My experience with the Loving Kindness Practice in HW420 was
similar to my experience with our first meditation practice in this course; I
couldn’t really get into it. My first thought was that 18 minutes was a long
time to sit still, knowing that I had so much work to do. My next thought was
that the ocean waves remind me of all the fun I could be having at the beach-
more active than relaxing, but balancing, regardless. I could have focused more
accurately on the meditation if I had actual free time to listen to it;
instead, I found myself almost forcing my mind to pay attention to the
instructions- it didn’t come easy to me. Dacher recommends simply remembering
the basics of the practice and directing your own meditation (2006). This
worked much better for me! I was able to spend as little or as much time on the
subjects that really mattered to me.
I would suggest others do this in the early morning maybe,
or before bedtime- depending on their schedule- to increase their attentiveness
and awareness. I feel like someone could master this meditation if they really
concentrate.
According to Dacher, mental workouts require concentration,
dedication, and consistency (2006). Keeping the mind responsive and open is
important for mental health and increasing self-awareness. A workout for the
mind is just as important as a physical workout for overall health and
wellness.
Dacher, E.
(2006). Psychospiritual Flourishing. Chapter 6 .Integral Health; The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA.
Basic Health Publications
Hi Rocki,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about sitting still for 18 minutes let alone trying to get my mind to quiet down for that long. September is a really busy month for me this year, so that is one of my issues. I agree with you that a workout for the mind is as important as a physical workout for the body. When it comes to my clients my wellness program is specifically setup to hit all areas, mind, body and soul and being able to "workout" each one. The saying "practice what your preach" is so true because I can tell my clients all day long how to quiet the mind and give it a workout, but when it comes to myself that is a totally different issue! Maybe I need to get myself a wellness coach, what do you think?
Hi Rocki,
ReplyDeleteI think you hit the nail on the head, about the best time to practice meditation or any of the other exercises we've been doing: early in the morning or before sleep. Almost every spiritual tradition would agree with you :). It just makes sense, that our concentration and attention will be better at these times.
Prof Betty
Rocki,
ReplyDeleteI would agree for some, early in the day or at the end of the day would be a good time. For me, I am usually well rested at the beginning of the day. I find the stress relief to be most beneficial after a hard day at work or after a stressful afternoon. I like doing the exercises after a little relaxation after getting home from work because it seems to de-stress and relax me and then I have some motivation to get through the rest of the evening.
This weeks exercise was very beneficial for me. I really needed the loving kindess exercise at the time it came around. Once completed, I felt like I was able to remove my stressors as well as others who needed it even when they probably didn't realize it.
I found myself joking with my son last night. I asked him if he felt me removing some of his stressors and giving back love the other day. He was a little confused. I told him a little about the exercise (not much as he was not into listening to me at the time), but told him that the exercise made me feel really great. I hope to share it with him sometime as I believe he could really use some of these exercises with everything going on in his life.
I wish you were having an easier time with the exercises. I think what has made it a little easier for me is that in order to relax I try and focus on my breathing. By finding a way to relax myself, I guess it's made it a little easier to listen to the words in the exercises. I hope this gets a little easier for you.
Elicia