Tayla James
May 27, 2014
Kaplan University: HW420 Aspects of
Healing
Unit 9 Project
Introduction
Health and wellness professionals deal with a variety of different
people with different backgrounds and beliefs, which is why it’s important for
them to develop themselves psychologically, spiritually, and physically as
well. Going to a professional, one wants to feel connected and able to trust
the advice given to them, so it is important that the professional have both
book knowledge as well as personal experience in the field they are giving
advice in. This way, both the client and the professional experience a more
whole sense of well-being.
Personally, I need to work on my psychological health the most. I
have struggled my whole life in this area and yet I continue to work on each
issue the best I can, but becoming more aware and motivated to change.
Assessment
On a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), I would rate my physical
wellbeing at an 8, my spiritual wellbeing at a 6, and my psychological
wellbeing at a 7. I would describe myself as being physically fit and healthy,
however I do have some ailments that bother me (knee and back pain, etc.) and
although I eat pretty much all organic and healthy foods, I still could be
healthier with other things (I drink Monster energy drinks every day!). My
spiritual wellbeing is good, but not great. I'm not really religious, but I do
believe in some higher power or energy. And my psychological wellbeing is
improving, but still could use some help. I suffered with anorexia and
depression for ten years, which has taken its toll on me both physically and
mentally. I still have anxiety and negative thoughts that rule me some days.
Goal development
A goal for my physical health is to improve my posture to help
ease my back pain and to ice regularly. A goal for my spiritual wellbeing is to
take 15 minutes each day and just sit quietly with my thoughts. And
for my psychological health, I would like to continue my deep breathing to
control my anxiety.
Practices for personal health
In order to move forward with these goals, I want
to implement more focused meditation and breathing, which will help me
slow down and focus in on what is really important. Also, patience would be a
good thing to practice, as change takes time and it can be difficult. Implementing
meditation and breathing into my daily life can be as easy as focusing my
awareness towards my breath and allowing myself to relax for a moment. The
practice does not have to be something I plan for, as ideally I want to use it
in times of stress, which are usually when I am out in public. Patience is
something more difficult to practice, however it could go hand in hand with the
breathing practice, as deep breathing can help me remain patient.
Commitment
To track my progress for the goals I set for myself, I can keep a
journal and write in it each night and record my progress for the day. My goals
do not really require me to meet something specific, but rather just my own
well-being and emotional feelings, so writing seems a good fit. Maintaining
long term practices can be a challenge, but the key is to stay motivated and
keep in mind why you are doing what you’re doing. In my case, I must remember
why I need to use deep breathing and meditation and I can remind myself how
these practices will benefit me and my overall sense of happiness and
well-being.
