Written by: Cristiana Blasutta, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When was the last time you assessed if you were truly living the life you’ve always desired? Let’s do it together now. I want to show you that living the epic life you’ve always desired can be easier than you thought. You just need three things. Slow down I want you to remember when you were a kid, full of dreams, excitement, and joy. And let me add one important thing: wisdom. Yes, kids know it all. They live everyday life with wonder, they get to know this world through questions, curiosity, an open mind and the ability to say NO to the things and people they’re not “vibing” with them. It’s time for you to remember how to live like that again. It’s easier than you might think. First: Live with passion (Yes, I’m quoting Tony Robbins here 😊) Wait, what?? What does it even mean? I know, it’s been such a long time. We’ve been trained to detach from our feelings, to not listen to our inner voice anymore. But if you slow down enough, you can hear it screaming out loud. It’s time to pay attention to it. Close your eyes for a moment and think about a time in your life when you couldn’t wait to start your day, excited for the things you were going to do…and where, at the end of the day, you felt so satisfied and fulfilled that you’d fall asleep in a second. For me it’s always Summertime. The idea of spending another day playing in the sun, feeling its warmth on my skin is priceless. And it means absolute freedom. What is it for you? Give yourself time to connect with it. You’ll nail it when you have a big smile on your face 🤩. Hold onto that feeling and stay with it for a while. Explore how you feel in your body. Notice if your mood and your thoughts change. Then write down a list of things that make you feel exactly the same way, and label it My Passion List. From now on this is going to be your best tool. You’ll need to introduce these things in your calendar and schedule a time to do them. You need to treat them like a priority, absolutely non-negotiable. Stick to this for a month and see your life flourish! Second: Stay in the present moment This will allow you to feel PLEASURE. Did you know that pleasure is directly connected to your creativity? The more you unleash it, the more pleasure you feel. Fascinating, right? You’re supposed to make things with your hands, create worlds with your mind, move your body and fully express yourself. That’s exactly what kids do intuitively. So, get your hands dirty, paint, do some gardening, cook, give yourself a foot massage, dance in your living room. Savor every minute of it and pay attention to how alive you feel in the moment. Pleasure is the sign you’re finally trusting the flow of life. And when you trust, magical things will start happening. Third: Focus on your intention to finally get in touch with your soul purpose When you do things intentionally, you bring more meaning to our life. It’s when you start losing your connection to your why that you end up feeling frustrated, empty, and bored. And it's not fun, isn’t it? So, connect deeply with what your heart wants you to bring to life and pour yourself into it. It can be simple, although right now it doesn't look easy to you. You just need to open yourself up to experience your life with PASSION, PURPOSE, and PLEASURE…and your life is going to radically transform into the epic life you’ve always desired. What would your life look like if you were able to finally give yourself permission to do all that? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Cristiana! Cristiana Blasutta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cristiana is the Master Weaver of Transformation. She loves working with powerhouse women who know that they are meant for more. She helps them reignite their passion, find their purpose, and finally give themselves permission to seek and feel pleasure so that they can live the epic life they deserve. Cristiana stopped calling herself a “coach” and fully embodied being a Weaver, someone who is able to look at the messy parts in your life, untangle all the pieces, and weave them back together in a way that’s truly aligned with your passion, purpose, and pleasure so that your life is authentic to you.

Written by: Dr. Wendy Norfleet, 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. An emotionally intelligent leader is often considered a master of their emotions, including the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as to recognize the feelings of others. Emotionally intelligent leaders possess self-awareness, self-management, relationship management, and social awareness skills used to lead and inspire their teams. Emotionally intelligent leaders can create a positive and productive work environment by understanding and responding to the emotions and perspectives of their team members. They can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts, and inspire and motivate the teams to achieve their goals. Additionally, emotionally intelligent leaders can manage their emotions and reactions, which allows them to remain calm and composed under pressure and make decisions based on reason and logic rather than emotions. What Are The 4 Pillars of an Emotionally Intelligent Leader? The four pillars of emotionally intelligent leadership are: Self-Awareness Self-awareness is knowing who you are as a person and a leader and how you connect with others and show up in the world. If you don't understand your motivations and behaviors, it's almost impossible to understand others. A lack of self-awareness can make it difficult for you to think logically. A thorough understanding of yourself helps you understand others. Before learning self-control, you must first know yourself. Knowledge of self will help you understand how to get along with others. You can't rely on your gut feelings to tell you what to do during hard times. People who know themselves well know their strengths and weaknesses and how to deal with them. They understand the power of emotions and how they affect behavior and can spot those emotions in other people. Self-Management Self-management is being able to keep your reactions and urges in check. It includes your ability to control emotions, be honest, change, take the lead, and be optimistic. Leaders who can keep their reactions in check can think more clearly and act without being held back by fear. Self-management is essential in calmly leading teams through times of change or chaos. Social-Awareness Social awareness is an awareness of what's happening with other people and connecting with them through empathy. Socially aware leaders consider other people's needs, concerns, points of view, and feelings. These leaders can pick up on nonverbal cues and figure out what they mean, which gives them the power to respond correctly. Relationship Management Relationship management involves: Helping others grow Starting and managing change Dealing with conflicts Using influence to reach goals Managing how a team works together Teams stay together because of the people on them. Leaders can affect how well their teams do by building and managing relationships with care. Relationship management is how leaders get their teams to work together, solve problems, and commit to a plan of action. Conclusion Emotionally intelligent leaders must be aware of the four pillars and utilize the concepts to create a positive and productive work environment. These concepts will allow leaders to lead their team members to success. Reach out to Norfleet Integrated Solutions and let us help you develop your leadership team into emotionally intelligent leaders. Contact us today! Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Wendy! Dr. Wendy Norfleet, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Wendy Norfleet is an engineer turned CEO, author, certified coach, and community advocate. Leveraging her business knowledge, leadership skills, community engagement, and desire to help others, she works with individuals and organizations to identify challenges, execute solutions, and achieve results. In recognition of her service, Wendy has been honored with numerous leadership awards, recognized as a Women of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal, selected as a 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year, and helped her company achieve the 2021 Corporate Vision Award for Best Business Consulting and Coaching Company ‒ North Florida.

