Written by: Frida Joosting, 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. Have you ever questioned this incredible communication network within you, which is moving at such a fast speed that you are oblivious of all the factors that are actually operating in you? Thoughts are moving in a constant flow through your mind and most of the time you really believe that those are the real you. You could put a question mark here, as from the first day you are born you are influenced by the ways of thinking of those around you. Your reality as you perceive it is a combination of the facts and beliefs you have learned within your social circle and which you have considered as being valid. When a consideration had been self-fulfilling, it couldn’t be anything else than being true. So well, how blind is this, how easy to caress the Ego! Your considerations are as much influenced by emotional reactions and responses, displayed in any scenario you were part of, from a very young age. Those involved became for you the idols or the enemy, and the way of them dealing with their emotions, for you the example how to deal with your own. Emotions, triggered by thoughts and their expression, leading to action within and beyond control. Actions in the physical world of manifestation. Actions considered as morally appreciated or immorally prejudiced. The Duality of good and bad is for sure established! You would let reason come in as a means of freedom, to form opinions, holding grounds, and set goals within your mental faculty. You would learn to operate and hold yourself accountable for all you do and would solve problems and draw conclusions. You would believe to have answers and solutions for everything, using choice as the magic tool. The brain, the ultimate machine to figure out the right and the wrong, without leaving questions unanswered or dropping comparison to determine direction. If you realise that you become what you think, you must acknowledge that your own thoughts are incredibly powerful. Thoughts then considered the building blocks for real choice. And if you realise that on the black and white scale, fear, hate, anger, and negativity are diseases of your own mind, you will think twice before allowing any thought to come through. Here is your real choice in creating who you are. You can connect with the thousands of perceptions you never questioned, and you can start to see both sides of the peanut butter jar, of which one you even didn’t know existed. It is the power of your Will which will help you to start yourself, to move into alertness and guiding you into new conscious choices. But who is this one who is moving you into alertness and guiding you into conscious choices? Who is the one who can see all the colors of the rainbow, all the shades of grey? There must be a you, not in your brain, not in your thoughts, not in your emotions, and not in your body, who is separate from this whole machinery and able to overlook the daily performance stage. It must be the you, so-called the Infinite Drop in the Endless Ocean of Creation. The you, the Invisible, the abstract, the unknown, present right here and now. And since being the Infinite Drop of the same substance as the Endless Ocean, it must be the you, the Micro of the Macro? When this you takes over and watches, awareness will appear and choices disappear, contrasts harmonise, and colors unite. When this you takes over and observes, your Heart will have a chance to open, and its feeling of love warm you up. When this you takes over and acts, it will collapse the Field of the Brain with all its World Drama before making a move. So, who you ever thought to be, seems to be the perfect subject for Kali to destroy. You are not your appearance, you are none of your personal traits, you are only this Infinite Drop. And what would you say now when someone would ask you who you are? Hard to define when you are the abstract. Your Heart may be your closest friend to tell you, but only if you listen. If you really can listen. So, may you become the nothing and as conscious blanc being able to watch your mind and notice what you perceive at your radio station with its antennae? And may you be able to follow the current of your sensory and intuitive field, streaming through your body? And may you then act without preference, just in truthfulness? Will you then become the you, in the process of burning up your personal attributes and coming home within? And will you then meet the ultimate richness of the you, you can be and had never dreamed of? Will space you create then be filled with the beauty of the unknown and driving you in your walks, spirited by a Devotional Vibe wanting to discover anything beyond your comprehension? Will you then, become just and only the positive, the love itself, humbleness, generosity, selflessness, and the complete surrender to all of these. Will you then become all the facets of the diamond with all its reflections? Will you call yourself then a little Sunshine, just a spark of light constantly on the move? Is this then your answer when anyone will ask you who you are? So here you are little Sunshine, being this incredible complex communication network at 3D and 5D level at the same time. You are the Miracle having a choice to stay oblivious on the 3D plane or follow your Heart to find the timeless Omnipresent you in you. May this be the inspiration for all of you! ​ Brisbane, Australia potentialfreedom@fridajoosting.com Follow Frida on Facebook, Linkedin and visit her website for more information. Frida Joosting, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Frida Joosting is a Life Traveler, lead by curiosity into experiences of seeking depth and truth in Existence. Guidance from many spiritual souls like Krishnamurti, Yogananda, Osho, Eghart Tolle, Deepak Chopra and Rumi has enriched her Life and moved her into diverse directions. She is an Artist at heart, living a life of service, using intuition and intention for Creation, and allowing Reality to unfold wherever the river flows. From Dancer, Choreographer and Educator transitioning into Writer, Speaker and Business Facilitator, is the never-ending exciting adventure she brings to her audience. Potential Freedom, her inspirational business in Personal Development Programs and Events, offers like-minded travelers to join her in a unique Work / Life Balance experience. And so she says: Live Life Truly, Fully and in Abundance!

Written by: Melissa Dawn, 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. From frontline workers to C-level execs, nearly everyone I coach has the same fear - speaking their truth in the workplace. Why is that, and how do we shift this pattern? Why Truth Matters Truth is about saying what needs to be said. It’s sharing ideas, resolving conflict, highlighting risk, raising solutions, and calling out bad behavior or toxic practices. It’s all the things that drive progress and empower agility. Shying away from truth demands a defensive mindset of self-protection and the energy to continually “check” ourselves to ensure our work persona is upheld. We get locked in the status quo with no safe space for progress. Why We Fear Speaking Up Traditionally, we’ve defined respect as treating someone like an authority figure; a person who lays down the law hands out rewards and punishments and should never be disagreed with. It’s how many of us grew up and even how our careers started out. This makes respect feel like a relationship of fear, with no room for truth. That needs to change. Redefining Respect Respect and professionalism can absolutely co-exist with the truth if we define them in an empowering way: Respect means to honor the human Professional means to honor the organization It’s respectful to see others as human beings who are receptive to truth. It’s professional to acknowledge organizational values and objectives and do our best to align with them. Here are some examples of what that could look like: “I spotted a potential roadblock in the plan. A lot of work went into this, and I want it to succeed. Do you have a minute to hear my concerns?” “We seem to be butting heads on this timeline. I know there’s a company objective, and I see you have concerns about that. Tell me what you’re experiencing.” “I know we’re going through a challenging time, and I want to help work through that. The problem is, I’ve been putting in too many evenings and weekends. I feel like I’m burning out and need time to recharge. Can we discuss some options?” “I felt really energized last week when I partnered with the other department. I feel I have a lot to contribute and wonder if you’d be open to me partnering with them again and perhaps growing my career in that direction long term?” “I’ve been thinking about the vision I hold for the organization and want to ensure it’s aligned with the corporate vision, or if I need to make adjustments. Would you help me get clarity?” “I had an idea. From my perspective, it’s in line with corporate objectives, but I realize I may have blind spots. Can I get your feedback?” These openers all take a curiosity approach that is both respectful and professional and empowers progress through truth , rather than allowing fear, discomfort, or outdated ideas of respect to lead to bottlenecks. Practicing Truth Through Mental Models Often, our biggest “truth fear” is what other people will think or how they will react. What if I told you… that was all in your head? And all in their heads? I’m talking about mental models. Mental models are your thought processes, built out of all your experiences, assumptions, beliefs, patterns, etc. We all have them, and they’re highly influential in how we show up and respond. Mental models are like a stubborn computer programs. All you want to do is rotate an image or edit a table, and it just won’t do it! Similarly, sometimes you want to speak up, but it’s like your brain is saying, “Cannot perform the function. Error. Error. Error…” Fortunately, just like software can be reprogrammed, you can, in a way, reprogram your mental models to empower truth instead of shoving it under the rug. Exploring your mental models can also help you get clarity on your truth, which can be hard to identify when you aren’t in the habit. Exploring Mental Models There are 5 key elements of mental models: Facts Thoughts Feelings Beliefs & expectations Values When you break your inner experience down into these elements, it clarifies what’s really going on for you and why and what you genuinely need out of the situation (feel free to use my guided worksheet to do this). If we go back to our fear around truth, mental models also help calm fear. The unknown is unnerving. Get up close to your mental models, and they aren’t unknown anymore! Exploring THEIR Mental Models The person you share your truth with also has mental models that influence how they show up and respond. Be aware of this so that you keep yourself open to their perspective and don’t take their reactions personally. In the worksheet linked above, there is also a section to help you explore the other side and understand that everyone’s truth is both subjective and worthy. As long as we are respectful - honoring the human - progress is possible. Taking Responsibility The fact is, you can’t control anyone else’s reactions. You can’t control them through sharing your truth or through avoidance. You can only control your choices. Why not choose truth? Yes, it will feel scary at first. Sit with the scary. Explore your mental models around that fear. What are the bare facts? What are your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs? What else could you believe? When you commit to speaking your truth, you are committing to taking 100% responsibility for your world. Whether you’re feeling stuck, or unmotivated, or want to create a new post-Covid normal for yourself and those around you, when you speak what’s in your heart, you start to shift the course of your life in meaningful ways. Follow Melissa on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website for more information. Melissa Dawn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Dawn is a renowned speaker, author, coach, and founder of CEO of Your Life. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a Certified Team Performance Coach (CTPC) and Conscious Coach, Certified Master Practitioner of Energy Medicine with The Four Winds, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce. She is also the bestselling author of I Attract What I Am: Transform Failure into an Orgasmically Joyful Life and Business and was named one of Hubspot’s Best Coaching Services worldwide for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Melissa guides others to drop their masks, reconnect with their core selves and put themselves firmly in the CEO seat of their own lives. She believes that what makes us different is how we bring the greatest value to the world and ourselves.

