Written by: Moira Hutchison, 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. Journaling is a great way to learn about yourself. Seeing things on paper is a little different than just thinking about them. Reviewing your day and your thoughts can be a powerful tool for self-awareness and personal growth. You can learn something from each day, but only if you have the intention of doing so. Journaling provides the insight to make positive changes to yourself and your life. Here are some journaling techniques to learn more about yourself and enhance your rate of personal and professional development: 1. Make journaling a habit. Write in your journal daily to get the maximum effect. When you journal each day, you will feel compelled to have something to write about. Set aside 15-30 minutes each day and make journaling a habit. 2. Review your day. Begin each journal entry by reviewing your day. Record anything you might want to remember in the future, whether it is a day or 25 years from now. Hit the highlights and be willing to be honest with yourself. 3. Look for ways to improve. When you layout your day in front of you, you will notice ways you can improve. It might be dealing with difficult people more effectively or deciding to look for a new client or prospect. 4. List your challenges and limitations. Write about the challenges you are facing in your life. Put them down on paper and see them from a different perspective. What are your personal limitations? Are you impatient? Do you want to work on your social skills? Do you lack goals? What can you work on to enhance your qualities or skills? 5. Use writing prompts. There are books of journaling prompts. These are questions you can ask yourself and then write your responses to them. Here are a few to get you started: My three greatest strengths are… My three greatest weaknesses are… (also list some ways to overcome them.) My version of success is… If I could travel anywhere, it would be… If I could start over, I would… The most important things I can do to improve my life are… How would you like to be remembered? What is something you want to learn? Why? 6. Review your life. This could take a few hours or more. Start at the beginning and record your thoughts on your life. Write about your home life and schooling as a young child. What were your teenage years like? What were the mistakes you made along the way? How have you ended up where you are? How have your perceptions and understanding of life changed over the years? What do you want to change going forward? If you could redo certain parts of your life, what would you do instead? Journaling can feel intimidating for some people. We don’t want to look at the dark places in ourselves and our lives. However, shining a little light on these areas can do more for your life than you realize. The basis for personal growth is gaining a greater understanding of yourself. Journaling is an effective way to accomplish this. Create a journaling habit and watch your personal growth take For more information and tips on accessing your inner guidance to align with YOUR best success, follow Moira on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, join her Facebook Community, or visit her website! Read more from Moira! Moira Hutchison, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine As an Intuition Cultivator and Mindset Mentor, Moira Hutchison guides her clients to access the inherent power they have available when they ignite their personal trinity of trust, inner awareness, and self-confidence. Moira works with professionals who feel that there is something better in life for them, but they have no idea how to access it. However, they have a yearning to be guided by their intuition and align with their unique calling. What makes her distinctive and different in this work is that she has developed the ability to take complex energetic, and spiritual ideas and interpret them in ways that people find easy to understand, integrate and implement.

Written by: Megan Tull, 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 order to create and sustain a thriving and profitable business, it is essential that you must live/work in an environment that will support that reality. We all wear many hats and have countless responsibilities each day which can feel daunting. Trust me I know - I have two thriving businesses a husband and three kids! We can often be exposed to and surrounded by so much negativity for example the news, social injustices around us, the recent pandemic, crabby relatives etc. - it can make it difficult to be positive. As a business owner/professional, you have the responsibility of creating an environment for yourself that will allow you to thrive and reach your goals. I have 5 tips for you that will allow you to create an environment for success. 1. Beautify your physical space. Set up an office/workplace that you love to be in. Make sure it’s comfortable, quiet, and clutter-free. Your workspace should make you feel empowered! Chances are if you are using the kitchen table as your office that is not the case. You may have to get creative and set up a specific spot for you to call your own. Soft music, candles and artwork can add to the ambiance. 2. Be selective with who you hang around with. Focus on surrounding yourself with like-minded positive individuals. Individuals that support you in your dream and mission. Entrepreneurs can often feel isolated around people who have jobs because they don’t “get us”. Unfortunately, the nay-sayers in our lives can be family members which makes it quite difficult so, it is even more crucial to have other individuals in your life that you can share your hopes and dreams with or bounce new business ideas off of. 3. Become a student of personal development. Becoming a successful entrepreneur, requires you to become the best possible version of yourself. This means that you must work on your mindset daily, learn everything you can to master your craft and learn tips and strategies on how to structure and build your business for success. For the last 20 years, I have immersed myself in countless books, trainings and seminars to help me be the best that I can be. I have an incredible hunger for knowledge. Be careful not to get distracted, you must first focus on building your business, then carve out time in your schedule for personal and professional development. Chances are you already possess more than enough knowledge to add great value to others and start building a profitable business. 4. Visualize what you want your day to look like. I cannot stress enough, how important this tip is! Take a few minutes each morning to do the following: Go to a quiet place. Relax by taking 3-5 deep cleansing breaths. Then, think about all that you are grateful for in your life. (ie your family, friends, health, your business that you love) That should put you in a peaceful state. Finally, think about what you have planned for your day – go through and visualize exactly how you want your day to turn out. Be specific! Go through each appointment and each task and visualize your desired outcome. This whole process from start to finish takes only about 10 minutes but, it can completely change the course of your day. By setting daily intentions you will start to have more focused, productive and prosperous days - guaranteed! Trust me it works! 5. Get support! Hiring an experienced coach or mentor to assist you on your journey to developing a successful business can be the number one way to get results right out of the gate. Once you invest in yourself amazing things will start to happen, opportunities will start to show up that are in alignment with your goals. A great coach or mentor can shorten your learning curve and create a roadmap to success based on their experiences. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel! This will save you countless hours of your time not to mention ultimately saving you a ton of money. They will also make you accountable for doing the work necessary to be successful. Make sure you do your due diligence and find the coach that is the best fit for you. You are where you are today because of the decisions you have made to date. Now is your chance to take responsibility for where you are now and use the 5 tips above to create an environment for you to flourish in your life and business! Whoo Hoo! Follow Megan on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Megan! Megan Tull, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Megan Tull is an Earn Your Worth Expert to the Experts, Transformational Leader in Business and Life, a Best-Selling Author, and an International Speaker. Megan is CEO and Founder of Silverlining Concepts, LLC, an innovative business coaching and consulting firm. Megan's passion and expertise are to help high-achieving, success-conscious business professionals and entrepreneurs to eliminate the struggle and overwhelm by re-designing their career or business to align with their unique value and true self. She helps them to discover their "Brilliance" allowing them to authentically attract their ideal clients with ease generating more profit and more fun in their career or business... all while making a difference in the world. She’s the best-selling author of The Passion Belief Method - Own Your Value and Earn Your Worth in Business and is a regular contributor for The Huffington Post and The Business Journals. She has been featured as an expert on CBS and FOX and will be a co-host on a new TV show called Lite It Up TV- Ignite Your Life airing in the Fall of 2021 on your favorite streaming channel.

