Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview   Vanessa Van Edwards is a renowned behavioral researcher, international bestselling author, and instructor at Harvard University. Her books Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People  and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication  have been translated into over 18 languages. More than 70 million people watch her engaging YouTube tutorials and TEDx Talk. Vanessa shares tangible skills to improve interpersonal communication and leadership. Her science-backed framework helps anyone communicate with confidence. She is renowned for teaching science-backed people skills to audiences worldwide, including Harvard, SXSW, MIT, and Stanford. Her engaging workshops and courses teach individuals how to succeed in business and life by understanding the hidden dynamics of people. Millions visit her website monthly for her methods that turn “soft skills” into actionable, masterable frameworks that can be applied daily. Hundreds of thousands of students have taken her popular communication courses on LinkedIn Learning, and thousands have taken her advanced social skills course, People School. Vanessa helps entrepreneurs, growing businesses, and trillion-dollar companies, and has been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company , Inc. Magazine , Entrepreneur Magazine , USA Today , The Today Show , and many more. She regularly speaks to innovative companies, including Google, Facebook, Comcast, Frito Lay, Microsoft, Amazon, and Univision. She has keynoted on major stages, including Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership Summit, Lewis Howes’ Summit of Greatness, and twice at the Global Leadership Summit. Vanessa Van Edwards, photo by: Maggie Kirkland “One of my favorites is what I call ‘the eyebrow flash’ — a quick, subtle lift of the eyebrows when you meet someone.” For those who haven't met you yet, how do you like to introduce yourself and the work you do around body language and human behavior? Hi! I’m Vanessa Van Edwards, a behavioral investigator and bestselling author. I study why people do what they do, and I teach practical, science-backed strategies to help people connect, influence, and communicate more effectively. My work is all about giving people tools to feel confident in their interactions — whether that’s acing a presentation, building stronger relationships, or just having more fun with the people around them. What's one body language cue that builds instant trust in a professional setting, and why does it work so well? One of my favorites is what I call “the eyebrow flash” — a quick, subtle lift of the eyebrows when you meet someone. It’s almost instantaneous and signals recognition and openness. People read it subconsciously as warmth and attentiveness, which helps create trust before a single word is spoken. What's a common nonverbal habit that might unintentionally make someone seem less confident, and how can we shift it? Fidgeting with your hands, hair, or phone can make even the most knowledgeable person appear unsure. A simple shift is to use purposeful gestures instead. Try grounding your hands on the table or using gestures that emphasize your words. Even small, deliberate movements can instantly signal calm confidence. Many of our readers are leaders, coaches, or entrepreneurs. What's your advice for someone who feels like they're either too warm and not taken seriously… or too competent and not seen as approachable? Balance is key. If you lean too warm, add a slight pause before responding — it signals thoughtfulness and authority. If you lean too competent, soften your tone and add small cues of connection, like nodding or smiling with your eyes. The magic happens when you combine warmth and competence in every interaction — people trust you and want to follow you. Vanessa Van Edwards, photo by: Maggie Kirkland “The magic happens when you combine warmth and competence in every interaction — people trust you and want to follow you.” Are there any small shifts in body language that you've seen have a huge impact, especially in high-stakes moments like pitches, interviews, or presentations? Make eye contact at the end of your statements. This is a power cue and creates connection. Are there any body language cues you've found that people misread often, and what do those signals actually mean? Crossed arms are one of the most misread cues. Many people interpret it as defensive or closed-off, but often it’s simply comfort or habit. Context is everything — notice how someone’s body aligns overall. A small shift, like a relaxed hand gesture or nod, can completely change how the same posture is perceived. However, knowing that people perceive crossed arms poorly, you should try to avoid it if possible! Can you share a recent study or insight that shifted how you think about connection, and maybe also one of your all-time favorite studies you think everyone should know about? I love a study that talks about how mirroring can help salary negotiations. I think of this as subtly being in tune with someone else’s cues and matching them as a sign of respect. You've built an incredible platform around helping people connect better. What's been one key lesson in growing Science of People as a business that you think more entrepreneurs should hear? Experimentation. We try everything and think of “failures” as learning. Don't be afraid to try things before they are perfect. We do this on social media, with products, and even with community initiatives. We even tell people that we are experimenting to have full transparency. People love us more for it, even if we don't get it right! Vanessa Van Edwards continues to demystify human connection and her work reinforces a powerful idea echoed throughout the interview: meaningful communication is not innate—it is learnable, testable, and improvable with intention. For more info, follow Vanessa Van Edwards on Instagram and Facebook .

Written by Christina Zakhem, Naturopath, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and Founder of The White Rose Wellness Christina Zakhem is a Naturopath, Holistic Health Practitioner and Vibrational Healer who supports clients in emotional, energetic and physical healing through frequency based tools and practices. She works with clients in-person in Montreal, Canada and Worldwide through her online services and programs. You've tried everything. The most popular supplements for your condition sit neatly arranged in your cabinet. You've adjusted your diet, removed the inflammatory foods, and invested in organic, low-tox everything. You're drinking your juice, doing your stretches, and maybe even seeing practitioners who run tests and give you protocols. And yet, your body still hurts. Your digestion is still a mess. Your energy never quite returns. The symptoms shift, but they don't leave. Truth is, your body might not be able to hear the healing messages you're sending it because it's too busy screaming danger. After years of navigating the holistic wellness space and my own journey with mold illness and dealing with a sensitive system, I've witnessed this pattern again and again. Physical healing stalls, and it’s not because the body is broken, but because the nervous system hasn't been given permission to shift out of survival mode. And until it does, true healing remains just out of reach. In this article, you’ll understand how the body operates in different survival and healing states. Understand survival & healing states Your nervous system operates in two primary states. Think of them as two different channels your body can tune into, but never both at once. Survival mode (sympathetic dominance) This is your body's alarm system: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Chronic stress, unprocessed emotions, past trauma, and even the pace of modern life keep us locked here. The four survival responses manifest differently: Fight: Confronting threats head-on, often marked by anger, frustration, or a strong drive to regain control. Flight: Attempting to escape or avoid danger, characterized by restlessness, anxiety, or an urgent need to flee. Freeze: Feeling stuck or paralyzed, unable to act, often involving dissociation or a sense of being "shut down." Fawn: Appeasing others to avoid conflict or danger, often leading to people-pleasing, over-compliance, and abandoning your own needs to keep others happy. Healing mode (parasympathetic activation) This is where the magic happens. Your heart rate slows, your breath deepens, digestion activates, inflammation decreases, and your body finally has the energetic resources to repair tissues, balance hormones, and restore depleted systems. This is the state where supplements actually work, where your food nourishes you deeply, and where chronic symptoms can finally begin to shift. Here's the truth that changes everything, your body will always prioritize staying alive over getting well. If your nervous system perceives a threat, whether from actual danger, unprocessed emotions, or chronic stress, it will continue to funnel resources toward protection, not restoration. Understanding subconscious and somatic memories We all certainly have memories of experiences that trigger intense emotional responses. Negative experiences that haven’t been processed properly can cause feelings of dread and anxiety, raise cortisol levels, and tighten the enteric nervous system. Similarly, when emotions go unexpressed or unprocessed, they become trapped in the body as density, tension, or what we might call "dis-ease." Perhaps you've tried therapy, processed the memories cognitively, and understand why you feel the way you feel. But what if, regardless of that conscious understanding, your body still reacts as though the danger is still present? This happens because trauma and chronic stress create somatic and subconscious imprints: body memories that live below the level of conscious thought. Your nervous system develops patterns of activation that become automatic. Even when your life is objectively safe now, your body may still be responding to threats from five, ten, or twenty years ago. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions aren't separate from the body, they live in your organs. That knot in your stomach? It might be unexpressed anger. The tightness in your chest? Perhaps grief that never had space to move. The chronic fatigue? Your body's way of forcing you to finally rest after years of pushing through. I see this constantly in my practice. Someone comes in for digestive issues, and as we work with sound and subconscious and emotional release, what surfaces isn't physical at the core but rather years of not speaking their truth, suppressing their anger and frustration, and never seeking out help to process their worries, among much more. When your emotional health is compromised, your nervous system stays activated. The body reads stuck emotions and unprocessed memories as ongoing threat signals. And as long as those signals persist, the nervous system cannot fully drop into parasympathetic healing mode. In my work, I’ve found that tools like sound healing, subconscious work, and emotional release techniques can access somatic and subconscious patterns in ways that cognitive processing cannot. Sound waves and light frequencies literally move through tissue and can help release what has been held there. Specific frequencies can help retune a dysregulated nervous system, bringing it back into coherence. Practical tools for nervous system regulation If you're ready to begin supporting your nervous system, start gently. These foundational practices help your body remember what safety feels like: Mindfulness: The simple act of tuning into your body throughout the day (noticing your breath, feeling your feet on the ground, sensing the rhythm of your heartbeat) creates a feedback loop between your conscious awareness and your nervous system. When you can recognize the early signs of activation (shallow breathing, jaw tension, racing thoughts), you can intervene before your system fully escalates. Breathing techniques: Your breath is the most accessible tool for nervous system regulation. Slow, intentional breathing (whether through box breathing, inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4, or the calming 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8) directly activates your vagus nerve and shifts you into parasympathetic mode. Even three conscious breaths can begin to reset your system when you notice stress building. Movement practices: Our body needs to move emotion and tension through. Gentle practices like restorative yoga, intuitive stretching, or simply walking in nature allow stuck energy to flow. Movement doesn’t need to be intense to be healing. Often, the gentler the movement, the more your nervous system can relax into it. Let your body guide you toward what feels nourishing, rather than forcing. Quality sleep and rest: Sleep is vital for nervous system recovery. Creating wind-down rituals, reducing stimulation before bed, and treating sleep as sacred medicine allows your body the space it needs to restore itself. Why nervous system regulation must come first I want to be clear about something, I'm not saying your physical symptoms aren't real or that supplements and dietary changes don't matter. They absolutely do. But the sequence matters enormously. Imagine trying to plant a garden in soil that's frozen solid. You can have the best seeds, the richest fertilizer, and optimal sunlight, but nothing will grow until the ground thaws. A dysregulated nervous system is that frozen ground. When we address nervous system regulation first, several things happen: Your body can finally absorb and utilize nutrients. Inflammation naturally decreases. Sleep becomes restorative. Pain perception shifts. Emotional resilience returns. This is why, in my practice, we often begin with nervous system support and emotional release work before diving into physical protocols. I've watched people's "mystery or stubborn symptoms" resolve simply by helping their nervous system remember how to feel safe. Not because the symptoms were imaginary, but because the root cause was nervous system dysregulation manifesting physically. A new approach to healing If you're reading this and feeling a deep resonance, a sense of "yes, this is what's been missing", I want to invite you to explore this path. Whether through sound healing sessions, emotional release work, or comprehensive naturopathic support that addresses your nervous system first, there is a way forward. Your body wants to heal. It's designed to heal. Sometimes it just needs help remembering that it's safe enough to do so. Ready to begin the journey of nervous system regulation and deep healing? Explore my Sound Healing, Emotional Release, and Naturopathic Support services. Let's help your body remember what it feels like to be safe, held, and whole. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Christina Zakhem Christina Zakhem, Naturopath, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and Founder of The White Rose Wellness Christina Zakhem is the founder of The White Rose Wellness and has dedicated the last 8 years to exploring all facets of holistic healing. Her fascination with frequency-based work began at age 16 when her mother visited a Naturopath who used Bioenergetic technology to support healing. Today, she combines principles of Naturopathy, Functional Nutrition and Medicine, Emotional Subconscious work, Bioenergetics and Sound Healing to bring lasting root cause healing for her clients.

