Written by: Stacey Ruth, 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. Do you ever wonder why something you want seems to elude you? If it is something that feels critically important for your fulfillment and sense of purpose, then you probably are dealing with one or more limiting beliefs. If you are able to shift them (and you are!) then not only will you access the meaning and fulfillment you lack, you also will more easily connect with the objects of your desire. Limiting beliefs often form in childhood. Sometimes limiting beliefs develop from things our parents, teachers or friends said, or by the ways they lived their own lives. Parents are our first teachers so it’s easy to understand why you might pick up on their habits, comments about work, or discussions about money, even if you didn’t realize it. Let’s be fair to parents, however. Like us, they lived life the best way they knew how, also dealing with their own limiting beliefs. And now you can break the cycle by working on your own self-growth and determining what you want out of life. Spoiler alert: You really don’t have to settle for a job or life that doesn’t bring you joy. In my book, Own Your Own Shift , I discuss the importance of being vivid as you envision your dream life. Visualize where you live, what you do every day, what kind of work you do, what your home looks like, what kind of car you drive, etc. You are the creator of your dream life and only you can make the changes necessary to find that joy. Let’s start off by banishing those limiting beliefs so you can start believing in yourself and trusting that you can create a fulfilling life. STEP ONE: Limiting Beliefs as the Golden Path to Your Purpose Beliefs are ‘limiting’ when they are stopping you from doing or having something that you truly desire – like living your purpose. If you want to identify what your personal purpose is, I invite you to explore my Discover Your Personal Purpose Workbook for yourself. In the meantime, just remember, limiting beliefs are the excuses that we’ve unconsciously accepted about why we can’t do or achieve something. Some examples of limiting beliefs are: I can’t earn a six-figure income because I don’t have the talent or knowledge to do so. I can’t hire a business team because I don’t make enough money yet. I can’t wear a swimsuit on vacation because I still want to lose 30 pounds. I can’t get straight A’s in school because I’m just not smart. I can’t go back to college because I’m too old. Do you notice how all these limiting beliefs start? With “I CAN’T”. Whenever you start a sentence with “I can’t” you’re setting yourself up for failure. If you decide to try to accomplish any of these things, you’ll always have that nagging voice at the back of your head, feeding you garbage about all the reasons why something can’t happen. This voice can also cause you to give up too soon or without getting all the facts or putting forth a real hearty effort. Instead, try turning those limiting beliefs around into positive affirmations which encourage you to try even if you feel unprepared. If you want to earn a six-figure income, for instance, but don’t know how to do it, you’ll find hundreds of people online and in groups who are willing to help you; but they won’t know you need help unless you ask the question first. With the internet, there’s no excuse for not finding the information you need to create an action list of what it takes to achieve your goal. However, don’t become a perpetual student or get stuck in analysis paralysis where you’re so busy researching you never take action. Educate yourself first, create a plan, then take action. While you didn’t create limiting beliefs, they are your responsibility to deal with once you realize they are blocking you. If you want to experience fulfillment, you have to learn how to create your life from intention–not pre-programmed beliefs. Limiting beliefs can show up in any area of our lives. Anywhere you feel like you’re not achieving what you want or can’t seem to make forward progress probably stems from an underlying limiting belief. For many entrepreneurs, this might show up in areas/fears like: Fear of Success and/or Failure Fear of Visibility/Being Seen/Being Rejected Money Relationships Limiting beliefs obstruct your purpose because they stop you from taking action toward who you know you’re meant to be. As the late Louise Hay said, “If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you.” The good news is beliefs are super-changeable – and a matter of choice. You can move beyond them. Think of them as the keys to opening the door to unlimited opportunities. Just imagine if you could: Release any negativity you have around money so you can make more of it without guilt or shame or anxiety Feel more confidence asking for what you want and going after what you truly desire Love yourself deeply and watch as that love overflows into your relationships Feel ‘safe’ (and excited) about showing up and being seen That (and so much more!) is what radically shifting your beliefs can do. STEP TWO: Notice & Name the Beliefs Squelching Your Soul You’ll find several different schools of thought about how to best shift your limiting beliefs, but this model of behavior change is one most people agree on: Belief → Thought → Behavior → Action → Result This means that each limiting belief in your life has an accompanying thought. And in order for you to shift the thought so you create a different behavior (and therefore a different action and result!), you need to IDENTIFY the thoughts that make up the beliefs. You’ll need to change these thoughts both cognitively and behaviorally. When you change your thinking, then it’s easier to change your behavior. For example, instead of saying, “I can’t open a coaching business because I don’t know how to find clients,” change that up to a more positive thought like, “I CAN open a coaching business because I want to help people and I’m not afraid to ask questions about getting started.” Keep repeating that positive thought and you’ll gain some confidence and motivation to do the necessary research to set you on your way to opening your business. Now, there’s a very important idea I don’t want to gloss over here: This is not about pretending you have knowledge you don’t and blindly grasping around, all the while repeating to yourself, “I CAN, I CAN, I CAN.” That is like holding your breath, and telling yourself you are breathing. You must take action that is in alignment with your new beliefs, or it will not work. Whatever limiting beliefs you uncover, write them down in a journal, notebook, or phone app. You’ll need this list as you continue going through the other exercises. STEP THREE: Get Crystal Clear About What Your Beliefs Are Costing You Once you have determined what your limiting beliefs are, you have to acknowledge these are beliefs (not truths) and therefore it is possible to shift and change them. This shift doesn’t happen overnight, but the first step is acknowledging the beliefs, then practicing the shift in your thinking. As your mind shifts, you’ll feel more confident, which leads to taking action. You will begin to believe that your business can grow, your relationships can improve, and you can do the things that bring you joy. Everyone will have different beliefs and life goals, so make this as personal as possible. Don’t follow someone else’s lead or allow your spouse or family to influence what you want in life. Once you’ve gotten clear on what your beliefs are and what they’re costing you now and potentially in the future, it’s time to start shifting. You’ll learn how to get started in the next step. STEP FOUR: Rewrite Your Beliefs and Call Back the Truth Of Who You Are! Just so you know, as you explore these beliefs, you might feel some sadness or even despair. Don’t panic. Sometimes people feel like it’s a punch in the gut to really have their limiting beliefs looking straight at them from the paper. Acknowledge the facts of the situation and then get excited that these things can get turned around. Know your limiting beliefs then take action to change them. To get started, for each limiting belief ask yourself this simple question: “What if I’m wrong?” Have you EVER considered that these beliefs are lies (or, at least misguided) instead of truths? For example, do you believe that you’ll lose money as fast as you earn it? What if you’re wrong? You might discover that you’re an incredible saver, simply because you don’t want this limiting belief to ever come true. You might find motivation to hire a CPA or a bookkeeper to help you understand your taxes and how much cash you really need to earn each month so you can pay your expenses. Think of the other possibilities that can happen if you choose not to believe this limiting belief. It’s such a simple question and yet it can open your eyes to a new world of possibilities. Your next step is to choose one limiting belief to focus on and ask yourself: “Am I willing to see this differently?” If the answer is YES, then move onto the next step. If you feel resistance to changing this belief, that’s okay. You can continue to move onto the next steps and still see shifts over time. That said, if there’s a limiting belief that you feel more willing to shift–you might want to start there. Once you see results with one belief, it