Written by: Dr. Denise Moore Revel, 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 know why you’re here! It’s a new year, you’ve got new goals and you’re ready to reach new heights. Maybe you’re already a self-love professional. Maybe you didn’t even know that self-love was an actual thing. Either way, practicing loving yourself in every area of your well-being can help accelerate your level-up journey. As a notoriously passionate self-love expert, I’ve got a bunch of tips to help you get where you want to be faster in honor of the month dedicated to love. To love yourself means to wholly accept yourself just as you are. Loving yourself involves knowing that you deserve your own time, patience, and effort. When you love yourself, you tend to yourself emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Of course, all of these parts of you are interdependent. Therefore, although they can be addressed individually, you’ll find that you feel most loved when you attend to all of them. My top suggestions for how to care for yourself are divided into four of the major areas of your life: physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. Your Physical Self: Looking after your body Your physical appearance and condition reveal so much regarding how you feel about yourself. Do you make special efforts to care for your body each day? When was the last time you spent extra time to improve your personal appearance? In regard to your health, do you regularly visit your doctor and take all medication as prescribed? Hopefully, the answer to all of these questions is a resounding, “Yes!” If you’re on a road of personal growth and healing, you probably work to change unhealthy lifestyle patterns each day. Here are some ways you can show self-love by tending to your physical body: Take more time with your appearance. Most of us could easily spend a few additional minutes during our shower, shave, makeup application, or hair styling. Ask yourself: do you notice the condition of your skin each day? Or do you spend your brief minutes in the mirror thinking unkind things about your body? If you want to demonstrate to the world that you love yourself, spend more time on the physical you. Take pride in yourself and in your appearance. You’ll be glad you did! Make a change. Occasionally, do something different with your appearance and remember to have fun with it! Change the color of your hair. Or consider trying out a new style of clothing. Maybe you try a new, daring lip color to work. When you alter something about your appearance, you demonstrate you’re worth the time and effort it takes to try something new. Plus, it’s refreshing. Put energy into yourself. Knowing you’re worthy of your own energy is an important aspect of loving yourself. When you direct your attention toward something that’s just for you, even if only for ten minutes a day, the message you send to yourself is that you’re worth it. Through your behaviors every single day, be dedicated to fully accepting yourself. The level at which you ensure that you meet all of your physical requirements helps illustrate how you feel about yourself. Commit to your own self-care. Your Intellectual Self: Feeding your mind Loving yourself also involves providing your brain with plenty of intellectual stimulation. Here are some effective ways to demonstrate self-love by giving your mind a workout. Do something you’ve longed to do. Loved art class in high school? Always wanted to pick up that paint brush again? Now’s the time to go for it. Exploring a new or long-loved subject might feel like a delicious indulgence. You deserve to feast your mind on subjects that are intellectually stimulating to you. Write down your life priorities. What’s important to you? Jot down your life goals. What do you really seek to accomplish in life? Finally, take note of how you spend most of your time. Your three lists should all be similar or closely connected. Foster your passions and dreams. Ask yourself, “What do I care intensely about?” Then, delve into that subject. Learn everything you can about it. Practice it. Study it. Live it. If an idea, topic, or endeavor excites you, chase after it. The same goes for your dreams. Once you know what your hearts’ desires are, do everything you can to achieve them. Accessing the power you have in your mind means you’ll experience self-confidence and feel love for yourself each day. Loving yourself means you seek, find and experience all types of mental stimulation. You look into topics of interest, maintain real friendships with real people, live consciously each day, consider the bigger picture, and find power within you. Your Emotional Self: Understanding & Respecting your own feelings Possibly the single most important facet of loving yourself is taking great care of your emotional self. What you believe to be true about yourself illustrates the degree to which you love and accept yourself. Try these tips to love yourself more by taking care of your emotional being: Accept yourself. Realize that you’re as important, special and worthy as every other human being on earth. Connect deeply with this reality. Use this as an affirmation: “I am important, special and worthy.” Try saying the affirmation out loud. Repeat it. Write it down. Then, read it to yourself. Do this twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Watch for subtle shifts in the way you view yourself. Journal. Write in a journal about what you really like about yourself. Journaling helps you connect with all of your strengths. The time you spend writing down your thoughts is an opportunity to cultivate positivity about all of your best qualities. Claim responsibility for your own life. Often we try to find external reasons for why something happened, such as, “Why does he keep hurting me?” or, “What makes her think I deserve this treatment?” Instead, take responsibility. Ask yourself, “Since I’m responsible for myself, what do I need to do right now to remedy this situation for me?” Once you claim responsibility for your own life, you’ll fully consider the ramifications of your choices to stay in less than ideal situations. In essence, understanding and acknowledging your own feelings validates your existence. By being honest with yourself about your feelings and taking action in accordance with them, you honor and show love to yourself. Your Spiritual Self: Caring for your soul Filling your spirit with genuine joy is a must if you love yourself. Give yourself time to do only what you love to do. Try refreshing your living space even in small ways from time to time, disengaging from technology periodically, and doing other activities that bring adventure and joy into your life. Check out these strategies and be inspired to think of still more ways to demonstrate how you care about yourself: Make it a good morning. Take a little time in the morning to do something you really like to do. Give yourself the gift of the first few minutes of each morning. Your whole day will be better and your soul will thank you for that little bit of “me time” when you first arise. Indulge. Do a little something special for yourself each and every day. You’ll enjoy life more when you put in the effort to do just that one thing that makes your heart sing. Go ahead and do those activities you think are special, fun or self-indulgent. Change your personal space. Making small but meaningful changes in your home truly invigorates your soul. Nothing says “I love myself” like renewing your cherished space in your house. Clean something deeply and well or throw some things away that weigh you down, for example. Taking care of your spiritual self can be done by practicing one or many of the above strategies. Anything that brings joy to your soul ultimately demonstrates self-love. “Your soul is all that you possess. Take it in hand and make something of it!” ‒ Martin H. Fischer If you want to live a rich, full life, learn now to love yourself. Take care of all of your different kinds of needs. This shows that you have great affection and love for yourself. When you love yourself, you’re more likely to be loved by others and to be able to truly care for another person. Love yourself first and you’ll experience the incredible joys that life can bring. The practice and art of loving yourself makes room for leveling up in every area of your life and I’m excited for you to reach your destination! Looking for more inspiration? In need of a few more tips and words of advice about leveling up, owning your power and evolving to your next level? Not sure how to get started? I’ve been there! Affirmations, a plan, a promise to myself and visual reminders worked for me and I’m sure it can work for you, too. Inspiration is all around us but if we’re not paying attention, we’ll never catch a hold of that feeling. This is why I created the Own Your Amazing Movement Manifesto when I got started on my own journey. Someone suggested I try making a manifesto to myself that I could use and reflect on everyday. A manifesto is a great way to help you set and achieve personal goals. It can be used to define your values, beliefs, and objectives, and to measure progress towards your desired outcomes. A manifesto can provide a powerful and actionable plan for personal growth and evolution, giving you the motivation and momentum to make positive changes in your life. It can help you stay focused on the big picture and to make the most of the resources you have available. With a manifesto, you can create a framework for success and a roadmap to reach your goals. I’d love to share the Own Your Amazing Manifesto for free! This informational, printable graphic can serve as gentle reminders that will empower you to give yourself permission to grow, get stronger and conquer your fears! Put it in your fridge, in your office or by your front door – whatever is easiest for you to see, read and enjoy. This infographic includes the top five tips for owning your amazing, it’s short, sweet and to the point! Visit this link to get your free copy. Here’s to you, and to meeting your dream life and goals in 2023. For more information on me and the Own Your Amazing Movement, please visit the OYA website. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Denise! Dr. Denise Moore Revel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Denise Moore Revel, PhD is a Thought Leader, Best-selling Author and Personal Development coach. She built a career and business in Speech-Language Therapy before realizing she had more to offer when it came to helping others use their voice. This revelation inspired her to become the CEO and founder of the Own Your Amazing Movement (OYA). OYA is a movement that speaks to women who are looking for the perfect balance of happiness and success in their lives. Dr. Denise helps her clients discover their personal power beyond their job title and accolades to achieve a fulfilling life beyond their wildest dreams.

