Personal Changes from Unit 3 – Unit 9

Personal Changes from Unit 3 – Unit 9

1.     Review your unit 3 personal assessment of your psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. Reflect on these areas. How did you score yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 in unit 3?

·        How do you score yourself now? Has the score changed? Why or why not?

Now I score myself an 8 in physical well-being as I have been following a more ridge workout schedule with increased time in both running and weight training as well as add yoga to my routine. My spiritual growth has been remarkable but I still need to spend more time sitting quietly and by our creek here in Tennessee to listen to nature and become one with nature. I am able to get into visual imaging more quickly, quiet the mind and remove negative thoughts with positive reinforcement, so I will rate this leave at an 8 as well.  My psychological well-being is very healthy due to my physical and spiritual well-being which is in the same range, 8.

I still feel there is always room for improvement and my focus is to continue down this wonderful pathway. I still believe through an in-depth focus toward enhancing my physical, spiritual and psychological well-being would be the best thing I will ever do for myself and others around me. 

I have improved from level 6 to now level 8 in these three areas of growth.

2.    Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals? Explain.

Previous goals; “A goal in my physical life is to spend more time tapping into eastern medicine practices so that I can become more aware and practice integral health techniques and yoga, deep breathing and meditation. This will lead me more into my spiritual connection which will enhance my mental capacity therefore unwavering mental focus into an unlimited world of health, healing and balance”.

I am spending more time doing deep breathing, visualization and guided imagery practices as well as practicing yoga a few days during the week. I still want to increase my yoga practice and I have a burning desire to do Tai Chi and will be changing location shortly from Tennessee back to Texas or to another location that is not so rural but quiet in the Tennessee Mountains, who knows one day I may open my own retreat…

3.    Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.

Yes I have spent more time practice sitting quietly by the creek on our farm when weather permits. I fine that sitting still is a requirement now as though it has become a habit. This is one of the best habits I will want to keep in my life. Also I find I am more open-minded and fully aware of my emotions; good ones and bad negative thoughts and by using positive reinforcements it amazes me as to how things look different within a few moments. These mental exercises are truly remarkable. Now that I have been practicing I cannot imagine not practicing on a daily basis.

4.    Summarize your personal experience throughout this course.

To summarize this class is impossible; however this has been to most rewarding and knowledge providing class I have ever taken in my life. I believe what I have learned will be life changing and with me the rest of my life and others lives in which I touch. The benefits of my dedication will only rear itself as time passes by and my growth revealed. I will not let a day go by in my life ever again without taking the time to go to my quiet place. Thanks to this course, I have found truly what I have been searching for to complete my health and wellness knowledge. I feel complete with this gift of knowledge in which I have gained within the class. It is like the missing piece of the puzzle has been found and placed.

·        Have you developed improved well-being?

Yes I have developed improved well-being and an awareness that will sustain me throughout my life and hopefully others around me will be open-minded and encouraged to develop their own well-being as well.

·        What has been rewarding?

Practicing loving-kindness, gaining awareness, practices which have becoming a habit, looking at life through “rose colored glass” instead of dark colored glasses, in other words being open-minded and excepting of others and not seeing things from a negative side of view, more positive thoughts and etc. and etc…

·        What has been difficult?

Different things going on in my life and feeling like I was on a roller-costar ride and try to practice loving-kindness was probably to most difficult but on the flipside it tested me to see if I was able to keep thinking loving thoughts…

·        How will this experience improve your ability to assist others?

I have not reached a point yet to assist others however I hear things that people say like “depending on or doing what the doctors tell me to do” I had to recommend Elliott Dacher’s Integral Health book.  I guess I have always felt like we need to take the best care of ourselves so that we do not need to depend on someone else to take care of us but now I have even a better insight and perspective as to how to go about taking care of our psychological and spiritual well-being.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Requirements of Becoming Talented Healers

