1.
Introduction
As a future health and wellness professional I
am expected to have the knowledge of an individual that has inner peace and can
explain the path to integral healing for others. I am very happy to have so
much of this knowledge now. It is important because one cannot simply say the
way without coming from there themselves. Walk the walk and talk the talk is
something I remind myself every day. The importance of being developed
psychologically can not only assist others in their psychological development
but be able to fully enjoy and shine those loving kindness qualities onto all
people that person comes in contact with. To be developed spiritually is
important because it helps to have the inner healing powers not only for one’s
own health benefits but to help others through prayer and contemplation
practices. These practices heal the body in many ways that include physical
illnesses. The importance of health and wellness professionals to be developed
physically means the individual needs to be a model for their clients and what
they are implementing towards others. The physical aspect is the one I need to
improve on myself; lose more weight, get more toned for my future job as an
aspiring yoga instructor.
2.
Assessment
My
personal assessment is that I am generally healthy and happy and I would score
this as a six on a one to ten scale; one being extremely out of shape and no
awareness towards inner peace and ten being maybe not in perfect physical shape
but perfection when it comes to inner peace. I say this because I think
wholeness means happiness and happiness in my eyes is no stress or ways of
dealing with stress are harmless and are not going to cause more stress later.
I need to eat healthy more than I do now; I currently eat good foods but too
many of the bad ones mixed in, it is a process that needs to be shortened.
Physically I am in good shape but like I said my goal weight will happen faster
if my intake is better. I am on a wonderful path to flourishing for the rest of
my life thanks to this class and Elliot Dacher’s book. My inner peace is so
much greater and I have the tools to really push it into motion forever.
3.
Goal Development
A
goal for my spiritual health would be to practice some of the chakra
meditation/visualization mp3s I have recently found. They are so much fun
because I get to relax completely and I really believe in the colors
representing certain qualities in life and the physical being. A goal for my
psychological health is to not stress as much over the little things and take
one day at a time or a step at a time; I occasionally go overboard and
intimidated by the daily stress of my life and that involves work and taking
care of my children. My kids are everything and I want them to be happy so I am
so happy I have been able to find ways to distress without negative side
effects that I could see as my future otherwise. A goal for my future
physically is to breathe and concentrate on my yoga practice up to two times a
day instead of one. I believe it will really help my in my future profession.
4.
Practices for Personal Health
“All integral practices must have as their final aim the
evolution of our knowledge, capacity, and abilities beyond what is now
considered normal.”(Dacher, 2006) This is a great point and the author is saying
really that we must be open minded before we begin and that is the main point
here; open-mindedness is crucial in the development of inner peace. A strategy
to foster physical growth for me would be to encourage myself by saying I know
I am a strong and healthy person and follow through with my set goals of
practicing yoga regularly and learning all I can about it. A strategy to foster
growth spiritually could be to try a meditative practice where I envision a
loved one that has passed away that I admired or still do and take their
knowledge and make it mine, this can heal
a person inside and feel free of all negative aspects mindfully. A
strategy for psychological growth could be the witnessing mind concept where an
individual calms themselves and witnesses the thoughts passing through but lets
them be just that, like watching cars pass by on a highway, they are
meaningless but they are there. This can help with a stressful situation or a
rambling mind like I have often. I sometimes cannot get my brain to slow down
and this practice really puts things into whole new perspective.
5.
Commitment
I
plan to assess myself by continuing to use my journal. I really like it and I
have always liked having a journal; but to use it for something such as an
assessment of my well-being is a great idea. I will be able to see how far I
have come and yes I plan to make great improvements on myself. I have already
come so far and I am so relieved I have really learned so much that I never
even knew existed. My journey has truly begun.
References:
Dacher, E.
(2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. (p.178)
Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc
