Written by: Tommy Walker, 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 an entrepreneur, it can be frustrating when your business isn't growing at the pace you'd like it to. You may be putting in long hours, hustling hard, and doing everything you can think of to get ahead, but for some reason, success seems to be just out of reach. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many entrepreneurs face roadblocks that hold them back from achieving their goals. But did you know that there are three main areas where these roadblocks often occur? The first roadblock is marketing. For many people, marketing is a scary concept. They worry about being judged or criticized for their business, and this fear can hold them back from taking action. But the truth is, marketing is essential for any business to grow. If people don't know about your business, they won't be able to buy from you. So, instead of letting fear hold you back, work on reprogramming your mindset, identify, and work on getting rid of your negative self-image/stories in the subconscious mind. Remember, marketing is all about getting the word out and letting people know about your business. The second roadblock is sales. Sales can be a tough area for many entrepreneurs because of the fear of rejection. When someone doesn't buy your product or service, it can feel like a personal rejection. But it's important to remember that not everyone will resonate with your product or service, and that's okay. Instead of letting external results define your self-worth, focus on the people who do resonate with you. Think about the impact you can make on their lives and how you can provide value to them. Work on changing your relationship with rejection, and start taking massive actions. The third roadblock is money. Many people have negative beliefs about money that can hold them back from achieving financial success. You may have beliefs like "money is bad" or "rich people are greedy," and these beliefs can prevent you from taking action to grow your business. Understand that these beliefs can be in the subconscious mind, most people are not even aware of them. To overcome this roadblock, it's important to identify and change any limiting beliefs you may have about money. To grow your business, you need to reprogram your mindset and get rid of any limiting beliefs. But how do you do this? One way is to work on your belief system. Whenever you're feeling stuck, or negative, take a step back and examine your beliefs. I use these 3 questions as a starting point with my clients. It is not an easy task, if you are not open-hearted and open-minded, the mind will not open up. Remember, the mind is trying to protect you from confirming the false beliefs in there. 1. How do I feel? Connect with the emotions. A very important step, mostly when they are negative. 2. Why do I feel this? Understand the context and the story you are telling yourself. 3. How does this make me feel about myself? This 3rd question helps identify false beliefs. Then you can start asking yourself questions like, "Is this belief serving me?" “Why did I create it in the first place?”. By doing this, you can start to identify and change any negative beliefs that are holding you back and work towards changing them. Finally, remember that success takes time. It's easy to get frustrated when you don't see immediate results, but building a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep putting in the work, stay focused on your goals, work on your mindset daily, and the roadblocks won’t hold you back. Working on my mindset was what allowed me to go from struggling to budling a multi 6 figure business and growing. It didn’t happen in a couple of months, it took time, work, experimentation, consistency, etc. In conclusion, as an entrepreneur, it's important to identify and overcome the roadblocks that are holding you back from achieving success. By reprogramming your mindset and getting rid of any limiting beliefs, you can start to make progress and build a successful business. Let me know what you think. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tommy! Tommy Walker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tommy Walker has combined the best practices out there in the world and developed Rapid Subconscious Reprogramming, a proven system that combines coaching, neuroscience, therapy, inner child connection, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. He struggled for over 30 years till he met the mentor that helped him change his life. He now has impacted the life of over 120.000 people around the world. His mission is to help people become their True Self and succeed in life and biz.

Written by: Helen Kagan, 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 think it’s safe to say that Life can be quite chaotic, hectic, confusing, and overwhelming at times… Especially over the last few years, for sure. Were you questioning yourself about your Life? What’s happening and Why? How to live it now with Dignity & Integrity? Is it still possible? With stress coming at us left and right, living in a total distress most of the time, we can end up burned out, unable to sleep, not functioning well, we are angry, frustrated, unsatisfied, unfulfilled, and just completely drained. Can we still love ourselves? Even regardless the circumstances? Who is that person – a ‘Real You’? Do you treat yourself with compassion? How to live your life with Integrity if the whole World’s going nuts? Can you still have empathy to others if you’re falling apart? Authenticity – what is it? A constant or a variable? Decide for yourself… As I wrote about Authenticity in my newest Poem Series “Colorful YOU” (a fragment) AUTHENTICITY. A complicated word with such a simple meaning – Live in accord with Higher Self, in harmony with Inner Critic, in balance with your World. Just be your truest Self. I know it’s not easy. I know ‒ it’s opposite to lies, untruthfulness, complicity – It’s all about dignity, integrity, and the simplicity Of being true. Of loving self and others Embracing your reality with joy, vivacity, and colors. Then what is difficult? To take responsibility for the decisions and choices I make despite my limitless ability to be creative, To trust the Process, live on Purpose. To be accountable and trustworthy. Just diving in without fear. Just trusting the Divine, You just being thankful for the Life you’ve got. Just being true. And gratefully continue on your sacred Journey of Sincerity, Integrity, Humility, Simplicity – AUTHENTICITY. What can stop us being Authentic and living our life with Integrity? As we already know, “negative beliefs” are those blocks that your subconscious mind puts there to “protect” you from happiness, abundance, joy, health, wellbeing – you name it! These beliefs need to be intentionally worked on to be released (eliminated) from all your systems as THEY ARE TOXIC. Examples could be your beliefs that “you are not good enough”; that “you are not worthy of” (money, happiness, love, etc.); that you can never be able/capable to do abc…; that you will never find xyz (love, relationship, good job, etc.); and many other limiting beliefs that poison your mind and therefore affect all aspects of your life. Let’s examine these 4 types of Negative Blocks (limiting beliefs) that are affecting our lives (subconsciously) – i.e. without us having any awareness of it. Environmental ‒ people, places, things. Come from your childhood, family, society, politics, news, etc. You are affected/influenced by them more than you can possibly see (especially if you’re not paying attention to it). Psycho-somatic. You don’t know how each event in your life did or can affect you, how long your reaction could last, and how you process it, how much new trauma it can bring and/or how much past traumas were triggered by it. For instance, the relatively simple notions in your childhood ‒ “I am invisible; I’m unlovable; I’m not good enough, etc.” can become a dominant negative vibration which colors the whole life of this person. Generational. Come from parents, grandparents, parental figures, caregivers, and perhaps, even our own past lives. If you believe in Spiritual Laws and/or reincarnation ‒ we might have been given these “blocks” to live through them, to experience them, re-live and release forever. Spiritual gifts – can block our lives and become one of the most difficult to remove limiting beliefs as the majority of people can’t even understand and/or relate to us (as to too advanced or evolved). We begin to lose friends, even our own family don’t understand us. These can be a blessing and a curse. Why are we better off if we embrace a concept of “Self-Love”? See, I am not talking about ‘narcissists’ here. Nor I am talking about egocentric, selfish, full of themselves, self-centered people who believe they are ‘a center of the Universe’ and thus everything belongs to them – your ideas, feelings, money, even your life. I am exploring here a concept of “Self-Love” from a perspective of Integrity & Authenticity. I’ve been learning that we can’t feel worthy of anything without first embracing a very basic concept of “Self-Love” (which is not easy for many!). You most likely heard that no one (including your family members, your significant others, the Universe, God, Angels, and all possible Sources you believe in) can love you more than you love yourself. You probably heard that you can only receive from any outside Source what you’re allowing to give yourself from your inside Source ‒ i.e., receive from yourself. Does it sound strange? And how do we know what Self-Love is if we might’ve never experienced it? I will define Self-Love as an unconditional experience of love for yourself no matter who and what you are, do or have, what’s going on with you and/or around you or in the World. You just love Yourself, and that’s the whole meaning of it. It doesn’t depend on you being smart or not smart, pretty or not pretty, talented or not, loving and caring or not, etc. It doesn’t depend on you being something or anything. It is about an unconditional acceptance of yourself. It’s true that it is not always easy to remember to put “your own oxygen mask first”, but this is exactly the main principle of Self-Love which will allow us to provide help and serve others in need. Integrity. Can we still have it when “the world’s falling apart”? What is Integrity? And why it is so important in our lives? Integrity is about living in accordance with your values, beliefs, morals, and principles, even when it seems hard or impossible (read again a fragment of my Poem above :). BTW, this entire, very powerful, Poem will be published in the Book “The Keys For Authenticity” in co-authorship with Jack Canfield, Summer 2023. I consider Integrity is not something we try to achieve; it is rather what we consciously choose. It is about our everyday CHOICE. So… choose wisely! When we live with integrity, we become reliable and people can trust our word; we have a good reputation, we become just generally better and happier – in our relationships with others and with ourselves. We become trustworthy. People trust us and have trust in us. This is paramount. Can we see if we live with integrity or not? This very simple 4-step formula (D.A.S.A.) can help you identify your “Integrity vault”: Define your values and beliefs. It’s easier to stand for what’s right if you know what you stand for. Act with the right intention. How do we know what’s right? ‒ see 1). Make conscious choices for your career, relationships, and life in general Strive to be honest with yourself & others – it’s a conscious decision we make daily. Assert your needs and opinions. Stand up for yourself & others especially when you believe it’s right. What’s right? – see 1). I was examining my own values, beliefs, and my Integrity vault, and realized that I want to add one more, a rather non-linear, variable to the above formula. I feel that NOW is a critical time for many of us to shift. To shift from fear – to love, from surviving – to thriving, despair – to happiness, illness – to wellness, from war – to peace. For instance, my HealingArts™ – is the creative foundation for my own shift to Love, Light & Gratitude. What’s yours? I