Sunday, July 6, 2014

Loving-Kindness, Is it a mental workout?

Describe your experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or why not? 


My experience was very unusual because I was extremely tired in the moment that I decided to listen to the relaxation exercise. It probably didn’t help that I had taken a shower after a long day and was winding down. However, the woman’s voice was very soothing, but the ocean waves and background sounds were much more relaxing. When there was a break in the listening to the sounds I became startled when the woman started to speak again. I have to be honest, I did fall asleep towards the end. I certainly would recommend the loving-kindness to others. I will listen to it again in the future because I did find it to be a tool in relaxing my mind and focusing on important people in my life. I did have a difficult time trying to imagine one person that I love but was able to flip my mind through images of each person that I do love and think about them in a way that the loving-kindness has played a role in each individual life and how it connected to me. I was very happy to think about these special people as I do not have a long list, rather a shortened and specific list. Any exercise such as the loving-kindness that provides a refreshing and cleansing of the mind, body, and spirit is worthwhile and of great value.


What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?


Our minds need a daily workout just like our physical body. Practice leads to positive results as we clearly would not be practicing for negativity. We cannot attain human flourishing without utilizing aspects of our psychopsiritual life. Education, knowledge, and resources are available for each and every one of us to exercise and reap benefits, but if we lack mental workouts, our mental and physical performance and state of being will be deprived of the health and wellness it needs to maintain psychological health. Persistence and diligence is vital when fostering a strong psychological health. Mental workouts can be implemented through rest and relaxation. Having a quiet and comfortable environment will open up our minds to establishing our internal relationship and connections. Acting on our own behalves, we should surround ourselves with positive and environments so that exercising mental workouts can be done easily and provide stepping stones to greater health.

3 comments:

  1. Great post! I totally agree, the experience was very soothing after a longs day at work but I was on the verge of falling asleep. I ended up doing yoga throughout the MP3 because I figured if I didn't I would be dead asleep. I think it is very important to practice mental workouts because it does keep positive thoughts in your mind. it is like working out, it lets out special chemicals that make you feel better all around and to release endorphins in the mind is very beneficial and that is why I practice meditation.

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  2. Hello Dina,

    I agree that a mental workout is just as important as a physical workout. Keeping the mind healthy is a must to keep one mentally sane. Just like unhealthy eating and no exercise can harm the body, so can negative thoughts harm the mind. Good Post.

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  3. Dina, Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with the Loving Kindness relaxation technique. Personally this is not my favorite technique, it was very long and I tend to get bored with meditation/relaxation in cases like this one. I really enjoyed the narrative aspects of the Loving Kindness technique but the long silences were a bit much, to each their own!

    I agree with you 100% that mental and physical workouts have the same beneficial qualities. As a Health and Wellness major I need to continue mental training to be sharp and responsive to the needs and requirements of my clientele. Thank you for a very insightful, well organized blog response!

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