Hi, everyone.
I think the area that I am struggling with the most is with interpersonal relationships. I tend to take my responsibilities very seriously (work, school, military, bills, etc) and often forget to make time to spend with my family and friends. Additionally, I know that I set very high expectations for myself and others with a tendency to be hard on people who do not meet my expectations, regardless of whether they were reasonable expectations or not. I know that this has led to difficulty in dealing with people in the past and is an area that I need to work on.
I think the best way to improve in this area is to practice love and forgiveness as described in the reading this week. I also need to realize that everyone is different and has different capabilities. I need to be more appreciative of people for who they are and not for who I want them to be.
-Joy Clark
Friday, December 16, 2011
Universal Loving-Kindness
Hi, everyone.
This exercise was a bit more to my liking as it didn't require having to listen to someone else describe actions that I should be taking; however, I had to work with this one quite a bit in order to memorize the phrases necessary for the activity as I kept making mistakes which disrupted my concentration. I found it quite frustrating to miss a word in the phrase or to not be able to remember the next phrase. Additionally, I found it difficult to achieve a good state of relaxation when I tried the activity holding the book and reading the phrases.
I do recognize that this particular activity is less aimed at relaxation and more aimed at opening up my personal perception of the world; however, it is hard to focus on an activity when there is concern about trying to get it done correctly in addition to making observations that are going to be graded. Perhaps it is the added pressure, minimal that it is, to "get it right" that makes it harder for me to really focus.
-Joy Clark
This exercise was a bit more to my liking as it didn't require having to listen to someone else describe actions that I should be taking; however, I had to work with this one quite a bit in order to memorize the phrases necessary for the activity as I kept making mistakes which disrupted my concentration. I found it quite frustrating to miss a word in the phrase or to not be able to remember the next phrase. Additionally, I found it difficult to achieve a good state of relaxation when I tried the activity holding the book and reading the phrases.
I do recognize that this particular activity is less aimed at relaxation and more aimed at opening up my personal perception of the world; however, it is hard to focus on an activity when there is concern about trying to get it done correctly in addition to making observations that are going to be graded. Perhaps it is the added pressure, minimal that it is, to "get it right" that makes it harder for me to really focus.
-Joy Clark
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Subtle Mind
Hi, everyone.
I found the subtle mind exercise to be far more tolerable than any of the others we have worked with so far this term, probably because the main focus was on allowing stray thoughts to move through your consciousness without dwelling on them. As my main problem with guided meditation exercises has been the intrusion of thoughts (largely related to the exercise in question), I found this one easier to listen to and did not experience the same level of frustration that I have with previous activities. Unfortunately, I also did not experience the sense of relaxation that the author clearly believes comes with the meditation; however, I think this one is closer than any to an exercise that I might find useful.
The connection between spiritual wellness and mental and physical wellness is an interesting one and largely open to interpretation. Some people equate spiritual wellness with religious belief. I equate spiritual wellness with a sense of belonging and purpose within the universe, regardless of religious belief. To be spiritually aware is to be aware of how one's actions impact the surrounding world as well as oneself: to this end, it is important to consider each conscious choice and how it will not only reflect upon and effect the individual, but how it reflects upon and effects the individual's affiliations, relations, friends, and community. Not having a grasp of spiritual awareness leads to an imbalance in psychological functioning as the individual flails around (sometimes without knowing it) to try to find his or her purpose in life, leading to an increase in stress and a decrease in coping mechanisms. As we have already learned, poor coping mechanisms with regards to stress can have lasting physiological consequences.
-Joy Clark
I found the subtle mind exercise to be far more tolerable than any of the others we have worked with so far this term, probably because the main focus was on allowing stray thoughts to move through your consciousness without dwelling on them. As my main problem with guided meditation exercises has been the intrusion of thoughts (largely related to the exercise in question), I found this one easier to listen to and did not experience the same level of frustration that I have with previous activities. Unfortunately, I also did not experience the sense of relaxation that the author clearly believes comes with the meditation; however, I think this one is closer than any to an exercise that I might find useful.
The connection between spiritual wellness and mental and physical wellness is an interesting one and largely open to interpretation. Some people equate spiritual wellness with religious belief. I equate spiritual wellness with a sense of belonging and purpose within the universe, regardless of religious belief. To be spiritually aware is to be aware of how one's actions impact the surrounding world as well as oneself: to this end, it is important to consider each conscious choice and how it will not only reflect upon and effect the individual, but how it reflects upon and effects the individual's affiliations, relations, friends, and community. Not having a grasp of spiritual awareness leads to an imbalance in psychological functioning as the individual flails around (sometimes without knowing it) to try to find his or her purpose in life, leading to an increase in stress and a decrease in coping mechanisms. As we have already learned, poor coping mechanisms with regards to stress can have lasting physiological consequences.
-Joy Clark
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Loving Kindness Exercise
Hi, everyone.
I'm sure by now that few people will be surpirsed when I say that I didn't particularly care for the "Loving Kindness" meditation exercise. I just find that I have a significant amount of trouble actually listening and staying focused to the guided meditation activities, regardless of the situation I put myself in. I tried multiple times, in multiple different environments and just really struggled to "get into it."
I will say that the cadence of the narrator was much easier to listen to than the other activities we have done thus far, which was a pleasant surprise; however, the pauses were too long for me, though I recognize their purpose in allowing the listener to contemplate the previous set of instructions. I think this exercise might possibly benefit someone who is struggling with a viewpoint that there is no one who can help them with their problems becuase the focus of the meditation seems to be about recentering your perceptions of yourself and those around you. There is a saying that I have heard many times from many sources: pain shared is pain halved. I have always taken this to mean that the act of someone listening to another's problems and attempting to help solve them makes the burden seem easier to bear.
As a part of a mental workout, I would venture to say that this exercise is as good as any other, provided the individual undertaking it is temperamentally suited to utilizing guided meditation in order to achieve a goal of mental fitness. Much in the same way that no two physical workouts are the same, mental workouts should be highly individualized and tailored to the individual who will utilize them. While mental workouts can help increase the ability of the mind to venture down certain paths and to change mental habits into more positive ones, it is only effective if it is sustainable and tolerable for the individual.
-Joy Clark
I'm sure by now that few people will be surpirsed when I say that I didn't particularly care for the "Loving Kindness" meditation exercise. I just find that I have a significant amount of trouble actually listening and staying focused to the guided meditation activities, regardless of the situation I put myself in. I tried multiple times, in multiple different environments and just really struggled to "get into it."
I will say that the cadence of the narrator was much easier to listen to than the other activities we have done thus far, which was a pleasant surprise; however, the pauses were too long for me, though I recognize their purpose in allowing the listener to contemplate the previous set of instructions. I think this exercise might possibly benefit someone who is struggling with a viewpoint that there is no one who can help them with their problems becuase the focus of the meditation seems to be about recentering your perceptions of yourself and those around you. There is a saying that I have heard many times from many sources: pain shared is pain halved. I have always taken this to mean that the act of someone listening to another's problems and attempting to help solve them makes the burden seem easier to bear.
As a part of a mental workout, I would venture to say that this exercise is as good as any other, provided the individual undertaking it is temperamentally suited to utilizing guided meditation in order to achieve a goal of mental fitness. Much in the same way that no two physical workouts are the same, mental workouts should be highly individualized and tailored to the individual who will utilize them. While mental workouts can help increase the ability of the mind to venture down certain paths and to change mental habits into more positive ones, it is only effective if it is sustainable and tolerable for the individual.
-Joy Clark
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