A Plan to Foster Integral Growth and Health; Spiritually, Physically, and Psychologically

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.

  

To finish here I’d like to share this website which lists many Benefits of Meditation http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070

References

Dacher, E.S., (2006).  Integral Health: the path to human flourishing.  California: Basic Health.

The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, (2011). The Tree of Contemplative Practices.  http://contemplativemind.org/practices/tree.html .