Unit 4 Relaxtion

I really liked the exercise.  I actually listened to it twice because I became so relaxed.  The first time I fell asleep, and then I restarted it; then I played it again in front of one of my friends.  I liked what the speech was about.  Likeness attracts likeness, and so on.  If you are kind to people, then hopefully those people will be kind to you.  When you go into work or anywhere with a smile, then chances are people will actually will feel happier because they see that smile on your face.  Smiles on the face can help someone who has lost somebody or is stressed within their lives.   Actually, when I put a smile on my face all day I felt so much better about myself.  It did not matter if someone said something mean to me, I still felt great about myself.  I always have felt that if you think positive, then positive will come your way.  It is the same thing if you think negative emotions.  People will feel that negativity and become negative themselves. 

I had a hard time with the part where you had to think about a person who is suffering.  When I got to the part about how to try to help that person who is suffering, I began to cry.  I think that part was very difficult for myself, and it might be difficult for others as well.  I know we all try to think how we can help others who are ill or in bad place right now, but we try to think of other things so we do not have to think about the suffering that is happening in our families lives.  This exercise made me think more of it, so I had to stop with that part. 
I always find it beneficial to do an exercise like this.  I use it in my daily lives and they actually work.  I do not think it was difficult, and I find that others might benefit from it.  Some people might not be able to relax their mind if they are stressed with so many different thoughts going on in their head.  I always recommend exercises that have to do with the mind or meditation.  I also say to someone I know; you have to try this exercise I did for class, you will love it.  I campaign for people to do some of the exercises, but it is clearly up to them if they will do it or not. 

The concept of a mental workout is to exercise your mind, and prepare it for whatever comes it way.  It is like working out the body, but it is being able to concentrate on something.  Having a healthy mind can help the body and spirit to be healthy.  Mental workout helps you to concentrate and helps you relax your thoughts.  "As we undertake contemplative practice and explore the largely uncharted frontier of the mind, we will find a wealth of knowledge and capacity whose significance extends to our entire being.  The knowledge impacts on our body, mind, and spirit.  In this way, contemplative practice, which is the method that drives psycho spiritual development, is actually an all-encompassing multidimensional integral practice.  It is a way of 'cross-training' our body, mind, and spirit all at the same time.  It makes the most efficient and comprehensive use of our time.  This is why psycho spiritual development is a foundational aspect of integral health" (Dacher, 2006, p. 64).

"There are two types of contemplative practice.  The first is loving-kindness.  It opens our heart to others and gradually diminishes self-centeredness, priming our mind for further development.  The second addresses the three levels of the subtle mind-witnessing, calm-abiding, and unity consciousness.  It opens our mind and reveals a penetrating wisdom that knows the truth of our life and of existence" (Dacher, 2006, p. 64).

"Your brain is a thinking organ that learns and grows by interacting with the world through perception and action. Mental stimulation improves brain function and actually protects against cognitive decline, as does physical exercise. The human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself. Even in old age, it can grow new neurons. Severe mental decline is usually caused by disease, whereas most age-related losses in memory or motor skills simply result from inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation. In other words, use it or lose it" (Franklin Institute, 2004).

I usually meditate to get my 'mind-going' in the morning.  Meditation can help you concentrate, and also help you relax your mind before a test or before you go to bed.  I try to at least meditate twice a day.  People always make fun of me because I always say I will be back in five minutes; I have to go meditate.  I think it is hysterical, because I have caught my friends actually doing behind my back.  Maybe, I should try it more often through out the day, because I have been under a lot of stressed lately.

Reference

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publication

Franklin Institute (2004). Retrieved on April 14, 2012, from The Human Brain: http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/exercise.html 

~Nancy Lasprugato