Hello Everyone,
We have come to the end of this wonderful journey through integral health practice. My progression from the unit 3 assessment has been gradual but very apparent. My physical well-being has vastly improved with me paying more attention to my nutritional content that I am consuming. Spiritually, I have gained more depth and substance through the meditative practices we have utilized in this class. Meditation has been essential in my stress management efforts because it helps me understand to release those things which I cannot control and that bring negative energy in my life. Lastly, mentally I would like to say that I have matured because now I can understand why having a open mind to different aspects of healing can have beneficial effects my flourishing mind. I have really enjoyed this class as well as the subject matter, good luck to everyone and their health progression.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Unit 9 Project
Hello Everyone,
Here is my Unit 9 project.
Here is my Unit 9 project.
I. Introduction: Spiritual wellness, mental wellness, and physical wellness are essential components for health and wellness professionals to grow in order to understand the journey and road traveled in support of integral health. Spiritual Wellness is about learning to appreciate and accept that which you cannot understand (Dacher, 2006) . Incorporating spiritual growth into your wellness program will lead to improved physical wellness (Dacher, 2006) . Just as certain, a lack of spirituality in your life will lead to increased sickness and disease (Dacher, 2006) . Increasing our mental wellness allows for the maturation and understanding needed to progress and sustain our integral health practices. Physical wellness is a dynamic process because it is always changing. We all have times of good health, times of sickness, and maybe even times of serious illness (Dacher, 2006) . As our lifestyles change, so does our level of health. My specific area of growth is within physical wellness, particularly nutrition. My work hours constitute little time for home cooked well balanced meals and quite often I consume meals that are not part of my physical wellness plan.
II. Assessment: I have assessed my spiritual and mental wellness through weekly reflections on how I involve myself in practices that help flourish these wellness aspects. Also, through meditation and guided imagery I push myself in order to lessen the mental chatter that initially dominated my mind. Physically, I assess my wellness through monthly physical fitness evaluations that I have incorporated from my time in the United States Air Force. Psychologically and spiritually my wellness levels are great because I make time everyday for reflection to diminish negative stimulus. Physically, my wellness level is good not great and I attribute that again to my nutritional components so I will continue to work on that aspect of my physical wellness.
III. Goal development: Physically my wellness goal is to remove high fructose corn syrup from my diet completely as well as plan my meals regularly in order to eat a better balanced meal. Mentally my wellness goal is to lessen my mental chatter during meditation and continue to grow through reading and educational attainment. Lastly, spiritually my wellness goal is to attend church on a more regular basis and involve myself in community events that create better spiritual journeys.
IV. Practices for personal health: Physical strategies such incorporating high intensity exercises and a better nutritional meal plan are important foster growth in my physical wellness. Mental strategies that I would like to practice for growth are to meditate 2 hours out of the day rather than just 30 minutes; also involving reading books into my personal entertainment rather than television. Spiritually, adding meditation into my routine 2 hours of the day will go a long way not only mentally but spiritually as well, also implementing church as a staple in my life will foster growth incredibly because of being in the presence of god. I intend on implementing my physical strategies through better time management and prior planning of my meals for work, and incorporating higher intensity training in place of endurance training twice a week. Mentally, I start my day at 7 a.m. each morning so instead of my normal coffee and reading the paper I will utilize an hour before work so that I can meditate and an hour after work to meditate and recharge myself. Spiritually, Sunday is usually my best day for rest and rejuvenation before the work week so adding morning service with the family will help my growth along with increased meditational practices will foster growth.
V. Commitment: In the next six months I will document in journals my progression spiritually, mentally, and physically so that I have a reference point to understand my progress or lack thereof. Moreover, I believe documenting my progression will help maintain my pursuit of integral health long term. My commitment to integral health and wellness will bolster my life and guide me as a wellness professional, so hopefully I can reach the loving kindness ideology and bestow this great state of being to my family.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Unit 8 Blog
Hello Everyone,
The most beneficial practice of integral health during this wonderful experience were the meditation during unit 7 and the Loving Kindness exercise. The meditation exercise is by far the most beneficial to me because it utilized central figures in my life that have influenced so much of my maturation and personality. I feel that I can implement meditation into my daily life through time management and consistency. Conversely, the Loving Kindness exercise was a challenging and intriguing experience because it was probably my first break through during these mental workouts but my mental chatter thwarted my ability to progress. Loving Kindness I do not believe I will be able to implement into my personal life because of the blended emotions that resonate from the exercise. I often find myself frustrated after trying the Loving Kindness exercise and I know that should not be the case. I will however take from this class the different variations of viewing health care and ways to cope with stressful stimuli.
