Written by: Amanda Rose, 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. Phase 1: Building a Foundation When you are new to business and currently not making any or not making many sales, that needs to be addressed first. For any system to be able to replace you, you first must have a functional and profitable set of steps set up. You also need to understand how your business works inside and out. You must learn to run the front-end and back-end of your business in a multitude of aspects, including: sales marketing Bookkeeping content creation niche websites graphics funnels customer service copywriting networking offer creation distribution remittances money management design licensing branding PR social media hiring personnel management delegation personal growth collaboration And many others. This entrepreneurial learning of a business is akin to attending college: it's an exciting experience, it is intense, and you have a whirlwind of info flying at you. Phase 2: Building a Customer Base Next, after you understand how to run your business and make consistent sales, it’s time to put all the knowledge you learnt into action. By implementing what you learn, through trial and error, you can discover your unique ways of operating. You'll start to determine what works for you and what doesn’t. You'll bring on customers and get a sales process in place. Phase 3: The Glass Ceiling Next, comes the glass ceiling. This is when you can't seem to earn any more money. Typically, entrepreneurs get burnt out and annoyed during this phase. They have bigger goals and dreams they are working towards, but they don’t seem to be making additional headway and they are tapped out on time and energy. You’re essentially stuck. Now, you can replicate the work you do through automation! Phase 4: Systemize and Automate, Create Passive Income, and Outsource This is the time to outsource, systemize, and automate your business. Hire the VA (virtual assistant), get the tech systems in place, and use the knowledge you’ve gained about how to make sales and run your business to set these systems up effectively! When you offload the extra burden, free up your time, and start focusing in on your zone of genius, your energy shifts. You then can share your journey and the magnetism of your energy, the energy of your soul when you feel complete trust in the Universe and are nurturing yourself. This is potent and it attracts others who long to feel that way too! To get to the next level you must embody that person to become them! You embody that version of you now. You make decisions from that perspective. 1. Systemize and Automate Essentially the question we answer here is: how can the work YOU do be replaced by automated systems? We are extremely lucky to live in a day-and-age that gives us access to so many incredible automated systems that free up our time. For example, if social media or customer service on your website is a big time drain, you may decide to invest in Chat Bots! These can be custom programmed to give the responses you desire; this way all the time you spent learning how to engage with clients can be put into the chat bot to make a seamless and effective experience! Personally, my favorite automation is KAJABI! Within 1-month of switching to Kajabi our company tripled our monthly revenue, and it’s been growing ever since. This is an all-in-one platform that gives service-based entrepreneurs a website, blog, pipeline, funnel system, CRM, Coaching Hub, Podcast Distribution, e-mail automation, opt-ins, course hosting, membership platform, affiliate capabilities, and so much more! Try it for 30-Days FREE Here: https://app.kajabi.com/r/yyYdXFgj/t/mzykzggh 2. Create Passive Income Passive income is income that you do not actively have to work to bring in. Yes, we’re talking about the kind of money that gets deposited into your bank account while you’re sleeping on vacation, or… well, any other time! Frequently, passive income vehicles take some upfront time and effort to implement, but then operate almost entirely hands-free. Passive Income Vehicles Ultimately to have passive income you must have the infrastructure in place to receive the money. Some examples: Book and Audiobook Royalties Licensing Music Royalties Video Royalties Evergreen courses Affiliate sales from evergreen sources (Example: links on a Blog) Collecting rent from a property you own Looking to become an author? Check out the Get Published Workshop: https://amanda-rose.mykajabi.com/write-your-book 3. Outsource Hire out work. Whether it’s contractors or employees, delegating the workload helps your business exponentially grow. Frequently entrepreneurs resist because that feel like no one can do it as well as they can, that it will take longer to teach someone to do what they do than to actually do it themselves and/or that they can’t afford it. Let’s dissect this: No one can do it as well as you can For some tasks, sure, you probably do it better, but we all have a few areas of true expertise and then a lot of stuff we’re mediocre at, and then a tone of stuff we aren’t good at. Whatever is your zone of genius, you keep focused on that, the rest? Hire out! There are great people out there who are better than you are at some of your business tasks. It will take longer to teach someone to do what you do than to actually do it yourself. You’re right! Except… you have to do it again, and again, and again! Plus, training hack: videotape and screen share and record a video of what you’re doing; get the task done while you train your new hire how to do it PLUS, they can refer back to the video if they forget anything! You can’t afford it You don’t have to hire a full-time employee, start out small! part-time employee, or heck, even a virtual assistant 2-3 hours a week helps alleviate the burden of the mundane tasks so that you can do what you do best without distractions or overworking! P.S. until November 7th, you can also take advantage of Kajabi’s 30-day Coaching Accelerator Program Which includes: an extended 30-day free trial offer live weekly coaching calls with industry experts plus all the tools and resources that you’ll need to put your coaching program on the right track for growth Your own scheduling tool: Paid for by Kajabi for 6 months Pro video conferencing: Paid for by Kajabi for 6 months Your own custom domain: Paid for by Name.com for 1 year Don't wait, don't pass GO, JUST FLIPPIN' RUN to get this offer! For more information, visit my website and follow me on Facebook! Read more from Amanda! Amanda Rose, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amanda Rose is the founder & director of The Infinite Power of You Inc., a multi-published multi-genre author, business, wealth, & mindset coach, actor, motivational speaker, and online course creator. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has been in the online space since 2013 and a sales expert for over 10 years. It's her passion to help her clients build lives of freedom and joy, and thriving businesses with multiple revenue sources, through strategies combined with mindset mastery. Amanda's mission to shift human consciousness to create soulful abundance through mindset practices.