Unit 9 Blog

1. Introduction:
   Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically?
Health and wellness professional’s need to develop psychologically, spiritual and physically in our personal lives in order to help patients/clients and other professionals transform in new visions, growth in consciousness, expand our capacity and to develop new skills and abilities (Dacher, 2006). To be successful in helping others and practice a more comprehensive and meaningful approach to health and healing, we must transform ourselves. “Practicing what we preach” in other words, however it goes much deeper than this saying in my opinion. You cannot “practice what you preach” if you yourself have not reach a deeper level of consciousness and or seek out our own personal healing abilities. Having a deep commitment to wanting to help others will be the driving force to be “closer to the soul of healing” (Dacher, 2006). To become “closer to the soul of healing” we must develop in transformational change of ourselves which will lead us into becoming talented healers (Dacher, 2006).
·         What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?
My personal integral map points to evolutionary in my own health at this time. Even though I have practiced over the past several weeks, this is not an overnight change that can take place within a mind constantly jumping from one subject to the next in a matter of seconds.  It does take practice and time to develop the five guiding principles: holistic, evolutionary, intentional, person-centered and dynamic to reach personal human flourishing (Dacher, 2006).
Developing more comprehensive knowledge of myself and my life through nature connections and awareness through focused actions, self-reflection and intentional choices will help me evolve to a higher level of consciousness. However the only way to reach a higher level of consciousness is through evolutionary growth which requires time and practice daily. 
2. Assessment:
   How have you assessed your health in each domain?
·         How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
Yes I have assessed my health spiritually, physically and psychologically through self-reflection. I feel I have grown over the last few weeks as I find I am more focused each time I commit to one of Dacher’s mental exercise programs. I believe my last assessment I felt like I was at a level of 5-6 and now I believe I am at a 7-8 level. I am not saying there is not a lot more room for improvement, growth and transformation that needs to take place to reach a level far for the point I am at now. But I have all intentions on following these integral practices to reach person-centered and dynamic levels and beyond in my future.
3. Goal development:
   List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
Physical goal I have is to start doing hatha yoga again which also focuses on breathing techniques. I enjoy yoga and would love to practice Tai Chi. However for now classes are not within my reach, but hopefully in the future I will have access to Tai Chi classes.
My psychological goal is to continue practicing the techniques learned within this class to further develop my mental capacities. I do believe through this development I will be able to share with others and help people find their own personal healers within.
My spiritual goal is to spend more time in the great outdoors connecting with nature and my spirituality. I love the outdoors; the wildlife, the trees and the sounds they make, the flowers, the sunrise and sunset, running water or the ocean side sounds as well and all things living in nature. I find the most peace in this environment and the best place to connect to my spirituality.
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.
Physically –yoga and breathing techniques
Psychologically –sitting quietly and finding stillness
Spiritually –connecting to nature and meditation practice in loving-kindness
·         Explain how you will implement each example.
I will practice yoga in the morning hours (7:00 am) which starts with breathing exercise which requires at least ten to fifteen minutes. I will extend my breathing time to twenty to thirty minutes practice quieting the mind and stillness is required. The early morning hours are preferred before my mind has a chance to start racing.
I have a wonderful creek side location where a giant rock sits out over the water here on our farm in Tennessee where I can sit quietly and in stillness each day around three o’clock. The birds are singing the trees are whispering but that is all that you can hear other than the sound of the running water. This is an idea location to practice mental healing.
Spiritual during my outing to the creek I will be connecting to nature and meditating while sitting quietly. I will practice the loving-kindness by focusing on a special person who has touched my life.
5. Commitment:
   How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months?
Over the next six months I will keep a journal on each of the days I practice as well as the days I miss. I will assess how I feel on each of these days. I am sure due to the feeling of calmness on the days I do not practice will keep me going back for more.
·         What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?
The strategies I will use to maintain my long-term practice is to remind myself I will not be able to help others if I am not developed physically, mentally or spiritually. Committing to thirty straight days without missing a day can make this practice a habit. I will commit myself to thirty days and journal each day listing the remarkable changes taking place daily plus focus in expand my time of practice.
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Favorite Mind Exercise & Practices

Favorite Mind Exercise & Practices


My first choice and favorite exercise was the Journey on Relaxation exercise. The power of suggestion I believe is the most powerful in helping one reach a relaxed level of consciousness. Breathing in long deep lung inhalation and long exhalation does help in reaching a level of relaxation. Being aware of other body functions such as blood flowing and heart beat rhythms and the suggestions of such functions one can be learn to control blood pressure and heart beat.  I believe audio relaxation materials should be used to help one reach this level of relaxation and we should use it when we feel stressed as well as in our daily activities.

Learning to be able to control breathing, heart beat and other function can keep disease at bay and is an important piece if integral medicine.

This Journey to Relaxation audio is remarkable and my experience was remarkable. I was very relaxed once I finished but yet, energized! The calming of the narrator, the music in the background with steps taken to reach a very relaxed state was slow as was the breathing technique. All the techniques were effective and of course the power of suggestion most powerful!

