Week 6 HW420

Well week 6 is here and I am getting a jump start. I will be out of town this weekend and a retreat! yeah!

Week six I practiced the loving kindness on page 93 and again I was amazed. I actually had a co worker read it to me so I could concentrate a little better. I have noticed a great deal of change in my heart. I have allowed myself to open up to the idea of meditation. I have also had not so pleasant thoughts enter my mind and they have been a bit disturbing. I know now the disturbing thoughts can be turned to love and will not hurt me.

Page 115 Assessment

After I completed this assessment I found the chatter sometimes re entering my still mind. I am able however to have that still mind for almost 7 minutes now which was impossible at the beginning. When I asked the question what part of my life needs help? emotional health came flooding into my heart. I enjoyed this assessment and plan to continue with it at least three times a week.

Shawna

HW420 Week 5

Compare and contrast the loving kindness exercise and subtle mind exercise.

I have been practicing the loving kindness exercise now for a week and have noticed a great difference in my outlook towards others. I do see others in a more loving way which has given me a sense of peace. People that used to irritate me I see as now as less of an irritation and more as people I am praying for( and really praying for ha ha). The subtle mind exercise was great until the static in the CD. the static was loud and scared me I jumped!! lol I would like to hear the rest of it. My only frustration was the static present in the audio. I have noticed a focused mind lately. I tend to have the chatter at night when it is quiet and can not sleep. I have been practicing the love and kindness exercise at night to ease the stress.

Shawna

week 4 HW420

Oh boy the loving and kindness exercises!!!! I truly did not think I would be able to complete these exercises and be so relaxed. It was very easy to focus on the person I love but quite a different story on a person I do not care for. To focus on having love and kindness for another individual that I am not fond of took some effort. These exercises were definitely a benefit because I realized I had a couple of big resentments. To my surprise I have completed these exercises two more times with great success and have felt better.(Imagine that ha ha ha)

Mental workouts are proven to keep the mind free of so called chatter and allow us to operate in a more efficient manner.

Shawna

Relax

It has taken sometime in my life to learn the art of relaxation. I tend to think I have to go to every event I am invited to. Just for today I am taking care of me! No babysitting the grandson,entertaining students,errands,drama or appointments! I will take a moment for Shawna and enjoy the nothingness of a Saturday morning just me and my coffee. It is peaceful moments like this that create a centered spirit for me.