Written by: Samantha Touchais, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I am currently sitting down to plan out the rest of December and the first quarter of next year for my business. I have already done this process, but I have been feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work I’ve given myself to do for the next couple of weeks, and I am getting to the point where I can’t see the forest for the trees. I have a huge list of things to get done, and I have three major goals that I am aiming for in the first quarter of next year. Each of those goals individually is a full-time job in itself. Yet, I have decided to aim for all three in my usual eternally optimistic fashion and believe I can achieve it. I like to encourage others to push themselves out of their comfort zone, and I believe that goals should be stretching. But I have learned a very important lesson over my years in business, and I would like to share it with you now. "There is no point in setting a goal when you don’t understand its purpose." Goals should feed into the overarching success you have planned for yourself and your business. If you are anything like me, you end up with a big ‘to do’ list, knowing that each thing in its own right will contribute to the business, but then do not know where to start. Instead of taking action and seeing those results, you keep finding more and more things to add to the list. This leads to overwhelm for me, as I see one big list of important things to do and realize that I do not have the time to do them all right now. This is where prioritization of goals comes into play, which can be achieved via two simple but very effective questions. The two key questions to ask yourself during any planning session. There are two questions I have asked myself today, which have not only helped with the overwhelm but have helped me gain clarity on the next steps that I need to take for my business. The first question is this: 1. What is most important to me right now? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, and it is obviously very personal but think about what you will be most satisfied with achieving and then view your goals and tasks through that lens. Perhaps you want to focus on bringing in more income to your business in the short term. Perhaps you want to focus on building your personal brand. Maybe you need to increase the credibility you want to build up around yourself and your business, or perhaps you need to create more content and assets to use in social media and for your email list. While all of those areas will be important for building a business and bringing you success, each of them requires different actions. There may, of course, be some overlap, but they are different goals that, although complementary, will require you to plan differently and accordingly. This question has really helped me clarify what I need to be doing over the next couple of weeks into January. The second question that has really helped me today is: 2. What is going to have the biggest impact on my business? The way I have handled this question is to break my tasks into short and medium-term. I have a coaching business, and so I must continue to connect with new and fresh audiences all the time while remaining loyal to my current audience. The biggest impact for me comes from taking on a new client, so I will now view my action list through that lens. How are you going to break your To-Do list down? What steps can you take now that will impact your business in the short and medium-term? By getting clear, you get in control, which is the best feeling at the end of a long and difficult year. You can find Samantha on her website , wellbeingseries, and LinkedIn ! Read more from Samantha ! Samantha Touchais, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Samantha Touchais is a Business and Mindset Coach helping women create a safe and secure path to launching their dream business by providing them with the support and tools to make it a success. She has over 20 years of marketing and strategy experience working for large international companies worldwide. Her love of how the mind works and creating the right mindset for success led her into coaching. She lives and breathes marketing and mindset and loves sharing her learnings with others. Author of four books and the creator of the Well Being Series (a collection of apps and books that provide meditations and affirmations for well-being based on the latest neuro-science), she loves exploring Europe, where she has been for the last 14 years, but misses the beaches of her native Australia.

Mags is a story coach, impact co-creator, and the founder of House of Hives. She helps female entrepreneurs and change-makers use their personal stories in their business, bridging the gap between emotive storytelling and strategic marketing. Together with developmental editor, Karina Asti, and event strategist, Ana Gallo, she helps women co-create books and collaborative online summits to empower themselves and their brand. Why are you so drawn to stories? I've been a storyteller for as long as I can remember. I have a little framed note on my desk that says 'Oma' (the Dutch word for grandmother). It's my first piece of writing and is dated when I was three. I remember loving writing assignments in school and being praised for my efforts, too. I loved stories and was always reading. Many a night, my parents found me in bed, face-planted in the middle of my book because I would read to the point of exhaustion. In high school, I was given an art assignment to create a picture book. I wrote a fairy tale about a storytelling monster that brought together two rivaling kingdoms (and I think there was a royal wedding too, because I was still young and didn't know what the patriarchy was yet). The book was massive! I made it on 100 x 75 cm cardboard. My teacher loved it and scored me 11 out of 10. As much as I loved stories, it wasn't until later that I realized the power of storytelling and the way that stories both define and change the world and our lives. So, when did you become aware of the power of stories? In 2013, I co-founded SwanWaters, a platform to support survivors of emotional abuse in rebuilding their lives. That's when stories became an integral part of my life, even as we discussed the platform and decided on its name. We selected the story of The Ugly Duckling as the inspiration for the website. The journey from outcast to winner seemed such an effective parallel to the journey from victim to survivor. However, the story was even more relevant than I first realized. You see, in most fairy tales, the hero has to pass a test, or overcome their shortcomings, slay the dragon, learn humility ... that kind of thing. The Ugly Duckling, however, doesn't have to do anything to become a swan. He was always a swan; all he needed to do was grow into himself. As I recounted my childhood and shared my healing journey, I gained confidence, built stronger relationships, learned to set boundaries ... the list goes on. Slowly but surely, I started growing my swan wings. This work, as well as my own healing, made me realize that so much of what I was struggling with in life tied into the stories I was told and was continuing to tell myself. I began to understand that many of the ideas I had about myself were just a projection of my family's trauma and toxicity. There was nothing innately wrong with me, no matter how hard my parents had tried to convince me otherwise. And it wasn't just the stories that came from my abusive family life, but also the stories reflected in society. So much of my journey can really be summarised as me changing the narrative in my own head; I could feel myself return to a truer version of myself. So many of us are constantly trying to bully ourselves into better versions of ourselves. When thinking about that promotion we want, we usually work ourselves to the bone, because that is the story we know: hard work and personal sacrifice is a requirement for professional success. Or we go through diet after diet, beauty treatment after beauty treatment, because we are programmed to believe that we are only worthy of love and acceptance