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.
I have reviewed all of the above mentioned exercises and practice sessions and honestly...the only meditation practice that even partially works for me is meditative breathing. I think that my mind is just too busy at this time in my life. I cannot stay focused on anything (other than school work) for very long before I start thinking about the school work that needs done.
If I were able to utilize any of these exercises, I would definitely utilize the Loving Kindness practice. I loved the concept of this exercise and believe that it does induce mental health and fitness. With practice, my goal is to one day be able to “Take in the suffering of [a] loved one on the in-breath, and on [my] out-breath send out health and joy” (Dacher, 2006, p. 69). I feel that I could incorporate this into my daily practices through intercessory prayer. After prayer time, my mind is clearer and maybe even a little more mentally fit. I know that “With God, all things are possible” and I will accomplish improved mental fitness with His help.
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
I have so enjoyed your honestly and your innately spiritual nature that just overflow in your posts. Fortunately for me this week actually reminded me of how the loving kindness and subtle mind practices impacted me the first time we tried them. I so want to be able to utilize these in daily practice. Much like exercise, right now it's finding the time to fit it all in. I find it humorous to think about scheduling meditation in my calendar, but if that's what it takes to move in that direction and make it easier to embrace as a priority, that's what I'll have to do.
ReplyDeleteWishing you success as you continue with the meditative breathing and prayerfully achieving success with the other practices.
All the best,
Anita
Anita,
DeleteThanks for following my blog. I am so happy that the loving kindness and subtle mind practices have impacted you so much. I know scheduling meditation (or exercise) seems weird but for me, if I put it on my callender then I feel obligated to do it. Best wishes to you on your journey towards integral health and wellness.
Blessings,
Tennille
It is hard for me to meditate as well because my mind just be all over the place and I am so easily distracted. I also choose loving kindness as one of the ones that I would choose. I thought that one had a good concept behind it and that it was teaching you how to reach out and to spread your love even with the people that you didn't like. The subtle mind one kind of helped me to focus a bit but like I said before I do not stay focused long.
ReplyDeleteShauna Phillips
Shauna,
DeleteHopefully after school is over, I will remember how to relax and how to focus on other things. It really bothers me that my mind won't quiet long enough to actually accomplish these exercises but I honestly cannot figure out a way to make it be still.
Blessings,
Tennille