In Unit 3 I rated my physical wellbeing at a 7. I would say that it is still at a 7. I haven't increased my workout much, but I do intend to in the future. My mental wellbeing was an 8. For the most part my mental wellbeing is good. I've traveled a long road to get to that 8. I think that it is still an 8. I continue to grow in this area and there is always room for improvement. My spiritual wellbeing was an 8. I love God and I talk to Him through out the day. I would not say that it is a 10 because this is something that always needs to be worked on. I can always grow closer to God.

My goals were to start back up on Tai Chi and Yoga. This was to help with the physical, mental and spiritual side. Connecting each one together. This is a constant goal of mine. I have started som yoga, but plan to take a class in the future. I need to have more "me" time.

This course has made me more positive and I feel like I'm a better person because of this class. I have loved getting to know each of you and wish you all the best in the future.

Final project

Final Project

It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically. Without being balanced in these categories, we cannot effectively help our patients. When on category is imbalanced, it created the others to be unbalanced as well. I like what Dacher says in the very first chapter; “The moment we start to seriously invest in growing our inner like and acquiring its natural healing resources, we simultaneously set out of our ordinary ideas about health and begin the climb toward the treasures at the summit of extraordinary health.” (Dacher, p 9, 2006)I want to be extraordinary in helping people. If I’m not balanced in those categories I cannot be extraordinary. If I am not psychologically fit, how can I be able to help someone that needs a guided healing in their psychological aspect? If I’m not spiritually fit, then I cannot affectively help a patient that needs to become closer to their god. If I’m not physically fit, then I cannot expect my patients to want to be physically fit. I have always believed that you should practice what you preach. Others around you are going to think that you are a hypocrite if you are not following your own advice. If the advice is good for the patient, then it is good for me, and vice versa.

I think that each aspect can always use growing. We should continually grow and become more mature in each aspect. I need to work on the physical part more. Although I am not obese or overweight by any means, I need to be lean and tone to inspire my patients. Also this will produce a healthier happier life for me. Spiritually, I can always become closer to God. I hope I never stop growing in this category. Psychologically, I am growing. The more I practice loving-kindness and subtle mind; I will continue to grow in this area. I want to be able to pass that on to my patients.

If I were to assess my health wellness in each domain I would say that; physically I’m a 5 out of 10. Lately I have not had the motivation to work out. Altough I do go to the gym, I find that I’m not pushing myself. I think that right now I have a lot on my plate with trying to work everything out for our move to Arizona, which is 18 hours away from my family. So working out is the last thing that I want to do. My physiological domain would be 7 out of 10. I’m pretty grounded but there is always room for improvement. My spiritual domain would also be 7 out of 10. I love God and have been a witness of the awesome things he has done for me in my life. But there is always room for growth.

My main goal is to be more physically active. This will promote mental and physical wellness. It will reduce stress and make me healthier overall. I want to become leaner and have more muscle tone. Incorporating yoga along with cardio and weight training will help with this goal. Spiritually, I just need to spend more time with God. Praying more is a goal. More quiet time to just listen to Him. This has been helpful in the past, but I seem to think I don’t have enough time. If I create more time just for Him this will help. Psychologically, making more time for loving-kindness and subtle mind. This will quiet my mind and learn to just be in the moment. We are currently on vacation in Arizona, and my husband made an appointment for a massage. I found myself having to remind my mind to be still and just be in the moment. I need to practice this more in my daily life.

I plan to keep a journal to keep track of my progress or lack of progress. This will help me to see if there is any improvement in my domains. Living day to day life you may not be able to tell as easily if you are growing or not. Keeping track of this on paper may help me to stay focused. Also, keeping Dacher’s book on my table will help me to stay more focused and want to continue to grow.

Two exercises

The two exercises that i would pick would be subtle mind and loving kindness. These two have helped me out a lot. I am aware of my thoughts now, and am able to calm them down. Loving kindness has helped me to become a nicer person. I want people to have a nice day and have a nice life. When i find myself thinking negative thoughts about someone, I try to change that thought and practice loving kindness to them. This puts my mind in a better state. This is something that I would want my patients to practice. Because having a calm mind and love toward others will help their mental state.

Meeting Asciepius

1. Complete the "Meeting Asciepius" exercise on track #4 of the Dacher CD. Describe your meditative practice(s) for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?


This week has been hard to practice meditation. My mind is wondering in directions that I do not want it to go. I think that the devil is playing again and I'm finding it hard to fight against him. My husband was not feeling well yesterday and apparently I said something that hurt his feelings. In no way was i trying to hurt his feelings or make him feel that I did not care. In other circumstances my comment would not have upset him. But still today he has hostility towards me. I am trying to remain positive and meditate loving kindness to him. I explained that I was not trying to hurt him, but he still holds hositlity. I told him I don't know what else to do, now it's up to him to forgive and either move on from it or continue to hold on to it. All i can do now is to continue to practice loving kindness.

2. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (P.477) How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

This comment is one that I have always found to be true. I hate it when a doctor tells a patient that he/she is overweight and needs to go on a diet and exercise. Then i see that same doctor in line (who is himself/herself overweight) ordering high fat, high carb food and looks like a heart attack waiting to happen. A patient is like a child, they follow by example. If you are not living the life of health, why should they? I plan to always live to the advice I give my patients in the future.

Universal Loving-Kindness

This was a good exercise. It's a positive thing. It helps me to send kindness to others. Stop focusing on myself and wanting kindness and good health to be sent to others. I found myself doing this in my mind for others this week. When I would see someone that looked like they were having a hard day, I started to say all this in my mind. I hope that it helped that person, but I know that I felt better in the day because I was wanting someone to feel better.

My personal assessment: My eating habits are affected by my habits. If my daily schedule is so busy I tend to just grab something to eat. My priorities are my family, my dogs, our office, my schoolwork. Then lastly myself. I need to focus more on myself to balance my life. This will create less stress. This is an ongoing process.

Subtle Mind

I tried this exercise and found it to be easier than the last one. I was able to sit on my back deck and listen to the birds around while focusing on my breathing. When I noticed that my mind was chattering and not focusing on the birds I simply was able to redirect it. I found this to be so relaxing. This is something that I can do most days. My goal to to do this at least once a day. It only takes 5 minutes out of my time and this is something that I need. I loved this exercise.

Fruit of the Spirit

When I was going through my transformation, my husband said something about the Fruits of the Spirit. I had never heard of this before, so I looked them up. I wanted all of these aspects. I wanted to be Christ like. I wanted God's love to pour out through me. I copied these and to this day, I have one posted on my car, by the odometer. So evertime I get in the car I see it. I posted one on all the mirrors so that everytime I looked in the mirror I would be reminded.

love (agape);
joy (chara);
peace (eirene);
patience (makrothumia);
kindness (chrestotes);
goodness (agathosune);
faithfulness (pistis);
gentleness (prautes);
self-control (egkrateia