will be easier to work on the “harder" or more deeply engrained beliefs. Replace each limiting belief you identified with a more empowering belief and write it down. For example, if your limiting belief is, “If I let people see who I truly am, they’ll reject me,” the more empowering belief might look like, “It’s safe to be who I truly am no matter who is around.” If you’re having trouble coming up with the more empowering belief, think about: What belief is more aligned with what you want? What belief can you ease into, that’s just a step or two above your limiting belief? Sometimes our subconscious won't get on board right away and we have to “ease" it into this process. If you find yourself ‘retracting’ at the thought of your more empowering belief, you might need to ‘scale back’ at first with a more believable new belief. Work at your own pace. Writing down new beliefs can feel like a lot of work–but it’s actually the easier part of this process! These new beliefs you’ve written down are now your new mantras or affirmations. Anytime the old thought pops up, repeat the affirmation or mantra in its place. Keep these mantras/affirmations in your journal and consider keeping them in the Notes section of your smartphone for easy reference when you’re out of your office. Post them around your office and/or home so you’re reminded daily of the changes you’re making. Over time, these new thoughts will create new neural pathways in your brain that fire automatically and eventually those old negative thoughts will disappear. You most likely will be surprised when one day you realize you haven’t had those particular negative thoughts in a long while. During this process, your core beliefs will become stronger and more ‘natural’ over time, eliminating room for those old limiting beliefs. Here’s the deal though: You can’t just say an affirmation over and over to make changes. Every time you read your affirmation, practice feeling it as if it’s already real. You might also want to visualize (or journal on) the following to get the creative juices flowing by asking yourself, “How will I feel differently when this belief no longer exists?” Visualization can be done anywhere (except while driving!) and it doesn’t take much time. However, experts suggest developing a visualization habit or ritual (similar to meditation) to reap the most benefits. The process works best if you have a quiet space and can close your eyes to envision yourself in this new belief. Shifting your limiting beliefs is an ongoing process; personal development never has an end point and even after doing this work you might find new limiting beliefs showing themselves. Each new ‘level’ of success (or going outside your comfort zone) will bring up new beliefs to shift. But now you will have the tools for changing those limiting beliefs on your own and eventually your “new” beliefs will feel 100% true to you. In my next article I will share the next steps for discovering your purpose and shifting out of these beliefs that are standing in your way. Follow me on Facebo ok , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Stacey! Stacey Ruth, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Leadership Coach, Stacey Ruth, is an acclaimed marketer, entrepreneur, minister, and founder of two multimillion-dollar agencies. She has been named one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in Atlanta and twice as one of the Top 100 “It” Agencies by Experiential Marketer Magazine. She did all this while struggling with two failed marriages, imposter syndrome, overwhelm, and stress-related health issues. This inner crash from outer success triggered the spiritual journey that took her to Manchu Picchu and had her walking across the fire. This was when she learned how we all could rise above circumstances to become irresistible and unstoppable. Today, Stacey advocates for leaders ready to reach their next level with clarity and confidence - most especially women leaders like herself. Stacey is the author of Own Your Own Shift: The Power, Passion, and Freedom to Be Unstoppable.

Written by: Linda Ford, 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. All I’ve ever wanted is attention. Whether it was the attention of my peers when I was acting in a school play, the attention of my parents when they were in the storm of an argument, or the attention of boys and men to tell me how beautiful I was - the need to be seen and heard was as vital as having food and water. Indeed, the desire to be acknowledged and to creatively express ourselves is hard-wired into us. And as much as we are drawn to being seen and heard, we also fear it. We play a game of Jekyll and Hyde – we want attention, and then we don’t want it. Why? Because we have memories of when that attention felt dangerous – was dangerous. I slip into my Mr. Hyde when I remember the humiliation of having the entire school laugh at me when I was six because I pee-ed my pants on stage or being caught off-guard when I was asked to speak to a large group and ended up stumbling over my words. Or the time when I expressed my love to a man only to have him cheat on me; and then there was the terrifying memory of my first grown-up party at the tender age of eighteen and the joy of feeling beautiful that night only to get the attention of someone who dragged me into the basement and tried to rape me. None of this attention felt safe. And sadly. it closed me down, dimmed my light, and left me fearful of showing up too full of myself, too confident, and too sensual. And I know I am not alone. I work with so many women who want to be seen and heard and share their message and their work, but who have the handbrake on afraid that they will be judged and criticized. Our life experiences explain why we block ourselves – why we shut ourselves down from being fully expressed. They also explain how our personalities get formed. These were the stories that formed me over the years – how I got to become this insecure and self-doubting woman called Linda. And for every time I heard my mother say: don’t be so full of yourself or she wears the pants, it makes perfect sense that my ego would find ways to protect myself – to hide out, play small, and diminish myself. I learned that being an outspoken and self-expressed woman wasn’t safe. When we bring awareness to the truth of how we got to be the person we are today – how we made up these stories with a lot of help from parents, teachers – the patriarchy – it explains why we turn down our dimmer switch. This awareness is not about blame, and neither is it about me digging deep into my past and spending a lifetime over-analyzing WHY things happened the way they did. It’s a conscious awareness of how I innocently tried to protect myself. I can look with no judgment and see how it all makes so much sense. And more importantly, I can feel compassion and understanding for myself and for the forces that were at play. Consider the events that closed you down and turned your dimmer switch to low. See the innocence. Understand that what someone said or did to you was just their opinion, just their own disconnection. Consider that it had nothing to do with who you are at your core. We’ve all spent a lifetime hiding our voices and dimming our lights – hiding from the world, but especially hiding from ourselves - only to wake up and discover that in doing so, we closed down a life that held so much potential. Imagine if we reclaimed our voice. Imagine if we dropped the need to be perfect and good. Imagine if we stopped trying to fit in and be a pleaser. Imagine if we lived in the truth of who we really are. Imagine being the person we really are before the world told us who we should be. Let’s do this for ourselves and in so doing, lead the way for others to not become buried in the first place. If you would like to hear a rare and intimate conversation I had with best-selling author and coach, Michael Neill on how to take our personal handbrakes off, then click here to get access to this one hour video. It’s free: Enjoy. https://www.lindafordcoaching.com/sign-up-page-for-neil-interview Follow Linda on Facebook, Youtube and visit her website for more info! Read more from Linda! Linda Ford, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Linda Ford is a master coach and author who specializes in helping introverted coaches and solopreneurs who want to have more impact and clients – who want to be seen and heard - but who struggle with imposter syndrome, hiding out fear of criticism, and the uncomfortableness of having to put themselves 'out there'.At the heart of Linda’s work is the belief that we have to develop a deep connection with our unique gifts, message and to know our true value. This is the rocket fuel that allows us to be seen and heard and feel the ease of putting ourselves 'out there'. When we do this essential inner work, we awaken our natural confidence, charisma, and power to connect and resonate with others. It surpasses and precedes any marketing strategy. Linda Ford is the co-creator of the online programs, The Confidence Coach – how to have more impact and change the world, and Confidence in a Box: If I’m so smart, then why don’t I feel more confident? Ford is also the co-author of the Kindle best-selling book Women and Confidence: The truth about the lies we tell ourselves.

