I. 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?
It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically because in my opinion it is impossible to teach something in its entirety if you have not obtained the outcome you are trying to teach. I have said many times before that my absolute favorite saying we had in the Marines was “You can’t teach what you don’t know and you can’t lead where you won’t go”. Grammatically imperfect but the meaning is absolutely true. In order for your students to have full confidence in you it is important that you embody the very essence of what you are teaching. It is very difficult for a human to accept words as truth unless they see with their own eyes that which is being touted as truth. It would be very difficult for a student to believe peace, physical, emotional and spiritual health are attainable if they did not first witness their instructors own integral health.
In order for me to be a stronger influence on a student or my own children for that matter I must first work harder to obtain peace in stressful situations not just when things are going well. The second thing I really need to work on is my eating habits. I am ashamed to say I am a stress eater. I did not have this problem until my military doctors started treating my PTSD with medications. I gained 60 pounds in 6 months. It brings on cravings which I have given into time and time again. I have made an agreement with my very health conscience daughter to spend one day a week looking up healthy meals and only buying the necessary food for those meals with fruits and vegetables as my health snack. The third part of my life that I need help on is overcoming anger that is where my Transcendental Meditation will come into play. I took the first step this week to drive 11/2 hours to the Transcendental Meditation Center of Boone NC. The director is absolutely amazing. She is a Christian and has learned how to incorporate all the things that I hold sacred and healing into one practice. She not only teaches TM but she is a renowned Vedic organic gardener, herbalists, and crystal specialist as applies to healing through the use of crystal energies. I plan on learning Reiki from another instructor to round out my healing and pass my knowledge on to my future students. Of course I already incorporated the smudge and cleansing ceremonies as well as Christian beliefs so hopefully this will all come together into one smooth practice.
II. Assessment:
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?
I think right now I am a steady 5 in all areas. Spiritually I sway back and forth from what I believe is true to what I was taught by the Christian side of my family and what they believed was true. I still fight the gnawing words of the Christians that believed if you read associate or practice any other belief other than the ones stated in the bible then you are going to hell. I had a very warped since of whom the Creator was and I am still trying to find peace with why it would be necessary to see your only son tortured and die on a cross. One day I hope to gain revelation on this until then there is a little spark of anger whenever I think about how a loving Creator could allow so much cruelty into the world.
Physically I am a 5 because I do walk but not fast enough. I do swim but not hard enough. I do eat healthy but not every day. I want very much to get off the PTSD medication and until then I will not feel completely physically healthy. It does increase mood swings and food cravings which are a battle.
Psychologically I am a 5 because I do not know how to trust anyone! I have not dated anyone in almost 10 years. I spend my entire life giving what I can to my girls and the part that is left over I spend trying to increase my education. Other than that I don’t feel as if I have anything left to give. I have a few really close friends and they have been with me through a lot of hard times. I haven’t allowed other people into my circle because of the trust issue. Also, I am so completely tired of hearing people tell me what they think I should do rather it be find a good church or send my children to public school that I would rather not give anyone the opportunity into my life at this time. That is until I feel confident enough in all my choices that I am not swayed by other people.
Goal development:
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.
My physical goal is to hike a 15 mile portion of the Appalachian Trail in one day.
My Psychological goal is to reach a peaceful existence.
My spiritual goal is to become rooted in the Truth and to not wave in my beliefs.
III. 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.
Spiritually I feel I am gaining ground steadily and my faith and beliefs are becoming firmly grounded. I believe that there is more for me to gain knowledge from and my mind is not as closed as it was before. I had such a fear of even listening to anything that sounded remotely pagan or non-Christian because of that ingrained fear of a one way ticket to hell. I have found that I practice what my Native ancestors practiced as far as healing herbs, rituals and the belief of one Creator but I also believe in Jesus Christ and believe that he visited my people while he walked the earth. I have a deep love and compassion for all humans regardless of their spiritual beliefs and I have found if you listen to what others say you can glean wisdom from them.
Physically I have started a walking/hiking program that is working out wonderfully for my daughter and me. We end it with a refreshing swim in the river for about an hour and then lay on the boulders while we dry off and read or draw. I have already started the new eating healthy regimen and plan on going completely organic once I increase my income. I do have my own garden but it is small and will not have enough organic produce to last through the winter.
Psychologically I am on my way to a better emotional state of mind. I have had PTSD for 20 years now and I have finally found a way to overcome it. That way is through meditation. Not the kind where you read a book and think sure I’ll give that a try. I am taking classes from a meditation expert that has been practicing for over 40 years. She is the picture of perfect integral health. Her mind is bright her emotions are even and peaceful and her spirit is radiant! I have more hope now than I have ever had before and I cannot wait to learn more so I can help those that have gone through the same horrors that I have.
IV. 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?
Assessing my goals should be fairly easy, and obvious if I am obtaining them. For the next six months I will set up a plan and check it every day to stay on track. I will accomplish all my goals and that is a fact. I have given my daughters, mother, friends and TM instructor my goals so that I stay accountable to someone besides myself. I think there is strength in numbers and hopefully with each goal I attain it will inspire one of my family members or friends to try and reach a new goal for them.
My physical plan is to hike 2 miles a day for 2 weeks and then add a mile every 2 weeks until I have built up my stamina and muscle strength. I plan on reaching a good 15 mile hike October and then I will continue to walk about 5 miles a day during the winter time. I don’t feel it is necessary to walk 15 miles a day every day it is just a goal I am training for.
My spiritual plan is to continue to be open to learning new things from all people, keeping what I think is right for me and letting the rest go. I am a member of an Intertribal Church of Native American Indians. I will continue to go there as they incorporate the old ways with Christian teachings. It is the best of both worlds for me. I am planning a 6 month retreat to the Transcendental Meditation Center at Boone where they practice Mother Devine. It doesn’t go against my beliefs and I think it will be a spiritual awakening for me and my daughter. My oldest is in college so it will just be my youngest girl. Also I am in the middle of learning the 1 year teachings of the Lakota Medicine Wheel.
I am ready to begin a new chapter in my life with my eyes, ears and heart open to all the Great Creator has in store for me Hoka Hey!
Love,
Angel Running Deer Dobson
