1.
Review the exercises and practice sessions
you have completed in this course. (Loving Kindness, Subtle mind,
Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two practices that you have determined
to be most beneficial. How can you implement these practices in your personal
life to foster “mental fitness”? Provide specific examples.
The two practices that were
the most beneficial for me are Meeting Asclepius and Loving Kindness. As stated
in previous posts, I need to work break through some mental and emotional
barriers and focus on extending the feelings of loving kindness to others. This
is becoming easier and more automatic with practice. In fact, the Loving
Kindness practice is my meditation of choice. It is my continual reminder to
give love to others. Previously, I was wondering how I could give loving
kindness to others, given my own emotional barriers resulting from past
experiences. However, I am beginning to realize by giving loving kindness to
others, I am slowly healing myself. I will continue to practice the Loving
Kindness meditation. Also, I plan to journal my daily goals of acts of loving
kindness. For instance, I may start with a goal of five encounters per day
where I feel as if I gave loving kindness to others. I would like to continue
and grow this goal over time.
My second favorite practice
session was last week’s Meeting Asclepius. This practice was very effective for
me because I was able to identify with someone I hold close to my heart.
Perhaps because he passed so long ago, I have only held onto the best memories
of my grandfather, which makes it so easy to aspire to be like him. For me,
this exercise goes hand in hand with the Loving Kindness meditation. I doubt I
will visit this practice as often as the Loving Kindness practice, yet I still
feel it had a powerful effect on mental state.
In order to foster a state
of mental fitness in my own life, I can implement these meditations as part of
my daily quiet time, which align with my three major personal goals.
1. Relax my body and quiet my
mental chatter
2. Overcome my negative
emotions. Replace these thoughts with positive self-talk and affirmations.
3. Visualize myself achieving
goals.
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ReplyDeleteProvide them with feedback on their examples. (Would their examples work for you? Why or Why not? Do you have any suggestions for them? Would their examples work for your clientele? Why or why not? Etc.)
ReplyDeleteI really feel as though you’re beginning to really see your obstacles and I see even more that you know what to do to conquer them. I don’t see anything wrong with your examples, and as might of fact I’m dealing with one of the very same obstacle that you’re dealing with I’m dealing with it to and that is mind chatter, now I’m not going to lie to you I been setting myself up with 10 minutes a day just once doing meditation and I really feel that it’s working, because with that down time it really gives me a chance to allow my mind to relax. Your examples could work for me as well as my clients, it’s a lot of people that have been hurt out here in a lot of different ways and saying something or doing something that’s not positive not going to make an individual feel no better about themselves, so following through with your examples can really help my clientele.
I like your idea of journaling and having kindness goals. : ) I used to journal all the time when I was a kid/teenager. I picked it back up when I was deployed to Afghanistan in '04 - '05 and haven't really done it since. But I always think it's a good idea. I've thought off and on that I should journal along side of my Bible study so that I can write down what I learn and also my prayers. Anyway, it's a cool idea to have goals of how many times you are kind throughout the day if for no other reason than to keep that at the forefront of your mind throughout the day. : )
ReplyDelete~ Jen Velez
I also enjoy and utilize the loving kindness exercise daily. I like your idea of trying to force yourself to do 5 kind acts daily, I think with time this will become like a natural instinctive reaction. I don't have as much luck with the 2nd exercise of meeting Asclepius because I have a different take on making someone the leader of my domain.
ReplyDeletethose are great goals to set for yourself. I love the journal ideal as well!! Great job.
ReplyDeleteCreating a journal is a great way to keep track of your goals. I agree with you that it is difficult to forget/forgive the past but it does make you a better person if you do. Best of luck with your goals. I wish you the best.
ReplyDeleteHello Bree,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that practice and time with these practices have beneficial value to us all in our own way. I like your outlook on things and believe that trying to write these practices as we experience them can improve how we go about them. Thanks for the idea!
Jesse Pena