Got a Debilitating Mental Virus?

People have been asking me, "Where is the daily email you send out?" 

My reply, "I got a very ugly computer virus--yes, one that literally shut my computer down for days."  One moment I was working furiously on my book and then suddenly, messages popped up and alarms began to sound.  The screen went blank and everything appeared to be wiped off my computer.

This type of thing is a writer's worst nightmare.  Yes, I may haven even let out a scream!

I was FORCED to slow down, step back and take a break from my work.

Funny thing is that it all happened when I was being attacked by a "mental virus."  Some old fears were haunting me, ones I had thought I had overcome long ago.  I felt sick mentally and emotionally.  The repetitive thoughts of the worrisome future had shut my creativity down. 

"What is happening to me?" I thought.  "I teach people to overcome their fears and self-doubts and here I am struggling with this again!" 

First I sighed.  Then, I cried.  Then, I had to laugh. 

I clearly know that a fear is a thought of the future, one that predicts a bad outcome.  I also am aware that my thoughts need not control me or rob me of my peace today.  I have choice.  My mind is my tool.  I ALWAYS have choice which thoughts I focus upon.  I know how to shift my thinking back to what I want.  That is what I did.

So, after some time studying the fearful mental virus, I cleaned it out. 

I am re-botted and re-loaded.  I am back in the flow of inspiration and peace.  I am SO glad to feel well and be free inside.

I'm also happy to have my computer virus-free.  The book I am writing needs my care and attention!

If you find yourself feeling exhausted and worn-down because of a fear virus, it is okay.  Stop.  Write the fear down.  Examine it.  It is simply a thought about the future.  It is a thought about something you DO NOT want to happen.  Next to the fear write a new thought.  Your new thought can be a statement of what you DO want to happen. 

This little poem says it all:

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

Frank Herbert

If you get super-stuck and you can't clean the mental virus out, you can always drop me an email.

With a smile,
Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Flow with Life's Surprises

On Friday I boarded a plane to Dallas, TX.  This was to be the first stop on my journey to Albuquerque, NM.  We took off at 11 a.m.  Plane had already been delayed several hours.  While in flight we were told the Dallas airport was closed.  The pilot took us to Little Rock, Arkansas.  The airport didn't have any free gates open so we sat in the plane for four hours until the Dallas airport reopened. 

While sitting there for four hours, I had some great conversation with fellow passengers and chose not to look at my watch even once.  I reminded myself, "I will get there when I get there."

Finally we arrived.  I go to the American Airlines counter and I'm told, "All flights to New Mexico have been cancelled for the remainder of the day."  My mom and I are given a voucher for a local hotel and find our way there. 

To go with the flow or to fight with the reality of life?   It was all out of my control.  All I could do was choose a perspective that permitted me to experience peace and well-being during these unexpected changes to our schedule.

Friday we woke up, had breakfast and boarded a plane to Albuquerque.  At last we had arrived.  It was a relief and a joy to finally be to our destination.

I'm here in Albuquerque with the intention of finishing my first book.  I came here last October with the same intention.  I made great progress on my last trip but there was more that I needed to learn, ways I needed to stretch in order for the books to be fully written.

I will be honest and tell you that I have NEVER written a book.  It can feel daunting at times.  The self-doubt arises, "Trish, who are you to think you have a book to write and share with others?  You haven't done this so how do you think you know what it means to write a book?  What are you thinking trying to pull this off?"

This trip I have decided to put all self-doubt and fear aside -- the ironic thing is that is partially what my book teaches.  It's funny that writing a book on transforming your thinking forces the author to further transform her own :) 

I am enjoying the process.  I've decided to release all timetables and inner pressure to GET IT DONE.  Instead, I am spending the time in silence and stillness.  I'm swimming, walking and sitting in nature.  I'm resting when needed.  And, I'm opening my computer to write anytime I feel inspired.  One day, I am sure, this book will get done.

