Thursday, December 25, 2014

Lucid Dream Series: Dedicated to all who loved Beloved Musician Jerry Scott


Dear friends and loved ones of the beloved Jerry Scott,

On the night of Christmas Eve 2014, I had the most amazing, short but beautiful lucid dream with Jerry Scott. 

For those of you who don't know me or how I knew Jerry, I met Jerry the way many people do, while he was performing his music. It was back in 2006 and he was at what was Danny's Sky Light Room at Danny's Sea Place on Restaurant Row. He was playing for Joyce Creatore, wife (who also passed on) of Elvis Presley's song writer Luigi Creatore. I shyly walked up to Jerry and asked if I could sing with him and I did "Our Love is Here to Stay". Considering I was getting back to singing after many years, he made me sound great. 

With a bit more time, I got to know how amazing, beloved, and popular Jerry was. No matter how much time passed every time I saw him, he had the most beautiful big smile. When he knew I was there seeing him wherever he was playing, he would ask, "What would you like to sing Diana?" I was always so honored. Throughout the years, I got to know many fellow musician who felt the same. I was devastated when me passed away. I didn't go to the wake but I mourned him privately. So now I'll share the dream with you.

A lucid dream is no ordinary dream. It is a dream that is so real you remember it as if it were a regular every day event. You also are very aware you are dreaming and that it isn't ordinary reality. I say more about this in more detail in my book on spiritual awakening which I'll speak about at another time. 

In the dream I entered a huge lounge. It was beautiful with dark oak wood, many people, fancy tables, drinks and of course music. I entered from the side directly into what was a mezzanine where you could see musicians playing below. I was looking around for someone I knew but didn't see anyone right away. I sat down and began to see who was playing. Then I felt someone sit next to me. It was Jerry. 

I said, "Jerry, wow! How are you?"
"I'm great." He said with that huge smile of his. 
"You look so happy. How do you feel here on the other side?" Meaning crossed over. 
He laughed and said "It's great here, can't you see?" 
"Yes, I see people singing and laughing. Hey, do you miss us?" I asked him selfishly. 
"No, Why should I. I can see all of you any time I want and I know you'll all see me again eventually. Hey, look at them, look at what they're going to do." He was referring to two proper ladies in their 60's or so who changed to amazing sexy burlesque outfits from a suit I had seen them in an instant ago. They were about to sing. "They are so much fun," he said with a slight raspiness. "Hey, do you want to sing?" He asked me. I got the biggest butterfly feeling in my gut and said "No way, I'm just visiting." 
He laughed and said, "Ok, but come back and sing and tell everyone that I'm fabulous." Again, he said with that smile as he continued to enjoy the show below. 

I had to come back to this reality and felt that was the loveliest holiday gift I could have gotten. By sharing this, I hope it brings back whatever warm memories you may have had with him. As an *Empath I always tell folks I don't always connect with friends/family, people and pets who have passed on. I usually work living people and everyday/spiritual issues. But when I do connect, in whichever way, I do want to share it with anyone who may need to hear from that person. May this bring you peace that he is having "a fabulous time". 


Read more about dreams here

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*An Empath is an intuitive who in addition to expressing empathy (the ability to put oneself in another person or animals place emotionally, physically and spiritually), have abilities and characteristics that go beyond the normal senses. Empaths are extremely sensitive to their environment, people and animals. She/he literally “feel” and sense what others feel in many ways. Hence Diana received psychic information by feeling what others feel but also via visual flashes, dreams, and connecting synchronicities.


~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back, Because Rudeness Sucks!


If you would like more information on me and my quest to end rudeness via speaking engagements, interviews and more, please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

Friday, December 19, 2014

Book Coming Soon: Images from Book in a Cup or Shirt



Nine years ago I embarked in one the biggest challenges of my life. To write a book about spiritual awakening and the paranormal. A challenge because I was in the middle of my beautiful maelstrom. 

Now that I'm at the eve of submitting my book for publishing I am happy to share some of the images in a shirt, mug and more items. 

The images as you will read from the book, appeared in my life at moments where I felt the world was collapsing around me. They gave me hope and what I needed to move through these dark moments. I trust it will do the same for you.

The inspiration for my book "You're  Not Crazy, It's Paranormal!" was this orb I captured in my camera during an event. It shows various faces. The owner of the venue thanked me for saving his marriage since it was evidence his place was indeed haunted. Get your very own here 




More images captured is not manipulated in any way. It was captured as such in my moment of need when I asked for help from above, and I literally got it!


 



More images and fun designs coming soon including ones on MANNERS...my other passion!

Enjoy...share, forward and have and inspiration.


If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. 

I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!

