integral health project

Unit 9 Project

Jessie Mansanales

Kaplan University

HW-420-01

Introduction

            It is very important for health and wellness professionals to develop themselves psychologically, spiritual, and physically because this brings balance to the most important areas of the body and creates a solid foundation for integral health. In order to be developed psychologically, one must invest in their inner life by first becoming psychologically literate and healthy. The psychological process focuses on identifying destructive emotions and dysfunctional patterns and replacing them with a new set of healthy attitudes and behaviors (Dacher, 2006). This is very important for health and wellness professional because it allow the professional to be able to pass on this knowledge in a positive and healthy way, thus, strengthening the patient professional bond.

            Being spiritually developed is said to be the area that is the least developed. This would pertain to the psychospiritual area. This area is an important area to develop because it is the primary source of epidemics and mental suffering and premature disease and the greatest obstacle in the path of integral health and human flourishing. This suffering can come in the form of stressors that are caused by the overactive mind as it clings on to emotions, feelings, images, and thoughts. One must learn to train the mind and control the mental chatter that affects the path to integral health in a negative way. Being developed in this area allows the mind to be trained, and make decisions based on intention instead of decisions based on reaction and little thought.

            The physical area is important because by developing this area, one gains many benefits. Some of these benefits include things like a healthy developed physical body that is less susceptible to disease, and stress relief. Stress is the major cause of premature illnesses and the greatest obstacle in human flourishing. By developing this area, the professional will have the energy, confidence, and not only the capacity to aid others in their path to integral health and human flourishing.

By developing these areas, the health and wellness professional will ensure that her or she has a flourishing and healthy life and a solid foundation to integral health in their own personal life, and ensure that the instruction and aid given to their patients will be positive and yield positive results.

            The area in which I need to develop more is the area of pshycospiritual development. The reason for this is because of the lack of control that I have on being able to control the thought processes and mental chatter. The biggest difficulty is clinging on to certain thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This area is very important because it sets the foundation to be able to work on the other areas. Even though all areas or quadrants are interconnected, this is the area that needs most attention in my personal life. Nevertheless, by practicing the witnessing mind and subtle mind practices, it has enabled me to be able to have more control and less clinging to thoughts.

Assessment

            As far as assessing the strengths and weaknesses in each domain, I have found and believe that there is always room for improvement in every area. Just like all quadrants are interconnected, it takes daily and dedicated integration of practices in order to maintain the development of a different state of consciousness. The weakest area in my personal life is the psycho spiritual. This would be a combination of aspects of the psychological and spiritual.  As far as the physical area, I would consider this area my most sound and strongest area of development. The reason is that I do physical activities and exercise with much dedication. On the spiritual and psychological level, there is plenty of room for improvement. This is improving because of the practices like the subtle mind practice and witnessing practice. By continuing the contemplative practices with dedication, these two weaker areas will begin to be developed.

Goal Development

            Goals that will be set for these areas will include practicing the contemplative practices and improving the control of thoughts and the clearing of the mind. The goals for the psychological and spiritual area include this plan of action. Being able to do the practices in order to train the mind and develop a stronger, more positive state of consciousness is crucial. Taking out the old junk and putting in new, more positive and healthy attitudes and behaviors will develop the psychological and spiritual areas.

            In the physical area, the continuation of exercise and conditioning of the biological body will remain the same with some small changes. Another total reevaluation is needed for this area nevertheless. This is just to restructure the current activity and program to make it more exciting and interesting.

 Practices for Personal Health

            Practices that will foster growth in each domain will be important in further development and maintenance of these areas. It is important to understand that dedication, patience, and hard work is needed to develop and maintain these areas in order to reap the benefits of integral health. Things that will be done are things like contemplative practices, which are the most important aspect of achieving integral health. For the psychological and spiritual, practices like the loving-kindness practice would be beneficial. This practice allows the individual to see another, acknowledge another, hear another, be present with another, and feel one with another, whether it be a lover, a partner, a friend, a stranger, and even an enemy. This opens up a person’s spirituality and psychological area, and begins to develop the individual in these areas.

            The subtle mind practice is another practice that will aid in the development. The subtle mind practice focuses on things like breath because there is a direct relationship between the breath and the mind. It allows breathing to become more easy and rhythmic, and then your mind will follow. The concept is that a peaceful breathing pattern will lead to a peaceful mind. Using the breath is always with us so we can work with it even in the midst of a meeting. Using the breath, one will learn how to tame and stabilize the mind by developing a witnessing consciousness (Dacher, 2006). A witnessing consciousness is a state of consciousness in which one learns to control the mind and is able to keep it from grasping and clinging to thoughts, feeling, emotions, and images that distract the mind.

            In the physical area, the continuation of physical activity is to be continued. Physical activity also reduces and relieves stress, which are the primary cause of premature illnesses. Healing in the physical area include things like exercise, nutrition, preventive measures, and health promotion. A small percentage of the resources spent on physical fitness will gain a considerable amount of health and healing for society. These physical activities are applied to mind/body activities with positive results, which will allow for more development and healing, thus, improving one’s state of consciousness and paving the way to integral health and human flourishing.

            These practices and exercises will have to be incorporated in daily activities, not forgetting to understand and recognize their importance. It is important to understand that the road to achieving integral health and human flourishing takes work, patience, and dedication, and one must always keep in mind the benefits of changing lifestyles. Daily practices must be done. The plan is to set aside quiet time for the psychological and spiritual each morning in order to practice the contemplative practices and begin to strengthen these areas. Physical activity will continue with the current physical fitness program of nutrition and personal fitness.

Commitment

            I assess the progress in the future as gaining development and achieving balance in these areas. Nevertheless, it will take work and dedication, and if there is a lack of progress, it will be because of my own lack of dedication. Everyone is responsible for their own health and well being, and it is up to the individual if he or she is to succeed in gaining integral health and human flourishing. I, personally, foresee a great gain in balance and direction toward integral health, and plan to continue to practice and learn more about contemplative practices. Visiting meditation centers and retreat centers is planned in the up and coming future.

            Strategies that will be used are rescheduling daily activities in order to make time and incorporate the contemplative practices on a daily basis. Another strategy is continuing education in integral health and re-evaluating and re-prioritizing daily schedules and activities. The ultimate strategy is to be dedicated and persevere to the path of integral health and human flourishing just because it is very crucial and important and there is much to gain in health and healing and obtaining a flourishing state of consciousness and life. Nevertheless, it is up to me if success or failure is obtained. These are the only two possible outcomes, to succeed or fail, and I will be dedicated to succeed because life is too precious to live in a poor state of consciousness and in an imbalanced state.

References

Dacher, E., S., (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing