exercises

Wow, these are good.  The loving-kindness exercise has a wierd way of actually bringing some peace.  To express these emotions to want to help others, the world even, was freeing.  Maybe when I am waiting in line at the grocery store I can use this exercise to not be so mad at the line!  The assessment was quite different but also very helpful.  It is not easy to analyze these areas of my life on my own.  I tend to brush something under the rug even if there is a problem.  To bring it out in the open and make a plan to deal with it will prove to be theraputic.

Subtle Mind

This exercise was alot easier to get in to than the last one.  I like the idea of freeing the mind.  In the loving kindness exercise there was alot of thinking involved.  Pushing the negative thoughts, taking in the suffering, etc...  I like the soothing aura of the subtle mind exercise better.  Getting to a state of consciousness to where thoughts are observed and then allowed to pass was more effective.  It is a grounding exercise for me. 
I think that spiritual wellness is a concept that has little significance attached to it in our society.  Sure, many of us attend worship services and even more identify with a type of religion, but the fact that spiritual health is important is often left out of any discussion on health.  We can work out and eat right to advance our physical health.  We can spend our life learning and having new experiences to enhance our mental health.  What sets us apart into the realm of integral health is the spiritual.  This is the glue that holds it all together.  Everyone at sometime wonders what life is really about, what the meaning of it all is.  Strong spiritual health will enable us to fulfill our purpose and be all we were made to be.

Mental Workout

This type of thing is really out of my comfort zone.  It is hard for me to completely let go and to allow my mind to get to a spot in which it can process the steps in the exercise.  Once I was able to get into the right frame of mind, after a few tries, I did start to really get in to the exercise.  I would recommend it as it served as a sort of inner cleansing.  In a way it let me become more aware of my surroundings, to not be so focused on my own life and problems.  We are so small and there are so many areas in which we could help if we only look outside of our self.  Our text mentions several changes in people who have undergone mental training.  It is as if the wiring of the brain can actually be changed to a healthier circuit.  Attention, memory, perception, hormones, immunity; they can all be positively effected by mental training.  It appears that to live a life thinking of more than yourself can have very real mental and physical rewards.  To be able to live a life that is more focused on others, and by that very action to improve your own life, is reason enough to give mental training a try!

Where I'm at

Things are going okay for me these days.  I will admit I hit a major wall Sunday night after Christmas and my health went down the tubes.  Just know getting back to where I need to be.  Other than this week, by physical wellbeing would be rated very high, probably an 8.  Working out is actually the only real hobby I have time for these days, and I love all aspects of training, so this part is a breeze for me.  Nutrition is a bit lacking, I can always improve the diet.   This would be where my physical goals would be centered, to maintain a cleaner diet. Spiritually speaking, I have been a bit lax lately.  I would rate myself around a 5.  Between hectic schedules and life getting in the way, I know I haven't been as attentive as I need to be.  I still attend all the worship services for the most part, but I need to set apart more quiet time for some interaction with Him.  Psychological wellbeing is good, probably a 7.  I am sure the stress of this time contributed to my sickness, but it has served as a wakeup call to be more aware and careful with this aspect.  Taking a relaxation break to clear the  head would be something to make a habit.. 
The relaxation exercise started off rocky.  I'm really stuffy, so the deep breathing sent me into a coughing fit.  After settling, I have to admit the exercise nearly put me to sleep.  I was just barely hanging on.  I did exit the exercise feeling quite refreshed.  As a side note; I had a chance to put last week's relaxation exercise to work while I was sick.  Laying on the couch with a fever I began to remember the exercise and went all over my body feeling each part get heavy and relaxed and then I pictured each breath I took blowing out the "sick germs."  It was a little goofy but it worked!  I think these exercises will be able to be adapted to a unique situation if needed.