Written by Simer Dhillon, Executive Leadership Strategist Simer Dhillon is the Founder and Chief Architect of SHARP™ Leadership Academy, a global platform redefining ethical performance systems for executives. She transforms leadership through measurable integrity, resilience, and presence. Artificial intelligence is no longer just executing tasks. It is observing patterns, learning language, and absorbing values. And that raises a question few leaders are asking loudly enough, "What happens when AI starts reading about ethical leadership?" Not as a compliance checklist. Not as a DEI slogan. But as a lived, principled system of decision-making. Because AI does not just reflect our intelligence. It reflects our standards. AI learns from what we normalize AI models are trained on what humans produce at scale, our writing, decisions, policies, and power structures. If leadership culture is driven by optics over truth, performance over integrity, and speed over responsibility, AI does not challenge those assumptions. It optimizes them. That means when ethical leadership is reduced to performative language, AI learns that ethics are decorative, not structural. And that is dangerous. Because technology does not create morality. It amplifies whatever morality already exists. The quiet risk leaders are ignoring This is where leadership enters a new era. Ethical leadership is no longer only about how humans treat humans. It is about what kind of leadership intelligence we are teaching machines to mirror. When AI “reads” leadership content, it absorbs how authority is framed, how truth is handled under pressure, and whether responsibility is internal or outsourced. In other words, AI is learning how leaders justify their choices. That makes ethical leadership no longer optional. It is infrastructural. Ethical leadership must shift from personality to principle, a transition explored further in the standards-based SHARP™ Ethical Leadership Framework. From performance-first to standards-first leadership? Most modern leadership systems were built for efficiency, growth, and optics. Ethics were often added later, as guardrails, not foundations. But AI exposes this weakness. A system without standards cannot train an intelligent system responsibly. This is why ethical leadership must shift from personality to principle, charisma to clarity, and compliance to conscious choice. True ethical leadership is not about appearing good. It is about holding standards when no one is watching, including machines. What AI reveals about us as leaders AI acts like a mirror. It reflects how we reward behavior, what we tolerate, and where we stay silent. If leaders normalize cutting ethical corners “for results,” silencing dissent “for harmony,” or reframing harm as “miscommunication,” AI learns that truth is flexible and power outranks responsibility. That is not a technology problem. That is a leadership problem. The future belongs to leaders with internal alignment As AI becomes embedded in decision-making, hiring, lending, healthcare, and education, leaders will be judged less by their charisma and more by their ethical architecture. The leaders who will thrive are those who can demonstrate clear internal standards, consistent ethical reasoning, and alignment between values and action. Because AI does not respond to intention. It responds to patterns. And alignment creates clean patterns. Ethical leadership as a strategic advantage Organizations that treat ethics as foundational, not decorative, will train better systems, build more resilient cultures, and earn deeper trust. Not because ethics are “nice,” but because they reduce ambiguity, and ambiguity is where systems fail. In the age of AI, ethical leadership is no longer just a moral stance. It is a strategic necessity. A final question for leaders Before asking what AI can do for your organization, ask this, "If AI learned leadership by watching us today, would it learn courage, clarity, and responsibility, or justification, silence, and avoidance?" Because AI is already reading. The question is, "What are they learning from us?" Leaders interested in standards-driven ethical leadership can learn more at SHARP™ Leadership Academy. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Simer Dhillon Simer Dhillon, Executive Leadership Strategist Simer Dhillon is a leadership strategist and the Founder of SHARP™ Leadership Academy, a global platform integrating ethics, emotional intelligence, and performance systems for the modern workplace. Drawing on two decades in corporate finance and executive leadership, she developed the SHARP™ Framework (Standards, Honesty, Alignment, Resilience, Presence) to help leaders turn integrity into infrastructure. Her work blends business intelligence with emotional depth, empowering organizations to build cultures of measurable trust and sustainable success. Simer’s mission is to lead a new generation of ethically intelligent leaders who transform systems from within.

Written by Dr. Asanee Brogan, Ori Alignment Coach Dr. Asanee Brogan is an Ori Alignment Coach, Ifá educator, and author. She is the founder of Asanee 44, a spiritual brand rooted in the Ifá tradition that offers lineage-based guidance and support through Ifá divination, Odu Ifá wisdom, and Ori-centered ancestral work. She is also the host of the African Spirit Reintegrated + Reimagined podcast.   Ifá divination is a traditional Yoruba system used to reveal a person’s destiny. It highlights the conditions that influence one’s life and the steps required to align with their divine purpose. However, an Ifá divination reading does not end with insight alone. It includes prescribed remedies for realignment, delivered through ẹbọ for energetic balancing . Through the Odu Ifá, the system evaluates life patterns, obstacles, responsibilities, and how present choices shape future outcomes. Many people approach Ifá divination expecting insight alone. When the reading instead results in prescribed remedies, including sacrifices and offerings through ẹbọ, the outcome can feel unexpected. This response is not an addition to the reading, but its intended conclusion. Confusion arises when Ifá is approached without an understanding that it is designed to identify and restore imbalance. When Ifá divination is approached without understanding Ifá divination is often approached with expectations shaped by psychic , intuitive, or tarot readings. Many people come to Ifá anticipating direct answers, impressions, or predictive statements delivered in a similar way. When the process does not operate like those systems, the difference is sometimes mistaken for complexity or abstraction. They do not understand the distinction between the method and purpose of Ifá divination. Within the tradition, an Ifá reading is not intuitive or psychic in scope or function. It is a structured system grounded in the Odu If á that helps individuals understand and align with their divine purpose. When Ifá is approached through the lens of Western-based divination systems, the guidance and resolution can feel unfamiliar. The issue is not the reading itself. Instead, it is a misunderstanding of Yoruba cosmology, beliefs, and practices. Ifá divination is about destiny alignment Ifá divination exists to help people understand their destiny and how to live in alignment with it. The system addresses divine timing, balance, and the conditions shaping a person’s life. It does not function as a passive exchange of information. Instead, it examines how an individual is positioned in relation to their soul mission or divine calling. This depth is expressed through the Odu Ifá, which reveals patterns connected to function and responsibilities. These are not symbolic affirmations or motivational messages. They are structured frameworks that explain how a person’s destiny manifests and how to navigate it responsibly. When Ifá is engaged with this understanding, the guidance and follow-up steps are grounded and applicable. When it is approached as a substitute for reassurance or confirmation, its depth can feel misaligned with one’s expectations. What to expect from Ifá divination The outcome of an Ifá divination reading is ẹbọ, which consists of prescribed sacrifices and offerings given in response to what the Odu Ifá reveals . These actions are not symbolic, optional, or discretionary. They are the means by which imbalance is addressed and alignment with one’s destiny is restored. Ẹbọ serves a practical purpose within the Ifá system. It may be used to remove obstacles, stabilize conditions, avert misfortune, or reinforce positive outcomes identified in the reading. In this way, Ifá divination functions as a complete process. The reading identifies the conditions affecting a person’s life, and ẹbọ provides the required response. Without that response, the reading itself remains incomplete. This distinction matters. If you are seeking information, reflection, or confirmation without a prescription, Ifá divination may not be appropriate for your needs. Other forms of consultation may be more beneficial for you. When different needs call for different forms of guidance Within African traditional systems, other forms of legitimate guidance address different needs while remaining grounded in ancestral wisdom. These methods do not replace Ifá divination, nor do they diminish its authority. Instead, they serve specific purposes within a broader framework of traditional knowledge. Spiritual investigation is used when a person needs direct clarification around a specific concern. It applies Ifá-based methods in a focused way to answer targeted questions, without always requiring sacrificial offerings. Ancestor readings focus on lineage, legacy, and ancestral-based concerns. They help individuals understand inherited patterns, lineage-based obligations, and the role ancestors play in their present circumstances. African-centered astrology offers another layer of insight by examining how an individual’s innate tendencies and behavior are influenced by their cosmic blueprint. It provides a detailed understanding of a person’s natural inclinations and themes across different areas of their life. Each of these approaches serves a distinct function. What separates Ifá divination from them is not the depth of wisdom but the scope of the outcome. Ifá divination requires resolution because it addresses alignment. Other traditional readings offer understanding and context where prescription is not required. Knowing the difference allows people to seek guidance that meets their needs in beneficial and meaningful ways. The purpose of Ifá divination Ifá divination is a complete traditional system, not just a source of guidance and spiritual insight. Its purpose is to identify misalignment within a person’s destiny and to prescribe the steps required to correct it through ẹbọ. When this process is understood, the reading offers a coherent, resolution-based framework. If you are seeking deeper insight and resolution about your situation, explore authentic Ifá divination services through Asanee 44 . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Asanee Brogan Dr. Asanee Brogan, Ori Alignment Coach Grounded in years of study and practice within the Yoruba-based Ifá tradition, Dr. Asanee Brogan creates accessible learning resources. These tools guide individuals toward ancestral reconnection and Ori alignment. Through Asanee 44, she provides Ifá divination, rituals, products, courses, and more that honor African spirituality with authenticity and cultural integrity.

