Written by Justin H. Briggs, Writer Justin H. Briggs is the author of "Insanity Comes To Mind: A Memoir on Mental Health," which was published on May 1st, 2020. He is a good writer working at being great. The process of reaching my current diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, was arduous and destructive not only to myself but to my relationships, community, and environment. While I was attempting to find out about myself, others, such as family, friends, and strangers, provided their valuable but irregularly informed opinions on what I needed to do to fix myself. I kept it to myself and denied it both inwardly and outwardly for almost 25 years of self-scepticism, but I always felt off after my teen years. Weird, intense, bizarre, erratic, extreme, each word an incomplete definition, a piece of the puzzle that is Justin. Most of these pieces, these adjectives, are part of Justin’s mental health, and Justin’s mental health area of the proverbial puzzle of Justin’s life is in fact a battlefield full of triggers and trauma. This area of Justin’s life puzzle is a warzone walking through the world for the better part of 41 years, so tread lightly. In order to better highlight the markers I remember of mental illness, which I also wrote about in my first book, I will now explain what these chapters mean to me in hindsight, after further psychological and psychiatric evaluation and treatment. The chapters elucidate signs, but a diagnosis would have had to be made by a professional. No one thought I had a problem, not one a psych ward should address at least, and I made sure of that more than I care to admit. I never got to the point of asking for help until it was far too late to avoid total catastrophe repeatedly. And catastrophe is always just around the block. In recounting specific chapters below and highlighting years of analysis on the issues addressed within them, I hope to explain how the signs were rather glaring the whole roadway of life, but denial is not a river in Egypt. Even today as I write this, I have to remind myself to take my meds with the appropriate caloric intake for them to work effectively, to double check the pharmacy before I need a refill as pharmacies and insurance companies are less than reliable, and I must always be straight up with at least my talk therapist about how fucked up I tend to feel in order to not actually fuck up whatever progress I may have made in whatever I call my life. Survival is the perpetual need, with thriving being a nice idea I hear about others achieving through their own methods. If comparison is the thief of joy, then feel free to follow along as I recount my mental health memories from before my most recent diagnosis. You will likely feel better about your life, or at least by comparison, you can find some joy for yourself, and together we can disprove another bullshit truism, which sounds nice but is unrealistic. Five main symptoms As you will read, there are five main symptoms I can recall experiencing before the 2018 decision by my then nurse practitioner and administrator of medication, who decided the label which best fits my condition to be schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. E: Hallucination As recounted near the end of my first title, “Insanity Comes To Mind: A Memoir On Mental Health”, my earliest memory of an experience which psychological analysis would label as a hallucination occurred when I was about 5 years old. This is discussed in Chapter E: Hallucination. Feel free to read about the experience of my past at your leisure, but psychological analysis has also revealed to me that 5 was a formative year for young Justin. He had two younger siblings born barely over a year apart, and Justin’s life changed inexplicably. In real-world psychological terms, Justin went from being the center of his world to a distraction from his two infant siblings. So Justin began finding his own way early. He did not know how to talk about what he was experiencing, so he developed survival or coping mechanisms at an early age, which are essentially built into 41-year-old Justin, independence, self-reliance, apathy. Powerful tools. Justin’s hallucination of the sun talking to him, leading to a fracture in space and time from his 5 year old perspective, to which he replied, “No.”, and made the ripple in the fabric of the universe cease, could merely be the result of an over active imagination due to mental stress on a brain too young and inexperienced to objectively process the change in his life as not being his fault. 5-year-old Justin loved his siblings, adult Justin thinks, but he lost a lot of psychological support from his familial unit at an early age and has pretty much been doing whatever he has to do to survive an incomprehensible psychological reality ever since. The foundation of my support structure, my parents, family, and community, shook in a manner that at least had a lasting effect on my mental health and while this one incident could not be said to trigger 36 following years of mental health issues, it can be seen as a sign, in my opinion, that something was wrong from the jump. Now, this is an analysis of one chapter of my book, over five years after publication, and 15 years of psychological work to understand myself. I have other memories of childhood which would prove I had an otherwise average upbringing, but 41-year-old Justin writing this article chooses to believe he kept his cards real close to the vest as a child. He wishes he still had that discretion as an adult. He would probably have a lot more friends. Or a writing career that is not constantly starting and stopping. Or the ability to trust anyone in his real life with his problems more than he trusts complete strangers on the internet who read these rather raw and intimate revelations of his experience. But little Justin was always fucking weird, 41-year-old Justin knows. And little Justin was born in the 1980s. If little Justin had been born in the 1880s, 41-year-old Justin would at this time be a lobotomized vegetable, a circus freak, or most likely dead by his own or someone else's hand. 41-year-old Justin can admit that a permanent disability in the 21st century is better than any problems he has heard of with regard to mental health before the internet allowed for the current inundated reality of answers and suggestions readily available via the World Wide Web concerning symptoms, diagnoses, treatment suggestions, and innumerable rabbit holes of the mind and wallet. D: Paranoia As Chapter D: Paranoia recounts in the memoir, as a child, I experienced paranoia in regular, profound, and personally damaging ways. As the chapter goes, I am a young child, about 9 or 10 years old, and I am unable to feel clean. I recall sleeping irregularly at best as a child, and my parents can recount anecdotal evidence to this effect concerning finding my childhood self sleepwalking or crunched up on a piece of furniture upon which I had managed to find reprieve from restlessness somewhere in the house other than my bed. In the account in the memoir, specifically, I recall experiencing symptoms of paranoia, feeling ill at ease, feeling hostile to those closest to my life, and making ridiculous logical conclusions about the outside world being against me alone. Paranoia at any age is a dangerous state of mind, but for a child, it is unimaginably impossible to explain, and it haunts me still at 41 years old to think of how many decisions I have made over the course of my life from a place of paranoia, not simply fear. To be driven by fear is destructive enough, paranoia as a compass leads to insanity. Imagine if, in 1992, Justin, at 9 years old, could have spoken to a counselor about his feelings of paranoia, his irrational fear of not just the world but those people in his life who are supposed to protect and support him from the dangers, real or perceived, which the world presents to any child. Then imagine teenage Justin’s surprise when, upon first feeling paranoid after having consumed cannabis, to be told that paranoia is a perfectly normal thing which everyone experiences from time to time, whether they are stoned or not. Teenage Justin was not merely confused about what paranoia really means, he was and remains resentful that it took his breaking the law in smoking weed to first hear someone explain what paranoia was to him in the real world. A couple of decades after the above-referenced smoke session, a medical professional informed adult Justin that paranoia is our nervous system’s response to not feeling safe. Threats to life, comfort, and health can each make any human feel paranoia. Stress is the primary factor. Too much stress can turn taking a shower into a paranoid, existential crisis as described in Chapter D: Paranoia. C: Depression By the time of puberty I was changing from a boy to a man, what a time. Not only was I unsure of who I was or what I wanted to be, as most experiencing puberty tend to feel, I felt responsible for more than myself. I felt I needed to change things, to help others, to be important. Not arrogantly, of course, as I humbly prayed to god to give me the power to change the world, kind of a big ask. When my prayers were not answered, I began to pray for death. By 13 years old, I was affirmatively suicidal. There are suicidal feelings and there are suicidal ideations. These are two general realities of suicide, some people just do not feel like they want to be alive, and others actively plan their own death. Prayer after unanswered prayer came and went. Life did not seem to get better for anyone and only more complicated for everyone. By 1997, the internet was a shiny new toy, with the world available at your fingertips, and all the problems the world has to offer as well. Teenage Justin believed in himself so much that he decided that if god would not answer his prayer to give Justin the ability to change the world, then Justin would no longer like to be in the world. Apathy turned to despair, despair to suicidal ideation. I lived in the basement of our house alone at the time. The gun safe was right out in the garage. I recount one experience in the memoir in which I put a loaded shotgun in my mouth and chickened out by not pulling the trigger. This failed suicide attempt actually occurred many times over many years. I would pray, I would lose faith, I would give up on hope, I would pray for death, and then, with a loaded weapon in my mouth, I would pray for the strength to pull the trigger. I never did. And now you know that if you ever did that too, you are not alone living with the pain that drove you to those lengths. If you are one of those who choose to pull the trigger, best of luck. After primary school education, I attended my hometown’s public high school. It was told to me early and often that by the time I graduated high school, I would be the craziest kid in my class because I was coming from the local private Catholic school, and Catholic kids are the craziest. This proved to be an accurate description of what I recall from high school. B: Mania By the time high school rolled around, I was cool enough with myself that I thought little of suicide. I was cool enough with the world and my insignificant place within it that I gave up the notion of changing anything. It was time to live. Public school, football, preparing for college, a future to look forward to as a child yearning to be an adult. High school passed, and frankly, I cannot remember much of anything but thinking I had to be really cool with the fact that I did not feel cool. Alcohol and narcotics helped encourage my individuality, as they can. In high school, I became the guy at every party by senior year, and I also managed to become a varsity athlete and maintain straight A’s. I had no problems, or so I thought. But by college, the mold was melting. Semester after semester, when the only social requirement was being willing to crush beer after beer. America is a service economy built for consumers. Get me a 30-pack of beer and watch how Uhmerican I can be. By college, however, my coping mechanism of having a good time all the time was wearing thin, as was my friends’ patience with my behavior. In the chapter on mania discussed in the memoir, I recount long, sleepless nights when I would sweat out my emotions, become unable to rationalize my thoughts, and inevitably stay up all night so that by the time the real world was moving, I was too worn out to keep up. The chapter ends with an example of me attempting to cry for help. But even today I can admit that in that memory college aged Justin did not know how to ask for help. By junior year of college, an old friend from grade school through high school had broken down and written me a note concerning my life. For her privacy, I will leave her name out of this, and for the sake of our friendship I threw the note away as soon as I read it, but we did talk about it on the steps of her sorority. I have problems, I admitted. “The Man” shows up sometimes when I drink, kind of a Jekyll/Hyde thing I have about me, but I keep it in check. She tried to tell me that she thought I was dealing with what I was saying to her, bipolar disorder. “Fuck psychiatry,” I believe, was my direct