1. Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness
exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the
benefits, frustrations etc.
I like the subtle mind exercise better
than the loving kindness tape. I don’t
like listening to the voice but rather enjoy doing it on my own in silence or
with soundscapes. The loving kindness session has some issues for me. I don’t like pulling suffering into me to
neutralize it but prefer to dissolve it where it’s found in the other person. Also, my mind is busy coming up with people
to dwell on as I’m trying to come up with issues to eliminate for them
etc. I like the subtle mind because the
focus on the nostrils really works to clear my mind. I felt the passing, in and out, of calm
abiding.
2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual
wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is
manifested in your personal life.
The spiritual is the reason I do things
the way I do. It’s my integrity, my
reasoning, my past experiences, the real me that even I don’t know
entirely. It’s where I receive
direction. The mental is my ability to
figure out and carry out the task which requires the physical being healthy
enough to keep up. I remember working in
a hospital and trying to decide if I would prefer being the patient whose body
has given up but they still have a sharp mind, or, the person with a mind
that’s blank inside a healthy body. My
new focus on required quiet time has shown me some reasons I act in certain
ways. Identifying these has helped me
restructure some misguided thoughts.
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI have the same issue with the Loving-Kindness exercise. My mother worked with an Energy Healer in her practice, my mother was hired on as the Foot Reflexologist. I learned a lot about spiritual healing through discussion with her and one of those things was the importance of protecting yourself from the patient's illness. The energy healer is taught a prayer of protection that they do prior to working on the patient so that when they do take on the negative energy of the illness, they are safe. They can become very energy drained from the experience and have to go through certain activities themselves to re-charge that energy. I decided to readjust the directions to in the Loving-Kindness activity. I engulfed the loved one with the Pure White Light of The Christ. This is for protection and healing. This is something I've done for many years. I do this every morning when I drop off the kids to school. I put this protection over the whole school.
Karen, you are a great person and well on your way to integral health. I'm very happy for you! If you are on face book, look me up. I'm under Donna Sue Baker. :O)
I had the same problem, Karen, when I did the Loving-Kindness exercise and that was thoughts, feelings, and images of people from my past kept drifting into my consciousness as I was attempting the exercise. I really had to concentrate until I decided on my sister to focus on. This exercise brought up uncomfortable feelings and I even cried. The Subtle Mind exercise was more comfortable to do. Although sometimes uncomfortable is the most needed and most healing! I may just be getting the knack of doing these exercises but it was easier to do the Subtle Mind....I got into relaxing quicker!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen
ReplyDeleteThis is why I enjoy meditation because it opens me up to new ideals and expands my mind into finding solutions in which I otherwise would not have thought of. I think that part of the idea of loving kindness is to realize that you cant save or help everybody, however if someone pops into your mind, depending on what you believe you can send a prayer out towards them or even if your mind may say well you can do this for so and so..but you have to be realistic as well because as a human being we can only do so much at times depending on where we are are selfs in life at that time.
I have to remember to push my Obsessive Compulsiveness away and know that I don't have to follow the exercise exactly as it's written. We can individualize it to make it work better and not get hung up on certain steps.
DeleteHello Karen,
ReplyDeleteI just love your your blogs..I can tell that you are a very wonderful person to be around. I had a problems focusing with the subtle mind exercise. I have been going through so many things lately, and I just need a time when I can do it again. I could not focus on my breathing, which was very frustrating for me. I think I am going to have to individualize this one to make it work better for me...I think I was trying to hard in this one...I shall not be defeated, I will try it again.
You know Karen, I love your personality..and I know that you would be great to hang around, just by the words you speak. The spiritual is the way you do the things like you do...I agree, it makes you a very unique person, and a person who others see and love to talk to and ask for advice. Best wishes to you in everything you do!
You are so sweet! Thanks!
DeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteI agree that your spirituality is what defines you. Without God in my life, I would be nothing. He guides me in all things and shows me the answer to the difficulties in my life. I know that I would not be where I am today without Him in my life. My mental and physical well-being depend on Him. I have had many troubled times in the past four years and it wasn't until I found Christ that I could even begin to deal with these issues. I still have a long way to go but I am getting there, one step at a time. Continue to trust in the Lord and all things will come to peace.
You have such a gift and I can feel your passion for what you do. I loved your PP presentation and believe it was in the top 3 of the class and mine wasn't one of them! Your students are lucky to have you. I'm wondering why you are taking this class with where you are in your career. I'm interested to know that. I have a good friend named Denise Towns and she's a teacher also. I feel your compassion everytime I read your stuff. Hugs.
DeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteI agree that your spirtuality is very important to you and helps you define things. I know God is always there, even if I neglect to acknowledge him at times. I am learning to put God first in my life but it is a long path for me after having a falling out with church as a whole but I am getting there. With God all things are possible.
Great blog post! I am right there with you, I like doing things on my own, a little guidance is ok. I also did not like pulling in the negative to neutralize it. I already have a hard time with the negative as it it and prefer to keep it where it lies. I feel no need to bring it into myself where it could quite possibly be trapped.
ReplyDeleteKaren, Once again, great post this week. I couldn't agree more with your personal feeling that its often easier to just do things on your own than to follow the guided instructions to the letter. I have always turned to a simple walk on the beach or a stroll through the woods to help me clear my head and reach a state of inner alignment. I have given these guided relaxation exercises a true chance however, and find that little by little they are starting to work for me.
ReplyDeleteSo have you shared any experiences with your "boys" at the station? I'm interested to know if you're out of your bunk yet! lol
DeleteI am open to learning other religions, but my religion is the one that I will always rely on. It got me through my pregnancy with my son (after two miscarriages) and kept my dad alive after a massive heart attack. I definitely is easier doing things on your own sometimes. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteI understand your preference for "The subtle Mind", but you know, sometimes, being in harmony with your environment leads to a greater peace with your own self. If you do not embrace forgiveness, gratefullness, as the "Loving-Kindness" teaches, it is very difficult to find self-harmony.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your preference.I am open minded to many of things, and of course I am christian though I am baptised as an infant catholic. I like the Mind-Body exercise more because of the voice that guides you through, it seemed more subtle feel to it, the Loving-kindness I like for it allowed more room for us to connect with all human beings good, bad, and those in need. The sound of water was more distracting to me compared to my focus in Mind-Body.
ReplyDeleteI have numerous water fixtures around my house so I do have that sound of water when it's quiet. I guess that's why I prefer not to listen to a tape. I'm having good luck with visualizing a blank CD. I'm noticing my heartbeat sound so I'm starting to "circle the disc" in my mind instead of my breathing. I think this is ok so far.
Delete