The Evolve Mag Magazine, November 2020 by THE EVOLVE MAGAZINE

Photo by Hue12 Photography

CONTENTS November’20 10

Holsom by Yogurtland

Chef-Designed Recipes Created for an Unforgettable Thanksgiving Day

Château Cantenac Brown’s Carbon-Neutral New Winery

Jordin Sparks, Ashley Everett and Melissa Butler Raise a Glass to the Beauty of Black Women

World’s First Female Founder Summit and Pitch Competition

Women’s Wheelchair Dance Teamto Host Virtual Experienc for Women with Disabilities

24 MasterClass Announces Annie Clark St. Vincent to Teach Creativity & Songwriting

28 28 Mind Games: Seven Traits of the Mind That Keep You from Being Your Best Self 32

26 How to Master the Art of “Respectful Truth-Telling”

One Breath

36 Envision Your Future

4 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

KATE KUBRA CELENK Publisher, Editor in Chief CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Gokce Gizer

CREATIVE DESIGN TEAM

Innosance LLC

COVER PHOTO

MasterClass

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Gokce Gizer Libby Pecheur Liz Galloway Sabine Schindlbauer

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Poetfish Maui Freedive Ohana Patrick Langwallner Freedive Ohana WildQuest Cristina Dogliani Manny Moreno Fauxels Sam Kolder Alekon pictures Brandon Cormier Hue12 Photography Jeremy Thomas

Cover, November 2020 Photo Credit: MasterClass

Copyright © 2020 The Evolve Mag by Innosance LLC. © 2020 The Evolve Mag by Innosance LLC.’s Copyright subsists in all work published in this magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. The Evolve Mag by Innosance LLC. cannot accept responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Innosance LLC a license to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine. The Evolve Mag by Innosance LLC. endeavors to respect the intellectual property of the owners of copyrighted material reproduced herein. If you identify yourself as the copyright holder of material we have wrongly attributed, please contact with us. Publication of articles does not necessarily reflect the official position of the The Evolve Mag by Innosance LLC.

CONTACT

Editorial Inquiries: kate@theevolvemag.com Contributing Inquiries: gg@theevolvemag.com Advertising Inquiries: sales@theevolvemag.com

5 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

EDITOR’S LETTER

eporting from the West Coast, here is still summer. If, finally the weather is cooling wherever you are; then, get your hot mug, pull over a blanket, and enjoy another one of our articles that are full of psychological exercises and are thought enhancing.

Let’s talk about our November cover. We have Annie Clark, known professionally as St. Vincent, is an American singer and songwriter this month. Multiple Grammy Award-winning artist will teach creativity and songwriting on MasterClass, the streaming platform. I’m pleased to announce that Vegan Women Summit, a media, and events organization dedicated to inspiring, educating, and empowering rising female-identifying leaders to bring compassion to their career and industry on Dec. 5. It’s time for professional women to stop glossing over their feelings at work and tell the truth, assertively. Senior healthcare executive and speaker Jackie Gaines shares tips to help women find their voices through “respectful truthtelling.” You can read the full article on page 26. “In life, the journey is more important than the destination; however, without a North Star to guide you in the right direction, you might keep sailing, eventually getting lost at sea, deprived of all the things that bring you joy,” says Gokce Gizer, Evolver, Coach & Consultant. She continues to thrive our life journey by her exercises from her the ‘The Evolve Mag’ series of the 7-step journey. We’ll get tips on envisioning the future from her in this issue. Hope you’ll enjoy reading this issue!

Kate Celenk Kate Kubra Kacmaz Celenk Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

6 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

CONTENTS November’20 42 Finding Your Uncomfortable Comfortable 45 Why Centering our Purpose is the Only Way Through The Election 48 Do’s And Don’ts When Shopping For A Platinum Engagement Ring Online 50 Pandora Releases Star WarsInspired Collection Coming to Our Galaxy 52 “Holiday Is Where You Find It” 56 Hudson’s Bay Taps Moschino Creative Director Jeremy Scott To Design Limited Edition Collaboration 58 Mansur Gavriel Introduces a New Family of Multitude Totes

42 52

7 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos Courtesy of Holsom by Yogurtland

Yogurtland Announces New Ways to Create with the Launch of New Fast Casual Concept

Holsom by Yogurtland

T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

FOOD.

Yogurtland, the nation’s leading frozen yogurt brand, is thrilled to announce the expansion of its brand with the launch of a new fast-casual concept, Holsom by Yogurtland. The trendy eatery will be an extension of the Yogurtland brand experience we all know and love featuring the highest quality ingredients, amazing and delightful flavors, and customizable made-to-order menus. Holsom by Yogurtland will open its doors mid-November in Huntington Beach, CA offering locals an innovative menu with an emphasis on delicious, affordable, and wholesome better-for-you options. For nearly 15 years, Yogurtland has continued to elevate the frozen dessert experience by providing unique flavors made from real ingredients and delicious toppings, and by delivering a world-class customer experience. In line with the Yogurtland experience, Holsom by Yogurtland will offer delicious new ways to create with the expanded menu options that include craveable grain bowls and gourmet toasts that complement the handcrafted beverages and Yogurtland’s signature frozen yogurt and toppings. At Holsom, customers can choose from an assortment of savory and sweet options for a healthful indulgence. Savory menu will include Everything Egg Toast, Roasted Tomato Basil Toast, Southwest Crunch Toast, and made-to-order grain bowl flavors such as Classic, Thai Peanut, Greek, and Chipotle Southwest. For those with a sweet tooth, guests will be able to delight in toasts like Sweet Ricotta & Berry Toast with fresh blueberries, and customizable sweet bowls such as Strawberry Banana Granola or Peanut Butter with acai and sweetened chia pudding as base options. Their extensive menu will also feature handcrafted beverages such as Strawberry Lemonade Fresca, Strawberry Mint Sparkler, and Pineapple Green Tea. “For our guests, coming to Yogurtland has always been about the experience. Holsom by Yogurtland will differentiate itself from the sea of fast-casual brands by extending the Yogurtland experience of customizing unique creations beyond frozen yogurt to bowls, toast, and beverages,” said Sam Yoon, Senior Vice President of Yogurtland. “Our team has been working hard to develop this fantastic concept designed to offer high quality, approachable, gourmet food options at a value-driven price to be experienced in a uniquely Yogurtland way. We’re extremely excited to introduce the community to the new expanded dining experience that will allow our guests to indulge their creativity and create flavors that are as unique as themselves.” Holsom by Yogurtland was birthed through extensive research and development efforts to understand and address the customers’ wants and needs. Further, though conceptualized long before the pandemic hit, Yogurtland was able to quickly adapt to the changing times. Contactless ordering and delivery, curbside pick-up, and socially distanced patio seating are just a few of the amenities featured at Holsom that balances the safety and convenience of its guests. For more information, please visit yogurt-land.com/holsom. T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

11 T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photo Courtesy of Blue Apron

12 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

CHEF-DESIGNED RECIPES CREATED FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE

Thanksgiving Day FOOD.

Blue Apron is introducing its first-ever Thanksgiving feast, featuring chef-designed recipes created for an unforgettable, stress-free, and delicious Thanksgiving Day meal. Known for its unique take on everyday recipes, Blue Apron’s Thanksgiving-inspired, southern-style menu will give options to suit every holiday table for parties up to eight people. Complete with a step-by-step guide on how to organize, prepare, and cook a Thanksgiving meal, Blue Apron will also support its home cooks by sharing tips on its social channels to help make the holiday as fun as possible. “Thanksgiving is going to be different for many families this year, and we’re happy to join them in the kitchen by creating a one-stop shop to make their entire holiday feast a little easier,” said John Adler, Vice President of Culinary at Blue Apron. “Building upon positive reactions to our dessert offering last year, we wanted to give our home cooks more Thanksgiving options, especially as some people may find themselves playing different roles, either as a first-time host or just cooking for themselves.” Customers can select a complete Thanksgiving feast with a boneless and easy to carve turkey breast, side dishes and dessert; or add Thanksgiving recipes to the Signature Menu they know and love, including a holiday pork roast, dessert or side dishes. Blue Apron will also offer a Holiday Feast Favorites wine bundle, featuring its chefs’ selections of four red and two white wines chosen to complement its new Thanksgiving dishes. To learn more about Blue Apron’s Thanksgiving options and to get updates, visit cook.blueapron.com/thanksgiving-mealdelivery.