Written by: Gauri Kacherikar, 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’d like to preface this by saying I have been a part of 2 mergers and acquisitions, and the article below is based on my experience, and you may have some different perspectives on the same topic. Mergers and acquisitions have been an integral part of the business world for centuries. With the help of mergers and acquisitions, companies develop and enhance themselves, create a competitive advantage for themselves, and have the upper hand while competing with other companies in the market. When two companies come together, it is interesting to observe how mergers affect employees. This is because there is a sudden cloud of uncertainty that envelopes the employees at the middle and lower tier of the management hierarchy. Which companies work culture should be followed? What are the new rules and policies? Should we do this or that? Who should I report to? What is expected out of me? What are the new evaluation strategy and reward systems ? Such questions create much confusion and chaos in the workplace. An array of unanswered questions leads to instability as employees fear losing their jobs or are unable to cope up with such a drastic change. What Happens To Employees When Companies Merge? Feelings Of Anxiety And Alienation There are very few instances when a merger or acquisition doesn’t cause disruption of some kind to the workforce. The likelihood of layoffs cannot be denied post a merger or acquisition. It is only natural for employees to feel threatened by the expansion of the workforce prompting the imminent decision of ‘cutting flab’ from the coalition. The workforce may feel disengaged and start quitting the company. The dissatisfaction adversely affects the productivity and output level. Threat To Job Mergers and acquisitions end up having an unfavorable effect on employees who experience difficulties in working together with the new addition to the workforce. It may even lead to non-cooperation with the other merging company’s employees. In a merger and acquisition, one company is likely to have a stronger foothold in the market than the other, giving rise to a power struggle. In such a case, employees tend to overlook the achievement of organizational goals and only strive to maintain job security. Employees of the merging or acquiring company, however, have the edge over those working for the acquired company as they may be rewarded with an increase in remuneration and better job position. It gives them a sense of having the upper hand, yet, the fears of mergers cannot be neglected. If an employee, who would otherwise make a valuable contribution to the merged entity - feels that their job is under threat, they may decide that it’s safer to accept a position in a company that can guarantee their job for the foreseeable future than one that can’t. It has been fun to experience both, and there are pros and cons to it. The key important thing to note is Mergers create larger companies and, on balance, larger companies create more opportunities. Mergers are also a sign of a company’s growing ambitions, and by sticking around, you will have the opportunity to piggyback on those ambitions. Benefits are likely to include better salary and benefits, enhanced share options, new roles opening with the company, new opportunities to train and upskill, and even an enhanced image of the company. How Is Business Impacted? A merger can affect the customers of the involved business entities on several levels, including the price of the product or service, the quality of the product or service, the level of satisfaction the customers receive from the company, and the options the customer has when conducting business with the company. Customer satisfaction or customer service is another factor that varies with a merger. In some cases, a newly merged company may experience problems at the customer service level. In many cases, integrating the operations of two companies proves to be a much more difficult task in practice than it seemed in theory. This may result in the combined company being unable to reach the desired targets in terms of cost savings from synergies and economies of scale. What Works Well For Both Customers And Employees? Communication, communication, communication. A change is never easy. Change Management is the key. Companies overlook the impact that an acquisition will have on their people. This is an oversight that can have grave consequences as one of, if not the biggest, value generator in most companies; managing people through acquisition is essential. That’s as much the case for the people leaving the company as those remaining. One of the most commonly cited motivations for performing M&A is the ability to achieve synergies. Unfortunately, most synergies go up in smoke because they’ve been over-optimistically estimated since their conception. But even those that do make sense have a tendency of disappearing as soon as the integration process begins. Overcoming this is one of the keys to achieving more value in the integration process. Be clear that ‘ achieving synergies ’ is not just about identifying them. The Culture Shift In one study, culture was found to be the cause of 30 percent of failed integrations. Companies with different cultures find it difficult, if not often impossible, to make decisions quickly and correctly or to operate effectively. Defining a new culture may not solve the purpose. It should not be taken for granted. It must become a business process that is rigorous, structured, and accountable. Try not to hold onto the old values of each respective company, but rather unify all constituencies around something new, fresh, and exciting for the future. Rewrite and socialize the new cultural manifesto and statements, and celebrate how it came together and how it will contribute to future success. Identify Senior leadership to take responsibility for the communications plan and be front and center and own it. Communication is not a task that can be delegated to lower-level functional people. There should be a systemic, sequential, tactical communications plan with a set timeline for full integration and measurement to gauge the buy-in. Communicate regularly and frequently using all new technological innovations and techniques such as social media, online platforms, gamification, and web-based employee forums. Attempt to brand the cultural communications platform with logo lockups and icons. What Do Successful Integration Leaders Do Differently? 1. Inspire Successful integration leaders motivate others while asserting themselves in their leadership roles. Integrations are tough, tiring, and often tedious. Being able to provide a clear pathway while continuing to motivate teams to work hard, often on top of “day jobs,” enables leaders to achieve a diverse set of integration goals on predetermined timelines. 2. Crisis Handlers With integrations, the unexpected happens. Being able to react to crises when they arise and be decisive about how to handle them enables integration leaders to stay on course when the inevitable occurs. Providing the necessary leadership to work through the situation and get the integration back on track is a key skill set of successful integration leaders. 3. Change Agents Integrations are synonymous with change — no matter the integration strategy. Successful integration leaders seek out change and recognize that doing things differently is often a key reason for the deal itself. Proactively embracing change (versus shying away from it) enables the leader to get things done differently than in legacy organizations. In fact, successful change agents bring an impatience to getting changes executed and provide the energy to make the changes happen. 4. Growth Seekers Successful integration leaders possess an innate drive to achieve, which helps to sustain them and others over the long haul. They also need to inspire growth in others by challenging old approaches that some may seek to maintain. Knowing when and how to challenge and prod others to get out of their comfort zones is a key success factor. Conclusion M&As are considered important change agents and are a critical component of any business strategy. The known fact is that with businesses evolving, only the most innovative and nimble can survive. That is why it is an important strategic call for a business to opt for any arrangements of M&A. Once through the process, on a lighter note, M&A is like an arranged marriage. Partners will take time to understand, mingle, but will end up giving positive results most of the time. Adidas & Reebok Adidas-Reebok is one such merger where both the companies managed to create a portfolio of new offerings while keeping their individuality intact. Sales revenue increased by 52% in 2006, representing the highest organic growth of the Adidas group within the last eight years. It was the first time in the group’s history that it crossed the benchmark of EUR 10 billion. Proper communication, clear strategies, and effective implementation did the job. Follow Gauri on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Gau ri ! Gauri Kacherikar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Gauri Kacherikar is a global business leader and has extensive experience working with the Nordics. She comes with unique capabilities and has led businesses across diverse sectors, including Public and Healthcare, Financial Services. She believes her learnings from the Stockholm School of Economics have contributed to her futuristic approach and thought leadership. As a Coach, she brings an uncanny ability to nurture, coach people to achieve their goals, and advance their career paths. Her mission is to empower women to grow as successful entrepreneurs/corporate executives. Her signature program, "MidLife Energizer," has helped women transform their lives and dreams to find their purpose. "Build Your Executive Presence" is another program that has assisted women in their career trajectories. She has been recognized by the Swedish Royal Family for her gender equality initiatives and is a winner of the Sandvik India Diversity Awards.

