Hello all,
I engaged in the universal Loving Kindness meditation
exercise in our required reading and I can see when repeating the phrases 10
times can have a positive effect on how I would want to see all people gain
freedom, from suffering and find sustained health, happiness and wholeness. I
can also understand that how the exercise can make me feel as if I want to
assist people in gaining these things also. When I did the exercise it make me
think how that would be a great thing to happen. I have always said that I don’t
wish bad things on anyone and I try to wish positive things, even for people
don’t know or people that may not feel the same way for me. I discovered that
doing this gave me an “I Think I Can” attitude when it comes to my part. It
reminded me of one time before my unit deployed. We had a squadron run and
after the run our sergeant major gave a motivational speech about us deploying,
being successful and safe over there and coming home. That speech made us feel
as if we could do anything. That was before my second deployment that I dreaded
going but after that speech, I felt ready for anything. The areas of growth and
development I chosen to focus on is stay positive and don’t dwell on things
that I have no control over. Dwelling on things I can’t control will only add stress
to my life. Some
specific exercises or activities that I can implement to foster greater
wellness in this area are treat people as I want to be treated, be helpful when
I am able and set an example for others to follow. I use to always try to start
the work week off with a positive attitude and keep it throughout the week. One
thing that really helped me was my religion and I signed up for daily quotes of
devotion. I found this very helpful; I could read them in the morning while I was
waiting for physical training to start and reflect on them. I would also read
me bible as I sat in my car or I would close my eyes and reflex on life in
general. I believe that if we ourselves become better people and foster that into
our environment it will become universal.
Hi Myra,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how another person's words can change your whole perspective? I have not met too many people who were able to speak in such a manner, that motivated a large number of people. I had a CSM that was a great speaker, and I was part of his PSD in Afghanistan. I was in his truck, so I had the opportunity to talk to him quite a bit. Many soldiers thought he was scary and kind of a jerk, but he was so moving in his words and he loved the Lord.
I certainly agree with your methods to foster greater wellness. Treating others well can definitely start a chain reaction. In Christianity, this is referred to as the "Golden Rule," and in Eastern parts of the world, it is referred to as Karma. Call it what you will, the same stands true: kind actions promote other kind actions, and unkind actions promote unkind actions. Or, in the words of Dacher, "loving-kindness attracts loving kindness," and who wouldn't want to be around that? :) Helping when you can is also important. Sometimes help is not clearly asked for, or even conveyed, it's all in how others' actions are interpreted. (Like our reading for this week...taking what was once thought of as imposed, and altering the perspective to something "chosen.") Being in the military, I KNOW you have had to sit through suicide prevention classes...we all have...and as many people joke about them, I do believe that they have helped so many people, and encouraged others to extend just a small act of kindness to another individual.
Mariah
Hi Mariah,
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how another person's words can change your whole perspective. I love to hear motivational speakers that speak on things that are good for all. Those suicide prevention classes helped me at one point after my second deployment. I would not talk about things because it seems like people would think you are weak or can't be a leader, so I held it all inside. It wasn't until three years after my last deployment when I felt the world crushing me and I sought help. When I talked to the psychologist, that was the first time I admitted to someone I had thought of suicide. In the briefing we always learned that suicide ends your life but it has effects on the people you leave behind too. From that point forward my life has been moving forward and going back to church and retiring has helped me do that.
It is interesting to see that you had a memory from being in the military that could help you reminisced on during this activity. I seemed to have a moment in my history similar to yours also involving my time in the military that made me feel as though I was capable of doing anything. It is amazing to go through these exercises and think about times in our lives when certain things effected us and relive those moments while doing these exercises.
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