Written by: Dr. Don Wood, PhD, 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 given any thought as to how much has changed in your life since the COVID-19 pandemic entered the world? For most people, their lives, and relationships over the past couple of years have dramatically changed. Those changes impacted finances, relationships, work relations, health and mental health, leisure activities, and more. There are some positive changes, however, it is human nature to focus on the negative. To be honest, there probably has been more negative than positive depending on your individual circumstances. According to most research studies conducted on the subject, most people surveyed (89%) would say there was at least one negative change in their own life. At the same time, almost 75% mentioned there was at least one unexpected upside. Not surprisingly, there was more to the negative side than the positive side. After all, 180,000 people died from the pandemic just in the United States and over six million worldwide. Although humans tend to have a bias towards the negative, it is still a testament to our human spirit that we can find the silver lining in a tragic situation. In the United States the research did not uncover any typical or high majority of negative responses from one area. In fact, not all groups seem to have experienced the pandemic equally. For example, younger and higher educated Americans were more likely to find a positive from the experience. On the other hand, women were more likely than men to highlight their challenges and difficulties. The least commonly mentioned type of negative experience was economic difficulties. Approximately 20% stated the pandemic affected them financially. Depending on the survey that number could go as high as 33%. Some of that extra frustration came from the fact that people had to use their savings to pay their bills while others were experiencing trouble even paying them. These types of surveys can sometimes be misleading because it depends on who is surveyed and where they live. Less than half of those numbers reported positive changes to their financial situations. That could have been the result of people seeing the opportunity to save money because they had less to do. Others may have been able to capitalize off the pandemic by providing services in demand. What did you experience, more positive or negative? How did the pandemic affect your career? According to research, about 25% of surveyed said it negatively impacted their jobs or careers. Most of those people lost their job or career as a direct result of the pandemic. Some of those surveyed expressed frustration from having to work from home. Once again, less than half that amount, about 12%, expressed a positive impact on their jobs and/or careers. A considerable number of the positive responses came from higher-income and higher-educated individuals. Greater productivity and less travel time to and from work were high on the list of benefits reported. What did you experience regarding your job or career? Regarding politics, slightly more than a quarter of the respondents expressed concerns about the government’s response to the pandemic. There were some that expressed frustration with the government’s lack of response to the spread of the disease, while at the same time others were angry because the lockdowns were financially devastating and, in their opinion, overhyped and unnecessary. There was annoyance about what they saw as a loss of freedom over mask-wearing requirements and at the same time others saw the opposite issue and expressed frustration that their fellow citizens refused to respect their safety by declining to wear a facemask in public. Would you consider yourself pleased or dissatisfied with how the government managed the pandemic response? Amazingly, and again a tribute to our human spirit, some people surveyed reported that they believe the pandemic brought out the best in our society. That is the good news. The shocking news is the numbers of these people were so small that the researchers could not consider them significant enough to measure. We should be happy that these people even exist, there are some people you just cannot keep down. Here is a significant area of concern, Health! Very few people responded that they saw an improvement in their health, approximately 14%. They described eating healthier, making better lifestyle choices, and experiencing less stress on a day-to-day basis. On the other side, almost twice as many reported a decline in their physical and mental health. This was sometimes the result of the loss of a loved one, or the stress of worrying about catching COVID, creating anxiety and depression. Because it was difficult to get to the gym or get outside, weight gain was a common concern. This was reported in more than 30% of women as compared to men at 20%. Almost one-third of respondents say they lost a lot of time they used to engage in leisure activities. Being stuck at home was a common reason and older people found the isolation of being stuck at home a major concern. Younger people had far less concern with the feeling of being stuck at home. Approximately 25% said their daily lives improved. Common benefits included describing a slower pace of life, new hobbies, additional time to work on home improvement projects, and cleaning time. The most significant issue was the impact on relationships and families. Over 40% of people reported feelings of isolation, missing family members and friends. Concerns centered around losing connections with loved ones. By contrast, about 33% of people surveyed discussed positive impacts on their relationships. The ability to spend more quality time with their children and spouses was a benefit for these individuals. This was once again higher among the younger population (under 50) surveyed,40% to 25% respectively. So, ask yourself these questions. How did you fare regarding these areas? More positive or negative? And in which areas? It is important to take inventory of your life sometimes. Whether you found one area positive or not, be grateful for the things you have. Focus on the positive, battle the natural tendency to the negative bias and watch your life develop. Whatever you tend to focus on will expand. What are your thoughts? And there it is! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Wood! Dr. Don Wood, PhD, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Don Wood, Ph.D., author, speaker, Founder & CEO of the Inspired Performance Institute and creator of the patented TIPP method. TIPP is a cutting-edge method inspired and developed through the newest developments in neuroscience and designed to clear away the effects of disturbing or traumatic events, repurpose old patterns, and set the individual’s mind up for peak performance. In essence, it “REBOOTs” the brain’s stuck thought pattern, making it possible to enhance alpha oscillations with a noninvasive and effective shift in brain wave activity. Author of two top-selling books, Emotional Concussions and You Must Be Out of your Mind.

Written by: Andrée Funnell, 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. The theoretical and mental understanding of your own existence is known as ‘self-identity’. It is the combination of your understanding and awareness of your inner self. People sometimes get confused between the concept of self-consciousness and self-identity. So what do they mean? Self-Consciousness The awareness of one’s self Self-identity Includes the psychological, physical and social qualities of an individual. These attributes get reflected through an individual’s beliefs, habits and ideas. “In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.” ‒ Erik Erikson In today’s hectic and mechanical world, we neglect or simply forget who we are and what position we hold in society. Have you ever thought about your identity in society and failed to come up with an answer? To help you undercover your self-identify ask yourself the following questions: Who am I? What do I represent? What am I known for? What do people think of me? What is my purpose and passion in life? What are my core values? Do I present my authentic (whole) self to the world or do I act as an imposter? What or who prevents me from achieving what I seek in life? What difference or contribution do I make to others and the world? What is my legacy By asking these questions it will help you to understand your value and place in society and discover your real identity. However, self-identity is not realised by vaguely asking yourself some questions but it is about self-awareness. If you are unable to determine your purpose and passion in life, it is likely that you will not be able to discover your true nature or identify. Having clarity about who you are, what you want and how to get it will help you to live a fulfilled, happy and successful life. Knowing your true identity and direction in life will help you journey on a path to achieve self-development and growth. Today’s society is pressurised and social expectations are extremely high. Social media plays a big part in influencing social norms and behaviours of others both good and bad. How much leverage and influence does media have on your self-identity, how you behave, act, react and think? To maintain the true identity of a society, it is important the people should adopt positive and normal behaviour that is free from lies, deception and in-authenticity. In other words be AUTHENTIC, believe and love yourself for who you are and what you represent. A true behavior does not mean that people should always live under the spell of ethics and values. Authenticity – being your true self Authentic means ‘from the source or origin’. It is the raw, naked, unhindered expression of beingness of the soul. That’s why we say, ‘being authentic’, not ‘doing authentic’. Do you remember when you were a child and you were free to simply be? You were uninhibited, saying and doing what you truly wanted. Children are real, liberated and authentic – for a while at least. As we grow up we become conditioned to act and respond in a certain way in order to conform to society or culture. We are also conditioned to be fearful, anxious and stressed. The most prominent problem that a large number of people face today is the anxiety or tension. This anxiety occurs through various sources, such as from your own self or from the notions of society. You should not lead the life of a recluse and need to interact and relate to others around you. Through tensions of everyday life, it is important to believe in yourself and choose to ignore the taunts and negative thinking of others. Listen to your instinct, know who you are and what you want from life and using grit determination, make the magic happen to achieve the success you deserve and desire. There are various methods to overcome the stress and anxiety that is due to the problems of self-identity and place in the society. Ten top tips Read or listen to motivational and inspirational books, podcasts, webinars, etc. Replace negative thinking with the positive thinking and mindset Seek help from a coach, counsellor or therapist Get clarity on your PURPOSE and PASSION in life Meditate or practice mindfulness, yoga or other therapeutic treatments Determine your legacy story Identify your core values Read my book ‘Behind the Mask’ an interactive self-help book about living authentically and discovering your true self Exercise at least 3 times a week Identify your strengths and weaknesses In summary, self-awareness and self-control are important factors that prove beneficial in knowing yourself and your strengths and weaknesses so that the external threats can be faced with great courage and zeal. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ‒ Oscar Wilde ‘Behind the Mask’ is Andree’s literary debut about ‘Authenticity.’ It’s an essential interactive step-by-step guide to self-discovery to help you turn your life around and discover your self-identify chapter by chapter – www.behind-the-mask-book.com Call me today 07702 818665 to arrange a 15 minute Clarity Call to find out how I can help you discover your identity and achieve the success and growth you want in your life. Alternatively email me training@afcconsultants.co.uk Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Andrée! Andrée Funnell, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Andrée is a multi-award-winning Coach, Learning & Development Consultant, best-selling author, and speaker. She is the founder and driving force behind the success of Aspiring Future Competence (AFC). Since its inception in 2002, AFC has helped clients across a wide range of business sectors to get visible, get heard, and get ahead by applying inspirational ways to bring about positive change and empowerment. She has over 20 years of HR & training experience working in corporate organizations and a further 20 years delivering development solutions that make a difference to people’s careers and lives. She is a qualified coach, professional trainer, and NLP Practitioner. She discovered that Authenticity is the key to happiness, fulfillment, and success and is keen to get the message out there to others. ‘Behind the Mask’ is Andrée’s literary debut about ‘Authenticity.’ It’s an essential interactive step-by-step guide to turning your life around and achieving the kind of life you deserve by living authentically.

