Unit 4

Unit 4 Blog

1. Describe your experience. (Did you find it beneficial? Difficult?) Why or Why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or Why not?

I really enjoyed this exercise this week in practicing loving kindness. It is amazing how when you really need a little extra help and you are open and accepting the help will come and I really think that this was in fact the case this week for me. I have had some personal challenges that have tested me this week and this was the perfect time to implement the practice of loving kindness. There are two particular situations that practicing loving kindness has helped me with tremendously. The first was and still is an ongoing situation with my oldest daughter Makayla who is 9 years old. Makayla’s father and I divorced a couple years ago which has been a great growth for me but extremely difficult for Makayla.  I have since remarried and had another daughter, Ashlyn. Makayla recently decided not to go with her father for visitations anymore because she was not spending time with him as he would often find someone else to watch her on the 3 days a week that he had her. Makayla has gotten very tired and emotional about the situation, understandably. To complicate the situation even further her father is facing a felony DWI (his 4^th) charge which could possibly mean jail time. He will be sentenced on November 23. The practice of loving kindness has been a tremendous help through these tumultuous times. I keep her in my thoughts when she is at school and mindfully inhale thinking of her suffering and exhale sending her peace, love, compassion and goodwill.

            The second situation that this practice of loving kindness has helped is my own mental challenges. I am notorious for compartmentalizing my emotions or negative situations. For the most part my meditation has helped me with this over the years but since school has started I have not been as diligent about my time management which has hampered my time for meditation and sleep. In practicing loving kindness and turning this awareness to myself I have become aware of two events that took place in my life in a two month span in the summer of 2010. I purchased a brand new 2008 Harley Davidson Nightster 1200XL, I am sure you can imagine where this is going. I bought the bike with intentions of riding with my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I proceeded to wreck pretty bad, not once but twice! The first accident involved just me and was bad. I actually still suffer ankle issue from it. The second accident my wreck caused my husband to wreck , almost caused my sister to lay her bike down and my brother had to swerve into the becoming lane of traffic to avoid my skidding down the road for 60’. Since that time I have not been back on a bike and even quiver when other motorcycles drive by me. I feel that I have become fearful and anxious about many things which is not in my nature to be that way at all. I used to be quite the opposite, calm for the most part but aggressive when needed.

               

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?

A “mental workout “is an act of practicing mindful intention to benefit mental, spiritual and psychological growth. Research indicates that there are proven benefits of a mental workout. “Mental workouts” can be implemented through meditation practices as well as other forms of practice such as Tai Chi. I went to two silent 10 day Vipassana Meditation retreats in Shelburne Falls, MA. I really enjoyed it as it had profound effects on my life and personal growth. It was just after I got divorced that Or in the process of that my daily meditation practice took a back seat to daily chores of maintaining a house, 2 horses, 3 dogs and Makayla who was 5 at the time. I lived 20 miles from town out in the middle of nowhere which I absolutely loved but it had its challenges, especially when it snowed! This week of practice has been a great motivator to better prioritize my time because meditation practice is as important for my benefit as it is everyone who is around me. Mindfulness is an important part of a “mental workout”.

Michelle