Written by: Janet Philbin, 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 is easy to be in gratitude for the good things in life, but how about the bad, not so good, or unwanted. Have you ever had an Ah-Ha moment? Mine was, “I am in gratitude for my trauma.” I was shocked and questioned how it was possible to be grateful for my painful life experiences. I wanted to understand what contributed to my transformation from pain to gratitude. How do you find gratitude for unwanted life experiences? As I researched gratitude, everything I read was about how to be in gratitude for the good and positive things in life. What about gratitude for the not so good, or as Pema Chodron calls it, “the unwanted,” the bad, the struggles, and pain. Chodron says, “Use all the unwanted things in your life as a means for awakening compassion for yourself and others.” In other words, it’s important to be in gratitude for the unwanted in our lives, the not so good. I also turned to Osho. In his book, “Buddha,” he talks about the Buddhist principle of Thahata, which means suchness. The attitude of suchness is described as: accept it. It is about accepting what is, as it is when it is. When you don’t fight what is in front of you, there is a shift because when the attitude of suchness is within us, healing can follow. It would be wonderful if we only had good experiences, but the chances are that is not the case because life is generally full of ups and downs. Can you reflect on the downs, the ones you wish had never happened, the ones when you raised your hands and asked, “Why Me? Haven’t I been through enough already?” Can you find gratitude for those times? Have you asked yourself these or similar questions? Does this serve a purpose? Haven't I already learned this lesson? Didn’t I already have enough trauma/drama in my life? Didn’t I do my time (so to speak)? Why do I have to take on more now? Sadly, you cannot undo the past. I wonder what happens when you apply the concept of suchness to these questions? How to Find Gratitude for the Unwanted Accept. Once you come to acceptance, you can say to yourself, “such as the way it was (or is).” Stop fighting reality. Stop putting energy into regret. When you stop fighting the reality of what is or what was, it makes space within you. Then you are not using energy in the “fight” anymore, and your energy can be used in healing. Don’t run away from your feelings. Most of us instinctually, when we feel a feeling rising that is uncomfortable or a memory we don’t want to remember, try to avoid it, and run away from it. This does not help. We need to experience the moment we are in. When you allow yourself to be present in the feeling and accept its suchness, you can move into gratitude for the feeling. Be with the feeling. You can also take it a step further and be grateful for the feeling and what it has for you, even if it is uncomfortable or unwanted. Do not identify with it. There is a big difference between accepting something and identifying with something. You can say, “yes, I was victimized, had an abusive childhood or alcoholic parent,” and it can just be that, as it was. When you identify as a victim, you remain in that victim role in other areas of your life because you hold onto the victim's consciousness. Understanding your pain and having compassion for yourself will move you into gratitude. Releasing victim consciousness allows you to transcend, and that transcendence is a healing force. Stay Present. Be where you are, not in yesterday or tomorrow but the present. The present is where we find gratitude. Letting go of the ”if only's” allows you to release the energy of fighting your reality. Then you can heal yourself. Remember, each moment is unique, precious, and fresh. Make peace with yourself. Make peace with the aspects of yourself you have rejected. This is acceptance. You make peace with yourself as you begin to walk the path of self-acceptance. You can learn from any situation. All situations have something to teach us, especially the tough ones. They teach us best. Slow down and ask yourself what I can learn from to help me reach that place of self-acceptance and gratitude? Do not accept grudgingly. Understand that you must fully accept. If you accept grudgingly, then you are continuing the cycle of pain and suffering. However, when you accept without complaint –not in a helpless state- but in understanding and with self-compassion, that is suchness. That is empowering. I believe that from this place, you can find gratitude. As I have gone through the last 30 years of my life, I have learned the following. I was compelled to accept the suchness of my reality and that without those times in my life, I would not be where I am right now. I am in gratitude for the bad and ”unwanted” because it taught me more than the good alone ever could. I no longer fight the past and complain about my story. I fully accept it as part of me, and I am grateful for those times, especially those that were most painful. When I look back at the pain, I will be grateful because, in gratitude, I find my own inner wisdom and, from there, healing. When I write my gratitude lists, I will include the unwanted and remember that even the unwanted is grateful for. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Janet! Janet Philbin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Janet is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Hypnotherapist, and Certified Conscious Parenting Coach. Janet helps adults heal from the emotional pain and trauma of their past. She is the owner of Janet Philbin, ACSW, private psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy practice. For 21 years, Janet has been successfully helping people recover from their emotional wounds and change their lives with the power of transformational healing and hypnotherapy. She’s the author of, Show Up For Yourself: A Guide to Inner Awareness and Growth. Her book offers readers a framework to heal their emotional wounds and become emotionally whole once again. Show Up For Yourself hit Amazon’s bestseller status and won as a finalist in the 2020 Readers Favorite book contest. She works closely with Dr. Shefali Tsabary, NY Times best-selling author and Oprah’s favorite parenting expert, as an ambassador in her Conscious Parenting Coaching Method Institute.

Written by: Daniel Mangena, 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 is your relationship like with money? Are you someone who believes that hard work and “The Grind” are synonymous with financial success? Well, I think it’s high time that we lift the lid on this and get you thinking differently about how you work towards your financial goals. If this is the first article of mine that you’re reading, thank you! My name is Daniel Mangena. I’m a best-selling author, coach, and public speaker. One of the most important things that I encourage the people I work with to examine is their relationship with money. I have worked with experts in this field and put together some exercises that essentially get people thinking about money as though they are in a romantic relationship. It sounds weird, I know, but there are a number of really good reasons why we do this. Here are the two most important: You can not move towards a destination without first knowing where you are. Trying to build a wealthy or abundant lifestyle without knowing what you’re building it from is far too imprecise. You need to understand your relationship to money to understand what needs to change and what practices will best suit you in pursuit of your goals. In other words: by working out who you are with money, we can tailor a process to work with you (as opposed to you having to force yourself into alignment). Have you considered what your relationship to money is before? I’m sure that, in some way, you probably have. I’m positive that on a deep subconscious level, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Just bringing up the subject of money will provoke an emotional state of some kind within you. You might be the sort of person who feels a pang of anxiety when opening your banking app, in case you don’t like what you see. Maybe you feel your ire rising every time you open a bill or come to pay for dinner. Perhaps you have the opposite reaction, and you love spending it, even getting a kick out of paying for things. A ‘flutter’ at the tables, perhaps. Whether good or bad, it is incumbent upon us to fully grasp our current relationship to money. If we want our financial situation to be different, we need to show up differently about how we relate to money. And that’s something that you should really interrogate as well: do you really want your financial situation to be different, or are you just pursuing that end to placate someone else’s vision for you? The practice of treating money as a romantic partner might all seem silly or dismissively esoteric, but there is a very practical reason for doing this. If you are the kind of person who believes that the only route to financial abundance is working harder and putting in ‘the grind,’ then you’re looking at money the wrong way. Why? Because you’re approaching it from an energetic space of lack. Deep down, you don’t trust that there is enough out there in the world that can come to you with ease, in a state of flow. You feel the need to force it with hard work and graft! The trouble with viewing the financial world as a zero-sum game like this is that you will never be a wealthy person. Sure, you might amass a lot of money in your bank account, but you will still be living as a person trapped in a state of lack. You won’t truly be able to relax and enjoy your riches. There is a very good reason why 90% of all lottery winners lose it all within five years: they were not wealthy people, to begin with. Who they were on the inside won out (as it always does) and returned them to what their subconscious perceived as their safe, natural state. Who we are on the inside dictates our outer world and the experiences we have. This is not one of those crass “ just think of yourself as a millionaire, and you’ll be one by magic or whatever ” snake oil pitches. Nothing of the sort! They don’t tackle the root of the problem, and they also offer nothing practical. The real point of tackling who we are internally first is that your subconscious programming is running your behavior most of the time. For some of us, it’s as much as 95%! If we don’t set that programming up correctly, it will keep giving us undesirable results. What is your subconscious job? Primarily, it’s to keep you safe and alive, but because your subconscious dwells deep in the part of your brain that is primeval, it can not intellectualize this function. Nor would you want it to, of course. If the mountain lion is chasing you, you don’t want to consider the merits of running away before doing so. Because of this need to work at lightning-fast speed bases, it's programming on non-verbal, impulsive