Written by: Dannie De Novo, 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. Well, it’s here—a new year. After the last two years, 2023 is highly anticipated in both a good way and in a not-so-good way. The key to starting off the year on the right foot, and continuing throughout the year in a good headspace, is to hold true to the practice of a few good mood rituals. There are a few ways that I keep my good mood throughout the day, week, month, year, etc. They are simple ideas that once adopted as habits make life that much easier, and we could all use a little bit of easy right now (especially when it comes to our mood and happiness). The main point here is to keep it easy on yourself. Once you start stressing over these little practices, they no longer work their magic. Be patient. Take deep breaths. Enjoy the process of being a happy being! 1. Something that makes you feel good Let’s start off really easy. Hopefully, it is easy for you to think of something that makes you feel good—something loving and productive, of course. I love nature. When I am in nature, I feel amazing! I feel good mental, physically, and spiritually. So, I make myself spend time outdoors every single day—no matter the weather. Typically, I either walk or hike during the day with my dog Cali, but if time won’t allow for it, I simply sit outside, touch something green, and listen to what nature has to offer. What makes you feel good? Start incorporating those things into your day. Pick sacred good mood rituals that make you feel complete and like a better version of yourself. Journaling, reading, affirmations, spending time with pets, spending time with loved ones, laughing, and exercise are all great ways to switch from feeling down or anxious to feeling upbeat and relaxed. Make these activities daily practices and they will help contribute to an overall good mood. 2. Meditation for a good mood The incredibly awesome part about meditation is the more frequently you practice meditation, the more the effects sustain themselves throughout your day and throughout your life. Daily meditation practice equals daily sustained good mood. Meditation is the gift that keeps on giving. Here is the best part. You don’t have to devote more than a few minutes each day to meditation, and you don’t have to be perfect in your practice. Start out slow and make it easy to start. Begin with just 5 minutes each day. Keep it simple. Focus on your breath. Focus on a mantra or affirmation. Focus on the quiet. What your meditation practice really needs to be is meaningful for you. You simply want to feel more connected to your heart. Remember, with meaning and connectedness, comes greater happiness and fulfillment. 3. Gratitude People get stuck when it comes to gratitude—as if it is this almighty feeling that you can only tap into under the most rare and amazing of circumstances. But we’re all about the easy right now, so let’s break it down. The truth is that gratitude is simply feeling or showing appreciation toward someone or something. So, a gratitude practice is a daily commitment to focusing your energy and thoughts on what you appreciate. Gratitude shifts our thinking to the present moment, and it allows us to celebrate what we have now and what we have accomplished. It refocuses our energy on our dreams and goals and on love instead of the chaos around us. Appreciate the sight of a beautiful tree or appreciate the smell of that first cup of coffee each morning. Give the good things in your life a little extra positive attention and see how the universe brings more goodness to you. 4. Remind yourself of your why If you don’t remind yourself each and every day why you made the decision to seek and hold onto your good mood, you won’t keep pursuing it. Remind yourself often of why you made the decision to live your life full of happiness. When I wake up each morning, the first things I see are pictures of my daughter, and next to her photos is a little sign that reads, “When you feel like quitting, remember why you started.” Look, this human thing is hard sometimes. The world can be less than kind and supportive. Your happiness rests solely in your hands, so you need to learn how to support yourself in your happiness and beyond. What really matters to you? Why is it essential that you live each day feeling good? For me, it’s all about my daughter. I can’t stand the thought of her living an unhappy life, and so, each day I recommit to being the mother who shows my daughter how to live a happy life. My daughter’s future is enough to motivate me each morning to continue the pursuit of happiness. 5. Be brave I firmly believe that courage is the gateway to your good mood and, ultimately, to your ideal life. You have the amazing ability to form the picture of any life you want and, by so imagining it, then live the life you desire. But you must have the courage to act on those dreams. Otherwise, you know on some level you are just kidding yourself. Okay, so maybe this one isn’t the easiest ritual to begin, but you can start small. Begin with a little self-forgiveness. Then, stop listening to the opinions of others. Instead, start doing some little things that make you happy regardless of what others have to say about it. Remember, when your mood is dark and small, so is your world. But 2023 isn’t about playing it small, and neither are you. You deserve to be happy. So, make the decision to be happy and then go out there and live happy! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Dannie De Novo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dannie De Novo is a happiness coach and international bestselling author. After having battled depression and anxiety for most of her early life, Dannie set out on a course to learn what true happiness was for her and for the sake of her baby girl. Now, Dannie regularly appears on ABC, Fox, NBC, and CBS TV news and talk shows as an expert on creating happiness, combating loneliness and depression, and managing anxiety. For more about Dannie De Novo, visit www.DannieDeNovo.com.

Written by: Laura Di Franco, 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. “What do you think about... “ I cut myself off and paused. Why am I asking someone else what they think when I already know how I feel, and the feelings are strong and clear? Self-doubt, fear, second-guessing: That self-sabotaging BS has no room in my 2023 agenda. Let’s do something different. Let’s move to another level of badassery in the mindset and manifestation department this year. Let’s trust ourselves and our intuition, inner wisdom, and power at a whole other level. Let’s do that to the point that when we catch ourselves asking the outside world for their opinion, we pause and are very careful about what and how we ask. Asking for feedback the smarter way The truth is, if you ask for feedback, you’ll get it. You’ll get so much of it you’ll be completely overwhelmed. When you ask a person or group of people what they think, you’ll get every end of the spectrum of possible opinions on something. And you’ll move back to that horrible feeling of confusion and overwhelm you started with—not helpful. What should I do now? I’ll tell you what you should do; practice honing your intuition. Stop doubting what you feel. Stop underestimating your power to tap into what’s good for your soul, life, or business. You can tap into that right this moment and every moment you want to. Perfect clarity is always there for the taking. “The fact that you asked the question probably means you already know the answer.” I spoke those words during a Zoom the other day and was really talking to myself. My healer friend asked for the group’s opinion about something, but it was easy to hear her self-doubt in the question. Isn’t it always easy to hear it in someone else? That’s when I had a clue about my dilemma. The second I ask for the opinion means I already know the answer. Most of the time, my thoughts of confusion, overwhelm, or “I don’t know what to do” mean the situation is a ‘no’ because the confusion gives it away. When things are clear and awesome ‘yes’ inside me, there are no questions, no confusion, and I don’t need anyone else’s opinion. BAM. Gosh, I love it when I have the secrets of the Universe. Now, it’s a matter of remembering in the moment. It’s a matter of waking up and using that awareness to understand that self-doubt and second-guessing are clues. We just have to remember. The strategic way to ask for opinions It’s smart to ask for opinions and feedback when you’re creating something new. My business partners love doing polls and talking about their AB testing and due diligence. There’s only one problem. They aren’t asking their ideal clients—they’re asking everybody. Just like niching for your perfect ideal client is important when you write your sales copy, it’s just as important (if not more) when you’re polling people for an opinion on what you’re creating. Be careful about who you’re asking. And be careful about how you ask, making sure you’re being specific enough about your request. Either that, or you’ll have to be careful what you wish for in terms of feedback because you’ll get so much of it and so many different and completely opposite opinions you’ll be right back to where you started: confused. The strategic way to ask for opinions is to come to a solid conclusion based on your own inner guide and then ask a very curated group of perfect ideal clients (people who’ve purchased your offers before and love them) what they think. Do that, and you’ll have important opinions you can base some of your decisions on. Taking your power back I noticed that I felt less empowered when I gave a lot of weight to someone else’s opinion. I literally felt weaker and less centered or grounded. That happens when you stop trusting your gut, intuition, and inner wisdom. The problem with relying on someone else (even a trusted inner circle) for their opinion is that you move further away from your own center, the core soul GPS system that contains the directions for everything you want and need to make your life’s dreams come true. Take your power back. Connect with your badass self this year. Practice listening to what she/he/they has to say. Amp up your meditation practice. Hire a breathwork teacher. Do some slow-flow yoga. Get back into your body-mind and connect with the most powerful source you have for every single decision you’re trying to make: yourself. Cheers for the most powerful year ever! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or visit my website for more info! Read more from Laura! Laura Di Franco, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laura Di Franco, CEO of Brave Healer Productions, an award-winning publisher for holistic health and wellness professionals. She has 30 years of expertise in holistic physical therapy, 14 years of training in the martial arts, and her company has published over 50 Amazon bestselling books. She's a spoken-word poet, lover of dark chocolate, and has a contagious passion for helping you share brave words that build your business. BraveHealer.com

Written by: Ellen Kocher, 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. Every year at the beginning of January, clients come to me with resolutions around unrealistic diets, exercise, sleep routines, and commitments to connect more with people that are important to them. These intentions are wonderful but don’t work. Studies show that only about 46% of people who make New Year’s resolutions are successful. I believe that by “leaving you to your own devices” to choose from my 10 suggestions below, you can set realistic well-being goals for 2023. Why? We are spending an unprecedented amount of time in front of our devices and our boundaries of home, work, family, and school are all blurred because everything is happening simultaneously. So, what better place to start? What’s a Device? The Oxford language dictionary reveals two definitions for the word “Device”. Device definition No.1 A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment. Example: “Computer devices are a part of our everyday lives.” Device definition No.2 A plan, method, or trick with a particular aim. Example: “Resolutions are traditional devices to kick off a new year » This year, no more focusing on resolutions around unrealistic diets, more exercise, sleep routines, and commitments to connect more with people that are important to us. This year, I “leave you to your own devices” to choose from the suggestions below help you reach your realistic well-being goals for 2023. 10 New Devices for 2023 1. Measure how much time you spend online. Why? You tend to underestimate it. Recent research shows that, globally, the average time spent on the internet per person was 6 hours and 37 minutes per day. That’s one-quarter of our lives. If we remove sleep, that’s about half of our waking time. To manage anything, we need to measure it. Start by measuring your screen time (check your device settings) to know where you stand. Then, I leave you to your own devices to decide what you do about that. 2. Communicate how and when you are available to others. Why? Others will adjust to your boundaries if you are clear. The current abundance of technology in daily life creates opportunities for interruptions in human interactions, called « technoference” or « phubbing ». Recent research suggests that if individuals perceive technology use as phubbing, these perceptions negatively affect their relationships and mood. By communicating clear boundaries, we can manage most interferences. Start by determining how you can communicate your availability (out-of-office messages, a no phone-at-the-table policy, etc.). Then, I leave you to your own devices to do it and observe its benefits. 3. Keep your phone silent and away when talking to people. Why? There’s nothing more valuable than your 100% undivided attention. Rather than promising to spend more time with people in 2023, try committing to fewer phone distractions. According to Sherry Turkle, author of the book Reclaiming Conversation, with phone distractions, we lose our ability to have deeper, more spontaneous conversations with others, changing the nature of our social interactions in alarming ways. Silencing and removing your phone are the first steps to deeper relationships. Try it. Then, I leave you to your own devices to observe how it feels. 4. Create tech-free zones at home or work. Why? Not seeing devices reduces pressure on willpower and temptation and keeps you less distracted. Whether you are aiming to eat, exercise or sleep better in 2023, undistracted, tech-free zones can influence them all. They can: contribute to healthier social behavior and positive life outcomes for kids, improve cognitive functioning, mental health, and obesity, and give us an opportunity to relax or move our bodies more. We check our phones nearly 300 times a day and creating tech-free zones is a first step to accessing freedom and greater well-being. Try it at home or at work. Then, I leave you to your own devices to decide what you do with your tech-free time. 5. Incorporate physical breaks into your tech routine. Why? Even quick exercise can boost blood flow, oxygen, and brain chemicals. Physical breaks can help prevent obesity and health, free up time for more exercise, and improve sleep. Try to a physical break every hour to move your body for at least 5 minutes. Then, I leave you to your own devices to observe how this makes you feel about your food choices, exercise, and sleep. 6. Take a pause. Why? Any non-stop behavior puts you at risk for burnout. Breaking your autopilot tech-driven rhythm restores your normal human rhythm. Start by building a few small open stretches of time into your day. Try not eating in front of your computer or with your phone in your hand, or not replying immediately to messages or emails. Observe how these short breaks make a difference. Then, I leave you to your own devices to decide whether you feel the beneficial reset. 7. Clean up your smartphone. Why? You become more focused and minimize decision making which helps your brain to perform better. Information overload reduces our capacity to function effectively, which can lead to poor or impossible decision-making, analysis paralysis, and burnout. Try disabling notifications, deleting apps, silencing, or even leaving your phone behind. Then, I leave you to your own devices to observe how your decision-making and brain power change. 8. Practice staying present, completely undistracted, for 15 minutes each day. Why? Anything requiring full presence will help build attention and concentration, reduce stress, enhance senses, and strengthen self-control, memory, and decision-making. Try meditation, mindfulness, relaxation, or any undistracted concentration activity. Then, I leave you to your own devices to use a few minutes to observe how you feel – scanning from head to toe. 9. Go (or look!) outside! Attention Restoration Theory claims that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits and the restoration of human attention. Even a short look at a natural landscape can help your brain recharge, reduce stress and send positive emotions soaring. So, start by observing how much nature you already have in your day, then aim for at least 20 minutes to boost your well-being. Then, I leave you to your own devices to observe and reap the benefits. 10. Write it down (with a pen). Why? The act of writing down resolutions can improve one’s success rate in achieving them long-term by 42%. Writing gives you clarity, a constant reminder, and is the “action” that just might help you go from knowing to doing. Maybe your real new device for 2023 is simply a new pen! My job as a coach is to leave you to your own devices and to support you in choosing how you will go from going from knowing what to do to actually doing it. This January, I challenge you to make it your new device to choose from the 10 suggestions above, buy a new pen and maybe even include some mandatory disconnects for yourself, your families, and your teams. Remember “Sometimes you have to disconnect to stay connected...” — Regina Brett Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read More from Ellen! Ellen Kocher, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ellen Kocher is an Economist and Certified Workplace Wellness Consultant who holds a master’s degree in Health & Wellness Coaching. Following 10 years as an Executive in Finance, Ellen made some major lifestyles change and has dedicated the past 20+ years to walking her talk through workplace wellbeing, promoting a holistic approach to eating, physical activity, health, resilience, and self-care. Ellen has coached hundreds of individuals and groups in dozens of organizations to make sustainable lifestyle changes empowering them to go from knowing what to do to actually doing it! Most recently Ellen’s work focuses on the 50+ demographic.