Saturday, December 13, 2014

7 Ways to Avoid Online Negativity



Networking online is a great thing. For many entrepreneurs and artists isn't a luxury but a necessity. It's a tremendous helps you stay connected with your peers and can make working from home a little less lonely. However, there are some pitfalls to networking online.

On the internet you don’t have face-to-face interaction with people. You also have a larger amount of people to deal with at any one time. Most of the people you’ll meet are anonymous and this anonymity can often create a feeling of freedom in people. Meaning they may not moderate the things they say and often times may behave completely different to how they would behave offline. This can lead to a lot of negativity and often harshness.

Another issue that is crucial to know is that many people actually enjoy hurting others online because they feel invulnerable. They feel it's safe to do so. Some even have a classification and are known as "trolls", cyber bullies and so on. Regardless of where you go online, be it a social media site like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or forums people often have lowered inhibitions. 

Here are a few tips to help you avoid the negative situations that sometimes creep up in the online world.

#1  Find the right networking group. If you love to visit a specific forum but find that you always leave there feeling worse than when you first logged in, it may be time to cut your losses and find a new group.

Some forums can be very exciting and fast moving but that also tends to draw a large variety of members. At the worst of times, people may get insulting or downright mean. This isn’t really a situation you want to be in, specifically when you need to stay positive in building your business.

The bottom line here is that if you don’t feel good, you should move on. Listen to your gut instincts about what you’re feeling and don’t worry if the specific forum seems to be “the place” to be – if the negativity is too much for you, you’ll be better off building your network elsewhere.

#2  Read between the lines. Often times, when people write online what they say can be misinterpreted as “harsh” or “negative” when it may not be the case. Remember, online we can’t see people’s gestures or facial expressions so it may be worth not reading too much into what someone is saying.

If you’re in doubt you can always ask them to explain what they mean. You may find they didn’t mean to sound negative in the first place.

#3  Find a mastermind group. Mastermind groups can be a comforting place to find support and build a strong network, as long as you choose a group of like-minded individuals. Researching and taking the time to find the right mastermind group is worth the time, as the right group may help your business grow in leaps and bounds.

A good mastermind group is worth its weight in gold. You’ll be able to connect with people who are positive and there to help each other. The negativity and playground games get left behind and you can get down to the business of building your business.

#4 Ignore the situation. There is always someone who ruins it for others. Take the strength away from negative types by simply ignoring them. Enjoy your networking group and look over the few bad apples. With any luck, they’ll get tired and go find a different playground to spend time in.

#5  Build yourself up. Negativity can be found everywhere we look for it. So perhaps it’s time to look the other way – to positivity. Work on yourself first by visualizing and living the life you want to live. Stay positive about your business and you’ll attract more like-minded people your way, making the negative ones seem insignificant.

#6 Protect yourself. Try to avoid putting information about yourself that can be too personal. Some people use this to specifically target, harass and hurt others.

#7 Take the Lead. Use common sense manners in what you post. Sometimes we can post something that is incendiary. That can open up a can of worms and end friendships unnecessarily.  

We are becoming more interconnected everyday thanks to fast moving technology. At the end of the day, we are still human and courtesy goes a very long way. For those who have been abused, bullied and insulted online, take heart in knowing that there will always be the other side of supportive, well-mannered people just as ready to be there for you. Don't give up looking for that mastermind, it IS out there. 

If you would like more information on me and my quest to end rudeness via speaking engagements, interviews and more, please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!
~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back, Because Rudeness Sucks!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

How to use Rudeness to Make Yourself Someone People Want to Avoid, Dislike, Sue, Etc.

Over the past few years an epidemic of rudeness has swept the world. Here’s you will find some great ways how to perpetuate the disease. If you already do some of these, you are well on your track to being part of this bad mannered culture. 

Many think they can just continue to get away with it or it's somehow a good thing to be nasty. The consequences are real and forthcoming for those misguided souls. But just for fun, let's look at these sure ways to be rude.




1) Ignore people. 
  • Don’t return phone calls. 
  • Never answer the phone. (ok I don't agree with this completely. I don't answer the phone often because of the type of work I do. But I do call back,  text, email and respond regardless).  
  • Don’t listen when people talk to you. 
  • Talk on your cell phone when with others, especially in restaurants or other public places.
  • Don’t acknowledge that others exist. The greatest insult that you can give someone is to ignore the person. If you excel at this skill you can skip the next four paragraphs.
2) Show disrespect. Make fun of others. 
  • Assign stupid nicknames or deliberately mispronounce names. 
  • Make people wait for you. 
  • Laugh at other people’s mistakes, struggles, and fears. 
  • Use sarcasm and cynicism freely. 
  • Treat people like idiots. Disrespect is powerful because it strips people of their dignity.
3) Criticize. Find fault in everything. 
  • Spread gossip. Complain about anything and everything. 
  • Remind people about mistakes they made, even if decades ago. 
  • If possible, embellish your complaints with exaggerated descriptions of failure. 
  • Keep a written log of faults, flaws, and fumbles so you can grind on them daily. 
  • Develop a whining tone to your voice. Critics reduce everything to dirt.

