Final Blog Entry

Looking back in Unit 3, I scored myself reasonable high in all areas of psychological, physcial, and spiritual wellbeing. They weren't perfect scores, but I have been working on these traits for along time, even before this class. Where am I now, well I think that I would score myself the same for all three. This is because, its takes time to progress into new beginings and break habits, let alone see the changes in yourself. I have realized even the smallest changes in my behavior have been mile stones for me, and know that this is only the begining to something so great and rewarding.
I think for the goals and activities that I have set out for myself are very reachable and have been thought out conservatively. I try to make baby steps so that I do not get frustrated and feel that i can't do anything. I think that I have made progress more over the last few weeks because I can recognise what needs to be assessed first and that I am aware how and what is most important in my life that needs love and some tidying up.
I already do yoga as a implementation for self discovery, self medication, therapy, healing and loving the spirit. I have been feeling a void lately in my practice, so recently I have decided to remove myself from my comfort zone and strip away what really is the problem. I have been writing more, walking alone early in the morning and giving myself time to be aware of what wants to come out and be expressed.
My personal experience through this course has been magical. I have really enjoyed the group that has been in my class, my teacher and the readings from our text book. I hope to continue taking more classes simular to this one in the future.

Final Project

Project
Introduction:
Mission on listening to the body as a whole: body, mind & spirit
It is so important for health and wellness practitioners to develop psychological, spiritual and physical practices in their own lives because they cannot help others get to those experiences without experiencing the benefits for themselves first. Its like trying to run before you walk, impossible to reach those goals without taking the appropriate steps first, and within doing things correctly the rewards feel more sweet and satisfying. I believe as well, that the student will excel more in their goals when they look up to teacher who is radiant with passion and ambition in his or her own speech and living their preach is another layer to the journey of living true human flourishing.
For me, areas that I need to develop to achieve possible goals are slowing down and communication with myself and other better in more of a “real” way rather than a superficial way. I tend to tell people what they want to hear and intern I don’t express my feelings and then I end up being the one who gets upset, hurt and frustrated in situations that are unnecessary to act in. My goal and new way of being is to stop being so concern for what I look like and give more self worth to my feelings and ideas. I am smart and strong. I want to be me every hour of the day… “Where ever I am, there I am”.

II Assessment:

I have assessed my health in each domain by writing down both my strengths and weakness that I feel I have in each of the three. Starting with my wellness in spirituality, I consider myself very connected to earth, others emotions and take on others as myself sensitivities. I am not at all religious but do believe in a higher divine that is watching over us and blesses us everyday with beauty and love. I consider my score an 8. I could be more active in listening to mother nature by being outside more and giving back to earth by creating compost.
Physically, I am in great shape, I do yoga everyday, run, bike, swim and eat great food. I have a great balance with my diet and listen to my cravings. I give my self a 9, but could probably slow down and not have to feel like I have to work out all the time, I think I am addicted to the endorphin rush.
Psychologically, I think I am a 6, like I said, I let other peoples’ thoughts, concerns, effect me personally and then I tend to feel like I am holding the weight of the worlds problems on my shoulders. I create the stress in my life in my head majority of the time and do not give myself the chance to breath and clear my head. I plan on decluttering my self illusions in my head, gain more confidence and be more self assertive with my feelings and actions… oh yeah and not take things to personally because its way too draining.

III Goal development:

My goal for physical ness is to break out of routine in my fitness reign and take on other activities like dancing, rock climbing and even starting a new sport like ruby. I say why not! I need to start meeting new people, trying different sports to see my full potential in everything I do. Want to engage as much as I can in my powerful physical process.
My goal for mental health is too stop creating reoccurring complaints about what is wrong with me or what others might think of me. I have to rewire my way of thinking about others judging me and look into the choosing between the two realities of life: Reality (what’s really happening) and Story (what’s being created in my head). I think I will start living in the reality of things…. Facts and body; my pain is inevitable but my suffering is optional.
My goal for spirituality is to continue to follow my heart and stay close to those that attract the same essence and yearning to follow the practice of just being true and happy with everything. Our spirits have to live too, and pretending to believe in something because someone once said so, is not following what the heart wants to follow. I want to live a life of free will, open heart and pure love. Time never waits for us, so I want to act every moment with love, peace and more peace.
IV Practices for personal health:

