I enjoyed completing the Universal Loving-Kindness Practice. I felt that I was able to focus on my ability to give people freedom from suffering, if only in my mind. I want to give people the freedom from suffering because I never want people to hurt. There is so much bad stuff happening in the world and I wish that I could relieve some people of their pain. This practice did make me feel like I should take a step back and think about what I could actually do to help people.
Along with that thought, after completing the Integral Assessment, I feel like I need do focus on my community and my family. I am very involved with my family and my friends, but I feel like I could help them more. I feel like I have been given special tools to help people and that I should use those tools more. Now that I am aware, I can practice what I preach by becoming more involved. I think that I could reach out to my friends a bit more and help them on a more personal and emotional level.
Thanks,
Aaron
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Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteYour experience was similar to mine..I also felt a need to help others especially the elderly because they feel isolated and left out and in their mines it seems as though no one cares about them. I realize that we need to dedicated more of our time to helping and being concern for others. Family is very important, I am glad that you acknowledge that and I wish you well with your success as you take on that responsibility.
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your experience with this exercise. I really felt like I need to expand involvement in my community as well. I think it is very interesting how such a simple exercise can help me get outside myself and start thinking about more about others. One think I have found it that if I am focusing on someone else, there is no room for my own concern, problems or worries. I hope you'll share with us how your plan to do more for your family and your community works!
Kelly
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI think it is really great that you are so motivated to try to help out others in your community. I greatly appreciate this class for providing the opportunity for us to explore ourselves and our own lives in ways in which we may not have done otherwise. I think when we consider just what we can do to make ourselves better people, reaching out to those in need is a great way to do so! It can help us practice our loving-kindness, which can in turn help lead to our own happiness as well. If we learn to look at others from a positive light rather than focus on all their flaws, I think the way we interact with them improves, making our experiences happier ones. I really admire you for wanting to take an active interest in others, and I wish you the best in all your goals!
Aimee Fairbanks
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you were able to obtain the knowledge that you already had within you, and that is that you can help others even if you aren't a doctor or a superhero. When it comes down to it one only needs the desire to help others in order to begin the action of helping others. Like you I found great satisfaction in this exercise although I have to say it was a little awkward for me to use my mind to do this instead of my body- I used to be an EMT so physically treating others in order to help them is what I did. I have to say it was refreshing to use my mind to help others in this way.
Best wishes!
-Jen R.
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteIt is great that this exercise was beneficial to you. It is terrible things going on in this world that every small piece of positivity helps. It is great that you were able to look within yourself and find way to contribute. Every little bit helps.
Hey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI do agree there is a lot of suffering and pain in the world. But if you think about it, sometimes there are lessons behind our pain. And then there are those that suffer their entire existence on our planet. I believe that some pain is good for us, some suffering is necessary since they humble us in a way. We may learn to appreciate what we have and the gifts of those in our lives that we love.
It's a wonderful awakening to realize you have special tools to help people! And now you've acknowledged that and as the saying goes "knowing is half the battle"!
Best of luck to you in your progress forward!
Michelle
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI think I had the same experience that you did with both exercises. The universal loving kindness exercise elicited the desire to reach out to people and help them minimize their pain and suffering. I'd like to work on my interpersonal relationships involving my family. Being more open to their circumstances, listening with compassion and empathy, and better communication will help me have a better understanding of the stresses that they may be going through. I think it's wonderful that you realize how these exercises can be utilized to help the people that are closest to you. I wish you well on your journey towards human flourishing and hope that it is a fulfilling experience for you and your family.