Written by: Jenn Taylor, 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. As far back as I can remember in my adult life, I had a recurring dream of a shy, blue-eyed little girl. In the dream I saw her and yet I was still looking for her. She would disappear down an aisle at the grocery store, and when I went to look down the aisle, she wasn’t there. I would feel disappointment, look up and see her peeking out of a completely different aisle. Waking up dreaming about this sweet, shy, blue-eyed little girl left me feeling two things. First, she was one of my children and I would find her. Second, I would know her when we met. 16 years ago, I took a job at the school most of my kids were attending. I was a teacher’s assistant for the Kindergarten class, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Early on in my position. I saw her. The blue-eyed, shy little girl from my dreams. Even though I’d had over 9 years of foster parenting, I thought I was going crazy to believe someone else’s little girl was my little girl. I pulled her chart and realized she was being raised by a single dad, and then put together he was the single dad that the single moms and my coworkers were talking about. He was the cute single dad. She and I had a special connection from the start. At first, too shy to get off the outside step to play, eventually we were passing the ball, and then she was playing with other kids and laughing. Other kids noticed she was my “special girl”, and although I would never want other kids to feel slighted, she has been that ever since. Her Dad and I eventually became friends and had playdates. My kids loved her and she always felt like part of our family. Months later, he and I started dating and, in the end, had a 7-year relationship. At the beginning of our relationship, I learned that my special girl’s Mom wasn’t very involved, and she had an older brother with a different dad. He began to be invited over to my house so they could spend time together, and he became part of the family. Over time, my special girl’s Mom had another little girl, and by then we were so involved in her older brother’s life, the baby was also invited. As I was still involved in foster care, when CPS became involved, I got the call to take my special girls siblings. Saying yes was a brainless choice as they were already part of my family, and they were her family, which meant even more. Christopher was 10 when we met and 12 when he moved in permanently. He would later have the option to move back to his biological Mom’s house, which he declined. He aged out and was always part of our family - no different to me than any other biological, adopted, or foster child that called me Mom. I loved him completely. Christopher had an outstanding sense of humor, he was always childlike in how he expressed himself, was open and honest with his feelings and everyone who spent time with him felt better for having known him. He went from being a chubby kid to an incredible athlete. From following me begrudgingly on runs, to passing me practically running backward. He was always up for an adventure, even if that meant hanging his head out the car window while I was driving. He didn’t fit in at the traditional high school, and since I wasn’t particularly fond of his “new plan” to drop out of high school to be a professional gamer during his sophomore year, he and I researched, interviewed, and found a school that fit him better. Christopher, like most kids, didn’t like his turn on the chore wheel when he landed on “kitchen”, however, after a couple of months at the dorm-style school he attended down the street from us for his final time in high school, he came home on the weekends and apologized profusely. Apparently, life in a dorm of 600 kids and “pulling KP duty” was far worse than any chore I ever threw at him. He also thanked me for teaching him how to do the chores in the house, because at least he knew how. Christopher was sweet with his feelings and tender in how he expressed them, and always, always hilarious in his presentation. He became an adult, was in a relationship, and had a son. Some of my favorite memories are of his lighthearted personality shining through as a Dad. He always remained connected to my other kids - who were all truly his siblings - and to me, although his relationship with my special girl was the strongest connection. I was a better human being for having the privilege of calling him my son, and I cherished that he decided early on to call me Mom. On August 6, 2016, at 23 years old, Christopher was reported missing. At that point, he was living 7-hours away in Las Vegas and we all felt completely unprepared for what to do. Nothing about the situation seemed to add up, and we were all left acutely feeling a loss without closure. His biological Mom went on a rampage to get information out, to raise awareness, to do anything possible to figure out a way to find him from being on podcasts to launching a Facebook account where information was posted. I remained silent. I knew if I came forward to help, to be interviewed, to post, it would become clear who I was, what my role had been, and his biological Mom would lose credibility. It would be apparent that, once people realized the situation and how he had been bounced around, he lived with me more years than with his mother and that perhaps they didn’t have a great relationship. Regardless of the situation, I would never want to intentionally hurt her and I most certainly didn’t want to hurt the investigation into the missing person case. My silence has seemed necessary, and not being part of the process to do as much as possible only increased my feeling isolated and sad. My special girl and I talked every time we saw each other, and it was also important to me to allow her to express the pain of the situation with her brother, and through those conversations, I could process some of the abyss of pain that occasionally threatens to swallow me. On August 3, 2020, almost exactly 4-years after the horrifying call that Christopher was missing, the call came that his remains had been found and matched DNA. Although an expected relief, it was also devastating. You truly don’t realize how much you’re holding out hope until you no longer have that option. To say losing my son is devastating would be a gross understatement. Unless you’ve been through the loss of a child, you can only empathize and for those of you that have also experienced it, I’m deeply sorry that you understand that type and level of pain. In my younger years, I speculated that if I lost a child the only thing keeping me grounded would be knowing the other kids needed me, and I loved being their Mom. I have found that to be true, although my faith, and knowing Christopher would want us to live our lives fully and with some of his innocent wild abandon also pushes me to move forward. Years ago, I looked forward to my dreams of that shy, blue-eyed little girl and the potential future we held. I never would have guessed that through her, I would find so much more. She is a constant reminder that even through terrible, grief-laden loss, there is also an outstanding propensity for blissful joy. For more info, follow Jenn on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website! Read more from Jenn! Jenn Taylor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenn Taylor is Mom Of 18 and The Naked Podcaster, a Mindset Coach, and Motivational Speaker. She is also an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom’s Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess". She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Compounding Joy - Using the theory of compound interest to create a happier life! If you’ve attended events or heard speakers in the past and gotten excited about making changes only to return home and not know what to DO with the information, or feel frustrated at not knowing HOW to implement the information, you’ll love this talk! Compounding Joy brings fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. Not only will you walk away with WHAT to do, but you’ll also know HOW in quick, easy steps.

