I really liked the universal Loving Kindness meditation exercise. I really liked concentrating on the four lines of the exercise as I was really able to take in the calmness and ideas of what I could do to prevent suffering and aide in helping other individuals find “health, happiness, and wholeness” (Dacher, 2006, p. 93). This exercise made me reflect on others and what I could do to help others find freedom from illness/suffering and help them gain positive outlooks on life through happiness. Through this and the integral assessment, I learned that even though I may have a single problem that I am pin-pointing to my concerns, all four quadrants are inter-twined and I must address my concern through all phases of developing my integral health. My major concern for me is my recent health problems and for me focusing solely on my biological health. Through much reflection, I found I need to not only take into consideration my medical aspects, but also everything else that is in conjunction with that. I need to continually express my hopes and concerns. Once I can do this I can attain calmness and ease through meditation. I can’t always dwell on what is, but I need to look forward to what can be. Psychological and Spiritual health will both be important factors in attaining my integral health. But for me, I need to focus more on my biological health and enhancing that aspect towards “health and awareness” of myself at this point. I think that meditation is the most beneficial for me at this point because gaining a deeper perspective of my inner consciousness is more effective for me through meditation. It then allows me to find feelings of compassion, gratitude, peace and love. This can then help me foster my wellness in my biological sense.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Concept of Subtle Mind
1. Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.
2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.
This week for me concentrating on the subtle mind exercise was really beneficial. I am learning that while I am concentrating and taming my thoughts, I am further looking into my mind to find my true integral health. The loving-kindness exercise was focused more on concentrating on my breath and letting my heart open to love and kindness while the subtle mind exercise is focused more on finding my “mind’s subtle essence-it’s silence, spaciousness, peace, clarity, timelessness, and oneness with all life” (Dacher, 2006, p. 72). This I can see is going to be very difficult for me and I am going to need to practice this a lot!! I not only need to tame my wandering thoughts, but once I have them under control I need to sustain my calmness and then look deeper into my thoughts to feel a complete fullness and openness in my heart/mind/body. This is then where I can feel my integral health flourish. While doing this exercise I almost felt a bit frustrated at first because I couldn’t concentrate long enough to keep my mind at ease. I think the more and more I do this I will get better at it and it will be something that will come easy for me.
Physical, Mental and Spiritual wellness are all connected with each other and all parts are needed to obtain our integral health. We will learn to function in the aspect of not only our body but our mind and body. “It is simply not possible to fully know or reach the subtler levels of the mind/body or spiritual body without psychospiritual development. Though it is possible for any individual to have a sudden breakthrough that embraces all levels of biological development, it is unlikely that this will be a stable experience. Stability results from a gradual process of development and as we reach toward the higher levels of consciousness and progressively experience the more subtle aspects of the mind/body, we finally get a glimpse of the spiritual body” (Dacher, 2006, p. 84). We have to work towards each level to have a full understanding of our abilities and how we can intertwine them to have an integral and flourishing life. I can see already doing these exercises that I can more fully manage my thoughts to decrease my stress, thereby decreasing any risk it may have on my physical body. By continually avoiding any mental and physical stressors and knowing how to manage outer thoughts and inner emotions, I can reach my spiritual health. My spiritual health can be fostered by also concentrating on my yoga thereby further developing all aspects of my physical, mental and spiritual health.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.
This week for me concentrating on the subtle mind exercise was really beneficial. I am learning that while I am concentrating and taming my thoughts, I am further looking into my mind to find my true integral health. The loving-kindness exercise was focused more on concentrating on my breath and letting my heart open to love and kindness while the subtle mind exercise is focused more on finding my “mind’s subtle essence-it’s silence, spaciousness, peace, clarity, timelessness, and oneness with all life” (Dacher, 2006, p. 72). This I can see is going to be very difficult for me and I am going to need to practice this a lot!! I not only need to tame my wandering thoughts, but once I have them under control I need to sustain my calmness and then look deeper into my thoughts to feel a complete fullness and openness in my heart/mind/body. This is then where I can feel my integral health flourish. While doing this exercise I almost felt a bit frustrated at first because I couldn’t concentrate long enough to keep my mind at ease. I think the more and more I do this I will get better at it and it will be something that will come easy for me.
