Written by: Lynne Wadsworth, 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 know that February is the month of Love. The month when we can show our loved ones what they mean to us. While we all enjoy doing that, have you considered how you can be kinder and gentler to yourself – and to show yourself more love? We often overlook ourselves when it comes to the concept of ‘LOVE’ but it’s a key element to our overall well-being and feelings of happiness. February is a great time for self-reflection and for finding ways to give ourselves the love and honor we deserve. Many of us battle the little critical, negative gremlin voice that is incessantly chattering in our ears about our flaws and shortcomings. If that describes you, then now is the perfect opportunity to become more compassionate with yourself and to learn to love who you are. You are unique. You have incredible gifts and talents to share with the world. You have the power to make a significant difference in the lives of those you connect with. You truly are one-of-a-kind. I’ve put together some suggestions for how you can make time for yourself and incorporate more of what you love into your life: 1. Be Honest With Yourself If you could create your perfect life, what would it be? Write down the things that you’d like to have more time for in your life. Maybe that would be reading, learning a new hobby, or spending time with people that you enjoy being around. 2. This is a Great Time to Reflect It helps to make a list of what you currently spend your time on. Be sure to include things like working at your job or in your business, caring for your children, and running errands. Think of this exercise as a synopsis of your weekly life. Next, compare what you spend your time on with what you’d like to spend more of your time on each week. 3. Decide What You Can Compromise On You might not be able to change the fact that you have to go to work, but you can change how you travel back and forth. Maybe the stress of driving is wearing you down. If that’s you, then instead of making yourself crazy, try making the commute more enjoyable. Depending on where you live, you could try taking the subway, and if you can, read while you’re on the train. On the other hand, if you have to drive, then you could make it a more enjoyable experience. Jam out with your favorite music, or listen to a podcast that entertains you or supports self-development. Maybe when you drive, you’re able to take a little time to reflect on your life or engage in the spiritual side of your life. You could even plan your weekend or your next vacation. 4. Get Your “But” Out of the Way If you’re always saying you want to do something and adding “but” in there afterward, it’s time to change that way of thinking. Those three little letters are convincing you that you don’t deserve the things you want more of when the truth is, you do deserve it. Let’s look at a common place where you add “but” in your life. You need to get groceries for your family. No one can deny that’s not important (although a necessity). “I want to take that new hot yoga class, but I have to go to the supermarket.” Well, that’s not exactly correct! Our marvelous online world allows you to order all of the things you need and either run by and have it brought out to your car or even better, delivered to your door. Problem solved. Many people take full advantage of the convenient grocery pick-up or delivery service. The “but” sneaks into our excuses everywhere. If we get invited somewhere we often might respond instead with something like, “I’d love to go but I have to make dinner.” Is that really the truth though? You can prep those meals on your Sunday and voila, not just your day but your week is all planned out for you! Your early evenings are free to pick up another pursuit. Take every opportunity life presents to create more of what brings you joy or leads to more life enrichment. The timing may never be perfect for that next big step in your life. The setup may not be ideal, but that shouldn’t hold you back from striving to reach your goals and dreams. Instead, seize the moment because it may never come back. Make Yourself a Priority Don’t feel bad about doing this. For women especially, it can become second nature to put others first. It’s what we’ve been taught and programmed to do. And while there’s a time and place for this, it shouldn’t be a habit that costs you your mental or emotional well-being. We’re so trained to feel guilty for indulging in the things we want, but we need to do those things because we can’t be our best for everyone else if we don’t take care of ourselves. Find the time to decompress. Without decompressing and recharging you can put a serious strain on yourself. Whether it’s spending a luxurious day in bed or outdoors in nature, find what helps you decompress and dedicate time to this. And, be kind to yourself. The world is full of harsh words and critiques — don’t add your own negativity to the mix. Speak kindly to yourself, and avoid saying negative things to yourself. In fact…take it to the opposite side of the spectrum. Celebrate yourself. Celebrate your successes, your milestones, your little victories as well as your massive ones. You’ve come so far and grown so much. This month – and every month thereafter - be sure to celebrate yourself — it’s not something you’re only allowed to do on your birthday! We absolutely need to do those things because we can’t be our best for everyone else if we don’t take care of ourselves. So take a moment in your day to think about yourself, and determine…What are 3 things you want to make more room for in your life? For me, I’d love to have time to read more, spend more time in nature, and participate in different fun activities each week. I’d love to know what your 3 things are. If you’d like some help figuring out how you can make more time for yourself – or setting up a self-care routine that’s right for you, I’d love to chat. Book your free ‘HEALTHY YOU’ Clarity Call by sending an email here. Let’s chat! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lynne! Lynne Wadsworth, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lynne Wadsworth is the owner and founder of Holistic Health & Wellness, LLC. and an AADP Certified Holistic Health practitioner who earned her certification through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. She is also a Certified Wellness Cooking Instructor. After being a "professional yo-yo dieter" for most of her life which led to disease, sickness and daily migraines, Lynne decided enough was enough and went on to create her own strategies to dramatically decrease her migraines, learning to ditch the "diet mentality, enhance her energy exponentially, easy lifestyle changes that lead to permanent healthy lifestyle changes, while making these solutions easy for her clients. Lynne’s area of expertise involves working with women who are tired of the changes they see and experience on a daily basis leading to fatigue, weight gain, inflammation and less than optimal health. She helps them achieve a higher level of health, allowing them to experience more energy, less belly bloat, fewer mood swings, headaches, sugar cravings, and weight loss. She believes that living in health and wellness takes in many areas of our lives and approaches her work holistically - not just with diet and healthy eating. She has dedicated her life to helping her clients make permanent changes with easy-to-incorporate simple steps to health, while helping others unleash the true miracle of life within their own body. She is also an author of two books on migraine prevention as well as being host to the Living Life Naturally podcast, educating on the power of a natural, healthy life. She has been a blogger on CureJoy, earned Top Honors in the Health Coaching Field with International Association of Top Professional (as seen on ABC, NBC, Fox and CW), Outstanding Professional of the Year for The International Society of Business Leaders and Professional of the Year at NAPW.

