Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Meeting Aesclepius mp3
I found this exercise to be very helpful. With each week that passes, my confidence in these meditation exercises is growing. I am more accepting of these practices and am finally finding some definite benefit in them. I once thought that these exercises were not effective at all. This one in particular I completely let go and lost myself in my thoughts. My thoughts flowed through me in a beautiful stream. Although they were present, I did not let any of them defer this exercise. I was completely relaxed and loving it.
Be the Leader So Others Can Follow
The saying, "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" refers to the idea that it is imperative in integral healing to live the lifestyle that you are prescribing. In other words, do not simply string together a series of meaningless words in order to appease the patient. Instead, be the example; be the leader so that the patients can follow.
It is very important in the health and wellness field. Clients will usually not want to take advise from an individual who is not following the lifestyle suggested. This is the same as a fitness professional or personal trainer advising someone on how to lose weight when they are overweight themselves. I believe that health and wellness professionals have a responsibility to their clients to be that example. This applies whether they are a personal trainer, a psychologist, etc. One cannot expect change from a client if that change is not being seen in yourself.
To implement psychological and spiritual growth in one's personal life all that must be done is to make the effort. Simple as that. That is the thing. Usually the hardest questions to answer in life have the simplest answers. A lot can be produced simply from making the effort to grow. One must look inside their self and find the inner health and grow from there.
It is very important in the health and wellness field. Clients will usually not want to take advise from an individual who is not following the lifestyle suggested. This is the same as a fitness professional or personal trainer advising someone on how to lose weight when they are overweight themselves. I believe that health and wellness professionals have a responsibility to their clients to be that example. This applies whether they are a personal trainer, a psychologist, etc. One cannot expect change from a client if that change is not being seen in yourself.
To implement psychological and spiritual growth in one's personal life all that must be done is to make the effort. Simple as that. That is the thing. Usually the hardest questions to answer in life have the simplest answers. A lot can be produced simply from making the effort to grow. One must look inside their self and find the inner health and grow from there.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Mental exercises and the merit within
Upon completed the last love and kindness exercise from a couple of weeks ago, I felt as though the psychological exercises used were not for me. As I stated in my previous blog entry though, I was willing to attempt again and to give the exercises another chance. This time around I got better results. The universal loving-kindness exercise allowed me to clear my mind and to truly consider the wellness of others, and not just those close to me, but also just humanity as a whole. I think the difference here was that I actually committed to the exercise this time around. I went in all the way without any reservations.
The second exercise that was completed was the integral assessment exercise. I found this one to be even more beneficial than the former. I am, by nature, a very goal-oriented person. I literally have "Knowledge is Power" tattooed on my chest. It is there for a reason. I believe that the pursuit of knowledge is the most important part of life. I am constantly striving to be a better version of myself. This exercise really allowed me to refocus on some things that I have lost sight of over time. It is rather easy to fall into a very self-centered life. While it is important to have goals for one's self. I think that it is equally as important, if not more so, to want to give back to humanity. To make the world a better place for all is quite the noble idea. Of course, one person cannot have a huge impact, but that does not mean that one person cannot impact the lives of those close to them. In turn, those people impact the lives of others as well. This is cycle that will hopefully result in less violence, crime, and lack of motivation.
I must say that it truly is a great feeling to be selfless again. I will continue this exercise on a regular basis so as to not lose sight of the things that are truly important in life. Now it is time to implement these great concepts. Giving to those who are less fortunate is something that I once did frequently. This is something I will start again. Providing knowledge to those who need it is something else I can do to help out society. This is all part of allowing for personal growth for myself while also bettering the state of the world little by little.
The second exercise that was completed was the integral assessment exercise. I found this one to be even more beneficial than the former. I am, by nature, a very goal-oriented person. I literally have "Knowledge is Power" tattooed on my chest. It is there for a reason. I believe that the pursuit of knowledge is the most important part of life. I am constantly striving to be a better version of myself. This exercise really allowed me to refocus on some things that I have lost sight of over time. It is rather easy to fall into a very self-centered life. While it is important to have goals for one's self. I think that it is equally as important, if not more so, to want to give back to humanity. To make the world a better place for all is quite the noble idea. Of course, one person cannot have a huge impact, but that does not mean that one person cannot impact the lives of those close to them. In turn, those people impact the lives of others as well. This is cycle that will hopefully result in less violence, crime, and lack of motivation.
I must say that it truly is a great feeling to be selfless again. I will continue this exercise on a regular basis so as to not lose sight of the things that are truly important in life. Now it is time to implement these great concepts. Giving to those who are less fortunate is something that I once did frequently. This is something I will start again. Providing knowledge to those who need it is something else I can do to help out society. This is all part of allowing for personal growth for myself while also bettering the state of the world little by little.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Loving, kindness, and a subtle mind!
