Week 9 - Summing it all up...

When health and wellness professionals develop themselves psychologically, spiritually, and physically, not only do they improve their own lives, but they are also better equipped to help their patients achieve optimal health.  We cannot teach what we don’t know.  Although there may be some health related topics that we can learn from a book, psychospiritual development is not one of them.  Additionally, “walking the walk” makes us more credible.  Most of us would be unable to take an obese nutritionist seriously.  Likewise, patients are unlikely to take the advice of a nurse or doctor who does not appear to be interested in their own physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing.

            I must improve all three areas of my own life to achieve my goals.  The area where I need the least amount of improvement would be in my physical self.  I need a considerable amount of work on the psychosocial aspect of my life, and a great deal of improvement in the spiritual realm.

Self-Assessment

            According to Dacher (2006), we do a self- assessment by looking at our current circumstances, identifying aspects of our life that require attention, and determining what changes we want to make. Then, using this information, we create a program to make these changes.  Through contemplative practice, I’ve been looking at my life and current situation.  I’ve made a few decisions on what I should improve.

            In the physical aspect of my life, I score well.  I’m free from any chronic illnesses.  I don’t smoke or have any other bad habits.  I eat decently and I am not overweight.  Still, there is always room for improvement.  I am aware that I really let winter slow me down.  I don’t get a fraction of the exercise during the cold months that I do in the spring, summer, and fall.  I am also somewhat negligent when it comes to going for  annual physicals, having blood work done, etc. “I don’t have time!” is my usual excuse. 

            I’ve made many psychosocial improvements since starting this class, but I have a ways to go.  I continue to allow other peoples’ moods to affect my own and I spend a great deal of time worrying about things that I truly have no control over.  I also continue to be plagued by pain, from what I consider to be wrongs committed against me.

            The spiritual aspect of my life is in total disarray.  Although I feel a strong connection to nature and being outdoors, I’m completely unsure of what I believe in as far as God and religion.  This leaves me feeling a bit of emptiness, but I cannot force myself to believe in a religion just because that’s the way I was raised, or because it is one of the predominant religions where I live.  

My Goals

            My physical fitness goal is to schedule the appointments I need.  This includes preventative health measures and a dental visit. I’ve committed to exercising at least 40 minutes per day, 3 days/week.  This still falls below the amount of physical activity I do during the other seasons but it is a start.  I will continue with the meditation practice I’ve recently started to improve myself psychologically and I will try Tai Chi.  To develop spiritually, my goal is to spend more time contemplating and spend more time with nature.  I also plan to be open to answers that come from unexpected places.

 

 

Practices for Personal Health

            I plan to get moving for the rest of the winter.  I just purchased a pair of snowshoes that I’m looking forward to using. I’m determined to make the best of our weather in the North East.  I will also increase my strength training.  I have gained a few pounds since November and plan to be rid of them by spring.

            To improve myself psychosocially, I will continue to meditate daily.  This is something I’ve only started doing since the beginning of this class.  Not only do I enjoy it immensely, but it is starting to bring me some inner peace.  As time goes by, I will increase my meditation time.  Ideally, I’d like to meditate one hour per day.  I also intend try out a Tai Chi class.  I found one in my area but have not gone yet.

            Spiritually, I need to be open minded.  I feel that through self-contemplation an answer will come to me.  I will find what I am comfortable with.  My belief in a higher power is the strongest when I am hiking, gardening, or kayaking.  Therefore, I plan to experience as many outdoor activities as possible, as this is my passion. A quote from the book, 50 Things that Really Matter (2002):  “Passion satisfies a vital spiritual need: the need for connection.  It’s the feeling we get when we are in tune with something larger than ourselves.  Passion makes us feel alive, makes us feel that we walk this planet for some purpose”

Commitment

            I do the best with a written plan that I can look at regularly.  I am going to summarize this paper and print it out for myself so that it can be my guide over the next six months.  This will enable me to review it periodically to see if I’m sticking to it…especially if I hang the paper somewhere that I will see it every day.  When six months have gone by, I can see how far I’ve come and make a new written plan.  I’m aware that sometimes our needs change, so I’m open to the idea of having to change a goal or alter a strategy.

References:

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Hallmark, (2002).  50 things that really matter.  Rosedale, Inc.