Written by: Tanya Heasley, 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. Every time you scroll on your phone, you’re negatively impacting the motivational system in your brain. This will consequently make you feel bored more often, and you’ll lack the motivation to make positive changes to your life. That said, if you manage to read through all of this article, then not only do you experience healthy boredom, but you will also gain some tips on how to gain motivation when you’re bored. Before you can manage boredom, you need to know what it is: Boredom is the state of feeling uncomfortable and can be a symptom of suppressed emotions, such as anger, hurt, and fear. Boredom also breeds lethargy and is developed as a result of our inability to engage our attention to internal or external information. In other words, when we ignore our emotions, we inadvertently disengage with the present moment and seek a distraction from the unpleasant feeling. This happened to me recently whilst watching the last episode of a popular TV drama and witnessing my favorite characters' impending demise; I began noticing my stress levels rise and anxiety build within me. I felt uncomfortable, I could not continue watching, and I wanted to avoid the physical sensations that I was experiencing. To alleviate the uncomfortableness and cope with my unpleasant feelings, I reached for my phone and began to scroll through social media, so I could ignore what was going on. Do you use your phone in the same way? Do you scroll or play games on it when you don’t like something, or when you want to avoid discomfort, or even when you’re just bored? Our phones have become a massive distraction from situations that can actually lead to psychological growth. It is essential to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings. But our phones have become a coping mechanism, which is essentially preventing us from learning to be comfortable with discomfort. I’ve noticed lately that I play on my phone when I’m avoiding situations that I don’t like, such as work that I find hard to do, or when I’m waiting for someone, or when someone is talking about something that I find boring. Let’s be honest – you do this too, right? Here’s the good news – when you’re self-aware and recognize that you are bored, it can motivate you to do something else. What that is, however, depends on whether you’re conscious of your actions or behaving absentmindedly. If you’re not thinking about what you’re doing, then you’re not in control of your actions. For instance, how many times do you consciously pick up your phone to use it productively? Not many times, I’m sure. Therefore, the key is to develop your internal thought processing, which is also essential for managing behavior, developing resilience and grit. A simple way to do this is to cultivate your character strengths. The following strengths are connected to boredom. Honesty is the strength to be open and truthful and allows you to acknowledge and accept your internal emotions. When strengthening honesty, it can give you a sense of authentic wholeness and empowers you to present yourself genuinely. 1. What do you consider a moral obligation? Write about these issues, as it helps to crystallize and integrate thinking (which is fundamental to self-awareness and behavioral control). 2. Without worrying about your position, or popularity, think and act fairly when you next face a challenging belief or opinion from others. 3. Monitor every time you tell a lie (not just to others, but lies to yourself), even if it is a small one. Try to make your list shorter every day. 4. Think of different ways that you can honestly relate to others. Creativity is a strength that can help you address obstacles in your life. Creativity isn’t necessarily just about artistic expression or scientific discovery. 1. Compile a list of practical steps to overcome challenges that you might be facing. 2. Learn a new craft, such as pottery, glass blowing, or jewelry making. 3. Get inspired by famous creative people and identify what made them unique. 4. Write a poem about a passion of yours once a week. Curiosity is the strength to take an interest in an ongoing experience. Actively recognize and pursue challenging opportunities to seek out new information. For instance, when I gave birth to my first son, I refused to take any pain-relief because I wanted to experience childbirth fully. 1. Try food from a different culture that you haven’t eaten before. 2. Listen to a podcast on a subject that doesn’t interest you. 3. Try things that challenge your existing knowledge or skills. 4. Think of three new ways to rejuvenate a passion that you’ve lost interest in. Next time you find yourself reaching for your phone to distract you from your uncomfortableness, sit and explore the discomfort, and consider utilizing your other character strengths. We all have 24-character strengths that impact how we think, feel, and behave, and we each have our own unique character strengths profile. Knowing and utilizing your strengths can help increase your emotional wellbeing, as well as your happiness levels. If you’d like to know your top character strengths and how to utilize them, follow the link to complete the free test. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tanya! Tanya Heasley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As a Positive Anger Coach and Success Mindset Mentor, Tanya Heasley guides her clients to activate their authentic self, cultivate assertive communication, and develop self-confidence so that they can flourish and thrive in all areas of their life. What makes her distinctive and different in this work is her ability to identify and liberate the hidden blockages within her client’s psyche. Her intuitive, empathetic, and direct approach empowers her clients to become the best version of themselves. An award-winning serial entrepreneur, Tanya is also the Director of Tristone Coaching Ltd., a social enterprise with the mission to improve the lives of young people affected by adult anger. With many successes under her belt, Tanya believes that her greatest achievement is being a mum to her four children.

Written by: Eva Medilek, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The first step to making any major change in your life is always awareness. Being aware of who you are being, what you are doing, and how you are reacting vs. responding to the everyday challenges of your life will give you clues to what you are needing. For example, you may find yourself saying yes to everyone else’s needs, priorities and demands for your time and saying no to time spent on nurturing your own needs, desires and priorities. When that happens and becomes a regular habit of yours, you may find yourself being stretched to the limit, frustrated, overwhelmed, exhausted and resentful. Now, you are labeled Mr./Ms. Cranky pants and you may find yourself saying things like, “I really prefer pets over people.” C’mon, admit it. You’ve had that thought, haven’t you? Recently, I have been finding myself giving a lot to the people in my life. And, by a lot, I mean to the point of not having the time to spend on the things that make my heart sing. When that happens, it’s just a matter of time before compassion is lost and feelings of resentment take over. After resentment moves in, blame starts knocking at the door and wants a seat at the table. “It’s everyone else’s fault that I have to do everything around here.” Well, no, it’s not. It’s nobody’s fault but your own if you aren’t working off of a blueprint of your own priorities and values. It’s time to get clear, stand up and ask for or take what you need so that you can show up as your wise, wonderful, compassionate and patient self. Why is that so hard to do? Why are we so afraid to say no to others and yes to ourselves? That’s where the awareness comes in. What are our earliest memories of saying no and what were the consequences of such an empowered statement? If we think back to our childhood, we were probably forced to do something that we said no to anyway. Remember the peas, lima beans or broccoli you shook your head no at when mom or dad tried to make you eat them? I wasn’t allowed to watch television unless I ate my mother’s overcooked, soggy, stinky broccoli. For years, I thought I hated broccoli, until one day, I had a properly steamed, seasoned dish of this once disgusting vegetable. The problem wasn’t the broccoli, it was my mother’s cooking. Once, I gave myself permission to say yes to giving broccoli a second chance, I realized that I liked it. But here’s what happened in my young brain at the time, saying no to something I didn’t like, or didn’t want to eat, meant that I was a bad girl and I was punished as a consequence of saying no. So, I gave in, choked it down and reaped the rewards on an “I Love Lucy” episode on television for being a good girl and eating all of my broccoli all the while, believing I hated broccoli. Saying NO = Punishment. Saying YES = Rewarded. These ideals that were planted in us from childhood are subconsciously holding us back from setting healthy boundaries in our adult lives. How about we start to unpack and question our beliefs and behaviors, shall we? Let’s shift our focus onto how we can empower ourselves to make choices that set up healthy boundaries in our adult lives. Boundaries are not bad. We can still be good and say no to eating overcooked, smelly, mushy broccoli. I know you want to be nice, helpful and that you want everyone to like you and think that you are a good person. Think of it this way, the resentment, exhaustion, frustration, and guilt that comes with not setting clear boundaries, actually helps no one. Saying no to the needs of others and a yes to your needs, does not make you a mean, bad person. It makes you a happy, healthy, well-rounded friend, co-worker, family member and all-around good human. Boundaries are the superpower to being the best You that You can be. Boundaries are like broccoli. When set up and prepared properly, it’s actually tasty and good for your health too! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube and visit my Website for more info! Read more from Eva ! Eva Medilek, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Eva Medilek is a Certified High-Performance Coach and a Relationship Success Coach. She has coached both men and women in personal development, leadership, and mastering habits for success. She specializes in helping powerful and successful women have happier, healthier, more intimate connections in their relationships without giving up their power. Eva knows firsthand how a driven personality type can leave you feeling lonely, disappointed, frustrated, and resentful. You can achieve higher levels of success without sacrificing your health, well-being, and relationships. She uses her personal experiences along with her leadership, transformational, and high-performance training to teach you the pillars of high performance as well as showing you how to communicate in a way that fosters intimacy, influence, and connection in your personal and professional life. High performance is succeeding consistently over the long term while maintaining a healthy life full of positive emotions and relationships.