Written by: Silvana Avram, 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 simple gift you must give yourself to be truly happy We all need to be reminded, at times, that we are worthy of love, that we are unique and special, that our contribution matters. In our relentless pursuit of achievements and success, we forget to take the time, to check in on how we are feeling, to be gentle and kind to ourselves. I often ask my coaching clients and students to write a letter to themselves. It is a powerful way to connect to your essence. To say things that only you can say. Today I have decided to write a letter to myself – to each one of us - to the beautiful human being in me, in you. Read this letter as often as you need to. Make it yours. Make it your love letter to you. Dear me, (fill in with your name) It’s been a while since I told you that I loved you. Today I am writing to express my infinite gratitude. Please know that I truly appreciate you. I appreciate who you are. I appreciate everything you do. Being human is not easy. There is no manual for being. There are no instructions for living on Planet Earth. And it can get overwhelming. I know that at times you feel lost, scared, and confused. I know that there are days when you see yourself as inadequate, unworthy. But please believe me – nothing could be further from the truth. It is in your moments of doubt that you are most impressive. It is when you are scared that you show real courage. It is in those moments of vulnerability that you reveal your true beauty. Please do not worry - you cannot fail at being. You can only get better: better at being you, better at being human, better at understanding and accepting your humanity. I know that you are trying hard. I know that you are doing your best. Let me give you a hug. Let me tell you: “Thank You!” It is time you heard this from me. I LOVE YOU. I love you deeply and unconditionally. To me, you are the most beautiful human being there is. You are the human being I know most intimately. I was there every time you cried. I was there when you were laughing. I am here now, as you are reading this. I am with you when you are dreaming, when you aim higher, when you are pushing boundaries. I am with you when you look at the stars and feel at one with the mystery. I marvel at the brilliance of your mind. I am touched by the purity of your heart. I admire you so much! There is no limit to my appreciation. Every day you continue to surprise me. I am spellbound by the wonder of who you are. I am so grateful for being you. Thank you. Thank you… For waking up every morning. For embracing every day with such sincerity. For your hard work, and for your sense of duty. For doing all those things that you don’t like doing. For accepting to take responsibility. For continuing the journey. Even when the going gets tough. Even when you don’t know why. Thank you for overcoming your weaknesses, for conquering your fears. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for trying your hardest, for being the best you can be. Thank you for learning something new every day, for allowing yourself to grow. For rising again when you fall, for the resilience you are showing. Thank you for your wisdom and for your patience. For choosing to trust life and keep going. Thank you for finding security in insecurity, meaning in the meaningless. Thank you for dreaming the impossible. For constantly transforming reality. Thank you for always searching for truth and beauty. Thank you for your warm heart and generosity. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for being you. I commend you and respect you. I’m so in awe with you! With everything you are. With everything you want to be. I want you to know that you are beautiful. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to know that life loves you. Life loves you when you are scared and lonely, when you are silly and forgetful, when you are in pain and when you are cheerful. Life loves you. Life loves you because you are life. I love you. For every beat of your heart. For every breath. For every thought. For every word. For every gesture. For every hesitation. For every choice. For all those mistakes and for all those victories. For every frown. For every smile. For the tears and the laughter. For everything that makes you, you. I love you. I am proud to be you. Unique. Exquisite. Unrepeatable. The most miraculous and wonderful expression of life. I love you. Listen to me. I will repeat what I have already said: You are loved and you deserve to be happy. I know you might think that I’m exaggerating. But it is important that you hear this. You are unique and courageous. Being is an act of courage and only you can be you. You are abundant and resourceful – you always find a way. You are intelligent – you are learning every day. You are kind and sensitive – you will always be a child at heart! You are creative and powerful. You are the lead character in your life’s story – you create your reality. You are precious and valuable – you give meaning and purpose to your life. You are a thing of beauty. You are lovable and loved. I love you. Life loves you. The entire universe loves you – just because you are. You. A unique, abundant, intelligent, sensitive, creative, precious, and beyond beautiful, expression of life. Remind yourself that being you is a wonderful contribution to life and that no matter what you do, life loves you. Life never judges and never compares. It welcomes every contribution lovingly. You can always be better; you can always be more. But for life, you will always be you. Open your heart to this unconditional love. Drop all your doubts. Leave behind all that pain coming from comparisons and judgments, from shoulds and what-ifs. Allow yourself to simply enjoy being. Give yourself the gift of love. Love yourself. Just for being you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love you. Silvana Avram PS: Here is to you, to your spectacular journey! Use this letter as a daily reminder of who you are – of the joy of being you, of the miracle of to be. To go deeper into reconnecting with yourself… read “Being You and Loving You – The Ultimate Guide To Fulfilment” – a book I wrote for all of us. Thank you for being you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Silvana! Silvana Avram, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Silvana Avram is a successful, Inspirational Life Coach, philosopher, author, teacher, and founder of Life Coaching with Silvana - whose mission is to empower us to embrace our uniqueness, fall in love with life, fulfill our potential and create a beautiful legacy. Fascinated from a young age by the mystery of life and our place in the universe, Silvana has been on a quest to find her own answers to the big existential questions facing humanity. Now an acclaimed Coach and Author, she draws on her extensive study of Philosophy, Psychology, Meditation, Holistic Healing, and Spirituality to create a uniquely inspirational and empowering style of Coaching - also reflected in her Book “Being You and Loving You” in which she guides us through an unforgettable, transformative journey of self-discovery and self-love. Convinced that we can overcome the prevalent paradigms of fear and division, Silvana has recently focussed her attention on developing a radically innovative approach, outlined in her upcoming book, “Living in Eternity” – and which has earned her an unexpected nickname: “Miss Eternity”! She argues passionately that, rather than chasing goal after goal and living for tomorrow, we should, instead, live every day, every moment, with the joy, awe, and serenity we experience when we see our lives from the perspective of Eternity. When we choose to live in Eternity, everything falls into place, everything we do takes on a different meaning, and we become aware that, as humanity, we are, in fact, constantly creating our common legacy. Silvana’s ambition: to inspire us to write a better story for ourselves – and for humanity – in Eternity!

