Unit 10 Blog

Well everyone, this is our last Blog for this course, but least not make it our last communicational Blog!  Let’s keep it going.  I will be looking on these blogs and responding and posting whenever I can.  I hope you will join me.  I wish each and every one of you much success in your educational journey.  Good Luck and May God continue to bless each and every one of you!

Ann

Unit 10 Final Blog Post

1. Review your unit 3 personal assessment of your psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. Reflect on these areas. How did you score yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 in unit 3?

For psychological I scored myself as a 9.5 and I still am at that rating.  Some days I feel like I am dropping but I have to realize, regroup and remember that I need to be in self-control and that no one has control over me.  I am very good with displaying to others that their actions do not control me or what I do and this has put me in at wining level. 

For physical I rated myself an 8.5 and feel that I have increased my rating to at least a 9.  For example, when I first wrote this rating I could not do any pushups and my strength training was minimal.  I was also working on becoming a lot better in my spinning class.  To date I am proud to say that I have tremendous results.  Just the other day, I did 100 pushups; this initial posting was on 4/9 so in almost 2 months my strength has increased significantly.  My spinning classes have become less challenging and more beneficial, as I am able to get through them without hesitation and my 2-hour spin has improved over all as well.  My trainer has decided to increase my level of strength training so that I can strengthen my back and continue to build muscle mass.  So I am on my way.

Spiritual – In this area I rated myself a 9 and I am proud to say that I have increased my prayer practices and am working on meditation.  In this area, I would like to incorporate nature walks.  This type of exercise would allow me to focus on the most beautiful and natural things around me and help me to understand and accept nature’s creations.  This would allow me to understand natural factors in our lives without putting a material or monetary value on life.  Some things in life are free and worth just breathing and taking in the peace it brings.

My goal is to continue to increase my self-worth through progression in all of these areas and help others to see what I have accomplished so that I can help others accomplish them as well.

2. Review the goals and activities you set for yourself in each area. Have you made progress toward the goals?

I am making progress as you can see with the results above.  I have to keep in mind that I am human and that at times I may go backwards, but it is at that time I understand where I am, how I got there and how I can get back on track.  I believe that accepting responsibility for what I do and say would help me evolve in life and everything associated with it.  I only want to progress but it will take time and patience.  What I have to agree to is to do it and not be afraid of the end result.  I LOVE ME and that is the first step in progression in any assessment.  I want to live and I want to be happy, healthy and whole.  I WILL DO IT. 

3. Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain?  All but one, I need to start meditating more.  This is one area of my life that I would like to start implementing because I believe that it would help me to relax and not be overwhelmed or obnoxious.  I have found a website that offers meditation retreats and I am looking to going there this summer.  Otherwise, all other activities that I chose are implemented daily. 

4. Summarize your personal experience throughout this course. Have you developed improved well-being? What has been rewarding? What has been difficult? How will this experience improve your ability to assist others?

In completing this course, I have realized that I need to be happy with whom I am and I need to live for me first.  I have learned that it is ok to be person-centered without feeling selfish and foolish.  In understanding that I can live without being harsh on myself and understand that there must be acceptance and deliverance and I must be at the receiving end of them both.  I have learned that through this course, the main obstacle in life is control; control over what you do, what you say, how you handle circumstances and situations, how well you receive them and how your standing afterwards.   Strength is a mental ability that you must be capable of handling on your own before you can help others.

My theory of show and tell allows me to cultivate a successful life of health, happiness, and wholeness.  Not only through experience but through acceptance and responsibility; I am willing to live my life through planning and action.  It is the only way I will be successful.

Ann

Personal Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

I. Introduction

Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically?  What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

In order for health and wellness professionals to gain the respect and confidence of their patients they, themselves have to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically.  As a patient; they want to know that the professionals they are building a relationships with are experienced enough to understand who they are, what they have been through, what they are going through and how you will help them get through it without imposition.  As healthcare professionals, we have an obligation to ourselves first, than our patients, to consistently increase our knowledge coupled with our experiences in order to provide the best healthcare services possible. 

Personal experiences help us with wisdom, guidance and courage.  However, we must be conscientious not to force our own life experiences on our patients to a point where it may affect their healing ability.  We must “learn to listen and listen to learn” what our patients are telling us about themselves so that they know that they are involved in the healing process from beginning to end. 

