During the 10 minute
Universal Loving Kindness meditation exercise, of reciting the positive
affirmation’s, I first thought that I could come up with something better to
say over and over but after a few minutes I settled into the thought that of
course we want people not to suffer and I DO want to help. I felt like I was ultimately asking for World
Peace and where can I help. “May everyone have peace…may I assist them
with this peace.”
The Six Principles of Integral Assessment:
1. Alleviate needless suffering and promote
human flourishing. This is the first
step where we identify our biggest source of distress and identify the greatest
possibility for growth and development. (Dacher, 2006).
2. Learn to recognize short-term relief vs. a
permanent relief from needless suffering.
Learn to apply them at appropriate times. If we just go with quick fixes we’re destined
to relive the issue.3. Recognize the difference in immediate pleasure and long-term flourishing. This is the difference between external pleasure and internal pleasure which is sustainable.
4. Psycho-spiritual development works toward opening our heart, strengthening our capacity for attention, focuses our intention and reveals wisdom toward human flourishing. (Dacher, 2006).
5. Learn to listen to our inner voice and seek and acknowledge guidance. This calm abiding non bias state helps us develop our assessment.
6. Learn to assess our changing characters and make modifications when appropriate.
I find that I do work on
my perception and attitudes constantly.
I assess the way I respond and accept my own criticism when I reflect on
what motivates me. I thought I might
over analyze but by this exercise I perhaps don’t work on remedies as much as I
possibly should. I don’t “volunteer” but
I do give much time to friends, family and clients. One area that remains at the top of my “source
of distress” list is finances. It seems
I’m always broke. We achieve short-term
success but lack of funds always to be a revisited dilemma. In about a year I see some reprieve as things
start to pay off but we’re getting older and with no retirement we have some
big unknowns ahead. It always seems the
answer is right around the corner. I’m
not as nervous as my husband but I’m younger too. I tend to be a “Pollyanna” so I need to see
the reality in situations. I’ve been
told I can sell ice to an Eskimo but that would be a short-term fix also!
For my personal growth and
development I need to focus on keeping my base of stillness, regular exercise,
and keeping a nest egg in the bank so that I don’t ever function from a
desperate mindset.
Plan:
1. Practice my stillness and witnessing mind throughout
the day and make a habit of it.
2. Meet my trainer in my home to write an
in-home routine to follow. 3. Keep a certain balance in the bank as a cushion. As things pay off I plan to increase this cushion and set future financial goals.
Hi Karen
ReplyDeleteI found the universal loving kindness exercise more trying than the others. I quess it was the concept of the ability of one person to change the entire world. But I quess it doesnt hurt to emit some positivness out into the world, when you consider that its possible you are not alone in the endeavor what many can do is more than what one can.
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI think you have created a good plan for yourself and I actually like the idea of creating a personal chant to "be the change you want to see in the world"it kind of makes for a more responsible and less generic focus.
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I think those are great goals! I too have this financial dilemma. I have a great house that I am renting out 3 of the bedrooms to roommates and I have had them for over 3 years now, I'm tired of roommates but I cant kick them out till I can cover their portion of the mortgage. This is all made worse by the fact I'm certain my job is trying to find ways to fire me legally so I don't come back for wrongful termination. I'm not sure how you can get ripped a new one 3 times then written up in a matter of 7 days unless you blatantly did not show up to work or sat on your butt...all of these untrue! This economy has done a doozey on us all. Keep your head up and chug along, you do what you have to do keep your head above water these days.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteanother exercise and another experience with the wandering mind for us both it seems! lol. I had trouble with the listed mantra, in the sense that it didnt seem like something I would actually repeat to myself. More of a daily affirmation type thing in the image of stuart smalley from SNL! lol. I do however like the goals that you set for yourself. You have to find a way to do the things which help you achieve a sense of peace and happiness, yet also balance the constraints of life as well. I think your plan is one which will be both beneficial and successful. great job.
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteYou can never be wrong into reaching out for others, even if you must be repaid with ungratefullness, it might hurt, but your sense of well-being from helping others will always overcome the negative ones.