Written by: Mell Balment, 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. "GOOD LEADERS HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF. GREAT LEADERS HAVE LOYAL TEAMS". Do you consider yourself to be a good leader? Can you confidently say you are a great leader? Do you think being empathic is a hindrance to your leadership abilities? If you hesitate to say ‘I’m a great leader’, then you’re in the right place to learn what you can do, to go from I’m an OK leader with adequate staff to, I have a loyal team. You’ve maybe discovered that the best companies don't just ask people to do something, they get them on board with a clear vision at the start and then they listen to their team's feedback. Which means they recognise, that investing in creating rapport with their team, helps them reach their fullest potential, which is the fastest way to get what the company wants… or even better. And don’t be fooled into thinking this applies only to large ‘corporations’ or companies. Even small businesses can have fantastic results by investing and leveraging the most expensive resource, hu-man power. The first step for this style of leadership, only works if you’re ready to start thinking bigger for your business or the leadership role you’re in! You already know what it takes to accomplish great things, so I’m going to assume that you also probably know that it’s not enough for a leader to just ‘let your team know what you want from them’. You must create rapport and build your connection and engagement with them! But don’t worry this isn’t going to ‘take up more of your precious time’. In fact if you get this right, you will end up with more time to focus on working on the business and what needs to be done to create the growth and impact you desire. A promotion, does not a leader maketh. I’m sure you’ve come across a ‘bad’ leader in your life. You know, ones who… make unclear requests demand ‘better’ results ‒ without any specific guidance miss-communicate ‒ or changes the goal posts without communicating it piles too much on, without checking-in assumes you’re a mind reader… The list goes on and the truth is, not everyone knows how to lead themselves let alone, directing others and teams to harmonious success! The best leaders are those who can empathise with their team. They understand what motivates ‒ and challenges them ‒ individually. They see things from their employees perspective and put themselves in their shoes. This allows them to connect on a deeper level and builds trust. Empathetic leaders can see when someone is struggling and offers support. They also provide guidance when needed and offer praise when warranted. When people feel understood and supported, they are more likely to be loyal and committed to the goal. If you want to be an effective leader, it is essential that you develop empathy, not turn your back on them when they need you. Knowing isn't leading Most of the time, leaders think they know everything there is to know about their topic and assume that makes them natural leaders in their field. But the truth of the matter is, even after becoming an expert, leading ourselves and others take an entirely different skill-set (and simply absorbing new knowledge doesn't make them a great leader either). Perhaps they’ve attended a seminar or read an article on a ‘leadership’ skill, often though, it’s through implementing, trialling and integrating that skill with practice, insights and repetition that turns a good leader into a potentially great one. Leadership means so much more than being assertive, or being able to speak to large groups of people or holding their own in stressful environments. It’s important to remember you have to be able to care for the people as well as yourself — your career goals are directly intertwined with the good of your team members' careers. The good news is, you really don’t have to be born a leader to become a great leader. It really begins with how you view the role of leadership! So, here are 3 rules to having an empathic leadership mindset: Rule No.1 Develop Yourself Are you doing what it takes to be a great leader? If not, why? You must constantly expand your toolkit of leadership skills which are principally accomplished through personal development. If you are not constantly striving to make yourself a better person, a better leader or a better colleague, then you are behind the game plan from the outset. You also aren't setting a great example of improvement for your team of investing in their development. Which leads me to point 2. Rule No.2 Develop Others Encouraging others and letting them make mistakes is a great way to invest in your team. When you do this, you are letting others develop their own skills. Giving them space to trial, error and adapt their own skills, freeing up your time in the long run. Giving up control to move forward in the longer game is 1 way I would define great leadership. Rule No.3 Develop the Team Not only responsible for establishing leadership development, you are responsible to grow and develop your team as well. This means that you need to focus on mutual goals and the best interests of the entire team or organisation. This can be a difficult balancing act, but it's essential if you want to be a successful leader. Encouraging your team to learn nuances of uniqueness and humanness is a massive step forward for them to have more appreciation for each other's strengths and weaknesses. The ultimate indicator of team success AKA great leadership is whether they would have your back to support each other and you through the tough ‘down times’. I once had a boss that wouldn't promote an emerging leader because “the team wouldn't stand on the front lines with him’. Meaning they don’t respect him as he hadn’t respected them enough, for them to show up and sail into stormy seas with him. They just wouldn’t go the extra mile for him. Learning how to lead is a lifetime’s voyage. If you’d like to develop your skills check out my free resources that are waiting for you to up-level your empathic leadership. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mell! Mell Balment, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mell Balment is a change-maker in the space of energy, mindset, and super-conscious mastery. She’s on a mission to help EmpathPreneursTM have unwavering confidence to accomplish the ambitions they currently only dream about. Soul-driven leaders desire to be fulfilled but worry about their success being built on others suffering. In her first 4 years as a fully declared Quantum Healer, Mell B has facilitated 650 Mindweb Analysis sessions to address these limitations and more. She loves partnering with secret empaths using advanced epigenetic processes, so they can make their impact on humanity. Multi-award-winning healer, Mell B has blended spirituality and rapid results into a new accelerator system called Deep Belief HackingTM. With a reputation for her courage, grace, and empathy, Mell was honored for her Cognitive Reframe Process as one of the world’s Top 10 Healers and the Top 1% of Leadership coaches in Australia. Known for her transformational retreats and cutting-edge quantum programs including ‘EmpathPreneurShip', she is a published author and vivacious public speaker on Navigating The Chaos Of Life As An Empath.