Written by: Susan Francis, 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. Are you afraid of failing? Do you constantly feel like a failure no matter what you do? Are you constantly chasing the next goal? Do you think that when you hit that next level of $20K, $50k a month income, you will have “made” it, and you’ll no longer feel like a failure? This was me. When I first started as a coach, I went through 9 months, making either $0 a month or maybe $500 a month. I definitely felt like a failure. I had always been a high achiever and had high expectations for myself, so failing was not okay. About 12 months ago, I finally broke through and started creating some epic results in my business. I created a $5K month and then a $16k month, and it kept growing. That might sound like amazing growth, but here's the thing, I still felt like I was failing. Every time I would hit a goal, I would set a new one, and so there was always a new target to reach. You see, the fear of failure doesn't go away no matter how much you earn. It's a part of who you are. If you’re afraid of failing at $5K a month, I promise you will be afraid of failing at a $50K a month because you take you with you. In fact, the more you start to earn, often this feeling becomes more heightened because what if the income goes away? *gasp* There is a whole new level of fear. If you’re ambitious, you know that there will always be a new goal to set at every new level you reach. When we seek to expand our business, it's not really the money or new clients we’re seeking; it’s the feeling that we are really chasing. If you want to grow your income or sales, it’s often because you want to experience the emotions of success, pride, abundance, freedom, and confidence. When we are afraid of failing, we are attached to the outcome of all of our actions. We are constantly judging ourselves and measuring ourselves on the results. We are often afraid of feeling average, lacking, unsuccessful, unfree, or unabundant. Here’s how this plays out. You take some action and hope for a certain result. The results aren’t coming as you would like, and you start to question yourself. Why am I failing? What am I doing wrong? What if this doesn't work? I’m no good at this. I might have to give up and get a job I hate. What if I can't create the income I want? What if I can't buy my dream house? Sound familiar? You start to attach a meaning to the results that you're getting. You believe that you're not creating the results that you desire means that you're failing, that you're not enough. This is what it's really about. You don't feel enough as you are, and you're trying to fill the void by achieving something. You are looking for external validation that would make you feel successful or enough. It’s the feeling you're really chasing. Yes, you want the money, the success, but it's really about the feeling you're hoping to achieve. Only you never achieve it because there will always be more. It’s never about achieving the goal. It's always about chasing emotions we want to feel and running away from the ones we are scared of. Don’t fret though. All is not lost. You can choose to let this go. When I finally let it go, I 10x my income in 30 days, so trust me when I say it's SO powerful to release this. Steps to release the fear of failure: Journal on the following. Yes, journal. Put the computer away and put pen to paper. It’s a powerful way to focus the mind. Journaling has changed my life. When you ask yourself powerful questions, you receive powerful answers. 1. First, identify the goal you are chasing and then write down the feelings you believe this goal will bring you (e.g. feelings of success, pride, freedom, abundance, etc.) 2. Ask yourself what it will mean to you if you achieve this goal? (Recognize these are the things you are really chasing.) 3. What will it mean to you if you don't get the goal? What's really underneath this? What feelings do you avoid? What are you afraid of? (Often, it’s the feeling of being not enough, lacking, unworthy, unfree, and etc.) 4. Now close your eyes, take some deep breaths and ask yourself: What's really the truth here? What do I know to be true about myself at a soul level? What have I already achieved in my life? What am I grateful for in my business? What am I so proud of already? What flows from this place will always be positive and reassuring, which is the truth of who you are. Repeating this frequently will shift your energy, your focus, and most importantly, how you feel. When you can deeply connect to your truth, knowing that: You are so worthy, you are enough, and you are successful right now no matter what. Then, your life will shift. When you recognize that you don't need to hit the goal to be enough, you don't need to hit the goal to prove anything to anyone, and you don't need to hit the goal to feel successful, then you find a new sense of peace. You find a new sense of calm, and the actions you take will be different as you're not chasing. It doesn't mean anything about you. You desire it. It would be fun, but whether or not you achieve it doesn't mean anything about you. When you finally let go of the fear you've been hanging on to so tightly, you’ll realize you don't need anything outside of you to feel ok, and from that place, you are finally a match to your desires, and abundance can flow. If you’re ready to let go of the fear of failure now, then head to my free Facebook group, Soul Aligned Business Babes , where I just did a free training on how I let this go and 10 x my income in 30 days. To dive deeper, you can also listen to my podcast episode on this topic at Soul Aligned Business Babes Podcast. Follow Susan on F acebook , I nstagram, join the F acebook community for regular live training, learn more on the website, or listen to the Soul Aligned Business Babes podcast . Read more from Susa n ! Susan Francis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Susan Francis is a leading Mindset, Manifestation, and Business Mentor and Coach empowering female entrepreneurs to create more income and impact their soul-aligned businesses. She helps women unlock the truth of who they are, helps them to step into their full power, and teaches them the secrets to taking quantum leaps in their success. She believes life was meant to be easy, to feel good, to flow, and you can create anything you damn well want! With a background in senior management in the fashion industry, she escaped the 9 to 5 hustle after her daughter's birth to follow her passion for helping other women create epic time and financial freedom. Trained in NLP and Time Line Therapy and obsessed with the Law of Attraction, she knows at a very deep level that everything is an inside job, and as she helps clients make shifts in their mindset, and energy they become magnetic to their dream lives and business success.