Written by: Alicia Kangas, 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. "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” - Neale Donald Walsch Staying in your comfort zone is just as important as leaving it from time to time. Contrary to widespread belief, your comfort zone is not fixed to a specific location. It is not bounded by physical walls. The truth is that our comfort zone exists in our mind. With that said, it should be easy to get out of it right? Unfortunately, the answer is “no.” It is far more complicated than that. Comfort zones are called ‘comfort’ for a reason. It is because everything that falls inside this zone makes us comfortable, we know everything like the back of our hands. It does not give us any headaches. It does not cause us any stress. It is where we usually head to the moment life becomes too much for us to bear. It is your ‘usual’ environment where you control everything, and you know nothing is going to come out at you and scare you to death. Comfort zones are all good. But it becomes a negative thing when it holds you back from living life the way it is meant to be lived. Think of a turtle hiding in its shell. You are the turtle, and the shell is your comfort zone. You want to try out something new, but you are too afraid. Your friends are asking you to check out something new and fun, but you refuse. You spend your entire life in your shell. That is all you know. And because of that, you do not get to live life at all. You are simply living inside your shell. It is true that you can be happy inside your comfort zone. However, like most things in life, you need to maintain that level of happiness. To do that, you would need to step out of your comfort zone. Let us take, for example, a married couple. When you are newlyweds, everything seems so exciting, so perfect. However, a few months or a few years down the road, you realize that both of you have become far too comfortable with the life you have made, and you are no longer happy. You are no longer growing in your relationship. You do the same things over and over, day in and day out. There is no variety in your daily routine or your marriage. In turn, unhappiness begins to build up. To combat this, you would need to do something out of the ordinary. Both you and your spouse are taking each other for granted, and you will need to work hard on making the marriage happy once again. Perhaps you can both take up a dancing lessons, or you schedule something adventurous on your days off. Rediscover each other by leaving your comfort zones behind. Here are other ways you can break out of your comfort zone: Remind yourself of your dreams Do not let your comfort zone drag you down. You know what you want deep down inside, but you are too afraid of all the risks and the unknowns along the way. A realistic method of going after your dreams, and minimizing the risks, is by planning. Have a solid plan on how you are going to get from point A (where you are now) to point B (your big dream). If you can break it down into milestones and mini-goals, it will be even better. This way, you are not going to feel like David going after Goliath. Every time you achieve a milestone, it brings you one step closer to your goals. Just take it easy. Have a daily, weekly, or monthly goal, and you will not even realize how far you have left your comfort zone behind! Be brave and face your fears Just because you are leaving your comfort zone behind does not mean you are going to be entering the lion’s den. The outside world may be chaotic, but if you spend enough time in it, you will learn that it is not so bad. There is a semblance of order there. You just need to open your eyes and recognize the signs and the patterns. When planning your great escape, ask yourself what your greatest fears are and then figure out how you can combat these fears. If you are afraid of public speaking, perhaps it is because you hate the thought of people laughing at you. To face your fear, try thinking of it this way: you have an especially important message to share, and the only way people are going to learn about it is if you go out there and tell them. Otherwise, they are going to live their lives in blissful ignorance. Also, you can say to yourself that half of your audience is in the same boat as you. They are just as afraid of public speaking as you are. So, you see, your problems are not particularly bad. Whatever your fear is, break it down until you can see just how foolish and insignificant it all is in the grand scheme of things! Learn a new skill Learning a new skill in this day and age is a must. Employers value it, colleagues appreciate it, and best of all, you are not limiting yourself to only a few simple skills. New skills will open a whole new world for you. Sure, it is going to take some time, but if you keep on doing the same things over and over, you are eventually going to get left behind. If you want to succeed in life, you need to pick up as many relevant skills as possible. In short, you can never have too many skills. Strike up a conversation When we were kids, our parents told us to never talk to strangers. However, this does not need to continue into our adult lives. We are better informed, and we are savvy enough to identify who we should be avoiding and who we should be socializing with. Perhaps you have a new colleague at work. He or she seems to be the shy type. Instead of hiding in your cubicle, go say “Hi!” and introduce yourself. That person will appreciate your kindness and you will end up feeling happy about yourself. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alicia Kangas Alicia Kangas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alicia is the Founder, Director, and CEO of HOLISTIC RIVERS, INC. It is her mission to help others to awaken to their own truth, in order to ultimately create a lifestyle of pure abundance, happiness, freedom, peace, and joy, through a holistic approach to their overall lifestyle! Alicia is an International Award-Winning Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Registered SomaYoga Teacher, Executive Business Coach, Positive World Influencer, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, and Published Author. She is one of our Executive Contributors who we have selected as one of our prestigious honorees for our 2021 CREA Global Award in recognition of Alicia being one of the top entrepreneurs, influential leaders, and innovators from across the globe. Alicia has been featured on ABC, NBC, FOX, USA TODAY, CBS, and 500 + other media companies. She also has a Biography which resides in the Dictionary of Marquis Who's Who in America, where they endeavor to profile the leaders of American society who are influencing their nation's development. Biographies in Marquis Who’s Who are of individuals whose achievements and contributions to society have made them subjects of widespread reference interest and inquiry.

Written by: Bridget Richard, 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. Anxiety is inevitable. It is a part of everyday life. Our bodies naturally know how to deal with it. The problem comes when our bodies hang on to the anxiety despite the situation or event that caused the anxiety has already passed. This is why anxiety management is such an essential tile skill to have. Stressors impact us on a daily basis, not just in our personal lives, but our professional surroundings as well. Knowing how to navigate stressful situations, help us become better workers and individuals overall. The funny thing about anxiety is there isn't a moment where we don't feel it. There are good and bad types of anxiety. A good kind would be anticipation. That is something we usually feel when we are looking forward to something. You could be excited for an upcoming trip and are anticipating that you will be able to de-stress and unwind. So, there are good kinds of anxiety to look forward to. There are also bad kinds. You know the type. These are the situations you want to avoid. You absolutely dread having to deal with them, and it causes discomfort and unease. It could be something like getting called into your boss' office for an evaluation on work performance or having to deal with an irate client. These kinds of scenarios can cause us anxiety. Without anxiety management, that anxious, overwhelming feeling can become debilitating. How do we deal with this? Well, with having the necessary anxiety management skills, we can learn to not only identify our anxiety but, ultimately, get past it. Now, remember that there are people who struggle to even know what they are feeling. A major step in overcoming anxiety is first to identify it. This may take a bit of self-reflection on your part, but it is necessary. Some of us don't like admitting we have anxiety. It translates to worry, and no one wants to be known as a "worrywart.” That's for the hypochondriacs and the overprotective parents who bubble wrap their kids. I am not saying that worry is wrong, but if it feeds your anxiety or makes life feel impossible to function in, then perhaps you are worrying a bit too much. After you identify what your feelings are, acknowledge them. This seems to be more challenging than the actual anxiety management itself, and this has to do with our genetic makeup. Similar to how animals have a fight or flight response when they feel danger or suspicion, humans have a similar response. Well, Bridget, you just called me an animal! No, no. I said humans are like animals due to our fight or flight response in certain situations. Because of this, we humans have become accustomed to ignoring our problems. This causes issues when dealing with anxiety. The longer anxiety goes unmanaged, it won't be long before any stressor (no matter how big or small) can send your body's response to anxiety into overdrive. This is essentially taking one step forward and two steps back. You may feel like you're making progress, but eventually you will realize that you're getting nowhere. Anxiety is often thought of as having an impact on your mental health. Many times, the effects on our physical well-being are often overlooked. This is dangerous. Anxiety causes our bodies to overwork itself because of being constantly stimulated. One incident happens that has you feeling a sense of anxiety. Another incident occurs that triggers your anxiety again. Just as you begin to let go of those stressors once the incident passes, something else happens which triggers your anxiety again. And again, And again. And again. This constant cycle of ups and downs will eventually wear you out. This is when we see burnout occur in people. They never allow their bodies to process the anxiety, and they get worn out. We often see this happen in people who have high-stress jobs (executives, nurses, etc.) and those who have experienced multiple stressors in a row. While you are self-reflecting, why not try and think about what strengths you have? Every day, we are bombard with things on social media, the internet, and in society that remind us of our weaknesses. No one likes to focus on their weaknesses, so why should we? By identifying what your strengths are, you can see where they can supplement in areas you struggle in. Maybe you are terrible at vocalizing, but you love writing. Why not keep a journal or write down things you are grateful for? Maybe you are a visual person, or someone who likes to be on the go. Use an app for task-tracking and organization. There are plenty out there you can use that offer a variety of features like reminders and email scheduling. By knowing what you good at and utilizing those strengths to your advantage can help you overcome stress and manage anxiety. It just takes a little bit of digging. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Bridget! Bridget Richard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Bridget Richard, MA, LISW-S is a Social Worker and Life Coach with 20+ years of experience in the field of mental health. In her work, she is passionate about helping with women to conquer feelings of anxiety and depression caused by burnout. She helps her clients move from being too frustrated and overwhelmed to enjoy life to focused, empowered, and re-energized. Bridget enjoys bringing her message of self-love and determination to virtual and live venues everywhere. She has been featured in the Women's Journal as a "Person You Want to Know" and regularly contributes to Thrive, Medium, and Brainz Magazine. To learn more about working with Bridget schedule your free discovery call at https://calendly.com/bridgetsrichard/freeconsult.

Written by: Paul L. Glover, 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. One of the causes underlying the Great Resignation — the term coined for the pandemic phenomenon that has 48% of America's workers actively job searching or watching for other opportunities, according to Gallup — is the lack of psychological safety in the work environment. But before organizations can create a culture of inclusion and engagement that will stop employees from leaving, they must overcome three myths about psychological safety. Dr. Amy Edmondson, the Harvard Business School professor who coined the term, defines psychological safety as a team member's “belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes,” such as questioning a team leader's decision. Teams with a high level of psychological safety not only allow, but encourage, team members to express opinions, offer new ideas, challenge the status quo, question decisions, take risks and admit mistakes. Team members will do so because they don’t fear being humiliated or punished by their team leader or fellow team members when they do speak out. Why does it matter in the work environment? Google researchers in Project Aristotle found psychological safety is a critical element of higher performance and more engagement and was essential to the creation of high-performance work teams. However, creating and maintaining psychologically safe work environments remains extraordinarily difficult because of these three prevailing myths: 1. Our organization already has a psychologically safe work environment. Unfortunately, for a majority of organizations, this belief is not founded in reality. A recent McKinsey Global Survey reveals most organizations do not demonstrate the positive behaviors that create an environment of psychological safety. In addition Only 43% of employees report a positive climate within their team. Only 27% of employees say their leader always encourages and recognizes suggestions for improvement. Approximately 70% of employees see no reason to say something when they see something wrong or when they have an idea that would benefit the company. In addition, Gallup research reveals only three in 10 U.S. employees strongly agree that, at work, their opinions count. In most organizations, team members have learned the hard way — based on the reactions of team leaders when someone speaks “truth to power” — that speaking up is not received well by those in charge. The result? Team members, having good survival instincts, focus on self-protection rather than sharing information that would improve performance. 2. It’s senior leadership’s responsibility to not only create, but also maintain, a psychologically safe work environment. Initially, senior leaders are responsible for creating organizational psychological safety. They can do this by: Creating a value statement explaining why a psychologically safe work environment is essential to the organization’s success and describing the behaviors — e.g., respect, trust, listening, openness, inclusiveness — required to create and maintain it. Modeling those behaviors in every interaction. Providing training in emotional intelligence for all team leaders and team members. Conducting focus groups and surveys to gauge the level of organizational psychological safety and asking what actions are needed to increase the level of psychological safety. Making the creation of a psychologically safe work environment an element of every team leader’s performance evaluation. Even though the ongoing support of senior leadership is necessary, team leaders have the strongest influence on their team members. For a psychologically safe work environment to thrive, it must be enthusiastically embraced by every team leader, at every level of the organization. This requires team leaders to: Improve their emotional intelligence skillset. Consistently model the behaviors set forth in the value statement. Encourage team members to embrace the concept of psychological safety and model the behaviors that promote a psychologically safe work environment. Unless team leaders, at all levels of the organization, publicly and consistently support psychological safety through their language and actions, team members will not take the actions necessary to create a high-performance work team nor will they support team members who do take those actions. It is the involvement of team members that matters most. Psychological safety only survives if every team member accepts their responsibility to support the rights of every other team member to be treated with dignity and respect and defend those rights against any behavior, from senior leaders, team leaders or other team members, who try to erode those rights. Only with a commitment to the goal of a psychologically safe work environment, at every level of the organization, can a culture of silence, based on fear, be replaced with an enduring culture of “see something, say something” that creates high-performance teams. 3. Once a psychologically safe work environment is created, it will always exist. Psychologically safe work environments are not only rare but also fragile. They rely solely on the willingness of team members to speak candidly about issues in the work environment and are easily destroyed if that willingness is withheld for any reason. This fragility requires senior leaders, team leaders and team members to always be alert to any words or actions that inhibit a team member’s willingness to speak candidly. Such destructive words or actions occur when a team member is: Not trusted or treated with respect Not given the opportunity or allowed to speak up Ignored or humiliated by the team leader or other team members When these words or actions occur, immediate action must be taken to show the entire organization that psychological safety is not just words in the value statement, but part of the organization’s culture and, as such, will be protected. Time is running out for organizations to take the actions necessary to convince employees they should remain with the organization. The pandemic has given employees the time to think about the type of organization they want to be a part of. If employees don’t believe their organization respects them or wants to hear their opinions, those employees will look elsewhere. By addressing these three myths of psychological safety, organizations can show their employees the work environment and culture that will ensure better retention. Want to learn more from Paul? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit his website. Read more from Paul! Paul L. Glover, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Paul is known as The No B.S. Workplace Performance Coach. For the last 30 years, his mission has been to assist Executives, Team Leaders, and their organizations in achieving their full potential. His approach is practical, hands-on, grounded in the realities of the real world of work, and very results-oriented – but all applied with a sense of humor and panache. Paul is also a "recovering trial lawyer," a Chicago Bears fanatic, an unabashed Starbucks addict, and the author of WorkQuake™, a book dedicated to how to thrive in the Information Economy and a Member of the Forbes Coaching Council.

Written by: Kristina Todorova, 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 tend to overthink? A lot of new business owners do. I used to be one of them and this is why I know that overthinking can be a massive barrier to effective decision-making and can stop you from taking action on your aspirations and projects. It can also kill your self-confidence and even deteriorate your mental health. Research shows that chewing on problems and stressful situations repeatedly increases the risk of developing anxiety and depression. So, why do we tend to overthink, sometimes to the point of having sleepless nights and experiencing anxiety? The answer is simple. There’s too much at stake, we’ve taken a risk of starting a business we are solely responsible for and want to make sure that we “ do things right ”. We are terrified of making mistakes and want to avoid failing at all costs, hence we keep evaluating the pros and the cons, envisioning worst-case scenarios, and letting our minds create so much noise that we are unable to hear our intuition and experience a state of clarity. Yes, we all have an intuition, and our intuition is an excellent decision navigation tool but our tendency to overthink blocks it. We usually know, in our gut, what the best course of action is. It’s there - on an intuitive level, and all we need to do is quiet our rational mind and listen . As Albert Einstein says: “ The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift. ” How can we, as business owners, access this sacred gift and use it to improve our decision-making skills? By practising meditation. Breath-focused meditation is a practice that allows us to slow down our mind and free it from thoughts by focusing on our breathing. When our mind is quiet and there are no racing thoughts, we begin to experience a state of stillness and clarity. Scientists, who have examined what happens to the brain during non-guided meditation, have discovered that when we meditate our brain exudes Theta waves . There is a constant electrical activity that takes place in our brains and the waves that are generated vary in their vibrational frequencies (you can read more about the five different brainwaves and the state of being, during which they occur here ). Stimulating our brain to produce Theta waves , through breath-focused meditation, allows us to enter a deep state of relaxation, access our intuition , and develop our ability to connect with, in spiritual terms, the non-physical energy within us, often referred to as the Universe, Higher Intelligence, or - our Higher Self. Not once or twice I have personally experienced this powerful spiritual connection and benefited from receiving insights, inspiration, and guidance in the form of thoughts ( my own thoughts – I would like to clarify ) that “came to me” whilst I was in a deep meditation state. In those moments, I found myself knowing exactly what to do and how to do it, and following my “inner knowing” led to creating useful business connections and launching new products and services. Nowadays, using intuitive guidance has become a key part of how I navigate my business and life, and the quickest way for me to tap into it is by practising meditation. Getting started with breath-focused meditation If you are new to breath-focused meditation, the quickest way to learn how to meditate is by first learning how to pay attention to the movement of your breath as you breathe in and out. Follow the instructions below to get started. 1. Sit in a quiet space with your back straight (you can even lie down). 2. Start taking deep, slow breaths and feel how your stomach and chest expand as you breathe in and how they deflate as you breathe out. 3. Keep your attention purely on your breathing and as thoughts come, let them pass and do not engage with them. 4. Complete a few breathing cycles and aim for practising at least 10 minutes of deep, mindful breathing every day. In time and, as you become better at focusing purely on your breathing, you will also become better at detaching from your thoughts and quieting your mind completely, thus entering a deep state of meditation. I’ve got a free meditation guide that teaches you the exact breath-focused meditation that I do, which helps me to fully quiet my mind and activate my inner knowing. You can download the guide here . Next time you find yourself stuck in your head and dwelling on the same problem over and over again with no clear sign of getting to a solution or making a decision, just pause and breathe. And, remember: there is a knowing within you which is an excellent decision-making tool that you can tap into at any moment. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Kristina Todorova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine "Kristina is a certified Transformational Life Coach and Founder of Coaching for Transformers – a coaching & training company dedicated to helping people learn how to utilise the creative power of their mind and energy to build a life around their passions, talents, and heart’s desires. Following working as a trainer and corporate coach and helping hundreds of professionals reach a heightened level of performance, she decided to leave the corporate world and embark on the path of entrepreneurship. She founded Coaching for Transformers in 2017 and has, since then, been working with aspiring and new entrepreneurs, helping them create businesses and lives around what lights them up. Kristina believes that each person is born with a unique set of gifts, talents, passions, and interests, and, through exploring and following them, one can consciously create a life full of fulfilment, joy, and abundance. Her purpose is to help people step onto a path that feels aligned and teach them how to use their mind as a tool to help them realise their definition of success."

