Written by: Aleksandr Iurev, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. NFTs had a meteoric rise in 2020 and 2021 but crashed and burned in 2022. But don’t think it’s the end of NFTs. They are poised to come back stronger than ever and to become an integral part of our lives, for example, in such activities as organized sports, races and competitions. The NFT market grew from 2020 to 2021 rising to over $17 billion, up a whopping 21,000% over the 2020 total of $82 million. This massive growth led to much attention and criticism of NFTs, especially because they were being used in digital art market scams across the globe. Then just as suddenly as NFTs soared to cosmic heights, the market came crashing down. In 2022, the NFT market suffered a major collapse; prices fell sharply. In May 2022 it was estimated that the number of sales was down 90% compared to the peak in 2021. Despite the current doldrums, I’m optimistic for the future of NFTs. The challenge is to find ways to use NFTs productively and sustainably. The digital revolution of the past 25 years has been one of the most momentous and exciting periods in all human history. But often the main question is how do we best utilize and capitalize on these digital innovations. Quite often we encounter something new, such as NFTs, but don’t really know what to do with them. There’s the danger that something is merely a novelty or fad that quickly loses its luster and falls into disfavor. Some think NFTs are an example of a digital fad. But I don’t. I think the NFT world will soon bounce back and find utilization in places that we never thought possible. One example of this is using NFTs in the sports industry, whereby runners and any competing athlete can now obtain an NFT to keep in their digital wallet or display it on their social media profile to mark their achievement instead of a trophy or medal (though the athlete can have both if they choose). First, what is an NFT? A non-fungible token (NFT) is a unique digital identifier that can’t be copied and is recorded on a blockchain, thereby certify ownership and authenticity. The main advantage of the NFT is that it can be transferred by the owner, thereby creating a market where these tokens are traded. NFTs can be created by anybody, and often containdigital files such as photos, videos, and audio. Since NFTs are uniquely identifiable assets, they differ from cryptocurrencies that are “fungible.” The first known was created in May 2014 by Kevin McCoy and Anil Dash, and it consists of a video made by McCoy's wife that was registered on the blockchain. Here are five main reasons why I’m optimistic about the future of the NFT market: 1. Increase market liquidity More than 89% of NFT deals are fixed-price deals.NFT tokens with collateral and minimal price guarantee may reduce the “last buyer risk” and therefore this fosters an increase in market liquidity. Since collateral increases with every transaction, it will depend on the number of transactions and the growing price. 2. More transactions > more collateral. And the higher the last sale price > the faster collateral growth. So, in order for the collateralized NFT model to be successful, it has to be applied to a developed secondary market where participants make a profit. The platforms OpenSea and LooksRare are responsible for more than 95% of NFT volume traded. 3. More users are making a profit On average, every NFT token was sold 2.35 times. About 50% of buyers made only one transaction; about 92% made less than 10. You can also see that there are more collections with users making profit than there are collections with users taking losses. While some collections lost 90% of their value, there are also collections that made 5X and even 10X for traders. By tracing the full cycle of each token we can see that the secondary market volume is almost three times bigger than the primary one, with some tokens sold hundreds and even thousands of times. 4. More easy to detect artificial activity This is important in terms of cleaning up the data and preventing market manipulation and fraud; which in turn impacts both liquidity and profitability and can lead to false conclusions about the state of the NFT market. Here’s an example of volume-boosting; imagine that each deal is 800ETH, which significantly affects the statistics contributing to about a $50M fake volume for just one NFT. It turns out, however, that if a specific collection has a dramatic difference in primary and secondary markets, then it’s clear that up to 80% of the collection volume is fake. 5. Highly active secondary market The good news is that there are NFT collections that have a highly active secondary market with real volume. For example, the Pudgy Penguins collection is a good example of a natural secondary market. According to the data we reviewed, the secondary market artificial volume could be $8.5 billion. Up to 80% of two top performing collection's volume is artificial, so this would make the secondary market worth $9.7 billion and only 1.5 times bigger than the primary market. Yes, the NFT market declining by USD value in daily, monthly and yearly terms. However, this is happening with high correlation with the ETH/USD rate decline. By the number of transactions we still see about 40K transactions per day on average, a slight decline from the peak. In conclusion about the NFT market: Yes, the secondary market for NFTs is 1.5 bigger than the primary market, worth almost$10B Yes, more than 30K NFT buyers are active users, with total number of users of 400K. Yes, on average there is 2X more profit than losses. The market has low liquidity, however, with every token being sold around two times While the market is in the decline by its USD value following the ETH rate decline, by number of transactions the NFT market is growing annually. This upward growth trend will continue as more uses are found for NFTs, for example in multi-billion dollar industries such as organized sports, where NFTs can now be used in awards for marathon races and other sporting events. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Aleksandr! Aleksandr Iurev, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aleksandr Iurev is a serial entrepreneur, with many years of experience in launching startups. His most recent is Pocketfied, which will radically disrupt the mobile app development industry with its highly innovative technology and service. Overall, Mr. Iurev has 20 years of experience in the IT sector, as well as in DevOps, and Information Security. He cut his teeth in Tech working in IT security for the largest banks in Russia, as well as for top IT companies. That experience protecting clients from hacker attacks is one reason why he attaches top priority to building secure systems so that users can be certain they're protected.

Written by: Stephanie Train Puente , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. One of the most important aspects of life is what you think and believe about yourself. The relationship you have with yourself affects not only your personal and professional relationships — but your overall success in life. Having a healthy relationship with yourself is essential to success in life because you are the creator of your experience. What you think and believe about yourself influences your experiences and the relationships you believe are attainable to you. Practicing the tips below will help you build self-love, self-acceptance, and self-esteem. With these three concepts solidly in place, the rest of the relationships in your life are poised to flourish. What defines a healthy relationship with yourself? Self-love, self-esteem, and self-acceptance. Self-love is the regard for your well-being and happiness. Self-acceptance is accepting yourself just as you are, as you recognize your abilities, attributes, and limitations — without judgment. Self-esteem is the confidence in these abilities — your overall sense of worth and value. Research by psychologists at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Bern shows that a healthy relationship with yourself can positively impact every area of life. The findings suggest that people with healthy self-esteem have more success in school and at work, have healthier relationships, and improve mental and physical health. These benefits have been found to continue throughout your entire life. Not only that but what we believe about ourselves influences how we behave. It creates our reality . The power of your mind and your personal beliefs If you think the same thought over and over and view this thought as truth, it becomes your belief. Beliefs create a lens through which you see your entire world . Through this lens, you look for evidence from your surroundings that corresponds with what you believe to be true about yourself. You might not even see evidence to the contrary of your belief because you’re so focused on the one that already exists. But really, you’re just creating your own version of the truth. How? What you believe becomes your self-concept — who and what you think you are and who you believe you’re capable of becoming. You create a story in your mind about who you are, and you tell yourself and other people this story all day long . You write your story based on your beliefs, then you take actions that are in alignment with your expectations. You create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Alia Crum, the director of the Stanford Mind and Body Lab, says “Our minds aren’t passive observers, simply perceiving reality as it is. Our minds actually change reality . It’s essential to recognize that mindsets are not peripheral, but central to health and behavior.” It all starts with you. Having a healthy relationship with yourself affects every area of your life The relationship you have with yourself sets the stage for every other relationship in your life. When you have a positive relationship with yourself, you treat yourself with respect — and you expect others to do the same. In general, how we think we should be treated is how we expect others to treat us. A 2018 study found that a healthy view of yourself can instill an overall sense of well-being. This positive view of self and feeling of well-being helps you form quality relationships with others and encourages personal growth and development. Having a healthy relationship and view of yourself can even help motivate you to reach your goals — knowing you’re capable of accomplishing whatever you set your mind to. It can help combat feelings of imposter syndrome . You believe you’re capable of persevering through possible setbacks and that you’ll learn from them . Self-love and acceptance can even affect the brain itself . A study conducted in 2014 found that having a negative relationship with oneself is linked to lower levels of gray matter in the brain — which can affect things like emotional regulation and stress management. But the good news is? You can create a healthier relationship with yourself. It is possible to build and grow greater self-esteem, self-love, and self-acceptance. 6 Tips to strengthen your relationship with yourself 1. Focus on your wins. Even a baby step forward is worth celebrating. What you focus on expands. You invite in more to praise and celebrate — as you celebrate every win. 2. Accept all parts of yourself. When you make a mistake or experience something that looks like a "failure" — learn to find the lesson in it. Napoleon Hill said "Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” Try and look for the “seeds of good” in a situation. Reflect on how the circumstance may have helped you to grow. Take what you’ve learned from the experience, forgive yourself, and move forward. 3. Challenge negative thinking patterns . When you find yourself engaging with negative thoughts — try combating those thoughts with more positive ones. Our limiting beliefs cause us to focus on what's “wrong” with us. Focus on what is going well , how you’re progressing, and where you’re growing. 4. Honor and allow all of your feelings to be present. As they say, what we resist persists. Recognize that a part of you might be feeling this way, but not all of you. It is not who you are. What is within you is more than this particular circumstance, situation, or mistake. Practice saying to yourself “I am more than this anger, frustration, or disappointment, etc.” to help you connect with this sense of yourself. 5. Create a daily gratitude practice. Gratitude is a feeling that is harmonious with abundance. When you’re in a state of gratitude, you open yourself up to a more expansive perspective. You’re better able to receive ideas and see opportunities you might otherwise miss. Gratitude can also help you navigate through your day — and whatever life throws at you — from a more empowered place. 6. Practice conscious and intentional breathing . Conscious breathing can help you shift from a state of anxiety or fear — to a greater state of awareness and peace. Practice taking a few deep breaths in through the nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth — as if you are blowing through a straw. This simple practice can help to create a sense of calm and ease within you — regardless of what’s going on around you. Practicing these things on a daily basis can help transform your relationship with yourself — and transform your entire life . Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website to learn more about how we can work together to strengthen your relationship with yourself. Read more from Stephanie! Stephanie Train Puente, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Puente is a certified coach, speaker, international bestselling author and practitioner of life success principles. Her 25+ years of study and experience working with transformational mindset tools has helped hundreds of people to reshape their lives and discover their inherent ability to build their dreams and create a life they love living. Stephanie is a bridge for women leaders, helping them to transform their inner critic into an empowered advocate for greater self-love and authentic confidence so that they boldly shine their light, give their gifts, and fulfill their mission in business and in life.

