Written by: Traci Philips, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. “How are You?” A client texted this to me on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It was at the end of his response to my earlier check-in to inquire how he was after a particularly challenging week. Typically, I would have replied with a “great” or “been a good weekend,” but I found the fact he took the time and interest to ask provided a perfect opportunity to lean into a promise I had made to myself at the beginning of the month. Let yourself receive. So, I shared a bit about how my daughter was away for a week and how I missed her. I joked that it would be quite a day when she left to go off to college. The truth was, I was feeling a bit pensive and sensitive that day. When I was asked how I was, I chose to receive the gesture and share, from the heart, not the head, what was going on within me at that moment. It felt good not to hide behind the facade that I was “good” and that “I’m here for you, not the other way around.” And you know what happened? My client responded, “I’m missing my kids today, too.” My honest reply allowed him to share a sensitive place within his heart, as well. I do believe, as humans, we are created to be here for each other. When we give, we are meant to receive. There is so much in this receiving piece. The Law of Reciprocity dictates that what we put out, we shall get back. But just because things are offered or given doesn’t always mean we are open to receiving them. This is an essential step within any cycle of reciprocity: receiving. When someone gives us a compliment, and we quickly give one back without first receiving the one we have been given, it breaks the cycle. True reciprocity cannot occur without receiving before we turn to giving. Let’s look, for a moment, at the depleted nature of the world right now. Could it be we have been running on empty for far too long? We have believed, hook, line, and sinker, that it is BETTER to give than receive, so we have given ourselves right into dangerous states of bleeding out entirely. What this does, too, is create a state in which we begin to take in order to have what we need. Takers are those who haven’t allowed themselves to receive. Now, as the pendulum swings back, we are seeing people learning the value of giving, first, to themselves, so they have more to give to others around them. We are learning true self-care, self values, and self-love. We are learning to receive from ourselves and from others to fill up our reserves. Holding and open-heartedly receiving any gift, whether it be verbally or physically given, is something we actually have to train ourselves to do. So much has been conditioned into us that has led us to believe it’s not okay to be on the receiving end of things. Recently, I was in a session with a client and something came to me in response to what the person was sharing. What dropped in was this: the HOW is a gift we are meant to receive. We are not meant to control the how ‒ no matter what we have been told or taught to believe otherwise. The more we have done this, the more strife and struggle we have created and perpetuated. It is not up to us to control things to the nth degree. It is for us to have clarity and an openness to receive what we desire. What is within our control is inside of us. We are meant to clarify WHAT we want and WHY we want it. Opening ourselves to receive what we want and why will allow how to meet us where we are. So, what do we need to know to prepare ourselves to receive? Here are 7 crucial steps to take in order to align ourselves with a knowledge of our value and worth, which gives us the green light to receive. 1. Awareness In the beginning, we don't know what we don't know, right? Awareness is about revealing and identifying our value. It's about getting curious and asking the right questions to illuminate and test what's hidden beneath the surface of the self-identity we have come to know and believe. Some great questions to start with are: What am I putting out there? What beliefs, moods, words, opinions, support, information, thoughts, ideas, etc. am I sharing with the world? What, therefore, is the value I hold in the lives of the people with whom I interact? Is this congruent with who I feel I am authentically and who I want to be? What is my authentic approach (feels most natural and good) to putting my value out into the world? How do I want what I have to share to be seen, received, considered and valued? Where do I want to focus my output (energy expenditures)? In other words, where will my value be most valuable for both myself and others? What type of environment do I create? What type of environment do I need to best support what I want to cultivate and experience? Ideally, these environments should sync up. We want to determine where our value is best utilized and also best honored, respected, supported and received. 2. Acceptance Once we have begun to build some awareness of our value, the next step is to enable it. If we don't accept who we are, how do we, honestly, expect others to? Building acceptance of our values is about embracing and owning what we have to bring to the table. This is important so that we can share what we have to give to the world and have it show up powerfully and beneficially. After all, if Superman didn't know he could bend steel & fly, would he be in his full capacity to serve? Could others benefit as much from what he had to offer? 3. Intention I often talk about the difference between expectation & intention. The expectation is about the outside world and how I want it to show up for me. The intention is about the inner world and how I want to show up for myself so that I can fully show up in and for the world. The intention is to set a course. It's about knowing what our value is and having a vision for where it best serves the world. 4. Communication Okay, so what is the point of having awareness, acceptance and intention if we aren't communicating our values to others? Many believe that positive talk about oneself is akin to bragging, boasting, or egoism. Of course, it depends on how you communicate what you have going for you. Knowing your gifts and being confident in speaking about what you have to give is best done with the intention to serve. When you regard it in this context, it becomes a matter of doing what you were made to do and showing up to offer what you have, naturally, to bestow. Similarly, if we are afraid to speak up about where we aren't being valued or if we cannot remove ourselves from situations where what we have to give is being squandered, then our gifts cannot be delivered where they will be best utilized, either. For these reasons, effective communication of what we know our value to be is crucial. 5. Discernment There is a big difference between judgment & discernment. Judgment is about our perception of something/someone not measuring up to certain standards. Discernment is about creating, upholding, believing and seeing to our personal standards within our own lives. It is about making sure we allow in what will support and protect our values. It is also about letting go of and not letting in what does not. We can do this without judgment. It simply becomes a question of what is needed and most fitting for us. This is where boundaries are important. Knowing what best serves you; what is and is not okay for you. It is what allows you to protect, preserve, grow and practice your own authentic values. 6. Commitment If you were to interview successful individuals, one of the things most would share if asked to list the key core values/practices that have led to their ability to get ahead, commitment would be at the top of that list. Commitment keeps us on course by allowing us to tap into our authentic passions & purpose. It is the dedication to showing up in our value ‒ no matter what ‒ and reaching for what it is we say we want and stand for the most. 7. Trust & Faith One of my favorite Facebook shares over the past few years is an illustration of Jesus kneeling down in front of a small child who is clinging to her prized possession, a very well-loved and worn teddy bear. In one hand, behind his back, where the child cannot see, Jesus holds a much larger, new and beautiful teddy bear. With his other hand, he is reaching for the little bear that the child holds. The caption above his head reads: Trust me. In order to allow for the flow of all things towards their desired and intended places, we must have trust and faith. This is a letting go and deep knowing that all will work out. It's a cognizance that if we have built the awareness, accepted, intentioned, communicated, practiced discernment and applied commitment, then we have done all we can do. The rest is up to what's left beyond our small power of control. One of the main reasons, I believe, we have failed to go through the necessary process of getting clear on the steps above is because we haven’t allowed ourselves to think about truly having what we want. Doing the internal work to create awareness, acceptance, intention, communication, discernment, commitment, faith and trust will allow for the ability to receive since all of these steps help to acknowledge and own our true worthiness and value. We must feel worthy of having before we allow ourselves to receive. Until then, we will continue to strive to prove ourselves through push, grit, sacrifice and control. When we do the work, we realize we have nothing to prove. When we have nothing to prove, we can allow ourselves to receive the gifts of support that are ultimately meant to help us serve at our best and brightest. From this place, we are positioned to give, from the heart, all that we have to give. Want to learn more from Traci? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or visit her website. Read more from Traci! Traci Philips, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As an Executive Leadership & Performance Strategist, Traci Philips supports visionary business owners and corporate executives to learn and practice better communication, resolution strategies, decision-making, and leading during times of change and when the stakes are high. A three-year stint co-facilitating a men's transformational program for industry leaders incarcerated in Federal Prison taught Traci more than she could ever have learned elsewhere about high-stakes leadership and the cost of bad decision-making. This experience fueled a passion in her to help top leaders learn what they needed to know so they wouldn't end up losing what matters most. Her ultimate goal is to support her clients to live authentically and lead powerfully by creating more awareness about who they are, how they want to be seen, and what legacy they want to leave behind. Traci is the co-host of Eavesdrop in the Moment, a bi-weekly podcast that discusses current trends and leadership. Her book, Looking In: Discover, Define and Align the True Value of Your Life, Leadership and Legacy is helping leaders around the globe increase their confidence and self-identity to meet leadership demands and their personal performance potential.

