Written by: Pin Cher , 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. True career fulfillment can be puzzling—yet not impossible to find. What many people don’t realize is that it’s a process that takes work and patience. Most importantly, we need to search for it. If you’re lucky, you’ll find not just a job or career but a mission. Here are four essential keys that will help you achieve the career fulfillment that you deserve: 1. Don’t stick with your career just because you’re good at it So many people feel that they have invested so much time and money into their current careers that it’s not worth considering a new path. Wrong! The key to finding true career fulfillment is identifying the intersection of what you enjoy, what you are good at, and what you can get paid for. If you’re great at something that you can’t bear, that’s a recipe for career disaster. Instead of filling you up with joy, happiness, and positive energy, your job is going to suck the life (and joy) out of you. 2. Find a career that aligns with your personal values “Values guide us – when we don’t acknowledge them and follow them, we veer away from the path to happiness and fulfillment.” If you find yourself having a huge misalignment between your values and that of your employer, it will create a sense of emptiness, meaninglessness, and frustration. Let me use the example of a fast-paced sales environment where a company puts a strong emphasis on long working hours and with employees under the pump and hitting their monthly sales targets: “this will suit professionals who place a high value on competitions and challenges. They will enjoy the thrill of the chase and will be energized in this environment. “However, if there are professionals in the same role who value security, work-life balance, and family happiness above all else, this high-pressure sales environment will go against their core values. They likely feel stressed, unhappy and eventually burn out.” A scenario like this will only create stress that eventually will accumulate into career disappointments, irritation, and resentment. Your values define your priorities, so doing a job that aligns with your values means you feel more content, happier, and fulfilled. 3. Accept that career paths are not linear Many of us were led to believe that to be successful. Our careers should follow a pragmatical and predictable path. Our well-meaning parents, teachers, and advisors strongly advised us to pick a lane, earn a practical degree (or maybe two), and get a job. From there, we shall work hard and climb up the corporate ladder. If you're lucky enough to have a career that works out that way, it's great! But what happens when you find yourself wanting to deviate from that prescribed path? What I have learned is while there's nothing wrong with a more traditional career approach, it's by no means the only way. Career paths nowadays become non-linear. We see workplaces with employees who have jumped between roles, industries, and even sectors on the journey towards their dream job; we are a population of ladder-climbing obsessors, no longer! We are still haunted by the past, with past generations growing up in the traditional system constantly reminding younger workers that their zigzag technique in life is bad. However, some of us need to try out a few positions, learn a myriad of skills, and test the waters before finding the perfect fit. The fact is, along your journey, you’re constantly advancing your abilities and enhancing your prospects, building up your skills, and experiencing a whole variety of different environments, people, and workplaces. In turn, making yourself more knowledgeable and, subsequently, more valuable to future employers. This all creates growth opportunities and new potential for career fulfillment. 4. If you want to work for yourself, just do it and try it out. There’s never been a better time to consider starting your own business/ company. Many people fear taking the leap of faith because of the perceived risks, or perhaps they think they are too old. In reality, the opposite is quite true. A study by the Kauffmann Foundation has revealed that entrepreneurs starting businesses mid-career were five times more likely to enjoy success five years later than entrepreneurs starting businesses right out of university. It’s more a question of mindset. The number one thing to remember is that starting a business is like having a baby—there never really is a perfect time. According to my favorite author Simon Sinek, in his book Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team , “Fulfillment is a right and not a privilege. Every one of us is entitled to feel fulfilled by the work we do, to wake up feeling inspired to go to work, to feel safe when we're there, and to return home with a sense of contributing to something larger than ourselves. Fulfillment is not a lottery. It is not a feeling reserved for a lucky few who get to say, "I love what I do.” Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Pin! Pin Cher, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Pin Cher is a personal development & career coach and comes from a diverse and international background. Her passion lies in working and coaching with corporate professionals and high performers to achieve even greater success. She helps them unlock their professional and personal potential and create an intentional, meaningful life that lights them up. In the past, Pin herself felt stuck and lost in her career direction. This painful experience has taught her valuable lessons and insights, and she now shares her experience & knowledge in helping others achieve their own success and unlocking their hidden genius. Pin's coaching is a powerful combination of head and heart, reflection and action and her goal is to help others find their North Star to lead a life with more meaning and purpose. She brings to her clients' experience and expertise gained from multiple global careers in different industries and working with top-tier global firms. Pin is a certified coach with the Jay Shetty Certification School and holds a B.S degree in International Management & Business Chinese and an MBA from the National University of Taiwan.

Written by: Richa Chandra, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The Law of Contraction (1st law) makes sure that the brand is born with personality that correlates with the owner’s values and principles. When The Law of Publicity (2nd law) is followed properly the brand get the change to grow slowly and is natured with the right kind of care. Once the brand is born and have grown, been tested and approved, a brand needs advertising to stay healthy. Advertising is the 3rd law of the 7 laws of branding to building personal and business brands: The Law of Contraction The Law of Publicity The Law of Advertising The Law of Decision-Making The Law of Credentials Law of Consistency and Singularity Law of Meaning and Mortality In the last article, I covered the 2nd law. Let’s look closer at what it really means to advertise with a focus on the brand. The Law of Advertising This law is all about visibility. After the brand has been tested and approved by a certain group of people, it is time for the masses to know that it is here to change the market. The focus is marketing which again, in the long run, will lead to a sale. If it is a personal brand, it is about getting people to know the name, get followers, and engagement. Publicity is the birth of your brand. The moment you make your brand public, you are declaring your values and your vision. When people can resonate with the values or the vision, they start caring about the b. If it is a business brand, it is time to show the benefits and how the product/services can solve people’s problems. Advertising is paid ads and campaigns which stand for a large percentage of the marketing budget. In the past 10 years, it has become easier to run targeted ads on social media for a smaller amount of money, and it is easier for people to do it by themselves. If the brand is unknown for it is said that a person needs to be targeted 7-11 times before they will consider making a purchase. If the brand is known to the target audience, it can still take 2-3 times before making a new purchase or trying the newly launched product/ services. Advertising is a way of communicating to the potential customer that we have the solution and that they should buy from us. This differs from “publicity” because the company or person running the ad has full control over the message that is being communicated. An ad or a campaign talked to a larger group of people, and it is not a one-to-one communication, even though it should be constructed to each and everyone who is exposed to it feels that we are communicating to them and only them. We want the customers or potential customers to think we are talking only to them to build rapport and show them we care. I have always thought of advertising as my way to say, “Hello, I am here if you want to connect. I might have solutions to your challenges. Know I am here!”. There are different channels to run ads or campaigns on: Online; SoMe and email New paper TV and radio Direct mail Cold calls Mobile billboards (vehicles) Out of these 6 channels online cheapest one. Though it takes time to build rapport online and on social media. It is not enough to have millions of followers. The key is engagement and continually communication on SoMe. For email lists, we need to have a list of valid emails of the targeted audience. Which again can take time to build. In conclusion: Advertising is the way to keep the communication open with the customers, which will keep the brand healthy and give it a long life. Advertising costs and that is why it needs to be more targeted and particular about the channel it is being run on. Since it is a paid communication method, it is the ad/campaign owner that has full control of the message, communication, and engagement. Want to learn more from Richa? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Richa! Richa Chandra, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine 'Fears don’t define us, but how we face them, does that!' This is the mantra of Award winner (Most aspirational businesswomen, Norway 2019) Richa Chandra lives by. She is actually the driving force and face behind the success and visibility of many coaches, entrepreneurs, and workshops. In 2015, Richa faced a hostile takeover of her company and lost everything, but in just a few months, without any hesitation, she started 3 new businesses. She has written 3 books that have become the main Norwegian textbooks in teaching Indian Dance and Proven benefits of Meditation (2019).