Written by: Sarah Henderson-Sharon, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Last month, I wrote about the findings of research I have been doing into the challenges non-native English speakers face on their language learning journey. One of the biggest sources of negative feelings stems from people's unfavourable opinions about their accent and pronunciation. Dealing with negative feelings around pronunciation ‒ why do you need to be 'prefect'? Perhaps more than any other aspect of speaking a foreign language, pronunciation can trigger unpleasant feelings such as shame and embarrassment. I suspect this is because pronunciation has a big impact on whether people can understand you (and whether you can understand them!). Moreover, I believe that some people feel under pressure to speak like a native speaker would and believe that they cannot fit in unless they 'get rid of' their first language accent. What interests me is how different people respond to having an accent and how their responses trigger different behaviours. For example, I once worked with a highly proficient student from Germany who had been living in the UK for several years. Although her pronunciation was very clear, she retained a slight German accent which she wanted to 'get rid of' because she was fed up of being asked where she was from. In this case, is it the 'foreign accent' that is the problem or the speaker's negative feelings about being asked about their origins? Other people wear their accents as a badge of honour as for them, it symbolises their roots and cultural heritage. For example, my partner, who is Vietnamese, has excellent English and is virtually at native-speaker level. However, there are slight signs in his speaking that he was not born in the UK. He is proud of this as it helps him feel connected to his country of origin. Why is pronunciation such a big issue? I have worked with several clients who had excellent English skills in many areas but who had weak pronunciation in comparison. Let's look at some of the reasons why this may be the case. Many language learners begin learning English at school. Their teachers are likely to be from their country so may not have well-developed pronunciation and the focus is often on grammar, reading and writing. Many people do very little speaking practice at school so it's hardly surprising that pronunciation skills are not developed. As a consequence, bad habits develop early and are uncorrected while people are young enough to change them easily. Pronunciation is a physical skill, something that people often overlook. If you want to improve your grammar, you can do exercises and learn new rules. If you want to improve your pronunciation, however, you need to devote time to understanding what your tongue and mouth should be doing physically; it's not enough to mentally understand the difference between /i:/ and /I/, you need to practice until you can physically differentiate the two sounds. Because of this, improving pronunciation takes a great deal of time, practice and patience, another factor that is often overlooked. As a result, people can lose heart and interest too soon, believing that they will always have 'bad pronunciation' but that there is nothing they can do about it. This is a shame as weak pronunciation makes you significantly harder to understand and can cause breakdowns in communication. Weak pronunciation may also affect how people perceive you. For example, if you do not have well-developed stress and intonation patterns, you may sound bored, abrupt or unenthusiastic, none of which would give a positive impression of you. Finally, not being able to pronounce individual sounds clearly can affect what people think you are saying and can reduce your intelligibility, a key factor in today's world of Zoom meetings! Do you need to have a 'perfect' English accent? In my opinion, no non-native speaker needs to have native-speaker levels of pronunciation. However, I do believe that you do need to be able to speak clearly and to have a reasonable understanding of how the English pronunciation system works so that you can understand the natural flow of speech. This includes features like connected speech, linking sounds and stress placement. If working for a 'perfect' English accent (or a native-speaker level of pronunciation) is something you want, I believe this is possible… as long as you are prepared to work hard, work consistently and adopt an attitude of curiosity rather than a mindset of self-hate and blame. Pronunciation can be massively fun to practice but is difficult to use accurately in real-time speaking. Why is pronunciation difficult to practice? As I have said, pronunciation is a physical skill. You need to memorise where the tongue goes and what shape your lips need to make for each and every sound in the language you are learning. And as some of these will be different from your first language, you then need to practice until you have thoroughly mastered this. Most people simply do not allow enough time for this basic foundational stage. In addition, you most likely have bad habits to overcome, and this means unlearning one set of physical movements and replacing them with new and improved ones. Again, people underestimate this, both in terms of difficulty and the time needed to improve. How can you start to improve your pronunciation? If you are serious about improving your pronunciation, be prepared to do some serious work. You will need to practice on a regular basis, daily if possible. You may need to go right back to the beginning and start by ensuring you can pronounce the individual phonemes properly before building up from here. Do not be ashamed if this is true for you, even if you have been speaking English for many years! We all have bad habits in our foreign languages, so taking the time to work on them is a positive step to take! If you can afford it, find a teacher who specialises in teaching pronunciation. It will be a big help to have someone who can act as a guide and give you feedback as you progress. If you really want to achieve native-speaker levels of pronunciation, you may like to work with an 'accent reduction coach' rather than an English teacher. Make voice recordings. Although no-one likes to do this, voice recordings are a great way to check your pronunciation. You can make voice recordings of things such as: minimal pairs, for example /i:/ and /I/ reading a short passage out loud an comparing your recording to that of a native speaker. This works really well if you use graded readers as they often come with an MP3 recording. reciting limericks or poems designed to help you practice features of pronunciation such as stress patterns or linking words. If you have a teacher or native speaker friend, you could ask them to record the limerick or poem so you have a model to compare yourself with. We all have accents, and to seek the ’perfect accent’ makes little sense to me. What is the perfect accent? Who speaks it? Why is this accent perfect compared to others? Ultimately, I believe that as long as a person’s pronunciation is intelligible, there should be no further pressure on them to sound like a native speaker and it is the choice of each individual how far they wish to improve their pronunciation. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sarah! Sarah Henderson-Sharon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah Henderson-Sharon is an expert in helping non-native English speakers overcome Second Language Anxiety: the fear, shame, and anxiety they experience when speaking English. A teacher with 17 years of experience, Sarah became aware of the damaging impact of Second Language Anxiety four years ago. Since then, Sarah has dedicated herself to helping her clients understand and move beyond their fears so that they can use English with confidence. She is the founder of Think Positive English where she offers 1-2-1 programs and a community speaking club empowering members to improve their spoken English.

