I.
Introduction: Why is it important for
wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and
physically? What areas do you need to
develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?
As
a wellness professional you are should be the example of the product of health
and wellness that you are trying to get your client to embrace and be enrolled
in. Optimal health is not just on a
physical level, or just a mental level, it is the practice of healthy habits,
making health conscious choices, and committing ourselves to a life of integral
health so that our mind-body-spirit connection allows us the vehicle by which
we can begin to transcend and heal our inner consciousness and experience a
level of human flourishing that we have never experienced before. As a wellness professional it would make
sense that you would not want to encourage your clients to try alternative
therapies and complementary medicine practices if we do not have the supported
education necessary either through personal experience, another wellness
professional, or client testimonials that support the possible results and uniquely
contribute to the overall health of your client.
I
try to set goals on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. I am such a busy person, with multiple things
needing my constant attention, that if I don't at least keep a daily organizer
I would forget half of what I need to get accomplished. I have always lived a healthy life that
included regular exercise and a nutritious diet. I have always taken supplements, sleep plenty
and try to keep my stress level manageable by meditating as often as possible
or doing yoga. Which makes my lack of
integrity toward my health over the last 2 weeks so much more frustrating. I am not sure if it was the unprepared death
of my dog, or that I have 4 close girlfriends who are either cheating on their
spouse or getting a divorce, or the exhaustion of my life plus a school
schedule that has limited breaks that just finally caught up to me, but
something is very off right now. On a
normal week I go to the gym at least 6 times: 3 times to my personal trainer
and 3 times for yoga or to do a variety of cardio. I have not been to the gym
nor do I have the any desire to work out what so ever. On a normal day I eat 3 large meals and 2 - 3
snacks. The last two weeks I have
managed to flip a switch that does not acknowledge my appetite or am I giving
my body the nutrients, food and fuel that it needs to function at a healthy
level. I am not even drinking the
minimal amount of recommended water that is necessary for any level of health. I still take my supplements on a daily basis,
but I am sleeping less, unfocused and have little to no enthusiasm for
anything. I have a follow up with my
Naturopathic Doctor on Thursday October 24, 2012 to go over my blood work and
possibly find out if there is something going on in my body, or I have just
reached mental exhaustion and need to recharge.
My goals are to recommit myself to my health and wellness by making
myself accountable to my personal trainer and exercising with him at least four
times per week, starting next week. I am
also going to force myself to begin eating 4 small meals per day and drinking 8
or more glasses of water per day, and making other health conscious decisions
that will help me get back on track. My
integrity to my health can no longer be an option but must include daily goals
that will assist me to get back to a level of optimal health, balance, and
mental clarity.
II. Assessment:
How have
you assessed your health in each domain?
How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically and
psychologically?
I
have found myself assessing each domain of my health several different times
over the last few months. As I stated
above my integrity to my health has taken a complete 360 degree turn over the
last two weeks. In doing my assessment
over the last two days I have noticed that my mental exhaustion has made it
hard to assess my health at its actual present state, so I am pretty sure that
my overall assessments in each domain are not true to where I actually am. I am still trying to do the Loving-Kindness
exercise at least once a day, but I am not having the same experiences or
results that I have had in the past.
My spiritual wellness is okay but not at the
level health that I would like it to be at right now. I am still feel a sense of openness in my
mind, and heart but I can tell that my chakras are not completely aligned and
therefore my energies are not working in conjunction with the universe as they
should be.
My
physical wellness is not in a positive state of health at all. I have not been to the gym in two weeks and
the back and knee aches that remind me of my present lack of exercise have
decided to make reemerge. Exercise and
physical activity is a vital part of my physical health and it is not an option
to ignore its importance and necessity for my physical health anymore. I have an appointment with my trainer
tomorrow at 11 am.
My
psychological wellness is a blur right now.
We are presently closing down two companies and opening up three
separate LLC's for our construction business.
My time management is horrible right now and that causes me to feel
frustrated and over whelmed. I am hoping
that during the break between this semester and the next I am able to recharge
and reignite my excitement level for school, business and my life. So my psychological wellness is not at the
level that I would like it to be for me to not feel completely overwhelmed
right now.
III. Goal
Development: List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area: Physical,
Psychological (mental health)
and Spiritually.
My physical goal is to keep my integrity
with my personal trainer and not cancel my appointments no matter how
unmotivated I may feel. It is only one
hour out of my day to make a positive contribution to my physical health for
the rest of my life.
My Psychological goal is take the time
of at least 2 or more hours daily, over the next two weeks and participate in
activities such as yoga, meditation, my arts and crafts and being creative and
to not do anything that requires me to be in a mental state other then calm and
peaceful.
My spiritual goal is to gather all the
necessary items that are required to perform and participate in a Samhein (Halloween)
spell and ritual that will allow me to reconnect with the energies that
surround me and the universe.
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 2 examples of exercises or practices
in each domain. Explain how you will
implement each example.
For
me the continuous practice of the same routine is the fastest and easiest way
to implement growth and change. By
making something routine it soon becomes a habit that does not require me to
consciously put effort toward because it is now part of my daily routine.
Being
consciously aware of where I can implement physical activity and exercise in
small doses throughout my day can help foster my growth in my physical health. Squats during commercials, lunges while
cooking dinner, walking while on the phone are all examples of how I can take
the void time in my day and make it a vital part of my overall exercise
program.
Just
like implementing little bits of physical activity here and there during the
day can foster your physical growth, the same application can be implemented
for your psychological health. A person
does not always have to participate in meditation exercises that are for
extended amounts of time, such as 30 minutes or more. Small sessions of meditation such as 1 or 2
minutes can help initiate an almost immediate state of calm as well as the
ability to rid unnecessary draining and harmful emotions and information from
our consciousness before it can cause severe negative strain or sabotage our
psychological health in any way.
Being
in the moment, several times a day is a great way to foster spiritual
wellness. Turning off the television,
radio, cell phone and immersing yourself in nature or the quiet of your comfy
place and allowing your senses to become aware of all that is going on around
you. This allows a person to reconfirm
there place in this world as well as acknowledge all the other vital energies
and organisms that are necessary for the survival of Mother Nature and the
world. Meditation is also another
practice that can help you reconnect with your spiritual being and realign your
energies as well as help clear your mind and open your heart.
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.
Continuous
practice, habit and routine is my goal for as long as it takes for me to get
back to the level of healthy in all domains that allows my life to flourish and
maintain a constant state of health and wellness. I know from previous experience that when I
am at my optimal state of health, happiness and wholeness I tend to exude a
feeling of calm, clarity and confidence among the individuals that are in my
presence. This balance and compassion
allows me to be present and in the moment with my husband, children, family and
friends in a way that is much more rewarding for me and them. This also allows me to not just passively
hear what is said to me, but to actually hear and observe the emotional state
of the conversation and emotionally react in a more authentic and genuine
manner.
Since
I my overall long-term goal is to become a Naturopathic Doctor and to open a
Wellness Center here in the Phoenix area, my enrollment in long-term health and
wellness practices is not a choice but essential to my success and ability to
relate and treat my future patients. I
just have to get out of this two week slump, and get emotionally and mentally
recharged and to consciously make choices that promote integral health as my
overall state of health.
References:
Dacher, E. (2006) Integral Health: The
Path to Human Flourishing, Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications Inc.
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