Harness Your Power: This Moment is Perfect

I may have gotten you thinking with the title of this blog -- This Moment is Perfect.  Some of you reading this might say, "How can this be perfect when I don't have the money to pay for my mortgage or my groceries?  It feels so dark, so uncertain and uncomfortable."

I can relate to this response.  I've been contemplating this quite a bit lately. 

I've come back to the realization that in this moment, THIS EXACT MOMENT, I am always provided for.  Though the future is uncertain and I have no idea how the challenges in my life will come to resolution, this moment is just fine.  I must choose not to run ahead to a few days from now, a month from now or a year from now.  We are all being forced to be present to life right now.

The question is, will you be in the moment with a head full of fear or will you be in the moment with a heart full of peace?  This is the choice.  Believe me, I know it is not always an easy thing to move into a feeling of peace.  I've struggled with this myself lately.  But, I keep coming to the truth that my whole life there has always been a way forward, a miraculous provision at just the right time.  So, why not just rest into the arms of the Divine?

Yes, we each must do our part.  We need to show up every day and do what we are guided to -- to take the steps to provide for our families.  As we do our small, simple tasks, we find that the breakthroughs come in the perfect time of the Divine.  We want the breakthroughs to come sooner and this often causes us terrible grief and inner conflict -- WHY ISN'T THIS SITUATION CHANGING NOW???

I'm here to say that it isn't changing because the learning you are called to do is not yet complete.  Each challenge is preparation for your path ahead.  Try to relax and learn rather than fight with life.  You will save energy and feel better if you take this approach.

I give my love to each one of you.  I understand the feelings of difficulty.  I also know that there is always hope, always peace and always love available to us as we become present to the Divine.

With love,
Patricia Omoqui,
The Thought Dr.
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: Try New Things

I am a morning person. I typically rise at 5:30 a.m. to enjoy the peace of our home so I can meditate and work on writing my weekly articles or making progress on my book. It's my favorite time of the day. Around 6:30 a.m. my youngest daughter Skye wanders down the stairs and snuggles beside me on the couch as I finish up my work. (This is a picture of my sparkling daughter).

Skye is a dynamic little girl. This week she decided she wanted to dress as a ballerina for school. She wore a pink mesh ballerina skirt over her jeans, some shiny black shoes and wore her hair in a bun to get the look she wanted. May I remind you she is only 3 1/2. A true character! (She often wears a Hannah Montana wig when we got out to run errands!)

This morning she came down and showed me that she can now snap. Last week she got really focused on figuring out how to snap her fingers. When Dad sings, he often snaps. I think she also saw her teacher doing this at school during music time. She was determined and focused on learning this new skill. After a week of practice, she has almost mastered it! Now she is so excited to show off her new skill.

This got me thinking about how fun it is to learn and try new things. Kids thrive on the excitement of expanding their skills. They are often relentless -- trying again and again until they figure it out. Some adults do this as well, but many of us get so busy in our daily lives that we often put aside our inner yearnings to learn something fresh.

I'd like to encourage you to let your desires for growth and expansion to emerge. Even if you feel you don't have time for learning, at least listen to your heart. What would you really like to learn how to do? Would learning how to cook Thai food excite you? Maybe you have always wanted to dance? Or, is it time to refresh your guitar skills? Has there been a language you have always had interest in? Whatever it is that would bring you joy, just begin to write your ideas down.

Some of my clients take the time to write down a list of "The things I'd like to do and experience by age 35 (or, 40, 50, 60, 70 etc.)." The people I've met who have done some really cool things are usually the ones that are very clear in knowing what they'd like to do. They've taken the time to think through their list. Then, they pick something from their list and begin -- whether it is saving for the trip of their dreams or signing up for a class -- they get started and find a way to fit what they love into their lives. Because they have a list, they are able to fit these things into the hours of time that open up in their schedules rather than sitting in front of the TV because they don't have anything else in mind to do.

Take what is in your heart and put it on the page. Why not write your own list this week? Let your creative juices flow. Don't put limits on the exercise --no worrying about where you'll get the money or how you'll fit it into your schedule. Just commit your dreams to paper.

Notice how you feel just thinking about these ideas! Imagine what it will be like to actually experience them.

My next learning experience is one I never would have thought of months ago. Because of the recent experiences I've had with producing TV segments to air in Nigeria and now on a local Philadelphia cable called MindTV, I've realized I want to know more about Television and broadcasting. So, I'm beginning to ask around about classes at local colleges where I can get exposed to this learning! I'm also attending a class on Thursday that is a boot camp for learning how to produce 5 minute TV segments. It feels refreshing when we take the steps to continually expand our minds!

Take the time to write your list this week! Let your heart beat fast again!

On a different note, for any of you who are feeling the darkness of life, please check out my article on Vanguard this week. I believe it will encourage your heart: http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/21835/82/ .

With great love for each of you,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Take Care of Your Soul

I had the privilege this weekend of hearing two excellent speakers. The first was Thomas Moore who wrote some bestsellers such as Care of the Soul and Dark Night of the Soul. As I listened to Thomas Moore speak I learned of an important distinction that I had not considered before -- the difference between Soul and Spirit. I had used those words interchangeably. Thomas contrasted these words, suggesting that Spirit is that part of us which desires to transcend, to feel bigger and grander than our experience in a human body. Soul, on the other hand, is that aspect of us that lives day-to-day, walking through life.

He has spent time with many spiritual communities. He commented that those who are very focused on their spiritual practice are often time out of touch with their Soul. In fact, they have difficulty in relationships, challenges in their sex life and don't enjoy the basic aspects of the Soul like preparing a meal and enjoying it with family and friends.

