Unit 5

This week has been a quite emotional, overwhelming, and tiring one.  Each time I have attempted this practice, I have fallen into tears.  I feel as though I cannot calm a loved ones fears over a recent happening.  All things continue to fall back into the happenings and concerns of this past week. 

In 2001, I was in a very bad car accident.  It was a hard and long road through recovery.  Prior to the car accident, I lived without any intention.  I worked, and I played very hard.  I rarely thought about goals or the role I had in life.  I thank God for the car accident.  It gave me clarity. 

Spiritual wellness encourages a calm mental state and a respect for the body. 

Loving Kindness Practice

I enjoyed this practice.  First, I think it was the first time since the beginning of blogging that I was able to clear my mind a bit and feel as though I didn't have a thousand other things going on.  That said, I still had trouble finding a quiet spot.  I settled for the living room once the kids were in bed, but there was still a great deal going on.

The experience was beneficial.  I often feel the weight of others' suffering.  I am a very empathetic person.  The exercise allowed me to be active in some way.  I have had experience with energy healing, such as Reiki, and believe it is useful.  There was certainly some difficulty as I begin the practice.  As I breathed in the suffering, I felt overwhelmed until I was able to dissolve it in my flowing love.  Sometimes, it seemed harder than others to dissolve.  As I breathed out happiness, peace and health I felt the same.

The mental workout goes beyond rest and relaxation.  Since I was a young child, I have always been able to easily close my eyes and feel myself in another plane.  It may sound strange, and perhaps just imaginative, but I always felt I was truly removed from my body.  I would often search out my father who did not live with me.  I can now do the same, but since I am often encumbered by the days worries or activities, it takes me much longer and a greater intensity of meditation. 

Dacher discusses that regular contemplative practice can improve many functions of the brain and even possibly cause structural changes.  Beyond this, it seems to also seems to give "the capacity of the trained mind to function at a higher level of integration and organization" (2006).  The founding of loving-kindness begets peace and self love.  These can only improve psychological health.  According to Dacher, psychospirtual health is a foundation of integral health (2006).  With regular practice, one's overall health will likely improve. 

Reference

Dacher, E. (2006).  Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA.: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Self Relection Unit 3

Ah, self-reflection.  I am my own worse critique, or so I have been told.  Physically, I am not happy with myself.  Although I eat well, most of the time, I do not exercise enough.  I have about ten pounds I really want to lose.  I would give myself a 6.  Other than a recent flu that really wiped me out, I am rarely ill.  I have few complaints other than those ten pounds.  Spiritually, I would say I am about a 5.  Though I am not religious, I feel very close with God.  I can feel the energy that flows all around me, from one person to the next, from the beautiful plants growing in my kitchen window, and from the wonderful foods collected from my garden. I pray to God each and every day.  I discuss spirituality on a regular basis.  However, I am still working on relationships with others in this regard.  Psychologically, I would say I am about a 5.  It's 50/50 these days. Mentally, I feel tired and beat up on some days.  Other days, I feel great.  The last couple months have been difficult for me to remember who I am.  I sometimes feel I have lost my identity to become a wife and mother.

Some of the goals I have are to finally begin using my YMCA membership to get those extra 10 pounds off.  They have a daycare, and I really need to stop making excuses and go!!!!!  Spiritually my goal is to join some sort of group.  There is a Buddhist study group.  I have spoken with several of the members.  I have not really found a church that I feel comfortable in as of yet.  The Buddhist study group meets on Tuesday evenings.  So, I would definitely have to make sure to carve out time for school work earlier in the week.  Finally, psychologically, I think I need some "me" time, as Wanda mentioned in our discussion board this week.  I also think it might serve me well to find a mom group.  Overall, I feel disconnected.  I think making connections to others may help me to further evolve.

The relaxation exercise was difficult for me.  Thoughts continuously ran through my mind of all the things I need to do.  I have been feeling like I am constantly behind lately.  My house seems so restless lately.  My children have not been sleeping well.  My husband has been preparing to go on a trip.  I used to be able meditate and consider all my chakras.  The images always seemed so vivid in my mind.  Now, everything is so difficult to envision.  It is frustrating. 

Relaxation Exercise

Well, Dr. D. and classmates, I have been quite ill this week.  I spent all of last week taking care of my husband and two children.  I honestly did not realize their suffering until this week.  I have had the flu for nearly a week.  This has been the best I have felt, and it really is not all that great.  I feel worn out and disoriented, even a bit disconnected.  I have used various methods to help alleviate symptoms, from eating really spicy food to help curb the pressure in the sinuses, to relaxation and breathing techniques to stave off nausea and vomiting.  Connecting the onset of the illness with our lessons, I would certainly say that the stress of caring for my sick family, my oldest starting kindergarten, starting a new term myself, and some financial pressures all helped to weaken my spirit and my immune system.

I attempted to do the relaxation exercise.  My head has been floating away from my body and this plane of reality all day.  If it were not for the many years of typing without needing to think about it, I don't know that any of this would make sense, nor do I really know if I am actually making sense.  Anyhow, I could not relax for long without nearly dozing off or erupting into sneezing fits.  I really enjoy the start and end of my yoga routine.  That is what the exercise most reminded me of.

See you on the blogs next week!