Describe the exercise and assessment process.
What did you discover about yourself? What area have you chosen to be a focus
of growth and development? Why? What are some specific exercises or activities
that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?
During this exercise you are instructed to close your eyes
for a couple of minutes and find your neutral state then repeat these few
sentences:
“May all individuals gain freedom from suffering; May all individuals
find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness, May I assist all individuals
in gaining freedom from suffering, [and] May I assist all individuals in
finding health, happiness, and wholeness” (Dacher, 2006, p. 93).
I thought that this exercise (universal loving0kindness) was
very calming and relaxing all at the same time. But there was also a sense of
wanting to help others and a sense of love for others that I felt while doing
this exercise. Reciting the phrases about wanting others to have freedom from
suffering, find health, happiness and wholeness and assist them in this journey
really made me open myself completely up to others in a way that I have never
felt before. I really enjoyed this exercise; I felt like I could change the
world (even one small step at a time) by just wishing and then wanting to
assist others to have a better and more balanced life. This exercise truly made
me want to keep up with my journey in school even more so when I am done I can
go help others balance their life; it made me realize that I can be a teacher
and a guide to another.
During this practice we were again close your eyes and find
your neutral state. Letting go of all chatter and activity. Then find an aspect
within your life (psychospirtiual, biological, interpersonal, or worldly) is
the most difficult for you during this time in your life (Dacher, 2006, p.
115). Then you need to focus on that area and find areas to aim for, improvements.
After this find an area that is ready for growth or integral development. Focuses
on this area and visualize what it would look like. Write down what you have
seen or felt during this time.
I chose to focus on the growth and development of the
worldly aspect within my life. I chose this because I feel like I really need
to work on the outside and inside of myself so I can grow stronger social relationships
with others. I think that the better I am to communicate and have healthy relationships
to help give to others instead of take. This is one area that I have been
really working hard on since I have started school and I hope to continue to
grow on throughout my life. This is also the aspect within my life that I have
chosen to work on healing and growing or developing within myself. I have yet
to find words that make sense from what I envision when I picture what it would
look like to have a stronger worldly aspect within my life but I now it is
there.
I think that meditation again is going to help me so much
within this area. One thing that I do see when I think about growing stronger
with others and our relationships is a calmer and more relaxed and eager to
listen person. So I think that meditation will help me focus on becoming calmer
and relaxed to help theirs grow and find balance in a positive way with my
help.
References
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral health the path to human flourishing.Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Google images (2012). image of love. Retrieved September 9, 2012 from:
Hello Melissa.
ReplyDeleteI sensed the same type of calming effect. However, I think I need to work on my compassion a bit mroe, because it was hard for me to truly feel the want to help people I never met or have seen. It sort of felt like I was praying to help the people I know. In fact, it was very difficult for me to relate and try to send out kindness to people without a face.
Melissa
ReplyDeleteI liked this exercise also. What I found I needed to work on was my biological self. I need to be complete in that area if I am going to help people with health and wellness when I graduate. If I am not fully together how can I help others? I may know what I am doing but it is like more of a hands on approach if I am fully connected with myself with nutrition and fitness.
When I was repeating those 4 lines I pictured everyone that I could help and others that I knew personally that I wanted to help. From now on I am just going to ask people if they want my opinion on a health topic so that way maybe they can get other ideas and then if they change something I will feel as though I helped them!
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI agree, this was a little bit .. I guess frustrating... in that you can almost visualize those that you want to help, but can't because of distance or other reasons.. I feel that way about my dad.. I can't help "enough" or in the right ways..
I sincerely hope that you do get to where you want to be with your goals.. I get the impression that you are the type of person who has a hard time saying "NO" to those that ask for help and end up trying to get it all done to your own detriment..meaning you are too selfless.. I tend to over commit myself, but that comes from not always being the most organized:-)
Andi
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI too had visions of people that I could help. I saw the hungry children in thrid world countries and poor abused children that are in America that need someone to talk to. I get frustrated with the distractions througout any of the meditation exercises, but am able to reach a sense of calmness. I think that with practice you will reach a calm-abiding to be more loving and kind to everyone. Don't give up, keep meditating.
Tracy
Hello Melissa, I enjoyed your blog post it is so true that here in the western world sending out good thoughts to someone who we do not know is hard because we are told by comersials here is the face of the person you are helping. I think they put a picture of someone for a reason becase we find the abstract dificult to handle. We want to be able to see the person smiling after we help them. I really like your goal of becoming more worldly I feel the same. I want to know more about other cultures, medicines, health care, and why people do a cirtentype of practice. Keep up the good work and you will reach that goal as well as others you set for yourself along the way. God bless and keep smiling!
ReplyDeleteSincerely, Ryan West
Hello Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you thought about others during this units activity. I felt the same in a sense it made me more aware of what I can do to help others in need. For me personally, this exercise felt much more relaxing than the last unit exercise. This exercise has helped me to be more self aware and also to be more proactive in the future.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteYou have really put some thought into this units activity. I like some of the other posts also felt the same sense of wanting to help others. I think that I am even continuing to grow as a person now through this class.
I have had two patients this week tell me how compassionate I am. I always knew that I was compassionate to a degree, but not a lot of people verbally have told me that. Maybe this class is cultivating my compassionate side.
Have you tried yoga? I have basically used meditation so far and feel that with yoga I might get even more from my sessions.
Kristi