Journey of The Healer

"Are you sure, sweetheart that you want to be well? A lot of weight when you well". " ~ Toni Cade Bambara

As a Health and Wellness professional it is important to be both healthy and well, in order to lead others one must be the embodiment of what one is teaching. Consequently, to be an effective and influential healer the professional must set the same standard for themselves that they do for their patients or clients. I believe it would be very easy for me to sense if my Health and Wellness practitioner was not well, there are obvious things such as excessive weight, labored breathing, and attitude e.g. personality issues. Needless to say such an individual would not be my choice for a healer. I would prefer to have a discerning, wise, energetic, and compassionate individual to guide me to wellness, for that is the only way. I guide must know the way! That isn't to say that a guide too will have issues that they may be working on and evolving simultaneously as he/she may be guiding me, but that is fine as long as the necessary work is being done to evolve and grow from that place. The overall expectation would be that my practitioner would be as healthy as possible and working towards resolution of whatever it may be preferably utilizing alternative and integral methods. Health and Wellness is a lifestyle, much like being a vegan, athlete or a dancer all require discipline, passion, focus and commitment to achieve optimal results and to be that which you choose to be. There are expectations that must be fulfilled and the most significant for the Health and Wellness Healer is awareness and compassion for self and others. Assessment I am aware that the area of relationships need attention in my life. In an Integral Assessment I listed one specific growth in four areas, and that hasn't changed much; however my awareness has grown and I am working on it. In the Psychospiritual arena - Conative was my weakness, I say that because it is necessary that I can take the process to the next level, I am a creator, or a creative sort, but the next level may be challenging for me, and to be whole whether I do so or not, it is necessary to at least try and take that step to the next level. Second was Biological - this area is specifically related to exercise, doing more of it and being consistent this is my weakness and I am very aware of what must happen and what I must do. Third is - Interpersonal which I mentioned relationships, I can grow in this area by opening outward, in more areas of my relational life, because of course everything is based on relationships. Last would be Worldly - Social Activism this is where the conative aspect comes in because I am a writer and I must learn to take further action to get my work out to the world and share the gifts I've been given, putting forth more effort in respect to this. Goal Development My goals of course are directly related to the four areas I mentioned, what I have done is a "Vision Board" listing my goals in these areas, it is posted in a prominent area of my dwelling so I can see it daily as a reminder of what needs to happen. I have for four quadrants and I have one category in each quadrant with a six month time span and what I expect to have achieved within that time span. It has pictures posted under each category and words that are stimulating and motivational to keep me moving in the direction of my goals. To support these goals I will utilize all of my practices for personal health in order to achieve them. Practices for Personal Health I have quite an arsenal of practices that I am presently utilizing and am planning to add a few others, such as Tai Chi, Qi gong (which actually is a part of my entrainment training now). I also plan to become a certified hypnotist and practice self-hypnosis and also use hypnosis as a healing modality for my clients. I presently walk for the physical, and for the psycho spiritual , I also meditate, utilize hypnosis, Paraliminal entrainment for all of my needs. I also am a Reiki healer and do self healing thus far, last but not least I have a very devoted spiritual life and I pray daily because spirituality is my life, it is because of my spiritual life that I can be an effective Health and Wellness professional. Commitment Assessment of progress will be revealed in the quality of my life and my practice as a Health and Wellness professional. My devotion is without question and my passion and zeal are obvious to all who come into my presence. Wellness is a gift that should be cherished and not taken for granted. Due to many cultural, and societal issues, many people suffer and are ignorant regarding their well-being. I feel a strong calling to and for these individuals. My desire to educate others who are unaware and even those who are but have challenges making necessary changes who need assistance is who I am committed to. Those who live a sub-par existence, who do not flourish, but only survive and are doomed to do so without a heart to reach out to them and offer guidance and support where there often is none. This is my commitment to myself and to them, this is my purpose for following this path. Practicing wellness as a lifestyle a committed journey not only as healer to healee, but journey to self which ultimately will heal all.

Not everyone is a healer, and not everyone wants to be healed. To desire to assist one to flourish, to bring life to something that is dying is not a simple task, and to be whole when all you've known is illness is not easy either. Health and healing is a journey a work in progress and only for those whom are called.

Dacher, E.S., M.D.,(2006). Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing, Basic Health Publications

Bambara, T.C. (1980). The Salteaters, Vintage Press.