Written by: Janette Ghedotte, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In your personal or professional interactions, wouldn’t you want to know how well you are being received by, connecting with, and influencing others to move them towards the “YES” to take action? You want a favorable outcome whether you are negotiating a multimillion-dollar business deal, on your first date, at a networking event, or raising your children. Here are three important communication aspects that you need to know: What verbal and nonverbal messages are being exchanged, What impressions are being conveyed, and How are you being perceived? Understanding how to detect and decode both verbal and nonverbal messages offer valuable intel to assess the situation and lead you to the answers. Smiling is one of the best body language clues to convey a positive impression and to indicate that things are going well. A smile LIGHTS up a room! When you smile, your brain releases more: neuropeptides, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins For an overall feeling of happiness along with stress and pain relief. Inside the brain and the body, Chemical messenger neuropeptides help to modulate the release of neurotransmitters relating to synaptic signaling, bodily functions, sensory perception, and emotions. Neurotransmitter dopamine is a chemical messenger and is involved in motivation, reward, mood, attention, happiness, and pleasure. Hormone serotonin regulates overall mood, emotional well-being, happiness, and cognitive abilities. Endorphin hormones ease pain and help you feel connected. Outside the brain and the body, our smiles make us look more attractive. We feel sensational when we flash or see genuine smiles and laughter in others. Smiling is a positive sign that you are friendly, welcoming, and approachable. Smiling enhances comfort and ease. Smiling indicates a good mood and can ignite the mirror neurons in others to respond accordingly with their own smiles. When you smile, others tend to naturally match and mirror smiling with you. But, do you know the difference between a GENUINE smile versus a SOCIAL smile? In a genuine smile, the entire face should be lit up and engaged! Facial muscles are more activated and expressive in a genuine smile: The forehead occipitofrontalis muscles are relaxed and smooth without stress lines. The orbicularis oculi muscles pull upward to tighten the eyes and eyelids into a squint with less pupils showing resulting in wrinkles appearing on the outer edges of the eyes. The eyes look slightly or completely closed. The procerus muscle between the eyes and at the bridge of the nose lift which may result in wrinkling in the area. The levator labii superioris, zygomaticus major, and zygomaticus minor cheek muscles rise and make the cheeks appear rounder and more prominent. The levator labii superioris and orbicularis oris mouth muscles work together to lift and open the lips wider and expose more of the teeth and gums. The upper teeth lift and separate from the lower teeth. “Puppet lines” appear from the outer edge of the nose to the mouth corners. So, pay attention because genuine smiles produce gravity-defying activation in the facial muscles between the eyebrows and mouth areas. When you can get others to feel so at ease that they are smiling and laughing, then you’ve achieved a deep sense of rapport and connection. When you smile, others tend to naturally match and reciprocate smiling with you! Our emotions in social smiles are not as strong. Therefore, the facial muscles do not lift upward as much. People may attempt to mimic a genuine smile to be socially appropriate in the situation, but if they are not feeling true happiness, joy, or exhilaration in the moment, their smiles will be forced and less authentic. Compared to muscle activation in genuine smiles, in social smiles: The eyes are open enough to see the pupils and whites of the eyes because the surrounding orbicularis oculi muscles are more relaxed. The facial muscles between the eyebrows and mouth appear neutral without as much gravity-defying lift. Upper and lower teeth are closer or touching together. The facial or mouth expressions may appear neutral, forced, awkward, or asymmetric. Our facial muscles respond immediately to how we are feeling in the moment based on the sensory information that the brain receives and the people with whom we are interacting. Remember, genuine smiles will produce more facial muscle activation and upward lift than social smiles. When you and others are sharing genuine smiles and laughter, you have achieved true connection and have the best opportunities to get them to say “YES,” take action, and move them toward your desired outcome. From Head to Toes, the BODY Always Shows the TRUTH. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Janette Ghedotte, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Truth & Deception Detection Expert Janette Ghedotte is a MA LLP Clinical Psychologist, Founder, and CEO of Accurate Body Language. Accurate Body Language is the KEY to crack the code, unlock the vault of nonverbal communication, and reveal the secrets of human interaction. With over 20 years of corporate business, marketing research, advertising & strategic brand positioning, and clinical psychology experience, Janette specializes in understanding the complexities of human behavior, interpersonal relationships, verbal, and nonverbal body language communication. Photo Credit: Robin Gamble of Robin Gamble Photography Resources: Russo A. F. (2017). Overview of Neuropeptides: Awakening the Senses? Headache, 57 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), 37–46. Jenkins, T., Nguyen, J., Polglaze, K., & Bertrand, P. (2016). Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis. Nutrients, 8(1), 56. MDPI AG. Genuine Smile (06:22 mins) Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/513391841 YouTube: https://youtu.be/1ZmMZL9klp0

Written by: Ellen Lorraine Niemeier , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When you follow what truly lights you up, as you align more with who you really are, you notice things become easier for you. Less effort is required. And the effort that is required is not a struggle. Your focus shifts more and more to Being from Doing. You get to enjoy life and get out of the constant problem-solving lifestyle that society has upheld as 'normal'. You get to feel the pride of knowing that you were one of the few who went for it! It takes courage to create a life that aligns with your Soul. For one, it will not look like anyone else's! What is perfection for you, may not work at all for the next divinely aligned person. How you manifest is unique to you. The energies of your Soul are unique to you. The perfect combination of your soul's energy, specializations, and lifetimes of experience are unique to you. So, what happens when you've been going along kind of tolerating a life that isn't completely fulfilling, and you decide to make changes to align more with who you really are? People, sometimes people you have been close to for your whole life, may disagree. May throw shade in your face about how what you want, what you are doing, the changes you are making... are all wrong! You may also find yourself walking into Doubtsville because your beloved ego, whose job is to keep you safe, IE keep everything THE SAME, starts freaking out a little bit because you are making changes. Changes that require steps into the unknown. Changes that mean things will no longer be the same. And the egos of your nearest and dearest can be triggered too. Egos love a guaranteed specified outcome. It takes courage to make the decision that you are going to create your own path. To take the steps into the unknown. To trust that the highest good is unfolding, even though you have no reference point for exactly what it's going to look like. And to feel all the feelings that come up as you let go of all the things that haven't been quite right for you. To face the things that have hurt. To face yourself. So that's all great, right? We are courageous Soul-led people, ready for change, bravely carving a path of our own design that ends up not only nourishing ourselves but has a ripple effect times infinity that positively touches more people than we can even quantify. Fabulous. But what happens when we don't? What is actually happening when you have this guidance in your heart, but you continue to tolerate and participate in all these things that really don't jive for you? Perhaps, you're going along, working in a job that drains the life out of you. You wait and hope every minute passes faster to get you to the next weekend, the next day off, the next vacation... You justify it, counting on the paycheck, the recognition, the box to tick off for your resume, but something inside you is DYING. You feel you can hardly stand it, yet you continue to tolerate it. Drama abounds, sucking more of your precious life force energy. You have big ideas, but barely a shred of motivation left at the end of the day to take action toward your creation. You find some silver linings that reaffirm that this is okay for now, but those are quickly shrouded by the day-to-day that demands you play a part that doesn’t fully feel like you're being you. You may start to lose touch with who you really are. You find yourself identifying more by what you are doing, what you are accomplishing, what you are creating in terms of what is expected and celebrated by your family, friends, co-workers, or society. You do your best to hide how discontent and unfulfilled you feel to fit into that super acceptable box. And somewhere along the line, you start to forget that you had dreams. You start to forget about what really lights you up. You can name things you're passionate about, but you don't feel that resonance anymore when you talk about them. Maybe guilt creeps in because you're not as devoted to those things the way you once were, or always thought you would be. You have some idea of what you like to do for fun, but maybe even the 'fun' you are having isn't feeling that fun to you. Everything is just one big problem to solve. You operate by solving problems. Resolving issues. Handling difficulties. It's never-ending. Of course, most societal structures pride us on what good problem solvers we are. Barreling through obstacles, blindly making way, forcing everything as best you can to work out a certain way, and by a certain time. The outcome seems to be all that matters, and everyone is judging. (Especially you judging yourself). Tolerating circumstances is not the same as living life. Feeling like everyone else is getting to participate in life while you feel next to it is not all that is meant for you. So, great Ellen, thanks for that downer about a life misaligned. I'm kind of in that place, but I don't want to stay there. What do I do?! Here are three things you can do to get started: 1. Get super clear on your intention. Ask yourself: What would you like to experience? What would you like to create? What would you like to receive? Is your health giving you issues? What would you like to experience instead? Formulate it in a positive statement. Would you like to experience more loving and harmonious relationships? Clearly articulate that to yourself. Write it down. Get it clear in your mind. It's impossible to create what we really want if we aren't clear on what that is. You may need to write several circumstances that you don't want just to clear the way for you to see what you do want. That is okay too! Sit quietly and tune into your heart space. Ask if it could be clearer to you what your heart truly desires. Allow it to come to you. It may in that moment, or it may in another moment when the space is there to receive it. 2. Once you have a clear intention on one or several life areas, start noticing and thanking all the ways it is already showing up for you. For example, 'Thank you penny for showing up on the sidewalk! Thank you, Universe, that today I woke up feeling well-rested and energized! Thank you for the cashier who was kind to me today.' Etc. etc. Notice all the ways it's already showing up. Even if it seems tiny. Even if there seems to be a loooooong way to go toward what you really want. Notice and thank it as it shows up and it will expand. Have fun with this, feel free to write love notes in your journal to all the things that are aligned with your vision as they show up. Notice what that does for your vibration! 3. Get support! It takes great courage to change your life! Gaining insight into your Soul and where your energies are directed can cut out lots of guesswork and assist you on your journey. It can also just be really nice, to have someone in your corner to remind you of how empowered and amazing you are (especially if the voices around you aren't quite ready for it!) You are a beautiful Divine Being in a human body, living a human experience. There is something special about you. You are so needed and so loved. Until next time, Ellen Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Ellen Lorraine Niemeier, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ellen Lorraine Niemeier is an Advanced Soul Realignment® Practitioner, Master Akashic Records Reader, Expert Intuitive, and Channel. She first learned about the Akashic Records when she was seeking support for herself on her surprise journey into single motherhood 8 years ago. Shortly after the birth of her son, she became a certified practitioner and Soul-Level Healing LLC was born. Clients from around the world share their soul's deepest pains and deepest longings as she supports them to discover their divine gifts, clear their energy, and create the Soul-Led Lifestyle of their dreams. Ellen is a professional member of the Holistic Chamber of Commerce, Healers Magazine and Heal. Me.

