Written by: Claire Muller, 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 started this year with hope, even knowing that we still have some restrictions. Many of my clients are working from home and continuously online. The last year 2020, taught us the value of life, family, relationships, freedom, resilience, and gratitude. We found ourselves needing to adjust to the ‘new norm’ and make the best of our situations. Self-help resources and dealing with the global lockdown helped us find balance and share what we learned with everyone. We are spending more time online for work and being social on all social media platforms. How do we differentiate between work and social when online? I have heard so many people say they started the new year refreshed, hopeful, and ready to go; but are now into the second month of 2021 and are digitally fatigued. It seems like many have forgotten the lessons from last year. To those struggling to find balance, here is a reminder and five ways to deal with digital fatigue: 1. Set Boundaries. Your home is your sanctuary, and you can reclaim it by only working in 1 area if you do not have a home office set-up. Keep your work-space separate from your bedroom and, if possible, your lounge or couch. 2. Switch off. There should be a differentiation between work and leisure time. We are spending loads of our time staring at screens, including social media. Give yourself a time out. 3. Manage your priorities! Do what is essential and urgent. Design a schedule to work on tasks that are important and not particularly urgent. Delegate tasks that do not need your attention. Drop the tasks that fill your ‘To Do’ lists. These items give us a false sense of productivity with so much busyness, which leads to feeling overwhelmed and fatigued. 4. Self-care. Down-time from social media and a much-needed break is necessary to taking care of your well-being. Schedule time for a mental spa and time away from all screens. 5. Release Schedule. Some time for a daily activity that helps release energy and be revitalizing. It could be vigorous exercise, a calm walk, or a mindful activity like yoga. Get moving! We may be tired of hearing the term new norm, but it is a reality we either need to accept or change how we dealt with it! We still have choices and can exercise those within our control. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Claire Muller, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Claire Muller is a business and executive coach. She has transitioned from 23 years of working in the Travel Industry to fulfill her purpose and positively impact the world, by empowering women in business. Claire is a qualified Trainer, Assessor and Coach. She is also a Neuro-Linguistic Program Practitioner that challenges limiting beliefs and thinking patterns, reframing those thoughts with positivity. Her toolbox includes Life, Business, Executive, Abundance, Creativity, and Enneagram Coaching.

Written by: Andrea Cristancho, 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. If you were to ask me to name my top 3 activities in business, networking would certainly be at the top, no doubt. Facilitating human connections and business relationships has a special place in my heart. You might ask yourself. It’s a no-brainer. We need people to move the needle forward in life and business, and I’ll say, that’s right. However, there’s an art to building relationships that last and stand the test of time. This indeed if one can foster relationships, only if you care. Let’s explore how! These days while social isolation becomes the new norm, we get the chance to miss much more “hanging out” with other humans, mainly the ones we know. However, the ones we’re yet to meet stand in line for one day to come, and I find it’s a shame to miss such opportunities because great connections and friendships await on you. So, what can we do to break the barrier of isolation or distance, as we experience it today? It’s simple, get active networking online. Done. I’ve said it . Sure. But it’s easier said than done in reality. Why? Our human condition first lifts the bar of protection when we see strangers as threats. Hence, we disregard the contact of an unknown person right of the bat, fearing that you’ll get hurt. I know that feeling. I’ve been there. I’ve done then go straight to their profile to “study” who they are and what we have in common. The truth is that nothing can happen to you, online strangers can not harm you, and you can always hit delete, block, report, or unfollow at any time. On the other hand, you could be missing a great opportunity and insightful conversations with potential long-lasting friendships if you refuse to click the accept button. It all comes down to choice. Dare to step into the unknown or not that is the question! In my days working and living in Shanghai, networking was a big part of my weekly agenda. I met people at networking events and ballrooms that, till today, are part of my network, and some have become lifelong friends. So, if you ask me, I’ll say hit the accept button right away. Now, it’s crucial to realize that online, your profile, your “online blueprint” will attract the right or wrong kind of people. Hence, putting some effort into polishing your content will portrait the real you on any platform. And, that brings me to the key factor in this equation, finding your voice. That means being authentically you. The importance is simple. First, you don’t want to attract the wrong crowd, and second, you don’t want to mislead somebody from who you truly are offline. Furthermore, your uniqueness will help to increase “eyeballs” on your profile and the probability to start conversations that will lead to the next level in building a healthy business partnership otherwise. Finding your voice might sound a bit “Joo Joo” when we’re first starting because, to some, it’s portraying your best face out there, leaving your essence out of the game. Unfortunately, that will make your copy sound stale, and nobody wants to hang out with people without chuspa. Getting started on working on your voice has many angles. The trick is to get started, don’t overthink it. Get started by listing 3 topics you can speak about endlessly without much effort. These 3 will become your content silos. If these topics are your hobbies, work line, or current interest, people will be attracted to you to speak about that specifically. It’s sort of speaking the same language. Second, clean up your profile and make it visible, and most importantly, allow for visibility from your settings. As if when someone knocks on your door at home, you welcome them into your living room to sit, what would they find there? Your online living room is your profile, so own it with images and copy that resembles your ideal environment. And last but not least, be proactive, reach out to connect, and start conversations. This last point is the hardest of them all because it requires time and effort but think about it as attending that one networking event. Once you’re at the event, you spend at least two hours mingling. Online it can be much less, but still, you’ve got to spend some time and have fun while at it. Comment, engage, share, be active. Nowadays, networking online is quite simple, thanks to the autoresponders and bots that can facilitate short-form conversations. I’m a huge fan of automatization, don’t get me wrong, but when it comes to bonding, it’s not the same energy when another human is answering your messages on the other side compared to a bot. So, what I refer to and promote is to get systematic at the frequency you spend on this task. Don’t let it be one more daily distraction. Rather, dedicate 30’ daily with intention and purpose. Then put it away until next time. Systems facilitate life in general, and they for sure will facilitate keeping up with your social life online too. I’m the queen of creating signature systems that enhance your expertise and make it easier for you to share your knowledge in multiple ways. However, it took years of work to find my voice and some more to start sharing. So know I’m holding you accountable no matter what. The wait is over. With that said, come on over to meet me. I look forward to your DM in text or voice form. And do me a favor, find me over at LinkedIn , Instagram , and Facebook as Andrea Cristancho, Coach, let’s connect. To your success, catch up soon! You can also visit her website for more info and join her Facebook Group here. Read more from Andrea! Andrea Cristancho, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Andrea Cristancho, founder of www.andreacristancho.com , is a Holistic Business Coach helping female entrepreneurs in the wellness space. Through her signature program, The UpLevel Method, Andrea integrates the entrepreneurial mindset with practical business tools that re-engineer existing businesses to achieve their next growth level. As an international business mentor with Latin roots and serial entrepreneur, she has run her own businesses in 3 continents in many different industries. In the process, she has discovered that having a signature program, a personal brand, and the right mindset is the key to taking off your entrepreneurial success.