inputs. This is why psychologists will spend time delving into your childhood and weeding out the traumas in your past. These periods of heightened emotional stress will have gotten through to your subconscious as something to avoid. Consequently, you will still be engaging in certain behaviors that are dictated by your subconscious as a means to avoid the consequences of a relived past trauma. You may have moved on intellectually and consciously, but they’re just so embedded in there that you won’t be aware of them. Your relationship with money is no different. You might have grown up with parents who hammered home the need for financial prudence, for example. “ Look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves ” - was a popular one when I was growing up. Hey, look, I get it; my parents grew up still in a post-war era, where financial security was prioritized and a collectively held belief. Rationing and all that was still somewhat prevalent (or at least the sentiment of it was). Nevertheless, this kind of fiscal dogma and the fear of destitution that it evokes will take its toll on your subconscious. Instead of looking for opportunities for money to come to you with flow and ease, your mind will be finding all the ways to hold on to what you’ve got. Do you think that wealthy people prioritize austerity or prosperity? This is not to say that millionaires got to where they are by being callous with their money, not at all. But conversely: nor did they get there by being the kind of people who worry about how they’re going to pay the bills. This is why I teach people to get to a place of ‘financial freedom’ first before generating financial abundance. Get your bases covered so that you don’t have to work - you choose to. In my own life: I had built and lost two multi-million pounds (I grew up in the UK) fortunes by the time I was in my twenties. It took hitting absolute rock bottom before I recognized where it was that I needed to make the shift. Now I live in Cabo, Mexico, in a state of financial abundance that I know is here to stay. I have completely rid myself of financial stress because I shifted how I relate to money, and you can too! The way I earn money now requires nothing from me but ease and flow. I don’t wake up every morning stressing about meeting a deadline or worrying where the next contract will come from. My earning is done in alignment with who I am and how I choose to live. I focussed on building that, then allowed the money to come to me due to who I am and how I live. Make sense? This is why you need to understand your relationship to money to understand what needs to change and what practices will best suit you in pursuit of your goals. Who are you with money right now? Do you go out and buy a ‘big ticket item’ as soon as some money comes your way? Do you start planning all the things you can buy? Maybe you siphon it all off into a savings account, under strict instruction not to touch it? It’s not that these things are wrong to do, but you have to understand the mentality behind your actions. What are you feeding your subconscious as you do them? Going out and splurging on a new car, for example. If you’re doing that because you see this as a rare opportunity to buy something you can never normally afford…you’re setting yourself up for the lack. The message this sends to the subconscious is: “ pull in the purse strings, we’re in for a bumpy ride ” and “ I am not normally the kind of person who can afford such things. ” Pretty soon thereafter, I’d wager, you’ll be worrying about said new car, fretting over every new ding and scratch, and eventually just resenting the damn thing because it represents a financial black hole. It’s inevitable aging and tarnishing becomes an avatar for your ‘real’ penurious self. If, however, you buy the car, but you do so safe in the knowledge that more money is on the way and that you are the kind of person who drives such a car, your subconscious will be fed the message that you have stepped into a space of abundance where such things are now the norm. It will start to help you by looking for more evidence to support your new status quo! The bottom line with all of this is that money is not, in and of itself, anything but a facilitator. It’s a medium through which we exchange and apportion value. The emotional charge associated with it comes from us. Whether conscious of it or not, we are completely in control of how money operates in our lives. The missing component for most of us is how to gain conscious control of our relationship with money. There are many techniques out there, some of which I use in my programs, but the first thing is to make yourself aware that you even have a personal relationship with money. That awareness alone will hopefully open your mind’s eye to how you’re showing up in day-to-day financial interactions. You can start to change from there, and I urge you to seek guidance in how you can practically do that. It doesn’t have to be through me, but you can check out my contributor profile below for more resources. Thank you so much for reading this article. I’ll be back again soon here on Brainz Magazine with more. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Daniel! Daniel Mangena, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dan Mangena is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and public speaker. Recently named in the Wall St Journal as a "Master of Success," he is completely self-made and has spent decades perfecting his world-class coaching methodology. His books, podcasts, events & retreats continue to help captains-of-industry and private individuals alike live an abundant, joyful, purpose-driven life. He offers many unique and effective free tools via his website.

Written by: Claire Johnson, 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 currently have a goal in mind that you are working towards? Are you prepared to do what it takes to achieve it, and do you know what it is actually going to take to get there? These are essential questions to ask yourself when you set yourself a goal and begin the journey towards it. Are you fully committed and prepared to go all in to get what you want, whether it be work or business venture, fitness goal, or one of life’s bucket list items? Can you honestly say to yourself that you are doing all that you can to achieve it? Most fail is in the preparation phase and not taking enough time to investigate, research, or learn what is required to achieve the goal. It is essential to understand the timeframes of your chosen task, the amount of work and effort you will need to commit to it, and in doing so, you may need to reassess other priorities. If you are serious and going all in, it is highly likely sacrifices will occur in other areas of your life. You may need to cancel social events, readjust existing deadlines, or delegate smaller tasks to help eliminate distractions to fully focus on your goal. If you are unsure of what is required for you to achieve your goal, I highly recommend finding someone who has walked the path before you and learned from them. Remember, success leaves clues, and accessibility to information is so easy now we really have no excuse for being fully informed to have a degree of confidence with taking on the new challenge. Once you are clear on the expectations, it is time to identify the obstacles that may get in your way so you can either create a plan as to what you will do should they arise, deal with them before you start, or where possible, simply remove them. Again, this is essential for a strong setup to increase your chances of success. I would try to remove as many distractions as possible, so attention can be put where it is required. Remember the last time you were in the middle of a project, focused fully on it, and someone interrupted you? Not only can it be quite annoying, it is actually frustrating as you lose the flow and focus you had before the interruption. There is a great quote, “jack of all trades, master of none,” that I often use with clients as it highlights the importance of focusing on one thing. Many of us have multiple responsibilities in our personal and business life, leading to conflicting timeframes, distractions, and sometimes feeling overwhelmed and busy instead of being productive and moving forward. Think, when was the last time someone asked how you are, to which you replied, “good, really busy but good”? I have consciously chosen to remove this phrase from my vocabulary as I think it creates something to hide behind. Yes, you may be busy, but busy doing what? Are you spending your time working on a new project, decorating your home, or studying something new? Sometimes you may just be busy going through the motions of life rather than actually being productive, and whatever it is, I believe we should just own it. It can be too easy to say you are busy creating an impression or illusion so if you are asked, choose to reflect and share exactly what you have been doing. This allows you to be honest and take the time to reflect on where exactly you have been spending your time, and has it actually been the best use of your time? Yes, this can be quite difficult, yet if you are serious rather than just dipping your toe, you need to go all in and fully commit. Be clear with your intentions to yourself and those around you who are impacted. Have clear expectations and outline what can be expected from you and what you expect from others. If you have a team, ensure your vision is clearly understood so everyone is on board and can work collaboratively. Finally, it is always a good idea to put pen to paper, confirming your goal, so it is there before you, crystal clear along with your proposed plan to achieve it. Take a look at what you have written and be honest with yourself. How much do you really want this, is there anything else that would prevent you from achieving it, and are you comfortable with the sacrifices you may have to make? Are you prepared and informed to the best that you can be right now to take the first step? Now the journey starts, yet the process does not stop. Along the way, continually review and reassess to ensure you are on target and always have at the forefront of your mind this question, "Is what I am doing right now enough, and have I given it my best today?" Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit my website. Read more from Claire! Claire Johnson, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Claire is an expert mindset, nutrition, and training coach for women, authors, TV presenters, expert speakers, and female empowerment mentors. Claire is the CEO of The Naked Warrior, which delivers 3 winning online coaching programs and Founder of The Naked Warrior Tribe online female empowerment community plus the author of two books — The Winning Formula: Discover the Secrets to Unleash Your Alpha Female and The Winning Physique: How to Get the Competitive Edge on Stage.

Written by: Dilys Brighty-Schmidt, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As Health and Life Coach, we learn how to create a place where clients can feel safe and cared for so that they can transform their lives step-by-step. Whether it is wishing to lose weight and having a healthier lifestyle, have more success in their particular area of expertise, or creating an entirely new enterprise for themselves with a better financial outlook. Whatever the transformation they want, I help them through their fears of feeling stuck and needing more direction in their lives. It’s a journey that we are on together. Holding the vision of what they want until they are ready to take up that vision for themselves. I know how difficult it is to change, change that which does not serve us well anymore, and relieve ourselves of the difficulties that we may be currently facing. I am here to help and empower you to overcome these challenges. The Five-Step Transformational Process below will help you start your own journey of transformation! The Five-Step Transformational Process 1. Step Back: This first step is imperative to create space from our programming. Programming is the map we create at a very early age to make sense of how the world around us works. We each make meaning out of the different events or scenarios we experience in our lives. Since childhood, we make decisions about ourselves from those experiences that have influenced us throughout our lives and how we relate to the world around us today. Often, we are too emotionally charged to look at a challenge we are faced with constructively. If we step back, we can gain a fresh perspective. 2. Let Go: Transformation is a continual process of letting go. This step is all about giving you a way to release old beliefs and create space to create new ones. 3. Say Yes: Say Yes is about anchoring new beliefs that reflect your true self now. Once we let go of the dysfunctional beliefs that no longer serve us, we get to choose what we want to believe. This is where we get to decide what’s true for us, our life, and our world now, at this stage of our evolution. 4. Take Empowered Action: Who are we when we take action? Are we taking action or not taking action out of fear? Most people don’t go after what they really want because of fear. They might say, “I am afraid of what people will think, or I am afraid I won’t be any good.” This is disempowering. When you say things like this, what are you making fear mean? These statements all pre-suppose that fear means that something BAD will happen if you go for what you want. When you make decisions, who are you choosing to be? DECISION is the ultimate power. When you make decisions, where are you coming from? Where are you responding from? Are you coming from a place of love, courage, and truth, OR shame, blame, fear, and being the victim? This is so important! You cannot make good decisions from a place of fear or being the victim. When you do, there’s something you are settling for because you have a belief that you don’t deserve, can’t have, or don’t get to have what you truly want. Fear is truth on pause. Empowered action is authentic truth in motion. 5. Set Up Accountability: To make success inevitable, you must have support, and you must have stretch. What are the conditions that you set up for your inevitable success? These are five steps that you can truly manifest for yourself. Take time to think about what is happening in your life right now. Are there areas that you know need change but cannot make decisions out of fear or the feeling of being stuck? I am here to help you make those changes and to help you stretch. If there is an area in your life you truly wish to change, I would love to have the opportunity to help you make those empowering decisions and to help you get over your fears. My Free Discovery Session really does help you understand the areas in your life that you want to change, nourish or commit to. Please contact me if this is something that might help in your plans for yourself. Looking forward to helping you on your journey and helping you take empowered action. Remember: Transformation Begins With You! Follow me on Instagram, Linkedin and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dilys! Dilys Brighty-Schmidt, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Dilys Brighty-Schmidt is a Transformational Health and Life Coach who is dedicated to helping women 50+ and beyond achieve success in their health, fitness, and life situations that need change, more commitment, and nourishment. Her coaching also includes Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Health programs, two major health problems that increase with age. Through her previous work as a diet consultant for over six years with a brand diet company in the USA, she realized how difficult it was for many clients to sustain their weight loss or reach their goals. Health and Life Coaching have given her that much-needed knowledge to help her clients understand that lifestyle changes and habits and behavior changes are instrumental in their success. Her mantra is “Transformation Begins With You.”

Written by: Diane Forster, 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. Allow me to share a story that happened to me one day, about 8 years ago. It completely changed my life forever. You know those moments — the ones that make you realize, “I’ll never be the same again! I now know too much!” It was a cold winter day in Chicago. I boarded the express train from my hometown to head into the city for work. Once I sat down, a girlfriend of mine that I had not seen in a very long time walked up, said hello, and sat down next to me. It was good to see her. We started talking, and I noticed very quickly that she said the word “worry” a lot! She said it about five times in the first two minutes of us chatting. I decided to play a little game with myself (I love to do that, by the way.). I decided I would count in my head how many times she said the word “worry” on the trip downtown. The express train ride was 40 minutes. She said “worry” 45 times! I was blown away, and I also felt so heartbroken for her. I realized this poor woman is feeling worried every minute of the day! That same day, I decided to grab a salad and work through lunch. I like to listen to motivational books and audios while I’m working. I put on something by Zig Ziglar. He started sharing a story and asked a question, “Did you know that there are no records in the history of any American Indians who stutter? And do you know why? Because, in their language, they do not have a word for ‘stutter.’ So, it simply doesn’t exist.” Ding, ding, ding! The lightbulb went off in my head! I thought about my girlfriend earlier that day saying “worry” 45 times, and I thought about the word “stutter” not existing for American Indians. I said to myself, “Hmmm, what if I decide to remove words from my vocabulary that I don’t want to “experience” any longer? How much better could my life get?” So, that’s what I did. And, magic started to happen! There are many, many words that I never utter. Different negative emotions, adjectives, nouns, you name it. I’ll share with you the Top 3 Words you’d be advised to remove. I’ll also share the words to replace them with. You see, it’s easier to replace than it is to remove. These new words will empower and inspire you. They will also have you manifesting so many wonderful things into your life like I magically did. Here we go. Replace Worry with Wonder Worry is a wasted emotion. Almost everything we worry about never happens! What if... you “Wonder” instead. Wonder all the positive things that can happen instead of worrying about all the negative things that can happen. I never worry about my children. I always wonder that they are happy, healthy, thriving, having fun, enjoying life. That is the energy I’m projecting out to them. When you worry, you’re pushing your negative energy and emotions towards that other person. You’re not helping them by worrying. You’re actually hurting them. So, wonder for good things instead. Replace Fear with Faith The same principle applies here. There are very few things you need to feel fear about. The more you fear, the more things to be fearful will be attracted to you. If you’re reading this right now, chances are you have breath in your lungs, you slept in a bed last night, you’ve taken a bath or a shower, and you’ve had something to eat today. You have everything you need. What are you so fearful of that you won’t have it tomorrow? Please switch this to “Faith” instead, and say, “I am so grateful, and I have faith that I will always have more than enough and more than I need.” Set that intention, and the universe will deliver. Replace Doubt with Determination There’s nothing you can’t do, literally. Don’t doubt, especially yourself. You already have all the knowledge “inside” you. You have to catch up to the knowing. Will it be work? Yes. Will it be hard? Definitely, at times. Will it be worth it? Absolutely! Be determined in your life for the goals and dreams you want. Nobody can be that for you. And once you want something, you can’t not want it. So, use your determination and desire to get it, and don’t let doubt anywhere in the vicinity. Move in determined action because that’s what it takes. The only way your goals and dreams won’t happen is if you continue to doubt your worthiness and your ability. There’s a 6-part series on my YouTube Channel at I Have Today with Diane Forster called “Change Your Lange, Change Your Life,” where I share 3 more words, and I teach you the vocabulary replacement process. Subscribe there, or you can also find them on my podcast by the same name. Write to me and let me know how it’s working for you. Happy Manifesting! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Podcast, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Diane! Diane Forster, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Diane Forster is an award-winning life coach and intentional living expert. After several life events that led to attempted suicide, Diane reinvented her life and found her true calling. Now, she helps others transform their lives to live with passion and purpose. As a mindset and manifestation master, she has helped thousands clear away limiting beliefs and feelings of low self-worth to bring their ideas to actualization instead and create the life of their dreams. Diane's TV Show and podcast, "I HAVE TODAY with Diane Forster," offers practical, actionable steps that you can do today. She is also an award-winning inventor, author of 6 books. She has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, QVC, ESPN Radio, KHTS Radio, and several other TV, radio, podcasts, and magazines. Her mission: Transform 1 billion lives.

