Written by: Leon El-Alamin, 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. Review of 2022 Programs and Recognitions. The MADE Institute provides services to individuals returning to Flint, Michigan following incarceration. Flint is the birthplace of General Motors and was the location of the water crisis in 2016 which has dramatically impacted the people who live here. As citizens return to the community, they arrive with “the clothes on their backs” and face a myriad of challenges. MADE assesses each individual and creates a comprehensive case management plan that addresses their unique challenges and circumstances. Number of Program Participants Since our inception we have provided job training, transitional housing, access to health programs and a myriad of other support services. In 2022, we ushered in new growth and beginnings as we started to return to more of our pre-pandemic programming. We are proud of the work the MADE Institute was able to do over the last year. Since 2016, our programs have provided training and services to 1,000 individuals. Programs include our EPIK Life Skills Program, Google Certification and more. Over 75% of the 2021 EPIK Life Skills Program participants have demonstrated skills in resume writing, job searching, networking, and interviewing. One new program that was launched last year was a health and wellness education program with Michigan State University. Program participants participated in weekly classes including hands-on cooking classes and health education sessions. In addition, The MADE Institute had our first cohort complete an energy auditing & weatherization training. The program ran throughout November and provided training opportunities to help our participants secure jobs helping set them on a better path for their future. In addition, we launched a partnership with the City of Flint and Genesee County to continue to work on blight and the rehabilitation of homes in the area. We have been working to clean up the neighborhoods near our transitional homes by rehabbing abandoned homes and taking care of lots which have become overgrown and filled with waste. 2022 Accomplishments and Awards Other highlights for the 2022 year include having our director Leon El-Alamin receive several awards. First, he was honored by the Michigan Founder Fund with the Community Trailblazer Award. He also received the Changemaker of the Year award from the National Clean Water Collective. We were also honored to have him participate in the 2022 Accelerator Session for REDF in San Francisco. He had a chance to participate in the accelerator employment social enterprise program. The cohort was among the 126 leaders from 34 states that the REDF Accelerator has engaged since launching in 2016. In the coming months, Leon El-Alamin and our program manager, Marsha Thrower, will start a fellowship program with the Enterprise Ventures of Color. We also expanded our marketing through our partnership with VREEL and with Brianz Magazine. VREEL is a digital networking platform that transforms business cards into a digital format. Leon will have monthly features in Brianz Magazine regarding MADE's programs. Overall, 2022 was a year of dramatic growth and increased outreach for The MADE Institute. We are excited to see all the new doors that open in 2023. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Leon! Leon El-Alamin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Leon El-Alamin is the founder and Executive Director of the M.A.D.E. Institute, that stands for Money, Attitude, Direction and Education. Growing up on the North Side of Flint, Leon was a good kid who took refuge at his grandmother’s house to escape the challenges he faced at home and out on the streets. After graduating from high school, the allure of earning fast money made Leon start selling cocaine. A few years later, a shootout over a drug turf war landed him in the hospital where he spent a month in a coma. The incident led to his eventual arrest and imprisonment on drug and weapons charges. At the age of 30, Leon was released from prison after serving part of his sentence then founded MADE.

Written by: James McWilliams, 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. Psychotherapy and counselling are increasingly seen as invaluable services to maintain our everyday mental health and long-term well-being. The support of a counsellor or psychotherapist can have a huge impact both personally and professionally. However, searching for an appropriate therapist can be a minefield. Here are 5 top tips for finding the right psychotherapist or counsellor for you. 1. Before Starting the Search, Consider Key Issues & Your Goals Think about the key issues you would like to explore and what you would like to achieve (i.e., goals and objectives) by the end of the experience. For instance, if you wish to explore a relationship difficulty, your goal may be to find ways to improve your communication style and alleviate anxiety. This can help to focus your search on practitioners with the relevant skill set or expertise. Note, most practitioners will use the introductory or initial session to ask relevant questions about the issues/themes you would like to focus on and briefly discuss important aspects of your life. 2. Decide on In-Person vs. Online (or a combination!) Since the pandemic, an increasing number of practitioners now offer an opportunity to have either in-person (face-to-face) therapy, online via a video conferencing platform such as Zoom, or a hybrid combination of the two. If you prefer to have therapy online, location will not be an issue. This opens up the potential to work with a practitioner anywhere in the world! Both in-person and online therapy have their pros and cons. Some clients find in-person more personable and relatable. Others may find online more convenient, less intimidating and equally effective. Think about what is going to be more beneficial for you in the longer term. Ultimately, the therapist needs to be accessible to motivate you to commit to the experience. Like going to the gym, if it is too far away you may be less likely to make the journey there. 3. Decide Your Budget A more expensive therapist does not necessarily mean a more effective one! A counsellor or psychotherapist in private practice can charge anywhere between 50-120 (GBP) per session. Sessions are typically 50-60mins in duration and are usually weekly. Some practitioners may offer a fortnightly frequency depending on their availability and the types of issues to be explored. Be prepared. Depending on your needs and how much you are willing to explore, therapy may be a long-term endeavour, so how much you are comfortable paying will need to be considered from the outset. It is not unusual to want quick fixes to issues. Be patient. Lifelong issues are unlikely to be healed within a few weeks or months. 4. Consider Specialist Expertise/Experience Specialist expertise may be relevant if there is a specific area you are wanting to explore. For example, if you are wanting to explore issues around sexuality or gender, you may want to work with someone who has experience working with people in the LGBTQ+ community. For a comprehensive list of the types of therapies available, click here. However, the key is trust and the dynamic you forge with the counsellor or psychotherapist. Feeling comfortable, being honest, and willing to share aspects of your life with a trained practitioner is crucial to the effectiveness of the experience. 5. Picture & Profile In my opinion, finding a therapist is a lot like house-hunting. Go with your gut instinct when looking at someone's picture and reading their profile. Do they look like someone you feel you could trust or could relate to you? Ask for a free telephone consultation to get a feel for what they are like. I offer all my prospective clients a free 15-minute call. Then, if you agree to have an initial session use this opportunity to gauge how much you feel at ease with them. Trust your intuition! Importantly, make sure the therapist is licensed or registered with a professional body to ensure they adhere to the highest ethical standards in their practice. For example, the BACP and UKCP are two of the largest, recognised professional bodies in the UK. For further guidance, feel free to contact me at McWilliams Therapy. Alternatively, check out the following directory links for therapists based in the UK: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/ Well Doing: https://welldoing.org/ Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/counselling BACP Directory: https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from James! James McWilliams, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine James McWilliams (PgDip MBACP) is a psychotherapeutic counsellor in private practice; seeing clients in-person in central London and online. A registered member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy, James is a qualified Psychosynthesis practitioner. Prior to establishing his private practice, McWilliams Therapy, James has 15 years of corporate experience in the broadcast & media industry including six years at The Walt Disney Company. James is also a passionate member and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community; having volunteered for Switchboard, a London-based helpline service, and Terrence Higgins Trust’s Counselling Service.