Written by: JL Keez, 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 darkness of night greets again. The two am pull toward an entity lurking in the day time shadows emerges once more to taunt. Pacing the yard, calling out for release from this tormentor, the all too familiar depth of despair grips. The mind searches for ways to stop this invasion. None is found. Sitting against the wall of the shed, head in hands, tears falling, the ‘Why’ echoes from within. Eventually, sleep takes over. As the sun appears, the nightly visitor leaves, normality returns. But the mind, the body knows that this unwelcome emotion simply takes rest for now; suicidal depression is its name. Where the pull of suicide exists in one's life the question screaming to be answered can remain a mystery. Has the body grown too tired to nurture, and has the soul suffered an unresolved trauma? My life was lived in the grip of this entity for many long years. Without understanding, I sourced solutions suggested by well meaning family and friends. The traditional methods of medication and rest gave little comfort. Searching for an ‘out’ found me standing on the doorstep of a psychologist whose life had once been inhabited by this emotion. At last, the clues, the answers, and the solutions showed themselves. Exploring my story, life events, and most importantly relationship connections would provide the path of healing required for this nightly invader to find its demise. A life of childhood control via the family culture where hitting and yelling instilled deep fear was examined. The resulting thought patterns adopted explained the behaviours I exhibited. The emotional load gave meaning to a downfall into an eating disorder followed by the development of associated mental illnesses. The discovery of sexual abuse hidden by those who knew lined my life deteriorating from the strong athlete I was to the frail withdrawn shell I had become. Identifying an exhaustive list of contributing life events, my mental status found understanding, at last. The task at hand – to eliminate their hold, set suicidal depression packing and free my soul to live. I was to learn this was no easy task to undertake. With the suggestion of communing with suicidal depression when ‘it’ appears was met with, “You must be kidding!” Yet here I was, two am in the morning doing exactly that! Emotionally spent, wishing to end a life of pain in any way possible, I fought to pull toward the kitchen where overdosing was the attraction. Slowly I asked the questions requiring answers. In the quiet, responses came. The answers shared provided the information needed to take to my psychologist. Together we wrote a story of deep sorrow born from the words of blame assigned me as the abuse was inflicted. The responsibility handed to me had become a strain held within my brain and felt within my body. The heaviness of ‘fault’ of ‘the abuser will be killed’ of ‘no one will like you’ had determined the script running my life from those damning moments forward. Without acknowledgement or resolution when a child, the truths taught became my guide for life. The eating disorder reflected the desire for acceptance. Each of the presenting mental illnesses reflected a different aspect of the childhood upbringing and abuse and how I was interpreting it. My life was the result of messages given as to how life apparently works. Twisting my mind into confusion the development of suicidal depression was inevitable. Designing a new script of truth where responsibility was returned to their owners, where ‘how life really works’ replaced the false ideals my childhood had taught me was written. Gradually I freed myself. Gradually suicidal depression had played its role in my healing. Gradually the nightly episodes visited less often. In time, realising ‘it’ no longer had purpose, suicidal depression left. I guess it found the bin it now belonged to! Finding the purpose, enduring the pain, asking the questions, discovering the clues to form solutions was the path I followed with the guidance of the one whose life had once been invaded by this same entity. This was the support necessary for me to heal this part of my life where mental illness was the outcome of a life lived in fear. For this is where fear takes you – to the depths of suffering where the only way out is through. Sitting here today I give genuine thanks to suicidal depression for showing me the way, and for returning me to me. Not all who suffer are as fortunate to find their healing. To those who do not, I understand the choice to leave. There is no judgement, only the purest of love and understanding. The lesson society needs to hear is one of prevention. For me, prevention must be in the form of education where the lines of the curriculum speak of unconditional love and acceptance. Where the lines of curriculum clearly outline, and demonstrate, the impact of trauma. Where the lines of the curriculum provide step-by-step processes for relating through kindness. Where the lines of the curriculum are influenced by those who have suffered, for this is the wisdom we are able to provide. The removal of the deadly practices criticism, blame, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing and bribing from relationship connections to me is a must. The inclusion of the caring practices of unconditional support, encouragement, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting and negotiating to me is a must. This is the teaching of Dr. William Glasser, founder of Reality Therapy. This was the therapy undertaken with the guidance of my psychologist. May I encourage readers to research this approach? The next step – is for society to hear these words, listen with intent and adopt the guidelines suggested. May unconditional love line our relationships and kindness be the platform adopted in all connections made. May the framework for such be constructed using the caring practices outlined above. I dedicate this article to tWitch a beautiful soul who did not find his way through. I understand his decision. It was once mine. In gratitude I thank the doctrines of Reality Therapy for lifting me out. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from JL! JL Keez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine J.L Keez survived a nine-year struggle with anorexia nervosa. She endured years of mental illness, including suicidal depression, OCD and depersonalisation. Today, she is the Director of JL Keez Anorexia Unlocked, a passionate speaker, author and Thought Leader in her field. In her role as a Reality Therapy Coach and influential teacher she empowers others to heal their lives through delivering the understanding required to do so.

Written by: Paul A Cicchini, 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. Over the past year, I’ve urged you to be ethical, encouraged you to push past feeling like an imposter, cheered you on as you embraced positivity like Ted Lasso, and even coached you on how to survive a bad boss. One of the final pieces of advice I want to leave you with is how to spot and deal with Energy Vampires. What’s an Energy Vampire, you say? Well, there are many definitions out there and there are several people credited with coining the term or its synonyms such as Emotional Vampire (A. Bernstein) or Psychic Vampire (D. Fortune). In any case, my own interpretation is that this type of “Vampire” is a person in your life that sucks all of the positive energy out of your being. You know how gloomy weather, or a minor illness can bring down your entire day? People can do that, too. Search your social milieu. You know somebody like that, don’t you? These people can appear in your world in many ways: a supervisor (which we touched upon in my Bad Bosses article), a co-worker, a customer, a friend, or (in the worst case) a family member. How do these people siphon the positivity out of you? There are several ways. It can be as simple as them being the constant “Debbie Downer” at work—the one who finds the negative aspect of every situation or story. Say you’re excited about a cool new restaurant on the upper east side that you discovered and can’t wait to share with your coworkers. The Energy Vampire will interrupt your story with, “Oh, I know that restaurant. My cousin went there last month, and he said the wait staff was terrible.” There are also other, more complex, and more sinister types of Energy Vampires. You may find yourself in a meeting at work and you come up with yet another particularly brilliant idea, and your immediate supervisor for the umpteenth time tries his damnedest to shoot holes in your plan. After the meeting, you wonder, does he do this out of jealousy, or does he do it because he is an undiagnosed sadist? One of the more exasperating situations is when the Vampire happens to be your client. These folks make you want to re-think the old adage, “The customer is always right.” When I owned a video production company, I once had a wedding customer who despite countless revisions refused to acknowledge their satisfaction with their final tape (yes, it was that long ago-before the fully digital age). Every time I fixed an issue that they had with the video, they found fault with something else. It soon became clear that they were trying to wear me down so that I would cave and give them their wedding package for free just to get them to stop bothering me. The whole experience compelled me to hire a lawyer to craft a “jerk-proof” service contract. Surprisingly, some of the worst kinds of Energy Vampires could be some of your dearest friends or family. Do you have someone close to you that frequently calls you to relate a story and no matter how you react to their situation, it’s the wrong thing to say? If you play devil’s advocate, they get angry with you. If you offer advice as to what to do next, they argue why it won’t work. If you tell them they are one hundred percent in the right, they dismiss you as lacking objectivity and being biased in their favor. You can’t seem to win with these people, and they suck the good mood right out of you. Before we tackle the solution to Energy Vampires, let’s recap their personality traits. Why do these people bring such negativity? Because they thrive on drama. It’s like an addiction to them. They love being the martyr. Why do they attack others or even you? Because they never hold themselves accountable. Every terrible thing in their lives is somebody else’s fault. Why do they persist in their ways, even though they lose friendships and damage family ties? Because, like a compulsive gambler glued to a Vegas slot machine, they get enough of a payout to forget about their losses. When they act like this, they frequently succeed because they get their way through guilt and intimidation, so they keep on doing it. Often, it morphs into just another form of bullying similar to the types I mentioned in my Conflict Resolution article. What to do about these energy thieves? Well, some people say that you should just cut them out of your life, but that’s not often practical or even possible. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with setting a few boundaries. In the case of the drama-addicted friend, tell them that their situation seems so tricky that you are reluctant to give advice and perhaps they need to seek out professional help. I’m kind of an empath. I’m overly in-tune with other people’s emotions. It’s the occupational hazard of being a psychologist. As such, I can be particularly susceptible to energy vampires and drama queens/kings. The best way to fight that is to convey less sympathy. It’s like air to an Energy Vampire. If you seem indifferent, they may move on to someone else. In the case of the co-worker that always poo-poo’s your suggestions or ideas, say, “Well, I’d like to see how the rest of the group feels. How about we take it to a vote?” In the case of the martyr family member, don’t attack them. Instead of throwing up your hands and exclaiming, “I dunno what you want from me!” try saying something like, ‘You know, whenever I’m in a situation like that, I think about my own accountability. Not that I did anything wrong, but what could I have done differently to get a better outcome?” Finally, the best way to protect your energy (and your mental health) is to learn that beautiful, concise word, No. In the case of the bully, don’t be their doormat. For the conflict addict, tell them you are not feeling well or are too tired for their story today. For the martyr, tell them that you have confidence in their abilities, especially in their ability to find their own solution. In all these cases, when someone tries to steal your positive power, remember the power lies with you to stop it. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Paul! Paul A Cicchini, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sir Paul Cicchini M.Ed., Ed.S., NCSP is a nationally certified school psychologist. He specializes in character education and is the only school psychologist on the East Coast to be certified in the new field of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)/Character Ed (Rutgers Univ. 2016). He is the owner of One Knight Publishing, LLC Sir Paul aspires to be a well-rounded Renaissance man. His list of personal accomplishments includes cable television host (Cars Weekly Video Magazine-Philadelphia), AP credentialed sports journalist, humorist, adjunct professor, martial artist, fencer, semi-pro football player, high school football coach, collegiate football scout. His title of "Sir" comes from his rank of Knights Commander with the Templar Knights SMOTJ. His second novel, YOUNG CYRANO, is the fictionalized account of the teenage life of Cyrano de Bergerac. It received a  rating from the respected Readers’ Favorite website (click a link to read their five-star review). Paul’s most recent novel, THE ESSENTIALZ is about a team of teenage superheroes that undergo the same challenges as modern teens.

