Written by: Stevie Orrill, 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 knew it. I just knew it. Not that I was going to deliver my speech flawlessly, or that the audience would be wowed with my powerful performance. Those things were inconsequential. I knew that after weeks of sacrifice and preparation, that come to the end of the day - whether it was perceived successful or not - that I would get stupidly and irrationally drunk. That was my thing. I’d done it for years. It was my way of releasing pressure. It’s a normal thing to do, right? In fact, I was quite good at it. I’d mastered the art of numbing my senses sufficiently to have fun, but not so much to chance anything regrettable. That required a fair amount of effort in itself. Being alert enough to know when to say “yes” and when to say “no” is more exhausting than you might think. But despite my effort to be perceived as a person who was in control and thriving in life, the reality is that I was a willing accomplice to the suppression of my inherent potential. And I was the chief torturer of my soul. I’m not saying that anyone who enjoys a glass of wine or indulges in other sensual pleasures is killing their potential. There is a distinction between doing something for enhanced enjoyment, versus numbing our reality because it’s too painful to look at. Most of us have never been made aware of this, or we never sit still long enough to think about it. The outcome of the numbing or soothing behaviour we indulge in is that we recklessly destroy our ability to thrive and find fulfilment in life. And when I say soothing behaviour, I’m talking about things like… Sex & Relationships, Alcohol & Drugs, Food, Media, and Overwork. You might recognise some of the above behaviours, or maybe you have other preferences. These are the rituals we have conditioned ourselves to do over and over again, often without even conscious recognition, and often without even enjoying them. We do it because it feels good. It provides immediate and temporary pleasure. And it becomes so natural to us, so part of our routine, that we don’t even know we’re doing it. We don’t know why we were doing it. And we have no idea how our automated behaviour is supressing our talent and creativity. Why do we indulge in soothing behaviour? Very simply, it feels good. It sooths our discomfort. For the same reason a doctor prescribes morphine to a wounded patient, it provides temporary pain relief. Each of us are carrying emotional wounds inflicted by past traumas. And When I say each of us, I’ve yet to meet a human who doesn’t carry some kind of emotional wounding. Many of these wounds have been there for years. We become so numb to them, so attached to them, we actually believe that we are them. Instead of getting curious about our emotional wounds and exploring them, it’s much more convenient to get drunk, to eat until we feel sick, or to stay up all night working. At least that way we don’t have to look at the truth. What I want you to know more than anything, is that your preferred choice of soothing – just like morphine - will only ever provide temporary relief. The longer you ignore the root cause of the pain you are soothing, the worse it will get. Much more terrifying though is the talent you are withholding from the world as a result of your self-destructive soothing behaviour. You have no idea just how good life can be. You are actively limiting the possibility and potential that you brought into the world. It’s not just a sad reality. It’s destroying your enjoyment of life. Here’s three ways we allow trauma to limit us, and how we can begin to change it. 1. We convince ourselves we’re not worthy of “success”. A client called Jane (not her real name) began a coaching agreement with me. During our first session, Jane described in detail her experience as a victim of the most horrendous mental and physical abuse you could imagine. It was an emotional conversation. On the surface she was a well-functioning adult. She was in a great marriage, lots of friends to surround herself with, and a radiant personality. As we went deeper into the coaching Jane opened up about her beliefs. She thought her husband was way too good for her. She constantly worried that her friends were going to “figure her out” and abandon her. She had an extremely low opinion of herself and didn’t believe she was particularly talented at anything. And here’s the most tragic part of the story. Jane is incredibly talented. She has a love for working with psychotic patients and helping them navigate life. But because she spends most of her energy looking over her shoulder, wondering when everyone is going to leave her, she has very little energy left to focus on what she loves. Guys and girls… do not underestimate this. I see it every single day. Most of us are walking around with incredibly low opinions of ourselves. Most of us are happy to take whatever good bit of fortune comes our way. We rarely ever believe that we’re worthy of anything better. 2. We become targets for manipulators to exploit. A number of years ago I was working in the corporate world. I travelled to meet with a customer at the request of a partner I was supporting, as I would often do. There was a nasty storm hanging over the UK with rain and high winds. It wasn’t a fun drive. I arrived at the meeting on time. The lady who had asked me to attend made a joke about my choice not to wear a tie to the meeting. I rarely ever do. It’s not my preferred choice. I see no reason to. The meeting lasted about three hours. We presented to the client. Everything went to plan. I got in my car and set off on the drive home. A few hours later – sat in traffic – I was talking with my boss on the phone. We discussed a number of topics and then he said ominously, “There’s something I want to talk to you about.” “Sure.” I replied. He continued, “We’ve received a complaint about you” (from the partner who I’d spent an entire day supporting). “Apparently you were unprofessional throughout the meeting today.” He then went on to list of number of complaints which he had written in front of him. None of which were remotely true. It turns out that the lady I was helping didn’t like my choice of clothing attire. In particular, she didn’t like the fact that I had chosen not to wear a tie. So, as manipulators like to do, she attempted to use the system to exert some sort of control over me. It was a petty complaint. It went nowhere. But I hated it. Years earlier, I would have done what I was asked to do. I would have apologised for not conforming and stepped in line with other people’s expectations of me. But I know how empty and worthless conforming to other people’s expectations leaves me feeling. I know how relinquishing my freedom of expression antagonises my soul. So, I stood up for myself. I’d done nothing wrong. It still didn’t feel great to receive a complaint but here’s what’s important… Manipulators don’t stop manipulating because you do what they ask you to do. They just find something else to control. And then something else. If you don’t take a stand today, you take yourself on a journey that leads to a place where there’s very little left of what’s uniquely you. And when you give away your individuality you begin to question everything about yourself. You deprive the world of your potential and deprive yourself of any joy. So, take a stand. Believe in yourself. Know who you are. And don’t let the bully’s define what you’re capable of. 3. We lose sight of what we’re trying to achieve. Before working with a potential client, I ask them to complete a short form. It gives me an idea of what they want to be coached on. One of the questions I ask is “what is your big mission?” I want to know what people are passionate about, and what kind of change they are driven to create in the world. There are no wrong or right answers. It is an open-ended question. I’m always interested to read what people respond with. It surprises me how many of the responses talk about profit, income, financial security, target retirement age, or personal wealth, as their big mission in life. It speaks to the standard measure of success in today’s world, and the pressure we put ourselves under to be financially successful. Let me be clear, I am not anti-money. I desire financial abundance in my life and encourage others to do the same. Making money is no one’s big mission. Simon Sinek says, “ Profit isn't a purpose , it's a result. To have purpose means the things we do are of real value to others.” He talks about advancing a Just Cause, and that there are five criteria for it to be a Just Cause. It must be 1) for something, 2) inclusive, 3) service oriented, 4) resilient, and 5) idealistic. A just cause or a big mission isn’t something that typically reveals itself overnight. It evolves over time. I love to help people get clear with their big mission. Our origin stories hold massive clues as to what we are truly passionate about. A significant part of feeling value beyond our compensation is working on something bigger than ourselves. Find your mission and be in it for the long haul. Most people overestimate what they can accomplish in one year, but underestimate what they can accomplish in 5 or 10 years. Commit to something for the next 25 years. Your secret weapon is the patient execution of what everyone else knows they should be doing. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stevie ! Stevie Orrill, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stevie Orrill is a leading mindset coach. Following an epiphany that his traumatic childhood meant that he was relying on outdated survival-based programming, he made a conscious choice not to settle for a life that isn't fully aligned with his true purpose. Directed by the powerful experience of his own personal transformation, he is an expert at taking high achievers to become the fulfilled and fearless leaders they were born to be. His mission is to create a reality where people wake up every day feeling on purpose, fulfilled, and in love with their lives. He is the founder of Today Will Be, and his work is underscored by a belief that every human can achieve extraordinary things if they choose to connect with them. He has created programs that transform the life experience of others.

