Written by: Aileen Carson, 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. Career changes are much more common these days as increasing numbers of people look for more meaningful and fulfilling work. About 15 years ago, I made the transition from a career in publishing to one in social housing, working with people with long-term mental health problems. Making the decision to leave my job was easy but deciding what to do next was a lot harder. So what do you do once you’ve decided to change your career? Here are a few questions to get you started. What are you good at? If you’ve been working for a number of years, you will have plenty of skills and experience to draw upon when trying to answer this question. What skills do you have that you can use in other jobs even if you don’t have much experience? Don’t just think about the skills you have developed at work. You may have gained skills from other areas of life, such as voluntary work or bringing up a family. If you’re finding it difficult to identify your skills, ask a friend what they think you’re good at. Other people can often see things in us that we can’t see. What do you enjoy doing? If you notice you’re not spending much time doing the things you enjoy, it’s time for a change. We spend so much time at work that it’s important to find a job you enjoy, not one that wears you down. I spent years doing voluntary work for various charities and I discovered I enjoyed this far more than any paid job I’d ever done. It was far more fulfilling and felt more meaningful than some of the jobs I had had. This realization gave me an insight into the kind of job I really wanted – doing something that made a difference in people’s lives. Once you have identified the things you enjoy, think about the types of jobs that will enable you to do these. What are your values? Working for an organization whose values align with your own can increase job satisfaction and reduce the likelihood of burnout. Take time to identify your own values. What’s really important to you and how can you incorporate this into your work? If money was no object, what would you like to do? Imagining that money is no object can encourage you to think creatively. When you’ve thought about what might be possible, start thinking about how you can achieve this. Consider whether you need further training or qualifications or if you can gain some experience in other ways. If there are people in your network who can help you, ask them for advice. Can you make a living from your chosen career? As you’re deciding what you want to do, make sure you’re being realistic. Are you going to be able to earn an income from your new career? If not, what do you need to change for this to happen? If you’re struggling to answer some of these questions, consider talking it over with a coach. Any transition in life can be scary as you’re moving from something familiar to something unfamiliar. A coach can help you overcome any fears you might have and find clarity. Once you’ve come up with some answers to these questions, the next step is to consider how you can use these to move into a new job. Think about how you can show potential employers your skills and the value you bring, perhaps by providing examples of your previous achievements. Finally… Making any change to your life can be difficult, but you’re not starting all over again. You have years of experience behind you and you can use that in your new career. Give yourself some space and time to think about what you want to do. You might find it helpful to discuss your plans with friends and family, particularly if your move will have a direct impact on them. Having the support of people close to you will make any transition easier. Changing career can be a lot of work and it requires energy. It won’t happen overnight, but it will be worth it when you’re spending time doing something you enjoy. Follow me on LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Aileen Carson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aileen Carson is a professional coach who specializes in helping people with career transitions. She has had a varied career, starting as an editor in the publishing industry and then moving into the social housing sector where she worked with people with mental health problems and dementia. Her passion for working with people led her to become a coach. She focuses on helping people identify what’s important to them to enable them to find work that is more fulfilling. She also supports people to find ways of dealing with stress to help them avoid burnout. Aileen’s own career transitions have given her a unique understanding of the problems people face when moving into a new sector and her personal experience of the common difficulties other people face in their working lives, such as burnout and redundancy, has given her valuable insight that feeds into her coaching work.

Written by: Abbey Dyer-Amonette , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise . I had a talented Female Entrepreneur tell me the other day, that her problem, was that she just could not get out of her own way. No surprise, high achieving women can often be their own worst enemy. Our thoughts play tricks on us, with one thought leading to another and landing in a snowball of doubt. But one of the foundations of change is awareness. We need to slow down and take note of our thoughts. Some obstacles to watch for: Are you approval-seeking. If you do things just because you want attention or recognition from others, including pats on the back or other rewards, you’re setting yourself up for challenges in decision making and action-taking. Feel yourself blaming others. When you place blame on other people or things outside of your control, you look for reasons to accept failure. While it’s true, you cannot control others, the best thing to do is to accept and/or apologize. Hear any negative self-talk in your head. When you lack confidence and talk badly to yourself, it’s harder to get things done. You’re held back because you don’t believe that you can achieve it, whatever it is There are ways to counteract these obstacles when pursuing a success mindset. One easy way to start on this path is daily affirmations. And I know, you might say that you don’t have time for one more thing. I get it, you are balancing building a business, career, kids, dance class, ball practice, aging parents, and much more. You also have a fire inside to help others through your business and need a mindset that helps push you even on the hard days. But what if I told you that you could do this in just ONE MINUTE a day? You can find two sets of my most successful daily affirmations and a guide to writing your own affirmations below. Grab my One Minute Daily Affirmations Workbook here: https://leadswithpositivity.com/oneminutedailyaffirmations We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. - Maya Angelou Want to learn more from Abbey? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or visit her website . Abbey Dyer-Amonette, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Abbey Dyer-Amonette is an Entrepreneur and Success Strategist. After several traumatic life experiences left her with self-doubt and anger, she found purpose and positivity by creating strategies to develop and maintain a success mindset. She is dedicated to helping others move past blocks and limiting beliefs, to create a life and business that lights them up. Dyer-Amonette has been a corporate leader for 20+ years, coaching and mentoring leaders with a Fortune 100 company. She also has a handmade product business that creates leather goods and jewelry inspired by nature.