Written by: Sheila Kadeer, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Have you ever wondered how good it would be if you could look into the future of your business and see how certain decisions would pan out? Wouldn’t that be amazing? Imagine if you could take a business idea and see the income, sales and progress in a year’s time. Well, it is actually possible, let me explain. Future Life Progression is a tool that allows you to journey into the future under hypnosis. You can go back in time to past lives under past life regression, so it makes sense that you can go forward. Time is a human concept. If we take the theory by Albert Einstein in 1915, then past, present and future exist simultaneously, but they are in different dimensions. So with that, the past does not actually end, it just exists somewhere else. So if this is the case let’s explore how we could use Future Life Progression in business. Perhaps you want to write a book. Ok let’s go forward a year to when the book is written, let’s take a look at it, open it and check out the chapters. Bring that knowledge back with you and you can start the writing process. While you are there, check that it is a success too. What if you want to develop a new technology? So off we go into the future to see if it actually is viable and what your competitors might be doing. You can take a look at your own business and what products or services will do well and what might flop. You can look at different choices to see how they fare. This is not a psychic prediction, this is you, seeing it yourself, under hypnosis. We can take it a step further as well. Perhaps you are looking for love, well let’s time travel and check out Mr or Mrs Right. Where do you meet them, what do they look like? In my practice, I have taken clients to look at their future businesses, their bank balances, their homes in the future and to even take a look at future children. One client saw a completely different business to the one she runs now. This shocked her initially but she saw herself happy, in a new thriving business, making more money than she does with her current business and when she sat and thought about it, the new business made perfect sense. She now cannot wait to get started on it. With this unique technique, you can make decisions with confidence, knowing that you can see the results of your choices now, and if they do not pan out as you expect you can change direction and course correct. No more spending time and money on a wing and a prayer hoping a venture will work. Now you can actually check it out and explore. I love to take my clients 1 year ahead and help them plan what needs doing and when. When you can see what your end goal is, planning is so much easier. Another way Future Life Progression can help is to explore future incarnations and bring key skills you have in those lives back with you, to use in this life. Maybe in a future life you are a great public speaker, what a fantastic skill to bring back to use now. The possibilities are endless, but the results my business clients get are phenomenal. They leave the session with so much more clarity and direction and a big smile on their face. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Sheila! Sheila Kadeer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sheila Kadeer is an Intuitive Business Coach, Therapist, Author and Teacher. She helps women heal the energetic blocks holding them back from embracing their true gifts and passions so they own their soul’s calling by creating an impactful business that brings them joy, freedom and fulfillment. Working on the subconscious and energetic blocks using a mix of hypnotherapy, past life regression, future life progression and ancestral healing along with her psychic superpowers she facilitates rapid transformation in her clients. Her professional background was within Product Marketing in the IT and telecommunications sector and has also been a serving Police Officer and Private Investigator. She is also the creator and author of The Sensitive Soul Wisdom Cards and co-author of the inspiring Kindle bestseller Born For This! The Journey To Success in Life, Love and Business. Regularly featured in the media, she was a radio host for A1R Radio and Moonstruck TV as well as appearing on Psychic Today as a celebrity psychic.

Written by: Roberto R. Bravo, 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 UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released on 6 August its long-awaited Sixth Assessment Report, a hefty 3,949 pages in which more than 200 scientists from around the world have analysed over 14,000 specialist papers on the Earth’s climate to shed light on its (our) immediate future. (Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis) The research includes geological, biological, and climatological studies of the Earth's past and present, along with a wealth of global and satellite data on the current climate, and computerised calculations of the short-, medium- and long-term climate future based on systemic data and relationships whose knowledge is now much greater and more complete than in 2013, when the Committee presented its previous report. This new report, approved by all delegates from the 195 participating countries, is the first of six to be published along with by next year, 2022. The conclusions of the report are decisive: in the last decade, the average global temperature has been the highest in the last 125,000 years, due to human emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. This is clear from the data collected and plotted, as the temperature began to rise sharply from 1850-1900 as a result of the Industrial Revolution, reaching quasi-exponential growth values in the 1960s, which have continued as fossil fuel use and deforestation have increased. Today, the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere is the highest the Earth has seen in the last 2 million years! Other greenhouse gases have also increased, such as methane gas, which is widely used in industry and as a fuel, whose global warming potential is 23 times higher than that of carbon dioxide, or nitrous oxide, widely used in combustion engines, which also destroys the ozone layer that filters harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and remains for about 100 years in the atmosphere. Overall, the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are the highest in the last 800,000 years. As a consequence that everybody can see, major climate imbalances are occurring in all parts of the globe, some unprecedented in thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years of Earth's history, as certified by geological records of climate in past epochs. The Report states that "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land". The increase in global temperature attributable to human causes has averaged 1.1ºC since the late 19th century (which is not as small as it might seem, as we will see). In contrast, the effect of natural phenomena on global warmings, such as the sun or volcanoes, has been virtually zero since the Earth's climate naturally stabilised millions of years ago. Given the triggering effects of the current human-caused increase, it can now be stated with practical certainty that over the next two decades the Earth's average temperature will continue to rise by as much as 1.5°C, dangerously close to the 2°C increase threshold indicated by various estimates that could be catastrophic if we do not take immediate and severe measures. Right now, our chances of keeping the global climate increase below 1.5°C are only 50%, according to the Report. And we could only make it if the amount of carbon dioxide that our factories and the burning of fossil fuels will continue to emit into the atmosphere from the operation of our industrial fleet does not exceed 500 billion tonnes worldwide. At the current rate of pollution, that is only a 13-year journey before we reach a point of no return. According to Helen Mountford, the World Resources Institute's Vice President for Climate and Economics, "Our opportunity to avoid even more catastrophic impacts has an expiration date. The report implies that this decade is truly our last chance to take the actions necessary to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. If we collectively fail to rapidly curb greenhouse gas emissions in the 2020s, that goal will slip out of reach." (Scientists Reach 'Unequivocal' Consensus on Human-Made Warming) The report presents projections of five possible scenarios depending on the reductions we should make in our emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, from the most ambitious option (1) in which, starting now and moving at a fast pace, we would achieve a total and permanent net zero emissions of CO2 by 2050 (other greenhouse gases, such as methane, although of higher warming potential, are produced by industry in much smaller proportions, so the main danger is currently carbon dioxide) to the most dangerous option (5), which is keeping the current rate of pollution, that is, doing nothing. In all cases, the global temperature, due to the above-mentioned trigger effects, will continue to rise by up to 1.5°C by 2040, if not sooner. However, in the best-case scenario, if we dare to act as we should, the temperature would start to fall gradually from that date onwards, marking the beginning of a slow recovery of the planet. Contrarily, in the worst case, our inaction will lead to a global increase of about 3.6°C by 2100 ― which could mean, among other things, the beginning of the end of our presence in the world. The intermediate options go from (2) a progressive but less radical decrease than would be optimal, to (3) a diminishing increase of CO2 emissions, to (4) a minimal reduction of the current rate of increase..., which will finally have to be drastically cut back when we all accept, presumably under increasing climatic catastrophes, and perhaps too late, that the situation was really serious. Except for the first, less bad option (unfortunately, the "good" options are already behind us), the consequences of all other possible scenarios are, from least to worst, negative for climate balance, agriculture, and the maintenance of life ― including, of course, our own. For some years now, the increasing effects of global warming have not