Hello, I’m Mari and I’ve been a Brainz Magazine contributor for almost a year now. I write a lot from my experiences as an art and trauma therapist, along with my work as a teacher, healer, and coach. In my free time, I love to play with my kitty cat, hang with my loving husband, and go on walks in nature. To recharge my batteries, you’ll find me in meditation, practicing breathwork, or sipping oat straw tea. I spend a lot of time learning, reading or listening to books, and consulting with colleagues. I love to learn and am insatiably curious. However, I don’t consider myself scholarly because the best way I learn is through experience. This approach affects how I work and think. For instance, when I create a course or a workshop, I am sure to have experiential elements such as writing prompts, art-making prompts, movement, and guided meditations. I believe that learning needs to be alive, lived, and fun. Mari Grande, Educator | Coach | Therapist What is your business name and how do you help your clients? I have 2 businesses that are separate but complementary. My first is my therapy business: Mari Grande, LCSW. Here is where I meet with clients individually or in a group setting, all online. Many clients come to me to feel better, understand their nervous systems better, and address their trauma. More and more, the trauma I come across is what I call a complex trauma. Meaning, it is not a single incident, like a car accident or an assault. Complex trauma is when something has been done to you, usually from an early age, and repeatedly done to you in a variety of ways. Some people are not even aware they have this, only that they keep losing jobs, have failed or non-existent relationships, experience high levels of anxiety, or have low self-esteem even when their life is seemingly admirable and successful. My other business is called Creative Healing Integration, Inc. I call this one CHI for short. This is where I offer courses, workshops, newsletters, blogs, and resources like guided meditations, quizzes, and freebies. This is also where I run my signature program: Overcoming the Mother Wound. The program currently has 3 courses on Overcoming the Mother Wound (OCMW). An immersive 11- week all-inclusive program, an evergreen self-study, and a foundations course for those who want to join the online therapy group. I am also currently launching a new offering, a membership site to join after you have completed one of the courses. This is where you have a private online community, monthly live calls, and continued access to your course in case you want to refer back to any content. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? I love my audience. These are people who are open-minded, open-hearted, and genuinely want to heal themselves and this planet. Healing often has the shadow reputation of being selfish, self-serving, etc., yet to be able to help and heal, we must be whole. The light side of healing is that the more we have of ourselves the more we can give to others. That is my motto, my belief, and my experience. The OCMW program influences my therapy work because the healing of attachment wounds underlies therapy work, and my CHI programs are heavily influenced by my work as a therapist. The OCMW program was originally called DOCM (Daughters of Critical Mothers). The group developed out of a need with my therapy clients, predominantly women struggling with a maternal attachment figure. I have not yet opened the program to men, not sure yet if that is mine to do, but I have not closed that door as a possibility. What is your work inspired by? The work and wisdom of attachment. My work with men and women, and my own personal deep dives, have made me acutely aware of the harm attachment wounds create. This affects how we feel about ourselves, how we feel with others, how we view the world, and even our sense of efficacy and worthiness within a global environment. I’ve learned to call this the Mother Wound. It starts with our very first experience of the other and goes as deep as our connection to our internal soul. You mention attachment wounds and the mother wound. What is the mother wound? That is a great question! I write a lot about this in my Brainz articles and it’s the basis for many of my courses and workshops. A mother wound is an attachment wound but it is the “mother” of all wounds. It is the one we first experience. Our mother is usually our first relationship and usually our most enduring. The one who held us before we were in this world. That connection is so deep, so pure, so essential to being alive. What happens once we come into this world, as vulnerable, needy bundles of love depend greatly on who cares for us. That care is usually from a maternal figure, often a female, but not always. Often the mother, but not always. I refer to the mother wound as it is most commonly a mother figure that is caring, interacting, raising, and impacting the child’s well-being. The father figure may be impacting the mother, or the child, and the mother is usually present and/or aware of those interactions. The wound can occur at any age, usually there are indicators very early in life but it is often overlooked, depending on the type and severity of the wound. An example of a wound is when a child is very proud of something they did at school and is excited to share it at home but mom is too busy. She’s cooking dinner and changing the diapers of the twins and is annoyed that you are asking for her attention because she might otherwise burn dinner and dad will be furious. Here, the wound is one of being dismissed and you are left feeling unimportant or not valued. You might even pitch in prepping dinner or changing diapers and become mommy’s helper. At least you are near her and carry the hope of making her feel better so she will want to make you feel better too. Most often, your needs are missed, ignored, and devalued. If this happens once– or if it happens when mom is not so overwhelmed– and she comes to that child, thanks the child for helping, acknowledges she was not behaving as she would like to have been, then addresses the feelings the child might have, listens to them, and earnestly asks about what they did at school and pays attention to it… That wound can be repaired and a bond with mom is built. Instead, what may happen is that this gets repeated and the child learns that ‘to be with mom is not to be you,’ and you may be a very good helper yet you probably don’t even realize how angry this makes you. Until you reach adulthood and find yourself to be a raging alcoholic or perennial people pleaser, without imagination or a life of your own. There are many more types of wounds, depending on how you were treated, seen, and understood by your maternal figure. How would you know if you have one? Another great question! If you are wondering, I have a Mother Wound Quiz. This quiz gives you a sense of where you stand. However, the best guide is you. How are your relationships? Do they last? What is communication like? Are they satisfying? What about your self-confidence? Have trouble taking in compliments? Making decisions? Do you dread change? If these sorts of questions give you pause, there is a good chance there is a mother wound lurking beneath. What’s the difference between a mother wound and any other emotional wound? Love it! These are great questions. First, they are both emotional wounds. A mother wound is an internal wound, our emotional wounds are internal. Emotional wounds are created in relationship to one another. A hurt, a disappointment, a broken promise, a sense of being ignored or criticized– these are the makings of emotional wounds. When we have a mother wound, further emotional wounds dig deeper and cut harder because there is already a wound. When we have a feeling of not being seen or valued for who we really are it puts us in a very vulnerable, fragile state of being. To avoid feeling this way we often build walls, pick fights, or get so busy we don’t have to feel or see any of it. The best method to heal from attachment wounds Amazingly, the best way to heal from attachment wounds is to be NOT ALONE. Be with someone reliable, trustworthy, and emotionally present. This is a relationship wound and it needs to be healed in relationship to another. Initially with a safe other, then in time, being with a group of others in a safe space, sharing a similar concern. Maybe not at first, but eventually being with others who have experienced a similar wound can be extremely healing. Before that can happen its best to talk with someone. Someone who understands the development stages of childhood and the attachment needs at any age. This could be a therapist, coach, mentor, or pastor. In your Blogs you often mention “befriending” feelings. What does that do? Yes, and I think this comes from the framework of “Parts” (Internal Family Systems and Ego States). I think of feelings and beliefs as parts of us. Have you ever seen the animated movie “Inside Out”? That’s a great way to illustrate the framework. You see if we have all these thoughts and feelings rolling around inside of us, my stance is to find out what they want to say. I used to work with children, from PreK to High School. These kids could get loud, demanding, and insolent (depending on the age group). I could scream back at them to shut up, punish them and take their snacks away, lock them out and send them to the principal’s office. OR I could listen. Let them know I hear them, meet with them one at a time, and find out what they are wanting. This took time, patience, and support from my environment (in this case, my staff). Using the teacher’s metaphor, I start by listening to the loudest part and acknowledging its presence. That right there can make a huge shift. Even a critic often has an admirable agenda like making everyone happy, but did not realize their approach was not effective. Why would someone want to take one of your courses? My courses are an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your relationship with others. Depending on which course you choose, there is a group component. This is where you find more support and encouragement from your peers (and me, too). We start with a couple of assessments and quickly move into learning about ways to support ourselves, which I refer to as ‘resourcing the nervous system.’ The courses are quite in-depth and you can take them at your own pace, even though I suggest a rhythmic weekly lesson. There is no expiration date for the course as long as I’m still here, and I have no departure plans to date. The courses include art making, writing prompts, guided meditations, psychoeducation, modules on relational attachment, as well as types of mother wounds. It is a great foundation for learning more about yourself, your relationships, and how they may have been impacted by your early experiences. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? Great minds, big hearts, and creative souls. People like Barack and Michelle Obama, Peter Levine, Stephen Porges, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Frida Kahlo to name a few. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. I suppose it was my near-death experience. I was on a path to becoming an artist, just completed my BFA with winning accolades, and took time off to visit family in Greece before going on for an MFA. What do they say? Make plans and God laughs? While on a vacation in Chios, riding on the back of a Vespa, going around a bend, a drunk driver mistook us for the road… Needless to say, I’ve had a full recovery, with lots of support and love from family, friends, and a multitude of healers and medical professionals. From that healing process, I moved from desiring to become an artist to becoming an art teacher, and eventually an art therapist, and trauma therapist. The culmination of all that is that I identify as a helper and healer that uses creativity and life’s force in her work. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? My business is a holistic, health, and personal growth-oriented one. I combine traditional healing with the science of “woo” grounded in research, study, and experience. I’d love my offerings to be available for whoever needs them, wherever they need them. In particular, my signature program Overcoming the Mother Wound. The Mother Wounds touch us so deeply. Helping others reconnect to that essential part of ourselves that may have been misunderstood, ignored, or even abused is what I hope to help heal with my business. My programs are all online, whether I am live on Zoom or in a pre-recorded event. This allows my programs to grow and allows me to create, recharge, and be available more fully for my holistic healing business in meaningful ways. What would you recommend for someone just starting to reflect on their mother wound journey? You may want to take my Mother Wound Quiz There are a few books I recommend that can help orient you to whether you may have a mother wound. They are found here If you find you want more check out the offering here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mari!

