Written by: Cassandra Wiley, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When people turn 40, many see it as a negative turning point. Your vision worsens; you find that you are taking your glasses off to see better up close. Your hormones fluctuate, your metabolism slows down, and you may see gray hairs starting to come in. So how can you stay healthy after 40? Here are some tips: 1. Get moving. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. With spring arriving soon, you can get out and walk. You can also work out at your local gym or home. There are many workout apps and programs available online. Your heart will love you for it. 2. Find a hobby. Life should not be totally about working. Engage in activities that you enjoy. Painting on a canvas relaxes me as well as reading great books. If you are always working, when is there time to enjoy life? 3. Enjoy nature. Nature has much beauty and scents to offer with each season. I am more at peace when I am out walking on the trails enjoying these offerings. We see new life in the spring. People are happier in general as the weather gets warmer and we have more daylight. 4. Detox. Our bodies talk to us daily. We want to attribute many discomforts to age; however, a simple detox may help. For instance, treat flatulence with a colon cleanse or a gradual increase of fiber in the diet. You can purchase a colon cleanser online, at a health food store, or make your own. (Blend cucumber, lemon, grapefruit, mint, ginger, garlic, water, chia seeds, and psyllium husk). Do for a maximum of 10 days and drink plenty of water. 5. Intimacy. Intimacy is important in a committed relationship. Not only is it physical, but the mental aspect is the cherry on top. If your heart and soul are not in it, it is just an act. 6. Healthy diet. As mentioned, drinking plenty of water and fiber in the diet is essential. I also prefer to cook food as opposed to eating out. For one, I know the ingredients that I put in. I save money, and it tastes good. Processed foods contain a lot of sodium, sugar, and other chemicals that are hard to pronounce. 7. Work smart, not hard. Do YOUR job; you may not get credit for the extra tasks. In this era, anyone is expendable, even managers. 8. Self-care. Whether you see the glass half-full or half-empty, you are not able to run on an empty tank. Time for self, whether a time of reflection or relaxation, to recharge will replenish your tank. 9. Ask for help. Many of us are hesitant to ask for help. We want to do it all by ourselves without help. I have been there; it is added stress. You cherish those moments when you are child-free. When you have assistance with even the simplest tasks, it goes a long way. 10. Healthy relationships. You do not choose your family, but sometimes we may outgrow old friends or even adult friends if our lives go in different directions with various changes. We may find that we may not have anything in common with them. Money, greed, and popularity can also destroy friendships. Money motivates people, sometimes with negative consequences. Are you over 40 and want to live a healthier life? Consider if health coaching is the right avenue for you. Visit my website here. Read more from Cassandra! Cassandra Wiley, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Cassandra Wiley is a health coach and founder of Have Faith and Live Well with Chasadah LLC. She focuses primarily on chronic illnesses such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Her mission is to empower individuals to lose weight and teach a new healthier approach to food so that they can live better lives. She was successful in reversing her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol diagnoses naturally. The weight loss was an added benefit. She has helped clients change their diets and “have faith” in themselves in order to meet their health and wellness goals.

Written by: Jenn Taylor, 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’m so grateful for the complete strangers I’ve met via social media. People who have since become cherished friends, close acquaintances, business referrals, collaborative relationships, podcast guests or hosts from shows I’ve been on, people I’ve met through just messages, some messages that turned into zoom meetings, and many connections have become more than a casual sharing of information. I’ve jumped on video calls with people I had zero interest in initially (creating my own podcast app for example) because the conversation was genuine, the person took time, the messages weren’t automated and bombarding, and we got to know each other . The few minutes of time spent actually looking at my profile, getting to know me a tiny bit, having specific comments or questions, opens up the conversation easily because I have felt seen . You found me, saw something worthy of reaching out about, and started a conversation . Sure, the end goal might be to gain clients, build a group, sell something, etc… Guess what? I have that same ambition. Let’s get on that call and see if we can collaborate or if we have something the other person wants to purchase. It’s called a warm lead and can turn into an incredible business opportunity for both of us. MESSAGE 1: "Happy Birthday, Many Many happy returns of the day! We hope that you have a wonderful Birthday! I know you must have plans for the day to celebrate. With the infections of Covid-19 rising all over the world, please be cautious and safe. We pray for your health and eternal happiness. You can also celebrate by giving a small amount from the celebration you’ve planned! I understand it's a difficult time for everyone right now and we're all facing various financial difficulties on our own. Anything you can contribute will be greatly appreciated, however small or big. Our goal is to be able to help 28+ guides & porters and their families in Nepal Please click the link below to any help Donate AT THE LINK PROVIDED HERE Have a very good day! Dream now visit Nepal later. Have a very happy birthday! Our best wishes," It was not my birthday, however, on my actual birthday, I received several spam messages. Using a birthday seems to be considered an opening to send a pitch. MESSAGE 2: "Hey Jen, I went through your profile and I'm really impressed! Have you thought of sharing your exclusive content with people around the world through a platform where they can pay a monthly subscription fee to watch your videos? Let me tell you more about the platform I'm referring! It's XYZ, a subscription-based platform that allows you to share your exclusive content through an own branded channel of yours and make your subscribers pay to watch your content. CLICK to sign up!" At the end of this message, I was asked to join a subscription-based platform that I had to pay for, that other people also had to pay for to watch what I paid to upload. MESSAGE 3: "Hi Jenn How are you? Thank you for connecting :) I came across your profile and I wanted to reach out and ask if you have ever considered building an online course to help grow your business and increase your revenue, or a training series as an upsell to your book? I look forward to hearing your thoughts :)" This was the first of several subsequent emails asking me to sign up and pay for a course. On a side note, I didn’t correct grammar errors. Yes, I’m a grammar snob, and I make mistakes also, but please check what you send. This issue seems nearly constant, and it’s exceptionally frustrating. I had gotten very fast at blocking, deleting, reporting spam, “auto-responding” back with a copy/paste message, etc.. but no one wants to spend time and energy in that way, so now I ignore most messages. What I don’t understand is - why would people take the time to message this way? This approach can’t possibly work, and if memes are any indication of how bad it is, it’s pretty abysmal. In each above example, this was the first point of contact. No, “Hi, I’m NAME. I saw your profile and noticed XYZ and wanted to reach out to get to know you.” There are several reasons not to be “that person .” It’s ineffective, disingenuous, lazy, salesy, spammy, you’ll be blocked, reported and you’ll have to eat at the cafeteria table alone with a dunce cap on. You may be trying to save yourself time by automating, however, the time you’ve taken to find people in your ideal demographic is wasted because they won’t want anything to do with you. If I’m really honest, it’s like sex without foreplay, and - if you aren’t already painfully aware - no one wants that. Connection should be the goal. Genuine connection. Taking two minutes to read about someone, find things you’re impressed by, or a common denominator that links the two of you, a question, or something about the person you find intriguing. Write a few sentences that say “I looked you up, I learned THIS, I wanted to share about myself and I see you. Would you like to connect more to find out how we can be of service to each other?” I am all for automation where it makes sense. Saving time and effort is important when running a business. Building contacts, connections, and collaborations are not the place to automate or skimp on time. Block out time daily or weekly to specifically connect genuinely. You may have fewer “friends” on social media, but they will genuinely like you. For more info, follow Jenn on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit her website ! Read more from Jenn ! Jenn Taylor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenn Taylor is Mom Of 18 and The Naked Podcaster, a Mindset Coach and Motivational Speaker. She is also an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom’s Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess". She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Compounding Joy - Using the theory of compound interest to create a happier life! If you’ve attended events or heard speakers in the past and gotten excited about making changes only to return home and not know what to DO with the information, or feel frustrated at not knowing HOW to implement the information, you’ll love this talk! Compounding Joy brings fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. Not only will you walk away with WHAT to do, but you’ll also know HOW in quick, easy steps.