gone unnoticed. We frequently hear about climatic imbalances in many different parts of the world: incongruous temperature changes, such as warm spells in the cold season or unexpected hailstorms or snowfall in summer, heat waves exceeding 40°C in many places, and torrential rains or floods where these phenomena did not occur before. Hurricanes are becoming more destructive, droughts more prolonged, forest fires more extensive and more difficult to control... Add the alarming retreat of polar ice, the accelerated disappearance of snow from mountain peaks, the gradual melting of permafrost in frozen regions ― which in turn releases even more carbon and methane into the atmosphere ―, the advance of desertification in certain regions, and the growing scarcity of water in more and more parts of the world. All of which result in huge economic losses to housing, industry, and infrastructure, damage to pastures, crops, and transport, with consequences for communications and food production, preservation and distribution, as well as serious imbalances in labour force, industrial and business logistics, and even human losses each time a major disaster strikes. It is important to note that the above is not an elaborate compilation of catastrophes, but rather a brief summary of what we hear day in day out in the international, and sometimes local news. As the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 gets underway, the most important and at the same time most disturbing question is: being realistic, are we in time to avert the looming global disaster? The Conference plans to address four main points: (i) a significant worldwide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; (ii) implementing concrete global actions (industrial, forestry, etc.) to meet the above goal; (iii) providing a huge annual finance to combat climate change; and (iv) other actions to support the above targets. Not all opinions are optimistic about the outcome of the Conference, and many fear that it will result in something like the previous COP21 in 2015, with an agenda very similar to the current one, and which culminated in the so-called "Paris Climate Agreement", which has remained largely on paper due to a lack of both political and economic will at the global level. The opinion of scientists from the research group Climate Action Tracker based on measurements in 32 countries responsible for more than 80% of global emissions, is that current policies are leading us to scenarios (3) or (4) above, with the consequences of a global temperature increase of 2.7 to 3.6°C in this century. Given that we are too close to the precipice to be able to avoid all the consequences of the current situation, what can and should we do? What we cannot do is sit back and wait for a miracle to save us. The danger is real. The deadlines are peremptory: less than two decades before the situation becomes totally ― not just partially ― irreversible. And there are those who think it already is. If we want to save what we still can of the delicate balance of the planet so that our children and even we ourselves can continue to live because time is running out, we have to do something, and we have to do it now. Every one of us, because there are no magic solutions. Next: How we got into this situation and what we can and must do to reverse it and to what extent, as soon as possible and in the best possible way. Want to learn more from Robert? Follow him on Youtube & Linkedin or visit his website. Read more from Roberto! Robert R. Bravo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Besides his long experience as a researcher and lecturer on Ethics, Logic of Science and Philosophy of Language in Universities of Spain and Latin America, Roberto R Bravo writes and teaches on management skills in the areas of language and argumentation, coaching, leadership, and conflict management from a philosophical standpoint. Member of the editorial board of some academic and non-academic journals, he has published a number of essays, short stories, books for children, and translations. He is currently working on several books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Written by: Denisse Espalter, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It’s beginning to look a lot like the Holidays around the corner. So, what does that mean? It means the shopping and crowds; the back-to-back diet-busting parties; the interminable chats with the in-laws. It can be a little overwhelming…ok at times a lot overwhelming and sometimes a little wine (or a lot) can play a part. With that I understand how easy it is to feel not so wonderful at this most wonderful time of the year and where a lot of people may struggle. Your holiday to-do list might seem endless, and piled on top of your normal, busy routine. First, give yourself some regular “self-care” breaks to disconnect from all that activity, even for just a few minutes. That's why I have rounded up some top expert-endorsed ways to help you dodge the seasonal blues and stay happy, healthy, and energized. From quick stress-survival strategies to mood-brightening foods, here's your cheat sheet to holiday cheer. Let’s break down some of these tips: Get some sunlight It stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and also helps relieve seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which impacts millions of Americans every year, Judith Orloff, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, tells Health. To ease SAD symptoms, spend time outdoors or near a window on sunny days, or ask your doc about phototherapy (a treatment using a box that emits full-spectrum light). Sniff citrus essential oil Researchers studying depression have found that certain citrus fragrances boost feelings of well-being and alleviate stress by upping levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood. For an all-day pick-me-up, dab a little lemon or orange essential oil on a handkerchief to tuck in your pocket. Do less, enjoy more "We go overboard to please others during the holidays: shopping, cooking, sending cards, and attending every event," George Pratt, Ph.D., a psychologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in California, tells Health. "Instead, take care of yourself by saying no at least once—and maybe more." Laugh! Laughing like crazy reduces stress hormones. That, in turn, helps immune cells function better, psychologist Steve Wilson, founder of the World Laughter Tour, an organization that offers therapeutic-laughter training, tells Health. Forget perfection Stop obsessing over doing it all. The world is not going to end if the house is a little cluttered or dinner is on the table a few minutes late. "Focus your energy on enjoying the people in your life," Donna Schempp, the program director for the Family Caregiver Alliance, tells Health. Don't sweat the small stuff and your holiday will be much more enjoyable! Savor a spicy meal Hot foods trigger the release of endorphins—the natural chemicals that trigger feelings of euphoria and well-being, Dr. Kulze says. Try honey You'll get an instant kick and energy for the long haul. According to a review in Pharmacognosy Research, honey's antioxidant and antibacterial properties may improve your immunity. Here's a tip: The darker the honey, the more powerful the antioxidant punch. Give your partner a massage In one study, participants who gave massages had fewer medical woes and less stress than those who received rubdowns. Best scenario: You and your partner gift each other. Turn up the tunes Anxious? Listen to your favorite music, whether it's Jingle Bell Rock or the latest from hit on the radio! Research from the University of Maryland shows that hearing music you love can relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. That not only calms you down but is good for your heart, too. Add mango to your meal Craving something sweet? Ditch the holiday cheesecake and try a delicious mango pie instead. The sweet, tangy scent of mangoes—whether they're fresh or jarred—may alter your blood chemistry and send a wave of calm over your body, research in Pharmacognosy Review shows. Think positive The holidays may drive you to your breaking point, but don't focus on the bad. Negative thinking can trigger your body's stress response, just as a real threat does. Remember, it's time to celebrate with your family and friends (even if they do stress you out!). An optimistic outlook will help you cope with challenges that come your way. With all these tips don’t worry if things aren’t perfect. They won’t be. If you can’t get everything done, or if things don’t go to plan, give yourself a break. I always turn to laugher when things become or feel stressed. So, the turkey may have turned into a dog's dinner, the fruitcake may have exploded, and you may have been locked in that crushing moment when two people gave the same gift to someone, but all is not lost! In hindsight, these are hilarious situations. What's better than to laugh off these moments of festive calamity? Sharing laughter helps people realize the most important part of the holiday is the gift of being together. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Denisse! Denisse Espalter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Denisse Espalter is recognized as a top Life & Style Coach and a sought-after Communications Expert. After multiple life-changing experiences, learning how to pivot her mindset and not let fear hold her back, she created Unboxed Life and Style, a lifestyle brand. She developed a company that not only has amazing self-care & entrepreneur boxes, she also coaches, educates, and inspires women on how to take their life experiences and learn how to evolve with them as their life and style change. She offers courses on how to clean out the layers in your closet to become the better version of yourself and shifting your mindset. Encourages women with Love the Skin You're In program. She teaches how to develop a self-care routine and prioritize yourself and a Leveling Up Entrepreneur course to gain clarity, confidence and build strategies to grow your mindset. Her Book Everyday Woman's Guide to Doing What You Love will be released in June 2021. Her mission: Is to be a resource and teach women to stop doubting themselves. "The more clear you are on what you have - the more confident you will be!"

