Harness Your Power: Observe, Observe, Observe

I had the chance to speak today at the Mind, Body, Spirit expo in Valley Forge, PA.  The first step I share in my Harness Your Power talk is the importance of observing your mind.

Observation is the key to understanding how we sabotage ourselves with fear, self-doubt, guilt and limiting ideas.  The more you study your mind and see how it connects to the way you feel and the results you are creating with your life, the more aware you become of your next steps of personal growth.

Each thought you have is an OPPORTUNITY!  Yes, you have the power to choose to focus on empowering thoughts so that you feel well.  When you feel well, life becomes more enjoyable.  Your eyes open to new opportunities and you move beyond fear to experience what you desire in life.

Take time this week to observe your thinking.  Pay close attention to two areas:  self-talk (criticism) and fear.  Write down what you observe.  Notice the impact these negative thoughts have on the way you feel and the way you live. 

After observing, ask a simple question, "How might I view myself or this situation differently?"  I guarantee that with time you will be guided to the right answers!

I'm here to support you, love you and encourage you.
Never hesitate to send me an email:  patricia@patriciaomoqui.com

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

Harness Your Power: Get Some Rest!

I spent this weekend doing a lot of resting. (No, that's not me in this picture, it's my daughter Skye held in her daddy's hand.  She was only 7 days old).  I took a nice long nap followed by a longer than normal night's sleep.  I feel refreshed and refocused.  I stayed at home more than normal and did simple things with my kids like playing board games and hide-n-seek.  It felt good to BE more than DO.

Rest is essential to our physical, mental and emotional well-being.  Yet, so few of us get enough of it.  I admit I am guilty of this on a regular basis.

When you interact with people and ask them, "How are you doing?"  They often respond with the words, "I'm so busy."  It even can appear sometimes that people are competing with each other to see who is the busiest one among us.

For some reason we attach our value to being busy.  We have come to think that the busier we are, the more important we are.  I'd challenge you to question this notion.  All too often I've worked when I was tired and ended up getting very little done. 

I now know that if I rest first, I get far more done and have improved focus.

Listen to your body's signs this week -- do you feel exhausted, worn thin?  Do you feel on edge or cranky?  Are the tears flowing more than normal?  It might just be that what you need more than anything is a nice, long nap.

Get some rest.  I did and I feel much better.  I have extra zip to my step and a much clearer mind. 

Take good care of yourself.  You are so important!

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

Come hear me speak on Sunday, October 25th at 3 pm at the Mind, Body, Spirit Expo in Valley Forge, PA

Harness Your Power: Tools for the Fire of Fear

The past few days I've experienced some very intense life situations.  They have brought my deepest fears back up to the surface for more healing.  In the moments when the fire of the fears burns strongest, I've sat quietly breathing.  I've taken the time to remind myself of the miraculous things that have been happening in my life the past few years.  I've used affirmations to help myself remember, "All is well.  I stay in the moment.  I enjoy what this moment offers me.  I am grateful for all the good in my life (then I list everything I can think of for which I can give thanks."

I have used these tools over and over the past few years.  They work. 

It doesn't mean that the fire doesn't feel hot, as if I may completely melt.  I actually have felt moments where I felt I might break into millions of little pieces.  But, I have learned that my spirit is far grander than the stories my mind tells me of future fear and guilty pasts.  I sit and watch my mental processes.  I feel what is there to be felt.  I move through it.  Then, after some time it passes and I move back into deep peace.

My faith is deepened.  I am more certain than ever that I am guided each step of the journey.

I wanted to share this with you so you can understand that you are not alone if you are facing difficulties that feel overwhelming. I  experience this too.  Yet, I've found a way to sit in the darkness with a calm spirit knowing that the storms will pass.

I was blessed this week to see a "rainbow spot" on a sunny day.  I've never seen anything like it before.  The sky was bright blue.  In the middle of one of the clouds was the most beautiful circle filled with the colors of a rainbow.  I looked up and breathed in the energy of hope it offered me.

Dear friend, we can only live one moment at a time.  To jump any further ahead than this moment often causes us too much suffering.  Breathe deeply this week and stay as present as you can.  Use gratitude to stay focused on the gifts this moment offers you.

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

Harness Your Power: Serve

The question that burns in my heart every day is, “How can I serve?”


I have found nothing more satisfying than helping another being by sharing my love, time and resources with them.

As philosopher and physician Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

Yes, there is pleasure in enjoying material goods but that soon wears off.

Yes, there is excitement in traveling the world and seeing new places, but we always long to return home.

What lasts? The only mark we leave is our loving service to others. This is what truly matters. This is what people will speak of when our life comes to an end.

The wonderful thing about services is that it is simple to do – often the smallest acts of care change the lives of people around us.

Do you have ears? Serve this week by taking the time to really listen someone who needs your attention.

Do you have arms? Offer a hug to someone who is struggling to find hope.

Do you have a few extra Naira? Offer help to a family who needs help funding their children’s education or surprise them with food that they hunger for.

Do you have expertise? Find a young person who needs your advice and support and commit to a mentoring relationship.

