Unit 9 - Final

                                                                                                                       

Integral Health

The Path to Human Flourishing

Carrie Lawson

Kaplan University

HW420-01 Creating Wellness – Psychological & Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Professor: J. Ernest Aguilar, M.Div., Ph.D.

Introduction

            Contemporary society is in the midst of a dawning new age in human flourishing. As experts in the field, health and wellness professionals are in a position to lead us into this new age. In order for this to occur, it is important that practitioners not only keep pace with the change already in progress, but seek their own full potential in order to mentor those that they serve. As Dacher stated, “this type of change occurs infrequently, yet when  it does, it requires that we step up to a new vision, grow our consciousness, expand our capacity, and develop new skills and abilities” (2006). This process must be transformative and must be applied to one’s own life if we expect to be part of the change and evolution towards integral health. We must learn before we can teach. Transformation is evolutionary, developmental, and vertical in direction. In order to evolve we must expand our current approach to health and wellness to a totally holistic approach that reaches out to all aspects of the human experience – physical, psychological, and spiritual (Dacher, 2006).

            On a personal level, I can honestly say that I need to further develop all three aspects of integral health. As is human nature, I have progressed in some areas over the years and then regressed to a former state. I have been my own worst enemy at times, hiding behind rationalizations that kept me in destructive and dysfunctional patterns of thought and reactive to my environment rather than intentional towards it. Having recognized these things about myself, I am in a better position to continue the work of transformation. Spiritually, I might say that I have been hiding for some years, hesitant to voice my beliefs because they are not mainstream Christianity. I feel now, that I am comfortable with the Buddhist path I am taking and eager to learn and evolve.

Assessment

           

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            From a biological standpoint, I would assess my current state as a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. While I am conscious of making better nutritional choices and limiting intake of caffeine and other undesirable substances, I have yet to fully give up smoking which, in my opinion, undermines my advances in other areas of biological health. My exercise routine is improving as I have moved to an area that is close to several parks and the river. I also have four dogs, which assist in keeping me motivated. When I may not feel like that extra walk, their pleading expressions get me up and moving. I have lost about ten pounds of my fifteen pound goal simply by walking the dogs, hiking the parks, and doing yard work the past couple of months. This was a pleasant surprise, as I expected it to be more of a challenge, but I find that my positive attitude is doing me wonders and I am a nature lover, so having these parks nearby is more of a treat for me than simply a place to exercise.

            Psychologically, I would assess my progress at a 7. As I mentioned in the introduction, I spent a good number of years not recognizing the disruptive and dysfunctional thought processes I had come to accept as normal. It is a difficult task to change your thought processes, but it can be done with recognition of negative thoughts and redirection into positive thoughts. My ongoing work with cognitive behavior modification, I feel, is helping me to recognize and attain a witnessing mind, although I know it will take considerable practice and intention on my part to continue the process through calm abiding and beyond. I am content to spend as long as necessary on the repetitive steps and be kind to myself in the process as it is so inspiring to be freed from the idea that we will remain as we have been conditioned to think and feel about ourselves and the world.

            Spiritually, I will say I am at a 7 as well for several reasons. I am at a point in my life that I understand myself and my personal beliefs more than ever before. This is especially enlightening for me because I no longer feel the need or desire to have anyone else’s approval

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nor do I fear their disapproval. Our society has, for the most part, kept a closed mind to cultures and spiritual (religious) practices that are different from mainstream Christianity. Even as a child, I wondered how a small segment of people could be saved and millions of others damned. This simply never made sense to me and henceforth I shunned organized religion.  I did not shun spirituality, however, and have spent many years interested in world cultures and their unique spiritual practices. At some point I had my own epiphany and embraced that we are all on our own path to the same destination – we may choose different ways to get there, but we all make it in the end. I have much to learn yet on this path, but no longer feel confused by the ambiguity of it all. Rather, I feel that it is something to embrace – to each, their own and loving-kindness will get us there.