Written by: Kelly Perry, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In today’s volatile, uncertain, and complex world, resilience can be a key component to business success. The good news is resilience is a skill that can be learnt and developed. One way resilience can be enhanced is through celebrating successes along the business journey. According to Feder et al., (2013) taking time out to do this can switch on the neural circuitry benefit reward of the brain. It releases dopamine, our feel-good compound, and increases our chances of adaptive responses to challenging situations in the future. This ability to recover from challenges, and even become strengthened by them, is termed as resilience. Three further reasons on how celebrating business success can enhance resilience are: Enriches positive business association Celebrating business success can increase optimism and positive emotional association, which are key factors in improving resilience (Baker and Baker, 2021). Dedicating time to stop and celebrate wins can increase the likelihood of when challenges and setbacks arise, that grit and determination will prevail. Focuses attention on success techniques and creates cognitive flexibility Allocating time to business success and reflecting on how these eventuated, allows deliberation on the strategies and techniques which contributed to overcoming challenges. This insight and reminder to what has worked is a supportive, solution-focused approach. Practising a success focus can also contribute to cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to switch from a negative to a positive mindset improving thought clarity, determination, and resilience. (Feder, et al., 2013). Improves confidence in the ability to meet future challenges Research has found reflecting and celebrating success can boost confidence in one’s ability to take on future challenges. It can create a snowball effect of continual belief in extending oneself to achieve business vision, even in the light of challenges (Baker and Baker, 2021). Allocating time and effort to celebrate business success can enhance resilience. This is achieved through improving optimism and positive business association, creating cognitive flexibility to a solution-focused mindset, and improving confidence in overcoming future challenges. This skill can be a vital component in managing business challenges in this complex and fast-changing business world. Follow me on Faceb ook , and visit my website for more info! Kelly Perry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kelly Perry is an ACA Registered Counsellor and creator of the Business Women’s Resilience Program. She was inspired to create this program after founding the Sports Science Education Institute and discovered it wasn’t her technical knowledge or business skills which were the most impactful but the ability to handle tough business challenges. Today she educates businesswomen on how to gain resilience and counseling techniques to enhance their business and life. References: Baker, F., Baker, K., & Burrell, J. (2021). Introducing the skills-based model of personal resilience: Drawing on content and process factors to build resilience in the workplace . Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology , 94, 458-481. Feder, A., Gang, Wu., Cohen., H., Kim, J., Calderon, K., Charney, D., & Mathe, A. (2013). Understanding resilience. Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience , 7 (10), 1-15.

Written by: Serene Shereef, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you ever get the feeling that time is somehow out of your control? The days… weeks... months… and years are just passing through without any checkpoints to enjoy the scenery? Here we are, still processing through 2020… and there are only 4 more months for the completion of 2021! Time has morphed into this creature that has a life of its own, as something that controls us with no mercy: “Time just ran away from me today.” “Time went faster than I realized.” “I had no time to do what I wanted to do.” “I would love to do that, if only I had time.” “After this week, finally things will go smoothly and I will be able to do…” As a general and trauma surgeon, I was no stranger to working long hours and holding my breath till everything needed to be done. I kept waiting for the moment where things would just flow easier, and I could finally have a few moments of calm. I struggled with feeling like I had no time to catch my breath, let alone think and consciously pursue what I wanted at home or work. About 6 years ago, I hit my rock bottom, struggling with severe burnout. My life was focused on taking care of my patients and my family, and I was rarely even on my own priority list. Productivity and habit-building have always been my foundation, and a major part of how I had come to this place of total chaos-juggling between a busy surgical practice, being a wife and mom to 3 active kids and all the other balls that I had circling in mid-air. But even functioning at my maximum efficiency, I realized that something was missing. Something crucial that would eventually explode my externally perfect world into bits of chaos. Coaching and Mindfulness transformed all areas of my life, gave me the tools to manage my mind, time, energy & productivity. By connecting to my life vision and using the MAPS (Mindfulness And Productivity Systems) Framework, I am so grateful to live in my true purpose. Now I use my unique and powerful MAPS framework to help other professional women struggling with burnout and overwhelm to take control of their time, mind & energy. How can you and I “create” the time that we want? Or is that just an elusive concept, like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? Can we design and implement how we want our days to flow? How do we finally regain control of “time” in our lives? I want to share 3 key principles on how you can do this, utilizing principles that will help you finally create that flow and ease that you have been dreaming of. 1. Gratitude is the key to abundance Gratitude is the best boost to 10X your productivity! As we experience and embrace our life with gratitude, our brain releases neurotransmitters (chemicals) including dopamine and serotonin, the “feel good” chemicals that help to generate the feeling of happiness. By repeated acts and thoughts of gratitude, we create neural pathways (roads in our brain) that help to create a life that is full of joy. What would your life be like, if this simple step could create true joy in the moment? 2. Challenges are an opportunity to grow Our human experience includes challenges and ease, successes and failures. But our brain has convinced us, that somehow challenges and failures are the bane of our existence, and to be avoided at all cost. So we avoid and ignore these incredible growth opportunities. What would your life be like, if embracing and understanding the challenges is the true boost needed to get to your next level? 3. Focus is the secret element to wield the power of your time and energy The amount of data, both physical and mental that we process daily is truly mind-boggling! And it continues to increase daily with added (and infinite) expectations, as well as, infinitely more distractions to capture our attention! What would it be like if we were “indistractable”, laser-focused and completely in charge of our mind, energy, and time? I have designed a weekly check-in & time/productivity analysis to find the clarity and focus that you want to see in your life! You can learn more, including access to my special meditation and journaling video to guide you and help you Create Your own Unique Habits of Productivity & Mindfulness at Productive Week . If you are ready to take control of your time, energy & productivity, join me in my upcoming Masterclass “The 3 Secrets to Maximize Your Productivity”. This will be a gamechanger for anyone interested in using the tools of Mindfulness, Habit-building, and Creating Clarity to Achieve Your Life Transformation! This is a virtual event that occurs on September 21, 2021, from 9 pm EST. Register Here! Grab your seat today. See you at the Masterclass! Follow me on Face book , LinkedIn , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Serene Shereef, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Serene Shereef is a general & trauma surgeon and a mindfulness & productivity certified life coach. After struggling with severe burnout and hitting rock bottom, she used the energy of mindfulness with the scientific principles of habit building and created systems of productivity to reclaim her life. She now uses this unique powerful framework to help other professional women struggling with burnout and overwhelm to take control of their time, mind & energy. She has created an integrated mindfulness and productivity program that builds clarity on your life’s passion and purpose and uses individualized systematic tools to take control of your life so that you have time for everything that is important to you. Her goal is to help you do less and live more, embracing the joy of living your best life.

