Final
Project: Holistic/Integral concepts
HW420:
Creating Wellness: Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing
Professor
John Aguilar
Dawn
Norris
February
3, 2012
Introduction:
\ We need to shift our priorities,
cultivate the ground of our life, focus inward and expand our consciousness.
With these efforts the seed of integral health can fully bloom. The development of our inner life and an
integral approach is the essential next step on the road to human flourishing (Dacher,
2006).
In
order for one to achieve full integral health you have to be willing to go
through self transformation of mind, body, and spirit. Wanting an authentic life
of health, happiness, and wholeness that has purpose, passion, intimacy, and
joy can be accomplished. You must desire this with your whole being and more
than the security of what you now know. This shift is known as holistic and
evolutionary transformation. This deep challenge can open new realms of health
and healing requiring we be open, receptive, daring, and bold. We need to focus
inward on our essence; there we will find the source of exceptional health and
healing.
-Dawn
S. Norris, 2012
I.
Why it is important for health and
wellness professionals to develop psychologically? Our personal growth and
development allows us to evolve our interpersonal and worldly life. Our
consciousness is an asset that stimulates towards integral health and life. It motivates
orients and controls the entire process of human flourishing. Developing
psychologically consists of our first aspect which is sensorimotor. The most
rudimentary form of awareness. It consists of our reasoning and rational minds.
In our reasoning mind we arrive here
once we have evolved up the ladder of consciousness. It represents our
consciousness, capacity, and complexity. Our rational mind is interesting even
more so because it is the masterful discoveries and technologies of science and
medicine. Guiding us in our daily lives we organize, plan and direct our routine
experiences. It is our still mind that enables us to be more receptive towards
our patients, our families and community. We become deep listeners when we do
not have distractions manipulating our focus.
Spiritually?
We can pass on what we believe to our patients and make them feel better about their
selves.
Physically?
If you do not take care of yourself physically you can end up with heart
disease or diabetes. What you put in to your body affects all your parts.
What areas do you need to develop to achieve the
goals you have for yourself? Psycho-spiritually, I need healing in how I handle
stress, how to acquire more patience, my time management is all out of whack.
II: Assessment: How have you assessed your
health in each domain? I definitely need improvement in every area.
How do you score your wellness: On a scale of one to
ten (ten being optimal)?
Spiritually: I score an
8. This is my life’s highlight. I am inspired by my Preacher Teacher’s which I
get weekly in our local newspaper. They talk about things going on in the world
and how people do not take religion seriously enough.
Physically: I give
myself a 9. I have always been in good physical shape although I am petite I
have spent the majority of my life walking to get where I needed to go. I used
to do aerobics frequently I find this to be a good way to get out my
frustrations when there is no other outlet. I enjoy hiking and exploring it
stimulates the body and mind in ways that prove to be beneficial to expand ones
horizons in life. I like to eat a variety of foods. I especially like lobster
because they say fish is brain food and it tastes very satisfying. I have been
trying to gain weight forever, so I push the sweets to get extra calories
besides it is just so tempting. Boston crème and strawberry cheesecake are my personal
favorites. I am addicted to Cheetos and Wise onion rings. Once I make a dish like
fried chicken I always make a side like mashed potatoes or broccoli. My fiancé says
my physical stature is fine but I would just like to have more physique. I am
self conscious but I know I am healthy, I rarely get sick. I do suffer from
severe back pain daily and I am a nervous person who sometimes jumps at the
drop of a pin. With the combination of my metabolism and bipolar I am quite
hyper which has my adrenaline going and then I start running around cleaning it
rids me of my depression and keeps my mind off my problems. Many of the things
we encountered as a child stay in our subconscious I believe and come out when
we need to react to something. I have a major problem when it comes to sleep I
am more of a night person. So when there is not housework to do or school I
sleep. Many times though I am up until early morning.
Psychologically? I scored a 5 here. As we get older our minds
begin to deteriorate therefore we need to keep them as stimulated with
knowledge as we can. Exercise for the subtle mind consists of the still and
calm and the ever changing mind. It is essential for integral health and life.
It is the source of our most significant healing resources. We must quiet the
uncontrollable and obscuring movements of our outer mind. In these “evanescent
moments”, our mind is released from its preoccupation with mental chatter and put
it to rest. Many traumatic experiences diminish our ability to develop our
necessary qualities mentally. They scar for life and make it hard to overcome
anxiety and even panic. I have dealt with this the majority of my life and it
certainly is not pleasant. I lost my father at a very young age, and did not
have much stability growing up, and my mother showed very little support. She
made us do things for which I am not proud of. Lying has been a big part of my
life but as I got older I realized this is not something I should be doing. It
is better to be honest it keeps your conscience clean. You have to be true to yourself
and others in order to establish trust .One of the things that keeps me
mentally stable is taking care of the colony of cats for which I have invested
love and affection, time, and money. I have a sense of security since I started
back to school it has been extremely challenging which is so innovative and
fulfilling.
III.
Goal Development List at least one goal
you have for yourself in each area: Physically: To gain a substantial amount of
weight to give me the confidence I need in myself to release my feelings of
being an outcast. There are some things we just cannot change no matter how
much effort, money and time we put into it. Many times we just have to accept
who we are and the rest of the world just needs to respect that.