Written by: Sarah Tricker Alchemy, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It's interesting how we stay stuck where we are in our lives with this thing called fear that just holds us back! I have been thinking about that monster called fear and what it actually is, why we have developed or entrenched it amongst our lives, so we just sit with satisfaction or even mediocracy. What is fear? Well, I guess when you think of animals, it may be the thing that keeps them alive. The fear that fills them when a predator comes and they have the fight or flight response. I mean the reality is as humans I’m not even sure we have any predators as such! Now we can look at fear as the one thing that’s going to save our lives, you know peering over a cliff most people won’t jump as that fear tells us we will fall to our death. On the other hand, the thrill seekers out there thrive on this. So, I ponder what allows one person to survive on fear as a positive and another to stop living totally? Our world has changed so much over time that the original fight or flight response is not really needed as when we were in the nomadic ages. For those of us that want to achieve great things whether that be in our career, our purpose, our bodies, or even our families why do we settle for less than we can achieve? An interesting thing to think about fear is the feeling it gives us. For most, never all, we get that funny feeling in our stomach. It may be that sense of dread like something is going to happen. It may come and go or be there all the time. However it feels, we attach a negative connotation to it that it is bad. If you think about the excitement, we really do experience that same feeling in our stomach area that we sometimes call butterflies. So why is one bad and the other good when they are the same feeling? Through my work as a high school teacher and life coach something I have found that really stands out to me is that it depends on the reactions people have had growing up around failure. Some children we encouraged to get up and keep going where as others were shouted out and called names. You can see how a prolonged time of being told that failure was bad would lead to this fear of failure. How are fear and failure related? Most people stay where it is comfortable as it is safe there. When we step into a new part of our life we have no idea what the outcome is going to be. The fear of failure is the biggest thing that will paralyze someone from making change. Look at a five-year-old who wants something really bad, they will do so many different things to get what they want. When one thing doesn’t work they do another, then another, and another until they win. At some point in our lives failing becomes something bad instead of good. If you look at any successful person each time they ‘failed’ they knew what not to do any continued until they succeeded! It’s all just a matter of perception! So, when you are next confronted with fear think of the following things; What is the worst that can happen? Do it anyway! The feeling of fear is actually excitement! Failure is only ever a lesson! On the other side of failure is greatness! Please don’t think that as I sit here and write this for you I have never stepped through fear. In fact, I’ve done it far more than I probably should have! I have moved through many times that in the moment I didn’t even know were the right decisions however, at the end I can tell you they were! When I left teaching, after spending nine years of my life getting my education degree and then teaching, people thought I was mad to leave that and be a tarot reader! Now here I am nearly several years later with a metaphysical center where I am a life coach, spiritual reader, teacher, and healer increasing my online presence with membership sites, group coaching, and online courses! If you take a moment to think back over your life, I am sure you can find times when you stepped through and times you didn’t. How would you have ever learnt to walk if you did not get back up every time you fell down? If you quit the first time you fell! You need to find the cheerleader who will encourage you to keep going. Take a look at the people you surround yourself with. Do they encourage you? Do they believe in you? Do they push you to be the best version of yourself? If not you may need to find a place where you are encouraged! It is all of the fear that I have broken through that has helped me create a Life Coaching Program like no other! Want to find out more? Please contact me or make an appointment for your Complementary Life Coaching Consultation on the Life Coaching page. Follow Sarah on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website for more info! Read more from Sarah! Sarah Tricker Alchemy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah Tricker Alchemy is a change-maker and has the ability to see what lies in the unseen and unexplained. After realizing her dream to become an educator, Sarah soon understood she herself was not fulfilling her life purpose. In 2016 she began the journey of entrepreneurship and had been forging her way to true authenticity. Sarah is a Public Speaker & Spiritual Empowerment Coach helping women who are in transition within their life. With her gift as a healer, she facilitates women in finding their authentic selves as well as their life purpose. Every moment is a miracle, and there is always opportunity even when you cannot see it.

