Unit 10 Reflections

Unit 10 Reflection

After reviewing my unit 3 personal assessment I scored myself:

Physical-6 and I feel I am at the same level here and am trying to at least maintain because of my limitations with my spine. But I am still striving for a higher number for my nutrition; I am doing well but think I can always do better.

Spiritually-8 was the score for unit 3 but I feel I am at a slightly higher level, maybe a 9, because I am really focusing on this aspect. I have been reflecting on what my beliefs are and have been nurturing them more now. I am getting back in touch with my inner spirit and the connection to my God. I feel this is an important part of my life and though I got lost for a while I want to rediscover and feed this part of me. So I am doing better here and plan on keeping the stride going and stay on this path.

Psychological-5 was the score in unit 3 and now maybe a 5 or 6 because this is an ongoing process and I have good and bad days. But I am more accepting of what has been and trying to focus on the now. The exercises we have practiced in this class have helped me stay present and helps keep the mindless chatter at bay, most of the time. I have come to realize that there are stages to every emotional situation and we should experience them all because it is part of the healing process.

Reviewing the goals and activities I set for myself for each of these aspects I think I have accomplished some and am working on others. As I mentioned in the paragraphs above I am limited in my physical goals as far as my spine but am doing good for what I have. I am also doing better nutritionally I slipped over the holidays but am getting back on track.

Spiritually I am making great progress in finding the spirituality I once knew. I am a work in progress but in this aspect as well as the psychologically they go hand in hand and are never complete. So in the spirituality and psychological areas I am both reaching my goals and pushing on for more.

I have implemented the activities that I set for myself by practicing meditation exercises and prayer into my daily activities. I have also been implementing better nutrition to get back on track to where I was before the holidays.

My experience throughout this course has been interesting because it opened my eyes to things I have been neglecting like my mental and spiritual health. I have come to realize I have to tend to these in myself to be a better person and healer for others, so I do believe I have improved my well being because I am aware now. The reward has been the reawakening of my spirit and the desire to develop it more. The difficult part was initially focusing on the exercises and closing down the thought process to find peace, but I have gotten much better.

This experience will improve my ability to assist others because I now know what it is like to feel what it is like to work on these aspects and the rewards that can come from it. I will take these lessons learned and bring them to others so they might be able to reach for a human flourishing they have not known before. We have to heal the whole person, there is a new kind of medicine on the horizon and the need for it is great. Hopefully I can contribute to the many people out there that need or want to be healed as a whole person, not just the symptoms or one part of the person but the whole.

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

Unit 9 Final Project

Introduction:

It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop their own psychological, spiritual, and physical health to not only be their best but also to have the firsthand experience to share with others and enhance their knowledge. The wisdom of knowing what it is like to find wellness within one’s self can only make that person a better teacher and healer. Experience is the best teacher and unless you have gone through a life changing event how can you give empathy and relate to what you are teaching. Knowing how it feels and the steps necessary to flourish in all aspects of the whole person provides the basis for optimal health for us and the ability to teach and heal others.

Personally I need to develop psychologically and spiritually though I have made great strides in these areas I feel it is an ongoing process to achieve optimal health in these aspects of myself. Psychological health, for me, is to be happy with myself and come to terms with mistakes made so I can move on. We all have regrets and make mistakes it is a natural part of life but to accept them as learning experiences and use them to grow as a person is the goal.

My spirituality has always been strong but due to loss and pain has occasionally made me lose my way. But faith and spirituality is the belief in what we cannot prove empirically yet feel in our soul, it is our deepest self. My plan to develop my spirituality is to use prayer and meditation so I can find the inner peace and connect with my deepest self. Using the exercises provided by Dacher in Integral Health the Path to Human Flourishing (2006) such as Loving Kindness and Subtle Mind will help me build my mental fitness and allow me to flourish and meet my goals.

Assessment:

By using Dacher’s Integral assessment (2006) I looked at each aspect of the four quadrants of his integral model and applied them to myself. On the biological level I have been doing pretty good, I have improved my nutrition, fitness, and self regulation all aspects of my physical well being. For the psychospiritual level I reexamined my beliefs and feelings relating to this quadrant and assessed my conative, cognitive, and emotional aspects. On the conative level I am between vision and values and full development, so I need to work on my universal loving kindness and compassion. For my cognitive level I feel I am solid, I encompass logic, reason, and pure awareness. My emotional level is much better than it was a few months ago, I am somewhat reactive but am working on that to become more neutral and calm.

My interpersonal development needs some work I have examined myself and found I need more balance between my personal, family, and community levels. I tend to hold tightly to certain aspects like my family while ignoring the others, so I need to find harmony with all levels and gain perspective.

My worldly quadrant involving generativity, social activism, and work all need to be developed and balanced (Dacher, 2006). This particular aspect of my life has been neglected far too long and is screaming to be nurtured. Every level has been under used or not used at all and these are the changes I hope to make with my education and getting back out into the world. So in trying to score the aspects of myself spiritually, physically, and psychologically I would have to say outside of the physical I am somewhere in the middle and striving for the top.

Goal Development:

List at least one goal I have for myself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.

