This is it the final project

We will take a look at how important it is for a health and wellness professional to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically in order to teach and lead other in integral health and wellness. Also we will devise a plan to develop my own transformation with the goals I have for myself in each area of wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically.

When looking at an integral medical practice the crucial ingredient is not the integral medical bag itself or whether there is conventional pills, or the orthodox surgery, and the energy medicine, yoga, Qigong or acupuncture needles it is the person who holds the bag and is practicing integral medicine. A practitioner that practices integral medicine has most likely transform themselves since one cannot study without opening their mind, body and spirit in this field by doing this it is open for all to see (Schlitz, Amorok, and Micozzi, 2005).  

            An integrally informed medical practice changes the practitioners first when they choose which of the treatments conventional, alternative, complementary or holistic treatment is to be utilized, individually and collectively when practicing medicine with integrity (Schlitz, Amorok, and Micozzi, 2005).  As medicine evolves so must the practitioner, they change expanding the tool kit, transforming medicine and evolving it to a new level (Dacher, 2006). The transformation of the practitioner does not happen overnight it must be cultivated by infusing daily activity with awareness, consciousness, and loving-kindness that arise from a contemplative practice (Dacher, 2006).

Assessment

            This class has opened so many doors to a healthy transformation of mind, body and spirit for me I guess that I would have to start with a healthy mind.  Looking at the integral map it begins by simply acknowledging that human experience expresses itself in four ways: psychological, biological, interpersonal, and worldly these are the four aspects of our experience (Dacher, 2006).

            In the psychological aspect I do like the statement mentioned in the book as Gandhi said, “Become the change you want to see happen in the world” (Dacher, 2006). It also state that the most underdeveloped aspect of western medicine is psychological and is the primary source of epidemics of mental suffering and premature disease and the greatest obstacle for human flouring (Dacher, 2006). The development of our inner life is essential to all aspects of our life (Dacher, 2006). So I feel this is the most important area to develop in my life and actually have a great start to this class and feel this is just the beginning a new wonderful journey that this fifty year old lady is ready to embark on.

            First I feel I have a firm and genuine commitment to rechannel my energies inward and am prepared myself for the psych-spiritual practices that are essential to initiate the inward turn and the integral process in my life. I have learned to let things go and fall off the shoulder for anger, intolerance, jealousy, pride and greed is the destruction of the human mind and brings illness and disease to us. As we practice loving - kindness doing the exercises that are stated in the book we can feel a calmness that arises within practicing kindness, care, patients, and generosity(Dacher, 2006). Loving kindness opens the heart with acceptance, respect, fairness patients and honesty. I feel that I have a good grasp on this part in my life after taking this class. The spiritual process aims at penetrating the deeper layers of the mind to uncover the natural wisdom, inner peace, and loving kindness that are the pivotal causes of a sustained well-being (Dacher, 2006). The spiritual aspect of my life I feel has greatly improved with this class. I have also gone to a holistic nurse practitioner for the nutritional health of my life changing western medicines cure-all for healthcare all the  dreadful prescriptions that the doctor has put me on, never taking any away just adding more pills when a side effect shows up after taking the medication that has been prescribed. I actually score my wellness quite high at this time compared to what it was nine weeks ago or prior to this class.

Goal Development

            My goal is to continue on my journey and receive the four essential points the truth of health, the truth of human flourishing, the truth of the integral path, and the truth of the fruits. The first the truth of health has two aspects of health – ordinary, or relative, health and integral, or ultimate, health (Dacher, 2006). Ordinary, or relative, is based on our biology and is our conventional understanding of health. Integral or ultimate health is based on our level of consciousness. We are healthy when our mind is both free of mental afflictions and suffering and endure well-being, happiness, and wholeness (Dacher, 2006). This is intentional, self-cultivated, and flourishes over time I find this to be and extraordinary goal to pursue. This then turns into human flourishing which is sustained, and self-cultivated health, happiness, and wholeness (Dacher, 2006). Then preparing a proper foundation and steadily progressing in our development from body to mind to spirit (Dacher, 2006). The truth about integral health requires our attention and our approach to health becomes a personal choice expressed through deliberate actions that are in accord with our intention. The fruits of human flourishing – health, happiness, and wholeness are the direct results of an integral approach to life. To remove confusion, misunderstanding, and unnecessary suffering of an ordinary untrained mind and know what to cultivate in your life and what to discard and abandon (Dacher, 20060. This is my ultimate goal for me that I will hopefully spill over to others around me and in my life and for strangers to see and desire the same wholeness. I have met awesome spirited people that just leave a real good feeling of warmth and love with trueness that I have desired but never knew how to reach. Through this class I have found the map to get there and live a full life of health, happiness, and wholeness.

