1. Practice the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise on p. 93.
2. Complete the Integral Assessment discussed in chapter 11 (p.115).
3. Describe the exercise and assessment process. What did you discover about yourself? What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development? Why? What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?
I found the universal Loving Kindness to be a soothing and invigorating experience. The practice helped me cultivate positive emotional states towards myself and those around me, so that I become more tolerant, caring, compassionate, and empathetic towards others. From my experience, I can say it definitely works both consciously and subconsciously. It was easy to follow, calming, comforting, peaceful but at the same time it brought awareness as well healing and the enlightening energy of deep consciousness.
Although I make sound nutrition and fitness a priority and I’m determined to maintain the same level of commitment and sense of balance I’ve been able to attain since I've found and nourished spirituality and inner peace, I'm still experiencing high levels of stress and working on too many project simultaneously. To foster greater wellness in this area, I will practice relaxation techniques as often as necessary and try to attain a true sense of balance. I will also develop a strong network of positive, exciting friends and family members that would brighten my spirit and bring humor to my life, relaxing my body and mind, practicing breathing exercises, listening to soothing music, getting a massage and a hot bath, aromatherapy, and yoga have helped significantly whenever I have tried to reduce stress-inducing thoughts and behaviors.
My ultimate goal is to have a balanced life and enough time to meet professional and academic demands, enjoy healthy relationships, relaxation, recreational activities plus the ability to face challenges in a constructive and positive way. Beyond opting for a take-charge approach and maintaining a positive attitude, I have found that it is possible to reduce stress by nurturing myself and prioritizing what is really important, so I am ready to confront life’s stressors when they inevitably appear.
Daisy,
ReplyDeleteI really like the examples you gave to keep yourself balanced spiritually. What I like best about your examples is that you have a way to destress no matter what stressful situation you might be in. If the stressful situation is at work, you could do breating exercises or listen to soothing music, if it is at home you can take a bath or do a yoga exercise. I think these examples would work for me or anyone else as well. Great post, thanks Daisy.
Rebecca
Daisy,
ReplyDeleteIt is very inspiring to read about the many benefits you have received from the loving-kindness exercise. Everything you have listed; caring, compassion, and calming are all good and move you toward the ultimate goal of human flourishing. You are not alone when it comes to taking on too many activities; probably the root cause of most people stress, but you have developed ways to combat the stress and put your mind at ease. The practice of breathing exercises, listening to soothing music, getting a massage, taking a hot bath, aromatherapy, and yoga have proven results in the area of calming the body and mind and you are clearly reaping the rewards of what these practices have to offer. You have written some good goals, not only that, you have direction on how to achieve those goals. Keep up the good work, continue to reduce the stress in your life, and always maintain a focus on what is really important.
Ed Busche
You said it perfectly here, Daisy. This exercise also reminded me of the importance of being compassionate, empathetic, patient and tolerant with others. I have to admit that sometimes I do have a hard time with patience, so these exercises are perfect for me to implement into my life on a regular basis. I also believe they could benefit others as well.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post.
Hi Daisy, I enjoyed reading your post it was nicely organized and well put. I see that you were able to obtain a lot positve information from the Loving-Kindness exercise. It actually brought vision and insight to me. I was able to gain a better attitude about the different circumstances in my life.
ReplyDelete