13 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos by Cristina Dogliani, Courtesy of Château Cantenac Brown

CHÂTEAU CANTENAC BROWN’S CARBON-NEUTRAL

New Winery

When 40-year-old agronomist Tristan Le Lous and his family acquired Château Cantenac Brown in December 2019, they developed an ambitious plan to design a winery as sustainable and close to nature as possible. Together with winemaker José Sanfins, they brought on architect Philippe Madec, who was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor for his work in sustainability.

In order for the new winery to blend into the natural landscape, it will be designed around the existing buildings on the 220-acre estate and built entirely from raw earth and natural, untreated wood from the surrounding Aquitaine region (resulting in a zero-carbon footprint). The cellar walls will be built using an ancient construction method compressing clay and sand directly on

14 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

to the château. Built using the same technique, the low-vaulted roof of the winery will be the only one in Europe of this scale and the only loadbearing one in the world. The winery will be entirely gravity-fed, so the grapes are gently handled, and the vat room will be made up of a large number of small vats, which allows for

high precision blending. Without air conditioning or energy consumption, the thermal inertia of the raw earth winery will provide the ideal atmosphere to ensure the stabilization and aging of the wines. Château Cantenac Brown’s winery is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2023 harvest, and the Le Lous family hopes it will serve as a model for sustainable design that can tackle climate change in decades to come.

Bordeaux Third-Growth Cantenac Brown, a 220-acre estate in the Médoc region, was founded by John Lewis Brown, a Scottish merchant in 1806. The Tudor-style castle overlooks the Gironde estuary and features a wooded parkland roamed by Scottish sheep. The 148 acres of vines surrounding the château are spread across the Margaux and Cantenac plateaux, making them some of the best situated in the Margaux appellation. Tristan Le Lous, an agronomist with a passion for oenology, purchased Château Cantenac Brown with his family in December 2019 and runs the estate jointly with winemaker José Sanfins.

15 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos Courtesy of Barefoot Wine

JORDIN SPARKS, ASHLEY EVERETT AND MELISSA BUTLER RAISE A GLASS TO THE BEAUTY OF BLACK WOMEN 16 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

FOOD.

Barefoot Wine, a brand committed to inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices, brings Jordin Sparks, Ashley Everett, and Melissa Butler together for We Stan for Her, a dynamic four-part web series centered around the unique beauty experience of Black women in America. In the series, which launches today, each woman shares their personal journeys, challenges, and wins that will make viewers laugh, relate and, most importantly, learn. As a longstanding corporate ally to diverse communities, the #WeStanForHer campaign aims to demonstrate Barefoot’s continued commitment to Black women and builds upon last year’s Project Purple Light, which celebrated Black women as art by crowdsourcing user-submitted content that was featured in a live and digital art gallery.

Meet the Cast: Jordin Sparks – Jordin is a multiplatinum recording artist and actress who first rose to fame as the winner of American Idol at the tender age of 16. A Grammy nominee, she continues to create music and as well as pursue her other passions like fitness and baking. Ashley Everett – Ashley is a professional dancer and actress who has worked with some of entertainment’s biggest stars. Melissa Butler – Melissa is the founder and CEO of a nationwide beauty brand, which she originally started in 2012 after becoming frustrated with the beauty industry’s lack of diversity. Produced by Stony & Yates, each We Stan for Her episode focuses on a key topic, including:

Crowns on Our Head: Sharing perspectives on natural hair versus other hairstyles. Our Beautiful Story: How heritage and upbringing contribute to beauty preferences and routines. Thriving Queens: Examining Black representation in the beauty industry, while also exploring beauty standards in the workplace. Self-Love: Discussing the concepts of self-love, self-acceptance, and feeling confident and beautiful from the inside out. The series openly examines the culturally unique experience of this community, and these discussions create a forum for Black women to share personal perspectives and challenge the perceptions of beauty while showcasing a community that is often critiqued and overlooked. “As we continue our work highlighting the brilliance, grace, and beauty of Black women, Jordin Sparks, Ashley Everett and Melissa Butler each lend their respective voice and incredible stories to the We Stan for Her series,” says Shannon

Armah, Associate Brand Manager for Barefoot. “We hope the discussions shared throughout the series create moments for all Black women to feel seen and celebrated, while also sparking important dialogue amongst viewers.” “Bringing these important conversations to life alongside Ashley and Melissa has really been a thought-provoking and rewarding experience,” says singer, songwriter, and actress Jordin Sparks. “While filming the We Stan For Her series, I reflected on my journey as a Black woman in entertainment, and I hope the series encourages Black women everywhere to celebrate themselves and reflect on their unique experiences and stories.” To watch all four We Stan for Her episodes and for more information, visit barefootwine.com/we-stan-for-her.

T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos Courtesy of Vegan Women Summit

18 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

WORLD’S FIRST FEMALE FOUNDER SUMMIT AND PITCH COMPETITION Vegan Women Summit, a media and events organization dedicated to inspiring, educating, and empowering rising female-identifying leaders to bring compassion to their career and industry, will continue to transform the food tech industry with the world’s first founder summit and pitch competition dedicated to female-identifying founders building the future of plant-based innovation. On Dec. 5, VWS Pathfinder will help raise awareness of the persistent gender inequality that female entrepreneurs around the world face in fundraising and connect the brightest emerging ideas in plant-based innovation with leaders in venture capital. The top prize of the competition is valued at over $50,000, including a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by Purple Orange Ventures, $35,000 of branding services from Evolution Bureau, global membership to WeWork office space, and more.

“Almost half of female founders and CEOs in the food tech industry have encountered bias, particularly gender bias, from investors, while nearly half of all female founders of color have experienced racial bias,” said Jennifer Stojkovic, founder of Vegan Women Summit. “VWS Pathfinder creates a platform to showcase and drive investment to these underfunded and overlooked up-and-coming founders while bringing out the industry’s top leaders to inspire and educate this future generation. With founders and CEOs joining from five continents, we are proud to create the much-needed amplification for these voices and will feature a lineup with more than twothirds founders of color.” Last month, Vegan Women Summit released the results of a survey of 160 female-identifying founders and top executives at plant-based and cell-based

food startups around the world. In a key finding, 48% of respondents say they have faced bias during the fundraising process, with 75% of those women saying they have faced gender bias specifically. The Dec 5. event will also include CEO panels, founder chats, and session programming featuring more than two dozen of the world’s leading founders and CEOs in the plant-based space, including Miyoko Schinner (Miyoko’s Creamery), Shama Sukul Lee (CEO of Sunfed Meats), Daniella Monet (Co-founder of Kinder Beauty Box), and Denise Woodard (Partake Foods). Notable venture capitalists joining from the food technology industry include Matilda Ho (Bits x Bites), Lisa Feria (Stray Dog Capital), Regina Hecker (Blue Horizon Ventures), and Miray Zaki (Dismatrix). The event is also being sponsored by leading plant-based companies across the world, including Upfield, Miyoko’s

19 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Creamery, and Califia Farms, in addition to more than half a dozen venture capital firms, including VegInvest, Big Idea Ventures, and Vegan Capital. “Stray Dog Capital is proud to continue to support Vegan Women Summit through the VWS Pathfinder event. It’s been proven that diverse teams deliver outsized returns and we fully support the female founders that are driving so many of these startups,” said Lisa Feria, CEO of Stray Dog Capital. Miyoko Schinner, CEO of Miyoko’s Creamery, added, “The future of the planet depends on finding the best and brightest talent across the world to change the food system. By building a more inclusive, global ecosystem to empower, cultivate, and support female founders through VWS Pathfinder, we can bring more solutions to the table, move quicker to enact change, and create a kinder future for us all.” Applications for VWS Pathfinder will be accepted from founders around the world through Oct. 23. Ten semifinalists will be selected and then narrowed to five finalists, who will be announced on Dec. 1. Both the selection committee and the final jury panel will consider the market impact, team experience, growth potential, business model, differentiation, and value proposition of each pitch.