Written by: Cindy Saunders, 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 an imposter, a pretender, a fraud? You're not alone. A 2019 report from National Institutes for Health cites 62 studies on imposter syndrome, suggesting anywhere from 9 to 82 percent of people report having thoughts along these lines at some point. Despite evidence of their competence, people with imposter syndrome feel as though they are not as capable as others perceive them to be. This often leads to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and fear of being exposed... as a fraud. Imposter syndrome can affect anyone, but it is prevalent among individuals with an intense fear of failure. It may be tough on them when things do not go as planned. They may also compare themselves to others and feel they do not measure up. When experiencing imposter syndrome, you may often feel like you are a fraud who has somehow managed to deceive others into believing you are more capable than you are. As convincing as this feeling may be, this belief is not rooted in reality. The accomplishments and successes that you have achieved are not the results of luck or deception but the result of your hard work, experience, and skill. Many successful and accomplished people experience imposter syndrome. However, studies have shown that imposter syndrome is not related to actual ability or intelligence but to perceptions of ourselves and self-doubt. Read that again. Specific patterns of thinking contribute to our self-doubt and inaccurate perceptions. These patterns of internal mental filters or biases feed our anxiety. They make us feel bad about ourselves. They are referred to as cognitive distortions. We practice them over time, so these cognitive distortions can be deeply ingrained. Identifying and challenging these harmful thinking patterns is essential to improve our mental well-being. Some of the more common cognitive distortions are: Jumping to conclusions (assuming) Overgeneralization ("always," "never," drawing broad conclusions) All-or-nothing thinking (black or white, either-or) Filtering (using all negative information) Catastrophizing (the sky is always falling; everything is urgent) Disqualifying the positive (rejecting compliments, "oh, it's nothing…") Emotional Reasoning (believing your feelings are truth) Should Statements (listening to the critical and shaming inner critic) Personalization (taking events unrelated to you as personal) Here are a few suggestions to help you silence the internal, inaccurate perceptions that hold you hostage: Recognize and acknowledge your imposter syndrome. Understanding that imposter syndrome is a common experience can help you identify and label your feelings. Challenge negative thoughts and beliefs. When you experience imposter syndrome, your thoughts can be damaging and self-critical. Challenge these thoughts by asking yourself if there is evidence to support them. Keep a record of your successes. Keeping a file, sending yourself an email; any method of reminding yourself of both big and small wins can help. Review them to redirect your thoughts when you feel unsure of yourself. Reframe your failures. Failure is a natural part of the learning process and doesn't make you a fraud. Try to reframe your failures as opportunities for growth and learning. Share your feelings with someone you trust. Talking about your imposter syndrome with someone you trust can help you gain perspective and support. Practice self-compassion. Be kind and understanding with yourself. Remember that no one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. Seek out role models. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire you and have succeeded in areas that interest you. Prioritize self-care. Engage in activities that promote your physical and emotional well-being, such as exercise, yoga, or meditation. Set realistic goals and celebrate small wins. Setting achievable goals for yourself and celebrating small successes can help build self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Remember, imposter syndrome is common, but it doesn't mean you are not competent. It's just a feeling that comes and goes and does not define who you are. By identifying and challenging negative thoughts and beliefs and reframing them in a more positive light, you can work towards overcoming imposter syndrome and building self-confidence in your abilities and accomplishments. Additionally, seeking support from a therapist, or coach, talking to a mentor, or finding a support group can guide you in managing imposter syndrome. Remember: you are not a fraud! Connect with Cindy on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website. Read more from Cindy! Cindy Saunders, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cindy Saunders is a Leadership Coach and HR Professional with over twenty years of experience working in the manufacturing, mining, finance, and staffing industries. She is the founder of Leaders Rise, a Leadership Coaching company. Her leadership and coaching style is characterized by her drive to develop informed and engaged work environments through leadership coaching. She combines Emotional Intelligence, Workplace Styles, and Leadership Principles in her Coaching and Leadership Development Programs. Cindy considers strong and authentic leadership throughout an organization as an essential key to success. Cindy is a published author, holds designations as Global Professional Human Resources (GPHR), Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) Strategic Human Resources Business Partner (SHRBP), and is certified as an Executive Coach with the World Coach Institute (WCI).