Written by: Ulrike Seminati, 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 exactly does money mean to you? For me, money is a means to achieve and maintain freedom: the freedom to work in a job that I love, to live in a place that is comfortable and safe, and to travel the world (at least that is what it did until 2020!). Money also enables me to engage in projects that are close to my heart, namely to help young people in countries where access to education is not the norm yet. We all have an intimate relationship with money, one way or the other – our own individual money paradigm if you will. For many of us, this comprises the desire to have more money, yet we might feel almost resentful at the same time, as we most likely have self-sabotaging beliefs about money or about being wealthy. Like any relationship, our involvement with money can become dysfunctional and influence our hearts and minds in a counterproductive way. Researchers refer to beliefs about money as money scripts. Like lines being read by an actor, money scripts are firmly held beliefs we recite to ourselves inwardly. They typically live in our subconsciousness and are passed on to us by our parents and grandparents. We establish them by observing how the people around us talk about money, by listening to their opinions – and biases – about the rich and the poor, and by watching their financial behaviors and patterns. What is your association with money? And – if you want more of it – what would more money bring to you? How would it change your life? Money is far more than a currency. For many of us, it is representative of the life we are dreaming of. And sometimes, what we believe about money is linked to the value we give ourselves. Our belief pattern around money is probably more negative and limiting than beliefs we have in any other area of life. By increasing our awareness of our beliefs about money, we can make sense of our emotions and identify actions of financial self-sabotage in our past, which can help us to prevent similar patterns in the future. Money is not the root of all evil; It is what we do with it. If we grew up believing that money is evil, that we need to hold on to our money at all costs, or that we don’t deserve to earn more of it, we generated negative beliefs about money that we most likely carried through to adulthood. Only by re-programming those negative associations, money and wealth will become fully accessible. Once we are mentally detached from money, it is free to start flowing to us. There is one simple thing you can do to find out if you have negative beliefs about money: Speak out loud the following sentence: “I deserve to be rich.” Are you able to say this sentence without even a hint of guilt or doubt? If so, congratulations! You have a healthy relationship with money. If you sense the slightest feeling of guilt or doubt, you have one or several beliefs about money that are standing in the way of you achieving your financial goals. While there are certainly factors we can’t control if it comes to our financial situation. However, there is one thing that distinguishes wealthy people from those who struggle: they never doubt that they deserve to be rich. They have rich thoughts, they consider themselves being rich as their natural state, and this way of thinking attracts more riches into their lives. Having conscious positive thoughts about wealth precedes prosperity in our material world. Children who have grown up in rich families find it easier to become wealthy themselves. This is on the one hand due to a supportive network and on the other hand on the belief that they deserve to be wealthy without restrictions is natural and omnipresent to their mind. This way of thinking is the key to our success. Embracing the idea of us being wealthy without feeling guilty, not worthy enough or fearful of losing our riches again is the key to change towards a prosperous life. So, how can we shift our money mindset to positively influence the trajectory of our life? 1. Find out where you already feel rich. Our emotions are a powerful inner driver that can help us to filter out promising opportunities to create a wealthy life. Rich people have created their riches first in their mind. To enhance your chances to become rich, you need to feel rich. And believe it or not, you have sources to rely on within yourself right now to create this kind of feeling. Take a few minutes to reflect on the following question: If you had all the money you are dreaming of, what would you change? Would you change your relationships? Would you change your friends? Would you change your favorite activity? Would you change where you live? Would you change what you laugh at? If you answer “no” to one or more of these questions you have already identified an area (or more) of your life where you are already rich. Rich in the way you feel, no matter whether you have more money or not. Creating awareness about these areas enables you to create a basis for a more positive mindset. A mindset that helps you to find your inner keys to opening subconscious doors to attract more riches in your life. 2. Identify your limiting beliefs. When we are born, our mind is a clean slate. There are certain things our bodies are genetically programmed to be able to do almost from birth - the basics of movement, communication, and self-healing. However, when it comes to what we choose to believe about the world, our minds are up for grabs. Children believe in Father Christmas and fairies as easily as they believe in grammar and money. Until we take control of our own minds, our beliefs about the world and ourselves come from the continual messages that we receive in the first few years of our lives. What we are told again and again, particularly at moments of emotional intensity, has the most powerful effect on us: If you believe you must work hard to make money, you will only look for jobs that involve a lot of effort. If you believe that everyone is out to rip you off, you will subconsciously gravitate towards people who will do just that. If you believe that you deserve great wealth, then your mind will look for opportunities that create that wealth. Ask yourself the following questions: Growing up, what did I hear and observe with regard to money? What is the one thing my parents did with their money that I want to replicate? What is the one thing my parents did with their money that I want to do differently? By identifying these beliefs, you give yourself the chance to catch them “in action”. When you are hesitating to ask for a salary increase next time being aware of your belief pattern will diminish their power on you. 3. Replace your limiting beliefs with empowering ones. For a week, write down on a notepad every belief that pops in your head, every day. This belief awareness exercise enables you to isolate any limiting belief that is likely holding you back in life. Once you have identified those limiting beliefs, then it is time to replace them by beliefs that will enable you to become rich and successful. Positive beliefs can be: I deserve money. Money can come to me easily. There is more than enough to go around. It is okay for me to be wealthy. You can use these new beliefs like mantras that you repeat to yourself every day. However, if you aim for long-lasting change, a more sustainable method is to work on and with your limiting beliefs in a coaching session, thus removing their limiting power and approaching your life goals with a new, productive mindset. 4. Act and plan as if you already had the money. Like everything we create, we first imagine it in our heads. Before Edison created the light bulb, he imagined it in his mind. To have a rich mindset you need to act on and about money with confidence and the firm belief that you (will) have enough of it. Our brain does not make a difference between what we imagine and what we live in the “real” world. If you have positive emotions when vividly visualizing a wealthy life, your brain stores this mind movie as an experience. You can support this mental exercise through concrete actions. Be careful not to count every penny and be generous in planning investments or purchases by having the confidence that the appropriate financial situation will arise. 5. Give money away. Money has value only when it is used. If you want to bring movement and flow into your financial situation, you must first create movement. Regularly donate money to causes that matter to you and set good things in motion. In doing so, you create positive energy that will come back to you. If you want to improve your present life situation and become wealthier, you have to understand your internal money paradigm and take action to change your mindset. There is no better moment to start than right now! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Ulrike Seminati, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ulrike Seminati is a leadership and communication coach wholeheartedly dedicated to empowering leaders to trigger exactly the mindset shift they need to lead and communicate with charisma and authenticity. She recently launched her podcast CHARISMA HACKS, where you get mindset training, strategies, and tools to communicate with charisma on a weekly basis. Ulrike combines some of the most efficient self-development techniques with her corporate experience at all levels of hierarchy in her 1:1 coaching and corporate in-house training. She is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and conducts her programs in English, German or French.