Written by: Katarzyna Dorosz, 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 dream of every company is to achieve great financial results. This is often ascribed to the proper management of financial and human resources. It should be remembered that the company's organizational culture is also of great importance in achieving this goal. Without this essential know how, all goals are lost. What is the importance of organizational culture for a company? Organizational culture is a set of social norms and value systems, from which derives the right organizational climate. It concerns the views, beliefs and expectations that all employees share with the company’s mission. The benefits of implementing and caring for organizational culture are immense: integration of employees, a true understanding of the organization’s mission, avoidance of conflicts and the productive management of emotions. Basic principles of good organizational culture can be identified: 1. Value system The basis for the functioning of each company is the definition of its values. Establishing beneficial rules can ensure mutual respect, professionalism and ultimately actions that benefit the clients' interests. 2. Create a vision The organizational Vision and Mission, along with the values described above, are the core of every company. The text expressing the company's vision should be sincere, since it will not only manage the activities of employees, but also the executives and business partners of the company. 3. Role Models Management staff Managers should be role models for mid-level employees. Each newly hired employee should be analyzed in terms of competencies and experience to determine equitable matching to skill sets of the entire team. 4. Arrangement of the workplace Appropriate spatial planning has a positive effect on the cooperation of employees. That is why the location of the company, interior colors office space and equipment are all practically important. 5. Savoir-vivre in electronic correspondence Specific messages. Reaction to a message should be as prompt as possible, but accurate and informative. Business correspondence seldom forgives mistakes. For example: Employees must learn the importance of accurately checking the content and nature of correspondence before sending it to any recipient. Failure to do so can have catastrophic or unintended consequences. 6. Business savoir vivre When it comes to greetings, the art of welcoming recognizes neither gender nor age. The key is rank and position, but not in the way most imagine. It is assumed that by protocol or convention, the person who occupies the lower position should greet the higher-up first. Let us remember that it should be the boss who extends his hand to us, and not us to him, because this higher-ranking person who has decided to extend and shake hands with a lower ranking person in the company, is saying: welcome, thank you or just let’s discuss this as equals. This also applies to meeting with a client. When starting the meeting, let the clients decide whether they wants to extend the hand in greeting or not. In social terms, there are norms of behavior that we all know well but are constantly changing: the younger welcomes the older, the man greets the woman. In business, and with different countries and cultures, social norms, mores, and cultural traditions must all be recognized and accommodated wherever possible. 7. Appropriate clothing Savoir-vivre in business, in terms of clothing, is primarily cleanliness, neatness, elegance, intuition and simplicity. Our clothes should not show our wealth, but more our neatness and respect for people we meet. The climate engendered should be clean and fresh. 8. Workflow Workflow is the organization of work, and the way information flows between teams. Managers distribute tasks and follow established guidelines. It is the key to the efficient functioning of any business and its breakdown will have negative effects for team and company productivity. Conclusions Using “savoir vivre” on a daily basis can open the way to success, promotion, a better job or establishing new business relationships. It is a win-win for companies, employees and in the last analysis people themselves. More: KasiaSpeak.com Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read from Katarzyna! Katarzyna Dorosz, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Katarzyna Dorosz is a leader in the field of brain performance, mental performance, and improving memory and quality of work. She is a world-renowned expert for senior and mature individuals who also conducts research on longevity. She is also a lecturer and author of several books. Katarzyna works with many prestigious American universities about attaining meaningful longevity in Life and how to maintain brain function. She also supports women around the world through motivational lectures. Her attitude and stubborn pursuit of purpose show how important changes and progress in life are. She is also the author of the TV Show "The Power of Life". During lectures, she uses the "Educational kinesiology and Emotional intelligence" and developed her own methods of exercises that provide excellent memory, concentration exercises as well as relaxation, and a set of physical exercises to improve the condition (adjusted to the age and flexibility of the body). In business training, Katarzyna uses the popular Japanese Kaizen method, i.e. a philosophy based on changing lifestyle ‒ an endless process of improving and improving the quality of the company.

Written by: Jenny-Rebecca Lewis, 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. At its essence, I realize my ideas of my own self-worth come from my relationship to nourishment which was developed as a newborn and so is based upon the care I received then – the love, the food, having an easeful place to live, friends, caring family community. All of these created set points of how I felt I deserved care in my life. And, they establish what I can let in, what I can effortlessly receive without feeling like I “owe” something or that I must say “no” to because it just feels uncomfortable, patronizing or charitable ‒ or that might trigger my pride. And, while I’ve created a life of having more than I had as a newborn, I “over pay” for it in life force and resources, because I do not believe I am deserving. I work very hard – with the feeling of running away from an eventual poverty which may catch me. And, while flow and purpose also require engaging, there is a feeling of being fed by these efforts rather than the opposite. What I am finding after many years of strengthening my nervous system – through food, nourishment, care, connection with self, other, my sexuality, is that I now have the ability to see and the strength to grieve for this time. I can grieve for the child in me that didn’t have food – that doesn’t understand the natural flow of possibility. I can grieve for me and release. Release these and see these old set points as just that and begin to reset my relationship with life. I can begin to see the truth of my deserving beneath the markers of old into a value that is actually true. Who am I without them? I can see that I was in circumstances of underserving, rather than that I am undeserving. It is only at this energetic level that I am beginning to find something new, and understand the innate, never changing value of my soul. From there, slowly rewiring and stepping into the becoming of myself ‒ in full relationship with all that is around me, grateful for my understanding of this truth. It’s a process and the set points are different for everyone. What does this mean for you? Who is the true You? For one-on-one or group coaching on self-worth. Contact me here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jenny-Rebecca! Jenny-Rebecca Lewis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenny carries the vibration of the life force which travels deep within our bones ‒ the deeper knowing that when supported and nourished connects us all to a power greater than ourselves and brings us back to wholeness. She has learned and evolved from her study of Eros, embodiment and African studies. She understands that the seeds of blocks, once cleared, allows again and again further growth and access to voice, relationship with sex, full expression in relationship with family and community. Her coaching is the light out for all those willing souls to come back to who they truly are.

