Final chapter

Over the course of this term I have definitely noticed growth. In my initial assessment I rated myself with a 7 in physical well being, a six in my spiritual well being, and a five in psychological well being. Presently I would leave my physical rating the same because I have remained the same. For me this course reiterated the importance of maintaining physical activity in our daily lives but more importantly it is showing me how to integrate the mind body connection during a workout. I believe this will be a gradual change. My spiritual rating is now a 7 because the contemplative exercises have helped to have a calm and stable mindset first before beginning my daily devotion with God. My psychological well being is now a six because the turn over time for loving-kindness to me has decreased. Before where I would allow negative thoughts to overpower my internal dialogue, I now quickly shut that voice down and apply positive self affirmations. Overall I know without a shadow of a doubt that if I continue to apply the activities learned in this course I will move closer to human flourishing.

Reviewing my goals that I set for myself in Unit 3 I am not as close as I thought I would be. My goal of losing 5% body fat was not reached however I am not giving up. I think my focus of staying away from processed food is the culprit for my stagnation. The good thing is I have not gained and I am remaining active. My spiritual goal of creating stillness within my mind before devotion is not exactly where I want it to be but I do notice a better transition of quietness during devotion. My psychological goal of showing loving- kindness and belief towards myself has come close but this is still a work in progress.

I have implemented the activities I chose for my well-being in each area but I need to work on staying consistent. Letting go of the “all or nothing” attitude will help me stay focused on these activities.

This course has been an amazing opportunity for self development. It has provided insight and answered questions that have surfaced over the years. One of the most intriguing subjects was the power of interconnectedness. I say this because just this past weekend I had the opportunity to truly apply the stillness of mind and subtle mind exercises in the midst of an anxiety/panic attack. I was away from everyone that I know, in a hospital, in an unknown city and it forced me to rely on nothing but my mind. I realized this weekend that we have to become more dependent on ourselves and faith in a higher power to truly have peace of mind. Having a guided voice can truly help but to keep from going insane when faced with adversity requires the ability to quiet your mind and realize what is and what isn’t. The biggest reward for me is knowing that I have the power within to make changes to become my best. What I find difficult is applying the exercises daily; however I know that this is a work in progress and 10 weeks is not enough time to make completely transform our mind body and spirits. The experience in this course has given me the ability to listen to others with an open heart and staying judgment free of choices and decisions that they chose for themselves. Integral health is an amazing opportunity and with continued growth I hope to pass on my gaining knowledge to not only my future clients but to everyone I come in contact with.

~Love and Light to everyone,
Kanisha Washington