Unit 9

Introduction

It is important for practitioners to develop spiritually, psychologically, and physically because of the nature of their work. They are charged with the responsibility of the well-being and lives of others. Think of it this way. If you were consulting a book to help you learn how to do something or to solve a problem, would you just pick any book? No, you would want the most credible and well-rounded source of information. Practitioners need to develop all areas of themselves because they must also lead by example. If you had a morbidly obese doctor telling you to lose weight, how would that message be received? Wouldn’t it seem hypocritical? If you are a very religious or spiritual person and it is important to your health, are you likely to work well with a practitioner who doesn’t value the relationship and importance of spirituality and its connection to integral health?

In order to achieve the goals I have for myself, I need to work on the spiritual and physical hurdles that I am faced with. I have some extra weight that I have been trying to lose since the birth of my second child. Overcoming weight gain is a personal experience that I can draw from to be supportive to the patients I work with. I also need to be able to cope better with stress. Stress is a huge part of life. I can’t escape from it. I must learn how to deal with it. If I am self-destructing from all of the stress and pressure of life, then how can I possibly help others?

Assessment

Assessing my health and well-being in each area makes me face things about myself that I wish to change. I have meditated and reflected on these domains to gain an understanding of my current level of health and well-being. Spiritually I give myself an 8 because I wish to learn and discover more to broaden my knowledge and understanding of this important domain. Physically I give myself a 7. I am not in the best shape of my life, but I am taking steps to lose weight and improve my physical health. I have already seen an increase in my energy level and the connection that they physical and mental have to each other. Psychologically I rate myself a 7. I am faced with a lot of stress and obstacles in my current situation, but I am also finding positive outlets and coping strategies.

Goal Development

Spiritually my personal goal is to take more time for myself to discover and learn more. I am a very spiritual person but feel that there is so much more to learn.

My mental health goal is to continue my meditation to combat my shortcomings in dealing with stress. Successful implantation of stress management is crucial for my well-being.

My physical goal is to continue working on my weight loss goal. Achieving my goal weight will bring me better health and more energy. I need my health to be successful in life.

Practices for Personal Health

To foster growth in the psychological domain, I am working on stress management techniques. These techniques include meditation, focus on deep breathing, be present in the moment, reach out for social support, keeping tuned into the signals that my body is sending to me, laughter, music, and exercise (10 Relaxation Techniques That Zap Stress Fast, 2014).

To foster growth in the physical domain, I am implementing visualization as a technique. I picture the thinner, more attractive me that I want to be. I visualize how being physically fit will make me a better mom and give me more energy to accomplish the demands of everyday life. I am also using yoga to help me improve my flexibility and physical health.

To foster growth in the spiritual domain, I am allowing myself more time for self-discovery. Spirituality is very important to me, and I haven’t nurtured that side of me as much as I have wanted to. Meditation has also been a huge resource in this area. I use meditation to focus on me and shut the world out for a few minutes. Loving kindness is another source of inspiration. I draw on the love and support I get from my family and my love for them.

Commitment

I am making a commitment to track my progress by continuing on with this blog. I can use this blog as a forum to track my failures and successes and to hopefully draw on the personal experiences of my peers. I firmly believe in the power of personal experience. Having ta blog to give me access to social support as well as allow me to provide support to others is vital to my success in all domains. In six months I can review my blogs and evaluate the progress I have made in each domain. Long term success will depend on my willingness to be a lifelong student. The health and wellness field is ever changing and evolving. One must constantly be open to learning new techniques and treatment options.

References

10 Relaxation Techniques That Zap Stress Fast (2014). In Webmd. Retrieved December 16, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot