A Clear Conscience but a Stuffy Head

1.        Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

The Loving Kindness exercise was simple to follow, and the guided instructions were timed well. Attaching and projecting loving-kindness felt like a task that comes naturally. The tone of the exercise was relaxing, and the timing of blank space filled with the sounds of waves crashing on the beach was just enough to stay on task. Although it was slightly difficult to know whether I was doing exactly as the author intended, especially attaching loving-kindness to the deeper aspects of the mind and soul, the loving-kindness emotion is familiar. The concept of loving oneself first before having the ability to love others is also familiar, so this was much easier to follow than the subtle mind exercise. The physical act of breathing in the suffering and allowing it to dissolve is a very peaceful and relaxing act, and has nothing but positive intentions.

The Subtle Mind exercise is entirely too difficult for me at this time. I have the flu at the moment, and my congestion made it almost impossible to focus on the initial breathing exercises without being interrupted by coughing episodes. The blank space, or sound of waves crashing, were timed too far apart, in my opinion. I felt like I spaced out and lost focus. Attempting to bring myself back by focusing on breathing also did not go well for me during each attempt at this exercise. My mind would not stay quiet and focused enough to reach the first level, so I was unable to progress to the deeper states of mind. Both exercise were similar in that they were mentally and physically relaxing initially, yet I ended up feeling frustrated and slightly stressed by the middle of the Subtle Mind. Towards the end of the Subtle Mind, I was very distracted and thinking of everything but the exercise. I was able to stick with the Loving-Kindness exercise until the end.

Overall, I prefer the Loving-Kindness exercise. I will continue to listen to both to see if I have a better experience with the Subtle Mind exercise when I am feeling better.

 

2.        Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.

The mind and body connection is fairly simple to understand, and even easier to witness in the physical sense. If an individual is under a lot of pressure and stress, he or she is likely to develop physical symptoms, even though the stress is of the mind. For instance, someone who is very nervous may experience gastrointestinal distress. People who work in sales and are required to meet a monthly quota may experience an increase in headaches or heartburn as deadlines approach. The physical and mental effects of anxiety can be calmed through the use of relaxation and breathing techniques. Physical exercise serves as a form of stress relief for the mind, and mental exercise can calm the physical body. The two are clearly interconnected. The spiritual wellness connection is not as cut and dry. There are not many obvious examples of spiritual wellness, but there are many subtle clues. For instance, there is a sense of calm in knowing a deceased loved one is resting in peace with the Creator. Depending on personal beliefs, others may be comforted knowing their loved one will be reincarnated. I have heard many people comment on coincidences when one family member passes and a new member is born within a short timeframe, even from those who may not necessarily believe in reincarnation. Spiritual wellness helps us find our purpose and explore the different opportunities that exist in our inner life. Spiritual wellness also connects to our physical environment. A hoarder’s home reflects a mental and spiritual issue. Finding the strength and courage to overcome the issues and purge unnecessary items is often a journey in spiritual healing. Oftentimes, spirituality helps people explain and understand the thoughts and ideas in their own minds.

     Personally, I cannot accept that this physical world is all that exists. In my mind, I know there must be something more. This idea is the foundation for my personal morals and may be the reason why I believe so strongly in having integrity. In my mind, there is absolutely no good that will come from making bad choices. I am far from perfect, but I try my best to make what I believe are moral choices that will not bring harm to others. I feel good about making good choices and doing the right thing. In times when I have made poor decisions, I suffer mentally, which eventually leads to physical suffering. I know the mind-body-spirit connection manifests in many ways and various circumstances in life, but this is one of the more evident manifestations in my own life.