Hi All!
Sorry for the late posting...it's been a difficult week!
I enjoyed this week's exercise of visualization. I think this is something anyone can do even if they have not practiced doing contemplative exercises. Reason why I say this is because I know many people relive experiences in their lives mentally...usually the bad ones where they put themselves in a bad place. I know I've done that many times in the past. With this visualization exercise, it had me focus on happier times and I actually felt that happiness and freedom that I had felt at that time. It brought a warm feeling over me, where I felt safe and content. If you can put yourself in a bad place by thinking of negative events...then why not do just the opposite and think of good/happy times to put yourself in a positive place!
Now, as we near the end of this class (I say with a heavy heart), we have gone through many contemplative practices; and I feel the two that have helped me the most are subtle mind and meditation. As I've indicated in my previous posts, I practice these contemplative practices almost on a daily basis. This week was difficult for me due to some health issues...but I was better able to handle my issues due to these two practices. They actually helped me deal better with my pain and discomfort. I am in a much better place in the sense of my mental and spiritual wellness than I was when we first started this class. I definitely will continue to implement these practices into my daily life because I've truly felt the difference in how I deal with adversaries in life. When I feel overwhelmed or that too much is being thrown at me, I am to use these practices to calm myself and think with a clear mind...and as I continue to practice, I hope this will come naturally for me. Has anyone else felt a difference since starting this class? I would love to know.
I think you brought up a very good point about this class. I think we all have had a different and similar experience all at the same time. I for one, have had a positive experience and have been able to utilize many of the practices learned and incorporated them into my life. Being able to have many tools at hand to deal with life's curve balls can only help when faced with adversity and hardship. Great post!
ReplyDeleteJen Prince
Hi Manisha,
ReplyDeleteIt's been a hectic week for me already too. But with meditation exercise I was able to get through. Yes we all have had some type of experience and have had opportunity to apply what was learned in this course. Althought it is coming to end, the good thing about it is we can use what we have learned long after the course is over. When situations arise in our life we are now equipped to be able to handle them more effectively rather than they handle us. This class has made a tremendous difference in my inner peace and mental fitness.
Dru Van Wright
Hello Manisha,
ReplyDeleteYou are a strong persona nd to make the time to refocus on the different practices we have done and find the one that really make an impact more on your life. I am glad that you were able to utilize these exercises to make your pain and suffering better. There is so many ways to deal with pain and sickness, do it is important to find the one or ones that will truely help heal you mentally and physically. I am so glad that we have learned these different exercises, because they have truely made an impct in my life as well. Thanks for sharing.
Erika Schafer
Hello Manisha,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely understand where you are coming from. This class has helped me remember the practices I have had in place that I set aside and helped me focus more spiritually again. I will agree this class has helped me. I have pain on a daily basis with fibromyalgia. I don't let it stop me. I don't take any medication. I just deal with it through exercise, diet, and meditation. It definitely doesn't take it away. It lessens the pain though and makes it bareable. It helps me to address the pain and move on, to think of things that are positive. I wish you the best and I encourage you to keep pushing. This too shall pass and the good things will come back around again.
Hi Heather,
DeleteOne of my favorite mantras..."this too shall pass"
I often say that when things get difficult...it's a simple sentence that is so powerful!
I think that it is important to train you mind to let go of negativity concerning events that happen in your life. I believe that when people decide to stop feeling sorrow over certain thing in the past it allows room for mental growth, then only will you experience true happiness.
ReplyDeleteShivaughn Bobo
Hi Manisha,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your posting! I completely agree where you are coming from. I honestly feel that this class has truly made me a better person not only mentally but physically to. My body has been starting to have aches and pains in places that I did not know I had. It is from fire fighting for over 25 years. I have no one to blame except for myself for the career that I chose and that is why I feel the way I do about meditation, exercise and visualization. Thank you!
Sonia
Manisha
ReplyDeleteI agree with you . If we are at times giving into the negative visuals then we should at least/more focus on the good. That is where we can draw from those happy moments, the strength of the moment or person, and help us change the direction we may be headed in. Since we have been doing these exercises I found that the visualization has come to mind for me more than anything else. I have found myself more emotional (in a good way) when I have needed to think back on the good times to help me with some struggles I have faced in the past week. The challenges I have had to face this past week has weighed heavy on my self worth, my self-esteem, and even on my "anger". I found that when I go back to happier times or a time when I have laughed at something or an event, it was that that helped me get out of the negative. It's so easy but yet so hard. Wish I would have started this a long time ago. Better late than never. ;-)
~Ali