Introduction
Dossey “suggests that the popularity of alternative medicines such as mind/body is partly due to its effectiveness when people need it the most” (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005). So why should we wait to seek alternative or holistic type treatments and go ahead and take the reins of our own health and wellness? Lead by example is the motto that every wellness professional should uphold. In order to promote health and wellness then a health and wellness professional should display a well-balanced and healthy psychological, spiritual, and physical body. I could really use a boost all these aspects of my overall wellness. Sometimes I tend to not walk by my faith, but by my sight which is not good when you’re a Christian and suppose to put your faith in the Lord. My physical health needs to be brushed up on as well: I need to tone up some various areas. I have always been a person who has always had to deal with a great amount of stress which obviously affects my psychological health directly. Some of the stress comes from things I cannot control such as the military, kids, and school but others can be controlled by getting unnecessary people who cause drama out of my life.
Assessment
Based upon my reflections of my physical, spiritual, and psychological assessment of my overall wellness, I would have to say that I really need to start taking more time for myself. A lot of times in life we get so caught up on helping others, especially if you’re in the health and wellness field, where you do not get to concentrate on the key component in your work: ourselves! My physical wellness is about a seven. I exercise at least four to five times a week and eat very healthy. I am under chiropractic care which is essential in maintaining an optimal wellness. However, I do need to focus on taking better care of my dental needs. I just went to the dentist a few weeks ago and I have a lot of cavities I was really unaware of. My pregnancy drained me of nutrients it seems and that are when I started to have dental issues.
My spiritual health is about an eight. I am a proud Christian and we are in church Sunday morning and evening: My family takes part in most activities, fellowshipping events, and dinners that the church has. There is room for improvement since we do not attend church during the week because of our schedules but we really need to focus on how to make this work with our schedule. Also, there is always room for improvement in our walk with God. I do not always have faith that He will see me through and to let His will be done in my life instead of trying to do things on my own because I am not patient. As far as my psychological wellness, I feel as if it is about a 7. I have a lot of stress in my life, especially being an army wife. The deployments are bad and having kids just make it harder. I need to find more coping techniques in the fight against the stress in my life. I also have my own struggle against anxiety/depression sometimes as well but I have been trying to deal with that through prayer, natural herbs, and through wellness care
Goal Development
Psychological & Physical Health
Instead of just one goal I have about three. I would like to increase my spiritual health, psychological health, and my physical health. This can be done in numerous types of ways. By focusing on these three main principles I can greatly increase my overall health and wellness. Taking part in such activities such as Yoga every morning can lessen my stress which will increase my overall psychological health along with working out and toning up my body; which will help me tone up my trouble areas. I have been thinking about taking part in a new type of exercise. I have been involved in p90x and Yoga for quite some time and now I think I may venture into Zumba, Tai Chi, or even start running. Our mind/body connection is important when speaking of physical activity. During exercise our brain is pumped full of those “feel good neurotransmitters called endorphin” as stated by Seaward, 2009. “When we exercise we can better focus on everyday tasks, shed our tension of the day, and it can help us remain calm and clear as we go through our day” according to Seaward, 2009.
Spiritual Health
I plan to grow in my faith which is an ongoing process which will strengthen my relationship with God. The most intriguing and interesting study I have found in our reading this week is a double-blinded study conducted by Randolph Byrd in 1988. Byrd actually took 393 coronary care unit patients were randomly split between a control group (those who received no prayer from the outside intercessory prayer group) and the pray group (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005). The results were phenomenal! There was fewer deaths In the prayer group, they required less endotracheal intubation and ventilation support, and they required fewer potentate drugs” as stated by Schlitz, Amorok, and Micozzi, (2005).The prayer group also had “lower incidence of pulmonary edema and required cardiopulmonary recitation less often” according to Schiltz et. al., (2005). This study definitely motivates me to use my tools that my faith has already provided me with: the power of prayer.
Practices for Personal Health
Taking part in meditation can help increase the mind and soul. The visualization that Dacher provided in his text, Integral Health, was a really nice meditation exercise that help reached a maximum euphoria by intertwining numerous types of emotions through personal experiences in my life. Merging all these together creates such a feeling that is so unexplainable. All of the emotions together help the interconnectedness of the body join and the experience how wonderful a flourishing of the mind, body, mind, and soul can be when unlocked is amazing. Dacher summed it up nicely by stating that “is your natural essence being that is always and already inside you” (2006). Another practice that I have always enjoyed in Yoga. It is not only good for the body but it is definitely good for the mind. Yoga X is a type of workout that makes a lot of people sweat more on their tiny square of a mat than they ever would have running or even doing a step class at a local gym. Prayer is another form of spiritual healing that can reduce my stress levels as well. Prayer has been proven to be a successful form of treatment and overall health and wellness from numerous studies.
Commitment
I’m dedicated to reaching a more flourishing health and wellness by taking control of my life. The first step in successfully becoming healthier is to have a game plan. I think the goals that I have are very reachable and the things I have chosen such as meditation, prayer, and certain exercise regimens will help me execute my flourishing health and wellness goals. By revisiting these goals in six months to see where I am can give me the motivation I need to meet each and every one of these goals I have set for myself.
References
Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Consciousness & Healing. St. Louis, MI: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
Seaward, B. L. (2007). Essentials of Managing Stress. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
2 comments:
Davis,
I totally agree that leading by example is necessary when we are talking about credibility and experience as a Health and Wellness professional. In my experience, when i practice exercises such as QiGong or Yoga, I feel better, I feel less stress, I feel my reactivity to how stress affects me only improves with practice. Having a game plan is definitely a plus to implement this into our lives. Good luck with everything!
Hi Davis, from reading your plan, you do have a lot going on. You are meeting your goals but you put another one in its place. Give yourself time in between goals. I also don't hear where you are giving yourself a positive feedback. Try not to over shadow your success with too much talk on how hard it has been in reaching that success. This may take some mental training in how you see your duties as a military wife/ mom. I'm a Vet and was a single mom (with a new born) during my service, so I can relate to what you are going through. You will always be face with choices and it sounds like you face these choices often. Use what has worked for you in the past and make needed adjustments to fit the moment. Have a plan already to be acted upon. Ask for help. There is always someone on post that is or has dealt with the same issues you are facing. Once again, reward yourself. Also, if you have not heard it today let me tell you...Thank you. The duties that you do as a military spouse and mom are truly respected by this Vet. Your actions help lighten the rough sack that every service member has had to carry at one time. Thank you for your service.
I’ve enjoyed having you as a classmate and go reward yourself Trooper !!!”.
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