Written by: Mary Yamin-Garone, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertis e. Rumor has it that you have this business you want to promote. Maybe you’re an entrepreneur, a coach, or you have an area of expertise that you do for a living, and you’re ready to shout it from the rooftop. You want people to know what you do and how you help people. Maybe it’s time to write that book and get it out to the masses. A book is a great way to attract clients and prospects to your business. Writing and publishing a book on a subject related to your business establishes your expertise, expands your marketing influence, and generates new leads. Not to mention bringing home some extra income from your book sales. In today’s world, a book is often considered to be the ultimate marketing tool. Keep in mind, however, that simply writing any book won’t cut it. It won’t necessarily bring you the right people/clients. If you want your book to grow your business, it must: Be an extension of you and your business. Represent your expertise in the marketplace Attract your ideal clients Otherwise, it’s simply another book. When you start writing your book, the goal is to get your readers to buy your products/ services. You can’t say, “Hire me,” and expect people to come a calling. You must know who you want to attract. Then you can design your book from the title to the content and back cover to appeal directly to them. You want your authentic voice to shine through. You also have to motivate your readers to take action. If you want to write a business book, you must first determine what need you’ll fill. Like all products that serve a purpose, your book should offer a different process or solve your reader’s problem. Think about it: What does your market need/want? What solutions can you offer? What can you show potential clients that will make their lives easier? When you figure that out, you’ll have created the foundation for a successful business-building book. Once you determine the solution you’ll offer your readers, it’s time to condense it into steps/processes that can easily be applied. While you might not realize it, you most likely use the same process or explain similar concepts with your clients. To solidify your process on paper so readers can use it, start by listing the steps, such as: What do your readers need to know/do first? What comes next? What actions will take them from where they are now to where they want/need to be? Each of your main steps should have sub-steps, which can be grouped into chapters. By putting the pieces together, your book’s structure will start developing. Your book must be good if you want it to work for your business. That doesn’t mean your sentences must be grammatically correct. That’s a given. Anybody can do that. Your book must be written in such a way that it appeals to your audience. You want to keep them engaged. As a result, your reader will want more. Still not sure how to start? Send me a message at mary@theysonewriting.com. For more writing tips, visit my website . Join my Facebook Group and follow me on Instag ram ! Read more from Mary! Mary Yamin-Garone, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mary Yamin-Garone is an award-winning writer, editor, and book/writing coach. In her 36 years, she has seen almost every facet of the writing world as the featured guest writing expert on a weekly radio talk show, the recipient of numerous writing awards and accolades, and the coach and editor for several best-selling authors. One of her proudest moments came after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Mary received the Communication Concept 2002 APEX Award for Publication Excellence for Magazine and Newspaper Writing for her work after 9/11. She recently launched her signature coaching program, Bring Your Words to Life. Mary will help you improve your writing and turn your most important life experiences and knowledge into your best-selling book.

Written by: Henrik Pettersson, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. During my lifetime, I have devoted myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have stuck to the idea of a democratic and free society where everyone can live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal that I hope to live for and achieve. An ideal I am prepared to die for. Nelson Mandela had been the leader for the ANC's armed forces and the initiator of sabotage against military and state targets – and guerrilla warfare to end apartheid. He was arrested in August 1962 and sentenced to life in prison. During the trial, he explained that the ANC used peaceful means until the massacre at Sharpeville, which made it clear to him that the only way to crush apartheid was violence. The rest is history. Before being elected South Africa's first-ever black president, he had spent 27 years in prison on Robben Island. While in the cell, he had a piece of paper that he looked at several times a day, a quote from William Ernest Henley: "I am master of my own destiny, and captain of my soul." A mantra that became the basis of his unending character. Strong characters never expect easy journeys. They see the dark moments as building blocks for inner strength, to be able to turn adversity into success with self-leadership and confidence in their abilities. What, then, distinguishes a strong character from a weaker one? In my experience, it is, above all, perseverance, the ability to take action, resist disappointment and adversity. 1. That you refuse to let failures pull you down. Five years from now, the storm is nothing but a surge in a glass; 2. That you would rather listen to your own dreams than the negative opinions of others; 3. That you continue to move forward step by step, with both heart and brain as your guide. A strong character is based on the above but is also based on three pairs of characteristics. Honesty and Reliability. Integrity and Self-Confidence. Perseverance and Discipline. Firstly, be as honest with yourself as with others. Do not lie. Not even for yourself. See the truth as it is. Then people trust you. Second, show integrity. Do what you say you should do, and when you say, you should do it. It is a clear connection between words and deeds. Then you build self-confidence. Endurance. Strong characters are not formed in a couple of weeks, months, or even years. These are small steps that apply according to your big plan to build the strongest possible character, with discipline as your best friend. Very few, however, work to develop their character purposefully. Instead of building a strong backbone around their most important character traits, they bring up a shield as protection. A jerry-building that makes them vulnerable, when instead, they should settle with themselves and answering the question; Who am I? What qualities characterize me? What behaviors do I identify with? What motivates me? What makes me proud? What are my goals? Questions that were constantly worked on during antiquity when "know yourself" was a central concept in leadership education. A sentence that was the prerequisite for success, then as now. Now to the scouting that has occupied a justifiable part of my time over the past decade. And where I listed seven things that I think characterize strong characters; 1. The path to success is through principles. Principles do not change. They hold the line all the way—every day of the week. Your words and your actions are one and the same. A person with character lives for his principles, not for popularity. Politicians have challenges here when the popularity goes down, and they start negotiating with their principles. Power corrupts, it is said, but it is not about that. It is not the power itself that corrupts. It is the lack of character. Some people hire image consultants, but if you know who you are, why do you need an image consultant? Politicians, executives, and celebrities who hire image consultants, why? Probably because they haven’t found out who they are. 2. Character is a set of standards. Many try to live on their charisma, their gifts, their talent. It is a short-term strategy. Your talent will never protect you in the long run. The only thing that can lead you forward in the long run is your character. There is no excuse to lower your standards. Your future depends on your character, not your charisma. 3. For a person with a strong character, words and deeds are the same thing. A person without character says one thing and does something completely different. It’s a person with several “faces,” which is the definition of a hypocrite. Having nice clothes, driving nice cars, or wearing an expensive watch, does not determine whether we should give the person our trust. Do not be seduced by charisma; instead, follow people with character. The character only reveals itself when it is seen. And there are mainly three things that test it. Power. Money. And sex. Temptations that risk ruining a trust that takes years to build, seconds to lose, and an eternity to regain. Avoid becoming a piece on the chessboard. Move the temptations before they move you. 4. They never feel fully educated. They block out time for developing their skills every week. Rafael Badziag's book "The million-dollar secret" summarizes the habits of 20 billionaires and what took them there. As I said, they set aside time each week to study their respective areas and constantly sharpen their skills while at the same time having plans for their development. And how they should be able to pursue their strategy. 5. They plan. They have a strategy. Like the 20 billionaires in Rafael Badziag's book “The Million Dollar Secret, they get up early to plan the major steps they´ll take and prioritize the most difficult things first. They have understood that no one is really in a hurry. That successful projects are a matter of priorities. And always puts long-term strategy before short-term tactics. 6. They never give up. The ability to come back after adversity and defeat with experience in the baggage characterizes people with strong character. They focus on the light in times of darkness. Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest in Burma for over eleven years and continued to fight for freedom. Nelson Mandela continued the fight against apartheid during and after 27 years in prison. 7. They have good self-confidence. Which they are constantly building on. Everything from body language, attitude, smile, and eye contact to prioritize and focus on what’s important and visualize the project's successful implementation. Strong self-confidence increases the ability to take risks, set higher goals and become more successful. Poor self-confidence has the handbrake on—a good push on the turbo. The path to self-confidence goes by letting the words be followed by action – just do it! Do not give in to laziness, difficulties, or fears. Test your abilities, preferably every day. Passive people are rarely tested - active people are constantly tested. They accept that the risk of failure is just around the corner. They do not give up in the first place. In September 2013, 64-year-old Diana Nyad became the first in the world to swim from Cuba to Florida. A distance of almost 180 km, and without a shark cage around her. She had previously made four attempts but had to give up. But the superwoman did not give up until she had done what she set out to do. And turned failure into success by her unstoppable character. A term that comes from the ancient Greek character, which means "engraved." Which ask the question: how do you really engrave your strongest qualities, which hold in all weathers? Do you want to sharpen your character? Then you not only need to find out where you stand, and you should also know where you are going. For that reason, with the help of the rhetorician Stefan Hedlund, I have built a character matrix that helps you shape your character with the mainline, your main trait at the top. Download the character matrix and engrave the picture of who you are today and at the same time as you draw the vision of the person you want to be in the future. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and subscribe to my Youtube channel! Read more from Henrik! Henrik Pettersson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Since 2004, Henrik has been working as a coach, educator, and motivational speaker around Europe. Life is about growth. The challenge to growth is to gain boldness to handle our fears and vulnerability. To strengthen your spine - to be able to manage your challenges towards stronger results. Life’s tough at times, and the formula for gaining more boldness, and dig deep into, is: Faith – Energy – Focus. His new book is built on the three pillars above and is called: program yourself to success. Henrik is frequently hired by large companies like Volvo, H&M, and Avis.