Written by: Mutita Panmook , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. What do you think of when someone mentions ‘Work-Life Balance’? It is the point where your business is capable to provide you a utility sustainably under a condition, whether it be time, capital, or health, and you’re satisfied with the way it works, not just the final output but also each of the processes align with your purposed values. The balance is where a business is orientated well together with a lifestyle. How business and lifestyle could be balanced? People create their ideal of living differently depending on what they’ve been through and what they aim to achieve. Some people seek an adventurous journey with the quote ‘YOLO’ while some people try hard to live their life simply as a ‘Claim-seeker’. Same as a business. There are a several ways to do your job; you can be a full-time employee working in a world-class company with a high salary, reputation, and respect from people in a career path, or run your own cooperation with a purposeful mission building a better society, even be a freelancer working as a digital nomad, to have one laptop and work from anywhere in the world. You can also just stay at home and Netflix on your favorite sofa while waiting for stock dividend profits and ignore all negative voices saying you’re jobless. There is no one size fit in, nothing wrong to live differently from others perspectives. Ask yourself what you consider as 1st priority in life. Family, friends, good health, reputation, or money. Those whole things are individual factors which are called ‘Self-awareness'. People always have their own values. You are free to choose and initiate your own direction, that might sound easy creating a combination from what you are free to choose, but if there is any limitation that even a billion million still can’t buy, it is impossible to increase when you want to have more and impossible to decrease when you want to have less, that’s ‘Time’. Have you ever imagine playing a game on a chilling weekend, level up and get a rare item, but there is still have an unfinished business to be done, and then tell yourself that ‘I have no time’. For some people who love traveling, all plans for the next trip are done, and then you realized that ‘There is not enough annual leave’. It is because of the limitation of time. ‘Time’ is the only commodity that humans born are equal with. No matter how hard you work and no matter how rich you are, you still have only 24 hours per day. Time’s condition is impossible to be changed. Still, it is impossible to be well organized, to make a good trade on your business, and gain maximum utility in your own lifestyle. Want more resources to utilize your business that supports your lifestyle? Check helpyougetunstuck.com Want to learn more from Mutita? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Mutita! Mutita Panmook, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mutita Panmook is a business operation strategist who’s as known as ‘The Time Queen.’ She believes that time is the number one commodity in the world that you can’t get back once it’s gone. Because of that, Mutita helps small business owners and entrepreneurs build and design efficient business that supports their lifestyle with the Get UNSTUCK Method. Mutita's mission is to help business owners and entrepreneurs getting unstuck from working in the hamster wheel. The goal is to reclaim their time to be with their families, do what they love with joy, or even travel the world, whenever they want, wherever they want, with whomever they want, and letting their business work for them. She is also a host of Get UNSTUCK Podcast that helps entrepreneurs get unstuck in their journey through the guest experts' experiences. Mutita's joy is when her clients keep making positive impacts on the world and become unstuckable.

Written by: Sheral DeVaughn, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. "What were you thinking?" "Do whatever you think is best." "Is that what you're going to wear?" Three written sentences. Several different ways to interpret the meaning behind them. When you can see and hear the person, it's easier to understand the meaning behind the words. You can listen to inflection or watch body language to decide if the person is angry, indifferent, etc. When you can see and hear the person, it's easier to understand the meaning behind the words. You can listen to inflection or watch body language to decide if the person is angry, indifferent, etc. But How Do You Decipher The True Intent Of A Message When It's Written In Your Copy? It comes down to written tone. Tone in copy is the choice of words we use in a sentence to convey our attitude and emotions in a specific situation. Tone allows you to be more relatable to your audience. It helps you connect with customer emotions, needs, wants, and interests. The better you can relate to them, the more they will engage with your content and messaging. How Do You Choose Your Tone? While you want your brand voice to remain consistent, your tone should be subject to change. It should reflect the subject matter of your writing. Even if your brand is upbeat, if you're writing about the growing number of homeless people, your content won't reflect the same upbeat note. Once you've decided what the subject tone should be, keep it from start to finish in your individual piece of copy. To determine the tone of your copy, ask yourself the following questions: 1. What are you trying to achieve with your messaging? Is there a certain reaction or response you're trying to get? Is it to generate sales or make others aware of a cause? 2. Who is the audience you're trying to reach? Are you talking to a single twenty-something, or are you trying to connect with another business owner? Knowing your audience will determine how you speak to them. 3. How will the tone influence your audience? How will it bring about an action or motivate them to a specific call to action? Which words do you think of as you answer these questions? Are they formal, friendly, educational? Are they happy, serious, professional, funny, sad, angry, or motivational? The best way to determine tone is to think about how you'd talk in-person to your audience about the subject. Then use the same tone and emotion in your writing. How Do You Write Tone? You've figured out the delivery tone you want for your copy, but how do you actually write it out? Do you need to think about your diction and your syntax ? Diction refers to the words you use (slang, jargon, emotional words). An example would be the difference between "she laughed loudly" and "she cackled at the top of her lungs." Similar messaging, but one is appropriate to tell in a meeting; the other is more appropriate for a chat with friends. Syntax is how you string words together to communicate