Written by: Sharleen Beaumont, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Abandonment of self is a common struggle for many people. It refers to neglecting one's needs, feelings, and desires to please others or seek approval. Abandonment can manifest in various ways, from constant people-pleasing to neglecting your physical or emotional well-being. Could this be you? It is not uncommon for individuals to lead successful lives on the outside while feeling a deep sense of abandonment. They may have achieved extraordinary success, a thriving social life, and all the material possessions they desire. Despite these external markers of success, they may still feel unfulfilled and disconnected from their true selves. Working with a professional who can see beyond appearances and recognize that success and happiness are not always synonymous is vital. Overcoming abandonment of self requires taking a deeper look at our values, needs, and desires, and learning to prioritize our well-being, regardless of external markers of success. The root cause of abandonment of self is often a lack of self-worth and self-esteem. When we don't value ourselves, we may feel like we're not worthy of love, attention, or care. We may also feel like we need to earn love and approval from others, leading us to neglect our own needs. Building self-worth and self-esteem is essential to overcome self-abandonment. We can do this by practicing self-care, learning to say "no," and setting boundaries. Boundaries are the limits we select for ourselves and others to define what is and isn't acceptable behaviour. They help us protect our time, energy, and emotional well-being, and they also help to communicate what we value. Six Steps to Setting Boundaries Identify your needs and values: Before you can set boundaries, you need to know what you stand for and need to feel fulfilled and happy. To do this, reflect on your values, needs, and priorities. (I have a value list that I go over with clients) Communicate your boundaries: Once you know them, it's important to communicate them to others. Be clear and assertive about what you will and won't tolerate without being aggressive or passive. Practice self-care: Self-care is essential to setting boundaries, as it helps you recharge and regain your energy. Make sure you're taking care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. Be consistent: Consistency is critical when it comes to setting boundaries. It's important to follow through on your boundaries, even if it means saying "no" to someone you care about or facing negative consequences. Be flexible: While consistency is necessary, be open to adjusting your boundaries over time. Seek support: From trusted friends, family, therapist or coach. They can encourage and support you to set and maintain healthy boundaries. It's also vital to work on developing a positive self-image, which we can do through affirmations, visualization, mindfulness practices and rewriting past stories. Another critical step in overcoming abandonment of self is learning to be honest with yourself and others. We want to be true to ourselves and express our needs and desires, even at the risk of rejection or disapproval. It also means learning to accept and love yourself, flaws and all. Abandonment of self can leave individuals feeling lost, disconnected, and unfulfilled. It can lead to emptiness and a constant yearning for external validation or approval. When we neglect our needs and desires, we may feel like we're living someone else's life rather than ours. The result can be feelings of frustration, anger, and sadness, ultimately leading to burnout and loss of purpose. Awareness of the impact of abandonment of self has on our emotions and well-being is the first step in overcoming it. By focusing on our needs and desires and setting healthy boundaries, we can reclaim our lives and find joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. Lastly, it's essential to surround ourselves with supportive people who will facilitate and support us in being true to ourselves. We may have to let go of relationships that don't align with who we are becoming and seek new connections with people who value and accept us today. Abandonment of self is a common issue that many people struggle with. Remember that loving and caring for yourself is not a luxury but necessary for a happy and fulfilled life. Do you know someone who needs help with a life transition? Brave New Ending offers a one-to-one six-month program. By the end of the program, you will have a better understanding of your own life, a map and new tools to which you can bravely move forward in a consistent and empowered way. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sharleen! Sharleen Beaumont, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sharleen Beaumont is an EQ Master Empowerment Coach and Founder of Brave New Ending. She helps clients get unstuck from their stories and manage their emotions. Her clients re-imagine their life, connect with their highest self utilizing the foundation of all change; emotions! After graduating from University, Sharleen's career began in Victim Services. She then became a Certified Mediator, and Mediated for her Community and Courts. Her career moved to Corporate Communications and Consulting, working globally. Next, she stepped into an Entrepreneurial life, helping take a new company to the multi-million dollar level. Deciding to live life on purpose, she received her Master Empowerment Coach certification and started Brave New Ending. Brave- a strength of character, courageous, faces fear, determined, passionate, on purpose. New Ending-keeps the end goal in mind to write their next chapter and life story.

Written by: Patricia Faust, MGS, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. According to the Harvard Business Review, US job vacancies have outnumbered job applicants since 2018. One reason is that boomers are joining the ranks of retired at a faster rate than millennials can step into their place. As DEI initiatives are being seriously looked at within the workplace, there is still one glaring bias omission – ageism. People are still being evaluated on their chronological age. Several years ago, researchers, Bersin and Chamorro-Premuzic asked around 10,000 companies this question, “Is age a competitive advantage or competitive disadvantage in your organization?”. No surprise – over two-thirds of the companies considered older age a competitive disadvantage. This was consistent with data from AARP research that shows two-thirds of individuals aged 45-74 experienced age-related discrimination. The Demographics There are two demographic trends. The average longevity of human life goes up by three months every year. In the U.S., life expectancy was 47 years at the beginning of the 20th century. It is now 79 years, and by the end of the century, it should reach 100. Secondly, young people are having fewer children, and fertility rates are declining throughout the industrialized world. The birth rate is far below the replacement rate. This means that the only way world economies can grow is through improvements in productivity (which is not happening) or immigration (a searing political issue). (Bersin & Chamorro-Premuzic, Harvard Business Review, 09/26/2019). What is the solution? Companies must bring older people back to work and give them meaningful, important jobs. For years retirement was presented as nirvana – leisure time, golf, travel, and relaxing around the pool. But the reality is those who stop working and retire often suffer from depression, heart attacks and general malaise because they no longer have the purpose that their careers offered them. What are the benefits companies gain from older workers? There are many myths that older workers can drag down a company in these highly technical times. But that is a myopic viewpoint. Older workers hold institutional knowledge accumulated over the many years they were employed. This experience offers shortcuts to solving problems, confidence in decisions, and viewpoints seated in wisdom (crystallized intelligence). They are reliable employees exhibiting professionalism and maturity resulting in a strong work ethic. Getting the job done right is a common asset with this group. What accommodations are necessary for an older worker? Aging changes in the body and brain are real and these changes make employers leery of bringing on an older person. They are afraid of the costs involved with healthcare, missed work, inability to maintain a work schedule, and lack of current technical skills. Can an older employee keep up the pace of a younger workplace? It has been a belief that older employees are not adept at learning new skills, but researchers have learned that more advanced levels of cognitive processing improve through aging. This makes onboarding a new hire or training new skills to older employees more reasonable for human resource departments. There are changes in training and learning expectations. An older brain doesn’t process information as quickly as a younger brain. Pacing the new information in blocks of microlearning followed by experiential learning allows this new information to be learned and encoded in a timelier manner. There are visual changes that occur as you age. The need for reading glasses happens to practically everyone and that change usually starts to occur in the forties. Content printed on glossy paper is often difficult to see. Low contrast colors like blues and greens printed on black background is very difficult to read. Red on black or dark blue is another difficult combination. Training manuals should be printed in large print – at least 12 point and in high contrast colors. Hearing loss is more prevalent than anyone would admit. If a person can’t understand what a trainer or manager is saying, they won’t be able to create the memory to do the job. Aging brain changes Speed of processing is the amount of time it takes for a person to hear something, and then give a response. An aging brain slows down. It cannot understand fast talking because it cannot process the information fast enough. This is not cognitive decline – it is brain aging and it happens to all of us. Working memory Working memory is the brain system responsible for temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for language comprehension, learning, and reasoning, which are complex cognitive tasks. Working memory refers to handling information during a complex cognitive process (e.g., remembering numbers while reading a paragraph). Short term memory Short term memory is responsible for storing information for a short period of time (e.g., remembering a phone number). Attention Attention constitutes a selection mechanism that allows choosing information processing related to a specific task over irrelevant information. It underlies our awareness of the world and the regulation of our feelings and our thoughts. (The Role of Working Memory and Attention in Older Workers’ Learning, http://www.i-jac.org) Age related changes in working memory and attention To capitalize on the institutional knowledge of older workers and get them up to speed on new technology, it is imperative to understand that working memory capacity declines with increasing age. We lose our distraction filters as we get older, and it becomes more difficult to maintain attention. The limited working memory capacity is closely related to our ability to exclude distractors during encoding. Older adults, compared with younger adults, are in a greater reliance on focused attention while encoding a working memory task without distraction. (iJAC-Vol. 14, No. 1, 2021) We all experience these brain aging changes. L&D must incorporate changes to accommodate the aging brain. Older workers are very capable of learning new technology, and updates in system processes if they learn in a way that their brain can process and retain the information. Age should not be a determining factor if they are capable of being a productive employee. Put the terms ‘longevity’, and ‘age’ into your wellbeing, DEI, and recruiting strategies. Remember that many people – no matter their age – do not have enough money to retire (even if they wanted to). In the U.S., it costs $1 million to retire at age 65, yet 21% of Americans have no savings, and 10% have less than $5000 in savings. This said, people of every age are motivated to come to work. If you can create an inclusive, fair, and meaningful experience for older employees, as well as younger ones, you will not only find your company becomes more innovative, engaging, and profitable over time, you will be benefitting society at large. (hbr.org/2019/09/the-case-for-hiring-older-workers) For more info, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and visit my website! Read more from Patricia! Patricia Faust, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Patricia Faust is a gerontologist specializing in the issues of brain aging, brain health, brain function, and dementia. She has a Master in Gerontological Studies degree from Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Patricia is certified as a brain health coach and received a certification in Neuroscience and Wellness through Dr. Sarah McKay and the Neuroscience Academy. My Boomer Brain, founded in 2015, is the vehicle that Patricia utilizes to teach, coach, and consult about brain aging, brain health, and brain function. Her newsletter, My Boomer Brain, has international readers from South Africa, Australia, throughout Europe, and Canada. Patricia’s speaking experience spans the spectrum of audiences as she addresses corporate executives on brain function, regional financial professionals on client diminished capacity, and various senior venues concerning issues around brain aging and brain health. References: Bersin,J. & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (September 26, 2019). The case for hiring older workers. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/09/the-case-for-hiring-older-workers Employing Older Workers. Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/resourcesand tools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/pages/employingolderworkers.aspx The Role of Working Memory and Attention in Older Workers’ Learning. iJAC-Vol. 14, No. 1, 2021. Retrieved from http://i-jac.org Vantage Aging. (January 18, 2022). Hire older workers – 5 key benefits for your business. Retrieved from https://vantageaging.org/blog/benefits-of-older-workers/

