Final Paper

Introduction 

If one does not practice the integral approach then they experience only a piece of health instead of wholeness.  The integral approach provides healthcare professionals with a compass that helps guide them toward an innovative healing process (Dacher, 2006).  If a health and wellness professional chose the integral approach, they must first understand it and utilize it in their own personal life in order to understand the concept and grasp the possibilities outside of what we know as “normal”.  If one chooses not to develop in all three areas:  psychological, spiritual, and physical health and well being according to the integral approach, then their own compass would be off which would only misguide their patients and clients preventing them from the opportunity of ultimate happiness, wholeness, and health. 

I personally need to work on all areas in order to achieve ultimate happiness, wholeness, and health.  Some areas are better than others such as my spiritual and psychological health.  But the area that needs the most attention and development would be my physical health.  Although I will continue to grow in the other two areas, for now, my physical wellbeing is hurting and will be my focus without neglecting my mind and spirit. 

Assessment 

I have worked with Western medicine since I was a teenager.  I am now 43 years old and I have witnessed the mind and the spirit being neglected with almost every patient that walks in the door to be treated, ultimately asking to be healthy.  Because of the opportunities I have had to witness this, I have been very mindful of my own health, mind, body, and spirit but not until my early 30’s.  In my early 30’s I started focusing on building my health with my mind and spirit after I had a spout with depression and anxiety.  At age 26, I was on antidepressants and benzodiazepines, living life day to day without purpose.  Thinking that one day, the medicine would help.  Finally one day, after about three years of waiting, I had enough and started seeing a therapist, participating in group therapy as well as joining a church.  It took about a year of really focusing on my way of thinking, changing my lifestyle, eliminating negative people in my life, and changing the way I react to problems, but it was the best thing that I had ever done.  For the first time, I was psychologically and spiritually happy and fulfilled.  The answer was not in a bottle but in my own self.  I have continued down the path of psychological and spiritual health and wholeness.  I am not the same person I was in my 20’s and early 30’s and for the past 10 years; I have maintained balance, stability, and happiness through God and my church.  For that reason, I rate myself a seven out of ten for my psychological and spiritual health.

As I have shared in the past, my physical health is certainly lacking.  I am 30 pounds overweight and eat very poorly and never exercise.  I certainly do plan on changing this as soon as school is over, which is the end of this term.  Unfortunately, I rate myself a three out of ten but my intentions are to raise that number slowly but surely every day.  I know when I do become more physically healthy; it will only improve my overall health and well being in all areas. 

                                                    Goal Development

There are many goals that I have set for myself and I know I have some much needed maintenance to do on my physical health which is long overdue.  The main goal is to eat healthier.  With just that one goal, many other goals will be achieved including losing weight.  With my psychological health, a goal that I set for myself would be more mindful and kind to others.  I tend to get frustrated and I need to have a little more patience and understanding of others a times.  And my goal for my spiritual health would be to dig deeper into the Bible as well as join a small group within my church.  Since starting school, I have slacked in getting more involve with my church.  All of these goals will only help me work toward happiness, wholeness, and health.  Profound and enduring health, happiness, and wholeness will always be a goal of mine and this class has given me many tools to achieve just that (Dacher, 2006).

Practices for Personal Health 

With my physical health, the two obvious things that I plan on doing are to change the way I eat as well as implementing an exercise regimen.  I plan to start simple progressively moving toward being physically fit and healthy.  I am really excited about the change.  It has been a long time coming.  Exercises that I plan on implementing into my psychological health would be to meditating and journaling on a daily basis.  These exercises will certainly help me focus on the positives in life as well as help me gain and maintain focus and control of my mind, thoughts, and reactions.  And lastly, I will dig deeper into my Bible studies and do more volunteering within my community.  This provides me with self purpose and awareness which ultimately brings me peace and serenity.

                                                               Commitment

When you see yourself progressing with your health, it is encouraging which only gives you the drive to keep going.  Over the next six months, I plan to lose the weight that I have gained over the past three years.  I plan on keeping track of my progress by using My Fitness Pal, a free online program that helps you keep track of what you eat, your goal with your weight as well as exercise advice. 

With my spiritual health and mental health, I will assess by revisiting where I was today and compare it to where I will be in six months.  As I stated earlier, I feel that I am a seven out of ten so I will compare and hopefully feel as if I am a little higher on the assessment scale.   I do not feel that I will every reach a ten in any of these areas but I feel that is a good thing.  You never want to stop at reaching your fullest potential with your overall health and happiness.

References

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral heatlh the path to human flourishing. Laguna beach: Basic health publications inc.