Written by: Joe Nabrotzky, 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. My wife sat under this tree knitting for over an hour, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Austria, while I sat in front of my computer screen going through 100s of e-mails... so, who was being more productive? “Productivity is not about getting more things done…you will never get it all done. Productivity is connecting your time to what matters most.” ‒ Interaworks Since we're not always lucky enough to be productive while strolling through the Austrian Alps, here's how to make your office walls come alive with the sound of productivity, especially if your inbox is dictating how you spend your time. The average employee... receives 200 or more pieces of information each day...or 25 per hour, which means 25 decisions per hour. spends 10% of their time getting organized. wastes 150 hours a year just looking for things (7% of their time). and has unnecessary interruptions consuming 28% of their day. What if you could decrease interruptions, stay focused, and better prioritize and track commitments to get the right things done with more speed and efficiency? My top 3 productivity tips: Turn off your e-mail notifications. Manage your day through your calendar and not by your inbox. Use the EDGE Model (Empty – Decide – Group – Execute). 1. Turn off e-mail notifications Stop getting distracted every time a new e-mail message comes in; e-mail is not the forum for emergencies. Here’s how to turn it off in Outlook: Go to “File” – select “options” – select “mail” – under “message arrival” uncheck all 4 boxes. Don’t want to miss that important e-mail from an important person? You can set an alert for your key contacts (your boss, partner…). Here’s how in Outlook: Click on a prior e-mail from that person – select “Rules” at the top header – select “Create Rule” – click the first box for e-mail from that person – select how you want to be notified under “Do the following”. 2. Manage your day through your calendar and not by your inbox. Next time you’re at work in front of your computer, what is looking back at you? My guess is your e-mail inbox...with more e-mail powered actions and info coming in every minute. There’s a better way. “The truth about time ‒ You can't make more of it, but you can make the most of it.” ‒ Laurie Oswald, CEO of InteraWorks Instead of having your inbox constantly up on your computer screen, set your default to be your calendar view and task list. See your e-mail when you decide to see it by setting aside specific time in your calendar each day to review and action your inbox. Then, put all your time commitments in your calendar. Want time to exercise or start your day with your morning routine, do you want to bring your child to soccer at 5pm, be home for dinner each night, need time to prep for a client meeting next Tuesday, want time set aside to think and ensure you’re looking into the future or working toward your big goals, then PUT IT IN YOUR CALENDAR! 3. Use the EDGE Model (Empty – Decide – Group – Execute). I first learned about the EDGE model when I attended The Effective Edge training provided by Interaworks. Empty: Our brains have limited brain juice – the energy required to take in information, make decisions and take action. Use your brain for problem-solving rather than a post-it pad for storage. If you use Outlook, then “CTRL+ shift K will make your day”. Conduct a daily “Mind Sweep,” where you empty out everything in your head and add personal and professional tasks in Outlook by CTRL+ shift K to create a new task. If you don’t use Outlook, you can also leverage other technology platforms like Monday.com. The principle of getting your actions out of your head and in once place is the important part. Mind sweep trigger list: commitments/promises to others, who needs to know about what, what do I need to do today or this week? Set a due date for the Task, if the task meets the criteria for having a due date. I prefer to use “do” dates and not just “due” dates, so the tasks pop up when I plan to take the action. Start each task subject with an action verb and clear description of what you will go do. If I know a task will take time, I create the task first, then drag and drop the task in my calendar to make time to complete it. Tip: if you’ve been gone on vacation or have many e-mails in your inbox, click “Clean Up” at the top header to remove redundant messages. Group You can group your tasks into categories. I especially use categories for all my O3s (one-on-one) topics. When I have an e-mail to discuss or another conversation topic for that person, I classify it under the category of “.O3: [Person’s Name]” so I can address all needed items when I'm speaking with that person. Putting a period (.) at the beginning has it come up at the top of my category list. If you don’t have your computer in front of you, get the app, “Tasks Tasks” to have all your categories and tasks on your mobile phone. You can view your tasks by category, or at the beginning of each day I filter by “Overdue” or “Next 7 Days”. Here are some of my other favorite categories: O3: [Person’s Name] repeated for as many O3 as I have. Projects. Errands: Places to go in between home and work like “Buy dog food”. Home: Honey-do list. Someday/Maybe: Parking lot for any ideas or non-urgent tasks that I don’t want to forget Waiting For: Delegated items to others that I’m waiting to hear back on. I start my day looking at these items in case I need to follow up. To Set Up New Categories: Click the Categorize button on the Task tab and select the “All Categories” option. To add a new category, click the New button. Type the name in the Category Name text box. If desired, click on the Color drop-down-box to assign a color to the Category. Choose OK to save the Category To Categorize a Task: Double-click to open the task. Click the Categorize button on the Ribbon and select the Category from the drop-down list. If there’s a real due date, assign the task a due date or a “do” date. Click Save and Close to save your changes to the Task. Decide (with the 4 D’s): Delete: Delete e-mails that are non-actionable and do not need to be kept for future reference. Get it out of your inbox. Do It: Quickly take action on emails that you can handle in 2 minutes or less. I live by the 2-minute rule and get through most e-mail during my e-mail dedicated times and usually leave work with nothing in my inbox. Delegate: Delegate emails containing actions that can be completed by others. Include what you would like the receiver to do and by when. Defer: Send emails to your task list that can wait, will take more than 2 minutes to complete, or will require your full focus. You can do this by dragging the e-mail to the task icon and then updating the subject with a clear description, or search YouTube to set up shortcuts. Execute (review and do): Remember, unless you have it in your calendar, it will probably not get done. In addition to the time set aside to go through e-mail or specific tasks that I carve out time to complete, I have time in my calendar every day for my morning ritual, evening ritual, and 30 minutes every Friday for a weekly recharge. Topics for the morning ritual: Immediately drink water Go move – exercise/work out (no phone/screens yet) Meditate/read something inspirational Mind Sweep or Thought Download: For the next 15 minutes, write down whatever is in your mind, completely unfiltered How am I feeling right now? What are my top 3 priorities today? What meetings do I have today ‒ mentally envision What doubts or concerns do I have about today...and how to overcome them? Who can I help today and what will I do to serve? What are my main actions today for both my big goals and normal to-dos…Ctrl shift K? How do I want to show up today (tonight, when I look back on today, I want to have felt or done…) Topics for the evening ritual/journaling: What am I grateful for today? What went well that I can celebrate? How did I show up compared to my morning intention? What one thing do I want to do differently/better next time? Record my story of the day/journal Read until I’m ready to sleep (no screens 30 or ideally 60 minutes prior) Topics for the Friday weekly recharge: Thought download or mind sweep with Ctrl shift K. Look back at the week and celebrate progress, capture areas that weren’t worked. Review project and goals – how will I move it forward in the next week. Review upcoming O3s and calendar and ensure you’ll be prepared; see conflicts and prioritize. Review each category and ensure you clean out each one. Right-click and drag the most important items from your Task List to your calendar to schedule time to complete. Identify the top 3 priorities for next week. "Common knowledge is not always common practice" ‒ Brendon Burchard Commit now to at least one of these tips to decrease interruptions, stay focused, and better prioritize and track commitments to get the right things done with more speed and efficiency. About the author: Joe Nabrotzky is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Global Leader Group, a leadership firm that helps organizations FIND & BUILD leaders. His purpose is to inspire people to live and lead more deliberately from the boardroom to the family room. After struggling and then growing a profitable business of his own, he dedicated the rest of his career to becoming the Leadership Guide/HR Business Partner he wished he had as a former CEO and desperately needed as an entrepreneur, manager, and dad. Through an MBA and multiple HR/OD/Leadership certifications, combined with a decade as an HR Executive in a successful fortune 100 company, he’s proven how to build leaders internally or find and hire them externally. Mr. Nabrotzky has led people in every major region and lived all over the world, including a few years speaking only Portuguese in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and recently returned to Utah with his wife of 18 years and four children, after five years living off lake Geneva in Switzerland. Follow Global Leader Group on LinkedIn, and visit their website for more info! Read more from Global Leader Group! Global Leader Group, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Global Leader Group is a leadership firm of proven practitioners who share a deep-rooted desire to make a difference by helping organizations FIND & BUILD leaders to deliver excellence. They do that through three main pillars: Leadership & Learning: They partner with organizations to accelerate performance and belonging by pushing the boundaries of learning. Offerings: Design and implementation of Leadership and Learning Strategy and Frameworks, World-class Learning Design & Experiences, Coaching, and Speaking (Keynotes & Appearances). Talent Search (External Retained Recruiting): In addition to helping organizations build current leaders, Global Leader Group adds world-class leaders to managements teams around the globe. Practitioner Consulting: Allow the experience of their practitioners to advise and transform your business through their expertise in Driving Digital, Retail Banking, Wealth Management, Customer Journeys, Sales Management & Incentives, and Strategic HR (Culture, People Processes, Organizational Design, and Team Effectiveness). Their clients include leaders at Citi, AstraZeneca, HSBC, Google, the Governments, Airbus, Manubhai Jewellers, ACUMA, Sensata, numerous RIAs, Banks, Credit Unions, and more.