Written by: Hollis Citron, 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. Things to consider: 1. Do you have memories of being in school or another space where the teacher said out loud, “ ________ is the artist of the class”. If so, how did it make you feel? 2. In whatever you enjoy doing, have you ever been told by others that your ideas are not good enough when it really had nothing to do with them? Or that the thing that you worked so hard on, whether it was a business deal or song that you wrote was just shot down in a matter of minutes by someone else with no questions asked? 3. Were you raised to believe that things had to be one way and one way only? 4. Do you think it does not matter if you are actually happy? 5. Do you think you need to do for others before you can actually put yourself first, is that selfish? 6. Do you allow yourself time to explore possibilities and give yourself permission to mess up, play, laugh, and challenge yourself to just BE! Just know now, even if you cannot draw your way out of a paper bag, you have probably inspired more people than you will ever know with your own creative talents. Society has created a whole lot of very linear thinking going on, not leaving much room for curvy lines and zig-zag lines to change course. Creativity is personal and has many different definitions. My personal definition is that creativity is your voice, your expression. Here is a little secret: You are creative because you are the only person that can add your gifts and greatness to the world in your language. I can hear you saying, “No, I’m not, I don’t know how to draw or paint”. Arghhhhhh… have to say this is a huge pet peeve. I have been an art teacher for 25+ years and did go to art school but guess what, I am not great at drawing and painting believe it or not. My major was in ceramics. Expressing myself in a 3D medium comes a lot more naturally. So to s t r e t c h the definition a little… These are all creative forms: The business deal(s) that started in your imagination create connections that can change the world You look into a microscope in a lab and have the ability to create a cure that no one else can see but you and your colleagues. You see the details to design communities where people live and work You understand different learning styles and various techniques to share knowledge in the classroom You choose words to speak to the masses and share your stories to uplift and expand people’s worlds Arranging numbers on spreadsheets are your superpower that creates solutions in everyday life You work in the medical field and look at each patient as an individual that is a multi-faceted human and realize they all have different needs You love cooking meals either by following a recipe or making it up on your own I truly believe that when we own our talents, that come in so many different forms, we are more expressive and basically happier humans because of it. I now truly understand that nurturing creativity is a gentle art. It should never be a way to bully others or make them feel small. This is a true story, back to the pencil reference. You know those events that you do not realize will shape what and how you do something, well this is one of them. Freshman year of college in art school, we had to take basic courses to get a well rounded feel for various mediums to then choose a major. Drawing was one of these classes. I was never really confident in this area but was there to learn and do what was not necessarily comfortable. In class, we all had our easels and different assignments of drawing from the same still life or model. The teacher would rotate around the room giving feedback. Here is the life-altering action that I did not realize was so important. This teacher would see your mistakes and draw directly onto your paper to “fix” them. One day I worked up the guts to say to her, “ Can you please not draw directly onto my paper”. Her response was, “ I don’t think you are good enough to do it on your own”. Hmmmm, take that one in… My response was as I was shaking and purple in the face, “ I did not ask you if I was good enough, I just asked you not to draw on my paper.” Needless to say, my grade was a D in the class, grades never really mattered that much to me anyway. Understand that it was not that I was not saying it did not need to be fixed, just wanted to be shown how it could be done and do it myself. It is really the only way to have it really sink in and become a real skill. When I fast forward a number of years and became an art teacher, I swore never to draw or alter anyone else’s creations in whatever medium but instead show them how to do it side by side. “Experiences are all processes and reminders to be gentle and honor yourself while taking the time to plant seeds that will grow as you nurture your creativity”. I ask you... What are you good at? Don’t tell yourself nothing, my life is boring and I hate what I do. I will ask again in a little bit of a different way, “ What do you like to do”? It could be anything from dancing, to working with numbers to jumping out of planes. We are talking about things that bring a smile to your face and make you feel something. When we recognize and spend time doing these things one might feel: Happiness Joy Excitement Curiosity Feeling More Expressive Connection with self and others Freedom Empowered thoughts If you notice we are not necessarily talking about your profession, but it could be. Becoming an active participant in your life and choosing to be doing these things more often instead of once in a while is a game-changer. On my podcast people have defined creativity as your soul's essence, courage, the magical spark, your unique and original exploration, expansion, and expression of your imagination…basically, all that we are and want to be. This will be fun! We are doing this... Together let’s expand the definition of creativity so all can see ourselves in this meaning that goes beyond a pencil & a paintbrush. Creatively yours, Hollis Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Hollis! Hollis Citron, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hollis Citron is on a mission to make creativity accessible to everyone by exposing new possibilities. She has spent nearly 30 years of my life helping students of all ages and in all settings to access their creative expression. I Am Creative & Express Yourself Publishing was born from this passion to help people build their confidence to recognize, encourage and express the innate expression they are born with. Hollis does this through experiential kits, creativity coaching, her podcast: Creative Conversations with Hollis Citron & creating multi-author books to create community and safe space for people to share their stories to empower themselves and the world. Creativity goes beyond a pencil & a paintbrush! It is your voice, your expression, and everyone has one.