“The challenge we’ve given ourselves at Vegan Women Summit is to find innovative ways to build the next generation of female founders in the plant-based space,” Stojkovic said. “Through our recent survey results, we have discovered more than one-third of female founders entering the space move towards a more plant-based diet after founding their company. We are eager to explore this opportunity and create a mainstream entry point into the industry for founders coming from all backgrounds.” For more information about Vegan Women Summit, visit veganwomensummit.com. For more information about VWS Pathfinder or to submit a pitch, visit veganwomensummit.com/pathfinder.

20 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photo Courtesy of Rollettes

WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR DANCE TEAM TO HOST VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES The Rollettes, a Los Angeles based dance team that is comprised of seven women who use wheelchairs, is hosting their 8th annual Rollettes Experience virtually this year due to COVID-19. In previous years, women who use wheelchairs from around the globe travel to Los Angeles and spend quality time meeting other women who have similar disabilities. The virtual Rollettes Experience will take place on October 10-11 and is open to women of all ages and disabilities. The event will be hosted by the Rollettes team, CEO and Founder of the Rollettes Chelsie Hill, Broadway Star, and Tony Award winner Ali Stroker, Makeup Influencer Steph Aiello, Paralympic Gold Medalist Mallory Weggemann, and many more trailblazers from the disability community. Special Guest appearance includes Judith E. Heumann, International Disability Rights Advocate featured in Netflix’s Crip Camp. The two-day event will consist of seminars on working out, stretching, makeup classes, and dance classes led by well-known Hollywood choreographers. The Rollettes virtual experience will include two panels on topics surrounding disability. The first panel, how to own your disability, which will be led by disabled model and actress Jillian Mercado, five-time U.S. Paralympic Medalist Alana Nichols, Founder & CEO of Cur8able Stephanie Thomas, and

Founder and CEO of Ingenium Manufacturing Arielle Rausin. The second panel, dating, relationships, and intimacy with a disability which will be led by Disability Rights Activist & Sex Educator Izzie Bullock, Author of Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body Rebakah Taussing, and disability advocate Alyssa Higgins. At the end of the event, there will be a virtual pajama party and the Boundless Babe Awards, which highlights powerhouse women who have attended the event. In 2019, hundreds of women and kids across the U.S. and 14 countries traveled to Los Angeles to experience this event. “My favorite part about the Rollettes Experience is that we see women and children from all over the world bond with others like them,” said Chelsie Hill, Founder, and CEO of the Rollettes. “We have the opportunity to connect, learn, and dance. We are so honored to have built a place for women with disabilities to come together and gain independence. This live virtual experience this year will allow more women and kids to experience this community who may not be able to come to Los Angeles due to finances or physical ability.” For more information on the 2020 virtual Rollettes Experience, go to rollettesexpereince.com.

23 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos Courtesy of MasterClass

MasterClass Announces

ANNIE CLARK ST. VINCENT

to Teach Creativity & Songwriting 24 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Grammy Award-Winning Artist Annie Clark Gives an Intimate, Rare Look into Her Artistic Development & Creative Process MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects, announced that multiple Grammy Award-winning guitarist, singer, songwriter, and director, Annie Clark, known professionally as St. Vincent, will teach a class on creativity and songwriting. Taking members behind the curtain of her public persona, Clark gives an intimate look into her artistic development, from how to effectively generate ideas to how to pursue a project to completion. Clark’s class is now available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers get unlimited access to all 90+ instructors with an annual membership. “Annie is one of the most inventive and creative artists of our time,” said David Rogier, founder, and CEO of MasterClass. “In her MasterClass, she shelves her public persona to give members an intimate road map of her creative journey, diving into inspiration, writing, recording, live performance, and what it means to be an artist.” Annie Clark debuted her musical persona, St. Vincent, in 2007 with her debut album, Marry Me. Having previously performed with the symphonic pop band The Polyphonic Spree and Grammy and Academy Award-nominated artist Sufjan Stevens, Clark’s first foray into solo songwriting would lay the foundation for what would become a series of modern music’s

most distinctive and exciting artistic identities. Fusing elements of indie, rock, electronic, and jazz, subsequent St. Vincent albums Actor and Strange Mercy expanded on a sound that defied genre and convention, marrying esoteric guitar heroics with deeply personal and poetic songwriting. In 2014, the eponymous St. Vincent made her the first solo female artist in 20 years to win the Grammy for Best Alternative Album; three years later, she took home two more Grammys for Best Recording Package and Best Rock Song for the title track of her 2017 album, MASSEDUCTION. “All you need are ears and ideas and you can make anything happen,” said Annie Clark. “In my MasterClass, I will share with you performance tips, songwriting tips, studio tips and give an inside look into my creative process so you can use your own creativity to move the needle in a more empathetic direction for the world.”

the demystification of popular music as Clark takes members into the studio and gives an inside look at how the songs they love came to be. From breaking down the songwriting process from inception to execution and examining the personal journeys associated with being an artist, Clark highlights the importance of the individual in the creative process. For more advanced songwriters, producers and performers, she provides tips on how to turn creative ideas into finished products, from building a basic home studio to honing their guitar skills and tips for delivering a live performance. Clark gives a never-before-heard breakdown of the song “Savior” that she started creating at 16 years old and evolved over time. She also opens up about embracing fear and shame, sharing personal stories and insights. Members will come away feeling inspired to be more empathetic and curious artists and ready to create interesting work that is unique to themselves.

Clark’s MasterClass will give members an intimate look into her artistic development, diving into her end-to-end creative process and detailing the evolution that led to finding her voice as St. Vincent. Beginners and nonmusicians will enjoy

25 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos by fauxels

HOW TO MASTER THE ART OF “RESPECTFUL TRUTH-TELLING” It’s time for professional women to stop glossing over their feelings at work and tell the truth, assertively. Senior healthcare executive and speaker Jackie Gaines, M.S., R.N. shares tips to help women find their voices through “respectful truth-telling.” WELLBEING. What woman hasn’t suppressed her true feelings to avoid conflict at work? We’ve all headed off disagreements by bending our standards or biting our tongues once in a while (or maybe more often than we would care to admit). After all, we don’t want to be labeled the “A” word, aggressive. But Jackie Gaines says you can make yourself heard and influence your organization without being loud, rude, arrogant, or disrespectful. “Many women truly believe they have a smaller range of acceptable behaviors than men,” says Gaines, author of Wearing the Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership. “If they are too nice, they will be seen as weak or manipulative. If they are too aggressive, they will be judged as acting like men. The solution is to work on the skill of being assertive. Assertiveness enables us to think for ourselves, ask for what we need, and speak up.”

With assertiveness skills in their toolbox, women can learn how to better handle just about any situation that comes up—without seeming either shy or pushy. One such skill is “respectful-truth telling,” which simply means expressing your feelings and needs in a direct, honest way. “When you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, it’s best to be prepared,” says Gaines. “Having an idea of the actual words you plan to use ahead of time makes the experience easier and will help you feel calm and in control during the discussion.” Below are four examples of “respectful truth-telling” that you can add to your assertiveness toolbox. Once you have some experience speaking your mind while still being respectful to the other person or people, you will find your own words to use. But for now, here is some language to get you started.

