Written by Maynard Hebert, Keynote speaker/ Consultant Maynard Hebert is a Red Seal heavy-equipment expert, award-winning shovel technician, and the author of Onward Buttercups. He is a workplace culture specialist who teaches teams and leaders how to communicate better, work smarter, and build trust in high-pressure environments. If you’ve ever walked into a workplace that looks organized but feels like a funeral, you've met the silent killer of modern teams, safe leadership. Not safety as in lockout tags and PPE, that stuff saves lives. I’m talking about safe-as-in-spineless. The kind of leadership that refuses to make waves, take risks, or confront reality. Safe leaders avoid conflict like it’s overtime they’re not getting paid for. They nod along in meetings, keep their inbox clean, and consider “not upsetting anyone” their biggest achievement of the week. And while they think they’re protecting the culture, what they’re really doing is quietly strangling it. Safe leadership feels stable on the surface. But underneath? It drains innovation, trust, and morale faster than a blown hydraulic hose. The rise of safe leaders In the trades, mining, and heavy industry, you see this everywhere, people promoted because they’re easy, not because they’re effective. These are the human seatbelts, designed to restrain, not lead. They won’t push back, won’t challenge bad decisions, and won’t stand up for the team unless someone senior tells them it’s safe to do so. Workers can smell this kind of leadership like diesel on a rag. And once they do, the slide begins. The real cost A safe leader doesn’t implode your workplace overnight, they corrode it slowly. Like rust, the damage begins small, hidden, and ignored until the whole structure weakens. Innovators leave The first casualties of safe leadership are always the thinkers, the techs, and operators who actually care about doing things better. When these people bring forward a new idea and get told, “Let’s not rock the boat,” they stop trying. Or worse, they take their talent elsewhere. I watched it happen to a brilliant mechanic who found a simple way to reduce hose waste. His supervisor killed the idea before it even left the lunchroom. That mechanic had a new job in eight weeks and a company truck. That’s the cost of choosing comfort over courage. Trust declines After the innovators walk, the quiet pros start fading. These are the backbone employees, the ones who don’t complain, don’t brag, and don’t need babysitting. But when they realize leadership won’t defend them, develop them, or even notice them, they disengage. You’ll see it in the little things: The dropped shoulders. The shorter conversations. The phrase, “It is what it is.” When that phrase becomes a cultural anthem, you’re headed for a cultural breakdown. Culture flatlines Eventually, everything begins to feel like low voltage. People stop trying. Turnover spikes. Reliability suffers. And meetings become group therapy sessions where everyone avoids saying the one word that explains it all, Fear. Safe leadership is fear wearing a smile and a reflective vest. Real leadership risks Here’s the uncomfortable truth, leadership is supposed to feel risky. If your job never scares you, challenges you, or tests your backbone, you’re not leading, you’re supervising stationary objects. Real leadership means making decisions without all the info. It means backing your team when things go sideways. It means having uncomfortable conversations, the kind that make your palms sweat and your voice tighten. As I tell people in the field, “If you want a job that never hurts, be a garden gnome.” When I made a costly mistake early in my career, I owned it. My manager told me, “We can fix a bad decision faster than we can fix no decision.” That’s real leadership. The trust equation After decades turning wrenches and running crews, I’ve boiled trust down to a simple formula: Trust = Consistency + Courage – Cowardice Your crew doesn’t need perfect leaders. They need leaders who show up, stand up, and aren’t afraid to tell the truth, even when the truth makes people squirm. Story from the pit During a brutally cold shutdown up north, an apprentice dropped a fitting inside a boom cavity. Easy mistake. But our supervisor at the time? He reacted like the kid had brought down the entire grid. Red face. Raised voice. Full performance art. Later, behind the truck, the kid gave me a line that belongs in every leadership seminar, “I’m here for the income, not the outcome.” Safe leadership had crushed this apprentice’s confidence so badly he no longer cared about growth, only survival. I told him, “The income grows when the outcomes do. Don’t let someone else’s ego shrink your future.” That apprentice eventually became a leader himself, a good one. A strong one. The kind who guides without grandstanding. Safety vs. ego Real safety is physical. Safe leadership is political. One saves lives. The other saves face. One protects people. The other protects egos. Companies often confuse the two, and the whole operation pays the price. Leadership reliability We talk constantly about equipment reliability, but leadership reliability matters just as much. Unreliable leaders create unpredictable work. Predictable leaders create trust. Preventive maintenance works on machines. It works on leadership too, it just looks like honesty, consistency, courage, and accountability. Final thoughts Safe leadership feels harmless, but it slowly damages teams by choking creativity, weakening trust, and robbing people of pride in their work. Strong leadership isn’t loud. It isn’t perfect. It isn’t pretty. Strong leadership is real, and real leadership will always involve discomfort. Every time a leader chooses safety over courage, another worker quietly says, “I’m here for the income, not the outcome.” If you want teams that care, innovate, and thrive, you don’t need safe leadership. You need spine, honesty, humour, and the courage to rock the damn boat. Onward, Buttercups. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maynard Hebert Maynard Hebert, Keynote speaker/ Consultant Maynard Hebert is a Red Seal Heavy Equipment Technician, author, and host of the Gears of Trust podcast. Drawing on decades in the mining and oil sands industry, he helps organizations strengthen communication, reduce turnover, and build teams that actually work together. His book, Onward Buttercups, has become a practical guide for mechanics, supervisors, and leaders looking for real-world, human-centered solutions to workplace chaos. Maynard blends technical expertise with humour, storytelling, and straight-talk leadership. He was recognized as Mader Mining’s 2024 Outstanding Employee of the Year. Today, he speaks, teaches, and consults across Canada on reliability, culture, and team performance.

Written by Allany Muniz, Founder of Diary of an Epileptic Allany Muniz is an upcoming content creator in the epilepsy community. She founded Diary of an Epileptic in 2020, an epilepsy digital representation. Along with blog interviews, Diary of an Epileptic has appeared on the Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville's news article. Are you struggling to understand your new norm? Feels like everything is in a spiral with the fear of closing your eyes? You aren’t alone, and it is absolutely normal to feel this way. Navigating epilepsy in your first year is never easy, from learning new medical terms, adapting to a new lifestyle, while trying to have some sense of individuality. You are not alone, and I hope you find this article helpful in your journey.  Finding out you have epilepsy To start, what is epilepsy? Epilepsy is when someone has more than one seizure in their lifetime. Anyone, no matter gender or race/ethnicity, can get diagnosed with epilepsy. While it is commonly assumed that epilepsy is caused by genetics, the truth is that no one knows what truly causes epilepsy. 5 tips to survive the first year 1. Don’t go down the rabbit hole When you first hear the news, the world spirals out of control with no solution in sight. In today’s world, it is easier to find everything online because it’s honestly easier than paying $2,000 for a five-minute appointment. We believe that we can look something up and that solves all of our problems. Yes, it can solve problems, but it can also cause more confusion than when you are looking for answers. While a lot of websites, even WebMD , seem helpful, they often cause more anxiety than relieve it.  2. Research epilepsy It’s essential to become your own advocate. Neurologists/epileptologists explain it to you, but sometimes it leaves you more confused than liberated. While yes, they talk to you about and they give you little details, but it’s like if you’re lucky to have a good neurologist or an epileptologist, 98% of time is very vague like in my experience I just heard epilepsy and seizures like everything else like they didn’t really go into detail they didn’t say anything about type of seizures. It didn’t say times they didn’t say oh what seizures look like they just said you will have multiple seizures here your medication and call it a day and that’s why you have to be your own advocate because you have to ask the questions that doctors won’t give you the answers for like you have to be the person to stand up for yourself the way that you’re willing to stand up for others. 3. Feel your emotions While trying to get an understanding of your new life, it may feel easier to hide yourself in the room and not come out, but all it does is hurt you more than it does protect you. Whether you're born with it or get a diagnosis later in life, a question of identity always lingers in the back of your mind. Even with the unconditional support from your loved ones, you may feel like you don't want to bother them with your problems, which is normal, especially if you're the only person you know who has epilepsy.  You feel it's a battle only you will understand, and if that is your case, there is nothing wrong with letting your frustrations out. If you do not have anyone to talk to, having a creative outlet does assist in emotional regulation. 4. Practice self-care Practicing self-care is absolutely a must when living with epilepsy because the individual needs as much care as the chronic illness. It’s easy to get caught up in the deep dive of understanding epilepsy that we forget to take care of ourselves, for instance, putting on deodorant or not brushing our hair for a week or more, and you use it as well. I was tired of all I’ll do with the next day, taking care of you is essential because to manage epilepsy, you have to take care of yourself. You aren't being selfish if you say no to an event or cancel because of a simple headache. Every headache, every migraine, every anxiety attack you have ever experienced is valid. 5. Keep a seizure journal When you get diagnosed, get a notebook or use your phone to keep track of things like the duration of it, like what you blackout or were you conscious, like the frequency of the seizures, because not only does it become your best friend to understand your epilepsy journey, it’s your best advocate tool for when you see a neurologist or epileptologist. It also gets you to know your epilepsy a little more and understand when a trigger is coming, when I know an aura is coming, or even when the seizure is coming. Follow me on Instagram for more info! Read more from Allany Muniz Allany Muniz, Founder of Diary of an Epileptic Diary of an Epileptic is a digital social media brand that brings epilepsy awareness to individuals. Allany Muniz uses her brand to express frustrations of life, spreading awareness. After being diagnosed in high school, Allany's identity changed forever, but from her experiences, she is giving a voice to the unspoken through social media and beyond.

