Fostering Mental Fitness

I must say the practice sessions have gone pretty good for me. If I had to choose two practices that were the most beneficial to me I would definitely choose the Loving Kindness and the Visualization. The Loving Kindness practice because like anyone else, I tend to get caught up in what is going wrong in my life and dwelling on it far too long. The Loving Kindness practice session helped me to focus on others whose situation is a little less ideal than my own situation. I believe when we get bogged down by those things we see as being terrible in our own lives the focus tends to be all negative. If I continue to adjust my thought pattern to someone who maybe isn’t able to make their own decision or who is no longer here on earth when I’m feeling a bit self-loathing I believe I will see the brighter side of my situations. This practice will help me to keep the negative thoughts out and continue to be positive, thus fostering my mental fitness.

The Visualization practice because this type of practice allows me to take my mind to a time and place that is perhaps better than the current state I am in at that moment. When I feel I need just a minute to calm my brain activity and relax a bit I always visualize the beach in Jamaica where I went on my honeymoon. During that time in my life I was venturing in new territory being married and it was a bit scary yet I was so excited and anxious to embark on that new journey. This brings me a sense of calm because I can remember the soothing waters of the ocean and just how clean and clear the water was. I visualize seeing my reflection in those clear waters and it makes me relaxed and calm. It takes me back to a time when the toils and troubles of life had not yet set in completely and I was still a bit more carefree in life. This is definitely a way to foster mental fitness because it helps me to self-heal and bring my mind to a state of calm quickly.

I will definitely continue to use practices like these and methods of meditation to foster my mental health in the future.

 

Meeting Aesclepius

My meditative practices for the week include meditation through visualization 3 to 4 times per week. If there is nothing that I want to visualize specifically, I usually think of one particular thing to visualize. I mostly visualize white sands on a beach with a slight blowing of the wind, clear skies, clear water and beautiful salt water fish. This week’s meditative exercise made my visualization of this scene even more brighter and realistic thanks to the ocean waters. Depending on the day I’ve had, my visualization can be extremely energizing or completely null and void because I fall asleep. I’ve noticed lately that I tend to doze while listening to guided meditation. My days have been rather tiring the last few weeks so I’ve not been quite able to focus as much as I’d like to. On those days that are difficult for me to focus I usually end up listening to the very distinct sound of white noise and this usually helps to wake me up. All in all, meditation has been very good for me and I will continue to do it even long after we are done with this class. I also believe meditation has opened my mind and heart to be more spiritual. This practice has allowed me through visualization to connect with a higher being and to create a higher level of consciousness in my mind, body, and spirit. I believe that continued meditation will increase my health and wellness leading me to optimal health.

The saying “One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” means you cannot teach someone about something you have yet to open your mind to. I see this saying as giving directions. It would be impossible for someone to ask me to give them directions to someplace I’ve never been to and all they have is the name of the place and no address. I can’t lead them in the right direction if I’ve never heard of or gone to the place they are asking directions to. The same goes for health and wellness. I believe that in order to help others reach their health and wellness goals, I would have had to go through the same training and dedication I would expect from my clients. Going through the same thing allows me to understand them from a different angle than just as a client/patient angle. The interaction becomes more personal because I am better able to understand the struggle and help them to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There definitely is an obligation to develop my own psychological, spiritual, and physical health because the client needs to be helped and trained in all of these areas. The client might actually open my eyes to an even bigger understanding of who I am from any or all of these angles through their fight to gain integral health.  

 

Loving Kindness and Integral Assessment

Boy oh boy! This exercise this week was a bit hard for me. I've typed this response on several occasions and just have not been able to get through it without breaking down. It made me think of the last time I talked to my father before he died. I'd always had a very close relationship with my father even though he was not living in the same household as I was. As I grew older our relationship slowly started slipping away. Even though we did not see each other as much we did still talk on a regular basis. The week before he died I had planned to make a trip to Arkansas (his hometown) with him for Christmas but my grandmother became ill and I couldn't go. He still went and he was still trying to get me to catch a later flight there but I didn't want to leave my grandmother while she was in the hospital. Two days later and one week before Christmas in 2009 he suddenly died with no indication to anyone that he was not feeling well. This meditation made me think of the last time I talked to him and how rushed the conversation was because I was at work. I wish on a daily basis that I could hear his voice again. This also made me think about others who have lost a parent/parents and who probably go through the exact same thing I was going through at this very moment. I don't feel that anyone is undeserving of love and though I know there are people who don't always get along with their parents, I realize that there was not a day that went by that I did not show and tell both of my parents how much I loved them except that last conversation I had with my father. Time is too valuable to waste on having ill feelings towards a parent. Now that I only have one living parent I do as much as I can for her and I talk to her and tell her on a daily basis how much she is loved. There is no reason whatsoever to ever allow my mind, body, or spirit to have ill feelings towards anyone because I know just how much it hurts to know that the very last time I spoke to my dad I didn't tell him that I loved him.

Doing this exercise and assessment made me discover that I have a need that is pulling at my subconscious to be more spiritual. I have not been to church in a while and I don't attend services on a regular basis, mainly because of work. I have chosen the spiritual area of my life to be the focus of growth and development. I've said it before and I will say it again; I need to get back to church. This is the time when I need to re-evaluate everything in my life and do some adjusting so that I can start back to going to church. Other than going to church I can pray and meditate a bit more. Increased spirituality will help to foster greater wellness for me.

Unit 5 PowerPoint Presentation

Loving Kindness vs. Subtle Mind

OK, after having a very long week and weekend I decided that listening to the Subtle Mind exercise would help to rejuvenate me and calm my mind racing. While I did like the Loving Kindness exercise because it allowed me to focus my thoughts and love on someone else other than myself, I truly enjoyed the Subtle Mind exercise. I say this because I am one who really listens to the background noises and music played while the narrator is talking. The sound of the ocean waves was so calming and refreshing that I pretty much zoned out and only heard that. I did hear the faint sound of a musical instrument as well but man oh man, hearing those waves took me back to summer nights when my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I would walk along the lakefront and find a nice spot to sit and just be in the present! This type of exercise allows me to visualize more effectively because instead of hearing constant talking, I hear the background sounds and am able to transfer my thoughts to that place that reminds me of what I hear.

The connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness is undeniable, at least to me. I believe when I have prayed and have given all things up to God, both my physical and mental wellness is so much better. This is why I believe it all begins and ends with the spirituality aspect of things. When my spirit is in the right place, I don't worry about things and my body feels a sense of relief because I am not worrying and stressed out about worldly things. Though I do not make it to church on a very regular basis, I am very much in touch with my spiritually and am able to make that spiritual connection with God in my own way. I am a firm believer that you don't have to be in church to show how thankful you are for your blessings. You also do not have to wait until Sunday to do so. I am making my connection with God on an everyday basis and this is healthy for both my mind and my body.