Written by: Jennifer Gattinger, 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. C’mon, I know what you’re thinking, and no, it’s not that “F” word. I’ll give you a clue. This one has 9 letters. Any guesses? Fiduciary. Now I’m about to say something that may shake your financial world. Before we get into it, let’s look at financial professionals, most specifically the financial advisor. Financial advisors help people manage their money by assisting with budgeting, investments, and estate planning, among other things. Working with a financial advisor may automatically sound like a great choice, but hold that thought for a minute. You see, not all financial advisors are created equally. What does that mean? It means that some financial advisors have years of education and professional certificates, while others do not. It means that some financial advisors are making their living by earning commissions off of the financial products they are selling you, while others are not. Furthermore, it means that some are held to fiduciary standards, while others are not. Now, what does that all boil down to? It boils down to the fact that not all financial advisors necessarily work in your best interest, even if they come across as being “financial experts.” Simply put, some advisors are salespeople trying to make a nice commission. If you choose to work with a financial advisor, you want to make sure they are fiduciary. Fiduciary advisors are transparent. They disclose conflicts of interest and make recommendations based on your best interest. They also work on a fee-only basis. The fact that they earn their money on a fee-only basis, as opposed to commission, kickbacks, or other incentives, puts them in a position to give you unbiased advice. Below are some questions that you can ask your prospective financial advisor before deciding to work with them: Are you fiduciary? Fiduciary advisors have the ethical duty to work in your best interest, while non-fiduciary advisors recommend “suitable” products. “Suitable” products are oftentimes not in your best interest. Make sure your advisor is fiduciary. How are you compensated? If an advisor is compensated by commissions or other company kickbacks or incentives, know that their main priority is to sell you their chosen products. Again, if you choose to work with a financial advisor, it is recommended to work with a fee-only advisor, as they provide the most unbiased information. What qualifications do you hold? While many financial advisors have professional training and education and credentials such as CFP or CFA, others are simply salespeople who have completed short certifications and come across as financial experts. Where can you find fiduciary financial advisors, you may ask? You can start by checking out the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) website, which allows you to search for fee-only, fiduciary financial advisors in your area. That said, run through the questions above, along with any others you may have, with potential advisors to help find one that you feel comfortable working with. So, the next time you see that financial advisor in your Facebook group offering you “free” financial advice and then trying to sell you a specific product, such as life insurance, refer to some of the questions listed above to see whose best interest is being looked after. And remember that “free” advice may not be so “free” after all, especially if you end up paying years for financial products that you don’t need. If you want to become more confident in making your own financial decisions and building a solid financial future, sign up for our upcoming group coaching program . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jen n ifer ! Jennifer Gattinger, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenny is a personal financial coach with a passion for helping millennials reach their financial goals. Having completed a degree in Economics, along with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Coach Master Training, she teaches them how to organize their money and put it to work so that one day, sooner rather than later, they won’t have to. A millennial herself, Jenny’s financial savviness has allowed her to follow her dreams of travel and visit 50+ countries as well as compete internationally in two different sports, all while maintaining a sense of financial wellbeing.

Written by: Renate Prandl, 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. “There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, the responsibility lies with you” — JK Rowling. You might not have heard this before, and you might have conveniently blamed your parents for failing or not having the success you want to have. You are not alone. The bad news, however, is that it’s really not their responsibility any longer. They might have led you in the direction you did not want to go to, they might have influenced your thinking and self-belief in a way not aligned with your desires and goals, but it was in the past. Since you are, and I assume you are, an adult, it’s time for you to step out of the shadow of your parents or someone else you blame for your “misfortune.” Maybe it’s time now for you to step into your power, to take control over your life, to take full responsibility for your life, your decisions, and your actions. You know, deep inside, you know, it’s really not their fault. Probably they did the best they could, and they were passing on their life blueprint. You know it’s not their fault. Are you still using them as an excuse? Are you still blaming them for your circumstances? Well, then it’s time to change this belief right now and get started tapping into your superpower, the power of choice, and make things happen for you, potentially. So how do you start? Where do you start? What are the questions you might have to ask yourself to get in the direction where you want to be? I am not different than most of you. I grew up with a very closed limited mindset, a mindset focusing on all the things I could not do, things which weren’t for “people like me/us.” Honestly speaking, it was not me who started to believe I couldn’t do many of the things I desired. My parents told me all the things I couldn’t do, all the things that were not for me. Eventually, I started to believe they were my beliefs. The journey that followed was made up of ups and downs, frustration, anger, lots of emotions. It wasn’t easy, and I was on my own trying to figure it out. I had to be clear about what it actually was I wanted in my life and not what I did not want. I wished I had known then what I know now – get support. Isn’t it true that sometimes we focus on what we cannot do or do not have, things that don’t work, and direct all the energy towards those things? We know that energy goes and flows where the focus is. Hence this is not a useful habit on our quest to a more fulfilled, happier, and wealthier life, wouldn’t you agree? Personally, it took me quite a long time to realize that if I wanted to live MY life, a life on my own terms, a life by design and not a default life, I had to face the truth, my fears, uncertainties. I had to stop blaming my parents, and the hardest part of it all — I had to forgive them. So how can you change, how can you be more successful, how can you take responsibility for your life and really move in the direction of your life by design? A life in which you, potentially, have more energy, more income, more meaningful relationships, better health, more freedom, have all the good things you want? It’s not fair that you have to struggle and find out for yourself, so let me share the same process I teach my students. Are you ready? Clarity What exactly is it you really want (be very specific)? Exercise: It’s not like, “I want more money,” It’s how much money do you want to generate exactly and in what timeframe. If you say, for example, “I want to generate $1 million,” this might be a big dream, yet if you have not even made one dollar, it might probably not be a realistic expectation. If you want to “make $1 million in the next three months” and you feel you can achieve this huge goal, chunk it down into more doable action steps per month. Insider Tip: Write down what you want to use the money for it as it turns out that money flows easily if there’s a purpose attached to it. Probably you want the money to upgrade and renovate your house. How much of the $1 million will you use, and what will you use the remaining sum for? You probably need a new car, or you need more funds for healthcare. If money has a meaning attached, it’s more likely to flow towards you. Exercise: If it’s not Money you are after, it may be improved health. You want to lose WEIGHT as you have low energy levels, pain, or it’s a really life-threatening scenario. Instead of saying “I want to lose weight,” be specific, and in what timeframe. Why exactly do you want to lose those 20 kgs, 30 lbs, 3 stones? How will this make you look and feel? Got the gist? Then write this down: “I want to lose 20 kg in the next six months, so that….” Put the date in your calendar, move backward where do want or have to be in 5-4-3-1 months. The most important step is to start doing making the moves. High-Performance questions: What do I need to stop doing today, right now? What do I need to start doing right now? This could be changing your nutrition, from omitting deep-fried dishes to having more plant-based meals, asking for help, getting a mentor/trainer/coach on board to help you, support, hold your hand, and sometimes also probably gently kick your butt. This could be having a closer look at expenses and identifying some unhealthy spending patterns. Write those action steps down. Commit Tell a friend, ask for an accountability partner. Get someone in your corner who understands where you are coming from, who has already done or achieved what you are about to do. Make sure to have a plan, a framework, a schedule, something an Olympian in training would have, a successful money trader would have. They don’t act randomly, and they all have mentors or coaches who support them. Why do you think you can do it on your own? Well, I guess you could, but having a mentor potentially saves you a 15-20 year learning curve and a number of costly mistakes. Are you ready? It’s your choice, and it’s your life. For more info, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and visit my website. Renate Prandl, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Renate Prandl is Asia's Premier Sustainable Life Mastery Strategist, Certified Feldenkrais® Expert, sports coach, mentor, and Certified High Performance(™) coach. With over 40 years of combined experience as a Professor in a business school and entrepreneur, Renate uses a variety of proven techniques and applications to help you reach your highest potential, get to the Next Level, and potentially live your Life by Design - in a holistic, doable and sustainable way. Her "Power of 3" systems help you turn obstacles into stepping stones and build Physical, Emotional, Financial Resilience. Renate is the CEO of Body & Brain, Founder of Body And Brain Mastery, International Bestselling Author of 3 books, and has lived on 3 continents. Her mission: Anything is possible.

