For some reason I had great difficulty staying focused during the "Meeting Asciepius" meditation. I was able to envision the light coming from the various body parts mentioned (head, neck, and heart); but in between those instructions my mind was either wandering or beginning to fall asleep. Every time the woman spoke I awoke or became focused on what she was asking but then I would always revert back to a wandering or sleeping mind. I think doing this exercise outside in the sun had a lot to do with my wandering/sleeping mind and next time I'll try this exercise indoors.
Engaging in mindfulness and meditative practices has increased my psychological and spiritual wellness. I think spending time just being enables me to develop a better sense of self. I then carry what I have learned through the meditation and mindfulness practices into my daily life; so my daily life because my place of practice. These exercises have significantly given more meaning to my life.
The saying "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p. 477) give meaning behind a similar saying "practice what you preach." How can a health professional advise another individual to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and expand their consciousness if they have not done so themselves. Without actively participating in what you preach, the health professional is minimizing the validity and importance of their advice as well as missing out on the knowledge they could gain through practicing what they preach. Actually engaging in whatever advice may be given promotes first hand knowledge about the hurdles their patients/clients may face and methods to overcome them. As a health and wellness professional, you have an obligation to your clients to develop your own health: spiritually, psychologically and physically. You are their role model and they look to your for advice. By continuing meditation and practicing mindfulness in my everyday life, I will continue psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life. My fiance and I are also going to do some couples meditation with me, which I think will be a great addition!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Loving-Kindness & Integral Assessment
Hi Everyone,
I'm happy to say that I had much more success in understanding my limitations with the Loving-Kindness exercise. I really enjoy the beginning but again had some difficulty taking in others pain and suffering. I think I struggle with this because a lot of people's pain and suffering is self-inflicted or used for self-gain. At work I see endless patients with ailments who do not work, nor want to work, and live a government assisted life. It's hard to me to take in pain and suffering of those who do not want to heal their bodies and are just looking for handouts and a quick pharmaceutical fix. I can take in the pain and suffering of others due to an emotional disturbance within or some other natural aspect of their being that causes unrest. I guess it all boils down to the person's morals, as to whether or not I can do this part of the exercise. On the other hand no matter the individuals moral compass I do with health, happiness and wholeness for all.
Due to my difficult with this exercise, I have chosen this as an area for future focus of growth and development. Since it is embedded in the nature of my work, my job will be a constant test and help me improve in universal loving-kindness. Remaining unbiased and free of judgment will not only transform my relationship with patients but also lay the groundwork for a mind free of mental chatter. Rather than being consumed by my discontent with certain patients morals, I will accept them for who they are and wish them health, happiness and wholeness in hopes their morals will improve. Doing so will create a healthier work environment for myself since I will no longer be consumed with thoughts about their behavior. Implementing this thought pattern isn't going to be easy, but I think my work provides a great atmosphere for self-growth and development.
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!
Janelle
I'm happy to say that I had much more success in understanding my limitations with the Loving-Kindness exercise. I really enjoy the beginning but again had some difficulty taking in others pain and suffering. I think I struggle with this because a lot of people's pain and suffering is self-inflicted or used for self-gain. At work I see endless patients with ailments who do not work, nor want to work, and live a government assisted life. It's hard to me to take in pain and suffering of those who do not want to heal their bodies and are just looking for handouts and a quick pharmaceutical fix. I can take in the pain and suffering of others due to an emotional disturbance within or some other natural aspect of their being that causes unrest. I guess it all boils down to the person's morals, as to whether or not I can do this part of the exercise. On the other hand no matter the individuals moral compass I do with health, happiness and wholeness for all.
Due to my difficult with this exercise, I have chosen this as an area for future focus of growth and development. Since it is embedded in the nature of my work, my job will be a constant test and help me improve in universal loving-kindness. Remaining unbiased and free of judgment will not only transform my relationship with patients but also lay the groundwork for a mind free of mental chatter. Rather than being consumed by my discontent with certain patients morals, I will accept them for who they are and wish them health, happiness and wholeness in hopes their morals will improve. Doing so will create a healthier work environment for myself since I will no longer be consumed with thoughts about their behavior. Implementing this thought pattern isn't going to be easy, but I think my work provides a great atmosphere for self-growth and development.
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!
Janelle
Thursday, July 7, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Loving-Kindness
So I have tried the loving-kindness exercise a few more times since I first blogged about it and am having a little more success taking in the suffering of others. I find this much easier to do towards those who are close to me (fiance, dogs, mom and the like) but very difficult to do towards strangers. While trying to do so, images of people I know pop rather than the unknown because they are familiar. When this happens I try to avert my attention to the people I don't know. Does any one else run into this habit?
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Unit 4 Questions
Describe your experience. (Did you find it beneficial? Difficult?) Why or Why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or Why not?
I enjoyed many aspects of the loving-kindness relaxation exercise. By the end of it, I was in a very relaxed state and was feeling positive about sending out good energy. The one part I did not like about the exercise was when it asked breath in the suffering of others. I had a very difficult time doing this and don't feel it is my proper role to absorb others pain. I reserve that role for some high power. I haven't done this exercise enough to know if I would recommend it to others.
What is the concept of “Mental Workout? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a Mental Work Out? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?
A "Mental Workout" aids in developing our inner world. By doing these workouts we enter higher states of awareness and are able to access subtle levels of the mind. Research indicates mental workouts "transform the mind by reducing disturbing emotions that cause anger, hatred, fear, worry, confusion, and doubt while enhancing positive emotions such as patience, loving-kindness, openness, acceptance, and happiness" (Dacher, 2006, p. 63). Mental workouts help us transform within. Since I'm new to mental training, the best way for me to implement these workouts is through short 5 to 10 minute sessions throughout the day. It would be best for me to have the sessions in the same quiet place every time to prevent distractions, until I become more comfortable with this training.
I look forward to reading your thoughts!
Janelle
Reference
Dacher, Elliott S. (2006). Integral Health. The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
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