if we fit a certain definition of physical perfection. All of us are constantly living and reliving the stories in our heads, and it often means we are playing a lot smaller than we are capable of. How did you go from storyteller to story coach? In 2019 I started to feel a need to move away a little from the really hardcore trauma work I was doing. I was not put on this earth to hold space for that, and I began to notice the effect it had on me. It was hard work, and the people who are capable of doing that work need to be celebrated as heroes, honestly! So, I started working with people who were a little further on their journeys of self-discovery and started teaching about self-compassion and value-driven decision making. Many of the people I spoke with were women; many of them entrepreneurs ready to change the world. Often, we ended up talking about the stories they were telling themselves and about ways they could share their personal journeys with their audiences. So, when 2020 came around, I, like many, was asked by the Universe to reinvent myself. As I started mapping out my next moves, my thoughts centered around the joy I felt in helping people reframe and tell their stories. I liked working with people on vulnerability, visibility, and self-esteem. It made sense then, to focus my work around those topics. As I was trying to outline my new business, my vision kept growing. I could see how the women I was supporting in their business were often supporting women through their work as well. That's where the idea of Female Empowerment Squared came from. I wanted House of Hives to empower women, and I knew I couldn't do that all by myself. By then, I had experienced how lonely solo entrepreneurship can get, and I knew I functioned a lot better and could be much more creative when I worked with other people. So, I approached some of the amazing women I had met at the fabulous wellness-first co-working space in The Hague, the Netherlands (honestly, if you are ever there, check out FloLab!). I like to think that I asked them to join House of Hives, but they like to say I told them. Whichever way it happened, here we are now with House of Hives, supporting women to tell their stories. How do you support women in their storytelling? First of all, we create platforms where they can come together and tell their stories. Not just to each other, but to the combined audiences of everyone involved. We organize collaborative online summits where speakers all submit a pre-recorded presentation around a central theme. We also publish co-authored books, where around 20 authors each submit a chapter of the book. By promoting together, they are well-positioned to reach the best-seller list on Amazon. Being a best-selling author really opens doors for an entrepreneur and adds authority to their brand. The elements of co-creation are important to us; collaboration is one of our core values (the others are vulnerability and female empowerment, in case you were wondering). So, take the idea of collaborative marketing. By promoting a summit or a book to everyone's audience, the stories suddenly reach so many more people. We all have people in our audience who are interested in us or what we do but are not quite our ideal client, or that we just don't quite vibe with. They may, however, be ready to work with one of the other entrepreneurs in the group. This is how we can spread the word about our work and connect to new audiences that may be interested in our services. Why do you think it’s so important that women’s stories are shared specifically? For centuries we've been listening to stories about women that are less than flattering. We're irrational, hysterical, untrustworthy, manipulative shrews who are nothing without a ring on our finger! At least, if we believe mainstream female representation. Many women are struggling because of all these preconceived ideas we have about what it is to be a woman. But these notions are toxic to everyone, not just women. That’s because the stories that society integrates into reality inform the stories we tell ourselves about our worth. So, when women tell their own stories, we can change the societal female narrative. And changing the narrative means that we can change how future generations perceive themselves and their place in the world. Follow Mags on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website for more information!

This post is sponsored. Having the correct leveling feet for machinery may be the most value enriching investment a business can make. Leveling feet for industrial use give business owners peace of mind from costly liabilities that may otherwise pop up. On top of that, by having a sturdy base for equipment, a business can expect to have their products last longer and run more efficiently. Those working in the food industry swear by leveling feet, and it is with good reason. They can make a sanitation process much more efficient and will also add extra durability to costly equipment. For those who may be curious about how leveling feet are beneficial for industrial use, continue to read on. How Do Leveling Feet Work? Leveling feet for industrial use act as the stabilizers for any processing equipment involved in a processing factory. Sometimes floors are not truly level. Therefore, leveling devices can help keep equipment in place and on a straight level. Leveling feet are composed of a footpad and a threaded shaft. The shaft comes with a female and male mount to meet the needs of the machine they are attached to. Once secure, the leveling foot will provide a firm base for its equipment and make them accurately level. While that may not seem like a big deal, this can prevent vibrations from damaging floors and equipment, or bacteria from contaminating machinery. They are an essential piece for your appliances. What Machines Need Leveling Feet? At times, industrial machines need to generate significant amounts of power to function. One of the effects generated as a result of this power could be vibrations. If machinery is not stabilized and level, it can come loose and be extremely dangerous. It may even lead to out-of-control machinery that could seriously hurt someone. So, it should come as no surprise that almost any surface that is not level can benefit from leveling feet. Having a properly level surface will improve efficiency and reduce miscalculation. Since leveling feet come in all shapes and sizes, it is easy to find the right leveling feet for all appliances. Which Leveling Mount is Right for Us? Finding the right leveling mount will depend on your needs. Certain heavy-duty leveling feet include features such as vibration reduction, swiveling capabilities, adjustable height, load amount, material, and more. Each leveling pad will need to be the appropriate fit for the machinery it is used for. Therefore, it is particularly important to know what you need. One example would be adjustable glides. These leveling feet are great if your appliance is small and needs to be moved occasionally. They hold a lighter capacity, come with a rubber foot pad, and are usually non-skid to prevent damage. Another example would be for those in the food industry who may need leveling feet that are sanitary. Therefore, hygienic leveling feet using stainless steel material would help to prevent bacteria and mold from forming. Keep in mind that these are basic and broad overviews. To find the correct leveling feet for your industrial use, please seek out professional advice. Are Leveling Feet Sanitary? This may be the most important question to answer for those in the food industry. If a business is looking for hygienic leveling feet, they will need to search a little bit more in-depth. The truth is, not all leveling feet are sanitary. By investing in the right product, businesses will give themselves defense from contamination, malfunctions, accidents, and much more. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for those working in the food industry to use stainless steel leveling feet. On top of that, only some manufacturers have certified USDA certification. Anyone looking in the food industry should make those two credentials their top requirement.

