Harness Your Power: Experience Beauty

I just finished a walk at a park near my home. I saw so many beautiful things. Two white butterflies were playfully fluttering along. A brilliant bluebird darted in front of me. The buds on the trees are forming, some of them are fully open now. There was a gentle breeze that kept me from sweating too much. When I closed my eyes I heard a marvelous symphony of birds chirping, wind blowing, and children laughing. There were four deer feeding on the fresh, green grass.

If I had been lost in mental chatter fretting about tomorrow, I wouldn't have noticed any of it. How do I know this? Because I've lived like that. There have been so many times I went for a walk in this park and didn't notice even one of these things. I'd have myself focused on getting my workout done -- it was a means to an end. I would walk so fast and try to figure out my to do list or how to solve the many problems in my life while I walked.

As I have calmed my mind and learned to live in the moment, I have found life to be incredibly rich and full of beauty. I stop now and marvel when I notice the first orange butterfly of the season land on a nearby flower. I sit on the bench and take a few deep breaths and let my body relax. Life feels easier. There certainly are still challenges -- real and seemingly daunting ones. But, rather than waiting until all my problems are solved to be happy, I choose to be happy and enjoy life right NOW!

The biggest change I've made is in my mind. In using the Harness Your Power process to transform my thinking, I have transformed my entire life experience.

Years ago when my suffering was at its most intense point, I never thought there would be a day that I could say: I am in awe of life and I enjoy life. I used to tolerate each day. Now, I see that there is always something miraculous to celebrate.

This doesn't mean I avoid the challenges. I just approach them in a totally different way. I relax myself. I realize that situations can transform in miraculous ways. I see each moment as perfect for my journey and growth. I have come to understand that I am always being guided. For each difficulty that pops up in my life, there is always a way to move through it!

This week I saw a marvelous example of guidance. David, my husband, came down the stairs. I remembered that I wanted to suggest to him a book I had seen in a local bookstore. "David, you really should read the book Africa Rising," I said. "You have to be kidding me," he replied. He went on to explain, "I was just on the phone with a professor from Drexel and not more than five minutes ago she told me that I needed to read the book Africa Rising." We both chuckled. More and more we are experiencing this clear, direct guidance from the Universe. It's delightful to become aware of how easily we are led along life's path.

As fate would have it, we were about to take the kids to the library to get some books. And, of course, we were able to find the book Africa Rising for David to have at his disposal that evening.

Is life easy or hard?

Is it miraculous or dreadful?

Can you see the beauty all around you?

If you are struggling, please take heart. It is possible to feel better about life. If you need any help or support in doing this, please contact me at patricia@patriciaomoqui.com . I will do anything I can to provide you with my insights and experiences so that you too can feel joy, experience peace and open to the beauty that surrounds us all.

You are loved.

There is hope.

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Learn From Intense Reactions

I had a classic situation of "getting a button pushed" on Easter Sunday. Someone close to me said something and I found myself becoming defensive. I watched myself as this inner reaction was happening. I could sense an escalation so I walked away, took some deep breaths and gave myself some space.

I looked closely at what was said. I knew it wasn't true but I still felt a deep need to defend myself. Why was I being so defensive? I waited for an answer. Then, I saw something going on beneath the surface.

I had a very sensitive spot inside myself. I felt that I had been putting others before myself and this person was accusing me of making myself a priority and pushing others aside. What! How could they think this way!

I tried to understand why this was getting to me and I realized it was because I was putting my needs aside too much to please others. I was "sacrificing" my needs and wants for others. Because of this I had built up some anger and resentment that got activated when this learning partner accused me of putting myself before other people.

What wonderful clarification comes when we find ourselves getting worked up! I actually have grown to celebrate these discoveries. Rather than looking at the other person as being "wrong," I instead turn within and look at why I am feeling so strongly about what has been said or done. As I do this, I always discover meaningful insights to help me grow.

Here is what I gained from the tough moment: if I am going to help others and accommodate the schedules of other people, I should do so because I want to not because I feel I have to do so. I noticed my old pattern that I have of bottling up the way I really feel to keep peace. If I had been expressing the way I felt all along, I wouldn't have been on the verge of a major eruption!

I love my patterns. I know them well. Yet, they still sometimes find subvert ways of staying in operation. What gives me great joy is that these patterns always do get exposed and brought to my attention so I can take another look and see new opportunities for shifting my thinking and behavior.

Watch when you feel someone has "pushed your buttons." Notice intense emotions like anger, disappointment, frustration, guilt or shame. These emotions are clues that point you to more personal learning.

I trust you will enjoy this week, even the moments that feel stressful. There is beauty even in stress!

To your peace and well-being,

Your Learning Partner,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Let go of drama

I share a brief thought with you this week. I attended a party this weekend and the biggest energy drainer I noticed was drama. Little comments turned into hours of discussion. "Can you believe she said that? Did you see what he just did?"

I challenge you to become aware of how often you take comments of others and make them a personal matter. Remember that people project what is going on inside of them and it really has very little (maybe even nothing) to do with you.

