Unit 9 Final Project

My Plan

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 professionals, we have a direct responsibility to our patients. We must treat them with the upmost of care, but, also treat not just the physical, but the mental and the spiritual. If we have not developed in these areas, how can we teach? How can we help our patients if we do not know what we are talking about? When we arrive at our goal of Integral Health, we have also achieved authentic happiness and genuine wholesomeness. (Dacher, 2006) These attributes shine out of us and touch everything we see. The goals for me are the same set out here. Step by step I will be following the Integral Health Map and developing myself in the areas of loving-kindness, meditation and psychospiritual development. I will always have this last area as a life goal, it is that important to me.

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

  Fortunately for me, my physical health is excellent for being in my early 50’s. I am truly blessed, as so many others are not as lucky. I do need to work out more and walk more, which I am starting to do. I do not take being healthy for granted and would like it to last as long as I can. Psychologically, I can be stable and centered one day and the next day be on a rollercoaster ride. This area I am getting help with and as I have been told it is beyond my control, I refuse to accept that. Using meditation and having quiet times are things I look forward to. Spiritually, I am on track. I have been spiritual and a Christian since I was a child. It is a very important part of who I am. If there is such thing as a Spiritual Christian, than that is me. I feel in my heart there is love out there for everyone and so much that our eyes cannot see. But, our heart and our mind can see, we just have to open up to it.

So, my score in Physical would be 8, Psychological would be 5 and Spiritually would be a 9.

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

  My physical goal is to become more physically fit, for I could not assist a patient in that area if I was not. Continuing to do what I do and adding in some tennis, more yoga and Pilates should make the difference I am looking for. My psychological goal is to achieve wholeness. Developing this opens you up to so many things like, decreased stress, better interpersonal relationships, more freedom of choice and far greater skill. (Dacher, 2006) Spiritually, I need to develop more loving-kindness. This can sometimes be the hardest thing. Especially when you are angry and you are thinking not-so-good thoughts about that person. I need to pull myself away, shut my eyes and for a moment, listen to my breath, letting loving-kindness take over. I know in my soul this will make me a better person.

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.

  In the physical area, I plan on attending Yoga classes 5 days a week, with perhaps a couple Pilates classes thrown in for good measure. Parking in the back of the parking lot instead of the closest spot up front will surely help with my walking/stepping goal of 10,000 per day. I would really like to find a group to walk with in my area, as it would be more motivating to me.

  Psychologically, I plan on continuing to meet with my Doctor on a regular basis. I also have found that talking with my significant other helps me quite a bit, even when he has no idea what I am talking about. I think getting out of my head more and finding a way to be of service to others by volunteering would be a great goal, because, it’s not just about me, after all.

  Spiritually, I talk to God every day, more than once. When I am troubled, angry, sad, confused, I talk to God about it. I may not get a direct answer, but, I do get an answer in the end. I am going to be more forgiving to those who have wronged me. Again, not easy to do, but, necessary. I do not read about spiritual things as much as I used to and that is something I will be starting to do again. I will also try to look for a church that I can go to, but, that is a bit hard for me. I will try, though.

                      I.                      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?

  Being able to assess my success will begin with a journal and a calendar. Keeping daily track of my activities and thoughts makes me more responsible and accountable to myself.  Physically, I can keep track and hopefully get a trainer. Psychologically, I can set my goals of getting outside of myself and volunteering if I write it down on my calendar. Spiritually, a daily devotional book will be a great way for me to keep by my bed as a reminder to read as I start or end my day.  By also letting my spouse and my children know about my goals, they will drive me nuts holding me accountable.

  Health and wellness, along with human flourishing is so very important. Changing my way of seeing things and people, not growing stagnant, but evolving to a way of life I was never aware of as being possible is the best goal I could have.

References

Dacher, E. M. (2006). A Letter to the Reader. In E. M. Dacher, Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing (p. 3). Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, INC.