Practices for personal health

            As far as the health part in my life I have taken this very seriously for the first time by researching about holistic care and treatments. I now go to the Circle of life Healing Arts Holist Clinic and am under the care of a nurse practitioner who in just four weeks has done great things. I am now on health supplements that make me feel great and balance me out, my cholesterol is down thirty points and other numbers are following. This is under strict supervision of the nurse practitioner with lab test to make sure that everything is on track and no side effects are visible. I also have been making better choices in my food looking for more fruits and vegetables and decreasing sugary and fatty foods.  As far as my spiritual I am listening to relaxing sounds more often, meditating, experimenting with yoga and qi-gong looking for ones that fits my life style. This however is very hard to put into a routine every day. The qi gong seems to be the best at this time there are simple routines that can be done with relaxing the mind that fit into my schedule at this time. It also is easy to follow and does not require you to be an athletic to do the movements, gives you flexibility and increases your muscles with training your mind in meditation and thought. Meditation is my next goal to be able to clear and empty the mind to think of nothing just be imaging a peaceful and warm feeling overcoming my inner self for total relaxation of my mind, body, and spirit. The exercises that we did in the class for meditation are great I also downloaded a meditation exercise on my kindle that I listen to every night before I go to bed to wind down the day, clear the mind and be at total peace before I go to bed. 

Commitment

            My commitment to this change is going to be lifelong I have realized all the years of anger, hate, and meanness that has polluted my mind has taken its toll on my life and now that I have tasted the peacefulness, calmness, and wholeness I have no desire to give it up but only to embark on this wonderful journey to complete transformation. I was thinking that I may continue with the blog or start a new one to document my journey through the transformation. I feel that it is important to document the long journey so you do not forget from where you came from and where you are going. One of the test that the nurse practitioner did on me was my energy or cortisol levels at my good level in the morning it did not even register I had nothing left to give and I am a giver, a listener, and a helper however I was all worn out with just stress levels that were so depleating I could barely go on. I cried the other day (I don’t cry very easily life has made me tough) I finally felt like a person on the road to a new exciting life with the tools and the desire to help others reach their inner self and regenerate their mind, body and spirit. This was my goal going into psychology and my last two classes Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Creative Wellness: Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing have directed me into a path that I am ready for in my future. There will be a lifelong commitment in this field that I am entering in my career I had the goal of treating people without medication, but changing their behaviors and this holistic journey has given me great tools to work with in the future.

References:

Dasher, E. M.D., (2006). Integral Health; The path to Human Flourishing. Basic Health Publications, Inc.           

(Schlitz, Amorok, and Micozzi, (2011).Consciousness & healing; Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. Elsevier Inc.

Rest peacefully

Subtle Mind I feel is a great exercise you use your breath as a focal point focusing on the rising and falling of your chest. As thoughts and feelings were to enter I am able to acknowledge them and let them drift off again. I use an app on my kindle that is for relaxation that has a great tranquil voice. I have been doing this at the end of the day when I start to slow down. I lay in beg and put my headphones on and quietly listen and let the flow of peacefulness come over me.

The next one is one that I can do anywhere "Visualization" when I was at the holistic nurse practitioners office I explained how I listen and give advice I am a person who tries to help people even if it is just listening. I explain how sometimes it feels that all my energy is gone and I feel drained everyone has sucked out my energy, they feel better but I felt drained without a recharge. Se told me to close my eyes and breath in and out clearing my mind then plant my feet to the ground feeling my energy going into the earth as roots of a tree going into the earth now imagine your roots getting energy from the earth filling you up with energy, power  and peacefulness.

