Written by: Serena A. Carbonell, 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. Loving your sport(s) of choice. Many souls are athletes devoted to a physical activity of exercise, hence a sport, that may be performed competitively, as an occupation, for instructional purposes, for health & fitness benefits, for fun, or merely socially. Or for all of the above! The activity of sport dates back to 70000 BCE. Now that seems forever ago! A period when, during the Ancient World, training for combat and hunting was essential, as well as having a competitive pastime for communal rapport (yes! worldly cultural practices that still exist to this day). Thus, over time, the advancement of sport continues to influence humanity by creating and delivering a movement that requires skill, prowess, and sheer athleticism — individually or as a team player. Some sports, as we know, require both forms of commitment making for a wonderful sense of challenge and camaraderie. In addition, sports are also performed to celebrate and honor other souls, causes, and aid in humanitarian efforts. One awesome gift in life is that we have the opportunity to choose what sport(s) we want to learn, dabble in, try out, participate in, play, and then ultimately (for many) excel in, and then of course eventually LOVE. How cool is that? If you are an athlete, well then, you already know this. My sport of choice that I love is SQUASH! When I was nine my parents introduced me to this unique, refined, “chichi"-ish racquet sport which is considered to be, according to Forbes Magazine, "rated top of the leader board for healthiest sports in the WORLD.” Amazing, right? I did not immediately fall in love with squash. This appreciation took time, patience, and discipline — a lot of discipline. Though I was blessed with having several talented coaches (who were very patient as well, mind you), squash had a minimal presence of juniors where I trained. As a naturally social creature, I felt lost without intimate connections and others to play with to help me improve on a holistic and competitive level. Thankfully, my parents had a light-bulb moment and encouraged me to participate in junior tournaments (alongside my older sister and brother who were already competing) which was eye-opening, definitely intimidating, and also extremely welcoming in my making new soul friends. This was when the shift began to happen. I remember thinking to myself — “Wait, what? Here is a sport that I am quite talented in playing, often requires traveling (which I adore) where I may also be a social butterfly! This could be love after all.” An athlete, empassioned, I then became! Causing Passion Every athlete knows how valuable and important being dedicated, focused, and driven is when committing to their sport of choice. Learning is, of course, the first step — though, yes, there are many souls who are naturally gifted from a very young age (clearly genetic, and perhaps a pre-determined spirited disposition?). Oh, those gifted athletes! We’re blessed to have them in our athletic company, that I will say. It is, however, during this introductory phase where you may also begin to question whether the sport you are learning is the right fit for you and if so, you ultimately continue to enhance your practice. (Like I with squash). As a 5th-grade junior squasher, Sophie Vadasdi, from Greenwich, Connecticut believes, “a dedicated athlete in my opinion is more than just an athlete, it’s a committed individual who I think also has to enjoy the sport. If you play a sport, but don’t have enthusiasm for it you aren’t truly dedicated because you will never be able to put your heart into the game.” With that being said, after you have now made a mind, body & soul connection with your sport and the love is there, now what? Well, we certainly hope boredom does not kick in or that there is an urge to “quit” (as pressure can also be very daunting). This type of reaction does happen though I see it as a message from the universe — guiding you to unwind, experience a change and perhaps find another activity that triggers you to be fully “empassioned.” Empassioned — I’ll break the word down for you. The prefix “em” means to elicit a “cause to” action — to basically stimulate. While passion refers to “a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.” (Merriam-Webster) In essence, our emotions (and spirit) guide us in appreciating our talent(s) which creates excitement and intrigue to continue with our sport of choice. When we have “passion”, we establish a sense of togetherness. In this aspect, togetherness entails being the all-encompassing and confident athlete you want to be while embracing your fears and encouraging change. A story like no other. The inspiring Willem Hooft will tell you, “The main reason I love surfing is because it gets me as close to the feeling of freedom that I can get. Being out there on the water makes me really forget about everything in life that sometimes is on my mind.” (World Sailing) Willem, five years ago, suffered paralysis in his legs from a motorbike accident. Until this point, he had been an avid windsurfer who then found himself lost on his sacred journey realizing that he may not be able to get back on the beautiful and stellar waves of the sea. As an athlete, Willem was up for the challenge and fight to continue to surf, and thus discovered sit-kitesurfing that changed his life forever — professionally and holistically. With his empowering mantra, “I can no longer walk, but I will learn how to fly,” Willem has been able to stay devoted and focused— conquering his beloved sea one wave at a time. Talk about being empassioned! So how has loving squash made me an empassioned athlete? Well, over the course of my squash career I have been able to experience the sport on many levels: as a competitor, a coach, serving as an executive director for an academic & athletic after-school youth development program — to name a few. Most importantly, I have been able to continue celebrating a sport I learned as a youth and share my knowledge and expertise with other souls eager to tackle a wickedly fun, fast-paced, and magical dance-like game that sure does keep you fit. As previously mentioned, “nomadic” is practically my middle name, and squash has opened up that avenue as well as in my meeting kind souls and establishing eternal friendships on a global scale. Oh, and if you were wondering. Yes — I did also “hang up” my racquet for over a decade and explored other opportunities in the culinary and healing arts. Now I am blessed to connect much of those experiences and training, especially massage therapy and spiritual life coaching, to my past and present-day participation in the squash world as a part-time professional coach. Squash is considered a lifelong sport which is quite remarkable. I mean, how many 75 to 80-year-olds do you know battling it out on the soccer pitch, the baseball field, or the volleyball court? In squash, I know plenty — which is most impressive! (Perhaps you are now thinking to yourself that you might want to consider taking up squash. I highly recommend it). With my “enthusiasm” for squash, which always brings me joy and bliss, hearing stories such as Willem’s, and being an avid sports fan, I am often left speechless. Beyond Words And the crowd goes “ROAR!” Many of us are spectators — watching our favorite talented and gifted athletes on their own hero’s journey, showering us with their presence. Showcasing their love and passion for their sport of choice. The vibe, the energy, the mood — you can feel it, right? The euphoria in the air. The healthy and highly contagious spiritual force encompassing all. Powerful. Riveting. Trance-like even. BEYOND WORDS you are! Whether you are cheering your own athletic self on, are a coach or being coached, are a teammate, a family member, a soul friend, a soul loved one, a loyal and devoted fan, the world even — the intensity is INSANE. An enthusiastic supporter on perhaps your own sacred journey — your nerves kick in, your personal “love” for whom you are rooting for enhances, you feel breathless! I can recall my first BEYOND WORDS experience. Swim team. Competing at my local club as a diver and a swimmer during my childhood summer days. I absolutely loved swimming and backstroke was my specialty. Jumping into the pool to prep for the race. Waiting for the "On your mark, get set” ... followed by the sound of the starter pistol. There I was pushing off the wall with my adrenaline vigorously pumping and water splashing in every direction, and I could somehow still hear my teammates, parents, and myriad of spectators cheering me on. What I actually appreciated the most — the role reversal. I was the one on land, at the end of the lane, or running up and down the side of the pool screaming at the top of my lungs in rooting for my teammate(s) — watching them bask and succeed in their empassioned athletic state. Now that was cool! And then there is Gaia, the 12-year-old basketball fan who found herself in the beautiful throws of divine timing with the esteemed LeBron James, aka “King James.” After Gaia discovered that LeBron was sitting next to her at the LA Lakers versus Golden State Warriors game last month her reaction was captivating (and also went viral). “‘Oh my God, the greatest player of all time in basketball is sitting next to me!' I just freak out completely, I'm just thinking, 'Oh my goodness this is like the best moment of my life.’" (ESPN) The beauty and heartfelt awesomeness of it all, in LeBron’s eyes — “This is exactly why I love what I do!” Need I say more! Follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter and visit my website for more info! Read more from Serena! Serena A. Carbonell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Serena is the founder of Spiritual Living with Serena (SLS) ‒ a holistic intuitive healing coaching & spiritual advisor service providing a simple approach for high performers in achieving happiness. Her name is pronounced akin to "Serenity" with a short second e. Serena utilizes her expansive certified therapeutic background to serve those who strive for excellence and have the challenge of living a more stress-free, rewarding, meaningful and holistic soulful life. She typically works with high-level executives, professional athletic coaches and successful competitive athletes. Always celebrating with a positive, loving zest for life, Serena is eternally in touch with her healing spirit: body, mind & soul.