Written by: Nancy Elliott , 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 idea that communication is the key to a successful relationship is the most commonly held ‘myth’ circulated worldwide by relationship experts. As a result, this ‘myth’ has become deeply embedded within the ‘Psychology of relating.’ Unfortunately, this means experts in the field take a myopic view on what tools are critical for cultivating a loving and successful long-term relationship. For over 10 years, I have been an accredited Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist in Private Practice; my specialization is working with women, and I love my job. Day in, day out, I watch as my clients sit opposite me, utterly crushed and totally overcome with despair. All because they have a core belief, whether conscious or unconscious, that their relationship must be over if the communication has broken down or is lacking in certain areas. I remain steadfastly optimistic and explain to my clients at this point that sometimes, the breakdown of communication is precisely what a relationship might need to grow to its next level. I recommend that they reframe the meaning that they are giving to this issue. Perhaps, the conflicts they are experiencing around communication indicate that the relationship is trying to reconfigure itself anew and requires that the individuals work towards adjusting themselves accordingly. In her influential book ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves’ Jungian Psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola Estes describes how fundamental it is to accept the life/death cycle in our relationships. “If one wishes to be fed for life, one must face and develop a relationship with the Life/Death/Life nature. When we have that, we are no longer bumbling around fishing for fantasies, but are made wise about the necessary deaths and startling births that create true relationships”. I too, was once held under the spell of the ‘communication myth’ and was initially counseling my clients to try to ‘talk it over’ in various ways. It wasn’t until I became a more seasoned clinician and gained more experience in my own relationships that I started to see the flaws in the idea that communication is the key to a good relationship. I realized that many people I knew had a deep love and respect for each other but just couldn’t seem to see eye to eye on some or many things. While this was causing conflict and a stuckness for them, it was by no means an indication that the relationship lacked love or the ingredients to make it long term. These relationships were far from over, I thought. There must be another way to move past the blocks presenting themselves in relationships due to a lack of communication and the meaning we are giving it. In the end, it was a combination of the work I did in my clinical practice, the failures and successes in my own relationships, along with the research evidence I gathered over the years, that enabled me to identify a mismatch between how effective this ‘communication is key myth’ was, in actually resolving the challenges we face around communication breakdowns in our relationships; and, what tools are actually working in the lives of people, to effectively help them transcend their particular issues around communicating with their loved ones. It became clear that we had to ditch the idea that our relationship health is hinged on our ability to communicate with our partner. The fact is, there are some issues that no amount of well-meaning smart talk between two people who love each other can resolve or surmount. Ask anyone who’s in a long-term relationship. This is because relationships are enormously complex. Wherever two disparate elements are attempting a long term merger or synthesis, complications will arise. Such an emphasis on communication as the fulcrum of our relational success is, therefore, an oversimplification. It is also dangerous and misleading. Want the good news? There is a way to transcend the differences inherent in our relationships without good communication, and that is through good old fashioned love. I mean, the Unconditional kind of love. Now, take a deep breath, channel Joe cocker, and repeat after me, “love lifts us where we belong." I admit, unconditional love is a rather vague and sweeping method to apply as a concrete technique to one's relationship problems. So, let us get specific. If communication is not the key to a successful relationship, then what exactly is it? “The most critical tool necessary for a relationship to succeed longterm is Acceptance. Acceptance is the first step towards unconditional love. Of oneself and of others." Unlike depending on the prospect of good communication with those we love, acceptance doesn’t seek resolution or understanding from the other. It is an inside job. Now, this is really rather prudent because, let’s face it, we can’t control a single thing that others will do, think or feel about us and vice versa. We can’t change anyone. We cannot control whether those we love can respond to our needs adequately or to what degree they have the emotional language we require to feel sufficiently loved or acknowledged by them. We are powerless in this regard. Acceptance, on the other hand, gives us total power. It is the stance that enables us to love unconditionally. We can then emotionally detach from investing too heavily in how those we love behave and love them anyway. Think about a parent's love for their child. Acceptance puts us in the driving seat of our own emotions and feelings. This means we get to love the people we love just the way they are, which is precisely how it should be. Plus, we get to be really kind to ourselves by not being consistently wounded when someone we love doesn’t want to do things our way. Remember, it’s never personal. Now take a deep breath, channel Barry White, and repeat after me. “Don’t go changing, to try and please me. I love you just the way you are." For more information, follow Nancy on Facebook , LinkedIn and visit her website ! Nancy Elliott, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nancy Elliott is a leading Single women’s influencer specializing in relationships. She is a high performing 1-1 and group Coach offering programs ranging from 3 months to 1 year. Nancy's childhood was shaped by 3 generations of women who struggled with low self-worth and co-dependency. She inherited these traits and struggled with relationships. Determined to break this family cycle, Nancy created strategies, tools, and techniques to dramatically enhance and cultivate a strong and loving relationship with herself. She has since dedicated her life to helping women deepen self-love and self-worth; also to deepen wisdom and expand their capacity to love and be loved. Nancy says "When a woman releases egoic structures of grandiosity or victimization, she experiences a psychic and somatic shift, from victimized or traumatized self, to an intentional and generative relationship with herself. She will automatically begin to show up powerfully; with new stronger boundaries. This is when the magic begins, from this deeper center, and now she can create the extraordinary relationships she always knew she was capable of” And so it is.

Written by: Linda Evans , 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. Dear parents of teens and young adults, This is an open letter from a college career advisor. I've worked with thousands of your children in my decade of working in higher education at 5 universities with students from every group of majors (liberal arts, STEM, business, social work, pre-health). Many of them are brimming with anxiety and shame. I hate to break this to you, but you are often the source of their anxiety and shame because they feel they cannot meet your expectations. I spend considerable time correcting the beliefs and mindsets they learned from you. I’m not saying you should lower your expectations, but they should be based on current reality. Look, I know you mean well. Of course, you want your children to have the utmost success and happiness in life! But your good intentions are sometimes misguided or outdated. What worked for your generation may not work for your Gen Z children, and what works for Gen Z will likely not work for their children. I want to help you debunk the myths about college and careers that are not true anymore and are not serving your children, assuming that you also want them to have authentically meaningful lives and not just stable jobs that will keep them from living rent-free in your basement. From my years of experience working “in the trenches” with college students and constantly working on my own professional development by attending conferences, reading articles, viewing webinars, and consulting with colleagues, I have compiled some of the most common myths I deal with and the truths to counter them. 1. My child needs to get a college degree no matter what. Not all people learn well in a classroom setting through mostly listening, reading, and writing; some people learn best through practical and tactical training. Not all people desire an occupation that requires a college degree. A college degree alone does not guarantee gainful employment. Some employers, including large reputable tech companies, have eliminated the requirement of a college degree (or never needed them to begin with) and hire workers based on a narrow set of skills that can be obtained through vocational schools or boot camps. For example, there are a multitude of respectable jobs in the technical and medical fields that only require a certificate that can be earned at a community college in less than 2 years. (Check out these ideas ) Forcing your child to complete college without consideration for their natural career interests or learning styles can prove to be a waste of everyone’s time and money. However, if your child is not sure of their interests and enjoys academic learning, college could be a perfect place for them to explore and test out career specializations. 