Physical: My goal is to continue with my fitness and nutrition goals keeping everything in moderation. The one addition I may make is getting outside more to work on general daily physical activity while enjoying the benefits of nature thus nurturing a mind/body connection.

Psychological: My goal here is to continue on my path to self forgiveness and practicing the mental exercises introduced in this course. I would like to be more centered and self assured as well as accepting of things so I can help others realize their goals. Knowing that life is full of ups and downs and accept what cannot be changed and change the things I can while calmly handling the problems that arise is all anyone can strive for.

Spiritual: My goal is to let more of my spiritual self out and come to know my deepest self. By learning more about me this way and opening up I can let God and all of life’s goodness in. So I guess the ultimate goal here is to acknowledge and be aware of my oneness with the universe and the connectedness of all.

Practices for personal health:

Strategies I can implement to foster growth in each of the following domains:

Physically I will add relaxation exercises such as Yoga or Tai Chi to my routine and get outside more to foster growth. I will also add even more organic produce to my diet and continue to stay away from processed foods.

Psychologically I will practice the Subtle Mind exercise as often as possible so I can continue to train my mind to think in the now and not get swallowed up in the mindless chatter that distracts us (Dacher, 2006). I will also incorporate a daily deep breathing/visualization regimen so I can keep my mind calm, peaceful and on track.

Spiritually I am going to pray more and contemplate my beliefs before bed each night so I can access the events of the day and let them go. I am also going to incorporate the Loving Kindness exercise each day as a way to build compassion and foster my ability to share that love with others (Dacher, 2006).

Commitment:

During the next six months I will use self assessment, as explained by Dacher’s model, to see if I am on the right track and if I need to work on certain areas. By looking at myself objectively I will be able to alter my routine to continue down the path to human flourishing and integral health. Some strategies to assist me in maintaining these practices in health and wellness and continue flourishing long term would be to reassess my progress routinely. I will make necessary adjustments as needed and remember the feeling of inner peace and wellness so I will want to continue on my journey.

References

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

Unit 8 Reflections

Unit 8 Reflection

Going through the exercises and practice sessions I have done in this class I feel the Loving Kindness and Visualization were the most beneficial. I also think the deep breathing exercises were helpful especially since I incorporate them in my life already and have used them successfully for many situations in my life. But the Loving Kindness was new and easy to accept the experience; I relate to the white light and the giving of love. The Visualization is another one that I have used in the past when I needed to escape something, like a medical procedure or something to that effect.

All of these can be practiced anytime so are easy to incorporate into my life when needed. Being able to use these exercises can foster my mental fitness by disciplining my mind which gives me the ability to calm myself and bring inner peace whenever I need it or want it. If I am facing a stressful situation I can use visualization to help me cope with what is happening by letting me escape the moment. With the Loving Kindness exercise I can use this when I want to give and receive good karma, sending out love will help it return.

I think any exercise or practice that helps calm and focus the mind is a clear benefit for overall health and well being. It is part of a healthy lifestyle just like diet and exercise and should be practiced daily. Overall health is a gift but is not free, it takes effort and dedication like anything worthwhile.

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew.”

French saint & bishop of Geneva (1567 - 1622)

Unit 7 Reflections

Unit 7 Reflection

I think mindfulness or meditation has fostered a greater health and wellness in me by bringing my thoughts to my inner self giving me a chance to make peace with them and move on. This has made me more focused and gave me the ability to calm my mind and bring myself back to the present when my mind wanders to negatives.

It is an ongoing process and I have a long way to go, this is not something learned overnight, but with practice and discipline it can get easier and just second nature. I think by training the mind in this way I can avoid the extreme emotions of a disruption in my life and take things as they come instead of seeing things as an end and more of a beginning. Each problem can become a lesson and can be taken on as chance to learn and let it go.

“One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself”

This phrase is one I believe in completely, to me it says that there are no better lessons learned or taught then the ones we survive. How can you give advice or guidance when you have not experienced the very thing you are trying to teach, you can try but the best teacher is life and the experiences we encounter. This knowledge can then be processed and the message received so that we can pass it on. There is no class or book that can teach or translate human life experience. I think the best teachers are the ones who lived what they teach.

This applies to the health and wellness professional because you really need to practice what you preach. How are you suppose to tell someone about the benefits of integral health and wellness if you are not practicing the same wisdom? In order to help someone else you must help yourself first, this is where passion in what you do comes from, you have to believe in what you say and do to be an effective teacher and healer. I feel this is the obligation of the professional to be truly knowing of what they speak so the professional should develop their psychologically, physically, and spiritually.

I have been trying to implement this psychological and spiritual growth into my personal life since I have been taking this class. I have come to accept I need to come to terms with my psychological issues and nurture my spirituality to become the person I want to be and be able to help others. By doing an integral assessment periodically I can look at where I am lacking and make changes to balance all these aspects out. There has to be a well rounded balanced lifestyle to feel my best and I can achieve this by tending to my personal needs in the areas outlined in this course. Life is a journey but on this journey we need to grow and flourish through body/mind/spirit with the ultimate goal of unity of consciousness and oneness with all.