Written by: Dr. Murtaza Zakiul Abrar, 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. Be it a grocery store with 5 employees, or an office building with 50, the wellbeing of an organization will lead to the wellbeing of its staff. The Covid-19 Pandemic brings unique sets of challenges for all of us, but introducing some simple structure into your workplace can ensure that your office itself is now a Support System for the entire workforce. The Mindset - from Boss to Leader Fear & anxiety tend to govern our decisions, when we don’t feel safe. This pandemic has given all of us a very unhealthy “dog-eat-dog” mentality, and your staff will be no different. Good news is, getting around it isn’t necessarily difficult. This is what you want your staff to feel: “The times are rough. But at least my office gives me SOME support . . . “ You want their experience to be fair, consistent, and predictable. The opposite is exactly what comes across as abuse, and that’s about the very last thing you want them to experience. 1. Value the Individual Accepted, Respected, Heard, Supported Openly address and accept that everyone is on edge, including you! Your team members should not be stretching themselves beyond limits, and so encourage everyone to try and keep an eye on their own physical & emotional limits. Avoid using terms like “non-essential personnel” as these can split up your staff and even have long term effects in their perceived value within the office. Remind everyone to develop a problem solving attitude instead of resorting to guilt and blaming. Make a clear statement that their ideas for new solutions to challenges are always welcome. Open up new channels of communication between the frontline staff and the senior management, thus demonstrating interest and care towards their wellbeing Make a point of making your workplace gender sensitive, and safe for women. 2. Stabilize the structure Smaller teams with solid structure will be far better in these times of crisis. Teams will provide peer support as well as agree upon their own tasks, while providing opportunities for some social contact. Weekly team meetings can ‘re-sync’ every member with everyone else’s status, and is invaluable to maintaining workplace stability. If a few members become unwell, new teams might need to be formed. A ‘buddy’ system can be implemented, to keep an eye on each others’ stress levels, goals, as well as make the return to work more welcoming for the staff. 3. Recovery & Repair When the pandemic is over, don’t breathe easy just yet! Prioritise the recovery of both the staff and your organisation. Staff relationships may change drastically, and mental health support might become a priority. Understand that everyone’s pent up negativity might start coming out now - and it’s okay. This is a first for all of us. In the end, the best we can hope for is to perhaps learn from this experience. It won’t be a loss, seeing as how your staff will have picked up new skills, new teams will be formed, and new communication channels created. This pandemic has brought out the worst in many of us, but we’re not through yet. This silly little world is all we have, so let’s make the best of it while we can. Stay safe! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Dr. Murtaza Zakiul Abrar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. M Zakiul Abrar, Doctor of Psychiatry, and Cognitive & Behaviour Lifecoach. But also a teacher, an artist, a violinist, a fire spinner - Dr. Abrar brings a diverse skillset of problem-solving into Mental Healthcare. The Pandemic shut down his department and left him with weeks of unemployed stagnation. Around May of 2020, a frustrated Abrar started offering online counseling - completely free of charge. Boredom aside, skills developed over seven years are to be kept sharp. From then to now, Dr. Abrar's client list has seen celebrities, criminals, farmers, victims of trauma & gender violence, LGBTQ+ members, and more. Once in a while, Abrar would be conducting screening programs for schoolchildren, or writing some article, or doing reformative therapy for teenagers. A high engagement with the youth earned him a name for relationship & marital counseling, and to give full suicide hotline support to his clients - something that few, if any of the mental health professionals in Bangladesh are known to do.

Written by: Leah Marmulla, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Conflict occurs when there is a misalignment between the parties involved. Misaligned beliefs, contextual or definitional differences, goals, expectations, and histories. The gap difference in any or all of these influences the quality of interactions between the parties. Based on psychological theories, we create our core and fundamental beliefs and rues at a young age. They are then modified and refined with years of experience. Still, the core, the fundamental interpretation of ‘things’, stays the same. it is when we are asked or forced to explore the quintessential question, “Is this how I want to continue living, being, doing? This question can raise itself at any given moment because it comes up at those crossroad moments. Do I stay safe, in the known and familiar, even if it is painful, uneventful or risky even? Or do I become more, step up, take that leap of faith and choose for me, and who I desire to become? So many potential scenarios can bring us to this point, the roundabout even of going around in circles. At the same time, we build clarity and courage to decide who and what we choose to be, and therefore do. How big the crossroad decision is, in my opinion, represents how misaligned we are from our true life purpose or passion we are living at the time. We know life has a way of asking us to check-in, assess if we are honestly living a life true to ourselves. To consider how much we live our lives or follow others’ ideals, expectations, or dreams for us. Relationships – how important is this person in my life? Do I stay, go or compromise (how much)? Career – is it worth the hours, the pay, the challenge, being taken away from other parts of living??? Friendships – are we growing at a similar pace, or are we too different now? How do I navigate these changes and differences? Dreams – is the risk worth it? What could I lose/gain if I did/didn’t jump with a leap of faith? Self-care and development – do I put myself first to continue to bring my A-game, or are other’s more important? I am confident to say we have all been at a crossroads at some time or another, most likely several times in different life segments. For myself, I hope the crossroad moments don’t stop, for it is in these experiences. We have the opportunity to become more explicit about ourselves, our intent, and our life purpose. Who do we choose to be, and how do I live this? Crossroads allow us to explore our beliefs. All those shoulds and should not’s; for them and not for us; can and can not; must and must not etc. So many rules about what is suitable for us and how we live life. We give ourselves a gift by exploring our rules, expectations, limitations, fears, and perceptions, all the various aspects that hold our beliefs in place. The gift is a key. It unlocks parts of our past, keeping us small, stuck, in fear, feeling less than, inadequate, separate from experiences and people. Things and experiences we would actually like to have in our lives. Unlocking the binds, the cage holding our younger self captive, continually relive painful emotions of significant life moments we set ourselves free. The freedom is to consciously choose what we want to believe, feel, think, and do, and therefore who we decide to show up in this world. Coming back to the crossroad moment, it is this we are doing. We choose between keeping the lock closed or opening it to free ourselves to be our true selves. The concept of self-responsibility for our challenge experiences is relatively new. For this reason, alone, we can be self-empathetic and compassionate. Simply, most people are ignorant and lack self-awareness, let alone make sense of why they do what they do, feel what they feel, and choose what they do. If people are not self-aware, then the crossroad moments are the perfect opportunity to start. Our future happiness and success are in the balance in these situations. They are bringing us back to the opportunity to explore, heal, transform and create who we are to become to have the experiences by choice and not default. Gifted the chance to declare and design a life closer to our life purpose. Knowing that we could be asked to stop, reflect, and repeatedly modify throughout our lives at any given moment. Like all things we give learning to, navigating crossroad moments become easier. We become more familiar and comfortable with asking ourselves challenging questions. We develop empathy for others as we realise we all live from what we know and are comfortable with. We learn to have an allowance for other’s beliefs and holding healthy boundaries when there is dissonance between us and others. We understand what is important to us as individuals and living from our truth and simultaneously respecting others. If, like many, you are new to the concept of self-awareness to the belief level. Reach out and take comfort you are not alone or download a copy of the 20 Pivotal Questions to help you explore what is important to you and where you want to be heading. Want to learn more from Leah? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Leah! Leah Marmulla, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Leah has been to the dark side and back at least three times. It was during her last life attempt that triggered a deep realization. She recalls thinking, "If I'm not allowed to leave, then I need to work out how to live." With this realization, Leah deep-dived into her own shadow sides and now shares with others her passion — 'creating life on one's own terms.' We all have a choice, but often we are so buried under other's expectations and rules we feel hopeless and disconnected. Growing out of the painful past, resulted in Leah authoring What the Mind Sees, the Body Feels, Creates and Attracts, and an Awareness and Accountability Journal of self-awareness, discovery, and manifestation towards the person the reader chooses to be and live from.

