Introduction:
It is important for health and wellness
professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically for
various reasons. First of all, it helps the individual move towards optimal
health. This will allow the professional to have clarity of mind, low stress
and ultimately be better prepared to assist others in their journey. If the
health and wellness professional looks the part, communicates intelligently
about the topic, and is flourishing (or making positive strides towards
flourishing), then clients are more inclined to listen to what is said and
practice the instructions given.
There are a couple areas I need to develop to
achieve the goals I have for myself. The first of these is the need to slow
down and incorporate time for myself to reflect internally. In general, I think
I do very well physically and spiritually, although I know there is always room
for improvement. If I can show even the slightest improvements in my mental fitness,
the other areas of my life will blossom and bloom even brighter. The second
area is my physical condition. Recently, I had a wellness check through work.
The medical personnel said everything looked great; some of the areas were my
weight 184 pounds, a waist of 34 inches, and resting heart rate of 51 beats per
minute. With that said I do a lot and tolerate discomfort throughout. This
brings me back to the first point. Gaining a calming mind will help some of the
physical issues.Assessment:
Ways the three areas of health were assessed vary. In the end, I give myself an “A”. For spiritually, I attend church every Sunday, though I am the first person to point out this is not an effective measure of spiritual fitness. Beyond Sunday, my actions, thoughts, and words support and point towards spirituality regardless of where I am or who I am with. Again, I understand how someone can look the part, say the right things, attend the appropriate activities, yet still NOT really by a spiritual person. Ultimately, my measuring tool for this area is inside me. I am the only one who can truly know my level of spirituality. Though not perfect, my score is “B+.”
For the physical part, I rely on how I feel, compare my physical capabilities to my impression of others’ capabilities, and have medical checkups throughout the year. My vision and eyes are checked annually, I have a dental exam and cleaning twice a year, I have a health screening at work twice a year, and I see my Veterans Administration physician at least twice per year. So far, all reports and feedback support a clean bill of (physical) health. Yet with all of this, I have a disc bulge in C-3 through C-7, (C is cervical). This is a real pain in my neck! Unconsciously, my body compensates and then I feel issues in other areas. With a high threshold for pain along with being mentally strong, I manage very well. So, in this area, the score is “A-.”
In the last area, psychological, there is not tangible measuring tool like notes from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health specialist. Instead, my tool is a broader view. I do not have any vices or what I or society claims as bad habits. My marriage is great, try to be the best father I can, and have started a second successful career after retiring from the first. In my profession, there is a propensity for high stress. Just last week, two of my staff were assaulted by an inmate. Situations can get volatile, tempers flare, and emotions travel from one end of the spectrum to the other quickly. With all of this, I maintain a good temperament, positive spirit, and always strive to help others. The one piece where I can use improvement is calming my mind through meditation. This is a want and not necessarily a need at this point in my life. In the big picture, this gets an “A+.” When looking at an overall score for health and wellness, I get an “A.”
Goal development:
Physically, one goal is to reduce my body fat percentage. According to the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale, I am at 26%. The problem with BMI is that it does not account for muscle mass. Regardless of any scale, I know what I see in the mirror and how achieving my goal will improve my overall health.
My goal in the psychological area is to implement and sustain a meditation program. This may be the one element which connects all of the other pieces in my wellness puzzle. Although the picture looks good, there is one or two pieces missing or out of place. Improving this area will have positive impacts on the other areas.
My spiritual goal is to read more of the Bible and to better understand the true meaning of each message. In this process, I want to ensure I communicate these messages to my son so he continues to learn more in that area. It is important I role model this for him. We grow, learn, and are better because of it.
Practices for personal health:
The strategies I can implement to foster growth in the physical domain are to work on consistency and recovery. I work best on procedures, schedules, and goals or objectives. Once I find a routine which works for me, work, and my family, I just have to implement it. Sticking to it will not be an issue. I will list the desired results and script the routine needed in order to achieve it. Then I will write out a program, implement and stick with it. The second part of this is the recovery piece, which is also part of the challenge. Typically, the time available is when everyone else in my family is still in bed. However, in order for me to get the physical and mental rest needed to recover, this means going to bed earlier than the rest of my family. To best accomplish this, I have to add this as part of a daily schedule and then ensure my family is fully aware of the schedule and importance of it.
In the Psychological domain, there are two strategies to implement. The first of which is to implement meditation into my daily routine. Most likely it is best to incorporate this into a lunch break. I can find the appropriate location in order to achieve the desired results. I can implement this easily with a little flexibility. It will have to be adjusted periodically because of competing priorities. The second strategy is to read books with the appropriate subject matter to expand my knowledge and understanding. I will do this by researching different titles, authors, and subjects and develop a list. Once established, I will choose one and read until complete, and continue to move forward.
In the spiritual arena, the strategies to implement include attending an adult Bible study, which is available through my church. I attended previously but stopped because the two classes with Kaplan are on Wednesday nights during the same time as the study session. After a few weeks, I changed my priorities and stopped attending my two classes. The next strategy is to have more regular prayer as an individual and as a family. To do this as an individual I just have to do decide when and where I can. The great thing is that it can be done on my way to work, on my way home, in the shower, almost anywhere. As a family, we already pray before meals, but will start prayer prior to bed time.
Commitment:
In order to assess my progress or lack of progress in the next six months, I will have to list out all of the goals to achieve and then periodically look at the list again to see how I am doing. Another measuring tool is how I feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually. No matter how well I stick to things listed on a spreadsheet, if I am not well in one of the areas, something needs adjusted. I will ask for feedback from my wife as well. She knows me best and will tell if I am doing what I committed to along with my overall wellness.
In order to assist in maintaining long-term practices for health and wellness, it is important to remember why I am doing it in the first place. I want to live a productive life with a good quality of life throughout. My overall health is important so I can see my son grow into a man and eventually have a family of his own; so I can play with my grandchildren and most importantly, spend as much time as possible with my wife and best friend.
Thank you all, Joe