pace, inflection, and pitch in your writing. Let's look at another example: "She laughed so hard she shook." "She shook from laughing so hard, shaking uncontrollably with each breath and giggle." Both sentences deliver the same message, but the first one is more informative. The second makes you feel it. It's more descriptive. Neither sentence is better than the other. Each one is appropriate for a certain situation. Finally, be unique and descriptive. The tone of your copy shines through with the use of stories and examples. It helps your audience grasp the information and the context. It strengthens the connection between you and your audience. It gives greater opportunity for engagement. Why Is Tone So Important For Your Copy? We make the majority of our decisions using emotion over logic. One of the hard and fast rules of business is to appeal to a customer's emotions if you want to drive sales. The tone is what triggers and creates the emotions that drive us to make the decision to buy. Whatever our call to action might be, the tone is the vehicle to get your customer to answer it. So if you aren't getting the results you're looking for in your business copy, maybe you ought to check your tone. Follow me on Faceboo k , Instagram, LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Sheral! Sheral DeVaughn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sheral DeVaughn is a word assassin in the Copywriting and Content Creation industry. She spent 15 years as a top-rated on-air radio personality, converting listeners to sales for the broadcasting company as well as advertisers and sponsors. She took those same verbal and writing skills into the Wine & Spirits industry, where she spent another 10+ years writing product descriptions, brand histories, sales sheets, and marketing/educational materials. She is the Owner/Founder of C3 Specialties, a Creative Copy Content service. She helped launch Ava Dean Beauty, the beauty brand co-owned by AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys, providing website content and strategic email marketing content. She collaborates on projects with and for SB PACE, a high-energy boutique Business Coaching and Consulting firm producing online coaching academies and seminars, business podcasts, and Amazon best-selling books designed to empower small businesses. Her motto: "Every brand has a story to tell. It's my job to write it, so their voice is heard.”

Written by: Tania Friedlander, 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. Stress management is something top of mind for most people today, given the nature of having experienced a global pandemic and all the uncertainty that has brought. How we respond to stress dictates our leadership effectiveness, our level of engagement and productivity, and how we influence and affect those around us. Developing our coping mechanisms for stress can mean the difference between stress becoming debilitating to our performance and relationships or having an action plan that allows us to manage and overcome stressors with consistency. Having an awareness of our stressors is of fundamental importance — if we deny what is stressing us out, chances are we'll end up behaving in ways that aren’t like us. Step two, after awareness and acknowledgment, is taking action. Identifying Stressors Dr. Karl Albrecht believes that all stressors fall into one or more of four dominant categories. If we understand which category our stress falls in, we can begin to create a plan to teach us how to deal with stress. The four different categories of stress are: Time Stressor: Time stress is encountered as the lack of time to complete what you set out to do. Time stress can make people hurry, leading to a decrease in the quality of work and interactions. Situational Stressor: Situational stress comes up when you face a situation in which you feel powerless or out of control. Unlike the other types of stress, this one is more likely to be a surprise. The unexpected parts of situational stress increase the importance of making a plan to help you stay calm in the face of challenges. Anticipatory Stressor: Anticipatory stress is connected to things that have yet to happen. For example, you are worried about a presentation you need to give at work next week. Navigating anticipatory stress involves having stressful thoughts about future events, including preparing for that event. Encounter Stressor: Encounter stress is brought on by other people, a difficult client, an anxious manager, a new supervisor, a party where you don’t know many people. This stress can happen when you have had too much interaction with not enough downtime. It is hard to predict. Knowing how to deal with encounter stress can prevent burnout. Exploring past stress can help you powerfully deal with future situations. Knowing your triggers allows you to arm yourself with coping skills to help you manage stress effectively and, thereby, be more productive, build better relationships, and live a healthier life. Coping with Stress For Time Stressors: try time management techniques like the Eisenhower Urgent/Important principle or prioritization. For Situational Stressors: develop your self-awareness, emotional management, and conflict resolution skills. For Anticipatory Stressors: try mindfulness, meditation, or positive visualization techniques. For Encounter Stressors: practice deep breathing, empathy, and explore developing your emotional intelligence. Having a coach can help you to reflect on which of the stressors you are dealing with, and also identify a custom action plan to overcome them. Reflection Questions Are you feeling stressed about something coming up this week? Which of the stressors do you find resonates predominantly within you? Do you have a plan of action to deal with your stressors, or do you just "deal with it?" What are some coping mechanisms you can explore? Connect with me on LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Tania! Tania Friedlander, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tania is an attorney by training and a former champion athlete. She has trained at world-leading coaching institutions. She is an International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a Certified Gallup Global Strengths Coach. She is driven by her passion for helping individuals break through their challenges, whether professional or personal. She has the privilege of working with executives and emerging leaders from global Fortune 500 companies using evidence-based coaching assessments, frameworks, and tools. Her approach is designed to increase connectivity, awareness, and accountability to elevate the internal dynamic, increase morale, and enhance workplace culture. She is also on the executive team at SteerUs, the world's first soft skills academy, and has led many workshops and seminars on leveraging strengths.