As I sat listening I realized how true that had been for me until this past year. I felt there was something "lower" about the basics of life. In my mind there was a hierarchy of the ways I would spend my time and energy-- at the top was my spiritual life, then my career and then the basics of home life. Because of this view, I often struggled to enjoy the basic activities of daily life.

As I encountered the idea of mindfulness about a year ago and really began to practice it, I began to experience joy in every activity. I soon realized that I could find peace in folding laundry and get a sense of bliss from making a meal for my family. Before these two activities felt difficult and unhappy to me.

Thomas suggested we focus as much on our Soul as we do on our Spirit. Enjoy nature. Go to a museum and connect with some art. Learn to cook. Put together a dinner party and give it your all -- bring your favorite friends together to share in wonderful food, drink and talk. Focus on your relationships.

These are very basic ideas but ones that I felt glad to be reminded of. So many of us right now are facing financial challenges, losing jobs, dealing with relationship problems and health issues. It is okay to feel as if your Soul is walking through a very dark time. In fact, if you can embrace these times and move through them with an openness to learning and deepening your wisdom, you can begin to see the beauty in the darkness.

I speak about this from a space of experiential knowing. I've been in a very dark time the past eight weeks. Many miraculous things have come from wading through the mires of my fears. In the darkest moments I always found that if I just took some deep breaths and focused myself within, there was light to be found. Peace was within me even if my circumstances felt in chaos.

Embrace the darkness. Listen to your Soul. It will whisper to you and guide you to what it needs. Be honest. Find others to support and help you through these times. Most of all, go inside. Love yourself. Admire your courage for moving through this human journey.

You are resilient. You are courageous. You are learning and growing. This is what your Soul came to do! Be glad for each experience in life. It is all truly perfect and on schedule.

(The other speaker I listened to was James Twyman. He is a truly amazing human being -- encouraging all of us to see how connected we are. He recently wrote a book called The Moses Code. He is also an excellent musician. All of his work focuses on bringing greater peace to the World. http://www.emissaryoflight.com/_.aspx?t_t=5)

With deep love for each of you,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

View my YouTube videos at: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=patricia+omoqui&search_type=&aq=f

Harness Your Power: Step Forward In Faith

You know what you want to experience in life. In fact, opportunities present themselves. The Universe often sends us opportunities to see if we are willing, in faith, to step forward and seize the moment. "Are you REALLY read for what you want?" asks the Universe.

We can set wonderful intentions of what we want to create. We can believe it to be possible. But if we don't take the guided steps that the Universe whispers (sometimes even shouts) to us, we aren't really ready and fully prepared for the opportunities that present themselves in our lives.

Daily baby steps add up. We must be willing to step out in faith-- even when the bank account is low, the self-doubting thoughts still echo in one's mind and life feels dark. The choice we have is whether we will focus on what seem to be difficult circumstances or will we quiet our mind, and find the light within our hearts. This light shines brightly, especially when life feels particularly dark.

Do you trust? Will you surrender? Will you flow with life or will you worry? We have so many choices each moment of our lives.

Take time this week to observe the opportunities you have each day to step forward in faith towards your dreams. You can do it! Quiet the fears. Stop the self-doubt. Don't worry. You are supported as you move forward. Stay with this moment -- and don't jump to the future.

Deepening my faith,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Focus On the Light!

As typical in my life, this week was full of wonderful learning. I'm excited to share an important idea with you, one that is helping me make good choices and is also enabling my life coaching clients to do the same!

I had a life coaching call with a wonderful client this week. We will call him John for the sake of this blog. Over the past few months, John has taken the time to clarify in detail what his heart desires! It's been a fun process to go through with him! He has written it all down on paper. He has created a vision board depicting what he desires. He has connected to what is important to him, what he loves and what he is passionate about creating. By looking into his heart, John has found light in his life.

Now the challenge comes. John knows what he wants in his life, but he doesn't yet have it! When he looks at his life right now, he sees that he doesn't yet have what he wants. When he thinks about this, it makes him feel down and depressed. John isn't enjoying the job that he has. So, he feels discouraged that he doesn't have a new job yet. When he feels this, it drains his energy and keeps him from being inspired to take steps towards his vision for his new job. It keeps him from moving towards his vision for what he wants to create in his career.

It all boils down to a choice: In each moment, will I focus on what I don't want or will I focus on what I do want for my life? In each thought, will I focus on the vision I have for my life or will I focus on the darkness I feel about my current circumstances?

When you focus on the darkness, it feels really dark. You lose sight of the light. You curl up in a ball and feel bad inside. You get depressed. You forget the possibility of what you can create.

When you focus on the light, it feels bright. The darkness fades away into the background. You feel energized as you look at the light. Your intuition begins whispering to you your next steps of how to move closer to the light. You start moving in the direction of the light one step at a time. You feel the warmth of the light. You get closer and closer to it. You feel great, alive and ready to step into your vision!

Wow. What a difference our focus makes. Life is really simple and easy if we have the right focus.

So, if you notice yourself sitting in the dark, feeling upset and lonely, STOP. Stop yourself right away. Then, refocus on the vision you have for what you desire to create in your life. Look at it in detail. Let your emotions move towards the excitement of what you desire. Then, move towards the light.

Will you choose darkness or light this week?

Your choice makes all the difference in how you feel about life!

Basking in the light,

Patricia Omoqui
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

If you need help in clarifying your vision for life, let me know! I enjoy working with people to support them in creating their vision for life. It is a delightful process to work on!

If you feel stuck in the darkness, I would love to help you learn to focus more on the light -- sometimes you might think a light doesn't exist. . .but, it does. . .and I would be glad to guide you towards it until you can see it for yourself.

Drop me an email at thoughtdr@patriciaomoqui.com