Written by: Linda Watkins, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. There are many words in the emotional arena of empathy: compassion, sympathy, and caring are just a few. Yet empathy is unique in that it requires being able to “walk in someone else’s shoes.” To feel what someone else is feeling. To have a deep awareness of another. Did you know that we can experience the awareness of empathy by walking behind someone and mirroring their motions? Mind you, and I’m not talking about stalking! But the next time you’re walking behind someone at the mall or in a park, try discreetly imitating their movements and see what you notice. The science behind it is that we are designed for empathy and have something called mirror neurons that enable us to be empathetic and get in sync with others. It is said that the top leadership capacity needed today is empathy. This came up during the pandemic. Company leaders could no longer focus strictly on numbers and analytical decisions. The workforce was suffering. It seemed everyone was suffering in some way or another. The challenge became how to feel empathy, or where to feel empathy for those who weren’t familiar with the capacity. Unfortunately, empathy can come from having hardships, and many of us did during the pandemic. Center for Creative Leadership research found many years ago that surviving hardships made better senior leaders. I generally don’t recommend this approach to learn and believe there are better ways to become more empathetic. But sometimes we have no choice. For many, the pandemic was the hardship approach. Employers had to understand when an employee was trying to work at a computer in a small apartment with two young children playing and crying. Schools and childcare facilities were not open. Family members and friends were dying at alarming rates. The changes affecting employees had a huge effect on employers. For example, regarding our current labor shortage, statistics just released show that women are finally back in the workforce at 75% of pre-pandemic levels but that without more changes, they might not stay. A Catalyst study found that employees with empathetic leaders were 61% more likely to be innovative and 76% more likely to be engaged. Women were less likely to leave their companies, and 86% were more likely to have a better work/life balance. Getting in touch with your empathy means becoming more self-aware and allowing yourself to feel. For busy executives, sometimes it may require slowing down and paying attention. Some may just need to take time to be reflective. If you find it difficult to do this alone, find a professional coach or therapist who can help. Remember, your body is built to be empathetic, but many of us have a bad habit of overriding the messages our body wants to give us. We do it with health issues and ignore heart or cancer symptoms. And we do it with many emotional signals. So, if you want to start becoming more empathetic, find ways to listen to your own body and try listening more deeply to others. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Linda! Linda Watkins, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Linda Watkins Ph.D. is an executive and leadership coach with decades of experience helping leaders achieve personal and professional growth, including in new, creative, and future-oriented areas. She helps clients embody their leadership and become authentic, grounded, and future-ready. Many find her work transformational. Linda's passion for helping leaders thrive by developing new skills and capabilities has only grown as the world has become more complex. She and her company, Leadership for Today, are strong advocates for women and have been designing events that empower women for over 30 years.

Written by: Emily Brook , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You can’t hear it… ‘it’ has no noise of its own. You can’t see it… ‘it’ has no shape or colour of its own. You can’t smell it… ‘it’ has no smell of its own. You can’t touch it… ‘it’ has no physical form of its own. You can’t taste it… ‘it’ has no taste of its own. Stress. The silent killer. The thing that can take the life out of someone in what seems like a second. They’re here, and then they’re gone. But what is ‘stress’ really? Is it true that it creeps up on someone seemingly out of nowhere? Is it really a silent killer? As a society, we have accepted that life is stressful and that’s just how it is. The combination of a job, children, relationships, family commitments, multitasking, darting here and there, and taking on more responsibilities; really is stressful. One day roles into the next and it feels like a race of survival ‒ “just keep going.” The busyness of our life blinds us from hearing the subtleties of our own bodies trying to speak to us about their dis-ease. Stress is really just a word. An umbrella term for numerous feelings that show up in the body as a physical manifestation of its presence. Some kind of unsettledness within. Activation within the body keeps the body in a dysregulated state. A continual cycle of ‘doing’ the same things over and over again, creating the same feelings in the body, over and over again. Not all stress is unhelpful. However, we must be able to discern short-term stress from long-term stress and its implications in order to make wise choices about our life. Stress has many faces and really is not so silent when you start to explore how it shows up – The pain you feel in your chest from time to time The anxiety you feel within your body, the unsettledness, the fast-paced heart The uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach when you wake up in the morning The craving you have for food, or the lack of appetite you have The constant thoughts of worry The ache in your back or shoulder that keeps coming back The constant need to be busy and doing something feeling that everything will collapse if you stop The poor night’s sleep, night after night These are just a few. Stress has many entry points into the body and takes on many different forms in varying degrees. The length of time it’s allowed to fester will affect how many facets of the body are affected. Sometimes multiple signs and symptoms start to show up over time as if stress has a voice and its voice is getting louder. ‘Stress’ hold so much power. Allow yourself to really contemplate this. Ask yourself what happens if you keep living the life you’re currently living. How will you be in a month, a year, or five years? Then ask yourself what you can do about it and listen. Is your mind playing victim, or is it open to hearing something new? The Inquiry We are all unique, despite being mostly the same in physiological make-up, and we all have a unique way of reacting to life experiences and challenges based on our own human blueprint. This blueprint houses our perceptions of life based on the beliefs we have inherited or adopted about ourselves and the world. The blueprint acts like our internal operating system from which our thoughts, emotions and actions are born. This is our ‘human-hood’ – it’s what makes us human. Childhood is a crucial time for forming and developing this blueprint ‒ how much we think we can achieve, how smart we are, how much opportunity is available to us, how to deal with challenges, how much resilience we have, and what we believe about health, money, work, relationships, family etcetera – are all a part of our blueprint. As we grow up, our perception of life starts to shape the life that we experience, as the choices we make are based upon how we feel about ourselves, and how we feel about ourselves comes from our blueprint. It’s getting complex now, right? We’re not taught all of this. This is the wisdom we gain through living this human experience in real-time and tuning into who we really are and how we feel. Everything is dependent on how we feel about ourselves, and the amount of stress we take on is entirely dependent on our relationship with ourselves and the choices we make as a result. Unfortunately, the opportunity to go on this deeper inquiry into ourselves and life doesn’t present itself until catastrophe hits. Only then can we hear the call. Only then can we see how the body has been trying to communicate with us. Only then are we ready to listen? Sometimes it takes a great shock to make us stop and wake up. That is a tragedy in and of itself, and yet it’s a reality of being human. We don’t know who we are until we know who we are. We’re so caught up in the matrix of our own minds that we can’t recognise the way that we’ve been choosing to live. Stress isn’t such a silent killer after all when we tune in to its very nature and really start to look at all the ways that it can show up. It’s actually pretty loud; we just don’t see the signs as a serious problem. We accept them, dismiss them or think that one day it will all be easier, and it will go away. Only it won’t go away unless we do something about it, something aside from taking a form of medication to alleviate or ‘hide’ the symptoms. *Now* is the time to take radical responsibility for your life because *now* is the only time we ever really have. Tune into how you really feel. Speak it into your conscious awareness. Ask bigger questions about yourself. Get curious. Realise that life is finite, and it can all be over in the blink of an eye. Let’s never need to say the words “I didn’t see it coming” because we chose to tune in, notice how we feel, and take courageous steps towards re-creating our life from the inside out for the good of our health, our children, our relationships, and the quality of this human experience we have been given. Life is precious. There is nothing more important than how you feel inside. You have the power to change how you feel, and only you have the power to change YOUR life. Choose you. Choose to create a different life. Choose to believe that a different life is available to you. Choose to walk in faith towards freedom. It starts on the inside. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , for more info! Read more from Emily! Emily Brook, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Emily is a multi-passionate health and life coach and mentor, with a special interest in what it means to be human and activating human potential by facilitating people to move from a state of stress, struggle and despair into a space of thriving, finding inner freedom, and activating the power within to curate a life of fulfilment. Emily previously worked as a physiotherapist for ten years working with many different patient groups with many different health issues and gained a broad understanding of the different ways people suffer and helping them, through rehabilitation, to achieve their goals. It wasn’t until Emily found herself in a state of emotional pain in 2019, with the sudden ending of her marriage, that her understanding of suffering opened up to a much deeper level. She embarked on a journey with mindfulness as a way of coping and found it an instrumental part of her own personal transformation that she went on to study for a diploma in mindfulness-based approaches at Bangor University. She also dove deep into the world of self-reflection and personal development. Emily’s coaching approach fuses neuroscience and philosophy at the intersection of science and spirituality and includes core pillars of subconscious programming, emotional health and regulation, brain science, the law of attraction, and meditation and mindfulness. Emily guides you on a journey of introspection, going within to uncover the real you, expanding self-awareness, peeling back the layers of conditioning, and activating the power and potential within. She believes the key to moving from suffering to thriving is in our ability to understand the brain and mind, process emotions, heal, learn lessons, find deeper meaning and connection, and become the architect of our own minds and life. You can find Emily on Facebook and Instagram.

Written by: Andrew Petty, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Your inner voice speaks the truth of who you are and the life you were made to live. But many of us treat it like a suspicious stranger instead of a trustworthy friend. What’s that about? Let’s uncover some of the most common reasons we fail to hear and heed our inner voice, get honest about the surprisingly harmful consequences of ignoring it, and learn how to tune out the noise around you so you can tune in to the reliable guide within you. What’s Our “Inner Voice?” The idea of an “inner voice” isn’t new. Some might call your “inner voice” your “heart,” and encourage you to “follow your heart.” Others might say, “be true to yourself.” No matter how it’s expressed, though, the implication is that within us resides a trustworthy source of truth about who we really are and the life we’re made to live. It’s the voice you ignore when an “expert” in a topic tells you the “right” way to do something ‒ and you do it the expert’s way, knowing that deep down you really think there’s a better way. It’s the voice nudging you gently and persistently to leave a job to pursue an entrepreneurial path ‒ but you stay in the job because it provides a reliable paycheck. It’s the voice telling you to forsake the entrepreneurial path because you actually really like being part of a team in an established organization ‒ but you ignore it because you’ve bought into the myth that entrepreneurs are cooler, gutsier, and eventually always make tons of money. It’s the voice calling you back to your canvas, brushes, and paints ‒ but you ignore it because your parents told you long ago that art is a frivolous and self-indulgent pursuit that doesn’t benefit anyone. So you let your art stuff continue to gather dust in the attic and dive deeper into your sterile corporate law job with a corner office and an amazing salary, while a beautiful part of you dies just a little bit more. It’s the voice calling you out on a limb ‒ but you ignore it and keep your arms wrapped around the trunk because, well, it feels safer there. And you begin to develop an insidious and deep-seated disdain for yourself because you know you’ve chosen badly. Or maybe it’s the voice that you finally listened to because its whisper had increased to an unavoidable roar in your heart and mind ‒ and to ignore it any longer would take more resolve and energy than simply doing what it said. And so you tuned out all the other voices competing for attention, tuned in to the trustworthy voice within you, and stepped out on that limb. Life Out On the Limb I stepped out on that limb almost seven years ago, and it changed my life profoundly. Tune in to episode 005 of my podcast, How to Become the Boss of Your Fear: Bravery-building to Live With More Guts and Gusto, to hear more of that story. The decision to hear and heed my inner voice ‒ to tune out the other voices competing for attention and tune in to my own ‒ has enabled me to become more of the man I was made to be and live the life I was made to live. My inner voice didn’t lead me astray. It proved trustworthy, and I’m so grateful for it. That experience, more than any other single experience so far, that experience and the good fruit that has come from it set me on a path of learning to hear and heed my inner voice day in and day out. Nature and Nurture By the way, hearing and heeding your inner voice is more challenging for some than for others. Some people ‒ because of their innate personality style and upbringing ‒ do it instinctively and effectively from an early age. Others though ‒ also because of innate personality style and upbringing ‒ find it very difficult to do. You know which of those two people you are. And if you’re someone who finds it hard to do, then you know deep down the price you’re paying for holding your inner voice at arm’s length. Why We Fail to Hear and Heed Our Inner Voice I’m not going to spend any more time or energy making a case for the existence and value of our inner voice. Truth be told, I don’t actually think any of us need to be persuaded of the existence and value of our inner voice. What we need instead is encouragement to actually give it the attention it deserves. What keeps us from doing that? Here are a few of the big culprits ‒ the other “voices” that compete for our attention: First, our parents. On the one hand, it may seem ridiculous as an adult to think that our parents could still have that much power in our lives. After all, we’re adults now, right? Wellllll...When you consider that for the first 18 or so years of our lives, all of us had one or more parents ‒ or adults who had the rights and responsibilities of a parent in our lives ‒ who profoundly influenced our view of ourselves, life, and the world we live in, then it’s no wonder that their voices from the past can drown out our own inner voice even in adulthood. To be clear, I’m not saying that I think we shouldn’t heed the input and counsel of our parents ‒ even as adults. I highly value my parents’ counsel still ‒even at 48. But I am saying that if your parents’ voices drown out your inner voice, then it’s time to tune out their voices so you can tune in to your own. Next, trusted role models, mentors, and “experts.” This is a tough one, too, because we pick role models and mentors because we respect and admire them and believe that in some way, they have something valuable to offer us. We may know them personally, or they can be authors, public figures, historical figures, podcasters, bloggers, celebrities, and so forth that we don’t know personally but who nevertheless influence us. If we tune in too much to the voices of role models, mentors, and experts, though, our own inner voice can get lost in the mix. We can begin to try to live according to their prescriptions for success instead of the one that our own inner voice has been offering us all along. If the role models, mentors, and experts you trust are drowning out your inner voice, tune them out or dial them back so that your inner voice can be heard clearly over them. What about cultural & social pressures? Pressure to achieve and maintain a certain standard of living. Pressure to have a certain kind of job that carries a certain kind of prestige or authority. Pressure to take vacations that are just a little more exotic than those that others take. Pressure to drive a certain kind of car. You get the picture. If cultural and social pressures ‒ fueled by your own ego and insecurities ‒ are drowning out the truth that your inner voice is patiently and persistently whispering to you, then turn them down and turn your inner voice up. How about the news and social media? These are