was so happy when several years ago I first came up with an idea of creating a “vehicle” for my HealingArts to be “transported” to people who can’t afford an original artworks but will be easily able to purchase a beautiful designer garment or a colorful household item – anything form my HealingArts™ Collections that contains high-vibrational healing energies so needed in our turbulent times. Even a simple yet a designer T-shirt, a baseball cap, a jacket, a dress, a household item – towels, glasses, blankets, pillows – just any item you need is having my HealingArts high vibrational frequencies embedded in all of them! It felt very authentic to me that I can continue to create my unique art with a healing intention, and that more and more people all over the world could benefit from having my unique colorful art in their environment in a way of “wearables” to put a smile in your heart! My Big Dream, Vision and Mission is to deliver my WearableHealingArts® to Healthcare and Hospitality markets to promote healing and enhance wellbeing. I envision “hospital-wear” and “hotel-wear” made from my HealingArts artworks, will serve as a healing agent to every facility, patient, client, staff, visitor, just everyone who will experience the positive impact of my HealingArts™ in real time, and on on-going basis. Not only as artworks on the walls, but as wearable art - sheets, pillows, curtains, blankets, robes, scrubs, uniforms, etc. etc. And... I can guarantee that every person wearing my unique designer garment, or having various products with my healing art on them, will simultaneously enhance their well-being as every item is not only aesthetically appealing due to beautiful colors and fancy designs, but most importantly, carries the healing properties from the original HealingArts™ works. Authenticity 24/7, or are we going in-and-out from our “Authenticity Zone”? In a powerful Book on “’Authenticity Keys” I am co-authoring with famous Jack Canfield (which will be published Summer 2023) one of the questions I am pondering on is ‒ “Can we be completely authentic 24/7? Or do we create a special “Authenticity Zone” we go to every time we connect with our Higher Self? I know for me is that when I live from higher-vibrational frequencies of Love and Light, I feel ‘connected’ and authentic. I can speculate that when you’re connected with your multi-dimensional Higher Self, you inevitably become authentic. But can we do it 24/7? Or do we go in-and-out of this magical zone? It was an important realization for me that sometimes we are inauthentic. It doesn't necessarily mean that when you’re out of your ‘Authenticity Zone’ you are bad, or you do something you later regret, or you will make some major mistakes. Well… first, I believe there are no mistakes – just Lessons we have to learn from, and Choices we make that are not congruent with our Authentic Self. Authenticity means being true to yourself, right? But since we’re constantly changing, I can define “being authentic” is when I’m connected with my Higher Self in that “authenticity zone” from which we just have to go in-and-out, because it is simply impossible to be there 24/7. Or is it possible? When I am creating, I know exactly when I am in my creative Zone, I know exactly how it feels when I am there. I can experience wonderful, meditative, exciting, happy, quiet, and other states at the same time because when I am ‘in a Zone’ with high-vibrational frequencies – I am 100% authentic, i.e., I AM connected to the Universal Wisdom and Creativity. I invite you all to experience this magical phenomenon ‘being in a zone’, even if it doesn't happen for 24/7, it's still wonderful! If somebody told me how difficult my Journey will be, would I still do it? I will use here my own example of “being an Artist” as I believe a lot of people will relate (both, “creatives” and “normal” ones :). I’ll try to convey a message that it is still possible (though quite difficult) to maintain your Integrity & Authenticity while the circumstances do not necessarily support you on your Journey. When you feel crashed, hopeless, or even completely falling apart… Yes, I do believe it is possible to “raise out of ashes” and start anew. Never easy. Can be devastating. But I’ve done it many times. So can you. One might think that being a freelance “full time artist” entails some sort of a luxurious lifestyle, like similar to what you can see in the movies :) Well… Let me tell you that first of all, a “creative process” is not an easy thing. First – you must allow yourself to be creative. Give yourself time. MAKE time (even if you don’t have it at all), and let yourself get into this magic “creative Zone” where all the miracles happen… Where there’s no “writer’s blocks, “blank canvas” blocks, and any other blocks we make ourselves to self-sabotage… Just allow that sacred Connection with the Divine and start to blissfully create. Really, this is it! But if you ask me – how does your workday look like? I’d say – usually quite crazy. That’s another story, and… another reality. The question is – is it possible to integrate and manage these opposite realities? Those who are familiar with various intricacies of a creative process of any nature, those who know closely what it is, will agree with me. So… my “workday” might look like a regular “working day” for most folks who work like 9-6 schedule, and then work another job on top of that for a few more hours :). Or my “work day” might become totally crazy with a lot of actual painting time and lots of “processing and conceptualizing” time in-between which would result in like 25H day… And then there’s a huge chunk of time going to other (yet important) stuff like creating advertising materials, ordering, producing, and hand embellishing giclees, making prints, taking good photographs, endlessly improving previously worked on images of your art, writing articles, even books (!), press releases, creating and managing websites (plural), and of course, making arrangements for shows and exhibitions, inviting guests and collectors, creating mailing lists, doing emails blasts, and all that other “marketing jargon” which I have very low tolerance to…, then actually curating, providing and facilitating your own Shows, packing, shipping and handling your art, transporting yourself AND your art pieces to and from those Shows and Exhibitions, producing all possible marketing materials, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Well… you can see that even reading about this can make you feel overwhelmed, right? It does make me feel overwhelmed, for sure! :) I think the actual time I spend painting, i.e. creating, being in my “creative Zone” ‒ is only about 20-25%, if I’m lucky to have this time. Other 75-80% goes to everything else around your art career – of course if you treat it as a career vs. hobby. And it is very sad for me. I’d rather spend 75-80% of my time creating my unique art – because this is what I do best. But I do understand that other things I described above are just a “necessary evil” which I have to accept, and even love, because without loving it I’ll not be authentic. So, you can see that developing my concept & brand HealingArts™, my newest unique venue & brand Wearable HealingArts®, AND squeezing time in-between to actually CREATE (what I love the most) ‒ my actual unique artworks, write poems, play music, author books, etc. – is of course, a double or rather a triple full-time career! :) Which I won’t change for anything else as I feel authentic doing what I love and living my life with integrity. And… if I knew what I was putting myself into… – I think I’d still do that :) My Higher Self would still drag me to this place where I’m allowing myself to have joy creating. Where I am 100 % authentic. Where I feel Home. That “sacred place” where the most important things when we are starting anew (of course, after changing our “old stories”) – become Light, Love, Gratitude, Integrity, Authenticity. The Real Us. What are we learning? I believe everyone at this point most likely asked themselves about those grand lessons we’re given as humanity. Big existential questions like WHO AM I? WHY I AM here? WHAT I am here FOR? What is my MISSION? Do I have a VISION, what is my PURPOSE? What I find helpful in finding answers to these “BIG questions” are the following basic spiritual principles (regardless any of your religious beliefs): Learning Forgiveness Knowing your Strength Speaking your Truth Living Authentically with Integrity Learning & Embracing Self-Love Practicing Gratitude daily And… a few more, depending on your individual choices :) But as I said earlier, I don’t believe in “mistakes”. I believe there’re Lessons given to us to learn, and if we have not learned the first time, they will be given again, and again – to finally realize what we need to continue on our Journey. We also need to find and define our WHY-s. I think I am finally clear about my “WHY”. I choose to be an Artist that I was born to be, and that allows me to live authentically because it’s my Truth. But I want you to know that it took me almost 40 years to realize that I just must do it because it’s my Truth, because this is WHO I AM. Because without it, I will not be authentic. I won’t live my life with Integrity as it was meant to be. Because creating my unique Healingarts™ ‒ is not only one of the many ways to express myself but my unique way to heal myself and others. I am here to bring this message to the World that my Art is healing, my art is Love and Light, it is a healing tool that can help you on your Journey to YourSelf. Helen Kagan HealingArts™. One of my own very strong (positive!) beliefs is that art heals. And this is exactly why I continue creating, in many different ways, shapes, and forms! I believe that art is a catalyst for healing individuals, society, and environment. I believe that for many of us, creatives, art is a spiritual path, a transformational process, a way of being. I believe in the inter-connectedness of mind, body, and spirit. I believe that now, more than ever, our World needs the positive energy and spiritually-based intentions, beliefs, and values. As a statement of all my beliefs, my “HealingArts” is my unique way to synergistically bring together fine art, expressive arts, and art of healing to enhance wellbeing, make right choices, bring Love & Light, practice gratitude, embrace humanity. I’ve become a published and bestselling author rather suddenly… I’ve been previously featured in many Magazines including Authority, Thrive Global, ArtTour International, Art & Beyond, VoyageMia, Insights, but then was published in a “We’re All In This Together” (2021) which made me a Bestseller Author. Am continuing to work on my own 2 exciting books (despite all possible challenges), and co-authoring a Book on Authenticity with Jack Canfield. But my most attention and intention are always dedicated to developing my new unique venue integrating Art, Fashion, Design, and Healing – WearableHealingArts™ – to make healing through art more accessible to everyone. Our big commercial platform WearableHealingArts.com is almost ready… Just a few days left to a launch! Stay tuned! In the meantime, please visit here to enjoy my healing colors, and perhaps even meditate on the above concepts about Authenticity, Integrity, and Self-Love. Thanks for reading! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or visit my website. Read more from Helen! Helen Kagan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Helen Kagan Ph.D., a scientist, psychologist, artist, a pioneer of creating art with the intention to heal, is a creator of unique HealingArts™ for 30 years. Helen believes art is a catalyst for healing individuals & society and engaging Healthcare & Hospitality to encourage healing through art. As a severe PTSD survivor who dedicated her life to helping others, she synergistically integrates Fine Art, Expressive Arts & Art of Healing. “HealingArts” shown in multiple International Galleries, States, Countries, and Catalogs, won awards, named "Collectible Artist". Her Mission now is to develop a new unique venue integrating fashion, design, art & healing ‒ WearableHealingArts™ ‒ to make healing through art accessible to everyone.