Written by: Stefania Piccardo, 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 Everyone who has been to Italy knows that this is a varied country with 20 regions, each one with different traditions, cuisine, and customs. But did you know that every region and even every town in Italy has a dialect? Although Italian is the official language of Italy, it's not widely known that the country boasts some 34 spoken languages and related dialects. The majority of these languages are Romance-based, meaning that they evolved from Vulgar Latin. These include Sicilian, Neapolitan, Sardinian, and more. From North to South we will take you on a journey to Italy through the dialects and languages that are spoken in this beautiful country! A dialect is usually only spoken and not written and it is used in informal context or from people who did not learn standard Italian. It has reached us thanks to verbal communication of our ancestors. The dialects are from North, central and South Italy. The Northern dialects are Piedmontese, Emilian-Romagnol, Ligurian, Lombard, Venetian, Trentinian, Ligurian and Emilian-Romagnol and the Venetan dialects. Ladin and Friulan are part of the Rhaeto-Romance languages. Central Italy includes the Tuscan dialect Marchigiano (central part of Marche) · Umbrian dialects (Umbria) · Sabino (L'​Aquila and Province of Rieti) · Tuscia dialect (Tuscia, northern part of Latium) and Romanesco or roman dialect, Abruzzese. Southern Dialects include Sicilian, Calabrian, Neapolitan, Apulian dialect Sardinian is considered a language not a dialect, even the Divina Commedia written by Dante Alighieri was translated into it! Origins of Italian Italian finds its origins in the Latin language as all neolatin idioms. But the Italian we speak today is based on the Florentine dialect (original of Florence) which, in the 19th century, was considered a pure language. Alessandro Manzoni, the famous Italian writer of the 19th century, based his masterpiece Promessi sposi (The Betrothed) on it as he thought that “the vocabulary of Italy couldn’t be other than that of the living florentine language” (in 1868 report Dell’unità della lingua e dei mezzi di diffonderla - On the unity of language and the ways of disseminating it). According to the UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, there are 31 endangered languages in Italy! (www.wikipedia.org) Italian Local languages In the Northern part of Italy in Trentino Alto Adige, German is widely spoken and actually is the first language people will address you when you meet them for a greeting or in shops! This is because this region was under the Austro-Hungarian empire back in the 19th century. But let’s explore the languages that Italy boasts in its own territory: In South Tyrol German is co-official (enjoying the same dignity and standing of Italian) in the province of South Tyrol (Statuto speciale per il Trentino-Alto Adige, Titolo XI, Articolo 99), Ladin is the third co-official language of South Tyrol. In Trentino Ladin, Cimbrian and Mòcheno are unofficial but recognised in (Statuto speciale per il Trentino-Alto Adige, Titolo XI, Articolo 102). In the Veneto region, Venetian is unofficial but recognised (Legge regionale 13 aprile 2007, n. 8, Art. 2, comma 2) In the Aosta Valley French is co-official (enjoying the same dignity and standing of Italian) in the whole region (Le Statut spécial de la Vallée d'Aoste, Title VIe, Article 38). Franco-Provencal is unofficial but protected and promoted according to federal and regional laws. German is unofficial but recognised in the Lys Valley (Lystal) (Le Statut spécial de la Vallée d'Aoste, Title VIe, Art. 40 - bis). In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friulian and Slovene are "promoted", but not recognised, by the region (Legge regionale 18 dicembre 2007, n. 29, Art. 1, comma 1); (Legge regionale 16 novembre 2007, n. 26, Art. 16). Lombard is unofficial but recognised as the regional language in Lombardy (Legge regionale 25/2016). In Piedmont, Piedmontese is unofficial but recognised as the regional language (Consiglio Regionale del Piemonte, Ordine del Giorno n. 1118, Presentato il 30 November 1999). The region "promotes", without recognising, the Occitan, Franco-Provençal, French and Walser languages (Legge regionale 7 aprile 2009, n. 11, Art. 1). Apulia has got two languages Griko, Arbëresh (is the Albanian language spoken by the Arbëreshë people of Italy or Italo-Albanians. This language, part of the Albanian language, is closely related to the Albanian Tosk spoken in Albania) and Franco-Provençal are recognized and safeguarded (Legge regionale 5/2012). In Sardinia the region considers the cultural identity of the Sardinian people as a primary asset in relation to the Regional minorities and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (l.r. N.26/97). All the languages indigenous to the island (Sardinian, Catalan, Tabarchino, Sassarese and Gallurese) are recognised and promoted as "enjoying the same dignity and standing of Italian" (l.r. N.26/97). Sicilian spoken in the omonimous region is unofficial but recognised as the regional language (Legge regionale 9/2011). We hope we managed to give you a good insight into the Italian linguistic panorama. For similar articles check our blog on www.languagetutor4u.com Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stefania! Stefania Piccardo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stefania Piccardo obtained her Ph.D. in English language and literature from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. During her academic years, she worked for Scottish distilleries and castles as a tour guide in multiple languages. Her love for Scotland brought her back to Aberdeen in 2003, where she obtained an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University. She then worked for multiple organizations but soon realized that she wanted to teach languages privately to the corporate level. Stefania has helped many students achieve the best grades in school and university but most of all she has the ambition to train corporate employees who deal with import/export, foreign trade or want to develop their career and expand their horizons for more opportunities in Europe and beyond. She speaks four languages including Italian, her mother tongue, English, French and Spanish and she has founded Language tutor4U back in 2012. In addition to her teaching schedule, she works as a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, the innovative and traditional Indian restaurant she owns along with her husband in Aberdeen City center since 2018. As a keen writer, she also enjoys feeding social media posts and writing for her blogs about Italian and Indian cultures, languages, and much more! References: www.wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Italy

Written by: Samantha Leske, 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. Oh yes, a bold statement. However, it is something I’ve witnessed time and time again over the last 13 years. A client sitting in front of me, walking me through their story, and I can feel the victim energy weaved throughout it ( I get this, for once I too had deep lines of it) I ask if this is an energy they can feel, and they’re always honest but sometimes begrudgingly, I can feel the shame creep in. This is where I stop them. Victim energy is one of the dirtiest words in the spiritual community, there’s the vibration of shame that goes alongside it - why? Because it’s viewed as an experience that is less than. You’re not evolved or doing your work if THIS is an experience you are still having, is the language all too often used. Hmmmm I call bullshit. It actually allows ( if you energetically agree) others witnessing it to stand as superior over you. They know more than you They’ve done more work than you They’re further along on their journey Blah, blah, blah …. Here’s the gaslight. You cannot have victim energy running through you unless you actually were a victim. Making people believe they are less than for having that energy within is not only revictomising them, it’s placing a beautiful coating of shame over the top. How is anyone meant to heal if they’re judged for being honest about what happened, and where they are? If we are truly awakened souls, we hold space for the person and their personal journey. We meet them where they are, free from judgment, expectation, and shame. When a person feels truly heard, it holds space for healing and forward movement- at their pace, not yours. Yes, victim energy can derail your life, but so can excessive lines of many other lines of energy and/ or behaviours - anger, rage, abuse, trauma, addiction, lack of responsibility, inability to feel your emotions, and so on. If we judge people for where they are, they will never be truly honest with us, it inhibits the possibility of growing together and of us getting to see that person at their absolute best, which is always a possibility. If we love people, and wish the best for them - loved ones and clients, we have to let go of the gaslighting. It’s the behaviour of a healer who still has much work to do themselves. When we know better, we do better- and it’s time we stopped assuming we know the totality of a soul's journey. Release the arrogance Operate from heart space Love people where they are, create a safe space and watch them blossom. There is no space for gaslighting in healthy spirituality. Don’t our loved ones and clients deserve to have us as their biggest champions? To love them until they can love themselves the way they truly deserve? Shame never needs to play a part, nor does gaslighting. Stepping into the fifth dimension requires us to reclaim all lost parts of us, especially the ones who have been victimised - no part left behind. Complete sovereignty is available to those willing to do their work. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website ! Read more from Samantha! Samantha Leske, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Samantha Leske is a Spiritual Healer, and the CEO of Nurture you, Heal you. She specializes in trauma/ shadow work and teaching women how to love themselves unconditionally. After working in the industry for over 12 years, she has a varied skill set that allows the healings she offers, to incorporate all levels of a souls journey from this life to past and birthing timelines. Samantha has recently become a best selling author on Amazon from her contribution to the multi-author book "Intuitive, knowing her truth" Her goals in life are to live a quiet rural life with her children and animals, while engaging in her soul led mission - to help as many people awaken and heal. Loving them while they come home to themselves and their own unconditional love and acceptance for themselves. To actively be apart of the solution.

Written by: Marnix Pauwels, 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. This is going to be a weird post. A very honest post. And a pretty long one. It’s about being in a place of throbbing insecurity, of true confusion, of no fucking clue what to do. And it’s also about the realization that at the deepest level, that’s totally acceptable. It’s about bad news and good news. About REAL discomfort and lostness and negativity, and about glimpses of utter stability and excitement and light. So... Here’s what happened, and where I am right now. Over the last few months, I’ve noticed myself becoming way more sensitive to many different things. All of a sudden I couldn’t watch violent movies anymore, and I found myself being deeply physically affected by loud noise and frantic movement, even more than was already the case. I became easily angry for no reason, and I felt more and more judgmental. Almost all the time. I felt (and feel) impatient and aggressive in a way that was more like the old me, and I couldn’t (and can’t) really focus very well. It was like I was quickly losing my grip on the things I thought were under my control, and even the ease of living WITHOUT control -because there ultimately isn’t such a thing of course- evaporated. I found myself feeling unhinged, distorted, shaken, in my day-to-day experience. I have been feeling ‘out of place’ for weeks now, where it almost seems like I woke up in a world that looks exactly like the one I was used to living in, but also feels like it’s somehow completely different. It’s like I have been secretly taken apart when I wasn’t looking, and was put back together in a different way. As if I am being radically rewired, as if new software is installed that I don’t know how to use yet. I don’t feel like me right now. The me that is in the world. The me, the vessel, that is the interface between the world I live in, and the consciousness that is the space and potential for that creation, and makes it possible to experience. I feel really fucking weird, I feel off, uncomfortable, unstable and tired. The bad news is that I have no clue what’s really going on and where it’s going. We are innate and avid storytellers, and we desperately need our stories and their linearity to feel safe and in control. So when we lose the thread, when the story becomes terrifyingly unclear and you feel somehow obsolete and confused, it sucks, and it can be terrifying. All of that is happening. Weird shit. But the good news is the same as the bad news: I have no clue what’s going on, and no idea where it’s going, yet I somehow have a general feel for the direction. Up. For the first time in my life I really, REALLY know that I am taken care of, even though this realization is not completely soothing or healing or comforting constantly, and it’s not really something I can ‘use’ to feel better. I am just all over the place, mostly. Everything that freaks me out and kicks my ass is still there. The anger, the discomfort, the sensitivity to sounds and harsh movements, the judgments, the impatience, the feeling of drifting in a dense fog. The sensation of not being the me I used to know. It’s all there, but... not as devastating as it once was, or supposed to be (not even close). It’s there, I don’t like it, but it feels like I am carried through it somehow. As I am writing this I suddenly realize that these are circumstances that probably would have made me really depressed in the past. The symptoms are there, but they somehow can’t get to me. I am fucked up, and I am totally fine. How about that? This was not supposed to be one of those ‘Everything can seem really messed up but it will turn out alright anyway!’-posts. I didn’t really want to include this obvious emotional arch of going from misery to hope in a single blog. Yet it somehow turns out like that anyway. I guess we need to hear those real, uplifting stories over and over again, and I am sure we need to keep telling ourselves everything will be okay. We need to know that even the people who seem to be in a perfect place all the time, The Superstars of Wellbeing, can lose it temporarily, feel utterly directionless, and somehow get on with it. I am still in it, and I don’t want to pretend it makes me glow with gratitude and appreciation (although it actually does, during the day, more and more). The most powerful and amazing thing is: I have no clue what’s really going on, but my intuition tells me without a doubt that this is about profound, exciting, liberating, awesome change. I am shifting like crazy, up, UP. The human me is kicking and screaming and crying and feeling hopeless and angry and lost, it’s constantly looking for solutions and answers and self-medication, but it is also really, really, really clear that’s not the whole story. I am totally aware of this chaos, this discomfort, this weirdness. And I also see the tidal quality of it, the swelling and the dying. So it’s not me, the observant phenomenon, it can’t be. Right now, while I am sitting in front of my computer, I am confused and somehow even nervous and insecure, but I am also not. It’s destabilizing, it’s vague and kinda foggy, but that is just the tragedy in my awareness, not the stage or the theater. All of the drama is ever so subtly encompassed by something that is more true, more real, more powerful, more timeless and endlessly bigger. I feel weird and raw, it’s like I’m in a different dimension, and that notion makes all the difference in a really good way. I can feel confused AND see the confusion. I can feel pissed off and impatient AND connect to what’s completely neutral and loving. And the most amazing thing is how hopeful this hopelessness feels. Shifting sucks, and big shifts can be awful. But it will be SO worth it. Oh man, this life! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marnix! Marnix Pauwels, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marnix Pauwels is a Dutch transformative coach and author of eight books -mostly- about mental health, living in Amsterdam with two cats. He has worked in advertising as a copywriter and Creative Director for 30 years, is a singer/songwriter and has extensive knowledge of addiction/compulsive behavior, depression, and anxiety, deepened by personal experience. Marnix has always been fascinated by what drives people, and more in particular, what drives them crazy. He’s read over 5.000 books on self-development/improvement, life-hacks, and spirituality viewed thousands of videos on the topics and kept on exploring the depths of the human mind and how to navigate our psychological storms with grace and respect. As a transformative coach, Marnix has helped thousands of people find a more playful, exciting, creative, and liberated life, living from a clear mind and a deep trust in their personal resilience. Marnix is a curious world traveler who loves to meet new people, write, wonder, and keep fit and happy.

Written by: Sarah Needham, 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 brings the values of creativity & innovation to life! Let me explain with my example. I worked in the male-dominated tech industry for 17 years. I was receiving a constant stream of commentary on my Emotional Intelligence (EQ) channel & often did not allow it through, and only rarely did I allow myself to voice it. I have strengths in empathy, harmony & inclusion which meant that I was scared I would be laughed at, or cause conflict, or just be seen as different! Worst case scenario I would be excluded, labeled as being too emotional. My own strengths worked against me! I could have brought so much more value to many conversations! I did not understand the value of listening to my EQ channel because I did not see it’s value; in truth I saw it as a weakness, as a distraction from the accepted hard facts & data. I tried my best to switch it off! Worse still in allowing myself to be scared, I was not living up to what was important to me, my values of connection, openness, empowerment & innovation. I often felt like I was stuck in the middle of a tug of war… inside my own head! Stepping out of industry & into coaching, I see how EQ holds the key to stepping bravely into the meaningful conversation to create innovative solutions to the problems we face today; both in the workplace & in creating a more sustainable future for life on Earth! I believe that if we can enable meaningful conversations about important topics within cognitively diverse teams, we can solve ANYTHING. But that means engaging with others on all levels openly & this is scary. It is scary because it is not black or white, can be difficult to put into words & it is not something we are taught in school. Ignoring (or not encouraging) EQ you are overlooking valid information to create the most effective & workable solutions to whatever problem you face. Unless you can create space for EQ to become a valid input then there is little chance of discovering optimal solutions & unnecessary mistakes will be made. Unfortunately when people don’t feel safe to share their thoughts & feeling they leave a part of themselves at the door when they walk into work. The result of this in business terms is you are leaving money or impact untouched that could enable you to build a sustainable business for the future. Therefore we must actively engage & encourage people to bring their full selves into work to have the chance to dig deep & innovate to create meaningful & workable solutions for the future! This creates empowered & motivated employees which translates into a more sustainable business. Why would you NOT do this? So how can you unlock this potential in your organization or community? 1. If you are reading this with this sense of ‘this is me, I have EQ’, then I ask you to do one thing. Use it by NAMING IT! I know this feels scary!!!! Here’s how. ‘I sense frustration (/anger/we are not aligned..), what is here for you right now?’ - open, direct, honest, curious, non-judgemental! Say it because you are curious to understand what this information holds. Say it without judgment or the need for your interpretation of your sense to be right. You are just opening a new opportunity for conversation. Your sense is valid even if how you have put it into words is wrong. NEWSFLASH: If you have high EQ, it is a strength. Yes, it does make you different; AND you can use it to help yourself & those around you by opening up conversations that would not ‘normally’ be had. You are receiving information that others are not aware of. Just because EQ does not get taught at school does not mean it’s not valuable! I love the saying that EMOTION is Energy in MOTION.. so just by naming it you bring it out of the shadows & it becomes conscious. We all have an emotional side of us which informs every single conversation & decision because of …our life story, our values, our feelings that day, what happened to us directly prior to this meeting etc! Let me tell you what will happen when you name what you sense. It changes the energy in the room in any conversation…. In fact, it often stops people because generally we are so unaccustomed to having emotions named & discussing feelings openly in the way we discuss facts, figures etc. 2. If you are reading this & don’t recognize that you sense what others are feeling but recognize the opportunity that opening the door to EQ holds; then I challenge you to share this article in your upcoming team meetings. You can use the words for example ‘I want us all to read this article & figure out how we can create this opportunity within our conversations.’ If you do decide to do this just a small health warning…you need to look at creating an environment where EQ input is valued on a continuing basis! Why? This is not a short-term fix. AND a lot of people with high EQ are similar to me they are often strong on either harmony or empathy, or both! This means they will sense if something is not authentic. It also means that if the input is not used, or seen not to be valued then they will likely not share for long; then you might as well have not bothered! So can you harness the power of EQ in your organization for the greater good? What is one small step you can take? Share this article with someone who you know who has strong EQ! You may just be giving them the key to unlocking their strength & getting curious about its potential. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my websit e ! Read more from Sar ah ! Sarah Needham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah Needham is a coach with an extraordinary vision: “To create a world where everyone feels they can stand up and engage in discussion about what matters most.” She wants us all to take off our invisibility cloaks and share courageously what we think and feel. Sarah believes that we are all unique for a reason, and we should challenge ourselves to step proudly into our uniqueness, our own SUPERPOWER! As a coach, she challenges herself to inspire people by holding regular sessions on this topic. Sarah’s work brings together her three core values: technology, sustainability, and challenging others to embrace their uniqueness. She helps tech founders and leaders unleash their impact in creating a more sustainable life on earth whilst prioritizing their own self-care, and in doing so, creating a more sustainable business. Sarah is an engineer with many years as a leader at one of the world's leading global engineering corporations. She is British, living in Potsdam, Germany, with her husband, two adopted daughters, and two cats.

