Unit 6 Blog Entry
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness and wholeness
I attempted to practice the above exercise this week and felt like I truly meant each of the words that I spoke - until a few days ago, after a confrontation with a person that I have been good friends with. I was angry at some of the words that she spoke and since I don't like the feeling of anger, I focused on her when practicing the above. I found it very difficult at first, but I then decided that I wanted to choose not to be angry and wish her all the best.
Normally, I would say that my capacity to extend loving-kindess is something that I practice often in my life. If I pass an accident, I pray for whoever is in the car asking God to provide them healing and safety. If I pass an ambulance in front of a home, I normally will pray for the individual who is receiving care. But this situation really upset me and I really had to make a choice to say the words and really mean them. I actually could feel the anger go away.
Designing my integral practice revealed an area that I need to develop immediately involves my body. I am having some health challenges that are ready for growth and development. Some of my thoughts of actions are to plan out my meal choices and commit to an exercise program as my physician has recommended. While I was doing this assignment, I got a call from my physician's nurse with my lab results which stressed to me again - this is the area that I must focus on to promote integral health.
Barbara
Hello Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting to read your post and how you used the practice in this Unit to help you work through anger. My first thought when I read the material was this would be a great help to come against anger. Repeating your opening phrase and noted in our text reading is a great connection for practicing loving-kindness daily.
When moving through the process I have made some discoveries for myself that I, too, plan to begin implementing and practicing regularly. I am amazed how this class is allowing me to focus on some deepe seeded stuff.
Please remember stress is a killer and not good but learning how to control reacting to it now will help you in the future when you have your BA and become a licensed social worker. Let's keep repeating ... May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness and wholeness
Blessing & peace,
Dru
Anger has been an issue with me lately and a few close friends. I recently overheard a friend talking about me and I happened to be behind her and she did not know I was there. It was an eye opener to me and I became angry. I held on to the anger for quite some time until I started reading about loving kindness the past couple of weeks. It has allowed me to end the angry thoughts and focus on the positive things in my life and how to achieve wholeness. This has been an interesting journey so far!!!
ReplyDeleteHello Barbara,
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this it captured my heart to know that I have what feels to me like a sister in my heart who does the exact same thing that I do when I am out driving around and I even add a simple prayer for those who take to the streets in a hurry that they reach their location safely and without harm to themselves or those around them. Your words at the beginning really toughed me and it seems like a really simple prayer for almost everyone one and I also will do a simple little cross when I am in the car, not that I am a certain religion or because I am part protestant and part Episcapel and I appollegize for my spelling Lol. I also find myself running crazy and out of time it seems like every day and you know it didn't use to be that way either. It just seems like that as I got more children and they grew up there was less time for mom and more time needed to be spent on them. I need to find ways to make my husband in charge of things and have everything written down in black and white and color and make everyone stick to it regardless.