Written by: Abbie Stasior, 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. If you’re working hard all day but not seeing the results you want, your hormone health may be holding you back. It’s time we women stop dreading our monthly menstrual cycles and start using this monthly gift to our advantage. There is a way to change how you eat, exercise, and live to go with the grain of the natural fluctuations of our hormones that offers us: More energy Greater productivity Increased confidence A sense of alignment Let’s dive into it! Understanding Your Female Hormones We all have a 24-hour light-dark cycle called our “circadian rhythm;” however, we women also have a secondary biological clock that lasts 28 days called our “infradian rhythm.” This is our Menstrual Cycle! Throughout these 28 days, our hormones change by 25%, which is highly significant! Our hormones control so much about our bodies. The fluctuations of our hormones change our metabolism, our gut health, our ability to build muscle, our energy levels, our libido, our blood sugar, our mood, our creativity, our attractiveness, our fertility – essentially every bodily process we have! A lot of people think we are either “on” our period or “off” of our period… but in reality, there are 4 distinct phases of the menstrual cycle: follicular, ovulation, luteal, and menstrual. Our hormones do something different in each of these phases, which is why we never feel quite the same week-to-week! As Alisa Vitti has taught us, the woman who coined the term “Cycle Syncing,” it just doesn’t make sense to always eat, exercise, and approach work the same way day in and day out when our hormones change so much throughout the month. So there are special considerations to optimize your hormone health for each menstrual cycle phase. In this article, we’ll cover the lifestyle, self-care, and work considerations to optimize your hormones to leverage your best productivity! Productivity Considerations for Each Phase Phase 1 – Follicular Phase: Phase 1 is our Follicular phase, which starts right after we are done bleeding and lasts about 7-10 days. This is when we typically have increased energy, improved mood, greater motivation, and a greater willingness to try new things. If the Follicular phase was a season, it would be our Spring equivalent. Thus, this is the best phase to brainstorm new ideas! It’s a great time to start new projects and set new goals. Because we have more energy and confidence, and are more naturally extroverted during this phase, it is easier for us to dive into new projects, put ourselves in new scenarios, and do new things! Ideas to try in this phase: Set new goals Start a new project On-board a new team member Try a new desk setup or WFH layout Post on a new social media platform Start a new series of content Brainstorm new ideas Create and batch video content Podcast Film for course creation Engage in public speaking Phase 2 – Ovulation Phase: The ovulation phase comes next and is our shortest (it only lasts 3-4 days), but it’s arguably the most important phase! We don’t want to miss out on optimizing this phase. This is our fertile window and when estrogen is at a peak, so we are naturally found to be the most magnetic and attractive at this time. If the Ovulation phase was a season, it would be our Summer equivalent. It’s good to use this to our advantage! Ideas to try in this phase: Jump on a sales call Pitch Investors Engage in public speaking Film for course creation Create and batch video content Podcast Ask for a raise Facilitate a difficult conversation Advocate for yourself / ask for what you need Phase 3 – Luteal Phase: The luteal phase lasts about 10-14 days and is the longest phase of the menstrual cycle. It is our Fall equivalent. This is when we should prioritize less front-facing work and do more behind-the-scenes administrative tasks. Even if we are extroverted, we are more naturally introverted at this time and crave more self-care and less front-facing work. Ideas to try in this phase: Writing email copy Writing photo captions Writing blog posts Drafting out future podcast episodes Messaging leads Finishing up a project Emailing Phase 4 – Menstrual Phase: The menstrual phase lasts 3-5 days and this is the time when we are bleeding. It is important to prioritize rest at this time and to listen to our bodies. This is our Winter equivalent. It is also the best time to self-reflect and evaluate how the last month has gone. It can be the best time to take stock of how things are going to course-correct moving forward. Especially since we know that the Follicular phase follows this, when it’s best to brainstorm new ideas and start new projects, it will be good to evaluate how the last month went to best start the next cycle. Ideas to try in this phase: Rest Evaluation Self-reflection Behind-the-scenes work Organization Administrative work Less front-facing duties Greater productivity awaits once we learn to optimize the natural fluctuations of our hormones. We’ll constantly burn out and struggle to reach our full potential if our lifestyle and work life are constantly working against what our bodies want us to do naturally! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Youtube for more info! Read more from Abbie! Abbie Stasior, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Abbie Stasior, MS is a Columbia University Master's graduate, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, future Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (expected July 2023). She founded Be About Being Better in 2018, which is a global, virtual health & life coaching company that specializes in helping people develop a diet-free, sustainable healthy lifestyle. By first optimizing their health and ditching the diet mentality, Abbie helps clients gain more energy, consistent routines, and greater confidence in order to live a better, more vibrant life and make a wider impact. She is a published researcher and has notable media features in the Medium, Thrive global, LadyBoss Blogger, as well as many podcast interviews.

Written by: Claire Thomas, 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. In a world where stress permeates so much of our day, there is an increasing desire to find harmony in our lives. What does a life in harmony mean to you? Is it a way of living where our work-life balance is finely tuned to our needs in that moment? How do we look after our well-being and self-care while we provide for those around us? This article will give you 5 tips for achieving a balanced life. Now, who wouldn’t want that? We all get the concept of harmony or balance. Intellectually it’s easy to understand. Everything is perfectly fine-tuned to do exactly what it was designed to do. It feels right. It feels good. And yet when it comes down to it, we find it hard to achieve a balanced life. 1. Take some time to focus on setting clear goals The key to successfully achieving harmony in your life is to know what you would like to achieve. When you look back over your life what would you like to be remembered for and by whom? It seems like a simple question, but few of us take the time to reflect on what our purpose or goal in life is. Anthony L. Burrow, a researcher in Human Development at Cornell University, refers to research that shows that people with a sense of purpose live a longer, more fulfilled life than those that don’t. It’s important to remember that your goals are not set in stone either. As time passes, we place a different emphasis on what is important to us. So, if you haven’t stopped and revisited your goals or purpose recently then give it a go. If you want to learn more about the path to reaching your best, it is explored in more detail here. 2. With a clear goal in mind, prioritise tasks according to those goals The benefit of having a clear goal or purpose in mind is that it gives us a guiding star when it comes to how we manage our time. Better time management is a great way to achieve more balance as it allows us to focus on what is important. Does what you are doing move you a step closer to your goal or not? If it doesn’t then it’s worth reflecting on whether to do it or not. From day to day consider which tasks are aligned with your goal or purpose and which aren’t. Find the balance between the two that works for you. It will feel hard at first, but with time you will find that you free up more time and space to enjoy life and focus on your well-being. The Eisenhower Matrix is a really useful tool for managing our time. Research carried out in 2022 by the Development Academy and Acuity Training, found that after just 4 – 5 days of using the Eisenhower Matrix, 100% of respondents found that their work was more under control. 