26 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Situation: How to say “no” Respectful Truth-Telling: • No, but thanks for thinking of me. • I am not comfortable with that. • Your timing is not good; maybe another time. • Thank you for this opportunity, but this really does not work for me right now. • This is not the right direction for me. Thanks anyway. Situation: Asking for what you want Respectful Truth-Telling: • I am confused. Can you help me understand? • Excuse me, can I have ______? • I could really use your support in ______. • Can we talk about an area where I need some additional support or resources? Situation: Response when you are put down in front of other people Respectful Truth-Telling: • (Privately) Can we discuss what happened in the meeting today? When you said ______, it made me feel ______. (Remember to discuss only how their remarks made you feel. No one can take that away from you.) I would have appreciated if it could have been said to me in private if you are concerned with my performance. Thank you for listening and allowing me to share. Situation: Seeking common ground Respectful Truth-Telling: • I can see why you believe the way you do. I am concerned about that too. I want the same things as you do. My solutions are different from yours because I came to believe something new from these particular experiences. “Assertiveness is an art form that you can utilize and refine throughout your career,” concludes Gaines. “Although you might still be judged negatively by some for being direct and bold at any time, when you are diplomatically assertive, you are more likely to get what you. About the Author: Jackie Gaines is the author of Wearing the Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership. She is an award-winning senior executive with more than 40 years of sustained leadership experience. She dedicated most of her career to the advancement of quality health care programs throughout the U.S., helping organizations improve their leadership skills and performance. Today, Jackie works for Studer Group|Huron as an executive-level coach, senior director, national speaker, and best-selling author.

About the Book: Wearing the Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership is available directly from the publisher at publishing.studergroup.com, at bookstores nationwide, and from major online booksellers. About Studer Group: Studer Group works with healthcare organizations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond, to help them achieve and sustain exceptional improvement in organizational and operational results. A Huron Healthcare solution, Studer Group partners with organizations to build a sustainable culture that promotes accountability, fosters innovation, and consistently delivers a great patient experience and the best quality outcomes over time. Learn more at www.studergroup.com.

27 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Mind Games

Seven Traits of the Mind That Keep You from Being Your Best Self

28 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

WELLBEING. Our thoughts shape our words and actions and thus our reality. Karen McGregor identifies some of the ways your problem-seeking, storytelling, judging mind keeps you anxious, depressed, and distracted from the things that really matter. What’s getting in the way of your peace and happiness? Stressing you out? Creating a roller coaster of emotions, drama, and chaos? You might think your inner turmoil is directly due to what’s happening in the world around you, but Karen McGregor says the truth is quite different. It’s not what happens to you, but what you perpetually think and do in response. And that is due to the nature of your mind. The egoic mind is always engaging in problem-finding, judging, reacting, defending, and so forth—functions that are inherently at odds with happiness. (The non-egoic mind, however, does positive things like creating, analyzing, and synthesizing, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.) When we let the mind run the show, we stay anxious and depressed. Our negative thoughts keep us from being present. We may misunderstand situations, blow small problems out of proportion, make bad decisions, and damage important relationships. The solution, says McGregor, is to accept and understand the nature of the personal mind. Only when we learn to distance ourselves from the thoughts it constantly produces can we begin to calm ourselves down; find peace and joy; and work toward becoming our best, most productive, influential, and successful self. McGregor identifies seven aspects of the mind that get in the way of happiness: The mind is forever seeking problems. Unchecked, this natural tendency becomes your filter, the lens through which you see the world. Do you see the beautiful day and the opportunities it brings, or do you immediately go to what needs fixing? It’s true that we get better by noticing and assessing problems, but too often we don’t act to fix them. We just dwell on them, and they stay in the forefront of our mind. “It’s okay to observe a problem, but then you need to let it go,” says McGregor. “If not, the world just looks like a big pile of problems, and that impacts your well-being.” The mind is a storyteller. One single thought can set off an entire narrative. For example, you get a comment on social media that upsets you. You start to replay all the interactions with that person, and before you know it, you’ve created a whole story that didn’t exist before.

29 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photo by Manny Moreno

30 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

“In many cases, you are overreacting to the person’s comment,” says McGregor. “Chances are the commenter never gave it another thought. Meanwhile, in your mind, the story is growing and controlling your day, your thoughts, and your actions.” The mind is judgmental. Do you find yourself judging everything? For example, you might judge a coworker’s eating habits or a messy desk. You might judge a friend’s parenting skills. You might judge a family member’s financial decisions or relationships. In short, you get consumed with issues that should have no impact on you. (They are truly none of your business.) “Of course you will notice things other people do that are outside your value system, but learn to laugh them off,” says McGregor. “Don’t get mired in your thoughts about them.” The mind is reactionary. Do you have a quick trigger? Are you easily upset over things that aren’t really a big deal? Reacting in a disproportionate way eats up your day, controls your thoughts, and keeps you from accepting and receiving life as it comes. “If someone takes your parking space, does it plunge you into a bad mood for the rest of the day?” says McGregor. “Do you assign bad intentions to the person? Better to just brush it off or say, ‘Oh well, maybe I just wasn’t meant to park there today!’” The mind is easily distractible. Often we let small, insignificant things distract us from big, important things. Maybe you’re in a big work meeting and the muffins show up. Suddenly you can’t focus on what your boss or client is saying. Life is full of such “muffins,” says McGregor. “It’s easy to let life’s trivialities distract you from writing a special note to a friend who’s moving or from cooking a meal for someone who isn’t feeling well,” says McGregor. “We need to get better at staying focused on what really matters. Once we do, we can begin to act in ways that better serve us and those around us.”

The mind is always looking to defend itself. We tend to protect our self-image and seek confirmation for what we think we know. This can make us wary of feedback. Yet people who give you feedback are often the ones who care about you the most. They want to help. How you receive what is happening or being said is everything—even if it’s hard to hear. “We often don’t like feedback, because it impacts our feeling of ‘safety,’” says McGregor. “We are all so invested in protecting this little box of who we think we are. Feedback makes us better and more aware, and people will continue to give it when we receive it the right way. But if we get defensive, not only won’t we hear what they’re saying, they may give up and not try anymore.” The mind clings to disturbances or initial impressions. The mind loves to fixate on initial thoughts, positive or negative. If someone says you look good in an outfit, you might start thinking you want to have a relationship with that person! If someone writes something in an email that hits you wrong, you may cling to the memory of it, despite what else is happening. “In both cases, we let what was likely a passing comment rule our thinking and define our interaction with that person,” says McGregor. “How often do we go in the wrong direction or cut off contact with someone who could have been a major positive influence in our lives because of our clinging mind?” Recognize yourself in any of these scenarios? Maybe even in all of them? That’s good because awareness of destructive thoughts is the first step toward distancing ourselves from them. “What you’re doing is realizing that you are not your mind,” says McGregor. “It is a separate entity, and learning how to recognize and master it is the work of a lifetime. If you can name it, you can tame it. And once you tame it, you will start to see major, positive changes in your day-to-day reality.”

31 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

ONE BREATH Written by Sabine Schindlbauer, Creator & Consultant

“As I am getting ready for my next dive, I am slowing down my breath, relaxing my body and mind as much as I possibly can…and off we go, into the deep blue.”

32 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Breath /breTH/, noun: the air taken into or expelled from the lungs.