4) Be negative. 
  • Master pessimism. Attack every change or new idea. 
  • Always focus on failure. Expect the worst to happen. 
  • Never accept or approve anything. 
  • Refuse to participate or cooperate in any endeavor. 
  • If something appears to work despite your efforts, cause delays so you can prepare fresh arguments against it. Aggressive gloom creates perpetual hopelessness.
5) Get mad. 
  • Throw tantrums. 
  • Scream. 
  • Yell. 
  • Shout. 
  • Slam doors. 
  • Hit walls. 
  • Throw things. 
  • Act violent. 
  • Use accusations, insults, and threats to disrupt conversations. 
  • Tolerate nothing. 
  • Insist on retribution. 
  • Always attack first. 
  • Blame your anger on others. Unpredictable, insane behavior keeps other people off balance.
Caution: Application of these tactics guarantees that the need for attorneys will increase. To NOT use these or help others not use them contact me for coaching sessions. 


If you would like more information on me and my quest to end rudeness please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my 

For more information visit: www.thisisdiana.com 

Sign up to the email list and get a FREE E-Book!
~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

3 Tips to Try for Healthier Skin Even with Acne

3 Top Acne Skin Care Tips For A Healthier Skin

When dealing with acne skin care, most of the medical professionals commonly suggest that people affected with acne must practice certain acne skin care methods that will help improve the condition of their skin.

Acne, as you may already know, is a very severe skin disorder that affects thousands of people from all over the world. It not only affects the surface of the skin but also the inner layers of the skin. Acne usually occurs on the face, neck, chest and back, and it starts during the adolescence period. Many times people continue to get acne throughout most of their lives well into adulthood. 

As I stated in an earlier post I am one of those adults. I have had acne since I was 14 years and I'm now 44. That's a long time to deal with something that for some reason with all the medical advances doesn't seem to have a cure. It's very frustrating and it is very easy to get depressed because of it. 

I believe dealing with acne requires a multi-prong approach. There is prevention as much as possible. treating, covering, healing and the cycle continues to preventing. The truth that as much as we seem to know about acne we don't seem to know to to cure it completely. Treating your biggest organ holistically is your best bet. In addition to taking care of yourself in various ways including eating healthy, getting enough rest, reducing stress, trying various treatments, there are action steps you can take to get healthier skin.

During the past several years, a good number of acne experts and skin care professionals have conducted many studies on how to prevent the formation of acne. And fortunately, these skin care specialists have come out with certain acne skin care tips that can be of great help for fighting acne. Here are three simpler yet most powerful acne skin care tips that you can follow in order to have a healthier skin. These are mentioned below:

Acne Skin Care Tip # 1: You Should Always Clean Your Skin Very Gently
First of all, personal hygiene is very necessary for fighting acne. So as what most experts usually suggest, you should gently clean your skin with a mild cleanser at least twice a day. This simple acne skin care step is deemed important for fighting acne since washing your face or the other affected areas will wipe away the acne-causing bacteria found on the skin. Also note that although you are sometimes told to scrub your face, scrubbing is not a good acne skin care move since it will just trigger the development of acne, worsening the condition. In addition to this acne skin care step, it is worth noting that astringents are not always suggested unless the skin is very oily. And, they must only be applied on the oily spots.

Acne Skin Care # 2: You Should Refrain from Frequently Holding Your Skin
Another helpful acne skin care tip is to avoid frequently handling of the skin. Don’t pinch, pick or squeeze your pimple since it will only worsen the condition. Many of the people have considered this acne skin care step as one of the most important acne skin care pointers knowing that it may only cause infection and scars formation. As this acne skin care tip holds, you should avoid rubbing and touching your skin lesions if possible.

Acne Skin Care # 3: Always Choose Cosmetics Carefully
This last acne skin care tip holds that people who are being treated for acne must change some of the cosmetics they use. Note that in order to avoid the onset or the development of acne, the cosmetics you plan on using like the foundation, blush, moisturizers, and eye shadow should be oil free. Aside from that, this acne skin care tip also holds that you must avoid oily hair products for they may cause closed comedones. Therefore, those products that are labeled as noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic should be applied.

