Unit 10: Professional Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Hello class,

            For the final blog posting I will be summarizing my experiences in this course and discuss how it has assisted my well bing and my ability to assist others.

1.    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?

A.    Physical well-being: in unit three I had reviewed myself as a 5 on my physical well-bing, however, now I would give myself a 7.  It’s not much but it is progress.  The reason why the score has changed is because the dedication that I have been doing.  For example, counting calories, walking every other day, and drinking more water than soda.

B.    Spiritual well-being: in unit three I had given myself a 7 on my spiritual well-being.  For the most part this number is still the same.  The reason why this number still remains the same is because my lack of motivation to move forward on my spiritual aspect, however, I do have some friends that have countable on this part of my life, so I hope in the next few months this number will increase.

C.    Psychological well-being: in unit three this number was an 8, now I would give myself a 9.  The reason for the number going up is because of my dedication to meditation and motivational speaking audio tapes.  I do my best practice the loving kindness exercise in my daily life.

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

A.    Physical goal: in unit three I had mentioned that I want to exercise at least 4 times a week for about 30 minutes, however, I haven’t been doing this due to work and school.  Now that I see my physical goal all over again, I plan to start up and fulfill this goal.

B.    Spiritual goal: my goal was to continue praying and to get into the habit of mediating.  I would say that my meditation has gotten better but the praying part still needs some work.

C.    Psychological goal: in unit three my goal was to learn how to express my thoughts better and to deal with unresolved anger.  I must admit these two aspects of my life have gotten much better.  I’m able to express myself to others and my anger level has dropped considerably since unit three blog post.

3.     Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.  Some of the activities/exercise that I mentioned in my unit three blog were the following:

·      Walking up stairs, carrying grocery rather pushing a cart, and dancing.

·      Joining a spiritual group, attend a bible study, and spend some listening to motivational speaking.

·      Develop a mental exercise program and listen to peaceful music.

For the most part I would say that I have implemented most of these activities and exercises in all three areas of human well-being.  For example, I’ve been walking up stairs more often, I’ve been listening to motivational speaking and peaceful music, and I’ve been doing plenty of meditation and mental exercises.

4.     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?  My personal experience throughout this course has been phenomenal because this class has shown me how to grow in different areas in my life (physical, spiritual, and psychological).  For the most part I would say that I have improved in my well-being because my time spent meditating and expressing myself to others in a more peaceful way.  The best reward so far would be my controlled anger and letting go of unwanted bitterness in the past.  The most difficult aspects that I have encountered so far are the physical fitness portions of my goal.  Finally, the way that this experience will improve my ability to assist others is by sharing with others what I have learned and the way I live my life will have an impact on others.  In addition, I plan on setting a work out plan with few of my friends that way my friends and myself can be more physically fit.

Unit 9: Personal Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

      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?

The reason why it’s important for health and wellness professional to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically because there are many advantages of physical fitness and wellness plans for people of all ages and both sexes can obtain profit from such programs so as to help them support a higher quality of life.  In addition, health and wellness professionals must develop their minds and bodies in order to be measured a genuine health care professional, by doing this health care professional begin to develop a better perspective on integral healing.

The most important benefit for health care professionals in relation to physical fitness and spiritual/mental wellness, this approaches in the progress of positive attitude is what helps people to see what general life’s potential and accomplishments their are to make one’s life personally satisfying and gratifying.

The areas that I need to develop in order to achieve the goals for myself are the following:

v Exercise daily

v Change my sleeping habits

v Establish a new career path

v Better choices in my diet

v Stress management

v A more better prospective on life and what the future has for me

v Making peace with those who might have hurt me in the past

v A well balanced physical, spiritual, and emotional state of mind

    II.         Assessment:

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

The way that I have assessed my health in each domain (psychological, spiritual, and physical) is by using a time line/rating scale on the frequency on how long it take me to develop a better spiritual, physical, and psychological domain for myself.  For example, I would say that my spiritual aspect is at a 7, due to the fact that I haven’t really been going to some type of church, however, I have been practicing some meditation, which has help a lot.  My physical health is not all that great, I would say that I am at a 5 because of my time spent at work, school, and taking care of my dads office at night. 

            With that said, I need to maintain some form of physical activity or moderate intensity everyday in order to get on track with my physical aspect of myself.  Lastly, my psychological wellbeing is between a 7 and 8.  The reason I rate myself on the higher end when dealing with the psychological aspect is because I try to maintain a positive relationship with others and myself.  In addition, I continually remind myself to accept myself for who I am and where I am in my life right now and to live life in the present (not in the future or past).