Photo by Poetfish Maui

Let’s take a closer look at what it means to breathe and how important our breath is in our daily lives. Well, pretty obvious you might say since breathing equals life. A little bit of math: On average, a person at rest takes about 15 breaths per minute. This means we breathe about 900 breaths an hour, 21,600 breaths a day, 7,884,000 a year. Unless we get a lot of exercise. A person who lives to 80 will take about 630,720,000 breaths in a lifetime. Even though this sounds like an awfully big number, just the fact to put a number to it makes our breath somewhat limited and all of a sudden each breath might become that much more important. And yet, we take breathing for granted and often don’t pay it very much attention. Breathing is something the body does automatically. But did you know that the way we breathe changes depending on our state of mind and how we feel? Have you noticed how your breathing pattern changes with your emotions or in certain situations? When we are stressed or fearful we tend to take fast and shallow breaths, whereas when we are relaxed and at ease, we breathe gently and more steadily. The science behind it: As we inhale, our main breathing muscle, the diaphragm flattens and the air travels all the way from our nose to the bronchi, which are tiny little passageways into our lungs. Once in our lungs, the air reaches the alveoli, which serve as the marketplace for gas exchange: Oxygen (O2, the food our cells need to produce energy) is traded for carbon dioxide (CO2, the waste produced by energy production in cells) into and out of the bloodstream. For every action in the body oxygen (O2) is needed. Bodily functions are fueled from stored forms of energy, but it takes oxygen to replenish these energy reservoirs. With every inhalation we allow fresh air to enter our lungs, carrying a good amount of oxygen. Almost every action in the body creates carbon dioxide (CO2) as a waste product. Every muscle we move, every thought we think, every image we create, everything we hear, see, taste or touch creates activity in the brain, which in turn creates CO2. With every exhalation, we get rid of a certain amount of excess carbon dioxide accumulated in our body. The urge to breathe is mainly information about your CO2 levels in your body. When holding your breath longer, the body actually needs to exhale the rising levels of CO2 more than to replenish it with O2 right away. You’d be surprised about the percentage of oxygen that’s still left in your body at this time which allows you to hold your breath even a little bit longer.

33 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Stress buster – a short breathing exercise: The best way of calming down instantly is to actually notice your breath. We go about our day taking breathing for granted and when we are stressed, we often do not realize that our breath becomes shallow. • Sit or lie down in a comfortable position • Take a deep, slow breath from your belly, and silently count to 4 as you breathe in. • Hold your breath, and silently count to 7. • Breathe out completely as you silently count to 8. • Repeat a few times and notice how you feel

Apnea derived from the Greek word “apnoia” and literally translated stands for “without breathing”. Now that we have established the importance of breath, you might ask why freediving and holding my breath has become such a passion of mine. I began freediving a few years ago because I wanted to become more comfortable in the ocean. Moving from a landlocked country all the way to Maui, Hawaii exposed me to a whole new element and its immense power – the open ocean. Even though I was growing up on a lake and hence swimming and playing in the water a lot as a girl, the deep blue sea with its sheer power was a whole other ballgame. Picking up surfing was the logical first step and the rather gentle waves of Maui’s South and West shores provided a perfect playground. Once the North swells started rolling in, getting pounded by big(ger) waves was for sure interesting yet at the same time intimidating. I picked up freediving mainly to get more comfortable in and underwater when being held down by a set of waves. Being tumbled by waves sometimes feels like a lifetime underwater when usually it is a mere 15 seconds. Having the confidence and knowing that I am able to hold my breath underwater while being tossed around for quite a few minutes makes all the difference.

34 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photo by Patrick Langwallner

APNEA

Freediving taught me a whole lot about the breath and how holding it extends to relaxation. Despite popular belief, freediving is not merely about holding your breath but much rather about staying calm in discomfort â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a very useful trait in so many aspects of our life. Relaxation is probably the most important word in freediving and it also is the key to longer breath holds. To me, freediving is underwater meditation, it frees my mind from all unnecessary thoughts. When the world comes crashing down on me on the surface, there is nothing more peaceful than being submerged in the big blue where there is no noise and no need to overthink. Just watching the fish go about their day and picking up the occasional whale song. And once I head back to the surface and take my first big inhale, I certainly appreciate the new oxygen streaming into my lungs, maybe adding on to the daily count of breaths taken by holding it for a bit underwater.

About Sabine Schindlbauer: Sabine is a creator and curator, manifold in her field of expertise. As a consultant and with more than 15 years of experience in the field of marketing and management, she guides companies and people towards developing impactful brand strategies, executing projects, and cultivating long-lasting partnerships. Her vast global network allows her to connect likeminded individuals and companies with just the right resources. Her passion to deliver extraordinary experiences for people, companies & brands manifests itself in her creative approach, effective leadership, and operational skillfulness. She is a certified Reiki Master, trained in CranioSacral Therapy I as well as attuned to Axiatonal Alignment. Her energy healing work combines all disciplines and she gives treatments to perfectly balance body, mind, and spirit to successfully conquer personal and business challenges. Follow: linkedin.com/in/sabineschindlbauer.

35 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

ENVISION YOUR

Future Written by Gokce Gizer, Coach & Consultant

T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

e are incredibly fortunate to live in a world that offers us infinite possibilities. This is a blessing and a curse as it appears that knowing what you want out of life and deciding which path to take are some of the most common struggles of our generation. With so many options every step of the way, we get confused, overwhelmed, even paralyzed trying to make the right choices today to determine where we end up in 5-10 years, not even sure if that’s what we genuinely wanted in the first place. As you create a life filled with joy and purpose, unleashing your true potential, it’s crucial to take time to envision your future, create a vision that excites you, and pulls you forward, helping you become more intentional about the steps you are taking today. We often take for granted the most powerful tool at our disposal as human beings: our mind’s capacity for imagination, and our ability to create a reality inspired by our imagination. In that regard, you will see that taking time to deliberately envision your future serves you in many ways that you will get to experience through the exercises in this piece.

BECOME INTENTIONAL AND CREATE SPACE In life, the journey is more important than the destination; however, without a North Star to guide you in the right direction, you might keep sailing, eventually getting lost at sea, deprived of all the things that bring you joy. About a year into living in New York, I noticed that while I had done a great job of branching out and exploring all opportunities that came my way, I was not quite sure, and frankly a bit anxious, about where all this was taking me. With a degree in business, a life-long interest in design and all things creative, a love of learning, and connecting with people, I was saying “yes” to all sorts of projects. It wasn’t long before I felt a bit overwhelmed and off-track, going around in circles and not necessarily feeling that I was making progress in any particular direction. Fortunately, I had an amazing mentor, a beloved investor and community builder in the New York startup ecosystem, and an extraordinary person who genuinely wanted to support you on your path, connect you with the right people and help you find the right resources to achieve your dreams. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this person likes to ask questions about your plans for the future and your big ideas to build toward. Even though at the time, I didn’t have great answers to his questions, these conversations helped me become more focused on how I approached opportunities and more intentional about the steps I took. As I pictured myself in the future, I didn’t have a particular job description, one big idea, or a step-by-step plan in mind; but I was able to identify the keywords I wanted my life to revolve around: entrepreneurship, design and creativity, and sharing knowledge. Little did I know that within a couple of years of these conversations, I would start my own company working closely with entrepreneurs, teaching at one of the most prestigious design schools in the world, and traveling the world with amazing friends to run a global startup competition. Of course, none of this happened magically overnight, but it all started unfolding once I identified my keywords for my life, setting the parameters for my future in a way, and intentionally accepting opportunities that aligned with one of these themes that excite me. Even when I didn’t have much going on, I deliberately said “no” to offers and opportunities that didn’t align with my envisioned future to reserve space for the right type of opportunities. With this clarity, I noticed that I also became more vocal about the life I wanted to build and I was pleasantly surprised that people were eager to help me once they knew exactly what to help with. When you define your North Star, you feel more confident passing on opportunities that don’t quite feel right because you know you are creating space for the ones that align with the future you envision.

37 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

SHIFTING PERCEPTIONS We experience the world and interpret our experiences based on our perception of reality. As powerful as our brains might be, it’s fascinating that it can’t differentiate between an actual experience and an imagined one. This means that when you envision your future in your mind, your brain can’t tell if it’s something that has already happened. You perceive the world accordingly and act in a way to reaffirm that reality because we humans just want to prove ourselves right. All of this means that by altering the reality in your mind, you can change your perception of the world and how you experience it. Whether you call it selective perception, the law of attraction, or a mind trick, I can assure you that the mere act of envisioning your future unlocks a whole new reality.