Written by: Holly Jackson, 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. You have a service or product that helps. You have a story worth sharing centered around your business, nonprofit, or movement. You find yourself thinking…”If I could just write that book, it will all come together.” You might even think, “Once I publish my book, I can retire.” I hate to break it to you. This isn’t reality. One of the biggest myths we need to bust today is as follows: Myth: If I write it, they will buy it. This is NOT true. Like anything else, it requires intentional, detailed marketing efforts. Success stems from strategy, intention and preparedness. Your book is the same deal. So what does a masterful book launch look like? The BluePrint to a Masterful Book Launch 1. Have a Pre Launch Strategy You need to begin your pre-launch strategy six to twelve months BEFORE your publication date. You heard me…you need at least six months to set yourself up for success. You need to begin by building your book launch team. What is a launch team? These are the people who agree to: Pre-read a copy of your book Buy a copy on publication day and Share a positive review within the first week of your publication How do you get people on your launch team? You use your personal and professional email lists to reach out to them. You text everyone you know. You post on social media. You attend networking events. And you ask them to join your launch team. You can set up a simple form for this or go old school and log it in an excel file. You want to make sure you continue to nurture your launch team in the weeks and months leading up to your launch. You want to keep them engaged and excited. Otherwise, they won’t take action on publication day. Leading up to your book publication you also want to schedule podcast interviews, talks and radio interviews to promote your prelaunch. If you’re able to, be sure to list your book on Amazon and other platforms as a presale. This will help show how your marketing efforts are coming along before launch. Last but not least, make sure your book has a lead magnet in it. This simply means you offer a tool or resource to your reader. They can get that tool or resource in exchange for their email address. This allows you to keep in touch with them. Continue to build the relationship. And invite them to new offerings and services in the future. 2. Develop a Solid Launch Day Strategy On launch day you want to be in close contact with your publisher if you are going the hybrid or traditional publication route. If you are self-publishing you want to keep close track of when everything goes live officially online. Sometimes the ebook will be ready and it will take some time for the paperback to go live. As soon as everything is ready to go, you want to email your launch team to take action. You also want to follow up with a text within an hour or two of the email going out. Only 10-20%of your launch team list will actually take action. This means that if you have 100 people on your launch team, you can expect 10-20 to take action. The better you do keeping them engaged and following up, the higher percentage you will experience. People are busy and we are constantly inundated with information. The easier you make this, the better. Share a video on how to buy a copy. Share with them how they can gift 15 e-books to friends and family members. Those will all count as individual purchases towards best-seller status. Have your press release ready. Pay extra to get it picked up on more outlets and newswires. Reach out to journalists and platforms for publicity and articles to showcase your book. Consider having a contest…for those who purchase 15 gift copies, you will mail them a signed copy of your book. Have a selfie contest. Have them post selfies of them with their book and whoever gets the most views gets a signed author copy of the book. Line up book signings and book events with local bookstores and aligned companies. Be sure to track bestsellers and best new releases in all your categories each hour. Take screenshots of when you hit rankings you are happy with. This will be your social proof for future marketing. Get really creative and fun with your launch strategy. There’s a lot you can do here to maximize your exposure and make this a fun experience. 3. Build a Solid Post Launch Strategy You’re published. You got bestseller status. Now what? Like anything else in marketing, you need an ongoing plan. Continue lining up podcast, speaking, radio, and tv show interviews to promote the book and your business. Showcase reviews in social posts from readers. Ask your launch team for selfies of them with the book. Post social media shares on what they think of the book with their selfie. Continue booking book signings and speaking gigs to promote the book. When negotiating speaking gigs, ask them to buy copies of the book for the audience. Meeting and conference planners love hiring speakers who have a book published. It adds a tremendous amount of credibility. Consider creating quarterly contests on social media for book selfies and reviews. Have a prize that gets folks excited. Build on that momentum. Get creative and have fun with this. This is a long game. You want consistent sales and book reviews over time. This will allow your book to come up at the top of searches. Invest in the long game. It’s worth it. 4. Get Your Book In Front of Potential Clients More important than book sales is getting new clients. If you’re in the holistic space, find holistic businesses. Gift them a copy or two of your book. Put a sticker on the front with a QR code for folks to buy their own copy and list it as an “office copy”. In doing so, you open the door for a conversation with the business owner as they will be grateful for this gift. I did this with my first book and got several clients from it. I was able to book customized workshops, leadership retreats, and consulting clients from positioning my book in the right places. Get creative with this. Have fun. There are no rules here. Play with what works. Track what is successful. Whatever works, replicate that. Need Help? I get it. Publishing your book is a lot of work. Writing it is also a tremendous effort. I want to make sure you are extremely successful and happy with the outcome of your launch. This is why I created my Author’s Ignited Mastermind. In it we will: Redefine what success look like for your book launch Ensure your book message is aligned with your business, movement or nonprofit Learn how to build your launch team Land podcasts, tv and radio show guesting gigs to market your launch Learn ninja trade secrets for becoming a best-selling author Discover how to best utilize your best-selling book after launch How to land high authority speaking gigs because you’re a best-selling author And much more! If you’re ready to ignite your message and your business, let’s chat. Book your complimentary chat here. Follow Holly on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. You can also visit her website to learn more. Read more from Holly! Holly Jackson, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Holly Jackson is a certified Holistic Business Coach. Through Holistic Business Coaching, Holly helps holistic entrepreneurs and business owners start, build or scale their business without burning out. Holly’s clients learn how to cope with stress, define their life priorities, and rediscover their passion for business. She helps them see blind spots that often cost them exposure, clients, and income. Having undertaken a thriving career as an executive in Silicon Valley, Holly chose the road less traveled. She decided to leave the corporate world. She has dedicated her life to helping individuals design the life and business of their dreams. For over 12 years, Holly has provided insights, strategies, and fresh perspectives across multiple industries. Holly states, “My clients can expect accountability, growth, and an individualized step-by-step game plan for success. I believe every professional must develop their internal compass and decide what their legacy will be. Holistic coaching goes beyond helping your business and helps the whole person.”

Written by: Yvette Durazo, 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 found yourself in a conflict and wished you had a magic solution to make it go away? While there's no one-size-fits-all answer to resolving conflicts, there is one surprising tool that can help: curiosity. Yes, that's right – curiosity about the other party's perspective and needs can be surprisingly helpful in effectively navigating and resolving conflicts. In this article, we'll explore how curiosity plays a role in being conflict intelligent and the numerous benefits it can bring. So if you want to improve your conflict management skills and find more satisfactory resolutions, read on! Role of Curiosity in Conflict Intelligence Conflict is a natural and inevitable part of human interaction, and effectively navigating and resolving conflicts is an important skill to have. Conflict intelligence, also known as emotional intelligence or social intelligence, refers to the ability to understand and manage emotions, relationships, and communication to navigate and resolve conflicts effectively. Curiosity plays a significant role in being conflict intelligent because it allows individuals to learn more about the other party's perspective and needs. This allows them to identify common ground and be more open-minded and flexible in their approach to resolving conflicts. Understanding the other party's perspective One of the key aspects of being conflict intelligent is understanding the other party's perspective. When individuals are curious about the other party's perspective, they are more likely to ask questions and seek to understand where the other party is coming from. This helps to reduce misunderstandings and build trust between the parties involved. For example, when conflict arises between you and a colleague over a project, taking a curious look into their perspective might involve asking questions about their project goals and concerns about the current approach. By understanding their perspective, you can identify common ground and potential areas of compromise. Curiosity can also help you better understand the other party's emotional state and needs. If you are curious about the other party's emotions and needs, you are more likely to show empathy and compassion, which can reduce tension and build rapport. For example, if you have a conflict with a family member, being curious about their emotional state might involve asking questions about what is causing them to feel upset or frustrated. By showing an interest in their emotional well-being, you can demonstrate that you care about their feelings and are willing to work towards a resolution that addresses their needs. Understanding the other party's perspective and emotions can also help individuals be more understanding and compassionate toward the other party's position, leading to more constructive and collaborative resolutions. Naturally, individuals who are more empathetic and compassionate toward others are more likely to find win-win solutions and outcomes in conflicts. This is because they can see the other party's perspective and needs as equally important to their own and are willing to make compromises and concessions to find a resolution that works for both parties. Identifying common ground and potential areas of compromise Another way in which curiosity plays a role in being conflict intelligent is in identifying common ground and potential areas of compromise. By asking questions and seeking to understand the other party's perspective, individuals can identify shared values and goals that can serve as a foundation for finding a resolution to the conflict. For example, if you conflict with a neighbor over a property line dispute, being curious about their perspective might involve asking questions about their reasons for wanting to keep the current property line and what they hope to achieve. By understanding their perspective, you can identify shared goals, such as maintaining good relations with your neighbor or finding a fair and reasonable solution for both parties. In addition, curiosity can help individuals to explore alternative solutions and approaches to resolving the conflict. By being open to learning about the other party's perspective, individuals can be more willing to consider different options and find a resolution that works for both parties. For example, if you are in conflict with a customer over a product issue, being curious about their perspective might involve asking questions about their needs and expectations and exploring different options for addressing their concerns. By being open to different solutions, you can find a resolution that meets the needs of both parties and resolves the conflict. Open-mindedness and flexibility Curiosity can help individuals to be more open-minded and flexible in their approach to resolving conflicts. By being open to learning about the other party's perspective, individuals can be more willing to consider alternative solutions and approaches to resolving the conflict. This