Unit 10

In unit 3 I gave my-self scores of 6 in physical well-being, 7 in spiritual well-being and 7 in psychological well-being. Now after a few weeks have passed I would keep my spiritual and psychological well-being scores the same but change my physical well-being to a 7. I have been working to improve spiritually and psychologically but have not really made any head way yet. Physically I have been able to keep a regular exercise schedule and have improved my nutrition.

            As far as my goals go I have been working toward them and working on the activities I chose. I have added more time for fitness and planned more nutritious meals. I have put in some more time for freeing my mind and accepting a little more of what is. I still have a ways to go though.

            My personal experience through this course has been a good one filled with realization and growth. I have learned to put as much time and effort into my spiritual and psychological well-being as I do in my physical well-being. I have set some goals and come up with methods of reaching those goals. I think all of this will help me in the future and in my career my balancing my own integral health so that I can do the same for others.

Tamara

Unit 9: Personal Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Personal Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

     It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically so that they will be balanced and better equipped to help and treat their patients. If a health and wellness professional cannot balance themselves then their patients would not be expected to have any confidence that they can do it for them. The areas that I need to develop to achieve the goals I have for myself are all three really. I am working on developing physically so I can be in the outward shape that I believe my clients would want to see and so that I will be healthier. Spiritually I need to work on acceptance of what is brought in to my life. Psychologically I am working on having a more watchful mind so that I do not get caught up in pointless thoughts and dragged down by stress.

     In assessing my wellness score on a scale of 1-10, I have come to the following: Physical well-being I would give myself a 6.5 because I am active on a regular basis and conventionally healthy. I am working on getting more fitness activity in my life and am getting closer to being in a better, healthier shape. I do eat a decent amount of whole foods but I also eat too much processed food. This is another thing I am working on. Spiritual well-being I would score a 7 because I believe in a higher power although I am unsure of who or what that is. I am generally at peace with my surroundings but find myself questioning my life a lot. I am working on acceptance of what is rather than wondering so much about what could be. Psychological well-being would get a 7 because I am sane by all accounts, but I doubt myself and my choices a lot and this leads to undue stress and at times depression. (Dacher, 2006)

     Goals I have for myself psychologically are to think less, spend less time worrying about everything and to take the time regularly to sit and meditate. Some goals I have for my spiritual wellness are to open myself up to what surrounds me more and just let it all in, accepting everything for what it is and what it could bring. Physically, my goals are to continue with my fitness and eating healthier. Eventually I would like to be mostly vegetarian.

     A strategy that I can implement to foster growth in physical wellness is Tai chi which helps with physical wellness because it is slow and intentional movements that focus on both inner and outer strength and peace. It puts your mind at peace as it strengthens your body. By doing Tai Chi a couple times a week I would gain strength in my body and lessen the chance for illness. Yoga is good for psychological wellness because it uses movement and breathing to still your mind as it strengthens your body. This releases stress and tension and it lets you let go of daily problems. Yoga can be done on my days off from regular physical fitness. Meditation would be good for spiritual wellness because it makes you focus silently on your own thoughts and feelings and how they affect the world around us. This eases us, relaxes us and de-stresses us. Meditation is something that I will work myself up to. I may start with only 10-15 minutes a day then work up to around 30 minutes. I think doing this in the evenings would be a good idea to help relax myself and even promote a more restful sleep. (Dacher, 2006)

     To assess my progress over the next six months I will keep a chart of what I am supposed to do and check it off as I go. This way I will know what I did and what I skipped. It will also help me to remember what all should be done and hopefully get me in a good routine. Strategies for maintaining my long-term practices for health and wellness would be to follow my charts, keep a journal and find others to hold me accountable. This way I will continue with that I plan on doing and not let my attention stray from my goals.

Reference

Dacher, E., (2006) Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing.

         Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications, Inc. (pgs. 81-83, 111-114)

Unit 8: Optimal Well-Being

Unit 8: Optimal Well-Being

            The two practices that I have learned through this course that I think are most beneficial are Loving-Kindness and a Watchful Mind. I think these two are the most beneficial because they help to release stress and put the mind and body at ease. Implementing these practices into my personal life to foster mental fitness would be a matter of making time for my-self a few times a week and focusing on relaxing my mind. I can implement a watchful mind on a daily basis by letting my thoughts come and go and not lingering on any of them. Bringing Loving-Kindness into my life would be more of sending out good vibes and well wishes to everyone I come across. A good example would be if I hear of someone having troubles I can sit for a few moments and send out healthy and helpful thoughts to that person. I think both practices will help with my mental fitness and overall integral health and wellness.

Tamara

Unit 7: Meeting Aesclepius

     The meditative practice this week of Meeting Aesclepius was about picturing someone who is wise and caring and absorbing that wisdom and love into yourself. This was easy for me to choose a guide. My grandmother was an amazingly loving person who helped anyone who needed it. I was able to visualize her and her aspects and feel the light from her come into me. The experience was calming and strengthening at the same time. I felt relaxed, sure of myself and strong within my heart and mind.  Meditation such as this, has fostered an increase in my psychological and spiritual wellness by allowing me to put my mind at ease and focus on sharing love and caring from within. I can continue to apply these practices in my personal life by taking the few minutes each day to sit and contemplate.

     The quote, “One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” means that in order to show someone how to do something you must do it yourself first and have the personal experience to draw from. This applies to the health and wellness profession in that a practitioner must have fostered their own balance through the practices they teach before they attempt to teach it to others. If you do not know how to do a pushup properly then you cannot instruct someone else on how to do it. As a health professional I feel I do have an obligation to my clients to develop my health in all areas. I have to first be balanced and aware before I can help them become balanced and aware. To implement psychological and spiritual growth in my life I need to keep an open mind, practice mediation and allow myself to relax more often, not just physically but mentally.

Tamara

Unit 6

     In doing the universal loving-kindness exercise I found that although it was difficult for me to sit silently for a period of 10 minutes with only a few thoughts repeating in my mind, I did find the process of sending good wishes out to everyone to be calming and almost fulfilling. I felt better about myself as if I had actually helped someone.

     Through my self-assessment process I have to the area of psychospiritual wellness to be my focus of growth and development. In particular I have chosen the emotional line to work on because I feel this is where I contract most of my unhappiness and stress from.

      Some specific exercises to foster greater wellness in this area would be meditating and even yoga. Both activities would allow me to clear my mind and realize what I need to accept, change and discard.

Tamara