response at 22 years of age. Almost two decades later, this friend is no longer in my life, and I am mentally disabled due to a condition similar to bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. I feel a fool merely admitting my own blindness to myself, and anger at my self-righteous rebuke of a friend who was truly just concerned for my well-being. A: Delusion They have always been listening. “They”, perpetually a threat to sanity, are real, and they do not just work for the government. Thanks to the Patriot Act and the fall of American civility post 9/11, I am likely on several lists merely by nature of my condition. I am medically predisposed to be a criminal, at least according to the statistics of incarcerated individuals with mental health conditions. Chapter A discusses a very real, matter-of-fact aspect of American life, they can listen to us whenever they choose. Thanks, Bush. Thanks, Military Industrial Complex. Thanks, Apple. Thanks, Osama. Not only do I have to choose how to survive the post 9/11 geopolitical landscape, I have to do so knowing I can never say anything to anyone in full, unadulterated confidence again unless we are without our cell phones and have locked ourselves in a Faraday cage. I would still not trust that hypothetical rendezvous. They have proven to me time and time again that they love to fuck with me. Cops have said as much to my face while we waited in line at a gas station. They serve and protect, so long as you bend the knee, and they serve the powers that be and protect the money with which those powers control established society. If you do not bend the knee to this Uhmerican, or capitalist, reality, then they have ways and means to drive you to self-destruction. Call me paranoid. That is one of my diagnoses, anyway. The delusion is believing that I have to fight them at all. I might as well put a bullseye on my forehead and declare total war on reality. It is surreal to live this way, trust that. I have been told via teleconference with recruiters for roles in countries outside of the United States that, due to my mental health reality, or mental illness, I would not be allowed an opportunity to work internationally on more than one occasion and from more than one country. I have smuggled controlled substances in the form of my prescription medications in every way a human being can internationally, simply in order to avoid being unmedicated, a personal reality which brings about social chaos, medical attention, legal attention, or all of the above. I break the law to avoid returning to the legal system. Or the mental health system. Globally. I have to ignore them, cover my ass, take my meds, and be really fucking direct right now, police officers have no place managing wellness checks. The government facilities that treat mental illness either in a criminal manner or a medical manner are underfunded, understaffed, and underserved by policy design over the last century, and they would rather each of us sit in a little box like Rhesus monkeys, consuming our swill and pushing buttons. They want us afraid, and I know more about that fear than I ever hope to have to tell. Is hindsight 20/20? It is a great thought to believe that after the crisis, one can piece together the clues that led to the disaster. Michael Crichton discussed this in “Airframe”, a fictional account of a plane crash. The book sold well and illuminated the reality of any catastrophe, things break down systematically. A plane, a society, a mind, one failure leads to a new problem which creates another failure, and so forth, until all systems nominal is an impossible endeavor and you are about to crash. Cascading failures, the idea that one problem leads to another worse problem, and so on until disaster, can be applied to the psyche. And believe you me it can be conducted upon the psyche from external factors. To be specific, you are reading this on one such avenue of influence, whether you like it or not, the digital avenue. Might as well just embed the wires into our frontal cortex with how dependent we all are on our devices for telling us what to do, who to be, and how to think. Survival is important, yes. But no one builds a plane to crash. No one builds a society to collapse. And I can confirm that at least my brain did not ever decide that, yes, Justin wants to be disabled in a way that drives people out of his life and lands him in government institutions or a coffin. Justin did everything he could to avoid all labels, and disabled is a label that takes more time than any career I have ever attempted in terms of my 24 hours of a day. Thanks for the welfare checks. Really raking it in with this reality I cling to faster than mother’s teat or to any known form of escapism I have yet indulged. Now I escape my past by managing my present as if on point. The day I began drafting this piece, I proactively checked the status of my medications at the local pharmacy. Upon review of my profile, the attending pharmacist informed me that three prescriptions from two separate providers, one for mental health and the other two for physical health, were removed by said providers. They had, in fact, been removed weeks before this check-in at the pharmacy. That cannot be, I refuted, as my providers would have informed me of revoking medications I have to take to live, both in the mental and physical senses. I had just met with both of them. What can you do? It was not their problem at that point, they informed me, that it was my doctor’s fault, or rather, specifically, my problem. I had all the necessary medications moved to a much more capable pharmacy before finishing this piece on point. We have to keep pushing forward, right? A good piece of advice I recently received from my current talk therapist was, “You always have the choice to do nothing.” I wish that were the case. If I start thinking of doing nothing, however, I will find a way to do something destructive, or destruction will occur naturally as a result of my pretending everything is alright. It is not alright. I am not alright. And I am not alone. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Justin H. Briggs Justin H. Briggs, Writer Justin H. Briggs is a writer located in Manhattan, Kansas, USA. He is more than his diagnosis and less than his potential for success, in his opinion, but he is working on that. His diagnosis of schizoaffective bipolar disorder manifests symptoms of depression, mania, delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. He is in no way medically certified beyond the occasional CPR certification, but he has been there and done that, so to speak.

Written by Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro, Mentor & Healer Womb medicine doctor, spiritual mentor and creator of Radiance the Podcast, Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis helps women awaken the magic in their bodies and embody the sacred through cyclical living, Chinese medicine, and feminine alchemy. Fibroids are one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting women today, yet their roots extend far beyond the physical. In my clinical practice, I see countless women struggling with symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, bloating, and fatigue, often after years of being told to “just monitor” their fibroids or to consider surgery or hormonal therapy as the only solutions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a different lens, one that sees fibroids not simply as growths to be removed, but as manifestations of stagnation and imbalance in the body, mind, spirit system. Understanding fibroids through Chinese medicine In TCM, fibroids are classified as Zheng Jia (masses or accumulations), which arise from disharmonies involving the Blood, Qi, and the body’s internal environment. The most common underlying patterns include: Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis: When emotional stress, overwork, or lack of rest disrupts the free flow of Qi, the Blood can become stagnant. This stagnation manifests physically as fibroids, clots during menstruation, and pain. Phlegm-Damp Accumulation: A sluggish metabolism, excess dairy or cold and raw foods, and poor digestive function contribute to the formation of dampness and phlegm, which may combine with stagnated Blood to form masses. Cold in the Uterus: Exposure to cold environments, excessive consumption of raw foods, or a history of suppressed menstruation can lead to cold stagnation, constricting the uterus and preventing proper blood circulation. Fibroids, in essence, are a reflection of what is not moving, whether that is circulation, emotional energy, or creative life force. The emotional and energetic roots The uterus is not only a reproductive organ, it is an energetic center for creativity, intuition, and emotional processing. Many women with fibroids carry unexpressed anger, grief, or resentment, often linked to years of self-sacrifice, emotional repression, or feeling unsupported. In the psycho-energetic framework of Chinese Medicine, the Liver governs the free flow of Qi and emotions. When the Liver Qi becomes constrained, commonly due to chronic stress, over-responsibility, or lack of creative outlet, this tension can descend to the uterus, where it solidifies over time. From a holistic viewpoint, fibroids can be seen as the body’s attempt to hold what the heart and voice could not express. Healing therefore requires not only addressing the physical stagnation, but also gently unwinding the emotional knots beneath it. Holistic pathways to healing 1. Regulating the flow with acupuncture and herbs Acupuncture improves pelvic circulation, relieves pain, and regulates hormonal communication between the brain and ovaries. Chinese herbal formulas to move blood, reduce masses, and nourish are frequently prescribed to support uterine health. Treatment is individualized depending on the woman’s constitution, cycle, and presentation. 2. Supporting the body through nutrition and lifestyle Women with fibroids often benefit from an anti-inflammatory, warming, and easily digestible diet. Key principles include: Minimize dairy, cold and raw foods, refined sugar, and alcohol. Emphasize cooked vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and warming spices like ginger and cinnamon. Use castor oil packs and moxa (mugwort therapy) over the lower abdomen to improve local blood flow. Incorporate gentle movement such as Qi Gong, walking, or restorative yoga to keep Qi moving. 3. Addressing the mind and emotions Unresolved emotional tension contributes significantly to uterine stagnation. Journaling, therapy, and somatic practices can help process suppressed emotions. Womb-centered meditation and breathwork reconnect women with their body’s innate wisdom. Boundaries and rest are essential, especially for women accustomed to giving more than they receive. 4. Spiritual and creative reconnection In many traditions, the womb is seen as the seat of feminine power and creation. Reclaiming connection to this center invites transformation not only of symptoms, but of one’s entire relationship to the body. Creativity, sensuality, and joy are potent medicines. When women begin to live from this place of embodiment and authenticity, the body often follows with improved balance and vitality. A new paradigm of womb care Modern medicine offers valuable tools for diagnosis and management, but a truly integrative approach honors both science and soul. Not every fibroid requires surgery, many can be managed or reduced through natural means when underlying patterns are corrected and the woman’s life force begins to move again. Healing fibroids holistically is ultimately an invitation to restore the flow of blood, energy, and creativity. It is a call to slow down, listen, and care for the womb not as a problem to fix, but as a sacred space to tend. As we begin to see the uterus not as a source of pathology, but as an intelligent messenger, women can reclaim agency over their health and rediscover the profound wisdom their bodies have carried all along. Take the next step in your healing journey If you’re ready to better understand your unique womb energetics and begin restoring harmony naturally, explore my Womb Medicine Bundle , a guided mini course and ritual toolkit designed to help you reconnect with your body’s wisdom and heal from within using Chinese medicine, embodiment, and feminine self-care. You can also begin with my free Womb Quiz here , which reveals your personal womb type and offers specific holistic practices to support balance. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram ,   LinkedIn ,  and website for more info! Read more from Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro, Mentor & Healer Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, ontogonic hypnotherapist, and creator of Radiance: The Podcast. Known as a spiritual hacker embodied in feminine wisdom, she guides women through womb healing, tantric and shamanic arts, and cyclical embodiment. Irene's online programs blend Chinese medicine, somatic therapy, and sacred sexuality to help women reclaim their pleasure, power, and purpose. Her mission is to awaken the body as a sacred portal for soul remembrance and feminine leadership.

