AIM August 2024 : simplebooklet.com

AlwaysDear Readers, Happy August! I first want to introduce August’s cover girl and Authentic Insider’s CreativeDirector, Cali Binstock. After all, this magazine’s aesthetic wouldn’t be as vibrant without her workadding color to the powerful words of our contributors. We were able to bond as we had theprivilege attending the Sphere in Las Vegas where we got to experience Dead & Co. Check outthe last page of the magazine where you will find photos from our weekend. As we wrap up summer vacay, many are trying to get back to regularly scheduled programming,with school and work. As kids get back to school, Our Parenting POV contributor, Tina Hamiltonbreaks down the Seven Signs of Emotional Overwhelm in Children. Should cellphones be completely banned in schools? Trauma Educator, Karen Gross sheds light onThe Cellphone Conundrum. Authentic Insider (AIM) has always been a platform for the difficult but important discussions, andthis month, our Prosecutor’s POV contributor, Kathryn Marsh discusses Childhood Sexual AbuseMaterial. What it is? And how do we protect children from exploitation? August’s contributor and Author, Bridey Thelen-Heidel of the upcoming book, Bright Eyes(available for presale) shares her powerful story of childhood trauma and why healing canoftentimes be Offensive AF and why you should do it anyway. How do you find Inner Peace? This month’s contributor and Author of Overcome the Overwhelm,Sam Kabert gives insight into his 6 Steps to Breathing For Inner Peace. So as you are getting back to the grind, be sure to take a break for yourself. AIM’s PsychedelicPOV contributor and Author of the Psilocybin Handbook for Women, Jennifer Chesak shares WhyDoing Nothing Could Actually Be What You Need to Boost Productivity. What is it like to be sick and on the list for a heart transplant in order to save your life? What is itlike for a person to be the recipient of the heart of the opposite sex. Jonathan Bogner, Founder ofPersonal Stories, shares his experience getting A Woman’s Heart. And as in every issue, we have our monthly AIM Playlist focused on Pumping You Up ForProductivity, along with my picks for children and adult books about mental health. Plus, check outJoy Larkin's Twin Flame Reading to see what's in store for you this August. Happy Reading!Lorilee BinstockAuthentic Insider | Page 02editor's noteLorilee BinstockEditor in Chief

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Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed Psychedelic Assisted Therapy https://moxieschool.com/the-art-of-transformation/www.moxieschool.comheather@moxieschool.comConnect: The IFS Model (Internal Family Systems) is one of the fastest growing and most popularinterventions for working with psychedelics. Why? Because it's such a natural and effectivepairing for the material that expanded states naturally elicit. Fast track your opportunity to learn IFS by joining The Moxie School in this wildly exciting niche! If you want to learn IFS as it applies to expanded states, The Art of Transformation courseteaches effective methods to deeply anchor transformation in your clients. No matter whatstage of the process you are working: preparation, guiding, or integration, an IFS Informedapproach is key to supporting your clients in lasting transformational change. Lots of courses teach “about” psychedelic assisted therapy, this course teaches you the “how to” of doing interventions throughout psychedelic transformational work.Whether you are a therapist, coach, or guide - a medical professional, mental healthprofessional, or a mid-life career transition person - you are welcome! Bring your curiosity for IFS and your love for working with expanded states!LEARN MORETHE ART OFTRANSFORMAIONAll the detailsAuthentic Insider | Page 08

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Second, the abuse was filmed or recorded andthird, these images and videos have been sharedhundreds or thousands of times. The victim isnever able to escape their abuse, and there is noend to the crime. 67% of CSAM survivors said thedistribution of their images impacts themdifferently than the hands-on abuse theysuffered because the distribution never ends andthe images are permanent.[iii] “After three yearsof abuse, I realized I would forever be hauntedwhen I was notified that my abuser haddistributed child sexual abuse material of me…Iwill now forever have to deal with thepermanent virtual footprint he has left in thewake of his actions.” [iv] Anastasia Chaglasian,survivor and co-founder of Protect Kids, NotAbusers. Not only does this permanent virtualfootprint haunt many CSAM survivors, but theyalso live in fear of the being recognized bysomeone. “Almost 70% of the survivors worriedabout being recognized by someone because ofthe recording of their child sexual abuse”.[v] It isfor the sake of these survivors that we distinguishCSAM from pornography. Just as there are nosuch things as child prostitutes, they are sexualassault victims, or consensual relationships withminors, again, they are sexual assault victims weneed to ensure we stop being polite orgentrifying the crime of child sexual abusematerial with the term pornography.Authentic Insider | Page 10[i] NCMEC statistics [ii] MIT Technology Review [iII] Britannica.com [iv] Survivors’ Survey Executive Summary 2017, Canadian Centre for ChildProtection. protectchildren.ca [v] Id [vi] Child Sexual Abuse Survivors Pen Their Own Justicehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/amandanguyen/2023/03/01/child-sexual-abuse-survivors-pen-their-own-justice/[vii] Survivors’ Survey Executive Summary 2017, Canadian Centre for Child Protection. protectchildren.caWhen we talk about child sexual abuse material,words matter, and when we call CSAM“pornography” as opposed to child sexual abusematerial we lessen the impact and harm theseimages have caused the victims. Pornographyhas been defined as “a representation of sexualbehavior in books, pictures, statues, films, andother media that is intended to cause sexualexcitement.”[i] Nothing in this definitionimplies the behavior is wrong, or even criminal.In fact, the making, distributing and viewing ofmost pornography is legal. However, everysingle aspect of CSAM is wrong and criminal innature. First, the victim, a minor, was sexuallyabused, most often by someone they know andtrust (82% of the primary offenders were parentsor extended family members of the child[ii]).

