Unit 9 Final Project ...

1. Introduction:            

Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically? What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

I like to look at it this way, if I am traveling to California without a map I would not give directions other than by the route I have travelled.  In other words if I am helping people walk on the road to health improvement I better have some idea of how to lead them.  How could I do that without having experience to communicate from?  

In weight loss a person needs someone who has actually done a diet or followed the recommendations to ensure success.  It is crucial for professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically so they have empathy and can guide a person through difficulties they may face along the way.  In building muscle I would take a body builder with muscles advice over Richard Simmons.  This is true really in any field, you look for health with those that embody health.  When an individual comes to a wellness professional for assistance they seek someone who is proficient in every area of their profession.                                                              

I have many goals in life and one of them is to help as many people as I can.  In order to do this it takes organization and walking the walk.  I am going to keep in an exercise schedule  and really work on gaining spiritual ground so others see me make progress. 

2. Assessment:

How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

My physical wellbeing I score at a level of 8 as I would like to lose some weight, but my blood levels and pressure are in great shape.  I have incorporated the love of whole foods into my life and I do not eat the junk that I used to.  I have been off of soda and high fructose corn syrup products for years.  I do tend to over eat and that is something that I am tackling this year.          

I constantly work on my spiritual well-being.  I would rate this at a 7 as with school I have not put in the time that I used to.  I keep my relationships in great order and I am constantly working to gain enlightenment by forwarding spiritual pursuits.  I study philosophy and different religous beliefs in search of truths and ideas that I can apply to make my life better.                                       

My psychological and emotional well-being is in great shape as I keep my daily meals and sleep in.  I feel it is important to feel good and I would rate this at a 9.  This will get to a 10 as I continue with more spiritual well-being and keep my physical body in good shape.

3. Goal development:

List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.

Physically I am working to implement a weight training routine along with portion control to allow safe weight loss that is permanent.  This will provide stress relief and allow for good mental health.  Spiritually I plan to finish my studies of Zacharia Sitchin, the bible, and the koran by the end of the year.  I like to look at different religions and belief systems.  This helps me define my beliefs.  I also have a goal to keep my sleep schedule, fitness, and food plan in so I can feel great and enjoy happiness.                                                     

4. Practices for personal health:

What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

I will plan out my meals for portion control. I have a Bowflex that I am going to use with the exercise portion of Body for Life that will ensure success in the physical domain.  I will also be increasing fruits and nuts for my snacks so I do not overeat.                                                          

I currently use a system called Self Analysis which is a list of questions designed to raise awareness, increase reaction time, better memory, and increase happiness.  I have found that it does those things and more so I will continue this combined with a great diet, and exercise program.  I am working to get the self analysis to be daily, but currently it is once a week.          

When I am done with school I plan to put exercise in daily as well.  This is only about 3 months away, but one thing I have learned in this class is to work to put even a small amount in now and increase it in the future.  For that I have started exercising 3 days a week and have kept that in over the last 2 months.  Living in the present moment is important and working towards a goal is the key.

5. Commitment:

How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months? What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

I plan to start a journal to see how my thoughts about daily life change. This will assess my mental and emotional state, but for my physical choices I will actually take measurements.  These will include weight, body fat, as well as food journaling.  I also plan on continuing with Self Analysis to continue my ability to remember and to keep a great memory.  The main strategy I plan on using is however goal planning.  This is a dynamic practice and gives me a road to travel.  It helps me figure out what I am working towards.