"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself"

This meditation was a very personal experience. I used my grandfather, who passed away when I was 14 years old. My grandfather was extremely intelligent, forgiving, and loving. He was a very honest person with so much integrity. At one point in his life, a doctor took advantage of him. My grandfather built houses for a living, and he trusted a man’s word. The doctor allowed him to build him an extravagant house, using his own money to front materials, then never paid him a dime.  A few years down the road, my grandfather began suffering with emphysema from working in construction for so many years. He did not smoke. My grandfather suffered physically for many years before he passed. He never expressed anger or hatred concerning his financial situation or his illness. He remained an extremely loving and peaceful man until his last breath, and I believe he may just have been the best man I have ever known. Everything we have learned in this course so far, he seemed to effortlessly carry out in his everyday life, as if it was naturally a part of his personality. His demeanor was always pleasant, and he was the type of man you wanted to be around all the time. Given the positive experiences I associate with my grandfather, I welcomed this week’s guided meditation practice. It has been over 20 years since he passed, and I do not think of him as often as I used to, so this experience was pleasant. I am reminded of the good in the world, and he represents everything I would like to become someday.

Daily mindfulness and meditation practices have calmed me down considerably and relieved some of my anxiety. I notice I am no longer quick to snap at an irritation, no longer so reactive when things bother me. I feel more peaceful, and I believe some tension within my home is dissipating, as well. One of my teenagers loves to push my buttons, a somewhat common teenage behavior, and I usually get upset rather quickly at the interruption when I am rushed or in a hurry to take care of daily responsibilities. Maintaining a state of mindfulness helps me pay attention to exactly what she is saying or doing, and allows me the opportunity to decide that I will no longer react to her attention seeking behaviors or misguided attempts at independence. Instead, I calmly offer solutions and alternatives, and she rarely continues to argue. This has been extremely helpful in changing the atmosphere in our household, and it is proof that one family member can influence the mood of everyone, whether positive or negative. We are choosing positive because it’s much more pleasant.

 

I fully agree that health and wellness professionals should experience integral health on a personal level. We could benefit from seasoned mentors, as well as continually practicing psychological, physical, and spiritual growth. Unlike a medical doctor treating cancer, the answers to integral health are not written in black and white in a medical textbook or journal. The medical doctor does not need to experience chemotherapy and radiation treatments first hand to understand the disease and plan of action for treatment because science can explain the physiological changes in the body. The journey to health and wellness is a very personal, all-encompassing experience. For lack of a better analogy, the experience can be comparable to losing a loved one. The feelings associated with this type of loss are best understood by others who have experienced it. Similarly, combat veterans typically have an unbreakable bond after the emotional trauma they experience during times of war. Seeking integral health is one of these life experiences that is better understood first hand, rather than reading it in a book or listening to a story. Besides, with this knowledge, who would not want to seek a sense of inner peace and rid the mind and body of toxic emotions? By healing the professional, the professional is in a much better position to help others. Psychological and spiritual growth happens as a result of daily dedication to wellness practices. Everything matters, from the nutrient dense diet we should be consuming, to our daily exercise routines, to our contemplative practices and spiritual experiences. Living a mindful life helps makes these daily decisions a reality.

My personal goals involve:

Physical exercise 5-6 times per week

Quiet time or contemplative time 20-30 minutes per day

Yoga 3 times per week

Continuing education, keeping abreast of current wellness trends, and reading new credible material

Associating with like-minded individuals

Finding a mentor