Take Time To Clarify & Listen To Your Heart

How exciting it is to embark on a fresh New Year!

As you enter 2008 I challenge each of us to take the time to clarify what we really want to create. Take time for quiet as you enter this year. Be in the silence -- listen to your heart. Watch your fears arise as you look at your dreams -- and then tell those fears that you are BIGGER THAN FEAR.

The more you take the time to clarify what you want, the more likely you are to create what you want. It seems like a simple idea -- yet, how many of us jump right into doing and quickly set goals -- yet we don't really take the time to think in detail of what we want to create.

One of my life coaching clients has been working on clarifying his goals the last few weeks. One of his goals is to change professions. That's a great goal. Yet, as we've talked and worked together, I've posed question after question to him to get him to clarify what he REALLY wants to do next. By taking the time to do some soul searching before he starts his job search, he is setting himself up to get EXACTLY what he wants in his next job.

We have clarified things like -- how many hours per week does he want to work? Does he want to be sitting in an office or working from home? How much does he want to earn? What does he love about his current work? What does he want to change? Does he want to travel with his work? There are so many questions that you can pose in regards to your goals so that you can clarify your goal in such detail that you will KNOW what you really are looking for.

He is clearer now than he has ever been. . .and he continues to clarify what he is looking for each day. With this greater clarity, he will not waste his time and energy on interviews or job searches that don't match what he truly wants.

Each of us can take this time as we start the New Year to clarify our goals.

Make this your focus -- how do you really want the chapter of 2008 to look like?

• How will your health be?
• How much money do you want to flow into your life?
• How will your relationships grow and change?
• What type of service will you give to the World -- how can you volunteer your time and talents to make a difference?
• What new skills do you want to develop?
• What will you do for fun this year?

Isn't it exciting that we can be whoever we want to be? To know what you want, listen to your heart rather than your logical mind. Listen to your inner voice guide you rather than the voices of society, friends and family.

Make getting to know yourself a priority for 2008. You will be so glad that you took the time at the outset of the year to do this. From knowing who you are you will be able to move quickly to creating what you want. The being must come before the doing.

May this week's focal point be on YOUR BEING. Get a journal. Get reacquainted with yourself. Let the inner yearnings of your soul guide you into a blessed, exciting, passionate and joyful 2008. For, we are all capable and deserving of experiencing wonder in our lives.

If you need help or guidance in your journey, please drop me an email at patricia@patriciaomoqui.com .

My heart's desire and my goal this year is to assist others in knowing themselves again, clarifying their dreams and then supporting them in taking the steps needed to create exactly what they want.

With love, light and beautiful energy to each of you,


Trish
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Check out this link to listen to the free tele-class I hosted several weeks ago: http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/harness.html - this tele-class introduces you to the first step of Harness Your Power - Observing Your Mind. More free tele-classes to come in the New Year!

Looking Deeply Into Their Eyes

My dearest friends, I write this blog after an intense week. It was intense in a most delightful and wonderful way.

I had the privilege on Thursday of joining Mr. Glenn Toby, founder of the Book Bank Foundation, for a day called "Shelter from the Streets." (Please check out the Book Bank Foundation website at http://www.thebbf.org/).

Glenn was a homeless child from age eight until the seventh grade. He has had a remarkable life journey and now represents big names in the entertainment and sports World (you can learn more about him at http://www.glenntoby.com/. ) As he told me several days ago, supporting and working with the homeless through his foundation is a passion that found him. I have had the privilege to work with Glenn in 2007 and he is one of the most helpful, caring and giving men I have ever encountered. He is passionate about bringing change to our World.

During the day a group of volunteers traveled in cars and mini-vans filled with clothes, toys, books, toiletries, coats and blankets through all five boroughs of New York City. We made stops at Hempstead (Long Island), Family Rescue in Jamaica (Queens), Auburn Family Shelter (Brooklyn), The Concourse House for women and children (Bronx) and the New York Rescue Mission (Manhattan). After stopping at these shelters we then hit the streets and stopped to give those in the cold the blankets, coats and clothes that so many of you donated.

There were many touching moments throughout the day -- but what struck me most throughout the day, is that when you look into another person's eyes -- when you look into their eyes deeply, you lose all sight of their clothes, their "societal status," their looks, and their disabilities. In fact, when you look deeply into any person's eyes you see a remarkable, resilient spirit shining through.

Throughout the day I experienced so many touching moments. I had the privilege to look deeply into the eyes of homeless men, women and children. I also was able to see the beauty, warmth and passion in the eyes of those who work in the shelters. Those who work in these shelters are Earth Angels of the World -- giving their time and energy to make a difference each and every day.

