unit 9: personal assessment, goals, and exercises

Integral Health Plan

 Developing psychologically, spiritually, and physically as a health care provider gives us experience, credibility, and develops our sense of empathy.  We must be active in our pursuit of our own integral health process to evolve and “discover profound possibilities of integral health and healing” (Dacher, 2006, p.167).  As our clients look to us for guidance, we must give them reason to trust our recommendations, treatment, and education.  It is our responsibility to make the connection with our patients in the way they may need.   As healthcare providers, we should feel fortunate to be a part of another individual’s journey to optimal health and wellness.  While I was aware of the importance of establishing a relationship with my clients, with the help of this course, I now have a stronger sense and understanding of my purpose as a healthcare provider.

    Personal Rating

        One of the most important facets I have learned through this course is taking more time to assess myself and recognize areas that need attention.  The following scores reflect my health on a scale of 1-10.  I feel at this point, I would score my psychological health a “7”.  I feel I have gained a greater awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy psychological foundation but need to be more confident and positive in who I am.  I think developing my inner strength in myself, will be reflected in all that I do.  Spiritually, I feel I border between a “6” and “7”.  I am a spiritual person at my core and feel very driven by my spirituality.  Yet I feel in recent months my spirituality has faded into the background as my life has become busier.  I would like to see more of this part of my life renewed as I feel it will be extremely helpful in keeping me balanced through the challenging months ahead.  Physically, my score remains strong at a “9”.  This is an area of my health that I have devoted most of my efforts to in recent years.  I believe as I enter the next phase of my life, I need to learn to be more flexible in my fitness routine and adapt to changes in my physicality. 

Goals

            My psychological health includes a long-term goal of maintaining a realistic and healthy outlook throughout my husband’s upcoming six-month deployment.  While I have experienced this type of separation from my husband before, it has been over four years so it will be important to look to the future and understand the time apart is a necessary and temporary situation.  A short-term goal in this area is to be positive and focused in my daily commitments- work, school, home life, social life, or whatever comes my way on a day-to-day basis by increasing my attention to mindfulness. 

Spiritually, I would like to make my long-term goal focused on being more forthcoming with my spiritual knowledge and share what I have learned with others.  My short-term goal is to commit to a daily intention.  I will do this before I get my day started, write it down or make note of it on my phone so that I can return to it as the day goes on.  My long-term physical goal is to accomplish at least one more full marathon and a sprint triathlon by November 2014.  For my short-term goals, I will continue to maintain running at least three days a week, return yoga to my routine at least once a week, and invest more time on indoor rock-climbing, which I recently tried and enjoyed.   

Exercises

             I have discovered exercises that collaborate in two areas of integral health at the same time.  Running is an activity that meets my physical and psychological needs.  Since I am comfortable with my running, I can now choose the time I am out to allow my mind to think freely when I am out on my own or to speak freely with others I run with.  Doing this provides the physical exercise and psychological therapeutic gains.  Another exercise that is helpful in two areas is yoga.  Yoga incorporates all muscles through the various movements and is a great compliment to running.  Yoga also offers a spiritual connection throughout the practice.  My spirit is awakened and renewed each time I do yoga, as I feel connected through my breath and the movements.  In addition to those exercises, another opportunity for psychological training is through visualization.  Visualization will be helpful for me during some of the anticipated upcoming challenges for myself, and my family.  Candace Pert found visualization to aid in producing “specific neuropeptides that alter our physiology to reflect a specific mental state” (Dacher, 2006, p.17).  I believe even on the toughest days ahead, I can use visualization to help me focus and concentrate on what I would like to the outcome to be rather than looming on a negative situation.  Lastly, a spiritual exercise that I will be using is The Taste of Human Flourishing exercise (Dacher, 2006).  I enjoyed this exercise out of all that we performed during this course.  I appreciate the opportunity to relive the moments of my life that represent true health, happiness, and wholeness (Dacher, 2006). 

Commitment

            In the next six months I will be able to assess my progress through two different methods.  When any area of my health is suffering, I find my physical health is the first to decline.  I will be tired, moody, or have a lack of interest in physical exercise.  The moment I see these signs, I will make it a point to reassess and recommit to my integral health.  The other assessment key will be through taking daily notes.  While that may sound like I am describing a journal, I will not consider it one as I easily lose interest in them.  A friend recommended e-mailing myself about work related ideas.  I am now going to take that idea to a personal level and simply e-mail myself in reference to areas of my integral health.  I will find it easier to look back on my progress through these e-mails and I think it may keep my attention longer than if I was to document through a journal. 

            I am looking at integral health as an ever-evolving opportunity to learn and grow for myself, and hopefully those who surround me.  I believe the best way for me to preserve my health and wellness is simply to continue to gain knowledge.  This includes reading, researching, and discovering more about integral health and the areas in its path.  I will refer to Dacher’s Integral Health often when I am in doubt or need direction in my exercises (2006).  I will also continue to take time to assess my psychological, spiritual, and physical health.  I will find ways to celebrate my personal accomplishments in these areas.  In the situations where I falter, I will also make a conscious effort to acknowledge the imperfections, and quietly move on to reestablish a new goal. 

            Integral health began for me as a vague approach.  Yet after being submerged in its concepts, I leave this course understanding the need to be active in my own health and wellness and the importance of nurturing others to flourish in theirs.  I look forward to the days as a healthcare provider when I will discover that my personal work has become what Dacher refers to as a “sacred responsibility” (2006, p.167). 

 Dacher, E.S. (2006).  Integral health: The Path to Human Flourishing.  Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.