Twenty, thirty or even an hour of time daily can be implemented in my personal life to foster “mental fitness” and worth every minute to foster great mental and physical health.

My second choice was Meeting Aesclepius with the use of a wise guide, visualization. I know several wise guides living and passed that I respect and cherish the work they have done and or doing in present day time. By implementing breathing techniques my awareness and focus on this wise person ended up sitting in front of me and sharing her knowledge, my wise guide was Hazel Parcells in this particular exercise. She shared and taught her remarkable finds and studies with many others and in her class she would end with, “now that I have shared with you, you share with others”.  This shows her unselfish care or in other words her universal care for others.

My intention is to teaching and sharing knowledge to help others find healing, health and wholeness.

Teaching breathing techniques seem to work the best for me even though I like the guided imagery meditations as well, so using both techniques within my field of medicine will benefit all involved is my hope. Practicing the grace of healing or integral health to help patients will be the focus of my teaching by implementing psychological and spiritual growth in my own life and in in others I touch. Meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga, Breathing techniques, Conscious awareness and Prayer will be my suggestions for my patients interested in taking control of their own psychological and spiritual growth and development.  Focusing on the important things in life such as mental flourishing and making it a part of everyday practice will most definitely help in this development.

Taking twenty, thirty, forty-five or sixty minutes a day clear the mind of clutter will awaken many of our inner senses and in return keep disease and illness at bay. Techniques such as this would be self-cultivated and self-generated evolutionary growth in total mind, body and spirit wellness.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publication, Inc.

Meeting Aesclepius

Meeting Aesclepius

1. Complete the Meeting Aesclepius mp3.

·         Describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience.

I found it hard to pick the wise person, I first thought of my father but when it came to the part about remember his speech or whatever, I starting thinking how my father cursed like a sailor. So I had to pick a different wise person…

I restarted the audio and chose Hazel Parcells as my wise guide and it was easier to get into the relaxation mode. I remember all of her great work she did until the day she passed and I felt as if she was passing knowledge to me. This was a wonderful experience as she was a remarkable women, she cured herself and many others through the years she practiced.  If anyone is interested in her bio I have attached a link. She passed on her knowledge to many others in this field of medicine who are following her guidelines to this day. http://www.elixa.com/mental/parcells.htm

·         Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness.

Sometime I find I can easily go to a quiet place or get my mind to stop bouncing all over the place and other times I am not as focused. What I am noticing is that on the days I am able to stay focused longer it seems I am getting a little more focused each time before my mind goes crazy thinking of all types of other stuff. I just keep reeling myself back in…

·         How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

Practice breathing techniques seem to work the best for me even though I like the guided imagery meditations as well.

2. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself".

This meaning in my opinion means that unless you the practitioner is practicing the grace of healing or integral health ways you will not be able to help your patients.

·         How does this apply to the health and wellness professional?

The health and wellness profession must apply these principles in order the help others and maintain our own health and healing.

·         Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually?

Yes without a doubt we have a responsibility and obligation to our patients/clients to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically. Without integral health developments, one would indicate the lack of interest in ones patients/clients as well as one’s own health.

·         Why or why not?

Without integral health developments, one would indicate the lack of interest in ones patients/clients as well as one’s own health.

·         How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

Meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga, Breathing techniques, Conscious awareness, Prayer, taking the time to develop mental practices are a few of the ways to implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life. Focusing on the important things in life such as mental flourishing and making it a part of everyday practice will most definitely help in this development.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publication, Inc.

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi M. S. (2005). Consciousness & healing: Integral approaches to mind-body medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Universal Loving-Kindness Meditation

Universal Loving-Kindness Meditation

1.      Practice the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise

Close your eyes for a minute or two and rest into the natural ease of your mind and body, and repeat the following phase for 10 minutes.

May all individuals gain freedom from suffering?

May all individuals find sustained health, happiness and wholeness?

May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering?

May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness and wholeness?

Elliott Dacher, 2006 Integral Health

2.      Complete the Integral Assessment.

First part of this assessment is focusing on healing:

Close your eyes and rest into the ease and stillness of your mind and body, releasing all mental activity. When quiet, ask “What aspect of my life –psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal or worldly –is the source of difficulty and suffering? [Focus on this one area]. What line of development is most essential for me at this time? What is my current level of development and what can I aim for?

Second part of this assessment is to focus on promoting integral development:

Return and re-center in stillness, ask “What area of my life is ready for growth and development? Is it the same area that also needs healing or is it another area? What would the next level of development look like?