Written by Patricia Kaulmann, Specialist for Biological Emotional Balance Patricia Kaulmann supports the balance between body and mind. She published the book "My Little Big Transformation" in Portuguese and German in 2024 and is a co-developer of HTGMusic, a supportive, energetic method with sound/frequencies. If there is one thing that is part of life, it is having to make decisions again and again. Be it at school, at work, at home, with family, with friends, while shopping, etc. What is the saying? It is like, not giving an answer is also an answer. Oops, well, not quite that, but almost. Positioning and the role in life Especially if you are self-employed, you should position yourself. This puts you in touch with your customers' frequencies. You sense what they need and what you can do better. You work more purposefully and efficiently. To do this, you first have to decide. Then come the fears, the questions, the uncertainty of having chosen the wrong option. When doubts arise, you make things difficult for yourself and interrupt the possible frequencies that could provide you with answers. Who are you? Who have you become? What do you do? For almost all questions, a decision was necessary. Your name was probably chosen by your parents. What fits and what absolutely does not. How you perceived your life and chose your path was, believe it or not, your decision. If you do not broadcast what you want but what you absolutely do not want, guess what manifests? That is exactly what the field confirms. Manifestation and its meaning For a very long time, the idea has been perpetuated that you have to imagine exactly what you want, feel it as truth, and trust that it is ready to be so. This is how you create everything and succeed in achieving it. It is not wrong. Now, it is much easier to find explanations. Everything already exists, within reach, right under your nose. You just have to decide. What? Yes, decide to be in the frequency where you want to be. Like when you search for a radio station and then stay on the right frequency so you can listen to your music. The same applies to the TV channel. Choose what feels closer to you as an example. Yes, decide to allow yourself to be where you want to be. Is it that simple? Let us put it this way, your consciousness can be active 24/7, nurture your mindset, and bring you back to center. Life is constantly moving, and the same applies to everything. Acceptance and letting go Another decision is acceptance and letting go. Am I irritating you now? Cool, goal achieved. Joking aside, you have to decide in these cases too. Everything that was is over, it is one of those things you cannot change. Accept even the difficult things. Forgive. Let go of what has been. Be happy about what is. What is, in the now, defines your tomorrow. Your tomorrow is then again now. That is how it is. We only live in the now. Pareto principle Do you know the Pareto principle? It is used everywhere. The 20/80 principle. For example, you have 80 percent control over your life. The other 20 percent is left to other people, the weather, machines, etc. Another example, 20 percent of what you do is responsible for 80 percent of your results. So, plan and repeat those 20 percent throughout your day to significantly improve your results. Trust and move on And now we come to a crucial point. What are you putting your trust in? Do you trust that it will work, or rather not? Have you considered this yet? You either trust 100 percent that it is a good fit, or 100 percent that it is not. You can adjust all topics this way. You do not learn to trust. You do things one way or the other. Now comes the unexpected, that is your decision alone. From the moment you trust that things are the way you want them to be and you move on, situations, opportunities, and chances arise that want to move you there, to where you want to be. This is not a fairy tale. I can say this from my own experience, in both a positive and negative sense. Before I knew all this, I used it wrongly. The results spoke for themselves. Once, I wanted to know, no matter what, what was better for me. I was in love as a young girl, and my boyfriend had moved away. We were in a long-distance relationship. But something inside me told me it was over. Because I trusted him in an inaccurate, unclear way, an accident occurred. A lot happened. It turned out he already had another relationship and was unable to end our relationship. Then I kept trusting that I would get better, physically and emotionally. There were indeed highs and lows. That is just how life is. My life changed completely. Today I am happily married and have a wonderful son. What do we have left then? Accept, let go, trust, and move forward with gratitude. Gratitude for every hurdle, every stage in life. Gratitude for the hard times and the good times. That is what defines us. Always have a big goal to achieve, but take it step by step in the present. Use tools for your actions and be conscious and active. The secret is to vibrate exactly the way you want to be, even if it is not there yet. To awaken, last words in making decisions “In every moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” Theodore Roosevelt. In the Bible, you read in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be done for you.” Bashar said, “To those who believe, the way will be revealed before they understand.” Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Patricia Kaulmann Patricia Kaulmann, Specialist for Biological Emotional Balance Patricia Kaulmann helps people understand how they can activate their self-healing through their thoughts and emotions and how they can get rid of blockages and beliefs through emotional intelligence and energetically supported frequencies. The right mindset plays a major role in healing. For this, it is essential to understand your own body embryologically, biologically, and emotionally. This is where Patricia brings in her expertise. Everyone should have access to this information and be able to live happily.

Written by Anna Dafna, ADHD Coach, Mentor, Psychologist (GMBPsS) Anna Dafna, a multiple award-winning ADHD and high-performance coach, mentor, and psychologist (GMBPsS). She coaches ambitious yet scattered minds to move beyond productivity and into presence. Through her holistic, evidence-based and soulful approach, she transforms how we think about focus, identity, and success.  Many adults with ADHD move through the world behind invisible masks shaped by politeness, performance, and the fear of being misunderstood. This article explores how masking impacts identity, relationships, and the nervous system, and offers trauma-informed guidance on reconnecting with your authentic self so connection no longer comes at the cost of your wellbeing. ADHD masking and the cost of connection “We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.” – François de La Rochefoucauld. Not every mask is made of plastic. Some are shaped by politeness, productivity, and the quiet exhaustion of holding it all together. For many adults with ADHD, the show starts long before Halloween, the daily act of appearing consistent, composed, and in control. Saying yes before you mean it. Overexplaining to feel understood. Performing to belong, all while your mind sprints ahead of your body. One client in her mid-fifties told me, “I am 55, and I don’t know who I really am.” She had learned to stay safe the only way she knew, through adaptation. Masking can feel comforting because it offers temporary safety. It helps you blend in and get through the day. But inside, the body and mind fall out of sync. You can be smiling and speaking, yet feel absent from your own life. Disconnection doesn’t just happen in the mind, it shows up in how we love, lead, and listen. It sounds like over-apologising, avoiding boundaries, or mistaking self-sacrifice for connection. It is the quiet exhaustion of being easy to love by never being inconvenient. Masking keeps the peace but costs intimacy. The body stays alert, scanning for approval or tension. The cost is not only emotional, it is physiological. Over time, the nervous system begins to associate connection with danger and authenticity with risk. To truly unmask, we must understand how the body interprets safety beneath the surface. Understanding the nervous system Our nervous system constantly scans for cues of safety or threat, a process Stephen Porges (2011) calls neuroception. When it is balanced, we move fluidly between connecting, acting, and resting. When it is dysregulated, we get stuck in overdrive or in shutdown, shaping how we think, feel, and relate. Ventral vagal, safety and connection: Here, the body feels calm and engaged. Breathing is steady, curiosity returns, and relationships feel possible. Sympathetic, mobilisation and protection: This is the body’s accelerator. It fuels focus and action, but when it runs too long, tension replaces clarity. You might appear productive but feel wired and restless. Dorsal vagal, immobilisation and freeze: This is the emergency brake, the body’s way of conserving energy when escape feels impossible. Life feels hopeless. Motivation fades. It is not weakness, it is protection. Fawning: The people-pleasing response “If you trade your authenticity for approval, you may gain acceptance but lose yourself.” – Brené Brown. Trauma specialist Pete Walker and PsychCentral define fawning as appeasement, a nervous system response to stay safe through people-pleasing. Fawning is a learned trauma response for survival and protection. Polyvagally, it is a hybrid state, blending connection with mobilisation and combining the ventral vagal system (social engagement) with sympathetic activation (fear-based compliance). Prolonged fawning may collapse into shutdown, a ventral-dorsal blend where you keep pleasing but feel numb and invisible inside. Fawning makes relationships look harmonious on the outside but erodes honesty on the inside. True closeness is not about avoiding conflict, it is about staying present when it arises, because conflict, when safe, can actually deepen a genuine connection. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD): The ADHD pain point Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is part of ADHD. It describes the intense emotional pain triggered by real or perceived rejection, a wave of shame or sadness that feels like danger. This sensitivity is linked to how the ADHD brain processes emotion. Studies show that areas such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, which regulate emotion, function differently in ADHD. That can make emotional reactions faster and harder to control.