Unit 10 Final Impressions

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?

Response: Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? 

a.       Physical wellbeing: 8

b.      Spiritual wellbeing: 6

c.       Psychological wellbeing: 8 

In the physical domain, not much has change, I will still score myself an 8. Steady as she goes, I have a trainer and we do work hard two – three days a week. And, I’m very aware of consuming healthy foods. The same is true in the spiritual domain, I love to participate in intercessory prayer and I enjoy the contemplative exercises. But, in the psychological domain I had to downgrade my original findings to a 6 or 7. I just realized that I needed much more work than I first thought.  

Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals? Explain.

Response: Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).

a.       Physical wellbeing: My ultimate goal is to lose a few more pounds.

b.      Spiritual wellbeing: Continue to build a good foundation that a future [spiritual] superstructure may one day sit.    

c.       Psychological wellbeing: Increase knowledge on various subjects. To have emotional balance.   

Physical wellbeing – have made some progress, my pants are fitting a little looser.

Spiritual wellbeing – I discovered that listening to others first is a good start to spiritual growth. I’m mindful of Dacher’s four aspects of human flourishing, the quadrant of interpersonal flourishing and its line of growth – I, you, us, and all of us, is a good model for growth.    

Psychological wellbeing – This work well be a continuous progress, along the way we look to help others.   

Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.

Response: I’m very mindful of these three domains and the intention that each takes. The deep breathing exercises have become a part of my daily routine. Staying conscious to do for others and studying to help my future clients in the area of health and wellness.        

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?

Response: This course caused me to look deep inside, to evaluate my walk, and to look for more meaningful solutions to the woes of life. Throughout these studies it was confirmed that doing for others is a method of helping oneself, the law of reciprocity, giving and receiving. Growth can be imperceptible to the giver, but I do think that I’ve grown since week one. There were no real difficulties in this course; I was taught many years ago by my mentors on the benefits of operating outside of my comfort zone. I do think that we as a class, are well on our way to changing the lives of others, through the principles that we’ve learned during these 10 weeks.            

Unit 9 Project –

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?

Response: The study of integral health and healing has been a study that involves the whole person. Dacher’s four aspects of the human experience has been the corner stone of these enlightenments, for me. The four aspects shown in a quadrant included psycho-spiritual, biological, interpersonal, and worldly. And, from the inside outward each domain has a line of growth or maturity. Example, in interpersonal the outward growth is I, you, us, and all of us, simple, but so profound. Moreover, if health and wellness professionals can begin to view, and treat the individual as a whole person, considering all four aspects, then a true holist healthcare system can be realized.

Psychological, spiritual and physical development is inculcated in the four aspects of the human experience. Truthfully, I’m lacking in all aspects, but, learning and growing is what makes the journey so meaningful. If I was painted into a corner and made to choose, I would choose the psychological area where more development is needed.                    

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

Response: On a scale numbered from 1 to 10: Spiritually I will score myself a 7, physically I will score myself an 8, and psychologically I will score myself a 7.

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

Response: My physical goal is to lose about 10 pounds over the few mouths. My psychological (mental health) goal is to continue in my studies at Kaplan, receive my degree in Health and Wellness that I might help others. My spiritual goal is to understand my fellowman better. I want to talk less and listen more, much more. I want and need to pay attention to the daily opportunities that are presented.

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.

Response: Physically, the strategy is to continue to work with my personal trainer. I also have a workout partner; this is a great arrangement/strategy, whereby we are doing a variety of exercises. TRX training, balance and stability, we play basketball, and a lot of cross training activities. Also, continue to monitor my eating habits. My psychological strategy is to use my academy resources to help to study properly, such as the writing center at Kaplan and the tutor center is very helpful. I have mentors that I need to see and talk with more, men and women who are older, smarter and have experienced more, to help guide my journey. The spiritual strategy is to continue my work in the church and in the community, and, to study the art of meditation and to practice it more, particularly the deep breathing exercises, I found it to be therapeutic.  

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?

Response: There’s a passage in The Bible that says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (KJV, Philippians 4:13). Many translations say, “Who” strengthens me, or “that”   strengthens me. But I prefer the “which”; it’s a relative pronoun that denotes that it’s the “doing” that makes us strong. So, by doing, and acting out my goals, is how I will gauge my progress. I think by involving others in my goals and purpose in life, it in many ways will hold me accountable and this will ensure longevity.      

Unit 8 – Fostering Mental Fitness

I may not respond to everyone’s posts, but I do read a majority of them, and I recognize that these contemplative exercises can be challenging, difficult for various reasons, and even annoying. But, understanding that we as mankind are above the animal kingdom, we can experience life in very meaningful ways, where animals can’t, and these are obvious, but, the ability to introspect, and contemplate, sets us apart from the animal kingdom. Therefore, I fight through what’s uncomfortable to sit at the feet of the ancient-wise men/women to glean a gem or two.

