Two Practices To Be Most Beneficial

I think the loving kindness and the mediation ones have been the most beneficial to me.  I liked the loving kindness because it reminded me that if I want someone to be loving and kind to me, I must first be loving and kind to them.  I must remember that there are other people out there in the world who are suffering while I am truly blessed.  What can I do to help them or make an impact in the community where I live.  I want people to look at me and see that I am loving and kind.

The second is mediation.  This type of practice makes me take a step back from daily life and be still.  It makes my mind rest, my body and my spirit.  I can reflect on good thoughts and experiences and store them away for future needs.

I have enjoyed this class, and I sincerely think it will help me when I go to deal with people and their health and nutrition issues.



Ann

New Personal Blog!

If you want to keep following me after this term, feel free to follow one or both my blogs!




Lady Loves Coffee


or


Nutrition In A Pinch





Best to everyone!


Ann

Meeting Aesclepius

I kind of had a hard time finding a face to go with this person.  I spent the first time doing the exercise trying to come up with someone or a visual image of someone that I missed the whole thing and had to listen again.  The second time around I still just could not do it, put a face in that space.  I ended up just thinking of a big white cloud that lead me around and guided me.

I believe I am getting more spiritually well, some of it is the class and the other part of it is me taking the time to pray, mediate on God's word, and having some peace and quite in my life.  It has helped tremendously!  I am going to keep spending everyday, if not every other day, having time for me, to be still, listening to my mind, body and spirit, so I can tell what is going on.

One cannot lead another where on has not gone himself.  If you have never experienced something, how can you give advice on the subject?  You can, but will you be taken seriously?  I want to be taken like I know what I am talking about, not some fly by night quack who is just there to put my time in or to get a pay check.

I want to be a well rounded person; professionally and personally.  I want people to look at me, see what I do and realize that yes, I can help them, and I will.  I need to make sure that I am up to par in all of these areas of my life too.

This has been a wonderful class.  I am learning such important things, that I would of never thought of before.  I greatly appreciate everyones feedback and support!

Until next time!!


Ann

Loving Kindness and Assessment Unit 6, over half way done!

I can not believe that we are over half way done with this term already!  Time goes by so fast.  When I stop and think about it, I realize that I still haven't taken much time for relaxing, mediation, or loving myself with some loving kindness.  This is something I really need to work into my life.  I can and do see the benefit of it when I do it!

Now, on to week 6 and things we need to do!

I like the thoughts to think ( if that makes sense) on page 93:

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

This IS exactly what I want to do!  When I started my first blog  LADY LOVES COFFEE, the whole point was to help people find their healthy, happy life!  I think that if we really care about people we will do everything mentioned above to the best of our ability!


I think I am ready for growth in all areas of my life, I am a knowledge seeker, and learning means growth!  Sometimes I do have a hard time just sitting and being still, because there is so much to do, in such a short amount of time!  I need to go go go!  Do do do!  Sometimes I might not handle situations that best because I want to fix it now or see it come to a closure soon.  This is another area of development that I need to look into:)  If I could get myself a little better in balance, have some calm abiding mojoing in my life, I might be doing better!!


See you on the blogs!

Ann

Subtle Mind

Loving kindess is all about loving everyone, including yourself.  Subtle mind is about getting your mind under control.  Controlling your thoughts, not grasping and clinging at random thoughts that fly thru your mind.  Your mind is clear, focused and quiet.  Sometimes we need to just stop and listen to what our mind, body and spirit is telling us, instead of grasping at straws and running hither and tither.  

I thought that the exercises were very similar.  They both involved breathing, relaxing and focusing on oneself.  I honestly have a hard time doing both.  I really need to learn to focus, but when I am just "sitting" here, listening to some lady speak, I think of all the things I could be doing.  This is where I need to learn to focus my thoughts, clear my mind, and love myself enough to just be still for a bit!  Why is that so hard!?  Surely, I am not the only person who deals with this madness?  

I know that if I go for awhile without spending time in God's word, praying, or just meditating, then I feel like I am about ready to fall apart!  I need that refreshing, that rejuvenating of my spirit in order for my body and mind to feel free and lifted of burdens.  Sometimes, I let myself go a long time with out that refreshing because I let "life" get in the way.  I have to work, work out, shop at the grocery store, do laundry, dishes, homework, blogs, my son's school things, sports, rental property issues, bills to pay.  I need to sleep at sometime!  I get drained, then I don't have the energy to recharge my batteries!  I need to not let myself get this way, but sometimes it happens before I even realize it!  

I know that if I am not mentally or spiritually upbeat or well, I don't feel good on the whole.  I may go through the motions, but on the inside something is missing.  It is so important to take care of yourself in all areas of your life.  Your mind, body and spirit are so in tune with each other, they depend on each other.  

Keep on loving others and yourself!

Until next time!  

Loving Kindness

The relaxation exercise has some great wave sounds going on in the background.  That almost put me to sleep!  Some times I think we just need to sit and be still for a bit.  I could do that while sitting on the beach on vacation, this brought back those memories and made me want to just "be".  Nothing more, nothing less.