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Authentic Insider | Page 11The National Center for Missing and ExploitedChildren (NCMEC), Homeland SecurityInvestigations, the National Child ProtectionTask Force and several victims’ rights groups,like Protect Kids, Not Abusers have been callingon Congress to make significant changes to theUS Code, first calling the crime what it is – ChildSexual Abuse Material – and not pornography.This critical change has been proposed in theSTOP CSAM Act and the EARN It Act/COSMA.If you want to learn more about what is beingproposed, or how you might support legislationNCMEC maintains a page on proposed federallegislation on CSAM which can be found here:https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2023/survivors-speak-out-in-support-of-critical-child-protection-legislation.In addition to changing the way we talk aboutCSAM, it’s important to make sure we’re actuallyhaving the conversation about CSAM with thechildren in our lives. CSAM is available throughevery form of technology from social mediaapps, file-sharing, gaming devices and mobileapps. If there is a way to share information thereis way to request, extort, receive or share CSAMwith minors. Manufacturers and distributors ofCSAM look to exploit vulnerabilities of minorsto include something as simple as a child’s fearof getting in trouble with their parents orteacher. Make sure that you are talking to thechildren in your life and let them know that evenif they have violated the online rules of thehome, or have shared an image they shouldn’t,it’s ok to come to you. Too often children feelonce they have shared one image, they have nochoice but to continue to share more and moregraphic images or sex acts out of fear ofsomeone finding out. You can take away theperpetrator’s power by having these simpleconversations.NCMEC offers great training for children of allages and parents through their NetSmartzprogram. Missingkids.org/netsmartz/home. “I realized I would foreverbe haunted when I wasnotified that my abuser haddistributed child sexualabuse material of me” -Anastasia Chaglasian,survivor and co-founder ofProtect Kids, Not Abusers

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JOIN TAR NETWORK INTHE LAUNCH OF TAR ANONTAR Anon™ is an international fellowship of survivors who bring theirexperience, strength, and hope by sharing their personal truths. In doing so,they help others recover from the emotional battlefield stemming from TAR(Toxic Abusive Relationships).Our meetings take place in neurologically-safe settings and follow aprescribed recovery program of self-awareness and developing essentialself-love. TAR Anon’s trauma-informed path of emotional regulationtransforms lives in a healthy, co-regulated, non-judgmental way – helpingothers in the process.TAR Anon is powered by TAR Network™ – a 501(c)(3) charity with globalreach. Facilitated by trained TAR Mentors both online and in person, wepresent research-based Topics, Steps and Promises in each meeting. TARAnon is the only supportive and accessible program helping TAR survivorscome out of the fog and into the light.Powered by:tarnetwork.orgcontact@tarnetwork.org

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s the summer stretches into its final weeks, many parents find themselves facing aunique set of challenges. The initial excitement of summer has long worn off, and the dayscan feel endless. With limited childcare support, you’re likely juggling your own work whilefielding constant phone calls and text messages from your kids or their babysitter—if thebabysitter even shows up. Your children are likely bored, summer assignments are piling up,and it feels like every interaction turns into a battle. The relentless heat and lack ofstructure can leave everyone, including you, feeling irritable and drained.It's common to find yourself feeling frustrated with your kids, perceiving them as whiny ordifficult. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these behaviors may be signs of emotionaloverwhelm. Factors such as a lack of routine, separation from friends and social outlets,growing nervousness about the upcoming school year, and feelings of restlessness due toboredom can all contribute to your child’s emotional stress.Understanding these signs can help you respond in a supportive way, ensuring that you andyour children navigate these final weeks of summer with a little more ease.Written By Tina Hamilton, The Healing ParentAAuthentic Insider | Page 14

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2345167If your child suddenly becomes more clingy, needingconstant reassurance and physical closeness, theymight be feeling insecure or anxious.C L I N G I N E S S :Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or frequentnightmares can be a sign that your child is strugglingto process their emotions.S L E E P I S S U E S : A sudden change in eating habits, either eating muchmore or less than usual, can signal emotional distress.C H A N G E S I N A P P E T I T E :If your typically social child becomes withdrawn anddisinterested in activities they usually enjoy, this couldbe a sign of emotional overwhelm.W I T H D R A W A L :Frequent emotional outbursts can indicate that yourchild is feeling overwhelmed and doesn't know how toexpress their feelings in a more regulated wayI N C R E A S E D T A N T R U M SO R M E L T D O W N S :Headaches, stomachaches, and other physicalcomplaints without a clear medical cause can oftenbe linked to emotional stress.F R E Q U E N T C O M P L A I N T S O FP H Y S I C A L A I L M E N T S : Acting out or showing uncharacteristic aggressiontowards siblings, pets, or friends can be a way foryour child to express their inner turmoil.I N C R E A S E D I R R I T A B I L I T Y O RA G G R E S S I O N : 7 Signs of Emotional Overwhelm in Children Supporting yourself throughthe final weeks of summer Ifyou find yourself strugglingwith anger and frustration asyou navigate these final weeksof summer, consider joining myfree Mom Rage Masterclass.this important conversationaddresses the anger andfrustration that can consumeand isolate moms, providingactionable strategies to helpyou go from raging to calmwhen it's needed most. Sign up today to gain valuableinsights and tools that willsupport you in creating acalmer, more connectedrelationship with your childrenas summer comes to a close.The relentlessheat and lack ofstructure canleave everyone,including you,feeling irritableand drained.Authentic Insider | Page 15

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2356471Designate a quiet corner in your home where your child canretreat to when they need a break from stimulation.C R E A T E C A L M S P A C E S :Give your child a sense of control by offering choices in theirdaily activities. This can reduce power struggles and helpthem feel more in control. (Note: keep the choices limited to 2or 3 options to prevent decision paralysis!)O F F E R C H O I C E S : Acknowledge your child’s feelings without judgment. Let themknow it's okay to feel overwhelmed, bored, or otherwisefrustrated, and that you’re there to help.V A L I D A T E T H E I R F E E L I N G S : Regular physical activity can help reduce stress and improvemood. Find activities that your child enjoys and incorporatethem into your daily routine.E N C O U R A G E P H Y S I C A L A C T I V I T Y : Simple mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing orguided imagery, can help both you and your child managestress and stay grounded.P R A C T I C E M I N D F U L N E S S T O G E T H E R : Show your child that taking care of yourself is important. Thisnot only helps you stay calm and patient but also teaches themthe value of self-care.M O D E L S E L F - C A R E : Even a loose routine can provide a sense of stability andpredictability. Include time for play, learning, and relaxation.E S T A B L I S H A R O U T I N E :How to Respond toEmotional Overwhelm in Children Authentic Insider | Page 16

