Unit 10 summary

1.        My personal evaluation scores as compared to Unit 3 have changed slightly.  Honestly, it has not been enough time for my physiological score to change much.  Spiritually, I would rate myself about the same as before as well.  Psychologically is where the improvement has taken place.  I can honestly say that my psychological evaluation score has gone up a notch.  Even though I have been very upfront that I did not like most of the exercises, a few of them hit home.  I believe that now I am a calmer and more focuses person.

2.       I have definitely set lofty goals.  I have not even come close to achieving them but I have started the journey.  My exercise has increased and I do meditate (believe it or not).  Whether or not I achieve the goals remains to be seen.  I plan to enjoy the ride.

3.       I have implemented exercise, meditation and increasing my spiritual awareness.  This is a daily routine.

4.       The whole class has been rewarding.  It has also been challenging.  As I stated, I have made no bones about the visualizations being challenging.  I do believe that every aspect of this class will help me be a better person and professional.   If nothing else, it has broadened my thoughts and horizons.

Mack

Unit 9: Final Project

Running Head:  Unit 9:  Final Project

Unit 9 Exercise

Creating Wellness:  The Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Charley Calvert

Kaplan University

HW 420

Professor Dorette Nysewander

April 26, 2011

          When one decides to become a health and wellness professional and teach others integral health practices, there are a few things that are a given.  One given is that the professional must practice what he/she preaches.  Although a health and wellness professional may not be a licensed physical trainer, psychologist or therapist, the practitioner will be instructing others in matters of holistic and integral health.  In this respect, a patient will want to be assured that the wellness professional is competent and that he/she can be trusted and knowledgeable.  With this in mind, it is of utmost importance that the wellness professional be a practitioner of health and wellness principles.

          When it comes to the practitioner’s psychological well-being, the patient will want to feel that the wellness professional is of sound mind and clearly been through or at least going through the steps of the Subtle Mind.  If we as practitioners are going to assist others in reaching inner peace and a more holistic well-being, we must be willing to attempt to reach unity consciousness through exercises that bring us through the witnessing mind and calm abiding to obtain this final level (Dacher, 2006).  It is very important to remember that not all practices and exercises are for everyone, even the wellness professional.  In the end, this is the reason that a patient will visit an integral health professional because one size does not fit all.  Since many meditation practices are new to the west, the wellness professional must be also well versed in Eastern practices as well. 

          When discussing spiritual well-being with patients, the wellness professional may have to walk on egg shells.  Of all of the aspects of integral health, often times spiritualism may be the touchiest.  It is important for the wellness professional to keep an open mind and to be well educated in as many major world religions as possible.  With this in mind, it is necessary for the wellness professional to be spiritually sound to have the ability to coach a patient in the importance of finding their spiritual center.  Humans are created with the need to believe in something that is bigger than themselves.  When confronted with life crisis, humans feel the need to turn to spiritual guidance for peace and comfort.  For the wellness professional to have the ability to coach or guide the patient through these life storms, the professional may have to give examples of how being spiritually sound can aid the patient in finding center or peace. 

         Where the psychological and spiritual well-being may be conveyed, the physical condition of the wellness professional is apparent.  Even though the physical aspect of the practitioner is only one third of the whole person, it is the one by which we will often be judged.  Nowhere is it written that the wellness professional need be a professional athlete, however, it is imperative that as a wellness professional we exude physical confidence and present ourselves as someone to whom exercise is not a foreign concept.  In a nutshell, no one wants to take exercise tips from someone who is overweight or obese.

          Finally, when presenting oneself to a patient, is must be apparent that we as professionals practice mind/body cross-training (Dacher, 2006).  Not only will this make a better impression on our clients but it will benefit the professional in his/her personal life.    As professionals, it will be easy to focus so much on our patients’ lives and problems and forget to maintain the integral practices in our own lives.

          Personally, I have assessed my own life in all three areas: psychologically, spiritually and physically.  Psychologically, on a 10 scale, I have rated myself as an 8.  Even before studying to become a health and wellness professional, I have practiced sound mind techniques most of my life.  While in the military, I held security clearances above top secret therefore my psychological stability had to be maintained.  The room for improvement lies in the obtaining the ability to guide others to psychological stability and well-being. 

          Spiritually, I rate myself about 7 to 7.5.  Although I am a Christian and reared in a Christian family, this can sometimes lead to closed mindedness and intolerance of other forms of spirituality.  The downfall lies in not being able to relate with persons of other faiths and the inability to coach or help these patients.  Personally, I know that I am spiritually sound but I must realize that I must be able to portray spiritual maturity to integral health patients without coming across as biased or condescending.

