INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO

UNIT 8 - MENTAL FITNESS

The two practices that I found most beneficial are the Meeting Asclepius Exercise and the Skillful Action Exercise.

Meeting Asclepius Exercise

This exercise helped me learn new things about myself, and practicing it on regular basis is helping me open up and aid my transformation toward human flourishing. I’ve been able to become aware of my abilities and flaws so I may work on the aspects that need improvement. While practicing this exercise, I became conscious of many faculties I wasn’t aware of. Moreover, I realized that I’ve come a long way since I started to make changes in my life.

Skillful Action Exercise

This practice was of vital importance. It helped me put things into perspective and prioritize my real needs versus the things I thought I needed. It helped me have more control over my thoughts and feelings, and develop self-control. I am now able to employ will as a tool control my attitude, speech, and actions to consciously guide my path toward integral healing and skillfully craft a fulfilling and meaningful life. However, accomplishing this task is not easy so I have to continuously remind myself of the things I need to change and deviate from negative behaviors.

Indeed, these practices are certainly contributing to improve my mental fitness and the more I integrate them into my daily routine the more benefits I am experiencing. However, I continue to practice other techniques such as Loving Kindness, Subtle Mind, and different types of meditation.

Gaby

UNIT 7 - MEETING ASCIEPIUS EXERCISE

The exercise was very interesting and I actually learned something about myself while I was practicing it. As the narrator instructed, I was trying to think of a wise person I respect and honor, but I couldn’t think of anybody in particular so I created one as she suggested. I thought of the different characteristics that this person should have, and as I was following the exercise, I was reciting each characteristic in my head. Then, each characteristic transformed into energy represented by different colors, and as the colors came together, they started to take shape. Then, the image transformed into a distant silhouette that started to get closer and closer. At first, I wasn’t able to distinguish the person, but as the image got closer, I was able to see that it was a woman. She had long hair, thin figure, not too tall, and she was dressed in white. I couldn’t see her face yet, but I could certainly feel her calming energy. Her voice became my voice so my speech could become loving, wise, and sensitive. Then, the beam of light that came from her heart entered mine so I could fill my heart with kindness, love, and compassion. Next, she left my body and transformed into a light that became a being. When I looked into her eyes to see who she was, I saw myself. My eyes were filled of joy, and my soul was overflowed with peace and I was able to experience those feelings as I looked into her eyes. Indeed, this essence became my inner guide, healer, and gift giver. This was an amazing experience, and the first time I was able to submerge so deeply into an exercise. Thus, I plan on practicing it more often. As Dacher explained, mastering these skills will take practice and I am staring to see the great benefits of these exercises.
Gaby

UNIT 7 - ONE CANNOT LEAD ANOTHER WHERE ONE HAS NOT GONE HIMSELF

On the statement "one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (Dacher, 2006, p.477), Tom Janisse refers to the fact that in order to practice integral health and provide holistic healing, the practitioner himself needs to transform to bring back the pleasant doctor-patient relationship. Thus, he can see each patient as a unique being and illness as a grace through which both the healer and the patient may transform their respective lives (Dacher, 2006, p.477).

How does this apply to the health and wellness professional?

The basis of this idea portrays an overly utopian healing concept. This paradigm sees sickness as an opportunity for human flourishing in which the health and wellness professional is able to walk his patient through a healing process that will heal the patient and transform both of them. Thus, guiding human development trough a path that transcends all barriers and transforms healing into a spiritual practice that embraces the body, the mind, and the spirit at the same time.   

Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not?

Most definitely, you can’t teach or preach what you don’t practice. Furthermore, you can’t heal someone else if you suffer from the same disease. For example, a doctor that smokes won’t be able to help a patient that wants to quit smoking. An alcoholic can’t give advice on how to give up the addiction, but a recover alcoholic has walked the same path so he can guide someone through it. A person that is obese can’t give nutritional advice and succeed on helping someone lose weight if they can’t apply the principals they teach in their personal lives.   

How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

Personal growth means change. Thus, we need to let go of negative behaviors and replace them with those that promote personal growth in all aspects. Now, in order to change we need to know what needs to be changed and how to implement those changes. Thus, we need to assess and define our character and recognize which habits we need to change to evolve. Once we know what needs to be changed we need to make a plan to implement those changes and in order to succeed we need determination. Now, to be able to take on this challenge and accomplish our goals we need to maintain motivation and self-awareness and we can accomplish that by utilizing techniques such as meditation and positive affirmations. Many of the exercises we’ve gone over this class are perfect examples of such. Love-kindness, subtle mind exercises, mental workout, etc.

Gaby

References

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi M. (2005). Consciousness and Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine.  St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone.

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

UNIT 6 - LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION EXERCISE

Exercise and Assessment Process

I truly enjoyed this exercise and the message it portrays. As Dacher (2006) explains, “our capacity for empathic listening, seeing, and caring for the other – open heartedness, sensitivity, generosity, and emotional intimacy can spread to all our relationships”(Dacher, 2006, p.93). Thus, focusing in these factors can certainly make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us and hopefully create a domino effect that spreads throughout. Furthermore, if we acknowledge others, listen to others, make your presence felt, and feel for others this is not only a gift for them, but also for us (Dacher, 2006, p.93). However, to make it count, this mind-set should not exclude anyone, it should be offered to our partner, friends, strangers, and even our enemies because the development of Universal Loving-Kindness should embrace everything and everyone as the name suggests. Accomplishing this skill is the final leap in interpersonal development (Dacher, 2006, p.93).

