The Meeting Aesclepius exercise really made me focus on the importance of family and friends as a part of my integral health and wellness. My focal point throughout the week was my boyfriend Mike. I chose him because he has been my supporter, my friend, my love, and my counselor when I need it the most. So in meditating, I realized how blessed I am to be surrounded by his love and compassion. Understanding and allowing myself to feel that sense of calmness through thoughts of happiness and strength he has shown me throughout the years. This exercise was really important to me and in doing these practices I am psychologically and more spiritually aware of my inner strength and development. I understand how strong the effects of loved ones can be on your physical, psychological and spiritual health. In order to continue to have a healthy lifestyle, we have to take that time to really think and indulge in what we have in our lives and how they make us feel to reach our optimal wellness.
Our book points out that “one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005, p. 477). This is especially important for not only health and wellness professionals, but everyone who desires to reach optimal wellness because in order to effectively help others understand the process of reaching optimal flourishing; we need to have gone through or are continually working on meditation practices, working on areas of strength and weaknesses and understanding how these effect the outcomes of physical, psychological and spiritual health. If we ourselves have not obtained or at least experienced the process of working towards an integral health, we can’t effectively help others. It’s kind of like trying to help a person to exercise and quit smoking but you the complete opposite don’t exercise and smoke. How can you effectively help that person if you don’t understand the process of doing so and the struggles that may be involved with the process? I don’t think we could. We can further develop our health and wellness by seeking out ways to help others improve their physical, psychological and spiritual wellness. Introducing them to meditation practices, visual practices, breathing exercises, and yoga are all things we could do to help them work through and experience the benefits of each. We can work and share with each other to improve our and their optimal flourishing.
Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Consciousness & healing: Integral approaches to mind-body medicine. St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
2 comments:
Michele
That is really great that your boyfriend is your strength. Not many people can say that they have that type of relationship and you are right, it is a blessing. I also agree about modeling what you teach as a healthcare provider because it not only helps you become more respected by your patients, but it also helps you to become more aware of yourself. Great post!
Candace
Hey Michele,
Knowledge is power (Bacon) and once we get the knowledge to pass it on is important not only for our own flourishing as we give loving kindness in sharing, but we also get it back. Fostering relationships and social harmony is important to our soul and it always makes us feel good knowing that we have friends and family we can go to in good or bad times. Infusing our daily activities with awareness, consciousness, and loving-kindness arise from contemplative practices (Dacher, 2006). In aiming for an integral life is not ultimately found in formal practices it is found in living integrally day by day (Dacher, 2006). That’s why it’s a lifestyle that we have to choose in making ourselves better as we have to take the responsibility of doing so.
Artemio
P.s. beautiful kids it brings back memories of my kids when they were young as you see the smile of love, kindness, happiness, and joy.
Reference:
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Pathway to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
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