Written by: Tanja Malovrh, 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 know exactly how it is when you start building your business online and wanting to show your expertise to your future clients. Even though you might have years of experience, it’s hard to stand out in the crowd. It’s still fresh in my memory when I went on this journey of putting my business consulting services to the online world. It was not an option for me to go back to the corporate world working 24/7 because of having a child, and to be honest, I didn’t want to go back. It all started with jumping into courses, mentorship programs, and learning tons of information about the core things you have to consider before starting off. I now know that you don’t need most of the fancy things. The only thing you need to do is show your true self and start with a couple of simple steps. The Brand Is YOU! You are the brand representing the company, and that being said, you need to get yourself out there. It’s not about having a perfect logo, all the graphic design in place but more about how you approach your clients. Building trust and credibility online is sometimes a challenge because people don’t see you in person. When you are sitting at the same table, it’s easier to feel the person's energy. You can see straight away if the person is the right fit or not. I’ve heard the expression “fake it until you make it” several times, which can cost you your future business. If you don’t know certain things, it’s better to say that you are not an expert within that field. Be honest! The Quality of Your Work. Make sure that you always deliver what you have promised. I know there is room for improvements practically with anything you do, but that is called growth. Just do your best in a given time, don’t try to make it perfect, make sure that you meet the deadlines, and provide value to the client. Ask yourself about the customer journey, how are you taking them through the buying process, closing the deals, and treating them when working with them. If you have products, consider good customer support to resolve any problems. You can do so much to provide a quality service. Combination of all that will bring in new clients through referrals because you are doing an amazing job. No matter what business you are in, satisfied clients will tell or even show other people it was worth investing in you. Collaborate with Others Within Your Field. You can always find like-minded people and join forces. Don’t consider them as your competition. There is plenty of room at the market for all of us. It’s just a matter of what kind of value you can provide to your clients. I have business partners supporting me within sales, marketing, graphic design, all the techy stuff, and so much more. It’s teamwork that makes us successful. You have way more to offer in one place, and clients will stick with you. At the end of the day, they might even become your accountability partners. Giving you feedback about your business as well. You can hear other expert opinions about how to improve what you are working on. Become a Guest Speaker or Write Articles. You can find many opportunities out there to be part of podcasts, live interviews, or even writing expert articles for magazines. Just look carefully next time you get across some Facebook groups to see the opportunities people are offering. The only thing you have to make sure is that the person aligns with your vision and goals. You will know straight away if it’s worth joining or not. Look for the interviews within your work field because people who represent your clients are listening or reading the content you will provide. You can always write articles yourself as well. If that is your passion, I strongly recommend it, and you have endless options in what kind of format to publish. You are in charge of the content and educating others about what you do. Get Visible and Show Up Consistently. Showing up online through different social media platforms will get you visibility. Talk to people within other groups and share your knowledge. Don’t feel like you are giving too much. If people don’t know you, this is the only way to introduce yourself and your work. Keep consistent communication when sharing your story, and don’t jump from one title to another just because it sounds great. Be yourself, use your knowledge and show up when you say you are going to show up. Those are the fundamentals of any business that is looking to work long-term and have happy clients. Reach out to me if you feel there is something that keeps you away from getting your business out there with a blast. You can book a short 20-minute Clarity Call, and let’s see where you are at right now. For more information, follow me on Facebook and visit my website! Read more from Tanja! Tanja Malovrh, Executive Contributor Brainz MagazineTanja Malovrh works with professionals within different industries that need support with their business growth and setting strategy the right way. As a Business Strategist, her job is to assess the current set of resources, find the most effective way to use them, and build working business models for her clients. She gained her knowledge being part of the corporate world, holding different positions, building up her own diagnostic clinic from ground zero, and now supporting others with her expert knowledge to scale their business. She is active within European funded projects and having her own research team covering different scientific fields of work.

Written by: Dr. Grace Lee, 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 key to getting known online is to be known for one thing that is your personal brand. When Clubhouse came into the picture, it quickly became one of the fastest audience builder tools. For example, within 3 weeks of joining Clubhouse, I grew my following to 700+ on the platform, which also grew my Instagram following by 130% since the two are connected. The best way to use Clubhouse to build your know, like, and trust factor is to host your own rooms. Whether you're a moderator of your own room or someone else's, here are my best tips for owning the room. PURGE DEAD SILENCE When podcasts first came out, they quickly earned the reputation of becoming the modern-day radio. Clubhouse has taken the world of podcasting to a whole new level where listeners can interact with the podcast host in real-time. Since it's in real-time, listeners have the choice to be in other Clubhouse rooms with the tap of a button. The key is to make the room sticky — in other words, to get your audience to stay inside your room. Dead silence doesn't make the room sticky. If you are moderating a room, develop a sense of when a conversation will end so that you can jump in and keep the energy of the room going. There are 3 ways I've found to avoid dead silence and keep the flow of the room going: 1. Reset the room. Tell the audience with enthusiasm what you're talking about in the room to benefit those who are just joining. 2. Edify the people. Ask the audience to follow the people who are on stage with you, follow your co-moderators, and follow the people who the speakers follow. This causes others to want to come into your room and stay with you because they know you're going to edify them. 3. Open the Q&A. Instruct the audience that you're going to open the floor for questions. Instruct them to get to their question right away so that you don't keep people waiting in line for too long. Take one question per person. PROVIDE GREAT CONTENT Clubhouse room participants are there to learn. After all, this is a platform that gives everyone an equal opportunity to be in a room and talk to some of the world's greatest influencers like Elon Musk and Grant Cardone. Always be learning so that you have a large enough knowledge base to create great content on various topics and answer questions with deeper insight. Often people raise their hands and come onto the stage with real questions, real struggles. Show people, you can help them by actually helping them. When you deliver great value from a heart of service, you'll have people follow you on Clubhouse and Instagram and send you a DM on Instagram to let you know how much they resonated with what you said. As you speak, do them a favor and talk a little faster than you normally do, and get straight to the point without the fluff. At this point, they don't know, like, or trust you yet, so you have to earn it. The best way to earn it is to show them that you respect their time by working hard to hold their attention. Eventually, they will reach out to enquire about your services. Imagine how quickly you can build a following of true fans who know, like, and trust you if you deliver great content consistently in Clubhouse rooms that assemble larger and larger audiences. PRODUCE A STRONG DESIRE Once you have amassed enough of a following to start your own room, the most important thing you can do is to write a compelling topic title for the room. Use a good copywriting strategy to develop an event name that produces a strong desire for someone to choose to show up to your room. A persuasive event name is one that evokes curiosity, captures their attention, and elevates a desire to click into the room to join the conversation. Most importantly, have some fun with it! Clubhouse is a collaborative platform that unites people from all backgrounds and walks of life, one conversation at a time. Follow me on Instagram, Linkedin, and Clubhouse @drgracelee. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly insights that will transform your mind and transform your life. Reach out to me to let me know you've read my article. I'd love to hear from you. Read more from Dr. Grace! Dr. Grace Lee, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Grace Lee, Ph.D., is the founder of Mastery Insights, host of Brain to Business and Career Revisionist podcasts, and creator of a practical, business & career channel on YouTube. Dr. Grace is sought after as a speaker and trainer in sales, business development, career development, public speaking, mindset, and neuroscience. Through her coaching firm, Mastery Insights, she is dedicated to enabling professionals to take their education, expertise, and experiences, and (1) turn it into a passion for-profit online, or (2) leverage it to create higher income and impact in a meaningful career path. She has trained hundreds of people from 10+ countries all over the world. Using her expertise from her Ph.D. in neuroscience, Dr. Grace's methods empowers you to discover a different way of thinking to take the guesswork out of what to do next so you can grow fast. For more inspiration and strategies on growth, follow Dr. Grace on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.