Written by: Cynthia Appiah, 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 wanted to travel to a destination, and at first you start making plans with your friends to travel, but when the trip gets close, your friends start to drop out like flies, and the last friend standing tells you, hey, I am not really interested in that destination. Your friend definitely has the right to change their mind, but you realize that is where you really wanted to travel to. So, out of disappointment, you decide to plan a solo trip, and you soon realize, traveling solo is beyond amazing. That is what happened to me and that is how I started my solo travel escapade. I am definitely a woman who is very secure and confident in herself, and when I make a decision to do something, I stick with it. So, I started taking solo trips and it has been the best experience. Last year, my solo travel destination was Montenegro, Europe, and it was one of the best trips ever. I learned so much and loved the culture and people. My personality is so infectious that I meet people all the time so while in Montenegro, it was very easy to talk to people and it taught me a lot about myself. From my experience, here are three benefits to traveling solo. 1. Meeting new people I love meeting new people, it might be the social worker in me, but I love learning about different cultures, I love learning how other people view other cultures, and most importantly, I make long-lasting friends. 2. Getting out of your comfort zone Staying in your comfort zone is safe, but it will never push you to grow and experience all that life has to offer. One of the quotes I use all the time is “The definition of insanity is said to be doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome. So if you want to change, you’ve got to get out of that comfortable, plushy place that keeps you doing the same thing over and over again” ‒ Author unknown 3. You gain total independence Having independence is one of the most important traits. It teaches you to be self-sufficient and helps you develop self-awareness. If you are planning to venture on your first solo trip or you are a solo trip veteran, please take note of my safety tips and tricks below. When planning a solo trip, pick a travel destination with intent, and have a “why.” If your why is strong in the destination you have chosen, you will have more passion for your solo trip and most likely see it through. Plan and book your travel destination in advance: Research the area, nearby locations, and hotel. Plan your whole week, or if staying longer, fill each day with activities so that you are always near help and around tourists. Always make sure you are with a traveling crowd. Create a list of important telephone numbers to have on hand in the event of an emergency. It is good to make sure to call your mobile phone company to turn on your international plan. Having an international phone plan will help you save on your phone usage bill. Develop a travel budget. Having a budget helps you plan and strategize. To stay within budget, I find that these apps, such as Priceline, Cheapoair, Hopper, and Expedia often times have amazing travel deals. Some of these sites even have the option to pay later and you can even earn rewards! To conclude, traveling solo is empowering, peaceful, and a great learning experience. You learn so much about yourself, make lifelong friendships, and develop self-awareness. Thank you for reading my article! Submit questions you have on how to begin your solo travel experience here. Cynthia Appiah, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cynthia is the host of Cynthia TV, a Pageant Competition Expert, social media content creator, motivational speaker, mentor, and life coach. As multi-talented diva, Cynthia has helped her clients break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back, while empowering each person to GET THE CROWN in life. She has spent 10 + years helping individuals to create a lifestyle of success and balance. Her goal is to use her entertainment platform to inspire ambitious women and pageant beauties to embrace their beauty from within. She feels fortunate to have found her calling and is passionate about making a difference in other peoples' lives. Life's too short to be unhappy, unsure, or unfulfilled.

Written by: Dr Pamela Stoodley, 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 language we use in our everyday lives plays an extremely significant role in our mental well-being. Self-talk is the monologue we have with ourselves, sometimes inwardly and at times, out loud. This monologue can turn into a dialogue between the internal competing personae that I would like to call the Critic and the Guru. The Critic As the name suggests, the Critic criticizes. It critiques the way you are, look, work, eat, breathe or even just your worth or how you exist. The Critic often becomes such an integral part of our lives that its voice is commonly mistaken for the voice of truth – its words, a fact of our lives. The Guru This persona is the compassionate one who speaks out with kind words and can, at times, even provide advice. Those trained to listen to their inner Guru more often than the Critic find it easier to have a positive outlook on life, have better relationships with others and more importantly, with themselves. The birth of the Critic and the Guru Scientifically speaking, the Critic stems from our subconscious minds that have been well-primed with our beliefs, values, past experiences, biases, and external criticism – all of this ultimately feeding into our Automatic Negative Thoughts. Amid this all, the Guru’s positive talk gets overridden due to a mental habit of putting the Critic at the forefront ‒ without actual awareness. What does the Critic sound like? "Today is going to be a terrible day!" "That was not my best performance." "I'm just not cut out for this." "Why does this always happen to me?" "I can never be on time." "If only I were as lucky as she is." "I'm not very intelligent like some of my friends." Sometimes, we subconsciously become so habituated with language that personifies the Critic that we use it in conversation with other people too. I remember a rather awkward encounter where I asked someone how they had been. Their immediate response was, 'not bad'. That to me spelt worry so, in a knee-jerk reaction, I followed it up with, "Oh no! What happened?" At first, they looked at me utterly confused, and then it dawned on them that perhaps their response was what misled me. They promptly said, "Oh nothing! I've been good." This incident simply demonstrates the choice of words we habitually use to describe ourselves, our situation, and our life events. If someone has been good, why wasn't that their response? Why did they choose the phrase, not bad instead? 'Not bad' generally implies that the situation could have been worse, but it isn't. 'Not bad', however, doesn't automatically imply 'good'. Does negative self-talk really impact us? If the Critic is allowed to reign the majority of your self-talk, it eventually leads to fostering shame, your confidence takes a hard hit, and you limit self-growth. Habitually being in this state results in depression and anxiety where the incessant talks, and ultimately thoughts, become dysfunctional and destructive. It skews your perception of the self and the world and creates a false sense of reality ‒ a reality you find yourself stuck in with no escape. Five neuro hacks to change your negative self-talk 1. Attention The only way you can pay attention to something is by being aware ‒ a state of being many tend to struggle with. When you are in a state of awareness, you are able to pay attention to your inner Critic's monologue, your automatic negative thoughts and the language you use in everyday conversation. 2. Observation Monitoring your self-talk reflects a visible pattern. Does your Critic speak the loudest to you when you are about to face a challenge? you've lost something? you're anxious, nervous or fearful? you're ruminating on a past event or someone else's words? 