Hello all,
I have enjoyed doing the exercises although I wish I would have had more time to do them. I did not do them the way I really wanted to. So, the way I can implement them into my life is by trying to do them daily, or even just weekly. Just like many other people in class, our lives are over-run by our spouses, children, work, school, and other daily activities that take up blocks of time in our schedules. It was difficult for me to find the time to do the subtle mind and loving-kindness exercises. My form of meditation comes from my running and exercise. I also like to get outside and enjoy nature. This may not necessarily be a meditation or mental exercise, but I also enjoy the time right before I put my son to bed when I'm holding him in my arms and listening to this beautiful instrumental CD of lullabies I play for him before he goes to sleep. It's so peaceful when it's just me and him in the darkness of his room with a slight glow from his nightlight. I really enjoy that time with him.
Anyway, I really hope to implement the exercises more in my life because they were relaxing and stimulating at the same time. I think the ones that worked best for me were the loving-kindness exercise and the visualization one from last unit. I want to try the subtle mind exercise again.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Unit 7 Meeting Aesclepius
After completing the Meeting Aesclepius exercise from the CD, I felt renewed. I found this exercise to be a little easier; that may be due to the more practice I've had with meditation recently. My vision of the wise healer was that of an ancient Tibetan man. This may be because of what Hollywood has put into our heads of fitting the characteristics of a wise healer, but whatever. It worked for me. I already felt as though I were sitting in a temple with him in his red robes and long white mustache. He was actually quiet throughout the whole connection with me. I could see myself sitting in front of him on a mat while we held hands and just exchanged energy. I could see the light leaving him and coming into me. It was empowering. So, I found this exercise to be very enlightening because I think this is the first time I've actually made it to a visual in my head. Mindfulness is gradually taking me to another level of calm and patience. I used to set off like a rocket at the drop of a hat. Now through mindfulness practices, I control my emotions and reactions. I don't let things get to me the way they used to. With more practice, I will be able to apply these techniques to much more and I eventually will reach that epic point of consciousness we've read about in our books.
The saying "one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" I think hold significant truth. How can one person preach about something but never experienced it for themselves? It's kind of contradictory, is it not? The profession of choice for me is nutrition and this saying goes hand in hand with proper nutrition. I couldn't be a fat nutritionist who eats McDonald's all the time and expect people to listen to my advice. That's just silly. Practice what you preach...that's what I say. People need to be open-minded though when it comes to this phrase because often times people turn away from the saying when it has a spiritual reference. Accepting and loving others and their beliefs is key. I know sometimes it is hard to do that but we must try as best as we can.
The saying "one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" I think hold significant truth. How can one person preach about something but never experienced it for themselves? It's kind of contradictory, is it not? The profession of choice for me is nutrition and this saying goes hand in hand with proper nutrition. I couldn't be a fat nutritionist who eats McDonald's all the time and expect people to listen to my advice. That's just silly. Practice what you preach...that's what I say. People need to be open-minded though when it comes to this phrase because often times people turn away from the saying when it has a spiritual reference. Accepting and loving others and their beliefs is key. I know sometimes it is hard to do that but we must try as best as we can.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Unit 6- Integral Assessment
The mantra which is given on page 93 is very enlightening. It made me think about everyone in the world, especially those who are close to me. Who wouldn't want others to have happiness and health and wholeness? I have in the DB posts said that I can't feel compassion for people who do cruel things to other people or animals (there have been a string of violent acts on animals in the Baltimore area that piss me off to no end!). And I still find it very difficult to extend any kind of love to those people because they don't have love for other living things. BUT, hopefully with God's great power, he can open those people's eyes and tell them what they are doing is wrong.
Anyway, the mantra was nice; very soothing, just like the other exercises. I think the area that I need the most practice is psychospiritual and possibly interpersonal. I sometimes forget where other people are coming from. I need to put myself in their shoes and feel their experiences. I want to extend kindness to them. My psychospiritual flourishing needs some training. Learning and recognizing my emotions and learning to control them and channel them will help me out tremendously. It will certainly cut down on some of the stress in my life. I need to practice the exercises more often. I need to get in touch with my soul more often. I still haven't taken that walk to the beach nearby and sat there to meditate. I'm not sure why....I guess it's because I get sidetracked with everything else going on in my life. But that is part of my problem....I'm not taking enough time out for myself to flourish. I'm learning though.
Anyway, the mantra was nice; very soothing, just like the other exercises. I think the area that I need the most practice is psychospiritual and possibly interpersonal. I sometimes forget where other people are coming from. I need to put myself in their shoes and feel their experiences. I want to extend kindness to them. My psychospiritual flourishing needs some training. Learning and recognizing my emotions and learning to control them and channel them will help me out tremendously. It will certainly cut down on some of the stress in my life. I need to practice the exercises more often. I need to get in touch with my soul more often. I still haven't taken that walk to the beach nearby and sat there to meditate. I'm not sure why....I guess it's because I get sidetracked with everything else going on in my life. But that is part of my problem....I'm not taking enough time out for myself to flourish. I'm learning though.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Unit 5 Subtle Mind Practice
I did the subtle mind practice once before, just to see what it was like. This time around I felt like I delved a little deeper than I did the first time. All in all, like the other meditation practices, it relaxed me. They all are very relaxing because of the narrator's voice. I focused a lot on my breathing, inhaling and exhaling relatively consistently. I still don't feel as if I'm getting as much out of these exercises as I would like, but with more practice, I hope to eventually master meditations.