Written by: Paula Orezi, 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. Want to be a master at selling or speaking confidently with your personality in mind instead of faking until you make it? Tired of the same speech cycle when selling anything? Mindset is the first ingredient to success! When there is a limited belief system activated, one cannot move forward in the building stage of any business. Selling is an adventure, and it takes perseverance and persistence. None of these things can happen if the mindset has limitations. The goal is to sell the Prize without the strive. Eliminate the boring old way of selling and start being you and seal the deal! Here are 4 practical tips to help you make it happen but with your own knack for it! Be You Discovery. The importance of knowing who you are and taking the time to discover that! We are all unique, and our confidence to prospect or sell anything starts with knowing WHO you are and accepting it without being sorry! Speak Like A Champion. Firm speeches create power and influence! Practice what to say and WHY it matters to the audience. Heart Connections. People can detect if you are being a bot! You are a human being with a human heart. Learn to offer your service or product with the end goal of serving the customer's needs. There is a sense of satisfaction when you have offered something to a client that makes him/her life better or organization better! Making the connection to their mission/vision provides a more human approach. Throw away the scripts of words that are meaningless to the client! Invite The Team. Try your best to approach the "dream solution" to a Team of Stakeholders! The more, the merrier, literally! More buy-in equals closed deals! No longer is this about spiels that don’t allow the customer time to take anything in, selling based on a lower price, or myriads of other ‘techniques’ that salespeople have been using so far. It is now about authenticity and making a sale while being genuine. Based on the new book by Paula Orezi, “Using Your Personality To Seal the Deal.” Check out what's inside the Paula-O store on their website or email directly at porez815@gmail.com for more info. Read more from Paula! Paula Orezi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Paula Orezi is the author of a motivational poetry book, From Me to You, and co-author of the 1 International Best Selling book, Experts & Influencers: Women's Empowerment Edition. She has a passion for helping people be inspired to change, creating a positive and win-win outcome. Her experience includes mentoring others and leadership development. Paula's life motto is to be a Change Agent in everything she does. Her messages are for business-minded professionals or anyone wishing to start their own business and need help to overcome mindset beliefs, organize, and conduct sales through relationship-building. These are the ingredients that she believes others can benefit from to see results. Her why is to help people overcome destructive patterns regarding thinking habits and daily investment habits. Paula has been featured in podcasts that encourage others to live with purpose and dream big! The creation of the Paula O! Store was founded on the concept of Be You! She has impacted many with her branded products that stand for the mission of empowering others to be themselves and find their life’s calling in an adventurous way.

Written by: Jane Christine, 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 procrastinated on a task only to feel guilty later? Only to rush before a deadline and wonder why you didn’t start earlier? Only to ask yourself why you can’t just get on with it and start already? You are not alone in your entrepreneurial experience. Statistics indicate that 95% of people occasionally procrastinate, while 20% of people experience chronic procrastination. It makes sense why this leads to affecting your bottom line and why 40% of us have experienced financial loss because of procrastinating the needle moving tasks. The good news? There is a way to prevent procrastination. Procrastination is a form of stress relief. Yes, I said it! It’s not a form of laziness, and it’s definitely not something only underachievers experience. Actually, quite the contrary, some of the most productive entrepreneurs can be procrastinators. They are just productive in other areas of their business. There is usually a logical reason behind their procrastination on certain tasks. As an NLP Master Practitioner and Mindset Coach, I work in alignment with the Positive Intention Theory. This postulates that every action comes from a positive intention. And there is a way to meet this need in a more resourceful way that can prevent procrastination. From my experience, I’ve identified 4 main types of procrastinators , and finding out which one you are can help you focus on how to solve the external procrastination. However, getting to the root cause of your procrastination from a mindset perspective will require working with a mindset coach. Which one are you? Finding out which type of procrastinator you are can help you pinpoint how to break the pattern and honor your needs instead of blaming yourself or feeling guilty. The Perfectionist The Perfectionist always needs everything to be perfect. They have high standards even they can't meet, which often prevents them from starting a task in the first place, because why even start if it’s not going to be perfect?! The Challenge: getting started. The Self-Blamer The Self-Blamer is extra hard on themselves. They are the opposite of lazy but won't admit when they are tired because they view it as laziness. They have an active Inner Critic that negative self-talk can go into overdrive and prevent them from getting to the important tasks as they can talk themselves out of doing it. The Challenge: taking a break. The Overscheduler The Overscheduler will often say, "I'm always busy." They book out their schedule, so they have a legitimate reason to avoid the task. They often get lots done but just not the stuff to move their business needle. They find it easier to blame being busy to avoid certain tasks. The Challenge: overbooking to avoid. The Latest Trender The Latest Trender always has a new idea. They are quick to implement new ideas but never complete tasks. They are great decision-makers but lose time through inconsistency and leaving things unfinished. The Challenge: Completing tasks. You have now identified which type of procrastinator you are, so let’s get to the external solutions. The Solutions The Perfectionist Select Start Date, not only end date, and find your "good enough” standard. Establish a tangible measure that you can achieve that makes you feel satisfied. The Self-Blamer Include recharge breaks before you burn out. Schedule self-care time before you pencil in all the things you “need” to do. That way, you have carved out time in your calendar to take care of yourself. The Overscheduler Get reflective and ask yourself, "What am I trying to avoid and why?". There is a reason you are overbooking yourself to avoid certain tasks, but you have a valid reason for it. So ask yourself why you are trying to avoid it. The Latest Trender Write down all your new ideas and block out time each week to review them and see if they align with overall business goals. It’s great to have new ideas, but it’s important to know if they are right to implement at this moment or further down the track in your business evolution. Preventing your procrastination is possible when you uncover the root cause behind it in the first place. Remember that behind every action is a positive intention! With the help of a mindset coach, you can uncover this positive intention that manifests you to procrastinate. This brings awareness and allows you to meet this need through other resourceful ways that align with you and your business needs. The key to breaking your procrastination patterns is identifying why you are procrastinating in the first place and interrupting this pattern so the cycle can be broken. You can elevate your business with confidence and an abundant mindset. Follow me on Instagram, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jan e ! Jane Christine, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jane Christine is a certified Life Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and author. Originally from Australia working in the corporate world until she questioned her life's purpose. Jane believed there had to be more to life, so she sold everything she owned and set off for a nomadic lifestyle traveling around the world searching for answers and a place to call home, which she finally found in Spain. Her search and transformation took her to over 37 countries. Life experiences and her own personal growth guided her to become a certified Life Coach. Her travels inspired her quest to learn about the world around us and why we do what we do. Since 2012, Jane Christine has been studying how our pasts shape us, the effects of societal standards, and the impact of values. With Neuro-Linguistics Programming techniques and through the power of transformation, learn how to; bridge the gap, define self-worth, set tangible goals, find comfort through change, and how 1% micro-changes can alter lives. Jane Christine is the author of "How You Know Already: Questions to ask yourself to find the answers within," as she believes we are all unique, and so are each of our paths to follow. She is dedicated to her clients and supporting their growth and journey. Her motto: Design your life, don't just live it!