Written by Julie Lokun, JD The Mediacasters LLC Cody Harvey, one of the founders of Kennected, is hard to quantify. It is difficult to put this country -boy -done -good into a box. Harvey is an unlikely CEO who prides himself on family, authentic connections, and serial entrepreneurship. The genesis of Harvey’s love for entrepreneurship began less than a decade ago as he perfected the art of couch surfing with a net worth of one dollar. The last dollar in his pocket became the fuel for him to never look back and drive sustainable success. Fast forward to the present day, Harvey reigns over a multi-million-dollar empire. Harvey’s brainchild, Kennected, is an Indiana-based tech company that is reimagining what tech should look like. Kennected provides sales enablement tools that specialize in outreach & prospecting. This evolution of Harvey’s and CEO Devin Johnson’s vision is met with critical acclaim as Kennected continues to land on the Inc 5000’s list for two consecutive years. Harvey’s journey from LA Fitness Manger to multi-million-dollar CEO is built on the foundation that a hearty handshake and eye-to-eye connection, trump everything. Harvey commands corporate brilliance in an old-fashioned way, reminiscent of the 20th-century tycoons. The Kennected team weaves a fine balance between innovation and reverence toward pioneers of the past. Ultimately, Harvey believes relationships are everything. How is Cody Harvey doing things differently? Harvey, along with his four partners, understood from day one that tech innovation must embrace pioneers from the past. This business strategy is a nod to past leaders in the tech world, understanding their successes and then taking them to the next level. The leaders at Kennected chose to execute their mission with a 360-degree approach. This approach was conceived by understanding the deficits in the market and formulating proactive solutions. While not physically located in Silicon Valley, the valley vibe is palpable. While nestled in the bustling city of Indianapolis, the forward-thinking Kennected team prides itself on embracing Midwest cultural norms that exude an indescribable warmth. The objective is to offer a Google-esque quality, anchored in good old-fashioned norms and values. The corporate structure offers a fervent reminder of the laissez-faire constructs of tech demi-gods, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. However, what sets them apart is their unrelenting commitment to building authentic relationships while providing state-of-the-art technology. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? Kennected Inc. and Breakout Social are tools facilitating massive growth and networking opportunities for businesses worldwide. The foundational principle the software offers is premised on relationship building. Kennected propels business relationships and prospecting through lead generation tools, while Breakout Social fuels professional networking using a voice audio app. It all boils down to providing clients with the technology they need to build meaningful relationships, save time, and simplify opportunities. Kennected and Breakout are both technological innovations that have the underpinnings that create exponential opportunities for growth. Tell us more about the founders Cody Harvey: Co-Founder and President of Kennected Inc and CEO of Breakout Social With one dollar in his pocket, Cody Harvey co-founded Kennected, an Inc. 5000 tech company that is revolutionizing business. Fast forward five years, Cody is sitting at the helm of a multi-million-dollar business and is reimagining leadership by going back to the basics. Cody is an emerging leader who understands the need for innovation while embracing the lasting power of a handshake. Cody is driven by connection and is democratizing barriers for creatives, entrepreneurs, and businesses through social audio. Devin Johnson Co-Founder and CEO of Kennected Inc Devin is the current Chief Executive Officer of Kennected - an Indy-based SaaS company with over 15,000 users. He is a serial entrepreneur, an inspiring leader, and an adept marketer. As the CEO of Kennected, Devin directs the daily workflow and is responsible for the overall success of over 100 + employees and reaching over $15m in sales in gross total. His leadership led to Kennected being a recipient of the coveted INC. 5000 ranking at 583 - for 832% growth in 2021. His vision is to build a world where people value relationships even more than money; where people feel inspired to help their fellow business professionals each and every day. This vision has directly led to Kennected being voted a “Top Place to Work” in Indianapolis. Devin’s employees see him as an inspirational and empathetic thought leader who always maintains both a positive work environment and a culture of hard work, thoughtfulness, and understanding. He always leads by example - bringing out the absolute best in others. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? The Kennected team focuses on providing small and medium-sized business owners with accessible products to maximize growth and networking. Without creating a powerful base of networking opportunities, a business will fail. Harvey and his team understand the pain points of an emerging business leader and educate, innovate, and prepare for challenges in their business models. What are your current goals for your business? Kennected is projected to develop a full sales enablement platform within the next year, to help business owners scale their businesses. Harvey and Johnson are leading the Growth as a Service revolution (as opposed to the standard SaaS–Software as a Service). GaaS is the brainchild of Harvey and Johnson, born as a direct result of the struggles they see within the constructs of emerging business models. The concept of GaaS radically changes the blueprint in the tech world by simplifying growth opportunities for solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Growth is the key component in building a sustainable business, and Kennected is forging the way to fuel businesses with opportunities with an easy-to-use UX. Driven by results, GaaS will efficiently impact the bottom line. More specifically, GaaS will house products and develop innovative tools that ensure growth by removing the middleman and providing structure for business planning. With the immense financial pressure 2022 has created for many businesses, GaaS looks to create products that are inflation-proof and combat volatility. This looks like software that enables talent acquisition, lead generation, and accessible document preparation, just to name a few. The Kennected team is committed to rolling out high-quality software that is easy to use and will hit projected milestones. Migrating from the standard "SaaS" company to "GaaS"is a calculated deviation from the norm. What is social audio? Social audio is where social media meets audio conversations. These conversations have the potential to create professional relationships with people all over the world. It has been said that social audio is like networking on steroids. The power of our voices is the most organic connector human beings possess and social audio facilitates this with simplicity and ease. The Breakout App simplifies the networking experience and enriches the process by facilitating real-time conversations. How is social audio different from social media? Social audio refers to the use of audio-based platforms and technologies for social interaction and communication. The power of social audio lies in its ability to create a more intimate and authentic form of communication compared to traditional social media platforms. Unlike social media, where users often curate a polished and filtered image of themselves, social audio allows for spontaneous, unscripted conversations that are more true to the speaker´s personality and character. Additionally, social audio provides a platform for individuals to connect with others in real time, creating a sense of community and belonging. As social audio continues to grow in popularity, it is likely to become an increasingly important tool for individuals and businesses to build meaningful connections and relationships online. Social audio allows for real-time information, from people you would otherwise not be able to connect with. You can voice your opinion on topics and have real-time conversations that propel progress. All humans desire to be heard and validated, this platform allows for all voices to be heard. Tell us more about the power of social audio! Social audio differs because it is a voice-only app. Social audio detours from filtered pictures, fancy short videos, or eye-inducing promotions. Social audio superstars are Clubhouse, Fireside, Twitter Spaces, and the newest addition to the social audio family, Breakout. Social audio is changing how people connect and network. Social audio provides real- time audio that allows listeners to participate in the dialog actively. Social audio offers a rich context to have conversations and connect on a deeper level. How can your business transform using social audio? One conversation can have a transformative effect on a business. Social audio is the conduit to these conversations. Social audio provides a road map to meaningful conversations and relationships, as it enables individuals and businesses to connect with others in real time and engage in authentic, unfiltered conversations. By using social audio platforms such as Clubhouse, Twitter Spaces, or podcasts, businesses can engage with their audience, gain valuable insights, and build strong relationships that can drive growth and success. Additionally, social audio provides a more human touch to communication, allowing businesses to create a sense of community and trust with their customers. By leveraging the power of social audio, businesses can transform their entire approach to communication and relationship-building, leading to improved customer engagement and overall success. What is the Breakout App? Breakout social audio app offers a unique approach to catapult businesses, creatives, and podcasters into a larger arena of networks. Breakout prides itself as the first social audio app that allows its users to monetize and disseminate their brand and messaging globally. Networking, collaborations, partnerships, and friendships are plentiful on this app. According to Cody Harvey, “Breakout has been met with wild success in the beta version and the official version of Breakout Social will launch mid-May”. What is Kennected Inc? Kennected is a premiere sales enablement platform that focuses on lead generation for business owners. It has been exalted as an Inc 5000 top private company for the past 2 years. What is most important about building a business– take on the future of the tech sector, what does the landscape looks like