Meeting Aesclepius

Meeting Aesclepius meditation was fairly difficult. I am not sure if it is because I am just having an off week or two or what exactly gave me so much difficulty. I am embarrassed to say that I could not image a mentor or make up a pretend mentor to complete the exercise as the exercise is intended.  I ended up choosing a niece and newborn grandson and attempted to complete the exercise but it just was not tying in together. It looks like I need to get myself together and find someone I consider a mentor, but it does not sound like an easy task. I do enjoy practicing the mindfulness meditation the most and I have done this today while in the doctor’s office. I think it helped me tremendously.  I do plan to continue to practice these in the future because I do believe it has made a difference in the past when I have tried them and currently in the present time, I just need to stay committed to continuing these in the future for my own well-being. 

The saying, “One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” applies to health and wellness profession in my opinion as does the phrase “practice what you preach”.  One cannot lead another to stop smoking if they are a smoker themself just as one cannot lead another to a better nutrition and fitness plan if they do not care for themself.

Assessment Unit 6

Practicing the Loving Kindness exercise was still a bit difficult to complete. Closing my eyes and resting was the easy part. However, it was difficult to read the phrases over and over while staying relaxed. It was a bit easier when I read one phrase and relaxed, closing my eyes, and repeated same phrase a few times before moving onto the next.

When performing a brief integral assessment, in reviewing the four quadrants, the one that stuck out most that needed more attention would be the interpersonal flourishing. I would like to strengthen my family and friend relationships. After knowing someone for many, many years it becomes easy to not appreciate them as much and I don’t want to take my friends and family for granted. One step towards accomplishing this could be maintaining positive thoughts and straying from the negative, expressing thanks when someone does something helpful or thoughtful.

Compare/Contrast Loving Kindness/Subtle Mind

The Loving Kindness exercise was more challenging and took more effort whereas the Subtle Mind exercise was easier and did not seem to take as much effort.  The Loving Kindness exercise seemed difficult to complete. I enjoyed the Subtle Mind exercise much more as it felt more relaxing and achievable. I think if I practiced the Subtle Mind a few times and then approached the Loving Kindness that the Loving Kindness might become easier.

I would describe the connection of spiritual wellness as faith in what may come, diminishing our fear of death and disease. Prayer is a good example. Spiritual wellness enhances mental and physical wellness.

Loving Kindness

In practicing the “loving kindness” exercise, I found it difficult to focus for an entire 15 minutes. The portion of the practice to think of someone we have great love and tenderness for and allow these feelings to flow within us was relatively easy for me. I had taken a class called “heart math” at work and this class had us choose something that made us happy and think of that thought while focusing on our breathing.  The part of the exercise that asked us to think of someone we love that is suffering was not as relaxing. I think I would have to practice this a few more times before I could say whether or not I would recommend it the exercise to others.