Written by: Dr. Bunmi Aboaba, 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. “Happiness is the highest form of health” — Dalai Lama Some days we may struggle with low mood or decreased energy levels. This can negatively impact all areas of our life and even the smallest tasks can feel insurmountable. During these time we may need to create a little bit of our own sunshine. A positive mindset is not a destination, but a process. The little things that we do to improve our mood have far-reaching, long-lasting effects that build up day by day. I have collated 10 of my best tips to boost mood, mental health, and sense of well-being. 1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep Ensuring you have enough rest is a basic but essential step in starting your day off with the best possible mindset. Our bodies require six to seven hours of sleep and rest to heal and renew our muscles, organs, and neural pathways. This deep healing is essential for optimum physical and mental activity throughout the day. Sufficient sleep assists with the regulations of the hormones directly related to our mood and emotions. Lack of sleep causes irritation, frustration, emotional imbalance, a lack of focus and a general feeling of malaise. 2. Focus on Nutrition You really are what you eat. Changes in blood sugar levels significantly impact mood and energy. Foods high in sugar, salt, fat such as processed and ultra-processed foods are likely to cause fatigue, irritability, anxiety, poor centration, and energy dips. It is therefore essential to eat a balanced diet focusing on foods that are high in essential nutrients and vitamins such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, healthy fats, and seeds. 3. Stay Active Get moving! Regular moderate exercise has a significantly positive impact on anxiety, depression, and stress levels. Exercise additionally improves your sleep, memory, and boosts mood. Physical activity is so vital for your well-being due to the stimulation of feel-good endorphins. This helps relieves tension, stress, and boost mental and physical energy and clarity. Research has demonstrated that just 15 minutes a day of high-impact exercise, or one hour of walking reduced symptoms of depression by 26%.[1] If sport is not your thing, then fear not! Hoovering, dancing, gardening, and even washing your car will get those happy hormones flowing. 4. Enjoy the Sunshine Sunlight also releases these powerful endorphins which activate our bodies' reward circuit creating feelings of pleasure, joy, and calm. Sunlight is also key to reducing the onset of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and Vitamin D deficiency - both of which are common in our British climate. Spending time in nature also acts as a balm for our minds. Numerous studies have demonstrated that interacting with nature enhances our overall wellbeing and elevates cognitive performance.[2] Urban nature is also beneficial as being somewhere with green spaces, trees, flowers, fresh air, and wildlife is evidenced to improve our sense of connection to the world and boost feelings of happiness and calm. 5. Be in the Present I cannot promote the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for boosting mood enough! By taking a moment to pause in our busy lives and connect with our body, thoughts, feelings, and emotions we can gain clarity, perspective, and resilience. Our mood swings, negative reactions, frustration, and anxiety often stem from not being in touch with the reality of our present moment. By recognizing and acknowledging your unhelpful moods or reactions you can choose to behave differently. You can control how to feel today instead of being ruled by your emotions! 6. Avoid Intoxicants However much effort you are making to follow these tips, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or using substances will undo all of your hard work. Not only are these intoxicants detrimental to your physical health, they negatively impact your mental wellbeing too. Cigarettes, alcohol, and even caffeine send our bodies and brains on an emotional rollercoaster accentuating any feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. Despite what the marketing campaigns may promise! These substances additionally disrupt your body’s natural sleep patterns meaning you will not wake up your best self. They are the epitome of ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’! 7. Connect With Others We all are familiar with the adage a man is not an island. And it is very true. Humans thrive in communities and through positive social interaction. If you are experiencing low mood, it can be all too easy to choose to isolate yourself and focus on what is going wrong instead of what is going right! Spending quality time with friends or family, sharing your feelings, or helping another person will all combat feelings of loneliness and has been proven to lower stress levels. These in-person communications calm our nervous system which creates a sense of safety and security. [3] 8. Plan ‘You Time’ Taking a bit of time in your day to do something just for you does wonder for your mood. In our society, we are so conditioned to be busy, productive, and to put others before ourselves. Yet that little bit of ‘you time’ can replenish our resources to do all those things and more! Maybe it’s running a hot bath, going for a walk, snuggling up with a book, or enjoying a hobby like art, dance, or gardening. If you are in a pattern of not doing things for yourself it may be difficult to find what it is that brings you joy. We are all unique and enjoy different things, so keep trying until you find the activity that makes you sparkle from the inside out. 9. Practice Gratitude We all have things to be grateful for. Both in terms of what others do for us, what we benefit from in the world, but also in what we can do for others. We all have unique skills and character traits that make us special. Yet on a low mood day, it is easy to forget the things we are grateful for. I recommend starting each day by filling in a gratitude journal. Your mindset will quickly shift as you list the things you are grateful for. Perhaps it is your comfy bed, the roof over your head, the sunrise, your morning coffee, your family, your ability to make friends or make others laugh, or even the great hugs you give. The list is endless and although it might be difficult at the beginning you will quickly be filling a page! 10. Ask for Help I have saved this one for last as it is a step that most of us find difficult to accomplish. When we are sad or stressed we tend to isolate ourselves from others and become trapped in a downward spiral. Perhaps we are worried about being a burden or bringing someone else's mood down. But take a moment to ask yourself how you feel when someone confides in you or asks for your help? Exactly. Most of us feel touched to be a confidante and have immediate empathy and care for the person who needs us. Remember this, take a deep breath, and reach out to someone for support when you need it. We all need a helping hand from time to time to get us back on our feet. So, there we have it, my top 10 tips to boost mood and well-being! I would be very interested to hear how you find them and if they have an impact on your quality of life. My mantra is pretty simple; Sleep well, eat well, move more, laugh, and enjoy! Take control of your day and take the steps needed to create a positive, fulfilling, connected life. If you are experiencing low mood and issues around food and would like help to improve your sense of well-being, please contact me, Dr. Bunmi Aboaba, Food Addiction Coach, by following this link. Follow Dr. Bunmi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or visit her website for more info! Read more from Dr. Bunmi! Dr. Bunmi Aboaba, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Bunmi Aboaba is a Recovery Coach specializing in Food Addiction, helping clients to achieve a healthy relationship with food to meet long-term health goals. Dr. Bunmi’s work covers the full spectrum of disordered eating, including overeating, compulsive eating, emotional eating, addicted eating, and other associated patterns. Dr. Bunmi is also the creator of the first Certified Food Addiction Certification to support nutritionists, personal trainers, dieticians, and clinicians to help their clients achieve long-lasting results. References: [1] "More Evidence That Exercise Can Boost Mood - Harvard Health". Harvard Health, 2019, https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/more-evidence-that-exercise-can-boost-mood. [2] Weir, Kirsten. "Nurtured By Nature". Https://Www.Apa.Org, 2020, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature. [3] Porges, Stephen W. “The Polyvagal Theory: New Insights into Adaptive Reactions of the Autonomic Nervous System”. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, vol 76, no. 4 suppl 2, 2009, pp. S86-S90. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, doi:10.3949/ccjm.76.s2.17. Accessed 22 June 2021.