2. High grades are the most important thing to focus on during college, and my child should only spend time on classes and extracurriculars that directly relate to a specific career field. Grades are just one of many factors employers look for in candidates. According to a 2020 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) , which conducts multiple studies each year, employers also look for extracurricular activities, compatibility of major, internship experience, leadership experience, and work experience in general. They want to hire well-rounded people who can balance multiple activities besides studying because real life is complex and demanding! Encourage your children to be involved in multiple enriching experiences beyond the college classroom. This is so important to students’ personal and career development that increasing numbers of universities have established new offices devoted to Experiential Learning to encourage and guide students to participate in community service, research, internships, and study abroad. 3. My child needs to determine their major, so they will know what they will do for "the rest of their lives" by the time they graduate from college. The times of getting a job at a company and working your way up for the next 4 decades in order to retire with a pension are becoming increasingly rare. We live in a “VUCA” environment, coined in 1987 by scholars at the U.S. Army War College. It stands for volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous - which is likely to give anyone great anxiety! According to a 2012 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York , only 27% of college graduates work in a field related to their major. Those are likely the ones whose desired occupation requires a straightforward major like accounting, electrical engineering, or elementary teaching. The vast majority study their area(s) of greatest interest, which is the path of greatest success because they are intrinsically motivated to persevere and excel. 4. My child needs to study one of the majors that lead to maximum job security and earning potential (i.e. business or engineering). There is no such thing as 100% job security, as the 2008 and COVID-19 Recessions have demonstrated. There are jobs with increasing demand, as indicated in the Occupational Outlook Handbook website maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and there are jobs that are declining in demand due to technology such as artificial intelligence. A 2017 study by the U.S. Department of Education revealed that one-third of college students change their majors at least once; students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) majors are more likely to change majors than non-STEM students. More and more employers are looking to hire college graduates who possess essential competencies rather than specific majors. So avoid worrying about your child’s choice of major and support their development of employers' most wanted competencies . Focus on encouraging them to pursue courses that provide the greatest rigor and fascination, which are the most likely to foster self-motivation and hard work towards meaningful goals. 5. My child will forever be unemployed or underemployed if they major in the humanities or social sciences (aka liberal arts). This is a short-sighted simplification. Yes, graduates in STEM earn more in their first job after college than graduates who majored in English, Psychology, or History. However, this 2019 New York Times article states that the earnings of liberal arts graduates tend to catch up and exceed that of STEM graduates by age 40. The two main reasons for this are STEM skills quickly become obsolete and liberal arts majors are more likely to go on to management positions. Of course, these are broad generalizations. Personal determination and adaptability, as well as unforeseeable market forces, are more important factors for career success and high salaries. Some of the most financially successful and famous professionals have a liberal arts degree, and they do not regret it. Here’s just one list of examples. 6. My child should be certain of what job title they are pursuing. Job titles are constantly evolving and are, thus, an ineffective way to plan career directions. Countless job titles have become obsolete and new job titles are being created every year as technology and world trends advance. Job availability at the time of graduation depends on market demand at the time and where your child is willing to live. More effective career directions could be determined by encouraging your child to answer the questions, “What problems do you want to help tackle in the world? What do you find endlessly fascinating to learn about? What strengths and skills would you like to use in your daily work?” Point your child to their university career counselors to explore these questions in depth. 7. My child’s levels of financial success and career prestige are a reflection of my success as a parent. This is a belief in many cultures that is deeply entrenched and difficult to dispel, one that assumes your children are mindless extensions of you with no ambitions, strengths, personality, or agency of their own. This kind of pressure and expectation on children can often lead to deep shame, frustration, dread, guilt, resentment, and confusion that keeps children from exploring and excelling in their careers of choice. Maybe you experienced this pressure from your parents and have accepted that this is just how things are, but each new generation is like a blank slate. I invite you to re-evaluate and perhaps re-define the sources of your satisfaction and fulfillment in parenting. Thank you for reading this long letter and considering these points. I applaud you for being an involved and informed parent. Your children are blessed to have parents who care. I look forward to helping your children create meaningful and fulfilling careers and lives. Yours Truly, Linda Evans Make sure to follow Linda on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit her website for more info! Read more from Linda ! Linda Evans, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Linda Evans is a strengths-based career coach and personal branding expert. In 2011, she founded her virtual career coaching business, Launched by Linda, LLC. Her full-time career has been in higher education since 2012 and she currently works in Career Services at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Linda has a B.A. in American Studies and a minor in Ballroom Dance from Brigham Young University, and an M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and has certificates in positive psychology and public speaking.

Written by: Marilda Cutrone, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you feel that? At work, you feel like your brain is all foggy; maybe you forget details, and you think you are less sharp and proactive than before (having kids). You continuously need coffee and sugary snacks to go on, and so you gain weight more quickly than in the past. You feel impatient or irritable, and you always get sick. You feel hopeless, disconnected from the others, stressed and sad. This condition is real, and it is called adrenal fatigue; it afflicts busy working moms . When you juggle job and family, the struggle is massive because you have loads of responsibilities on your shoulder, plus errands, cooking etc. And you are doing miracles because you manage all these things every day, knowing that you are working so hard for your kids and their future. But eventually, your body claims its price and tells you in many ways that this lifestyle is not sustainable. If you keep ignore it, you'll get to the point of burnout, precisely what happened to me. I loved my job. I could work beyond office hours to complete a task, meet a client's request, or plan my team's work. Then, I got pregnant, and I was crazy with joy! "You're expecting twins ," they said -and I felt LOST. You can imagine why…But it lasted only for a couple of days…. soon I regained my excitement, and I started to dream of all the things I will do with my babies, all the places I will take them, all the games we will play together. My heart was full of expectations and happiness. But after a few months, my kids were born, my nightmare began. I went back to the office, and I was exhausted because I couldn't sleep at night, and during the day, I had to prepare plans, analyze data, and develop projects with strict delivery dates. I couldn't concentrate, and I badly missed my kids; I felt like I was going crazy. They were learning a new word without me; they were discovering new things without me. My guilt got worse every day . I wanted to spend more time with them; still, my job demanded at least 8 hours a day. I couldn't quit because I needed the family's financial resources and because I wanted to work and realize myself professionally. I was not happy, and I also started to notice a hostile attitude from colleagues and employers. It was like I had to prove that the quality of my work was good and that I was productive as before. I saw a promotion go to a male colleague even though I had worked hard for that, and I started to ask myself questions. Are women free to choose? Why should we be forced to leave our kids in other people's care for so many hours a day and stick to the 9-to-5 model? Why motherhood is considered a penalty and is dictated by society? Or, in other words, why dads MUST work and moms MAY work, and to do so, they have to juggle career&family? I think that women are exposed to external pressures all the time. We feel this paternalistic attitude since we are little, and we believe that we have to follow those standard patterns to achieve our goals. What is the way out? Awareness. We need to be aware of the context in which we live, and we have to understand how social conditioning influences our choices. I went through this process, and here are five tips for you: 1. Take responsibility for your choices. 2. Look inside and decide what you want to achieve. 3. Be curious and say Yes to the things that drive progress. 4. Focus on what matters the most. 5. Meet like-minded people. After struggling for so many years, I decided to change my life. I became aware that working in the digital landscape is a win, and developing a set of strong digital skills is one of the MOST impactful things we can do to create a secure future. Therefore, I made a plan to transition from employee to business owner. And I started to learn. Learning new skills is a whole new journey, fascinating but challenging at the same time, and you need to know that you can't jump out there if you're not prepared. For this reason, and learning from my own experience, I tell you that the winning number one idea is to start as an affiliate marketer. What is Affiliate Marketing? When you start this business, you sell products from other companies and get a commission; the great thing is that you don't need an office, you don't need a warehouse, you don't even need an accountant! As an affiliate, the amount of products you can sell is unlimited; you have to choose the one you like best. Once the promotional campaign is set up, possible sales take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This way, you can spend your time with your children or enjoy some me-time while your business continues in the background. Affiliate Marketing is low risk because it requires a little investment. I believe that there is not a better way to make a shift to a new lifestyle. This is the solution to get flexibility and manage time as you see fit; you can carry out an activity that you like, free from prejudices and constraints, and focus on what matters the most: the connection with your kids and yourself. In short: "Stop juggling career & family and live life feeling fully alive." If you're serious about having the freedom to not only work from virtually anywhere but also to choose the work you do and the hours you do it, remember this: It will not just magically happen. For me, the moment that I made a choice, everything changed. I am not saying that it is easy or fast, and I'd like the privilege of guiding you on a similar journey starting even today. Our three online On-Demand Workshops walk you through specific steps to learn the skills you need to create a profitable online business from scratch. Do I think that is possible? I know it's possible. I did it. If it sounds impossible to you, let me ask you this: Have you ever worked as hard for yourself and your dreams as you have worked for others? Sadly, most women answer no. By the end of this program, you will know how to create your website and social networks, write marketing content, and market your message. Does this work for everyone? No, it doesn't. You need to be committed and focused. You don't need to quit your job now, but you need to dedicate one or two hours a day to the program. If you choose to join us, click here to get the Free Training . Go through all the emails ( Please make sure you check the promotions or spam folder too ) and reach out to me if you need further assistance. We women must be able to choose and not be forced to choose. And remember, where there is no freedom, there is no choice. Follow Marilda on Instagram , find her on Facebook , or visit her website to learn more about the programs. Read more from Marilda! Marilda Cutrone, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marilda walked away from a successful 20-year career as Senior Project Manager, as, for many years, she felt unfulfilled: she was continuously struggling to juggle career and family. And eventually found herself drained and depressed. Marilda massively changed her life in 2019 when she realized that developing a new set of skills in the current economy is a must. And here is why: over $2.5 trillion per year is being spent on retail purchases online and, over the last few months, there's been a 25% increase in online sales. By leveraging the digital skills, Marilda created her own business - Living My Digital Life - and reached a whole new level of work-life balance. This shift would not have been possible for Marilda if she had not discovered the power of affiliate marketing. She is now the owner of her time and can build her career around the family (not a life arranged around the job as it used to be). Her mission is to empower other women to stand up for themselves and make the same shift. Hence Marilda offers a program that walks you through specific steps to learn the skills you need to create a profitable online business from scratch.

Written by: Krystal Thompson, 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’ve found yourself struggling to stay positive during the holiday season this year, you’re not alone. 2020 has been a year of massive global shifts and disruption, and it is completely normal to find it difficult to get excited about traditions built on connection and sharing space with loved ones at a time when so many of us are unable to do so. I’d like to offer you a map: a start to finish guide for what’s really going on when we’re feeling low vibration emotions, and how to transform them to have a consistently elevated experience - regardless of current circumstances. Whether this season is regularly a challenging time for you or this is the first time you’re experiencing it, let’s talk about how to stay positive during the holidays this year. Clear Your Energy Body Before we can create space for feeling good, we have to understand what has made us feel bad. On its most basic level, anxiety is stuck energy. What manifests as feelings of panic or overwhelm in the body begin as pieces of ourselves that we’ve ignored or responses to outside stimuli that we don’t allow ourselves to fully process. In times of anxiety and overwhelm, there is an invitation to metabolize anything you may previously have been ignoring. This is a beautiful time to begin a digital cleanse to really get clear on what your energy is and what’s coming from outside sources. Some powerful questions to ask yourself: Where are you consuming content that harms or restricts your well-being rather than nourishes it? Are you using social media or television to numb or escape? Where can you give yourself grace and begin to process any emotions that may be present? Clearing your energy is the most important place to start for changing your emotional frequency. Unmemorize Low Vibe Emotions Once you’ve done an honest cleanse of any energy in your life that isn’t truly yours, you can really get clear on what thoughts you are having about the holidays that are then making you feel low. Maybe you are missing family, and that’s making you feel lonely. Perhaps you’re unable to spoil loved ones as you normally would because you’re struggling financially, and that’s making you feel inadequate. Whatever you are feeling is valid, but it is also a memorized response to thoughts that you can learn to have control over. Our emotions - the emotional experiences we have day to day - are created by chemicals. On a biological level, those chemicals fire in patterns depending on what’s been memorized in the body in conjunction with them. Consider this example: watching the news fires stress chemicals which turns on the anxiety loop, and suddenly your morning is ruined by panic or racing thoughts. Sounds familiar, right? Every emotion you experience that feels automatic or out of your control is actually a memorized pattern. So the most important place to start when releasing these patterns is understanding how they work. Some powerful questions to ask yourself for this process: What neutral experience (the condition, i.e. having a different holiday season than the “norm”) am I assigning automatic emotions to (i.e. sadness)? Why am I doing this? What thoughts or beliefs do I have that are validating the unwanted emotional association? How can I start to loosen those? When I’m feeling (x) about the holidays, what do I feel I’m missing out on? How can I cultivate those feelings and experiences for myself regardless of the current circumstances? Funnel Freed Energy Into Positive Change So you’ve cleared your energetic space, you’ve begun to loosen up low vibe emotions, now what? This final step is the most important piece, and the one that most people miss. For many of us, the loops of anxiety and struggle and low vibration emotions are all we know. So once you successfully remove them, there is a moment when we don’t quite know what to do with ourselves. These blank slate moments are where you create true, long-lasting transformation. These are the places where you learn to use your energy differently than you ever have before - namely, where you use your energy to create the emotional experience you actually want to have, rather than perpetuating the one that leaves you feeling low. So at this stage, your beautiful invitation is to begin practicing the states and emotions you actually want to experience. Excitement, connection, joy, fulfillment, peace - ask yourself how you actually want to feel, then start practicing. Start memorizing those feelings in your body and associating them with positive thoughts, and they will eventually become as habituated as the sadness or stress or anxiety used to be. For example, if you want to feel excited, recall times in your life when you deeply felt that way. Revisit and explore and enjoy the memories until the feeling of excitement is active in your body, then project it into your present experience: What are three things to be excited about right now? What is one thing I could do today that would excite me? What’s something exciting I want to happen in the future, and how can I use my energy today to work towards that? Regularly getting into a state of high vibration emotions not only feels good in the moment, but it also literally builds new patterns. We think our emotions come from observing the world, but it’s actually the other way around: how we observe the world depends on the emotions that are memorized in our body. Conclusion You have so much more agency over your experience than you think you do. If you’ve found yourself struggling to stay positive during the holiday season this year, bookmark this page and give yourself permission to move through these exercises anytime you’re feeling low. You do not have to wait for any circumstance to change in order to feel the way you want to. You can connect with Krystal and learn more about starting your own journey by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook and Instagram Read more from Krystal! Krystal Thompson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Krystal Thompson is a Los Angeles-based Human Design Reader and Board-Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner. Her readings and services are a unique blend of conscious mindset work, subconscious reprogramming, energy healing, and inspired action coaching. Everything she teaches is a process she has been through in her own transformation, and is done with one goal in mind: to elevate the collective by reigniting the individual. By uncovering what’s kept them stuck and creating new neural networks for change, Krystal helps her clients and community tap into the clarity, confidence, and empowerment to build the life they want - not the one they think they have to settle for.