3. Be aware of your stress levels and find a way to manage it In a world full of stimuli our brains are suffering an overload of stress from moment to moment. Our brains haven’t evolved to distinguish between the threat of a lion in camp from the constant pinging on our phones. It’s shocking to think that 74% of people surveyed in 2018 felt so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. Some level of stress in our life is healthy, but most of us aren’t equipped with effective tools for stress management. There is a growing trend of turning to mindfulness as an effective stress management tool. Mindfulness incorporates formal meditation practices as well as more informal practices like mindful eating or showering! Mindfulness gives us the tools to bring awareness to our breath and each of our senses at any given moment. And when we have a greater awareness of the impact of external triggers on how we feel, we can choose our response, which takes us back to choosing actions that are aligned with our goal and purpose and giving us a sense of peace and harmony in the moment. 4. Leverage existing habits to develop additional healthy habits The fourth tip for finding more balance or harmony in our lives is to develop healthy habits that focus on our self-care and well-being. Conceptually most people understand that mindfulness can help us manage our stress and give us more appreciation and gratitude for life, but the challenge comes when we can’t get a healthy habit to stick. B.J. Fogg is one of many experts in the field of habit building. In his book Tiny Habits, he shows how by breaking a new task into the smallest of activities and attaching it to an existing habit great progress can be made in moving toward a balanced life. The key here is to really start small and take time and patience to build up to new ways of being. Taking the example of mindfulness in Tip 4, avoid being over-ambitious by starting with 10 minutes a day. Instead, as you sit down to get into bed, spend one minute focusing on your breath. Once that has stuck start working your way toward 10 minutes. Just an example. Pick your own and give it a go! 5. At the end of every day find a way to acknowledge what you have achieved and reward yourself The fifth and final tip to achieving a balanced life is to remember to acknowledge yourself and what you are grateful for. In a world where social media swamps us with unachievable, often fake, images of perfection, it’s difficult to not be hard on ourselves when things feel challenging. But when we are grateful for what we have and what we have achieved, there is a proven positive improvement in our mental health and well-being. Research by Berkeley found that the positive impact lasted for up to 12 weeks after practicing gratitude. So, after you’ve added mindfulness into your daily routine and you’ve successfully done it that day, take a moment to give yourself a high-five, a smile, or a “you rock”! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Claire! Claire Thomas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After years of being all things to all people, saying Yes, feeling disempowered and unfulfilled, Claire stepped outside of her comfort zone and started her company, Reaching My Best. Drawing on her experience it’s her mission to help aspiring female entrepreneurs have the confidence to find balance, fulfilment and purpose in their lives so they can keep everyone, including themselves happy. Claire draws on coaching, mentoring and mindfulness techniques to help her clients reawaken their unique power. Claire and her husband Hamish have two daughters, Ruby and Isla. When she’s not working she enjoys reupholstering chairs, learning new creative skills and listening to books and podcasts.

Written by: Sarah Dyer, 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. As Women tapping into our creative energy and expression is not just a form of self-expression but a modality for healing and transformation. Creative energy helps us to dive into a deeper part of ourselves- a part that is beyond our conscious awareness. We can access a well of inner wisdom, intuition, and deep emotions and give them a voice. This can help us release negative emotions we’ve been holding onto, process trauma, and gain more clarity and insight into our lives. We are all looking for a sense of community and belonging to something much bigger than ourselves; in sharing our art with the world, in whatever medium this is expressed, we get to do just this, we get to touch other souls on the same path as us, like-minded souls who resonate with us, who see themselves through our creations and work and appreciate the unique spark we bring to the world. Women are natural creators Women have a special connection to the creative forces of the universe. This is often because of their role in giving birth and nurturing new life. You possess a divine spark that ignites creativity and inspiration, birthing incredible creations into existence. From the paintbrush's stroke to some new tunes for a song, you can infuse your creations with a certain je ne sais quoi, a special something that touches the soul and awakens something in others. Some women have led movements for justice, equality, and compassion. Women like Emmeline Pankhurst, a British suffragette who was a strong voice for women and fought hard for women's right to vote and eventually secured the right to vote for women in the UK in 1918. Other inspirational women have channelled their creativity into writing books. The famed children's Author of the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling, has sold over 800 million copies. They all have something in common; they never gave into fear. They are all connected with something bigger than themselves. They followed their passions and created their magic in the world. These women are all examples to remind us of the infinite possibilities that exist for us. They are the ones who inspire us to embrace our inner creatrix and unleash our unique brand of magic in the world. Remember, you have a treasure trove of unique soul gifts and talents waiting to be channelled, something that no one else can express to the world in the way you do it. Your creations (writing, speaking, painting, dancing, singing, poetry, etc.) are waiting to be birthed through us—channelled from your higher self. But fear can often disconnect us from this place of creation. So I invite you to ask yourself: What if everything I ever dreamt of lives on the other side of this fear? These are like soul callings ‒ they are a part of who we are. You will hear the whispers from your intuition beckoning you to go there. They are the things that make you unique and bring you alive. Another person sees you when you talk about them, as you light up. Someonelike-minded will see into your soul as you inspire them to do the same. Ways to Embrace your Intuition & Creativity Listen to your intuition: Your intuition is the language of your soul. This will show up in many ways. Listen to your inner voice and allow yourself to be guided. If you feel the urge to go somewhere, go. If you want to do something new, walk in that direction. Take inspired action: Once you've identified your gifts, take inspired action towards expressing them. Whether taking a class, starting a new project, or sharing your work with others, take action that feels true to you. Embrace imperfection: Done is better than perfect! Don't be afraid to make mistakes or create imperfect work. Give your creations time to birth and give yourself time for the pregnant pause when your creation is incubating. Surround yourself with people who support and inspire you, not cut you down, and stay away from negative ones who cannot see your vision. Attend workshops and events related to these, and connect with like-minded Try new things: Experiment with new activities, hobbies, or experiences that inspire you. This can help you discover new passions and ignite your creativity. Journal: Write down your thoughts, ideas, and feelings. This can help you process your emotions and tap into your inner wisdom and intuition. Trust yourself: trust in where you are being guided. Remember that you have unique talents and abilities only you can offer the world. So see where it takes you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more information on services! Read more from Sarah! Sarah Dyer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah is a Spiritual Mentor, Women’s Empowerment Coach, Intuitive, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher & Energy Medicine Practitioner. A childhood accident leaving her with the effects of a stroke, changed her life. Experiencing an awakening at 17 she dove into all things healing. As a child very connected to Spirit, alongside her more formal education a BA (Hons) in Communications and then Journalism, she dove into Energy Medicine, Tantra, Spiritual Psychology and trained in Holistic Therapy, various healing modalities, Coaching, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation. Alongside some of the best teachers in the world. Today she’s helping women all over the world go through deep transformation, to heal from trauma, connect with a strong sense of self, their sacred feminine energy & intuition.

