Universal Loving Kindness & Personal Integral Assessment

This week's meditation exercise was quite refreshing. It allowed me to focus on others and take the focus off myself and all the things I have been dealing with lately. For the first time in a really long time, I felt an overwhelming sense of empathy for the sufferings of those less fortunate. I found myself not only sending positive energy and pleasant thoughts their way, but I also found myself interceding in prayer on their behalf. I prayed that their suffering would end, that they could and would find peace in the midst of their storms and sufferings, and that they would find health, happiness, wholeness and rest for their souls. Amazingly as I continued to intercede for them, I began to find peace and comfort regarding my own issues and stresses. I became overtaken with happiness, thanksgiving and gratefulness for all that I have been blessed with.

I will continue to practice this meditation exercise regularly as it not only benefits others; I see that I am able to benefit from it as well.


Now the personal assessment exercise took quite a bit more work than I expected. I tried to narrow down the areas of my life that I felt needed the most urgent attention and focus, and that was no easy task. I have quite a few areas that need attention. However, I ended up nailing it down to the areas of my mental fitness and psycho spiritual development/flourishing.

I am the type of person that seems to stress out over just about everything, especially if it’s something that I think I can fix or control. This type of behavior has been the cause of some much needless and unnecessary mental distress that it began to take its toll on me physically. I began to have mild panic attacks, problems sleeping, horrendous migraine headaches and severe episodes of fatigue. It took me a long time and numerous trips to the doctor to figure out what was causing my ailments. When it was brought to my attention that these were most likely stress related, I knew that I had to change otherwise I would never have any peace. 

This brings me to the area of my psych spiritual development. As a child growing up in a Christian home I was taught about the importance of prayer from a very young age. I was taught that God cared, loved me and was always listening when I prayed, and that He would always help me whenever I called on Him. However, as I began to get older, things started to happen that cause me to question my faith in God, His love, care and power. I really didn't think that it was really necessary to develop my spiritual life anymore. Then I enrolled in this course. The readings, exercises and assignments have taught me so much about the mind, body, spirit connection. I am truly grateful and thankful for all I have learned. I am now able to once again turn to God as the source and strength in my daily life. I am still learning to release control and turn things over to Him; I'm a little bit of a control freak. However on a daily basis I find myself reciting the Serenity Prayer, allowing myself to accept the things I cannot change, trying to change the things I can, and finally knowing the difference between the two. This revelation in and of itself has been so freeing. I will keep practicing this as long as it takes as I continue my journey on the road to sustained health, happiness and wholeness.