3. Inspection When you've observed the language of those talks ‒ introspect its validity by asking yourself something along the lines of ‒ a. Am I making assumptions? Do I have all the facts? b. Am I catastrophising based on a single event in my past and predicting the fate of my future opportunities? c. Is it really as big a deal as I am making it out to be? d. Am I labelling myself with words I would hesitate to use to describe my loved ones? e. Am I creating an all-or-nothing reality for myself? If I say 'I never win' is this a factual statement? f. If my friend came to me confessing they had these thoughts, would I say this to them? 4. Implementation I often encourage my clients to implement my 3S Rule Stop | Sigh | Switch When you routinely pay attention, monitor, and analyse your self-talk and thoughts, you are able to be more compassionate with yourself and let the Guru takeover. STOP - As stated before, paying attention requires awareness. The moment you catch your Critic's words, simply stop. Catch yourself being convinced with negative self-talk. SIGH - Take a deep breath (or two). Inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply not only calms your system but also helps with bringing your mind to the present moment. SWITCH - Reframe your talk/thoughts with kind and helpful words. This generally becomes easier as your ability to validate your negative self-talk comes naturally to you. For example: Instead of, "That was my worst performance!" Try, "Given how prepared I was and how I had been feeling, I did the best I could. Next time, I'll prepare better and perhaps ask an expert for tips." Instead of, "I will never reach my target weight!" Try, "I've come this far and have hit a roadblock. Maybe I'll reach out to my friends to see if they have any advice to help me do something differently." 5. Repetition Repeating any behaviour strengthens the neuronal connections making the effort you are putting into the behaviour, easier and easier. The stronger the neuronal connection, the thicker the myelin sheathing over it and the faster the nerve impulse of the activity. Over time, the Critic lays dormant and the inner Guru speaks out more confidently. Some may argue that their inner critic helps motivate them to achieve their goals, however, the brain is unable to discern positive and negative self-talk and/or thoughts. Repetition of anything can cause a thickening in the myelin sheath ‒ so you are better off using it for positive self-talk than strengthening your neuronal connections with destructive monologues. Note: If you or anyone you know experiences negative self-talk in a way that is destructive, then I strongly advise you to seek professional help or utilise your local resources. “Your only limitation is the one you set up in your own mind!” ‒ Napoleon Hill Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr Pamela! Dr. Pamela Stoodley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr Pamela Stoodley is a polymath with her range of specialties in being a general physician, child and adolescent psychologist, neuropsychologist, counsellor in addictions psychology and a nutritionist. Dr. Stoodley's first book 'Cracking the Happiness Code' teaches people the way our minds work and how best to use it to our advantage. Her life's mission is to show people how they can break the myth of a hard-wired brain and leap forward into the world of neuroplasticity for their own mental (health) agility. Her wish is to be able to empower every human on this planet ‒ from toddlers to retirees, the weapon of Mastering our Minds.

Written by: Eryn Elizabeth Cloutier, 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 been in the middle of a conversation and thought to yourself, this person is not listening to me. Conversation is an opportunity for dynamic change. Through different types of communication ideas are conveyed. Assertive communication is the key to getting what you need. Assertive communication is a genuine expression of an individual’s needs, wants, and feelings. Learning how to be assertive can be scary, especially if you are someone who is socially anxious. Thinking negatively about how someone else will respond will hinder your opportunity for positive change. Allowing your decisions to be influenced by negative thoughts may foster people-pleasing behavior, resentment, increased anxiety, depression and so forth. Being assertive empowers you to direct the outcome of the conversation and instills confidence. Individuals who are able to communicate assertively respect themselves. They take responsibility for their own actions. They treat others with mutual respect and share information in a non-threatening and non-judgemental manner. Other traits of effective communicators include: Clearly stating needs and wants Utilizing an appropriate tone of voice Steady voice Confident body language Eye contact (if culturally appropriate) Helpful tips Identify areas to improve: Is it hard for me to express my thoughts and feelings? Is it hard for me to ask questions? Where can I set better boundaries? Take some time to plan and think about what you want to say. It’s okay to step away from the situation. If you are not able to remove yourself from the situation, take a few deep breaths. Say, “No” when you need to. Be clear, be honest and when an appropriate offer to help find another solution. It’s okay to disagree. Your wants, needs, and rights are as valuable as anybody else’s. It’s healthy to express yourself, as long as you are respectful toward the rights of others. Being assertive is not selfish. You know yourself better than anybody else and it’s important to advocate for yourself. You don’t have to do what others tell you. You decide what’s in your best interest. Be vulnerable. Being vulnerable can be scary, but it offers the opportunity to feel heard and connect with others on another level. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Show an interest in what the other person is saying. All conversations end. Be graceful. Small ways to get started Practice Give someone a compliment Talk to a neighbor Initiate a conversation with a co-worker Ask a friend to get together Say hello to a stranger Examples of Assertive Communication “I’m having a difficult time concentrating with music playing. Would you mind using your headphones?” “I will not be able to make it to the game this weekend. I wish you luck!” “I would love to meet for lunch, but I have a meeting and I will not have enough time. Let’s schedule another time to meet now.” If you begin to practice assertive communication, you will notice a positive shift within yourself and healthy changes in your personal and professional relationships. For more ideas on how to become the best version of yourself, check out Eryn’s website or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Read more from Eryn Elizabeth! Eryn Elizabeth Cloutier, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Eryn Cloutier is a psychotherapist and educator who works with adolescents and adults. She has always been interested in the mind/body connection, specifically cognition and emotion. Ms. Cloutier is a life-long learner who continues to explore and diversify her abilities to help others, and is passionate about guiding and supporting individuals in their journey to become the best version of themselves.

Written by: Rani Bain, 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. Being an expert in your niche will elevate your status, increase your earning potential and make you more established and known. This breaks you away from the ‘competition’, who are scrambling to get clients in a competitive market, roughly charging the same. What is an expert? A high-performance person within a specific niche. They are well-informed in their field and have achieved more than average results and recognition. Only you can determine if you can become an expert in your niche. If you’re wondering how to start, here are some key points to consider: 1. Identify your niche in your business Your niche must be something you are passionate about, and that can really help your client. Something you can delve much deeper into. 2. Invest time and effort To become an expert you will need to devote time and energy to gaining knowledge and practicing the skills in your niche. 3. Unlearn what you have done before This is a completely different way of working, with fewer clients, on a much deeper level and charging for your expertise and not your packages or sessions. 4. Find a mentor When you have a mentor who has already achieved what you want to achieve and is successful in this. Someone who has the skills and knowledge and experience and who is invested in your success. 5. Learn and test yourself Practicing your niche/expertise is crucial, it is also beneficial to test yourself to ensure you have retained any new information. If it’s your passion it won’t seem like a chore. You need to live up to your expertise! 6. Focus on your progression Create a plan for your progress, and keep identifying the next step and the following next step. You can do this yourself or with a mentor who can keep you accountable. There is obviously more to the process than following these steps. The mind shift of steering away from what, up until now, has been the norm. For instance charging properly for your expertise, working with fewer clients, and not hustling for clients to fill your schedule, basically working with fewer clients on a much deeper level using your niche. Are you in the beauty business? For more help and training regarding developing your niche and expertise in your makeup artist or beauty business, you can please contact Rani Bain. Rani Bain, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rani works with established makeup artists to unleash their expertise, develop their niche and work with fewer clients.

