Unit 9

I 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?

It is important for professionals to develop psychologically because in order to effect healing in others, one must be open to the exploration of the inner aspects of our own life, thereby facilitating personal growth. It also means that development helps the professional to maintain adaptability to changes within and in the external environment. It is then that the same can be suggested to others as a step to healing.

Spiritual development is dependent upon the capacity to find and maintain connectivity to a higher power and personal relationships. It is important because an individual who is truly spiritual, provides a soothing presence that is essential to the promotion of health and wellness.

Physical development is important because it is visual evidence that the health and wellness professional practices what is taught. It is basic human nature to expect that the practitioner to be in good physical shape. It is also important for individual health and well being. It sets an example for patients to follow.

The area that needs development to achieve my goals is psychological. I have to learn to better access and take control of my mind and its activities. To do so I would need to continue to practice meditation and the subtle mind techniques as often as possible.

II Assessment:

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

Spiritually: I can be rated at 8 from a scale of 1 to 10. It is one of most important aspects of my life. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and I have been taught to so for as long as I can remember. My goal is to reach a 10 or higher, if there is such a thing for this score. This is part of my domain that is an important aspect of my daily life and everything I do. To have inner peace because of your spirituality is something that is not easily achieved, however, with a guided plan and a determined mind, it is achievable.

Physically: I can be rated at 8. Even though to onlookers, I may appear to be in the best of health, most times this happens by default. My caloric expenditure far outweighs the input, giving the illusion of perfect weight and health. I am fully aware that my weight maintenance can be done in better ways that would not affect me negatively as I grow older.

Psychologically: I can be rated at 5. This is so because while I have not come anywhere close to harnessing my mind’s activity, I have always managed to maintain a positive outlook on life. One strategy that have been using for a long time is to re-frame my views towards stressed. This has also helped to develop my attitude of gratitude.

III Goal development:

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

Spiritual

My goal is reach a point that my level of spirituality radiates and touches whomever I come into contact with.

Physical

My goal is maintain my present weight and body mass index, while ensuring that my health is functioning at its optimum levels and achieved in the right manner and not allowing my age to be a factor that affects it.

Psychological

My goal is perfect the art of training my mind so that I can fully control my stress responses and become less mentally disorganized.

IV 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.

Physical: As part of a healthy lifestyle regime, I intend to incorporate a balanced diet and regular physical exercise. My diet would contain more organic fruits and vegetables and trying to eat at regular times. Besides walking, I would also try to fit in at least one hour of mixed physical activity that includes any combination of jogging, jump rope, Pilates, weight training and yoga.

Psychological: Practicing subtle mind meditation will help me to achieve my goal of training my mind. This requires daily practice, so I will have to find at least thirty minutes at the end of each day to do this. Positive thought is practice in which I already engage. My intention is to continue to do so with the aim of also influencing others to do the same.

Spiritual: Prayer and meditation are two practices which foster my spiritual growth. The combination of the two strategies is meant to create peace and centering within myself as well as creating the perfect threshold to nurture my relationships with others. As a part of my daily routine, Prayer is the way for me achieve communion with God while meditation provides that stillness that is required to receive answers and become attuned to others.


V 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?

To assess my progress or the lack of it in the next six months, I will employ two strategies. One is to keep a daily journal that not only describes my activities but also mentions my achievements and challenges too. The other strategy is using a support system. This support system will consist of members of my family and close friends, whom I expect to remind me of what I should be doing, tracking my progress and pointing out the positives and negatives.