Hello everyone,
After reviewing the loving-kindness, and the subtle mind exercises, visualization, and meditation I must say that I had the most success with the subtle mind exercise and meditation, because I customized them to fit me. I had to work on the loving-kindness and visualization exercises, but then found it successful when practiced. I will admit I did not like them the first time and had to pep myself up to do them again. I can implement the subtle mind exercise and meditation in my personal life to foster "mental fitness" everyday by relieving frustrations and finding peace during my "me time" of the day. Specifically, I do this every Tuesday and Thursday during my aerobic fitness class! Let God and Let Go!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Path to Human Flourishing
Hello everyone,
I love this quote from the CD. "Human life is a work-in-progress in the great chain of existence that stretches from matter to life to mind, to spirit, from a fully unconscious to a fully conscious existence. These great stages of human development are reflected in the manifold endeavors of humanity, particularly in our efforts to advance the cause of health and healing. This effort has progressed from mere efforts at survival, to sophisticated treatments, prevention, health promotion, mind/body strategies, integrative therapies, and finally, in our time, to the emerging possibility of a full human flourishing. As humans we represent the tipping point, the opportunity, the instrument through which this great adventure of existence can be fully developed and realized. Ours is truly a precious life that is primed to grasp the human potential for a perfected health, happiness, and wholeness" (Dacher, 2006).
I love this quote from the CD. "Human life is a work-in-progress in the great chain of existence that stretches from matter to life to mind, to spirit, from a fully unconscious to a fully conscious existence. These great stages of human development are reflected in the manifold endeavors of humanity, particularly in our efforts to advance the cause of health and healing. This effort has progressed from mere efforts at survival, to sophisticated treatments, prevention, health promotion, mind/body strategies, integrative therapies, and finally, in our time, to the emerging possibility of a full human flourishing. As humans we represent the tipping point, the opportunity, the instrument through which this great adventure of existence can be fully developed and realized. Ours is truly a precious life that is primed to grasp the human potential for a perfected health, happiness, and wholeness" (Dacher, 2006).
Transformation of the Healer
Hello everyone,
As the saying goes, one cannot lead another where one has not gone him or herself. Most important, providers of health care must work on their own spiritual evolution to actually experience what the model represents. To become integrally informed and take up an integral practice and then bring this new awareness to the practice of medicine can, transform the practitioner in such a way as to bring back the enjoyment of the doctor-patient relationship. It also empowers us to begin to make changes in the sociocultural problems that we see in medicine today. This tarnish, which is manifested as disease or "dis-ease" in our patients, can be the grace through which both healer and patient can transform their respective lives. Doctors/healers can not lead another/patient where one has not gone themselves. Yes, I feel that you do have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually. Most importantly, you should want to do it for yourself first. Integral Medicine incorporates both disease and patient and also treats the healer by offering a model that provides an integral awareness, which puts meaning, purpose, and love back into the practice of medicine. I try to implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life everyday by praying and finding attitudes of gratitude.
As the saying goes, one cannot lead another where one has not gone him or herself. Most important, providers of health care must work on their own spiritual evolution to actually experience what the model represents. To become integrally informed and take up an integral practice and then bring this new awareness to the practice of medicine can, transform the practitioner in such a way as to bring back the enjoyment of the doctor-patient relationship. It also empowers us to begin to make changes in the sociocultural problems that we see in medicine today. This tarnish, which is manifested as disease or "dis-ease" in our patients, can be the grace through which both healer and patient can transform their respective lives. Doctors/healers can not lead another/patient where one has not gone themselves. Yes, I feel that you do have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually. Most importantly, you should want to do it for yourself first. Integral Medicine incorporates both disease and patient and also treats the healer by offering a model that provides an integral awareness, which puts meaning, purpose, and love back into the practice of medicine. I try to implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life everyday by praying and finding attitudes of gratitude.