Written by: Jaime Bronstein, LCSW, 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 were a little kid and imagined yourself in a relationship as an adult, how did you see it? Did you imagine yourself happy, having fun, laughing, and crying together? Did you imagine more happy days together than sad? Did you imagine growing and thriving together? Whatever you imagined your ideal relationship to be, you can have it because you didn't come to this earth NOT to have a relationship that feels joyful and instills peace in your heart. When and why did you lose sight of your destiny and your truth? Did someone say something to you? Did you just get older and more jaded? Relationship after relationship didn't work out, so you eventually believed that feeling just "ok," and surviving in a relationship and not thriving is sustainable? It doesn't matter who or what took away your hope and belief that happy relationships exist; just know that that part of you is still inside- it's just a matter of accessing it. I don't care what anyone says; love is the basis of life. Loving and feeling loved is EVERYTHING, and this goes for every kind of relationship – familial, platonic, and romantic; especially romantic! When things aren't going well in our love lives, everything else seems to fall apart, but you don't need to be the victim of your circumstances. You have a choice, and you can manifest and create the love you deserve versus settling and not being an active participant in your life. You have the power to cultivate your ideal relationship; there's no reason why you can't have what you desire and deserve. I was a guest on the "Let's Pause Podcast" recently, and towards the end, they asked me what I believe are the three most important and inspirational words to leave the viewers with was, and this is what I told them: 1 Intuition 2 Self-love and 3 Trust 1 Intuition: When you have a strong relationship with your intuition, you will never have a regret again…EVER! You need to listen to your inner knowing as it is your compass; it guides you to the abundance, majesty, and magic that is there for you, just waiting for you to be open to it! 2 Self-love: Self-love is the basis of everything in life. When you love yourself unconditionally, you will attract unconditional love. You don't judge yourself, and others don't judge you (or if they do, it won't bother you). Cultivating self-love will help you lead by example as when you show people what it looks like and the fulfillment, joy, and peace it brings you, they will say things like, "I'll have what she's having!" Drinking from the well of self-love grants you freedom beyond your wildest dreams. More on Self-Love Here! 3 Trust: Can you trust that your past couldn't have happened any other way? That everything is planned out, and that everything, the "good" and "bad," ALL happened to lead you to where you are today in this very moment? Cultivating trust in yourself and the universe sets you up to be in the flow of life versus resisting the natural flow of life. No one's life is perfect, and everyone has challenges. Embrace your challenges, then trust and see that they happened for a reason to help you learn and grow. I speak to all of this to empower you to know that your love is out there, just waiting to meet you. You don't need to become "more" of anything. Your strength of heart and self-love is already within you. You need to get past and heal anything (including you) that's in your way that's blocking you from accessing your authentic self, your self-love, and here's how to do it! Just think of the word "L-O-V-E!" Let Go: Let go of the past. Sticking around and dwelling in the past doesn't serve any purpose, and the only thing that it does is it cause depression and prevents you from being able to bring in the right one for you. If you feel like you have been struggling to let go of your past relationship and you find yourself ruminating over how you could've done it differently to yield a better outcome, you need to remind yourself to be present; bring yourself back to the present moment. Letting go doesn't mean forgetting; au contraire. To me, letting go means remembering how you felt and using it as leverage. You don't need to let go of your feelings; you're letting go of the person. Be grateful that you had the experience of knowing what it feels like to be in love. Use it as a basis for the bar that has been set, i.e. the "heart bar." Now you know how much your heart can feel, so anything less than that will not be aligned with you. Understand that the person you end up with, you will feel as much if not more for them because the universe brings us "this or something better," so set that intention! (Be) Open: Be open to whatever is meant for you. Stop resisting what the universe brings forth because there is a reason why it's in your life. For example, say you go to an event, and you're hoping to meet someone who floats your boat there, and you don't – well- you never know who is there who could lead you to "The one." You could be talking to someone and become friends, and then their best friend or sibling might end up being your soulmate… you never know. Being open also means that your heart needs to be open no matter what happened in the past that closed your heart. You need to open it again so the universe knows that you are open for business, and when you meet someone, you need to take those walls down so that you can actually let someone in to see who you really are, which brings me to … (Be) Vulnerable: Vulnerability means sharing who you are unapologetically, no matter what, with no attachment to the outcome – not caring how your partner will react and believing that if they love you unconditionally, they will not leave. As a matter of fact, when two people are supposed to be together, having the ability to truly share honestly, is how you connect and bond and stay together…. Evolve: Be the best version of yourself possible. Do the work to really get to know yourself and love yourself to manifest your match. It's attractive when you meet someone who is whole and secure; they know who they are and what they have to offer, so the same goes for you; be that whole person who is already happy in your life, and when you meet your match, they will only add to your happiness. Be "self-full." It's not selfish or selfless- it's being one hundred percent fulfilled in your life before meeting the one. I always say that the most beautiful relationships are the ones where two whole people who are full of light come together and create more light and magic in this world. No matter what your relationship status is today, use this day to set your intention for the year ahead, actually for your life ahead! Know that whatever is for the highest good of all concerned will come forth at the right time; all you need to do is stay conscious and do all that is in your power to show up authentically in this world and love yourself unconditionally. Believe in yourself and watch as your incredible life unfolds. You will bring in your "person" at the perfect time. Never forget to trust the timing of your life. Always remember to believe in yourself and honor your dreams because you CAN make your dreams a reality. Tell the little one inside that you've got this, and together you will create all that your heart desires. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or visit my website for more info! Jaime Bronstein, LCSW, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jaime Bronstein is a relationship therapist, coach, author, speaker, and host of “Love Talk Live” on LA Talk Radio. She was named the “1 Relationship Coach Transforming Lives in 2020” by Yahoo Finance. For the past 20 years, Jaime has been teaching her clients how to heal their past, love themselves unconditionally, how to be vulnerable, tap into their inner strengths and intuition, and live more authentically to achieve their relationship goals. Jaime is highly sought-after to share her relationship advice on various media outlets such as KTLA, ABC, NBC and CBS News, PEOPLE, Thrive Global, The New York Times, and Bustle. Jaime empowers her clients to become aware of the fact that they were born to have love in their lives – not just any love –the right love for them. Jaime has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University, a master’s degree in social work from New York University, and a certificate in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Jaime’s book on manifesting love is currently in the works.