Growing up in a small town in Turkey, I couldn’t have imagined the life I have had in New York for over 7 years and now in London, connected to a global network of friends and colleagues, teaching, writing, and working with amazing people and organizations. I frequently reflect on this fact as it demonstrates how my reality today exceeds my knowledge of the world back then. I remind myself that similarly, my future will not be based on my current knowledge, capabilities and circumstances, but that it will be created by my boundless imagination. As a teenager, I was on track for a very predictable life planned for me at birth, but for some reason, I had still imagined my life beyond that template and I now realize that I behaved according to that life in my mind (living abroad, pushing myself out of my comfort zone). Back then, it was effortless to imagine a future filled with possibilities, because ignorance truly was bliss and I was unaware of any obstacles, my limiting beliefs, or societal pressures that could get me confused and discouraged. “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few” - Shunryu Suzuki

“

When you define your North Star, you feel more confident passing on opportunities that don’t quite feel right because you know you are creating space for the ones that align with the future you envision.

38 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

My trick to tapping back into my beginner’s mind, that is full of hope, encouraged to try new things and to dream of endless possibilities, is to practice visualization. I call it a practice as it takes practice to unburden yourself of your limiting beliefs and to envision an exciting future that might have nothing to do with your reality today. If you plan a future based on what you already know and what is currently available to you, then you will only limit yourself and miss out on the opportunity to unleash your potential and become your best version.

• Once you have painted a solid picture of that future, set an intention to open your mind and your heart to signs that align with this picture, whether it’s something small happening to someone close to you or a very significant change in your life. • You are not focusing on how to change from here to there but you are getting yourself ready to become aware of the signs and feel the nudge when the opportunities present themselves.

A visualization practice to get you excited:

• You can pair this experience with music, like a soundtrack to a movie, and come back to it with the same music.

• Take 10-15 minutes for yourself, in a quiet place free from distractions.

• You can also focus on the colors, the sensations, a phrase, or a body movement to get back into that state.

• Read the following prompts to guide your visualization process and then close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to get into a calmer state for your practice.

• Repeat regularly!

• First of all, remind yourself that every step you are taking is leading you closer to a more exciting and fulfilling life and that you will enjoy this time and safe space to envision that future. • You intend to be aware of any signs, coincidences, and incidents in your everyday life that act as guides on your journey so you can be more mindful and more intentional. • When you are ready, imagine yourself in the future, focusing on how you are feeling, who is around you, and where you are. It’s better to imagine yourself in your body, rather than watching yourself. Reflect on what you are doing, what you are hearing, what you feel excited about, the colors that pop, what is happening with your body. Spend some time here, getting as many details as possible. Think about what you want to be, do or have and feel as if you are already there, and don’t be limited by where you are right now or the steps in between your current state and your desired future.

“

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few - Shunryu Suzuki

39 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

I can assure you that all of this has a neurobiological explanation, though I won’t get into the details of it. Put simply, how you feel in your body impacts your experiences significantly, and by becoming more tuned in with your body in the future you are creating memories and sensations to draw you toward those experiences.

WRITING TO GAIN CLARITY One of the best ways to get your creative juices flowing to imagine a future with unlimited possibilities is to start writing. Sometimes we don’t even notice the weight of all our unshared thoughts in our minds, regardless of whether they are upsetting or exciting thoughts, if they don’t have an outlet they might become a burden. You could do a stream of consciousness type of writing to get it all out in the open, without any judgment, without an audience, and without an effort to make it right; just writing freely about your dreams, your limiting beliefs, the obstacles on your way, how you could overcome them, and everything that excites you in your future. You could also have more structure and pick a time in the future to write about. Focusing on the details just as you did in the visualization practice you write about a day in your future. Below are some questions to get you going: • Where are you? Who are you with? • How do you feel? (both generally about your life and specifically about your physical, emotional, and mental state) • What are you excited about today? (that you can’t wait to start your day) • What are you working on and why is that exciting and important? • Who are you partnering with and what is the secret of your success together? • Looking back at the “x” amount of time, what do you feel most proud of?

VISION BOARD What kind of an article on envisioning a future would be complete without the mention of a vision board? We are all visual creatures, drawn to images and stories that can paint a picture for us to connect with. It’s incredibly fun

“

On your journey toward creating a fulfilling and joyful life, there is nothing quite as valuable as having a clear direction, determination, and motivation about your future, and embracing the wonderful changes coming your way. and powerful to build a vision board, although it might be slightly more tedious than some of the other practices. It helps you see the bigger picture, perhaps connect the dots, and identify your priorities in life. The task is to find visuals to represent the life you envision, and you can either cut these out from magazines or find them online. Try to avoid using existing photos from your life because the goal is to build from a mindset of endless possibilities and not your existing reality. You can either do one big life vision board or focus on different areas on different boards. You could use a big poster paper, or a corkboard to easily move things around. You could also do it on the computer, though I prefer the physical boards to feel more connected. To give you some structure you can think about including the following sections: • Health and body • Spiritual

40 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

• Home • Relationships • Family & Friends • Career • Travel and adventure • Fun & Leisure • Possessions

YOUR CREATIVE SUPERPOWER Even when you feel stuck in your current state, or uninspired by your circumstances, you are still taking steps, opportunities keep unfolding and change is still coming. By taking the time and creating a safe space to envision your future, you can tap into your superpower and imagine a future that excites, inspires, and motivates you. Empowered by this image, your steps start to feel more purposeful as you become more conscious and appreciative of the signs that lead you to your desired future. On your journey toward creating a fulfilling and joyful life, there is nothing quite as valuable as having a clear direction, determination, and motivation about your future, and embracing the wonderful changes coming your way.

FINDING YOUR UNCOMFORTABLE COMFORTABLE An Essay of Seeking Self in a Global Pandemic Written by Liz Galloway, Travel & Lifestyle Contributor

42 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

WELLBEING. I’m no ordinary girl, the usual comforts won’t do me any good. I didn’t experience the typical soothing as a young child and the nurturing instincts of others seem cliché. I feel out of place and abandoned in most places but listen to the voice within and draw in my poise. I’ve spent a lifetime giving myself to others and in a year where the world seems to be falling apart and food delivery, messenger apps, chat boards, and live streaming have become inspirational sessions, it was time to take an instructional page from 2020 and pivot. The old norm was no longer going to work. It was a time to explore myself. I need healing, recovery, to purge an essence of shame from the residue of life, I thought. It was time for a quiet place to trust myself. Thoughts swoop in and swoop out. I’m scared no one loves me, that I’m alone. Alone in a way that if I was no more, I’d be forgotten as a person who ever existed. I think it sometimes. I feel it. I take it to my yoga mat. “It just takes time,” I tell myself. Everything does. This year has given us time. There is now an expectation to slow down, to learn self-care, and have compassion. I’ve broken my own heart too many times and for years occupied myself with various healing arts for knowledge. I seek, I heal, I love, I learn. I have a long and respectable curriculum of wellness practices - reiki, energy work, chakra therapy, crystals, smudge ceremonies, shaman, massage, nutrition, integrative remedies, and yoga. But I was repeatedly drawn to yoga with a desire to find wellbeing and abundance – dare I say, peace. My body was solid but strained and in need of elasticity and I sought the same for my mind. I left behind the “I’m more yogi than you” mentality of many studios over the years. Those teachers and places that had lost the self-acceptance of yoga for body comparing, perfection-seeking, self-congratulatory practitioners. Shame traps. We know them, they exist in almost all industries. I left them behind. Laid them down for someone else, and finally found a studio to deepen my place on the mat with confidence and warmth. Here my body became strong and malleable, my mind sharpened, my self-possession, acute. In times of quarantine and studios closings, I kept that focus and laid it bare on the mat many times.

