It's hard for me to pick just two of the practices because several of them are making their way into my every day life. I am so much better for having taken this course and learning these tools to a better life! I use the loving-kindess practice in the morning along with listing things, both great and small, that I am thankful for that day. I will use the subtle mind practice during the day when I find myself harping on something that either I can't change right now or that isn't really worth worrying about at all. I will stop, focus on the breath and try to let my thoughts come and go without allowing myself to get attached to them. I also use this practice at night when I'm trying to fall asleep. At night, I also use visualization. I see myself taking the run that I plan to take the next day or working out in a different way. It helps calm me in the moment and psych me up for the next day's activities! My absolute favorite, however, is the happiness, wholeness and health visualization. It brings me to such a sense of complete freedom and happiness that I have done it now a few times. I would love to feel this way and live this way for most of my life, so I plan on focusing on that feeling when things get tough in my everyday life and take time to regroup when I'm tired or upset to remind myself of the way that life can be when I choose to let go and be happy.
I really am so thankful for this class and plan on doing more studies into integral health. Should I choose to get my doctorate one day, I have already been working out a thesis idea based on things that I have learned in this course!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Unit 7: The Meeting
This week was a hard week for me. I started it off not sleeping at all on Monday night and working doubles most days, so I was VERY tired and fell asleep during many of the meditations. I did wake up very refreshed, however, so I still see this as a good way to spend my time. I pictured a Ghandi-type older male who kept smiling (when I could actually visualize the face, for me, that part was hard). I felt happy and peaceful with him. When we did the different color light meditation, it was hard for me, but to picture the light coming out of my "teacher" and coming toward me, it wasn't hard at all and was uplifting. I really liked this practice.
Has anyone figured out how to download these meditation practices to their computers? I don't want to lose them when this class ends!
I think that the saying means that you really can't speak about something or try to guide someone into a certain practice or way of being if you're not willing to do it yourself. You need to know what it's like, to experience the healthy balance in your own life. Plus, being in a more enlightened state will help keep your own personal prejudices out of the picture and let loving-kindness guide you in helping others. I want to be a nutritionist and a nutritional psychologist, using a mind, body spirit approach. How can I expect results for my clients if I don't expect the same thing out of myself?!
Victoria
Has anyone figured out how to download these meditation practices to their computers? I don't want to lose them when this class ends!
I think that the saying means that you really can't speak about something or try to guide someone into a certain practice or way of being if you're not willing to do it yourself. You need to know what it's like, to experience the healthy balance in your own life. Plus, being in a more enlightened state will help keep your own personal prejudices out of the picture and let loving-kindness guide you in helping others. I want to be a nutritionist and a nutritional psychologist, using a mind, body spirit approach. How can I expect results for my clients if I don't expect the same thing out of myself?!
Victoria
Monday, February 13, 2012
Unit 6-Evaluating priorities
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 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
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Unit 5: Subtle Mind and Loving Kindness
I am so excited about both of these practices, but for two different reasons. During and after the loving kindness practice, I felt happy, slightly energized and excited about life. After doing it a few times, I even felt a bit ready to bury the hatchet with some old grudges (of which I really only have about one or two...I try to not live that way). After the subtle mind, I felt peaceful and somewhat centered. I did have some issues during the latter, however. Some of the times I was doing it, I would be able to really focus, while others, I would catch myself after some time drifting off to thoughts. I am really working at not having emotional reactions or attachments to my thoughts, feelings and images. It works sometimes, while not so much during other times. I really enjoy both of these practices and plan on continuing them in the future.
I believe that the mind, body and spirit are all interrelated and that by increasing the health of one will absolutly increase the health of the others. By doing some mental workouts before actually going and doing my physical work outs, I'm in a better place and I have a better result. I also try to calm my mind and just focus on the run while I'm actually working out now. It helps quell the panic that sometimes still arises in me from my childhood when I was very sick for a very long time and breathing had become an issue. It helps me relax now and push through the hard parts of the workout. I feel that, by trying to live my life without stress and with a greater focus on what's important, my spiritual side is coming back into focus. I have always considered myself to be a spiritual person, but now I'm finding that I am excited about it again and finding peace from it again, which is absolutely amazing!
Victoria
I believe that the mind, body and spirit are all interrelated and that by increasing the health of one will absolutly increase the health of the others. By doing some mental workouts before actually going and doing my physical work outs, I'm in a better place and I have a better result. I also try to calm my mind and just focus on the run while I'm actually working out now. It helps quell the panic that sometimes still arises in me from my childhood when I was very sick for a very long time and breathing had become an issue. It helps me relax now and push through the hard parts of the workout. I feel that, by trying to live my life without stress and with a greater focus on what's important, my spiritual side is coming back into focus. I have always considered myself to be a spiritual person, but now I'm finding that I am excited about it again and finding peace from it again, which is absolutely amazing!
Victoria
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