Written by: Sara Sheehan, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Leadership development and self-awareness are closely intertwined. To grow as a leader, starting by looking within yourself is essential. Self-awareness is understanding your thoughts, feelings, and actions and how they impact others. It is the foundation for effective leadership and personal growth. In this article, I am pleased to share my methodology for tapping into greater self-awareness to impact effective leadership development and practices. Perspective One way to develop self-awareness is to take a step back and get perspective on how you interact with and impact others. Becoming more aware of your presence and how it impacts meetings, conversations, and outcomes is a crucial first step. Active Listening Another important aspect of self-awareness is active listening. By truly participating and being present in conversations, you can gain insight into how you engage with others and identify areas where you can improve. The SCARF model, which represents five domains of human social experience, can be a useful tool in this process. The domains include Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness. Considering how these domains impact your interactions, you can find ways to make conversations more beneficial for the other person. The SCARF Model: Status is about where you are in relation to others around you. Certainty is concerned with being able to predict the future. Autonomy provides a sense of control over events. Relatedness is a sense of safety with others, of a friend rather than a foe. Fairness is a perception of impartial and just exchanges between people. Inner Dialogue The inner dialogue that takes place in your mind is also an important aspect of self-awareness. The thoughts and beliefs you hold about yourself can significantly impact your professional and personal life. By becoming more aware of these thoughts, you can work to shift them in a more positive direction. Gratitude and Meditation In addition to being aware of your thoughts, it is also important to cultivate a positive mindset through practices such as gratitude and meditation. Adding a daily gratitude practice, where you write down what you are thankful for and share it with others, can help to shift your focus to the positive things in your life. Similarly, meditation can help quiet the mind and increase your ability to be present. Some great smartphone apps like Headspace, Insights Timer, or Calm for meditation can be really helpful for getting started. Exercise and Habits Developing a habit of regular exercise can increase your energy level and improve your overall health. Habits support you in achieving your goal of regular exercise, as when you have an established habit, it becomes easier for your brain to exercise rather than sit on the couch. Creating a new habit takes just over 60 days. If you start small in your habit practice and track your progress, you’ll be more likely to keep going. It’s reasonable to start with a ten-minute walk and then do it daily. Once you create one habit, you’ll see how powerful and beneficial it can be. Final Thoughts In conclusion, self-awareness is a crucial aspect of leadership development. By looking within, listening actively, and cultivating a positive mindset and healthy habits, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and how you interact with others. This understanding can help you to become a more effective leader and experience personal growth in the process. I have worked earnestly on my self-awareness and personal growth for the past few years. I’ve been reading a lot about mindset and its power to help or hinder us in life. I’ve noted what I am grateful for in a journal and even shared my appreciation with others as often as possible. Putting those grateful words on paper and then speaking them out to others gives even more power to the positive thoughts behind them. I've also added regular meditation practice. It’s probably not surprising to hear that I see the value in these mindset practices as I have more clarity, joy, and peace, and I am calmer in the midst of what’s happening in the world and the news. I'd love to hear your thoughts! How are you developing your self-awareness? Please share your story in the comments or connect with me to share your story personally on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sara! Sara Sheehan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sara Sheehan, PCC, is a consultant and Executive Coach who works with C-Level executive leaders designing organizations, developing business strategies, managing change, optimizing talent and leadership development, and solving complex human performance problems. Through executive coaching, Sara helps leaders sprint their way up the corporate ladder and increase their performance.

Written by: Rozanna Wyatt, 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. “Seriously, you’re going to give up everything?” “What about…” your name – it can be inserted at the end of this sentence. Congrats, words of support and encouragement, I did hear. But, if I’m honest, they echoed far less than the questions with an undercurrent of negativity or a fixed mindset (i.e., the opposite of a growth mindset). I appreciated the decision I made for myself wouldn’t have been right for others. It was right for me. It was time to do what I had wanted to do for several years. I never pictured myself being there for the rest of my life. A long-term relationship where we had different visions for our futures kept me standing still until I decided it was time to part ways. Then the pandemic hit, and a few years chipped away, but my longing to leave continued to become stronger and stronger. My soul yearned to be in a more vibrant, active, and beautiful city with different types of opportunities and amenities. At one point, I thought I would go back to Ontario – maybe the “big smoke” aka Toronto or Ottawa. I was wrong. These places didn’t feel right. It surprised me, but I listened to what my intuition was telling me. This was a massive decision, after all. Maybe one of the biggest of my life. I wasn’t making it lightly. And although this wasn’t the first move I’d done solo, it was different from before. In the past, I moved for university or career opportunities (i.e., with an employer). This time, I was moving to create a more fulfilling life by being in a city that aligned more with who I was. I was leaving behind an established practice to start from ground zero in a new city. I was moving to a city with minimal professional contacts, and few personal connections. I had no idea what the market would hold and whether I’d be able to find office space that fit with my vision of what I wanted. There was massive risk involved in this decision. I understood that and knew anything was possible ‒ the good and the bad, better than I could ever imagine when making this decision. As I weighed the pros and cons, I kept returning to a few key things that helped me in the process. I was grounded in the reasons I wanted to move and how it aligned with my values ‒ personally and professionally. I focused on what I achieved as an entrepreneur over the last ten years and how I’ve helped those starting out to 7-figure entrepreneurs grow their businesses (all evidence of what’s possible). I believed in myself and knew I was resilient. Even if something went sideways, I knew I could land on my feet. I understood my strengths and skills and how to leverage them in a new city where I’d be establishing a new business. I had the ability to quiet the external noise of naysayers, focus on what my intuition and mind were telling me, and how to tame any self-doubt that could potentially surface at some point (because everyone experiences self-doubt from time to time. It’s how you deal and lead yourself through it that matters!). And so, grounded in calm confidence and courage, I led myself to make the best decision of 2022! To leave Edmonton, move to Calgary, and open a new therapy practice here. As I write this, I think it might even be the second-best decision I’ve made in my life! The first was leaving home and moving miles away at the age of nineteen to pursue university. This will forever be the best decision of my life because I wholeheartedly know it changed the trajectory of my life. Seriously, moving to Calgary was the best decision of 2022 – personally and professionally. It’s been that profound! I have moments where I’ve flooded with pure gratitude. It can be the little things ‒ like driving along Memorial drive (a popular roadway in Calgary), seeing the sunrise along the city skyline over the water and among the beautiful trees as I drive over to my office, or seeing the skyline lit up at night as I make my way home. This brings me joy. Gratitude to be in an active city where getting outdoors and connecting with nature and the beautiful green spaces (now snow-covered ;) is the norm among residents. Gratitude to access amazing spas for a pedi or massage. Hey, what can I say? I love escaping to the spa for a little self-care, and I so missed having “options” in my former city. Gratitude to have experienced over 300% business growth since opening the new practice in November. That’s right, over 300% growth!(that’s with a few speedbumps along the way) And while I could share other things I’m grateful for (because there are many), here’s the thing… None of this would be possible if… I lacked confidence in my abilities, or I was flooded with self-doubt, negative mind chatter, or was influenced by the negative questions and comments by others (though I believe well intended, just misplaced in the delivery). Self-doubt and negative self-talk can have a H-U-G-E impact on your confidence at the best of times, let alone when making a life-changing decision. Would you agree? If any part of you is nodding your head, I sincerely hope you’ll join me for the Confidence Mindset MasteryGroup I’m offering. Because negative self-talk, rumination, or self-doubt doesn’t have to keep you stuck, feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and uncertain about x, y, z (insert decisions you need to make, tasks you need to accomplish, or opportunities you’d like to pursue, and more…). In the Confidence Mindset Mastery Group, you’ll learn: How to master your mind by discovering what causes you to feel anxious and hijacked by your mind, and how to tame self-doubt and negative chatter, so you feel less stressed, overwhelmed, and experience more confidence, inner peace, and happiness. How to supercharge your confidence by discovering the little-known secrets successful people use to stand out. How to build your resilience muscle so you can bounce back with your confidence intact when you experience a setback. The Confidence Mindset Mastery group will equip you with the tools rooted in behavioral science, and high-performance and resilience practices that we all need (but no one has taught us), so negative self-talk, rumination, and self-doubt don’t continue to chip away at your confidence, leaving you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and self-defeated. Instead, you’ll be focused on confidently thriving from the inside out in all areas of life! To learn more about the Confidence MindsetMastery Group, click here. Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram and visit my website for more info. Read more from Rozanna! Rozanna Wyatt, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rozanna Wyatt is a Licensed Therapist and highly sought Global Coach who specializes in helping ambitious, high-achieving women confidently go after what they want in business and life. Drawing from her sixteen years of experience working those who have done the unimaginable (we're talking murder), entrepreneurs, athletes, professionals and corporate leaders, she enables her clients to experience mindset breakthroughs that allow them to turn their lives around, resolve years of emotional pain, be happy, 10x their business, win national awards, and more. Rozanna has a master’s degree in social work, as well as specialized training in leadership and high performance. Rozanna’s expertise has been featured in the media in Forbes, Addicted2Succcess, Thrive Global, and Authority Magazine. When she’s not keeping up on the latest research around positive psychology and human behavior, you can find her playing with her furbaby or sipping vanilla lattes in her favorite coffee shops in Canada.