43 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

This was a place where sometimes tears shined in my eyes, flecked by candlelight lining the edges of the walls. Where I felt my fingers spread firm on the mat, my heart center opening before I release my hip from pigeon pose. My leg presses high and my stride instinctively falls into down dog. It feels good to press back opening my ribs. With my head down, the sensation of tears filter to the notch just below my brow and catch a little before releasing over my forehead. The background lyrics hum “I had to lose you to love myself.” oddly inspirational. Timed perfectly with my virtual teachers’ soft words reassuring us self-love is not just hard for one of us, but all of us. I remember, I’m no ordinary girl. Normally people would seek the superficial validations of perfect strangers or fill up on society’s overt propaganda. Breathing it in like a life raft delivering them from any glimmer of unhappiness. A transitory solution. If they are lucky they have someone who knows them deeply to confide in. If they don’t, they drift. I’m no ordinary girl. I run free like the luminescence floating from a silver wolf sprinting, like shavings falling from a star. I am like dark matter taking any of several forms, finding myself, reinventing over and over. I am energy not yet aware how I will affect the expansion of the universe. I don’t want to be ordinary. I don’t want to suck on delicious old wife’s tales deceiving me of who I am, I want to taste the astringent truth of realities both yours and mine. This year has taught us that. Our lives may have splintered into new variations, some stronger, and others asking us for more. In a year without travel and a renewed focus on self-discovery and creating a new connection, we listen. We become less ordinary. I believe in myself. I am not ordinary, and neither are you.

44 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

WHY CENTERING OUR PURPOSE IS THE ONLY WAY THROUGH

The Election

Written by Libby Pecheur

This month brings an event that has been marked on the calendars of many Americans for four years. Whether you couldn’t wait to re-elect Donald Trump, or you have been counting the days until he is voted out of office, there is a particular energy in this election season that is different than perhaps any before it. Despite not yet knowing who has been nominated our next president, I know that there are millions of Americans who will be reeling in the aftermath. In an all too unwelcome flashback to 2016, America will surely find itself fiercely divided, again and still. We will be monsooned with media coverage that’s crafted specifically to absorb us in our potential hour(s) of disorientation and grief. And some of us will very likely find ourselves questioning the judgment and integrity of family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, public figures, our kids’ friends’ parents, teachers – frankly anyone, just like we did four years ago. A gallop poll that was conducted immediately following the 2016 election found that 77% of Americans viewed the country as “greatly divided when it comes to the most important values.” Talk about contentious Thanksgiving dinner conversation. This data and history might leave us asking how we can show up in the intersecting spaces in our lives while carrying the weight of such mounting division.

While recent election history paints a grim picture for our country, I believe there is light in the proverbial darkness. In the wake of this election (this year, the past four years), whether we are celebrating or mourning, in the darkness of a country inevitably divided, there is a light from within - the bright and inextinguishable radiance of our daily purpose. It’s an enigmatic concept, purpose. Who defines purpose? How do we know once we’ve achieved it? What happens if it changes? While purpose is a subjective notion, it can be helpful to develop language around the possibilities it holds. In her blog post titled “Pressing on With Purpose,” Brené Brown crystallizes her own purpose in order to address critics of her outspoken political and social views: I am here for my purpose. I’m not here to make people comfortable or to be liked. My purpose is to know and experience love. This means excavating the unsaid. In the world and in me. Knowing and experiencing love means calling shame, fear, dehumanization, and injustice by their birth name: Lovelessness. It means finding love in beauty, art, music, and nature. It means not turning away from pain or working pain out on other people. Knowing and experiencing love requires making connections between experiences and emotions that often feel a million miles apart. And, for me, love always requires living into courage and faith.” While these sentiments are specific to Brown, her act of drawing from her purpose in the face of division is one that we can emulate in our own daily spaces. Even if our preferred candidate is or seems to be on the path to political victory, this election season has exposed issues greater than any one person in office. For some it may stir up profound and valid anxiousness about the state of our country and necessitate a time of grappling and

“

Knowing and experiencing love requires making connections between experiences and emotions that often feel a million miles apart. 45 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

grieving. And while we can hold all of these truths, we can simultaneously move forward in the truth that, whatever our mental state, we are, every one of us, filled with a purpose that presses on regardless of, and perhaps because of, the political environment of our nation. In a continued effort to remain intact despite the volatility of our environments, particularly the environment of 2020, there is an opportunity to lean into our uncertainty and uncover daily purpose. This will and should look different for all of us. The ability to live with purpose can often get wrapped up with our privilege and wealth. It shouldn’t. And we certainly should not be prescribing what others’ lived purpose should look like. Decide what it looks like for you, and only measure it against the impact it has on your mental wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around you. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged if, when seeking our purpose, we require that it be catalyzed by our job or community involvement. This is incredibly limiting, and risks disfiguring purpose into some sort of achievement-based competition. When we begin choosing daily to live purposefully as parents, partners, neighbors, employers, employees, strangers, and simply as individuals, the impact has the potential to transcend political differences and division, and to define how we show up regardless of external forces we cannot control.

“

Love always requires living into courage and faith. Rather than laying out suggestions for how to achieve your daily purpose, I would encourage you to unpack how it is you define purpose. Ask yourself: “Who gave me this definition? Does that feel right to me? Can I have more than one purpose?” Once you begin to understand what this truth looks like for you, be intentional in moving forward with this awareness. Be mindful of negative self-talk, gently noting it when it happens and then pressing forward, giving yourself the grace to regress, to evolve, to change your mind. Drawing again on the wisdom of the endlessly insightful Brené Brown, “sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” Show up and elect purpose, every damn day.

46 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

47 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photo by Alekon pictures

DO’S AND DON’TS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PLATINUM ENGAGEMENT RING ONLINE Although we’re in the midst of a pandemic, the now ubiquitous expression “love is not canceled” holds true as couples are still getting engaged and actively shopping for the perfect platinum ring. With more couples searching for engagement rings online now, Platinum Guild International USA, the US marketing association for the platinum jewelry industry, highlights timely advice from leading e-retailers about the “Do’s and Don’ts” before making this meaningful purchase. 48 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE SHOPPING FOR A PLATINUM ENGAGEMENT RING ONLINE

Set a budget and stick to it. According to Kathryn Money,

Photo by Brandon Cormier

Senior Vice President of Merchandising & Retail Expansion at Brilliant Earth, “There are no rules that dictate the amount necessary to spend. Budget is entirely a personal choice, and there are so many beautiful platinum ring options, available at all price points.” Adds Ria Papasifakis, Vice President at Ritani, “Setting a budget is the best way not to go overboard. Don’t go into debt over your ring.”

Make sure to find a reputable platinum online jeweler. Shannon Delany, Director of Communications for

JamesAllen.com says, “Protect yourself. Look at their return policy, verify their diamonds are certified conflict-free, and check customer reviews.” Papasifakis says that “it’s important for online shoppers to read between the lines. Some reviewers are earning high bonuses and commissions to hype up online retailers that have larger marketing budgets.”

Take advantage of private virtual appointments with a platinum jeweler. Money notes that “one of the

many benefits of an online retailer is the ability to browse uninterrupted for as long as you like, and then seek guidance when the time is right for you. They can provide platinum, diamond and gemstone education, style advice, and guide you through the process of creating your own customized ring at your convenience, and in the comfort and safety of your home.” Papasifakis adds that “during your one-on-one session the jeweler can also show you the diamond under magnification and its inscription number that matches the diamond’s certificate.”

