The exercises that did the most for me were the Subtle Mind and Loving Kindness (Dacher, 2006, pp. 75-77; pp. 68-69). I enjoy them and feel like I get something out of each time I do them. I think this is because they're very basic, and their simplicity allows me to just settle into the practice and really open up, instead of getting caught up in a script (as in Universal Loving Kindness) or having to focus on something I don't really care about. As a means of developing my mental fitness, I can try to incorporate both practices into my everyday life.
Loving Kindness would be a great way to start and end the day; whenever I do the exercise, I feel like I have “reset” my feelings toward the rest of the world, even if I've recently been offended, slighted, or just generally irritated by how people act. It's a short meditation, so I'm pretty sure I can spare half an hour each day for my own sanity (lol.)
I don't often have trouble sleeping, but when I do it's because I can't stop thinking about something that happened, or something that's about to happen. I believe that the Subtle Mind exercise would help me clear my head and shake off the mental chatter that keeps me up. Also, the attention to breath would prepare me physically for sleep. My husband would probably appreciate my doing this exercise instead of tossing and turning, or getting in and out of bed constantly, too.
Reference
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: the Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Hi Rheyn:
ReplyDeleteAnother great post, as always! I chose the loving kindness mediation as one of my go to exercises, too. I feel that it's been really effective for me in exactly the same situations as you. I find that since I've done that, I am more willing to let slide things that people say and do that would normally irritate me much more than they do now.
Rheyn,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Loving-Kindness exercise as well. I felt it was the exercise that connect me to the outside world in the most positive way. I will have to continue to practice this as I don't feel I have gotten where I feel I want to be. This will definitely come in handy when working with clients in Health and Wellness. Keep up the great work
Rheyn,
ReplyDeleteI often employ the practice of a subtle mind every morning upon rising to keep the mayhem of bombarding thoughts at bay, or Tuesday evenings when I am striving to get through the rest of my homework by the midnight deadline. Focusing on the breath regularly helps keep my mind from wandering and brings me back to the witnessing mind.
Visualizations come in handy at the end of my yoga sessions as a way to rejuvenate and recharge the mind/body, as well as when I am running on the elliptical or sitting in the hot sauna. Whether I am lying down or running on the machine, I visualize nature scenes that bring about a lightness of being and a connectedness to nature. I have enjoyed these modalities and I plan on keeping up with the daily practice of mind/body exercises to enhance my inner health and wellness and bring me closer to my lightness of being. Best of luck on your road to enlightenment! Keep up the daily practice!