Written by: Tara Sutorius, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It was a blustery afternoon in Ottawa, Canada, towards the end of November 2020. I was between meetings and deciding what to have for lunch while working from home. My puppy Rosie was nestled beside my desk when the phone rang. It was the Ottawa Hospital calling with some results I had been waiting for. The verdict: You have some suspicious lesions that need to be removed. We can get you into an operating room for day surgery next Tuesday. It was Thursday. Suddenly my mind was racing. I would be in the hospital in less than a week for surgery. Was I scared? Absolutely. Was I thinking worst case scenario? No. You see this would be my third surgery in ten years for a variety of health issues, and I knew I was in good hands with my medical team, my support system, my faith, and my growing ease with uncertainty. Also, I had faced many mind, body, and soul challenges over the last decade, and these experiences had shown me that I could recover from unforeseen life challenges and setbacks by leaning into uncertainty. “Relax” they said before I went into surgery, but it was not really about relaxing into the unknown; rather, it was this deep knowing that I would be alright because I had mental fortitude; I was resilient. Did you know the opposite of stress is not relaxation – it’s resilience? resilience noun - the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness. I like to think of resilience as our ability to bounce back from adversity, major life changes and to tap into our inner strength to help us recover more quickly. Picture this: a beautiful bamboo plant can bend and flex, even under extreme hurricane conditions, but it does not break. That’s what a resilient human being is capable of with the right set of habits. Here’s what we also know about building resilience: You can improve your resilience by how you choose to respond to life Cultivating healthy habits can help build a strong body, mind, and spirit Building new daily habits requires consistency and commitment Consistency takes accountability Accountability ensures sustained success In other words, resilience is not something you’re born with. It develops as you grow, evolve, and gain better self-awareness and self-management skills. Resilience is about fluidity, allowing humans to recover their balance even when they’ve been pushed into imbalance. Did you know some of the benefits of being a resilient human include? Being at ease with uncertainty Maintaining equilibrium and balance Connecting and feeling grounded Prioritizing your wellness above all else Aligning your personal core values and choices Feeling at peace internally The signs of lack of resilience can look very different and some can include: Showing up manic or scattered Seeking validation through external factors Operating from a place of uncharacteristic negativity Dealing with fatigue and depression Feeling uninspired, anxious, or languishing Recalling the times in my life when I felt super depleted and overwhelmed, I recognize now that I lacked resilience and checked off that entire second list. For example, when my kids were little, I often fretted about everything that could go wrong and obsessed over perfection – perfect home, perfect parenting, perfect career and more. And if things did not live up to my expectations of myself or went sideways, I would become overwhelmed, self-sabotage and quickly start a cycle of wallowing and seeking external validation. Sound familiar? This type of cycle can happen to all of us in different forms. Over the years, I have made it my mission to master resilience because, after all, you can’t pour from an empty cup. My personal journey started with prioritizing my mind and soul wellness. It started with building my resiliency one tiny habit at a time, and, knowing my “WHY” – my purpose, my raison d’etre so to speak. For me it was leading my life from a set of core values that were my North star including family, balance, wellness and compassion for self and others. Knowing why I wanted to feel my best self help me start to master resilience by: Developing an emotional connection to my WHY Taking mindful action daily (i.e. meditation practice) Visualizing my success (i.e. vision boards and journaling) Building in accountability (i.e. buddy system) Repeating daily! (i.e. affirmations) My WHY: Feeling healthier from the inside out so I can enjoy life to the fullest and operate from a place of gratitude and servant leadership. So where do YOU want to start? Building resilience can feel overwhelming, but when we start with one tiny habit at a time, we can move the needle over time. Ask yourself, “In what part of my life to I feel the most depleted? In other words, perform a mini audit of your thoughts and behaviours and ask yourself, “Do I want more or less of following”? Sleep more deeply Eat more consciously Move more often Be more mindful Feel more positive Be more connected Recharge more often Feel less triggered Feel less resentful Do less people pleasing Do less negative self-talk Be more intentional daily Pick one area. Just one. Now, reflect and ask yourself: What is one small thing I would like to do differently moving forward? Why does this matter to me? What would the positive impacts be to myself and to those around me? What might the costs be to myself and my loved ones if this change does not happen? For more tips and tricks, check out my Spring 2021 podcast where I go even deeper to share my personal experiences on building my resilience at home and work - one tiny habit at a time. Take action today: Do you need help building your resilience routine one tiny habit at a time? Contact me for a complimentary coaching call and let’s get started: tara@coachsutorius.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Tara Sutorius, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As a certified professional coach trained with Erickson International Coaching, Barrett Values Centre and Career Joy, as well as an accredited PCC-level coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF), Tara Sutorius specializes in helping individuals better understand their personal core values so they may live a more purpose-driven life in alignment with what is most important to them in their personal and professional lives. Tara is also the Director of Communications at Export Development Canada (EDC) and the founder of “Tara Sutorius Coaching and Wellness” – a coaching company offering compassionate, transformational and values-based personal leadership, career and wellness coaching. Working alongside senior leaders in both the private and public sector for over 20 years, Tara has a keen sense of what is required to be able to connect with one’s personal and professional leadership mission in order to effect meaningful change over the long-term and build greater resiliency both at home and at work. What Tara loves most about coaching is helping guide individuals through powerful questioning and transformational conversations. Her coaching style is compassionate, action-oriented, motivational, connected and intuitive. She can help guide you to better align your values with your dream job, clarify your passions, set clear goals and take greater ownership of your career and overall wellness.

Written by: Heidi Dulebohn, 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. You've dreamt of it, and for right now, imagine you're in charge of your company—you're calling the shots. The burning question is whether you will let knowledge workers work remotely, require butts in seats back in the office, or employ a hybrid model? We have the technology. The pandemic forced us to pivot on a dime to WFH, and surprisingly, we made the transition quickly. The vast majority of employers, 83%, say their shift to working remotely was a success. Technology made this massive pivot possible and has helped expedite other technology that was already in the works. Virtual platforms like Zoom saw tremendous growth. Participation skyrocketed from 10 million daily users in December 2019 to over 200 million by March 2020 to over 300 million users today. But now we have Zoom fatigue instead of happy hours with our coworkers. There's no place like home. During the pandemic, working parents with children at home were able to mind their children, work from home, and add teacher to their resumes. Kitchen tables became offices, schools, and restaurants. We exhausted our Netflix queues and flourished in our new flexible work hours. Some of us got a little too comfortable. A Harvard study revealed that one of every three of us over drank, gained more than 10 pounds, and 75% of us binge-watched something during the pandemic. It wasn't exactly a piece of cake, even for the fortunate, but, for the most part, people liked working from home. Commutes were cut to zero; money was saved from gas and lunches at home. We spent the money we saved on home improvement projects, mainly because we finally had the time . According to National Geographic, even the environment got a momentary boost, but the jury is out for the future. Good for you, not so much for me. Like many illnesses, one diagnosis can lead to examinations that expose other maladies. For many, working from home during the pandemic was a Godsend, and for others, tragically, a nightmare. " United Nations Women" reports that violence against women and girls increased during the pandemic while they were locked down at home , without an escape. Many in poor or rural areas lacked sufficient broadband to work or learn from home—a preexisting condition exposed during the pandemic and clamoring for a remedy. A Stanford study revealed that 1/3 of the survey responders had inadequate internet connectivity for video