Written by: Lucie Matsouaka, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. How sad is it that our modern education places more emphasis on aptitude instead of attitude? We test people (from the young ages and throughout their adulthood) on their IQ (Intelligence Quotient) instead of their AQ (Adaptability Quotient), which I like to call the “Attitude Quotient”. As a parent, I hope my kids have both excellent minds and excellent attitudes. Though I want to see them be successful in school and have the best grades they possibly can, if I had to choose which one I prefer, without hesitation, I would want their AQ to be higher. One day, after teaching self-discipline and leadership to a group of young adults, a 15-year-old young lady came up to me and asked “Ms. Lucie, I heard everything you said about making an impact as a better leader. If you had to tell me the one skill that I will need above all, what would it be?” I paused for a second. She looked me straight in the eyes and then said, “It’s difficult to choose, right?” “Yes and no” I responded. The truth is her question threw me off. I didn’t expect it, especially not from a 15-year-old. In few seconds, I remembered a story my friend told me and said “ATTITUDE! If you work on your attitude, many things will fall into place.” She thanked me with a big hug and walked away with her friends. Many wonder why as a Professional Career Coach, I talk about youth leadership so much, instead of just sticking to what most career coaches do: prepare people to land the right job (or the best job then can). So, let me ask you a simple question: after helping them get into those doors, then what? In fact, I know these young people will not fulfill the careers of their dreams (no matter what the word career means to them) if they suck at self-leadership. There is no way around it. They’ll end up missing their chances to advance and build the right relationships, or even get fired because they won’t have what is (in my opinion) the most important skill in life: people skills. It’s just a matter of time. Therefore, my job is to prevent that type of chaos from happening in their lives (professional or not). Now, let me bring you to the story I remembered about my friend. Let’s call her Eva, to protect her identity. Eva walked away from her professional career a few years ago to take care of her small kids and be fully present in their lives. Ten years later, when she decided that she was ready to go back to the workforce, she applied for a job and was hired right away. Unfortunately, after 10 years away from the workforce, she had to re-adapt to and relearn almost everything. Nevertheless, Eva is courteous, respectful, patient, kind, and understandable. She understands that it will take her some time before she masters her craft and becomes excellent at what she does at this job. One of the ladies who was assigned to train her (let’s call her Britney), was not only disrespectful, but also rude and impatient---despite the fact that Eva tried her best to learn as fast as she could. One day Eva asked Britney to re-explain a procedure because she didn’t hear her correctly and didn’t what want to mess up. Britney rolled her eyes and shook her head in disgust. She hated having to repeat herself. She didn’t understand that all Eva needed was to do it a few times so that she could master it. Eva said, “I wish I knew everything about this company before applying, but I’m still learning. I’m sorry to be such a huge burden on you. The desire of my heart is to learn quickly so I won’t need you anymore.” Britney walked away, leaving Eva the newly hired coworker hanging there, as if she (Britney) didn’t hear anything she said. I want you to think about both women’s attitudes. Britney had been on the job for long enough to forget that the only reason why she finds the job easy is that she has now lots of experience with it. Her brain has become used to the procedures, along with the rules and regulations of the workplace. Unfortunately, she lacks self-control, patience, respect (both for herself and others), and is reducing her chances of growing into the company. Britney clearly lacks people skills and is arrogant. Eva, on the other hand, has the people skills she needs and is professional. It’s impossible to estimate the number of jobs lost, the number of opportunities or promotions missed, and the number of sales not made because of a poor attitude. Take a company, for instance; usually, the person who rises within an organization has a good attitude. It doesn’t mean that the promotions gave that person an outstanding attitude. It means that the outstanding attitude they had during the course of their career resulted in the promotion. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center has all concluded “The money you make in any endeavor is determined by 15% of knowledge, and 85% by your ability to deal with people.”[1] Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” John D. Rockefeller once said, “The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.” How often do you walk into a supermarket and feel frustrated because the customer service person was rude to you? Vice-versa, how often do you see customers screaming, yelling and disrespecting people in banks or stores, just because they believe “I’m spending my hard earned money here, so I have the right to do what I want”? What everyone seems to forget is that behind every person you meet, there are people who love them and would be heartbroken to see the way we treat their loved ones. I strongly believe that our environment is a large factor in our attitude development. Our early childhood develops our belief system. Children pick up priorities, interests, and philosophy from the environment where they are raised in. What someone believes affects their attitude, but what if their belief system is unhealthy? Think about it! This leads me to say that one of the best ways to help people land and keep their dream jobs tomorrow is by creating a good environment for them. An environment where they’ll not only learn the skills to actually do their jobs well, but also how to interact with others on a daily basis. I’m not talking about putting up a nice face for the circumstance. I am talking about making sure that good habits become second nature. Once it’s second nature, you don’t need to pretend to be who you’re not, and by default, you’ll treat others well (not only in your house, but also in the workplace). May I remind you that familiarity breeds contempt? So, once you’re becoming great at cultivating a great attitude in the presence of those you’re familiar with, the need to put on a face in the presence of the unfamiliar will no longer be necessary. As a leader myself, I’d much rather work with someone who knows little, but has an awesome attitude, than with someone who is incredible with their skills and gets the job done, but has an attitude that sucks. I don’t want to be in their presence. We can control our feelings by learning to change one thing: the way that we think. Our feelings come from our thoughts, so we can change our thought pattern before we focus on our circumstances. Experts say that what you read and whom you are associated with may determine what you will become in 5 years. Since that’s the case, whether you choose to have a job or build a business, working on your attitude will set you up for success faster than skills. A poor attitude will not only cost you money, but also friends, family members, and beautiful experiences. Last but not least, while you’re reading this article, you may have a few responses: 1. Well, this doesn’t apply to me, because I’m working for myself. Truth is if you work for yourself, you’re even in a more dangerous position, because you alone represent your company. If you have the wrong attitude, you’ll lose it all, as you have no one else to back you up. 2. I work for a huge company and I’m just a number. It’s not my business and I don’t really care about those details. Once again, this is huge mistake! It might not be your company, but, remember, you’re dealing with people. You never know who you’ll meet who can completely change the trajectory of your life just by giving you an advice, or by connecting you with the right people at the right time. Don’t be the person who, when the name is mentioned, people feel relieved to no longer have you in their lives. 3. All this sounds great, but who still does that? Who has time for this? How many people could really apply all these rules? Lucie, come on, be realistic! Well, this is exactly the type of negative mindset that creates issues in the first place. Do your part! It always starts with one person. No matter how difficult it seems, do your part. There is no doubt that you will encounter some resistance, but start where you are. Believe me, a good attitude is as contagious as a bad one. I don’t only believe that we can change things in society, I KNOW we can, and we will, because most people want the same thing. Deep down in our hearts, we all feel the need for respect, consideration, appreciation, and success. Having a positive attitude doesn’t only mean that you’re kind to people. It also means that you trained yourself to see the best in every situation in life, which by default affect your productivity at work. (That’s another topic for another time.) Because our attitude dictates our approach to life, I want to invite you to not only pay more attention to your attitude from this point forward, but most importantly make sure that it becomes a part of your life. The younger generation around you is watching. They watch the way you solve problems and they watch the way you interact with others, and they’re taking their clues from what they see. We have a heavy responsibility entrusted to all of us. To connect with me, visit my website or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you speak French, feel free to join our French-speaking community, L'Emergence De L'Entrepreneur, for more tips for emerging entrepreneurs. Read more from Lucie! Lucie S. Matsouaka, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lucie S. Matsouaka is a Certified Professional Career Coach who believes that it’s not enough to help people look good on paper before a job interview. As an International Youth Leadership Coach, she gives them the tools they need to separate themselves from the masses and have a successful career, no matter what that means to them. She founded L’Emergence De L’Entrepreneur, a French-speaking empowerment platform where she teaches emerging entrepreneurs how to navigate entrepreneurship storms to stand out and be successful. Reference: https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/the-soft-skills-disconnect/

