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I had a much tougher time this week with the practicing of the subtle mind, when compared to the exercise from last, loving-kindness.  There was more direction with the first exercise, as it was easier to visualize a loved one and focus on that.  When focusing on my breath only, as the exercise predicted, my mind began to wander.  I had a hard time holding my focus on my breath.   With practice, I could see this exercise being beneficial, as it will help remove negative thoughts, and also slow my mind down.  I actually would probably pursue this technique over the loving-kindness, as I like a challenge, and tend to think that the more difficult things are, usually there is a bigger reward.


The connection between physical and mental health to spiritual health is a difficult one for me.  I actually see it as the missing piece for most people.  Being spiritually well brings light to many parts of life.

Loving-kindness

Practicing Loving-kindness is an awesome way to alleviate potential stress by changing the way we may react to situations.  I believe that the state of mind and clarity that can be reached during these exercises, may help keep negative reactions out of sight and out of mind.  Other people can feel the way we are thinking and our energies as well.  So taking fifteen minutes out of our day to think about things, may also change the way that other people react to us.  I would say the only thing that is difficult about this kind of exercise is making it a routine.  I have done this kind of thing for years, in a reactionary way, almost taking a timeout after something had happened.  This kind of psychological preemptive strike could be beneficial to anyone.


Research is indicating that this type of mental exercise can lead us past the psychological steps of loving-kindness.  If we naturally begin to understand that other people's reactions towards us, tend to have more to do with them and their inner dramas, the more we can do to improving relationships.  The more naturally loving-kindness comes to us, more purpose and intent can be put to better use.


 

Unit 3 (Self-Awareness)

1.  On a scale of 1-10 I would rate my physical wellbeing at about a 9.  While my physical fitness by most standards are probably pretty good, I could be more fit.  Outside of that though, I am healthy, able-bodied, and generally feel well physically.  I would rate my psychological wellbeing at about a 7.  Most people I know tend to get irritated with certain things in life, I am not unlike most people in this sense, but I tend to get over things pretty quickly.  I am a problem solver, so although I can become stressed like anyone, I tend to operate best when challenged.  Spirituality is a little bit tougher for me to judge on a scale between one and ten.  I am not religious, and that is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about spirituality.  So I guess a big fat zero.

2.  Physically I would like to be bigger, stronger, and faster.  That's not asking for too much, right?  Psychologically I would love to always be able to maintain my cool.  Things happen during the day that I know don't hold a lot of significance, but still find a way to irritate me.  I would love to be able to just shrug them off, and only spend as much energy on them as they are worth.

3.  If I want to get bigger, stronger, and faster.  I have to work harder, and more often.  I can't keep thinking about it, I have to be about it.  I think I am still in the contemplation phase.  Psychologically, I would love to just be able to see things for what they are.  When someone cuts me off, no harm is being done to me, so I should just be able to move on like it didn't happen.  Literally contemplating these things when they happen, as opposed to just reacting would help a lot.

4.  The exercise was not irritating or frustrating, but I do not think that it was very beneficial for me.  I do believe that I could benefit from relaxation techniques, but being talked through the process is not for me.  I begin to think about following directions too much.