Unit 8 Blog

By Jill Gazelle

1.             Review the exercises and practice sessions you have completed in this course. (Loving Kindness, Subtle mind, Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two practices that you have determined to be most beneficial. How can you implement these practices in your personal life to foster “mental fitness”? Provide specific examples.

    The loving kindness exercise reminded me that an enduring well-being requires a diminished focus on our-selves and our own needs and enhanced concern and compassion for the welfare of others.  This exercise taught me to think before I react, to look at people with a genuine sense of love and kindness. The subtle mind exercise showed me that enduring well-being requires cultivation of wisdom.  This exercise helped me quiet the mind, something that was a huge issue for me.  Somehow, I got through life, excelled and conquered many things.  But, I did it with an ADHD mind which was constantly switching channels.  This exercise was very difficult at first, but with practice I learned it was possible to focus and quiet the mind, without medication.  Visualization is something I have always practiced.  Somewhere during my past I found that if I visualize something, it most always comes to pass.  But, the important thing to remember is your mind has to be healthy to achieve visualization success. Meditation was painful.  When I practiced it I found myself exhausted, but with MUCH practice that went away. 

     To be completely honest this class has made me feel like I was barbaric in my approach to life.  I keep thinking, “How could I have gotten through life this far without an Integral approach to my mind and personal health?” I struggled, thinking if I take such an approach to life I would lose control.  When in actuality practicing these exercises gave me more control. 

     The practices that were most important to me are the loving kindness exercise and the subtle mind exercise.  With effort both these practices can change your life and change the way we maneuver and react to everyday life.  The best way to ensure Mental Health is to practice these exercises daily.  During the last 8 weeks I noticed a big change in myself and the way I react to events.  I have experienced a huge amount of stress during this semester and struggled with basic assignments.  I truly believe if I would not of had the experience of these exercises, I would have been overwhelmed with life and unable to cope.  Life has a way of bringing things to you in your most desperate moments.