This week we
focused on Universal Loving Kindness. The exercise attempts to focus on all of
humanity, not just those relationships that are closest to us. Its goal is to set our minds on offering
empathetic listening, seeing, and caring for other. In this meditation, you close your eyes and
allow yourself 2-3 minutes to just relax into yourself and then you repeat the
phrases below to yourself for about ten minutes.
- May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
- May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
- May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
- May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
When I completed
this exercise, I felt like I should pray.
There are so many desperate and hurting people in the world. I was frustrated in a way because just
thinking these thoughts does no good, but praying these things does. So that is what I did, I prayed. I believe God uses people in others lives to
bring about healing and peace, freedom from suffering. I don’t think it is possible without the help
of the Holy Spirit.
The integral assessment focuses on contemplating
which area of your life you are experiencing difficulty or suffering –
psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal, or worldly. The result of this exercise did not surprise me
at all. I have had deep difficulty in
the area of interpersonal relationships for the last five years as a result of
my separation and divorce, and moving into a different relationship with my ex
as a result. I need to develop my mind
more so that I do not allow the negativity that generates from him to penetrate
my being. I need to grow in this area so
that I do not listen to the negative chatter in my mind and replace those
thoughts with positive loving thoughts.
I need to practice forgiveness on a daily basis.
The assessment also revealed that I am moving
forward nicely in promoting integral health in my biological area. I have recently been diagnosed with type 2
diabetes, and have made many positive changes in my diet and exercise in order
to get my blood sugar under control. The
next level is maintaining what I have accomplished so that I am better able to
manage my disease moving forward.
Hi Sheila,
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting how everyone has a different experience with these exercises. For me, I couldn't stay focused or remember what I needed to be saying and would have to look at the book and then get distracted.
The integral assessment I enjoyed though! I can understand where you are coming from when you say you need to work on interpersonal relationships due to your divorce and the negativity from you ex. I was at that place for several years myself. I have finally been able to move on from that after finally being able to forgive. It is not easy to get there, but I recommend it.
You did a great job this week! I look forward to reading more from you.
Hi Sherrie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. I am at a much different place than I was even six months ago, so I am getting there! I have to just remind myself that I am not anything like the accusations he throws at me, and work on those things I have learned about myself that I do need to change or grow in regards to. It has been a tremendous growth process for me. Too bad he did not stick around to see the better me :)
The meditations are hard for me too. I did have to keep reading the phrases because my memory is not that great. That was a little distracting. The only one I have really enjoyed was the subtle mind exercise, but I get the intention of them. I think there are just other things that I enjoy that make me grow in a spiritual sense, and that relax and recenter me.
Thanks for reading my blog this week!
Sheila, enjoyed reading your post! I also felt the urge to pray when I repeated those words about gaining freedom and assisting people. I also felt the need to repent for all the times that I could of helped someone and did not!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Ann