The most beneficial practice of integral health during this wonderful experience were the meditation during unit 7 and the Loving Kindness exercise. The meditation exercise is by far the most beneficial to me because it utilized central figures in my life that have influenced so much of my maturation and personality. I feel that I can implement meditation into my daily life through time management and consistency. Conversely, the Loving Kindness exercise was a challenging and intriguing experience because it was probably my first break through during these mental workouts but my mental chatter thwarted my ability to progress. Loving Kindness I do not believe I will be able to implement into my personal life because of the blended emotions that resonate from the exercise. I often find myself frustrated after trying the Loving Kindness exercise and I know that should not be the case. I will however take from this class the different variations of viewing health care and ways to cope with stressful stimuli.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Unit 7 Blog
Hello Everyone,
The Meeting Aesclepius meditative practice was very thought provoking and wonderful. It came very easy to me during this meditative practice to indulge in my spiritual wellness because of the admiration and respect that I have for my individual, who was my grandfather. This meditative practice helped me feel the positive atmosphere that surrounds my grandfather who dedicates his life to equality and peacefulness. Continuing to apply this practice would not be hard for me because I flourish when I utilize thoughts of loved ones, but if I can continue to grow my mindfulness for those who are strangers I believe I can foster greater health and wellness.
The saying “one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” means that how can we promote and guide other to greater health and wellness without understanding the intracies of the journey ourselves. It’s almost as if we would be hypocrites by promoting a state of being in which we are not pursuing ourselves. Through our daily interactions with stressors such as work we should implement these integral practices to help facilitate spiritual growth.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Unit 6 Blog
The Loving Kindness exercise brought out several frustrations that I have been battling since the onset of my integral health practices. Specifically, my ability to drown out the mental chatter and to take control of my wandering mind. I found myself several times during this exercise losing focus because of my familiarity with guided imagery and the sounds that command constant focus. This style of integral practice will take much time for me to begin noticing its effectiveness and with that said this is a practice that I could do without.
Interpersonal flourishing was the aspect that I need significant work with because of consistently busy life that makes you lose sight of what is really important. I tend to take my family for granted often, so taking time to learn positive and long lasting ways of healing my mind will go a long way for my interpersonal flourishing.
Interpersonal flourishing was the aspect that I need significant work with because of consistently busy life that makes you lose sight of what is really important. I tend to take my family for granted often, so taking time to learn positive and long lasting ways of healing my mind will go a long way for my interpersonal flourishing.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Unit 5 Blog
Hello Everyone,
My experience with the subtle mind and loving-kindness exercise was one of frustration and relief. My frustration came from the loving-kindness exercise because I could not get that respectful loving maturation for individuals I did not know or one that I thought negatively towards. I will say that the only strangers that I could gather thought towards were those who were in less than ideal situations such as homelessness or hunger stricken individuals. My relief resulted from the subtle mind exercise because of my building frustration with my work environment that causes continuous stress and frustration within my life. When I take a moment to exercise my witnessing mind I can alleviate so much of the negativity that resonates throughout my work experience. Moreover, for me, the subtle mind was a unique experience that I will carry on with me throughout life.
My experience with the subtle mind and loving-kindness exercise was one of frustration and relief. My frustration came from the loving-kindness exercise because I could not get that respectful loving maturation for individuals I did not know or one that I thought negatively towards. I will say that the only strangers that I could gather thought towards were those who were in less than ideal situations such as homelessness or hunger stricken individuals. My relief resulted from the subtle mind exercise because of my building frustration with my work environment that causes continuous stress and frustration within my life. When I take a moment to exercise my witnessing mind I can alleviate so much of the negativity that resonates throughout my work experience. Moreover, for me, the subtle mind was a unique experience that I will carry on with me throughout life.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Unit 4 Blog
Hello Everyone,
My experience with the Loving Kindness mental workout was very difficult and frustrating at first because I wanted to grasp the feelings and emotions that were described by the speaker. As I moved forward with the loving kindness mental workout I did find it easier to focus and breath in during the times of thought about family members and loved ones. I found that I related better with the mental workout with people other than myself that I loved and that was very beneficial to me in my loving kindness and mental growth. This mental workout was very difficult to me so recommending this one to others would prove hypocritical but I would not oppose anyone who wants to try it on their own volition.
I believe the concept of "mental workouts" are to help build and strengthen the brain much like physical exercise to the body through mental stimulation. Mental workouts help create brilliant and transcendent thought processes that would not normally happen because of remaining complacent and stagnant in our mental growth. I do believe by implementing mental workouts during times of stress, frustration, struggle, or loneliness that maturation will occur within our psychological health.
My experience with the Loving Kindness mental workout was very difficult and frustrating at first because I wanted to grasp the feelings and emotions that were described by the speaker. As I moved forward with the loving kindness mental workout I did find it easier to focus and breath in during the times of thought about family members and loved ones. I found that I related better with the mental workout with people other than myself that I loved and that was very beneficial to me in my loving kindness and mental growth. This mental workout was very difficult to me so recommending this one to others would prove hypocritical but I would not oppose anyone who wants to try it on their own volition.
I believe the concept of "mental workouts" are to help build and strengthen the brain much like physical exercise to the body through mental stimulation. Mental workouts help create brilliant and transcendent thought processes that would not normally happen because of remaining complacent and stagnant in our mental growth. I do believe by implementing mental workouts during times of stress, frustration, struggle, or loneliness that maturation will occur within our psychological health.
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