Unit 9 - Whew .... made it

 

I.                   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?

The teacher must also be a student – willing to learn – willing to grow – willing to impart knowledge and examine their own short comings.   To truly understand a patient and the source of their suffering, health care professionals must know what aspect of the patient’s life to look at for the source of the problem (Schlitz, Amorok & Micozzi, 2005). Another aspect to consider is that “optimal wellness/flourishing is self-cultivated rather than reliant upon extrinsic healing” (Dacher, 2006).  It takes work within one’s self to flourish, and this is an ongoing pursuit.   

A wellness professional cannot treat the whole person without understanding and implementing integral health techniques themselves. “That means the holder of the tool kit, the practitioner himself or herself must enter the transformative process, we must change ourselves if we are to change the medicine we are practicing” (Dacher, 2006, p. 166). The areas that are needed to develop and achieve the goals are the diagram for providing a holistic and integrated approach to health.  Holistic, evolutionary, intentional, person-centered, and dynamic principles provide the plan to understanding mind/body medicine.

Psychologically: Professionals must grow psychologically, keeping an open mind and considering new perspectives and methods to achieve wellness.

 Spiritually: Spirituality in the sense that they acknowledge a higher power. There is something that exists beyond what our 5 senses can perceive: a state of mind, a being, or a place.

 Physically: A professional must be physically healthy.  Being in good physical condition sets an example for your clients/patients.

 Personally I need to continue to develop in all three areas. Physically, psychologically and spiritually.

Physically I am on the right path. I exercise regularly, I am changing my eating habits and learning about nutrition, and my energy level has increased – but it is a daily quest and old habits are hard to shake.

Psychologically I need to work on managing stress and my perception of what is stressful. I am very hard on myself and need to be more forgiving.  I need to initiate meditation and the subtle mind techniques on a daily basis, no matter how busy or chaotic life gets.

Spiritually, I need to find a connection to something greater. I didn’t fully recognize the importance of developing spiritually until taking Creating Wellness and dealing with some looming issues in my life.

 

  II. Assessment

How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spirituality, physically, and psychologically?

In my personal assessment, I think each area is in need of development for me to achieve the goals I have.  I can use improvement in all three, psychological, spiritual, and physical.  Achieving complete wellness in a never ending quest, there will always be a higher level of wellness to work towards.  As I have continued to learning more about integral healing, meditation, and the new concepts I have learned in this and other classes, these areas will improve with life practice, becoming part of my daily life.

On a 1-10 scale: 

Spiritually:  3     Physically:  5   Psychologically:  6

Spiritually, I feel like I live at a 3.  This is the area that I need most improvement.  I get caught up in the world and honestly don’t look to this usually until things are difficult. I need to work on this immediately and think about the gratitude I have for my life and all of the blessings I have instead of the challenges.  It is always in my heart, but sometimes I don’t make enough effort to keep it in my thoughts.  There are opportunities to be grateful in “every moment.” (Schlitz & Amorok, 2005) 

Physically, I have improved significantly in the past 3 years. I am halfway there. I have lost almost 60 pounds but recognize that I sometimes stall and I still have 40 more pounds to g.   I exercise three to four times a week most weeks, I swim and do aqua yoga. I hired a personal trainer to do strength training out of the water and unfortunately my back was not ready for it.  I am not as happy with my physical appearance as I would like, particularly my midsection, this seems to be the last place I am losing weight.  I try to eat healthy for the most part.  I need to increase my fruits and vegetables but my portion control is in great shape.  I understand I am a work in progress.

Psychologically, I have overcome so many struggles in the past two years. I gave myself a 6 because I am more than halfway there.  I am very proud of myself for overcoming so many life changing events through my own mental strength and will. In the past three years, I sustained a major breakup, a criminal trial, the loss of a job and most life altering, the loss of my mother after a 3 month battle with cancer. I did not allow myself to sink into a dark place – I instead made it my mission to live the life I wanted.  I went to therapy – got help from my doctor – went to acupuncture, improved my health and found various new ways to cope. But I also know my self-esteem suffers at times.  I allow myself to get too overwhelmed at times.  Sometimes all I see are my shortcomings and I am inpatient with myself.  It is the area that I feel I need the most focus at this time.     I believe this part of why relationships elude me. I am still putting too much energy into what others think of me.

 III. Goal Development

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

 

 

 

Physically:  My goal for my physical self would be to lose the remaining 40 pounds. I am still far from within the normal range. Losing 40 pounds would put me in the mid-range of normal (Health Check Systems.com).  I would like to improve my diet, cutting down on dairy and meat products and having a nutrition plan mostly comprised of vegetables, fruit and whole grains.  Ultimately I would like to stop eating meat, but I am working my way there.   I am already utilizing Dacher’s suggestion, using my physical workout as a time for my mental workout as well.  I think this is why swimming has the benefits it does for me, it exercises both mind and body.

Psychologically:  Using Dacher’s concept, “Skillful Action,” I will work on training my mind to work in the way I need it to.  I am beginning to use the mental exercises we have practiced in class.  I am confident I could have a much improved level of psychological wellness.  I hope  to “find happiness that begins with us and then keep cultivating it until it is huge and unreserved, and does not hinder even during life’s unexpected events” (Dacher, 2006).  I want to be in control of my emotions instead of reacting to situations (Schlitz, Amorok & Micozzi, 2005).