I will probably never out grow the need for a witnessing mind, a calm-abiding mind, nor, loving-kindness or the subtle mind. The latter two are contemplative practices that I found very rewarding; the loving-kindness practice offered the opportunity to meditate on a love one, and then embrace their suffering, then, seeing it dissolve away. The subtle mind got me in-tuned with my breath, there’s a correlation between the mind and our breathing. The breath is always with us; this practice when cultivated will soothe and calm the mind. A clam mind will always make good decisions.   

I will take 15 minutes a day for contemplative practices, the idea is to start small and build a good foundation, and, maybe one day I will be skilled enough to train others.                   

Unit 7 Meet Aesclepius –

Another level of experience – from noisy water falls to a river that joins the ocean; this is how the narrator describes the mind and the different levels of growth. I can identify, taking the time, finding the space, setting the atmosphere, then allowing the mind to relax, but it’s much more than relaxing, it’s finding an inner peace/freedom. As I was meditating on the various degrees of the water I thought of sheep, not counting them to fall asleep, rather the depiction that is use in the bible, Christ refers to his people as, my little flock, sheep of his pasture – sheep will not drink out of rushing waters, they prefer waters that are still and quiet.

Much like the rushing water falls; I’m a noisy guy, so whenever I can get my mind to relax and stay calm it gives me such an advantage. My thoughts are crisper, I read with more comprehension, I’m a better problem solver, and as I have mentioned in subsequent postings, I can maintain a normal blood pressure. I will continue these contemplative practices; I’m considering an integral master as a mentor for these practices.

As the expression goes, “one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (Schlitz, Amorok, Micozzi, p. 477, 2005). This is why having mentors are good, someone who has been where you are trying to go, someone to guide and offer suggestions as you find your way. For this same reason, as healthcare advocates we must maintain an exemplary standard of psychologically, physically, and spiritually health, we must practice what we preach to be effective. I personally find these teachings very encouraging as I continue my journey, while on this path on human flourishing I will continue to reach out to others.           

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral

                    Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, Missouri. Elsevier Churchill

                   Livingston

           

     

     

 

Unit 6 - Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness and Healing

Practice the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) 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.

       Speaking words is a form of action, if we say and meditate on a thing long enough we will begin to believe it, and what we believe we do.

Complete the Integral Assessment. Describe the exercise and assessment process. What did you discover about yourself? What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development? Why? What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?

       I love these exercises, whenever I can get still and hear the quietness of my mind and spirit it helps me to get on the right path. But, these assessments are quick to point out that I (we) haven’t arrived yet, there‘s plenty of work to do. I’ve chosen to focus on the interpersonal aspect of the human experience. If I’m to be really transparent, this is my weakest area, this is where I need to mature. No longer [I] but [you] no longer [you] but [us] no longer [us] but [all of us] – These four lines of development, requires intimacy, letting your guards down and allowing other to enter. Strengthening relationships where [me] is no longer the center focus. Doing my contemplative time I will visualize my growth in this area, and see myself doing for others, also I think that I will bring my wife in on this one – we will practice standing or kneeling face to face, maybe joining hands, looking deep into one another’s souls and without taking or asking for anything, just giving, listening, and offering myself. I think this will do.         

The Witnessing Mind...

...the Subtle Mind

My wife has always said to me, “Kevin you [even] think loud.” So, over many years of marriage, I’ve gravitated to exercises that require me to relax, breathe deeply with a purpose. The path to human flourishing has many methods. Here, we understand that “the witnessing mind” has given us the ability to observe the mind and learn how it works.

The exercise – The 10 deep breaths from the outset did wonders in relaxing me. I felt my blood warm over. The narrator noted that the “breath” is the anchor, the anchor to hold on to while you let go of the chatter and the mental movement. Witness this process, allow the clutter to dissolve, leave the white noise alone – it’s a witnessing rather than grasping, a choice-less awareness that the exercise so succinctly mentioned.      

Through practice this exercise should usher in a calm-abiding. This training the mind will pay dividends for future growth, that we may experience human flourishing in mind, body, and spirit.   

         

Loving Kindness -

I enjoyed the exercise of loving-kindness; the discipline that it takes to relax and focus just for 15 minutes was challenging, yet, invigorating. With the business of our lives today, more than ever we should make the time for ourselves, for meditation, prayer, I like to refer to it as “quiet time.”

These times are very beneficial. It offers the space to explore your thoughts, look and listen for solutions, offer forgiveness, ask for forgiveness. And, of course send loving-kindness to your sphere of influence.

This wasn’t difficult, but, because of my extensive Christian training, I had to substitute different thoughts, than what was suggested. Example – taking in a love-ones suffering and allowing it to dissolve in your heart – My former teaching says, that the burden/suffering should be placed at the feet of Christ. So that’s what I did. See the gospel of Matthew 11:28-30. 

I would recommend this exercise of loving-kindness. As it was noted, when you offer loving kindness, loving kindness is given back to you. I love the notion of diminishing our self-centeredness to the benefit of others.

In today’s society we love to jog, play golf and tennis; go to the gym to get a good workout. Well, the same must be done with our delicate, yet strong and expandable minds. They must be used, trained and exercised, at least an hour a day. The whole story is still unwritten relative to the full capacity of the human mind. But, what we do know is that a positive calming thought life will promote a strong physical body.