I have just completed the Universal Loving Kindness exercise and found it to be very easy (surprised?, so am I, lol). I have had difficulty in the past exercises we have been able to practice at first but this one was very easy. I think it was easy for me to visualize health, happiness, and wholeness to everyone because one of the greatest pleasures I get in life is to know that I helped someone in some way. For me, this exercise was about generating that loving feeling towards everyone I met during my day and even for those I do not know, which was easy because I do only wish the best of integrated health to everyone. What I discovered about myself in doing this exercise is while I find it easy to cultivate loving-kindness to others, I have a difficult time cultivating it towards myself sometimes. I think this is because I set too many unrealistic expectations of myself and then feel disappointed or stressed because I have not met them. I am a work in progress, eh? :)
After completing the Integral Assessment exercise, I have chosen to focus on my psychospiritual aspect of healing for more growth and development because I feel like I need to be more connected to my inner self and explore what it is like to cultivate a higher consciousness since the benefits are so clear to me. I am still trying to meditate daily after my morning jog and although I am not doing more that about 5 minutes right now, I do feel I am making progress. I will continue to meditate and listen to the numerous CD exercises I have downloaded now through our class and the Stress Management class I had last term. I believe practice helps you reach your goals so I shall persevere. May you all have good luck with these exercises and I wish you nothing but flourishing, integral health!
Jennifer
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThat is great that you enjoyed the universal loving-kindness exercise. I think it is going to take me many tries with every exercise to be able to do these without my thoughts moving to something else. At least with this exercise you keep repeating these words, and it keeps me more focused.
I also want to focus on my psychospiritual development, because it will help me with my stressful life! I need to have some quiet meditation time in the mornings so that my day will go better.
Selena
I always love the photos you post! They seem to go right along with the mood of our exercises. It seems we all want to work on our psychospiritual development, I think as students and as trying to reach a certain point of wellness it is the best way to benefit from both this class and the material we are learning. I love that our classes have exercises that we can participate in and experience so that we can later share with others. Good luck with your development, from what I have read over the past few weeks you really seem to have a great grasp of where you want to go and how. Glad that you are making progress, I have no doubt that you will continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog, the description of your exercise while looking at the pictures was a complete relaxing experience.
ReplyDeleteThis exercise helps us generate kind feelings for people who we could meet even in a negative situation. I think that alone is a great experience, so we keep bad thoughts or actions from affecting us during our day. Keep up the good work :)