Introduction:
Keeping ourselves healthy involves more than just being physically fit and staying active we need to keep our psychological and spiritual health aspects up to par also. According to Elliot Dasher (2006), “A disturbed mind results in a disturbed physiology.” “The goal of integral health is to alleviate needless suffering and promote human flourishing.” Dasher says that our overall health starts inward with our mind and spreads outward through our bodies, so keeping a clean healthy mind and spirit will help keep our bodies in good shape. Having a healthy mind-body-spirit connection will help us as professionals to set examples for our patients on what they are working toward. If we as professionals and teachers cannot help ourselves to achieve whole wellness how can we expect our patients to take us seriously? (Dasher, 2006)
I have become more aware of how mindless thoughts pollute my health, and breed negative outcomes on my physical health. When I think clean, happy, positive thoughts I feel better and stronger. I do not have a routine down for practicing meditation daily and focusing on positive thoughts to start my day, which is my next goal, practicing self organization and calm-abiding.
Assessment:
I used Dasher’s Six Principles of Integral Assessment to find what areas I need practice and help. In the first area Dasher asks us to identify in ourselves are where we have the most distress and where we have the greatest need for growth and development. My greatest area of distress is my health, knowing I am losing the ability to do the things I used to love and will never get back the physical strength and dexterity in my hands and arms. I need to learn to accept the progression of age and illness and learn to be proud of who and what I am. I take criticism very hard and am very insecure, causing me to have panic attacks and depression.
The second step is to know the difference between short-term relief and long-term solutions. I need to keep seeing the doctor about fixing my shoulders and elbow pain then reducing stress about the loss of mobility and strength. Find ways to reduce stress.
Third is to recognize the distinction between instant pleasure and long-term flourishing. Until I get myself organized and into a routine for better wellness I cannot achieve long-term flourishing.
Psychospiritual development is the fourth area Dasher discusses. This section is about opening up and allowing our minds to expand and focus our intentions on opening our hearts and allowing in human flourishing.
The fifth principal refers to deep listening and guidance by keeping an open, clear state of mind toward our overall health. Dasher says this area is the hardest to achieve since it requires being able to master calm-abiding and always have an open un-bias mind. I do know I am not done working in this section. I have not been able to clear my mind of negative thoughts.
Last is to address the flowing changes of development as we grow and modify to accommodate the changes over time to continue flourishing.
Goal Development:
Physical areas I need to work on are my overall health and eating habits. I am saving to get an exercise machine so I can work out some at home since I am way too self-conscious to work in a gym. I am also saving to get a YMCA membership so I can go workout in the pool. I would have to give myself a 2 on a scale of 1-10.
Psychological is where I have problems with depression and anxiety due to insecurities. I have done a lot of improvement over the last two months by trying to incorporate calm-abiding into my life and letting stress roll off my back like a duck. Focusing on what I want life to be like is helping me take steps to get there. I would like to work on my loving-kindness skills more. Until I find love for myself I cannot truly share loving-kindness with and for others. Scoring for psychological area would have to be about a 4.
Spiritual: I feel building on the spiritual aspect refers to an area of personal belief. It could be in a higher being, in nature, or in a strong knowledge of integral health and all it has to offer. I have a feeling there is a higher power but I am at a cross roads with the idea. I do feel calm and comfort around nature and in the truth of integral healing. I would like to open myself up more and get more knowledge in the integral health field to build my confidence in what I am learning. I would have to give myself a score of 5 in this area.
Practices for Personal Health:
Physical areas to work on are getting on a better eating and sleeping schedule. I need to get a healthy routine down. Next I need to get a fitness program going, light cardio or swimming pool exercises.
Psychological area would have to start with me working on witnessing mind and focusing on what I am saying and doing. I also need to practice calm-abiding and stop being so negative about others. Using breathing techniques seemed to help and I will be practicing these further so I can share the techniques with family.
Spiritual realms for me to work on would be greater study of integeral health and wellness and using holistic approaches. I already use holistic work on pets but I shy away from helping customers personal problems. This seems due to other areas I need to work on.
Commitment:
Spiritual work areas include witnessing mind and calm abiding, to open up my mind and focus on letting the body and spirit join into one.
Physical commitment is writing a grocery list; planning meals before shopping so I can get more healthy foods and getting the YMCA membership.
Psycholigical commitments would have to be working on calm-abiding so my stress levels are lowered and I have less depression. If I work on becoming “Teflon” than negative ideas and words will slide off and I can stay more positive.
References
Dasher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