Written by: Elizabeth Simmons, 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. False Summits You’re almost there. Just a few more steps, and you’ll reach the end of the journey, the summit, the Pinnacle Peak representing all. All the obstacles overcome, all the backslides down, all the steady ascents, all the steep inclines, and all those “rest stops” where you had contemplated giving up only to keep pushing onward. What do you think happens when you reach “the top”? Will all your desires be fulfilled? Will you be fully satisfied and content, basking in your glory and wanting for nothing else? Perhaps you’ll be cautious about wanting anything else—wanting too much—for true happiness comes from within. Right? And wanting for more will tarnish your appreciation of what is? In yoga, we are taught santosha, a Sanskrit word that represents the idea of true contentment, being completely full, satisfied, and whole with what is. I’ve experienced santosha many times (usually expressed in tears and giggles) when light broke through the clouds on a snowy day over the reservoir, in my backfield surrounded by the aroma of the wild roses while feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, or even after a long day of physical activity, snuggled under the blankets with my dog Padawan happily curled into a ball behind my legs. If there is such pleasure to be found in the here and now, through awareness and appreciation of the glorious world around us, would wanting more almost seem ungrateful? What more would one possibly need, and what is behind this wanting? “One never stops climbing, Julie, unless he wants to stop and vegetate. There’s always something just ahead.” ― Irene Hunt Listen, if you feel guilty about wanting more, stop right now, it is in our nature to want more: more experiences, more happiness, more ways to express ourselves, JUST MORE. We are creative beings, meaning that we cannot help but think of ways to express that creativity. We are part of the universe, literally made of stardust. The universe is expanding, and that expansive energy is within us needing to be released. There is no final destination. There is no ultimate summit, for once you reach that peak, another will be seen that you weren’t aware of before. How, then, do you marry contentment of “what is” with the universal pull of expansion? Well, if you accept the fact that there is no ultimate achievement, that whatever happiness you’ve attached to what has yet to come will only be temporary, it may then cause you to focus on the now. To find those sweet moments of pure awareness and appreciation in the small miracles of this world. Knowing also that your universal purpose is to grow, create, and express yourself, you will then embrace your position on being on the leading edge of the creative. This concept of loving what is while also answering the call for more is what I like to call Creative Contentment. It is the act of creating, building, expanding, and expressing your true self through the work, actions, interactions, and play in the here and now where contentment is found. It is the climbing of mountains for the joy of climbing, excited about the views, knowing that even more peaks will be on the horizon. “Feel yourself climbing the mountain.” ― A.D. Posey Check out Elizabeth on her website. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn! Elizabeth Simmons, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Liz Simmons is a woman of action in the career and life coaching field. A massive injury (full rupture of Achilles tendon) in 2010 made Liz ditch her corporate job of 10 years (Environmental Scientist), and start taking responsibility for her own life. Since then, Liz has inspired hundreds to transform their lives by making changes in their health, career and mindset. Liz is the owner of Strength & Grace Life Coaching, a business mentor for EforAll (Entrepreneurship for All), an international speaker, a life coach for high schools, host of “The Pivot Posse” interview series and author of a weekly blog. She has dedicated her life to helping others move from frustrated, apathetic and insecure to focused, confident and courageous. Her mission is to help millennials with a passion develop the mindset and skills for becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Written by: Laura Flanagan, 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. At this point in the pandemic, we all have a deep understanding of fear and sacrifice. We know what it feels like to be alone and afraid. Perhaps these emotions are stemming from something deeper. Perhaps our fear and sadness are a result of feeling powerless. Many of us still don’t understand the power that lies within us; the change we can incite; the transformation waiting for us at the other end of this pandemic. You can share the light within you, and it can spread far more than the virus could ever dream of. What part of this pandemics is the most stressful to you? Where do you feel a lack of control? What can you control now and in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead? One aspect of our lives that we can control and change – one that will also help us power up our immune system to increase the efficacy of the COVID vaccine -is our diet. Undernutrition is a health crisis rarely discussed. We are accustomed to hearing about how overconsumption of processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, high-stress jobs are some of the underpinnings of many diseases. However, we have also become a malnourished species. Studies have shown that undernutrition affects vaccine efficacy in general. The undernourished and the obese are at the highest risk of contracting COVID and eliciting a lower immune response to the COVID vaccines rolling out. When we begin to visualize eating a diet rich in nutrients to boost our immune function, we are already on the right path. Bringing these visualizations into the meditation practice is the first and most powerful step. This can lead to and prime us for the next step – which is taking action. Take action first by aiming to get your nutrients from a variety of whole foods that contain immune-boosting power. Choose fruits and vegetables rather than processed foods or supplements. Variety is key! Look at your plate the next time you sit down for a meal. Is it full of color or monochromatic? Try to fill your plate with as many colorful (ideally raw) foods as possible. Foods that are high in the following nutrients will help boost your immune system and also facilitate the efficacy of the COVID vaccine: 1. Vitamin C – Citrus Fruits & Greens Consuming foods high in vitamin C such as grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, sweet red pepper, broccoli, strawberries, kale, and kiwifruit increase white blood cell production, which is key to fighting infection. 2. Beta-Carotene – Root Vegetables & Greens Beta-carotene converts into vitamin A, an anti-inflammatory vitamin that can help your antibodies respond to toxins, such as viruses. Carrots, spinach, kale, apricots, sweet potato, squash, and cantaloupe are great beta-carotene sources. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, so consuming foods with healthy fats will aid in its absorption. A great immune-boosting combination would be carrots with traditional hummus or a spinach salad with avocado or olive oil in the dressing. 3. Vitamin E – Nuts, Seeds, Greens Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is key in regulating and supporting immune system function. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds, avocado, and spinach. 4. Antioxidants – Green Tea Green tea is packed with antioxidants that have been shown to enhance immune system function. It also contains amino acids that may aid in producing germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells, which reduces inflammation in the body and helps fight infection. Green tea can be consumed hot, cold, or as matcha powder. 