Unit 6

     The loving kindness exercise was quite difficult to remember the words while trying to stay relaxed and focused.  I often lost the flow of words and then my focus was gone.  I think saying the words outs loud is more difficult than thinking them in your head.  However the message was a great thing to say out loud and send out to the ones in need. 
    Intergral Assesment of Annie
My source of difficulty is in my interpersonal aspects of my life. My interpersonal aspects are something I find hard to control and I like knowing and preparing for my future.  Its a place in my life where I feel like no matter what I do I will not be able to change everything.  I think I need development and growth in each line of development.  The biggest development will be from the mind to soul.  I need to work on the inner me instead of focusing on the outside world
The biggest and harderst exercise that I need to incorporate into my development is mediatation and relaxation.  Being type A personality, its hard to sit in one place at a time and just think.  Controlling my thoughts is going to be a challenge but I am going to work at it. 

Comparing

The love and kindness exercise along with the subtle mind I have found are too long.  I lost interest and focus very quickly.  It didn't help that when I looked at the time that it was going to take that I didn't want to do it before it starts.  I think they are both great practices but my attention span can sit quietly for 20 plus minutes.  Type A personality I have is going to be my challenges with these exercises.
The readings this week were great since I am starting a new workout program.  I often focus on how difficult the exercise is instead of the benefits it is having over my mind and body.  I do feel better after exercising but when I am running on the treadmill my mind is often running as fast as I am.  I am not saying that is super fast but I often forget that I am working out.  Then when I come back to reality, my mind is exhausted making the body follow suit.  I am definitely going to work on my thoughts while I am exercising, to achieve total benefit. 

Loving Kindness Practice

It is always hard to find time to relax and experience these exercises that are given to us in our class.  However this exercise was the best so far.  The narrators voice was soothing and the sounds of waves made the experience better.  When I am often left to just my thoughts and they seem to wonder out of control.  I have everything from what I am going to do when this is done to how much I don't truly appreciate my family.  It is going to be a long journey but the loving kindness practice is another V8 juice to the head to remind me to stop sweating the small stuff.  Instead just focus on loving yourself and others in your life that mean the world to you. 

The mental workout is the same as working out your body to look and feel great.  You have to put the effort into it, commit everyday to take the time need to accomplish your goals.  This workout I believe will have more benefit to our health than just working out muscles. 

Relaxation Technique

Relaxation is a hard thing to come by when life's bad experiences happen.  The exercise did help me focus on myself for that brief 20 minutes.  It was hard to stay focused the whole time due to commotion in the household.  I think with every exercise I am working towards a calmer and more centered Annie.

Rating Myself

Today is not a good day to rate myself.  I just walked into my unit and found a friend post traumatic event, I wont elaborate.  Its these times where thinking about your life happens.  Right now psychologically I would rate myself a 1.  I feel horrible and scared for my friend who is more like a little brother to me.  Spiritually I rate myself at an eight.  I do believe there is some higher power that made certain his brother was there to save him and his alive.  Physical well being I am a 4.  I have gained weight and have been lethargic lately. 
My spiritual goal is to be thankful everyday for my loved ones and tell them as much as I can because life can be short. My psychological goal would try to relax more and maybe incorporate meditation into my daily life.  My physical goal is I am going to work out twice a day to get myself to my goal weight and pass my PT test next month.  It will help me feel better and relieve some stress.  I am going to pump some Iron and then have fun doing my Zumba.  Dancing is a huge stress relief for me.  I am not professional but I can move

The journey

The journey exercise was quite hard for me.  I tend to have a million things running through my head at once.  When I begin to relax I struggle with only focusing on one thing.  It is often when I go outside and listen to nature that I get my best thinking done.  I am going to continue to work on quiting my thoughts.  Wish me luck!