Written by: Caroline Tapken, 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. Top Tips for when, where, what, how and who should influence your decision-making process with respect to the end of your expat career, and expat life. YOU decide when you want to go There is nothing worse than someone else deciding when it is time for you to leave. Think about what you want from your future, and plot a timeline – it doesn’t have to be ‘date’ specific, but should at least relate to life events, successes and milestones that are important to you. If the birth of your first grandchild is that ‘milestone’ have a plan for what you do when it happens. Set that as your target, and work towards it. YOU decide where to call home When you are forced into quick decisions, you naturally go back to where you came from. Back to whatever is familiar, or safe, or both. This might no longer be the best place for you, however, so think about what home means and where you feel most at home. Focus on the environment where you are happiest, give yourself permission to be selfish here – compromise can come once you understand what makes you happy. YOU decide what you will do Expat life coming to an end does not necessarily mean retirement. Nor does it have to mean applying for similar jobs to the one you are leaving behind. It could mean a different line of work, part-time work, travel, or simply a break from work so you can consider your options. Focus on skills acquired during your expat career, and explore options for the future. You might be surprised what new opportunities you come up with! YOU decide how you want to live If you want to buy an RV and tour the United States, then plan it, and do it! There is no ‘traditional’ route for an end to your expat career – you’ve broken free of the norms so far, why not continue? Maybe a base ‘back home’ is all you need, with a driveway big enough for a motorhome, so you can take off whenever you feel the urge. Maybe a home large enough to host your extended family is how you want to live. The point here is, it is YOUR decision and no-one else’s. YOU decide who should have a say in these decisions Unless you also want to break free from your nearest and dearest at the same time as bringing your expat career to a close, they will undoubtedly expect some input into what you do, and where you do it. Talk to them about it. Ask what they have in mind. Brain-storm. Make lists. Pros and cons. Be wary of ‘others’ however, and their opinions, when they have no skin in the game! Everyone will have an opinion, and suggestions, but what YOU really want is the key here. The key to a happy ending is knowing what you want. You’d be surprised at the number of expats who have not thought beyond the ‘next move’ and have no plan for the long-term future. Not even an outline of an idea. The key is to explore all the options BEFORE the time comes to make a decision, so you don’t end up with regrets and disappointment. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Caroline! Caroline Tapken, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Caroline works with Expats and Repats to help them plan their future, so they can enjoy the retirement they deserve. She is a seasoned expat herself, with 35+ years of living and working in the Caribbean, the USA, Asia and the Middle East, and a marketing & communications professional with a strong hospitality and travel background. Caroline is Mum to two third-culture-kids (TCKs) and a rescue Basenji-Saluki mix. She recently returned to live in the UK and is Listener-in-Chief at Joy & Purpose Life Coach.

Written by: Sara Garofalo, 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. "Wellness encompasses a healthy body, sound mind, and a tranquil spirit. Enjoy the journey as you strive for wellness" ‒Laurette Gagnon Beaulieu. This quote can remind us that our bodies are similar to working mechanics; when one function is overwhelmed, the entire body can be thrown out of balance. To be out of balance you’ll notice increased irritability, and weaker immune systems, and from the outside, you’ll instantly notice skin irritation. So here are some tips to help you live a healthy lifestyle to ensure equilibrium. To recharge and Restore In today's fast-paced life, taking time to ourselves to care and slowdown has heavily been disadvantaged. When you take time to act out of self-care, you promise increased memory retention, faster learning capabilities, energy, life expectancy, and much more. A great way to recharge is to get outside, take a nap, be creative, work on a hobby, or do anything that increases your serotonin for the good of all and harm to none. Move your body Everyone knows it; however, it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to move our bodies daily. Go for walks, run, hit the gym, and take up rock climbing. There are so many ways we can stay active, and thankfully there is an activity for everyone's liking. Stay active for 30 minutes a day, and you'll notice an improvement in your mental health, balanced hormones, an increase in gut health, and a mutable physique. Exercise your mind The brain is a muscle; the brain is our most intelligent muscle, the one that controls all functions of the body, therefore, our decisions as well. In 2022 and recent years following, we have struggled with electronic addictions, and unfortunately, electronics do not exercise our brains in the ways we need. When you train your cognitive abilities, your brain becomes sharper and quicker, and your memory improves. You'll notice your emotional well-being becoming balanced. Some activities to try are at least 10 mins of meditation a day, journaling, reading, puzzles, and learning something new to achieve the benefits. Spiritual well-being In life, every single one of us is bound at some point to search for our meaning and purpose. When spiritually healthy, we move through life with connection and drive as we've never experienced before—making decisions out on our well-being, ethics, and beliefs, all done with clarity. Spiritual well-being can be a religion for some and energy for others, where there is no limit to what you can believe in. You can participate with affirmations, meditations, and a unique practice that is sacred to you. Eating Intuitively There are thousands of diets women try and then give up, none of which feel natural and good for the body. You can barely determine what you feed your body much more than satisfying your hunger. Leave your eating habits up to what you crave, you may crave processed sugars and foods at first, but your body will eventually lead you to a balanced diet tailored to your needs precisely. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sara! Sara Garofalo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sara Garofalo is a certified Intuitive Health and Life Coach, and Certified Ayurveda Counselor, helping HSP women to get to the root cause of their weight gain and break free from emotional pain through a mind-body-soul transformation. Sara’s goal is to help women break unhealthy patterns and become more intuitive about their bodies through a sustainable holistic approach. With her Intuitive Gifts and Healing sessions, Sara has been helping women heal from the deepest traumas and roadblocks stored in the body that are preventing women from becoming the healthiest version of themselves.

Written by: Nicole Davenport, 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 your baby’s due date gets closer you may start to feel all sorts of emotions, one of these is a feeling of being overwhelmed for what you need to do to be prepared. 1. Take photos of your beautiful baby bump. You may want to do a month-by-month journal with photos of your growing bump, or book a professional photographer in the later stage of your pregnancy to capture some lovely memories to show your Bub to be when they are older. If you plan on a professional, make sure you book well in advance so as not to miss out. 2. Remember that self-care is so important when you are pregnant. Nurture and pamper yourself. This could be a trip to the hairdresser, a manicure/pedicure, a relaxation massage, or a beauty treatment. Anything that makes you feel good. 3. If family life and work commitments allow for it an escape away for a long weekend with your partner is a lovely way to connect before baby comes. Somewhere that you can both relax equally and escape your daily lives for a short time. 4. If an escape away isn’t possible a date night can be the next best thing. A movie, dinner, a beach walk there are lots of lovely ways to enjoy each other’s company and relax together. 5. If you are having a hospital birth pack your bag. Write a list and tick it off as you pack. It may seem overwhelming trying to think of all the things you might need. But realistically all your baby will really need is you! And make sure to pack some luxury items for yourself. 6. Setting up the baby’s room is a fun thing to do when you are nesting and getting ready for the birth. Filling drawers with beautiful little clothes and decorating the room. But all babies will really need to begin with is you and a safe place to sleep. 7. Sleep!!! It’s so important in the weeks leading up to baby’s arrival. Even if it’s broken sleep with all those trips to the toilet! The more rested, relaxed and calm you are before labour the better your body and mind will cope when the time comes. 8. Pre-made meals for the freezer. Spend some time batch cooking or organise a meal train with your family and friends. Don’t underestimate the value of having meals supplied for the first few weeks of your baby’s life. It takes the pressure off both you and your partner and allows you to have lovely home cooked nutritious meals when you need them most. 9. Get the baby’s car seat installed. This is a must do as you will need this to take your baby home from the hospital. If you are unsure of how to do this, there are plenty of places that have professional installers to help you with this. 10. Think about joining a class or a course centred around pregnancy, birth or postpartum care where you may meet other expectant mums/couples that are expecting around the same time as you. This is a great way to start building a network of friends that could lead to great support and lifetime friendships. Some hospitals offer courses to their expectant mums. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram, for more info! Nicole Davenport, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As a mother to four beautiful children, Nikki is so excited and passionate about what she does. She was well supported by amazing midwives and friends when she became a mother herself. With the understanding that not all women receive the same support that was given to her, she wants to use her lived experience and passion to help others. Nikki graduated from the Australian Doula College in August of 2021 and has started her journey in supporting women and families within the Doula space. She is continuing her studies and expanding her knowledge in particular areas she is passionate about, such as supporting at risk women and babies, and educating people in their rights as pregnant and birthing women.

Written by: Christine Nicholson, 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 have been thinking about starting a business or simply not working for someone else but are stuck on an idea, then start with the thing that you are most passionate about! Working for yourself (not the same as being an entrepreneur, but a good start) should not be swapping a soulless, dream-crushing job for another one with less security, more hours, and the additional burden of being a book-keeper, cleaner, and “shop-keeper” too. Yet many people find that this is their reality when they take the leap from paid employment. Passion alone is not enough to make a potential business idea a success and the most successful business owners often start their journey with one idea and it morphs into something else. One of the principal problems is that many business owners think that their idea is a no-brainer and that simply setting up to offer their product or service will be enough to attract willing buyers. I have come across many business owners that did no market research at all before investing their time, money and happiness into a business that did not differentiate itself at all from the rest of the marketplace. Yet even marginal differentiation can increase the chances of success 10-fold. And it's not just about talking about “customer service”! Every business says they want to serve their customer in the best way – the ones that succeed are the businesses that don’t talk about it but DO IT. Only about 50% of new businesses survive the first 5 years, but that is better odds than you might think there are 3 factors that will improve your chances of success. Create A Business Plan Whilst many business owners have run for the hills before sitting down and writing a business plan, it does not have to be a complicated process. And it's not only about numbers. Writing the plan requires you to think about what your vision is and what problem in the market you are trying to solve. Questions like who your customer is (big clue here, it isn’t everyone), what time frame is realistic for your launch, what revenue model you are using, and importantly, how you will make the business profitable. Recommended reading: The Beer Mat Entrepreneur, Mike Southon Don’t Spend Money on Swag In the early days, it's really easy to get carried away with logo-printed freebies to hand out, fancy offices to operate out of and non-essential staff. Testing out whether you have a viable business is much more important before getting carried away. Spending money on what the business needs rather than what you think it should have is essential. If you are spending money, make sure the activity is generating revenue, reducing expenditure elsewhere, or both. Recommended reading: The Lean Start-Up, Eric Ries Be Productive, Not Busy A wise man once told me, “only do what’s necessary to get a sale,” and in the early days of that business, I had found myself doing the books, creating to-do-lists and generally being really busy being busy – all in a classic distraction activity to avoid something that I found challenging, such as SALES! This was reiterated years later when I established another business that required me to step outside my comfort zone. Make sure that you engage in an activity that is “Getting and Keeping Customers” because that is the only way you will be a success. Every business involves admin, accounting and the actual delivery of the product or service – but none of that matters if you do not have a regular trail of customers. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Christine! Christine Nicholson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I am Christine Nicholson, an author, speaker, and award-winning Professional Business Mentor who works with multi-million turnover business owners of technology, engineering, or product/services businesses. I'm UK Business Mentor of the Year 2021 and a Global Top 50 Woman in Accounting. I've appeared on BBC talking about business! christine@christinenicholson.co.uk 0333 567 8011

Written by: Dr. Shahram Maralani, 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. Strategic planning is defined as an organization's process of defining its strategy or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to attain strategic goals. More frequently small businesses fail in business strategy. But why do small businesses ignore strategic planning? Is it so that the formal structure doesn't apply to the real world. Or are they having a plan simply for plans sake? That makes you wonder, is strategic management irrelevant for small businesses? That's is what we will explore in this article. The Fundamentally Wrong Assumption There is a fundamentally wrong assumption when it comes to the strategic planning for small businesses. Given inherent characteristics of small businesses, they are usually in short of resources. To run a profitable business, entrepreneurs and managers of small businesses need to be careful and vigilant about their cost base. That is why they try to minimize and question the necessity of every single equipment, person, and process. As a result, some believe among the reasons why small businesses fail, there is something about not having the resources or capacity to execute whatever the outcome of the strategic planning is. That is why good companies go bad. Even if they are convinced of the relevance of strategic planning to them, they end up with a plan which is usually too costly to execute. That is why, assuming the outcome of a traditional strategic planning process can be useful for small businesses, is fundamentally wrong. The Wrong Conclusion from Above If the traditional strategic planning is not suitable for small businesses, then should small businesses stick to their way of working and do not prepare strategic plans? What is the solution? There is noone questioning why planning is essential for small businesses. There can be a relatively short period of high sales and profit for any business due to specific market conditions, despite the quality of their plans. But sustainable success in business is dependent on proper planning. From understanding and proper positioning in the value chains and provision of resources, to creation of right customer channels and profitable revenue streams are all necessary to maintain foresight on the competitiveness and sustainability of business over longer periods. Hence, the question is not wether planning is necessary for small businesses, but more on the type and approach to such planning. Why Strategic Planning for Small Businesses Fail There are tens of causes of business failure. There are some which are more specific causes of small business failure, and among those are some reasons why strategic planning fails. Here we look into the top 10 reason why small businesses fail despite having strategic plans. Why the strategic planning does not support their sustainable success, or even not succeed at all upon its execution. Business Strategy Concept and Methodologies The first reason why strategic planning for small businesses fail, sits in the concept of strategic planning and the related methodologies themselves! Strategic planning generally involves setting strategic goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, setting a timeline, and mobilizing resources to execute the actions. A strategy describes how the ends (goals) will be achieved by the means (resources) in a given span of time. Often, Strategic Planning is long term and organizational action steps are established from two to five years in the future (wikipedia). This in itself is a problem. Real entrepreneurship is about jumping from a cliff and building the plane as you are falling. The real entrepreneurs do not spend much time on the drawing board. They do not write multiple pages explaining their goals. Usually a small business is established by them due to their passion or spotting an opportunity without time for much preparation. Resources are built over time and adjustments are done until they succeeded. Much like building the plane while in free fall. Too much planning comes from risk averse corporate culture. That is nothing like the fabrics of successful entrepreneurs. This is one of the main answers to what are some problems with traditional business plans. They simply plan too much, are sophisticated and time consuming, and do not take the realities of small businesses into account. Small businesses need a special way of strategic and business planing to succeed. Trying to Fix a Problem Which Does Not Exist If the performance of a small business is good, what is the necessity of strategizing? Imagine small businesses in a city which is famous for its universities. Local and international students create a significant part of the customer base for these businesses. The value proposition of these businesses sits in what they sell (or provide). Their sales channels are direct to students and staff of the universities as well as online sales of relevant services to them. Their customer relationships are simple to maintain. The main recipe for their sustainability in a normal economy is relatively low cost base and their affordability for the students. Traditional strategic planning for such businesses may not be so useful or bring them any additional results. A specific approach is necessary to ensure planning process in small business address real business issues and are not done for the sake of having a plan. Lacking Right Leadership Skills Having the wrong people in leadership positions is a problem for companies of any size. The challenge with small businesses is that the alternatives to those are limited or non-existing. Even if strategy designed for a small business stays unsophisticated and agile and prescribes the right methodologies in dealing with the right problems, lack of leadership traits and skills can result in failure due to unsuccessful execution. The first risk in this regard is not having the right people involved in the strategic planning process itself. Having limited leadership resources can result in the entrepreneur, owner, or general manager designing a plan by themselves. This approach at best results in a written version of their own thoughts. That for sure does not give them anything new. The business should be able to grow beyond limitations of their individual capacity. The second risk is having no accountability or follow through the execution of the plans. Not having the necessary leadership muscles, small businesses may end up having a plan, but no one to execute it. As a result, the accountability sits with the owner, entrepreneurs, or general manager, diluting the whole intention from a strategic plan to mobilize resources for business success. The third risk is about lack of clear objectives. Small businesses can find it difficult to define clear objectives other than what they do at the moment. Strategy is about alternatives and choices. Small businesses may have limited leadership capacity to come up with multiple alternatives and a methodology to make the best choices. As a result, these businesses need a specific way of strategic planning fit for their size and capacity. Failing to Allocate Resources Being strained on resources is not limited to their leadership capacity. Small businesses are usually also in short of various resources in general. Strategy without execution is hallucination. Creating a strategic plan with unrealistic goals or lack of focus and resources is going to only cost money and time from small businesses not giving them any new edge in their competitive landscape. Failing to allocate resources can also results in writing the plan and putting it on the shelf, or partial commitment. Each of these are by themselves enough to fail a strategy. Small businesses need a specific way in creating their strategic plans to address these limitations. Insufficient Market Intelligence Market intelligence is the key trait of successful entrepreneurs. Without following any sophisticated and cumbersome process, they have great eyes and ears and feel the beats of the market. Transitioning from their subconscious based entrepreneurship to more logical and process based strategic planning brings them a challenge as the speed and taste of this new way of working may not match with how they have created their success in the first place. Even the best business strategy is going to be obsolete upon its completion. Why? Because of the market: It's going to change on day one. That is why small businesses need to keep their sense for the market movement sharp next to using more deductive and sophisticated business planning methods. Not understanding the environment or focusing on results, ignoring marketplace reality, facts, and assumptions are among the reasons why strategic planning for small companies fails as the amount of market intelligence brought by these planning processes does usually not add much to or enhance entrepreneurs own sense about the market. Small businesses need a different approach to strategic planning to bring them sufficient market intelligence. Confusion about the way forward Unwillingness or inability to change is not limited to larger enterprises. Success of small businesses until today, can in itself be a reason for why entrepreneurs and business leaders do not succeed in designing and executing successful business strategies. As a result, the outcome of any planning process gets into competition with the fabrics of the current business and its success drivers, hence creating confusion for them. Another reason why small businesses may not succeed in strategic planning is use of wrong types of strategies. There are various types of business strategies such as cost-base business strategy, differentiation strategy, or focus (niche) strategy. Having limited experience and resource for strategic planning can result in confusion about the choice of these strategies for small businesses. There should be a clear understanding of various strategies and a specific process of choosing from among those for smaller businesses. Lack of understanding about own strengths and weaknesses Success for many small businesses is unconscious! They may succeed (or fail) without realizing the detailed logic and reasoning behind why they did. That is why both successes as well as failures for small and especially new businesses come as surprise, both in their good but also gloomy times. Small businesses usually have lack of understanding about their own strengths and weaknesses as well as the external opportunities and threats around them. A proper SWOT analysis can help them create a better understanding. But such analysis are not just about filling a blank sheet of paper as they demand experience in this regards. Specific strategic planning methods for small businesses can save them from not understanding the competition, unrealistic plans, and demotivation from bad strategic planning. Poor Marketing There is no doubt that new businesses need marketing to get themselves known to their potential customers. But the challenge is to convince the more established small businesses on the necessity of great marketing as part of their business strategy. A proper strategic plan, one assumes to be relevant and to promise enhancement or at least protection of the existing business. It is hence natural to assume that such plans do prescribe new ways of approaching the market and the customers through enhanced or modified value proposition, resource provision or customer channels. Poor marketing can prevent such enhancements be visible to the market and customers preventing the realization of envisioned strategic objectives. Successful companies that failed due to poor marketing are many, and small businesses are not an exception. Proper strategic planning for small businesses needs special attention and approach to marketing. Missing the Cost Structure and Revenue Streams If a strategy does not result in additional revenue streams or in improving cost per unit of sales, it is not a strategy, It is a business novel. Inflation is a fact, and increase in the cost of operation is a consequence. Even if a business can in rare occasions survive without growing, the cost of its operation per unit of sales needs to constantly come down, to stay competitive. And as such a reduction in cost per unit of sales can not continue for ever, growing existing revenue streams, or creating new ones become inevitable. That is why, any business strategy should result in increased and additional revenue streams or reduced cost structure. This is even more important for small businesses. They need special approach to their strategic planning to prevent spending resources to build a plan which is not addressing these two areas. Not Revisiting the Plan The world and the markets are in continuous motion. Even in calmer times, there is a continuous change in the market and its dynamics. The change is more significant in times of economic crisis or during periods of significant economic growth. As a result any business plan needs to be dynamic, and any entrepreneur needs to stay flexible. One of the main reasons why strategic planning fails in small businesses is the fact that they can not afford to keep their plans relevant due to shortage in leadership capacity. As a result, their well-thought-through and designed plan becomes less relevant or even irrelevant during its intended period. Small businesses need a special way to keep their strategic planning updated to ensure its relevance. How to Develop Business Strategy for Small Businesses Companies that fail due to poor strategy are many. In fact, there are many more new businesses that fail than the ones that succeed. This ratio is less dramatic for more established businesses. But as your have seen in this article, traditional strategic planning is not a solution. There is no doubt in the importance of a good plan. There is also no question about the importance of strategic planning as such planning is about an organization's process of defining its strategy or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to attain strategic goals. Studying famous failed companies, looking into why companies fail in general, considering the traits, characteristics and the limitations of small businesses, I have designed a model to help small businesses benefit from the logical and deductive business management approach of larger enterprises and the corporate world, without sinking into deep and sophisticated strategic planning studies which do not give them results. The "8A Accelerated Business System" is a model designed to be intuitive, agile and nimble, while giving entrepreneurs and their small businesses the necessary tools to tackle their business challenges by designing relevant and unsophisticated business strategies and plans. This model covers all the eight areas of business life cycle from ideation, design, and creation of a new business or a new business line, product, or service, to design of growth strategies, automation of business processes and tasks, identification of business enhancement opportunities, and even the continuous monitoring and safeguarding of their businesses. The "8A Accelerated Business System" is a solution for small businesses who do want to differentiate themselves from their competitors, by applying more modern approaches in developing and managing their business, while not spending their valuable and limited resources on unnecessary paper exercises. If you are interested in learning more about the "8A Accelerated Business System", do not hesitate to contact me on LinkedIn or on my website. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more From Dr. Shahram! Dr. Shahram Maralani, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Shahram G. Maralani is a Corporate Leader with more than twenty-five years of experience in a wide range of disciplines and across multiple industries and geographies. He is also an Author, a Business Mentor, and a Professional Speaker. Shahram is currently senior vice president and chief digital officer in Nemko Group A/S. In addition, he helps entrepreneurs to establish and develop Online Businesses. He is author of the book “Build an online business in 24 hours”.

Written by: Mindy Schrager, 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 considered all the different ways that color appears in our lives? Paint colors, foods, branding, nature, clothing, crystals, jewelry, personality assessments, and more. With all the ways it appears, consider what it results in. The foods we eat, artwork that decorates our homes, and amazing gardens filled with colorful blooms, among many others. While most of us are consciously aware of the influence of color, there are other subtler ways that color impacts us. This includes how it can support change and transformation. Here are some examples of using color for transformation. What if when you were “having the blues”, you added touches of red to shift your emotions? Red for energy. Red for being grounded. Red for adding passion. How could you add those touches of red? Hold a red crystal. Paint your toenails red. Breathe in the color red. In what ways could you add green if you are craving a sense of spaciousness? Green as a way to bring the outdoors inside and create a breath of fresh air. Green to reflect lushness, abundance, and life force. Green to connect more fully to your heart and your true self. ·Do you have an excess or deficit of something in your life? Look at color complements to create more balance. Feeling confused (yellow) then add the complement of violet to support transformation and nurturing. How about these for easy steps to create a shift: Want to stop doing something – the next time you find yourself tempted to start, imagine a red stop sign. Want to shift into a happier space – see yellow sunflowers or a yellow smiley face dancing in your mind’s eye. Feeling the need for a sense of calm – breathe in the color violet or buy some lavender. When looking at the insights color can provide, consider that every color has a positive and negative aspect – similar to the light and dark shadow. While red reflects passion and energy, it also represents the emotion of anger. The shadow side of green can reflect envy (as in green with envy) or as I recently discovered – impatience. These are just some of the ways that color can be used to create insight and transformation. I have been aware of color starting with the flower garden I planted with my father, the gemstones in the jewelry I admired, and the color of the wallpaper in my childhood bedroom. That awareness grew as I stepped into the world of ballroom dancing, learned new meanings of plants in landscaping my yard, and then dove deep into color meaning through my study of Aura-Soma®. Because of those experiences, I created a program called Self-Care Through Color and I’m offering it again in November 2022. For more details about how to register, attend an information session, or sign up for the waitlist, please check this link. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mindy! Mindy Schrager, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mindy Schrager is an ICF PCC credentialed coach, Systemic Facilitator, Aura-Soma practitioner and founder of Systems of Change, LLC. Mindy’s focus on and passion for transformational work is built on years of experience creating strong, well-balanced teams, combined with a powerful personal discovery journey. Her experience and training have been focused on creating positive change in life and business experiences working with individuals and groups. Mindy loves to shine a light on hidden patterns and the root cause of dysfunction and then help create new pathways to growth.

Written by: Sabrina Sourjah, 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 really hard to admit that you have been living an inauthentic life. But in my case, this is true, and I have finally accepted it as such. Photo by Kyle Sudu on Unsplash As a certified authenticity coach, who wants to get as close as possible to my authentic life and help my clients access their authentic lives, it would only be right for me to admit where I was with no regrets about my past. I used to work in a field that didn’t excite me, although it was the future, and I felt like I was supposed to get excited by it. Although freedom is one of my most important values, I stayed in stringent corporate corridors, following processes and procedures that made no sense to me. I was in a marriage I felt I was supposed to be in forever because we got married amidst many obstructions and societal conventions due to our religious and racial differences. When it came to my friendships, most of them were based on proximity, familiarity, and shared hobbies. Our value systems were very different, and I didn’t point out when I disagreed with them because I was people-pleasing big time. So, I was definitely living an inauthentic life for a long time. Define authenticity Authenticity is one of those buzzwords in today’s world. We throw it around with or without weight and take it for granted that everyone knows what the word means. Let’s start with a good old dictionary to get our bearings. According to Oxford Languages, adjective: authentic of undisputed origin; genuine. (in existentialist philosophy) relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life. In my humble opinion, none of these definitions fully encapsulate the complexity of authenticity in connection to human life. Let me convince you why by exploring the five myths I’ve observed often. 1. “I have never been inauthentic. Why would I ever be?” For most of us, being inauthentic is synonymous with being ingenuine or fake, as the Oxford Languages point out. So, we don’t want to admit that we have been inauthentic at times. We need to break away from this interpretation of an inauthentic life. I believe we have all been inauthentic at times, not with the malicious intent of misleading someone, but because it is our human nature to be inauthentic sometimes When can we be inauthentic? (Source: Author’s Workshop on Authenticity) We are born with very little mindset programming, and we absorb everything from the world starting from childhood. Experts state that ages 2–7 are significant for brain development. When we take in so much from the world, and our caregivers and given that we long for societal belonging, isn’t it natural that we pick up ideas and values that may not resonate with us? My simple definition of authenticity is, Living life in alignment with our values and purpose. So, we can be inauthentic when we are not living in alignment with our values or operating from our highest selves and purpose. If you want to know more about how to find out what your values are, you can check out this article on deepening a dating conversation using values. Let me give you a few examples of when I have been less than authentic. When I have been driven by fear and not my highest self, e.g., I stayed in a 9 to 5 job for a decade because I was scared of the uncertainty of entrepreneurial life. When I was worried about what people would say, e.g., I remained married for much longer because I thought about all the people who had warned me against interracial marriage. As a child, I picked up beliefs that had nothing to do with me, e.g., I recently realized that I was unnecessarily trying to save money because of a poverty mindset I picked up from one of my primary caregivers. Factors that can tempt us to be inauthentic include shame, guilt, emotional triggers, overwhelm, social image, reputation, need for acceptance, loneliness, and discomfort with conflict. 2. “Once I find my authentic self, I will be authentic forever.” Today’s busy life has many distractions: Netflix, sports, alcohol, travel, dating, TikTok, and so on. Therefore, it won’t be hard to lose track of our authentic needs even after we’ve found them. Let me give you a personal example. Even though I feel like I have a fairly good handle on my most authentic needs, I have my off days. Too many than I’d like to admit. Some days, I sit at the desk compulsively trying to get through my to-do list, whereas my authentic life demands a more relaxed pace, de-prioritizing tasks that do not align with my top goals. What helps me get back on track? I use a simple checklist that reminds me of my authentic needs, and I make it a point to check in with this list at least twice or thrice a week. We all have our off days. So, we have to continue to honor our authentic life every day. 3. “Isn’t authenticity the same as vulnerability?” Vulnerability is admitting a mistake or “weakness” to another. This helps us connect to others better, especially if we’re in a leadership or influential position. Vulnerability also mainly applies when we’re dealing with the external world. On the other hand, authenticity can simply be about choosing a career that works best for you. There is no supposed weakness or vulnerability here. This is simply about being true to your own needs, despite what our family and friends may think. Authenticity applies both in how we operate in the external world as well as how we operate internally when no one is looking or monitoring us. Meaning it’s equally important to be authentic to ourselves in addition to being authentic with others. 4. “I can’t be authentic in one area of life and inauthentic in another.” You can be authentic in one area of life and inauthentic in another. It all depends on which area of life you feel more fear or pressure in. For example, my friend would do anything for me, but she won’t hesitate to rightfully call me out on my BS. She’s as authentic as friends come. But in her professional life, she has settled for a corporate role that has the dough rolling in but gives her very little self-fulfillment. This is due to the hard upbringing that has taught her never to be financially dependent on a man. However, when you misalign with your most authentic values in one area of your life, there is a high probability of misalignment in other areas of your life if you don’t watch out. In addition, if one truly values and prioritizes one area of their life over another, it can be much easier to remain authentic in the highly prioritized area. For instance, if the family is your number one priority, you will do everything in your power to iron out disagreements in your family and nurture a loving environment. But your work can suffer and remain a chore because it’s not a high priority for you. 5. “It’s easy to be authentic in theory but not in practice.” Yes, the change into authentic living is not an as easy one. According to my experience, the process for authentic living is as follows: First, you must identify your most authentic self by listening to your highest self and taking various personality assessments. Connecting with your values and purpose can clarify your most authentic needs. Then, you have to create a flexible plan that allows you to get closer to your most authentic life. The plan should include a learning agenda on what you need to learn to become who you want to become and address any limiting monetary beliefs because finances can limit our ease with making big life changes. Authentic Living Model (Source: Author’s Workshop) Finally, you need to implement this plan amid challenges and use the feedback from real life to tweak the plan. It’s crucial to bring an experimental mindset to this step and not forget to have fun along the way. To be able to make progress along this authentic living process, you need two essential ingredients: self-trust and self-worth. These will enable you to face challenges with comfort and perspective. So, this is all to say that changing into authentic living is hard. But after you’ve made the initial change, maintaining your authenticity is much easier because you will see how much less friction you have in your life. You can make decisions that work best for you and easily prioritize projects and people as well. In other words, you will have it no other way. Why authenticity is important We are all on an authentic journey; we are at different stages of this journey. The sooner we accept that, the quicker we can access our most authentic selves, let go of these authenticity myths, and live a life of true alignment. Let your authenticity guide you! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sabrina! Sabrina Sourjah, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sabrina Sourjah is a certified authenticity coach based in Toronto. She began coaching because of her unshakable belief that we all deserve better jobs, better relationships, and better lives. She gets a genuine high every time her clients progress towards their most authentic life by outdoing their former selves. In her past life, she has worked in various corporate and technology roles. She was mostly stressed at work, no matter how well things were going. Now, Mondays are Fridays for her. This is why she’s on a mission to get you to your most authentic life. Because she knows how wonderful life can be on the other side. When she's free, she loves to read, sing karaoke, go on long walks, and watch the sunset.

Written by: Kadena Tate, 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're looking for ways to make your membership program stand out, you're in the right place! In this blog post, we will discuss five ways that you can create a member-centric culture and improve your membership experience. Cultivate a Disruption Mindset Cultivating a disruption mindset is key – members today are looking for more than just discounts and access to content. They want unique experiences and opportunities to connect with other members. For example, here are the seven futurist tools to support you: The Exponential Organizational Model which helps you identify and map out the key areas of your membership program that need to be disrupted for it to stay relevant. Perhaps it is time to overhaul your communication strategy, dues offerings, or event schedule? The Double Diamond Design Process which is a framework for thinking about and approaching design problems in a more human-centered way. This can be applied to the design of your member journey, from awareness to advocacy. Futures Wheel which is a tool that helps you explore future scenarios and identify key areas of change. This can be used to help you anticipate member needs and design membership offerings that meet those needs. Foresight Mapping which allows you to identify weak signals and trends that could impact your membership program in the future. This can help you be proactive in your approach to membership and stay ahead of the curve. For example, in order to pivot during periods of economic downturn, you may need to offer more flexible membership options or services. The STEEP Framework which is a tool for identifying social, technological, economic, environmental, and political trends. This can help you understand the macro-environment in which your membership program operates and identify potential opportunities or threats. Trendspotting which is all about identifying new trends and patterns in data. This can be used to help you identify new opportunities for your membership program, as well as areas that may need some attention. For example, demand for virtual events skyrocketed during the pandemic and as social distancing measures continue, it is likely that this trend will continue. Organizational Transformation Roadmaps which help you understand how different innovations can be integrated into your organization to create a more member-centric culture. Clarify Value Proposition The second step to creating a member-centric culture is understanding why people join your association, membership program, mastermind, or recurring based subscription experience. It's not enough to simply offer discounts or access to content ‒ members today are looking for more unique experiences that offer opportunities to connect with other members. Some questions you can ask yourself to clarify your value proposition include: What needs does my membership program meet? What are the unique benefits that my membership program offers? How does my membership program compare to other similar programs on the market? What makes my membership program different and unique? By taking the time to answer these questions, you will be able to develop a clear and concise value proposition that will help you attract and retain members. Improve Member Experience The third step to creating a member-centric culture is improving your member experience. This can be done by ensuring that your membership program is easy to use and navigate, providing valuable and relevant content, and offering opportunities for members to connect with each other. Some ways you can improve your member experience include: Making it easy for members to find what they are looking for on your website or within your membership portal Offering a variety of interesting and engaging content that meets the needs of your members Creating opportunities for members to connect with each other, such as through forums, social media groups, or in-person events Making it easy for members to provide feedback so that you can continuously improve your offerings Innovate your service delivery model The fourth step to creating a member-centric culture is innovating your service delivery model. This means thinking outside the box to create unique and memorable experiences for your members. Some ways you can innovate your service delivery model include: Offering exclusive access to content or events Creating a VIP experience with special perks and benefits Developing an engaging and interactive membership portal Making it easy for members to connect with each other through social media groups or forums Hosting virtual events or meetups Iterate your way to awesome The fifth and final step to creating a member-centric culture is iterating your way to awesome. This means continuously testing and refining your offerings to ensure that you are providing the best possible experience for your members. Some ways you can iterate your way to awesome include: Conducting surveys or focus groups with members to get feedback on your offerings Testing new features or content on a small scale before rolling them out to all members Implementing changes based on member feedback Continuously monitoring engagement levels and making changes as necessary By following these five steps, you can create a member-centric culture that will help you attract and retain members. By taking the time to understand the needs of your members and delivering an engaging and memorable experience, you will be well on your way to success. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for creating a member-centric culture, these five steps will help you get started. Keep in mind that it is important to continuously test and refine your offerings to ensure that you are providing the best possible experience for your members. By taking the time to understand the needs of your members and delivering an engaging and memorable experience, you will be well on your way to success. What are some other ways you can make your membership program stand out? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kadena! Kadena Tate, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kadena Tate is the author of “Cultivating Courage: The Path to Reclaiming Your Power” and contributing author of the NY Times Bestseller “Business Model You,” published by Wiley Press. In addition to writing books, Kadena also works as a revenue strategist and business model designed for authors, coaches, and speakers who want to create movements, masterminds, and membership programs.

Written by: Rachel Sewell, 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. Since December last year, I’ve been decluttering a lot in my life. First, it started with my workspace, my bedroom, my computer, and eventually, the loft. I decided to clean up my life (so to speak) because I felt so overwhelmed when I looked at the mess surrounding me. Folders were overspilling, any hope of finding things that I needed was long gone and I couldn’t focus on work. Over time, I started to ask myself the question; do I need any of these items that I’m holding onto? Are they adding anything to my life or dragging it down? I soon realized that there was a lot I was keeping hold of because my brain kept telling me that I needed it. But in reality, I didn’t such as university lecture notes that I had decided to keep for years just in case I needed to read them again. When in fact, I hadn’t looked at them once since I graduated (nearly 7 years ago now). Toys I had played with as a child and again hadn’t touched since growing up. My softball kit, even though I knew I wasn’t going back to play after my injuries in 2019 because deep down I was scared of another injury. Interestingly, as I was sorting through these items, I noticed that they had all served a purpose in my life at some point. The toys kept me entertained and helped me to unleash my creativity when I was younger. My university notes helped me to learn what I needed for my degree. Playing softball helped me to stay fit but most importantly it pushed me outside my comfort zone. At the time I had decided to play softball I was entering a new stage in my life; saying goodbye to studying in academia and hello to full-time work. Along with leaving university and starting my first full-time job I also bought my first car (lovingly called Lola). Playing softball allowed me to get comfortable with driving to new places (especially using the motorway) and meeting new people. And to be honest this was the main reason for joining softball as a lot of my friends had moved away after graduation and I didn’t have many friends to meet up with nearby. I’ve noticed these same patterns play out with my clients and their habits. Habits that they’ve developed in the past to cope with life but are not helping them now. Instead, they are preventing them from reaching their health goals. For instance, someone who eats cake and sweets when feeling stressed even though they want to lose weight. But this was their coping mechanism as a child when they were told off/punished. It provided safety and comfort to them when they needed it. Or someone was working a job that required them to work non-stop and stay up late to meet tight deadlines. But they’ve since found a less demanding job that allows them to finish at 5 pm. Yet they still stay up late out of habit even though it’s impacting their sleep. If you, like my clients, have habits that could do with some decluttering, try out the following steps: 1Make a list of all your habits in one area of your life (this can be health or another area, e.g., finances, etc.) For each habit that you have listed, ask yourself: ‘is this habit moving me closer to my goal or further away?’ Pick 1-2 habits that you have identified as moving you away from your goal and decide whether to stop the habit or change it so that it moves you toward your goal. It’s only when we bring awareness and take the time to question our habits that we can see their impact on our life. Because once we know their impact, we can then choose whether to keep them or choose new ones that will lead us to where we want to be. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Rachel! Rachel Sewell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rachel Sewell is a Health Coach accredited by the International and UK Health Coaches Association. She helps women approaching 50 improve their health so that they can spend less time at the doctors and more time making unforgettable memories with those they love. Rachel knows all too well some of the difficulties that women face when they age; loss of mobility and identity, which she herself experienced from her sporting injuries in 2019. Since overcoming these hurdles, Rachel is on a mission to empower other women that they can do the same. Most importantly that they can improve their health at any age and turning 50 isn’t a burden but an amazing opportunity to rediscover themselves.

Written by: Rebecca Jones , 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. Pet-assisted therapy – how animals help patients combat mental illness. Patients at the Priory’s Hospitals are benefiting from the company of a 'therapy dog' to help with their treatment for stress, anxiety, and depression. Lara, a rescue dog from Battersea Dogs Home, is introduced into some therapy sessions by her owner Daniel Fryer, a senior qualified psychotherapist. Where appropriate and where patients are keen, they are able to interact with the dog, and some choose to pat and stroke, or groom and hug, Lara as they participate in therapy. This helps provide comfort in moments of distress, and helps to rebuild self-esteem. Daniel said: "Lara works as a great ice breaker in one-to-one and group therapy sessions. She lifts the spirits of patients on ward visits. Petting or stroking a dog does wonder for your blood pressure and stress levels." Daniel believes the reason that Lara is such a success with his patients is because "they don't feel judged by a dog, who is able to display unconditional acceptance, and they feel more confident to confront their issues". How can pet-assisted therapy help patients? Pet-assisted activities encourage patients to have conversations with their therapist, as well as with their fellow patients. This can be helpful in promoting social interaction and breaking down barriers, emotionally and in a social context. Animals can trigger the release of endorphins, a feel-good neurotransmitter which gives a calming effect and boosts the level of serotonin, a chemical linked with happiness and well-being. By directing one's attention toward another living thing, a patient's focus is drawn away from his or her own difficulties and, for a while, they can distance themselves from their distress and then begin talking about their own issues and consider ways forward. In this way, pet-assisted therapy enables a patient to work with a professional towards attaining clinical goals. Universities worldwide are turning to therapy dogs to relieve their students' pre-exam nerves and first-term homesickness. And studies have found that just the presence of a dog can help lower levels of stress and anxiety. A recent Dogs Trust survey found that 95% of dog owners in Britain believe that interacting with their dogs made them happier, with 89% saying they talk to their dogs when no one else is around1. Some experts say the presence of an animal in a hospital environment helps patients feel more at home. Living Well with Dementia: Pet Therapy It is scientifically proven that interaction with animals can bring manifold benefits for those living with dementia. While it might feel good to be giving a pet a good scratch behind the ear, it’s also doing physical good. Endorphin levels, the ‘feel-good’ hormones your brain releases, rise; the release of serotonin, nicknamed the ‘happy chemical’, also increases, lessening depression and anxiety; and cortisol, a hormone correlated with stress, and blood pressure both decrease. Further, animal therapy brings significant psychological advantages for those with dementia symptoms: emotional connection, flowing of affection, relief of boredom, renewal of energy – the list goes on and on. It comes down to a very simple truth: pets just make us feel happier. Pet Therapy for People Living with Dementia Ownership therapy People in the early stages of dementia – those still living at home with a family member – can benefit as they always have from the love of the family pet. The responsibility (which should be overseen by a caregiver, of course) of taking care of the animal – walking, feeding, grooming and so on – offsets the sense of helplessness too often found in people with dementia symptoms. Families can go a step further when it comes to ownership therapy: specially trained dementia assistance dogs, in addition to their value simply as loveable pets, can actually help with the tasks of caring for your loved ones with dementia. They can wake Mum and remind her when it’s time to eat or take medications. If Dad likes to go for a walk in the neighbourhood but it’s possible he’ll lose his bearings, at the simple command ‘Home’, the therapy dog will bring him back safely. Visitation therapy But of course, there comes a time when it is no longer safe for a person living with dementia symptoms to remain at home. When private pet ownership is no longer possible and someone with dementia has moved into a care home, they can still reap the benefits of animal companions through visitation therapy. As carers, we understand the benefits of visitation therapy for our residents. You can bring Mollie the dog to visit Dad in his care home… it’s hard to know who will appreciate this more! Our care homes have hosted all kinds of animals in the past, before the COVID-19 lockdown, including dogs, rabbits, owls and reptiles. Riverdale Care Home, for example, previously brought in Pets as Therapy (PAT) dogs on a regular basis. Animal therapy, also called pet therapy or animal assisted therapy, refers to various services using animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions. Animals may be able to provide comfort, alert others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a person’s condition when they are in need. It is a type of complementary or alternative therapy. It should enhance but not replace other treatments. On the whole, the goal of animal assisted therapy is to alleviate or help people cope with some symptoms of various conditions where possible. The exact type of animal therapy can vary greatly depending on what condition the person has, the type of animal, and what kind of therapy they provide. Animal therapy builds on a concept called the human-animal bond, which describes people’s desire to interact with and relate to animals. For many people, by interacting with a friendly animal, they can form a bond with them. This bond can produce a calming state in the person. This bond itself may help the person in several ways, such as: reducing boredom increasing movement and activity through walks and play providing companionship and decreasing loneliness increasing social interactions improving mood and general well-being The positive interactions with an animal may lead to benefits in the mind and body, such as reduced stress and an overall more balanced mental and emotional state. Animal therapy partially uses this bond in a directed way to achieve the goals of the therapy. How does it work? Animal therapy can have several goals, and these will determine how it works. The type of therapy and target for this therapy may change depending on the condition and the type of aid that a person needs. Some examples include: providing comfort and reducing levels of pain improving movement or motor skills developing social or behavioural skills increasing motivation toward activities such as exercise or interacting with others The process of animal therapy itself typically involves the animal’s handler, who is often the owner, bringing the animal to each session. The handler will work under a doctor’s guidance to help the person achieve the goals of their therapy. A number of organisations train handlers and connect them to healthcare providers. Many handlers work as volunteers. Before getting approval for therapy use, both the animal and the handler will have to go through various certifications with these groups and organizations. The handler must generally pass an instructional course on how to interact with people and perform the types of therapies that they may provide. The animal also has to go through certain checks. These will include checking immunization records and performing physical exams to ensure that the animal is generally healthy and free of disease. They will also have to undergo temperament testing to make sure that they behave properly with both the handler and other people. Additionally, the pair will go through obedience training. This rigorous testing and certification ensures the safety and professionalism of everyone involved and helps give the person access to the best therapy sessions possible. It is important to note that a therapy dog is not the same as a service dog and does not have all of the same rights. For example, a therapy dog cannot accompany a handler into a business establishment. The Benefits of Pet Therapy – a different way of looking at it! How does one put feelings into words? Describe a frame of mind, especially as it is changing? Tell someone else how and why pet therapy makes you feel …better? We’ll try to list and explain the benefits of pet therapy – with single words rather than get caught up in the tangle of sentences and clauses. Hopefully, these words capture the magic that can happen. Better…Lighter. Accepted just because you exist. Calmer than a few minutes ago, happier than before the dog arrived. The presence of a dog, just the very presence can give you the Encouragement to work harder Motivation to get up and move A reason to talk to someone Hope that things will get better There is no judgment coming from that dog No expectations except maybe for a scratch and a treat. Because that dog needs you for who you are, you can be just that – who you are. When the dog is with you, you can read more confidently Walk farther Tell him your secrets – because he promises not to tell anyone, ever. The good oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin increase in your body while the bad cortisol decreases – so you feel better even without the emotional aspects of being with the pet. You may get distracted by the antics of the pet, make contact with a warm, living breathing being with lots of textures to reach out and touch, brush, cuddle. You might just end up playing a little and smiling a lot. And that dog becomes your companion, your friend, and your reason to smile. Pet therapy touches humans psychologically, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These pets provide healing for any and every part of you that is hurting. What is pet therapy? Pet therapy is a guided interaction between a person and a trained animal. It also involves the animal’s handler. The purpose of pet therapy is to help someone recover from or cope with a health problem or mental disorder. Dogs and cats are most commonly used in pet therapy. However, fish, guinea pigs, horses, and other animals that meet screening criteria can also be used. The type of animal chosen depends on the therapeutic goals of a person’s treatment plan. Pet therapy is also referred to as animal-assisted therapy (AAT). AAT is sometimes confused with animal-assisted activities (AAA). AAT is a formal, structured set of sessions that helps people reach specific goals in their treatment. AAA involves more casual meetings in which an animal and its handler interact with one or more people for comfort or recreation. What are the benefits of pet therapy? Pet therapy builds on the pre-existing human-animal bond. Interacting with a friendly pet can help many physical and mental issues. It can help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health. It can also release endorphins that produce a calming effect. This can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve your overall psychological state. Pet therapy can be used in many different ways. Defined objectives are an important part of therapy, and your progress will be recorded and tracked at structured sessions. The goals of a pet therapy program can include: improving motor skills and joint movement improving assisted or independent movement increasing self-esteem increasing verbal communication developing social skills increasing willingness to join in activities improving interactions with others motivating willingness to exercise Other benefits of pet therapy include: making you happier, lessening depression, and improving your outlook on life decreasing loneliness and isolation by giving you a companion reducing boredom reducing anxiety because of its calming effects helping children learn empathic and nurturing skills improving the relationship between you and your healthcare provider Who should consider pet therapy? Pet therapy can be useful for: people undergoing chemotherapy residents in long-term care facilities people hospitalized with chronic heart failure veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder children having physical or dental procedures stroke victims and people undergoing physical therapy to regain motor skills people with mental health disorders During a medical procedure, people may have less anxiety if a pet is present. In rehabilitation, people may be more motivated to recover and practice their therapy when working with a pet. People who have sensory disabilities can sometimes communicate more easily with an animal. This encourages more interaction with healthcare providers and other people. What are the risks of pet therapy? Some of the biggest risks of pet therapy involve safety and sanitation. People who are allergic to animal dander may have reactions during pet therapy. Animals in pet therapy programs are typically screened for behaviour and health. An animal’s owner and handler must also undergo training and an evaluation to help ensure a positive experience. While uncommon, human injury can occur when unsuitable animals are used. Animals may also suffer injury or abuse when handled inappropriately. In some cases, people may become possessive of the animals helping them and be reluctant to give them up after a session. This can result in low self-esteem and depression. How is pet therapy administered? Your doctor or therapist managing your treatment will administer pet therapy. A trained handler, often the pet’s owner, will take the animal to every meeting and work under your doctor or therapist’s direction to help you reach your goals. In most cases, the handlers work as volunteers. Discussion of proper pet handling is needed to ensure the safety of both the person receiving treatment and the pet. The first step in pet therapy is the selection of a suitable animal. Many groups and organizations train and connect volunteer owners and pets with healthcare providers. Before an animal and its handler can participate in pet therapy, the team has to fulfil certain requirements. This process typically includes: a physical examination of the animal to confirm that it’s immunized and free of diseases an obedience training course to ensure proper animal control an instructional course to teach the trainer about interaction with other people an evaluation of the animal’s temperament and behaviour with the handler a certification from the sponsoring organization Once a team of an animal and a handler is approved, animals are assigned for therapy based on a specific person’s needs. The animal’s type, breed, size, age, and natural behaviour will determine where it will be most helpful. The success of pet therapy depends on establishing realistic goals and expectations and meeting those goals. You and your doctor or therapist will establish these goals at the beginning of your treatment. You’ll also discuss how to reach those goals and how long it will take. Your doctor or therapist will monitor your progress and help you stay on track to meet your goals. If your progress is slower or faster than expected, they may alter your treatment plan. Pet therapy can help both children and adults with a variety of physical and mental issues. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase positivity and socialization. Talk to your doctor about more information on pet therapy and whether it’s suitable for you. Pets As Therapy (PAT) is a national charity that trains, qualifies, and registers pets to work as therapy animals. This enhances the health and wellbeing of thousands of people in communities across the UK. PAT strives to ensure that everyone, no matter their circumstances, has access to the companionship of an animal. Members and their temperament-assessed pets visit establishments such as care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools and prisons, and bring smiles to many faces. People of all ages get the chance to chat to someone — and stroke and cuddle a friendly dog or cat. Find out more here: www.paris-st-cloud.com info@paris-st-cloud.com rebecca@theempirestateofmind.com rebecca@harleystreettherapyclinic.com rebecca@fifthavenuetherapyclinic.com rebecca@longcovidtherapyinstitute.com You can email me at info@paris-st-cloud.com or rebecca@harleystreettherapyclinic.com for more info. You can also follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Read more from Rebecca! Rebecca Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rebecca Jones (M.A. DipPCH) is a Clinical Hypnotherapist & Consultant (GHR, GHSC) (GQHP, MAC) and CEO/Founder of 'Paris St. Cloud' & 'The Empire State of Mind' Initially trained by Dr. Richard Bandler and Paul McKenna, & now a much trusted & highly valued part of their team, Rebecca is a highly sought-after expert in her field. Rebecca is an inspirational therapist and consultant with her thriving practice in Harley Street London and a successful clinic on Deansgate in Manchester; Rebecca is an inspirational therapist & consultant. An honoree of both the Global 500 Award, and also the CREA Global Awards, Rebecca received both these prestigious awards in recognition of her innovative ideas, resourcefulness, and her achievements and accomplishments in the areas of mental health and therapy work. Other award winners included the incredible global celebrity, Oprah Winfrey. Rebecca works globally with clients across the world. Also, with a clinic on Fifth Avenue, NYC, USA, Rebecca works with International clients F2F and online virtually worldwide. ments and Government Officials, United Nations, British Council, OECD, Diplomats, Silicon Valley, and more. Her latest book 'Source Your Inner Jet Pack: Rapid Transformations for Life's Jetsetters' is published, is out now, and is available here! Rebecca has also been featured on the Brainz Podcast, being interviewed about her business, her therapy and hypnotherapy work, her clinic, and her consultancy practice. The Podcast, titled " How to Focus and Protect Your Mind in 2022: Exclusive Interview with Rebecca Jones " can be found on iTunes, Apple, and Spotify. Rebecca also featured on the front cover of Brainz Magazine, and also in an exclusive interview in the magazine where she describes her work with clients around the world, as well as her latest book which people can use to help themselves in the comfort of their own home. During the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, Rebecca has donated her services freely to all doctors, nurses, and medical staff working in hospitals and ICU departments in hospitals worldwide. Moreover, she has also been conducting her clinical research study and clinical trials to treat patients suffering from Long COVID. There is no other such study taking place in the world. It is unique and one of a kind. It is the first of its kind globally and is at the forefront of therapy and innovation, described as a flagship and ground-breaking research study. This has been followed by her uniquely devised therapeutic techniques and treatment plans for patients and clients and a series of workshops, seminars, and training programs for therapists, medical practitioners, doctors, and hypnotherapist. Rebecca is now the CEO and Founder of the 'Long COVID Therapy Institute.' During the pandemic and Lockdown, Rebecca has also provided additional Free Online services, including Free Coaching courses for 'Resilience and Wellbeing in Lockdown' and free services for NHS doctors and nurses in the UK. Rebecca has also been interviewed for the media and radio about her business and her work. As well as working with her private clients in the clinic, Rebecca also provides Corporate seminars, events, & training, as well as well-being sessions and Professional Development courses (CPD) for Businesses, Schools, Corporate, & other Groups. Rebecca is also a professional trainer, training, qualifying, and certifying future Coaches, Mentors, Therapists, and Hypnotherapists. Rebecca is a Guest speaker for public engagements, business events, charity dinners, and fundraisers, both in the UK and overseas. Rebecca's unique clinical hypnotherapy and consultancy methods enable individuals, private and corporate clients alike, to build better lives, redesign their futures, and create personal freedom today!

