Unit 7
"Meeting Asciepius"
I am so glad I have been participating in these exercises over the last few weeks; they have given me the strength and endurance I needed to complete "Meeting Asciepius." this particular track hit me profoundly hard. I envisioned my grandfather who passed away in 2002 from complication from cancer. There he was in my mind smiling, laughing, and lively. He was exactly how I remembered him before the tubes, machines, suffering, and sadness which had overtaken him in his last few months of life. The voice suggested a white light to surround him, which was easy to imagine because it felt right to see him enveloped in a heavenly, angelic glow. I was rather receptive to his beams of light penetrating my mind, words, and heart. I truly wanted his same kindness, compassion, and loving ways to fill me. This experience was emotionally charged and cause tears to roll down my cheeks. I thought at first they were tears of sadness, but afterwards when I looked back I think they were garnered out of happiness of fond memories of a great man. Although, I did not get to touch him in the physical sense, my soul felt warmed and uplifted as though his presence was with me. Such a wonderful and humbling exercise; not at all what I was anticipating.
Each day, I take and write down thoughts which flood my brain, and then after my physical workout, I take 20 minutes to do my contemplative exercise. I go to my bedroom and turn my cell phone on silent, turn off the lights, and I sit on my bed. Then I close my eyes and try to focus on my breathing and clearing my mind. After a few minutes, i try to bring loving-kindness thoughts into my mind. I am not always proficient in attaining or keeping in focus for long periods, but I do keep with it until the alarm goes off. I am beginning to have more patience with those in my and when I start to feel negative about myself or my situation, I just think about the limitation, circumstances, or grievances of others. It is then I remind myself of my blessings and all the things in life for which I do have to be grateful. I am becoming more grounded and resilient at the same time.
The saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone by himself" simply means not to advocate a path in life to another when one has not soiled his feet upon similar ground. It is unwise to promote mental, physical, or spiritual flourishing to someone, when you have not experienced it yourself. As a respected professional, clients will need your guidance and will come bearing questions similar to that of a curious child. I do not think you can effectively answer questions or relay the true benefits without having your own story to share or experience to draw upon. A great professional relationship and rapport can develop through honest personal testimony and a strong desire on both parties for client goal attainment. I am doing my contemplative breathing exercises to train my psyche for growth and development; which I hope will provide me more wisdom, compassion, and patience. My spirituality is blooming, although slowly, but I am enjoying attending church and the connections I am making with some of the individuals who also attend. I want to open myself up to making new friends and getting involved with some of the activities the members perform outside church; great fellowship and opportunities to help others.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Unit 6
Universal Loving-kindness Exercise
When I did this exercise this week, I felt the most emotional this time than I have with past exercises. I think a great deal of it has to do with all of the pictures and images I have viewed in the last week concerning the earthquake in Haiti. These same visuals haunted me during the exercise. I felt so much heartbreak and sadness, but I know this is coming from something positive in me: love and compassion. Not that I have not been a loving person, but this course has helped me to see that I need to work on becoming more loving, kind, and caring. I have experienced a natural disaster before with Hurricane Katrina. It was absolutely horrible losing everything that I had worked hard for and those things which I treasured. But I learned that my life was more important than material things; they can be replaced. So, I pretty much sucked it up, was grateful for my life, and moved on. This attitude was necessary to get through the tragedy. But now, it pains me to see the Haitians hurting, suffering, and crying out for help. They are just trying to survive or locate relatives, they are not thinking about the house or the car they no longer have. A very dire situation which hits me hard and a part of me wants to be angry, how could this happen? But there is no tangible bad guy. So I have to channel my energy towards praying for these individuals and doing what I can to help. What I have learned this week is that loving does not always feel good or make you happy; it can bring tears and sadness. I think these are not necessarily negative, they can motivate you towards action. The action for me is praying and sending a donation.
Personal Assessment
I found doing my assessment was slightly difficult because I do not like to point out my flaws. I know they are there and I usually overcompensate in other areas of my life to make up for deficiencies in others. The areas which I would like to work on are psycho-spiritual and interpersonal. I have finally found a church that I enjoy attending, and I am beginning to close up the gap I had with my faith. This is amazing, and I have needed it for a while. Additionally, I am working on strengthening my current friendships and ridding myself of unnecessary ties to individuals who weigh me down. I am also making connections with women from church. They seem devoted to their faith and I think if they and I can bond through faith, this would be incredibly beneficial in helping me with both the psycho-spiritual and interpersonal aspects of my life.