Written by: Fareen Ash, 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 it? Is it primal? Or does it go beyond the instinctual drives hardwired in all of us? Attraction beyond the ego's perspective is a deep sense of knowingness and the innate desire that one gets from being in the presence of someone they deeply resonate with or want to be like. Want to be like is vital here. When we think of attraction beyond the egoic, primal sense of the word, it is magnetism. This magnetism is the alluring pull that draws us in. The appeal comes from recognizing us in them or the desire to be more of ourselves, which we see in them. This recognition of our true self (although we don't know this is happening at a conscious level) pulls us towards attractive people. In mating, because we function from our subconscious state of being, we are drawn to that which is familiar and that which we seek to embody. Think about it this way; we are rarely attracted to someone that is below our subconscious grade of where we consider ourselves - yes? This means that what I perceive as attractive may be different from your governing vantage point. A whole (integrated) man/woman may not be appealing to an unintegrated man/woman with unresolved trauma. Or, it may be! It depends where they are at an awareness level because our subconscious mind will always be drawn to a mate that can bring us wholeness, usually when we're unaware that person is either identical to our opposite-sex parent or the complete opposite. Furthermore, because we are attracted to someone who feels familiar to us (similar core values, attributes, drive, health), we also desire someone to help us integrate the unbalanced parts. This is often why a very feminine woman will be drawn to a very masculine man. At the unconscious level, they seek integration of the opposite energy. You can take a look around at the various couples you see. They will seem very similar at a deep unconscious level but also have differing energies. Gender doesn't discriminate with energy. A woman can be in her masculine, and a man can be primarily in his feminine. What's important to note here is that we will be attracted to our opposite dominant energy and core familiar traits. But what about those we aren't mating with? What makes them attractive? Quite simply: Attractive people have mastered the art of being themselves. They exude a sense of completeness. This can't be manufactured, by the way. Our intuitive body can distinguish through feeling, the sense of authenticity. This is why authentic people are so attractive. At a visceral level, we see them, and we think, yes! "Yes, I want to be like her!" Or "yes, this man/woman is me, in the opposite energy!". Of course, we're not thinking this at a conscious level; this happens in the deeper crevices of our mind - but tune in next time you're attracted to someone! What do you notice in them that you have yet to integrate? What do you see in them that you possess. Tune in. It's fascinating! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Fareen! Fareen Ash, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Fareen is an Intimacy, Relationship, and Attraction Strategist. She has a Graduate Degree in Honours Sociology, a Post-Graduate Degree in Law, and is certified in Gender Intelligence and NeuroLinguistic/Timeline Therapy. For a period in her life, Fareen lived in government housing on welfare with her mom, who suffered from depression. She spent much of her time caring for her mom, working three jobs while also attending school due to their lack of financial resources. She worked tirelessly to earn scholarships to help subsidize her education and was the recipient of the Women in Doctoral Studies Grant and recipient of the Alden-Baldy Scholarship. Fareen practiced as a litigation lawyer for nearly ten years, where she gathered information on the dynamics between men and women and the inherent energies that govern human behavior. She has since dedicated her life to helping accomplished women unleash their feminine power, heal the emotional body, and rewire the survival mind that keeps them from embodying their authentic essence. She is passionate about Feminine Energy Embodiment in both love and leadership. Fareen has developed a unique and specialized method for mastering the mind, overcoming emotional blocks, and relieving habitual negative patterning. Her mission: Femininity is a woman's superpower.

Ellie Shefi is the very definition of tenacious. Having overcome a lifetime of adversity, including abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, cancer, and a myriad of other health issues that have seen her fight for her life for over two decades, Ellie has mastered mindset, resiliency, and resourcefulness, and she has dedicated her life to the empowerment of others. Ellie is an attorney, entrepreneur, coach, business strategist, keynote speaker, and award-winning author; featured contributor to publications, podcasts, and television shows; teacher, trainer, philanthropist, and engaged community servant. Ellie’s mission is to impact lives. A master problem-solver and opportunity creator who's determined to change the world, Ellie is the go-to expert for practical, easy-to-implement, results-driven tools, strategies, and resources that equip and empower you to take control and create the authentic, abundant life of your dreams. She is the creator of You Are Not Your Scars™, a movement that provides resources to empower women; Unlocking Your Superpower™, a program that provides resources to empower entrepreneurs; Creating An Impervious Mind™, a program that provides resources to empower the mind; and Made 2 Change The World™, a movement that provides resources to empower the next generation. Ellie is also the creator of Amplify Your Story Now™, a program that provides resources to authors and aspiring authors, and Sisters Rising™, a book series that provides women with a platform to tell their stories, showcase their businesses, and raise awareness of their work. An award-winning author, Ellie's books include: Unlocking Your Superpower: 8 Steps to Turn Your Existing Knowledge Into Income; Sisters Rising: Stories of Remarkable Women Living Extraordinary Lives; and The Authorities: Powerful Wisdom from Leaders in the Field (which she co-wrote with Les Brown, Bob Proctor, Marci Shimoff, and Raymond Aaron. Ellie is also the author of the upcoming book SuccessOnomics, which she is co-writing with Jack Canfield. Hello Ellie! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do, and what inspired you to become a “changemaker”? I’m an attorney, entrepreneur, award-winning author, featured speaker, teacher, trainer, strategist, and coach who is a master problem-solver specializing in identifying and bridging gaps to help people get from where they are to where they want to be with clarity and ease. I create and deliver practical, easy-to-implement, results-driven tools and strategies that equip and empower people to become the architect of the business, impact, and life they desire. To do so, I call on my 35 years of experience teaching, training, mentoring, speaking, and coaching; 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur; and nearly 20 years as an attorney with the United States Judiciary. But beyond my decades of experience in education, business, and law, I possess a lifetime of practical, real-world experience that I use to powerfully serve others. Having overcome poverty, abuse, domestic violence, rape, homelessness, cancer, and many other challenges, I have learned to create an impervious mindset and mastered resiliency and resourcefulness. I am grateful to be able to teach others how to do the same. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been driven to change the world—to give a voice to the voiceless; to fight for justice, equality, and opportunity; to teach, mentor, and empower. It’s my nature, my calling, and my purpose. Every obstacle I’ve overcome along my journey has deepened my commitment to helping others get from where they are to where they want to be. Tell us more about the tools and strategies that you offer your clients. I offer no-fluff, easy-to-implement, results-driven tools and strategies to action takers who are ready to level up their business and their life. My services are practical; I provide my clients with strategies to gain clarity and do more in less time with increased efficiency to attain their desired goals faster. I work with impact-driven clients who use their businesses and their lives as a force for good. For me, it’s about enabling my clients to achieve their desired time, money, and personal freedom so they can live a meaningful and impactful life they love. To date, I am the creator of: Unlocking Your Superpower™, Clarity to Launch™, and Bring Your Business to Life™—programs that teach entrepreneurs how to launch, pivot, diversify, and scale knowledge- and service-based businesses so they can provide for themselves, their families, their communities, and beyond; Get Your Book Done™ and Amplify Your Story Now™—programs that teach authors and speakers how to find their voice, tell their stories, publish their books, and amplify their message so they can scale their impact; You Are Not Your Scars™—a program that teaches women how to shed external labels and expectations, find their voice, step into their power, and decide for themselves who they are, what they stand for, and what they want their life and legacy to be; and Sisters Rising™—a book series by women, for women, that provides women with a platform to tell their stories, showcase their businesses and raise awareness of their work so they can harness the power of the collective to reach new audiences, gain new clients, and use their experiences as a force for good. It’s my mission to ignite impact, empower transformation, and facilitate change, and I’m grateful that my courses, books, workshops, programs, and services do just that! Why should someone enroll in your programs over others? There are two main reasons why my clients choose me over others. First, my clients choose me because I walk the walk. I’ve actually lived through everything I teach. Yes, I have the education and the teaching experience, but more importantly, I’ve been in the trenches—I have the real-world experience, the passion, and the drive. Because I’ve walked in their shoes, I understand my clients in a way that someone who hasn’t experienced the journey simply cannot. When I work with entrepreneurs to bring their business to life (and later to diversify and scale), I bring decades of entrepreneurial experience—decades of launching, building, pivoting, diversifying, and scaling businesses in various industries. I’ve gone from homeless and living in my car to building highly successful businesses for myself and others. There aren’t too many things my clients will encounter that I haven’t. Sharing my experience with my clients allows them to avoid costly mistakes and go further, faster, with greater efficiency. When I work with authors and aspiring authors to get their books out of their heads and into their hands, I call on my writing, ghostwriting, and publishing experience to create a powerful pathway to publication. As an award-winning author who has written and published thousands of pieces, including three books in the last five months of 2020, I’ve created a proven framework that allows my clients to write their books with clarity and ease. My clients know with absolute certainty that I will help them make their dreams of becoming a published author a reality. When I work with speakers and aspiring speakers to find their voice, craft their message, and amplify their impact, my clients benefit from the wide variety of techniques I’ve learned over my lifetime as a performer and speaker. The depth and breadth of my stage and speaking experience instills confidence in my clients that I can help them navigate their fears, appear confident on camera, connect with different audiences in different formats, and deliver clear and concise messages that get them the results they desire. And when I work with women looking to break free from external labels and expectations and define for themselves who they are, what they stand for, and what they want their life and legacy to be, there’s simply no one better to guide them through the darkness and into the light. I have overcome a lifetime of adversity and have emerged a limitless thriver, master problem solver, and opportunity creator who lives an authentic, aligned, joyful life of purpose and impact. I have crawled, clawed, and scratched my way through fire after fire and am an unstoppable force. My clients know that I see them, I hear them, I understand them, and I’m here to take their hand and journey alongside them as they become the architect of their lives. So, who is your ideal client? For me, it’s about alignment. I want to know a few things about a prospective client: (1) where are you in your journey; (2) where do you want to be (i.e., what are your goals and objectives); and (3) what do you perceive your greatest challenges and obstacles to be? Those three pieces of information actually tell me a lot about whether we’ll be a good fit. I love working with action takers who are truly ready to make progress and get results. My clients welcome feedback and don’t make excuses. They show up, do the work, play full out, and engage. They are driven and determined to break through any blocks and level up their business, message, and life. They are hungry for change. If I were a client struggling to start a business, what advice would you give me? First and foremost, remember your core why and remain in alignment with your passion, purpose, mission, and vision. Focus on keeping your thoughts, your actions, and your perspective positive! After all, you can’t see possibilities, opportunities, and solutions in a negative state. Embrace a “how can I” mentality. When you believe that bigger opportunities lie on the other side of big obstacles, you’ll remain solution-focused and be driven to smash through whatever is getting in the way. You won’t take “no” for an answer, nor will you accept “it’s impossible” or “there’s no way.” By asking “how can I,” you’ll see possibility and either find a solution or create one. Embrace progress over perfection (there’s no such thing!). Do something every day to move the needle in the direction you want to go. Celebrate all wins—no matter how small—because that will help fuel you to continue making progress. Find your tribe! Surround yourself with people who lift you and empower you. Success takes a village so ask for help when you need it—no one does it alone! And finally, know that you are stronger than you think, and you can navigate this! If I came to you drowning in a myriad of responsibilities, what guidance would you provide? First and foremost, breathe! Do the very best you can in each moment, be kind to yourself, and show yourself grace. Be intentional with your time. Intentionality, fueled by the power of clarity, perspective, and prioritization, will allow you to say “yes” to the things that truly need to get done at that moment and say “no” to the things that aren’t a current necessity or priority. In this space, you control your life; your life doesn’t control you. Focus on the things you can control. Establish and uphold healthy boundaries for yourself. Show yourself patience and grace, be kind to yourself, and carve out time to practice self-care. Prioritize and do what you can, when you can, the best you can—and recognize that that’s all you can do and that it’s more than enough! Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life and everything pulling at us, we forget that an empty vessel has nothing to give. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but taking time to rest and recharge (even when the “to-do” list is longer than Mt. Everest is tall) actually allows you to dive back in with more energy, focus, and productivity than if you kept plowing along. In addition to creating your many programs, you’ve written multiple books. What would you like readers to know about them? Each of my books serves a different purpose, but all of them provide practical, results-driven, easy-to-implement tools, resources, and strategies. If you are an entrepreneur or budding entrepreneur (or if COVID has forced you to change careers or find supplemental sources of income), then you’ll want to pick up a copy of Unlocking Your Superpower: 8 Steps to Turn Your Existing Knowledge Into Income. I wrote it one month into lockdown when my friends started losing their businesses due to COVID’s industry shutdown restrictions. Unlocking Your Superpower: 8 Steps to Turn Your Existing Knowledge Into Income is a powerful step-by-step playbook that teaches you how to start, pivot, diversify, or scale a knowledge- or service-based business. It’s clear, direct, and designed to implement what you’re learning along the way. The Authorities: Powerful Wisdom from Leaders in the Field, which I co-authored with multiple New York Times 1 bestselling authors Les Brown, Bob Proctor, Marci Shimoff, and other industry thought leaders, discusses business, real estate, retirement, estate planning, mindset, and more, so it’s a great book for a broader macro view. Sisters Rising™: Stories of Remarkable Women Living Extraordinary Lives is the book series I created that women, for women, celebrate and showcase women. The first volume features a diverse group of nine incredible female entrepreneurs (I’m honored to be among them). Sisters Rising™ is the choice if you’re looking to learn from, and be inspired by, a powerhouse group of female entrepreneurs. Do you have a favorite? Wow, that’s a tough choice. I’m equally proud of each of them, but for different reasons! I’m proud of Unlocking Your Superpower: 8 Steps to Turn Your Existing Knowledge Into Income because it truly is an accessible and implementable resource for helping businesses thrive no matter what their stage. It has helped so many people whose income has been affected by COVID. I’m honored and grateful that the book and its corresponding program have become such an invaluable resource to so many. I’m also proud of Sisters Rising™: Stories of Remarkable Women Living Extraordinary Lives because it is a platform that gives women a voice brings awareness to their projects, and drives customers to their businesses. Sisters Rising™ amplifies the movement that I created to empower women, You Are Not Your Scars™. I’m proud to be able to support women on a wide scale. And I’m proud to be featured amongst legendary thought leaders, including Les Brown, Bob Proctor, and Marci Shimoff in The Authorities: Powerful Wisdom from Leaders in the Field. I’ve looked up to Les, Bob, and Marci for years, so co-authoring this book with them was a true full-circle moment for me. Can you tease us a bit about the two books you’re currently working on—Women Who Shine and SuccessOnomics (co-authored with Jack Canfield)? Absolutely! In SuccessONomics, I discuss my three main principles for success. I’ve recently submitted that manuscript and am excited to watch its evolution as we begin the editing process. It’s truly been an honor and a joy to work on it with the legendary Jack Canfield! I anticipate that SuccessONomics will be released in late summer or early fall 2021. I’m also currently co-authoring Women Who Shine with a group of incredibly resilient and remarkable women. I’ve recently submitted that manuscript as well. In it, I discuss how to live your life as a force for good. Women Who Shine is likewise anticipated to be released in late summer or early fall 2021. Speaking of using one’s life as a force for good, you have some ambitious and impressive community service efforts. What are they? My life’s mission is to serve powerfully. It’s my purpose to help create a world where all are seen, heard, and valued—a world where people have access to clean water, clean food, shelter, medical care, education, and economic opportunity—a world where authenticity is welcome and differences are celebrated. That’s why I’ve established my non-profit, the Made 2 Change the World™ Foundation. It’s also why I’ve created You Are Not Your Scars™ and Sisters Rising™, why I coach, and why I mentor. You’ve overcome a lot of adversity to become a successful powerhouse who lives in service to others? How? One word—resilience! Yes, I’m a survivor—an abuse survivor, rape survivor, and domestic violence survivor. I’ve lived in my car and eaten the food restaurants were throwing away at the end of the night. I’m a medical miracle and a cancer survivor who has been defying doctors’ death deadlines for over two decades. I know first-hand that you can’t control external situations and circumstances. But what I also know, however, is that you can control the words you use, the meanings you assign to things, and the perspective you maintain. When you reframe the situation and change the words you use to describe the circumstances or events to reflect an empowering narrative, you take control of your mindset and shift from feeling overwhelmed, helpless, unsuccessful, or behind to creating opportunity, seeing possibility, effective problem solving and forging a path forward. Now, some days finding the empowering meaning and perspective in events and circumstances takes more work than others, but it’s always worth it. It’s a daily decision—a daily practice—through which I’ve trained myself to find the growth, lesson, and blessing in everything that happens, to be grateful for everything I have and everything I’ve experienced, and to remember that no matter what I’m going through, someone, somewhere is going through something much worse. Every day, I choose to take control of my narrative; and every day, I choose to claim my power, calibrate my compass, and put myself in the driver’s seat of my business and my life. It’s through this practice that I have developed an unbreakable, resilient mindset. What’s your personal philosophy? Life happens for me, through me, as me. I recognize and am thankful for my countless blessings. I celebrate living an authentic, abundant life of service, fully present and aligned in my integrity, values, purpose, and mission. I believe that each of us has value, has purpose, and is worthy of love, life, health, and opportunity. I also believe that our greatest growth can occur when we see each other, hear each other, include each other, and respect each other. What is your ultimate goal? I’m on a mission to impact at least 10 million lives. My ultimate goal is to be a catalyst for change who, every day, empowers, inspires, and equips people to find their voice, stand in their power, and use their business, their life, and their resources as a force for good. This has been an incredible interview. Thank you! How can our readers connect with you to learn more about your services? I love connecting! Reach out to me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website. Read more from Ellie!

