From Inadequate to Worthy

I know a person, one who feels inadequate.  She longs for personal change.  She is tired of her boring job.  She is hungry for new friendships.  She desires to live in a fun city.  She wants to feel happy, delighted about life.  But, just as she opens the door to her dreams, she shuts them.  She will not let herself move forward because she believes that she is not good enough, not smart enough, not capable of having what she wants.

As I hear her speak, I am astounded.  My view of her is quite different.  I see her as creative, spunky, full of possibility.  She is a beautiful woman.  She has talent.  She has the power to do what she wants in life.  But, she does not yet see or embrace this about herself.

As a friend and coach, I watch.  I encourage.  I wait.  I know that one day she will wake up to the truth of herself.  She is WORTHY.  She deserves to enjoy her life, to feel peaceful, to believe in and love herself.  I look forward to that day. 

I know a day can come when more of us understand our own potential, step into our power and go for our dreams.  Too many of us sit and suffer, wishing...waiting...hoping change will come.  And, all that hinders us is self-doubt, fear, low self-esteem.  The change we long for needs to happen inside--we must transform our thoughts of "not good enough" to "fully equipped and able."

I encourage you this week.  Open your heart.  Let the genie of your dreams begin to come out of the bottle.  Write them down.  Draw them.  Add vivid colors and textures to your desires.  Get them from your heart onto a piece of paper.  Then ask, "What is that one next small step I could take to move forward?"  You do not need to know the whole path.  You just need the next step.  Take that step.  It leads to the next step, and the next step and the next. ..and before you know it, you are on your way down the path of a vibrant, enriching and joyful life.

You can do it.
If you need support, let me know.

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

Harness Your Power: Notice the Fear

I am amazed at the number of layers of fear I have inside me.  I've been working on my fears for years now -- looking at each one, studying it and letting it go.  Yet, it seems that because I am willing to release all my fear, life brings me all the right situations to help me see what fear still remains.

There is nothing new under the sun.  The humans who have walked this planet for thousands of years before me have all thought and felt these things.  Those who come after me will feel fear too.  Yet, each human does make it through their journey on earth.  This being the case, what if we could skip the stress and anxiety piece of it and walk life in peace even int he difficult times.

Things always have a way of working out.  I'd rather go through a struggle and not drain my energy.  I'd rather feel well every day than have knots in my neck and stomach.  So, I continue to devote my focus to understanding the depths of my fears.  I'm learning about myself in deeper and deeper ways because of my willingness to see and know.  I am always shown more insights.  For this I am thankful.

On another note, I was fortunate to have spent time with a fantastic Nigerian artist, Nneka Egbuna.  You really should check out her music.  (http://www.nnekaworld.com/us/video ).  Her lyrics are deeply spiritual and her music moves the soul.  She made some profound statements about life and love that I am excited to share via my column in Vanguard Newspaper.

Maggie and Skye, my daughters, are big fans of hers because I play Nneka's music all the time in the car.  They had the privilege of seeing her perform and then meeting her backstage.  How blessed we are.

I pray this week that we are able to see the fears that bind us and keep us from feeling well.  May we each identify those fears and may we be guided to release the fear and move into an inner knowing that All is Well...All is Well all the time.

(As a continuation to last week's blog, my neighbor and her baby are now safely checked into a six-month drug rehab program.  It is a joy to see them launched into a new phase and I pray that healing and progress happen for them in these upcoming months.)

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

Harness Your Power: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

When we feel unhappy about the results we are getting in our lives, too often we look to blame external circumstances.  What if instead, we take a peek inside -- examine your mind and your thinking closely! 

Small thinking creates small living.  Empowered thinking creates empowered living.

The choice of thought is always ours.  But we often don't realize this and go with whatever flow of thinking comes into our mind.  Things like, "I'm no good...I can't do it....I'm never going to make it...I'll never find the love I want...I'm damaged goods nobody would love me....I'm just not smart enough, strong enough or good enough to get what I want in life."

Does any of that type of thinking sound vaguely familiar to you?

Take a peek this week.  Look at your thinking.  Examine it closely.  Do so by writing down the thoughts on paper and asking yourself, "Is the way I'm thinking about myself and life helping me to create a life I love or is it keeping me from what I want?"