          Physically, my rating is 6-7 on a ten scale.  This is the area of my life where I am most critical of myself and for good cause.  As mentioned earlier, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.  I have a muscular build but my cardio needs much improvement.  My goal is to make such a first impression on a potential client when they walk through the door that they are confident beyond any doubt that I can help them achieve their goal.

          I have many goals when it comes to my total integral health.  Psychologically, my area of improvement is, and I hate to admit it, temper control.  For the most part, I am like a duck, calm on the surface but paddling like crazy beneath the surface.  I know from prior classes that I am an exploder.  I lose my temper quick but get over it quick as well.  Unfortunately, I often frighten people unintentionally because of my size and temper.  My goal is to become so at peace using the meditation and subtle mind practices that my temper becomes a thing of the past.  I hope to one day lose my temper and never find it again.

          Spiritually, I am confident in my own spirituality but I have a lofty goal.  My goal is to learn the basic premises of as many of the world’s major religions as possible.  Make no mistake, I do not intend to participate in them but I feel that if I know them and the background of them, I will be a much better person and wellness professional for it.

          Physically, my goal is simply to improve my cardio conditioning.  As stated before, your physique is the first thing a client will notice even before you open your mouth and hold out your hand.  Even with bad knees, I have a lofty goal of running a 5k race within a year.  For many, 3.1 miles may not be a feat but for a guy with bad knees, it will be a challenge but it is one that I am determined to accomplish. 

          Practices to foster growth in the past have been a shortcoming.  With the lessons and motivations learned in Creating Wellness:  Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing, I now can attack each day with confidence.  Psychologically, I now practice meditation and centering on a daily basis.  Many have asked how I do this while driving.  As an integral professional, I have learned that in the Witnessing Mind, you make note of the things around you but do not let them distract you.  While driving, I am not driving blind while meditating.  I still notice the traffic and things around me but it is great practice not to let them disturb you or (working on my temper) make you upset or aggravated. 

          Spirituality is the aspect that is the toughest for me to add daily practices.  As a Christian, I pray and meditate daily but I often wonder if it is enough.  I practice my faith also by reading the Holy Bible but often these practices become more habit than spiritually nurturing.  To further my spiritual well-being, I have added focusing and centering on inter peace to these daily practices.  To find peace with the world and those around you, you must first be at peace with yourself.  This is my often my dilemma.  Many of us have done things under the color of law or for the flag which we often find hard to forgive even of ourselves. 

          Physically the goals and plans are easy.  It is the action that is difficult.  Two things that I have added to my daily routine, among others, is a daily walk and twice weekly weight training.  Running is added when my knees permit.  In addition, I now park at the far end of the parking lot at work.  I also make it a practice to walk to my vehicle during lunch to take my cooler to the vehicle.  This provides me with added exercise each day.  Since I work on the second floor, I now often take the stairs as added cardio training. 

          In the short term, each I assess each part of my integral health on a daily basis.  Each evening I do a mental inventory of both shortcomings and accomplishments.  Psychologically, in the next six months, I intend to notice a drastic decline in outburst as well as making marked improvements in gaining Unity Consciousness.  My long term outcome will be graded as to whether or not my temper disappears and I can achieve the complete spectrum of the Subtle Mind.  Spiritually, daily I strive to obtain inner peace and peace with my surroundings.  My six month goal is to achieve personal peace with the long term goal of total peace and harmony with my surroundings especially with my most challenging aspect, my family.  Physically, I measure each day by small accomplishments.  I do not have a six month goal but as stated earlier, my one year goal is to run a 3.1 mile race.  My longer term goal is to be the old guy that you see that is still fit, vigorous and vital.  My overall goal is to achieve the unachievable, total peace and success.

References

Dacher, E.S. (2006)  Integral Health:  The Path to Human Flourishing.  Basic Health Publications

         

Finding Peace (Unit 8 Blog)

As many of you know from reading my prior blogs, I have not been a big fan of the visualization exercises.  I have a real problem envisioning a light coming out of my belly button.  If I have to pick two of the exercises (which I do), I would have to say that the Subtle Mind and Loving Kindness exercises are the most beneficial of the exercises that I have tried.  The main reason for this is that the sound of the ocean in the background and the silent times allow my mind to drift from the troubles (or traffic since I am usually driving) and relax.  These are most beneficial also because they allow you to focus and concentrate on something other than your problems without the feeling that I have to start chanting “hummmm”.  I believe that the main purpose of any of these exercises is to find your center, that place where you can let it all go.  Some call this your quan or your chi.  I call it that place in the center of your being where you can find peace and harmony with all that is around you or within you.  I may have some arguments here but I believe that it all has to start with finding peace within your own self.  If you are not at peace with your own self, how can you be at peace with the world around you? 