I was a little confused about the taking on someone else suffering.  That made me feel bad, because really there is nothing I could do for them but pray for them.  That is what I did at that time.  I have a few family members, who at this time are going through a hard time.  This made me stop and think about them, not about me.  This was a wonderful thing, to put the emphasis on someone else, not on my wants, needs or desires.  {which I think we get overwhelmed with sometimes}
Have you ever heard the song by Matthew West , Population Me {click here for the song}  It is about a guy who only looks at the world and see's what he wants or needs.  Then he see's a homeless widow on the street needing money, he gives it too her, and it changes his life.  We need to do that, love on other people  more.  I think we miss that part of loving kindness A LOT!

For this to make an impact on your life, you have to seriously want to make that change to be more loving and kind to people, no one can force it on you.  I think this would be great for someone who has come to themselves and understand that they are not the only out there in the world and want to make an impact, even if it is just on one person.

A trained mind can influence our physiology, hormonal and immune system.  It can effect every area of our life.  Mental training can transform the mind by reducing disturbing emotions that cause use to be angry, hateful, fearful, worrisome, confused and have doubt in our lives, while enhancing positive emotions such as patience, love, kindness, openness, acceptance and happiness (fruits of the spirit like the bible says).  If we live in fear, full of hate and do not have love and kindness, how can we love someone else?  This is something I need to work on, loving myself.

This unit has a plethora of information, that I hope to glean off of.  I want to love others!  I want to love myself!  I want to gain knowledge, wisdom more than rubies and gold!

Challenging myself is a wonderful way to make yourself change!  I am changing my whole eating lifestyle!  Feel free to check it out at LADY LOVES COFFEE!

Tell next blog!


Ann

Week Number 2-How is my Physical, Spiritual and Mental Wellbeing...

I dislike {greatly} having to rate myself on anything or anyone else for that matter.  .  When it comes to reviews at work, I fret about it days before I finally write down my answers.  If someone wants my "honest" opinion I break out into a cold sweat.  What if I am wrong, I second guess myself, what if I really do it this way instead of that way, and they take it the wrong way. I always want to make sure that my answers are clear, make sense and never hurt anyone's feelings, mostly my managers.  Or what if the cake was marvelous but my tastebuds sucked that day and I thought that the cake tasted like dirt.  OY!  But I am going to give it the old college try, and rate three areas of my life; physical, spiritual and psychology (which I might obviously need help in:).


Physically-I have come a long way baby!  100 pounds long way!  I FEEL great!  Do I still have a ways to go?  You bet! 10 to 15 pounds and I will have met that goal.  I give myself an 8 in this area.  Not a 10 because I still need to work at it and nothing lower because, well, I have done well for myself in this area.  I don't think I will ever be a 10 in the physical area.  I think that will just be a constant goal for me to try harder and harder.  Some goals you meet and are excited about and move onto another goal.  With physical well being you should keep striving, changing, mixing it up so you do not become bored and give up.  I don't want to be that person who thinks, welp, I lost the weight, time to sit back and relax for a bit.  You know what would happen?  The weight, depression, sadness, would come back with vengeance and I would never get rid of it.

Yeah, before...good grief!  

Spiritual-I would have to give myself a 6 on this one.  I think spiritual health is just as important as physical health.  Always striving for that perfect mark, working hard to get at it, and one day, when I reach heaven I will receive that crown that I have worked hard for here on earth.  I build up treasures in heaven, not down here where the moth can get to it and eat it all up.  One of my goals from a year or so ago, when I decided to go back to school, was to be an inspiration to anyone and everyone I meet.  If I am not spiritual well, I will not have the strength somedays to get out of bed.  I depend a lot on God, for His guidance, His Word that I can read daily and just his presence.  I am always running the race, waiting to receive the high mark!  But there again, if I think I am a 10, I have nothing to strive for.

Doing much better now:) 

Mental Health-I have low self esteem.  I have tried the whole looking in the mirror and saying "your good enough, your smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like you" but I never believe it.  Ever.  My mother growing up would call me names, moose, cow, tubby...words of endearment that I am sure  of now, and no matter how much I have forgiven her (spiritual side), I can NOT get those words out of my head.  I think I could weigh 100 pounds and still feel that way.  Growing up in foster care, even though it was a great home,  made me feel, because I was, different.  That I didn't belong anywhere, not wanted.  I struggle to this day with trying to understand why my husband married me, why people want to be my friend, how I look, am I good enough for my son?  I REALLY need to get this under control. Who wants to come talk to a lady about how they feel, look and are worried about their weight and health if I am crying in the corner because I feel fat that day.  Um no one, that is who!  So in the whole area of psychology wellness, I would give myself a 3...nothing higher for many reasons, and nothing lower because, I do function on a daily basis...

Goals:

Lose this last 10 to 15 pounds
Spend more timing praying, seeking after God
Learn to like myself and then love myself.


Activities:

I think I will just keep doing what I am doing for my physical side.  CrossFit 3 times a week, walking 4 or 5 times a week, eating clean.
Reading my bible more, sharing my faith more.
I need to learn to relax when it comes to ME.  I am cool, I am chill, or I think I can be, do some yoga more!

The relaxation exercise made me nervous, I guess that is the best way to describe it.  I did not like the whole focus on me bit...felt weird.



Another great long blog!!!  Sorry folks, I like to talk!!  It is kind of therapeutic!


You can check out my Clean Eating Challenge that I put myself under here
Lady Loves Coffee


Until next time!

Ann