1.
Review the exercises and practice sessions
you have completed in this course. (Loving Kindness, Subtle mind,
Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two practices that you have determined
to be most beneficial. How can you implement these practices in your personal
life to foster “mental fitness”? Provide specific examples.
The two practices that I have chosen that are most effective
for me are subtle mind and meditation. I can and have applied these practices
into my personal life already to help calm my mind and learn from my
experiences. I think that with both of these exercises I have found a deep
connection with each one that has allowed me to want to sit down and or use
these exercises when I feel the need and or when I have allotted time for them.
I personally have found the subtle mind exercise to be most effective when I am
dealing with stress. I may not go through the whole process of the exercise but
I do focuses on my breathing and allow myself to calm down. This calming
affects my mind and body to allow myself to step back and rethink the situation
and or to find a different approach to the situation then one that I might have
chosen before (which would probably would have been negative). I think that
this exercise promotes mental exercise because when I incorporate this exercise
into my daily routine I feel better about myself and the decisions that I have
made; I feel like a better person because of the actions that I have made
because of this exercise. This is the same way that I feel about the meditation
practices that I have been doing.
When I meditate I
like to use the focal word “love” and chant that word to myself. This helps me
focus on becoming calm and finder a deeper part of myself through this calming
exercise. I love the way that I feel when I am finished with this exercise.
Again I would have to say that when I practice meditation I feel like the
choices that I make during that day are more positive and thought through then
when I do not. I find also that it is best for me to try to practice meditation
in the morning before I run to help my mind and body prepare for the day. Then
when I run I incorporate a mind-body exercise by focusing on the sound of my
feet when I am running. I find this inspiring and when I am done I am so ready
to tackle the day and for some reason I do not feel like there is an endless
check list that I have to complete but I feel like there is day waiting for me
that is full of opportunities to help others.
My outlook in the
last few weeks has changed and I cannot say that these exercises did not help
with that change, because they did it did. These exercises are already ones that
I have incorporated within my routine and I hope that I continue to do this
because there is no better feeling then the feeling of calming your mind of all
that endless chatter from these mental exercises (for me).
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you can incorporate physical activity with meditation. I have been practicing yoga for awhile and find that morning yoga is such a great way for my day to start. The visualization meditation exercise has been helping me to maintain that sense of happiness I should feel in general. It's almost like a wonderful reminder to me about what truely makes me happy, healthy and whole. Thanks for sharing your meditation experience with us. P.S. these pictures are beautiful.Where are these falls located? It looks very similar to my favorite place in Oregon called Silver Falls.
That is where i took them. My kids were speechless when we took them here.
Delete:) Melissa
Hello Melissa.
ReplyDeleteI, too, think the subtle mind is the best of all the exercises we have learned this term. I find it the easiest and the most to the point technique out of the lot. I come out of it as if I just discovered something new about myself every time. Furthermore, when done I feel as if I have learned and seen something about myself that no one else, including me, has ever seen before. I love how all the outside noise just fades into the background and how everything becomes so clear to me.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI know that my outlook has also changed since the beginning of this class. I am really enjoying it and finding some peace in my life where there was none.
I chose visualization and loving kindness. Especially loving kindness as I am so lacking in that area. I have a great deal of compassion, however, the loving kindness part is the hardest.
By the way, great photo. Reminds me of Tighanic (spelling) falls in upstate New York. Very calming. I could sit and watch a waterfall for hours.
I get so excited that I am able to share my knowledge of mindful practices with my coworkers and friends so that they to may find peace and become healthier happier individuals. This class has definitely opened up my eyes to the importance of a healthy psychological and spiritual state. These only add to the healthful benefits that exercise and nutrition give us on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteTracy
Melissa
ReplyDeleteI love your picture. Waterfalls, streams and lakes are one of my favorite things in nature. If I made up my own visualization I would do something with the sound of waterfalls and I could do that all day. I really zone out lol. I have told people about meditation and they kind of laugh at me so my goal at the moment is to try to convince some people that it is really helpful and do not know what they are missing out on. People ask how I am always so happy and relaxed and feeling healthy and I tell them but they don't see how it could work out or they don't have the time which is very sad.
Hello Melissa
ReplyDeleteI like your post a lot especially the one on meditation. I feel when I meditate I feel calmness and awareness come over me. I like to do my meditation in the evening after Im done with my work and errands. I have friends that have hard time with meditation because they cannot slow their mind and this is something lot of people have trouble with. I really think focusing on our inner health is just as important as our outer health.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteAs usual, excellent post and great photos!! I haven't had a chance to upload mine from Ely, but I had a great experience...A couple got engaged at Kawishi falls and we got some amazing shots.. :-)
I think that,like you, when I mediate or even just take a moment to reflect, the rest of the day's decisions go smoother and feel more "right" I guess..There is a certain peace in knowing that the little stuff will take care of itself and the big stuff get the attention it deserves.. And in the "for what it's worth" department.. I sometimes "cheat" and just do the breathing stuff too.. long enough to get the effects of relaxation and focus back to where I should be ..
Thanks again for a honest and enlightening post.
Andi