Hello everyone! This has been an awesome course and I have enjoyed hearing from all of you! I wish all of you the very best in the future.
In my unit 3 personal assessment, I gave myself a score of 5 physically, 7 spiritually, and 8 psychologically. I think that now I would give myself a score of 5 physically, 8 spiritually, and 9 psychologically. My scores haven't changed much. I have not made an effort to change my physical life. My spiritual life is getting better bit by bit, and my psychological life is pretty good.
My physical goal was to exercise 3 days each week. I have not done that. My spiritual goal was to have a quiet time 5 days a week. I do that sometimes. If I don't make 5, then I do at least 3 or 4 days a week. My psychological goal was to have inner peace and acceptance of myself and appreciate my family. I am definitely working on inner peace and do appreciate my family. I just returned from a 9 day vacation with my husband and 3 boys and we had a great time. None of us are perfect. We have to accept each other as we are, and learn how to better ourselves individually.
I do plan on starting an exercise program when my kids start back to school. I would love to go to the gym 3 days a week, and do some exercising at home with the equipment I have here. It will also give me a little time alone to de-stress. I plan to continue doing my quiet time several days a week. I also plan to appreciate my family every day and thank God every day for the beautiful boys He has given me.
I think this course has helped me to reflect on areas of my life that I need to work on. It has definitely been rewarding. I have learned new techniques to deal with stress and to focus on love and making myself better in order to make the world around me better. Some of the exercises doing meditation have been difficult for me to do, but I just tweak them to work for me. This course has been beneficial for me, and from reading all of your posts, I think it has been somewhat beneficial for all of us.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
cont.....What Works For Me
Ugh!!! Sometimes technology stinks! We had a power surge and my internet went out while I was typing my blog. I didn't realize that it stopped saving at the point I was at when it went out. So....it only posted half of my blog. Here is the second half. If you want to read the first part, it is posted right before this one.
Visualization is the other process that works for me. I guess because it is much easier for me to picture myself in a peaceful place than to just try and focus on one thing or watch my thoughts float by. I have no problem thinking of myself on the beach, soaking up the rays of the sun with my toes in the warm sand, and the sound of waves rolling up the shore, and people around me enjoying the day. Or in a log cabin in the snow covered mountains with a fire crackling in the fireplace, snuggled under a blanket and getting drowsy from the sounds of the fire. These exercises put me in a relaxed and peaceful state. They take my focus off of my problems, and put it on others, or on positive things. This reduces my stress and puts me on a path to mental and physical wellness.
Visualization is the other process that works for me. I guess because it is much easier for me to picture myself in a peaceful place than to just try and focus on one thing or watch my thoughts float by. I have no problem thinking of myself on the beach, soaking up the rays of the sun with my toes in the warm sand, and the sound of waves rolling up the shore, and people around me enjoying the day. Or in a log cabin in the snow covered mountains with a fire crackling in the fireplace, snuggled under a blanket and getting drowsy from the sounds of the fire. These exercises put me in a relaxed and peaceful state. They take my focus off of my problems, and put it on others, or on positive things. This reduces my stress and puts me on a path to mental and physical wellness.
What Works For Me
Hello everyone! This course is flying by! Unfortunately, that means that summer is flying by too! I'm not ready for my kids to go back to school.
Well, here we go again! I know I sound like a broken record. None of these exercises in their entirety work for me. However, I can adapt them to work for me. The two that are probably the easiest to adapt and are the most beneficial for me are the loving kindness exercise and visualization. Loving kindness works because anyone can focus on other people, those that are close to them and those they may not even know, and send loving thoughts their way. I take that one step further and pray for those I love and even those I don't know.
Well, here we go again! I know I sound like a broken record. None of these exercises in their entirety work for me. However, I can adapt them to work for me. The two that are probably the easiest to adapt and are the most beneficial for me are the loving kindness exercise and visualization. Loving kindness works because anyone can focus on other people, those that are close to them and those they may not even know, and send loving thoughts their way. I take that one step further and pray for those I love and even those I don't know.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Meeting Asciepius exercise
The exercise this week was again difficult for me to do. I don't mean to be disrespectful to anyone at all, and I am not intolerant of others' beliefs, but to me, these exercises are not in alignment with my faith. I believe in one God, and that his son Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I cannot focus on another being in these exercises, not even a wise person that I know or used to know. I tried this exercise with Jesus as the focus, but it was still difficult. The things it said to do just didn't work for me. I couldn't imagine a white light beaming from his head to my mind. I know that some people can do that, and that these exercises work beautifully for some people. That's great! They just don't work for me. I can only speak from my own experience. I hope no one finds that offensive, it's not meant to be. I have my own time that I guess some could call meditation, but it's a time that I focus on God, let him speak to me, ask for guidance, give thanks, read the Bible, and read other books that help me in my life.