calls, an obvious obstacle to learning or WFH. I'm working, really. One positive thing the pandemic has given us is the realization that remote workers are productive workers. A study done by Mercer, an HR Consulting firm, found that remote work was equal to or more productive than work done in the office. A Stanford study showed a 13% increase in productivity. This makes sense because, without a daily commute and all the trappings that go with it, you gain precious time that you can use to buckle down and get the job done—even if you throw in a load of laundry or jump on your Peloton. This isn't all new. Tsedal Neeley, a Harvard professor who has been studying and consulting with remote work for over two decades, points out in her new book, Remote Work Revolution: Succeeding from Anywhere , that remote work works. Professor Neeley gives many examples of successful remote work environments. For instance, she lists Cisco as starting one of the first remote work programs in 1993, saving the company $195 million in 2003, and increased employee production. Other firms cite similar savings from things like physical office and travel expenses. Don't mess with happiness. Knowledge workers whose jobs allow them to be able to work remotely are not only more productive, but they are also happier, and happy employees can become your best recruiters. Microsoft Surface and YouGov research of 4,000 UK office workers report that 56% are happier when working from home, 79% can better balance work and life responsibilities, and 70% have more time to invest in their well-being. A Morning Consult study found that 39% of remote workers would quit their job rather than go back to the office full time. Interesting to note that nearly half, 49% of those who would rather quit than commute, are millennials and Gen Z. A study by software company iCIMS and reported by the Society for Human Resources Management found that 98% of graduates of the Class of 2021 want to work in a hybrid model. In comparison, only 2% of the Class of 2021 want to work remotely, full-time, citing the attractiveness of socialization and building relationships. We are missing you. Remember those people at work who drove you bonkers? Well, we miss them, we miss all of them, and new graduates want to meet them. A study showed that during the pandemic, what 65% of remote workers missed most about work was socialization. Human connection is hardwired in us. We can feel physical pain from a lack of social contact . While we like working from home, many of us became very lonely, detrimental to our health and productivity. So, it seems we crave a hybrid model. A little bit here, a little bit there. The obvious solution to keep organizations healthy, productive, and profitable is, when appropriate, to allow for a hybrid work environment. We have learned that we can work well remotely, yet we can feel isolated when only WFH. A Harvard study showed that 81% don't want to go back to the office full time and prefer a hybrid model. The same survey showed 61% would like to go back to the office 2-3 days per week, while only 18% want to go back full time. Some want to work in the office, some from home, and now we are seeing a rise in working from a "third place," a term first coined by Ray Oldenburg. Third places aren't your home or office, but that third place where you feel comfortable, welcome, and have good internet service, such as your favorite coffee shop. We want the flexibility to choose the hours and places from which we work. Nobody said it was going to be easy. Our global necessitated experiment with remote work has left us with renewed values, priorities, and demands for our work constructs during the most significant employment shortage in 15 years . Competition is fierce. Industries where remote work can work have some tough decisions ahead. They will need to employ the right technology that does the job, is dynamic, and is easy to use, and reevaluate commitments to real estate to possibly consider repurposing current space, perhaps for daycare or employee wellness. Knowledge workers seem to know what they want and are willing to quit their jobs to find it. Organizations face a difficult challenge to satisfy everyone while meeting or exceeding goals will not be easy. Ultimately, for many organizations, the best solution appears to be a hybrid work environment. It will take an exaggerated mastery of social skill sets to communicate concisely, empathetically, and in just the proper intervals for engagement and inclusivity. Time spent in person needs to be worth it. Innovation and creativity will transcend us beyond merely trying to recreate an in-person experience online to develop something new. Trust is paramount. At the same time, outcomes, productivity, and profitability will define success, not the number of hours in the office. Retention will be in direct proportion to happiness. Finding the sweet spot and creating the perfect work environment isn't going to be easy. Those who ultimately succeed will lead with kindness and an open mind. Follow me on Facebo ok , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Heidi Dulebohn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After traveling the world, breaking barriers and securing several "firsts" as an executive in the grain trading industry, Heidi turned her passion for etiquette into a series of helpful workshops, columns and crowd-pleasing speaking engagements. Fascinated by the cultural history behind traditional etiquette rules, Heidi has devoted her career to empowering leaders with a modern-day version of those same wonderful rules. A highly certified expert on modern etiquette for the digital age, she is dedicated to sharing all she knows to help others live their best personal and professional lives. Her mantra: Be kind. It's free.

Written by: Lauren Barrett, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The key to success in any business is having an honest understanding of psychology. Essentially, all human beings have the same mental triggers that, in turn, drive our actions. In order to use them to your advantage within your marketing message, you must first develop a basic understanding of them. What triggers your target audience? How do your marketing messages make them feel? Is your branding reaching the appropriate audience in order to gain expected results? At the end of the day, our minds are what decide to buy. If you know how the human brain functions, you have the power to influence and understand your customers. There is power behind knowing what moves them through your messaging and at what point they seek to learn more. Essentially, they go from one link to another. Doubling your sales doesn’t have to seem impossible! Here is a basic psychological trigger you can start using today: The 1 Driving Force of All Human Behavior: all human behavior is driven by the need to avoid pain and the desire to gain pleasure. Even when we do something that appears painful, we associate the actions with pleasure. For example, as firefighters run into burning buildings, they gain pleasure from the idea of saving lives. So, what does your customer associate with pain and pleasure? “In order to influence someone, you need to know what already influences them.” Us human beings love novelty. When we are exposed to something new and unfamiliar, it increases the release of dopamine in the brain, making our brain feel like there is a possibility of reward (pleasure) waiting for us. This potential for pleasure motivates us to seek it out. According to Daniel Kahneman, “A general ‘law of least effort’ applies to cognitive as well as physical exertion. The law asserts that if there are several ways of achieving the same goal, people will eventually gravitate to the least demanding course of action. In the economy of action, effort is a cost, and the acquisition of skill is driven by the balance of benefits and costs. Laziness is built deep into our nature.” In other words, we are always migrating to the easiest option to achieve the desired result. Recommendation: Read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Provides a simple formula to become a highly effective person) Have you ever had a FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out?) This is yet another emotional trigger. Learning which emotionally triggering words to use in your day-to-day marketing and branding can make a huge impact, as well. The “Fear of Missing Out” is quite honestly the most powerful emotion. When used ethically, it can be a highly effective mode of storytelling. For example, try stating: “We only have a few openings left! Don’t miss out. Book your appointment today!” This will urge consumers to act quickly in order to receive the promised benefits of your business. In conclusion, the human brain is the 1 most powerful tool that can be used to your absolute advantage while marketing your products and/or services. As mentioned, a couple of the most important things to remember include: we are hardwired to avoid pain and receive pleasure in the easiest way possible, and using the “FOMO” can drive some pretty incredible results. To learn more about which mental triggers can enhance your marketing strategy, schedule a consultation with Ardor Marketing today! Lauren Barrett, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lauren Barrett is the owner of a MarTech (Marketing and Tech company) Ardor, servicing globally. She started her company going on 23 years old, during one of the countries biggest pandemics covid-19 where she was able to have her first client's business have their most profitable quarter yet. She has been featured and recognized as an Inspirational Phenomenal Woman by I.P.W. Magazine 2021. She lives in Chicago, IL USA with her puppy Buzz.