Psychologically: My ultimate goal in
this particular part of my being is to take control of my emotions and even
hide them when necessary so I can prove that I do have the frame of mind and
the power to overcome my mental instabilities. I want to be thicker skinned so
that I do not break down when situations become overwhelming. I need to acquire
the ability to show those who feel that they are so superior to me that I am a
human being who is accepted in society as one that never gives up and will
fight until the end. I do have a purpose and mine is to care about others and
put their needs before mine.
Spiritual: My passion
is my faith. I grew up in a Methodist church where all of my family on my dad’s
side went. I do not know what religion they were on my mother’s side we never
went to church with them or discussed religion. Besides myself I have to have
something to believe in that promises hope from despair, shelter from the storm,
and that I will never walk alone. I put many things including all my trust in
God’s hands and feel that we are put through trials and tribulations to make us
stronger and to teach us never to give up.
IV: Practices for Personal Health: What
strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains?
Physical: It is the genetic pattern for the evolutionary
unfolding of our human potential and integral health. Its focus is on survival,
instinct, and self. I can be clumsy and have accidents at least once a week. I
do not make it a habit, but have had no broken bones yet. I just think if I
take my time and give more thought to how I need to do something and what I
need to get it done I would make better progress.
Anatomical body solid immovable organs. Everything I put into my body affects these
parts. So if I want to stay healthy I have to monitor my diet so I do not end
up with high cholesterol or other related health issues. Avoid drugs and
alcohol. Eat foods that are high in protein and low in fat content. This is the
way to promote well being and prevent illness. I take a vitamin everyday along
with extra calcium. Because I have seer back pain daily I usually take
Ibuprofen to control this. I drink alcohol occasionally; I am not big on
drinking a lot. I am always trying to gain weight so I do not always pay
attention to food labels. I should have my cholesterol checked.
Physiological: cardiovascular, hormonal and immune
systems. We are introduced to such concepts as high or low blood pressure. I
can monitor my heart rate anytime because I have a device. I do not have any
diseases and rarely get sick.
Mind/body: acknowledge the role of the mind in
health and disease. These characteristics allow us to alter their function and
structure through self-regulation practices. This is now viewed as a well
integrated information system that is constantly in flux (change) and responsive
to intention and proper training. We have the capacity to control our body
temperature, pulse, immunity system, and other bodily functions through mind
body training making this an extreme accomplishment. When we fully develop and
evolve this capacity, we discover the ability to co- create with nature the structure
and function, placing a larger role in the self-cultivation of health and well
being.
Spiritual
body: Our physical nature is an ephemeral (temporary) expression of a far more
vast and inclusive existence. Death is a mere transformation from one life form
to another. We attain this knowledge through an evolved and expansive
understanding of our biology and spirituality which eases our fears of disease,
aging, and death. We gradually realize that our body is vital and ever
changing. We are no longer just a collection of limbs and organs but vital,
living beings. The body is no longer viewed as a fixed structure of organs with
automatic physiological activities. We view the body as the envelope of our
immortal soul and spirit.
Psychological, the focus here is on ideas,
intention, and interconnectedness. I need to strengthen my capacity for
attention, focus my intention to shift inward. By being open, receptive, daring
and bold I can achieve integral health.
. Psychological: music makes me relax
and I like to dance. Baking builds my confidence because I do it well. Spiritual,
meditation and prayer
IV.
What strategies can you use to assist in
maintaining your long term practices for health and wellness? Step up to a new vision,
grow my consciousness, expand our capacity, and develop new skills and
abilities.
Provide two examples of exercises or practices in
each domain:
Physical,
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the interconnection of your mind and
body. With the in-breath, breathe the mind into the body and experience it fully
penetrating your cells, tissues, and organs. On the out-breath, breathe the
body into the mind, allowing the body to fully penetrate your mind. Try this
for five breathing cycles. Next imagine information traveling between your
brain and your body, between your kidneys and your heart, your foot and your
arm, from your glands to your skin. Imagine a dynamic and interwoven movement
of emotions, sensations, biochemistry, and physiology all moving together. Now
imagine that each aspect of your mind/body contains all the information and
knowledge contained in all the other parts. Many fitness activities are
repetitive and require little attention.
While exercising focus on your breath. Notice its movements. When your
focus drifts, bring it back. When your mind is more still, shift your focus to
the place you attention on the stillness. When distractions arise, allow them
to naturally dissolve. When you are settled in stillness, allow your awareness
to experience everything but attach to nothing. Continue this open, choice less
awareness. You may realize that you are now also using your physical exercise
as mental training and both are enhanced
Explain
how you will implement each example:
Commitment:
How will you access your progress or lack of progress in the next six months?
By making a scheduled set time when I will relax in my day. My way of relaxing
is to let go of everything after I get stressed and take a nap giving my body
and all of its parts a chance to revive. Once I get up I am able to deal more
rationally with my problems.
Reference:
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The path to
human flourishing. Laguna Beach CA. Basic Health Publications Inc.