[5] “I could sense rejection before anyone said a word,” one client told me. Trauma can intensify the RSD experience, but it is not what causes it. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria can lead to different reactions, including withdrawal, lashing out, or fawning. Fawning is the reaction that looks composed on the outside but is fuelled by fear on the inside. From coping to connection But when the body starts feeling safer, rejection or perceived rejection still hurts, but no longer defines you. It becomes something you can feel, repair, and move through. Sometimes healing looks like catching yourself mid-apology and taking a breath instead. Sometimes it is choosing silence over a story that is not true anymore. We can meet others to the extent we have met ourselves. When self-connection deepens, connection with others can deepen too, especially if they are the right crowd. As the body learns safety, relationships shift from managing others’ comfort to meeting in honesty. Learning about trauma-informed self-regulation can help rebuild this bridge between safety and connection. Reclaiming authenticity These are some ways to begin reclaiming authenticity and to move from understanding it in theory to experiencing it in practice. Each invites you to return to your body as the starting point for truth, safety, and self-trust. Authenticity is not performance, it is presence. It is not loud, it is peaceful, the quiet confidence that comes when your body feels safe to be seen. Before you answer, let your body be heard: If your yes feels heavy, it is likely a no. Your body knows boundaries before your words do. Expansion signals truth, contraction signals cost and a warning of self-betrayal. Honour your body’s wisdom beneath the urge to please. Regulate, then relate: Breathe before responding, not after regretting. A regulated body creates space for clarity and curiosity. Coherence in the body creates clarity in the mind because the prefrontal cortex can engage and curiosity returns. This safety creates space for presence, the kind that lets you listen and understand. Work in rhythm: Your energy has seasons. Honour them. Productivity thrives on consistency, but the pace can and should change. There is a time for sprinting and a time for slowing down or being still, both are sacred forms of progress. Seek safe company: Choose people who are good for your nervous system. Our bodies mirror those around us. Some connections coregulate you, others drain you. Notice how you feel with them and after you leave. Reflection In reflection, unmasking is not an act of exposure but an act of reclamation. This Halloween, the challenge is not to rip off every mask. It is to notice which ones once saved you and which now keep you small. The nervous system does not need perfection, it needs permission. When it finally trusts that authenticity will not cost a genuine connection, the performance ends. When your body feels safe, your personality stops auditioning. You stop performing worthiness and start remembering it. Complimentary consultation To explore more about authentic self-connection and holistic, neuroscience-based and polyvagal-informed ADHD coaching, visit here  or book your complementary consultation here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Anna Dafna Anna Dafna, ADHD Coach, Mentor, Psychologist (GMBPsS) Anna Dafna is a multiple award-winning ADHD coach, mentor and psychologist (GMBPsS), coaching neurodivergent, scattered and misunderstood minds to move beyond productivity and into presence. Her evidence-based, soulful approach bridges neuroscience, psychology, and identity, transforming how we understand focus, performance, and self-leadership. She is the founder of Anna Dafna Coaching Ltd and has been featured internationally for her pioneering work in moving beyond burnout and into brilliance.  References: Brown, B. (2017). Braving the Wilderness. New York: Random House. Cozolino, L. (2014). The Neuroscience of Human Relationships. 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton. Kolacz, J. et al. (2019). ‘Validation of a Polyvagal Theory Measure’, Frontiers in Psychology, 10, pp. 1–15. Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books. Posner, J. et al. (2011). ‘Neural systems of emotion regulation in ADHD’, Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45(9), pp. 1201–1211. Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory. New York: W.W. Norton. Schulz, K. P. et al. (2017). ‘Prefrontal cortex and amygdala structure and function in ADHD’, NeuroImage: Clinical, 15, pp. 767–774. Shaw, P. et al. (2014). ‘Emotional dysregulation in ADHD’, American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(3), pp. 276–293. Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. New York: Viking. Siegel, D. J. (2020). The Developing Mind. 3rd ed. New York: Guilford Press.

Written by Alesha Marie Lange, Transformational Healing Coach Alesha Lange is a recognized leader in the healing and self-development space and co-founder of Divine Time Healing, a heart-centered wellness business. She uses her clairvoyant gifts to channel messages from clients' spirit teams, helping them gain clarity and reconnect with their true selves. For decades, the words psychic and fortune teller have been used interchangeably, often painted with skepticism, fear, or even mockery. Pop culture has only amplified the confusion, portraying psychics as mysterious figures in dark rooms, reading crystal balls, or foretelling doom for the sake of entertainment. But the truth is, being a psychic and being a fortune teller are not the same. While both involve intuition and insight, they operate from entirely different intentions, energies, and purposes. Understanding that difference can transform how people see spiritual work, not as superstition, but as a sacred tool for awareness, healing, and empowerment. What fortune telling really is Fortune telling is the act of predicting future events, often focused on what will happen rather than why it is happening or how to change it. It can be thrilling, but it also keeps the seeker in a passive role, waiting for fate instead of co-creating it. When someone visits a fortune teller, they often expect absolute answers. Will I meet my soulmate? Will I get the job? When will my luck change? This approach can unintentionally disconnect people from their own power. It shifts focus from free will and growth to waiting on external circumstances. The true role of a psychic A psychic, on the other hand, does not predict your future. They help you understand your present. Being psychic means being attuned to energy, emotion, and divine guidance that already exist within and around you. When I connect with a client, my goal is not to forecast their destiny. It is to translate the energy they are carrying and help them see how it is shaping their experiences. Energy creates outcomes, so by understanding it, you gain the ability to shift your path intentionally. A true psychic reading is about clarity, not certainty. It empowers people to make aligned choices, heal emotional wounds, and co-create with divine timing rather than waiting for something to happen to them. Energy, intuition, and empowerment At Divine Time Healing, I use intuitive tools like tarot and energy reading to access what I call soul-level insight. Through that insight, I help clients uncover the beliefs, emotions, or energetic patterns that are influencing their lives. For example, if a client asks about love, I will not simply tell them when they will meet their soulmate. Instead, I look into the energy surrounding their heart space. Are they open to receiving love? Are they carrying unhealed pain that is keeping them from connection? Once those blocks are recognized, transformation begins. That is the difference between prediction and empowerment. Fortune telling gives information. Psychic guidance gives transformation. Why many dismiss it as a "scam" The unfortunate truth is that the spiritual industry has its share of opportunists, people who prey on fear and desperation. This has led to the false belief that all psychic work is manipulation or guesswork. But just as there are unethical doctors or coaches, there are also those in the spiritual field who misuse their gifts. That does not discredit the practice itself. It highlights the need for integrity, discernment, and genuine connection. Authentic psychic work is rooted in compassion, intuition, and divine service. It does not demand belief. It invites awareness. The goal is never to control, but to clarify. The bridge between spirit and self To me, being psychic is about becoming a bridge, connecting a person’s spiritual truth to their human experience. Every message I receive comes through divine guidance, filtered through love and intention for healing. Psychic work is not about having all the answers. It is about helping others discover that the answers already live within them. When clients walk away from a session, I want them to feel seen, centered, and empowered, not dependent. That is the true essence of this work. Awakening the divine wisdom that lives in every one of us. Closing reflection The difference between a psychic and a fortune teller lies in one key word, purpose. A fortune teller seeks to tell you what will happen. A psychic helps you understand why it is happening and how to grow from it. Psychic work is not fantasy. It is a sacred dialogue between soul and spirit. It helps people reclaim their power, align with their path, and heal through awareness rather than fear. Because when we understand that we are not victims of fate but co-creators of our reality, we begin to live with purpose, faith, and trust in divine timing, and that is where true transformation begins. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alesha Marie Lange Alesha Marie Lange, Transformational Healing Coach Raised in a challenging and often chaotic household, Alesha Lange experienced parental divorce at a young age and grew up with emotionally immature parenting. She faced childhood bullying, neglect, and trauma, including deep feelings of abandonment, and later encountered narcissistic abuse in both family and romantic relationships. As a neurodivergent individual, she has navigated life with CPTSD, depression, BPD, and anxiety. Today, Alesha is dedicated to breaking generational trauma cycles and transforming her pain into purpose. Her journey of healing has inspired her to help others reclaim their power and live more authentic, liberated lives.

Written by Emma Liston, Energy Healer Emma Liston is best known for her "magical" ability that goes beyond traditional energy healing. As the heart of Being-Magic, she works with both humans and animals, though animals are her true passion. Calling herself an “animal kingdom guardian,” she sees her work as a life purpose, using her unique gifts to bring comfort to those she helps. There comes a time when the old world no longer fits, when the noise, the rush, the constant doing begin to scrape against the edges of the soul. Many of us are feeling it now, the strange dissonance of living in a world built on separation, while our hearts remember something else, something softer. We sense the hum beneath the chaos, the quiet whisper of the Earth calling us home. To live aligned in a world that isn’t is not about retreat or rebellion. It’s about remembrance. It’s the choice to keep your heart open even when it aches, to walk slowly when the world demands speed, and to live as though every breath, every word, and every act of kindness reshapes the collective field because it does. We are being asked to remember what we’ve always known, that everything is energy, and energy responds to intention. The universal laws we once saw as mystical are simply reflections of this truth, what we send out returns. What we believe, we become. What we imagine, we create. So, to the sensitives, the dreamers, the healers, the guardians of Earth, this article is for you. This is a remembering of what it means to live aligned, even when the world around us has forgotten. The great forgetting and remembering As humanity has traversed this earthly plane over the eons, we've forgotten who and what we are, especially that we are a part of nature, and not separate from it. We’ve become entangled in the illusions of identity, separation, and consumption, and have forgotten the 12 Universal Laws   that govern all. It is said that everything is connected, and as we walk this path where the current world seems far too harsh for some of us, we literally see the interconnectedness of all things. Because the more we disconnect from Source, nature, one another, and even ourselves, the more the outer world we see simply reflects this “disconnection” back to us. And now, the great remembering is well underway. Creation is no longer random. Consciousness is choosing through us. We begin to see that when we honour the life in everything, everything begins to heal. We’ve been in a kind of slumber, now awakening to the true nature of reality. Things have become rather distorted as we have veered off path, but in the universe, there is always balance, which is why the world seems to be unravelling at this time. We’ve been living mainly from the head, doing, pursuing, producing, consuming, and chasing material wealth (at the expense of peace and harmony in many cases), and now we are returning to a more heart-centred way of being. The heart is the true compass in a collapsing world, as when we return to love, balance is restored because we return to our natural state of being. I believe a huge piece of this remembering is imagination. Most of us have been taught that our imagination is well imaginary. But when we are children, we live in our imaginations. We talk to unseen friends, we live in awe and wonder in each moment, and we believe that anything and everything is possible. Imagination is not an escape. It is the architect of reality. Every structure, every piece of music, every artwork of beauty began as a spark in the unseen. When we dare to imagine from love instead of fear, we begin to rebuild the world from within. It’s time to remember this is literally our creative force, the place where everything is visualised before it becomes physical. The imagination is not childish, silly, or unreal. It is the key to creating our world. It is divine intelligence. Included in this remembering are the animals  and our planet, our sacred mirrors of unconditional love. They hold within them what we humans are learning to remember. That love lives within us, too. They guide us back to presence, with love and reverence, and back to our hearts as we move away from the ego-mind way of doing things. Gaia herself is also guiding us back to love, asking us to remember we are a part of her, a part of nature, as this connection starts to come back online. Honouring the animals and Gaia as equals is part of this. No one is better than the other. We are all souls in different suits. We are one. As mentioned in prior articles , this remembrance lives also in seeing that the body is a divine technology, not a “failing meat suit” as allopathic medicine would have us believe. It is a self-healing, self-tuning instrument, if we can only begin to listen to it once more. We remember we are more than just physical, we are energy first, and part of this remembrance is allowing frequency and vibration to guide us, as we remember that there is so much more than what we see. Living in alignment So what do we do? Well, there is actually nothing to do. This is rather about being. Living aligned is not about perfection, but about practicing daily, gentle choices that return us to harmony. Slow down This is something that takes getting used to because we live in a world full of deadlines and to-do lists. But you are not present when you are rushing, and you cannot connect to yourself when you are distracted. The world needs your pause rather than your pushing. In fact, the only place you actually have any power is in the present moment. Listen and get quiet This ties into slowing down, because once you slow down, you notice how busy your mind is, and often, it’s rather uncomfortable in the silence. But the silence is the only place you will hear your inner voice/guidance. You cannot hear your soul, your thoughts, or your body in the noise, nor can you hear others when they might be reaching out for help. It’s time to get quiet and turn away from the distractions. Detach from fear This is a big one, just look at the news. We cannot return to love if we are living in fear. Once you have slowed and silenced the outer world, you will notice how, when you see a headline or hear something that would normally elicit fear, you start to be able to see past that fear. You are able to question your reaction, and you can start to respond rather than react. This is a game-changer. Remember that we create our reality, so if everyone is living in fear, that is what we create more of. Speak your truth and speak from the heart This is about more than just being authentic when you are communicating. Even if others find your words triggering as you are delivering them, your words can still plant seeds that sprout later. There has been too much deception, and it’s time for each and every one of us to speak our truth and to remember that our truth may be very different from the truth of another. It’s time to accept all viewpoints as valid, as everyone experiences their reality through their own filters and beliefs. If this is a bridge too far for you right now, you can still share your voice/vision in a different way, because just your presence can be enough. Additionally, if you have art or any other creations that you’d like to share with the world that allow others to see your true essence, all of this can spark remembrance. By tapping into your creative power and sharing what you create with others, you are doing enough. Think of these as sacred acts of activism. They’re quiet, and their silence ripples through the collective field much more than you realise. You’re not broken, you’re returning to wholeness You are one of the “new humans” who remembers healing is not fixing what is broken, it’s simply remembering what we already are. We are the bridges through which the Divine learns to love itself in form, and together, we forge the path to our new Earth. To those who still feel deeply, you are not broken. You are the pulse of what’s being born. When you live aligned in a world that isn’t, you become the bridge between what is and what’s to come. You are the song the Earth still remembers. I mentioned that our power is in the present moment. When you are present, you start to reconnect with the power within. For everyone reading this - that has visions of a better, kinder, more beautiful Earth - know that the power to create this magical world is not only possible, but you have the power to do so. When you are present, you become more intentional, and you focus your energy on what you want, rather than unconsciously thinking about everything that is wrong. Pause. Tune into your heart. Imagine. Speak. Then watch the magic unfold. Connect with others who feel as you do If something in these words has stirred a remembrance within you, I invite you to connect. Book a call  or join my YouTube  community, where I share insights, experiences, and tools for living aligned. Together, we are building a sanctuary of like-hearted souls walking this path of remembrance. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Emma Liston Emma Liston, Energy Healer Emma Liston is a passionate advocate for animals, combining healing and interspecies communication to create meaningful change. Together with her global community, she facilitates worldwide healing events for animals affected by war, natural disasters, and other crises. Her unwavering belief in the magic that surrounds us drives her to inspire a global shift in the way we care for all living beings, one animal, one human, and one act of kindness at a time.

Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview Vanessa Rose Chykerda is a passionate hairstylist, educator, and salon owner who has built her career on transforming not just hair, but lives. Through her artistry and teaching, she inspires others to embrace authenticity, confidence, and self-love — all while fostering meaningful connections within the beauty community. In a world where beauty often starts on the outside, Vanessa Rose Chykerda believes it truly begins from within. Her journey through the salon and beauty industry has been one of creativity, resilience, and authenticity — rooted in a deep love for helping others see their best selves reflected in the mirror. Her story is one of transformation: of strands, of souls, and of self-belief. Vanessa Rose Chykerda What first drew you into the salon and beauty industry — was there a moment or influence that made you know “this is it”? I have always been creative; I love making things beautiful and put together in every aspect of my life. My first day working in the student salon at MC College Edmonton Campus, I was finishing up my client. It was 5 p.m. on a cold January evening when I looked out the window and had my “this is it” moment. I didn’t care how late it was or that the day was almost over — I wasn’t in a rush to go home. I was already thinking about when I’d get to come back. When you find a career where you’re not counting the hours until home time, but instead planning your next move with excitement, that’s the most beautiful feeling. When you think about your identity as a stylist, educator, and “brand,” what do you most want people to feel or see when they hear your name? Authenticity and love — that’s the foundation of everything I do. If something doesn’t align with who I am, it doesn’t belong in my life. Whether it’s a project, a goal, or a relationship, I approach it with pure intention — always from a place of love. What has been one of your biggest challenges or surprises in building a business in the hair industry — and how did you work through it? Imposter syndrome is real — especially when you’re creating someone’s vision of themselves. You’re listening to what your client is asking for but also have opinions of your own on what your client should do, and it’s a hard line to see when it comes to respecting your client’s wishes and suggesting certain things that may look better in our professional opinion. You must truly understand your client, guide, and listen to them through choices like color and cut. It’s a powerful position — changing how someone looks also changes how they see themselves and how the world sees them. I’ve learned to find myself as an artist in that space. My role is to give, to help, and to lead with love. It’s not about perfection — it’s about understanding, listening, and being someone people can trust and open up to. At the end of the day, I do this out of love — to bring joy, confidence, and beauty to others. Plain and simple. “It’s not about perfection — it’s about understanding, listening, and being someone people can trust.” When you mentor or teach others in the beauty field, what is the message you most want them to carry forward? Complete every service with professionalism and authenticity. There are standards in this industry, especially when meeting clients for the first time — be professional in all your services, but always be yourself. No career is worth pursuing if you can’t show up as who you truly are. Looking ahead, if you could make one change or raise one idea in the hair/beauty world, what would you like your influence to spark? Create deeper connections through authenticity and love — because at the end of the day, everyone just wants to feel seen and heard. True happiness comes from being authentic; it lifts the pressure of trying to be “the perfect person,” a standard no one can truly live up to. I know because I’ve been there. You can be the picture of the “perfect worker” and still lose yourself in the process — and that’s the worst feeling in the world. The key is balance: professionalism and authenticity, working hand in hand. “True happiness comes from being authentic; it lifts the pressure of trying to be ‘the perfect person.’” What has been one of your biggest challenges or surprises in building a business in the hair industry — and how did you work through it? I am my business. Becoming who I am today and defining what I stand for came from learning from other professionals — but mostly from listening to my heart, trusting what felt right, and noticing what truly resonated with my clients. The biggest challenge is finding your footing and defining who you are as an artist behind the chair. Once you’re rooted in that, the right clients naturally follow. If you’re dishonest in your work, pricing, or expertise, your clientele will reflect that. But when you lead with honesty, hard work, fairness, and kindness, it always takes you far. Be kind to yourself and the journey you are on, and have that same lenience with your clients. Vanessa Rose Chykerda's journey is a reflection of what makes the beauty industry so powerful: authenticity, connection, and love. Through her work as a hairstylist, educator, and salon owner, she continues to remind others that true beauty begins with confidence, kindness, and the courage to be oneself — one powerful strand at a time. For more info, follow Vanessa on Instagra m.