Mack

"Meeting Asciepius"

The visualization "Meeting Asciepius" actually took a step back for me.  The last couple of weeks I could tolerate the exercises but this week it took a nose dive.  I don’t do well imagining a “great” one.  My meditative practice for the week takes place during my hour long drive to and from work.  This may seem like a contradiction but it actually allows me time to focus, clear my head and either get ready for or recover from the day. 

"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself.”  Simply stated, a guide is hired because he or she knows the route.  The only way to know a route is to travel down that path.  As a Health and Wellness professional, we need to practice what we preach.  Patients are not going to take health advice seriously from an obese professional.  Also, if the Health and Wellness professional’s psychological and spiritual state is not well; the patient can pick up on this also.  Even if we (or I) don’t like some of the visualizations, it is important for use to at least try and be familiar with them.  This is evident in the blogs of the students.  Not everything works for everybody.  We are all individuals and as such have individual likes and dislikes.  I will us myself as an example of this.  I have made no bones about the fact that I do not like the visualizations but as a professional (or at least aspiring professional), it is my obligation to be at least familiar with them so that I can offer them to clients.  On the other side of the coin, in last week’s blog I mentioned that I was starting something new.  Bad knees and all, I have started another exercise program that includes running.  This is huge because I haven’t run since Reagan was president. In addition, I am taking time each day just to veg.  This is my way of clearing my head and improving my psychological and spiritual well-being.   

Loving Kindness and Integral Assessment

Loving Kindness

I guess that I am at least being consistent with my exercises.  I felt like an idiot saying the lines over and over.  Because of this I decided to work this from another angle and try something different.  Instead of saying the lines over and over, I decided to think the lines or say them in my head.  The main thing that I tried to achieve from the exercise was to achieve calmness (and lower my blood pressure from being irritated).  After all, what good does it do to say something that you really don’t mean like wish others well when in your mind you are trying to figure out how to eliminate them without leaving any forensic evidence.  It was like counting to ten before you speak to keep from saying something that you will regret.  It did actually calm me a little.

Integral Assessment

I have two areas of my life that I decided that I need improvement.  The two areas are biological (fitness) and worldly (an idea I came up with while meditating).  Going back to last week’s blog, I had a “random” thought that I think important that I intend to follow up on and it’s a doozy.  Even though we were to choose one, the two (and I am being secretive about it) are interrelated.  While doing the meditation, I was actually able to formulate a plan of action and development from a single random thought while contemplating areas of my life that I need improvement.  As far as my plan of action for improvement, like I said, “it’s a secret”.  Part of the plan is a secret but as far as my physical improvement, I have developed a plan to increase exercise but still working on finding extra hours in the day and a deadline for my plan to turn into action.

Unit 5: Subtle Mind

When comparing Loving Kindness to the Subtle Mind exercises, the subtle mind wins only because the voice on the tape shuts up and you can hear the waves in the background.  The benefit that I got from the Subtle Mind was that the background noise was relaxing.  One thing about me is that I am an analytical person by nature.  I survive by letting my mind process the random thoughts that pop into my head so I really don’t want to do away with them.  When I have a problem that needs to be solved, I will consider the problem, usually once, then I go about my business and sooner or later a random thought will provide a solution.  I guess I’m trying to say that I do not want to do away with my random thoughts. 

Spiritual wellness is one of the three parts of the whole person.  In my humble opinion, spiritual wellness and mental wellness are often interrelated.  Often when I need mental clarity I will move to spiritual wellness to assist with this. 

P.S.  I know I'm supposed to attach the powerpoint project but I don't know how.

Loving Kindness

I hate to admit it, I honestly do, but I actually enjoyed and relaxed listening to Dacher's Loving Kindness audio.  Even though I am basically a physical reality type of person by nature, I connected to this audio.  This practice actually made sense.  I listened to the audio on my way to work this morning and my day went GREAT!  I had the best day that I have had in a while.  When you focus on others rather than yourself, when you give without worrying about receiving, when you put others first, all is in order.  I fully intend to continue the practice even listening to the audio over and over.  The breathing is a physical activity that I can activally participate in so therefore I feel as I have some control.  As a mental workout, I focused on the breathing and was actually able to try to foster good health and well-being, even to the people I really don't care about.

