A Wish and …A Way!
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering (A wish?)
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness and wholeness. (A wish!)
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering (A way!)
May I assist all individuals in finding sustained health, happiness and wholeness. (A way!)
It was through the “Universal Loving Kindness” exercise that I was able to not become more aware of the suffering, sadness and emptiness in others around me, and wish that all of this could change. But I was also able to look inside myself for “a way or ways” for me to promote change from all of the suffering sadness and emptiness in a way that can spread to others. My “way” is to spread the word of the wonderful things I am learning in my educational journey. I can see already how my actions are creating changes every day. People see that I am a person who “walks the walk” and encourage others to walk with me, as well as to teach others. This is how change happens. People today are searching for “HAPPY, HEALTHY and WHOLENESS” (Dacher, 2006). It is by using the tools that God and the wonderful teachers are providing me that I am able to turn a wish into a way!
As far as my own personal assessment process, I can honestly say that I am having difficulty with this one. After spending some quiet time in order to dig deeper into my soul in order to discover what is holding me back in the growth and development aspect of “Me”, I walked away a bit shaken. The realization that I have low self-esteem came to the forefront. My whole life, I have focused on taking care of everyone, and never feeling better for any of it. It has become my job. So bringing this to the forefront once again (I have been aware for a long time about this), I am trying to understand…If the goal to integral health is to “let your ego die in your work and surrender your smaller self (Dacher, 2006).” Have I not achieved integral health already? Is feeling good enough part of my ego? Is getting good grades for me selfish? I guess this is why I am on this journey
I know that lately I have been saying that I want to exercise more. I would like to get back to lifting weights, adding some yoga, and fit in more time for meditation. Having said this, I do not feel at this time in my life, that I really feel that I can give up time anywhere else in order to fit this in. But, if we look at the quadrants (Psycho spiritual, Biological, Interpersonal and Worldly), it may just be possible to fall into each one of these as far as exercise goes, without using the “ego” for this integral health journey. I can take a hard look at “nutrition’ from the biological quadrant. I need to eat anyway…why not incorporate better choices. I can do more hiking with my family in order to help with the more emotional me and use this as a form of exercise, meditation and spirituality (Dacher, 2006). Doing this with my family will allow me to step into the “Interpersonal” quadrants by allowing me to meet my personal, and family time.
So in essence, I can kill three quadrants with one stone. Sounds like a plan!
Hi Deb,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are doing so great on your own personal journey to integral health. Very admirable. I hear a lot of people say they want to exercise more, but of course we re all busy with life and so therefore we don't exercise more. I can totally relate beacause I say it too. However, I do make time for mini-exercises everyday in some sort of little way (every little bit counts, right?), things like when I am brushing my teeth in the morning I might raise up on my tippy toes and down again and again (I believe the technical term is plantar flexion exercise?!) for as long as it take to brush my teeth, or I may work on keeping my balance while raising one leg while I get ready. There are all sort of little ways to incorporate exercise into your normal daily routine.
I enjoyed reading your post!
Hello Deb!
ReplyDeleteI love and admire your honesty in this post. It's not always easy to admit to oneself and others the truth about how we perceive ourselves, especially when it comes to our self-confidence. I've struggled with low self-esteem most of my life, so I can relate. When I started to get into the practice of using positive affirmations, admittedly, I felt stupid and I certainly wasn't sincere about them - my conscious and subconscious were not congruent with each other. Eventually, though, I started to feel more comfortable with the practice. I don't quite understand the root of this issue, but I do know that I am gaining a tiny bit more of confidence with each day, and will continue to if I commit to the pursuit of human flourishing. You seem to be well on your way! From reading your posts and blogs, I can see that you are incredibly intelligent and genuine - you have so much to offer people!
Thank you for the kind words. It is kind of funny how my heart feels good about who I am and what I do for others. It is just my head that refuses to catch up. Is is also kind of funny when we fall in love and let our hearts rule our heads (sometimes a great thing, example: my husband....sometimes not such a great thing; my ex-husband). And then we have ME. Letting my head feel less than adequate with a heart who only wants to give.
DeleteI can honestly say that this class has opened up a journey for me that I am ready, willing, and able (I think) to take.
Thank you again
Deb
Hello Deb:
ReplyDeleteYou are so right we are all so very busy and have little time to exercise and do the things we would like to do with our selves every day. I like have had low self esteem and if I am thinking right I think a good portion of people have the same problem if they would be willing to admit it, which most are not. Most of the time the reason someone steps on another is because of low self esteem. However I do believe you are well on your way to making things different in your life and working toward integral health with in each step. I believe I can do the same and be able to get back on track with exercise and eating right with baby steps as I go through each day. We have to realize we have to make it work within our schedule or we will not make a life time commit to it and that is what will take us toward integral health.
Happy Easter
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
DeleteAll we need to do is take one step at a time, no more than that. I have decided to play my way back. I bought a hula hoop, and a jump rope. I can do this when I am watching television. I really do enjoy these types of movements. They seem like less work and more fun. We need to get back to fun!
Love Ya
Deb
Hi Deb,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog this week. I give you a lot of credit for being open and honest with how you are feeling. I think you are on the right track and in regards to the exercises that you want to start, you will get there. I feel that the first step is identifing what it is exactly that you want and when you are ready you will find the time to start them. I don't think you are alone in how you feel about being busy, with school, work, family, and life I think most of us are in the same boat. You hang in there because you are the right track.
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
DeleteThank you for your response. You have sent me on a new mission. I am going to start keeping a time journal and I am going to have my family do it as well. It is kind of like a food journal, but using time. I am pretty sure that I am self-sabotaging my exercise plan by using the lack of time as an excuse. No more. It is time to kick this "Integral Health" plan into place.
Thanks for the insight.
Deb
Hi Deb and your followers,
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing what a difference one text book is making an impact in our journey. By incorporating just a few simplistic exercises the change is us is like mirrored into changes in others.
Our mind is becoming cleverly awakened, clearly we are becoming more aware of ourselves, and taking notice of everything as we make progress in taming our minds.
Keep up the insightful works, and enjoy your planned act ivies fostering your walk towards integral health? I am curious, what does your spouse think? Has he tried to pick up the book and read it yet? I keep encouraging my wife to start reading. I am anxiously wanting to learn how to utilize the mind to control the blood flow, pulse, heart rate and so forth. I really am thankful the opportunity crossed my path to take this course on exiting my degree plan.
Warm regards, and best wishes in all your endeavors.
Mark
Your blog was amazing! Thank you for sharing what you discovered, because sometimes the things we find can be pretty personal. It sounds like you are doing a lot of deep analysis and questioning which is where I believe we find a lot of answers that not only are true because they truly pertain to us, but also we find a lot of peace here too!
ReplyDeleteI love that you found ways to incorporate changes with things you are already doing. For example, you pointed out you already have to eat, so why not just make healthier choices. This does not extend out your eating time, nor does it have to change your schedule. And, this change is also great for the mind and spirit as well! Also, you mentioned hiking as many different forms of exercise both mental and physical! What better way to connect with your family and feed your spirit, by hiking with your family!
It really sounds like you are on a good path! Keep up the great work!
Anne Roush
I like your honest,insightful assessment. It is difficult to find time for yourself when so much time is spent taking care of others. However, we can make better choices with our health and nutrition and these help us to flourish and live happy, healthier lives.
ReplyDelete