Unit 4: Loving Kindness Reflection

1. Describe your experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or why not?

This loving-kindness exercise was amazing, to say the least.  I came to some very surprising realizations during this exercise.  The first part, when we were asked to think about someone close to us, I immediately thought of my two daughters.  I couldn’t help but smile and immediately felt the love and tenderness that I hold toward each of them.  They are truly my whole world.  I was able to focus on their smiles and the love that they return as the sounds relaxed my body.  The sound of the waves in the background are personal and relaxing to me, as I once lived in Hawaii and is the one place I always loved living.  The beach was always my go-to-place to relax and wish to live there again one day.  It was soothing to be able to observe my positive and negative thoughts, to just kind of release them, if only for moments, without any attachment.  I must say, though, it was weird trying to feel love for myself.  I have never really looked at myself that way.  I have always directed feelings of love and kindness toward other and never myself.  The exercise says that you can’t extend those feelings of love and kindness to others without feeling them for yourself first, but I don’t believe that is true.  I think that it is kind of selfish to think you have to be happy to make someone else happy.

 I was very pleased to take in the suffering of a loved one during this exercise.  I have a nephew that is suffering from cancer and is struggling terribly from it.  To think that I could breathe in the bad and breathe out health and joy is merely a wish, but one that I would definitely wish every day if it could come true.  During this part, I love how the flutes played as the waves crashed.  To me, the sound of the flutes almost symbolized healing and it felt amazing.

One surprising realization, the part where it asked us to take on others struggles and suffering, even those who may be enemies, and breathe them in, I found very hard to do.  I’m not a person who hates, but I do have a couple of people that I cannot find it in my heart to forgive or like.  This is where I got selfish and did not want to take on their struggles.  I felt that their struggles were created because of their own selfishness and they needed to find a way to release them.  I refuse to wish kindness and happiness for these people as I feel that they do not deserve it.  I also have too much going on in my life, too many of my own struggles in my family, to worry about theirs.  Mean, possibly, but that is honestly how I felt. 

I would definitely recommend this exercise to other people because it does relax you, it does bring you to a certain place of your own, and it gives you a certain identity in your soul.  Whether you know where you are in your happiness or not, it will bring you there and you get to choose whether you want to change and work on it.

2. What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?

I think mental workouts are a way to prime our minds for future development.  It opens our hearts and souls for love and kindness.  It allows our minds to experience wisdom and truth in life.  Mental workouts are proven to expand our minds, allowing endless possibilities in development and allowing relaxation and healing capacities.  The mind is a powerful thing and can be a useful tool when exercised regularly.  It can also reduce anger, hatred, fear, worry and other disturbing emotions while enhancing positive emotions such as love, patience, acceptance and kindness.  Whatever practice you decide to take on to work your brain, it will take discipline, perseverance, and effort.  As with any workout, it is essential to set aside time out of your day to work on or practice it and make it part of your daily routine.  As time progresses, so will your path to human flourishing. 

3. Participate in the Blogs of at least two other students. Provide them with feedback on their experiences. Do you have any suggestions or support for them? How does their experiences compare to your experiences? What have you learned from their blog?

My blog is posted and I also posted on two other classmate’s blogs.