The loving-kindness practice was nice too because you can picture the people that you are extending love to. The subtle mind practice, to me, was just a nice relaxation technique. I allowed thoughts to come in and leave almost as quickly. Again, I focused on my breathing. I try to breath into my diaphragm and not my chest but I feel like I can get deeper breathes by allowing my chest to fill up instead of my abdomen.
The spiritual connection with the mind and body is a very significant one. When there is imbalance in one area, usually the other areas lack as well. Finding a nice balance is key. And if you feel that you maintain good balance and you kind of slip up, that's ok. You just need to recognize that and make adjustments. We're here to learn how to do that. We're here to learn how to balance the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of our lives.
The loving-kindness practice was nice too because you can picture the people that you are extending love to. The subtle mind practice, to me, was just a nice relaxation technique. I allowed thoughts to come in and leave almost as quickly. Again, I focused on my breathing. I try to breath into my diaphragm and not my chest but I feel like I can get deeper breathes by allowing my chest to fill up instead of my abdomen.
The spiritual connection with the mind and body is a very significant one. When there is imbalance in one area, usually the other areas lack as well. Finding a nice balance is key. And if you feel that you maintain good balance and you kind of slip up, that's ok. You just need to recognize that and make adjustments. We're here to learn how to do that. We're here to learn how to balance the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of our lives.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Unit 4 Mental Exercise
I forgot to describe the mental exercise.
Mental exercise is exactly what it sounds like. Just like we exercise and push our bodies, we can do the same with our minds. Research has shown that mental exercise improves overall health. As a part of integral health, it is a necessary step in order to achieve overall health, happiness, and wholeness.
I seem to have trouble with the visualization part. I do like to allow the music and background sounds to take me over and relax me. But for some reason, I can't seem to open and expand my mind. Hopefully through more of these exercises, it will happen.
I mentioned in my other post that my mental block may have something to do with my current situations in life. These doctors and spiritual healers have years of experience under their belts....we're not going to get the hang of these exercises right away. I really want to and I'm really going to try though.
Mental exercise is exactly what it sounds like. Just like we exercise and push our bodies, we can do the same with our minds. Research has shown that mental exercise improves overall health. As a part of integral health, it is a necessary step in order to achieve overall health, happiness, and wholeness.
I seem to have trouble with the visualization part. I do like to allow the music and background sounds to take me over and relax me. But for some reason, I can't seem to open and expand my mind. Hopefully through more of these exercises, it will happen.
I mentioned in my other post that my mental block may have something to do with my current situations in life. These doctors and spiritual healers have years of experience under their belts....we're not going to get the hang of these exercises right away. I really want to and I'm really going to try though.
Unit 4-Loving Kindness Exercise
I, again, apologize for this being last minute. I feel like I have no time. I need better time management.
Anyway, is it just me, or are these exercises harder than they make it seem? I know it's supposed to take practice, but I don't think I'm getting out of it what I'm supposed to be. They definitely relax me, but to the point where I feel like I'm falling asleep....not reflecting inward. I did the Loving-Kindness exercise at work while sitting in my chair and the sound of her voice made me almost fall out of my chair. I had that sensation of falling, like when you do when you're abruptly awoken from a sleep. But ultimately, I didn't feel anything from this exercise. It may be my frame of mind right now. I feel incredibly stressed out lately. Although I'm trying to really control my level of stress, it just seems to start over every day the same way. I'm swamped at my job, then I come home to my 9 month old son and my two dogs, cat, husband, and messy house. Then I get my son ready for bed by 8 and then once he's asleep, I get about an hour to do school work and then I get ready to go to bed myself around 9:30 or 10 at the latest.
I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really just venting because this has been really difficult for me. I just keep holding on to the thought that I'm almost finished with school and that I can hang in there.
The meditation practices do seem to work to relieve whatever stress I have in the day, but I don't have those lasting affects that are talked about in the books. I just take the stress and then try to relieve them later before I go to bed.
Anyway, is it just me, or are these exercises harder than they make it seem? I know it's supposed to take practice, but I don't think I'm getting out of it what I'm supposed to be. They definitely relax me, but to the point where I feel like I'm falling asleep....not reflecting inward. I did the Loving-Kindness exercise at work while sitting in my chair and the sound of her voice made me almost fall out of my chair. I had that sensation of falling, like when you do when you're abruptly awoken from a sleep. But ultimately, I didn't feel anything from this exercise. It may be my frame of mind right now. I feel incredibly stressed out lately. Although I'm trying to really control my level of stress, it just seems to start over every day the same way. I'm swamped at my job, then I come home to my 9 month old son and my two dogs, cat, husband, and messy house. Then I get my son ready for bed by 8 and then once he's asleep, I get about an hour to do school work and then I get ready to go to bed myself around 9:30 or 10 at the latest.
I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really just venting because this has been really difficult for me. I just keep holding on to the thought that I'm almost finished with school and that I can hang in there.
The meditation practices do seem to work to relieve whatever stress I have in the day, but I don't have those lasting affects that are talked about in the books. I just take the stress and then try to relieve them later before I go to bed.
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