Unit 10 Final Review

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?

     Unit 3’s Ratings: I rated my physical well-being at a seven, only because I have just gone on disability because of late - stage arthritis in my lower back and I'm no longer capable of working in direct patient care. I have two strikes against me in terms of health - I'm overweight and I'm sedentary. The apartment complex that I've moved into has a pool and a small workout room that I hope to start making use of (especially the pool once it thaws out). My spiritual well being... that is a little harder to assess. I'm above a seven, yet I'm not a 10 because I'm still seeking, still learning, still growing. As Franciscan, I follow a rule of life that includes study, worship, prayer, and simplicity. (The concept of simplicity is still a little difficult to grasp at times). Psychologically I would have to rate my well-being at an eight at this time. Occasionally, I have minor bouts of depression but for the most part, I'm okay. I would like to say that like most people, I believe that I'm still growing, still learning.


     Unit 9’s Ratings: Thankfully, “integral health does not require that we develop fully in every way,” (Dacher, 2006, p. 111). Nor that we develop all at once. It is a lifetime process that each of us undergoes as we walk this path called life. In terms of self-assessment, I went with a scale of 1 – 7, with one being the lowest score and seven being the highest score possible. Beginning with spiritual health, I have to say that I am at a five. I have what I believe to be a rich spiritual life as a Franciscan. We are now entering into the season of Lent, which is by tradition a period of self-reflection, meditation, and prayer. Physically, this area needs the most work. I have to rate myself as a three in terms of physical assessment. I need to work on weight issues plus dealing with orthopedic and spinal health issues. Psychologically I rate myself as a five; continuing with my education, learning to laugh more and cry less, are the things that I need to work on in terms of my mental health.

The scales were different from unit 3 (scale based on 1 to 10) and unit 9 (scale based on 1 to 7) but I believe that they are close in terms of equality. In unit 3, I rated myself physically as a seven. In unit 9, I rated myself as a three. I rated myself lower as I got towards the end of the class because I became more acutely aware of where I was physically, and what I needed to do to improve myself physically. In terms of spirituality, in unit 3, I rated myself at a seven; while in unit 9, I rated myself at a five. Both were two points away from the high end so I have to say that there has not been any change in terms of my-self assessment spiritually. For my mental, psychological assessment in unit 3, I rated myself at an eight; while in unit 9 I rated myself as being at a five; slightly lower than in unit 3. More than likely, this is attributable to being more acutely aware of my feelings especially concerning the situation that occurred at the beginning of the term.


2. Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals? Explain. Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.


I have to renew my membership at the 24 Hour Fitness gym, which will allow me access to the swimming pool and to the water aerobics classes. Mentally, I am applying for a doctorate program with the ultimate hope of becoming a Clinical Psychologist. Moreover, in terms of spirituality, I am beginning the process of discernment with my parish with the ultimate goal of seeking ordination to the diaconate.


3. Summarize your personal experience throughout this course. Have you developed improved well-being? What has been rewarding? What has been difficult? How will this experience improve your ability to assist others?

I have found this course to be both difficult and enlightening. Difficult in that I was forced to come to terms with specific issues that I might have wanted to “shove into a corner” and ignore, yet enlightening in that I was able to shed light on those issues and see them for what they truly were. Once they were in the light then I could work on them and resolve them. I think that was the most rewarding part of the class for me. Since I’ve been forced to be honest with myself (something I’m not always very good at), I believe that the experience will allow me to teach others that it is okay to be honest with themselves – and that only when they are can true healing can occur.


I believe that this course taught me the true importance of having a specific time set aside for quiet… not just for relaxing but for true mental, psychological and spiritual work – that doing these exercises is sometimes painful, yet also very liberating.

Final project - Unit 9

This is my study - my final take on the class,
"Creating health and wellness, the psychological and spiritual aspects of healing."

