To all my loving and kind classmates, I bid you good day:)
Again, I apologize for the last minute post, but some new responsibilities have popped up for me which I can explain later, but first, I would like to comment on this weeks assignment.
The chanting of the universal loving kindness exercise on p. 93. I did it, but couldn't make it the full 10 minutes. My mind started to wander, then wonder... "what if this really works?". I then started chanting "I want a million dollars". That I did do for 5 minutes, then I realized that if I quit chanting and started working my chances of earning $1 million dollars would be much more likely than having it magically appear in my lap after chanting for 5 min. I will refer back to the name of my blog, commit to action! It is action, not words, that will show loving kindness. If words are to be effective, they need to be expressed to others, not repeated to oneself in a quiet place for 10 min.
The next exercise we had to conduct was actually beneficial to me. I suppose I wouldn't be being true to myself if I didn't stray a little, but the end results proved beneficial. In business there is a principle which is the foundation for many of our practices; you cannot manage that which you do not measure. I have been experimenting with different techniques to find out which helps me be more productive throughout the day. For a week I started exercising first thing in the morning before I did anything else, then I tracked how much I got accomplish that day. Then for a week I woke up early immediately started working, to see if I could get everything accomplished. Although these two approaches started the day with very important aspects of my life it wasn't until I started each day with prayer and devotional study that I started to become more productive. It goes against my grain to sit and be quiet and to believe that that will help me be more productive. But when I start each day off with reflective prayer and seeking guidance and wisdom, the rest of the day just falls in line.
Now that I have discovered what works for me, I'll consider this a best practice and move forward. I'll be clearly defining my goals, both professional and personal, and I feel much more confident that I will be able to accomplish them.
George,
ReplyDeleteI think that if you look at the wording of the chant, it is, in its own way, a prayer. All you have to do is add the "address" to the beginning and an amen when you are done. :)
The point to these meditations, at least, in my opinion, is to instill a mindset within us that we will carry throughout the rest of the day. Then, when we come across a situation that we can (safely) be involved in, we will act instead of just walk on by.
Hi George- Well I don't believe in prayer or chants or anything like that, and you wont get a million dollars by addressing this chant to god or anyone else. lol. I agree with you, if you get off your butt and go make a million dollars, you will get it. :D I know many people who have made a million dollars, and it wasn't by wishing for it!
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