Written by: James "Jay" Hollingshed, 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 has become a common practice for business owners, organizational leaders, entrepreneurs, and athletes to send up a prayer or two requesting Divine assistance with their future endeavors. However, studies prove today’s generation of millennial leaders and a few older exceptions benefit greatly from doing more than just sending up a prayer as their spiritual action. They now visualize the exact results they’re expecting and pour continuous positive thought energies into their vision while feeling what it is like to have achieved their desired results. In some cultures, this example of channeling thought energies and feelings is a form of meditation. Some say it’s a form of concentration. Both interpretations are correct. Meditation is simply a prolonged form of concentration. The following short examples explain how channeling your thought energies and feelings for manifestation can be used as a simple plug-and-play formula to reach organizational, leadership, entrepreneurial, athletic, or personal goals. The story is told of a child who excitedly walks into a toy store with his/her mother. The child follows the mother throughout the store going from one aisle to the next and is constantly telling the mom, I want this, or momma, I want that. The child sees more toys, bigger toys, better toys, and says, momma, I think I like these better. The child wants 20 different toys from 20 different aisles. Seeing and feeling the conflicting energies from her child’s lack of focus, she smiles. She is convinced her child is overwhelmed, excited, and confused. Momma gives the child a big hug and buys nothing for the child. She says we will come back and get something when you are ready. A second story is told of a child who excitedly visits the toy store with his/her mother. As the child followed the mother into the store, a green toy on the third shelf of aisle one catches the child’s eye. The child stops, picks up the toy, and examines it. The mother kept walking, not realizing her child was still on aisle one examining the toy. Momma circles back and summons the child. Reluctantly, the child puts the toy back and takes mom’s hand as they walk from one aisle to the next, passing a plethora of fascinating toys. Every aisle they walk down takes them further away from the child’s desired toy. When entering a new aisle, the child would say, momma, I want the green toy, on the third shelf of aisle one. They kept walking, and the child ignores twenty different toys from twenty different aisles. The child kept repeating, I want the green toy, on the third shelf, on aisle one. Seeing her child’s energy and feeling the focus, momma is convinced her child is not confused and knows what they want. She gladly walks back to the green toy on the third shelf of aisle one and purchases it for her child. “Our thoughts create our reality – where we put our focus is the direction we intend to go.” –Peter McWilliams Let’s substitute the toy store and new toy for that upcoming work presentation and your desired presentation results. Close your two physical eyes to reduce distraction and see with your mental eye your desired results on aisle one. Being on aisle one could also represent your first mind or your initial thoughts. How many times have we said to ourselves, I should’ve followed my first mind or my gut feeling? Subsequent aisles in the store now represent tempting ideas or ideas from coworkers who want to see you succeed and even those who want to see you fail. You have many outcome options to focus on but keep in mind, only one of those options is your vision. Your visualized outcome is what you intrinsically feel and internally see for yourself, not what someone externally told or gave you. Stay focused on your vision of an outstanding presentation regardless of what else is presented to you. In your vision, feel yourself basking in the celebratory success of your presentation. Once there, express gratitude for the experience and look forward to it soon becoming your physical reality. According to Forbes Magazine, “Successful small business owners say they started their businesses because they had a vision and followed it. And as they pushed forward with their plans it was important for them to keep their eyes on the big picture.” – Eilene Zimmerman For the sake of understanding this plug-and-play concept, let’s plug the late great Steve Jobs into the equation. Let’s say Steve Jobs was the child in the second toy store scenario and the iPhone idea was the green toy on the third shelf of aisle one. Figuratively, Steve Job’s mind represents aisle one. The other 20 or so aisles in the store figuratively represent the minds and thoughts of Steve Job’s peers and advisors. These would be the same ones who advised him against entering the phone arena to create the iPhone and to stick with advancing the iPod. Jobs was presented with various other ideas to make the iPod greater, but with each idea presented, he stayed focused on the idea in his mind, entering the arena to create what is now known as the iPhone. His vision of an iPhone in every hand and feeling the excitement of that reality is what he held on to. Of course, the rest is history (as many of you are currently reading this article on your iPhone). Seeing Job’s energy and feeling his focus, momma universe was convinced that Steve wasn’t confused and knew exactly what he wanted. She gladly aligned the right people and circumstances in his favor to manifest his desire. When it comes to manifesting your desires, the momma in the story represents the universe. We represent the child following momma throughout the store, and the different aisles represent the many different distractions and options we are faced with. When our mental energy is channeled towards our desires with an unwavering focus, momma aligns our circumstances allowing us exactly what we want. It doesn’t matter if you’re a business owner, organizational leader, entrepreneur, or athlete. The next time you send up a prayer for Divine assistance in your endeavors, don’t just stop there with your spiritual action. Understand that circumstances are spiritual. Visualizing only your desired results and feeling the excitement of that soon being your reality will spiritually work in your favor. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! James "Jay" Hollingshed, Executive Contributor Jay is a Mindset & Manifestation Coach. He coaches driven individuals beyond the problems they have and don’t want the solutions they see and can’t reach. Jay’s process developed from decades of struggling with his seven chronic mental disabilities and intellectual disorders (the problems he had and didn’t want). His struggles resulted in an ACT score of 12 and other disappointments. Now Jay teaches his developed skills to address problems at the subconscious level and provides coaching as clients apply these skills to problems they have and don’t want. Jay has coached hundreds of athletes as a Mental Game Coach, from the USA Jr. National Circuit to the NCAA D-1 Level, and numerous entrepreneurs. Jay is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Speaker & Trainer. A master level Usui Reiki Practitioner, Ordained Minister of Healing, and a bestselling author. Jay has more than 20 years of experience in Healthcare & Mental health and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration.