Written by: Sasha and Daniel, 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. On the surface, it doesn't seem that way. Women are highly capable and do not need strong men to survive. But do they thrive without a strong man in their lives? Here we discuss what it is to be a strong man, why women need them and how strong men are sometimes confused as weak and toxic men. The many waves of the feminist movement have helped level the playing field, and rightly so, for men and women. However, whether it's equal, fair and balanced is a topic for another conversation. Women are intelligent, strong, and capable of forging their careers and earning their own money; women no longer need men to survive financially. They can stand on their own two feet and do it successfully. Women have become achieved leaders and are thriving in previously male-dominated fields. More women than ever are choosing to become mothers without having a male partner. Thanks to the scientific discovery of IVF, men are not needed, in the traditional sense, for reproduction anymore. Unfortunately, there is a downside. Women have had to become more masculine to succeed in this male-dominated world. Women shut down their emotions, intuition and instincts to operate like men. Women react to messaging suggesting the only way to succeed is to hustle, push and use force to achieve. With women becoming stronger and more masculine many men, as a result, have become emasculated and passive in their relationships, leading to the rise of the sensitive new-age guy who is more feminine, gentler and more passive-aggressive than men have been previously. As polarity and imbalances of the feminine and masculine in the world occur, it naturally affects all aspects of life. Do men know their place in the world? A man can't know how he fits in this world if he is uncertain of his role as a man. Men need to know they are valid, have worth, are appreciated, and contribute to the world. What is required to be a man for a woman when he is confused with the mixed societal messages? For example, women are taught to be independent and stand on their own two feet, so how does a man know how to be there for her emotionally? To lead and be decisive in a relationship, a man can be labelled as controlling. Yet the truth, many women are yearning for men to step up and take the lead so she doesn't always have to. When a strong man is there for a woman, she helps him reveal his potential and be solid and certain in who he is. Adored, appreciated and desired, she becomes the air under his wings. She builds him up to be even stronger and contributes to his and society's betterment. What is a strong man? He is devoted, centred, and present with grounded energy. He provides safety, protection, and consistency. Mission-driven, he has a clear purpose, intention and direction. He is decisive and confident and takes the lead. A strong man leads with openness, integrity, compassion and concern for others. He is courageous, fierce, and brave and faces his fears. Rawness, passion and creativity give him great depth. He holds love in his heart and is open with his feelings, leading to deeper intimacy and connection. He is thoughtful and caring and embraces vulnerability. His grounded energy and certainty within himself create a safe emotional space for the woman. A woman doesn't have to carry a strong man's emotions, and he allows freedom for hers. Why do women reject strong men? Some women will push against strong men and their existence because of their wounding by weak men during childhood experiences or while growing up. Feeling unsafe and unsupported by a weak male figure, many women have not had the experience of a genuinely strong man. Somewhere along the way, masculine strength has been labelled as toxicity. When a woman rejects her femininity and lives more in her masculinity, she is unable to allow in a strong man and thus rejects him instead. Why do women need strong men? A strong man, in his groundedness and certainty, offers emotional, physical and spiritual safety to a woman. A woman needs to feel safe emotionally to thrive as her true self. Feeling desired with deep intimacy and polarity between them restores the natural flow of the universe. A woman can breathe again when she doesn't need to be everything to everyone else because a strong man will allow her to shine. We learned from Joseph Campbell that she wouldn't need to reduce her effulgence to match a man less evolved than herself. What does it mean for a woman to have a strong man in her life? A strong man allows a woman to relax into herself and her femininity. He is her emotional safety and comfort, and he sees her; he listens, respects and adores her. She feels closeness, opens her heart fully and allows her intuition and instincts to thrive. She becomes his greatest confidant and wise sage, valued, needed and appreciated for her brilliance. She drops her masculine shield, which allows her to stop overdoing and being everything to everyone and nothing to herself. Instead, she accepts help, learns her limits and says no when she has a strong man by her side who supports her to be the full expression of herself. Answering the question Of course, women can survive without strong men, but for women to thrive, she needs a strong man. Strong men are necessary in this world, in relationships, workplaces and families, just as the world needs feminine women. Neither a strong man nor a feminine woman takes away from the other; they raise each other in love, adoration and support of each person, being the most full and best version of themselves. God/Source created the masculine and feminine for a reason, and we all need it for order, balance and clarity. If you want more polarity and balance in your relationship, download our 14 Guiding Principles on our website. See our previous article here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sasha and Daniel! Sasha and Daniel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sasha and Daniel specialise in relationships, human behaviour and experiential healing. Their collective 14 years as coaches taught them that patterns from previous relationships and upbringing could adversely affect their connection, even knowing they were soul mates. So from day one, they consciously designed their relationship by creating 14 principles to guide their behaviours and focus. Sasha and Daniel aim to heal the world with their love by showing couples how to turn towards each other again for fulfilment, intimacy and connection. Sasha and Daniel offer exclusive 1:1 coaching and retreats for couples that are at 80% and want that extra 20%. They teach simple, actionable principles for partners who love each other but have lost their way.