Written by: Veronika Marešová, 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. Did you know that each of us has not only our physical wardrobe with clothing but also a "Thought Closet“? One that creates our view of ourselves. It's full of various beliefs about ourselves, labels, but also assumptions and ballast, which burdens us and does not allow us to use our full potential. So it makes sense to tidy up once in a while not only in your wardrobe but also in your "Thought Closet". To make order in it, to get rid of everything that does not serve us and reduces the quality of our lives. Start with your "Thought Closet" At the moment when you decide to sort out your wardrobe, I recommend making an order in the "Thought Closet" first. Our view of ourselves is directly reflected in our clothing and overall image. One is projected into each other. You have surely already noticed that in the times when you were getting through certain changes in your life, you felt with urgency the need to buy something new for yourself, adjust your appearance and make it visibly clear that you moved further in your life. It is a natural process. Similarly, as our life is continuously evolving, our wardrobe and self-expression evolve too. So how to begin with tidying up and streamlining your own wardrobe and "Thought Closet", to adapt it to the current phase of life and intentions? 1. Answer "Who am I"? In the first phase, the most important thing is to find out who I really am. Where am I going in my life? What is important for me? What are my goals and visions for the future? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What is my life philosophy? What characterizes me the most? This step is absolutely crucial and it is hardly possible to continue without it. By recalling our "why", who we are and where we are going in our life, we are able to better evaluate how we are doing right now. If the way we life and think resonates with the lifestyle we want to live. 2. Review your thoughts and opinions In the second phase, you need to put your hand on your heart and answer yourself honestly "how am I doing right now". You can call it an awareness phase. How do I think about myself, and are these thoughts helping me or not? What stickers (labels?) do I make about myself? Are they based on truth or are they just assumptions? Do I spend time with people who bring value to my life and inspire me with their lives or not? Do I really live the life of my dreams? 3. Do the cleanup The third step is, in my opinion, the most difficult one. Its main ingredient is consciously letting go and giving up all the beliefs and opinions about yourself that hold you back. To get rid of everything that does not allow me to live life to the fullest and use your qualities. Consciously make a decision to give up something that does not serve me and only reduces the quality of my life. Although it might be indeed the hardest step, for which we need courage and healthy self-confidence, it brings the greatest relief and sense of freedom. Once we are able to purify ourselves, our "Thought Closet", new horizons will open up for us. 4. Create a picture of your ideal self-image Once you free up from the ballast of your "Thought Closet", an ideal opportunity to create pictures of your ideal self-image is about to come. Replace all the negative thoughts and stickers with a better self. Let new opinions, encouraging mantras, and beliefs into your "Thought Closet" that will help you get the best out of yourself and live your life to the fullest! I recommend you to dedicate enough time to it, create a pleasant atmosphere, take a notebook and just write. You can describe the ideal version of yourself in the most colorful way possible, in every detail (you can take it literally and paint your "ideal picture of yourself", use colors, and just have fun polishing the final version). 5. Open your Wardrobe Once you have found out what's right now important in life for you, who you want to be, and where you're going, it's time for another cleaning and creative phase. Revision and streamlining of your wardrobe. Surrender and get rid of everything that does not correspond to yourself and the life you want to live. Like the third step, it is a truly liberating phase. First of all I recommend discarding anything about which you are already certain that it is truly non-neccessary in your wardrobe. Something that explicitly "dials" and irritates you. Whether workmanship, style, color. Than take all the things out of your wardrobe and gradually evaluate whether it is a thing that serves you and brings you joy, corresponds to your ideal picture of yourself or nor. Whether it is something that will help you live your life to the fullest and use your potential. What can you expect as the result? A feeling of freedom, healthy self-confidence, and self-awareness. You will tune into yourself, support your intentions and authentically project them into yourself externally. It’s definitely worth the effort. Believe me. ☺ Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Veronika Marešová, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Veronika helps her clients to Feel great & Look great, for over 8 years! She believes that our "Thought Closet" is projected into our wardrobe, meaning that our wardrobe and image are a reflection of how we think about ourselves and life. Veronika guides her clients in their path of acquiring a healthy confident attitude, and in enhancing qualities of their personality and body features. She is dedicated to deepening her clients’ understanding of the psychology of image. Her favorite motto is "Dress For Success!" which is also the name of her training programs for companies.