Sunu is an international lead magnet expert, specializing in creating a lead magnet and launch funnels that help coaches and consultants consistently sell their high-ticket offers with ease. She has been in the digital marketing industry for the last 12+ years working with varied industries and has helped her clients generate £3 Million+ yearly income through SEO and inbound marketing strategies. A high-school teacher turned online marketing consultant, Sunu is passionate about supporting people who love to transform the lives and businesses of their clients. Over the past 2 years alone (since she embraced the title ’The Lead Magnet Lady’), Sunu has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners share their story, build their tribe, increase their impact, and get more leads and sales by designing and setting up efficient lead magnet and launch funnels for their businesses. Sunu Philip, The Lead Magnet Lady Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your story, Sunu? I'm an international lead magnet expert hailing from beautiful, tropical Kerala - the southernmost state in India. I started my online journey in 2007 and tried so many different things to earn an income. Along the way, I signed up to receive Rich Schefren’s Online Business Manifesto eBook, as well as his free online business and marketing tips newsletter. That eBook was a breath of fresh air for me. It was the lead magnet that literally changed my life! You see, I had been scammed many times. I lost hundreds of dollars on many money-making schemes. The promises remained promises. But Rich spoke differently. He wanted my success. Yes, there were sales pitches and launch emails. But there was value right there in the free resource. He wanted me to grow, not remain bogged down by online marketing overwhelm. He offered me so much value with just a few free resources! That was the starting point for my online business. I officially declared it and embraced myself as an online entrepreneur!! My life as an online business owner started with a free resource, so I know the power of a lead magnet. Now I help transformational coaches attract high-ticket leads easily and effectively by setting up intuitively guided lead magnet funnels. How did you become “The Lead Magnet Lady”? “The Lead Magnet Lady” was a title one of my clients gave me when I first started working on lead magnets. I loved it so much and decided to embrace the title! But I wasn't always sure this was who I would become. I started as a digital marketing consultant offering all aspects of online marketing, graphic design, and web design - to just about everyone. There was no focus. I dabbled in a variety of things - from content marketing and social media management to setting up sales funnels and email marketing. But in February 2019, something clicked! I signed up for a Mastermind and it changed me from the inside out!! As part of the Mastermind tasks, I niched down to just one thing: “LEAD MAGNETS”. I started getting known as #TheLeadMagnetLady and I embraced that name. Now that’s my brand! I learnt that I could dream BIG! I went from charging £99 for my done-for-you services to £7.5k for a single project - all in the span of the last 2 years! I faced my fears and started showing up as ME! I don’t have to do the hard sell. I get inbound leads every week who’s ready to buy. Building and growing a business does take time and we have to put in the effort. But when you know the process works; that makes it a whole lot easier. Over the past 2+ years, I've worked with more than 100 clients from all over the world!! It's been an amazing, amazing journey! I feel I'm in my zone now and I genuinely enjoy the work I'm doing. What is the driving force behind the work you do? I am inspired by the way coaches and consultants transform lives and businesses worldwide. I know I have the gift of helping them extend their reach and make a bigger impact with the work they do. I'm passionate about giving my audience all of it. I want to give them a big impact, more money, and lots of freedom! And that's my why... that's my mission. After a dozen years in the online marketing industry, I've perfected the process of attracting clients online. When I faithfully share the knowledge, skills, tools, and processes I've learnt over the years, I know it's helping other people reach levels of success they could have only dreamt of earlier. I might work with only a handful of committed clients each week, but the ripple effect it causes in their lives (and in the lives of their clients) makes it all worth it for me. What’s the framework you use with your clients to map out their lead magnet funnels? I follow a 6 step framework with my clients to map out their lead magnet funnels, and it’s what I highly recommend. Step 1: Get clarity on your ICA (ideal client avatar), offer, and messaging so you can be sure you're talking to the right people in the right way. Work on your mindset, self-worth, and self-acceptance, so you'll be able to trust yourself and confidently show up for your people. Identify places where you need to be visible online so your ideal client knows you exist and how you can help them. Create a visibility strategy so you can be intentional in showing up online and being there for your audience. Step 2: Map out the customer journey so you have a clear idea of how your ideal client is going to work with you. Plan touchpoints at various stages so you can reach your potential clients in the place they’re at and guide them to the next level. Map the path of travel so you have a step-by-step roadmap and you know how you’re going to get your ideal client to take the next leg of the journey with you. Step 3: Create an in-depth replica of the funnel with the different stages so it’s easier to implement. Identify milestones along the customer journey - this includes lead magnets, email campaigns, entry-level offers, videos, FB groups, high ticket offers, etc. Step 4: Create the content and copy for each stage on the roadmap. This includes the lead magnet content, email copy, landing page copy, sales page copy, etc. Create each of the elements - lead magnets, videos, landing pages, sales pages, etc. Step 5: Set up the entire funnel - the pathway that leads an ideal client from the first lead magnet to the high-ticket offer. Get the landing pages, payment systems, and email sequences in place so the entire funnel is ready for use. Step 6: Test the funnel to ensure it’s working as expected (if possible with FB ads). Analyse results over a period of 2 months and tweak as required to make it work efficiently. How does your work benefit your clients? My clients get a host of great benefits when they work with me. They gain the confidence to increase their rates so they can work with fewer clients and provide more value with better results. They consistently attract their dream clients and sell their high ticket offers. They’re able to establish their authority in their niche and become the go-to person in their area of expertise. They have opportunities to nurture their relationship with their ideal clients and earn their trust. They get to freely serve their people, giving generously and creating ripple effects in their circle of influence. They’re able to free up their time so they can focus on doing what they love and be there for the people who need them the most. I teach them how to overcome the feast-famine rollercoaster, and also implement a groundbreaking framework that will have them getting a consistent pipeline of incoming leads and sales. They have me in their corner to stand with them and help them grow, so they’re never alone in the journey. What are your top 3 tips for creating effective lead magnet funnels? Tip #1: Start with the end in mind. When setting up a lead magnet funnel, you should always know what you're going to sell to those who sign up for the lead magnet. One common mistake I see is that coaches offer generic lead magnets that cover everything they do. These lead magnets have no focus. This confuses ideal clients, and they struggle to decide what step they should take next. You must be very clear on the next step your ideal client should take after signing up for your lead magnet. Then, make sure your lead magnet is properly aligned with your core offer. The lead magnet should automatically lead people to the offer. They should feel that’s the next right thing for them to do. Tip #2: Create an awesome lead magnet. Value + Action => Results => Transformation => Your Offer Provide VALUE through your lead magnet. Specify what ACTION your ideal client can take. The value you provide and the action they take brings amazing RESULTS. These results lead to a major TRANSFORMATION in their life/business. At this point, you can easily present your OFFER. They are now ready to take you up on your offer and glide to the next step with you. If you make sure that your lead magnet follows this path, you can be assured that your subscribers will be mentally and emotionally ready to continue working with you! Tip #3: Nurture your subscribers. After people sign up for your lead magnet, it's crucial to nurture them well. You have to make sure you're sending emails that take them one step further along their journey with you. You're reinforcing their trust, building a relationship, and getting them interested in your offers, one email at a time. This nurturing process can be done as a welcome series, newsletters, or weekly email updates. This way, you're regularly in touch with them and they see you in their inbox. All the emails might not get opened, but they'll still see you and your name stays on top of their mind. If you want sales to happen you must give importance to the nurturing process. And remember, the nurturing process is not a one-off event. It has to keep happening in order for it to be effective. Interested in having your own lead magnet funnel to bring in high-ticket leads? Sign up for my free training here! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Read more from Sunu!