Written by: Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Did you know that every number carries a vibration and a frequency? This is known as numerology, the study of numbers in your life. You can uncover information about yourself and everyone around you using numerology. Every year your personal energy changes based on the current year’s energy. For example, 2021 carries a five vibration (2+0+2+1=5) Now that we’re in 2021, this year’s energy carries five vibrations and means change, freedom, and unpredictability. This number is known as the Universal Number, which means everyone on the planet will feel this energy whether they are conscious of it or not. I am the creator of the card deck, Chakra Balance Numerology Cosmic Energy Forecast . I used these cards, birthdate, and astrology to provide clients with insight into what’s in store for them for the year, help set intentions, take action, and manifest their souls' desire. The cards' information helps the client understand what chakras may be stuck or blocked, which may prevent them from creating their best life. Once this insight has been revealed, energy work is administered to clear their path, and then the magic begins, which is what I like to believe. To determine your personal energy for 2021 (you can use this formula for any year), add up your month + date you’re born + current year = your personal energy year. Take all numbers down to a single-digit except for 11, 22, 33; these are Master Numbers (You can learn more about this in my book, Healing with Numbers . For example: March 4, 2021 = 3 + 4 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 12/3 Below are the meanings of all numbers from 1 to 9: One Personal Energy Year This is a brand new year of beginnings for you. A time to plant new seeds, venture to new places, and meet new people. Experiencing new opportunities, possibilities and changing things up. Two Personal Energy Year This is your year to form new partnerships, relationships, sign contracts (professionally/ personally), set new boundaries in relationships, and highlight engagement and marriage. You may also experience a transition, evolution, and transformation with self and higher-self. Three Personal Energy Year This is your year to create, communicate, teach and learn. This is the time to create the life you desire. Use your imagination to create all that you have ever dreamed of. What would you like to Create? How would you like to Communicate? What would you like to Teach? What would you like to Learn? Create the life you desire. Remember, every word has Power! Four Personal Energy Year This is a time for you to build your empire, start a business, create relationships and have balance and stability. Have more balance between work and play. This is also a great time to buy real estate, a new house, a chain of business, or a franchise. It is also important to adapt a new foundation with your physical body. Be sure to schedule daily balanced workouts, hydration, eating healthy, meditation, rest, and restful sleep (6 to 9 hours per day). Five Personal Energy Year This is a year of change, freedom, and unpredictability (surprises). You will find your social life expanding and traveling to new places—a great time for adventure. You may experience meeting new people during a five energy year, working in a different area or career. You may require practicing patience and being understanding to unexpected situations. You may also be freed from situations that no longer serve you. Six Personal Energy Year This is the year to heal, nurture, and care for self and others, restore your mind, body, and spirit. Your home and family are most important. Therefore, harmony and balance are important to you. This is a time to take care of your health and become more health-conscious and develop a healthy lifestyle. You may find yourself on a spiritual journey and meeting people that help you heal on a deeper level and perhaps even begin a healing practice. The six energy year is a self-discovery period. Seven Personal Energy Year This is your year as the seeker, spiritual mastery and going within, spending time in quiet and reflecting. A time to question what’s important, meaningful, and seeking out your soul’s purpose. This is an ideal time to engage in spiritual practices and learn about your chosen faith. You may find yourself reflecting and writing, which may lead to writing books. As you go through seeking who you are, you may begin to trust yourself more and begin to trust others. This is your year of evolution and connecting with your soul’s purpose and what you’re here to leave as your legacy. Eight Personal Energy Year A year of abundance! After all the hard work, you will begin to see things fall into place. After a year of reflection and digging deep into your soul and getting to know yourself, and knowing exactly what you’re here on earth to do, now it’s time to act! Abundance may show up in every area. There are no limitations. This may also be a year to evaluate your investments, how you spend money and what your relationship is with money. This is the year for you to create abundance in wealth, relationships, health, fame, love, and career. Step into your power and create the life you desire. Nine Personal Energy Year Congratulations! You are in the final year of a 9-year cycle. You have learned a lot and released so much. You’re moving into a revolution, transition, and endings. During this year, you may find yourself tying up loose ends, walking away from situations that have expired and no longer serve you. You may also get engaged or married. This will be a year where people, places, and things shift and end. A nine-energy year may shake you to the core as your vibration and frequency begins to rise. During this year, whatever you’re not ready to end on your own, the Universe (God) or whomever you refer to as your Higher Power will step in and PUSH you away, do not attempt to reopen a door that the Universe, God, or Higher Power has closed. It’s time to let go and evolve as your nine-year new cycle will begin in the following year. As you move into the following year, get ready for excitement! Eleven Personal Energy Year This is a Master Number. However, it has the same meaning as the Two Personal Energy Year with more intensity. Your intuition is supercharged. There will be many opportunities and greater challenges with relationships, partnerships (professionally/personally). The more you connect with your intuition and come out of the ego (the head), the less you will experience challenges. This year is to recognize your spiritual gifts and share them with the world. Should you be called to teach or be a healer, then do so. It is important to listen to your inner voice to access all your spiritual gifts. There are no limits to your spiritual gifts. This is a great time for relationships. It is a wonderful time to meet someone who helps you feel good about yourself romantically or otherwise, but remember loving yourself is the most important relationship. Setting boundaries are necessary this year. Your happiness and wellbeing is a priority. For more information and schedule a Cosmic Energy Soul Reading, email Joanne at healingwithin76@gmail.com. If you mention this article, you'll receive $20 off for reading. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joanne Angel Barry Colon has 30+ years in the health, fitness and wellness industry. She is the owner of Wholistic Fitness located in NY Queens, certified holistic personal trainer, intuitive healer, cosmic energy reader, student of Astrology, Master of Numerology and Creator of Chakra Balance Numerology Cosmic Energy Forecast Deck. She is the Host of Joanne's Healing Within T.V Show and Joanne's Cosmic Energy Radio Show and Author/Self-Publisher. Joanne's mission: To help women (men by referral) release issues from their tissues as they release emotional weight and fall in love with themselves while witnessing their transformation of being the best version of themselves.