Written by: Raeesa Mahomed, 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 only way to heal yourself from a dreaded disease like cancer is through surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, right? Wrong. There are other alternatives. I found this out the hard way. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month all over the world and a good opportunity to tell my story. I want to share it again because it has helped many people who are experiencing or have experienced the same challenge. Eight years ago I had a busy life, juggling a successful broadcasting career, being a wife and mother to two growing children. I thought I was doing pretty well and had everything under control after having gone through many challenges. I also paid attention to my health – eating correctly and exercising. And then I found a lump in my breast. I didn’t think much of it and dismissed it as benign, as previous lumps had been, but after a few days when it was still there I decided I had to check it out. I still wasn’t concerned but had (thankfully) heard enough information over the years to know that one does not ignore a lump. I contacted my GP and she told me to go in as soon as possible. When she examined me and said I will need further tests, I protested as it was an inconvenience in my busy life. She crossly told me that I will do as she says and I did. It was only during the ultra sound, when the radiologist said ‘this is worrying’, that the first needles of fear began to prick. After that it was a biopsy and a tense time of waiting for results. To cut an already long story short, the results were positive for cancer. I crumbled. It was like the bottom of my life fell through. Thankfully it was early stages and very treatable with no radical surgery needed, but that didn’t make it much easier. I was scheduled for a lumpectomy the same week and a course of radiotherapy a few weeks later. I actually coped well with the physical aspects of fighting with the diseases and the support of family and friends played a huge part. But the emotional aspect was much harder. The first terror was ‘What will happen to my children if I die’. That was the hardest thing to deal with. Then all the fears associated with illness and mortality. Thankfully my faith in God is strong and that helped immensely. I kept questioning why I had got this disease. Granted my mother had breast cancer and that made me high risk but I also knew the genetic cause is relatively small and I had always led a healthy lifestyle. I was consumed with thoughts that cancer had a habit of returning and what could I do to prevent it given that I thought I was living a healthy lifestyle when I got ill. I was in turmoil. Then a friend gave me the book ‘You can Heal Your Life’ by Louise Hay. I started reading it the same day and couldn’t stop. I was transfixed. What I was reading was not only mind blowing and revolutionary to me, but it was changing my whole way of thinking. Here was the answer to all my questions. The core message of Louise’s book is that we cause all disease ourselves, through negative thoughts and emotions. Louise explained how this works and the mind body connection. She explained what had happened in her own life and how she had to face a lot of unresolved negative emotions related to sexual abuse in her childhood and how she had to heal from this first in order to heal herself from vaginal cancer. This book led me to do more research on the mind body connection and I was further inspired by Deepak Chopra’s theory of quantum healing. Chopra proved that we have neurons throughout our body. This means that your brain can communicate with any part of your body instantly and it also proves scientifically the mind-body connection. So your thoughts and emotions (subconscious mind) have a direct effect on every single cell in your body. So if your thoughts and emotions are all negative and dark, all low vibrating doom and gloom messengers, can you imagine the effect on your body? No wonder they cause disease. I realised then that I also had a lot of emotional baggage that I hadn’t dealt with and I embarked on a journey of healing. It was long and difficult and I explored many wonderful paths to self help, growth and transformation. My journey led me to the field of life coaching and this was the ultimate pinnacle of my journey. It opened a whole new pathway of wondrous knowledge. I got certified as a life coach and then a Master life coach and decided to practice and share these wonderful gifts that I had received. What a journey! I realised that our biggest challenge can actually be our biggest blessing and I was immensely thankful for my learnings and healing. I’d like to clarify that I am not advocating foregoing medical treatment when faced with a life threatening disease. It is just that most people see this as the only form of healing. Once the treatment is over, the same old negative thought and belief patterns continue unresolved and then lead to more disease. What I learnt is the immense power we have to heal ourselves through taking control of our thought processes and outlook on life. This then affects our emotions which affects our body. I have passed on my learnings to countless clients in the last few years practising as a transformational life coach and it has been incredibly rewarding seeing people heal and do so long term. I have been disease free for eight years with the grace of the Almighty and I cherish every day of health I have. No one knows what is going to happen in the future. But the important thing is to take responsibility for one’s health on an ongoing basis A lot of it is in our control – far more than we think. Want to learn more from Raeesa? Follow her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website. You can also email her at info@raeesamahomed.co.za. Read more from Raeesa! Raeesa Mahomed, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Raeesa Mahomed is a transformational life coach, and her tagline 'Be the best you' aptly describes the results she gets with her clients. Raeesa has helped hundreds of clients remove negative programming from the subconscious mind and take them to a place of positivity and empowerment and, in so doing create the life they want. She comes from a decades-long award-winning international career in radio, TV, and film, and her path to deep self-reflection and life coaching began when she faced a life-threatening illness a few years ago. She now also helps others heal from disease by addressing their emotional health and spirituality. She is also a writer and motivational speaker.