Recently in my creating wellness class, I had the opportunity to take part in two different psychological exercises. Was was called the subtle mind exercise and the other was loving kindness exercise. The two exercises were similar. They both had a calming effect, which allowed for relaxation. To be honest, neither exercise worked well for me. The first one, which was the subtle mind exercise, did an okay job at relaxing me, but did not garner the results that were intended. The second exercise fell completely flat. the pacing of the second exercise known as the loving kindness exercise was completely off and created a disconnect with me. I could never get on board with it. Perhaps if given a few more tries and a little more effort, there would be some effect, but the first attempt was certainly a failure.
Although these exercises did not deliver on their claims, I have had plenty of success with other methods of mental exercise. Meditation is something that I enjoy. Sometimes through yoga, I will concentrate on nothing but my breathing. It help me focus and rid myself of any stress that has accumulated throughout the day.
I believe that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness. In fact, I believe the two go hand in hand. I think one is difficult to obtain without the other, nearly impossible even. I believe that more people should invest and getting their mental focus in tune with their physical preparedness.
Spirituality and metal fitness also go hand and hand. To me, spirituality is almost an extension of mental fitness. It is all about truly understanding the point of life. Gaining knowledge and using that knowledge for the betterment of the world.
Although these exercises did not deliver on their claims, I have had plenty of success with other methods of mental exercise. Meditation is something that I enjoy. Sometimes through yoga, I will concentrate on nothing but my breathing. It help me focus and rid myself of any stress that has accumulated throughout the day.
I believe that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness. In fact, I believe the two go hand in hand. I think one is difficult to obtain without the other, nearly impossible even. I believe that more people should invest and getting their mental focus in tune with their physical preparedness.
Spirituality and metal fitness also go hand and hand. To me, spirituality is almost an extension of mental fitness. It is all about truly understanding the point of life. Gaining knowledge and using that knowledge for the betterment of the world.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Love and Kindness
I did not find the Love and Kindness exercise to be very effective. I felt as though the pacing was too slow and thus caused me to drift off whenever there were extended segments of silence. They exercise started off great as it asked me to envision someone whom I love completely. I immediately thought of my daughter to whom, for obvious reasons, I am deeply attached to. However, from there, the exercise drifted off into another direction.
The concept of mental workouts is that in order to develop psychological strength, it must be trained continuously, just as an Olympian would train their body. The aim of these mental workouts is to expand the mind and consciousness of the individual, while also removing any negative thoughts/feelings. Evidence shows that through consistent mental training, the mind can be freed of feelings of regret, resentment, anger, and sadness. These effects are both short-term and long-term. In essence, mental training can facilitate selflessness and calmness. Mental exercise will certainly lead to better psychological health in the long run. In many cases, what stunts psychological growth is negativity and a closed mind. These exercises are designed to clear both of these potential roadblocks.
Although I did not find the exercise to be beneficial for myself. Perhaps I should attempt to give it a second chance. Given my initial experience, I would not recommend this exercise to anybody else. But as I said, I am willing to give it another try. I wold like to do this before giving my final judgments.
The concept of mental workouts is that in order to develop psychological strength, it must be trained continuously, just as an Olympian would train their body. The aim of these mental workouts is to expand the mind and consciousness of the individual, while also removing any negative thoughts/feelings. Evidence shows that through consistent mental training, the mind can be freed of feelings of regret, resentment, anger, and sadness. These effects are both short-term and long-term. In essence, mental training can facilitate selflessness and calmness. Mental exercise will certainly lead to better psychological health in the long run. In many cases, what stunts psychological growth is negativity and a closed mind. These exercises are designed to clear both of these potential roadblocks.
Although I did not find the exercise to be beneficial for myself. Perhaps I should attempt to give it a second chance. Given my initial experience, I would not recommend this exercise to anybody else. But as I said, I am willing to give it another try. I wold like to do this before giving my final judgments.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Complete wellness
When thinking of one's health and well being, it is necessary to consider all components that make up the vessel. There is physical wellness, psychological wellness, and spiritual wellness. Each component is equally as important as the next. In Western culture, physical wellness is generally the most talked about component, while the other two are afterthoughts. However, to truly be completely healthy, all of the areas must get adequate amounts of exercise.
When reviewing my own health and well being, I am able to pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses. Physically speaking, I would consider myself extremely healthy. I strong, flexible, agile, and well conditioned. I am an athlete, so this part comes easy for me. It is like second nature. In a scale ranging from 1-10, I would give myself an 8. Psychologically I am also very strong. I have always been the type of person who is self-motivated. I am always setting goals and working to achieve them. There is never a limit to what I accomplish. This is my way of thinking. This goes for every part of my life. Whether it is the gym, school, my career, being a father, or anything else. I want to be the best I can be regardless. I would give myself a score of 9 in this area. Spiritually I am my weakest. This is an area which I have not given as much attention to. I am not a very religious person. This is more so because I do not know what I believe, rather than not believing at all. I have not really taken the necessary steps to explore that part of my life though. This is something that I need to look more into. I do live my life my a moral code. I pride myself on being a good and honest person. However, I do think that there is much room for improvement here. I give myself a 7 in this area.
As I mentioned previously, I am very goal-oriented. Thus, I will set some goals for myself regarding my health and well being. Psychically, although I am strong, there is always a higher level to reach for. I am very much into power-lifting at this point in my life. Power-lifting is a sport that incorporates the use of 3 different lifts. Those lifts are the squat, deadlift, and bench press. I would like to get my bench press above 315 lbs, my squat over 400 lbs, and my deadlift above 450 lbs, all while keeping a body weight below 180 lbs. Psychologically, I m already strong. However, I will set a goal of being able to relax more. I do have a tendency to let my anger get the best of me at times. I would like to be able to control this a little better. Spiritually, I just want to put myself out there and explore that part of my life. There is much to learn and much to consider. This could bring a whole new level of wellness to my life.
In order to reach these goals, a certain level of programming must be implemented. Physically, it is easy. I simply need to use a lifting program that adds enough volume, intensity, and recovery. Eventually I will be able to reach my physical goals. Psychologically, it will take me using relaxation exercises in times of high stress. Breathing techniques and counting exercises should help in this area. Although it sounds corny, they do work. If nothing else, it is the catalyst for realizing that you need to calm down. Spiritually, I think the best way to reach my goal is to go out and experience different walks of life. The more I experience, the more I able to apply to my own life. I will be able to have a better understanding of what I believe.
While completing the relaxation exercise the Crime of the Century, I realized why it works. The music in addition to the descriptive dialogue provides the perfect elements for relaxation. Many people are able to learn through visuals. I think the dialogue is so descriptive that the individual listening is able to easily visualize the scenarios described, which allows for relaxation. I do believe that the exercises work, it just depends on the individual and whether they are willing to fully give themselves to the exercise. So to some extent, I think the experience will be subjective.
When reviewing my own health and well being, I am able to pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses. Physically speaking, I would consider myself extremely healthy. I strong, flexible, agile, and well conditioned. I am an athlete, so this part comes easy for me. It is like second nature. In a scale ranging from 1-10, I would give myself an 8. Psychologically I am also very strong. I have always been the type of person who is self-motivated. I am always setting goals and working to achieve them. There is never a limit to what I accomplish. This is my way of thinking. This goes for every part of my life. Whether it is the gym, school, my career, being a father, or anything else. I want to be the best I can be regardless. I would give myself a score of 9 in this area. Spiritually I am my weakest. This is an area which I have not given as much attention to. I am not a very religious person. This is more so because I do not know what I believe, rather than not believing at all. I have not really taken the necessary steps to explore that part of my life though. This is something that I need to look more into. I do live my life my a moral code. I pride myself on being a good and honest person. However, I do think that there is much room for improvement here. I give myself a 7 in this area.
As I mentioned previously, I am very goal-oriented. Thus, I will set some goals for myself regarding my health and well being. Psychically, although I am strong, there is always a higher level to reach for. I am very much into power-lifting at this point in my life. Power-lifting is a sport that incorporates the use of 3 different lifts. Those lifts are the squat, deadlift, and bench press. I would like to get my bench press above 315 lbs, my squat over 400 lbs, and my deadlift above 450 lbs, all while keeping a body weight below 180 lbs. Psychologically, I m already strong. However, I will set a goal of being able to relax more. I do have a tendency to let my anger get the best of me at times. I would like to be able to control this a little better. Spiritually, I just want to put myself out there and explore that part of my life. There is much to learn and much to consider. This could bring a whole new level of wellness to my life.
In order to reach these goals, a certain level of programming must be implemented. Physically, it is easy. I simply need to use a lifting program that adds enough volume, intensity, and recovery. Eventually I will be able to reach my physical goals. Psychologically, it will take me using relaxation exercises in times of high stress. Breathing techniques and counting exercises should help in this area. Although it sounds corny, they do work. If nothing else, it is the catalyst for realizing that you need to calm down. Spiritually, I think the best way to reach my goal is to go out and experience different walks of life. The more I experience, the more I able to apply to my own life. I will be able to have a better understanding of what I believe.
While completing the relaxation exercise the Crime of the Century, I realized why it works. The music in addition to the descriptive dialogue provides the perfect elements for relaxation. Many people are able to learn through visuals. I think the dialogue is so descriptive that the individual listening is able to easily visualize the scenarios described, which allows for relaxation. I do believe that the exercises work, it just depends on the individual and whether they are willing to fully give themselves to the exercise. So to some extent, I think the experience will be subjective.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)