Exercise on Loving Kindness

1. Describe your experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or why not?

I truly am enjoying Dacher's book on Integral Health and am trying to not only read the words on the pages but find meaning behind them.  They problem is that I know exactly where the stress in my life comes from.  A controlling jealous husband that is convinced if I shut the bedroom door alone for more than 15 minutes I must be up to no good or sending a misfit text to some imaginary person he's created a world of jealousy toward.  Did I find this exercise beneficial? No! Not because the program was designed poorly.  Not because I didn't attempt on multiple occasions.  Probably because he's so scared of losing something that he's pushing it away.  Sorry this isn't beneficial to the advancement of the assignment but it's a blog, and it's honest.  I took 2 years off work to finish my BS degree and attempt to complete my Masters.  I got married 2 months ago and am realizing that I really had the world in my reigns until I tied the knot. Would I recommend this to others? Sure.  I'd recommend it to myself if I could have a moment's peace in this house. 

1. What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?

A mental workout. There are proven benefits to mental workouts.  Meditation can alleviate the stress in your life and is statistically proven to increase gamma waves in the brain and structurally change the way the body reacts to stress.  I need to implement mental workouts in my daily health because within the last 2 months my health has seriously degraded.  I don't sleep, I struggle to complete assignments, my day feels hopeless from the moment I wake up and I find it hard to enjoy tasks I have always loved.  I'm not depressed.  I'm angry.  It's hard to find loving-kindness when you can't even find yourself under someone else's reign of negativity. 

Journey on Relaxation Exercise

Sitting here this morning trying to do this relaxation exercise and learn how to start blogging all at the same time.  Interestingly enough I find that I'm not the least bit relaxed.  The guy's voice in the exercise was very soothing and the music was tranquil.  However, he didn't give me the time I felt I needed to really move the blood from my abdomen to my arms and back.  I've done many guided relaxation techniques in the past and have enjoyed them.  This one was not very beneficial to me.  I think when you know you are completing a mandatory relaxation exercise to write an evaluation on it takes away from the purpose of the exercise.  I wasn't able to rest my mind.  All I kept thinking was "how is this going to make me feel" and "what will I say in the blog".  Then the phone rang and that really didn't allow me to reap any benefits.  I assume I will try this again later after I'm certain that my blog was published and working.