Written by Georgina Marczak, Transformational Coach and Ayurvedic Practitioner Georgina Marczak is a leading mentor in the emerging field of energy healing and mastery, and heart-led leadership. Georgina combines a wealth of business experience with life, health, and energy-based coaching qualifications to support people out of an ego mindset and into heart-led consciousness. I have spoken to many people over the last year about their views on traditional Western medicine and what mainstream would call alternative health, such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Reiki, and the like, and it brought a theme to my attention I did not expect to find. Most people are very polarized in their views. It is either traditional medicine is the way to go, GP visits, pharmaceuticals, and surgery are the only way to go, or I do not like to take drugs, and I prefer to treat myself naturally. Why the polarity, I wonder? It is like operating with one hand trapped behind your back in my book. Why do I say that? Well, I have worked in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries for years, with many different diseases and treatments, and I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at the age of 8 and would not be here without insulin. So yes, of course, I can see the value in what our mainstream approach to healthcare and disease offers. That said, we do often just treat the physical body or mental at best within western healthcare, often looking at ailments in total isolation from one another and prescribing more and more drugs that cause more and more side effects while paying little to no attention to the energy fields, in-depth understanding of nutrition, natural rhythms of the body, and the root of where chronic disease started. We need to start looking at the risk-to-benefit ratio with everything we do within Western medicine. We prescribe more and more drugs yet have more and more disease, why? Well, that answer is complex and not fully understood, but I know from my clients that their digestive fire, immune system, trapped toxic emotions and trauma, and what goes into their body have a lot to do with it. So what is the answer? I would suggest the answer is a more holistic approach where we do not get stuck in polarity, but see what is currently seen as western traditional and eastern or alternative as all valued tools in a varied toolbelt that we can pick our approach and treatment from, depending on the specific problems presented at an individual patient level. Ayurveda, as an example, can be used alongside all other treatments or as a standalone. If you have broken your leg, you likely will not think of Ayurveda first, I would not. However, if I had a chronic disease or low energy and digestive issues, I absolutely would use Ayurveda with or without other treatments. We need to stop looking for the one drug or treatment that will fix everything and start to consider the fantastic toolbelt of healing we could have at our fingertips if we widened our approach to mind, body, and spirit diagnosis and treatment, focusing on root cause and best tools for the job. If you need a partner to help you heal holistically at a mind, body, and soul level, please visit my website and contact me for a free discovery call to learn more. Take back control of your mind, body, and soul. Follow me on Facebook , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Georgina Marczak Georgina Marczak, Transformational Coach and Ayurvedic Practitioner Georgina has a well rounded professional career having spent many years in sales, sales management, leadership, coaching and marketing, she has an eye for business development and has supported many people exceed huge sales targets and start and grow their own businesses successfully. Alongside that, Georgina is an Empath, Energy healer, Transformational coach, and a Qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner, and is passionate about bringing the two together in what she calls her Toolkit to transform her clients from head-based low-energy ego mentality to heart-led high vibrational successful souls, and is able to both understand.

Jyllin, founder of the Holistic Liberation Method, weaves Five Element Theory, meridian yoga therapy, and EFT to restore emotional balance and embodied resilience, drawing on nearly two decades of teaching experience across four continents. Jyllin, Holistic Health Coach & Somatic Educator Who is Jyllin? I grew up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin, USA, where I spent my early years sleeping with cows and rescuing feral cats. These experiences nurtured deep empathy and eventually led me to become vegan as a teenager. At the same time, I was a gymnast, flipping across fields and walking through the house on my hands, with a love of movement that evolved into modern and post-modern dance, somatics, and mindful movement, shaping my lifelong connection to the body. In 2000, I left the Midwest for the West Coast, where I discovered yoga, meditation, holistic health, and Five Element theory, tools that changed my life course and continue to shape my work as a holistic health coach and somatic educator. I now live and work internationally with my three rescue cats, spending my days teaching, exploring fresh markets, cooking, and studying with mentors. With a BA in Political Science and an MFA in Writing from CalArts, I’ve always been drawn to understanding both human behavior and creative expression. Having lived and taught across multiple continents, I’m continually inspired by cultural exploration through films, books, foods, traditional practices, and the connections forged through shared movement and mindful living. What common challenges do clients bring to you first? Most clients come to me navigating patterns of anxiety, overthinking, unresolved trauma, or chronic stress, often patterns they aren’t yet fully aware of. They may struggle with anger, grief, frustration, judgment, emotional eating, or addictive tendencies – challenges many of us face in the modern world. What I notice time and again is that my clients are often very hard on themselves, and what they want is also the same: peace of mind, stability, strength, and presence. They want to enjoy their relationships, their work, and themselves without getting lost in worry or endless self-improvement. Through Holistic Liberation, clients uncover who they truly are beneath layers of stress and survival. In that process, they experience ease, softness, and stability that naturally carries into every aspect of their lives. What makes your approach different from traditional therapy or standard coaching? My approach is holistic in the truest sense, integrating the body, subconscious and conscious mind, emotions, and lifestyle. I developed it through my own experience: yoga alone wasn’t enough, talk therapy didn’t fully resonate, and mindset work only took me so far. I needed something that combined everything I had learned over decades into one seamless, embodied system. That’s what I offer through Holistic Liberation, a blend of meridian-based yoga, EFT, meditation, breathwork, mindful daily practices, and foundational nutrition, all integrated so the work is practical, sustainable, and deeply transformative. Holistic Liberation brings these tools together so clients don’t have to spend decades piecing modalities together like I did. Instead, they can experience real transformation through one integrative path. How does EFT tapping help release stress and limiting beliefs? One-on-one EFT sessions are very different from the general EFT practices I share publicly. In private sessions, we get to the heart of your specific beliefs, how they formed, where they came from, and what purpose they’ve served. Using your own language, we release these beliefs from the body-mind and replace them with supportive, empowered ones. EFT works on the body as much as the mind. It draws from elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) but goes beyond it by incorporating the body through tapping on acupoints derived from acupuncture. Research continues to confirm EFT’s safety and efficacy compared to traditional therapeutic approaches. My clients are often amazed by the profound physical, emotional, and mental relief they experience, and how that opens space for ease, clarity, and lasting transformation. What simple daily habit do you recommend for feeling calmer fast? Right after waking, stay in bed for a few minutes and lie flat on your back. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Gently breathe into your hands, letting your breath soften and slow. This simple practice resets your system by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, supporting lymphatic flow, and releasing oxytocin. When your breath slows to about 5-6 breaths per minute, your mind naturally settles, creating a grounding rhythm to begin your day. It’s deceptively simple but profoundly effective. What free tools do you offer to start? I offer several free resources to support people in beginning their holistic liberation journey, all available here : Nervous system reset starter kit: 3 guided practices to calm racing thoughts, ease stress and fatigue, and ground the body for better digestion, mood, and hormonal balance. Five-element quiz: A fun and insightful way to uncover how imbalances show up in your body and mind, revealing how your physical, mental, and emotional patterns connect. Five-element self-nourishment guide: A practical resource for bringing Five Element awareness into daily life. eBook “Holistic Habits That Stick”: 50+ DIY and guided holistic practices with practical steps for building them into sustainable, body-based habits. You can also explore free guided practices and educational videos on my YouTube channel , Holistic Liberation (@jyllin.holisticliberation). From these resources, you can explore deeper work with me, often simply by replying to my emails, which opens the door to guidance, support, and the full Holistic Liberation experience. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jyllin