Written by: Alex Knysh, 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. Do you know the power of a hug? I recently met a beautiful friend for a coffee and stroll. We hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks so there was lots of catch-up on with all of our news. During our conversation, it really struck me how much I love our friendship and how grateful I am to have this fabulous lady in my life, with her support, encouragement, love, and most of all, great hugs! I think within one and a half hours, we hugged each other around six times while we were sharing exciting news, stories and lifting each other up. That is the most hug I have had in a long time! You see, I live on my own with my cat, so for me to receive a hug from a fellow human, I must go out and seek it. Usually, it happens when I am catching up with friends, however, mostly the hug consists of a quick hello and that is that. When I am home, I fill my hugging quota with my cat (usually it is me forcing her to comply with my lavish affection) and while that is great (and I love squishing her so much), it is different from reciprocal human interaction and connection. So, what is in a hug? A hug is a powerful healer, which releases oxytocin into your bloodstream, and helps to reduce the stress hormone cortisol, making you relax and feel good. Hugs are a natural emotional healer as they raise your levels of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin in your brain which lifts your mood instantly and makes you feel happy. When you hug someone, you are naturally aligned with their nervous system, so it calms any negative emotions, allowing you both to relax, and strengthen your connection. There are so many wonderful and healthful benefits to hugs: Hugs help to build trust and confidence. They help reduce feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety. Hugs help you to feel forgiveness for the other person if there have been miscommunications. They help to improve self-esteem. Hugs help you feel loved and supported. Physically, hugging boosts your immune system so you can fight infection and fatigue. Hugging lowers your blood pressure, therefore lowering your heart rate in stressful situations Hugs help to reduce the risk of heart disease and other illnesses. Hugs may also help to reduce pain and increase the quality of life. There are so many benefits! I find it interesting reflecting within myself that during the height of dealing with autoimmune diseases many years ago, I felt unsupported and unloved. I was not receiving the kinds of human interaction, connection, and hugs that I was craving and needed. I spent far too much time on my own, in sickness and it was a really miserable time in my life. Now, years later, after going through an amazing transformational healing process, I have developed an incredibly close community who love and support me fully and my autoimmune response is minimal. See how hugs can heal? Prominent Psychotherapist Virginia Satir tells us that hugging is so important for our health and we should be aiming to have four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, and twelve hugs a day for growth. Does that make you want to hug more now? And how long should we aim to hug for? A ten-second hug leads to significant improvements in your health so make sure you fill your quota today. Make it last. Make it count. I gave and received six hugs that morning with my beautiful friend, and most days I have about twelve hugs a day (or more) with my cat, so I am doing well so far! In recent times of pandemic, we have become accustomed to social distancing and the narrative which told us being close to others is bad for us. With quarantining and isolation on the rise, many people are feeling distanced and disconnected from others, which is causing a rise in mental health disorders and has even made people fearful of physical touch and hugging. As humans, we long for human touch and connection, in fact, it’s part of our basic needs for survival, so it’s vital to stay connected and hugged to your loved ones. Considering that hugs lower your blood pressure and stress hormones, and help you to feel safe, loved, and connected, hugging those closest to you is a great place to start. The positive and healthful effects of hugging will greatly impact your life on so many levels. If you want to talk more about becoming more reconnected with yourself and others, please do reach out to me. Want more help finding happiness within? Get in touch via my website or on Facebook or Instagram. Read more from Alex! Alex Knysh, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Alex Knysh is an Energy Leader & Self-Love Coach, supporting women to live their passion and purpose through the journey of connecting deep within and discovering self-love. Alex is passionate about helping people develop more confidence, clarity, and connection. With 6 years of experience coaching and leading groups, running workshops and events, Alex is also the founder of Better Life Solutions, a group inspiring people globally to be the best versions of themselves. When she is not helping clients discover their own inner brilliance, you will find her exploring nature and sitting on the shores of the beautiful beaches of her hometown of Sydney.

Written by: Jessie Liew, 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. Free Masterclass: How to reduce screen time for your child without the constant nagging, arguing, talking back all while creating a deeper connection and increased family time. Hi everyone, I am so excited that I am going to launch my Masterclass on “How to reduce screen time for your child without the constant nagging, arguing, talking back all while creating a deeper connection and increased family time”. These past 2 years have been a roller coaster kind of a year. Many of us are stuck at home with our children attending school online. As a cyber security expert and mother of 4, I face the same task as all parents - rearing safe and responsible digital children. I started this digital parenting during the pandemic when my country announced a lockdown, and my children have to pivot to the online classroom. Before this, I regulate their screen use and their use was limited as they are away from school and the tuition center. When the pandemic hits, I realize that they have to be with the screen most of the time due to the online classroom. I was worried about Internet Dangers and screen addiction. I see many parents are struggling with their children's screen habits therefore I combined everything I know about Internet Safety, Habits and parenting into the program. Back in March 2019, when my friend Lee passed away, it triggers a lot of thoughts in me and I realized that if today is my last day, what is most valuable would be the relationship with my loved ones and my children. Therefore, I decided I wanted to build a long-lasting relationship with them and connect with them on their online and offline journey. A month after the lockdown, my friend Lydia called me up and shared that she has to fight with her 13-year-old son to snatch back the smartphone as his son was addicted to the smartphone. Therefore, I started my digital parenting coaching and have helped parents to establish better relationships with their children while empowering their children to use electronic devices responsibly and stay safe online. This masterclass is for you if you are responsible parents who love and care about their children and use the screen. You believe that the technology is going to stay and wanted to get your children to use it responsibly and stay safe online. This masterclass is different, as I am going to reveal the strategies that I use to empower my children to use electronic devices responsibly, stay safe online, and remove the need for myself to physically be there to monitor their online activities. Do you sometimes lay awake at night and worry about the dangers your children may be exposed to online? Screen addiction, game slavery, and dangerous apps? Are you concerned about your children’s screen time and online dangers? Would you like to have peace of mind to know that your children can use the internet responsibly and stay safe online? Most parents are worried about child's future when their children are addicted to the screen. Do you feel guilty and struggle when comes to screen time with your children? Do you feel that your children are not connected to you now as much when they are younger? With our Digital Parenting Program, you have a better relationship with your children while empowering your children to use electronic devices responsibly while staying safe on the Internet. I have a student and her name is Simona Condrachi. She is a parenting coach, a mother of 2 boys, aged 9 and 7. Before she met me, she was concerned about her children’s screen time. There is tension when comes to screen time. Even though she applies all her parenting knowledge on screen time, still it fails to take away the tension related to screen time. Her children always find ways to get more screen time especially when Simona was extremely busy. She felt she has messed up on parenting her children with screen time. Now, her relationship with her children improved especially on-screen time. She had an agreement with her children and her children know to set the limit on their own and use electronic devices in a positive way and stay safe online. She has become a confident parent when comes to screentime and tech even though she is not techy. Why am I doing this? When my friend Lydia called me and shared that she has to fight with her 13-year-old son to snatch back the smartphone as his son was addicted to the smartphone, I realize that many families are broken apart due to the screen. Many parents and children also have less conversation and connection due to the screen. I realized I have something to offer to the world. This masterclass will be happening on 4th Nov 2021 (Thursday) at 10 AM Eastern time. This is a live masterclass and I will try to answer all the questions you have about screen time. The live masterclass only takes 1 hour of your time. There is no recording of the Masterclass. Therefore, we highly encourage all participants to be fully present physically and mentally to get the most out of the Masterclass. Now jot down the date and the time as well as the link: https://bit.ly/reducingscreentime If you would like help with reducing your children’s screen addiction and improving your relationship with them, join my free Facebook group to get immediate access to all of my free training. If you would like 1:1 coaching with me to help you reduce your children’s screen addiction and improve your relationship with them, book a free strategy call with me here. Follow Jessie on Facebook for more information. Read more from Jessie! Jessie Liew, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jessie Liew is a Digital Parenting Coach. As a cybersecurity expert, a mother of 4, she also has to face the same task as all parents, which is rearing safe & responsible digital citizens. We are living in a digital era, and hence we need new skills to parent our children. She’s been working in the cybersecurity field for more than 14 years. She also holds professional certifications in Cyber Security (CISSP, CRISC, and CISA). She has been able to shape the companies’ employees' internet habits as well as in her own children. Her Mission: Empower Parents to nurture their children to use the Internet and technologies in a positive way while staying safe on the Internet. This builds the foundation of our future Digital Citizens. She is looking for parents or educators who want to nurture their children to be responsible digital citizens and build a great relationship with their children.