Dacher states, A practitioner who listens deeply to an individual knows that the person will in time reveal to you and to themselves the deeper sources of their distress and the specific type of healing that is needed.  We do not need to invent something new, we merely need to remember the wisdom of the past and update it for our time. (Dacher, 2006)

As I continue to develop in these areas, I feel that I need to gain more experience psychologically and spiritually.  In these areas, I feel that my growth is contingent upon time and understanding of my own self and believing that the outcome would be mental and spiritual endurance.  In order for me to be successful, I must start with my own understanding in how they work in my life and how I can cultivate each one of them and not be hesitant about the outcome.  I need to learn how to be more confident and embrace the growth and knowledge that I gain so that I can be courageous in deliverance. My focus is to be understanding of what I endure so that I become strong in what I do and my inner strength displays as my outer confidence.

II. Assessment:

How have you assessed your health in each domain?  How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

I consider myself to be strong in many of these areas.  But, I am always a work in progress, striving to excel in excellence, it is attainable and I will achieve it in time. 

Spiritually I rate myself at a level 8 because I am a spiritual individual.  I know that there is a higher source that I can confide in that would lead me and guide me to do what is right.  But, I need to believe and lean more on my own understanding in my relationship with this divine power so that my strength increases and I maximize my growth inside and out.

Psychologically, I rate myself a 6.  Why, because my mind is so powerful and it has control over me.  While I believe that I am a realist, at times my thoughts lead me to believe that I am pessimistic.  I conjure thoughts that are not realistic and allow these false thoughts to manifest into my own reflection. 

In order for me to get stronger in this area, I need to engage in mental training.  In doing this I can adapt the processes of contemplative practice.  Understand my inner thoughts and control them so that they do not become my actions or responses.  I would like to mediate and pray more, I feel that this would be a great starting point for me.

Physically, I rate myself a 9 because I have insisted and acted on this being essential in my life.  I have completed committed myself to a healthy lifestyle change and being physically active is a large part of that.  Because exercise is a huge part of my life; I am not willing to allow anything to interfere with that.  It is a relief to a more challenging part of my life and it reduces a great deal of stress which helps me be more centered and focused on great health.  I plan to only go up in this area of my life, and increase my endurance, self-esteem, energy and overall health.

III. Goal Development

Physical – I would like to increase my agility and strength in this area.  At times I am a whirlwind but then there are times that I struggle through my regimen because of fear that I cannot do what’s set before me.  I have learned to consume positive thoughts and energy into my existence.  I begin with the end in mind and know that it’s a benefit not a liability.

Psychological – I would like to engage in mental training.  I would like this area of my life to be as intense as my physical area.  In order to do this, I would like to engage in meditation, allowing myself to release energy from my body through breathing, calmness and reflection.  Focus on where I am and where I would like to be.  Exert positive energy flow throughout my body and allow focus and stillness to be in my life for this allotted time.  This is the time I would utilize to reflect the patience and time I have for myself and my own self-improvement. 

Spiritual – I would like to engage in prayer more in my life, at least twice a day of private conversation with a higher source.  In doing this, I would release what’s inside to a higher source so that he can guide me and lead me to higher ground.  In  accomplishing this I will do the following; Thank him for what he has done and continue to do, Ask for forgiveness for the things that I have not done to his liking, and ask for what I need in order to become a better person. 

IV. Practices for Personal Health

Physical- Exercise is the best remedy to foster in this area of my life.  Exercise enables me to increase my strength, endurance, agility and health.  At this time I engage in physical exercise 4 days a week:

·        2-1 Hour Personal training sessions 2x a week + 2 additional days of strength training

·        2-45 Minute Spinning classes 2x a week + 1 2-hour spin class 1x a month

·        2-1 Hour Kick boxing/circuit training classes 2x a week

Physical exercise is essential to my health and well-being and I will continue to promote it as part of my lifestyle change.

Psychological – Time management and focusing is my prescription for this area of development in my life.  The two exercises that I would like to foster would be Meditation and Yoga.

While they are similar, I find that they can be utilized in different capacities.  I want to make time to even participate in retreats that offer these types of programs to beginners. The best way for me to engage in this type of exercise is to learn correctly through programs that force you to take time to engage in the activity itself.  This way there is no outside interference and my ability to focus my energy is not tampered with.