Written by: Jesi Carroll, 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 the title alone resonates with you, keep reading. Do you ever think about what the word “lost” means? It’s all about finding your way and getting back on the path you were supposedly off. But what if you weren’t off the path at all? What if you were exactly where you were meant to be? What if the experience of this moment (or season) where you lacked clarity and didn’t quite know where you were going was part of the journey you were always meant to be on? What if the whole purpose of the chaotic moment was so you could experience the contrast of full clarity on the other side? What if you suddenly had permission to give yourself a break and feel like you were enough, right where you were? Wouldn’t that feel like a giant relief? I’m here to tell you that this reality is a possible one. As a professional Life Coach, one of the biggest patterns I see among my clients and why they feel lost is because they are in a constant state of needing to “hurry to get somewhere” and consistently tell themselves they “don’t know who they are right now” and have a nagging feeling they “aren’t where they want to be.” As if they are lost because they are telling themselves they are. They’re on a never-ending hunt of striving for an outcome vs. living/being in the moment. There’s no fluidity only rigidity. No enjoying the process (or understanding that they are in the process) but only a sense of never doing enough. I know that time is our most valuable resource but if we spend it doing nothing but stressing about the next moment, then aren’t we missing the point? This constant pressure is holding my clients back and I bet if you resonate with feeling lost, this is something holding you back too. I want to tell you something taboo. Being lost isn’t a “bad” thing, but instead is just data. Data that can help us tap into a more aligned and reassured life if we allow it to be seen as that. What if the sensation of “lost” was just data from your inner compass telling you it’s time to think differently? What if this feeling was an opportunity to become excited about yourself and your life in a new way? Have you ever thought of it like that before? It’s like when you tap into the idea that beliefs are just thoughts you’ve chosen to think over and over again but can actually change them any time you want. Simple but mind-blowing right? When we create new associations, we create a new world for ourselves. Moving forward, try thinking about the word “lost” in a new way. Create an empowering reality for yourself. Stop telling yourself that you’re lost. Instead see it as a new part of you that you haven’t experienced before. All it is, is unknown to you right now. But it’s a temporary discomfort that will dissolve with some exploration. Next time you feel out of clarity and in search of your purpose and path, say to yourself, “Yes! This is exciting because now I get to know myself in a new way. I get to start again and renew.” Then ask yourself, “Who do I want to now be?” At first it will feel awkward. It will feel uncomfortable, and you may even not know what to do with all of this. It’s okay. Building a new relationship with ourselves and our words takes time. Normalcy doesn’t happen overnight. (And the fact that society expects it to is a conversation for a different article). Let today be the day you allow yourself to release the fear and step into possibilities. Remember, you’re just in a new place with yourself you’ve never been before and that only has the definition you give it the power to have. Lost or discovery mode? You decide. Follow Jesi on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Jesi! Jesi Carroll, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jesi, Certified Life Design Coach, specializes in mentoring career-driven women to find more fulfillment in their life as she guides them through the navigation of chaos on the way to purpose. Having spent over 6 years working at some of the biggest corporations in the world as a Recruiter, she is a master relationship builder and understands how to help people achieve high levels of success while maintaining integrity along the way. She's ready to combine her career success strategies with her 10+ years of psychology and personal development education to show you how to have it all! She offers 1on1 Life Coaching, Mindset and Self-Love Healing, Career Transition Guidance, and Self-Purpose Discovery. It's time to heal at the soul level and get back to who you were truly meant to be!

H E A L. founding director, renowned homoeopath Josephine Zappia has been practising since 2005 and is deeply passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes we all have the ability to heal ourselves naturally when we work with our body rather than against it. In 2020 her business transformed into a virtual offering with one on one consultations for global clients looking for solutions to health and beauty problems. H E A L. {Healing Energy And Love} is the essence of health; complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing with products and services that nourish mind, body and soul. Created with intention as your online destination for healing and alchemy wellness products and services. It’s about healing. Looking within, aligning your body, and achieving your dreams. Josephine's work as a writer for health and wellbeing magazines has been featured in Body & Soul, Balance the Grind, SWIISH, Rescu, and Thrive. To visit the magical world of healing you can follow her journey on Instagram or sign up for consultations and upcoming workshops via the website. Josephine Zappia, H E A L. Founding Director Who is Josephine? Hi Fredrik, I am Josephine. I live in Sydney, Australia, and I am the youngest of 3 girls. I come from Italian descent, and a lineage of fruit and vegetable providers, so my interest in nutrition, health, and wellbeing started from a very early age. What is it that you do for your clients? I believe we all have the ability to heal ourselves naturally when we work with our body rather than against it. Opening our heart, letting go of fear and anything is possible. I often tell patients that it will be a very different ‘(Josephine)’ that no longer has the ‘(fill in the blank)’. The way you respond to things is going to change first and when you sustain there, the symptoms you are experiencing fall away as they no longer need to be there to teach/show you what you need to learn/ know. On some level they are there serving us, and we become attached to them and their purpose in our life. To love them, accept them, and then let them go can be confronting “Fighting Weakens; Love Empowers” Much like attachment to anything, when we fight against anything we go against the flow of life. Homoeopathy works the same way, by working WITH the principles of nature and allowing the flow of life. It’s about healing. Looking within, aligning your body, and achieving your dreams. Who should hire/work with you? Homeopathy can help newborns right through to the elderly. I currently work with mums, small business owners, a few elderly patients, and a community of professionals across a range of industries and roles, from startup founders, business leaders, and executives who are very interested in their health and wellbeing. Tell me more about H E A L.? Created with intention as your destination for healing and alchemy wellness products and services. The product range was inspired by the gemstone immersions used in homoeopathic practise and impressive material medica. This impressive knowledge and healing frequency is felt in each of our products and energises our service quality in consultations, workshops, and presentations. Designed with intention, the range of three extremely unique healing blends has been created to provide you with the atmospheric essence supportive of effective healing and intent. H E A L. products are lovingly handcrafted in Australia. The candles are hand-made healing candles using 100% natural pure soy wax, and the pure essential oil fragrance blends are hand-made healing oils in a bamboo glass roller bottle, ideally used as a body scent/perfume. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? H E A L. is the essence of health; complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing with products and services that nourish mind, body, and soul. My biggest goal is to have my products for use and sale in luxury health and wellness retreats globally. In 10 years I see myself living with my partner and our children, providing workshops and presentations in Sydney, and across the globe at luxury health and wellness retreats. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Josephine!