Written by: Christopher H. McKinney Sr., 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. It's Increasing. Conflict. For many in the workplace, conflict is an ugly 4-letter word. The mere mention of conflict at work causes various negative responses, from acid reflux to an upset stomach, a throbbing headache, hives, and more. The stress of dealing with negative workplace conflict can be quite debilitating; unfortunately, negative conflict in the workplace is not decreasing. In the article “Conflict In The Workplace Negatively Impacts Wellness: Here’s What To Do About It”, Cecilia de San Jose’ referenced a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development from the United Kingdom that showed 26% of respondents and 20% of employers claim conflict at work is common. In 2008, CPP Global commissioned a study, “Workplace Conflict and How Businesses Can Harness It to Thrive”, to examine the impacts. The researchers found that 85% of employees at all levels experience conflict. They found that in the U.S., we spend around 2.6 hours each week handling workplace conflict. In an August 2022 report published by the Meyers-Briggs Company, “Conflict at Work” their research showed that managers and leaders spend 4.34 hours a week dealing with conflict. This is a 54% per week increase from 2008. It's Harmful Negative workplace conflict can lead to Cortisol Dumps, large amounts of Cortisol released into our bodies. This is due to the body responding to workplace conflict with a fight or flight response. Short periods of Cortisol have a minimal negative impact, but extended periods of Cortisol in our bodies can have harmful effects. The Mayo Clinic article “Stress Management” discusses what happens when the primary stress hormone, Cortisol, is released into our bloodstream. A “Cortisol Dump” driven by a fight or flight response to negative workplace conflict causes three immediate impacts: It increases the amount of sugar in our bloodstream. It increases the brain’s ability to use glucose. It enhances the body’s ability to repair itself in the event of an injury. The “Stress Management” article goes on to say, “Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system, and growth processes.” As these functions shut down, it is easy to see why routine “Cortisol Dumps” are bad for our health. A friend and author, Dr. Michael Perry, wrote in his book “THEXPERT LEADER”, “If stressors like job security, being singled out, or fear of loss are the order of the day, the short-term impact of Cortisol can be any number of reactionary behaviors, including rushing to judgment, lack of creativity, and flawed decision making. Over the long-term, the result of a stressful work environment can be adverse physical consequences, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and organ problems.” This makes it painfully clear why unbridled negative workplace conflict is detrimental to our companies. So as leaders in the workplace, this is not something we can avoid. We can see from the data, workplace conflict has been increasing over time and has harmful impacts on our people and us, so action on our part is critical. We must learn to deal effectively with negative conflict to facilitate good health and high-performance cultures. In this article, I will outline some practical steps to assist you in being even more effective as a leader. "Negative workplace conflict left unresolved can deteriorate into an aggressive cancer." Leaders Role What role does the leader play in handling negative workplace conflict? The leader plays the most crucial role. My mantra is “leadership is relentless” because there is always something to address, and commonly it is workplace conflict. In the Forbes Magazine article “5 Keys of Dealing with Workplace Conflict”, Mike Myatt stated, “… leadership and conflict go hand-in-hand. Leadership is a full-contact sport, and if you cannot or will not address conflict in a healthy, productive fashion, you should not be in a leadership role.” I wholeheartedly agree! And much like bad news does not get better with time, negative workplace conflict left unresolved does not get better with time either. Quite the opposite is true. The negative workplace conflict left unresolved can deteriorate into aggressive cancer. Conflict does not typically resolve itself positively without intervention. First: The leader must step into the gap to ascertain the problem and work with the involved parties to resolve it. When I say “leader”, this does not always mean the head of the company or organization. There are leaders at multiple levels; ideally, the leader closest to the situation should move first. Still, there may be situations where this person does not have the training or authority to resolve it. In this case, I advocate for solving the problem at the lowest level possible, so proceed up the food chain until you reach the right person. Next: Friend and co-author of “Triumphant Transitions”, Henry Hayes, often says, “Leaders lead.” When we as leaders fail to step into the gap or hesitate to step into the gap, many potential undesired impacts are hanging in the wing. We will delve into those later. As leaders, we must clearly articulate the following: We see the conflict. Our desire to resolve the conflict. We will actively engage until the resolution. * This cannot be delegated. "In times of chaos or disruption, people look to the leader to stand up and create stability." Who Wants It Addressed Even though it may go unspoken, everyone involved in the negative conflict wants the issue addressed. Even if the person involved is a bully, deep down inside, they want the issue resolved like everyone else. I will state again, the average person does not like conflict. All involved have some degree of a fight or flight response, which means everyone’s bodies are impacted. * Sidebar: If you have someone on your team that does like to engage in negative conflict routinely, you may need to evaluate if they should be on your team or not. This may be a potential source of constant disruption. The negative conflict makes it hard to concentrate and work on anything else effectively. If I get my dopamine hits by marking things off my checklist, the conflict will throw me off. All other employees, even those not directly involved, want the conflict to end because everyone in the workspace can feel the tension, and this tension disrupts production to some degree. It makes things uncertain and, thus, will likely elicit the fight or flight response for many. As a result, they subsequently experience the effects of having primary bodily functions halted during the conflict. As the leader, we want the negative conflict resolved for the aforementioned reasons. Additionally, it is hard to focus on the things we need to focus on (board meetings, strategic plans, strategic collaborations, etc.) when our thoughts are consumed by “Person A” being at war with “Person B”, and it is disrupting to operations. "Your audio has to match your video." What Happens When We Don’t Address It Most people do not want to engage in conflict as a natural default. Most people want to exist in an environment where there is minimal tension. Well, at least I do. So, I understand why some leaders will attempt to avoid it. Again, it is a natural inclination, but when we avoid it, three main things tend to transpire. Usually, the first area impacted is productivity. The production of the team or group typically decreases when there is unresolved negative conflict in the workplace. When things are terrible, most people are in survival mode. Even if they are not directly involved, they walk around trying to avoid getting caught in the fray. Which typically means minds are distracted from the main thing, production. This means our customers are not getting the best service possible (internal and external). This has implications for the bottom line. Next, there will typically be a loss of innovation for the reasons above. Who has time to solve existing or emerging problems when everyone walks around on eggshells? And in today’s fast pace global economy most of us cannot afford to miss out on an opportunity to better serve our customers. The third area to take a hit is the leader’s credibility. Now you might be saying, “Why would my credibility take a hit, Chris?” Glad you asked. Friend and author of “Turning Point Leadership”, Ronald Harvey, also has a simple quote: “Your audio has to match your video.” It means our words and actions must be congruent. As leaders, we should be the chief advocates of the core values and culture we desire to see modeled in our companies and organizations. So, when there is an unresolved conflict, and we walk past it, our “audio is not matching our video.” This can lead to unspoken thoughts of “how can we be “team-focused” when one person is allowed to disrupt the whole team.” If we could read the bubble over people’s heads, it might read, “For real!??! Are you going to let John Doe completely disrupt the place? Are you going to do NOTHING!! I have work to do you know! I thought you were in charge but obviously not!” In times of chaos or disruption, people look to the leader to stand up and create stability. People can become disillusioned and lose faith when we fail to step into the gap to address negative workplace conflict. Disillusionment leads to disengagement, which also has implications on the bottom line. People see who the real power broker is when we fail to act, so our credibility takes a hit. What Happens When We Address It As the leader, it is incumbent upon us to go first. Even though it can be very