Written by: Tiffany Jean Draper , 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 stop something you have started and rarely complete it? Or have a million great ideas for your business with little to no follow-through. Or are stuck at a certain ceiling of income, and just cannot seem to push the limit you want to push. No matter how many hours you put in. This could also show up in a relationship that keeps us at a certain point we are again, slightly dissatisfied with and will not make the next move we feel is necessary. It shows itself in all aspects of life. The subconscious box, the powerhouse of that which causes stress, some anxiety, the never-ending working, the hustle as you call it, and the stuck, the stopping, the ceiling, the lack of, the imposter syndrome, the need to know, health problems and so much more. As we have grown and learn and are influenced by others (parents, friends, coaches, etc.) This learning gets put in a nice little snug spot within our subconscious. Even the things we don't want to learn to get integrated into our brains... The things we watch, observe and read from the youngest age possible. "Hard work pays off" "hustle and grinds if you want to succeed" and I'm sure you can think of many more things we have heard or observed over the years, things that influence your drive. Yet there is still something. You still feel like there is something else, or more to this. So, how do you find that? This journey begins within you. Think for a moment or take some time on this thought, assess what could be in that box. Draw a diagram or write it out. Where does that moment in time lay, that moment someone showed you something or told you to do things a certain way, that in which you have continued to do or live by up until this point in your life. For some this could be a parent influence, the parent or elder that showed you over and over that in order to live a steady life you have to work a lot and earn the money, then at some point (retirement) you can live life freely, so up until this point, we have lived like this. If we work less, we feel guilty or if we are stuck we feel like we have to continue to push to achieve that next goal, causing the stress and possible anxiety around the business or workplace. Yet, this way of thinking has essentially held back your creative genius without realization. Lack of the realization is to no fault of your own, it is just there, in that subconscious box, waiting to be released. This moment can also come from others who have influenced your process. Coaches and mentors who have told you to do things a certain way, write a certain way, create a certain way. Or by following those top-notch gurus and reading and watching what they do. After all, these “influencers” have made money, have had success, so you think if you do it that way, you too shall succeed. Yet, again, this keeps you perpetually defined as something that is not your own. That moment can literally come from anywhere. You just need to release it. Find it and become who you are truly meant to be. Take a look at the things you enjoy in life, that in which turns you on completely. What you value about that, and where your true genius lies within it. Again, write this down. Take a look at it and see if that is how you are truly living your life. Or is that of which you wrote, is merely someone else’s. Finding this is a simple process, yet, not always easy. Becoming who you are really meant to be is most often misunderstood, and really not articulated by most. It is somewhat a part of the one-percenters. It is necessary to break the cycle that others have unknowingly put you on. It is essential in order to live free of all the constricts within. The magic lies within being completely you. The creative genius you possess can fully become unlocked when you find your real self. The self before the influence, before the conditioning before the world took over and told you who to be. Unlock that. Break free of it. It is only then, the possibilities of play become endless. It is only then that you will truly create from a place of purely you. And the rest, well the rest finds its congruency within your life. Clients align better, income ceilings surpass beyond expectations. Life, love, and happiness are you and nothing else matters. Pure enjoyment, pure bliss, pure life, purely you. Want to learn more from Tiffany? Follow her on Facebook , Youtube channel , or visit her website . Tiffany Jean Draper, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine To some, there is something to say about the girl who no one really knows. The quiet, observant girl, the one who didn’t talk much because a part of her really wasn’t interested in what most found conversation in. The lost girl, they might have observed. Reality is, she was just that. Lost. And had to find everything and fight everything within her not to be. Because she knew, there was something bigger, she knew this life was more. One day, through a journey of her own, she found that “more”. The path of less resistance illuminated. One day, with some guidance, she figured it out. She fully woke up, and evolved and became. Stress, anxiety, hustle and exertion had all completely dissipated. She realized her full purpose this time and began her journey of experiencing existence and enjoying everything she could. Her creativity expanded to great lengths as her consciousness grew. She had officially evolved. Tiffany is now mentoring and guiding others through a similar journey. As she has found, it is a great tragedy to not know ones self. Her clients are entrepreneurs and each one has their own unique process. Her methods are undefined, undiluted and completely unfiltered. It is her purpose to teach others that life outside the typical, the conditioned, the what you think you “should do”. Life outside of the stress, anxiety, and urge to hustle, is so much more alluring than where they are now. She simple guides them through this extraordinary journey. So they too, can be completely unrestricted, unscripted and simply live in who they truly are.

Written by: Oriel Ross McKinney, 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 reign as Ms. Majestic International 2021 - 2022 has begun. It's a thrilling time but with an adrenaline rush, the reality is just as potent. Most people I engage with understand my journey of business growth and entrepreneurship. It's about leadership, consultation, and securing the next investment, but I am excited to share another layer, pageantry. Believe it or not, pageantry and my international platform draw many parallels. There is a range of pageants available that align with personal and global missions. The lessons I gathered from the stage, from sponsors, from my community of supporters emphasize the marrying of pageantry and business is beneficial to many. 1. Leverage your relationships - Let's face it. Fruitful relationships are the cornerstone of success. Nurture all relationships. Understand the connectivity you afford others is of mutual benefit. Keep your thumb on the pulse of industries where you interact. Be of service. Initiate communication. Listen earnestly. 2. Nail the interview - The interview is one of the most highly valued categories in a pageant. In business, you are being interviewed every day. You are called upon to explain what you do, how you solve problems, and how your past experience matters today. Perpetual readiness is an asset. 3. Preparation - It may take you a year to prepare for your crowning moment. You don't get discouraged; you do the work. Day by day you understand you're working toward a moment of success, a foundation to springboard your vision. It looks like mock interviews, community engagement, presentation selections, understanding your platform and who can use it, strategizing on any advantage you can offer. Your laser focus pays off. 4. Be resilient - Competition gets tough. You watch some contestants with a full camp of support and others arrive solo. You will encounter all of what you imagine but you don't focus of hindrances. Focus on your mission, your why, and your goals. Focus on the value you bring, the influence you have manufactured and will further during your reign. No matter how focused and prepared, there are disruptors. The answer is in creating useful habits. Practice gratitude. Guard your space. Honor your time. Refocus your mind. Help others. And lastly, sometimes you just have to laugh. 5. Building Legacy - True legacy will cement your life's work. Dare to create a project where influence meets impact. Don't be misled into thinking legacy has to be full of prestige. True legacy is anything that makes a meaningful difference in others. It is work that can be continued because of the foundation you set. A moment can redefine your life. Don't wait for the stage to be prepared for you; create your moment and build your platform. Success is waiting for you. For appearances or to start your pageant experience, click here ! For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my web site ! Read more from Oriel! Oriel Ross McKinney, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Oriel Ross McKinney is a renowned Business Strategist, Author, and Speaker. Known as The Small Biz Engine®, her experience includes a successful 20-year tenure in Business Strategy and Development, Finance, Non-Profit Management, and Entrepreneurship. As the mastermind behind several success stories, brands, and businesses, she methodically assesses her projects and delivers profit-driven strategies again and again. Oriel hones in on business & socially conscious topics while unveiling success in a brilliant way. For those looking to transition from corporate workplaces to entrepreneurship, read her anchor chapter in the anthology, Soaring Beyond the 9 to 5, or tap into one of her signature F.U.E.L.® Academy courses. On a personal level, Oriel's biggest challenge and gift are being a mom to two children who were born prematurely. In her spare time, she supports preemie babies and their families in any way she can. Her motto is “You’re your greatest asset; invest in yourself.”