The Subtle Mind

Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

I thought the two exercises were similar. I find it a little difficult to get completely in touch with these exercises. Although I can understand how many people would be able to completely focus and take in the entire experience, I just can't seem to really connect with meditation. I did feel a bit more relaxed, but I did not find myself envisioning all of the different parts of the exercise.

Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.

I feel that spiritual, mental, and physical wellness are interconnected. In order to be connected to your spiritual side, you need to be mentally able to do so. Physical wellness is important in being able to feel whole. By that, I mean when a person feels like they are in good physical shape, they tend to feel better about themselves than someone who isn't as happy with their body. Although I do not find it very easy to completely get in touch with my spiritual side,  I believe that I have a good grasp on my mental and physical wellness.

Beth Bjorkgren

My experience with the loving-kindness exercise was as I expected. I find it challenging to get really into the mediation and spiritual exercises. I have a hard time sitting completely still and focusing on things that aren't actually happening. Honestly, I do not believe I benefited much from the exercise much, but I could definitely understand where many people would feel extremely relaxed and at peace. I would recommend this exercise to someone who found mediation interesting, or wanted to incorporate this type of exercise into their daily lives.
A mental workout involves boosting brain waves and making your mind and body feel more at peace. Research indicates that meditation and other forms of mental workouts have shown improvement in brain cells and connections between other parts of the body. I think mediation should be incorporated in a person's life who is looking to assist their psychological health. If you have total peace of mind, what could be better psychologically and mentally?

Beth Bjorkgren