We recently connected with Ouida Patten and have shared our conversation below.

Ouida, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Before venturing out to establish my own business, I worked in Law Enforcement for twenty-two years. In 2021, a young man came and shot up the building I was working in. No one was hurt, thank God. And because I was not a sworn officer (started in Forensics and was in Administration for the Chief at the time of the shooting) and never signed up to be shot at, I had to sit with all the feelings that were coming up. The job did not align with the person I was at that time. I had been studying different healing traditions and trying to work them into training for the police department. I was able to bring in yoga
and SKY breathing, along with various speakers. And even still, it didn’t feel as though there was buy-in from the leaders to address the trauma in the profession. The slow pace of life during COVID-19 allowed me to consider what was most important to me. I decided to retire early from the city and pursue my life’s work, which is to support people as they transform into their most authentic selves. It was the push I needed to get clear about what I wanted to do in the world.

Ouida, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A former co-worker remarked that I was a healer. I had so much resistance to that word at the time. For me, it implied that I had some power to heal someone. And I believe that we are our own healers. This co-worker gifted me a Healing Touch class and I was hooked. From there I studied Reiki l & ll, Niazsiih, Mindfulness, Integrated Somatic Trauma Therapy, Mind-Body Coaching, and Herbal Medicine Making. Each area of study has helped me to learn more about my body and its communications, leading to me cultivate a new relationship with my body. A relationship of care where I can trust my body. I began offering Reiki and renting space from my acupuncturist. From there I moved to a collective where there were a group of amazing practitioners. I have moved on and offer online and in-person sessions at a local Community Healing Center.
What I have encountered is we all need to feel seen/heard/acknowledged with deep compassion. It is difficult to offer something to someone that you are unable to offer to yourself. We also need balance and opportunities to rest and care for ourselves. I offer clients a compassionate presence, a space to unfold, and go within to listen to the communication from the body. I’m most proud that my business may not look like others in that I have three components-coaching, energy work and herbal products. I also want my business to represent my core value of integrity, so I like to share my experiences and allow the client to lead.
We all shine when we can care for ourselves, as we heal, we heal the world. We have the answers for ourselves and accompaniment and collaboration on the journey help us to feel understood and connected.

Working with my wounds has allowed me to understand how to show up for people experiencing anxiety or other traumas. I also love to share resources for areas that are beyond my scope of practice.

I am here to be of service and my business is Wise Heart LLC.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It is most helpful to do what you are called to do. We have constant access to people telling us how to do a thing. We have to listen with discernment and decide what feels like truth for us. I’ve had to stop many times and ground myself in what my vision is because it was becoming overwhelming. I was trying to check ALL the boxes and not allowing myself space to rest. It has caused me to burn out and have physical ailments. Our society has conditioned us to believe that we must hustle and grind to make all the money. First, we must be clear on what we want to do. My vision will not look like anothers, if I am in my integrity. After all, we are all unique. So I have had to unlearn this old way of thinking and create a new way ahead.

I understand that I have to care for myself in order to show up as the fullest version of myself. Taking good care of ourselves allows us to embody JOY. Take one step at a time, so that you can continue to nourish yourself and have balance. Set aside time for play and connection. THIS is still a work in progress for me because I get excited to support people, and time management, self-care and balance are so important.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I would probably stick to the path that was laid out for me and not make impulsive decisions like I have. I left one training because I did not feel seen fully as a Bi-Cultural Black Woman. I was angry and couldn’t see past my anger. I had not begun to work with compassion and understanding of the suffering in the world. This is not to say that I would have stayed and not expressed myself, I would not have reacted and instead given myself time to reflect and go inward. And then decided from a grounded place instead of from my head. Everything that I study has impacted me and led me back to myself. I continue to learn about myself and use this in service to the collective and individuals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wiseheart-wellness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouida_wiseheart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091367113907

Image Credits

Ouida Patten & Timothy Wilson of DigiMagic Photography