Written by: Patricia Baronowski-Schneider, 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 ready for the automation revolution? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming our work and creating a new wave of workplace innovation. From AI advancements to robotics technologies, the future of work is shaped by automation and its impact on businesses and employees. Get ready to explore how AI will revolutionize the way we work! The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the past decade has been nothing short of remarkable. From processing everyday purchases to helping diagnose diseases, AI plays a significant role in many aspects of life. But as AI continues to develop and perform more complex tasks, one of the biggest questions is: Will AI eventually take over our jobs? It's a tricky question, and a more complex answer needs to be answered. On the one hand, AI can automate many tasks, making them faster and more efficient than humans. This could reduce the need for certain types of labor, leading to fewer jobs within those sectors. For example, banks are increasingly using AI algorithms to process transactions and detect fraud, reducing the number of staff required in financial departments. On the other hand, AI is also augmenting the work that humans do rather than replacing them. In many cases, it complements existing roles, allowing human workers to focus more on critical thinking skills such as problem-solving and decision-making. Through this collaboration of man and machine, businesses have seen increased productivity and streamlined processes. In the future, jobs will be both automated and augmented by AI, but it's unlikely that AI will take over completely. After all, humans have something that machines don't – creativity. Machines cannot bring the same imagination, empathy, and emotion to their work, meaning that specific roles will always require a human touch. Ultimately, the impact of AI on the workplace is still developing, but it will play an increasingly important role in the future of work. As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, the workforce must consider how AI might affect their job security and what steps they can take to future-proof their roles. AI can do some jobs faster or better than humans. Still, it cannot replicate the human qualities of creativity and empathy, which are essential in many professions. By taking the time to understand AI's potential and how to use it in ways that are beneficial to humans, businesses can ensure job security for their employees while still harnessing AI's impressive capabilities. With the proper preparation, AI can be used in a way that works hand-in-hand with humans rather than replacing them. Businesses must be prepared to embrace AI and leverage its capabilities to save time and money and open up new opportunities. By using AI as an augmentation and improvement to the way we work rather than as a replacement, we can ensure that the future of work remains exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Patricia! Patricia Baronowski-Schneider, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Patricia Baronowski-Schneider. I’m the founder of Pristine Advisers, since 2010. I have been in the IR/PR industry for over 35 years. I am a 3 x’s international best-selling published author and have also been featured in various books about IR/PR and Business. I’m a member of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, have been featured in and on the cover of multiple magazines and newspapers and won many awards for my work. I help companies around the world to be in front of the audiences that matter most to their business. Check out my YouTube Channel – Been There/Done That where I offer free advice on trending topics. You can also check out my Podcast “Successful Minds with Patty B”.

Written by: Ana-Maria Ciubota, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Physical health is a broad phrase that refers to the state of your body and how it always performs. It consists of a variety of things, including the condition of your skin, muscles, bones, and joints, as well as those things you cannot see or feel. One of the most crucial aspects of personal development to consider is physical health since it is crucial to our total well-being. A healthy mind feeds off a healthy body . There’s an underlying relationship between your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Nutrition, sleep, exercise, and movement are the main topics in this area of personal development. When you nourish your physical self, your mind is likely to benefit as well. Benefits of Physical Fitness for Personal Development Leads to a healthier life. By becoming physically fit, you have agreed to enhance one aspect of your life. Working out, in other words, helps you achieve success in the field of health, which is an important component of personal development. Additionally, the growth of other aspects of your life depends heavily on your physical well being. All the other facets of human development are supported by a healthy physique. If your body continues failing you, it may be difficult to strive toward your mission and goals. Creates self-discipline. Only a select few people can encourage you to improve your physical fitness, most likely your doctor and a small group of supportive others. Continuously pushing yourself on your path to physical health requires a lot of self-discipline. Over time, developing self-discipline in other aspects of your life gets simpler. You can develop better habits in other areas and keep them up with self-discipline, which will help you advance in those areas as well. Improves brain function. Physical fitness-enhancing exercise is also incredibly beneficial for your brain. Exercise speeds up the heartbeat, which facilitates the passage of blood and oxygen to the brain. Additionally, it encourages the synthesis of hormones that spur the development of new brain tissue, improving cognitive performance even as you age and enhancing memory. You improve your capacity for problem-solving, self-efficacy, and distraction management. All of those are necessary for personal development. Helps master the art of setting and achieving goals. Setting objectives and figuring out how to reach them are key to achieving physical health. In addition to setting aside time for exercise, you must work hard and invest in the necessary equipment to reach your goals. Setting goals and working hard to accomplish them are essential components of personal development. It takes a lot of perseverance and sacrifice to achieve what you desire, just as with exercising. Exercise promotes resiliency. The road to fitness is fraught with difficulties. Among other things, you occasionally must cope with a lack of motivation, exhaustion, hectic schedules, and adverse weather. However, each time, you strive harder to overcome these obstacles. Similarly, personal development has its own set of difficulties. It motivates the feeling of constantly improving oneself. Physical fitness is supposedly a lifestyle. Your work doesn't end when you get the physique of your dreams. To maintain your physical fitness, you must put in a lot of effort. Permanent learning is essential to human development. You must continue to strive to improve on yesterday's performance. Core Areas of Physical Health to Consider in Personal Development Nourishment Our food choices have a significant influence on both our physical and mental health. When we focus on eating for vibrant health, which includes eating a variety of fresh, healthy foods, drinking lots of water, ensuring we receive the vitamins we need each day, and monitoring our alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine consumption, our bodies feel stronger, we have more energy, and our minds feel healthier as well. What foods make up your diet? Do you prioritize feeding your body meals that energize and revitalize it? Do you get enough liquids? Do you stay away from foods and drinks that are addicting, non-nutritious, or make you feel bad (at least most of the time)? If not, are you able to alter just one behaviour to add extra nutrition to your