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. Young people are some of the most overlooked and underdeveloped in the world when it comes to talent. Yet, the future is in the hands of their leadership. If we don’t leverage the resources in our possession to change the trajectory of their growth, we’re missing out on a chance to develop some of the best leaders the world has ever seen. I am mainly talking about teenagers and young adults, from 13 to 24. Let’s have this conversation now. In the next 5 to 10 years, they will be at the forefront of companies, organizations, churches, and political parties. So why wait until they get into those positions to train them? Why wait until they start making mistakes? Why wait until the moment they need the skills? I believe we can start right now. I know we can. If we decide to do so, we will. I am not saying it will be easy. In fact, I know it is not an easy task for so many reasons. Here are some of them. 1. They are very smart. Let’s talk about this. Kids these days are brilliant and technologically savvy since they have access to a lot of information online. On the contrary, many of us grew up with less intellectual resources, and every time we try to compare our education style to theirs, we are in awe. This can be intimidating to adults. I get it. However, is that a reason not to take a chance on them? Actually, it’s the opposite! Guess what? If we choose not to, their curiosity will lead them to waste that precious intelligence they have on things that won’t serve them in the future! 2. They don’t seem to be interested in leadership. I’ve heard this so many times: “Kids today just want to play videogames, watch TV, be on social media. They don’t want to read books and are not interested in leadership, etc.” Okay, lets’ talk about this concern as well. How do you define leadership? Who is a leader, in your opinion? Do you believe that you are a leader yourself? If yes, why? If no, why not? As a parent, a teacher, a manager, or simply an adult, have you ever noticed that younger people around you tend to do what they see you do or what they see other adults do around them? We adults complain about the peer pressure they get from their friends, but remember, the adults also lead their friends in their lives. Whether the influence from those adults is positive or negative, leading is leading. They will lead in either the right or wrong direction. My goal is not to make you feel guilty about the “lack of responsibility” that the average young person shows these days. My goal is to make sure that we, the adults, understand that we all are responsible for the upbringing of those who will succeed us once we no longer have the strength to lead in various capacities. They are the future, and they will take over one day, sooner than we want to believe it. They have the intelligence and the vitality, but we have experience and wisdom from making so many mistakes over the course of our lives. Why not combine both? Now, let me go back to the claim that they don’t seem to be interested in leadership. Are they really not interested, or are we just failing to introduce it to them because we underestimate them, even when they show signs they want to learn? Or is it that we actually don’t know what to do or how to do it? Think about it. 3. It’s difficult, and it takes time. Oh, yes, I agree! Actually, investing in our youth and trying to give them the tools they need to lead the world in the future will require a whole lot of patience from us. Let me put it this way: if you’re trying to teach leadership skills to young people from 13 to 24 years, you’re dealing with boys and girls who are very smart. They might not listen to you because they’re trying to affirm themselves. In addition, many are going from being completely self-confident to starting to doubt themselves due to comparing themselves with their peers or to what they saw on TV or social media. You and I know well that media portrays a certain “perfect” image of what life should look like. You’re also dealing with a group of people who find themselves trusting their friends more and less trusting the adults in their lives because they think we don’t understand what they’re going through. I understand all this. My question to you is, is that a reason to give up on them? No way! I want to argue that this is perfect timing; they need our help and support more than ever. You see, when they were in elementary school, they were full of energy and were dreaming big dreams. They were “babies.” They were free. They had no fear in their hearts. Then puberty happened, and they got confused! They started doubting themselves. They went from wanting to please their parents to want to please their friends. They started to compare themselves with other teenagers. They started to question their parents, teachers, and political leaders’ ability to lead them in the first place. All this is normal. We should not be shocked by all this. All they’re trying to do is figure out who they really are. Remember, before you became the adult you are today, you were a child, then a teenager. I strongly believe they need to go through those phases to understand how to better contribute to the world in the future. Our responsibility is to expose them to the leadership skills and principles they’ll need in the future. By doing so, we’ll be helping them make the right decisions for their lives while they’re growing, and most importantly, be ready to take on leadership roles once they become adults fearlessly. Remember, they’re geniuses, and they can discern true leaders from false ones. We can’t underestimate them and think they don’t understand what’s going on around them. They do, which is why they need leadership skills now to avoid making the wrong decisions that will cost them time, energy, money, or for some, their lives. 4. You don’t know where to start. Do you understand the importance and the need to start implementing leadership skills to youth but just don’t know where to start? If yes, I understand how you feel. I felt the same way when my son was younger. You see, when he was a baby, everything was easy. I would make every decision for him, and he would just follow along (what time to eat, what time to go to bed, what time to go to school). He was following along until he started to become aware of himself. One day as he was getting closer to graduate from elementary school, I realized that he was about to enter another phase where kids ask the most questions about their future. I knew I didn’t have what it took to give him the leadership skills that he needed. So, I froze for a while. Then, I said to myself, “Lucie, what if you stop worrying about what to teach him? Instead, be. Just be. Try your best to become a true leader and lead. You already do this in your professional life, anyway. Isn’t that the same thing? A parent is a leader, believe it or not! Start working on yourself more and more, and eventually, he will follow.” This was not an easy decision. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I knew that if I tried my best to become the type of human being I would like my kid to become, hopefully, eventually, I wouldn’t have to talk too much. Yes, it’s difficult. Yes, it’s exhausting because I have to work on myself instead of trying to change someone else. Yes, I’d make 10,000 mistakes a week. Yes, I’d fall at least once a day. But one thing is for sure: I’d get up and give it another try because it’s worth it. Not only try my best, but also allow him to know how difficult it is. As a leader (parent, teacher, CEO, pastor, or manager), the last thing you want is to pretend to be invincible in front of these future leaders. Your responsibility is to lead them by starting where you are, how you are, with what you have. They’re pretty smart, remember? They can tell when you’re sincere or not. They know when you’re faking it and either will call you out, or they’ll stop trusting you. Authenticity and vulnerability will win them over faster than trying to be who you’re not. I then continued to self-develop over the years. As my kids grow, I grow. We grow together. They know my heart because I shared it with them. They know my intention because I opened up and shared it with them. Just like the future leaders we’re raising in our home, your future leaders are hungry. Your kids are hungry. Your students are hungry. The youth in your churches and organizations are hungry. They’re hungry for knowledge, guidance, and trust. Are we ready to trust the fact that they have the ability to do the right thing, even if they’re going to make tens of thousands of mistakes before they get it right? By the way, isn’t that how we master any skill? Are we willing to invest our time, our energy, our money in the right people? Yes, they are the right people to invest in. They are the future. They will lead companies, businesses, organizations, communities, nations. If we do this right, we’ll be excited to pass the baton into their hands once the day arrives. Let’s give them a chance, NOW. I want to hear from you! If you found this topic useful and have been inspired to start doing things differently, share this article with others, and let’s start this great conversation. In the near future, we’ll continue on this crucial topic. To connect with me, follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , Instagram and visit my website ! If you speak French, feel free to join our French-speaking community, L'Emergence De L'Entrepreneur , for more tips for emerging entrepreneurs. Lucie S. Matsouaka , Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lucie S. Matsouaka is a Certified Professional Career Coach who believes that it’s not enough to only 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. Lucie has been recognized for her work across the globe; invited to Belgium to speak at the Golden Artistic Awards festival, attended by Belgium government officials, and received the “Prix D’honneur” for her work. Through her partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Center for Peace - US FEDERATION, she was awarded an Official Citation from the Maryland General Assembly (USA). Additionally, she was featured in the Belgium Magazine Brukmer and several US Magazines (Formidable Woman Magazine, Black Reins, Rolling Out, Sheen Magazine, MizCEO) even in Spectrum News. Lucie is a diversity and inclusivity advocate recognized as an Amazon Best-seller for her work as a co-author with several black female authors. Her best-selling book, Black Girls Hear, takes you through the detailed and riveting experiences of the authors and how those experiences have transformed their lives. She also published two books (English and French) called “Not Everyone Wins” & “Ne Gagne Pas Qui Veut .” Lucie’s mission: Helping you shorten your learning curve.