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Here are the five major points on why, in my view,banning smartphones (and the accompanying useof social media) is not wise. I include some optionsfor what we can do instead; that’s becausebanning cell phones and outlawing social media(an impossibility) or providing warnings of itsdangers doesn’t solve the problems youth face.5 POINTS5 POINTS5 POINTSMy reaction: Wouldn’t that be great if it were thatsimple. Yes, students are struggling in schools andwith mental wellness. Banning cell phones anderadicating social media isn’t the answer.In short, I have a different take on all this and adifferent approach to managing cellphones inschools and addressing usage (overuse and misuse)of social media among youth. (Note: that adultsoveruse cell phones and social media but that is adifferent topic for a different day.) And, I am wellaware of and acknowledge the difficulties ofeducators and youth mental wellness challenges. et’s call it the Cell Phone Conundrum. There is agrowing debate on the use of cell phones inschools as well as the massive use of social mediaby young people (much of which occurs onsmartphones). The argument is that both cellphone use and social media (alone or incombination) are damaging students’ learningand mental wellness.Three recent events converged, bringing theseissues to a new boiling point: (1) the decision bythe LA School System to ban cell phones startingin January 2025; (2) the pleas from the SurgeonGeneral to have warning labels for social medialike those employed for cigarettes; and (3) a newbook by Jonathan Haigt, suggesting thatsmartphones are the cause of youth mentalhealth crises. Here are three links to these recenthappenings:CellphoneConundrumKAREN GROSSTRAUMAEDUCATORTheTheTheWritten byWritten byWritten byWhy, in my view,banning smartphones(and the accompanyinguse of social media) is not wise.LAuthentic Insider | Page 19

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I know one graduate school professor who challenged his gradstudents to go on a “goose chase” through print or online orother avenues to find out any information they could garner onsomeone the professor knew well. (The person knew about thechallenge.) The professor expected they’d find nothing as he hadhelped this person (he thought) remove all accessible personalinformation. Oh was this professor wrong. The students wereengaged. Some of the information was found online; other wasfound in print; other data was gathered through phone and in-person interviews. Smart students are not just a smartphone.And yes, there was added incentive: a prize for the student whofound the most information. (To be fair, I changed these facts awee bit to protect the professor and the person researched. Letme add that the professor also wanted to test out how well hehad done protecting his friend from information access. Hefound his answer: the professor, not the students, failed.) Ponder research assignments done in class using AI on thesmartphone. Picture polling activities on the smartphone. Add indata analysis and graphing and mapping. Imagine ways peers cancollaborate among each other using the smartphone. Considerlooking at art and foreign locations on the smartphone. Imaginetranslating English into many other languages on thesmartphone. Reflect on dissecting actual social media as anactivity in English and Social Studies and the Science courses.Think about students doing the same exercise on their phone andwithout their phone: say researching the background of the mayorof their town or city.Let’s not poo- poo this reality as we do live in a complex,uncertain and fragmented world, filled with actual andperceived danger. Think about it this way: Imagine if weactually had a rule against all cell phone use in schoolsbut youth or parents could petition for an exception. Thelist of exceptions would be boundless: student mentalhealth; parental, grandparent or sibling illness; seriousrisk of fire or floods or earthquakes; anxiety-relatedrationales that have left a student uncomfortable out ofthe home; current events; harassment threats. Theexceptions would soon overpower and outnumber thosecovered by the rule itself.Banning as a concept (in thought or action) doesn’t work.We know this from prohibition; an underground marketfor alcohol burgeoned. (Think Joe Kennedy). We know toofrom our experience parenting that banning somethingoft-times increases the desire for and effort to get/usewhatever is taken away from offspring. Ban candy andkids want it more. Ban contact with a particularfriend/romantic interest and the desire for contactincreases. Consider all the youth who have been deniedwhatever it is they seek and get to college and then theyare like an unstuck drawer. They pursue what wasbanned in excess and that can and often is dangerous.Deadly even.We know that for some students and their families, aphone creates both connection and a sense of safety. Ifparents know they can reach their child in an emergency,that helps them let youth have increased freedom. Forkids struggling with separation (at any age or stage), acell phone is like a security blanket; family is only a phonecall away. And, if a student is in trouble and needs helpfor some horrific (or seemingly horrific) event, they have ameans of reaching out. Even knowing they can reach outhas benefits psychologically. Connection and itspossibility give us comfort. We can and should consider ways to make the cellphone andeven social media an integral part of learning and socialdevelopment. (The same goes for AI and ChatGPT where banningmakes zero sense.) Call it “phone pedagogy,” and we can helpeducators and counselors to develop skills in this arena if theyhave not already done so. Here’s the key: we need to use the cellphones FOR and TOADVANCE educational goals. Rather than confiscate them, wemust collaborate on how to use them. And yes, of course therecould be an opportunity to put phones in a bin at the front of theroom for some portion of the class time.BANNINGBANNINGBANNINGDOESN'T WORKDOESN'T WORKDOESN'T WORKA PHONE CANA PHONE CANA PHONE CANCREATECREATECREATECONNECTION AND ACONNECTION AND ACONNECTION AND ASENSE OF SAFETY.SENSE OF SAFETY.SENSE OF SAFETY.WE NEED TOWE NEED TOWE NEED TO USE CELLPHONESUSE CELLPHONESUSE CELLPHONES FOR AND TOFOR AND TOFOR AND TOADVANCEADVANCEADVANCEEDUCATIONAL GOALSEDUCATIONAL GOALSEDUCATIONAL GOALS Authentic Insider | Page 19