Written by Paul Lister, Agile Coach Certified Scrum Trainer and former physicist with a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge, Paul Lister brings over 20 years of fintech experience to help teams minimise risk and embrace Agility. He is passionate about making work better, sharing knowledge through training, coaching, writing, and community building. I suppose it’s one of the benefits of getting older, but I’m a lot more relaxed than I used to be. I (vaguely) remember being virtually feral as a teenager and used to overreact to everything for at least ten years after that. This is not just looking at things retrospectively through venerable eyes or having no longer the fire I once did, or finding the previous behavior ‘wrong’ due to ageist jealousy. It’s biology, baby. More accurately, neuroscience. Evolution is a strange and delicate thing. We tend to think of it as a survival of the fittest template, but that’s not quite the whole story. Some changes are advantageous, and some are not. But that doesn’t mean that everything is the ‘best thing it could be.’ Zebras may have stripes because it breaks up the outline of the beast for predators, and hence that particular trait was reinforced. Or stripes may make absolutely no difference to being caught by a lion, but since it wasn’t disadvantageous, it wasn’t bred out. Feedback mechanisms in such a complex environment are hard to pin down, especially when we are talking about environmental interactions over millions of years. What evolutionary biologists can do, however, is see where distinct species branched away from each other by examining various physical structures in their bodies. Structures such as the brain. I am the lizard king A brain which I’m going to use now to generalize about its own function. The brain consists of many areas, but it can be generalized into three main parts, the cerebellum, or little brain, which deals with motor functions, the limbic system, or lizard brain, which mostly concerns itself with dealing with danger, and the cortex, sometimes referred to as the mammalian brain, which controls higher functions like thinking. The prefrontal part of the cortex controls rationality and makes sure that the various decisions that may trigger the lizard brain are examined before more bestial actions are undertaken. It’s not a surprise that my fifteen-year-old self, like most fifteen-year-olds, was running riot. The prefrontal cortex keeps growing and developing until, on average, an individual is twenty-five. (Just as an aside, it seems a strange world where you can parent a child, drink alcohol, which drops your inhibitions, and fight for your country at ages that are younger than this...). The Prefrontal Cortex tempers the animalistic flight-or-fight response that the limbic brain wants to make to situations that are unexpected. Situations that cause fear. The word limbus in Latin means border, and the prefrontal cortex patrols this border like a customs guard, only letting through reactions that make sense in a world where humans must interact with each other and society as a whole. As our environment changed from one where we were running for our lives or deciding to snuff out others, to one of debate and détente, the mutations in the brain slowly grew this customs officer, the process of evolution slowly helping it along. But, as we don’t live in a perfect rational world (possibly one of the great understatements of our time), we know that the Prefrontal Cortex is still evolving, still adapting. But is it possible to help it along? I can do anything Not to try to drop into too much meta-territory, but we tend to think of our thinking as a reasonably static thing. Despite this, the brain and the various connections within it are pliable and able to reset and change to form new paradigms. In science, this is known as neuroplasticity. This is visible in studies where CAT scans are taken of people trying to learn new things. A good example of this is an examination of individuals training to be London taxi drivers. They have the gargantuan task of learning ‘the knowledge,’ a mental map of London’s roads and landmarks so they can navigate their way around the complex spider’s web of thoroughfares in the capital. Periodically scanning these students showed that after each session of study, concreted by practical testing, entire areas of the driver’s brain had effectively been rewritten. But these people have a willingness to let this change happen. Because whilst the Prefrontal Cortex is a customs officer for the limbic system, the lizard brain has its own border guard that won’t accept change if it deems that the change will be detrimental. Its own ‘fear policeman.’ And it doesn’t take much to trigger it. People are strange It’s not a great decision to spend a lot of time deliberating over whether running away from a lion is a good idea. Which is where the lizard brain, when we had little else, was a great innovation. It protected us. And in the modern world, it still protects us, but the scale and dangers are very different. In the early days of Homo sapiens, we only had to be concerned with the things that kept us alive. The psyche was dominated by the ‘id,’ as psychoanalysis puts it, the purely instinctive way of reacting to things. But as interactions became more civilized, then a different sort of protection was needed. The ‘Ego’ developed, the complex sense of self, and suddenly there was a new fear. Anxiety. This new fear manifests in different ways. It can be worrying about others’ opinions of you, fear for the future, or concern about mental health. The lizard fear policeman can sometimes decide to batten down the hatches as a risk strategy, deciding that the best action is not to do anything. This is okay now because doing nothing is an acceptable strategy, our modern version of the lion is trying something new, making sure someone doesn’t ‘get one over on us,’ or exposing vulnerability. It is pretty unlikely that you’re going to get eaten because of it. But if this limbic brain is operating in this fashion, is it easy to spot? Is it possible to know when the lizard fear policeman is at large? And can our prefrontal cortex do more than just be a border guard? How can it help? The doors of perception The safest option for the Lizard is to deal with anxiety by ensuring that change is kept to a minimum. That way, neither the modern versions of the fight-or-flight response are triggered. This can lead to a fixed mindset, as the ultimate form of resisting change is to maintain a set way of thinking and try to bend the environment to it, rather than the other way around. This can lead to not attempting anything new, as then the risk of failure is perceived as lower. This adherence to consistency can lead to conflict and unhealthy behaviors, such as telling others what they need to do in order to follow the path of reduced change. Conflict of this nature can often lead to competition with others, as the Lizard feels that they have to prove themselves right to justify a fixed mindset. In practical terms, this can show itself as a focus on output so that there is an empirical ‘rightness’ justifying the behavior. But even if you do spot that this lawman is actively patrolling your brain and sending it to ‘fixed mindset prison,’ can you do anything about it? Well, like I said, the Lizard is not the only sheriff in town. But how can you give the Prefrontal cortex more jurisdiction? Break on through The structure of our internal organs is determined by our DNA, and apart from damage and decay, we are unable to change them. The brain is an exception. We can literally change the shape of the connections just by thinking and experiencing. It’s going to sound a little precocious, but the best way to conquer instinct with rationality is by doing the opposite of the behaviors that are promoted by lizard thinking. Instead of telling people what to do, seek ways to garner their opinions by collaborating. Telling involves talking, try to swap this for listening, giving those opinions a fighting chance to thrive. Try new things, even when it seems risky and flies in the face of pragmatism. And if those new things fail, reinforce that cortex guard by finding some way to learn from the experience. Defocus measurements of outputs and focus on outcomes, the real tangible thing that comes from an action rather than how efficiently that outcome is reached. Retraining your brain in this way leads to a thriving growth mindset rather than a stagnant fixed one. Unless, of course, your Lizard fear policeman has got so much control that you’re not even willing to try. But you’re in charge of your thinking. Aren’t you? More of the above and the courses he runs can be found at his website . . Follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Paul Lister Paul Lister, Agile Coach Paul Lister is a Certified Scrum Trainer with the Scrum Alliance, one of only around 250 worldwide, with a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University and a background as a physicist. He has over 20 years in fintech as a developer, manager, Scrum Master, and Agile Coach. Drawing on experience in both Waterfall and Agile, he helps teams minimise risk, embrace Agility, and achieve their goals. Beyond coaching and training, Paul writes novels, directs short films, and founded the Surrey & Sussex Agile meetup. Passionate about making work better, he loves connecting with others to share ideas on Agile, creativity, and collaboration.