BIGGEST MISTAKES WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PLATINUM ENGAGEMENT RING ONLINE

Not consulting with your partner or considering their taste. According to Katie Zimmerman, Chief Merchant at Blue

Nile, “there are ways to create a marvelous surprise for the proposal with a platinum ring but still incorporate your partner in the online selection process. After all, this is a piece of jewelry that they will wear every day for the rest of their life, so you want to make sure they love their engagement ring.” Even if you check with your partner, Delany says that “the ring size is often overlooked, so we offer several tools including a free ring sizer online.”

Waiting until the last minute. “Creating a unique platinum ring takes time and skill, and is handcrafted based on the diamond or gemstone that you choose,” says Money. “Make sure to leave time for any last minute changes including engravings.” Focusing only on the diamond or gemstone and forgetting about the metal. Since you’re investing so much time to find the

perfect ring style and gemstone, it’s important to set your special stones in a metal that will last forever. “Platinum is dense and durable, making it the most secure metal to hold your diamonds and gemstones,” says Zimmerman. Papasifakis adds that “unlike white gold, platinum is very low maintenance since it never needs to be re-plated.” T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos Courtesy of Pandora

PANDORA RELEASES STAR WARSINSPIRED COLLECTION COMING TO OUR GALAXY 50 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

STYLE.

On October 1, Pandora released its much-anticipated Star Wars-inspired collection. In celebration of a saga that has captured the world’s imagination, the 12-piece collection evokes the characters and symbols of the Star Wars galaxy. “We wanted to tap into the futuristic yet vintage aesthetic of Star Wars that is well known from the original trilogy all the way to the new Disney+ series, The Mandalorian,” say Francesco Terzo and A. Filippo Ficarelli, Pandora’s VP Creative Directors. “We worked hard to transform the pieces of Star Wars into jewelry using intricate design detailing and expert craftsmanship techniques.” Sustainably made from 71% recycled metals, the 12-piece collection includes 10 charms, a bracelet, and an additional limited-edition collector’s charm. Each piece is carefully conceptualized, expertly designed, and hand-finished. “Inspired by the Star Wars galaxy, this collection includes a variety of options for fans around the world to customize their looks,” said Paul Southern, Senior Vice President, Licensing and Franchise, Lucasfilm “The collection succeeds in capturing the symbols and beloved characters of Star Wars and reimagining them in jewelry form.”

“

We worked hard to transform the pieces of Star Wars into jewelry using intricate design detailing and expert craftsmanship techniques.

The new collection is available in-store and online at Pandora since October 1. Wear your fandom with the Star Wars x Pandora jewelry collection this autumn.

51 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Michael B. Jordan & Family Los Angeles, California 52 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

“HOLIDAY IS WHERE YOU FIND IT”

oach unveils “Holiday Is Where You Find It,” its message for the 2020 holiday season, starring global faces of the house Jennifer Lopez and Michael B. Jordan with their families, as well as ambassadors Kiko Mizuhara, Jeremy Lin and Yang Zi and other members of the Coach Family.

Created during the unique events of 2020, the campaign spotlights Coach’s belief in positivity, finding joy in the little things and seeking comfort in togetherness and familiar traditions. “Holiday Is Where You Find It” will be unveiled as a series of short vignettes and images in which the cast are seen celebrating traditions new and old. It underscores the message that holiday is a state-of-mind—no matter how you’re celebrating this year. The campaign features “families” of the cast, including Jennifer Lopez’s mother, Guadelupe Lopez, and children Emme and Max Muñiz. Jordan is photographed celebrating Kwanzaa with his parents Michael A. Jordan and Donna Jordan, brother Khalid Jordan and sister Jamila Jordan-Theus. Kiko Mizuhara appears alongside her sister, Yuka Mizuhara, while Jeremy Lin appears with his friend and trainer Josh Fan. It also features additional content with an extended Coach Family, including Camila Morrone, Megan Thee Stallion, Quincy, Yuna, and Ramla Ali. To bring the campaign to life, Coach worked with a global family of creatives, including photographers and directors Ryan McGinley, Renell Medrano, Hao Zeng, Brad Ogbonna, Takako Noel, Yuaan, Fan Xin, DJ Furth, Zhangmeng, Jian LV and Christelle de Castro. “Holiday Is Where You Find It” will spotlight the house’s Beat Shoulder Bag, inspired by the downtown attitude of New York, and its new Hitch backpack and belt bag for men. ABOUT COACH Coach is a global design house of modern luxury leather goods, apparel, footwear, fragrance, eyewear and a full range of lifestyle accessories. Founded in 1941, Coach has a longstanding reputation built on quality craftsmanship and is defined by its confident New York style. The brand approaches design with a modern vision, reimagining luxury for today with an authenticity and innovation that is uniquely Coach. Coach products are available in approximately 55 countries through its network of directly operated stores, travel retail shops and sales to wholesale customers and independent third party distributors, as well as through coach.com.

53 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

Photos Courtesy of Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay

56 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

HUDSON’S BAY TAPS MOSCHINO CREATIVE DIRECTOR JEREMY SCOTT TO DESIGN

Limited Edition Collaboration

One of the world’s most recognizable luxury brands, Moschino, led by Creative Director Jeremy Scott, introduces a limitededition collaboration with Hudson’s Bay in celebration of the company’s 350th anniversary. Inspired by the iconic Hudson’s Bay signature stripes, distinctive Moschino Couture pieces from the label’s core collection are reimagined through the lens of the classic HBC red, green, yellow and indigo. Anchored by the premium wool Moto Jacket, the eleven-piece collection features street-style staples like loungewear, a keyring, belt, t-shirt, dress, waist bag and Moschino’s Moto Jacket Shoulder Bag enveloped in HBC Stripes. “The Room at Hudson’s Bay has always been a destination for customers to find the most coveted designs from around the world,” says Tyler Franch, VP, Fashion Director, Hudson’s Bay. “This collaboration is the perfect marriage of Jeremy Scott’s avant-garde and forward design aesthetic, with our famous Point Blanket fabrications that are rooted in Hudson’s Bay Company’s 350-year history.”

“I am thrilled to celebrate Hudson’s Bay Company’s 350th anniversary with this collaboration merging together their iconic striped planet with my Moschino world!,” says Jeremy Scott, Creative Director, Moschino Couture. The collection is made in Italy and designed exclusively for Hudson’s Bay and thebay.com retailing from $185 – $1695 CAD. The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection + Moschino Couture campaign was shot in Los Angeles by Moschino’s creative team, featuring international supermodels Stella Maxwell and Denek Kania.

57 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

STYLE.

Photo Courtesy of MANSUR GAVRIEL

Mansur Gavriel designs every piece with the utmost consideration. Handcrafted from Mansur Gavriel’s signature vegetabletanned leather, the Multitude offers a modern iteration of our timeless tote shape. Designed from four hand-stitched panels with a contrasting suede interior, it has a roomy interior compartment and a top zip for everyday on the go ease. Mansur Gavriel makes products that will stand the test of time. Sourcing the very best materials and leathers, their quality fabrications bring a natural sense of elegance and durability to each meticulously constructed product. The Multitude’s simplicity and sophistication can be worn season to season and year after year.

Mansur Gavriel

INTRODUCES A NEW FAMILY OF MULTITUDE TOTES THAT UNITE PRACTICALITY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND BEAUTY

58 T H E E V O LV E M A G N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0

T H E E V O LV E M A G . C O M

The Evolve Mag Magazine, November 2020

Articles inside

Chef-Designed Recipes For an Unforgettable Thanksgiving Day

Envision Your Future

Do’s And Don’ts When Shopping For a Platinum Engagement Ring Online

Why Centering our Purpose is the Only Way Through The Election

Finding Your Uncomfortable Comfortable

Breath /breTH/, noun:

How to Master the Art of “Respectful Truth-Telling”

7 Traits of the Mind That Keep You from Being Your Best Self

Jordin Sparks, Ashley Everett and Melissa Butler Raise a Glass to the Beauty of Black Women

Annie Clark Teaches Creativity & Songwriting