Unit 10: Personal Assessment

Back in unit 3 I rated my level of physical well-being as a 7. I am somewhat healthy and although I am still a 7, I feel that I have made progress. I am eating a little healthier than I did before and I am becoming more active.  I started to take walks with my son and I am looking into taking kick boxing.  I feel that if I continue eating healthy and exercise regularly, my score will increase in this area.

My level of spiritual well-being has improved from a 6 to a 7. Through practicing the meditative exercises, I am feeling a little more at peace and ready to accept things I could not control. I am also becoming more active within the church. My psychological well-being was a 6 in unit 3, but I now rate it an 8. Because of the improvements in these other two areas my mental state is improving. Now that I am completing my final term at Kaplan, I am being relieved of a lot of the stress I experienced from trying to balance everything on minimal sleep. I am also very excited about the prospect of "me time", and of course I am looking forward to many doors opening.

My goals for physical wellness were to lose the excess weight I gained. I have made progress towards eating healthier and exercising regularly. My faith has not wavered, but has become stronger as I am more involved with the church. I also had a goal of finding peace within myself and I am making great strides in this area.  My psychological wellness goals were to let go of what I cannot control, release some anger and stress. I found that I needed quality time with just me and my solitary hobbies. My stress level has diminished so much, and I am feeling very positive about all the free time I will have now at night and on weekends.

I have implemented the activities I chose for each of these areas; increased physical activity, more involvement with the church, and meditative practice. The exercises I will continue to work on are "Meeting Aesclepius", "Crime of the Century" (chakra exercise), "Subtle Mind", and with determination I will conquer the "Loving/Kindness" exercise without unease. As my physical flexibility continues to increase I will integrate yoga into my routine as planned.   

In summary, I do feel that I have developed in each area although it may be just baby steps. I am confident that I will continue to grow in each area as I become adept at meditation and mindful practice. Being able to identify my areas of need within the aspects of my life has been very beneficial, and the results of my progress rewarding. However, I think the most rewarding aspect of this class was the camaraderie between students. I feel we have all shared personal experiences and in turn have been very supportive of each other. Online classes can be impersonal, so being able to open up on the blogs gave a sense of connectedness, and was a bit therapeutic as well. The most difficult for me has been trying to come to terms with some of the pent-up feelings I have been trying to avoid. I feel that my experiences with this course have given me better insight into what we need to achieve human flourishing.

Unit 9: My Plan

1. Introduction:

It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically because our mind, body and spirit are connected through consciousness and non-ordinary state of consciousness.  There are other dynamics within the psyche that allow for healing possibilities.  This information is critical for health and wellness professionals because understanding the transpersonal domain of the psyche can help heal an individual through the different levels of the mind, body and spirit.  The manifestation of emotional and psychosomatic symptoms is the beginning of the healing process through which the organism is trying to free itself from traumatic imprints and simplify its functioning.  The only way this can happen is by emergence of the traumatic material into consciousness and its full experience and emotional and motor expression (Schlitz, et. al, 2005, p.263-264).  I need to improve my mind and body.  Through non-ordinary state of consciousness, I am able to identify with something that may not be accessible.  Through my own consciousness, I can identify with my mind through spiritual experiences and improve my spirit and wholeness.  I have identified the destructive emotions and dysfunctional patterns that have negatively impacted my life by actually focusing where they are coming from and truly understanding them.  It is only then, that I am able to look into positive and productive ways of overcoming these emotions and patterns.

2. Assessment:
   I have assessed my health in each domain and on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the optimal health, I score my spiritual well-being as a 7, my physical well-being as a 7 and my psychological well-being as a 6.  Spiritually, I feel ok, but I know I can do more.  I do not attend church much and I do not pray as often as I should, however I still have faith and do plan attending church with friends and family and read the bible and pray more often.  Physically, although on the outside I look pretty healthy, I could use some work internally.  I recently had a physical and was told by my doctor that everything is fine except my cholesterol.  I have started to eat less fatty foods and eat more vegetables and foods that are rich in whole grain.  Psychologically, I am a little weak. I let stress get to me at times and I do not manage my emotions too well.  I need to focus on being mentally strong.

3. Goal development:
   Physical – My goal is to lose 30lbs.  I feel that if I eat healthier and exercise more frequently, I can obtain this goal.  I need to be disciplined in order to do this, but most importantly, I need to be mentally strong to overcome any challenges I may face that could stop me from reaching this goal.

Psychological – My goal is to not allow stress and anger rule my emotions.  I noticed that when I am upset about something or stressed out, my judgment is not all there.  In the past, this has led to poor communication and hurting others as well as myself. I need to take deep breathes and focus on not letting my anger rule me.  Through relaxation exercises such as yoga and meditation and I can identify the deep rooted issues within me and this will help me to achieve inner health.

Spiritual – My goal is to be more involved in church and through prayer.  I must admit that I am definitely lacking in this area.  I think by reading the bible more and being involved in church groups will help me reach this goal.

4. Practices for personal health:
   I plan on implementing Yoga and Meditation into my life to foster growth in each of the domains; Yoga is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one and that if it is given the right yoga kit and tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapeutic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. This is one of the foremost reasons why people want to start practicing Yoga - to feel fitter, be more energetic, be happier and peaceful.  Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is consists of Ancient Theories, observations and principles about the mind and body connection which is now being proven by modern medicine. Substantial research has been conducted to look at the Health Benefits of Yoga - from the Yoga Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama), and Meditation. The information on Yoga Poses & Benefits are grouped into three categories-physiological, psychological, biochemical effects. Furthermore, scientists have laid these results against the benefits of regular exercise.  Yoga can lower your blood pressure, improve your respiratory and stabilize your nervous system.  Meditation is one of the Five Principles of Yoga. It is the practice by which there is constant observation of the mind. It requires you to focus your mind at one point and make your mind still in order to perceive the “self”. Through the practice of Meditation, you will achieve a greater sense of purpose and strength of will. It also helps you achieve a clearer mind, improve your concentration, and discover the wisdom and tranquility within you.  Meditation is an important tool in achieving mental clarity and health.  I plan on meditating at least a half an hour each day before bed time and taking Yoga classes at least three days a week.

5. Commitment:
   I will assess my progress or lack of progress by monitoring my activity weekly and tracking it in my personal journal.  Once I master a certain level, I will change my activity according to my development. The final goal of integral healing is human flourishing.  The five principles place us on the direct path to human flourishing where we learn how to move with confidence and clarity toward genuine and sustainable health, happiness, and wholeness (Dacher, 2006, p.48).  This relates to my profession in that I will be able to do my job with confidence because of mental clarity and an inner health and wholeness.  I will be able to overcome my everyday challenges and not allow it to burden me. I will be able to improve my job responsibilities and have a better focus on the individuals with whom I work with.