Written by: Kristen Lessig Schenerlein, 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. Optimal experiences consist of intrinsically motivating activities that present a sense of freedom or control and offer a challenge. As a Recreation Therapist, I created the environment to foster these experiences. One environment I recall was synthetic and sweat mixed smell, bouncing balls, and squeaking tires. Jacob entered seemingly curious and nervous. Crutches in hand, he slowly made his way in. He hesitated “taking a seat” for wheelchair basketball practice. At thirteen, that chair symbolized something different to him, not a means to level the playing field, provide independence or safety. It became clear that the external conditions (playing basketball) were matched to the goal (independence) and ability level (using upper body) (Csikszentmihalyi, 2008). Jacob had spina bifida and fellow b-ballers had sustained spinal cord injuries. All overcome physical barriers to make it to the gym, demonstrating passion to persevere (grit). On this court the disability no longer took center stage. Each athlete became intrinsically motivated, exercised agency, and owned their experience. Adaptive equipment (wheelchair) allowed the matching of challenge level with ability level. Minimizing distractions (various abilities) allowed athletes to focus on skills. Each setting goals, analyzing activities, making plans, adjusting plans, reflecting on progress, and at some point, entering flow state (Csikszentmihalyi, 2008). Experiences of flow are fleeting; grit ensures we cycle through flow on the quest for enhancing well-being and improving quality of life. Sport involves a strange paradox in flow: time stands still, time flies; effortless activity, extreme challenge; feeling relaxed, and intense; ability to be present, yet lose your sense of self. This is empowering and as an intervention, the impact far exceeds the activity at hand. Take Jacob who shifted beyond wheelchair basketball to racing. He traveled and competed in marathons with his mother, an avid runner. Peer bonds were formed, each pushing the other beyond individual limits (not literally of course), gaining independence well beyond the realms of physical activity to all aspects of their lives. Each became intrinsically motivated, having a clear sense of agency because the racing gave them a sense of meaning in their lives that had not existed (David et al., 2015). They saw themselves as advocates for shifting perceptions of people with physical disabilities, even ensuring the formation of an official wheelchair division in races. As a result, it is common to cross paths with a wheelchair racer when running a marathon. Csikszentmihalyi (2008) summarized this perfectly, “to improve our life we must improve the quality of our experience. It is more about how we feel about ourselves that impacts what we will achieve in life.” Goals we set must be meaningful cultivating the motivation to pursue it (David et al., 2015). The context (our purpose) for those goals matters. In disability sports, the goal may not be mastery but instead an opportunity to be free of the physical and mental constraints of the disability, increasing independence, social connection, and well-being. Viktor Frankle describes this best in Man’s Search for Meaning, “He, who has a way to live for, can bear with almost any how” (Frankl, 2006). With a strong reason why, we can overcome any challenge. One’s grit is essential, passion (physically active) plus persistence (continued action despite difficulty) moves us towards a long-term goal (independence) (Duckworth et al., 2007). High-level goal construals allow athletes with disabilities to identify intentional actions they can take to achieve goal(s). Aligning abilities to create a self-concordant journey unique to their values, not based solely on their physical ability level (David et al., 2015). Capitalizing on one’s abilities and linking with their interests shifts mindsets around disability and physical activity or sport. As the Aristotelian Principle proposes, “we enjoy doing what we do well”. Growing competence in an activity of personal interest makes it easier to repeat efforts and allows us to experience flow. Savoring each flow of experiences to pull us passionately to the next. Jacob’s accomplishments were the result of focusing on his abilities, linking them to his interests, and supporting his perseverance along the path (Peterson, 2006). Building in enjoyment allows an athlete, like Jacob, to gain control over his experiences with expectations he set for himself being met, he went beyond them to achieve the unimagined. This is a continuous loop of growth (grit) and enjoyment (flow). Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Staying the course to create and embrace flow to enhance one’s well-being and quality of life requires stamina, and is where life transformation occurs (Duckworth et al., 2007). Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kristen! Kristen Lessig Schenerlein, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kristen Lessig-Schenerlein, a social entrepreneur, mental fitness coach and yoga instructor, is an expert in nonprofit leadership, forever passionate about the fields of neuroscience, positive psychology, and performance science. After nearly two decades of being driven by a mission, almost to complete burnout and after having experienced the real life effects of working within a toxic environment, Kristen began down a new path in service to others facing similar challenges. She integrated her own personal yoga practice and energy medicine into a science-based coaching practice. She became a trained yoga instructor guiding her clients “on the mat” and also an ICF Certified Professional Coach and a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach to support her clients “off the mat” with mental fitness training and coaching. Kristen has dedicated her entire career to transforming the lives of others and sees herself now as a guide to those willing to do the innerwork necessary to link their power with their passions, so that they can live a life more in alignment with their values, while showing up authentically in aspects of their lives. Kristen is the founder of Koi Coaching and Consulting, serving clients around the world, thanks in part to being part of the coaching team of BetterUp as well, whose mission is to make coaching accessible to all, unlocking greater potential, purpose, and passion. Born in a small coastal town in Connecticut, Kristen also spent a good part of her career in Richmond, Virginia, where she founded her nonprofit organization before moving back to the coast where she now resides in Southwest Florida with her husband and a blended family of four beautiful children.