Written by: Shimrit Nativ, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You really can change your life and move in any direction you choose. It takes a decision, a vision, a commitment, faith, and action. Your compass in life is your heart, your desire, your GPS is your feeling, your emotional state, and your wheel is your thought. Now the question is who is the driver? Is the driver your little self? The limited and outdated one, the unaware and fearful one? Or is the driver the limitless and higher self, the knowing one? When you have a desire for something that idea already exists. It exists as a frequency that can be measured, and it becomes your destination. Your body-mind is the vehicle that you, as the driver, is using. To reach that destination and fulfill your desire, you, as the driver, want to steer the wheel, take the turns and avoid the crashes along the way to your desired destination. When you use your vehicle correctly you tune it to the same frequency of your desire, to the frequency of that thought and idea, that image in your mind. Just like a radio receiver is tuned to the same frequency the radio station is broadcasting on, when you tune the receiver that you are to the frequency of your desire it manifests in physical form and conditions in your life. As the driver, you've set the destination, and now you need to follow the navigation system, your emotional GPS, in order to make your way and reach it. Your emotions signal to you if you're moving in the right direction. When you experience a negative emotion your GPS is telling you you've taken a wrong turn. When you feel a positive emotion, it is signaling you that you're on the right track. The way you steer the wheel and get off or on the right track is with your thinking. Your thinking is the wheel. It is a thought, by a thought, by a thought, by a thought that you move in the right direction. It takes practice to learn how to drive. It takes repetition and focus to make this into a habitual function that you can do without effort. Just as when you develop a skill, like driving, speaking a language, dancing or playing a musical instrument, you must repeat and practice over and over again until you implement the information into your subconscious, so you can do it automatically without consciously thinking about every step, and be free to move, create and express yourself fluently. The same goes with being the driver of your vehicle in the journey of life. It is a skill that you can practice and master. This vehicle is always moving. It's never standing still and there's always one who is driving. Without learning and practicing how to consciously drive, the automatic driver can be compared to a little child. Would you give a little child to drive a car that you're in? Well that's what you're doing, if you're not developing the skill of consciously driving - of consciously choosing your thoughts. Our subconscious habits of thought and action are created in childhood (you can read more about that in my article on Generational Wellbeing) and as long as you don't reprogram those subconscious habits, you keep operating from that same level of mind as that young child that you once were, and so that child is the driver, which explains why you find yourself crashing to the same walls over and over again, not reaching the destination you've set when you went on the ride. If you want to take over the wheel and put that little child safely in the back seat, you want to be able to be the loving, compassionate adult to that child, containing their emotions and then making conscious choices of thought to steer the wheel, follow the GPS signal and move in the direction that feels better, and better, and better, until you find yourself fulfilling your desire. Whatever your desire is, it is for the good feeling effect it will bring you. As you learn how to choose thoughts that feel better to you, you are getting closer and closer to that destination and the fulfilment of your desire. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Shimrit! Shimrit Nativ, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Shimrit Nativ is a leader and expert in human potential and transformation. She is the CEO of Master Your Path - a leading edge academy for emotional & mental well-being. Shimrit has helped hundreds of driven and creative individuals across the globe create and sustain a consistent baseline of calm, confidence and fulfilment. She helps high-performers tap into their limitless powers and make the emotional and conscious shifts necessary to create a life they love.

Written by: Michael Neill, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. There’s a story about the comedian Jerry Lewis that when he was touring the country doing gigs, he kept a diary. On any night where the show went well, he would write some variation on “I killed it tonight!” On a night where the show went badly, he would write “The audience sucked”. This is reflective of a pattern I see in many of the entre/solopreneurs, business owners, and salespeople I’ve worked with. When things are going well, it’s because of the brilliance of their product, service, or salesmanship; when things are going badly, it’s because of the state of the economy, their industry, or “stubbornly resistant customers”. Rather than try to teach them better coping strategies or “clever tricks to overcome resistance”, I often guide them in an exploration of the nature of buying. Given that no one has to buy anything from you (ever), the more you understand how people make buying decisions, the more effortless and graceful your selling will become. Here’s the question in a nutshell: Why do people buy when they buy, and why don’t they buy when they don’t? In exploring that question over the past 30 years or so, I’ve come to see that while there are any number of reasons people give for pulling the trigger and buying something, there are essentially only three reasons why they don’t. Getting clear on these reasons helps you focus in on more effective sales strategies and waste less time trying to close sales when people aren’t yet in a position to buy. Reason number one: They don’t really know what’s on offer (or they don’t believe that what you say is on offer is really on offer). I have worked for the past thirty years in the coaching industry. Since for most people, the word “coach” still evokes images of their high school gym teacher, whistle around the neck and slightly frightening, a large part of my enrollment process is educational. What they assume is on offer is that in some way I’ll bully them into doing something they don’t really want or feel capable of doing on their own. When I show them what’s actually on offer — more wellbeing and enjoyment, higher levels of performance and results, and less stress and pressure than ever before — they are at least intrigued by the possibility. But my job as a salesperson doesn’t stop there. It’s one thing to say those things and quite another to demonstrate their credibility. When I was first starting out, I would do that by offering free “sample sessions” so people could experience the impact for themselves. Now, I have a wealth of books, articles, video, and audio resources available to them where they can get a taste of what’s on offer, and a track record of happy clients they can speak with to get a sense that it really is possible. There is a company in the UK called Ronseal whose longtime advertising slogan is “Does exactly what it says on the tin”. Their interior varnish varnishes interiors; their waterproof deck and wood stain stains wood and proofs your deck against water. While I’ve never had the opportunity to put their products to the test, there’s a clarity and simplicity to their offerings we can all learn from. Do your offers pass “the Ronseal test”? That is, if I were to interview your potential customers or clients, could they tell me exactly what’s on offer? Will it save them time and/or money? Will it help them to do something they really want to do or make their life easier or more enjoyable? On a scale from 1–10, how sure would they be that your product or service “does exactly what it says on the tin”? If you want to increase sales, you must first increase the clarity of your offering. And as long as it’s really on offer, anything you can do to make that experientially obvious to your customer/client is probably worth any amount of time, money, and attention you put into it. So if people really get what’s on offer and get that it’s the real deal, will they always buy? Of course not. And here’s the main reason why… Reason number two: They know what’s on offer and believe it’s true, but it’s doesn’t seem worth it to them at “the price”. One of the reasons that salespeople are so quick to want to offer discounts to close sales is they believe their potential customers when they tell them that “it’s too expensive”. But the truth is, “the price” of any product or service isn’t just to do with the financial cost in isolation. The real price of any purchase includes the relative value of money to each party, but also the investment of time to learn how to put it to use and the potential hassle of having to deal with you and/or your company. Chances are you’ve got plenty of real-life examples where trying to save yourself a few bucks (or a few thousand) cost you so much more than you bargained for when the product turned out to be shoddy, the service turned out to be terrible, and the whole experience wound up being pretty miserable. In order to increase sales, especially on higher-end items, coming down on the financial price is a poor second to finding out what your potential customer or client really values and demonstrating how what’s on offer will help them get more of it. If they can see that what you’re offering is worth more to them in the moment than what you’re asking for in exchange, they’ll usually buy it. The exception to that rule of thumb is explained by reason number three… Reason number three: They know what’s on offer and believe it’s on offer, but just don’t want it. Years ago, I was talking to a very persistent salesman who had clearly been well-trained in the art of overcoming objections. Every one of my politely stated reasons for declining was quickly “handled” until I literally could not come up with a single reason to say “no”. To the salesman’s complete surprise, I still didn’t buy at the end of our exchange. Somewhat humbled and confused by the experience, he asked my why I didn’t buy, this time as a genuine question instead of as a sales tactic. “No reason,” I explained. “I just don’t want it”. One of the easiest ways to increase sales over time is to spend less of your time and attention trying to convince people who fundamentally aren’t interested in what’s on offer and more of your time finding people who are. While how to do that will be the subject of a future article, here are a few things that will help you to do just that: 1. Get really, really clear on what’s on offer for your customer or client in general terms. This is essentially your “elevator pitch” — how you would explain the value of your product or service over the course of a 30-second elevator ride. 2. Take the time to get to know what matters to the specific person or company you’re offering it to. The more you get why they’re willing to even talk with you about your product or service, the more you’ll be able to see what would be a “no-brainer” offer to them, where the relative value of what you’re offering is blatantly worth more to them than the money you’re asking them to exchange for it 3. Stop assuming your product or service is for everyone. It may well be perfect for the right person, but chances are that it would be a poor fit for many, many others. In this sense, the easiest way to find your ideal customers and clients is to stop spending all your time and attention trying to convince people who clearly aren’t. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Michael! Michael Neill, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michael Neill is an internationally renowned leadership coach, author, speaker, and thought leader. He has worked with executives and teams from Disney, Google, Netflix, Pixar, Public Health England, and more, challenging the prevailing mythology that stress and struggle are prerequisites to creativity and success. His TEDx Talks, bestselling books, podcasts, keynotes, training, and retreats are designed to unleash human potential with intelligence, humor, and heart and have inspired and impacted millions of people at the United Nations and on six continents around the world.