The cover is designed.  The graphic artist awaits the final text for interior design.  I remind myself, all things happen in God's time.  I surrender myself to this amazing process.  I never would have believed it could be tihs challenging.  Perhaps I never would have started it if I knew! 

So this week, why not GO WITH THE FLOW!  Enjoy the unexpected twists and turns on your path.  If you open to these moments rather than fight with them, you may find some wonderful life lessons and even a few joyful moments too.

Pay attention to your fear and self-doubt.  Why not see your power?  Why not understand the potential you have?  As you let go of these harmful thought patterns and open to seeing the good in yourself, you may find some amazing things come about -- who knows -- maybe YOU will be writing a book soon.

With all my love
Please say a prayer of inspiration for me this week :)

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.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: Enjoy Life's Synchronicities

One day this week the idea came to mind to go to a store in the area and buy myself the largest size sketchbook they have. I enjoy doodling, coloring, and journaling. In fact, last year my mom bought me a set of colored pencils and I began drawing and sketching for the first time in my life. I've never been "artsy" in any way. But, as I've started the process of doing some artwork, I've been surprised at what can emerge when I just relax and let what is in my heart flow out onto the page.

As I was driving to the store to buy the sketchbook, another idea popped into my mind. I stopped at a thrift store on the way and decided just to look around for a few minutes. I'm so glad I followed this guidance. I went in and found a big sketchbook with heavy pages at a wonderful low price. I knew it was for me because on the front cover was my symbol -- a blue butterfly!

When I attended a life coaching training several years ago in California, one of the speakers had us do a simple exercise. He had us close our eyes and do some deep breathing. Then he had us pose a question to ourselves, "What is my soul symbol?" He suggested we listen to the first answer or picture that popped into our head. The answer that came to my mind was a butterfly. Next he asked us what color our symbol was. I immediately sensed it was a blue butterfly.

When I woke up the morning after we had done this exercise, I went to check my email. Would you believe that someone had sent me an e-card and on the front of the birthday card was a blue butterfly! What! How is this possible?

Of course, after that training I began seeing blue butterflies everywhere I went.

So, back to the thrift store. I picked up the sketchbook and went to the counter to pay. The counter near the cash register was a glass case with jewelry and other small items in it. As I was waiting to pay I noticed a beautiful, silver butterfly ring and a pair of butterfly earrings with small blue gems in them. How amazing. And, they were very reasonably priced so I purchased them.

For the price I would have paid at the store I had originally intended to go to buy the big sketchbook, I instead got the sketchbook and the butterfly jewelry.

Amazing how the Universe works and guides me even in the small, fun aspects of living.

What a blessing this sketchbook has been. I am an early riser. The morning is my favorite time of day. Each day I get up around 5:30 a.m. I got downstairs to have my coffee and I sit with my sketchbook. I use whatever words and images that come to my mind to create a page that represents where I am in my life. What I love about this is recording my life lessons is so fun when I'm doing this in an artistic way!

Do you tune into the guidance you receive? When you get an urge or an insight to call someone, stop at a particular place or write to someone, do you follow this guidance? If you don't, what is holding you back? Life is so amazing and rich when we tune into this wisdom.

The more I quiet my mental chatter and release my fears, the more I hear this guidance. The more I follow this direction, the better my life becomes. There are times when I am in such awe of how I am helped with even the smallest details in my life.

Knowing and experiencing this brings deep inner peace. I feel myself relaxing into life more and more. Fighting life, worrying and fretting about things. takes too much energy. It is just not necessary to get worked up. The key to stopping this it to notice the patterns of worry, fear and self-doubt going on in your mind. Just notice them. Watch the impact these thoughts have on your life. Question the thoughts. Ask if you might be able to choose new thoughts, ones that help you to feel better.

Notice this week when you receive inspired ideas. Follow them. See what happens. Share your synchronicities with others...it is so lovely to see how we are all guided in such fantastic ways. I'd love to hear your stories like this. Drop me an email if you want to share.

Enjoying life's synchronicities and opening to experience even more of them!

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/