Written by: Katie Johns, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I believe we are on the cusp of a massive shift in business, one that is more conscious, collaborative, and compassionate. One that embraces soul, energy, and alignment and moves us from following a set of outdated rules to creating our own. I know there is another way to do business and marketing, which feels aligned, authentic, joyful, and full of ease. One that creates natural attraction and genuine connections. Not sleazy, pushy, salesy, manipulative, must be everywhere, or any of the other ways we have been led to believe we have to do it. This is about doing business differently. The soul led the way. It’s about trusting yourself and your intuition. It’s about listening inwards and honoring the nudges. It’s about being fully connected to who you are and being the real you. It’s about being true to your passions and doing business and marketing in a way that feels right, and most importantly, believing in yourself enough to own it. This isn’t about following somebody else's blueprint, ‘make a million’ method, or whatever else has worked for others but just hasn’t worked for you. This is about creating your own soul-led business and marketing strategy. And despite how it might sound, it’s not about sitting back in a zen-like state, journaling, and waiting for inspiration to hit and clients to flood in. There is action, strategy, clarity and vision, and all that important stuff you need to do to market your business. The difference is, it’s the kind you need because it’s aligned and authentic to you, not because someone else told you to do it. This marketing method is not all head and data-driven. It’s about leading with your heart, with your head to support you. It’s about listening to your soul and what she or he has to say because she/he always knows best. It’s about balancing our feminine (creativity/intuition) and masculine (strategy/action), sharing our message to do good in the world, and being of the highest service. It’s about learning to trust ourselves, that we know what’s best for our business. And it’s not just about doing things differently because it feels better for us. There is a bigger impact. It’s about the energy we put out into the world and the legacy we leave, the products and services we choose to create, and the way we decide to sell them. The old paradigm of marketing runs on FOMO, scarcity, pain points, pushing, and manipulation, but it doesn’t mean it has to be that way. After all, you are a changemaker, so it’s time for you to start doing business differently and more consciously too. You are here to create that shift. And this is what’s so exciting and empowering about following a soul-led strategy, and I promise you, it’s available to every single one of us. So, how did I get to this point, and how do I know it works. I have worked in marketing for 22 years, primarily with small business owners and solopreneurs, helping them scale to the next level of success and beyond. I know the tactics, methods, metrics, and ‘rules.’ I have worked in-house, in agencies, and freelance. 10 years ago, I started my marketing consultancy and agency. I built a successful business (on paper) and helped many others do the same, all by doing things the ‘old’ way. But for as long as I can remember, there has been a niggle inside of me, an urge to do things differently but not knowing quite what or how that might look, and as the years went on, I felt more and more disenchanted and disconnected with the work I was doing. I didn’t like how old paradigm business made me feel. I didn’t like doing my marketing, the irony was not lost on me, and I seriously considered giving it all up. One of my core values is authenticity, and I didn’t feel I was so. So I did what many of us do. I started looking outside of me for answers, coaches, programs, blueprints. If I couldn’t work out what the disconnect was, someone else could. In hindsight, I followed what I was told, never feeling 100% right, and still ignored my internal voice. I pushed myself in directions that didn’t feel good for me, searching, learning, consuming more and more; I burnt myself out twice in the process, my body was desperately trying to stop me, and still, I plowed on. I was attracting the wrong type of clients, doing work I didn’t love, working long hours. I felt so far removed from the vision I had for myself when I started running my own business and who I am as a person. I didn’t even recognize myself anymore. And I still didn’t enjoy my marketing. In hindsight, I know my soul was trying to wake me up, desperately trying to stop me from pursuing the wrong direction and sacrificing myself and my family in the process. Then Covid came, every client has gone overnight finally, the messenger could not be ignored. And so I found myself in a new place. I now had a choice ( I always did ). Rebuild what I had or STOP! Start listening to me, trusting my instincts, and following my soul . Today I am not the same person. I do my soul work every day . I work with the most amazing soul-aligned clients . I have the most incredible soul-aligned network who are collaborative and supportive in a way I have never experienced before. I love my work . It doesn't feel like work at all. The most incredible people, opportunities, and ideas are always flowing my way. I don't hustle anymore . I spend time on myself every day and with my precious family. I am so much more abundant in every aspect of my life, including my finances. This is the incredible difference a year can make when you decide enough is enough, that it's time to do things differently. It's time to start listening to you and your soul . It's time to do things your way . The soul led the way . I love marketing. I love helping entrepreneurs share their passion and purpose, to see them make a difference, not only to their own lives but to the people they serve. But I never felt comfortable with the purely masculine, old paradigm, bro marketing way of doing it. It never sat well with me, but it was also positioned as the only way to do it. It was the way I was taught, which led to so much self-doubt, discomfort, and ‘not-enoughness,’ and I know it does this to other soul-led entrepreneurs too. I know now that if you are a changemaker, the traditional way of marketing your business is unlikely to work for you. If you feel stuck, procrastinate, second guess yourself, dislike it, don’t feel any good at it, there is nothing wrong with you. You need to do it differently. The soul led the way. For you, it’s about joy, service, and loving what you do. Leading with your heart (not a cerebral/how do I get more clients/will this get me more sales), fully embracing who you are and what you were put on this planet to do—sharing your passion with people you love to work with, in your unique way, listening to your intuition and nudges (even when they don't make sense). Communicating your purpose, making real connections with real people, not just another number or follower. You need it all to be aligned to you, or it won’t feel authentic, and you won’t want to show up and share. If your energy is out of alignment, your soul mate clients will feel that too. There is no blueprint for you to follow. You are unique, and this is where the beauty of soul-led marketing lies; the right way is within you. It always has been. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Katie Johns, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Katie Johns is a Soul-Led Business, Marketing & Inner Guidance Mentor who works with Conscious Change Makers, helping them to run and market their business from soul, through her particular method of soul + energy + action. Katie knows that the traditional, old paradigm ways of marketing and running a business can leave soul-led entrepreneurs feeling disconnected, burnt out and unhappy. She believes that your business is an energetic extension of you, so if you are not in alignment with certain areas, you are not going to create the impact and legacy you desire. Katie empowers soul-led entrepreneurs to start doing business their way, connecting them back to their purpose, passion and personal power, ready to take inspired, aligned action in the direction of their dreams. Doing business and marketing that feels good and does good. Katie is a monthly contributor at Brainz and Soulacy magazine and she is regularly asked to guest speak on podcasts about her subject.

