Integral Assessment Review

By acting skillfully with the intention of flourishing, I began to walk a path toward balance in my daily life in the psychological, spiritual, and biological aspects of life. The Unit 3 integral ratings vanished from my computer storage area (or perhaps appear as a strange discussion board posting to my Science Teacher). From my written notes the past well-being ratings: Psychological around a 6, Spiritual at a 7, and Physical at a 4.

I set goals in each area. For the psychological area, the goal I set centered on using positive methods to substitute feelings of peacefulness and confidence for anxiety and self-doubt. The activities include: seeing a counselor to learn to cope with demanding situations, work on evoking feelings of gratitude, self-forgiveness as well as moving with loving-kindness.

For the spiritual area, the goal I set centered on improving and using, these gifts and the strongest of my resources to improve in the other two areas. The activities include: guided Buddhist meditations, music therapy (with Buddhist chants), extending my consciousness to a higher level, be connected to nature and the outdoors and to practice loving-kindness in thoughts, speech and actions.

For the physical area, the goal I set concerned itself with management of diabetes. The activities include: moving a mile per day, eating to prevent the need for insulin injections, quality sleeping for around 7 hours per day and doing the routine household tasks.

I progress happily with new ratings for my well-being: Psychological= 5.5, Spiritual=7.5 and Physical=5.5. Maybe not linear progress, but healing requires balance. I temporarily depend on my counselor for feedback as I make life choices. I feel more gratitude and peaceful thoughts today. Some days feel like the path is steeper, but the hike to higher consciousness is worth the more difficult parts.

Spiritually, I continue the guided meditations and if I fall asleep I decided I still have my ears open. Nature, music, pet therapy and intercessory prayer ground and center me if feelings become too intense. I read more affirmations and spiritual materials on the recovery process.

Physically, I do not move a mile per day because I do so much writing, reading and typing so I’m satisfied with ½ a mile. I eat healthy every day and maintained a glucose reading of 114 as average for the last 30 days. To obtain quality sleep, I nap whenever I need to and the routine stuff gets done in stages.

Balance within and between each area of the self is the key integral health! This class teaches changes in how one looks at health and wellness. Once sees a larger picture, one finds the tools to develop the skills associated with human flourishing. If a person learns and masters integral ideas/skills, then we can teach them to others. I collected many pearls of wisdom from my classmates and teacher. I will pass their experience forward.

To recover we may move backward a little to go forward in a correct manner. Moving with loving kindness, glimpses of Grace, gratitude, intention and belonging to a larger universe make all of the practices seem easier. I can visualize a life where growth has no limits and where every moment feels comfortable.