MENTAL WORKOUT

The exercise this week was good, it made me focus my attention on others, which is what I usually do most of the time anyway.  Something interesting was when it said to think of a sick loved one and take in their suffering into your heart and at first I was thinking this is not a good thing, but then it said to give it love and kindness and that your heart can dissolve the suffering.  That was something new for me and I found it to be calming about the person I was thinking of.  I would recommend this to others as it is a good toll to teach yourself how to deal with emotions and things that are not always easy. 

A mental workout is anything that helps you calm your thoughts and focus on certain things.  You can do meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery, or positive thinking.  Research shows many health benefits from mental workouts, like increased ability to solve problems, help memory, and decrease stress levels.  I found this article to be helpful: http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=55354

I think reading is a mental workout too.  It can calm you and there is nothing like sitting somewhere quiet and getting lost in a good book! Now that's a mental workout!

My well-being

A.      Physical well-being score: 7, because I am rarely sick, and I feel great most of time, except for a little fatigue related to all that I have on my plate, but I do very well for all the things I accomplish on a daily basis.   Goal: I would like to try to fit in regular exercise at least 3 x per week instead of 1 or 2 that I currently do, since I feel my best when I exercise, also need to eat less sweets, (but don’t we all?)

B.      Spiritual well-being score: 4, this area has been lacking, mainly because I am moving away from what I was raised to believe and becoming more open minded, but just not sure where to go yet.  I believe there is a higher being and I know that prayer and meditation help the soul.  Goal: To do more meditation, breathing and still/quiet time.  At least meditation weekly.

C.      Psychological well-being score: 6, because I am determined and positive attitude, but have a lot more I need to accomplish, I do get stressed at times.   Goal: Try not to be so hard on myself, maybe d a motivational challenge and journal

The relaxation exercise, not sure why it is called Crime of the Century, but I was dreading it at first just because I was having some negative energy at the time.  I really enjoyed it, and ended up replaying it multiple times.  When I originally learned to do meditation I was taught to breathe in and visualized a white light entering your body and healing you and when you breathe out to visualize a black light and that you are ridding your body of all impurities, so visualizing the colors to the breathing was good for me.  I did change a few of colors since I felt red was an angry color.

 

~Dani

musical relaxation

I enjoyed listening to the music and meditation cd, I have one that I use occasionally but I always fall asleep just related to being so sleep deprived.  I hope to be able to do more meditation in the future when time permits.  I listen to classical music when I am reading or doing home work to help me concentrate and block out noise around me, it helps me think clearer.

I'm Crazy

I am 32 year old single mom of 4 kids, I work full time and go to school full time at Kaplan working towards my Family Nurse Practitioner.  I am Crazy!  I love being a nurse and taking care of patients, and I mean truly taking care of them.  I want to be finished with my Master's by the time I'm 35 so I got 2 1/2 years!!!!  My kids are wonderful and I wish I could spend more time with them but they understand I am doing this for them.  I have to stay positive and not think about my lack of sleep and free time and tell myself it will be worth it when I am through!
Reflective statement: I CAN do this, I AM doing this!!!!

Dani