Written by: Melissa Skoff, 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. Why is a budget so important? You have likely heard the word budget before. What does the word budget mean to you? Do you immediately dream of filling in a spreadsheet and whip out your pocket calculator? Or do you instantly think of 1,000 things you’d rather do than work on your budget? Whether you love budgeting or despise it, a budget is a critical step in creating your dream future. So how do you leverage the power of budgeting to crush your money goals? First, recognize that your budget is under YOUR control. A budget gives you the freedom to choose what’s important to you. It is a reflection of your priorities. Instead of dreading it and procrastinating, embrace it. Tackle it. Get after it. Clarity is key to budgeting. You must know your income and your outgo. Yes, every single line item in your budget must be exposed. Second, after reviewing each line item in your budget, total each category. How much do you spend on housing? Utilities? Groceries? Vehicle expenses? Subscriptions? Restaurants? Online shopping? What did you discover when reviewing these totals? Does the amount you spend on each category align with your goals? For example, if travel is important to you, do you have a travel line item in your budget? Or are other payments stealing money from your travel category? The key to this process is to align your budget with your goals. For example, paying a high dollar car payment or high amounts of income towards credit card bills when you love to travel does not get you closer to your goal of traveling more. If your goal is to retire early and live a life free to choose where you’d like to allocate your time and money resources, look at your budget. Does it get you closer to your goal? Third, refer back to your budget regularly throughout the month. A budget is not a theoretical document. A budget is only as powerful as your ability to follow it. Speaking from personal experience, it can be easy to assign money to each category before the actual spending. The power of a budget is to make your money behave for you, which only works if you follow your budget throughout the month. If unexpected expenses come up, then it is critical to adjust your budget accordingly. It is a dynamic document. For example, if you have an unanticipated vehicle expense, you may have to shift money from your restaurant category or your vacation category to cover the expense. This is the power of budgeting. It gives you the ability to navigate the unanticipated challenges that arise while still staying on track with your money goals. Remember, your biggest wealth-building tool is your income. A budget permits you to spend in areas that are important to you. The first step is to clarify your budget and how much of your income is going where. The second step is to align these numbers with your goals. The third step is to check and adjust your budget regularly throughout the month. Have you tried budgeting over and over again and can’t seem to gain traction? A key piece you might be missing is accountability, motivation, and inspiration. Working with a money coach could be a game-changer for you. A money coach is a budgeting expert that can help you budget like a boss and crush your money goals. Check out my Money Masterminds group coaching platform, where I can help you gain traction with your budgeting, saving, and investing. Follow Melissa on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Melissa Skoff, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mel, the Money Coach, is a leader within the world of financial coaching. She is known as the Medical Professional's Go-To Money Coach as she is also a Nurse Practitioner and Graduate Nursing Educator. After Mel and her husband paid off $160,000 in 20 months, she set out to help others do the same. She has the heart of a teacher and has dedicated her career to helping others win with money, especially medical professionals. She is the creator of Money Masterminds, a group coaching platform, where she helps her clients improve their financial literacy and hone their skills such as budgeting, saving, and investing. She also has a YouTube channel called Mel the Money Coach, where she helps her listeners learn all things related to finances. Her mission: Everyone deserves to live financially free.

Written by: Lucie Matsouaka, 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. We all begin life as babies. From the moment we are born, our family, environment, culture, and educational system form our belief system. There are many benefits to it, but when society clashes with our upbringing, that can be detrimental. Hello! I’m Lucie, the Career Coach who strongly believes we should emphasize self-leadership with young people before becoming adults. That way, we give them the necessary tools to excel in their future careers and professional life matter what the word "career" means to them. However, with Mother’s Day around the corner, I'm putting on my mom hat on behalf of all mothers around the world. Let’s forget about coaching for now. I’m the mother of two wonderful teenagers — my son, a brilliant junior in high school, is 17, and my daughter is a dynamic 13-year-old 7th grader. When my daughter turned 12, we had a modest birthday party at home with a few friends. One of our gifts to her was her first cellphone. While she was extremely excited, one of her guests (let’s call her Celia to protect her identity), who was a little quiet at first, engaged this conversation with me: Celia: I’ve been asking my parents to buy me a cellphone, but they don’t want to. Me: Really? Why is that? Celia: I don’t know. They said I don’t need one. Me: They’re absolutely correct. You don’t need a cellphone. Celia: How come I don’t need a cellphone? You just gave a phone to Elikya. We’re the same age. Me: Yes, I did. I only did it because she’ll be going to school by bus very soon. I want to be able to communicate with her when she’s outside of the house. As for you, you’re home-schooled, correct? Celia: Yes. But I want to call my friends. They all have cell phones. Me: Well, I think you should trust your parents’ judgment. You’re with them most of the time. Your parents are right. They know you better than me, and they know what you need at this moment. I’m sure they know how to reach your friends’ parents when you want to play with them or schedule a play date. Am I right? Celia: Yeah! But… As she slowly realized that she couldn’t turn me into an ally, my daughter Elikya jumped in and told her, “You can’t win this back and forth with my mom. She’ll always agree with your mom.” So, Celia gave up arguing; it was settled. After the party was over, I started to think, “Kids are interesting!” I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Who will stand up to my child like this to enforce my rules, or at least not criticize (or even challenge) them when talking to my kids, instead of having a talk with me? Who will have the guts to have my back in my absence?” I’m not a parenting expert, and I will never claim to be one because parenting is a very delicate and unique experience. We all parent our children based on our culture, expectation, education, environment, background, and beliefs. But, I’ve been a mother long enough to go through some highs and lows of parenting, so I can tell you this: parenting is not for the faint of heart. Being a mother is being responsible enough to ensure that a human life as valuable and fragile as theirs gets its most essential needs up to a certain point in life until they become independent. No mother, I mean no mother in this world wants to mislead her kids intentionally. I don’t care what society tries to tell us sometimes. I love the fact that we have more and more access to information everywhere. I also love the fact that anyone can literally learn any skills these days by going online because there so many people who took the time to pour their hearts out in videos, articles, and blogs, etc., for others to pick them up for free. But, let me say this: some things can’t be taught on paper or by a video. You need to live them to understand. Some things can’t be lectured. Being a mother is one of those things. Yes, it is a joy to be a mother, but it´s also a big commitment, and a huge responsibility not taken lightly by many mothers. We’re at the forefront of household chores and, most importantly, child care.[1] And it’s not an easy task. Carrying the baby for 9 months is no joke. Being up all night with baby poop smeared on your hands and spit up on your shirt is no joke. Waking up early every day to get them ready for school is no joke. Helping them with their homework assignments is no joke. Dealing with the kids’ emotions, fears, and uncertainty is not easy. Seeing them hurting breaks our souls. Seeing them start to trust outside sources more than the advice given by their own parents is painful. Teaching them about moral values, discipline, ethics, and how to navigate in a world that doesn’t always have their back is scary and overwhelming. With that being said, please hear us clearly: We know you mean well, but sometimes you’re not helping. You’re hurting! Dear society, we know you mean well, but sometimes you’re not helping. You’re hurting us. You’re not helping when you judge a young mother trying her best to keep her hungry child calm in a public place. You’re hurting! You’re not helping when you judge a single mother for leaving her kids alone (in the hands of a stranger in a daycare or with loved ones) for too many hours just because she’s trying to make ends meet. You’re hurting! You’re not helping when you see a teenager smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. Instead of trying to understand how he got there, you admonish him for doing so and criticize the parents (or, particularly, the single mother) harshly. You’re hurting! You’re not helping when instead of encouraging kids to obey, respect, and honor their parents, you mislead them with some new rules, half-baked truths, or personal opinions. You’re hurting! You’re not helping when you de-edify a parent in front of their child. You’re hurting! You’re not helping when you consider parents the enemies of their own kids. You’re hurting! I can go on and on. Mothers are not only nurturers; they lead. Kids spend most of their time with them, and these mothers teach them their first notion of authority day in and day out. We have the heavy responsibility to get little humans ready for society. Caroline Criado Perez, in her book entitled "Invisible women: data bias in a world of designed for men," powerfully demonstrated this fact by providing statistics that show the extent to which childcare lies primarily on women.[2] Under our leadership, they have a glimpse or small idea of what authority means. Under our care, they learn respect, obedience, rules, laws, discipline, consequences of disobedience, etc. It’s always been our responsibility to teach them and help them implement those ideas before they leave the house. But, for us to be effective, we need your help! We need you to team up with us to raise those future leaders. How do I do that? How can I help, please? You ask. Well, think of, for instance, the mothers in your life or around you and see how you can help them. You can take time to talk to them, listen to them, understand them, or support them. In fact, you can lend them a hand, equip them with some knowledge, collaborate or partner with them, provide or be part of the support system they need. Remember, it takes a village! Mothers carry, give birth, raise, nurture, educate, and take care of our society’s future leaders. If our society doesn’t team up with moms to get the job done well, our society is hurting instead! In a recent article, I explained the importance of stressing personal values in the hearts of young leaders. Leaders who lead from a place of integrity have a better chance at having the type of long-lasting impact we want them to make in the world. All those great values can be planted in them and implemented from home, the place they spend the first and most critical years of their lives. Remember, we all begin life as babies. The moment we are born, our family, environment, culture, and educational system form our belief system. In some cases, society may clash with home upbringing, and when it happens, it can be detrimental. Please, do not (unintentionally) undermine the wonderful work mothers are doing with their kids. Instead of being judgmental, do listen to them and try to understand. At this point, it’s only fair to wish all leaders builders in the world, aka “moms,” an incredible Mother’s Day. Give yourself a tap on the back for the amazing work you behind the scenes because you rock! I love you. I want to hear from you! To connect with me, visit my website or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you speak French, feel free to join our French-speaking community, L'Emergence De L'Entrepreneur, for more tips for emerging entrepreneurs. Read more from Lucie! Lucie S. Matsouaka, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lucie S. Matsouaka is a Certified Professional Career Coach who believes that it’s not enough to help people look good on paper before a job interview. As an International Youth Leadership Coach, she gives them the tools they need to separate themselves from the masses and have a successful career, no matter what that means to them. She founded L’Emergence De L’Entrepreneur, a French-speaking empowerment platform where she teaches emerging entrepreneurs how to navigate entrepreneurship storms to stand out and be successful. References: [1] Clare Foran: How to Design a City for Women, September 16, 2013 [2] Criado Perez, Caroline. Invisible Women: Data Bias in A World Designed for Men. Harry N. Abrams, 2019.