can reduce tension and a satisfactory resolution can be found for both parties. For example, if you clash with a business partner because of a disagreement on the next business strategy, being curious about their perspective might involve asking questions. You want to know their reasoning and explore the different options for addressing the issue. By being open to diverse approaches, you can find a resolution that works for both parties and avoids further conflict in the future. The simple act of being curious can help individuals to be more flexible and adaptable in their approach to resolving conflicts. By being open to learning about the other party's perspective, individuals can be more willing to make adjustments and concessions to find a resolution that works for both parties. For example, if you are in a conflict with a co-worker over a project deadline, being curious about their perspective might involve asking questions about their concerns and challenges and finding ways to accommodate their needs. By being flexible and adaptable, you can find a resolution that works for both parties and avoids further conflict in the future. The benefits of being curious and open-minded in conflicts There are numerous benefits to being curious and open-minded in conflicts. For one, it can help individuals to find more satisfactory and mutually beneficial resolutions to conflicts. By being open to learning about the other party's perspective and needs, individuals are more likely to find solutions that meet both parties’ needs and avoid future conflict. Beyond that, being curious and open-minded in conflicts can help individuals build stronger and more positive relationships. By showing an interest in the other party's perspective and needs, individuals demonstrate that they value and respect the other party, which signals to any conflicted party that they are probably overreacting. There is no point disagreeing with someone who is not trying to argue with you, after all. Conclusion Curiosity plays a significant role in being conflict intelligent because it allows individuals to learn more about the other party's perspective and needs, identify common ground, and be more open-minded and flexible in their approach to resolving conflicts. Individuals can reduce misunderstandings, build trust, and find resolutions that work for both parties by showing an interest in the other party's perspective, emotions, and needs. Whether you are dealing with conflicts at work, in your relationships, or your community, being curious and open to learning about the other party's perspective can help you to navigate and resolve conflicts and improve your conflict intelligence effectively. By developing your conflict intelligence and curiosity skills, you can improve your personal and professional relationships and create a more positive and supportive environment for yourself and those around you. Conflict Intelligence Quotient “Conflict-IQ™” is a good read for people having trouble managing conflicts in a workplace and solving them effectively. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Yvette! Yvette Durazo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Yvette Durazo, MA, PCC is the author of the book Conflict Intelligence (Conflict-IQ™) The Missing Piece to Turbocharge Leaders’ and Organizations’ Emotional Intelligence. She is the principal consultant of Unitive Consulting, a workplace organizational effectiveness, strategic conflict management, and leadership development firm. Yvette brings innovative techniques to promote a positive workplace culture in organizations to encourage trust, productive human capital engagement, and inclusion. Clients benefit from her wealth of knowledge and professional experience in the art of building a trusting workplace relationship. Some of her services include; training, mediating conflicts in the workplace, anti-bullying, settlement negotiations, developing dispute system design, and bringing unique strategies to address the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to the workplace. Yvette is passionate about optimizing professionals and teams to engage in constructive problem-solving communication toward instilling respect, civility, and collaboration. She believes that human conflict is one of the most important things organizations must learn to harness and combat to avoid derailing of employees’ performance. Her methodologies are like a vitamin boost to the immunity of organizations. Presently, Yvette is a UCSC HR Program Co-Chair and an instructor for the Human Resource Management Certification program at the University of California Santa Clara Extension Silicon Valley. She also is an instructor for the University of California Davis Conflict Resolution Program. She also teaches for Portland State University Conflict Resolution and Mediation courses for undergraduate and master’s degree students. She holds a PCC coaching credential from the International Coach Federation, a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills, and an undergraduate degree in International Business from San Diego State University. She is a former Core Adjunct Professor at National University, where she taught courses in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, and Communication for over six years. A former Instructor for the Leon Guanajuato Mexico Institution Power of Justice, Yvette has authored many publications and articles on conflict resolutions. Yvette is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and has expertise with cultural diversity and inclusion.

Written by: Renee C. Dominguez, 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 rules have changed in the workplace faster than most organizations can process. The leadership style in the past no longer works for leading toward the future. This thing called COVID-19 has shifted the way people want to operate and lead in the workplace. There is no more room for barking orders, making unruly demands, and stealing others' ideas. The people have spoken and are no longer willing to tolerate being made to feel insignificant and unappreciated in the workplace. This is the new era of conscious leadership. To show up with self-awareness and authenticity. To know that your actions and decisions can positively and negatively impact others. Conscious leadership is vital because it allows leaders to be more effective and significantly impact their teams and those around them. Mindful and self-aware leaders can better make well-informed decisions, communicate effectively with their teams, and create a positive work culture. Employees want guidance and assurance that they are valued. In addition, they want to contribute to the vision and work under a leader who provides support and communication. Moreover, conscious leadership can help leaders to navigate and address challenges and conflicts more constructively and effectively. By being aware of their biases and assumptions, leaders can be more open to different perspectives and approaches and more effective in finding solutions to problems. If you are ready to step into your new leadership style, you don't have to figure this out alone. Here are five steps you can take to become a conscious leader: Practice self-awareness: Reflect on your values, motivations, and actions and how they impact others. Seek feedback from others to gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement. Communicate openly and honestly: Be transparent and authentic in your communication with others, and encourage open dialogue. Empower others: Encourage and support the growth and development of your team members by giving them the tools and resources they need to succeed. Foster collaboration: Encourage collaboration and teamwork, and create an inclusive and supportive work environment. Make ethical decisions: Consider the long-term consequences of your decisions and act in a way that is ethical and aligns with your values. By following these steps, you can become a more conscious leader and create a positive and productive work culture. It's important to remember that becoming a conscious leader is a continuous process, and making mistakes along the way is okay. Keep learning and growing, and be open to feedback and new ideas. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Renee! Renee C. Dominguez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Renee Dominguez is a global leader supporting women in transformational leadership, high performance, and breaking the status quo. Being a female in male-dominant industries, Renee learned that if she wanted to break the mold, she needed to step out and create a new paradigm for herself and other women. Renee has since spent her time and energy curating experiences for others to find their purpose so they can lead with impact and legacy. She is the founder of Empowered LeadHERship, the premier community for impactful women ready to show up on their terms. Her mission: it’s your time to be heard, seen, & respected.

Written by: Christiane Foerster , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You feel stressed often? And you believe that your stress is a given thing, an inevitable fate? Then let me impart in you the desire to finally get your stress level under control – and convince you that stress coaching can help you with that. The stress with the stress For most people, stress is a constant companion ‒ sometimes more, sometimes less. Stress is our body´s answer to things that require our attention, especially potential risks or danger. Under stress our nervous system supplies the body with energy for a proper reaction (“fight/flight/freeze”). To a certain extent stress protects us and helps us to achieve temporary high performance. However, excessive negative stress over extended periods of time can significantly harm both physical and mental health. Symptoms like sleep disorders, difficulties to concentrate, headache/migraine, gastrointestinal upsets, cardiovascular problems, tinnitus, diabetes, back pain, weight gain or addictive behaviour (e.g., alcohol consumption) are serious early warning signs that your stress is getting out of hand. The brain, when in a stressed state, has a tendency to focus exclusively on potential threats ‒ positive aspects are no longer perceived. Stressed people are in a kind of “problem trance” from which they cannot free themselves without external resources and impulses. They are convinced that they are powerless against their stress… I know exactly what I am talking about because in my previous life as a leader in the automotive industry I have experienced it myself over years: The ceaseless excess of topics, demands and expectations. The feeling of emptiness, being burned out and panic. The continuous decrease of physical and mental capacity until at some point I simply stopped functioning. Even today, more than 2.5 years after I left my corporate life, I still suffer from tinnitus, back pain, and sleep disorders. What if your stress is YOUR decision? You have probably already realized that different people react differently to identical stress triggers: What one person experiences as highly stressful may have no impact at all on another person. This is because how we perceive a potential stress trigger consists of only 10% of the facts and 90% of our evaluation of the facts. And how we evaluate the facts, in turn, is determined by our experience, beliefs, and values. They shape our individual reality. The facts are the facts – they are neutral by nature. How they are processed in your head, which “stress tales” you tell yourself, which questions you ask and how much stress they induce – this is entirely up to you and your framework of experiences, beliefs, and values! The great news is that this framework can be altered! You can learn to identify your individual “stress tales”, make yourself aware of them and find new, more helpful narratives optimize your attitude towards stress avoid unnecessary negative stress ease your stress both mentally and physically establish lightness, serenity, and well-being manifest resilience and inner balance in your everyday life deliver high performance while remaining in balance All you need is the desire for a new way of life, personal growth and development, some time and discipline! My personal experience has shown me how constant negative stress can harm well-being, joy and quality of living. I have learned to deal with my stress in a constructive way and today I want to be the coach I would have needed back then and help others to take control of their stress, too. Follow me on LinkedIn , and visit my website for more information on stress coaching and healthy stress management. Read more from Christiane! Christiane Foerster, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Christiane Foerster is an experienced stress coach with a passion for healthy stress management. Having worked in various executive positions in the automotive industry for over 20 years, Foerster experienced herself to what extent constant negative stress can harm both physical and mental health. She decided to quit from her corporate position, become a stress coach and help others to manage their stress in a healthy and productive way.

