I.
Introduction
We
may have all seen a doctor at some point that gave us advice that they
themselves obviously did not follow. We
can be told we need to lose weight in order to help ourselves live a healthier
life but why would we want to hear this from a physician who is also
overweight? We do not want to be told to
quit smoking by a care provider who smokes.
We also do not want to think that the surgeon that is operating on us is
stressed out in anyway. We want our
healthcare practitioners to be “together”, know what they are doing and to be
doing it with calm integrity and integral well-being themselves. If we really care about our healthcare
professions as a way to help others find true healing we must truly heal
ourselves; mind, body, and spirit.
I
think of myself as a pretty balanced person, considering I have a psychological
imbalance which could also be considered a physiological imbalance because
almost all we know is that it has to do the brain and our chemical and hormonal
communications could be miscommunicating.
So, anyhow and anyway, I believe myself to be a fairly balanced
person. I am at different levels of
well-being throughout the aspects of my psychological, physical, or spiritual health
but I feel strong in each and I do intend to grow in all 3 areas. I want to be the healer I know I am; even
though if you know me you know I really I am planning on going into
research. In medical research I will be
searching for truth and I believe that truth is not something that can only be
found in the physical world but is found deeper within and farther without than
the reality we sense with our 5 biological senses. In order to be successful in helping others I
must keep grow and maintain my health in all aspects.
II.
Personal Assessment
I
completed the Integral Assessment (p111) and posted my thoughts in a blog
titled “Universal Loving-Kindness & Integral Assessment”. I said I felt that after the exercise I felt
I needed to focus more in my biological area of fitness and interpersonal area
of family because these are the areas where I am still in my mind. I want to achieve a more whole feeling in my
fitness and I need to find a way to fit more physical activity into my daily routine. I would love to start doing Tia Chi again
because it will tone my physical body while I also tone my mental state and
connect with life spiritually. As for me working my way out of the mental
block of my family being all that matters I am learning that they are not much
different than anyone else it is simply that I think their opinions matter more
than other individuals’ may.
If I
was to rate my health; physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually I
would say that all three areas of my health are in good shape. I am still ‘kicking it’ in all I do at work, at
home, and at play. I am in decent shape
and have no chronic pain, discomfort, or physical issue and I very rarely feel
sore after long days and nights at work and play. Mentally (psychologically) for all I have
been told about living with bipolar disorder I maintain good order within my
mind and in my life. I may ride a
roller-coaster of emotion sometimes but I know how to hold on and not ‘freak’
when all seems to fall out from under me and how to not believe everything I
think when my thinking is to ‘high’ on mania.
Then my spiritual life is what really keeps my mind mine and my body
working. For me life is a great
experience where we can grow or not. I
intend to live my life with a purpose and believe that I, even being only one
person, may change the way the world works if I can get but one person to hear
me. I have faith that the world is not
in my control but I am working with a purpose even I cannot fully understand
what it is. I simply know it is good
because I have integrity and am determined to serve a cause that is greater
than me.
III.
Goals
Physical
I
really want to quit smoking this winter. I am an active person and try to eat
right but I know being a smoker is very unhealthy. I have been a smoker for 23 years now. To help me in this area I am thinking of
joining an early morning cardio-fitness class to get my heart pumping and get that euphoric
feeling from getting an actual clear breath.
Psychological
I am
trying to start doing yoga again. I have
done yoga on and off since I was 13 and really feel I could use the meditative
practice that is part of this balance and breathe work. Balance
in my physical body will help my mind feel more balanced. I am looking at getting yoga videos from the
library but have also found a few useful videos on the internet.
Spiritual
With
yoga I am working toward a more regular schedule of meditation. I know I am
part of something bigger than me and want to set aside at least a half hour
each day for meditation so that I may connect with all that I know is possible.
IV. Practices for personal health:
Physical
Cardio-fitness
will help me get my blood flowing and make sure body is working at a more
optimal level. I can implement this exercise
into my routine. I will be checking out
the 4am sessions at the community center.
Hiking/nature
walks are something I can do any time I need a break. It is getting cold here in Colorado but walks
in the brisk air can be exhilarating and can burn more calories as I also
permit my immune system to strengthen.
Psychological
I
shall practice mindfulness in my daily routine.
While walking I will focus on feeling my feet touch the ground, the cool
air as I breathe, and the cold on my face and the core warmth of my body.
A
Taste of Human Flourishing (p144) is an exercise that I have enjoyed and only
takes about half an hour. I can do this
and feel the happiness, wholeness, and health that I am striving toward.
Spiritual
Universal
Loving-Kindness (p93) is just my style. I
love the power of words. The exercise was meant to open us up to universal
loving-kindness. I believe that it works
when we focus and repeat these words and believe in what they mean. Repeating
the words and feeling the meaning and possibility behind them makes me feel
more complete. I can do this any time.
Meeting
Asclepius (p56-58) is an exercise I found very useful. I can imagine many people who inspire me,
from Gandhi to my grandfather, see many [people in history and in my life that
appear as guiding figures of wisdom. It
will be good to look at life and the possibilities that are there for us all.
V. Commitment:
I
can assess my progress or my lack of progress in the next six months by doing
the Personal Integral Assessment and also by reviewing the Tree of Contemplative
Practices from, The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, which is a great
guide to what contemplative practices many of use.
The Tree
has three roots to knowing; Communion, Connection, Awareness. It has many branches that simulate areas of
practice. I enjoy many of these
practices. Creation process practices I
take part in are singing, contemplative art, journaling. Movement practices that I enjoy often are yoga,
walking meditation, and contemplative movement.
I also take time to practice the stillness practices of silence, insight
meditation, sitting meditation, and quieting and clearing the mind. My only activist practices; work. I do generative practices such
loving-kindness meditation, mantra repetition, and visualization. I do some ritual/cyclical practices such as vision
quests and traveling to sacred places every year. Some of the relational practices I thoroughly
enjoy are dialogue, deep listening, storytelling, and council circles. These practices can assist me in maintaining
on this path to integral health. I am
happy to have found that my health and wellness plan is not only from my
thoughts but have touched the consciousness of many.
References
Dacher,
E.S., (2006). Integral Health: the path
to human flourishing. California: Basic
Health.
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And here I am on my way to where nobody can know until it all comes down and I become exactly who I have always been and do exactly what I was always planning to do... Welcome, my loves...