Written by: Ginger Carlson, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. There come times in all our lives when we know we need to transform, evolve, and become new versions of ourselves. When we can do this with an intentional framework guiding us, it can appear to take on a magical feeling and even be relatively “easy”. I call this process Life Alchemy, that is when we dare to awaken to life’s inevitable changes and challenges and take action to transform them into a new reality. Waking the Alchemy of Humanness In talking with my business coach last week, she reminded me how many major “life stressors” I dealt with throughout the last year. You know the list: the one including the death of a loved one, divorce, moving, financial burdens, etc. These kinds of stressors are no joke; they can cause us to do everything from overeat to putting ourselves at risk of losing billions of dollars. There is almost no major life stressor I haven’t had in my life at one time or another, but this year, I count seven from the list. “Yet,” my coach reminded me, “you have made it look like you have dealt with it all with such ease… like going through it all in green.” Yes, I suppose I have, but only because I use the tools. Anybody can do it when they have the right tools. You can too. The Four Dimensions of Life Alchemy When you are getting started with soul work, meaning an exploration of who you feel you are meant to be, there are four dimensions you must explore and be aware of before you can take action toward your transformation, your Life Alchemy. Doing so will lead you toward your total Aliveness. These four dimensions are Intention, Integrity, Inspiration, and Innovation. When those four i’s intersect for you, you begin to get clearer, and your actions will begin to align. Intentionality is what we do on and with purpose. These are the decisions we make for how we will BE in the world, and the deliberateness we bring to our actions and interactions. Integrity is the values you hold that drive your actions. Exploring integrity is the process of uncovering your value system, what’s important to you, what bubbles to the surface, what grounds you, and where there might be conflicts. Inspiration. Inspiration is being drawn and stimulated to take your next great, creative step. Inspiration can come from anywhere, including research, exemplars, best practices, evidence of mastery, spirituality, nature, the beauty you find in your world, inspiring words, images, etc. The possibilities for inspiration are endless yet also unique to you, so be a keen and open listener and observer. Innovation is the creation of something new that comes from bringing everything together and then creating something new, novel, and different that CHANGES your previous practices, habits, and ways of being in the world. This is what ultimately leads to a joyful, engaged life. When you make reflection and action your habit then you will have taken the first step in becoming more aware of who you are, what you value, what inspires you, and what you want for your life. Then you will be a Life Alchemist! Stay persistent in this journey, and you won’t regret it. The muscles you’ll build through becoming a Life Alchemist are deep and wide. You will learn to access depth, use that depth in how you interact with ideas and the world, and open yourself to new possibilities, potential, growth, and thriving! Still need a little inspiration? Here’s a piece that might help: Everything drops to its knees and begs for light Don't even consider for a second You are not wild enough To draw that light in To inspire it to dance Collide with its own radiance And birth a new kind of star Dr. Ginger Carlson is a thinker and creator. She transforms challenges into possibilities, division into bridges, and tragedy into triumph. Her motto: Bliss is a Verb! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ginger! Ginger Carlson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Ginger Carlson is a thinker and creator. She transforms challenges into possibilities, division into bridges, and tragedy into triumph. Her motto: Bliss is a Verb!

Written by: Lauren Hirsch Williams, 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 word 'procrastination' is always surrounded by negative connotations. If someone procrastinates, it means they delayed doing something 'they were supposed to have done earlier'… something 'that was put off in exchange for something more desirable,' or "laziness" (you said that, not me). Whenever the word is said out loud, it's with disdain or is whispered as a taboo concept or thought. No one wants to be associated with that word. Procrastination is attached to failure or lack of discipline. It's such a modern put-down, especially when so many business and efficiency experts condemn the concept and write books on how to avoid it. I am here to tell you about a wonderful new definition of procrastination. (Lazy? HAH! Phooey!) Is procrastination a terrible thing? Should it be thrown into a bin with words like 'failed,' or 'overdue,' or 'pathetic'? Is the negativity attributed to this concept all it's cracked up to be? Let’s look at the "P" word with a new lens because I, personally, am one to procrastinate. Often, I feel embarrassment or guilt when I don't get a task or project done in the timeframe I originally wanted – or was required of me. If I don't adhere to a deadline ‒ whether set by someone else or myself ‒ I can hear the wheels of negative internal chatter fill every crevice of my mind. I chastise myself… yet again… for having delayed the inevitable. Getting done of something on my never-ending list of things to do. Oh, why do I keep procrastinating, I lament. Is it a psychological failing, a personality defect, too much TV, or too much social media? Instead of assigning anything as the root cause, I have a new approach in mind. Let's now call it 'marinating.' Here's how that keen perspective works: I have a project or task that needs to be completed. I'm not talking about brushing my teeth. That's a lifelong daily habit that requires no thought. It’s not a task on a to-do list. I have a deadline for something – let's say it's next Tuesday and today is Thursday. My logical, previously trained mind will tell me to get on top of it today. As in RIGHT NOW! Get going… take the first steps. Maybe it's writing this article. I want (or need) it done by Tuesday. So, if I start today, on Thursday, I'll write up some notes or an outline. Then, tomorrow I can write the first full draft. By Monday, I'll have edited it a few times to clean it up. With that thinking, my brain is in the traditional mode of thinking. Don't put off today what needs to be done by tomorrow, right? And yet things get in the way – everything seems to get in my way. It's now Friday, and I didn't bother thinking about the article's contents yesterday. That's one day of delay, right? Or maybe that's not? All I did yesterday was stir up the negativity in my mind and berate myself for being lazy. And then… Ooh, it's Saturday. I have some thoughts on the article’s topic that are triggered by a phone call, but I still haven't drafted an outline or taken any notes. And it's such a beautiful day outside. I'm beckoned to leave my house for fresh air. Out the door, I prance without a care in the world. So much for writing an article or editing one that 'should' already be in place. In the