Written by: Jonas Lang , 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. After people have passed the initial career hurdles and are into a stable and comfortably paying job for a couple of years, it is common for them to start reflecting on where they are. Is this position fulfilling for me? Does it motivate me to get out of bed each morning for the next years? Can I sustain my energy or do I slowly burn out in what could feel like an endless repeating cycle of similar tasks? One concept that can help you to stay energized is the concept of motivational balance. What is motivational balanc e? In a nutshell, motivational balance describes a fit between your explicit motivation (what you believe you should do or achieve and desire) and your implicit motivation (what you really deep down want and desire).In practice, this means that the conscious and the implicit elements of motivation are in a desirable configuration which typically means that either both are either present or absent. Motivational balance can be achieved for different types of motivation. For example, one important motive is the motive of having influence or power. Some people consciously believe they should and need influence. In contrast, others have an implicit desire to have influence and be involved in key decisions. Problems can occur when a person believes he or she is power motivated but when they finally attain a position they do not have the actual energy to carry out the behavior because they lack an implicit desire and motive for it because they do not really enjoy influencing people. Likewise, it can also be problematic if a person has a high power motive and is not fully aware of it. The person may fail to ever attain a position of power but feel frustrated by the lack of influence. Being low on both types (explicit and implicit) power motivation is not necessarily a bad thing because the person can then be motivated by something else like, for example, a correspondence between explicit and implicit achievement motivation (a desire to work on a challenging task and to improve one's ability). How can you identify motivational imbalance? The first step is likely to measure motivation and become aware of the misfit. This can be achieved using psychological measures and an expert psychologist. However, you do not always need one. Another strategy can be to look at the life history or employment history of a person. For example, a person with low explicit power motivation and high implicit power motivation may describe feelings of anger about decisions higher up the hierarchy. The employee may feel a deep desire to have influence without being fully aware of it. However, you can of course identify such anger in yourself and reflect on it. Likewise, people frequently may get into leadership roles but may feel that making wide-ranging decisions about others is not what really fulfills them. As another example from another domain: A person with high implicit achievement motivation but a lack of awareness of it may end up in a job that is not really challenging and then resort to resort to all types of challenging hobbies like video games, difficult puzzles or maybe a sport they play outside of work to get back a feeling of being challenged. How can y ou ac hieve motivational balance? After pinpointing potential reasons for lack of energy at work or felt discomfort, one possible step is to think about ways to change or reinterpret the current job. For example, the employee can learn to identify situations that can satisfy their natural desire to have influence or to work on challenging tasks and be successful and also learn to explicitly ask for these types of assignments or tasks. Especially in team settings, there are frequently many possibilities to distribute work and being aware of the tasks that provide fulfillment is thus an important asset. Another strategy is of course to change the position within the organization or even leave the organization. These types of transformational decisions are typically a last resort after reinterpreting the current job or career does not work. Also in these types of transitions, motivational balance can be a helpful concept that can help one to understand why a particular task may not feel fulfilling. People who do not feel fulfilled by their job frequently go through an identity crisis when they realize that the career they choose is not what really does fulfill them and need to figure out for themselves why this is the case. Realizing that a fundamental misfit between the types of tasks that one experiences as fulfilling and the types of tasks that initially thought would be fulfilling can of course be difficult but at the same time also provides a clear basis for searching for something that is more fulfilling. How can business or ganizations help their employees to achieve motivational balance? Organizations can actively help employees to become aware of their motivational profile by offering assessment, training, and coaching that takes the full range of motivation into account. Another strategy is to generally develop certain flexibility when it comes to the distribution of work tasks, and to encourage employees to figure out what type of tasks they like doing by just trying them. It is common that employees get certain labels or roles like "the organizer", "the technical person", "the social butterfly", etc. and then only get tasks within this role. Many times these role descriptions may correspond to the employees explicit motivational profile but not necessarily to the employees implicit one. By encouraging flexibility and trying out other roles it is possible to help employees in achieving motivational balance and give them the freedom to do so. So is motivation all it takes to succeed? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Motivation and in particular motivational balance can certainly help to build the skills to succeed so in a way motivation can also drive the development of skills. Hugo Kehr has developed a theory in which he extends the motivational balance concept and suggests that balance between implicit motivation, explicit motivation, and perceived skills leads employees to become totally absorbed into a task ‒ a state that also sometimes is described as flow motivation. So in this perspective, the perception of having the skills improves the experience. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware that motivation has its boundaries. Certain cognitive skills can be improved through training but only up to a certain degree. Not everybody has the innate ability to be the next Albert Einstein. Likewise, certain motor skills required to be an elite athlete cannot really be learned. This being said, many people potentially underestimate how much motivation can actually do for them. You may not become the next Einstein but you can probably become very successful just from figuring out how to best use your motivational energy through motivational balance. Follow me on Facebook , Twitter, Li nkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jonas! Jonas Lang, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jonas is a work and organizational psychologist and has from early on in his career developed keen interest in accurately measuring what nobody can see ‒ psychological and organizational characteristics like engagement, motivation, skills, or abilities. He has published more than 60 papers in leading academic journals including many articles on psychological and organizational measurement. Jonas has also worked as an Associate Editor for the American Psychological Association's Journal of Applied Psychology. He has also won the Jeanneret Award for Excellence in the Study of Individual or Group Assessment from the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Jonas is a work and organizational psychologist and has from early on in his career developed keen interest in accurately measuring what nobody can see ‒ psychological and organizational characteristics like engagement, motivation, skills, or abilities. He has published more than 60 papers in leading academic journals including many articles on psychological and organizational measurement. Jonas has also worked as an Associate Editor for the American Psychological Association's Journal of Applied Psychology. He has also won the Jeanneret Award for Excellence in the Study of Individual or Group Assessment from the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Written by: Dr. Hynd Bouhia, 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. Leadership starts by leading yourself first. To lead yourself, you need to master the different identities that you have inside of you. When you know your identities and how they behave you will start unlocking the enigma about what business strategy to follow and when to use it. ¹ The three energetic archetypes that matter the most are the following: the warrior and the active person which uses masculine energy to do, the divine which represents feminine energy and the feeling of being who you are, the boss is about the vision and the strategy, and it is a hybrid in terms of the energy used, both the masculine and the feminine. Being aware of the different identities, make you appreciate every step you do more. It is also the start to understand what is activated in you in terms of emotions as you go through your journey and how to react to it. How to feel fulfilled? You don’t feel fulfilled because of all the achievements and what you have created, or the projects you have completed. It comes from finding meaning in what you do. It is also about connecting with the feelings that you have when you achieve your work and when you embark on every single thing you do. When the meaning is lost, you will feel that you are continuously running after your objectives. As soon as you get to one, another objective shows up. So that run will never stop, it will feel like a never-ending hamster wheel or running on a treadmill without going anywhere. That feeling gets exacerbated by the notion of lack of time to do it all. You become not only overwhelmed by the tasks at hand and the responsibilities, but also stressed with time and deadlines. An important step to elevating the leader in you is to be aware of the different identities that you have inside you. You can use each of the identities to strengthen yourself and to understand the uniqueness you are made of. These identities come with different types of energetics and style. When you learn how to embody each one, you will rise to reach the success you aspire to achieve. 1. The identity of the warrior, ² the active and the doer in you This identity is about doing. It embodies your capacity to take on any project and do it perfectly well and just on time. That identity that you know when you have her triggered, you can take on mountains and do them so well you can even surprise yourself at times. You write the list and you go through every item one by one. You know how to Make sure that each one is properly executed. This way you get ready again to start the next one on the to-do list. Nevertheless, it may start feeling like running after a never-ending to-do list. This identity finds roots in the masculine paradigm we grow up with. When we go to school, it is all about doing the homework learning the lessons, passing the exams, and having good grades. These good grades are so important so that you can get into the best universities, and then prepare for that interview for the best job. It doesn’t even stop there. It continues as you go on the track to more responsibilities, becoming a manager, and later having a cozy retirement. It is all about doing continuously. And this doing always comes with looking for more to do. Because that active warrior knows only doing, working hard, long hours, and making sure that the daily schedule is always filled with tasks. This is why that identity alone gets us overwhelmed and burned out when we add to it that “never enough” feeling. 2. The identity of the divine, the goddess in you This identity is so new to me in the way we can integrate it into our lives to change it around. When I started integrating its understanding and its meaning three years ago, it echoed into my deepest understanding of what fulfillment meant. This identity is the force of life. It is the power inside you, it is your connection with the universe, mother nature, infinite intelligence ... the divine. This identity is the one that helps you reconnect with who you are, and celebrate every step with gratitude for what you have. This is about what you feel. Owning the divine in you and honoring the goddess for female leaders. It is about feeling good, feeling aligned and connected with your inner drive, your values, and your true mission in life. It is taking the moment to anchor the why behind your work, and the why behind the service you provide. It helps bring meaning to everything you do and it helps you enjoy every step in your journey. Success is not doing different things, it is about how you feel when you do what you do. Make it a celebration and an honoring of the incredible soul you have inside you as you do the work that you do! 3. The identity of the boss and the great leader This is the most powerful identity that combines both the feminine energy, which is connecting with the divine in you and the masculine paradigm of the warrior and the doer. This identity is about finding harmony while defining your best-fit strategy. And the strategist is the boss in you. The one that contemplates every move, anchors every success, and gets ready for continuous growth and evolution. This identity comes from the wisdom in you and the leader that helps you articulate your action plan and magnetize all the opportunities for you. All this while mastering your emotional intelligence and understanding the energetics behind each identity. Conclusion Being able to embody those identities, is the first step to letting go of finding excuses and justifications for not going faster and rising higher. The only way to step out of the victimization mode and to bring yourself into those spaces where you can have a conversation about what you can do, instead of what you can’t do. You want to feel empowered to stand tall and face everything that comes your way as you walk toward your goals and get closer to your dream vision. Finally, while working ³ on helping women find the power to stand up as great leaders in everything they do and in their life. The more I deepened my understanding of energetics, the more it became about finding harmony and balance emotionally first and then strategically for business and professional aspirations. Combining between the feminine energy of being fulfilled and profoundly happy, and the masculine paradigm of doing and creating a brand of excellence. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Hynd! Dr. Hynd Bouhia, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Hynd Bouhia has cumulated more than 20 years of professional experience in high-level and leadership positions, covering investments, financial structuring, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development strategies. Hynd Bouhia was nominated by Forbes among the 100 most influential women in the world in 2008 and among the most influential women in Business in the Arab World in 2015 and honored as a member of the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars in 2018. References: [1] https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/elevate-your-leadership-part-1-create-a-strong-context [2] https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/four-personality-types-find-the-one-you-need [3] http://www.balmethod.com/bal

Written by: Brooke Summer Adams, 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. As a new entrepreneur, time management can be one of the most challenging aspects of starting a business. With so many tasks to handle whilst still maintaining the 9-5 role, it can be difficult to stay organized and productive. However, with a few key tips and strategies, you can improve your time management skills and set yourself up for success. Brooke Summer Adams ‒ an Internationally Accredited Transformation Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, International Speaker, Trainer and Writer and Yahoo Finances’ Top 10 Female Life Coach of 2021 works closely with first-time coaches to help them become the coach within them who has what it takes to create their vision. She is here with us today to share the top-tips she uses with her 1-2-1 clients to help them navigate the overlap of working a 9-5 and running a business. 1. Set clear goals and priorities Before you dive into your work, take some time to define your goals and priorities. What tasks are most important to the success of your business? What are your long-term and short-term goals? Once you have a clear sense of what you need to accomplish, you can prioritize your tasks and allocate your time accordingly. It’s easy to keep yourself busy with the tasks that aren’t actually achieving much. There’s a big difference between being BUSY and being PRODUCTIVE. If you can get clear on what will actually help you move the needle forward, you’ll be able to focus on those tasks. The quicker we get the business off the ground the quicker we can leave the 9-5. It can be tempting to spend time perfecting and re-doing the small things, but you can always come back to this later once you have more time. 2. Create a schedule and stick to it One of the best ways to manage your time effectively is to create a schedule and stick to it. Start by identifying your most productive times of day and scheduling your most important tasks during those periods as much as you can around the 9-5. Block out specific times for tasks such as email, social media, and other distractions, so that you can stay focused on your work. The tasks that take less energy from you are usually the tasks that don’t make a massive impact to your progress, so leave these till last. These are usually tasks that you can complete even when less motivated or focused and are the tasks that won’t be detrimental if they don’t get done. The tasks that move the needle forward are usually the ones that take most your energy, so get these ones done first. 3. Delegate tasks As a new entrepreneur, you may feel like you need to handle everything yourself. However, delegating tasks to others can help you save time and focus on whats most important. If you can outsource some of your new business tasks that would be great, however if that’s not available to you at present ‒ look for other ways that delegating could save you time. Do you have a teenager that could earn pocket money from walking the dog? Could you hire a cleaner? Could you start doing your food shop online? Could you make a deal with your partner to take turns doing the cooking? 4. Use time-saving tools and technology There are many tools and technologies available that can help you save time and streamline your work processes. For example, automated schedulers can keep you off of social media as they handle the content posting for you. A lot of these are free. Client booking softwares allow others to book in meetings in your calendar so you don’t have to do the back and forth checking your diary. See where there are tools to help you work smarter, not harder ‒ and implement them. 5. Take breaks and prioritize self-care While it may seem counterintuitive, taking breaks and prioritizing self-care can actually help you manage your time more effectively. When you take time to recharge and relax, you come back to your work refreshed and more focused, which can ultimately improve your productivity. 6. Review and adjust your strategies regularly Finally, it’s important to review and adjust your time management strategies regularly. As your business grows and changes, your priorities and goals may shift, and you may need to adjust your schedule and strategies accordingly. Regularly reviewing your time management strategies can help you stay on track and ensure that you’re using your time as efficiently as possible. 7. Get a coach Time management is essential for success as a new entrepreneur. A coach will be able to help you ensure that you have this essential time management by assisting you in setting clear goals, creating a schedule, delegating tasks, holding you accountable to prioritising self-care and reviewing and adjusting your strategies regularly. People can connect with me via Email, Facebook, Instagram, or my Website. Wherever you go, you’ll find helpful training and info on all things transformation. Read more from Brooke! Brooke Summer Adams, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Brooke Summer Adams is internationally accredited in Transformational Coaching, certified to a master-level in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), a graduate of Psychology with a 1st Class Honors Degree (BS.c), a Yahoo Finance Top 10 Female Life-Coach of 2021, a Brainz 500 Global Award Winner of 2021, a Workshop Facilitator at the worlds 1 Coaching Academy and an international Speaker, Trainer, and Writer. After overcoming chronic stress, low self-esteem and body dysmorphia, Brooke was inspired to take to University to study Psychology, become an Internationally Accredited Transformation Coach and NLP Master Practitioner and set up her own online coaching business. After several successful years in business transforming over 100 women into the best versions of themselves, being recognised as a Yahoo Finance Top 10 Female Life Coach and becoming an International Speaker and Trainer, Brooke then moved into the field of transforming first time coaches ‒ so they feel ready to transform others. This experience, on top her qualifications, allows her to transform first time coaches into the version of them who has what it takes to create their vision, by helping them build unshakeable self belief and confidence, overcome fear and take aligned action.

Written by: Kristen Antonio, 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. Have you ever observed a child in deep, imaginative play? My children are currently 5 and 3 years old; actively in the psychosocial stage of developing their autonomy and asserting their personal power and control over the world through directing play. As a child and adolescent therapist, my academic brain knows the importance of play for opening up a child’s capacity for interpersonal skills, emotional regulation, and develop a sense of security in both leading and following others. As a parent therefore, I approached this stage of development with my children in a way that reflected this knowledge and belief in the power of play. I fastidiously got to work, setting up my home in ways that I thought would be supportive of imaginatory play. I organized bins of various toys for sensory play; I made sure books and crafts and artwork were all positioned at eye level for their little bodies; I created cozy nooks with pillows and tents to encourage settling play. And after all this preparation, I sent my children to go off and play. Only they didn’t. They still clamored all over me. Why weren’t they playing independently and in their alternate worlds? What was I missing? Where was I failing? The wisdom was found in the questions I was asking myself, as these questions directed me to an important self-discovery and opportunity for healing: I came to realize was that my perfectionist preparation and toy-bin-organization system was actually a defense mechanism that was mobilized into action because I felt inadequate in my own ability to play. This was a bizarre and uncomfortable moment of radical self-acceptance for me, as I’ve always identified myself as a creative and artistic person. Now of course, I can move a horse figurine around a red barn and say, “neigh” a few times. And I can pretend to feed a baby doll or make a fort out of couch cushions. But as I investigated this theory more, I noticed that I never allowed myself to sink deep into the alternate universe of imaginatory play where the outside world falls away, times slows, and reality shifts. When was the last time I actually held a fairy or flew in a spaceship to the moon? Somewhere along my own journey from childhood to adulthood, I had completely lost the capacity to feel experiences that were outside the bounds of this reality, but never-the-less real. So, I dug deeper with compassionate curiosity: What sensations did I notice in my body when I tried to access my imagination? What feelings came up when I joined my children on the floor? Here’s what I discovered: It takes a tremendous amount of physiological and psychological safety to be inside an imaginatory world. Our bodies must feel safe to allow our minds to leave one environment/reality and create an alternate one. Bodily trauma and cultural conditioning had taught my brain that it was not psychologically safe for me to completely immerse myself in the world in my mind, without having one foot firmly planted in the time and space of the physical space around me. I couldn’t fly to the moon in my mind because my body didn’t believe it was safe to do so. I had learned to keep some part of my brain tethered to the fact that I was in my kitchen, in a cardboard box that I had painted to look like a rocket ship. My brain had gotten stuck on the “hyper-vigilant” setting for so long, that I forgot how to imagine. I forgot how blissful it feels floating on a memory of a daydream. But as I observed my children set off on these magical adventures in their minds, a desire grew inside of me to rediscover my own capacity to access this World of Imagination. At first, my play felt forced, unnatural, and awkward. The therapist part in me encouraged me to keep going, reminding me that I this is what it feels like to learn a new skill, build a new neurological pathway. I stuck with it. I continued to reassure this hypervigilant, reality-based protector part inside of me, that it was, in fact, safe for me to join my children in their alternate realities. And slowly, over many hours of “practiced” play, I began to notice a shift in my body. I began to feel excited to join them on the rug with a bin full of LEGOs and handful of sticks we had collected on a walk. What would we create? Where would we go? What trouble would we find ourselves in and how would we problem-solve our way out? I allowed my body the experience of safety, re-parenting my inner child alongside my own children. And this, dear reader,is the healing power of play. So I asked you now; how will you play with today? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kristen! Kristen Antonio, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kristen brings her rebel spirit to the mental health industry to challenge the status quo and expand our ways of healing, connecting, and being. As a dually licensed therapist, soul coach, entrepreneur and mother with bipolar disorder, Kristen’s lived experiences have taught her that healing begins when the scared, lonely parts in us can connect with the wisdom and nurturance of the soul’s Self Energy.