Written by: Sarah Henderson-Sharon, 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. Over the last few months, I have been researching the challenges that foreign language speakers experience and how they feel about these challenges. This research is still ongoing, but the problems that people have shared so far have been both moving and insightful. In this article, I am going to talk about the five most serious problems people have discussed and go into more depth about one of the most common issues; finding opportunities to practice speaking English. 1. Pronunciation Pronunciation is a major concern for most non-native speakers, regardless of their level. Many of the people I spoke to said that they wanted to improve their pronunciation, often to the point of wanting to 'get rid of' their accents. People believed their poor pronunciation got in the way of being able to communicate freely with native speakers, often leading to embarrassing misunderstandings in conversations. However, there were also people who felt comfortable with their 'foreign' accent, saying that they did not want to have native-speaker-like pronunciation and that they were proud of their accents. I will be returning to this issue next month. 2. Cultural differences and expectations This was a huge challenge for non-native speakers living in English-speaking countries or for those working in large, multi-national organisations. One person told me about a team-building exercise they had done at their company in America. The exercise had been entirely based on facts and knowledge about America, and the person I talked to felt out of their depth and unable to fit in, a deeply isolating experience. People also talked about being unsure of the expectations English native speakers have in everyday conversations and how difficult it is to fully get to grips with a foreign culture. 3. Maintaining a high level after an exam Many of those I spoke to had taken IELTS or a similar exam and felt their level had dropped significantly afterwards because they no longer needed to use the high-level language they had learnt for the exam. This caused a great deal of dissatisfaction and annoyance for many I spoke to. 4. Being too afraid to speak (and therefore making no progress) This is the finding that saddens me the most. Some people I spoke to were so afraid of making mistakes or being misunderstood that they simply didn't speak to anyone and went through their lives as a foreigner living abroad without making a single native-speaker friend. Because of this, they made no progress in their speaking, resulting in even greater fear of speaking! This is a true vicious circle from which it is very hard to escape. 5. Lack of practice opportunities Possibly the most common problem people experienced was the lack of opportunity to practice with other people, particularly with English native speakers. Interestingly, this problem was experienced by people who were already living in an English-speaking country so moving abroad doesn't necessarily solve the problem! For the rest of this article, I will explore this issue in more depth. Three ways to create practice opportunities In a way, I understand why people find it hard to create practice opportunities. I remember living in China and being surrounded by Chinese people, yet not believing I had anyone to talk to! This was probably due to my comparatively low level and lack of confidence. Now that I live in the UK, it is much more challenging to create real opportunities to use Chinese. However, I believe that this problem is solvable with a little creativity and courage. 1. Find a language exchange partner Many people I spoke to during my research wanted to practice with an English native speaker rather than other non-native speakers but reported that finding people with whom to do this was very difficult. As far as I can see, there are only two options here. You either pay for a teacher, or you find a language exchange partner. In my experience, a language exchange partner is a great way for you to not only practice your speaking but also to help someone to learn your language. This was one of my solutions when I lived in China. Twice a week for two years, I got together with one of the students at the university where I worked and we helped each other learn and improve, becoming firm friends in the process. I have used online language partners more recently too, and found them to be just as useful. I would suggest using a website such as Italki to make sure you are targeting people who actually want to learn your language; I don't think you should randomly contact people to ask if they will help you to improve your English for free! By using a reputable website as a middleman, you can be sure that those you are contacting are genuine and that they have a desire to learn and help others to do so. This should mean fewer rejections, something that those I interviewed reported had happened. 2. Join a speaking club While these will not offer you as much practice with native speakers, unless you join something like Toastmasters, they are a great way to get lots of practice in a safe environment. Practicing with other non-native speakers can help you to learn more vocabulary and to appreciate your speaking skills in a different light. Some online speaking clubs will offer informal conversation, and others will give you more structured exposure to different tasks so it's important to choose the best club for you. I have an online speaking club which I have been running since April 2022. In the club, we practice everyday conversations, solo speaking and advanced discussions about a wide range of topics. If you would like to learn more about the speaking club, please feel free to get in touch. 3. Make the most of the opportunities you already have! A surprising number of people who wanted more practice opportunities were already living in English-speaking environments! This suggests to me that they weren't making the most of the chances that were around them, perhaps due to shyness or being unsure how to go about this. It's very easy as a foreigner to spend most of your free time with people from your country who speak your language. This is certainly something I have witnessed a great deal, both as a teacher living abroad where my English-speaking colleagues used to hang out together at the weekends, and as a teacher at language schools in the UK where I have seen students gather into 'the Spanish group' and 'the Korean group' rather than get together in 'the International group'! Instead of spending time with the people from your own country, try getting a part-time job if you are a student living abroad or doing some voluntary work for a local charity once a week. Taking up a hobby without anyone from your home-country peer group, such as joining a sports club, painting or film-watching group, is another great way to branch out and meet native English speakers. The popular website meetup.com is a great resource here and one that I highly recommend. If you are living in a non-English speaking country, you may need to enlist the help of English-speaking friends and relatives, for instance, to meet for coffee and speak English once a week. Alternatively, there may be other people in your town or city who want to practice English too. I am writing this article in Hanoi, Viet Nam, and I have seen language exchanges advertised here. Ultimately, it is up to you to create the opportunities you want to experience. These days, I do not believe that it is possible to have 'no-one to practice with'; you just need to find them! I am still looking for volunteers to help with my research. If you are interested, please get in touch! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sarah! Sarah Henderson-Sharon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah Henderson-Sharon is an expert in helping non-native English speakers overcome Second Language Anxiety: the fear, shame, and anxiety they experience when speaking English. A teacher with 17 years of experience, Sarah became aware of the damaging impact of Second Language Anxiety four years ago. Since then, Sarah has dedicated herself to helping her clients understand and move beyond their fears so that they can use English with confidence. She is the founder of Think Positive English where she offers 1-2-1 programs and a community speaking club empowering members to improve their spoken English.

Written by: Joaquín Pinto, 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. Higher education can be a challenging and rewarding experience, but it's not without its pitfalls. College/university students often make mistakes that can negatively impact their education and future career prospects. In this article I will tell you about my experience in Boom Studies: we will be discussing the top five mistakes that higher education students make and how to avoid them. From not planning ahead to procrastination, these mistakes can lead to stress, poor performance, and missed opportunities. By understanding these common pitfalls and taking steps to avoid them, students can set themselves up for success in college/university and beyond. Whether you're just starting college/university or are in your final year, this post will provide valuable insights and tips to help you navigate the college/university experience. 1. Not Planning Ahead One of the biggest mistakes that higher education students make is not planning ahead. This can include not planning out their class schedule, not creating a study schedule, and not planning out their finances. This can lead to stress and a lack of organization, making it harder to succeed in college/university. 2. Not Seeking Help Many students are afraid to ask for help, whether it is from professors, peers, or tutors. This can lead to students struggling in classes and not understanding the material. It is important to remember that everyone needs help at some point and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 3. Procrastination One of the most common mistakes that college/university students make is procrastinating. Whether it be putting off studying for an exam or completing a paper, procrastination can lead to stress and poor performance. To avoid procrastination, it is important to set goals and deadlines for yourself and to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable ones. 4. Not Building a Network College/university is not just about getting an education; it is also about building a network of contacts that can help you in your future career. Many students make the mistake of not networking with their peers, professors, and alumni. This can lead to missed opportunities and a lack of connections in the workforce. 5. Not Balancing Time One of the most challenging aspects of college/university is balancing the demands of classes, work, and personal life. Many students make the mistake of dedicating all of their time to their classes, neglecting other important aspects of their life. It is important to find a balance between schoolwork and other commitments, such as internships, extracurricular activities, and family and friends. Bonus Not having a defined professional project (or at least a couple): because if we have clarity in what we want to do, we can guide our work, essays, presentations, etc., and gain knowledge and time to realize our project. It is worth looking for mentors both in the academic and professional fields to structure our project and even get ideas in case we are a little lost at the beginning. In conclusion, higher education students can make many mistakes that can negatively impact their college/university experience. By planning ahead, seeking help, avoiding procrastination, building a network, and balancing time, students can set themselves up for success in college/university and beyond. Remember that college is a journey and it's important to enjoy it along the way. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joaquín! Joaquín Pinto, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine A serial entrepreneur, Joaquín led several enterprises ‒ including an editorial and a consultancy ‒ before co-founding Boom Studies in 2019, after identifying critical weaknesses in international students´experiences in Malta. Boom Studies is a travel to study agency which offers unique tailored support all along the customers´ journeys so that they have the best possible experience abroad. As the CEO of Boom Studies, Joaquín has managed to grow this start-up despite having launched a few months before the pandemic. Rough seas make good sailors, and Joaquín and his team were able to establish Boom Studies as a leading agency in Malta, thanks to dedication and innovative thinking. We also expanded to new destinations (Canada, Ireland and Dubai) and have big plans for the future. A political science graduate from Sciences-Po Paris, Joaquín has lived abroad for most of his life, and is an expert in engaging different people, from government to private sector, or civil society representatives. Joaquín is a cosmopolitan citizen of the world with a passion to help others and connect people. So launching Boom Studies came naturally, and leading this company whose mission is to help people accomplish their dreams is the most fulfilling role Joaquín could have.