Written by Maria Akela, Intuitive Holistic Practitioner & Coach Maria Akela is a transformative healer, connector, and catalyst who has formed a holistic treatment & coaching concept that helps guide and connect people to their own inner wisdom and assists in trauma release on both physical, mental & spiritual levels. We often think of memory as something that exists only in the mind, tucked away in thoughts and stories in our so-called “memory bank”. Yet, the deepest, most authentic memory resides in the body itself, in the trillions of cells that carry the echoes of our lineage, our experiences, and the innate intelligence of life itself. This is the song of the cells, a subtle vibration that whispers, “Remember who you are.” The language of the body Long before words, symbols, or conscious thought, life expressed itself through frequency. Every heartbeat, every breath, every sensation is vibration. Your cells respond to this vibration, not intellectually, but as a felt knowing. When we learn to listen, the body communicates guidance, wisdom, and alignment. Expansion, warmth, and light indicate harmony, contraction, heaviness, or tension signal dissonance. The practice of remembrance is not about learning in the traditional sense. It’s about tuning into the song of your cells, feeling rather than thinking, and allowing your body to speak its own truth. Holotropic breathwork: A gateway to cellular memory One of the most profound tools for awakening this inner song is holotropic breathwork. By consciously altering the rhythm and depth of the breath, we access the body’s vibrational language in real time. Holotropic breathwork can: Release trapped energy and stored trauma held in cellular memory Restore coherence between mind, heart, and body Activate subtle frequencies that guide insight, creativity, and healing In this altered state of conscious breathing, the body becomes a resonant instrument, naturally tuning itself to the frequencies it has always known. Emotions, sensations, or memories may arise, all of which carry vital information about the state of your cells and your alignment with your true essence. The ripple effects of coherent vibration When the cells vibrate in harmony, the impact is felt on multiple levels: Physical: Nervous system regulation, improved circulation, vitality, and a deep sense of ease Mental: Enhanced clarity, emotional stability, and heightened discernment Energetic: Expansion of presence, alignment with higher frequencies, and a natural radiance that touches others This coherence is not simply a feel-good state, it is your body remembering its natural blueprint. Each cell resonates with the others, creating a symphony of life that ripples outward, influencing your environment and the people around you. Every person has their own unique blueprint, their own unique vibration, and this vibration is how you know who a person is. Practices for returning to the song of the cells Drawing from the principles of The Art of Remembrance, there are gentle yet powerful ways to begin tuning into this inner music: Conscious breath: Slow, deep, intentional breathing awakens cellular vibration and reconnects you to your inner guidance. Embodied listening: Pause throughout the day to feel your body’s signals. Where do you sense expansion or contraction? Discernment in frequency: Learn to sense what aligns with your true self and what does not, trusting the wisdom of your cells. Movement & light awareness: Treat your body as a temple, let gentle movement, stretching, and mindful presence carry the frequencies of coherence throughout your system. Even short, daily practices ripple through your body and mind, reinforcing coherence, alignment, and a deep connection to your own inner symphony. Returning home to yourself Remembrance is a gentle, ongoing unfolding. It is not about perfect practice or achieving a goal, it is about listening, feeling, and returning. Each breath, each note of vibration, each cellular response is an invitation to remember your true essence. When we tune into the song of our cells, we not only awaken our own life force, but we also send ripples of coherence into the world. As stones dropped into water, each harmonized cell contributes to a field of vibration that touches all living beings. The art of remembrance is simple, yet profound. Return to the song within you, and let it guide everything you do. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maria Akela Maria Akela, Intuitive Holistic Practitioner & Coach Maria Akela, with over two decades of experience, is a transformative healer, connector, and catalyst who assists in both physical, mental & spiritual trauma release. Her mission is rooted in seeing past the illusion of expectations and instead going into the deeper wisdom of what you are really meant to do. With an international community and track record of transformative treatments, Maria Akela wants to inspire you to regain your own natural flow and listen to your own inner wisdom.

Written by Shaun Sargent, Co-Founder STAIT That we age is a given, how we age is a choice. STAIT – Unapologetically Strong. A first-class academic, award-winning professional, and global CEO, he is dedicated to continuous growth and inspiring others along the way. Christmas is coming, and with it, for many, the endless pre-Christmas parties to attend, followed by Christmas festivities, a few days of “rest” if you are lucky, and then straight into the repeat cycle for New Year’s Eve. At this time of year, there are many reminders to eat healthily and consume more fresh food, etc. It’s enough to make you want to nip off down to the pub with your mates for a drink. But before you go, be aware that Christmas celebrations and Friday nights at the pub, while making you feel better for a short time, may have longer-lasting implications for your health, especially your male health. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, nor spoil the pleasure of celebration. However, I do want to make you aware of a few things, and then look at the alternatives, so you can still celebrate, let off steam, and have fun. The bad news I love beer as much as the next bloke, especially a cool Coopers Red Neck. However, beer is not the optimum liquid for male health. The term ‘brewer’s droop’ wasn’t coined for fun. It’s a genuine condition that brewers and farm workers suffer from if they handle hops. In his book The Natural Testosterone Plan, Stephen Harrod Buhner writes: “Hops are best known for their use in beer. The majority of physicians and men overlook their potent chemicals and do not realize that beer itself can significantly alter male androgen levels. German beer makers noticed long ago that young women who picked hops in the fields commonly experienced early menstrual periods. Eventually, researchers discovered the reason, hops are perhaps one of the most powerfully estrogenic plants on Earth. Just 100 grams of hops (about 3.5 ounces) contains anywhere from thirty thousand to three hundred thousand IUs of estrogen, depending on the type of hops.” Most of it is the very potent estrogen, estradiol. When estradiol enters the male body, it causes a direct lowering of testosterone levels in the testes and an increase in SHBG levels, which then binds up even more free testosterone in the bloodstream. The estradiol in hops has also been found to directly interfere with the ability of the testes’ Leydig cells to produce testosterone. The presence of this highly estrogenic substance in beer is not an accident, but we won’t linger on that one. So please be aware, a long, cool beer isn’t going to help you in the long term with your testosterone levels, and no amount of marketing hype will make those T levels rise if you drink beer regularly. More bad news Pub food, like peanuts, nuts, crisps, and the like, will only make things worse. Why? Peanuts aren’t actually nuts. They are high in PUFAs and also beta-sitosterol, which negatively impacts our DHT (male hormone) levels. PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) have been shown to lower testosterone levels and cause increased oxidative damage to testosterone receptor cells, so why on earth would we consume them? Crisps can be cooked in rancid seed oils, which wreak havoc, not only on our hormones but also on our overall health, promoting inflammation. Yet fear not, all is not lost. The good news There is some good news, and some other alternatives to look at. And all the while, think responsible consumption, not mass booze sessions. Instead of a beer, how about a glass of organic red wine, a tequila, a shot of vodka, or one of Jon Snow’s best, mead? Studies have shown that, in responsible amounts, a glass of red wine can stimulate your testosterone levels. There have also been studies showing that a shot of tequila or vodka after training will elevate testosterone levels significantly, too. It’s reported that Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman drank vodka the night before his first show win, and that transformed his physique. So, all is not lost, but as with everything, moderation is the key. Too much of a ‘good thing’ can mess up the liver, and a fatty liver cannot process alcohol efficiently, nor deal with the sex hormone processing. Essentially, any testosterone processing is disrupted, and more estrogen hits the blood. Being the designated driver or switching to water may not be the answer either. Most ‘plastic’ water is heavily contaminated with BPA, which is a massive hormone disruptor and estrogen creator. If you drink water, make sure it’s filtered and not contaminated. Soft fizzy drinks laden with sugar, or possibly worse, artificial sweeteners, won’t make your body healthy either. Massive spikes in insulin won’t help testosterone production. So, going out to the pub is a minefield in reality. More good news There’s more good news (if having a shot of vodka or a glass of red wasn’t enough), not all nuts are bad, some are very helpful in the quest for testosterone production and delivery. Macadamias have a very high level of monounsaturated fat, and less than 2% of the PUFAs. These nuts are the only Macas you should be consuming, if you catch my drift. Avoid the late-night munchies at all costs, as a trip to the local fast food takeaway joint won’t do much for your libido. Most fast food meat is heavily laden with estrogenic creating hormones and won’t do you any favors in your quest for testosterone. Brazil nuts are great too, due to their high amounts of testosterone-supporting nutrients like selenium, zinc, boron, and magnesium. They are also low in PUFAs. So this Christmas celebration, and the weekends to come, is not all bad, it’s simply a shift in choices. Drink responsibly, have fun, and consume some healthy pub grub, and wake up fresh and full of life, versus having a few cold beers, a bag of peanuts, and then nipping off for a burger on the way home, only to feel like s the next day. The final point Many old wives' tales exist on how to avoid a hangover. One thing I do, as well as practicing moderation, is take Stait Recover with a big glass of water before bed. The ingredients support a healthy liver, positive gut health, and the elimination of toxins. It’s not fail-safe, but it’s definitely supportive. Happy Holidays! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Shaun Sargent Shaun Sargent, Co-Founder STAIT As a co-founder of STAIT, my personal search for health and personal development is relentless. I seek out the best of the best to learn from and share with. To be the best you can be on a daily basis is the key to human growth.