Written by: Ashlee Rose DiSalvo, 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. Years ago I was working full time as a High School Librarian knowing that I was in no way in love with the job for a High School whose culture I wasn’t sure I loved. At the time I was with a husband I thought I was in love with and I coached a sport I thought I still loved. I had just opened my own Junior Olympic Volleyball Club for the High School to provide an affordable option for students who could not afford the thousands of dollars they needed to pay to play. Serving as Director for the club meant that I needed to open the gym, close the gym, and also find substitutes for any missing coaches on a potentially daily basis. This meant I was at the High School for more than 12 hours a day on weekdays and away at tournaments almost every weekend throughout the year. I was burned out and it was starting to show. Within the next three years I found myself divorced (after ten years with my college sweetheart), had quit coaching volleyball at any level (high school or club), and was working for a new school as a Math Teacher. COVID hit and the lack of connection with students and colleagues sent me into a spiral that resulted in a Leave of Disability. I was lost for the first time in my adult life - the stability I had once enjoyed in the normalcy of marriage and seniority in my career was no longer resulting in happiness. I needed change at every level and I had no idea where to start. Act 1: Realize One thing I committed to throughout my divorce was saying yes to invitations. This was a tricky thing because it ended up creating a lot of burn out but the one great thing it did was force me to get out and be social. I was born and raised in New York and had lived in Los Angeles for seven years before my divorce so the only friends I had were from my old school or the volleyball community and now I wasn’t a part of either. So I started meeting new people by hanging out with the colleagues at my new school. This in turn led me to new friend groups with new interests. By being around diverse people I realized a few things. One of them was that I had no idea who I wanted to be. Another was that I had no idea what I actually wanted to do. I thought I knew these things but it took courage and honestly, a lot of heartache, to admit to myself that my life needed an overhaul on all fronts. Act 2: Resist Someone I met during this time was extremely spiritual and also extremely successful. We ended up getting very close and during our time together I learned a lot about self care and connection with Source. She introduced me to multiple holistic doctors and healers that she saw to help her maintain her health at the physical and spiritual level. She talked to me about meditation and crystal healing, she helped me to understand that there were different forms of healing, and that truth was more valuable than knowledge. For about a year I resisted trying anything we talked about - the truth was I was settling. I didn’t believe that I could be more successful because I thought I already was. In reality I was stagnating by being satisfied. Complacency was causing me to feel restless and I couldn’t recognize that because somewhere along the line the end goal became my definition of success, it didn’t matter what I experienced along the journey. Act 3: Risk It took almost losing my closest friend to take the leap of faith to start working on myself. We had gotten into an argument on my thirtieth birthday and seemed to be at an impasse. She was my support system, one of the only people who was with me consistently throughout my divorce and, honestly, I relied on her. The worst part was that she was losing herself while she was supporting me and neither of us wanted for that anymore. Two of our close friends who have done hours of work with life success courses and coaching stepped in to help us through the issue inspiring both of us to take action. I committed that day to attend a self-empowerment seminar called PSI and that ended up being the first step of many that led me to creating my business in Spiritual Response Therapy - The Clear Estate. Start Here The most important thing I realized on my way out of rock bottom was to prioritize loving myself again and I attribute this journey to self-love as the fundamental process which helped me to start my business. So whether you’re feeling like you're starting from square one or you're feeling stuck somewhere in the manifestation cycle of your business I hope that by sharing parts of that process (and why I believe each step was super important for starting a business) that it might inspire you to take the risk necessary in starting yours. Find Your Tribe (The Who): No matter what business you're in, there is a community of people that drive your success. Most of the time your family and friends will be a fundamental part of it. If you are locking yourself in the house at the end of the night to “stay focused” and “remove distraction” then you need to look at what is distracting you and why you don’t feel empowered enough to show some self control. Balance is key and no business ever started without clientele. People want to work with those that are social and easily approachable, ones who reflect their struggles and triumphs alike. Especially in the service industry clients would rather work with conscious feeling individuals versus robots like people who live to work. So take your weekends off and get out a bit. Chances are you will be able to do a bit of branding and marketing while having fun too. On the flip side there is value to being specific about who your business serves. Some clientele will fit your brand or services and benefit from them where others might not. It’s important to figure out who you want to market to and why. Get out and allow yourself to be inspired by the very people who will become your clientele. Prioritize Your Health (The How): I use the example of having a baby. When two people decide to have a baby to “save their marriage” it almost always ends up in a broken home. Creating during a time when you lack mental fortitude is not a great bet. I know some might argue the best artists were mad but they also weren’t trying to create a company with multiple moving parts where they would be responsible for all the managerial responsibilities that come along with it. Most people focus on financial stability when forming a business but I would argue mental stability is far more important especially if you are working with someone else’s money. Therapy, mindfulness, self empowerment work, coaching, and meditation had to become standard practice for me long before I thought of starting my business and I have found that all of these pieces are necessary in helping me stay grounded and find inspiration when making decisions for it. There is a flow to creativity and staying balanced by making your mental health a priority is even more necessary to help your business thrive then it is to get it started. Figure Out What You Believe In (The What): Most people would call this a vision statement but it’s so much more than that, it’s the foundation of your business and it has nothing to do with what you're selling or how you're selling it. I’m referring to the spiritual meaning you find in having a solid work ethic. This has nothing to do with the actual work you do for the business but it has everything to do with the spiritual work you complete in your daily life outside of the grind. These questions help me run my business and also helped me make marketing, scheduling, and pricing decisions at its inception. How often and why do you communicate with people? How and why do you show up for others? What differentiates you as a giver versus a taker? When and why do you say no? How often and why do you say yes? What do you hope to make people feel when you interact with them? What do you hope people never feel when you interact with them? Why do people continue to maintain relationships with you? Being solid with who you are, helps you make decisions around your business and how it is run and allows you to come from a consistent authentic place that other people will gravitate towards no matter what you're selling. Take Action But Set Boundaries (The When): Your business is a direct reflection of how often you make yourself and your dreams a priority. If you wait then you might never open. No business is going to be perfect and neither is the time to start. Time is an illusion and waiting to create is avoidance. On the other hand if you work tirelessly then you're probably going to burn out. Only you have the power to work on yourself which you can be conscious of at all times but knowing when to take a break is part of the same awareness. Running a business and loving yourself are daily commitments just like eating right or working out. But with everything, giving yourself some grace and observing some patience is important if your feeling burnt out. The process of loving yourself and putting yourself first is going to reflect on how successful and sustainable your business is. So the work you put into growing your mind and your body is going to impact the health of your business as a living vision. Since the value of your product is directly affected by the depth of understanding you have in knowing your truth then you have to observe and respect your limits. For help in finding clarity in taking the next steps of your self-love journey or the start of your new business feel free to email me at theclearestate@gmail.com or visit my website www.theclearestate.com to schedule a clearing. All Things in Love and Light, Ashlee Rose Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Ashlee Rose DiSalvo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ashlee is a former NCAA Scholarship Athlete who has worked in High School Education and Athletics for over a decade. She possesses both a Bachelors in Mathematics as well as one in Education and a Masters in Education with a focus in Library Science. She has served as a Founding Director of her own Junior Olympic Volleyball Club with Los Angeles Volleyball Academy and recently started her own business in Spiritual Response Therapy. Her new business, The Clear Estate, specializes in Akashic Record Clearing and Psychic Readings. Within the last year she has also started DJing Tech House shows as DJ Chakrateeze. She is a graduate of PSI 7 and staffs their Basic Seminars in Orange County.