Universal Loving-kindness Exercise
When I did this exercise this week, I felt the most emotional this time than I have with past exercises. I think a great deal of it has to do with all of the pictures and images I have viewed in the last week concerning the earthquake in Haiti. These same visuals haunted me during the exercise. I felt so much heartbreak and sadness, but I know this is coming from something positive in me: love and compassion. Not that I have not been a loving person, but this course has helped me to see that I need to work on becoming more loving, kind, and caring. I have experienced a natural disaster before with Hurricane Katrina. It was absolutely horrible losing everything that I had worked hard for and those things which I treasured. But I learned that my life was more important than material things; they can be replaced. So, I pretty much sucked it up, was grateful for my life, and moved on. This attitude was necessary to get through the tragedy. But now, it pains me to see the Haitians hurting, suffering, and crying out for help. They are just trying to survive or locate relatives, they are not thinking about the house or the car they no longer have. A very dire situation which hits me hard and a part of me wants to be angry, how could this happen? But there is no tangible bad guy. So I have to channel my energy towards praying for these individuals and doing what I can to help. What I have learned this week is that loving does not always feel good or make you happy; it can bring tears and sadness. I think these are not necessarily negative, they can motivate you towards action. The action for me is praying and sending a donation.
Personal Assessment
I found doing my assessment was slightly difficult because I do not like to point out my flaws. I know they are there and I usually overcompensate in other areas of my life to make up for deficiencies in others. The areas which I would like to work on are psycho-spiritual and interpersonal. I have finally found a church that I enjoy attending, and I am beginning to close up the gap I had with my faith. This is amazing, and I have needed it for a while. Additionally, I am working on strengthening my current friendships and ridding myself of unnecessary ties to individuals who weigh me down. I am also making connections with women from church. They seem devoted to their faith and I think if they and I can bond through faith, this would be incredibly beneficial in helping me with both the psycho-spiritual and interpersonal aspects of my life.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Unit 5
The Subtle Mind
I attempted this exercise with a positive attitude and ready to push my stress and frustrations away. Things started well with my breathing and relaxing. However just as my heart rate has lowered and my breaths more deep, this horrible loud continuous static noise erupted from the cd player. It startled me and my heart began racing. I manipulated the cd for a while and assumed for whatever crazy reason, the noise must be apart of the exercise. I restarted it and found I could only maintain my calm for about three minutes. I could not take it anymore, it seemed like self-induced torture. The noise would have continued on for at least 20 minutes, but I was having none of that. In essence, it is difficult to compare and contrast the Loving-kindness and the Subtle Mind exercises because I do not think mine was working properly. But if it was, then I will definitely have to chose the Loving-kindness. It made me focus and direct my attention, but it left me feeling refreshed. Subtle mind, not so much; it made me irritable and my quiting showed my lack of patience (this hinges on if I was supposed to hear the static).
Spiritual wellness is deeply connected to mental and physical health. Each one affects the others; similar to dominoes falling or chain reactions. If there is a malady in one aspect, it will subsequently affect the other two. Conversely, positive changes in one can bring about benefits to the others. All take practice and patience when pursuing higher levels of wellness. For an integral, total being experience, one has to give attention to all. They are going to be pursued at different levels of aggressiveness based on present health conditions. For me I do not have to struggle to maintain my physical body because I like to exercise because it lowers my stress and boosts my energy and I eat as nutritiously as possible. I find looking for inner calm by quieting my mind to be difficult because there is so much random mental activity. I have started cultivating my spirituality more, but I noticed even when trying to pray I am thinking about other stuff. This shows me how important it is to get my mental processes under control so that I can get more out of my spiritual activity. What is important for me to know and take to heart is all three are interconnected and one must not ignore one, for they all will suffer.
The Subtle Mind
I attempted this exercise with a positive attitude and ready to push my stress and frustrations away. Things started well with my breathing and relaxing. However just as my heart rate has lowered and my breaths more deep, this horrible loud continuous static noise erupted from the cd player. It startled me and my heart began racing. I manipulated the cd for a while and assumed for whatever crazy reason, the noise must be apart of the exercise. I restarted it and found I could only maintain my calm for about three minutes. I could not take it anymore, it seemed like self-induced torture. The noise would have continued on for at least 20 minutes, but I was having none of that. In essence, it is difficult to compare and contrast the Loving-kindness and the Subtle Mind exercises because I do not think mine was working properly. But if it was, then I will definitely have to chose the Loving-kindness. It made me focus and direct my attention, but it left me feeling refreshed. Subtle mind, not so much; it made me irritable and my quiting showed my lack of patience (this hinges on if I was supposed to hear the static).