Written by: Kim Wilkinson, 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. All the self-Care in the world isn’t going to help unless you include this one thing. It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and I think we can all agree that now, more than ever, self-care is something that needs to be a priority. First, let’s identify self-care. When most people think of self-care, what often comes to mind is doing things like yoga, meditation, massage, spending time in nature, getting enough rest, eating well, disconnecting from social media, reading, and other activities reducing stress and help us to feel good. While all these things are very helpful and beneficial, without also focusing one on other specific thing, it is not really improving our well-being. These things, alone, can bring temporary relief but a false sense of healing. Life, especially in these COVID times, can be not only difficult but emotionally painful and unbearable. Life has and will bring many challenging situations for all of us. Pre-covid, many of us have experienced career struggles, relationship struggles, health concerns, we have lost and will lose people we love, we may be a child of divorce or find ourselves going through a divorce, and many of us have and/or will experience significant traumatic events such as abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual). You might also be victims of violence, hate crimes, and/or other unpleasant and painful experiences. Throw a pandemic on top of all that, and life can feel like an F5 Tornado. So, how have you been taught to manage all of this? I am willing to bet, most of you have never been taught how to manage these situations. I certainly wasn’t. The most common term used to relate to all this chaos is stress. I think if you ask most people how they manage stress, they will say, "self-care." The problem with our society today and the reason for so much suffering are that we label our emotional experiences and treat the symptoms. We are told things like, "You have anxiety. Take this medication, practice self-care. Take up yoga or mediation to bring calmness into the mind and body." Sound familiar? It’s the same thing with Depression, ADHD, and other illnesses. We are told, “You have Depression. Take this medication. Do these self-care practices to elevate your mood.” This is still a "band-aid" approach. Don’t get me wrong; I believe there are times when we do need medication. However, I don’t think it is the last resort or perfect solution. What we should be doing is digging deeper and asking, “Why is there anxiety? Why is there depression. Why the ADHD, diabetes, the digestive issues” and so on. Skin doesn’t bleed for no reason. A cut, a wound, cause the skin to bleed. Our anxiety, depression, and most other ailments and illnesses stem from an emotional wound – trauma and/or unresolved grief. Many people aren’t even aware that they have trauma and/or unresolved grief. Most people relate grief to death, and most people relate Trauma to First Responders and/or people who experience violence/abuse. While this is very true, there are so many other experiences that cause grief and trauma. Grief can stem from any loss, person, pet, job, home, loss of trust, loss of connection, loss of feeling in control. Grief is also what we experience with a change in familiar patterns and behaviors, such as divorce, moving, retirement, health diagnosis, covid. These are just a few examples. Trauma can be as simple as our basic human needs not being met, for example, the need to feel safe, the need to be heard, the need to belong. Again, I ask you, have you ever been taught how to manage these experiences? What most of us have been taught is to avoid and distract. We are told and taught, just keep busy, be strong, sweep it all under the rug and just keep moving on, let it go. Sound familiar? This is the “band-aid” approach. Yes, doing things like Yoga, meditation, getting enough rest, eating well, massage, and so on will help us feel better. It still isn’t a solution to treat the wound from trauma and/or unresolved grief. Unless you learn to identify and deal with the root cause of your “symptoms,” all the self-care in the world is just another band-aid. To really get to the root, we must first become more aware and gain a better understanding of trauma and grief. Then we must journey through specific action steps and reflect on our past experiences to create a deeper self-awareness. This self-awareness will show us what exactly needs to be healed; from there, we can take appropriate action to complete the relationship to the pain of our emotional wounds. It is still important to practice those other self-care techniques. However, they will be much more effective when you include trauma and grief recovery. Here are some links for you: To learn more about Trauma and Grief, access my FREE 1hr webinar. To learn more about the 7-week online one-on-one Grief Recovery Program (live coaching). This 7-week program currently has a $100 discount in support of Mental Health Awareness. For online, work at your own pace programs. For more information on the Grief Recovery Program, visit my website or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Read more from Kim! Kim Wilkinson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kim Wilkinson is an expert in Emotional Health and in helping people to move from suffering to empowerment. Through her own family struggles with Mental Health, PTSD, Addiction, and Traumas, including losing her 22-year-old son to an overdose, Kim found healing, recovery, and transformation. Most of all, through this journey, Kim found purpose and a passion for helping others. Kim's approach with clients is one of compassion, non-judgment, and patience. She knows firsthand how applying specific tools and techniques can bring healing and recovery and bring abundance and success in all areas of life. Kim continues to work a few days a week at the Addiction Treatment Centre that her son attended. However, most of her time is focused on supporting people through Grief Recovery (online and in-person). A message from Kim "The whole world is grieving right now, and we all have unresolved grief. It's time to learn how to take care of our Emotional Health and break the cycle of Mental Health concerns and find an end to our suffering."

Written by: Kimberly King, 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. And how we can help them... A complicated explanation from a collaboration of experts: “ Child sexual abuse is likely the most prevalent health problem children face with the most serious array of consequences” — D2L.org. Only 70% of child sexual abuse victims report their abuse. Many carry feelings of shame and guilt with them for a lifetime. Most people do not understand why kids just don’t tell. It is not a simple answer. As an author of the best-selling book on the topic for families called, I Said No! I didn’t understand this completely when I wrote the book. I had to go back in and edit one of my pages about telling. A reader who was a victim of sexual abuse by her step-father explained to me that she did tell, she was brave, and she didn’t get the help she needed. Within the family: When abuse happens within a family, there are several very complex reasons why kids don’t always tell. According to Jane Epstein, founder of Complicated Courage , “survivors underreport because of feelings of embarrassment and shame connected with the abuse. They may be confused or might look up to the older sibling or family member. However, it may be an inability to make rational decisions because of limited cognitive skills, life experiences, and lack of body safety education.” 7 Reasons Why Kids Don’t Always Tell: They may know nothing else, think that sexual abuse is the norm, or do not have the language to express themselves. The child may feel they permitted the abuse and wrongly blame themselves for not stopping it. They may be terrified to cause additional family duress. They may be protecting a sibling from abuse. They may be dealing with threats and manipulation from the abuser. They may fear that they will not be believed. Nobody ever noticed or asked the question. But, trauma has a way of seeping up to the surface, and sometimes it takes many years for a victim to report abuse. Sometimes, our ability to fight or flight kicks in. We can suppress memories and thoughts that are just too much for our brains and bodies to handle. The traumatic memories might bubble up in some other form, like a chronic state of anxiety, panic attacks, or OCD. We might quell it by over-eating, over-drinking, or over-achieving. Survivors can suffer from a lifetime of various mental and physical health problems. Many survivors of sexual abuse try to put the abuse in a box, seal it up, and stick it on a shelf. We move on with our lives, not understanding how these suppressed memories affect our choices, behaviors, or parenting. “Until one day, you find yourself crying in the shower with an overwhelming flashback.” Shari Alyse, Best-Selling Author of Love Yourself Happy , shares her process with the effects of trauma even after taking legal action. "I spent decades running from my feelings surrounding my abuse. I convinced myself that I had healed from it because I had prosecuted my abuser. In my mind, the abuse was locked away like he was, and I had moved forward." Everyone handles healing differently! And there is no right or wrong way to proceed. You may dive into therapy, self-care, writing, healing, or just about anything. During a recent interview with Shari on how to move forward, she explained that for her, "Presence in our bodies is everything. Most trauma survivors disconnect, and we can often be found living in our heads. I learned how to come back into my body, which helped me be present with all I was feeling." According to trauma specialist and psychotherapist Linda Tumbarello, “An important part of healing for many is learning to find a calm and safe place inside their bodies and themselves. This allows for a kinder relationship to one-self and a path to feeling safe with intimacy with a loved one.” Therapist Linda Tumbarello adds, “It is important to gently and slowly work with the trauma from abuse, especially if one has never fully talked about it or remembered it. Some survivors who experienced abuse early in their childhood may not have the words to speak about it clearly but suffer from difficult body memories. A big part of healing is letting go of the very mistaken but common self-blame that many feel. This is one of the many reasons victims don’t report or report much later.” Recent changes to the statute of limitations in many states have created a new opportunity for many survivors of abuse . This change provides many victims with a new chance for justice and the time needed to pursue it. Many lawyers are working diligently with victims in sexual abuse cases. Every single person who has survived sexual abuse or assault is inherently brave. I am in awe of the victims