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)
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