HUGE threats to the clarity and influence of our own inner voices. In the digital age, news cycles are lightning fast, there’s more information available then we could ever hope to consume, a huge chunk of the information is useless anyway, and social media creates an echo chamber of our own devising ‒ reinforced by algorithms that serve up heaping quantities of whatever we click on most. If we’re not mindful in our consumption of information from these sources, we begin to live frenetic, harried lives scripted by whatever messages and agendas other people are propagating. We simply allow so much of that noise into our lives that our inner voices don’t have a chance of being heard above the fray. This isn’t an exhaustive list of the voices that compete for our attention, but these are some of the big culprits. It’s less about tuning out those voices once and for all than it is about getting the mix of voices balanced better ‒ like an audio engineer does when he’s mixing together instrument and vocal tracks to create a finished song. Will Ferrell’s Cowbell One of my favorite Saturday Night Live skits is the one with Will Ferrell playing the cowbell in a studio recording session. The scene is set in the 70s, and all the musicians are wearing stereotypical 70s garb. Will Ferrell’s hairy gut is sticking out from a tacky velour shirt that’s too short, and he’s about to bust out of his light-blue bell bottoms. He and the producer keep wanting to add more cowbell to the track, and take after take, the amount of cowbell and Will Ferrell’s antics become more and more ridiculous and completely overwhelm the recording session. It’s obvious to the viewer that “more cowbell” is not in fact, what this recording needs. It’s hilarious to watch the other musicians as they react to the absurdity of the whole situation. Which voices are Will Ferrell’s cowbell in your life right now, drowning out your own inner voice and creating a mix that isn’t true to the music you alone can offer the world? Whichever voices are drowning out your inner voice, turn them down or tune them out. If my voice via this article is too loud in your head and heart, then turn it down or tune it out. There’s simply no substitute for the truth of who you are and the life you were made to live that your inner voice whispers to you in a way that no one else can. Our Inner Voice Won’t Tolerate Being Ignored Forever Here’s the deal: We may fail to hear and heed our inner voice for a while, or we may even consciously choose to ignore it. But make no mistake, our inner voice will make itself known one way or another. It simply can’t be ignored forever. Long-term neglect of our inner voice ‒ that is, long-term neglect of the truth of our existence and the life we were made to live ‒ leads to anger, depression, blown-up marriages, broken relationships between parents and kids, destructive coping mechanisms like substance abuse, and more. Some of these collateral damages were true in my own life before I began to risk hearing and heeding my inner voice. I see the same patterns playing out in the lives of my clients when they’re resisting their inner voices. I see them break free of these patterns when they begin to hear, heed, and live according to the truth of their inner voice. Then, slowly but surely, who they truly are begins to emerge. Count the Cost, and Tune In To Your Inner Voice If it feels risky to listen to your inner voice, then consider the risks of not tuning in to it. And compare those risks to the wildly wonderful benefits of fulfilling more and more of your unique purpose in the world. Tune out the noise, and tune in to your own inner voice to discover the truth of your existence and the life you were made to live. Since none of us knows when we’ll draw our last breath in this life, isn’t it time to give your inner voice the attention that it deserves? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Tune in to my podcast at andrewpettyisdying.com or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. Read more from Andrew! Andrew Petty, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Andrew Petty is dying. And so are you. But you're not dead yet! Andrew helps you uncover what you really want in life and go after it with guts, gusto, and abandon. Through 1-1 coaching, The Graveyard Group mastermind, and his podcast, Andrew Petty is Dying, you are equipped with the mindset and the means to become the person you were made to be and live the life you were uniquely made to live. The courageous, life-affirming Mortality Mindset provides the motivational power needed to break through life’s barriers and fulfill your potential.

Written by: LaVonda McCullough, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We all struggle with how to develop lasting relationships. When it comes to developing relationships, faith is key. And learning how to communicate is essential whether we're trying to build rapport with our colleagues or growing closer to our friends and family. And while conflict is inevitable, faith can help us overcome these challenges. Faith can help us come close to God, and praying is one of the most important things you can do to come close to Him. It doesn't have to be fancy or long, but it should be sincere. We need to have faith to believe; trust sustains us when things are tough. We need faith to nurture and grow, and it's not always easy to do so. But with God's help, we can come close to Him and learn to walk in His ways. We invest time in getting to our friends and co-workers, and it's just as important to have an intimate relationship with God. A relationship with God teaches you how to develop stronger relationships with others around you. And this transformation occurs when we have faith in God and are willing to be vulnerable with Him and others. We need to trust that we are capable of change and that those around us are also. Without faith, it isn't easy to nurture and grow a relationship. Here are some keys you can use to build faith and relationships Prayer and Meditation Prayer and meditation are two of the most common ways to connect with God. Praying can be as simple as talking to God as if He were your best friend, or it can be a more formalized process, such as reciting prayers from a religious text. In the Bible, we discover David meditating on the Word of God. Meditation can also involve: Focusing on your breath. Repeating a Biblical declaration. Simply sitting in silence and letting go of all thoughts. Service Serving others is a great way to connect with God because it allows you to put your focus on others rather than yourself. You can volunteer at a homeless shelter, help out at your local food pantry, or do something else that feels meaningful to you. It will improve your mental health if you begin to take steps to make a difference in the lives of others. Too often, our focus becomes getting ahead, making a name for ourselves, or acquiring things that are earthly treasures that will soon fade away. But when we focus on God ‒ and living out His purpose for our lives ‒ we begin to see restoration and healing in everything we do. Connection with nature Nature can be a powerful source of spiritual connection, especially if you take the time to pay attention to the world around you. Spend time outside in nature, and look for the beauty in everything you see. I find great solitude by listening to the sounds of the birds and the wind and feeling the sun on my skin. Take the time to enjoy all God created for us to enjoy and embrace. God will speak to you through the wind and all you see around you. Community We all need community, and connecting with others who share your beliefs can be a powerful way to come closer to God—attending Bible Study or becoming a part of a faith-based community. Prayer walking and Retreats can help you feel more connected to God and His love. We are created for relationships and not to walk our journey alone. When we serve others, our transformation takes our focus off of ourselves and our problems and instead focuses on someone else's needs. When we do, we fulfill one of the two greatest commandments: love God and our neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). But not only is serving others a way to love God and our neighbor, but it is also a way of transformation connecting with God. Follow me on Facebook , Ins tagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from LaVonda! LaVonda McCullough, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. LaVonda McCullough is a Christian Life Coach that uses her proven strategies to coach women leaders to overcome mindset limitations and emotional overwhelm to walk in their God-given purpose boldly and confidently. She has dedicated her life to helping countless women walk to freedom over shame, anxiety, depression, and unforgiveness. She travels internationally speaking on mindset renewal through prayer. She is the founder of Joyful Journey, LLC, and her signature RefresHER Women’s Retreat is consistently attended by women worldwide who are seeking to reach the divine power within to become confident in their calling. She is the author of “21 Days of Fasting & Praying: The Beginner’s Guide to a Disciplined Life” and the newly released online course “Rekindled: Igniting an Intimate Relationship with God through restoration and renewal.”