Written by: Saskia Kremer, 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. How are you able to manage it all, is a question I often get. Solo parenting with all the challenges it brings along, building a business in a foreign country, lockdowns, and personal challenges…. Well, to be honest, I don’t 😉 , and yet I do 😊 There are a lot of choices I need to make; prioritizing, planning and forward-thinking are key. A few good friends and family members who are there to support me are crucial. And what becomes more and more evident to me is I can handle a lot when I know I am safe and can rest in that loving space where I can be without judgment. If I want to hold the space for my children, friends and clients, so they can transition through tough times, I fundamentally need to be connected to that space myself. That space in which I accept that I don’t know and that that is ok. A space where I can be a witness to myself and all I am discovering, a space of loving acceptance where I can show up without a solution. And talking to a dear friend reminded me of Joan of Arc (a young French woman who around 1430 lead stunning military victories and later burned to death as a heretic) when she was questioned during her trial: “Do you know whether or not you are in God's grace?” Joan: “If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.” The vulnerability and yet the power of her statement struck me again. The vulnerability she accepted during her trial of not knowing if she did the right things and the powerful confidence she placed in God to protect and guide her and keep her in the space where she wanted to be. Could she measure it by herself? No, and yet, it gave her a tremendous power to fulfill her mission, to stand up and lead! This is the paradox of leadership: You cannot lead if you don’t accept to be lead yourself. You cannot create and hold that safe space for your team to grow and develop if your safe space does not support you yourself. You cannot Step Up with power if you cannot embrace your vulnerability. Are you wondering how you can improve your leadership and be even more unapologetically? Schedule a quick call , so we can talk and support you! For more info, follow me on LinkedIn , visit my website and join my Facebook Group ! Read more from Saskia! Saskia Kremer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As an Executive Coach and Trainer, Saskia helps successful, time-challenged high-level management, directors, and business owners increase their performance and their teams' productivity without the stress and overwhelm. Once a Missionary, working alongside Mother Teresa herself, made her live all around the globe, helping people discover their meaning in life in sometimes heartbreaking circumstances. After leading multiple projects and International communities, she left the missions following her own experience of burnout. Starting her own business allowed her to combine her philosophical and theological research with her rich multi-cultural experience. She places the human person at its center, allowing it to find its unique place and thrive. In 2016, as a single mum of 2 young children, she moved from Holland to Ireland. She specialized in working with business owners, directors, and managers, showing them how to create a bigger vision for their business and life, freeing up their own time to excel in what they are best at and increase their profit and satisfaction without the stress and the overwhelm.

Andrée is a successful transformational coach and trainer, as well as being an author, speaker, loving wife and mother of 2 fantastic and authentic kids. (Well, not kids, as they are now adults in their own right.) She had a career in HR and Training in the corporate world spanning 20+ years. During her HR career, Andrée realized she had a passion for helping others develop and grow. This passion coupled with her stress levels and poor quality of life, led to a recognition that there was more to life than endeavoring for someone else as an employee. With a yearning to help others, a need for a better work/life balance to spend with her family, she walked away from life in the corporate fast line. In 2002 she set up her own Learning/Development and Coaching consultancy called Aspiring Future Competence. She has been married to her soulmate and husband, Richard, for 36+ years. Meeting him was one of the best things that ever happened as he has made the biggest impact on her life in more ways than one. The reason for this is that he was living some of her values – fun and freedom. He was impulsive, optimistic, and had a yearning for discovery and travel – all the things that she desired but held herself back from attaining. He believed in her more than she believed in herself. He encouraged her to develop and flourish in her career. Her family is the most precious thing in her life, and she has very strong family values. She is a mother of two fantastic and authentic human beings, her daughter Elisse and son Alex and as a family, they are very close. The family is based in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, living between Cambridge and London. She loves being outdoors and feels grateful and lucky to live near rolling fields and countryside. Early mornings are spent walking their beautiful dog called Archie, who is a Springador (Labrador/Springer spaniel cross). He’s a beautiful chocolate color, with an unbounded energy that ensures we get lots of exercise and is definitely a major part of our lives. Health and wellbeing is one of Andrée’s key values, meaning that in addition to her outdoor walks, she also attends classes at the gym and does Pilates 3 times a week. In her younger years, her pastime was riding horses and owned a horse for 9 years, however with work commitments and other leisure interests, her horse riding days have come to an end. She is also an avid cook who loves nothing more than spending time in the kitchen experimenting with cultural cuisine from places she has visited. In November 2011, she experienced a life changing event when she was told she had breast cancer. Her determination, positive mindset and belief helped her to overcome the disease. She has continued to support others who are starting their own cancer journey through a cancer support group she attended in early 2012 and is now keen to reach another goal of publishing a book about her cancer journey to help others. Although a challenging situation to go through, the cancer journey did give Andrée something positive, a new mindset. The situation forced her to carry out a lot of self-reflection and realized that you only get one shot at this life, so what you do with it and the path you go down is entirely of your own making. She now lives life to the full and loves traveling the world to experience other countries and their cultures. All of these life experiences have helped to highlight her real purpose in life, setting her on a journey to inspire others and share all she can to help others grow and develop. Personal development is a key priority and has manifested in Andrée being an avid reader of self-help books. In 2019, she reached a momentous personal milestone by publishing her own called ‘Behind the Mask.’ It’s an interactive book that takes the reader on their own journey of self-discovery to live an authentic, happy, and fulfilled life. How has she faced lockdown? She has used lockdown to develop and grow and pivot her business from face to face training and coaching to virtual delivery. She is also developing online courses, e-books, audiobooks to support her corporate and personal development products/services. In addition, Andrée has spent quality time with her family/friends often virtually due to the constraints of lockdown and spent time in the kitchen creating some new culinary delights. What is it that you do for your clients? I help my clients to get visible, get heard, and get ahead in their career and/or personal life by transformational coaching/training techniques. These outcomes are facilitated both face to face and virtually. I work with both corporate businesses and with individuals for personal development and transformational change. My clients are, therefore, a mix of: 1. Corporate clients/SME’s for the Learning/Development and Executive Coaching across the UK. My specialist areas are: Leadership & Management Career Coaching Authentic Leadership Influencing with Impact and more. (Take a look at our website) 2. Personal Development clients for one to one transformational change coaching. My specialist subjects are: Emotional Intelligence Core Values and Imposter Syndrome How to stop self-sabotaging your life (Limiting Beliefs/Inner Critic) and career coaching. Who should hire/work with you? In the last 12 months, the world has changed and may never be the same again. We all need to pivot and use a different set of skills and techniques to motivate our teams and ourselves. Organizations and individuals are facing new challenges, which include working remotely and trying to motivate and lead a team or themselves. I’m looking to work with organizations or individuals who are happy to invest in their people and their future to bring about transformational change. I believe the key to business success both organisationally and personally is to facilitate transformational change and develop Authentic Leaders. I love to inspire people to develop and grow with new vigor to become authentic leaders of the future, who are trusted and respected by others whilst valuing others contributions. This also is the same for individuals looking to develop themselves either for business or in life. At AFC, we deliver inspirational, interactive and engaging solutions to help people to develop to their potential. I have a passion for igniting something deep within that engages and motivates an individual to achieve their goals which ultimately will lead to personal/business success. What is your big goal? My biggest goal is to create an amazing online presence that helps and inspires others. This environment will help nurture individuals, develop their skillset, maximize knowledge, open their mindset and broaden horizon. My goal is to be the ‘guru’ of authenticity and become the ‘Confidence Coach’ for years to come. My friend/colleague has already called me ‘The UK’s answer to Brené Brown' on the subject of authenticity, so my aim is to ensure others see me that way. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Sitting on a tropical island, sipping a cocktail, writing books, publishing articles and running a successful online global coaching company in semi-retirement. I also see myself speaking at conferences and events both face to face and virtually. My overall drive for 10 years’ time is to be described as the go-to person on the subject of Authenticity and Authentic Leadership. Follow Andrée on Facebook, Instagram, connect with her on LinkedIn and visit her website for more info! Read more from Andrée!

Diane Forster is an award-winning life coach and intentional living expert. After several life events that led to an attempted suicide, Diane reinvented her life and found her true calling. Now, she helps others transform their lives to live with passion and purpose. As a mindset and manifestation master, she has helped thousands clear away limiting beliefs and feelings of low self-worth to instead bring their ideas to actualization and create the life of their dreams. Diane's TV Show and podcast, "I HAVE TODAY with Diane Forster" offers practical, actionable steps that you can do today. She is also an award-winning inventor, author of 6 books, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, QVC, ESPN Radio, KHTS Radio, and several other TV, radio, podcasts, and magazines. Her mission: Transform 1 billion lives. Who is Diane? I was born and raised in New York. I moved to California with my family at 17 and lived there for ten years. Then I moved to Chicago and lived there for 24 years, which is where I raised my twins. I moved to San Diego, California in 2015, and I promised myself that I will always live in a place with warm weather for the rest of my life! I am an Entrepreneur, Inventor, TV Host, Podcaster, Speaker, Author, and I’m humbled to say the recipient of the 2020 Global Excellence Award for “Life Coach of the Year” in California. I absolutely love being part of building something that is my own while helping so many others make their dreams come true, too! I’m a mom of twins…my daughter, Melanie, and my son, Robert. They’re college graduates, they’re strong and independent, and they make me proud every single day! I live at the beach in San Diego and walk along the shoreline almost every day. The beach is my happy place. I also enjoy hiking, cooking, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends. I love live theatre, movies, travel, and especially dancing. Although I don’t have any pets right now, I love dogs…especially Westies! What is it that you do for your clients? My background was in corporate. I worked in the Advertising and TV Sales industry for many, many years. It was a good career for me, but towards the end, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to create something of my own. Additionally, I was in an unhealthy marriage, and I was unhappy, depressed, lonely and exhausted for a long time. It led to a suicide attempt. That night in the bathroom woke me up! I reached out for help the next day and began my journey of healing, self-love, self-worth, personal development and spiritual awakening. It was the universe’s way of knocking me down (and almost out) to make changes in my life so that I could start doing what I came here to do…help others, through my work, my voice, both verbal and written, my heart, and my presence. Once I knew that was my purpose, I made the bold decision to completely reinvent my life. I quit my corporate job at DISNEY/ABC, sold my house and everything in it, got my twins off to college, and moved cross country to start over. That’s when I founded “I HAVE TODAY.” I help women who are either going through transition or want to transition in their lives, personally or professionally…and often both simultaneously, to bring their ideas from concept to actualization. Most of my clients want to build something that’s their own (just like me) and they need help putting all of the pieces together, executing an effective strategy, learning how to leverage what they have, and how to create their greatest earnings potential with it. My program is called, “Have It All Life” because I wholeheartedly believe that you can, and deserve to, have it all…whatever that definition is for you! “Have It All” doesn’t necessarily mean material things. It means whatever feeds your soul so that you are doing what you love and loving what you do every day. That is why we are here on this earthly journey. I do a lot of mindset and manifestation work with my clients through my programs, products and services as well because without the right mindset, you can’t make the changes you want and need to make. When your mindset is healthy, you can manifest what you want so much faster and easier than you can imagine! That’s one of the things that my clients love most about working with me…their lives change so fast! It’s so much fun! Who should hire/work with you? I’m really, really good at building brands that are an authentic expression of you. When I meet someone, I can “see” what they can’t see for themselves. I call it “taking all the facets of the diamond that you are and creating something tangible and unique that is “YOU.” I’ve also built two businesses…one product-based and one service-based. Both of my businesses had massive success from the get-go. Inventing my product, “The SPIFTER” which won an Innovation Award and landed me on QVC, where we sold out in 6 minutes is something I am so proud of! I wrote a best-selling book the first year I moved to California, and in my coaching practice, our revenue hit 6 figures in our first year! I help other women make their dreams come true, and we get there fast! We use a 2-part approach and an 8-step blueprint. So, if you are a woman professional who has an idea for a product, service, or business, or you want to make changes in your life, but you don’t know where or how to start, I can help you. So, please do yourself a favor…be brave enough to ask for the help! None of us can do it alone. I sure didn’t. There’s help just waiting for you to come and get it! If all of this can happen to me, it can happen to you, too. Here are some tips to see if you’re ready to work with a coach to make changes: 1. You wake up every day unenthusiastic about the day in front of you. 2. You’re bored, tired a lot, nothing seems to interest you, it’s all just “status quo.” 3. You know you want to do something different, but you don’t know what it is, and you’re terrified of leaving your current situation. If you said, “Yes, that’s me” to any of those statements, please contact me for a complimentary session at info@dianeforster.com. Who else should hire Diane? Speaking: Companies and corporations looking for powerful, motivational, inspirational delivery of impactful and valuable content. I’m proud that whenever I present, the audience is inspired and motivated, they lean in and they move into inspired action. It’s wonderful to witness. “I HAVE TODAY with Diane Forster” TV Show and Podcast Sponsorships: Brands and companies interested in aligning with our vision and mission have an opportunity to get in early. Our content is wholesome, engaging, entertaining, and evergreen. The shows inspire, empower and educate, and we give practical, how-to advice on things you can do TODAY to improve your life for the better. It’s an advertiser’s dream-come-true platform. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? My big goal is to see that 1 billion people who don’t know their self-worth discover their true divinity, power and purpose. I am on a mission to create THE Global Media Company that helps people who are feeling depressed, suicidal and low self-worth to love themselves unconditionally, to live an intentional, purposeful, happy life, because it is my belief that the only path to world peace is through unconditional love of self. I see very big things for me, the company, the brands, and the impact we will make on the world! Steve Jobs and Walt Disney would be very proud. I can feel them smiling down on me from Heaven. Follow Diane on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website! Read more from Diane!

