It's hard to believe we are half way there already, this term seems to be flying on by...
I enjoyed this exercise because it focused on breathing, I was intrigued when Dacher explained that you are able to control the mind and thoughts with breathing, he states at one point "if you slow the breathing, you slow the mind", (Dacher, 2006). That concept is very interesting to me because it once again proves that we as humans do indeed have control of our minds. The breath is the focal point, however as thoughts, and feelings approach, they are still acknowledged and then dismissed, and again the focus goes back to the breathing and not to the thoughts at hand. I liked this exercise because I am so easily distracted, as I was in the last exercise I was able to get side tracked and distracted very easily and as a result I found it very hard to get back to the exercise, however with this exercise it was about gaining control of the mind and having the ability to re-focus on the breathing, when I would focus on the breathing and not the distraction I found it very easy for me to get back into the exercise. I can't say that my mind ever reached a full complete stillness during this exercise, however I think if I continued to practice that this would come over time, I do have a very busy mind and I have acknowledged that there is a lot going on "up there" even when I want it to simply calm down and rest, in fact; that's when it seems to be the most active. I really believe that for me this exercise will be very useful if I continue to do it and really give it my all, I am curious to see where my mind can take me, but more so I am interested in identifying how much control I have over my thoughts and feelings.
Spiritual, physical, and mental wellness to me are an "all-in-one" package, I truly believe that in order for one to be successful and effective, the others must be not only in place but functioning properly. Spiritual wellness is important because it grounds me with a belief that is greater than myself, mental wellness is one of the most important because I am not only able to identify who I am as a person, but come face to face with my emotions and feelings, address my inner demons and allow room in my mind for change, physical is important because if I am not physically healthy and happy I am not able to accomplish success in the other areas of well-being. Maintaining these three areas of my life is a job all in itself, for many people its just something that is simply "there" and not looked into much further than that, but once you shoot for a healthier happier life, it all comes into focus very clearly, and it becomes a realization that it takes work.
I wish you all the best this unit.
Michelle
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral
health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach: Basic Health
Publications Inc.
Hi Michelle , you explain this so nice!! I agree that if one area in your life is off it will affect the other areas and impact them as well. I find if I go one day without exercising I feel totally off menatlly and physically. When I jog or bike I feel like I am using breathing to focus and concentrate on positive thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSue
Thanks Sue, for taking the time to comment on my blog. I completely agree with you, I do the same thing when I exercise, mainly for fear of knowing if I stop I would probably drop and passout, (I'm not the most athletic person).
DeleteMichelle
Nice job on your blog and describing the exercise with breathing and stilling of the mind. I had a hard time with the Subtle Mind yesterday but fared FAR better today due to trying a different technique, lying in bed while listening to the MP3 and in complete darkness. My focal point was my chest and it’s up and down motion during breathing. I immediately emerged myself into a ride with few distractions and interruptions. I experienced much stillness and watched my thoughts pass-by with no concern for those passengers and their emotional baggage. My journey also felt like I was traveling to another place that was vast and open, like an ocean of souls that intermingled and exchanged ideas, images and experiences. The stillness I experienced allowed for communion without attachments, images other than my own, and ideas I could not clearly hear but I was aware of them. I felt a part of a vast expansion of spirits awash in cosmic exchanges. In this environment and with this experience, I feel we are never alone but are one! Continue with your journey!
ReplyDeleteHector,
DeleteWhat a wonderful response, you are truly a great writer, I always enjoy reading your work. I had a very similar experience during this exercise, and I was very happy that I allowed myself to simply set myself free for a very brief moment.
Michelle
Me too Michelle! I look at them as a kind of a threesome each with it's own part but together they make a whole. i too have enjoyed this class and i believe that I may have taken more from this class than i ever expected. I was kind of a skeptic when it came to dacher but I am beginning to see the light.
ReplyDeleteThanks Greg for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. I completely agree with you, I really was skeptical when I first started this class and the reading, however it is all making a lot of sense, which is a good think, I think that it is beneficial for us all to make that mind-body-spirit connection at some point. Thanks again Greg.
DeleteMichelle
Great job this week Michelle! It is quite the process learning to slow down our minds and find a state of stillness. I think with practice we can be pro's at this!! I too want to learn how to slow my mind down, have more recognition of the stressors in my life and find ways of responding vs reacting. I wish you lots of patience and luck as you carve out some much needed time to rest, relax, and quiet your mind. Thanks for sharing your experience this week!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashley, for your feedback on my post, and I cannot agree with you more. This week was a great experience for most of us, and I value the lessons that I have learned.
DeleteMichelle
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about the information continuing to flood in. You also made great points about being human and having negative feelings. I am guilty of this I have never been the type to be jealous of another person. However I can be very paranoid and overthink everything. In my post I talked about how I need to let go of negative feelings and things from my past and that are still happening today. When I start over thinking things I start to hold on to them and they become negative aspects of my life. Like you said I also feel life this class is helping me a lot.
-Ashley