Written by: Juan C. Olmedo, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. A new venture is always exciting. The idea, the possibilities and most of all, the excitement of starting something from scratch. But with excitement also comes a lot of doubts, fears even. Fear of failure, fear of success, uncertain future, lack and many more. These are some of the common concerns that aspiring entrepreneurs have when getting started with their venture. COACHING IS THE BEST HOPE FOR YOU… YOU NEED COACHING, Coaching is an effective way to manage and address one’s anxieties, insecurities and limiting beliefs, as well as to develop self-confidence and build resiliency. In other words, it is ideal for those who want to start a new venture or business. A Los Angeles, CA based Small Business Consulting Firm, Nexera Business Advisor offers a unique, high-performance coaching service to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners. With a team of advisors who cover decades of expertise in their specific trade, have first person insight on what it takes to build a business. Being able to relate with their clients, Nexera Business Advisors creates a tailored plan based on their own first-hand experience giving them a competitive edge. Led by Latino Tech Entrepreneur and High-Performance Coach, Juan C. Olmedo, Nexera Business Advisors has been offering Business Start-up Assistance, Corporate Formation, Accounting, Technology Integration, Marketing, and Sales Coaching for the past 10 years. Coach Juan C. Olmedo offers insight to read and find out how high-performance coaching can help you take your entrepreneurial ideas to the next level! What is High Performance Coaching? Some coaching techniques are designed to help individuals achieve their goals and overcome challenges. High performance coaches specialize in this area, offering tools and techniques to help people achieve their pinnacle abilities. High performance coaching is a specialized type of coaching that has been proven to be effective in helping individuals improve their performance and overcome challenges. One major difference between high performance coaching and other types of coaching is how it helps clients become more resilient in the face of change, setbacks, or anxiety. How High-Performance Coaching Helps Aspiring Entrepreneurs A recent study showed that top performers are more likely to have coaches than non-performers. The study, published in the journal Talent Development, found that nearly half of top performers had a coach and went on to achieve high performance. So how can coaching help an aspiring entrepreneur? One major benefit of high-performance coaching is the opportunity for self-reflection. You are able to take your idea, break it down and explore what might be holding you back from achieving the success you deserve. As with any other professional development, coaching will enhance your ability to realize your strengths and weaknesses and develop skills that complement your skillset. Learning from others helps give you perspective on your business and provides a source of inspiration for continued success in future endeavors. It also prevents burnout as many who lack support can fall victim to working too hard without proper breaks or time for reflection. High performance coaching also has practical benefits such as improving self-awareness, effectiveness, creativity, and productivity – all essential for success in business! The Benefits of High-Performance Coaching for Entrepreneurship The benefits of coaching are manifold and include: – Enhanced self-confidence – Increased performance and success in business – Improved work/life balance with enhanced tonic – Better overall health and well-being – Higher likelihood of success Coaching is a process that helps you create a vision for yourself, reach your goals, achieve your dreams, and achieve the outcome that you desire. For example, if your goal is to start a new business and make a certain amount of money, then the coach will help you take your idea to the next level. This means developing an action plan for how to get there, an individualized action plan specific to your needs. So, if you’re planning on starting a business as a barista or by selling food from home, the coach will help you reach those goals. If your goal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle while still running a successful business, the coach will help create strategies for achieving both. Who Should get High Performance Coaching? High performance coaching is ideal for those who have a specific goal in mind – whether it be entrepreneurship, financial success, or personal development. The key is to identify what you want the outcome of your coaching experience to be and what the goals are which will help you achieve them. Why a Bootcamp? It is important to realize that in order to stay motivated and find ultimate success, it is necessary to have a plan. A business plan can help you to shape your vision and focus on achieving your goals. A business plan is necessary not just for entrepreneurs; it is imperative for anyone looking to achieve success with their work. A Bootcamp the perfect way of executing this strategy! In short, a bootcamp involves an intensive period of preparation, training and knowledge sharing which helps you learn how to effectively manage your time, clients, finances, and resources in order to successfully launch your new venture. The key aspect of a bootcamp is the hands-on experience with like-minded individuals who are also planning or launching their own ventures. This creates space for you to learn from each other’s experiences and expertise which will ultimately give you the needed boost in confidence that helps you bring your ideas from paper into motion. Why an In-Depth Workshop Series? A Workshop Series is one of the most popular programs offered to aspiring entrepreneurs. A Multi-week program is designed to help participants gain clarity and build on their entrepreneurial skills by focusing on practical, actionable steps they can take in a group setting. A workshop series aims to demystify and dispel many of the “myths” that new entrepreneurs have about starting a business. It gives you an opportunity to learn more about yourself as well as making valuable connections with other aspiring entrepreneurs who are going through similar experiences and challenges. 5 Types of Workshops Series for Entrepreneurship The first step in coaching is establishing a clear understanding of the person's goals and needs. Then, the coach can recommend a specific workshop series that will help you achieve your goals and needs. Performance Enhancement This type of workshop focuses on enhancing performance, such as improving skills through practice or bettering work habits like time management and self-motivation. Personal Development This type of workshop is more about personal development and improvement in areas such as interpersonal skills, communication, leadership, mental health, and self-awareness. Business Development This type of workshop focuses on building business skills including marketing skills like social media marketing, pitching to investors, and managing the business side of things. Creative Development This type of workshop helps develop creativity by focusing on design thinking – where designers are given a problem to solve – as well as visual arts to help people express themselves through artistry rather than words or numbers. Creative R&D This type of workshop focuses on creative development with a focus on exploring solutions for problems that have not been solved before or creating new solutions from scratch using data or new insights gathered from workshops like these two types listed above. Wrap up High performance coaching is a type of consultancy that helps entrepreneurs manage their anxieties, insecurities and limiting beliefs as well as develop self-confidence and build resiliency. It is ideal for those who want to start a new venture or business – which after all is what most who want to become entrepreneurs are really doing: Starting a new business. Consider hiring a high-performance coach to help you breakthrough a plateau. Nexera Business Advisors offers a free initial consultation. With the right advisors and consulting, a coach can have access to knowledge and training that will you apart from the rest. Coach Juan C. Olmedo uses the following 4 phases of high-performance coaching: Conducting an initial discovery interview outlining the client's interests and motivations. Identifying the current state of needs Recognizing and developing the client's strengths. Developing strategies for the achievement of desired outcomes. Nexera Business Advisors may be found at https://nexeraadvisors.com/ (855) 707-4505 and Coach Juan C. Olmedo is a Small Business Instructor at Pinnacle School of Business and may be found at https://juanolmedo.io and https://pinnaclemastery.io FAQs How can you find a coach that will be a good fit for you? How to find a coach that will be a good fit for you? A good coach is someone who is compassionate, knowledgeable, trustworthy, flexible and encouraging. If you are unsure who may be the right coach for you, you can start by asking yourself some questions: Do you trust this person? If not, find another coach. Does this person have expert knowledge in your field? If not, find another coach. Would you feel comfortable telling them anything and listening to their wisdom? If not, find another coach. Are they available to listen to your worries and concerns? If not, find another coach. Do they provide regular feedback and encouragement? If not, find another coach. Would you recommend them to a friend? Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Juan! Juan C. Olmedo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Juan C. Olmedo, is a Latino Tech Entrepreneur, High Performance Coach, & CEO of Nevtis Companies. Entrepreneur-minded since the age of 15, started first official business at 22 years of age and grew it to a $2 Million dollar a year company with 20 employees. Started subsequent business tech business at 25 and sold it just 5 years later. Have since started or invested in 6 other companies ranging from tech, telecom, construction, insurance, and digital marketing with a combined employment of 80 full time staff. Currently CEO at Nevtis Corp, a UCaaS Software provider. Being through virtually every stage of starting, and scaling million dollar companies, Mr. Olmedo uses his acquired knowledge of almost 20 years.

Written by: Dr. Ron Alexander, 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. Many highly creative artists recognize that, despite their expertise and mastery, they still have much to learn when pursuing their creative passions. They eagerly embrace what Buddhists call “beginner’s mind” — a willingness to approach what is familiar with a fresh perspective, as if they knew nothing. They enjoy building knowledge and skills and being inspired by other artists to take new risks with their creative endeavors. They’re not afraid to find themselves at the beginning of a learning curve. Highly creative artists patiently undertake the necessary research and learning before formulating a plan for their new creative endeavors or transformation. If you commit to maintaining your learning curve, despite doubts or becoming impatient, you’ll strengthen your foundation for change and your ability to tap into your core creativity. George Harrison picked up a sitar on the set of the Beatles movie, Help!, tried playing it, and committed to lessons on this difficult-to-master instrument that has three times as many strings as a guitar. Harrison played the sitar on songs like “Norwegian Wood,” and inspired many other artists to use the instrument in their recordings, too — all because his was willing to follow his curiosity and embrace a spirit of exploration. He wasn’t daunted by having to start at the beginning of a learning curve and work hard. It’s that same level of curiosity and exploration that can inspire great success. One of my favorite examples of persistently pursuing one’s passion is that of a client of mine I’ll call James. I first started working with James when he’d recently graduated from college and signed on to be an assistant to a B movie producer. James aspired to be a screenwriter and producer. His boss turned out to be very difficult to work with and a poor mentor, leaving James very disappointed in how little he was learning. Frustrated and depressed, James saw little hope in continuing to pursue a career in film. As I listened to him, I could see James was at the beginning of a learning curve and needed to pay his dues by sticking it out at his job — but I also recognized that he was deeply dedicated to his ultimate goal and wasn’t sure how to move forward. He’d taken others’ advice to land an entry level job in the business and learn all he could, only to now feel trapped. After going over his options with me, James committed to taking some classes in psychology, which he was interested in and which he felt would help him to create believable, multidimensional characters. He also recognized that what he was learning could help him not just with his writing but in interpersonal and business relationships. The action of starting classes made him feel far less helpless. Simultaneously, James asked friends if they knew of anyone who had experience screenwriting and was willing to team up with a beginner. Through them, James found a writing partner who loved her day job but also enjoyed writing screenplays at night and on the weekends. This partner had achieved some success with writing scripts for episodic television, and had a lot of advice to share with him. Writing with his partner kept James feeling connected to his goal even when he was having a particularly challenging time dealing with his boss and the boring details of his day job. Over the next year or two, James became so driven that, after work, he kept up his psychology classes, took some screenwriting seminars and workshops, worked with his writing partner, and participated in script analysis readings for several talent agencies to better understand the elements of a good script. Then, when his screenplay was finally complete, James’s more seasoned writing partner used her connections to show the screenplay to some studio executives. The next thing they knew, a studio had optioned the screenplay. In fact, they were so impressed that they asked James to produce the movie. His film was a brilliant success, and James was able to quit his day job and focus on writing and producing. Not many people are willing to work as hard as James, but his rapid success goes to show that even if it feels as if the learning curve is very steep, your willingness to be patient and dedicated to your passion can take you where you want to go. If it feels as if you’ll be stuck in your day job forever, think twice before quitting and putting enormous pressure on yourself. Think instead about following in James’s footsteps while practicing patience. Put yourself on a dual track, continuing to work but having a clear set of goals that will help you progress in your artistic pursuit or toward furthering your career. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Ron! Dr. Ron Alexander, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ronald A. Alexander, Ph.D., is the author of the new book, Core Creativity: The Mindful Way to Unlock Your Creative Self (Rowman & Littlefield, June 21, 2022), upon which this article is based. He is a mind-body psychotherapist, an international trainer, and creativity, business, and leadership coach. He has private psychotherapy and executive coaching practice in Santa Monica, California. He’s the executive director of the OpenMind® Training Program, which offers personal and professional training programs in mindfulness-based therapies, transformational leadership, and meditation. He is also the author of the highly acclaimed book, Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss, and Change (2008). Learn more at CoreCreativity.

