Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Unit Ten: I am Victorious
1.Review your unit 3 personal assessment of your psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. Reflect on these areas . How did you score yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 in unit 3? How do you score yourself now? Has the score changed? Why or why not?
In Unit 3, I scored as follows: Physical Wellness - 5, Spiritual Wellness - 9, and Psychological Wellness - 6
As I reassess how I scored myself the first time, I am a bit disappointed that I have not been more focused on taking care of myself.
Current scores:
Physical Wellness = 5
I still feel I only deserve 5 points for this area. I am not totally sedentary, but I am not as active as I need to be either. I recognize that I tend to slow down in this area of my wellness because I succumb to the stressors that are associated with work and personal matters in my life. I make excuses as to why I do not have sufficient time to exercise. I have now decided that this is one of the keys to my being more proficient in achieving wellness.
Now, as soon as I get to work, I go for a brisk 15-minute walk. This is a starting point and I will begin to build upon it. As I said before, I am going to adopt what King Julian (movie Madagascar) says "I like to move it, move it." I going to set up my workout plan on the Wii Fit.
Spiritual Wellness = 8
When I first assessed this area, I gave my spiritual well-being a 9. I still believe that God is my hiding place, my safe haven. I realize if I had been as grounded as I thought, I would not have experienced the various degrees of stress I was under at the start of this class. I just decided that I would drop back 1 point and continue to practice what I am presently doing until I have achieved that state of ultimate peace.
I begin everyday with prayer and an affirmation of gratitude toward God who I believe to be the supplier of everything that affects my day-to-day existence. Even though I put a score of 8 here, I know that this is a "one-day-at-a-time" achievement.
Psychological Wellness = 6
Even though a six is not the top rung of the ladder, my points have risen from a 4 in this area. I have put into practice being intentional in my thoughts, so that fear and anger do not rule my behavior. I practice more positive thoughts so that I can eliminate the negativity that tries to pervade my mind.
2. Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals? Explain.
My goals are beginning to shape up. As I discussed under the physical I have begun to walk again. Psychologically I have started to put some of the exercise into practice. I intentionally keep my mind under subjection and I have learned to not succumb to the negative noises that want to rule my mind.
3. Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.
Yes I have started to walk and will put a program into my Wii fit in the next week or so. Psychological and spiritual are just ongoing practices.
4. Summarize your personal experience throughout this course. Have you developed improved well-being? What has been rewarding? What has been difficult? How will this experience improve your ability to assist others?
This following sums up what I have gained. I am aware that my physical, spiritual and psychological are interconnected. If one is not stellar then they are all in jeopardy. I have made tremendous gains and I am very pleased. This class has placed tools in my life that are invaluable.
In Unit 3, I scored as follows: Physical Wellness - 5, Spiritual Wellness - 9, and Psychological Wellness - 6
As I reassess how I scored myself the first time, I am a bit disappointed that I have not been more focused on taking care of myself.
Current scores:
Physical Wellness = 5
I still feel I only deserve 5 points for this area. I am not totally sedentary, but I am not as active as I need to be either. I recognize that I tend to slow down in this area of my wellness because I succumb to the stressors that are associated with work and personal matters in my life. I make excuses as to why I do not have sufficient time to exercise. I have now decided that this is one of the keys to my being more proficient in achieving wellness.
Now, as soon as I get to work, I go for a brisk 15-minute walk. This is a starting point and I will begin to build upon it. As I said before, I am going to adopt what King Julian (movie Madagascar) says "I like to move it, move it." I going to set up my workout plan on the Wii Fit.
Spiritual Wellness = 8
When I first assessed this area, I gave my spiritual well-being a 9. I still believe that God is my hiding place, my safe haven. I realize if I had been as grounded as I thought, I would not have experienced the various degrees of stress I was under at the start of this class. I just decided that I would drop back 1 point and continue to practice what I am presently doing until I have achieved that state of ultimate peace.
I begin everyday with prayer and an affirmation of gratitude toward God who I believe to be the supplier of everything that affects my day-to-day existence. Even though I put a score of 8 here, I know that this is a "one-day-at-a-time" achievement.
Psychological Wellness = 6
Even though a six is not the top rung of the ladder, my points have risen from a 4 in this area. I have put into practice being intentional in my thoughts, so that fear and anger do not rule my behavior. I practice more positive thoughts so that I can eliminate the negativity that tries to pervade my mind.
2. Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals? Explain.
My goals are beginning to shape up. As I discussed under the physical I have begun to walk again. Psychologically I have started to put some of the exercise into practice. I intentionally keep my mind under subjection and I have learned to not succumb to the negative noises that want to rule my mind.
3. Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.
Yes I have started to walk and will put a program into my Wii fit in the next week or so. Psychological and spiritual are just ongoing practices.
4. Summarize your personal experience throughout this course. Have you developed improved well-being? What has been rewarding? What has been difficult? How will this experience improve your ability to assist others?
This following sums up what I have gained. I am aware that my physical, spiritual and psychological are interconnected. If one is not stellar then they are all in jeopardy. I have made tremendous gains and I am very pleased. This class has placed tools in my life that are invaluable.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Unit 9: Final Project
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?
It is important that we, as health and wellness professionals, develop ourselves psychologically, spiritually and physically. As I stated in a previous exercise, this is a reflection of accountability and best practice in action. The healthcare professionals are called upon to practice with respect and without deference to cultural or ethnic differences. Therefore, they must become knowledgeable about all nuances that have been introduced and to share it with their patience. It keeps the relationships in balance that are forged between patient and doctor. It is appropriately stated here: "Providers of health care must work on their own spiritual evolution to actually experience what the model represents." In my opinion, the general idea of theory has its merit, but to actually practice what a health professional learns enhances the lesson being shared.
For my personal development I must continue to grow more in the psychological and physical aspects of my life. I am not asserting here that I have mastered all aspects of my life, but my spiritual goals are being achieved with a lot more dedication than the aforementioned two To know how to best prescribe to my clients, I must practice what I preach. For me this flows right into describing what is meant by: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself." I cannot appropriately make applicable to anyone else's life these practices if I have not fully experienced the affects of practicing them in my own life.
II. Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
Since beginning this class, I have assessed and reassessed the many domains that affect my spiritual, psychological and physical wellness. Before this class I rationalized away from procuring better health by watching my nutritional intake. I have not been as consistent as I should be in my exercise regimen. In the beginning of the class, my psychological status was unstable--easily frustrated, stressed and angered.
Physical wellness = 5
I recognize that I tend to slow down in this area of my wellness because I succumb to the stressor that are associated with work and personal matters in my life. I make excuses as to why I do not have sufficient time to exercise. I have now decided that this is one of the keys to my being more proficient in achieving wellness. I am going back to a regular exercise regimen and will be intentional in my achieving it.
Spiritual wellness = 8
I begin everyday with prayer and an affirmation of gratitude toward God who I believe to be the supplier of everything that affects my day-to-day existence. Even though I put a score of 8 here, I know that this is a "one-day-at-a-time" achievement.
Psychological wellness = 6
Even though a six is not at the top step of the stairway, my points have risen in this area. I have put into practice being intentional in my thoughts, so that fear and anger do not rule my behavior. I practice more positive thoughts so that I can eliminate the negativity that tries to pervade my mind.
III. Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
The goals to improve myself physically will incorporate better nutritional intake--more whole foods. I will purpose to have more fresh fruits and vegetables at my disposable. This improvement will also include more grains and legumes. Exercise is key to this process and getting the proper amount of rest at night. My goal for spiritual wellness has been set and will stay the same as I discussed in the previous section. I must stay on course and dedicated to what I have set in motion.
My goal for my psychological wellness hinges upon me remembering what has been learned in this class and practicing what I have learned. I going to be more intentional in my conscious thoughts. I am learning to operate outside of myself so that I do not become self-centered and focused on what concerns me. The practice of the subtle mind is an absolute necessity, because it has improved my life so much.
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.
My strategic implementation would begin with enhancing my physical self so I am not distracted by the onset of disease. As expressed already, I will change my eating habits, start to exercise with frequency and get proper rest. To practice better psychological health, I will have to create a calm mind that has been trained to be intentional in the thoughts that flow through it. I will utilize witnessing consciousness, until I have acquired calm-abiding and then the ultimate, unity consciousness. To do so, I must engage the practices of loving-kindness--enhanced care and compassion of others, and subtle mind--taming and training the ceaseless movement of the mind. I have really embraced "respond and react." This has been immeasurable to my success of lessening my stressors.
Spiritual growth will stay on course with the practices I have already implemented--daily prayer early in the morning and throughout the day, being forgiving and not holding offenses in my heart and daily affirmations of gratitude instead of complaining.
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?
To be effective in knowing if I am progressing, I will start charting in a journal. I will log where I am at present, and make daily entries of my day-to-day progress. I will log the things that I have begun to recognize that are not in keeping with what I have learned in this course and alter my behavior accordingly. Reading the textbook and finding other resources that relate can be a great assess, but will not replace putting into practice what we have learned.