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Banning cell phones will, I suspect, increase the growingabsenteeism in schools. Youth are already skippingschool post-Covid for wide ranging reasons, includingdisinterestedness and lack of mental wellness. Cellphone banning will likely decrease the number ofstudents in schools, the opposite of the desired result. Ask students for their solutions. How do they wantcellphones treated in school? Empower them to talkabout it, reflect on differing perspectives, come up withcompromises. How powerful would that be, enablingstudents themselves to address an issue. That wouldbe a life lesson well worth replicating.I am struck and always have been with the ease withwhich adults think they know what is best in allinstances for youths. Yes, age does bring wisdom butwe’d be wise to recognize that we did grow up withoutcell phones and those who did might have someinsights that we lack. I am reminded of a play I just sawwritten by Solstice Lauren called Dead End about howparents fail to hear their adolescent children’s voices.She’s absolutely right. For those interested in this play(which could be performed in schools with somemodifications on language and the like), see:We want students to be in school, not just for contentlearning. We want them to be there because they canwork on social and emotional development. They cantap into school resources including food, counselors,social workers, coaches and peers. We gain nothing byyouth dropping out or stopping out. We can gain bymaking schools places where we can help students in amyriad of ways. Banning cell phones undercuts the goalof re-engaging students if we work to maximize how wemanage cell phones. And we know that connection andconnectivity (cell phones do that as does social media)are key to managing life’s exigencies including trauma.(See Mending Education by Karen Gross and Ed Wang(forthcoming S\\ept. 2024 from Teachers CollegePress).Authentic Insider | Page 18To sum up, we need to address cell phone use. I don’t havea problem with that statement. We can unravel creative,thoughtful and smart ways to address the cellphoneomnipresence. Is it possible, just a thought to consider,that these mini computers could enhance, not destroy,education? For me, we need to find the positives in cellphones and social media.There is truth to the observation that youth mental healthdemands our attention. What I question is the correlationbetween poor mental health and social media tied to cellphone use. The data is not yet in. Yes, social media hasmany downsides including meanness, false information,harassment and horrific challenges and statements thatmake youth feel like inadequate or like failures. Truth andfiction get intertwined.Banning social media is like the horse that left the barn.What needs to be changed is behavior on social media. Wealso need to address as well the urge many sadly have toget joy from humiliating others, much of which getsregurgitated on social media. People who behave badlyneed to be made responsible. See the story of the VermontState Representative who repeatedly poured water into thetote bag of a colleague which symbolizes meanness andthe need for remediation.Might it be wiser, then, to consider ways to engage moreequitably and decently on social media? Might we call outthose who post things that are mean and mean spirited?Banning social media doesn’t solve its negative impacts, allof which will find other outlets.Think about it this way. If water is pouring down and weprevent it from entering a certain path, it won’t stop thewater from finding other pathways and tributaries, evenones we never imagined. Social media and cellphonestoppage won’t cure youth mental health issues. Theproblem is vastly more complex than that.So, in that vein, call me or text me or find me on socialmedia. I’d be happy to connect and to share more. I’m easyto find, however you search.Call Me; Text Me;Call Me; Text Me;Call Me; Text Me;Engage with MeEngage with MeEngage with MeASK STUDENTSASK STUDENTSASK STUDENTSFOR THEIRFOR THEIRFOR THEIRSOLUTIONS.SOLUTIONS.SOLUTIONS.INCREASE THEINCREASE THEINCREASE THEGROWINGGROWINGGROWINGABSENTEEISMABSENTEEISMABSENTEEISMIN SCHOOLS.IN SCHOOLS.IN SCHOOLS. Authentic Insider | Page 21

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I watched the monstersbreak my mother—nightafter night—and when thegallons of red wine andpiles of pills no longernumbed her pain,confusion, and isolation,she gave in and becameone of the monsters.Her life was being wasted.Offensive AF he people who broke us—ortried to—were already brokenby their own choices, theirown mistakes, or their ownpast.Then they broke us—thechildren who were born tosave them—because if wewere whole, we wouldn’t looklike them, sound like them, orreflect enough of them toknow that we are from them. By Bridey Thelen-Heidel And if Humpty Dumpty had allthe king’s horses and all theking’s men and still couldn’tput Humpty together again,what chance did I have as alittle kid?A puzzle is a gameA childhood is not.That was me—ten years old andtorn, smashed, and missing theparts of myself I needed to puttogether the puzzle of who I was—without my mother’s chaos andconstant screams for rescue fromthe monsters she moved in againand again.When I was little, I got a puzzle from theSalvation Army. A tiny square of maskingtape keeping the box closed promised thatall the pieces were inside; however, afterhours of trying to put the puzzle together, Irealized it was impossible because pieceswere torn, smashed, or missing entirely.The problem with trying to findthe pieces of myself was thatmy mother’s puzzle wasdumped out on the same shagcarpet as mine—scatteredover stained engine oilbecause her latest monsterparked his Harley-Davidson inour living room. Her pieces andmine—in varying shades ofblack and blue—wereimpossible to tell apart.TAuthentic Insider | Page 23

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even whenthey’rewaving in our faces.WE NEED THESE IDENTITIES TO EXPLAIN OUR STORIES, JUSTIFY OUR EXCUSES,AND GIVE REASONS WHY WE CAN’T:I watched, waited, and wondered if I had anychoice but to become a monster, too? Maybe itwas pride, maybe it was studying all the“normal” families I watched on sitcoms, ormaybe it was just a deep knowing that I wasdifferent from them—that I didn’t belong in theirworld—that I could be and would be more. All Ihad to do was get down on my hands andknees and carefully examine every puzzle pieceto be sure I only took mine and left hers.The hardest part of sorting and separating wasknowing that once I put myself together—putall the parts of me in place—there wouldn’t beroom for her. Maybe severing the ties that bindfeels impossible because not only do theyconvince us they can’t survive without us, we—the broken ones—might not be able to survivewithout them. We—the broken ones—mightidentify as a victim or a survivor, and that isonly because of who we are with our monsters. WHY WE DON’T:OR WHY WE WON’T:“All I had to do wasget down on my handsand knees andcarefully examineevery puzzle piece tobe sure I only tookmine and left hers.”Authentic Insider | Page 24