Written by: Fran Pedron, 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. 34 years ago this month, my life changed. I made the conscious choice to live. July 14th is my sobriety birthday. That choice went against the grain of how I defined myself and my life. You may have made a similar choice. Most of us have something just as heavy that requires a major decision to be made. At this point in time, you have lived a life full of joy, rewards, amazing memories and life lessons. Life lessons build character. How we react or respond to them is the factor, which determines the “how we live our life” quality. What was your biggest, most mind-boggling life lesson? Was the course-correcting choice an easy or hard decision to make? Maybe you haven’t decided to make it yet. How you answer that will strike you one of two ways. Either “I’m pleased with everything about my life,” or “If only I could do something differently, I wouldn’t have to struggle all the time.” “Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” — Anais Nin Familiarity—The Epitome of Contentment or Pain Familiarity by definition is: the quality of being well known; recognizability based on long or close association; close acquaintance with or knowledge of something. Do any of these give you that warm fuzzy yes feeling? That yes is the deeply ingrained feeling of Deja Vue, and our brain showing us where we stand with familiarity. You know that “familiar unknown” face in a crowd; the “I’ve been here before” experience—are all stored in our brain’s perirhinal cortex. The perirhinal cortex is the area of the brain where the old seems new again. Many love Deja Vue while others do not. It’s the familiarity principle of attraction in our basic nature that draws us to what is known. We repeat that exposure with people and experiences. We build comfort levels creating good and bad behaviors. And sometimes, we keep ourselves buried under a mask and from the truth. When you describe yourself to the outside world, how different is it from the inside looking out? Have you ever wanted to stop: the experience you were in, the repeated patterns you’ve created, or anything that takes the life out of you—that old and boring reflection in the mirror that just doesn’t change? What did you find? Many times, we fall into the grind, the discomfort, the self-abuse that sickens our quality of life, or the mediocrity that messes with our joy, abundance and stops us from living the life we always dreamed we would live. We just go through the motions or tread water, always remaining stagnant, feeling safe and secure in our domain of unhappiness, depression, low energy, and displeasure, while the life we desire passes right on by—leaving us where we choose to stay. “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward Looking At The Real Picture Living the dream only happens when we honestly choose to discover what’s stopping us from our desired experience. What reasons do you choose for staying in your familiar? You might write them down and use them as your starting point for change. Familiarity is staying out of the uncertainty of change and/or away from the failure outcome. Uncertainty feels like failure to our brains, and change is the only way out. Do you embrace change or run from it, as if it is contagious and will clutch the life out of you? Change is the only certainty we face in life. We count on it, as each tick of the clock is heard, as the sun rises in the east and set in the west. To avoid change is to stay in repeated looping patterns, those patterns of choice which hog-tie us to victimhood. Recognizing the signs, which build slowly over time, is a huge first step. Signs look like this: every day appears the same—you don’t know where the last one ended and this one started; you feel like you’re just trying to make it through the day—you’re not excited or inspired; you feel unfulfilled and unmotivated—you can’t seem to get started or life is dull, boring and you don’t know where or how to start anything new; fear determines your choice—the only choice is to stay away from risk, pain or failure; keep reminiscing about the past—substituting happy memories from making present decisions; your health and well-being are not priorities—you stop caring about you and choose a downward spiral; nothing has purpose—no motivation exists to get you moving in any direction; the excuse you use to stay stuck is bound by believing that there is nothing else out there. Knowing the signs leads to understanding why you choose to live in your choice. Whether you say, it’s financial or emotional, continuing to choose familiarity is a physical state of mind and can be overcome. Why takes many shapes and points toward comfort, expectation, accountability, effort, drive, and desire. When you explore your comfort level, are you at a 1—the least, a 10—the most, or somewhere in between? What are you willing to do to hit 10 in every area of your life? The only way to start the climb is to determine: the payoffs you receive, how comfortable you are being stuck, and how you became stuck in your doldrums. “Without remaining open to change, we cannot remain open to life.” — Ram Dass Steps to Change Start With Saying Yes You have determined where you are in comfort levels. Choosing to get uncomfortable, create new habits and commit to staying at 10 gives you a different payoff than you experience now. These steps give you a roadmap to change success: get out of denial – take responsibility for your choices; uncover the real reason – dig deep for answers and then dig again after each answer you accept; turn should(s) into must(s) – specific, definite action changes how you look at what you’re doing and where you’re going; create healthy habits – it takes 21 days of purposeful action and reevaluation to create behavioral change; take on a challenge – apply your commitment to current decisions while retraining your brain to expect positive outcomes; get support – hire a life coach. When you get stuck, you need a professional to keep you on track, so backtracking is temporary. Success brings forward movement. Forward movement provides tools to overcome uncertainty and failure while retraining the brain into your new, success-mindset definition and mode of operation. Are you ready to commit to making an easier choice-change decision? “Today is good. Today is fun. Tomorrow is another one.” – Dr. Seuss For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Fran! Fran Pedron, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Fran Pedron combines intuition, education, and life experience to help clients understand their foundational self-definition, make changes and intention-purposed plans, which align with who they are as they create their desired outcomes. Her experience in insurance, technology, accounting, communications, along with being abruptly downsized later in life, led her to understand how change affects people and their decision-making processes, along with the need to make decisions aligned with their authenticity. Fran is the founder of Heart Driven Action, coaching and consulting. She is a certified Spiritual Coach, Mapping Strategist, certified in ThetaHealing, holding an M.A. in Journalism and B.S.B.A. in Business.

Written by: Cathy Dimarchos, 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’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.” ―Winston S. Churchill Life has so much in stall for us, but at times we are so caught up in the urgent and the quick success or self-gratification that we seldom think about “what else?” Yet this is a fundamental part of success. No matter who you are or what you do, knowing what it is that you are striving to achieve will lead you to success, but as I ask you to think about what your success is based on, what would you say? Does success revolve around revenue, sales, increase in staff, another location to be added to the global expansion? What does success really mean? Before you respond, I want to reassure you that these are all important, but fundamentally why do you do what you do? Why do any of us do what we do? This week I saw someone sharing a story of how disappointed they were they had worked so hard to develop a program, invested money in marketing, set a date to launch but only had a handful of people turn up. They asked for advice on what they could have done differently to have increased numbers of attendance; a valid question indeed. Self-reflection is part of our growth strategy so that we can strengthen it as we move forward. But at that moment, I paused so I could understand what was being asked. You see I can both understand and appreciate the situation of having invested both time and money into something that you are so passionate about, but I have also begun to yield the benefits of gratitude for what I have and to place value in things that I now see as “what else” matters most. So, as I reflected on this, I considered what success truly meant. My reframed perspective has identified that success is not measured by what I don’t have but by what is in front of me. It is our commitment to radiate and impart the knowledge and skills that are within us so that those who have made themselves available today feel like they are valued for being exactly where you have asked them to be. You see, success is about the gift that we are able to give today so that others may succeed. After all, it isn’t that why we do what we do? So that we may serve and elevate those around us. “What else” is about what else can I do to ensure that what I have is enough to serve the person that I am there for, or better still, to provide the gift that is needed by them in that moment. Others may come tomorrow or the day after. In fact, others may come because of the services you have given to those few who are here today. But if you are not present now with them, you have lost them as well. So, as you reflect on what you have achieved – your success, consider how you have impacted the person, the team, or the business that you are there to serve. If they feel like they have received your gift, “your service,” then you have succeeded. If not, the question of “what else” is about how you could have served them better today? Life worth living is not about self but about what we can do for others. True success is measured by how those around us feel after you have shared your service, your gift. If you feel this has helped change your lens, please share or offer other suggestions so that we can all elevate one another. Want to learn more from Cathy? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Cathy! Cathy Dimarchos, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cathy Dimarchos is an award-winning business advisor, mentoring and coaching leaders internationally, and is an indefatigable philanthropist who believes we can all contribute to lifting the baseline of people across the world one person at a time. She founded Solutions2you with the purpose of impacting so that she can serve others and leave a lasting imprint. As a professional advisor and motivational voice, Cathy dedicates her time to perfecting a combination of people, business, and situational skills. Her values take center stage, and business becomes honest and expressive. She believes that knowledge exchange leads to self-reliance with effective and sustainable outcomes. Her Advisory services extend to New and Established Entrepreneurs, teams, and large corporates and support people to become antifragile in a world that is forever changing, stretching their boundaries. “When we rise, it is important to also lift those around us” — Cathy Dimarchos.