Written by: Gillian Jones-Williams, Senior Level 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. Last week saw the wonderful ripple of activities from organisations across the world to celebrate International Women’s Day, with the theme this year being embrace equity. Whilst it was great to see the activities during the week, what does embracing equity truly mean and how do we achieve it? Equity is about the recognition that every individual has different circumstances, characteristics and lived experiences and therefore each person needs different support to allow them to succeed and achieve their potential. So if equality is the goal then equity is the means to get there. But in reality, unless there is action taken every day then this will never be achieved – and that action is being an ally. Everyone needs allies, particularly those with different characteristics but this week I am focusing on women, in order to continue the theme from IWD. Women desperately need men to be allies but also need other women to be allies. Women of every race, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion, or Neurodiversity will face casual sexism or discrimination on a daily basis. This could be generalised sexist remarks, crude language, a workplace culture that is diminishing, excluding, or intimidating, sexual harassment or banter that makes them feel uncomfortable. It may simply be being talked over during meetings, or, as many would call it ‘mansplaining’. (Merriam-Webster defined ‘mansplaining’ as “when a man talks condescendingly to someone (especially a woman) about something he has incomplete knowledge of, with the mistaken assumption that he knows more about it than the person he's talking to does”.) A study from George Washington University found that men were inclined to interrupt 33% more often than when they were talking to women and according to YouGov 82% of women said that they had been ‘mansplained’ to. Other examples cited are, evaluating women less positively than men, having to deal with double standards, being side-lined in social and work networks, diminishing comments (i.e., they belong in the kitchen), using demeaning language, being asked to take on the role of coffee maker/secretary or assistant, and being asked about marriage, having children and childcare. However, due to the complex nature of gender equality, these factors, that are fundamental to discrimination are not always easily identifiable, and, when women challenge them, they can be made to feel paranoid or a troublemaker. However, a person who is feeling marginalised or excluded, tokenised or like an imposter may sideline themselves — by not speaking up, not contributing, or not showing up. This is where allies are vital. What is an Ally? Allies can speak or stand up for someone who is being treated unfairly or is being dismissed Allies can also help to give people opportunities, whether that is at work, or in social networks Allies can stop behaviour that is inappropriate or destructive through intervening or speaking to the person Allies can offer personal support to people so they don’t feel so alone or excluded You can be an ally in many different ways either by supporting, being an upstander in a situation, sponsoring them, championing them in meetings or in other situations or by being a confidante if they have had an uncomfortable experience. But it really is worth remembering that ally is not a noun it is a verb, and if we don’t do something, if we don’t speak up or stand up for people then we will never change the narrative. However, being an ally requires courage, and it could require confrontation that may have negative consequences. What Exactly Can an Ally Do? Firstly, you can help in a positive way to amplify other people. Many of the uncomfortable situations that people experience can be described as micro-aggressions, but you can help to counter these with micro-affirmations. Make sure you get to know different people and understand their backgrounds and values When someone uses language to describe their identity (or pronouns), mirror these Learn to pronounce people’s names properly Notice key moments that might be important to others, i.e., religious and cultural occasions or life milestones and mention them If someone isn’t participating in a meeting, ensure you help to give them an opening if they want it If someone is not speaking up at a meeting or turns their video off, speak to them later and check if they are okay Acknowledge people’s expertise and skills and ensure their opinions are solicited If someone is being talked over, ensure that you refer back to let them finish what they were going to say If you feel an idea has been hijacked – say specifically “that was a great idea from XXX perhaps she would like to tell us some more…?” If you have been invited to give a presentation ask if you can bring an expert colleague with you to give them exposure If you see someone from a marginalised group missing, advocate for them to be invited Recognise other people’s achievements – if they have been part of a team with you ensure they are mentioned If you have colleagues from under-represented groups, consider who you might be able to introduce them to so that they gain more visibility Provide good quality feedback, either formal or informal Next, if you observe a situation in the workplace that appears to be making someone feel uncomfortable, the first thing is to feel responsible to act. Then you will have to identify the best possible type of action, whether that is to interrupt to divert a situation, to interject to support someone, to intervene to stop what is going on or to wait until afterwards and enquire whether the person is okay and needs your help. It is vital that you always speak up if you witness behaviour or speech that is degrading or offensive and take action if you see anyone in your company being bullied or harassed. How do you interject or intervene? It is a bold and brave thing to do but sometimes it will be the only way to make people understand the impact of their behaviour. It could be by doing any of the following: Telling a group who are making comments that their behaviour is inappropriate and they need to stop Asking the perpetrator to imagine how they would feel if someone made that comment about one of their family members or someone else that they cared about Suggesting that the meeting is stopped or paused Identifying other bystanders who can assist you in intervening If you want to approach someone after you have noticed a situation where their behaviour is inappropriate, here is a simple framework for ensuring that it is not too confrontational: Begin with empathy – “I am sure that you were not aware of this” Be accurate about repeating their words to them i.e. “when you said...” Describe what you observed and how you think it made the other person feel (i.e., I thought they felt undermined) If they apologise and say they won’t do it again, simply thank them If they deny it or argue, say ‘I just wanted to tell you how I felt when I observed it’ – they may need time to process the information If it is not appropriate to do any of the above maybe you can check in with the person who the comment was aimed at afterwards. To be a confidante to another person, here are some of the things that are important: Demonstrate your belief in the other persons’ experiences – it is easy to assume something wouldn’t happen because you haven’t personally experienced it Actively listen and demonstrate empathy Ask questions that help them to express themselves Hold back your own personal experience, you may feel you are being helpful by adding your own examples, but it could feel as if you have ‘hijacked’ the conversations In summary, be a bold ally by recognising that you are part of the solution, being alert and noticing what is happening and calling it out. Be particularly observant to any micro-aggressions and be prepared to challenge or support other people. Remember banter can often be perceived as bullying if it goes too far and some people may need a reminder that they are veering into this territory. The more that people are publicly called out or observe people being supported with micro affirmations the more people will realise the power of being an ally. If you want to know more about our training and development solutions or Allyship programmes please do contact us. For more information contact us on 01329 820580 or via my website. Follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and visit her website. Read more from Gillian! Gillian Jones-Williams, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Gillian Managing Director of Emerge Development Consultancy which she founded 25 years ago. Emerge is internationally renowned for unlocking the potential that achieves transformation within organizations by providing a full range of bespoke development and coaching solutions. She is a master executive coach working with many CEOs and managing Directors globally. She is also an international speaker and in 2020 was named by f: Entrepreneur as one of the leading UK Female Entrepreneurs in the Ialso campaign. Gillian founded the RISE Women’s Development Programme which is delivered both in the UK and the Middle East, and Saudi and is her absolute passion. She is also the co-author of How to Create a Coaching Culture, 50 Top Tools for Coaching, and the author of Locked Down but Not Out which is a diary of the first 3 months of the pandemic to raise money for the bereaved families of the NHS workers who died during COVID-19.

Written by: Andrew David McDowell, 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. Your stomach starts growling and you look at your watch. Dinner time your mind says. You get up from your couch and run to the refrigerator and open the door. Your heart sinks as you stare into an empty abyss…damn…have to go to the grocery store and restock. You grab your car keys and head for your vehicle to make the 2-mile drive to the grocery store. Life is Full of Obstacles You get about a mile down the road when you see a sea of red lights stopped before you. Something has happened that is causing the road to be congested and not moving…keeping you from your goal. You have reached a decision point. Do I keep pursuing my goal or do I give up, turn around, go home, and starve for some period of time? If I keep pursuing my goal, do I wait out this obstacle or do I consider taking a different path to the grocery store? This is an oversimplified analogy, but I want to bring up the point that way too often when working on our goals, we get fixated on what we believe is that only one path exists to success. The Most Powerful Human Tool is Choice We set ourselves up better for success when we can establish a mindset from the beginning of our efforts that there are multiple paths to success. What we usually do as humans is to try our first (and only one in our minds) path to our goal and if we don’t succeed, throw our arms up in disgust and start calling it a failure. Soon followed by the negative self-talk about labeling ourselves a failure. If You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again We, fortunately, live in a world where a road system has been created that allows for a traveler to have choices about their path to a destination. Some are fast and short, some are long and winding. But you know what? They all get you to your destination! Next time you find yourself establishing a goal for yourself, think about what might be the various paths that can get you to your goal. From this group, pick the path you want to try first. If it doesn’t lead you to the successful achievement of your goal, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try your next choice of a path you thought of earlier. Don’t label it a failure. Label it a learning experience and an elimination of a path. Stay positive in your thoughts and keep your focus on your goal. The only item that was not successful was the path, not you. The only time you should label it a failure is when you give up trying. It is then that you have zero chance of success. Life is a Journey…Are You Ready? Life is tough and we often find ourselves with obstacles in our way to our goals and dreams. The best way to success starts at the beginning of our quest for success. It starts with a mindset that there is more than one path to our destination. That failure only exists when we stop working to achieve our dreams…you can’t hit a home run until you step up to the plate and swing at the ball... Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Andrew! Andrew David McDowell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Andy is an engineer by trade and a creative by nature. He spent 22 years with the Boeing Company, where he always felt more like a life coach than a boss. In 2002, he began his journey into entrepreneurship within a Corporation when he was asked to develop an Airspace Design Consulting business from scratch that would serve the global government market. Andy has a Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia Tech in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State. Naturally, his aviation work took him around the world and enabled him to work on high-profile projects ‒ such as preparing the Beijing and Sochi Airports for their respective Olympic Games.