Cristina Guida La Licata is a marketing and communications consultant and trainer with extensive experience in the luxury and premium automotive industry. She has held key roles at Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lotus Cars, Abarth, and Jeep, collaborating closely with dealer networks to elevate client experiences and align brand strategy with business performance. Her expertise lies in seamlessly blending heritage, exclusivity, and innovation to create emotional connections that transform transactions into lasting relationships. Cristina is also a published author and a Six Seconds Certified Brain Profiler, integrating emotional-intelligence assessment tools into her consultancy and training programs to enhance leadership, communication, and client engagement. Cristina Guida La Licata, People-Focused Consultant | Trainer | Author Who is Cristina Guida La Licata? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, your favorites, you at home and in business. Tell us something interesting about yourself. I’m Cristina Guida La Licata, a communication consultant, trainer, motivational speaker, and published author. I help individuals, leaders, teams, and brands unlock their potential through emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and authentic connection. What drives me most is connecting with people–understanding their stories, sparking insight, and turning that understanding into action. I’m creative, curious, and passionate about ideas, whether I’m writing, teaching, or simply exploring new ways to inspire others. And yes, dancing is my way of celebrating life in motion! What inspired you to create your business and dedicate yourself to helping others transform their lives? A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which led to a major operation and the loss of one of my vocal cords. For someone whose life and work revolve around words and voice, it was a profound challenge. Yet, facing this vulnerability, I discovered a deeper strength: even with a single vocal cord, I could continue to speak, teach, and connect with others. This experience became a turning point in my life and inspired my journey of inner transformation. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, I realized that growth often comes through facing our deepest fragilities. It is often in our darkest moments that the smallest light shines the brightest. This symbol of the butterfly has become central to my work and is reflected in my first books, which explore self-discovery, emotional intelligence, and personal empowerment. After 20 years in leadership roles in multinational companies, I chose to step out on my own to help individuals and organizations grow, see themselves clearly, and unlock their potential. Today, I combine communication consulting, training, and coaching with emotional intelligence and human connection, guiding others to transform challenges into opportunities and create meaningful, lasting impact. Can you tell us more about the main focus of your work and the kind of clients you usually help? My work focuses on helping people, teams, and organizations understand not just what they do, but why and how they do it. I guide leaders, and teams across luxury and premium industries to uncover emotional and cognitive patterns, using these insights to elevate the client experience while driving business performance. By combining emotions, cognitive data, and practical strategies, I help organizations create experiences that are memorable, authentic, and sustainable over time. My clients range from executives and sales teams to retailers who want to strengthen customer relationships and embed excellence into every interaction. In short, I help people and organizations see the unseen patterns that shape outcomes–and turn that understanding into tangible, lasting results. How do you help your clients achieve real and lasting transformation? I’ve moved through illness, reinvention, and moments of profound uncertainty – experiences that shaped how I understand human behaviour, resilience, and transformation. These insights allow me to support clients not only through concepts, but through lived perspective. I help people look beyond their role or title to reconnect with their emotions, thinking patterns, and authentic purpose. By integrating emotional intelligence, cognitive data, and practical business expertise – especially in luxury and client experience – I guide teams and leaders in turning awareness into meaningful action. The outcome is concrete: stronger performance, deeper relationships, and results that last. Because my work always begins with the human behind the role, not just the KPIs. What makes your approach or method unique compared to others in your field? What makes my approach unique is that it comes from experience, not just frameworks. I’ve navigated illness, career upheaval, and the challenge of starting over, and I bring those lessons directly into my work. I guide clients to see beyond their roles and titles, to connect with their emotions, their thinking patterns, and their authentic purpose. By combining emotional intelligence, cognitive insights, and practical business expertise – particularly in luxury and client experience – I help teams and leaders translate awareness into tangible actions that enhance performance, relationships, and lasting results. For me, the focus is always on the human behind the role, not just metrics or KPIs. What are some common challenges your clients face before working with you? Many clients feel stuck or disconnected – successful on paper yet lacking clarity, direction, or a true sense of fulfilment. Leaders often struggle to inspire authentically, and teams may appear efficient while remaining misaligned or disengaged beneath the surface. Individuals facing transitions or personal challenges may begin to doubt their ability to grow or to represent their brand with confidence. In most cases, the real barrier is not a lack of technical skills, but a lack of self-awareness, emotional connection, and the inner clarity required to navigate change. And when these elements are missing, they inevitably reflect in the client experience: interactions become mechanical, relationships weaken, and the emotional value of the brand is diluted. My work addresses precisely this – elevating people from the inside so they can elevate the client experience on the outside. What is the biggest change you’ve seen in clients after going through your process? The biggest change is empowerment through self-awareness and reconnection. Leaders find their authentic voice, teams collaborate more effectively, and individuals take bold steps to reclaim their careers or personal direction. I’ve seen clients who once doubted their abilities step into new opportunities with confidence, guided by insights and practices grounded in both science and human experience. How do you stay inspired and continue growing both personally and professionally? I stay inspired by living with curiosity and staying deeply connected to people. My personal journey – through illness, surgery, and professional reinvention – continually strengthens my empathy, resilience, and presence, qualities that directly shape how I communicate and support others. I write, communicate, and dance to nourish my creativity and keep my perspective fresh, and these practices help me show up with clarity and intention. Every client interaction, every conversation, and every challenge becomes a source of learning: an opportunity to refine how I listen, communicate, and translate insight into meaningful client-experience elevation. Growth, for me, is a daily discipline – and it is what allows me to inspire others to grow as well. What does success mean to you, and how do you help your clients define it for themselves? Success is showing up as your authentic self and creating meaningful impact. I help clients define success not by external markers alone, but by alignment with values, purpose, and personal fulfillment. It’s about achieving professional results while staying true to who they are – a balance I’ve learned firsthand through my own experiences of loss, recovery, and reinvention. Can you share a memorable client story that reflects the impact of your work? One leader came to me feeling lost after a major career setback, unsure how to reconnect with her team or purpose. Through profiling, exercises, and honest conversation – often sharing my own stories of vulnerability and resilience – she regained clarity, reestablished trust with her team, and stepped confidently into a new role aligned with his strengths. Moments like these remind me that human connection, understanding, and courage are the real drivers of transformation. What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck or unsure about making a change in their life? Begin by looking inward with openness and kindness. Take time to explore your fears, recognize your strengths, and identify what genuinely matters to you. Transformation isn’t about being flawless – it’s about having the courage to take that first step into uncertainty. From my own journey through illness and rebuilding my career, I’ve learned that even the smallest move toward change can spark meaningful and lasting growth. What exciting projects, events, or offerings do you have coming up that readers should know about? Being an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine gives me the opportunity to share what I’ve learned through my own journey. It’s not just about strategies or metrics; it’s about how understanding emotions and cognitive patterns can transform people and organizations from the inside out. Writing for Brainz allows me to bring these reflections to a global audience, inspiring leaders and teams to reconnect with the human side of performance. My latest book – now released in Italy and soon to come out globally in English – is a manifesto of everything we choose not to say: out of fear, love, convenience, or simply because it never feels like the right moment (spoiler: it never is). It offers a light yet profound journey into the magical world of unspoken thoughts – a mix of confessions never shared, half-formed desires, and small daily epiphanies that many will recognize as their own. Alongside writing, I continue my work as a consultant and communicator, helping luxury and premium brands elevate their client experience and create interactions that truly resonate with people on an emotional level. And finally, my personal life – my partner and my family – is an essential anchor in everything I do. Maintaining balance between personal fulfilment and professional passion allows me to stay inspired and to bring clarity, energy, and authenticity into every project I undertake. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Cristina Guida La Licata

