I love the loving-kindness practice and see it as a prayer for all of those in the world. Even those we don't love so much. It helped me at work. I've been working around the clock lately with no time for myself and very little time for sleep, if any. It has left me being quite a bit crankier with people and a bit less tolerant. At these times, I try to remind myself of the loving-kindness. When there are drunk people at the bar who are busting my chops and being rude and heartless, I can find myself getting resentful and angry. I'm trying so hard to realize that some of the people in my life who are cruel and rude may really be just suffering from his or her own pain. It isn't for me to judge them, but rather, wish them the happiness that may make them kinder to others. Do unto others as you'd have them do to you...sort of things.
I really want to work on my psychospiritual aspect of my life. I feel a need to focus and calm my mind and increase my awareness of God and the universe. I want to feel the connection to a greater power. I want to feel the peace that I used to have that came along with my spirituality. It will help me continue to be kinder to others and keep myself moving forward toward all of my goals. I tend to get stress, overwhelmed and stationary. This will again carry over to my physical goals of doing the 10K with my friends. I haven't run a race in well over a year and need to get myself back into running shape!
I plan to pray, meditate, and use mantras to keep my mind focused, open and loving. I believe that it is important to keep reminding yourself of the way that you want to be...and continue to surround yourself with things that can help you be that way. Finding our ways to integral health and human flourishing is in our grasps...if only we intend to get there.
Victoria
I agree that it is very important to remind ourselves to keep an open and loving mind. It is a lot easier said than done, I also work on this daily also. People are, I think, made to be selfish and we have to really work on caring about others well other than our own loved ones. Good luck on running the 10K with your friends! I really want to run a marathon but I think I need to start with a 10k and work my way up so hopefully by 2013 I will be ready for a marathon.
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point that when we encounter people who we would rather not be around they may just be going through some sort of suffering themselves. All we can do is practice our loving-kindness and hope it rubs off on them!
These exercises made me realize that I am in constant growth in the apsect in my life. The aspect I may focus on will change though.
Are you finding the exercises helpful?
Teri