Subtle Mind

The Subtle mind exercise to me was much easier then the Loving Kindness. I was able to focus more on my breathing. I actually focused on the ocean, the blue of the water and the crashing waves around me. I did not stray but once when I heard a noise but was able to come right back to my breathing and focusing. The Loving Kindness was just too much focusing on many different things. I like the single focus and breathing because it help me to relax better.

The connection between spiritual, mental and physical health is very important. I know that if I am spiritually at ease my mental and physical health will also be at ease. This is important for healing. I had to go for a blood transfusion today and I worked hard at all of these. Spiritually and mentally to know I was going to be fine and physical I knew that this was something my body needed to heal. I was scared and just laid in the bed at the hospital doing breathing exercises. It helped to calm me.

Tina

Loving Kindness

I was so looking forward to this week's exercise since I had chemo last Thursday and it is so hard bouncing back from those days and the last two actually were wonderful. I'm not sure if I was not in the right mind when I did it or if I was still to foggy from the chemo but I could not get into this one. I would recommend the exercise to others and I will have to re-do this one just to see if it is my chemo-fog or exactly what went wrong for me.

I think that a "mental workout" is needed to just stay in tune with ourselves. I can implement doing mental workouts daily to help my psychological health. Research shows that if we do a mental workout it helps reduce stress we go through on a daily basis.

Personal Wellness

This week is pretty deep. It is really making me think. Reflecting on how I rate myself for:

A-physical well-being right now I would say only about a 4 or 5 at this time because of having to deal with my cancer and treatments.

B-spiritual well-being I would also rate pretty low at this time at about a 5.

C-psychological well-being I would rate around a 6.

The reason I feel this way is thinking back I was doing about an 8 in all areas before May. Being told you have the “C” word was not one I expected and really dropped me physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I am doing better psychologically because I have come to terms with it and now it is just finding my way back spiritually and getting through my treatments. I think one goal for my physical well-being will be to lose weight and add more time for me into my day. I can implement this by doing more walking exercises and also scheduling 20 minutes in the morning and evening for quiet time relaxation exercises. Spiritually a goal will be to find my way back to what makes me happy spiritually, sometimes I’m sad that at 42 I am still searching. I think I still need to keep searching before I can say how I can implement this. Psychologically a goal will be to regain clarity on my thinking processes. For this I have been doing artsy type things to keep my brain working but I know full clarity will not come until my chemo is done.

The relaxation exercise this week was great. I do not find these frustrating at all. In fact sometimes I wish they would last so much longer because of enjoying them. It gives me that time-out that I need.

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. This will be the place I am going to post my thoughts and feelings, among many other things.

I started this blog for my Health and Wellness class with Kaplan University. I only have 4 more classes before I graduate with my Bachelor degree in Accounting. I took this class as one of my electives and feel at this point in my life I needed it. I hope you enjoy my blog.

Tina

The Journey

Oh how I LOVE relaxation exercises!!!! I did the relaxation exercise and felt totally comfortable and relaxed after getting done. I have done the guided relaxation in the past and forgot how good you feel when getting done. I hope everyone enjoys the relaxation as much as I did. I really needed that today. This weekend has been non-stop, on the go and rough. I am in the process of making a gift for my son and daughter-in-law for Hayden's 1st birthday. I am putting together a remembrance book and a CD. This brings up a lot of stress for me since I really have not dealt with my grandson's death completely. I need to remember to take time for me and to relax and this class will give me the tools I need to do that.

Tina