Unit Four: Our Mental Workout

Our mental workout is more than just practicing rest and relaxation. We are to have continuous development of our mental acuity. We are trying to move toward a loftier place in life than the ups and downs we suffer from day to day. As we practice the following we begin to expand into much more fulfilled human beings.

Loving-kindness is a practice that takes us outside of ourselves. In the practice of this we turn our focus from ourselves and all the selfish desires that comprise our lives. We began to move toward nurturing someone else. We genuinely seek out someone to bless, if I may use that concept. We want to make a homeless person smile by contributing when they are holding up their signs that solicit assistance. We make it our business to go to the nursing home and visit even though some tend to be not so desirable. Personally, I decided to be more nurturing and patience to my husband. As I succumb to pressures in my life, I have noted I am a bit short-tempered. It takes less effort to exhibit kindness. As a Christian this should and must be my daily goal.

The subtle mind is a practice in which all of us should engage. This is the attempt to successfully train the mind, by going to its deeper levels. We want to train our mind so that it is not full of busy talk or all that noise that consumes a lot of our waking hours. The book suggests that this practice will help us learn how to diminish ceaseless mental movements, feelings, images and thoughts. This progresses us toward stable and facile mind of calm-abiding.

I have yet to decide how to effectively utilize the mental workout. I know to ensure a more profitable path to wellness I have got to practice whatever I decide on a regular basis and not be so easily distracted from my course.

Reflections: Mind, Body and Spirit

The opening statement of the blog instructions has a lot of truth in it" "Wellness, as a person centered orientation, relies heavily on the concept that the individual is aware of his/her strengths and needs. However there is often little encouragement or expectation for the individual to self reflect or take a holistic personal inventory or to convey their awareness with their health practitioner."

As I reflect on these areas, I want to be as honest as possible. My physical well-being is not about a 5 on the scale. I have slacked off considerably with consistent, daily physical activity. I made sure last year to get out around 10:00 am to walk briskly for about 30 minutes--now all I do is walk from my house to the car, car to work (vice versa) and back home again. I was also working out on with my Wii Fit program for about 30 minutes. Now I am more sedentary than I care to be--I am going to get up off my couch potato :) and get to moving. Like King Julian says, "I like to move it, move it." The walking will begin again and I will set up my workout on the Wii Fit again.

I give my spiritual well-being an 9. I know that God is my hiding place, my safe haven. I am protected from being overwhelmed by the events of the day, because I do first things first--I have prayer and meditation around 4:30 a.m. each morning. I am going to spend more time in the Bible and reading other spiritually uplifiting materials. I love incorporating affirmations in my life. To me, they are personal messages from God.

My psychological well-being hits a 4 on the scale. I have to deal with work, school and family crisis. I am a victim of post traumatic stress disorder, so I am on the edge more times than I care to be. I recently had my mother-in-law and my brother to die. There does not seem to be adequate time to grieve, but that is a process that I must go through, so I don't compromise my physical self.  I am going to take some time off from work and go off by myself for a few days so that I can deal with the void that has been left by these deaths.

I have to practice being more responsive to the type of exercise we listened, too. I just don't seem to be able to really get the maximum affect from these exercises.

Pam

Reflections: Another Day of Growth

What have I learned in the last few days that I did know when I started this journey? I am learning not to be persuaded by the demons of addiction. My demons are not as monstrous as hard drug or alcohol addictions--but they are addictions nonetheless. My nemesis are fear and food. When I become overwhelmed or fearful with the events that beseige my life, I find solace in eating without purpose. I don't need it to sustain my life force but it only serves to diminish my state of health.

I am now realizing that I don't need this crutch, because it is not an enabler but a disabler. I have decided to be more committed to a lifestyle change. When I want to drive a point home for my own well-being, I find affirmations. So here goes. . .

Affirmations for Health

I have the power to control my health.
~I am in control of my health and wellness.
~I have abundant energy, vitality and well-being.
~I am healthy in all aspects of my being.
~I do not fear being unhealthy because I know that I control my own body.
~I am always able to maintain my ideal weight.
~I am filled with energy to do all the daily activities in my life.
~My mind is at peace.
~I love and care for my body and it cares for me.

Amen!

Don't Worry, Be Happy

There are so many things that we consider as problems and the reality is that they have not yet occurred. I appreciate the way Mark Twain expressed it, "I'm an old man now. And I have known a great many problems in my life... most of which never happened." Most of us fall into this way of thinking. More things are imagined than are real. We fuel situations in our minds and they become so large they appear to be monstrous to us. As we give them shape and form, they consume our very life's force. The issues of this world can be managed reasonably. Even in adversities we can learn techniques that will help us to manage the associated stress. We create stress by our own inability to relax, relate and release. Now that I have learned that disease serves only as the proxy for the real culprit, stress, I have decided to follow a path that will lead me away from the slayer and start to embrace a life that incorporates wholeness and completeness.

I truly want others to follow me down this yellow brick road to happiness and wellness. I say to you as we embark upon this journey--don't worry and be happy!