Written by: Dani Green, 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 about fate? Some of us are resigned to fate. Fate can feel predestined. Some of us are afraid of fate. Fate can be understood as outside of our control. What difference would it make if we saw our future as evolving from one present moment to the next? What if all of our thoughts, choices, and actions together create the reality in which we live, now? Are you open to a new concept? You can begin to understand our infinite future is like an ocean wave sinking into the sand of reality. Self-sovereignty Years ago, I read in “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield, the concept of self-sovereignty. At the time this concept scared me. It was too much responsibility. I would rather God be sovereign, and I could continue to be my dependent imperfect self. God was big and all-knowing, and I was small and unknowing. As a Christian, I was always concerned about doing God's will. The problem was that I could not always figure out what was God's will. Should I turn to the right or left? Should I wait or go? Should I speak or not? Is what I envision for the future true or not? Trying to figure out God's will can be a stumbling block to moving forward. We can become paralyzed with indecision. Eventually, I just had to trust what came to mind. I measured what came to mind with what felt true in my heart, and I did my best to move forward. Finally, I followed a series of signs that seem to be true for me and those around me said a resounding, ‘No.’ After I resigned from my church job because God said I could, I listened to a book called “The Drunkard's Walk.” The book promised to help me understand the probability of following one path or another. My takeaway from this book was that we may walk like a drunkard, weaving in and out with every step, but we are always moving forward. That's all I needed to know. We are always moving forward. Believing God is in control puts the control outside of ourselves. Then we have God to blame or praise, when in fact, we can begin to understand that the future is a result of the culmination of all of our choices and actions! What if we are waiting on God and God is waiting on us? Who should move first? Maybe we should and God will create the best outcomes possible out of our thoughts, choices, and actions! Fate or Timing? Fate seems unfair and can feel unloving. Rather than fate, I decided to believe in timing. I trust the timing of all things. I do not know what will happen in the next moment, but I trust it will be for my highest good and the highest good of others. As I write this, I am in Mexico on vacation. After dinner last night, we were looking for a ride back to our hotel. At that moment, a truck drove up and the driver was a friend of ours from years past. What are the chances? I believe the Universe worked this out for us for the joy of connection. Perfect timing! Hugs galore! We can celebrate every present moment. What are the chances that all the people in our lives, born in different places, moving, traveling, and then all of a sudden, we are together in the same place? Trusting the timing of all things, we can trust Love is always for us and that everything is a miracle. What About Wars and Death? Wars are created by the story we tell ourselves. Some people are very blind to what is true. They believe in stories created by ancestors, governments, ideologies, and religions. Somehow, they are not capable of caring how their story leads to oppression and killing people. How can this be? I cry at the thought of people hurting people. The world cries out, too. Torture is unspeakable. The violent perpetrator, in this life or the next realm, will see and feel the results of their actions. They will learn the lesson of love, eventually. Someday money will not matter except for an exchange of goods. Borders will become a fact of life rather than something to fight over. We will understand that land is a piece of earth created to sustain us. Each of these changes will be a result of our better thoughts, choices, and actions. We are all evolving toward love. Without judgment I observe, some are not as far along. Someday wars will stop. Wars will stop when each one of us evolves toward a higher level of consciousness that believes in the value of love and caring for one another as our highest achievement. In every present moment, babies are born. In every present moment, people die. I lead a grief support group for senior citizens. The timing of illness and death is very difficult to accept for those left behind. They do find peace in the fact that their loved ones are no longer suffering. I also officiate funerals. The funeral of a four-month-old baby boy was beyond difficult, and at the time it was impossible to understand why. Someday, we will see it differently and recognize a deeper truth. Love Help Us! A Pattern or No Pattern at All? Do we suffer from patterns outside of our control? We understand our DNA is affected by our genetics, environment, and mindset. We used to think DNA was only affected by genetics and we were left to manage what seemed to be outside of our control. Now we know that our thoughts, actions, environment, and the people around us influence how we manage life from day to day. Rather than being stuck with predetermination or fate, we can build a new future from our choices and actions in every present moment. The following quote suggests although we may be influenced by patterns, maybe there's no pattern at all. “Be ready. They’re little moments that get big fast, each one different for a thousand different families, each one made of truths and lies woven into patterns or woven not at all.” (Heacox, Kim. Jimmy Bluefeather (p. 40). West Margin Press. Kindle Edition.) The concept of no pattern at all is exciting to me because it can mean we get to create a pattern through our thoughts, choices, and actions. The choices we make really, really matter. Understanding our choices matter means we will take more responsibility for our lives and the future of our human family and the planet. Believe In Love I believe in love. I believe love is for us all. The miracle of love is that love creates the highest good in every circumstance. A person with cancer sees life in a new way. An addict becomes a counselor. Parents treasure their rainbow baby even more deeply. I have a client right now who believes the Universe has to help her because that is what the Universe does. Only because she exists does she trust help. She believes love has nothing to do with it. We have just started working together. I have 11 more sessions to help her understand what love is. Love makes all the difference. The magic of love is that every choice we make is transformed by love and our highest good is made available, even on our worst day. We have nothing to fear. We have nothing to worry about. Love is love is love is love is love. Love will empower us! Everything can be put into perspective. Everything is the story we tell ourselves. Of course, we need to be honest when we're in pain but we also need to realize at that moment, our pain will not last forever. Someday, we will be healed. Our story will be transformed into something livable. Blaming ourselves, others, our circumstances, or God, will not help us. Better Than Fate What is better than fate? Trusting the future, one moment at a time is better than fate. What if every present moment is taken into consideration and the future is created in a nanosecond at a time? All possibilities are available to us, infinitely. My thoughts and actions create my future. The same is true for you. Do you see how exciting this is? Can you feel the possibilities open to you? We are not the same person now as we were a second ago. Cells in our body are duplicating and dying. Our thoughts are changing. We have an infinite number of choices ahead of us, now. Everything matters. Everything is a miracle. I believe in love, timing, and self-sovereignty. I suggest these three concepts are better than believing in fate. Love is making the best of all of our choices. Our Infinite Future is Like an Ocean Wave Finally, imagine an ocean wave. Waves are constant everywhere along the seashore. A wave rushes to the shore and sinks into the sand (or crashes into rocks). What if our infinite future is just the same? All our collective thoughts, choices, and actions make up an ocean of possibilities which creates a wave of reality in each present moment. Our human experiences, thoughts, intentions, choices, and actions create the future. In each present moment, our future is unfolding and sinking into the sand of reality. Sometimes a big wave comes and is destructive. We do not need to surrender to the destruction, but we do need to notice what is and let the emotions move through us as we face reality. There is always a solution. You are always on the best path. Let Dani Be Your Guide to Move Into Your Infinite Future Dani offers a free 20-minute The Emotion Code session, which helps to remove an inherited or current emotion. Activate Your Soul Power! Live Your Infinite Greatness! Be Your Own Hero! Book a FREE Breakthrough phone call and find out about The Soul Power Experience! Go to www.danigreen.today! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dani! Dani Green, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dani Green is a certified hypnotherapist, speaker, author and spiritual activist. Dani’s core focus and passion is to guide clients to rewrite the past, present, and future Story they tell themselves at the subconscious level and to discover their own Inner Mantras. Dani has a 12-session course called The Soul Power Experience. The courses, Be Smoke Free and One & D.O.N.E. Weight Release are each six sessions. Dani also offers Intuitive sessions. Dani opened her hypnotherapy practice in 2015 and uses client-centered hypnotherapy, as well as The Emotion Code, PSYCH-K, and RIM.