With all this being said, I would like to tell you a story.  Whether it's sports, career or even loving kindness, everyone needs a role model.  I have a role model for loving kindness that I would like to tell you about.  I would like to tell you about a lady named Lois.  Lois grew up a sharecroppers daughter mostly living hand to mouth.  She grew up and raised a family of her own.  Lois was the type of person who, no matter how little she had, she was always ready to give of herself or her posessions.  There were times when she barely had enough to feed her family, yet she would give food or money to others in need.  Later in life, she was blessed with better means.  This just meant that she gave more to others.  Not only did she give food or money but she gave freely of her time.  Lois was someone who practiced what she preached or believe even in the face of adversity.  In 2001, Lois answered the door for a young girl who claimed to be broken down and needed to use the phone.  Lois went to get the phone for the girl and when she returned to the door, she was attacked by 2 men.  The men taped her hands and ankles and struck her with a crowbar.  Then they demanded that she open her safe for them.  The men cut her phone wires, cut the valve stem on her tires (flattened them) and left her tied up and bleeding.  By the way, Lois at the time was recovering from heart surgery so she bled alot.  She managed to drive her car on flat tires to her sons house to call the police.  Three days later, the thugs were caught.  Here is the moral of the loving kindness story.  In their testimony, the thugs stated that even as they were robbing Lois, she prayed for them, not herself.  At the trial, Lois pleaded for the judge to show mercy to the young lady that got her to initially open the door while her grandson plotted to exact vengence.  The actions shown by Lois were true examples of loving kindness.  When Lois passed away, the country church was filled to standing room only with person after person giving testimony of how Lois had enriched and touched their lives with her loving kindness.  What better way to be remembered.  Just to let you know, I was the grandson plotting vengence.  Lois Calvert was my grandmother.  She passed away in November of 2009 surrounded by friends and family. 

In Memory of my Grandmother, Lois Calvert (1921-2009), The Most Loving and Kind person I have ever known.

Unit 3 Evaluation and Relaxation Audio

I hate rating myself but here goes.  Physically, I would rate myself somewhere between 7-8.  Psychologically, the only thing that keeps me out of the 10 ring is stress.  If I could reduce the stress in my life (a sack full of hundred dollar bills would do the trick) I would be close to a 10 but as I stand right now probably between 8-9.  This is because I only let stressors bother me briefly mainly because of my personality.  I find humor in most situations, even stress.  Spiritually, I don't think anyone ever reaches a 10 but I guess that it would depend on the individuals definition of spirituality.  Myself, I rate myself a 7.5.

My goals are pretty simplistic in nature.  Physically, I need to lose about 15-18 pounds to get back to my fighting weight (I mean that literally) of 262.  I have actually started the nutrition part of the process but listening to relaxation techniques and posting blogs takes up my evenings when I would normally exercise.  Psychologically, I have to learn how do deal with idiots better.  I have a very low tolerance of the slang word for donkeys.  They don't bother me for long because by nature I am an exploder and then it's over.  Spiritually is the tough one for me.  I am a Christian but at times I don't act it.  I let the world get the best of me.  I need to be more like a duck, calm on the surface but paddling like crazy beneath the surface. 

As stated above, exercise is the key for me physically.  More than anything, I would love the chance to get back into martial arts on a full time basis.  Psychologically, I just need to relax (spend more time at the beach).  Spiritually, I honestly just need to let go and trust more.

CRIME OF THE CENTURY:  I have to be honest, get real.  Once again, this is not my cup of tea.  Circles with colored lights coming out of my body to focus on to center myself.  I know that this may work for some but as I stated in the earlier post, I'm more hands on.  Put on the pads and spar.  If you don't center and focus you become a heavy bag with eyeballs.  Its great for cardio, flexibility, strength, endurance, focus, confidence and yes, centering.  I am just not the imaginative type for guided relaxation.

PS.  In case anyone wondered about some of my pics, I am extremely patriotic.  I am prior militiry (Army) and proud of it.  I stood before the flag and took an oath and there is no expiration date on an oath.

The Relaxation Project: Don't like it.

I hate to be the stick in the mud of the group but I'm not much on this type of relaxation technique.  This is the same audio that was in the Managing Stress class.  It's really hard for me to listen to another guy telling me what to do and relax.  It's just not in me.  I am a more sight and sound (in reality, not technologically) oriented person.  Hope not liking the audio presentation does not affect my grade.

My relaxation

As you can tell by my pictures (though they be few), I love to walk on the beach to clear my head as well as get some exercise.  I also practice martial arts (licensed tae kwon do instructor).  There's nothing like a good round of sparing to get your blood pumping and your mind focused.

Hey to my classmates.

To all my classmates @ Kaplan, feel free to join me here.  I'm new here so please be patient.

My first time to do this.

Just to let anyone know that comes here, I have no idea what I am doing but here goes.