for tech entrepreneurs and CEOS? Rule 1: It is imperative to have the right people surrounding you. The foundation of every business should be predicated on the importance of their most intimate relationships. CEOs need to understand that to be successful people trump profits every day. Rule 2: CEOs need to be conscious of the team they build. It is a must to have a team who compliments your weaknesses. This begins by being self-aware about leadership styles, strengths, and weaknesses and optimizing internal potential. Rule 3: Leave your ego at the door. CEOs should not be driven by ego because it can have a detrimental effect on their decision-making and leadership style. When a CEO is solely focused on their personal image and reputation, they may prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability, leading to decisions that are not in the best interest of the company or its stakeholders. Additionally, a CEO driven by ego may struggle with delegation, micromanage their team, and refuse to listen to feedback, hindering innovation and growth. Instead, CEOs should focus on building a culture of collaboration and transparency, where everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and concerns. They should prioritize the company´s values and goals over their personal ambitions and be willing to take accountability for their actions. Ultimately, a CEO who leads with humility and a commitment to the greater good of the company and its stakeholders is more likely to achieve sustained success and leave a positive legacy. What are the concerns you see in the tech industry and how can they be mitigated? The tech landscape is experiencing growing pains- but it is important to recognize opportunities. Opportunities present themselves in both finding talent and recognizing what is broken. The magic of innovation is born when things are dismantled. There is an opportunity to course correct and return stronger. With the looming onset of a recession and increased inflation, companies are being preemptive but cutting costs and taking radical measures to survive. This downturn in the market is part of a natural business cycle so you need to be prepared with appropriate capital. It is important to be proactive instead of reactive. The fun part is when the market zigs-you have the power to zag. How do you scale a team with a modern approach? Today’s workforce values servant leadership and empathy. Take the time to understand what your employees want and need. Employees are not focused on the dollar amount, like in days past, they are hungry for work-life balance and fulfillment. Creating a company culture is critical to the overall health of any business. Building a team that thrives is about building a vision that is bigger than any of us. Everyone, instinctually, wants to be a part of something big and leave a legacy. As a CEO or entrepreneur, we have the power to be inclusive in something so powerful. Take time and invest in a three-dimensional approach to developing your team. Once you have identified the driving force behind your teams reevaluate your internal structure. Be creative and infuse a corporate culture that is in direct alignment with the vision of all. How is AI going to change how people do business with each other? AI is projected to be an integral cog in the modern business model. AI will make things more efficient, and quicker and eliminate nominal jobs. While the reduction of nominal jobs may seem ominous, AI promises to offer a higher value on creativity. Our voices, vision, thoughts, and perspectives cannot (yet) be captured through artificial intelligence, thus creatives will be in high demand. AI has the power to streamline output in the corporate landscape, which can lead to cost savings and improved performance. AI can also provide businesses with valuable insights and data analysis, helping them make informed decisions and identify new opportunities. The exciting part of the future of AI is that it will improve customer experiences, with chatbots and virtual assistants providing personalized and immediate assistance. However, with these benefits come some challenges, such as ensuring the ethical and responsible use of AI and managing the potential displacement of jobs. The onset of AI will soon become a staple in the day-to-day life of all businesses and with strategic implementation, there will be an immense ROI. For more info, follow Cody, Devin and Kennected and visit their website

Written by: Alistair M. Hawkes , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When curiosity of how personal success meets mind/body synergy causing increased focus and attention and enhancing high performance, we call it conscious evolution. A furthering of the consciousness movement. I was raised with the understanding of the body/mind connection. I was taught to meditate at a Biofeedback Society of America conference in 1979 by Joel Levey, Ph.D. who now teaches meditation in corporate and military settings (see Jedi Warrior training.) I practiced for a while when I was 12 and then developed a lifelong interest in mindfulness and embodiment. In my 20s I worked for a non-profit organization called The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM), an organization concerned with the role consciousness plays in health and healing. My mom was the CEO of ISSSEEM at that time. Part of my time working at ISSSEEM I was junior editing articles for the Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine peer-reviewed journal scientific journal on alternative healing. I learned so much about ancient wisdom practices that were emerging into the Complementary and Alternative Medicine field like Biofeedback , Therapeutic Touch , Reiki , Meditation, and Mindfulness to name a few. I devoured the ISSSEEM material and began to form my own ideas about how conscious awareness plays a role in happiness , self-development, and personal evolution. It’s important to note that I met HIKE4evolution’s founder, Liana Mattulich, MD (Argentina) and past President of the Colorado Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (see AAPB ), at the 1992 ISSSEEM conference. Her longtime and continued influence in my personal development and evolution has been great. During my non-profit years (1989-1999) I studied philosophy, began to practice yoga and later became a yoga teacher, became trained in Reiki and looked into many alternative healing practices. In 2006 I earned a master’s degree in Somatic Counseling Psychology at Naropa University (2006), and this particular educational experience shaped my understanding of how the psyche is developed through conditioning and lived experiences in the body. I have since been applying my subtle energies and energy medicine knowledge and expertise, along with my clinical training in a variety of community settings. Some of my favorite years in community mental health were when I taught mindfulness , self-management, and self-regulation to elementary school students in Jefferson County, Colorado. Becoming an educator through that process made me realize, again, how necessary it is to be conscious and aware. When this consciousness and awareness happens in our formative years the potential and possibilities for our life expand exponentially! Imagine a world where all people are engaged in self-care practices that increase optimal function and high performance. I currently have the privilege of teaching the HIKE4evolution system with my brother, Dallas Hawkes, MS and a small group of educators who have learned from Liana over the years. We teach people who are ready to go beyond their current thinking and capacity for change, into the land of greater alertness, vitality, and stamina. HIKE has been instrumental in my life, and my personal success reflects that blessing. I have a wonderful daughter, an especially lovely family, a dog, a cat, and seven chickens. I love teaching HIKE, as well as traveling, reading, dancing, and gardening. Human Inner Keys for Evolution: promoting high-performance in individuals. The HIKE4evolution system is a web-based global educational scientific-backed progressive education system that enables a fast pathway for human evolution. The online and in-person training process is aimed to achieve optimal performance by developing our highest potential as human beings. The system works with a diverse array of cutting-edge biofeedback and neurofeedback processes, combined with ancient wisdom practices from around the world to promote a new level of sustained wellness with higher and efficient psycho-physiological functioning. The system, known before as INNER KEY started 50 years ago when Liana was practicing as a medical doctor in her country of birth, Argentina. She has combined neuroscience wisdom, medical knowledge, ancient practices learned from Tibetan wisdom elders during her time in monasteries, from Sufi and nagual masters, and from personal experience, into an evolutionary system packed full of formulas that are repeatable experiences that when applied with focus, concentration, awareness, and intention, create open perceptions in students allowing them to become all they can BE. The system is organized in spirals of information, right-timing modules, practices, and tools that can be followed through an online multiplatform training method, as well as through personalized sessions, seminars, and retreats at local centers. A modern approach to self-development. HIKE4evolution targets individuals of all ages who are interested in learning a modern approach to self-development. The HIKE system helps students understand and transform themselves at the psychophysiological level. The quality of our focus and attention affects us on a moment-to-moment basis, and when we are conscious of the quality of our attention and focus, we are able to activate and motivate ourselves in effective ways. When working with children, we start with easy concepts of grounding and centering, moving on to noticing what’s happening in the body and developing the skills to observe, monitor and manage ourselves so we can problem-solve in effective ways. When working with teens and adults we build on their current understanding of self-efficacy, and through their diligent and disciplined practice of the tools and skills, they self-modify , creating real change through self-mastery of their physiology, open awareness, flexible thinking, and regulated emotional experience. When all these parts of the self are working in harmony then the optimal function is maintained with little effort. Continuing self-practice is imperative to nourishing the building blocks of impeccability, limitless goodwill, and presence. These components become positively alchemical in our lives and communities. HIKE aims to increase happiness, personal success, well-being, and inner peace for all. Fast-track to a better quality of life. HIKE4evolution’s mission is to educate human beings worldwide using science and ancient wisdom tools to promote evolution, embracing a better quality of life with integrity, efficiency, and open hearts. Within a short period of time – three to six months of personal dedicated time and effort – students of the HIKE system optimize their physical and energetic functioning, open pathways to cosmic wisdom, have a deeper understanding of their true nature, and connect with comprehension of themselves beyond awareness. HIKE’s intention is to reach a critical mass of people and assist them, using the formulas of the HIKE system, in expanding and increasing their awareness, well-being, and inner peace. This inner peace translates into world peace. Enjoy! HIKE4evolution is inviting new students in all levels of learning. Please join our mailing list , receive several foundational practices , and our upcoming class schedule by clicking here. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Youtube , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alistair! Alistair M. Hawkes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alistair M. Hawkes is an educator for humanity's evolution. Alistair has been mentored by Liana Mattulich, MD (Argentina) a medical doctor and neurofeedback scientist, Elmer Green, Ph.D. a Biofeedback and Self-Mastery scientist, and Charles Chipps a Lakota Sioux Medicine Elder. Alistair has grown in learning communities such as The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM), Council Grove, The California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Naropa University, and is certified a Clarity Breathwork practitioner. Applying her extensive knowledge and expertise she teaches people how to become conscious participants in the creation of their unfolding selves.

