The mental fitness practice this week incorporates the
concept of the subtle mind.
“We begin by taming our busy mind. We learn how to diminish the
ceaseless mental movements
of thoughts, feelings and images” (Dacher, 2006 p. 65).
1. Compare and contrast the Loving-Kindness exercise and the
Subtle Mind exercise.
The loving-kindness exercise was to help us open our hearts
to others and slowly release us from our own self-centeredness. It was intended
to help prepare our minds for further growth and development. I enjoyed this
exercise. I felt very calm and relaxed. I could visualize myself at the ocean
as I experienced the loving-kindness feelings. I felt the release of unpleasant,
disturbing feelings, thoughts and emotions. The exercise was beneficial to me
because I did release some feelings and emotions that I was harboring.
The subtle mind exercise….hmmm…I can sense that this
exercise is going to be a little bit more difficult to get a handle on.
Although I did feel very relaxed it was hard for me to “tame” my mind and keep
it from wandering; perhaps because it was not a complete guided meditation
exercise. I found it challenging to maintain concentration and keep my mind
still. This exercise will definitely require more practice.
2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to
mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your
personal life.
This exercise was very different from the previous ones. I
really do hope to grow with, and expand my awareness with this practice because
it will be very beneficial for my mental, spiritual and physical well-being.
Spiritual wellness explores the deeper layers of the mind to
discover natural wisdom and understanding, inner peace and loving-kindness which
are essential reasons for continual well-being of body, mind and spirit. Spiritual
wellness will help develop my calm-abiding consciousness. This connection will allow
my inner being to become clear, focused, unbiased and confident. In order to have a
fulfilling, healthy life it requires the inner development/growth of the mind,
body and spirit. Simply, when the mind, body and spirit are in harmony, there
is integral health.
Thanks
for reading!
Dacher,
E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Basic
Health: Laguna Beach, CA.
Lori, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Subtle-Mind exercise. Our text this week explains how this exericise may be difficult at times and come more easily at others. I feel that this is an extremely important step in training the mind. It will open up many more possibilities in other areas of health and well-being.
ReplyDeleteI also have difficulty clearing my thoughts and quieting my mind. This just makes me realize how bad I really need to stick with this one. I truly feel that you will see a noticable difference with each performance. Thanks again for sharing. Best wishes and be well!
Danny
I am glad you were able to get something out of both of these exercises. It sounds like you had a preference for the Loving Kindness exercise. That is terrific! I wish I could have shared the same positive experience that you had but I had difficulty with both of these exercises. I was not able to relax enough for either exercise to be beneficial to me. When I look back on why I think that the exercises did not work I think I found my explanation. It is a catch 22. I think I had so much going on between work and school work that my mind knew that my time was limited and it thought that the 17 minutes that I was doing the exercise for, I could have been doing something more ‘productive’ like schoolwork. I am finding this to be the most difficult block of classes this round because there is just SO much homework and course work to be accomplished. I am finding that I am spending more time on my school work this block. I am stressed, so the exercises could really benefit me, but my time restraints would not allow me to relax enough.
ReplyDeleteI admire that you are willing to stick with the exercises in the hopes you can’ grow’. Practice makes progress so I hope you are able to stick with it. I know the benefits will be wonderful!
I have learned from your blog that these exercises can truly work. I guess I was a little skeptical because they both did not work for me. I need to put aside time where I know that I can give 30 minutes of undivided attention to one of the exercises. I should try and listen to both again to see if I am able to relax my mind and body enough to find a benefit from the exercises. If they do not work, I will need to find other exercises that will work. I know that if I am able to relax and let my mind and body ‘calm’ down for a period of time, I will also gain the benefits to a ‘mental workout’.
Good luck to you on your journey!
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
DeleteThanks for reading.
I can totally relate to how you are feeling. I also feel a bit overwhelmed this term. I am finding that there is a great deal of writing in my homework assignments. Classes are getting quite intense. Sometimes, I feel like I am going to run out of words to write.
I do have a preference for now for the Loving-Kindness practice. I have to admit that I am having a difficult time finding time to practice our exercises. I decided to download the Meeting Aesclepius, Loving-Kindness and the Subtle Mind onto my iphone and ipod so I can have them handy when I get a free moment throughout the day or first thing in the morning or before I go to sleep.
I am still struggling with the subtle mind practice.
Obviously these exercises will required time and practice to master. However, this week I feel with all that we are studying and learning, my mind seems to be working on overtime. Even in my sleep my mind is not resting. So….do not despair, you are not alone. As you mentioned we have to stick with it because it will truly be beneficial.
Good luck to you on your continued journey…
Hello Lori.
ReplyDeleteWhen I did the loving kindness exercise I used it to try and direct that feeling of love and kindness towards certain parts of my body that I felt needed some healing. We keep reading about how the mind can heal, so I did just that. Afterwards I begin to wonder if during the exercise if my mind actually started to release certain chemicals throughout my body in order to heal the areas I focused my mind on. I can say this, after the exercise I felt recharged and aware.
Hi Sean,
DeleteThese exercises are definitely beneficial in one way or another. I think with each session we will get something new out of it; which is the intention. It’s great that you enjoyed it and received instant benefits (recharged and aware).
Thanks for responding.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI actually like the exercise as well, thought it was very relaxing at some point I was drifting, and then I remembered I'm doing a exercise so I'd better stay focused. Well I did and I had a open mind and heart to what the speaker was saying during the time. This exercise allowed me to release what ever stress I had on my mind, I think these exercises are benefiting for me. Great blog. Have a wondeful hoiday. Take care
Hi Nelly,
DeleteGood to hear that you benefited from the exercise. I enjoyed it; I just had a bit of a hard time concentrating. I found myself dozing off as well (lol). It was very relaxing, calming and soothing.
Thanks for responding.
Lori,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree for me the Subtle Mind practice was harder to do than the loving kindness exercise. I think my mind is always overactive and bombarded with contact thoughts, images and emotions. I contribute this dilemma to lack of time and trying to multi-task everything all the time. I need to learn to focus at one thing and contemplative exercises like subtle mind exercise. Great post. Ivonne
Amen Ivonne!
ReplyDeleteMy mind is on complete overload as well. I just can’t find enough time to do everything. But I have to stop and think: one thing at a time, one minute at a time, one hour at a time, and one day at a time. It is so difficult but this class and the exercises are helping. At least I am becoming more conscientious.
Thanks for replying.
Lori,
ReplyDeleteIts interesting to see how different things work for different people. Its good that the guided meditations work so well for you. I tend to get distracted by them (this persons voice is wierd, what are they talking about? I was just starting to get it when they started talking again...etc) so I actually found the subtle mind exercise much easier. But I agree that getting your mind to be quiet and calm is very dificult. Thats why its good to focus so much on the breath...you can almost zone out. The most important thing is to find what works best for you. Great post.