Strategies that I am going to implement to foster growth in each of the domains follows as so:
Physical: Everyday wake up to my husband and tell him I love him with a big kiss. Eat a wonderful and healthy breakfast with my favorite coffee drink as I read my newspaper in my favorite chair of the house. After I will continue to do my 90-minute yoga practice with a 30-minute sauna to follow, where I mediate and send my intention for life, my love ones and dreams of the future to manifest.
Psychological: I will strength my confidence more by doing more things that scare me and letting go of the ego. I want to get rid of the stories in my head that I am not good enough or that people think that I am unable or not smart enough. If I keep living my life never think that I am not good enough I will become my own fear, alone and not good enough. I will change this thought process by knowing that what I know is knowledge and is worth sharing and teaching others, “knowledge is learning something everyday and wisdom is letting go of something everyday, that letting go will be my ego.”
Spiritual: Follow my heart; listen to my soul and love nature. I do believe in the highest of all good and that is in everybody. One of my most favorite quotes comes from a song by Jimi Hendrix, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” And this is what I believe in spiritually, Love. Love is as critical for your mind and body as oxygen. It's not negotiable. The more connected you are, the healthier you will be both physically and emotionally. The less connected you are, the more you are at risk.
V Commitment:
I am going to keep a journal for myself as well keep posting on my blog that I have created for this class with up to date experiences, feelings and thoughts of how my progress is going. I will access the progress my going over my journal and noting comments and seeing if there is any physical change, behavioral change and I will also have my husband take a survey to see if he has notice a change in me since the day I have started my journey.
I hope that keeping cooperation up through this program over six months that the benefits will be so good that I will not fall back into old habits and start to live the life I have always wanted to manifest: A long life full of life’s best wealth’s: health, love and happiness.

unit 8 ... hummm all are good

Well this is hard to only pick two that i think i learned, loved and gained from. I have felt that all the meditation exercises and tools from this class and from our text of Human flourishing, have helped expand new ways and gave great insights on how to use my mental fittness to gain a sense of peace and harmony. Sharing our stories in this class, how everyone experiences such different feelings is amazing and quit incrediable. I think I will go back to the most the loving and kindness exercise because it made me think about the gratefulness i have for all the people in my life and the amount of love i have to share and accept from my friends, family and lover.

Unit #7: Track 4 and "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself”

This weeks mediation exercise was a lovely one, instead of one person that I look up to for wisdom and as a rolemodel, I had about three very special people come through my mediation. My favorite part during the whole session was invisioning that white light was moving between me and my three heros. It made me feel warm, strong and part of them. I have thoroughly enjoyed all mediation practices, and will continue to use them to foster a clearer mind and a open heart.

"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” , this applies to a health and wellness professional by stating that one can not teach if one has not done so his/herself. It is hypicritcal to tell someone to jump a fence, so speak, if you are not prepared or haven't experience it yourself. As a spiritual guid, there is an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually, because you must continiously grow yourself to be yourself 100% of the time. By taking care of yourself, practicing your faith, people will be see how the wonders of intergal health, well-being and faith make life so powerful and will want to aim for the same lifestyle.

Practicing Universal Loving Kindness

Wow. I really loved the following practice.... close eyes and for a minute or two rest in the ease of your mind and body, repeat the following phrases :
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness and wholeness

I think this mini exercise is imperative for everyone, it brings a sense of gratitude towards life and relationships. To remind ourselves, not to be selfish and think about others around us, to send prayer, send good energy out to the universe to empower the ones who need the help and the hope to live a better and healthy life.

What i have discovered through the assessments, was that I don't take inventory enough to see what is lacking in my life. There is not one particular aspect in my life that doesn't need attention- everything from my psycho spiritual, biological, interpersonal, or worldly could use some TLC. When I shift my focus to what area in my life is ready for growth and development, this comes a lot easier, Its taking more action in my life to create better opportunities and seizing them when i have the chance. I tend to doubt myself because I have the concern for myself and how I might look. I am aware of this and I am working on being more confident and not think that I am not worthy enough. I am STRONG and SMART and I can accomplish anything that i put my mind and heart into.
Exercises that I have thought about that can help through my journey of self love and confidence to reach goals and my full potential in life, is to write down my dreams, goals and desires out on post notes and hang them around my house as a constant reminder that YES I CAN. I think another exercise that could be just as positive is to just do things once a day that I fear so i build my confidence day by day, for example taking a dance class or going to a movie solo.

Love-Kindness Compared to Subtle-Mind

When looking back at both experiences, I can only measure the experience from both relatively the same. There is a saying in Thailand called" Same Same but Different". The essence of both meditation exercises brought out a spiritual connection to the awareness of love, peace, body and important figures in my life. The funny thing is, when we pick people that we look up to in life, we actually share what we see in them, and actually a lot like that person then we think. We all hold special qualities, inner power to explore our deep intuition and common sense to reach the best out of life. I really have enjoyed these exercises and will continue to reflect on them as I process the information and material i am reading in my health and wellness course.