It is a fact that many of us are very conscious of our skin condition. And as such, we are always wanting to have a fresh, good-looking skin as much as possible. Unfortunately, many of us also fail to come to the conclusion that simple steps are the best ways to accomplish this goal. We often are blind enough that we don’t see what’s really right or wrong for our skin. We often fall in so much frustration and desperation that make us go buy any high-priced beauty products that in the end just turn out to be a waste of time and money, and even worsen our acne. Hopefully, the above mentioned acne skin care tips will be a good start to help you enhance your skin condition.


If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Torture of Acne But You Can Survive and Thrive



If you're reading this, chances are you or someone you love is enduring the torture of acne. Acne isn't just a little pimple a teenager gets, it's a medical condition that is extremely painful, embarrassing and affects millions upon millions of people from teenagers to adults. It appears in various places in our bodies, but for crying out loud why in our faces?! The place the world sees??? I will never understand even if a dermatologist says the scientific reasons and how we have so many oil glands here or there, it just isn't fair is it?

I am one of those adults. I have had acne since I was 14 years and I'm now 44! You do the math. That's a long time to deal with something that for some reason with all the medical advances doesn't seem to have a cure. It's very frustrating and it is very easy to get depressed because of it. 

I have received the most amazing compliments on my skin and I STILL have acne. So I want to share some of what I have done to help me deal with it. I've become very creative since none of the traditional treatments have worked. Some of what I'm gong to share in future posts I have not personally tried and I will clearly to say that. For now, and this post I will tell you what I have tried as a treatment for the insidious acne.

Lies about acne cures
Speaking of traditional treatments, I'm sure by now, almost everybody has seen the late night and early morning acne infomercials with all kinds of celebrities like Julianne Hough, Jessica Simpson or Sean “Diddy” Combs. 

Let me just say that featuring a celebrity claiming to have acne when they have an occasional blemish or breakout does not acne make. In other words, this is very insulting to the person suffering from acne covering their face, neck back, arms. It hurts physically and emotionally. 

Many people for some reason feel that if a celebrity vouches for something, it must be true or accurate. If they trust something you should too because they are famous. When you really think about it that makes no sense.If the promises made for any given product sound surreal, and miraculous it's probably to good to be true. The truth is that acne can be tricky. It can respond to a treatment temporarily then return with a vengeance. People should know this before they let their desperation for a cure give them false hope. 

Sadly, those celebrities are not there when someone is staring at you, judging  and taunting you for a medical condition that isn't your fault. What bothers me the most is that many advertisers are lying. They are claiming to cure acne when truthfully the condition can persist for years. The best way to discuss this is to be honest about this condition. Sure there can be relief and we'll take it but don't make a claim that isn't true. If and when a break out does returns, you won't feel there is something wrong with you. You have to treat it and yourself gently to find a way of at least controlling it a bit.

What I tried
Please note this is my personal experience and opinion. It is not a substitute for professional advise or consultations. Also note that what did or didn't work for me may not affect others the same way. In a nutshell. I started going to the doctor as a teenager and they gave me antibiotics. No it didn't help. I tried over-the-counter medicine with color coverage and that helped cover it a bit. But the acne continued and even got worse. I tried birth control pills. Men can't use this type of remedy for obvious reasons. It helped a bit but the long term effects of the antibiotics and birth control pills affected by good/bad bacteria balance and caused all kinds of other issues. Thank goodness for probiotics, they have helped balance things out quite a bit. I later tried some other prescription treatments like Retin-A and that helped for a while but again the acne returned.
Source: Drugwatch.com

In my late twenties I heard about the miracle cure of Accutane. I tried it. Let me just say that I don't care how desperate one gets, this is very, very toxic. If you read the warning label, I ask you take everything there very seriously. I needed to take 3 full courses of it. I got all the side effects of drying, peeling, digestion issues and some that weren't very widely discussed. My joints were in tremendous pain I had problems doing any type of physical activity. Unfortunately, I never got better and the acne returned. You can read more about its side effects here

In my thirties and now being in my forties I discovered a few things.
  • Using products that are right for my skin is crucial for treating it the best I can. I have oily skin and now I'm aging as well. Although many say I look younger than my age, I am aging and must moisturize in addition to treating. It is very important to keep skin moisturized with non acnegenic moisturizer no matter what.  I use currently use plain old benzoyl peroxide or something with sulfur for severe breakouts. Choose the right cleanser, moisturizer and treatment produce for your skin type.
  • Covering acne with the right product has become a very important part of living with this condition. Even if you are a man, there are tinted products that treat and conceal blemishes. There are many great concealers and foundations that cover without making your condition worse.
  • Using a face brush does help. Just don't scrub too hard. It cleanses a bit better than using your hands alone.
  • What you eat does matter. I'm not saying that any specific food causes or cures acne. But the healthier the diet, the better for your overall health. After all, the skin is the largest organ. It needs proper nutrients from inside out. 