Written by: Sara Davison, 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. They say familiarity breeds contempt and the pandemic has certainly provided the perfect opportunity to put this age-old adage to the test. It’s perhaps unsurprising that the collateral damage of lockdown saw a record spike in divorce inquiries around the world with UK family law firms reporting a surge of more than 40% during and since quarantine. New statistics from the ONS show the largest percentage increase in divorce petitions for 50 years in England and Wales during 2019, and further surveys suggest the pandemic is causing growing marital discontent across the nation. Add to that financial worry, a lack of social life, and a general feeling of housebound claustrophobia, and it’s no wonder the country’s married couples are showing signs of strain. These challenging times will have had an impact on both of you. It may have changed the way you think about life and the priorities that are most important for you. The pandemic thrust domestic arrangements and frustrations into sharp focus. This has had a devastating impact for some couples as they are hit from all sides including money worries, working from home arrangements, sick family members, managing children’s stress, and homeschooling. Money is one of the most common causes of marital strife and over the last year people have had to contend with unemployment, being furloughed, or taking home lower paycheques. My advice is always to work on the relationship and not give up. However, there are times when you need to be brave and face the fact that it just isn’t working. If you are with a partner who doesn’t love you it will be damaging to your confidence and self-esteem. If they don’t want to be with you anymore then forcing them to stay is never going to make you happy. Divorce is never the easy option - it is an emotional rollercoaster with practical challenges and financial stresses thrown in. If you think you may be headed for a breakup or divorce, my top tips for how to start out in the best possible way are: 1. Get your support team in place . It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the breakup process from a financial, legal, and emotional perspective, whilst trying to maintain your daily routine too. So, it’s vital to get experts around you who can help answer all the questions you have and give you the best advice. For example, if you are concerned about finances then find someone who can help you create a financial plan for your situation which will enable you to feel more positive about the future. 2. Get clarity on what you spend each month so you can understand your spending patterns. Create a budget spreadsheet of your weekly and monthly expenditures. You need to take ownership of this so you feel more financially independent and in control. 3. Agree with your partner what to say to the kids about the breakup. The ideal scenario is to sit down together if possible and tell them together. Reassurance that they are loved and that this is not their fault is key. 4. Treat each other with respect and kindness. You are bound to disagree over matters at some point so make an agreement to treat each other with kindness and respect and this will create a strong foundation, helping to keep things as amicable as possible whilst minimising tension. 5. Pick your battles . In the heat of the moment, it is easy to get worked up over the little things. Take a step back and work out if you will really care about this in a few months’ time. This will help you to get perspective on what is important and what is emotion getting the better of you. 6. Don’t talk about your breakup to everyone you meet . Share your feelings with close friends or family but don’t get sucked into a world where the only thing you talk about is your split. 7. Don’t bad mouth your ex to others. This may well get back to them and make things worse. Of course, you can be honest with your inner circle of select friends and family but avoid openly discussing your ex in public. 8. Self-care, eating well, and exercising is crucial to keeping a strong mind and enabling you to make better decisions. Exercise is a great way to instantly boost your state of mind. Even a brisk walk around the block will help you feel better and help you stay in control of your emotions. 9. Write a list of all the things you weren’t happy with in your relationship as you take off the rose-tinted glasses. If you are heartbroken and finding it hard to let go of your ex this is a great exercise. When we reminisce about our partners it’s easy to focus on all the good bits and romanticise about things. But this will keep you stuck in the past and it isn’t always reality as this list will show. 10. Spring-clean your life. Create a plan for the life you want to live and the person you want to become. Out with the old and in with the new. Try new things, do things differently and make small changes that add more sparkle to your life. 11. Don’t forget to keep some fun in your life. Breakups bring a rollercoaster of emotions so make sure you find ways to laugh and connect with those you love. Breakups are an opportunity to rediscover yourself and, whilst you may feel like curling up and hiding away from the world some days, making an effort to see a friend or try something new will help you feel stronger. It’s so important to have fun things in your diary so you are not all consumed with your breakup. There is more to life than relationships and you need to maintain a healthy balance in other areas of interest too. 12. An amicable divorce doesn’t mean you don’t need legal advice. A legal advisor will give you clarity about what to expect from your split. This will ensure you make the best decision for you and your family and you won’t have any regrets in the future. A good breakup or divorce is one that is fair and respectful and enables you to have the best chance of an amicable relationship with your ex in the future. But most importantly it is one where you rediscover who YOU are and gets you excited and hopeful about your future. You only live once so it’s time to start redesigning your future just the way you want it and feeling good about yourself and what lies ahead! CREDIT : To obtain a free Breakup Survival Guide, or to find out how you can become a Divorce Coach please visit www.saradavison.com For more advice on how to navigate breakup or divorce, listen to Sara’s podcast at www.heartbreaktohappinesspodcast.com Want to learn more from Sara? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Sara! Sara Davison, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sara Davison, best known as ‘The Divorce Coach’, is an award-winning authority on break-ups, divorce, and life empowerment. She’s the best-kept secret of society’s elite with a client list that spans actors, politicians, and sportsmen from all over the world. A twice bestselling author (Uncoupling, The Split), Sara’s empathetic and holistic coaching style empowers individuals to take back control and positively transform their lives. As a CDC Certified Divorce Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and qualified hypnotherapist, Sara combines 20 years’ coaching experience together with her own personal experience of marriage breakdown to create bespoke coaching programmes; from banishing heartbreak and conflict resolution to confidence building, co-parenting, being effective in the workplace during divorce and dating again. Coaching is tailored to suit client’s lifestyle needs; from one-to-one private coaching at Sara’s clinic or by home visit, to the immersive group environment offered on her highly acclaimed Breakup Recovery Retreats – right through to online video courses which can be completed in the comfort and privacy of people’s homes. Sara made a name for herself having launched the UK's first-ever Break-Up Recovery Retreat, dubbed as ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ securing rave reviews across national media. Such was the impact of Sara’s Breakup Recovery Retreat that the concept was also commissioned for a TV show, “Heartbreak Hotel’ with Sara starring as the expert. The last year has seen the continued expansion of Sara’s thriving global business and brand. Following the launch of Sara’s Breakup & Divorce Coach Practitioner Accreditation Programme, Sara has now created a coaching community of 180 Divorce Coaches spanning 13 countries and five continents. The training programme is designed to help those interested in becoming a coach as well as existing coaches who want to take their business to the next level. Sara equips delegates with the same tools, techniques, and strategies she acquired when training with the most revered experts in the field of personal development including Anthony Robbins, Paul McKenna, Richard Bandler, Michael Neill, and the Barefoot Doctor. Within the community Sara has firmly cemented her reputation as the go-to expert in the field of domestic abuse, joining forces with The Dash Charity as their charity patron. At government level, Sara also consults on marriage and divorce legislation, most recently the divorce law reform with The Ministry of Justice.

Having your website allows you to take your hobby to the next level and start making money doing something you enjoy. The advantage of this approach is that you don't have to quit your day job, put all your achievements on the line, and throw yourself into the whirlpool of entrepreneurship. It is enough to put the hobby on a commercial track in your spare time. If you've been in a hobby for a long time, it's time to move from being an amateur to a professional. It's not hard to turn a hobby into a source of income with the help of a website. Should you expect instant profits and fast money? I don't think so. But all in your hands. If you work properly on the creation and development of the site, the result will surely come. Plus, the demonstration of your talents and skills on the Internet - it's an opportunity to show yourself, to get marks, to make useful connections, and just get better. You need a website that tells your audience in detail about you, your products, and services attract visitors, and keeps them interested. In the battle for popularity, you have a trump card - it's your knowledge and your expertise, which is the content of your website. Representation on the web serves only as a tool to design your hobby, and the source of money will be your hobbies. Let's talk about how to work with this tool. Plan before you start Hobbies are different, it is impossible to tell about one universal recipe for any hobby. So before you start working on your site, think about how your visitors should bring you profit. If you build a site "just to have," it will never bring you a ruble. Answer yourself some specific questions: Who will come to my site? Why will the visitor want to stay? What should the visitor do to make me get money: buy a product, follow a link, click a banner, subscribe to a newsletter, call me to place an order, tell me about me in a social network? How can I nudge the visitor toward the right decision? If you miss an important answer in this chain, the road won't lead to profit: either you won't have enough information and tools, or there will be interfering pages. Look for simple solutions Now there are many means by which to make a site can even a layman. You can order a website from professionals, but it will be expensive. It would be better to hire a less expensive person for such a case and send him a pay stub when the site is done. Focus when choosing on the ease of learning, look at examples of ready-made sites made based on the designer. Read reviews and pay attention to the impressions of usability. The site should not take up more of your time than your work and hobby. Learn more about promotion Search engine optimization, or SEO, seems complicated, but to promote your site you have to learn at least its basics. The principles of promotion, interesting content, and care about the audience will attract visitors. And after that, you can think about inviting advertisers and affiliate programs. Make a mobile version of the site More and more people are accessing the Internet from mobile devices, so in short: without a mobile version, you shouldn't even start. So there's no reason to waste time and think about whether to make a site. Just start so that the hobby brings not only pleasure but also money.