Written by: Sukanya Datta, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Want to do all work by yourself? and still be productive? The answer is MAYBE or MAYBE NOT. Time management is really important for everyone in every industry. Most of us only plan and keep planning. How do you plan? Just in the mind or taking notes, every now and then? It may not be the most correct way to balance work and life, especially if you are an early-stage entrepreneur. The topmost priority is planning, scheduling, budgeting. Stage 1 is planning that most of us are good at it. Most business owners plan well ahead of time that might create friction with work when plans get uncertain in the future. Yes, I have personally experienced that planning may not always work the way we want. Many of us might be juggling between full-time jobs and business ideas from a totally different field other than your own work profile. Maybe you have never explored the field in-depth and still want to do it? So here is how to proceed. Develop a scope that outlines the work the needs to be done and is urgently needed to get the idea started. Add tasks that are not important at the moment and can be accomplished later. Create a four-quadrant matrix to diversify detailed tasks. You will soon realize how certain “non-important things” occupy our minds and time. Having the right mindset and organizing priorities will help balance work and life. Once done making a plan sheet comes scheduling. This is the most important aspect of when implementing. Not every task can be implemented together or at once. Some tasks need to start when the predecessor is complete or some may need simultaneous implementation. So how to do it? Does it result in mental distress or confusion? Preparing a time management schedule is highly recommended and mandatory. Sometimes we all wished if we could have a personal assistant or a robot to help us with our chores? Right? But we haven’t reached that century yet where we robots would be the helping hand. So now what? Get back to your routine, prepare a “timetable”. Yes, a timetable really works. There are various apps to get your planning digitalized or a manual self-written timetable works good as well. Taking in the right requirements needed to accomplish tasks and implementing the plans makes the person timely and wise! V isit my Instagram for more info! Read more from Sukanya ! Sukanya Datta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sukanya Datta is an electrical engineer. Along with the tech side, she is also a certified fashion designer. Being a tech lover, she has had a penchant for creativity. Entrepreneurship is a big journey and both tech and fashion have been a boon in her life. From developing monetary strategies and embark on the body positivity mission across the world and bridging the gap between women and fashion.

Coming from a professional background in design, Kamil previously practiced in both the Education & Corporate Sectors. One life-changing event in his 20s saw Kamil's life plummet from having a progressing career in design to living on $2 a day virtually overnight. This painful experience has taught him valuable lessons in Life, which he has used advantageously to regain his feet and ultimately achieve Personal and Professional Success. He now shares his experience and knowledge to help others achieve their own success by bringing on their own Personal Genius. Who is Kamil? Wow! Awesome question! It’s not often I get asked this, and I have to say that it’s not often any of us get asked this daily . It really puts things into perspective. It would go something like this… ‘Kamil is a loving dad and husband to his brilliant kids and amazing wife. He has lived and worked in various continents across the globe, including North America, Europe, and South-East Asia. He is a Life Coach living in one of the inspiring places on the planet, Dubai. Kamil is also a Chartered Architect, and MasterPlanner and this journey has led him to discover his calling, which is to help people help themselves. Overcoming his struggle with chronic asthma during his childhood, Kamil managed to embrace his passion for all types of individual and group sports (football in particular), and one of his lifetime achievements was to complete the Dubai Marathon. He loves taking walks in nature, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, as well as meditation. Taking a cue from the lessons learned in overcoming his own personal struggles, Kamil believes in the unlimited potential of every individual and that everyone possesses their own Personal Genius. His mission is to guide people to understand their potential and, in doing so, bring forward the Personal Genius within them.’ Who should hire/work with you, and what do you do for them? The global landscape has changed drastically over the last 12 months. More and more individuals and organizations are facing different types of challenges at varying degrees. These include elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse (about 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health issues by June 2020). I provide coaching services to individuals in guiding them to achieve a particular goal they may have (for example, overcoming a particular block or installing a new habit) and companies and corporations in group staff coaching. Typically my role as a coach is to guide my client, at their own pace, towards their personal and professional goals by utilizing proven coaching techniques. You just graduated as a Jay Shetty Coach. What did you learn during this course, and how can you apply this new knowledge to your daily work? I have to say, the experience was somewhat unexpected. However, let me start at the beginning, and by that, I mean WHY I decided to become a Life Coach. I guess it all began one night, way back during my college days when I was a 1st-year Architecture student. It was just after midnight, and there were a few other souls in our Architecture studio, burning the midnight oil as we had to present our house designs for assessment in the morning. As I was working away at my drawing board, head down, eyes transfixed on my Rotring pen and the ink as it made its way across the tracing paper, I heard faint footsteps slowly shuffling their way towards me. Now, I’ve heard stories about paranormal activities happening previously in this studio, but I was pretty sure these were the footsteps of a person! I looked up, and there was my friend, Patrick. I smiled and greeted him. He smiled back, but his response was a bit flat. Even though both our eyes were red from the lack of sleep, and we were both tired, I knew something was off with Patrick. He wasn’t his fun self. In fact, he looked a little distressed. Arms folded to one side and almost apologetic when he asked me how things were going with my work. We talked a little, and it wasn’t until I asked ‘How’s things with you?’ that he finally offered me a little insight into his struggle with his work. Naturally, I was inquisitive and actually wanted to know more about his project. I guess that’s the thing with me. I always want to talk and explore ideas! He explained his project, and we talked about concepts, windows, light, concrete, straight walls versus curved facades, and many other things that Patrick hadn’t realized before in his design. I merely asked him questions because I wanted to understand what he was trying to ‘say’ with his building. That was it. But I noticed that as we were talking, his mood changed. It was almost like the dimmer light switch was being slowly turned up, and his face started to beam again by the end of our chat. I felt his energy transform from being flat at the start to a new surge of energy that one gets when realizing the ‘A-Ha’ moment! He soon thanked me, and to be honest, I didn’t really know what for? I mean, I didn’t tell him what he needed to do to his project. I just asked inquisitive questions. And I felt good at the end of our conversation. I guess seeing him light up gave me a burst of renewed energy as well! Little did I know that this was the beginning of my journey to becoming a Life Coach. Fast forward to 2020, and as we all know too well, everyone has been affected by the current pandemic. This year will go down in our life’s story as the year that everything changed. My heart and prayers go out to those who are adversely affected by the situation. However, this year was quite pivotal in many people’s lives as they saw themselves elevate their lives either by choice or by force. In a sense, some people are looking at ways to leverage their trauma by applying a ‘post-traumatic growth’ mindset. For me, I am grateful that this year has changed me for the better. I re-engaged with my calling to serve others, and enrolling myself into the Jay Shetty Certification Program could not have come at a better time. The course provided me with all the tools to finally be able to actively help others and help themselves. Looking back at Patrick's conversation and the moment where it all began, I now realize that I subconsciously had been practicing some of the core coaching principles but did not have the structure and methodology to fully guide someone on their journey. This is what the Jay Shetty Certification School provided me with. The amount of research and resources made available to the students, including access to supervisors and a community of fellow students from across the globe, was phenomenal. The best part is that the School is growing as we speak. I’m grateful to be part of the journey towards, as Jay says, ‘Making Wisdom Go Viral, Together .’ What is your big goal? What does the 2030 Kamil look like? Wow! This is quite timely. I really feel like I’m at the ‘half-time’ of my life and that the ‘second-half’ has just kicked off (bear with me as I use football as a reference!). Following through with that analogy, my ‘first-half’ can be described as a bit ‘patchy .’ I made progress, but there were some blunders along the way. I didn’t really have much possession, but I didn’t do bad either. Even though the scoreline was 0-0 at half-time, I’m very happy with the first-half performance and extremely optimistic for the second half . The half-time break really helped me re-group, re-focus, and take stock of what went well and where I should be improving. Like I said, I just kicked off the second half, and I’m already 1-0 up in getting myself certified! I’m progressing towards my big goal, which is to positively impact 5 million lives across the globe over the next 10 years through my coaching, writing, and public speaking. If you had a billboard on Times Square, what would it say? Super! Hmmm..let me see. I think it will be this. Simple but very profound, I think. As much as a reminder to myself as well as to others. 2 words. “YOU MATTER .” For more details follow Kamil on Facebook , Instagram and visit his website . Read more from Kamil!

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. As a leader, what is the best gift you could give your team this holiday season? Especially with holiday parties taking a hiatus this year, why not give your employees the gift of professional development? While annual raises and monetary compensation are always appreciated, investing in your employees through professional development can really go the extra mile in showing how much you value their contributions. To maximize this investment for you and your employees, you need to ensure several things are happening. ● Be aware of and remove any barriers . What good is the gift of a professional development training or workshop allowance or budget for each employee if they cannot find a way to attend? These barriers could come in the form of project managers not allowing them time to attend their training or being overloaded with work and inflexible deadlines. They feel they cannot take time away from their normal tasks to participate in crucial professional development. This leads to our next point on how to avoid these scenarios… ● Create a culture of professional development . Breed a culture of lifelong learning and openly encourage employees to continue to hone their skillsets—and broaden them with new skills. It shouldn’t be a source of tension for someone to approach their manager and inquire if they could attend a workshop or webinar if they feel it would increase their job competency. Obviously, there are times when specific projects or deadlines prohibit individuals from attending certain workshops, but the manager should be open to sending his team to relevant professional development trainings as they become available. ● Develop your own internal professional development program . This seems like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. This is not to say you need to reinvent the wheel or write your own training curriculum or workshops. This could be as simple as buying a bulk license for all employees to access online learning platforms, like Lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning, to acquire new skills or review the most up-to-date best practices in their current expertise. Some companies use courses on these platforms and group them into their own internal program tracks and award certificates and publicly recognize those who complete each track. And it doesn’t just have to be hard skills—soft skills such as conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and effective communication can be excellent workshop offerings. Leaders, if you don’t take the time to invest in and develop your team members, someone else will! If you want to attract and retain top-tier talent, you need to give them the opportunity—and budget dollars—to add skills to their expertise. That kind of support often breeds extremely loyal employees. I am curious to hear what unique course topics you have taken in the past and what you may have learned during those workshops. What was your biggest takeaway from a professional development conference, training, or workshop? 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 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 - “How To Have Open and 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 highlighted on TED.com in the near future – stay tuned for more details!

Written by: Felicia Shanken, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you realize in roughly 2 weeks, we will say goodbye to one of the most interesting years that any of us ever had to get through? Think about that for a moment, did you grow? Here we go! The year 2020 came in like a lamb and is leaving like a Tasmanian devil. All the vision boards or books couldn’t have prepared us for what was about to happen. The world was sent to their rooms and given a TIMEOUT! How many of you have taken the time to reflect on your lives, family, friends, businesses, or personal freedom? I never thought that a simple handshake would be taken for granted. Our lives have changed and will never be the same. Like many of you, I also have suffered the loss of saying goodbye to friends and those who were like family. Some were COVID-19- related, and other natural causes. I feel as if 2020 was saying, “wake up,” time is of the essence. Be grateful for all you have regardless of where you are in life right now. This, too, shall pass. One thing I do know is the GROWTH I have gained this year from just taking the extra time that was given to re-evaluate everything in my life. These are some of the lessons I have learned in 2020: 1. Letting Go of Things I Can’t Control How many times have I brought wasteful energy to a situation that I had no control over? Countless times, especially this year, I realized I had to make peace with 2020 and let it do what it wanted. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. So I embraced it and worked around the storm. 