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