Spiritual – Prayer to me is a huge part of spiritual practices for me but I need to get back to where I once was in this aspect of my life.  I believe that this is the one opportunity that I can speak and be heard without conviction.  I believe that a higher source is involved and wants to engage in this conversation with me.  He only knows what I want, need and feel through our conversation.  His words are “Ask anything in my name and it shall be received, John 14:14”.  This is how I believe my inner growth will succeed.  I will implement this twice a day in my life, once in the morning and once in the evening; sort of a check in process to let myself know that your thoughts are important and this time is all for you.

Nature walks- Are another good regimen that I would like to foster because it brings freshness and variety to my life.  When I am outside I have the opportunity to breathe fresh air and enjoy beautiful scenery.  Sometimes this atmosphere alone can offer peace and calmness without distraction.  When you have the opportunity to look at your surroundings you focus on calmness and positive energy is absorbed into your space, it can be a moment of gratification.  

Taking a slow observant walk and creating a visual journal is a great way to implement this routine into my life and contribute to my inner energy as well.

V. Commitment

How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months?  What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

My commitment is to continue growth and development in all of these areas so that I strengthen myself.  In doing this I believe that I will attain higher levels of overall health and wellness for myself.  I believe that creating this will enable me to help others foster these elements into their own lives. 

My focus is to show them better than I can tell them and this thus far has worked for me.  My strategy is to show and tell.  Encourage people that everything is attainable and that believing in yourself first is all the success you need.  I want to empower, encourage and embrace myself so that others will follow my lead voluntarily.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm”

                                                                                                               Winston Churchill

Subtle mind and meditation

I have chosen subtle mind because I feel that in this practice you take notice of the distractions around you but it doesn't consume you.  You can acknowledge what is going on but resume back to focusing on your inner thoughts.  Meditation I find to definitely be helpful because this is stillness.  In meditation if causes you to focus on positive energy and releases you of any negativity.  I find both of these practices to be beneficial because it allows you to focus your inner and outer self not enabling you to gain self-control over yourself and your thoughts.  Fostering both of these exercises are great to implement into my life.  I am in a very challenging career, its very fast paced and demanding, both physically and mentally.  Implementation of these practices for me would be breathing and focusing.  Examples of meditation would be prayer, prayer is a conversation between me and God and it allows me to speak freely without conviction.  In doing this I am being heard without interruption and at the same time I am asking for guidance.  In meditation it is a matter of calm abiding and stillness.  The type of example for this is yoga, it allows for calmness and your stillness through focused movements that release negative energy.  While I have never considered these practices, since this course, I have engaged in these practices more and more and I am enjoying the effects of each one of these.  I look forward to implementing these practices in my daily life and in my professional life as well as implementing them with my staff members and co-workers.  I am positive that it could contribute to an less hostile and intense environment.

Ann

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Blog post:Visualization

In this weeks meditation, I have to say that my choice was my mother. When I think of strength, patience, guidance, agility and so much more I think of my mother. She was all and more of who I am. This week was trying for me, while I am so busy trying to focus on a subtle mind through contemplative practice, I need to work on other areas in my life such as dealing with people and accepting and understanding their difference. I feel that that is a large area in which I have to grow. I don't know if this practice was coincidence or intentional. Whatever it was it is what I needed to practice this week. Both meditation and mindfulness is essential to my overall health and wellness. This is because, these concepts help me to be aware of things going on in my life. Through these concepts I am more susceptible of adapting to successful inner change. Like I've said before, I am a work in progress and I want to get better. In order for me to foster these concepts into my life, againg I have to be willing, able, and accepting of change and what it will being to me and for me.

"One cannot lead another where one has not gone" to me states that experience is a great teacher. If I have not done it than Surely I can not walk you through it and discuss the outcome, if I myself have not done it. The best I can describe it is how I achieved my successful weight loss. To this date and for well over a year I have been talking to people about health and nutrition. I could not get anyone to commit to making better lifestyle change. Therefore I decided to be my own protege and commit to my own lifestyle change. In doing this I successfully lost 30lbs and a minium of 10inches. I now am a poster child for many peoples they try to understand my discipline and dedication to greater health. As a leader in healthcare I feel that it is essential to always increase your knowledge, whether it be through education or real experience, to always provide exceptional service to your clients/patients so that they are comfortable sharing their experience and confiding their experiences and care to you.

I van implement these concepts through understanding life and how I endure, conquer, and evolve through experience. Chance Nd change offers both, I need to be accepting of both.

Thought of the Day

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure-which is: Try to please everybody.
                   