Written by: Tara Antler & King Gabriel, 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 Everlasting Moment. There I am, without a sense of self, blissed out with no identifiable reason for it, no one to point to, and nothing with which to point, yet, I feel as if a quintillion orgasms are condensed into this one experience. It is complete fulfillment with no recognizable reason for it. It just is. There is light everywhere; In fact, it appears that I am this light. I see this light from a frontal view, I am the entire light stretching out without a limit, and I am a point on the upper right side of the light. It is so fulfilling and beautiful that I could stay here forever. It’s September 29th, 2009, and I’d just finished my initiation into the Agape International Spiritual Choir in Los Angeles, California. Coincidentally, the name for a new member of the Choir at Agape is “New Light.” The requirements to become a New Light were to have a certain number of hours of community service either as an usher or volunteer, and to pass the singing auditions. I’d completed the service requirement and enjoyed my regular spiritual practices, which allowed me to grow in ways I couldn’t have previously seen as possible. Music had called me from the tender age of 3, just about when I began meditating and I knew that it would be a part of my journey. The Life Template The beginning of this life has remained etched in my mind as if it was yesterday, and by the beginning, I am referring to existence before being in a physical body. I was light, in the form of a body, though much lighter and slightly different in structure, as there were no apparent legs or arms. Yet, there appeared to be what we would call wings or at least light that spread from the body in the area you would assume wings would be, and there was a beautiful golden-white glow everywhere. This perception of myself made a significant difference in m thoughts about life and the way I acted within it. I remember, as a child being outside with the trees, having moments of deep inner communication, and an inclination toward meditation, music and introspection into human behaviour. The Ultimate Teacher My Mother would light a kerosene lamp and place it on the kitchen table, and I would sit there and steer at it feeling the calm within me. I enjoyed a very rich (rich in experience) childhood due to My Parents’ Love and dedication to Us. My mother and I would take walks together where no one said a word, but peace and inner understanding were always present. At a fundamental level, I knew that things always worked out for the best. Enter the “Bad Guy” I then started the public schooling sysytem, and interacted with different people with diverse beliefs, views and concepts about life’s true meaning. The idea of sin, not as error, but as a symbol of unworthiness was introduced by the prominent system of religious belief common to our island and at the age of 7, I made a divergent and unexpected choice. I found money in an envelope in a hallway, and instead of doing the “right thing,” I enacted the Universally known law of “Finders Keepers.” At the moment, it felt like a fantastic opportunity. Yet, a little while after claiming it, inner turmoil ensued, so I began my money management venture and soon discovered that for a 7-year-old, $110 might as well have been a million dollars because I could not even begin to crack into it significantly. I bought sticky toys, (you know the type that sticks to the wall and roll down while clinging to the wall). I picked up soft drinks( which my parents would have never given to me at that point), gum and silly things that a 7yr old would want. I even gave $10 to a Friend, but I couldn’t spend enough to get rid of it, which I then desperately wanted to do as the conflict within began to heighten. Soon the search was on for a culprit as someone had reported the money as stolen instead of lost. Now I knew, that I didn’t steal it, as it was just lying in the hallway, but I had already felt so guilty in my efforts to rid it that I couldn’t even begin to explain my thought process or the circumstances by which I had acquired this fortune to anyone else. In short, I was reported by my friend to whom I generously gave $10, and I was severely punished by being carried around the school and beaten by several teachers and the principal This sort of abuse, as it is now categorized, was somehow acceptable in my culture and time. My parents, believing I had taken a wrong turn, allowed the punishment, believing that correction in the form of punishment was due. The embarrassment was on par with the physical pain incurred in the beatings. I felt like I was a bad person, and with each teacher that casted a comment and felt righteous in delivering her wrath to me, I began to experience a deeper and more intense degree of guilt and shame. Contrary to the expectation that this would curb my ways, the feeling of guilt and shame only made me consider myself a lost cause. Maybe I was just a “bad guy”, and so I continued thinking and feeling this and made a series of errors that could have brought disgrace and shame if discovered. I observed how I felt, and it was the same feeling of being bad each time I acted in this way. I was not too fond of it, but it seemed fitting. The Almost Psychopath I discovered a few things about human behaviour through this experience The real challenge was how perceived myself, so after observing, I derived an action plan. If I was ever going to do anything like that again,I had to convince myself that I was doing the right thing. I believe this is where psychopaths originate (they convince themselves that their actions are justified despite the divergence from the voice of their consciences). Fortunately, my meditative practices continued through this time, and my heart became the focal point of my meditation. There was a tangible shift within me, and one day, I just stopped doing the things that made me feel like a bad prerson. I had done wrong and learnt right. But on a much deeper level, my perception of myself had shifted. Logic to the rescue I became aware of a simple logical idea that was so self-evident that it could be easily overlooked, but it engendered the basic difference between a “positive” person and a “negative” one. The simple logic behind it was as follows: A person behaves as he perceives himself A positive person perceives himself healthily A person can become positive by perceiving himself healthily This was accompanied by straightforward methods of transmuting the former into the latter. The perception I held of myself shifted and how I saw the entire world and my place in it changed as a result. My life became more about observing my reactions and those of others. I discovered ancient, occult and self-evident ways of altering perception without hallucinogens or mind-altering substances and after exploring the effects myself and running through hundreds of case studies with my clients as a Spiritual Practitioner, I began teaching methods of transforming perception with practical tools and practices which allowed students to live from a healthy view of themselves and thrive in life. The Defining Moment So, as stated previously, on September 29th, 2009, after putting all that I had learnt into practice and being in a position of service while exploring consciousness through my own life experience, a moment of pure ecstatic unequivocal bliss was experienced. The word experience may not necessarily suffice, as there was nobody or object per se that experienced it. It was a moment in which no time, or measure of it was available, as there was nothing to measure with. It was as if Liquid Lovelight was flowing upon itself, and I was it, observing it and immersed in it simultaneously. I have no idea what the duration of this event was, as I was not present or prepared for it, so I had no reason to time it. In fact, for me, the entire Universe and all that seemed real from a human perspective did not exist. Then, out of nowhere arose a thought, in fact it was more of a memory than a thought. It was the memory of a dream I once had when I was ten years old, in which “Jesus” (of whom I was taught in school and Sunday school, at a nearby Church), came to the edge of a huge body of water on a huge boat. The boat docked on the water’s edge, and I was invited onboard. It seems as if this was the end, as the earth was cracking as if an earthquake was taking place. He invited me onto the boat and I refused, as the requirement was that I leave my mother behind. I refused and said that I would never leave without her, and then I awoke. This was the memory which arose in the middle of this totally blissful experience, and as if a choice was made again in that moment, I chose to return for my mother. The next thing I remember is arising from the bed in my room and feeling as if the biggest secret in existence had been revealed to me. I saw that who I was as a being was not the surface self (made up of my possessions, Behaviours, Feelings, Values, Beliefs, Worldviews or even my Ultimate allegiance) but my awareness of it all, yet to make a change within the experience, my self-concept was what was in need of change. I came across a model of the layers of perception which echoed my view, and it was certainly worth looking at. The model was known as the culture onion, and showed the layers of the individual’s expression from his Ultimate Allegiance all the way down to the things that he was surrounded by, known as Artifacts. As far as the perception was concerned, a person’s ultimate allegiance was the central idea that governed the many levels that proceeded as a result, hence the change was within the individual, and those who knew that Love, Light and Peace were within, would live a life reflective of those principles, while those who saw a void, or nothing, or darkness, would have a corresponding life. A negative person can therefore become positive by becoming allegiant to the Love, Light and Peace. I certainly did. Now this is not to say that life became magnificently easy as a result. In fact, there were many challenges, heartbreaks and events that would knock most people on their butts for a lifetime, yet that resilience, strength and faith that I was now aware of, allowed me to know once again that “everything was indeed alright.” Hence My Ultimate Allegiance was and is to Spirit, the Spirit of Joy, Fulfillment, Bliss, Love, Abundance, Prosperity and Peace. So I ask you my positive friend …Where is your Ultimate Allegience? Who is King Gabriel? He is an individual interested in elevating the earth and humanity, bringing fulfillment to the lives of my brothers and sisters. Co-Founder of the Ascension Academy of LIght, Spiritual Teacher, Healer and Practitioner, best-selling Author, Musician and Engineer. He’s worked alongside the likes of Rev. Michael Beckwith and Rickie, John Gray, Lisa Nichols, Karl Eric Unander (Norwegian Healer), Steve Harvey and Stevie Wonder. He’s also Shared the stage with Chaka Khan, Will I am of the Black Eyed Peas and many Others. Becoming a positive person is more about seeing Yourself as You truly are, and not as the story of Your life has dictated. Discovering yourself and living as him/her is a contribution that matters to everyone in the world. Only you can shine away any darkness that may reside in your mind, and only you can maintain the awareness of the light that is within you. yourself So, it's totally up to you to put in the effort to find your authentic self. It's time to take action now. Connect with me in our Facebook Group so we can move toward what You’re up to in life and speed you along your way. We help Visionaries, Heart-Based Entrepreneurs and Light Leaders to thrive in all areas of life, remember how powerful they are and lead intuitively and exceptionally. Feel free to join our facebook group and connect and let me help you to live a life that has a huge positive impact on the world. Success, Joy and Fulfillment are yours as you become aware of the support that is already within you. Remember, it's never too late to make changes in your life! Join the walk with me on Facebook. Follow Tara and King on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or visit their website. Read more from Tara and King! Tara Antler & King Gabriel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tara Antler & King Gabriel specialize in Intuitive Healing, Soul Coaching & Spiritual Life Mentoring. They both discovered yoga and meditation, and were guided to walk an awakened path when they were very young. They have dedicated their lives to helping others remember who and what they truly are, become masterful manifestors, activate their Soul's purpose, and experience happy-harmonious relationships! Co-Founders of the Ascension Academy of Light ‒ they empower Families, Light-Workers, and Leaders around the world to consciously create thriving, extraordinary, purpose-led lives!