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Maybe we’ve convinced ourselves that even if wecould find the pieces, shards, and fragments ofwho we were before them—if there ever was abefore—we’ll still be different. Our reflection in themirror distorted by a dozen cracks—slivers ofglass used to rip and shred any belief we had inthem or in ourselves.But we must heal, anyway. Because staying ishard. Leaving is hard. But doing nothing meansthey win.Surviving my monsters was a waking nightmareevery day but learning to live without them wasthe hardest habit to break. After deflecting,ignoring, pretending, and blocking the memories,I realized they were trapped deep inside of me,hiding in the darkest parts of my mind, body, andsoul. I wanted to be “fine” and move on with life,but they found cracks to slip through and showedup in my nightmares and sucker-punched mewith triggers I couldn’t control—classic rock songson the radio that steered me off the road andsmells of Giorgio and Budweiser that choked likehands around my neck. The cracks got biggerand wider—doors left wide open for the memoriessoaked in my guts to show up as illness,infections, and disease. There were doctors’ visits,hospital stays, whispers from devils, and bargainswith angels. Write it down, I heard. So I did.Stories I wrote just to burn. Stories I wrote to rememberand find answers. To cry. To heal. And to forgive—myself.The greatest and most necessary release of all. Forgivingmyself for not knowing any better, for keeping secretsand not telling anyone about the blues and blacks on ourbodies, and for not leaving when I had the chance.Making the decision to heal myself was offensive tothose who needed me to stay broken.Maybe your monsters will sound like mine—These are the lies you’ll hear before you stop answeringthe phone, before you block emails and DM’s, and beforeyou teach the voices in your head a new story to tell. But maybe you’ll get lucky, and your monsters will alsotell you the truth, like mine did—You are selfish and self-centered.Yes, I was. And this truth shall set you free.Write on.You think you’re so much better than me?You have no idea what you’re doing.You’re gonna regret this.You can’t live without me.You’ll beg for me to let you come back.Authentic Insider | Page 25

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I found myself crying on my knees in my kitchen floor listeningto a song called “Everything Changes” … Blindsided with a broken heart as the life I was building wasripped away without anything I could do to rectify thesituation. I was lost … days feeling numb and sleepless nights.Hello darkness, my old friend … here we are again. At this point in time, I was living a fairy tale life … from theoutside, others saw my partner and I as a power couple with apicture perfect family reminiscent of the movie “Pleasantville.'' As I was coping with an abrupt failed relationship, I foundmyself having a “dance party” in the kitchen to move someenergy.Tears are a hard thing for me to allow to drip down my face,despite working in the earth medicine space, being abreathwork practitioner and psychedelic integration guide.Yet, when I was moving my body to the rhythm of Soja’s soul-quenching harmonies, I could taste the saltiness from thetears flooding down my face like water in a free flowing river.My over-enthusiastic dog, Riley, knew something was wrong asshe was jumping up and down crying, trying to comfort me. Itwas too much for me … all of these emotions were just toomuch. All I could do was fall to my knees and surrender to thegrief that was coruscating through my body.I’ll never forget that night.CHOOSING “SHADOW WORK”Over the next few months as I processed being toldthat my now ex-partner was pregnant and beingblocked from the pregnancy, I was at a loss. Whenyou go through something like that, you have 2choices …The first of which is to resist and find victimhoodthrough blaming, denial and fighting. The second isacceptance.This became the most challenging period in my life.At this same time, my business that was barelystaying alive after the chaos of 2020 was meetingits tombstone. Packed on top of the emotionaldistress, I was now dealing with practicallybecoming broke. Mind you, this was just a fewyears after being named to Silicon Valley’s 40under 40 list and my industry’s Rising Stars. I don’tsay this to brag, rather to illustrate just how big thisdescent took me into the depths of my psyche.As I explored my inner world more, I becameenamored with Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book, “Breakingthe Habit of Being Yourself.” I became a student ofteachings that had to do with timeline therapy,hypnosis, and other methods to reprogram thesubconscious mind. I also was discouraged that Icouldn’t find a process that seemed to fit mylifestyle, so being a manifestor and go-getternaturally led me to creating my own process. Written By Sam Kabert, Author of “Overcome the Overwhelm: The6-Step B.R.E.A.T.H. Process toAccess Inner Peace”Authentic Insider | Page 27

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The very first step in the B.R.E.A.T.H. process is to noticeyou’re feeling an emotion that is sending you into fight orflight. As soon as you notice this, it’s an opportunity toslow down by responding instead of reacting. Any form ofbreathwork that activates the parasympathetic nervoussystem (rest and digest) works great. As a general rule ofthumb, focus on slow inhales through the nose andlonger and slower exhales through the nose (or mouth). As you continue to breathe, relax into your body.Continue with slow and deep breaths and allow yourselfto feel these energies moving through your body. It maybe tough, so remind yourself that emotions and energy inmotion and if you allow yourself to feel these energiesthe body actually processes them in as little as 90seconds. This step is all about getting curious … What are theseenergies teaching you? What’s the lesson? Is there a storybeing revealed to you? This is the most difficult part of the process for many ofus because as we start to reveal the lesson, we naturallycontract and tighten up. Remember, to allow yourself tosoften and accept … surrender to whatever is beingshown to you. After processing the deeper emotions, we’ve now earnedthe right to invoke the power of positive thinking to beginto reprogram the subconscious mind. As a result of going through this process, in what areas inyour life are you being asked to make changes? Thinkabout new habits, behaviors and actions to take.The 6-Step B.R.E.A.T.H. ProcessHere’s what I knew … Breathwork helps me to feelI have to feel to releaseEmotions are energy in motion, so how can I let thembe in motion and not stuck in the bodyOur bodies process emotions in 90 secondsI have to feel the heavier emotions before getting intopositive affirmationsI need to learn what’s going on within, so that I canknow what positive changes need to be made in my lifeThis understanding led to creating the 6-Step B.R.E.A.T.H.Process to help me to overcome the overwhelm I wasfeeling. The foundation of this framework is its shadow work.The first 4 steps are all about feeling what we don’t want tofeel.Here are the steps: #1. Breathe to Slow Down#2. Relax to Feel#3. Energy to Reveal#4. Accept to Surrender#5. Transform into Empowering Beliefs#6. Habits to IntegrateI have to feel theheavier emotionsbefore getting intopositive affirmations RELAX to FeelENERGY to Reveal ACCEPT to Surrender TRANSFORM into Empowering Beliefs HABITS to IntegrateBREATHE to Slow DownAuthentic Insider | Page 28