Written by: Mari Grande, 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 journey to break a generational cycle isn’t easy, yet it is necessary and rewarding. If you have been following my blogs and articles, then you are surely no stranger to this topic. I talk a lot about identifying how the Mother Wound manifests in certain relationships– such as with a lover, friend, or the inner self– although we have yet to address how to move through the world as a mother. After dealing with our own absent, attacking, or overbearing mother, we are sure to deal with some aftermath. Knowing oneself will be the biggest tool in preventing the continuation of that mothering model. Were you left to deal with your pain alone, leaving you to feel unseen and unimportant? My dear, you had an absent mother. Were you often called ‘too much,’ ‘not enough,’ or just constantly criticized? Your mother is one of the attacking type. Are you easily confused, have trouble knowing yourself, and believe others’ needs come first? This is an overbearing mother wound, resulting from a blurring of boundaries and having been engulfed by someone else's needs. Identifying your type is only the first step. Raising Children and the Mother Wound First, it is wise to know IF you have a mother wound and if so, how it is expressed. Were you smothered? Are you smothering? Were you ignored? Are you indifferent? Were you attacked? Do you avoid confrontation at all costs? The Mother Wounds take many shapes and sizes, and some are easier to catch than others. Many women in my private practice come to me so they will not repeat what has been done to them. They fear they will give their daughters low self-esteem, self-doubt, or that they will hate their mother (my client) for not doing the right things for them. Unfortunately, this is an example of the mother's wound attacking the client, causing her to struggle to see how her child feels safe enough to have difficult feelings as well as expressing them. This is something my client was not allowed to do. If we are cognizant enough to realize that our behavior towards our children will impact ours and their internal world, that is the first step towards not repeating what was most likely passed down, consciously or unconsciously, as though it is “normal.” There is something particularly unnerving about opening your mouth to say something and hearing your mother’s voice come out. It’s a shiver down your spine saying “Oh my God, I sound just like my mother.” What do you find important in parenting? How do you plan to be different? It could include letting your child explore their interests without making comments such as “are you sure?” “do it like this instead,” or “you’re doing amazing.” These are minor instances that can distract a child while they are learning, inadvertently leading them to search for approval or direction instead of trusting their instincts. Or it could be as major as “you cannot make a career out of art,” “there will always be stronger singers than you,” or “that’s not how the other ballerinas look.” These comments affect young minds in obvious, deeply painful ways, hindering self-esteem and self-confidence. Often, speaking to our children how we wish we could have been spoken to when we were young can be healing for our own inner child as well. Consciously, as someone who know themselves, we are able to stop the continuation of the inner critic and become the person we needed when we were young. The Science and Magic Involved in Healing Science has given us the gift of proving that cell memory is real which helps to justify the idea that struggles, stress, and fear can be passed down through families. When you think about it, a woman is born with all of the eggs her ovaries will ever release. Meaning you were an egg inside your infant mother, inside of your pregnant grandmother. Women know that if a pregnant mother is stressed, her baby will be negatively impacted. So it only makes sense that you, the grandchild, the child, and the egg, will also be impacted. It’s the chain of DNA. So when we are mindful, meditate, go to therapy, create, express, and release, we are actively changing our DNA. We are re-wiring our brains, changing the energy in our bodies. This is a gift not only to ourselves but to our children as we re-write our DNA. You ask, an hour a week changes my brain? Well, it’s certainly a start. The study of epigenetics has been shifting what we’ve known about human development. How? Simply put, epigenetics finds that our behaviors and environment can affect and change the way our genes work. Epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, however, they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence. Meaning, what we were born with is not who we have to be, and this can be positive or negative. We humans are quite plastic and malleable, which is a very important thing to know. As children we have NO control of our environment, as adults we have more, and with awareness and support we can change how we feel and who we are on the inside. Please don’t confuse my words with quick fixes. The first step is awareness. It always helps to begin to notice patterns, in yourself and in others. Notice how you feel before and after an encounter. Notice the choices you make; how do they make you feel? Are you getting what you need? Are your relationships reciprocal? Think about a little boy or girl who absolutely loved to sing but was always scolded for making too much noise, and making a fool of his or herself. They are told they'll never be famous anyway and to do their chores and be helpful around the house. That child– depending if there is another significant adult who believes and supports that child’s singing thus countering their critical environment and affecting their self-belief– will begin to believe their voice is not important, nor are their dreams. How does this relate to a Mother Wound or Mother Wounding? If you have been silenced, misunderstood, criticized, hurt or abused and made to feel that it is normal, chances are you will treat yourself in a critical and disrespectful manner. Whether you treat others that way or not, you are carrying the epigenetics, the belief at the cellular level, and passing it on to the next generation. As a parent, you have the opportunity to bring awareness of what happened to you and by changing your approach towards your child, you are changing your epigenetics. This builds new neural networks in your brain, creating longer and stronger internal shifts to be expressed in your environment and with others. Whether you have children or not, using this “energetic” perspective towards others, within yourself, and in your relationships makes the world and your relationships a much more authentic and pleasant place to be. Conclusion It always helps to have a trusted, objective friend, coach, or therapist to support you in your life journey. The road to healing is not easy, as I’ve said before. But it sure is exciting, magical, terrifying, and rewarding. It is a gift you can give to yourself as well as your children, as they are bound to inherit their internal voices from us. To take the leap to identify how we interact with others as well as take power in it, is the kind of strength that goes above and beyond. We are not asking for Superwomen. We only need women to care enough about themselves and others so there is more authenticity, accountability, and awareness so we may create a new method of thinking that is both satisfying and secure. One where we support ourselves and each other in the very important and meaningful role of motherhood. I cannot say enough how far you’ve come just by reading my blogs. Thank you for being there for yourself, as I’m sure those around you will. Even if it isn’t quite a conscious thought. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mari! Mari Grande, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mari Grande is a New York City-based licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Clinical Social Worker, Thought Leader, Educator, and Coach with more than 20 years of experience in trauma healing and recovery. By working closely with the mind/body connection, attachment theory, and the power of creativity, she draws upon her integrative background to alleviate the impacts of relational and generational trauma. Mari is passionate about working with women who have experienced a Mother Wound and offers various online courses that provide guidance, support, and insight through the Overcoming the Mother Wound program. Sources: Devin R. Burrill & Pamela A. Silver, Making Cellular Memories (2010). Anna Lardone, Marianna Liparoti, Pierpaolo Sorrentino, Rosaria Rucco, et al., Mindfulness Meditation Is Related to Long-Lasting Changes in Hippocampal Functional Topology during Resting State: A Magnetoencephalography Study. (2018).