  III.         Goal Development:

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

A physical goal that I have for myself is to lose around 20 lbs. in the next two months and to gain some muscle tone.  I plan on doing this by setting aside 30 to 40 minutes each day and to start slowly.  I will first start off by doing some walking to get my body warmed up then speed up the pace till I’m getting a good heart rate going.  In addition, changing my diet is a must; I plan to make a daily schedule of what to eat and what time to eat.  Also, by counting my calories and eating more frequently but in small portion will increase my metabolism, which help me lose more weight.  If there are times I feel overwhelmed or stressed out due to my exercise program, I plan to take a time out and do some breathing exercises to help me calm down.  My spiritual goal is to make time for reelection and meditation.  Taking time to listen for answers is very important for spiritual healing.  This course has challenged me to practice meditation for 15 min each day, which has changed me to be more open minded on a spiritual level and to see a difference within.  My psychological goad is to make slight changes to improve my attitude and perception towards others and their feelings.  In addition, I want to change any anger that I have built inside and to let it go, in order to gain peace with others and myself.

  IV.         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.

The strategies that I can implement to foster growth in my physical domain is the following:

v Working out 2 to 4 times a week for 15 to 45 minutes each time.

v Make a calendar with an eating schedule and work out schedule.

v Mark down my progress and how many calories I’m eating each day.

v Take stairs rather than elevator at the mall

v Park farther away, in order to lose more calories.

The strategies that I can use to foster growth in my psychological domain is the following:

v Develop a more conscious and sincere regarding my own defects and deficiencies.

v Evade all movements that interrupt or annoy other people.

v Learn to take joy in others achievements and happiness.

v Judge other people by the same values with which I would judge myself.  If I anticipate a certain behavior from other, I will be absolutely sure that it is what I would do under all circumstances.

v Be more open minded to different ways of teaching and to allow myself 20 to 30 min each day for meditation and spiritual teaching.

v Continue using the Loving-kindness and Subtle mind exercise.

The strategies that I would use to foster growth in my spiritual domain is the following:

v Meditate for at least 15 to 30 minutes every day.

v Read spiritual and uplifting books.

v Learn to make my mind quiet through concentration exercises and meditation.

v Develop happiness habit, by always looking at the bright side of life and endeavoring to be happy.

v Exercise my will power and decision-making ability.

v Acknowledge the fact that I am a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit.

v By allowing myself to be more spiritually incline will allow my body, mind, and spirit to be connected and gain tremendous benefits from it.

    V.         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? 

The best way that I can assess my progress in the next six week’s to do the following:

v Make a calendar/journal of how I’m doing in my spiritual, physical, and psychological aspect/goals.

v Ask people to keep me accountable on my progress and to give me advice when I’m slowing down.

v Look back at my calendar/journal each week to see if I’ve made any improvements, if not, develop new strategies to help me improve in those areas.

The strategies that I can use to assist in maintain my long-term practices for health and wellness is to keep a network of friends and family that will be my source of strength and reassurance for sticking to my personal long-term practices for health and wellness.  In addition, I plan on join a support group either on the web or at a meeting, which will be focusing on these three aspects of human health and wellness.  This support group will be beneficial to my long-term goals because each of us will remind each other on there progress with there goals. 

Finally, I plan on updating my progress every 2 months as how my progress is coming along.  I’m looking forward to the changes that are awaiting me, I know my life will be turned around but for the better and I will grow and evolve to a much more dynamic person.

           

            

Unit 8: Optimal Well-being: Psychological, Spiritual and Physical Keys to Health and Thriving

Hello Class,

            For this week’s blog, which is on optimal well-being: Psychological, Spiritual and Physical keys to health and thriving, I will be elaborating on two health and wellness exercises that are most beneficial in my own life.

                             

1.    Review the exercises and practice sessions you have completed in this course. (Loving Kindness, Subtle mind, Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two practices that you have determined to be most beneficial. How can you implement these practices in your personal life to foster “mental fitness”? Provide specific examples. 

The two exercises that I found to be beneficial in my own life are the Loving-Kindness and The Subtle mind exercise.  The way that I would implement theses two practices in my own personal life, in order to foster mental fitness, is by the following:

a.     Take a few moments to be at peace with my body and its sensations.

b.     Learn to give people love, kindness, happiness, and joy.

c.      Loving myself, which extends my love to others.

d.     Compliment a stanger-making sure the words are genuine.  Let the person know that you just had to tell them “Blah blah blah” and then go on your merry way.

e.     Donate to charity- it doesn’t matter if it is only a couple dollars or even a few thousand, it is the principle of the act.

f.      Get a loved one a gift for no reason- it doesn’t really matter who or what it is- it is the thought and the freedom to give someone something whenever you want that creates real spontaneity and happiness.

Reference:

M. Schlitz, T. Amorok, M.S. Micozzi (2005). Consciousness & Healing, Integral     Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone.