Unit 9: Final Project

1. 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?

      It is important for professionals to develop themselves in ways that will make them credible to their clients.  When a first impression is made it sometimes difficult to change it if it was initially a negative impression.  With this in mind if we as professionals are slacking in an area that the client needs the most help in we will not be very effective.  I know for me I need to work on the spiritual aspect.   I have always tied spiritual with religious, which I have now come to realize is not the case.  I am now better able to work on this aspect without the pressures associated with any one religion.

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

      I have had to keep reassessing myself, which is good in some ways and frustrating in others. Physically I am in a good place.  I know I need a little tweaking; however, nothing much it is just a matter of dealing with the lack of time in my life that requires me to use more processed foods then I like.  Psychologically speaking I am forever getting better.  I am hoping when I get to the magical point where flourishing really happens I will know it.   When I use the hindsight I can see how far I have come in the past 13 years of my life and all I can say is wow that is amazing.  Spiritually I am not at all where I want to be or think I should be.  This area is one I have neglected for a very long time.  I have grown, at least for my personal assessment, the most in this area in the last 9 weeks.  I know I still have my work cut out for me but having the fear in check is a huge benefit.

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

      My goal physically is to cut out even more processed foods and to complete the full marathon in the spring.   My goal for my mental health is to take more time to react.  I want to be even less impulsive.  My spiritual goal is to find the oneness that is in all life forces.  I realize this will take a lot of time and training but I know I will get there.  I now get very brief glimpses of the oneness, and that does please me; however, I know there is more there I am missing.

4. 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. 

      Physical:  I will continue to use yoga to improve my flexibility and breath work as a calming technique.  Yoga is a “type of cross-training that involves the mind/body” and allows us to “work out the mind/body as a single unit” (Dacher, 2006, p 83).   Another practice I will continue to follow is a good nutrition plan.  I am a vegan so by my very nature I have to “mindful and intentional” when I choose my foods because I am “concerned for environmental sustainability, world poverty, and animal suffering” (Dacher, 2006, p 108).   I am not judging others but this is just where I am at in my progress.

      Psychological:  I am really fond of the loving-kindness exercises.  I think what makes this so appealing to me that it can be done in any location and the benefits can be felt almost immediately.  The following statement is so true: “it can serve as an antidote to anger and hatred” (Dacher, 2006, p 93).  This is very helpful for moments when I am too quick to respond with frustration or anger when I should respond slower and with love.  Another area I need to spend some time working on is “Learning from the Woodcarver” as we remember he did not have a choice as to the task he had to complete.  His choice came from within in how he was going to deal with the task.  Finding the positive in the situation and taking pride in you work is a huge benefit.  When I finally slow down and find the best path for myself in a situation with no other alternatives the beauty of self-joy from within is priceless.

      Spiritual:  “Separateness is an expression of cultural conditioning” (Dacher, 2006, p 93).  I need to recondition myself in search of oneness.   I really need to focus on the exercise given to us by Dacher on page 94, as this is the key, al least for me to find the oneness I need and desire.  Starting off by observing our separateness then moving into connectedness and finally reaching for a “universal and interconnected embrace.”  It is just moving.  Another practice I need to keep to on is practicing intimacy.   Without being graphic it is hard at times for me to share with others even those I have know for a very long time like my husband.  I have at times felt as if we do not know each other at all.  With work practicing intimacy and spiritual union I think I will be able to know him better and he can know me better.

5. 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?

      To check on my progress I am actually going to do two things to help me remember what my focus should be and keep me on track.  The first is I am going to rename this file and keep it on my desk top so when I am doing my homework in the future I will see this file soon to be called: BODY/MIND/SPIRIT, WHERE ARE YOU?   Just having a visual jog should help since I am doing homework a lot and even when not doing homework my computer is almost always on.  The second strategy I will use will utilize my cell phone’s calendar.   I have programed in reminders that coincide with my running calendar to practice meditations while running.   I have also programed in a day each month to revisit and check my progress.  I have chosen Monday’s as my day because this is my calmest day of the week as far as school and work both go.    For the monthly Monday check I did not schedule an end date so until I get a new phone I will be able to continue to monitor my progress.

Good Luck to everyone and continued growth!