Sam Lee is a distinguished leader coaching social skills, communication, and social confidence. Being in the hospital 3 times due to being bullied, and therefore went through depression and mental health issues, he has overcome his adversities. He has since dedicated his life to helping others master their social skills so they can connect with like-minded people and build genuine connections. He is the Founder and CEO of Connect with Confidence, a premium social skills coaching service with students worldwide. His mission: To make the world a safer place to live in with ethical social skills. Sam Lee, Multi-Award Winning Certified Social Skills Coach Who is Sam Lee? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, favorites, who you are at home and in business, and something interesting about you. My name is Sam Lee, and prior to coaching, I was a Real Estate Agent and have over 10 years of experience in sales. I was born in Hong Kong and migrated to Australia when I was a kid. My hobbies include playing basketball both socially and competitively, socialising with friends, fishing, and going for a drive. My favourite is spending time with my partner in crime. At home, I like to chill and relax, watch YouTube videos such as the NBA, interesting and funny videos, news, etc. In business, I put on a different hat due to the nature that I am dealing with my client’s life, so I have to put on a professional hat and make them get their money’s worth. Something interesting about me is that I like to build friendships, and I can build friendships fast. What inspired you to start helping people build confidence and transform their communication? It really started off with me being shy, nervous, introverted, while being admitted to the hospital 3x times due to mental health issues and depression due to an unhappy life previously, and being bullied in person and cyber-bullied as well. In 2017, I had this idea of writing a book due to the social hardships I endured, and I said to myself enough is enough. So 2 and a half years later I published my first book called “The Social Way” with the end goal in mind to help people out there doing it tough and improve on their social skills so they can connect with like-minded people and also to send a message out there to the people who bully people that it can have serious consequences to their mental health and can lead to suicide and depression which we are already currently experiencing in the world we live in today. Fast forward now to 2020 and beyond, I have started my coaching journey to improve people’s social skills and confidence while growing their professional network and 10x their income from their connections. What specific challenges do your clients face before they work with you? Great question, the challenges that my client faces are being socially awkward, social anxiety, building friendships with others, a sense of loneliness, unable to start deep and meaningful conversations, imposter syndrome, making a good first impression, and lacking confidence. How do you help someone go from feeling unsure to confident and empowered in life and relationships? If they are incompetent, then I help upskill them with social skills. E.g., If they are very bad with conversation skills, I help them master that skill. If they take things personally with others, I help them to be less sensitive around them. It is a 2-step process for my clients, It really starts off with helping them to master their social skills first then when I give them the green light to go that they are confident enough to socialise and connect with people that matter to them, they can start to go out there to build healthy and genuine relationships while I coach them at the backend so they don’t burn that bridge and loose that opportunity with that connection or building rapport with people in life, work or in business.  What is the core philosophy or approach behind your coaching work? The core philosophy behind my coaching work is to help my clients get to their outcomes fast and to help them build unshakable confidence and significant transformation. My mission statement is “To make the world a safer place to live in with ethical social skills.” What results or changes do clients typically experience after working with you? The results are building more friendships and connections, as well as having unshakable confidence with anyone they want to meet. I have clients who have better harmonious relationships or are even in a relationship. Also, increase their income significantly by getting a pay rise in their job, and for the business owners out there, more profit and collaboration partners as a result of working with me. It is all about trust. If you can build trust with anyone by socialising with them, then the transaction comes after. What is one thing people often misunderstand about confidence and communication? Most people often overthink when it comes to conversations with someone they haven’t met before. Because they don’t know what to say and have awkward silences which make the interaction with someone embarrassing. So they rather avoid the situation with the person they are conversing with. Can you share a success story where your coaching made a major impact on someone’s life? I want to talk about my previous client, Arvid, who doubled his income in his Immigration Agency Business just by mastering his social skills. Arvid was a shy introvert who couldn’t connect and build trust with his clients. His conversations with his clients weren’t clicking and weren’t building trust at all. Arvid’s goal was to know how to socialise effectively with his clients so he could build instant rapport with them, therefore making more revenue in his business. He felt social anxiety, nervousness, and a lack of confidence when meeting his potential clients. Arvid originally thought that my program was expensive and was sceptical about the result I could help him achieve.  But after convincing him to join my signature The Social Warrior Program and giving it a go, he felt that all my content (Skills/Techniques/Lifehacks), etc, was gold and he could implement it quickly and started to gain results very quickly and build more trust with his clients. He knew that the missing piece of the puzzle in order to attract more clients was that his social skills needed to improve.  As a result, Arvid was able to sign up more clients from my coaching and made more revenue than he could have projected. He felt happy and a sense of achievement, higher self-esteem, and self-acceptance. And he couldn’t thank me more!  Who is your ideal client, the person you’re most excited to help?  My ideal client is Introverted Professionals and Entrepreneurs who want to take their social skills to the next level and to be able to 10x their income through the connections they build. What’s the first step someone should take if they know they need support but don’t know where to begin? The first step is to validate whether or not they can build friendships with ease. I always say this to my clients that your social skills are a direct correlation to the number of friends you can build. If you think that you are burning bridges, then you are welcome to contact me. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram ,   LinkedIn ,  and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Sam Lee

Written by April Michelle Ratchford, Occupational Therapist/Podcast Host April Ratchford, OTR/L, is an autistic occupational therapist and the voice behind Adulting with Autism. She supports neurodivergent adults across the world with relatable storytelling, lived wisdom, and empowering strategies for real-life challenges. Every January, we do the same thing. We set a long list of goals, feel motivated for about five minutes, and then put everything off until Monday. And if January 1st happens to land on a Monday? We wait for the next one. As an autistic occupational therapist, I can tell you, this isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a goal-design problem. In clinical practice, goals are not wish lists. They are structured, functional, and rooted in how the brain actually works. In this article, I’ll show you how to set goals using an OT framework from an autistic lens, so they are realistic, achievable, and sustainable instead of overwhelming and doomed to fail. Why most New Year's goals fail (and it’s not laziness) Most people fail at goals because they confuse volume with effectiveness. More goals do not equal more progress. In fact, the longer the list, the higher the likelihood of burnout, especially for autistic and neurodivergent individuals who already experience executive function overload. In occupational therapy, goals are: specific time-bound meaningful broken into manageable steps A goal that doesn’t respect how your brain works will fail every time. You actually have to care about the goal This is the part no one likes to hear. If you don’t genuinely care about the goal, if you’re doing it because you “should,” If it’s based on external pressure or expectations. That goal will fail. Not because you’re undisciplined, but because motivation does not survive against disinterest. Before setting any goal, ask yourself: Do I actually want this? Will this make my daily life easier? Am I willing to engage with the process, not just the outcome? If the answer is no, remove it from the list. Short-term vs long-term goals: How autistic brains work best Many autistic minds do not think well in long timelines. Year-long goals or even 90-day plans can feel abstract, boring, or overwhelming. Instead, I recommend: 30-day long-term goals 1-2 short-term goals within that timeframe Autistic brains thrive on pattern recognition. We want to see A - B - C and understand how changes affect outcomes. Short cycles provide feedback, clarity, and momentum. Case example: Organization is not one goal, it’s many “I want to be more organized” is not a goal. It’s a category. You must choose what you want to be organized about: your room medications clothing appointments daily routines Pick one. Real-world OT example: A dorm room reset When I walked into my son Z’s dorm room after a rough semester, the clutter explained everything. The space was so visually overwhelming that functional thinking was nearly impossible. We didn’t start by “cleaning the room.” We started by identifying tasks. Opened unopened boxes Sorted medical supplies Assigned one active medical drawer Created designated zones Then we moved one area at a time: closet, desk, bed. This process took two hours in a small room, because organization is intentional, not fast. Turning goals into systems that stick Once the physical space was addressed, routines were next. Goals fail without systems. We created: a weekly medication routine a designated cleaning day a fixed time block for room resets a written weekly schedule Autistic and ADHD brains do not reliably operate on memory alone. Time blocking reduces cognitive load and decision fatigue. Is it annoying? Yes. Does it work? Also yes. Consistency beats perfection every time You will mess up. That is expected. The difference between success and failure is same-day recovery. Failure is not proof you can’t do something, it’s data. It tells you: the task was too big the timing was wrong your body needed something else The goal is not perfection. The goal is returning to the system the same day. Big goals still work, when you shrink them Goals like weight loss, financial stability, or major life changes require breaking down the process even further. Instead of doing everything at once: choose movement or food choose structure or habit change choose one variable at a time Too much, too fast guarantees quitting. The autistic reality of goal-setting Year-long goals don’t work for me. Ninety days is too long. I operate in 30-day cycles with short-term goals nested inside. That’s not failure. That’s accommodation. Most neurodivergent people function better this way, they just haven’t been taught to work with their brains instead of against them. Key takeaways for the year ahead: Pick a goal you genuinely care about Limit yourself to one or two short-term goals Use 30-day timelines Build systems, not motivation Treat failure as data Adjust, don’t abandon This is how goals become achievable instead of exhausting. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from April Michelle Ratchford April Michelle Ratchford, Occupational Therapist/Podcast Host April Ratchford, OTR/L, is an autistic occupational therapist, writer, and global advocate for neurodivergent adults. As the creator and host of Adulting with Autism, an internationally ranked podcast with over two million downloads, she blends clinical expertise with real-life lived experience. April specializes in supporting autistic young adults as they transition into independence, higher education, and adult identity. She is known for her clear, empowering approach that makes complex neurodivergent challenges accessible and manageable. April is currently advancing her studies in neuroscience through King’s College London to further elevate her work in autistic well-being and adult development.

