Reflections

1. Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?

Based on my reflections, on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate my physical wellbeing a 7. I am very fortunate in that I am free of major illness, able bodied, free of injury, and everything “works” reasonably well. However, I believe I am still far from being at my optimal level of physical health, firstly because I am about twenty pounds overweight, and not at peak fitness. Although I work out, it is rarely 4-5 times a week, and usually more like 1-3 times a week. This is inadequate, and means that I am not properly ridding myself of physical tension, nor am I at peak levels of muscle mass and tone or suppleness. Consequently, although I am reasonably energetic, I could be more energetic. I take excellent care of myself in terms of diet and eat very well – just perhaps a little too much! People often comment that my skin glows and I look much younger than my age of 42, and I put this down to my lifelong good eating habits and (before I started my degree) lifelong exercise habits. I just know I could be a little fitter and thinner, and my health would be even better.

Regarding my spiritual wellbeing, I consider myself extremely fortunate in that I feel deep feelings of peace, calm and connection, most of the time when I am not at work, and particularly when I am alone. I find my job very stressful, however, and know that I need to work on a) accepting the reality of the job I am doing now so that I don’t create needless unhappiness by continually “resisting what is” and b) finding a more suitable career. I can work on the former right now, and I intend to work on the latter once I finish my degree in July. I am happy and filled with a joyful anticipation at that prospect. I would rate my present level of spiritual wellbeing at a 7, not because I think I don’t think I am spiritually fulfilled, but because I think to rate myself much higher would limit how far I think I can still go.

Regarding my psychological wellbeing, having been raised in troubled and conflict-ridden circumstances, which led to experiencing a lot of psychological distress and severe depression in my youth, I count myself extremely fortunate that I now experience feeling calm, happy and centered most of the time. Even when not, my worst psychological issues are simply feeling irritable or frustrated, rather than depressed. My mother, father, stepmother and sister all died between 2005 and 2008, and I did become depressed again for a while as I recovered from the bereavements. But instead of lapsing back into old, negative ways of thinking, these experiences actually acted as a catalyst, propelling me into seeking a spiritual life. The bereavements, after a period of mourning, actually ended up making me more whole, and happier than I’ve ever been, because I was forced to find new and more positive ways of living. I would now rate my psychological health as a 9.  

2. Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).

My physical goals are to increase my fitness level by exercising 4-5 times a week by the time I finish my studies in July and losing the twenty pounds over the course of this year (since I have found that weight loss over a shorter period inevitably comes back, whereas gradual weight loss “sticks” better.

My spiritual goal is to increase my practice of yoga and meditation and to become more spiritually aware continuously. Presently, although I experience spiritual feelings every day, these feelings wane when I am “in the world” and lose my attention.  Once I finish school in July I am planning to take a Reiki course, and to increase the amount of volunteer work I do with hospice patients, since I find that, in service, I find myself feeling more spiritually fulfilled.

My psychological goal (which is closely related to the spiritual) is to work on decreasing feelings of irritation and frustration in my work, since they show pointless resistance. I don’t mean I should give up wanting to find work that I love, but rather, I should focus on the work I am doing while I am still doing it, and be completely present in what I am doing. I would also like to work on increasing my social connectedness, since I am an introvert and have a tendency to avoid socializing as I find it stressful rather than enjoyable.

3.      What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?

Since my goal in taking this course was to prepare myself for the next phase of my life once I finish school in July by becoming more aware and taking action to achieve my goals, I already feel I am taking steps, just by paying attention. Second, in paying attention, and becoming more mindful, I have found I am already exercising more, eating more mindfully, and considering carefully what I want to do once I finish school. I have done some research and found a great Reiki course I want to take this summer. I have already lost a few pounds as I am exercising a little more and eating a little less. And I am becoming more aware of my spiritual/psychological ups and downs as I find myself paying attention when I become cranky or unreasonable, observing my thoughts as they resist whatever I am experiencing, making me unhappy. At times like these, I am sometimes able to “melt” my resistance and just allow what is to be. This makes me feel better right away. Other times, my ego is asserting itself so strongly that I fail to reassert my calm, conscious awareness. I want to work on recognizing when this happens every time, and work on letting go of resistance and acknowledging what is happening with calm, conscious awareness.

4. Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century. To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? etc.)

I loved this chakra meditation, and found myself feeling completely calm, alert, and full of joy. I felt strongly, at the end, that I was bathed in white, healing light. It was wonderful and my only confusion is why it is the exercise so named? The name appears to bear no relation to the exercise.