Unit 7 The Meeting Aesclepian Exercise
Hello everyone,
This exercise used visualization to focus on a "wise" person that we respect, which was hard for me to do at first. I liked Harriet Cianci's voice, it is more soothing for mediation. The image of our mentor becomes our focal point, focusing on compassion, joy, and love. Then, I stabilized the image and envisioned it purifying our hearts, thoughts, and speech into a peaceful state. Finally, I felt purified and like my heart had been transformed and filled with loving-kindness and wisdom. In this sense we experience, Asclepian healing and the total "wise one" as a skillfull teacher, experiencing wise guidance of mind, heart, and speech. I felt relaxed after I completed this exercise. I was able to relax, breath, and stretch. I like the closing statements of this exercise. Through daily practice our lives will unfold like a lotus flower encompassing mind, body, and spirit as we flourish towards integral health. Our inner essence is a support, guide or gift, giving healing by irradicating mental distress/stress related illnesses as we move towards integral health. Mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in my psychological or spiritual wellness by making me more aware of those "focal points" in my life and how to deal with them. I will definetely continue to apply these practices in my life to foster greater health and wellness.
This exercise used visualization to focus on a "wise" person that we respect, which was hard for me to do at first. I liked Harriet Cianci's voice, it is more soothing for mediation. The image of our mentor becomes our focal point, focusing on compassion, joy, and love. Then, I stabilized the image and envisioned it purifying our hearts, thoughts, and speech into a peaceful state. Finally, I felt purified and like my heart had been transformed and filled with loving-kindness and wisdom. In this sense we experience, Asclepian healing and the total "wise one" as a skillfull teacher, experiencing wise guidance of mind, heart, and speech. I felt relaxed after I completed this exercise. I was able to relax, breath, and stretch. I like the closing statements of this exercise. Through daily practice our lives will unfold like a lotus flower encompassing mind, body, and spirit as we flourish towards integral health. Our inner essence is a support, guide or gift, giving healing by irradicating mental distress/stress related illnesses as we move towards integral health. Mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in my psychological or spiritual wellness by making me more aware of those "focal points" in my life and how to deal with them. I will definetely continue to apply these practices in my life to foster greater health and wellness.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Integral Assessment
Hello everyone,
The integral assessment is the tool we need to choose to transform our health and life from conventional to integral, from ordinary to precious. This is an integral process of taking inventory in our lives, or analyzing our lives, finding our weaknesses and changing our lives for the better. The integral assessment takes a careful look at our current circumstances, identifying the aspects of our life that require attention, determining the specific changes we wish to address, and establishing a program of integral practice that will promote change.
The Six Principles of Integral Assessment are:
1.) The goal of integral health is to alleviate needless suffering and promote human flourishing.
2.) Integral health recognizes the distinction between short-term relief of needless suffering and permanent relief.
3.) Integral health recognizes the distinction between immediate pleasure and long-term flourishing.
4.) Psychospiritual development is an essential component of integral health.
5.) Integral assessment relies on deep listening and guidance.
6.) Integral assessment addresses the aspects, levels, and lines of development that are relevant to our current circumstance.
I absolutely love the integral assessment, because it gives me a chance to really evaluate my life. This is something that I practice anyway. My listening and communicating skills and how I express myself would be the areas that I choose to be a focus of growth and development, because they need constant working on. Some specific exercises or activities that I can implement to foster greater wellness in this area is to journal more to explore the depth of the situation in order to overcome/resolve it.
No more pain and suffering!
The integral assessment is the tool we need to choose to transform our health and life from conventional to integral, from ordinary to precious. This is an integral process of taking inventory in our lives, or analyzing our lives, finding our weaknesses and changing our lives for the better. The integral assessment takes a careful look at our current circumstances, identifying the aspects of our life that require attention, determining the specific changes we wish to address, and establishing a program of integral practice that will promote change.
The Six Principles of Integral Assessment are:
1.) The goal of integral health is to alleviate needless suffering and promote human flourishing.
2.) Integral health recognizes the distinction between short-term relief of needless suffering and permanent relief.
3.) Integral health recognizes the distinction between immediate pleasure and long-term flourishing.
4.) Psychospiritual development is an essential component of integral health.
5.) Integral assessment relies on deep listening and guidance.
