Out of all the practices we have participated in throughout this course, the two that I found most enjoyable and beneficial were the meditation and visualization. Even though I did not have as much of a profound experience with the visualization exercise, I love the idea and concept behind it. Being able to focus on one thing and clear the mind of all other nonessential clutter is a great ability to have.
In regards to meditation, I find this the most beneficial out of all the exercises. This is because I love the feeling of freeing myself from the daily trials and tribulations, and allowing myself to just be. I also practice a form of meditation nightly when I am about to go to sleep. I focus on clearing my mind and focusing on my breathing. This helps me silent the chatter and allows for sleep.
Visualization is something that can be done for so many things in life. Like the exercise we had where we focused on a wise individual, or focusing on a goal and visualizing it being reached. Visualization can be used in all aspects of my life. It is a great way to focus on the positive and can foster a “can do” attitude which is priceless!
Like I mentioned above with using meditative practices to help fall asleep, meditation can be used in many aspects of my life. I find myself taking more time out for me. Going for hikes in the forests I find myself stopping, closing my eyes, and clearing my mind. Being able to focus on the here and now is priceless and something that I will continue to foster throughout my life.
I am planning on continuing my spiritual path even when this class ends. The peace that I find when I am able to cleanse my mind of my daily worries and stresses is too valuable to me to be able to let it go after this course ends.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Unit 7 – Visualization Exercise
This unit we listened to a visualization meditation exercise where we got to choose an individual either living, dead, or imaginary who is wise. Once this individual was chosen, we visualized them, visualized their mind and wisdom, speech, and loving heart. With each visualization, we were to visualize a white light emanating from them and penetrating our being either in the forehead, throat, or heart. I found this exercise to be…different. I liked the idea of meditating on a positive/wise individual but I found my mind wandering after about 30 seconds. I suppose I haven’t calmed the incessant chatter yet.
For my wise individual, I chose someone that I made up which was an Indian elder. I found that this visualization fit well with the background music of the ocean and I was able to follow the exercise for the most part. The parts of the exercise that I liked the most were when we were to focus on the speech and heart. I love the idea of being able to speak with wisdom and to love with kindness and wisdom. It was very relaxing to me and I felt calm and peace from those parts of the exercise.
Visualization is very relevant to a health and wellness professional because in order to accomplish something, the individual needs to believe that they can do it. In a sense, visualization is a mental pep talk or dress rehearsal for what is to come and how we want that experience to pan out. If we can be positive during our visualizations, then we will be motivated when it happens in real life. This is the same with the exercise for this unit. When we need to call upon our inner wisdom, the fact that we practices meditating on one whom we find to be wise will likely help us.
The saying “one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself”, is so true. Not only would you be a hypocrite if you were to tell someone to implement a practice into their own lives that you do not do in your own life and have never done, but how are you supposed to know enough about a practice if you have not done it yourself? Your clients can tell when you believe in a course of treatment or not. By engaging in the practice yourself, you are telling them that it is good enough for you and that you truly recommend it to them.
Yes, a health care professional has an obligation to implement healthy practices into their own lives. This especially includes those practices in which they teach to others. People are more likely to take their health care professional serious if they too are following the regiment that they are imposing on their client. Again, nobody likes a hypocrite. The whole “do as I say, not as I do” mentality does not go over well and would likely lead to very low success rates of follow through.
It is always good to practice what you preach. This concept will help you in every aspect of your life.
For my wise individual, I chose someone that I made up which was an Indian elder. I found that this visualization fit well with the background music of the ocean and I was able to follow the exercise for the most part. The parts of the exercise that I liked the most were when we were to focus on the speech and heart. I love the idea of being able to speak with wisdom and to love with kindness and wisdom. It was very relaxing to me and I felt calm and peace from those parts of the exercise.
Visualization is very relevant to a health and wellness professional because in order to accomplish something, the individual needs to believe that they can do it. In a sense, visualization is a mental pep talk or dress rehearsal for what is to come and how we want that experience to pan out. If we can be positive during our visualizations, then we will be motivated when it happens in real life. This is the same with the exercise for this unit. When we need to call upon our inner wisdom, the fact that we practices meditating on one whom we find to be wise will likely help us.
The saying “one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself”, is so true. Not only would you be a hypocrite if you were to tell someone to implement a practice into their own lives that you do not do in your own life and have never done, but how are you supposed to know enough about a practice if you have not done it yourself? Your clients can tell when you believe in a course of treatment or not. By engaging in the practice yourself, you are telling them that it is good enough for you and that you truly recommend it to them.
Yes, a health care professional has an obligation to implement healthy practices into their own lives. This especially includes those practices in which they teach to others. People are more likely to take their health care professional serious if they too are following the regiment that they are imposing on their client. Again, nobody likes a hypocrite. The whole “do as I say, not as I do” mentality does not go over well and would likely lead to very low success rates of follow through.
It is always good to practice what you preach. This concept will help you in every aspect of your life.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Unit 5 – Subtle Mind Exercise
This week I tried to listen to the subtle mind exercise. I was very excited about being able to try to calm my constantly chattering mind. I turned the lights down in the living room, put my animals in a different room so they would not distract me, lay down on the couch and turned on the CD. The beginning was very relaxing and I was just getting relaxed….when the CD turned to loud static. What a shock! So I was not able to participate in the whole exercise. I liked the loving kindness exercise but I feel that the subtle mind exercise would be more beneficial to me individually. I think this because I am a naturally loving person, but my mind is always going a million miles an hour. I plan everything and am always looking forward to the next task as I am completing the task I am on. I think this may have something to do with my current profession as an emergency dispatcher as we are always multitasking and running scenarios through our minds about what could happen and what we would do if such an incident were to occur.
Spiritual wellness is linked to mental and physical wellness; however most people focus only on the aspect of physical wellness. Physical wellness is affected by mental wellness. I know that when I am mentally exhausted, that I feel physical symptoms. Same with spiritual wellness; when I am spiritually deprived, I feel mentally and physically drained. It is amazing how much my demeanor improves by spending some “me time” in nature. This time gives me a spiritual boost which, in turn, helps me mentally and physically.
Spiritual wellness is linked to mental and physical wellness; however most people focus only on the aspect of physical wellness. Physical wellness is affected by mental wellness. I know that when I am mentally exhausted, that I feel physical symptoms. Same with spiritual wellness; when I am spiritually deprived, I feel mentally and physically drained. It is amazing how much my demeanor improves by spending some “me time” in nature. This time gives me a spiritual boost which, in turn, helps me mentally and physically.
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