It would be a lie if I said that I didn't get anything out of this course for in fact I did... I learned more deeply about the use and benefits of meditation and visualization, and how to actually put these to use both for personal use as well as for use with my clients. I have enjoyed having in the class together. I have learned alot from each and every one of my classmates. Thank you all! Blessings & Peace to everyone, Carol Kent (aka srluke)


Carol L. Kent
Kaplan University
Creating Health & Wellness
Final Project – Unit 9
February 9, 2010 

Introduction:
Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically?

“The condition of our body is a reflection of the condition of our mind. A disturbed mind results in a disturbed physiology.” (Dacher, 2006, p. 18). Credibility is defined as the ability to inspire belief or trust. All across the country, parents tell their children to “do as I say not as I do.” In the 1960’s, when scientists linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer, the typical picture was the doctor sitting in his office telling his patient to quit smoking while at the same time he himself was lighting up. This was the ‘professional’ “do as I say not as I do” scenario. In both cases, parents and members of the medical establishment lacked the credibility needed to inspire a sense of belief or trust. Members of the health and wellness professionals need to have that sense of credibility necessary to inspire their patients and clients to believe in and or to trust that they are going to provide the best care possible.

Health & wellness professionals are taught that the mind, body, and soul are intricately entwined through each other – that one cannot separate one part from the whole, and that treatment must be applied not only to the body, but also to the mind and to the soul as well. Credibility for the health and wellness professional is just as important as it is for the traditional healthcare worker or for a parent of a child or adolescent. It is not enough to say that one must treat or take care of all three aspects of an individual and not take care of one’s own self. A client can see through the façade, and the credibility of the health and wellness professional becomes compromised.

This doesn’t mean that a health and wellness professional needs to be in perfect health, but it does mean that the health and wellness professional needs to recognize his or her own weaknesses and vulnerabilities and be willing to make the efforts necessary to make the changes in his or her own life. Only then can the health and wellness worker have creditability with his or her clients.

What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

I have a genetic orthopedic disorder that has sidelined me at this moment and I am still in the process of “testing the waters” to see what I can and cannot do physically. Physical exercises that involve walking or excessive bending are not necessarily an option, however water aerobics are. Since my physical health seems to be the area with the most needs at this point in my life that is where I intend on focusing the majority of my energies.

II Assessment:

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

Thankfully, “integral health does not require that we develop fully in every way,” (Dacher, 2006, p. 111). Nor that we develop all at once. It is a lifetime process that each of us undergoes as we walk this path called life. In terms of self-assessment, I went with a scale of 1 – 7, with one being the lowest score and seven being the highest score possible. Beginning with spiritual health, I have to say that I am at a five. I have what I believe to be a rich spiritual life as a Franciscan.

We are now entering into the season of Lent, which is by tradition a period of self-reflection, meditation, and prayer. Physically, this area needs the most work. I have to rate myself as a three in terms of physical assessment. I need to work on weight issues plus dealing with orthopedic and spinal health issues. Psychologically I rate myself as a five; continuing with my education, learning to laugh more and cry less, are the things that I need to work on in terms of my mental health.

III Goal development:

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

For my physical care, my goal is to enroll in a water aerobics class that meets for an hour three times a week. In California, we have the 24 Hour Fitness Centers that offer water aerobic pool exercise classes. Mentally, we never stop learning – therefore continued education is a definite part of my plans and goals; therefore, once I graduate from Kaplan, I intend on pursuing either a Masters Degree or PhD in clinical psychology. Spiritually, in 1992 I graduated from seminary with the intention of going on and pursuing the process of ordination to diaconate in the Episcopal Church. That had to be put on hold for a while as other priorities took their place in my life. My goal is to go back, relook at the ordination process, and reconsider it for my life where I am now.
 
IV Practices for personal health:

What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains: Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual?