5. Vitamin D – Sunshine, Fish, and Eggs Vitamin D is essential to immune function and helps regulate the body’s immune response. Vitamin D can be found in salmon, canned tuna, egg yolks, and mushrooms. Your body can also synthesize vitamin D with just 13-15 minutes of sunshine three times a week. You can also visit me in Costa Rica for a good dose! 6. Probiotics, Gut Health & Immunity Yogurt, Kombucha, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh (Fermented Soybeans), and certain types of cheese contain live cultures, also known as probiotics, are thought to help stimulate the immune system to fight off disease. The microbiome or the “good bacteria” in your digestive system determine how other nutrients and harmful bacteria are processed in your body, making probiotics perhaps one of the most important functions for immunity. The microbiome helps you process the nutrients described throughout the rest of this article while also acting as an extra barrier for fighting off harmful bacteria and fungi. 7. Garlic – T-Cell Booster Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs in a variety of ways by stimulating cells important to fighting disease and helping to regulate the immune system. It helps boost the production of virus-fighting T-cells and can reduce the amount of stress hormones your body produces, which can help keep your immune system functioning at full strength. 8. Vitamin B-6 – Lymphatic System Boost & Red Blood Cells Vitamin B-6 is essential in forming new and healthy red blood cells and aids in maintaining the lymphatic system. Chicken, turkey, cold-water fish (salmon and tuna), chickpeas (traditional hummus), bananas, fortified breakfast cereal, and nutritional yeast are great options for consuming vitamin B-6. 9. Water – Hydration & Immunity Water helps produce lymph which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells through the body. There are many foods with high water content, such as cucumbers, watermelon, and celery. If you have a hard time drinking plain water, try a cup of green tea with lemon, watermelon, cucumber, or mint-infused water for an immune system powerhouse beverage. Think of proper hydration as a way to make it easier for immune-boosting nutrients to get to where they need to go (cells) in your body. 10. Zinc – Shellfish, Poultry, and Beans Immune system cells need zinc to function as they are intended. Zinc is a mineral that our body does not store or produce. While oysters have the highest zinc food content, there are several other options such as shellfish (crab, clams, lobster, and mussels), poultry (chicken or turkey), and for the vegetarian - pumpkin seeds and beans! Zinc is also found in fortified cereals and some breads, but the best absorption comes from animal-based foods. So, remember that even before we make a big shift to actually changing our diet, we can begin by using visualization meditation as the first step in making positive, healthy changes for our immune system and our bodies in general. Through meditation, we can also lean into all of the fears - founded and unfounded - that have arisen for us amidst the pandemic. Our world is evolving. This experience is transformative for every person individually. And we are all connected, linked, intertwined, and so when we can begin to embrace our own transformation, we begin to do so for everyone. Join me every Thursday evening for Moonlight Meditation, where we address these and other relevant issues in these challenging times. If you are interested in learning more about Functional Nutrition and how it can assist you in living more fully, contact me at laura@socratescenter.com. Follow me on Instagram, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Laura! Laura Flanagan MS, RYT, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laura Flanagan is a Scientist by education and career, but she recently left her corporate job and moved to Costa Rica with her horse to open an Equine Therapy Center. Concurrently with her career as a scientist, she has been teaching Yoga and Meditation for over 18 years. Laura is a Yoga Instructor, Yamuna Body Rolling Instructor, Meditation Teacher, and Director of the Socrates Center in Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica. She has helped thousands of clients with physical pain through her certification with Yamuna who uses a form of small ball therapy. She has used her Yoga, Body Rolling, and Meditation practices to help her recover from breast cancer. She is also enrolled in the Functional Nutrition Counselor program through the Functional Nutrition Alliance. https://fxnutrition.com/.

Written by: Atul Mehra, 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. Hello, my friends! I am a sperm. I am a Nobody from Nowhere, an insignificant tiny little cell with absolutely no value in your present life. I have long been ignored and not been taken seriously for too long but do not forget that I am You. I am the initiator of your life. I exist, so you exist. If it weren't for me, you would not be here today. Today, I am using my voice of courage to introduce myself to you in a serious manner and to reveal the secrets which have been locked away in the deepest part of the consciousness forever. I am eternally grateful to my friend, Atul Kumar Mehra, who discovered me, acknowledged me, and validated my existence as the foundation of life. My role and function had remained a secret for centuries, but Atul's research of 21 years, amounting to more than 20,000 sessions with thousands of clients, has thrust me into the light. What I am going to share with you today is just a small part of his work. In his book The Unseen Wisdom of the Unborn, he has beautifully described the journey I undertake to reach an ovum. According to him, I am a living, "Conscious Sperm." Many of you believe that life begins only after a baby takes birth. Some of you may have researched and understood that life begins at the moment of conception, but, according to Atul, your life started when first the idea of having a baby crossed into your Mom and Dad's mind. I am the manifestation of that same idea. First and foremost, I would like to address the misconception that I am the one that fertilizes the egg, but this has been proven wrong by Atul's research; he has unearthed that it is not only I who fertilizes the egg but that the egg is intelligent enough to pick me up when I arrive. Joe Nadeau, a principal scientist at the Pacific Northwest Research Institute, also backs this discovery. An article was written in quantamagazine.com titled "Choosy eggs may pick sperm for their genes, defying Mendel's law." Interesting or coincidental, what do you think? Many of you may be surprised to learn that although several millions of sperms are created each day in the body, and by the end of a complete sperm production cycle, the body regenerates up to 8 billion sperms. So, I ask you, how can only one sperm fertilize an egg? Let me clear up this confusion for you. There may be billions of sperms in the human body, but only one of us will possess the consciousness that he is the one who will fertilize the egg. So, the old myth that the first sperm to reach the egg is debunked because the ovum will not select a sperm at random. I may arrive late and but only I can enter and initiate conception. This is why Atul calls me "The Conscious Sperm." All other sperms do not possess this consciousness, for their job is to remain neutral as they cheerlead and accompany me in my journey to the fertilization process. The other question you may have is this: "how does only one sperm gain this consciousness in the first place?" I ask that you keep reading on as later I will reveal the big secret. Before that, I would like to explain how I feel. I am the representation of your father and his thoughts at that very moment which will directly or indirectly influence your future experiences. Your father's fears, anxieties, unacceptance - for whatever reason they exist - will imprint themselves on me. A lack of acceptance