After completing the universal Loving Kindness exercise I really noticed that during the exercise all of my attention was off of myself. I wasn't thinking about myself at all and was thinking about those who I knew were suffering and how I could help them. It gave me a better feeling inside knowing that all of my attention during that exercise was focused on helping others.
The Integral Assessment was extremely helpful. It helped me better realize what aspects of my life are ready for growth and development and which aspects are the source of difficulty and suffering. It really seems like the biological aspect of my life is the biggest source of my suffering. While for others different aspects can cause biological suffering, it is the other way around for me. If the biological aspect of my life is suffering, it causes the other aspects of my life to suffer. It can cause my psychospiritual aspect to be overrun with negative thoughts and anxiety. It can cause my interpersonal aspect to suffer by taking out my frustrations on those who don't deserve it. And it can affect my worldly aspect by not allowing me to continue an active role. The aspect that I have chosen to focus on my growth and development of is the psychospiritual. I think that I am ready to continue my growth in this area and I believe that development in this area will allow the other aspects to develop and proceed towards integral health. One exercise that I think will help foster greater wellness in this area is transcendental meditation. I believe this will help me gain a clear and still mind that will allow me to organize my thoughts in a better way so I can gain a better sense of what drives my life.
It's great that these exercises have been so helpful for you! I know I've had so much trouble slowing my mind down enough to concentrate that I really haven't progressed as much as I'm sure I could if I were able to put all of my mind towards what we are learning in this class. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHello Erik,
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to learn that the exercise was working for you. I believe it's nice to learn to be able to focus on others how you might help. At some time in our life we have to be able to help others and lift them up so they do not become so stressful and depressed. That is why I say it is nice to reach out and help as much as you can.
With me I am still learning who to meditate. I have problems focusing. I am learning to sit and follow and the lesson through, I am glad that I am practisings and it seems to be getting better. I have set my mind on practising forgiving, forgetting and loving - kindness as this will make me strong. I will keep on working on the exercises and get the little bit everyday. I will also pass the knowledge to others so they can get help.
Hi Erik,
ReplyDeleteThat is always a great thing when a person can self-critique themselves to better themeselves. When doing the exercise it was very easy for me to focus on ones that I new were suffering and could use my help. Being that I work in community health I hear the testimonies of my patients that have lost everything they have ever worked for in the last year. These people or the ones I make this chant to myself for everyday. Being able to pray or reflect on ways to help anyone outside of self it always great. I really enjoyed your blog post this week.
Ulaunda
I am very proud that you were able to understand and express how the loving-kindness exercise affected you as a person. Many people tend not to think that we should try for the most part to take the focus off of us and apply our attention to others around us in the world or our environment. It is great that you are able to look inside your self and see what areas you feel you need to improve and how the negative areas can affect your body as a whole.
ReplyDelete