Written by: Millie Martinez, 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. Trauma is a condition that occurs when an event or circumstance overwhelms you, causes you physical pain or emotional and mental suffering. The type of experience is irrelevant to the brain - as complex an organ may be - the brain doesn’t know the difference between low-level and high-level trauma. It’s just - trauma. And, no one can escape it. This means, if you’re still healing from the bully in 3rd grade who stole your ice-cream or you’re suffering from the death of a pet, there is no hierarchy. Your brain files it off as trauma. Not only can trauma lead to mental and physical health conditions, such as depression or heart disease, it can also affect how successful you are in your business due to the largely unconscious impact. Some of my previous clients had four things in common when it came to how trauma affected their business: They avoided making new connections due to lack of trust They were irritated easily when interacting with strangers, clients or prospects. The thought of having sales conversations caused them stress or anxiety. They avoided hosting live events due to lack of self-esteem or low confidence. Making connections and sharing your expertise is a vital part of growing your business. We can’t deny that the online space is dominating how we currently run our businesses. Whether it’s a service-based or product-based business. This means, we are susceptible to experiencing triggers stemming from unhealed trauma that may influence how we show up, not only for ourselves and our clients, but also for our business. And, although you might be an ambitious goal-setter - deciding to push to the back burner all the trauma you will “one day” attend to - your unconscious mind will evidently create a barrier that will prevent you from achieving your goals. Here are a few ways you can begin healing your trauma. Awareness is the first step. Notice your triggers. If you find yourself getting irritated at the slightest of things, take note of it and then, get to the root cause. Ask yourself, what is causing this trigger on a deeper level? Then, reprogram the trigger by changing the memory into a new memory. (This is a great opportunity to reprogram your unconscious mind.) How to Reprogram Your Memory: Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Revisit the experience in as much detail as you can. Notice any heaviness or pain in your body such as a tightness in your chest or your heart-beat accelerating. In your minds’ eye, restructure the memory to reflect what you wish would have happened instead. Take a moment to embrace all the emotions that may arise from this reprogramming. Then, say out loud: I forgive myself and _________ for _____________. It is safe for me to be myself. It is safe for me to connect with others. It is safe for me to be a successful business owner. I am amazing at what I do. I am loved. I am confident. I open myself to healing my trauma in this timeline, all timelines, in this reality and all realities and remove it from my DNA in this dimension and across all dimensions of space and time. Do you want to learn how to heal from trauma? There is never a ‘good’ time to start the healing process. All it takes is one small change to get things moving. If you are contemplating healing your trauma but don’t know where to start just click the 'connect' button & send me a message telling me how unhealed trauma has affected your life and business. If you are not yet ready, that is fine, go easy on yourself. If you decide to give the healing method above a try, shoot me a message letting me know how it went! For more info, follow Millie on Facebook , Instagram and visit her website ! Millie Martinez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Millie Martinez is an intuitive business strategist and energetics healer for service-based entrepreneurs. After being held hostage in a foreign country and experience narcissism abuse, she created strategies to dramatically heal her trauma and enhance her emotional intelligence. She has dedicated her life to helping other women unleash their true potential by combining CBT, REBT, NLP, EFT and Spiritual healing. Her mission: Let's heal the world and create a life of freedom and abundance.

Written by: Erin Reiland, 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. Recently Breathwork has become more mainstream and I have heard it thrown around in many different ways. Breathwork is an ancient modality that has been used for centuries! Better known in eastern medicine, people have sought spiritual awakening, self-healing, and meditative relaxation through breathing techniques. I am also a Breathwork Practitioner, using breath to heal past trauma, negative emotions and pain stuck within the body Breathwork is essentially using your breath to be able to tune into your body and release old beliefs, habits and energy that are literally “stuck” inside of you. Your body holds onto so many things that do not serve your highest good and allow you to step into that place of alignment and creating the life you want. The body is much wiser than our minds and keeps track of all of our experiences in life. When situations and things are held, kept in, or repressed from our minds, that doesn’t mean these things are not still there. One way to release these things and move through, not around them is by using your breath. It is not meditation or mindfulness. These practices are all very different. Once I began to practice and integrate breathwork into my daily life, I was amazed by just how much “stuff” I was able to work through and release through my breath. It also is a practice that can take only minutes to do. To be able to go from that parasympathetic part of the nervous system that is more in the anxiety/high alert state; Then to move your body into the sympathetic state of “rest/digest”. Where the body literally has physiological changes through use of your breath. (Studies have been done to prove this and more continue to come out about the benefits of breathwork). It’s the fastest way to ground yourself and connect to your body and the present moment. We’ve been conditioned to avoid pain in our society. It is easier to not feel, but when you avoid pain you cannot truly heal those underlying issues that are hurting you in the first place. So many times that is why people turn to addictions like eating disorders, alcohol etc. to numb, feel better for a moment or an avoidance protector. To have moments of respite, only to then have it be a fleeting feeling and then right back to the pain. But, by using your breath and feeling into those places of pain or fear, you can release it and connect back to yourself. It means you cannot change your outcomes without first changing yourself. The practice of breath control and awareness, or Breathwork, is the fastest and most accessible tool available for becoming more aware of the body, emotions, and subconscious thoughts. Breathwork leads to more kindness, greater creativity, higher emotional intelligence, better health, lower stress, deeper emotional intelligence, better health, lower stress, deeper spirituality, broader self-awareness and higher consciousness. What Is The Difference Between Various Breathwork Practices? The difference between other breathwork practices and what PAUSE Breathwork uses is, PAUSE is about healing and transformation, rather than sessions around relaxation only. With PAUSE Breathwork the after effect is relaxation. Breathwork can help you unclog the emotionality and trauma that has blocked you from real healing and transformation for so long. There are many benefits when it comes to breathwork, here are a few listed by PAUSE Breathwork: Immediate stress reduction and anxiety relief. Aids in connecting you with your emotions and changes your response to them. Revitalizes your organs. Gives you access to your higher power. Reduces toxins in your body and provides an energetic release. Provides more energy and mental clarity. Deepens your relationship to your body. Releases trauma that has been stuck in your system for years. Allows you to address your emotionality in the moment. Easier access to your intuition-that gut feeling you get. Another question I get is what is the difference between “holotropic Breathwork” and the breathwork practices I use: The thing with holotropic breathwork is they are cuing, and really pressuring you to go quickly (with a quite activating pattern) for a long time. Now under the lens of trauma… that’s not necessarily the best option for all people. So if you’re someone who is newly exploring breathwork, my philosophy of it is – it doesn’t have to be intense and long for it to be deeply transformational. Integrative breathwork involves a lot of slower patterns that are less activating. They’re shorter, and they don’t take you out of your conscious state. Which is completely opposite from holotropic breathwork, where you dive deep and you go deep really quickly. Which can be super