Remember, though you may feel like it, you are not alone in your pain. I know it doesn't make the acne go away but there are ways of dealing with it. You can be happy and healthy even with acne. So although the age-old confidence destroyer is still around and going strong, we are getting better at dealing with it. 




If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Yoga, Exploring the Role of Mediation Various Types of Mediation







Yoga is a beautiful and Ancient . "It is a mind, body, spirit system of exercises that has existed for over 5,000 years. It literally means yoking or the union with the universe. "You're Not Crazy, It's Paranormal"There are so many different ways of exploring this subject I've included this very simple part in all my yoga and meditation posts. It's like a huge complex yet glorious puzzle given to us as a gift. We can study, practice and what has happened in that last several decades expand upon some of the basic foundational principles. 

This post will describe in basic types of yoga and the role of mediation which is integral (or should be) in yoga practice. 

Thеrе аrе various types оf Yoga exercises thаt саn cleanse уоur mind аnd spirit, аnd thuѕ have а positive influence оn thе physical aspect оf оnе'ѕ existence аѕ wеll. Yoga іѕ divided into 5 different categories, аnd meditation іѕ one оf thеm, аnd many argue thаt іt іѕ thе most important оf аll. It generates а serene feeling оf calmness іn thе mind, аnd thіѕ inadvertently transfers іtѕеlf tо thе body, аnd thеrеbу leads tо аn individual living а healthy life.

Tо classify meditation аѕ а science, а hobby, аn art оr а spiritual practice wоuld bе wrong, bесаuѕе іt іѕ іn fact thе sum total оf аll thеѕе acts. It іѕ а wholesome experience thаt takes time tо master, аnd once іt has bееn mastered, thеrе аrе plenty оf benefits thаt саn bе derived frоm іt. Many people think meditation іѕ simply а ritual оf self reflection, but іt іѕ far more thаn thаt. Bу controlling оnе'ѕ breathing patterns аnd clearing thе mind оf аll thoughts аnd external influences, one саn achieve а state оf stillness аnd serenity thаt truly has tо bе experienced tо bе understood сlеаrlу.


Yoga Meditation Types

Thеrе аrе various styles оf Yoga аnd each оf thеm has thеіr benefits, аnd thеіr own distinct style оf being carried оut. Sоmе оf thеm аrе purely meditative іn nature, ѕоmе аrе simple physical Yoga exercises, аnd more advanced versions аrе а hybrid оf thе two.

Ananda Yoga
Thіѕ іѕ а form оf Yoga thаt focuses primarily оn preparing аn individual fоr meditation. Meditating іѕ nоt аn easy task, аnd thе body аnd thе mind need tо bе prepared fоr іt. Thе style emphasizes thе need fоr relaxing оnе'ѕ mind аnd senses completely whіlе immersed іn certain postures, аnd thіѕ paves thе way fоr higher awareness.

Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga іѕ one оf thе most popular form оf Yoga іn thе United States, аnd іt wаѕ introduced іn India іn thе 15th century. Thіѕ іѕ аlѕо аn extremely easy tо learn form оf basic Yoga, thаt carries many meditative advantages fоr thе person carrying іt оut. Thеrе аrе а set оf simple Asanas, оr postures, thаt require thе individual tо meditate bеfоrе hе оr she begins performing thеm.

Kripalu Yoga
Alѕо known аѕ thе 'Yoga оf Consciousness', thіѕ іѕ а set оf positions аnd postures thаt enable thе individual tо clear thеіr mind оf аll external influences. Thе most interesting aspect оf Kripalu Yoga, vis-а-vis аll оthеr types оf Yoga, іѕ thаt thе postures аrе nоt fixed here. It depends оn thе flexibility аnd capability оf each individual, ѕо еvеrуоnе wіll have а unique style оf carrying thіѕ оut. Yoga meditation іѕ fully embodied bу thе concept оf Kripalu Yoga.

Restorative Yoga
Thіѕ іѕ one оf thе meditation Yoga techniques thаt focuses оn healing аn individual frоm certain ailments аnd thuѕ restoring thеіr life force thrоugh thе power оf meditation. Many Americans choose thіѕ form оf Yoga аѕ wеll іn order tо deal wіth thе growing levels оf stress іn thеіr everyday lives, аѕ іt deeply relaxes thе body аnd thе mind.

Moksha Yoga
Thіѕ іѕ а style оf Yoga thаt has become very popular іn Canada, аnd іt deals wіth thе release оf thе body frоm earthly affairs. Moksha іѕ аn Indian word whісh literally means release frоm аll worldly affairs, оr nirvana, аnd thіѕ form оf Yoga aims tо achieve just thаt. Various оthеr meditation tips аnd techniques wіll come іn handy whіlе practicing Moksha Yoga.


