I had a much better experience this week with the Subtle Mind exercise in comparison to last weeks Loving Kindness exercise. The Loving Kindness exercise to me was difficult to focus on and I thought some of the visualizations seemed like work rather than relaxing. The Subtle Mind exercise worked with two areas that I believe to be very important and that is breathing and the witnessing mind. Over the past several years I have worked on both of these areas and have seen a great improvement in my ability to maintain control of my emotions and thoughts but to also reduce stress and see the world through a higher level of consciousness. I have to admit that about halfway through the Subtle Mind exercise I fell asleep and woke up well after the exercise had completed so I did find it very relaxing. I'm not a person who takes naps during the day very often so for that to happen with this exercise is a testament to how well it worked for me. For overall effectiveness I give the Loving Kindness a score of 2 out of 10 and I give the Subtle Mind a score of 8 out of 10.
The connection of spiritual wellness to physical and mental wellness is very important and affects your overall holistic health. I was never very spiritual until several years ago when I got very ill, somewhat recovered, and then was sent overseas to Kuwait for a year in the military. During that year in Kuwait I went through a big change in my spiritual health and conducted extensive studies and research regarding my own belief system. The connection and growth of my spiritual health during that time aided in helping my physical and mental health return to an optimal state. I truly believe that if I had not focused on my spiritual health I would not have fully recovered from that illness and it could have had lasting permanent effects. The mind-body-spiritual connection is very powerful and needs to be taken care of for optimal holistic health.
Hello James. I, too, enjoyed this exercise much more. There was less conversation during the exercise, which allowed me to focus on my breathing, the silence, and the quieting of my mind more. Spiritual health is extremely important in maintaining our health. I have dealt with illness, injury, and extremely devastating emotional issues in my life, and until I found some spiritual grounding, I honestly didn't think I'd make it much past 28. My mind has been cluttered to the point of illness and depression on many occasions, and spiritual strength has made my life much more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteSami,
DeleteI think one of the things that I benefit from with a strong spiritual grounding is that I have that extra sense of power and confidence that I'm connected to the world and not just a single entity fighting to "make it" in this world. The connectedness of life is what many people miss until they can get a strong spiritual base to support them.
Hello! I had no problems connecting with the last exercise. This weeks exercise was more streamlined but effective to the point of relaxation and the stilling of my mind. I found that I no longer focused on breathing and soon relished the silence my mind settled into. It felt amazing and uplifting!!! As I have grown older, I have also found myself seeking a balance in my life through spiritual awareness. I am glad that you found your balance and was able to center yourself into a more optimal state of health. Breathing has always been my savior whenever I feel stressed, depressed, or just completely out of sorts. Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself in this weeks blog post! Reading these type of posts makes me feel more connected with my fellow classmates and encourages me to do the same!
ReplyDeleteRanda,
DeleteI agree with you that breathing is my number one method of relieving stress and calming my mind. I found that when I reach a point of stress that feels overwhelming my body performs a natural deep breathing rhythm and I just have to go along for the ride. The deep breathing feels good though and refocuses my mind so I can handle the situation effectively.
James, I had the same experience. I was better able to stay focused with this exercise. With the Loving-Kindness exercise, I was alright to start with, but when it got to the part about taking in a loved one's suffering, I had a hard time with it.
ReplyDeleteI was able to focus with both, but only because I have had 6 years of practice with meditations. I'm living proof that stress can affect you physically. It contributed to heart issues in 2008. I did enjoy both of the meditations, though, because the perspectives were different for each of them. this allowed me to experience within and without. In other words, to experience what is going on inside as well as outside. When both become balanced, you then become attuned to the mind/body energy flow, and your stress level will greatly reduce.
ReplyDelete