Written by: Ibbie Aromolaran, 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. So you meet someone really special, and as time draws on, you begin to form a “thing” that resembles a relationship. You spend lots of time together. You only date each other. You get jealous of other people show interest in either one of you. You go through all the highs and lows of a relationship together. You have all the feelings and expectations of a relationship. You give each other boyfriend/girlfriend benefits. You may even fantasize about your future together. However, something is still amiss. You’re technically not together, and you’re “not allowed” to call that person your significant other. Why? Because it’s undefined. That, my friend, is a situationship. The term “situationship” has been floating around frequently in the past few years and, in simple terms, has come to mean an undefined or uncommitted relationship. People get wrapped up in situationships to avoid commitment while still having the benefits of being in a relationship. Oftentimes one person is more accepting of this relationship structure than the other, resulting in many conflicts. One person wants to be in a committed relationship but pretends that he/she is okay with the situationship. In contrast, the other person basically runs the show and decides the relationship structure. So how do you know if you’re in a situationship? I have compiled a list of signs you can use to determine whether or not what you have is happy, healthy commitment, or undefined struggles of a situationship. One. No concrete talk about the future. If you still have yet to have the dreaded “what are we?” conversation or whenever one of you brings it up, the other shuts it down, and you’re most likely in a situationship. Two. You’re the one who always brings up the future or commitment. Your faux partner avoids the topic of the future altogether. He or she may say things about the future to keep you around, but there are no actual concrete decisions made. Three. They say they don't think labels are important. This here is a major red flag. If someone is dating you and basically telling you that you are not meant to be dating other people, yet they won’t define the relationship, THIS IS A PROBLEM. And don’t tell me labels don’t matter, because they do. A person that truly wants to be with you will be proud to label you their partner, fiance, wife, husband, or soulmate PUBLICLY… which brings me to my next point. Four. They don’t claim you publicly. As I stated above, a person who truly values a relationship with you will want to shout it from the rooftops, want to share it with their family and friends, and make it be known that you are an addition to their happiness. Stop playing yourself with the excuse that he or she is a private person. This may be true, but not private enough to keep you away from important people in their life. They claim their job. They claim their car. They claim their friends. They claim their pets. They can claim you too. Five. They say they just want to see where things go. *insert violin sounds here* I’ve heard this one way too many times. People praise the phrase “going with the flow” as if it establishes peace of mind. It actually does quite the opposite. It leaves things up in the air and open for misinterpretation. Going with the flow is great. It’s fun. It’s exciting. But, if your goal is long term commitment or marriage and someone says they just want to see where things go with you, they are prolonging your heart’s desires, and you shouldn’t be tied down to their indecision. When someone truly wants you, going with the flow isn’t an option. They will set the intention to be with you and take whatever steps necessary to get there- the same way they would with buying a house, buying a car, going to school, starting a business, or starting a family. You set intentions and plan for things that are important to you. Six. They want you to commit fully to them while they do what they want on the side. Oh, the infamous double standard. Often in situationships, the person who calls the shots is free to do whatever they want (including dating other people), while the other person gets scolded for even smiling in the direction of another man or woman. This usually results in gaslighting and blaming while the non-committed one suddenly becomes the victim, and you’re left feeling confused. Seven. They don’t make intentional time for you (PLANNED OUT, THOUGHT OUT, INTENTIONAL TIME). Netflix and chill, as they like to call it. You randomly happen to hang out with each other. 9 times out of 10, it’s on a couch, on a bed, or in a car. Your faux partner does not make intentional time for you. One because he/she doesn't want it to resemble a relationship too much and two, because he/she doesn't want to be seen in public with you... because they’re usually keeping their options open. Hate to break it to you. I’ll also add that when you mention date plans, they either flake or make an excuse. Eight. You go days without talking to each other. This happens a lot after the love bombing stage. They shower you with attention, affection, and time but as soon as you fall for it, they start withdrawing all those things. So, you may go days without hearing from them, and then they pop back in your life like nothing happened with some lame excuse. Beware of the lame excuses. Nine. They make you feel bad for wanting more. Whenever you bring up the topic of making things official, they may start to question you and say things such as, “What’s wrong with what we have?” “You don’t trust me?” “Why are you never satisfied?” These questions start to play on your emotions. You begin to feel guilty, and then you start doubting your own true wants and needs. So yes, I know I made situationships sound horrible. Forgive me; I’m biased. However, there are times when situationships can work. If both you and the other person agree on the terms and conditions, if you have no ulterior motives about how you can convince them to change their mind and be in a relationship with you, if you are honest with yourself about what you truly want & a relationship isn’t it, then a situationship might work for you. The main point is, to be honest with yourself. Establish what you want and need from all the relationships in your life, and be willing to let go of those who don’t align with that. You deserve your heart’s true desires. If you feel that you may be straddling the fence between wanting a true committed relationship or keeping a situationship alive to someone who doesn’t want to commit to you, head on over to my Instagram for more tips and support. For more information, you can find Ibbie on Instagram , follow her on Facebook , connect with her on LinkedIn , and watch her on YouTube ! Read more from Ibbie ! Ibbie Aromolaran, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ibbie Aromolaran has a passion for guiding and empowering women to create the love lives of their dreams by letting go of toxic love and “situationships”. As a Mental Health Therapist turned Certified Dating Coach, she is dedicated to helping women uncover their deep-rooted barriers to finding and securing happy, healthy relationships. Through her signature coaching program ‘Sick of Situationship’ (SOS), Ibbie teaches women to heal the parts of them that have allowed mistreatment in relationships so they can build new, effective habits from the ground up... while filling up on self-love along the way! Ibbie’s goal is to use her doctoral research to spread awareness about the science of human interactions, toxic love, codependency, trauma bonding and more.

