Week 7 "One cannot lead another where one has not gone hi

"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself"

In the health and wellness field, this means I need to know my stuff or know where to get the information. 

If I can not relate to the journey of my clients,

 I need to plug myself into someone or some experience. 

I know what it is like to get the 

Diabetic diagnosis, elevated blood pressure, and even high cholesterol.

 I can relate to the fear and confusion. I have been on medications. 

I have traveled a path to wellness.

I live with people that do not have to think about what they eat.

Does this mean I have all the answers...???

NO !!!

I have never had to bury a child or my spouse but I can relate to a loss....

I have never had a heart attack...but I know fear...

I am not perfect, I am human...

Day to day I do the best I can with where I am at...

I am willing to walk the path with my clients...

Week 7 "Meeting Aesclepius"

Meeting Aesculepius MP3 guided meditation

As with all of these guided meditations, I am finding I need to listen and then reconfigure to my own understanding.

The journey in this one begins with finding a mentor,

 a teacher and wise one to fellowship with...

As our class first began, I was introduced to the

 ancient Greek healing practices of the Aesculepius Temple.

This is where I begin my visualization.

As for my mentor/teacher...I have several. Who would I like to sit with today? 

This is my wild waterfall!! My untamed mind shouting suggestion...

My dad, Coach Peake, Pastor Allen, Pastor Perry...all these men are wise.

They have all taught me. What about the ladies...Dr. Manning, Dr.Love, my mom, Mrs. Mathis...

Oooo this list goes on and on...The children I have taught, the friends I have been blessed with...

OOO That's it...my mentor today will be Jesus.

He is pretty easy to visualize. 

Now, I will move into the rushing stream of the witnessing mind.

For me, I need to use the senses... 

I can see the love in His eyes, I feel the warmth of His arms,

I hear the compassion, I smell the lambs and boy, do they smell.

Don't laugh, you know every picture you see of Jesus, there are lambs!!

Back to my vision...

Here I am instructed to see a white light at the crown of His head. I think they mean coming down

and going into His head but I see the opposite.

Then I am to connect this light to my crown. My vision makes more sense to me!!!

I am to make His thoughts, my thoughts.

I guess doing this on Sunday just after church is playing a huge part in my success!!!

Next the beam of light is to go from His throat to my throat.

I am to make His speech, my speech.

Next the light is to connect our hearts.

I am to feel His love, joy, peace and compassion.

At this point I am in the lazy river of Calm abiding mind.

I am reminded of a book I read many years ago...The Shack by William Young...in which a man visits and heals with the three representation of God.

This is where I am. 

I am visiting with, sharing my pain as He guides my heart. 

I am open to His way. 

The next instruction has the mentor/healer join with me. I am to become Him. 

This is where I struggle.

 The deep calm still river of Unity Consciousness is  not happening. 

I am told many time in Scripture that He is in me. He abides in me.

Why am I resisting???

This is the way some meditation go...we do not get each step every time. 

I will just sit back and enjoy the peace and calm I feel sitting at His feet.

It is safe here. I feel peace. I am really enjoying the relaxation...

THEN....

It hit me.....

Do not ask where the music came from...it is not actually playing but I feel it !!!

Enjoy!!!

This is my Aesclepius!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OTz-lpDjw

Sadly, I am instructed to return to the time and room I began...

Happily, I can take this peace and joy with me !!!

Have a wonderful blessed day !!!

Week 6 Integral Assessment

Once again I am asked to do an assessment.

Many years ago, a pastor instructed me that if it is repeated, you missed something the first time. 

In scripture, if a word is repeated, it takes on an importance that should be noted.

It is the bold faced underlined version.

This holds true with the assessment. 

As I quietly review myself, I am not sure it the statements made a few weeks ago are true.

Life changes just as the water in a stream,lake or ocean changes.

Every minute can hold a new discovery or revelation...

In this assessment I am asked to review 

my psychospiritual

my biological,

my interpersonal

and my worldly quadrants

Here is one example of how I am seeing these quadrants...

My psychospiritual self is becoming more aware. I believe as I  spend time quietly listening and being still, I am actually hearing and listening better.

