You can do that by making your space a place that's comfortable, restful and generally happy. Your home should be the place where you can your family can escape the daily burdens of life. If you let it, your home is a little piece of heaven on earth. However, none of this can happen if you don't keep your home organized and clean.

Here are three important reasons why you should keep your house organized and filled with dedication and love:

1. Decor and organization can influence your mood

The way your furniture is situated, the color and texture of the walls, the aroma of the rooms, the paintings, floors and everything else in your house impacts how you feel in your space. If your house is orderly, clean, well-lit and has good airflow, you'll feel energized and happy the minute you walk through the door.

If your home is dirty, messy, dimly lit and stinks of unpleasant smells, you'll feel frustrated, annoyed and generally happy in your space. The way your home feels directly affects how your whole family functions.

2. Organization brings concentration and inspiration

Everyone needs to concentrate and get work in their home. Sometimes people need inspiration for ideas in their kitchen or need to make important decisions in the living room. Some even work from home and need a designated office space to create. Unfortunately, those things can't happen in a disorderly home.

Trying to concentrate and be inspired in a messy home is like trying to memorize a poem with loud music, crying children and someone else shouting directions at you in the background. To create the best space possible, make sure the walls in your home are neutral colors, the floors are free of clutter and the rooms are well-lit to ensure optimal concentration and inspiration.

3. Happy families are made in harmonious and orderly homes

If your main goal in life is to have a happy family, start with your home. You must strive to make your home a safe, fun, relaxing and loving place where everyone can feel comfortable spending time in. Help create a space where you children (no matter how old they are) can come home to and feel loved and safe.

Finally, remember that you don't have to have a huge, fancy house to have a happy home. Having a home that reflects the beautiful and wonderful family God has blessed you with is the most priceless gift you could ask for.

This article has been adapted and translated from the original "3 Razones importantes por las que debes ordenar tu casa" which was originally published on familias.com.

The post 3 important reasons you should organize your home appeared first on FamilyToday.

Learning the value of work and money is one of life's most important lessons. However, learning just to work and earn money is not enough. To have that financial stability you're dreaming of, we all need to learn how to spend money wisely and carefully.

As it turns out, a big part of financial success is determined by how you spend your money. Those with flourishing finances have figured out that earning and multiplying their income means spending smarter, rather than working harder. These six guidelines to help grow your bank account without working more:

1. Don't spend constantly on expensive outings

Surprisingly, people with greater economic stability don't regularly make big purchases. That is, they do not need to constantly spend their money on expensive bars, ritzy restaurants, commercial plazas or luxury hotels to enjoy life. Instead, money is reserved for special occasions not daily luxuries.

2. Don't splurge on clothing, footwear and jewelry

Not all rich people spend exorbitant amounts of money on how they look. In fact, many wealthy people choose not to waste their income in clothing, shoes, necklaces, earrings, perfumes, lotions and other products that everyone uses. They recognize that to look good, it is not necessary to buy expensive things.

3. Don't spend on new cars and gadgets

A few days ago I was reading an article that talked about how some of the biggest Hollywood stars drove modest and economic cars. They obviously have enough money to buy expensive cars, but chose to drive something more practical. You don't have to buy an unreliable junkyard car but choosing the latest brand and newest model is not a wise financial decision.

4. Don't buy things that you can do yourself

Mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, changing a tire, preparing food and other activities will save you a bundle if you do them yourself, rather than paying someone else to do them.

5. Don't spend money on expensive schooling

Many economically successful parents prefer not to spend money on expensive private schools for their children's education. They realize that public programs can give their children a good education without breaking the bank.

6. Don't give into your children

Wealthy people who are concerned about saving don't buy everything their children ask for. Certainly they can afford to, but they try to teach their kids the value of earning money rather than having things handed to them. Of course, you can give children gifts when the occasion calls for it, but financially smart people don't give in every time their child begs to buy the latest toy or electronic.

To become a more stable and wealthy individual, simply refrain from spending your money on things that will not give you lasting happiness.

_This article has been adapted and translated from the original "7 cosas en las que la gente rica jamás gasta su dinero y en las que tampoco deberías hacerlo tú" which was originally published on familias.com.