Elizabeth Van Den Bergh is a sought-after international speaker coach who believes everybody deserves to stand on a stage and actually enjoy it. Great speakers are made, not born. She’s coached hundreds of leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives toward more impact. She’s also the head speaker coach of TEDxFlanders. Over the years Elizabeth has developed her own unique methodology based on the three pillars that always deliver results: Confidence, Content, and Connection. Recently, she launched her podcast Powerful Presence. And she’s further expanding her business internationally. Elizabeth Van Den Bergh, Executive Speaker and Leadership Coach What do you do for your clients? Working as a Speaker and Leadership coach means I mentor and train leaders to go to the next level in leadership and public speaking. I’m also their trusted sparring partner. My clients are committed high-performers who seek to increase their impact through speaking. They understand that personal growth and professional growth go hand in hand. A big part of the work to become a better communicator is an inside job. With every client, the program is different because it is tailor-made to their challenges and ambitions. Clients engage in a 6-month one-on-one speaker and leadership program where we start by defining desired results and then get the process going. During the program, I help clients prepare for significant speaker moments whether that be hosting a webcast, a keynote at a big conference, town hall meetings, and so forth. Having these speaking opportunities during the program allows for growth iterations. After each speaking opportunity, we discuss what went well and what we will focus on next. Hence clients go through a guided and structured process. What’s your backstory? I grew up in Turnhout, in the north of Belgium, a small city with 40 thousand inhabitants. My mom was home most of my childhood, she’s also an artist and worked in interior design for some years. My father was a finance and fiscal consultant before his retirement. I have one brother, Frans, who works as an interventional radiologist. As a young adult I had international ambitions and went to study political sciences. Knowing my interest lay in communication and interpersonal relations. My initial dream was to work for an international organization like the UN. I realized I was happier working in smaller organizations where you can see the impact of your work and have more overview. After 8 years of working as an employee I started my own company. My last job before being self-employed was as Head of PR and Events for a communication agency that was solely working for the European Institutions. I met many heads of states, ministers, and people like Melinda Gates and Ban Ki-moon during those years. Was (public) speaking something that had always intrigued you? Yes. Very early on I understood how important communication skills are. As a child I loved observing how people communicated and trying to figure out what that said about them, figuring out what was really going on or being said below the surface. When I was working for the European Institutions I saw how crucial great speaking skills were. You have limited time with your audience and your reputation is at stake. To see a balanced leader who is able to express himself well with great demeanor is so powerful. In today's fast-changing world we need more inspiring leaders, and less control and command. And who, if any, were your role models? Nobody does it alone. We can have great vision, wonderful ideas, but we all need someone who shows us that what we dream of is possible. I have many role models. At the start of my speaker coach journey, it was trainer and coach Marilyn Hazeldine who showed me how powerful and impactful it is to coach people. It was my friend and coach Mona Shair who helped me take my first steps as a trainer and coach. Nowadays Alexandra B Carter, Meredith Fineman, Arlan Hamilton and Lisa Nichols are an inspiration to me. A few years ago I had the opportunity to work with Zelda La Grange, she worked for 19 years as the right-hand of late president Nelson Mandela. To learn first hand about him and his leadership was such a great gift. What was the decisive moment you decided you wanted to become self-employed and build your business as a Public Speaking Coach? When my cousin Julie suddenly passed away in 2017 I decided to fully go for my dream of becoming a speaker coach. I had coached CEOs, had given several presentation skills training, moderator training, written speaker briefings, had organized my workshop Powerful Speaking for Women, and had coached Ted speakers. I was doing it already, now it was time to finally make it official. It was my cousin’s passing that made me realize that you only have one life and you never know how much time you have left. To help others grow and become great speakers is a job I had not dared imagine I would be doing. I’m so so grateful it is happening for me now. And what would you say has been your biggest challenge along the way? Managing myself and sticking to the plan. As an entrepreneur you have to have the ideas, execute on them and at the same time manage yourself. You need dedication and discipline, and be willing to show up every day. I’m an enthusiast and I’m still learning to not say yes to every opportunity that comes my way and stick to the plan. I found this quote that sums up quite nicely what it’s like to set up your business. “The beautiful thing about going alone is that every triumph is yours, every consequence of every mistake is yours, everything that you have to figure out is on you. That’s a really powerful experience. And sometimes it is beautiful and positive and exciting, and sometimes it's negative and hard and lonely. I wanted that. I welcomed that.” —Cheryl Strayed, 2019 What do you consider to be your highest achievement, the one thing you call your biggest success? Success is not the money, the car, the house, the material things. If your happiness depends on those, you’re screwed. Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with having those, but your happiness should not depend on it. Success to me is an inside job. My success is that 20 years ago I would never have imagined to be where I am today. My business invites me to grow everyday. And to keep on learning. I believe that’s where we find happiness and fulfillment: in developing ourselves and serving others. I want to live ‘in the arena’. My success is also my marriage with Jelle, my kids and my friends. How did you build up all this knowledge? Over the years and one step at the time. Since I have this passion for communication, public speaking and leadership I’ve been devouring every article, podcast, and book on the topic. Staying curious is the key. Those who have worked with me know that I work from my own Confidence, Content, Connection approach. So I keep on deepening and broadening my knowledge on the subtopics of each of these pillars. Knowledge is one thing. I study to be an expert and a thought leader in my field. Helping your clients in the best way is another thing. Coaching is a skill you master by doing. Of course there are all the techniques, models and the tools. I’m familiar with them. I help my clients thanks to the knowledge I have, but also you can google everything. So knowledge is not the only reason people come to me. They come for results and efficiency. I see myself as the curator, I give them the right thing at the right time so they can grow. I get praised for bringing much depth and reflection on one side and being practical and results-oriented on the other side. This brings me to what I love so much about my job. It's deep work and pragmatism. How do you succeed in carving out the right things to say to guide your clients? Good listening skills and asking the right question is the secret. And also noticing what is not being said. I provide my clients with a safe space where they can experiment, be silly, be grand, test their next level. Every work relationship is based on trust and transparency. I pride myself on finding out what obstacles my clients face so they can have a breakthrough moment. Once a client sent me after a session: “Thanks for the reprogramming.” That was such great feedback for me as I go by ‘think differently, so you can speak differently.’ If you care to read what clients say about working with Elizabeth, go to: https://speaker.coach/reviews/ What’s your mantra for the days things just don't go as planned? I notice my frustration about what didn’t go as planned. Then I remind myself it’s not a sprint, building a legacy business is a marathon. What is your vision on success with your clients? Success for my client is when they grow from within so they can become a next level version of themselves. If my client thinks differently about himself and thinks differently about what public speaking really is, that’s where the transformation begins, where growth happens. Making place for a new narrative. This can be a simple yet powerful mindset shift from: “I am not good enough” to “I deserve to stand on a stage.” “I have nothing interesting to say.” to “What I say is relevant and a valuable contribution.” “I just don’t have it in me to be a great speaker.” To “I can be a great speaker because every great speaker once was a bad speaker.” And it is always a step up in leadership also. If you want to work with Elizabeth, please book your call here. Subscribe to my newsletter for insights that will help you think differently, so you can speak differently. Subscribe to my podcast The Powerful Presence Podcast, the show that talks about all things powerful presence, public speaking and, leadership. If you are an entrepreneur, an expert or, a CEO and you have been wishing for your words to have more impact, this is your podcast. I believe a speaker is a leader and a good leader should be a good speaker. Join my tribe of courageous, leading change-makers by tuning in to the powerful presence podcast show. Get ready to be inspired and amazed. Reach out to me to let me know you've read my article. I'd love to hear from you. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Elizabeth!