Written by: Jennifer Byrne, 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. Time. We never seem to have enough of it. It makes us choose. That choice catapults us from the present to the future, never to go back. It brings us pleasure, happiness, guilt, regret, and uncertainty. Every stroke of the second hand allows us to make a conscious choice. Conscious choices increase levels of mindfulness. As we become more mindful we become more relaxed and more aware of our moment-to-moment experiences. Let's go back to the concept of time. How much time do you focus on yourself on any given day? We often spend time thinking about external stimuli shifting focus away from ourselves. For example, "How I am going to get this project ready for Friday's meeting?" or "Looks like I will miss yoga class again." Sound familiar? The truth is that this is a reality for many of us. Take a moment and close your eyes. Envision a snow globe. Now, give it a few shakes. What happens? It's a flurry of flakes - chaotic and unsettled. Mindfulness is absent. Now imagine that snow starting to settle in the bottom of that snow globe. As it settles, it becomes quiet, calm, and peaceful. This is mindfulness. What might happen if you give yourself time in this calm and quiet space? It provides an opportunity to reduce the noise, act with greater intention, become more clear about what's personally meaningful, align values, and think about goals. Time is a riddle. It can be unforgiving. Time has the power to gift us with moments to be more mindful, enabling us to hear our inner voice and empower us in ways we could not imagine changing the trajectory of our lives. "It is better to follow the voice inside and be at war with the whole world, then to follow the ways of the world and be at war with your deepest self." - Michael Pastore Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Jennifer! Jennifer Byrne, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jennifer Byrne is a certified life and career coach. She helps her clients overcome the fears that are holding them back, increase confidence levels, discover their life’s purpose, and achieve greater levels of energy to reach their full potential. Jennifer’s message to her clients is “Follow Your Inner Compass.” With more than a decade of experience in organizational development, coaching, and mentoring in both corporate and non-profit environments, Jennifer brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her coaching work. Jennifer earned her B.S. from Monmouth University and pursued advanced degrees, including her MBA and M.Ed. She is certified as an Energy Leadership Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation. Despite the demands of her career, Jennifer makes time to be involved with community and professional organizations. She is a member of ICF Global and local ICF NYC chapter in which she actively participates on the Member Engagement and Social Outreach committees. Jennifer lives in Ocean County, NJ, with her husband of 14 years and two dogs. When not working, she loves to explore the outdoors.

Written by: Eefke Bodt, 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. By consciously focusing on your inner voice, you can transform it into a force for good in your life. We all have an inner voice. For some, that inner voice is a force for good. It encourages them to try new things, to accept change, and to enjoy the successes they experience in life. For others, the inner voice is a negative force that holds them back. Maybe it’s what’s happening to you. When your inner voice begins to speak, it seems to focus on all of the horrible things you believe about yourself. It talks to you about your perceived lack of confidence or how you’re not intelligent enough to achieve the success that you desire. At its worst, your inner voice can actively crush your dreams for a happier and more fulfilling life. Know that you can change your inner voice. You can coach your inner voice so that it provides positive messages that open the door to your future success. In this article, we examine the four steps you need to take to turn your inner voice into a powerful force for good. 1. Say "Thank you" When your inner voice forces you to dwell on negative perceptions, saying “thank you” may be the last thing on your mind. After all, you resent the voice for preventing you from appreciating your best qualities. And you believe that your inner voice deserves no appreciation from you. But it does. Even when your inner voice criticizes you in the harshest way possible, you must thank it. This does not mean that you thank your voice for saying horrible things to you. Instead, you thank your inner voice for saying these things because you recognize that the only reason it’s doing so is that it cares. Think about your childhood and how your parents often used to nag you. They were always telling you to do your homework, tidy your room, and behave appropriately. But as annoying as that nagging may have been, it was a tool your parents used to turn you into a better person. They nagged you because they cared. They wanted you to succeed in life and they used somewhat negative messaging to show you where you were going wrong and what you needed to work on. Your inner voice works in much the same way. That’s why when it says something horrible to you, say thank you for the message. Your inner voice has just unveiled a limiting belief or area of your life that you can work on. 2. Ask for the positive intention Upon recognizing that your inner voice is trying to help you through criticism, start to reframe what it says to you. Instead of focusing on the criticism, ask your inner voice what its positive intent was. What was it trying to achieve by being so critical of you? Make no mistake about the fact that it’s trying to achieve something. The biggest mistake you can make with your inner voice is to accept what it says at face value, instead of looking for the deeper meaning behind the message. So, search for that meaning. Ask your inner voice what it’s really trying to communicate to you. 3. Search for alternatives Once you find the positive intention, start digging deeper. Ask your inner voice how it wants you to be different. What can you do to change so that you’re capable of meeting the positive intention behind the message? How does it want you to feel and act so that you can overcome the harsh things that it says to you? By doing this, you create a cooperative relationship with your inner voice, which allows you to use it to make progress. 4. Allow your mind to create a solution Once you’ve discovered the positive intention and have highlighted some alternatives, there is one more question you must ask: What is the next step that I need to take to make this change start now? Don’t try to consciously answer this question yourself. Instead, free your mind to search for the answer to the question. Give it the time and space it needs to search for a solution. Our minds love to close loops. They are at their best when they’re allowed to find solutions to problems, which allows you to close the loop and move on from the problem. If you’re reading this article, you have likely had something – no matter how small – go wrong in your life. You may find yourself constantly questioning why bad things keep happening to you. This questioning is a sign that your mind has not been allowed to close the loop on whatever is going wrong. The result? You get stuck in a cycle where it feels like things keep going wrong. By asking the question I shared above, you give your unconscious a more constructive question to focus on. Rather than asking why bad things keep happening, which leads to your mind looping around the question, you instead encourage it to figure out what you can do to stop the bad things from happening. It’s a subtle shift in the way that you think. However, by making this shift you can utilize your mind’s natural predilection for solving problems. More importantly, your mind will solve these problems while placing you on a path that you want to follow. Change your relationship with your inner voice At times, it can feel like we’re stuck in abusive relationships with our inner voices. This is not the case. Even at its harshest, your inner voice only wants the best for you. Its approach may seem confusing. But by reframing what your inner voice says so that you can find the positive intention behind the message, you’re able to harness the voice as a force for good in your life. I would like to help you to understand how to use your inner voice to create positive change. Follow Eefke on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more information. Read More. Eefke Bodt, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Eefke Bodt is a mental coach and founder of the Full Potential Academy. She specializes in mind control and creating breakthroughs that lead to huge transformations in the lives of high performers. Eefke has had the opportunity to help hundreds of people get the best out of themselves and push their limits, all over the world. The challenges her clients struggle with the most are in the areas of career, business, self-confidence, clarity, mindset and conditioning. I host the Facebook group "The Full Potential Academy" which is consistently at the top of educational training. My mission is to optimize your growth potential.