Written by Houda Dahhou, Founder of Bellar Houda Dahhou is the founder of Bellar, a luxury fashion brand redefining travel accessories with her patented, collapsible boater hat. A Columbia alumna and former grain trader, she brings global insight and timeless elegance to problem-solving through design. In a world obsessed with mass appeal, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to forget that true success rarely comes from trying to please everyone. In this article, Houda Dahhou, inventor and founder of Bellar, the world’s first collapsible boater hat, shares a refreshing perspective on why building for the right few is far more powerful than chasing the approval of the many. As entrepreneurs, we often fall into the trap of thinking that our product must appeal to everyone, that mass approval somehow validates our idea. But the truth is, not everybody is going to want what you’re offering. And that’s not just okay, it’s necessary. In fact, the sooner you accept that your product isn’t for everyone, the stronger your brand, your business, and your peace of mind will become. 1. You don’t need eight billion customers It’s easy to forget that becoming a millionaire doesn’t require eight billion people to buy from you. You don’t even need millions. You only need a few thousand people who truly understand and value your solution. The goal of entrepreneurship isn’t to achieve unanimous global approval. It’s to solve a problem for a specific group of people who genuinely need and appreciate your product. Trying to please everyone leads to chaos operationally, emotionally, and creatively. If every person in the world wanted your product tomorrow, you wouldn’t be able to serve them properly. Quality would collapse under pressure, customer service would explode, production would be rushed, and your brand would lose the soul that made it special in the first place. Success comes from depth, not breadth. It comes from serving a focused group of people exceptionally well, not from chasing the impossible dream of pleasing everyone. 2. Validate the problem by feeling it yourself The best business ideas don’t come from brainstorming sessions or market studies. They come from personal frustration. If you’ve experienced a real pain point yourself, then you’ve already validated the need for your product. That’s how I created Bellar, the world’s first collapsible boater hat designed for women who love to travel light. I was tired of crushed hats in my suitcase and the frustration of having to choose between style and practicality. That personal pain point kept me going when doubts and challenges arose. Because when you know deep down that the problem is real, because you’ve lived it, no external opinion can shake your conviction. You don’t have to wonder if someone out there needs your solution. You already know that at least one person does, you. And chances are, thousands of others quietly feel the same. 3. Not everyone will get it, and they don’t need to Once you start sharing your idea with the world, you’ll quickly realize something, many people will criticize your product simply because it’s not relevant to them. And that’s fine. If someone doesn’t wear hats, they’ll never understand the frustration of traveling with one. They’ll say things like, “Just wear it on your head,” or “That’s why hat boxes exist.” Yes, I know hat boxes exist, but I also know that in 2025, most travelers don’t want to drag around a big box just to protect one accessory. Our suitcases are already overflowing with makeup, shoes, hair tools, and everything else we think we need. Adding a bulky hat box on top of that isn’t practical anymore. So, I designed a hat that collapses flat, fits in a suitcase, and pops back perfectly into shape. Some people still won’t see the point, and that’s okay. They’re not my target audience. The ones who do get it, the ones who light up when they hear the words “collapsible hat,” those are my people. Those are the customers worth building for. 4. Criticism isn’t a sign of failure, it’s proof of originality Every new idea faces resistance. People are comfortable with what they know, and innovation naturally challenges that comfort. So, when you hear negative comments, it often means you’ve created something different enough to be noticed. Your job isn’t to convince the skeptics, it’s to serve the believers. Your real supporters will recognize the value in what you’ve built because they’ve felt the same pain, experienced the same frustration, or shared the same dream. They’ll become your first customers, your early adopters, and your loudest advocates. 5. Build for the few, not the many Focus on the ones who get it, the niche who actually needs what you’ve made. If you can make a thousand people fall in love with your product, genuinely fall in love with it, you’ll never have to worry about the millions who don’t. That’s how strong brands are built, by going deep, not wide. You don’t need to appeal to everyone. You just need to resonate deeply with the right ones. Final thoughts The moment you stop trying to convince the world to like your idea is the moment you start building something meaningful. The truth is, not everybody will like your product, but that’s precisely what makes it valuable. Because the people who do love it will love it fiercely. So, if you’re an entrepreneur wrestling with doubt, remember this, you don’t need the world to believe in your idea. You just need to believe in it long enough for the right people to find you. And they will. Press inquiries, interviews, and wholesale requests: info@bellar.co www.bellar.co Follow me on Instagram for more info! Read more from Houda Dahhou Houda Dahhou, Founder of Bellar Houda Dahhou is an entrepreneur, a Columbia University graduate, and a former global grain trader with over 5 years of experience in the commodities sector. After years of exploring side hustles, her love for travel and timeless fashion led her to create Bellar, a brand built around a patented collapsible hat that merges elegance with functionality. Inspired by a hat destroyed on holiday, she spent years developing a refined solution for women who travel in style. Houda brings a practical, international perspective to entrepreneurship, design, and innovation. Her mission: to create beautiful, packable fashion that fits a mobile, modern lifestyle.

Global e-commerce sales have reached trillions of dollars and continue to grow each year. Along with that growth come mounting logistical challenges, rising delivery costs, increased risks of shipment delays, and a decline in overall customer experience. As one of the global leaders in e-commerce, Amazon has achieved remarkable success in optimizing courier routes and improving multiple key delivery metrics. One of its main advantages lies in an innovative last-mile route optimization system implemented not only in the United States but also across many of the company’s international markets. The author of this approach is Igor Kiselev, a program manager at Amazon, and the methodology, which has already delivered outstanding results within the company, has the potential to become a new industry gold standard. Igor Kiselev, Global Supply Chain and Logistics Leader In this exclusive Q&A, the Brainz Magazine Editorial Team speaks with Igor Kiselev, Global Supply Chain and Logistics Leader at Amazon, about his innovative methodology for optimizing last-mile delivery, a system that’s redefining efficiency across global e-commerce operations. Igor, your methodology has a number of unique features. What drives its remarkable efficiency? At the core of my approach is a set of initiatives and rules that streamline delivery processes, coordinate warehouse and courier operations, and structure route planning. This methodology enhances efficiency on the so-called “last mile,” the stage of delivering goods from the warehouse to the customer. All logistics companies and e-commerce operators generally base their route planning on fundamental parameters such as customer location and route distances. What sets my methodology apart is that it also takes delivery complexity into account, how much time and resources each order requires. For us, it is crucial to improve the experience of both end customers and couriers. Implementing this approach has improved the courier experience by more than 390 basis points on certain types of routes. How was the solution you proposed implemented? The methodology takes multiple factors into account when optimizing routes. I reviewed not only the approach to determining the path from warehouse to customer but also the entire delivery planning system, considering navigation challenges and the courier experience. For example, if for some reason, couriers are reluctant to deliver to certain areas, we work to understand the situation and identify the root causes of the issues. By accounting for all these factors, we design routes that balance travel time with the number of deliveries. Another impressive achievement of your methodology is a 70% reduction in inefficient routes. How was this accomplished? There are numerous reasons for inefficient routes, including poorly optimized routing, misconfigured last-mile logistics processes, and ineffective use of labor. The methodology addresses these issues, which account for roughly 70% of such problematic routes. As I mentioned earlier, the experience of both customers and couriers is extremely important to us. For instance, when a driver picks up a package and sees that it needs to be delivered to the other side of the city, they know it will take a lot of time, incur high fuel costs, and naturally feel dissatisfied with the route. At the same time, the customer waits longer for their package and is also unhappy. As I noted, my methodology minimizes such routes. This mechanism saves millions of dollars annually across various last-mile expenses. Your methodology has been implemented almost seamlessly, and successful delivery rates have increased by more than 300 basis points. How did you achieve this? Step by step. Amazon, like any high-tech company serving a mass market, cannot simply pause operations to roll out a new innovation. That’s why all processes are introduced as smoothly as possible. Some initiatives from the methodology are already in place and showing success, while others are undergoing pilot testing with positive results. It’s crucial for us that couriers continue their work without disruptions and that customers keep receiving their orders on time. The phased implementation took about a year, but the methodology continues to evolve and improve. This is a natural process that, I believe, will never stop. Could the methodology you developed become the new standard for last-mile e-commerce delivery? Yes. Amazon is a massive company with a significant share of the e-commerce market in the U.S. and worldwide. Having proven its effectiveness within the company, this methodology is already having a substantial impact on last-mile e-commerce delivery overall, as it largely shapes the experience of millions of customers and thousands of couriers who deliver packages every day. At the same time, it can be said that the approach is applicable to the logistics sector more broadly. What prospects do you see for last-mile logistics in e-commerce? And what does the future hold for your methodology? The e-commerce world is evolving rapidly, customers expect fast delivery, a wide selection of products, and a seamless platform experience. Implementing effective solutions and strategies is crucial, as ultimately everyone benefits, the company, customers who receive their orders on time, and, importantly, the couriers. We don’t aim to overload drivers; on the contrary, the purpose of the methodology is to reduce workload while increasing profitability. We want to give people the opportunity to earn income while maintaining a flexible schedule that suits them. Our experience shows that courier satisfaction has improved, people are eager to continue working with the company, can forecast their earnings based on workload, and gain a sense of stability and confidence in the days ahead. I will continue to refine the methodology and monitor the results of its implementation. The e-commerce market may face new challenges and evolving customer needs, which require constant strategy improvement and a reassessment of previously established paradigms. Follow me on LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Igor Kiselev

