Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Davis.
Hi Nadia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the blessed mother of three sons, a writer, kundalini yoga instructor, attorney, and avid advocate for trauma and addiction recovery, including banning all shame related to mental health and addiction struggles, as well as transformative justice and healing modalities.
As the youngest of seven children, I grew up in a culturally diverse family. My father was an orphaned field worker who overcame many challenges to eventually become one of the first Native American and Hispanic attorneys in California. He was my hero and inspiration to follow in his footsteps helping others through the law.
My mother is an immigrant from Germany and grew up during the war. Together they sponsored Vietnamese refugees, two of which became more like sisters to me. The house was full of activity. My parents did their best. When I began experiencing racial bullying as well as sexual abuse, a cycle of disassociation began. These survival measures carried me through grade school “successfully” and dedicated myself to improving the lives of others from a very early age on, from grassroots efforts, organizing events and achieving awards. During college, however, I was the victim of rape and interpersonal violence which further deepened the damaging disassociation. I eventually landed in law school, during which my father abruptly passed away. A few years thereafter, I suffered a near-death car accident and was not breathing when found. I suffered 22 broken bones, a punctured lung and brain bleed. My best friend died shortly thereafter.
All along, I just kept going, assisted in freeing a wrongfully convicted youth, was elected to local office, and became the “up and comer.” I had lived in a mode so distant from my true self and home within, a disassociated mode that led to self-destructive habits.
In the midst of this, I was impregnated by the father of my three sons, who was the State Attorney General at the time. Life took a rigorous turn into the public eye, and the disassociated mode only deepened. I became extremely isolated away from work and escaped behind the four walls through connection with my only son at the time. I eventually made the grave mistake of engaging in a relationship with a man I thought had my best interests in mind. He exposed me to a drug I got addicted to, and within a short time blackmailed and exploited images of me online I was unaware he had taken. The terrorizing eventually resulted in a violent assault upon me. I was an elected County Supervisor at the time. Some local press coverage of the abuse and personal struggles empowered this man turning what was a mental health and addiction struggle into a “scandal.” I entered severe suicidality, unable to manage the internal shame and external shaming on my own.
All along, I had forgotten the truth of what we all are – infinite beings, whole, perfect, and complete. I did not yet know that our minds are survivalist in nature and send “attack thoughts,” separating us from that truth, and from each other.
I entered the road of addiction recovery over a decade ago. While sobriety was key, trauma therapy coupled with my spiritual growth were the keystones leading to tge stable, sober, healthy life Im blessed with today.
Kundalini yoga and it’s mind, body, spirit teachings enabled me to create what I call a “home within” – a safe and calm space where no fear or judgement exist, only love. By tapping into it on a daily basis, I am better able to observe my mind as well as projections from others. After finding this home within, I was able to reach out for help from a sponsor and build daily connection to a twelve-step fellowship.
Connected to my true self and truth – like you, an infinite being, whole, perfect, and complete – I can walk through triggers and attack thoughts with self-compassion and breath work, and better respond compassionately to others projections. Shame and shaming lose all power within and around me.
I dedicate my life today to empowering and assisting others to ban shame and return to their home within.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The main struggles along the way were public shaming and a system that separates children and families struggling with mental health and addiction.
I believe that if there were more treatment centers and options for families struggling to receive the help they need together, there would be far less generational trauma and relapse. We need a more trauma informed system that incorporates modalities like somatic training, breath work, and mindfulness practices both for those in the system as well as front-liners.
Our children and the future generation deserve for us to think outside the box and begin to address mental health and addiction struggles differently!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the mother of three sons (seven-year-old twin boys, and a nineteen old in college). I am a Level II KRI certified kundalini yoga teacher (mind and meditation; authentic relationships; conscious communication, and Japji) and offer free healing meditations online for those in trauma and addiction recovery, or anyone struggling. I am an attorney and am currently developing an advocacy arm for Home is Within You that would provide trauma-informed and shame-banning training to both survivors and front-liners.
I am best known as the attorney who assisted in freeing Arthur Carmona, a wrongfully convicted youth, but also for speaking out publicly about my story of recovery without shame.
I am most proud of being a mother…for coming full circle to be able to hopefully exemplify life skills that enable them and others to live free of their minds attack thoughts, to stay connected to their true worth and selves in order to live a happy, stable, sober life. Much of my work, and writing today, focuses on conscious parenting, helping kids to ban shame, and generational trauma prevention.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
First and foremost, believe in and turn to your true self within. Your true self is infinite, whole, perfect, and complete, untouched by anything anyone has said or done to you, including yourself. Your mind will send “attack thoughts” mainly in the form of fear and shame that separate you from that truth, and from others. Grounded in your infinite true self, you can better walk through life’s stresses.
Second, you are not alone, and can find the courage within to reach out for help – one of the most courageous things a human can do. Vulnerability is not something to fear. It is a necessity for human connection. What I learned is vulnerable is what we have been taught to feel shame about or in ourselves. Learn the source of that shame, and begin to ban it within, and you will find the courage to reach out for help.
Third, believe in the power of the truth of your story. Others will define, brand, and label you. They are just words. The truth is the truth and is does not change. Stand tall knowing your truth within, and the shame is more easily banned within and around you.
Fourth, create a visual plan. Make a large calendar with benchmarks and tape it on the wall. Visuals will motivate you, and then, do one small task every day to get you there. You do not have to do it all just now, but when you look back every month you will see your dream manifesting slowly, but surely.
Fifth, build a support network and daily human connection. This will serve as a shield during times your head tells you are “all alone.” Groups at yoga studios and AA fellowships can serve as a powerful touching ground for connection with the world during mental health and addiction struggles. Beat your mind to the bashing – go even when you don’t feel up to it.
Lastly, breath – breath fully, deeply, completely, both on the inhale and exhale. The quality, quantity, and depth of your breath will improve your sense of control over the effect your emotions, thoughts, and traumatic memories have on your body. This will create a roadmap to finding and connecting with your true self and a higher power. Breath will lead you back to the “home within you.”
Pricing:
- 18.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nadia-
davis.com - Instagram: @nadiamariadavis
- Facebook: https://facebook.
com/nadiamariadavis; https:// www.facebook.com/nadia.thrives - Linkedin: @NadiaMariaDavis
- Twitter: @NadiaMDavis
- YouTube: Home is Within You – Nadia Davis (@homeiswithinyou-
nadiadavis9419)
Image Credits
John Gilhooley