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JUST BREATHEThese are the 6 steps to go from fight or flight intopeace within just minutes. There’s a whole lot more Ihave to say on the subject, so much so, that I wrotea book entitled “Overcome the Overwhelm: The 6-Step B.R.E.A.T.H. Process to Access Inner Peace”.You can find the book on Amazon and when indoubt, remember these 3 simple themes … afterexperiencing the trigger … BREATHE, FEEL & THINKINTENTIONALLY.About the AuthorSam Kabert is a Serial Entrepreneur turned CertifiedBreathwork Practitioner and Keynote Speaker. He is theAuthor of the #1 Bestselling book, SOUL/Life Balance, andhost of the Soul Seekr Podcast. Sam spent the early part ofhis career chasing success and was named to Silicon Valley’s40 under 40 list at just 31 years old. In the past 5 years, he has courageously embraced atransformative path of self-discovery, centering his focus onprioritizing mental health. Sam is on a mission to offer toolsto overcome overwhelm and encourage the rise ofcompassionate leadership to eradicate the glorification of“hustle culture”. Learn more about his work atSamKabert.com. After processing thedeeper emotions, we’venow earned the right toinvoke the power ofpositive thinking to beginto reprogram thesubconscious mind.Authentic Insider | Page 29

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I’ve been doing a littlebit of nothing in between doing all the usualthings. It’s a good practice and it has benefits forour mental health, physical health, and creativity.But we live in a world that champions being busyand on our screens. Both are counterintuitive toour well-being.In 2022, I spent a grueling five monthsresearching and writing The Psilocybin Handbookfor Women, followed by another grueling fivemonths doing the final revisions and prepping forpromotion. My book hit shelves in June 2023. ThenI spent a year on book tour. By June 2024, I’d been nonstop busy with bookstuff for two years straight, all while maintainingmy university teaching load and working as afreelance journalist and editor. I’m not here tobrag about being busy. Instead, I want to presentthe benefits of and advocate for doing theopposite. And of course I’ll discuss psilocybin’spotential for helping. By Jennifer Chesak, Author of the Psilocybin Handbook for WomenP l u s , h o wp s i l o c y b i nm a y b e a b l et o h e l pAlthough the book writing and touring processwas incredible, when this summer rolled around, Ifaced burnout and exhaustion. I was struggling tofocus. As luck would have it, my schedule startedopening up then, especially on weekends. Butafter two years of being extremely busy, Iwondered what to do with myself. I especiallynoticed this when I spent several days alone at aremote cabin in the woods. I suddenly had a freeSaturday, and I felt out of sorts. “Shouldn’t I bedoing something?” I asked myself—and thehummingbirds. I did some gentle yoga on thescreened porch to ease some tension. Then I juststared out at the view. It was blissful. I did no workthat weekend, but I did have lightbulb momentabout what to write for my next book. (Staytuned!) And that brings me to the topic ofcreative epiphanies.Have you ever had a great idea or solved apressing problem while you were in the shower,out on walk, driving in your car, folding laundry,weeding the garden, etc.? This happens to me allthe time. I have my epiphanies when my laptop isnowhere in sight. Science has a reason for this,and it has to do with our brain’s default modenetwork (DMN).Authentic Insider | Page 32

