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? I accept as true that
psychologically, spiritually as well as physically is a significant
characteristic of health, true health cannot be accomplished if one or more
subjects are not healthy. A specialist should live what they teach. It provides
them a greater awareness of what they are inquiring of others, how these
activities influence our health, as well as what experiences individuals go
through the strengths as well as battles. Dacher said in the letter to the
reader of his book, Integral Health, which he had been "inadequately
prepared to care for others' lives." That is a very eye opening statement.
We go to our
physicians, who are extremely incompetently organized, as well as up until we
organize ourselves; we all are incompetently organized to upkeep for our own
lives. It takes knowledge, developing, acquiring awareness, as well as
determination. Another aspect to
consider is that “optimal wellness/flourishing are self-cultivated rather than
reliant upon extrinsic healing” (Dacher, 2006). It takes deep work within one’s
self to flourish, and this can be a never ending quest.
I think each
area is in need of development for me to achieve the goals I have. I can use
development in all three, psychological, spiritual, and physical. I don’t
consider being entirely healthy is possible, there will constantly be a
superior level of wellness to work towards.
Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your
wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically? On a 1-10 scale:
Spiritually: 6
Physically: 5
Psychologically: 6
Spiritually,
I feel like I live at a six for the reason that I overlook observing at life in
a certain way so therefore I grow wrapped up. I have to admit that there are
days that passes by without praying and
thanking him about my gratefulness which I have for my wonderful life. It is
continuously in my heart, however sometimes I don’t make enough effort to keep
it in my mind. There are opportunities to be grateful in “every moment.”
(Schlitz & Amorok, 2005)
Physically, I
feel like I live at a 5. My physical
well –being with asthma and COPD has affected my heath very much indeed. I have to add a point for myself because I
have stopped smoking cigarettes and I started to walk more and more. With my
physical appearance, I am very unhappy with because yes, I am overweight. I try
to eat healthy for the most part. I do need to increase my fruits and veggies a
little more, and work on portion control at dinner. I have lost 50 lbs.’
already and I am still losing.
Psychologically,
I have struggles in this area as well. I have a lot of anxiety and stress
especially through my job. Sometimes I feel that I don’t take enough care of my
mind. I allow myself to get too overwhelmed at times. I allow myself to drive
myself nuts at times and also unhappy with my psychological wellness (the score
of 6).
Goal
development: List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area,
Physical, Psychological and Spiritual.
Physically: I want to remain to not to smoke and walk
more. I would certainly like to reach the level of fitness that I have
potential to reach. I want to remain to eat well, maybe even a little better. I
can use more fruits as well as vegetables. Also, I would want to remain by
losing the weight to where I am healthy.
Psychologically:
I think I could have a much better level of psychological wellness. I would
like to feel that I am much stronger as well as wiser with my psychological
wellbeing. I want 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.”
Spiritually:
I want to really connect with God each day, more than my nightly prayer. I want
to live in a state of spiritual connection and gratitude. I want to share my
spirituality with my family more.
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.
Spiritually: Prayer for myself and
for my family
Physically: Exercise and
Nutrition.
Psychologically Visualization and
meditation.
I will implement each by making efforts every
day to focus on these activities. I plan to practice Dacher’s approach as well;
I think the loving-kindness activity will help me to gain strength both
spiritually as well as psychologically. I certainly appreciate the concept
Dacher presents called “Skillful Action,” this is to restrain unskillful
behavior and encourage skillful behavior. I think this is exactly how I will be
able to improve my psychological health. I have to train my mind to work in the
way I want it to.
I also really appreciate and plan to use the
suggestion of Dacher to use my physical workout as a time to do a mental
workout as well. I expect to see an improvement in my mental fitness when I use
this time and activity for exercises both mind and body. Dacher also points out
that “psychological development becomes a springboard for spiritual
development.” I think once I reduce the mental chatter and struggles, I will be
able to achieve an even deeper spiritual development, maybe one that I am
currently incapable to truly understanding (Dacher, 2006).
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 think I will
have a mental idea of how often and effective I am with trying to do these
things. Memory; I think it is a wiser strategy is to write my progress down,
not just rely on memory. My main strategy is to involve my family, make this a
joint venture, so we all work together to have the health we desire.
I also plan
to use personal vows, commitments, to myself. I will probably say them to
myself first thing each day out loud; in order to remind myself and continue to
devote myself to 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 embrace a
vision of health as well as healing whose final goal is health, contentment, as
well as completeness this is an opportunity that exists for every individual
nevertheless of individual surroundings. I acknowledge that health as well as
healing is this extensive intelligence can endure up to and through death.
Maintain the ethical values of a spiritual life. In over-all, this can be
well-defined as that assertiveness in addition to behaviors that assist to
eradicate suffering as well as encourage harmony, health, contentment, as well
as completeness on behalf of ourselves as well as others.
Encounter
every individual as a unique sacred human being. The individual’s situation,
neediness, temperament, as well as measurements will describe the personalized
process of health and healing. I recognize that deep, unconditional listening
is necessary to achieve this goal. Grow through personal introspective practice
a healing presence that is accepting, uplifting, comforting, harmless,
open-minded, as well as instilled with loving-kindness.
Recognize as
well as support the distinctive healing capacities in each individual. I
distinguish that the individual is the definitive basis of his or her health as
well as healing as well as the author of his or her own life. Embrace wholly
life as being exceptional as well as valuable.
References
Chopra, D.,
Dossey, L., Kabat-Zinn, J., Ornish, D., Pert, C., Remen, R.N., Wilber, K.,
(2005), Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine,
St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Inc.
Dacher, E.
(2006). Integral Health - The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
