Unit 6 Assessing My Life

    This week we were asked to look at the different areas of our life and make note of where we excel and where we need improvement. The Integral Assessment has six principals
1.The goal of integral health - lessen suffering and promote human flourishing. The two things we use to identify parts of our life that may need attention:
     -Which parts of our life are the highest sources of stress?
     -Where do have the the greatest opportunity for growth and development?
2.There is a difference between short term and long term relief. We need to understand the difference and know when to apply each.
3. There is a difference between immediate satisfaction and long term flourishing. You may find it necessary to avoid immediate gratification in order to meet our goal is long term sustained flourishing.
4. Psychospiritual development is an important part of integral health. We must assess where we are periodically to make sure we stay focused, our hearts our open, and we are truly working toward human flourishing.
5. Integral assessment requires listening to your internal voice and guidance.
6. Look at current situation and circumstances- evaluate for change. This is something that needs to revisited from time to time to make sure we are staying the coarse. (Dasher, 2006)
      For some people honest dialog whether it is with a person or with themselves is easy. I on the other hand find it a little difficult. After going through a loving-kindness session I felt heavy when normally I feel light. This revelation made me want abandon the assignment. However, I gave myself a moment and was able to come back with the understanding that I am a work in progress. I have this thing (call it a habit, a nervous tick, anal- whatever) I have to write things down. It helps me process and slow my mind down so that I think clearer. I have done it forever. My husband gives me notebooks because I burn through them like mad. The content is not specific- recipes, a cleaning schedule, poems, where I parked, a song on the radio, a book title, pretty much anything and everything goes in my notebook. I sat in my state of  introspection and learned that a huge source of stress for me is not having control.- Duh, that stresses most people out. I need to understand that with my children I can't always be there. With my husband I can't make him better but I can lessen his burden. I am working on asking for help, accepting help, saying no, letting go, and not feeling guilty for any of these actions.
 Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health The Path to Human Flourishing, Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publication, Inc