Written by Dr. Tanya Hames, Rapid Transformational Therapist Dr. Tanya Hames is a certified Hypnotherapist and Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Therapist. RTT was created by the internationally renowned hypnotherapist, Marisa Peer. Dr. Tanya Hames empowers clients in Guernsey, the Channel Isles, and worldwide by Zoom to conquer their limiting beliefs in order to transform their lives. Do you believe that transformation is only possible in youth? I was surprised to find that some clients would sigh and say in a resigned way, “I’m just getting old”, as justification for why they wouldn’t set out to achieve a goal. It might sound like a perfectly harmless comment, a statement of fact, but this simple phrase was gradually diminishing their options in life. And what if the underlying limiting belief that transformation is only possible in youth is simply not true anyway? A made-up story. Formulated from past events. Conditioned by family, media, and environment? Did you know that the average age of a successful entrepreneur is 45, not 25? Did you know that female entrepreneurs’ chances of success are higher in later life? That’s why I always show my clients how midlife transformation is possible. The science of self-renewal illustrates that it’s never too late to rewire the subconscious mind and transform your life. A great way to start your best season yet, regardless of your age, is to harness the power of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy, after all, has a 93% success rate after just six sessions, according to UCLA psychologist, Dr. Barrios. It’s the “go-to” for many celebrities, CEOs, and top athletes who realise its effectiveness, given that 95% of life is controlled by the subconscious mind, whereas only 5% by the conscious mind. These savvy individuals know that working in the subconscious mind is powerful beyond measure and transforms their thinking.  My work includes many clients over 40 years old, who have overcome their limiting beliefs about their age using a form of hypnotherapy called Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT). It was created by the renowned hypnotherapist Marisa Peer. This form of hypnotherapy is different from normal hypnotherapy in that it goes back to the root cause of the limiting beliefs that are holding individuals back. It rewires these quickly and effectively, typically in just two sessions.  It’s never too late to start your best season yet. You just need to take a deep dive into your subconscious mind. Don’t be held back by an essentially meaningless number. Your life is precious. Make this the day you start to create a wonderful new reality using the power of your subconscious mind. Whether you are an individual in your prime with a grandiose career plan or a bold, long-held ambition, or simply want to live a more meaningful, satisfying, and intentional life, here are six practical mindset tips that might help you on your journey of reinvention as you transform your life. Tip 1: Commit to showing up It’s your life, it’s your story, why not make it a good one, regardless of your age? Show up in the very best energy every day, always. Wear your best outfits, your fancy jewellery, whatever you like. Do not conform to others’ reality. Don’t shrink into the background because of your age. Don’t save things for later. Later is now. Live in the present. There is nothing more refreshing than coming across an older person in the office or at a party who lives an exciting and vibrant life against a background of deep experience, wisdom, and knowledge. Contrast that with the older person in the office or at the party, boring everyone with their perceived past regrets and mistakes, saying things like: “I should have written that book twenty years ago, but I didn’t, because I was worried no one would like it.” “I should have changed careers ten years ago, but now I am definitely too old.” Don’t be that type of older person demonstrating that they are over the hill, washed up, obsolete, worn out, yesterday’s news. Make a commitment right now to living a fuller, more empowering life by expanding into the energy in the here and now. Talk about your plans and goals as if you were a twenty-year-old. Age is nothing more than a number. Set your goals, move the dial every day, and take risks, regardless of your age. Your time is now. Tip 2: Identify and reframe limiting beliefs “You make your beliefs and then your beliefs make you” – Marisa Peer. Do you have limiting beliefs about your age lurking in the shadows of your subconscious mind? Firstly, identify the critical negative belief that is spinning around in your mind. For example, maybe you have a thought that you are too old to apply for a dream position, thinking that a younger person would be more suitable. Secondly, stop for a moment and ask yourself, “Is this really true?” Reflect on why you don’t think you are good enough. Think about it. Have you created another made-up story that younger people are more deserving than you? Thirdly, say out loud, “No, that is not my reality. Cancel, cancel.” Finally, replace that negative thought with a bold, powerful truth that lifts you higher and reframes and recodes your limiting belief. “I am a phenomenal professional, with amazing content knowledge built up over many years. I am just as good if not better than any younger individual.” Keep repeating this type of positive affirmation until it becomes your reality. Start recoding, rewiring and reframing any limiting beliefs about age, and see how you start to truly thrive. Jot down your limiting beliefs every day as they pop up for about seven days. Reframe them immediately with a better thought. See how your reality changes. Start shattering every “I can’t”. Your best chapter starts today. Tip 3: Start thinking better thoughts and speaking better words Did you know that the word Abracadabra means “I create as I speak”? Every word you say affects your reality. Start making your thoughts positive instructions to your mind, regardless of your age. You have already made a commitment to reframing negative beliefs. Choose thoughts and words that empower, inspire, and fuel your dreams. Stop opting out by saying, “It’s just my age”, creating false narratives that your needs and wants are not available to people your age. Once you make a habit of thinking better thoughts and speaking better words, you will see that midlife breakthroughs are possible as you create a more positive reality. One of my eldest clients in Guernsey, who is incredibly sprightly and runs several businesses, starts every morning saying, “Great things happen to me today.” As Shakespeare wrote: “There’s nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Hamlet. Start making your thoughts positive instructions to your mind today. Jot down and track your positive thoughts and comments for around seven days and see how your reality changes for the better. Tip 4: Believe you are good enough This is one of Marisa Peer’s powerful insights as Founder of the I Am Enough Movement. Firstly, write I am good enough on mirrors, on screen savers, anywhere and everywhere. Start believing it. Start saying it repeatedly. It might sound cheesy to begin with, and you may feel self-conscious as you say it, but it is fundamentally important to say it. Secondly, write four powerful statements about yourself: “I am a wonderfully experienced manager.” “I am a phenomenally loving parent.” “I am an incredibly energetic person.” “I am a fabulously kind person.” Keep saying these statements out loud, too. Use incredibly powerful and descriptive language. You see, you can’t be put down, rejected, diminished, or ignored by others when you know you are enough. Others will pick up on your energy. You interact so differently when you know you are enough. It’s time to own your enoughness. What does it feel like? What does it look like? How do you look after yourself when you know you are enough? You expand into a better life when you know you are enough. People just start to take notice of you and sit up in your presence. Fix the feeling of not being good enough inside instead of relying on external validation from others. Always remember, you weren’t born thinking you were not good enough. You were taught, shown, or subtly conditioned to believe it. Start focusing on being enough every day and jot down how your energy changes over seven days. Tip 5: Develop an abundant mindset According to Dr. Joe Vitale, people think about 60,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day. Most of them are the same as the day before. They include doubts, worries, negativity, and inner criticism. Do you really believe that adding one positive thought into your sea of negativity is going to help you manifest your dreams? As Wayne Dyer said, “You don’t manifest what you want, you manifest who you are.” Firstly, think about money and write down your limiting beliefs about it. “People won’t like me if I am too wealthy.” “Rich people are not kind.” Secondly, now write the affirmations that oppose those limiting beliefs. “If I am wealthy, I can make a positive difference to society with my money.” “Many rich people are generous and philanthropic.” Make sure that you are cultivating an abundant mindset every day. Don’t let your mind think with a lack mindset. Create your reality that abundance is in the infinite. There is always more than enough available. Make a list of what abundance means for you and start cultivating it every day. Tip 6: Do not accept others’ reality Anything is possible, whatever your age. Who you are is entirely limited by who you think you are, as the Egyptian Book of the Dead pointed out. After all, Louise Hay was 58 years old when she started Hay House and published You Can Heal Your Life, which went on to sell 50 million copies worldwide. There is no age limit on success. So, if someone pours cold water on your great new idea, just say, “No, that is not my reality. Cancel, cancel.” Make sure you are never incorporating others’ limiting beliefs into your reality. To conclude, it’s never too late to transform your life. Perfect Mindset exists to help you rewrite your script and change your story. You have a choice to get outside your comfort zone and make progress or shrink into inertia. Let’s work together to get to the root cause of your issue and help your subconscious mind accept new dynamic ideas, thought patterns, and models of reality. Always remember that happiness is your true birthright, regardless of age. Renewal and reinvention are always attainable. Don’t let your subconscious mind be your biggest downfall. Make it your greatest asset. It’s time for you to create your legacy. Book in for a complimentary discovery call with Dr. Tanya Hames of Perfect Mindset. “I’m not interested in buzzwords. I am interested in great results.” Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Dr. Tanya Hames Dr. Tanya Hames, Rapid Transformational Therapist Dr. Tanya Hames is a certified Hypnotherapist and Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Therapist. RTT was created by the award-winning, internationally renowned Hypnotherapist, Marisa Peer. Dr. Tanya Hames is registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register and the International Association of Counselors and Therapists. Her background includes a doctoral thesis on motivation and mindset, years as an Analyst in Singapore creating groundbreaking educational programmes, and presenting at international research conferences. Dr. Tanya Hames helps clients rewire subconscious blocks to transform their lives, both personally and professionally.