To me, the saying "one cannot lead another to where one has not gone himself" means that in order to lead or teach someone, you have to have knowledge of where they are coming from. Now, that doesn't mean you have to have actually gone through their specific circumstance. But you have to have studied or learned about it, and had experience with it in some way, whether through someone else or in practice. No one can go through every experience themselves. However, if you are trying to lead someone in a certain way, then you should be following that way yourself. No one wants to take instruction from someone who doesn't believe in what they're promoting. Just as you wouldn't trust a nutritionist who was obese and ate unhealthy. She may have the knowledge of how to guide you in a healthy eating lifestyle, but she is not practicing it herself. I think it is very much the same as the saying "practice what you preach".
To me, the saying "one cannot lead another to where one has not gone himself" means that in order to lead or teach someone, you have to have knowledge of where they are coming from. Now, that doesn't mean you have to have actually gone through their specific circumstance. But you have to have studied or learned about it, and had experience with it in some way, whether through someone else or in practice. No one can go through every experience themselves. However, if you are trying to lead someone in a certain way, then you should be following that way yourself. No one wants to take instruction from someone who doesn't believe in what they're promoting. Just as you wouldn't trust a nutritionist who was obese and ate unhealthy. She may have the knowledge of how to guide you in a healthy eating lifestyle, but she is not practicing it herself. I think it is very much the same as the saying "practice what you preach".
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Assessment
Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic week. In Texas, it is blazing hot! There seems to be no relief from it for a while. I don't know what we would do without a pool!
The loving-kindness exercise this week was much the same as the previous weeks. I don't love it. I love the idea of practicing loving-kindness and focusing my thoughts and prayers on others, I just don't like the process of this particular exercise.
For the integral assessment, one particular area came to me immediately upon reflection. The area I am going to focus on is exercise and nutrition. This area of my life has really bothered me for the last couple of years. Since I started at Kaplan, eight terms ago, this area has come up over and over again in the course of different classes I have taken. I always have the intention of making a change, but I really haven't yet. I need to lose 15 pounds, and I can only do it through good nutrition and regular exercise. My nutrition isn't horrible, and I have made some great changes in what I eat. However, I do not currently exercise at all, and I need to exercise at least 3 days a week. How can I achieve this? By just doing it. I have all of the tools I need to workout at home. It is a matter of making myself do it. Just as I take time most days for a quiet time for prayer and reading, I need to take time to work on my physical body. It is important for my health.
The loving-kindness exercise this week was much the same as the previous weeks. I don't love it. I love the idea of practicing loving-kindness and focusing my thoughts and prayers on others, I just don't like the process of this particular exercise.
For the integral assessment, one particular area came to me immediately upon reflection. The area I am going to focus on is exercise and nutrition. This area of my life has really bothered me for the last couple of years. Since I started at Kaplan, eight terms ago, this area has come up over and over again in the course of different classes I have taken. I always have the intention of making a change, but I really haven't yet. I need to lose 15 pounds, and I can only do it through good nutrition and regular exercise. My nutrition isn't horrible, and I have made some great changes in what I eat. However, I do not currently exercise at all, and I need to exercise at least 3 days a week. How can I achieve this? By just doing it. I have all of the tools I need to workout at home. It is a matter of making myself do it. Just as I take time most days for a quiet time for prayer and reading, I need to take time to work on my physical body. It is important for my health.
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Subtle Mind
Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful week! I love the lazy days of summer (even when they're not so lazy).
I believe the difference between the loving kindness exercise and the subtle mind exercise is in the focus. Loving kindness focuses on your thoughts and feelings and the feelings and circumstances of those around you. Subtle mind focuses on your breathing and the stillness around you (if you're lucky enough to have stillness around you---which I do not). The subtle mind exercise was ok. I really dislike the man's voice at the beginning. It irritates me, his voice and the way he speaks. The woman's voice was much better for the exercise. I'm not really into meditation. I pray alot and have quiet time and focus on God, but I don't meditate. I have to say, though, I found focusing on my breathing to be much easier than the loving kindness exercise. The long pauses with nature sounds were relaxing. My mind does wander, though, and I had to keep getting back on track to focus on my breathing. I really disliked the parts that asked questions. I found that to be very distracting and irritating. Overall, I thought the exercise was alright.
I think spiritual wellness is equally important as physical and mental wellness. Of course physical wellness is important. You cannot be truly well if you are not healthy. Mental wellness is important because your mind controls your body. If you mind isn't well, your body will not respond, or will respond negatively. Spiritual wellness is important because we are spiritual beings in physical bodies. If our spirits are not well and whole, then we cannot be well and whole. For me, being spiritual means that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My faith is the cornerstone of my life. Without it, I could not function. I absolutely respect everyone else's spiritual beliefs. However, many of these exercises are hard for me because they do not line up with my belief system (the meditative part, I mean). That being said, I know that they are very beneficial for those that do believe in them. I absolutely believe in healing, and in the power of the mind over the body, and in the power of prayer.
I believe the difference between the loving kindness exercise and the subtle mind exercise is in the focus. Loving kindness focuses on your thoughts and feelings and the feelings and circumstances of those around you. Subtle mind focuses on your breathing and the stillness around you (if you're lucky enough to have stillness around you---which I do not). The subtle mind exercise was ok. I really dislike the man's voice at the beginning. It irritates me, his voice and the way he speaks. The woman's voice was much better for the exercise. I'm not really into meditation. I pray alot and have quiet time and focus on God, but I don't meditate. I have to say, though, I found focusing on my breathing to be much easier than the loving kindness exercise. The long pauses with nature sounds were relaxing. My mind does wander, though, and I had to keep getting back on track to focus on my breathing. I really disliked the parts that asked questions. I found that to be very distracting and irritating. Overall, I thought the exercise was alright.
I think spiritual wellness is equally important as physical and mental wellness. Of course physical wellness is important. You cannot be truly well if you are not healthy. Mental wellness is important because your mind controls your body. If you mind isn't well, your body will not respond, or will respond negatively. Spiritual wellness is important because we are spiritual beings in physical bodies. If our spirits are not well and whole, then we cannot be well and whole. For me, being spiritual means that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My faith is the cornerstone of my life. Without it, I could not function. I absolutely respect everyone else's spiritual beliefs. However, many of these exercises are hard for me because they do not line up with my belief system (the meditative part, I mean). That being said, I know that they are very beneficial for those that do believe in them. I absolutely believe in healing, and in the power of the mind over the body, and in the power of prayer.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Loving Kindness
Happy day after the 4th of July!! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!
I did the loving kindness exercise with a bit of reluctance. I already have an almost daily quiet time, when I pray and reflect on my relationship with Jesus. I pray for myself, my family, my friends, and others that come to my mind. I read a bible study and I read the Bible. This is my way to start the day in a positive way. I didn't want to replace it by doing a loving kindness exercise, and I already incorporate some of this in my quiet time through prayer. I have to admit, I didn't do the exercise for a full week. It is beneficial, but not as much as my regular quiet time. I would recommend this exercise to others, but only if they aren't already doing one of their own. If you are already doing something that works for you, continue with it. If not, this is a good exercise to incorporate into your life.
Mental Workout is taking time daily to work on your psychospiritual self. Getting better and stronger at anything takes dedication and practice, and working on your psychospiritual self is no different. You have to set aside time each day to focus on "growing" your psychospiritual self. Having a strong mind gives you more resistance to mental distress and physical disease, expands our healing capacities, and promotes well-being (Dacher, 2006). Taking time every day to focus on yourself and others, and praying and seeking guidance, will strengthen your psychospiritual self. Most people don't take the time to put the work in on themselves. They just take each day as it comes, and don't put an intention in what happens to them everyday. Mental workout is being intentional about your life. It is giving yourself the tools to be the best that you can be.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
I did the loving kindness exercise with a bit of reluctance. I already have an almost daily quiet time, when I pray and reflect on my relationship with Jesus. I pray for myself, my family, my friends, and others that come to my mind. I read a bible study and I read the Bible. This is my way to start the day in a positive way. I didn't want to replace it by doing a loving kindness exercise, and I already incorporate some of this in my quiet time through prayer. I have to admit, I didn't do the exercise for a full week. It is beneficial, but not as much as my regular quiet time. I would recommend this exercise to others, but only if they aren't already doing one of their own. If you are already doing something that works for you, continue with it. If not, this is a good exercise to incorporate into your life.
Mental Workout is taking time daily to work on your psychospiritual self. Getting better and stronger at anything takes dedication and practice, and working on your psychospiritual self is no different. You have to set aside time each day to focus on "growing" your psychospiritual self. Having a strong mind gives you more resistance to mental distress and physical disease, expands our healing capacities, and promotes well-being (Dacher, 2006). Taking time every day to focus on yourself and others, and praying and seeking guidance, will strengthen your psychospiritual self. Most people don't take the time to put the work in on themselves. They just take each day as it comes, and don't put an intention in what happens to them everyday. Mental workout is being intentional about your life. It is giving yourself the tools to be the best that you can be.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
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