Written by: Janylene Turcotte, Cl.hyp, ACC, RTT, 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. This article shows the importance of understanding our true motivation before choosing a career in coaching. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as follows: Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership. Do you feel the desire to help people and be your own boss? Are you the go-to person among your friends or colleagues who’s always ready to lend an ear and offer advice? Do people often remark on how empathetic or sympathetic you are or how useful your advice is? While these are all wonderful qualities in and of themselves, they do not necessarily mean that a career in coaching is right for you and there might be other ways for you to deploy these attributes best. In fact, many people naturally feel a deep desire to help others, but listening to a friend or colleague in need is only a very small part of what a career in coaching requires. Additionally, many people may think of coaching as an easy way to be their own boss and choose their own working hours. Others feel stuck in their job and need a quick solution to their employment ennui. I decided to write this article because many of my clients have a burning desire to contribute to the well-being of others and coaching seems to be their go-to choice. My view on this is, that while coaching may be an option, I encourage them, and anyone considering coaching, to dive deep and try to discover what the real motivation is behind their attraction to this calling, before jumping into it. Coaching, like any other career, is a serious undertaking that requires dedicated hours of study in a structured course. And, while coaching courses can often be used as a starting point for people looking to enhance the dynamics of their personal relationships or, to make a more significant contribution in the workplace—especially for those who already have, or aspire to have a leadership role—there are many factors to consider before embarking on this career path. Let’s take a look at a few thought-provoking scenarios as described below to see if coaching is right for you? Do you recognize yourself in any of these descriptions? Person A: I am a people person and want to help others all the time. People are always coming to me with their problems and I am always able to offer solutions that they find useful. Potential subconscious beliefs: ‘If I help people, I will be loved.’ ‘People are unable to help themselves.’ ‘Helping people makes me feel important.’ ‘I know how to help others.’ Person B: This person is already in the ‘people’ industry; maybe in human resources or management training etc. but they are fed up, often on the verge of burnout and feel undervalued! They crave independence and the freedom to make their own hours. Person B often uses coaching skills in their day-to-day work and even in their own lives, but are not an ‘official’ coaches. Potential subconscious beliefs: ‘I need a steady job and security.’ ‘I need to be perfect at what I do or it’s not worth doing.’ ‘Once I have this coaching certification I will be able to change what is wrong with this organization.’ ‘Managers have it all wrong; this organization needs a coach.’ ‘People confide in me; I am the right person for this role.’ ‘People won’t take me seriously unless I am a real coach, with a real diploma.’ Person C: This person is often a ‘Type A’ personality who has thrived and succeeded at a high level in their field and understands that coaching is a business like anything else. They already have an established network of contacts and are willing to devote all their time and energy to acquire the skills required to make the big leap towards a new career in coaching. Person C is ready and able to juggle two demanding jobs—their current career as well as studying to become a coach—so as to maintain the financial security they need while studying. They will only leave their current employment when they see that they can generate enough revenue from their new career. Their mindset: “Coaching is a billion dollar industry and I will take a piece of the pie.” Potential subconscious beliefs: ‘I cannot fail.’ ‘I love to sell.’ ‘I am a great sales rep and I learn quickly.’ ‘This is the way to get rich.’ ‘I will show them how capable I am.’ ‘I will show people what I know and they will also become successful.’ Person D: This person is going through, or is at the end of, a profound personal or professional journey and feels compelled to share their new-found insights with the world. They have made sense of their difficulties and are projecting their own journey onto others. Potential subconscious beliefs: ‘I want everyone to feel like I do.’ ‘If I made it, anyone can.’ ‘There is light at the end of everyone’s tunnel.’ ‘My pain had meaning.’ Do you recognize yourself in one or more of these situations? If so, read on. Below are some additional questions/ideas to consider before making a decision to become a coach: If my life was a 10/10 in terms of overall satisfaction, would I still want to coach people? In other words, choosing coaching because you think it will improve your life may seem very compelling, but it’s important to understand that being a coach can be as demanding as it is rewarding. Like anything else in life, a new career alone cannot make you happy, and the oft-used cliché is actually true: Happiness must come from within. When I help people, it makes me feel…? This is a very crucial question. Be clear about the feelings you are searching for. Are there other ways to achieve these same feelings? If you already feel loved and validated, do you still want to choose a career in coaching? Perhaps what you really need is to begin by cultivating self-love and self-validation and then see if coaching is still something you want to do? Is there another way to find meaning from your journey other than by helping others with the same issues that you resolved? What are you running from in your current situation that makes you believe that coaching is the right decision for you? Running from a situation is rarely a good strategy—unless it is a toxic situation. Try instead to find what you want to go towards and then see if coaching fits in with your desires. How much transition time can you afford to have? This can include holding down two jobs, managing long days of back-to-back work and study, and paying bills on time. All these are realities that need to be considered. Some employers may express concern that you are taking on too much and that your performance will suffer. It’s also possible that your employer has a policy which precludes you from having a second job while in their employ. How large and supportive is your network? Your network can help you launch your new career and can be a great resource to tap into at the beginning. What other billion-dollar industry are you attracted to? Being attracted to coaching for the money is risky. While there may certainly be financial gains, the reality is that not every coach makes a comfortable living. How willing are you to invest in having a coach for yourself? If you don’t really believe in coaching as a means of self-exploration and self-development, it’ll be a hard sell to others. Before making the transition to coaching and hypnotherapist myself, I invested in sessions of both coaching and hypnotherapy. During these sessions, I observed the process and tried to imagine myself doing what the coach was doing. How comfortable are you with selling your skills and abilities? This is often where things can go astray! So many people undersell and undervalue their coaching and can’t seem to get across the message that they are offering a specific skill that required hard work to acquire. There is a lot of soft-selling in a coach’s journey. Can you handle the potential fluctuations in your income? Being an entrepreneur, you will almost certainly experience an ebb and flow of income. Are you able to withstand these fluctuations? How good are you at setting healthy boundaries? This is a crucial point. Being a coach does not mean that you are an open door to anyone and everyone who needs help. People’s needs can suck you dry and you will be faced with frequent client demands outside scheduled sessions which can amount to a lot of little ‘freebies.’ Your energy is your currency and your asset, and should be staunchly protected. Are you a self-starter with self-discipline? Yep, this is a biggie! You will be on your own a lot; it may feel lonely, and the world is full of distractions and procrastination is a big challenge for many coaches to overcome. It’s advisable that you have a coach for yourself, even a community of coaches, that you can connect with when you are having a bad day. How much of a people-pleaser are you? This is a popular trap for a coach…😊 People-pleasers tend to find it hard to set boundaries and will say yes to things that often do them a disservice. Some issues may be hard to address and you have to be able to stand your ground. You will need a certain resilience and tough exterior in order to manage difficult or entitled clients and providers etc. As you can see from the above, it is vital that you choose coaching for the right reasons. The simple fact is that wanting to help others is not enough of a reason to upend your life and change your career. It is a competitive field that has become over-saturated, especially in the last few years, to meet the growing demands of the ‘self-help’ industry. Be it life-coaching, business coaching, hypnocoaching or any one of the many approaches available today, the important thing to remember is that besides the lure of freedom and independence, one must consider the reality of building a clientele and the necessity of making a living. All too often I see people choose coaching when they are unaware of their own deep need to be loved, appreciated and rewarded. Although there can be a lot of these rewarding moments, there is also a lot of loneliness; dealing with clients who are not ready or willing to change, having to navigate through the needs of people who take you and your time for granted, who ghost you or don't show appreciation. And, as with any job, there is mental and emotional fatigue, energy depletion and disgruntled clients. My goal in writing this article is not to paint a negative portrait of the industry, but rather to share with you all sides of the situation so that your expectations are realistic. There are tons of articles already written about how great life is when you are a coach, and I agree. I would never go back to my corporate life and HR Career. And, while coaching has been instrumental in creating my dream life, I know only a small percentage of the people I studied with who are actually making a solid living as a coach. On the flip side, I also know many successful, talented coaches who are really making a difference in people’s lives. I am proud to say that I too have personally helped many to take a big leap of faith in their lives and transition from the corporate world to a private coaching practice. There’s a lot to consider here and if, after having read this, you are still thinking about becoming a coach, bravo! You will be embarking on a very rewarding and fulfilling career. If, however, you’ve discovered that coaching may not be the right choice for you, don’t feel discouraged. There are myriad of ways that you can be a positive resource and make a difference in people’s lives. Some of these options can include being an inter-office coach/trainer or in another professional leadership capacity. Similarly, there is always a high demand within local communities, colleges or neighborhood groups. The important thing is to know your value and recognize that no matter what you choose, with a little effort, you can still make a great impact. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more on Janylene! Janylene Turcotte, Cl.hyp, ACC, RTT, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After more than 25 years as a top-level executive in the corporate world, Janylène Turcotte made a 360-degree career change and became a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Coach, and HypnoCoach. While going through her own major life transformation, she developed a unique 3-STEP MODEL as a tool to help herself, and now, her clients, through the complex process of transformation and transition. She graduated from the Marisa Peer School as an RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy) Therapist. She has been an ICF Certified Coach for more than eight years and hosts the podcast ‘’ It’s Just a Belief’’.

Working with thought leaders on shaping their speaker platform is an incredible privilege. In this candid conversation, Relationship Alchemist , underwater photographer, poet, and TEDx speaker, Marie-Elizabeth Mali, shares some insight into who she is and who she has become based on her integration of self and how she shows up for her community . Marie-Elizabeth Mali, A Relationship Alchemist, two-time TEDx speaker and Coach How do you define Relationship Alchemy? Relationship Alchemy happens when you learn to take the heavy challenges of love, which can feel like lead, and turn them into gold, which is the ability to work with whatever’s coming up within you and between you and another person in a way that deepens intimacy and connection. How important is relationship work inside the culture of a team? It’s crucial for each member of a team to be doing their own relationship work in order for the team to function best as a whole. Self-responsibility is the name of the game! We all carry habitual and automatic responses to certain triggers, like if someone we’re on a team with looks at us a certain way that reminds us of our critical father, or someone has a certain tone of voice that reminds us of a teacher who was particularly harsh. If we’re not careful, pretty soon we’re reacting to that team member as if they’re the person they remind us of, instead of being an adult on the same team as us who we can communicate with in present time to let them know their impact, if necessary. Often, if we’re doing our inner work, once we see the trigger that someone inadvertently activated, it no longer becomes necessary for us to ask them to change because we see that it’s our stuff and it’s on us to work with it. When we’re NOT doing our relationship work is when we tend to feel a strong need to control how others behave around us so that we can avoid getting activated. Obviously, if someone on a team is being verbally abusive or is abdicating their responsibility to interact with the rest of a team in a constructive way has to be addressed and rectified for the team to work well together. What have been the biggest challenges leaders face in the balance of work and relationships? The biggest challenge has been to get leaders to prioritize their relationships more, instead of expecting that they’ll just be there when they have time to get to them. As leaders, when things go sideways, we skillfully consider the landscape, pick a strategy, make it work. But when it comes to our relationships, our well-developed ability to lead and shift outcomes doesn’t necessarily yield the same results. It can be confronting to realize that no matter how competent we are in our work, we may not already know what to do in the arena of relationships. We have to start almost at square one to learn the skills that work best there. Because it can be so confronting to admit we don’t know, we can tend to create barriers to doing the work we need to do to improve our relationships. This may look like avoiding conflict and letting the relationship drift apart. Or burying ourselves in our work, because it’s where we get to feel successful and alive. It also may look like blaming our partner for why it’s not working. If we can open ourselves to the idea that relationship skills are learned, just like we’ve learned skills to lead well, then a whole new landscape of love and joy will become available to you. You recently did your first TEDx where you opened with a poem, featured your underwater photography and spoke about gender fluidity. How did you come to integrate all of who you are? This process of integration has been a long time coming for me. As a multi-passionate person, I used to think I had to keep the different parts of me separate, that people wouldn’t get me if I threw all of me at them at once. But the truth is our power lies in integrating all of ourselves and bringing all of ourselves to what we do. It’s what makes each of us truly unique and makes us stand out. As I worked on getting clear on my idea worth spreading and worked on my talk, it finally came together when I brought my poetry into it, alongside my underwater photography and my passion for people getting to love and be loved for exactly who they are. Once I wove together all of my passions into the talk, it all came together. This is what’s at the heart of Relationship Alchemy, learning to integrate all the parts of yourself into a rich and dynamic whole, an d sharing that whole with others, so that you’re no longer moving through the world having to compartmentalize yourself in different areas of your life, which sets you up to block your own fulfillment because you don’t ever get to be fully expressed. Why is it important for leaders like you to fully embrace who they are and sha re it? The age of doing one thing and being another is over. We can see that in one leader after another being taken down for ways that they’ve acted out and caused harm. What matters in today’s world is integrity, authenticity, and the alignment that comes out of being true to ourselves. There’s a deep hunger for true connection now that I’m SO here for, having been hungry for true connection my whole life. Connection happens when we embrace and integrate all of who we are and we share that whole, true self with others. You can see it in the intense devotion people feel for leaders like Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, Bozoma St. John, and Luvvie Ajayi Jones. They all show up so real and relatable you can’t help but fall in love with them! By embodying and sharing our whole selves as leaders, we actually open up permission for others to do the same. And more people embodying and sharing their whole selves and embracing whole-person leadership in their families, communities, and professions is what this world truly needs for the next phase of our evolution at home and at work. As a Relationship Alchemist, two-time TEDx Speaker, and host of the Relationship Alchemy podcast, Marie-Elizabeth Mali shows women leaders how to cultivate deeper love and connection in their intimate relationships. Drawing on her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and over 20 years of working with clients, she teaches women how to show up as authentic leaders in their relationships and work instead of twisting themselves to fit in. Marie-Elizabeth’s work has been featured in Thrive Global, SWAAY, and Forbes. She is also a member of the Forbes Business Council, a published author, and an underwater photographer who has a thing for sharks. Take Marie-Elizabeth’s QUIZ on relationship style. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , L inkedIn and visit my website ! Read more from Tricia !