Be honest.

If you need some help in transforming your thoughts, that is my specialty.

As the Thought Dr., I believe that as we heal our thoughts, we can heal every aspects of our lives.  It takes time and practice.  It takes honesty and willingness.  It takes dedication and discipline.  AND once you get the hang of it you will be amazed at the way you bloom!

With all my love,
Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Leave a Legacy of Love...

So, I poured my heart onto the page for a new article I wrote for my column in Vanguard Newspaper (Nigeria)...I am giving you a sneak peek this week...it came from deep within....

Fast forward again. On March 15, 2010, I receive word of another shocking loss.



Taking the braids out of my younger daughter, Skye’s, hair should be a normal experience, right? It wasn’t this time. These braids were special. They were put in by a 16 year old Sierra Lionian girl named Mattu. “Why is this a big deal?” you might ask. Let me explain.


Several months before, I had met Mattu at a local restaurant through a mutual friend. She noticed that my girls’ hair needed braiding and kindly offered her services. We accepted. This opened the door to a friendship that grew quickly into shared meals and enjoyable times together with Mattu and her brothers and sisters.


Mattu became dear to us. We were very sad when she told us she would be moving to Florida with her family. On her last evening in our neighborhood, she came over for dinner and braided Skye’s hair one last time. We bid the family goodbye comforted with the promise of her return to Philadelphia for a visit in the summer. That was Saturday, March 13th.


Then Monday I received a phone call, “Mattu is gone! She was hit by a car and killed instantly.” I felt total disbelief. My whole body went numb. “What? Are you sure? This can’t be true!” The reply was simple and somber, “Yes, it’s true.”


Last week I attended a memorial service given by friends of Mattu’s in the Philadelphia area. I was struck deeply by the words of the many who shared their memories with the group. Mattu had touched each of them with her joyfully vibrant spirit. She is remembered as a happy young woman who loved friends and food and shared everything she had with her mother and her siblings.


Just yesterday I unraveled the braids that Mattu wove in my daughter Skye’s hair. As I did I was smiling through tears remembering Mattu, still touched by her generosity.


As I move through my days these past few months I often feel surges of grief quieted by waves of joy. I am poignantly aware of the fragility and mystery of life. A beloved father joined his wife in heaven after 86 full years; a beautiful young woman was called home by God at age 16. Both are remembered for the greatest legacy anyone can leave. That legacy boils down to L-O-V-E.


What do you want to be remembered for? Don’t rush over this question. Contemplate it. Meditate on it. Open your heart. Why not be make a conscious decision about the way you will choose to live each day?


Life does not come down to who has the biggest house or the most expensive jewelry. It has little to do with the highest title or the fattest bank account. Rather, it comes down to simple acts of love. Each loving gesture is a deposit we make in the hearts of those we meet. A smile, a kind word, a prayer said on someone’s behalf, a meal prepared with care, time spent listening, laughing and sharing in meaningful conversation—any act of compassion or understanding makes a lasting impression.

....
I pray that these words have you thinking deeply about your purpose in life...Focus yourself.  Enjoy each moment.  Be YOUR best :)

Sending you love this week,
Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomqoui.com/

Harness Your Power: Joy & Passion

Today I write in honor of my oldest daughter, Maggie.  This Tuesday Miss Maggie Moo will turn 7 years old.  I'm amazed at how quickly these years have gone by. 

For those of you who know me well, you are aware that I call Maggie my greatest teacher.  It was her arrival in my life that caused me to do some deep soul searching.  At three months of age we were told that Maggie was a floppy baby.  She underwent every test thinkable only for us to be told they didn't know why she had low muscle tone.  We were left in total uncertainty -- told that Maggie might not walk, talk or be "normal."

I celebrate my daughter today!  She can walk.  She struggles still getting up the stairs.  She can talk.  She still has speech therapy and is not as understandable as other kids her age.  She has developmental delays and yet is learning to read, write and do simple math problems.  She is tenacious.  She never gives up on learning.  Thankfully she is a born teacher.  Whatever she does in the classroom at school she carries home to instruct her baby dolls all evening long.

