U9

            The development of a psychologically, spiritually, and physically fit health and wellness professional is a very important aspect of the health and wellness field.  To be able to understand the whole aspect of each of these there is a level in which you, as a professional need to have the experience and it should not only be by schooling, but hands on experience.  There are different areas that need development in order to have a full comprehension.  The spiritual practices of the different arts’ of meditation, focusing on how to effectively meet each goal and get a deeper understand of my true self so that I am able to listen and get a deeper understanding of my patients needs is an important task that requires more work.  Also, while working with the practice of my spirituality, I can focus on the psychological things that are holding me back.  Such as, what is it that is preventing from reaching the deeper parts of meditation.  I would ask myself to look at my daily life and perhaps previous years to find the source or sources of my mental combativeness.  I am already addressing my physical fitness, which is a stress reliever and requires a level of concentration that assists in regaining better control of how I am thinking.

            My health assessment in each domain has improved from my original assessment.  Throughout this course I have learned a great deal of new ways to present myself to others as well as how I feel inside about myself.  The scores I originally gave myself were physically (5), spiritually (6), and psychologically (5).  Now I would change each of these to higher numbers, since I have learned so much in this course.  The scores now would be a little higher and they would rate like this; physically (6), spiritually (7), psychologically (7).  My job has created so much stress in the past that I wasn’t sure which way to go, now with the assistance of the exercises and a better understanding of myself I am less stressed and just take one day at a time.  I am not a zebra, but working on trying to think not too far ahead.  If you want to read a good book, read “Why zebra’s don’t get ulcers”.  With new perspective’s in mind, I am able to put more work into my physical fitness and I have more energy.

            One goal in physical health is to become more motivated and make more time to get the exercise I need to stay healthy.  I intend to keep focusing on the more important things in my life that need my attention first as well as at work.  This is my goal for the psychological part of my plan, as well as spiritually, I will keep practicing the different practices we have learned and try some new ones.  By doing this, I will be more grounded and feel better inside and out.

            The two practices I will be doing for better physical health will be eating a better healthier diet.  I eat healthy already, but I am cutting some of the foods that are not as good for me out.  Also, I have been running and exercising more.  I have knee problems, but I signed up for my first race, it has been a year since my last race.   My spiritual training is going to focus on the two exercises that have really made a difference in my life:  the subtle mind which is a factor of three different exercises, and universal loving kindness.  I have learned the basics of these and now I intend to practice at least one or the other each day to help me in my journey to finding the deeper inner self I am discovering.  Psychologically I practice a couple things each day already and they seem to work well.  I have learned to write in a journal, although I forget sometimes, and I get up every day thanking god I am alive and for this I practice being kind to others which make me feel good inside.  I think this really helps others too.

            In six months I will be done with school (for now).  I am actually done in July, but I think that if I assess myself in six months on each of these practices, I will probably find a better, more complete person.  I have a calendar that I write all my important things on and taking the time to write those reminders can also help me in following through with my mission.  In addition I use that great technology we have today to remind me of what I am working on, my goals, and to keep working hard.  I understand that we can all fall of the wagon at times, but if I practice all the time it should become second nature to me and then I will not need the reminders.