1.Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.
Both exercises aim to bring peace to the mind. The first exercise aims to remove us from a self centered view on life. The exercise begins by moving from pain locally to a loved one and finally to a complete stranger. Caring for others in many minds is the key to integral health. The other exercise is different in the fact that it uses just the mind to control our lives. It begins from the ability to see thoughts to the ability to control thoughts and finally ends with the ability to use our minds to realize we are all connected. I think that both exercises have been beneficial. They relax me and helps to clear my mind. I do not necessarily agree with all aspects of the exercises but I believe they are beneficial none the less. They also frustrate me because I tend to become too calm and struggle to stay awake. I think that this is due to the fact that I am either doing them after a long days work or in the morning when I have to open at my job.
2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.
To me they are all in the same there can be no true wellness without each of these aspects. Personally I feel that the spiritual wellness can become better and I am working on this daily. I have noticed that on the days that I exercise my mind becomes at ease and it is easier for me to rest and concentrate. Conversely, when my mind is pained or stressed it is harder for me to focus on my workouts and I end up stopping to deal with the issues. Then it becomes even harder to continue with the previous workouts.
Monroe, great comparison with the exercises. The only thing we differ in is you having difficulty staying awake afterwards. Where I have no problem with that and feel more at peace with myself and become energized with a positive attitude shortly afterwards.
ReplyDeleteBeing stressed can definitely prevent you from focusing on just about anything. Thats why we have stress relievers to help overcome that.
-Amy
Monroe,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experiences. I too sometimes find it hard not to want to just curl up and fall asleep during some of the exercises, however there are times where I feel the same as Amy, feeling energized and ready to take on whatever comes my way.
You are so right when you say that there cannot be true wellness without spiritual, mental, and physical wellness. When it comes to disciplining myself to work out when I am stressed is a difficult task, however when I actually do it I feel so much better. I think when things are going soothly it is easy to make time to do things that are important to you but when things get rough and time is a factor it is harder to make the time, even when you know how beneficial it is, especially when stressed.
Peace,
Nico