Unit 9 Final Project

Running Head: PERSONAL APPLICATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF HEALING

Personal Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing
April McNair
Kaplan University
Final Project

HW420-03
Professor Susan Johnson Stewart, Ph.D.
September 28, 2010














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?
Allowing our mind-body and spirit to interact in wholeness will bring great healing and wellness to all humans involved. This will also allow any individual to be able to deal with any type of situation that comes into their environment. Professionals must have a complete understanding on what health and wellness really should contain for their clients to receive the full benefit. Spirituality actually offers benefits to your life, psychologically and physically. Once you develop your spiritual you gain a sense of purpose being able to figure out where you are most passionate in, whether it is your profession, social, and or personal life. So if the health and wellness professionals develop in these three areas they will most likely be in a better position to understand the needs of others. No one is perfect; I will have to continue to develop in all three areas on a daily basis. Physically would be my more challenging task.
II Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
I started becoming aware of the sources of my needless suffering, distress, and dissatisfactions I may have. And focus on what it will take in order for me to get the resources necessary for my future development and flourishing. Spiritually I would give myself a score of 7 out of 10; Physically 5 out of 10; and psychologically 7 out 10. I am not perfect, and I will always continue to grow in all three areas daily. As a reference I would use Dacher’s six principles of integral assessment as a reminder of not missing any important steps during my process towards human flourishing.
III Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
Physically – I need to incorporate a daily regimen of exercise and stay active in doing so.
Psychologically – I need to continue changing my perspectives on situations that may bring stress into my life. Stay focus on positive things instead of negative, and learning how let go and not hold emotions in.
Spiritually – I will continue my growth in God’s Words, my faith, and prayer life. This is not an option for me; it is a must. Through any situation I experienced this was my strong suit.
IV Practices for personal health:
What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.
The essential steps of transformation through work, Yoga and meditation are what I would implement in order to foster growth physically, psychologically, and spiritually. I would first prepare my life daily by stabilizing my mind and opening my heart. Through out the day I would revisit the stillness and compassionate motivation for a few brief moments after my work serving others by becoming a healing presence for them. My intentions would be to use work as another practice, such as a spirit in action, and as a path to integral health. The more aligned the work environment is to my goal of an integral life the easier it will be. I would have to take it on as my own bringing it to integrity, consciousness, and compassion; reshaping my work as chosen (Dacher, 2006). Practicing these mindless steps daily will help me to reshape my mindset from old habits.
The practice of meditation daily would lead me to a deeper level of relaxation and contemplation. There are many important benefits of meditation; the most important is being able to release the stress from my body. In order to be free of constant worry, pressure and stress, practicing meditation will give me a life of calmness, peacefulness, happiness and relaxation. The practice of Yoga will assist me in managing and preventing stress, which is a combination of all three domains.
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?
I will continue to keep a journal of my process now that I am consciously ready and willing to take the necessary steps to practice long term health and wellness. I would also refer back to Dacher’s eight principals of integral practice. Also the additional resources, such as the Shambhala Center in Atlanta would be beneficial for me to get involved. This would be my support system for me to stay on progress.







References
Dacher, Elliott S. M.D. (2006) Integral Health the Path to Human Flourishing

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., and Micozzi, M.S. (2005) Consciousness & Healing:Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine
The Shambhala Centers
http://www.atlanta.shambhala.org
Retrieved: September 28, 2010