Written by: Stephen Gillen, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When Stephen Gillen was in the warzone of his very early years, the traumatic times of poverty and navigating the inner city streets of London, the continuously life-threatening years he travelled in organised crime, or the dark desperate years in solitary and prison he had to overcome, that his life would be turned into a film, he would become a successful International entrepreneur or that the torture of his journey would change the lives of millions worldwide – was surely not in his vision of the future. But that’s exactly what Stephen has done, and continues to do in an amazing journey of darkness and overcoming adversity that really now is bring the light to people struggling with hardship, trauma and adversity around the world. Born in England, taken to Belfast as a baby to languish through 9 years of war, returning to England, a succession of brutal children’s homes, prisons and later serious Organised Crime and over a decade in prison, the writing was firmly on the wall. But Gillen, nominated in 2019 for an International Peace Prize, a best-selling author and subject of countless major broadcasts, interviews, media, documentaries and publicity, really proved everyone wrong in his drive to change everything and with that, the lives of so many other who have been challenged with the adversities he himself has had to circumvent. “At the start, over 12 years ago, I have done so much voluntary work. I knew I had seen through so much and was totally driven and inspired to shine the light on the bad things but lift people up at the same time. I wanted to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people lives worldwide. At the start I didn’t even know how that was going to work, just that I would give everything to this and do whatever was necessary to keep achieving the goals.” After doing a business degree, and getting honours, building a series of successful companies and becoming an Internationally awarded public and motivational speaker, the goal and its momentum continued to get closer. Now CEO of Roar Media Creative, a multi-award winning International digital media, brand development, marketing & PR production house that also develops and makes TV Series and Films (more here) his mission of changing his little bit of the world for the better is certainly knocking. With his autobiography “The Monkey Puzzle Tree” optioned to be a major film and other major TV Series and documentary role already filmed and being released in coming months, his profile, voice and skilled experience is hitting the mark that can be the most impactive. His new project, “The Resilience Code” an intensive educational model for males with challenging pasts, trauma, addiction and behavioural issues and their wider family groups who need support and the skilled solutions to be empowered and work correctly around the destructive & negative fallout of such topics – is really changing lives at a rapid rate. “What is the most important thing is what we become,’ says Gillen. “Not that we have fallen & may fail along the way…There are so many talented guys out there who, for many reasons have been set op for failure or are even coerced by the environment or a whole array of external influences into bad ways of thinking, being and preparing for the next important choice that will lead them to success in their lives. The Resilience Code, my innovative, condensed and well-engineered learnings, techniques and trainings have the real deep, practical and results focused solutions for the really internal and outward blocks, adversities and problems males face…These things with the right intervention, support, knowledge and timing can be completely changed to enormous success in whatever people want to do. I’m living proof of this!” It's hard to argue when you look at the extreme nature of Stephens journey, the impossible odds he continuously overcame and the amazing successes he repeats today. A leopard really can change its spots. People certainly can change and they are not what they seem. It is a great model that is very specific and immensely well and cleverly throughout. Another reason why people are really benefiting for it, is the support and having a very knowledgeable and experienced influencer having “Lived it”, and who “walks the walk”. The Resilience Code has three ways to join this exploding platform with very focused help, Q & A, engagement and appearances from other major experts in very cool and needed related areas, and constant personal access to Stephen Gillen himself and his team. There is a great need for this in the lives of males who in many ways are trapped, their families also who are co-sufferers, and are powerless and leveraged without and meaningful solutions that have an impact to support and free themselves from usually painful fallout. The amazing thing is the end goal of healthy, healed, safe and successful life planning and execution is firmly the goal. It is all about getting the knowledge, skills and support and planning that then drives the transformation to build and layer successes that translate into tangible things that change the lives of all involved. For special deals, access and to collaborate with Stephen and his team on projects for brainz members reach out here. The Resilience Code with Stephen Gillen is now a leader in the innovative area of adversity and successful self-development with planning & results. Also sponsored by many big names and major sport stars. To find out more, signup and become a member or ambassador of this exploding community, visit the amazing, detailed and interactive website “The Resilience Code” Stephen Gillen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephen Gillen is a media expert, the CEO of Roar Media Creative Studios & an Internationally know media personality and bestselling author whose life story is being made into a major film. An ex-senior organised crime figure who served over twelve years in high security prisons in the UK in 2019 he was nominated for an International Peace Prize for his work in conflict Resolution and transformation. An internationally award public speaker, broadcaster and executive producer, Stephen has become a leading light in the executive coaching space focusing on transformation, leadership and resilience.