Those who are homeless are people like you and me -- and they need a helping hand, a kind smile and someone to take the time to support them in their time of need.

It is a touching experience when you realize that we are all the same -- we are made of the same flesh and blood. . .and we all have love that resides in us at the core of our beings. We all have tremendous potential waiting to be unleashed. We all have unique gifts and talents to share with the World. We all have intrinsic, eternal value. We all have more in common than we realize.

I count it an honor to have been part of this transformative day. I was surrounded by heroes -- people like Marvin Brown and Rene Napoleon who spent hours upon hours behind the scenes organizing this event. Free (former host of BET's 106 & Park) also joined us for the day -- she has a humble, beautiful spirit. It was touching to observe her in action and in service to the community.

Hundreds of homeless people were filled with joy and provided with a few gifts to brighten their spirits during this Christmas Season. We spent the day laughing, crying, singing Christmas Carols and giving away the beautiful items that so many of our friends and family donated.

The gift I gave to those I encountered during the day was a simple one. It was a 5 x 4 piece of paper with a set of Daily Affirmations for Self Empowerment. I want to share these with you (see below).

Affirmations are a wonderful way to help you remember the beauty you have deep within you. The best way to use these affirmations is to say them in the morning when you rise, keep a copy with you in your purse or wallet so you can read them throughout the day (especially when you find your mind focusing on the negative)-- and then before bed, make sure to read them aloud one last time. Affirmations are beautiful, positive, helpful and transformational thoughts you can use to focus your mind in a way to unlock your fear, self-doubt and worry so that you can walk through the door into your full potential.

Before I leave you with these affirmations, I challenge each of you this week as you spend time with friends and family and as you finish your shopping -- look deeply into the eyes of those you encounter. Look at them with new eyes -- look into their eyes without judgement, with no thought of the person's status, financial position, or past. Instead, look with fresh eyes. . .

May your week be blessed.
Use these affirmations as you prepare for the New Year ahead.

Daily Affirmations for Self Empowerment

I am a being of great value.
My worth is not dictated by my circumstances.
I am worthy of creating and experiencing beauty in my life.
I am full of potential.
I have unique gifts and talents.
I move beyond my fears. I begin to express love as often as possible.
I focus my thoughts on what I want to create in my life.
I allow myself to dream again – to imagine the life I desire.
Each day I take baby steps towards what I want.
I ask for miracles to occur in my life.
I open to receive the gifts the Universe has to offer me.
I release all guilt and shame. I forgive myself and others.
I open to love. I am love at my core.
I allow the light of love to shine through me anywhere I go.
Each day, I find something to be grateful for.
I choose hope. I choose peace. I choose joy.
I choose to connect to the power I have within me.

With Love & Joy,
Patricia Omoqui - The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/
©Patricia G Omoqui, All Rights Reserved 2007

P.S. We are already starting to collect donations for next year's event. Please collect as much of the following as you can:
Gently used blankets, coats, and winter clothes
Books for children
Coloring Books, Crayons, and new toys
Toiletries of all kinds (even the ones you get in a hotel and never use)

When you have donations ready, please contact me at patricia@patriciaomoqui.com

We plan on making next year's event even bigger and better so that we brighten the lives of even more homeless people.

(If you'd like to read more quotes from the day, please visit Ed Tseng's blog -- http://www.edtseng.blogspot.com/ . Ed joined us for the day and he is a delightful person as well as a remarkable tennis player, inspirational speaker and coach.)

Let Your Light Shine This Week!

I was reminded of a wonderful analogy this week -- one that I knew from my days growing up and going to Sunday School. Do you remember the song, "I'm Going to Let it Shine?" The part that really got me thinking this week is where it says: "Hide it under a bushel, No! I'm going to let it shine." I never understood what the "bushel" represented before. But, as I was coaching my clients this week, it became so obvious to me.

I believe that our inner lights are hidden under fear, stress, worry, self-doubt, shame and guilt. These are all part of the "bushel" that we put over our inner light. Our inner light is still shining inside of us. . it is just waiting for us to remove the layers of fear that have built up over the years. As we peel back these layers one by one, we begin to get a peek of our inner light. The more fear we remove, the more our inner light shines. When that light shines, it illuminates our World!

One of my clients this week was focused on some challenging life circumstances -- and he was feeling overwhelmed by what was happening. As we talked, it became evident that he was making a lot of assumptions -- assuming that the worst case scenario might happen in each situation. As we talked and looked at the assumptions and the fear behind the assumptions, he began to see that it was possible to shift his thinking and focus on the BEST CASE scenarios instead.

We can begin to shift our thinking and make new assumptions. The key is that in every situation where we feel the panic, the fear, and the worry set in, we have to step back to understand "WHY?" we are feeling the way we do. If we observe our mind and watch our thoughts we can clearly understand the feelings we are having. Then, we can learn to shift our thinking.