life? Relaxation To maintain our physical and mental stamina, we must pay close attention to sleep. Mental wellness depends on sleep. Sleep deprivation is linked to increased levels of stress, sadness, anxiety, and anger, as well as to poorer coping, memory, learning, and performance. When we are sleep deprived, we simply cannot operate effectively. Lack of sleep is associated with an increased risk of sickness and, if it persists, can result in serious health issues including diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Are you getting adequate rest? If not, I advise you to give it the highest importance. Take a nap, stay home on the weekends, or at the very least, indulge yourself and get extra rest. It's not just about sleep, its equally crucial to unwind and have fun. Stress hurts the body and mind, while relaxation is the opposite of stress. Stress is at the root of a variety of physical and mental health problems. Make time to unwind, let go, and slow down. If you do, you'll be able to work, sleep, and live better. Do you schedule downtime for relaxing activities? Do you allow yourself to "play" or even just "take a break"? If not, perhaps it's time to try it. Exercise and Movement One of the finest things you can do for your physical and emotional wellness is exercise. Numerous studies have demonstrated the advantages of physical activity, including stretching, strength training, and cardiovascular exercise. Contrary to popular belief, exercise doesn't have to be difficult. It is OK to work in a 20-minute garden session or take two daily 10-minute walks. It's crucial to start exercising your body. It's just as important to your body as food and rest! Do you schedule a time to work out? If so, do you work out three or more days a week? Do you maintain a regular workout schedule? Do you have any areas you would like to improve? If not, what prevents you? The most crucial thing to keep in mind when it comes to physical health is that the entire body, not just one part, must be taken care of. Take good care of your health and overall well-being. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , Li nkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ana-Maria! Ana-Maria Ciubota, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ana-Maria Ciubota, is an entrepreneur, author, beauty and life coach. She is the author of the Skincare Biology Guide - How to Look & Feel Your Best, dedicated to all women around the world. Her unique approach to skincare biology has helped women of all ages achieve healthy, radiant skin, boosting their confidence and self-esteem. With a passion for helping others and a commitment to lifelong learning, Ana is a true inspiration to women everywhere. Whether she's coaching a client, writing a book, or pursuing her personal goals, Ana brings dedication, positivity, and a unique perspective to everything she does.

Written by: Alessandro Carli, 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 want a better life, to be successful, and uplifted. We can have it all, we deserve it... That's not the real point, though. There are so many things that we have to do and take care of in our lives and work, so many concerns, so many problems to tackle, and solutions to be found... it can get overwhelming, no question about it. However, is it really necessary? Perhaps not. Not to this extent, anyway. We tend to approach our reality in basically three ways: one that is used perhaps about 95% of the time; one for about 4.x%; and the remaining part for roughly 0.x%. The first way is the one we're all very aware of, which is trying to manage whatever manifests out there to the best of our knowledge and capacity. The second one is a little more subtle, and it's about managing whatever goes on within ourselves, mentally and emotionally. This gives us some extra control and better chances to get to figure out solutions. Personal growth focuses a lot on this second approach. The third is something the vast majority of people aren't even aware of, and less so familiar with, which is to understand what REALLY goes on outside and within us at a very basic level, and which is responsible for whatever manifests in our internal and external reality. Unfortunately, we rationally assume that we're living in a neutral reality, so much so that most of us believe that it can be shaped according to our whims, and that success and failure basically depend on how we confidently and strongly interact with it. Great British philosopher, Sir Francis Bacon, said that "Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed": quite an impressive and inspired thought for a man who lived in the 16th century, and it simply means that we have no power or control over Nature (Reality), except that which is given by our knowledge and the extent to which we respect of it. When we are confronted with challenging situations, problems, people, etc., we assume that these very "things" are what we're dealing with. They're not. What we're dealing with is just three aspects, and this applies to whatever is out there that's natural (not man-made), and within us, namely: Laws These are the very pillars that sustain everything that exists. There are physical laws, like the ones we study at school, but also emotional/psychological laws, mental laws, and even spiritual laws that reflect the way our reality works and make it respond in a somewhat predictable way. Time and modes are the only wild cards, here: it's not possible to determine when or how systems will react to what we do, and because of this it is rationally very difficult, if not impossible, to connect any event to our compliance to or violation of any given natural law. Forces It's impossible to define a force. All we can do is identify one by observing and perhaps measuring the effects that it produces. Therefore, we can empirically define a force as "something" that produces an effect (event, result, etc.). The actions we do, the emotions we feel, and even the thoughts we have are forces because they have concrete and recognizable repercussions on the environment (and often beyond) in which they are exerted. Dynamics Because our reality is a live entity, any force being exerted on it produces a response in natural systems, which in turn become forces themselves that generate more reactions in quite unpredictable ways. They're called dynamics, and they are what actually generate and shape whatever is manifested in our tangible reality, and if we don't like what we see, it's not because it's good or bad, but because the quality of the forces that produce these dynamics violate the laws that support our reality. Do you see how everything is connected, and why we should pay special attention not to what we see, but to what MAKES what we see? I again stress that when we interact with people and situations, it's not these that we're dealing with, but with the laws, the forces, and the dynamics behind (or underneath) them. I don't know, of course, what this reality is actually made of, but I know that all of Nature responds positively (or negatively) to the same things, and because we are natural systems ourselves, we do too, with no exception. What's this "thing", then? I can't define it, but whatever it is, it's strong, it's fulfilling, it encompasses everything, and it makes the entire Creation tick. Some call it Love. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alessandro! Alessandro Carli, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Canadian born, now living in Italy, Alessandro has been involved in personal growth since 1987, and made it his full-time profession for the past 22 years. He trained and coached people at a personal and professional level, helping them draw out more of their human potential, and at the same time having them become more aware of the laws, forces and dynamics that shape our reality. It's a specific study topic related to Systemic Intelligence which, besides working on self-improvement, allows to interact more effectively with our various environments. He wrote and published two books (in Italian) which roughly translate in "The 5 Principles of Corporate Success" and "Your Money And Your Life".

