Thursday, April 4, 2013
Week 6: Helping Others and Self
This week we were asked to practice a Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise that requested we repeat the following phrases for 10 minutes: “May all individuals gain freedom from suffering. May all individuals finds sustained health, happiness, and wholeness. May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering. May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness” (Dacher, 2006, p. 93). This exercise made me think of my career as a nurse and how I try everyday to help my patients be free from suffering which leads to health, happiness wholeness. The Integral Assessment process turned the focus away from others and focused the spotlight on our own personal practices and progress towards integral health and healing. Dacher (2006) explains that “Where we place our effort depends on what is relevant to our life, what aligns with our abilities, and what is actually possible given our circumstances” (p. 114). Through the assessment, I really did not discover anything new about myself. I already knew that I am stressed out, out of shape, and farther away from God than I am comfortable with. I am also aware of culprits for my findings. Honestly, I would love to work on all of my areas of need; however, I cannot seem to find the time to change anything in my life at this time because of working full time and going to school full time. I know it is possible to lead a somewhat normal life while going to school but I just can’t seem to figure it out. At this point in my life (until school is over), the best exercise I can implement to foster greater wellness, especially mentally, would be a breathing meditation exercise. I think these would be the most helpful to induce calmness and facilitate de-stressing.
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
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Hello Tennille,
ReplyDeleteYou should feel so proud to be a nurse! I see all the hard work that the nurses put in at the facility where I work and I ask myself how they do it! I know what you mean about trying to find the time to practice integral health. I for one have dropped facebook all together! At first I just stopped playing castleville but I found that wasn't enough and I still did not have time for my inner self or my physical needs. Now I take that time in the morning and walk two miles on my treadmill and sometimes while I am doing that I listen to the loving kindness and subtle mind exercises. It really helps to start my day off right. The breathing and mediation exercise is a good start Tennille and being a nurse you could surely use life as practice :).
Heidi Waldman
Tennille,
ReplyDeleteI am really glad that I read your post because I was in a really bad mood, and to my surprise, after reading your post, I realized I did the wrong Loving Kindess exercise. It actually made me laugh rather than getting more angry for some reason. lol. I think if I actually would have done the right one, I would have been less irritated with the exercise itself. I do want to say though, I completely understand and feel your pain on knowing where we stand on what we lack and what we need to fix. It really is difficult finding the time to fix it, especially if you work, go to school, have kids, basically if you have a life. I struggle with it every day. The only thing that I have found so far, like you, that isn't time consuming is meditation. I guess we will just have to find one that fits our needs. I do wish the best for you in your journey for wellness though. Take care.
Laura Beote