Final Thoughts

 

            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.