I had several days to think over the many different practices that were taught over this term. We had Loving-Kindness, Subtle mind, Visualization, meditation and more. The first practice that I would like to continue would be the Loving-Kindness practice. The practice of loving someone close to you, then being able to turn that loving-kindness to someone that is unpleasant and disturbing to us. I find that is very hard to do but the more I practice this the more I will be able to have true love for others. "Loving yourself is a prelude to extending this love to others" (Dacher, 2006, p.68). When we can look at ourselves with love then and only then can we pass it on to others. I find it easy to love my family and friends but it is very difficult for me to see the sufferings of people who are unpleasant to me. Now that I know what I have to work on how will I do this? The first aspect in my life is to continually catching myself when I start to say something negative about myself. I was made by the Lord and he does not make mistakes :). Then I need to remember and keep telling myself that everyone needs to be loved. I do not know the circumstances that that individual is facing that may be causing them to be negative towards me. Like my mother always said kill them with kindness. That is what I'm going to try to work on.
The other practice that I will try to work on is meditation/prayer. I will try to work on quieting my mind and causing the chatter to be still for a little while. I would like to work on my spiritual life. I am a Christian and prayer is a very important part to my life. I would like my prayer to be deeper. Many times I am on my knees praying that the Lord help me. I would like to be more grateful, with thanksgiving and then sit in the stillness of the Lords presents. That is what I will be working on and using the techniques that have been laid out over this term to quiet my mind, so mu focus is on the Relationship I'm trying to strengthen with my Lord.
These are just a couple of practices that I will work on even after this term is over. These practices not only help me mentally and spiritually but also physically. It is so important to visualize the connection between the mind-body-spirit.
Thanks, Emily
Reference:
Dacher, E.S., (2006).
Integral Health. The Path to Human Flourishing. Basic Health
This was such a great post to read and I enjoyed how you refelcted on how the practices made you feel. It sounds like you have gotten a lot out of them and have been able to incorporate them into your life. The Loving Kindness is an exercise that I would like to continue using becasue it really allos one to fully appreciate the technique and how it reflects on our lives.
ReplyDeleteJen Prince
Hi Emily,
DeleteGreat post. I chose lovingkindness also. I like what it did for me too. I enjoyed channeling into my spirituality. I liked focusing my love on someone other than myself or a significant other. Spiritual development is very much needed for wholeness and mental fitness. I will pray your strength to develop your prayer life. But we must remember, one of the words in these exercises was "practice". If we practice consistently, life and a lifestyle change has to happen.
Dru Van Wright
Hi Emily, I agree. I did not choose the loving kindness exercise but maybe I should've. I found it to be the most difficult exercise of all to turn loving kind thought to negative people around you but you are right they have their own reasons for being negative towards you. I have to learn to not take it personally and that will improve with loving kindness exercises.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post-it is very positive and inspirational. Your point on catching yourself when you are being negative toward yourself is so important-we tend to be our harshest critics sometimes. We need to practice on ourselves as much as we need to practice it with others. I wish you the best on your journey toward integral health adn in all that you do.
Regards,
Alicia Maguire