Written by: Hamsah Smadi, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. A few months ago I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia after years of suffering from chronic pain and a wide array of symptoms starting from muscle pain all over my body, headaches, numbness, heart racing, and many others. I remember when the doctor asked me after I told him about my health history: what are you afraid of? I smiled and said: Nothing at all. I am not afraid of being sick I just want to understand what's going on with me so I can deal with it. When three doctors confirmed my diagnosis it felt like a moment of clarity.. Finally I got to know what's wrong with me, and I know now what I can and can not do about it. Having a busy life for too long with so many goals and following an ambitious life approach without enough rest for your mind and body can cause a lot of stress and make your body release more adrenaline and cortisol which make your body in a state of alarm all the time even at your sleep. I learned this fact too late, but still helped a lot in managing my emotions and pain Years ago when I started learning about positivity and how to heal from negative emotions and experiences, I persisted to learn more about the science of happiness. It helped me to understand that showing yourself understanding, self-compassion, acceptance, and love makes a big difference on emotional and physical levels. So, from what I learned and practiced with myself and clients during coaching sessions here are 9 tips to deal with your chronic pain: 1. Accept: Acceptance is a valuable state which produces feelings of serenity and peace inside. By accepting the fact that life is not supposed to be all beautiful with amazing memories, joy, and chill, and you are part of humanity where everyone faces their own struggles and hardships. This is part of living life and an important learning opportunity which will help you learn more about yourself and others, as well as gaining new skills and wisdom. 2. Be kind: to yourself and practice compassion. As Dr. Kristin Neff mentioned in her book:” Self Compassion”, it is important to treat yourself kindly just like you treat your best friend or someone you really love. By overcoming self-hatred and feelings of inadequacy, and by stop trying to be a perfectionist in whatever you do. Nobody is perfect and the same goes for you too. One self-compassion exercise that you can try is writing a letter to yourself explaining all the challenges and tiredness you have faced. Then as a good friend would do show compassion and love to yourself, give a kind pat on your shoulder and say nice things to your wounded self. 3. Indulge yourself in positive emotions. Based on the work of Dr. Barbara Frederickson in her book "positivity" she explains that experiencing more positive emotions build emotional resources which can support you in time of hardships and open new horizons before your heart and eyes. You can have more positive emotions by doing activities that bring you: joy, interest, serenity, awe, love. Trying a new hobby, going for a simple walk, or meeting people you enjoy their company are just a few examples of what you can do to induce positive emotions. 4. Use your strengths when getting through tough times. In positive psychology, we talk about strengths within you rather than weaknesses. Identifying your top strengths and using them in the right balance to beat moments of self-doubt, depression and face life challenges would aid you with lots of power and self-confidence. Strengths such as: patience, perseverance, hope, love, and zest can give you the needed boost to be more optimistic and really enjoy life with all its ups and downs. Learn more about your strengths by doing a simple test on the following link: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/pro/hamsahsmadi/account/register 5. Practicing yoga, stretching, walking and swimming are amongst the most recommended by doctors for Fibromyalgia patients but also should be practiced moderately as too much exercise may be received by the neuro system as stress and thus causing more pain and stiffness. 6. Pray and enjoy the beautiful unseen part of life. Spirituality is one of the powerful strengths which brings a person feelings of peace and calmness by realizing that you are part of a bigger universe and turning to your creator through praying and meditation. Research shows having some kind of faith, prayer or meditation makes people calmer and relaxed, thus reducing negative emotions like anxiety, fear, and pain. 7. Circle yourself with support from family and friends. Having a positive support system of family, friends, and colleagues one's wellbeing and emotional state as positive psychology research shows. 8. Rest when you are tired or in pain. Chronic pain can be bearable at one day and unbearable at other days. When pain and tiredness are over your limit, take good rest in a quiet room. It is crucial to not feel guilty for it, do whatever makes you comfortable and more rested. You can compensate for delayed tasks on other days when you have more energy. 9. Know the triggers: triggers are stimulus that causes your pain to level up such as stressful conversations, too much work, poor sleep, too little exercise.. whatever triggers your sensitive neuro system to overreact try to avoid them as much as you can. Above all, remind yourself of all the blessings and good things that happened to you and still happening. Gratitude proved to be one of the greatest coping strategies and a crucial positive emotion that boosts optimism, hope and helps to manage moments of hopelessness. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Hamsah Smadi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hamsah Smadi, is a certified positive psychology coach, who holds an MBA in Marketing and has worked as a university lecturer for several years. She has been always interested in studying human behavior and has given many workshops on positive psychology topics and coached dozens of people through individual coaching sessions, helping them identify their strengths and how to use them in the right balance to: achieve their goals, cope with difficulties, overcome obstacles and achieve their life goals. As a loving mother of three active kids and a survival of Fibromyalgia, she coaches mothers - especially with chronic illnesses such as Fibromyalgia - and help them manage parenting stress and feelings of guilt and inadequacy by focusing on strength points rather than weaknesses and turning motherhood into a more enjoyable role. She has a published book titled: A Black Hole: The Journey of Self-Exploration from Chaos to Awakening in Arabic. In which she put the most important tools of positive psychology and ways to use them to improve life and achieve well-being.

