This activity was not easy for me this week. It took me a minute to think of the person that I wanted to picture. Then when I had the person in mind I began to feel guilty that I didn't choose my father. Now I absolutely adore my father, but I didn't choose my father mainly because he has a bad temper! So I wanted to pick someone with a calm sense of being, and someone who was in touch with their spiritual side. I had difficulty seeing their image in my mind. I don't know about anyone else, but all I could see was blackness. It felt as though I was looking into outerspace with no stars. Then to imagine the light made it even more difficult. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to imagine his whole being with the light coming out of his head, or if I was supposed to imagine just his head with the light.....I was beginning to think that I was putting too much thought into it which wasn't relaxing at all. I am not sure that I even understood the whole purpose of this exercise. Why are we trying to be like somebody else?
The saying, "one cannot lead another where one hasn't gone himself" makes total sense to me. It makes sense for every subject and every situation. I would never trust someone if they haven't gone through it already. This applies to the health and wellness professional because they can't possibly direct a patient in a direction that they know nothing about. I believe that I do have an obligation to develop my health on all aspects. It is sort of like the saying "practice what you preach". Could you imagine an overweight and unhealthy personal trainer trying to tell you what to do to lose weight? I don't think you or anyone else would take him or her very seriously. I can implement spiritual growth in my personal life by continuing to do what I currently do. I attend church on a regular basis, and I pray on a regular basis. I think every single day that I wake up that I was given another day from God to be on this earth, and that I am so grateful for everything he has ever given me. I especially thank him for my health and the health of my children. I try to focus on all that I have rather than all that I don't have.
Hi Karen! I am so sorry that the experience was stress inducing, rather than reducing. I think many of us put rules or limitation on ourselves, even in meditation or creativity. There are no limits when it comes to our own mind. I think any interpretation you should work out would do just fine.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that a person, especially a health and wellness professional, must have an acute understanding of the practices they endorse, especially when it comes to lifestyle. Of course, I would not expect them to go through chemotherapy if there were no disease. But I would also say that having never experienced chemo, they might suggest such a patient seek out a support group.
Thanks for your post!
Laura
Hi Karen:
ReplyDeleteGreat Post!
I had the same feelings when I did this exercise I choose my grandfather he has a loving kindness that emulates him but at the same time he could have a temper as well. But I think that is knidness overrides his temper and highstrung attitude. I think with an exercise like this we are focusing on the good characteristis of the person that we choose to be our guide through the process.
Andrea Detorfino
I have found most of the meditations to be stress inducing as I can never complete them without interruption.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the health and wellness professionals "practicing what they preach," I couldn't agree more! Not to say that I expect perfection, but I would at least like to feel that my provider had some first hand knowledge with what they were recommending to me. I went to my ex-family doctor because I had severe pain at the site of a hernia. The doctor kept insisting the hernia was because I was overweight, not listening to the fact that the hernia is along an incision that has been opened twice, and refused to give me any advice about the hernia. I know I am not at my goal weight, but to be treated like this by a medical professional who is also WELL above their own goal weight, really frustrated me and ruined the patient/provider relationship.
Super!!
ReplyDelete