In the words of Anne Frank, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Don’t wait another minute!

Use the question, “How can I serve?” to guide you through every day this week.

Wholeheartedly serving with you,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.

www.patriciaomoqui.com

Harness Your Power: Let Your Wounds Heal (Don't pick at them!)

Have you ever noticed that when you have a cut, it begins to itch as your body heals it?  It is all too easy to start scratching at the scab and open the wound back up.  In fact, I've been witnessing this first hand with one of my daughters this week.  I was reminded clearly:  wounds don't heal, in fact, they can get quite infected, if you don't let them heal without picking at them!

Isn't that the truth with our inner wounds too.  Time heals our inner traumas, that is, if we aren't constantly opening them up.  Many people spend time talking of dramas, traumas and past hurts, re-living them over and over in their head.  They do this so much that they prevent their complete healing.  I'm not saying that it isn't good to express how we feel about things we've experienced that have been hard for us.  It is good to process and tell your story.  It's powerful to understand the roots of our patterns for the purpose of moving forward and not repeating them.

Remember this week that repeatedly opening up old wounds to dig around in them is much different than applying ointment, a bandaid and letting the natural process of spirit-mending to take place.

If you could use support in moving beyond the past so you can fully enjoy the present, please drop me an email at thoughtdr@patriciaomoqui.com .  Life coaching might be just what you need to make huge leaps forward in your personal well-being.

With all my love,
Patricia Omoqui
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Recent Observations

Share your dreams with everyone you meet! Let passion overflow from your heart as you tell others about what you love. I'm doing this regularly and it is amazing the connections that occur when I do. Not only are people happy to hear someone excited about life, but they often are very helpful and willing to connect me with the next person I need to meet.

This happened last night at a birthday party we attended. There were some Africans at the party. We got to talking about the need for development on the continent. I shared what my concerns were and the way I believe change could come about in Nigeria. One word led to another and before you knew it, I found that the person I was speaking to had a contact at a TV station in Kenya. You just never know!

Most importantly, I felt happy and uplifted by the conversation we had. I met a fantastic human being who cared about positive change. Those moments are to be treasured and savored.

Then, this morning after walking on the treadmill I felt the urge to go shoot hoops. I haven't done this in months. I followed the feeling and had a great time. As I shot I was reminded that when you develop a skill, you don't ever lose it.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, the ball went through the net! I hadn't lost my touch and it was fun to see that the thousands of hours I'd spent training are never lost. Dedication, perseverance and daily practice pays off no matter what skill you are trying to develop. I have found that it works just as well with speaking and writing as it works in becoming good at a sport!

After I finished shooting around I picked my girls up from the Kids Club at the gym. They wanted to know what I had been doing so I took them over to the court to see first hand. They loved what they saw! We walked out of the gym and a gentleman asked me, "Where did you play?" I told him about playing at Princeton and overseas. Guess what? He had just applied to Princeton for graduate school. We had a fantastic conversation. Again, I just shared from my heart and enjoyed the momentary connection.

People are wonderful. Years back I would keep to myself and not have much energy to connect with others. Now that I feel better about myself and life, I am meeting people more than ever. It feels good to see this change.

So, dear friend, share your dreams. Connect with others. Have fun talking. Help others and see how willing they are to help you!

Have fun this week,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: See the Inner Light

I am practicing something these days that I wanted to share with you. When someone is disagreeable, mean, outrageous or nasty towards me, I am practicing silence. I simply watch the scene playing out before me. In difficult encounters it is much better for me to observe the scenario as an outsider peeking in rather than as a person taking the offense in a personal way and joining the drama.

When I don't allow my "buttons" to get pushed, I can calmly look into the eyes of the other person and see their inner light. Yes, the beautiful glow is there even when a person is in an angry rage, throwing a fit or a temper tantrum.

In fact, when I am watching I feel deep compassion for the individual. I realize now that they are in deep pain or fear to be acting in this way towards me or someone close to me.

I've made so much progress. I used to be "Miss Defensive." I would take too many comments each day as a personal offense. This would drain my energy. In needing to show myself "right" I would defend (or should I say attack) in return. As Byron Katie (www.thework.com ) says, "Defense is the first act of war." I would engage in far too much verbal combat with others.

The more I began to identify and heal the inner wounds I had, the more I realized that what people were saying was not personal to me. In fact, they were projecting onto me what they were experiencing inside themselves. What a revelation!

The challenge I offer you this week is to do your best to be silent in situations where you would normally get into a nasty exchange of words. Instead, listen and watch. If you can keep silent for just a few moments, you might even be able to take a peek into the eyes of the person who is talking (or yelling) at you. Look closely. See the light. Focus on the light. What good can you find in them even in that moment?

Do your best to not defend. Instead, just listen quietly. When they are done their verbal tirade, (yes, at some point they will have to stop talking), you can just say, "Thank you for telling me how you feel. I will consider what you said." That's it. No defense needed.

If this seems like a stretch for you, then visualize yourself doing this. The more you practice inside your mind, the more likely you will be able to do this in the heat of the moment.

Let's increase peace in our lives this week!

Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomqoui.com/