Written by: Eunice Cheung, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Life is a push and pull between having clarity and facing uncertainty. There is beauty in both. Clarity gives you clear direction moving forward which helps ground you psychologically. Uncertainty while scary, can be novel and exciting, which can offer you hope for the future. But you cannot have one excessively or minimally. Because it damages your psyche. The mind is not meant to live in both ends of the spectrum. Too much or too little? I remember sitting in an undergraduate abnormal Psychology class years ago and reading a line that stuck with me up until this day. “Psychopathology comes from having too much or too little of something” ‒ Unknown It blew my mind. Let that sit with you for a second. Let it marinate in your mind. Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below. Life demands a balance The truth is, you can’t have clarity without uncertainty. Because life demands a balance for everything, that is how our world works. There are no good times without the bad. You don’t appreciate joy until you’ve experienced despair. You don’t appreciate success until you’ve experienced failure. You don’t appreciate love without heartbreak. You don’t gain anything unless it was meaningful and involved personal sacrifices. Most importantly. You don’t appreciate clarity until you’ve had to live through periods of uncertainty. So learn to see the big picture of what the good or the bad is trying to teach you as you go through life and the experiences it brings you. Appreciate the beauty of both sides and understand that the in between is actually bliss and peace. Sometimes, comfort, safety and stability is actually the most beautiful part of life. While other times, comfort and safety can destroy you. You just have to be vigilant, curious and critical enough to see it for what it is and question it. Be aware of society’s conditioning on your psyche If you think about it, school and society have always told us to what to do and what not to do. In school, we had absolute clarity of where to be, what to do, when to do. After years of schooling, entering the real world, you will realize that none of is offered or given. You have to forge our own path through trial and error, through making mistakes and taking risks, which is where and why most people struggle. Because you are used to the conditioning of certainty that school OFFERED you, to the point that uncertainty becomes an existential threat to you. Uncertainty becomes a threat to your existence, to your psyche, to your sense of worth. That is the issue with our education system and society as a whole. The takeaway from challenging society’s conditioning Remember, there is NOT only one way to do things even if you’ve been told this and it has been cemented into your brain. There are multiple ways, explanations, methods, options, solutions to life’s problems. Just because it’s not the “right” way for others, just because they disapprove, just because they judge you, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Please remember that. Don’t let society’s conditioning box you into seeing it was a one way street. Don’t allow yourself to be boxed in. Get out of the box. Create your own box, or multiple boxes or a multi-story box. I don’t care. Create your own path and figure out what works for YOU. My work ss a psychotherapist I see this struggle all the time, everywhere. Clients coming to me in therapy asking what the “right” way or answer is to life. As I tell them like I tell myself. There are no right or wrong way. Only what makes sense for you and your values and whether it aligns with your goals in life. I know it’s incredibly frustrating to hear but it’s the truth. I tell my clients that I am a straight shooter and I don’t like to beat around the bush. This is one thing that makes me great at what I do. Because I aim to educate, inspire and also entertain through relevant banters in the therapy room. I don’t want to just tell you what to do and become a “second school” or be a soundboard. I want to actually challenge you. I want to offer you insights with relevant examples, analogies and metaphors so it opens your mind to possibilities and new perspectives. I want to be what I needed and wanted and wish I had when I was younger. And I aim to do that everyday with the best of my ability. It’s scary to become your own compass in life but that is the lesson you must learn. You got this. Believe in yourself. You are more capable than you think. The danger of a black & white lens People who see the world in black and white are kidding themselves. I understand the appeal, because everything is pre-set. You don’t have to think, question and find your own answers. But life never works out in that lens. Maybe in fictional books. But to truly live a fulfilling life, you need to learn to identify a middle ground and open your mind to questions. Identify the gray area, what can co-exist between the black and white. Don’t close yourself to the black and white world. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to say that to bad mouth anyone. I am simply offering you a perspective to question, to challenge your surroundings, your beliefs, your values. So you can choose for yourself what to do best for you. How do I know this and why should you Care? I did my homework and immersed myself in countless books, podcasts, videos, online courses, created by creators who have stepped out that conditioning. I surround and consume it on a daily basis to keep my mind curious and alert on how things can affect my perception, behaviour and thoughts. This is why I am choosing to devote my life and work to guiding people out of their norm and their conditioning (culture, upbringing, values, beliefs). Just because something is defaulted due to your conditioning, doesn’t mean you can’t get out of it. I am here to tell you it is entirely possible. You just need to find that bravery within yourself and take a leap. Ambivalence exists in everything Sometimes the lack of clarity destroys you. Because in moments of distress, we crave for comfort and familiarity. “Familiarity creates security” ‒ Unknown Comfort that provides security, stability and safety. And comfort stems from some level of certainty. Unfortunately, we don’t always get comfort when we want and need it. That is when we have to step into uncertainty and embrace it for what it is. Something I learnt from Postgrad is to Learn to trust in the process. Stay in the present moment, the here and now. Know and recognize that we cannot always have the answer. We can’t always know and predict what is ahead. Because ultimately, that is the beauty of life. With time, clarity will come and shed light on your path. Life is a constant negotiation between: What we want vs what we need. What aligns vs what doesn’t. What feels right vs what doesn’t. Food for thought As Esther Perel says, “We have to continuously integrate contradictory feelings between love & hate, excitement & fear, envy & contempt, boredom & aliveness. Life is about a continuous negotiation between our own contradictions. Living and accepting this is a sign of maturity”. A post I came across recently, “Identify the oppressive social systems responsible and dismantle the fuck out of them.” ‒ Unknown (If I ever had my own kid, I would tell them this on day 1) That’s it for this newsletter. I appreciate you being here on this journey with me as I reflect weekly on life’s lessons and wisdom as I go through them. I would love it if you left comments down below to let me know your thoughts and feedback. I am always open to have more in depth discussions about life, personal growth, business and writing. My personal philosophy is to strive to always improve and better myself, even if it’s hard. Thank you. Have a lovely day no matter where you are based. How I can help you when you are ready :) If you are interested in understanding how your upbringing has affected you today and how it holds you back in achieving what you want in life, you can book a therapy session with me here. Don't miss an update and join my Newsletter to unf*** your mind weekly with my practical and reflective insights directly into your inbox here. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Eunice! Eunice Cheung, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Eunice Cheung is a Psychotherapist. Moving between cities growing up made it difficult for her to fit in with peers which made her question her identity. Since studying Psychology in International Baccalaureate (IB) and in university, she has built her online practice to help others question their limiting self-beliefs and understand the roots of how our conditioning through culture, upbringing can hold us back in life. One of her main focus is on Asian Culture, along with Fear of Failure, Perfectionism, Imposter Syndrome, Relationships & Identity. Eunice is a passionate and ambitious therapist, her mission is to inspire the next generation of Asians to excel, innovate and rise up to their full potential.

Amanda Feaver lives nestled between the ocean and the mountains of the Pacific Northwest in the United States. She is a climate-aware psychotherapist. Her work focuses on regenerative relationships between humans and regenerative relationships between humans and the more-than-human world. She draws from the principles of Attachment theory, Deep Ecology, and Permaculture and is inspired by wisdom teachings across many traditions. Amanda believes that for people to expand into a full experience of living, we must collectively reawaken to our belonging within the community of all beings on this planet. Nothing makes her happier than healthy soil and deeply resilient ecosystems. Amanda co-founded a daily text subscription service designed to help members attune and expand amidst their busy lives. You can find out more at cosmicyou.life. Amanda Feaver, Therapist For readers who don’t know you, who is Amanda Feaver? I am a climate-informed therapist working at the intersection between psychology, ecology, and spirituality. My work with clients focuses on cycles of life and death, joy and grief, and how we can cultivate regenerative relationships with each other and the more-than-human world. What’s something outside of work that you immerse yourself in? I spend much of my free time cultivating a forest garden around my house. There’s something incredibly nourishing about being with the more-than-human world, noticing plants, noticing animals, touching the soil, learning from the wisdom of life; it keeps me present and full of gratitude. What inspires you about your work? Well, life inspires me. This planet and all the possibilities of engaging with life light me up inside. I find so much joy in regenerative systems; the principles and practices that make human relationships healthy are transferrable to our relationships with the more-than-human world. When we learn secure functioning from a foundation of curiosity and compassion, we can cultivate safety and collaboration wherever we are. This takes work, but everything is work, so why not do the work of developing healthy relationships and healthy systems? What do you wish people would be more aware of? Cycles of life and death. We are going to die. Relationships end, civilizations collapse, and these bodies will eventually stop working. We avoid thinking about this, but if we could embrace death, we could get clear on what’s important to us. We don’t have infinite time; we have limited time. And the more we realize this, the more we can choose to exchange our time for what we value. In a culture of endless distraction and anesthetizing overconsumption, it’s hard to figure out what we deeply value, and it’s even harder to say no to everything else. But time is our most precious commodity; we are trading it for something, and we can’t get it back once it's gone. Getting clear on our individual and collective values is imperative; transcendent values carry us through challenging times; they allow us to focus on more than just ourselves. How do love, compassion, courage, justice, belonging, collaboration, fidelity, truth, beauty, and goodness shape us? How does pursuing the wisdom of these things help us during this time of global ecological, social, and political change? The other part of the cycle is life. So just as relationships end, new ones begin; civilizations do collapse, but new civilizations emerge; everything ages and dies, but life is also always happening. If we can accept change as always present, we can loosen our grip; we can partner with the planet in her cycles of life and death and life. This a relational world; we are constantly invited to notice interconnectedness. When we step away from presence, we step away from the only thing that is: our relationship with life right now. It is now that we can be with. If you forget, let your breath remind you, let the beat of your heart remind you, let the trees and the wind and the birds remind you. Even in times of great challenge, we can cultivate an inner calm that allows us to persevere and create. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Amanda!