Written by: Tony Martignetti, 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 once in a while, I like to revisit an overplayed subject. Terms like “Leverage, Optimize, or Synergize” have become so overplayed that they have almost lost their meaning. So, now and then, I like to explore one of these buzzwords because I see it as an opportunity to make it fresh again. After all, something only becomes overplayed because it has so much relevance that everyone wants to talk about it. So, let’s talk about Authenticity. If you look up the word’s original meaning, it’s made up of the Latin roots Autos, which means self, and Hentes, which means “to do or to be.” So, authenticity basically means “being yourself.” Sounds pretty cut and dry, right? Just be yourself. Great. Done. But here’s the thing. Being your “Self” requires knowing your “Self,” which is a very different journey. At the same time, it’s one of the most critical aspects of what it means to be a powerful leader in the modern era. I have witnessed certain leaders living from a truly authentic place, and it can be an extraordinary thing to experience. What stands out to me is that when authentic leaders speak, people remain calm because they can feel that they are coming from a genuine place. They make choices based on their personal values, and people feel respect for that. They are vulnerable and transparent about their experience and willing to stand in their own discomfort. This opens people’s hearts, and their teams tend to be fiercely loyal and devoted because they admire the courage it takes to stand in one’s authentic truth. This also goes far beyond work because it impacts a leader's relationships, health, and connection with the world around them. In a sense choosing to be an authentic leader is one of the highest paths a human can take. We are all leaders in our lives in some way. Yes, you are a leader. It’s a brave path to walk, but what are the alternatives? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tony! Tony Martignetti, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tony Martignetti is a trusted leadership advisor, experience creator, author, podcast host, and speaker. He brings together over 25 years of business and management experience, formal training, and extreme curiosity to elevate leaders and equip them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential. He loves guiding people to find clarity in their lives so they are energized, fully present, and unstoppable. When leaders unlock their potential and lead from a place of inspired purpose, they impact and inspire everyone around them. He has dedicated himself to helping people live inspired lives. Before becoming the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Inspired Purpose Coaching, he was a finance and strategy executive with experience working with some of the world’s leading life sciences companies. Along his journey, he also managed small businesses and ran a financial consulting company. Tony is the host of The Virtual Campfire podcast and the author of "Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the journey to An Inspired Life."

Written by: Dr. Helen Ofosu , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I've been on countless flights over the years, but somehow, I'd never really thought about the fact that planes take off facing into the wind. The fact that planes take off against the wind is an appropriate and valuable metaphor for many life events. Getting and starting a new job, launching a major project, or making a meaningful change often feels difficult to navigate. Sometimes it feels like a treacherous road; and it can be as unsettling as turbulence. It's as though some hidden obstacles and pressures keep pushing us back and making it harder to accomplish our goals. The gravity of how hard this is can keep many people down and unable to find the means to take off in their professional lives and other endeavors. Clinical Psychologists help people manage "emotional turbulence." As an Organizational Psychologist who offers coaching, I help people navigate around workplace obstacles, help to direct the take-off of their careers, and, more importantly, to make those transitions as smooth as possible to ensure that my clients land safely in the right work roles. Five Times to Overcome Workplace Obstacles, Despite Resistance 1. Overcoming Underemployment When we have been underemployed or overqualified for too long, we can adopt a mindset that makes it feel like our circumstances are permanent. We can falsely believe that our jobs are what we deserve and all that we can accomplish. Moreover, getting others to see us in a different light can be hard when we've been pigeonholed for a while. 2. Bouncing Back After Termination or Being a Scapegoat When we have been a workplace scapegoat or even fired, our confidence is often at an all-time low. To make matters even more complicated, finding suitable job references that will enable us to get our next position can be awkward and challenging. These circumstances can feel very hard to overcome. But it is possible with some strategic and creative thinking combined with hard work. These setbacks are in the big leagues, so some support from experienced professionals (e.g., an employment lawyer, career advisor, and a therapist to help you recover) will be helpful. 3. Getting Away from a Toxic or Difficult Work Environment When we are worn down from ongoing harassment or bullying at work, it is usually difficult to have the emotional energy to find a new job. Moreover, when our circumstances deplete us, we may not show up as the best version of ourselves while interviewing for a new job. In my experience, one solution is working with someone like me who understands the key issues and will help you – and future employers – see your value. This is especially impactful when my clients are skilled and experienced but have been treated as though they are poor performers. I work with my clients to ensure that their job applications and answers to interview questions demonstrate that they have made worthwhile contributions in the past and can continue to do so in the future. 4. How to Climb Back up After Falling Over a Glass Cliff The glass cliff is a specific type of career setback that typically happens to women or minorities/racialized people. It is complicated because it often happens in high-visibility situations. Depending on your role, you may benefit from career coaching and other integrated services to help repair your reputation. In some cases, even legal action is a smart way to quietly get the support that you deserve to move on with dignity. 5. Self-Doubt and/or Fear of Failure. No pun intended, but many clients say that taking off or switching directions in their careers comes with a real fear of crashing. No one wants their livelihood threatened or to experience a failure to launch. This is often the biggest obstacle: the resistance created by our own doubts and the internal pressure we place on ourselves. This can be offset by adopting certain mindsets and tackling the impostor syndrome . These five common workplace obstacles feel significant and can make it seem like there's no way forward to a better work situation. In reality, however, just as a plane can take off against the wind, motivated people with the right tools, systems, and support in place can safely launch or relaunch their careers. If you enjoyed this article, visit my website to find out more ways to become more resilient in your career. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Twitter , and visit my website to find more ways to become more resilient in your career. Read more from Dr. Helen! Dr. Helen Ofosu, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Helen Ofosu has been practising Industrial / Organizational Psychology (also known as Work or Business Psychology) in the public and private sectors for almost 20 years. In addition to Career and Executive Coaching, her specialties include the assessment and development of leadership skills, and navigating the complex issues of workplace bullying, harassment, diversity and inclusion. Dr. Ofosu is one of the founding officers of the Section on Black Psychology, Canadian Psychological Association and she’s thrilled to have written a new book “How to be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work” that will be published by Routledge in February 2023.