6.) Integral assessment addresses the aspects, levels, and lines of development that are relevant to our current circumstance.
I absolutely love the integral assessment, because it gives me a chance to really evaluate my life. This is something that I practice anyway. My listening and communicating skills and how I express myself would be the areas that I choose to be a focus of growth and development, because they need constant working on. Some specific exercises or activities that I can implement to foster greater wellness in this area is to journal more to explore the depth of the situation in order to overcome/resolve it.
No more pain and suffering!
The Loving-Kindness Exercise Re-visited
Hello everyone,
So, I tried the loving-kindness practice again this week and got much better results. Every time I do it, it just keeps getting better! I will be honest and admit that I did not give it a chance at first and mislabeled/prejudged it. I'm glad that I gave it another chance, because it's growing on me now. This practice is now like my therapy that I practice at least once a day and I write more personally about it in my diary. I think about my troubles and plans to fix them. I also think about expressing my feelings of love, sharing love, and opening up to love. It's hard when you have been hurt, but there are always challenges or obstacles in life that we must overcome. Giving and receiving loving-kindness attracts loving-kindness, it is a cycle!
LIVE-LOVE-LAUGH!!!
So, I tried the loving-kindness practice again this week and got much better results. Every time I do it, it just keeps getting better! I will be honest and admit that I did not give it a chance at first and mislabeled/prejudged it. I'm glad that I gave it another chance, because it's growing on me now. This practice is now like my therapy that I practice at least once a day and I write more personally about it in my diary. I think about my troubles and plans to fix them. I also think about expressing my feelings of love, sharing love, and opening up to love. It's hard when you have been hurt, but there are always challenges or obstacles in life that we must overcome. Giving and receiving loving-kindness attracts loving-kindness, it is a cycle!
LIVE-LOVE-LAUGH!!!
Unit 6 Practicing Universal Loving-Kindness
Hello everyone,
The development of universal loving-kindness is the final leap in our interpersonal development. Integral health requires that we begin to extend our capacities-i.e. empathic listening, open heartedness, sensitivity, generosity, emotional intimacy, seeing, and caring for others, beyond our close group of loved ones to all of humankind.
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
The goal of this universal loving-kindness practice is meant to have a quite powerful impact in expanding your heart and mind. It can also serve as an antidote to anger and hatred, which is why I choose this area to be a focus of growth and development for me, because I have anger issues. Some specific exercises or activities that I implement to foster greater wellness in this area is anger management cool-down techniques or being physically active. It can help to shift your focus from personal love to universal loving-kindness.
This exercise allowed me to look into myself (into my heart). My mind was clear and I thought about how I can strive towards practicing universal loving-kindness to everyone, including enemies-not that I have any, really. This can be done everyday from a simple smile to a stranger, to something more complex as helping someone else accomplish something. You catch more bees with honey, than vinegar!!!
The development of universal loving-kindness is the final leap in our interpersonal development. Integral health requires that we begin to extend our capacities-i.e. empathic listening, open heartedness, sensitivity, generosity, emotional intimacy, seeing, and caring for others, beyond our close group of loved ones to all of humankind.
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
The goal of this universal loving-kindness practice is meant to have a quite powerful impact in expanding your heart and mind. It can also serve as an antidote to anger and hatred, which is why I choose this area to be a focus of growth and development for me, because I have anger issues. Some specific exercises or activities that I implement to foster greater wellness in this area is anger management cool-down techniques or being physically active. It can help to shift your focus from personal love to universal loving-kindness.
This exercise allowed me to look into myself (into my heart). My mind was clear and I thought about how I can strive towards practicing universal loving-kindness to everyone, including enemies-not that I have any, really. This can be done everyday from a simple smile to a stranger, to something more complex as helping someone else accomplish something. You catch more bees with honey, than vinegar!!!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Unit 5 The Subtle Mind Exercise
Hello everyone,
The Loving-Kindness exercise reminds us that an enduring well-being requires a diminished focus on ourselves and our own needs and an enhanced concern and compassion for the welfare of others. Loving-kindness attracts loving-kindness. When we attract loving-kindness, our mind is calmer and a far better candidate for contemplative practice. We must practice mental workouts, because there will come a time in the development of our psychospiritual life that loving-kindness will reveal itself as a natural and effortless aspects of higher consciousness. Loving-kindness will become second nature after a little practice.