Written by: Mahji Quadir, 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 felt like life's challenges are pulling you in different directions? Like you're juggling multiple roles and responsibilities while trying to keep a balance? It's a common struggle in today's fast-paced world. But what if I told you there's a holistic approach that can empower you to regain control and thrive in all areas of life? Welcome to the world of Holistic Empowerment Coaching. Section 1: Holistic empowerment coaching unveiled "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." – Albert Einstein In a world where the demands of life can feel overwhelming, Holistic Empowerment Coaching is a beacon of hope. It's more than a buzzword; it's a life-altering approach that focuses on nurturing every aspect of your being. Holistic Empowerment Coaching recognizes that your well-being isn't limited to just one facet of life. It encompasses your physical health, mental strength, social connections, emotional resilience, and spiritual alignment. It's about acknowledging that these dimensions are interconnected and nurturing each one can lead to profound positive changes in your life. Section 2: The Five dimensions of holistic well-being Let's dive deeper into the five dimensions that constitute holistic well-being: Physical Well-being: Your body is your temple. When you invest in your physical health, you're investing in your vitality. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate rest are crucial elements. Mental Well-being: Your mind is a powerful tool. Nurturing mental well-being involves managing stress, cultivating mental clarity, and developing a growth mindset. Social Well-being: We are inherently social creatures. Building and maintaining meaningful relationships is essential for a fulfilling life. Emotional Well-being: Emotions are the colours of your life's canvas. Understanding and managing your emotions empowers you to respond thoughtfully to life's challenges. Spiritual Well-being: This dimension isn't about religion; it's about connecting with your inner self, understanding your purpose, and aligning your actions with your core values. Nurturing holistic well-being involves tending to these five key dimensions. Much like a garden needs care for various elements to thrive, each dimension plays a unique role in your life. However, it's the balance between them that truly empowers you. Balancing well-being is the vital thread that weaves through these aspects, harmonizing them for your overall prosperity. Section 3: Real-life transformation Let's illustrate the power of Holistic Empowerment Coaching with a real-life example. Meet. Zara, a woman who, like many of us, struggled with the demands of daily life. Work, family, and personal health seemed like an impossible juggling act. Zara's turning point came when she realized that her mental and physical well-being were deeply interconnected. The stress of her daily routine was taking a toll on her emotional and social life, and she felt spiritually disconnected. Through Holistic Empowerment Coaching, Zara started making small but impactful changes. She dedicated time to exercise, practiced mindfulness, nurtured her relationships, explored her emotions, and embarked on a journey of self-discovery. The transformation was remarkable. Sarah regained her balance, found her purpose, and started thriving in every aspect of her life. Section 4: Practical steps to holistic empowerment Now, let's talk about how you can begin your journey toward holistic empowerment. It all starts with awareness. Take a moment to assess your well-being in each dimension. On a scale of 0 to 5, rate how you're doing in each area. For dimensions where you score high (4/5), congratulate yourself for your commitment. Keep nurturing these areas. For dimensions where you score low (0-3), it's time for action. Identify one small change you can make to improve. Plan it out, set reminders, and visualize how it will make you feel. Keep progress in mind, not perfection. Reward yourself when you achieve your goals. Remember, it's not about the quantity or frequency of change; it's about the commitment to change. As Martin Luther King said, ‘You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just to take the first step’. Section 5: Empowerment: From concept to reality Empowerment is more than just a concept; it's a profound transformation. It's about taking control of your choices and aligning them with your true self. Empowerment turns challenges into opportunities, doubts into confidence, and fear into faith. When you're empowered, you're not just surviving; you're thriving. Your energy soars, your motivation is unwavering, and you radiate positivity. It's like finding the switch to your inner light. Section 6: The role of a holistic empowerment coach "We are all broken, that's how the light gets in." – Ernest Hemingway. Coaching is a transformative experience that will empower you to transform your life, embrace your true self, and thrive in the modern world. A Holistic Empowerment Coach is your guide on this incredible journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Let’s explore the most impactful ways a coach can help. Clarity and Purpose: Gain clarity, define your purpose, and create a roadmap for a fulfilling future. With coaching, you'll uncover the insights and guidance needed to navigate your path with confidence. Unlocking Potential: Break free from limitations, reignite your motivation, and unlock your true potential. Through coaching, you'll tap into your inner power and unleash the greatness within you. Overcoming Challenges: Overcome obstacles, conquer self-doubt, and achieve lasting success. Coaching provides you with the strategies, mindset shifts, and unwavering support to overcome any challenges that come your way. These three areas encompass some of the most profound and impactful aspects of coaching, helping you transform your life and embrace your full potential. Holistic coaching goes beyond addressing individual parts; it recognizes that we are the sum of our physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. In a world where mental health statistics are staggering, with millions facing challenges, holistic coaching provides a lifeline. It's not uncommon for individuals to turn to faith during difficult times, seeking solace in spirituality. However, spirituality is more than this; it's a profound connection with your inner self, your values, and your purpose. Consider these statistics: 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health issue each year. 1 in 6 adults experience a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, in any given week. 70-90% of individuals who seek help for mental health issues report significant reduction in symptoms and improved quality of life with coaching and therapy. Holistic coaching offers a relatable path to self-improvement. It connects with individuals on a personal level, allowing them to sense the transformative difference it can make. Through the guidance of a Holistic Empowerment Coach, you'll not only address challenges but also cultivate a life of fulfilment. Section 7: Spirituality and cultural conditioning For many individuals, spirituality is deeply intertwined with their cultural and religious beliefs. While these beliefs can provide solace and guidance, they can also create conditioning that affects our perceptions of success. Holistic Empowerment Coaching acknowledges the significance of spirituality in your life journey. It's about breaking down barriers to success that may have been ingrained through culture and religion, allowing you to align your spiritual beliefs with your personal and professional aspirations. Conclusion In a world that often pulls us in many directions, the holistic approach of Holistic Empowerment Coaching offers a path to regain control, find balance, and flourish in every aspect of life. Embrace this journey, invest in your well-being, and watch as your life transforms into a vibrant mosaic of fulfilment, balance and positive outcomes. Please note that the anecdotes shared in this article are entirely fictional and created for illustrative purposes, aiming to convey the empowering messages and concepts discussed. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mahji! Mahji Quadir, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mahji brings 20+ years of impactful Leadership and Transformational Change Experience. As a Certified Coach of Excellence, NLP practitioner, and Agile expert, she radiates empowerment, guiding individuals to break free from cycles, rewrite narratives, and reclaim personal power. Fuelled by her own journey, Mahji's "Inspire to Empower" philosophy leads people towards an energized, fearless, and purposeful life, while her empathic and impactful coaching style, coupled with practical tools, achieves transformative positive change within weeks. Through in-spirit teachings, she nurtures self-discovery, fostering growth, confidence, and resilience that balances your mindset, emotions, and overall existence. Whether navigating life's trials or seeking self-empowerment, Mahji's wisdom illuminates the path to personal liberation, authentic self-expression, and empowered living.