who report, press charges, and seek justice. Taking legal action to report abuse requires an incredible amount of bravery. According to Jaclyn Anderson, Public Relations Coordinator for Herman Law. " Our lawyers and staff are specially trained to help clients who are suffering from any trauma-induced effects. These victims are typically adults who have experienced abuse many years ago." Herman Law had represented people abused by Harvey Weinstein, most notably, but many other cases. Often, it can be challenging to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt and abuse that occurred 20 years ago due to lack of evidence. But, Anderson says, "the most rewarding part about helping victims is seeing them receive justice for the horrors that they had to go through as a child." When I asked what this first meeting might look like, she shared, "A first visit will likely just involve us talking to the potential client and telling them about our work, and seeing if they would be interested in taking this further." A low-stress, no-pressure consultation is the first step for many survivors. In some cases, clients can be represented anonymously as a Jane Doe. This option appeals to many who fear damaging their reputation or unwanted attention to a very traumatizing event. This step towards justice can often be a positive and empowering step toward healing. Whenever a victim steps up and reports sexual abuse, it creates a ripple effect of inspiration and hope for those who have experienced the same type of trauma. When we share our stories and support victims, more come forward because they know they are not alone. We can all help prevent sexual abuse and protect our kids by teaching them about body safety rules, consent, and prevention strategies. An educated and empowered child is a less attractive target to an abuser and is more likely to report a problem or incident because they are armed with knowledge. Parents are an essential part of the prevention toolbox. For questions, concerns, resources, and support, please visit my website and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Linkedin. Kimberly King, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kimberly King, "The Safety Mom," is the author of the best-selling, most highly recommended book for children on prevention called I Said No! A kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private. Kimberly is a mom of three children, a survivor, a Sexual Abuse Prevention Facilitator with D2L.org, and a Sexual Assualt Crisis Counselor with The Rowan Center. ​She spends her time training adults and children on prevention strategies and sharing her expertise as a consultant, advisor, and media source. Her work has been featured in various magazines, podcasts, and blogs, including; NBC, Ticker News, The Chicago Tribune, Women’s Fitness, Child Mind Institute, Social Work Now, US News and World Report, The Health Journal, Modern Mom, PopSugar, Child Life Mom, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Thrive Global, Medium, Dads Divorce, Split, Sex Ed Rescue, Consent Parenting, Pretty Wellness Podcast, iHeart Radio, and is highly recommended as a resource by national prevention organizations. Please contact her directly for any media requests. Contact Kimberly King at 757-375-5020 or email her at Kimberlykingbooks@gmail.com.

Written by: Sarah-Jayne Juniper, 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. To find your voice is daunting, confusing, and forever changing with your perception of the world around you. I write this from a concept of embracing and loving yourself to the maximum. It is tough to be loud and proud about all that you admire in life until you do so. As individuals, we are under endless pressure to believe and feel appropriate for society yet, who made the rules? Who has the right to say something is right or wrong? On my personal journey of becoming loud and proud, I’ve realized that I am the one who has and is still stopping me from becoming me — confused yet? This strange journey called life has been created and adapted according to the beliefs I have chosen to listen to and respond to. As my awareness around this grows, the weirder it all gets. Suddenly the books, famous sayings, and concepts of life make sense; we are what we choose to be, and only we (you & I) have the power to change our realities. We have to trust the process! Once again, I question what exactly this process is. Is there a script, guidelines, or structure I need to be following to speed things up? If so, someone, please hand it to me. The answer is no. We have to trust, learn and believe that if we want to change (in whichever form we desire), it takes time and many lessons that we need to fall forward into. Even then, we may never reach what we truly want. Life is all about the journey. I believe that to be loud and proud is to go inward, silence the never-ending outside noise, and embrace every day as it comes. Share your unique experiences and stories with others through the amazing mediums we have to hand today, realizing she is not for them but you. Everything we do is for ourselves. Once we accept this, we can then begin to serve and provide for others. Our voice is ours to use, express, and share, to understand that our message will change as we learn. My advice to anyone reading this is to choose your story and share it. Today, we face the idea of ‘let’s talk’ yet controlled and guided with a specific topic in mind. Share your story and the journey which led you to those thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Know that someone somewhere is reading it. You have taught them something, and that’s powerful! When we learn that transparency in life is where change lies, we will recognize that to be unique is the meaning of life, the journey, the process. Sharing and expressing ignites realities and disburses nonsense. So, go and find your voice, be the teacher you never had and embrace every second of your beautiful journey of life. How? Sit, and free-write/speak from your heart, and keep typing/writing. Remember, there is no right or wrong. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Sarah-Jayne! Sarah-Jayne Juniper, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah-Jayne Juniper is a leader in Transformational Life Coaching. After struggling to understand her position in the world and the boundaries placed in front of her regarding academic success, she set out to challenge barriers and the concept of societal norms. Since she accomplished an MSc in Psychology, she has traveled the world and launched Sarah-Jayne Life Coach, a company fuelled with determination- reconnecting individuals with themselves, finding balance, and encouraging personal growth and fulfillment. Her clients are those who are ready to take life to the next level, face mental health with a forward-thinking attitude and focus on their full potential.

Written by: Rachel Paling, 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. Over the last five months, I have taken up a new sport. It’s called Padel, and it is a racket sport, typically played in doubles on a downsized tennis court, which has glass walls. You could say that it is a hybrid of tennis, squash, and fronton, but in fact, this game commands an art and technique of its own. This fascinating new sport has kept me busy with continuous insights over these past five months with my Padel coach. I started, in fact, in December with my first Padel coach. As a teenager at school, every summer term, we played tennis, and in those years, I was a huge fan of Bjorn Borg. I would religiously watch Wimbledon every year, and Borg was my absolute hero, demonstrating resilience, excellent technique, fantastic brainpower and concentration, and never an inkling of any emotion. I spent hours and hours practicing my tennis shots alone (much to the chagrin of my parents) against our garage or one of the walls of our house. I became quite adept with a racket with constant repetitive practice and later also took up squash. So, when I started back in December, my first Padel coach was initially quite delighted that I wasn’t a complete beginner with a racket. However, because I’m quite a strong player, he was constantly getting annoyed with me because, more often than not, I was hitting too hard and too long. He hardly ever gave me positive feedback, and most of the time, his attitude and body language seemed to ooze with criticism, plus his often negative remarks. This started to erode my childlike glee of discovering a new sport, and I thought about leaving it. Luckily for me, this coach moved away, and I started with a new coach in February. Wow, what a difference a coach makes! Enric is a different kettle of fish. Firstly, he is drenched with expertise because he’s been coaching professionally for many years. He detected from the beginning that there were certain things that I had automatized from tennis and squash, but that needed adjusting for Padel. He talked to me in my language: the language of the subconscious brain. In many ways, he reminded me of Timothy Gallwey, the author of the Inner Game of Tennis, an amazing book which talks about the thinking brain and the performing brain. The point for me was that my subconscious brain, over 35 years ago, created my subconscious programs for playing tennis and squash. Amazingly, I still have this technique, and over the past weeks, Enric has been expertly tweaking my “programming.” Just with slight nuances, just with slight changes, and above all, the way that he positively recognizes me when I do it right, and he praises and acknowledges in such a way that it brings out the best in me. In the last few weeks, I am noticing how the old programming is effortlessly and subconsciously giving way to the newly adjusted programs. My technique, my shots, and my game are developing well. This entire process has given me many insights and a lot of food for thought relating to the learning process. 1. No matter what we are learning, the person guiding us through this process is key. If the educator makes the learner feel bad, negative, unable to do it the right way, and, in general, feel that they are not making progress, this will generate the desire to throw in the towel and the internal feelings of inadequacy. When you have a constantly supporting, empowering coach and believes in you, it does bring out the best of us. The attitude of the educator is key! 2. The amazing discovery that 35 years down the line (and no tennis during those years), I am still performing extremely skilled tennis shots was quite a revelation about the power of my subconscious brain and my extraordinary "muscle memory." This actually got me thinking, "what else was I doing in my school years when I was learning something, and how could I harness that to enhance what I’m learning at the moment." One thing actually came to mind relating to language learning, which was that in those early years of learning French, I clearly remember having pictorial scenes with the French vocabulary on it. For example, scenes of the farmyard or scenes of the beach or the café and restaurant spurred me to invest in a picture dictionary Russian-English. I will test to see if this could enhance my vocabulary learning in Russian (I will keep you posted!). 