Harness Your Power: Breathe!

Stressed?  Overwhelmed?  Pressured and worn down?

Perhaps you could use a break.  Why not create small moments of peace and new energy by switching off all electronic devices and sitting in total silence?  You could go into nature to do this.  Or, you could use the living room couch.  You could even do this in the car.

For five full minutes breathe in and out as deeply as you can.  Feel your breath moving in and out of your body.  Notice how amazing this breath can be.   Let it fill you.  Quiet your mind and simply relax into the moment.  Be.  Simply be present where you are.  Choose a one word mantra like "peace" or "joy" or "calm" or "relaxed" and focus solely on that word as you breathe in and out.

It is okay to disengage from everything and everyone and take a few minutes to refresh and revive yourself. 

Just do it.
Just breathe.
Just step away from the noise (inner and outer).
Just give yourself a few minutes of delicious quiet.

You deserve peace.
Why not create it with this simple daily exercise?

I'm doing the exercise with you this week.

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

Harness Your Power: Release the Pressure

Often it is we who are the ones who put the most pressure on ourselves.  I'm really good at this -- especially when it comes to writing.  I've been working on a book now for several years.  I've made good progress, in fact, I'm getting really close to finalizing it.  Yet, there have been days when I am putting so much pressure on myself to get it done, that I give myself a headache and stomachache.

I laugh as I write.  I know that my thoughts on the matter are causing the physical reaction in my body and the stressful emotions.

As I notice this happening, I stop.  I step back.  I let it go.  I breathe.  I remember that my best writing comes when it moves from my heart to my fingers and onto the page.  I realize pushing something to completion and exhausting myself in the meantime is actually not how I want to live.

So, I am refocusing my thinking this week.  I'm trying to rest my mind and let go of the pressure-filled thinking.  A book is in my heart and will be born at the right moment.  In fact, sometimes what is inside us must mature long enough so that it isn't born before it's time.  I guess like  a pregnant lady nearing the end of her last tri-mester, the feeling of "I just want this baby out of me!" is what I feel some days.

Whether you are writing a book, remodelling your home, dealing with your children or any other project going on in your life, I invite you to release the inner pressure and instead, let the flow of life move you through it.

The river of life moves us forward naturally.  If we just stay relaxed, we move.  If we swim upstream thinking we have to figure it all out on our own, we do exhaust ourselves (at least I sure do).

Life is on schedule.  Perhaps we just need to shift our thinking and be a bit gentler to ourselves.

Here are a few suggestions:

I relax my mind.
I release the inner pressure.
I open to the flow of life.
I am on schedule.
Everything that needs to get done in a day, gets done.
The rest of my tasks and projects are there waiting for me tomorrow.
I rejuvenate my mind and spirit and body so I feel well.
From joy, my best work flow easily.

I send my love to you :)
We sure are funny creatures, aren't we ?

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

p.s. I'm taking on new life coaching clients if you are interested and could use the support.

Harness Your Power: Learn From Intense Reactions

I had a classic situation of "getting a button pushed" on Easter Sunday. Someone close to me said something and I found myself becoming defensive. I watched myself as this inner reaction was happening. I could sense an escalation so I walked away, took some deep breaths and gave myself some space.

I looked closely at what was said. I knew it wasn't true but I still felt a deep need to defend myself. Why was I being so defensive? I waited for an answer. Then, I saw something going on beneath the surface.

I had a very sensitive spot inside myself. I felt that I had been putting others before myself and this person was accusing me of making myself a priority and pushing others aside. What! How could they think this way!

I tried to understand why this was getting to me and I realized it was because I was putting my needs aside too much to please others. I was "sacrificing" my needs and wants for others. Because of this I had built up some anger and resentment that got activated when this learning partner accused me of putting myself before other people.

What wonderful clarification comes when we find ourselves getting worked up! I actually have grown to celebrate these discoveries. Rather than looking at the other person as being "wrong," I instead turn within and look at why I am feeling so strongly about what has been said or done. As I do this, I always discover meaningful insights to help me grow.

Here is what I gained from the tough moment: if I am going to help others and accommodate the schedules of other people, I should do so because I want to not because I feel I have to do so. I noticed my old pattern that I have of bottling up the way I really feel to keep peace. If I had been expressing the way I felt all along, I wouldn't have been on the verge of a major eruption!

I love my patterns. I know them well. Yet, they still sometimes find subvert ways of staying in operation. What gives me great joy is that these patterns always do get exposed and brought to my attention so I can take another look and see new opportunities for shifting my thinking and behavior.

Watch when you feel someone has "pushed your buttons." Notice intense emotions like anger, disappointment, frustration, guilt or shame. These emotions are clues that point you to more personal learning.

I trust you will enjoy this week, even the moments that feel stressful. There is beauty even in stress!

To your peace and well-being,

Your Learning Partner,

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomqui.com/