Written by: Emily Rentas, 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 are seeing growing impact focus and discussions from institutions, organizations, and companies in the last 10 years as social responsibility is becoming a driving force in investment and building communities across the globe. With the emergence of COVID-19 and social justice issues amplified in the past year, many businesses and organizations are making it a point to put their money where their mouth is and demonstrate their mission to impact collective good. But when it comes down to further analysis and scrutiny, how many of them are in fact creating impact, or are they riding the new hot word or issue of the season? When considering impact as a business or organization, one must consider how it is being executed and understand its effectiveness. A business or organization should embark on careful review to ensure outcomes will not be riddled in biases and blind spots they failed to identify and rectify before they set off to execute. For one, it is important to understand the different areas that impact influences profoundly. Impact begins within the four walls of a business or organization first and then ripples across numerous spaces and into the communities. Below are some of the internal areas businesses and organizations must consider when thinking about impact and what happens when they do not make it a point to embrace objective perspectives and approaches, even if that means confronting and dealing with blind spots and weaknesses. Fairness and Inclusivity from Within Businesses and organizations that center around creating impact must consider how their own internal culture is a reflection and microcosm of the impact they are attempting to achieve externally. How business is done, employees are treated, and inclusion practices are considered and executed will be seen and heard louder than any static mission statement on a company’s website or marketing piece. How can a business or organization truly create meaningful and lasting positive impact in communities if their own house suffers from inequities and bad business practices that enable the systemic issues it claims to solve? A business or organization must truly create value within their employees before saying they provide it effectively to the public. Employees within businesses and organizations represent similar if not the same populations they aim to uplift in the communities they serve and support. Considering the positive impact that needs to be achieved from within will create the foundation of the external impact delivered to communities. This means intentionally creating a fair and inclusive collaborative culture that supports employees to thrive and succeed while supporting their wellbeing and individuality. Accountability, consistent and inclusive staff development and practices, engaging and transparent management, fair and livable wages, the absence of nepotism, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and avoidance of conflicts of interests are just some of the essential ways businesses and organizations ensure their culture creates the ripe conditions for positive internal impact. This may sound like the standards all businesses and organizations should be following, but sadly it is not always the case. If the very employees delivering a business or organization's services, do not feel valued, respected, and safe within its own four walls, expect those sentiments to trickle onto front-facing activities and interactions into communities. This results in perceived external outcomes a business or organization claims that end up being superficial and short-lived, often done to impress board members, donors, and communities that create a false narrative of impact. Diverse and Differing Perspectives at the Table When embarking on creating impact, businesses and organizations must clarify their who, what, where, why, and how they will be executing impact. Even then, it is important to consider how they arrived at these inferences and who is at the table when it was discussed and executed. Consider these questions to ensure diverse and differing perspectives at the decision table: Who is involved in the decision-making to decide on what impact is to be created, and how are they involved in monitoring the progress and ensuring their commitment to the process? Are there any conflicts of interest among the persons selecting or those involved in the project that can influence the outcomes? Is there internal and external representation and inclusion of those who represent the area being looked at for impact within a community? Is there employee representation of the business's various areas and an organization that will be used to execute the project for impact? Where is information and data being collected to make the inference of this need of impact? Who collected or sponsored it, and how accurate and up-to-date is it? Are there any conflicts of interest of those who collected or sponsored it? What areas can be identified where the data failed to address certain areas? Are there any sponsors and donors of this project that have conflicts of interest that affect the execution and outcome of the work? Who and how it will be ensured these conflicts of interest do not occur, and how will it be reported back to the business or organization? If there is a missing representation at these discussions, what is the businesses or organization committed to ensure it gets addressed and acted upon so it does not continue? What objective systems or supports will the business or organization utilize to identify blind spots and develop a plan to address them? Who will be part of ensuring they are utilized? Quality Trumps Quantity Many businesses and organizations use public annual “impact” reports to share their work and effect on the market and communities with the public. They are filled with tons of data regarding amounts of clients/customers served, things distributed and completed, and other metrics that speak to quantity. Although hard data allows us to quantify where energy and resources go, sometimes qualitative data within the report is incomplete or even missing. For one, the angle often utilized is from the viewpoint of a business or organization reporting what they perceived they completed or finished. However, it is another to find an impact report where it is speaking from the customer or client perspective of what was completed or finished and the quality of that work. Some of the questions to consider the quality of those areas can be: What are the levels of reported quality and satisfaction of the services or products clients and customers received? What was utilized to measure satisfaction, and what are the intervals it is administered? When applying the method, measure, and interval of the level of satisfaction did it take administration and collection issues into account, such as language, cultural competency, and consideration of accessibility to ensure no one was left out of the process? Did the business or organization ask specific questions to clients and customers on what could be improved or to explain what did not go well? What suggestions did the business and organization receive from clients and customers that lead to change and improved services? What information and data leads the organization or business to believe the change or implementation was effective and impactful? If they were not, what is the business or organization's plan and commitment to ensure it occurs? How is this process first utilized within the business and organization to gauge employee satisfaction from within, and how is confidentiality utilized. Hence, employees feel they can freely speak and share without consequences? These are just some of the objectives and questions businesses and organizations should consider when creating the frameworks and plans towards intended impact. The key to navigate the process lies in the openness and willingness to always seek and identify blind spots that hinder outcomes and create biases to a perceived impact. Businesses and organizations must make a consistent, intentional, and concerted effort to improve their internal processes, quality of work, and employees’ practices that enable the successful execution of impact-centered missions. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Emily ! Emily Rentas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Change agent Emily Rentas is a mental health leader, coaching, leadership development, operations, project, and non-profit management. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, to immigrant parents of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, Emily has navigated the cultural and economic systems and landscapes first- and second-generation immigrants face within the United States. She has been on a journey of counseling and mentoring clients and teams throughout her 10+ years within mental health and social services communities and organizations in New York City and the United States as a whole. She founded Paragon Solstice Inc. to help optimize and build resiliency in the lives, businesses, and organizations of those embarking on new journeys and transitions through their collective impact. Emily brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in transformation and mindset development together with a passion for leadership and mindfulness into her coaching style. With this approach, Emily aims to help individuals, businesses, and organizations create sustainable solutions that will unlock their unique potential and impact. Her mission: Guide individuals and businesses to create the keys necessary to open doors to bring visions and goals into creation.