Written by: Natasha Zo, 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 wasn’t too long ago that stay-at-home parents felt uncomfortable explaining the gaps in their resumes due to raising their kids, especially if they were out of the workforce longer than a few months. Fortunately, things have changed! If you are a mom who wants to switch careers or reenter the workforce after staying home to take care of your family, the good news is that more and more employers are considering the bigger picture when hiring new employees. Workers with advanced human skills are in high demand because of their superior communication prowess, conflict resolution expertise, and ability to multitask. As a mom, you can turn your motherhood experience and human skills into an asset during job interviews. Our home and work lives have blended with our work lives thanks to the pandemic, so it’s not unusual for children or pets to interrupt working parents and people are more understanding about it than ever before. I even heard of a woman who did an interview with her child napping on her shoulder and got the job! There’s also a growing movement called Motherhood On The Resume (MOTR) by an organization for working moms called Hey Mama, that is fighting to remove the stigma surrounding working moms and help recognize the strengths they bring to the workplace because they are a parent and not in spite of it. The goal of the movement, which started May 18th, is for 1,000 women to add motherhood to their resumes by National Women’s Equality Day on August 26th. I decided to talk to Gladys Simen, a Hey Mama member and life coach for working moms, to discuss why it is important for women to add "Mom" on their resumes. Here’s a closer look at some of the skills she gained through motherhood and how they can translate into the workplace: Being prepared and then some more Mothers are constantly thinking of a plan A, B, and C. Whether it’s grabbing some extra snacks and baby wipes before you go on a stroll in the park with the kids, or packing an extra suitcase full of clothes just in case your family goes anywhere further than 5 minutes – okay 10 minutes – away from home, moms can’t help but consider every possible scenario when it comes to their partner and kids so they are less likely to be caught off guard. How does this translate to the workplace? It will depend on your own individual role. Gladys advises moms to always be ready to bribe their kids and make sure they are fed and entertained so you can have an hour-long zoom meeting without too many interruptions. Having difficult conversations Whether you’re playing referee between the kids and deciding who’s turn it is to watch a particular TV show or taking time to soothe an irate child, moms are not strangers when it comes to diffusing situations, solving conflicts, or just making overall tough decisions when it comes to raising their children. When it comes to the workplace, moms can use their sharpened conflict resolution skills to handle a difficult coworker and become the voice of calmness when the stress levels are high among coworkers. Problem-solving skills There’s a famous quote that says, “You can’t rely on kids, technology, and pets “. Since all of them are famously unreliable, moms are constantly finding ways to make sure the show will go on. Whether it’s thinking on your feet when the rain is ruining a perfectly well-planned afternoon picnic or your client presentation starts to go sideways, moms can usually find an alternative solution pretty quickly since you’re so used to doing it every day. Juggling multiple priorities Women, especially moms, are used to switching between tasks and giving our full attention to each one - which is very different from multitasking. Moms are usually able to successfully run a household, spend time with their partner, and manage to keep the kids alive and entertained all while making a healthy meal for dinner! And they still find time to squeeze in some ’me time’ for personal care in between! The ability to focus on multiple tasks and projects at the same time can be a great skill regardless of the industry you work in. There you have it! Those are just some of the reasons you should be proud to highlight being a mother on your resume. Every mom should be confident that you are bringing something of value to the table when you’re looking for a job, especially since you have the opportunity to sharpen your human skills every single day as a parent. If you need more inspirational content or further guidance from a fellow working mom on how to leverage your human skills to get the job you want, Gladys would be happy to hear from you! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Natasha! Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natasha Zo is a former journalist from Siberia turned international media relations specialist. She is a founder of Cosa Famosa media - a boutique PR agency on a mission to amplify messages of conscious leaders, health, and wellness entrepreneurs through earned media. Known for her connector skills, she guided a number of authors to Amazon bestseller status, booked national TV, top-tier media, and over 400 podcast interviews.