Integral Assessment Exercise

This assessment helped me see beyond what I display to the outer world and pay attention to the essential elements I often disregard. By analyzing the aspects that are a source of difficulty in my life and focusing in these areas I was able to seek for answers and give satisfying resolution to negative feelings I’ve been dragging for years. I also acknowledged the areas that are ready for growth and development as well as those that have evolved. Thus, I realized that I’ve come a long way, and although I have to keep working in many aspects for further improvement, I am very proud of my progress so far.  

Furthermore, writing down a personal assessment helped me be honest with myself and find different alternatives on how to approach each aspect. Indeed, it was like looking in a mirror and seeing every element from the other side. The exercise also helped be more aware so I can use this skill as an unbiased and ongoing assessment tool to make necessary changes along the way to further develop in the integral process.  Indeed, as Dacher (2006) explains, the aim is to become proficient at constantly assessing ones life so we can move forward and grow (Dacher, 2006, p.114).

What did you discover about yourself?

This practice taught me that being kind to others regardless of the situation not only helps me feel better, but it also opens the door to feelings you didn’t know you could experience. I realized that by listening to others and seeing things from a multidimensional perspective can help me understand others better and be able get along with ease.   

What area have you chosen to be a focus of growth and development?

The area I want to focus on is the integral process so I can improve all the aspects that need to be developed and be able to give closure to memories that don’t have a positive inspect in my life. I also want to understand myself better and get to know who I truly am so I can transform in whom I want to be.

What are some specific exercises or activities that you can implement to foster greater wellness in this area?

I think that honesty and an open mind are vital for any practice that aims to foster wellness, and I had to follow a few steps to find activities that could help me on my Journey to Wellness.

First, I took this quiz developed by psychiatrists to assess my personality http://www.personaldna.com/

My results were very similar to the opinion and perception I have of myself and doing some research according to my personality I came across this site http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/knowyourself.html and some of the exercises I use are exercises that help me

-          Be aware of my strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes

-          Observe and be aware of my moods, reactions and responses to what is happening around you

-          Become aware of how these moods and emotions affect your state of mind

-          Examine how you interact with others

-          Observe how your environment affects you (Essential Life Skills, n.d.)

This site has GREAT tools to promote human flourishing, but my favorite exercise is on how to expand my comfort zone by…

1.       Breaking away from my routine and try new things.

2.       Staying active!

3.       Getting in contact with nature.

4.       Going out and JUST having fun!

5.       Wind down and relax with my favorite leisure activity.

6.       Do volunteer work (Essential Life Skills, n.d.)

Without a doubt, this was one of my favorite activities and I’ll definitely continue to utilize these tools to continue my Journey to Wellness.

Gaby

References

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Essential Life Skills (n.d.) Know Yourself. Retrieved from: http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/knowyourself.html

UNIT 5 – The Connection of the Spiritual Wellness to Mental Wellness and Physical Wellness.

Integral Healing embraces all the aspects that are part of our being which include the body, the mind, and the spirit. All these elements are interconnected and addressing each one with the same level of importance is essential for human flourishing. As we detach from reductionistic approaches, we begin to see beyond the physical body and have a better understanding of an integrated being with a higher consciousness that gives us access to areas of our biology that traditional practices do not take into account and do not comprehend. As Dacher (2006) explains, “our span is greater as we perceive the interconnection and interpenetration of mind, body, and spirit. An ease and lightness enter our life and cleanse our mind and body. In this manner, biological development progressively extends our ability to prevent mental distress and physical illness, enhances recovery from disease, and promotes integral health, happiness, and wholeness. This is the spectrum of biological flourishing” (Dacher, 2006, p.86). Thus, we can comprehend and explore the connection between spiritual, mental, and physical wellness.

Gaby

Reference

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.

UNIT 5 – Loving-Kindness Exercises vs. Subtle Mind Exercises

The Subtle Mind Exercises use controlled breathing as a focal point while exploring the essential nature of our mind to diminish involuntary thoughts, feelings, and images that penetrate our mind. The basic idea is to develop the ability to still the mind and have access to a witnessing consciousness that subsequently will evolve into the calming-abiding mind (Dacher, 2006, p. 65). In contrast, the Loving-Kindness Exercises aim is to diminishing focus on ourselves to be able to expand and enhance our concern for the welfare of those around us. The purpose of this practice is to develop a psychospiritual life that will reveal a natural and effortless higher consciousness vital for human flourishing. Moreover, the practice of Loving-Kindness will help us attract what we give and aid our path toward human flourishing by helping us live more fulfilling lives (Dacher, 2006, p. 65).

I didn’t experience frustration with any of the exercises, but I noticed that it’s harder for me to practice the Subtle Mind Exercises because they require more concentration. However, engaging on exercises that embrace all living beings and give my imagination a bit of freedom was a lot easier.

Gaby

Reference

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, Inc.