blink of an eye, it is now Monday (where did Sunday go?). I have back-to-back meetings all day—no time for an outline or writing. And yet… somehow the concept of the article is buzzing around just below the surface of my mind. Maybe not ‘top’ of mind but I can feel it’s floating around in there, nonetheless. Stomachache – it's Tuesday! My eyes pop open at 7 am, and I realize that five days have gone by since today’s deadline was set, and not a single word has been put on paper or screen. I jump on the computer and start tapping away on the keys at top speed. Done! Phew, I finished in the nick of time. So, am I a hopeless procrastinator? On the surface, it would seem so. But let's go deeper than the surface. That's what should be done when discussing this topic. The surface never tells us much other than what was purposely put out to represent that surface. Huh? Stick with me… (or learn more about 'surfaces' on people in my bestselling book ONE SENSE AHEAD) Underneath the surface of my procrastination has been a marinating of thoughts, concepts, and words. These are specific to the article I was planning to write in the first place. My mind was focused on the idea of procrastination so much during those five days that I realized I NEEDED to have that time. Organic thinking if you will. To think. To formulate. To try a new approach. To discard wasted ideas. To understand that the negativity around my 'procrastination' was just a product of the opinions and mores of society. That the so-called 'bad' part of delaying my work on this project, this article, was coming from the outside. From what other people think. My mind likes to percolate with an idea. The tiny seed sits inside my brain and needs the time to be nurtured and caressed until it starts to take root. This article might have had a different outcome had I started writing it the minute it was on my list. (You may wonder how that article would have turned out, but I don't because I know it would have been half-baked). Ultimately, it took me about 30 minutes to write the entire article. A couple of edits, and it was complete. If I had started on Thursday, I probably would have spent at least 6 or 7 hours more getting it ready to send out (and that includes all my subconscious ‘marinating’ time). The writing of this article is no different from any other task you have in your business. I'm an Aries and a Type-A personality. I was born to have knee-jerk reactions and immediately jump onto something and plow through the obstacle course of completion as quickly as possible. And yet… When I don't, I realize that my brain needed time to pause. To think. To marinate. In other words, to procrastinate. But isn't that a wonderful thing after all? I hope you agree that this article was worth your reading. To be worth helping you to change your perspective on one of the awful, tormenting thoughts we shower upon ourselves simply because the term procrastination is on the list of negative psychobabble. Think about how the fabulous process of procrastination can help build your business and grow your bottom line. If you have a lot riding on a decision, proposal, or task, isn't it better to sometimes force yourself to procrastinate and thereby marinate? Allow yourself and your brain the time to properly let intelligence and common-sense blend until the most effective and valuable outcome is created? YES, I say! My new motto will be "I LOVE TO PROCRASTINATE." What a great concept it is, after all. One that can produce far more excellent results than might have come about had we pushed and locked ourselves into a flawed process. Once an action is taken, it can steamroll and pick up speed and finality. Sometimes it can't be stopped, and we're stuck with the wrong solution. I challenge every one of you reading this article to make sure you procrastinate on something important each week. And connect with me to let me know how much more powerful your results were. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lauren! Lauren Hirsch Williams, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lauren Hirsch Williams is a Business Relevance Strategist, Pitch Stylist, International Bestselling Author, and Award-Winning Screenwriter. With decades of experience, which includes Worldwide Director of Advertising at PepsiCo, Founder of MovieHatch, and Creator of the new MyTurn TV Network for empowering women, she’s been on all sides of the “table”. She teaches others to find their inner strength by using their senses in an uncommon way. Her recent bestseller, ONE SENSE AHEAD, explains the protocol to start that process.

Written by: Emanuela Visone, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. There are many women who are suffering with fibroids. One happened to be a dear friend of mine. If you do suffer with them, ask yourself this question “What are my options?” You have options and surgery is not something I would ever recommend. I shared with her that for the body to heal itself, you need to assist it by consuming the best quality foods available. Keep in mind that it is the body that orchestrates healing as it obtains energy from nutritional components. As well as with her starting enzyme therapy, she would be able to shrink them not fully but enough to make them manageable. I used enzyme therapy to completely shrink a mass and nodules on my thyroid. Happiness comes with perseverance, patience, and trust! We started first with focusing on restoring your gut health, cleaning up the muddy waters with regards to lifestyle and nutrition then after a few weeks we began enzyme therapy. Four months after starting this was her text to me “Hey girl!!! Celebration time!!! U would be happy to know, as I am that all my fibroids shrunk!! One went from 4.8 x 3.9 to 3.23 x 3.5 and the second one went from 3 x 2.5 to 2.09 x 2.19 and the third one from 5.8 x 5.2 is now 5.05 x 5.13”. Every molecule, in every cell in your body, originates from the food you eat, the water you drink and the air you breathe. There can be no doubt that the absence of certain essential nutrients can lead to a predisposition to illness. Degeneration takes place gradually, often over a period of years because of nutritional deficiencies. However, by eating quality foods, you may assure your body’s ability to prevent, arrest, and often reverse most degenerative conditions. Specifically, with fibroids, there are several key nutritional deficiencies: Vitamins C, an antioxidant that can stabilize capillaries and lessen bleeding, Vitamin B complex and the amino acid L-arginine to enhance immunity and retard tumor growth, calcium, and potassium to help with regulating menstruation. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be helpful in the treatment of painful menstruation which is a side effect of fibroids. During a four-month study, 42 adolescents received Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and reported a reduction in pain (Am J Obstet Gynecol 174(4): 1335-1338, 1996)). Researchers believe that the omega-3 fatty acids in the supplements helped relieve painful menstruation by affecting the metabolism of prostaglandins, in addition to other factors involved in pain and inflammation. As I mentioned before, nutrients are best utilized by the body if they are in their whole food and enzymatically active state. Therefore, whole food concentrates are the best solution to address nutrient deficiencies. The nutritional supplements I recommend are made from natural, organic, and wild-crafted whole foods. They include some of the most nutrient-rich and extremely health-supportive groups of foods available: Oat sprouts, wheat grass, sprouted spelt, quinoa sprouts, green oat grass, flax seeds, wild-crafted micro algae, red algae, kelp, dulse, barley grass, bee pollen, gingko, etc. High-quality, nutrient-rich super-foods such as wild-crafted micro algae and a sprouted grains and grasses green drink mix are an economical and convenient way to ensure that every day you are consuming an entire range of unique super food nutrients not available from your organic farmers market, grocery store produce section, or bins of whole grains. These super food supplements do not replace regular fruits and vegetables. They simply allow you access to fascinating, extremely health-supportive groups of foods. Mix these whole food supplements daily into your morning smoothie or your vegetable juice. Think of the wild-crafted micro algae and the sprouted grains and grasses green drink mix as nutritional health insurance. They are fantastic sources of vitamins, digestive enzymes, minerals, amino and fatty acids and trace minerals. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, including A,B,C, E and the entire B-complex, especially B12, minerals including calcium, potassium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, absorbable organic iron, and trace minerals. What is one of the richest superfoods on Planet Earth to help heal fibroids? It’s Wild-crafted micro algae from Upper Klamath Lake: Not all algae supplements are processed the same. The brand of organic micro algae that I recommend is dried at low temperature not to exceed 105 degrees, so the enzymes and the nutrients of this food are not inactivated or destroyed. Several companies who harvest these algae from Upper Klamath Lake spray-dry or flash-dry the algae. This kind of food processing involves heat. High pressures, at specific points in the drying process, typically heat algae up to 500 degrees F. and even as high as 600 degrees F. for short periods of time. At other parts of the spray-drying process, temperatures can remain at or below physiological norms. However, damage to the enzymes and nutrients only takes one brief moment. Recent studies conducted by different universities proved the incredible benefits of wild-crafted micro algae for your health. The following are a summary of a few of these studies: In a study performed at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal (Manoukian et al., 1998), it was discovered that eating wild-crafted micro algae triggered the migration of 40% of the circulating natural killer cells from blood to tissue within 2 hours of consumption. Tissue is where natural killer cells do their work! Many substances such as green tea and ginkgo are known to improve the activity of NK cells. But until this recent finding on wild-crafted micro algae, no dietary substance was known to stimulate NK cells to migrate into the tissues to search out and destroy sick/diseased cells A double-blind placebo-controlled study conducted at the Royal Victoria Hospital, affiliated with McGill University in Montreal, included 50 healthy participants. Results suggested that wild-crafted micro algae may help stimulate the increased production of red blood cells, an effect that may be due to its high content of vitamin B12. A recent study performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard University revealed that feeding wild-crafted micro algae to rodents significantly decreased blood cholesterol levels (Kushak et al., 1999). Another placebo-controlled study performed in collaboration with the University of New Mexico suggests that eating wild-crafted micro algae stimulates specific areas of the brain leading to increased cognitive function. A recent preliminary study from Boston University suggests that eating wild-crafted micro algae may reverse symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency, specifically omega-3 (Kuskak et al., 1999). Deficiency in essential fatty acids has been associated with major contributors to allergic responses, inflammatory reactions, and intestinal integrity problems. Clearly, wild-crafted micro algae, the sprouted grains and grasses green drink mix offer some of the most beneficial nutritional components you can use for supplementation. They replenish you with their vast reservoir of essential/non-essential and many times hard-to-find nutrients. Hemp Oil ‒ good source of essential fatty acids: Since individuals with fibroids appear not to get enough essential fatty acids (EFAs) or have an imbalance of EFAs in their diet, one of the best food sources for regaining EFA balance is hemp oil. Udo Erasmus, a recognized authority about oils, recommends hemp seed oil because it contains omega-6 and omega-3 EFAs in a good balance: 3 to 1. Hemp seeds and hemp oil produce no drug induced “high” in humans or animals. They do not contain the drug tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Erasmus, p.289). Here’s what Erasmus says about hemp oil: “...hemp oil appears to be one of nature’s most perfectly balanced EFA oils. It contains both EFAs in the right proportions for long-term use, and also contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA). It is the only vegetable oil with this combination” (p.289). When you purchase hemp oil, make certain you choose a product that is organically grown and cold pressed (not heated). I hope this article has given you hope and helped you get a better perspective that natural healing is possible. If you or someone you know has been suffering needlessly from fibroids, I am here to be of service and to help guide you a naturally alternative to achieving victory. You can reach me via my website or email me here. Follow Emanuela on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Emanuela! Emanuela Visone, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Emanuela is a leading expert in restoring health and a Master Transformational, Health, and life coach. After 20yrs recruiting in the finance industry, she discovered her true calling for naturopathy and helping people and their pets throughout the US. The value she provides her clients has put them in a position to gain better health and live a more fulfilling life. Having restored her own health, Emanuela is excited to share her victory and help others do the same, from thyroid conditions, shrinking nodules, blood pressure, hormones, and much more. This inspired her to write her first book, “Healing Through Nature’s Medicine,” A Story of Hope. Having restored her St. Barnard’s health as well, Emanuela coaches many pet owners on how to become their own best healer. She loves spending time with her family and friends, the outdoors, and her deepest passion is helping others transform their health. References: Bruno, Jeffrey J. (2001). Edible Microalgae: A Review of the Health Research. Pacifica, CA: Center for Nutritional Psychology Press. Erasmus, Udo. (1993). Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill. Burnaby, BC: Alive Books. Hudson, Tori, N.D. (May 2003). “Women and Skin Conditions.” Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. pp.146-148. Perlmutter, David. (Nov. 2003). “Multiple sclerosis - Functional Approaches”. Townsend Letter for Doctors and patients. pp. 66-74.

