Final Project

Final Project: Plan for Integral Health

                Integral health has slowly become an important subject in the health care industry. In 1970 the World Health Organization (WHO) formulated a definition of health that has influenced the medical model of health care.  Health was defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not merely the absence of disease of infirmity.” (WHO, 1970) This simply states that your health is not limited to your present physical condition only.  A healthy person must be healthy integrally which involves the health of the body, mind and the spirit.

                For the past decade or so, it has become obvious to many health professionals that a new model of medicine is needed. Also as humans when we learn anything we learn by example and those examples we learn from come from family members and people in our community that we rely on and possible who we have respect.  As a health care professional patients come to us for advice and help when they become ill.  The health care professional should if possible be a good example of integral health.  As health care professional practicing integral health this will help to recognize signs of the ill mind, body and spirit in their patients and understand integral health and assist the health care professional in dealing with the ever-increasing incidence of chronic disease, it will teach us to acknowledge the multidimensional nature of the human being and embrace alternative systems of health delivery that are less invasive and more effective.  Therefore leading others in their path to integral health.  As I have chosen a career in the health care field there are many areas that I need to develop.  To start with I need to learn patience and work on the loving kindness practices.  As I develop mindfulness and spiritually I will realize that it is more important and beneficial to think more about my community and my surroundings than to think of only myself and my family.

                When it comes to the assessment of my own health physically I currently feel as though I am an 8.  I exercise regularly and eat right even though there is always room for improvement.  When it comes to mindfulness I consider myself a 6.  I need to practice mindfulness and relaxation.  I need to think more about people on the outside of my family.  I need to have more sympathy and compassion for things I do not fully understand.  In order to be successful at the mindfulness I feel that it will help to practice more relaxation exercises and develop spiritually.  I say that I need to develop spiritually because currently I do not attend church.  I have not been to church in years and I of course like many others blame it on my busy life, which is no excuse.

                The current goals that I have for myself physically are to relax more this will help rid me of the stress that I am overwhelmed with.  Psychologically I need to work on my subtle mind exercises.  Working on focusing on one thing at a time without all the endless chatter that goes on that distracts me so frequently.  And finally spiritually I need to return to church. 

                In order to achieve integral health I need to implement strategies that help me grow physically, psychologically and spiritually.  Physically I currently exercise and eat well but I have a problem with relaxation.  I need to look into practicing meditation or maybe yoga.  These will teach me how to be physically fit and also when not to be trying to be so physically fit.  That relaxation is just as important as exercise in the physical health of my body.  Physiologically by exercising I am helping to reduce stress so taking a walk whether it is outside listening to the environment around me or walking on the treadmill with my favorite music playing will help me.  Also practicing the calm abiding exercise will help me relax and improve. When it comes to spiritual health this has been an issue.  I need to practice the loving kindness exercise and return to church.  Sometimes listening to music from church will help one to grow spiritually.

                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?

Over the next couple weeks I plan to create a six month plan to integral health and wellness.  Using the tools that I have acquired from this course I will organize a daily planner with a life schedule.  The life schedule will include a list of things I must achieve on a daily basis in order to improve and maintain my integral health.  When organizing this planner I will create a list of questions with a rating scale that I will indicate my progression or failure of the task.  I may also involve my husband and daughters in the evaluation process so that I will be able to compare what others see to what I see and want to achieve.  Hopefully at the end of the 6 month period I will be able to honestly see where I have made improvements because this is ultimately important for my life, my family life and my career.