Unit 5

1. Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

I enjoyed the Subtle mind exercise a lot more than the Loving-Kindness exercise. In the Loving-Kindness exercise there is more instruction and talking which distracted me from being able to fully relax. I was more focused on doing what the next set of instructions were. The Subtle mind exercise allowed more time for the mind to wind out and enter a state of stillness. My mind did wander quite a bit but I tried to just let the images and thoughts pass. Overall, my mind was able to follow this exercise a lot easier than Loving-Kindness

2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.

From experience, focusing on the physical is the easiest for me and it's where I began my journey a little over three years ago. In high school and my freshman year of college, I was in a hostile controlling relationship full of negative emotions. When it all finally came to an end in March 2008, I decided to invest a lot of time developing and re-establishing who I was. I've always had a natural love for physical activity and was involved in many sports before this relationship, so that's where I started. Being able to go for runs and to the gym was liberating, since it was once listed as "prohibited." Weight training and cardio became a part of my daily life. I finally felt happy again; with who I was and my future plans.

Fast forward five months later. Very unexpectedly, I met a man, Corey, who had an air about him. All I knew about him was I graduated high school with his younger brother. He was home to celebrate his birthday with his family, but during that short stay we spent all the time we could getting to know each other. To my complete surprise and some hesitation, we began a journey together. Corey went back to North Carolina and I went to the University of New Hampshire. I was struggling trying to manage working 30 hours a week, going to school full-time, working out and affording to live. I was completely drained, mentally and physically. I'd visit him about once a month to escape from my hectic life, and that is where my connection to mental wellness began. Christmas lost much of its meaning when my parents divorced and my relationship with my father became extinct, so in 2008 I spent it in North Carolina. Little did I know, this trip would change my view of the world forever. It was unseasonably cold in the mountains on this particular day, but I wanted to go for a walk anyway. The area was breathtaking and Corey had a few things he wanted to show me. The first stop on our walk was the neighbors barn. Living in the country, I have seen endless barns but this particular barn had the most bright lime green I don't know what "growing" on the back of it. He took me to this "growing" color to appreciate its beauty. To this day I distinctly remember that color green its eye catching ability. Next we pet the horses and got fresh eggs for dinner from the farmer. Before going back inside, I went down the river in front of his house. This is where I learned to appreciate the beauty of being. The day's 10 degree temperature is a rarity there, so ice was just beginning to form on the river banks. I became infatuated with this process. I'm not sure how long I sat there, but time after time I watched the river water splash the ball shape that developed on the edge of the ice and drip back into the flowing current. I had never felt so in tune and appreciative of nature and its habits. Everything seemed so simple yet complex.

That was the day my journey to mental wellness began and I thank the man who helped enlighten me everyday (and am so excited and fortunate to have found my other half). Since that experience I have also used yoga, meditation, and mind/body activities within my workouts to enhance my mental wellness. I don't feel as though I have developed my spiritual self yet but am looking forward to the process.