Elliott Dacher, 2006 Integral Health

3.      Describe the exercise and assessment process.

The meditation exercise helps to open one’s mind and heart to loving-kindness moving from self to universal love.

The integral assessment is for healing and integral growth and development in psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal and worldly.

·         What did you discover about yourself?

I discovered I need a whole lot of work…I do believe throughout this class when I experience moments of anger at the people who left our property with one day notice forcing me to come to Tennessee from Texas in the middle of 18 hours of college credits. I find myself thinking of the positive aspects of what they did while living here on our 27 acre farm. It is hard because what they did was not really beneficial to our property such as remove an Atlanta Homesteader coal/wood burning heat that would heat the full 1500 square feet house and replaced it with a logwood (just for looks). They removed curtains with insulated backing to keep the cold out plus removed all the hardware (rods, draw string attachments, etc) and replaced with pretty curtains on cheap rods that sag on the long span rods. Instead of storing the curtains properly, they were thrown in the garage on a work bench or strung over rafters still hooked to the rods.

By the time I arrived at our farm, the Atlanta homesteader coal/wood burner, a commercial grade water pump, our craftsman heavy duty tiller and weed-eater was missing out of the garage they left unlocked. We left items for them to use for gardening however they had no regard for our personal items.

I have to keep reminding myself it could have been what we found nine months before they arrived which was a lot worse, $6,500 plus in damage. My point is “awareness of my anger” and replacing it with thankfulness and gratefulness and focusing on the good.

·         What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development?

Forgiveness is the focus of my growth and development; I do not want to have ill feelings toward anyone or anything. Matter of fact I would like to be grateful and thankful. We have a beautiful farm and while showing the property to potential buyers seeing all of nature at its best makes me thankful and grateful we own such a beautiful place. Our creeks border two sides of our property are crystal clear running over the black, gold and red rocks as well as all of the wildlife, birds sing and owl hooting in the night, we have a piece of heaven (peace in heaven) with a very peaceful environment. At one of the creeks there is a perfect place to sit quietly or meditate. A huge rock sit just at the water’s edge and the sound of running water, bird singing in the back ground it is one of my favorite spots on our property and has been ever since we have owned this place (7 years).

·         Why?

Anger will make you sick as this negative emotion in my opinion manifests many other negative impacts on spiritual healing, health, happiness or wholeness.

·         What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?

Practicing the loving-kindness exercise and letting go of self-concern. Developing acceptance, compassion, respect, fairness and so forth for any and all individuals. I do not want to breed anger. Acceptance is one of the main areas I will focus on in the beginning of my loving-kindness exercise. Realizing that all individuals’ are different and have different perspectives on spirituality and different pain and suffering within their own hearts. Forgiving myself, forgiving others and forgiving those who have hurt or harmed me is the first part of my forgiveness exercise. I choose to have love and kindness in my heart for all individuals to attract loving-kindness; “we get back what we give” (Dacher, 2006).

See below a forgiveness meditation by Jack Kornfield, I will use this meditation

Jack Kornfield’s Forgiveness Meditation Practice:

Forgiveness of others and forgiveness of myself:

To practice forgiveness meditation, let yourself sit comfortably, allowing your eyes to close and your breath to be natural and easy. Let your body and mind relax. Breathing gently into the area of your heart, let yourself feel all the barriers you have erected and the emotions that you have carried because you have not forgiven - not forgiven yourself, not forgiven others. Let yourself feel the pain of keeping your heart closed. Then, breathing softly, begin asking and extending forgiveness, reciting the following words, letting the images and feelings that come up grow deeper as you repeat them.

Forgiveness of others: There are many ways that I have hurt and harmed others, have betrayed or abandoned them, cause them suffering, knowingly or unknowingly, out of my pain, fear, anger and confusion. Let yourself remember and visualize the ways you have hurt others. See and feel the pain you have caused out of your own fear and confusion. Feel your own sorrow and regret. Sense that finally you can release this burden and ask for forgiveness. Picture each memory that still burdens your heart. And then to each person in your mind repeat: I ask for your forgiveness, I ask for your forgiveness.

Forgiveness of yourself: There are many ways that I have hurt and harmed myself. I have betrayed or abandoned myself many times through thought, word, or deed, knowingly or unknowingly. Feel your own precious body and life. Let yourself see the ways you have hurt or harmed yourself. Picture them, remember them. Feel the sorrow you have carried from this and sense that you can release these burdens. Extend forgiveness for each of them, one by one. Repeat to yourself: For the ways I have hurt myself through action or inaction, out of fear, pain and confusion, I now extend a full and heartfelt forgiveness. I forgive myself, I forgive myself.