It wouldn’t be beneficial to work on weight issues if I didn’t make readily attainable goals concerning weight reduction. Losing one half pound a week is what I am striving for, exercises, watching both calories and paying better attention to what I eat is one of the strategies that I intend on using for my physical health. Psychologically learning to laugh more, cry less, and see the good that is in everything is my goal for improving my psychological health. Spiritually, during the Lenten Season is the time when I work on revising my Rule of Life for the Third Order, Society of St. Francis and prepare my annual report. Questions such as how well did I keep my rule over the last year, how did I not keep it. What was the most inspiring area of the rule, what was the least inspiring? How should my rule look like for next year? All of these questions as part of my Lenten practice.

Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain and explain how you will implement each example.

• Physical: One hour of water aerobic exercises in a warm water pool three times a week, 30 minutes of weight exercises on the weight machines in my apartment’s weight room.
• Mental / Psychological: Continue with studies and education. Continue reading about visualization and meditation techniques – especially in the area of pain control and management.
• Spiritual: Make an appointment to talk to my priest and bishop about beginning the ordination process. Continue Franciscan work and study; continue using the blog that we had set up for this class as my journal.

V Commitment:

How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months?

Six months is 26 weeks, my physical goals figures a loss of ½ pound a week, which equals a total loss of 13 pounds. The ordination process in the Episcopal Church is quite lengthy and detailed. Beginning the process would mean meeting with a Parish Commission on Ministry, the priest and the Bishop, attending a Discernment weekend and meeting with the Diocesan Commission on Ministry as well. It involves passing a series of psychological exams (anyone who wants to be ordained is crazy – the church just wants to certify one as so), as well as taking the GOE’s or General Ordination Exams. Ordination is a two-year process. Depending upon what happens with the parish and diocesan commissions on ministry determines where this particular goal will be in six months.

Psychologically since I will be using the blog, attention to my goal will be the actual number of entries into the blog. If the last entry that I make is dated February 14, and it is now July 14, then I did not do well in keeping that particular goal.
 
What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

None of these goals can come about unless I take the time to visualize them, and actually make an effort to do them. I have a severe aversion to pain. Meditation and visualization has worked well in keeping most bone and joint pain under control. Because we do not live in a vacuum, and are by nature a community-oriented species, I intend on sharing some of my specific goals with supportive individuals in my family who will provide necessary support and encouragement to see that I “stay the course.”
Additionally, practice the skills learned through this class in terms of meditation, and visualization so that neither the physical, the psychological, nor the spiritual aspects of my life are neglected.
 
References

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Unit 8 - Review The Exercises...

It is not simply a matter of choosing between two exercises: a combination of the Loving Kindness AND the Subtle Mind (as a combined unit) and then the exercise with the Asciepius meditation. The Loving Kindness exercise focused on the physical body and the people that we interact with, the Subtle Mind works to bring one into that quiet and sacred area. The Asciepius meditation created for me a mental image of my mentor and protector– someone who will stay with me while I am in that sacred space, serving to both protect and guide me as I journey through that space.

For myself, I use both meditation and visualization as part of daily exercises to help keep pain from spinal arthritis under control and managed (usually) without medications. The Loving Kindness and Subtle Mind as well as the Asciepius meditation helps me in bringing the pain down to a managable level so that I don't have to take as much medication and frequently don't have to take any at all for pain control.

Unit 7 - Meeting Asciepius

I have to admit that this week I wasn't as consistant with my meditations as I might normally be. Each day this last week I've been out either with my kids or my husband doing errands or other running around so that by the time I'm home again, I'm really too tired to think much less meditate! (I know it's a terrible excuse - but that was my life last week.) When I did get an opportunity to sit down and focus, I found that my meditation time was not of the quality that it has been in the past. My mind wandered all over the place like a drunken driver on the highway. The voices that I would normally be able to send to the back of my mind were refusing to budge - in fact they often remained in the forefront of my thoughts, screaming rather loudly for attention!

I did however do the meditation for Unit 7, "Meeting Asciepius." I found the narration to be quite interesting. At first - I had a difficult time picturing a "wise person" within my life; in fact I had to run the meditation through twice before I could sit down and develop a picture that I could work with. I finally settled on a Native American Medicine Woman that I once knew. She was in many ways very traditional, and in other ways she was very modern... yet in all ways, she was very wise. I hadn't thought of her for a long while. Using this particular meditation and focusing on her made the meditation that much more profound for me.

