Unit 6: Loving Kindness/Integral Assessment Exercise

The loving kindness exercise is very useful to me at this time in my life.  For the last two months I have been working on a project at my job that requires me to interact/collabrate with a person who has a personality that clashes with mine. (I referred to this person during the first loving kidness exercise)  Well...since my introduction to this technique I have used it send loving kindness to the person I dislike and I must say I have noticed I am slowing but surely not allowing myself to feel negativity towards my adversary.  I also have discovered the tention I that use to plague me when I had to interact with that person is no longer there because I have been determined to change my mental state when they are around me.  I do this by taking a few moments to quietly tell myself that 'kindness is healthy and anomosity is not and I choose to send out kindness for my well-being'.

The integral assessment of myself revealed I am focused on my health and being healthy.  I think having my mother be diagnosed with cancer and die within the same year has made me determined to improve my mental and physical health.  I have become dedicated to my exercise program and meditation practice.  They both make me feel better about myself, but I know I have a long way to go before I have made a complete lifestyle change. 

Unit 5: Subtle Mind

This week I have to say all the exercises are starting to seem the same to me.  The guide is leading me towards relaxation, the soothing sounds in the background, etc…  With that being said, I must admit I preferred the loving-kindness exercise more than the subtle mind.  The subtle mind just put me to sleep and I am not complaining about that because I need the sleep, but maybe that happened this time because it felt really drawn out.  I know my physical and spiritual wellness is improving.  I attribute the improvement to my personal meditative practice, my diet, and exercising. Overall, I just feel I am in a better place in my life, because I am taking the time to improve myself mentally and physically. 

Unit 4: Loving Kindness Exercise

After the day I had at work, I felt I was in the vortex of negativity.  This exercise was much needed!  A colleague really irritated me today and for some reason I could not release my negative feelings towards him as easily as I have been able to in the past.  The guided practice providing me with focal points for my energy through the breathe helped allot.  Especially, when she asked that I send loving kindness to someone I consider an enemy. Wow!  Can you say 'hit the head of the nail'?  I pictured him, released the ill will I was feeling, and was in a much better place with how my day was progressing once the exercise was done.  This is yet, another exercise I will recommend to my girlfriend.

To me the concept of 'mental workout' means you actively train your mind to exist in a positive state and be open to giving and receiving positivity to your every intention.  This is not something that can be achieved overnight.  It takes time and is something that must be practiced on a continual basis in order to reap its' benefits.   

Current State of Being

I rate my:  

Physical well-being - 7     I recently had a physical and I am in good health.  I gave myself an eight because I want to exercise more and get a P90X body.  (LOL!)  I've set a target date of August 1st to achieve that goal. 

  

Spiritual well-being - 7    My spiritual well-being is a seven because I know I 'm not higher than that.  Sometimes, I doubt and question the why of spiritual things more than I feel I should, which makes it hard to come to complete acceptance.  However, through my meditation I know I will eventually help me achieve full acceptance.   

  

Psychological well-being - 7  I rate this area a 7 because I am still working on the physical and spiritual.  The way I see it, my psychological well-being has to be in about the same range so I am strong enough to improve the other two.  I practice making myself see the positive benefits of having a positive mental state and seek to always see the positive side of stressful situations. 

Unit 3 - Relaxation Exercise (Prism)

The Unit 3 relaxation exercise titled 'Crime of the Century' is very misleading to me.  I expected to hear a story about a crime and was not at all expecting to be lead through the seven Chakras.  Once I let go of my anticipation of the guide changing to a crime narrative, I allowed myself to be open and embrace the instruction.  I did began to feel connected and centered.  In my mind I could see the colors emanating from my body and felt more and more relaxed. I have taken yoga classes and there are certain poses that can be done to unblock Chakras and allow energy to flow freely within your body.  This exercise reminded me of that. By the end of the exercise, I felt very aware of myself and loose.  It cleared my mind and allowed me to focus on things I need to complete before I retire for the night.