uncomfortable for the most seasoned leader to deal with negative workplace conflict, one of the first impacts of stepping into the gap is that we ease the tension and anxiety in the workplace. Once the tension and anxiety ease, production will start to increase. People tend to focus on the main thing instead of thinking, “Is it time to go home yet?” The reduction of Cortisol in their bodies gives them the bandwidth to focus on other areas. We will also tend to see innovation increase. People will have the capacity to better take care of the customer by eliminating tension. This will help put you back on the path to gaining more market share or establishing new markets. Our action reinforces our established credibility, or we can start to repair the damage it sustained during our inaction. Most people are forgiving, and even if we hesitated initially, we could potentially remove the tarnish from our armor. The bottom line is that we as leaders must proactively address negative workplace conflict and encourage and empower others to do the same. When we do not or if we delay, we cost our companies and organizations large amounts of money. The “Conflict at Work” research mentioned earlier identified that the total cost of conflict in the United Kingdom was £28.5 billion. In the U.S., it is estimated that the cost is $359 billion. "Only 3 things happen naturally in an organization: friction, confusion, and underperformance; everything else requires leadership." – Peter Drucker I hope this added value to you. If you are sitting there saying Chris, that sounds well and good, but I need help dealing with conflict as it is not a strong suit, I get it. You may have yet to receive training or mentorship on appropriately dealing with negative workplace conflict. My company 10X Leadership Consulting is poised to come alongside you to assist. I invite you to schedule a free consultation to explore the possibilities. Worst case scenario, I will offer you my best advice at no cost. Click the logo to book a free consultation. Also, if you are looking for a dynamic speaker for your event, click HERE for a free consultation. I have spoken to thousands and inspired numerous audience types, from students to the military to senior executives to the workforce. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Christopher! Christopher H. McKinney Sr., Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Chris is the founder and CEO of 10X Leadership Consulting (10XLC). 10XLC is a premier consulting company that identifies and diagnoses issues that impede the development and growth of businesses. 10XLC specializes in strategy, leadership, and culture development. Chris is also a co-author of the book “Triumphant Transitions” published by Trilogy Publishing. As a 30-year Air Force veteran, he developed the mantras “Leadership is relentless!” and “When you add value, you become invaluable.” Both were key beacons that helped him navigate and have highly successful careers in two different industries. Success for Chris is seeing people around him grow, evolve, and become effective when they gain a seat at the table. His mindset is for his life to be at its fullest, others must release their gift(s) into the world. By releasing their gift(s), the world is made more complete.

Written by: Rita Briffa, 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. These are the best days to finish off the year wiser and smarter. What 3 things are you releasing from 2022? I am happy to let go of: My busyness means keeping myself always doing and thinking deeply. My over-caring for others which takes so much of the energy that leaves me stretched out and burnt out. And this is often interpreted as controlling them. My ‘’sense of duty’’ comes from my childhood programming that I should and I must do certain things. Once I let go and bless the lessons I got from these mindsets; I am now able to: Focus on my vision Mindfully working to be more grounded Making time by working less and adding play. Which 3 things are you letting go? Which 3 things are you adopting? Your vision will create your thoughts. Your thoughts will create action. Action will manifest. Then focus on your vision, love yourself more and have faith to receive what you ask for. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Rita! Rita Briffa, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rita Briffa has more than 20 years of experience in energy healing, herbal remedies, aromatherapy and Encaustic art therapy. In her mid-30s she met Reiki and her life has changed completely. Her encounter with Reiki changed her life from a perspective of a sick child to a wise assertive woman full of health and vitality. She published her book ''My way to Success through healing self-love.'' She gives programmes in Success Self Love coaching both at her Wellbeing Consultancy Centre and online. She gives physical and distances healing with Reiki, Reflexology, Bach flower remedies and Encaustic art therapy. Her passion is helping people to love themselves and sharing this abundant love with others.

Written by: Caroline Bellenger, 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 another year ends, it is common practice to review our past year and look at what we achieved, what we lost and what lessons we learnt. We faithfully set our New Year’s Resolutions from that journey of self-discovery. And yet, despite the gusto and determination of our new year pledge, the reality is that only some people actually achieve these resolutions. By the end of January, most of us don't even remember what our intentions were. What I have learnt over the past few years of global chaos and unpredictability is that in 2023 I will have only ONE New Year Resolution, and that is “Believing In Myself”. I always have been and will continue to be a proactive goal planner; however, life has taught me to be much more flexible with my goals and be prepared to alter them, delay them or delete them quickly when needed. So, my goals will ebb and flow throughout the year and not depend on a start date like 1st January. And this is where my only New Year Resolution will have its most significant impact. Believing in ourselves is equally crucial to our determination to reach a goal and our ability to adapt when that goal no longer meets our needs. When we trust ourselves, we let go of all attachment to outcomes and allow the journey and the experiences to lead us in the most beneficial direction. The truth about life is that not everyone is going to support you. And if we depend on that support or seek validation from that support, it can sometimes lead to disappointment. Expectation becomes resentment in credit! Yes, asking for help is essential; we need social connections and support as humans. However, when we believe in ourselves, we are less negatively impacted when that support doesn't materialise, or the praise never comes. Believing in ourselves is simple but not always easy. Ultimately all you need to do is have an idea and believe you can do it. However, a combination of fears, limiting beliefs, trauma, environment and the primary human condition tend to conspire against us, creating this simple belief. These are my tips to help you start believing in yourself. Understand that nothing in your past exists in your present. Have gratitude for everything you have now, and don't focus energy on what you lack. If one person can do something, then it is possible. Whenever you have a negative thought about yourself, think of three positives. Value your mind and body by making self-care a priority. Break down goals into small achievable tasks. Only control the controllable; let go of everything else. Keep asking yourself why this is important. You have made it this far in life, so you are already winning. Laughter really is the best medicine. You Are Enough. If you can practice these and start believing in yourself, it will not matter what happens in 2023 because you will keep going and feel good about yourself. You will reach some goals; you will fail at others, and for some goals, you will start wondering why the hell you made them in the first place. Experiencing the challenging moments without doubting yourself allows you to stay focused on what is possible rather than seeing the situation as a failure. So for 2023 and every year following, I plan on only ever making one New Year's Resolution, which will be to believe in myself. I hope you do the same! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Caroline! Caroline Bellenger, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Caroline is an award-winning entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and wellness warrior. After experiencing childhood sexual abuse and over twenty years of addiction and mental health issues, Caroline enhanced her life by creating a toolbox of strategies that enabled her to improve her mindset, and self-esteem and create three successful businesses. As the founder of “Be The Impossible”, she has coached and inspired thousands of women to overcome their own life obstacles and create fulfillment and joy. She is the co-author of three books including Amazon's 1 Best Seller "Queens In Sand Castles". She has climbed to Everest Base Camp and competed in national sporting teams, including representing Australia in Triathlon at 50. Her transformation and achievements are a testament to her courage and determination to define her future regardless of age or past challenges. Caroline has dedicated her life to empowering other women through inspirational keynotes, books, coaching programs, and online education.

