1.  To me the approach or method was different, "loving kindness" used more music as a facilitator to the relaxation and calming of the mind/body, whereas in the "Subtle mind", your breathing was your focal point, then using it as a base to control and calm your mind/body.  I liked both really, but felt more involved in the "Subtle mind" technique.  The benefits were comparable, with a relaxation and stress reduction being achieved by both, I would combine the two myself, with music also being more a part of the Subtle mind use also. 

2.  Spiritual, mental, and physical wellness are all connected, in that if one of them is out of balance, the stress will manifest itself in the other areas causing imbalance, and possibly contributing to the promotion of disease, chronic or otherwise.  An example is if I have worries, and I don't take the time to address them by continuing to go to church, praying or meditating about them, unloading them if you will, then the stress the worries produce will affect not only my mental and spiritual wellness, but eventually through stress also my physical wellness.

Unit 4 Blog

This exercise in relaxation and loving kindness was almost a chore for me, but it was beneficial as it seems the past 2 years of my life I have been wave-boarding down an avalanche at times with not many things under my control.  The temptation to just panic at times is hard to overcome, with prayer and just a lot of self-control being my biggest allies, but this exercise is one I found to help, I also like to listen to soothing music, the kind you hear in Chinese restaurants, or at least the one I go to.  I would recommend it to others, so at least they could experience it to see if it helps them or not.  And as for a "mental workout", it is proven that you improve your cognitive ability to learn the more you use your brain, as well as learn new skills more quickly and easily (Lumos Labs Inc. 2012).

Sources:

Lumos Labs Inc. 2012, http://www.lumosity.com/app/v4/personalization

Unit 3 Blog Post:

1. Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?

          a. Physical well being, I give it a 7.5, it could be better, especially if I were more active.

          b. Spiritual well being, I give this a 9.0, which considering the past two years is remarkable with all of the things that have gone wrong.

          c. Psychological well being, I give this a 8.5, there are times that I see the doubts hanging around the peripheral of my life, but then I focus all my thoughts on the positives, on the things going right in my life, going to Kaplan first and foremost.

      2.  Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).

          a. To get more exercise is the one thing I can do to help both my body and mind.

          b. To attend church regularly, I have started to do this as I write this, performing with the church choir is a tremendous help to me.

          c. Psychological, to take things in their proper perspectives, to not allow myself to feel I am a "victim", to stand up and take control of my future, not let others dictate what I am capable of.

     3. What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?

          a. Getting enough physical exercise, reading the Bible, attending Church, singing in the choir, taking time to achieve a "quieting of the mind", these things will all help achieve my goals.

1. Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century. To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? etc.)

          a.  Myself I did not get much out of it, it seemed just breathing exercises to help you relax your body, which I do in similar ways as I get ready to go to sleep, and yes this technique does seem to help.  

Dealing with the stress

Hi Stacia, dealing with stress seems to have become a way of life for me, just trying to calmly deal with a new complication daily has become routine.  I now try my hardest to not let them get me too upset or get to me, as I am slowly but surely becoming much better at finding the answers to the problems they entail.