Sunday, March 18, 2012

Unit 7: Current Trends and Research Supporting the Mind-Body-Spirit Paradigm


Describe your meditative practices 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?

I didn’t find the exercise helpful for my meditation exercises. When they say to focus on someone with wisdom, etc, I focused on my late father. But the part that said “be him…” I couldn’t get into being my father because even though I felt he was wise, it was only in certain ways so it wasn’t possible for me to be him. My mind kept wandering, feeling silly and I don’t really associate infinite wisdom with anyone I know. Mediation has increased them by making me aware of others, causing me to think first before speaking or before talking to others. It has helped me to be more mindful of the feelings of others. It has taught me to be happy with what I have versus those who have so much more and are unhappy. I practice yoga weekly and will soon be taking martial arts to continue to grow in these areas. 

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?

It means that in order to lead by example, we must have journeyed down that path ourselves first. It translates into the world of health and wellness as well. We cannot teach people to be healthy or get healthy if we are unhealthy ourselves. We do have an obligation to practice what we preach, otherwise, how would we ever inspire someone to follow our lead or suggestions or methods. Meditation is a great tool and continuing to practice and try new things and exercise daily continues my growth in those areas.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Walt,

    I agree with you that people who are unhealthy themselves are really not able to teach others how to be healthy. It makes me think of a parent saying "do as I say, not as I do." The child is just going to take from that, you have to be an adult to do whatever you want, even if it is unhealthy (it is okay). In a sense it is teaching children to be hippocrites unless you are practicing what you preach. Great post!

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  2. I am glad to hear such an honest answer to the meditation. It is difficult to see yourself as someone else. I personally, do not want to be anyone but myself. I am happy as I am.

    I also agree with an unhealthy person would have great difficulty in teaching someone else to be healthy. Other people will not take them seriously if they are not practicing what they are preaching.

    Good answers.

    ---Anita Rachel Scott (Goehring)

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  3. I agree with your comment about the exercise, I hard a hard time picturing anyone I know, and ended up with the Dalai Lama. It was a little strange following the directive and seeing this face.
    It was a good practice for releasing and breathing.
    Lorie

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