Written by: Samantha Touchais, 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 may have an incredible product and be targeting the right audience for this product, your delivery system is second-to-none, and your website looks fantastic. But if you cannot communicate the right way with your audience, you will not convert leads into sales. Great communication is the key to connecting with a potential customer or client. Everything you do and say communicates a message to your audience that will either turn them off completely, leave no lasting impact, or, if you get the communication right, engage them and position them correctly to move into the next phase of their relationship with you. I have been in the marketing industry for over 20 years, have led huge global marketing and communication campaigns for well-known household brands, and have written 4 books. I now run two successful businesses and am living a meaningful life, teaching, and inspiring others. In other words, I am living a life of purpose, my dream life. And I credit a big part of the realization of my dream life with knowing how to communicate with my audience and how to use words to build the holy grail of marketing; the like, know and trust factor. It all comes down to how and what you communicate. Is your message clear? Is it concise? Does it resonate with your audience and particularly with your ideal client or customer? All communication, whether it’s written or spoken, needs certain elements to be effective. The purpose of communication is to get a message across, and so it needs to be: Created with the target audience in mind An appropriate length to get the key information across without losing the audience Clear Concise Structured Engaging Enticing Written with a goal in mind With a call-to-action (when needed) It also needs to be single-minded whenever possible. When I talk about communication, I am including not just the conversations you are having face to face or on the phone, but also the copy you use in your advertising, the emails you send to current or potential clients or customers, responses to customer or supplier complaints, packaging copy, branding, website copy, social media post wording and imagery, blog posts. The list goes on. These are all touchpoints that you have with your clients or customers (potential and actual), and every word counts. So what makes for good communication? 1. Tone of voice A tone of voice is ‘how’ you say something. It’s how you want to come across to your audience. What is your brand about? What does your company stand for? This can all be represented by your tone of voice. Examples are: Fun and friendly Serious and authoritative Caring Respectful Enthusiastic Professional Light-hearted Always ensure that the tone of voice you use in all your communication matches the image you want people to have of you and/or your brand. It is also one of the ways you connect with your audience. So before you start having any conversations with potential customers, and before you start writing blog posts or creating Facebook ads, take the time to think about your target audience and how they would like to be talked to, and what kind of tone of voice will resonate with them the most while representing you and what you stand for at the same time. The tone of voice can be a tricky thing to get right, but as Maya Angelou once said, ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.’ And she was spot on. 2. What is the message you would like to get across? Before you start creating any communication piece, think about the one main message you would like your audience to take away. This will determine what you write or say, how much you write or say, and how detailed you need to be. It is sometimes tough to sum up everything you want to say into one sentence, but it is crucial to ensure that the message you create has the right impact. Here are 4 main points to consider when drafting communication pieces: How complicated is the product or service you are trying to sell? Suppose the key feature of your product takes a bit of time to explain but sets you apart from competitors . In that case, you will need to start your communication piece with a catchy and engaging headline to get the interest of potential customers and encourage them to want to learn more. Breaking the information down into smaller chunks can help your audience digest your message and not feel overwhelmed. Videos help tremendously with this. How engaged with the brand is the target audience? People that are already engaged with your brand are more likely to listen to what you have to say than people who have never heard of you. Saying that, if you are selling something that potential customers are looking for and manage to pique their interest from the very beginning, you will be able to keep them engaged for longer. Another aspect of engagement to think about is your target audience when they see your message. Are they distracted by something else at the time of consuming your message? Do you know the best time to try to communicate with them? Understanding your ideal client’s day and when they are most receptive to your message is a crucial piece of information that can make all the difference to getting engagement from your audience. How much time do they have? If your audience is short on time, then you may need to get straight to the point. A single-minded piece of communication is often the most effective but also the hardest to create. By single-minded, I mean that you focus on one key point in your message. Instead of listing the ten things that are oh-so-wonderful about your product or service, pick just ONE. We are all bombarded with so many messages these days that we are lucky to absorb and retain just one key piece of information, so make sure it is the right one they hear. For other audiences who have the time to read magazines or long social media posts, and love to indulge in them, then you have more time to talk to them and engage with them before getting to your call-to-action. Are you telling a good story? Think about the qualities of a good story. What is it that keeps the audience hooked when reading a book or watching a movie? It is the quality of the storytelling that counts. How can you add a sense of adventure or suspense, or romance to your communication pieces (or whatever suits your brand and your audience)? Great communication takes your audience on a journey. This does not mean you have to write a book! Remember, a picture tells a thousand words, so if you have two seconds to get your message across, choose a picture or icon representing your message and a short call-to-action. If you are trying to sell a holiday-of-a-lifetime, perhaps you use just a few ‘Contact Us’ words, but the imagery you choose creates such desire in your audience that they desperately want to talk to you to learn more. 3. Choosing the right communication channel Think about what you are trying to create, and then think about how this is best delivered. Do you have 15 minutes to give a presentation to potential customers? Or do you have a split second to grab someone’s attention before they scroll on by? There is no point trying to talk to someone on Instagram when they most likely don’t have an account. I am amazed at how many clients choose their communication channels based on their preference rather than their target audience . So do some research to determine the daily habits of your target audience, and learn where and when is the best way to have a conversation with them. Once the channel is chosen, you will need to adjust your message accordingly. In summary Decide who the target audience is and what kind of media they prefer to consume Key questions to ask yourself are: how much time do they have, how engaged with my brand are they already, how much do they know about the topic I am writing or speaking about, and how much information do they need to make a buying decision? How engaging is my message? Put yourself in your target audience’s shoes by thinking about their daily life, what they are most likely doing when they see your message, and how much convincing they will need to decide to buy what you are selling. Now re-look at your communication piece. Does it cut through all the noise they have in their daily life? Is your message truly engaging enough to get and hold their attention? How is my message coming across? Double-check the tone of voice you have used and how you have pitched the message to your audience. Don’t waste their time by explaining things they already know. An experienced cake maker doesn’t need to know the basics of cake making, so get straight to what they are interested in, which is how your offer can make their job easier, faster, or take their cake making to a higher level. What is the one main message that my audience will take away from this piece? Suppose you can’t clearly articulate it, and someone else reading the piece for the first time isn’t clear on your message either . In that case, you will need to revisit your message and, either through layout, wording, or both, ensure that the one key message is more important than any other that stands out. Finally, ensure that your communication is created with a goal in mind, and if that goal is to make a sale or get a new client, then ensure there is a strong call-to-action in it. You don’t have long to impress someone, but with well-thought-out and executed communication, you will build the like, know and trust factor that is the keystone to a solid and successful business. You can find Samantha on her website , wellbeingseries , Facebook , Instagram , and Linke dIn ! Read more from Samant ha ! Samantha Touchais, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Samantha Touchais is a Business and Mindset Coach helping women create a safe and secure path to launching their dream business by providing them with the support and tools to make it a success. She has over 20 years of marketing and strategy experience working for large international companies worldwide. Her love of how the mind works and how to create the right mindset for success led her into coaching. She lives and breathes marketing and mindset and loves sharing her learnings with others. Author of four books and the creator of the Well Being Series (a collection of apps and books that provide meditations and affirmations for well-being based on the latest neuro-science), she loves exploring Europe, where she has been for the last 14 years but misses the beaches of her native Australia.

