Describe your experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or why not?
This exercise took me to place in my life when I was very vulnerable, as I felt a strange breath of emotion hovering over me. It was not too long when I was feeling a sharp pain above my right chest cavity area, and amidst the entire multiple doctors’ visit and extra test and still all the results came back negative. I was a bit worried for a while. I had a premonition about death (as most people do when they’re sick), and it took me back to the year when I lost my grandfather to cancer. I thought about seeing him on the other side, and would he recognized and welcomed me there. My experience with this exercise reminded me of the love we had for each other, and how I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to him with all the sadness that was associated with the pain he was enduring. During this practice I followed all the suggestions with ease, observing all the emotions, while synthesizing them one by one. I was able to achieve reaching that place of giving myself and him total care, love, kindness, spaciousness, and a place of peace and tranquility. I am going to save this practice so that I can do it over again, while encouraging others to try it. I was mesmerized by the voice of the woman as she spoke with such calmness and peace. I would definitely recommend this exercise to all those who want to have a calming, soothing, transitional experience, as well as obtaining a optimal meditative state of mind. Love and kindness are feelings that are readily available, especially when relating these emotions to my loved ones.
What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?
Daily practice is the mental workout required to psychospiritual growth and prosperity. Similarly to regular exercise, a few hours every day, lead to positive results. Achieving the endless possibilities of meditation is the goal of the practice, attaining confidence; peace and wisdom are a derivative of this practice. A few hours per day, even if one can’t stay still, will strengthen the practice, until the point where one doesn’t want to get up is reached.
To me, the concept of “Mental Workout” is to exercise the mind to its full capacity in becoming much healthier than it was before. According to Dacher (2006) “Mental Workout” means utilizing contemplative practices to explore the inner world and evolve our psychospiritual life. The goal is for progressive development of an expanded consciousness and healing within the mind, body, and spirit. There are two contemplative practices; they are loving-kindness and subtle mind.
Loving-kindness opens our heart to others and gradually diminishes self-centeredness, priming our mind for further development. When we attract loving-kindness, our mind is calmer and a far better candidate for contemplative practice.
The contemplative practice of the subtle mind addresses three levels that opens the mind and reveals insightful wisdom of truth of life and existence. Research indicates the proven benefits of a mental work out results in awareness and experiences of the mind and its many levels and capacities in healing and the development of the qualities of human flourishing which are health, happiness, and wholeness.
So in order for me to implement mental workouts that will foster my psychological health, I will need to devote at least one hour a day of my time and effort towards incorporating one of the contemplative practices of either loving-kindness or subtle mind. By doing so, I will definitely be more than able to still the mind and develop a witnessing consciousness that subsequently progresses toward the stable and facile mind of calm-abiding (Dacher, 2006).
Reference:
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications
Olga,
ReplyDeleteI loved the way you took time with this exercise to really dig deep into your thoughts and who you are. I also thought this was a good exercise. Any exercise to help us grow as long as it is done correctly. I think your self reflection here is beautiful. I truly appreciated the way you connected your feeling to the relationship with your Uncle and his passing. I too enjoyed this exercise and would definitely share.
Danya