Written by: Dr. Jeni Wahlig , 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. Most couples report that communication is the biggest problem in their relationship, so they seek help to communicate better. But the truth is, communication is not the real problem, nor is learning better communication skills the best solution. Underneath communication breakdowns are three more important problems, and until you address these, neither communication nor your relationship will improve in the lasting ways you want and deserve. Communication is not the problem I’ve been working with couples for over a decade, and what I have found is that most couples identify communication as one of the most pressing problems in their relationship. Many couples’ therapists and coaches would agree and thus place a heavy focus on helping couples to improve their communication. I was there once too in my work with couples until I saw that any improvements we made in session didn’t stick in the long run. Despite a lot of learning and practicing more effective listening and speaking skills, couples were still struggling to make ground during difficult conversations. They’d describe feeling as if they were just spinning their wheels and report that their conversations would just end in another blow-up followed by a shutdown. Now, I’ll admit—it’s easy to reason that communication is the problem because it is typically during the process of communication that the real problems manifest and wreak havoc on the relationship. Worse yet, most of us rely on verbal communication as the means by which we resolve problems, express needs, attend to differences and disagreements, and experience both connection and repair with one another. So, if communication is the vehicle by which we address problems in our relationship, and the vehicle isn’t working (so to speak), isn’t it fair to say that fixing the problem of communication would be the most important goal for being able to improve the relationship? Yes, and no. You see, when most people think about “getting better at communicating,” they think about improving their ability to effectively send the message they intend and about developing active listening skills so that their partner can feel more heard. While speaking and listening skills are indeed important, (so much so that we do still teach these in the advanced stages of our couples coaching program ) , they are not enough to make a real difference in your ability to communicate. The reason? Because not having communication skills is not the problem; not being able to use communication skills is the problem. And there are three main “problems” that not only impact one’s ability to communicate effectively but can also cause other problems in the relationship. What you really need to work on 1. Nervous system regulation Your nervous system plays a critical role in how you interact with others . You might have the greatest communication skills in the world, but if your nervous system becomes flooded , you won’t be able to use them. The primary goal of your brain is to keep you alive, and your nervous system is always assessing incoming information for whether it is a threat. This doesn’t always mean a threat to your physical well-being in relationships, although it could. It may also be a threat to your emotional well-being, your sense of self, your hopes and dreams, your expectations, your energy level, your experience of safety and security, or even your faith in the future of the relationship. When something in your relationship—a topic, tone, or even look from your partner—gets identified as a threat, your nervous system is going to activate. Nervous system activation can feel like anything from mild discomfort (annoyance, irritation, anxiety) to a full-out flood (panic, rage, shut-down). As your distress increases and you near the edge of your window of tolerance, you will become less and less able to tap into your consciousness, impulse control, and all of your communication skills. When you cross the line into emotional flooding, your nervous system has gone into full-on self-protection/survival mode. Your reptilian brain has taken over, you move into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn , and effective communication is impossible. These are exactly the moments during which couples experience communication as the problem, when in fact the problem is that they have lost the ability to regulate their nervous system. If you want to be able to communicate effectively and resolve problems, you must be able to stay within a window of tolerance. This doesn’t mean that a difficult conversation will not continue to be difficult or uncomfortable—it will! There’s just no getting around that sometimes. However, if you can regulate your nervous system enough to keep yourself from becoming flooded, you will be much better equipped to share your thoughts clearly and receive your partner’s response with a more open heart. 2. Healing your inner exiles Many of the struggles that arise in relationships (including the struggle of an activated nervous system) do so because our partner’s behavior has activated a part of us that carries unhealed injuries and their accompanying fear and/or shame. No doubt, we all have parts of us that have been hurt, abandoned, or neglected in the past, as well as parts that may fear we are not good enough, that others cannot be trusted, or that love will not last. Because these vulnerable parts are so uncomfortable and distressing to experience, we tend to lock them away and put up defenses and self-protective mechanisms so that we do not have to feel them. World-renowned therapist and creator of Internal Family Systems Therapy , Richard Schwartz, calls these parts of us Exiles . Your exiles have a powerful impact on your ability to experience connection, closeness, and safety with your partner. Carrying the weight and impact of previously unmet needs and hurt caused by people who were supposed to love and care for you, these parts will look to your partner for the love, care, and connection that they so desperately need. However, your partner has their own parts too, and they will inevitably fall short of providing the redemption and healing that your parts so desperately want from them. It is as if your exiles look to your partner to be the life raft that will save them and keep them afloat throughout the turbulent waters of life. The problem is that not only does that position your partner to be the one underwater, but also that your partner’s exiles want you to be their life raft, too. So, you fight and struggle for who gets to be on top, whose needs get to be met, whose story and feelings get to be heard and honored, or whose desires and expectations get priority. As you can imagine, this arrangement is neither very satisfying nor stable for either partner. What we then see happen most often is that each partner blames their partner for the problems in the relationship. They try to communicate their hurt and frustration in hopes that their partner will agree, change, or comply. And when that doesn’t work (as often it doesn’t), they might redirect their frustration at themselves—blame themselves as the problem and try to become whomever they need to be in order to appease their partner. Unfortunately, placing blame is never an effective solution, and eventually, one or both partners become exhausted and conclude that their relationship is inherently flawed and no longer worth being in. The only way out of this unwinnable struggle is to do your own work of attending to and healing the hurts and fears of your inner exiles. In truth, these vulnerable and tender parts of you cannot be healed by anyone else. It is the unconditional love, comfort, and attention that only you can give that your exiles really need. As you begin to heal from within, you release your partner from the burden of having to be your healer. What’s more, you will find a sense of security and stability that is not dependent upon how your partner behaves, thus empowering you to respond to problems more consciously and effectively (and communicate better!) 