Unit 6 Blog Discussion

Unit 6 Blog Discussion

1)     Practice the universal Loving-Kindness (meditation) exercise p. 93

2)     Complete the Integral Assessment discussed in chapter 11 ( p115)

3)     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?

As I completed the Loving-Kindness meditation, I found that chanting the “May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.

May all individuals find sustained health, happiness and wholeness.

May I assist in all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.

May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness and wholeness” (Dacher, 2006). This soothes me and calmed me into a relaxed state of mind. I wish I had this to practice with when (or before) I was in hospital. However, this now has helped me focus more clearly and calmly on my inner self in learning that meditation can be beneficial to my happiness and wellbeing and help me along my path to a fully integral health. The “tools of assessments helped with focusing on what area that has distressed my life and instead of reacting negatively I can according to Dacher (2006) observe “which aspects in my life that causes me distress and where is my greatest possibility in development and growth’ (Dacher, 2006), thereby recognizing the areas I need to focus on( which I think ‘worldly” area) and change what I can rather than let is take over me and distress me. By utilizing all six principles in your life can help you on your way to a more wholesomeness, happiness and healthier you. I am already feeling and seeing the positive effects this has taken on me and will be further enriched because if it.  In addition all this, I find that if I took my hearing-aids out ( I do this often when I need to shut out noise and distractions, does well for me when I have to do speeches...lol) that I can focus on meditation and my assessments more clearly because I can feel my breathing,, be relaxed and have a much calmer mind to observe my areas that need attention. Kathy

My URL;   http://blue-eyesserenity.blogspot.com/

Reference;

Dacher, Elliott S.  M.D. (2006) “Integral Health; the Path to Human Flourishing”. Basic Health Publications. Laguna Beach, Ca.

Loving-kindness and subtle mind

I did enjoy the loving kindness exercise, however I had a bit confusion this time with the subtle mind. With the loving kindness I could hear quite well and become relaxed; and as I breath in, can feel pure, happy relaxing thoughts and release the negivity. with subtle mind, I was working on the breathing techniques when I had disturbance whether it was supposed to be like this or not, I do not know, therefore when I went to track 4 it was clear. so I am assuming that I may have had a bad Cd. Did anyone else have this problem? kathy

Unit 5 blog discussion;

Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.
 Spiritual wellness is many things to many people. Each to his/her own in finding beliefs,meanings, or higher purpose in their lives. For me, My spiritual wellness is being out in the open such as mountains, forest, ocean, and finding a higher purpose for my life. When I am out in this vicinity such as the mountains for example not only do I feel my mind in a more relaxed state of mind but my body as well. breathing is more concentrated, outlook becomes a different perspective when you see what the world is taking on in it's natural state verses the busy hectic stressful life you left behind. when I have been able to connect spiritual, mind, and body as a whole and have inner peace I am able to look at thing in a much clear state of mind. I need to do this more often so that it is continuance of my life and not just a random thing because your mind/body AND spirit will revert back to it's 'disturbing chatter" so to speak. any thoughts anyone??? Kathy  

Reading from Dacher...take a look....

Dacher “When we use meditation solely as a relaxation technique we distract ourselves from the real task ahead. However, when meditation is used as a tool to awaken consciousness we place ourselves directly on the path to realizing the precious qualities of human flourishing” (2010), in my perspective if we can utilize this frequently in our daily lives, then it will become ‘second nature” to us and be much more beneficial to or integral healing. I enclosed a few links that are really helpful; http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tai-chi/SA00087     and;    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004 Any thoughts? Kathy

Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna

Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications.

Dacher, Elliott S.  M.D. (2010)“Notes From a Fellow Traveller author of Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing” retrieved October 20, 2010 from;

http://elliottdacher.typepad.com/

LOVING-KINDNESS

1. Describe your experience. (Did you find it beneficial? Difficult?) Why or Why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or Why not?

As I listened to the CD about loving-kindness... all I could think of afterwards was…WOW…As I listened to the meditation on loving kindness I was pleased and surprised that not only could I hear just about everything the woman said I could feel myself breathing in my niece’s suffering (she was having a baby that day, so I pictured taking in her suffering and releasing my breath with positive feeling and thoughts for her) and releasing love and pure thoughts to her. As I hear the ocean in the background, and can actually feel my body being at peace…. Feel my heart expand with joy, love…breathing in… and releasing the negativity…..as I breathe out…I would recommend anyone to listen to the “loving-kindness” meditation. I wish I had heard this when I was in the hospital, it would have been calming and relaxing. I have to admit I was skeptical about hearing this because it was like “ok here I go again trying to hear this and not get anything out of it.” Boy I was wrong. Every time she said to do something with your next inbreathe, I could picture myself on that beach just taking in the scenery... breathing in health happiness and joy and releasing all tension…breathing in someone’s suffering and releasing hope, health, and happiness out to those in needs. The breathing techniques were helpful explaining how to breathe in and release. So that when you do these exercises it helps clear your mind. Release any stress, fears, and doubts with each breath.

KATHY....

1.      Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?

I rate my physical wellbeing as a 5 at the moment. Although I am “physically” healthy as far as weight and exercise. My other parts such as diabetes and heart need a bit work to get everything in balance. I need to work more on this because stress is being a factor in not having “overall” health. Spiritual wellbeing is 5; if I can improve on my spirituality more, then this may also help in calming the mind and body so that I can focus better. Psychological wellbeing, is 4 I need a lot of work with this. An example would be is that I worry too much about things I cannot control, and the things I think I can control are not doing as well as I like them to be.

2.  Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).

Goals; on my physical part-to physically improve on my exercise and health so that along with spiritual and psychological I can find inner peace, but first must learn how to better “Silence and stillness” so that mentally I can find calmness and serenity of the mind. Spirituality is to get more in touch with nature and myself. I find that this calms me and puts whatever chaos I had into perspective.  

3. What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?

Walking, jogging and taking up exercise like yoga or Tia-chi can all help with implementing my goals to relax, find my inner-self and once I can find a balance integral healing will be more in my reach.

4. Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century.  To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? ).

 Once again it is frustrating for me not being able to hear the voice over the music.However, if I just let this exercise take over me and not worry so much about voice, I can relax.

Journeyon

The meditation exercise " Journey on" was calming and relaxing sensation for me. I did like the music but had trouble hearing the voice over music. Since I wear hearing aids, doing "tape meditations" is a bit difficult without special ear phones.( in which I do not have yet). I did find the voice relaxing enough that it almost put me to sleep on what I did hear.(then again that could be just from being up at 4:30am for work.lol).
Taking time to "relax the mind" is just like learning a new exercise for the body. it takes time.