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Plus, checking your phone over and over trapsyou in a false dopamine loop where you neverreally get a reward. And that’s a problem.Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s involved inmotivation and pleasure. Researchers are stilltrying to understand its complexity and role inour behavior. But it’s a factor in how we let ourphones steal our time. For example, we get anincrease in dopamine when we see a text from afriend or that someone has “liked” or commentedon our social media post. So we refresh to see ifwe have more likes or comments, or whateverelse might give us a random mini reward,especially when we feel a bit of boredom.These little “rewards” aren’t really all thatpleasurable or restorative when you think aboutit, not compared to the things that actually bringyou pleasure (and a better dopamine hit),whether that’s painting, journaling, reading,spending time with loved ones, getting out innature, etc.—things that make you feelrejuvenated.Phone scrolling can also activate our fight-or-flight system. If you’re scrolling, you’re likelyseeing political posts, news about the latest massshooting, and other disturbing content.Remaining aware of current events can be agood thing, but it can also be harmful ifoverdone and add to feeling burnout andexhaustion. Conversely, doing nothing or doingthe things that bring you true pleasure, can helpyou tap back into your parasympathetic nervoussystem, which is the opposite of fight-or-flight.In the last few weeks of summer, I encourage youto spend more time doing nothing. Nothingdoesn’t have to be totally nothing. It could be awalk in a nearby park. As long as your brain isidle and allowed to wander, you’ll be activatingyour DMN. Doing this can help fix burnout andleave you feeling restored. As a bonus, it cangive you those creative epiphanies that you’vebeen struggling to achieve, which can alsorejuvenate you and help you return to your workrefreshed.The DMN is a network of brain regions that worktogether to form our internal world: ourcreativity, sense of self, autobiographicalmemories, and ability to empathize. The DMN isalways active to a certain extent. But it’s lessactive when we’re not letting our brains wander.It’s less active when we’re answering work emails,doing work tasks, crunching numbers, etc. It’smore active when we’re doing nothing or whenthe brain gets to go where it wants to go. Whenwe engage in DMN activation, we tend to havethose creative epiphanies—and we feel better.The DMN also plays an important role when wejourney with psilocybin. When we take magicmushrooms, parts of the DMN that don’t normallyconnect will connect; likewise, parts thatnormally connect will disconnect. This can help usgain valuable insight about our life, identity,goals, and more. After a journey, the DMN largelyreturns to normal connectivity, but recentresearch from the Washington University Schoolof Medicine in St. Louis, published in the journalNature, shows, through brain scans, that somesmall changes last for weeks. Ultimately,psilocybin, and some other psychedelics can helpus develop new pathways of thinking, which canbe beneficial for well-being, behavior change,and creativity.Although a psilocybin journey may be able tohelp if you’re creatively stuck, you can reap thebenefits of activating the DMN by simply doingnothing. But we rarely do nothing anymore. Thinkabout it: You’re sitting in the waiting room for adoctor’s appointment, lying in bed before lightsout, or just chilling after a meal. What do we tendto do? We whip out the ol’ cellphone and scroll.Then we put it down and pick it right back upagain to refresh apps we just checked. That’s notactivating the DMN; it’s actually making the DMNless active.Authentic Insider | Page 33

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As the mental health crisis reaches devastating levels post pandemic, more and more people arelooking for ways to manage their mental health. How does a childhood sexual abuse survivor, a veteran struggling with PTSD and an athletesuffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), trauma, and addiction find effective healing andrelief? Psychedelics. A treatment that was studied and used as effective treatment for mental health disorders until itwas banned and categorized as a schedule I drug in the 1970s, psychedelics have providedmuch needed relief for thousands of people suffering from trauma and mental health issues.Regardless of the laws banning these treatments, the people who understood the power of thesemedicines feel more empowered to find ways to help others find healing through them. On thefollowing page click on the graphic to view the Proof of Concept for "Our Own PersonalRealities." An Upcoming Documentary about the Fight toBring Psychedelic Healing Back into the LightAuthentic Insider | Page 39

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Written by Jonathan Bogner, Founder of Personal Stories had been in the Cardiology Unit of the hospital forover thirty days waiting for a new heart when mycardiologist walked into my room and informed me thatI was getting a woman’s heart now. Initially, I didn’tthink much about the gender of my new heart waitingfor me. I must have been too dazed at the doctor’ssudden news. I asked one question about lifeexpectancy, but not much else. While many people inmy situation might become elated, that came a fewminutes later. I became more self-absorbed, maybe evenobsessed, about how my life had seemingly gone southand about everything that was happening to me. It wasoverwhelming. This led me to the stark realization that it doesn’t getmore real - in a very short time I would be whisked intosurgery and wake up with someone else’s heart inside ofme - a woman’s heart. Very few people will have thisexperience in their lives. Keywords: “Very Few People.”I realized I was one of the fortunate few to get a heart.All at once I was grateful to this woman who had theempathy and the courage to donate her heart which, bysome divine act of kismet, had the same blood type andsimilar proportions of my own failing heart. On the flip side, I was unaware that I had just bought aticket to “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” My donor’sheart had problems that would manifest post-surgery.But at that point, I was simply thrilled. All I could say orthink of was, “Let’s get this done.” This heart transplantwill change my life. I’ll get more years to walk thisplanet. More years with my wife, my family, my friends.More years to pursue my life’s passions.By the time I hit thirty days in the cardiology unit ofthe hospital, my anxiety was in the red zone, and Icould feel myself getting weaker by the day. I wassick, i.e. ‘One foot in the grave’ sick. I needed 4 IVs tokeep me alive. So, when the doctor informed me ofthe donor’s heart, of course, I said ‘yes’ withouthesitation. If I’d said, ‘No, I don’t want a woman’sheart’, what would the repercussions be? What would‘no’ mean to the team of doctors and nurses caring forme? What would it mean to my surgeon? Would itmean going back into the waiting line? And I coulddie waiting. This was my reality. Given all of that, itwas best to say ‘ yes’, and accept the heart. Iimmediately called my wife, my son, my friends andmy family. This was happening.Now that I’ve had the heart for a year and a half, I’min a better place to examine what my life has been likesince having the surgery. And along with that,questions emerge: What does it mean to get awoman’s heart? What does it do to life expectancy?What are the differences in a man’s heart compared toa woman’s heart? Did it change my personality? Did itchange my emotions? Does the heart have a memory?All these things were weighing on my mind.All at once I was grateful to thiswoman who had the empathyand the courage to donate herheart which, by some divine actof kismet, had the same bloodtype and similar proportions ofmy own failing heart.

