1. Review your unit 3 personal assessment of your psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. Reflect on these areas . How did you score yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 in unit 3? How do you score yourself now? Has the score changed? Why or why not?

I scored myself as the following:

Psychological- 8

Spiritual-9

Physical Well-being-6/7

I think that my physical well-being is about the same, but I am working on it. I have been doing zumba, and watching what I eat.

 Unfortunately, I have problems with my knee, and that's not improving.

My spiritual well-being has raised from a 9 to a 10. I have all of the faith in the world that God will pull me through anything in life.

I pray a lot more, and I would eventually like to start going back to church and get my daughters baptized. :D

Psychological is actually a little better now that I am resolving some issues that have brought me down in life.

I haven't spoken with my mother in two years, and we are starting to "make-up" and sort through our issues with one another. That plays a big role in my feelings and how I think from day to day.

It's a new beginning and a fresh start.

Life is too short to hold grudges, so I would now rate my  psychological well-being a 10. I still have anxiety issues, and that will never change, but another aspect of it is improving.

2. Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals? Explain.

The goals that I have made are improving slowly and gradually.

All that I can do is to keep trying and believing in myself to achieve my goals.

3. Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.

Physical- I have been working hard to loose weight. I have accepted that God made me the way that I am, and I am the only one that can improve it and accept it.

Spiritual- I am getting closer to God in my own ways.

Psychological- I will always get upset in stressful situations due to my anxiety issues. However, I have been trying to avoid stressfuol situations, and improve some of them as well.

4. Summarize your personal experience throughout this course. Have you developed improved well-being? What has been rewarding? What has been difficult? How will this experience improve your ability to assist others?

I have had a wonderful experience throughout this course.

 I have learned so much about health and well-being in life.

I feel that the exercises and learning about other cultures and their spirituality has been rewarding to my knowledge.

I think that some of the work has been difficult, only because I get confused every now and then. Not to mention, I wasn't supposed to be enrolled in an advanced class. :)

I will keep all of this knowledge handy to help others along the way.

I can help them by using the knowledge of the exercises to show them how to become more in touch with their own well-being.

                                       UNIT 9 PROJECT

                                             

                 I.               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 health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually, and physically because we live in an ever changing world.

Health and wellness professionals must be determined to keep up with the changing of the environment that they work in.

It’s always important to be able to be knowledgeable of what you are teaching others and providing for them as well.

Psychologically, we must always be on top of our thoughts and be able to control our emotions when certain circumstances come about.

We must never get attached to our patients emotionally, even though we are showing them that we are trustworthy, caring, and helpful in all aspects of our profession.

I need to develop my communication skills in order to achieve my goals.

I often get nervous, due to my anxiety disorder, and I have difficulty communicating with others because of it.

I get nervous and I begin to stutter, and feel like everyone around is judging me.

I have to get past this nervousness, and connect with my inner strength and bravery.

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

My wellness when it comes to being spiritual is average.

It could use a lot more strengthening. Physically, I am on a poor level, and I intend to change it.

I am improving my physical strength.

I believe that once I am happy with my outer appearance, my psychological aspect on wellness will increase and improve in great ways.

I will be happy, and I will have more confidence in myself in all aspects of life.

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

My goal for myself in a physical outlook on things is to get into better shape, and be able to exercise more and feel good about myself.

My personal goal in a psychological aspect actually goes along with my physical goal.

I will feel better about myself as an individual, and I will be able to take better care of myself and others.

Family is everything to me, and I want to be able to do more things with them and enjoy life.

In a spiritual outlook on things, my goal is to become closer to God. I am a Christian, and I have always had faith in God.

I would just like to strengthen the personal relationship that I have with him, and also start going back to church.

I believe that all of these things are related when it comes to improvement.

If you develop in one area, you will gradually develop in the others as well.

              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 two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

Physical examples: Going to zumba classes and the gym, eating healthier, and taking care of the outer appearance.

Psychological examples: Speaking with a psychiatrist or someone who can listen, exploring inner thoughts and feelings, and organizing priorities.

Spiritual examples: Attending church services to be around other spiritual people, meditation, and prayer.

                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?

I will not give up, and I will continue to refresh my memory of all of the knowledge that I have obtained.

I can continue to review the work that I have completed, and also I can listen to the weekly exercises that were provided to help improve health and wellness.

References

Dacher, E.S.(2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing.

Schlitz, S. & Amorok,T.(2005).Consciousness And Healing: Integral Approaches To Mind-Body Medicine. Elsevier, Inc.

Unit 8 Blog Post

1. Review the exercises and practice sessions you have completed in this course. (Loving Kindness, Subtle mind, Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two practices that you have determined to be most beneficial. How can you implement these practices in your personal life to foster “mental fitness”? Provide specific examples.

I find that the two most beneficial exercises have been the Loving Kindness exercise, and the Meditative practice.