Written by: Abigail Tiefenthaler, 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. If I never see another, “How do I find clients?” post on social media it will be too soon. Business building is not about finding clients. Business building is about clients finding you. Business building is about starting conversations that are relevant to your ideal client and encouraging them to engage and get to know you. Don’t want to appear salesy all the time? Stop selling your services every time someone posts “I’m looking for…”! Tired of only talking to tire-kickers who opt into your strategy or discovery call just for that one magic nugget so they can tell themselves they tried to make their business work? Stop coaching clients during your sales calls! The most successful business owners don’t hunt for clients, they plant seeds and gather. They fish. They lure clients into their world with authenticity, transparency, relevant information, and space for their prospects to come to their own decision, in their own time to say, “I want to know more.” This is relationship marketing. This is conversational sales. This is a brand building and business building that gets consistent results. Slowly. Patiently. And successfully. It isn’t hunting and pecking for clients. Because if you’re only hunting for business you’re not using marketing effectively. And you’re always in sales mode. The truth is if you want a thriving business you need to be able to use marketing to bring prospects into sales conversations, and sales conversations to close clients. No clients = no sales. No sales = no business. You need marketing and you need sales. They go hand in hand. They’re the one-two punch that builds successful businesses. Every successful business owner knows they need both marketing and sales support and that they need to work together to work. Stop thinking you can market without selling. Stop thinking you can sell without marketing. Stop thinking you can build a business without either. Both marketing and sales are honorable steps in business building. These steps are strategic. These steps are expected. These steps are required. And please, stop kidding yourself that clients will magically appear if you simply tell people what you do. They won’t. And please, stop believing that hunting for clients will work long-term. It won’t. Today’s super crowded social media, speaking, and networking platforms require you to be strategic, consistent, persistent, and solutions-focused. Clients need to know you, like you, and trust you which means you must develop a relationship with them first. Commit. Find your courage. Show up confidently, authentically, and with purpose. Plant seeds. Gather people. And then, you’ll have a chance that your ideal client finds you. And once they find you give them a reason to stay in your world. Give them a reason to know you. Give them a reason to want to work with you. And they will. To your success! Follow Abigail on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also visit her website anytime Read more from Abigail! Abigail Tiefenthaler, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Abigail Tiefenthaler, known as the “Launch and Leverage Strategist,” is the Co-Founder of Savvy Sales Strategy, a marketing and sales agency that works with professional coaches, speakers, and consultants who are ready to minimize start-up struggles, leverage their expertise, and get online clients consistently, so they can spend more time doing what they love, in both business and life. With over a decade in the fast-paced corporate world of advertising, Abigail honed her strategic branding and marketing skills, working with prestigious clients such as Mrs. Smith’s, AT&T, Hershey Foods, and Kodak. Through these experiences, she learned that a hospitality approach created connections between companies and clients and that team member working in their zone of genius translated to more efficient and effective results. Abigail has a deep respect for business fundamentals and how the development and implementation of those are critical for a successful business. As the Owner of Sunshine Promotions, a company she started in 1997, she applied these, enabling her to hit the one-million-dollar revenue mark at the end of her second year in operation. Today, she is passionate about helping business owners create a solid foundation to support their biggest dreams. In 2019, after several years of working together through their individual businesses, Abigail partnered with Tami Crea and founded Savvy Sales Strategy, an agency that closes the loop between marketing and sales and moves coaches, speakers, and consultants into the six and seven-figure revenue arenas through brand strategy, messaging, and a pathway to create revenue and results, her clients say her practical, no-nonsense approach provides them with clarity on what they want to do and why they want to do it, shifting them from being practitioners of their expertise to a powerhouse professional and ultimately, fully stepping into the role of bona fide Business Owner. When not working, Abigail loves traveling and renovating homes. She can be reached at abigail@savvysalesstrategy.com or 954-804-9413.

Written by: Rodolfo Parlati, 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. How many times, over time, have you encountered the topic of leadership? You have read about the key characteristics of a leader and how these are key factors for every organization. On the other hand, however, what are the main obstacles facing the spread of effective leadership? Leadership is primarily about managing people. It is important to have great ideas and a strategic vision but this will not get you very far if your collaborators are not willing to follow you. Being a leader means generating a following and the strength of leadership is based on the recognition that comes from below, not from powers that are conferred from above. The leader acts following his principles, but he also knows how to adapt his behaviour from time to time to the context and particular circumstances. In particular, the greatest difficulties encountered in spreading leadership are related to the hierarchical vision of the organization and resistance to change. Regarding the first aspect, it is important to consider that a traditional hierarchical structure can certainly be a deterrent for the development of more effective forms of distribution of power and responsibilities. If an organization wants to be dynamic and reactive, it is necessary to create a system that empowers every single employee, giving everyone without distinction the authority to make their own decisions. According to this approach, the manager will no longer have the task of solving everyone's problems and taking responsibility for everything but it will be the collaborator, instead, who will take responsibility for his work, having the authority to face and solve the problems independently. problems that emerge from time to time. All this becomes a real need if we take into account the current social and economic context, in which uncertainty is certainly the constant. And here we come to the second obstacle to the spread of effective leadership. Indeed, it is precisely by acquiring the ability to innovate and embrace changes in society and the market that one can make a difference. The approach to change must become part of the organizational structure, starting with people, passing through groups, and then spreading to the entire organization. Where does all this start from? From culture. When leaders take into consideration the values ​​that firstly led the company's actions, they have a clear direction to follow. Starting from culture also means to start from people. If they feel forced to change, they will probably react by distrusting and objecting. Effective leaders can be models of attitudes and behaviours to take, as well as encouraging people to follow the development path and embrace a common vision. How to overcome the resistance to change? Here are some behaviours an effective leader can practice to overcome resistance to change: Raise awareness in people. Before they can embrace change and make it successful, collaborators need to understand its aspects and the resulting benefits so that they can make it their own. Develop collaboration and support activities. Leaders must be able to provide support when people are resistant due to fear or anxiety. Organizing discussion groups to help people talk about their concerns and foster mutual collaboration are activities that facilitate change management. Spread the organizational culture. Effectively promoting change also involves the distribution of proven guides, tools and methods that can be adapted from time to time to the new processes to be implemented. Encourage corporate training. To ensure the success of the organizational change process, it is also necessary to increase the activities related to training projects aimed at improving personal effectiveness. Conclusions According to recent research, the acquisition of widespread effective leadership necessarily passes through the encouragement of personal development and cooperation, but also through the enhancement of diversity and openness to new ideas. In this context, therefore, leadership must be based on the following key competencies: Agility. Knowing how to manage uncertainty, capturing and interpreting even the weakest signals. Adaptability. Be flexible to identify strengths and enhance the diversity of collaborators, transforming them into energy to be exploited in achieving objectives. Authenticity. Be open, welcoming, and authentic. Innovation. Encourage autonomy of thought and encourage everyone to experiment. Humility. Knowing how to recognize and develop the talent of others for the benefit of the whole group. Neuroleadership. Understand others more by studying aspects such as the psychological, ethical, and social aspects. Humanization. Putting the person at the helm of the processes, taking into account the increasing digitization. All this shows how the enhancement of soft skills is a crucial aspect on which companies choose to base their training strategy, together with the identification of the role of leader and the required skills. These are all issues of fundamental importance to meet the challenges of a constantly evolving current context, in which traditional tools seem to no longer be sufficient For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website! Read more from Rodolfo! Rodolfo Parlati, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rodolfo Parlati is a Professional Life & Executive Coach. Always inspired by the desire to impact others positively, his mission is to help people and professionals be happy and successful by finding out their inner potential and exploring the right path to follow to "give shape" to their goals. Passionate about building connections, the key elements of his coaching strategy are creating meaningful actions to attain the clients' goals, knowing what is holding them back, and supporting them in finding higher awareness. His natural curiosity has always driven him to be an eager lifelong learner, explore new fields, and look for the answers to any question.