Written by: Jenn Trepeck, Guest Writer There are a million approaches to exercise. We all have yoga and pilates friends and bootcamp friends. When it comes to deciding what’s right for you, it can feel intimidating to try something new and yet that’s what’s required (a bunch of times) to experiment and find the thing you’ll actually enjoy doing. What’s more, following what you like may require a bit of defensive work to block out all the thoughts and influences of what workout is “best.” As a health coach I have some insights here and to answer further clients' and podcast listeners’ burning fitness questions, I turned to some of the industry’s leading experts. Here’s what we said: Between all the workouts out there , how do we know what to do? First, do whatever kind of movement you’ll actually do consistently. In thinking about the movements, functional training is highly recommended. Functional fitness is doing exercises look like movements you make in your daily life. This allows the muscle we build to help us live our lives and not hurt ourselves when we have to pick up a child or put a heavy jug of laundry detergent on a top shelf. The goal with activity is longevity and consistency, think about what you’re able to do regularly and build muscle (muscle dictates metabolism). How does our mindset affect our fitness? Mindset tremendously impacts workouts. First, during the workout itself, awareness and knowing what you’re feeling in your body goes a long way toward effective exercise, preventing injury and even getting the most impact with each movement. Mind to muscle, as they say. Being more mentally aware of what muscles you’re using, how you’re contracting your muscles, and how your body is moving to create that workout, can make everything so much more effective! More likely though, this question stems from motivation. You don’t need to push yourself to do something you hate with every fiber of your being. Find the songs or the approach to movement that jives with you. The most important thing is that you’re moving, moving daily and building muscle. Most often it’s not motivation that gets us off the couch to stop waiting for lightning to strike. What’s more effective is to schedule it daily, know what you’re going to do at that time and then just do it. Momentum is actually what creates the motivation to do it. Move every day until you want to move every day, then keep going. How much should I do and what should I do? It’s a HUGE misconception that it has to be “long enough” or “tough enough” to count. A few minutes here and there adds up! A 10-minute walk after each meal will work wonders for your blood sugar (and therefore your metabolic health). I also give my clients a 2-min workout called “30-30-30” which is 30 squats, 30 crunches, and 30 pushups. You can do any combination of three exercises and adjust it to a level that meets your strength. This is a great option for when you have two minutes before your next zoom. Having said this, do enough to fatigue the muscle and use your heart as a muscle (get it pumping…it’s our most important muscle). You can do this faster with greater resistance or gentler with less resistance and more time. Finally, do what you enjoy, whether that’s group fitness or alone, at home or at a gym/studio or even just dancing to your favorite song in your living room. How important is stretching before your workout? Is this how you increase flexibility? The “old school” thought behind stretching is that you have to stretch before doing anything. However, stretching cold muscles can cause strain or injury. Pre-workout, rather than a stretch, think about warming up with dynamic movement. Ease into your activity, get the blood flowing. Swinging your arms and lifting your knees, or bending the knee bringing your heel to your glutes or even walking is a great warm up. After your workout, is your better time to stretch. This is your cool down. It slowly brings your heart rate back to its resting pace and now that your muscles are warm, you can gently stretch them. Be careful not to push too hard and you can use stretching guides from a trainer, a stretching studio or even a YouTube video to give you ideas. Flexibility can be improved, over time, with regular stretching. Remember though, much of flexibility is also about skeletal, structural differences between people and this, we can’t change. Is walking enough? What’s the magic of 10k steps? Never underestimate the tremendous impact of a simple walk! No need for the ankle or wrist weights, you’re likely just adding undue stress to your joints. Walking can operate as a moderate exercise that helps you get closer to your target movement amount and heart rate. To build it into your day, find a couple of 10-minute blocks (we recommend right after eating to support postprandial glucose). Walking impacts the body from a cellular level. We’ve heard sitting is the new smoking. I often say it’s not human to sit as many hours as we do each day. It’s also not human to sit all day and go berserk for one hour. The human body was designed to move and that movement is walking! There is some evidence that 10k steps is a threshold to see health benefits but that doesn’t mean that less than 10k steps is bad or not work it and it doesn’t mean that more isn’t helpful. You can use it as a benchmark for yourself, day-to-day, but don’t get stuck on it. Will I get bulky lifting heavy weights? A lot of women are nervous using heavy weights for fear of looking “bulky.” This is simply not the case; women don’t have enough testosterone to create the body-builder look. Heavy weights allow us to build muscle faster as it’s greater resistance. You can certainly use your own body as resistance too. If I’m ready to level up, how do I do it? You can level up in a variety of ways: increase resistance, increase speed, increase time under tension. The caveat to all of this is form before power. Having proper form promotes an awareness of our muscles while we exercise. This is essential to learn before going into power training because an injury is bound to happen if you don’t have the proper form when you go to increase intensity. I hope these tips and insights offer you the guidance to confidently focus on your physical fitness. This is certainly not an exhaustive list of every topic or every consideration yet it’s absolutely plenty to put in your back pocket and get moving or level up. So, I have to ask, what will you do to “move your mass” today? For more info follow me on Facebook. Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, Twitter LinkedIn and visit my website! Jenn Trepeck, Brainz Magazine Guest Writer Jenn Trepeck is described as a “force of nature" in the wellness space, has been recognized as one of Podcast Magazine’s 40 under 40, and was nominated for the 2022 International Women’s Podcast Award for Visionary Leadership. She is an Optimal Health Coach, Podcaster and Business Consultant. After graduating from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Jenn launched her health coaching practice on the side, while working full time in hedge funds. After over a decade of coaching clients, Jenn started Salad with a Side of Fries Podcast to help pay it forward and reach a larger audience to teach the nutrition education we are all supposed to know but no one ever taught us. Jenn implements revenue-generating wellness programs in doctors' offices, salons and spas to further expand the impact and help change the state of healthcare as a Certified Transitions Lifestyle Coach and Consultant with nutraMetrix Custom Health Solutions. Jenn is typically working out at Physique57, discovering hidden gem restaurants in NYC or traveling to spend time with friends and family.

Written by: Christina Marlett , 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. A number of years ago, I saw a book called Breathelying on our bed. “What is that?”I asked my husband. “A book about breathing,” he replied, stating the obvious (but Captain Obvious wasn’t a thing yet, so I didn’t have a witty come-back.) I thought to myself: That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. How could there be a whole book about breathing? I mean: inhale, exhale, repeat. It seems pretty straightforward. I didn’t realize how oh-so-naive I was about the big wide world of breathing. Since then, I got a little less know-it-all and a lot more curious about breathwork, and – wow – am I ever glad I did. It has literally changed every part of my life for the better. I would never go a day without doing my conscious breathwork rituals and practices. The etymological roots of the word inspire demonstrate its importance. Etymoline states the following about inspiration: c. 1300, "immediate influence of God or a god," from Old French inspiracion " inhaling, breathing in; inspiration" (13c.) It goes on to say: The sense evolution seems to be from "breathe into" to "infuse animation or influence," thus "affect, rouse, guide or control", especially by divine influence. Inspire (v.) in Middle English also was used to mean "breath or put life or spirit into the human body; impart reason to a human soul." To me, that information conveys what I didn’t use to understand. Breathing is literally our connection to the divine. It reveals our purpose, it infuses us with life force and gives us energy. 7 things I’ve noticed since I started incorporating conscious breathwork into my everyday ritual: I have overflowing energy (and if I feel a little tired, there’s a specific breath for that; it’s better than coffee – although I’ve never had coffee ‒ because I don’t need it; I just breathe and voila!). I used to do a multitude of practices every day and although I saw gradual improvements, they were painstakingly slow and annoyingly minute. Now that I do breathwork, the reverse happens. I do only a handful of potent practices and the results in the rest of my life are far better than I’ve ever experienced. In fact, I have to keep up levelling my dreams and intentions because they keep falling into my lap with way less effort. I speak my truth more easily. It used to take me approximately 3 days to speak my truth. I spend a heck ton of time ruminating on how to make what I wanted to say come across in the least assertive way possible. Now it flows out of me at the right time and I don’t have to plan my thoughts by writing essays in my head. I have surrendered control. I don’t need to be right, I spend far less time defending myself (especially to myself) and I don’t feel the need to convince people that my way is the right way or the best way. As a result, I have far more unconditional love for myself and others which opens the door to miracles; Miracles I tell you! I’m way less reactive. Things that used to trigger me are now more like water rolling off a duck’s back. That’s probably one of the reasons I have way more energy. Plus, I’ve become more adept at staying in my own energy and not letting other people’s ups and downs dictate how I feel. (That comes in very handy with two teenagers in the house.) I don’t take things so personally. My feelings used to get hurt a lot. Like daggers to the heart. Now, the exact same or similar things happen and I find that I can consciously choose how to proceed rather than it being a subconscious and immediate reaction. I think way less, which means I overthink things way less too. Thanks to the less thinking, my intuition has