Unit 6 loving Kindness and Integral Assessment

I feel the first loving kindness exercise was more effective. For me I have many unresolved issues that I feel I have not taken care of because of having so much hope they would get better, mostly in my relationship. Being able to actually take in the suffering and breathing out the negativity, I was able to feel free at the end of the exercise. You can pray and wish for individuals to be free from suffering and gain health, happiness and wholeness, but that doesn't mean it is going to happen. Mental health issues, pain and hurt from a bad childhood, or a divorce can leave someone not able to deal with their emotions for a long time and can actual make that person bitter for the rest of their life. Since taking this class, I have really evaluated my life and have been able to see that certain things have kept me upset, stressed and depressed. I want to work more on my spirituality, health through getting back to exercising ( I have taken a break during the holidays lol) and to begin to create a more positive environment for myself and my kids. My spiritual devotion is the first exercise that I incorporate into my daily routine that makes me stable. This year has been the toughest one that I have went through and it seems as if the more things that happen, the more I grew closer to God, for once I am excited about my life. The statement "walking through a storm" means just that I am "walking" through it and it will soon be over. I feel proud of myself for the changes I am making and it encourages me even more to look deeper in the root of the problems that has kept me from flourishing. I have even been trying to laugh more... watching comedy movies or playing with my kids more and cherishing them why they are young.

Unit 5 Project

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B17W0FS3mZJXNDQwNTU2MjUtMGJjYS00OGQyLWI4Y2QtZTA1OTdlYTAxMDAz&hl=en

Unit 5 Project

https://docs.google.com/viewer

Unit 5 Subtle Mind

I felt this exercise was not as effective as the loving kindness. There was a lot more emotions released in the last exercise. Focusing on my breathing did not help to relief my busy mind. I think actually breathing in the negativity and suffering helped me to feel free from emotions that I had been holding onto for a long time. Since the last exercise, I have felt relief and see those individuals in a different way. The subtle mind would be great if you need a moment to step away from your desk or screaming kids just to take some deep breaths and get yourself together, but I didn't change my thinking I was just focused on my breathing for that moment and when I was done, I was back to the thoughts in my head. I was not frustrated, but it can have some benefit if you are feeling anxiety. For me personally, by practicing spiritual devotion it helps me to handle things in a different way. I incorporate exercise along with reading my bible daily. I've had a really rough year and all my trials have actually brought me closer to God and exercising has helped me to lose 25 lbs, these two connections have made me more confident and happier. When I look back and I was not applying them to my life I was unmotivated, overweight and my mental state was sadness most of the time. So I am living proof that spiritual wellness has a connection to mental and physical wellness.

The loving kindness exercise

After listening to the practice of loving kindness, I found it to be very helpful in learning how to deal with some of the broken relationships in my life. As I pictured a loved one that is close to me that was suffering, for every breath that I took in, that persons suffering made me feel overwhelmed and I wanted to cry. As I exhaled I wished that person healing, happiness, and health. It is amazing how someones suffering can negativity effect us. After the second or third step I felt like I was at the ocean, I even had feelings within me that felt like they were being washed away. The step that made you think of your enemies, by the time I finished that step, my breaths were not as deep and I was able to breath in and out the words health, happiness and love and didn't the hate and anger that was within my heart. I believe this exercise will be very beneficial to help to learn how to forgive and love people that we don't want to love for all the pain or hurt they may have caused.

Mental workout is just our daily commitment of practice of changing emotions and psychospiritual to the point of complete happiness, health and wholeness.Research shows there proven benefits of a mental work out, that although is may temporarily provide ease and comfort, the goal is to progress and expand consciousness and healing that stays with us all the time, everyday. Daily routines of implementation can foster psychological health by setting the time and place everyday in a comfortable position to focus on your thoughts, do a spiritual devotion or exercise such as yoga/mediation to relax the mind-body-spirit.My daily mental workout is spending time reading the bible, it is like my medicine and do a 45 minute workout, I feel so relaxed and stress free, the workout even helps me to get rid of frustrations and anger that may be built up over time. I believe a mental work out is something that we should all take time everyday to do, even if it is for 15 mins.