Unit 9 Blog! :)

 Introduction:  Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically? What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

We have all heard as well as mentioned the saying, “practice what you preach”.  I think it is critical for professionals in any career to integrate (incorporate) what they do into their own lives. I wouldn’t go to a hairdresser with bad hair, a dentist with bad teeth, and certainly not a nutritionist who ate all junk food. “To become agents of a more expansive health, we must begin with our own life.” (Dacher, 2006, pg. 167). When it comes to integral health, you can only learn so much from reading textbook material. It is important to experience the effects of a developed psychological, spiritual, and physical wholeness to fully grasp the possibilities of human flourishing. When we gain this confidence it gives us the ability to “help others and create a better world.” (Dacher, 2006, pg 167).

In reality I need to develop all three areas to achieve my goals. I am significantly stronger physically then I am psychologically and spiritually. I would like to find balance between these three areas to obtain integral health and I see that this class has started to help me already.

II.  Assessment:  How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

            I have evaluated my health in each domain by determining which areas of my life that need attention and what changes I want to make. I also used Dacher’s six principles of integral assessment (as I’m sure most of you looked at as well). These principles are to ease suffering and to promote human flourishing, determining the difference between short and permanent suffering, immediate pleasure and long-term flourishing, the essential development of the psychospiritual, deep listening and guidance, and relevant development to current situation (Dacher, 2006, pg 106).

            I would score my physical area of wellness as strong. I am a strong gal J  However, there is always room for improvement. I can be inconsistent at times (who isn’t).            

            I would score my psychological and spiritual areas of wellness in the medium range. I have a very impatient mind and tend to have no focus sometimes. My mind is constantly racing (especially when I’m trying to fall asleep at night). I wish I could fall asleep as fast as my husband does. Men seem to always fall asleep quicker (or is it just me who thinks that?)

III.  Goal development:  List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual. 

            My goal for my physical wellness is to start running. I used to run all the time with my Mother and my husband and then I just stopped. I would like to start off with a 5 K marathon (3 mile) and then continue to a 10 K (6 miles). I will be 26 this December so hopefully by next Spring, I can run my first marathon. I think that this will also help clear my mind and help with stress management. My goal for my psychological wellness is to start meditating every day, which will take a considerable amount of practice. Right now, I do it whenever I can. I could learn some pointers from my Father-in law. He meditates every day! Last, my goal for my spiritual health is to begin some type of prayer routine, and possibly start going back to church.

IV.  Practices for personal health:  What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

            Physical – Diet and Exercise. I am a pretty healthy person except I don’t drink enough water like I should. I actually don’t drink much of anything. If I am drinking, it is water, but for some reason I am never thirsty. I need to change that.

            Psychological – Subtle Mind and Transforming Work Exercises. I have an extremely unfocused, unintentional train of thoughts running through my mind constantly. By using the three steps of the Subtle Mind exercise, Witnessing Mind, Calm Abiding Mind, and Unity Consciousness, I can learn to not grasp at thoughts, but let them pass by. This would definitely help me. When I am able to successfully accomplish this, I can learn to replace reactivity with intention and gain enlightenment. One of my biggest stressors in my life is actually fear of the unknown. However, I am starting to learn that it is okay to not know what is going to happen in the future. It is the same for everyone. No one knows what the future holds.

            Spiritual – Prayer and Volunteer Work. I love working with pets so I may start volunteering at the animal shelter again. I always thought it was great that people are because it seems to offer a sense of overall comfort. I just could never make that "prayer" connection to my own life without feeling like some sort of affiliation was necessary. However, I like the idea of communication with the absolute because I think I need to make some sort of connection with the universe. This can be done with prayer beyond the physical or even meditation for ten minutes a day. As long as I am making some sort of connection beyond myself. I would also like to make this connection through regular volunteer work. I want to give back in a universal sense. Kind of like a pay-it-forward type of deal.

V.  Commitment:  How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months? What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

            Physically, I will assess my progress by my health, my ability to maintain my eating schedule, and my physical performance. I can start keeping a food journal as well as a workout journal. I used to do this but I stopped for some reason. My long term plan is to sign up for marathons and go to the gym 3-4 times a week.

            Psychologically, I will assess my progress by my ability to meditate, clear my thoughts, let thoughts pass by without grasping them, and maintaining a positive attitude at every day. I will maintain this long term by setting aside time everyday to practice these exercises. I’ve already started and I have seen a change in me.

            Spiritually, I will assess my progress by my feeling of oneness with the universe and my ability to maintain loving-kindness towards everyone. I will also assess my progress by the amount of volunteer work and the service I can offer in six months. I love helping out at the humane society so I will be be volunteering here. I can maintain these long term by signing up for volunteer work and attending church on a regular basis perhaps.  

                                                            Reference

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral health: the path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach: Basic Health Publications.