More оn Meditation аnd Yoga

Many people adopt Yoga аѕ а form оf exercise аnd thіѕ has reaped great benefits fоr thеm іn thе long run. Thе biggest advantage оf Yoga іѕ thаt іt nоt оnlу exercises thе body, but thе mind аѕ wеll. Wіth а majority оf Yoga techniques focusing оn meditative аnd soothing procedures, іt іѕ easy tо see how Yoga goes аbоut achieving thіѕ. Yoga іѕ аn Eastern form оf relaxation аnd relieving stress, thаt has rеаllу taken thе world bу storm today.

Its health benefits аrе felt primarily bу thе digestive system, thе central nervous system аnd thе endocrine system іn thе human body. Mоrеоvеr, thе various methods оf meditation аnd exercises аlѕо improve аn individual's flexibility, joint mobility, strengthens various muscle groups іn thе body, decreases blood sugar аnd cholesterol levels, boosts blood circulation аnd thе immune system іn thе body, improves brain activity аnd increases stamina. Wіth ѕо many distinct advantages, іt іѕ fаіrlу simple tо see whу Yoga іѕ ѕо immensely popular аll аrоund thе world.

There are various ways to learn and explore yoga. I personally believe it is crucial to do your own research. Many people just go to a studio choose a "teacher" and learn that sub type of yoga leaving out the whole universe of yoga information. Don't be one of them. Keep doing your own exploration and keep your mind open. It is great to seek advanced practitioner for proper body posters, strategies in breathing methods and guidance in certain directions. But with the many variations, many people are just making things up along the way and that's detrimental to the earnest person wanted to know truth--one of the principles in yoga, by the way. 

Yоu саn always practicing уоurѕеlf whеnеvеr уоu have thе time or with others. Either way, yоu wіll benefit frоm thіѕ аlmоѕt immediately, аnd іt wіll change thе way уоu look аt thе world.


 BUY NOW



If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and 


Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Invisible Disability--The Sleep Disorder of Non-24



 

Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it don't hurt. ~This is Diana

Millions upon millions of people suffer every moment of every day from mental, physical, emotional and very real spiritual pain that is "invisible" or undiagnosed by the medical community and the common person. These are often called Invisible Disabilities. 

"The term invisible disabilities refers to symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, brain injuries, learning differences and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments.  These are not always obvious to the onlooker, but can sometimes or always limit daily activities, range from mild challenges to severe limitations and vary from person to person." Source InvisibleDisablities.org

People with traditional visible disabilities face incredible social stigma in a addition to their health conditions. People look and see something wrong with certain individuals and can ascertain they have some limitations. They may see someone on a wheelchair, or a blind person with a assistance dog or cane, know someone is deaf from the physical expression a person may make or see that someone has Down's Syndrome from physical characteristics. There may be certain reactions to that person including empathy or compassion. Yes there are also negative reactions like fear, confusion and rudeness. The point is they can perceive the person has a limitation and make some conclusion from it.

Someone with an invisible disability as I have, will not show obvious outward signs. I often have to deal with having to explain to people over and over again what limitations I have. This includes physical, and emotional/mental conditions, and that is exhausting and frustrating.

Hence, in addition to the symptoms of ones condition, we have to deal with what bad-mannered, and ignorant family, colleagues and strangers are telling us which can include:

~just get help from a doctor or some other way (that clearly has not helped)
~you appear healthy, maybe you're just making it up or not as bad as you think
~for sleep disorders, try to keep a "normal" schedule, an impossibility for so many today
~(again sleep disorders) practice better sleep hygiene, a pet peeve of mine, assuming it's the sufferer's fault

I am writing about a series of these conditions because of first hand experience and experience of many of my intuitive coaching clients.The goal of these posts on invisible disabilities is to:

  • educate 
  • clarity and 
  • provide support in various ways, including validation and links, to all those suffering from a myriad of an invisible but very real condition



Let's talk about Non-24 (Hyperbychethemeral) Syndrome as an Invisible Disability
One of the invisible disabilities is some type of sleeping disorder. People are quick to minimize this for others or even themselves calling it simple insomnia. Insomnia is usually a short term problem getting restful sleep. But when the problem is chronic and severe it crosses into other areas including the one I'm about to discuss here called "Non-24" or Hypernychthermeral Syndrome. This is what is identified as a free-running circadian rhythm disorder. 

To put it in simple words, this sleeping disorder occurs in many blind people but also in sighted people. For some reason, the regular 24 night/day rhythm is longer or not synchronized. I wrote another post on The Night Owl Syndrome, DSPS and ASPS. These are connected to a degree to which the rhythm is out of synch with normal 8 hour sleep schedules. You can refer to that for more details on that.

