"Meeting Asciepius"

I have found that with each meditation exercise I find more inner peace and become more spiritual. I am able to deal with stress in a much more relaxed way. Life is full of distractions and obligations and meditation is something that I do just for me. It is a gift that I give to myself everyday. So simple but so important.
We must walk the walk not just talk the talk. If we can't implement exercises that improve health and wellness than how can we advise others to do so? It is too hypocritical and I believe that patients can see if we are speaking from experience. I know that when I am explaining the benefits to others I get excited about my spiritual growth. That is something that you can't fake. If you try others will notice.

Universal Loving Kindness

This week we were introduced to the idea of universal loving kindness. It was a great exercise to expand our love to those outside our inner circle. This is done by putting thoughts of love and kindness out into the universe. We are wishing wellness to all, even our enemies. I have found this beneficial in my work life. In some ways things happen that frustrate us but this allows me to rise above it and grow from it. This is practicing a love of mankind which is never a bad thing.
In the Dacher text I was challenged to assess my growth and development. There are four areas to consider and the one that I most need improvement in is Biological. I have been experiencing health problems for the first time in my life that required hospitalization. Being in the hospital you have a lot of time to think about life and what may have led you there in the first place. I have taken this part of my life for granted because my health has always just been there. I am in need of healing both medically and mentally. I am using meditation and visualization to help me in the healing process and truly believe that my efforts are working. This is the area that my focus is on and I am grateful that I can work on my healing and wellness daily.

Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing. Elliott S. Dacher. Basic Health Publications 2006

The subtle mind exercise

During this exercise I found a deep level of relaxation. At first my mind was busy with chatter but by using the focal point and breathing as my focus I was able to acknowledge it and then dismiss it. I think the beginning was great with the ten deep breaths that helped to shift my focus inward. With each exercise I am finding it so much easier to connect with spirit and on a much deeper level. This is a great way to deal with stress but also the healing process that I am going through. With all the surgeries that I have had over the past three months it would be easy to get depressed. This class and these exercises are keeping me from depression by empowering me to look within to help in the healing process. I enjoyed the loving kindness piece and feel that this is a great companion piece. We are expanding our horizons to more of an eastern consciousness and I am enjoying getting to know myself in a different way.
Alison

Loving Kindness

I had a great experience with the Loving Kindness meditation this week. It is sometimes difficult to focus on ourselves especially with loving kindness. We tend to focus more on our shortcomings than love of self. I was able to relax during this exercise and focus on those that are unkind or negative in my life and turn the feelings I have about them around in my head. What a great feeling and release. I also took the time to take into consideration the pain of my Mother and see it from a different perspective that allowed me to reach out to her from a place of love and kindness. I see her as human and fragile at the same time strong. I offered to share this exercise with her and she is open to it, much to my surprise. I felt better after the exercise and I hope to share this feeling of well being with her.

Mental workouts are a concept that once applied help to foster feelings of well being through exercises that allow us to relieve stress, keep positive thoughts and attitude. Much like we go to the gym to keep our bodies in shape these type of exercise keep our minds in shape. Remember, use it or lose it. We need to put as much effort to the mental workout as we do the physical workouts the outer effects will be just as amazing. We will walk around happier and with less emotional baggage. This is the only life we have, live it to the fullest everyday.