What if you just allowed a statement to go in one ear and out the other without taking any of your precious energy? If you can't, notice why these things bothers you so much. What is the "hot button" inside of you that gets pushed because of what another person says? Do you respond and increase the drama?

If you allow your buttons to get pushed, keep an eye on the inner impact. Just notice for now. You may begin to see opportunities for harnessing your power that you weren't aware of before.

To keep your energy intact and be at your most powerful, let go of drama!

With love and power,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: What Is Your Approach?

Here is a question I have been pondering for the past few years: Does Life emerge through us or do we need to "make" things happen?

I'd love to hear your philosophy.

In our society, most people adhere to the idea that it is our responsibility to make it all happen on our own. Let's call this the Responsible approach. We push forward. We rack our brains coming up with new solutions and next steps. We forge ahead, trying to stay ahead of the pack or even just with the pack. We believe it takes 110% of our effort to get to where we want, even if we go down many rabbit trails as we move forward. Action is king. The challenge with this approach is that we often exhaust ourselves, feeling guilty if we aren't always taking steps. After all, WE are responsible to make it all happen so an idle moment is not about resting, it is about wasting precious time that could be used in effort forward.

I've been learning about and practicing a new Guided approach-- a much simpler, easier one. In this perspective, there is very little action needed. We only act when we are clear about the next steps. Our next steps come from our inner guidance, from deep within us rather than from our mind. We find that when we wait for intuition and then follow, the path forward is miraculous, graceful and often more direct to what we want than the Responsible approach.

This Guided approach requires an inner peace and calm -- a way to quiet the small, chattering mind so that a grander, wiser voice can emerge. In my experience, I've been able to tap into this voice in a clearer way through meditation. What I've realized is that this voice has always been there throughout my whole life. I often didn't hear it or understand what it was because I had always been so busy making lists of pros and cons for every decision I made.

The challenge in living from this perspective is patience and faith. Do we really believe that guidance will come when we need it? Are we willing to trust? Is it okay that the path forward is easy or we feel guilty if we don't stress our bodies and minds to get to our goal?

I have found myself and others I introduce this to thinking "this is way too easy." Also, I find that this underlying belief that I was programmed with is very strong, "I have to make things happen. I am responsible and must keep acting all the time or I am being lazy."

Yet, I made a decision a few years ago to adhere to the Guided approach. I wanted to test it to the fullest and see if it works. I'll share a bit of my experience with you.

My faith has been deepened from following this approach. In fact, I often feel as if I'm sitting in a space of "not knowing" for long periods of time. Each day I open to what my next steps would be. I often sense that my next step is to relax, to wait, to be present to whatever comes to me throughout the day. Then, I'll get clear direction about who to call, where to go and what needs to be done next. The more I relax into not knowing, the easier life becomes. I have more peace in this approach and I am much better rested. I also often find myself amazed at how things come together in the least expected ways.

Here are some recent examples. I enjoyed writing so I decided to start writing a weekly blog in addition to Food For Thought, the daily email list. Through the blog, I was clarifying my ideas and getting the hang of writing longer pieces. Out of the blue, I was approached by a woman in Nigeria with the opportunity to write a weekly column for one of Nigeria's largest newspapers. I didn't come up with this idea and I had no clue that writing for an International newspaper would be part of my journey. But, because I had followed the guidance to write my weekly blog, I was ready for the opportunity.

Because I was writing the weekly column, I was invited last June to be the keynote speaker for a large Women on Wellness conference. While there I was interviewed for TV. Then, months later, the woman who interviewed me offered me the opportunity to have 5 - 7 minutes each week on her morning TV show.

Each of these opportunities arrived in my life. They emerged on my path. I didn't seek them out. When I was ready, they showed up. I took action when I needed to -- I wrote the weekly column. I created the TV segments. It was all so simple, so effortless and exciting. It was (and continues to be) miraculous.

When I review my past, I see that many of the things I thought I made happen were actually given to me! It's fascinating to take a closer look.

I'm in a phase now of waiting for the next step forward. I find that all the right life coaching clients show up. The ideas for my weekly column pop into my mind. I get expert feedback on my TV segments without even asking for it! The next steps always become clear.

My struggle has been waiting and sitting in the unknown for what seems long periods of time. Yet, the more I relax into these times of quiet and darkness, the more I see their value. Being in the dark is actually refreshing, it isn't scary any more. (It has given me plenty of opportunity to face my remaining fears!) They are preparatory times of healing, taking care of myself, my home and my children. They are times of being creative and allowing growth that I didn't even know I needed to take place.

One last note--I find that when moving from the Responsible approach to the Guided one, it can feel rather uncomfortable. I have felt that two different mindsets were happening at once. It felt like a verse from the Bible that I remember memorizing as a child, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." I eventually decided that if I wanted to find out the approach that felt right to me, I needed to give the Guided one my complete attention. I'm continuing to "test" it out.