 

 Spiritual: Through meditation and reaching out to people who are spiritually grounded, I need to find that something that makes me feel connected (Dacher, 2006). I do not know if that will be God, religion, nature, or something else, but I want to find that higher power, that I can feel in my daily life.  I want to live with more gratitude.  I want to share my spirituality and gratitude with my family.  “Psychological development becomes a springboard for spiritual development” (Dacher, 2006) Once I eliminate the mental chatter, I believe there will be an improvement in spiritual development, with greater understanding (Dacher, 2006).

 

 IV. 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:

Strategies include creating a more consistent water workout with measurables for progress.  Right now I don’t have a measure to see where I am as opposed to where I was 6 months ago.   I will also add hiking.  This will serve two purposes – I need to get outside and enjoy the beautiful city that I live in and it will create a social activity for me – where I am accomplishing my physical goals while developing relationships with like-minded people.  (Waehner, 2005).  Another strategy is planning my meals – instead of looking for the right thing to eat at the last minute, I can take control and know that I am eating right.

Psychological:

 In order to achieve greater psychological wellness, I will practice visualization along with my meditation exercises as part of my daily routine to help control stress. Each morning I will sit quietly before I begin my day. “Meditation is a way of training and transforming the mind, for our concentration to become clear we need tee right conditions, namely freedom from outer distractions” (Willis, 2002). Affirmations have become part of my meditation as well. I mentally say them and visualize what is being said and with that I feel a sense of rejuvenation.  A second strategy is to practice the subtle mind exercise (Dacher, 2006). This will help me achieve a sense of peace from my chaotic work environment. This is something I will make time for during my lunch break.  Instead of sitting at my desk, I will venture down to the beach and take advantage of my surroundings.

 

Spiritual:

 This strategy is most challenging for me. I believe hiking for exercise and leaving my office to go on the beach will benefit me spiritually. The beauty and serenity of the ocean will allow me to feel connected.  There was a time where I moved to Memphis and there was no beach, I remember how seeing the ocean made me feel – like an old friend who understood me in ways I could not express. The other strategy I will use for spiritual growth is the Loving-Kindness exercise (Dacher, 2006). This exercise is a beginning, when we first did this I felt ridiculous at first, but I have tried it again and my perspective has changed. I will continue to practice and see if this helps.

 

 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?

 

I have always journaled or blogged without purpose.  I will use my journal as a tool to track how I feel about my physical, psychological and spiritual growth. The journal can also be an outlet for stress by writing down the negative thoughts and feelings and getting rid of them (Dacher, 2006).

 

 In order to develop and maintain my long-term practices for health and wellness, I will put my goals out in the universe. I have found when you let others know what you are working towards, you are more likely to stick with it. I am surrounded by resources and the lifestyle where I live has an abundance of people and places that will support my goals.  I have already invested by pursuing my education, but must also invest my time and personal resources. I will keep an open mind and try some of new techniques.

 

I plan to use commitments, to myself, working toward the goals I have for myself.  These vows come from Dacher, they are:

 

 “I commit myself to:

Enter a personal process of self-development.  I recognize that this requires an inward turn that is supported by the necessary changes in my outer life and is grounded in regular contemplative practice.

 

 

 

 

·         Study, understand, and integrate an integral vision and its principles and practices into my personal and professional life.

·         To hold a vision of health and healing whose final goal is health, happiness, and wholeness – a possibility that exists for every person regardless of individual circumstances. 

·         Uphold the ethical principles of a spiritual life; eliminate suffering and promote peace, health, happiness, and wholeness for ourselves and others.

·         Meet every individual as a unique sacred being.

·         Develop through personal contemplative practice a healing presence that is acknowledging, comforting, reassuring, safe, nonjudgmental, and infused with loving-kindness.

·         Acknowledge and support the innate healing capacities in each individual.

 

•  Hold all life as unique and precious.

 In assessing my personal commitment, what comes to mind is Dacher’s final chapter.  “It is difficult to clear a new path.  Yet, here and there, we must remember to take a deep breath and to focus inward in order to remember who we really are, why I am compelled to write this book, and you to read it."  (Dacher, 2006)

 

 

 

 

 

References

 Dacher, Elliott S., M.D. (2006). Integral Health, the Path to Human Flourishing.

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm

Schlitz, Marilyn; Amorok, Tina; Micozzi, Marc S. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine.

Waehner, Paige, 2005. Take it Outside. About.com, January 3, 2005.

Willis, R. Wayne, 2002. Hope Notes, 52 Meditations to Nudge Your World. Westminster John Knox Press
 

BLOGS I POSTED IN FOR THIS UNIT:

http://yahweysinspirationalcoffeebreak.blogspot.com/2013/04/introduction-why-isit-important-for.html?showComment=1367291221206#c3322126251570044514

http://themindisthebody.blogspot.com/2013/04/unit-9-final-project.html?showComment=1367291757573#c1219920493976855988