As awfully disruptive as this condition is, it is great relief and validating to find a name to what you are suffering from. Like this you can refer the well-meaning people in your life to the links, information, resources which are now available.  

Treatment
The question of treatment for non-24 is still out for the jury in my opinion. There is a new medication being marketed now for this condition. I am not a huge advocate of using medication for every human ill. With that said I do not know enough about it to discuss it here so I recommend you do your own search and see what you find. In addition to medication it is recommended for some to try light therapy for non -blind persons, and the use of Melatonin which is a natural hormone your body makes. It can be vegetarian based supplements. 

The importance of sleep cannot be emphasized enough. You need it for overall health and those who say "I'll sleep when I die" may just be closer to their goal by erroneously minimizing its importance. 

I personally believe that a therapist and spiritual coach who understands sleep disorders can be extremely helpful in addition to support groups. Something to consider...there are many conditions if not all, that originally stem from a spiritual source. Addressing this can lead to clarity, answers and pave the path to full healing.

For more on Invisible Disabilities in general check including a list of common conditions considered invisible check here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_disability
http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/invisible/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1560045964218018/1563585670530714

For information on Sleeping Disorders including Non-24
http://www.circadiansleepdisorders.org/index.php

If you would like more information, contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

Visit Thisisdiana.com  


~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Domestic Violence, Why Won't this old Foe go Away?




That Old Violent Foe
One day I had a dream that men were beating up women n the street and urinating on them. That is a nightmare. I woke up puzzled, distressed, disgusted and thought to myself "why would anyone hit another person when we have a brain to reason with?" But on this planet, this existence violence does exist and women have always been a so very perfect target. but why? Is it something karmic? Ancient? Why is there so much anger and hatred towards women? And yes towards towards same-sex partners?

Why am I Discussing this?
I know the topic of domestic violence is very popular again, specifically on social media to the scandal that occurred recently with a football player. But domestic violence or what some are calling domestic terrorism is nothing new. It's been here since the dawn of time. And not only women have been targets but children, men and animals. It is the so-called perceived "weaker" one who becomes the target. By weaker I certainly don't mean it in the traditional way because it takes mental and spiritual weakness and cowardice to hurt another being. I mean weakness as in somehow emotionally, financially, socio-economically physically dependent on the attacker/aggressor. 

Back in college I wrote a paper titled "Domestic Violence: The Equal Opportunity Destroyer". It was for an honors program. I did a local study that showed that anyone (in this case a sample of women) form any age, race, background, etc., can be a subject domestic violence. Notice I didn't say victim. I believe we can go from recipient of abuse to victor of ones life. However for the sake of simplicity I will use the word victim because it is how most people identify the recipient of abuse. Working on this project led me to working with actual clients who were in violent relationships. These relationships included 
  • physical, 
  • emotional/psychological, 
  • sexual (which includes physical, emotional / spiritual violence),  
  • and economic abuse. 
The place where I worked included emergency services, crisis counseling, referrals, finding shelter, crucial information and even changing locks for clients. But why did I decide to do this kind of work? I noticed that many other co-workers were either former domestic violence survivors. And so was I.


My story
As a teenage I met a young man through my best friend's family. I would spend every weekend with them and they would take me to Pennsylvania a mini vacation from New York. It was the greatest thing in the world for me because it was the only family my mother trusted enough to have me stay with them. Everything was great. I was an honors student. I loved being with four girls since I didn't have sisters it was so much fun. When I was 15 it was already a few years I was doing my weekend stay-overs and on one of these I met my friend's cousin and thought I fell in love. Yes, at 15 when our brains and bodies are all over the place developmentally. 

I jump ahead and say we were quickly and item and he was so charming my mother took him right in to our family and we even stayed together. I was convinced I would marry him. Then he showed how jealous he was. Irrationally so. I never thought it was a sign of caring. It clearly was a controlling jealousy and I remember he even wanted me to quit school. I had no intentions of doing that. He became more controlling picking me up, following me, watching everything I did. He would argue with me all the time telling me what to do and when, often shoving me, pushing me around and holding me down. He also assaulted me sexually and I wanted at this point to break up with him but it seemed impossible with his relentless back and forth between loving and bullying me. One day while I was at his family's home in New York as usual, he looked in my journal and saw I was writing letters to an old boyfriend. Nothing romantic just a friendly corresponding. But he didn't see it that way. He accused me of cheating. I screamed to him "how dare you look at my journal, that's private!" He followed me into a room as I grabbed by journal and proceeded to pull me by the hair and pummel me to a pulp. 