Written by: Angelia "Angie" Michalak, 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 Strategy will Knock Your Socks Off! Make More Money with Less Headaches! I call it Build-to-Rent then Flip. Build-to-Rent then Flip is a hybrid of both concepts. Learn how you can make more money in real estate in less time and with less headaches. You can do it without the risk of the unknown you find in a real estate flip. For instance, buying a property that looks great on the outside and you think it just needs some cosmetic work. You even get an inspector. Then after the purchase, your contractor finds that under the siding all of the wood needs to be replaced because there was a hidden dry root and termite infestation that had eaten away at all of your exterior walls. Now you have a huge project in front of you and you are hoping to just break even or to not lose too much money on the project. Or you are holding a property and the tenant is calling what seems to be every other day to have something fixed. It seems like you are going to lose the entire year or 2 years of profit fixing up the place. Maybe you have to dip into your pocket to take care of some of these repairs like replacing a roof or the HVAC. Let me show you a better way. A way that you can invest in real estate. Most likely you will find that with the right Realtor and Builder, you can make more money in real estate in less time with less headaches and most likely with less of your own money than you are investing now! This is not a “use other people’s money” get rich quick advertisement! I am talking about a legit loan based on the debt-to-income ratio of the investment property. Your credit may not be a factor if you buy a home that is already built and you get a lease on the home before the closing of the property. These are advantages of the Build-to-Rent and Flip plan. Why do People Invest in Real Estate? That’s simple. Real estate investing has a great return. There are very few investments that can produce the income that real estate can produce. Some investors prefer to flip dilapidated homes for an immediate payoff while other investors buy and hold for a rental income. Within the rental investment niche, there are some that prefer long-term rentals for family living housing while some investors prefer short-term vacation rentals. Both long- and short-term rentals have their advantages and disadvantages. Since my background is finance in addition to real estate, I tend to avoid risk when possible. I will be referring to long-term rentals in my article. The Best Way to Diversify Your Portfolio! As a Financial Planner, we talk about diversifying your portfolio. If you walk into your planner’s office, I assure you they are advising you to put your money into IRA and mutual funds for retirement. Maybe they are really good and offer you an IUL (indexed universal life policy). However, I guarantee they are not speaking to you about diversifying your immediate income in case you lose your job. Maybe you decide to start a family and want to stay home for a few years to raise your children. Or heaven forbid the career you racked up your student loans for is just not paying off and you have to start all over again. When you have rental properties, you have essentially diversified your income. Shouldn’t this be part one of your portfolio diversification? You never know when you will need an extra income to “get your back”. Not everyone can go home and ask mom and dad. Nor should we as adults. What we should do is plan better for life’s changes. The Rental Business can be a Game You Win or Lose I have watched many of my fellow realtors and investors win in rentals and I have seen many of them lose too! They have about the same response as a previous boat owner. Their happiest days was when they bought their first rental property and the day they sold their last rental property Why? They can make a lot of money no doubt. They also give the owners great write-off abilities. So why do they want to sell them? It is undoubtedly the risk and headaches involved with being a landlord. With any business, and yes you are a business owner, you incur risk. You can buy liability insurances. You should definitely talk to a property and casualty agent about insurance on the home and consider an umbrella policy for extra coverage (https://www.allstate.com/ can get you a great rate and you can bundle your insurance coverages). You will want to find a real estate attorney about forming a Limited Liability Company for each rental home you buy. What I really want to talk about is the risk of the day-to-day bottom line. There is no doubt that an older home on a bad side of town will calculate the highest % monthly return. But does that really make you the investor the most money? You are definitely risking every year ending in the red instead of in the black. What you don’t think about during the initial purchase is all of the updates needed for the older properties? What about the mental anguish of the tenants constantly calling about the repairs? This can eat up a good portion or all of your profit for the year. I have also dealt with many investors that managed their properties with the intention of the rent maintaining them through their retirement. However, I have found many times by retirement the properties have become run down to the point they are inhabitable. They investor does not have the money for the rehab nor can they afford the taxes on the property. So instead, they lose them one property at a time. It’s very sad. Here is a new concept: Build-to-Rent then Flip. This is how I do it and make tons of money for my clients. I combine 2 concepts just with a little twist. We buy and hold new construction for a very short time 18 months to 2 years. (The holding time may vary based on the market.) Then we flip it. There is a bonus that we are in the best school district in the state of Florida. You will definitely want to be in a growing area with a great school district. (To find a school rating https://www.niche.com/ or https://www.greatschools.org/). The key is to find the right team of professionals. You will need a great Realtor (for recommendations on a great Realtor which may not be your buddy! https://www.nar.realtor/) and a quality local builder (recommendations on a reputable builder: https://www.nahb.org/) to contract to build smaller affordable homes in a high-income area. I have connections to realtors and builders all over the nation. You may also contact me to help you find the right team. (https://angiemichalak.com/schedule-an-appointment/ola/services/copy-of-copy-of-complimentary-consultation). The small homes you build you will want to have the upgrades of the high-cost homes. You are just building them much smaller. So, features like granite throughout, LVP floors, tile bathrooms on the floor and in bath/shower area, and stainless-steel appliances. this can draw young professionals and contractors that can afford a higher monthly rental rate but have not yet established enough credit to buy. Since the home is a new home, you have some additional benefits. The home will be under warranty. Each builder will have their own warranties. Be sure to ask before you make an offer with the builder. If the builder only offers a 1-year warranty, you can request a Builder’s Warranty from a variety of home warranty companies that will cover the builders craftmanship, electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems, and structure for many, many years. In addition, the brand-new appliances, HVAC, hot water tank, and roof will all be under warranty. You also have the option to buy your own home warranty for around $500-$600 a year for greater peace of mind. We use 2-10 Builders. https://www.2-10.com/builders-warranty/. To help protect your investment, I recommend you hire a property manager (for a referral in your area https://www.narpm.org/ I use https://allcountycpm.com/ in my area. ) that ensures that tenants are making their [timely] monthly payments. One that has no emotional attachments to tenants. One that will do occasional interior inspections (state laws permitting). You should also have the HVAC filter changed monthly by your management company well as HVAC maintenance agreement. This is one of the biggest expenses to replace. the new lawn needs protection and consistent maintenance, hiring a service will pay dividends in the future in preserving that curbside appeal. ..The same company will likely handle spraying for pests and termite bonds. Preventive maintenance in these areas can save you thousands in replacement costs. Warranties only cover item defects. They will not cover items for poor maintenance. I know that real estate investors have stuck in their minds income, income, income. They do not care about the “backside” aka the home’s appreciation. However, I find that appreciation is a significant component of real estate investment. Consider a car lease. Have you ever leased a car? You drive the car for the first 3 years. You get to drive it for the best 3 years of its life. You give the keys to the sales agent and move on providing you took care of the vehicle. Then you’re likely turning it back in with around 30K miles, right before it needs the major maintenance. You give it back to the dealer before it needs new tires and brakes. Before the car shortages caused by COVID, rental car companies also sold their cars at 30K miles, so when things get back on track and you need a deal on a car… Looking at rental properties the same way could make you big dollars. If you found a great location to build and are smaller homes that are perfect for first time home buyers, keep them for a few years, then sell them. But, sell them before your warranties run out! That way you don’t have to put big money in replacement costs into the home [for HVAC’s, hot water tanks, appliances, etc.]. Having maintained your properties properly on the front side, you should collect a nice appreciation on the backside. Let’s look at one of my actual build-to-rent then flip scenarios: We bought 4 properties from the builder at 165K and 4 properties at 175K (in different areas of the city). We rent the homes that are 165K for 1200/m and the homes for 175K for 1450/m for 18 months. Then we sell them off. At an avg, we sell homes that were 165K for 230K and homes that were 175K for 250K. These were smaller 2 bed 2 bath homes, but we still made a killing! 4 homes @ 165K = 4*1200/m = 4800/m*18 months = 86,400 (230K-165K*4) = 260,000 260,000 + 86,400 = 346,400 4 homes @ 175K = 4*1450/m = 5800/m*18 months = 104,400 (250K-175K*4) = 300,000 300,000 + 104,400 = 404,400 For a total of $750,800 in 18 months! Here is the best part. The owners only had to put down 25% down for the mortgage of the homes. So, they made $750,800 on a $415,000 investment in 18 months!!! Now you can do the same thing all over again! Your small homes in the high-cost area will appeal to first time home buyers, local heroes like the community teachers, firefighters, and veterans. Since the national builders really do not find it profitable to build homes of this size or caliber, you as the investor become a silent hero helping a local builder’s get more homes built for those that really need them! For more specific details about my process or for information on my available properties to start the Build-to-Rent then Flip process with me, go to my real estate website or here. For more information about me and my services relating to Financial Planning, Real Estate, and Financial Education click here. Military & Veteran’s resources click here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and visit my website for more info! Read more from Angelia! Angelia "Angie" Michalak, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Angie Michalak, is a leader in the Financial and Real Estate Industry. While Planners are still just learning of the concept of the new branch of financial planning called Integrated Asset Management (IAM). Angie has been licensed in both Financial Planning and Real Estate for 9 years. Her innovative ways to invest in real estate decrease risk and the headaches that investors normally experience while increasing their overall profit and customer satisfaction. Angie received many awards during her time in the USAF, as a Fortune 100 small business owner, and the various companies she has worked for. She was on the cover of Top Agent Magazine 2022 and recognized as the Best of 2022 by the American Inst of RE.