The Subtle Mind exercise reminds us that enduring well-being requires cultivation of wisdom. We cultivate wisdom by taming and training our mind, accessing its deeper levels, and exploring the essential nature of mind and experience. We must also tame our busy mind. We learn how to diminish the ceaseless mental movements of thoughts, feelings, and images. If we practice regularly, we will definitely be able to still the mind and develop a witnessing consciousness that subsequently progresses toward the stable and facile mind of calm-abiding. Unity consciousness and pure awareness are the culmination of the subtle mind practice.
I stretched and started with the recommended ten deep breaths and developed a focal point. I was able to settle into a natural ease of mind-body-spirit. My mind did wander, but I was able to redirect my attention by maintaining a firm concentration, while breathing and focusing. My peaceful breaths lead to a peaceful mind. My favorite part was the ocean wave sounds, because it reminds me of when I lived there for two years. I stretched and ended the exercise with a clear mind and feeling attentive, yet relaxed and refreshed. I prefer the Subtle Mind exercise over the Loving-kindness exercise.
The Loving-Kindness exercise reminds us that an enduring well-being requires a diminished focus on ourselves and our own needs and an enhanced concern and compassion for the welfare of others. Loving-kindness attracts loving-kindness. When we attract loving-kindness, our mind is calmer and a far better candidate for contemplative practice. We must practice mental workouts, because there will come a time in the development of our psychospiritual life that loving-kindness will reveal itself as a natural and effortless aspects of higher consciousness. Loving-kindness will become second nature after a little practice.
The Subtle Mind exercise reminds us that enduring well-being requires cultivation of wisdom. We cultivate wisdom by taming and training our mind, accessing its deeper levels, and exploring the essential nature of mind and experience. We must also tame our busy mind. We learn how to diminish the ceaseless mental movements of thoughts, feelings, and images. If we practice regularly, we will definitely be able to still the mind and develop a witnessing consciousness that subsequently progresses toward the stable and facile mind of calm-abiding. Unity consciousness and pure awareness are the culmination of the subtle mind practice.
I stretched and started with the recommended ten deep breaths and developed a focal point. I was able to settle into a natural ease of mind-body-spirit. My mind did wander, but I was able to redirect my attention by maintaining a firm concentration, while breathing and focusing. My peaceful breaths lead to a peaceful mind. My favorite part was the ocean wave sounds, because it reminds me of when I lived there for two years. I stretched and ended the exercise with a clear mind and feeling attentive, yet relaxed and refreshed. I prefer the Subtle Mind exercise over the Loving-kindness exercise.
Mental Workout
Hello everyone,
It is not possible for us to evolve our psychospiritual life and access its capacities and resources without daily practice. Those daily practices, such as the Loving-Kindness exercise and the Subtle Mind practice, are mental workouts. The Loving-Kindness practice opens our hearts to others and gradually diminish self-centeredness, priming our mind for further development. The Subtle Min practice addresses the three levels of the subtle mind: witnessing, calm-abiding, and unity consciousness. It opens our mind and reveals a penetrating wisdom that knows the truth of our life and of existence. Loving-Kindness and wisdom are the essential elements that heal at the source and drive human flourishing. The most meaningful aim of contemplative practice is not rest and relaxation but rather the progressive development of an expanded consciousness and its healing capacities. These mental workouts help us tame and train the mind, open the heart, expand consciousness, and progress toward psychospiritual flourishing. We implement mental workouts to foster our psychological health as we engage in contemplative practices to continue traveling the path of human flourishing.