Written by Dr. Sandra Wilson, Business Coach, Mentor, and Consultant Sandra is renowned for her insightful approach to coaching leaders and leadership teams. With years of experience as an organisational psychologist and master coach, she brings breadth and depth to her work. She combines robust psychological theory with a practical approach to individual and team development. In a world defined by constant transformation, hybrid workforces, rapid technological advances, shifting generational expectations, and global competition, organisations are recognising that culture is not a decorative accessory, it is a strategic imperative. Culture determines how people behave when no one is watching, how decisions are made under pressure, and how resilient an organisation becomes when facing uncertainty. It influences whether employees show up with creativity and energy or retreat in silence and survival mode. In essence, culture is the invisible operating system that drives performance, innovation, and well-being. Yet despite years of leadership workshops, glossy value statements and motivational posters, many organisations still struggle to build cultures that are genuinely healthy, empowering and sustainable. I have witnessed versions of the gap, organisations that claim to value collaboration but reward competition, who say they prioritise well-being but do not address burnout, who advocate transparency but practice secrecy at the highest levels. When culture is dictated from the top rather than co-created, people disengage. When behaviours do not align with espoused values, trust is eroded. To build a healthy culture, organisations must embrace a fundamental shift, culture cannot be mandated, it must be co-created. To do that effectively, we must understand the psychological and systemic forces that shape collective behaviour. One of the most powerful lenses for understanding this is Transactional Analysis (TA), specifically the concept of organisational script. What culture really is Organisational culture is often defined as “how we do things around here”, but in reality, it is much deeper than visible behaviours or stated values. Culture is the lived experience of employees. It is the accumulation of daily interactions, unspoken expectations, leadership behaviours, and emotional climate. In essence, it is a set of unconscious agreements that influence whether people feel safe or threatened, valued or replaceable, and whether they are encouraged to contribute or pressurised to conform. A healthy culture is not soft, it is structural. Research demonstrates that organisations with strong, supportive cultures achieve higher employee retention, stronger engagement, greater innovation, and stronger financial performance. Culture shapes decisions that ultimately build or break strategy. When people feel psychologically safe and trusted, they take measured risks, share ideas, speak up, disagree without being disagreeable, and create healthy relationships. When people feel blamed, shamed, judged, or ignored, they shift into self-protection, compliance, silence, and resignation. In a modern landscape where human creativity and agility are essential, survival mode cultures are organisational liabilities. Why culture must be co-created, not imposed The traditional model of corporate culture creation has been top-down, leaders decide what the culture should be and expect everyone to adopt it. Culture cannot be installed like software. People commit to what they co-create. Co-creating culture means inviting employees at all levels to actively participate in designing the work environment. It means recognising that culture is not designed by posters and slogans but by relationships and the quality of everyday conversations. When culture is consciously co-created, ownership replaces compliance, engagement replaces resistance, trust replaces fear, and resilience emerges as a collective capability, enabling people to adapt, grow, and thrive together. Culture is not built through leadership programmes, initiatives, or value statements. These are the tools that can support culture, but they cannot create without robust alignment between intention and action. Culture is either reinforced or undermined in every meeting, every leadership decision, every performance review, and every informal exchange. It does not live in an employee handbook, it lives in the human nervous system. Transactional analysis and organisational script Transactional Analysis (TA) is a social psychological theory developed by Dr Eric Berne, and it helps us understand how beliefs, behaviour, and psychological dynamics shape relationships. One of TA’s core concepts is the life script, defined as the unconscious narrative that an individual develops in childhood to make sense of the world and that later influences adult decisions, beliefs, and relational patterns. What is less widely discussed is that organisations also develop scripts. An organisational script is a set of unspoken messages, expectations, emotional rules, and behavioural patterns that shape how the organisation functions. It determines what is permitted, what is rewarded, what is feared, and what is forbidden. It shapes whether people speak up or remain silent, whether mistakes are treated as learning opportunities or as punishable offences, and whether leadership is authoritarian, paternalistic, participatory, or empowering. Organisational scripts are transmitted through symbolic communication, such as who gets promoted, how conflict is handled, how leaders respond to being challenged, and how success is defined. Scripts are often inherited unconsciously from organisational history or industry norms. There are messages embedded in the unconscious of the system, for example: “Don’t ask questions, just deliver results” “Don’t show vulnerability, stay strong” “Keep conflict quiet, don’t rock the boat” “Don’t challenge authority, be compliant” These examples are not written down anywhere, yet beliefs such as these, embedded in the system, powerfully govern behaviour. The problem with an unconscious script is that it operates automatically, even when it does not serve the organisation. The culture of the organisation is a result of the script and, left unexamined, reproduces itself through generations of employees. Healthy cultural transformation begins with exploration of the script, once the organisation can see the narrative it is living with, it can consciously rewrite it. The act of rewriting is the essence of co-creation of a healthy culture. Creating culture through shared purpose and psychological safety At the heart of a healthy organisational culture lies psychological safety, the belief that we can speak openly, experiment, and bring our authentic selves without fear of blame, shame, or judgement. Psychological safety is the birthplace of innovation. Without it, people silence themselves, hide mistakes, suppress suggestions, and protect themselves. When people feel genuinely listened to, they fully engage. When they feel part of something meaningful, they contribute more confidently. When leaders operate from curiosity rather than control, they unlock organisational intelligence. Leaders must be facilitators of conversations, model transparency, and humility. Leadership is less about power or status and more about relationships. A healthy culture is not one where everyone agrees, but one in which disagreement is safe and productive. The work of cultural co-creation Co-creating a healthy culture is not an event, it is a practice. It requires a willingness to ask uncomfortable questions and the patience to build new habits. It requires consistency and not only emotional intelligence but also social and relational intelligence. It requires leaders to look inward because culture mirrors leadership behaviours. Culture does not change when organisations declare new values, it changes only when leaders embody behaviours aligned with those values. People follow experiences, not words. The real work of culture is the relational work, the way leaders respond to challenges, the way they deal with mistakes, their own and others, the depth with which they listen, their ability to embrace human frailty whilst driving towards excellence. Culture is co-created through conversations, experiences, and daily choices. When employees believe they can influence culture, hope replaces helplessness. When people’s voices matter, accountability becomes shared rather than enforced. When the dignity of individuals is honoured, performance becomes a natural outcome, rather than a pressure demand. The future belongs to co-created cultures We are living in a pivotal moment for workplace transformation. The 2020 pandemic exposed what had previously been unquestionable. People no longer want to trade well-being for steady employment. They want purpose, psychological safety, inclusion, and humanity. They want their workplace to be a community of contribution. A healthy culture confers a competitive advantage on an organisation. More importantly, it is a moral choice. Leaders who rise to this challenge will attract talent, inspire loyalty, and adapt rapidly. Those who cling to outdated scripts will struggle to evolve. The future of work will be built on collaboration, not control, on partnership, not hierarchy, and on trust rather than fear. Culture is something we build together, not something senior managers own. Closing reflection The organisational script silently dictates the organisation's culture. Every employee contributes through their decisions, beliefs, and behaviours. Every leader reinforces it through their presence, not their policies. At any moment, we can reinforce the old story or co-create a new one. Visit my website  for more info! Read more from Dr. Sandra Wilson Dr. Sandra Wilson, Business Coach, Mentor, and Consultant With over 35 years of experience in organisation development, Sandra is a dedicated researcher of human behaviour both at an individual and systemic level. She defines her work as helping people get out of their own way, passionately believing in the untapped potential and limitless resources within every individual. Her mission is to support people in living richer, more fulfulling lives, both professionally and personally. Sandra works internationally as a consultant, teacher, coach, mentor and supervisor advocating for rigourouse development processes without rigid formulas.