Written by: Martin J. Fisher, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It's no secret that the economy is on a bit of a downswing. Talk of ever-increasing prices and an impending recession are all over the news and social media. It's impossible to ignore and too easy to fall into a mindset of scarcity and fear. But just because there's a potential for tough times ahead doesn't mean you have to sit idly by and wait for them to happen. Now is the time to prepare—both mentally and financially—for whatever the future may hold. Because when you're prepared, you're not as easily thrown off course. You have a plan and a backup plan. And when things do get tough, you know you can handle it because you've already faced—and overcome—adversity before. So how do you prepare for a recession? Here are a few tips to help you weather an economic downturn. Stay positive It sounds cliché, but your mindset really is everything. If you go into recession with a positive attitude, you're more likely to come out of it unscathed. Why? Because your outlook directly impacts your actions. If you're constantly focused on the negative—worrying about what could go wrong and all the ways things could fall apart—you're not going to be as proactive as you need to be. You'll make rash decisions out of fear instead of level-headed moves that will actually help you weather the storm. So stay positive and keep your eye on the prize. Be on a constant lookout for opportunities. Remember, this too shall pass. Take inspired action This is different from taking rash, impulsive actions out of fear. An inspired action is calculated and deliberate. It's based on your values and what you want to achieve. It's thinking two steps ahead instead of just reacting to what's happening in the moment. For example, say you're a little concerned about your job security. Instead of just sitting at home worrying about it, you take action. You start updating your resume, networking, and looking for other job prospects to give you a better sense of what's out there. You create a savings plan that will hold you over for a few months in case you do lose your job. You start looking into side hustles and ways to make extra money. You're not just sitting around waiting for the worst to happen. You're taking charge and doing what you can to protect yourself proactively. And that makes all the difference. Find helpful mentors Everyone has an opinion, and the internet is flooded with people who claim to know it all. But when it comes to financial advice, it's always best to get it from someone who's actually been through it. Look for mentors—people who have weathered economic downturns and come out on the other side successfully. These people can give you practical, real-world advice on what to do (and what not to do) to weather a recession. Seek mentors online and in your real life—people you trust and with your best interests at heart. And don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. The people who care about you will be more than happy to offer their support. Invest in Yourself If you're an entrepreneur, coach, or business professional—who wants to take your goals to the next level both professionally and personally—a life results coach can help you reach your goals faster than you ever thought possible. Let's be real ‒ life is short, but it's not too short to pursue the life you want. Life results coaching can help you get to where you want to go. When you work with a life results coach, you're investing in yourself, taking control of your future, and creating a life you love. This includes learning how to find your purpose and fulfill it by addressing any barriers that might get in your way. Coaching helps you live an authentic life by addressing any barriers that might be holding you back so that you can achieve your goals and live the results that matter most to you. If you're feeling stuck, maybe it's time to take a step back and consider your goals from an outside perspective with someone who understands what you're going through. I can provide new insights, guide your focus in a positive direction, and keep you on track through your own personal experience with success . Book your complimentary consultation here. Don't freak out This last one is easier said than done sometimes, but it's important nonetheless. Remember, recessions don't last forever. They're inevitable, but they're also temporary. So don't make any rash decisions out of fear. Don't let the media scare you into thinking the sky is falling. Keep calm and carry on. The sooner you accept that you can handle whatever life throws your way, the better off you'll be. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter and YouTube or visit my website. Read more from Martin! Martin J. Fisher, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Martin is a Life Results Coach with a proven track record as a health care professional and corporate executive. He left that all behind to follow his calling to serve clients to create fulfilled lives they love. His expertise in health & wellness, pivoting & developing careers, and life patterns unite into the perfect holistic approach when creating your new life.

Written by: Christopher H. McKinney Sr., Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Culture is the shadow government of any organization. Why? It does not matter what the company policies, bylaws, or core values state; culture is the official power that drives organizational actions and behaviors. The Harvard Business Review article "The Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture" says, "Culture is the tacit social order of an organization: It shapes attitudes and behaviors in wide-ranging and durable ways. Cultural norms define what is encouraged, discouraged, accepted, or rejected within a group." For example, how many company handbooks state that dignity and respect are the standards? Yet, we see disrespect wantonly displayed by co-workers in plain sight of our senior leaders, and no one does or says anything. Or even worse, we see the behaviors exhibited by our executives. Similarly, when leaders champion the culture and hold others accountable for enhancing the cultural environment, the right behaviors and attitudes permeate the company. But why is culture so critical? Culture is intangible, yet it significantly impacts client experience, employee engagement, and revenue. Growing evidence suggests companies can use culture as a strategic control to remain competitive. By developing the right culture, companies create thrilled customers and loyal employees, ultimately increasing their profitability. Culture can elevate your customer service to a level that makes you stand out. Culture either enhances or detracts from your brand. So how do we create a "Fortune 500" Culture? It is not as hard as one may think. Assess Whether you have been in the seat for three years or three months, you must sit down and make an honest assessment of the culture. Do you see innovation? Do your various departments share freely? Is there a healthy conflict between your leaders? Do people readily help each other? Do you routinely receive reasoned dissent? If your answer is no to any of these, I encourage you to dig deeper. I also encourage you to get feedback from your staff. In the article "Crack The Culture Code," Brainz Executive Contributor Leah Tomlin writes, "Staff-generated data provides a powerful means to engage and get people on board the culture ship that's about to set sail. Decide What culture do you need to be competitive and thrive in your environment? What kind of culture do you need to become the go-to company in your field? What culture do you need to be the industry leader, commanding industry leader fees? Figure out what you need to become and put it on paper. Make the tough calls Once you have completed an assessment, you must make the tough calls, which means you will likely have to let go of some people who may be talented but are a terrible fit in your desired culture. These people gossip at the water cooler, disrespect peers intentionally, do not share information, get snarky with customers, etc. These individuals perceive they have power because they are subject matter experts. The more power the person perceives, the more job security they may think they have. They eventually can position themselves to put you in a chokehold. You are better off with someone who is a great cultural fit and teachable. Know there will be resistance Certain people will dig in their heels, flail, and scream bloody murder at the first sign of change. Expect it. They likely have been entrenched for a while and perceive they can outlast you as they have seen bosses come and go. They may make false complaints to anyone who will give them an audience. Know this in advance, and do NOT let the resistance deter you. Resolve to do what is necessary You may need to update your organizational structure. You may need to add a training line item to your annual budget. You may have to fire a dear friend. Whatever it is, you must be committed to doing what is necessary. Brainz Executive Contributor Sonja Denovski wrote in her article "Disrupting Leadership Culture," "There is no development if we settle for average. There is no improvement if we continue doing things the way we always did or just let the culture happen. If we wait for a severe crisis to introduce the change, this change will be forced upon us and probably will not have the desired outcome." Resolve to do what is necessary to obtain your desired outcomes driven by the culture. Communicate, communicate, communicate As the leader, you must over-communicate the vision for the culture change and what will transpire on the backend. Your people must hear your voice often. Once you start this endeavor, you attempt to undo a mindset that existed for many years before you. Rome was not built overnight, and neither was your current culture. You will have to work for weeks, months, and years to disassemble the present culture brick by brick and develop your desired culture. I encourage you not to hastily deconstruct the former culture as you may leave things intact that can turn into an Achilles Heel. Do not grow weary in fighting the good