within your father's thoughts may become the essence of your life, playing out in many situations. On the flip side, your father's happiness and loving acceptance will also imprint themselves on me, and you will become loved, desired, and accepted as a child, opening up untold possibilities to living a life of contentment and joy. Now, doesn't that sound much better than living a life of emptiness that sucks you into the abyss of a black hole? The outcome, of course, will also depend on other thoughts, emotions, and events that occur throughout the mother's pregnancy, as well as the environment you lived in as a child. Certainly, the mother's thoughts and feelings also influence your life as there is information within my partner the egg, but that is an entirely different and separate story. The most interesting thing about my consciousness, which scientists may take centuries to discover, is that it exists immediately when the soul arrives. At that very moment, I gain consciousness and feel what my father felt; I am aware that I need to reach my destination, so I embark upon my long journey to meet my other half. The soul's presence only initiates conception because it would be ridiculous to imagine that the soul descends, eagerly waits for me to complete my journey to fertilize the egg. Let's imagine that no sperm was successful in fertilizing the egg. Does the soul now have to return to the soul world feeling frustrated and disappointed, then wait for another opportunity to descend? This may take days, months, even years! But wait, there is more to me than meets the eye! Other than me, there can be other conscious sperms that may result in multiple births. All these conscious sperms are aware of each other, and the important fact that if one of these conscious sperms fails to fertilize the egg, it will not complete its journey. It depends absolutely on the choice made by the soul who decides to postpone the time of birth, thus obstructing the whole process and ending it before it is even brought to completion. This means that the soul plays a critical role in initiating conception. Conception is an experience of a triad that only takes place when the sperm fertilizes the egg, the soul descends into the body, and billions of cells form to begin creating a human being. During my journey, I develop my first 5 senses, which accompany me for the rest of my life. Atul has recognized and given name to 18 more senses through his therapeutic work, but I feel that there might be more and sooner than later they too will see the light of day. The whole trajectory of my life cycle is a simple spiritual process. I ask that you become mindful, especially when you decide to have a baby, to develop a healthy, positive attitude that allows you to welcome your child with confidence, love, and unconditional acceptance. Give no importance to your baby's gender or physical attributes, nor hold expectations in your mind about the child's future. Wouldn't you want your baby to live a life of contentment and acceptance, free from disharmony and discord? I am pleased that you have gained a deeper understanding of me and hope that I have satisfied your curiosity and answered questions. Perhaps next time you think of me, it will be with the new-found awareness that it is through me that you discover and connect with your inner self. I invite you to read further about me in Atul's book The Unseen Wisdom of the Unborn. You will be amazed to learn that the intrauterine life can create and heal future anxieties, addictions, depression, and even serious diseases such as Tumours. Feel free to contact him if you feel depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or even if you feel that your life has been unfair to you because you have suffered massive emotional pain. Or, perhaps you are simply seeking solutions for your mental or physical illness. It is now time for me to rest. I am grateful for this opportunity to share my story with you. Thank you for giving me your attention and for validating my existence as an important part of your "Self." Stay connected with Atul Kumar Mehra through his email at atul@atulmehra.com or through 1-905-781-8194. You can also visit his website. Follow Atul on Facebook & Instagram! Atul Mehra, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Atul Kumar Mehra is an Author, International Speaker and Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada. He participated in panel discussions with Dr. John Gray, spoken at an international event headlined by Dr. Deepak Chopra and a guest speaker on hundreds of TV & Radio shows. He published his International Best Selling book on Amazon, "The Unseen Wisdom of the Unborn," and the second one is under editing "The Need for Disease." He is currently working on two others, "Addiction is Survival and not Guilt" and "My Unconscious Self," to share his experience and wisdom from more than 20 years of working with the unconscious mind. Since childhood, he was intrigued by the mind's power, which led him to start meditating at the age of four years with guidance from his father. From that age, his dream was to connect with the Source, which was finally realized when he accessed and experienced the deepest human conscious form as sperm consciousness.

Written by: Miriam Hahn, 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 a wellness coach, one of the most common questions people ask me is, what is one healthy lifestyle habit they should change in order to help prevent disease. There are so many things that contribute to our overall health, but an easy way to answer that question is to simply eat more plants! The Standard American Diet typically can look like this: eggs and toast for breakfast, a turkey sandwich for lunch, chicken and a salad for dinner. While that might sound healthy to some, the amount of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, and antioxidants found in this diet is insufficient to fuel our body efficiently and prevent disease. According to Web MD and many others specializing in plant-based eating, the anti-cancer diet should include ten servings of produce per day. This is easy to do with a little planning and focus. Here are five easy ways to incorporate more produce into your daily diet: 1. Make smoothies – You can pack in at least 3-5 of your servings in just one smoothie. Even though you are blending it, you are still getting all of the fiber. Try wild blueberries, banana, spinach, dates, and ground flaxseed. 2. Experiment with savory breakfasts – Try a tofu scramble, sweet potato toast, or savory oats for a delicious start to your day (check out my Instagram for these recipes). 3. Meal prep a big pot of soup – Make a big soup batch on a weekend to have all week and add to your meals. Find a soup recipe packed with veggies for the biggest bang for your buck. 4. Eat buddha bowls – Eating a wide variety of produce (eating the rainbow) is easy with a colorful buddha bowl. To round it out, combine roasted veggies, raw veggies, beans, a grain, lots of greens, and top with pumpkin seeds. 5. Snack on produce – Some simple ideas are: fruit with dairy-free yogurt, apples and peanut butter, kale chips, and jicama sticks with guacamole. Remember that small daily changes add up to big results over time. You have more control over your health than you think! You can find hundreds of easy, delicious recipes on her Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn . visit her website for more info! Miriam Hahn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Miriam Hahn is the owner of YouCare-SelfCare, a private wellness practice, specializing in plant-based lifestyle and disease prevention. She is a certified wellness coach and a graduate of the Cornell University Plant-Based Nutrition Program. Miriam has helped thousands of people live a vibrant life through her in-person and online wellness and cooking courses. She offers recipe development and food photography to brands as well as wellness workshops to organizations.