Written by: Richard Hilton, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The dictionary definition of surrender: from the Cambridge Dictionary first, “to stop fighting and admit defeat” and “If you surrender to an experience or emotion, you stop trying to prevent or control it” There can be several meanings to surrendering depending on the context of the situation in military terms, it can mean surrendering of a particular battle as there are overwhelming odds against you or that the war is lost and the best option for the civilian population is to surrender and hand over to the victorious army. You may have some form of financial instrument that has reached maturity, that will get surrendered and you’ll get paid in some way. Or you can have internal conflict and war inside yourself. I am sure that you have heard of the Cherokee story, of the boy asking his grandad about the fight going on inside him and his grandad telling him it depends on which wolf he feeds. He has to surrender to finding out which one will serve him the best. People talk about surrendering to the universe, creator, etc; when the universe talks, you listen to what it has to say. What are the benefits of “surrendering to the universe”? You can let go of your need to control every aspect of your life and trust that things will work out as the universe has a plan for you. You may have that plan written down or in your head and notice over a period of time that these things come to you but not exactly as you wished them to. So, be prepared to have an open mind as to what comes up, but don’t be so open your brain falls out. When surrendering it can allow you to have inner peace as you release the stress and anxiety that come from worrying about things you can’t control. This can lead to a better sense of peace and calm. New opportunities may arise or you could look at things in a new way and take advantage of whatever that is. People get caught up in the “How” of doing that thing they always wanted to instead of going ahead and doing it. Intuition and listening to your intuition may help you to take the inspired action of starting something you’ve wanted to do which might seem to be too far away. This can lead to the goals that you have already written down. A deeper connection to yourself and how do you find a deeper connection. There are such paths as being mindful, meditating or having a 10 – 20 min nap in the day. Asking your subconscious to work on that problem for you can also be done when going to bed. Ideas that you hadn’t thought about previously may come to mind. These processes could help you to find out what is right for you as we have sometimes been carrying certain beliefs from childhood. Such as “You aren’t worthy enough” or “I am no good at drawing, painting, etc.” it can allow those beliefs to be broken down and change to “I am good at art,” “I am worthy enough of becoming XY and Z”. Being grateful for what you have, the more present you become the more you notice your surroundings and appreciate the smaller things. You can pause for a moment and look at the plants coming into the bud or enjoy that fresh cup of coffee in the morning. It takes away from what you are lacking to what you have in the present and that may just be enough. Will surrendering to the universe help you to manifest your dreams? This may help you to manifest your dream/s faster, but there is an African saying "Pray, and move your feet?” Meaning with all the will in the world manifesting can’t happen unless you actually do something about it. What wolf will you feed? The one that has always gotten you the same results or the one that is a little scary, that may lead to you living a different life. Take care! Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Richard! Richard Hilton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Richard is a former member of the British Army. Upon leaving the military he studied extensively in self-defense, Conflict Management. Due to going through a difficult period on leaving, he realised that he needed to make major changes in the direction of his life He then began to study NLP and Hypnosis. He is now helping veterans and first responders with the difficulties and challenges that they are facing on a daily basis. He has also self-published his first book "Whispers over Windermere"

After 32 years of working within a multinational company, Hulya chose to follow her passion of becoming a coach, mentor and workshop facilitator. She motivates and empowers company management teams and their employees to move forward in their professional life. Additionally, she specialises in growth management with young adults and teenagers, assisting them through anxieties, fears and internal roadblocks. She is bridging the gap between academia and professional life, and helps parents to understand their children. Additionally, she is an author and best life coach award winner. Hulya Kurt, Career & Family Coach/Facilitator/Speaker Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. Here is some background about me: Origin Turkish, I grew up like any other Turkish person in Germany, Bremen. As I was 18, we went back as a family to our home city, Istanbul, where I started my career as a sales secretary in various companies and landed eventually in a multi-national one, called Reuters. I started to carve out my career, becoming Customer Supervisor, Business Admin manager, travelled around the world. Hired and fired people, did certifications, married, got a kid and was called to Geneva, Switzerland headquarters in 2005, where I occupied many senior roles. Worth to mention that I don’t have any bachelor’s nor MBA/PHD and I call myself from zero to hero. Long story short as in each multinational, layoffs have been announced and I was part of the redundancies right before the pandemic. And I made a conscious decision to follow my passion of becoming a coach, mentor and workshop facilitator and inspirational speaker. I love humans, I love travelling and inviting people to my home, cooking Turkish for them and reading from the Turkish coffee cup your future. I live together with my son, who is my treasure on earth. Your business InnKick focuses on helping people in their career journeys. How did it start? Can you tell us a little bit about it? From my extensive corporate experience myself and observing my peers. I was fortunate enough to climb up the ladders, find projects which are stimulating, started the Diversity and Inclusion stream as I love creating something new. However, I could see how difficult it can be to manoeuvre in the minefield of professional life. People need support, assistance, ideas, new perspectives. The need the kick, the nudge to innovate themselves. This is where the name of the company comes from as well. I give that necessary push, that necessary motivation and belief in yourself to start looking around, make a decision and take deliberate steps to jump out of your hamster wheel. This is the title of my book. Moreover I created a framework, my accredited signature program, “Drive & Thrive your Career” and made it available for the wider audience. Life is too short to stay in the state of fulfillment. What kind of audience does InnKick target? 4 target audiences: 1st: Professionals in their mid-career who dong feel satisfied anymore and looking for a change. 2nd: Corporates, providing workshops on Assertive communication, The Leader as a coach, Well- being at the workplace, Women in Leadership 3rd: Families – Parents who want to improve their relationship with their growing child and I guide Teenagers to find their purpose and help them navigate and master anxiety, their fears, time management, organization skills and many more. 4th: Bridging the gap between the Higher Educational Institutions and the real professional life with providing guidance on humans skills, like networking, building relationships, CV, Linkedin, Interview preparation, managing difficult conversations, how to ask, first days in the office. What are your current goals of InnKick? Having a positive impact on humanity, starting with the lifecycle of teenager up to their parenting and professional life. Empowering, encouraging, and teaching the human skills needed to tap into their own being and feeling resourceful. Therefore, we are reaching out to Private Universities, corporates and leaders who want to make an impact on society, whilst challenging and disrupting the status quo. What would you like to achieve for yourself and InnKick in the future? Becoming a source of inspiration and knowledge and educating, coaching humans to become their best version of themselves, whilst showing compassion. A one stop shop and a partner for lifelong learning. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? Whereas, I have some role models like my father or previous manager, I inspire myself. What can I do better today, what is out there that I need to learn or read. It is a combination of outer resources and people combined with my curiosity and eagerness to be a better version of myself compared to yesterday. What is your work inspired by? By different authors, podcasts, webinars that I attend in the field of leadership and career progression but also I get inspired by my connections, by some Linkedin thoughts and articles. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. As I mentioned, I am proud of myself that I could break the barrier of no higher education to become a senior leader in a multi-national company, managing countless teams, projects and new initiatives. Moreover, taking the leap of faith to become an entrepreneur after my corporate life and starting my own company is a mega achievement for me. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? In the corporate world, we still have too many leaders and managers who are autocratic and who are toxic. Hence, we need to educate and have coaching practises not only a one of workshop but continuously. You don’t learn with a one-off workshop. To learn you need to practise 100 times before you can change your thought process and habits. I believe in long life partnership with coaches at the workplace. The same for teachers who can’t cope with managing the curriculum and the generation of students. They need assistance on a continuously basis. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. In a human’s life, there are many pivotal moments. One of them is the move from Germany to Turkey when I was just 18 years old and it was a culture shock. I had to adapt, I had to learn the language, I had to prove myself. The most important treasure for a woman is giving birth. So having my son in my arms changed my priorities. Moving in 2005 from Istanbul to Geneva with my family, where wed did not know the language, my husband took a step back and was a houseman and me integrating into a new culture and new senior position. Finally, my husband passed away in 2021. A sudden death, which was not expected. Keeping up with life afterwards, staying afloat together with my son who suffered from anxiety and panic attacks was not easy. It taught me yet again how to look at life, increased my resilience level. Let's not take life too serious. Life is a dance. Let's flow. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Hulya!