Written by: Casimiro da Silva Santos, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As I write this article, I realise many coaches and motivational speakers, including myself, tell you that life only starts when you get out of your comfort zone. Most of us must remember to guide you on how to do it. If you feel scared, stressed, and anxious about getting out of your comfort zone and do not know how to do it, welcome to the club. It is common. Even the most perceived successful people passed or are passing to the same emotions and unknown. For many, self-actualisation is a powerful incentive to leave their comfort zone. The concept was popularised through Abraham Maslow's (1943) theory of human motivation. “What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualisation.” -Abraham Maslow How Does It Feel Being in Your Comfort Zone? People feel at ease since they aren't being challenged when they are in their comfort zone. People seldom try new things or face problems while they are in their comfort zone. They exclusively partake in everyday activities, which gives them a sense of "control" over their surroundings. People avoid painful or anxious sensations by staying in their comfort zones. Any activity pushing us beyond our comfort zones causes uncertainty, making us uneasy. We, as humans, are wired to avoid unpleasant emotions naturally. They find it difficult to leave their comfort zone as a result. “There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” -Nelson Mandela As cosy as it may appear, this protective cocoon prevents people from developing personally and doing the actions they desire but lack the guts to take. For instance, years spent in unfulfilling work might make you miserable, leading to burnout and disengagement. But it's now your haven. Although you are aware of your potential, pushing your limits concerns you since it implies risk. Five Tips to Get Out Your Comfort Zone If the decision to leave the comfort zone aligns with a person's values, this shift is akin to making a bid for self-actualisation. Why is this important? For one, not striving for growth could mean falling into inertia later in life, and avoiding it, you can try these five tips: Acknowledge your emotions. Acknowledge that you feel scared and anxious. Face fear by listing the worst things that can happen if the fear comes true and the best things that can happen if the fear comes true. This will allow you to deal with your emotions more rationally and clearly. Define your goals. This is an important step. I suggest you take away from the busyness of life, turn off your cell phone and meditate to clear your mind. Define your goals, no more than four, and for each, answer these three questions: 1) why the goal; 2) for whom; and 3) how will this make you feel? Sound a bit complicated? It is not. I will use one of my goals for 2022 as an example. The goal is to have me-time weekly, (why) to take care of myself, to grow spiritually, to reflect and to be a better version of myself (who) and (how) so that I can feel happy and at peace. Makes sense? Prioritise your actions. Recently Liz Fosslin, author and speaker, creatively defined a way to break down to-do lists into three categories: 1) things you have to do, 2) things you want to do, and 3) things other people want me to do. Using this method, you can prioritise your actions clearly, and I suggest you tackle the first category first and use only three actions per category. Remember to go slowly and make changes one at a time so you do not feel overwhelmed. Use a career, executive and leadership coach. Working with a coach will be a great way to define what matters to you and how to have an accountability partner that helps you get out of your comfort zone. The coach can act as your mirror, questioning your fears and emotions and allowing you to see things from a different perspective. There is black and white, and in between are different shades of grey. This can help boost your self-confidence as you "jump" out of your comfort zone. Keep track by journaling. The use of journaling brings benefits to cleaning your mind of emotions –positive or negative– that distort your thoughts. Journaling will help compare the gains and losses of your decisions and, more importantly, create an inventory of your wins. In a recent article, Susan David, Ph. D., wrote to keep choosing courage over comfort. This statement summarises what it is about getting out of your comfort zone. Bringing It All Together Being safe, accustomed, and less stressed are all advantages of living in your comfort zone. However, playing small and choosing a life that is less than what you can live lacks passion, as Nelson Mandela memorably observed. You can live the life you're capable of by learning to step outside of your comfort zone. Find what inspires you, then push yourself incrementally. Leaving your comfort zone is the first step toward professional and personal growth. It takes courage. In a recent post, Susan David, Ph. D., wrote to keep choosing courage over comfort. This statement summarises what it is about getting out of your comfort zone. With Bring the Best's coaching programme GREAT 101, you may find growth possibilities in many facets of your life that will surprise you! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Casimiro! Casimiro da Silva Santos, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Casimiro da Silva Santos, better known as Cas, uses pronouns he/his. He is a dad, a business and climate action leader, a coach, and a speaker. His mission is to create a perspective of abundance, alleviating scarcity so that we can live a brighter future. After a transformational coaching experience with Simon Sinek Inc., Cas decided to create Bring the Best®, a coaching and consulting firm for personal development and business growth. Through individual, career, and executive coaching, Bring the Best transforms lives so that each person can live the life they want and dream about. His coaching style is authentic and empathetic, with a special focus on the LGBTQIA+ community.

Written by: Marguerite Thibodeaux, 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. Hate to break it to you, but you’re not a machine. Neither are your teammates. You’re a human, and humans are built for lulls. When left to our natural devices, we work in cycles. We are made to sprint and then celebrate and recover. Your team is, too. In this day and age, there is always another meeting on the calendar and task on the to-do list. No matter what you and your team’s backlog looks like, unplugging is essential to your long-term health and your team’s success. Intentional rest helps you and your team: Avoid burnout The effects of rest and relaxation on one's performance at work can be impactful. Giving you and your team a break can help reset your mind and re-energize your bodies. Heal the body Resting and reducing the stress on the mind and body means better sleep, improved health, and a more positive outlook in life. Boost creativity and productivity When you and your team are well-rested and less pressured, you have more energy to spend on your deliverables and brainstorming sessions. Additionally, the mood boost that comes with rest is correlated with innovation. Improves decision-making With a rested, open mind, you and your team will be able to make better long-term decisions, rather than simply reacting to the urgent. How do you create space for the natural human swing between prints and rests? There are two ways humans are most comfortable enjoying rest (rather than stressing about all the work piling up while they're sipping beer at this randomly schedule happy hour): At the end of a big project. This is great for a team that works in unison on the same project all at once. This could also work for celebrating major team milestones, such as the close of a quarterly project increment. At a regular cadence, as a small break from the daily grind. This is great for teams that juggle multiple projects simultaneously and may not all end and start projects in unison. The research recommends a combination of both usually works best. For example: 60-minute weekly team meeting that includes a standing agenda item for celebrations and shoutouts Annual team event to wrap up the year, celebrate wins, and shed old baggage before moving into the new year Conclusion While we can’t take responsibility for our teammates as whole people, as a leader, the physical and mental well-being of our team should be one of our priorities. One simple thing we can do to empower our teams to bring their full, engaged selves to work is inject intentional rest throughout our work schedules. Consider those few minutes for shout-outs in team meetings and the occasional team celebratory event investments. They’ll pay dividends with increased engagement, innovation, and retention. Need help in creating a team rhythm for sprints and rests? Snag a free consultation here, and I’d be glad to help you get started. About the Author: Marguerite Thibodeaux is an executive coach and talent management consultant dedicated to changing our relationship with work. Work should be a place where each of us gets to enjoy the challenge of contributing to something bigger than one self. She focuses on helping leaders at all levels create habits, skills, and environments that empower teams to thrive. Every leader deserves support. Follow her on LinkedIn for leadership tips and discussions. Check out her website for free leadership resources like a Professional Development Roadmapping Worksheet and Attrition Risk Matrix. Want one-on-one adapting these strategies to your team? Book a complimentary call with Marguerite. Every leader deserves support. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marguerite! Marguerite Thibodeaux, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marguerite Thibodeaux, a leadership coach, and talent management consultant, helps leaders and organizations bring the best out of people with courage, compassion, and clarity. After building development programs and leading a talent transformation at a Fortune 100, she became increasingly aware that not all leaders had access to a Fortune 100 Learning & Development team. To do something about that, she started Magnanimous Leadership, a leadership coaching and consulting firm that's on a mission to make resources and support available to every leader.