Written by Dan Williamson, Coach, Mentor, and Founder Dan is a qualified coach and mentor with 20+ years of experience helping people unlock their potential by challenging perspectives and enhancing self-awareness. He founded Teach Lead Transform, an online platform for self-discovery, learning, and language growth. Your CV looks perfect. That might be the problem. When every bullet point is polished, every gap explained away, and every description sounds like it came from the same AI prompt, recruiters don’t really see anything at all, because the CV is generic. I've reviewed hundreds of CVs over the past decade. The ones that work aren't the most polished, they're the most honest. The ones that fail aren't poorly formatted or badly written, instead they're so sanitized and are usually just a list of responsibilities, they could belong to anyone. Your "perfect" CV is probably not even being noticed, and it’s nothing to do with your qualifications or experience. The perfection problem Recruiters are trained to spot inconsistencies such as employment gaps, regular job changes, career pivots, but also a CV that seems too ‘perfect’. When everything is grammatically correct, every achievement flawless, and the presentation unblemished, this sort of CV says nothing and raises more questions than it answers. Perfect CVs signal a few things: You're pretending to be someone you’re not, you’ve hidden anything that might be controversial, or (shock horror) show a personality, or increasingly, you’ve just asked an AI to write it for you. Note: Whilst using AI is quicker, it’s a machine without the individual nuances we all have, take the time to write out your experience, it speaks volumes. Also, think about it from a recruiter’s perspective. They're reading their hundredth CV of the week. Every single one claims to be a "results-driven professional with a proven track record" or lists "strategic initiatives," "cross-functional collaboration," and something they are “Known for…” In short, all of them sound the same, making them forgettable. Ironically, by trying to be perfect, you’ve eliminated every possible way to be memorable and authentic. Five unintentional CV red flags  Red flag 1: The language of generic achievement "Increased efficiency by 30%" says nothing. What did you do? Remembering the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) methodology is very helpful here. I see this mistake constantly. A CV packed with impressive-sounding percentages attached to vague achievements. "Drove 40% improvement in team performance." "Increased revenue by 25%." "Reduced costs by 35%."  These statements say to me: "I know what a good CV bullet point is supposed to look like, so I created one." The percentages without context are meaningless. What process did you change? What problem were you solving? What did you learn that you'd apply differently next time? What was the metric at the start, and what was it at the end? That's what reveals competence, not the number, but the thinking, the action, and the result. Instead of: "Increased team efficiency by 30% through process improvements." Try: "Reduced new hire onboarding from six weeks to four by identifying three steps that added no value. Required convincing department heads to change their approach, which taught me about organizational change." The second version is longer and less polished, but now I’m interested, and I’m already thinking about questions to ask at an interview to understand more about how you think. Red flag 2: Inconsistent timelines  The CV that lists years without months to obscure a gap. Or, more common, the work history that stops 6 months or a year from the time you are making an application. Instantly, I’m asking, “What have you been doing since?”  These gaps are so easy to spot, and when I see them, I’m assuming the worst, because if you're working this hard to hide something, it must be bad, right? Usually, it isn't. Usually it's something completely understandable, caregiving, illness, redundancy, taking time to figure out what you wanted. Things that make you human and often more capable, not less. Life experience complements work experience. Remember, the explanation that comes later, if you get to an interview, must overcome the distrust you created by hiding it in the first place. Interview questions should be about what you included, not what’s missing. Instead of hiding it: "2018-2019: Stepped away from full-time work to care for a parent with declining health. During this time, I took on project work for three former clients and realized I wanted to pivot from corporate finance to financial planning for individuals.” That's honest, human, and shows values with strategic thinking. It's also far less suspicious than carefully formatted dates that don't quite add up. Red flag 3: Borrowed authority Using industry jargon and buzzwords that sound impressive but say nothing: "Leveraged synergies across cross-functional stakeholder groups to drive strategic initiatives and deliver value-added solutions in a dynamic environment." Hmmm. From experience, people who talk a lot, usually don’t really have anything of substance to say. This is a sentence that talks. A lot.  This is borrowed authority, or realistically just BS. Language that sounds professional because it sounds like everyone else's professional language when it has no substance to it. I read this and my eyes glaze over, or I just laugh because it’s such an absurd statement. All this tells me is that you know what professional language is supposed to sound like. It doesn't tell me how you think, what you did, or why it mattered. Instead of: "Leveraged cross-functional collaboration to drive strategic outcomes." Try: "Convinced three department heads who rarely spoke to each other to jointly redesign our customer onboarding. They were sceptical until I showed them how much time we were wasting with handoff confusion." The second version uses normal language to describe real work. It shows what you did, how you did it, and the challenges.  Red flag 4: The invisible person When everything is about the company or team, and nothing reveals who you are as a professional. If everything is about what the team achieved, the person who wrote the CV completely disappears. Not wanting to take credit for team efforts or overstate your individual contribution is admirable. However, the reader needs to understand your specific contribution. Not because they want you to take credit from others, but because they're hiring you, not your former team. Instead of: "Team delivered 40% improvement in customer satisfaction through process redesign." Try: "I led the research phase for our customer satisfaction project, interviewing 30 customers to understand where our process was failing. Their feedback directly shaped three of the four changes we made. The hardest part was getting leadership to hear that our 'efficient' process was actually creating work for customers." Now I know what you did, how you think, and what you learned.  Red flag 5: Strategic omission The memorable career moves and personal experiences omitted for fear they're "not professional enough." The year you spent teaching English abroad that taught you how to explain complex concepts simply. The volunteer work that made you realize you cared about mission-driven organizations. The "failed" startup that taught you more than any corporate role ever did. You left all of that out because it doesn't fit the template of what a professional CV is supposed to look like. Those are often the most interesting parts of your story! The gold nuggets that make you different! They're what I’m going to remember after reading ninety identical CVs about strategic initiatives and cross-functional collaboration. Instead of leaving it out: Include it, shout about it, but show the professional relevance. "2017: Taught English in Vietnam. This detour taught me that my ability to break down complex financial concepts for non-experts was a skill worth developing. Returning to client-facing work, it completely changed how I explained investment strategies." That's interesting and shows self-awareness with the ability to leverage and learn from life experiences. Writing an authentic CV Authentic doesn't mean casual or unprofessional. It means real. Your CV should sound like you wrote it, not like you assembled it from templates. It should reveal how you think, not just what you did. It should show the person behind the credentials. This requires different choices: Strategic disclosure instead of complete sanitization. Not every detail of your life belongs on your CV, but the parts that shaped your professional judgment probably do. Include what's relevant, frame it clearly without apologizing. Your language instead of buzzwords. If you wouldn't say "leveraged synergies" in conversation, don't write it on your CV. Context for achievements instead of percentages. The number matters less than what you did to get there and what you learned doing it. Your voice instead of generic professionalism. Professional doesn't mean personality-free. It means clear, respectful and appropriate. Your CV can be these things while still sounding like you wrote it. The integration method for CV writing Here's how to rewrite your CV with authenticity: Step 1: Identify what you've sanitized or omitted. Read your current CV with this question in mind: What parts of my career story are missing? The career gap you explained away, the pivot you didn't mention, the personal experience that shaped how you work or the failure that taught you something important.  Step 2: Find the professional relevance in your real story. The career gap? It shows values, resilience, strategic thinking. The pivot? It shows adaptability, clarity, courage. The unusual experience? It shows diverse thinking, cross-context learning. Your job isn't to hide these. It's to show why they matter professionally. Step 3: Practice language that's honest without being defensive. There's a difference between: "Unfortunately, I had to take time off due to personal circumstances." And: "Stepped away for eighteen months to manage a family health crisis. Returned with clarity about the kind of work environment I needed, now seeking mission-driven organizations." The first apologizes. The second frames.  Step 4: Test with people who will give honest feedback. Show your revised CV to someone who knows you professionally. Ask them: "Does this sound like me? Is it clear what I did and how I think?" If they say it could be anyone, you've sanitized too much. If they say it's too casual, you've overcorrected. If they say it's clearer and more compelling, you're on track. When authentic actually means strategic The fear is that authenticity will make you less competitive, that honesty about gaps or pivots will eliminate you from consideration, that personality will seem unprofessional. Sometimes, that will happen. Some organizations want conformity. Some recruiters want the template version. Honestly? Those probably weren't the right opportunities for you anyway. The CV that's authentically you does something better than impressing everyone, it attracts the right opportunities. When you're clear about who you are, the roles that fit will respond. The roles that don't will pass you by. This feels risky until you realize that getting hired for being someone you are not is the actual risk. The CV that sounds like you works as a filter. The organizations that respond positively to authenticity are the ones where you can sustain working. The ones that want the sanitized version were never going to be a good fit. Your CV checklist Before you send your next application, ask yourself: Could someone who knows me professionally recognize this as mine? Am I using phrases I'd never say out loud? Does my description sound generic? Have I included context for my achievements, or just numbers? Are there career choices I'm hiding rather than framing? If I read this as a recruiter, would I remember it? Does this show how I think, or just what I did? If you're answering no to most of these, your CV isn't working as hard as it could. The goal isn't to create a perfect CV. It's to create an honest one that makes the right people want to talk to you. What I've learned after years of this work and from personal experience: The most forgettable CVs are the perfect ones; the most memorable ones tell the truth strategically. Your career path is more interesting than your CV currently suggests, that's exactly what's making you forgettable. So, stop trying to eliminate every objection. Start showing who you really are, and the right opportunities will respond. If you are interested in an independent assessment of your CV with some observations for improvement, at TLT, we offer a free 20-minute consultation to understand more and identify how we can help.  Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dan Williamson Dan Williamson, Coach, Mentor, and Founder Dan is passionate about continuous growth to positively impact others. As a qualified coach and mentor, he empowers people to deepen their self-awareness, strengthen their personal identity, and unlock their true potential. Using his own self-discovery experiences as a foundation, he helps individuals develop bespoke strategies to enable them to live as their authentic selves. Through his writing on Teach, Lead, Transform, his online learning, language, and self-discovery platform, his aim is to stimulate thinking and awareness to empower self-directed personal growth.