3. The story you’re telling Our minds make sense of our lives through stories . Each of your inner exiles has a story about what happened to them and how they feel about your partner. When you are in an argument with your partner, you’re telling yourself a story about your relationship and what it means that this argument is happening. When you’re reflecting on a problem or dissatisfaction in your life, there’s a story there. Your stories develop as a result of what you are paying attention to, the beliefs and associations you hold with related experiences, and the meaning you are giving to what is happening now. When couples are struggling in their relationship, there is always a story being told about it, and it’s not an empowering one. They are likely to have gotten into negative sentiment override about their partner and/or their relationship and are experiencing themselves as either the victim or the problem. These stories not only color the lens through which they see their partner, their relationship, and their future together, but also become self-fulfilling prophecies. In our Empowered Accountability work with couples, we help partners to understand the relationship between the stories they are telling and the results they are getting in their relationship. Most people do not realize the way that their story is contributing to the problems that they are having, nor, more importantly, that they can change their story and thus change their experience. Consider an example: Your partner comes home hours late from work without any communication about it. What story would you tell? If you told the story that it was because they must be having an affair, how would your nervous system be feeling? What exiled parts might be activated? How would you communicate with them when they walked through the door? And how do you think that would go? Probably not great, right!? Even if you had later learned that the lateness was because of an accident on the way home and the lack of communication was because their phone had died, it is possible that the damage would already have been done. The problem in this example, as you can see, is neither the partner coming home late, their lack of communication about it, nor the communication that happened when they did. The problem originated in 1) the story that was told about the partner’s lateness, 2) the triggering of an exiled part in response, and 3) the emotional dysregulation that occurred and prevented you from being able to communicate with the calm, curious, caring, and connecting energy that would have been ideal. If, in this example, you had become aware of the story you were telling yourself and were then able to shift the story by asking yourself empowering questions , like “If I give my partner the benefit of the doubt, why else might this be happening?” chances are high that the outcome would have been much better. Learning how to notice and consciously shift the story you are telling when you are feeling upset in your relationship is a key skill with the potential to improve things dramatically ‒ and you don’t even need to communicate! The power to improve your relationship What if you knew how to tell a different story about the problems in your relationship, had skills for taking care of your vulnerable exiles when they arise, and were much better able to stay within your window of tolerance even when you were activated? Likely, you’d be much more effective at using the vehicle of communication to resolve problems in your relationship. Better yet, as we’ve seen, you’d also be a lot less likely to have fewer problems in the first place! So, as important as communication certainly is, it’s not where your power lies. Your real power for changing and improving your relationship comes from within—from the work that you do within yourself to grow your window of tolerance and regulate your nervous system, to heal and comfort your inner exiles, and to be aware of and consciously choose the stories you’re telling yourself within your relationship. Doing this inner work is not easy, and we encourage you to consider finding the support of a therapist or coach to support you along your journey. In our work with couples, attention to these three pillars of inner work is foundational to what we teach and how we support our clients. I invite you to learn more about our work by checking out our website . For more great information and tips for improving your relationship(s), join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok . Read more from Dr. Jeni! Dr. Jeni Wahlig, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Jeni Wahlig (she/they) is a transformational relationship coach, licensed couple & family therapist, teacher, author, & public speaker. She identifies as graysexual queer, genderqueer-femme, polyamorous, white, able-bodied, & a parent. Self-proclaimed “relationship nerd,” Jeni has dedicated her career to studying relationships & supporting couples, particularly within the Queer & Trans communities. In partnership with her soulmate, Calvin Osili, Jeni offers critically conscious relationship education & coaching through their business, PowerfuLove. Their mission is to empower couples with the knowledge and skills they need to move beyond struggles & consciously create an extraordinary relationship.

Written by: Brian John Caddy, 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 COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a change in the way that the world’s workforce approached working in an office environment, and caused organisations to change, in some cases quickly, to support this change in culture. As we move into 2023, is this change here to stay, or do companies want to start having full-time onsite employees again? Remote working has always been possible. However, it has not necessarily been encouraged or fully supported, as it was seen to be a way that workers would be out of sight, with no way of showing that they were achieving their goals. The pandemic started to change this view, with productivity being maintained or even improved away from the normal distractions of an office environment, with more trust having to be placed in employees to carry out their duties. But what of the other benefits? Everyone hears about work-life balance, and looking after yourself, but is this possible if you spend time commuting to and from an office and end up with your working day being a couple of hours longer? Flexibility to achieve work-life balance Remote working allows you to collaborate with team members; it does remove the ability to go and talk to someone directly or work on a whiteboard to go through ideas and problems, but collaboration is still possible. It does give you flexibility and allows you to achieve a better work-life balance, and maybe even live in a more remote area with green space or beaches. More time for family, hobbies, or volunteering It gives you more time to spend with your family, hobbies, or volunteering. The time you spend commuting might allow you to work a longer day, and a shorter week, or it might allow you to do the school run or take the kids to an afterschool club or other activity. It might allow you to coach your local sports team once a week, teach a volunteer class, or learn a new skill. It allows you to be at home for the workman appointment or the need to go to a hospital appointment and it provides you the chance to structure your day while still performing your work duties. Permanent culture change - workers need to feel appreciated However, for remote working to be a success there needs to be a permanent culture change. The current expectation that people will work long hours, with little or no holiday doesn’t get the best out of the workers and may not get you the best workers. To get the best out of workers they need to be happy and feel appreciated and feel that they can switch off and relax. The best workers may not be local to your company, but by enabling them to work remotely, they may become part of your company without the need to relocate themselves and their families. Working from home policies may also allow you to employ workers who may otherwise be unable to contribute because of health conditions that prevent them from working long hours or make it difficult to work in an office environment. Cost-effective for businesses Allowing remote working may allow you as a company to reduce overheads by reducing the office space needed. If you have a remote worker, do they need a permanent desk space, chair, monitor, lighting, heating, etc. Each desk in an office has an associated overhead cost ‒ and you may even be able to expand your workforce without having to expand your real estate while keeping your overhead costs down, including the use of contractors or contingent workers. Despite the overhead saving on office space, it may be cost-effective for businesses to offer home and remote workers office equipment such as desks, chairs, and IT equipment. Crosswires Consultancy Ltd. fully embraces remote working as the best way to provide its services to clients. For more information about how we can support you and the services we offer, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Brian! Brian John Caddy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Brian Caddy, a graduate of Swansea University, began his career in 1997 when he worked for an independent telecommunication company with whom he had collaborated for his university project for an ISDN (precursor to ADSL) router that won a technology award. Shifting to the defence industry he extended his skill set and became a computer systems engineer specialising in system integration requirements. As an IT Consultant Brian now provides Software and Systems Engineering Consultancy Services where he specialises in system design for constrained environments utilising traditional and agile approaches.