Written by: Tamzin Hall, 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. Quiet quitting is the act of only fulfilling the basic job requirements without investing any additional time, effort, or passion. Despite receiving compensation or a salary, the employee does not go beyond the minimum expectations of their role. This makes the term quiet quitting somewhat misleading as they still maintain their position and salary. The phenomenon quiet quitting gained widespread attention as a trend in the early 2020s, largely due to social media. According to a 2022 Gallup study, a minimum of 50% of the American workforce could be considered quiet quitters. ¹ Why do employees quit quietly? The reasons for quiet quitting can vary, but there are some common causes that are often cited by employees. One of the main reasons is a lack of engagement or motivation in the job. If an employee feels that they are not valued or that their work is not meaningful, they may lose interest and simply stop showing up for work. Another reason is a lack of communication and feedback from the employer. Employees want to feel that their contributions are recognised, and if they do not receive feedback or praise for their work, they may become disengaged and eventually quit. In contrast to quiet quitting, the phenomenon quiet firing is also being discussed. How does quiet quitting impact employees? 8 in 10 ‘quiet quitters’ are burned out. Burnout is a common reason many employees become quiet quitters. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. When employees experience burnout, they often feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and disengaged from their work. This can lead to reduced productivity, lower morale, and eventually, quiet quitting. Studies have shown that as many as eight in ten employees who become quiet quitters are experiencing burnout, highlighting the importance of addressing burnout in the workplace to prevent quiet quitting and promote employee well-being. Additionally, quiet quitting can damage relationships with co-workers, managers, and the wider business. When an employee quits without giving notice, it can leave their colleagues in a lurch and cause resentment towards the departing employee. Moreover, it can harm the professional reputation of the person who has quit. If they are known for being unreliable or unprofessional, it may be difficult for them to secure references or recommendations for future employment opportunities. How does quiet quitting impact businesses? 26% of workers admit they do the bare minimum or less. Putting the impact on performance and productivity aside for a moment, quiet quitting can create logistical problems for the employer. If the departing employee is working on a project or is responsible for a particular task, it can be difficult for the organisation to fill the void created by their sudden departure. This can lead to delays, missed deadlines, and a backlog of work for remaining staff members. Furthermore, it can lead to increased recruitment and training costs as companies need to find and onboard new employees to replace those who left. Additionally, when employees disengage and leave quietly, they may not complete pending work, leaving a backlog for their team members to handle. This can lead to decreased productivity and delays in project timelines, resulting in potential revenue losses. Moreover, quiet quitting can also impact team morale and lead to higher turnover rates, which can further add to the financial burden of a business. How to combat quiet quitting 1. Encourage open communication Encourage employees to express their concerns or dissatisfaction with their work, managers, or the organisation as a whole. Create a safe space where employees can share their thoughts and opinions without fear of retaliation or judgment. 2. Foster positive work relationships Develop a culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and positive work relationships. Encourage employees to connect with each other and build strong relationships, which can help reduce the risk of disengagement. 3. Offer training and development Provide employees with training and development opportunities that enable them to learn new skills and grow in their roles. Offering career advancement opportunities and promoting from within can also increase employee engagement and reduce the likelihood of quiet quitting. 4. Recognise and reward good work Regularly recognise and reward employees for their achievements, contributions, and efforts. Celebrating success can help foster a positive work environment and increase employee engagement. 5. Monitor and address issues Regularly monitor employee engagement levels and identify potential issues before they escalate. Address any concerns promptly and take proactive steps to resolve them. 6. Create a meaningful work environment Employees who find their work meaningful and challenging are more likely to be engaged and motivated. Ensure that employees have opportunities to work on projects that are meaningful and align with their values and provide them with the necessary resources and support to succeed. How can communication play a part in combatting quiet quitting? Effective communication is essential in combatting quiet quitting. By creating an open and transparent communication culture, companies can encourage employees to share their concerns, frustrations, and ideas. This can help managers identify and address the underlying issues that may be causing employees to disengage and consider leaving silently. Regular feedback sessions, one-on-one meetings, and team building activities can also help build strong relationships between employees and their managers, fostering a sense of trust and respect. Furthermore, clear communication regarding job expectations, goals, and performance metrics can help employees feel more engaged and motivated, reducing the likelihood of them becoming disengaged and quietly quitting. By prioritising communication and creating a positive work environment, companies can proactively prevent and address quiet quitting, ultimately saving time and money, and improving overall productivity and employee retention rates. Are you ready to turn quiet quitting into a communication revolution? Effective communication can play a vital role in turning a quiet quitter into an engaged and productive employee. By providing clear and regular feedback, offering support, and creating an open dialogue, an employer can help an employee understand their role and feel valued. Understanding what motivates an employee can also help to encourage their engagement, whether it is through recognition, incentives, or meaningful work. Additionally, involving employees in decision-making processes can increase their sense of ownership and investment in the success of the organization. By creating an environment that promotes communication and encourages engagement, employers can help to transform a quiet quitter into a highly engaged and productive member of their team. Ready to bring the communication revolution into your workplace? Are you ready to bring the communication revolution into your workplace? In today's fast-paced and rapidly evolving business landscape, effective communication has become more critical than ever. The rise of remote work, digital collaboration tools, and the need for more transparent and inclusive communication has created a demand for a new kind of workplace communication. By embracing new communication strategies, companies can combat the phenomenon of "quiet quitting" and create an open and engaging work environment that fosters teamwork, productivity, and employee satisfaction. So, are you ready to take the first step towards revolutionising communication in your workplace? Concluding thoughts and next steps In conclusion, while quiet quitting may seem like an easy way out of a potentially uncomfortable situation, it can have negative consequences for both the individual and the organisation they are leaving. By encouraging open and honest communication in the workplace and providing resources and support for employees we can turn quiet quitters into an engaged and productive workforce. The first step is to bring the communication revolution into your business. This will benefit both employees and employers by creating a culture of transparency, respect, and professionalism. If you are ready to combat quiet quitting in your business and embrace the communication revolution, book my one-hour intensive coaching session. During our hour together, we will deep dive into your current portfolio of staff. We will ascertain why they are quitting quietly and give you the tools you need to combat any quiet quitting tendencies within your team and increase your profits. Stay tuned for my upcoming articles where we will explore two important topics: burnout at work and the communication revolution. In these articles, we will dive deep into the causes of burnout, its impact on individuals and organisations, and practical ways to prevent and overcome it. We will also discuss the latest trends and advancements in communication technology and how they are reshaping our personal and professional lives. Do not miss these insightful and informative articles! Connect with me on Instagram and visit my website for more information! Read more from Tamzim! Tamzin Hall, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tamzin is a performance psychology coach specialising in leadership development and executive coaching. Weaving a golden thread of empowerment, happiness and compassion. Tamzin partners with her clients to create high-performing organisations through their biggest asset, their people. Tamzin seamlessly combines decades of leadership & business experience, with a lifetime of learning in the field of businesses and psychology along with ICF-accredited coach training and a recent BSc (Hons) in Psychology to give her clients exactly what they need. A high-performing organisation with happy and dedicated staff. The harsh reality is 79% of employees will quit after receiving inadequate appreciation from their managers. Do you know what empowering appreciation looks like? Tamzin shows you and your leaders how to appreciate your staff for longevity. 69% of employees are concerned that their workplace does not develop their leadership skills. How can businesses lead from the front if leaders are not trained to be the next generation of leaders? Tamzin has a toolkit of support, development and training to ensure people are developed and ready for the future. To ensure they are ready to evolve and ready to lead with empowerment. Businesses are acknowledging the importance of leadership development with 83% of companies saying it is crucial. Which is great news. But there is a huge gap in knowing leadership development is important and having a development programme to support a business. Tamzin bridges this gap. Is your business ready to evolve? Are you ready to develop the next generation of leaders? Are you ready to lead from a place of empowerment? Are you ready to create a high-performing culture? Email Tamzin today, tamzin@tamzinhallcoaching.co.uk. References: [1] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/398306/quiet-quitting-real.aspx [2] https://www.resumebuilder.com/1-in-4-of-workers-quiet-quitting-saying-no-to-hustle-culture/#:~:text=Key%20findings%3A,this%20hasn't%20gone%20unnoticed

Written by: Christiane Foerster, 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. There is a powerful concept that can have a profound impact on our lives. This concept is called “acceptance”. At its core, acceptance means to acknowledge and embrace reality as it is rather than resisting or denying it. Whether we are facing a difficult situation, struggling with a personal challenge, or simply trying to navigate the ups and downs of life ‒ acceptance can help us find peace, clarity, and inner strength. Here are some key areas in which cultivating acceptance can make a huge difference: 1. Acceptance of difficult emotions Emotions like sadness, fear, or anger can be challenging to deal with, but denying or suppressing them often leads to more severe issues. Acceptance involves allowing ourselves to feel these emotions without judgment or resistance. This can help us to process our feelings more effectively and move towards healing. 2. Acceptance of change Change is a constant in life, but it can be hard to accept when it involves letting go of something we hold dear. Acceptance means acknowledging that change is inevitable and embracing it as an opportunity for growth and learning. 3. Acceptance of ourselves Self-acceptance is essential for building a healthy sense of self-worth and confidence. This entails recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, being kind and compassionate towards ourselves, and embracing our true selves without judgment or criticism. 4. Acceptance of others/diversity Acceptance is also about embracing the differences in others, rather than judging or discriminating against them. This can help us build stronger relationships, foster empathy and understanding, and create a more harmonious and inclusive society. Overall, acceptance can help us find inner peace, build resilience, reduce stress and anxiety, and cultivate a deeper sense of connection with ourselves and others. Whether we are facing challenges or simply trying to lead a fulfilling life, acceptance is a powerful tool that can help us navigate life in balance and with ease. To stick to the concept of acceptance can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can help: 1. Practice mindfulness Mindfulness means to pay attention to the present moment without judgment. Try to stay present and observe your thoughts and emotions without attempting to change them. 2. Focus on what you can control Acceptance does not mean to give up or to remain passive. Instead, focus on what you can control, such as your attitude, behavior, and response to a situation. 3. Seek support It can be helpful to talk to others about your experience and seek support from friends, family, or a neutral coach. Sharing your feelings and thoughts can help you process your emotions and gain perspective. 4. Reframe negative thoughts Negative thoughts can exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety. When faced with a situation that triggers you, try to reframe negative thoughts into more positive or neutral ones. For example, instead of thinking “This is terrible, I cannot handle it” try thinking “This is challenging, but I am capable of handling it.” 5. Find meaning and purpose Challenging situations may also have a potential to lead to personal growth and a deeper sense of purpose. Try to find meaning in the experience and focus on how it can help you grow and learn. Remember, acceptance is a process and it takes time. Be patient with yourself and practice self-compassion as you work to cultivate acceptance – coaching can support you here! Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more information on stress coaching and healthy stress management. Read more from Christiane! Christiane Foerster, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Christiane Foerster is an experienced stress coach with a passion for healthy stress management. Having worked in various executive positions in the automotive industry for over 20 years, Foerster experienced herself to what extent constant negative stress can harm both physical and mental health. She decided to quit from her corporate position, become a stress coach and help others to manage their stress in a healthy and productive way.