Written by: Ruby Rose Walker, 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 natural to strive for greatness, but is perfectionism holding you back from reaching that next level of fulfillment and success? I get it, I’ve been there, I like to think of myself as a ‘recovering perfectionist’. I’m aware of myperfectionist tendencies, and I’ve learned to use these as a tool rather than letting them hold me back (for the most part). As a recovering perfectionist, I know that it can be challenging and it can be exhausting. The good news is that it doesn’t have to have such control over your mind. Perfectionism is a double-edged sword, on one hand, it motivates you to perform at your best, but if you’re not careful it can negatively impact you, your life, and the people around you. The aim of this article is to help recognize it and stop it from taking control so that you can use it as a powerful tool. Let me give you an example to illustrate the thought process of a perfectionist. Cast your mind back to a time you had a job interview, chances are you anticipated the question: “What's your greatest weakness?” You probably also heard that you shouldn’t answer “perfectionism”, “it’s too cliche”. If you have slight perfectionist tendencies, you may have concerned yourself with it for a bit then settled for an answer such as “I’m too detail-orientated”. If perfectionism runs your mind, you probably found the whole process highly stressful. Knowing that the honest answer could be considered a ‘wrong’ answer, and tweaking the answer wouldn’t be completely honest, and “what if they think my answer isn’t good enough?” and so on. You may have spent far too much time trying to think of the perfect answer to replace ‘perfectionism’, and often the question doesn’t even come up. Even if it does, the interviewers definitely don’t overanalyze your answer after you’ve left the room as much as you might stress about it. This is just an example, but if you’re a perfectionist you know what I’m talking about. Most perfectionists believe that these tendencies come hand in hand with being a high achiever, but there are clear differences between the two. Perfectionism is striving for flawlessness and not settling for anything less. Agonizing over tiny details and never being truly satisfied with the result because, well, it could have been better. Where high achievers are usually happy excelling in particular areas and focusing on these, perfectionists consider anything that falls below their impossibly high self-imposed standards to be unacceptable. Below are some common signs that perfectionism may be running the show: Highly Critical Because perfectionists have high standards and expectations, they can see flaws and imperfections in most things, particularly when it comes to themselves. They can’t help but to focus on these and think of ways to improve them. This isn’t necessarily on purpose, and it can be challenging to always feel critical and dissatisfied. Persistent dissatisfaction The goals that perfectionists set for themselves are often a moving target that gets further away from them as they inch closer toward it (if it was even attainable in the first place). They tend to beat themselves up when their extremely high expectations aren’t met and they dwell on their shortcomings far longer than others. The urge to control Because perfectionists have unrealistic standards and are highly critical, they have trouble letting go of control. This is often related to things within their own life, but when managing projects, situations or people, they like to keep involved so that they can make sure that they are in control. Troubles with sleep Perfectionists often have more trouble falling asleep than others or struggle to get back to sleep if they wake up in the night. They are kept up by their busy mind’s replaying past situations that could have been better or anticipating future ones. Fear of failure Perfectionists place so much attention and energy on a ‘perfect’ outcome, they find it hard to accept anything less than perfection. They often feel that not meeting the standards that they’ve set for themselves makes them a failure. A failure in a task or a project can be interpreted as a personal failure which makes it a lot more daunting. Procrastination People who are perfectionists may avoid starting a task until they know that they can do it perfectly. Because of their fear of failure, they can feel trapped or blocked from starting what they plan to. They often end up taking training after training or course after course to get better at something before even starting. The good news? YOU are in control and have the ability to view and use these tendencies as a powerful tool. Here’s how to take back control and stop perfectionism running the show: Awareness The first step toward change is awareness. Notice situations where perfectionism is taking control or holding you back. Become aware of your internal chatter. In the beginning, these will be conscious thoughts, over time you will start to become aware of subconscious thoughts, patterns and behaviors that may be hampering your progress or success. An important part of this process is to write down what you notice so that you can bring it to light to it and overcome it. Ask yourself, “Where am I getting in my own way?” Choose someone you respect and ask yourself: “What would they advise me to do in this situation?” Don’t beat yourself up, just be curious and conscious. Mastery starts with awareness. Acceptance Being a perfectionist can be seen as positive and negative, but it’s neither and it’s both. It’s important to remember that a person is not a perfectionist, a person has perfectionist tendencies. It doesn’t define you nor excuse you, it’s a tendency you have for the way you look at things and navigate your way through work or life. But it’s just that, a tendency, once you accept that you can choose to either let it control you or let it be a tool. Prioritize Perfectionists often think they’re more effective because of their high standards, and that they’re the person best equipped at stopping things from falling through the cracks. But at what cost? Think back to the list above of signs that perfectionism may be running the show. What’s the cost to you, your wellbeing and your relationships in the long term? Some things are worth putting all your energy into, but most things aren’t. Prioritize what’s important to you and be more strategic with the others. Decide how much energy you’re going to put in, and stick to it. When things seem overwhelming, ask yourself “What’s the absolute worst that could happen?” if things don’t go exactly as planned. Define success and celebrate it Define what success will look like before you start something new, write it down and celebrate when you hit that success. Have you ever set yourself a fitness goal, you hit that goal and then you keep stretching it further? “I’ll be happy when…” Hold on, what happened to the goal you just met or surpassed? What about the fact that you showed up for yourself and made progress? When you set your mind to something, define a realistic goal, and when you hit that goal, celebrate. If you have a big goal to achieve, break those down into milestones and celebrate those along the way. Get out of your head There are so many things that you can do to get out of your head or separate the emotions from the facts. One great way is to get your body moving! Changing the scenery and shifting your attention will shift your energy and focus. If running or walking is your thing, try assigning a purpose to your run or walk before you set off. Maybe to gain clarity, to burn off some stress, to overcome barriers. Then get moving. What you come up against in your run, reflect upon after. Are you giving yourself a hard time for not running fast enough? (notice if it’s perfectionism showing up) Sometimes we need to give ourselves a break. Are you coming up against barriers of frustration? Each time we push past a barrier, we show our minds and bodies what we are capable of. For you, it might not be running or walking. How can you use something in everyday life to help you get out of your head and shift your energy to gain clarity and reflect? Stop referring to yourself as a perfectionist Stop saying “I’m a perfectionist.” it doesn’t define you, it’s a tendency. It’s not who you are. If you practice methods of overcoming perfectionist tendencies, but you’re still calling yourself a perfectionist either out loud or in your head, it’s going to be impossible to break old patterns. Change your internal dialogue to something that separates it from your identity, for me it’s ‘a recovering perfectionist’, for you it may be something different. Practice Now that you’re aware, practice dealing with these scenarios from a different state of mind. With practice, you'll begin to think differently and regulating your thoughts will become a habit. Think of it like building a muscle, it takes time to build strength and for it to become effortless. No person goes to the gym out of shape and becomes fit in a week. Take it one step at a time, it takes patience and consistency. Remember that YOU have the ability and power to master your mind, all mastery takes practice. Follow me on Faceboo k , Instagram , L inkedIn and visit my we bsite ! Read more from Ru by ! Ruby Rose Walker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ruby Rose is an international coach whose clients achieve life-changing transformation from the inside out. She is passionate about empowering individuals to step into their full potential to live with intention and lead with impact. Her unique life growing up across continents and cultures and her non-linear career path strongly influences her approach in unlocking the right path for each client. Knowing intimately how no two lives are the same, her work with clients is personal and tailored to each unique situation. She strongly believes there’s no right approach for all and coaches individuals to tap into their own unique potential to achieve a fulfilling life of their own. Having overcome her own experiences with a burnout in the past through mindful rewiring, Ruby Rose aims to be a partner on your journey to create a life of alignment, empowerment, and purpose you deserve.