Written by: Cheryl Thacker, 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. Whether you’re a professional coach, a leader in your field, or just cultivating the best relationships you can, active listening skills are one of the most important tools in your arsenal. There are tons of barriers to open, effective communication in our modern world. Active listening helps cut through the noise, making it easier to form genuine connections. What is Active Listening? Active listening encapsulates a range of behaviors designed to encourage open, effective communication. By showing active listening skills, you’ll be able to focus on what your client is saying – and what they aren’t saying. This will help you fully understand the breadth of what they’re conveying, both in their words and in their silences, pauses, and blind spots. Active listening exists in the context of your relationship with the client. It supports the relationship and helps cultivate it over time, supporting your goals to encourage client self-expression as you meet them where they’re at and help them get where they want to go. The Key Elements of Active Listening Presence No client wants to feel like you don’t have room in your day to talk to them. Make room in your mind, physical space, and in your agenda. Before your meeting, set aside time to clear your mind and remove any distractions that might pull you away from giving your client your full attention. Be intentional about the environment you create. Remember, you’re not aiming to get a specific outcome, reaction, or expectation out of your client. You’re creating a space where they can feel open and comfortable expressing whatever they need to communicate to you. Body Language Show your intent through your body language. This includes: Sitting forward-facing the client with your feet pointing toward them Leaning slightly toward the client to show engagement Displaying open body posture with relaxed arms Smiling and nodding frequently Mirror the client’s body language. This conveys a sense of togetherness and partnership, breaks down any barriers to communication, and helps speed up your relationship progression. Questioning It’s tempting to jump in and offer solutions and answers to your clients’ questions, but this can be counter-productive to demonstrating active listening. Instead, start by asking qualifying questions. Clarifying questions can help you be sure you understand what the client is saying, clear up any misunderstandings early on, and allow for greater insight. Open-ended questions help keep the client talking, offering chances for them to express themselves fully. Reflecting Reflect your clients’ energy back to them without judgment. Listen for unique phrases or words they use often and use that language in your communications. By reflecting the clients’ words and energy back to them consistently and concisely, you’ve offered a chance for the client to check what they’ve said while listening to your recap. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs simply lie in the client hearing their own words repeated back to them. This offers a different perspective on the client’s thoughts and emotions that they may have never reached on their own. The beautiful part about this is you can lead them to that insight without saying anything new or offering any solutions, but by simply supporting them. Discerning Discernment comes from approaching interactions from a detached standpoint, not focused on a specific outcome or goal. This allows space in the conversation for learning, growth, and for the interaction to take whatever direction it needs to take. Listen for the gaps in the conversation. What isn’t being said? Then ask about it in a non-judgmental, open-ended way. Listen for key indicators of the client’s mindset: What are their fears, wants, and needs? What are they revealing about their core values? What commitments do they have, and how do they feel about those commitments? Do you notice any incongruencies or conflicting narratives in what the client is saying? What strengths and weaknesses can you identify in the client based on what they’re saying? By approaching interactions from a perspective of discernment, rather than judgment, you leave yourself open to finding new solutions and pathways that otherwise would have stayed closed. Keep in mind that active listening looks different in every interaction – that’s part of the beauty of it. When you approach every conversation from a place of openness and engagement, you’ll find ways to connect with your clients in the ways they need most. Follow Cheryl on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more information. Read more from Cheryl! Cheryl Thacker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazin Coach Cheryl Thacker, PCC, BCC is the CEO and Founder of Successful Coaches Enterprise, creator of the Coaching Biz Accelerator program and host of the Master Your Coaching Biz Podcast. She has helped hundreds of coaches create the freedom they crave in life by building successful sustainable businesses. Cheryl believes that every coach has a unique gift to present to the world and it is her mission to help them gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to master their business.

Written by: David Alison, 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 Struggled to Communicate Easily? Have You Ever Felt Misunderstood? Have You Felt Like People Are Not Really Listening To You? As you probably already know, it’s difficult to live a peaceful existence when we can't communicate in ways that are easily understood by the important people in our lives. Whether this relates to business or personal relationships, being misunderstood can have serious negative impact on your work or home life. The art of real communication is simple enough, but most of us have been taught to communicate in ways that block effective communication from taking place. It's time to get over these struggles by learning how to communicate very efficiently and clearly in ways that will be easily understood by everyone. If you’re ready, let's go ahead and get started on some new skills that will forever change how you communicate with others. So, What Does Real Communication Mean When It Comes To Business And Leadership? Most top executives will tell you that they communicate their vision, strategy, and direction very well. And yet what I've observed in practice is that there are often massive disconnects between the stated company goals and intentions, and how people work inside the company. The two simply do not match up, because for various reasons (e.g., a lack of alignment, or competing goals) people's behavior does not fit with the stated objectives. So, what’s going on here? The problem lies in the fact that real communication is about way more than just exchanging information and thoughts - it's about inspiring, empowering, and engaging others to support your vision as well as you possibly can. How Does Implementing Real Communication With Your Team Affect Your Business? Good communication is at the heart of any successful business – and it's especially important for distributed teams. Without good communication, remote workers end up spinning their wheels or even wasting time on low-value activities that can easily be avoided. If employees aren't talking to each other, they probably aren't sharing what they know with each other or their manager. Performance suffers from a loss of information flow, and work gets duplicated or lost entirely. With good communication, on the other hand, employees can share everything they know with each other, so no one ends up wasting time redoing someone else's work – and doing more valuable things with their own time. Communication is your business's immune system, and it’s especially important in distributed teams. What Are The Key Components Of Good Communication, For REAL Communication for Your Team? Supporting people is the key component of good communication. Without support, people feel stressed and unsupported. The first step to solving that is to identify the “pain points” that cause team members stress, which can then be eliminated or reduced by offering more support. To do this you need basic empathy skills – the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, the ability to listen. That's where one-to-one conversations are important – just talking to your team members, listening to their concerns, and supporting them in solving problems makes a big difference. Those one-to-one conversations are not simply opportunities for managers to ask “How is everything going?”; rather, they should be designed to find out about team members' experiences and challenges. They're a time for YOU, the manager to show a genuine interest in your people, and for you to listen to their concerns. You can then offer solutions and support where appropriate. How Does Real Communication Affect You And Your Team? When communication is of good quality, it makes you feel more relaxed and able to focus on your work. You can then produce better results and increase your motivation. If you communicate effectively, your team will understand each other better and become bolder in their actions. This can bring great benefits to the company as a whole – an increased level of trust between employees, better results, and greater motivation. What Ways Can You Implement Real Communication And Improve Your Business Success? In today's market, being able to communicate effectively is the ultimate shortcut to business success. In an increasingly competitive world, it's important to