Foundation for Success: Empowered Thinking!

Imagine being plagued by constant self-doubt and pain from your past.  A constant barrage of inner criticism to yourself is an exhausting state of mind, isn't it?  I would know.  I used to live that way.  My mind would literally "beat me up" from morning until night with criticism and judgment:  "You should be further a long in your career. . . you should be getting more done at home. . .you are not pretty enough or skinny enough. . . your friends have nicer homes than you, why can't you get further ahead and catch up to them?"

Wow.  Just reviewing the way I used to think makes me feel exhausted. 

I woke up to my thinking about 8 years ago.  I literally began to study my thoughts, examining them closely one-by-one.  I wrote them down.  I questioned them, "Why do I choose to dwell on this thought?  What is the impact of this thought patter in my life?  Who would I be if I changed my thinking?"

I gained an awareness that led me through a remarkable process of transformation:  I changed from the inside out.  As I started to change my thinking, I literally gained a new leash on life!  It was amazing.  My emotions went from sad and depressed to peaceful and excited.  I became free from fear and self-doubt.  I opened the door to my dreams and saw that I DID have the power to pursue what I really wanted in life.

Anyone can go through this type of change.  In the past few years I have coached hundreds of men and women through this same process.  It works.  It is simple.  It takes work, though--a personal commitment to become aware of your thoughts and then a determination to create new thinking habits. 

Shifting your thoughts is THE MOST WORTHWHILE way you could spend the first part of 2012.  Good thinking is the foundation to success and satisfaction.

Here are the keys areas you can focus on for the week ahead:


1. Observe your fears and worries – write these down on paper in detail so you can see them clearly.

2. Observe negative emotions that you feel throughout the day – what was the thought that preceded the way you felt? If you want to feel emotionally and physically better more of the time, you need to understand the thoughts that are causing you to feel bad emotionally.

3. Notice what percentage of time your thoughts are focused in the past, the present moment or the future. Most of us live the majority of our time in the past or the future. By observing the patterns you have, you can then learn how to focus more of your thoughts in the present moment. The present moment is the ONLY moment you can impact – the past was a present moment that already happened and the future is a present moment that is going to happen.

4. Observe your self-talk – what do you think and say about yourself? What aspects of yourself do you like? What aspects of yourself do you judge and criticize? By understanding self-doubt you can then identify key ways you might be limiting yourself in your life.

If you feel stuck or overwhelmed, don't worry.  Changing your thinking takes time.  It is a process that takes consistent, moment-by-moment awareness.  If you find yourself struggling, seek help.  Yes, you can drop me an email and I will respond if you do.

I know YOU HAVE MORE POWER than you yet realize.  I trust you are ready to tap into it :)

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

P.S. I still review my thoughts every day...and I still find opportunities to change my thinking! 

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: 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/

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/