In Argyle, Texas, surrounded by open skies and rolling fields, artist Jacque Cook has built a career shaped by curiosity, persistence, and the courage to create. Her work in pottery, sculpture, and painting reflects not just artistic skill, but a mindset – one that turns ideas into tangible forms and passion into lasting impact. “I’ve never seen art as a single moment,” Cook says. “It’s a process – something that grows and changes with you.” From creative curiosity to career Cook’s journey began with simple fascination. As a young artist, she was drawn to clay – its texture, resistance, and the way it held memory. “Clay doesn’t lie,” she explains. “If you push too hard or hesitate, it shows. I liked that honesty.” That curiosity led her to explore sculpture and painting, expanding her creative range. Early on, she spent hours experimenting with form and surface, trying to balance structure with emotion. Those experiments became the foundation of her artistic voice – one built on patience, discipline, and an openness to imperfection. Her early pieces were sold at local art fairs and galleries, but for Cook, it was never just about selling. “I wanted people to connect,” she says. “If someone felt something real when they saw my work – that was the success.” Building a life through art Transitioning from passion to profession wasn’t easy. Like many independent artists, Cook faced the challenge of balancing creativity with the practical side of business – marketing, commissions, exhibitions, and finances. “Being an artist means being your own everything,” she says with a laugh. “You’re the maker, the accountant, the marketer, and sometimes the janitor too.” Over time, she built systems that allowed her to focus more on creation while still managing a sustainable practice. Her success came from consistency – showing up every day, even when inspiration didn’t. “You can’t wait for the perfect idea,” she says. “You start working, and the ideas show up after you do.” Cook’s approach reflects a growing reality in creative industries: success depends not just on talent, but on resilience and structure. She found that building a business around her art didn’t limit creativity – it protected it. Innovation through blending old and new What makes Cook’s work stand out is her ability to merge traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary eye. Her pottery and sculpture honor age-old techniques, but her compositions often carry modern themes – emotion, transformation, and the human experience. “I love learning from the past,” she says. “But I also like pushing boundaries. I’ll use natural materials from the Texas landscape – sand, leaves, even bits of metal – to give a piece more story.” Her mixed-media paintings echo that same blend of control and spontaneity. Layers of glaze and paint create texture and depth, much like the layers of life she tries to represent. “I want my work to feel alive,” she explains. “When people want to reach out and touch it – that’s when I know it’s working.” Leading and teaching through creativity As her career grew, Cook began sharing her process with others. She started collaborating with schools and community groups, teaching workshops and mentoring young artists. Her goal was simple: to make art accessible. “Not everyone has the confidence to create,” she says. “But once they try, something changes. They see that it’s not about perfection – it’s about expression.” These community projects became some of her most meaningful work. From group murals to pottery classes, Cook saw firsthand how creativity could bring people together. “Art builds connection,” she adds. “When people make something with their own hands, they see themselves differently. That’s powerful.” Her leadership has helped strengthen the local art community in North Texas, inspiring a new generation to explore creative careers while emphasizing the value of collaboration over competition. Finding meaning in the process Even after years of success, Cook remains grounded in her philosophy: art should reflect life – unpredictable, imperfect, and deeply human. “Clay cracks. Paint runs. Sometimes what you plan isn’t what happens,” she says. “But that’s the story. You learn to work with it, not against it.” Her approach to art mirrors a broader life lesson – that growth comes through process, not outcome. Each new collection, each class she teaches, becomes part of a larger narrative about resilience and creativity. The big idea that shapes her work For Cook, the “big idea” isn’t a single project or piece. It’s a mindset – to build a career and life that values creativity as connection. “I think success is when your work starts conversations,” she says. “Not just about art, but about being human – about slowing down, observing, and making meaning out of the everyday.” That idea has guided her through years of evolution, experimentation, and purpose. Whether shaping clay, mentoring a student, or organizing a local art event, Jacque Cook continues to turn small moments into something lasting – something that speaks quietly but powerfully to the world around her.

Written by: Henry Van Niekerk According to estimates from the International Energy Agency, investments in new data centers will surpass $580 billion in 2025, for the first time exceeding global spending on oil exploration and processing infrastructure. The primary force behind this shift is the rapid development of artificial intelligence. To support AI’s growing computational demands, new data centers are being built worldwide, becoming the backbone of the emerging digital economy. Yet at the core of this massive infrastructure lies something entirely physical, switchgear, circuit boards, and the electrical systems that keep data centers alive. Leonel Clemente, head of the PDUs & Switchgear division at one of the world’s leading technology companies, has been at the forefront of building the modern digital landscape. Working within cutting-edge, high-tech environments, he developed new-generation equipment under sterile conditions, hardware that laid the foundation for today’s data-center architecture. In this exclusive interview, Leonel Clemente speaks with Brainz Magazine about his innovative approach and how it helped accelerate the arrival of the digital era. Leonel Clemente, Operational Leader in Critical Power Systems & AI-Driven Manufacturing Leonel, you developed a unique approach to designing and manufacturing power-distribution equipment for AI-ready data centers. What makes it so remarkably effective?   My approach was shaped during my time leading the corporate manufacturing sites in McKinney and Plano, Texas. I was responsible for building a production model for Low and Medium-Voltage Switchgear, as well as overseeing the manufacturing of high-capacity PDUs, including 500 kVA and 1,060 kVA units, ATS (Automatic Transfer Switches), and RPPs (Remote Power Panels) for mission-critical environments. When I joined Maverick Power, the initial plan for the new facility I would be heading was to produce around 60 Switchgear sections per week. For a 200,000-square-foot plant, that would have been a respectable output. However, once I began working on the project, it became clear that we could significantly expand this capacity by rethinking equipment scheduling and restructuring workflow organization. In many industrial sectors, efficiency-boosting algorithms have already been developed and proven effective. But in the Switchgear, PDU, ATS, and RPP segments, such frameworks simply do not exist. These systems have become increasingly complex, and explosive demand has emerged only in recent years. With no ready-made solutions to draw from, I designed my own method for gradually increasing production volumes using the existing manufacturing infrastructure. Switchgear production has its own specific nature, you cannot simply ramp up output overnight because a manager wishes it. The same applies to PDUs, ATS, and RPPs, which require precise engineering, safety protocols, electrical validation, and strict regulatory compliance. I developed a detailed schedule and began scaling output step by step, strictly following all manufacturing standards and certification requirements. As a result, the facility doubled its production, reaching 120 sections consistenly per week, while successfully delivering high-complexity Switchgear, PDUs, ATS, and RPPs for some of the most demanding applications in the industry. In the critical-power sector, nothing is more important than On-Time Delivery (OTD). Unlike traditional manufacturing environments, where minor delays can often be absorbed, data-center power infrastructure operates on rigid, non-negotiable timelines. Every switchgear assembly, RPP, ATS unit, and power-distribution component is tied to synchronized installation schedules involving electrical