Universal Loving-Kindness & Integral Assessment

You know what I like? I like making "I" statements, especially regarding meditation. Statements create life. Well, they can cause death as well, it is a matter of purpose and intent. What I liked about the universal loving-kindness statements is that they caused me to make statements that initiated a positive action. I think I can spend too much time in one day telling myself way too many negative things. This brings me to my assessment.

My first thought regarding an area of distress is my personal line within interpersonal. However, I am more directed toward the lines of emotional and cognitive in the psychospiritual aspect now. Yes, I have made decisions within the past couple of months that have affected me in these areas and I think the way back to health and healing will require not only positive statements from my mouth, but focused meditative time with these affirmations. I need to remind myself of the truth, not what I think the truth may be, but the actuality and reality of it all. Then, I need to continue taking the time, especially practicing the subtle mind exercise, to focus on my breathing and witness my thoughts. That has definitely helped.

Other things that help my progression: journaling. Yes, writing is a very effective tool in my life right now. And again . . . I need to incorporate speaking aloud. Since I have been allowing so many negative thoughts, it is time for preeminent action.

Unit 5 Power Point Presentation

Class,

I have not been able to upload my power point to this blog. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it. However, for now, if you would like to view it, I have placed it back in unit 2's blog discussion board under my name.

Okay, I hope that will suffice.

The Subtle Mind

I am not certain I will speak much about the loving-kindness exercise because the subtle mind exercise has greatly overridden any previous I have experienced so far. Yes, I like this exercise! Since I could not get past the "breathing in of the suffering" from the last exercise without making changes in my procedure, this unit has left me feeling refreshed.

Yeah . . . I like focusing on my breath and the time given to do such. Additionally, I loved seeing the thoughts come and go and not having anything to do with them. Oh, do not get me wrong . . . many I wanted to entertain. However, reminding myself of the fleeting and easily passage of each, I was eager for observation and this what was so enlightening.

Overall, the connection between the spiritual, mental and physical is entwining. Hmm . . . is that a good way to say it? I suppose it will work for now. They each have their own focus or "specialty" if you will. However, each category essentially affects the other. Mmm hmm . . . yes, the whole.

For me, this connection is manifest through the physical first. Working out on a regular basis prepares my body for the conditioning needed for the mental focus and spiritual growth to occur. Well, I may be wrong with this statement. I mean, prayer is a major force to recon with and focusing on my spirituality gives me more of the courage I need each day to even get to the point of physical activity sometimes. Additionally, having the mental focus to even consider or take the time to pray is another matter all together.

See what I mean by entwined? Each day is new. However, the fact remains that each of these connections would not be the same with out the other. Yes, integral is the key term. :)

Loving Kindness Exercise

During this exercise, I must say, I probably did not begin in the best of settings. For one thing, I am greatly stuffed from eating out tonight. Physically, it is not often I allow myself the indulgence that I did this evening. Nevertheless, tonight I did. Additionally, I had a margarita and physically feel the effects from this decision.

Okay, stating all that, tonight was not the optimum night for this exercise. Furthermore, I read through this exercise in the text and it bothered me before the listening began. I do not like the thought of taking in another disease or problem or any malady for that matter into one's own body. I think there is a better approach or maybe dissipating it into thin air or another matter. However, certainly one's own body should not be an option in my eyes. Therefore, for this reason alone, I would not recommend this exercise to another. In fact, I will not participate in it every day for a week either as it suggested.

However, I did like taking much time to focus on a loved one. Yes . . . this was very beneficial. I would suggest this application be drawn out further because I felt great when doing this. Moreover, even when considering the negative thoughts or emotions and giving them "equal time", I found this helpful as well. Yes, just looking at them from the outward perspective aided in a full balance or further understanding of the reality of the cause. Overall, I felt much better.

I think this is where the concept of the mental workout comes to play. Being able to allow one's own mind permission for these thoughts essentially gives room for the release as well; even the understanding and clarity. This, in turn, promotes peace and calm. Yes, I truly feel much more peace and calm than before I began. Implementing further mental workouts should come with ease; however, I feel I need the proper guidance still and this exercise will not be the one to further enhance the act. I am sure I will find what suits my needs shortly. However, until then, I can apply exactly the principle that I necessitate from what has already been learned.

Yes . . . it is now a matter of implementation.

Wellness - Personal Inventory

Hmm . . . Well, it is inventory time. Inventories are never quite easy. However, I will ascertain the best I can. I will rate my physical well being as a 9 on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being optimal. Yes, I have room for growth, but am physically set up well right now. Psychologically speaking, I will place myself at a 9 again. Yes, there is always room for improvement. However, my mind is quite strong right now. Spiritually speaking, I will give myself a 5. Here is the fact: I am quite strong spiritually; however, I am in a position and making a choice regarding a spiritual matter that would normally be against my belief system. Although I still "feel" spiritually strong, I cannot give myself a higher number because of "factual information" and what I know is wrong, etc. Does that make sense? Yeah . . . I will leave it at a 5 because I do not know what else to do.

When thinking of goals in each of these areas, I will state this: physically, back to my workout routine. I was taking a break through the holiday and am ready to get back into my routine. Psychologically speaking . . . I am not sure here. I would like to engage in more mental practices but I am not sure which direction to go. I will trust our lesson plans for now unless others have personal suggestions for me. Spiritually speaking, I will call a few friends for guidance who can aid my understanding further. I believe in praying and will do that. However, I know what the word of God says regarding some of my choices and am not sure I can change them right now. Hmm . . . definitely in rebellion right now and I am not sure I want to change this. Any advice out there? This one is hard. I think I have already implemented activities needed here: the exercise, searching for mental exercises and calling/reaching out to friends. Now, I wait.

Well, when doing the exercise "The Crime of the Century", my first thought was that the title had no way related to the exercise. What is that about? Do I have the wrong link. Maybe . . . I will have to read some other blogs to find out if this was the consensus. Nevertheless, I needed the "rainbow journey" I will call it. However, with the visualization of the first color red, I sobbed for quite some time. I was told to envision an object with this color and then could not get the object from my mind. It was a brilliant red fleece from a friend that I was able to visit over the holiday and greatly miss already. Having said all that, the exercise left me refreshed and energized. Of course, sometimes a good cry will do that too. But, I think this exercise was greatly needed.

Journey On Relaxation Reflection

Hmm . . . I enjoyed the relaxation exercise quite nicely. Yes, my arms and hands felt heavy and I was not able to move them as the exercise progressed. However, once the thought of returning the blood back to my midsection occurred, my fingers were able to move quite freely. Nevertheless, my hands were still a bit heavy because I noticed I could not rotate my palms as easily when suggested as I was able with just the fingertips.

Overall, I enjoyed the exercise and look forward to practicing this relaxation method on others in the near future. One final thought, the male voice was quite soothing. I am sure this played a major role in that, for one, it was audible and additionally, he sounded relaxed himself. :)

Welcome

Welcome to my place. I have kept all simple for the fact that I am not sure I will retain this space after this term and well . . . I simply do not want to feel like I have wasted my time. Lol - yes, doesn't that sound silly? I truly love journaling and use another avenue for this fact. Therefore, although I look forward to interaction here, I may not delve into my soul as readily during my time at this locale.

. . . Just simply wanted to make my heart known regarding the matter.