Can You Lead?

The term "one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself " is definitely important for any health care provider.  It is important if you are trying to teach someone how to develop their psychological and spiritual then it is important to be developing your own as well.  Unless you have been to a place whether it be a physical place like a different country or an emotional place you cannot tell another person how to get around in that place unless you are familiar with it. 

In order to help your clients you should not only teach them the exercises but also do them with them and take the time to get their feedback as to what works for them and what they need to work on.  This is not only true for emotional and spiritual journeys but physical ones as well.  If you are trying to help someone to become physically fit you should be physically fit as well. 

The bottom line is be a good role model.

Meeting Asciepius

I am going to do Unit 7 in 2 parts. 

I did the exercise and I must admit that this was one of those I had trouble focusing.  I tried to picture my grandfather who died close to 20 years ago.  Just like the other exercise where we were picturing people in our lives, I cannot just keep one thing in my mind.  I really like the ocean, and that is what I liked most about the last one as well.  I had trouble picturing the light and transferring it, I just can't get focused enough.  I did not feel any different when I was done than when I  started. 

I hope as more time I will be able to incorporate some meditation into my life, but I think the kind that I like best are the ones that help you clear your mind and not think of anything or anyone.  Right now because things are so busy that I need mind clearing.  These exercises have definitely shown me what I am missing in my life and how much I do need to find time for meditation, so even if I haven't reaped any benefits immediately at least I have learned what I need to do in the future.

Integral Assessment

After doing the Integral Assessment I realized even more that what I need to work on is my psychospiritual aspect.  I still have my belief system in place and know that there is a power greater than me and I believe that everything we need is already here, we just have to be open to it. I just have not given myself enough time to really sit down and allow that calm into my life. 


I know that I need to get back into my exercise and Pilates routine and I should add yoga.  I also need to find some more quiet time and start reading for pleasure again.  I have not read a book for pleasure in a long time and I cannot wait to have time to do that again.  I keep saying when I am done school I will have time for all of this, but you know that nature abhors a vacuum, so if I am not careful I will be sucked up by something.

The Universal Loving Kindness Exercise is an exercise that I should incorporate more often.  I get so wrapped up in the stuff I am dealing with that I do tend to forget that there are others who are dealing with far more. Especially this time of year this is a good one to remember.

Happy Holidays to all and a Blessed New Year!

Subtle Mind

This exercise is the sort of exercise I would enjoy more if I ever get the time to do meditation like I should.  I found that just focusing on breathing along with the calming sounds was much easier than having to think of certain images and focus on that.   It is difficult for me to keep my mind still so any type of practice that I do will take just that, practice, but I do know that taking time to focus on yourself and nothing else is beneficial to your overall health.

 I know that there is a connection between spiritual wellness and physical wellness.  I just know that when I under stress I can feel my body react to it.  I used to be much better at handling stress than I am now.  I don't know if it just me getting older or am I under more stress than I ever was before? Either way I really need to find time to do exercises like this.  I am sure it would help me sleep better at night which would go a long way to obtaining spiritual wellness.

Loving-Kindness

I found this exercise more difficult than previous ones.  I think  because I had such a stressful week that it made it difficult to focus. In one way it made me a little depressed because when I was thinking of someone I love I immediately thought of my fiance, and due to circumstances in my life it makes it difficult for us to be together as much as we want to be.

Working in the office that I work in I am surrounded by women who are suffering from breast cancer.  In one respect I wish there was more that I could do for them, but on the other hand I do have to keep some sort of distance or it would completely burn me out.

  I know that you get out of the universe what you put in.  If you put loving-kindness out there you will get loving kindness back.  I think is difficult for many people as everyone is so stressed and it can be difficult to try to stay calm and keep a good attitude. 

The mental workout according to Dacher can take as little as 15 minutes a day and I do believe that if you stuck to this practice you could change your entire way of thinking.  I wish I could say that I could commit to this right now, I really think it would do me good, but my mind is too busy and right now I do not think I have the motivation that I need.  I do believe that once I am done this term and do not have to worry about papers and tests I will pull this book out again and really concentrate on it, because I do believe that what you think you get and if you believe in something it will be there.