Looking back, and growing forward on this experience

After reviewing my Unit 3 assessment of Physical Well being score of a 7, Spiritually scored myself as an 8, and Psychological well being was scored as a 5, I reflected upon what I learned and reassessed myself to a much higher score in all three categories, I would score myself as an 8 for all three now. There is still room for improvement, as I have learned many techniques and various information within integral health, and consciousness of healing.
I have made progress from my goals set, as I have continued my love for hiking trails, and meditation more frequently as I have learned so much about its healing aspects for myself. I feel so much better after meditation, and I believe that it should be part of your daily regimen.
I have incorporated exercise, eating better as I consume more fruits and vegetables. I am still trying to lose more weight, but I also have added my dad to my support group, and I am his. Together, we are going to work on a healthier lifestyle.
I work a schedule from 8am to 10pm. and this leaves alot of time for snacking. However, I have started packing a snack and lunch to eat during the day. Also, I am drinking more water, as I haven't in the past. Black tea and green tea are consumed instead of way too much coffee.
My experience in this course has been truly life altering. I have developed an improvement to well-being, as my journey towards change is instilled within my mind. The knowledge has been rewarding in many ways. But most importantly, I have understood that I cannot heal others until I take a time out, heal myself into a new consciousness so that I am a better person, with awareness, and my own journey to health.
The most difficult part of this class is to accept this blog entry and start up. I am a private person, and believe that blogs are for people who like to be nosy. However, I understand that this is a great way to reach out to people to help them understand what you know, or learned. This experience will take be forward as I continue onto a life full of rewards, positive behavior, and memories and resources to carry me through with information to cherish and rekindle loving kindness video for a reminder, and something to share with others.

The end of this path, begins a new journey....

1. Introduction:
   It is of its most importance for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically because without all of these traits, a professional could not help others without the experience of helping yourself first. Psychologically, a professional needs to be in a mindful place of normality. Spiritually is very important if not more, as with this one would feel calm, peace, and mindfulness. The areas in which I need to develop to achieve the goals that I have for myself are to Physically be in great health and in good shape. Losing a few pounds, exercising regularly, and eating a proper diet is essential for feeling physically well. Spiritually I will keep growing and learning more ways to enrich my spirituality. However, psychologically, I need the most growth. I cannot help others until I have overcome my own negative responses to life challenges.

2. Assessment:
   I have assessed my health in each domain. I score my wellness spiritually as a 7, as I need to fulfill my needs to better myself in this category by making time for myself to do so. Working long hours, and homework does not give time for me to have the spiritual peace or wellness I am only feeling off and on. Physically I score an 8 as there is always room for improvement. I have overcome an unhealthy feeling of sickness from a year ago. Stress and anxiety were at its worst. However, through the teachings of this term and a battle against my stressors, I feel that I am learning how to let the stress fall into a category of challenges, and conquering them individually.Psychologically I score a 7. I have found that I need to talk to friends, and allow my social time to grow. I involve myself with work and school so much that I had closed off the rest of the world. This is not healthy for me, and I am aware and spending more time on hikes, and enjoying what makes me happy, and whole.

3. Goal development:
   One goal that I have for myself Physically, is to lose 30 pounds this year. I am onto a good start. Psychological (mental health) goal is to continue breathing exercises, peace of mind, and enjoy natures beauty on hikes as this helps me think, realize, and clear my mind. Spiritual goals that I have is to continue learning more meditation and cultural diversities. Many countries have different beliefs and methods to spirituality. I want to broaden my experience in this aspect.

4. Practices for personal health:
   The strategies that I can implement to foster growth in each of the following domains are: Physical- Taking walks, nature hikes, waterfalls.
   Psychological-- talking and listening to others/with others. Planning a time each week for myself to be with a group of friends who endure Integral medicine.
   Spiritual-- attend a class in California to learn how to connect spirituality on a daily basis. I am also going to read more of Dacher's books.
5. Commitment:
   I will assess my progress in the next six months by awareness. If I measure my stress and anxiety level, this will tell me if I am going forward or backwards. The strategies that I can use to assist in maintaining my long-term practices for health and wellness is to take all of the information and skills of meditation that I have learned and practice practice practice. I am going to continue reading other books written by Dacher as he is very inspiring and life altering for me. I am hoping to attend one of the classes offered from the website, to continue this journey to wellness and mindfulness.
   Brenda Tipp
   

Practice and implement Loving kindness and meditaton into your daily life

Two Practices that I find are most beneficial are the Loving kindness practice and meditation exercises. Loving kindness was a great reminder to love and cherish what you have in your life. Letting go of the negative energies and flow with warmth from showing loving kindness to all people, situations, and instances. If we all did this, think of how beautiful the world would be. ..

