Subtle Mind Practice

This week's practice, the subtle mind, was very nice and relaxing. I don't sit and try to quiet my mind often so this was very much needed. I drank a cup of tea, with raw honey to help relax me before doing this practice. I think that really helped. I have been fighting a cold all week so I thought it would be difficult to sit still and focus on my breathing since breathing has proven a difficult task in the past few days. However, this was all just "in my head". I had no problem sitting still, witnessing my thoughts, and clearing my mind. This practice was so much more enjoyable than the loving kindness technique from last week. I liked not having to think about anything, just relax and witness my thoughts and focus on my breath. I think of others often and realized how much those thoughts did come into my mind. I would practice this one more often then try to practice the loving kindness again.
At first it was a little difficult to just wait and see what was to come next. I finally let that go and was able to really focus my breathing and move away from the thoughts. The unity consciousness part was rather strange at first because I pictured my brain floating above me. Luckily, I focused on my breath and was able to just experience...nothing.
I can see this being very beneficial in wellness because if this becomes a true practice in someone's life it will eventually bleed into other parts of their life thus creating a sense of inner peace at most any time of the day. Having a clearer mind, a less muddled one for that matter, will help someone on many levels and create that inner peace that is so desperately needed. So many times one event in a day can wreck havoc on other areas of a person's life. Just being able to sit and not focus on those situations but rather acknowledge them and move on can be so beneficial. I highly recommend this practice.

Enjoy,

Melanie Davis

Loving Kindness and Mental Workouts

Unfortunately, the practice was difficult. I did manage to make it through to the end! It proved to be a challenge within me. The practice, maybe it was the speaker, seemed fake, not "into it". During the practice, I found it a challenge to really focus on the words and focus on what I was prompted to do next. My mind racing for that one person whom I care for so deeply; is it because I don't care about anyone or because I care too much about everyone? When asked to think about a family member or friend suffering, that was the easiest as I have a very sick brother - in - law. I had no problem taking away his suffering and breathing him "health and wholeness". I also had little difficulty in embracing a group of strangers and taking their suffering, wishing them "health and wholeness". I was relieved to be at the end of practice, annoyed with the speaker and the sound of the ocean. I was proud of myself though, struggling as I may have, to the end. What was truly amazing, from my struggle of this practice, I was able to go about most of the rest of my day, more relaxed and open to a new way of thinking. My mind more clear, even optimistic. I felt a sense of release, inner peace, even relaxed for a Monday, all the while struggling to make sense of a stressful situation in my present life. Overall, the practice was worth the 15 minute struggle! I would recommend this practice to others because of the end result which proved to be the most valuable of all: relaxation and peace within. I have read through some others posts this week; it was amazing to read the various ways in which we were affected. Some enjoyed it, others not so much. Hopefully, we all walked away with knowing something different about ourselves.

The mind is limitless in its development; what we need to do is work on its development. Consistent mental practices, meditation, prayer, contemplative practice, even positive affirmations, are critical for our mental workouts. It expands the mind to limits. Once we have mastered one of these workouts, we can then expand to something deeper, more meaningful. Dr. Richard Davidson, University of Wisconsin, studied the brain activity of positive and negative emotions. He determined that we are born with a predetermined set of "brain activity". What his study shows is that training program can help inner development, enhancing our short - and long - term level of emotional and physical well-being. Implementing a mental training program will prove to be a challenge, at first, to many. In comparison to the results of a training program, it will certainly outweigh the start of a program. As long as we are challenging the brain and working toward new brain activity, the result of inner development will progress.

Enjoy.

Melanie Davis

Hello Everyone ~

This week we were asked to reflect on three areas in our well-being (physical, spiritual, and psychological) and rank them from 1 - 10 (10 being optimal). I have really been going through some struggles at work that has been blocking my natural positive energy from being released. So without further ado, here are my rankings:
Physical: 3
Physically I am not where I would like to be. I do suffer from Fibromyalgia however it is very manageable. I would like to include more into my life but for now I am content with just putting it in where I can. I eat healthy almost everyday so that keeps my body nourished. I walk everyday with my dog so that gets me out into nature a little.

Spiritual: 3
I am not religious but I do try to connect with those around me. I try to meditate but I find myself too tired to really focus on that. I don't know if I know what Spiritual means in the whole sense of the word, but I know what it means to me.

Psychological 3:
Well I am just a mess these days. I am working on creating inner peace that will allow my mind to relax and be calm. But I am constantly thinking or doing something that requires it. Which is a great segue into our relaxation technique for this week.

I did well with it. I enjoyed the feeling of becoming relaxed. I also had my boyfriend try it at the same time. It was definitely a little different, but with him being open to trying it made it not as awkward. Near the end my dog got restless and wanted to play with her "squeak" toy which interrupted it. But I feel calmer and way more relaxed. I feel some pain but I think it's from the stress of the day and letting it release, not to mention the lovely Fibromyalgia pain I experience often. However, each time he mentioned a new "circular window" from a specific area of the body I could not stop thinking about a commercial for Airborne. The lady has holes in her body because she is "missing" certain nutrients. As she drinks the Airborne, it fills in the holes. Each time he wanted us to think of another opening in our body, that's all I could think about. Then I had to try to keep my colors parallel to each other which was difficult because I was sitting. My lines kept crossing each other and I kept trying to straighten them out. Overall, I enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed having my boyfriend experience this and being open-minded; I enjoyed not thinking about the stressors I have been experiencing and trying to line up my colors (if that were the only think I ever had to concern myself with); I enjoyed the color Emerald Green and sending my love and appreciate to a dear friend in need of love and compassion right now (he lost his father today). Even though I am struggling now, I know this soon will pass and the next time I evaluate my reflections, there will be nothing blocking my positive energy! Good night everyone. And Professor ~ Thank you for your encouraging words.

Enjoy,
Melanie D.

Welcome

For this course, Creating Wellness, creating a blog is just one of the exercises to partake. I am looking forward to learning more about each of you as our weeks unfold. This journey will certainly benefit me, assisting me in my own life journey of creating more balance and peace and helping me learn more about blogging. I've wanted to learn more about this for the last year, I just never sat down to do it on my own accord, as it seemed a cumbersome, daunting task. I see now that fear pushed me away from something that seems so liberating and easy.

Much success to each of us! Enjoy...

Melanie D.

Relaxation Technique

I was actually impressed I was able to relax just a little. However, I wasn't able to feel the weight of my hands and arms but I did notice the feeling of warmth in my hands. Afterward I did feel more relaxed and warm for a little while; as I got back to my studies I noticed I became rather cool and needed a light jacket. I have always had an issue with relaxing, which is probably why I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Tonight however, I do have a sense of being more energized. I will continue to test this technique, as well as the others to help me get through my stressful, tensed - up days!

Enjoy,
Melanie