Goal Development

            My primary goal for physical wellness at this time is to quit smoking. I have done so before, so it is not a matter of doing it, but a matter of commitment not to revert to old habits. I feel that I am better equipped psychologically now to be permanently successful. I have been using a different approach this time – affirmations of being a non-smoker and I have been able to cut down without quitting altogether. In addition, I plan to broaden my physical fitness routine by adding strength training exercises that I have been neglecting since I broke my wrist two years ago, and increasing my cardio. To this end, I will incorporate my dogs again, taking them on mountain bike excursions. They always increase my motivation and add enjoyment to the activity.

            Psychologically, I feel that I am on the right track but I need to continue monitoring my thought processes, positive affirmations, and stress level. The greatest gift I have given myself through my journey into self-actualization is patience. I know that I can revert into old thought patterns and am prone to depressive episodes, so I have learned to be constantly aware of what

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type of thoughts I am having and redirect negative ones. My goal then is to completely change my habitual thought patterns from negative to positive – to the point that policing my own thoughts will no longer be necessary.

            Spiritually, I am still on a quest for knowledge and therefore will continue on that path. What has changed, it seems, is that I now have a direction whereas before I likened it to wandering blindly in the dark looking for a light to lead me in the right direction. I have long desired to have the time to do more in-depth study into the Buddhist teachings, and this is my current goal – to make the time and take the journey. I feel that this is the right path for me, and I am inspired to take it.

Practices for Personal Health

            Practices to foster growth are so numerous that it is difficult to choose. Aside from the practical areas of physical improvement such as exercise, strength training, better nutritional choices, etc., I plan to incorporate positive affirmations and visualization into the physical domain. “I am well” is a powerful affirmation when one believes it to be true. Visualizing the healing of the physical self can also be a powerful tool. One such guided exercise, similar to one discussed in this course, is using the power of colorful auras to promote health in specific areas of the body. This visualization ends being surrounded in pure, warm, healing, white light and is one of my favorites.

            Contemplative practice will be my focus for psychological and spiritual growth. The exercises we have done for this course: Loving kindness, Subtle Mind, & Meeting Asclepius, were very helpful to me and I will continue to use them  (Dacher, 2006). Meeting Asclepius was a bit of an epiphany for me as I chose the Dalai Lama as my symbol of a wise teacher and found this exercise very enlightening. I feel that I would benefit from the presence of a mentor and to that end have decided to take the leap I have been contemplating for a while and contact the

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Ekoji Buddhist Sangha here in Richmond and attend one of the group sessions. I researched the offerings of the sangha for a project in another course, and while I found it intriguing and welcoming, I did not attend. I feel that if I am to be serious about pursuing integral health, this is a step I must take. There is also a Unitarian church in town that my son and I have been meaning to visit. Although I am not much for organized religion, this congregation is a mixture of people with different religious beliefs and practices that come together under one roof. I feel that my next step should be to meet people on the same path and in the process involve myself in helping others. These activities and the people I will become involved with through these activities will bring me out of the closet, so to speak, and encourage commitment and action.

Commitment

            It is easy to become inspired and make plans; it is also common to see plan fall by the wayside when our daily lives rear their time-consuming heads. I could say I will keep a journal of my activities and meditations, nutrition goals and successes, thoughts and feelings. I could, but from past experience, I know that I won’t. The commitment and practice has to come from within me, I must simply decide that I will be dedicated to my journey and see it through. That may not be what I am supposed to say, but I know it be the truth. This course has had some eye-opening moments for me – exercises that shed glimpses I had not managed to see before of the serenity that can be ours if we commit to it. Mostly, this course has given me validation that I really was on the right path, and just not listening to what I already knew. I am unique and so is my path. It’s up to me, whether to accept the challenge and responsibility of actualizing my potential. I will be kind and patient to myself and others and see where this journey leads me.

Mind is the forerunner of all actions.
All deeds are led by mind, created by mind.
If one speaks or acts with a serene mind, happiness follows,
As surely as one’s shadow.
   ~Dhammapada 1:2

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Reference:

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA:

     Basic Health Publications.