Today for my class I participated in a subtle mind practice. I enjoyed the loving kindness exercise last week but I enjoyed this exercise much more. When I meditate I often find that I am constantly distracted by my own thoughts, feelings and inner chatter. During this exercise if you happen to go on a mental field trip it is ok. Watching this experience is as much a part of the exercise as the breathing. I enjoy meditation exercises that allow me to focus on breathing and the minds quiet instead of directing me as to what to imagine. I enjoyed the non-judgment aspect of this activity as well. I often find that I become irritated with myself for my mental wandering. Some days I know I will not be able to concentrate so I don't meditate at all. The subtle mind practice gives me an opportunity to accept whatever my mind does during the process. The biggest part of the exercise is to look at the thought process as an observer and accept it for what it is. I truly enjoyed this experience.
I believe exercises like this are so important to health. Spiritual health is so strongly connected with mental health and physical health. An example of this is to think about a statement that you hold very true to yourselves. An example would be - My children love me. When you say that or feel that you will have good feeling of love and acceptance. Now take that statement and state the opposite of it to yourself. How does it feel? That statement can easily be taken as a belief, when you think about the opposite of this statement you probably have negative feeling. You may feel upset or sad. This is how your beliefs or spirituality can affect your mental health as well. Take it farther and you may notice that you have a sick feeling or an anxiety response to the second statement. This is how your belief can affect you physical health. It is an example of you feeling a visceral reaction caused by different hormones and chemicals released into your body because of a belief.
Thinking positively and practicing good spiritual health positively affects your mental health and physical health as well. Health conditions like migraines, vascular abnormalities and digestive issues can all be helped by increase spiritual health.
Hi Pam,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this exercise too. I think it was because there were no verbal instructions requiring specific focusing. We could chose our focus and it was okay to let mental activity return and then reapply the breathing to return to the point of meditation.
I am learning how important it is for quiet time and meditation as part of my daily routine. For this brief time in this exercise, "I felt good", relaxation kicked in big time. It has convinced me to get serious about the commitment rather than doing just for class.
Dru
Hello Pam,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this exercise much more than I did with loving-kindness. My mind seems to drift off to other thought or feeling, and with this exercise you was alright to do that. I do not like the exercises where they have me image something specific. There are places that I have been that made me feel so relaxed and free and when I need that relaxation to deal with my everyday stress I image I back at that place, so having to image something else it is hard to do. I agree with you exercises like this is very important to health and thinking positively and practicing good spiritual health does affects your mental health and physical health. I am looking forward to seeing more of your thought.