fight! Communicate, communicate, communicate! Reward: Reinforce what you desire to see Once the desired behaviors start occurring, it is imperative to reward these behaviors, which means you must look at the criteria for your official and unofficial recognition programs. You may need to revise the criteria or rename the program to be congruent with your desired culture. Congruency helps people to move. If you fail to align your reward system with your desired culture, people may not shift. Again, the article "The Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture" states, "When a company's structures, systems, and processes are aligned and support the aspirational culture and strategy, instigating new culture styles and behaviors will become far easier." Courage: Hold the line People may go to social media and say nasty untrue things about you. They may write ugly letters to your board of directors. They may even file a complaint with a watchdog. You may even have a few board members buy into the foolishness. Do NOT get distracted by the noise! If you know your actions are right, put your head down and keep plowing the field. In a book I co-authored, "Triumphant Transitions," it says, "Naysayers say… SO (what)!" Emotional Intelligence becomes critical at this juncture. You have to lean into the uncomfortable and do what is right because it is right. Get ready for greatness In the Harvard Business Review article "Proof That Positive Work Cultures Are More Productive," the authors posit, "When organizations develop positive, virtuous cultures, they achieve significantly higher levels of organizational effectiveness — including financial performance, customer satisfaction, productivity, and employee engagement." I know this to be true. I do not know how long it will take for you, but if you stay persistent and consistent, you will see things turn. After 18 months of defining and sowing the new culture, I saw significant jumps in agility, collaboration, customer orientation, execution, innovation, integrity, and mutual respect. I had to chop some wood, hire some new people, and I definitely took a shelling of criticism, but the results made it worth it. As a result, we completed some significant projects over four short years. The project I am most proud of involved being creative and leveraging CARES Act funds during the pandemic in a way no one else did. The project deployed Far-UVC Systems to disinfect 325 school buses, 72 cafeterias, and 72 schools' primary entrance way for six school districts at $0 cost to the districts. This was a $2.36 million investment to facilitate safe in-person learning for +33,000 rural kids. No one across the country had leveraged the technology to the scale we did in schools. Had we not changed the culture to see more collaboration and innovation, this would not have been possible as it was a cross-department team effort. Returning to my lead-in statement, "Culture is the shadow government of any organization." Culture can work for your negative or your good. We saw the positive side. One innovative idea led to another. And one win led to the next win. I encourage you to do the arduous work as the results will make it worth it. I genuinely hope this added value to you. If you are sitting there saying Chris, that sounds well and good, but I do not have time to do all the things you mention, I get it. As a leader, I understand you have a lot on your plate. My company 10X Leadership Consulting is poised to come alongside you to assist. Culture development is one of our strengths. I invite you to schedule a free consultation so we can explore the possibilities. Worst case scenario, I will offer you my best advice at no cost. Click HERE to book a free consultation. Also, if you are looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? Click HERE for a free consultation. I have spoken to thousands and inspired numerous audience types, from students to the military to senior executives to the workforce. I wish you well in all your future endeavors! Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Christopher! Christopher H. McKinney Sr., Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine "Chris is a person on a mission to help as many people as possible reach their full potential. His mindset is for his life to be at its fullest, others must release their gift(s) into the world. By releasing their gift(s), the world (his world) is made more complete. Chris is a person on a mission to help as many people as possible reach their full potential. His mindset is for his life to be at its fullest, others must release their gift(s) into the world. By releasing their gift(s), the world (his world) is made more complete. He strives to live his life by two mantras. “… leadership is relentless!” and “When you add value, you become invaluable.” Both were key beacons that helped him navigate and have highly successful careers in two different industries. Success for Chris is seeing people around him grow, evolve, and become effective when they gain a seat at the table. Chris is also a co-author of the successful book “Triumphant Transitions”."

Written by: Christine Patton, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We rejoice when our business is profitable and twist in turmoil when it is not. We suffer when we have no idea how to fix it. In that instance, it is helpful to recall that, like everything, there is a holistic relationship between all factors at play. Think of an orchestra – how all sound sections play together determines the quality of the music. In the same way, the culture at a workplace is determined by all the souls who work there and how they play together – in harmony or not. Everybody knows the importance of creating a values-based culture for employee engagement and maximizing worker productivity. Yet the question asked most often is: How does one incorporate these values into a sustainable culture, one that enables us to succeed in business today and tomorrow? Moreover, how does a business get past the mere discussion phase and translate the ideas into behaviour and action? What if we began the process with more defined outcomes like aligned teamwork, intuitive leadership, and charismatic management? This brings life to the direction in which you may wish to go – creating alignment among team members and using intuition and charisma as a leadership style. Alignment, intuition, and charisma strongly suggest using an inner focus toward creating an outer result. In other words, everyone is charged with the responsibility of changing their inner landscape to find alignment among the team. What does this mean? When was the last time you experienced an exceptional concert or watched a sports team rise above their normal level? You probably noted that the “team” was operating in sync and communicating in an unseen way. Coherent teams experience “team spirit” or “team cohesion” and this translates into tangible results, like enhanced performance and securing the “win”! Research has shown the benefits of building team alignment: more trust among members is built the team can draw from a wider range of skills, ideas, and expertise the team experiences increased positive energy, bonding, motivation, and momentum to make something purposeful happen the team feels compelled to contribute to something greater than themselves workplace behaviour is more efficient - saving time and energy there are shorter meetings, better communication, fewer mistakes, improved relationships, and heightened creativity. People spend a significant amount of time together at work, and too many of us exist in environments with low morale, tension, and toxicity. It can feel like “it’s just the way it is,” but it doesn’t have to be. In the modern workspace, it is normal to exist in a biological environment of instinctive survival reactivity. This means using anxiety, fear, anger, impatience, and judgment to survive. It is the brain’s source of quick energy. Always being in action is a dead giveaway to those patterns of thought. Many of us spin all day, trying to cope with the adverse effects of a poor emotional environment, which can include mistrust, protectionism, separation, silo building, competition (where it shouldn’t exist), backbiting, and general malaise. Hardly a place of thriving human interaction! We are at a time in human history where cultivating space for coherence is rare – either on the individual or organizational level. But we must. Relationships matter more than we may realize. They can impact not only a team’s effectiveness but how each perceives the world in general. Efficiency and performance are directly impacted here. Harmonious relationships are good for us, as people, and for the business. It is essential to develop skills, attitudes, and behaviors in the workplace commensurate with that. The bottom line can only benefit from that. It is possible to activate the heart of your team(s) with conscious learning and the application of truly simple tools for calming the nervous system and creating heart rate variability and shifts in attitude necessary for sustainable harmony. It begins with you. Are you curious? Do you desire change? What are you prepared to do to provide your team with the tools necessary to create a healthy work culture and a place to thrive? I can help. Let’s chat! Connect with me at: chris@powerwithin.ca You can also find me at: https://powerwithin.ca You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Read more from Christine! Christine Patton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Christine Patton is a personal development expert who excels in the delivery of information, tools, and support to enhance empowerment, resilience, and passion. She is the founder of Power Within, through which she speaks, coaches, trains, and writes about the importance of our inner connection for rapid transformation. She is a Certified Trainer with The HeartMath Institute, has written a book called Showing Up-Becoming the Me I Want to Be – Aligning Your Life and Work for True Success and has had a radio show with VoiceAmerica.com called Unstoppable You! and does a regular podcast called WunderWisdom. She believes a better world is around the corner, and we create it with our own inner work.

