unit 6 - universal loving kindness

1. Practice the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise on p. 93.

Ok, so I tried this and struggled (as usual) it was too overwhelming to try and focus on everyone (think back to my difficulties with the previous Loving Kindness exercise). So, I narrowed it down to the immediate people in my life. It made it a little easier to focus on my immediate family. My 19 year old son – came to mind. Things have been trying with him lately, he's  flexing his grown up muscles, making decisions I’m not crazy about, but still trying to do the right thing. So my mind has been crammed with thoughts of making sure he’s on the right path.  It’s exhausting, I may worry too much and it may just be that what he’s doing is age appropriate.  There, more positive.  I also began to focus on my 14 year old daughter, who has made it her mission to roll her eyes every time I speak to her.  I know this is just what I should expect at her age – but two teens in the house can make it crazy. I finally started to focus some positive energy on both of them and felt myself begin to relax. It was challenging but at some point I relaxed and let go.  Aromatherapy would have made this so much easier.

2. Complete the Integral Assessment discussed in chapter 11 (p.115)

This assessment was very enlightening. My psychospiritual aspect of life needs significant improvement. I am relatively emotionally stable, but I feel so much pressure as a single parent, fulltime student with a very stressful work environment. I want to be supportive and nurturing but I feel like I have no support.  I really need to focus on my emotional life.

3. Describe the exercise and assessment process. What did you discover about yourself? What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development? Why? What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?

I discovered that I need to seriously focus on myself – I always put others first and when I put myself first, there is guilt. Everyone around me says I am so strong.  I am really just a great pretender.  I need to be able to ask for help and support and find ways to deal with my own issues. I am working on my approach to my professional life and I am learning to set boundaries so I can reduce the impact work has on me.  I realize the work stress is unnecessary, but my psychospiritual part of my life needs work.

Part of this work involves paying it forward, I am speaking at two events – One is a vigil for victims of sexual assault who didn’t make it.  The other is a March for Sexual Assault Victim’s Rights.  It is scary, but I am lucky to have survived a very public case and I am thriving not just surviving.  If I can inspire just one person, then I am doing well in the world.

 

Dacher, E.S., (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:

Blogs I responded to:

http://www.kaitlintakesonlife.blogspot.com/

http://yahweysinspirationalcoffeebreak.blogspot.com/2013/04/hello-everyone-love-kindness-exercise.html?showComment=1365406978596#c1260146910361790994