Physical, Mental and Spiritual wellness are all connected with each other and all parts are needed to obtain our integral health. We will learn to function in the aspect of not only our body but our mind and body. “It is simply not possible to fully know or reach the subtler levels of the mind/body or spiritual body without psychospiritual development. Though it is possible for any individual to have a sudden breakthrough that embraces all levels of biological development, it is unlikely that this will be a stable experience. Stability results from a gradual process of development and as we reach toward the higher levels of consciousness and progressively experience the more subtle aspects of the mind/body, we finally get a glimpse of the spiritual body” (Dacher, 2006, p. 84). We have to work towards each level to have a full understanding of our abilities and how we can intertwine them to have an integral and flourishing life. I can see already doing these exercises that I can more fully manage my thoughts to decrease my stress, thereby decreasing any risk it may have on my physical body. By continually avoiding any mental and physical stressors and knowing how to manage outer thoughts and inner emotions, I can reach my spiritual health. My spiritual health can be fostered by also concentrating on my yoga thereby further developing all aspects of my physical, mental and spiritual health.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Loving-Kindness Exercise/Mental Workout
In reading the Loving Kindness exercise and listening to the CD describes how the exercise helps us” to diminish our self -centeredness and opens our hearts and minds to others” (Dacher, 2006). This exercise made me really concentrate on myself and others. I liked the quote in the book “loving-kindness attracts loving-kindness. We get back what we give” (Dacher, 2006, p. 65). While doing the exercise I made myself aware of all of my thoughts and feelings, good and bad, and it actually made me feel more aware and at peace with my inner feelings. My heart felt open but in a more deeper-psychospiritual way. It was really moving. I definitely think this exercise is great and beneficial. I would recommend it to others because this exercise is all about opening up and benefiting from that practice towards a more healthy and integral well-being.
The concept of Mental Workout is basically like physical conditioning but with your mind. “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” (Dacher, 2006, p. 65). The main goal of the mental work out is to fully understand and evolve our psychological health and well-being with daily conditioning. Everyone’s path towards human flourishing is different but yet similar in how they get there. Mental training goes hand in hand with “effort, discipline, and perseverance” (Dacher, 2006, p. 66). Research shows that having a training program “helps develop a healthy inner life and can immediately and for months afterward enhance their level of emotional and physical well-being and their capacity for health” (Dacher, 2006, p. 21). I myself can implement my mental workouts throughout the day. On my lunch break and when I get home from work are ways to start for me and then eventually I can do them more often throughout the day when I get better at the exercise process. I really enjoyed this exercise and look forward to further developing my inner consciousness.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
The concept of Mental Workout is basically like physical conditioning but with your mind. “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” (Dacher, 2006, p. 65). The main goal of the mental work out is to fully understand and evolve our psychological health and well-being with daily conditioning. Everyone’s path towards human flourishing is different but yet similar in how they get there. Mental training goes hand in hand with “effort, discipline, and perseverance” (Dacher, 2006, p. 66). Research shows that having a training program “helps develop a healthy inner life and can immediately and for months afterward enhance their level of emotional and physical well-being and their capacity for health” (Dacher, 2006, p. 21). I myself can implement my mental workouts throughout the day. On my lunch break and when I get home from work are ways to start for me and then eventually I can do them more often throughout the day when I get better at the exercise process. I really enjoyed this exercise and look forward to further developing my inner consciousness.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wellness Activities
1.Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?
Physical Well-being: 9 Spiritual Well-being: 6 Psychological Wellbeing: 7
I rated my physical well being an 8 because I work out daily and eat fairly well, although I know that I can always eat better. My spiritual well-being needs some work. I rated myself a 6 because I do not make time for my spiritual health. I do reflect more on physical and psychological health and tend to forget that I need to have all three aspects to have a healthy lifestyle. My psychological well-being is better than my spiritual well-being but it needs some work too. I get stressed easily and I need to find ways to overcome it without letting it get the best of me. I need to step back and realize that I have control of my physical, spiritual and psychological well-being.
2.Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).
Physical: Eat less fried foods
Spiritual: Reflect often during the day on what is meaningful and important to me.
Psychological: Talk to my family and friends when I have a problem and need their opinion. Don’t keep it to myself and let it build up.
3.What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?
Physical: Bring my lunch to work instead of going to the cafeteria where fried foods are more available.
Spiritual: I need to take the time and remind myself that I do have the time; I just need to take the time out.
Psychological: Take the time to make a phone call. Don’t just say I will, but actually do it.
4.Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century. To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? etc.)
I liked the relaxation exercise because it forced me to relax but also focused me on how to do that. I think it is very beneficial. I felt so calm to the point of sleepiness. It was great.
Physical Well-being: 9 Spiritual Well-being: 6 Psychological Wellbeing: 7
I rated my physical well being an 8 because I work out daily and eat fairly well, although I know that I can always eat better. My spiritual well-being needs some work. I rated myself a 6 because I do not make time for my spiritual health. I do reflect more on physical and psychological health and tend to forget that I need to have all three aspects to have a healthy lifestyle. My psychological well-being is better than my spiritual well-being but it needs some work too. I get stressed easily and I need to find ways to overcome it without letting it get the best of me. I need to step back and realize that I have control of my physical, spiritual and psychological well-being.
2.Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).
Physical: Eat less fried foods
Spiritual: Reflect often during the day on what is meaningful and important to me.
Psychological: Talk to my family and friends when I have a problem and need their opinion. Don’t keep it to myself and let it build up.
3.What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?
Physical: Bring my lunch to work instead of going to the cafeteria where fried foods are more available.
Spiritual: I need to take the time and remind myself that I do have the time; I just need to take the time out.
Psychological: Take the time to make a phone call. Don’t just say I will, but actually do it.
4.Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century. To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? etc.)
I liked the relaxation exercise because it forced me to relax but also focused me on how to do that. I think it is very beneficial. I felt so calm to the point of sleepiness. It was great.
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