gotten so much stronger and I’ve become more adept at following it, even when it makes no rational sense. So what do you think? Are you interested in any of those 7 things? If yes, I highly recommend learning some breathwork. Need an easy place to start? I have a recommendation for you. Recommended Practice Over the last 15 years, I’ve become a connoisseur of the daily practices and rituals that make the most impact for the least amount of time invested. To make it easy for clients to know what to do and when, I created the Courageous Self-Care Resource Centre. It’s a series of instructional done-with-you videos and audios that takes all the guesswork out of self-care. All you have to do is press play and follow along. I would love to give you the gift of a practice called Affirmative Stretching. The 5-minute practice involves combining powerful intentions with breath and mindful (simple)movement to really amp up your energy. The affirmations help you make great choices and really connect with the bird’s eye view of life. The Affirmative Stretching practice gets your life force flowing and magnetizes you to more of what you really want. I recommend that you do it every day, ideally in the morning. Then, be on the lookout for subtle (or significant) shifts that happen as a result of taking time to cultivate your energy. Use this link to get access to the Affirmative Stretching Practice It’s one of my favourite things I do every day because it just feels so good. Enjoy! May your next week be filled with many deep, conscious, life-affirming breaths. With inspirational love and exhilarating courage, If you have any questions or want to share your Affirmative Stretching results with me, please use the contact form here. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Christina! Christina Marlett, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As the creator of Courageous Self-Care, Christina is passionate about helping stressed out high achievers learn to lead their communities, families and themselves from a place of wholeness, overflowing energy and deep self-respect. She excels at helping overwhelmed leaders revitalize their energy from the inside out so that they can be productive and peaceful at the same time. Christina is a certified Embodiment Coach, Body Awake Yoga teacher, Happy for No Reason Trainer, Energy Codes Facilitator and BEST Practitioner who helps you take inspired action so that you have epic relationships, vibrant health and so much energy that people will ask you what you’ve been doing differently.

Written by: Katie Scott, business reporter Samsung and clothing brand Patagonia have released details of two products created to help reduce the levels of microplastics being released into water systems. The software update for Samsung’s washing machines and the Less Microfibre Filter work together to reduce the release of microplastics by 54 percent as well as blocking them from escaping into the water outlet. The two products are as a result of a collaboration between the two companies announced in January 2022. In an interview, Inhee Chung, Vice President of the Corporate Sustainability Center at Samsung said that the partnership has been key in driving innovation: “Sustainability-related issues are complex and have nuances that often require creative, cross-industry partnerships and solutions to address them…Working with an eco-conscious clothing company like Patagonia helped us to identify a more impactful solution based on both parties’ particular expertise.” From later this year, some Samsung customers will be able to install an update to their washing machine to help lower the release of microplastics. The update will be available to customers in the US and Korea with compatible machines. The filter will start appearing in some Samsung machines later this year and will also be available to buy separately for installation in other brands’ machines. Techcrunch was at the unveiling of the new launches. It reported: “Unless you live in a natural fibres–only household, your laundry is likely exacerbating an environmental crisis with each wash.” It added though: “One company certainly won’t solve plastic pollution, but luckily other folks are working on this problem, too. Third-party filters and washing bags are two ways to reduce the environmental cost of washing synthetic materials, yet they’re no substitute for buying less or even ditching plastic clothes altogether.”

Written by: Katie Scott, business reporter The furniture giant, Ikea, has shared details of exactly where all of the wood harvested for its products comes from and what species it uses. In what it claims is an industry-first, the company has created a global supply map, which provides details for all of its 45 markets. It gives details, including which countries supply the wood - with Poland leading at 28 percent of the total; as well as revealing that, in the last fiscal year, 99.9 percent of the wood used was FSC-certified or recycled. “People are curious to know more about how we work. Alongside this, the world increasingly recognises the importance forests play for people and the planet. We believe greater transparency will help support the development of responsible forest management globally”, says Ulf Johansson, Global Wood Supply and Forestry Manager at Inter IKEA Group. Ikea’s use of wood from sustainable sources, as well as use of recycled materials, is part of the company’s bid to become a circular business by 2030.

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. Why should being a late bloomer be seen as a hindrance to a person’s personal growth journey? Here are three lessons I’ve learned as a late bloomer. As a child, two specific situations occurred in my life that has greatly influenced my values, hopes, and aspirations. First, when I was seven years old, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The tumor was fortunately benign; however, I endured twenty hours of surgery and I was not able to walk for eight months. The removal of the brain tumor left my right side paralyzed, making my left side my dominant side, making me left-handed. Despite being a successful operation, the removal of the brain tumor left me with many learning difficulties, and I had to relearn how to walk. Five years later, I was diagnosed with a recurring tumor in the left jaw. I had another major operation, where my whole left jaw was removed. I was not able to speak for several months. My jaw was reconstructed with bone marrow from both of my hips. The bone marrow was placed in titanium, which helped mold my jaw into what I have today. My story above illustrates how I became a late bloomer in life. I am aware that everything happens to me later in life. For example, most people get their driving license at the age of 16. Due to my right side being paralyzed, I was not able to get my driving license until the age of 19 almost 20 years old. Due to the challenges, I experienced earlier on in life, I became introverted, lacked confidence, lacked self-belief, and had a limited mindset. I was not aware of my potential to be great. I was more sheltered than my peers at my age, and due to my health issues, I was not able to meet the “normal” (society’s timeframe) to achieve age-appropriate milestones. For example, I was 28 years old when I was finally cleared from having any more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) / computed tomography scan (CAT) Scans of the brain and jaw. At that age, most people are already parents, in committed relationships, or starting their own businesses. For me, I was just happy not to be heading into the hospital. I was a late bloomer, I had a late start to life. By the time I turned 30, I was blooming and I was finally gaining more confidence in my talents and learning to be ok with who I was as a woman, but in society’s timeframe, once you hit 30, society expects a person to be already accomplished, married, have their own family, so on and so forth. You even hear people say, once a woman is over 30, no man is going to want her, or you hear people say once you are over 30 and you have not reached your goals or followed your passions in life, just let it go. I asked myself, why should being a late bloomer be seen as a hindrance to a person’s personal growth journey? I don’t think people who say these negative things realize how it can negatively affect a person’s mental health. I mean if you think about it, there are eight billion people in this world, and we all can’t do the same things in the same timeframe, that is just impossible. Each person has their own timeframe when it comes to achieving greatness. We oftentimes compare our lives to society's standards of what should be accomplished during society’s defined age per goal or timetable. Once you are over 30, society’s naysayers start to get to you, saying things like, “you can’t be an actor, you are too old now,” or “you can’t build a multimillion-dollar business, you are in your 40’s come on” we find ourselves saying that maybe I should just forget about my dreams because I am a late bloomer, and it’s going to take me a long time to achieve my goal and pursue my dreams, because I am getting older. But your age is not a determining factor in whether or not you reach your dreams. Your faith, passion, and determination create the actions that will lead to you fulfilling your goals. Don’t let age limit you from chasing your dreams! Your beauty is always from within. Being a late bloomer is not a curse, yet a blessing in disguise. Here are three lessons I’ve learned as a late bloomer. To start, I took the liberty of looking up the term late bloomer, and according to Merriam Webster, it is someone who becomes successful, attractive, etc., later in life than other people. Lesson 1: Not a Curse. Being a late bloomer is not a curse, but a blessing in disguise; you have more advantages than most. As a late bloomer, your journey to greatness requires more self-discovery and becoming more aware of who you are. Being a late bloomer in life gives you more of an advantage in knowing yourself and giving you more time to cultivate your talents and gifts. Lesson 2: Don’t Compare. Try your hardest not to compare your life’s journey to someone who is in the same age group as you. Follow your own path and understand that your time is coming. Your experiences and timeframes are different within your life’s journey. You hear people say all the time to women who are 35 or older, their beauty is going to fade, and no man is going to want to marry them, but that could not be farther from the truth. I’ve met women over 37 who got married to the man of their dreams, first marriage, the first time being a mom, in fact, some are even millionaires. So, I always say, slow and study wins the race. Lesson 3: Be You. Be authentically you. The world needs your unique approach to life, your message can be the testimony someone needs to hear to believe in themselves. I hope the lessons I was able to share help you realize that being a late bloomer can have more pros than cons, and it should not be seen as a hindrance to a person’s personal growth journey Submit questions you have on being a late bloomer here. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates by visiting our website. Submit questions to be answered live on Cynthia TV Message on Instagram @ Amma_Gynmea 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.

