Struck-HW420-01 Unit 10 Professional Application of the Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

This is our final assigned blog entry for Creating Wellness: Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing. I hope we all continue to check each other's blogs sporadically as well as post entries to our own. Here I go for unit 10:

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? How do you score yourself now? Has the score changed? Why or why not?

After reviewing my unit three assessment, I do notice changes, not big ones but they are there.

A.   Physical Wellbeing in Unit 3 was at three to four, this score has not really changed. I do the same types of things as far as physical exertion goes, but my diet is actually changing, I do not drink soda on a daily basis. I am eating foods that do not contain the best nutritional values mainly because they are cheaper and money has been so problematic recently I have started to include fiber bars in my diet though, I have never realized that fiber can actually make you feel good. I did buy some fruit this week and started eating peanut butter sandwiches instead of candy bars. When you think about it a loaf of bread and jar of peanut can actually be less expensive than candy. I have let the added stress of work take its toll on me finding time to do exercise and my lack of exercise is affecting me. I feel the best when I am sleeping or shortly after waking up. If I am up for too long I feel light-headed and have aches in my head, neck and upper arms. Crazy stuff because I feel this way I find it hard to exercise, but it is because I haven’t been exercising that I feel this way. What do I do now? I did not change this score because perhaps I should have given myself a higher score then, and it should now be at a 2, 3 or 4.

B.  Spiritual Wellbeing in Unit 3 was at 2, 3 or 4, this score I feel is actually higher now about a 6 or 7. I have discovered that spiritual health is about more than God and religion. The meditation practices have done wonder on my spirit as well as finding the man of my dreams.

C.   Psychological Wellbeing in Unit 3 was at 4, 5, or 6; I feel that my overall health in this area is better and would give it a score of 7 or 8. I increased this score for the same basic reasons that I did for my spiritual wellbeing. I cannot wait to put my physical body to work and improve my score; however I am thinking I should talk to my doctor if these symptoms persist for too much longer.

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

My Unit 3 goals are following:

A.      Physical Goals –

Within the next month: I plan on leaving my house earlier, so I can take a longer route to and from work. 

I do not do this on a regular basis.

·        Within the next two months: Get up and walk/run outside or on elliptical machine/treadmill for 30 minutes three times per week before getting ready for work.

·        I have not done this.

·        Within the next six months: Run 1 to 2 miles three times a week before work.

·        By Christmas: Run 1 to 2 miles every day before work.

·        By next April: Run 4 to 5 miles two to three times per week.

·          ASAP begin weight training/lifting exercises for the first month aiming for two to three times per week. My eventual goal being performing push-ups and sit ups every day.

·        I have been working with some 5 lb. weights in my house maybe once or twice a week as well as doing push-ups or planks.

·         Also I would like to improve my eating habits every month until I am eating awesomely. I feel that my caloric intake is not excessive; I just do not eat the “good” foods I need to.

·        I have still been eating some junk, but not as much and tried to find “good-cheap” food.

B.      Spiritual Goals –

·        Continue listening and reflecting on positive music on a daily basis.

·        Yes, I do this; KLove at home and Air1 at work.

·        I feel that by sharing my story I can help myself just through the writing, other people can help me after they have read my story, and/or I can help others who read my story.

·        Have not done this yet.

·        By next April: I would like to find a church and attend at least on Sundays.

·        I haven’t looked.

·        I made a monthly pledge today to the KLove radio station. This will be good spiritually and financially. This will make me have to be accountable for something else.

C.       Psychological Goals –

·        Tell myself daily that I am beautiful, smart and can do anything I put my mind to. I do this, but have been slacking recently!

·        Continue to take my medications as directed by my physician. I take only one of them daily.

·        Include a journal exercise at the end of each day, reflect and write down what I have learned, what I have done good and bad and be sure to say something positive about myself. My journaling has been this blog and the discussion board. I forgot the beginning of seminars, lol.

·        As physical exercise becomes more regular, incorporate yoga, meditation, or even possible Tai Chi into my life as well.

·        If I am doing all I can and have set out to do by next April, but am still feeling depressed or have self-esteem issues then I will check out other therapy options, i.e. psychologist and/or psychiatrist.

·        I feel that I have done pretty well with maintaining and working with the goals I have set. Are there really many people in the world that are able to follow their goals the first time they set them?

3.        Have you implemented the activities you chose for your well-being in each of the three areas? Explain.

Following is what I felt could be implemented into my life in unit 3.

I feel that by increasing my physical activities, incorporating foods with the proper nutritional benefits and participating in daily journal activities; I will be well on my way towards my physical, spiritual and psychological goals.

I have included some weight training and incorporated better food choices, but still have a way to go to reach my goals. I just need to take it one day at a time and change something small until I reach my goals. I just cannot give up.

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?

This course has altered my personal health in wellness in some life changing ways. I no longer view health and wellness as diet and exercise only, I know realize that spiritual health and psychological health are just as important if not more so. I haven’t actually begun a regular exercise routine yet, but I realize that beating myself up for this or other bad habits may only push me farther from my goals. So, I have learned the importance of recognizing what I am not doing, thinking about it and deciding the best course of action coming up with a plan that will suit me and my personal needs. I did thoroughly enjoy the meditation exercises and feel that I am a better person and becoming balanced for real. I cannot give this course all the credit, for I did the work and I have had the life experiences that have helped me along the way, I do give partial credit to this course. I do not want to say how much for it may affect what grade I get on this discussion post. Through becoming balanced and by reducing and dealing with stress better my life is becoming something I can be happy about. I also have allowed love in my life, yeah! It is possible.
I have also become better at reflection and self-reflection, so before I suggest ideas to others I think about how my response would affect them or make them feel. I am glad that I had learned some tough lessons not so long in life that helped me to get through this course. I have learned tough lessons in this course that will help me in life, other courses and this course again.