Written by: Colleen Urquhart, 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 my business, I am always working with Empaths. I hear all the time from my clients. They are attracting narcissists; they are exhausted, they want to shut themselves away from everyone and everything. This is usually the point where they are awakening. They are spiritually exhausted because they are not aware of protecting themselves. It is a bit like walking out the front door of your house and leaving it wide open for anyone to walk in and help themselves. Would you do this? Of course not, so why do it with your own energy? Learning to ground yourself and protect your energy should be a daily practice for everyone but especially Empaths. It's essential to navigate your emotions and survive without feeling like you are in survival mode every day, leading to burnout! What is Grounding? Grounding your energy is the practice of bringing yourself back to the present. It ensures you are not thinking or worrying about past situations or what could happen in the future. Generally, if you feel stressed, anxious, forgetful, frazzled, lack concentration, easily aggravated, exhausted, scattered, clumsy, and overwhelmed, these are all signs that you are not grounded. Grounding yourself will help you overcome these feelings and bring a sense of balance within you. How long does it take? Grounding techniques can take anything from a few minutes to 15 mins. Spending 5 minutes of your day, preferably when you first wake up, will make a big impact on your energy. If you are new to grounding, you may not notice a difference initially, but over a few days to a couple of weeks, you will quickly start to see the improvements and benefits of grounding. Protecting your energy is another essential technique, and this can be incorporated into your grounding practice. If you do not protect your energy, you will attract negativity in your vibrational field, you will leave yourself open to attract the wrong people, you will be allowing other people to take away your own energy, and in turn, you will absorb some of their energy, which can impact your emotions and overall wellbeing. Have you ever felt like you were in a bad mood and had no explanation for it? I know I have, and it usually means I have forgotten to protect and ground myself. If you’re an Empath, this is essential to navigate everyday life. Even if you are stuck at home with family in lockdown or on your own, your energy can be affected by television, radio, news, zoom calls, team calls, and/or friends and family moaning about being stuck at home! Both Grounding and Protection are great techniques to implement into your everyday life to overcome emotions that negatively impact, and for Empaths, they are essential for everyday life. If you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, forgetful, overwhelmed, frazzled, aggravated, clumsy, scattered, and/or exhausted, it’s a sign that you need to ground yourself. Bring yourself back to the present and focus your energy. When your energy is flying high, it will bring the most magnificent positivity to you and bring you great clarity. If you want to know some simple techniques to implement, you can connect with me on social media or join my free Facebook group for regular tips, and the link is in my Instagram and Facebook Bio’s. Visit my website for more info! Colleen Urquhart, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Colleen Urquhart is a leading mentor in energy attunements and healing. After reaching a dark point in her life, where she lost her sense of direction. She discovered Usui Reiki and used this as her basis for healing while learning and developing in other healing modalities. Colleen is the founder of The Spiritual School of Attunement. The host of her signature mentoring program for Women. Learn how to become a master in Energy Healing, how to apply it in your everyday life, overcome Spiritual Imposter Syndrome, follow your intuition and create a successful Holistic Business. Her mission is to connect women to their true source, to launch a successful career in alignment with their soul and become profitable masters.

Written by: Agnes Gomori, 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. Looking after our mental health when isolating alone is a priority. In many countries, socializing has been cut off completely because of the pandemic, forcing us to look inwards, maybe for the first time. In this article, I share some of my tips on shifting our focus from surviving to thriving by changing our mindset. Here in London, we are in the middle of the 3rd lockdown. I noticed a worrying trend amongst some of my extroverted Empath clients who are typically in their 30s and 40s: they feel they don’t have the right’ to openly show their emotions. They feel the need to be the strong one for others: for their children, their elderly parents, their employees, their businesses, their boss, everyone but for themselves. Regardless of the living arrangements: living with a spouse, family, or flatmates, the common story that emerges is a stark feeling of increased detachment and loneliness. Men are often more affected than women, especially those who were brought up believing that showing their emotions (or even acknowledging them) equals weakness. Not talking about our feelings can be very self-damaging in the long run. But if they feel this way, having their family and friends around them, what about those extroverts who are isolating alone during lockdown? Do they feel even more lonely, or do they feel blessed that they are living independently? According to the latest data, over 2 million Londoners are living in a single household. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that around 50% of them are extroverts (although I have to add that the line between introverts and extroverts is often blurred). No socializing can be a safe haven for introverts, but it’s a tricky balancing act for extroverted people, especially for sensitives, like Empaths. Extroverted Empaths tend to be fiercely independent, and they want the best of both worlds: they want the excitement of a packed social life and want peace and harmony and stay away from drama. The restrictions have taught us many things. One of them is that we have to adopt. The much-hated long commute has been replaced with a comforting routine of working from home for many. But what about our free time? The key is to learn to appreciate alone time. It’s crucial that we do this and not fight against it. That is when we can start to make conscious choices by listening to our needs. The needs of our body, mind, and soul. Why? Because if, for instance, we are not doing the activities which engage our mind, or if we are not nourishing our body, if we deny that dance, music, or whatever feeds our soul, then we cease to achieve the right balance. Being mindful about how we spend our time is not just about focusing on being productive. That is the result. Whilst spending too much time in solitude is bad for us - there is a reason forced solitude is used as a punishment - having no alone time is just as damaging in the long term. One of the genuine risks is losing ourselves, not knowing who we are anymore as we don’t have the alone time to reflect. Being alone doesn’t make you lonely, but being in bad company does. A bad company doesn’t have to be a human company; it can be bad thoughts of yourself. Empaths who are not empowered can form dependency while isolating themselves alone, such as: Food or alcohol dependency, reckless online shopping, overworking, binging on the news/ social media, or even exercising too much. People who didn’t learn how to be in touch with their feelings will numb themselves to avoid thinking and talking about it. Empaths who don’t feel supported can take it a step further: they numb themselves but still feel obliged to help others—a recipe for burnout. If you are currently isolating alone and you feel lonely, the good news is that you can turn negative feelings associated with it into something positive. Like there are two sides of the coin, there are two sides of isolating alone. You can believe that you are a victim of the circumstances, or you can look at it as an endless opportunity for growth. The choice is yours. Here are some tips on feeling more empowered: Declutter your mind Start to write down your thoughts in an auto-writing style. It’s important that your ego does not control your writing. It can be just a quick 10 minutes in the morning or before going to bed. I use this technique with my clients, and it has a very therapeutic effect on them. Don’t worry about the style of the writing. You do it for yourself, and only you will read it. It will free up your mind, and you will be surprised about the number of recurring thoughts racing through your mind once you record them in your journal. Your inner dialog is an open invitation for knowing yourself better. In my sessions, I help my clients analyze these recurring thoughts as they are the tell-tale signs of the inner blocks. Decluttering our mind is essential for our mental health. Honor your needs: mind, body, and soul Our mind needs intellectual engagement, just like it needs leisure time. It could be enrolling into a course, reading a book. It doesn’t have to cost you money; there are plenty of free courses and free downloadable books available online. Maybe it’s the right time to retrain yourself or to start a side hustle. Create: Draw, paint, sing, dance, write. Anything that takes you into an uninterrupted joyous flow. It doesn’t have to be a piece of art. Just do it for the sake of enjoyment. Time flies when you’re inflow. You can also join an online hobby group if you prefer to start a new hobby or pick up an old one. Ground yourself: Walk in nature daily, even if it’s just in a tiny local park. Breathe in the fresh air deeply, touch the trees. You must walk at a comfortable pace. Slowing down allows you to feel centered. It might take some practice to slow down, as it can be uncomfortable to allow our emotions to surface at first. If you catch yourself ‘racing’ through your walk, ask yourself the question:’ Why am I running away from myself?’ Meditate: I recommend at least once a day, preferably first thing in the morning, so you can start your day feeling centered. This will allow you to feel focused and productive. Ideally, for about 20 minutes a day, but even for just 5 minutes will make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; you can sit in silence with your eyes closed, or you can choose a guided meditation. Again, there are plenty of free resources online. Establish boundaries The glorious side effect of mental decluttering and honoring your own needs is that suddenly you don’t want to spend your time on things that are not aligned with your true self. You’ll be able to identify more clearly what gives you energy and what takes it away. You’re starting to be selective. Being selective is the new cool. Cutting back on reading news and social media use in itself will boost your mental health. It’s also important who we keep in touch with and how. Empaths usually have strong family connections, but if it’s not the case, limiting the amount of time you interact with them can help. Keeping in touch with friends is equally important. Based on last year, you probably have a good idea who you can rely on in lockdown. Your friends know that you live alone. Who is keeping in touch? Is it a two-way friendship? Do you feel uplifted or drained after you spoke? If someone’s actions tell you that they don’t care about you, then believe them and let them go. Not all friendships are meant to last forever, and that’s ok. Focus on those who are there for you, with whom you can be totally yourself, laugh and share meaningful conversations, those who make you feel energized. Conclusion: Making the most of our alone time is all down to our positive mindset. While we can’t know for sure when we will socialize freely again, we can tame the uncertainty by establishing our own routine. The power of saying no to what’s not serving you equals saying yes to your mental health. Remember, the most important choice is always yours: the choice of how you react to the hurdles of your life. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Agnes Gomori, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Agnes Gomori is an Intuitive Life Coach and Healer. As a multi-passionate, creative Empath, Agnes is committed to helping fellow Empaths to find their true calling by applying the healing power of arts and nature, which she combines with energy healing in her therapeutic coaching sessions. Agnes has helped clients from across the globe to unlock their true potential. Her mission is to help extroverted Empaths become the empowered creators they were born to be.

Written by: Kim Wilkinson, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. COVID is creating a tremendous amount of stress, grief, and loss. Not only are we facing health concerns, but we also have financial stress, loss of connection to family and friends, loss of feeling in control, loss of many familiar patterns and behaviors that bring comfort and joy, like going to concerts, going to sports/activities, travel and many other regular “routine” activities. The following are daily routines that I personally practice and teach to all my clients. These lifestyle choices have helped me navigate some of life’s most painful challenges, including losing my 22-year-old son to overdose in 2019. 1. Let go of what you can’t control. The truth is that we will never, no matter how hard we try, never control anything outside of us. Sometimes the things we do and the things we say might influence what is going on around us, but we will never control anyone or anything outside of us. When we learn to accept this, we stop wasting time and energy on things that we will never control. The only thing we will ever have control over is within—our internal environment. 2. Take back your power. We tend to give our power away. We allow other people and other things to determine our happiness or our emotional state. When we do this, we become a slave to those people or those things. Don’t give your power away. Take it back. You decide how you are going to experience your day, your life. Your internal environment I just mentioned, you have the power to create that atmosphere. Think of your physical body as the home for your soul. You wouldn’t just let anyone into your house you live in. You would do whatever it takes to not let in danger, toxicity, and anyone or anything that has the potential to cause harm. Yet daily, we allow all sorts of negativity and toxicity to come into our home for our soul. Learn to create an internal environment that is calm, peaceful, and that feels controlled by you. When you do this, it doesn’t matter what chaos is happening around you. You are in a safe and happy place. This can be done with awareness and activating your power of choice. Meditation is also a great tool to help with this. 3. Meditate. Meditation can be the greatest medicine. Many people have a misunderstanding of what meditation is. Often people say they can’t meditate because they can’t stop thinking. Meditation is not about not having any thoughts. It is about training your brain to focus on just one thing. There are many different ways to meditate. It is a practice that can be done in as little as 5 min and can last up to several hours. 10 min of meditation daily can be life-changing! Like anything, consistency is key. Meditating once a week or until you feel the balance isn’t going to cut it. As soon as you stop, you will fall right back into old patterns and start to see the same old outcomes, the ones you are trying to avoid. If you are not sure where or how to get started, no worries, the end of this article has a link to a tonne of free resources, including free access to my online Intro to Meditation program. 4. Learn to shift from fear to love. There are only 2 places from which we can experience life: love or fear. Love is heart-based living, the soul. Fear is the ego-mind. That voice in your head, always trying to give you advice. It means well, it wants to protect you, but it doesn’t give the best advice. You are NOT the voice in your head. It is a part of you. Who you are is the one noticing the voice. We call this your soul or spirit. If you give your power to fear, it will take you to dark places, and it will keep you stuck. It will recreate your past in your future. One of the quickest and easiest ways to shift from fear to love is first to understand that you are living life from fear. If you are anxious, worrying, stuck on thoughts of the past, reactive, you live from fear. When you notice this, close your eyes, bring one or both hands on to your heart and take a few deep breaths. The physical act of bringing your hands onto your heart instantly pulls the energy from your head and brings it to your heart. It brings calmness into the body. It allows you to think more clearly and to respond instead of react. Try this the next time you need to have a difficult conversation with someone. We will always bounce back and forth between love and fear, but the more we can learn to shift back to love, the more enjoyable life will be. 5. Gratitude. There is always something to be grateful for. Even if you just got divorced, lost your job, have covid, got an eviction notice, and debt seems deeper than the earth’s core, there is still something to be grateful for. Pre-covid, statistics showed that over 160,000 die every day from illness, injury, natural causes etc. Add covid to this, and we know those numbers are much higher now. If you are reading this. You woke up today. THAT is everything to be grateful for. If you woke up this morning…..ALLELUJAH!!! You have a new opportunity to make a different choice. You have another chance to live your best life. Without that, you have nothing. Think of that tomorrow morning when you wake up. Instead of hitting snooze, complaining about having to go to work, or about having a crappy sleep, try jumping out of bed with some excitement that you simply woke up. Tomorrow morning, hundreds of thousands won’t have that chance. Be grateful. 