I have never felt so refreshed and relaxed at the same time.

It was actually amazing, and is amazing for me to even say or think such things of these exercises.

I have never been into meditation, mainly because I didn't have the time and/or patience for it.

I think that I can obtain mental fitness through these exercises if I keep doing them.

I think that if I think good and healthy thoughts, and I try these exercises in my free time, I will think and be healthier and happier.

UNIT 7 BLOG ASSIGNMENT

1. Complete the Meeting Aesclepius mp3 (located in the Doc Sharing area). Describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

Since I am a Christian, I chose to view Jesus Christ with this exercise. We had to visualize this person, and become on a personal level. We were walking on the beach, and I was crying, giving everything negative to him. I said " Lord, Forgive me for being the way that I have lately, and take these burdens, and wash them away from me." I felt as if he were actually here with me. It is actually the first time that I have listened completely to these audio exercises. I feel refreshed after listening, and cleansing my mind and heart. I feel better knowing that I am  who I am, and that is how he made me. I feel refreshed from my sins and all of the things that have been troubling me lately.  I will definitely listen to this exercise again. I will keep this as a way of prayer through thought. I have always had a hard time praying, because I get upset, and I don't like others around while I pray. This exercise is amazing, I felt as if the Lord was with me, and he let me know that everything was going to be alright, and I was cleansed from my troubles and burdens.

2. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477). How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

It means that you cannot make someone else experience something, if you have not experienced it yourself. For example, if you refuse to ride a bike, you can't talk someone else into riding the bike. It applies to the health and wellness professional because if you are trying to take care of someone else, for example, giving them advice on how to take care of themselves, you cannot give them advice on it if you do not take care of youself as well. I do have an obligation to develop my health, because if I am not healthy, I cannot take care of them to get them back to health. You must take care of yourself first and foremost, so that you are able to take care of others.

Unit 6 Blog Discussion

Practice the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise on p. 93.

Complete the Integral Assessment discussed in chapter 11 (p.115).

Describe the exercise and assessment process. What did you discover about yourself? What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development? Why? What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?

The exercise was surprisingly helpful, I normally don't get anything out of reading or listening to exercises such as the ones we have been learning about recently. However, I felt a sense of strength in me that I haven't felt in such a long time. I naturally love helping people around me, and I sometimes get upset that it's not given back to me. Sometimes, you just have to accept that people aren't always going to return the favors that you do for them. It's not always going to run smoothly the way that you want it to. Now, on the assessment part, I have figured out that I am going to start watchingwhat I eat and start to exercise more so that I can not only feel better about myself, but I will have a positive attitude that reflects on others as well.  It's been such a long time since I have been happy with my outer appearance, and I am tired of being unhappy with the way that I look. Of course, every woman has that problem from time to time.  We just have to stop being sad and upset, and disappointed, and we have to do something about it to help our problem with disappointment. I am going to try Zumba fitness with my two best friends. They have been hounding me to go with them, and I have been in such a depressing  funk lately that I haven't wanted to do it because I feel that Iam going to be embarrassedin front of other  people. But, I am going to take a chance and try my hardest to work at this, because  it's something that I really want. I will be in better shape for my family, and for myself as well.  And, I will be happy! :)

Unit 5 Blog Exercise

UGH!!! Well......

I personally do not have the patience for listening to exercises. Like I have mentioned previously, I cannot sit still and listen to someone talk on an audio clip. I try my best to listen and pay attention, and do the breathing, and calming exercises, but I find it to be a waste of my time. I don't have the patience or the interest to do things like this. I'd rather experience love, gratefulness, and forgiveness through personal experience. For example, I haven't talked to my parents in over a year. To be honest, I am not really ready to do something like that until my heart heals completely. I cannot forgive them for what they have done and the hurtful words spoken to me, unless I am mentally ready, and I am not. Time heals everything, I truly believe that. Sometimes when you wait too long, it may be too late. However, sometimes, it's just not the right thing to hurry up and rush forgiveness when it's not wanted or ready to dish out. Spiritual, mental, and physical wellness are all connected, and if one isn't ready to work properly in some one's life, the other two aren't going to be complete either. I hope that makes sense to my readers. It's confusing sometimes, but you have to look closely.

Unit 4 Blog Exercise

Unit 4 Blog Exercise

1.Describe your experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or why not?

I found the audio exercise to be beneficial, yet I am not the kind of person to sit through an audio recording. I don't have the patience to sit there and pay attention. I tend to get bored half  way through the person talking. I am more of a face to face talker, meaning I am better at understanding  thingswhen I talk to someone in person. I listen better, and I pay attention more often to what they are trying to say, than to listen to someone who isn't even in front of me.

1. What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?

A mental workout is like listening to the audio exercise. You make your brain think about things that you kind of don't want to. :D It's like doing equations or something like that.  You have to think more than you really would like to.