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. Are you a wild dog, giraffe, or hippo? Read on to discover my own unusual way of figuring out my ideal client characteristics. Just over two years ago, I started my journey as a business coach and the question, “who is your ideal client?” kept popping up. Who is your ideal client? “Hmm! Anybody who would like to be coached to grow their business” was my initial standard response. Perhaps you can relate. Not too many leads from that marketing tactic, though. This, of course, is not useful for the connections trying to help you get your business off the ground, so I decided to use some props at my local networking event. So I walked into the event hall with a large pink box containing 3 soft toys – an African wild dog or Painted wolf, a Giraffe, and a Hippopotamus and introduced them as my ideal clients. Confession: They are my soft toys, hehe! That brought to mind some lyrics from a great song by Cat Stevens: “Ooh baby, baby, it's a wild world. It's hard to get by just upon a smile. Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world. I'll always remember you like a child, girl.” What do African wild animals have to do with client profiling? I don’t think of myself as creative, but occasionally my right brain takes over and delivers the wackiest ideas, so one day, I fetched my soft toys and looked up their characteristics. For example, wild dogs are opportunistic predators. They hunt in packs. They are focused and driven and have boundless energy. This reminded me of one of my clients who is always coming up with fresh ideas, leveraging their networks, and ultra-focused on their business vision. In this case, I could help them with clearly setting their targets and measuring the results. I would also point out their blind spots and potential risks - there might be larger competitors (lions) or other networks they can intentionally join (new terrain) Do you see? A business doesn’t always have to be hard, sometimes having a bit of fun and doing some creative thinking can generate new ideas for your business. Are you a wild animal? Business ownership can be ‘wild,’ but with the creative mind of a child, you can join the Cat, Dog, Giraffe, or Hippo and find your ideal target clients. Finding a business partner or coach that you can trust to have your best business interests at heart, guide you along the trickier parts of this exercise, helping you to identify your ideal client profile is one way to success. Valued Insights, Focussed 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 Just 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.

Sarah Dew is a master life coach, self-published author, and the founder of A Simple and Contented Life. An online platform that helps other women step out of a life on autopilot and into one of purpose so that they can become their best selves and live their best lives. With almost 20 years of experience in coaching and mentoring others one way or another, she is incredibly passionate about helping fellow mums strike a healthy balance between life, home, and work so that they have the time and energy to pursue their own goals and dreams. In 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her fight taught her that life is precious and that it goes way too fast. It made her realize that it was time to stop just ‘existing’ and start living. To stop focusing on and worrying about the things that didn’t matter and the things she couldn’t control. To do what she could to reduce the overwhelm, eliminate the unessential and make life less stressful and more enjoyable. And now, she helps women all over the world to do the same. Hi Sarah, tell us a little about yourself. Hi! I’m Sarah. A mum, stepmum, fur mama to two Frenchie pups, and I’ve been married to my best friend for 14 years. At my happiest curled up in a chair with a good book and a glass of wine, I love experimenting in the kitchen, going for long walks in our local forest, and taking road trips exploring the UK countryside with my husband and two boys. Why did you decide to launch your coaching business? As someone who has been incredibly self-aware from a very young age, I’ve always been fascinated by all things personal growth and self-improvement. In my early twenties, I started to notice that people would always come to me with their problems, asking what they should do. During my chemotherapy, my breast cancer nurse suggested I try journaling to process everything that was going on. Writing quickly became my therapy, and having discovered a new passion, when my treatment finished, I decided to start a blog. Very soon, I began to get emails from my readers and subscribers asking for help and advice on how to make life less stressful and more enjoyable. I loved helping them and hearing all about the results they were getting. Becoming a life coach seemed a natural progression. So I became certified as a master life coach, and last year, A Simple and Contented Life transitioned from being a blog to a fully-fledged coaching business. What is it that you do for your clients? Many of my clients come to me because they’re feeling lost and overwhelmed. Stuck in a rut and frustrated with the life they are leading. They want to make a change for the better but don’t know where to start or how to make it happen. Often, they feel like they’re not living up to their true potential and that they’re meant for more but don’t always know what that ‘more’ is. And so, I help them get unstuck and gain clarity about who they are and what they want to feel happier and more fulfilled. Together we work to identify the blocks holding them back so that they can push past their limiting beliefs, overcome self-doubt and develop the mindset and confidence to embrace change. I show them how to set goals that truly resonate and help them to develop the course of action they need to take so that they can finally stop procrastinating and start becoming the person they know they’re meant to be. Who is your ideal client? My ideal client is someone who is fed up with living life on autopilot and wants to make a change for the better. Ready to stop just ‘existing’ and start living, they’re prepared to put in the work knowing that they are the only ones who can change their life. They understand that change doesn’t happen overnight and are okay with that. They’re willing to learn from someone who’s been there and can help them create the changes they want to make. Most importantly, they’re willing to step out of their comfort zone – even if they find it a little scary! These are my favorite type of clients because I know they have it in them to become their best selves, and together, we can make it happen. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing my clients having those light bulb moments. Those breakthroughs increase their confidence so that they’re brave enough to leap to become their best selves and live their best lives. Are there any common struggles that your clients share? Yes. The majority of my clients tend to have the same three struggles, and they’re all interlinked. First, they want to create more balance in their lives, but second, they’re scared of change, and so third, stepping out of their comfort zone doesn’t come easy. I help them to identify which areas of their lives need their attention most and show them how to break that fear of change cycle so that they feel less daunted by the thought of stepping out into the unknown. Your clients are mainly mums. Why is that? Honestly, I think it’s because I’m a mum too. Parenting isn’t easy, and our kids don’t come with a manual. Often, we feel like we’re the wheel that keeps our families turning, and it can be hard to juggle all the hats as mums have to wear. As a mum and a stepmum of almost 18 years, I’ve had my fair share of parenting experiences, and I know that my clients resonate with this. I’ve been the stay-at-home mum and the mum who works full time. I’ve had a 9-5, and now I run my own business. I’ve simultaneously wrestled the teenage years with the toddler years, and more recently, like many other mums, I’ve had to find a way to juggle working from home with homeschooling. But through it all, I’ve managed to make a change for the better, to make life less stressful and more