Written by: Zachary Hoffman , 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 would be willing to bet that there are a lot of people out there who are still searching for their life’s true purpose. Even those who are financially successful and have accomplished a lot oftentimes find themselves unsatisfied and in a constant search for happiness and satisfaction. The bottom line is this before any of us can truly find our purpose we first start living on purpose. Living with and on purpose can often be mistaken for the same thing especially when one doesn’t take the time to think about it. However, I challenge you to take a moment and truly try to decipher the difference between the two sayings. Let’s start with living on purpose since it is needed to live with purpose. In my experience, living on purpose starts first and foremost with appreciating the life we have been given. I realize that this sounds cliché and nearly every influencer and inspirational speaker preaches appreciation and how we need to be thankful for what we have and not what we don’t. That being said, I think of a particular movie scene in the film Saving Private Ryan. Most of us have probably seen this film or at least parts of it and have likely seen the part of the movie which I am about to reference. After the final battle at the bridge is over actor Tom Hanks (Captain John H. Miller) is speaking to Matt Damon (Private James Ryan) after being fatally wounded. He mumbles the words “James… Earn this, earn it”. Captain Miller was referring to the life that Private Ryan had ahead of him and the lives sacrificed to save his own. He wanted Ryan to earn this sacrifice by living a life of purpose and meaning. This is one of my favorite moments in modern- cinema because not only does it allow one to appreciate the sacrifices made by our ancestors to protect our freedoms, but it also reminds me of everyday life. Those of us born into developed, 1st World countries, born without any major health problems or disabilities often take for granted all we have been given and privileged with. A large majority of us become numb to just how fortunate we are. We fail to realize or simply are ignorant of those who struggle or live a life of pain each and every day. In my opinion, one of the greatest evils in our human nature is the lack of appreciation for life’s simplicities. Because these simplicities (health, developed countries, education, etc) put us in a position to live our best lives and reach our full potential. That being said, a lot of us with these fortunate circumstances still make excuses for why we can’t accomplish our goals and achieve our potential. A lot of us know we aren’t living out our true purpose and potential, but simply ignore our consciousness and rationalize with ourselves and our mediocre decisions. Now I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this at all. And having a simple life, with a husband/wife, 2 kids, and a picket fence can also be very satisfying for a lot of people. But for most, it isn't enough. And that's just the reality. Therefore, I challenge those who think differently to look deep within themselves and ask the question: Are you earning the life you’ve been given? Are you truly chasing your potential considering your circumstances? There is something similar about all those who have found their purpose and lived a life of impact: they all began to ask themselves these same questions and began to take action despite their past plans, risks, and unknowns involved. This is living on purpose. Because the fact of the matter is that we all have a purpose to fulfill. Yet, this purpose very rarely shows itself as clear as our reflection in the mirror. Many search their whole life and never find it because they are looking in all the wrong places. It starts from within. It starts from realizing your potential. It starts with wanting a life of impact. And it truly begins when we run towards the fear that blockades so many of us. Those who chose to live in this manner are living with purpose. So if you haven’t realized by now, living with purpose is the by-product of living on purpose. So again, I challenge people to look deep within themselves and ask: Am I earning this life? Once we begin to answer this question honestly, we begin to put ourselves in a position to experience our best life. Want to learn more from Zac? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit his website. Read more from Zachary ! Zachary Hoffman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Zac is an Italian/American dual citizen, effective leadership developer, award winning author, and former professional American football player. Originally from a small, rural town in Western Pennsylvania (USA), he has spent his twenties living in 6 different countries while playing and coaching American football. During his time abroad, he developed the SWALeadership concept based on his many thrilling and eye-opening experiences within various leadership roles across cultures.

Written by: Amanda Rose, 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. In my life, learning how to incorporate a morning routine has been a game-changer in terms of really being able to move forward in my business; to be able to overcome limiting beliefs, show up fully present, and not be in constant stress mode reacting to everything that’s happening. Instead, I am now coming from that conscious place of creation, thanks to my morning routine! That’s where we really take our power back and that’s where we get to enjoy our lives! It's time to manifest your dream life! The following 8 practices are designed to help you manifest your dream life Pro Tip: If anyone ever tells you there’s only one way to do things, run in the other direction because it is certainly not true – we all learn and function differently – so take the practices here and try as many as possible and find what works for you. 1. Boundaries around technology If the first thing we do in the morning is to check the numerous notifications popping up, we subconsciously feel like we are already behind in our day creating anxiety before we are even out of bed. Recommendation: Put your phone across the room so that you must get up to turn it off, this reduces the chance of you cozying up in bed to scroll and check your messages. Or if self-control is not your friend, go and get yourself an old-school alarm and keep your phone out of reach! 2. Set your intention Write it down, visualise it, say it aloud. What we focus on materialises – so it is important to set your intention for what you want, not what you don’t want from the get-go. 3. Reconnect to your body Spend a couple of minutes clenching and releasing each part of your body. Start with your toes and go all the way to your head. This will help you get in touch with the rest of your body (sometimes we feel like we are just like a floating head, am I right?), but we are a part of a bigger system and connecting with your body can help you release tension you didn’t even know was there. 4. Get present at the moment Spend a couple of minutes consciously breathing into the lower part of your belly and this will help you connect with your emotional center and activate your chakra system. Try to give it a go now and see how you feel; breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, let your breath go for 5 seconds, and repeat. Recommendation: We are so used to breathing into our ribs so this one can be difficult to master at first, so place your hand below your belly button and concentrate on breathing into your hand 5. Gratitude practice to manifest your dream life We are energetic beings in an energetic universe so the more we are in tune with our feelings, the more we are going to attract more experiences that are on that same wavelength. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what is lacking in our lives that we forget to take stock of what is good. My recommendation: When we are not used to looking for the things to be grateful for, we can get stuck listing out more than a few so break it down into ‘topics;’ Our body, senses, and automatic processes like heart pumping and breathing etc. Access to things that make our lives easier, like water, shelter, food, and technology Relationships with spouses, children, friends, or family Nature, animals, or the incredible ozone layer that keeps us alive Work, security, or money to pay for things that we need Aspects of your personality, your behaviors, and your actions Even inconveniences that perhaps lead to a better outcome, like getting pulled over for speeding, instead of ending up in a car accident. 6. 10-minute ‘free flow’ Let your mind ‘free flow’ and don’t give it any dictation on where it needs to go. This allows us to sift through the mundane thoughts and allow inspiration to come forward. Let the brain do its thing and unplug from the expectations of needing to focus on this or that, and just let your creative ideas flow. 7. Brain dump journaling This is where we get all the thoughts out of our heads and onto paper. We have so many thoughts and ideas running through our minds every second of the day, this acts as ‘unburdening your mind’ of all the things you have to remember. Recommendation: You could do this in two ways, either dedicate time each morning to do this or carry a journal around (or use notes on your phone) to ‘dump’ your thoughts and ideas at any time throughout the day. There is no right or wrong with this practice, but it is important to unburden your mind. 8. Journal Prompts This is a great way for you to explore different ideas. So, you could ask yourself ‘What would I like to release today?’ and that question would allow you to work along that thought tangent of ‘What’s not serving me anymore?’ or ‘What am I not feeling aligned to anymore?’ This would give you a sense of what’s going on under that surface level of your mind and make room for new ideas. When we start writing we give a deeper thought an opportunity to come to the surface. Journaling also gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the fears we have that block us from taking action and in a way where we can analyze them and work through them. For example, you may have a goal to do public speaking, so you write that down, but then you notice by acknowledging that goal you feel a bit anxious. So, you listen to your thoughts and hear ‘No one would want to hire me to talk to people,’ and then you can start to analyze why you think that. This thought pattern is blocking you from your goal of public speaking and had you not journaled about your goal and listened to your thoughts you would continue to stand in your own way. Our belief systems dictate our reality, and they exist in our subconscious mind, so this allows us to raise our awareness so that we can release what no longer serves us and start smashing our goals. Ready to build the best morning routine you’ve ever had to manifest your dream life? The morning routine for manifesting your dreams masterclass. Create a dedicated morning ritual and learn how to create a potent alchemic morning routine that will poise you to manifest your dreams!!!!! You'll Learn: A plethora of options from which to choose to create your own unique and powerful morning routine How to instill these new habits until they become second nature How and why manifesting works, without fail, every time To be more present and aware To find joy, happiness, and fulfillment regardless of external circumstances How to use your mind as a tool so that your mind doesn't use you The creation process for bringing any dream to life, from start to finish ...And so much more!!! Register for The Morning Routine for Manifesting Your Dream Life Masterclass by January 31st 2022 for only $1.89 [Regularly $188.88]! Register here! For more information, visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Instagram! Read more from Amanda! Amanda Rose, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amanda Rose is the founder & director of The Infinite Power of You Inc., a multi-published multi-genre author, business, wealth, & mindset coach, actor, motivational speaker, and online course creator. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has been in the online space since 2013 and a sales expert for over 10 years. It's her passion to help her clients build lives of freedom and joy, and thriving businesses with multiple revenue sources, through strategies combined with mindset mastery. Amanda's mission to shift human consciousness to create soulful abundance through mindset practice.

Written by: Emanuela Visone, 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. We have become a nation of "drippy noses," and "stuffy" heads, with rising statistics on asthma and allergies. Dr. Robert Ivker, a family practice physician, says chronic sinusitis is now America's most common "incurable" chronic ailment. What is causing this epidemic of sinus disease? Dr. Ivker in his book, Sinus Survival, believes the cause is a combination of air pollution and overuse of antibiotics, causing weakened immune systems and yeast overgrowth. Many other factors besides antibiotics can tip the balance in favor of yeast proliferation in the gut and the upper part of the respiratory tract including birth control pills, other drugs, sugar, alcohol, and environmental chemicals. The following are some natural health tips for the relief of sinus related problems: - Total elimination of milk and milk products for at least three months. Because milk increases congestion and allergic reactions in many people, making this change may help reduce sinusitis. - It is important to get a good air filtration system for your home because many allergens and nasal irritants are airborne. - Practice daily nasal douching, which means inhaling a warm saline solution to help flush out your sinuses. Use 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to a cup of warm water. Close one nostril and inhale the solution through the other from a cup or your hand. If you find this too difficult, you also can use a rubber bulb syringe or one of the nasal douching appliances (a neti pot, for example). - Applying a hot, wet compress to your upper face whenever you feel congested will also help your sinuses drain. Work up to as much heat as you can stand and keep it on for 10 minutes at a time, at least once a day. - Try a diet consisting mostly of 50 percent raw foods (start by steaming lightly or juicing, especially if you are not used to eating raw foods). Avoid foods that cause excess mucus in the gastrointestinal tracts, lungs, sinuses, and nasal cavity. Foods that lead to the formation of mucus are meats, eggs, processed foods, tobacco, junk foods, and white flour products (pasta, white rice, and white breads). - Do not eat a typical American breakfast. Instead, have fresh fruits for breakfast and sip hot liquids to help clear the mucus. I like a specific drink made from hot water (not boiling, just hot enough to drink but not hot enough to deactivate the enzymes in the honey and lemon), some fresh lemon or lime and molasses or organic raw honey. It's a warm sweet and sour drink. An excellent way to start the day. - Chlorophyll is very important. Since its molecular structure is very similar to hemoglobin in human blood, chlorophyll in green foods can help strengthen the immune system, support healthy blood and circulation as well as help to maintain proper operation of the intestinal tract. A food that is high in the chlorophyll content is wild-crafted blue algae. It has one of the highest chlorophyll contents of any green food. - Black cumin seeds are very well known in folk remedies in the Middle East. Traditionally, black cumin seed has been used as nutritional support for the upper part of the respiratory tract. Generally, the seeds are added to food or ground and mixed with raw honey. The primary active components of black cumin seeds are certain oils that reduce the release of histamine. Histamine often causes allergic reactions and is associated with respiratory conditions such as bronchial asthma (Nutrition Science News, Jan. 2001, p.28). You can purchase black cumin seeds from Middle Eastern or Indian grocery stores. - Coenzyme Q10 is a very powerful antioxidant that can be a good nutritional support for the lungs and the upper part of the respiratory tract. Coenzyme Q10 is a valuable immune system stimulant and can increase cellular oxygenation. Because Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble vitamin, a good formula will have Coenzyme Q10 micro blended with organic flaxseed oil and blue-green algae as both foods are high in essential fatty acids. - Make sure you are taking enzymes with meals to digest your meals thoroughly. Make sure you are taking acidophilus and bifidus (micro-blended minerals) so you can ensure proper levels of good bacteria in the intestine. - Use your enzymes in between meals on an empty stomach specifically at bedtime. - Avoid air pollution. Change jobs if necessary because your present environment may be dirty, dusty, and toxic to inhale. Do not use aerosol products. - Rest and avoid stress. Get plenty of fresh air. - Drink at least 8-10 glasses of spring water daily. Don't drink with meals, just in between meals (small sips of water). - Juicing is very helpful because it provides raw ingredients that have lots of nutrients. Use the carrot, parsley, celery, kale, and different green leafy vegetables like kale and parsley. - Take a clove or two of fresh organic garlic when you go to sleep at night. Cut it in small pieces and swallow it with a glass of water. Garlic is a natural antibiotic to help prevent infection. Garlic is a strong medicinal food. Therefore, make sure you don't take raw garlic more than 3 weeks in a row. And, if you are not used to raw garlic, start with a quarter and work you way up to a clove within a week. - A fast-on cayenne powder mixed with fresh lemon juice and organic maple syrup should help with clearing inflammation and help break up the mucus. Drink 8 to 12 glasses throughout the day. Continue this fast for up to 20 days. I'm told by people who have done this fast that emphysema, asthma, and sinusitis symptoms may clear up. I hope you found this article very informative so you can make a better decision for you and your family. If you’d like to learn more, I’d be happy to schedule a zoom meeting, email me at embodyvitalityconsulting@gmail.com or call me on cell 917-597-3512. My book Healing Through Nature’s Medicine, A Story of Hope will also give you a step-by-step guide on how to choose the best foods on earth for your body. Wishing you and your family extraordinary health! Follow Emanuela on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Emanuela! Emanuela Visone, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Emanuela is a leading expert in restoring health and a Master Transformational, Health, and life coach. After 20yrs recruiting in the finance industry, she discovered her true calling for naturopathy and helping people and their pets throughout the US. The value she provides her clients has put them in a position to gain better health and live a more fulfilling life. Having restored her own health, Emanuela is excited to share her victory and help others do the same, from thyroid conditions, shrinking nodules, blood pressure, hormones, and much more. This inspired her to write her first book, “Healing Through Nature’s Medicine,” A Story of Hope. Having restored her St. Barnard’s health as well, Emanuela coaches many pet owners on how to become their own best healer. She loves spending time with her family and friends, the outdoors, and her deepest passion is helping others transform their health.

