HW420 - Unit 7 Meditation Practices

Greetings Wellness Peers!

Hoping your week went much smoother than mine.  Ever hear of the saying "when it rains it pours?" Yup, that pretty much sums up my week.  I started off with good intentions and a positive outlook on what I knew would be a difficult task (attending a funeral) however I got blind sided with time sensitive financial issues with Kaplan that had me running around like a chicken with no head. Sigh.

Suffice it to say I was not able to fully embrace this week's activities for the betterment of my health however below is what I grasped:

1. Complete the Meeting Aesculapius and describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience.

I listened to the clip on meeting Aesclepius several times today. The flute and the sounds of the waves should be in the entire clip to remain in a relaxed state.  I felt as though I did not enjoy this session as much as the one that focuses on just my breathing. I began to lose focus on the exercise pretty early on and just could not get myself to settle down. 

I can understand the three phases of the mind where at first our mind is described like a waterfall, downing in continuous thoughts, to a stiller mind as represented by a fast paced mountain stream, and finally as calm as fiords and bays.

The only thing that I have changed is, being alert to focused breathing, repeating positive thoughts and being alert when a thought, feeling or image enters, and then making a conscious choice whether to dwell on the thought or just let it dissipate are return to exercise.

I can not say that I felt any new compassion, wisdom, or open heat. I am not discouraged and will continue to practice until I see things unfold and perhaps do as suggested by finding a mentor (or two) to assist me in excelling in spiritual growth pattern.  

Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness.

In that regard, I am stilling the mind and at the same time being my own eye witness to these experiences. Thus far, I achieve small steps in attempting to have a calm-abiding mind allowing me to experience a inner peace. I have put these experiments into my daily routine when I commute to and from work minus the radio

How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

I will continue to implement these practices everywhere, my next job, in a meeting, commuting to all my doctor appointments or my daughter's school, when I am doing mundane tasks, household chores, mowing and tending the garden, at the same time will transform these seemingly meaningless tasks into a deeper meaning of service radiating compassion.

2. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477).

I probably shouldn't be preaching to others about what it takes to have a healthy mind, body and spirit if I don't follow my own advice.  I do believe that I have an obligation to my clients to be developing my health psychologically, physically, and spiritually because that is a good way to give the best advice possible.  I want to know firsthand what it is that I am telling my patients about what is good for them.  I plan to continue the meditation exercises, yoga and practicing loving-kindness to everyone person that crosses my path. In other words, if you have never experienced personal growth, and a deeper understanding of how all phases of the human experience affect individuals how can you expect to show others. One must experience their own spiritual transformation, improve their coping skills, and find an outlet so their health, happiness, and wholeness becomes complete.

3.  How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? 

 Healthcare professionals day in and day out hear the ailments of others repetitiously. Their own health may be at risk if they do not take ownership of fostering spiritual growth.

Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? 

Absolutely, if you are not in the best of health, your clients will soon lose faith in your ability to minimize their pain and suffering.

How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life? 

Dacher supplied a few contemplative exercises that we can partake in at any time. Through perseverance, practice, frustration, ridicule and whatever falls into your path, one can successfully develop psychospiritual quadrant. As I mentioned earlier, I make the time to practice while driving to my appointments and my daughter's school, and mowing the yard. Next on the agenda is transferring this to cleaning out my house to the point where I can apply this to my daily chores (hoping to decrease it to weekly...or maybe once a month).

Peace & Blessings

T.