enjoyable, and my clients want to do the same. Your diagnosis of breast cancer must have been devastating. Tell us more about that. Yes, it was. I’ve always been a relatively fit and healthy person, and there’s no history of breast cancer in my family, so it was a diagnosis that came totally out of the blue. Whilst in the bath one Sunday evening, I discovered a lump in my left breast. Fearing the worst, it took me a couple of days to pluck up the courage to pick up the phone and make the appointment to see my doctor. But once I did, everything happened so fast. Within 3 months, I’d had a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and started chemotherapy. A real whirlwind of appointments, scans, blood tests, ultrasounds, and decisions that had to be made very quickly, to say that it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life would be an understatement – especially as my son had only just turned 5 and started school a few months before. The thought that he might have to grow up without his mum around was absolutely devastating. It made me realize that life is precious, goes way too fast, and that nothing matters more than spending quality time with the ones we love. I promised myself that if I made it through, I would do everything within my power to create a life less stressful, and more enjoyable. To stop worrying about the things that didn’t matter and to start making more time for the things that did. And during my journey, I realized that I wanted to help others do the same. As devastating as my experience was, the reality is that it doesn’t have to take a diagnosis of cancer to make you want to make a change for the better. You can do it anytime you like. You just have to decide to do so. To commit to yourself, be honest about what truly makes you happy, and do one thing every single day to help you get closer to creating a life you don’t want to take a vacation from. You’re a self-published author. What is your book about? My book How to Create a Family Life You LOVE is a step-by-step guide to making family life less stressful and more enjoyable. In it, I share the three pillars to creating a life you love that the foundation A Simple and Contented Life is built upon – Love Your Family, Love Your Home, and Love Yourself. The idea is that if you invest your time in all three, if you give each area the attention they deserve, you end up with the fourth; you love your life. Just like a roof needs walls to become a house, being happy in each of these three areas is key if you want to live a life you love, and in my book, I share all the tips and strategies you need to make it happen. So, how do you become the master of your own life? What ONE thing can we do to help us get started on the journey to becoming our best selves? The first step is recognizing that you want to change and permitting yourself to change. Then, it all comes down to habits. What good habits do you have? What bad habits do you want to break, and what new habits would you like to adopt? We set goals, and we set new year resolutions. But habits are what helps us accomplish the things we want to accomplish. If you want to make a change for the better, you need to ditch those bad habits, the habits that no longer serve you, and create new habits that will help you take another step closer to where you want to be. Think about what you want to have achieved a year from now. What daily habits will help you get there? Write them down, and then do what you can to build them into your daily routine. Be consistent. Whether those habits are big or small, it’s the consistency that makes all the difference. How do you stay motivated and focused? I think more than anything, it’s knowing my why. Having a strong why, i.e., knowing why you’re doing the things you do, is key. Because when you know your why, no matter how tough life gets, you’ll always have the drive and determination to keep going. And if on those tough days your why doesn’t motivate you, it’s not big enough. It’s all very well to want to uplevel your life, but why are you doing it? For me, it’s all about creating a business that not only helps others become the best version of themselves but allows me to work from home so that I get to spend as much time with my family as possible during these precious years. That in itself is enough to make me want to jump out of bed and switch my laptop on each morning! What’s the best advice you’ve ever been? Do you know what? Some of the best advice I’ve ever received has been in the form of quotes. I just love being inspired by quotes and even have a whole notebook full of them that I read whenever I need a dose of encouragement. Two of my all-time favorites are from Charles Swindoll and Jeffrey Fry; “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” and “The formula for success is 2% talent, 8% luck, and 90% of showing up every day.” I live by these quotes, and whenever my son is struggling at school or doubting his capabilities, I always remind him of these. And it’s the same for my clients too. Creating a life you love is all about doing the work, about taking those baby steps every single day, and keep showing up for yourself. Do that, and you will get to where you want to be. What are your favorite books about personal growth? Atomic Habits – James Clear Essentialism – Greg McKeown You are a Badass – Jen Sincero Take Control of Your Life - Mel Robbins Everything is Figureoutable - Marie Forleo Do It Scared - Ruth Soukup And of course, my book – How to Create a Family Life You Love. What’s next for a Simple and Contented Life? What’s your vision for your business? Right now, I’m working on my group coaching program, Intentionally You, and the podcast of the same name, which will be launching later this year. Long-term, my big dream is to host retreats. Retreats in beautiful spa hotels where mums armed with cocktails wanting to uplevel their lives come together for a mix of down-time, rest, and recharge whilst working on their goals. At the end of the weekend, they come away revived, refreshed, and armed with a plan to help them reduce the overwhelm, take back control, become the best version of themselves and create a life they love. Find out how to work with me 1:1 HERE. Join my Facebook group, follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Follow me on YouTube HERE and visit my website to find out more!

Written by: Naiyer Qureshi, 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. ''Sleep is a non-negotiable, biological necessity", Matthew Walker, Director of the Berkeley Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab. Most of us have experienced that awful feeling after waking up still tired. Moody, demotivated, just wanting to dive back under the covers. Not possible as work beckons. This is the mood you take to your workplace and colleagues or clients if you're on the entrepreneur journey, expecting to experience a day of high concentration, engagement, and productivity. You may be copacetic with poor sleep. However, sleep is more important for your brain than you realize. Studies have shown that most of us regularly need 7-8 hours a night. When you get enough sleep, your attention is sharper, your concentration ability is higher, and your learning capabilities deeper. Consequences of sleep deprivation: reduced ability to focus on large amounts of information difficulty ustaining your attention for long periods slower reaction times ability to problem solve reduced poor memory recall increased levels of cortisol (stress hormone) poor regulation of emotions weight gain due to higher levels of ghrelin-hunger hormone and lower levels of leptin-satiety hormone An extreme consequence of sleep deprivation is your brain 'micro-sleeping.' Your brain may force itself to shut down for a few seconds when you are awake. You may become unconscious for a few seconds and not even realize. Can you imagine if this happened whilst you were driving or operating machinery? Sleep deprivation reduces your cognitive abilities akin to that of a drunk person. What is your brain up to whilst you sleep? Electroencephalogram [EEG] readings show that your brain is actually more active when you sleep. Some parts of your brain are up to 30% more active during sleep than during the day. Memories