This exercise I feel can be done just about anywhere and is a quick recharge for me I use this now to recharge my mind, body and spirit at any time it just takes a few minutes.

Unit 6 blog Loving and Kindness*

After doing the universal kindness exercise It felt good asking for others to have freedom from suffering. And others to find happiness m health, and wholeness. At I truly do feel that it can expand your mind and heart. I have always tried to lift people up when they are down and troubled hoping to help and guide them to a better feeling. Sometimes just letting them know you are there helps without saying anything.

The next exercise is a tough one to pinpoint where is the source of difficulty and suffering. I have to say that I am impatient and need to work on that sometimes I get all worked up over nothing that is not in my control its in the hands of others however I feel they should do things the way I think they should be done. Very hard to let go and ease out of that habit.

 I have this bumper sticker that says : I am not a nag just a motivational speaker.

Got to change that in my life with more meditation and self awareness learning to let the small things go. It really seems to take a lot though. More self awareness and meditation should work. Yoga also is on the list. So much to do so little time. So little time with so much to do.

The loving kindness exercise took a few times to master. I could not think of the loving kindness that I was suppose to achieve. A freind told me to think of a simpler time "IT WORKED" I thought of when my children were born and I was the supplier of every need and they depended on me for their survival. I loved, nurtured and made sure they were healthy, safe, and every need was met. I would gaze down and just stare at the beauty and simplicity of their life. What a over whelming joy.
It is not that I don't love my children now there just is a lot of baggage with every day life my son is 31, and my daughter is 20 but I do reflect on their life still and do get a proud feeling it just takes more effort than when they were little and helpless. I do get the same joy feeling though with my grandchildren at this time. 

This was my first frustration but I have overcome the situation and decided feedback from others can help in-your journey if you feel there is a fence, wall, or a mountain in the way.

With the subtle mind exercise I find the breathing to be so helpful in quieting down the mind and gaining a mental focus, just breathing and getting a slow easy rhythm.Letting go of the world around I do not feel that I have concord these exercises yet since it is very hard to shut down however I am determined to succeed in experiencing th calm abiding into unity consciousness.

This week I did several meditation guided exercises with my kindle and even walked / jogged on the treadmill  and did Kundalini Yoga what a physical and mental workout this type of yoga is movement and chanting along with resting poses as well.

Not easy to shut down the mind:
With all the homework this week and work ( thank God for vacation to do homework!).
 Sorry my post is late! Marina

This would be the most ultimate place to meditate. I am a gardener and this is my goal. A nice awesome place that will have peice even in the dead of winter.

Love is only so deep

Well started doing the exercise and all  of a sudden I am like who do I love? I love my family, son, daughter, husband, sisters, mother and father. Then I thought they all take so much energy out of me, so many are so emotionally needy. I don't think this exercise went in the right direction to write about. I think what are they doing? Do they need something ? hoping everything is alright. I think first I need to let go of the what do you need attitude everybody always needs something. I probably am not in the right state of my life for this exercise I am still working on relaxing and getting me to the state I need to be until this happens I think this exercise is a wash for me. 

I do read inspirational cards at this time such as: I love myself and am OK with who I am. I am at peace with myself and can love freely. I feel these cards at this to me help more than the mp3that I listened to.

When reading the exorcise in the book I seem to fair better but when you been bouncing off the walls for a week there is no peace and love  at this time.

It has been stated that people who work their mind such as crosswords, brainteaser games, and reading tend to ward off dementia and maybe slow down the progression of Alzheimer (Hathaway, 2005).  Staying healthy and positive also has great haelth benefits.  That where the mind body spirit comes in to play they all work together training your mind to be positive working out and meditating for your body and sitting reflecting on a higher power for all round peace and tranquility(
References:
Hathaway, W., (2004). The benifits of a mental workouts. wwwglobalaging.org

I am hoping to do better this week for myself and spirit. Marina

Well the exercise I thought was too long and could not concentrate very well. I was not in the mood work was hard that day and I had no patients. I will have to try again later but I thought it was annoying. However I think it was mostly my mood no the presentation.