Written by: Sam Rehan , 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. During the summer of 2005, I fell badly. A loose tile outside a London shop caused me to slip. In spite of being fit and healthy, the sudden slip was shocking and painful to my spine. The coccyx was diagnosed as injured, requiring rest and recuperation. My doctor told me there was nothing further to be done. One of my violinist friends suggested craniosacral therapy, something she had successfully used for alleviating posture issues. After a search on the internet, I became intrigued by craniosacral therapy. I was in deep reflection two days later, post-session. What had just happened? My session of craniosacral therapy was conducted on a massage table while I remained fully clothed. My body was not manipulated, and I did not receive a massage, but I felt movement and even localised heat. The tingling and sensations were still present on the ride home. My sense of peace and calm was astonishing. It felt as if I was going through a big shift, accompanied by huge relaxation. I rested further at home and resolved to learn more about this alien therapy, which conflicted with my science background and my logical left brain... The practitioner of craniosacral therapy had only used gentle touch. A third rhythm Alongside our breathing and heart rate, our bodies have a third movement. In craniosacral therapy, pulses of energy (the craniosacral rhythm) flow between the head and pelvis. As real as our breath and heart rate, it's measurable. Our bones move to accommodate the craniosacral pulse (cranio = head and sacrum = bone at the base of the spine). In the same way that a cardiologist seeks to improve the function of your heart, a craniosacral practitioner will assess and optimise the rhythm of your craniosacral system. What can craniosacral therapy help with? With craniosacral therapy, physical pain and emotional distress can be supported. The experience of a session is often described as soothing and relaxing. In most cases, craniosacral therapy complements other types of treatment. Counseling and psychotherapy can be supported by the therapy as it helps to process emotional issues and trauma held in the body. In addition to your doctor's care, craniosacral therapy acts as a supportive measure rather than a cure for serious illnesses. Craniosacral practitioners do not diagnose or prescribe medication. Most people are familiar with craniosacral therapy from its work with babies and children. The therapy has a good reputation for helping children and babies with a wide variety of ailments. Its gentle nature makes craniosacral therapy suitable for a wide range of ages, including newborns. Advocates claim that craniosacral alleviates a variety of symptoms, such as chronic pain, ear infections, jaw pain, migraines, nerve pain, depression, anxiety, dyslexia, spinal cord injuries, stress and anger. Does craniosacral therapy work? Several studies have shown that craniosacral therapy benefits clients. Studies have been published in dental and osteopathic medical journals, but the technique is still relatively new. More research is on-going. A session of craniosacral therapy During craniosacral therapy, you remain fully clothed. This gentle therapy originates from osteopathy so the body is seen in a similar way. As the practitioner gently rests their hands on parts of the client's body (such as the skull and the base of the spine and other areas), the client is able to relax and lie still. When the therapist's hands detect places of restriction in the craniosacral rhythm, they support it. The sessions are usually pleasant and relaxing for most people. Clients often feel as if their "batteries have been recharged". It is possible for you to fall asleep, enter a deep meditative state, or share your feelings. Like your pulse, the craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body. Each person progresses at their own rate according to what their body can handle. Sometimes one session can successfully solve a problem, but this is rare. A few sessions in a short space of time can help your body to adjust to new patterns and access the full benefits of craniosacral therapy and its cumulative effects. An open mind Craniosacral therapy is a holistic therapy... The whole person is treated rather than just the symptoms of an illness. An open mind is helpful. The body’s intelligence holds answers that the mind can't always grasp. Being still can often be enough to reveal answers via our craniosacral wave – a core component of ourselves. It is from there that we can be led to a path of integration and more balance. The experience is, at the very least, deeply relaxing. There is a high likelihood that it will go beyond that, to release holding patterns and provide better health as well. Following my fall in 2005, the remarkable healing I experienced, with craniosacral therapy, led me to train as a craniosacral therapist. My favorite part is how it deals with the whole body and reveals more healing within... if we stop and access more stillness. Sam trained with The Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust (London) and qualified in 2008. She has also completed additional training in Anatomy and Physiology and Stress Management. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences. Sam can be reached at hello@samrehan.com Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sam! Sam Rehan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sam Rehan is a high-impact well-being motivator, wellness professional, author and speaker with an exceptional track record. Sam has been a corporate trainer for 21 years and has over 30+ years of expertise working in everything from corporate training and management to health, science, and scientific research, to holistic therapies and cognitive coaching. Sam’s motto is: Be Well. Work Well. Lead Well. She currently helps teams and individuals in high-pressure environments to reduce anxiety, accelerate thinking, and integrate sustainable self-care techniques into their lives. Sam’s gentle, nurturing, yet highly transformative methods are all backed by real science with a focus on long-term success. She not only teaches these methods to her clients but lives and models them in her own life as well. At age 50, Sam continues to teach happy aging and improved wellness with her trademark approach, utilising the lightness of laughter, powerful relaxation techniques, and her magnetic energy and enthusiasm – all of which are on clear display in her breakthrough book, Laugh More: Soar In Your Health, Career and Relationships. References: T.R. Rasmussen& K.C. Meulengracht. Direct measurement of the rhythmic motions of the human head identifies a third rhythm. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Volume 26. 2021.Pages 24-29. ISSN 1360-8592, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.08.018 . https://www.craniosacral.co.uk/resources/research-studies/ https://www.birthinjuryguide.org/treatments/craniosacral-therapy/

Written by: Dianne McKim, 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. As we are only a few weeks away from closing out 2022, it is a good time to consider all aspects of your life throughout this past year. Looking back can help us move forward, even when looking back can generate some negative emotions or thoughts. Here are some questions to consider as you reflect and as you do, journal your answers and thoughts so you have something to refer to as you step into 2023. Reflection Questions 1. What were your top 3-5 achievements at work, at home, with family, with friends? Achievements don’t have to be big and glorious to be acknowledged. Think about those small things that happened that made you feel good inside 2. What were the top 3-5 challenges, difficulties, issues you faced at home, with family, with friends and how did you work through them or how are you working through them? Everyone has some things in their life that cause angst Reflecting on these can help us see places in our life in which we may still need some help or growth 3. What help or support do you need to continue working through these challenges, difficulties, issues? Identifying the issues and then thinking about who can help is key A coach can help you work through many issues always with the focus of moving you forward 4. How did you grow emotionally and intellectually? Perhaps you took a class, listened to a podcast, read an article, or watched a presentation that provided new insights for you Consider how you may have managed to work through your feelings about a situation 5. What can you do to celebrate your achievements and growth? Making sure we do something for ourselves helps to cement the positives in our lives Think about what makes you feel good, what relaxes you, something you’ve wanted to try, people you want to celebrate with, and so on. Bonus Questions What are 2-3 things you want to incorporate in your personal and or professional life in 2023? What goals do you want to achieve next year? For each item, write out a few steps that you will take to accomplish them Also, write out how you will feel when you accomplish them By journaling your responses and thoughts to these 5 questions, your brain shifts to a more positive outlook for 2023. The bonus question gets you set to start the new year in a great way with some specific goals and positive emotions. I would love to hear from you with your reflections or your considerations for next year or if you would like to talk through how coaching can help you move forward. Have a great holiday season! Want to learn more from Dianne? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website. Read more from Dianne! Dianne McKim, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine A Certified Career, Leadership, and Life Coach, Workshop Facilitator, Author, Speaker, and Guest Interviewee, Dianne McKim has the professional training, personal experiences, and knowledge to help clients successfully grow and thrive. Dianne enjoyed a long and impactful career in Corporate America, successfully leading teams, influencing peers, mentoring team members, and interacting at all corporate levels (including C Levels). During that time, she developed strong relationships with executives, management, peers, and team members, allowing her to successfully spearhead major projects while negotiating, and navigating bureaucracy. ​ This wasn't always the way, however. Dianne is an abusive relationship survivor, who navigated through a long and difficult divorce, which resulted in her running a household, working full time the whole time, and raising children as a single mom for 14 years. She dealt with family issues, job losses and job searches, loss of relationships, a lack of confidence, and very low self-esteem. Over time, Dianne rebuilt her life, rediscovering herself and strengthening her confidence. As she did, she learned how to stand strong in her abilities, understand her value and embrace her identity. As her confidence grew, she discovered how to have professional success, personal contentment, and spiritual fulfillment. Dianne has taken all that she learned, along with her unparalleled ability and deep care and compassion for others and began Precious Stones Coaching. Her coaching style is inviting, understanding, and encouraging with just the right amount of leadership, guidance, and accountability to help her clients focus on their priorities and accomplish their goals. Dianne wholeheartedly commits to helping her clients achieve and fulfill their calling, purpose, and destiny.