Written by: Dilys Brighty-Schmidt , 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 Transformational Health and Life Coach, I am very dedicated to helping women increase their confidence, understand how important it is that they feel recognized, and motivate them to always have a voice in what they want and desire for their best life. Some fears that women manifest: Women very often manifest “self-doubt,” “ not deserving,” and “imposter syndrome,” (where no matter how qualified or able they are, they feel that they are just not good enough or not ready for the task in hand.) Other feelings of wanting to draw boundaries, but feel by doing so they will invariably offend someone or not be heard. Or, simply saying “NO” to something they don’t really want to do, but again, not wishing to offend or hurt feelings. I am sure that many of you can identify with these experiences , so it is important to have empowerment, trusting your own “Inner Wisdom,” which will bring about a significant change in how it is possible to deal with situations and change negative feelings and experiences. Becoming a coach not only helped me in so many ways in speaking my truth, it also gave me a professional way to motivate, encourage and help women see the potential of having a healthy, successful life in mind, body, and spirit. To create what they want from their lives, even if it is something they have recently decided to do. It’s never too late! It’s never too late! For my own thinking, it is never too late to ask yourself the question of “what it is you want in your life,” which area or areas need more fulfillment, nourishment, commitment, and understanding? A way to self-knowledge and empowerment. Thinking about how much courage, leadership, motivation women experience these days , it’s important to draw from women who have created the life they want and desire. Well-known actresses, influencers, politicians, political activists, writers, directors, poets; all women who very much influence and empower our society today, led me to thinking about important women who have colored history and what was their impact on the era they graced, and what we can still learn from them? What made them stand-out to become icons of their age , which even now is recognized? What abilities did they have that enabled them to carry out their agendas, create reform, stay powerful, change history and defeat those that plotted against them? I wanted to understand if some thread of self-knowledge connected them to each other? It was then that I researched women who changed history in some way. What was their star power? Was it just coincidental that they blazed a trail through history, or was it something they felt inside, culminating in their destiny? It was quite difficult to choose, as there are many women who shaped the world they lived in, but eventually, I decided on four women. One from the 16th century, one from the 18th century, one from the 19th century, and one from the 20th century. I chose them because I believed, against all odds, they reached a status and influence that still rings down in history today, learning that being true to themselves, with an uncompromising belief in their own abilities, enabled them to overcome prejudice, intense personal struggle and difficulty, to reach their own star quality. These are my empowered women through history! Elizabeth l (1533-1603) - Queen of England Elizabeth l is still talked about, written about, with many films and plays portraying her life, achievements, struggles, and triumphs. Ascending the throne at 25, she followed the turmoil of her half-sister Mary’s reign, whose wish to reinstitute the Catholic Faith, and adherence to Rome had created a divided kingdom. Elizabeth, through her pragmatism, and love of her country and people, created an era now known as the “Elizabethan Age,” which not only finally brought England greater commerce and wealth, but through her leadership and charisma, defeated the Spanish Armada, finally putting to rest the Spanish threat of invasion. Catherine The Great (1729-1796) - Empress of Russia Originally born a German Princess, Catherine married into the Russian Monarchy. Marrying her second cousin Peter lll, Emperor of Russia. She gained the throne through a “coup d’etat,” and became the Empress of all Russia. Catherine was instrumental in creating a more modern culture, a cultural renaissance more aligned to other European powers. She became the longest female ruler of Russia, and her reign has been called the Golden Age of the Russian Empire. Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) - Activist, Civil War Spy, Nurse, Suffragist Harriet was born into slavery and one of nine children in Maryland, a slavery State. In 1849 Harriet escaped to Philadelphia to her freedom, yet she returned to Maryland to rescue her own family and 70 other slaves after creating what was called the “Underground Railroad.” A series of safe houses where slaves could be housed until they reached safety in the northern states of America. She completed 13 missions in all. Her bravery and dedication freed those from a life of degradation, humiliation, and hardship. Althea Gibson (1927-2003) - Star Tennis Player Althea Gibson was the first American black woman athlete to win the French Championship in 1956 and Wimbledon and the US Championships in 1957 and 1958. In all, she won eleven Grand Slams, five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. A “tour de force” in international tennis, she overcame challenges and prejudice that were prevalent during that time, especially during the “Jim Crow Laws” era in the United States. Her prowess and excellence paved the way for the likes of Serena Williams, World Tennis Champion. What did these four women achieve? I believe these four iconic women blazed a trail for women through the ages, and we still pay homage to how they created new norms in the reformation of draconian laws and thinking. What then, you ask, is the common thread that binds these four women from such different backgrounds and cultures? What was their ability to achieve their undeniable place in history? I believe that they understood their own self-worth , their feeling of purpose, and in many ways, their destiny in stepping into the shoes of the person they wished to become. Succeeding and winning, manifesting their 0wn individual destiny, their choice to create the life they knew was possible and in doing so, changed history forever. Just reading their stories made me feel that women have always strived to create change, reform, and enlightenment . Something we as women can also take from their example to keep going forward, change what needs to be changed, feel our own power, and manifest the vision of the life we want. Yes, we all experience self-doubt and fear sometimes, but we also have the self-love, self-worth, and belief to propel ourselves to whatever we want to be. Are there women in history that have inspired you? I would love to hear what inspiration they gave you. It’s a journey, but well worth it! Remember, "Transformation begins with you!" If you have questions please feel free to contact me. I am happy to help. Follow me on Instagram , Linkedin and visit my website for more info! Dilys Brighty-Schmidt, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Dilys Brighty-Schmidt is a Transformational Health and Life Coach, who is dedicated to helping women 50+ and beyond achieve success in their health, fitness and life situations, that need change, more commitment and nourishment. Her coaching also includes programs in Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Health, two major health problems that increase with age. Through her previous work as a diet consultant for over six years, with a brand diet company in the USA, she realized how difficult it was for many clients to sustain their weight loss or reach their goals. Health and Life Coaching has given her that much-needed knowledge to help her clients understand that lifestyle changes, as well as habits and behavior changes, are instrumental in their success. Her mantra is “Transformation Begins With You”