Written by: Jean Fleming, 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. 1. Not managing your career You are well established in your career, but you have got there by chance, not by design. If you took time to really think about where you want your career to go, put a plan in place, and started sharing your ambitions with those who could help you, what direction would your career take? 2. Not setting boundaries You don’t feel comfortable saying No! You don’t want to let people down. You want to be liked. You want to please people. So you squeeze more and more in and get more and more exhausted. By not having your own boundaries you are not respecting yourself. Not respecting your own needs and wants. If you don’t respect yourself, how can you expect others to respect you. Have a look at your calendar, what do you really want to say No to? As a start decline, one invite and see how liberating that feels. 3. Not being clear about the value you bring You feel uncomfortable sharing your successes, your wins, your achievements. You feel you are ‘blowing your own trumpet’ so you get your head down, roll up your sleeves and get on with the job. You expect to get recognised for your efforts – only you don’t! It is so easy to take yourself for granted, which of course, teaches others to take you for granted too. What can you share with others that show the value you add? What difference could that make in your career? Life? 4. Not asking for help You try to be superwoman. You think you should be able to cope. You should be able to work full time, organise the children, make sure they have everything they need for school, that they do their homework, that they are entertained, that the house is clean, the shopping is done, dinner is on the table, blah blah blah… We want to show we are capable, that we can do it all. Asking for help is a sign of strength. What do you need help with and who can help you? 5. Making assumptions! We often tell ourselves I don’t know enough, I am not brave enough, I don’t have the time, they won’t want me, etc. The list is endless. The list is also unhelpful. Making these statements to ourselves can stop us from doing all sorts of things. What if I told you none of these assumptions were true? What else could be true? What else would you do if you freed yourself from these limiting beliefs? 6. Getting stuck in a rut Time passes so quickly. You are stuck in the same routine, the same job, like a record playing on loop. Sleep, get up, work, organise, fall into bed, sleep and do it all again! You hardly get time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. You don’t have time to get yourself out of that rut because you are busy living that rut. There is a difference between being stuck and choosing to stay. What do you want to choose? 7. You listen to your inner critic You want to make a change but you’re too busy, don’t have the energy, the motivation, don’t know what change you want to make. The voice in your head keeps telling you that you can’t change because you don’t know enough, you are not good enough, it won’t work, you will fail, you just need to achieve this before you can change. And you listen to that voice. You allow it to keep you stuck. You allow it to feed your fears. Motivation is found when the purpose is discovered. Be clear about your purpose and it will drive you to overcome your fears and make the change. 8. Procrastinating You know you want to get it done but you just can’t bring yourself to focus on it. You spend your time organising, planning, writing lists but not actually taking real action. If I just get this done then… The only cure for procrastination is action. What action can you take today to help you progress? 9. Overwhelm When we get overwhelmed we become indecisive, inefficient and stuck. This creates even more overwhelm. We tell ourselves, if I just get this done it will be ok, I will be on top of everything. Overwhelm is not cured by doing more. Stop, take a break and recharge your batteries – taking time out will help you more in the long run! 10. Not prioritising yourself You are too busy. Busy working, organising the children, the house, your social life, the admin of life, the list goes on… Constantly thinking of others before yourself. This leaves you tired, stretched, and unfulfilled. Take a step back to reflect on you and your own needs, wants desires. What one thing could you do for yourself this week? Follow me on Faceb ook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jean! Jean Fleming, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jean Fleming is an Empowerment and Leadership Coach helping women to create the life they want. With over 30 years of business experience, Jean was the first woman to join the Board of a global company – a role she still fulfills 12 years later. Jean is an experienced ICF accredited Coach, a DiSC Profiler, an Emotional Intelligence EQi-2.0 Assessor, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Jean uses her extensive range of skills and experience to bring a dynamic and supportive service to her clients to help them identify and create the life they want.

Written by: Juliette Marhofer-Dugger, 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. Boundaries can feel complicated until they don’t. My goal is to come alongside you to unpack and simplify this element of care for nyour soul. Our journey to wholeness activates permission in our soul to put boundaries in place. Stepping into this process can be very difficult, but before long the benefits begin transcending those initial challenges. This decision will forever alter the trajectory of your existence in the best of ways. There is not ONE relationship on planet earth exempt from the need for boundaries. If relationships give life meaning can we begin with an idea of what we think we need and watch ourselves heal and grow? We can interpret failed relationships as part of the human condition or we can seek to understand why our relationships have failed. Either path can leave us feeling paralyzed. But, what if we begin to explore the possibility of those relationships teaching us how to create the life we truly desire? Can we really create the life we want? Creating boundaries has become an ongoing conversation with my friends, family, and clients. I believe these definitions provide additional context while you're discovering your starting point. ➔ The definition of boundary: a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go. ➔ The definition of border: trespassing a region along with the dividing line between two countries (let’s think of this as two people). Let me share five thoughts to help you begin: Boundaries say, love, give love, and show love for our faith, ourselves, and others. Boundaries are like having a budget. A budget tells your money where to go and boundaries communicate to your relationships how to function. Boundaries are one of the greatest forms of soul care we can give ourselves. Boundaries place us in a posture of peace and power. Not power over others, but power to tell ourselves how to treat others and how we are to be treated. Boundaries become the difference between functional and dysfunctional relationships. So, how can I begin to free my soul? FREE YOUR SOUL No.1 What does it look like to love people at a distance? We often choose loyalty over longevity. We remain “loyal” in relationships that are dysfunctional and deny healthy relationships that could last a lifetime. Question 1: Would you describe yourself as “loyal to a fault”? Take some time to journal your answer. Release yourself of guilt, denial, and shame. Receive love and forgiveness to free your soul. This is your opportunity to reevaluate relationships in your life and consider what you desire to give and receive in future relationships. Question 2: Why is loyalty important to you? It’s very important to recognize that others can take advantage or we can take advantage of loyalty in our relationships and mistake it for authentic affection. Loyalty can actually be a cheap imposter if it’s expected, abused, or dishonored. “The only people that will be upset about you setting boundaries are those who benefited from you having none.” – Unknown There are those relationships we fight for and for some, the healthiest decision we can make is to release them. Reconciliation takes two. When two people are headed towards wholeness, the desired goal will surface. However, we don’t need another person to reconcile the pain within ourselves to access our peace and power! Your peace and power aren’t held hostage by another person unless they have consent to keep writing in your story! If you are ready to heal, change, and move forward, then a new future awaits you! Are you ready to cross over into restoration and freedom for your soul? Use this visual to support the desired boundary goals for your soul: The Bridge Imagery Being a bridge offers distance that gives both parties perspective. The imagery of a bridge relates to the posture of your soul: ➔ Back yourself up on your side of the mental bridge to gain perspective and really look at the relationships in your life. ➔ Become a bridge and your love becomes the borders of your life. ➔ I invite