Unit 10 Blog: Progression toward Integral Health

Hello Everyone,

This class has been very beneficial to me as far as me starting on a path to better health for myself in the future. I have definitely learned how to benefit from the interconnections within myself in order to reach out to others on a personal or professional level I think. Therefore, I think for me in this class I have learned the key points of why is is essential to be knowledgeable  understand, and experience the practices of being on a higher level of functioning through methods of meditation and practices.This is an important part of helping clients in the future professionally.

 In the assessment of myself  Psychologically 7 my well-being is on the track that I want it to be on, the practices that I have learned in the class has definitely given me a chance to see my inner self in a different light. I Would have to say the practices that we have done in this class has given me the ability to learn how to find a center for myself and inner peace to help me focus on better health for myself. I have incorporated time for myself to meditate and inner connect with myself.

Spiritually 5 My spiritual level is not that good. however I am working toward a better connect with myself, and the higher power. I have since starting this class, made some steps toward a closer spiritual relationship with god, family, friends, and most of all with myself. The level of spiritual understanding and feeling that I have experienced so far has been great. The changes have also given me a chance to discover and define myself in a different light.

Physically 6- I m working hard and progressing to change my lifestyle, eating habits, and exercise for better health for myself. I have successfully be able to stay on a daily routine for myself with the exercise program I have incorporated for myself.

I would definitely say that the imagery practice was the hardest practice for me in this class. I have been  re-visiting this practice twice a week. However, the visualizations for me are weak, even though the feelings and emotions are there. I have had some improvement with the colors seeing some colors but not the whole rainbow. I will continue to work toward accomplishing the visualizations in the practice.

 I wish everyone well on the path to human flourishing!

~Linda Jackson

Unit 9 Blog: Final Project; The Path to Human Flourishing

Hello Everyone,

The Path to Human Flourishing

Introduction


The psychological development of my health can be met through my ability to move forward to explore a deeper level of thought of the mind. This allows the level of psychological development to become a spring board for the spiritual process. The spiritual level directs a deeper thought pattern into the layers of the mind to bring about inner peace, loving-kindness, and natural wisdom that is important in sustaining the well-being of the mind, body, and spirit (Dacher, E. S., 2006). As a healthcare professional providing ways for my client to become healthier and reach a state of integral health, I must have a solid foundation of experience to health at all three levels to incorporate successful thought patterns to individuals to encourage better mental, physical, and spiritual states.


The psychological growth/flourishing as I have learned through being in this class can be achieved through four steps; Primal unity, psychological life, the spiritual life, and conscious unity. Primal unity happen when we are born as it is an interconnectedness with the oneness of life. In order to become successful at psychological development, an individual must become psychologically literate and health couscous (Dacher, E. S., 2006). This means for me as the individual trying to achieve this step, I need to focus on removing destructive behaviors and dysfunctional patterns, instead replace them with more positive attitudes and behaviors. This will allow me to achieve the next level of psychological development in which is called witnessing consciousness. This level of consciousness helps me as an individual view a situation differently when making choices about thoughts or feelings (Dacher, E. S., 2006).



The steps or levels to acquire spiritual healing and flourishing are key concepts to becoming a person of total wholeness or oneness. I think we as individuals only use a small percentage of our consciousness to acquire what we feel we need. These steps that Dacher are referring to can allow a person to reach the full potential of health and spirituality. I believe that many of us think that spirituality is only about payer, and worshiping a higher being. I think it is truly more that for me is an inner reflection of ourselves so that we may define who are, the ability understand the beliefs that we do have. This enables me on a more personal level to bring out the inner love and respect we have for ourselves in order to give or project how we love on to others not just physically but spiritually.




Practices for Personal Health


In my personal life this is definitely helpful to how I am able to build on my mental, physical, spiritual strengths. The use of the subtle mind practice allows me to learn to become focus with clouding of the mind for more openness to my own flourishing of health. I think this is important to reducing stress, being sociable with others, and for my job dealing with client and other people. This practice basically gives an individual a clean slate in order to help re-event themselves as a better, stronger, and healthier person.


The higher level of consciousness allows me as the individual to stabilize and tame the moving mind, shift into a calming state, allows us to witness and not attach to distractions, and finally the unity allows us to master the levels of the subtle mind. The biological body benefits due to the movement of from the body to mind to spirit development. This is an actual shift of experience from the realm of the physical. This causes an emphasis on survival, self, and instinct to a more intangible mental state with the focus of intention and interconnections to the subtle spiritual realm. This is where I as the individual will gain wisdom, awareness, and oneness (Dacher E.S., 2006).


Through the research of the experiences of love, appreciation, and care has revealed that the rhythm of the heart can be smooth. These coherent patterns changes from a nervous system to balanced. The findings correlate the electrophysiological and the intentional focus of the feeling and the state of love (Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M., 2005). The shift of mental and emotional for myself allows me to show the appreciation of love that changes the variability of my heart rate. This allows me as the individual to attain greater self-management and a deeper peace of inner harmony (Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M., 2005). Gratefulness is described as a house with many rooms by Schlitz. This means a true moment of gratefulness allow can allow me the individual to experience many things all at one time. A profound appreciation of gratefulness causes a deep felt gratitude, deeper calmness, and a great stillness within a person’s being. Gratefulness is a feeling of humbleness and makes a person feel uplifted. This means the connection to an individual’s being is grounded giving them the ability to stand tall (Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M., 2005). I think finding ways to be grateful for me is to connect with the inner happiness, spiritual, and respect that I have for myself in order to be appreciative to others. I think this will show a clear line of gratitude and humbleness in each aspect of my life.


Assessment


In finding or attaining integral health for myself mental, spiritually and physically, I would like to see myself expand in each category to improve my sense of caring, thought, and exercise. Psychologically 7 my well-being is on the track that I want it to be on, the practices that I have learned in the class has definitely given me a chance to see my inner self in a different light. I have incorporated time for myself to meditate and inner connect with myself.


Spiritually 5 I am not at the level that I would like to be. However since being in this class I have made some steps toward a closer spiritual relationship with god, family, friends, and most of all with myself. The level of spiritual understanding and feeling that I have experienced so far has been great. The changes have also given me a chance to discover and define myself in a different light.


Physically 6- I m working hard and progressing to change my lifestyle, eating habits, and exercise for better health for myself. The road is still long although I have made so great achievement and improvement with myself. I plan to continue with exercise, weights, and my tae-bo video to get myself in the shape I will continue to work on until I accomplish the weight goal I have instituted for myself. I am definitely committed to making successful changes in my life and I have learned from past experience that taking small steps to accomplish bigger goals are the key to success for me or for anyone else.


Commitment


The plan I have instituted for myself has not changed from the previous plan that I stated earlier this term in my blog:


1) Exercise for better health


2) Use meditation as a place of solitude to find integral health and healing for myself and other. This can help me encourage a positive attitude, and a healthier mental status.


3) Spend more time make a stronger spiritual connection with friend, family, god, and myself so that I can reach a higher level of spiritual healing.


I will continue to incorporate the practices I have learned from this class to help me encourage a positive mental, spiritual, and physical atmosphere for myself and the people around me personally and professionally. I will also continue to use the meditation that I have been using and the practices I have learned in class to continue to find the inner peace and inner connectedness within myself to achieve human health flourishing. I feel that I am on the right path to accomplishing integral health for myself personally and others professionally.






~Linda Jackson





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. (2005). Consciousness & healing: Integral approaches to mind-body medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone