Unit 10: Personal Assessment

In the beginning of the class my first overall assessment of my psychological, physical, and spiritual measurement was a 4. Even though I dwelled on the things I could not change, and allowed temporary situations to dominate my choices, I still felt there was some hope in my life. Since holistic health is evolutionary and dynamic (Dacher, 2006), I re-evaluated the original optimal health measurement in my Strategy for Continuous Health blog, and gave my optimal health measurement an overall 7.

During this class, I have come to realize that my spiritual belief needs to be strengthened before I can take care of the total needs of my body, mind, and spirit. This forgotten knowledge is currently being taken care of.  You see, I believe in signs, and I am happy to say the other day my spiritual health increased to an 8. I was thinking about finding a church to frequent when a woman and her young daughter knocked on my front door giving out flyers to their church services. They really did not have much to say, nor did they ask me all kinds of questions about my beliefs. The best part was that I felt comfortable because they were not all decked out in their Sunday finest.

I understand and acknowledge that I have a long way to go before I can reach ultimate health, but I know I will eventually get to my “perception” of it. Today, my inner spirit is telling me I am pointed in the right direction. Through all the assessments I have given myself during this class, it appears that in order to flourish I will need to be less pessimistic and more optimistic about my choices in life. Most importantly I have to be more open to what I have forgotten, my faith.

Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral Health. The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Unit 9: Strategy for Continuous Health

1. 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?

Integral medicine is holistic and evolutionary. In today’s society individuals are moving towards integral health and healing. Professionals in the health and wellness field need to incorporate integral health practices into their lives because they need to explore and incorporate new approaches to the development of psychological and contemplative practices that helps deal with life adversaries. Since the path to integral health offers a broad range of self-cultivating and generating activities, healers are better able to assists with not only difficult health issues such as aging, death, and disease, but genuine happiness, well-being, and wholeness issues as well (Dacher, 2006). In order to reach ultimate health, I feel that I would need to continuously re-evaluate the development of my psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of life.

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

Personal assessment of an individual’s health includes the cultivating and generating of activities that assists in the psychological, physical, and spiritual development. The assessment includes being aware of current and future sources of suffering, distress, and dissatisfaction (Dacher, 2006).  I re-evaluated the original optimal health measurement from the first well-being and health assessment. The first overall assessment measurement was a 4 because I felt there was still hope in my life. Due to the knowledge I obtained over the term and kind classmates with good advice, I realize my optimal health measurement should be at least a 7 overall. It appeared that I dwelled on the things I could not change, and allowed temporary situations to dominate my choices in life.

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

I believe that the development of one’s psychological, spiritual and physical change is a process that will take time and dedication. In my case, all domains need to be taken care of at the same time because they go hand in hand. I believe I can’t develop one area in my life without developing the others.  The unstableness of my personal life and career choices have been an issue in my life for several years, and became a major cause of my mind, body, and spirits unhealthiness.  

Over the past several weeks, I have come to realize that I have been trying to direct my life in a specific direction instead of following where life leads. I have also realized that my faith in a higher power needed to be strengthened in order to better recognize the extent of my strength and inabilities.  Once this is accomplished, I feel I will be able to confidently deal with external forces that threaten to destroy my minds calmness.  Psychologically, I will be able to separate rational and irrational patterns in order to enhance positive thinking, and dedicate time to daily practices that can help strengthen the immune system. Physically, I hope I will be able to sleep longer and contend with health issues that hurts the body. Spiritually, I will be able to self-cultivate and regain my-self worth, and judgment.

4. 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.

One strategy that I can utilize to implement and foster growth in all domains is increasing my faith with prayer.  Spending time in prayer will allow me to “let loose and let God” take over the reins of my life. Here I will understand that there is a higher power and all struggles do not have to be carried alone. This will offer opportunities towards health and healing while my minds noise becomes increasingly quiet from spiritual support.  My body will heal because I will be able to sleep longer hours, therefore function during daytime hours. I will be able to feel more confident in my decision making process, and learn how not to make the same distressful mistakes.

 Another strategy that I plan to implement and foster growth in all domains is by using creative visualization and subtle-mind exercises on a daily basis. The exercise helps create a lasting and positive response to stressful situations that are difficult to put to task.   By using these techniques, individuals are able to calm the mind, control reactive responses, and feel more whole and relaxed.

5. 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?

Since I tend to be my worst critique, I would make a poor judge on my progress.  I need to believe that slow progress is better than no progress at all, so I plan to move carefully towards my psychological, spiritual and physical growth. Over the next six months, I plan to do various activities that would help in assessing my progress or lack thereof.  If I find that I am not making significant progress, I will then reassess my options and make changes as needed. 

First, I plan to join a church that I feel comfortable in attending.  I feel that improving my faith will place me on the right path to integral health and healing.  Next, I would join a support group, church group, or do journal writing. This offers encouragement within a support system that allows individuals to express their feelings, goals, and milestones, and gives several different viewpoints as to how well I am progressing. Another strategy I plan to implement to maintain my long-term goal for health and wellness is by utilizing the love kindness and creative visualization practices on a daily basis. I feel by strengthening my faith, I will ultimately choose the correct path, and be able to live with inner peace, happiness, and health.

Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral Health. The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Preferred Mental Fitness Practices

After reviewing my experiences with the practice sessions through -out this course, I found that the loving kindness and creative visualization exercises benefited me the most. I found that both exercises allowed me to give and receive my natural nurturing abilities to myself and others, and creatively visualize past and future happiness. Other practice sessions during the course like the subtle mind exercise, asked for individuals to take a deep breath and clear their mind. Taking deep breaths was supposed to assist in staying on track during the healing process, but I had difficulty keeping my minds noise from rising.  Therefore I was not receiving the full benefit from the exercise.  

I felt the loving kindness and creative visualization exercise was more beneficial because it was fulfilling and easy to accomplish. By going back in time so to speak, helped me confirm that I allowed temporary issues to change me, and I could not recognize myself anymore. I need to remember the important aspects in my life in order to return to “normal” or at least put me on the right path to improving my mind, body, and spirit.  

Flourishing Through the Integral Assessment Process

I really did try the universal loving- kindness practice this week, but I could not let go of my mind noise long enough to release the anger from the injustices I received these past months. During my assessment I had no problem finding that aspect of my suffering, which currently is Kaplan University. The school affects my worldly line of development, and then snowballs down to the remaining three lines of development. I even tried to replace the practice words with “good things come to those who wait”, but the noise still would not go away.

You see, I was very excited when I believed I received my Bachelors in Business Administration in August 2011. The school advisors admit their error when they signed me up for my last three classes a term ahead of time, but I should have had four. When I called the school in mid October, they informed me I had six credits remaining to complete my degree. By this time I missed out on a good paying job because I would not pass the background check, nor did I qualify with the only requirement they needed me to have, a bachelors.  After Kaplan placed an additional 26 credits on my degree plan, when I only needed six, the advisors and the register and credit office assured me this wellness class would go with my business degree plan.  It took the school five weeks to clear things up, then tell me they signed me up for the wrong class, and I will have to go an additional term again.

Twenty more weeks of school for nothing, they admit it was all their error, but I still have no diploma. I will not see it for nine months after I originally should have graduated, and they expect me to trust them. The school admits it's all their fault, but I have to pay the consequences. I am having difficulty finding work, paying bills, keeping a roof over my head and food in my stomach. The Dean and school tell me that they will pay for this class, and I should be happy I will graduate with an extra six credits. I have so much noise that I can't think straight. I figure that it will take a long time to release the anger, injustices, and disappointment of not completing my original goal along with the 3.85 GPA, to develop a consciousness to heal and become whole.

LaVenus

Love and Kindness vs. Control and Focus

The love-kindness and subtle mind exercises offer different ways to accomplish psychospiritual development. I did however, find that the subtle mind exercise was more difficult to stay focused on because of all my preoccupations, while the love kindness exercises directed my emotions to a specific area, which was easier. Both exercises stress the importance of rhythmic breathing to help focus on and calm the movement of mental noise. During the love kindness exercise, individuals were asked to concentrate on positive emotions for others, then transfer those same emotions towards themselves. The subtle mind exercise instructs us on the importance of “resting or silencing” the minds noise or activity. This offers individuals the ability to better observe and control mental movements that hinder the natural healing process. Either way, both exercises presents alternative pathways to flourish and heal. With patience and practice, individuals will be able to utilize wisdom and resources that intentionally guides them towards integral healing.

LaVenus

We all need loving and kindness

     I enjoyed listening to the loving-kindness CD this weekend. It made me feel relaxed and his head for the very opposite side for the assignment.  Once the door opened, reality was standing there waiting impatiently for its turn to hit me in the face. It seems that I am my own worst critic and need to practice what I preach. Not so long ago, when I use to sleep for the more than two hours at a time, I use to listen to various relaxation audios. Look at me now; I can’t sleep for more than two hours at a time. I can put one and one together, so I need to work on relaxing more. 

     This past Saturday, I returned to California from Florida. A friend that I have not seen for 23 years came through town at that same time, and stopped to visit. While catching up, she let me know of her recent diagnosis of breast cancer, with harsh treatments to come. She asked me to pray for her because she believes the support of prayer will help her fight the disease. Well during the exercise, the instructor said to think of a person to place loving-kindness upon, so I thought of my long-time friend. When asked to place those same emotions upon myself, It felt good to forgave myself for being so self-critical, even after the door opened and reality hit me in the face.

LaVenus

Optimal Wellbeing

If I measured my own health from 0-10, 10 being optimal wellbeing, I would rate my health a 4. This is only because I am holding onto hope. Integral health is evolutionary and dynamic, and empowers one to explore and become self cultivating and generating (Dacher, 2006). This is one of the reasons I need to heal myself by dealing with one issue at a time.

My current emotional, physical, and spiritual issues have made my existing health issues worsen. I plan to resolve this issue soon in order to heal the areas that were drained. In the future, for emotional stability, I will try to stop dwelling on issues that I have no power to change at that moment. Physical stability, I will remove myself from unhealthy environments that increase BP, insomnia, and stomach problems. For spiritual stability, I can regain my-self worth and the ability to trust my own judgment.

I found I was unable to relax while listening to “The Crime of the Century” exercise. It is a good concept to have light images helps you feel grounded, but the instructor was giving instructions and explanations too often. The instructions to the exercise should have been given before exercise began, and his voice was not calming enough. I personally could not get into the exercise.

LaVenus

Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral Health. The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications, Inc.