Describe your experience. (Did you find it beneficial? Difficult?) Why or Why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or Why not?
I had a great deal of difficulty with this exercise. I think that I do better with music than I do with the sound of water. What I found was that as long as the guide was speaking I was focused on her voice, but when he stopped to give us a chance to experience I drifted in numerous directions. I did not particularly like this exercise, but I would recommend it to others because I think that we have to try all sorts of techniques until we find the one that works for us.
2. What is the concept of “Mental Workout? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a Mental Work Out? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?
The concept of the "Mental Workout" is the same as that of the physical workout. We have to create a regular schedule of exercise in order to reach our full potential. We have to also understand the techniques that we are using and their purpose. It is not enough to just go through the exercises, we have to understand what we are attempting to accomplish in order for them to have a real benefit.
In this section we are focusing on the practice of giving love and kindness, which calms the mind. This is a mental attitude that takes practice, but which will flow naturally after a while. The other practice is the subtle mind which is the "cultivation of wisdom" (Dacher, 2006) This is the practice of quieting the mind, releasing the clutter.
For me the most difficult of the two is the subtle mind. My mind is anything but quiet. I have so many things going on at once that my mind u usually anything but quiet. Right now I am learning to be quiet for small periods of time. I believe that if I can learn to be quiet for 15 minutes that will be the first step. Then once I get that I can lengthen the time. It isn't that I cant sit still, I can do that for extended periods, but keeping my mind quiet and still is quite another matter.
I have mentioned the mandala before, but this weekend I took a rather complex picture, put on some classical music, and got comfortable on the couch. I did not have a plan I just began to color. I found that when I was done I had been sitting there for over two hours, and my mind was completely focused on the picture. I also noticed that when I was done was calm and relaxed.
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Patricia,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog. I have to say though, I enjoyed the exercises for this week. The flow of water relaxes me. I kind of felt like I was back at the beach for a moment. I do agree with you about "having to find what works for you." We are all different and we all like different things. That is what makes us all unique. If we all liked the same things it would be a very boring world.
Hope you have a great week,
Wendy
Trish,
ReplyDeleteIt is neat to be able to see ourselves over come the challenges we set up for ourselves. It is good to know what you are able to do and have new goals in place. I am not so much into art, however my daughter is. I printed off one of the mandala's and gave it to her to do. I am courious of what she does with it. I would like to see some of your art sometime!
Trish,
ReplyDeleteIt is neat to know what we are able to overcome with the challenges we put in front of us. I am not much of an artist but my husband and my daughter are. I printed one out for her and I am excicted to see what she will do with it. I would like to see some of your work sometime. Thanks!!