Written by: Craig Stanland , 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 we age, we may think we've missed our chance to reinvent. That couldn't be further from the truth. "It's never too late to be what you might have been." – George Eliot You can only pursue your passions and dreams in your twenties. This a myth that pops up in my work quite a bit. The idea that, "You're too old." "You missed your chance." "You only know how to be a (insert profession here). "You don't know how you could possibly learn anything new." This myth is directly tied to another myth of reinvention: You have to give up everything you fought so hard to build.It also misses that your current skills are more transferable than you realize. If you think you're too old to start something new, then this is for you: Toni Morrison published her first novel, The Bluest Eye, at age 40 as a single mom. Dorothy Allison was 42 when Bastard Out of Carolina came out. Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn at age 49. Chef, Julia Child, didn't learn how to cook until her 40s and didn't have her television show until her 50s. Frank McCourt didn't publish his first book, Angela's Ashes ( he won the Pulitzer Prize for this book) until he was 66. Alan Rickman, who played Snape in the Harry Potter films, got his first film role at 46. Singer, Susan Boyle, was 46 when she got discovered on Britain's Got Talent. George Eliot published her first novel at 40. Anna Mary Robertson Moses (Grandma Moses) started painting when she was 75 and became a famous painter. Filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock, made some of his best work between his 54th and 61st birthdays. Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe at 58. Cezanne's works in his mid-60s are valued 15 times higher than those he created as a young man. At 74, Norman Maclean published his first and only novel, the 1976 best-selling book, A River Runs Through It . Laura Ingalls Wilder became a columnist in her 40s. But did not publish her first novel in the Little House series of children's books until her 60s. Sculptor, Louise Bourgeois, reached her greatest artistic success in her 70s and 80s. She died at 98, having finished another one of the sculptures the week before. Painter, Carmen Herrera, sold her first artwork in 2004 when she was 89 years old, after six decades of private painting. I published my memoir, "Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison," when I was 47. Time will pass with or without you, and you can choose how you invest it. Let the time slip by, and you'll taste the bitterness of regret, wondering, "what if..." Invest the time wisely pursuing something you've always desired, and you'll say, "I'm grateful I..." Massive difference in the richness and depth of your life. Let's talk if you're ready to invest in 1:1 support so you can write your extraordinary life story. Join me for your Free Reinvention Clarity Call . My best-selling book, "Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison," is available on Amazon. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Craig! Craig Stanland, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Craig Stanland is a Reinvention Architect & Mindset Coach, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, and Best-Selling Author. In 2012, Craig Stanland made a choice that would cost him everything. After exploiting the warranty policy of one of the largest tech companies in the world for almost a year, the FBI finally knocked on his door. He was arrested and sentenced to 2 years of Federal Prison, followed by 3 years of Supervised Release, and ordered to pay $834,307 in restitution. He lost his wife, his home, his cars, his career, and even his identity. He wanted nothing more than to die. A well-timed prison visit from his best friend of over thirty years turned his life around. Craig rebuilt and reinvented his life from rock bottom to a life of meaning and fulfillment. As a Reinvention Architect, Craig leverages his experiences and personal reinvention to work 1:1 with clients so they can re-architect their lives with freedom, passion, purpose, fulfillment, and meaning.Craig's mission is to help people cultivate the courage to pursue their calling so they can live meaningful lives. His book, "Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison" is available on Amazon.

Paula Bratcher Ratliff is the President of Women Impact Tech, where she leads the strategic direction and daily operations of an amazing organization. Their mission is to create equity in the workforce for women in tech by building a network of women who support one another and by propelling companies to promote equality, equity and inclusion in their organizations. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Paula. I’ve spent the past 20 years architecting and leading teams that provide workforce solutions for staffing, RPO, MSP and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies in North America and Globally. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have led corporate supplier diversity, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout my career. Women Impact Tech has allowed me to bridge my industry expertise and passion for diversity and inclusion into one leadership role. I’m also a wife and mother of two amazing kids, Slone and Liam, ages 4 and 5! They sure keep me on my toes! We also have two sweet mini goldendoodles named Scout and Scarlett! I love to live life to the fullest, embracing every moment with my family. We love to travel and try to visit one new National Park each year. We are all obsessed with Disney World and most things Disney, for Christmas this year will be going on our first Disney Cruise and couldn’t be more excited! What is your business name and how do you help your clients? Our business name is Women Impact Tech and we have two distinct clients in the marketplace. First are the many women across the US that we support through networking, elevating them with thought leadership and facilitating career development and placement opportunities. Second is the organizations that we work with to offer knowledge and insights and provide them access to communities of women in tech with 2 –7 years’ experience. We also offer workforce consulting and support with DE&I initiatives specific to elevating women within their tech divisions. We have several ways in which our audiences can engage with us including in-person or virtual events, our membership platform, job board, or specifically for job placement. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? We target both organizations who want to evolve their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as well as women tech professionals who want to thrive in their careers. What are your current goals for your business? For most companies, “on paper,” they have a solid DEI strategy. Unfortunately, the strategy doesn’t include the instructions, training, or tools to allow for management to execute that strategy. So many times, we see companies fall flat with the execution of their diversity programs. On the flip side, professionals are feeling the impact of organizations not equipped to allow for underrepresented groups to thrive in their careers. Our goal is to continue to reach more organizations that are strategically trying to improve their ratio of women in their tech teams, as well as create a culture where women can not only succeed, but also thrive in their organization. We are also very focused on growing the number of markets we service across the US with our live, in-person events. For 2023, we have scheduled 7 Accelerate Conferences in: San Francisco (March 21st and 22nd), Chicago (April 27th), Seattle (May 24th), Denver (July 11th), Boston (August 21st and 22nd), Atlanta (October 3rd), and NYC (November 2nd and 3rd). Lastly, one of our goals this year is to increase our memberships so that our individuals and companies don’t simply rely on our support at a onetime event through the year, but they can count on us to be there year-round with insights, virtual events and support through individual or corporate memberships. Think of the largest Business Resource Group for Women in Tech across a multitude of industries and brand, supporting one another! One woman can make a difference, but together we can rock the world. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? I’ve spent most of my career working with large, global organizations on their workforce strategies. This gave me a front-row seat to understanding where the gaps arise in retaining professionals, and particularly those professionals from traditionally underrepresented groups. As for Women Impact Tech, we are continuing to evolve our tools and offerings to further support organizations and professionals. We’re currently building our brand, evolving our membership offerings, and expanding our national reach so that we can be a valuable partner to even more organizations and professionals. As for me personally, gender equity, seeing women excel, and seeing women uplifting other women is what gives me the most joy in my job, and it creates an opportunity to build something that I can hang my hat on as a career with a legacy of giving back and supporting others. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? My children. I don’t want my daughter to fight the same gender stereotypes and same pay equity issues that my mother and I both faced in our careers. It's time to break that glass ceiling once and for all and create an expectation that women can be as good at any role in the workforce and that they should be paid as well – or better – than their male counterparts if they are more productive and successful at their job! My son will be the very best female advocate and ally! He is being raised by two strong women and has an independent, strong-willed sister! I hope that we are raising boys in our society to highly respect and value the women in their lives. What is your work inspired by? I’m inspired by the small tribe of women who supported me along my career journey. I was fortunate to work with strong women in my industry that had the mentality that when women support each other, incredible things happen. So, having the opportunity to lift women up every day through the leadership in my organization, as well as the purposeful work we do to lift and support women in tech across the US– to exceed their own expectations and set the goals higher– is truly a joy for me. I am also incredibly inspired by the messages we receive about how we changed people's lives by giving them a new opportunity in a new company that truly embraced them, or how a chance meeting at one of our conferences gave them the mentor that they had always dreamed of having to support their career. Those messages are extremely inspirational.