I think that for the next few sessions that I do in terms of quiet time, I will use my friend as the focus. Her presence enabled me to quiet down and go once again into that quiet space that I hadn't been able to access very well this last week.

The saying "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" has a small bit of truth to it... certianly knowledge is the key... also having a good roadmap helps too! I think that it is important to realize that we are all on this planet together and that we are all journeying through life together. And while I might have extra weight, that doesn't mean that the knowledge I have is any less valid than the individual who might not have that extra weight. The key is that I'm aware of my condition and that like my client I'm working to take care of it!

If we wait until we have the "perfect bodies" or the "perfect set of knowledge" then we might as well never bother - we will spend our entire lives waiting rather than being on the front lines working with people and sharing what we do know. Remember that as teachers we are more often than not in fact the students. We may do the teaching, but we are also doing a lot of the learning as well!

Unit 6 - Loving Kindness / Integral Assessment

1. Practice the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise.
I found that using the Universal Loving Kindness meditation was similar (at least to me) to using the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner"), or using Taize prayers or reciting the Rosary. I find that if I use any one of those forms of prayer or meditation, any anger or malice that I might have had towards an individual has been diffused, and in its place is a sense of loving concern, and the beginnings of a sense of empathy and (hopefully) rapport where we can begin to connect as human beings instead of adversaries.

2. Complete the Integral Assessment.
An integral assesment means for me to assess where I am in terms of psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal and worldly development. I'm finding that this is a long term assessment and one that changes on a daily basis. Is there a particular weakness that I'm working on? No, not necessarily for there are many weaknesses in all aspects of my life. I am not perfect - so there is certianly more than enough room for me to grow and develop in all areas and aspects of my life.

3. Describe the exercise and assessment process. What did you discover about yourself? What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development? Why? What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?

The assessment process that I needed to be more cognatively aware of was my biological development. Fitness, nutrition and self regulation are just three of the areas that could use extra work and attention. For example, since I am no longer working full time, I no longer use the amount of calories that I might have ordinarily consumned... therefore I need to be more aware of what I eat. Using a salad plate instead of a dinner plate gives the illusion of eating a large portion. Learning to say no to seconds is another "exercise" that I can use. The point is that I am becoming responsive rather than reactive to food and it's call to "eat me!"

Unit 5 - The Subtle Mind

Your mental fitness practice this week incorporates the concept of the subtle mind (Dacher p.75). This week, replace the Loving Kindness exercise of unit four with Practice 2: The subtle mind exercise and listen to track #3 on the Dacher CD.

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

In the loving kindness exercise (#1) the focus of the meditation was on the physical body... getting yourself calm down physically in order to experience the mental aspects of the meditation. In exercise two, the focus is more on training the mind to develop the ability to experience the more subtle levels of the mind. This is where we experience healing. I can't say specifically that I experienced any major frustration with the exercise other than my eldest son coming into the room and violently bringing me "back to reality."

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

We are by our nature a spiritual being - the problem is that we don't normally spend time getting into contact or reconnecting with that spiritual aspect of us. As a result, that part of us is usually neglected - that is until we become ill or under seige from illness or stress related disorders. By getting in touch with our inner selves that spiritiual part of us, we begin to learn to unlease the hidden powers that we all possess.

For myself, I do a short period of daily contemplative prayer and meditation that helps to create that connection between my spiritual wellness and my physical and mental wellness. On those days when I decide that I "don't have enough time" I find myself more flustered, more stressed out and a more difficult person to get along with. As a result, I'm learning to NOT miss any time. It's sort of like waking up in the morning and saying "good morning" to yourself!

Day Three - WinterFeast for the Soul

Since this we are all participating in meditation - I thought that I would post this to encourage others to join with me. When we meditate and pray as a group the effect is that much more powerful! Thank you.