Written by: Edit B Kiss, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Have you ever wondered why you sometimes drive to a place and don’t even remember what happened on the road you got there? Our mind is very complex. When we talk about the mind it is not the same as the biological brain. Our mind has more parts and still, it is in every fiber of our system. Might you hear people say “listen to your gut feelings” or “follow your heart”? Scientifically proven that our cravings and our choice of food can be controlled by the bacteria in our intestines, also scientifically proven that our heart sends more information to the brain than the brain to the heart. That is why when it comes to our thought patterns, behavior, or actions, it is related to our mind, not just our brain. Our mind has 4 parts: the conscious mind, subconscious mind, unconscious mind, and superconscious mind. Let’s go back to the driving situation: our body was biologically created to save energy. Probably you realized when you focus on something, solving a riddle, taking an exam, or doing something for the first time you got exhausted faster. That is when you use your conscious mind. To save energy, the body is switching into the subconscious mind and goes on autopilot when it feels safe. Like you know how to do certain things, you have done it so many times. It happens most of the time. When you are working towards your goals, and you want to change your lifestyle or your situation you are making this decision with your conscious mind. The subconscious mind holds your belief systems, your parent’s belief system, your habits, fears, and memories. Your old patterns can sneak in to ruin your plans when they are not aligned with your conscious decision. The solution is to reprogram your subconscious mind. So the 3 reasons why you need to do that are the followings: To get rid of old belief systems which don’t even belong to you. Stop practicing negative habits and implement positive ones. Overcome your fears so you can take action toward your goals. There are ways to reprogram your subconscious mind. For example, you can use positive affirmations to rewrite old beliefs. There are techniques that can make the process faster and more effective. I work with clients to reinvent themselves to the next level while getting rid of stress, and anxiety and releasing old patterns not just from the subconscious but the unconscious mind as well and learning how to get aligned with the superconscious mind to reach their goals. I am running a 5-day challenge called RELEASE AND REALIGN ACCELERATOR where you can be coached for FREE by me and practice powerful life-transforming techniques live or watch the recording. You can connect through zoom and be able to interact with me or watch it in my Facebook group. I would love to see you there to show you what is possible. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Edit! Edit B Kiss, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Edit B Kiss is a holistic mentor, success habit coach, 1 best-selling author, Humanitarian Award winner and international speaker. She helps her clients to get healed from running mind, insomnia to gain more focus and fill the void in their hearts by raising their frequency and getting them aligned with their true self so they can stand the storms and live their life joyfully and reinvent themselves to the next level.

Written by: Dr. Allen Lycka, 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. Does everything around you have undue influence? Do the stress, the drama, and the negativity become your problems? You may find yourself dwelling on other peoples' problems. Or you might wish you didn't get caught up in their negative thoughts. It's too easy for you to be dragged down by the things around you. You need to develop better insight and a more resilient min. Creating an Impenetrable Mindset™ takes dedication. However, resilience becomes a practice when you become mentally resilient and execute the methods I share below. I've been working at this for my whole life and can provide you with the tools you need to become resilient. In my soon-to-be-released course, Impenetrable Mindset™, you will have all the tools and exercises t get you there. I'll share my story with you to show I devoted myself to resilience. Then, I'll give you the things you need to guide you through the fear that too many of us feel so that you can develop and sustain a resilient mindset. I only sometimes had a resilient mindset. If we have met, you know how I became a survivor, a thriver, and a powerful force. But, if don't know you me, let me tell you a bit about myself: Nowadays, I'm typically introduced as a world-leading authority on cosmetic surgery, entrepreneur, a 3X international best-selling and award-winning author, much sought-after speaker, coach, trainer, mentor, host, executive producer of 3 top radio shows with millions of listeners, consultant, philanthropist, and publisher, but my life hasn't always been filled with victory. I had to become resilient. While all the titles and awards are accurate, I grew up in a low-income family. I struggled financially to get my university education. I had to fight to get a dermatology position and leave my country to get it. I'm a survivor and a medical miracle. In 2003, at the height of my cosmetic surgery career, I was told, "Get your affairs in order. You have ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). You have six months to live. I am here due to my grit, tenacity, and mindset. Still, I dominated the field of cosmetic surgery until I walked away in 2019. Then COVID hit, and I had to pivot once again. So, how did I overcome these obstacles and manage to come away with an Impenetrable Mindset™? The simple answer is that I made a decision. Then, I took determined action and consistently practiced the tools and strategies I learned and implemented along the way. The more precise answer? I nailed the steps that I describe below and practice them every day. These steps are simple in theory, but they are not easy, and you can start using them today. Steps to build a resilient mindset Building an Impenetrable Mindset™ starts with you choosing to become resilient. You must also be committed to destroying any challenges that life brings you and finding a community that will help you and holds you responsible. Over time, you will become more powerful and build an impervious mindset. I have that community for you at FantasticLiving.ca. It's free – join it. The following are steps you can take to become resilient. These steps aren't in any particular order, but each is an integral part of your journey. Change how you tell your story. An essential way to change your story lies in how you tell it. For example, what words do you use? What viewpoint are you sharing? For example, you could tell everyone you meet about your challenges and use them as excuses for not reaching your goals. Or, you can tell everyone about the challenges you've overcome. That you've readjusted your goals and how when one door closed, you opened another and, despite all odds, became a successful, happy, fulfilled person. I know you can't choose what's happened to you. I do. As I say in How To Live A Fantastic Life – it's not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens. But I also know that when you change the story, you tell yourself about what's happened to you, and in doing so, you change your life. Be aligned with your why Your why is a double-edged sword – it is your fuel and anchor. But, on the other hand, you're why is your reason for being, and when you understand why, it will propel you forward. Victor Frankl, a survivor of concentration camps in Nazi Germany, wrote about this in his book, The Search For Meaning. Understanding and connecting to your why gives you strength, resolve, drive, and focus. If you do not yet know you're why that's okay. Take the time to reflect and ask yourself what drives you. Think about why you do the things you do and who you do them for. Next, make a list of things that are most important to you in life. Then, take that list and ask yourself again for each item, "Why is this important to me?" Then, ask yourself again for each answer, "Why does that matter to me?" Please take a look at my chapter in my book The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life on Ikigai because it can give you some guidance n finding your purpose. This process may take many layers to strip away to get to your core why. That's okay. Just keep searching until you get there. Become internally free When you are strongly aligned with who you are and what you want from life, you will become internally accessible. Take time to understand what matters to you and why each is important. When deeply connected to your needs, making decisions that lead you toward your goals becomes more accessible. Then you can develop a list of non-negotiables t guide you. When you develop a resilient mindset, making value-based decisions becomes second nature. Everything you do will be in alignment with your beliefs. You will guard your mind so fiercely that you won't let anyone or anything that doesn't align with your goals stand between you and your bigger future. Become intentional about how you spend your time People with resilient minds are cautious about the messages they consume. This means they are clear about what ideas are delivered to them if they watch television. In addition, they may spend more time reading or listening to personal development materials such as books, audiobooks, or podcasts rather than popular media. Be sure to determine what is and isn't helping you as you build your resilient mind. Additionally, be aware of the people you are spending your time with. Are people building you up or tearing you down? Are they moving in the same direction that you want to be going? Finally, be careful and intentional about who you listen to and associate with. Overcome Your Fears Accomplishing your dreams are on the other side of your fears. Fear is the most prevalent emotion and cripples you. F.E.A.R. stands for F- False E - Expectations A - Appearing R - Real 80% of the things we fear never happen, and 95% are much less than dread. So move forward Are you ready to build your Impenetrable Mind™? Creating an Impenetrable Mind™ takes practice. It is something that you will often need accountability and support for. You may work with a mindset coach or join a community of like-minded people. Depending on what's most comfortable for you, you might seek out groups that meet in person or connect with a global network online. As you seek out your resilient network, I invite you to check out my free community, FantasticLiving.ca. This community will teach you how to: Identify what is holding you back from living a joyful, abundant life you love. Align your mindset with tools and techniques to take you from where you are to where you want to be. Design your custom action plan to help you live life on your terms. If you're ready to live a joyful, abundant life that's purpose-filled and aligned, then the first step is to build a resilient mindset. Dr. Allen Lycka An impact-driven leader who leads from his heart and facilitates change, Dr. Lycka helps entrepreneurs and businesses come alive; authors write their books and get them into the world. Speakers amplify their message to scale their impact. And helps companies transform disenfranchised workers into enthusiastic champions. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Allen! Dr. Allen Lycka, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was diagnosed with ALS and given six months to live. After fighting the diagnosis, he is here today as a result of his courage and tenacity. Having been given a “golden ticket” Dr. Lycka used his experience to co-author the books The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life with Harriet Tinka, Pillars of Success with 1 New York Times Best Selling Author Jack Canfield and bLU volume 1 with Corey Poirier. He is the host and executive director of How To Live a Fantastic Life show with 4 million listeners per episode. He is a sought-after speaker.

Written by: Kamini Wood, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Sleep is vital for your well-being and survival. Without sleep, your body and brain wouldn’t work properly. While you rest at night, your brain forms the neural pathways that let you learn and remember information and create new memories. Your body and brain stay active while you sleep to help protect your health and quality of life. In children and teenagers, deep sleep plays a vital role in promoting growth and development, triggering the production of growth hormones. Once the lights switch off, the pineal gland, located in the brain’s two hemispheres, increases the production of the hormone melatonin, which helps put you to sleep. In other words, melatonin informs your body it’s nighttime, so you can relax and fall asleep. A Lack of Sleep Effects Sleep is a complex process that affects almost every organ. Some of the main functions of sleep include physical restoration and mood regulation. Sleep also helps strengthen the immune system and clean the brain of toxins that accumulate during the day. Physical Health A chronic lack of sleep distresses every system in your body, from the brain and heart to your mood and immune function. Studies show that poor sleep quality increases the risk of chronic physical disorders, including diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Research also shows that a lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity in all age groups. Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that increase and decrease your appetite, making you feel hungry or full. Sleep deprivation also raises the level of ghrelin while lowering the level of leptin, making you feel hungry. Sleep deprivation can also affect your balance and coordination, making you more prone to injuries and accidents. Cognitive Functioning and Mental Health If you constantly lack sleep, you may find it difficult to think clearly, concentrate, remember things, solve problems, and make decisions. Sleep deprivation can also compromise your mood and emotional control. Furthermore, a chronic lack of sleep impacts your emotional health , affecting how you react, manage emotions, and get along with others. Children and teens who lack sleep have problems with impulse control and often experience mood swings. They may also lack motivation, and feel depressed, stressed, and isolated. Sleep deprivation in children and teenagers can also cause attention difficulties and poor academic performance. Other mental health risks include: Depression Anxiety Impulsive behavior Paranoia Suicidal thoughts How to Improve Your Sleep The best way to prevent sleep deprivation is to get enough sleep during the night. In general, adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Avoid or limit daytime naps and go to bed simultaneously each night. Spend an hour before sleep relaxing. Read a book or meditate and refrain from using electronic devices right before bedtime. Studies show that using electronic devices before bed affects your circadian rhythm (your inner clock), suppressing the release of melatonin and making it harder to fall asleep. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Kamini! Kamini Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kamini Wood is the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the AuthenticMe® RiseUp program. An international best-selling author Kamini is driven to support people of all ages to heal their relationship with themselves and to stop outsourcing their self-worth. As a result, her clients become their own confident, resilient self-leader with healthier relationships. Kamini is a certified life coach, board-certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, holds specialty certifications in Calling in the One®, Conscious Uncoupling®, NewMoney Story®, and teen life coaching. Also trained in conscious parenting, Kamini aims to meet her clients where they are, supporting and guiding them on their journey to where they want to be, both personally and professionally. Her mission: create space for each person to see the unique gifts they bring to this world.

Dr. Denise Moore Revel is a best-selling author, licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, and Founder/CEO of Own Your Amazing Movement, a personal and professional development movement dedicated to helping women [and some professionally driven men] embrace the power and talent within. Dr. Denise has dedicated her life to helping others use their voice and own their individuality as the catalyst to meeting their true, fulfilled self for over twenty-five years. Through coaching, speaking, writing, and mentoring, Dr. Denise ignites women to hone their power and create the authentic and amazing lives of their dreams. She has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology, a Master of Science in Communications Sciences and Disorders, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services with a Specialization in Multicultural Counseling and Coaching. Dr. Denise Moore Revel, Personal Development & Business Coach Please introduce yourself to our audience! What do you want people to know about you? I am Dr. Denise Moore Revel and I absolutely love helping people own their personal power. Living out loud is something that I pray everyone has the chance to experience and that is why I created the Own Your Amazing Movement. I operate a private speech therapy practice that serves the Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland area, and that’s been running for over fifteen years. I was born in Washington DC and raised in North Carolina, so my lifestyle is influenced by the urban city and the comfy south. Anyone who knows me knows I love movies and traveling. My most recent travels took me to Paris and Dubai, and I absolutely enjoyed both places! My hobbies and pastimes are always filled with anything self-care related. I am all about prioritizing yourself and then reaching out to serve others. What made you want to become a Business and Personal Development coach? I always had a passion for helping people reach their potential and maximize their success. After I graduated college, I started working as a professional and saw firsthand how much potential many people have but don't always use it to their fullest. This lack of knowledge was also present within me, so the soul-searching started with me. I was fascinated by all I learned, the people I met, and the mentors that helped me on my journey. That passion, appreciation, and joy inspired me to pursue a career in business and personal development coaching. I wanted to be able to use my knowledge and experience to help women like me reach their fullest potential. What types of clients do you most like to work with? The Own Your Amazing Movement is geared towards professional, purpose-driven women primarily (but I have coached and spoken to men about personal and business development in the past). This movement is for ambitious women who are looking to make meaningful changes in their life and reach their highest potential. She is open-minded, willing to take risks, and dedicated to personal growth and development. I love a client who is motivated to succeed and appreciates the value of investing in herself through coaching. She is also willing to put in the hard work and effort needed to make progress and achieve her goals. She is organized, resourceful, and has a positive attitude. She is ready to take action and is committed to creating a life filled with purpose, passion, and success. There is something so delightful about a woman with a relentless determination to make her wildest dreams come true. The ideal client is visibly hungry. Creative with an innovative spirit that pushes them beyond the limits of what others deem as ordinary. Unafraid to take risks in order to bring her ideas to life, my ideal student is not afraid to challenge the status quo and think outside of the box. She is passionate about creating something that is unique and perfectly organized to fit her lifestyle. The most receptive and successful of the people I coach understand that the only way to break free from the mundane and to live her life to the fullest is to design something extraordinary. "Most people will not do the work it takes to live an authentic life. You have to have the courage to be who you are.” If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? If I could change one thing about the coaching industry, it would be the lack of diversity. There are not a lot of knowledgeable and transparent coaches out there who care about their client’s progress from the inside out. We must prioritize taking care of our inner world the same way we take care of our external world. It is true that the coaching industry has a long way to go when it comes to creating a more diverse environment. Diversity is an incredibly important factor in any kind of coaching, as it allows coaches to create a personalized approach for their clients. It is important that coaches have a deep understanding of their client’s life experiences and worldviews in order to be able to provide the best possible guidance. One way to increase the diversity of the coaching industry is to create more opportunities for coaches from different backgrounds to gain experience and knowledge. This could be done by providing scholarships for coaching courses and internships for aspiring coaches. Additionally, it’s important for coaches to be transparent about their own experiences and to create an environment that encourages open dialogue and communication. It is important for coaches to be aware of their biases and to be willing to learn and grow in order to best serve their clients. By increasing the diversity in the coaching industry and creating a more open and honest environment, coaches can provide a more personalized and valuable service to their clients. What is the most fulfilling part of being a Business and Personal Development Coach? The most fulfilling part of being a Business and Personal Development Coach is being able to help people achieve their goals and reach their full potential. I remember what it was like for me not knowing the real me that was deep down inside, and how it felt to put in the work to pull my full potential to the surface. Seeing the growth and success of my clients is a truly rewarding experience that I get to relive over and over through the eyes of other women. I love being able to provide them with the tools and resources they need to make positive changes in their life and business. It is an honor to be part of their journey and to witness their transformation, and it affirms me that my purpose is to continue this movement so it can touch as many people as possible. If you could describe the Own Your Amazing Movement in three words (without using the name of your company), what would they be? I would say empowering, transformational, and authentic. Owning your power is empowering. It’s a beautiful act, to take control of our lives and make choices that reflect our authentic values and priorities. It is monumental because a lot of us are influenced by external factors that make us feel powerless. It is empowering to take ownership of our thoughts, feelings, and decisions, and recognize our worth and strength. It means understanding that we have the power to shape our own destiny and create the life we want and that we have the right to assert our needs and boundaries. Empowerment allows us to stand up for ourselves and others, and to lead with courage, resilience, and integrity. It’s a transformational process, The Own Your Amazing Movement causes a brighter future because we prioritize shedding light on what we are, why we are, and who we actually want to be. Part of the movement is about sharing those amazing parts of us with others so we can truly be light out of the darkness. Learning to love yourself more can be illuminating in ways that will change not only your life but allow you to see, accept and embrace your true self. To have that ability is to be bright. It is like someone you know seeing you in the grocery store and saying, ‘You are glowing!’ Finding your true authenticity is a substantial part of owning your power. It is important to know and understand why owning up to your authentic self is powerful, and the plot is deeper than you would think. Although it seems like an easy concept, a lot of adults go through life without fully understanding and using this fact – resulting in a life that is not the best it could be. Sometimes you just need a reminder, an outside opinion, mentorship, and practice to activate your power. That’s where I come in! For some of you reading this, it may feel like I am describing you when it comes to not realizing your power. Some of you may feel stuck right now and you are wondering, ‘Is this it? What else am I supposed to be doing?’ It is possible to level up and optimize your full potential and do it efficiently! The Own Your Amazing Movement offers private and group personal development coaching programs, designed to help you reach your goals and find true success from the inside out. Part of my message is that unleashing this potential you may read about, or see in movies, is possible. It is possible to be the best version of yourself. It just takes that special effort and willingness to put in the work, for it to actually work. Do not miss out on the opportunities you come across to meet and become who you actually want to be. I offer free clarity calls to anyone interested in learning more about coaching, courses, and speaking engagements. Ready to get started, you can contact me here. For more information on Dr. Denise Moore Revel and the Own Your Amazing Movement, please visit the OYA website. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Denise!