6. Find and maintain balance. This should be common sense, and it's simple stuff, but still, many don’t practice this. This is everything from getting enough rest, good food, exercise, enough water, time in nature, and activities for our mind and our emotions. Balance comes when we give energy and attention to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Spiritual health does not mean religion or religious practices. Most people, if not everyone, believe in something. God, Universe, Source, Energy, Spirit, or higher power may be a title that resonates with you. Spiritual Health practices are routines or rituals that we do to connect to or whatever we resonate with. This can be everything from journaling, to yoga, to meditation, to chanting or singing, to breathing exercises, to nature ceremonies, and of course, church/religious ceremonies. Emotional health is probably the most neglected—everything roots in emotions. Most of us were actually taught to avoid and distract, right from the time we were kids. Our distractions from our emotions, our pain are things like food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, workaholism, binging Netflix, and/or spending hours on social media. At the end of this article, you will find more resources and information to better support your emotional health. I strongly suggest making your emotional health a priority. It is here that we find freedom from our past and learn to manage future stressful situations better. 7. Personal Growth & Development. We all want something better, different, or more. If you want a different outcome, you need to do something different. This means learning to think differently, learning to respond differently, expanding your consciousness. This is what changes our limiting beliefs and allows us to grow and to achieve. Read some motivational or inspiring books, sign up for an online course, never stop learning. 8. Forgive. Forgiveness is giving up the hope of a different or better yesterday. Read that last sentence again. Perspective can make or break you. This is part of managing our emotional health and very difficult for many people to do. Holding on to resentment only affects you. It isn’t as easy as “just let it go,” but with a clear understanding and the right action, you can let it go. Healing and recovery comes from action. Freedom comes from forgiveness. 9. Make Conscious choices. This means responding from love rather than reacting from fear. It means thinking before you speak or act and make the best possible choice for the best possible outcome. It means practicing awareness and being present and not just living on autopilot. 10. Be Kind. The world is on fire. You can add water, or you can add fuel. The world needs more love right now. Being kind will not only make you feel better, but it can also turn someone’s mood, day or life around. People we view as being “unkind, uncaring, inconsiderate” are living life from fear. Our actions and responses towards them can drive them deeper into fear or can help them shift into a place of love. Be kind to all. For FREE resources and additional supports for managing Mental and Emotional Health, please click here and visit my page. For more information on the Grief Recovery Program, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Read more from Kim! Kim Wilkinson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kim Wilkinson is an expert in Emotional Health and in helping people to move from SUFFERING to EMPOWERMENT. Through her own family struggles with Mental Health, PTSD, Addiction, and Traumas, including losing her 22-year-old son to overdose, Kim found healing, recovery, and transformation. Most of all, through this journey, what Kim found was purpose and a passion for helping others. Kim's approach with clients is one of compassion, non-judgment, and patience. She knows firsthand how applying specific tools and techniques can bring healing and recovery and bring abundance and success in all areas of life. Kim continues to work a few days a week at the Addiction Treatment Centre that her son attended. However, most of her time is focused on supporting people through Grief Recovery (online and in-person). A message from Kim "The whole world is grieving right now, and we all have unresolved grief. It's time to learn how to take care of our Emotional Health and break the cycle of Mental Health concerns and find an end to our suffering."

Written by: Awaz Ahmed, 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 live in a world with different cultures, religions, values, beliefs, and attitudes or behaviors. Miscommunication is misinterpretation or misconstrued messages that can potentially lead to conflict in professional or personal life. In Piaget's theory of development, children construct a series of schemata, based on experiences they have had, to help them understand the world. Why do I mention that? Well, similarly, the transactional model of communication by Barlund in the 1970's demonstrates how different experiences or "noises" can lead to miscommunication. The transactional model of communication shows how a message is sent to the receiver through a channel of feedback and the surrounding of the message, such as experiences known as "noises,” can disrupt the message from or to the sender/receiver. The transactional model of communication gives a feedback loop, where the person communicating can ask and interpret what they have understood from the sender. In the workplace, this will help managers, employees, and teams in minimizing the misunderstand happening, which will minimize conflicts, irritation, and misunderstandings. At the same time, it helps with personal communication. Sometimes we forget that everyone has different experiences and schemas about certain things or words. A simple example in a workplace setting to better understand the model, a client is at an organization and is offered coffee. Now, coffee can mean cappuccino, black coffee, espresso, macchiato and so on. Well, the client asks politely for just coffee, black coffee. The kind server comes back with a cappuccino. The client politely tells the server that she asked for just black coffee, not with milk or anything, and it's only then the server understands and apologies for the mistake. Are you thinking, why is this relevant? Well, by understanding the transactional model of communication, it helps us understand communication as an individual and an organization. Everyone has different experiences; therefore, communication can be misinterpreted. This understanding is important to professional and personal life, which can help eliminate or minimize miscommunication and limit conflict in professional or personal settings. Tips for effective communication: 1. Approach people in a positive manner; be open to and verbally welcome their ideas and opinions. 2. Build bridges of understanding and cooperation; seek out common interests and goals and speak to those. 3. Listen for and customize your communication to the needs of other individuals (i.e., if they need data to make a decision, let them take the time they need to become comfortable with the data; if they need to be acknowledged, recognize them). 4. Ask a lot of open-ended, unbiased, neutral questions that lead the conversation in a positive direction. 5. Seek first to understand what the other person is saying; ask questions to clarify; repeat back and paraphrase what you think you heard; convey that you have heard them (they won’t hear you until you do). 6. Maintain composure, keep your communication constructive, convey your intent to help and support, and not diminish, put down or make the other person wrong. 7. Communicate clearly and completely; plan your messages ahead of time to ensure the best delivery and reception. 8. Express appreciation often and with genuine sincerity . Follow me on Linkedin and visit my website ! Read more from Awaz ! Dean C. Barnlund. (1970). A Transactional Model of Communication. Institute for Social + Emotional Intelligence®, (2020). https://the-isei.com/home2.aspx . Awaz Ahmed MBPsS, Business Psychologist, Business and Emotional Intelligence coach Awaz Ahmed is a Business Psychologist and Coach, helping organizations and individuals in the workplace by encouraging and facilitating clients in a range of professional and personal areas. She has also worked internationally and is the founder of aweology; a company platform of Business Psychologists and professional coaches. With a MSc in Business Psychology and coaching Awaz Ahmed, is also a certified emotional intelligence coach, NLP practitioner, certified 70+ hours of ICF coaching training, member of the British Psychology Society, American Psychology Association, Society for Industrial and organizational psychology and currently studying her Ph.D. in Business Psychology. Through her extensive experience and education in Business Psychology, she is highly skilled and passionate about research, psychometrics, assessments, training, development, recruitment, and coaching.