Tag Archives: contemplative

An Experience in Psychosomatic Studying: An Epiphany!

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The definition here of a contemplative practice surprised me, as it is referred to as a skill. While most will see it as something to participate in, an action that’s not necessarily capable of someone describing it as being good at it or being bad at it, it’s highlighted in this blog post that it provides an increase in focus and comprehension qualities. When analyzing this statement myself, I realize the relationship between the distant facts in coursework and the everyday reality is woven with the threads of the learner’s perspective.

The reference to the living systems practice also reminded myself of another contemplative practice which stood out to me, exotic foods. Being a first generation American in Washington, I have experienced first-hand the view historical American generations have on food unfamiliar to them. I was raised on both sides of the coin, by my Egyptian family and the American society.

Most Challenging Foods - The Secret Traveller

Via The Secret Traveller

The heightened emotional response to these contemplative practices was affirmed and enhanced when I experienced a direct and intimate connection to course work. This involvement resulted in me stretching my hand out to reach for this intimate connection to course material I did not have a direct, familial connection with, to develop it instead.

It is this epiphany that I’ve concluded from this blog post. I want to agree with and applaud the description of contemplative practice being a skill of both emotional awareness and informational awareness. Without this skill, what are we really learning? I feel as if everybody can agree that facts and feelings rest gently on a sensitive scale, even if it doesn’t seem like it. The two, much like everything else in the world we share, are interconnected in a complicated, yet beautiful system.

Connections and Projections

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The connections intertwining each and every system on this planet exist in numbers of infinite proportion. Reflecting on this reality enlightens the sense of dependency functioning structures demand from one another. In this microscopic glance highlighting the effects of contemplative practices, I feel obligated to specifically express how participating in this activity helps in various aspects of my life. However, the specificity comes from a singular contemplative practice assigned as homework during the week on living systems.

The thread of enriching lectures began with the start of this quarter. In week two, a lesson focusing on the presence of living systems within living systems resonated with me. The informative section of the lecture itself was cleverly called “From Personal to Planetary.” The meditation portion of the week offered insights I had yet to consider. I observe myself as an extremely spiritual individual, and I posses a solid belief of acceptance that each cog in the machine we give and take from is a part of us as much as we are a part of it. This machine includes the lock, stock, and barrel from our industrial works to the dirt the worm slides over. I believe this kindred relationship between all things must extend from all we interact with, including ourselves.

Recently, I’ve developed a focus/ hobby on enhancing my flexibility. While I was listening to this unique practice, one idea that stuck with me was that I breathe in air that I am not the first nor will be the last to breathe. Even something as mindless as air interacts with everything. As I stretch, I believe in working with my body and encouraging its limits instead of disciplining them. Breathing is a key part of stretching. This association with all living systems, including myself, allowed me to understand how crucial all function parts are in every system no matter how small: from the air we breathe, to my body, to the world.

 

What Contemplative Practices Have Taught Me About Problem Solving

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In a course about the food system, it makes sense that we have time dedicated to digestion, to contemplation. To the breaking down and consideration of our place within the complex global food system.

But truth be told, my experience with these contemplative practices have been mixed. They have provided me with a chance to dive into my own experiences relating to food and to the world beyond my immediate reach. But there have been times when I simply could not comfortably sit through a full practice. I had to ask myself why did I have this sense of restlessness? I found that my response to the practice is dependent on two things: content and headspace. 

Contemplative practices will often require that I reflect on my own privilege within the food system. I recall sitting through a practice reflecting on the production of chocolate, and throughout this practice I alternated between feeling restless and driven as I began to try to figure out ways that I, as both a consumer who benefits from the current production methods and as a citizen who finds the use of unpaid labor appalling, could make a difference that actually matters.

I had entered this practice with a relaxed and clear mind, unlike days where I had entered a practice feeling mentally exhausted. Having a clear headspace allowed me to delve into the mixed feelings and thoughts I had in a constructive manner. On days where I enter feeling strained, I struggle to escape my anxieties and to focus my mind on the material.

Image is my own and may not be used without my permission; illustration of introspection within a particular headspace

These practices have ultimately led me to the following conclusion about how we approach systems: finding solutions to a complex problem first requires an analysis of one’s relationship to it, yet such analysis cannot be effectively done by an exhausted mind.

 

Sweet Guilt

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I am a chocolate fanatic. I’ve never turned down a piece of chocolate in my life, I always have a chocolate stash, and it’s definitely number one on my list of favorite sweets. I’ve always liked it and probably always will. I’ve never had a negative thing to say about chocolate… until this contemplative practice.

Chocolate is consumed primarily by affluent countries (https://www.statista.com/chart/3668/the-worlds-biggest-chocolate-consumers/)

After the little lecture at the beginning of the session I couldn’t stop thinking about all the negative attributes of chocolate. The first thing that I kept coming back to in my head was the fact that chocolate is mainly consumed in affluent countries. It is something I’ve had at my fingertips for my whole life. I started to feel bad as I realize it’s a product I have completely taken for granted. People work so hard harvesting and managing the cacao plants, developing the chocolate, and distributing it out. I’ve never had a thought of gratitude towards the people who made it possible to have the piece of chocolate in my hand. I felt incredibly guilty.

Alter Eco, an example of a sustainable chocolate brand. (https://www.alterecofoods.com/collections/chocolate-bars)

This feeling continued through the contemplative practice. As time passed my thoughts transitioned from the social aspect of chocolate to the environmental aspect. Why do we like chocolate? We like the sweetness which comes from sugar, and the creaminess which comes from milk, or maybe its the smooth texture that wouldn’t be possible without the use of water or fossil fuel power. All of these ingredients have negative ties to the environment, aka it is unsustainable. Going out of my way to buy sustainable chocolate wasn’t even a thought I had until this contemplation.

The point I want to get across is that sitting down, thinking about a concept with an open mind like we do in these contemplative practices, can really make a difference on how you think about things. This practice allowed me to open my mind to the reality behind chocolate, and it really will change my consumer habits.

How Are You?

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This is from an in-class contemplative practice we did on 4/14/20. The simple question was: How are you? Karen took us on a guided, grounding meditation, and I felt compelled to journal how this quarter is hitting me, personal realizations, and perhaps questions that might be useful to ask yourself. So, how am I?

I feel better sitting outside. I feel tense with the sounds of machinery. I feel stressed with the rushed pace of classes. I want to move slow, live slow, and breathe. I want to enjoy my life the way I like to enjoy it, not how America trains us to enjoy it. And it isn’t lazy. It’s valuing quality over quantity.

How can I live slowly when classes demand otherwise? Is it possilbe to move slowly through class and still excel? Do I have to keep riving myself along the edge of stress and anxiety? Or can I practic doing what’s asked and no more?

What will happen if I do this quarter my way? Cameras off when I can, outside, listening when necessary. Handing in quality, but not doing excess. Doing work as needed, but taking a break from leading and pushing others to my usual standard.

What if I take a break? Be and become myself: slow, relaxed, and not desperately trying too prove myself but rather being just…fine. What if I stop trying to make everything about impressing people and just take care of myself and be happy? Live for myself. I don’t have to be amazing. What will happen if I live without that stress?

These aren’t normal times. It’s been incredibly hard to check in with myself and try to give myself permission to not push to what’s become a breaking point due to personal struggles right now. Sometimes it’s OK to be OK, and it’s OK to not be OK. We have to take care of ourselves, not just right now, but always.