Awaz Ahmed is a Business Psychologist and Certified Coach helping organizations and individuals in the workplace by encouraging and facilitating clients in a range of professional and personal areas. In addition, she has worked internationally and is the founder of aweology; a company platform of Business Psychologists and professional coaches. With a MSc in Business Psychology and coaching Awaz Ahmed, is also a certified emotional intelligence coach, NLP practitioner, associate certified coach (ACC), member of the British Psychology Society, American Psychology Association, Society for Industrial and organizational psychology and currently studying her Ph.D. in Business Psychology. Through her extensive experience and education in Business Psychology, she is highly skilled and passionate about research, psychometrics, assessments, training, development, recruitment, and coaching. Who is Awaz? I’m Awaz Ahmed, Business Psychologistof and professional & personal certified coach. I am from San Diego, CA, and sometimes across the world, United Arab Emirates. Ironically, my journey in psychology began without any , of actually pursuing such a path, but it was the best path for me. Some things are just meant to happen! I’m passionate about helping individuals, teams, and organizations at a professional and personal level. What is it that you do for your clients as a business psychologist? The most important part of my job is creating a relationship with my clients before anything else—trust, safety, and empathy. In order for organizations and individuals to be successful to retain lasting relationships. Using psychological insights, tools, and techniques, I help organizations, teams, and individuals with a range of services and best strategies. I know how to assess what's going on beneath the surface of organizations and individuals. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? My big goal is to expand my practice and create awareness ofa , the business psychology field. Business psychology is a fast-developing area, which I hope to be able to be a part of. In 10 years, I hope to have my practice expanded, ahead of the field, and have access to more resources and learning from influential people to better assist organizations and individuals. I also hope to write a book to influence or create awareness about my field and be able to teach as a university professor. Tell me more about your various professional credentials and how you use them in your practice. I’m a member of the British psychology association, which demonstrates my graduate educational background, an associate certified coach (ACC) by the international coaching federation, certified psychometric assessor for ability and personality (RQTU), certified emotional intelligence coach, NLP practitioner intention and a doctoral student pursuing business psychology further. With my educational and experienced background, I’m able to passionately help individuals and organizations with their needs. What are your top 3 tips for an entrepreneur starting a business? Self-love: mental health is so important. It’s the core of many aspects of our life. When there is self-love, an individual is unstoppable. Make time for yourself, whatever makes you happy—a sport, a massage, a destination or a drink. Make time for your mental health, you're not alone. We all need it! Confidence: Being successful starts with you! Having confidence creates positivity and positivity leads to success. Don’t let challenges or obstacles make you want to give up—when there’s confidence, there’s success. Plan: Planning is one of the first steps to a start-up. A plan helps guide and self facilitate—minimizing or eliminating challenges or risks. When there is a plan, there is strategic direction. How can people get in contact with you? I can be reached through the website, aweology.com, through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email, awaz@aweology.com. Follow me on Instagram, Linkedin and visit my website! Read more from Awaz!

Written by: Stefania Piccardo, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise When you think of a curry what comes to mind is a nice cold draught beer. That is the general outlook people have towards Indian curries. But it may come to surprise for some that beer is not the only drink that pairs well with a curry. In fact, cocktails can match perfectly with any curry, you just need to know which one to choose according to the ingredients that best go with your food What about a mojito dashed with a Bacardi or a Love from Delhi with Plymouth and Chambord? Or a mango strawberry daiquiri with rum? Or even our aromatic Lychee Martini with Vodka? Let’s explore in more detail how cocktails can be an out of the ordinary but very refreshing and delightful choice that can bring out the flavours and cool down the upshot of the spices. Many cocktails would complement different dishes whether with lamb, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Let’s start with the meaty lamb dishes. Lamb is full of flavour, it has a robust pastoral rounded taste and it is lightly sweeter than chicken so for these curries we would recommend a rum-based cocktail. Why not try a Rajasthani lamb or a Laal Maans or even a keema mutter with our signature Peruka Breeze containing rum and guava juice to refresh your tongue? Or maybe a Mojito with Bacardi Rum, lime, and mint leaves to give that subtle relief from the tang? Our Mojitos come with a fruity flavour with a choice of raspberry or strawberry to add that reminiscence of summer in the air, even on the cold snowy winter days. Also, a Disaronno would complement a lamb dish perfectly because it has that almondy sweet taste. Ask for a Disaronno Fizz with lemon and soda to our in-house mixologist to finish off your meal! And what about chicken? Being quite different from lamb in taste, chicken curries are best coupled with gin and vodka or even a Martini. So you can match our Murgh dishes like Methi Murgh, Murgh curry, or a Murgh Qorma with one of our signature Martini cocktails like a French Martini with a dash of High-grade Vodka in it. And what about Indian fish dishes? Our pomfret or a banana leaf-wrapped Pollichatu would match with a dry gin or a vodka-inspired cocktail, as they would with a Pinot Gris or a Sauvignon Blanc. Vegetable dishes in India are a staple food with aromatic basmati rice or a roti or a naan. Lentils like a creamy Daal Makhani or Tadka Daal pair well with tangy cocktails containing ginger ale or take a pindi chole or an aloo gobhi with a gin tonic with mint and lime with a thin slice of ginger. Apart from cocktails wines are a great match for curries too! For those who are more traditional and not very adventurous, wines represent a great option when it comes to Indian cuisine. Vegetables can be coupled with an earthy red like pinot noir with a hint of spices. Try our Dal tadka or Dal Makhani or even an aubergine bharta with our Red Pinot Noir from the foothills of the Pyrenees. Lamb curries or lamb chops are perfectly coupled with robust well-rounded reds like malbec or a shiraz, or a mellow cabernet sauvignon. Undoubtedly all chicken dishes pair well with a red fruity cabernet sauvignon from Chile which is well combined with all the spicy dishes. Fish tapas match with a Belvino pinot grigio rosato slightly dryer in style, full of fresh summer berry fruit aromas, still a nice option from our menu if you like fish. Sauvignon blanc from Chile or a white corte vigna pinot grigio and The Beautiful Lady white from South Africa (gewurztraminer) are exceptionally well paired with Indian style cooked fish and with spicy Asian cuisine in general thanks to their off style. Whatever item you choose from our mouth-watering menu, we will be happy to advice the best cocktail or wine from our ambitious and extensive selection of drinks. Welcome to divine dining at Namaste Delhi! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stefania! Stefania Piccardo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stefania Piccardo obtained her Ph.D. in English language and literature from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. During her academic years, she worked for Scottish distilleries and castles as a tour guide in multiple languages. Her love for Scotland brought her back to Aberdeen in 2003, where she obtained an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University. She then worked for multiple organizations but soon realized that she wanted to teach languages privately to the corporate level. Stefania has helped many students achieve the best grades in school and university but most of all she has the ambition to train corporate employees who deal with import/export, foreign trade or want to develop their career and expand their horizons for more opportunities in Europe and beyond. She speaks four languages including Italian, her mother tongue, English, French and Spanish and she has founded Language tutor4U back in 2012. In addition to her teaching schedule, she works as a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, the innovative and traditional Indian restaurant she owns along with her husband in Aberdeen City center since 2018. As a keen writer, she also enjoys feeding social media posts and writing for her blogs about Italian and Indian cultures, languages, and much more!