As a successful entrepreneur in the fashion industry, Cassie also struggled with her mental health since she was a kid. After a decade of running her own fashion business, she decided to dig deeper into spirituality to heal herself. She was so amazed about her own healing journey that she decided to get certified as a life coach & a Theta healer. Since then, she became an expert at healing the inner child. She is also studying psychology at the University of Laval because she just loves to learn and help her clients in the best way possible. Cassie redirected her career to help others create the life they want that also fulfills them from the inside out, mind, body & soul. Cassie Giguere, Alignment Coach Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. I am an alignment Coach, teacher, and spiritual light worker. I am dedicated to helping people heal their inner children so they can unleash their authenticity and create a life they love. I study psychology at the university of Laval. I am also a very proud mom of a beautiful two years old girl, Ivy. At my core, I am an entrepreneur, an artist, and a very good dancer! What kind of audience do you target your business towards? Most of my clients come to me for inner child healing. They might know or not about the existence of their inner child but as we can relate all current issues to a point in time during our inner child's life span (0 to 7) mainly, this is my approach to all of them. My target audience is mainly people who need to reconnect with their authentic selves, they can be advanced or beginners in their self-healing journey. Inner child healing is really for everyone, as we all have been 0 to 7 years old! What are your current goals for your business? My current goal is to establish myself as the expert at healing the inner child. I am developing a 2 days workshop that I am really proud of. I will be launching it in December 2022. Meanwhile, I also started to write a book where I tell my story about how I struggled with mental health issues since I was a child and how I made my life better with spirituality, inner child healing & coaching. I love coaching 1 on 1 but my workshop will allow me to help more people who need what I offer. What is your work inspired by? My work is definitely inspired by my own experiences and journey. As an entrepreneur, I have lived many successes but also many failures. I have personally struggled with mental illness all my life and as a single mom, it is important for me to take care of my own inner child, so I can be the best mom to my daughter as well. My two days workshop is inspired by my own needs, it is a program that I wish would have been available for me 10 years ago when I started my journey exploring spirituality & also coaching 5 years ago. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. My journey has been very colorful, to say the least. As a very successful young entrepreneur in the fashion industry, I was very motivated by any goals that would bring me everything but real joy and fulfillment. I remember one day crying because I had achieved my highest professional goals at 25 years old but I was feeling such a void inside. I remember thinking, If I have all to be happy but I am not, I will never be happy. That was a very important moment when I started to realize that my path might not be in the fashion industry, but what else? I did not know. Then not so long after, I was diagnosed with a mental disorder and that experience brought me to start studying spirituality & coaching. I eventually closed all my fashion businesses and started my new journey as a coach. I am so grateful today for all my struggles because without them, I would not be the woman, the present mother, and the coach I am today. If you are looking to expand your growth mindset through healing your inner child, visit my website and book a session. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Cassie!

Written by: Sarah Alysse Rosner, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. There are so many challenges entrepreneurs face, from managing finances to developing systems, but one area often overlooked is health. Nourishing our body and movement and getting ample rest is essential for our businesses to be successful. If we began to choose healthier habits to implement into our business practices, there would be an uptick in sales and overall happiness. In this article, I’m going to make suggestions, but you should make decisions that feel right for your current lifestyle. Regarding nourishment, we need to start focusing more on consuming protein, good fats, and a variety of carbohydrates. If we are to analyze what the average human consumes, we will discover that bread, grains, and processed foods are what makeup half of our daily nutrition. As a health and fitness consultant, I have my clients start a food and gut journal to see what they are currently consuming daily. Once they have identified food triggers, they choose what they want to let go of and how they can add new food to their nutritional plan. Some ideas on where to start your own journey: Meat: Find good sources of protein by looking for labels like organic, grass-fed, cage-free, hormone-free, and organic. Be careful of companies that say they are those labels but actually treat their animals cruelly. Fats: Processed foods always taste good in the moment but cause havoc to our stomachs. One recommendation, take a look at the first 5 ingredients, research them, then make the decision if they are good for your body. If you can make a switch, try healthy fats like avocados, nuts, chia seeds in moderation, certain types of fish, extra virgin olive oil, full-fat yogurt (Fage is my favorite), dark chocolate, and olive Carbohydrates: When clients make the decision to reduce their grains, they usually add in more fibrous vegetables and fruits. This can be challenging because many of us are used to grains giving our body a quick energy boost, but in reality, we crash faster. Check out the clean 15 to see what you can into your nutrition plan today. Movement is extremely beneficial for one’s physical and mental health. Since the pandemic, there’s been a decrease in movement but let’s talk about how we can improve your practice daily. Start walking every morning. You may be saying I don’t have time to walk, only scheduled in a workout session. If that’s true, you are stopping your soul from thriving that day. Those walks are a way to tap into your physical and mental state. During that time, you have the power to shift or enhance your mindset. Challenge yourself to do the following on those walks: Take deep breaths Express gratitude Listen to music or an inspirational podcast If you suffer currently or have experienced insomnia, then this next section will really be helpful for you. As a business owner, you may find yourself even more attached to the computer than your average employee. The reason for this is that you want to make your business as successful and impactful as possible. What if I told you that your product would sell faster if you made more time for yourself and sleep? Don’t believe me, try answering these questions and doing these exercises to see if your sleep habits improve over the next couple of months. In the area of sleep, I want you to ask the following questions: When do you eat dinner? What time are you going to bed? How do you feel right before you go to sleep? Are you sleeping through the night? Once you have asked yourself all those questions, start taking action in the troubling area. An example would be I go to bed way late because I’m energized about what is happening in the morning. When you dig deeper, you find out it’s because you are working until 7 pm at night, so work is staying on your brain. Maybe trying to shut down the computer at 6 pm will be a great way to start your evenings. Here are some exercises to try if you can’t fall asleep: Make a weekly sleeping schedule Silence phone after 7 pm 4-7-8 Breathing technique Physical items to help you go to sleep: Cold compress on your forehead Wear a sleep mask Read a book As you make these three areas a priority, I hope that you blossom not only in your business but also in life! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my w ebsite for more info! Read more from Sarah Alysse! Sarah Alysse Rosner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah Alysse is a corporate stress management coach that helps companies cultivate a low stress environment so that their employees can be happier and more productive. She’s the creator and CEO of Live Well Enhance You which formed out of a need for her Pilates clients to find balance in their lives. She branched into the corporate market to assist employees in creating out of the box wellness solutions. She utilizes her BFA Musical Theater Performance background to coach others how to be confident and understand the connection between the brain and body. Spanning over a decade, Sarah has collected an abundance of certifications from Integrative Institute of Nutrition, STOTT Pilates, to National Academy of Sports Medicine. She’s been featured on WGN's Living Healthy and WGN Around Town’s segment as a Stress Management Expert. Also, she has been promoted on Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Authority, Kivo Daily, LA Wire, The Chicago Journal, NY Wire, NY Weekly, IdeaMensch, and US Reporter. In addition, she’s the host of the Stress Free SOULutions podcast.

Written by: Mira Taylor, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The world has become a more consciously aware and mindfully concerned place. Things such as human development and wellness, ecological awareness, and mentally and spiritually enriching purpose are finally being recognized as the new “bottom line” and true gauge for the success of a business or organizational model. Now more than ever – employees and customers alike are taking a consciously responsible stance on the businesses, organizations, services, and products they choose to support with their time, energy, and money. This is why learning how to build and sustain a consciously responsible, mindfully congruent, mentally enriching, and spiritually inclusive attitude is key to the success and longevity of modern-day businesses and organizations. In today’s world, the most successful Businesses and Organizations are making an active and genuine effort toward evolving their work environments. These evolved businesses and organizations are driven and guided by a sense of conscious purpose that employees and customers can align with and feel good about. These businesses and organizations also know that the spirit of their business needs to be taken care and appreciated just as much as the individuals who make it up. There is an understanding that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and that a sustainably successful business model appreciates why it is imperative to create environments that promote and actively provide for the mental and spiritual well-being of the individuals that make up the “whole.” Mindfully Integrative Solutions for Businesses & Organizations Whether you are an individual businessperson operating as a sole proprietorship, a small business with under 10 employees working out of your home office, or part of a larger enterprise/organization – integrating and fostering an intuitively open and mindfully driven environment is a data-proven way to improve overall operations and potentials while encouraging the creation of genuinely desired deliverables. There is no better way to invest in you and your organization’s success than by investing in, protecting, and strengthening the minds and spirits of those that choose to engage with and empower it! The Synergy of Integrative Wellness Solutions Individuals in business, companies, and organizations that incorporate and support concepts of mindfulness and mind-body-spirit wellness effectively encourage intuitive communication and create a sense of sincere cooperation and engagement for everyone involved. This results in… Boostedmorale and heightened rates of employee retention Better employer ratings and word of mouth about your company/ organization within the community Operationmodels that generate successful outcomes based on mindful and purpose-focused initiatives Creation and implementation of highly efficient practices within every aspect and level of operations Collaborative, open-minded, and verifiably productive partnerships and business relationships What to Expect from implementing Intuitiveand Integrative WellnessServices Every organization is unique and, therefore, deserves unique Wellness Solutions that are specifically geared toward building mindful practices and approaches that enable everyone to enjoy a sense of involvement and feel truly valued. Moon and Rune Wellness Consultation Services aid in creating and retaining cooperative environments where each contributor feels heard, appreciated, and purposeful within their individual roles, as well as within overall operations. We work with each client/organization to identify and assess existing wellness practices and resources ‒ accompanied by a process of tailoring an exclusive portfolio of suggested practices and resources intended to improve overall wellness. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mira! Mira Taylor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mira Taylor is an Integrative Therapist, Subconscious Medium & Organizational Wellness Consultant who focuses on guiding clientele toward total wellness by combining concepts of psychology, spirituality, philosophy, and sustainable life practices. Mira is a member of the International Association of Therapists and master certified in Modern Applied Psychology, Cognitive Remodeling Therapy, Subconscious Integration Therapy, Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness, Wellness Linguistics, and Archetypal Psychology.

Written by: Katarzyna Dorosz, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Empathy is the ability to understand other people and the ability to sympathize with their feelings and emotions. Empathy, apart from assertiveness, is one of the two basic skills included in what is termed Emotional Intelligence. Charismatic people have great empathic abilities. Lack of empathy results from a lack of acceptance and self-confidence. It is also influenced by our upbringing, family home, social circles in which we live, social status, and striving for excellence. It can also reflect the degree of nurturing a child receives and the experience of positive thinking. What is a way to practice empathy? Express empathy for yourself in the first person: I love my skin, my wrinkles, hair, nose, and eyes, I accept myself and who I am, and I will take care of myself whenever I need to. Let's say to ourselves every day: I love spending my free time with myself and I'm not bored. I appreciate everything I have, and I create my life from what I have – by adjusting the situation to my expectations. When expectations exceed our capabilities, we cannot be happy. And the unhappy person is not empathetic. Empathy is entering into someone else's situation and fully understanding it... but... First, let's try to fully understand the situation with Love. If you don't accept it, change it! Don't expect others to understand your situation when you don't understand it yourself. Build with what you have. Enjoy the friendship of real and sincere people. If you feel that someone is not a source of positive energy for you, you should probably take a break from them. What is empathy in relationships? Accepting the other person as they are – without the desire to change them. A lettuce cannot be a rose! A rose cannot be an orange! We need both and the third. That's why the world needs you too. The way you actually are. I am full of empathy for you, and I want to tell you everything I know so that you can make changes and improve your life. Love the world and all its people. And most of all, be happy! I am sending you my love and remember that you are in the here and now! Why don't you celebrate that most beautiful gift every day ?! Think of yourself with respect, dignity, and respect. How do you rate yourself? Now look in the mirror – what would you like others to see in you? What do you see? When others look at you, they should think about your positive qualities. Seeing the good that is within you! A part of you that you often do not see in yourself. Think about this motto in life: How you feel influences how others judge you. How you respect yourself affects others' respect for you! If you want to be healthy, live like a healthy person. You want to live luxuriously, create a luxurious home. Do you want to be smartly dressed – create your own style. Take care of yourself, it's free. Dance, sing, paint! Everything you want is within your reach. Do you know what is the most common dream of people? A dream of love! Love knows no age limits. All it needs is grooming. Fall in love! Love and be loved! What is emotional hypocrisy? Is it self-deception in the first place? It takes emotional energy to live. Why? When you live in truth and have a clear intention, you always feel great. You are able to achieve anything. If your intention is impure, you have many obstacles to achieving any of your goals. This is especially true in the spheres of love, partnership, and business. No matter how hard the road to happiness is in a relationship – in the end, it will be wonderful as long as your intention is pure and clear – flawlessly conceived. Feel your true self! Remember, always have a clear intention. More: Kasiaspeak.com Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read from Katarzyna! Katarzyna Dorosz, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Katarzyna Dorosz is a leader in the field of brain performance, mental performance, and improving memory and quality of work. She is a world-renowned expert for senior and mature individuals who also conducts research on longevity. She is also a lecturer and author of several books. Katarzyna works with many prestigious American universities about attaining meaningful longevity in Life and how to maintain brain function. She also supports women around the world through motivational lectures. Her attitude and stubborn pursuit of purpose show how important changes and progress in life are. She is also the author of the TV Show "The Power of Life". During lectures, she uses the "Educational kinesiology and Emotional intelligence" and developed her own methods of exercises that provide excellent memory, concentration exercises as well as relaxation, and a set of physical exercises to improve the condition (adjusted to the age and flexibility of the body). In business training, Katarzyna uses the popular Japanese Kaizen method, i.e. a philosophy based on changing lifestyle ‒ an endless process of improving and improving the quality of the company.