powerful and beneficial for some people… but not everybody. So if you’re someone who is newly exploring breathwork, my philosophy of it is – it doesn’t have to be intense and long for it to be deeply transformational. Integrative breathwork involves a lot of slower patterns that are less activating. They’re shorter, and they don’t take you out of your conscious state. Which is completely opposite from holotropic breathwork, where you dive deep and you go deep really quickly. Which can be super powerful and beneficial for some people… but not everybody. Remember, breathwork is not a one size fits all approach. Breathwork is actually one of the most powerful healing tools for people who have trauma. But the path of healing needs to be really mindful. We can’t go into an all-out meditative, deep session with someone who has a lot of unresolved trauma. Another misconception about breathwork that I really want to address is this, breathwork does not have to be super activating and energizing in order to be deeply transformational. So this is HUGE for people who’ve been numbed out, or living in a relatively disconnected state for their whole life. Because when you go from completely numbed out, to dumping a bunch of energy into your system, it could end up feeling really uncomfortable for that person… And then they’ll be like, oh my God, I NEVER want to do Breathwork again! I know that for a fact, because I get tons of DMs on Instagram saying that exact thing. With people saying they tried breathwork and hated it. And my response is always, always, always… well yeah, because you’ve got to start slow. You need to slowly open up that window of tolerance or else it’s going to feel like too much too soon. Anytime you take a breathwork class, know that your wisdom and your body’s intelligence always wins over the cue of the facilitator. There’s many elements that go into play in any given track. Versus holotropic, which is breathing as hard as you can, hoping for the best, and seeing what happens. Which again, I really want to empathize that that approach is not wrong. It’s just different. And it doesn’t work for everybody. Remember, at the end of the day your breathwork practice is all about you, your preference, and your journey. Difference No.1 At Pause, we have two categories of breathwork – integrative and meditative. Holotropic is all about going hard and fast, no matter what your goals are. Difference No.2 We believe in slowly acclimating the body to the intensity of breathwork, and teach techniques that are powerfully healing (no matter the intensity). Difference No.3 Each Pause Breathwork journey is all about tailored for specific goals and end results. The holotropic breathwork technique is a one-size-fits all approach. My recommendation is to try both and then decide what’s best for you. The way I use Breathwork is in 2 different formats: 30-minute Integrative Sessions: This 30-minute Breathwork session is designed to hold space for relaxation. Techniques designed to help integrate into everyday moments. When we need a breather, or to regulate the nervous system so we can clear stagnant and potent negative energy from within our body. 60-minute MEDITATIVE Sessions: This 60-minute Breathwork session is designed to hold space for transformation. Meditative experiences are used to experience a "journey" as we go deeper within our bodies and unearth stuck, emotional blockages. The purpose is to clear energy that no longer serves us; that may be emotions and past experiences that have been stuck within us for most of our lives. To be able to achieve overall emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness. By utilizing corresponding breath patterns to release stuck energy, we allow ourselves to emotionally come back to a place of balance and peace within our bodies and system. Within each of us we have everything we need to heal. Knowing that the body is the healer and through the power of breath each of us can access this state of calm, peace, happiness and healing. Here is a link to an article published about my work with Breathwork: https://menafn.com/1101965920/Erin-Reiland-Brings-a-Unique-Approach-to-Eating-Disorder-Recovery Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more Erin Reiland, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Erin Reiland is a Certified Disordered Eating/Anxiety, Breathwork and NLP Trauma Coach. She helps women overcome their struggles with food, its underlying causes and begin to live a purposeful life with lasting recovery. She is the creator of InBody_Love Coaching, where she supports and guides women to heal their past trauma, anxiety and disordered eating. Erin had a battle for over 20 years with a severe eating disorder and experiencing early childhood trauma. Since recovering, she has made it her mission to help others with their mental health. She is a Certified Breathwork Practitioner, using breath to heal past trauma, negative emotions and pain stuck within the body. In the last 3 years, she has been featured in major media outlets such as CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX. She was a contributing consultant for a TEDx talk about eating disorders in 2019, with over 100k views. She has been a guest on multiple podcasts, interviews and speaking engagements on topics surrounding mental health and eating disorders. She is also certified in DBT, CBT and Mindfulness Coaching. She is an Ambassador for "Project Heal", the Nations largest nonprofit providing grants to those who cannot afford eating disorder treatment. She has over 12k Instagram (@erin_reiland_love) and Twitter (@food_Body_Coach) Followers. Her mission is "HOPE".....Help One Person Everyday.

Written by: Alejandra Rojas, 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. Yes, the end of the year is closer than you wished for, especially if you were to think about achieving your best financial life in 2021. The people that I've worked with this year have one phrase in common to describe how they saw 2021 at the beginning of the year and how they see it now "Simply, I don't know where the time went." It may sound like a joke, but when it comes to talk about financial concerns, this may bring an enormous amount of frustration in your life this year and the upcoming ones. Creating a solid financial foundation, where you get to achieve your yearly desires or are on the right track to them (have savings, Pay off debt, holidays, houses, retirement...) is about gaining confidence, making assertive decisions, and moving forward at least one little step at a time. Don't scratch your financial well-being yet from what is left of 2021; instead, do these 3 key steps that will help you close the year in a much better position. 1. Review what happened in the last 8 months. It's easier to avoid looking at what has happened with your money - I know, it may be scary to realize that the outcome may not be what you expected or want. However, if you want to have any change and different results from the ones you are facing right now, it is time to look at what is going on in your accounts. Where is your money going, and from where is it coming? Are those expenses making sense for you right now? Are you noticing something unnormal in your bank accounts? Give yourself the permission slip to know what 2021 has represented for your money in an objective perspective and not with a judgemental mindset. 2. Reflect on what you want your year-end to look like. From all that you said at the beginning of the year you were going to accomplish financially, what are some things that are still relevant for your life to reach? New year's goals and resolutions are often driven by the idea that you will be disciplined, strict, and make everything possible in the following 12 months. However, at this point of the year, you must review your goals and your vision to focus on how you want to end your year. When it comes to creating a robust financial foundation, gaining confidence in making the right financial decisions is as important as learning any other strategic aspect. Therefore, spend time reflecting on your vision and find the goals that will help you create confidence in your financial life, motivate you, and mean more than a number in your bank account. 3. Pursue the key goal. After you have reviewed and reflected on your money, it's time to make things happen. But, opposite of what you may think, you don't have to make it all happen at once—instead, mastering the power of pursuing one goal. Remember that you are focusing on creating a solid financial foundation for your life which means these weeks left of 2021 will also help you set the stage to thrive next year with your money. Spend time trimming and polishing the one goal or activity that challenges your financial ability and that by reaching it you will gain the confidence to go for more. Don't focus on more goals. It is tempting but not helpful right now. Instead, connect with the one and plan to complete it. Be very personal about this goal, personal finances are about what you want for your life, and this commitment could be the key to change it all. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info. Alejandra Rojas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alejandra Rojas, is a Latina Banking and Finance professional, Finance Manager, and Money Coach helping women get out of debt and transform their money mindset with ease and fun. After reaching bottom, when a money burnout re-activated an old sickness threatening her life again, Alejandra designed a method to manage personal finances from within that protects the person’s essence and helps them create wealth. She has since been dedicated to helping others see money in a whole different way, so it’s no longer a barrier to thrive and reach happiness through her coaching, podcast (The Happy & Wealthy Podcast), and various public speaking events.