Written by: Vanessa McLennan, 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. Is food addiction real? Can you really be addicted to food, like you can alcohol or drugs? And if you can’t stop eating, is that really an addiction? It can be confusing What’s an addiction? An addiction is not being able to stop using a substance or partaking in a behaviour even though it is causing physical or psychological harm. We can misuse substances which is slightly different from an addiction. Misuse is using a substance in high doses or in inappropriate situations that could lead to health or social problems. Gambling, gaming and sex are categories that fit in here. Food fits in here, especially if we binge and overeat, where we eat lots of food in a short space that eventually leads to health problems. Someone with an addiction will continue to misuse the substance even when it is causing many problems in your life. It is that inability to stop. The difference between substances and food is that we cannot give up food. We need it to live on. In the DSM 5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) which mental health experts will go to for reference. Food is not mentioned in there. Technically then, food is not classed as an addiction. Food is not an addiction because we may not experience withdrawal feelings from it if we don’t have it. Abstaining from food like sugar will not cause our work or our relationships to suffer. However, we can experience not being able to stop eating. We can experience continually having thoughts about food that takes over our lives. This can feel like an addiction because we cannot control it or stop. What helps us then is to know what the symptoms of an addiction are so we can identify what our particular issue is. Then it allows us to work on it. There are 4 categories of addiction symptoms: Impaired control This is not being able to cut down or cut out a substance and using more then is intended. If you have binged on a type of food, this would fit in here. An example might be binging on chocolate, sweets, crisps. Social problems Neglecting your responsibilities and relationships. Stopping activities you used to care about because of your substance use. An inability to complete tasks at home or at work. With food, I see this where people give up on themselves. They really don’t like their body. They don’t like what they have become and because they don’t like themselves they think that no one else is going to like them. In turn that causes relationship problems because a person could be inadvertently pushing away their partner. Not liking yourself in a relationship is going to cause a rift. It could cause issues with friends who do want to help but you are pushing them away. I also see people not doing activities because they are self conscious and do not feel good about getting out and doing an activity. I often hear when I lose the weight then I will do the activity they love. Risky use Using in risky situations or continued use despite the problems. This would be continuing to binge or eat sugar knowing you have health problems. There is a big difference between food and other addictions here in that you are not likely to get involved with gang crime or have major financial difficulties because of your misuse of food. The big thing at stake then is your health and this is a danger because your health is not going to deteriorate straight away, so the dangers are not so immediately obvious. Physical dependence Needing more of the substance to get the same desired effect. Having withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not used. I see this with chocolate. Not so much withdrawal symptoms that you would see from a drug user but it is still a feeling of not being happy when not eating chocolate. Most people tell me they started out with one piece of chocolate then over time they started eating the whole bar or going onto having to have many bars. Severity Another sign of addiction is to guide on the severity of your use. Two or three symptoms and it is a mild addiction, four or 5 symptoms a moderate addiction, and six or more is a severe substance use disorder and that is what is classed in the mental DSM 5 manual as having an addiction. Healing your addiction Now that you have an idea of your particular symptoms, you can start to heal. But where do you start? Awareness. Become aware of your eating habits and triggers. This will help you to start being able to manage it. Dive deeper. Really explore where your addiction has come from and why it is there. Knowing this helps you to understand your patterns even better and you are able to either stay away from your triggers or not be so emotionally reactive to them. Work. Work on the deeper issues troubling you so healing comes from within, and you stop reaching out to food to heal you instead. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Vanessa McLennan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine "Vanessa McLennan is a hypnotherapist/psychotherapist specialising in Binge Eating, Weight loss and obesity. After experiencing challenges in life, she found therapy and it was a life changing experience for her. Her life moved forward so much that she wanted to help others. She started specialising in weightloss and disordered eating because her own poor health caused her to clean up her own diet and healthy living became a passion of hers. She helps people who have been on many diets and they have not worked. Their eating has got out of control and they can't escape the cycle between eating too much or restriction. Are you ready and open to exploring your mind and emotions to help clear your unconscious saboteurs? To go within to work on the cause of your habits and not just the symptoms? Vanessa takes her clients on a healing journey where they heal the relationship with themselves and with food. An exploratory, liberating, life changing journey"

Written by: Danielle Hollinshead, 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 just want to start by saying “hats off to you, Mumma”. Being a parent is hard at the best of times, but being a working one at that is testing. Hi, I am Danielle, 32 and mum of 5. At the age of 23 I took on my now husband's 3 children from a previous marriage, by 24 I was pregnant with my first and by 28 had given birth to my second boy. All whilst working full time in health care as a support worker. Juggling work and parenthood has its moments, but after starting my own successful business to work around my busy schedule I want to share my five simple tips to being a successful mumtrepreneur. Tip 1. Relax – Easier said than done, right? It’s all about being realistic. Don’t let heavy workloads overwhelm you. Create a list of all things business, write them down in a designated note pad and work through each task one step at a time, ticking off as you go. If you’re a more visual person, try creating a vision board so you can see your ideas and creations come to life. When starting up your own business there is much to think about. Social media, website, email marketing, lead magnets, accounts, payroll (if you’re employing anyone) to name a few. Choose a flexible date to ‘go live’ and use that as your goal. Having a time-based goal will help keep you accountable and allow you to track your progress towards achieving it. Tip 2. Be time flexible – It’s important to be realistic about your time needs, but at the same time, you need to be flexible. You’re a parent so naturally your 24 hours look different to those who don’t have children, or those with children of different ages. If your children are in school, you can use their school times as your business focus time. Now, obviously you still have your ‘normal’ errands to run, such as grocery shopping, dental/doctor appointments etc., but these can be considered and written in your diary…. Get yourself a time-slotted diary, I rely on mine, alongside google calendar, every day. If you have children who are still at home, then time is even more precious. I spent lockdown 2020/2021 building my business with all 5 children home and boy was it hard work! This is where time flexibility really comes into play. If like me, you have children that still very much rely on you for everything, then you need to plan for every eventuality. Little bums need cleaning, lunches and dinners need making, baths and hair washes need to happen, bedrooms need tidying, and washing up needs doing, along with a very long list of other day to day household chores. Set yourself working hours, for example: 9am until 5pm, use your diary to plan in lunch/dinner times and set yourself a small list of things to do each day rather than a big list to try and tackle all at once. This way, at the end of the day you feel like you have achieved more, and don’t end up overwhelmed at the sight of a seemingly never-ending list of household things that need doing Tip 3. Get the children involved – ok, this one is age dependent but it’s easy to get your kids involved. Firstly, explain to your children why you are working, why you work from home and what your goals are. Children absorb so much information, so they’ll understand more than you think. Do you have a teenager? Get them involved by using them as social media spies, get them researching the latest trends, stalk websites and give you feedback on what they think looks good. Even if you don’t like their opinion, they’ll still feel involved and learn to respect the time that you spend focusing on your business. Do you have younger children? Ask them to design you a logo or ‘book cover’…. get creative, they will think they are doing something amazing for mummy and who knows, you could end up using it! Tip 4. Be confident – Trust your own ability, be confident in your approach. You are building your very own business. It’s good to listen to people’s advice, especially if they have their own business but this is your business and your time to shine. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Sometimes family members or friends might not understand your reasoning for taking such a big risk but when they see you succeed, they’ll wish they took the risk too. Tip 5. Take the risk - Many people are scared to take the risk of starting up a new business due to the fear of it not working. One thing we learnt whilst setting up our business is that learning only comes from failing. Failing isn’t bad. Failure helps us grow and build. You don’t have to give up your day job right away but don’t fear that being a possibility in the future. Do your market research, make sure there is a gap in the market for your chosen business idea. Build a social media presence and client base and make sure you are known for what you do. Trust yourself and your instincts and you’ll know when it’s time to take the leap from employee to businesswoman. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Danielle Hollinshead, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Danelle is a nutrition coach based in the UK, alongside with her husband, Ian, together they created IDeal Fitness & Nutrition, an online fitness, and nutrition coaching business. Between them, they have 5 children aged 4 years to 18 years. Together their mission is to tackle quick-fix diets and give people the knowledge and know-how to be able to create and maintain a complete healthy lifestyle. Alongside nutrition coaching, Danielle wants to take a stand and encourage more women to come forward and partake in a contact sport. Both Danielle and Ian are amateur kickboxers training and working in a busy martial arts gym in Portsmouth, South England. Danielle is keen to find more women of all shapes and sizes to step up and out of their comfort zones to take part in a truly rewarding sport. In her 4 years of training in kickboxing, Danielle has found it a struggle to find women of her size (UK size 16) that will put themselves forward for sparring and/or competitions. With a background of mental health issues and a negative relationship with food, Danelle has managed to turn her life around and wants to encourage more people like her to do the same.

Written by: Sarah Moody, 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 used to joke that as a woman in the tech industry, believing I wasn’t smart enough was just an occupational hazard. Being surrounded by the most brilliant people on the planet every day is amazing...at least until the compare-and-despair sets in. Then, you find yourself slowly sliding down the slippery slope of “I’m not smart enough”--it creeps in when you notice how great that other manager’s team meeting went, it second guesses you when you want to share in that meeting, and it jumps out when you consider applying for that promotion. And that dream job at another company? Yeah right, it’s too stressful to even consider updating your LinkedIn! If you’ve noticed that vague anxiety of self-doubt running through your brain all day, you’re not alone. I call this Insecure Overachiever Syndrome and I’m guessing that millions of people around the globe are suffering from it every day. Thankfully, there is a cure. The funny thing about Insecure Overachiever Syndrome is that your brain is TRYING to help you, it’s just not particularly effective. Neuroscience tells us that because humans evolved as pack animals, our brains are hardwired to be constantly assessing our status in comparison to others. In fact, our primitive brains are so concerned with gathering data to avoid being thrown out of the group, we have developed unconscious filtering that excludes any evidence contrary to what we already believe is important. You might have heard this phenomenon called cognitive bias. At some point in time, when our ability to survive depended on our belonging to a small social group, this probably served us pretty well! But current studies tell us that consistent negative self-comparison isn’t just holding us back at work, it’s making us more anxious, depressed, lonely, and risk-averse than ever before. This is especially true for women, and even more exacerbated by things like high pressure work environments. So perhaps I was right, this is an occupational hazard! But like I said, there is an antidote to Insecure Overachiever Syndrome. If compare-and-despair is the problem, then the solution is compare-and-explore. “Compare-and-explore” was coined by English researcher Edward Noon, and refers to the way that your brain’s natural tendencies can be redirected to support positive identity development. Translation: you can actually reprogram your brain to create confidence, without changing anything external to you. The first step in reprogramming your brain is learning to neutralize your brain’s current default patterns. Often, our automatic reaction to negative thoughts is to try to jump to a positive thought or tell ourselves the negative thought isn’t true. Unfortunately, this is rarely effective--it's like slamming on the gas and the brake at the same time. At best, it doesn’t get you anywhere, and at worst, it leaves you feeling even more depleted than you already did. Instead, try noticing your thoughts, and creating a neutral “bridge thought” that moves you towards your goal thought. For example, if your current thought is, “I’m not qualified enough for that position” and your goal thought is “I’m amazing for position,” start by practicing “It’s possible that I am a better fit for that job than I believe I am.” To ensure that your bridge thought is effective, make sure to check in with your body. How does it feel when you think about it? Maybe you feel a little less anxious like you’re able to take a deeper breath or relax your shoulders when you think that. If you don’t notice any change, try a new bridge thought and make it even more neutral. You can literally start with something as basic as “I have a job now.” The second step in reprogramming your brain is training your brain to seek evidence for what you would like to believe, instead of whatever BS it's fixated on right now. Think about it this way: your brain’s currently in the habit of finding evidence for all of your insecurities. You can repurpose that brain power to serve as evidence for whatever you want to believe, by practicing new neural pathways focused on those goals. The best strategy I have found for building those new patterns is visualizing your Future Self. Don’t worry, this isn’t woo-woo crystals and affirmations. Empirical studies have documented the power of visualization in maximizing performance for decades, with everyone from first graders to Olympic athletes. You can do the same thing. Start by thinking about yourself 5 years from now. In your wildest dreams, what would you hope you are doing? What are you wearing? What do you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Who are you talking to? What are you thinking about? Dig into those granular details of your life that you wish were different. Now ask yourself, what would my future self tell me to start doing today? What would my future self tell me to stop doing? What thought does my future self believe that I don’t right now? Answering these questions will give you a map of where to practice new bridge thoughts. Finally, if you were your future self, what would you be feeling emotionally? Maybe it's proud, or excited, or clear. Whatever it is, think about how that emotion feels in your body. Can you feel it? That emotion is a powerful incentive for your primitive brain. Practice that feeling each day by finding small wins to trigger it, even if it’s just congratulating yourself for reading this article. Baby steps might not be sexy, but they sure are effective. If you want to exit the hamster wheel of self-doubt and insecurity, you have the option to do so, simply by exercising that beautiful 3 lb brain of yours. Remember: this shit isn’t a quick fix and your Type A tendencies are likely to rebel against the idea of incremental change. But I promise that if you practice these two tools, bridging thoughts and future self visualization, for thirty days, you can transform your own brain. So now the question becomes, what will you do when you stop believing you’re not smart enough? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Sarah Moody, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah is the only certified coach who: Recovered from decades of anorexia and bulimia. Has been a tech veteran for the past 20 years and started a company from scratch after getting fired from a job in 2001. Clients are some of the largest software enterprises in the world, and the company has grown by over 400% in revenue. Has coached hundreds of clients and is on a mission to help other high achievers like herself, break through burnout and bring magic back into their career and life.