This week one of the exercises we did was to listen to an audio clip of a guided meditation called loving kindness. This meditation guided us through working on self love as well as shared love. I really enjoyed the exercise this week. While doing the exercise when it came to the point of asking you to think of someone you loved dearly I thought of my friend who recently lost her son and focused on taking some of her anxiety and sadness she has been feeling the last couple of days and I was amazed at how tired it made me feel. It was almost like a physical activity had been done and as the exercise continued I felt more relaxed but by the end I actually had to sit a few minutes in silence because I was mentally very tired. It was definitely a new sensation for me but as I repeated the exercise over the next couple of days it became less tiring and more just relaxing. I would recommend this to others to do simply because of the release that it can bring.
The concept of a mental workout is similar to the concept of a physical workout, we are exercising our minds. There are two types of contemplative practices we can do to help expand out minds one is the exercise I mentioned above while the other is known as subtle-mind. Research indicates the proven benefits of a mental work out results in awareness and experiences of the mind and the development of the qualities of human flourishing which are health, happiness, and wholeness (Dacher, M.D., 2006). To help implement these mental workouts in my lifestyle I would need to set aside a specific amount of time a day to focus and do these exercises and over time I would be able to find happiness and peace and be able to continue on this journey of mind and body health.
References
Dacher, M.D., E. (2006). Integral Health The Path
to Human Flourishing. Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading how other people handle these exercises, especially if it is different then my experience. It gives me so much more perspective on the concepts and it give me resources to refer back to when I start a career that will hopefully involve practices such as these. It will give me greater insight into how other people may possibly feel after experiencing things such as this.
I have yet to feel exhaustion after one of these exercises. If anything, they have given me more energy. I feel like I can take on more and still maintain a sense of being grounded and capable.
I wish your friend peace in the coming days and my heart aches for her and her family.
Take care,
Julie C.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog entry this week. I think feeling "worn out" or "drained" after some of these exercises makes sense. If we believe that our thoughts and energies can have an effect on others, it makes sense that we can take on others' energies, good or "bad" and they can have physiological and psychological effects on us as well. It is no different, in my opinion, then healers who end up with sores on their body after "taking" an illness from someone. I think these types of practices, mental exercises and thought experiments can be even more harmful simply because we do not see there effects as clearly. I know in massage practice we are always careful to place roots, envision our bubble with spikes in order to protect ourselves from our clients. As hard as I try and for as long as I have practiced, there will always be one client who breaks through and I end up feeling like I have fought war by the time our session is complete. I do agree, positive or negative the experience, this exercise provides a good release.
Christine M. Dixon
Our emotional workout can be just as draining as a physical workout. Your friend has my sympathies. I can't imagine the thought of losing my children. The thought of it is just too painful to bear. My hope is that she can move forward with her life and focus on the future. This exercise would be a great tool to use when faced with life's challenges and barriers. The calming and peaceful state it left me in, was much needed in such a hustle and bustle lifestyle I live in.
ReplyDelete