Written by: Romana Hrivnakova , 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. We all have experienced anxiety at times. It's normal for us to feel anxious on occasion. But are you somebody who can't remember a time in your life when you did not feel anxious? Your body can never relax, and you find it difficult to soothe yourself. Your flight/fight response gets activated in situations where there is no real or imminent danger preventing you from functioning adequately in your daily life and connecting with people. What could be the main cause of this overwhelming anxiety? Genetics? Stress? Challenging life experiences? What if this anxiety you have felt your whole life is caused by the insecure attachment you developed due to your parents' unpredictable behaviour and inconsistent care and attention? What if I told you that there is something you can do to repair your attachment injury, reduce your anxiety levels, improve the quality of your life and hand your children a better future that was handed to you? Anxiety and Its Main Causes Anxiety is a body response that alarms us to a potential threat or danger in our environment and activates the flight/fight response. We all experience anxiety differently, and various factors trigger our anxiety due to our unique life situations. According to the N ational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) , the following are the most common factors that may increase our risk of developing anxiety: recent or past traumatic experiences physical conditions (e.g., thyroid disorder, heart arrhythmia) stress (e.g., stress at work, home, financial stress) challenging life experiences (e.g., loss of a loved one, divorce) some prescription medications can cause anxiety as a side effect use of alcohol and illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine) Other causes include: some personality traits (e.g., shyness) being alone or being with other people low self-esteem conflict Anxiety Runs in Families Some studies indicate the existence of a genetic component in the development of anxiety. However, none of them proved the existence of a single ‘anxiety gene’, and a study conducted in 2020 found that environmental rather than genetic factors are more likely to cause anxiety. Thus, while scientists conduct more research to determine how important genetics are in developing anxiety, look around your family and ask who else suffers from anxiety. If you grew up with anxious parents, you are more prone to anxiety as your parents would have passed their anxiety on to you not just through their genes but mainly through their beliefs and behaviours. Anxiety Has Its Roots in Early Attachment Most of my clients who present with symptoms of anxiety have been feeling anxious their whole lives, and they live in a constant state of panic, fear, and worry. Exploring their childhood experiences, their parents' parenting style, and how parents responded to their distress and needs often indicate that their anxiety stems from their early attachment experiences. So, what is attachment? Attachment is an emotional bond between children and their parents, and according to John Bowlby, the founder of attachment theory, we are born with an innate biological need to attach to our parents. Our attachment style is developed in early childhood based on our interactions with our parents. We can develop either a secure attachment style or one of the three types of insecure attachment style – anxious (preoccupied), avoidant (dismissive), or fearful (disorganized). Our parents' ability to help us develop a sense of inner safety and security and how they teach us to regulate our emotions are the crucial factors that determine the development of secure or insecure attachment in our childhood. Our parents' inadequate response to our distress and their struggle to be present and consistent with their care leads to the development of insecure attachment that gets built into our nervous system. “Anxiety is an attachment alarm. It is the desperate cry for help of some childhood part of you.” ‒ Gabor Mate Gabor Mate , a renowned expert on addiction, trauma, and childhood development, believes that anxiety originates in our childhood experiences. If you grew up with parents with anxiety or other mental health challenges, you would be predisposed to anxiety. Not because anxiety is genetic but because your parents struggled to comfort you in distress. As a result, you started to feel anxious about surviving in an environment where your feelings of safety and security were not developed as you didn't receive comfort from your attachment figures. Moreover, you might have begun to feel unloved, rejected or abandoned in childhood, and your view of yourself became very negative. You started to believe you were not worthy of love and support from others and suppressed your desire for close relationships that would provide safety, care and love. You became incredibly distrustful and suspicious of others. Your anxiety, if not relieved by your parents, became overwhelming, and you started to use ineffective coping strategies to try and help yourself; however, those strategies kept your anxiety elevated. Your childhood experiences of being uncertain whether your parents would be available, responsive, or helpful in meeting your attachment needs and calming you in times of distress not only led to the possible development of separation and attachment anxiety but also led to you experiencing overwhelming anxiety in your explorations of the world. You started to feel anxious in every life situation. You never believed in yourself and your abilities, and everything increased your anxiety, from making a phone call to connecting with people to making decisions. And before you realized it, your anxious state became your natural way of being. We choose what we know. It is important to note that the relationship with your parents creates a template you take to all the other relationships in your life. All your relationships will fall into that template, and you become drawn to people who feel familiar. Thus, if you grew up with anxious parents or parents with insecure attachment, you are more likely to be drawn to people with insecure attachment style who equally would not be able to provide the comfort you need in times of distress, which consequently would keep you trapped in a cycle of never-ending anxiety and distress. Help Yours elf and Your Children If you suffer from anxiety that stems from your insecure attachment style, your children are at higher risk of developing anxiety, not because of some genetic component, but because of how this type of attachment and your anxiety manifests in relationships. Thus, help your children (already born or planned) develop a secure attachment by seeking help to address your attachment issues. As Gabor Mate said, if you get the first 3 years of your children's lives right, you can relax; however if you won't, they will spend decades trying to repair the damage caused by your parenting. Therefore, connect with a therapist and explore your childhood experiences and relationship with your parents that determine how you will raise your children and how attuned you will be to their attachment needs. Your feelings and behaviours towards your children are deeply influenced by your parents; thus, explore what you inherited and what was modeled to you by your parents. Understand what has led your parents to adopt their parenting style and educate yourself about multigenerational traumas and how they are passed on from generation to generation through behaviour and parenting. Exploring this is not about blaming your parents. It's about increasing your self-awareness, becoming less anxious and breaking your family's cycle of anxiety. “Family pathology rolls from generation to generation, taking down everything in its path like a fire in the woods until one person in one generation has the courage to turn and face the flames. That person brings peace to their ancestors and spares the children that follow.” ‒ Terry Real So be courageous. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Romana! Romana Hrivnakova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Romana Hrivnakova works as a Psychotherapist in Toronto. Romana has extensive experience working with individuals who use substances to cope with childhood trauma, overwhelming emotions, or painful life experiences. In her 13 years of working as a mental health and addiction professional, she obtained various degrees and diplomas; however, she places her experience of working in a homeless shelter in the UK for 9 years above all her qualifications. There she witnessed the terrible consequences of childhood trauma, attachment injury, and people’s desperate attempts to cope with what happened to them (or did not happen and should have happened) in their childhood. This experience and her childhood challenges and life experiences inspired Romana to help her clients connect with their wounded inner children and help them react to present and future challenges as adults rather than wounded children.