In Chapter 10 of our Integral Health textbook, Beginning with Small Steps (p. 98), there are practices there that will serve as a measurement for me in my progress or lack thereof as it relates to me and working on my present job and future career endeavors.
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health--The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications.
Schlitz, M., Amorok, T. and Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Consciousness and Healing--Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
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?
It is important that we, as health and wellness professionals, develop ourselves psychologically, spiritually and physically. As I stated in a previous exercise, this is a reflection of accountability and best practice in action. The healthcare professionals are called upon to practice with respect and without deference to cultural or ethnic differences. Therefore, they must become knowledgeable about all nuances that have been introduced and to share it with their patience. It keeps the relationships in balance that are forged between patient and doctor. It is appropriately stated here: "Providers of health care must work on their own spiritual evolution to actually experience what the model represents." In my opinion, the general idea of theory has its merit, but to actually practice what a health professional learns enhances the lesson being shared.
For my personal development I must continue to grow more in the psychological and physical aspects of my life. I am not asserting here that I have mastered all aspects of my life, but my spiritual goals are being achieved with a lot more dedication than the aforementioned two To know how to best prescribe to my clients, I must practice what I preach. For me this flows right into describing what is meant by: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself." I cannot appropriately make applicable to anyone else's life these practices if I have not fully experienced the affects of practicing them in my own life.
II. Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
Since beginning this class, I have assessed and reassessed the many domains that affect my spiritual, psychological and physical wellness. Before this class I rationalized away from procuring better health by watching my nutritional intake. I have not been as consistent as I should be in my exercise regimen. In the beginning of the class, my psychological status was unstable--easily frustrated, stressed and angered.
Physical wellness = 5
I recognize that I tend to slow down in this area of my wellness because I succumb to the stressor that are associated with work and personal matters in my life. I make excuses as to why I do not have sufficient time to exercise. I have now decided that this is one of the keys to my being more proficient in achieving wellness. I am going back to a regular exercise regimen and will be intentional in my achieving it.
Spiritual wellness = 8
I begin everyday with prayer and an affirmation of gratitude toward God who I believe to be the supplier of everything that affects my day-to-day existence. Even though I put a score of 8 here, I know that this is a "one-day-at-a-time" achievement.
Psychological wellness = 6
Even though a six is not at the top step of the stairway, my points have risen in this area. I have put into practice being intentional in my thoughts, so that fear and anger do not rule my behavior. I practice more positive thoughts so that I can eliminate the negativity that tries to pervade my mind.
III. Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
The goals to improve myself physically will incorporate better nutritional intake--more whole foods. I will purpose to have more fresh fruits and vegetables at my disposable. This improvement will also include more grains and legumes. Exercise is key to this process and getting the proper amount of rest at night. My goal for spiritual wellness has been set and will stay the same as I discussed in the previous section. I must stay on course and dedicated to what I have set in motion.
My goal for my psychological wellness hinges upon me remembering what has been learned in this class and practicing what I have learned. I going to be more intentional in my conscious thoughts. I am learning to operate outside of myself so that I do not become self-centered and focused on what concerns me. The practice of the subtle mind is an absolute necessity, because it has improved my life so much.
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.
My strategic implementation would begin with enhancing my physical self so I am not distracted by the onset of disease. As expressed already, I will change my eating habits, start to exercise with frequency and get proper rest. To practice better psychological health, I will have to create a calm mind that has been trained to be intentional in the thoughts that flow through it. I will utilize witnessing consciousness, until I have acquired calm-abiding and then the ultimate, unity consciousness. To do so, I must engage the practices of loving-kindness--enhanced care and compassion of others, and subtle mind--taming and training the ceaseless movement of the mind. I have really embraced "respond and react." This has been immeasurable to my success of lessening my stressors.
Spiritual growth will stay on course with the practices I have already implemented--daily prayer early in the morning and throughout the day, being forgiving and not holding offenses in my heart and daily affirmations of gratitude instead of complaining.
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?
To be effective in knowing if I am progressing, I will start charting in a journal. I will log where I am at present, and make daily entries of my day-to-day progress. I will log the things that I have begun to recognize that are not in keeping with what I have learned in this course and alter my behavior accordingly. Reading the textbook and finding other resources that relate can be a great assess, but will not replace putting into practice what we have learned.
In Chapter 10 of our Integral Health textbook, Beginning with Small Steps (p. 98), there are practices there that will serve as a measurement for me in my progress or lack thereof as it relates to me and working on my present job and future career endeavors.
References
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health--The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications.
Schlitz, M., Amorok, T. and Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Consciousness and Healing--Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Unit Eight: My Way to Human Flourishing -- Subtle Mind and Visualization
My undeveloped mind was once my greatest enemy. I was constantly asking the question, "How do I relax?" Continuous anxiety or worry is very hard on the body--not to mention mind and spirit. The thing that I have found most upsetting is that I have even worried about things that did not come to pass. I read somewhere that John Wayne, the no-nonsense tough guy, was reported to say that he had been through some bad stuff in his life, some of which actually happened. So my point here is that we are feeding our minds with real and fictitious information at the same time. We are feeling like we are out of control.
Through the subtle mind technique I am now becoming the captain of my ship. I am being taught how to achieve that inner peace I grave. In this practice I appreciate the tools that have been offered--the witnessing mind, calm-abiding and unity consciousness. Since I need to have my mind focused and directed, the witnessing mind works to help me draw back from the "mental chatter." When I intentionally rein my thoughts in and choose what I want my mind to focus on, as the book suggests, the noise starts to fade into the background. This is now opening the door for calm-abiding.
My mind does respond to what I desire and not react to the negativity brought to me by others. I don't get caught up in projecting, since I have started to practice these techniques. The mental activity comes and goes without a lot of emotional emphasis from me. I am moving to that final level of unity consciousness. For me, as a Christian, it is best reflected by the following--"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." What I am being told here is to not worry or fret. Instead I place the anxieties that beset me into the hands of God (witnessing mind) and I leave them there (calm-abiding). This biblical affirmation and the practice of it, like the subtle mind, gives me a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle me down (unity consciousness).
Using visualization solidifies the aforementioned--subtle mind. When I start to waft back into my old habits of worrying and fear, I begin to visualize what I want and rest in the practice of placing my mind into a more peaceful state by visualizing some of the scenes that were suggested in the journal writings--walking on the beach, finding the point of light and focusing on it, watching the snow fall while sitting by a toasty fire and breathing in what I do want and breathing out what I don't want. These practices have made a substantial impact on my life. Personally, I will use these two frequently in my day-to-day life, as needed.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Unit Seven: Transformation of the Healer
I am still experiencing difficulty in giving my mind over to these practices. I am determined that I am going to get there. I will have to practice over and over the witnessing mind concept. My mind is not yet calm enough to allow these visualizations to happen. I tried hard to get into my mind the picture of someone that was older and respected by me. There are three people that fit this bill--two of which are dead--mother and mother-in-law. In my mind, it should have been easy to see my mother and mother-in-law, but I could not get a visual. The fact that I couldn't saddened me, because my mother-in-law just died in December on Christmas Day which was most memorable. Now, my mother is altogether a different situation, because she has been dead since 2005. There is so much going on in my consciousness that I could not see them--two women I loved and respected deeply. I am determined to remedy this. Some of the meditative practices are easier for me than others. The exercises that we tried in one of our journal writings such as picturing snow and a fire burning in the fireplace was a lot more doable. There was not the noise of the person guiding me vocally, along with all the other stuff in my head. I hope that makes sense. I just need absolute undisturbed quiet as I attempt to move into successful practicing of these meditative experiences.
Yet, there is improvement or increase in my psychological or spiritual wellness. I have been opened to identify what needs healing in me and I am going for it full force. I need to do this, so I can show the others how to achieve the same.
Transformation of the healer is an appropriate title for this section in the textbook. It is appropriately stated here: "Providers of health care must work on their own spiritual evolution to actually experience what the model represents." This flows right into describing what is meant by: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself." I cannot appropriately make applicable to anyone else's life these practices if I have not fully experienced the affects of practicing them in my own life. In my opinion, theory and the practice of it has merit, but experience enhances the lesson being shared. In answer to the question, do we have an obligation to our clients to be developing our health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Yes would be my answer.
Yet, there is improvement or increase in my psychological or spiritual wellness. I have been opened to identify what needs healing in me and I am going for it full force. I need to do this, so I can show the others how to achieve the same.
