Compare and contrast the
Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience
including the benefits, frustrations etc.
I really enjoyed this exercise. I felt
more connected to this exercise and I was able to really get into the exercise and
let my breathing relax me to find a still mind compared to the loving kindness
exercise. This exercise was so relaxing mentally and physically. It felt so good
to let go of all that chatter in my brain and just focus on my breathing (I
focused on my chest rising and falling) and then focused on watching the
thoughts in my head instead of thinking about them. It was kind of weird at
first then it felt so natural and relaxing.
I think that this exercise has really
benefited me to find my still mind. I felt like I entered another world within
my mind. It is crazy because it is like you are looking from the outside in; you
are truly using a different thinking process by letting go of mental movements.
I was so calm doing this exercise and I
felt so relieved (I do not know why but I did). This helped calm my body physically
as well; I was so relaxed that my breathing was so slow and calm. This exercise
felt like when I am praying but with a physical cessation that I received from
it. This exercise really helped me tie all three aspects together to find that
total mind, body and spiritual exercise. I did find that at first my mind was everywhere
and my heart would respond to this thought process but when I felt like I got
some thoughts under control my body reacted in the same calming way that my
mind was; truly amazing. This experience has been very moving and one that I
will continue to do. I think that this experience has allowed me to see all the
negative thoughts that I have without even knowing they are there. I will use
this exercise to not only train my mind but also to help release those negative
thoughts that are cluttering my mind to help me continue to find this total
connection between mind, body and spirit.
Discuss the connection of the spiritual
wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is
manifested in your personal life
“As we
reach toward the higher levels of consciousness and progressively experience the
more subtle aspects of the mind/body, we finally get a glimpse of the spiritual
body” (Dacher, 2006, p. 84). All these
aspects are connected even when we may not see or feel it. Once we are able to find
that mind body connection our subtle mind and body our spiritual body will
revile itself (as one might say). By finding all three aspects one is able to
find a deeper sense of themselves and an understanding of him or herself; fears
about life or fears of one’s life tend to be let go. “An ease and lightness
enter our life and cleanse our mind and body…in this manner, biological development
progressively extends our ability to prevent mental distress and physical
illness, enhances recovery from disease, and promote integral health,
happiness, and wholeness” (Dacher, 2006, p. 86).
I think
that I am a ways a way from finding the complete connection of mind body and
spirit but I do know that I can and will with the right training. I believe
that in order to find physical wellbeing one must have mental wellbeing and
once those two are discovered and connected then spiritual wellness can be
achieved (for me). I am not saying that physical comes before mental or spiritual
last this is just how it is for me personally. I believe that these three areas
show up the most when I am running because it is my time where I stop and let
go of things and take the world in but not the problems and when I find the
time to pray for others and my family. Now I need to incorporate a deeper
mental connection with my physical connection and then I feel I will open the
door more for my spiritual wellness to find that complete sense of total
health, happiness and wholeness.
References
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral health the path to human
flourishing.Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Google images. (2012). Breathing image. Retrieved August 28, 2012, from: http://www.google.com/search?
num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1896&bih=
787&q=breathing&oq=breathing&gs_l=img.3..0l10.10154.11297.0.12241.9
.7.0.2.2.0.218.819.2j4j1.7.0...0.0...1ac.LiIi83fnAWY
I am glad you were able to relax and receive a benefit from one of the exercises. I unfortunately did not have the same experience. I was not able to relax during either exercise. Why do you think that you did not have the same experience with the Loving Kindness Exercise? What was the difference between the two exercises for you?
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that you will continue to use the Subtle Mind exercise in your personal routine. I think you made a good point…the exercise are not only to help exercise the mind to focus but to de-clutter the mind of negative thoughts. Negative thoughts ‘poison’ us! My friend made a comment to me the other day stating that “no wonder it took me a long time to conceive because I am a terrible mother.” The first thing I said to her is to stop with the negative comments! Negative in…negative out. You cannot work on issues until you have a positive mind.
Your blog inspired me to continue to practice meditating on a daily basis. I have not been able to connect with these two exercises, but there are others that I need to try that I might be able to connect with. As of now, I am just trying to take a few minutes out of my day just to ‘relax’ and clear my head. I do not listen to any audios at this point; I just sit in silence and listen either to my water fountain or the sounds of the crickets outside. I find this to be very relaxing.
Good luck to you on your journey!
Hello Melissa.
ReplyDeleteEver since we have started these meditation practices I have tried to do them every night. The one thing I can say for sure is that while in the meditation it feels like an awakening, almost as if I am closer to the universe. I come out of it with a myrid of feelings. I feel calm, relaxed, afraid, unsure, etc. However, the one feeling that trumps them all if the feeling that I did something good for myself. I actually enjoy using the subtle mind technique. I actually learned this technique in a stress coping class and thought it was great when I first learned. I must say though that I use this technique mroe often now than I did then.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I enjoyed reading about your experience. I also appreciated your recognition of the different experiences and approaches that everyone has about how the three aspects of wellness work together. I think that point is so important for our own journey and for helping others with their journey. I think each person gravitates toward one aspect of wellness and because they are all connected all three aspects benefit!
I had a similar experience with the subtle mind exercise this week. It was a different experience to acknowledge a thought and then push it away so that I could focus on my breathing. I found that the focus on my breath did eventually lead to slower, deeper breathes and increased relaxation. Toward the end of the week, I had fewer random thoughts interrupting my mind.
Melissa
ReplyDeleteI also loved this exercise myself. It was easier for me because I could just focus on the breathing and the waves making a noise. It was much more relaxing. If I did have a thought come to mind I just saw it for a second and let it pass and got back to my breathing but for the most part I was able to really focus. It seems we are a lot alike because when I am out on a run I feel the same way. I love running on a trail and taking in the sites, talking to God while I run and taking pics and being one with nature.
I do believe that having that mental fulfillness first is definitely helpful because if you think about it you can't go for a long run thinking that you aren't going to do a good job and if you aren't focused on the run you won't do good physically. You have to be all in it mentally for the rest to go smoothly.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteMe too, I also loved this exercise. I did have trouble at times, but finally after practicing it many times, I found my "chi". I was able to make a mental picture of the waves and also concentrate on breathing.
Hiking on a trail, having a conversation with good is a wonderful thing. Being there with nature, enjoying all that God has created. Sitting on a hillside watching the clouds go by...
Anyway...................Mental fulfillment is something that I am working towards in ALL aspects of my life.
Kristi
Melissa
ReplyDeleteI like this exercise as well. Not only is it simple, but it allows you to see your own thoughts from an outside perspective. Given time, you can even begin to understand why those thoughts come into your head to begin with. You can learn alot about yourself that way.