Well, class, I am happy to report that this week I have had a much better, and not so backfiring, experience with the Loving Kindness exercise. I did have to (still) redirect my attention back to focus a few times, but I feel that will dissipate with practice. I was able to find peace and oneness within myself and with my close relationships. I believe that for me, my state of mind before the meditation is crucial in directing the success and outcome of that meditation. It's difficult to explain, but after the deeply saddening feeling after the rainbow exercise, I realized that if I am sad, lonely, or down, a meditation won't ease that, just magnify it. This week, I was in an ideal mood for meditation, therefore, it worked beautifully. I would recommend it to to others, but perhaps a more advanced practiced person, as many of the blog post I've read stated some difficulty.
To me, a mental work out is just that: exercising your mind. It will take practice. You may feel pain. There will be frustrations along the way, and you may need to snap your motivation back into gear. However despite all of that, the outcomes can be beneficial in so many ways, it it will only help your mind, body and soul. I believe practice is the key here, with daily moments set aside to complete these exercises.