Written by: Martina Krulakova, 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 are not the only one. Having clarity is a gift only a few of us possess. When I was little, I always admired strong and bold individuals who had strengths and who dared to say out loud what they wanted. In my case, it was being a bit different. To these days, I still remember the days and even weeks full of torturing thoughts when I had to make an important decision in my life: what do I want? I was fifteen, and back then, I had to decide for myself which high school I would attend. During the communist era, this single scariest decision would determine the rest of my working life. The day after you left school, you would get a job in what you trained to do for the rest of your life. I just couldn’t imagine anything that I would want to do for the rest of my life. Forever! My knowledge of real life at that age was poor, but I also felt very ashamed to talk about it to gain a broader perspective or simply to ask for help. It felt like I was the only one who had no idea what I wanted to do in life. Missing the confidence and not being able to decide. How foolish was I when I look back at it now, judging the situation from the perspective of my wiser self? Crossroads can hit you at any age and any time. Things are very much different now, but what hasn’t changed is putting pressure on ourselves at crossroads. It can hit you at any age. Pushed by some crises in any area of one’s life. We all know those moments when you simply have to stop and ask yourself: What’s next? What’s the next step for me? What do I want? My life-threatening decision wasn’t the only crossroad I have experienced in my life. Many others followed. No matter your life experiences or age, making an important decision or commitment to yourself can be scary. 4 essential steps to get you out of a downward spiral So here are some tips that I have mastered along my own journey but also through working with my clients: 1. Be honest with yourself. Nobody knows you better than you. How you feel about your current situation is real, so don’t suppress your emotions because they are there for a reason. If you have been feeling miserable, empty, or unhappy for some time, there is a reason for that. And those emotions are your feedback, so listen to them. Writing is healing. That’s the first step I would encourage you to do. Grab anything you can write on and let it all out. Whatever is going on in your life, in your head, and inside of you. We tend to wear a mask sometimes, pretending that everything is fine when it’s not. This mask can carry us through some periods, whether at home or in the workplace, but our real emotions don’t go away. So getting clear on how you really feel is the step I recommend you to start with. Let it all out. You own it to yourself. You want to be heard, seen, and understood. 2. Create the future you want to live. This simple exercise may sound like the case of easier said than done. I can’t even tell you how many times I had clients who forgot to dream, who don’t even let the what if it works come near them. Who never start because of their self-doubts or not having a clear vision, enough of how to achieve their dreams. So they dismiss all possible options instead of trying to start somewhere. These are change-makers once you consider things don’t have to be a certain way, not in the way you think they should be: You don’t need all the answers right now because you don’t You don’t have to become someone else, someone better to start because you are already perfect as you are (it’s not another cliche, it’s a fact! and I can prove it to you) You don’t need to know clearly your purpose because you are exactly where you need to be right now – that’s your purpose for now You don’t need to know your end goal because that’s the one you are creating– you are the co-creator of your life Your life direction may change few times during life, and that’s ok – fall in love with this process now because you have the power to choose where you want to go You may encounter several turning points during your life, and that’s ok too Always commit with your heart and use your mind to figure out the how You don’t have to do it all by yourself because nobody ever does 3. Let yourself have some joy. Stop pushing yourself to know all the answers, and start listening instead. Let those answers come to you. Literally, give yourself a break and do something that you really love. Whatever it is. If you want to watch romantic movies all day, go and do that. If you want to go out and grab your favorite cup of coffee or tea, do it. If you love hiking, go out for a walk! Do more of what makes you happy. The things that you are looking for are inside of you. You have all the answers you need. You don’t have to invent the wheel or come out with an extraordinary idea that will save the world. Your job is to do more of what makes you happy. As simple as it sounds, it is also not simple to do. I can’t emphasize enough how important this step is. Certain things make YOU happy. Not me, not your partner or your Mum – just you. To work more and harder won’t get you there. Giving myself this permission and do more of what makes me happy was also my golden ticket out of a miserable downward spiral. I left my home country and came to London with a big dream. To completely change my life even though I had no idea in what way or how to do it. I thought that if I had a better job, it would give me more money and I could travel more often. Sounds logical, doesn’t it? It does make perfect sense. However, not just any job would work for me. To get a better salary, you have to work more and harder. To get a better salary, you have to be good at something. To be good at something, you have to study and learn. To study more and continuously, you have to like it. That was the core of the issue. I didn’t like what I was learning in the past, so my favorite question would pop up again and again: What do you love? What I truly loved wasn’t an offer in any regular job I could think of, and so I embarked on the search to find it. That’s why I have created a new loving path for myself, a job which has been turned into a mission to help other individuals seeking their special something in their lives and develop this idea into a mission-driven by heart and filled with a hunger to create something greater. 4. You are chasing what you have been missing the most. You are chasing what you need the most. That’s the last but not least important piece of the puzzle. In my case, it was really good at something. To do something that I loved enough so that I can excel in my own unique way. The word passion = suffer, which comes from void. Your passion, whatever it is, is there for a reason. To fulfill the void you have felt, and now it’s your soul’s mission to find it so that you can reach up to a whole new level of greatness. What have you been missing and chasing after? I hope these 4 simple steps will allow you to connect with your soul’s desire and allow your mind to figure out the best way to make this possible. It is often the self-imposed limiting beliefs you hold about yourself are those which keep you from living the life you are after. It all starts with you. Follow Martina Krulakova on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Martina Krulakova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine MartinaK is a Clarity Alignment Coach helping you become an inspiring leader and master of life you love. Her constant search for happiness and money left her broke, miserable and lonely in a foreign country. That was when she realized that real transformation starts within, so she mastered the formula to fulfillment. Her search has turned into a mission. Today she is helping other women find their unique path and fulfilling careers they love and get handsomely paid for it by working with individuals, small groups, and running powerful workshops. She teaches the importance of self-awareness, mastering yourself and your inner world as the core solution to most problems. Because it all starts with YOU!