As you sleep, your brain is busy selecting which memories and learnings from your day are worth saving. Do you really need to save the memory of what you ate for breakfast that morning? Your brain will "prune away" unwanted neural connections. By pruning away excess connections, sleep effectively creates the space so that you can learn again the next day. Regular deep sleep aids memory consolidation. Your learnings and thoughts from your PFC [prefrontal cortex], the higher-ordered thinking region, get sent to your hippocampus-memory inbox-for long term storage to be accessed in the future. Lack of sleep can decrease how much of what you have learned that day is stored in your long-term memory. Sleep protects your memories! Toxins Your brain cells send electrical messages all day long due to your thoughts, learnings, and everyday activities. These electrical signals "produce" toxic waste products. During sleep, the space between brain cells increases, allowing cerebral spinal fluid to cleanse the brain of toxins along with toxic proteins, which are linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Sleep is important for your immune system and cardiovascular health. Regular deep sleep promotes a clean and healthy brain and may stave off several diseases. Healing Deep sleep produces delta brainwaves. At this level, your body's muscles and other cells heal and generate. Limbic System Tiredness can lead to stress and mismanagement of challenging situations. Your amygdala is always on the alert for negative emotions, and when it is activated, it hi-jacks your PFC. You are less able to regulate your emotions, plan, assess, concentrate, and so on as a result. Personal and professional relationships can suffer. Your brain utilizes 20% of the body's energy, and it is such a waste of energy managing negative emotions and consequences as a result of tiredness. Potential, creativity, innovation, productivity... the list goes on ...losing out due to poor sleep habits. Adequate sleep can help you to react calmly and control negative impulses. Overall, deep regular sleep helps you to look, feel, and heal better. Your general levels of positivity, happiness, and feeling great are increased. You are alert, sharper with improved memory, and regulation of emotions. Your stress levels are within your control. Sleep Tips: keep your bedroom cool; 18 degrees centigrade is optimal the regularity of sleep is important, same time to bed, same time to awake, even at weekends 8 hours of sleep will give you about 62-110 minutes of deep restorative sleep reduce your screen time well before bed reduce caffeine, wine, and nicotine before bed exercise earlier in the day can promote sleep write down your to-do list for the next day- get the points out of your head Meditation can help to calm your mind and aid sleep Prepare your bedroom- gorgeous bedlinen, low light, cool temperature -associate the ambiance with rest and sleep. As you read at the beginning, ''sleep is a non-negotiable, biological necessity''. Prioritize it and give yourself a healthy competitive edge in all facets of your life. Sweet dreams! For more info, follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Naiyer Qureshi, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Naiyer Qureshi, is a certified NeuroCoach based in London, the UK. Drawing on over 20 years in the retail sector, she works with ambitious entrepreneurs, busy professionals, and business leaders who value personal development, people who know they’re capable of achieving so much more and want to put strategies and structures in place to take their achievements to the next level. She studied and completed The Coaching Academy’s Coach Training Programme, the world’s leading training provider. Her study of Neuroscience Coaching and Leadership, from the Optimind Institute, underpins everything she does. Specialisms include Neuro Spirituality, Neuro Health, Neuro Relationships, and Neuro Entrepreneurship. Her early career as a pharmacy technician instilled in her the importance of taking a rigorous scientific approach, with close attention to detail, accuracy, and a results-based methodology.

Written by: Betsy Kauffman, 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 the special sauce to being a successful entrepreneur? Some will say it’s hard work, while some will say it’s luck. But I think the right answer is that it’s a little bit of both. Let me explain. To succeed in entrepreneurship, business, or even in life, I have a few simple characteristics and skills I subscribe to as being vital building blocks on the road to success. Adaptability: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” And you could easily add entrepreneur to that list. Rarely does something go according to plan, but what separates the successful from the unsuccessful is the ability to adapt. Having alternate plans and improvising, evolving, or changing course altogether is a vital trait — but a difficult one to master. Persistence: Almost a continuation of being adaptable. While being adaptable is important, being persistent is just as vital. There will be ebbs and flows, ups and downs in business and life. Being persistent in chasing your dreams and accomplishments, no matter what obstacles are in your way, is a must if you want to succeed. Consistency: Something that many people struggle with. This may be one of the most difficult characteristics because it requires several other traits like self-discipline, focus, and determination. Just like we explored with persistence, there will be ebbs and flows — but the trick is to remain consistent through the peaks and valleys. Consistency is a trait that may be underutilized and underappreciated in today’s world. It’s always about innovating and finding “the next big thing.” But there is value inconsistency and being able to stay the course to achieve your goals. Passion: This is the icing on the cake for the other traits I listed above. If you don’t have passion, you don’t have a chance. You absolutely need to be passionate about what you are doing and accomplishing your goals. No one can instill that desire within you or give you that intrinsic motivation to reach your dreams — it has to be YOU! The second step underneath passion is to learn how to convey what you’re passionate about to investors, employees, clients, etc. Start by trying to write your “why statement.” Why do you do what you do? Here’s mine, for example: I create workplaces where people wake up each morning feeling motivated and inspired by their work so that they end their days feeling fulfilled and valued. Once you can communicate your passion to others, it will be much easier to stay the course. That “why” will become your de facto mission statement, guiding your decisions and choices throughout your journey. You can make your own “luck” by using these helpful tips, creating new opportunities, and capitalizing on the hard work you’ve put in toward reaching your goals. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start making your dreams happen! Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Betsy ! Betsy Kauffman, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Betsy Kauffman is a globally recognized Leadership and Organizational Agility Coach with more than 20 years' experience working in Fortune 500 companies. Her company, Cross Impact Coaching, helps leaders create innovative, aligned, disruptive agile organizations. Betsy has observed and worked side by side with hundreds of CxO leaders. She has seen just about every variation of how Leadership Teams operate and execute (both successfully and not so successfully). She deeply understands and has experienced firsthand when the team of individuals charged with leading the organization aren't aligned, focused, and working as one; the rest of the organization suffers. She is a published author providing thought leadership to both agile and project management communities and speaks internationally on leadership, corporate culture, and organizational agility. She just completed her first TED talk - “4 Tips to Kickstart Honest Conversations at Work” in September 2020 in conjunction with the TED@PMI partnership and was selected by the TED editors to have her talk brought to the mainstage– check it out at TED.com!

