The loving kindness meditation exercise was a little challenging to close my eyes and remember what I was supposed to repeat for 10 minutes. Then I decided to put the first two sentences together and the second set of sentences together which helped me to remember what I was supposed to repeat. I got caught up in what I was trying to remember instead of the real reason for this exercise which is to practice loving-kindness to others in opening my heart.
The assessment which I gathered was from the reading on pages 114-116 from “Notes from a Fellow Traveler” (Dacher, 2006) . During the process of interpreting the assessment, I found that I need healing in a couple of areas: biological and worldly. In the biological area, I need healing in the area of stress management and get back into an exercise routine—eating healthier foods would not hurt either. In the worldly area, I am finding it a challenge to be open in my approach to wishing stranger’s health and well being especially with rude people that I might have to interact with. Perhaps that is what my task should be in order to help me make strides in this area. I can make a conscious choice to practice loving kindness no matter who it is. Rude people probably would benefit from it even more so. Improvement in these areas will take some time, but I know it is possible because I have faith that it will and my tenacious nature will see to that. Practicing loving-kindness is where I need the most patience and will incorporate the meditation in the morning and again whenever I feel the need throughout the day.
I too had an issue with concerning myself with stangers. I know it sounds horrible however I am more concerned with my family first. I am not sure that I want to work on this aspect honestly. I beleive the biological aspect is the easiest (in my opinion) to work on. We are all familiar with things that we have to do like exercise and eat well. These are all things that we must commit to change. I agree that the loving-kindness exercise was difficult. I think that once we feel better about ourselves and our family we can then worry about the rest of the world unless that makes you feel good inside. Good post and agreed.
ReplyDeleteI have found that it is easier for me to consider strangers, if I think for a minute what they might be going through. I know when I am at my worst, it is usually because of something going on in my life. If I am stressed, sad, or angry, I am less likely to be happy go lucky and kind to everyone. I have found that if I consider rude people I encounter may simply be going through something difficult (which could effect their outward attitudes) it makes it much easier for me to wish them well.
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline,
ReplyDeleteI had a difficult time concentrating and remembering the passages I was suppose to as well. Interestingly, when I read Lou's post, she indicated that she had said them out loud, not something that I had done. After I went back and tried it that way, it helped me to remember the phrases better. Obviously if I were to practice this exercise in a more public setting it would need to be silent and to myself, but at least his would help me to memorize it for later. Since we have started this course I do find myself more patient with others and dealing with their rudeness, so I find that encouraging in and of itself.
My areas of assessment were very similar to yours too. Funny how we all seem to have much in common! I find exercising to be a great way to reduce stress and clear my mind and I often wonder why I don't make more time to take care of myself. My daughter has started going to the YMCA with me to help get us both off the couch and moving and we truly do enjoy the time together, we sing to the radio on the way home, and each come home much more refreshed.
Sandy
Hey Caroline!!
DeleteI need more patience too! I have noticed in the last 3 years my patience and tolerance for certain things have grown, but for rude individuals its hard to be polite back!! When you are as you are, smiling and saying hello to someone, and they completely ignore you, how are you suppose to be considerate of that? I guess somehow you are, and I am too...and I know someday we all will-hopefully someday everyone has love and kindness! Sometimes when I don't get a response back from from someone whether its a smile or a hello, I figure they are just having a bad day, and I wish to them that they have a better one! Killing them with kindness, and actually meaning it really works! People rub off each other, and if you notice someone is being rude, maybe its just not their day....give them more kindness, and I am sure they will appreciate it! You take care!
Can't we all use a little more patience? It is clear to me that yoga, fitness, and Qigong should indefinitely be incorporated into my life more regularly to sustain better health and well-being and to propel myself further along the road to spiritual flourishing. We have experienced first hand the effects of meditation, and I think we would all agree that the world would be a better place if we all took part in a daily ritual of loving-kindness, and calm-abiding. Even practicing a couple of minutes a day can alleviate unecessary suffering. It all adds up!
ReplyDeleteCaroline,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I chose to focus more on building stronger relationships, I agree it is more challenging to become more open to being conscious about strangers’ well-being. I see myself as empathetic to strangers, such as on my way to work in the morning I normally see a handful of people walking on bitter cold days as the shelter has dismissed those from the night prior. Though I definitely agree it will take effort to practice loving kindness to a stranger who has made a rude remark or gesture. There is plenty of areas I can work on, for sure.
Helping rude people is hard for many of us. I am in a partnership Holistic business with a friend and sometimes I want to scream when people scoff or walk away from theirs or their pets bettered health. In Worldly flourishing I need to work on my generativity skills and build my confidence in what I know so I can share it with others.
ReplyDelete