Written by: Karen St. Clair, 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 take stress for granted these days as “just part of life”? While we occasionally experience Eustress, the healthy positive stress we feel when we’re planning our wedding, riding a roller coaster, or taking on a fun challenge, we can spend many more hours per day in Distress, the chronic unhealthy and damaging stress of fear and anxiety. What Can We Do About It in the Present Moment? The answer is simply to use the profound benefits of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), commonly known as Tapping, a mind-body stress reliever. Tapping gently on nine specific meridian points while repeating out loud what is causing the stress physically reduces the Cortisol (stress hormone) level in your body. It sounds too easy and too good to be true until you experience it for yourself! The result of using EFT Tapping is a feeling of relief as the mind and body release stuck energy or “Chi” restoring your energy flow from the Sympathetic nervous system known as “fight or flight” to your Parasympathetic nervous system, defined as “calm-rest and digest.” Being stuck in the past could be costing you money, time, or even your future. Here are samples of stress indicators that you may be experiencing daily. Can You Relate? Neurological Symptoms Difficulty concentrating Trouble making decisions Negative outlook on life Anxious or racing thoughts Constant worrying Emotional Symptoms General moodiness Irritability or short temper Feeling lonely and isolated Agitation, anger, inability to relax Feeling overwhelmed with life Physical Symptoms Aches and pains in the body Digestive problems Nausea, dizziness, vertigo Chest pain, rapid heartbeat Loss of intimate desire Behavioral Symptoms Eating more or less Isolating yourself from others Procrastinating or neglecting life’s responsibilities Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax or in excess Nervous habits Any one of these or a combination of two or more may be costing you your ability to move forward easily in your daily life. Our Thoughts Are In Charge Consider that we have 80,000 thoughts per day, with 85% of those being the same thoughts that we had yesterday and the day before that. Our subconscious mind continually serves up repetitive negative thoughts for the sole purpose of keeping us safe, its primary focus. It can continue, day in and day out, as the cost of stress grows larger by the minute. Emotional costs are not always measured in dollars and cents. Our behaviors can cost us that pay raise or promotion. They can show up in our lives in many different forms, like the costly limitations created by the fear of using an elevator or fear of driving on the highway. Empowering Results with EFT Tapping I decided to test this theory by creating an EFT Tapping group of adults to find out what the perceived costs of stress were in their current lives from unresolved past experiences from childhood. Each participant was asked to share what was costing them emotionally in their daily lives. The group’s feelings seemed to flow easily as they shared their responses: “My anger and frustration with my job cost me the promotion that I deserve.” (Monica) “Cigarettes and booze are costing me a decent relationship.” (Dean) “My IBS condition is costing me the joy of taking a vacation because I can’t travel.” (Keith) “Believing that I’m not good enough keeps me in an abusive relationship and costs me my freedom.” (Rebecca) They could clearly identify the emotional costs that we're translating into daily stress but felt powerless to change it. The act of identifying their personal costs unleashed their potential to feel the riches of unlimited emotional currency. “How would you like to turn these emotional costs into stress-free currency?” I asked. “YES” won the day! Dean was the first to raise his hand! “Cigarettes and booze are costing me a decent relationship.” As we worked through some of the preliminary questions, Dean shared that he started drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes when he was 13. Dean felt ready to shift the daily habits that had become his way of life. “What was happening in your life at 13?” I asked. He said, “My Dad died suddenly in a car accident.” “What did you feel in your body when you learned of the accident?” I continued. “Scared and abandoned,” said Dean. We gently tapped on the EFT Tapping points using Dean’s words over and over until he realized that he hadn’t yet accepted or grieved his Dad’s death but had turned to alcohol and cigarettes as a coping mechanism to soothe the overwhelming emotional pain that he was experiencing. The subconscious mind stores traumatic experiences in real-time as part of its full-time job to keep us safe. In Dean’s case, real-time meant age 13. He had been carrying the emotional weight from that moment on. Reliving the moment of getting the news about his Dad’s death seemed palpable. On a scale of 0 – 10, Dean’s level of feeling scared and abandoned was a 10. As we tapped through each feeling, Dean’s level of stress slowly came down to a 1. He was able to let go of the fear and abandonment that his 13-year old inner child had been carrying for so many years. To this day, EFT Tapping is Dean’s go-to stress reliever for big and small emotional costs. “You don’t have to see the whole staircase; just take the first step.” Martin Luther King If you’re ready to take that first step of releasing stressful patterns from the past and start experiencing emotional freedom in the present, let's talk about how EFT Tapping can start helping you today. Book a free consultation with Karen at her website or connect with her on LinkedIn or Facebook. Karen St. Clair, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Karen St. Clair is a multi-business owner and CEO of two divergent companies; Touch Point Studio, an Energy Psychology Practice, and St.Clair Media Group, a full-service advertising agency. She has mastered the art of combining the energy of consumer-facing advertising with the inner Soul work necessary to create abundant outcomes for her clients. Known for her expertise in the use of research-based modalities, Karen practices as an Accredited EFT Tapping Practitioner certified by EFT International, a Psych-K® Practitioner, and Usui Reiki Master of Masters. She specializes in identifying, addressing, and resolving often intertwined personal and professional challenges. Her years of corporate experience and master-level energy psychology training create ease of trusted success within her practice. Karen proudly volunteers her services on the Reiki Team at Maine Medical Center and facilitates EFT Tapping Groups for frontline healthcare workers of Maine Health, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety.

Written by: Tim Nash, 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. “First the doctor told me the good news: I was going to have a disease named after me.” ― Steve Martin. Have you ever been in a really stressful situation and all you could do was laugh? Hopefully it didn’t include having a disease named after you. I’m fairly sure this joke doesn’t involve a real person. It is a bit dark – as was Martin in his early days. However, it illustrates how humor can alleviate even the direst of situations. Not only has laughter been scientifically proven to improve your physical and mental state, it’s also a valuable resource in times of stress or struggle. There’s a reason it’s called “the best medicine”! Any health or medical journal written in the last 20 years will confirm this. Laughing also helps to build up personal resilience – an invaluable skill in times of crisis, chaos or unexpected change. In addition to stress reduction and increased resilience, it leaves you more open to events and people around you. It’s also contagious. Give someone a big smile and see what comes back. DailyOM founder Madisyn Taylor encourages us to share it: “Laughter is good medicine, and we all have this medicine available to us…We magnify the effects of this medicine when we share it with the people in our lives.” The COVID-19 restrictions have made things very hard for many people. No doubt you or someone who know has a lot more sadness right now than fun. It’s important we are sensitive to them. But, there are moments when you can laugh. Despite the cloud hanging over you. Even just one hearty laugh can change your perspective on just about anything. “During our journey, we can become very serious – it’s important to remember to have fun along the way”, Ms. Taylor reminds us. A few years ago I was taking part in an intensive certification course in Zurich, Switzerland. I knew only one other participant. The topic was therapy-based, not business. The language was German. As an American expat working primarily in English, I was out of my comfort zone. BIG TIME. During a group discussion on the afternoon of day 2, the course leadertold a story about once going out of his way to help extract a woman from an abusive relationship. She quit therapy soon after. Indeed, no good deed goes unpunished. I don’t know if it was the way he told the story or the fact that his patient’s actions were absurd, but I began to laugh. And couldn’t stop. Didn’t want to, either. It was like getting reacquainted with a good friend. I didn’t realize it at the time but I was letting off stream. Decompressing. From the travel effort to get there to exerting myself to understand and be understood, the previous day and a half had been highly stressful. My laughter broke down my stress and more importantly, opened me up to profound learning for the rest of the course. That afternoon in Zurich I made two big realizations: Humor is a must-have for my learning. Humor builds up my resilience so that I can handle stressful situations. The good news is that humor is not a secret or hidden resource. Or something that takes years to develop. It’s readily available and each and every one of us has access to it. After that experience I made the decision that if what I was doing didn’t cause some element of joy or give me the ability to occasionally laugh, it simply wasn’t worth it. In doing extensive research for High Performance Habits, best-selling author Brendon Burchard found a direct correlation between joy and performance: “It turns out that joy, more than anything else, is what gives them capital “E” Energy. If you feel joy, your mind, body and emotional reality all get a lift.” Incidentally, Energy is one of his top 6 Habits. To my knowledge, there’s no better way to embrace joy than to allow yourself a big, long, healthy laugh. In our culture, we tend to value hard work and seriousness. In all the busyness and serious business, we forget to pay attention to the equally important light side of joy and laughter. To stay balanced in your busy world, it’s critical that you recognize that “Busyness Is a Choice.” As any health or medical journal will confirm – a little laughter can help you through tough times. So don’t suppress a laugh when you feel it coming. Beyond laughter and joy, a key to building resilience is the ability to learn from your mistakes. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you’ll keep repeating them. It also ensures that you continue to improve – your performance and bottom-line results! To help you “bounce back from your setbacks and unleash your Peak Performance” I’ve created a FREE GUIDE with practical tips and strategies that work: Click HERE for your “Personal Resilience Blueprint”. For regular tips and closer interaction, connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook. Reach out and let me know you’ve read this article. I look forward to interacting with you! With gratitude, Tim Read more from Tim! Tim Nash, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tim Nash is on a mission to help senior professionals escape their energy-zapping maze, focus on what matters and pave the way for success. Via the empowering principles of Gestalt, he guides his clients below the surface to overcome what is preventing them from performing at their best. For over two decades, Tim has helped young professionals to C-level executives lead and collaborate across cultures. He is also the founder of The Path To Peak Performance which includes his dynamic coaching practice and American Transplant web series.