Transformation of the healer is an appropriate title for this section in the textbook. It is appropriately stated here: "Providers of health care must work on their own spiritual evolution to actually experience what the model represents." This flows right into describing what is meant by: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself." I cannot appropriately make applicable to anyone else's life these practices if I have not fully experienced the affects of practicing them in my own life. In my opinion, theory and the practice of it has merit, but experience enhances the lesson being shared. In answer to the question, do we have an obligation to our clients to be developing our health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Yes would be my answer.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Unit 5: Loving-Kindness leads to an open mind
Oops, I don't know how I missed this one. I a blogging a bit late on this one and I apologize. I started thinking a lot more as I attempted to do this practice. It is not hard for me to lavish loving feelings and actions towards others--that I like. I found it a hard pill to swallow dealing with those I consider enemies and I really don't want to look upon anyone with that frame of mind. Since I have to be honest with myself, I do not like the attitudes of some with whom I have come in contact. I have strong feelings of disdain and I truly don't want to feel that way about them. This exercise has given me a good place to start and that is by helping me to let go of my negative feelings and replacing them with something more postive.
So this is the thought that I have centered my focus on as I practice this concept: "They are created beings that God loves and as a follower of His teachings I will learn to love them, too."
The subtle mind practice--oh boy was that hard for me! My mind is like a busy department store. I am not going to relent though, I am still practicing it. I need to get mastery over my thoughts and get a more positive noise in my mind so that the adverse physiology affects the noises cause will diminish. I am getting better and it is one value tool that I am taking away from this class.
So this is the thought that I have centered my focus on as I practice this concept: "They are created beings that God loves and as a follower of His teachings I will learn to love them, too."
The subtle mind practice--oh boy was that hard for me! My mind is like a busy department store. I am not going to relent though, I am still practicing it. I need to get mastery over my thoughts and get a more positive noise in my mind so that the adverse physiology affects the noises cause will diminish. I am getting better and it is one value tool that I am taking away from this class.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Unit Six: Getting to Know My Neighbor
When I closed my eyes and tried the universal Loving Kindness exercise, I began to realize that we are all linked together and not that different. We all have some of the same stressors and Life can be disconcerting. It does not play favorites. This week during the Federal Review of our Head Start program, it became clear to me that many of my co-workers, with me included, could benefit from this exercise.
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
It starts by affirming that all individuals are significant and need to be considered. Then it reminds us that we, as individuals, are also deserving. Most of us segregate ourselves from our fellowman. We do not know much about each other because we are not married to the ideas espoused above.
Today's general opinion seems to be if it doesn't affect me it is not important. When people talk we do not really listen. When they are in conflict of spirit or emotional turmoil we do not genuinely empathize or try to provide comfort. My classmates are of high caliber because they have sympathized with me and they have encouraged me. They have already been enhanced by what we are learning here.
As this week's reading suggests, when we begin to practice universal loving kindness, we will begin to open and up toward others. With sincere concern and caring, we will embrace what concerns others and not just ourselves. As of this moment my concern for others health, happiness and wholeness helps me to strive toward finishing my courses with excellence and put my new found knowledge to good use.
As I ponder my personal development, I am trying to incorporate strategies that will help me to be consistent in achieving my personal goals. I am having difficulty choosing a specific one--fitness, nutrition, and self-regulation. I am wanting in all of the areas and I believe one area feeds the other.
I am a visual beast, so I will need to establish a list that will set up time management techniques. I will develop a plan under each of these areas to help me stay on track. I am ready to live a life of wholeness, so I am open to growing.
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
It starts by affirming that all individuals are significant and need to be considered. Then it reminds us that we, as individuals, are also deserving. Most of us segregate ourselves from our fellowman. We do not know much about each other because we are not married to the ideas espoused above.
Today's general opinion seems to be if it doesn't affect me it is not important. When people talk we do not really listen. When they are in conflict of spirit or emotional turmoil we do not genuinely empathize or try to provide comfort. My classmates are of high caliber because they have sympathized with me and they have encouraged me. They have already been enhanced by what we are learning here.
As this week's reading suggests, when we begin to practice universal loving kindness, we will begin to open and up toward others. With sincere concern and caring, we will embrace what concerns others and not just ourselves. As of this moment my concern for others health, happiness and wholeness helps me to strive toward finishing my courses with excellence and put my new found knowledge to good use.
As I ponder my personal development, I am trying to incorporate strategies that will help me to be consistent in achieving my personal goals. I am having difficulty choosing a specific one--fitness, nutrition, and self-regulation. I am wanting in all of the areas and I believe one area feeds the other.
I am a visual beast, so I will need to establish a list that will set up time management techniques. I will develop a plan under each of these areas to help me stay on track. I am ready to live a life of wholeness, so I am open to growing.
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