contractors, commissioning teams, utility providers, and hyperscale operators. If power-distribution equipment does not arrive precisely on time, the entire data-center project is forced into delay, servers cannot be installed, HVAC and cooling systems cannot be activated, commissioning windows collapse, and revenue-generation dates shift, often resulting in multimillion-dollar impacts for operators. For global clients such as Equinix, NVIDIA, Google, AWS, and Microsoft, delivery precision is as critical as engineering quality. These companies depend on flawless execution. A manufacturer’s real competitive advantage lies not only in designing robust equipment but in meeting every milestone with absolute punctuality. This is why OTD is widely recognized as the defining KPI of the critical-power industry. Under my leadership, lean workflows, predictive takt-time scheduling, equipment utilization modeling, and digital traceability systems were integrated into daily production rhythms. These systems enabled us to achieve best-in-class reliability, maintaining a 99% OTD performance during the high-volume deployment of low- and medium-voltage switchgear and related power-distribution systems for AI-driven data-center programs. Engineering delivers capability; On-Time Delivery delivers trust. And in the critical-power business, trust is the true currency that determines which organizations are chosen for the world’s most demanding infrastructure projects. During this period at Maverick Power, our largest customers included Crusoe, whose AI-driven data centers require extremely high-density power architectures, and Yondr, one of the world’s fastest-growing hyperscale developers. Serving such clients demanded flawless execution not only in engineering and production, but in materials readiness. In critical-power manufacturing, it is common to have millions of dollars in transformers, breakers, bus bars, and switchgear assemblies ready for production, yet a single missing washer, bolt, or bracket, often valued in cents, can halt the entire assembly line. This dependency on perfect material alignment reveals a fundamental truth about the industry, high-cost components do not keep production moving, complete components do. A simple oversight in a Bill of Materials (BOM), an undelivered fastener, or a mislabeled hardware kit can freeze output despite the availability of every major part. For hyperscale projects, where switchgear delivery defines the energization schedule, this level of precision becomes non-negotiable. Ensuring that every component, down to the smallest washer, is present, verified, and staged at the exact moment of assembly is as critical as the engineering work itself. What did you rely on while executing such an unprecedented project?   My experience played a central role. I spent more than 10 years at Seagate Technology, the global leader in data-storage systems, which in 1998 held nearly 35% of the global market. As head of the engineering department, I oversaw the technological design and development of Factory of the Future (FoF) production lines in Seagate’s Class-100 cleanrooms. Back then, I found myself pioneering many of these processes. No other company had technologies comparable to Seagate’s, and there were no established methodologies for optimizing such high-precision environments. Still, I developed an innovative approach to managing manufacturing operations in cleanrooms. Ultimately, my solutions reduced energy consumption by 10% and increased productivity, on some lines by as much as 20%. It’s important to understand that all of this work was carried out in conditions that were essentially sterile. That experience taught me that nothing is impossible, even the most ambitious task can be solved if you approach it comprehensively and without haste. So when I saw the untapped efficiency potential at the Maverick Power facility, I took ownership of the project and delivered it. It wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely achievable. Today you lead the switchgear division at another major technology company, where you’ve become the driving force behind a different kind of innovation, scaling the low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) switchgear business. How can this impact the development of data-center infrastructure? In the most direct way possible. The division I lead supplies critical equipment to giants such as Equinix, NVIDIA, Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft. I oversaw the launch of a new switchgear manufacturing facility at our Dallas plant. The site opened in early November, and the first deliveries have already been successfully completed. In previous roles, I focused on improving efficiency at existing manufacturing operations. This time, however, I built the project from the ground up, integrating lean manufacturing principles, predictive maintenance, and full digital traceability from day one. In effect, we created an entirely new production framework for manufacturing high-tech electrical equipment. This approach will allow us to scale output more efficiently and help meet the rapidly growing market demand for switchgear, a key element in building the infrastructure required for modern data centers. Your professional path reflects industrial evolution, proving that the success of technology depends on the strength of the systems that support it. How do you anticipate the future and understand what conditions will be required for the data centers of tomorrow?   The modern success of AI technologies is driven by a global shift in something entirely physical, the true technological transformation is etched in metal, wire, and voltage. Power generation is not an auxiliary act in the artificial-intelligence revolution, it is its driving force. This trajectory became clear a couple of decades ago, when the first data centers emerged. It was then that industry professionals realized, organizations capable of developing smarter, faster, and more resilient power-distribution systems would not simply keep pace with artificial intelligence, they would define its direction. In the age of AI, the future belongs to those who know how to build it from the ground up. In an era of hyper-computing, the most important task is to prevent overheating of the very physical systems that enable all this work. That is why energy-efficient circuit breakers now play a critical role in data centers. The breakers themselves are evolving too, becoming more technologically advanced and beginning to use AI support in their own operation. As data-center capacity grows, I foresee a rising demand for greater energy efficiency, because such facilities require enormous amounts of power. Development is already underway on systems capable of operating with renewable-energy sources. Looking ahead, even switchgear housings are beginning to be made from recyclable polymers. All these challenges, in turn, require PDU manufacturers to rethink their production technologies in order to integrate the solutions the market now demands. At the same time, we must maintain production volumes and impeccable quality, because the performance and safety of data-center operations, and the integrity of the data itself, depend directly on the reliability of our systems. You consistently achieve truly breakthrough results by combining advanced engineering, operational excellence, and strategic business leadership. What’s your secret?   I’m a realist, and I understand well that in our industry progress moves so fast that a solution developed today can’t simply be reused a few years later at another facility. So I chose a different path, creating principles, frameworks, and scalable methodologies that remain relevant for decades. My core mission is to design solutions that ensure reliability and resilience for critical power infrastructure. Today, this infrastructure is what enables technological progress for all of humanity, and that responsibility shapes everything I do. Follow me on LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Leonel Clemente

Written by Sarah Hurst, Coach and Creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™ Drawing on her own healing journey through cancer, Sarah Hurst is a coach and creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™, helping people calm the nervous system, reconnect to themselves, and take back their power to heal body, mind, and soul. Most people believe healing begins with doing something. A plan, a treatment, a strategy, a list. We’re taught that if we can stay productive, keep moving forward, and do all the right things, healing will follow. But in my experience, both personally and with my clients, the opposite is often true. Healing begins in the moment we slow down enough to listen. Because when the body is rushing, gripping, bracing, or surviving, there is no space for anything new to grow. Slowing down isn’t laziness or giving up. It’s the first medicine. It is the doorway to every part of the healing journey. This is why the first pillar of my SIPS™ framework is Slow Down. Without it, the others simply can’t take root. Slow down – The first sip of healing Slowing down sounds simple, but for many of us, it’s the hardest thing to do. We live in a world that praises movement, achievement, and constant doing. Even in illness or emotional overwhelm, people often feel pressure to keep going, hold everything together, and stay “strong”. But the nervous system can only heal in safety. And safety comes from slowness, softness, breath. When we slow down, our breath drops, our muscles soften, and the mind begins to quieten. We create space between our thoughts and space in our body. In that space, we access the deeper parts of ourselves that we ignore when we are rushing. Slowing down is the moment we come back into our body. It’s when