Written by: Ana-Maria Ciubota, 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 we interact with certain thoughts, we begin to feel the emotions prompted by these thoughts, and we enter a new emotional state, which determines how we act. For instance, if you constantly dwell on the idea that you're a failure and give it more attention, you'll start to feel dejected, useless, and worthless, and then you’ll act like a failure, which reinforces your belief that you must be a failure. However, empowering thoughts will increase your confidence and thus cause a more favourable emotional state, which will then be reflected in your thinking. Your emotions and state of mind shape your mindset. Emotions are your reactions to the thoughts you focus on, and what you're thinking about affects how you feel. Every thought we have causes a chemical response in our brain, which causes an emotion. As we engage with this thinking, it develops a new circuit that sends a signal to the body, and we react accordingly. This pattern becomes ingrained in our minds and develops into a habit the more we repeat it. As we think, feel, and act in the same ways frequently, these patterns get ingrained in our subconscious minds and become blueprints. And what does our subconscious mind do? It automates 95% of our daily activities. How then do you change your reality? You establish a new mindset, which changes the way things are. You recondition yourself. This isn't something you can change quickly; it takes a lifetime commitment to intentional retraining and growth. You must realize that you are not your thoughts; rather, you are the thoughts you give strength and attention to—you are the thinker. All your thoughts are simply an unending flow of ideas that go through your head. They are powerless unless you choose to hang onto one of them, at which point a chain form. So how can you develop a new mindset? You develop new emotional and thinking patterns, which in turn strengthen your belief system. And how can you develop new thinking patterns? Here’s how: Become more conscious by paying attention to your emotions and physical responses. Pay closer attention to the thoughts you are focusing on. How To Build a Growth Mindset 1. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others People with a development mentality are not concerned with comparing themselves to others and are happy to play their own game rather than that of others. You'll be able to accomplish more in your self-improvement by giving yourself the chance to take advantage of chances that can help you develop new talents, widen your knowledge, and increase your experiences. 2. Learn From Your Mistakes Mistakes help us to rethink our views and assumptions. Furthermore, failure encourages you to re-evaluate your strategies and try something new, so we learn more from failure than we ever would from success! Don't be scared to fail since doing so will help you achieve in the end. 3. You Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination Because you understand that every stage of the journey is crucial to success, you put more emphasis on the process than the outcome when you have a growth mindset. Anything is feasible if you put in the required effort and work diligently. 4. Use Feedback to Your Advantage Accept criticism without becoming upset. Keep in mind that everyone has the right to an opinion, even if it isn't accurate or just. It doesn't matter if someone else agrees with the input; what matters is what you do with it. 5. Improve Yourself Every Day Be jealous about improving yourself! See how far you can take something fresh that piques your curiosity. Avoid letting the fixed mindset destroy your journey since you need a passion for life to thrive! Pushing your limits and upending the status quo happens when you concentrate on development rather than comfort. 6. Practice Mindfulness Your thoughts and the emotions associated with them have an impact on your thinking. Therefore, exercising mindfulness might be beneficial if you're feeling nervous, sad, or unmotivated. Mindfulness is the ability to retain moment-to-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and surroundings without being swept away by our negative thinking patterns or emotions. When we pay attentive attention to the current moment without passing judgment on it, we enter this mental state. This straightforward condition of being could be challenging at first, but it becomes much more approachable over time. 7. Think of Your Mindsets as Skills That Must Be Practiced If it takes years for you to establish a fixed mindset, you can't expect to see improvement immediately. Consider the way you think as a skill that must be developed, much like learning to ride a bike. You'll improve as you invest more time and effort in them. 8. You Embrace Challenges A person with a fixed mentality will avoid challenges because they don't want to take the chance of failing, whereas a person with a growth mindset will view each difficulty as an opportunity for personal development. Even if there isn't a real threat, they won't let fear keep them from doing what must be done to win. Conclusion Growth and development begin from the heart. It is where all sophisticated innovations started. It is where the greatest of men fight the greatest battles. Once you get it right in your mind, you are halfway gone to building the version of yourself that you desire. This means you must get it right on the inside before any development can occur. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ana-Maria! Ana-Maria Ciubota, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ana-Maria Ciubota, is an entrepreneur, author, beauty and life coach. She is the author of the Skincare Biology Guide ‒ How to Look & Feel Your Best, dedicated to all women around the world. Her unique approach to skincare biology has helped women of all ages achieve healthy, radiant skin, boosting their confidence and self-esteem. With a passion for helping others and a commitment to lifelong learning, Ana is a true inspiration to women everywhere. Whether she's coaching a client, writing a book, or pursuing her personal goals, Ana brings dedication, positivity, and a unique perspective to everything she does.

Written by: Kamini Wood, 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. Using Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat is exciting and fun. However, these and similar apps can sometimes provoke feelings of loneliness, resentment, or inadequacy. In addition, our online time may distract us from other things we’d like to or should do. In the age of social media and filtered lives, we seem to forget how to connect with ourselves and with other people around us. With so much information, photos, and advertisements spinning around our social media and the internet in general, it is so easy to lose focus on ourselves. Social media puts enormous pressure to change who we are and the ways we present ourselves to others. We feel constantly pressured to filter almost every aspect of our lives and show nothing but faultlessness to others. While social media allows us to keep in touch more easily and to witness end endorse other people’s achievements, it may, at the same time, lead to profound isolation and loneliness. The Link Between Social Media and Loneliness Without thinking twice, we keenly share some of the most intimate moments of our lives with millions of digital friends, at the same time witnessing “perfect” moments in our friends’ posts. However, most of us struggle when it comes to sharing our feelings with a close friend, a family member, or even a psychotherapist. Even though it’s absolutely fine to enjoy the photos and products you set your eyes on online, it’s just as important to remember to stay connected with yourself and to acknowledge that you are perfect just as you are. Under constant pressure from social media to filter and adapt, many young people tend to sacrifice their beliefs, values, needs, and emotions, just to fit in. Unrealistic expectations, social pressures, fear of missing out (FOMO), and comparing ourselves to others make our experiences seemingly dull and isolating. In an attempt to make our lives glossier and more exciting than they really are, we often forget how to be authentic. Furthermore, when we witness all those fabulous, polished lives other people present on social media, our own lives seem so imperfect, insignificant, and boring. As a result, we feel extremely unhappy, lonely, and isolated. How to Balance Social Media Use Stay authentic. Being true to yourself doesn’t mean you have to be offline. It means that you are aware of how you present yourself on social media and whether you like it or not. It also means asking yourself how you feel about what you’re seeing on social media. Reflect. Take a moment to mindfully reflect on how you feel when you use social media. Ask yourself whether you enjoy using it to relax or connect with others. Also, consider if there are times when social media makes you feel upset or isolated and whether you want to use it less. Practice mindfulness meditation. This can boost your awareness of why you are on social media and whether you need to take a break. It can help you create boundaries on when, why, and how much you are going to use social media. Take a break. Try taking a break from your phone or other devices. For example, avoid using your phone right before you go to bed (turn it off at least 15 minutes before bedtime) or in the morning when you wake up. To balance social media, you don’t have to cut it off. You just need to use it wisely – simply balance what you’re doing so that it makes you feel comfortable. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Kamini! Kamini Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kamini Wood is the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the AuthenticMe® RiseUp program. An international best-selling author Kamini is driven to support people of all ages to heal their relationship with themselves and to stop outsourcing their self-worth. As a result, her clients become their own confident, resilient self-leader with healthier relationships. Kamini is a certified life coach, board-certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, holds specialty certifications in Calling in the One®, Conscious Uncoupling®, NewMoney Story®, and teen life coaching. Also trained in conscious parenting, Kamini aims to meet her clients where they are, supporting and guiding them on their journey to where they want to be, both personally and professionally. Her mission: create space for each person to see the unique gifts they bring to this world.