Written by: Kim Parker, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. They provide a home for our souls who have chosen to be here during these extraordinary, unprecedented times. Over the years I’ve come to know that my health directly influences my connection to my inner being, my guidance system, Source Energy. I have also come to know that humanity is going through an unparalleled ascension process in the form of the expansion of our consciousness. We are being guided to consciously connect to the source of our own beings and use our souls’ wisdom to create our lives on Earth. As we each connect to our source and elevate, we collectively lift others too. Knowing that my health influences my connection and my cognizance, I’m more committed than ever to honour my body, my mind, and my soul and help others do the same. In doing so we all enhance our health and well-being and uplift our consciousness, our awareness, and that of the global collective, which is pivotal during these times. It’s in our purification that we connect to Source Energy. Purifying helps us expand and ascend. In essence, eliminating impurities from our physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our beings has become more important than ever before. How we choose to nourish and cleanse our cells is worthy of our thoughtful consideration. As we cleanse, our whole being becomes cleaner and clearer. This clarity is a gift from the Divine and it sets us free. As we clear our bodies and our minds we move into Spirit. This is where our power is. Our third eye, the Seat of our Soul, widens and we see and feel things more clearly. Our bodies are temples and they are the only place we have to live. As mentioned above, honouring them at this time is not only essential and a gift to ourselves; it’s an exquisite gift to humanity too, as our connection to Source Energy is unquestionably paramount now. So be on purpose and take really good care of yourself. Aspire to ascend. Mother Earth and humanity need you. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info. Kim Parker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kim Parker is a thought leader and coach in health transformation and healing, both physically and spiritually. She has over 30 years experience and her journey embarked when her husband began suffering from a debilitating health condition. Their struggle to find the root cause of his illness and appropriate healing solutions spanned decades. After finally helping her husband heal, she was determined to share her findings, extensive research and experience with others to help prevent long-term suffering. Her mission is to educate and empower people so they feel confident to take ownership of their health and well-being. She is a distributor for USANA Health Sciences cellular supplementation and has been working in the supplementation industry since 2010. She was ranked their number one customer enroller in Australia in 2014 and also served as an ambassador for this global company. She is a passionate health advocate and conscious truth seeker and knows we all have the power to heal.

Written by: Calvin Niles, 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. Early one December morning, I was driving down an icy motorway when I got the final sign that big changes needed to happen in my life – or I would suffer the consequences. It was a dark English morning in 2017 when my car aquaplaned at 70mph across four lanes of traffic. The car was a complete wreck. I was lucky to walk away with only minor injuries and I finally faced up to the truth that was staring me in the face all along – I was not living according to my life’s purpose. Sometimes you may feel trapped, tired, and fed up with things and cannot find the energy to take meaningful steps forward in your lives. When things seem to go consistently wrong, and you feel that you are not living a purposeful life then there may be an opportunity to ponder on whether your life needs to shift and, if and when it does, how to recognize when that shift has moved you closer towards your purpose. The Latin word for purpose in this context is Summum Bonum; translated as the highest or ultimate good. You can create more awareness about what your purpose is in life and how to find it if you focus on the ethical values that you hold. When you identify these, you create meaning much easier. I imagine that as you read this you have already illuminated some of these values and you are feeling the creative fire in you wanting to emerge. This then leads to the second part of this investigation – validation. After I reflected on some of the stories of my life, I began to ask myself, “how do I know that I am living on purpose now?” If you want to look beyond your intuition for this answer, know that your life stories hold many gems, sometimes you just need to take a mindful step backward; zoom out and you will see. Here are three things that may help you know if you are living in greater accord with your purpose. 1. You find a state of flow. You might have experienced being completely absorbed in an activity to the point where you feel merged with it. This is a mental state that psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called flow. Achieving this state can help people feel greater enjoyment, energy, and involvement. In William Butler Yeats' poem, Among School Children the poet famously asks, "How can we know the dancer from the dance"? In the flow state, it would be right to say that it is difficult to separate the art from the artist or the actor from the action! It is this merging that is the effect of being enmeshed with an activity that brings deep joy and so reflects your connection to your purpose. 2. You experience more synchronicities. According to the renowned Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, synchronicities are not random. Instead, the occurrence of meaningful coincidences has a cause. Can you recall sending an email to someone who you had not spoken to for some time and receiving one at exactly the same time, and about subjects that you could never have predicted? Was it as if those emails touched somewhere in space as they traversed the world wide web? What about the money appearing out of the blue just at the time when you needed it most to pay that bill or make that urgent purchase? There is effortlessness in which events like this take place. And there are many more examples like these in the stories of our lives if we know not just how to look but how to see. 3. You experience more joy in your life. “What are you laughing at?” I am often asked. To which I would normally answer, “everything just seems funnier these days.” It’s not just that you may laugh more, but you want to laugh more. When you are living on purpose, look for those moments where you seek laughter effortlessly. Notice how everything looks brighter and more colourful, notice the richer soundscape, and see that there is a greater depth of quality in those things that were once buried in the same old experiences. It gives much great context to French novelist Marcel Proust’s words, that "The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." This list is not exhaustive, but you can rest in the knowledge that the feedback you get from your life stories as the events unfold will bring a certain resonance to validate your path. You may see more traits such as kindness, generosity, love, empathy and forgiveness in all the little actions and experiences of your life which make up the lavish tapestry of your story. So, should you need evidence to support your intuition look for these cues to help you know that you are living your life on purpose. Follow Calvin for more on stories, mindfulness, and poetry on his YouTube channel, connect with him on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or visit his website for more. Calvin Niles, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Calvin Niles is a communication coach known as The Mindful Storyteller, making a positive impact on the lives of leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and wider society through his services and products. Through his experience in mindfulness, storytelling, coaching, and business, he empowers others to be authentic and impactful in their communication. Calvin has worked with hundreds of people from leaders in large corporates to SMEs, and from solopreneurs to some of the top 10 charities in the UK.

Written by: Jerilyn Ito, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. There is much going in the world right now that is coming from a virus that is causing a pandemic from back in 2020. This new and unknown virus brought forth our fears not just because of this virus, but the fears of our life and how we have to change the way we live. We were not ready for it. This has created an upheaval not just for the world population as a whole, but the fear for ourselves. This fear for many has shown up through different anxieties as a result of mandated changes placed upon us that affect the way we live and has shown its face through our thoughts and emotions. We are logically aware of not being able to control these outside forces such as our government, place of business, educational or health care institutions in the decisions that they make and become rules for us to follow. We are aware that we are unable to control what information they do or don’t take into consideration upon making the final decision that affects populations of people and their way of life. But through this all, the fear that is felt the most is the constant unknown because we don’t have a full grasp or understanding of a constantly changing situation that is not in our control. You see, the reason we fear this constant unknown is that we have been raised and taught to make sure that we should always know what we are doing. That if you didn’t know the answer, then research and find out. There are also times in which the answers you discover are later to be determined incorrect by others, and then you are made to feel inferior. This pandemic brings out deep anxieties and questions that have been residing within you for possibly years about the life that you have lived thus far. It has always been there and this pandemic has brought it to the surface. Bottom line, this pandemic has uprooted the stability that we have created for our life as well as the plans and goals that were put in place. Yes, you know that plans and goals in life can change, but not at this quick pace. So what can you do to bring about a sense of stability for yourself through this pandemic? First, listen to understand instead of listening to respond. When there is uncertainty, the mind can go in many directions and create different scenarios trying to prepare yourself for the response back. When we listen to respond, it comes from the mind. But when we listen to understand, the information that you hear sits with you to be felt. Don’t analyze the information, but just sit with it. There is so much information out there about this virus, about what to do, and then there are concerns about how it affects your business, work, and/or family life. As you take in all this information, it can be quite overwhelming that you begin to sort through and analyze it all. Instead, sit with this information. To begin, place the information down in bullet points. This helps to get the thoughts out of your mind. Now scan through and look at the information through the perspective of observation. Then trust the information that you receive. It can be easy to go into the analytical mode or a looping way of thinking. Our mind does this because not only is it trying to figure out information, but the mind doesn’t want to forget. So after the information is placed in written form, view the information from an observation perspective. New and different information will come to you. As this new information comes to you, feel it in you through your five senses as it merges together as intuition. This is the beginning of Body Intuition™. As my very wise son has said about intuition, “We have the five senses. Without perspective, there is no imagination.” You don’t have to know which one or all of your five senses you are accessing, but to just be aware of it. When this new information shows itself and felt within you, write this down. If there is anything positive that has come from this pandemic of chaos, it has created new challenges to know yourself from a different perspective. After all, you have always been looking for opportunities for further self-awareness. Well, here it is. A chance to know yourself like you have never known before. Follow me on Faceb ook , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Jerilyn! Jerilyn Ito, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jerilyn Ito is a gifted creator and guide in the realms of energy healing and confidence. She had been shy and quiet since childhood and could not overcome this shyness. When spirituality suddenly came into her life in 2014, she not only had to figure out how to make sense of spiritual information from a practical sense, but she discovered how to tap into her confidence. She also uncovered her ability to guide her clients through the process of breaking down complexity and sparked intuition for her clients to create tangible ideas and concepts for their work and business. She has a deep desire to help others stand in their own power of expression from their body, mind, and soul and live through their soul confidence 24/7.