Written by: Nada Matijevic, 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. Career planning can help secure a better and more successful career future, but it’s hard to plan and take action without clarity, confidence, and direction. Find out how raising your awareness can help you make better-aligned career decisions and plan to achieve career success on your terms. Setting solid foundations before jumping into action can help you avoid common career mistakes and lead you to do more personally meaningful, fulfilling, and rewarding work. What does career success mean to you? Your career success objectives might fall under career development and career enhancement, career change, or managing transitions such as the transition to leadership or retirement. All require commitment, reflection, exploration, self-awareness, market awareness, direction setting and decision-making, planning and strategy, networking, and relationship-building. Any investment of your time and resources towards your awareness-building is worthwhile as it will help you to navigate and market yourself more effectively into your desired future. Read my Blog for more on why it might be a good idea to start thinking about your career future. Doing your self-awareness work well can help you understand your brand and story's components, drivers, and unique value proposition. This can help you to differentiate yourself in the market and to gain a competitive advantage. Tips on planning for career success 1. Avoid the conventional approach Traditional methods to achieve career success are fraught with risks. Chasing other people’s versions of career success to impress them or others comes at the risk of neglecting your own needs and values. Pursuing shallow goals and hollow markers of success puts you at risk of one day finding yourself in a void that leaves you craving more out of your career and life despite achieving them all. Taking a passive-reactive approach to where you end up in your career and life puts you at risk of giving away your power to other people and external forces to shape your future. You risk becoming disconnected from who you are and what you need to thrive and not being in control of where life takes you. As a result, you might feel stuck, unhappy, stressed, and even burnt out doing work you don’t enjoy and living a life you don’t love. It’s easy to stay stuck due to not knowing what to do next or how to get what you want. Sadly this has become the accepted way to live for many. 2. Don’t be stuck in a role that is making you miserable Here are some compelling reasons why: Not resolving a situation you’re unhappy with or overstaying a role that’s misaligned or one you’ve outgrown can be demoralising and leaves you doubting yourself and your capabilities It affects not only your work performance, work enjoyment, and your career-and-life outlook but also your wellbeing By waiting until your role becomes unbearable, you risk taking an emotional leap straight into the next available job or other means to escape Leaving it too long to do something affects both your own and other people’s perceptions of yourself, and you’re more likely to miss opportunities for growth and advancement Getting into a negative spiral of more of the same impacts your demeanour and optimism, further eroding your belief in yourself and your capabilities. The longer you leave it, the harder it can be to undo the damage this causes. If you want to create change, take a different approach. 3. Awareness is the first step Raising your awareness before jumping into jobseeker mode can help you discover what will make you feel meaningfully engaged and successful, the type of work you can excel at, and what you need for more joy in your career and life. This can help you avoid some common traps of career success that leave people disillusioned and disappointed. Building self-awareness first will help you to get clear and confident; about who you are and your capabilities, about what’s possible, and in making the best choices for the right reasons. This will give you confidence and conviction in your decisions to address the problem, leave the security of your current situation or comfort zone, and go for what you want. Taking the time to see things from a new perspective can help you understand the situation and see possibilities. More about building your awareness follows. Pause, reflect and reset A strategy I like to use to build and utilise awareness is Pause. Reflect. Reset. It’s a circuit-breaker, insight-gathering, and re-adjustment phase that stops you from jumping straight into the “HOW TO” phase of getting the next role and making decisions you might later regret. 4. Pause People spend more time planning holidays to get a break from work that drains them than planning a career and life that will motivate, energise and inspire them to do their best work. Holidays can be an excellent time to think about your future and what you want, but leaving it until the holidays may be too late. Create the time and space to step off life’s treadmill or hamster wheel, so you can deeply reflect on your career and life journey. Create some dedicated, distraction-free time to focus on this regularly. You will empower yourself to be in control and to ensure life happens through you rather than waiting for life to happen to you. Pause long enough to see and assess your situation from your current vantage point, to be aware of the micro nuances and big-picture perspective you might have missed. And to understand how you and the landscape have changed and evolved. 5. Reflect Reflect on how far you’ve come from where you started, where you’ve been, how you’ve been showing up, and what you’ve learned. Reflect on the person you’ve become and how you’ve grown. Identify the clues pointing to your untapped potential and who you can be at your best. Reflect on the character-shaping lessons of your essential experiences, successes, and challenges from your past and present reality. Some questions you might ask yourself: How has the past shaped me and where I am today? What are the patterns, themes, and lessons learned? How have my biggest challenges made me stronger today? What makes me uniquely me? What am I naturally good at and love to do? What are my greatest strengths? Read this Brainz article to see a different perspective and explore other possibilities. Identify your natural resources and your compass of joy: your natural strengths, needs, drivers, personality traits, passions, interests, and preferences. In this INTHEBLACK Article, other professionals and I share how extra-curricular activities, hobbies, and interests can boost your career. Please read it and reflect on your own. Get clear on how you’re naturally wired to succeed and where your untapped potential lies. 6. Reset Learn from the past and reset limiting beliefs, self-defeating behaviours, and habits. Trust yourself and your capabilities Find ways to boost your confidence by doing new things you love and are good at Redefine who you are and who you’re capable of becoming Question what else is possible Change your belief system to empower you to achieve your goals and potential Reconnect with your WHY: your needs, drivers, values, passions, interests, purpose, mission, and legacy Get more precise about what you want, your ideal role, and what you want from your job, employer, workplace culture, and industry. When you’re clear on what you want and why you’ll be better able to focus your energy and labour market search and avoid a scattergun approach. Bringing it all together Career success is a highly personal experience. In planning for career success, there are many components to consider regarding what makes us succeed and feel successful. Don’t leave it too long to do something if your career or work situation makes you miserable. Remember that change starts with awareness. So do this foundational work to avoid some common career mistakes and traps. Know what you want, what you’re capable of, and what your ideal role might look like. Then, you can explore possibilities, do your market research and evaluate options to make better-informed career decisions. Taking the time to get clear and focused makes it easier to put together a plan and prepare to market yourself with confidence and conviction. I’ve found that people often struggle with not knowing whom to turn to or trust for sound career advice. Sharing your internal struggles and career challenges with others can leave you exposed and vulnerable. That’s where the expert, unbiased guidance of a career development professional, career mentor, career coach, or career consultant can help you to regain perspective and clarity about the situation. If you’re after results, look for a comprehensive system and robust career coaching framework that supports your progress at every step. Also, look for user-experience testimonials to give you further peace of mind and reassurance. Successful career planning takes a tailored approach to suit each unique situation. An expertly-guided process can help you to put yourself in control and makes it easier, less stressful, and more effective to be focused and achieve your career objectives. Hire a career consultant or coach A career consultant or coach can help guide and support you. From where to start and what to do next, clarity, direction and reassurance in decision-making, to getting you market-ready, having the plan, strategy, implementation, and development need support. At a high level, this is what my career coaching framework looks like. However, at a practical, granular level, it is a highly tailored process designed to support an individual’s needs, goals and objectives. What can you do right now? You can start raising your awareness about what’s going on with your career by taking this free online Career Health Check 1. Read more from Nada! Nada Matijevic, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nada Matijevic is a results-driven Career Consultant to professionals and executives who want to elevate their careers and lives. She provides coaching, guidance and tailored programs to enable people to identify their stand-out capacity for brilliance. She helps them define their career and life objectives, develop their personal brand and marketing toolkit and to chart and navigate their own path to their own version of success. Nada is passionate about helping her clients take on their most important leadership role of shaping a career and life they can thrive in so they are not dependent on external forces, or on chance, to determine their future for them.