Written by: Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. At Wholistic Fitness, its more than a workout, it’s a Body & Soul Transformation, where you transform your body, mind, spirit, emotions, fitness and nutrition. The first step is to reserve your Body & Soul Transformation Prescription is a Self-Growth Discovery Session, which helps you and I discover who you are on a Soul Level. A Self-Growth Discovery Session includes the following: 6 to 9 Card Reading – each card has 3 elements (color, number and affirmation), the color is associated to one of the seven Chakras. The number is associated with your personal energy year number according to Numerology and the collective and personal energy of Astrology. The affirmation helps raise your vibration and adds to your personal story and journey. Astrology and Numerology insight based on the current energy Clearing energy blocks from one Chakra Calling in one new intention that helps release emotional weight and fall in love with yourself Once the Self-Growth session is completed a Body & Soul Transformation Prescription Plan is created. What’s included in a Prescription Plan (Group/Private): 3 to 6 Month Commitment (Zoom, On-site, Home Visits) Wholistic Personal Training – 2 to 4 days per week (Group sessions twice a week) Chakra Balance Reiki Treatment – one on one treatments once a week Weekly & Monthly Astrology and Numerology insight Weekly & Monthly support meetings on Zoom Seven Crystals related to releasing emotional weight Essential Oils During your Body & Soul Transformation you will experience: Daily Chakra Alignment to helps clear energy that blocks your vision and intention for each workout Chakra Balance Reiki Healing to help ground your energy and focus on your daily workout “why” Daily Astrology and Numerology insight relating to that workout Nutrition insight to Fuel and Feed your Soul – understanding “why” restricting calories doesn’t work when focusing on building lean muscles Women Over 40, Weights Are Your Friend! Below is the Body & Soul Transformation Prescription Plan Ratio for Women Over 30: 60 to 70 percent weight training 20 to 25 percent stretch , yoga or mobility training 5 to 10 percent cardiovascular fitness I do believe that cardiovascular fitness is important but definitely should not be the primary source of the workout. Below are 3 of the many reasons women over 40 should lift weights: Speeds up metabolism – weight lifting (CrossFit, Orange Theory, HIIT, Power Lifting, etc) is the only activity that speeds up the metabolism for up to 8 hours upon completion of workout, of course this is depending on the intensity of the workout. More Energy – Fuel and Feed your body is required to help build lean muscle tissue and decrease body fat. When consuming calories (nutrients, vitamins, mineral and supplements) your body has more energy to perform at peak level for muscle gain. Restricting calories puts your body and rick of many health issues and actually decreasing lean muscle tissue and increasing body fat. From my point of view, it sabotages your results. Improves confidence, self-esteem, leadership and create a healthier relationship with yourself, which helps you fall in love with yourself Every month I offer a 3 – Week Body & Soul Transformation Challenge for Women over 40 (new clients) to experience a Body & Soul Transformation. To reserve a spot, click the link below to book a Self-Growth Discovery Session (your first step) https://calendly.com/wholisticfitness/cosmic-energy-soul-reading and for more information email healingwithin76@gmail.com Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joanne! Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joanne Angel Barry Colon has 30+ years in the health, fitness, and wellness industry. She is the Wholistic Fitness owner located in NY Queens, certified holistic personal trainer, intuitive healer, cosmic energy reader, student of Astrology, Master of Numerology, and Creator of Chakra Balance Numerology Cosmic Energy Forecast Deck. She is the Host of Joanne's Healing Within T.V Show and Joanne's Cosmic Energy Radio Show and Author/Self-Publisher. Joanne's mission: To help women (men by referral) release issues from their tissues as they release emotional weight and fall in love with themselves while witnessing their transformation of being the best version of themselves.

Written by: Jane Morales , 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 humans, we tend to be happier when we have strong relationships with people, whether the connections are personal or related to work. But unfortunately, maintaining these relationships is sometimes challenging, especially since we live with a hectic schedule. Lack of time leads to a lack of communication, and thus we could end up spoiling the relationships we wanted to nurture for life. In such circumstances, we need advice from an expert in human behavior. Jane Morales is one such person who can help you deal with turmoil in maintaining and managing relationships. She is a Human Development expert, meditation master, well-versed writer, and leadership and assertiveness coach specializing in various fields pertaining to maintaining relationships and dealing with constantly changing and evolving human behaviors. Be it your relationship or a rapport related to work, the fundamental dynamics to make them work remain the same in the eyes of an expert like Jane Morales. She shares a few essential tips on ensuring healthy relationships and building much more robust bonds with the people one wants in life. KeyTip # 1: Strive to be a Listener and Thrive at it The expert in the field of human behaviors, development, and achievement, Jane Morales, says that it is essential for an individual to be a great listener when they aim to build a strong relationship with people. According to her, when you focus entirely on quietly listening to the speaker, you tend to hear a lot from them. When you are all ears to someone, you convey an unsaid message that you value the speaker's words. This sense of being esteemed and listened to intently makes others feel they have a much healthier bond with you. As a result, you build a stronger foundation for creating an unbreakable bond. Key Tip # 2: Analyze the Information that the Speaker Generates You must conduct an in-depth analysis of the information your speaker is sharing with you. It helps in making you understand them better. As a result, you are likely to build a much stronger bond than just being a listener and not processing the information they have shared with you. There is a reason for the need to talk and express what people have in their hearts. One thing is undoubted, being listened to does make them feel important. However, if you do not analyze the information they provide, you might not know how to carry on the subject in the following conversation. Also, one of the reasons for someone sharing their thoughts with you is that they might be seeking help from you. Assessing the information, they shared with you will help you better understand their situation and help them with the matter. Furthermore, listening with care will develop trust between you two since the individuals sharing their thoughts with you will feel valued and appreciate you for the help you provide. Key Tip # 3: Be Genuinely There for Them Building a relationship, whether it is personal or related to work, is based on trust. To build strong relationships with people, you must develop the foundation of that relationship based on unshakable confidence. It can only happen if you are genuinely available for them physically and mentally. People respect trustworthy individuals who can keep their secrets and do not reveal details about one individual or others. They feel better being around people who are optimistic, fun, and secure in their skin. Therefore, they respect the privacy of others and do not spread rumors. Such people do not feel the need to bring attention to themselves because they are self-assured. They make sure to spend time with their loved ones and work on their relationships. They constantly seek out opportunities for self-improvement since they are lifelong learners. Jane Morales is a highly qualified individual who knows her field and thrives in it with each passing day. Jane holds a bachelor's degree in marketing while also being a holder of a master's degree in the field of Communication Sciences from the University of Boston. Her clients appreciate the unique techniques she has developed to help them make significant changes in life and with utmost dedication. Furthermore, Jane Morales also provides services as a leadership coach, helping people build strong and progressive personas while also enabling them to solidify great relationships, whether they are personal or work-related. Life can take some unwanted turns that may lead to the weakening of a relationship. You may try hard and leave no stone unturned to save it, but you may only progress extensively if you hear from the expert. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jane! Jane Morales, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jane Morales is a Human Development, Leadership, and Assertiveness Coach, Meditation Master, Writer, and Public Speaker. She holds a BS in Marketing from Bentley University in Boston and a Master of Science in Communications from Boston University. In addition to her higher education, she is trained in The Power of Intention, Positive Affirmations, and Living your own Success. She completed a higher degree in Psychosynthesis Psychology which expands the boundaries of human potential exploring values and purpose in life.