Cassandra Wiley is a Health Coach and founder of Have Faith and Live Well with Chasadah LLC. She focuses primarily on chronic illnesses such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Her mission is to empower individuals to lose weight and teach a new healthier approach to food so that they can live better lives. She was successful in reversing her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol diagnoses naturally. The weight loss was an added benefit. She has helped clients change their diets and “have faith” in themselves in order to meet their health and wellness goals. Cassandra Wiley, Health Coach Who is Cassandra? I am a mom and wife that loves nature and looking at the water. It’s how I spend time thinking and have alone time. I like to cook, read, write, and travel. Family is important to me. I have a wonderful and supportive husband and a 10-year-old son. The health coaching journey first started for me in 2013 when my son was diagnosed with autism. I wasn’t familiar with it, so I decided to do research. As I went deeper into the rabbit hole, as they say, I started a blog to get important information out there about genetically modified organisms and the like. What is it that you do for your clients? I provide one-on-one coaching for those that want to manage their health conditions and lose weight, showing her that she can "have faith" in herself to achieve her health and wellness goals. It includes a free consultation and a health assessment to see where the potential client is currently. I meet them where they are without judgment. If we work together, I will guide her to make the appropriate lifestyle changes to avoid taking medication for the rest of her life. Many chronic illnesses can be attributed to being overweight, particularly belly fat. Belly fat is a precursor for Type 2 Diabetes. Clients can choose from 12-week program options that work best for them. One program is Taste Success USA that teaches clients a new healthier approach to food. Besides weight loss, other benefits of the program are better sleep and hormone regulation. Who should hire/work with you? My ideal clients are busy women seeking guidance in managing their chronic illnesses (i.e., pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure). They want to avoid or limit the use of medication. She is so busy working and caring for her children she may neglect her health in the process. For example, she goes to the doctor and finds out that she has high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, and high blood pressure. She’s also a little overweight. Her doctor wants to put her on medication; however, she does not want to take medication for the rest of her life. She wants to live a healthier lifestyle. What is your big goal now? Where do you see yourself ten years from now? My goal is to be an advocate for compatible clients and teach them a holistic way of living. I work remotely primarily, which allows me to have a large client base. In 10 years, I see myself with a thriving health coaching business, helping clients in multiple locations in the United States. What are your three areas of expertise? My three areas of expertise are weight management, disease management, and nutrition. They all work together to get the client results. Following the Standard American Diet (SAD) can lead to one or more chronic illnesses. SAD consists of more than 2000 calories per day of carbohydrates, fat, added sugars, processed foods, and protein. Fat cells store toxins that are released when you lose weight. The body can heal itself from a chronic illness if you give it healing foods. Do you want to make lifestyle changes? Find out if health coaching is right for you. Visit my website here. Read more from Cassandra!

Written by: Jessie Liew, 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. Sometimes it is ourselves that hold us from connecting with our children. As a parenting coach, many parents assume that I was born and inherited good parenting skills from my upbringing. How I wish this is true. Hahaha… To be honest, the situation back in 2019 was not that great. I was constantly having battles with my children in all areas of life. My children do not like to connect with me. I was not present with my children. In fact, I was coming from a mindset of controlling. Back then, I was always in reacting mode with my children, especially when my eldest daughter refused to obey my instruction. Sometimes I can just feel anger eaten into myself and I became a monster mom to my daughter. I realized something was wrong. When I managed to calm myself down, I looked into myself, wondering what was wrong with me. I realized that I was following in some of my mum’s footsteps! Tears went down my cheek. If I had experienced that, how can I do the same to my little Suen? My husband recommended that I meditate. Back then, I was having some anxiety attacks due to some career and working relationship issues. In the beginning, I did not see that sitting silently would solve my problem. But I just couldn’t get out of my existing problem on my own. Knowing my husband comes from a place of love, I decided to obey and meditate together with him. Little by little, day by day, after weeks of meditation, I begin to feel the calmness in my heart and my mind. My mind was cluttered back then. Once I started to see the clutter seems to disappear, I started to see the path clearly. I knew that whatever I believed at that time was not true. These are the false belief systems that I had which someone else planted there for me. I become aware of my mind and my surroundings. What are the messages coming into my mind, what are my thoughts at the moment and what can I do to dismiss these negative thoughts or false belief systems. I started to begin my personal development journey. The first thing that I do for my parenting area is to list all the false parenting beliefs that I have. I used to think that my children should be good at studying because I used to be a good student. I realize this is a false belief. It comes from my cultural belief as a Chinese person. For Chinese families, to succeed; you must have a good education. All of us come with some talents and strengths. My second son, Wei, has good artistic talents and I do not have that. Once I have dismissed this false parenting belief, I can accept my children for who they are and focus on their strength and talent. The second false belief I have is that all children must be filial and listen to their parents. Where does this false parenting belief come from? It comes from my cultural traditional Chinese upbringing. I realize I do not want that. Instead of following me blindly, they should be able to think and decide on their own using critical thinking. They should follow and pursue their own path. I want to pursue empowerment parenting so that my children are empowered to pursue the life that they want. Lastly, when my dear friend, Lee passes on due to nose cancer in March 2019, it allows me to realize what is more important to me, which is my family, fulfilling my true potential and being able to bring impact to the world. Lee’s passing on teaches me a lesson on being a mother, that we always do not give ourselves a higher priority; a need for self-care. It does not mean being selfish. I started to self-care for myself more. When my glass is full, I can give more to others. So, parents, how many of us have parenting beliefs that we still hold and it has become baggage in parenting our children? As I talked about all these, how many of you started to think about your parenting belief? So take a moment, really think, and be aware of your false parenting belief. So what happened to Jessie's new family in 2020? Now, I have the basic foundation of family values to discuss and decide together with my children. My children love to connect with me and will discuss things in their life, online and offline world. They rather have less toy or screen time, they just wanted to spend more time with mama. I am present with my children and we have a better quality time together. We have established a clear family culture and values. All my children know and take the family values as their own values. This has become more powerful as it comes from their heart. My parenting style comes from an “empowering” perspective rather than a “controlling” perspective. So do you want a transformation in your family life? Here’s the step: The first step is to be clear about your role as a parent. What is the role of us as a parent? What do we really want out of our parenting journey? For myself, I want to have a long-lasting relationship with my children, to share their growing and growth journey, and to inspire them to be better people who can contribute to the world. Second, be present and be mindful of your current parenting practices. Most of us come with some false parenting beliefs. You have to break these down so that you can move on. Sometimes, these false parenting beliefs are the one that holds us from connecting with our children. Lastly, we have to change from a mindset of controlling to empowering. This is true especially since our children are born in the digital era. I know it is hard being a parent sometimes in this digital age and we just want the best for our children even with our limited knowledge. Here’s the good news, with our digital parenting program, you can build a better relationship with your children and empowering your children to use electronic devices responsibly and staying safe on the Internet. Here are some case studies of our students: A. Simona Condrachi , a parenting coach, a mother of 2 boys B. Roopa Tailor , a Montessori specialist, a mother of 2 girls I hope this helps you realize the power you have in your children’s future if you choose to embark on digital parenting. If we can help you establish a better relationship with your children while empowering them to use the Internet and technologies responsibly while staying safe on the Internet. Would you be interested? I am looking for responsible parents who love and care about their children and screen use / Internet Safety. They wanted to build their children to be better future digital citizens and they want to have a life-long lasting relationship with their children. They want to become confident digital parents. If this is you, click here to book a free strategy call with me. If you would like help with reducing your children’s screen addiction and improving your relationship with them, join my free Facebook group to get immediate access to all of my free training. If you would like 1:1 coaching with me to help you reduce your children’s screen addiction and improve your relationship with them, book a free strategy call with me. Follow Jessie on Facebook for more information. Read more from Jessie! Jessie Liew, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jessie Liew is a Digital Parenting Coach. As a cybersecurity expert, a mother of 4, she also has to face the same task as all parents, which is rearing safe & responsible digital citizens. We are living in a digital era, and hence we need new skills to parent our children. She’s been working in the cybersecurity field for more than 14 years. She also holds professional certifications in Cyber Security (CISSP, CRISC, and CISA). She has been able to shape the companies’ employees' internet habits as well as in her own children. Her Mission: Empower Parents to nurture their children to use the Internet and technologies in a positive way while staying safe on the Internet. This builds the foundation of our future Digital Citizens. She is looking for parents or educators who want to nurture their children to be responsible digital citizens and build a great relationship with their children.