you to grab a journal and utilize these prompts for yourself: ◆ Do I cross or do they? ◆ Do I meet them in the middle? ◆ Do I meet at all? ◆ How do your spirit, soul, and body and mind, will, and emotions respond at the mention of their name? ◆ How do you function when you are in their presence? ◆ Then, name your feelings! ◆ For example: If you feel sad, do you associate this feeling with rejection or abandonment? Building your relational framework around boundaries creates a pathway of success in your human connections. Boundaries are not self-preservation. Choosing to have boundaries means you’re always seeking to honor your faith, self, and others, by guarding your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. When we don’t put our boundaries in motion the new future we desire to create for ourselves appears out of reach. FREE YOUR SOUL No.2 Always begin by asking a question! Because questions lead to transformation. Let’s identify a few more ways to set your intention and your boundaries. Question 1: Who or what is trespassing in your story? First, reflect on the definition of borders. PONDER: If someone is in your territory uninvited they are there illegally. Question 2: Or do they have your permission to be in your story? PONDER: We can’t rid ourselves of the dysfunction we are still entertaining. PONDER: We can’t complain about that which we are unwilling to change. Question 3: What is one boundary you can put in motion today? Question 4: Describe a boundary you have sacrificed in the past that you desire to uphold in the future? FREE YOUR SOUL No.3 The next part of our conversation increased my creativity and the quality of my life greater than anything I have ever experienced. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.” - Lewis B. Smedes, Author of Forgive and Forget: Healing The Hurts We Don’t Deserve Let’s explore extravagant forgiveness together: Relax, inhale and exhale with each of these thoughts surrounding forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you remove your boundaries. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you place a “welcome mat” at the door of your heart. Forgiveness isn’t pretending it didn’t happen! Unforgiveness requires attention and energy and becomes a thief to your creativity and healthy headspace. Unforgiveness traps you in the past and holds your future hostage. Forgiveness is setting yourself free and granting your heart permission to move into your future with peace and power! Question 1: If you could redirect the energy from your subconscious to consciously creating what would that look like for you? Question 2: Is there an area of your life that you are holding yourself hostage that needs your forgiveness? FREE YOUR SOUL No.4 In the nooks and crannies of our mind, will, and emotions, there seems to be a common thread of questions among humanity that dominate and feel as though they plagues the human spirit. Let’s ponder these thought-provoking questions: Question 1: Am I enough? Question 2: Will I come through? Question 3: For who? Maybe the question we can ask ourselves today isn’t “who” but “why”. Our knee-jerk response to the “why” is often a laundry list of reasons why we don’t qualify. These voices that inform us are often embedded since childhood. We assume we won’t come through and we will never measure up. Our “why” is our identity we hand off to people for their opinion. If we aren’t careful their definition of us begins to overtake our authentic narrative of who we truly are. We then find ourselves in a crisis seeking the “why” from people and come up short. In the process of “freeing our soul” we can get so caught up in what we are that we forget who we are. Here we are friends, running our race in our own lane, and in the midst of relating, we are all unique! Each of us in different seasons and lane changes. When we embrace the cleansing of our soul, life hugs us so tight and a beautiful paradigm shift happens! Grace becomes a canopy over our lives and we give ourselves space to heal. Tending to the fragile places in our soul forges us into blade runners! When we find out what we don’t know and take action, empowerment transforms even the mundane! Let’s keep healing and growing in the process of the process. A life with boundaries is a life of peace, power, and love. Cheers to boundaries and freedom, Juliette Marhofer Dugger Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more information! Read more Juliette Marhofer-Dugger, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Juliette Marhofer Dugger, is a mother, coach, speaker, author, entrepreneur, thought leader, and philanthropist whose obsession with Soul Care points others to rewrite their story and not to relive history. After childhood and adulthood trauma caused a collision of abandonment and intimate belonging in her soul, she created dialogue to radically transform her narrative. Juliette has committed her life to help others unleash their creativity in the middle of the war in their soul not after it ends! She is the Founder of WildWell Company and the Master Coach and Creator of Detox Dialogue™, a movement of personal transformation through soul care for females whose private and professional lives have been impacted by systemic cycles and patterns, mental, emotional, and spiritual abuse, and betrayal trauma. She is a published author and host of YELLOWSOUL, an interview-based podcast holding rogue conversations for women to know “if it's defined you, it matters, let’s talk about it”. Juliette is passionate about reframing soul hygiene to disrupt the view of how we connect to faith, ourselves, and others to create a life of wonder!

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. "Conflict cannot survive without your participation." - Wayne Dyer Have you ever been fishing? I remember when I was a child my parents had a vacation cottage in the country, next to a beautiful lake, in Sweden. Sometimes we would go fishing. As a kid I thought it was a lot of fun to go fishing, because the whole family did it together. When you fish you start with a fishing pole and on the end of the line there is a hook. You bait the hook with a worm, toss it out in the water and wait for a fish to take the bait. Once the fish takes the bait and get hooked you pull the fish into the boat. Same thing in life. There are a lot of people in the world that like to pull us into their conflicts, drama, arguments and other crazy behavior. They too bait a hook and the they throw it out there to see who will take the bait first. Once someone is interested in the bait, they set the hook and reel it in. There are people that can't wait to stir up drama. In other words, they are trouble makers and they thrive on creating drama and trouble in other people's lives. They are trying to bait you. But you got to learn to recognize these types of people and make sure that you don't take the bait. If someone is rude to you, simply learn to ignore it. Don't get upset and don't allow these people to disturb your inner peace. Stay calm and continue to move forward on your own journey. There are no perfect people out there. We must give people room to be human. They are not going to be perfect all the time, and neither are we. Don't have unrealistic expectation because some people are not capable of doing what you want them to do, or be who you want them to be. Sometimes people will disappoint us, no matter how good they are. People are going to say hurtful things, and we must learn to not be so easily offended. Don't take things personally. Other people's behavior has nothing to do with you. It has everything to do with them. It will tell you who they are, not who you are. Don't allow other people to disturb your inner peace and don't depend on other people for your happiness. If someone says something hurtful to you, are you going to be unhappy for the rest of the day? Don't put the keys to you happiness in someone else's pocket. You are responsible for YOU and your own happiness. Don't put too much pressure on other people to make you happy, because then you might feel disappointed. Let these people off the hook. There are going to be a lot of bumps on our journey in life. It's normal to expect this. But it's up to us to not get too upset when it happens. Protect your own peace of mind. Don't allow the same things to upset you, day after day. Month after month and even year after year. Even if people are grumpy, critical, unfair, angry, jealous, mean, bitter and try to pull you into conflict and arguments, decide that you are going to have a great day. Keep on pursuing your dream. You can't control what other people are doing or saying. You can only control what you do and say. So shake of their bitterness, anger, envy and jealousy. If you are allowing people to upset you, bait you into conflict and joining them in their drama, you are giving away your power. You are actually letting them control you. Remain calm in the face of adversity. Don't allow them to ruin your day. Let's face it, there are some people that have the gift on getting on our nerves. It seems like some people have the calling in life to make other people miserable. But remember that you are in control of you. They can't