Written by: Ruby Russell, 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. More than 22 million Americans work evenings, on call or rotating shifts. This is a problem since getting a good night's sleep is critical to life expectancy and good health and it makes you a better person. Being sleep deprived can make you cantankerous, unhealthy and obese. It will make you more susceptible to health problems such as diabetes, strokes, accidents and heart attacks. There are many challenges when working non-traditional hours. Your physical health can suffer from shift work. It can be challenging to get the necessary sleep you need to stay well rested. Your immune system weakens when you don’t get enough sleep causing you to get sick easier. Your performance can suffer as well and can be dangerous. Studies have found that a lack of sleep can affect concentration, memory, mood and reaction time. Being tired increases the chance of work-related injuries. Even driving home after work is a risk when you are sleepy. An estimated 52 percent of car accidents occur within 5 miles of a person's home, and 77 percent occur within 15 miles or less. I remember a friend leaving my sister's home and falling asleep at the wheel less than 2 blocks away. Some of the major accidents blamed on human errors partially blamed for a lack of sleep or are: Three Mile Island Nuclear power plant in 1979- Clean Up Cost $1 billion dollars Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former USSR in 1986 -Clean Up Cost $68 billion· Exxon Valdez oil spill of the coast of Alaska in 1989 - Clean Up Cost $3.8 billion Shift work is not that uncommon. Police officers, firefighters, doctors, office cleaning staff and factory workers are all at risk for shift work sleep disorders. In industrialized countries up to 20% of workers either work night or rotating shifts, according to an article in the England Journal of Medicine. People with (SWD) Shift Work Disorder are at higher risk of accidents and missing work due to a lack of sleep. Night work and rotating and shift work can produce a higher risk of ulcers, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease. But what to do is the question? We all don’t have the privilege of a fixed schedule for all of our needs. And there’s plenty of information out there about it. Today you read about every remedy imaginable, pill, injections, music, video, Ted talks that just to name a few, all with many subscribers. They are feeding you so much information that if you spend an hour each day reading or listening it should put you to sleep. Some tips for sleeping and dealing with working odd hours. Avoid long commutes Avoid frequently rotating shifts Try not to work several night shifts in a row. Keep workplace brightly lit Try and schedule days off minimizing to many days worked in a row Limit caffeine, one cup at the beginning of your shift Avoid bright lights on the way home from work Don’t stop to do errands Stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule as much as you can Limit phone calls and visitors during sleep time Use blackout blinds or heavy curtains. Short term effects on your health working shift work are nausea, diarrhea, constipation and heartburn. Insomnia and decreased quality of life are all side effects of shift work along with heart disease, ulcers, obesity. The Institute of Work and Health reports strong evidence that night and shift work is associated with an increase in occupational accidents. Worker fatigue sets in when there is less supervision and co-workers doing non-daytime shifts. Working night shifts can boost your risk of early death. Researchers found that after doing 22 years of research that women who worked on rotating night shifts for more than five years were up to 11% more likely to die early than someone who never worked such shifts. Night shifts can mess up the body’s natural rhythms so much that the brain and digestive system. Here are several other ways night shift can affect your health. Increase risk of heart attack Increase risk of depression Increase risk of workplace injury Changes your metabolism Interferes with natural sleep rhythms Increase risk of obesity and diabetes In other words, shift work can be detrimental to one's health. Make sure you are consistent with your sleep. Pay close attention to what’s going on in your bedroom surroundings. Ensure that you're doing what is necessary to get sleep and improve your health because your life depends on it. Find me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit our website. Read more from Ruby! Ruby Russell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ruby is a 70-year-old senior entrepreneur and a chip off the old block. Her parents were entrepreneurs, and she wanted to follow in their footsteps. When her domestic partner suffered an injury, he would toss and turn in the bed, tearing the bed up. Ruby used fabric from another bed sheet to extend the top sheet. To make the extension fit correctly, she left out the corners, leaving a long tail. What she created was a top sheet is now a one-step process that centers itself. After using Ruby’s invention, her partner could no longer tear the bed up. One patent and a little ingenuity later, and RR Distinctive Beddings was born. Like all entrepreneurs, there is always a hit and miss. One thing all entrepreneurs have in common is perseverance, a head full of ideas, and a dream. However, Ruby was holding on until there was a life-changing moment.

Written by: Joanne Martin, 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. Networking is something people immediately love or hate. It is a word that is often thrown around in business, but very few practices. For some, it might bring up memories of boring meetings where people are passing business cards, but no one is taking interest in getting to know the person they are standing next to. Networking in business is about bringing together like-minded individuals with a common goal, interest, or idea to achieve an outcome. For some entrepreneurs, networking is part of their sales pipeline, a way of creating leads, building relationships, and developing sales opportunities. Many business owners and entrepreneurs utilize networking to form ongoing business relationships. This includes developing business opportunities, sharing information, creating joint venture projects, raising capital, and identifying potential collaboration partners. If you can master the crucial art of networking and execute it skillfully it will open doors to opportunities you can only dream of. Networking is a great way to tap into top talent, land new clients, and strategically expand your network. Connection We are hard-wired for connection and belonging. While it is important for each of us to retain our unique personality and nature, being with others and seeing how we fit in the whole is part of being human. For those in business, it is essential to growth and expansion. Human connection involves an energy exchange between people who are mindful, awakened, and in tune with each other. The connection has the power to inspire change, build trust, bring people into the moment and create lasting relationships. On a soul level, human beings are seeking connection with others to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves. The ability to connect is an important aspect of building your tribe, creating a community, and delivering value to clients who are aligned with your purpose. When I started my publishing company I immediately went to my existing network and that is how I got the first five contributors in my multi-author book Innovation Secrets. If you want to make the most of your next Zoom collaboration call, BNI event, or conference be sure to learn more about the person than what they do, find out what makes them tick. Here are three questions that will quickly move you beyond surface-level chat to deep connection. What has been a defining moment in your life? What inspired you to start your business? What do you love to do when you´re not working? Referrals Ask anyone in business if they would prefer a referral or a cold lead and they will choose an introduction every time. It costs far less money and chances are much greater that it will be a long-term relationship which means repeat business. If you think about people who love what you do, are inspired by your purpose and are supportive of new projects you launch, then they are the perfect people to have in your referral funnel. Referrals are the gold sitting in your network that you can most easily convert to raving fans. One simple and easy way to motivate your referral partners after they have bought into your vision is to reward them. This could be public recognition, awards, or affiliate commissions. When I introduced this concept around my book, it leads to selling out over 50% of the spots without traditional marketing or ads. If you would like to be the kind of business that is easy to refer to keep these three keys in mind. Know exactly who your ideal client is and be able to articulate it to your referral network in 3 sentences or less. Have clear offers and price points. It is a bonus if you have sales pages or one-sheets that can easily be shared. Let your referral network know the best way to introduce you to those who are potential clients so no one slips through the cracks. 5 Experts Weigh In With Their Favourite Networking Tips Most entrepreneurs and business owners have their own ‘secret formula’ for networking and apply this to create success. To help you reframe your thinking around networking, I reached out to 5 experts to share their number one tip for powerful networking. "Ask yourself, how do you want others to feel in your presence? Be intentional - in every interaction you’re activating your Personal Brand." — Charli Fels, Brand Architect at OSTRICH180. Christina Kim from Melinz Kim & Assoc. P/L Architects believes to: "Find common ground and be interested in their stories" is the key to networking success. “I was always a positive, outgoing person, yet I suffered from imposter syndrome for years (at networking). Finally, I realised that while positivity got me through adversity, it was only confidence that got me my goals” reflects Julie Watson from Stronger Than My Excuses. Values Educator, Gabrielle Bailey, says the key to networking is ‘ to be authentic, in who you are, how you show up, what you and your business stand for, so you can attract the people and business that is aligned with your values’. "Listen and ask great questions, look for ways you can add value. Don’t ask for a job. Reciprocate and share connections and learnings" recommends Career Innovation Coach, Robyn Greaves. Relationships are at the core of a sustainable and authentic business. If you haven´t had a good experience in the past perhaps it´s time to let that go and redefine what networking can be for you. Want to learn more from Joanne? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Joanne Martin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joanne Martin is the CEO and Founder of Golden Earth Publishing. She’s an International Best-Selling Author and Book Writing Coach for ambitious business owners who are ready to position themselves as the thought leader and go-to expert in their field. Joanne works globally with clients to up-level their businesses, increase revenue opportunities, and magnify their marketing impact through published literary works. Her work is a bespoke blend of the book writing strategy, mindset mastery, and innovative business ideas to create exponential professional growth and positive global impact.

