Unit 9 Blog and Assignment

Unit 9 Project and Blog Post – John DeLeon

1)    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?

a)     It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically.  It is evident that the work of human flourishing is not cerebral in terms of knowledge/intellect. Much of the work that is done has to do with the heart/soul.  Because the process of self-discovery and spiritual/psychological development is somewhat ethereal, it has to be imparted from an experiential standpoint.  In addition, one can easily determine or feel when a person had done the work for themselves. It is apparent in their energy (aura) and in the way they conduct themselves. People who have achieved higher levels of human flourishing radiate light and love. It makes for a more compelling example of what is possible when a professional can speak from that space.

b)    The two primary areas I need to develop further are nutrition and exercise. I also need to maintain a consistent practice as it relates to meditation, spirituality and personal development. I must remind myself that the journey of enlightenment does not have a destination.  To some degree, I’m resting on my laurels and hanging my present on past achievements. I once heard someone say, “You can coast upwards.”

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

a)     The way I assess my health in each domain is by doing a personal inventory of where I am and most importantly, how am I feeling.  Emotions are a very telling indicator of my progress. I also need to be very honest with myself.

b)    On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, I would rate myself a follows: Spiritually (6); Physically (4); Psychologically (7).

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

a)     Physical: one of my goals is to exercise a minimum of six times per week including cardio and resistance training. I’m also considering Yoga. I’ve tried it a few times and it hasn’t moved me, but I will not give up on the practice. I hear many great things about it and yoga might be a great way for me to challenge myself by bridging the gap between my physical and spiritual being – if one actually exists.

b)    Psychological Health: one of my goals is to talk to a mental health professional, not because I think my life is not going well, but to calibrate and provide feedback on where I am headed. Mental health professional have an uncanny way of asking the right questions to help me go deep into identifying the real issues that challenge me.  I had one before and I think it’s time for me to revisit seeing one as a regular practice.

c)     Spiritual: Being heavy into the Christian Sciences (New Thought) sparked my spiritual journey in ways that I never anticipated. My objective for 2012 is to join a community of like-minded individuals to support me in my journey of integral health.  I would also be able to impart from my experience to help others with theirs.

4)    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.

a)     Physical: I need to “Just Do It!” I know the rewards and most importantly I can benefit physically from the practice. Establishing a support network of people to help me with my goals of exercising six times a week and maintaining a diet that provides proper nourishment is important. I also plan to partner with a friend to run a half marathon, which will provide me with a goal/cause I can benefit from.

b)    Psychological: I will engage in the practice of journaling daily as I have seen the benefits from this class. Journaling will help to calm my mind and reveal the thoughts I’m holding in consciousness. And as mentioned previously, I will seek the guidance of a mental health professional, which will serve as a sounding board to discuss where I am, where I am headed and receive suggestions on how I can further improve.

c)     Spirituality: the practice of daily meditation and visualization is important to me and I will continue doing it. I also plan to reconnect with a spiritual community and take on a service commitment where I participate in a healing practice.  Helping others helps me learn more about myself and further expand my consciousness.

5)    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?

a)     The best part of being self-aware is the ability to know your weaknesses or areas for improvement, as I like to view them.  My greatest area for improvement is my ability to isolate and not engage others. Knowing this, my intention is to seek others more in the achievement of my strategies.  My other area for improvement is consistency. Having a mindset and a daily practice that I must do something every day to contribute towards my integral health will help me. I realize that human flourishing cannot be achieved through instant gratification; it’s going to require work.  Once I build a cadence, it will become less arduous and more of a step closer towards human flourishing. From my experience, the best way to assess how well I am doing is to determine how good I am feeling. It is known that two of the primary human objectives are to avoid pain and seek pleasure. I believe I am here to seek joy as a result of everything I do.  The level of love, peace and joy I experience is the best barometer of how well I’m progressing in my journey.