Written by: Jayne Cox, 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 last few years have taken their toll on human resilience, and our ability to bounce back has been truly tested. From the global pandemic to climate crisis and war, our world has been rocked and our mental health is paying the price. Anxiety is now such a problem that it is estimated that 275 million people suffer globally, with over 8 million people experiencing anxiety disorder at any given time in the UK, according to Mental Health UK. These estimates may be the tip of the iceberg as most of us have been touched by anxiety in some way and if not personally, we know someone who is living with the debilitating effects. So, let’s look at three daily tools we have access to that could help alleviate some troubling symptoms. Breathe for a calmer state From the moment we are born the foundation of feeling calmer lies with our breath. It’s not enough to just take a breath, we benefit most by building regular breathing techniques and breathwork into our daily lives. This can take us from an anxious, fight or flight state to somewhere more balanced, present and peaceful. There’s a vast array of breathing exercises to try and you can start by simply slowing down your breath and breathing into your belly on the count of two and then pausing before exhaling slowly for the count of four. Move with purpose When we feel anxious our bodies prepare to fight or flee from danger. For example, blood flows away from the stomach and digestive system and moves to the muscles, priming them for the exertion ahead. This is a highly effective means of survival IF we are living like our ancient ancestors who needed to escape or fight a known predator, but it is not so useful for life in our fast-paced and stressful, modern world. So next time you feel anxious, perhaps with a racing heart and a dry mouth, try walking with the purpose of relieving the feelings of anxiety. When you do this, you are mobilising your body, which mimics escape and utilises the hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, that are being pumped around your body in preparation to fight or run for your life. Practice environmental mindfulness It’s common knowledge that mindfulness and meditation can be powerful ways to help us calm, relax and even sleep. However, not everyone feels comfortable with being still and becoming aware of themselves, their breath and their bodies. If you struggle with these practices or would like to try something slightly different, try using your senses and the environment that you are in to practice calming yourself. You can turn your attention to the colours and shapes that are in the room, the outdoors as you go for a walk, sit in the countryside, or as you travel looking out of the window as a passenger in a car, on a bus or a train. Notice any smells that are in the air and what about textures, what can you feel when you touch what is around you? And what can you hear, let your attention go to your ears and the sounds, try listening in layers and distances? Start close and reach further and further into the distance. We human animals are quite remarkable and like many animals, we have built-in mechanisms to help us to calm down when we are feeling anxious and facing fear. So, whilst anxiety is a complex problem and management takes understanding and time, the next time you feel anxious and fearful, remember, your body often holds the key to a calmer state. If you’d like to understand more about anxiety and how technology can help you, contact me at Jayne@fusion-spaces.com. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jayne! Jayne Cox, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jayne Cox has spent over two decades providing therapy and coaching to compassionately support the process of human healing. Her often self-guided journey of recovery from anorexia in her late teens, led her to develop a unique approach to eating disorder recovery in the 1990’s. Over the years, Jayne has been living in recovery and listening to her clients’ stories, and that is how it became clear that trauma played a significant role in all their life stories. With a determination to change how trauma is perceived, and help to increase compassion, understanding and support human healing, Jayne co-founded wellbeing and technology consultancy, Fusion Spaces with her husband, Michael.

Written by: McKing Lee, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. If you don’t already know this, then you might want to read and understand yourself better. You see, our beliefs are so important and form a core within us. Our beliefs also structure our life, ranging from relationship to health, career to relationship, and our beliefs also guide our thoughts and emotions, actions and behaviors. So what are beliefs and how does it affect us? Is it something like, “I believe in God” or “I believe in you”? What other beliefs are there? That’s what we are going to explore today! What Is A Belief Statement? Beliefs are statements which we believe to be true. That’s the starting base point. For example, I believe most, if not all, living things on Earth need food, water and air to live. Or I believe I’m a human being. In fact, I don’t necessarily need to start with “I believe” either. I’m Lee McKing. You are reading this. We are on a planet called Earth. These are statements which we believe or know to be true (for us). If you believe you are on a planet called Mars, well, that’s another story. Essentially, any statement can be a form of a belief statement. The things we say or think to ourselves, the stuff we say to other people, and so on. I think at this point you are starting to gain awareness about the statements we use and how it might impact us. But if you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s alright. To help you understand deeper, let’s break it down further into 3 types of belief statements. The neutral beliefs, the empowering beliefs, and the limiting beliefs. The 3 Types Of Beliefs Neutral belief statements are pretty straight forward, they are beliefs that neither empower or limit us. Of course, it is entirely possible that one of your beliefs that is neutral to you, might empower or limit another person! That is entirely up to the perspective of each individual. “The sun is above us” is a neutral belief statement and most of us will agree with this statement. Of course, some people might say since the earth revolves around the sun, then technically the sun is more beside us rather than above us, even if it appears above us. It is perfectly fine if someone disagrees with your beliefs (if you do sales and someone doesn’t agree with your product or service, it is ok too!) “I am a man” is also a neutral belief statement, but to some people, they might say it might empower or limit us. Once again, it is up to the individual’s perspective. Empowering beliefs are statements that empower us, strengthen us, give us hope, power, confidence, etc. “I am a confident person” will allow us to feel confident in completing our tasks for the day. “I have excellent cooking skills” might allow someone to feel good about cooking and preparing for a dinner for his/her family. Naturally, if the belief is empowering, it is ‘harder’ to turn it into a limiting belief. However, I will caution that some beliefs that seem empowering might actually be limiting instead. I will not be covering this today because it requires some finer nuances as well as specific examples. Lastly, limiting beliefs are statements that limit and hold you back, usually tend to give more problems in the long run. Some you might already recognize as an issue. “I have anxiety” is an example of a limiting belief, of course, it highly depends on what you intend to do about it? Recognizing that one has a mental health issue is one thing, deciding which path to take is another. Whether you will seek ways to resolve or manage it, or whether you decide to bottle up and live with it. If you have such a statement and yet seek ways to resolve it, then eventually you will resolve the issue and the statement might change to “I had anxiety”. Yes, the past tense plays a part, hehehe. However, if you decide not to do anything with it, you can imagine how the anxiety might grow over time and become more serious in the future. “The project is difficult” is also a limiting belief! In this case, this suggest that the project is difficult to complete and what will happen is that you will face difficulties and problems in completing the project. Now you might be thinking, what if you see the project as a challenge? Then your statement might be “the project is a challenge” and if you compare both statements, which do you feel or find more difficult and hard? 😉 All these statements can potentially frame up our mind, emotions or even actions. Words Have Power If you want to, you can do a little activity for yourself. It is for your eyes only! I want you to write 10 statements about yourself beginning with “I am…” Be honest with yourself! If you want to write more, that’s fine too. Once you are done, I want you to check each statement and note which is neutral, empowering and limiting for you. Think of a way to change those limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs! If you can’t do a quick change, you can gradually change to neutral first or like in the example above, changing the word ‘difficult’ to ‘challenge’. Take your time to do this and relook at your statements over time! This is especially if you had an issue before but have resolved that issue, if that statement still appears in this list, then you might want to put it in the past tense. Instead of “I am anxious”, if you have resolved it, you can say, “I had anxiety”. Another thing to note is how you speak to people around you. Although this might take some practice, if and when you do realize that you use negative or limiting words on your friends and family, then change those words too! It will be a work in progress but I believe you can do it. Continue to empower yourself and the people around you! With love and peace~ 😊 If you want to educate yourself about the mind, be sure to share this article and check out the links below! Read more cool articles on my blog Watch my Tiktok videos too. Thank you for reading and I’ll see you next time! :D Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mcking! McKing Lee, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine McKing Lee is a conversational hypnotist, NLP Practitioner, and a student of life. After nearly dying in his sleep when his lung burst for no reason, McKing develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and fell into depression. He subsequently sought his own recovery through learning NLP and hypnosis. Having a unique understanding of how the mind works, he has helped many people with mental and psychological issues, relationship and emotional issues, and interestingly enough, sometimes physical ailments too. McKing was recognized and won APAC SEA Business Awards Hypnotist of the Year 2020, and has been featured in local and overseas media over the years. He aims to help people as effectively as possible, through sharing of knowledge and with the right application of skills.