1. Complete the "Meeting Asciepius" exercise on track #4 of the Dacher CD. Describe your meditative practice(s) for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?
I have really focused on clearing my mind of negative thoughts and energies. I was almost reluctant to share my thoughts on this topic because I did not want to come off as cliché. I use the exercises to help clear my mind but I must admit that I struggle with some of them. The exercises where you must place a white light around someone and then have that light shine on you is hard for me to do. To me they are almost placing a god-like persona on a human being and I struggle to do that aspect. However, I find myself using the principles of calming my mind in my everyday life. I have bouts where I get very angry for whatever reason on a day to day basis but I use our exercises to remain calm or to easily let the moment pass. I have assimilated those aspects of calming my mind into my life. The next step for me is to pass these lessons on to my family, friends, co-workers, and clients.
2. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (P.477) How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?
I have a personal story about this very saying. Before we can issue out work-out plans for the military we must be properly trained and at the time there was only on person. My co-worker and I who was also un-trained was approached by a patron in regards to a routine. Since we were not able to we referred them to someone on our staff who could assist them. This person was out of shape themselves and the client politely declined their help. This is my first hand experience with this phrase. I can not help someone change if I have not been there myself. There is no credibility in someone who does not practice what they preach. I have used our exercises and readings and tailored them to my beliefs. I have taken the god-like qualities out of the exercises and made them my own. I now take time out of the day to relax and clear my mind and make a huge effort to control my thoughts. I have also taken to thinking out what comes out of my mouth which was a huge issue for me in the past.
Hi Monroe,
ReplyDeleteWow! It really sounds as though these exercise are having a very positive influence in your life. I like how you have tailored the exercises to fit you and your beliefs and still have found great benefit. That is awesome and no I don’t think you sound cliché. The saying I love is “walk the walk instead of talk the talk.” It is truly amazing what leading by example can do. Have people in your life noticed a change in you? I think it is excellent that you also want to share these experiences and benefits with friend’s family, clients and coworkers. I think it is a huge accomplishment to become aware of your thoughts and words, especially those that might just spill right out with reaction and little awareness. It really sounds like you are doing a great job!
Michelle
Monroe-
ReplyDeleteHave you found that exercise helps with the anger issues? In my case, it helps a TON. Congrats on trying to clear the negative thoughts. Each one you snuff out is a step in the right direction. The advice you give would work well for myself as well as my clients. In fact, it seems like sound advice for everyone.
Mary Kate
Monroe,
ReplyDeleteI too had difficulty with the beaming light visual of this exercise. I like that we can take with us and practice the different aspects of this exercise and the past exercises that we have done in order to create our own way to practice mindfulness and meditation, it is important to build practices individually, being that no two people are the same.
For health and wellness professionals it is very important to practice what you preach, I know I would not feel motivated if I had a fitness trainer who was unhealthy trying to tell me to be healthy, it is much more beneficial to have a trainer who is their own best client and will motivate and direct you to succeed.
Thank you for sharing.
Peace,
Nico
Hey Monroe,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about not feeling right about placing a God-like personna on someone. That was sort of the feeling I got with the white light thing around a loved one. But then I thought of the white light as an energy, not a God like presence, which helped it make more sense to me. I have the same problem with anger too because I tend to get easily frustrated. These meditation type exercises have really helped me with that.
I like your view on "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” as well. It is impossible to advise someone about change if you have not done it yourself because you cannot possibly understand what exactly it is they wish to do. I quit smoking in 2006 so I know it is possible and that it gets easier not to smoke with the passage of time. When someone says to me that is it just too hard to quit, I can advise them that I did it so I know for a fact that it can be done. If I was still a smoker, how could I advise someone on the proper way to quit smoking? How credible would I be telling them how to quit with a smoldering cigarette in my hand? lol
Beth :)
Monroe
ReplyDeleteWe have to be examples if we want one to follow what we do and say.
Karen