Moving On

Hello Class and Professor,

           It is rewarding to know that my journey is just beginning and it holds promises of potential growth and success.  Through my personal assessment at the end of this phase, I realized that there was still room for positive expansion and have determined to make that my goal.  Just like the Buddhist monks, I realize that this is a lifetime's journey that I must be willing to commit both time and compassion.
            Continued contemplative practices have changed my perception on what is really important.  Upon final reflection I found my initial scores were too optimistic and have since lowered them.  I suppose it was primarily due to my deeper understanding of human flourishing and how it can effectively change one's life.  In comprehending the depth of each aspect, I realize that the scale is not relevant, only the knowledge that the journey has just began.  Given that premise, I shall continue to apply what I have already learned as I work toward achieving my goal of human flourishing.
            My ultimate goals are to achieve human flourishing and to share what I have learned with others.  I realize that this will not be an easy task, but it will be well worth the effort.  Many people I come in contact with are truly dying from stress related illnesses.  If I can share something as simple as meditation with only a small fraction of them, I will feel as though I have accomplished something.  I know the importance of leading by example, so I will continue to expand my level of knowledge and involvement.
            I have been asked to prepare a workshop for seniors to help them with final preparations.  The main focus was to be on getting their house in order (preparing a will) but I have decided to make it about Senior flourishing… helping them to live life in a fuller, healthier, and happier way.  Getting your house in order will just be a bullet point, but my focus will primarily be on psychospiritual flourishing, simple lifestyle modifications, and the importance of being active.  Thanks to this class, I have already submitted my PowerPoint and gotten approval from the Ministerial Alliance. 
            This has been both an exciting and informative class.  I have applied what I've learned to my preventive medicine projects and am very hopeful that it will prove to be most effective.  I have had deep concerns throughout the years about why some of the things we've discuss were not being used, but I always attributed my thoughts to my being eccentric.   Now I realize that it was my inner being trying to talk to me but like many others I would reason it away.  If we all learn to act upon the "knowing" that comes when we are in the clear, our lives and the lives of others will be positively affected and we will all find ourselves on the path to human flourishing and optimal health, wholeness, and happiness.  But in the end, the choice is ours.
            I have enjoyed sharing this term.  I wish only the best for all of you and may your journey be true, prosperous, and exciting.  Good luck.

Teal

Following a New Path

Hello Class,

Well we have finally reached the end of our journey together.  It has been an adventure in learning that I hope has been beneficial to us all.  I want to wish you all continued success and wholeness.

          Today when people seek medical help, in their minds they are looking for a cure.  Even though traditionally we have all learned to accept alleviation of symptoms as effective treatment, more and more people are looking for more.  More and more people are looking to complementary and alternative medicine in the pursuit of health and well-being (What is CAM?, 2012).  Conventional practitioners have continued to concentrate on treatment and prevention, depending on scientist and researchers to provide new proven technical advances.  As a result many patients are left paying for incomplete medical service.

Personal Development

            Integral medicine is still in its infancy but complementary and alternative medicine has been around long enough to be recognized as somewhat applicable.  As an effective health and wellness professional, I recognized the changing attitude within myself and became determined to help make a difference.   Leaving traditional treatments and ideologies to those who were comfortable with it, I changed my focus to preventive medicine and healthy lifestyles.  I was not aware of integral medicine but I am confident that it will allow me to be more effective.   But, as Dacher pointed out, in order to assist others in transforming their health and life, I must first learn how to look inwards and find my own source of exceptional health and healing (Dacher, 2006).  I need to make sure that I am evolving in each area of potential development: body, mind and spirit.

Assessment

            The Bible tells us to treat our body as a holy temple.  Well I must admit that I have fallen short in that regard.  I spent years smoking and eating fried and processed food even though I maintained a healthy weight.   Thanks to meditation my mind is stable and I communicate with GOD every day.  Even so, I have learned that there is still so much yet to be accomplished, so much more potential available to me.

Biological

            I gained 25 pounds when I stopped working and immediately started exercising and dieting, but I cut back on exercising when I lost the weight.  I have managed to maintain my weight by exercising 2 - 3 times a week and walking to the area stores instead of driving.  But last week I decided to walk ten blocks to and from to pick up my nephew from school.  When I got home, I was winded.  I use to walk a 25 acre property and not be affected so if twenty blocks can tire me out, then I know I am not fit.   I am thankful that I eat right and get plenty of sleep since it has become apparent that I am not exercising properly.  Previously I had marked my physical wellness as a 7.  I feel I need to adjust it to a 5. 

            My mind is intact and working.  I don't have a lot of negative thoughts and feelings and I have learned how to sit quietly and let it rest.  I haven't mastered the mind/body connection to the extent that the monks have, but I can slow my heart beat and control some pain with my mind.  I am still reaching for the gold, but I have only been able to obtain the silver.  My mind wellness is about a 8.5.

Psychospiritual

            This is my most developed area, mainly because I have been using contemplative practices for years.  I evolves from a selfish, what's in it for me individual to a person with true empathy and compassion for others.  It was a slow and progressive evolution that manifested with each inward realization.  I was truly able to penetrate the deeper layers of my mind and find natural wisdom, inner peace and loving-kindness which has helped to sustain my well-being.  It's truly like Dacher explained it, "gratitude has replaced fear and doubt, there was a slow progressive return to the center of my being to a serenity, understanding and happiness that I had never known and I am now experiencing the true essence of life (Elliot S Dacher, 2012).

Interpersonal

            As I stated previously, I sincerely need to work on my Interpersonal development. I have never been a people person in the sense that I've have never required or desired a bunch of friend.  People tend to be really messy which makes it is difficult for me not to be apprehensive about forming relationships. There are so many aspects I still need to work on before I can honestly have a meaningful friendships.  Currently I am between 5 and 6 because my patience has not matured to the necessary level.  I think I still have the fear of contamination, of somehow being influenced by the negative behavior of others.  But I am very hopeful that I will find that innate ability to sincerely want to fellowship trusting that maybe I can influence them.

Worldly

            It is difficult for me to understand how I can so easily help others, especially those that I perceive or in need and yet fail to maintain meaningful friendships.  I fully believe that what you put in the world comes back to you and that it is easier to give a helping hand or a kind word than to wait for praise for your works.  I operate in the world without being part of the world and I have learned how not to succumb to empathy but to genuinely offer loving-kindness.  This is my strongest attribute.  I am sincerely grateful for all that GOD has given me, and I have learned the importance of forgiveness and loving one another.  On the scale of 1 - 10, I'm about a 8.

Goals

            I have set simple obtainable goals for myself to assist me on my path to human flourishing.  I shall continue my contemplative practices and modify my exercise routine to include walking.  I shall also continue to work on my interpersonal area.  Also to sustain my spiritual growth, I will continue to use loving-kindness meditation, read my Bible and fellowship with church members. 

Practices for Personal Health

1.      Physical - Modify my physical activity to include 30 minutes or more walking.  I currently exercise 3 -4 days a week, but it mainly consist of using the Bow Flex and the Kettle Bell.  I found that I need some aerobic exercise when I became winded after walking 20 blocks.  I have an overweight dog, so he and I will be walking together.

2.       Psychological - I keep my mind sharp with activities like school and book reading, but I keep it clear through meditation.  I like the subtle mind exercise so I shall continue to do it along with Mindfulness Meditation of the Body and Breath.

3.      Spiritual - I am currently practicing the Mitta Meditation for Loving Kindness and the healing meditation I found online.  I teach Bible study once a week and often give spiritual advice to church members.

Commitment:

            My commitment to human flourishing goes deeper than a quest for health:  I want wholeness.  In order for me to reach my goal, I realize that I need the commitment of the Olympian.  Upon reviewing the Stages of Change Model: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance, I am already at step four, which is action.  This is already a way of life for me, and change is just part of the process.   I will take time to make a schedule that incorporates the changes and check my progress continuously for six months.  After six months it should be a natural part of my routine.  But since I am one of those people who are known to slack or stop doing something once a goal is reached, I will review and refine my schedule and track my progress for an additional six months.

A Better Path to Wholeness

Hello,

I have used contemplative practices for years, mostly in the form of deep breathing and visualization, but I have found that mindfulness meditation and healing meditation to be my two new favorites.  I have been able to evolve my mental abilities, clarity, empathy, sensitivity, compassion, courage, patience and resilience.  It has also heightened my capacity of intimacy and loving-kindness as purported by Dacher (Dacher, 2006).  Don’t misunderstand, I still do my deep breathing exercise daily, but that is mostly to relax and I used visualization when I feel the need to get away.   But since I've  learned how to used visualization with healing meditation and mindfulness or subtle mind to look deep inside and identify troubling thoughts and emotions, my everyday experiences have greatly improved.  I have found these practices to be very beneficial in helping me cope with negative situations and negative people.  I don't allow their words and attitudes to pollute my mental and/or emotional essence.

How can I use these practices in my professional life?  That's a good question that required some intense thought.  My major is Health and Wellness and my professional area is in preventive medicine.  My community suffers from a lot of preventive illness that are the result of lifestyle behavior.  Two of the most common negative behaviors are smoking and alcohol consumption.  We do have a growing prescription drug problem, and there are dietary issues that also complicate matters, but smoking and alcohol consumption are the major factors affecting health in my community.  The outreach component is in place, but the tools currently being used are ineffective.  Currently we employ educational forums and brochures, but we need to implement workshops to empower the individuals.   I strongly feel that contemplative practices should be one of the workshops. 

Teaching the individual what's wrong with their current lifestyle is one thing, but teaching them how to affectively change is another.   When I worked with the diabetes outreach I told the groups about starting a walk team.  However none of them reported forming one in their neighborhood.  Finally I spoke with the neighborhood associations and we formed neighborhood walk teams and recruited members of outreach group.  It was successful. Over 80% of the members became members of the neighborhood walk team.  I think it is because we became proactive in setting them up thus eliminating the need for them to do it.  Some of the participants shared the idea with their families and church congregation and last year we had a local event "Walking for Prevention" that was formed by this group.  It was small but they did raise over $5000 in donations (Webber, 2009). 

Interactive activities have proven to be more effective than sit and learn.  When you participate you often take ownership. I know I never would have started meditation had it not been for my Philosophy teacher who thought enough of her class to incorporate it into her instructions.  It has had a profound effect on my life and I feel that even though some participants may not continue to use contemplative practices, those that do shall benefit and maybe find other forms to help them on the path to human flourishing.  

References:

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

Webber, V. N. (2009). PAL Annual Report. Fort Worth: Partners At Lunch.

You can't lead me where you haven't been

Hi,

Surely we have all heard the saying "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" in one form or another and most of us know what it means. I was once in a cultural sensitivity workshop and the speaker was talking about the mindset of poor black families. What she was saying didn't ring true for the neighborhoods I had worked in so I asked her where was she getting this information. Her response was cold and clinical so I felt the need to correct her. I started off my statement by saying that I was tired of hearing professional speak on a topic that they had no level of experience in. She was neither Black or qualified to speak about the Black experience because she had never bother to make that journey for herself. I proceeded to attack each of her bullet points. Ultimately I was asked to join the team and she was given another assignment.

There should be no exception when it comes to health. I am aware that in Western medicine doctors will prescribe medicines and recommend treatments for disease and illness without ever experiencing it for themselves but they do so relying information supplied by research and technology. Human flourishing is different... you cannot sincerely tell me about body-mind-spirit if you only believe in science. At some point you need to experience inner development from expanded consciousness and reading about something is different from experiencing something for yourself.

The reason I first started meditation was because a teacher told me how it had helped her to relax. She told the class that it was easy and inexpensive and could be done in as little as 5 minutes.  She guided us in class and I did feel refreshed when we finished. I enjoyed a whole semester of 5 to 10 minute trips and I have been hooked every since. To me, that's why that statement rings true. If she didn't meditate she would not have been able to successfully guide us. I used the heat of the sun to calm me so I think that's why I still use light and heat today. Now I am open to experience different paths to human flourishing, as a new traveler, I would much prefer an experience guide so that when I share my adventures with someone else there won't be so many hills and valleys.

Teal

Sincerely Seeking Aesclepius

Hello,

I have enjoyed the guided meditation Meeting Aesclepius several times and each time I feel refreshed and energized.  I have not however been able to picture myself or anyone else as the elusive Aesclepius.  Instead I have just been enjoying the healing light of golden radiance.  That's what seems to work best for me.

I find time to meditate everyday.  I start with the 5 golden minutes upon awakening ad then I take a few minutes in the morning to just still my mind before I start my day.  Some days I used Meeting Aesclepius and other days the Sublte Mind Practice, and everyday I practice deep breathing and some form of visualization.   These practices not only help to keep my stress level down, but they also help my disposition.  I don't just react to situations, I consciously respond.  In addition to being much calmer, I don't allow my family's nonsense upset me anymore. 

Using these simple practices has allowed me to see my own areas of imperfection.  I think that's a good thing.  Now that I know, I can work on them.  As I continue on this journey of discovery, hopefully I will eventually reach the pinnacle of discovering that I am Aesclepius.  Until then I will continue to bathe in the radiance of love and healing and reap the benefits of mindful consciousness.

Teal

The Journey Continues

Hello,

I learned to remove self many years ago when I wanted to expand my spiritual walk.  The loving kindness meditation practice reminds me of a prayer I heard a woman once say.  She asked GOD to forgive all her sins, both known and unknown.  This is essentially what the loving kindness meditation does for me… it allows me to detect any anger or hostile feelings I may have toward someone, both known and unknown. 

Dacher’s assessment tool has served to further enhance my journey to enlightenment.  It helps me to look deeply within and make conscious decisions about my current psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal, and worldly existence.  Knowing which areas you need to work on will allow you to choose the right practice for development.  In taking a personal inventory, it caused me not only to reflect, but to evaluate my level in each domain.  What I found validated my perceived levels of low development and highlighted that there was still room for growth in other areas. 

According to Dacher, it is not necessary to fully develop every aspect of integral development because they are all interconnected, but you do need to develop at least one (Dacher, 2006).  My personal assessment revealed the following: 

1.       The aspect of my life that causes me the most difficulty and suffering is Interpersonal.  Although I have taken personal responsibility for my health or lack of health, my family interaction usually stimulates most of my anger.  Since I have been practicing loving-kindness I’ve noticed and so has my family members a change.  I have found that instead of hanging up when I feel that what they are saying is senseless, I now listen and decide if I’m going to offer some advice.  When I do, it is often presented in a mediation format instead of my usual arbitration format.

2.      Since family and relationships are an important element in my life, I feel strongly that this is the area of my life that requires the most attention.  I am not rude or condescending, but I am somewhat distant to those outside of my immediate circle which currently consist of three sisters, one niece and her family, and my daughter and her daughters.   Somehow I have allowed myself to “un-friend” them. I have little or no contact with them nor do I ever find myself thinking about them.  The group I am thinking about is my dead brother’s children.  I treat that entire side of the family as if they died with my brother, and it’s just me who treats them that way. The loving kindness exercise allowed me to see the hidden anger I have toward his wife and how it has allowed me to disregard my own nieces and nephew.

3.      As far as my psychospiritual development, I am good with it.  There is still room for improvement since I haven’t actually experience the life giving light of GOD, but I am good with myself and others.  But my goal is to become truly at peace with everyone instead of “mourning the loss” of people I don’t want to deal with.  That’s what you do initially when you are trying to obtain loving kindness, but you are supposed to return when you are stronger to make those amends.  Apparently I just bury you and move on.

4.      I sincerely need to work on my Interpersonal development since it has been the most ignored.  When I embarked on my journey for self improvement it had little to do with human flourishing.  I was only concerned with my spiritual development and have spent years working toward that end.  Now I realize that this isn’t enough and that I need to work on the other areas of being.  I know I need healing in this area because personal relationships that involve suffering have a tendency to affect ones health.  I have two nieces that live with me that suffered migraines before moving here.  Both of them felt abandoned and unloved.  Since they’ve been here the youngest has only complained of headaches twice, and both of them were during the first month on moving here.  They’re both aware that we love them and that their mother’s are just incapable of showing love. 

I meditate every day alternating between loving-kindness, mindfulness, and healing.  I use to just do mindfulness because of the affects of stress.  CAM practices have always been important to me, but as Dacher pointed out, they were still used primarily as an external approach.  I used meditation and massages to relieve stress only.  I never really thought to apply them for health purposes.  That has all changed.  Understanding integral health and its practices has opened my eyes to the possibility of acquiring so much more.  I now find myself listening to guided healing meditation, loving-kindness meditation, mindfulness practices, and taking a few more mental vacations (visualization).  I seem a lot more approachable to my family. 

My even asked me if I had found a lover.  When I realized that he was serious I told he him yeah… I found myself and the right to love and accept all of me.   I am not sure that he believed me, but he has been giving me extra attention.  He even did one of the exercises with me.  That in itself was a miracle.  With that being said, I fully look forward to the next level on my journey without any type of anticipation.  I am open to being surprised.  So far, every action has resulted in a positive reaction and the law of reciprocity, we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us, has been proven true (Cialdini, 1993).  You really can get what you give.

References:

Cialdini, R. B. (1993). The Law of Reciprocity . Retrieved 02 12, 2012, from Coach: http://lawofreciprocity.com/

Dacher, M. E. (2006). Integral Health The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA, USA: Basic Health Publication, Inc.

Spiritual Wellness

Hello again,

Our exercise asked us to explain the connection between spiritual wellness and mental and physical wellness.  Personally I feel that my spirituality helps to bring balance to my life, both physically and mentally.  Some people choose to believe in the healing power of medicine, but all of my life I have been exposed to the healing power of prayer or if you prefer cosmic consciousness.  I believe that it is the spiritual aspect of my life that allows me to see the good in others, to hope for their best, and enjoy their prosperity without malice or ill intent.  It is the true source of my joy and happiness.

Dacher's step require that you obtain mental clarity before you can reach spiritual flourishing.  When it comes to human flourishing, this fact may true, I really don't know.  What I have seen is that most people who claim they have a direct line to GOD and HIS blessing all claim optimal health and well-being, so even from the religious point-of-view, Dacher has some validity in his statement.  I feel that in order to enjoy the full impact each component is necessary.  I think that there must be a balance between the body/mind/spirit and that is the real connection.  Each compliments the other, each at some point is dependent upon the other to obtain optimal health, happiness, and wholeness.