The post 6 things rich people never spend their money on (and you shouldn’t either) appeared first on FamilyToday.

It's likely that before you married, you were warned that your life would change in many ways. From your personal routine, your way of eating, how you manage your money, your daily activities and your responsibilities, just to name a few.

However, now that you are a married woman, you've come to realize that there are even more changes that happen because you've said "I do." While it may be hard to adjust your single life to fit into married life, there are some things that must stop, for the sake of your marriage.

Let's look at text messages, for example. There are types of text messages you should now avoid sending. While your freedom of expression shouldn't changed when married, there are certain texts you must refrain from sending.

Here are eight messages that married women should never send:

1. Messages about your marriage problems

The problems you have with your husband are yours and his only. Don't let other people interfere with your relationship, especially via text messages. In addition to being unhealthy for your marriage, you run the risk that your comments about your marriage are seen by others -when you talk over text, you can't control who else sees the message.

2. Messages talking about your family's finances

We live in an age where we have to be wary of what personal information other people know about. To help keep your identity and your spouse's identity safe, avoid commenting on how stable or unstable the financial situation is in your home. Do not give information on your income or you partner's. Plus, discussions about finances should kept between a couple, not all of your friends.

3. Messages where you talk about your spouse poorly

Your husband might do things that you dislike. However, it's not right that you disclose them to people in the first place, much less by text message. I'm sure you'd never want him to do the same, and he deserves the same respect as you.

4. Messages talking badly about your in-laws

You may not have the best relationship with your husband's family, but there's no need to talk about this over text. If there is a problem you feel you need to address about the in-laws, the best thing to do is approach the situation in person and talk directly to them about it. Don't have this conversation via text message - your text could be read the wrong way and your message might be seen by others. These sensitive conversations should be done in person.

5. Messages exposing the personal life of your husband

Just as you would not want your husband to message his friends about your personal life, you shouldn't do the same to him. Whether your spouse is going through emotional problems, lost their job or made a mistake, you should consider whether he'd be embarrassed if you shared this part of his personal life over a text message.

6. Messages talking about the personal life of your children

In case you have children, I also recommend that you don't expose their lives through your cell phone. As a parent, it's hard not to overshare about your children, but it's vital you respect their privacy.

7. Messages that can come off as flirtatious

As a married couple, you owe complete fidelity to your spouse. Therefore, do not send messages that can be misinterpreted by other people as flirtatious. It will only cause problems within your marriage if you ignore this rule.

8. Messages about your past relationships

While you shouldn't be ashamed of your personal history, your previous relationships should remain in the past. Chatting about them through text message could be harmful to your current marriage. Could you imagine how your husband would feel if he read messages about how much you still think about your last boyfriend? Or that you still text your last boyfriend? Don't make the mistake of talking to (or talking about) past loves in person or via text.

When you married, you assumed one of the greatest responsibilities of your life: to love, respect and protect your marriage. Don't throw away those promises with a silly text message.

_This article has been adapted and translated from the original "9 mensajes de texto que una mujer casada NUNCA debe enviarle a otro hombre" which was originally published on familias.com.

The post 8 text messages a married woman should never send appeared first on FamilyToday.

Prayer helps us to convey to God all the positive, negative and challenging situations and feelings that arise in our lives. In fact, it's through prayer that we can thank him and ask him for help or solutions to difficult problems.

However, identifying God's guidance, help or comfort is more difficult than just bowing our heads and praying. This is partly because God uses many different means to contact us - he may reach us through another person, an image, a phrase, a feeling or even through a dream.

If you feel like God might be communicating to you through your dreams, here are four ways of discovering his message:

1. Make a record of repetitive dreams

Even if you don't think your repeating dreams are important, they often leave lingering feelings in your heart. Don't ignore these feelings. Instead, analyze them. Write down those feelings and descriptions of the dreams in a journal. After some time, search through your journal and see if you can find a common phrase, person or image that give you an answer to a recent (or maybe a future) prayer.

Remember: with God, there are no coincidences. Don't hesitate to record dreams and analyze them for spiritual messages.

2. Pay attention to the symbolism in your dreams

The world is full of symbols. There are many that you probably don't recognize, but if you look carefully, they have always been there. God often uses symbolism to give you the answers you seek. That's why you need to write down even the most insignificant part of your dreams, because the one part could be the key to unlocking what the dream means and what God is trying to tell you.

Looking for symbols is not the same thing as discovering God's secret code, because God does try to speak in a way that will make sense for you. Sometimes it is necessary to focus on the ordinary details of your dreams to know what God wants to tell you.

3. Heed the messages you hear in your dreams

On more than one occasion, your dreams can reveal some important messages that, due to lack of attention or disbelief, you don't noticed. It may be that given the simplicity or clarity of the message, it's considered unimportant.

However, you should never underestimate that advice since God might have been using your dream as a way to answer a question you asked. While it's true that not all dreams are a solution or response to your challenges, many of them can be a source of comfort and/or strength during a difficult time in your life.

So if your heart tells you that you listen to that simple but powerful message from your dream, don't hesitate to do so.

4. Pray and ask

Just as God gives you the opportunity to communicate with him for help, comfort or counsel, he also allows you to pray to know if your dreams are answering your prayers. Asking him if that special, memorable dream that you had is part of the message that he has for you, is without doubt the most effective way to know if God is trying to tell you something.

Finally, remember that as the son or daughter of God you are, he will always seek to stay in touch with you and show you the great love he has for you.

This article is adapted and translated from the original, "4 formas sencillas para saber si Dios está tratando de hablar contigo a través de tus sueños." It was originally published on familias.com.

The post 4 simple ways to know if God is trying to talk to you through your dreams appeared first on FamilyToday.

In today's day and age, it's not uncommon for a woman to "make the first move" and ask a man out if she likes him. In the past, the responsibility of initiating the courtship always fell on the man, but this old-fashioned tradition has changed considerably since then.

It's become a common trend for 21st century young women to ask men they are attracted to out on a date.

However, not all modern women follow this trend. Perhaps, you (along with thousands of other women around the world) still prefer to be chased by a man. If that's the case, I suggest you follow these five guidelines to make sure he sees only you:

1. Highlight your femininity

There are few things a man adores more than seeing the splendor of a woman's femininity. Wearing a nice dress, a pair of earrings and classy heels is a great way to surprise him and show him just how beautiful you are. Another way to catch his eye is to showcase your feminine qualities like delicacy, generosity, kindness, intelligence, etc. Seeing these qualities will make him strive harder to keep you by his side.

Being female is often portrayed as fragile and weak, however, I strongly recommend you don't fake qualities he expects a woman to have. On the contrary, that can come across as unattractive. Be your feminine self and he'll be attracted to your genuine nature much more than a facade put on for show.

2. Be sure of yourself

Showing confidence - not arrogance - in front of the man you're interested in is another secret that will make him pick you out of the crowd. Humility is important but being aware of your abilities and knowledge will keep him interested.

So don't pretend to be someone you're not. Let your personality shine and as you confidently interact with him, he will keep coming back for more.

3. Be spontaneous

Spontaneity is another quality that grabs the attention of the man you want to attract. Your spontaneous and lighthearted personality will keep ordinary life from getting boring and will allow you to show off your personality; the personality that only you can bring into an exciting relationship.

So, from time to time, let loose and improvise to create fun and entertaining moments.

4. Show him you are an interesting woman

You're an interesting, intelligent and attractive girl. Your family and friends know it. But when it comes to love, you still have to demonstrate how attractive you are through your conversations and actions. If he is just getting to know you, you must not be afraid to show off a little.

5. Be discreet and prudent with your emotions

When you like someone, keep a few things secret. If you reveal all of your feelings, you lose all your mystery. Being a tiny bit discreet will add a captivating touch of suspense to the relationship. That, without a doubt, will make him want you even more.

If you do these things, he won't hesitate to keep you in his life forever. He'll try to win your heart over totally and completely.

This article was adapted and translated from the original, "5 formas infalibles de hacer que él sea quien te busque a ti todo el tiempo." It was originally published on familias.com.

Like what you see? Sign up here for our weekly FamilyShare email.

The post 5 flawless ways to make him only see you appeared first on FamilyToday.