Written by: Roger Royse , 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. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been developed to change distortions in thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. In psychotherapy, CBT is intensely practical and focuses on solving problems and is not only an effective therapy tool but can also be used to obtain better outcomes in law and business. CBT starts with identifying unhelpful thinking styles (cognitive distortions). For example, we may engage in magnification and minimization and overstate the effect of an event or make it seem less important than it is. Businesses must accurately assess risks to make good decisions but executives will sometimes overreact to a perceived risk and take action that may not be required. Similarly, an executive may ignore a real risk with no factual basis for doing so. We see magnification and minimization often in areas where action or inaction can have outsized consequences (such as class action litigation or employment matters). Similarly, contrary to what game theory teaches us, humans tend to engage in emotional reasoning that may be less than logical. If someone feels it, they assume it to be true. Litigants are often, if not always, emotionally invested in their cases and may not act as they would if they took an unemotional, logical view. All or nothing thinking is another trap that affects many. This distortion is characterized by seeing things as black or white, complete success or dismal failure. Few things are so in business and law and all or nothing thinking misses the fact that most issues are matters of degree. A course of action may not be simply good or bad but, instead, somewhere in between. Closely related to this overgeneralizing, which results in finding patterns based on single events. One of the most insidious distortions is the application of a mental filter in which a party only sees what they want to see. Is that person, scenario or result as bad as you think it is? Or is it that you have filtered out the good aspects? Parties in negotiation must often understand the goals of their counter party. In that environment, it is easy to jump to unfounded conclusions. Do you know how your counterparty values a proposed transaction? Or are you assuming so without evidence? The number of cognitive distortions is limited only by the human imagination. CBT also offers a systematic approach for resolving them. The first step is identifying whether a belief is a distortion. Once that has occurred, the evidence or argument can be examined. For example, is your counter party dishonest? Or simply self-interested? Viewed in the clear light of facts, the answer may become clear. After properly evaluating the belief, we can substitute problem solving for reaction in solving a problem. For example, a tax or regulatory compliance matter might carry a small chance of causing harm but that harm would be large enough to threaten the viability of the business. In that case, the decision makers may reasonably determine to incur the costs to reduce the risk by restructuring, avoiding a transaction or simply taking a conservative approach to interpreting the rules. CBT was not likely developed with business transactions in mind but, since businesses are managed by people, CBT can be a useful tool to making better decisions. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Roger! Roger Royse, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Roger Royse is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Haynes and Boone, LLP and practices in the areas of corporate and securities law, domestic and international tax, mergers and acquisitions, and fund formation. He works with companies ranging from newly formed tech startups to publicly traded multinationals in a variety of industries. Roger is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and former chair of several committees of the American Bar Association Sections of Business Law and Taxation. Roger has been an instructor or professor of legal, tax and business topics for the Center for International Studies (Salzburg, Austria), Golden Gate University School of Law and Stanford Continuing Studies. Roger is a nationally recognized authority on AgTech – the technology of food production ‒ and the legal considerations for companies in this industry. Roger is also the author of 10,000 Startups: Legal Strategies for Success and Dead on Arrival: How to Avoid the Legal Mistakes That Could Kill Your Startup and has been interviewed and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fox Business, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, Tax Notes, Inc. Magazine, Nikkei Asian Review, China Daily, San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters, The Recorder, 7X7, Business Insurance and Fast Company.

Written by: Sheila Pryce Brooks, Guest Writer What is sleep paralysis? Is it a real engagement with entities and beasts who who want to terrify you to death, or is it an hallucination caused by malfunctioning neurons? Read to find out what it is and how to overcome it. Sleep paralysis is a globally recognised phenomenon that takes place during the sleep state. Adler (2011) refers to it as the ‘waking consciousness’ and its features include sensing, feeling, or seeing an evil entity and out of body experiences which consist of floating and seeing one’s body from above. Its main characteristics are the intense fear and panic that is experienced whilst sleeping and the inability to move due to the physical paralysis of the body (Sharpless and Doghramji, 2015). Its recorded history surpasses a thousand years (Golzari et al., 2012) and today we still no not know what causes the phenomena. I experienced sleep paralysis chronically for over 30 years. A typical experience that took place would begin with feeling a distinct drop in temperature at my feet. I liken it to going into a pool of cold water that gradually rises the deeper you get. As the cold engulfed me, I knew I was ‘there’ wherever there was. Once I was ‘there’ I would awaken in complete darkness. I always laid still and moved only my eyes. I was on my back and at this stage there was no motivation to move another part of my body. As I looked around, I could see shadows moving around my bed and I instantly felt foreboding anxiety. The shadow movements were slow and prolonged, with occasional darting movements happening around another part of the bed. This caused my eyes to dart from side to side. On refection, there must have been some light coming in from somewhere, as I could make out the shadows and the movement that was taking place around me. I was the object of ‘their’ attention. ‘They’ were watching me, and I knew it. I could also sense that they knew that I knew it and that ‘they’ were not perturbed by it. There was an overwhelming sense of evil in this ‘space’. This evilness was far more than just a feeling. It pervaded my whole body. It was in the air. It was in everything that I saw. The fear and panic would start to well up within me as I knew that ‘they’, the ‘others’ were coming. The fear combined with the anxiety and anticipation of knowing that something which personified evil was coming generated terror within me as I could feel my body tensing up. I could feel my eyes darting from side to side as my tension increased and, in that moment, I tried to move my torso to get up, only to find that it wouldn’t move. My arms and legs would not respond. In fact, I couldn't feel my arms, legs or any part of my body and yet I flailed and rocked from side to side screaming and shouting, whilst not moving at all. I had an overpowering instinct to run and get away only to find that I had no choice but to endure the experience. And then, from nowhere, ‘it’ would land on my chest like a huge weight. It was a hunched, round beast with dark stubbly hair. It looked like a large troll with huge eyes. A conventional incubus. It threw its weight onto my chest. I continued to look up from my back. I felt my ribs implode and I was engulfed by the mattress that was swallowing me due to the weight of the ‘thing’. I was being pushed into the blackness. I was sinking and, in that instant, I knew I was approaching death. I lost consciousness or so I thought, and I would either wake up shaking from terror yet glad to be ‘back’ or I would drift into ‘normal’ sleep. The experiences tended to vary in intensity. I never knew when the incubus would arrive. Its appearance was always sudden. Some nights there were only shadows and movement in the room and on other occasions the shadows would take the shape of a person. It would appear dense and solid without a face and loom above me. I can recall whisps of smoke that would transform into a shadow, as it floated around the room. Over the years the episodes happened frequently if I slept on my back, so I slept on my side. I learnt to make a grunting noise in my throat which was the wake-up call for anyone who was around me to wake me up. I told my children and partner to touch me, shake me, to do anything to wake me up, as I'm fighting for my life in that moment. Upon waking there was always a clear recollection of the experience. The episode contained no storyline or actors, as there would be with a dream or a traditional nightmare. It was always only me, ‘them’ and the strange environment that we were in, which was somewhat similar to my bedroom. Today I'm a keen meditator as the episodes happen less frequently when I meditate. I try to stay positive during the day and do not fear sleep. The fear makes me vulnerable, and the positive vibe and mental or psychological strength keeps the episodes away. I set good intentions and ask for protection before I sleep. Sleep paralysis is one of those things that we know very little about and I hope that in some way, the sharing of my experience helps another person. For more info follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and visit my website! Sheila Pryce Brooks , Brainz Magazine Guest Writer After secretly living with chronic sleep paralysis for over 30 years, Sheila decided to break her silence about her struggle with the phenomenon and the impact that it had on her life. Now managing her sleep paralysis, Sheila is a PhD researcher and speaker, specialising in sleep paralysis. She is passionate about illuminating the connection between sleep paralysis, spirituality and science by researching, educating and raising awareness, so that the stigma surrounding it can be dismantled, offering people improved health and well-being, support with their experiences and benefit from its positive aspects.