Written by: Hoda Elsobky, Senior Level Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. On my way to Happiness, I came across the concept of “Dancing with life!’, and to tell you the truth, I thought this would be the best way to deal with stress, uncertainty and to handle the unpredictable. Faced with the unknown and the immense amount of anxiety, confusion, and ambivalence, which are all unprecedented; This portrays altogether the era in which we are living. And so the best way out is to navigate through life, or in other words to dance with life! How to dance with life in times of uncertainties? Think about it this way — There is no time, the only time is the here and now. Think of life as Dots, as a series of moments and not a straight line or a means to an end. Dots allow you to fill in the blanks, draw the line and come up simultaneously with a beautiful Masterpiece. Whereas, a straight line allows you only to move in a predictable pattern in a totally unpredictable world. Dots allow you to dance, to turn, to bend, and to move freely in the moment. If your life pattern is based on dots, you will live a life that is intact and in flaw, and above all: Your life will be Complete! It doesn’t matter if you die at the age of twenty, sixty, or ninety, your life will be complete and a life of happiness. Now think about the opposite — If you take life too seriously, as a means to reach a goal – a straight line. Assume your goal is to climb the tallest mountain in the world, and assume due to sudden illness, physical inability, lack of skill, or any out-of-the-road circumstances, you couldn’t reach over the top. Then, what kind of life will you consider this to be? Consequently, you will perceive it as an incomplete life, or a life of hopelessness. Probably you will consider it a half-life, or a life “en-route” or in the waiting. In the meantime, assume your goal is to go on a journey to Egypt, to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza. Will you directly take a shortcut and use a helicopter straight ahead to the Pyramids and then back home. Here, you reached and achieved your goal, but haven’t enjoyed any moment of your journey or trip to Egypt. This is a straight-line viewpoint of life or a linear approach to life -as explained by Ichiro Kishimi. All the experiences lie in the journey. All the fun, joy, adventures, and memories that shape life, survive in the process and not the destination. Make sure to live sincerely, soberly, thoughtfully, and properly each moment of your life; Life is a series of moments! And now.. Let’s Dance! Let’s dance the dance of life. I danced the dance of writing and became an Author; What is your dance? What is your dance of life? Finally, there would be no better explanation then that of Ichiro Kishimi, in his book The Courage To Be Disliked, talking about how to live life like one is dancing — " One might think of life as movement in which the process itself is treated as the outco me. Dance is like that, and so is a journey!" To learn more about Hoda and Happiness follow her on Fac ebook , Instagram and visit her websi te . You can buy her book "Dare to happy" he re and download the first chapter for free here ! Read more about Hoda! Hoda Elsobky, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hoda was born in Cairo, Egypt. Graduated from the American University in Cairo in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majored in Economics and minor in Business Administration. Later, She received her MBA in Marketing. Her greatest interest lies in the fields of philosophy and positive psychology, with a focus on self help and wellness. Above all, she is passionated about happiness as a way of living! She have worked in multinational IT companies in Egypt, like IBM and Oracle, in sales, marketing and business development capacity, from 1994 till 2005. At that point she flew with her husband to live in Vienna for three years and then to Dubai. There she discovered her passion for writing.

Dr. Gigi Arnaud is an award-winning, NYC-based Mindset Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Speaker. For over thirty years, she worked as a dentist in her own private practice and, 17 years ago, also decided to become a certified life coach and hypnotherapist. For so many years, she had been that smiling person who looked sunny and successful on the outside yet was quietly suffering on the inside. Through her own discovery and years of training and treatment (i.e., coaching, therapy, and more), she did the work to change from the inside out and unlock the traps inside her mind. Now, she helps others do the same and change their negative and unhelpful thought patterns to those more aligned with who they authentically are, what they truly want, and how to get there (actions). She uses her unique ‘art and science’ background, intuition, and practical tools to help her clients hear their own unique voices so that they finally flourish in their personal and professional lives. Her mission is to transform your thinking to transform your life, become the real you, and thrive! Dr. Gigi Arnaud, Mindset Coach/Trauma Healing Coach & Hypnotherapist Who is Gigi? I would say that I’m a ‘healer’ and ‘creative’ (and a mom). This is why I’m here; it’s my purpose, passions, and priorities. I just knew, somewhere deep inside, that being a dentist/dental practice owner (for more than 30 years), wasn’t the best way to express myself (my authentic self) and to help others. So, 20 years ago, I decided to study hypnosis so that I could help my fearful/phobic dental patients. I found it fascinating and became a certified hypnotherapist through ASCH (American Society of Clinical Hypnosis). Then, I was told by a neighbor, about coaching. She told me that I did it naturally and should get certified... and I did. I knew, right away, that this was the path I wanted to take. I had to wait a few years as I was a single mom raising my son. I am a highly curious and adventurous person. Since childhood, I have been fascinated with other cultures, languages, and attitudes and have traveled around the world... and will continue to do so... Throughout my travels, I have seen and learned that we humans have much in common, with certain differences that add some spice to life. It took me many years (decades, really), to re-become who I was meant to be; a lot of deep inner work, and the up and down journey of healing trauma, in my case, mostly intergenerational and developmental. There was a lot of inner conflict, anxiety, sadness, and suffering on this journey and much of the motivation for my present work is that others don’t spend as much time suffering as I did. It’s not necessary once you learn to master your mind and consequently, your life. I now have the honor to help others Change their mind(set) to Change their lives! Through coaching and/or hypnosis, we work with both the conscious and subconscious minds, through habit, routine formation, etc. and with hypnosis, mindfulness, visualization, mental imagery, and many exercises of the: mind, body, and spirit (ie: breathing, negative talk time, positive talk time, morning routine, trauma healing, etc.). My clients learn how to change and create new neural pathways, so that they can change their beliefs and thought patterns (trapped in the deeper, stronger, ‘automatic pilot’ subconscious mind) to those that will help them become who they truly are – their AUTHENTIC selves and live their best lives. There’s nothing better! I have learned that ‘creativity’ in any of its shapes or forms is necessary, whether it be in the arts, business, teaching, family life... It’s an essential part of who we are as humans. I ignored my creative side for way too long and didn’t have the ‘release’ needed for my stored-up anxiety and creative imagination. A few years ago, I got back to my creative side and am now painting and writing again. Creativity is not only a big part of my life but a big part of the process to becoming the real you. It’s very helpful for hypnosis, coaching, and imagining, and designing your most fulfilling and joyful life... How has this time of COVID been for you? In some ways, it has affected me like most everyone else; there was fear of illness and mostly, fear of the unknown. I knew that flexibility and resilience would be two of the most important attributes to lean in towards, as individuals and as a society. My folks, who were both from Paris, France, had been ‘hidden children’ Holocaust survivors, who had to hide throughout their (lost) childhoods. I was raised knowing about obstacles, challenges, and the ups and downs of life, including my own. So, I was somewhat prepared for this awful, yet necessary pause the Universe was giving us. By this time, I had learned enough about accepting life on its own terms to do just that. Most of my adult life had been spent in inner conflict between how I thought my life ‘should’ go and how it really was going. I decided to let go... When COVID started, I had to close down my dental office. At the same time, I knew that I needed another knee replacement and that I would have to be ‘out of work’ again... Then, my orthopedic Dr. told me that my hands were getting worse (arthritis) and that it would be a good idea to stop clinical dentistry. Not to mention that my son, friends, and others, were imploring me to stop... for my health. Giving up a long career and the dental patients I really liked and cared about, was hard but I knew that I was getting signs and signals from all over: my own body, others who love me, my physician, etc. I took a couple of months to just do what gave me joy, which I hadn’t been able to do for decades. I continued painting (mostly acrylics and collage), writing, and going to neighborhood cafes to read (when things looked safe enough here in NYC). I was enjoying my time and felt ‘in the flow.’ I knew that it was time to return to me and part of my purpose: creativity and also to continue on my path as a: healer (ie: dentist, life coach, mindset/trauma healing coach, hypnotherapist). I had already become certified as a life coach and hypnotherapist, while I was a dentist. I had been practicing these on the side while doing dentistry and I loved it. It was a way to help others that was ‘more aligned with me’. So, I decided that I would sell my dental practice and re-start my online business as a Mindset Coach, Hypnotist, and Speaker. There was plenty of work involved. I did it... and I couldn’t be happier... Although COVID has been so tough for so many, I’ve decided to live with it in my unique way and to let it take me where I’m meant to go… Honestly, without COVID, I don’t think I would have had the courage, just yet, to give up dentistry, and to start a new business and lifestyle. You know what they say, “Never let a crisis go to waste...” Yes; we have to learn to be flexible and resilient while staying strong in our intentions, motivation, and methods. Sometimes, the universe, source, whatever/whoever you call it, gives you a hint or a strong hit on the head, to say, ‘Stop; pause; breathe. This time, I’m not giving you a choice.’ We’ve been in a go-go-go, non-stop communication culture for a while now. Maybe it’s time to slow down the pace, take a pause, and reset... I really like how Megan Hines puts it, “Lockdown brought me home... to myself. Going from what has been an insanely fast pace of life for so many years to stopping still was a gift. It gave me time, it made me stop and listen... I embraced the change of pace for that moment.” Yes; for many, this time of COVID has been horrible: illness, death, losing loved ones, careers, livelihoods, poverty, homelessness, and more. For others, it has (and still can be) an opportunity to pause... and transform yourself and your life for the better. How and what made you go from being a dentist to being a Mindset/Trauma Healing Coach, Hypnotist, and Speaker? Since as far back as I can remember, I knew I was meant to help others, as some kind of healer, and as a communicator and a creative person. I started ballet at 4 years old, became a gymnast in high school, and loved drawing and discovering new people and cultures. Unfortunately, my mother ‘repressed’ my creative expression (I wanted to be a dancer), and though I understand it on a rational level, it left me heartbroken and soul-broken, too. My folks were both immigrants and my mom didn’t have the opportunity to get a college education or a career and she absolutely wanted to make sure that I’d have both. I didn’t rebel; many children with intergenerational trauma backgrounds don’t. I was a very good student and, over time, decided to become a dentist (it was challenging, though I could mix art and science and use my hands). I’m not sorry I became a dentist, although being in psychology and/or communication would have been more aligned with who I really was and am. Dentistry let me use my mind and my hands and allowed me to give my son and I, a good life. But something was always missing... I felt a hole in my soul. While I was working and being a mom, I didn’t allow myself time to express my creativity and this, for me, was spirit-crushing. I am a multi-passionate person and I love to learn. I have always been fascinated with the brain and how the mind and psyche work. So, learning hypnosis and life coaching only increased my interest and creativity in learning about mindset, trauma, and how we humans work. I started with coaching and hypnosis clients, some of whom were my dental patients... and I was hooked. I saw that there was another way of helping others not only get to the life they really want but to get back to their authentic selves. I love to teach, so I’m able to do this, as a mentor and a writer. It’s been quite a journey, much like a bumpy rollercoaster ride but it’s been worth it. I had to: identify the trauma I’d experienced (intergenerational and developmental), start the process of healing it (a long, tough process) and now, I’m feeling the great effects of PTG: post-traumatic growth (more empathy, self-awareness, compassion, self-regulation, etc.). I love what I’m doing now and I make the time for self-care, to — paint, write and spend time with those I love. You don’t have to stay in a career, relationship or place that you’re not happy in. You don’t have to stay in a profession because you studied for many years or because you make oodles of money. Money helps but it’s not enough. Your profession and your life must be in alignment with the authentic you… then, life is good! What were your biggest obstacles, challenges, limiting beliefs, that delayed or stopped you on your journey? The biggest one was one that I didn’t even know existed until I was 35 years old and acting in a play called ‘Children of...’ We were all kids of Holocaust survivors and had many of the same negative and scary beliefs about the world (not surprising). I had always felt ‘different.’ Growing up, my parents were the only French people around. Within our home, several languages were spoken and there was much chaos, sadness and anger. This was the first time that I was with a group of people who really understood. This is how I discovered or identified that I had trauma. By the way, you can have Big T trauma and little T trauma, which I explain about in my blog posts and writing. Then, I got out of a bad marriage and raised my son, pretty much on my own. So, I had to raise my son, work as a dentist and had to leave acting behind. My healing journey had begun: therapists, coaches, books, courses, anything and everything to discover why I was feeling so ‘empty’ and sad inside and constantly anxious. There were more challenges but the most important thing I realized was that it was the ‘internal’ stuff, my beliefs and thought patterns, that caused this anxiety, depression and suffering. External stuff happens… to everyone but it’s all how you (your mind) respond to it. That was my big ‘aha’ moment. It’s me. I can ‘control’ how I respond to this. I just need to learn how… to master my mindset! Then, there was the learning how. This was a long and sometimes challenging process, that went on for years and still continues today. There has been a big shift (yahoo). I’m not constantly repeating those negative things I’d been telling myself for decades; I now trust the universe more; I’m learning to recognize what ‘triggers’ me and how to react to it in a healthier and happier way and most importantly, how to always keep in alignment with the real me! Did these challenges help you to grow? For sure. Without these limiting and negative, repeating beliefs and the ensuing sadness, stress, anxiety and suffering it caused me, I may not have ‘listened’ to my inner voice and opened my heart to discover who I really am. You don’t want to die with the music still within you. We’re all here to become who we are; to be who we’re meant to be and to do what we’re born to do. So, just do it. You need lots of courage, consistency and compassion, mostly for yourself. I’m not saying that the challenges I had or that any of us have, are easy. It’s the way we respond to them that starts showing what we’re made of and who we are; sometimes deep, deep inside. There were other experiences, not always easy, that helped me grow and look at life as an always-learning