Final Assessment and Summary

My personal assessment has not really changed very much in the past six weeks since unit three.  At that time, I rated myself a 5 in the area of physical health.  I have made small progress in my goal of continued weight loss, and my blood glucose continues to drop point by point, but I have yet to incorporate the goal of increasing my physical activity to include a walking program.  I am struggling to fit it in with the amount of overtime I am working and the other responsibilities I have.  I would say I have improved slightly to a 5.5.

Spiritually I have remained an 8.  I think it is difficult to see a significant amount of growth over such a short period of time.  However, I am more aware after reading the text and visiting the website in Dacher’s resource list of the practices of the Buddhist faith and traditions.  I have learned a lot about the philosophies of the Buddhist religion and its meditative practices that promote a universal consciousness and path to self-enlightenment.  If anything I am strengthened in my Christian faith that tells me I do not have to have it all figured out in all the other areas of my life before I can experience a rich, rewarding, and healing spiritual life.  I would give myself a bump by 0.5 for strengthening that belief to land at an 8.5.

Psychological health improves day by day as I work through what it means to be a divorcee and single mom.  I would say I have slightly improved from a 4 to a 5.  One thing that I do agree with that was highlighted in this class is the concept of negative self-talk and how damaging it can be to our overall health and wellbeing.  I do not think this idea is unique to the integral health concept though.  The science of psychology has many treatment techniques that promote positive self-talk, and the even more important, the Bible is full of verses that speak to our unique and special qualities as children of God.  These verses help us to break free of the bondage of what and who the world says we are.  They remind us that God does not look at the outward appearance but loves us just the way He created us.  They are the best positive self-talk you can hear.   

I have made progress toward my goals in each area.  Physically, I have lost weight in the last six weeks and my blood glucose continues to improve.  I have implemented improvements to my diet and am eating foods that better support my diabetes and weight loss goals.  Spiritually I have grown in that I am more educated about another religion, and have deepened my faith in why I believe what I believe.   I have not been able to join a small group Bible study yet as time just does not allow me to do so at this time.  I plan to implement that again once I am not working such a crazy schedule.  Psychologically I am replacing negative self talk with positive and am learning to slow down in order to connect daily with my thoughts.   I have implemented more quiet time for self reflection, mediation and prayer.

My experience throughout the term has been very disappointing.  The course title led me to believe that this would be more of a psychology-based course that would examine behavior and change-behavior techniques that would better able me to help my future clients change negative health habits from a psychological perspective.  I had hoped for a much broader scope of spiritual examination and instead got what I felt was a very one-sided review based primarily on the teachings of Elliott Dacher and those who agree with his philosophy and traditions.  To that end, I am not a convert to Dacher’s way of thinking, nor do I think he is even a very good writer.  There was no real examination of anything other than Buddhist philosophy.  The course was difficult for me because when it comes to my degree program, there is very little I will use based on my personal religion and world view.  I don’t see myself ever promoting the Buddhist religion and philosophy.  Has it improved my well-being?  Not really.  Has it been rewarding?  No.   Will it allow me to assist others?  I did not really learn anything that I would implement with my clients from the same perspective that it was taught.  The best thing for me is that it is over.