Written by: Hanna Hermanson, 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. Of all the things you have on your plate…is it even worth it to send emails to your list? Do people even read them? Good emails? yes. People read them. In fact, email marketing is predicted to be one of the hottest marketing trends in 2023! Seth Godin will tell you: “Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make, but about the stories you tell.” – and emails are an ideal place to do just that!! (especially compared to social media, where only 10% of your followers see anything you post – depressing right?) I like to say: “If you’ve got an email list, you’re sitting on a gold mine.” Because sales happen in the inbox, my friend. Want in? Keep reading. How does email marketing work and why your email list is important OK, do you want the deets on email marketing? Here are the quick and dirty facts. Imagine hearing about someone. A coach. Maybe she was a guest on a podcast or a speaker at an event. She told the best stories. And her vibe was “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman meets Carri Bradshaw.” You have a bit of a coach crush on her. And you’re pumped because before she goes, she leaves you with a link to a free thing. You click on it. Enter your email address. And boom, you’ve got this amazing resource. You win because you’ve just received hella value. And the coach wins, because she now has you on her email list. This is the first step in email marketing – getting people into your world…so that you can build a relationship with them. Doesn’t that happen on social media? Sure, to some extent. But social media = borrowed land. Your email list = yours. Meaning you get to control who sees what, and when. Having a good “lead magnet” will help you build your list, and can include things like a free coaching session, an open house, a template, a workshop, a workbook, a fully-loaded PDF, a quiz, etc. Bonus tip – don’t ever stop putting effort into coming up with new and exciting lead magnets. It’s not a “one-and-done” situation. Many coaches get “stuck” and don’t see a good return on their emails, because they’re talking to the same people over and over again. It’s important to put consistent effort into continually growing your list so that you get new eyeballs on your stuff…on the regular. Good emails lead to sales OK, so how does someone go from “email list subscriber” to “client?” Once someone joins your list, they should receive a smokin’ hot welcome sequence (here’s a free customer engagement email example for you). This series of 3-5 emails will roll out the red carpet for your new subscribers, and help them feel “at home” in your digs. From there? It’s about consistency! Because think about it. When you make a new friend, do you immediately ask them to help you move? No. You don’t. You go for coffee together. Maybe you even go glow-bowling, or something. You “bond.” And you develop a relationship. Good emails aren’t just about sharing “value.” Or promoting your next workshop. Good emails build rapport. And get people excited to hear from you. In fact, a good email should be the highlight of your audience’s day. People are craving connection. And real relationships. And in a world that is oversaturated with “overnight experts” it can be difficult to know who to trust. But when you consistently show up in your audience’s inbox you easily set yourself apart from the fake sleaze bags. This means, when you have something to sell, people are way more likely to invest their valuable time/energy/money in you. Because they genuinely like you, your energy, and your entire philosophy. People buy from those they know, like, and trust...but more on that, in a bit. How to start your email marketing strategy Maybe you’ve been nodding your head, and you are ready to fire away. If this is your first time jumping on the email train, you’ll want to research the best email provider for your needs. There are plenty of them out there. And I’m not about to play favorites. If you’ve been around the block with emails, but it’s been a while since you’ve sent anything, don’t worry. You haven’t shot yourself in the foot just yet. In order to successfully launch (or re-launch) an email marketing strategy, you want to start out gently. Keep it light, and lead with: “Here’s what I’ve been up to!” Make your first few emails about you and your brand. It’s a good time to share your “why” story, and the meaning behind your mission. You’ll also want to map out a schedule for yourself and set some targets. Aim to send out an email 1-2x per week. And shoot for an “open rate” of about 20% (this is the average across all industries). Don’t settle for a subject line that feels “good enough.” Because even if you’ve got a stellar email no one will open it if it’s got a ho-hum subject line. My best advice: Don’t go “salesy” or over-promise in any way (“$10k in 30 days!). Instead, lead with emotion, keep it casual, and hint at an incoming story. Something like: My *mortifying* artichoke dip story. Awkward – my class president campaign. Welp, almost missed our flight. Want something that speaks more to your offer? Keep it real, and don’t be afraid to throw in some humor. Something like: Your 2010s website is the problem. How to fall in love with your business again. My fav trick for building a brand people love. And heck yes to emojis in the subject line btw. How to engage customers with email Got everything up and running? Congrats! Now, the question becomes: how do you keep your email list engaged over the long run? The 3 C’s! – Clarity, Connection & Credibility. These 3 ingredients make the most magnificent marketing pie. And when you deliberately cycle through each “C” in turn (not all at once in the same email)…you are left with a confident consumer who is ready to buy! What does each type of email “look like?” – take a look! 1. Clarity An email that focuses on clarity should provide your audience with a deeper understanding of your offer. Way too often, coaches send emails without communicating what they’re actually selling. Show people “3 ways to work with me!” and actually articulate your job title (“as a Sustained Success Coach…”). This type of email helps your audience get to know you. 2. Connection An email that focuses on connection should build rapport, and create a sense of “she gets me!” Tell stories about your dog, your childhood, or going out for dinner…and invite people to connect with you on social. Humans remember things when they come in story form – so capitalize on that! This type of email helps your audience like you. 3. Credibility An email that focuses on credibility should give people a reason to believe that you can help them. This often comes in the form of testimonials, but it can also look like a feature of your podcast or blog. Talk about your credentials, and let people in on the fact that you’ve accomplished the journey they want to achieve (“I’ve built several 6-figure businesses!”). This type of email helps your audience trust you. Final Thoughts: How to do email marketing the right way My dad always used to joke around and say: “my job would be so much easier without customers.” – and obviously, he wouldn’t even have a job, without customers. But for real. It’s the same with your business. Growing your audience = growing your business. And hopefully, by now, you can see that a healthy email list is a really good way to do that. Feeling like an email list Power Ranger? I don’t blame you. You’re ready for this! Know you want to implement an email list strategy, but pretty sure it’s not your “zone of genius?” – just a quick reminder that plenty of copywriters out there do a happy dance every time they sit down to write emails. Including me! Reach out if you’d like to chat about working with Done For You Copywriting. I’d love to chat! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Hanna! Hanna Hermanson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hanna Hermanson is the founder and CEO of Done for You Copywriting for Coaches. As a life and business coach for years, Hanna gained deep insights and intuitive knowledge about what motivates people to take action. Hanna and her team of expert copywriters combine these insights with creative copy strategies to scale coaching businesses and help transformational leaders get back into their zone of genius. Hanna's work can be found in Forbes, Thrive Global, and her book “Dream Life is Real Life” on Amazon. When she’s not writing or strategizing, she can be found carbo-loading for half marathons or frolicking on the beaches of Mexico with her husband and labradoodle.

