For me, the most beneficial exercises we've done so far were Meeting Aesclepius and Universal Loving Kindness.
As far as Meeting Aesclepius is concerned, I liked having a person to picture and focus on - it kept my mind from wandering during the silent portions of the exercise.
I also enjoyed imagining myself "becoming" this person - perhaps this is because of my experience as an actress. I've always found it easy to imagine myself as someone else, and this was a nice way to do it.
The Universal Loving Kindness practice was enjoyable because it forced me to focus on others' needs rather than my own. I often find myself going through the day in a very egocentric fashion - this pushed my thoughts from my own "sufferings" to the sufferings of others.
In my own life, I could incorporate these exercises by doing them each once a week. I could also incorporate the Meeting Aesclepius exercise into my life by consciously choosing role models and making decisions with the help of their wisdom. Universal Loving Kindness would be easy to incorporate into my life - I simply need to be more sympathetic and empathetic, and focus less on my own wants and needs.
All of these things will help to foster mental fitness, by shifting my inward focus to an outward one.
Hello Kelsie!
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that you found some of our exercises in class to be helpful to you! I had never thought of the Meeting Aesclepius exercise in the sense of choosing role models, I think that is a wonderful idea! I think it is important for everyone to choose to look up to someone, I think it helps us to strive to better ourselves.
I liked the loving kindness exercise, however that is the one area I do not struggle much in...sometimes I think I have too much loving kindness and forget about myself! LOL!
Good luck on incorporating these exercise into your weekly schedule!! :)
Peace && Love,
Robin Stewart