Unit 7

1. Complete the "Meeting Asciepius" exercise on track #4 of the Dacher CD. Describe your meditative practice(s) 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?

I just have a hard time practicing mediation. I never thought that it would be as hard as it is. My experience with this meditation exercise was much like the same as the others, in that, I did the exercise but feel like I did before, not gaining anything from doing it. I think that I am getting closer though to being able to acheive something than I have before. The only thing I know to do is to continue practicing these exercises. By doing these practices on a regular basis can help me to get where I would like to be in that relationship with my inner self.

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 psycholocially, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in you personal life?

I believe the saying means that one cannot proper teach or practice something that he himself does not practice or believe in. It is much like someone teaching a smoking cessation class and they continue to chain smoke themselves. I think I do have an obligation to my clients. I do not feel that I can teach something that I do not believe in myself. I think that just by having a strong spiritual background (i.e. religious beliefs) in my personal life is enough. I strongly believe in the saying "practice what you preach".