It is not possible for us to evolve our psychospiritual life and access its capacities and resources without daily practice. Those daily practices, such as the Loving-Kindness exercise and the Subtle Mind practice, are mental workouts. The Loving-Kindness practice opens our hearts to others and gradually diminish self-centeredness, priming our mind for further development. The Subtle Min practice addresses the three levels of the subtle mind: witnessing, calm-abiding, and unity consciousness. It opens our mind and reveals a penetrating wisdom that knows the truth of our life and of existence. Loving-Kindness and wisdom are the essential elements that heal at the source and drive human flourishing. The most meaningful aim of contemplative practice is not rest and relaxation but rather the progressive development of an expanded consciousness and its healing capacities. These mental workouts help us tame and train the mind, open the heart, expand consciousness, and progress toward psychospiritual flourishing. We implement mental workouts to foster our psychological health as we engage in contemplative practices to continue traveling the path of human flourishing.
Unit 4 Loving Kindness The Mind-Body-Spirit Paradigm
Hello everyone,
The goal of the Loving Kindness exercise is to create a heartfelt loving-kindness that diminishes your self-centeredness and quiets your mind. It is a practice that restores integral health, happiness, and wholeness into life. It requires focusing on reflecting their meaning and developing a certainty regarding their truth through regular practice. I accomplished this, however I was distracted, but was able to achieve giving and receiving love and kindness, and recognize stillness. The concept of giving and receiving love and kindness attracts love and kindness to better prepare our minds to travel the path of human flourishing. I had feelings of caring and affection toward myself and others. I welcomed the love and let it be! To begin I stretched, breathed, and focused myself. I loved the Ocean wave sounds in the background. I was able to think and clear my mind. I did find this exercise beneficial. My difficulties came when feelings of love and tenderness were mentioned in order to fully experience feelings of love. I have trouble with expressing my feelings of love, sharing and opening up. Some key points of the exercise were to fully embrace life and openess; love yourself first before loving others and be ok with that. I did not like the ending when it talked about the suffering of a loved one and strangers. Concluding this Loving Kindness exercise, I was empowered and refreshed, however left pondering. So, I think I am going to have to keep up this exercise. I know I will achieve better results next time.
The goal of the Loving Kindness exercise is to create a heartfelt loving-kindness that diminishes your self-centeredness and quiets your mind. It is a practice that restores integral health, happiness, and wholeness into life. It requires focusing on reflecting their meaning and developing a certainty regarding their truth through regular practice. I accomplished this, however I was distracted, but was able to achieve giving and receiving love and kindness, and recognize stillness. The concept of giving and receiving love and kindness attracts love and kindness to better prepare our minds to travel the path of human flourishing. I had feelings of caring and affection toward myself and others. I welcomed the love and let it be! To begin I stretched, breathed, and focused myself. I loved the Ocean wave sounds in the background. I was able to think and clear my mind. I did find this exercise beneficial. My difficulties came when feelings of love and tenderness were mentioned in order to fully experience feelings of love. I have trouble with expressing my feelings of love, sharing and opening up. Some key points of the exercise were to fully embrace life and openess; love yourself first before loving others and be ok with that. I did not like the ending when it talked about the suffering of a loved one and strangers. Concluding this Loving Kindness exercise, I was empowered and refreshed, however left pondering. So, I think I am going to have to keep up this exercise. I know I will achieve better results next time.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Unit 3 The Mind-Body Connection
Hello everyone,
Wellness, as a person centered orientation, relies heavily on the concept that the individual is aware of their strengths and needs. However, there is often little encouragement or expectation for the individual to self reflect or take a holistic personal inventory or to convey their awareness with their health practitioner. I must say, I am guilty of this myself. Based on my reflections and on a scale of 1-10, I rate my physical wellbeing as a 8, because I try to stay active and now that Spring is on the way I will be spending more time outside; my spiritual wellbeing as a 7, because I could be more disciplined in my Religion; and my psychological wellbeing as a 7.5, because I am pretty average. My physical goal is to increase my exercise plan frequency to three to four days a week, however I am committed to twice a week. My spiritual goal is to attend confession before Easter. My psychological goal is to expand my mind-Oh by the way thank you guys for helping me! The activities/exercises that I can implement into my life to assist in moving toward each of those goals are time management skills to accomodate those needs, exercise plan revision, and to use an effective meditation practice like The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise. I really enjoyed that, because for once I could actually think clearly, which I have not been able to do lately. However, I could not look at the screen images, they were too flashy and hurt my eyes, that is my only complaint, lol!