As my client finished up the week, he started to see that much of his worry was needless -- the situations were turning out in a very positive way for him. The energy he was spending on being worried and upset was keeping him from focusing on clarifying and moving towards his dreams.

The question for each of us to answer this week is, "Can I assume the best will happen rather than the worst?" As you do assume the best of people, of situations and of yourself, you will allow your light to shine in the World.

The World needs more of us to unleash our Inner Lights. Let's shine this week. Why feel the worry and stress of the holiday? Could we instead feel the joy, the excitement, the beauty of sharing our love? How we feel and how bright our light can shine is merely dependent on how we focus our mind.

It's exciting to know this. It's even more satisfying to live this truth.

Ok, so, no more hiding your Inner Light. It's time to shine again! "Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!"

A big hug to you all.
May this week ahead of you be full of positive thoughts and wonderful excitement.

I trust you can see and feel my light shining. I send you beautiful energy this week and hold this truth for all of us.

Trish

p.s. I still have a space or two left in my Circle of Power Life Coaching Group. Check out http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/circleofpower.html for more details. If you sign up by Dec. 17th you will receive a discount.

p.p.s. If you really want to start off the New Year moving at the speed of light towards your dreams, then sign-up for one-on-one life coaching. You will be launched into 2008 in a way you could never have imagined! Check out what other clients have said: http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/lifecoach.html (see the bottom of the page).

Will You Choose Joy this Holiday Season?

One of the most helpful questions I have learned to live by is, "What will bring me joy?" I used to live my life out of a sense of obligation and guilt. I would force myself to do things I didn't want to do. I would often go places I wasn't really all that interested in and I would hang out with people who I really didn't resonate with . I did all of these things because I felt I SHOULD do them and that I HAD to do them.

As I hit the tipping point in my life several years ago and felt totally overwhelmed, I began to watch what was motivating me to do all the things that I packed into my daily schedule. I found that often I was acting out of obligation. I would force myself to call someone because I felt obligated to stay in touch. I would force myself to go to the gym every day without fail, because I felt I HAD to do this to stay in shape (even days when I dreaded going or felt exhausted, I pushed myself to go). I would buy Christmas gifts for people because I felt I HAD to or NEEDED to rather than because I wanted to. I also would attend events out of obligation -- I would show up at the event but be somewhere completely different in my mind while I was there, wishing I hadn't gone at all.

As I saw the energy behind the decisions I was making it occurred to me that the reason I was not enjoying my life was because I was acting out of obligation, the desire to please others and putting my joy in consideration last.

I now choose to live my life in joy. If I am going to an event, I go because I want to go. If I decide to call a friend or business acquaintance, I call because I know I will enjoy talking to them and reconnecting. If I decide to buy someone a gift, it is because it feels good to share my love, money and energy with them. By acting out of joy as often as I possibly can, my life has changed dramatically. I feel joy almost all of the time! Life feels good, easy and light when you act out of joy.

My challenge to you this Holiday Season is to watch the motivation you have behind the activities you choose to be involved in, the parties you choose to attend and the gifts you decide to buy. Ask yourself, "Am I doing this because it brings me joy?" If the answer is yes, then you are on the right track and you are bound to have an enjoyable holiday season.

Here are some daily affirmations to use to keep you focused on making good choices during the Holidays:

I choose to live in joy.
I choose to experience inner peace.
I choose to feel hopeful about my life.
I choose to enjoy each moment no matter what the circumstance.
I choose to see my own value and to trust my intuition.
I choose to be powerful and make good decisions rather than feel victimized by life.
I choose to amaze the World as I connect to my talents and begin expressing my authentic self.
I choose to dance, sing, play and lighten up about my life.
I choose to share love with each person I encounter.
I choose to listen and hear what others are saying.
I choose to have a blessed, peaceful and joyful Holiday Season.

(Note: To get the most out of these affirmations I suggest you print them and keep them with you. Read them first thing in the morning and last thing in the day. Say them aloud and say them in front of a mirror. Keep a copy in your purse or your wallet -- as you have spare moments throughout the day, pull them out and read them over and over. Affirmations work if you practice them and allow them to become part of your subconscious mind).

Imagine if you truly began to choose all of the above things! The more you make joyful choices with your thoughts, words and actions, the better your life is going to feel.

Choose Joy this Holiday Season. . .and allow yourself to enter 2008 focused on enjoying every single moment of your life!

With a big hug to all,
I celebrate each and every one of you.

Trish
www.patriciaomoqui.com
Join my free Teleclass this Tuesday at 7 pm EST: http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/harness.html