Written by: Mala Kennedy, 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 thought about your thoughts? I mean, really considered them? If you haven’t, then there’s no better time than now! If you take inventory of what you’re thinking, you could surprise yourself. I know because every time I do this, I am blown away by some of the negative self-talk that still rises up. Nope, even life coaches aren’t immune. I promise I am human, like you. So let’s get into it. Read on for my top 3 thoughts to stop thinking right now. I’m Not Good Enough This one hits right in the heart. You know what I’m saying. There was that time when that girl got a promotion, and you thought I’m not good enough for that job. Or you had that damaging thought that ‘you’re just a mama.’ You’ve been out of work for so long you feel like you know nothing. How could you ever be the CEO of your own business? Here’s the thing, I used to think I wasn’t good enough to be a coach. Why would someone like little old me be able to help people? Even after my intense, hands-on training, it still took me years to leap. Why? Because I didn’t believe I was good enough and I told myself that daily until it became true. Your thoughts become your reality. My mentor Alan Sieler always used to remind us that language is a predisposition for action. What does that mean? Let me break it down. Your thoughts are ideas, and we have an average of 6200 thoughts per day. When a thought persists, it becomes a belief. When you keep reinforcing this belief, you embed it in your subconscious. When you say “I’m not good enough” to yourself, you are using your language to shape your reality. You will act according to your language. If you tell yourself you aren’t good enough to start your own business. You won't, especially if you repeat it often until it is a belief. You will likely stop yourself from taking action. Or your action might be to stay in the job you hate and find most of your day-to-day life unbearable. (Are you wasting your potential?). If you actually take action and launch your business, it will be because of your thoughts and beliefs. Chances are your thought would be something like, “I can give it a go.” Again, when repeated enough, this thought could become the belief “I am good enough.” Your language matters. Tell yourself, “I can,” and you form the belief I am good enough. Notice how your action becomes one that is full of possibilities. This is where you take inspired action, like starting your business. I Can’t Do X This one is a knee bender. It will drop you to the floor. I can’t. It’s gotta go. The number of times we say it to ourselves can have a massive impact. Thoughts become beliefs remember, and this affects our actions. My son tends to say I can’t. When I ask him to try a new food or carry something heavy, he drops into “I can’t.” This is a fixed mindset, and the goal is to switch it to a growth mindset. So one little trick that I do with my son is to say “I can’t yet” (yes, it can be that simple). This is a safety zone. I could tell you to say ‘I can,’ but that could feel like a dirty little lie, which isn’t useful. Yet. We will get there. First, start reframing it to, I can’t yet. What comes up for you? There are possibilities here. I can’t yet means it’s not final, and at some point, you will be able to (reminder: language is a predisposition for action) So if it’s not final, what’s your next step? Ask yourself, what’s next? What is possible, and what can I do? Yes, I’ve got you! You’ll be able to reframe it to: I can (amazing). Or if that's a stretch, maybe I can’t yet feels good. I Should Enter those shoulda woulda coulda. Should. We should ban should from the dictionary (whoops, see how persistent it can be). Should will throw you right into the dark depths of people-pleasing. Take note of how many times you say you should in one day. Is it the bane of your self-talk? Awareness is the Queen Bee. Bringing awareness to your thoughts is a key step because you don’t know what you don’t know. Noticing is a beautiful thing. It will change the game for you. Once you notice the thought, you can pause and do nothing else (it’s still a great first step). Or you can take it further and reframe it IN THE MOMENT. This is important because it is changing your language. This will propel you towards a new trajectory. Do you want to go down the possibility path or hit the no-through road? I know where I’m headed. Now you can reframe should to could. This takes the heat out of it. When you lower the stove, it’s less likely to burn (who else hates burning their food). I know I’m one of those people who hates cooking dinner when I have to, but when I’m cooking for fun, I love it. Could gives you your power back. Hello choice, hello freedom. Doesn’t that feel amazing! There you have it, 3 thoughts to stop thinking right now. Start watching your words and play with these little shifts. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Mala Kennedy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mala helps mama's overcome imposter syndrome so they can show up for themselves and build a business they love. She is passionate about supporting women to feel confident and master their mindset. She is a life coach, EFT practitioner, reiki practitioner, writer, and mama. She is certified in ontological coaching which integrates language, emotions and body for a way of being that supports your best self. She uses this linguistic and somatic approach in partnership with her other modalities to support her clients to embody their next level. Mala is the expert Self-Care Columnist at Untamed Soul Magazine, and co-author of The Q.U.E.E.N. Xperience Guide to Playing Your Royal Position: Snatch Your Confidence Back. She facilitates group coaching programs, offers private coaching, and hosts a free Facebook Group, Confident Women.

Written by: Kristian Elmefall, 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. Automation, globalization, and increased transparency lead to reduced margins for almost all companies, does that also apply to your company? Then you need to get more out of your innovation work! It is no longer enough to mainly work with efficiencies to become more competitive. With today's global competition and rapid development, all companies must work with innovation to survive. But innovation is difficult. Statistics show that if you are a small or medium-sized company and consider that 5-10 times the money back on your best innovation project is enough as a growth engine, an average of 15-20 projects is required to get such a project. If you are a large company and want a real growth engine that makes a difference, so you want a project that gives 50 times the money invested back, an average of 250 projects is required to get such a project, according to the statistics. We have now established that everyone needs innovation and that innovation is difficult, so it cannot be left to chance. But the statistics above are the average, and there is no reason for you to be average or worse than average. This article is the first in a series of articles where I will go through three choices that each company must make for successful innovation work. How much resources should go to innovation, and how much goes to day-to-day operations? How and where does the transformation of working methods respectively innovation work take place? How many resources will be used to develop the existing business, and how much will be used to innovate new future opportunities? Execute or search A traditional company is organized and has incentive models to execute its business model as efficiently as possible. Common instruments are budgets and deadlines. For innovation work, this is not a suitable way to organize. Budgets and deadlines are based on the assumption that it is possible to calculate the result that will be created in advance. For innovation, it is just the opposite. Innovation means that it is something new, which makes the approach and the result unknown. Innovation: Something new and value-creating Instead, a searching approach is required to work successfully with innovation, where observations are made to gain insights. That these insights are correct is ensured through a hypothesis-based approach. A hypothesis is an assumption about reality. If the idea is to develop an app that you can use to pay for parking and the idea is that everyone should be able to use it. A hypothesis is that everyone who wants to park has a mobile phone that can install the app. It is important to see the hypothesis as an assumption until there is evidence that the assumption is correct. Executing the existing business model is, of course, important because it is the company's business and what makes the company make money right now. It also provides the opportunity to invest in innovation and the future. Here, a choice must be made for when and where executing respectively searching work is done and how much resources are allocated to each of the working methods? By introducing portfolio management on their innovation work, it is possible to gain control of the work, how much resources are to be set aside for innovation work, and in which areas innovations are to be developed. At LEAPS, we create innovation portfolios by first creating an innovation thesis that is linked to the company's strategy. The innovation thesis describes in which areas the organization should invest in innovation and why the organization should invest in precisely these areas. It also describes in which areas the organization should not invest in innovation and what the reason for it is. The innovation thesis thus functions as a tool for those responsible for the projects in the innovation portfolio. We then build the innovation portfolio on the McKinsey model's three horizons where resources are distributed over projects that are to be implemented and create cash flow now, projects that have unproven hypotheses and which must therefore be worked on to obtain evidence that it is a good idea and finally exploratory projects in areas that we believe could be of interest to the organization in the future. For more information, visit LEAPS and connect with Kristian on LinkedIn ! Read more from Kristian ! Kristian Elmefall, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kristian is a Swedish serial entrepreneur and senior management consultant, with a double degree in Executive MBA and computer science. Kristian has gathered experience in innovation and business from a large number of industries and companies of all sizes over the last 20 years. As co-founder of the consultant firm LEAPS, is he now helping customers to understand how the industries that the customers are operating in is evolving, how to stay relevant and competitive under those circumstances, and how to set up an innovation process to secure reoccurring innovations in line with the company’s strategy.