Unit 5

1). When I did the loving kindness exercise I had a hard time with the calming part.  I also had a bit a trouble actually feeling what the instructions were telling to me to do.  I could think of taking on the pain of a loved one or releasing anxiety etc. but i really could not feel it.  In the subtle mind exercise I found that my mind won't shut up.  It seemed the more I tried to keep from thinking and use my breath as an anchor the more and more thoughts came into my head.  Some of it was related to trying to focus.  However, some of it was so random if kinda made me laugh.  I was thinking of random music and funny things and my response to this question, then I would reign it in again until the thoughts crept back in.  The recording mentioned acknowledging the pulling of thoughts in the busy mind and I really get it.  I really didn't feel a difference between the pulling, grasping, clinging and witnessing.  I tried to get the feeling to change and let go and was able to get moments of silence but very short lived.  So i really don't understand how to make myself witness my mind, that sounds silly even to me.  As said in the exercise I definitely will have to practice this one in order to get a firm grasp in order to let go.

2). Spiritual, mental and physical wellness are all interconnected because human being are formed from all of these.  You can not have a human being that does not have a spiritual, mental or physical component.  The spirit is what gives strength of will to go on and live will.  The spirit determines how the mind will operate and react.  the mind determines the choices that are made in reference to what is done to and with the body.  For myself in my personal life, I have seen time and time again that spirituality can be the best "medicine" for people who are ill.  they let go of the tension, fear and anger they feel about being ill and embrace the love and kindness of those who surround them.  Spirituality also can help people prevent illness.  I have known people who are so well spirited and therefore make great life choices to care for their bodies, you can almost literally see the balance.  I myself try to keep my spirituality in the fore front of my life.  I sometimes fail thought when the trapping of life overwhelm me, I have to bring myself back to center. I have noticed that when I feeling mentally down that I am more likely to get ill, so I always try to keep my spirits up and my mind focused on the positive rather than the negative.


Veronica Ratliff

Unit 4 Spirit, Mind and body

In both of the reading there is a concentration on the connection between, mind, spirit and the body.  Both sources agree that without soundness of mind and spirit that the body really doesn’t stand a chance to be healthy and whole.  I again have to say that I have first hand experience with this concept, in fact just today.  My daughter has Multiple Sclerosis and is 33 she also has horrible arthritis in her knees, so together she ahs a real hard time getting around.  Well Saturday for our family is shopping day; we go every two weeks and get a bunch of stuff.  After we went to the farmer’s market she looked like she was done but she said she was fine.  We were out for so long that by the end of the day her whole body was shaking just from keeping herself on her feet.  Strangers were coming over trying to help her and giving me nasty looks because they thought I was just not helping.  However, every time some one came up and offered assistance she thanked them and turned their help down.  She is not trying to be rude, but she believes that she can control her body at least to an extent.  She believes that is she keeps going, then she will keep going and there is nothing truer than that.  She has herself convinced that if she stops her forward motion that she will not only lose muscle but her will.  My daughter is strong of mind and spirit and her body listens no matter how much pain, stiff muscles or bad joints.  She believes she will go on and she does.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications

Amorok, T., Micozzi, M., Schlitz, M. (2005). Consciousness & Healing. St. Louis, MI: Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Inc

Veronica Ratliff

I am sorry every one I misunderstood and did not follow the right instruction so here is the right thing.

When I did the kindness and love exercise I really had a hard time with it.  I understand the concept and all of that but I just was not capable of leting everything go.  I had a hard time visualizing everything and feeling love and kindness while ignoring any negative experiences and feelings.  I also didn't really get the taking in the suffering of a loved one and then breathing out joy.  Again I understand the concept but it did not make me feel any different.  I believe that in order fro this to be beneficial for me I would have to practice at it for a while. I would recommend it to people so that they may try it and decide for themselves and work at it as well.

The concept of a mental work out is similar to working out one's body.  Taking the time to train your mind to process in an effective and prosperous manner takes practice.  There are many things that people do that are damming to their mental and physical health, if the mind is trained not to commit these acts then a great deal of problems will cease to exist.  The mind must also be trained to focus and direct, thoughts, feelings and motivations in a proper manner.  For me I will use the mental workouts to enhance the way that I respond to my emotions in certain situations.  I will try to focus on the positive possible outcome rather than the negative ones.   

unit 3 blog post

I am a RN and I really wish that we were more able to treat our patients in this manner.  Often time we are in such a hurry that treating our patients is a challenge.  The one great thing about being a home healthcare nurse is that I am able to spend a bit more time with my patients than nurses in other types of care settings.  The Cleveland Clinic offer Acupuncture and Rekkie to patients who suffer from a great deal of illness ranging from anxiety to cancer.  I love that this is incorporated into care plans just like any other kind of care.  Patients who have their physical therapy, medical treatments and then they have, spiritual and mental therapy inline with their medical care fair so much better than others.  For some patients they just want to take their pills and not pursue and any other treatments and they seem to have more problems.  I have an 85 year old patient who was so ill just a few years ago she was bed bound.  She now practicing tae kwon do and does various crafts and is probably healthier than many 40 year old I know.

Veronica Ratliff

Hello Everyone

This is my first post in the class blog I hope everyone can see it.