adventure. Living abroad was one. After dental school, I went to live in Israel and lived and worked there for 5 years. This was still a new country (in the 1980s) and living in Israel was very different than living in the United States or in France. There were less luxury and manners but the warmth, friendliness and spirit of the people were amazing. I learned of and met people of cultures I had never heard of. I learned about dealing with inflation (425% at the time). My friends were, literally, from all over the globe. It was exciting, interesting, fun, and full of newness and excitement. I was in a new place and could choose what I wanted, who I wanted. It was also stressful, not because of physical danger or security issues but because things moved fast there, people were straightforward and full of energy. I learned that I could adapt to an economically, emotionally and sometimes, physically tough environment. Later on, being a divorced single mom taught me a lot about not necessarily needing to fit in (with society’s standards). I found out that not everyone was open to alternate ways of living which are, presently, quite commonplace. This wasn’t an easy lesson but, for me, a necessary one. Developing arthritis and the necessity of several surgeries and joint replacements have reinforced the vital and primary importance of good health: mental, physical, emotional, environmental and even, spiritual. Your mother may have said it; mine certainly did. Believe it. Do self-care, and keep yourself fit and flexible, in mind, body and spirit. I may have struggled physically in the last few years but it has taught me loads emotionally… Where are you now and what are you up to? In my coaching/hypnosis practice, I get so much pleasure helping people get back to (or move forward to) their authentic selves, both personally and professionally. This forever changes their life’s trajectory, for the better. They don’t have to be sad, stressed and suffering inside while trying to look good and happy on the outside. Their inner and outer beings come together. Their nervous systems get regulated. They learn habits, routines and rituals to keep them moving forward and motivated and consistent. They are not judging themselves. They are allowed to be WHO they really are and they’re beautiful. They understand WHY they’re here (purpose, passions and priorities) and this makes all the difference! I love what I’m doing. I feel like I’m finally aligned with my soul and with the outer world, even with COVID right outside the door. I know, for sure, that no matter what age or stage of life you’re at or in or whatever you’ve been through (your circumstances), you can change, even if you do it one tiny step at a time. It’ll get you moving forward, onward and on to your best, most fulfilling, most stunning life. Like a caterpillar crawling on a leaf and then, doing the ‘inner healing’ in his/her cocoon, the result is still the same: a gorgeous, personally powerful and free butterfly! To become this beautiful butterfly, a caterpillar undergoes massive transformation or metamorphosis. You can do it too; it’s magical! As Maya Angelou said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” I believe that we can all make the changes or transformations necessary to become the unique, authentic butterfly we came here to be! It seems that you love to read and write. What are a few of the books that have really helped and/or affected you, on your journey? There are so many. I am really a bit of a book addict and intensely curious. For now, I’ll give you the name of 3 that have to do with Mindset, Trauma, and understanding your mind/brain. The Mastery of Self: by Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. It’s written as a parable and contains so much wisdom. You will learn (with exercises too) how to master your mind and thus, your life. A large feat for a little book… Man’s Search for Meaning: by Dr. Viktor Frankl. It’s about his experience as a concentration camp survivor (a background I relate to) and how his own search for meaning transformed his mindset and his life, throughout one of the most horrific experiences in history. Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: by Pete Walker. The title doesn’t sound too exciting but I couldn’t put this book down. If you have been through any type of trauma (and most of us have), you will learn a lot and recognize a lot in this book. There are so many other great books out there. If anyone wants recommendations for other kinds of books, please contact me @www.gigiarnaud.com Keep learning, keep growing and keep smiling. Change your mind to change your life! You can find me @DrGigiArnaud on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Read more from Dr. Gigi!

Written by: Maria Koropecky, 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. My mother received an email from her friend that was so hurtful and racist that it made me cry. It was a rant about immigrants, and as a first-generation Ukrainian-Canadian who grew up in a family who had to fight similar prejudices, I took it personally. This woman, who my family has known for years, has wealth, privilege, status, affluence, and influence but ironically comes from humble beginnings herself. She often sends similar emails which my mother deletes and does not forward, but this one was particularly nasty. As a writer and coach, I know the power of words. I’m all about speaking up and self-expression and the freedom of speech. However, when someone goes into hate-mongering, that’s where I draw the line. What would you do if you overheard someone spewing swamp gas like that? Would you pretend it’s okay and say nothing? Would you laugh? Would you confront them? Would you insist on severing ties with them forever? After going for a walk, I decided to use my own voice and write this article. With my writing, I can take a stand against the ugly, underbelly of our culture in a thoughtful and peaceful way. So on that note: I stand for immigrants, introverts, late bloomers, underdogs, singletons, outsiders, and artists. I stand for people who have to deal with ignorance, greed, and oppression every day. I stand for people and animals who don’t have a voice. I stand for people who are fighting for their lives and their families and a better future. I stand for people who have something to say and something to contribute and just need a chance, some encouragement, and kind friend to get started. I stand for writers and storytellers who are putting themselves out there and writing a book even when there are people like this woman nearby. I am choosing to lift people up. I am choosing to be respectful. I am choosing to share. I am also currently building a community of storytellers who want to create a better world with their words. It’s important for me to be a positive example and a stand in the possibility of bold, magical writing for myself and anyone else who feels called! Let’s use our voices and words to create and enjoy the same blessings some take for granted. Along with my creative writing coaching programs, I’m hosting an online Crystal Clear Writing Retreat on the weekend of October 16-17, 2021 where we’ll talk about all things writing, storytelling, and elevating your voice. Get in touch if you’re interested. Tickets are on Eventbrite. Let’s write and stand together. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maria! Maria Koropecky, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maria Koropecky is many things: a Creative Writing Coach, Author, Writer, Storyteller, and Crystal Mapper. She is well aware that 81% of all people want to write a book someday and, as a result, has set out to build a creative writing coaching business that is geared towards helping writers, artists, and introverts discover their own gold, breakthrough writer's blocks, and write the book they've always dreamed of writing so that they can leave a legacy. Maria's own forthcoming novel, Who is Donna Tiva, the first book in a trilogy, was inspired during her solo backpacking trip across Spain at 50. It follows the journey of a single woman as she searches for love, her life being lit up and guided by the colorful characters she meets along the way. Maria feels confident she can help other people in the world, who have also gone on an adventure of a lifetime, to write and share their stories with others. Maria also has a wealth of qualifications that inform what she does, ranging from an Honours BA in English Literature to certifications in Life Coaching & Mentoring, to Spa Therapy as well as Crystal Reading. Her mission is to encourage new voices to enter the arena.