                                        Herbert B. Swope

Loving Kindness and Integral Assessment

This weeks exercise has allowed me to sit quietly and focus on what has transpired in the past week.  While I have loving-kindness for my family this exercise is asking to go beyond that.  When I try to focus on extending loving-kindness to others I feel that its something that would need to be reciprocated.  I feel this way because while our generosity can be contagious we never know if its a good or bad thing towards others.  This week while extending loving-kindness; my way of doing this, was focusing on the subtle mind and just passing over things that could be disruptive.  As a matter of fact, this week was quite intense and it was definitely a good way to complete this type of exercise.  But I wonder, can loving kindness be extended to those who do not have or find love and kindness in their heart?  Can what I do be contagious and it be adapted by others?
In completing the Integral Assessment, I was able to focus more on what it is that I need to work more on.  In this aspect I feel that I need to develop more in the Interpersonal phase, this is the most difficult for me.  While many people I come in contact with feel that I am a people person; I feel that I am far from it.  Being around people all day simply makes me want to spend more time by myself so that I can regroup and grow within myself.  Many times I set up my guard because I don't want to socialize, I don't want to meet new people and I don't want to engage in what people have to say.  However, I am working on this and I am beginning to engage in socializing more often. 
The area in my life that is ready for growth and development is Biological.  I feel that I do really well in this area in my life and am improving more and more everyday.  I enjoy evolving in my nutrition and exercise and feel that I am getting stronger and more knowledgeable everyday.  I am excited to travel the road in this area of my life and look forward to where it will lead me.
As of right now I would like to foster more meditation in my life.  This could be in the form of prayer, yogi, or diaphragmatic breathing.  This would help me to get through tough times and help me to handle situations that I have no control over even better.  It will enable me to become more engaged in self control.

Ann

Subtle Mind

I have to be honest, I could compare the two Loving Kindness and the Subtle mind exercise in the beginning as soothing and relaxing.  However, at first I thought it was the component in which I was listening to but then changed to another one; just to realize that the static was apart of this exercise.  In the beginning I was relaxed and concentrating on my breathing, it was peaceful and quite.  Than I got startled when I heard the static, my heart starting pounding and I felt that I was out of sort.  I could not get myself together and found it to be rather annoying and loud.  I could not find myself relaxing, honestly I could not focus while this static was going on.  I even jumped and become a little nervous!

I have to be honest, I could not find any wellness at all because of the static, I feel that it was so distracting that I could not continue to engage in finding my relaxation point and found it to be unnerving.  However, I guess this was the focal point, learning how to focus on breathing and mentally moving those distracting things away from your thoughts.  Something likes this has always manifested in my life and I guess its like that because I have allowed the distraction to be so much larger than what it really is.  Many times, its just that a distraction and I have to learn how to put it out of my mind and out of my sight and focus on whats at hand.  I believe that I can utilize this type of exercise to increase my physical endurance.  Concentrating on breathing and allowing that to be the focus and large part of what I do instead of allowing fear to paralyze me.
After writing this and realizing, this exercise was beneficial after all because I realize that I need to have more strength in my concentration level than in my distraction level.

Ann

My Reaction to the Loving Kindness exercise

Good evening all,

My reaction to the loving kindness exercise this week has enabled me to reflect on this past week.  I focused on what kindness and love have I displayed to others so that they in turn may do the same.  At work we all attended a funeral for an employee of 32 years, while it was sad, it was a time of socializing that took place and it allowed us to bond with each other.  I laughed, talked, and expressed myself freely without criticism.  For a group that I so long had been an outsider too, I had the opportunity for them to see who I am and that I was just fine with being apart of their circle as well as not being a part of it.  Displaying love and kindness to my staff members allowed me to show a accepting side of me, one that shows I am equal too not better than or less than my counter parts. I have found this exercise to be benefical and one that could be utilized daily.  I would definitely recommend this to others as well as share the CD, as it is sometimes better to allow them to share the same experience for themselves.

Mental Workout allows us the opportunity to always train our mind and improve our mental stability.  Research has shown that when we stop practicing, we will see a drop off in our conditioning whether physical or mental.  So perseverance is necessary.

In fostering Mental workouts in my  psychological health would allow me the chance to stand still and think consciously about what is going on in my life and what I am doing to enhance and or hinder the progression of my mental growth.  Doing mental workouts gives my brain the chance to workout and recovery from daily activities like my body does.  One must create equality, this includes the mind-body-spirit connect, in order to have happiness, wholeness, and peace.

Ann
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly"  Robert F. Kennedy

Blog Questions

Good Day
Reflective Statement:  What obstacle will keep you from reaching your goal????

As I respond to the following questions; I am pleased to say that over the past year, I have come a long way.  In doing so, I've made the final decision to make a lifestyle change.  As a result, I am glad to say that I am loving life and looking forward to what's in store for me.  I am incorporating more and more physical activity into my life and am striving to be the best that I can be and progression gets me through it all.

On a scale of 1-10 I feel that my physical well being is currently an 8.5.  I am partaking in becoming more experienced in spinning and learning how to perfect my form, so that I can become more efficient.  As well I have started working out with a personal trainer to help me increase my strength endurance.  I have always been a spiritual person, it is the way I have been raised.  I rate myself at least a 9, because I am evolving in this area everyday and expectations for this only increases.  I only want to improve in this area not regress.  Psychologically I was always doing what people wanted me to do or at least thinking that I need to be a people person.  I had to realize that I need to do what's right for me and be happy with my decisions, that makes me a stronger and wiser individual.  I am glad to say that my rating for this area in my life is about a 9.5.  Most people see that as my being mean, I see it as my being strong and confident.

The goals that I have developed for each of these areas are:
Physical: continue to strengthen in physical endurance and don't give up but give it my all
Spiritual: continue to increase and allow my relationship with God to evolve, I want to please him and him only
Psychological: Taking time to breath and accepting my thoughts and actions as my own

The exercises that I would like to implement-as I have already started-in my life are:
Physical - strength endurance and body atonement
Spiritual - more quite time to pray and listen to what I say and what God is telling me
Psychological - engage more in breathing techniques, as they will help increase my ability to be calm so that I can think clearly

The Crime of the Century Exercise was very relaxing.  I guess I could have done this in the beginning of the day, but I chose to do it in the evening.  When I was doing this, I felt that as I became more and more calm, I was being pulled.  Concentrating on my breathing did not allow room for negative or bad thoughts.  It is at this time where I have a blank canvas and I paint my own picture of silence.  For the first time, I have nothing to say, I just engage in a relaxing moment of silence and tranquility.  I thought that this was beneficial because it relaxed me and I feel that this exercise influenced that.

N Shape

Journey On Relaxation Exercise

This was quite an experience.  As the narrator stated, my hands became warm and my arms heavy.  As I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing and blood flow, I became extremely relaxed.  It is very amazing to know that when I concentrate on breathing and I am in a relaxed state of mind, I have no negative thoughts going through my head.  As a matter of fact, I have no thoughts at all, my mind is completely blank! 
Question:  Do you ever relax so much that you have no thoughts running through your head?  Or are you in such a disarray that you are unable to relax completely? Allowing your body and mind to connect naturally.

Tell me what you think?

Ann

Reflective Statement

Life is what's happening while you are busy planning!  Let's not waste time thinking about what we do, let's be like NIKE, and JUST DO IT!

"Begin with the end in mind" Franklin Covey..Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Welcome!

Good Day Everyone,

Welcome to my blog, NShape!  I hope that I can chat with you all about things that help you get in shape.  This includes physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.  I am not an expert, but my experience puts me close enough.  Look forward to talking with you!

Ann

Change: Permanent or Just for Now???

Good Afternoon Everyone,

People so often say, I want to lose weight!  I have an event to attend, I have an outfit that I need to get into!  Do you eat to feed your body or feed your soul?  Many of us do the latter and obesity or- to be a little nicer-overweight is the result of it. 

People we must gain control over our mind, body, and spirit and learn how to balance it all.  Once you do this, you will learn that diet is the daily intake of food.  Not something you do to lose weight!

So let's get that politically nasty word out of our vocabulary and lets start living our lives to the fullest by understanding who WE are and what WE need to be successful in all aspects of our lives.  When you do this people will begin to see how happy and fulfilled you are from the inside out.

Come on, what do you say?  Lets try it NOW!!!!

Learn to love yourself UNCONDITIONALLY!!!!!

Add caption

Ann

N Shape

Good Afternoon Everyone,

As I sit here typing, I ask the very same question to you that I asked myself last year?  How is your health?  Is it where you want it to be or are you just sitting there thinking about it?