Written by: Nad Philips, 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 developed a training program for a large company where we would train young new hires from onboarding starting positions till, they reach the first level of management, a span of some 5 years. The initial high scores of “engagement”, “motivation”, and “satisfaction” during onboarding will be divided by a factor of two by the time they got into the 2nd training 18 months later. Naturally, we asked each cohort and their managers why we see a systematic drop in those metrics. We got 2 different sets of answers: First, the managers said that it was normal for the new hires who came directly out of school with utopic ideas and had to face the harsh realities and they needed to toughen up; after all this is the business world. They also said the new hires had to learn the way things were done in the company and accept it before trying to change things around; first, they have to pay their dues and follow the different rights of passage planned for them if they wanted to climb the corporate ladder. Second, the answer from the new hires was unequivocally attributed to poor management or even the absence of management altogether. They also complained about the level of prescriptive tasks and their little discretionary power. It appeared they were both right; there is a little bit of truth in both perspectives. Let’s examine what is needed from the managerial side (the culture, the quality of the workplace environment, the job scope) and the requirements from the managee’s point of view. 1. The managee I am a great believer in the philosophy of Albert Camus whereby it is up to each one of us to make sense and give meaning to the world and our lives whilst it appears random and absurd. Each one of us has to make something out of ourselves. In the myth of Sisyphus, Camus advocates that Sisyphus must find solace in pushing his stone uphill to watch it crawl back down and start over again! The work of Carol Dweck on the growth mindset is also very key to understanding the mechanism of growth and resilience. Adopting the right worldview ‒ a growth mindset ‒ is the very first step towards thriving. Aristotle said that an unexamined life is not worth living. Adult development is a constant effort toward reaching higher levels of cognitive, socioemotional, and spiritual maturity. No one else can do it for you. Having a purpose whether it is hedonic or eudemonic, or even if it is just being, is essential to be agentic and guide us along our journey. However, contrary to popular beliefs; engagement is not based on willpower alone; you cannot summon it by grit, dedication or work ethic unless you have reached a high level of maturity. Likewise, intrinsic motivation is not by choice, i.e., I decided to be intrinsically motivated independent of my relationship with the task at hand and my preferences. And indeed, I cannot have my needs frustrated and decide to be satisfied come what may again unless I have achieved the detachment level of a Buddhist monk; satisfaction is the subjective outcome of expectations being met. Am I saying that the environment is everything and that our new hires have no responsibilities for their levels of engagement, motivation, and work satisfaction? No; I am saying that environment trumps will. So, what kind of environment do managers need to create? 2. Managers Both the work environment and the job scope should reinforce and support the efforts of the managees that bring their competencies, preferences, and potential to the table. Elliot Jacque will say that the weight of the job should match the weight of the person holding the position. Yes, we need to confront our new hires with tough challenges to know what they are made of and to push the envelope, but equally important is ensuring that the conditions for success are there; meaning they have access to the means and resources necessary to perform and succeed. Good management, adequate coaching, and mentoring as well as resonant leadership are part of these necessary conditions. So, what are the terms of engagement? By far relational: building a strong bond with the boss, peers, and direct reports. But also, my relationship (rapport) with what needs to be done. What should I do and for whom? What are the motivational factors? I prefer the concepts of the harmonious and obsessive passion of Bob Vallerand to the notion of grit popularized by Angela Duckworth. Why am I doing it and for whom? Self-determination theory suggests that intrinsic motivation is best attained when the 3 fundamental needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are met. Everything we do to perform our job should be linked to either strength, passion, or an interest to learn. What could not be linked to those 3 should be managed because potentially not motivating. What leads to job satisfaction? Work-life balance expectations are met. How am I doing? What facilitates thriving? Less prescriptive, processed work and more discretionary power. Recognizing and valuing agency, risk-taking, experimentation, and innovation, not only final results. Systemic thinking, management by dialogue, and authentic leadership So how does a manager or a company create engaging workplaces and jobs? Practice job crafting and match job size with the size of the job holder. Facilitate self-determination and satisfy the 3 basic needs of autonomy, inclusion, and competence. Build a prosocial and cooperative environment. Create a learning and systemic organization and a coaching culture. Provide individual consideration and human-centered leadership. Give meaning and sense-making to the job mission and role. Allow people to balance work and life. Life satisfaction, motivation to act, work engagement, thriving, and even fulfillment are all separate constructs. We can have a variety of combinations that work well to have both high performance and well-being. Every time companies and management tried to single out one construct as the “be all” they failed. First, it was about motivation, then engagement, now it’s about thriving and soon it will be about fulfillment as long as we can latch to something that will magically cure our management and leadership shortcomings. So managers and managees need to work out what is the best combination for the person to give his best, perform and succeed and maybe even be happy at work. In our era of major technological advances, if we do not get the human equation right, many companies will find it easier to adopt tech as a replacement and not as an aid to people. Get back to relationships make them prosocial! Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Nad! Nad Philips, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nad is an adult learning and development, global consultant. He specializes in helping teams design prosocial relationships and become future fit. Prior to coaching Nad served as European VP and MD France for a Fortune 500 company. He was an honorary professor with ESSEC Business school. Nad also launched several startups in Europe. He is an Amazon best-selling author and lives in Paris, France.

Written by: Joey Ruffalo, 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. Are you looking for ways to make some extra money without investing too much of your time? With the rising cost of living, every family needs a financial boost occasionally. Luckily, with modern technology and digital tools, many side hustles can help you earn some more cash month after month. In this article, we'll explore five great opportunities that could help free up an extra $500 or more each month! Whether you're a single parent trying to stretch their budget or part of an up-and-coming middle-class household, these suggestions will give you the resources and skills needed to land extra income in no time. Become a Delivery Driver Many companies like DoorDash, Instacart, and GrubHub offer opportunities for you to become a delivery driver and make money. Delivery driver gig is one of the top side hustles for anyone looking for financial freedom. Companies such as DoorDash, Instacart, and GrubHub allow motivated individuals to make extra money by delivering goods to customers. Those who become delivery drivers can set their hours, choose which orders they want to fulfill, and earn competitive pay. Even better ‒ no need to have your vehicle or other expensive equipment! So if you seek a flexible gig that makes quick cash, becoming a delivery driver could be your perfect side hustle. Offer Dog Walking Services If you love animals, offering dog-walking services is a great way to get extra cash. If animals are your thing and you're looking for a way to make some fast cash, consider offering dog-walking services. Plenty of pup owners out there need someone to take their precious puppies for walks when they cannot do so. It's one of the most straightforward jobs; all you need is a love of animals and good communication skills. It's also a great way to get your daily exercise in and make a few dollars while at it! Spending time with animals can be incredibly rewarding too – if cats are more your style, why not try offering kitty-sitting services? Rent Out Your Space Airbnb and other vacation rental sites always look for people willing to rent their homes or spare rooms for short-term stays. Would you like to earn money while also allowing others to enjoy their lifestyle vacations? With the rise of home rental sites such as Airbnb, you can now open your spare room or entire home to short-term guests and gain a healthy income. If you have the extra space, listing your property on one of these sites is simple. Setting up a profile and advertising on various listing pages can help draw in potential renters worldwide. You can decide how much rent to charge and how frequently you would like your space booked. So why not maximize your lifestyle, pay off debt, or start saving towards that summer vacation ‒ by taking advantage of renting out your space! Sell Used Clothing Online eBay and other online marketplaces are full of people looking for secondhand clothing at discounted prices. A resource like An eBay Seller's Guide to Financial Planning can assist you. If you want to make some extra money quickly, reselling used clothing online could be the perfect option. Through sites like eBay and other online marketplaces, resellers can take advantage of discounted secondhand clothing and resell it at higher prices. With the right approach, resellers can generate repeat customers and a healthy passive income. To get started, you only need An eBay Seller's Guide to Financial Planning. This guide will provide strategies and guidance on expanding your reselling business. So what are you waiting for ‒ grab your reselling guide and start making some money! Take Online Surveys/Participate in Focus Groups Companies often pay participants to take surveys or participate in focus groups to help them gain insight into consumer behavior and trends. Mystery shopping can be a fun and unique experience. If you're looking for a time-saving side hustle, consider taking online surveys or participating in focus groups. Companies often pay good money for your input on their products and services. Not to mention that mystery shopping can also be an exciting way to make money – you can get paid to shop undercover and anonymously provide feedback on customer service. Not only is it lucrative, but it's also a great way to help shape the kind of products and services we all enjoy in the future. In conclusion, there are many ways for anyone looking to make money on the side. From something as fast-paced as driving for DoorDash and Instacart, or if you have some extra time, renting out your space or taking surveys and participating in focus groups, something out there works for each individual's lifestyle and interests. On top of that, they can all provide you with more money than you realized it was possible to make in such a short amount of time. So if you're looking for extra cash, why look into one of these top 5 opportunities? For more information, visit here and learn how many possibilities are available to boost your income! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twittter, YouTube, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joey! Joey Ruffalo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joey Ruffalo, MBA-FP, is the owner of J.R. Financial Coaching. He is a 1 International Best Selling co-author of the book The Transformation Within and the 1 New Release An eBay Seller’s Guide to Financial Planning. Joey has paid off over $370,000. Joey has been a Top Rated Seller on eBay since 2000. Joey is a leading expert in financial planning for your eBay and e-commerce business. A regular guest expert featured on the eBay for Business podcast, Joey's insight into the reselling community is invaluable. Having run several successful small businesses, Joey knows what it takes to succeed. Combining his love of selling with his passion to help others, Joey offers a unique perspective on financial planning.

