This week, we were asked to review our favorite exercises. Ha! I look back and read some of the other posts regarding these exercises and wonder, can I really have a favorite? I stunk at all of them, and well frankly, I like things that I don't stink at! However, I am happy to say, I really do have a favorite, in fact, I think I have three!!!
The subtle mind is one that truly helps me get to a place of calmness. I struggled with it the week we practiced it because every single time I tried the exercise, I fell asleep. I have still been using it mostly as a sleep aid! I've added it to my bedtime routine, after bible reading and prayer. It is incredibly peaceful. I now don't fall right to sleep before the exercise is over, but after moments of quietness, I have been sleeping quite well at night.
Loving-Kindness is my second favorite, although I've been trying something different with it lately, and find myself struggling, but in the long run, I think it will be beneficial. I have know problem sending loving-kindness thoughts to everyone around me, but I do struggle with sending them my own way. I've been practicing the exercise with a primary focus on myself. It's much harder for me, but I've only tried a couple of times, and hope that one day I can be as nice to myself as I am to others. Seems backwards, but that's me.
My newest favorite that I haven't tried too many times yet, but am looking forward to fitting into my crazy schedule is the great happiness, wholeness, and health visualization. I enjoyed this one the very first time I tried it. I felt like all good things of my life (and I have lots) were now the center of my world as opposed to all the "hectic" daily events it seems we all deal with. I just felt like everything came easier after stopping and remembering that life truly is meant to be enjoyed!
It's been no secret over the past weeks, that meditation is a struggle for me, however, I have dived in and have no intentions of giving up. These three exercises will probably be my "go tos" for now simply because I truly feel they will help me make meditating a lifestyle as opposed to just another homework assignment. Peace, love, and happiness!
I have been having a stress filled term, the most stress I have dealt with in one term of college in 3 years. Some weeks I would struggle with the exercises due to the fact that I had too much going on with such strong worries. At this time in my life the exercises would have been extremely beneficial but there were times that I just could not focus and the thoughts would be going wild in my mind to the point that I would not retain anything. I have found the loving kindness and subtle mind exercises to be the most beneficial to me. With all the senseless chatter within my mind the subtle mind exercise is now a part of my nightly routine. I have found it helps to relax my mind so that I can get to a restful and peaceful place allowing me to fall asleep. I have struggled with my sleep patterns for years and this exercise has helped me to finally get a good nights sleep without having to try to get to sleep for hours before being able to do so. I see that this exercise helps you to sleep also. I know it will be part of my nightly routine for awhile. I have troubles sending myself loving kindness also, but I have found that when I think of others and what I love about them I also find that I obtain those qualities as well, which makes it a little easier to send the thoughts to myself. That's awesome that the very first time you tried the great happiness, wholeness, and health visualization. I would say that may be the most important one for you since you completed it the first time with ease. I agree that life is truly meant to be enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way Gina. I had a hard to grasping these exercises at first too. I decided after the first couple weeks to really try hard. After much effort, I began getting the idea of meditation and the relaxation techniques. I learned that it took me a second and third time to really get how these techniques worked. Once I got it down I could do them and get the full effect of them. I believe that practice makes perfect and this class has definitely showed me that.
ReplyDeleteI think for you it is great that you have found something that aids you in falling asleep. We are supposed to use these exercises in any way that can help us, and even though that exercise may not have meant to aid in sleep that's how it works for you. I wish one of them would have done the same thing for me! I have definitely learned a lot from this class.