Unit 7: Meeting Aesclepius

This week we completed the Meeting Asclepius exercise. This meditation session was based on learning how to quite the mind by concentrating on one specific wise and guiding person in my life.  Overall, my experience was very pleasant.  I especially enjoyed the sound of gentle waves and soft music, along with relaxing vocals.  After experiencing this exercise I believe that meditation has increased my psychological and spiritual wellness in the following way: “I have been given a life changing tool that is needed to quite my life-robbing noisy-mind, so I can gradually improve the quality of life as I have known it”.  To ensure this continued mental improvement, I am going to implement these valuable meditation exercises as part of a regular weekly routine.  I’m confident that over time, this type of positive psychological training will further enhance my psychological and spiritual wellness.    

            According to (Schlitz, Amorok & Micozzi, pp. 477), the quote “One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” means that I can’t expect another to acquire psychological, physical and spiritual growth if I haven’t developed it within myself.  According to (Dacher, 2006, p. 59), the four reasons that I should explore psychological and/or spiritual growth and development are because “it is the most undeveloped aspect of our life, it is a principal source of modern-day epidemics of mental suffering and premature disease, it is the one area of development that will most directly catalyze the full development of our life, and the development of our inner life is the most unique and precious opportunity given to us as humans.”  This means that if I acquire psychological and spiritual wellness then my physical health may naturally improve.

            I also believe that in order to be a true professional, I should only advise clients after fully treating my own psychological, physical, and spiritual growth and development via integral medicine.  This is because the benefit of practicing integral medicine will allow me “the opportunity to end needless suffering and to gain health, happiness, and wholeness” (Dacher, 2006, p. 59) for both myself and the patient/client.

I can also implement positive psychological, physical, and spiritual growth and development within my personal life.  I currently feel that my personal life needs work because there are times when my psychological state is in complete turmoil due to moments of anxiety and depression, my spirituality is constantly tested with useless drama, and I have periodic fatigue due to lack of physical exercise.  A couple of ways I could combat these negative factors while improving my personal health is to implement daily mental, continue my weekly physical exercise program with the local First Nations members and  exercises such as meditation, yoga, Tia Chi and running.   

References

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral health. The path of human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc. (Chap. 6, pp. 59).

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M.S. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. (pp. 477).