The two practices I remember helping me the most was in Unit 4 about LovingKindness and in Unit 7 to envision a wise person, become the wise person and then be the wise person.
In the Loving-Kindness exercise, I came to the realization that I could forgive and live with the people I encounter on a daily basis that I do not necessarily want to be around. I realized I could forgive them, I realized I did not really want something bad to happen to them. The way I can implement this exercise in my life is that on the days that I encounter the people or that I anticipate meeting these people, to make sure that I spend time meditating on giving them life. Breathe in the positive aspects about the person, the positive blessings I want to wish for this person in health, wholeness and happiness and breathe out disease and negative feelings over their lives. I can pray to God for them. I can pray for God to give me wisdom to have discernment about how to deal with people like this.
The second exercise in Unit 7 was the last of our meditations on “Meeting Asciepius.” At first I did not realize that Asciepius was a god of inner healing. This disturbed me greatly, because I refuse to worship or think on any other god other than the one true and Living God. During the exercise I saw my daddy, and then I saw my mother and then I saw Jesus. When it pertained to something that daddy was good at, I saw him, when it was something that fit my mother better, I saw her and asked myself the question, “Would she speak the way I have been speaking to people?” “No, she would speak kindly and lovingly and tender to people…so that is the way I will speak to people, especially my children.” Then I envisioned Jesus when neither my mother nor my father could measure up. I love my parents very much, but I cannot worship them. I can envision them as wise and loving, but I cannot envision healing without Jesus. He is my Healer. The way I will incorporate this practice is to depend on Him to do the inner healing, I will envision Him when I need healing on the inside. He is all I need. But I need to be more regular on meeting with Him and studying the scriptures and knowing what He wants me to do with my life, and then I can be on the road to healing and wellness.
I will implement these exercises in my everyday life to foster “mental fitness” in the ways described above.
Loving-kindness seems to open the door to forgiveness. When the focus is no longer first person, it makes such a difference in how we view people and their actions. This practice has been an eye opening experience for many individuals not realizing how much negativity they were holding towards others. The wisdom exercise was interesting. I shared this with some friends and clients and marveled at the wide range of responses. The common thread appeared to be the serenity following the exercise.
ReplyDeleteLovingkindness without expectation of lovingkindness in return is a strange concept at first to swollow. I have to say it is a challenge however I think that the lovingkingness should be felt or experienced by us also and this mediation allows for that which I am grateful for. I have tended to not give myself the self love & friendship that I craved from others and now that I am starting to give myself these wonderful things it matters less that I recieve these feelings from others (but of course it is and would be nice if we all did) and so I worry less about my worthiness & feel worthy because I am able to feel love from within first. My happiness is not reliant upon the outside world as much as it used to be & I hope to attain the state that my happiness is not attained from outside forces but 100% within.
ReplyDeleteVery inciteful post Theressa!
From Liz Hobby
In addition to forgiveness loving kindness is a way of life, a way of responding to and dealing with people and ourselves. People are so wonderfully different, each with a variety of stories and experiences which have formed who and what they are. Some are lost, some in pain, some are funny, some are sad, but they all have something to share and loving kindness brings out the best in them.
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