"Loving-Kindness"

     I have tried this exercise numerous times throughout the week. At first I had a really hard time relaxing and mentally picturing letting ones love in but letting love out to a suffering loved one was a lot easier. I thought of a friend of mine who loves so much and is so kind; she was easy to envision love and kindness coming from her. One the other hand even after about the fifth time that I did this exercise I still could not really make this experience work for me; I felt relaxed and calm I just could not find or experience the effect that I think I should have felt. I also feel like when I was giving love to others is when I was the most focused and calm into this exercise. I do not know if this is because I was calmer the more the exercise progressed or it giving love is easier then receiving it for me.

     I think that just because this exercise did not fully work for me that in time it might not and that just because it was not the best for me that it will not work great for another. I think that is the best part of integral health is that what might work for one will not the other and that is why it is so individualized and unique.

     A mental workout is like physically working out; in order to see benefits we need to spend time on the activity and but as much in the activity in order to see the best results. Similar to physically working out if you stop you lose some or most of what you worked so hard for. Persistence is the key as well as remembering what you are focusing and trying to gain from the activity; mental clarity, health, wholeness, kindness, wisdom and love.

Research studies and personal reports have also demonstrated that mental training can transform the mind by reducing disturbing emotions that cause anger, hatred, hear, worry, confusion, and doubt while enhancing positive emotions such as patience, loving-kindness, openness, acceptance, and happiness (Dacher, 2006, p. 63)

Studies have also indicated that by training the mind (by using exercises like loving-kindness) one can train the brain to function at a higher level that may result in long-term and short-term results (Dacher, 2006, p. 63).

     I think that any positive improvement whether it is physical and or mental is not only worth a try but is essential to one’s whole health and wellness. I think that by using such exercises that help you find love and kindness within yourself and others (that you know or don’t) you are bound to increase your own happiness with yourself and others and discover a new outlook on life. I think that increase ones love and kindness will only help my mind grow with positive emotions and or psychological which will then help my whole self-find a better connection with myself and the ones around me. Now I have to work harder at training my mind; my goal is to but as much time into my mind training as my physical training.

References

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral health the path to human flourishing.Laguna Beach, CA:

     Basic Health Publications, Inc.