have a solid understanding of how to communicate with clients and customers as well as within your own organization. Implement these four proven ways of improving business communication: 1. Know What 'Communication' Means And How It Works Different fields of study give different definitions to communication, with no clear consensus. As a result, the meaning of 'communication' in business is often skewed by people's personal beliefs and values. To avoid any confusion, it is important to be aware of your own biases towards communication and establish what kind of communication you want to use in your business. The most common styles of business communication are: Authoritative Communication style where the speaker enforces their opinion on others with little consideration for other perspectives, which may come across as aggressive or superior. This type of communication is common in managers who are used to being obeyed without question. Coaching Communication style tends to be more empathetic and patient, enabling the speaker to guide the listener towards a more suitable conclusion. This is typically used by managers who are focused on improving their employees' performance. ·Affiliative Communication style aims to create strong interpersonal bonds through conversations that are supportive, understanding, and sympathetic. This type of communication is common in sales staff who aim to forge good relationships with clients. Democratic Communication style aims for a democratic dialogue between participants, where everyone's views are treated equally, and all opinions are valued. This type of communication is common in meetings held by managers who want to encourage suggestions from their employees. 2. Be Aware Of The Body Language That Demonstrates Good Communication Body language is an important element of communication that is often ignored or misinterpreted. This includes not just the movement of our bodies, but also how we dress and even our facial expressions. There are many examples showing that body language has a significant impact on business communication. It is important to be aware of how your body language can affect the way you communicate and manage this for effective business results. 3. Create Rapport And Trust With Other People People do business with people they like, so establishing rapport and trust quickly must be a priority when working with your clients. Identifying with the people you are communicating with is an important part of developing this rapport and trust. Doing it in a genuine way that respects your own integrity-based values will help you to develop strong lasting relationships that will have a profound impact on your overall success. 4. The Importance Of Listening In Business Communication Listening effectively can be difficult to master, however being a good listener can help you to connect with others and improve your rapport. Listening also helps you to identify the information that is most important for effective business communication. Communication is the most important contributing factor to your business success, but it’s not always easy. We all know that email and text messages are common forms of communication these days, so you might be wondering why I said, “real communication.” Real communication means being honest with our thoughts and feelings without hiding behind keyboards or screens (think “keyboard warriors”). There are many cases where people have changed their mind about taking a job after they accepted an offer via email rather than phone call. If you or your team are struggling with communication, I may have the solution for you. Send me a DM or email and we will engage in REAL communication, explore what needs to happen for you to get clarity on how best to communicate in both life and business... and create transformation. Light & Blessings on your Day 😊 Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from David! David Alison, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine David Alison is a Master of Transformation & Change. After leaving school at 15 with no significant qualifications and being told by his first Manager that he would never make it in Management, David made it his mission to learn and embrace the skills required to deal with anything that life could throw at him. He went onto achieve a Masters degree in his specialist area of Supply Chain Management & Logistics at the renowned Cranfield University Business School in the UK. In 2015 he was appointed a board-level position in a Fortune 500 company based in Europe with international responsibility of 5 functional areas. This did not bring David the fulfillment he was expecting and he made the brave decision to make a complete career change and become a Transformational coach. After becoming a Certified ICF ACTP Level Coach in 2017, he then applied for and secured a contract to provide coaching services to one of the world's largest Personal Development companies. During his 3 year tenure as a Master Coach & Business Trainer, he completed in excess of 4000 client sessions in his Coaching & Therapy Business. David is currently working to develop a Non Profit organization providing Coaching, Therapy & Counselling services to Homeless people in Scotland, to help them take steps towards rehabilitation.

Written by: Karin Glannstam, 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. "Any amount of time you spend criticizing others, it's time you could spend improving yourself." - Nate Miller Do you know someone that is constantly criticizing the looks or efforts of others? Maybe you are that person that is doing the criticizing? Maybe you are on the receiving end of a lot of criticism, and you don't understand why? Critics are everywhere. They might be your own family members, friends, your boss, co-workers, or spouse. Or it might even be someone that you don't even know, criticizing you online. I have had my fair share of critics and haters and I have come to the conclusion that life is way too short to take critics seriously. I have a life purpose and I am busy pursuing my dream. I don't have time for these kinds of people. I have a sense of meaningful work that I am doing. I have plenty of projects and a career to pursue. Of course, it hurts and it feels unfair when people that you know and sometimes that you don't know are slinging rubbish in your direction. But one thing I have come to understand is this... Someone's opinion of me doesn't change my reality. It's just an opinion. I want you to understand this too because it's very important. Again... Someone's opinion of you doesn't have to become your reality. Opinions only have power over you, when you agree with them. What these critics are trying to do is to try to pull you down to their level, and keep you there. They are a huge distraction to your life purpose. Critics do not have a life purpose. And if they do, they are not pursuing it very hard, or they might even be totally off track with their own life. They are usually procrastinators and they don't like hard work. Critics are doing the easy thing. They are criticizing someone else, instead of developing themselves and their own life, purpose, or dream. They don't know how to pursue their own greatness. They don't want to focus and they don't want to put in the hard work towards accomplishing their own dream. Critics don't have to do anything. All they have to do is to sit back and dish out rubbish. Pursuing your own dream and life purpose is not an easy thing to do. As a matter of fact, it is often very challenging. It will demand everything from you. You don't have time to sit back and do nothing. You are responsible for creating results. You are working hard towards something useful in life. You want to improve and make a difference in your own life and also in the world. How To Deal With Critics Be clear with yourself about your own values. Be clear about your own goals and dreams in life. It's very important that you have a life purpose. If you don't, figure it out right now. Keep going. Build momentum and just plow right through those critics. Opinions are like ghosts. Don't believe that ghosts are real. You can just push right through them and they will disappear. Don't allow these ghosts to haunt you for years. Know the truth. Be confident. Don't take criticism seriously. Don't allow it to slow you down on your path of pursuing your life purpose. In the end, we have to take responsibility for the results that we want in life. Don't rely on people with really bad and discouraging opinions of you and your work. Never give away your power to these people. Create your own success. Create massive value for the world. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Karin! Karin Glannstam, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Karin Glannstam is a Personal Success Coach specializing in helping people to successfully get back on track after life has knocked them down She has self-published 4 self-help books and she writes a weekly newsletter and blog. She is also very passionate about, fitness, health, and well-being and she runs a private Facebook group, Empower Yourself To Succeed. Born and raised in Sweden, Karin started out working as a nurse. In 1987 she moved to the US and today she spends her time between Texas and Sweden. Her mission is to inspire, empower and educate others to create a powerful vision for their life, develop a game plan and then take action on that plan to bridge the gap from where they are today to where they want to be in the future. Karin's motto is “Be Courageous, Take Action & Make It Happen!”

