Harness Your Power: Question Your Thoughts

I've been reminded this week of something I know so well but in challenging situations have to remind myself to practice: it is essential to question our thoughts! Our minds are often tyrants that send us into negative emotional spirals. Our old "fear and worry tapes" start playing in uncomfortable situations. The thoughts that arise (and that we buy into without questioning) can send us into mild discomfort and even deep depression.

This past week I observed myself following thought trails into deep personal suffering. I teach people a process called Harness Your Power which, in three simple steps, allows you to release old thoughts and beliefs and replace them with new, consciously chosen thoughts. I practice this process day in and day out. I'm good at it. Yet, when the deepest points of pain that remain inside me are touched, my mind still can get the most of me.

I'm thankful for the past few days where I've seen my mind do this frantic dance. I know the level of mastery and enlightenment I want to attain so I recognize the beauty of moving through pain to deeper levels of healing and growth.

The last 24 hours have shown me that when our pain bodies take over (read Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth) they can overtake us--unless, of course, we begin to observe and question them.

I was guided last night to http://www.oprah.com/ and watch a series of Webcasts she did with Byron Katie as part of her Soul Series. Byron Katie wrote an amazing book called Loving What Is. In her book she teaches four questions to use in challenging your thoughts. One of the questions that I find very helpful is, "Who would I be without this thought?" I use this question often and recognize that if I stopped the worry thoughts and guilty thoughts -- fully letting them go-- I can move back into a state of peace.

As we move through this week I encourage all of us to watch our thoughts. Notice the thoughts that cause you discomfort and pain. Then, ask yourself the above question. See that as you learn to release thoughts of suffering you can find peace right now.

Let's keep learning and growing together!

{On a sweet, beautiful note, my oldest daughter, Maggie was so excited this week as we attended her kindergarten orientation. She was bouncing with delight as we left the house. The smile on her face as she met her teachers, friends and saw her new classroom helped me to see the excitement available to us in life. Kids haven't forgotten the joy -- and they haven't gotten lost in fearful thinking...let's be more like them:) }

With deep love for each of you,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Enjoying the Discomfort of Growth

What struck me most this past week is that for some reason I have created several situations in my life that have caused me some discomfort – not in a painful way, but in a way that caused me to feel very unsure of myself again. As I watched this feeling of discomfort, I realized how beautiful it is because when we find ourselves uncomfortable in situations it means that we have tremendous opportunity to grow and expand who we are.

I started my hip-hop dance class 2 weeks ago. The first week I went I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn. I tried my best to keep up with the rest of the class and get the moves down. It was hard work to keep my mind from judging me harshly! I felt the thoughts come up like, “You can’t do this. You aren’t good at this. Why are you even trying to learn. . .” I quickly stopped those thoughts and brought myself back to the present moment. Once I was fully present, I just decided to throw myself completely into the dancing and not worry about how I compared to others around me.

I felt such joy in dancing and saw how much fun it is to learn something new again. It was exhilarating listening to the music and diving in head first to something that was new. The discomfort of the situation turned into pure bliss – because I was putting myself out there – I was deciding to do something that made me uncomfortable so that I could get the results that I wanted in my life. I have been passionate about dancing for years and I’m finally taking a class.

Today I sat doodling in my journal after an event I attended for the Book Bank Foundation in AZ. As I drew and scribbled on the page, the following phrases popped out of my subconscious mind:

In the center of the page I wrote in big letters: GROW!

Around the word GROW I doddled these ideas:

Dive in head first!

You are ready!

Love your Journey (all aspects of it even the seeming negative,difficult and challenging).

Allow life to flow to you – just expand yourself in faith for what is to come.

Have courage.

Trust yourself.

Trust the process of blooming.

Trust others to their own journey.

Trust the Universe.

Let love expand.

That says it all for where I’m at in my journey. I am living what I teach you in this blog. I am living what I speak about to audiences. I am living what I teach people in life coaching sessions. Because I am living what I teach, I am constantly growing. I can also relate to people I am working with because I am constantly encouraging them to take baby steps to become what they want to be. Well, I am taking baby steps and feeling the challenge of growing in new ways too.

It takes courage to grow and expand. Yet, the fun, excitement and passion that flows from having courage and trusting yourself to navigate new situations allows you to Harness Your Personal Power in ways you never thought possible.

If you are sitting in a very comfortable life that you can navigate with very little thought or effort, it might be time to try something new! What have you always wanted to try? Is there a class you have been saying you’d take for years? Are there relationships you’ve wanted to develop that you keep putting off? Is there a cause that you care about that you’ve been meaning to get involved in? Life is what we make it. Why not create something extraordinary?

It feels a bit uncomfortable to put yourself into the unknown but the payoffs are wonderful. I never want to live my life saying, “I wish I had… or I should have done…..”

My children enjoy every aspect of learning. They don’t care if they can’t do the dance moves like the other kids in their class – they haven’t yet been taught to worry about these things. Our habits of worry and self-judgment can be released. Let’s make learning and growing our habits instead.

I love my life. I finally love every aspect of my life. I believe this is true for me now because I’m expanding beyond my initial discomfort with the new activities, events, classes and people I’ve put into my life.

Harness Your Power this week – EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS. Don’t sit and wait for life to bring excitement to you – instead, create excitement each day by trying new things. You may feel some initial discomfort in trying something new, but you will be so glad you did.

I’d love to hear about the new things you try and that initial discomfort you experience. . .isn’t the human experience fascinating?

With love, enthusiasm, and wonder for life,

Trish

www.patriciaomoqui.com