Spiritual wellness is deeply connected to mental and physical health. Each one affects the others; similar to dominoes falling or chain reactions. If there is a malady in one aspect, it will subsequently affect the other two. Conversely, positive changes in one can bring about benefits to the others. All take practice and patience when pursuing higher levels of wellness. For an integral, total being experience, one has to give attention to all. They are going to be pursued at different levels of aggressiveness based on present health conditions. For me I do not have to struggle to maintain my physical body because I like to exercise because it lowers my stress and boosts my energy and I eat as nutritiously as possible. I find looking for inner calm by quieting my mind to be difficult because there is so much random mental activity. I have started cultivating my spirituality more, but I noticed even when trying to pray I am thinking about other stuff. This shows me how important it is to get my mental processes under control so that I can get more out of my spiritual activity. What is important for me to know and take to heart is all three are interconnected and one must not ignore one, for they all will suffer.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Unit 4
Loving Kindness Exercise
In the last couple of weeks I have had my share of difficult circumstances and stressful moments so I thought this exercise was well needed. I enjoyed the soothing and calm voices of Dacher and the female. I listened and did as they instructed with this exercise as well as previous ones I have participated in I always struggle in the beginning to silence the chaos of my mind. But after awhile, I was completely engaged and relaxed. I put aside any unhappiness I was feeling and wrapped my mind and heart around love and those who show me unconditional love. I felt a gentle warmth over my body and felt soothed at the sounds in the background. I do recommend this exercise to others, but only if they are truly ready to absorb themselves completely in the experience.
Mental Exercise
Mental exercise is imperative to a healthy mind. It mirrors the similar experience we receive with physical exercise. We should make a goal and work diligently daily to achieve success. Research shows that engaging in mental exercise helps to work different areas of the brain that we may not tap into on a usual basis. It helps us to find clarity and sharpness in our thoughts. We can began to discern those feelings, emotions, and thoughts were are negative or harmful and replace them with ones that are more positive, focused, and caring. In essence we are giving ourselves an attitude adjustment for the better. I know that I am no where close to where I would like to be in regards to higher mental and spiritual states, but if I continue down this new path and stay committed, I know I will see even more results. It is this hope of something better and more which is keeping me motivated.
Loving Kindness Exercise
In the last couple of weeks I have had my share of difficult circumstances and stressful moments so I thought this exercise was well needed. I enjoyed the soothing and calm voices of Dacher and the female. I listened and did as they instructed with this exercise as well as previous ones I have participated in I always struggle in the beginning to silence the chaos of my mind. But after awhile, I was completely engaged and relaxed. I put aside any unhappiness I was feeling and wrapped my mind and heart around love and those who show me unconditional love. I felt a gentle warmth over my body and felt soothed at the sounds in the background. I do recommend this exercise to others, but only if they are truly ready to absorb themselves completely in the experience.
Mental Exercise
Mental exercise is imperative to a healthy mind. It mirrors the similar experience we receive with physical exercise. We should make a goal and work diligently daily to achieve success. Research shows that engaging in mental exercise helps to work different areas of the brain that we may not tap into on a usual basis. It helps us to find clarity and sharpness in our thoughts. We can began to discern those feelings, emotions, and thoughts were are negative or harmful and replace them with ones that are more positive, focused, and caring. In essence we are giving ourselves an attitude adjustment for the better. I know that I am no where close to where I would like to be in regards to higher mental and spiritual states, but if I continue down this new path and stay committed, I know I will see even more results. It is this hope of something better and more which is keeping me motivated.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Unit 3
In reflecting upon my three aspects of health: mental, physical, and spiritual, I find that spiritual is the one category in which I need the most improving. I rated myself as a 7. A great deal of this has to do with my experiences in the religion realm. I grew up going to many different churches all within the Christian denomination, but there was never any consistencies in where I would be taken by my parents. In becoming an adult, I started to explore my faith on my own and believe I now have the best grasp on what I want and need. I am less about conformity and rigid adherence to religious protocols. I want to provide myself and environment where God is celebrated, people are uplifted, and judgements are left at the door. I am staying strong in my faith as I continue to discover the place of worship which is best for me (I have moved a great deal of times in the last year). My physical health stands around an 8. I engage in exercising and eating healthy. My one problem area deals with my adversity to the taste of some of the greatest and nutritious foods. I try to counter this by taking multi-vitamin daily and occasionally trying foods which I know I do not like in hopes of having a change in my palate. Finally I think my strongest is my mental state with a 9. I have dealt with many struggles and challenges in my life which have helped in strengthening my mental capacities for dealing with stress and change. I also like to keep my brain engaged in learning and mind puzzles. One of the few improvements I would like to make would be the procurement of less mental activity especially at bedtime. I think if I could begin to do more breathing exercises or meditation prior to bed, it would aide me in falling asleep faster and feeling refreshed in the morning.
Crime of the Century
This was a rather different exercise in which I felt somewhat relaxed, but found the suggestions for visual imagery a little difficult to enjoy. I wanted my mind to be clear and did not want to imagine the rainbow and of its colors. Also the title of the exercise through me off completely and I am the type of person who likes for things to make sense and to be rational
In reflecting upon my three aspects of health: mental, physical, and spiritual, I find that spiritual is the one category in which I need the most improving. I rated myself as a 7. A great deal of this has to do with my experiences in the religion realm. I grew up going to many different churches all within the Christian denomination, but there was never any consistencies in where I would be taken by my parents. In becoming an adult, I started to explore my faith on my own and believe I now have the best grasp on what I want and need. I am less about conformity and rigid adherence to religious protocols. I want to provide myself and environment where God is celebrated, people are uplifted, and judgements are left at the door. I am staying strong in my faith as I continue to discover the place of worship which is best for me (I have moved a great deal of times in the last year). My physical health stands around an 8. I engage in exercising and eating healthy. My one problem area deals with my adversity to the taste of some of the greatest and nutritious foods. I try to counter this by taking multi-vitamin daily and occasionally trying foods which I know I do not like in hopes of having a change in my palate. Finally I think my strongest is my mental state with a 9. I have dealt with many struggles and challenges in my life which have helped in strengthening my mental capacities for dealing with stress and change. I also like to keep my brain engaged in learning and mind puzzles. One of the few improvements I would like to make would be the procurement of less mental activity especially at bedtime. I think if I could begin to do more breathing exercises or meditation prior to bed, it would aide me in falling asleep faster and feeling refreshed in the morning.
Crime of the Century
This was a rather different exercise in which I felt somewhat relaxed, but found the suggestions for visual imagery a little difficult to enjoy. I wanted my mind to be clear and did not want to imagine the rainbow and of its colors. Also the title of the exercise through me off completely and I am the type of person who likes for things to make sense and to be rational
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Unit 2 Journey On
After listening to Journey On, I felt a sense of relaxation, freedom, and energy. I am quite the analyzer, so after just a few seconds into the exercise, I noticed the narrator using the word "lay" instead of "lie." This bothered me, but I let it go and just listened to his words and the music which was played. I felt my body relax and my limbs becoming heavy. My eyes even felt heavy although it was only the middle of the afternoon. I felt myself block out everything around me and truly absorb myself in the experience. The freedom I felt was that of a clear mind, one that was not judging and analyzing. Granted that took a minute or two before I was there, but it did happen nonetheless. After the session, I felt renewed and energized, similar to the way I feel after working out or reading something inspiring. I saved Journey On on my desktop and will revisit it in the future.
After listening to Journey On, I felt a sense of relaxation, freedom, and energy. I am quite the analyzer, so after just a few seconds into the exercise, I noticed the narrator using the word "lay" instead of "lie." This bothered me, but I let it go and just listened to his words and the music which was played. I felt my body relax and my limbs becoming heavy. My eyes even felt heavy although it was only the middle of the afternoon. I felt myself block out everything around me and truly absorb myself in the experience. The freedom I felt was that of a clear mind, one that was not judging and analyzing. Granted that took a minute or two before I was there, but it did happen nonetheless. After the session, I felt renewed and energized, similar to the way I feel after working out or reading something inspiring. I saved Journey On on my desktop and will revisit it in the future.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Introduction and Reflective Post
I am Jennifer Duke, a 28 year old, born and raised in rural North Carolina. After graduating high school I spent 8 and half years in the Navy working in Administration. In January of 2009, I left the service in hopes of using my experience and Associates degree to get a great job. Needless to say with the condition of the economy, I found this endeavor discouraging and decided maybe revisiting school would be the way to go. Perhaps give myself new opportunities toward satisfying an innate drive of helping others. I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Wellness. I would love to one day dispense nutrition advice or work as a wellness coach. Presently, I live with my sister and her husband and I provide childcare to my five month old nephew. Between school and taking care of him, I have little time for much else....except for talking on the phone and keeping in touch with friends on Facebook.
I am hoping this course in understanding the psychological and spiritual aspects of healing will help to make me more conscientious of particular stresses and strains in my life and help me to find a inner calm and peace in my mind and then translate this to my physical self.
I am Jennifer Duke, a 28 year old, born and raised in rural North Carolina. After graduating high school I spent 8 and half years in the Navy working in Administration. In January of 2009, I left the service in hopes of using my experience and Associates degree to get a great job. Needless to say with the condition of the economy, I found this endeavor discouraging and decided maybe revisiting school would be the way to go. Perhaps give myself new opportunities toward satisfying an innate drive of helping others. I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Wellness. I would love to one day dispense nutrition advice or work as a wellness coach. Presently, I live with my sister and her husband and I provide childcare to my five month old nephew. Between school and taking care of him, I have little time for much else....except for talking on the phone and keeping in touch with friends on Facebook.
I am hoping this course in understanding the psychological and spiritual aspects of healing will help to make me more conscientious of particular stresses and strains in my life and help me to find a inner calm and peace in my mind and then translate this to my physical self.
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