Written by: Paulo H Leocadio, 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 business marketplace has been flooded with waves of technology trends that periodically surface and become present on every other sales pitch from technology vendors and build up as the ultimate necessity in the minds of many CIOs. There is a variety of examples to mention: downsizing, rightsizing, outsourcing, offshoring, consumerization of IT, and the adoption of Cloud technologies, among others. And like virtual tsunamis, these trends come impacting, sometimes disrupting, and even influencing the performance or changing the perception of a corporation (or government) in the eyes of the consumer. It is not different today: tailgating the Cloud adoption, and the spreading of a Big Data mindset to solve problems and build solutions comes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Vendors quickly packaged “AI” offerings, often pre-existing call-center-related scripts and chatbots, the door to the CIOs’ IT team was opened, and the offerings began to mature beyond call centers and the diverse medical and micro-biological use. University and Academic AI-related research were reinforced by highly specialized and well-funded dedicated groups in companies like Google, Facebook, and IBM. Smaller organizations, collectives, and startups are also receiving funding and investments. Open AI became an important presence under many aspects and circumstances. Anyone can interact online and in real-time with its chatbot, obtaining real-life value as a work tool for many areas. When asked “please explain what Large Language Models are?”, the OpenAI chatbot responded (OpenAI, 2023): “Large Language Models (LLMs) are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) model that is designed to understand and generate human-like language. These models are trained on massive amounts of text data, such as books, articles, and web pages, and use advanced algorithms to learn the patterns and structures of language. LLMs can perform a wide range of natural language processing (NLP) tasks, such as language translation, sentiment analysis, text classification, and question-answering. They can also generate human-like text, such as short stories, news articles, and even poetry. Some examples of LLMs include GPT-3 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3), BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), and T5 (Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer). These models have achieved significant breakthroughs in NLP and are widely used in industry and academia for various applications.”(grammar errors found in the AI-generated text were left unchanged on purpose). Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; AI; Machine Learning; Large Language Models, MLL Large Language Models: Machine Learning Down to Earth Large Language Models (MLLs) are potentially the closest Machine Learning models a random person can interact with. It is likely the best AI set of tools that enable the building of applications that would come to our dreamer minds when visualizing science fiction stories in real life down to Earth. Large Language Models This article superficially explores current advances in Neural networks for large-scale language modeling. The text introduces current and potential real-life applications, as well as discusses the potential sources of risk (and concerns) related to some of the currently used techniques. Understanding the Limits of LLMs In a simplistic description, Language Modeling (LM) is a set of core tasks for sentence building, encoding grammatical structure, and also to digest information about the knowledge a data set (or text) may be composed of, in other words, when very large amounts of data are available to train language models, they can extract a compact version of the knowledge encoded in that training data (Vaswani, Zhao, Fossum, & Chiang). Currently, a considerable amount of effort is dedicated to smaller sets of data to train LMs. The performance of large tasks (on larger sets of data) demonstrates to be very relevant for extracting what matters, many ideas work well in smaller sets but do not improve further when applied in larger sets (Jozefowicz, Vinyals, Schuster, Shazeer, & Wu, 2016). It is worth noting that, based on how fast hardware is improving currently, combined with unimaginable amounts of text (data) available in the globalized connected world, dealing with large-scale modeling is not as problematic as it used to be (Jozefowicz, Vinyals, Schuster, Shazeer, & Wu, 2016). Extracting Data from LLMs. One level deeper than the previous section, Language Models are statistical models assigning a probability to a sequence of words. Contemporary neural-network-based LMs use models with very large data architecture (in the hundreds of billions of parameters) and are exposed to training on terabytes of datasets of English texts. This very large-scale scenario expands the ability of LMs to generate fluent natural language, also enabling them to be applied to a multitude of other activities (Carlini, et al., 2021). The concern here is the possibility of exposing information related to the training data, which can contain private data, an existing scenario when training language models. It can be exploited to predict the presence (or not) of any specific content in the training data (Carlini, et al., 2021). LLMs and the risk of creating stochastic parrots. How to know when a Large Language Model becomes too big? For the English language alone, the last three years of development and deployment of LLMs have been characterized by the advent of continuously larger LMs. It is necessary to evaluate the impacts of scale in the understanding of what is in the training data. Multiple sources of data will also be sources of different biases (cultural, regional, and interpretation) (Bender, Gebru, McMillan-Major, & Shmitchell, 2021). Consider the anecdote of a random corporation working with their business quarterly data to interpret performance. It is not unusual for two competing areas to use the same data with a strong selection bias to show positive or negative performance based on the same data set for the month. As an example, two competing departments use the same data, from the same source, with the same quantities, results, and comments. They are evaluating the trends of customer satisfaction with the services provided by one of the departments to the customers of the competing one. During the most recent quarter, the results show 100% satisfaction, 50% satisfaction, and 0 satisfaction. The customer management team defends its position to senior management that the delivery team is doing a poor job which is supported by the data with not only a negative trend but a concerning drop in satisfaction to zero. The delivery team argues that, for the first month, only one of the clients responded to the survey, two clients responded in the second month, and finally no client responded to the survey in the third month of that quarter. There are mitigating actions to deal with most sources of risk. Extrapolating our example to large scale, curation and documentation of the data sources, including every aspect possible (geography, population, locale, number of surveyed unities – individuals, families, properties, among others) making sure the project starts with datasets created as large as they can be properly documented (Bender, Gebru, McMillan-Major, & Shmitchell, 2021). It is important to understand the limitations of LMs and have a solid context for the achievements. At the top of the priorities, the list must be avoiding misleading the target audience. Large-scale data sets do not signify success in training the LMs. They are not executing natural language understanding (Bender & Koller, Climbing towards NLU: On Meaning, Form, and Understanding in the Age of Data, 2020), and their success is only achieved in tasks where linguistic form can be manipulated (Bender, Gebru, McMillan-Major, & Shmitchell, 2021). The Massively Pretrained Language Models Storytellers A recent Stanford University study (See, Pappu, Saxena, Yerukola, & Manning, 2019) dissects the strategy of training large neural language models on “massive amounts of text” for tasks related to natural language understanding. Their work aimed at understanding the strength of these models as natural language generators instead, given that only anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that these models generate better text quality, with a lack of detailed studies aiming at characterizing their storytelling capabilities. Their findings demonstrate that a general-purpose model architecture can outperform a complex task-specific architecture conceived to augment the story-prompt relevance. In other words, a general-purpose model architecture can sometimes outperform a task-specific complex architecture when sufficient pretraining data is provided. For scenarios where the quality/diversity ratio is small, the text generated is lexically under-diverse using any of the models mentioned above. Ethical and Social Impacts of LLMs As AI and ML adoption grows, the possibilities of use and application of the tools and other benefits they bring to society, also represent risks of malicious use of the different LMs available. The list is not short, from discrimination to malicious use, from misinformation to forbidden access. It is expected that LM training tends to reinforce stereotypes and discrimination by default since they are optimized to mirror language with a high degree of accuracy by detecting statistical patterns present in living natural languages, and with it comes, for example, sets of text (data) representing specific communities (Weidinger, et al., 2021). When training and implementing neural language models, it is expected assumption by the professionals that LMs are more likely to generate racist, sexist, or other toxic languages than not, directing them to build a comprehensive revision and mitigation plan (Gehman, Gururangan, Sap, Choi, & Smith, 2020). We are already dealing with scale-related impacts on the environment. Working with massive data sets concerns not only the precision and quality of what the adopted LM is generating but also the consequences to the environment given the large investments needed (cost associated with LM training is also an ongoing concern) in hardware and process capacity to obtain and train the LMs given the chosen datasets (Bender, Gebru, McMillan-Major, & Shmitchell, 2021). Working with LMs also means organizational responsibility to evaluate and assess potential risk sources, It is necessary to know with precise detail the roots of the risks, the sources of the data, and what each set of data represents, until the point where the selection of the training data includes proper curation resulting in detailed documentation supporting the next decisions (Weidinger, et al., 2021). This preparedness can -and must – be considered from the scope and design of the LM. Instead of releasing a full final version of a model, the phased (or staged) release is a strategy the implementation team can use to construct each stage with necessary risk assessment and curation, eliminating potential negative social impacts from the very early stages (Solaiman, et al., 2019). Wrapping up: current application of LLMs In a possible real-life scenario, it would be automatic to come to the assumption that the use of LMs in machine translation is a low-hanging fruit. Indeed from the perceived precision of translating from one source language to the target language, given that both source and target datasets for training are well-known and documented, the training will tackle a vocabulary map (that includes a pre-determined threshold for more or less occurring words for example) and text reading training (Brants, Popat, Xu, Och, & Dean, 2007). LLMs are capable of creating narratives of events with segmentation similar to what humans use. Populations naturally develop their storytelling models throughout time. Given the proximity and the ubiquitous presence of communication vehicles, these models are likely to be constant in the language spoken in determined regions, and thus the perception of life events as a continuous experience. Training LM in studying event cognition at naturalistic scales is enabling more powerfully the prediction of the next word over the backlog of billions of texts used in the training, using the probability of the next N predicted segments of words (Michelmann, Kumar, Norman, & Toneva, 2023). Finally, the official use of LLMs in assisted medical education is approved for the licensing exams (Kung, et al., 2023). The adoption of these tools in different fields of medicine and, broadly, biology is a promising (and continuously) successful field. Protein sequencing (Rao, Meier, Sercu, Ovchinnikov, & Rives, 2020) for example, the set of evolutionarily related protein sequences known as Multiple Sequence Alignments (MSAs) benefit from using LLMs tools (nominally Jakkckhmmer and HHblits) increases the number and the diversity of sequences returned when executing the iterative search and alignment steps. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have the potential to be the new and the modern and the disruptor for a long time in technology evolution and technology solutions adoption. It is certainly today a trend like many other Information Technologies that came before, however, it is likely to remain at the focal point for pre-existing and future coming trends. From the deployment of Cloud technologies to the implementation of Big Data strategies, AI and ML will have their role. How far we will advance with AI is limited only by the human mind, with potential hazards surfacing from the malicious use or poorly curated information used to train the wide and diverse existing models and those being built. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Paulo! Paulo H Leocadio, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Paulo Leocadio is an Engineer and Data Scientist Making the Digital Transformation a reality around the world, one country at a time. References: Bender, E. M., & Koller, A. (2020). Climbing towards NLU: On Meaning, Form, and Understanding in the Age of Data. 58th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics. Association for Computational Linguistics, (pp. 5185–5198). doi:10.18653/v1/2020.acl-main.463 Bender, E. M., Gebru, T., McMillan-Major, A., & Shmitchell, S. (2021). On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big? 2021 ACM conference on fairness, accountability, and transparency, (pp. 610-623). Brants, T., Popat, A. C., Xu, P., Och, F. J., & Dean, J. (2007). Large Language Models in Machine Translation. In Google (Ed.), Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing and Computational Natural Language Learning (pp. 858-867). Prague: Association for Computational Linguistics. Carlini, N., Tramèr, F., Wallace, E., Jagielski, M., Herbert-Voss, A., Lee, K., . . . Raffel, C. (2021). Extracting Training Data from Large Language Models. 30th USENIX Security Symposium (pp. 2633-2650). USENIX Association. Gehman, S., Gururangan, S., Sap, M., Choi, Y., & Smith, N. A. (2020). Realtoxicityprompts: Evaluating neural toxic degeneration in language models. Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Seattle: University of Washington. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2009.11462 Jozefowicz, R., Vinyals, O., Schuster, M., Shazeer, N., & Wu, Y. (2016). Exploring the Limits of Language Modeling. Google. ArXiv. doi:10.48550/arXiv.1602.02410 Kung, T. H., Cheatham, M., Medenilla, A., Sillos, C., De Leon, L., Elepaño, C., . . . Diaz-Candido, G. (2023, February 9). Performance of ChatGPT on USMLE: Potential for AI-assisted medical education using large language models. (A. Dagan, Ed.) PLOS Digital Health, 2(2). doi:10.1371/journal.pdig.0000198 Michelmann, S., Kumar, M., Norman, K. A., & Toneva, M. (2023). Large language models can segment narrative events similarly to humans. Princeton University. ArXiv. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2301.10297 OpenAI. (2023, February 4). What are Large Language Models? Retrieved from OpenAI: https://chat.openai.com/chat/fe928d57-26c4-4944-aae9-28ce36423d9d/ Rao, R., Meier, J., Sercu, T., Ovchinnikov, S., & Rives, A. (2020). Transformer protein language models are unsupervised structure learners. Facebook AI Research. bioRxiv. doi:10.1101/2020.12.15.422761 See, A., Pappu, A., Saxena, R., Yerukola, A., & Manning, C. D. (2019). Do Massively Pretrained Language Models Make Better Storytellers? Stanford University. ArXiv. doi:10.48550/arXiv.1909.10705 Solaiman, I. B.-V., Krueger, G., Kim, J. W., Kreps, S., McCain, M., Newhouse, A., . . . Wang, J. (2019). Release strategies and the social impacts of language models. OpenAI Report. doi:10.48550/arXiv.1908.09203 Vaswani, A., Zhao, Y., Fossum, V., & Chiang, D. (n.d.). Decoding with large-scale neural language models improves translation. Citeseer. Weidinger, L., Mellor, J., Rauh, M., Griffin, C., Uesato, J., Huang, P., . . . Isaac, W. (2021). Ethical and social risks of harm from Language Models. Cornell University. arXiv. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2112.04359

Written by: Melissa Acob, 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. How do you start your day? Are you the kind of person who starts their day overthinking and overanalyzing how much you must get done for the day? Or are you the type of person who starts their day by calming their mindset and setting positive intentions? What if I told you how you start your day affects your outcome? In this article, I’m going to teach you how implementing 5 deep breaths in your morning routine will change your success for the day! You might be reading this and saying to yourself “yeah, right!” Let me start out by introducing myself. My name is Melissa, I go by Coach Mel. I’m a Business Mindset and Energy Coach. I help business owners overcome their limiting beliefs to gain clarity, scale their businesses, and find inner peace. When it comes to mindset and success, the first thing you need to understand is you are a living ball of “energy”. Whether or not you’re consciously aware of it, what you attract is based on the energy of how you feel, your thoughts, your actions, and your words, this includes self-talk. Do you ever notice, when you are feeling at your best, you start to attract good things and new opportunities? And when you feel frustrated and sad, your day becomes difficult and everything you don’t want comes in like a tornado? The results are based on your energy for the day, you attract what you are. Everyone has a total of 114 energy centers in their body, called chakras. 7 of those chakras are your main chakras: Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown chakra. These 7 chakras are also related to certain characteristics, emotions, hormones, organs, and body parts. Picture your chakras like an open wheel, each wheel must be open to function at full capacity. If there is any trauma in your body caused by negative emotions or past traumatic events, these wheels will close up tightly which will start to affect your mental and physical state. I have clients that have chakras that have been tightly closed for decades based on their past limiting beliefs! For example, your Root chakra is your number one chakra, this chakra is located in your pelvic and lower back area. This chakra is connected to the feeling of safety, stability, and security. If this chakra is closed up, you may start feeling insecure and unsafe in your present surroundings or situations. You may even start to experience tightness or pain in your lower back and lower extremities. This is why it’s super important to start your day by releasing any tension in your body, increasing your mental stability and manifestation capabilities. Morning Energy Routine: 5 Deep Breaths If you start to implement this simple morning exercise, before you pick up your phone, and look at social media, your emails, or texts, you will create a successful day. I teach this morning routine to all of my clients and all have said the same thing, doing this morning routine IS A GAME CHANGER! As soon as you wake up, sit up straight in bed and close your eyes Take a deep breath in through your nostrils for 4 seconds, starting at your pelvic area (Root Chakra) all the way up to the top of your head (Crown Chakra) Visualize your body being filled with bright white light and good positive energy. Focus on filling the parts of your body that feel heavy. Next, blow the air out of your mouth for 5 slow seconds, this is releasing any toxic or negative energy out of your body. Your chakras will start opening up and you will feel a sense of release. Your body will feel lighter and your emotional state will feel more balanced. Repeat 5 times, taking a 10-second break between each breath. This should only take you less than 2 mins to reset your mindset and energy for the day. When you are finished, relax in bed for another 5 minutes before you get out of bed. When you are doing breathwork for the first few times, you might feel dizzy afterward. Tip: If you have a hard time concentrating in this morning routine, all you need to do is listen to your breath and visualize the air going in and out of your body. When you concentrate on your breath, it will be hard to think about anything else. Take it up a notch! Add Two Morning Mantras: If you want to boost your energy and manifestations for the day, add two mantras before you roll out of bed. One positive thought will change your day! Here are my go-to mantras: “Today will be a successful day!” “Today something amazing is happening to me!” “Universe, show me how good it can get!” “Universe, surprise me today!” If you consistently repeat this morning routine, you will start to feel a change in how you think, and how you feel, and an increase in your daily abundance. If you are desiring change, you need to start reprogramming your subconscious mindset by implementing new positive habits. If you are ready for change and ready to take your business to the next level, let’s connect on a complimentary strategy call today at www.soulvibeandenergyhigh.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Melissa! Melissa Acob, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Acob is a Business Mindset and Manifestation Coach. She helps business owners overcome their limiting beliefs to gain clarity, scale their business, and find inner peace. Melissa started her coaching journey during the pandemic to learn how to attract more wealth, happiness, and inner peace. Melissa soon realized the key to becoming successful was to overcome the learned negative behaviors from others she looked up to in her childhood. This unique way of coaching is what creates extraordinary results in her clients personal and business success around the world today.