we notice how we really feel, what we truly need, and what our intuition has been whispering under all the noise. Without this step, everything else, understanding who we are now, discovering purpose, and nurturing self-love, becomes almost impossible. Slow down first. Everything else grows from there. Identity – Who you tell your body you are Identity isn’t just who we think we are. Identity is who our body believes we are. The words we use, even silently, shape our internal world. When someone repeatedly says “I have cancer”, “I’m broken”, or “I can’t cope”, the body receives those phrases like instructions. The nervous system contracts, the mind loops in fear, and healing feels further away. In Shadow Work, we speak of the Victim archetype, a very understandable response when life has become overwhelming. Its alchemised form, the empowered version of this same energy, is the Warrior. Not a warrior who fights relentlessly, but the part of us that stands tall, finds courage, and believes in the possibility of healing. You don’t have to call yourself a warrior. But you will feel the qualities of empowerment grow as you soften the parts of you that feel helpless. Identity expands when we slow down long enough to ask: Who am I becoming? Who do I choose to be? What story do I want my body to hear? When identity shifts from fear to possibility, the body responds. Muscles loosen, breath deepens, and hope returns to the space where fear once lived. Purpose – Where hope lives Purpose is one of the most powerful healing forces we have, and yet it’s often misunderstood. People imagine it needs to be something big, impressive, or world-changing. But purpose is usually simple, quiet, and deeply personal. Purpose is the thing that reminds us why healing matters. It’s the spark that keeps us moving forward. It’s the anchor that steadies us through uncertainty. And purpose cannot be found in the rush of survival mode. It appears in the spaces we create when we slow down. This is where glimmers come in, the tiny, barely-there moments when something in your body says, “Ah… this feels good. This feels safe.” A soft light through the window. A cup of tea warming your hands. A kind word. A breath that settles your whole chest. A moment when you feel even slightly more like yourself. Glimmers are the nervous system’s way of showing you what brings meaning, peace, and joy. They are micro-moments of purpose. When we notice them, something inside us lifts. Hope returns. Healing becomes possible. Purpose grows from glimmers. Hope grows from purpose. And healing grows from both. Self-love – The gentle foundation Self-love is often spoken about as something fluffy or indulgent, but in healing it is essential. Self-love is the moment you ask your body what it needs and actually listen. It’s treating yourself with the same tenderness you offer to others. It’s creating boundaries, choosing rest, and allowing yourself to be human. And self-love becomes possible only when we slow down. If we are always rushing, we miss the chance to offer ourselves kindness. Self-love is not a destination. It’s a practice. A gentle daily choice. A soft returning. Healing begins with gentle SIPS™ This is the heart of the Mind Medicine Movement™. Healing doesn’t require force or intensity. It does not require perfection. It requires presence, compassion, and small, steady sips. Slow Down Identity Purpose Self-Love Each one is powerful on its own, but together they create a pathway back to yourself. A way to step out of fear and into healing. A way to live more softly, more consciously, and more connected. Healing begins in the moments we allow ourselves to pause. Healing begins when we choose a new identity. Healing begins when we follow glimmers of hope. Healing begins with gentle sips. Your invitation for this week Take one sip. Just one. Pause for one minute each day. Place a hand on your heart. Feel your breath. Notice how you speak to yourself. Look for one glimmer. And ask quietly: “What do I need right now?” Let that be your sip. The rest will grow from there. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sarah Hurst Sarah Hurst, Coach and Creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™ After walking her own path through cancer, Sarah Hurst discovered that true healing isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. She went on to create the Mind Medicine Movement™, helping others calm their nervous systems, rediscover purpose, and reconnect with themselves through her SIPS™ framework: Slow Down, Identity, Purpose, Self-Love. Today, Sarah supports people living with or beyond cancer and anyone seeking calm, clarity, and wellness through her coaching, meditation, and touch therapy practice in Hove, East Sussex. She also offers an online coaching service.

Written by Alynne R Davis, Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach & Consultant Alynne Davis is an Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach, and Consultant specializing in eating disorders, trauma, and women’s mental wellness. She integrates expressive arts, evidence-based methods, and mind-body healing to support meaningful and lasting transformation. Dieting promises control, confidence, and freedom, yet for many women, it creates the opposite, anxiety, shame, and a painful cycle of “starting over.” What if the problem isn’t you, but the system itself? And what if creative healing offers a more compassionate, sustainable path? What is dieting, really? Dieting is commonly defined as eating “clean,” restricting calories, avoiding certain foods, or following rigid plans for the sake of weight loss. But beneath those rules, dieting often becomes something deeper. It can turn into a coping mechanism, a way to feel in control, a response to emotional pain, or even a socially acceptable form of self-punishment. Research shows that up to 95% of diets fail, and most people regain the weight within 1-5 years. This failure rate is tied not to lack of willpower, but to the way restriction impacts the brain, body, and nervous system. Dieting isn’t the solution, it becomes the trap. Dieting disconnects you from your body, activates the stress response, and focuses on symptoms instead of addressing the emotional roots of food struggles. These deeper patterns are why dieting keeps women stuck. Why dieting fails Dieting disconnects you from your body: Diet rules tell you when and how much you’re allowed to eat. Over time, hunger cues, fullness cues, satisfaction, and internal signals become muted or confusing. You learn to override your body instead of listening to it. Dieting activates the stress and trauma response: The body experiences restriction as a threat, triggering fight, flight, freeze, or fawn patterns. For many women with trauma histories, perfectionism, or chronic stress, dieting intensifies emotional dysregulation and worsens binge-restrict cycles. Dieting focuses on the symptom, not the root: Food struggles rarely originate from food itself. They often grow from unmet emotional needs, shame, trauma, or painful beliefs about worthiness. Dieting tries to control behavior without healing what’s underneath. Why creative healing succeeds Creative expression reconnects you to your body: Expressive arts therapy helps women reconnect with their bodies through color, image, movement, and sensory experiences. It bypasses the inner critic and creates a safe space for emotional expression without judgment. Learn more here . Creative healing rewires the nervous system: Unlike dieting, which dysregulates the body, creative expression strengthens nervous system regulation. Play, curiosity, and imagination activate healing pathways the thinking mind cannot access alone. Explore holistic healing here . Creativity reveals the deeper story: Dieting blames you. Creative work helps you see the emotional and protective patterns beneath your eating behaviors. Creative work transforms body image from the inside out: Art allows women to externalize shame and reshape their relationship with their bodies. More here . A gentle, expressive arts exercise to begin healing Draw your relationship with food as an image. (Use any media that feels accessible to you to do this visual representation, e.g., Canva, Pinterest, or magazine pictures). Journal using prompts like, "What feelings show up when I look at this?" Add one symbol or color that represents support, safety, or hope. When to seek professional support If you feel stuck in cycles of bingeing, restricting, emotional eating, or constant body shame, it may be time for support. Working with a therapist who understands expressive arts therapy, nervous system regulation, and eating disorder recovery can create lasting change. Why creative healing creates freedom Dieting fails because it disconnects you from your body and emotions. Creative healing succeeds because it brings you home to yourself. If this resonates, explore resources and services on my website. Call to action Begin your healing journey by exploring expressive arts therapy, holistic wellness resources, or scheduling a consultation here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more at Alynne R Davis Alynne R Davis, Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach & Consultant Alynne Davis is an Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach, and Consultant who helps women heal from eating disorders, body image struggles, trauma, and emotional burnout. She blends expressive arts, nutrition, CBT-E, IFS-informed work, and trauma-informed yoga to support deep and lasting transformation. Alynne empowers women to rebuild self-trust, restore their relationship with food and body, and reclaim emotional freedom. Through her articles, workshops, and coaching programs, she offers compassionate guidance and research-informed strategies for meaningful, holistic healing.