My daughter was officially diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome when she was 5 years old.  I'm learning that this syndrome has a wide range of possibilities for a person's life.  I'm coming to understand that we have no idea what her future will bring so we need not spend our time worrying about it or wondering.  Maggie has taught me to live in the present moment and embrace life wholeheartedly.  That is how she lives.  She doesn't even know that she has this syndrome.  She simply lives with zest and freedom.

I give thanks today for physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, doctors, nurses and supportive family and friends who have helped us make so much progress.  Maggie is resilient.  She is smart with a very sharp set of ears --she NEVER misses a word that is said and we are often shocked when she reminds us of what we said!

I look back now and see that if I had spent the last 7 years in worry, I would have been miserable.  Instead, I have focused on the beauty in Maggie.  I've accepted her journey as HER journey, not one to be measured against other children.  I have celebrate each step of progress and watched in wonder at how she always has kept a happy spirit and a brilliant smile.

Maggie follows her passion.  She loves to teach.  She told her pre-school teacher one day that she was going to take her job and that her teacher would have to go get a job at McDonalds!  That is how serious Maggie is about her teaching.  For her birthday she asked for a white board and markers.  Since opening her gift yesterday she has been using the white board to further instruct her babies.

I am in awe as I watch her.  She jumps for joy almost every day.  She loves life.  She loves others.  She is kind.  She is helpful and motherly.  She is all that I could ever have asked for in a daughter.

Here is what I want to say to her this week:  "Thank you Miss Maggie for stimulating me to be joyful and follow my passion.  It is because of you that I am an inspirational speaker, life coach and writer.  I love you.  I am in awe of you, Mom"

Please, in honor of Maggie and because life is so short, follow your passion.  Do what comes naturally.  Remember what makes you tick, what you can't get enough of and begin to incorporate it into your life.

And, this week, please find at least one opportunity to jump up and down and celebrate life like my dearest daughter.  Notice that as you do this you MUST smile.  Jumping for joy is fun.

Living with joy and passion,
Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Contemplate New Perspectives

During our weekly visit to the library I found a book that I had been wanting to read: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer. I didn't know much about the book's content but the title drew me in because I teach people how to heal their lives by healing their thoughts.

I was unexpectedly surprised, I should even say delighted, as I opened the pages and began to read. Wayne Dyer spent a whole year meditating on and writing about the Tao Te Ching. In the pages I found words that expressed many of the new approaches to life that I had intuitively been experiencing.

Each day I've closed my eyes before opening the book and asked to be guided to just the right page. On several days I was given the 37th verse. Here it is:

The Tao does nothing,

but leaves nothing undone.

If powerful men could center themselves in it,

the whole world would be transformed

by itself, in its natural rhythms.

When life is simple,

pretenses fall away;

our essential natures shine through.

By not wanting, there is calm,

and the world will straighten itself.

When there is silence,

one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.

Wow. There is way too much for me to unpack from this verse in just this one blog. So, I will share with you the main idea that I've been meditating upon. The first line struck me deeply. It is so beautiful and profound. The way I read it is: The Universe does nothing but leaves nothing undone. Weeks before I read this I was often spending my time looking at the birds and trees thinking to myself, "Wow, how is it that all of nature is cared for so abundantly and yet human being seem to struggle so much?"

I spent my week looking for examples of the truth of this phrase -- of how often things are done for me without me having to do a thing. I could name a thousand bodily functions that prove this to be the case. Yet, there are other layers where I've found this to be true. When I've set an intention to be truly healed (emotionally, spiritually and physically), it seems the Universe brings me the right people and experiences that allow this to occur. Very little, if any, effort on my part happens except to be open and willing, to be surrendered to the possibility of the healing.

Other instances in my life show me that this is the case. How did I attend Princeton? The Universe arranged it. How did I start playing basketball at age 16 and end up playing pro? Yes, I worked hard on the court, but there was something more to it--there was something that occurred naturally, on my behalf, to make that a possibility. The list of these events could go on and on.

The peace in my heart has deepened this week. It is as if my inner knowing that I am safe, cared for and often carried on my journey has been given a name in finding this phrase from the 37th verse.

Take time this week to read and re-read the above verse. See which phrase sinks into your heart. Ask to be shown the meaning for you.

As we contemplate these new perspectives we are stretched. In being stretched, the diamonds and gold that we hold within are brought to the surface.

May you find deep peace and joy,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/