Harness Your Power: It's Not Personal Unless You Make it So!

(No, that is not a picture of me!)

Too often we take what other people say and do as a personal attack.  I've learned that other people are entitled to their own opinions, judgments and perceptions.  It's up to me whether I allow what they are saying to upset me or if I see what they are offering as simply information to consider.

Here's a good story I found on the subject:

A tale is told about the Buddha, Gautama (563-483BC), the Indian prince and spiritual leader whose teachings founded Buddhism. This short story illustrates that every one of us has the choice whether or not to take personal offence from another person's behaviour.



It is said that on an occasion when the Buddha was teaching a group of people, he found himself on the receiving end of a fierce outburst of abuse from a bystander, who was for some reason very angry.


The Buddha listened patiently while the stranger vented his rage, and then the Buddha said to the group and to the stranger, "If someone gives a gift to another person, who then chooses to decline it, tell me, who would then own the gift? The giver or the person who refuses to accept the gift?"


"The giver," said the group after a little thought. "Any fool can see that," added the angry stranger.


"Then it follows, does it not," said the Buddha, "Whenever a person tries to abuse us, or to unload their anger on us, we can each choose to decline or to accept the abuse; whether to make it ours or not. By our personal response to the abuse from another, we can choose who owns and keeps the bad feelings."

Are you accepting negative "gifts" from others?  You don't have to.  You always have a choice of whether you take in what another person offers you.
 
Choose wisely.  Each choise affects the quality of your life experience.
 
With a wish for peace,
Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Keep Your Focus

I have been reminded this week through my own life experience and watching people arond me that we have more power and choice in our destiny than we realize. 

It is essential to clarify what we want to experience in all aspects of life (spiritual, relational, financial, professional, physical well-being etc.)  When we lack clarity we spin in circles and go on rabbit trails.  We allow whatever life presents to us to become our focus rather than consciously choosing our direction.

Each of us is constantly bombarded with a myriad of people, places and opportunities.  Those with clear vision maximize life by walking with their eyes open and seizing the empowered, positive possibilities presented.  Those without clear vision often (consciously or unconsciously) accept negative, self-defeating possibilities and become derailed. 

Here is a specific example.  I know a young person who has issues with drug use.  God has placed in his life positive people who want to help him to his goals.  Yet also on his life path are those who still partake and offer him drugs.  When focused on his vision of being drug free, he is able to avoid those people and / or be clear in stating he is not interested in engaging in drugs.  When he is not clear, he spends time with people who are doing drugs and gets sucked into his old habits.

What do you want?  What are you focused on?  Are you allowing yourself to unconsciously spin in old patterns?  Are you ready to break free and move swiftly to what your heart desires?

Take time this week to write down a clear statement of what you desire to experience in life in the next three months. 

Keep your list in front of you.  Read it every day. 

Then, as people, places and possibilities come your way, evaluate whether or not they support you in reaching your vision. 

If they don't, then make conscious choices to use your energy powerfully and purposefully instead.

I'm doing this with you!  I'm actively focusing my energy and staying distraction free:)

It is a daily choice to do so.


With Love
Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/