Written by: Sunu Philip, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The thing about selling high-ticket offers is that it requires a lot of trust, consistently built over a period of time. No one decides to purchase a premium priced product or service on a whim. If you’re trying to sell your high-ticket offer, you must get your audience to know, like and trust you. They need to be convinced that you’re the right person to help them on their journey towards a better life or business. The best way to woo your ideal client and get them interested in your premium packages, is by offering them valuable resources for free. Yes, I’m talking about lead magnets! But unlike a low-ticket product that may attract clients with a single lead magnet at the top of the funnel, high-ticket items need more than just one lead magnet. You need a combination of 3 elements to make a high-ticket funnel work: Multiple lead magnets that attract people into your funnel Email sequences to nurture these leads into paying customers Proper call to actions, leading them to the next step in the funnel It’s not enough to just set up the lead magnets and bring people into your world. You must stay at the top of their minds with frequent updates, so they know you’re there for them. This is what makes a lead magnet funnel work. Be sure you’re providing the value your people need at the right time - both through the lead magnets and email campaigns. Your top question should be, “How can I add value to my audience and serve them well?” When they perceive that you’re giving them good value, they’ll be more likely to jump in and invest in you. In this article, I share 5 powerful lead magnet ideas that will attract your ideal client and lead them to buy your high-ticket offer. 1. Free Masterclass From my experience, I’ve found that a 40 minute to 1 hour masterclass works really well. If you have a great deal to share, you can extend it up to 1.5 hours. The key is to pick an interesting topic that hooks people in and gets them to sign up. It has to be something your audience is curious about, helpful information they need, or resolution of a pain point in their life or business. I highly recommend a live masterclass that allows you to interact with the audience, including a Q & A session at the end to answer their doubts and queries. When you provide your audience value through a free, live masterclass, they get to see who you are, and what you can do for them. This solidifies their trust in you, and they’re more likely to sign up for your high-ticket offers when you eventually pitch it to them. 2. Free Webinar A webinar is of a similar format as a masterclass - it just uses different terminology. Masterclasses work for B2C clients, but if you’re targeting a B2B or corporate client, the term “webinar” is more likely to entice them to sign up. Webinars can be conducted live, or a recorded webinar can be automated so people can sign up for it at any time. I'm not a great fan of faking a recorded webinar to make it appear live, but I do love the concept of making the recording available for people to watch at their own pace. It’s essential to use a webinar platform that allows a lot of integrations like live chats, polls, in-webinar discounts for your high-ticket offer, etc. that will keep your audience engaged and interested in what you have to offer them. 3. Free Planner and Workbook Combo A combination of a planner and a workbook would make a great entry-level lead magnet - something that gets people into your world. The reason I suggest this is that a planner/workbook allows them to work with you even when you’re not there with them. You’re giving them questions, prompts, and guidance to help them take action. That’s the whole purpose of a workbook or planner - you get them to stop thinking about it and actually do it. In my opinion, a lead magnet converts well when it gets people to take action and become unstuck. So, solving your ideal client’s problem in an action-oriented format gets them ready to take the next step in working with you. The next step could be the next stage of ascension in your funnel - either signing up for another lead magnet or working with you in a greater capacity. 4. Free Resource Bundle I’m particularly fond of a collection of resources put together as a startup kit. This could be a mix of multiple things like: Journals Affirmations Mindset hacks Templates Swipe files Workbooks Trainings The key is to make the bundle valuable enough that people are willing to sign up and check it out. And when they sign up, they don’t get just one resource, they get many… which is a great way to over perform and bowl your audience over! 5. Free Step-by-Step Guide A step-by-step guide is a great option for an entry-level lead magnet - to get people into the funnel. You could also offer it as a supplemental resource in the middle of your funnel. A guide explains the streamlined procedure on how something is done - like a 5-step or 10-step process. I highly recommend having action-oriented steps just as I mentioned before in the planner/workbook section. A free guide is a great way to reach someone who doesn't like to watch videos. I’m a person who loves to read and I only watch a video training or masterclass if I'm really hooked by the title, the solution that’s promised and the person doing it. Otherwise, I might just skip through the video, or listen for some time and get distracted. If your ideal client prefers reading, they’re more likely to peruse a guide than watch a video-based lead magnet. You can use the guide to impress them in a way that they might be willing to watch your masterclass or webinar and take the next step in investing with you. No matter what kind of lead magnet idea you choose to sell your high-ticket offer, the key is to build a relationship with your ideal client. You cannot just offer them one free resource and then pitch your premium offer. If you want to get the maximum conversion, you have to layer on multiple lead magnets. As you build your credibility and authority with your audience, you take them step by step further into your funnel and get them primed to invest in your offer. Also keep in mind that the best client relationships need a gestation period. It will take time for leads coming into the funnel to trust you and get into a place where they’re ready to work with you. So get your lead magnet funnels fired up, start bringing leads in, and nurture them consistently. It’s only a matter of time before they’re wowed by the value you provide and make the decision to invest in your high-ticket offer. Need help setting up a streamlined lead magnet funnel that will bring in more leads for your high-ticket offer? I’d be happy to help. To know more about me and my work, please visit my website . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and Link edIn ! Read more from Sunu ! Sunu Philip, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sunu is an international lead magnet expert specializing in creating a lead magnet and launch funnels that help coaches and consultants consistently sell their high-ticket offers with ease. She has been in the digital marketing industry for the last 12+ years, working with varied industries, and has helped her clients generate £3 Million+ yearly income through SEO and inbound marketing strategies. A high-school teacher turned online marketing consultant, Sunu is passionate about supporting people who love to transform the lives and businesses of their clients. Over the past 2 years alone (since she embraced the title ’The Lead Magnet Lady’), Sunu has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners share their story, build their tribe, increase their impact, and get more leads and sales by designing and setting up an efficient lead magnet and launch funnels for their businesses.