Written by: Marilda Cutrone, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Many people struggle to succeed online as affiliate marketers. And it seems that no matter what they do, they fail miserably. Despite their efforts, sales often take a long time to happen (and sometimes don't happen at all), which generates a sense of incredible frustration and doubts. The result is that 95% of the affiliate marketers fail, but the truth is they just quit; therefore, they fail. And the second result is that these people think that Affiliate Marketing is a scam. They seem to be affected by what is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. However, affiliate marketing is a legitimate business model. It is a form of online business in which the affiliate marketer promotes products and services online. These products and services are owned by a company that uses an affiliate programme for its sales instead of the traditional channels, which are in severe crisis today. When the affiliate makes a sale, she/he earns a commission through their individual and unique affiliate link. The thing is that, when it comes to the traditional economy, people know (and thus are ready to accept) that they first need to invest, and then they aim to get the return on the investment (ROI) in around five years. In the meantime, they know they have to work hard and will be happy to cover at least the expenses. However, when it comes to online business, and typically to affiliate marketing (this is also true for network marketing), they make an investment and expect to get the ROI in a couple of months. True, earning money through affiliate marketing is definitely faster, but there is no magic wand here. At the end of the day, it is a business, and as such, it needs commitment, determination, preparation (the right skills), and time. The Bamboo Tree Paradigm The Chinese bamboo tree has a significative long gestation. Once planted, the seeds need around 4-5 years to bloom. After the gestation period, it can grow 27 mt in just 5-6 weeks. That's the natural process, but if you don't know, you will throw it away as, after one year, you will think it's dead or will never grow. Affiliate marketing is like the Chinese bamboo tree: the gestation period is when you learn and implement new skills. Of course, it does not take 4 or 5 years, but it does take a while. For some people, it may be a few months; for others, even a year or two. For example, the affiliate marketers have to learn how to convey their message in a powerful, original, and engaging way; or they have to learn how to use a social platform properly, knowing its tools, features, and algorithms. In the beginning, it will be necessary to put in the effort and apply the knowledge learned. And they need to be patient because the email list they're building or the social platform they're leveraging will need some time to be attractive, compelling, and followed. When it happens, it will then be easy to correctly target the various offers and achieve multiple sales. But if the affiliate marketer only builds a small email list or a small social media following, how can she/he get multiple sales? They will get discouraged and, rather than understand this mechanism, think that affiliate marketing is a scam and quit. The Learning Phase Learning any new skill is challenging. And learning something by yourself from the web might be overwhelming. Often, you start jumping from one strategy to another, taking advice from different experts, and eventually getting confused or lost. At this point, when the new affiliate marketers are confused and frustrated, they lack clarity in everything and can't decide the strategy to use or choose the right platform or the best format. They will find themselves bombarded with all kinds of information and will doubt everything. Until they will lose sight of their motivation and will most probably quit, blaming the system. To make it work, the only option is to get the education in the right way. Keep it simple and join a good digital marketing program in the first place. And then move mindfully and take baby steps. If you focus on the whole staircase, you will feel dizzy. The best way to climb is to focus on the first step, then the second, and so on. Affiliate marketing takes time, patience, and preparation. But once you nail it, you will grow faster than in other businesses, and you might reach 27 mt in a few weeks. Biggest misconceptions about Affiliate Marketing To wrap it up, these are the main misconceptions that people have about affiliate marketing and the most asked question I receive: Affiliate Marketing happens overnight: wrong, it actually takes some time and preparation. It is faster than other businesses, but it is a business and, as such, requires dedication. As an Affiliate Marketer, you work exclusively by yourself: wrong, the affiliate marketer needs support and mentoring and has to enter a supportive and qualified community. Affiliate Marketing is for young and skilled people: wrong, through a good program the affiliate marketer can acquire all the skills needed. In this digital environment, elements like sex, gender orientation, race, or age are not relevant. If the Affiliate Marketer is passionate about what she/he is doing, she/he will make loads of money: wrong, passion and motivation are not enough. They come and go, and most of the time, are determined by external factors. The Affiliate Marketer needs to rely on inspiration, which comes from the inside. And most importantly, she/he needs to be disciplined. Discipline shapes success. When motivation is lacking, the disciplined person who takes the actions as scheduled in the business plan will succeed. Affiliate Marketing is NOT a "get rich quick" scheme, is NOT a scam; it is a legitimate business model. And if you want to learn more or you are looking for a good program to get started, please do reach out to me. I can guide you to choose the best option for your needs. Follow Marilda on Instagram, find her on Facebook, or visit her website to learn more about the programs. You can also subscribe to her YouTube-channel! Read more from Marilda! Marilda Cutrone, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marilda walked away from a successful 20-year career as Senior Project Manager. For many years, she felt unfulfilled: she was continuously struggling to juggle her career and family. And eventually found herself drained and depressed. Marilda massively changed her life in 2019 when she realized that developing a new set of skills in the current economy is necessary. And here is why: over $2.5 trillion per year is being spent on retail purchases online and, over the last few months, there's been a 25% increase in online sales. Marilda created her own business – Living My Digital Life – and reached a whole new work-life balance level by leveraging the digital skills. This shift would not have been possible for Marilda if she had not discovered the power of affiliate marketing. She is now the owner of her time and can build her career around the family (not a life arranged around the job as it used to be). Her mission is to empower other women to stand up for themselves and make the same shift. Hence Marilda offers a program that walks you through specific steps to learn the skills you need to create a profitable online business from scratch.

Written by: Fareen Ash, 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. What should dating look like in our modern day and what’s even appropriate given our hook-up culture and to add, the restraints on activities? It’s been quite a difficult two years for most singletons, well, I’d say for women embodied in their femininity, especially. Why the distinction? Well, femininity thrives by way of courtship. For a woman embodied in this energy, she’s going to want to see the investment, energy and time a man makes to win her over. This especially would be difficult during times where we are restricted at home. And to my clients, and those that were single, I suggested it’s best to wait and use that time to be alone and discover oneself. When we’re dating and getting to know someone, the best rule of thumb I go by is “slow is fast.” What does that mean? Well, the slower we are in getting to know someone, the faster we ultimately head in the direction of meeting our life-long partner. When we’re enthralled by someone very quickly, it’s usually trauma bonding, and very rarely is it sustainable long-term. The truth is, healthy mating works kinda slow. Both genders that are primarily integrated and/or secure generally will have plenty of viable options in the dating pool and will take their time during the selection process. I like to say that a first date should be nothing more than a feeling of “ya, I’ll see him/her again.” There really shouldn’t be an overwhelming feeling right away. I mean, how could there be? We have yet to find out about this person. So if we’re going based entirely on looks, or what’s on the surface, we’re likely to be deceived. A first date should also be brief. An hour, maybe two. We want there to be enough to determine if there’s that initial spark and chemistry. That amount of time is sufficient. After that, we want to allow space to observe. A man that is truly interested in a woman, will most definitely set up another date. But as a woman, I’m always on the lookout for red flags. An over-investment in feelings, time, and money right away is a big no-no. No matter how impressive the woman, a man that comes off too strong right away is placing me on a pedestal, and without knowing my heart, it’s insecurity. It’s important to space out dates at least by a week to gather information during the time apart. To observe not only our feelings but the actions/inaction of our potential partner. The more secure you are, the less you’ll be attracted to minimal investment and on the other extreme, over-investment too quickly. And if we notice this, I recommend to move on. Again, slow is fast. Saying no the moment we feel that things are not right, really signifies high self-worth, and settling will always be detrimental long-term. Ideally, a man that is interested in a woman will court her and a woman will observe his interests in her. Feelings should naturally and organically build over a period of a few months, with intensity also rising. I recommend waiting to be physical. Even holding hands and any sort of intimacy should progressively increase as time passes. The slower we are initially, the better our discernment and the likelier the attraction. It’s the tension and buildup that creates a lasting bond between two sexes, not the immediate satisfaction of unmet needs looking to fulfill each other. I always say allow for at least 3 dates to know if there is something present to continue and 3 months is a good benchmark to see where things are headed. Start slow with dates, and allow the feelings to naturally build. Stay away from home dates as much as possible. In fact, I would not even go there until at least the 2 and a half or 3-month mark. By that point, there should be at least 5-10 dates where a man has consistently invested his time, energy, and resources and a woman should at this point feel safer in knowing his intentions. The men that are not willing to wait, will be weeded out quite quickly and that’s a great thing! Healthy, integrated masculine men are looking to win over a woman that has high discernment and will be very drawn to a woman that has high regard for herself. Most of all, have fun! The initial stages, actually the entire relationship should feel good 95% of the time! The courting phase is a good indicator to observe how one will feel in the future. If there are doubts, red flags that are ignored within the first 3 months, you better believe those will only get louder.! Enjoy, be less attached and most of all have fun! Follow me on Fac ebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Fareen! Fareen Ash, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Fareen is an Intimacy, Relationship, and Attraction Strategist. She has a Graduate Degree in Honours Sociology, a Post-Graduate Degree in Law, and is certified in Gender Intelligence and NeuroLinguistic/Timeline Therapy. For a period in her life, Fareen lived in government housing on welfare with her mom, who suffered from depression. She spent much of her time caring for her mom, working three jobs while also attending school due to their lack of financial resources. She worked tirelessly to earn scholarships to help subsidize her education and was the recipient of the Women in Doctoral Studies Grant and recipient of the Alden-Baldy Scholarship. Fareen practiced as a litigation lawyer for nearly ten years, where she gathered information on the dynamics between men and women and the inherent energies that govern human behavior. She has since dedicated her life to helping accomplished women unleash their feminine power, heal the emotional body, and rewire the survival mind that keeps them from embodying their authentic essence. She is passionate about Feminine Energy Embodiment in both love and leadership. Fareen has developed a unique and specialized method for mastering the mind, overcoming emotional blocks, and relieving habitual negative patterning. Her mission: Femininity is a woman's superpower.