Written by: Zachary Hoffman , 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. During my time living abroad for the last 10 years, there are countless lessons I have learned along the way that have helped shape who I am today. However, four main lessons stick out in my mind in terms of my various leadership roles: Talk less, observe, listen & relate Culture Matters Have a “Swiss-Army Knife” approach Leadership alone isn’t enough Growing up in the small town of Cecil, Pennsylvania. I was the classic American kid. I loved sports, playing in the backyard, and the 4th of July. I grew up with a sort of “tunnel vision” mindset, essentially having no desire or reason to look outside of my own country's borders. Like a lot of young boys in the USA, I had aspirations of playing professional football in the NFL. Ever since I was 6 years old, I remember that all I ever wanted to do was be an NFL quarterback. I remember I used to stay up to watch the Monday Night Football games as a kid while wearing the jersey of the starting quarterback for whichever team was playing. I would reenact the game myself while making diving catches and throwing the ball against the sofa. Long story short, I grew older and progressed into high school and college. I slowly but surely realized that my lifelong dream of reaching the NFL simply wasn’t in the cards for me. While looking back, this was surely a life-changing moment in my life. At the time, I was devastated. However, long story short, it leads me on a journey I could have never imagined as a young, American kid from a small American suburb. Little did I know, my true calling was just beginning. I now live full time in Europe, I have dual-citizenship, speak 2 foreign languages, and have had the privilege to lead individuals and establish relationships with people from across the globe. The lessons I have listed at the start of this article are not based on statistics or achievements due to my education. They are rather based on real-life experiences within intercultural environments. These experiences inspired me to write a book and develop a concept that I have found to be very helpful in terms of my overall effectiveness as a leader in international environments. This concept is called SWALeadership (Sensible, Worldwide, Adaptable, Leadership). Let’s dive into it! 1. Sensible — Talk less, observe, listen & relate There are so many people today who have the title of “Leader” but simply do not realize the responsibility that comes with it. It is no secret that having this title alone does not make someone effective or competent in terms of acting in a leadership role. Unfortunately, but naturally, ego gets in the way of earning the respect of one’s followers BEFORE giving them tasks and assignments. I emphasize the word “before” because a lot of time people in leadership roles want to use their title as an assumption of having the respect of their followers. This is one of the biggest mistakes that can be made in my opinion, and it is simply an act of incompetence and arrogance. I have come to realize that before you attempt to effectively lead others, you must first and foremost earn their respect. The title alone won’t get you far if you do not earn it. So how is this respect earned? Well, it takes time, but I have found that the golden standard to earning respect is to observe, listen and relate. Observing each of your followers and trying to get an idea of the way they tick. What is their body language? How do they interact with the other members of the team? How do they react to you as their leader? These are all questions that take time and effort to answer, but they will give one the initial idea of how to approach them in a conversation. Then comes listening. Oftentimes people in leadership roles feel like they have to flex their muscles and show how competent they are. In my opinion, this is the last thing any aspiring, effective leader should do. It should be the total opposite. Less talking, more listening. Ask genuine questions to your followers. Show them that you truly do care about their goals, aspirations, and livelihoods. Notice I reference the word “genuine .” I am a strong believer that there has to be a real interest in helping others to succeed in a leadership role. Unfortunately, the reality is that this idea isn’t always the case. Then comes relating. Relating is a product of observing and listening. After we get a feel for an individual and learn about their personality, background, and motives, we can then use this information to relate their situation to a similar situation in our lives. What I have come to realize is that when you can truly relate to someone, you immediately earn their respect. After all, one of the greatest comforts/assurances we as humans search for is others who know how we feel and/or have been through situations similar to theirs. Observation + Listening + Relating = Respect and endless possibilities for yourself and your team. When you have the respect of others, they are far more likely to follow you when you do decide to speak and act. 2. Worldwide — Culture Matters We live in a globalized world. Unlike previous generations where nationalistic views and World Wars prevented the inter-mixing of cultures, we now live in a world that has become a societal melting-pot. There are countless numbers of religions, beliefs, traditions, personalities, and social norms that have all come together in the modern-day corporate world. All of these traits were formed from the roots of each person's upbringing. They are how people identify with themselves. One of the major problems I have witnessed is a lack of intercultural competence outside of the one we were brought up in. We cannot assume that our way is the only one. Generalized leadership is destined for failure in today’s world. We need to take more time to understand and accept people for their differences. The assumption is asinine. We cannot assume that all of our followers want, react and believe the same things as we do. This sounds like an obvious statement, but it is amazing how much we have taken this for granted. Those who resent globalization and intercultural cultural competence are simply living in the past that is never coming back. 3. Adaptable — Have a “Swiss-Army Knife” Approach One of the biggest failures in our past and present is our inability as a society to accept reality and adapt accordingly. However, those who are willing to adapt their leadership style to what their following does best are the ones who are the most effective. Just as a Swiss-Army is diverse and adaptable in terms of the tools that it withholds, effective leaders also have to have tools within their foundation that they can use to adapt to the needs and interests of the people they are leading. However, it all starts with the foundation or “the handle “ of the knife. Within this handle lies the tools needed to accomplish tasks. Just as within ourselves lies the “soft skills” or tools necessary to reach our following and truly have an impact on them as individuals. However, before one can develop tools, one needs to first establish their foundation. They need to become leaders of themselves before they can develop the skills needed to lead others. Just as a Swiss-Army knife has a strong handle with its variety of tools, effective leaders need to have a handle on our own life before we can impact those of others. 4. Leadership — Alone it isn’t enough If you have noticed throughout this article, I never use the word “leadership” standing alone. I always preceded it with the word “effective and/or ineffective.” That is because we as a society have put the word “leadership” on a pedestal of greatness and worth without even being able to come up with a proper definition for what it entails. If you type the words “leadership definition” into Google, you will find the following definition: The action of leading a group of people or an organization. The state or position of being a leader. The leaders of an organization, country, etc. I don’t know about you, but any definition that uses the actual word being defined as part of the definition is a sign that nobody knows what the heck it truly means. Take, for example, Julius Caesar, Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini. They were all considered “leaders” despite their totalitarian, corrupt and evil approaches. But were effective, maybe in terms of their own goals, yes, but we can not put these people in the same category as Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, and Gandhi. There has to be a difference, and technically, according to the current or lack thereof definitions of leadership, there isn’t one. So how does one define effective leadership and ineffective leadership? This is a discussion that could go on for days, but in short, I believe that effective leadership starts with selfless leadership. Not selfless in the sense of putting others before yourself in terms of health, but selfless in the sense of putting others before physical achievements and worldly successes. This is why it is so hard to find truly effective leaders. We as a society see people’s worth in the attention they acquire, how much they are getting noticed, and how financially rich they are that we have created a rat-race of attention cravers. So the next time someone mentions being a leader or a leadership developer, just remember that it isn’t enough standing alone. Are they truly effective in their role? Or are they just another rat in the race? SWAL — Sensible, Worldwide, Adaptable, Leaders. That is what I strive to be and who I want to help develop. We are at a crucial point in our history. The world is drastically changing, and only those who get with the times will survive and thrive. I believe that the SWAL concept is a solution for developing effective leaders of the future. Those who will break down barriers and leave a true legacy that will be followed for generations to come. We can make this world an amazing place to live, not just for ourselves but for our kids and grandkids. The bottom line is that we can't take our success and accolades to our graves. All we can leave behind is our influence. So I challenge us all to adapt to impact and leave behind a legacy of effective leadership. Want to learn more from Zac? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit his website. Zachary Hoffman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Zac is an Italian/American dual citizen, effective leadership developer, published author, and former professional American football player. Originally from a small, rural town in Western Pennsylvania (USA), he has spent his twenties living in 6 different countries while playing and coaching American football. During his time abroad, he developed the SWALeadership concept based on his many thrilling and eye-opening experiences within various leadership roles across cultures.