Written by Eljin Keeling-Johnson, Personal Development Coach Eljin is a transformative personal development coach from the Midlands, England, and the visionary behind the Alignment Method programme. For over 16 years, Eljin has guided people to release what’s holding them back, rediscover their purpose, and create life-changing transformation. Meditation is often misunderstood. Many of my clients come to me saying, “I just can’t get it,” or “I can’t seem to stop thinking.” Over time, meditation has gained an almost mythical reputation, something reserved for monks, gurus, or people with extraordinarily quiet minds. In reality, meditation is one of the most natural human experiences. Meditation is not difficult. Difficult is letting go of the mind’s habit of overcomplicating it. Mindfulness is simply the ability to focus on one thing without judgment. Meditation is the practice that trains us to access that state more easily. Across spiritual traditions from ancient India to Japan, from Buddhism to Taoism, meditation includes visualisation, breathwork, guided journeys, mantra practice, and more. Yet most people don’t realise they already enter meditative states throughout their day. Crafting, painting, drawing.Knitting or ironing.Walking the dog.Gardening.Listening to music.Riding a motorbike through quiet hills. People often describe feeling peaceful afterwards. Why? Because they were present, fully absorbed in the moment. Their awareness rested on the now. Thinking softened. Worries paused. They were simply being. This is meditation in its purest form. When we’re here, in the present, we experience clarity, joy, love, and spaciousness. When we’re lost in thought, we disconnect from what’s happening in front of us. We stop experiencing life directly and instead experience our thoughts about it. Active vs. Passive meditation: The real reason people struggle Meditation, at its simplest, falls into two categories: 1. Active meditation Guided sessions, structured breathwork, and visualisations. These are easier because the mind has something to follow. 2. Passive meditation Sitting in stillness with your breath. This is where people believe they “fail.” Nine out of ten people tell me, “I tried passive meditation, but I couldn’t stop thinking.” This belief is the problem. It’s the misconception that thinking is a mistake. You cannot stop thinking. The subconscious mind never switches off. Humans experience 20,000-80,000 thoughts per day. This is normal. Meditation is not the absence of thought. It is the gentle return of your attention when thought pulls you away. This ability to return calmly and without judgment is your self-command muscle. You drift, and then you come back. You wander, and then you notice. You get lost, and then you return. That return is meditation. The real struggle is that most people live entirely in their thoughts, reacting automatically to every mental impulse. This leads to secondary thinking: “Why did I think that?” “I shouldn’t be thinking this.” “I’m failing at this.” “Something is wrong with me.” One thought spirals into identity. This is where suffering begins, not in the thought, but in our attachment to it. A thought is not who you are. Just as you have a toe, you have thoughts, but you are neither. When you observe a thought, you prove you are separate from it. You become the watcher, the one who sees, rather than the one who is swept away. Some days your meditation will feel noisy. That doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’ve been given insight into how busy your inner world is and how deeply you need space. Many also set themselves up to fail by attempting 20 minutes immediately. You would never run a marathon before jogging for three minutes. Meditation is the same. And yes, ironically, the more you try to relax, the more tension you notice. The more you try to quiet the mind, the louder it appears. This is not a barrier. This is progress. It is an awareness awakening. Over time, meditation leads to a calmer nervous system, emotional regulation, deeper sleep, reduced anxiety, strengthened self-awareness, and a more compassionate relationship with the self. 10 tips to begin your inner journey Choose a consistent time: Attach meditation to an existing behaviour after your shower, before breakfast, or when you shut your laptop. Consistency builds identity. Know your “why”: Meditation helps you decompress, regulate, ground, and reconnect. Let your why guide your discipline. Remove interruptions: Tell your family or housemates you need a few uninterrupted minutes. Start with guided practices: Short body scans or guided sessions give the mind something to follow. Use a timer for passive meditation: Start with 1–3 minutes. Increase gradually. Remove worry about time. Use relaxation memories: Visualise a moment when you felt truly calm and let your body revisit it. Ground in the body: Place your hands on your chest or stomach. Feel the breath move. Try structured breathing: Box or triangle breathing works well: Inhale 4 (nose) Hold 4 Exhale 4 (nose or mouth) Add a gentle hum on the exhale to activate the vagus nerve. (It's key to inhale through the nose, as it activates our rest and digest parasympathetic nervous system, and humming soothes us, just like whistling and singing. Also, fill the belly 1st, do not shallow/chest breath. Belly then chest!) Explore circular breathing: Visualise breath rising up the spine and down the body in a loop. Inhale 4 through the nose, exhale 8 through the mouth if comfortable. Give yourself permission to just be: Take five minutes to pause. Observe without judgment. Return to the breath with compassion each time you drift. You cannot be fully focused on your breath and on a thought at the same time. Every time you come back, you succeed. Meditation is not about perfection. It’s about presence, and presence is where peace, joy, clarity, and self-connection live. How to work with me I’m Eljin, founder of Connection Coaching and creator of The Alignment Method, a transformational 1:1 coaching experience helping people overcome procrastination, reconnect with purpose, and master their inner world on the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious levels. If you’re ready to deepen your inner work, strengthen your self-leadership, and experience genuine clarity and calm. You can connect with me here . I’d love to support you on your journey back to alignment. Follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Eljin Keeling-Johnson Eljin Keeling-Johnson, Personal Development Coach In 2005, Eljin walked into therapy battling anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. What began as a search for healing became a profound journey of self-discovery. Emerging with a renewed sense of purpose, he dedicated his life to helping others find their true selves and step into their full potential. Over the past 16 years, Eljin has delivered more than 16,000 hours of transformative coaching, blending conscious, subconscious, and unconscious work to create deep, lasting change. As the visionary behind the Alignment Method programme, his mission is simple yet powerful, to help people connect, grow, and thrive.

Written by Tanisha Taylor, Financial & Life Coach Tanisha Taylor is an inspirational leader in financial, life, and ministry wellness. Her journey, sparked by a childhood money encounter with her grandfather, has led her to a profound understanding of the impact of money on individuals' lives. Here’s the truth nobody says out loud. Adulthood hits like a playlist on shuffle. Rent due, stress snacking, random “I should really get healthier” thoughts popping up at 2 a.m., and maybe one too many tacos. It’s a lot. But guess what? You don’t need a gym membership, a perfect schedule, or a kitchen aesthetic from Pinterest to glow up your health. You just need a little intention, a little movement, and a whole lot of “I deserve better.” Because you do. Fitness isn’t about becoming a gym rat, it’s about becoming you, but happier Let’s be real, nobody wakes up excited to burpee. Nobody. But everybody wants the energy, confidence, and “dang, I look good today” moments that come from moving your body. Young adulthood is literally the perfect time to build the habits your 30 and 40-year-old self will thank you for. You’re still flexible, your metabolism still likes you (kind of), and your life is still shaping itself. Working out gives you: Stress relief without doom-scrolling Better sleep Better mood A body that shows up for you, not against you. Start small. Like, embarrassingly small. 10 minutes. A walk. Dancing in your room. Squats while the microwave is counting down. The point isn’t perfection, it’s momentum. Your plate is a vibe, too Listen. Food is not the enemy. Carbs aren’t plotting revenge. And you’re not “failing” if you don’t meal prep 14 identical containers of chicken and broccoli. Nutrition for young adults is basically this: Eat in a way that helps future-you function like a legend. Try these grown-ish eating hacks: Eat some protein every time you eat (keeps you full, gives you energy) Add something fresh or colorful to every plate Drink enough water so your pee isn’t neon Keep 2-3 “quick rescue meals” ready for chaotic days Don’t starve yourself, it backfires every time. Your meals don’t need to be gourmet. They just need to be intentional. Your mental health says thank you in advance Here’s something wild:   Your brain literally loves when you take care of your body. Move your body - Feel calmer Eat real food - Think clearer Drink water - Suddenly less irritable and tired Fitness and nutrition aren’t just physical. They’re emotional. They’re psychological. They’re part of being the version of you who handles life with a little more grace and a lot more energy. Make it fun, or you won’t do it, period If your fitness plan feels like punishment, you’ll drop it. So make it fun. Dance. Hike. Play. Laugh. Try new recipes. Make it social gym buddy, group class, walking dates. Join challenges. Track your wins. Reward yourself. Wear cute workout clothes even if you’re sweating in your living room. Make the journey a vibe. Make it a lifestyle, not a chore list. This is your glow-up era, not your perfection era Mistakes? Expected. Falling off? Normal. Restarting? A flex. The whole point is showing yourself:   “I take care of me because I’m worth taking care of.” And you are. You’re worth the time, the effort, the habit-building, the grocery store runs, the early bedtime, and the sweaty forehead selfies. Let’s keep it real: your future depends on this You’re building the body that will carry you through every dream you have. Your business goals, school goals, relationship goals, travel goals, all of it is easier when your body is strong, nourished, energized, and not running on fumes. Imagine stepping into your goals with actual confidence because you took care of yourself behind the scenes. That’s the power of fitness and nutrition. That’s what’s waiting for you. Call to action (because you deserve momentum) Start today with one thing: A 10-minute movement break A protein-forward meal One bottle of water A 5-minute plan for tomorrow. Just one. And then another one tomorrow. And another. Before you know it, you’re glowing. You’re becoming unstoppable. You’re living in a body that matches your goals, not holds them hostage. Welcome to your healthy era. You earned this. Now let’s go. Follow me on  Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Tanisha Taylor Tanisha Taylor, Financial & Life Coach Tanisha Taylor is an inspirational leader in financial, life, and ministry wellness. Her journey, sparked by a childhood money encounter with her grandfather, has led her to a profound understanding of the impact of money on individuals' lives. Her mission, 'Control your money relationship, 'is a testament to her dedication to helping others create healthy and sustainable relationships with money and business.