Unit 8 Blog Post

This week we were asked to review all of the exercises and practice sessions that we have completed in this course and choose the two practices that we have determined to be most beneficial. 

I think that meditation would be the first one because in all the exercises you are doing some form of meditation.  The second one that I would pick is "Crime of the Century."  I enjoy Chakra meditations and meditations that help with visualization.  I feel that they help you train your mind better.  If you can visualize it you can make it happen.  I implement these into my daily life every day.  I do this my setting goals, seeing myself reach those goals, and accomplishing said goals.  I have found this easier to do because my focus has increased.  My focused increased because of meditative practices and I achieve things faster because  I visualize the best way to get things done so visualization is also key.


While these are the best for me, it does not mean they will be the best for you.  It is up to all of us to determine our own path and what is best for us.  Oh, and one more thing I find useful to remember: Just because it is good for the goose, does not mean that it is good for the gander.  We are all individuals and should remember that.

---Anita Rachel Scott (Goehring)

References:

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

M. Schlitz, T. Amorok, M.S. Micozzi (2005). Consciousness & Healing, Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone.

Unit 7 Blog Post

Hello to all,


My meditations this week were very relaxing and enjoyable.  I like to end my day with a good meditation and calm my mind before bed.  I find it helps me sleep.  I have always used meditation with the spiritual path that I walk as well.  It is comforting to see others benefit from it as well.  I think I will always meditate before bed.  It seems to be the best time to do it for me.


We were also asked to: describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477).  


To me, this means that it is difficult to lead if you do not know where you are going.  It is also hard to find a place that you have not been.  In health and wellness that is why it is so important to be able to empathize with you patients.  I say empathize because most people do not want your sympathy they want and/or need your empathy.  They need to know that you truly understand how they feel and that it matters to you.  Sometimes it helps if they know how you helped yourself heal when you were unwell, or how you got more physically fit, or whatever your experiences was.  They need to know that you practice what you preach.  


We were also asked: Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your  health psychologically, physically, and spiritually?Why or why not?


I say yes.  It goes back to that whole: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself".  If you are not trying to grow in these areas how can you expect those who you care for to be motivated to do the same?


I personally implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life on a regular basis.  I practice my spiritual path daily.  It is easy to do when you have found the right path for yourself.  Psychologically I take the time to self evaluate and look at things from other angles.  I also talk things out, keep a journal, and if things are really bad and I need a little help, I ask for it.  If this means going and talking to a therapist I do.  Usually I can work things out on my own and my life is really good.  there is not much to complain about and that makes me very happy.

---Anita Rachel Scott (Goehring)

References:

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

M. Schlitz, T. Amorok, M.S. Micozzi (2005). Consciousness & Healing, Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone.

Unit 6 Blog Post

In practicing the meditation or exercise on page 93 of: Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing, I found myself reminded of my personal spirituality.  The exercise or meditation goes like this:

"1.) Rest and quiet yourself and your mind for a couple of minutes.

 2.) Repeat the following phrases for about 10 minutes.

        A.) May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.

        B.) May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.

       C.) May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering..

       D.) May  I assist all individuals in finding sustained health, happiness, and wholeness."

Dacher says: that this mini practice can be very powerful in expanding your mind and heart.  I think that he is right.  I have been practicing this since I was a very little girl.  To date my earliest memory of practicing this was when I was maybe 4 or 5 years old.  The details are unimportant but regardless it is a very good practice no matter what your faith or spirituality or your age.  It not only helps heal others but you as well.

Then we were asked to complete the Integral Assessment on page 115 of: Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing.  This exercise focuses more on ones self than on others. There are a few important steps.

1.) Again you need to spend a couple of minutes to calm your body and mind.

2.) This time you are to ask yourself the following questions:

        A.) "What aspect of my life --- psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal, or worldly --- is the sorce of difficulty and suffering?"

        B.) " What area of my life is ready for growth and development?"

       C.) "Have I been clear and unbiased in my assessment?"

       D.) "Am I taking on too much or too little?"

These questions will help us develop as an ongoing assessment tool that we can use in our daily lives.

In practicing these exercises I found myself reminded of my personal Spirituality and what I practice on a daily basis.  It made me realize how much I have grown since I was young, (I did not always practice this on a daily basis.) and how much further I still have to go.  It really is true, the more you learn the more you realize just how much you do not know.  