Written by: Donna Carlson, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In 2010, I found myself widowed for the second time. My second husband Gil was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2007 and was told that he had three-five years to live. Our journey through that battle was one filled with fear, enormous stress, constant uncertainty and trying to practice living a day at a time. I stood by his side and supported any and all treatment that he wanted in order to try and stay alive. Gil went through two stem cell transplants, chemotherapy and radiation. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, we decided that he would discontinue treatment and enter hospice care at home. We were told that we would have four-six months together but by Saturday, November 6 he was gone. It was a beautifully frosty and sunny morning on that Saturday. Gil was in and out consciousness and I was emotionally preparing, as best I could, for his passing. My wonderful daughter and sister-in-law were with me and helped to keep an eye on Gil as we waited for the arrival of the hospice nurse and other family including his daughter, son, mother and sister. We were all able to say our goodbyes. When the coroner arrived my sister-in-law, nurse and he began to wheel Gil’s body down my front sidewalk. All four of my horses were in the front pasture facing the house. As soon as our boy Ben—our eldest gelding and a wedding gift to me from Gil saw and felt what was happening he came loping down towards the fence and the other three followed. They all lined up and faced Gil. It was then that Ben let out a loud but soft whinny as the other three followed with their whinnies. This stopped us all in tracks; the coroner, the nurse, my sister-in-law and I just stood and watched and heard the goodbye calls of our horses. To this day, my sister-in-law cries whenever we talk about that amazingly beautiful moment and tribute. While I was not surprised by that moment, I was in complete awe of it. Because I already had a lot of loss in my life up until then, I thought, “I had this”; I understood grief and knew what to expect—I did not! Shortly after, I found myself slipping into a very deep and dark hole. Just prior to Gil’s passing, I opened my dog grooming business but was still interested in creating a new career with my horses—other than giving lessons—which I did for years. I completed a few equine related judging programs which I loved but found that it wasn’t feasible to consistently travel and take care of my farm and four-legged friends. But now I found myself feeling apathy for almost everything. I could not speak at the memorial service two weeks after; I found it difficult to go out to the barn (thank God I had help from my daughter and her boyfriend at the time); I lost interest in exercise and even talking. What I knew was that I had to trust and let go; although I could not see that light, I believed it would show when the time was right—and so I sat and waited. Sometime in the beginning of 2011, I began to receive emails from Touched By a Horse, (TBAH) offering the program where I would partner with my horses to help people. I wasn’t sure how I got on the emailing list, but I began to do my research and was thoroughly intrigued by the information about the program. By March of that year, I began to see the light and was beginning to find myself again. I remember one day going out to the barn and sitting in the stall with Ben. I sat in the sawdust and cried until I had no more tears. As I felt Ben’s breath and his gentle touches on my shoulder and head, I realized that it was fear that was keeping me stuck. While I knew grief, I was now fifty-one years old and felt enormous fear—fear from losing another partner, fear of never having another partner, fear of not having enough money, fear of just about everything. After that revelation with Ben, I walked into my house and I signed on with TBAH and began the amazing journey of learning about how I could partner with my horses while helping humanity. This method is based on gestalt principles, is experiential in nature and offers lasting results. The horse is considered a co-active partner in the coaching process and the method has been studied with proven efficacy. I always had an interest in the social sciences and psychology. I had taken many psych classes in both my undergrad and graduate studies. The thought of combining my interest in psychology and my true passion of working with my horses was a perfect route to take. So, for the next few years I did the intensive coursework and required travel around the country to do the on-site-hands-on ‘core’ work…where the beautiful healing takes place. Every student must do their ‘own work’. You need explore your healing, your past wounds, your pain and begin to really understand yourself better before you can help others. As the student, you go through the same self-discovery and path that I now, as a coach, walk my clients through. Although I had been through a lot of therapy with my first husband and on my own, this process helped me to unravel and heal some unfinished business. At that time, I was able to process more about the enormous loss in my life; the loss of both of my parents, my eldest brother, a dear friend, and both of my husbands. I have since lost another brother and several in-laws, and, so many four-legged friends. I was able to work through the heaviness and fear of being alone again at the age of 51 and the struggle of being a caretaker with my second husband through his battle with cancer. I was able to revisit my enormous struggle of being a wife and mother of my young daughter while also caring for my mother, working full-time, and attending law school at night all while watching and being in the horror of my first husband’s five-year demise from an addiction. I was able to walk back to my childhood and clear up any disappointment that was hanging on. I was able to process some of the post-traumatic stress that I felt after my daughter’s critical car accident when she was sixteen. I am sure there was more but so much of this was cleared for me. This was not traditional ‘talk’ therapy. This is where I was able to witness and feel the power and profound healing from the majestic equine. This is where gestalt takes you to feel the intense somatic emotions in your body, the release, and the beginning of feeling whole again. I will never forget the first ‘core’ I attended in Arizona. I was not clear what would be happening but went with a bit of skepticism and an open mind and heart. The first time I watched the horse do his incredibly intuitive work on an individual, the tears ran down my face and continue to do so, each and every time I sit in witness of the healing process. I was stunned and amazed and began to understand the beauty of what was happening and the enormous release of that student’s ‘manure’. And, after almost forty plus years of being an equestrian, I was beginning to see, respect, honor and connect with the horse on a new and deeper level. I had so many ‘aha’ moments in my EGCM training, but the one that has stuck with me the most, the one that took me into an ‘out of body experience’ and the one that really set me into a spiritual place was when I did a session with Melisa, our teacher and mentor, and seven or eight of my classmates. While I watched Melisa help so many in grief sessions, I asked if we could do one where I could heal all of those of mine on the other side at one time. In Melisa’s true brilliance, she said let’s do it. She walked me through a piece of work with all of my beautiful herdmates, each one representing one of my family and friends on the other side--plus I had the power of a majestic steed supporting my back. Melisa walked me through this piece of saying what I need to each and every one and back again. Each one felt as though that person was standing in front of me. As the process got deeper, I felt as if I could see them and their spirit; I felt as though I was lifted up out of my body and their hands were holding me up; I felt as though I could let go of the enormity of the loss that my heart and soul was carrying for so many years; I remember shaking and crying and yet felt so light. It was then that I knew that the energy of each of my loved ones was with me and that I was not alone nor would I ever be! Horses are so highly intuitive, reflective, and are able to stay in a non-judgement state. They are not neurotic like humans in that they live in the moment. They really do not worry about the past (guilt or depression) nor do they look to the future (anxiety). Yes, of course they know when it is dinner time and they certainly remember when a human has treated them poorly, but they do not sit in ‘worry’ like humans. The equine does not judge the client they are supporting. They do know, however, when the client is genuine and walking in their truth; and they know when and where in the body and soul that the client may be blocked. Since receiving my certificate from TBAH in 2016, I have worked on creating a program to help heal the body, mind, and soul. To round out my program of healing, I have also studied and received several certifications and am honored to offer support to anyone needing to help especially those who would benefit from my training and experience in grief and increasing your inner happiness. I have now witnessed the wonder of this work in so many of my clients. My clients have had dreams come true and succeeded in changing careers, process deep healing from past trauma whether from sexual predators or other forms of abuse, began the healing process of grief and learn how to be happy again. These clients each received what they needed from their own courage and bravery, the healing process and reinforcement from the horses, and from the support of me--their coach. Through my programs, women, men, and equestrians can find their dreams, joy, possibility, hope, and health again (or for some) for the first time. I can support you via phone, zoom or in person. If you have your own horse, we can do some virtual work where I can walk you through some of the work. I am here to support and help you to transform your body, mind, and soul! You deserve to feel whole and happy!! To learn more or sign up for monthly helpful information, please visit my website @donnacarlsoncoaching.com or you can reach me via email at donna@4healinghoofs.com. Connect with Donna on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. Donna M. Carlson Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Donna M Carlson is a A CERTIFIED Transformational Coach specializing in Grief to Happiness and she partners with her horses in the deep healing process. ​ One of her true gifts is her ability to help women who are ready to move into a positive future space. ​ She has felt the pain and grief of losing many loved ones, a difficult divorce, living with an active addict, and financial scarcity. ​ She feels blessed for the lessons that life and grief have taught her and is honored and happy to help those wanting to make a positive change in their lives!

