The Most Beneficial Exercises

I gained the most benefit from the Loving-Kindness exercise and the Meeting Aesclepius exercise. With the Loving-Kindness exercise I had to focus on another individual and think positive thoughts about them. I think the weirdest thing for me was actually focusing energy and thoughts on a person that gave me good feelings. Allowing myself to experience good feelings for them through this exercise helped me to think about others and not so much myself or the negativity I sometimes feel when focusing on myself.
The Meeting Aesclepius exercise was interesting for me. It was not an easy one for me to do because I could not actually visualize someone who passed nor could I put myself in any type of exercise that involved making up a person. I think being able to experience negative feelings, though, and work myself through those feelings of loss was very beneficial for me. I was able to pull myself out of it--I have never been able to do that before. Usually, the negative feelings swallow me and I find myself engulfed before I know it. All in all, incorporating these exercises into my daily life would just involve experiencing them on a regular basis in order to improve my "mental fitness". Both would be extremely helpful in my daily struggle with depression and anxiety.

Meeting Aesclepius

This exercise was really weird for me. I'm not gonna lie! I struggled to see a person that had passed that was wise....and I couldn't envision a fake one, or the beam of light. The music and waves were relaxing, so I was able to think about a friend who had passed. There was no connection that I was able to make though that would have made me one with them. Meditation itself though has helped me to stay calm and use my head in stressful situations instead of letting my emotions get ahold of me. It also has really helped to calm my breathing. With anxiety problems, calm breathing has been hugely beneficial!
"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means a few things to me. The first thing it means to me is if one individual is trying to help another struggling individual and they have no experience with the problem being helped, what good are they? The blind leading the blind is what happens. It also seems very hypocritical in a sense. One can have every good intention to help (even if they don't have experience) but there are some who claim to know, yet they don't really know. Being genuine and speaking from experience is what truly helps a person going through the same thing.

Assessments

This weeks assignments were pretty good for me. I was able to center better and I was focused. Breathing deeply and forcing myself to repeat over and over that the pain and suffering in others would go away. Also, focusing on the areas in my life that really need true development and growth took a little painful time. I had to keep starting and re-starting. I know the areas that I need to fix, it's just too painful right now to think about it...and all the work that needs to be done. The psychospiritual areas of my life need more focus. Deeper meditation is needed....along with time, space, and peace and quiet.

The Subtle Mind vs. Loving Kindness

This exercise was difficult for me. I had a hard time concentrating on the clip and the waves seemed long and drawn out to me. The periods of time during the music and waves crashing, I found myself getting easily distracted and drawn to other things. At some points I even dozed off! This was difficult for me partly because I am uncomfortable taking time like that to focus on myself and my inner thoughts. The loving kindness clip was easier because I could think about others.
I think that spiritual wellness and mental/physical wellness go hand in hand. In these moments of meditation, inner thoughts that affect me mentally and physically, are dealt with. When they trouble or make home in my head, my body is affected. Whenever I am stressed, dealing with the things that cause me stress are what brings me the most relief. It's like a load is lifted off my shoulders. So, they are def. related. One cannot sit alone--they affect the entire body equally.