     

I need to grow more in my interpersonal area myself.  I have major trust issues that have developed because of past experiences in this lifetime.  (Listen to the following: http://www.myspace.com/jewel/music/songs/fragile-heart-album-version-28298927 I think that many of us can relate.) It is difficult for me to grow past them.  And it seems that the best tools to help me move past them are determination, practice trusting others, and not let set backs discourage me. Wish me luck and send me positive energy. ;)

---Anita Rachel Scott (Goehring)

References:

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


http://www.myspace.com/jewel/music/songs/fragile-heart-album-version-28298927

Unit 5 Blog Post

This week we have been asked to compare Loving Kindness and Subtle Mind.  These are two different guided meditations.

Loving Kindness is just what it sounds like.  It is about the practice of taking time to create love and kindness for everyone.  In this guided meditation you are asked to take in everyone's suffering and pain, let it pass through you, and then let it go.  This is a good meditation to help an individual work on forgiveness because you are asked to even take in the pain and suffering of those you may not like.

Subtle Mind is a meditation that focuses more on a persons self.  You are to focus on your own breath and your calming your mind..  This is to help you focus on your own inner peace and take the time for you.  It also helps a person accept the chaos that may be going on in their life and in themselves, calm it, and let it go.

Both are good meditations and can help a person in their life.  The major difference is what is your personal goal.  Are you doing a meditation for yourself and your own calming?  Or, are you thinking you need to work on helping others and work on your own personal forgiveness towards others?  Meditations are designed to help us.

We were also asked this week what the connection is between spiritual, physical, and mental wellness.  During meditation we are allowed to more easily connect the spiritual, mental, and physical wellness also know as the mind, body, and spirit.  If we are happy and healthy then in most cases we are physically well also.  

An example of this is: When you are overweight and out of shape it is possible for you to start to feel depressed about how you look and feel physically. As this progresses you can develop full on depression. With depression comes isolation. You do not want to go out and be active. This lack of desire to be active can pass on to your spirituality. You may not want to be active with your spirituality and may even blame the deity of your choice or faith for your sorrow. In this example you can see how these feelings or energy of sadness and sorrow can be transcended to all aspects of your personal being: Body, Mind, Spirit.

I find that it is important to pay attention to all of these aspects in myself to maintain optimal wellness.  It is easy to do if you listen to your body.  Your body will tell you if something is not right.

---Anita Rachel Scott (Goehring)

References:

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

Dacher, E.S. (2006) CD Companion to: Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing. Loving Kindness Meditation. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Dacher, E.S. (2006) CD Companion to: Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing. Subtle Mind Meditation. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Unit 4 Blog Post

I have always found meditation to be helpful and beneficial.  This time we were asked to listen to both tracks one and two on a guided meditation CD that we have for class.  We were to spend a good portion of our class time practicing Loving Kindness.  This is a good guided meditation because it is easy to follow.  It is because it is so easy to follow that I would and do recommend that others try it out.

We were also asked to describe the concept of a "Mental Workout."  In Integral Health a mental workout is not just studying, reading, and/or doing a ton of research.  It is also about a person taking the time to take a moment or two for themselves and quieting their mind.  This is also done in certain faiths as well.  You can see it in Buddhism, Paganism, and several other spiritual paths.

There has been a lot of research conducted on meditation and the benefits it offers. It has been proven that people who meditate are healthier both physically and mentally.  It has also been proven that those who are sick and meditate on their personal wellness get better more quickly.

Depending on the type of meditation we can foster it to our psychological health.  If we practice meditations of forgiveness it becomes easier for us to forgive.  If we practice visualizing someone in a more positive light it helps us see some of the good things they may do that we would not have noticed before.  If we practice the meditation or mental workout of Loving Kindness, it will make it easier for us to feel these emotions.

Some of these may seem a bit odd for those who are not raised with these concepts or are being exposed to them for the first time.  However, if you legitimately try them with an open mind, anything is possible. 

---Anita Rachel Scott (Goehring)

References:

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

Dacher, E.S. (2006) CD Companion to: Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing. Loving Kindness Meditation.  Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc. 

Thank you Einstein.

We often make things a lot harder then they have to be.  If I catch myself doing this I will walk away from it and then come back to it later after a nap and some milk and cookies.  Then I ask myself if I know what I am doing and can I say it in Laymen's terms? IF the answer is still no, then it is back to the books for me.

I really like this and agree implicitly.