Unit 10 Summary

In Unit 3 I rated myself for the following: Physiological - 9, Physical - 7 and Spiritual - 8, now I would rate myself Physiological - 9, Physical - 9 and Spiritual-9. I also think that these numbers can change based on what is happening in a person's life.

Based on what I have learned, I have just started to work on my goals and hope in about 4 weeks that everything is second nature that I can say I am at a 10 in some of those areas.  My plan for physiological is to re-read the Dacher book and also train my brain. I have been very fortunate to have found a role model who is mentally fit so I am hoping to observe and learn from him. In the area of physical I have started a workout routine daily and will start to incorporate more yoga and mediation yoga where I can. And in the area of spiritual I have found that I am doing more prayer both in the am and the pm and will start scheduling church. I have started making some progress in each of these areas and know for me that I need to schedule it so that I follow the plan.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this class, it has helped me the most in the area of mental fitness in identifying what is mental fitness and how to I achieve human flourishing. I now am more aware of mental fitness and now that everyone is beautiful. I am more aware of my reactions and will try to train my brain so that I can find that silver lining. This classed has shared a lot more resources to share. I will recommend the Dacher book and will re-read it myself.

I think about people who are role models and my mother is always a happy person and she finds a silver lining in everything. She is a happy person so I think this is an example of human flourishing.

I have had an opportunity to counsel an agent who is experiencing a breakup and is turning to alcohol. I have talked with him about this is a process that he will need to work through on this own time and terms however, to think more positive so that he does not self destruct. I told him that sometimes we need to reinvent our self and that maybe it was time for him to do this. I also suggested meditation, visualization and setting mini-goals. He is not a stranger to meditation as he said he used to do it and enjoyed it so he was going to get back into it.  I also told him to visualize who he wanted to be and work towards that. Then I told him to make mini goals such as I will not drink alone so that he does not revert back into a negative depression state.  I checked on him 3 days later and he thanked me for the talk and the resources.  He said that he is feeling better!

This is just one example where I could help someone overcome by the knowledge and tools that I have learned in this class.
Good Luck to All and Thank You Professor!!!
- Lil
 

Unit 9 Continuing the Path...

Well we have finally reached the end of class but the can continue with the practiice of Human Flourishing.

Health professionals have the opportunity to be “the healer” which is the key to evolution and fulfillment of the integral healing process (Dacher). We must begin with our own life by exploring the inner aspects. If we continue practicing we can develop more knowledge to share with others. Each person is different and in order to help someone else we must first have an understanding of the the process so that we can counsel and guide others. One size does not fit all however, the more we practice the more we can teach at all levels to achieve inner health.

I work in a call center and I am the health and wellness generalist. We have an employee assistance program which I highly promote to my employees to utilize however; I have been able to share pieces of this class such as mental fitness, meditation, yoga, calm-abiding etc. I have received great feedback from the people I meet with and I always follow up with them a few days later to find that they have taken my advice. I will re-read the Dacher book as I think the second read I will learn more.

I would rate my physical well-being a 9, my spiritual well-being would be a 7 and my psychological well-being would be an 8. I know all the benefits of each of these, the challenge that I currently face is lack of time.  I need to exercise daily, plan my meals and get back into church.  Time is the ultimate barrier for me right now.

My goals would include:

1. Physical well-being – get back into exercising every day and eat healthy and less holiday foodfast food, plan my meals so that I know what I am eating.
2. Spiritual well-being – get back into a schedule for church on either Saturday afternoons or Sunday mornings and also utilize mediation exercises, I think I will also read Integral Health again.
3. Physiological – relax more, getting back into yoga, or meditation.

There are several strategies that I can use, first I need to identify what is the barrier in order for me to succeed.  First and foremost I need to be dedicated and committed. Time is the barrier therefore I need to prioritize and make time for this just like I brush my teeth (daily). I am scheduling 30 minutes of treadmill time 30 minutes prior to workout. I am starting to plan all my meals; Sundays have been dedicated to homework and cooking for the entire week. I have eliminated the junk food and just don’t buy it and I have purchased food or snacks that are in 100 calorie packages. I am going to start going to church on Saturday afternoons so that it does not interfere with my weekend cardio time.  I am also going to start going to yoga meditation classes this will help me with my breathing techniques and practices.  While I am at work, I will take two 15min walking breaks to clear my head and get in the habit of this. I think the last thing is to post reminders on 3X5 cards so that this is a constant reminder. I have also created reminders on my phone to help me remember to practice.

To assess my progress, first I will create a calendar and schedule my events and my foods, then checkmark the times that I do any of the scheduled events. I will also take time to re read the Integral Health book!
- Lil

unit 8 - Two Pactices to Continue

The two practices I will try to do on a daily basis is the Loving Kindness and the Rainbow Meditation. I liked the loving kindness because as I was reading the words, and starting to memorize them I started to really believe in what I was saying.  The feeling of helping others is an opportunity for me to give back. I have been very fortunate in life to have the things I need and the things I want. This exercise starts from loving myself first and then loving others and really resonated with me.