 Not the my actual hearing is improving, but that I am taking time to hear rather just accepting

 I missed something. If I am unclear, am going back and asking others to repeat.

In case you are unaware, I am hearing impaired and wear hearing aids in both ears.

Many times either out of embarrassment, shame or just plain laziness,

 I would simple assume what was said or pretend I understood.

 Today, I can say I am focused more on the "hearing". 

My biological self may be losing more of my hearing or I may just be more aware.

I will need to have my hearing rechecked to determine.

In the near future, I may be rechecking. Right now, I am focused on coming to terms with this loss.

I have worn aids for I guess 10 years or more. As I am looking into this assessment, I am discovering a different attitude. This is eye-opening. As I struggled with my loss, I accepted the defeat.

I now am looking at it in a different light.

As I ask others to repeat themselves, I am taking the time to inform and educate.

In this way I am not only impacting the interpersonal but also the worldly areas of my life.

Those closest to me, that have lived or worked with me forget I can not hear.

They turn as they talk. I hate to ask them to repeat but if I truly care, I will ask. 

I think while at first it is frustrating for them, they do feel my heart. 

For those I meet that are unaware of my limitation, they feel pity at first. 

Once explained, they see their on limitations.

I had to explain to one of our doctors a few week ago. He quickly lifted his head and looked me in the eye.

He said that now he was speaking as he should to me.

I think in the crazy busy world, these assessments have a huge impact in changing who we are and how we can change the world...one small change at a time.

Week 6- Practicing Loving Kindness

As I practice the Loving Kindness Meditation

I am discovering a lighter feeling within my daily living.

I am enjoying this practice daily.

I did find an interesting script which has helped my focus.

Strangely enough it is called a "secular" meditation.

Those of you that know me, know I can have to center on Christ.

You will see my input to this script in (yellow)

Secular Loving Kindness Practice (Donald McCown, 2010)

Taking your usual posture for meditation... feeling your body where it makes contact with the support beneath you, and settling in... perhaps centering yourself by making the

breath the focus of your attention...

Feeling the breath moving and the body sitting...

And when you are ready, bringing to mind someone that it is easy to feel loving kindness towards... someone from the past or present, perhaps a child, or a pet... an easy, (someone you have been blessed with)

simple relationship may be best...  

Allowing yourself to hold them in your awareness perhaps seeing them in your mind’s eye or perhaps feeling a sense of them in your heart... can you feel a sense of loving kindness towards them?

As you hold them in your awareness, beginning to send wishes of loving kindness to them .... Silently repeating these phrases (prayer)

May you be peaceful and happy
May you be safe from harm
May you be as healthy and strong as you can be
May you live with ease of well-being ...

 When you’re ready, allow the image or felt sense of your chosen one to fade, and seeing how it is for you to be the one who receives loving kindness ... 
resting here in your own kind regard, sending yourself these well wishes (prayers), allowing yourself to take in these phrases, to say them silently for yourself  ...

 May I be peaceful and happy
May I be safe from all inner and outer harm
May I be as healthy and strong as I can be
May I live with ease of well-being ...

 Maybe it seems artificial and stilted to say such things to yourself, for yourself... maybe you’re not feeling loving kindness in this moment - and that’s OK
whatever you’re feeling, you can hold the intention of loving kindness... offering it from wherever you are... however you are now ....

So practicing once more... noticing how you may be drawn towards this practice or drawn away from it...

May I be peaceful and happy
May I be safe from harm
May I be as healthy and strong as I can be
May I live with ease of well-being..

( I also go a step further and pray for those I will cross paths with. I find that as I do this in my meditations, I look for opportunities to share Loving-Kindness to other. Sometimes it is just a smile other times it is an act of service. No matter what it is, I "see" more possibilities when I do this!!)

This was found at Thinking Healthy  http://www.thinkinghealthy.com.au/page6.php

Week 5 Subtle Mind- timing is everything

This week was a focus one the subtle mind. 

Our meditation began with a focus on the breathing. Easy enough!! 

However it took several attempts to actually succeed. 

By successful, I mean able to calm my mind down enough to actually focus on breathing.

 This is the week of mid-terms. My daughter, son in law and grandson are coming down.

