Loving Kindness and Integral Assessment

Hello Everyone,

With the universal Loving Kindness exercise, I had no problems with the first two questions, may all individuals gain freedom from suffering and may all individuals find sustained health happiness, and wholeness.  But, when it came to the two questions that started with “may I assist all”, that is where I struggle.  Do not get me wrong, it is not that I do not desire to help everyone nor do I wish to see anyone hurt in anyway; I just struggle with some particular people.  For that reason alone, that is why I am going to choose to focus on the area of work with my integral assessment. 

With the integral assessment, when I reflect on where I am at with my interpersonal relationships with a particular person at work, I definitely need to go to the next level of development which would be a more positive and connected relationship with my new boss.  She has come in very strong, bossy, insulting, and opinionated without respecting how procedures have been done over the past five years.  It is very hard for me to witness my peers as well as myself go from loving what we do to dreading coming in everyday.  I need to be more understanding of her position.  I know that it has to be hard to be the new person and maybe with a little more understanding, I can build a better working relationship with her.  I will certainly pray about it as well as continue to do the loving kindness exercises to continue to grow and develop in this area.  Ultimately I will gain wellness from being kind and respectful instead of avoiding her like the plaque.

Jacqui

Mind, Body, and Spirit

Hello Everyone,

To me, the loving kindness activity focuses on one’s spiritual wellness by working toward having positive feelings toward others, no matter who they are, what they do, and how difficult it may be.  In order to do this, you must love yourself first.  Negative emotions will affect your overall well being, mind, body, and spirit.  I know that for me, I have held on to hate and dislike for others for what they have done to me directly or indirectly although I am a Christian.  However, I am human and it is something that I work on every day, praying for others as well as myself.  Today, I do love myself more and am very thankful for everything that life has given me, no matter how difficult times have gotten.  I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason but I am continuously trying to refocus my spiritual wellness.  It is an ongoing process in my daily life

The subtle mind activity focuses on mental wellness.  It allows you to calm your thoughts and control your mind activity.  For me, this was much easier for me because it just involved focus on me, not others.  With the loving kindness, I constantly need to recheck myself because the outside world distracts me from ultimately obtaining and sustaining spiritual wellness. 

Spiritual, mental, and physical wellness all link together.  You cannot be whole unless you focus all aspects. Spiritual wellness refers to your feelings and emotions.  Mental wellness refers to healthy thoughts and intentions while physical wellness refers to an individual’s biological health.  Just because someone is physically fit does not mean that they are healthy.  Just because someone is a Christian, does not mean they are spiritually well, and just because someone is smart does not give them mental stability.  All three of these areas need constant attention and focus.  They all connect and if one area is being neglected, it will affect other areas of wellness preventing one from being whole and complete. 

Jacqui

Loving Kindness

Hello Everyone,

I really needed these exercises this week.  It was a rough week for me at work.  I tend to do pretty well with stress and other peoples lack of kindness but it was a bit overwhelming this week.  The exercise was a bit difficult considering my state of mind but I listened to it several times and finally, I was able to release some of my bitterness that I have been holding all week.  It helped me to put things back into perspective, let go of the negative and focus on the positive.  I do think that I get myself in that negative mental state because I care too much and don't understand others actions and behaviors but we have to care in a healthy manner and accept others.  We all have flaws and we need to focus our energy on the good and not the bad.  

All of us need to practice on "mental workouts".  We do not hesitate to workout our physical body yet we tend to forget about our mind.  It consists of two parts; loving-kindness and the subtle mind, wisdom.  These are essential elements that have the ability to heal therefore driving us to flourish.  Everyday is a "mental workout" for me I just don't necessarily do it in the most effective approach.  I will take time out everyday to bring myself to a calm state and reflect on the positive in others as well as myself instead of focusing on the bad.  I am sure it will be an ongoing workout that will never end but will always be necessary.  

Jacqui

Grading Scale

Hello Everyone,

On the subject of grading, to be real honest with myself, my lowest score would have to be on my physical well being.  I have been so busy with life, work, teenagers, work, school, school, and work that I have neglected my physical health.  I give myself a 3.  My plan is to definitely change this number once I am done with school by using my extra time on little things such as taking a walk, stretching and doing soft exercises then gradually working my way up to a better number than 3.

I am a little higher on the scale on spiritual.  I would give myself a 7.  No perfect but much better than on the physical area.  I am a positive person with strong beliefs and I know that no matter what happens, it happens because it is suppose to be.  God has my back and I very, very rarely doubt that.  So because sometimes I do, I plan on digging deeper with my church as well as His word which will build my spiritual health. 

For the last one, psychological, I give myself an 8.  This is my strength out of the three.  I am a very simple person, with little to no stress.  I love life and all that it has to offer.  I believe when I work on my physical well being and spiritual areas of my life, my psychological well being will come together.  

With the meditation audio this week, unlike last week, was too much for me.   I think that it was not effective for me because I was asked to think about too many different things.  I think I enjoy the more simple approaches.  At this point, color light therapy is not for me. 

Jacqui