Unit 7 Reflections-Meeting Aesclepius

1.        Complete the Meeting Aesclepius mp3 (located in the Doc Sharing area). Describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

For this week’s meditation I listened to the Meeting Aesclepius, it was an interesting yet difficult thing to focus my mind on. The person I picked to be my wise teacher was my mother. She passed away two years ago and was such a caring and compassionate person. She was funny and friendly to everyone she met.

I found it a bit difficult to concentrate on; however, I will continue to work on practicing this. This mediation helped me focus and center myself a bit. However, I kept finding myself going back to other meditations like the loving-kindness meditation.  These meditations are getting a bit easier to focus on each week and its becoming something I look forward to participating in. I always have to find a quiet time to do them, such as after my 3 year old has gone to bed.

The past few months have been very trying for me as I have mentioned with my father’s illness and trying to keep up with class. I am also now looking for another job since I have been on leave from the one that I despise. I am looking forward to the day that I can turn in my notice in hopes of moving on to something less stressful. Taking some quiet moments for myself at times has helped me cope.

2.        Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477). How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

 

I believe that this saying is self explanatory. How can a client believe what I tell them they should do if I don’t do it myself? Will a client believe the benefits of meditation if I don’t practice it myself? Will the client believe what I tell them about eating right and exercising if I don’t do that myself? Clients are more likely to believe us as health and wellness professionals if we are practicing what we preach.  A personal experience will engage the client more and make them feel that we truly understand their concerns. It makes the client feel that we are acknowledging their feelings and do care about their successful outcome. When I visit a doctor, I want them to listen to my concerns and not disregard them and I would do this for my clients as an alternative health and wellness professional. I believe that if we show our clients that these techniques work, then we will be able to help them achieve human flourishing as well.