Unit 9

Introduction:
Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically? What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?
One cannot offer true guidance and passion without following and believing in the path they are leading others to. I feel it is important to continually develop in the areas of psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being in order to coach others in these areas. It is important to be able to have empathy and true understanding for those we are working with. In order to reach the goals I have set for myself I will need to continue growing both spiritually and psychologically. I feel the one area that I need most personal growth is spiritually. Below I have outlined goals to develop further in these areas.

Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
Throughout this class I have been able to take a look at each domain; spiritually, physically, and psychologically. By doing this I have been able to take the time to rate each aspect on my own personal scale. I can say that I have personally rated each domain as follows;
Spiritually: is about a 5 on a scale of 1-10. This rating leaves a lot of room for improvement – which I feel I would benefit immensely from. I have set goals as outlined below to help me continually improve this rating.
Physically: is a 7. I am a very active person but feel that I would like to improve my physical state while having a stronger spiritual and psychological rating. I feel that by doing so I will be able to see my personal physical standing in a new light.
Psychologically: is about a 5 right now as well. I currently work out of town 3-4 days per week and go to school full time. I have allowed these aspects to add a lot of stress and anxiety into my life. I feel that this class has given me a few more tools on how to take control of my psychological well-being and plan to do so.

Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
1. Physical Goal: My goal is to complete a cleanse starting next week (once school is done!) that will last 5-7 days. I would also like to set the goal of attending a Bikram Yoga class at least 3 days per week starting April 1, 2012. I would also like to set the goal of cutting caffeine out of my diet and will give myself 1 month starting April 1, 2012 to do so.
2. Psychological Goal: I would like to set the goal of meditating three times per day (as mentioned under Spiritual Goal). I would like to use this time to clear my mind and allow myself to let go of any stress and anxiety I am carrying from the day. I feel that this goal will help me to reduce my stress and anxiety and improve my mental health.
3. Spiritual Goal: Starting April 1, 2012 I would like to set aside 30 minutes every day to practice either the Subtle Mind practice or the Loving-Kindness practice. I would also like to take 15 minutes first thing in the morning, halfway through my day and at the end of the day to meditate and calm my mind to help bring myself closer to a unity consciousness over time.

Practices for personal health:
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.
1. Physical: By implementing an exercise routine and setting goals for my physical health I will be able to continue growing in this area. I can do this by setting health eating habits and goals along with setting a routine work-out schedule.
2. Psychological: Taking 15 minutes three times daily to meditate and clear my mind will allow me to reduce stress and improve my psychological well-being.
3. Spiritual: Practicing the Subtle Mind exercise on a daily basis while alternating the Loving-Kindness exercise will help me to progress in my spiritual development. I would love to continue my personal growth until I can reach unity consciousness. I feel that these practices will help me to foster growth in this area.

Commitment:
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?
Assessing progress is a large part of setting successful goals. If a proper assessment strategy is not set up when goals are set there is no real way for us to measure the success of our goals. I feel that a great place to start is to give oneself a deadline to reach the goal – this can always be changed as time progresses. Setting a deadline will give you a set time to sit down and evaluate your progress vs. the goals you set. I also feel that keeping a journal and notating your thoughts and feelings as you work on your goals is a great way to be able to evaluate any changes. A journal can also be helpful in tracking times and methods that were most effective in obtaining your goal.