1.
Describe your
experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not? Would you
recommend this to others? Why or why not?
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?
1. Describe
your experience: I’m sorry but I have a really hard time with this sort of
thing. I am not comfortable with it and therefore have a hard time taking it
seriously. The relaxation/breathing exercises that have you focus on relaxing
specific body parts etc are so much easier. The whole “faucet of
loving-kindness” has no significant meaning to me. Once they start adding stuff
about emotions and visualizations of suffering, wholeness, peace, etc I get
completely lost. (If you haven’t yet noticed/figured it out – anything to do
with focusing on emotions is hard for me. It is too vague and intangible) The best
part was what sounded to me like waves on a beach and some faint pipe/flute
music during the pauses. Would I recommend this to someone? That would depend
entirely on the person and their needs.
2. Mental
workouts: Making myself do something like this particular exercise repeatedly is
definitely a workout. I totally understand and agree with what Dacher says
about many relaxation techniques providing short-term benefits only (that has
always been one of my problems with them – shortly after completion the calm
feeling is gone). In theory I can see how this exercise may prove to be more
lastingly beneficial than some others I have tried. But for me personally…I do
not know. I am trying to keep an open mind but that is the best I can say for
it so far.
Hi Wren,
ReplyDeleteI took the Stress Management class last term and glad that I did. It had so many types of meditations to choose from for the mental workout. Visualization is the hardest for me when it is abstract but when I can think of a scene I have previously enjoyed, it is easier. Diaphragmatic Breathing was one of my favorite along with wondering thoughts. It is like looking at someone else’s thinking and it is without judgment. Many times I wake up with an answer to a situation. Mental workouts can have such a positive relaxing side effect.
Deb C
I understand where you are coming from with this exercise. I felt the same way with unit 3 exercise. This unit however, I found it beneficial. I liked this one much better. It really had me in deep thought, and I was actually shocked. I thought it would be like the last one, but I was wrong. I agree with you about recommending this exercise to someone else, it depends on the person. Some people can't get into things/exercises such as these. I think that they need to be willing to do it and have an open-mind. Even that sometimes doesn't help.
ReplyDeleteTiffany C.
I'm right there with you! haha It was nice for the relaxation piece and I try to get into these but usually end up zoning out and thinking about other things or falling asleep.. trying to focus on the emotions isn't concrete and doesn't last long. Thinking of someone you love is easy and obviously brings you happiness and thinking about someone you love in pain obviously evokes emotion but it's hard and kind of hippie for me to think breathing is going to change that. I understand the purpose of refocusing your mind on positive things and how breathing exercises can be beneficial but I know what you mean... some of it just seems too far out for me! Hope you're having a great week!
ReplyDeleteJanessa
I fully agree with you. I am not that type of person either. It is not comfortable at all. The person's voice was not soothing either. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be, but it was rather annoying. I agree too that the ocean sounds were relaxing, but then that voice would come again. Maybe I listened to it at the wrong time of day. I had just gotten home from a long day at work in operating room.
ReplyDeleteJohn