Written by: Trina Joy Lucas, 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. In this article, I have 5 essential points to share with you on past lives and their relevance to your life purpose right now! Do you find yourself asking what’s life’s purpose? What if you could go back in time and learn from your past lives? Tap into your old soul wisdom? Would you be happier, healthier and more aligned with your authentic self? Discover the truth about past lives and the connection to your present life. How do past lives show up in the present? It’s France. 1800’s. A small country road is winding to a château. A carriage carrying passengers is turned on its side. The driver is badly injured... My client Mary’s body is transmitting clear images to me of this past life memory, a carriage accident, during a psychic spiritual healing session. Mary’s soul reveals that the anxiety bordering on terror she experiences in her current life is actually due to this carriage accident in 1800's France. Her body asks for support to process and release the residual trauma. Regression to past lives: How your current life mirrors aspects of your past lives. Many people seeking meditation for past life regression end up in a treatment session with me, Trina, a medical intuitive, receiving an online or in-person psychic spiritual healing. In regression to past lives therapy sessions, I prefer to know nothing about a client prior to treatment. Instead, I tune into their body with my psychic senses and allow their body to tell me their story. This way I make sure the body has a chance to communicate its perspective of events including the wisdom it holds of its priority of needs. I knew nothing about Mary before I began her session, and I remember thinking… What will Mary think when I reveal details of this past life to her? Will it make sense to her? As it happened, when I disclosed the carriage accident, Mary told me she had always had extreme anxiety in general and especially when it came to driving a car. She had never been able to get her driver’s licence. What I saw with my psychic senses, and what Mary’s body revealed to me, made total sense to Mary. Her intense anxiety around driving had always been one of those behavioural patterns that defied her logical understanding. Want to overcome obstacles and challenges in the present? Knowing ‘who was I in my past lives’ can help! Past life regression therapy enabled Mary to extract the wisdom her soul was seeking from the carriage accident and release the trauma her psyche had been holding onto. Mary now drives a car with ease and confidence. The intense anxiety that generally plagued her life, for seemingly no reason, is no longer an issue. 5 essential points on past lives and their relevance to your life purpose right now! 1. As part of your soul purpose, your body may seek to clear past life trauma. Your soul may decide, as part of your soul purpose, it is time to process certain difficulties and challenges it is still holding onto from past lives. In such cases, your body, in the present, will start to mirror circumstances from past lives. I clearly remember a client I treated with past life regression therapy who had a prior incarnation where they were shackled around their ankles and wrists. They were locked in a dark room. I revealed to the client the past life trauma details shown to me by their body. The client explained they had distressing pain in their ankles and wrists in the here and now. They also experienced intense light sensitivity. Following a series of psychic spiritual healing sessions these symptoms significantly reduced. Remember the example of Mary and her carriage accident? Mary had tried many conventional therapies to treat her anxiety. Working through the past life trauma mirrored in the here and now enabled Mary to release a stuck behavioural pattern and progress forward with fulfilling part of her soul purpose. 2. You have gifts and abilities honed in past incarnations. Past life versions of you show up to deliver useful ‘old soul’ wisdom in the here and now. This is exactly what happened to me! I have witnessed the same phenomenon for countless other people too. Many clients attribute my spiritual healing skills, and my ability to receive detailed information from the body, mind and soul, to my being an “old soul”. The truth is far more interesting. I have met with many past life versions of myself and they have contributed to me developing the skills and abilities I have as a spiritual healer today. It was part of my soul purpose to do so! In my current life, I completed an honours degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. When I started practising Chinese Medicine, clients kept turning up with deep soul-based patterns to heal. Aligning to my life purpose required me to meet with and integrate skill sets from past life versions of my soul. Past life versions of me presented in spiritual healing sessions. They offered me an energy exchange that enabled me to gain knowledge about the soul and spirit anatomy of the body. This empowered me to build a relationship with a team of healing spirits. To this day I work day in and day out with this team to transform the life and body of my clients. Skills downloaded from past lives support me to shift the underlying consciousness of the body bringing about sustained physical, mental and emotional change. Reawakening past incarnation abilities and skills enabled me to level up. I am certain I would never have had enough time in this life to truly embody and refine with training the skills I needed to be the soul-based holistic medicine practitioner I am today. You also have past life versions of you waiting and wanting to mentor you to deepen your unique capacity to offer transformational change to others. To help you grow into an expression of your authentic self. 3. The patterns you are struggling with physically, mentally or emotionally COULD be related to a past life. Have you ever wondered ‘ is this pattern I am struggling with related to a past life? ‘Here I am – again – reacting and behaving in a manner that I know does not serve me. That I know is not reflective of my deeper authentic self.’ Nonetheless, you may find the behavioural pattern appears to have momentum all of its own! This may indicate you are experiencing the influence of past live trauma in your current struggles. Here are 3 tips to help you know if your behavioural patterns are past life related. The symptoms you experience are disproportionate to the situation you find yourself in. For example, Mary and her carriage accident, where trepidation and fear about driving a car became mystifyingly paralysing anxiety. You keep finding yourself in similar challenging circumstances. Over and over. Regardless of effort and toil. Again, drawing on Mary’s experience, you may have tried numerous therapies to consciously and subconsciously address a physical, mental or emotional struggle. You can’t seem to get the traction of change you instinctively know is possible for you. Your body has the signs and symptoms of significant trauma. Yet you cannot pinpoint an actual trauma that has occurred in this life. This is a very common sign of past life involvement. I see this clinically in my spiritual healing practice frequently. 4. You CAN learn about who you were in past lives. I bet you’re now wondering ‘who was I in my past lives?’ Aside from searching for ‘spiritual healing near me’ and trying your hand at therapy for regression to past lives, here are my top 6 tips to learn more about your own past lives. Make a clear wholehearted decision you would like to know more about your past lives. Make the decision! Being clear this is what you want is the best way to align your intent, in a purposeful way, to meet a past life version of your soul. Place your hands on your heart. Hold a clear and earnest focus of your intent. Ask your soul to reveal one or more of your past lives. I strongly suggest you ask to connect to a past life that holds value for you when it comes to living out your life purpose. Your soul has the capacity to drop this requested information to you in a variety of ways. Now it is time to remain open and curious. Messages of information will trickle in through a variety of mysterious and or mundane ways. It may be a dream. A snippet in a book. A tv show on Netflix. A documentary grabs your attention. You may be inexplicably drawn to a particular country or time period in history. An everyday mundane conversation has a message that registers as significant. Do not decide how the information will come through. Remain open. Each day reaffirm your request with focused intent. I suggest doing this just as you wake up or just as you go to sleep. Or both, twice a day! Believe in yourself. Trust the process. The information may take days, weeks, or months to make its way to you. The process has its own logic. Trust it. You may discover hints regarding your past lives in your chosen career and hobbies. Perhaps you are a passionate gardener because you were a farmer in your former life. You may spend your free time advocating for human rights due to past life persecution. Finally, please know that most of your past lives were not flashy. Grandiose past lives are the exception rather than the rule! Despite this, all lives are significant and have wisdom and growth opportunities to offer 5. What’s life’s purpose? What is an incarnation? Your soul yearns for growth through the experience of many human lives! Each time you incarnate you are a different unique person in your own right. There are differences in geographical location, social and cultural context, the epoch of time, alignment of the stars and the list goes on and on. These changes in circumstances from life to life are seen as opportunities for your soul to grow through the experience of being human. Growth fuels your life purpose. Discovering more about your past lives can help you uncover a highly nuanced understanding of your soul purpose. It can support the unravelling of mysterious symptoms and unlock your journey of personal growth! Change has many challenges inherent in it. It is common wisdom that change can be the bearer of great learning. Remember past lives are real! Past lives may not always be easy to remember. This is mainly due to an occurrence known as spiritual amnesia. This is another fascinating topic I will delve into at another time. For the present please know that asking the question ‘who was I in my past lives’ is definitely worth pursuing. Would you like to discover more about the ‘old soul’ magical gifts you have deep in your authentic self to offer the world? Take my ‘what is your spiritual gift quiz’ by clicking here. This intuitive quiz will offer you valuable insight into your soul gifts and how to nourish them. A special offer to download forever my meditation for past life regression. Ready to jump right in and start discovering who was I in my past lives? Then click here to purchase my online meditation for past life regression. This is a specially designed guided meditation to introduce you to a past life version of yourself and receive an energy exchange of healing and gifts from them. Use the code ‘BrainzSpecial’ to receive 50% off the purchase price. Apply HERE for an opportunity to join my community called The Spiritual Healing Sanctuary. Deepen your connection to your spirit, discover the spiritual roots of your health, and unlock your personal growth. Receive essential knowledge, a powerful bi-monthly spiritual healing and learn spiritual tools to support your transformation from the inside out. Reach out to me and let me know you’ve read my article. I’d love to hear from you. With love and respect for your unique path through life. Trina xx. Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook and visit my website for inspiring content on the spiritual roots of health and personal growth to transform your life. Read more from Trina! Trina Joy Lucas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Trina Joy Lucas is a Psychic Spiritual Healer and international expert on the spiritual roots of health with over 26 years and 27000 hours of clinical experience. Trina grew up isolated with a myriad of health issues that defied conventional treatments. A Bachelor of Health Science with Honours in Traditional Chinese Medicine coupled with Trina awakening psychic talents to communicate with a team of Healing Spirits resulted in a deep understanding of the broader spiritual underpinnings of the human body and psyche. Trina is a grounded and practical teacher, writer and speaker who empowers people to (1) understand and heal their symptoms while gaining insight into their purpose and meaning and (2) develop their personal soul-based gifts and abilities. It is Trina’s mission to use her expertise to educate the world on the science of spiritual healing, bringing a holistic approach to medicine to focus on exceptional outcomes for clients. Trina runs courses, a membership-based group, The Spiritual Healing Sanctuary, and offers one-to-one spiritual healing and mentor sessions. Trina’s message is simple: “Your spirit is a powerful agent of change. Be the gift to self and others the world needs – body, mind and soul.”