When I began this class I entered
like I did any other. My goal was get through the next ten weeks, do the best I
can and move on. I did, well, sort of. I am almost to week ten, I am doing as
best as can, my grades are okay but I did not anticipate the amount of moving
on I was about to experience. I have found myself now interested in and focused
on my own personal path toward human flourishing. I used to believe that I
understood the holistic approach to healing and in most respects I did. What I
did not understand was the true importance of integral health.
Dacher states in appendix B of the
text “To become agents of a more expansive health, we must begin with our own
life” (Dacher, 2006, p. 167). I do believe that
the health and wellness professionals should adhere to this concept as best
they can. To be truly effective in the communication and guidance of one’s
future clients the development of myself psychologically, spiritually and
physically fosters a deeper and more cohesive practitioner- client
relationship. In the work I plan to do, or service I hope to provide, the
rehabilitation of those who struggle with substance abuse depends significantly
in my ability to connect on a level of profound trust, true commitment and
continuous compassion. Interestingly enough this class coincides with my class
on substance abuse and I am able to understand how the concepts and principles of
integral health can help me to achieve my goal. It is through the development
of my psychological, spiritual and physical wellness that I can best convey my
own principles of life and in turn help them achieve theirs. Truth be told all
of the areas we are speaking of are in of need work and if I understand, as I
think I do, they always will. The path to human flourishing is ever changing
and in constant need of my attentive, intentional and purposeful care. I need
to presently focus more perhaps on my level of physical fitness but at the same
time continue to, through my contemplative practices, nurture my level of
psychological and spiritual health. If I were to concentrate specifically on
one alone my path toward integral health then becomes many roads instead of a
unified route.
As we have moved through this course
I have taken a step back from time to time to evaluate my state of integral
health. In my unit 6 blog I reported 3’s across the board. I was having a
difficult time eating and when I did I wasn’t always successful it keeping it
down. I had what the doctors called a “nervous stomach” so instead of being
sick I purposefully went hungry. I love to cook and used to enjoy food, some
even have called me a self-taught chef. I was proud not only of how I made
something but what I made. My choice of meals was healthy and I enjoyed taking
the “classics” and reworking them to be healthier. I even started to casually
write a cookbook in the hopes I could one day publish it. That dream all but
disappeared, I was depressed. I had lost my passion my spirit if you will.
Now I can say those scores have
improved. I would put my physical health at a 6. I need to incorporate more
physical exercise into my life and I working on it. My ability to eat has
resumed and I have not been sick in over two weeks. I enjoy my meals and make
sure I sit down to eat them. I am feeling stronger however I am still tired. I
am optimistic that the energy will return in time. I had also mentioned I had
pain and for the most part that has all but subsided. Psychologically I am
happier and feeling more at peace within myself. If I had to put a number on
it, I am at 7. I am motivated and hopeful when I wake instead of indifferent. I
catch myself smiling and other people notice as well. I feel there is less
“weight” on my shoulders. I will admit I struggle spiritually and would assign
a 5 to that. As much as I’d like for that to be higher I am not as hopeful as I
would like to be. I am finding that through meditation I can let go of my negativity
and emerge renewed but I am unable to hold onto that feeling for long. My heart
aches for humanity at times and the events of world trouble me deeply. I am
working toward truly understanding that I cannot fix everything and I have a
hard time “swallowing” that pill. What I am learning and experiencing from time
to time is that it is up to me through my contemplative practices change my
focus to participate in the changes I can make.
My goals are rather simple. I aim to
continue along the path and incorporate to the best of my ability physical, psychological
and spiritual progress. I believe that the progress I am speaking of takes work
in all areas simultaneously rather than interdependently of one other. By working
toward my physical fitness both through exercise and continued well balanced nutrition
I will feel physically more at peace. That in turn can alleviate my feelings of
depression and lifelessness and bring about psychological wellness. Keeping my educational
and career goals in focus and continuing to do well in achieving or at least having
forward momentum in doing so can also have a dramatic effect on my self-worth. Furthermore,
that self-worth can allow me to explore my spirituality. Having a positive outlook
that I want to share and giving myself the opportunity to do so can be spiritually
beneficial. Turning my happiness inward and finding a place of happiness and wholeness
will allow me to repurpose those feelings outward towards others.
As I have mentioned before finding time
to incorporate physical exercise into my life on a regular basis is a practice I
must implement. I would like to become active in Tai-Chi again as I believe that
practice crosses the “boundaries” of all three domains. That being said taking
the time to do things for myself and reengage with my hobbies and passions is self-rewarding
and make me happy. Sharing my love through things such as the love I show with food
on a plate my sound silly but giving of myself like that is important to me. I gives
me purpose. Continuing my contemplative practices such as loving-kindness, calm-abiding
and unity-consciousness will continue to serve me well on a spiritual level. The
more I practice these things the more I can affect change in my world. The one I
must keep close is the subtle mind. I feel being inwardly peaceful is paramount
to me being outwardly effective both in my personal and professional endeavors.
Just as I have through this course by
reassessing my level of integral health will help me to continue along my path.
I am rather old fashioned. I plan on keeping a handwritten journal. I feel by doing
this I can look back and in my own hand track not just my progress but my weaknesses.
As I have stated earlier the path toward my own human flourishing will no doubt
be ever changing. I have also downloaded the exercises we have gone through in
this course for me to reference as I see necessary. I am actually excited by the
promise of living a more meaningful and connected life with those in my life. I
am thankful for lessons I have learned and the opportunity to change.
Reference
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path Human
Flourishing. Laguna Beach: Basic Heath Publications, Inc.
A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based 