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As it turns out, there is not a significant differencebetween a man’s heart and a woman’s heart. I amnot a big guy. I stand around 5’6’’ and weigh in at120 pounds. A man’s heart might be a little bigger,but a woman’s heart has a slightly greater ejectionfraction.Did I enter menopause? Did I get hot flashes? No.I got a cold flash. I make jokes now - mostly badones - that I can go into any bathroom. I am a truehe/she. I guess I can go into any dressing room aswell … not really. Mostly, I’m just grateful that Iget to be on this earth a while longer.I do think my personality and my emotions havechanged. I now consider myself to be a moreempathetic person. I feel more profoundly andunderstand more about the effect of our actions onother people. I think my OCD has become moreof a part of my essential personality. Weirdly Ithink my taste has changed, my likes and dislikeshave been altered. I know for sure that my PTSDhas been worse. I cry a lot more than I used to. Butthat is a good thing.Is there a downside involved in my new life? Isn’tthere a downside to just about everything? Andhere it is the donor had two problems that I wasunaware of. The first my doctors were aware ofand the second they didn’t know about. Thedonor had heart spasms. Most people experiencespasms in their hands and legs, like muscle spasms.They tend to go away. My donor had heart spasmsthat presented like a heart attack.The doctors finally figured this out and gave medrugs to relieve the spasms. The other thing thatthe donor passed on to me via her heart wasCytomegalovirus (CMV). In that sense, we werea mismatch. The doctor knew that this was aprobability. I am still currently dealing withcontrolling the CMV virus, but at least it’s aknown issue that can be addressed. And I cancontinue to say, “I’m still here.”The donor gave me her heart and for that, I willbe eternally grateful. Perhaps it’s obvious but it isstill worth saying that the donor had to give upher life so that I could get my life back. That is anoble gift.On my first anniversary, I wrote the donor’sfamily a letter to thank them for giving a totalstranger back his life. It’s the best and mostmeaningful letter I’ve ever written.Now that I’ve had the heartfor a year and a half, I’m in abetter place to examinewhat my life has been likesince having the surgery. “I’m still here.”Authentic Insider | Page 42

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“Astronaut in the Ocean” by masked wolf“don’t stop me now” by queen“eye of the tiger” by survivor“thunder” by imagine dragons“whatever it takes” by imagine dragons“counting stars” one republic“‘the greatest” by Sia“when I come around” by greenday“don’t stop believing” by journey“lose yourself” by eminem“seven nation army” by The white stripes“we are the champions” by queen“it’s my life” by bon jovi“Wild child” by Dennen“August” by taylor swiftPUMP ME UP PLAYLISTAs we get ready for regularlyscheduled programming, I’ve takenmy son’s playlist that he chose topump himself up for his hockeytournament. This is also a playlist Ilisten to well after I drop him off. Ialso added an extra song for August.;) Whether, it’s the lyrics or the beat,It boosts my confidence and gives methe energy to take on the day. Hopeit does the same for you.Pump Me Up PlaylistPump Me Up PlaylistMUSICMUSICMUSICMUSIC

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Authentic Insider | Page 46Routines Embracing structure and practicing routines provideschildren with a strong foundation from which they can learn andbuild new skills. "Sloth's Daily Plan" outlines the routines that helpSloth feel safe and secure throughout his day. This story alsoreminds us that everyone deserves time and space for self-care(caregivers included!) and that it's important to take breaks toensure our needs are being met. With Reflect & Connect questionsat the end, caregivers are supported in deepening their child'sunderstanding of this important emotional skill.*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Every time you make a GOOD CHOICE your RESPONSIBILITY SPOTGROWS and it makes you feel more CONFIDENT and HAPPY! Thisstory is about a little RESPONSIBILITY SPOT that shows you waysyou can make GOOD CHOICES to GROW your RESPONSIBILITYSPOT.There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look ortalk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something justas random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place wherenobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. JacquelineWoodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us thatwe all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we goforth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin toshare our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.

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Society has programmed us to fit into a mold without our consent,conditioning us through our outdated ways of living and influencing ourbeliefs. We have lost our spiritual connection on Earth and, as a result, lostthe ability to truly think for ourselves. The alternative is to choose to own oursovereignty and to create a life that lights us up with joy. In this book, authorSam Kabert offers a new model for living and centering our being: SOUL/LifeBalance, which involves shifting our emphasis from work and replacing it withour greater essence of Soul, in order to enhance our Human Experience.Overcoming Overwhelm, at its core, is about slowing down. The outer worldmoves fast, and if we put our focus there, we will let it dictate our innerworld, and thus our inner world will be a landscape of chaos. So, instead,start by reshaping your inner world. This book utilizes the 6-Step“B.R.E.A.T.H.” process, teaching readers how to connect with their breath andcalm down their nervous systems - the most direct way to overcomeoverwhelm.Bridey is tethered to her mom’s addiction to dangerous men who park theirHarley-Davidsons in the house and kick holes in all their doors. Raised to beher mother’s keeper, rescuer, and punching bag, Bridey gets used to stuffingher life into black trash bags, hauling them between Alaska and California,and changing schools every time her mom moves in a new monster—or runsaway from one. Bright Eyes is about the indomitable spirit of a young girlforced to be brave, required to be resilient, and conditioned to be optimistic,and how she ultimately uses the same traits that helped her to survive hermother’s chaos to create her own happily-ever-after.*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Authentic Insider | Page 47Mental Health Books (for adults)Pre-OrderPre-Orderto get your copy!to get your copy!

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For the month of August, I see that someone could be feeling upset or justdepressed about a situation or that someone could feel unsettled. I feel that manyof you could be practicing self love and care during this time. Someone could betrying to come around to apologize for something but it feels like a manipulationtactic. So please be careful.During this time a few selected people could be feeling restricted, stuck, and notwanting to move forward. Whether this is you or someone else.A person may not want to see a situation from a different perspective. This couldcause a hold up. I feel that a person may need to use their intuition regarding aperson. I get a sense that many people could be watching you online. A few don’t want to move on. There are people who want to work something out. Abetrayal could have happened in a situation, but it came to an end. However,someone doesn’t want to let go.I do see a lot of success. For many it might be a relationship or it could be in yourcareer. I feel like there are many obstacles that could come up , but I see many ofyou overcoming it, leading to so much growth. New beginnings are coming in withprosperity. It doesn't have to be finances but just a mindset. August will be a great month for most. A lot of patience is needed. Keep going anddon't give up.About JoyAbout JoyJoy is a Narcissistic AbuseSurvivor who has made it herlife's work to help others throughlife coaching. She is also a healer,earth angel and psychic medium.If you would like coachingservices from Joy and/or getyour own personal reading,please scan the barcode belowwith your smartphone camera.READINGSPersonalINFOCoachingAuthentic Insider | Page 44

AIM August 2024

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