Unit 9 Project

How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

            If I rate myself on a scale of 1 to 10, (ten being optimal well being) I would rate myself the following way. I would rate my spiritual well being a 6 out of 10.  I must admit that if I were more in touch with my spiritual well being that it would definitely help me be a better person than I am today.  Being spiritually connected helps to strengthen many areas in an individual’s life, such family relationships, community relationships, religion, health, and many others. 

            My physical wellness I would rate myself with a 6 as well.  My reason for this rating is based on my level of energy, stress and quality of sleep.  I’ll start off with how I wake up in the morning. Most of my mornings are a struggle for me.  My alarm clock goes off at 7am every Monday thru Friday. I always feel like I need just a little more time to sleep so I hit my snooze button at least twice before I actually get out of the bed.  Now on the weekends when I can sleep a little later, I wake up on my own between 7:30-9 am.  Next is my level of energy.  Usually once I take my shower in the morning I feel rejuvenated, refreshed and my energy begins to build.  I do not currently exercise however it is in my plans to develop a routine to get started on exercising.  Throughout my day I am usually full of energy until after I eat lunch.  What I have noticed is that everyday around 3pm  my energy slowly starts to drop. That is the time of the day that my body begins to feel tired and sluggish as well as feeling somewhat stressed at times.

            Psychologically I would rate myself with an 8.  I think that I am at a point in my life where I have learned that you have to be happy with yourself first before you can be happy with anyone else.  Our character, feelings and emotions play a major role with who we are as human beings. 

            List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.

            My physical goal is develop an exercise routine a few days a week so that I build up my energy level as well as get into shape.  I also need to try to go to bed a little earlier than I have been doing. 

            My goal for psychological well being is to take things one day at a time and enjoy life as if it is my last.  Not let simple matters become more than they are and not let other peoples problem become my problems.

            My goal for spiritual well being is to read the bible and start attending church more often than usual.

            What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

            In order to move towards each goal I feel that the best thing to do is get started immediately or find a partner that has the same interest so that you can motivate each other and do it. 

            A physical wellbeing helps our bodies to stay strong.  Research shows that aerobic exercise has anti-depressant effects on the body. When you elevate your heart rate and increase your blood circulation, you will experience an increase in endorphins. Endorphins numb pain and improve your mood. To get these benefits, engage in aerobic exercise that you can sustain for a minimum of 30 minutes several times per week. A few options include aerobics classes, cycling, running, hip-hop classes or hiking. The more challenging the aerobic activity, the better it will be for delivering mental health benefits. 

              A psychological wellbeing helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health.  If you find that you are constantly under stress, feeling anxious or suffering from persistent low self-esteem, consider incorporating a regular exercise regimen into your life. It is not uncommon when feeling low energy to avoid exercise altogether. In this case, you might want to start out slowly. Choose an activity that challenge you just enough but not to the extent to be discouraging.  Yoga is a psychological strategy.  The most important benefit of yoga is physical and mental therapy. The aging process, which is largely an artificial condition, caused mainly by autointoxication or self-poisoning, can be slowed down by practicing yoga. By keeping the body clean, flexible and well lubricated, we can significantly reduce the catabolic process of cell deterioration.

            A spiritual wellbeing gives us the feeling of security and safety, peace of mind, self-confidence and the capacity to give and receive unconditional love.  Learning to practice meditation, reading spiritual and uplifting books, and acknowledging the fact that you are a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit, are tips for spiritual growth.  If you can really accept this idea, it will change your attitude towards many things in your life. 

            How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months? What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

            In the next six months I will assess my lack of progress.  I need to focus on the growth and development of all areas of integral health.  I feel motivated some days and other days my mind is not focused which causes me to feel stressed.  To implement specific exercises or activities I must first allow myself time to do so.  The exercises that we have been participating in throughout this course so far is helping me to choose which exercise I would like to continue practicing as well as blending in a daily physical exercise plan.  I think part of my problem is I am so busy worrying and making sure everyone else is alright that I don’t take the time to focus on what I need to do for myself.  If I don’t make a change there is no one that can do it for me so I have to do it for myself.