Written by: Kamini Wood, 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. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by exaggerated feelings of self-worth, an extreme need for admiration, a lack of empathy, and consideration for other people. According to research, the men and women narcissist ratio is 2:1, which means that on every female narcissist come two men with the same personality disorder. How to recognize a narcissist? Your partner doesn’t need to be diagnosed with a narcissist personality disorder. Nevertheless, they can still have some of the narcissist personality traits that will make your relationship with them a real challenge. People with narcissistic personality disorder always put their needs first. They usually display demanding, manipulative, arrogant, and self-centered behavior. Furthermore, they always have excuses for their actions and tend to blame others for their failures. Also, your narcissistic partner always knows the best. They may lack empathy for your feelings and needs, never genuinely paying attention to how you feel or what you want. They may even act demanding and/or controlling and be emotionally abusive. Does your partner make fun of you and laughs at your flaws in front of your friends or family but get offended when their behavior upsets you? On the other hand, your partner expects constant attention and admiration, believing that they are better than anyone else and should be treated correspondingly? If you recognize your partner’s behavioral patterns in the aforementioned, you may be dealing with a narcissist. How to manage a relationship with a narcissist There are some strategies you can learn so you can handle your relationship with a narcissist. 1. Establish Firm Boundaries One of the most common issues you’ll face when dealing with a narcissist is their inability of true reciprocity in relationships. Your narcissistic partner doesn’t understand your needs. They tend to build relationships on fusion and toxic co-dependency, which means that they cannot see you as someone who exists outside of their own needs. For that reason, they may regularly break your boundaries and test your limits. If keeping up a relationship with a narcissist is important to you, make sure to set firm and healthy boundaries. Let them know which behaviors you will tolerate and which you won’t. The narcissist will most likely try everything to rebel against your boundaries, but you need to stay firm and consistent. 2. Don’t Fall for Narcissist’s Charm Narcissists can be very charming and appealing. You might be attracted by their confidence and charisma. They will make you feel important, loved, and alive and make you believe that they will fulfill your need to feel valuable. However, this is only a dream. Once you get to know them, you will realize that they don’t look for an equal partner but for someone who will obey and admire them. Moreover, narcissists usually manipulate, lie and disrespect other people. So, pay attention to the way your partner treats others because, eventually, they will treat you the same way. Instead of focusing on satisfying the narcissist's needs, try to focus on your own dreams and your personal growth. 3. Seek Support If you decide to maintain a relationship with a narcissist, adjust your expectations and have a realistic view of your relationship. Also, surround yourself with positive people. Talk to those who validate you for who you really are and give you an honest reflection of your thoughts and feelings. If you feel that your relationship with a narcissist is something you cannot handle alone, seek help. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Kamini! Kamini Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kamini Wood is the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the AuthenticMe® RiseUp program. An international best-selling author Kamini is driven to support people of all ages to heal their relationship with themselves and to stop outsourcing their self-worth. As a result, her clients become their own confident, resilient self-leader with healthier relationships. Kamini is a certified life coach, board-certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, holds specialty certifications in Calling in the One®, Conscious Uncoupling®, NewMoney Story®, and teen life coaching. Also trained in conscious parenting, Kamini aims to meet her clients where they are, supporting and guiding them on their journey to where they want to be, both personally and professionally. Her mission: create space for each person to see the unique gifts they bring to this world.

Written by: Liz Sparkes, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You must unlearn what you have learned. I know anxiety, and PTSD, like the back of my hand. My drive to help others through emotional blocks comes from my own knowing of how difficult traumatic experiences can be. I can of course only share with you to the extent of my own knowing. To get close to the raw emotions and be able to hold and soothe them is possibly our greatest challenge. Anxious thinking is a pattern developed to ‘keep us safe’, creating behaviors and thoughts that appear helpful, but in reality hold us prisoner. The foundations that we lay down before we get close to anxiety are vital to enable a gentle approach. Bringing feelings of compassion and safety into the body can be game changing. Using visualisation, Sanskrit mantra, affirmation and meditation, starts to create the energy and feelings of trust and acceptance in the body. Diving into feelings before foundations are laid makes it so much harder. The Foundations Finding a routine to bring feelings of safety into the body is so unbelievably life changing. Breathwork, meditation, compassion practices, mantra and Yin yoga are some of the best ways to ground the mind and body, encouraging feelings of equilibrium and safety. Allowing bodily held tensions to release and encouraging more ease. These foundations can create a sense of holding when difficult experiences and emotions come into our lives. Although it wont stop the feelings, the likelihood is that being able to process the experience will be smoother and kinder. Moving into change As anxiety arises, question the visceral experience. Perhaps ask what wants to be known or heard within yourself. As we nurture the experience it starts to shift and change. This is why developing a compassionate backdrop to our landscape is so supportive. The energy of love and support is there to step in when the difficult feelings show up. It is the resistance to feel that creates more discomfort, the body shouts a little louder. Having spent years and years not facing my innermost feelings I know the intensity that can be felt. But, with care and compassion it does change. Having the right support is also such a gift. You start to learn who will be able to meet you where you are at and be there. Unlearning what you learnt Find your way out. Maybe its mantra and affirmation, talking and expressing, or meditation and movement. By creating an outlet, an expression for your feelings and held experiences you start the process of alchemy, and transformation into wisdom rather than pain. Embrace the beautiful aspects of life and really feel into these too, its about bringing that balance back. Get close to those who can hold space for you Having people around you (friends, therapists) who you can bare your soul to is huge. That deep sense of connection and understanding is healing and soothing. Remember that we are all experiencing emotions, and being able to create a safe space with another to move through difficultly is probably the single most important part. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Liz! Liz Sparkes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Liz Sparkes is a health psychologist, intuitive coach, and meditation and reiki practitioner. After completing a Ph.D. in Pain Psychology and training to facilitate meditation and mindfulness, Liz dedicated herself to helping others feel more empowered and fulfilled. Liz has developed academic and private transformational courses for heart-based living, meditation and compassion, awareness, and moon living. Liz works with groups and individuals in workplaces, health settings, charitable organizations, and holistic retreats. Liz utilizes a mixture of psychological and ancient spiritual methods for healing and to support living life from the perspective of the heart, gaining greater insight and intuitive trust.