Written by: Michelle Gauthier, 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 I have asked my clients and my students what they want, many times, the answer is to be fearless. When they are fearless, they will be able to do everything they want. The thing that has been holding them back is fear, or so they say. I love that answer only because they see something is holding them back, and they know that if they overcome, they get to have what they desire in life. The problem is, there is no such thing as being 100% fearless. Imagine the person who is the most courageous, inspirational, and powerful person you know. Do you think they have absolutely no fear? Ask them if you can. Chances are, they will come back with a 'hell no! I have fears' or something along those lines. Here's why fearlessness is a myth . Fear is innate. It is designed to keep our being safe. We subconsciously use it for survival, initiating our flight or fight response. Fear has kept us alive up until now. The fear people typically want to be free of is the fear that has held them back. As a confidence coach, I have had many people want to have the courage and confidence I have. When I tell them that I am not always courageous, nor as confident as they have made me out to be, there is such disbelief. I am only human, but I also have tools to get me through the fear. I was interviewed on the topic of confidence , and right up until we went live, I was nervous, freaking out, and entertaining my limiting beliefs. In the end, I surrendered to the experience and knew that whatever happened was meant to happen. Want to know my secret on combating fear? It's pretty simple. Just do it anyway. That's it! Are you scared to ask for a raise? Just do it. Are you afraid of being rejected? Just do it. When you get into your head about all the things that could go wrong or why we 'shouldn't' do something, you are not living to your full potential. You will never know exactly what you are capable of if you are operating in your box of guaranteed safety. For me, it's not about the outcome of pushing through your fears. Instead, it's about who you become by doing it. When you can work through your fears, it opens up a world of possibility. If you want to live a life of fearlessness, begin with the willingness to be courageous and get uncomfortable. Three tricks that have worked for me to become comfortable with accepting my fear and 'doing it anyway' are: Have a day or a few hours of saying "Yes, let's" to anything that comes up. I did this as a leadership activity, and it removes the fear of judgments because everyone involved gets to have equal input on what to do. It can be as silly or as bold as you would like! Shonda Rhimes has published her book "The Year of Yes," which also goes along the same concept and is remarkably powerful. As soon as you choose to say yes, the universe provides you with remarkable opportunities. Shift your mindset. Instead of thinking, "I am scared/terrified/nervous," shift it to " I am excited!". Honestly, just that little change has changed my own energy around events/situations. Sometimes I even tell myself, "this is a great opportunity!". Try it and see how your body responds to the words you say. Ask myself what the worst that could happen is. Then I work through it, creating a plan. Follow-up questions can also include "Would that be so bad?" or "does that matter to me?". Oftentimes our brains create an unlikely worst-case scenario. Now you can understand that you don't have to be fearless. Nobody is. Next time you are faced with a 'fearful' situation, try some of the suggestions above. Ask yourself what good can come out of it on the other side. When you push through and do it anyway, you will see how exhilarating it can be. If you're not sure where to start or how to shift your mindset, I would absolutely love to connect and work together to conquering the debilitating fears for you to live the best life you can imagine. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michelle! Michelle Gauthier, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle Gauthier, an honors graduate of Psychology and an international life and confidence coach, writes about fitness, self-love, and boosting confidence. She has overcome a toxic workplace that left her with anxiety, depression, and low self-worth. Michelle is now a thriving founder of Phoenix Coaching, following her passion for teaching and coaching millennials to regain control of their lives, build their inner power, and live in possibility.

Written by: Stacey Ruth, 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 a boss, peer, or client cheers you on, even before you feel inner certainty about your abilities in a new role or task, your confidence naturally soars. However, you can build your confidence and self-esteem at work without any external validation. For instance, when you are your own boss or working in isolation, you must rely on your own ability to build confidence much of the time. In fact, this inner-sourced confidence and self-esteem are ultimately more empowering and sustainable. Which Comes First – Self-Esteem or Confidence? Since it is quite possible, and unfortunately rather common, to have high self-confidence but low self-esteem, neither is actually necessary for the other to exist. Self-esteem is about your belief in your worthiness, independent of your circumstances, while confidence is about your trust in your own abilities. It is natural when you are put in a new role or handed a high-profile project, to have some self-doubt about your abilities. You may have little previous experience in this particular area, and you are uncertain how to proceed. Your confidence and self-esteem will drive what you do next. A highly confident person, who is lacking a certain amount of self-esteem, will believe that they have what it takes to learn what is needed and get the job done effectively. They might burn the candle at both ends and most likely will go above and beyond what is expected – or actually needed in many cases. They may also do all of this to the detriment of their health and well-being, even though they may ask for additional resources. An individual with high self-esteem, who isn’t fully confident in their abilities to execute all the needed tasks for the role or project, will begin to seek out experts and other team members who can teach and collaborate to get the project done effectively. This person will put their self-care in the forefront, choosing not to over-extend, even though they will meet their commitments. The beauty is that both confidence and self-esteem can be built and strengthened at any age, independent of one another. The Signs of High Self-Esteem at Work The signs of high self-esteem at work translate from high self-esteem in other facets of one’s life and can feed self-confidence. With healthy self-esteem, you're: Values own inner guidance first, and foremost, over outside opinions and direction Ability to assertively (not aggressively or passively) state needs and opinions Effective decision-making, even in ambiguous situations Track record of secure, authentic relationships and a low tolerance for any other type Taking realistic actions based on acceptance of self, others, and situations without feeling victimized or judgmental Highly resilient in fluctuating, stressful, chaotic circumstances Signs of High Confidence at Work Confidence is built on experience and the acquisition of knowledge. So the attributes of high-confidence, isolated from self-esteem look like this: Extremely willing to take on new roles and projects Embraces challenge and calculated risk Leans into personal development and growth activities Shares the spotlight Listens well Celebrates successes and achievements visibly How to Quickly Improve Confidence and Self-Esteem It is fairly obvious how low self-esteem and confidence can seriously sabotage a professional career. However, restoring these critical attributes is not as difficult as it might seem. There are many ways to approach restoring self-esteem and confidence, which can be done in combination, or one at a time. Restoring one’s confidence is typically faster and easier than self-esteem if both are low. These actions can kick your confidence into high gear: Get experience in the area you feel unsure of – that can include finding a mentor, studying, joining a group or team, and spending time doing the “thing” in low profile/low-risk situations. Recognize the difference between excellence (doing something well, which is empowering) and doing it perfectly (which is demoralizing). Reframe disappointments and mistakes as learning experiences. This may seem too soft, if your ego just took a big hit, but the alternative is shutting yourself down for fear of repeating the error. It takes real courage to reframe. Be patient and disciplined. This is especially important for fast learners who often sail through new challenges with remarkable ease. When they hit something that really demands a lot out of them, they give up since it feels so hard in contrast to their pattern. Look for places to courageously push past your comfort zone, which continues to expand that zone over time. Making this a habit grows your confidence as you master each new level. Take micro-steps. This breaks massive projects into their tiniest components, and as you file one paper or answer one email, you can celebrate a small accomplishment, which powers the next action. Ask for help in your tasks. When you share the load, you can focus on what you do best, which builds greater confidence in those areas. Restoring one’s self-esteem requires that we dig a little deeper since self-esteem is about our beliefs of ourselves. Every belief we ever have was learned at some point. The beauty of that is we can unlearn, relearn and choose a new belief system. This takes the unconscious beliefs, such as I’m not enough , and makes a fresh, conscious allegiance with a different belief, such as I am everything I need . Here are some ways to retrain yourself and grow self-esteem: Do estimable acts. When you forgive, express gratitude, do someone a favor, make an introduction, or other act of support and connection, then your own confidence grows as you realize how much you have to give. Put your own self-care first on your priority list. This can be very challenging at first, especially if it feels like your self-care is in conflict with family, client, or employer demands. So do it in increments – planning healthy meals for the week, getting more sleep, taking the stairs, meditating for five minutes, etc. With each win, you will have greater energy to add more self-care as you go. Learn to tap into your personal values , purpose , and mission. Many of us have never stopped to consider what these really are. Once we identify what lights us up, our self-esteem begins to soar. Practice affirmations. Many people believe that affirmations are just fluff. Nothing could be further from the truth. Individuals with low self-esteem are actually practicing a form of self-hypnosis on themselves with their inner critic’s constant dialog. Shut the critic down using affirmations to counteract it. With just a little effort to refocus and reset, leaders and their teams can build confidence and self-esteem. This impacts the productivity and engagement of the entire organizational culture, whether it is just one entrepreneur trying to grow or a global company creating a sustainable future. Follow me on Facebo ok , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Stacey! Stacey Ruth, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Leadership Coach, Stacey Ruth, is an acclaimed marketer, entrepreneur, minister, and founder of two multimillion-dollar agencies. She has been named one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in Atlanta and twice as one of the Top 100 “It” Agencies by Experiential Marketer Magazine. She did all this while struggling with two failed marriages, imposter syndrome, overwhelm, and stress-related health issues. This inner crash from outer success triggered the spiritual journey that took her to Manchu Picchu and had her walking across the fire. This was when she learned how we all could rise above circumstances to become irresistible and unstoppable. Today, Stacey advocates for leaders ready to reach their next level with clarity and confidence - most especially women leaders like herself. Stacey is the author of Own Your Own Shift: The Power, Passion, and Freedom to Be Unstoppable.

