Human Flourishing: A Personal Side

A Personal Plan for Integral Health     

The Importance for Professionals of Integral Health

            Health and wellness professionals need to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically in order to become a role model for those wanting to flourish.  They need to be on the cutting edge of change, as the field of integral medicine is highly transformative and consistently evolving (Dacher, 2006, p. 165).  The professional has to understand the positive and negative aspects of integral healing, through their personal integration, in order to understand how to channel their efforts into assisting their patients.  If they understand integral healing as practical, comprehensive, and well developed, they can take their patient to the next level of healing (Dacher, 2006, p. 165).  In order to personally develop, the spiritual and psychological areas will require attention.  When the mind and spirit are strong, the body will follow suit.  By understanding that well-being is something we have instead of something that we can get, or that the world is our teacher rather than something that punishes us, our journey can begin (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005, p. 309).  

Personal Assessment

            Personal assessment is the first step in becoming whole and finding the weak areas to build upon.  Psychospiritual healing needs to take place, and there are many ways to accomplish this based on recent research and learning. 

            Psychological health is well, and it can be rated at an eight out of ten, with ten being the most positive.  Quieting the mind still requires practice, as the mind remains difficult to become completely still.  This becomes apparent when performing meditation and subtle mind exercises, as the mind still has a tendency to wander. 

            Spiritual health is in a good place, can be rated nine out of ten, and only a nine because of the want to grow in spirit and a spiritual connection with the intimate partner.  As a raised Catholic, it has always been the belief that through prayer and God, all things are possible.  Connecting spiritually with the one you are closest with can take the relationship to the highest level.

            Physical health is optimal, and is rated eight out of ten.  There are many goals in place, and they all include the integration of the other two areas.  A strong mind and spirit can push the body into achieving the higher goals that have been set, such as a complete makeover in diet and completing a marathon. 

Personal Goals

            There are many ways to personally develop in the three aspects of integral health.  Understanding the relationship between the three aspects can help set one up on a path to complete human flourishing. 

            Psychological development should always be evolving, and through maturation and taking time for oneself, it can be a strong influence on the other aspects of health.  Working towards a quiet mind is the ultimate goal.  Finding the space between the afflictive thoughts, feelings, and images, and automatic actions and speech that follow, need to be reworked (Dacher, 2006, p. 53).  Sometimes the time lapse is too quick, and the negative energy becomes external (Dacher, 2006, p. 53). 

            Spiritual development can personally evolve in the intimate relationship one has with another, as previous experience has left a wall up to a thoroughly engaging relationship.  Spending more time with God in conversation is good for the soul, and more time should be set aside. 

            Physical goals include the use of nutrition for healing, completing a half marathon in under two and a half hours, and eventually a marathon.

Practices for Personal Health

            There are so many ways to develop integral health, and this is important, as each person is different.  Specific practices should be addressed, and the path to achieving these goals should be attainable. 

            Psychological development will increase by daily use of the subtle mind exercise and meditation.  The subtle mind exercise requires concentrating on breathing, which can tame and stabilize the mind.  This results in witnessing consciousness mind, and as that replaces the clinging and grasping, we move into calm-abiding and eventually unity consciousness, which is the ultimate goal (Dacher, 2006, p. 75).  Pure awareness is the goal, and through continued practice, one can stop, look inward, and rest in this innermost essence (Dacher, 2006, p. 77).  Meditation will become a daily occurrence, and this will allow for an even temper by having an outlet to rid the mind and body of any unwanted stress or negativity. 

            Spiritual goals can be attained by utilizing a spiritual union practice with one in an intimate relationship.  By spending time in each other’s essence, the feelings of one vice each other can become real, and the hesitation that one has in becoming part of another’s soul can be eliminated (Dacher, 2006, p. 92).  Praying is the best way to spend time with God, as well as reading His Word to understand the power He holds in our lives. 

            Physical goals include updates to diet and exercise.  Adopting the Eastern diet allows one to integrate the energy in the body for complete balance, as the Eastern belief of nutrition lies in treating the energy systems within the body (Lu, 2000, p. 1).  Learning about how food works with the energy systems and implementing change can bring the physical body in balance.  A goal of completing a marathon requires time and training.  By researching training programs, one can find a program that can be easy to adopt into the daily routine (Marathon Rookie, 2012). 

Commitment and Reassessment

            When setting up goals, strategies to obtain these goals should be documented.  They should be attainable and realistic, and alternate means of obtaining these goals should be considered.  The use of journals can help one in documenting goals, and details, dates, and resources should not be omitted.  Allowing space in the journal for feelings, thoughts, and real-time results can assist in re-evaluation along the way.  By finding what practices work and where there are weak areas, one can quickly adapt different ways of obtaining their goals.  Part of the journal entry should flag time blocks, such as three months or six months, for assessment and restructure, if required.  Being dedicated to the journey, making time for oneself on a daily basis, reaching out to others for their experiences, and treating the whole person vice the individual parts are all ways one can reach flourishing in health, happiness, and wholeness (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005, p. 503).  

  

References

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach: Basic Health Publications.

Lu, N. (2000). Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Natural Guide to Weight Loss That Lasts. New York: Harper Collins.

Marathon Rookie. (2012, May 20). How to Train for a Marathon. Retrieved from Marathon Rookie: http://www.marathonrookie.com/

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Consciousness and Healing. St. Louis: Elsevier.