3. Another insight was more of a confirmation that to become skilled at anything, we need to repeat it over and over and over again. It has to become second nature. Evidently, my constant beating the ball against the garage as a teenager had ingrained my racket technique so much that over 35 years later, it was still there. Language learning is the same. Constant exposure to the new language is key for both conscious and subconscious input. After some months of not “inputting” any Russian due to other priorities, last week, I began again to watch a Russian series with subtitles on YouTube for the first time in some months. From now on, I will be trying to expose my subconscious brain to the language as much as I can, as I know my subconscious is constantly paying attention and picking up language patterns and sounds. 4. My final insight is that tweaking old habits and ingrained practices is not easy but not impossible. With the right encouragement and expertise from an expert coach, who instantly can detect what needs adjusting, we can alter and adapt, building up from previous knowledge. In this respect, it is essential for the coach always to find out the learner's starting point. By doing so, we respect that everybody is different, and we can help that particular learner from their particular start point. My second coach acknowledged me for my brilliant tennis strokes while gently insinuating that together we could springboard from that and adjust it to the necessary technique for this particular game. His expertise was phenomenal. It reminded me of the story of the Japanese chicken sexing experts, who could discern the gender of baby chicks just by looking at them immediately after being born. To the normal eye, this task is absolutely impossible because they look the same. Still, the Japanese experts distinguished males from females because their subconscious brains recognized the difference. My expert Padel coach could sense and detect my slightest wrong move in the most amazing way. Language experts similarly can instantly detect when language needs tweaking and adjusting. Having a neuro language coach with the right expertise and the right sensitivity propels people to learn a language by constantly scaffolding previous knowledge and harnessing native/target language associations. As a final note, I strongly recommend thinking back to things you were doing during your school years and asking yourself the question, "what was I doing well back then that I could harness now to help me with what I am learning or doing today?" For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit our website! Read more from Rachel! Rachel Paling, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rachel Marie Paling is an International Game Changer in Education, in particular, the education of languages. She has created the method and approaches Neurolanguage Coaching, which incorporates professional coaching and neuroscience principles into the learning process. She coaches and trains teachers worldwide, transforming them into certified and ICF accredited Neurolanguage coaches and has created the Neurolanguage Coach network with over 700 NL Coaches in just over 70 countries worldwide and is now bringing the approach to schools and institutions over the world through her licensed trainers and in nine languages. Rachel started teaching language at 17 and has a BA Honours in Law and Spanish, MA in Human Rights. She is a qualified UK lawyer, MA in Applied Neuroscience, and a PCC ICF Life Coach. She is the author of the books Neurolanguage Coaching and Brain-friendly Grammar and has written numerous blog articles about learning, coaching, and neuroscience. She has spoken at many international conferences, and her company was awarded the Bronze Award at the Reimagine Education Awards 2019 in the Science in Education category. She is dedicated to the shift in education and is currently establishing an educational foundation to bring coaching, neuroscience, and heart science into educational processes.

Written by: Linda Dent, 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 8 am on Monday morning, and you have recently started your own business. You have a list of people to call, but you are dreading picking up the phone because sharing small talk is like having your teeth pulled at the dentist. The social media pages and smartphone groups are going wild with messages of motivation, fitness challenges, images of people meeting at social events and smiling (with their eyes at least in these days of masks hiding our mouths), and all the networking events and zoom webinars for you to join. Since the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, many people are starved for social connection in person, but perhaps you are more like me and like some isolation from time to time. But you have a business to run, and money doesn’t generally arrive in your bank account unless you communicate with real people! Do you find it difficult to build business relationships? Are you dreading picking up the phone and dialing your prospect to follow up on a proposal? Then this article is for you. Read on. What is an introvert? An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds. Some other characteristics: Need quiet to concentrate Are reflective Are self-aware Take time making decisions Feel comfortable being alone Don't like group work Prefer to write rather than talk What happens if you don’t talk to people? In the song, Talk, by Coldplay, the lyrics start with these words: "Oh brother, I can't, I can't get through I've been trying hard to reach you 'cause I don' know what to do Oh, brother, I can't believe it's true I'm so scared about the future, and I wanna talk to you Oh, I wanna talk to you." We want to talk to our clients, prospects, suppliers, and employees, but as introverts, we are often scared to make the first move and how this will impact our business in the future. Of course, you can communicate with (hide behind) email, SMS, and social media messages, but you run the risk of miscommunication and, worse, being ignored. What if I could show you how to build business relationships with relative ease? 5 Easy Steps to Creating Strong Business Relationships Step 1: Plan who you are going to call each day and write it down. Step 2: Keep the list as short as possible. Step 3: Do some research on the person beforehand. Step 4: Create a few questions or topics you want to discuss. Step 5: Make a few notes and then follow up re-email. Let's break it down: Steps 1 and 2 are designed to ensure you are not overwhelmed with too many social interactions in one day. Leave time for thinking, reflection, and writing. Doing research beforehand allows you to break the ice, develop trust, keep the conversation away from too many personal issues and ensure you understand why you need to speak to this person. Is it to follow up on a lead, address a service delivery problem, or negotiate with a supplier? Whatever the reason, preparation creates certainty and confidence that you will be ready for this conversation. The kind of research will depend on the call, but reading through emails, previous file notes, checking out their website or LinkedIn profile for details or recent activity will provide the context for your discussion. With Step 4, you are creating a mini agenda for the meeting, and it is best if you share that with the person right upfront. Here is an example with ideas on what to say in italics: Agenda 1. Brief check-in – How are you? I see you recently won an award/had a holiday/started a new venture/bought out another company (from your research). 2. Review actions from the previous meeting (if applicable) i.e. We agreed on this action last time. Is it complete? Were there any concerns? 3. Opportunity or problem statement, i.e., I received your email saying you are not satisfied with our service or I see you were interested in our product, or I would like to talk about a strategic partnership with you. 4. Possible ideas/solutions, i.e., I would like to discuss some ideas/options/share some product details. Is that ok? 5. Agreed actions and timeframe. 6. Close-out – Are you happy with what we have discussed/Can I send you a quote/Shall we meet again next week? Should you follow up? Obviously, with clients, employees, and suppliers, the answer is yes, but if it's networking related and you reached out to meet somebody for the first time. You did not feel a connection or that there is no future in the relationship, then don’t feel bad if you don’t follow up. As introverts, we only have space for a few people, so make sure they are worth your time and attention. Building deeper, more meaningful relationships with a few people is the way Introverts prefer things. Resist the urge to get caught up in the challenges, groups, meetings, and social activities beyond what you find comfortable. “So you take a picture of something you see In the future, where will I be? You can climb a ladder up to the sun Or write a song nobody has sung Or do something that's never been done . ” My interpretation of Coldplay’s lyric is that you can build relationships as an introvert but do it your way and climb that ladder into your dream future. Valued insights, focused action. Reach out for a Virtual Cuppa with Just Ask Linda to have a conversation about this article and my simple 3-step coaching process for business owners who want to build businesses that fund their dreams. Connect with me on Facebook , YouTube , LinkedIn , LinkTree , and visit my website . Read more from Linda ! Linda Dent, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Linda is a Business coach with a solid background in the Banking Industry. She believes in building businesses through long-term relationships and a partnership approach to grow and empower the small business owner through planning, actions, and regular reviews of actual results vs. planned results. She is the Founder and CEO of Just Ask Linda Business Coaching, which was born out of a desire to Grow, Learn, Empower others and Enjoy her work, her very own GLEE philosophy. From understanding your unique strengths and how they apply to work, establishing where you are now and where you want to be in your business, getting to know your numbers and setting goals, managing your time, or rather how to do more of what you love each day, building a loyal team of employees or just listening to the business owners’ major business challenges and offering up new thinking, you can Ask Linda. If she can make a difference in a business owners’ life, helping them overcome Money, Time, and Team challenges to grow a successful business and share some part of their business journey, then she will be full of GLEE. Owning a business is an adventure, and she loves the one she is on.