Written by: Amy Bondar, 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. Purpose is one of the most important and powerful nutrients. The body, mind, and soul are influenced by having a purpose. Physically, purpose creates energy and vitality. Mentally, it stimulates and satisfies. Living a purposeful life ultimately nourishes the soul. Our relationship with food, health, and weight is undoubtedly influenced by how purposeful our lives are. Lack of fulfillment, mission, and purpose in one’s life can contribute to unwanted eating behaviors such as overeating, food cravings, and binge eating. It can contribute to weight challenges and chronic dieting, as well as fatigue. Ultimately when we do what we love and live inspiring meaningful and fulfilling lives, we have a healthier relationship with food, our bodies, and ourselves. One of the most inspiring ways to eat and elevate our relationship with food is to align what we are eating with our life’s purpose. Ultimately we want to eat to fuel our mission. Exploring Unwanted Eating Behaviors When we don’t wake up every day doing what we love and repress our gifts and calling, they can be expressed through unwanted eating behaviors. Many people use food for fulfillment because they are not fulfilled otherwise. They lack pleasure, satisfaction, energy, and vitality, so food becomes the substitute. If we do what we love, we feel nourished. If life is not nourishing, then food fills that void. This is why a fulfilling life purpose is one of the greatest contributing factors to achieving optimum wellness. Purpose ultimately feeds and nourishes the body, mind, and soul. One of the reasons people overeat is because they experience grave dissatisfaction in their work. It creates a physiological and psychological stress response when doing something you do not love, which can trigger overeating, food cravings, and binge eating. When we have pleasure and purpose in our lives, our bodies are in a parasympathetic dominant state, where our appetite naturally regulates, and the intense desire to overeat evaporates. When doing what we love, we are soulfully nourished, which gives a feeling of pleasure. We no longer use food for this purpose; rather, food is used to give us the energy to support our mission and purpose in life. The foods we binge on or turn to when emotional or stress eating offer us insight and a doorway into what is truly at the root of our cravings. On a physical level, we may experience cravings due to lack of eating rhythm throughout the day or having an imbalanced macronutrient profile. For example, a deficiency in protein and essential fats and excess consumption of carbohydrates can trigger cravings. In many cases tweaking and rebalancing these macronutrients can help these cravings to subside. There are times we crave foods simply because we love them, and we want to experience the joy and pleasure of eating them. I refer to these as soulful cravings. They occur occasionally and are much more controlled. We may desire food or drink because we truly love the taste, smell, experience, and pleasure it provides. These soulful cravings do not create imbalance or ill-effect in the body. They do not create guilt, shame, and self-attack. They simply provide joy. Understanding Our Food Cravings For many people, however, food cravings are more complex, and understanding and overcoming them lie within the mental and emotional fields. Behind every persistent food, craving resides an emotion. The foods we crave or binge on releasing specific neurotransmitters that make us feel pleasure, contentment, and fulfillment. These are the same neurotransmitters that are released when living a meaningful and purposeful life. For example, when fulfilled, serotonin levels are increased, but when we lack pleasure from our lives, serotonin decreases, and we may seek it out in the form of serotonin-rich foods such as sweets and refined carbohydrates. Lack of fulfillment, personal drive, and feeling incomplete can naturally lower neurotransmitters. When these pleasure-creating neurotransmitters are low, it is common for people to crave food or feel the need to elevate their mood and energy with specific foods. For example, according to Doreen Virtue, PhD. in Constant Craving , a probable meaning for why people have persistent and constant cravings for coffee (that are emotional in nature) is due to an “energy drain from engaging in activities that are meaningless or intimidating.” Virtue also writes that feeling burnout, resentment, or disappointment with your job can also trigger cravings for coffee. It is no surprise why so many people frequent coffee shops and fill up their coffee mugs throughout the day. If you love what you do and are inspired by what you do every day, you will have an incredible amount of energy. You will not feel the need to stimulate your energy artificially. Your true source of energy will come from within. By tapping into your own inner knowing and your soul’s true calling, you become awakened to what you are here to do on this planet. That is true energy! When you find your fulfillment, the intense cravings for coffee and other commonly craved foods (which are unique to each individual) will naturally and effortlessly dissipate. Even the textures and tastes of foods can alter our mood and energy. Virtue explains that spicy foods are often craved when more excitement is needed in our lives. Nuts and nut butters are often desired when we need more fun and play. Dairy cravings often help ease depression. Anger, anxiety, and stress can often be alleviated by salty and crunchy foods. Bread, pasta, and rice often provide comfort, calm, and peace of mind. If work is dull and boring if life is work and no play, if you feel depressed or stressed because you hate your job and feel empty and unsatisfied in life, then it makes sense as to why you seek out specific foods to make you feel better. As Marc David, my mentor and founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, said, “the body yearns for aliveness through sweet things, tasty things, and whatever stimulates and excites the senses to a heightened experience of life.” When you do what you love and are inspired by your life and your mission, you naturally feel alive, stimulated, excited, and have a heightened sense of joy and pleasure. In this state, the desire or need to binge or overeat is eliminated because the body, mind, and soul are nourished by your purpose. Awaken your Purpose To understand and overcome overeating, food cravings, and binge eating, it is imperative to explore the emotional field and see what is truly at the root of these behaviors. These symptoms are our body-wisdom talking to us. They are attempting to reveal a message to let us know we are potentially off our soul’s path and that we are not doing what we are meant to be doing. A disconnection from this informing field may be why someone unconsciously reaches into the refrigerator over and over again to fill a hole that is not physical in nature. This disconnect from our calling may also be why someone continually struggles with weight. Their untapped potential energy may block and stifle their metabolic potential and leave them feeling unfulfilled. This can put them on a path of unhealthy eating and chronic dieting, which ultimately leaves them in a vicious and debilitating cycle. If we are disconnected from living a fulfilling and purposeful life, symptoms like fatigue will take over and weaken our body, mind, and soul. Making these emotional and soulful connections to unwanted eating behaviors can be one of the most eye-opening and transformational experiences for my clients. It can be the key that opens the door to making necessary shifts in their lives which will ultimately make the important changes in physiology and transform their relationship with food, body, and self. When our soul is nourished, we eat to nourish. When we do what we love, the body can find its rightful weight. When we are fulfilled, we have unbounded energy, and our food is consciously eaten to help us support our mission. Want to learn more from Amy? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Amy Bondar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amy Bondar, Nutritional Therapist, Certified Eating Psychology Coach, Speaker and Author changes lives! Amy brings two decades of experience in the field of nutrition and mind-body coaching and believes that nourishing our body with the power of food, resolving stresses that are blocking our physiology and hindering our full potential and living a life with purpose are the essential ingredients to optimizing our health. Amy offers virtual consults and lectures to clients around the world and will inspire, educate and guide you to transform your relationship with food, body and self.