Unit 4

After listening to the Loving-kindness mp3 and the mind practice mp3, I found it very hard to concentrate and to quiet the mind chatter.  I tried to make my grandmother the focal point, but it seemed like everything that I needed to do or just the most odd things found its way to my mind, so it was truly a battle to focus.  Concentrating on my breathing seemed to work the best for me, and it actually seemed to slow down my thoughts and felt very relaxing. 

I do agree that this is something that must be practiced and you would get better doing it after a while.  I have always been leery in doing any type of meditation or visualization because of hearing negative stories about “opening up your mind” to spirits.  I still struggle with this concept so the only time that I feel comfortable about doing this is when I focus my thoughts on thinking about the Lord or scriptures that come from the Bible. 

I must admit that after participating in the above practice, I felt more at peace with the quietness that I felt and even when I returned back to my daily tasks at work, that same peaceful feeling was with me for the rest of the day.  I am not sure if I would recommend this practice to anyone yet – I think I need to learn more myself and see the results in my own life first.

The concept of mental workout consist of exercising your mind just like you work out your body to make it strong through stimulating activities, quieting the mind from chatter, worries, cares of the day.  Participating in cognitive activities can help to maintain your mental alertness and reduces the distractions that come to rob you of your time and talent. 

I joined a website called Lumosity and I use the many tools that help to give you a mental workout.  According to Lumosity there is “a possible link between lifetime cognitive engagement and Alzheimer's.  Each day counts when it comes to the fight against cognitive decline, according to a 2012 study from Berkeley University. Researchers analyzed 75 older individuals' brains for signs of beta-amyloids, which are linked to Alzheimer's Disease. Participants who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities had lower levels of beta-amyloids.  But of these participants, those who stimulated their brains in early to middle life had the lowest levels of beta-amyloid accumulation — and this association held true regardless of age, sex, and education”.

Visit the website – I really enjoy the various cognitive workouts that help to strengthen your mind and memory.  www.lumosity.com