He was in such a rage yelling how he was going to kill me and I am sure he was going to. He punched, kicked, smacked and knocked me to the floor kicking me in the head. He was trying to kill me. He said said so. The same old "if I can't have you and you won't respect me I'm gong to kill you". This lead to some serious permanent damage to my left eye and neck. For some reason no one from his family heard me scream at the top of my lungs. But one of his cousins was heading towards the restroom and heard me opened the door and called for the rest of the her family. It took 3 people to get him off me. Literally dragged off, as he was possessed screaming would kill me. I could barely move but dragged myself to their phone and called the police. 

I didn't know where he went but didn't care. I called 911 anyway. His cousin came in and said he drove off that I was safe. I waited for the police who drove me home. I didn't want to go to the hospital and could move. The obliged but with a stern warning. I will never, ever forget what the officer said to me. He looked right at me and said "don't go back with him. He did it once, he will do it again and he can kill you next time. Please don't go back," I heard him out but couldn't think clearly. I got home and my mother screamed with horror. I didn't know why until I saw myself in the mirror and was unrecognizable. 

Weeks later the boyfriend returned. I did go back with him. It took a few more violent encounters for me to realize the officer was right and I was going to end up dead. It took a few years but I left him for good. He did still follow and try to contact me for 10 years. But finally I stopped hearing from him directly and occasionally heard about him from his cousins who by this time I was no longer close to. From what I heard he was beating up whoever he ended up with. He was cruel and also hurt animals. Where is he now? He is dead. He died a few years ago quite young on the eve of my birthday. One of his cousins wished me a happy birthday and gave me the gift of peace of mind he would never stalk me again. What did he die of? I'm not too sure except it had something to do with an enlarged heart. I had no idea he had a heart at all. 

Working with domestic violence victims for years taught me a lot. Including some very unexpected and controversial realizations I will discuss in a future post. I also encountered victims of domestic violence doing other type of consulting, advising and coaching. I no longer provide crisis counseling though the training is instilled in me. When I do encounter this in my spiritual coaching, I deal with it one person at a time and refer them to a professional who has the resources a client needs. The point is, there is always help and options. 

What are the options for victims?
Not every story is like mine. Many victims do die. Many continue to be abused for decades and in turn often pass on the legacy of violence to their children and other generations. I know there is another way. There is help available. One has to want to want it more than air itself. I know some perpetrators are relentless and will continue to try to control their victim until the end. I also know there are incredibly complex factors that make leaving a violent partner or family member very difficult and all but impossible. 

The human spirit can rise above anything. I've seen people dispirited because they feel there are no options, choices or escape from their pain. In this post's case the pain of being victimized. But there is hope and there are options. 
  • Ask for help-there are many, many resources available practically everywhere. Both traditional and non traditional. Traditional meaning hotlines, counselors, shelters, the police, and hospitals, non traditional, can be other family members, friends, spiritual centers, neighbors, and colleagues. Never let anyone convince you to try to work things out with a violent partner. There is nothing you can do to control the other's behavior and completely unfair for anyone to ask you.
  • Do your research-there are many ways to prevent, avoid and leave abusive relationships. Arm yourself with knowledge. In this case knowledge truly is power. Very often you need a strategy to get away. Many abusers use all their resources to try to maintain control. So it is best to have a plan.
  • Be willing to pick up and go
  • Never go back
  • Watch for your children and pets. They are the silent victims and need the adult to have the wherewithal to protect them.
  • Some perpetrators have triggers some do not. If you do know their triggers and many victims do, know you are not responsible for his/her action but avoid escalating until you can get to safety. 
  • Trust your gut above all. It is never wrong, while the heart and head working separately can falter 
Calling and doing an internet search when you are able to safely will give you so much information. Including identifying or confirming you are being abused. There could be so much confusion in some relationships including seeing in your own family, or friends lives it can seem it's okay or normal to have violence in ones life but it is not. Not at all. There are ways of living peacefully, joyfully, healthfully. Know that is your birthright. 

Start with a simple hotline search if you are not sure The National Domestic Violence Hotline can also refer you to a local service for more help.

Why won't domestic violence go away?

As I started this post, I repeat that domestic violence has existed since the beginning of our recorded history. Just think of the image of a caveman hitting a woman over the head and dragging her by the hair into the cave. This is seen as actually comical. It isn't. It's dead serious, literally. So why after all this time have we not conquered the human ill of domestic violence. Hitting, killing hurting the ones we so-call love? Here are some ideas:

-We still don't offer strong legal repercussions to perpetrators
-It still isn't taken as a serious in many parts of the world
-We aren't always educated as to what to look for and how to avoid potential perpetrators 
-We haven't had total spiritual awakening that shows the uselessness of violence.

Can you think of a few more? I'm sure you can. Please add them in the comments section if you wish. 

I send you the light of safety and happiness.


If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and  Sign up to my email list and get a FREE E-Book!

~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!

Repel Negativiy #shorts