The other exercise was the Rainbow meditation exercise, this reminded me of yoga and gave me the sense of peace and calmness throughout my body. What really resonated was the points of the body colors and the colors of the rainbow. I am going to try to memorize this one so that every time I see a rainbow it will give me this relaxing feeling at all points of the my meridians.

I plan on doing both of these daily for my own health and then teach my employees to use. I think these are some great tools for people to utilize. Thanks for sharing!

Lil

Unit 7 - Meeting Aesclepius

This was an easier exercise for me. When I think of leaders or great men and women I think about their characteristics, what they have accomplished and more importantly the interaction with people.  One man that is near and dear to my heart was a man that came into my life about 15 year ago. He became my director and I was his support person. He told me that he was a Marine and asked me if I knew what that meant. He told me once a Marine always a Marine. I thought what that mean to me and  I also thought this might not be pretty.  So I look at his qualities and they were fair, honest, integrity, people, compassionate, results etc. He got results through people but it was the respect that he showed for all levels in addition to doing the right thing and always putting himself in their place.  I ended up supporting him and working with him for over 12 years.  I always looked at his tone, temperament and justification for doing the things he did and said. He totally taught me a lot. As I look back, he had inner peace with himself to project such a strong positive image of wisdom and teaching others. He was a very approachable man and all were very comfortable with him.

When it comes to the saying “one cannot lead when he or she has not gone him or herself” is something that is true to my heart as a health and wellness generalist.  I firmly believe that I must experience before I teach. I must also be knowledgeable to teach. I need to know my resources and also options for people. I also believe that one size does not fit all and we are people who are all at a different place in life. We all have different needs, wants and must haves in order to be happy and healthy. Our health is a sensitive topic and as health professionals we must also know where that fine line is so that we do not offend people.  It not only takes the resources to promote but it also takes tack and diplomacy to help people in their health and wellness needs.

Everyone is responsible for their own health and well being however, we must own it and define it!

Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness and Healing

Unit 6 Universal Loving Kindness / Integral Assessment


At first, I thought we had already practiced The Universal Loving Kindness exercise which I was wrong.  This was a different type of exercise with meaning and intention. It took me a few times before I could close my eyes as I kept forgetting the words. Once I had it memorized them and I kept saying it over and over again, I started to believe in what I was saying. It almost felt like a prayer in asking that all individuals from everywhere be helped with suffering, health, happiness and wholeness! It gave me a good feeling.

After reviewing the integral assessment the area in which I need to work on is psychospiritual flourishing; conative, cognitive and emotional areas.  Conative refers to the source and character of motivation, cognitive refers to changing reactive, conditioned and self-protection to reasoning cognition that seeks the larger truth. And the final is emotional, recognizing uncontrollable emotions such as anger, fear or other reactive emotions and for me it would be controlling them.

Some of the exercises that can help me with this is the Universal Loving Kindness Exercise, Yoga and meditation exercises.  Does anyone else have additional suggestions?

Unit 5 A Subtle Mind

This exercise seemed a little easier for me. I like the introduction that was taking me to the three levels of psycho spiritual flourishing: witnessing consciousness to calm-abiding to unity consciousness. I know that it will evolve over time. Breathing is the start to the mind / body connection. A peaceful breath equals a peaceful mind. Focusing on a focal point was easier for me and if I got distracted I looked at the distraction and returned to my breathing and focal point.

This so much reminded me of yoga and focusing on breathing.

I liked this exercise better as it was easier to understand and complete.

The Loving Mind was a good exercise but was difficult in visualizing. It seemed a lot harder and I found my self being too distracted.

Unit 4 - Loving Kindness

Wow - here is another exercise to help the innersole. There is something so calming listening to waves. It puts me in a place where I can truly relax and feel like I am on the beach at peace. This was another great exercise however these are hard for me as I tend to find myself wandering. I will continue to practice these as I do think they are beneficial in calming the mind as I know my mind goes 100 miles a minute in every direction so slowing it down is definately a good thing!

I would recommend all the relaxation exercises that we have done as it is good to stop and smell the roses more so than not. I do think that too many people like myself are so wound up with things to do that sometimes it is hard to stop and at times do nothing.  I usually do nothing when I sleep.

Everyone could benefit from a mental workout; something that will reduce stress, lift the mood, improve self-esteem and help with overall reacting to the stressors in life.

I have a treadmill and try to get on it 30 minutes prior to work and 30 minutes after I get home. Unfortunately I get on it in the morning at the crack of dawn at 4:45am.  Seriously ??  This is my uninterruped time for mental preparness which I take to think about my day. This is my time to get my blood flowing, this sets the tone for the day. I try to do this about 6 days a week, this also helps set the tone for my eatting pattern for the day. When I get home I try to get on it for another 30 minutes and this relieves the stress from the day. I try to get on it right when I get home so that no other interruptions will get in the way.

Mental health is so important as it is the engine that brings the caboose. If we do not have good mental health then the other components will fall apart. Think about it.