Unit 9

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?

As the public becomes more disenchanted with the current health care system that seems to become less personal, they are seeking a practice that involves more one on one interaction. They are looking for a health care provider that is more focused on their individual needs and looks further that the physical. As health care evolves so must the practitioner. It is important for health and wellness providers to be at the forefront of the change that is taking place. In order for them to do this, it is vital that they continue their education through their own development and personal growth. Having a personal understanding of the process is an important part of the evolution of health care (Dacher, 2006). Integral health care goes beyond the physical and includes the psychological and spiritual as well. It is important to understand that not having an illness or disease does not necessarily equal a healthy person. In order to reach a higher level of health it is important to look at whole health mind, body, and spirit.  Developing in these areas and experiencing what is possible can bring to light how important integral health is too all. This will develop both the personal and professional life. Going through this process brings personal gain but professionally it brings authenticity and builds trust with the patients. In order to achieve my goals I need development in all three areas, physically, psychologically, and spiritually.  

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

 In order for me to develop and grow, it is important for me to look at all aspects of my life and develop a plan to eliminate any sources of suffering and further improve those areas that may be doing well. To do this I utilized the integral assessment. The six principles of the integral assessment helped to clarify which areas I needed the most help. The first principle is to look at areas where I could alleviate any unnecessary stress or suffering as well as the greatest possibility for growth and development (Dacher, 2006).  The next step is to understand the difference between short term and long-term relief.  I must also recognize the difference between immediate pleasure and long term flourishing.  Psychospiritual development is an important part of reaching my goals as it opens my heart and mind to the possibilities. I understand that it is truly hard for me to fully assess myself at this time because I have not yet reached a state where my mind is free of random thoughts, that is still a work in progress. Finally, it is important to understand that this assessment is for now and may not be the same in a year from now. Reassessment and adjustment is necessary as life changes and evolves (Dacher, 2006). In doing this assessment, it has helped me to score myself in all three areas.  The first thing was to realize that the biggest source of distress was from stress and that the greatest area for development. For the physical, I scored a six, which is solely based on fitness level. I eat a very healthy diet and have all of my life. My diet consists of very little processed foods or sugar. Mainly organic Non GMO foods. I try to eat local in season fruits and vegetables.  I have always been active but do not push myself. I walk daily and am active in my job. Spiritually I am at a seven now as opposed to week 3 as I have increased my involvement in helping others not only through the church but in my career as well. I really looked at what motivates me and my actions and at work; although I want to be successful I care about others success more. What I can work on is I sometimes do not put myself out there for fear of failure. Psychological is a six as well and is the area I feel can use the most development as I allow stress to play a large role in my life at times.

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

Setting goals is the only way to make a change. The first goal is for the physical and here I have two goals the first goal is to become more physically fit. This entails more than just a daily walk. Although I have a treadmill, elliptical, bike and various other equipment, which I do use when I cannot get outside for a walk, I do not use them to their potential. I need to join a gym, as I need to not only become more aerobically fit but need to work on strength training as well. This is my second goal. This benefits health for women by helping to protect against bone loss and weight gain as we age. I need to not just join a gym and work out but need to invest in a personal trainer to get me started with weights. I also need to join classes, as I tend to push myself more when in that environment. Walking is something I can do in addition for enjoyment but will not be enough to get me to the level I need to be at to achieve optimal health.

My Goal for spiritual is to get involved in programs that help more than just those in my community. I am interested in things like the World Food Program and helping to end hunger in the US and around the world. I am very comfortable with my relationship with God and although I sometimes forget and get stressed out, I simply have faith in God that things will work out the way they are meant to, they always do. The benefit in helping others is not just for those who are being helped but gives us a feeling of connection.

My goal for psychological is to change the way I deal with stress. The activity is meditation, which can still the mind and allow the chance to act with intent. The subtle mind practice is a great way to meditate and allows us to witness our thoughts and observe how the mind works. This will allow me to see what I react to thoughts and with practice can allow me to just witness them without acting on them or letting them stress me out. I plan to meditate in the morning and at night. If I allow ten to fifteen minutes each time progressing, further as I practice. This is something I plan to do lifelong as I feel it is a path to happiness. Stress is one of the biggest causes of many diseases and mediation can help me learn to better deal with stress.

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.

The strategies I can use to foster growth in my physical growth are to join a gym and hire a personal trainer. Both of these strategies will help me be more successful because if I invest money in something I will stick with it. Another thing is I like to succeed at everything I do so this holds me more accountable to myself and the personal trainer. I will join a gym that has not only weights but also some classes such as zumba I can participate in. I need to ensure the gym is close to my house or work so it is convenient as well as looking at the times of the available classes. I will make appointment with the trainer in advance so I will be sure to stick to the routine.

For the spiritual, I will continue to volunteer locally as well as join the World Food Program. I have an idea for a program that allows restaurants and their customers to participate in ending world hunger while addressing the current obesity problem. I plan to do some research on how to get this program started. I plan to remember to pray everyday so I will always keep my faith in God strong. One way for this is to make sure to take the time I need to remain connected. Attending church weekly is a great way as well as spending time in nature.

The strategy for the psychological is to meditate daily. I need to make sure to set aside time to do this. One way is there is an app for my Ipad that has a timer and a reminder on it. It is called Chakra Chime and it works very well. It chimes with a reminder and it has a timer to set when you are mediating. I will also use the practices like the subtle mind and the witnessing mind to help alleviate unnecessary stress.  Another way is to use my time when I walk to enjoy nature and to clear my mind.

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 can assess my progress over the next six months by reassessing myself and scoring in each area to see if the results have improved. It will also give me new or different areas within each category to work on. I am sure that life is ever changing so will my level in each are change. Keeping a journal is another way to chart my progress on a daily basis not just to see how I am doing but also to keep track of my journey. For my physical, I will have the help of the personal trainer to asses my fitness level. Many gyms have a system where they will call you if you have not been for a few days so this will be a helpful tool. The way my clothes fit will be a great tool to measure how well I am doing as well as the scale.

 The spiritual will be harder to track but to make sure I keep my commitment would be to tell a close friend or my daughter my plans and have her check in with me to see the progress. For the idea I have I will make a plan and then speak to someone in the World Food Program to find out my next step. Once I have done that I will be more likely to follow through. I will put time for church or time in nature in my calendar so I will make it a weekly part of my life. Getting more involved in church events will keep me motivated, as the more people know you the less likely you will be to miss church.

For the psychological wellbeing, I plan to use the Ipad to ensure I meditate and this can be set daily. I will also keep it in my calendar, as this is a very important area of development for me. I also will be able to track it based on how I feel and I can do this by keeping a journal. I hope that this will also be evident in my relationships as I am less stressed and therefore happier I hope that people will notice. Using a reminder and then writing in a journal are both great ways to keep me on track. What motivates me here is that I want to be less reactive and to act with intent. I want to understand that what I am thinking does not always have to be something I need to deal with. It will also help me be in the present moment at all times.

This process of self-assessment that leads to growth in the whole person mind, body, and spirit will benefit me both personally and professionally by giving me the chance to experience not only holistic health but a great happiness as well. This development of our inner life and healing capacities is the path to integral health (Dacher, 2006). It is necessary health care providers to set the example and lead the way on this path to human flourishing.

References:

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