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?

It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically because personal experience will make your plans for your clients more believable. How many times have you had an overweight M.D. give you lifestyle advice? It is hard to take advice from somebody who does not take their own advice. You cannot speak confidently to the benefits of meditation if you have not experienced these benefits yourself. If you develop yourself psychology, spiritually and physically you will be of a sounder mind to help your clients develop in these ways.

The goals I need to develop to achieve psychological, spiritual and physical growth start with taking up jogging and yoga again. This will obviously develop me physically. I need to flush out those stress hormones. Jogging and yoga will not only develop my physical growth but they will enhance my spiritual growth. Jogging will get me back out into nature which is very spiritual to me and my yoga helps me to connect to Unity Consciousness. Reiterating that we are all connected will develop me spiritually as well.

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

Physically I could be better. On a scale of 1-10 I would say I am at a 5 right now.

Spiritually I am at a 7 right now. These meditations have helped me connect to a higher power and realize that I have the power to be happy. It is my choice entirely. I will continue to develop this domain. Maybe someday I will be closer to 10!

Psychologically I am an 8-9 on any given day. I have learned to let things go in the spirit of remaining calm. I really have this class and the meditation assignments to thank for that.

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

A goal I have physically is to lose my last twenty pounds and to continue to maintain a healthy weight after the fact.

A goal I have psychologically is to have control over my thoughts so I am not experiencing the physical effects of the fight or flight response as often.

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.

Strategies I can implement to foster growth in the physical domain is to not make excuses as to why I can’t make time for yoga and jogging. Yoga and jogging are really my salvation in every domain.

Strategies I can implement to foster growth in my psychological domain are to use diaphragmatic breathing when I feel stressed or to call and talk my issue out with a friend who offers sound advice. The latter would be performed after my diaphragmatic breathing so I could not be as flustered when I am working out a solution to my problem. The contemplative practice would also be a useful tool for psychological growth as it really helped me to start to learn how not to react to my thoughts.

Strategies I can use to foster growth in my spiritual domain are to give more love to my family and those around me. The loving-kindness meditation practice would be a great tool to implement in carrying out this show of love. Also, the Meeting Asclepius meditation practice would help me to develop spiritually because healing people makes me feel closer to a higher power.

                 IV.               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 have been on a water fast for the past 8 days to reverse candida in my intestines. I have started a journal documenting how I feel from day to day. I will assess my progress in my mental, spiritual and physical progress by continuing to document my days in my journal after the fast is over. The journal in itself will be a strategy to maintain a long term practice for my health and wellness because I won’t have anything to write in my journal if I don’t do anything for my personal growth in my day!

Another strategy I have used in the past is to make an effort not to overthink a practice I need to implement. For example, there have been many times in the past that I have not looked forward to a jog. So I tell myself that I am just going to go for a walk. Since I don’t feel any pressure, it usually turns into a relaxing jog. It has been a relief to get to know my mind as I get older.

 

Most Beneficial Practices

The first of my two choices for most beneficial practices is the Loving-Kindness practice. It has been very beneficial to me to practice loving kindness. I live a very stressed life....third shift job at night, homeschooling eight year old identical twins during the day, a husband who barely gets home everyday in time for me to leave for work. It is very stressful and it makes me feel like a victim who is doing more than everyone else.

In the midst of this mindless stress, I was too quick to anger. The loving kindness practice has helped me to understand that it is stressful for everyone and it gives me more power over my reactions. I am not so quick to anger at a husband who falls asleep at the end of a long day when all I want is for him to stay awake for another half hour before I have to leave for work. My mind has shifted to realizing that he needs this sleep to heal and prepare for another day. I don't feel so desperate to talk his ear off about everything that happened during my day. I just look forward to the weekend.

The Subtle Mind practice would have to be my second choice. I have very physical reactions to stressful thoughts and a stomach ache piled on top of a problem that needs to be solved is not helpful. You don't think you are "doing it right" during meditation but you do realize after a week of doing it that your mind has learned how to notice thoughts rather than physically react to them.

I plan on continuing with these practices daily to continue to improve on my mental health. One thing I would like to do is rearrange my room so it is a more peaceful space. I have way too many things and it creates physical clutter in my home and mental clutter in my mind. I will also continue to use these practices at my work. I get a bit worked up when I am away from home every night and I feel trapped when I am at my place of work. Using the Subtle Mind practice is especially helpful when I feel trapped at work.