Written by: Annette Densham, 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 content marketing industry has made significant strides in diversity & inclusion. But a serious problem still persists – disability is rarely seen from television to online advertising campaigns. Take TV commercials, for example. Unless it's a healthcare spot, these ads typically feature only able-bodied people. Sometimes it can be difficult for people with a disability to consume this content. Where are the subtitles? Why can't screen readers access it? Lisa Cox is an advocate for people with disabilities. She has a few things to say on this topic. “Strategies don’t add impossible layers of complexity to the creative process. Furthermore, dismissing these important considerations sends a troubling message – that people with disabilities are not valued members of society. Not to mention the clear message that the disability dollar is somehow worth less than a non-disabled consumer,” Lisa said. “However, agencies can enjoy far-reaching benefits by including disabled individuals in their content. Authentically portraying disability doesn’t just shape perceptions which benefit society – it also has financial upsides.” By making their media accessible to the disability community, agencies can expand their market share in an underserved market. Lisa said to do that, you need to implement effective strategies “Without tokenising the people you're trying to reach.” Let's talk about a few ways marketers can authentically portray disabled individuals.” Feature a Variety of Disabled Individuals in Ad Campaigns The person in the wheelchair is a trope all disabled people are familiar with. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with including this sort of content, it’s not reflective of how broad the disability sector is. Lisa said many advertisers mean well when they feature physically disabled people. “But the disability community is so rich with diversity, and there are many disabilities that you can’t even see and don’t require obvious aids,” she said. From the hard-of-hearing to the neurodiverse, you may wish to consider including talent like this. “Obviously, it is a short commercial. You require something obvious (like a wheelchair) to signal to the audience that the talent has a disability. But there may be other ways ‒ such as a D/deaf person using sign language ‒ that signal ‘disability’ in a short spot,” Lisa said. Incorporate Assistive Technology into Marketing Content While fun to watch, YouTube's auto-generated captions leave A LOT to be desired. For example, in 2019, an article in The Atlantic featured Rikki Poynter, a Deaf YouTube creator. In it, she rails against "CRAPtions". The article offered various examples, such as influencer Emma Chamberlain saying, "once (my) plane lands, “I’ll be in Paris." Meanwhile, the YouTube auto-caption said, "once (my) plane lands, I’ll be embarrassed." How are the hard-of-hearing supposed to understand a brand when YouTube's text-to-speech translator messes up this badly? And what about the people with low vision or who are blind? To surf the internet, they use screen reading programs. But when site builders overlay text on images or use low-contrast backgrounds, these programs struggle. By designing media with accessibility in mind, brands can avoid offence and make their messages easier to understand. Invite Disabled People to Review Products or Services When developing products and services, many agencies focus heavily on functionality. But while it’s a noble endeavour, their engineers often fail to consider consumers with a disability. A great example of this is currently happening. The fashion industry has undergone huge changes in recent years in terms of the growing success of adaptive and inclusive fashion ‒ clothes designed specifically for the needs of people with disabilities. Lisa said thankfully, there's an easy way to nip these problems in the bud. “By asking disabled end users for feedback, they can uncover serious design flaws within minutes,” she said. “This saves redesign costs later on, and by developing a disability-friendly product/service, it can be a huge PR win for the firm in question.” Disability Inclusion – Good For the Soul and Good for Business Despite immense challenges, people with disabilities have the same hopes and desires as the general population. But they face a world designed for able-bodied people – including the media. Lisa said content creators can make their daily lives easier. “By creating content tailored to the needs of those with disabilities, brands can build positive, long-lasting relationships with them,” she said. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Annette! Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.

Liu Liu is a coach and manager with decades of experience, as a Cross-Cultural Intelligence Coach who specializes in helping international organizations and businesses to improve communications and cooperation among staff for better individual and team performance. He coaches managers and leaders working in a cross-cultural context to build trust, communicate effectively, and deliver results. He also coaches people on management, leadership, and career development. He is someone who helps you to imagine a greater possibility for yourself and supports you in achieving it. As a senior manager in an international relief and development organization, he has worked with people in over 30 countries over his two-decades-long career. He uses a coaching approach to manage cross-country teams and complex programs to deliver results and impacts. He is also an experienced trainer and facilitator who has delivered training on management-related and other subjects in over 30 countries. With a cross-country marriage, developing a career in a second country, and working in an organization that has a reach of 50 countries, Liu Liu understands the importance and pitfalls of working cross-culturally and developing a career in an unfamiliar environment. Liu Liu is an Associated Certified Coach(ACC), a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and an Executive Contributor to Brainz Magazine. He holds a BA(Hon) in International Studies and an MSc in Development Management. Liu Liu, Cross Cultural Intelligence Coach Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. I am Chinese, or I like to call myself “Made in China.” I grew up in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province. If you look at the map of China, it looks like a chicken, the head connects the two Koreas, Hong Kong and Shanghai is at the tummy area, and Taiwan and Hainan island are like the chicken’s feet. My home province Yunnan is the chicken’s bottom. It borders Myanmar and Vietnam. I bet after reading this, you won’t look at the China map the same again. (LoL) It is a beautiful mountain area. The city of Kunming is called “The Spring City” for its pleasant weather. I never once passed English text in my early school years. Only when I finished high school. My dad sent me to a translation school for two years, it’s almost counterintuitive, but something clicked, the way English was taught there was different. I discovered my talents. Finished at the top of the class, and one of my teachers recommended me for a job at the university he taught. It all took off from there. In three years, I was the foreign affairs secretary for the university language center, where we receive students from over 100 countries worldwide, it was also through the job I met my wife from England. After we got married, we lived in Thailand for a year and then moved to the UK. I have been living and working here ever since. I like arts, especially visual arts, paintings, photography, and movies. I take photos myself and display them in our home. In recent years, I have had the opportunity to see the paintings of Picasso, Van Gough, and The Kiss by Clint Gustav in Vienna. My work allowed me to travel to over 30 countries, I loved the variety of meeting all the people, visiting different cities and villages, experiencing the different weathers and climates, and eating different food, some are more interesting than others if you know what I mean. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. When I moved to the UK, I started in the organization I work as a postroom assistant. Like the character in Michael J Fox's film, the Secret of My Success. I did that for 3 years. Working in the postroom allowed me to meet everyone and see how the organization operates, which prepared me for my career progression later. It is also a great character-building exercise. I also started studying at university while doing a full-time job, I have since gained an Honors degree in International Studies and a Master's in Development Management. 22 years later, I am a level 2 manager in this international organization, managing a cross-country team that works in 50 countries. I am the 1st Chinese who has reached this level in the organization's 55 years of history. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? LiuLiuCoaching is my business name. I am a Cross-Cultural Intelligence Coach. Cross-cultural intelligence is not simply cross-cultural communication. Communication is an important part, but there is a lot more to it. Cross-cultural intelligence is essentially how a person first understands one’s own culture and one's behaviors as a result of this culture. Secondly, the person has an open mind, a respectful and learning attitude towards other people’s cultures, and tries to understand the different behaviors caused by the differences. I coach managers working in a cross-cultural context to Build Trust, Communicate Effectively, and Deliver Results. In the business world, it can be a do-or-die situation, and the most ironic thing is that, if you “die”, people tend to give reasons for general management or other issues, and you might not know it is because you don’t have cross-cultural intelligence. Based on my decades of experience, I designed a 10-module coaching program to take client step by step through the project management process. Helping them to recognize how cultural perspective can both affect positively or negatively what they do, coaching them to develop the skills to detect the issues early and to come up with balanced solutions that take the advantage of different cultures, improve the team performance, minimize the risks and deliver the impacts and results. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? We live in a globalized world, and English is the common language in business. This gives a false impression that we all speak the same “language”, but if you look under the hood, you will notice many times we get stuck with cross-cultural issues in our work situation. My coaching program is aimed at middle to senior managers or managers to be. In today’s world, many companies operate internationally. As a manager, the likelihood for you to manage a project cross country or a team with different cultural backgrounds is high, and yet, this is the 1 missing management tool you don’t have. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? I was asked the same question when I was interviewed by The ET Project, a podcast based in Asia. My answer is that I will make Cross-cultural intelligence training essential for all managers and staff if possible. This is because If a manager, a company, and an organization can recognize the importance and need to learn and apply cross-cultural intelligence in the workplace, it could improve efficiency and profits drastically. If this is overlooked or ignored, it could create another layer of problems on top of the normal management challenges. What is your work inspired by? I like to view things from the macro and micro levels at the same time. At the macro level, Dr. Henry Kissinger is the person who teaches me it is important to always have a global view on cross-cultural issues. His book "World Order" published in 2014 explores the evolution of international relations and the concept of world order throughout history. The book analyzes the role of various actors in shaping world order, including nation-states, international organizations, and non-state actors such as terrorists and multinational corporations. At the micro level, I took inspiration from Erin Meyer, the author of The Cultural Map, and Robert Gibson who recently wrote Bridge the Cultural Gap. Their work provides technical insights into how to operate in various cross-cultural contexts. What brings the most joy in life? I see myself as a “conductor” and “gardener” at work. As a “conductor,” when I manage to bring people of different talents around the globe to work on programs and deliver good results, that brings me joy. As a “gardener”, when I create opportunities, coaching, and mentoring staff to grow into a better version of themselves, that brings me joy. What is your favorite vacation spot? Aschau in south Germany right at the border with Austria, with beautiful mountains, and of course the excellent Bavarian beer. Where would you like to travel? The American transcontinental railroad is definitely on my bucket list. The Chinese built the west section of the railroads from Sacramento to Utah. I read so much about it I just really want to go and see the work of my fellow ancestors. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Liu Liu!

