Dark energy is a force at play, continued...

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Examiner article

As presented by StreetDirectory.com, here are advantages to light therapy:

“- Light therapy is a non-invasive method that can kill acne-causing bacteria. Acne removal can be painful if done in a dermatologist's clinic, with only piercing equipment and syringes. Thanks to advances in light therapy, these bacteria can be destroyed when the light penetrates their cell walls, thus stopping them from causing more acne.

- Lack of light, as well as the gray air of winter, can trigger depression. Light therapy can treat depression disorders by giving patients various amounts of light, awakening the brain into thinking that the less gray seasons of summer and spring have come. This prevents patients from taking anti-depression medications, which can have side effects.

- Light therapy can work into the body's sleep rhythm, or circadian rhythm. Research shows that our sleep habits are governed by light, and light therapy exploits this fact by giving patients varying amounts of light at designated times of the day. This keeps patients from taking tranquilizers to get a good night's sleep. It can also alleviate the pain of jet lag for frequent travelers.

- Light therapy can treat skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema at a much faster pace than other therapeutics. Ointments and shampoos need months, even years to fully take effect.

- If you are miles away from the beach, but still want to get a tan, you can go to an accredited tanning salon for UV light therapy. At safe doses, UV light can give you the tan that you want without you worrying about overexposure to the sun's harmful rays.

- Light therapy users claim that light rejuvenates their cells and gives them a more youthful, glowing look. This means less spending on expensive ointments and elixirs promising to turn back the clock on skin.

- Light therapy has been shown to be largely effective for at least ninety percent of patients.

- Light therapy can be done at home, with special light boxes. Although expensive, rising demand can lower the prices of such light boxes.

- When done with the supervision of experts, light therapy can be controlled, and its effects monitored accordingly. That is, the amount of light, its intensity, and frequency can be measured and adjusted easily.

- Light therapy is safe for many patients, if placed under the control and supervision of accredited experts.”

Let the light in, studies show this is beneficial to your health!

Stepping out of your comfort zone, continued...

Photo of Maxine Browne taken by Escudero Photography

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Examiner article

Maxine Browne continued the interview.

In her words, “After working in the program for six years, I got the idea of writing a book to help others understand domestic violence. I set up a writing schedule from 4:00 to 7:00 a.m. Then I would shower and go to work. 

The book took shape, little by little. I decided to self-publish. Before I knew it, I had a finished product that I was proud of.

Domestic violence is not about physical assault. It is about control. One person in the relationship tries to control the other person through a series of control tactics.

There are eight main areas of control:  isolation, intimidation, emotional abuse, using coercion and threats, using the children, minimizing, denying and blaming, male privilege and economic abuse. I dedicated one chapter in the book to each category of control. Then, I pulled out specific examples from our lives where the tactic was used against us. I described the impact the tactic had on our family. I also revealed the red flags I missed that would help someone else recognize abuse if they saw it.

I then saw that the best way to sell the book was to be a workshop presenter. The book provided the platform for public speaking and the public speaking, in turn, sold the book.

I polished and expanded the workshops I had already been teaching. My intention with the classes was to bring workshop participants into the world of an abuse victim. I compared healthy relationship dynamics with controlling patterns of behavior. I encouraged the participants to enter the conversation, thus creating a very interactive environment.

My passion for the topic of domestic violence increased. It was all I wanted to talk about. I yearned to make a difference for others through prevention work. If there could be a shift in how the general public perceived abuse, we could drastically reduce the suffering of so many people.

I received a small inheritance when my mother died. I decided this was my moment. If I was going to make a bold move, it had to be now. When do we get to live the life of our dreams? When we decide to simply go for it!

After talking to my husband, we both decided that I should use the money to buffer the risk I was taking by quitting my job. So, I resigned from my job and went out on my own.”

Her passion, “Today, I have dedicated myself to public speaking. I struggle with insecurity after the years of verbal abuse. The words of how worthless and stupid I am, still echo in my head. I call the voices my ghosts. I do the best I can to ignore them and press beyond their criticism.

I have never been happier as I extend the reach of my influence with my teaching materials. I have appeared on numerous radio and television shows. And I am continuing to write articles, blogs, workbooks and other stories.  I am determined to use my voice to reduce the suffering of others.

I have collaborated on another book with Kate Gardner being released in October entitled Survivor to Thriver: 30 Days to a Thriving Life. Our intention with this book is to become an international best seller.”

If you would like to learn more about Maxine or you would like to contact her, visit her website, www.MaxineBrowne.com. You can also follow Maxine on Twitter, @MaxineBrowne.

Helping or hurting, continued...

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Examiner article

I am someone who is drawn to the underdog; most of the time I want to help and it drives me crazy when I can't. I am learning, though, that certain help in certain situations can be toxic. I am learning this in my Licensed Professional Counseling program. This is why counselors help clients figure out how to solve their problems instead of "telling them what to do", which is what people initially want.

Instead of solving their problems during therapy, the therapist works with the client to teach him or her how to problem-solve. Otherwise, the client will become dependent on the therapist life-long.

I am in favor of everyone helping everyone. I just want to make sure we are all giving the right kind of help. Think about this next time you lend a hand to someone. Instead of helping them get up, teach them the strategic moves it takes to maneuver and get up on their own next time they fall.

Personal development and career transition, continued...

Photo of Danea in the ER provided by Danea Horn

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Examiner article

Danea Horn continued the interview discussing her physical need for a career change.

In her words, “The circumstances were really my health. When I finally quit my full-time corporate finance job I was able to decrease the dosage of my blood pressure medication by half. Stress management is paramount to slowing the progression of kidney disease. I realized that the tension I felt between wanting to follow my dreams and keeping up the status quo was not doing me any favors. Once Creative Affirmations had an established audience of readers, I felt confident enough to venture out on my own. That doesn't mean that the adjustment wasn't scary. It took me a while to find my niche and get into a flow to determine exactly what I wanted my business to look like. I love the creativity that comes with working on your own. Anything I can dream up or want to write about can be explored. I really feel like the sky is the limit. I also feel so much gratitude for getting to write for and support women who are coping with a chronic illness. I believe that I found the courage to make this leap because someone needed to start spreading a message of self-compassion that people with chronic illness so often deny themselves.”

Her closing words, “Health challenges teach us that we've got one shot here. So often we push our passions and values aside and assume that some day we will have the opportunity to do what we want to, but that day only comes if we take steps toward it. Even very small, itsy-bitsy, steps add up to make a big impact.”

Click here for more information on Danea’s book.

Click here to check out her Utube promo on her book!

Brain potential, continued...

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Examiner article

I think it is funny because as a woman in her mid-forties, the thing I really remember about my teen years associated with the brain, was the commercials on TV about the brain and affects drugs had on it. They used to say, “This is your brain and this is your brain on drugs (while showing a fried egg).” The awareness of the impact of illegal drugs was drilled into us but it never associated brain activity or nutrition of the brain with negative thinking.

It is amazing how science can actually test and measure this kind of stuff. The power of perspective and positive thinking is all about working to focus on the here and now. Stay away from the past and future, of course, unless this thinking gifts you joy.

What are some of the ways you are able to be mindful and present? Share this with me, I’d love to know!