Most great things begin as a dream. In 2016, two Engineering classmates went to visit Toronto and immediately fell in love with the city. Stunned by the beauty of the city, this inspired them to build something larger than themselves. Joking amongst themselves that one day, they would be part of the greater Toronto community and make a positive impact in Toronto. Fast forward to the present, and MotionGrey has become a strong part of the Toronto community–supplying over 50,000 ergonomic products to the Greater Toronto area and creating a positive impact not just in the economy of the city but of Canada itself. The two friends, Andy and Alex, have co-founded MotionGrey to create a healthier community, and the company has achieved so much more since then. MotionGrey’s Vision: To Design Healthy and Ergonomic Spaces to Improve Quality of Life Toronto, a home region of MotionGrey, has a l abour force of over 4 million, a significant number of individuals who are arguably the biggest contributors to the economy of Canada. These are the primary individuals the company wants to serve, including their employers. And since 2016, it has been working with ergonomic furniture to create healthier spaces in the workplace, now extending to the home. Creating a healthy community entails examining the lifestyle of the individuals that make it up, from their homes to their workplaces, and designing their spaces so that they are conducive to the daily life of community members. And while many are concerned about personal lifestyle, MotionGrey understands that most people spend most of their waking hours at work, at least 8 hours everyday. This is the area where MotionGrey is working to make a positive impact, improving the quality of working spaces to improve the quality of life of the people who move in them. And where better to start than in its very own neighbourhood, the place that inspired it all? Making High-Quality Ergonomic Solutions Available to the Toronto Community MotionGrey’s product line-up includes a wide range of high-quality ergonomic equipment for both business and individual use–from its popular standing desks and adjustable chairs to high-quality accessories to keep spaces ergonomic. The MotionGrey standing desks are among the most powerful in the market, operated by no other than the world-leading German Bosch motor and paired with a set of high-quality steel frames that are solid and durable, able to keep the desk steady across different heights. Meanwhile, MotionGrey’s ergonomic chairs are packed with adjustable features–from chair height and the height of the armrest and headrest, to the tilt and recline angle of the lumbar support, with options between mesh and leather. And when it comes to accessories, options range from monitor arms and anti-fatigue mats, down to the simpler cable sleeves, all designed to improve a space. All of the furniture and accessories offered by MotionGrey to its customers in Toronto and other Canadian communities have been specifically collated and designed for their high quality and affordability, and the company has partnered with locals groups and individuals to continue to improve its lineup and enable its solutions to reach as many people as possible. Growing Community Presence and Local Partnerships with Business and Individuals in Toronto Since its founding in 2016, MotionGrey has delivered over 50,000 ergonomic products to various customers in Toronto, from standing desks to ergo chairs and accessories. Today, it has grown the one Canada’s largest standing desk companies, distributing over 100 desks and chairs daily to both businesses and homes. The company has also partnered with over 25 businesses in Toronto and furnished over 100 offices across Canada with a variety of its solutions, helping them create modern, ergonomic, and healthy spaces. It has also been working with companies in making its solutions available to employees at discounted rates. MotionGrey has an extensive logistics network in the Greater Toronto area. It has a fulfilment centre in proximity to downtown Toronto in order to easily fulfil the needs of its largest serving market. From the centre in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the team is able to speedily ship out products to its Toronto customers and is proud to share that it has one of the most efficient fulfilment services in the area. The team is also working to continuously expand its operations to serve more communities. Boxed Section: Testimonial from a Satisfied Client "In seeking an ergonomic set-up for our new offices, we chose MotionGrey because we wanted to support a local company. Despite MotionGrey’s good reputation we still managed to be pleasantly surprised - especially by the quality of their services. Delivery was prompt and company reps were friendly and met all of our needs. Most importantly, our employees love their office space. Their standing desks are reliable, easy to use and allow our team to easily change positions despite long periods of time in front of a computer screen. We highly recommend the Motiongrey experience." ‒ Steve Kanters, Founder & Lead Analyst of RainCity Analytics Over the past few years, MotionGrey has also worked to integrate itself more closely and to give back to the Toronto community, not only through the products that it offers but also by providing more job opportunities to locals and by partnering with them in developing some of its products and in spreading its vision. One of its most successful partnerships is with Toronto-based family-owned business Edge Wood Design. MotionGrey has partnered with the business to design customised tabletops for its standing desks, all of whom have been packed and shipped straight to customers. The team is continuously looking for potential local partnerships and aims to tap more local artists as it continues to expand its product lineup. It has also partnered with local influencers, helping them master their craft by providing them with ergonomic solutions. Boxed Section: Testimonial from a Partner Influencer “There is no perfect posture and the most important thing is to change your posture regularly and switch between sitting/standing positions.” ‒ Queenie, Physiotherapist & lecturer at UofT To learn more about the MotionGrey products and the brand’s advocacy, you can head over to its website or its Instagram page.