For this week, I practiced the Universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise and completed the Integral Assessment.
The Universal Loving Kindness exercise really dug deep into my heart. I had my first seizure about 1 1/2 years ago and was so afraid. I was originally diagnosed with epilepsy, but then my doctor changed it to migraine induced seizures. Since then I have had only one other known seizure, but I have to take medication every day to prevent them. It has taken an emotional toll on me and I have found that by reading this exercise it has allowed myself to discover that I really need to focus on my psychospiritual development.
Over the last 3 1/2 months I have been exercising and using relaxation techniques to help relieve some of the stress related to this discovery and to help me through this. I think the biggest emotional stress with all of this is just the fear of having another seizure any moment. I know that I probably will be fine, but it is just the thought. I do think that I need to work on other techniques as well to help such as meditation.
That brings me to the Universal Loving-Kindness Practice. As I was reading throught this practice, the one statement that really meant a great deal to me was " May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness" (Interpersonal flourshing).
I think this is extremely important because I need to not only work on myself, but to also help others achieve their happiness and wholenss. I think through meditation, I will be able to tame my mind and focus more on letting my anger go and just relax and enjoy my life :)
Sara DeSanto
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about the seizure that you had. I am sure that it scared you. My late husband had an awful seizure when he had his first heart attack and the doctors did not if the seizure caused the heart attack or the heart attack caused the seizure. But, I do know that if I hadn't found him he would not have had six more years with us. I had never witnessed anything like it and hope not to ever again.
I am glad to see that you are combining exercise and relaxation exercises with your medication to avoid future seizures.
The statement,"May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness" really gave me cause to stop and think how wonderful it is to be able to help others in the quest for human flourishing. I think that as we help others that we automatically help ourselves. We receive so much when we help others and it gives us such a good feeling throughout our entire being.
As I continue to work on meditation it has become easier and it is so nice to clear my mind.
Life is too short to hang onto anger or anything negative for that matter.
Cherri Looney
Cherri,
DeleteThank you for your kind words :) It is very true that life is too short to hold onto our anger and frustration. We need to be kind to one another because you never really know how long we have with one another.
Sara DeSanto
Hello Sara,
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry to hear about your recent seizure. I can't even begin to imagine what that was like or what it was like for your family. You seem to be a very strong person and that is a great thing. I think it is awesome that you have been exercising and participating in relaxation exercises. I know for me, stress is a big part of my life, unfortunately, and even these past couple of months, using these relaxation exercises has helped to calm me and my stresses.
And with all that you're going through, it is nice that you still have such a positive outlook and you still have a sense of wanting to help others. That, in itself, is quite notable. Its so good you are still trying to be positive about everything. Keep up your exercising and relaxation techniques!
~ Kristin Croake
Kristin,
DeleteThank you very much! It was very difficult in the beginning and stressful for myself and for my family. My mother worried about me almost every day and wanted to know what was going on. I think that stressed me out even more because I was worried about her worrying..lol
I am glad that I can focus more on my relaxation techniques and on exercising at this point in my life. :)
Sara DeSanto
Sara,
ReplyDeleteTidings, ma'am. Your post clearly reminds me of a friend of mine with a very similar predicament. She was also diagnosed with epilepsy which was then changed to migraine induced seizures. The migraines were caused by stress. She was subsequently sent to a stress counselor and took up a lot of stress management activities. She hasn't had a seizure since!
You mentioned that a lot of your stress nowadays has a lot to do with worrying about whether or not you'll have a seizure. Because that worry is inconsequential, as worrying will not change whether you have a seizure or not, do you think that perhaps that can be something that you could eliminate stress wise?
Great blog entry!
Thanks,
James Banks
James,
DeleteI definitley think that stress can affect many things; specially having an increase in headaches. I have been trying to decrease the amount of stress in my life with exercise, relaxation techniques, and just remembering to live everyday to the fullest. It does get hard sometimes when there is so much to do with such little time, but it is getting better!
Thanks for your comments!
Sara DeSanto
Hello Sara. I agree that this exercise really allows one to open up in a sense of selflessness. Being able to care for others is an important aspect of integral healing, and I am gland that I was able to experience all these awsome experinces by taking this class. I really does bring great peace and a sense of acoomplishment in helping others and not focusing so much on myself. I have found out many different things about myself lately that I did not know existed, and all that I was doing in suppressing it by allowing anger and anxiety to control and dominate these areas I did not know about. My biggest surprise was the love and kindess exercise.
ReplyDeleteSara, I am glad to see you have given us the chance to get to know you and I do feel that with exercise and relaxtion it helps to come the mind and body and soul you can feel the mind feeling at ease when you go and exercise and do the good things in your life that keeps you health and the more you get motivated to do all that it keeps you feeling better when you sick and not feeling good it makes a difference I really enjoyed the love and kindness excercise I will always practice that one.
ReplyDeleteLisa Kimbrough
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara! I forgot to add my name to the bottom, so I am reposting:
DeleteI truly believe that when we have personal issues and put our energies into another that is ailing as well, somehow it makes us feel better just to be able to help someone else. Unfortunately, you had a seizure, but, the positive side of it is that you might be able to be relateable to a patient and have empathy. Kind of like making lemonade out of lemons, right? Hope you are doing better!
Cheers!
Rebecca Ott