Written by: Laura Flanagan, 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. Many organs work together to make up your digestive system and the health of your digestive system is key to the health of all of your body systems. Healthy Gut = Healthy Human. The digestive organs take the food and liquids you eat and break them down into simpler forms - proteins, carbs, fats, and vitamins. The nutrients are then transported across the small intestine and into the bloodstream, where they provide energy for growth and repair. Digestive enzymes are necessary for this process. They are responsible for breaking down molecules like fats, proteins, and carbs into even smaller molecules that can be easily absorbed. There are three main types of digestive enzymes: Proteases: These guys break down protein into small peptides and amino acids Lipases: These guys break down fat into three fatty acids plus a glycerol molecule Amylases: These guys break down carbs like starch into simple sugars There are some digestive enzymes that are also produced in the small intestine. These include lactase, maltase, and sucrase. As we age, we are exposed to many environmental toxins. Combined with a ‘not so mindful’ diet, stress, lack of exercise, and sleep we find that our bodies are not manufacturing these enzymes in sufficient quantity to support proper digestion. This leads many adults to become malnourished. Even those who are overweight are often malnourished. When the body is unable to manufacture enough digestive enzymes, food molecules cannot be digested properly. This can ultimately lead to digestive problems like lactose intolerance. Let’s take a closer look at what digestive enzymes are and what they do. They are proteins that break down larger molecules (macromolecules) like fats, proteins, and carbs into smaller molecules that are easier to absorb the membranes of the small intestine. Without sufficient digestive enzymes, the body is unable to digest food particles properly. This may lead to food intolerances. Digestive enzymes can be obtained from supplements or as I always recommend, naturally through certain food sources. Before I mention the 10 foods that you can easily consume to assist in increasing your digestive enzymes, let me introduce one of my new favorite best friends. Meet Dr. Fennel! Fennel is an aromatic spice that promotes digestive health. It stimulates the secretion of digestive juices and enzymes that help in digestion. It also has strong antispasmodic and carminative effects that help in treating flatulence, heartburn, bloating and conditions like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). It is high in dietary fiber which helps regulate bowel movements and works well to prevent and treat constipation. As if those are not enough reasons to fall in love with fennel, it is also a natural antacid! Now on to 10 wonderful and all-natural foods that contain digestive enzymes. 1. Papaya contains a different class of proteases that help to digest proteins. This is a unique group of proteases is called papain. You can also get papain to tenderize meat. Just be sure to eat your papaya ripe and uncooked so that you do not destroy the heat sensitive enzymes. Pregnant women be careful of unripe or semi-ripe papaya. It may stimulate contractions. 2. Pineapples contain a group of digestive enzymes called bromelain. These protease enzymes break down protein into its building blocks which are the amino acids, thus aiding in the absorption of proteins. Like papain, bromelain can be purchased in powder form to help tenderize tough meats. It can also be found in supplement and health stores for those who have trouble digesting proteins or getting enough of these enzymes in their diet. 3. Mangoes are one of my favorite friends here in Costa Rica! They are popular everywhere in the summer months. They contain digestive enzymes known as amylases. These enzymes break down carbs from starch which is a complex carb into sugars like glucose and maltose. Amylase enzymes in mangoes become more active as the fruit ripens – one reason they become so sweet as they begin to ripen. Your salivary glands and pancreas also make amylase. So, digestion begins in the mouth as you salivate when thinking about your favorite food! This is one reason that my Functional Nutrition teacher tells us to think about our food or even bless our food before every meal to stimulate those salivary enzymes thereby improving digestion. 4. Honey is a delicious, thick, liquid that is rich in many beneficial nutrients including digestive enzymes. You’ll find all of these amazing enzymes contained in this sweet treat (particularly raw honey): a. Diastases: Break down starch into maltose b. Amylases: Break down starch into sugars like glucose and maltose c. Invertases: Break down sucrose, a type of sugar, into glucose and fructose d. Proteases: Break down proteins into amino acids Note: Processed honey is often heated. Heat destroys enzymes. So be sure to buy raw! 5. Bananas contain natural digestive enzymes like amylases and glucosidases. These are two groups of enzymes that break down complex carbs like starch into smaller, thus easier to absorb sugars. In addition to being a great source of digestive enzymes, bananas are a great dietary fiber. Bananas can also help reduce bloating. 6. Kiwifruit is a wonderful berry that is often recommended to help ease digestion. Actinidain is a particular protease (digestive enzyme) that Kiwis are replete with. Once again, we see this enzyme used commercially to tenderize tough meats. Kiwis also contain many other enzymes that help the fruit to ripen. Kiwifruit can improve digestion of beef, gluten, and soy protein isolates in the stomach. What’s more? Kiwifruit reduces bloating and helps relieve constipation. 7. Ginger has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Ginger contains a unique protease called Zingibain – helping to digest proteins into their constituent building blocks, the amino acids. Zingibain is used to make ginger milk curd which is a popular Chinese dessert. Ginger helps food move faster through the stomach by promoting contractions (also known as peristalsis). Incidentally, ginger also helps increase the body’s own production of other digestive enzymes like amylases and lipases. 8. Miso is most known for its use in Japanese cuisine. It is made by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji – don’t get scared! Koji is a type of beneficial fungus. Koji is comprised of many digestive enzymes including lactases, lipases, proteases, and amylases. It is no wonder miso helps improve the ability to digest and absorb foods! In addition, fermenting soybeans helps improve their nutritional quality by reducing their anti-nutrient content. Anti-nutrients are compounds found naturally in foods and are thought to hinder the absorption of nutrients by binding to them. 9. Sauerkraut is a type of fermented cabbage that is known for its sour taste. Eating sauerkraut is a great way to increase your intake of digestive enzymes due to the process of fermentation which naturally adds digestive enzymes. Sauerkraut is also considered a probiotic food. It contains healthy gut bacteria which helps to boost your digestive system as well as your immune system. Probiotics can help to ease digestive issues such as bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. They can be particularly beneficial for those with IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn’s disease. 10. Kimchi is a spicy Korean dish that is made from different fermented vegetables. The fermentation process (just like with sauerkraut) adds healthy bacteria that provide nutrients and enzymes among other benefits. Kimchi contains a bacteria known as Bacillus – a particular species that produce proteases, lipases, and amylases. Proteases digest proteins. Lipases digest fats. Amylases digest carbs. Triple whammy with this food source! Kimchi is also thought to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Hopefully, this article sheds some light on the role and importance of enzymes in your digestive health. If you would like to learn more about how to keep your digestive system in peak health and how this ultimately leads to your overall health join me for my free one-hour webinar ‘Illuminating the Power of Your Digestive System’ on Thursday, November 4th at 5 pm CST. Click here to learn more and register. Follow me on Instagram, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Laura! Laura Flanagan MS, RYT, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laura Flanagan is a Molecular Biologist by education and career, but she recently left her corporate job and moved to Costa Rica with her horse to open an Equine Therapy Center. Concurrently with her career as a scientist, she has been teaching Yoga and Meditation for over 18 years. Laura is a Yoga Instructor, Yamuna Body Rolling Instructor: https://www.yamunausa.com/pages/about-us, Meditation Teacher, and Functional Nutrition Counselor - trained through the Functional Nutrition Alliance: https://fxnutrition.com/ She directs the Socrates Center in Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica. She has helped thousands of clients with physical pain through her certification with Yamuna who uses a form of small ball therapy. She has used her Yoga, Body Rolling, Meditation, and Functional Nutrition practices to assist in her own recovery from breast cancer.