Written by: Sonja Denovski, 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. Our brand, whether personal or professional, reflects on our reputation and drives how people view us. It differentiates who we are and provides our clients with insight into our authentic individual and professional excellence. Controlling nonverbal messages we radiate can influence other people's responses to what we do, increasing (or decreasing) the value of our business. There are many misconceptions about the meaning of “brand.” It is often perceived by many as a visual identity, logo, or even as a product. But it is none of the above. A brand is created around our identity and reputation. It is what other people think about us. It is other people's gut feeling about what we do. The more positive an opinion they have, the more valuable our brand is. And while we cannot control what people think of us, we can influence it. How? By offering an extraordinary outcome that will differentiate us from the competition. By being passionate about what we do and, last but not least, nailing our skills. Our personal brand can increase trust and help us on our leadership journey. That is why we need to be aware and conscious of the nonverbal messages we convey. Nonverbals represent more than 80% of our overall communication. We focus so much on our plain words that sometimes we forget that we influence people much more with things we do not say. Our brain is subconsciously reacting to visual stimuli, and, like it or not, we react and judge each other based on the appearance we see. But what are nonverbals? The way we walk, the way we talk. The way we dress to impress and the way we decorate our offices. The way we smile at each other, how we listen, and how our gestures emphasize our words—the tone of your voice while we are speaking and the environment where you organize your meetings. And since social media has managed to blur the line between public and private, the posts we share even in our personal time are nonverbals that could positively or negatively affect the value of our business. Therefore we must pay attention to what we are silently communicating. Envision these two very opposite scenarios of arriving at a business meeting with a potential partner. You are approaching the first business premises and are forced to park your car in a random parking lot away from the building. It is dark, and the lights are flickering. While you walk alone towards the building, your steps echoing behind you, you can see dirty windows, and a strange smell reaches your nostrils. On the other hand, at the second business, you could park your car in front of the building entrance, where an organized visitor parking space is waiting, and an employee is there to greet you and accompany you to the meeting room. Everything is lit and clean, and you are overwhelmed with the kindness they show you. These two scenarios exemplify the image we create in our minds based on first impressions, whether it is personal or professional. Aesthetics are associated with comfort and respect, and we are there to make our clients, peers, and business partners comfortable and respected. The sooner we realize that this is our stage, and we are in complete control of how we want to be perceived, the sooner we will be on the right path to rise. Be outstanding While we are all ambitious and have our dreams and hopes, we need to understand that just dreaming and hoping is not enough if hard work is not involved. If you dress to impress but don't have the skills required to nail the overall experience, you will likely fail. If we don't set our goals high, we risk drowning in this oversaturated world we live in. We risk settling for average. And average is not good enough. But, embracing the current best in each situation and focusing on continuous learning is just one step further towards your mastery. You must know that you are in control. Striving to mean better "competing" with your yesterday’s self. This will lead you to step out of your comfort zone and help you embrace your individuality. And that is the main point. You are competing with yourself and yourself alone. Not with anyone else. And this gift of being authentic will help you focus on things you love, the things you enjoy and are good at. When we do what we love and love what we do, the work stops working and becomes a passion. When I emigrated to Switzerland, I had trouble finding a job in my field of expertise as my German language level was not good enough. But that didn't stop me from believing that that day will undoubtedly come and that while walking on the steps that are leading me closer to my goals, I should work on expanding my skillsets and mastering them. So while I was wiping tables in restaurants and improving my language knowledge, I practiced my body language, consciously working on my posture while greeting guests. I was present in every moment, maintaining a good attitude and behaving like this was the job of my life. This experience eventually paid off, opening doors to meet the people who would help me transition to the work I do now. The point is, I did not settle for average. I never would. I did not lose time complaining about how life was mistreating me. There was not a single doubt that I would not achieve whatever I set my mind to. And as you focus on a positive outcome, your mind will radiate positive vibrations and attract opportunities. Hoping opportunities will present themselves is not enough - you must firmly believe that they'll come. Focus on what sparks passion in you. Arm yourself with competencies, knowledge, skills, and embrace your superpowers. Your brand is based on authenticity. It is not about creating a false image for the outside world. Use your uniqueness to make that positive difference and match your nonverbals with your words to gain trust. And follow your gut. Every interaction you have is an opportunity to share your best version of yourself. If we focus all of our energy on creating rather than complaining, your development will take a higher road. When we take control and proactively develop relationships, credibility, narrow our focus, and align everything with our behavior, we can build trust and attract the right opportunities. At the same time, our brand is becoming more effective and likable. Without establishing a clear vision of where we want to go, people will start building their own assumptions around our business, creating an accidental brand – this is what we want to avoid. Creating a positive experience with you, either as a personal brand or company, improves your relationships with customers and increases the probability of your clients coming back. The same way we are experiencing the influence, we are influencing others. And that is the part we can control as we can choose how to behave. We can create the picture we want to share with the world as long as this picture reflects our true, authentic selves. Follow Sonja on Linkedin for more info. Sonja Denovski, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sonja Denovski is a visual and nonverbal communication specialist, brand empowerment guru, and leadership coach. She graduated with honors and holds a master's degree in Visual communication. As a creator of a unique Personal Empowerment methodology combining three approaches - Leadership Coaching, Nonverbal Communication, and Brand Tactics, she is committed to encouraging minds of all walks to overcome insecurities and guide them in their development to strengthen their brand and become exceptional leaders ready to achieve extraordinary things. She is incredibly driven and dedicates her spare time to continued learning and traveling.

Written by: Anna Filatova, 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. Think about motivated people - the more driven they are, the more successful they become. Motivation plays a crucial role in the productivity, performance, speed, and quality of work. If you’re motivated, you’ll be sure of your ability to conquer whatever obstacles or barriers lie ahead. The question is not really about if someone is motivated or not. It is about their “why.” What is it that motivates them, and why? A why usually comes from a personal story. Our stories often relate to people or us in our lives feeling vulnerable and lost or facing health crises. It’s the way we personify our life purpose, which is bigger than motivation as it is a “must-do” rather than a “want to do.” Motivation reflects something special about each individual and allows us to gain valuable outcomes such as better performance, personal growth, a sense of purpose, and improved well-being. It’s a pathway to change our way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Motivation is crucial because it helps us be creative, develop competencies, grow interests, set goals, develop talents, change behavior, make plans, and boost engagement. Here are 3 ways to increase motivation: Increase your energy level Energy is a huge motivator and produces continual growth. If we’re excited about something, we’re very motivated and feel like nothing can stop us from moving forward. Daily physical activities and good quality sleep are the best ways to increase your energy levels. Improve your productivity Being productive doesn’t mean being busy. You have to be smart with the time and energy that you put into your daily tasks. Set priorities and focus on the tasks that will give you a big push forward rather than on those that are just “good to have.” Eliminate activities that you do not enjoy doing or maybe not good at and delegate where possible to maximize your time and focus your energy on achieving your big goals. Celebrate your wins and achievements When we solve issues and problems and achieve results, we feel excited and happy. Celebrating wins and achievements helps to train your brain that what you’re doing is exciting and important. You’ll feel more satisfied, fulfilled, and motivated to keep going forward towards higher results and bigger achievements. Make sure you celebrate these achievements, even if they are very small. Unfortunately, motivation is not permanent. Some days will be better than others. On those days when you don’t feel motivated, take a break, think about your “why,” and get back on track the next day. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my web site ! Read more from Ann a ! Anna Filatova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Anna is the founder of Dreams and Beyond Coaching Ltd, a coaching and mentoring firm founded in March 2020. The company offers various services, including coaching, mentoring, business consulting, training, retreats, one-day intensives, team coaching, and personality profiling. From a young age, Anna has been curious about learning and development and personal fulfillment, potential, and success. She has always believed that people have hidden potential, and by believing in them, challenging, and mentoring them, she has helped many individuals thrive and achieve high results in their careers and lives. Anna earned an Honors BA Degree in Business Studies in International Hotel Management from the National University of Ireland Galway in 2011 and an MBA for Executives with Global Perspective from London School of Commerce in 2015. Before becoming a certified coach, Anna spent 9 years in Hotel Management and 5 years in Investment Banking. When she was 25, she had burnout that made her realize that health, well-being, and work-life balance are more important than killing herself for a fast career progression. As a Business and Success Coach, Anna helps entrepreneurs, business owners, and their teams strive for business success and personal lives without feeling stuck, overwhelmed and burned out. She ensures that they have all the essential tools and resources for development, growth, and success.