Hello Followers!
While I enjoyed both the loving kindness and the subtle mind exercise, I would have to say that the sublte mind exercise actually worked a little better for me. I like the focus being on just the breathing. I found that keeping the focus on the breathing was much easier to accomplish than changing the focus throughout the exercise - as we did in the loving kindness exercise. Personally, I think that the subtle mind exercise is something that would make for a great starter exercise in order to get you to focus on one thing. Once that has been accomplished I think it would be easier to allow your mind to switch from one area of focus to the next without getting distracted. I like the focal points of the loving kindness exercise (yourself and others) but I think that reaching the goal of being focused and clearing your mind works best (subtle mind) to begin.
Spirituality is different things to different people. It can be religion, personal values, or inner characteristics or beliefs. I think that the reading for this week in "Consciousness and Healing" does a great job of connecting spiritual wellness with mental and physical wellness. The reading discusses love, forgiveness, gratefulness, and a desire for greater meaning and fulfillment. For myself, these characteristics foster a sense of spirituality that I find developed through my Christian beliefs and practices. Having a strong spiritual wellness gives me a positive mental state; thus, is encouraging to physical wellness. The connection of all three (spiritual, mental, and physical) areas of wellness are reliant upon each other. Physical wellness is not necessarily about what the scale says, it is about treating your body with respect nutritionally and physically. The motivation to accomplish physical wellness can be achieved through finding wellness in the spiritual and mental aspects of your life.
Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and taking the time to do something good for yourself!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Loving Kindness
So far, I have enjoyed the Loving Kindness exercise. Specifically, I like the written directions for Practice in the text, but the CD was good to keep you focused on moving from one focus to another. Admittedly, I am much better at helping others rather than myself so I have struggled a bit with turning thoughts toward myself and "loving" myself. The enemies portion of the exercise is very good...it makes you focus on those negative feelings you may have towards someone - or those feelings that others may have towards you - and control your emotions. I have only listened to the CD once this week, but have tomorrow scheduled for another go-round. I will keep you posted!
A Mental Workout is just that...deliberately working your mind! It is the process of making a commitment to focus on your mind and expand your consciousness on a regular basis. Psychological health is sustained by contemplative practice and fosters a positive-focus state of mind to become more aware of your feelings and actions or reactions. This helps you live intentionally and should be incorporated into your routine to encourage reaching the goals of integral health and human flourishing.
A Mental Workout is just that...deliberately working your mind! It is the process of making a commitment to focus on your mind and expand your consciousness on a regular basis. Psychological health is sustained by contemplative practice and fosters a positive-focus state of mind to become more aware of your feelings and actions or reactions. This helps you live intentionally and should be incorporated into your routine to encourage reaching the goals of integral health and human flourishing.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Unit 3
This is one of those activities that I don’t like to complete – rating myself in areas of health and wellness. Sad to say, since I am in health care, but here goes…
In all honesty, I would give myself a 1 in all areas of physical, spiritual, and psychological well-being. I do not exercise, suffer from episodes of severe depression, and battle personal struggles with self-esteem and self-confidence. Overall, my life is generally in a roller-coaster state going from being on top of things and staying on track to being almost paralyzed with overwhelming feelings of stress and fatigue.
A physical goal of mine would be to start exercising on a regular basis. I would like to get to the point that I take the time to walk for 30-45 minutes each day. Spiritually, my goal is to attend church on a more regular basis and stop letting poor excuses get in the way of getting out the door and to the service. I want to take more time to connect spiritually with God and live according to his will rather than running the other way. It is difficult to set a goal for my psychological well-being. Rather than wishing away concerns I should set the goal to be more positive and confident in myself.
Moving towards my goals is always the hard part. Throughout several classes in this degree plan I have had to rate myself and set goals. I have never reached any of those goals and getting started seems to be the problem. One thing I have learned is that my thought patterns are the culprit. For example, I have a difficult time going for a walk on a particular day because I feel like one walk is not going to “do any good”. So I stop myself there. Looking for instant gratification, I guess.
The Crime of the Century exercise: This guy has got relaxation figured out…again, had a hard time staying awake during the whole thing. I think I may start playing this at night when I’m going to bed. The sound of his voice, alone, does the trick! The use of colors in this exercise was interesting and I liked the positive thoughts he had us repeat. I haven’t gotten to the feeling refreshed after the exercise part yet – still feel tired afterwards – but maybe that comes with time.
In all honesty, I would give myself a 1 in all areas of physical, spiritual, and psychological well-being. I do not exercise, suffer from episodes of severe depression, and battle personal struggles with self-esteem and self-confidence. Overall, my life is generally in a roller-coaster state going from being on top of things and staying on track to being almost paralyzed with overwhelming feelings of stress and fatigue.
A physical goal of mine would be to start exercising on a regular basis. I would like to get to the point that I take the time to walk for 30-45 minutes each day. Spiritually, my goal is to attend church on a more regular basis and stop letting poor excuses get in the way of getting out the door and to the service. I want to take more time to connect spiritually with God and live according to his will rather than running the other way. It is difficult to set a goal for my psychological well-being. Rather than wishing away concerns I should set the goal to be more positive and confident in myself.
Moving towards my goals is always the hard part. Throughout several classes in this degree plan I have had to rate myself and set goals. I have never reached any of those goals and getting started seems to be the problem. One thing I have learned is that my thought patterns are the culprit. For example, I have a difficult time going for a walk on a particular day because I feel like one walk is not going to “do any good”. So I stop myself there. Looking for instant gratification, I guess.
The Crime of the Century exercise: This guy has got relaxation figured out…again, had a hard time staying awake during the whole thing. I think I may start playing this at night when I’m going to bed. The sound of his voice, alone, does the trick! The use of colors in this exercise was interesting and I liked the positive thoughts he had us repeat. I haven’t gotten to the feeling refreshed after the exercise part yet – still feel tired afterwards – but maybe that comes with time.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Journey On - Reflective Statement
I just finished listening to the "Journey On" relaxation exercise and hope I can stay awake long enough to finish this reflection! :) I found the recording to be extremely relaxing from the start. The soft, subtle music and the narrator's voice were very subduing. As I listened to the activity I could feel my body relaxing but had a difficult time letting my mind relax. It kept wondering to different things I needed to do or remember. This tells me one very important thing - that relaxation exercises take some getting used to. I found it difficult to just focus on what was being said during the exercise. I, unfortunately, am not a very good "relaxer" to begin with and suffer from insomnia on a regular basis. That being said, I've never trained myself to be able to let my mind relax. I can see how making time for such exercises are very beneficial to the mind and body by allowing total relaxation - but like physical exercise, it is something you have to work your way into.
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