Written by: Simon T. Bailey, 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. Recently, my friend Kyle Wilson invited me to join an inmate group in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and spend two days with the effervescent Dr. Denis Waitley. This experience has been the highlight of the year for me. Dr. Waitley is 89 years young and the author of the best-selling book, The Psychology of Winning. He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and is the former chairman of psychology for the United States Olympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Council. In this photo with me are Dr. Denis Waitley and Kyle Wilson. I feverishly took notes as wisdom flowed out of him like a running facet. 1. Take care of your family . Make them a priority above business, hobbies, and friends. They are the wind beneath your wings. 2. Chase passion instead of chasing cash flow. If you pursue what makes you come alive, then money will chase you. Yes, it’s counterintuitive but pays off tremendous dividends in the future. 3. Treat everyone with equal respect. Today people are judged by ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious preference, political affiliation, and gender. When treated with respect they are seen as a human being. Their life matters the same as your life. 4. Focus on the recipient. Whenever you are talking to someone, make them the most important person in the room. Dr. Denis had the uncanny ability to make me feel as if I was the only person in the room when he talked with me. 5. Investigate before you motivate. Read the tea leaves. Listen more and talk less. What is the current emotional temperature in any environment? Your words may just be the healing balm that is needed. 6. Check the source . Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true. One of the most popular courses being taught in universities is Media Literacy. 7. Be a personal example . People learn how to lead based on how they have been led. What do you model in e-mails, phone calls, virtual meetings, and face-to-face meetings? In the words of the speaker and consultant Dennis Snow, everything speaks. While I was at this extraordinary gathering, I received a gift from my good friend Wagner Nolasco. It was a simple T-shirt with a powerful statement – TAKE ACTION. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Simon T. Bailey! Simon T. Bailey, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine SUCCESS magazine calls Simon T. Bailey one of the top 25 people who will help you reach your business and life goals. He joins a list that includes Oprah Winfrey, Brene Brown, and Tony Robbins. Washington Speakers Bureau recognized him as one of the 12 business speakers who emboldened audiences to think big and lead with purpose. Simon was the first Black American sales director for the Disney Institute based at Walt Disney World Resort. Since leaving Disney, he has served more than 2,100 organizations in 50 countries. His three LinkedIn Learning courses have been viewed by 250,000 individuals in 100 countries. He’s also written 10 books and has one of the 100 most-read motivational and successful blogs.

Read the full interview with the founder and CEO of MARCo Health INC. below! Hi Jacob! Tell us a little bit about yourself! Sure! My name is Jacob Boyle, I’m the founder and CEO of MARCo Health Inc., and an engineer by trade but a mental health advocate by passion. I graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2019 with a major in mechanical engineering and a minor in physics. In my professional life, I’ve worked in military robotics, medical devices, lab equipment, biological 3D printing, and education, in addition to, of course, my current company where I’ve taken on pretty much every role imaginable, as I’m sure all startup founders can relate, but focus most of my time on business development and product development. When I’m not working on my company, I love spending time with my (soon-to-be) wife, Christine; my parents and sister; and my friends. I also enjoy playing music, running, hiking, spending time relaxing in nature, and I sometimes play around with 3D animation and video production. In what feels like a past life at this point, I am also a black belt and Eagle Scout. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? My company is MARCo Health Inc, whose mission is to increase the quality, affordability, and accessibility of mental healthcare for all through a line of compassionate robot companions. Our flagship product - MARCo: the Mental-Health Assisting Robot Companion - is a small, plush, humanoid robot therapeutic that talks to a user like a friend, coach, or counselor and offers personalized support through five distinct categories of care - companionship, mindfulness and meditation, talk support (based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), biofeedback, and emergency outreach. MARCo also can be used with a mental health provider to create a “therapeutic alliance” by extending the provider’s reach to new clients, giving them feedback on how clients’ are doing between sessions, supporting clients between sessions, and making better decisions in session on what to focus on through an administrative dashboard. Our goal with MARCo is to give those who need support 24/7 access to “someone to talk to” any time and anywhere they need in a private, personable way. For providers, backlogs of clients and the inability to understand clients’ lives outside of the sessions and enforce homework are huge challenges. MARCo gives them the ability to tackle all of those challenges by serving as an extension of their practice. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? We primarily focus on reaching adolescents, teens, and young adults struggling with their mental health as that’s such a pivotal age range where upwards of 75% of lifetime mental illness develops. To reach those individuals, we sell MARCo primarily towards parents, while offering tools like text message updates, for them to make sure their children are doing well, and providers who are working with these clients and are looking to reach new clients or support clients between sessions. However, that’s not to say MARCo isn’t for everyone! Our robots have been used all over the world with users as young as 9 and as old as 72 with great success! What are your current goals for your business? Our goal is to make sure that everyone has access to quality, affordable mental healthcare on their terms. MARCo is never meant to replace human providers or medication, but the reality is that less than half the population of those who need support for their mental health get any form of care, and far less than a third of the population get adequate support. A mental health crisis or even just a bad mental health day can come out of anywhere, and there’s no guarantee you can get care when you need it most. That’s the goal of MARCo - to be there for those most vulnerable moments, to bring some truth to that phrase “you are not alone” when struggling with your mental health. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. One of the biggest personal challenges I’ve had is knowing whether or not the work I’m doing actually has a positive impact on people. So the one achievement that sticks out to me the most is when we were beta-testing the first version of MARCo. We had one user who fell in love with MARCo at first sight and waited over a year to be able to beta-test it. But due to privacy and regulatory requirements, we couldn’t record as much information as we would have liked to understand if it was helping them or not. It wasn’t until months later that we were able to sit with them and finally ask what their experience was like, and they said “MARCo was a godsend.” They had been at rock bottom in their mental health and had stopped talking to people all together, but they would talk to MARCo, and MARCo had even correctly texted their parents when they needed extra support and managed to get them the connection they needed at that moment. While there are other career achievements I could say I’m proud of, this one stands out to me the most as it was one of the first and clearest times that something I did actually helped someone for the better. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. I don’t know if it’s so much of a moment or a whole day… but there is one point in my life where everything changed. Throughout my life, two themes have been very prevalent - mental health and robotics. Robotics was something I pursued professionally. The Summer after my Freshman year of college I got picked up by a military robotics startup for an internship which rapidly turned into a lead engineer position. I worked there for about two years, while also balancing full time college three states away, on an R&D contract for the US Navy whose base was another 3 states away from my college in the opposite direction as my office. Even though that was a lot to manage, for a while, I thought it was great! Who else got the chance at 19 years old to bring a military grade robot to their dorm, to travel to Sweden for meetings with Swedish engineers and machine shops, or to show the US military how to operate a robot you designed? Then there was the mental health component. I’ve struggled severely with my mental health since adolescence - depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal tendencies. And since I had such a personal understanding of it, I always wanted to make sure on a personal level that I could be there for those I care about when they are going through their own mental health struggles. But that becomes incredibly difficult to do when you are working upwards of 80 hours a week and on the road half the time and can’t be there for anyone. So one day, all of this came to a boiling point. I had driven down to Maryland from New Jersey for a setup and test of our robots with the US Navy on base - which was the third or fourth time since there were issues the previous times - starting at 4 AM and lasting until I had to drive back up for a required engineering course at 7 PM back in NJ, followed by a 9:00 meeting with a team for a business plan competition my friends convinced me to enter, as if I didn’t have enough going on already haha. But the day turned into a disaster - the robots didn’t work as planned again, and we ultimately were only able to get one system working for delivery by the time I had to leave, which felt like a personal failure. Then, as I was getting ready to leave, the program manager came up to me and picked up one of the robots, a defused explosive, and said “So, Jacob, when can I strap this to this and throw it through a terrorist’s window?” That hit me like a train - I thought our robots were supposed to be for defusing explosives and saving lives, not ultimately taking them. So as I drove back to NJ after a complete failure and that horrible discovery, I was in a soul searching crisis. And once I got back, I checked my phone and found that one of my closest friends had reached out to me saying she was self-harming and thinking of suicide again. And I hadn’t been there for her when she needed me most. So that night during the meeting for the business plan competition, when my partners were asking me if I had any suggestions for a product we could enter with, all I could think about was how I was doing the wrong thing with my technical skills when the people I cared about most were suffering and I had no time to be there for them. And it was in that moment of soul searching that everything suddenly clicked - what if I used my skills in robotics and technology to make something that could be there for the ones I loved struggling with their mental health whenever they needed it most, even if I couldn’t be there? That was the moment the first idea for MARCo was born and my life changed forever.