Written by: Maxime Bonnasserre, 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. Love is a broad topic. We see it in many courses, classes, masterclasses, behavioural science & psychology studies, etc. The list is long, and rightfully so one may say since it’s the essence of our existence! We all want to be loved and to love! February is the month of love, although we can all declare that we do not need Valentine’s day to remind us of the importance of loving and giving an act of love! I do not wish to focus strictly on the love that emanates out of relationships here! How about we shift gear and look at what gets in the way of the love we seek! The Obvious but Misunderstood Imagine a beautiful relationship! Let’s say you're into this relationship and a special moment is happening. You look deeply in your partner's eyes and naturally there it comes…”I love you”! Perhaps apply this scenario to a person you are just starting to go out with! After a few weeks or months of dating, that same moment is there and you whisper those same words: “I love you”! What is happening to you in that moment so that you may share these three powerful words!? Everything you are feeling from what your senses are picking up is moving you so deeply that you are sharing your love! Reread that last sentence please; because it is crucial to a deeper understanding of what gets in the way of feeling love and giving it! Let’s go back to this wonderful moment we were talking about earlier. Imagine that the setting is perfect! You like the place you're at, perhaps your favourite restaurant, a mountain top after a hike on a sunny day, the comfort of your home; you’re relaxed, so is your partner and the energy is loving! You're about to say I love you because this is just how you feel and then… your partner says something that makes you feel weird inside! How are you feeling now about saying I love you!? Hence it is fair to say that when you do not feel love, it’s because you are blocking it! Love is always there, at any moment, but our mind and emotions are getting in the way of feeling it and expressing it! Who’s the “I” in … I love you/this/that. When you study the ancient wisdom text, religion or theology, oftentimes you’ll see a distinction between the Self and self! Self with a capital “S” is your higher Self. The Stoics would call it your daimon! It’s the divine part of you, the one that sees and acts virtuously. The self with a small “s” is its opposite! The lower part of you that is driven by your ego, the needy part, the demanding and victimized self! As my friend David Emerald, author of The Power of TED would say: “You can be a victim or a creator in life!” Now why am I sharing this? Well, I see the “I” in I love you (or I love this or that), under the same lens as the self with a big “S” or a small one! When you love something or someone, you might be coming from the big I or the small one! If you need the person or the situation to be in a specific way so that you may love it, you're doomed! Your love will always be conditional and so your joy and happiness. We create our inner wars! How can I feel loved more? The answer comes in many different messengers: Jesus, Buddha, great Saints and Masters and people like you and me that have awakened to this truth: Love what is! This is the title of one of Byron Katie's books! Let me briefly introduce a story about this that will bring the point home. I was fortunate enough to be coached by Byron once in a 1:1 setting. I expressed difficulties in my marriage and we worked around that! One of her final words always stayed with me: “Father your wife” That’s an odd statement many would say! But we have to go a little bit deeper and see it from another perspective, just as we need to do with the scriptures. There is always a hidden truth and message lying around! In this case, she meant: Love unconditionally! Just like a father or mother would do with their child! Hence dear souls, I will invite you to reframe every opportunity to love yourself, somebody else or a situation with this in mind! Are you open enough not to use your small “s” or “i” in the midst of what is in front of you? Love every moment as it is or make it better by your love! 🙏💜 Follow me on LinkedIn, YouTube, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maxime! Maxime Bonnasserre, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maxime (Max) Bonnasserre is a life coach, spiritual teacher, speaker and writer. Not a guru, nor a master, he’s a simple loving man that got to free himself from his own worst enemy … himself! His soul journey had him go through common themes: unworthiness, difficulties in relationships, financial struggles, pursuit of titles, money, possessions, a lack of meaning and faith. It is the hero's journey through healing, growing and trust that saved him and that can help you! Inspired by ancient wisdom and spirituality, his teaching and coaching are simple but transformative. Meant to inspire and guide you towards more inner peace, freedom and love. Find him here!

Written by: Diane Hiller, 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. I was thinking about my next article today and thought back to my English Professor in college. I wish I could recall her name. She was one of those people, who pushed you and made you better, but really pissed you off first. It was an undergraduate English class. I did an assignment and got my paper back; I got an “F.” I was like are you kidding me? What is wrong with this person? I am a straight-A student. I went to my advisor. He said to take it up with her. So I did. She said tell me what you think is on that paper, so I told her. She said now read that out loud; none of what you just said is written down. It would be best to remember that you are writing for others and an audience; they can’t read what is in your head, so do it over. She was, of course, right. She had a purple pen that she often used to comment on things that were not correct: too wordy was “wdy”, run-on, “rnn,” and there were many other dreaded abbreviations. An improper semicolon use was a serious crime that got you an immediate F. They would all be noted with the purple pen. The thing about her was that she said this is the deal; you can re-write any assignment until you get the grade you want, as many times as you wish. I revised again and again. I do not know how many times. Often. I ended up taking several advanced classes with her. I took a higher-level course in Shakespeare, and one day, she singled me out and had me stand up and read out loud my analysis of “Othello.” I was shocked and proud. When the day came for me to write an admission letter for graduate school, I took it to her. As she sat at her desk, I waited for the pen to come out; I was so nervous I could not sit down. She kept reading, handed it to me, and said, “This is excellent.” I never really saw myself as a writer, but she inspired any actual ability I may have. Then came the dreaded and mandatory statistics class; everyone struggled with it. It was just about impossible to pass or understand. Ruth was her name, along with the English professor and Algebra teacher, they are among the ones I recall the most. She was the best teacher I have ever encountered. She would explain things in 25 different ways if she had to until you understood it. Everyone passed. If you wanted an A, you worked for it. Then there was the Algebra debacle. I had failed it in high school; yes, Miss Phi Beta Kappa failed her Algebra class and got the minimum score on her SAT because she was out partying the night before and fell asleep after she wrote her name on the sheet. Timing is everything. I knew I would have a hard time; I just did not get it. After a few weeks, I asked the teacher a question, and she said the following in front of everyone. “It is obvious to me that you are the only person here who does not understand or is too dumb to pass this class.” I had to pass this class; I knew I would not. So, I dropped it to an audit, which is not graded, sat through the whole semester, and learned nothing. Then I found a tutor, a young hotshot math guy, who helped me through the class. So, I returned, and she saw me and rolled her eyes. “You, oh no.” But then I worked really hard with that tutor. The word problems were among the hardest to solve; they came at the end of the class. I can still see her handing me that paper with the A+ and smiling. What is that phase of unknown origin? “The truth will set you free, but first, it will piss you off.” Yes, two of them embarrassed me, made me angry, forced me to look at what I needed to see, and yes, they inspired me, propelled me to grow, and made me better. I am so grateful to them. They will always be remembered as part of my story. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Diane! Diane Hiller, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Diane is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Psychic Medium, Certified Feng Shui Master, and Medical Intuitive. She has been tested for accuracy. After working in the nursing field as an LPN. She returned to college and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. She then went on to earn her Master's (MSW) with a Major in Clinical and a Minor in Research, both from the University of Connecticut. She is licensed by State examination as an LCSW. In 2005 she founded Elemental Empowerments, LLC. She is noted in the book “The Top 100 Psychics and Astrologers in America.”In February, she was honored and humbled to be named TOP PSYCHIC MEDIUM OF THE YEAR for 2023 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) "for her outstanding leadership, dedication, commitment, and enlightenment to her field." She will be presented with an award in December at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. Diane is considered one of the most well-researched psychics In North America.