Written by: Melissa Enoch, 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. I joined a “I Dream A World” event leading up to 2023 Dr Martin Luther King Day. I was asked to share from a mental health therapist position what Dr Martin Luther King Day meant to me from the perspective of “I Dream A World”. My takeaway from this experience lead me to pen the poem “I Dream a World” from the Langston Hughes poem of the same name, at the end of this article. Five score years ago in the years 1918, 1919, America suffered the fate of a pandemic that changed the climate of the world for those living during those times. The pandemic came as scourge against businesses, family, children, Economy and affected any normalcy as many would know. Beginning 2020, COVID-19 created a similar concern and people of all ethnicities have reached out to seek mental health therapy as the result of it exposing inner wounds that many had been able to maintain and keep at bay. As the result of solitude, observance of many high-profile suicides from individuals living with “high functioning” depression and the adjustment to the changes occurring many have had to reassess their own lives. Individuals that have ordinarily been able to cope have been led to reach out to therapy to help them live life on life’s term. However, focus of diversity, inclusion and exclusion has created an opportunity for individuals to be seen and heard; yet many African American females continue to struggle to find someone who looks and understands them presenting similar gender, ethnicity and possible values. Search of the number of therapists in the United States, Zippia, an online employment recruitment company, who democratizes access to every aspect of the job search process presents that there are over 198,811 therapists employed in the United States, with 75.6% women, and 24.4% men, with an average age of 41 years old and the most common ethnicity is 76.4% White. Trauma has been experienced by many ethnicities and has presented it own series of concerns generational, however for African American women, this trauma, beginning with slavery, progressing through denial of Rights and has continued to affect them not only physically, but also emotionally, mentally and spiritually and many have been told “just get over it”, encouraged to deny the full ramification of the trauma or have learned coping mechanisms based on coping through survival and not thriving. One personal example, includes in 1920, my Grandmother, Priscilla Lea Moore, as the one of the oldest of many children was taken by her grandfather, Mitchell Lea to Palmer Memorial Institute to learn how to maintain farming and property as he was one of the few African American landowners in Alamance County. My grandmother was able to learn and then share this knowledge with her husband, own and tend to their own property, operate a small business and be able to provide for and encourage their children to do the same. However, despite this knowledge and resources, she also needed to maintain full time employment and which left her children having to take care of themselves. Another example, as my mother grew up with her childhood experience, she was able to share the importance of owning your own property, which led to her and my father doing the same reducing the effects of generational trauma of instability, illiteracy and other deficiencies that plagued many other African American homes. However, because she also had to maintain full time employment to ensure the stability of the home led to me having to take care of myself from an early age, continuing the cycle of being ultra responsible and independent yet creating a concern for the effects of needing to survive versus thriving. During the pandemic of the early 1900s, many families suffered plight including loss of homes, families, alcoholism, domestic violence as the result, created trauma, leading to social conditions, leading to adverse childhood experiences, leading to disrupted neurodevelopment, leading to social, emotional, and cognitive impairment, leading to disease, disability and social problems, leading to early death; i.e, Adverse Childhood Experiences. One hundred years later, African American women face the similar fate as many suffered then. One hundred years later, African American women suffer the effects of generational embodiment and trauma. One hundred years, African American women, still struggle to close the 400-year gap created by the effects of slavery and are told that the effects are not real and that this gap has closed. One hundred years later the dream of a world where many believe racism and discrimination does not exist continues to plague the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of African American women. I Dream A World, a poem written by Langston Hughes recites a world where MAN and no other man will scorn, love will bless the earth and peace will adorn its paths. The poem further posits that there will be a world where one would know freedom, there will be no greed and there will be equality no matter what the race. Lastly, there will be a world where all will share the bounties of the earth and every man will be free. Yet, African American women remain haunted by the generational trauma that was created years ago, was exacerbated during the pandemic of 1918 and 1919, has permeated the fabric of American soil from then to the first settlements of the New World and has been recreated with the pandemic of 2020. African American women have born the brunt of the effects of Slavery, including the loss of their connections to their family roots; needing to be the caretakers for others while leaving their own children to fend for themselves; watching their men be ripped apart both physical through removing them from the homes and whipping them incessantly with actual whips to present day observing their grandfathers, fathers, husbands and sons being subjected to incarceration and killings. This is not the time for us to continue to allow the denial and minimization of the continued effects of what should be historical trauma, but continues to become a daily fight to maintain the peace of mind that is needed to allow African American women to heal. The results of the past three years in isolation has allowed an opportunity to sit in solitude and reflect on the years past and to realize the overall effect trauma has had on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of the African American women. During this time, African American women, including myself have had an opportunity to reflect on the continued social conditions that have plagued us for years including the lack of adequate medical care, the concern for the effects of poor mental health has had on our grandparents, parents, self and their children; how trauma and its definition has overlooked the depth of the trauma that has been felt throughout time. During this time, during this opportunity of reflection, African American women have become aware of the deficiencies created by this trauma and have begin to realize the need for more investigation leading to the acknowledgement of that focusing on their own mental health is a need that is required to subvert this continued generational trauma. Yet, as many African American seek to overcome these deficiencies, they will face yet another obstacle to overcome which will be finding someone who can not only empathize with what they have experienced, but also sympathize with their ongoing plight with genuine understanding, which will prove difficult with only 4.1% Therapists that are African American. However, Dr Martin Luther King Jr quoted that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of Challenge and Controversy. I Dream a World where African American women can seek solace in learning that their lives matter. I Dream a World where African American women can breathe a sigh of relief and know that they are being heard. I Dream a World where African American women no longer have to be The Strong One. I Dream a World where African American women no longer have to be their Own Trusted Adult. I Dream a World where African American women can share their history of trauma, open and honest. I Dream a World where African American women will no longer represent the societal ills of their community. I Dream a World where African American women can heal from their generational trauma through being supported. I Dream A World where African American women can heal from the social conditions that have jeopardize them and their families for more than 400 years. I Dream a World where African American women are less likely to have more than 4 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences and have a better outcome. I Dream a World where African American women can become beacons of hope for their collective sisters. I Dream a World where their bodies are no longer harmed by lack. I Dream a World where their minds are healed. I Dream a World where their decisions are rational and full of positive outcomes. I Dream a World where they will be genuinely appreciated for who they are and from what they have overcome. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Melissa! Melissa Enoch, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Enoch is Owner/CEO/Director of Trinity Counseling Services LLC, a private substance abuse and mental health facility located in Burlington and Charlotte, where she uses her twenty-eight years of experience to educate individuals about various mental health and substance use disorder topics. Melissa is also the founder of Women of Strength, a non-profit educational organization focused on women's networking and community awareness. In her spare time, Melissa is interested in making jewelry, shooting photography, and mentoring young professionals.