Unit 7 Meeting Aesclepius

Meeting Aesclepius
This week's exercise was really hard for me at the beginning of the unit.  I imagined my grandmother, who is still alive, and one of the most amazing women I know.  She is full of wisdom and kindness for others.  Imagining her was not difficult, but it did bring a bit of sadness.  One reason is that she lives far away, and I have not seen her in quite some time.  Another is that her wisdom has come with a price.  I know that her life has been full of difficult experiences, which have helped her grow into the person she is.  It saddens me she went through all of that, though.  By the end of the week, I was able to see that everyone goes through something that makes them who they are.  I had a peaceful feeling at the end of the exercise the last few days.  I'm not sure I felt that I became her, but I honestly hope someday I am more like her. =)

"One cannot lead another, where one has not gone himself"
I think that this quote is simple, and yet profound.  You cannot begin to explain some of the more complex things in life without having gone through the experience.  I think that it is important to work on strengthening your own mental, physical, and spiritual health before telling someone else to do it.  When I started this class I was skeptical and cynical about some of the things I was reading in the book.  After a few weeks, I began to see how these exercises and assessments can be beneficial.  I have learned a lot about myself, and will continuously strive to do better.  I can assess what areas I need to work on, and put a plan in place.  When working with patients, I think it is important to be able to guide and encourage them.  It's sort of like going to the doctor and listening to him lecture you on smoking cigarettes, but he smells of smoke himself.  There is little credibility if he does not practice what he preaches to his patients.  

Unit 6 Integral Assessment

LOVING KINDNESS


The loving kindness exercise is becoming easier and easier for me.  Focusing on those I did not care for (or did not know), was so difficult at first.  I am finding that it helps me to relax and find a sense of peace.  I am able to concentrate much easier, and find myself thinking of strangers I've interacted with throughout my day.


INTEGRAL ASSESSMENT


1. Alleviate needless suffering and promote human flourishing


While looking at myself to evaluate what areas require more growth on my part, I would definitely say I need to focus on biological flourishing.  I was not one who ever watched my diet closely.  Recently, I've been to the doctor and discovered that with a strong predisposition to diabetes...I have developed high levels of insulin, and told I am prediabetic.  In order to be healthier overall, I need to start taking better note of my diet and exercise to help keep full blown diabetes at bay.  I will be keeping a food journal so that I can actively track my carbs throughout the day and continuing my exercise routine as I always have.


2. Make a distinction between short-term suffering and permanent relief.


Because the doctor did not feel I am at a high enough risk right now for medication, my long term plan is undetermined at this point.  For now all I can do is try to help my body's production of insulin stay on track with watching my intake of excess carbs and sugars.  I feel that medication would only help with short-term suffering, but if I am able to prevent diabetes...that would be more in line with permanent relief.


3. Recognize the difference between immediate pleasure and long term flourishing


This one was difficult for me.  When I think of immediate pleasures, I think of material things.  Having money or acquiring things can often give someone immediate joy, but it is short lived if there is any underlying unhappiness.  Long term flourishing is harder to pinpoint because it takes an internal prospective.  It requires a sense of peace and happiness, and this can vary from person to person.  In my mind, peace and happiness comes when my needs and those of my family are met.  Also, when we are all healthy and successful.


4. Include psychological development as an important part of integral health


I believe that this course has helped me to explore my psychospiritual side.  Meditating and doing this mind exercises has brought me more in touch with my spiritual side.  This allows me to take a pause from my busy life, and focus on my internal conversations and thoughts.  I have noticed with the subtle mind exercise that sometimes things come up I wasn't even consciously aware were bothering me or causing distress in my life.  I push the thoughts away to focus on the exercise, but find myself coming back to them later to reevaluate.  This has been very beneficial in my psychological health.


5. Keep an open mind and rely on deep listening and guidance


Keeping an open, quiet mind is not something I am always good at, but I am getting better as the weeks go on and I practice the exercises we've utilized in this class.  I have found that it helps lead to better decision making when my mind is not cluttered.  I am more likely to focus on the decision itself rather than making one in haste.


6. Consider all aspects, levels and lines of development that are relevant


This assessment is one that requires some intent.  It is one thing to go through this list and evaluate where you are and how you think you are doing, but it takes some discipline to come back to this and reevaluate as needed.  Currently, I feel like I am on the right track, but in months from now as things in life change it will be important to rethink things.  If I am able to accomplish one thing then it is time to work on another.  If I have a new situation in life causing stress, then it will be important to focus on that and devise a solution.

Unit 5 Subtle Mind Exercise

I found the subtle mind exercise to be much easier than the loving kindness exercise because focusing on breathing in and out did not seem as abstract to me as trying to visualize feelings.  I was surprised at how often my mind wanders!  At first I was trying so hard to focus on my breathing that I was not thinking of anything, but once I felt comfortable...my mind started to wander.  It was difficult at first not to dwell on thoughts popping into my head.  I found myself thinking for a few seconds before I could get back to my breathing, but by the end of the exercise I found it much easier to shake off other thoughts and stay attentive.  I did try to do this exercise one night when I was very stressed, and it was nearly pointless.  The worried thoughts in my mind were much harder to push away and made me lose my focus countless times.


Spiritual, mental, and physical wellness equal total health.  If one part of your self is not healthy, then overall you are not healthy.  I notice that when I am not feeling good in one area, it has the ability to affect every area.  When I feel depressed or stressed out, it often makes me feel tired and worn out.  Feeling stressed out also causes me to have headaches.


Lately I have not been attending church, which I feel is very important to my personal spiritual health.  Things have come up, one of the kids is sick, life gets in the way, and I have not been making time for church on Sundays.  Normally Sundays feel like a day to mentally and spiritually recharge.  I go to church, and almost feel physically reawakened as well and ready to start the new week.  I think it is important to make time for church as I do for workouts, sleep, meals, and other aspects of my well-being.

Unit 4 Loving Kindness Exercise

At first I found this exercise a bit difficult.  It takes me a lot to relax, and I have to have absolute peace and quiet to focus on something like this.  Once I got into it, it was very relaxing.  I found it very easy to think of people I loved and send them the well wishes and health the exercise required.  I almost felt sleepy because I was so peaceful at that point.  When it asked me to do the same for people I do not like, it was a bit more challenging.  I try hard not to hold grudges, and just forgive & forget.  Trying to think of those people brought some old memories to the forefront, and I had to push them aside to focus on the task at hand.


A mental workout can help you take control of your thoughts and feelings, channeling what is most important to the forefront.  It can help to keep you balanced and put you in touch with yourself.  For example, during this exercise I thought of someone I had a bad falling out with.  Sending her the same loving well wishes as I had my husband and children, was very difficult.  I powered through, but after the exercise I realized that I needed to overcome some issues I had with our broken friendship.  Being able to realize something about myself that I didn't before was a very positive experience.  Realizations like this could lead to psychological healing.  


You could also get a mental workout with math problems, word puzzles, reading, writing, and performing or analyzing music.