Written by: Christine Nicholson, 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. 100% of business owners leave their business, so why do so few plan for it? Exit planning adds value to your business even when you aren’t immediately thinking of leaving your business. Most business owners have sizable portion (if not all) of their retirement funding tied up in their business and yet have no clear idea or plan for how they are going to get it out. An exit plan is a great way to identify, protect and increase the value of your business now, for an easier, bigger payday at the end. Successful exits come from planning and preparation. One of the biggest factors in a business failing to sell is not being prepared ‒ either as a business or as a business owner. Even those businesses that do get sold often could sell for more money, on better terms and through an easier process if the essentials of exit planning were in place. Are you going to leave money on the table that could be in your pocket? Are you making a future exit more stressful and less likely to succeed? Some of the reasons for lack of exit planning include: Thinking "I'm never leaving my business" Don’t know where to start Lack of skill or knowledge about the exit journey and process Thinking it won’t make a difference Not enough time It’s too expensive Any exit planning is worthwhile if it is then supported by appropriate and timely actions. Planning for planning’s sake is an excuse for procrastination – the thief of time! Here's how to get started... Why do you need an Exit Plan? Exit planning adds value to your business even when you aren’t immediately thinking of leaving your business. Most business owners have a sizable portion (if not all) of their retirement funding tied up in their business and yet have no clear idea or plan for how they are going to get it out. An exit plan is a great way to identify, protect and increase the value of your business now, for an easier, bigger payday at the end. Successful exits come from planning and preparation. One of the biggest factors in a business failing to sell is not being prepared – either as a business or as a business owner. Even those businesses that do get sold often could sell for more money, on better terms and through an easier process if the essentials of exit planning were in place. Are you going to leave money on the table that could be in your pocket? Some of the reasons for lack of exit planning include: Thinking "I'm never leaving my business" Don’t know where to start Lack of skill or knowledge about the exit journey and process Thinking it won’t make a difference Not enough time It’s too expensive Any exit planning is worthwhile if it is then supported by appropriate and timely actions. Planning for planning’s sake is an excuse for procrastination – the thief of time! Exit planning is a complex and multi-faceted process that requires careful consideration of a range of factors. Some of the key challenges that you may face when planning an exit: Timing Determining the right timing for your exit, considering factors such as market conditions, the health of your business, and your personal circumstances. Value You need to determine the fair market value of your business to set an appropriate asking price or negotiate the best deal possible. Buyers You may have difficulty finding a buyer for your business, especially if it is a niche operation or the market is not favourable. Most of you will already know your potential buyer, even if you haven't thought about it consciously. Terms Once a buyer is found, you need to negotiate the terms in the deal, including the sale price, payment terms, and other conditions. You especially need to think about what you want to get out of it personally and what terms you are willing to tolerate. Tax You need to be aware of the tax implications of selling your business, including capital gains taxes and other liabilities. (Note: there are ways of selling your business completely tax-free!) Transition You need to manage the transition of your business to the new owner, ensuring a smooth and seamless process that minimises disruption to your employees and customers. Letting Go For many of you, the business is a significant part of your identity, and letting go can be an emotionally challenging process. Your business is NOT your baby! Post-exit Life You need to plan for their post-exit life, including how you will spend your time and what financial resources you will need to maintain your desired lifestyle. Many business owners find it difficult without a compelling purpose in life which has been provided by their business for a long time. Exit planning can be a complex and challenging process, but with the right planning and preparation, business owners can ensure a successful outcome. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Christine! Christine Nicholson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I am Christine Nicholson, an author, speaker, and award-winning Professional Business Mentor who works with multi-million turnover business owners of technology, engineering, or product/services businesses. I'm UK Business Mentor of the Year 2021 and a Global Top 50 Woman in Accounting. I've appeared on BBC talking about business! christine@christinenicholson.co.uk 0333 567 8011

Written by: Victoria Hart, 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. Do you feel overwhelmed and find yourself living based on what you think you’re supposed to be or do? What would life look like if your only responsibility was to honour yourself? Most days, Virginia felt anxious. “Today is a good day,” she told me. “But I'm unclear how tomorrow will be.” At the time, she was looking for work and trying to tackle a gazillion things in a day. On days when she accomplished a lot she felt good about herself, yet on days when she hadn't been particularly productive, she felt bad about herself. More often than not, she had difficulty focusing as she strived for perfection. If we can't accept our own perfect imperfections, how can we accept or be accepted by others as they are? Rather than tending to the present moment, she would worry about what came next and this kept her in a cycle of guilt and shame on days when procrastination won. Virginia shared an outline of the many things she thought she should be doing in a day. “How often are you shoulding yourself?” I asked. The truth was that she was comfortable procrastinating, yet the reality was that her savings were diminishing and she felt alone. Yet, she isn't alone. Many people are currently questioning their lives and finding it difficult to see a clear path to their desires. We should ourselves when we feel obligated, which often results in frustration and a lack of motivation. The more we tell ourselves that we should be doing or being more, the more it leaves us feeling like we can never be, do or have enough. Here are some tips for your personal freedom: Be present and explore your thoughts and feelings as information Focus on what matters to you, rather than what you think you should be doing Learn to listen to your body for guidance on the next steps to take Shoulding ourselves means we're not accepting reality. We wish things were different than what they are. Our thoughts tell us that something is missing from our lives and so we constantly seek an ideal. Through our work together, Virginia is discovering that when she stops trying to ‘figure it out' and instead honours what feels good in the moment, the path becomes clearer. She is pleased with her daily accomplishments (however big or small), feels more relaxed, and she has been offered a job! Are you ready to tap into your inner guidance and create a good day every day? Join our FREE monthly ascension activation and learn how to free yourself from beliefs and behaviours that are holding you back from living your true potential. Sign up here. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Victoria! Victoria Hart, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Victoria Hart, is a Visionary Soul Coach, Energy Healer and New Earth Leader. She has been exploring the metaphysical and mystical world for as long as she can remember and has studied with some great Masters in cutting edge and revolutionary therapies, inviting exponential breakthrough results. Victoria has an innate ability to get to the heart of the matter and brings wisdom, inspiration and humility to empower people to break the looping cycles of programmed reality and consciously create a new life story. Her mission is to create balance and harmony between humanity and nature by realising her true potential and power and teaching others to do the same.