Forgiveness for those who have hurt or harmed you: There are many ways that I have been harmed by others, abused or abandoned, knowingly or unknowingly, in thought, word or deed. Let yourself picture and remember these many ways. Feel the sorrow you have carried from this past and sense that you can release this burden of pain by extending forgiveness when your heart is ready. Now say to yourself: I now remember the many ways others have hurt or harmed me, wounded me, out of fear, pain, confusion and anger. I have carried this pain in my heart too long. To the extent that I am ready, I offer them forgiveness. To those who have caused me harm, I offer my forgiveness, I forgive you.

Let yourself gently repeat these three directions for forgiveness until you feel a release in your heart. For some great pains you may not feel a release but only the burden and the anguish or anger you have held. Touch this softly. Be forgiving of yourself for not being ready to let go and move on. Forgiveness cannot be forced; it cannot be artificial. Simply continue the practice and let the words and images work gradually in their own way. In time you can make the forgiveness meditation a regular part of your life, letting go of the past and opening your heart to each new moment with a wise loving kindness.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Kornfield, J. (2008). Forgiveness meditation. Retrieved on February 9, 2012 from http://www.jackkornfield.org/meditations/forgivenessMeditation.php

Mental Flourishing

Mental Flourishing

The Subtle Mind Exercise

The Subtle Mind

       

          1.  Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

Loved the experience of The Subtle Mind practice and in comparison it seems more layers or deeper layers were penetrated in my mind. I was able with the breathing technique to become more focused and control my mind for wandering off. I gained sense of flying or freely moving without losing concentration. I gained a sense of stillness that I have not gained in the past exercises. Of course the ocean sounds and Indian flute music are my most favorite sounds when relaxing or otherwise.

   

        2.   Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.

The connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness is very obvious, in believing in God in my case and knowing the more connected I become the better my mental and physical wellness becomes. I have always felt a spiritual connection which has been stronger at different times in my life. I think I gained a higher spirituality while fasting one time for twenty-five days. While in nature during my running time during this time it was like I had a direct connection to the Lord. My running time has for many years been my prayer time which is why I am finding out through this class and this units reading is why my spiritual connection has been strong. Being in nature or the outdoors and being thankful and grateful for the sun, the wind, the trees, the song bird, the breath, the health, the energy, the food, my parents, my sisters, brother, family and friends as well as all beauty surrounding me connected me more than I realized. Now with a better understanding of truly “stopping and smelling the roses” I have gained a deeper appreciation of my spiritual connection than ever before.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M. (2005). Consciousness & healing: Integral approaches to mind-body medicine. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Loving-Kindness Audio

Unit 4 Assignment

Loving - Kindness Audio

1. Describe your experience. Did you find it beneficial? Difficult? Why or why not?

My experience after listening to the loving-kindness audio was good and needed after traveling to Tennessee to our farm on an emergency trip due to tenants giving one day notice that they were leaving early, finding the house a mess, missing items, and trash people leave behind. It is hard to find loving kindness in my heart. It would not be so heart breaking but we just finished in a law suit by our previous tenant who did major damage just to find a mess again. I guess the saddest thing is that people tell you something totally different than what they do. We were told that the place was left just as they found when they arrived from Wyoming (we had it professional cleaned prior to their arrival). They gave us six months’ notice as required by our lease agreement and we offered if we could find someone either to buy or lease to they could be on their way to Alaska where the he works and worked prior to moving here. They were glad to show the property but this is not what they decided to do…So with all of this going on and taking 18 hours this semester, I did find it difficult to listen as mind jumped from one place to another but reading the information from Dacher’s Integral Health I was able to get more out of it. I guess now is the perfect time to begin this mind training, right! I did enjoy to ocean sounds in the audio…very soothing!

·         Would you recommend this to others? Why or why not?

Yes I would recommend to others, due to the fact that loving-kindness would include sharing with others in my opinion.

2. What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?

Mental workout is brain exercise to help expand and develop a compassionate mental state of consciousness. Research shows “mental training can transform the mind by reducing disturbing emotions that cause anger, hatred, fear, worry, confusion and doubt while enhancing positive emotions” promotes well-being (Dacher, 2006).

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publication, Inc.

Welcome to my blogging site. I will cover many topics within this site with the main focus of visual healing! Please feel free to join me!