Unit 8

Over the last eight weeks we have learned how to practice many meditation exercises.  The two that I found most beneficial for me and my lifestyle is the loving kindness exercise and the subtle mind exercise.  During the loving kindness exercise you visualize sending love, acceptance and positive thoughts to people in your life and people of the world.  I found that I really enjoyed this exercise. It allowed me to take the time to send out positivity and love to the people in my life.  More importantly it allowed me to take the time to forgive and the love the people who have wronged me.  The other meditation technique that I truly enjoyed was the subtle mind practice.  This practice compliments my personality well.  When I meditate I often feel aggravated at myself for letting my mind wander.  Then I am irritated at how "poorly" I am meditating.  In the subtle mind practice observing your mind wander is part of the meditating.  It is about being the observer of your own thoughts and separating yourself from the ranting of your own mind.  When I practice the subtle mind exercise I find that I do not get frustrated with myself and can truly enjoy meditating.  I am planning on making a point of either start off my day or ending my day with one of these two exercises.  I need to take time for me and work on my mental fitness.  I can at least find a few minutes in a day to spend doing meditation.  Especially now that this class has showed how important meditating is.