Written by: Vance Twins, 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. Hi, this is my first letter to you to share with readers about a very personal challenge my sister and I have been forced to contend with. We were told that we had been "found on a street" and "abandoned" as infants in the early 1970s. The adoption agency even typed up a document called a "Certificate of Orphanhood" in our adoption files, so we had no reason to believe any different while we were raised in the United States. Like many adopted people, we truly believed we were our adoptive parents' real children. Fifty years into the future We are now discovering that the adoption agencies routinely claimed the children were "orphaned," "abandoned," and even "unwanted" and then profited from each child processed overseas for adoption. Today, we are participating in a landmark case to investigate adoption agencies and, in our particular case, the Holt Adoption Program. My sister and I established a group called Adoption Truth and Transparency Worldwide Information Network (ATTWIN) in 2011 and Korean Adoptees Worldwide I remember choosing the word "transparency" because I thought it was a great play on words when it comes to international and even domestic adoption. There are an estimated seven million domestic-born adoptees in the United States. First of all, trans means across —and adoption certainly crosses boundaries and parental roles, but also adult adoptees have been shielded and left in the dark about their biological history— and this is something that needs to be held against the light, not just on a personal level where adopted people should be given access to their adoption documents and all legal papers that pertain to them like their birth certificate, but also on a global level where the adoption industry should be transparent on the profits made per child processed. The forum quickly grew and is now one of the largest adoptee-led groups on social media Today there are more than 8000 members from around the world. For some of us, we don't need to discuss anything. Like twins, we just "know." There is a bond based on shared experience, yet unique and diverse experiences that come with being adopted. We were the first to invite adoptees from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, families separated by adoption, and parents of adoption loss and encouraged those voices to finally be heard. Our group is unique because we do not preach to the members to "be happy" or "positive" like most groups built and monitored by adoption agencies or adoptive parents, but rather see each member lead themselves from an empowered perspective. We don't lecture or give directions but merely give information because we are big believers that knowledge is power. The goal is for each member to see adoption not just from a personal level as they do (and it can be lonely at times) but also from a bird's eye view. With this expansive perspective, they can see that they are a star among a constellation. My time in South Korea was the catalyst that led to a decade of research into the practice of intercountry adoption I began suspecting foul play in 2004 when I traveled to Seoul, South Korea, and a Korean man approached me in the back alley of the hotel we were staying at. I was shocked to learn that he was a father searching for his missing son, taken for international adoption. I had no idea that Korean parents existed (for one thing) and that there was a possibility that they had been looking for their children. His plea to me "opened up a can of worms," as they say in the United States. I started researching intercountry adoption then and fell into shocking and deeply hidden truths about the pioneering couple who spearheaded intercountry adoption in 1954. Another surprise happened at the adoption agency We were told at the time that the street we had been told we were found on, according to the adoption documents, did not exist. The "Certificate of Orphanhood" placed in our file gave the impression that we were orphans. We learned later that innumerable children came from living Korean families, families who would return to the agencies to request back their children. Because of the way the facilitators had set things up, the agencies had already flown Korean babies and children overseas. Because we were not given satisfactory answers, numerous questions arose. Were we merely manufactured (or paper) orphans generated by lines of text? Were we labeled "orphans" in magazines and in advertising campaigns to make the transaction appear ethical? I later learned that the adoption lobby and special interest groups had manipulated even the definition of the word "orphan" to include children of single and "poor" parents. Because of the expansion of the definition, many poverty-stricken yet trusting parents ‒ not just from Korea but around the world -- have had their children taken by facilitators. Knowledge is power How do I know this? After twenty-five years of consistent observation and probably obsessive research, I've finally concluded (as much as I have resisted) that to protect local and global families worldwide, we need to inform the public about the crisis of child trafficking, which fills the insatiable demand of adoption. I've learned that the crisis is not just a problem in Korea; it's been a worldwide problem. For this reason, reading Adoption: What You Should Know is necessary. I discovered through my research that some children have even been abducted from their neighborhood street. You've probably already heard the happily-ever-after adoption stories To establish laws protecting families from exploitation, we must acknowledge that there are not-so-happy stories--and that these stories are just as long-lasting, forever, and ever-after as the happy ones. Before you trust the system of adoption or pay the non-refundable and sometimes hidden application fees that can cost up to $50,000 for an "orphan," or before you become attached to a charitable photo listing of a child that might come from a living and loving family, consider arming yourself with information. I wasn't expecting agency lies. When I first learned about adoption agency lies, it wasn't easy to believe. I doubted what I instinctively knew for decades. From my first memoir (Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption), you'll see how extremely loyal I am towards my adoptive family (still am) to the point that I, since the age of twelve, even served as the primary caregiver for my adoptive father who survived a 100-foot fall while hang gliding, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and permanent disability. I've condensed "The Way of the Activist" into eight easy steps. My vision of this movement for social justice is for each member to be able to walk in awareness and believe in the value of who they are to truly take care of themselves and the people around them. From a place of information, solidarity, and connection, the adoptee-activist (or whatever they want to call themselves) can be free to express their adoption experiences without criticism but rather point the attention on the truth of who they are (a star among stars). And from this place of truth and transparency, they can uplift others to speak truth to power. The Way of the Activist: How to start a movement for social justice Aware: Be aware of the value of who you are. Your life history matters. You matter. (For adopted people, the first few chapters of life are typically missing or hidden from us.) Beware: This particular letter is motivated by what happened to us. Care: Care about yourself. Dare: It's okay to be different. Of course, it can be difficult, but it's okay. People who argue against the mainstream are needed. They help us see from a rare perspective, which can lead to expansion. Fair: Be fair to yourself (In the land of adoption, we tend to give kudos to others. It may be time to give kudos to yourself for once!) "When writing your life story, don't let anyone else hold the pen" ‒ Janine. Questionnaire: The first step to healing is to ask the right questions. Take a moment to explore the author inside of you. Repair: If you still need to spend time giving yourself the benefit of the doubt, make a plan. Journaling can help soothe the soul. I wrote The Power of Isolation: How Silence is Golden and Going Back to Zen to give you tools to calm the mind. Share: It's okay to keep your story private and to yourself. You don't have to share with others until you are ready, but sometimes, we are never ready. That's okay. I understand. I get it. My dad waited until he was 88 years old before he published his memoir. Janine Vance Co-founder of Adoption Truth & Transparency Worldwide Information Network Author of Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption The Vance Twins established an online forum in 2011 that is now the largest group on social media led by adopted people, family members separated by adoption, and parents of adoption loss. To join, send an email to jenette@vancetwins.com. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Vance Twins! Vance Twins, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rev. Dr. Janine, Philosophy, is a book doctor, feature-length screenwriter, and international award-winning author of many books, including Twins Found in a Box, Search for Mother Missing, Adoptionland: From Oprhans To Activists, The Unknown Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now, and Adoption: What You Should Know. She also consults clients on story development and guides them through the writing process and publishing their books worldwide. Jenette, a Certified and Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant and Life Coach, was trained in Integrated Psychology and Applied Neuroscience. Jenette became a Reiki Master under the direct lineage of Master Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki. She enjoys helping people learn about Reiki and develop personalized medical meditations catered to their health goals. The Vance twins have each worked in their respective fields of expertise for almost 30 years. They recently joined forces to provide personalized guided meditations, How to Write About Life's Difficult Issues Writers Program & Bookmaking Services, and Write-for-Your-Life Retreats for busy people. They are also the cofounders of Adoption Truth and Transparency Worldwide Information Network and Korean Adoptees Worldwide.