I'd love to hear your perspective on this. Please leave a comment on this blog or send me an email at allure@patriciaomoqui.com . What have you found to be true and best for you?

May you have an easy, guided, miraculous week,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Love this Moment!

I'm back from an amazing 9 days at Byron Katie's School for The Work. It was one of the most intense experiences I've ever had. There was time for silence, for meditation and for delving into our inner most beings to become aware of fears and judgments that cause suffering.

I met so many wonderful people. If you are ready for excavating your "underworld", I'd highly recommend this experience.

One thing I'm experiencing in a more profound way than before is relaxing into the moment -- really loving the moment for what it is. I see more clearly how supported I am -- there is always ground beneath my feet to support me as I walk. My breath continues whether I focus on it or not. My heart beats and my blood flows. The more I calm my mind, the more clear my vision becomes. I see plentiful blessings surrounding me even in the midst of daily life challenges.

I invite you this week to take time to breathe deeply and become one with the moment. Why not love where you are right now? What if you just fully let go of your worries and your desire for control and experienced for a few moments how supported you are? There is relief when we drop our stories of the past and let go of our fears of the future. How much energy are you wasting on needless shame or worry?

I also had the opportunity to have a 10 minute video-taped interview with Byron Katie. In about a month's time it will be edited and should be airing on Nigerian TV and will be available on my website. Katie is a delightful, enlightened, peaceful woman. Please check out her website: http://www.thework.com/ . The process she teaches called The Work is a way to expand your perspective and release deep-seated fear.

I'm here to love and support each of you.

If I can be of any help, just drop me an email.

With love, peace and joy,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Do The Work

I'm in Los Angeles this morning as I write this blog. I am at a training called The School For The Work. It is hosted and led by Byron Katie, one of the most enlightened, beautiful human beings I've encountered.

In the three days I've been here I already feel another layer of unquestioned fear-based thoughts and beliefs, have melted away. It's as if new energy fills my heart and joy floods my Soul.

Please take time this week to check out: http://www.thework.com/ . I'd encourage you to watch some of the videos she has of her doing The Work with other people. There are a variety of topics so pick one that appeals most to you. Listen to the four questions she uses. Notice how they turn the thoughts around. This process is simple and it works if you allow your mind to open.

Just observe your mind. Watch yourself. See what is really going on inside you. Watch the thought, emotion, action progression. Then consider, "Who would you be without the thoughts that cause you stress and suffering?" As you open to stretching the viewpoints you have and seeing yourself and life from different perspectives, new freedom fills your whole being.

I am so blessed, so grateful, so amazed at how supported we all are by the Universe. I invite you this week to notice how supported and loved you are -- do you see the miracles surrounding you, occuring in your life? If not, notice the beliefs and thoughts that block you from seeing the good and beautiful.

With deep love for myself and for each of you,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

(P.S. the above picture was taken by my best friend, an amazing photographer named Carrie Draghi. She lives in Hartford...the picture expresses my feeling of increasing freedom. www.cdraghiphoto.com If you are in her area, there isn't anyone better to work with. She's fun and excellent at what she does.)

Harness Your Power: Learn From the Animals and Birds

So many people around the World are experiencing challenging financial circumstances. Walking through financial difficulty can bring heart pain, sleepless nights and intense stress levels. Feeling sick to your stomach, losing your hair (literally) and being irritable is not the way most of us want to live. Yet, when the fear of the future and the guilt of the past races through our mind incessantly, it is hard for us to be our best.

As I meditated yesterday an idea flowed into my mind: How much do we really need anyway? We can learn from the birds, animals and insects. Do they have gigantic houses full of "stuff"? Do they have cupboards filled with extra food? No. They know something, they have mastered and integrated a concept that I believe the World is being guided to: Live one day at a time trusting that your needs will be met. Trust the Universe. Fry flee. Scurry along with joy and energy.

I have moved through an interesting process the past few years. At the outset, I was visualizing a huge house, tremendous wealth, a lifestyle with all the "extras." As I've been healing inside, I have begun to see that more than anything material, I want peace, freedom and love. My focus has shifted to wanting the flow of abundance to rush into my life so that it flows through my hands and out to the World. I want to be the most effective, loving person I can. How I want to feel is more of what I focus on than what "stuff" I want to have.

Having nice things and enjoying life is wonderful. I love to enjoy these things but I see that what I truly desire is something much deeper. I now trust that the Universe will bring to my life the perfect arrangement financially that will enable me to most effectively help others and enrich my life experience.

I see clearly how little I really do need to be happy. The verse from the Bible rings so true to me: I have learned that no matter what state I am in, I can be happy. Happiness is an inner state and has very little to do with what I have.

So, those are my musings this week. I trust it will give you something new to consider.

When you see a bird flying in the air, ask the Universe to help you soar higher.

When you notice an animal scurrying along, affirm that the Universe will supply you with what you need one moment at a time.

There is plenty for all.

A big hug,

Patricia Omoqui.

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/ (check out my free resources page -- there are excellent resources to help you in your personal transformation.)