Kim-Adele Randall is a renowned business consultant, international bestselling author, inspirational keynote speaker, and proud mum, coupling 25 years in the corporate world with lessons she has garnered throughout her journey to help others achieve sustainable transformation for professional and personal success. She is currently writing the forthcoming book Authentic Achievements ‒ The 7 Secrets to Building Brave Belief, Unstoppable Sales, and Turning Your Leaders Into Talent Magnets for Guaranteed Sustainable Growth, based on her experience delivering those results for organisations including Sage and Barclay’s Bank. Kim-Adele Randall, Kim Adele Ltd Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. With over 25 years of corporate experience, I took the plunge and became an entrepreneur to find a better balance between work and home. As a mum to my amazing 6-year-old and our beloved pup Pudding, every day has become wonderfully adventurous! We love travelling together, trying out new recipes in the kitchen or simply learning something new. These moments have strengthened our bond as a family and become catalysts to achieving personal growth while creating lifelong memories that we will cherish forever. The most wonderful takeaway from motherhood for me is having learned invaluable lessons about leadership that come with believing that anything you or your team set your heart on is possible. What is your business name, and how do you help your clients? My business is called Authentic Achievements. Established four years ago, business owners have the power to change the world. We're here to help them do just that by providing expert coaching and advisory services based on our 25 years of experience in corporate life. Business growth is about having the courage to build something unique and being relentless in your pursuit of success. We take a proven methodology and track record and empower business owners build brave belief, have unstoppable sales and turn their leaders into talent magnets for guaranteed sustainable growth to build the business of their dreams. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? Entrepreneurs that are looking to take their business to a whole new level. All too often, entrepreneurs get stuck because all roads seem to lead back to them, and they end up so busy firefighting they need help getting to the strategy of building the business. Sadly 50% of companies fail in the first five years, with over half putting it down to a lack of an appropriate business model, leaving the owners drowning in the details. I've been there too. I used to be stuck working in the business, not working on it, leading teams that seemed to need help understanding the challenges or looking for opportunities to succeed. I changed that by implementing the systems, infrastructure and team development that gave me growth, profitability and control whilst removing the day-to-day dependency on me. Imagine being able to run your business in a few hours a week and develop your people to do the same, resulting in guaranteed sustainable growth – now you can make it your reality. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? So many things inspire me in life; my little girl is my north star; watching her curiosity, growing confidence, and thirst for knowledge helped me to understand the importance of optimizing the present to accelerate the results. I've also been very fortunate to meet some outstanding individuals, and the constant has been it isn't the mistake that defines us; it's what we do with that mistake, and by understanding it is a lesson, we use it as the springboard to our future. What is your work inspired by? I believe in the power of people. Once we understand what is important to our colleagues, clients and company & how we can help them to achieve it, we become unstoppable. People are at the heart of every successful business; no matter how much technology advances, we are all fundamentally human. When our colleagues, clients and company are listened to, understood, and respected, we create a power that can't be ignored. Understanding the importance of these values creates an environment that makes us genuinely unstoppable; it fosters an atmosphere built on authenticity, trust, honesty, engagement and success. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. One of the most pivotal moments in my life is one I share in my recent TEDx entitled turning fear into hope ‒ building brave belief. You can watch it here. In it, I share it was at one of the lowest points of my life that I received the gift of swapping judgement for curiosity and that there is always more than one way to look at the present. The lesson has enabled me to do things I never dreamed I could achieve and, more importantly, has given me the knowledge to help others to achieve what they thought might be impossible. I've used this knowledge to help businesses break through their barriers, seeing one organization struggling to get through the half-a-million-a-month barrier now achieving twice that with ease. It's such a joy to see the impact sharing our beliefs has on others. What are the top 3 tips you'd give anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today? Starting and running a business today can be daunting, but you can set your enterprise up for success with the proper knowledge and resources. Have a clear vision and mission. Building a successful business begins with clearly understanding why you're doing it – what is the purpose of your business, who will benefit from it, and how will it make an impact? A well-defined vision and mission statement will give you direction and focus as you move forward. Focus on customer needs. Every successful business must know its customers – what they want and need and how you can serve them better than anyone else. By understanding customer needs and wants, you can tailor your products or services to meet those needs more effectively. Invest in yourself and your people. Growing a business takes hard work, dedication, and passion – but it also takes the right tools and resources. By investing in development by attending workshops or seminars that can help improve marketing, automation or finance skills or joining industry organizations, you build valuable connections to potential partners or customers. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Kim-Adele!

Written by: Bronwen Sciortino, 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. We live in a world where there are lots of voices, all constantly competing to be heard. I’ve observed for a while now that it’s often the loudest or strongest voice that is heard above the cacophony… and I’ve also watched people simply accept what they hear because of the strength of conviction with which the information is delivered. We’re all busy, right? Information about all sorts of things comes at us with speed and in ever-increasing volumes. Who’s got time to fact-check everything? I’d wager a guess: not many of us. The problem with this is that we absorb the information, moving forwards and applying it into our lives … and we have no idea whether or not it’s a fact or fiction. Everyone is trying to stand out! Our way of life is highly visible. We’re connected 24/7 and everyone can see what we’re up to, all the time. If you’re like me, and you really have to remind yourself to share things in your social platforms, there are times when it can feel like you’re oversharing. If you’re a bit more extroverted, then you probably can’t share enough. Either way, it can feel like there’s this pressure to always be ‘switched on’ and constantly showing the world what you’ve achieved, what you’ve discovered, how you’re applying this to your life and how much better it’s made everything seem. With millions of others on the same platforms trying to do the same thing, we’re all competing with each other to stand out. The problem is the load this brings with it, and the time it consumes to do it. Something catches the eye, it’s delivered with strength and authority … and suddenly you’re incorporating it into your life and trying to make it work for you. You spend zero time working out whether what’s been said is a fact, or whether it’s actually relevant to you. But you do spend loads of time trying to force it to fit into your life. The reality is this: about 99% of the things you see and hear in the digital world aren’t based on fact. They’re someone’s opinion and they’re the supporting act for the 1% that is factual. The 99% is also almost always manipulated and presented in a way that triggers an emotional reaction from you – that’s how the person delivering the information makes sure that it is heard. It’s the emotion that creates the problem. It’s not until we feel the emotion that we give the words or the information any power. It’s the emotion that triggers us to invest something in ourselves and try to make a change. But when there are millions of people, adding highly inflammatory opinions to small amounts of fact so that their message gets heard, it’s you that gets thrown into the wash and sent spinning from pillar to post, see-sawing between information from one person to the next. All of this takes time – and energy – that you don’t have to waste. So, how can you experience this in a way that makes life easier? Here are five simple things you can do to help you separate opinions from facts: 1. Read/watch/consume everything knowing that most of it are based on opinion. Once you understand that almost all of what you’re seeing and hearing is based on opinion, it helps you to take less on board – and you’ll be less connected to it. Once this happens, you’ll feel less emotion and that’s the thing that creates the load for you. Less emotion means less of a drain on you – physically, mentally, and emotionally – which can only be a good thing. 2. Start to notice the people who post things in an inflammatory way. Some people post things that are more inflammatory than others. Start to notice the ones that post things that really trigger your emotions. Overlay your knowledge that most of what you see and hear is an opinion, and then ask whether the emotional rollercoaster you get from consuming their information is worth your time and effort. Then, consciously train yourself to skip over their posts when you see their name. As a result, you’ll find yourself consuming more relevant and positive information in no time. 3. Give yourself a break. Place boundaries around the time you spend consuming information on socials. Carve out certain times of the day when you let yourself go down the rabbit hole, and set an alarm to pull you back out again. Limit your time spent consuming other people’s opinions and you’ll automatically reduce the load you carry from the emotional triggers. 4. Ask yourself whether the information applies to you. Taking a few seconds to ask yourself whether the information actually applies to you gives you the opportunity to consciously connect to something before you are triggered into automatic emotion. This gives you time to choose whether you let what you’re seeing and/or hearing have any impact on you. 5. Ditch the drama. Start to pick up on the posts that are deliberately created to trigger a response. Inflammatory statements like: ‘It’s such a bad day!’, ‘Could things get any worse?’ or ‘Well … that really sucks!’ without any other information to explain the statement serve only one purpose: to get you to respond, so that you can help the person get their post performing well against the algorithms. What they want you to do is ask things like: ‘Oh no! What happened?’ Or ‘Hoping you’re OK?’ … and then you get sucked into the drama vortex that overloads you with emotion. It also leaves the poster “Happy as Larry”, because they’re getting attention and their post is climbing the algorithm rankings. Instead, acknowledge the post for what it is and simply scroll on by. Facts are where the power lies in our over-stimulated, over informational world. Learn to separate the opinion from the facts and you’ll find a calmer, more relaxed and more peaceful pathway through life. Bronwen Sciortino is a Simplicity Expert, an internationally renowned author, and a professional speaker, and you can follow her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Read more from Bronwen! Bronwen Sciortino, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Bronwen Sciortino is an International Author and Simplicity Expert who spent almost two decades as an award-winning executive before experiencing a life changing event that forced her to stop and ask the question ‘What if there’s a better way to live?’ Embarking on a journey to answer this question, Bronwen developed a whole new way of living – one that teaches you to challenge the status quo and include the power of questions in everyday life. Gaining international critical acclaim and 5-star awards for her books and online programs, Bronwen spends every day teaching people that there is an easy, practical and simple pathway to creating a healthy, happy AND highly successful life. Sourced globally for media comment as an expert and working with corporate programs, conference platforms, retreats, professional mentoring and in the online environment, Bronwen teaches people how easy it is to live life very differently.