Harness Your Power - What Feelings Are You Avoiding?

I've been reading a new book this week called Women, Food and God.  The key insight I've gained is that often people eat because they want to escape the way they feel.  They turn to food to numb the inner discomfort rather than opening to whatever feelings they have.

Not only do people turn to food, they also turn to drugs.  I have a friend who has said to me on many occasions, "It is easier to get high than to deal with my pain.  My pain is so big that I can't face.  But I hate the way I feel so I have to numb myself with drugs."  Because she is unwilling to deal with her painful growing up years, she is adding even more layers of pain to her life right now because of her drug abuse and the drama that comes along with it.

I write all this as observation, not judgment.  I can see how I have used work or going to the gym in the same way.  Anytime the discomfort inside me called for my attention, I'd head to the gym to get lost in exercise or I'd open my computer and busy myself with assignments.

I'm learning more these days to sit with the uncomfortable feelings I have.  To just open to them and listen to the wisdom they offer me.  The painful emotions are signals that offer me guidance about my life and about myself.  I see that when I observe and engage with these feelings, they don't overwhelm me--they TEACH me and help me to grow.  In fact, a good cry or an intense moment of anger simply passes after I feel it and I come back to peace with a lighter heart.

Perhaps this week you could take some time to notice the ways in which you might be avoiding your feelings.  Do you use alcohol, drugs, food, sex, tv, work or something else to escape the inner discomfort you feel?   What if instead of turning to these addictions you actually sat in silence to listen to what you are being told by the emotion?

You may find more freedom than you have right now if you give this a try.

A fantastic holiday gift for a friend or family member is my new book, Clarify Your Purpose and Live It.  It is a simple, rich, easy-to-read book with exercises to guide you toward a satisfying, purposeful life:

http://www.amazon.com/Clarify-Your-Purpose-Patricia-Omoqui/dp/0982912900/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291896883&sr=1-2

Sending you love this week,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.

Harness Your Power: Write It Down!

I find myself continually suggesting to clients to put pen to paper and write down their thoughts.  Writing is a way to get the swirling thoughts that overwhelm us out of our head so we can see them in black and white.

Here are a number of exercises I regularly recommend:

Write down your FEARS!  Just today one of my clients was struggling with some intense fear.  She took the time to write all the fears down.  It helped her to see the fear with a clearer mind.  She started to see how extreme some of the fears were and was able to sit and study them more objectively.  She even began to question the fears and see if there were new perspectives she could adopt to help her feel better.

Write down your burdens.  If you feel heavy, weighed down by your personal burdens and the suffering of others, take five minutes and write a list of all the burdens.  Then, take this piece of paper and file it away in the "Universe File."  Give the burdens to God and walk through your day feeling peace and hope.  Trust.  If you find yourself starting to worry, remember that you already put your list in the biggest hands there are!

Take stock of all that you are experiencing.  Often my clients will say, "I don't understand why I feel so drained and exhausted."  I help them recall the many intense situations they are going through --whether it is an aging parent, a stressful situation at work, a financial challenge or a health issue -- these real-life difficulties can be intense.  Give yourself credit for all that is going.  Then, remember that when you have a lot of these situations going on at once, you need to take good care of yourself!  Get extra rest.  Eat well.  Pat yourself on the back for your courage.

Write your gratitude list!  Yes, please remember to write all the good things down that are going on in your life.  No matter how small the blessing, focus on the wonderful things in your life.  Generate positive inner energy by giving thanks.

Hope these are helpful exercises for you!  If you don't like writing, then I would suggest you draw it or find some form of creative expression so that you can process your inner feelings.  Don't stuff it inside or you will get "clogged up". 

I'm here to support, help and encourage you.
With Deep Love for You!

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