The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise discussed the Rainbow meditation, where you use your imagination to relax. I thought about how when light hits a prism, the colors are seperated, however, all of the colors are connected/blended. This exercise went through all of the body regions that are associated with the seven colors of the rainbow. Red (Spine), demonstrates feelings of being grounded, comfortable, and safe. Orange (Lower Stomach), demonstrates feelings of being centered and confident. Yellow (Upper Stomach), symbolic of feeling loved. Green (Heart), symbolic of feelings to share love/romance with whoever you choose to. Aqua Blue (Throat), capture feelings of meaning, willpower, creativity, accomplishment, goals, and purpose; though, I do not know what that purpose is at times. Deep Blue-Indigo (Forehead), capture feelings of balance from within, through exploring conscious/unconscious mind/body wisdom. Purple-Violet (Crown/top of Head), symbolic of feelings of being connected to a bigger part of the universe, feelings of (inner) peace, being bonded with family, friends, nature, earth, life, and homeostasis. Not feeling alone, feeling balanced overall. I think that I achieved the goal of The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise. When mt body is calm and relaxed, bring back a sensation of relaxation throughout the whole body to feel energized, and most importantly gain or regain a sense of awareness or better state of consciousness. As always it is best to stretch before and after every exercise! So, what is the ultimate crime of the century?!
Wellness, as a person centered orientation, relies heavily on the concept that the individual is aware of their strengths and needs. However, there is often little encouragement or expectation for the individual to self reflect or take a holistic personal inventory or to convey their awareness with their health practitioner. I must say, I am guilty of this myself. Based on my reflections and on a scale of 1-10, I rate my physical wellbeing as a 8, because I try to stay active and now that Spring is on the way I will be spending more time outside; my spiritual wellbeing as a 7, because I could be more disciplined in my Religion; and my psychological wellbeing as a 7.5, because I am pretty average. My physical goal is to increase my exercise plan frequency to three to four days a week, however I am committed to twice a week. My spiritual goal is to attend confession before Easter. My psychological goal is to expand my mind-Oh by the way thank you guys for helping me! The activities/exercises that I can implement into my life to assist in moving toward each of those goals are time management skills to accomodate those needs, exercise plan revision, and to use an effective meditation practice like The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise. I really enjoyed that, because for once I could actually think clearly, which I have not been able to do lately. However, I could not look at the screen images, they were too flashy and hurt my eyes, that is my only complaint, lol!
The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise discussed the Rainbow meditation, where you use your imagination to relax. I thought about how when light hits a prism, the colors are seperated, however, all of the colors are connected/blended. This exercise went through all of the body regions that are associated with the seven colors of the rainbow. Red (Spine), demonstrates feelings of being grounded, comfortable, and safe. Orange (Lower Stomach), demonstrates feelings of being centered and confident. Yellow (Upper Stomach), symbolic of feeling loved. Green (Heart), symbolic of feelings to share love/romance with whoever you choose to. Aqua Blue (Throat), capture feelings of meaning, willpower, creativity, accomplishment, goals, and purpose; though, I do not know what that purpose is at times. Deep Blue-Indigo (Forehead), capture feelings of balance from within, through exploring conscious/unconscious mind/body wisdom. Purple-Violet (Crown/top of Head), symbolic of feelings of being connected to a bigger part of the universe, feelings of (inner) peace, being bonded with family, friends, nature, earth, life, and homeostasis. Not feeling alone, feeling balanced overall. I think that I achieved the goal of The Crime of the Century relaxation exercise. When mt body is calm and relaxed, bring back a sensation of relaxation throughout the whole body to feel energized, and most importantly gain or regain a sense of awareness or better state of consciousness. As always it is best to stretch before and after every exercise! So, what is the ultimate crime of the century?!
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