make you feel a certain way without your consent. If you become angry or frustrated, it's a choice that you make. When people are rude, critical, angry, jealous they have issues that they are not dealing with. Sometimes they are like a poisonous snake. Make sure that they don't bite you and allow their poison to get into you. Don't start arguing with them. Don't allow them to get you upset. Don't take the bait. Rise above these people. Don't go down to their level. Try to be kind and respectful to these people, even when it's difficult. People will constantly try to offer you the bait. Next time it happens, just say..."No thanks, I am not taking the bait." Always be selective which battles you are going to get involved in. Will it somehow benefit you to get involved? If it's not between you and your destiny, I suggest that you don't get involved. Don't get involved in every conflict because it will drain your energy and then you won't have enough energy left for your own dream. Learn to walk away from distractions. Know what battles to fight. Fight the battles that matter and that are important. Walk away from people that don't matter. Learn to keep your mouth shut. Don't say things you'll regret later. Stay on the right road, which is the high road. Walking away from a fight isn't a sign of weakness. Quite the opposite. It takes a strong person to walk away from and argument or a fight. Never fight battles with small-minded people. People that don't value who you are. Don't get involved because it might prevent you from making progress on your own goals and dreams. These are simply distractions that might get you off track to reaching your own destiny. Learn to ignore things. Ignore negative and critical people. Ignore negative comments. Ignore disrespect and rudeness. Keep your inner peace. Don't take the bait. 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: Liz Sparkes, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It can be quite easy to distance ourselves from our feelings, to hold how we really feel at arm's length. By denying yourself the truth of how you feel can lead to feeling trapped and stuck. Suppressed feeling can also be linked to changes within the physical body. For example, impacting upon the immune system or increasing inflammation in the body. Being directly in touch with what we are feeling is essentially mindfulness. However, allowing it and bringing soothing energy towards difficult feelings is self-compassion. The risk of seeing the truth of how we really feel can sometimes feel as though it will come at quite a cost. Clients often describe how it feels pointless to acknowledge how they feel about situations in their lives as they can't see a way out. This keeps us stuck and unable to make changes or trust that change is possible. However, as we begin to connect with the feelings of compassion and connection this allows alchemy to begin to unfold. Once we allow the truth of how we feel to surface and begin to introduce heart-felt feelings of connection and compassion, shifts can begin to occur. It is often when we start to process and allow emotion to be felt that it starts to allow a new way of seeing things to arise. As we begin to process emotion, feel the feelings as they are, wisdom starts to descend. Often it's about leaning into the process and trusting that the way things look will change, but in a way that we can't comprehend until we begin to connect with the deeply held emotions. Not only can our vision become clear once we connect with the truth of what we feel, but also physical health can change. As clients begin to work with compassion practices and expression of emotion, often physical health starts to change too. Sometimes chronic pain and illness can be the result of having held deeply suppressed feelings for a lifetime. Although we must consider that the situation may be more complex and need an entirely holistic view. We can often notice huge improvements and an almost domino effect upon our health when we process and move through emotion, no longer holding trapped feelings within the body. Beginning to connect with emotion and increase self-compassion can occur in a variety of ways. Writing and journaling can support movement within the subconscious. Meditation and visualisation, particularly delivered by trained facilitators can support the release and alchemy of what we hold so tightly within. Just bringing gentle awareness to each moment and acknowledging how we really feel is an act of self-love. It is important to note that if there is trauma then psychotherapy or equally deep support in other ways is important. During the retreats that I run alongside other experts, we support people who are ready to change the trajectory of their lives. By providing an environment that is conducive to change and self-exploration, we can gain insights and gently allow emotions to shift and change. Bringing a new sense of clarity and freedom. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Liz! Liz Sparkes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Liz Sparkes is a health psychologist, intuitive coach, and meditation and reiki practitioner. After completing a Ph.D. in Pain Psychology and training to facilitate meditation and mindfulness, Liz dedicated herself to helping others feel more empowered and fulfilled. Liz has developed academic and private transformational courses for heart-based living, meditation and compassion, awareness, and moon living. Liz works with groups and individuals in workplaces, health settings, charitable organizations, and holistic retreats. Liz utilizes a mixture of psychological and ancient spiritual methods for healing and to support living life from the perspective of the heart, gaining greater insight and intuitive trust.

Written by: Derick Grant, 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 might as well go ahead and cut straight to the chase. We all use this word so casually, giving it more power than it deserves. If there's something you've never achieved in your life, it wasn't because you weren't capable of it. If you put your mind to something and you're willing to work for it, you can do anything. There's something, though, that lies in between your capability and what you accomplish. It's called FEAR. The actual fear is not present; it's the feeling of fear that is real. Fear is a construct of the mind, of the ego, more specifically. You develop fear because the ego likes to stay comfortable; it wants to stay in one place. Fear is put in place to ensure that you never move forward and stay "safe." Your job is to ask yourself, "why am I afraid of this? Why do I have this feeling of fear?" The fear you feel is produced by your perception of the situation, which is a thought. You can have control over your thoughts. So if you can control your thoughts and bring awareness as to why you are afraid, you will see that the fear can no longer exist. My mother used to tell me growing up that fear stood for False Evidence Appearing Real. It's a construct, you have created it, and if you can create fear, you can also destroy it. Here are three keys that you can practice to dispel your fears. Awareness. Pay attention to the feeling when you are fearful. Paying attention to the feeling on the surface will bring awareness to the underlying thought. Fear resides in your unawareness. Ask yourself why? Why am I afraid right now? And keep asking why until you get to the cause of the effect. Through doing this, the fear loses its power over you because you're becoming more aware of the reasons that led to it. Lastly, please don't run away from your fears. Go towards them. They can have so much power over you because we run from it. When you start running towards your fears of acknowledge them and learning more about why you're fearful, the fear must go away. I'm a living testament to this. The only way I overcame my fears was by moving towards them: the high achievers, the great athletes in the world. As successful entrepreneurs, we all have fears like everyone else. They just have figured out a way to run at their fears instead of running away from them. Remember, fear is something that your ego created within your mind, and awareness destroys it. So now, go and be all that you can be; you have nothing to fear! Want to learn more from Derick? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin Twitter and visit his website. Read more from Derick! Derick Grant, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After traveling to 70 different countries, and playing 8 years for the Harlem Globetrotters, Derick Grant set out on a mission to help hundreds of athletes, coaches, and people tap into their infinite seed of greatness. His client base consists of but is not limited to the NBA, WNBA, NFL, executives at Fortune 500 companies. He is an author, TEDx speaker, and revered as one of the most powerful performance mindset coaches in the athletic world. His revolutionary approach to mindset by teaching what the mind is, and how to use it as a tool has helped influenced high achievers across the globe. His podcast, “The Pathway to Your Results”, helps teach people how to find this seed of greatness we all had inside of us.