Loving-Kindness Exercise

In our book, Integral Healing: The Path to Human Flourishing, it explains that the use of perseverance for contemplative practices is necessary. Additionally it states that these practices should be conducted in short sessions of 5-15 minutes twice a day for roughly a week. So that is what I did to complete this assignment. 

Day 1: Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 9:31 pm Eastern standard time. 

      This was the first day I listened to the loving kindness practice mp3 audio. I started the mental workout by comfortably sitting on my couch with a beautiful fire going in the fire place so I had something visual to focus on as I listened. This day I only listened to the audio for five minutes. I felt relaxed and rested but did not feel the development of an expanded consciousness. Although I do have to say that there is something hypnotizing about watching a fire while hearing the words of this exercise. I believe the presence of the fire and focus on the flames was beneficial to my experience with this exercise.

Day 2 morning: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 7:30 am Eastern standard time.

      My second day of listening to the loving kindness mp3 audio was conducted for ten minutes. I wanted to gradually work my way into this practice and fully grasp the progressive development of my consciousness and inner healing capacities. I decided to try the exercise before I went to work and it really set the mood of the rest of the day for me. I felt calm in all my responses to other individuals throughout the day and felt a little less stressed than most days.  

Day 2 afternoon: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 5:45 pm Eastern standard time.

            This was the first day I decided to listen to the exercise twice in one day. The exercise worked wonderful in the morning and I was ready to experience that feeling again in the evening to end my day blissfully. As the night before I decided to build a fire and gaze into it as I hear the voice of the loving kindness audio play in the back ground. I could feel myself search deeper into my consciousness this time and start to feel the beginning of my mind opening up to this exercise. 

Day 3 morning: Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 9:40 am Eastern standard time.

            This day started off with some time for me to sleep in and I felt like today was going to be a good day. I decided to continue with the ten minute sessions but this morning I closed my eyes while listening to the audio instead of focusing on an object. I noticed that the speaker’s voice was not as comfortable as I originally thought she was and her voice was definitely not as soothing as the relaxation exercises of previous weeks. The ocean waves still set a very nice slow encouraging reflection to my inner consciousness and loving sensations but overall I was not as in touch with a reassuring feeling of the impact of this exercise. 

Day 3 afternoon: Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8:37 pm Eastern standard time.

            As the day progressed I became increasingly busy and caught up in my affairs of homework, car maintenance and time spent with family. When I came home to conduct this mental workout I was ready for it. I sat down taking in the sounds of the waves crashing on the banks of a shore and honestly not listening to what the woman spoke of to perform. I think from earlier today I now find her voice annoying and felt she was no benefit to the exercise.  

Day 4 morning: Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 8:13 am Eastern standard time.

      I have decided this will be my last day of conducting this exercise for this assignment. I listened to the entire audio this time and thought about how it is intriguing to think that all the answers an individual seeks is actually located in deep layers within each of us. I think that those that are not ready to open their minds and hearts up to this type of experience will not accomplish psychospiritual flourishing. As I try to engage in the activities that are instructed for me to do I just keep thinking and wondering about how an individual is supposed to let go of the idea that there is more to them than what they can feel, touch, smell or experience. I personally think that this is the barrier that some individuals cannot get past to reach psychospiritual flourishing. 

Day 4 afternoon: Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 4:47 pm Eastern standard time.

      I read more in our Consciousness & Healing book about prayer and sending positive thoughts to others and I can understand how this exercise can work for the health of others. I think that when we give to others we cannot help but give a little to ourselves. Therefore we are keeping ourselves healthy as well. With the last listening of the audio I tried to give it my all in concentrating on exactly what she said to do and think. Focusing on my mind to take in the practice of which I was participating in has gotten easier with each passing day. It additionally has made me think more and have a variety of questions about the mind and our consciousness. It is almost as though performing these practices has made me contemplate and reflect on the power of loving and kindness, all in a positive way.