To foster mental fitness, I have learned a lot about meditation and using different techniques to get to that place of peace and healing. I have used meditation for many reasons, however, to absorb the true relaxation of breathing and focusing on the inner self for healing is what I am implementing in my daily life. I feel that we all need to concentrate on healing our selves, and relieving ourselves from stress, negative energy,. Meditation works for a variety of reasons, and everyone needs to find their reason to spend 10-15 minutes, a few times a day to escape from the chatter.
Unit 8 Blog posting

Meditation Meeting Aesclepius

After completing the meditation exercise of Meeting Asclepius, I found that it was not successful for me to be instructed on what to envision, from this exercise. I was not able to reach my meditated mindfulness or relax with this practice. Mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in my psychological and spiritual wellness. I fight everyday and night with anxiety and continuous mind chatter, that has reduced tremendously through the meditation exercises previously learned, and practiced. I did not download the current exercise onto my computer for future use, as it had no healing or spiritual connection for me.

 "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means that if you do not live by mindfulness, or practice healing yourself through physical or spiritual connectivity towards a healthier lifestyle, then how can you help others? The truth in this, is that you can not. You must live, breathe, and practice wellness in order to teach others how to better their health and well being. I have an obligation to take this time to improve my self first, so I can practice what I strongly encourage others to develop the practices of many techniques. I can implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life by spiritually connecting with my Higher spirit. It is my God. This may not be the same God as others see, or speak to, however, spiritually, it is a higher spirit that connects me with a gentleness, loving and kindness within myself, to build strength, love, and tenderness. As this grows inside of me, and of my life, I can better the lives of other people around me.

My Integral Assessment

After practicing the Universal Loving Kindness Exercise I found myself in a familiar place. This is not in comparison to word for word resemblance, however, I do use this exercise prior to (what people now call Reiki) energy work. For many years, my family and myself have performed healing on friends, family, and coworkers. I use a prayer for healing of each individual, and of the population of the universe. I resemble it to giving thanks, and prayer for having the ability to relieve one's headache, back pain  or suffering for that moment in time. Yet, these words and exercise were hard for me to focus for myself, meditation.
After my own assessment of Integral Health,  I realize more, that I need to develop a way to heal my self, before I can continue to heal others, on a new experienced level. In my current learning process, I understand that I am damaged within my inner self. To strengthen the foundation, before I can promote flourishing within myself first. I have a bitterness that needs to be released and forgiveness that I need to let go. After losing so much this past year, this deep feeling of anger, or frustration needs to be released. With meditation, and breathing exercises, hiking nature trails, and feeling more peacefulness on a daily basis, I will develop psychophysical flourishing, and Interpersonal flourishing. This is my journey to flourishing, self. This process of assessment did help me open my heart and mind to circumstances, and focus on where the needs are for development. For this, I appreciate the knowledge of this assessment.
Brenda

A Subtle Mind

A subtle mind is one that relaxes, with thoughts of mind, body , and spirit. Every breath inhaled, focuses on the air, the chest movement, and the exhalation to discover how deep you can take the next breath. Focusing on each breath as the chest rises and falls after each exhalation. The capability to focus, and quiet the mind is the hardest task, but with practice, focus, and quietness, you too, can quiet the mind, focus on the body, and fill your spirit.
The connection between spiritual wellness, mental and physical wellness is a triangle of wellness. All interjoined or intertwined. Connected to one another as one. As one cannot be wellness without the other in a positive state of wellness. Your spirit must be gentle and fulfilled, to receive mental wellness. For your mind to be focused and thoughts of positiveness, leads to a physical wellness. This triangle of wellness leads to a humans well being. This is health.

Loving Kindness
Describe your experience after listening to the Loving kindness video.
 I found this so very beneficial to my whole self. I lost my mother, who was my best friend, and closest to my heart a few years ago. Since then, I have become a lost soul. I don't sleep well, life's obstacles are overwhelming, and I realized that I never had the chance to mourn after this great loss. As a single mom, raising my 3 sons, and never dating or opening my heart to others, I found that my reasons for laughter, my heart and my well being had suffered greatly. Loving kindness helped me sleep. Yes, I got a great nights sleep last night. Long time needed. The voice and the sounds of the ocean and native flute playing in the background put me into a comfort and familiar place in my native family home filled with love, healing, and so much peace. I felt close to my mom, grandmother, brother, and friends who are in that peaceful heavenly place. I opened my eyes to a realization of feeling of warmth and tingling throughout my whole body. This was a beautiful journey of peacefulness and familiarity that I needed to experience. I will recommend this to others, and having my father listen to it as well, it hopes to set his path of darkness as a widow, into a path of healing and filled with loving kindness, and peace.

Mental Workout

What is the concept of "mental workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a mental workout? A mental workout is a continuous need to maintain sharpness and intelligence. Our brains use to be only a 1 1/2 lb muscle, that over time, we have now enlarged this brain to a big 3 pounds on the average. Our frontal lobe gives us our conscious thought. We analyze and wonder about more things. We need to encourage the mental workout with brain puzzles and quizzes. Continuing our education towards career growth and developing new techniques and skills is a great way to maintain and exceed in a mental workout. Keep on learning! Keep it being a positive experience!