The subtle mind exercise was similar to the loving-kindness exercise. I felt more relaxed during the exercise. During the subtle mind exercise I felt it was more of a positive experience versus the loving-kindness exercise where it suggested you think of something negative in your life and try to replace it with positive thoughts. My only issue with these exercises is the same thing every week. We are supposed to listen and try to relax to these exercises, but when I do them all I want to do is hurry up and finish my blog, so I can get more things done. I suppose I should be more receptive to these exercises and do them at the end of the day or write my blog at a later time then the exercise, but I guess it will take some practice and some conscious effort.
The connection between spiritual wellness, mental wellness, and physical wellness is all needed to have a healthy mind and body. Each area must be kept healthy or other areas may be sacrificed. For example, your physical health may be good, but lets say you are really stress one week so your mental capacity may become week, in turn that will affect your physical body and you may eventually get sick. Personally, I try to focus on keeping all areas of spiritual wellness, mental wellness, and physical wellness strong, so I can be as healthy as I can be.
Mike, you are right about how some things require a more of a conscious effort. I wish you luck with this meditating lesson and I hope you can relax enough to truly enjoy the piece of mind and awareness that comes from it. Changes always come with trials and failures, but if you (we) stick to it, it will happen.
ReplyDeleteI feel you, bro. I am struggling with all of this too. I just want to get through this class. That is my only focus right now. This is my last class before I graduate, and all I want to do is finish. My work ethic has slacked off tremendously. It is sad. I have a 4.0, but I am probably going to lose it due to this class. Well, not really this class, but due to my lack of motivation and drive that I have had for the past year. It is simply gone. Like you I have a hard time fitting these exercises in. I may would get more out of the class and the exercises if I could do them at some better time than at midnight. It is hard to stay focused that late. Just hang in there, man. I know I am.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
ReplyDeleteI also felt much more relaxed during the subtle mind exercise. I found it very difficult to visualize taking in someone else’s suffering and replacing it with peace. Its hard because I really do not know what that person is going through because every has different feelings on things.
I liked the subtle mind exercise much better, but I did think it became a little long after a while. It is nice to relax and calm your mind, but having so much on your plate that includes our daily activities, family, and homework, I can see how you had trouble focusing on the exercise and just wanted to get it finished. Most of us are only beginners to these exercises, so it is easy to loos focus while doing these exercises.
Nellie