Rani works with established makeup artists to unleash their expertise, develop their niche and work with fewer clients. Rani Bain, Business Consultant to the Beauty Industry What is your business name and how do you help your clients? My name is Rani Bain, I have over 21 years of experience as a Professional Makeup Artist, Academy Owner/Trainer and Business Consultant to the Beauty Industry. The Business goes by the name Makeup Artist College and I am known as The Makeup Artist Business Expert. I help Makeup Artists develop their niche and sell their expertise not their time. They do this by using a unique methodology, in a 6-12 month online programme from £2000-£4000. The majority of makeup artists are busy booking in more and more appointments offering the same service as their competition. Instead of working their business the same as everyone else, the programme identifies how they can work with fewer clients and charge appropriately for their expertise, by developing their niche. In doing so they immediately reduce the competition because, chances are, there is no one doing the same in their area, or even 100 miles radius, I can almost guarantee that. It’s this uniqueness that allows clients to identify the difference between working with an expert and hiring someone who can do what 100 other makeup artists offer this is an important difference. How do your clients use this methodology? Initially, it’s a bit of a mind shift really, they need to unlearn what they have been doing for years, i.e. working back to back appointments, trying to fill their diaries booking in client after client. There is nothing wrong with that, but it does cause stress when you are always chasing the next clients. But the problem with this is clients view this form of servicing clients as a transactional process ‒ they phone around, look for the bridal service, for instance, which most suits their budget. This often leads to these clients demanding more for their money because they view this as getting value. On the other hand, the clients I work with unlock their expertise and look at the whole client experience and the end result they desire ‒ the transformation. They consider the clients needs and how they can help them on a much deeper level. Once this is established the rest is easy. Another reason most makeup artists are struggling is because they are offering too many services and discounts. But when they are charging for their expertise, which many are giving away free, there is a huge opportunity to get their niche in the market and therefore eliminate the competition and charge appropriately for their expertise. In other words they ‘create demand’. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? My clients are established Makeup Artists who have reached a plateau in their business or those who want to get off the ‘hamster wheel’ they are currently on. They are self-motivated, willing to take action and want to work differently to transform their clients life by the results they achieve. There are obviously many deep layers to the process but the clients I attract are those wanting to make this change in their business, those who choose to develop their expertise to really make a difference to the life of their clients and are charging appropriately for their expertise and will also undergo a transformation in themselves, as they step into their expertise. You also work as a Business Consultant to the Beauty Industry, what kind of consultancy work do you do? I love this side of the business, having spent so many years in the industry and gained a diploma (IAP) in Business Consultancy I have enjoyed helping on a commercial level too. My passion has always been an education in the beauty industry. For instance, students in colleges and beauty schools here in the UK are not taught the business side of Hair and Beauty, in any depth. Which, considering 62% (Sourced BABTAC 2023) of Hair and barbering and 65% of Beauty students go on to be self-employed, is very surprising. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? I have always recognised the importance of education in the beauty industry, especially the business side, so much so that I have always included it in my own academy and courses for over 15 years. Today, I am so excited to have had the opportunity of collaborating with the top of the beauty industry and governing bodies to produce an online programme specifically for Hair and Beauty Educators to educate their students on the business side. This has been needed for so long in the industry and to help students and give them advice and knowledge and skills that will help them when they start their own businesses. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. I have achieved so many goals in my career so far but undoubtedly to be in a position of authority that helps educators pass on this business expertise to their students is up there at the top of my achievements. It has been a long process because I wanted to create an online programme and for it to have the highest accreditation possible and in achieving this it has taken some time, now it’s really happening and I am so excited to be part of it. You could say I am educating the educators! Originally I started offering zoom and live training direct to the students, then one of the trainers asked ‒ ‘why don’t you train the educators,” and it all evolved from that. This is probably one of the most rewarding achievements I have gained in my career to date.

Daisy Raudales is a leader in the Communications field. Holding a degree in Communications and Digital Media as well as an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations (PR), Daisy has gained extensive experience in the industry conducting tasks in media relations, communications planning, social media marketing, email marketing, website development and more. Having turned her passion into a life-long career, she opened DRPR in August of 2020 in order to provide online marketing solutions to entrepreneurs during the rise of COVID-19. Located in Ajax, Ontario her agency provides long-term support to entrepreneurs in digital marketing, branding and PR. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Daisy! My name is Daisy Raudales, and I am a Public Relations and Communications Specialist. I have a deep passion for content marketing and enjoy supporting entrepreneurs throughout their business growth. I have earned a Degree in Communications and Digital Media Studies as well as an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations. Having turned my passion into my career, I am now the Founder of DRPR Inc, a Public Relations and Digital Marketing Agency located in Ajax, Ontario. I am of Nicaraguan descent, but I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. I am also bilingual and enjoy working with a diverse range of businesses. Outside of work, I am always on the hunt to try out local restaurants, discover local attractions and enjoy travelling around the world. My favourite hobby is dancing and I love spending time with my dog, friends, and family. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? DRPR Inc. stands for Daisy Raudales Public Relations, is a full-service Digital Marketing Agency that provides services in Public Relations, Digital Marketing and Branding. Established in August of 2020, we work with a combined mix of start-up entrepreneurs and established businesses. We provide tailored strategies and support to help entrepreneurs make a powerful impact in the digital landscape. Our services include, brand development, media relations, copywriting, social media marketing, email marketing, and website development. You can learn more about us at www.drpr.ca What kind of audience do you target your business towards? We have worked with businesses across a wide range of industries including those in economic development, real estate, food and beverage, health and wellness, fitness - you name it! What are your current goals for your business? This 2023, we look forward to joining more networking groups both locally and globally to grow our network, build relationships and connect with entrepreneurs who are ready to take their digital marketing to the next level. Soon, we will also be introducing new services including guest speaking and online workshops to help teach entrepreneurs how they can take control of their marketing with helpful resources, skills, and tools. We also look forward to expanding our team further this year. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? I would like to continue to grow my own knowledge in the industry because I truly believe you can never stop learning! Especially as an entrepreneur, we often wear many hats, whether it is marketing our business, overseeing our finances, delegating tasks, and managing other responsibilities. We are constantly, learning, growing, evolving. I believe that a huge part of achieving success comes from being open to learning whether it’s joining an online business course, asking questions to our entrepreneurial friends, or taking solid business advice from experts. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? God inspires me to be the best that I can be. I wouldn’t be where I am in my journey if it wasn’t for Him. My friends and my family also inspire me every day and motivate me to grow and be the best version of myself. I credit a lot of my success to the people who have inspired me throughout my entrepreneurial journey. I believe it is essential to ground yourself with a supportive group of individuals that will motivate and encourage you to grow and achieve success. What is your work inspired by? My work is inspired by my passion to help others and my love for what I do – digital marketing. I have always been a social and outgoing person who loves connecting with people. I am so fortunate in my industry that I get to meet such inspiring, creative, and like-minded individuals. Not only can I learn from them but having the opportunity to help them achieve their goals motivates me to work hard and brings me true joy. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. My greatest career achievement so far has been in fact, starting my own business and not giving up. One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome was letting go of self-doubt and fear of the unknown. But once I took the plunge to launch my business it was the best decision I ever made. Today, I am so grateful I get to do what I love while having the ability to be in control of my own time and schedule. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? In my industry, digital marketing is a field that is constantly changing and evolving. I wouldn’t necessarily want to change anything in my industry but ensure that I am staying up to date with the changes that are constantly happening in digital technology. Whether it is staying up to date with social media trends, new tools to automate tasks and other technological changes. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. A pivotal moment in my life that brought me to where I am today is strangely enough my experience through the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, I lost my full-time job. After being unemployed, I decided to do freelance work in my spare time to keep busy. A few months later, I received the opportunity to work part-time with my local business centre, also known as the Business Advisory Centre Durham. Having earned a role as a Digital Support Specialist, I was responsible for promoting a provincially funded grant and providing digital marketing consultations to local small businesses. I also continued to do freelance work for businesses in copywriting and marketing. Soon after, my boss encouraged me to start my own small business in Digital Marketing. She saw potential in me that I didn’t even see. She encouraged me to join online workshops led by the Centre and to get in touch with advisors. After taking advantage of the services offered to me, I decided to start and launch DRPR Inc.

Written by: Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I’m one of those older types who grew up without mobile phones, YouTube and Facebook. If I wanted to talk or get info somewhere, I had to make an effort. My kids reckon I am OLD. Their eyes roll when I begin “when I was a kid …” I grew up with spirit copiers (I even have licence to operate one), fax machines and hand-written letters to communicate with those you love. Back in my day, if you wanted to say something you had to write or call … and then WAIT for a response or keep ringing them until you got them (there were no VM or answering machines}. Everything took time. We were careful with what we said; choosing our words thoughtfully not to offend or upset. Prehistoric bullies As a kid, I was relentlessly bullied at school because I was tall and broad. I knew exactly who my tormentors were because they have to say horrible things to my face. There were no PMs or emails to hide behind. If you wanted to bring someone down, you had to look them in the eye. How the world has changed. Messages are instant, and bullying is more insidious because of the tools us humans have created to make communicating easier. My mum used to tell me ‘sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can never hurt you’. Great old-world wisdom. But not true. Unfortunately, the modern-day troll/bully can wreak havoc with well-placed words, destroying confidence and the will to share. New form of bullying As much as I love social media, it has breed a new form of bully – the troll. They come in all shapes and sizes. They lurk about in Facebook groups ready to pounce as soon as you post. You send a group message about an event and they are ready with a razor-sharp lecture on all you have done wrong. Or they cushion their nastiness in a flurry of endearments, so they can pretend they are doing the world a favour. They believe their towering intellect and my-shit-does-not stink values and morals gives them the right to share their opinions without dispute. Let’s face it, social media is a fertile playground for trolls. Hunched over their keyboards, safely behind their screens, they spew nasty vitriol and patronising prose at those of us just trying to get on with our lives. They are everywhere – no social media platform is safe. Their job is to get under your skin and they wield their nastiness without compassion or regret. Five types of troll In my experience, I have come across five types of troll. I am sure there are more, but I can only speak from my observations. 1. Grammar Know It All We all make mistakes. The very nature of social media is we often tap out a response to a post or post something on the fly. Damn autocorrect, or a forgotten pair of glasses means there is typo or a misplaced word. Here is where Grammar Nazi comes to the fore. They take great delight in telliboo-boong you that ‘i should come before e’ or your modifier is dangling. Instead of a PM, politely letting you know you’ve made a boo boo, they post it for all to see. 2. Click Bait Reactor Modern marketing tells us the headline is the most important aspect of a post – it is what draws people in. Quite often the headline (clickbait) is different to the actual story. Even if the story is about unicorns and rainbows saving the world, we are more likely to click on EVIL DEMONS THWARTED IN END OF DAYS CONQUEST than WORLD SAVED BY FRANK THE UNICORN. The Click Bait Reactor is not interested in the story; they‘re too busy to ACTUALLY read the article so they start ranting about the headline, going off on a tangent that has nothing to do with the story. Because the story doesn’t matter, the troll just wants to share what he/she thinks. 3. Braggart Smarty Pants I see them all the time in Facebook groups – the person who has an answer for everything. Your kid has nits – they know how to fix it. You have a business question – they’ve been there and one that. You have a personal crisis – well, they have a degree from Whackadoo University and are qualified to help you. You promote something, and they must tell you what you did wrong in your marketing. If you don’t take their advice, they get narky and PM you to tell you you’re an idiot. 4. Bomb Dropper Or ‘the attention seeker’ troll. This person’s life is always worse than yours. Their pain is deeper. Their successes are bigger and better. They hijack conversations to make it all about them. Even when you try to get the conversation back on track, they have these amazing skills of swinging the thread back to focus on them. 5. I’m Offended Sometimes things are just funny …and that is ok. But the offended troll, takes everything personally and turns the post into an attack on them and their place in the world. I get we all don’t have the same sense of humour but if you don’t like something, use that amazing appendage at the end of your hand and scroll past it. Ok … blatantly sexist, racist and nasty content is not necessary. There should be no place on social media for deliberate hate. What to do with a troll As much as I love a good debate and to stand up for myself - I have found there is no point engaging with a troll. Trolls come from a place of nastiness and self-righteousness – there is no defence against that. A troll wants you to suffer. A troll wants you to engage so they can prove they were right all along. I do try to remember the person on the other end of the keyboard is another human with their trials and tribulations. You are not going to change their opinion. They’re bullies – hurt people hurt people. Your words will be wasted, and you will end up feeling worse than you did by the initial engagement. If they are ‘friend’, unfriend or unfollow them. Fire needs fuel to spread, starve them of it. Of course, as a business you do need to ensure you have policies in place to deal with legitimate complaints and to manage trolls. As an everyday person just trying to do their best, I wish I have a better answer. No one likes to be picked on and made to feel awful. If you do attract the attention of a troll and it gets too much, reach out to someone to help you through it. Do not suffer in silence. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Annette! Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.

Destiny K (Katy), is an International Psychic Medium Empath Intuitive Reader, Healer, Light Worker, and Earth Angel. She has had her gifts since she was 3 years old, and after having a near-death experience in 2018, she has grown and heightened her abilities to help others. She does not believe in coincidences, and believes that everything happens for a reason. Using her abilities, she helps many around the world as, Destiny K Psychic Medium bringing them positive energies, abundance, blessings, love, and closure. As a Psychic Medium she helps loved ones in spirit pass on messages to those that are needing them. Destiny K, believes in Fate and Destiny. She wishes you all a beautiful, wonderful, and joyful day. Destiny K, Psychic Medium Who is Destiny K? She is the founder of Destiny K Psychic Medium, which helps many individuals around the world connect to their loved ones in spirit that have passed on, with guidance around their current lives, past lives, healing, and inspirational speaking through her online social media presence. She has been through many shifts of energies and vibrations throughout her life, which has brought her here to help others, those who have passed, and continue to spread love and grace to everyone around the world with her gifts. She is a mum to a wonderful daughter who has brightened up her life and brought her closer to her family. Throughout her journey, before having a near-death experience in 2018 she was an entertainer in hotels, a model, and adventurous traveling to Cyprus, and Australia. What is Destiny K wanting to achieve with her gifts? Destiny K would like to help as many souls as she can by connecting to their past loved ones in the spirit world (known as Heaven, Other Side, etc.), helping them through the grieving process, providing guidance and inspiration to those needing it through her gifts, and pointing anyone on their right direction and path. She wants to bring inspiration and motivation to so many through her gifts, and abilities that she has grown through the past couple of years. As she always says, "For me, this is about changing someone who has been feeling very sad and down in the dumps to then coming out of a reading with myself looking and feeling like a Cheshire Cat." Who inspires Destiny K? Destiny K's inspiration was her nan who shared an extra special bond. As they were both spiritually connected. There had been times when they both witnessed and felt the spirit and energetic vibrations around them. For example, there was a time when they walked down a long lane together and a lady walking stopped and said to the both of them "I am sorry I stopped you, but I just wanted to say and let you know that the lane was dark and dull before you both walked down it then a massive huge glow lit up the lane with a bright golden aura around you both" and after she had said that, her nan smiled at her and said "We both share this gift" when she was only about five years old. This is only one of the things that Destiny K and her nan have shared, but she can tell you many more. What is one thing you would change in this industry and why? One thing that she would change in this industry would be to make peace on earth and life a more harmonious place to live in. Also, all light workers come together as one to work as a team rather than there being constant competitive behaviors and jealousy. She feels schools need to know more about empathy, and how children feel by expressing their emotions. As this is something that is not generally talked about. What was a pivotal moment in your life and how has it helped you get to where you are today? She has always been spiritual since the age of three, but she had closed it down for many years. Until 2018 when she was rushed to the hospital because her heart had stopped and the doctors found that she had a rare heart condition. After this moment in her life, she has become more in tune and even more aware of spirit, but as her nan passed away in 2008 she feels that is her nan guiding her to do this as it has always been in her. She can communicate with those that have passed over to the spirit world. To give valid and detailed information on their passed loved ones. As she always says, "For me, this makes me feel happy and I am grateful to be able to help others that need guidance, support, and comfort." Follow me on Facebook and visit my website for more info! Read more from Destiny K!

Written by: Stefanie Magness, 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 an entrepreneur, you need to understand the difference between offense and defense. Offense moves your business forward by growing your market share and increasing revenue. Defense is focused on maintaining your present position in the market and keeping potential threats at bay. So, which strategy is better for entrepreneurs? The answer is it depends on the circumstances of your business. If your business is in a growth phase and you have the resources to expand, then an offensive strategy may be the right choice. However, if your business is facing financial difficulties or market saturation, a defensive strategy may be more appropriate. One strategy that can be useful for entrepreneurs is to have both offensive and defensive strategies in place. By implementing a balanced approach, entrepreneurs can take advantage of new opportunities while also protecting their current assets. This can include investing in new products or services while also cutting costs or expanding into new markets while also maintaining relationships with existing customers. Entrepreneurs also need to be aware of the external environment and adapt their strategies accordingly. For example, during an economic downturn, a defensive strategy may be more appropriate, while during an economic boom, an offensive strategy may be more appropriate. It is critical to be alert to opportunities on the offensive, but that doesn't mean you can abandon a defensive strategy. By having a good sense of the parameters in place around your current business and having a way to respond effectively, you can achieve long-term success. This requires that we always be aware of our surroundings, for no one ever stops playing offense or defense in business. Stefanie Magness, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stefanie Magness is a Legal & Tax Analyst and Business Consultant, Author of Business Hacks…60 Tools for Success, and the LLC Owner’s Manual. Her passion is to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses from the ground up with an emphasis on protection and planning. Stefanie inspires business owners to take action and cover all the bases. She is here to help you succeed, 100% legit, without cutting corners, and without skimping on what's needed! Stefanie will help you go from dreaming to doing. With her business Legit My Biz and television network, LegitTV™, she helps entrepreneurs learn what they need to know to protect themselves from the IRS, State, and other Government Agencies without getting burned by their questions and paper trail.

Scott Robinson is a Finance Professional and Yoga Teacher. He is also the founder of Yogibanker ‒ a specialised yoga & well-being service for the financial services industry. He helped found 'dbYoga' at Deutsche Bank, one of the world's leading financial services companies as well as leading regular mindfulness sessions under the brand of 'Mindfulness Mondays'. Over the years, Scott has helped hundreds of finance professionals become stronger, more flexible and less stressed through yoga & mindfulness. Scott's passion is to bring yoga & well-being to the financial services industry ‒ one that is kinder, more sustainable with well-being at its core. Scott Robinson, Founder Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. My name is Scott Robinson. I am a finance professional, yoga & mindfulness teacher as well as a well-being champion. Originally from Sydney, I currently work for Deutsche Bank in London as a regulatory policy specialist. At the same time, I help to run the employee-led yoga & mindfulness classes at the bank. I am also a global pillar lead for Balance @ Work as part of People Strategy in the Finance division. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, skiing, football, and classical and modern art. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? My business name is Yogibanker, and I help finance professionals feel better in their bodies and minds. I’m passionate about yoga & well-being. I believe that through a holistic and integrated approach to living, one can thrive both personally and professionally. As a fellow finance professional, I have a unique understanding of what it means to work in a highly intense, pressurised environment. I therefore bring insights and skills that are focused on the specific needs of finance professionals. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? My audience is ambitious and dedicated finance professionals who are motivated to improve their health and well-being. What are your current goals for your business? My goal is to reach as many finance professionals as I can around the world and share what I’ve learned. There is a certain stigma and barrier to entry with practices like yoga. My aim then is to make these practices as accessible as possible to the financial services industry globally. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? I aim to deepen my understanding of topics relating to yoga & well-being. There are many different dimensions to well-being. Human nature is also complex. How we function is a confluence of biopsychosocial factors and how they interact with each other. If we are to truly serve others and provide the best environment for them to thrive, investing time and resources into gaining a deeper understanding of this vast subject area is required. For my business, my vision is for every financial services organisation around the world to have access to these life-affirming practices & resources to help them thrive. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? One of my yoga teachers, Tias Little, is the co-founder of Prajna Yoga. Tias is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the United States. Tias’s knowledge of yoga & Buddhism is extraordinary. From anatomy to philosophy, to Sanskrit to yoga therapy, his knowledge and dedication to teaching are very inspiring. He inspires me to learn, to show up and bring the best out of my students. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? I would like to see well-being first and foremost as a strategic priority for the industry. An organisation that has elevated levels of well-being will result in happier staff. This in turn leads to more customer-focused, productive organisations. Not only that, when an organisation’s wellness is high, then the paradigm shift in mindset that is required for a more sustainable economy is easier to make. This benefits society, especially given that the financial services industry is at the heart of the economy. In short, everyone benefits when there is a strategic focus on well-being. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. In 2017, I took a mini-sabbatical and went to Bali for a month to do yoga teacher training. It’s a cliché however I came back ‘transformed’ and I felt like a new person – I had a brand-new skill set at the age of 40 and I discovered the ‘teacher within me’. I was then determined to offer these services to my colleagues. To think now that I would be offering yoga & mindfulness classes to my colleagues on a global basis is extraordinary. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin, and visit my website for more information. To receive a complimentary copy of my e-guide, ‘5 Things You Need to Start Your Yoga Practice’, subscribe here. Read more from Scott!