This week we covered the Subtle Mind exercise. For me it was overly calming and to a point it had me so relaxed I could have just fallen asleep. The only reason I didn't was because the voice came back and started talking again.
Focusing on my breath to keep my mind calm is a good stress reliever. I was able to do this easily, but this tends to work for me if I focus. After getting calm, I am able to lessen my grip on following the breath like the exercise suggests. I do however, from time to time, notice my mind moving to other thoughts. I see my front yard being cleaned up (just did this yesterday) and other things passing through my mind. All I need to do is focus again on the breathing and my focal point. Once relaxed again - I let go of my focus on the breathing. I am hearing just the waves and music in the back ground. Sometimes they too make you think of things, but overall it has it's own calming affect on me.
After focusing on nothing for a while other than my focal point and with my mind no longer wandering, I close my eyes briefly and just enjoy the silence and still mind. Then I find myself ready to sleep and the voice brings me back to the exercise. When the exercise is complete, I feel relaxed and stress free!
Comparing this exercise to the loving kindness exercise, I felt much more relaxed, but not as happy as I was by sharing my love for myself and others. I guess the feeling of sharing love even when others do not really know it was a relaxing and rewarding experience. I believe they are both great exercises to do from time to time.
The experience of these exercises has helped me spiritually, mentally, and physically. I feel better when I can relieve stress. Before it was hoping to release them by sharing my experiences in conversation or getting a massage. Although they are good from time to time, I feel better when I can relieve the stresses from the day or chaos on my own with the exercises. I feel more at peace with with my inner self if that makes sense. I do not feel like I am going to have a mental breakdown nearly as much and I feel like I can tackle other things more easily because I am not as emotionally drained. So in essence, when I feel great spiritually and mentally, it's helping me physically too!
I wonder if my classmates found this exercise a little less challenging. For me, it was much easier than focusing on someone needing my love and support in the loving kindness exercise. I did do okay with it because I had things on my mind that I could apply to the exercise, but if I hadn't had those things on my mind, I might have felt it was more difficult to complete. The subtle mind exercise - was really just about breathing and letting things go that came to mind - to be at peace and I found I could do just that.
I completely agree that the breath work in this week’s Subtle Mind exercise was easier to focus on than the objectives of the Loving Kindness practice. Maybe after some attempts with this one I can complete the others with better results! I found it much easier to simply feel my breath and calm my mind than to focus on all the other aspects of the meditations like the Loving Kindness, but I’m working on it!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found the exercise much easier to do this week. I know you have found some of the exercises a little difficult to do before. I would try to incorporate the breathing technique to the others so you can hopefully find it easier to do those exercises.
ReplyDeleteKeep up with the efforts as I am sure you will be able to do them someday.
I also had a much easier time doing this exercise. With the loving-kindness exercise, I immediately thought of my husband, but it was difficult to get into because sometimes I just don't feel loving-kindness towards my husband. He doesn't have to do anything wrong. I had to dig deep to even have those feelings. I was ornery and tired. Perhaps the timing of when I did the exercise should have been different.
ReplyDeleteThe waves did make me think of other things. Strangely, it made me think of the series finale of my one of my favorite shows that was on last night (which ended in the water). I was able to bring my focus back, though. It's funny that so many things distract me. For some reason, the music makes me think of my desire to visit Ireland. At least it is not too difficult to bring myself back to the main focus. Loving-kindness involves thinking about others, and it is so much easier to think about a certain focal point such as breathing. It does not invoke feelings when I think about breathing whereas it very much invokes feelings when I think about another individual.
Great post! Glad you had more success with the subtle mind exercise!
Amy
Amy,
DeleteI guess the loving kindness exercise worked for me because I knew my son needed my love and support. His friends needed it too (even though I really don't like most of them). If I had been angry or in a slump of not caring about the situation then I might have felt differently or found it more difficult.
The subtle mind was easier because it didn't involve the feelings, but just letting them go and training the mind to be focused on observing and letting go.
When you try the loving kindness exercise again, think of someone going through a difficult time that you feel needs your love and support and you might find it a little easier to do and much more rewarding.
I totally agree with you on the loving kindness exercise I was smiling the whole time I really couldn't stop myself. I found though it was easy to focus on the breathing in the subtle mind exercise though I really don't feel like I got anything out of it.
ReplyDeleteCat,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you didn't feel like you got much out of the subtle mind exercise. Did you find it hard to focus on the breathing or letting go of what was coming to mind? I almost fell asleep I was getting so relaxed. I think I might try it again when I find it more difficult to let the days events out of my mind.
I agree with you about how relaxing this exercise was. If it weren't for the voice coming back on when it did, I would have easily fallen asleep. This exercise really relaxed me and made my head feel clear and clam. I think it's interesting that you had an easier time with the loving kindness exercise, because I struggled to focus during that on and wasn't able to form a connection.
ReplyDeleteHello Elicia and classmates: Very interesting how these exercises can effect us all differently. I did enjoy listening to the Loving-Kindness exercise but found it difficult to follow. It appears all of you were able to relax and enjoy it. That is great!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI really loved the "Witnessing Mind" exercise. It appears most of you did not enjoy that one. I loved this one and I was totally focused and relaxed. I think different images, sounds and smells stimulate or relax us differently.
This weekend I spent the day with my aunt and sister at the mall. We went into Yankee Candle and we were all smelling the same candles. I thought the smells of certain candles reminded me of cleaning agents and dirt as the same smell reminded my aunt of flowers or freshly baked cookies. I thought this was so interesting.
Talk with you all later:
Cherie