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 around the world, and it was her love of how the mind works and how to create the right mindset for success that 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. Who is Samantha? I am originally from Australia but left there when I was 23 to move to Hong Kong. I moved back to Australia for several years and then permanently left there when I was 29. The travel bug had well and truly bitten! Since then, I have lived in a total of 6 countries, speak 2.5 languages (and would love to learn Italian), and have now recently settled in France. I am married to a Frenchie and have two boys. I am addicted to chocolate and live in a 400-year-old house on one of the wine routes in Alsace, surrounded by the most incredibly beautiful vineyards and, of course, amazing wine! Oh, and I have launched four of my own businesses and written four books! What is your background? I spent 22 years working in the corporate world as a marketing manager and brand strategist. I then decided that I wanted a change of pace and lifestyle, so I got additional qualifications and certifications and became a Business and Mindset Coach in 2019. What is it that you do for your clients? I help busy women seeking change create a safe and secure path to launching their own business and provide them with the tools to make it a success. I also help women who have already started down the entrepreneurial path but are not seeing the initial results they expected. I help these women get unstuck and get out of their own way. We work together to build strong and secure foundations for their business, and I help them develop a killer mindset, find the balance they are seeking in their lives, and launch and scale the business they were holding back from developing on their own. We laugh together, we create together, and they can share their entrepreneurial journey with me as I won’t judge because I’ve been there. I will only support and encourage. Who should hire/work with you? Women looking for knowledge, experience, mindset work, and support in launching and running their own business. The women I work with are smart, they can figure things out on their own, but it takes so much longer to find all the answers, make all the mistakes and gain the valuable learnings if they go it alone. This, of course, means that their business won’t start to make money for much longer than if we work together with me as their business coach. What makes a good business coach? Skilled coaches can help their clients set the right foundations for their business, develop belief-systems that will allow them to transform and achieve their dreams and goals, someone who will guide, lead, push when needed, support, and hold their clients accountable in a loving and supportive way. Finally, a good business coach asks the right questions that allow the client to tap into their own knowledge and make the right decisions for them and their business. What makes you different from other coaches? I combine decades of business experience with a master certification in NLP, life coaching, mindfulness, and I am also a meditation teacher. I have lived all over the world, have survived tragedy and a life-threatening illness, and have the learnings from running four of my own businesses under my belt. It’s the winning combination for my clients! What is the best piece of advice you can offer people starting their own business? Know your WHY and get clear on your long-term goals before taking another step. Get comfortable with you are and have the courage to be YOU! This is the only way to stand out in a crowded marketplace. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? My life’s passion is to inspire and teach others. One of my greatest joys is helping others find their true purpose and accompanying them as they grow. So I am sure I will still be coaching as well as running workshops and life-changing retreats. I also have lots of book ideas in development, so I plan to publish dozens of books in addition to my current four in print already, both fiction and non-fiction. What are your top 3 tips for those who want to start their own business or who aren’t seeing the traction they were hoping to see at this stage of their entrepreneurial journey? Firstly never give up! It is easy to say, I know, but thousands of people every year give up on their dreams just as they are about to come to fruition. We let fear and doubt enter our minds and hearts and walk away just before all the hard work we have put in starts to bring in results. Running your own business is a long-term game. It is rarely an overnight success, so patience, self-belief, and faith that all is as it should be is needed. Secondly, get really clear, I mean crystal clear, on why you want to run your own business. What is the big goal you want to achieve in your life, and how does running your own business help you achieve this? Knowing your why is so important is because it will not always be easy, and when the going gets tough, it is the overarching reason for your business and how it connects you to your life purpose that will pull you through. Thirdly, uncover what you are good at and offer people that. But find the customers or clients who really need what you can offer. They are the ones who are being kept awake at night because they can’t seem to solve the problem they have. I work a lot with my clients to help them get their targeting right, and often people give up on a business idea because they think it isn’t working, but in fact, the idea is terrific, and they simply haven’t found the right audience yet. You can find Samantha on her website, wellbeingseries, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Read more from Samantha!

Written by: Laurence Nicholson, 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 we move towards lifting restrictions around the pandemic and ‘open the curtains,’ as it were, to look outside at the big wide world, does it seem a bigger and scarier place to you? Recently I have had people coming to me to talk about how they are worried about leaving the safety of their homes as we prepare to re-engage with social activities, albeit in a somewhat controlled and different way than before. What has been worrying was that it became clear the feelings were less about the lockdown restrictions, which have themselves created a sense of fear of mixing with strangers in case one is a carrier, but more about actually leaving the cocoon of safety which is the home. The neural connections of the risk to the cause have been re-routed, but not in a good way. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) uses the principle of an ‘activating event’ (A) initiating a 'behavior response' (B) based on a previous experience or learning, leading to a 'consequential outcome' (C), and replacing the neural association or pathway linked to that previous experience or learning, with a better one which will result in a more positive outcome and an improvement in our view on life and our environment. We can make these changes unconsciously, too, as strong emotional responses such as fear can affect the way we react. I am seeing the start of a pattern where many of my clients are becoming so fearful of 'catching the virus' from other people that they avoid going outside altogether. But when challenged on what they are fearful of, they are associating their 'going outside' with their anxieties, instead of their 'failing to avoid a situation which could lead to infection.' Their neural-association-shift has potentially set them on a path of developing panic disorders, a condition of which is agoraphobia, which is actually a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, or that help wouldn't be available if things go wrong and not as people tend to think, simply a fear of open spaces. If you feel yourself experiencing such a symptom, there are some things you can do to reduce this anxiety and to keep the 'activator' where it originates, allowing you to understand the cause and implement some strategies for minimizing the effects on your lifestyle. Consider, instead of associating the 'outside world' with the risks, think about the circumstances under which contraction occurs, like: touching hard surfaces and then touching your face, being within 8 or so meters of a carrier when they sneeze or cough directly at you, etc., Then develop ways to avoid such situations. These can be such strategies as: planning specific directions for your journeys, going at less busy times, having alternate routes to take should unexpected crowds appear, and being mindful to avoid touching hard surfaces as much as possible and carrying and applying anti-bacterial gel to your hands after doing so, if it was unavoidable. These tools should keep the 'activator' focused as the situations which carry the risk and not allow it to expand to an 'all-or-nothing' type of flawed thinking ("I can't go outside because it is not safe"), commonly associated with depression, and anxieties which tend towards depression, and therefore keep your behavior (reaction) appropriately focused on positive ways to avoid the specific situation which carry the most risk. One word of caution, though. Be aware and mindful of the possibility that behaviors such as constantly applying anti-bacterial gel to your hands after each time you touch a hard surface could become so habitual that it strays into the obsessional and a form of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), which might be a good thing under current circumstances, but will need to be addressed at a later date, should it become something which impacts your everyday behavior. If you do this, it will help keep things in perspective and help prevent fear and anxiety, creating a prison of your own making. Be sure to seek help if you feel you are already suffering from this, and encourage anyone you know to do so if they exhibit such symptoms. This way, we can all stay safe in our emergence from our safety shells and get back to being the social beings we are, relatively unscathed. Follow me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Laurence Nicholson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laurence Nicholson is the CEO and founder of the N Cubed Group, My Better Life – Mind Coaching, and Exec Mental Health Solutions, through which he works with both Corporate clients and individuals, to improve and optimize mental health, performance and resilience, in order to realize measurable improvements in business and personal productivity and decision making. A Mind Coach, certified as a Corporate Mental Health Facilitator, holding 'Distinction' grade certifications in Life Coaching, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Depression Counselling, Anger and Aggression Management Counselling, Criminal Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Corporate Wellness Coaching, Laurence is also trained in Corporate Coaching and Mentoring, Behavioural Analysis, and to expert level in non-verbal deception detection and analysis. He has spent over 35 years working across corporate environments, as both a consultant and leader, and when he was first sent abroad for work way back in the 1990’s, he became fascinated by how different people and cultures think and behave in different ways under the same conditions, and quickly became addicted to immersing himself within local environments, in order to get a true experience of thought processes and event-behavior associations. Human psychology and behavioral patterns became his passion, and he used his corporate consulting work as a way to enable him to travel extensively and to study wide and diverse behaviors, and investigate the ‘how and why’ of our brain’s processes, and more importantly the impacts of stress and change on people, universally. His business education and experience as an advisor and consultant in procurement, finance, law, information technology, organizational change and executive management, combines with his life experiences and numerous culturally immersive experiences from working in over 14 countries around the world, to provide what his clients consider as a unique appreciation of their individual circumstances. Laurence aligns himself with Jungian psychodynamic theory, with its spiritual element, and supports this as a certified and attuned Reiki Master Teacher and a Certified Meditation Teacher.