2. Reevaluating My Relationships I think this was one of the hardest lessons I had to learn. When I say relationships, I mean all of them across the board — family, friends, and business associates. It’s funny when you think about it. Time has a way of “calling” us out, and this year it was done in a big way. I don’t know about most of you, but clarity was definitely a friend of mine this year. Life is like a metamorphosis. We shed things we don’t need and gravitate towards things just like us, and we plant our seeds there. I said goodbye to some relationships that no longer served either one of us. It wasn’t on a bitter note, at least not on my part, I looked at it as a lesson that I needed in my life when it was there, and now it’s gone. Some of the best lessons I have learned in my life are from people who are no longer a part of my journey, and it’s OK. As a matter of fact, I thank them because I learned my worth, and I am aware of what I don’t need and who I can become, so again I THANK THEM! 3. Speaking Up For What I Want My dear friends, I hate to tell you this, but no one is coming to save you. Yes, you read that, right! Have you heard the expression “closed mouths, don’t get fed?” Exactly! We have been living in a digital world on steroids since March 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions began in the US and EU. Just about everyone, especially if they have a business, is competing for the same things you are — “other’s business.” We look at computer screens all day, every day, and try to have some sense of normalcy while doing so. You have to decide what you can do to make yourself stand out from everyone else. Now comes “the thinking out of the box” mindset. I cannot tell you how many times I have shared with women in my organization the art of pivoting your mindset and business if you don’t want to go out of business. Of course, this is not the case for everyone because they may work from home versus brick and mortar. My heart goes out to all those businesses that had to close their doors for good. Small businesses are the backbone of the world. I was very vocal this year. I knew what I wanted to do, why and how I wanted to do it, who I had to do it with, and I went for it — and I’m so glad that I did. Collaboration is one of the best things in the world, especially if you are a small business owner. I see this being the foundation moving into 2021 for a lot of small businesses. My advice for you, take the leap. If it works out, great, and if it doesn’t, you learned a valuable lesson. Either way, it’s a win-win situation. Right? 4. Being Thankful & Grateful For All Things Some of you may disagree with this, but I believe being thankful and grateful for everything is the foundation for everything in your life, especially now. I have lost some people this year, and it hurt like hell. I wake up to see a new sunrise every day, and that is a gift. I am grateful that those in my family affected by COVID-19 recovered and are still here with us. I am thankful for new relationships made during this year’s journey. Even though there was much sadness in 2020, somehow, my year was not a total bust. I have a lot to be grateful and thankful for. Some situations, I believe, I would not have gained clarity on had we not been given this time. I believe God has a sense of humor, and when He can’t subtly get our attention, He brings out the big guns, and boy oh boy, in 2020, he really showed us his collection. My friends, my hope for you going into 2021 is that you have grown, learned, listened, had compassion, forgiven, and worked on yourself. Here is to a better year in 2021 and more growth coming your way! Have a great day on purpose, and happy holidays! For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website ! Read more from Felicia ! Felicia Shanken, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Felicia Shanken is a Women Strategist and Builder. She is the Founder/CEO of the Philadelphia Women's Network Connection, LLC and PWNC Foundation 501(c)(3). PWNC is about helping local businesswomen build their business, connect with like-minded individuals and benefit from shared resources. The Foundation is committed to helping women growing a business as a solo entrepreneur transition from a full-time or part-time job to full-time entrepreneurship. Felicia has also been recognized and honored by " Fun Times Magazine " in their March/April 2020 edition for being " 2020 Philadelphia Who's Who Black Women of Influence". Felicia had the opportunity in September 2019 to have her own show on RVNTV , a digital television platform called " Power Up Your Passion," where she brings guests on to talk about their passion in life and how it lead to where they are now. Felicia was raised in Queens, New York. She moved to Philadelphia over 20 years ago, where she met her husband, Paul, a native Philadelphian. They live in the Fairmont area of Center City, Philadelphia.

Written by: Tess Leigh-Phillips , 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 coach and therapist, my main areas of focus are heartbreak and relationship issues. Yet, I spend less time talking about the relationship issues as I do about the individual. Once we understand ourselves, everything around us becomes easier to deal with. Once we accept and forgive ourselves, the same applies. This last year has been strange and difficult — the sadness, frustrations, and losses that the pandemic has brought. Divorces are soaring. Grief, panic, heartbreak, and struggle. The demands and anxieties of the holiday season, followed by the looming New Year, and the pressure to do better, be better, meet our goals. Even the most zen-like of us can be dragged in. Yet, while you may not be able to control what’s going on around you, you can go within and find a place from which to begin your transformation. By really learning how to love yourself, you will find your external world-changing as your internal one does. My clients come to me in the most broken states. They are frightened. Their world has been torn apart suddenly - or it is in the very process of crumbling. Seeing the light in the midst of this pain can seem impossible. So, I tell them: Start with yourself – not with the why’s where’s or who’s. Let’s start where we are, right now in this moment. Let’s take a pause and go inward — this is the best place from which to reset. There is often pain associated with taking a pause, with doing nothing. Emotions come up. We are forced to acknowledge where we are right now instead of focusing on the past or the future. If you find it painful to stop and acknowledge yourself, if you feel the need to be busy all the time, your soul is probably in need of some TLC. And at a guess, I bet you have high expectations of yourself too. Right? Listen, please don’t put yourself through the wringer with resolutions and plans that you then beat yourself up for not doing. Don’t avoid what hurts by filling up your schedule or acting out in destructive ways. (Another glass of wine or online purchase, anyone?!) Instead, show yourself time, patience, and care. Loving yourself is a term often thrown about. Many of us don’t even know quite what it looks like or how it feels - or if it’s something we even need to think about! Yet, in my work with women, I often find that a lack of self-love, of self-esteem, is at the very core of things. It comes disguised in many ways, of course, hiding in many different behaviors, in patterns of toxic relationships, an inability or unwillingness to set boundaries, a habit of isolation, or a need for attention. It lurks within the guise of perfectionism, and it skulks within the fear of abandonment and rejection. Where to start? First, stop putting pressure on yourself to meet your self-imposed expectations. Get out of your head and back into your body. How are you really feeling? Can you be accepting of this moment, right now? Because you are okay just as you are, I promise you. Trust me - you don’t want to wait for a crisis, to realize you have nothing in the tank. You don’t want to give and give emotionally and physically without building yourself up as well. This ‘loving yourself’ lark is more than baths and chocolate. It is consciously deciding to forgive yourself for your mistakes. It is being patient with yourself. It is being aware of the chatter in your head and not attaching to your thoughts. It is setting and sticking to boundaries. It is searching fiercely to find what makes your soul sing in life - and then doing it! It is facing reality - because even though things may not be ”perfect,” you know deep in your core that you are enough. And you know that you can handle anything. This is loving yourself. Easy? — not always. But worthwhile? Absolutely. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more information! Tess Leigh Phillips, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tess Leigh Phillips is an expert in the field of overcoming personal trials and accessing your inner power. As founder and CEO of Your Happy Heart Coach, she reaches thousands of broken women and passionately seeks to help them rebuild. After a turbulent past, lifelong anxiety, and a battle with addiction, Tess turned her situation around, with astonishing results. Her warm, loving approach has captivated an audience searching for true change, and deeper connection. Teaching women how to access their inner resources, break toxic patterns of behavior, and turn pain into strength, Tess says her mission is clear. “I’m here to remind you that you are so much bigger than your current circumstances. You can rise up from anything.” With a powerful message of possibility, Your Happy Heart Coach continues to impact women across the world on a daily basis.