Final Project

The Importance of Being Psychologically, Spiritually and Physically Apt for Health and Wellness Professionals

Integral medicine recognizes that human beings possess emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions that are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the quest for wellness.

Physical wellness is the capacity to maintain a healthy quality of life to perform daily activities without excessive fatigue or physical stress. Psychological wellness can be described as the ability to understand ourselves and cope with life’s inescapable challenges. Spiritual wellness refers to the ability to establish peace and harmony in our lives as well as values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives while establishing congruency between values and actions, considered to be the search for meaning and purpose in human existence. Wellness has been defined as the condition of being in optimum health, a holistic blend of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The combination of the three requires personal responsibility and commitment. It is the result of consciously choosing to live a quality life through natural health practices as a life-long journey to an ideal state of physical and mental health (Boyer, 2008).

For health and wellness professionals, exploring psychospiritual flourishing can be the foundation of understanding patients or clients, gaining an in depth, holistic insight of their situation, building and developing from the inside at the inner core of the individual which will reflect on the outside an ultimately positively contribute to the healing process.  For an individual to portray strong and healthy outside behavior, working from the inside first is necessary (Dacher, 2006, p.59).  As a health and wellness professional, I have an obligation to my clients to be continuously developing my health psychologically, physically, and spiritually. They are my ultimate motivation to stay and look healthy so I serve as an example and inspiration of commitment and self-determination. By continuously improving physically and mentally in ways that clearly show physical, mental health and spirituality, I can be a role model to others so they realize that reaching optimal wellness is not only a desirable state, it is also attainable.

Achieving Optimal Wellness

Research reveals that the fully developed mind is a precise and sensitive instrument for inner inquiry, mind/body self-regulation, and the cultivation of the qualities of human flourishing, health, happiness, and wholeness. Similarly, mental training can transform the mind by reducing disturbing emotions while enhancing positive emotions such as patience, loving kindness, openness, acceptance, and happiness. This mental transformation, acting through the mind/body connection, provides enhanced resistance to mental distress and physical disease, expands our healing capacities, and promotes well-being, which is critical information for health and wellness professionals (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005).  Although proper nutrition, fitness, spirituality and inner peace have always been a priority for me, I am still experiencing high levels of stress and working on too many project simultaneously.

My ultimate goal is to have a balanced life and enough time to meet professional and academic demands, enjoy healthy relationships, relaxation, recreational activities plus the ability to face challenges in a constructive and positive way. Beyond opting for a take-charge approach and maintaining a positive attitude, I have found that it is possible to reduce stress by nurturing myself and prioritizing what is really important, so I am ready to confront life’s stressors when they inevitably appear.

      Spiritual, Psychological and Spiritual Wellness: Assessment and Goal Development

      Studies show that feelings caused by high stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, helplessness, powerlessness, and essentially all disturbing mental activity are reflected in disturbed physiology. When the mind is chronically disturbed, the shaping of our physiology

becomes increasingly permanent and destructive to our health. These are significant factors to consider when trying to reach and maintain an optimal state of wellness (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005). To obtain a better perception of where my spiritual wellness, physical wellness and psychological wellness are, I utilized the Dacher’s Integral Assessment. This assessment helped me determine where I really stand health and wellness wise (Dacher, 2006). The assessment revealed that my physical wellbeing is 9 since I make good nutrition and fitness a priority, so my goal is to maintain the same level of commitment by keeping a food journal and exercising 6 days a week. My spiritual well-being is also 9. I have found and nourished spirituality and inner peace, especially after taking this class.  My goal is also to maintain the same level of commitment by enhancing my spirituality through participating in more charitable events. The psychological well-being reveals a 6 because I am still experiencing high levels of stress and working on too many projects simultaneously. However, I do manage stress well and I am proactive about finding ways to relax. My goal in this respect is to apply even more effective meditation and relaxation techniques to attain a true sense of balance.

Fostering Growth in Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual Domains of Wellness

To foster greater wellness in this area, my high levels of stress, I will practice relaxation techniques as often as necessary and try to attain a true sense of balance. I will also develop a strong network of positive, exciting friends and family members that would brighten my spirit and bring humor to my life, relaxing my body and mind, practicing breathing exercises, listening to soothing music, getting a massage and a hot bath, aromatherapy, and yoga have helped significantly whenever I have tried to reduce stress-inducing thoughts and behaviors.

In my personal life, I utilize the concept of witnessing mind by meditating and exploring events in my life, those that I should maintain and the ones I should change. I do that mostly through impartial observation of recognizing my feelings as they occur. I explore the calm-abiding mind by practicing breathing, relaxation exercises and also meditation, sometimes through yoga which provide stable stillness of the mind and undisturbed thoughts. Unity consciousness mostly by visualization as I create a setting that would help me explore my inner Self. Through mind/body and spiritual healing as well as applying love, gratefulness, and forgiveness I try to shift from an automatic system that is generally culturally imposed and try to replace negative feelings with positive feelings using consciousness and intention and try to merge my physical and inner Selves to a state of true homeostasis.

                                                                        Commitment

            Although I am a marked type A personality, I do apply Dacher’s (2006) theoretical and practical views mind/body connection. I follow all of the practices she mentions and although I am a major fitness fan, when I face highly stressful situations, I “gently force myself” to relax, meditate, and/or practice yoga until I find and maintain that crucial connection that invariable transcends from spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. I will apply self-management strategies to develop a clear understanding of the relationship of events and circumstances that trigger and maintain problem behavior and to maintain new behavior. I will look for ways to avoid temptation replacing old habits with more positive actions and rewarding myself when successfully avoiding a relapse. I have unequivocally become aware of the wholeness of my Self as my physical, psychological, and spiritual connection reveals the need to identify, build and restore what may need to be adjusted to foster a long-lasting optimal state of health and wellness.

References

Boyer, B.A. (2008). Comprehensive Handbook of Clinical HealthPsychology. Hoboken, NJ:

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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).     Preface.   Consciousness & Healing: Integral

Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Inc.