Daily Practice to Inner Transformation

As we are nearing the end of our 10 week journey to integral health, I feel like it is just the beginning for me. Although I am still working at doing a consistent daily meditation practice, I know this is what calms me and gets me in touch with my inner self, who I want to be.

Of the practices we experienced in this course, I like the visualizations especially "Meeting Aesclepius" and the "Loving Kindness" meditation. I have been working on doing a shorter, 10 minute meditation in the early morning to start my day feeling grounded and in control of my thoughts and choices. I like ending my evening with "Meeting Aesclepius" or another meditation that puts me in a relaxed state before I go to sleep. My plan is to continue with this schedule, which has not been perfect yet, until it becomes a natural daily process. My goal is to get to a point where I can do this without a guide and visualize or meditate on my own with the music in the background.

Leading by example...

We're entering week 7 of my journey to integral health. I have been practicing meditation a little more regularly, but have been preoccupied this week. A meditation series called “abundance” has been mainly my morning focus and this has helped me start each day with a positive attitude around my work and intentions for the day. In the evenings I have been attempting to do either the “loving-kindness” or another meditation series I started a couple of weeks ago. At times it is wonderful and gives me the feelings of acceptance and kindness, while other nights it is difficult for me to concentrate with other distracting thoughts. I do need to make this a regular practice as I do see the benefits and know they will grow as I do this more regularly.

The “meeting Aesclepius” meditation was a little difficult for me this time trying to concentrate on one person, but I did keep going back to one person and a message that all the negative thoughts and feelings are senseless in life. Just concentrate on feeling the love around you and giving that love to others. This did bring a sense of peace.

“One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself”. In the case of integral health, how can a practitioner or healer help their patient/client step into this journey if they have no experience themselves? It would be like a practitioner who struggles with obesity and has never experienced transforming their own behaviors that were blocking them from that weight-loss, trying to guide their patient to achieving this. In this case it goes beyond counting calories and exercising, it is recognizing and changing behaviors and their mindset, discovering what their body/mind is really craving or needing, and how to maintain motivation. Even if the practitioner hasn’t been through that particular journey, having experienced change and transformation of some sort themselves can help to better guide others through their journey.

Universal Loving Kindness

This week we moved to a universal “loving kindness” meditation exercise which I found very similar to part of my personal spiritual practice. This came very naturally for me as many of my prayers have included people on “universal” level to end suffering and to find peace and feel love in their hearts. I’ve always found it’s a wonderful feeling when you can shift the focus from yourself and the people in your life to people you have yet to meet. Here is the meditation...

"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"

Assessing Integral Health...

Our next exercise was the “Integral Assessment” process which brought back awareness of my need for changes to my “biological” area of growth and development. I chose this area because after having to modify my daily exercise over the past 1+ years, I recently compounded my injury restricting me from any of my favorite outdoor daily activities. It’s been difficult going from 1.5 hrs/day of exercise (walking/cycling) to none so it has affected not only my physical health but also my psychospiritual well-being. I have started today with doing low impact exercises with strength training and will alternate with another, preferably yoga as I find something I can do at home. 

For the spiritual aspect, after my injury a week ago my meditation practice diminished and I really discovered how much I do need this! I have started again with daily meditations of "loving-kindness" along with Deepak Chopra's 21-Day Mediation challenge that started this week. The theme is "Miraculous Esteem" and it truly is a wonderful way to start the day. These exercises have brought me back to what helps the most.

In health & happiness,

Lynne

Witnessing the subtle mind...

This week’s “witnessing the subtle mind” was a little more challenging to me than the “Loving Kindness”

meditation. After doing them both back to back I still find the Loving Kindness meditation to be my favorite, leaving me with feelings of healing and peacefulness. The “subtle mind” exercise was relaxing for about 10 minutes then my mind began to wonder. I found it interesting to try to “witness” my thoughts rather than experience them, almost like looking in on your thoughts. It did help bring awareness to what thoughts were my focus when my mind drifted, and how the breathing can reel my mind back in. I definitely need to work on this and will be curious to see how it changes.

Developing the mind/body wellness is an important step to achieving the spiritual aspect of wellness. As we learn to quiet the mind and go deeper into our consciousness, the spiritual body begins to unfold. I have found them to work hand in hand for me. Exercise has been a daily part of my life for the past 25+ years. I have discovered that while walking early in the morning without cars or people around, I have a chance to connect with nature, the sounds, and my thoughts in a different way while being fully present in the moment and with nature. I have also discovered that during my long cycling rides, it opens my mind to its creativeness and has been the foundation to sorting out issues in my life as well as ending writing blocks for me. The physical aspect is definitely a big part of my total wellness in mind, body, and spirit.

In health & happiness,

Lynne