Written by: Trevor Folgering, 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 noticed that when you d.i.e.t, you feel like death warmed over, and your cravings go sky-high? Why is this? In this article, I will explain to you the reasons why you get intense cravings and how to alleviate those cravings by not going on a restrictive diet. First off – let’s look at the first three letters of the word diet. D-I-E! It feels like you’re dying when you’re on a diet – which should be a good clue that dieting is not a healthy way to lose weight. The other factor to consider when you go on a diet is your hunger hormones Ghrelin and Leptin will be negatively affected and be one of the sole reasons you experience cravings when you’re on a diet. Let’s take a look at these two powerful hunger hormones. When you first go on a diet, what happens? You dramatically lower your calories, hoping that somehow this time, this special diet will work. Unfortunately, lowering calories can backfire and is the leading cause of metabolic dysfunction within the body. It also messes with your hunger hormone Ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the gastrointestinal tract cells, especially the stomach, and is often called a "hunger hormone" because it can travel to the brain and drive up the need to increase food intake. Blood levels of ghrelin are highest before meals when hungry, returning to lower levels after mealtimes. The problem becomes when one is on a very strict caloric diet. Ghrelin levels are continually being elevated, which leads to massive hunger issues and, of course, cravings. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have our appetite-regulating hormone Leptin. Leptin is a hormone predominantly made by adipose cells and cells in the small intestine that helps regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger, which diminishes fat storage in fat storage sites. Can you see now that when you go on a diet, how detrimental it is on losing body fat? Let’s imagine this scenario for a minute. You go on a typical “diet” that is around 1200 calories or even less. The first few days are fine as your body adjusts to the low caloric intake. However, by Day 3, you are starving, and you are starting to get cravings and “cheating” on your diet. You throw your hands up in the air in disgust and think to yourself that losing body fat is just not for you, and you will remain overweight forever. Does this scenario sound familiar? If it does, you are not alone! Stats show that 95 percent of individuals who go on a diet fail and gain the weight back (and then some) after quitting the diet. Not a great statistic at all. The problem with dieting is that it messes with your Ghrelin and Leptin hormones! As you drop Calories, your body senses this, and drives up the release of Ghrelin, and begins to flood the body with this powerful hunger hormone, which now travels to your brain, sending signals that you MUST eat! And usually, that food that you're eating at that time will produce massive amounts of the fat-storing hormone Insulin! Not a great scenario for losing body fat. For more info about Insulin, please read my other article, “The Secret Sauce To Losing Weight Without The Need to Go On a Diet." The other negative reaction that happens is that the release of Leptin gets shunted. Because our appetite begins to spiral out of control, the body produces less and less Leptin, which regulates our appetite and hunger. So, we have a double whammy happening here. Our hunger hormones are out of control, and the body has no ability to regulate your appetite! No wonder 95 percent of dieters fail when it comes to losing weight. Diets negatively impact the essential hormones that regulate and control your appetite and cravings. So, what should you do instead to lose weight? First off, realize that you must do the opposite of what diets do to the body if you want to lose weight. You have to drive down Ghrelin levels, so hunger gets suppressed naturally, and no cravings can occur. Then you must increase the release of Leptin, which regulates your appetite, so after each meal, you feel satisfied and have no hunger. This can only happen when you don’t diet! The Science of Regulating Your Hormones: Biohacking Your BodyFat When you eat the right types of foods, put in the right combinations, and eaten at specific times throughout the day, you will notice a huge difference in energy levels, and you will lose weight quickly and easily! This is the science of Biohacking Your Body Fat and how our clients that enroll in The BioHack The Fat Body Transformation System lose 30-60 lbs. in just 3 months! Our Biohacking Coaches are trained to put together scientifically-backed meal plans that help you drive down Ghrelin and increase your Leptin levels. So, you can crush your cravings and never feel like your “DYING” throughout the day. Now is the time to “undiet” yourself and start your Biohacking Journey with us! Enrollment is now open for The BioHack The Fat Body Transformation System! To get instant access, click the link below and book a time to speak with one of our Biohacking Coaches: https://www.biohackthefat.com/biohack-your-fat. It is time to experience the science of Biohacking and how you can lose weight without ever needing to go on a restrictive diet again. We look forward to getting your body Biohacked in 2021 and beyond! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Trevor! Trevor Folgering, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Trevor Folgering is a leader in the weight loss and nutrition industry. For over 22 years, Trevor has relentlessly pursued the truth when it comes to losing body fat correctly. By uncovering the truth about how our bodies utilize body fat, Trevor created very specific nutritional protocols that allowed him to tap into his own body fat stores and lose 40 lbs. of body fat in a very short period of time. He achieved this without going on a low caloric diet or restricting the foods that he ate. He now helps men and women achieve the body and health that they truly deserve through the science of Biohacking. He is CEO of Biohacked, a global online health and body transformation company. His mission: To shift the paradigm of the weight loss industry and re-educate the world on the proper methodologies of losing excess body fat correctly.

Written by: Aubry Alvarez & Dirk Bakker, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring Equinox marks the first day of astronomical spring. And as we usher in a new, hopeful season, many of us have spring cleaning on our minds this month. We understand the mountain of research that makes clear the psychological and emotional value of a clean home. We know that when we clean our homes, our minds and hearts will follow. And yet, for many of us, the act of cleaning usually doesn’t feel more than a chore. Here are three favorite ideas, inspired by centuries of spiritual traditions, to create a meditative practice out of cleaning your home. 1. Re-define what cleaning your home represents. When we clean, we intentionally and lovingly remove old energy from the spaces and objects we love. The act of cleaning exposes the beauty, the gratitude, the truth, and the potential of everything it touches. It gives us the chance to connect with the past, curate the present, and create the future in a tangible way that is elusive in most living areas. The physical act of cleaning, of meeting resistance and clearing it away, is symbolic for all the pathways we have to power to create for ourselves. The repetitive motions of cleaning help shut down our overthinking and turns on the creative areas of our brain. Together, these reconsiderations can help re-orient your perspective on cleaning. 2. Embrace the “now.” When we clean, we’re forced to focus on one simple act and one simple goal at a time. Through this process, we can more easily release worry or anxiety about anything outside of the now and can more easily enter a state of meditation. With enough practice, we can learn to embody this meditative state no matter where we find ourselves. Embracing the present in this way is a true skill and is known to lead the some of our best ideas, biggest internal shifts, and happiest moods. 3. Learn to see your world both literally and figuratively. Cleaning the physical mess around us is a direct path to cleaning the internal, figurative messes we want or must face. Our bravery and intention in one realm can represent bravery and intention in the other if we let it. The act of cleaning is choosing to bring our world – both externally and internally – into a state of balance in a way that aligns with how we wish to see and experience our world. Choosing to literally create such a world is a powerful path to create such a world figuratively. These ideas represent, but a few ways and reasons to can rekindle your relationship with cleaning. When we begin to see and feel the transformative effect of a clean home, we discover endless ways and reasons more. For proof-backed ideas for embarking on your own cleaning journey, check out our blog at The Frequency Spiritual Maid Service. Happy spring cleaning! Follow Dirk and Aubry on their Instagram or visit their website to learn more Read more from Aubry & Dirk! Aubry Alvarez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aubry Alvarez, Ph.D., is a therapist and mindset coach with 15 years of experience guiding women and teenage girls into the highest, most authentic version of themselves. A Master Life Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and NLP Practitioner, she is also the founder of the MOVMNT Method™. Dr. Alvarez earned her doctorate at Northwestern University and completed her postdoctoral training in neurofeedback therapy and holistic wellness. Dirk Bakker, M.Sc., is a computer scientist. During the first 10 years of his career, he built software tools to serve businesses' needs and now consults on bringing people and technology together. He completed his Master’s work at the University of Brussels. Together, they are the Co-CEOs of MOVMNT. Penpals for over 20 years, the husband and wife team now raises a blended family of five across two continents.