The loving kindness exercise helps you to recognize the feeling of loving-kindness and try to emit that on the world; friends, family, loved ones, strangers, and even enemies. It begins with thinking about a loved one and recognizing that feeling and eventually moves to expressing that love for strangers and the world in general. The most important aspect is to be able to recognize the feeling and be able to share it while taking in others suffering. This exercise is very hard to do; I’m more concerned with my family than strangers or the world if I am being honest. This will take some time. However, I do have respect for everything and everyone and very open-minded.
The integral assessment in short, is an inventory list of sorts to see where you fall in all categories of integral health. I discovered that I am lacking in spiritual development the most. My most developed area is biological. I am by no means religious, so this aspect is out. My respect for nature is somewhat spiritual, to me. This is where I think I could develop this further. I can see how nature fits into my life and how it affects me and my family. I am not one to meditate or be too peaceful however I am most calm when I exercise. This is the time when I can work on this.
You could say that exercise or working out is a form of meditation. An easy way to start making somewhat spiritual is say (silently to yourself) affirmations. The affirmations could be about you, your life, people you care about or even strangers. Spiritually is tough at time. Over the last few years I have had a love hate relationship with my own spiritually. You are the only one that knows and understands you best so go with what feels right to you. As Dacher says sometimes we excel in one area and not in other areas and at other times we excel in a different area. To me that is what makes life a mystery and exiting.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophia,
ReplyDeleteBy practicing these exercises actually helps us become aware of our own transformation. It helps to see where on the quadrant were abundance in and where we are lacking. Meditation is a form of exercise that focuses on your breathing and mental focus. By utlizing this practice will also help heal your spirit one piece at a time. But, I'm like you, I'm able to be calmer more if I exercise. I can meditate but it will take longer and I've notice that my attention/focus also needs a little work too.
Hi Sophia I found this exercise challenging also bercause its hard to thinkpositive thoughts towards people when their do negative things towards you.Plus its hard to focus at times with family ,work ,school and other obligations. I would suggest saying positive affirmations to yourself such as Iam well,Iam peaceful,Iam loving kindness,Meditation with soft music and keeping a thoughts journal.Peace and blessings!
ReplyDeleteHey Sophia!!
DeleteI would say that in my 4 interpersonal aspects of Integral health, my biological is right up there with you! As well as you, I find calmness in my running-working up a sweat feels awesome. But my spiritual aspect is right up there with biological if not higher on the hierarchy. Having a sense of spiritualism doesn't mean you have to be religious or in one with nature, but just to feel at peace! Everyone has a spirit within them, that's where our source of energy comes from, yes we get our energy from our biological perspective too, but you can only go so far biologically in finding energy-such as with cancer patients<anyway...we all have a spirit, and its up to us if we want to bring it into our lives. I hope you find all aspects in your life Sophia, I enjoy reading your blogs and I hope the best for you with peace and serenity.