Written by Angela Attar, Holistic Healer & Spiritual Guide Angela Attar is a Holistic Healer & Spiritual Guide, Reiki Master, Homeopath, and Spiritual Coach. She specialises in Emotional and Energy Healing, helping individuals release blocks, restore balance, and reconnect with their true selves through integrative mind-body-spirit practices. Many people experience an ongoing inner conflict, a sense of overthinking, emotional reactivity, or feeling disconnected from themselves despite doing “all the right things.” Life may appear stable on the outside, yet internally, there is confusion, exhaustion, or a constant feeling of being on edge. This inner tension often comes from two very different forces competing for control, the ego and the higher self. Understanding the difference between ego vs higher self, and recognising which one is guiding your thoughts, decisions, and emotional responses, can be profoundly transformative. What is the ego? The ego is not something to get rid of, nor is it inherently negative. It exists to protect us. It develops through life experiences, conditioning, and moments where safety, emotional or physical, is felt uncertain. The ego’s role is survival. It scans for danger, seeks control, and tries to prevent discomfort or rejection. It often speaks through fear-based thoughts, self-doubt, comparison, or the need for certainty. While its intentions are protective, when the ego dominates, life can begin to feel heavy, reactive, and exhausting. What is the higher self? The higher self represents the calm, grounded part of us that is connected to truth, integrity, and inner knowing. It is not loud or demanding. It does not rush or pressure. Rather than reacting, the higher self responds. It is aligned with values rather than fear, trust rather than control. Decisions guided by the higher self tend to feel steady and clear, even when they involve challenge or change. Ego vs higher self: Key differences Understanding the contrast between these two inner voices makes them easier to recognise in daily life. The ego operates through fear, the higher self through trust The ego feels urgent, the higher self is patient The ego seeks external validation, the higher self relies on inner alignment The ego overthinks, the higher self knows The ego tightens the body, the higher self softens it Neither voice disappears entirely, but awareness allows choice. Signs the ego is running your life Many people recognise ego dominance not through dramatic moments, but through subtle, ongoing patterns, such as: Constant overthinking and second-guessing decisions Emotional reactivity or feeling easily triggered A strong need for reassurance or approval Difficulty resting or slowing down Feeling disconnected from yourself despite effort and productivity These patterns are common during periods of chronic stress and nervous system overload , and they are not personal failings. Signs you are listening to the higher self When the higher self leads, life does not become perfect, but it does become clearer. Common signs include: Decisions feel calmer, even when they are not easy Emotional responses soften rather than escalate Increased self-trust and reduced need to explain yourself A sense of alignment rather than force Feeling more present in the body rather than stuck in the mind This shift often feels subtle but deeply grounding. Why so many people are stuck in ego mode Modern life places enormous strain on the nervous system. Constant stimulation, emotional suppression, unresolved experiences, and long periods of “pushing through” leave little room for stillness or reflection. When the nervous system remains in a prolonged state of stress or survival mode, the ego naturally becomes louder in an attempt to maintain control. This is especially common in those who are responsible, empathetic, or used to supporting others. Ego dominance, in this sense, is often a sign of overwhelm rather than weakness. Research into how the nervous system responds to prolonged stress  shows that ongoing stress can significantly impact emotional regulation, decision-making, and overall wellbeing. How to begin shifting from ego to higher self The transition from ego-led to higher-self-led living does not happen through willpower alone. It begins with gentle awareness. Simple practices can support this shift: Pausing before reacting Creating moments of quiet without distraction Reconnecting with the body through breath or stillness Allowing emotions to be felt rather than pushed away Receiving support rather than managing everything alone Practices that focus on calming the nervous system naturally  can be particularly helpful in creating the internal safety needed for this shift to occur. Living from alignment, not survival When the higher self begins to guide more of your inner world, life often feels less effortful. Decisions come from clarity rather than fear. Healing becomes deeper because it addresses root causes, not just symptoms. Living from alignment does not remove challenges, but it changes how they are met, with steadiness, trust, and self-respect. Start your reconnection journey Feeling disconnected from yourself can be unsettling, but it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. Often, it is simply a sign that your system has been in survival mode for too long. If you feel drawn to explore this more deeply, personalised Emotional & Energy Healing sessions  can support you in reconnecting with your inner clarity, regulating the nervous system, and gently releasing what no longer serves you. This work can also form the foundation for a longer-term journey of inner alignment and self-trust. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Angela Attar Angela Attar, Holistic Healer & Spiritual Guide Angela Attar is a Holistic Healer & Spiritual Guide, Reiki Master, Homeopath, and Spiritual Coach. She works with individuals seeking to release emotional blocks, restore balance, and reconnect with their true selves, with a special focus on empowering women on their healing journeys. Through her integrative approach combining Reiki, homeopathy, and spiritual coaching, Angela helps clients build resilience, clarity, and a renewed sense of inner strength. Her mission is to guide others back to their authentic power so they can live with greater purpose, freedom, and fulfilment.

Cambridge, United Kingdom, January 2026. Leadership researcher and technologist Aravind Sakthivel announces the release of his new book, The Leadership Trap: Why Smart Leaders Fail and How to Break Free, available worldwide on Amazon from February 2026. The book is the result of a multi-year study of globally documented leadership failures, drawing exclusively on public information, including congressional investigations, regulatory reports, court filings, academic research, and long-term media analysis. Rather than relying on personal experience or internal corporate access, the book synthesises patterns found across some of the most widely reported organisational crises of the past three decades. A research-driven framework based on global cases The Leadership Trap identifies six systemic traps that repeatedly appear in large-scale leadership failures across industries and geographies. These traps are derived solely from publicly documented cases and cross-industry research. All company and individual names are changed to ensure the focus remains on leadership patterns and system failures rather than on specific organisations. Illustrative cases include the Stratford Aerospace Horizon 900 crisis, the Atlantic Foods capability collapse, the FlexSpace IPO breakdown, and the innovation failures at Apex Industrial. These cases are used because they are extensively documented in the public domain, allowing readers to examine recurring failure patterns without relying on confidential or proprietary information. “These patterns are not speculative,” says Aravind Sakthivel. “They are visible in the public record. What has been missing is a coherent framework that explains how these failures form, why they remain invisible to leaders, and how they can be prevented before damage becomes irreversible.” The six leadership traps The book outlines six recurring traps: Echo Chambers, where truth fails to reach decision makers Cost Cutting Illusions, where short term savings erode long term capability Leadership Absence, leaving organisations directionless during crisis Innovation Theatre, where activity replaces outcomes Fortress Cultures, where loyalty is rewarded over performance Metric Mirages, where dashboards hide underlying deterioration The three systems that prevent failure Alongside the traps, the book introduces three practical systems: the Challenge System, the Capability System, and the Cadence System. Together, these form an operational architecture leaders can use to prevent traps from forming or to reverse them once they appear. Each system includes diagnostic tools, weekly and monthly health checks, and documented escape routes grounded in public examples from resilient organisations, including Titan Industries, Southwest Airlines, and Microsoft. What readers gain Readers will gain: An evidence-based diagnostic framework Practical tools that can be applied immediately Public case studies showing how traps form and how they are reversed A 90-day implementation roadmap A research-backed model suitable for use across sectors About the author Aravind Sakthivel is an author, technologist, specialising in the intersection of AI, leadership behaviour, and organisational psychology. With more than 22 years of global technology leadership experience, he has served as CIO in complex multinational environments. Based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Aravind’s research focuses on why intelligent, high-performing leaders fall into predictable organisational traps and how those failures can be prevented through system design rather than individual heroics. His framework, The Leadership Traps, provides a practical lens for diagnosing leadership decline and restoring organisational health. He holds an MBA from Nyenrode Business Universiteit and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School.  Book details Title: The Leadership Trap: Why Smart Leaders Fail and How to Break Free Author: Aravind Sakthivel Release Date: 3rd Ferbuary 2026 Formats: Print and Kindle Publisher: Amazon Website Media, interviews, and speaking For interviews, review copies, or speaking invitations, contact: Aravind Sakthivel Cambridge, United Kingdom Website LinkedIn

Sylwia Krawczyszyn works with people who have tried almost everything, yet still find themselves looping back to the same physical or emotional patterns. Rather than treating symptoms as problems to eliminate, she approaches them as signals that point toward something deeper that hasn’t yet been met. Her perspective is shaped not only by professional training, but also by her own lived experience of severe chronic illness and years spent searching for answers that actually last. Her work sits at the intersection of subconscious patterning, embodied awareness, and energy-based modalities. Drawing on Compassion Key®, Quantum-Touch®, and a background that bridges analytical thinking with lived, somatic experience, she helps clients reconnect with their inner technology, an innate capacity for regulation, healing, and choice that was never broken, only muted. She is not interested in surface-level fixes, bypassing, or outsourcing responsibility to a method or a healer. Instead, she works with awareness, resonance, and readiness. The focus is not on becoming someone new, but on unlearning long-running imprints, including beliefs, nervous system responses, and identity patterns that quietly shape how life is experienced day after day. Sylwia Krawczyszyn, Subconscious Healing Guide Who is Sylwia Krawczyszyn, and what inspired you to start your self-development journey? I like to describe myself as a mixture of an archetypal Rebel, Magician, and Artist. I offer guidance in the self-healing process, but I'm also a bit of a computer geek who loves thunderstorms and heavy music, especially progressive metal and hardcore punk. I definitely don't wish to be seen as a guru or even a healer, because I believe the only guru and healer you need is the one already inside you. The first steps of my self-development journey happened about ten years ago, when I started learning mindfulness and yoga. I found both very helpful for managing stress while entering my professional career in the demanding VFX industry. The deeper dive began a couple of years later when I went through Topical Steroid Withdrawal, and my health declined so dramatically that I was afraid to look in the mirror. I struggled with pain and extreme discomfort for about a year, completely unable to work. This is when I started looking into unconventional ways of healing that produce real results. I tried numerous different approaches, including diets, detoxes, affirmations, natural remedies, acupuncture, miracle programs, and quantum manifestation. Despite all this effort, my skin continued to be reactive, chronically inflamed, and dry, even several years after the TSW. Everything changed when I dug deeper and resolved subconscious patterns that were causing the skin issues in the first place. Today I am delighted to say I'm about 95% eczema free. I finally feel comfortable in my body and have stopped worrying about looking "perfect" when being seen by other people. I haven't had major flare-ups for several months now and continue to improve with this work, and that includes other areas of my life, not just my skin. How would you describe your approach to personal transformation and growth? I'm all about "Doing It Yourself". I believe I am the only person who truly knows what's best for me. I don't like to rely on external means, be it wellness hacks, hi-tech gadgets, even an organic diet or herbal medicine, because I consider these to mostly address symptoms and not the actual causes of our issues. I'm particularly interested in methods that are practical and easy to use in the mess of everyday life. Deep down, I've always known that the most advanced technology on Earth is already within us. The fact that science doesn't necessarily understand everything about it doesn't mean we can't use it. Quite the contrary. And I'm definitely one of those people who has experienced this firsthand with my own healing and continues to see it in the incredible shifts my clients report. What key principles guide your work with clients? First and foremost, I do not aim to create repeat clients. I would rather give you the fishing rod than a bucket of fish, meaning I’m happiest when you apply what you've realised and learned while working with me on your own, instead of coming back for help every time. Of course, that being said, I would never leave you without advice or ignore your messages. If you need me, I'm here, even outside of 1:1 session work. It's quite likely I will point you towards the ways you can be of support to yourself, simply because I find this the most beneficial in my own healing. I also only work with people who are ready to accept full responsibility for their lives. This requires a certain amount of courage and an understanding that we are never truly victims of our circumstances, or enough frustration with the life you're living right now that you're open to such a possibility. Last but not least, your safety is of great importance to me. If I feel I won't be able to help you, I will recommend someone who is better suited to your needs. I have some really amazing therapists in my network. How do you help individuals uncover their true potential and unlock lasting change? It all comes down to contacting what I call our True or Highest Self. This is the unique part of us that is not touched by trauma or limiting beliefs. It holds our greatest potential and knows exactly what we're meant to achieve in this lifetime and what we need to learn to get there. Lasting change is a direct result of: trusting and allowing this part to lead us, even if what it asks seems scary or illogical, and especially when this doesn't seem available, meeting those other, fragmented aspects of ourselves that keep us stuck in emotional or mental loops. These may be wounded inner children, or even versions of ourselves from different lifetimes that experienced some kind of traumatic event. Both of these are key elements of my 1:1 subconscious healing sessions. Can you share an example of a transformation story from your clients that really stands out? A client came to me feeling completely stuck in life. He worked a job he hated and lived with his parents, who didn't understand him. He had tried rounds of psychotherapy and even taken medication, but didn't feel it was of much help. During our session, he contacted the part of himself still in his mother's womb, at the exact time when his parents considered abortion. It was truly remarkable to see him offer love and compassion to this little version of himself. I asked him to take this into his everyday life and continue to offer the loving support that this part had needed for so long. It's mind-blowing how much information our subconscious mind stores. Obviously, this isn't something a person would readily remember. Yet he was able to access this memory, and after the session, he said he felt incredibly light, as if he'd just shed a massive weight he wasn't even aware of. About a month later, when I asked how he was doing, he was about to move to a big city and start a new life. Even if the session didn't do it all for him, it certainly seems like it unlocked something and gave him the courage to take that step. He was shaken but very excited. What common challenges do your clients face, and how do you help them overcome them? Just like me, most of my clients have tried many therapies, workshops, retreats, and techniques, both conventional and alternative. Despite all these efforts, their life remained the same and their problems persisted. This often shows up as chronic illness or pain, exhaustion even after resting, or being unable to truly rest or sleep. It can also look like feeling stuck in an unsatisfying life, chasing too many passions at once, and never completing anything meaningful. They may feel afraid of being seen or judged by others, or completely stuck in believing they can never heal, conceive, find a partner, or discover their life’s purpose. More often than not, a major underlying issue is not feeling worthy of love or of living a beautiful, abundant life. The number of things in our lives that stem from unresolved trauma and long-running imprints is staggering. Often, we don’t remember these experiences or see how they relate to our current struggles. This is the focus of my 1:1 work. I help people safely go deep enough to gently dissolve the roots of what’s stopping them from feeling whole, healthy, joyful, and at ease. How do you tailor your approach to meet the unique needs of each individual you work with? My sessions have a certain structure that helps them be precise and effective, but each session relies first and foremost on the information given to me by the client. I use my intuition and certain digging deeper techniques only when the client, or their wounded aspect, is reluctant to share information. Otherwise, the session is led entirely by their own experience and interpretations of subconscious imagery. In this way, each session is unique and will look and feel different every time. My task is to be neutral and regulated, to listen closely to whatever unfolds in the client's mind's eye, while also making sure they feel safe and remain at a comfortable distance from anything that may be too emotionally overwhelming. When it comes to booking sessions, I like to first discuss the challenges my client is experiencing. This helps us decide if working together may be a good fit, and whether one session or a package of sessions would be best suited to their situation. It's never one-size-fits-all. "The Return" package comes with a pre-recorded self-healing meditation that can be used whenever needed, and it also includes a money-back guarantee. If nothing shifts after 2 sessions, I'm happy to refund the full investment. What role does mindset play in the transformation process, and how do you cultivate it with your clients? For me, this work produces the greatest shifts when I’m regulated, grounded, and not overly emotionally invested. I cultivate this state through breathing and body awareness practices that I use both in everyday life and during sessions. It’s similar for my clients. Feeling safe and balanced is essential, which is why subconscious healing sessions always begin with grounding and nervous system regulation. From there, most clients naturally access a calm, spacious state connected to their True Self, which tends to deepen as the session unfolds. Another key element in this work is self-compassion. While it may sound too simple, it’s one of the most powerful self-healing tools available once people learn how to access it without judgment or force. What tools or techniques do you use to guide your clients towards their goals? The main tool I use is Compassion Key®. It shares certain similarities with hypnotic regression. However, it doesn't require hypnosis at all, and personally, I find it much more effective, quicker, and less heavy on the system. It relies on the client's somatic experience, subconscious imagery, and a precise use of specially formulated self-compassion mantras in order to access and dissolve dissonant emotional loops and limiting beliefs. My secondary tool is Quantum-Touch®. This is an energy healing modality that ensures a coherent and stable frequency field, supporting the client's self-healing mechanisms. I use it during all my Compassion Key® sessions to balance myself and the client, but I also offer it as separate mini sessions for energy boosting, alignment, and restoration. It's especially useful to weave between the deeper, more emotional CK sessions, but also very effective for many acute problems and skeletal misalignments. I'm officially certified in both of these techniques. What would you say to someone who feels stuck and unsure of where to begin their personal development journey? Notice your emotional triggers. What makes you feel sad, angry, frustrated, or fearful? These are great starting points. If you can't sleep, notice what kind of thoughts come to your mind as you're lying in bed. More often than not, things we don't like about other people resonate with certain parts we don't like about ourselves. Start taking note of these. For example, write them down along with associated emotional states in your private journal. Observe which patterns are especially present in your life. Try not to run away from or drown out difficult feelings. What you resist, persists. Be curious and always very gentle with yourself. If you catch yourself judging the way you feel, take note of that as well. It may seem contradictory at first, but the more presence and compassion you give to those aspects of your being, the less they're going to run your life. If you're interested in working with affirmations, you may want to check this guide   on how to use them most effectively . How can potential clients start working with you, and what can they expect from the process? I currently offer single subconscious healing and energy healing sessions, as well as a package of 8+3 sessions called "The Return ", which I briefly mentioned before. You can find more details on this website . If you're considering booking a package, I will first ask you to attend a free 20-minute Resonance Call, so we can both get to know each other and explore whether this could be the right way forward. Expect the unexpected. Many sessions are surprising. Most produce unforeseen improvements in my clients' lives, such as loved ones or co-workers behaving differently towards them, or being able to sleep more deeply than ever before. All are great opportunities to create the change you want to see in the world. This work is definitely not just about you. Whatever you alchemise inside yourself heals in the collective as well. If you feel the call, I would be honoured to hold space for your unique journey. Reach out via Instagram or email me here with any questions and booking requests. Follow me on  LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Sylwia Krawczyszyn

Written by Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Holistic Healer Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a holistic healer specialized in subconscious transformation and energy medicine. She holds a PhD in Business Technology and is a Certified Advanced Resonance Repatterning Practitioner. She offers 1:1 sessions, remote quantum-based healing, and regular healing seminars. In Western medicine, many approaches to health focus primarily on symptoms and diagnoses. But as an information-based perspective, Biofield testing asks a different question: how well a system is currently able to regulate itself under strain. My last article spoke about emotional healing and how unprocessed emotions can cause physical symptoms. In my work, I also combine emotional and spiritual healing methods with biofield testing and remote regulation where useful.   Biofield Testing and Regulation is a method used to identify stressors on different levels of the system and to support regulation remotely. It is especially useful when people experience multiple or changing physical symptoms. Often, it's the case that a single cause cannot be identified, and that different symptoms appear to overlap or change over time. The list of contributing factors and ailments that can be positively improved by working with this method is extensive and can include:   Biological stressors: microbes such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and related patterns the system is reacting to Functional organ and organ system imbalances: regulatory strain within specific organs or physiological systems that can affect overall stability Toxic and environmental stressors: metals, chemical pollutants, and other substances that burden the system Internal conflicts and stress patterns: fears, stress responses, and unresolved inner conflicts Energetic regulation level: imbalance patterns in the overall field that can affect stability and resilience Sometimes people come to me who already have a medical diagnosis, yet they still have not found an approach that truly helps them. Others have consulted various doctors and practitioners and yet they still do not clearly understand the underlying causes of their complaints. Some come to me because they sense that their system is out of balance and trust biofield testing to identify the underlying contributing factors and support regulation at the level of information.   I am neither a medical doctor nor a psychotherapist. My work is situated within complementary, non-clinical approaches to health and regulation. I work with energy-based methods, focusing on information-based approaches and biofield regulation at a distance. The method used to access and understand a client’s health-related information is called the biofield test. It originates from biophysical experiential medicine and is taught in Germany within the framework of the Society for Biophysical Medicine (Gesellschaft für Biophysikalische Medizin, GBM), where I participate in ongoing professional training. The biofield test allows the practitioner to identify which stress factors are currently affecting the client’s system and to test which forms of regulation would be most appropriate and beneficial at a given moment. Through remote regulatory work, the system can reorganize itself and regain stability. Many clients report an improved sense of balance and overall quality of life following biofield testing and individualized regulation.   This article explains what the biofield test is, how it works, and what kind of benefits clients may experience from working with it.   Important note: The biofield test is a complementary and holistic health approach. It does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. The concepts described are based on biophysical experiential medicine and are not part of conventional, evidence-based science. What is the biofield test? The biofield test is not a conventional medical test. It does not measure blood values, and it does not establish medical diagnoses. Instead, it asks a different question, " How well is a person’s system currently able to regulate itself, and what is blocking this regulation?" In this approach, the human body is understood not only as a biochemical system, but also as an information system. Physical, emotional, or energetic stressors leave information within this system, often long before clear medical findings appear.   The biofield test makes these stressors visible, not all at once, but in an order that corresponds to the person’s current condition. This prioritization is essential because regulation can only be effective when the system is not overwhelmed.   How the biofield test works Working with information from a distance This work is based on the understanding that information is not bound to physical space. The biofield test works with an informational field, understood in this context as a field in which information is available independent of distance.   A dried blood sample on filter paper is understood to serve as an informational reference to the person from whom it originates. This information is considered functionally connected to the person. For this reason, it is possible to access information about the state of the system via the sample, even when the person is not physically present.   The blood sample itself is not analyzed. No substances are measured and no values are determined. It serves solely as a reference through which information can be accessed from the field. Working with the sample allows for a calm and objective testing process. It is independent of daily condition, expectation, or conscious participation. What is tested is what currently places the greatest burden on the system and what it needs in order to become more stable again.   Regulation administered remotely Working at a distance does not mean that something is transmitted from one place to another in a physical sense. The blood sample and the client are understood as belonging to the same field. When regulatory frequencies are applied to the sample, they are considered to take effect in the client’s system at the same time. The distance between practitioner and client, therefore, plays no role.   All testing and remote regulation take place only with the explicit consent of the client. Without the client’s permission, no information is accessed and no regulatory work is performed.   The approach does not claim scientific proof. It follows a functional, practice-based logic as it is applied within experiential biophysical medicine. The process does not rely on intention, expectation, or conscious participation.   The benefits of the biofield test Understanding health as a system Many clients report that for the first time, they feel truly understood not only at the level of individual symptoms, but within a broader context. They begin to see their symptoms as part of an overall pattern.   From my perspective, this form of work occupies a space between established medical diagnostics and purely psychological approaches or purely energy-based approaches. It does not compete with medical treatment, nor does it aim to replace it. Instead, it addresses a level that is often left unexamined: the informational organization of the system, allowing stressors on physical, emotional, mental, and energetic levels to be identified and prioritized.   A client came with recurring skin rashes and a general sense of discomfort. He was unable to explain why these reactions kept occurring. Through biofield testing, the results quickly found a sensitivity to histamine, especially in times of stress at work, and that remote regulation of the digestive system would be useful for him. The testing also suggested that this pattern might be present in his family. At a later point, the client confirmed that similar reactions had occurred among close relatives. From symptom to priority In my work, the biofield test often begins with a specific symptom. This may be something acute, something recurring, or a condition that has not changed despite various approaches. The test does not search for a single cause. Instead, it identifies which stress factors are currently involved and which of them have priority. The goal is not to address everything at once, but to establish a meaningful and supportive sequence.   Relief without reprocessing Sometimes the biofield test shows that strong emotional patterns are involved. The most common ones are fear, shock, and trauma. These states can place a lasting strain on the system and interfere with its ability to regulate itself. This does not mean that past events need to be remembered or consciously processed. When I am using this method, it is not necessary to know exactly what happened. What matters is that the system is still carrying the effects. Regulation can take place without the content becoming conscious. For example, the effects of a shock can be reduced even if the person does not remember when or how it occurred. Remote regulation The biofield test does not only reveal what is causing strain, but also which forms of regulation can currently support the system. These regulations are initiated via the blood sample. Targeted regulatory information is introduced into the field in order to support the system’s capacity for self-regulation.   Clients frequently notice improvements in their quality of life after the remote regulations. For instance: A woman with recurring skin irritations for a long time observes that the intervals between flare-ups become longer, less intense, and that the skin recovers more quickly. Someone who had struggled with poor sleep for months began to sleep through the night again. Clients with early signs of infections notice that they settle more quickly than before or that they don’t break out. Many clients come to find out about their allergies and food intolerances and find relief in their diminished reactions to the allergens.   Summary The biofield test does not consider people to be defined by merely their symptoms. It reveals which stressors currently have priority, and then it supports the system’s capacity for self-regulation. Working with information and from a distance does not replace medical diagnostics. It complements conventional medicine, providing regulation and stabilization through a more comprehensive approach.   As regulatory strain is reduced step by step, the body regains its ability to respond. It is precisely there that improvement, change, and recovery can emerge. For those interested in information-based and complementary approaches to regulation, the biofield test may offer an additional perspective. I am happy to provide further information upon request. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Holistic Healer Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a holistic healer and subconscious transformation expert with over 17 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in computer science and a PhD in Business Technology. Alongside her academic and professional career, she founded Sandra Gross Healing in 2007. She works 1:1 in personal healing sessions and remotely using Biofield Therapy and LebensTransfer, two quantum-based healing modalities. Sandra supports clients in resolving mental, emotional, and physical issues to create lasting change. She also leads seminars, group sessions, and regularly gives talks.