 I am actually taking a vacation next week,which means all my current clients must be taken care of, the future ones need to be scheduled and I need to be sure I have covered all my basis. 

My son-in-law is training for a huge MMA competition and is wanting very healthy when he visits his mother-in-law , the wellness coach...who has time to breathe!!! My son does not drive, needs a ride to his odd-jobs and can't believe he is expected to be grateful!!

 Life gets in the way of something as mundane as breathing. 

BINGO !!! 

The entire meaning behind this meditation. 

When do we stop long enough for the body to simply breath??! 

When I first saw our question, the answers were already formed in my mind. THEN I actually did the assignment.

 Loving Kindness was much easier BUT Subtle mind was more rewarding. 

I can't wait to combine these into one week.

I believe just taking the time to breathe is going to greatly impact my mental as well as my physical health. 

I know I am looking forward to a peaceful sleep tonight!!!

I must admit that once I shut down enough to actually breathe,

 the witness mind and calm abiding mind were simple. 

Mind body and my mind accepted the quiet.

I was truly amazing!!

Week 5-Mental Fitness Powerpoint Project

Here it is....oh my!!! 

A wise professor once told me- major projects and papers are very much like giving birth!

 I promise you this is like one of my children. 

Please help me "raise" this baby..give me any and all your feedback and suggestion.  

http://www.slideshare.net/sonyaarrington5/s-arrington-hw42001unit5pptmentalfitnessppt-36934657

Powerpoint Presentation

Research: proof of the impact

Exercises to retrain the brain

Mind/Body connection for better health

Enjoy!!!

Week 4 addition- One Study...

This is not actually part of the assignment but I wanted to share...

I found it quite interesting!!!

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/preventing-dementia-brain-exercises

I tried to post the information but while it shows in my preview, it will not post to the blog.

 It does appear to show up as a comment!!!!
Enjoy!!!

Week 4 Exploring Mental exercise

NOW this is profound!!!

My physical well being is directly linked to my mental well being!?!?!

This has been quite a stretch but I am clearly feeling the results.

While I have known and taught that our minds set the mood for our healing, to see the proof is amazing.

Dean Ornish has made a clear link from cardiovascular healing and lifestyle change.

These changes include treating the physical mechanical heart as well as the emotional, psychosocial and spiritual heart. It is not enough to clean up the diet and stop smoking, there is a need to reduce stress and join a support group as well. True health is the quality of the living. 

While this at first is difficult to grasp, when applied really makes sense. 

When my Dad was given the diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer, his outlook was that he wins either way.

If the cancer defeated his body, his spirit would be with the Lord. 

If God healed the cancer then he would spend more time here with us.

Either way, he wins and cancer loses.

We only had 11 weeks but I have to admit, my Dad had a peace that uplifts me today.

This peace was his gift to us. We enjoyed every visit, each conversation and every moment we shared. 

Sooo how do I get that without facing death!! I want to LIVE that peace.

I think this is where mental fitness comes in. 

My physical health is what it is...my mental health will play a vital role in my healing.

Ornish put it this way, "stress is not just what we do, it is how we react to what we do."

My knee jerk reaction might be to worry and fret BUT if I can apply that peace my overall well being will improve.

Week 4 Loving-Kindness meditation

While I love my quiet time, prayer time and meditation...

Today was the first day of a meditation designed to change my brain...

I have spent much of the morning getting my post done so that I can enjoy the upcoming holiday. Yet when I got to this assignment, I found myself very intrigued. I have searched several sites. I listened to several meditations. I even did the guided podcast in our class.

It was amazing.

I was guided to let my feeling flow both good and bad. 

Next I focused on someone I love, my Bill. 

Then I focused on his pain.

Surprizingly, I got a text from him say he missed me. 

This is not uncommon but his timing was interesting.

I know God has a sense of humor!!!

As I continued my meditation, I found myself looking for the good with in myself. I felt more positive. As I thought about Bill and the pain he suffers, I begin to pray for his comfort.

In this meditation, I felt at ease with the meditation.

My assignment is to do this daily.
I would highly recommend this type of meditation.

I plan to post a few guided ones here during this week.