Creating Wellness:Creating Wellness:Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of

HealthHealthHW420HW420

Unit 5Unit 5

The Key Role of Thought in Wellness The Key Role of Thought in Wellness and Healingand Healing

J. Ernest Aguilar, M.Div., Ph.D.J. Ernest Aguilar, M.Div., Ph.D.

Kaplan UniversityKaplan University

School of Health SciencesSchool of Health Sciences

AgendaAgenda

• WelcomeWelcome

• HousekeepingHousekeeping

• Warm UpWarm Up

• Word AssociationWord Association

• Unit 5: Spirituality, Religion, and HealingUnit 5: Spirituality, Religion, and Healing

HousekeepingHousekeeping

• BlogsBlogs

• QuizQuiz

HousekeepingHousekeeping

• BlogsBlogs– Check “Your Blog” and follow the instructionsCheck “Your Blog” and follow the instructions– Make 1 initial post to your own blog by Make 1 initial post to your own blog by

Saturday at 11:59pm ESTSaturday at 11:59pm EST– Reply to 2 classmates’ blogs by Tuesday at Reply to 2 classmates’ blogs by Tuesday at

11:59pm EST11:59pm EST– VerifyVerify your posts “go through” your posts “go through”

HousekeepingHousekeeping

• QuizzesQuizzes– The initial quiz page will always indicate the The initial quiz page will always indicate the

date that the grades will be availabledate that the grades will be available– This date is locked by the systemThis date is locked by the system

Warm UpWarm Up

• Imagine the following scenario: Imagine the following scenario: Your client/patient has been searching for ways to Your client/patient has been searching for ways to implement healthier behaviors in her life. Together, implement healthier behaviors in her life. Together, you identify that she would benefit from regular you identify that she would benefit from regular periods of intentional reflection on her life and her periods of intentional reflection on her life and her progress towards her health goals. progress towards her health goals.

You propose guided meditation as a means to reflect You propose guided meditation as a means to reflect on her life at a deeper level. She objects firmly and on her life at a deeper level. She objects firmly and states that such a thing would be “against her states that such a thing would be “against her religion.”religion.”

Warm UpWarm Up

• ScenarioScenario– ““Against her religion”Against her religion”– How would you respond?How would you respond?– Is it possible to find a bridge between?Is it possible to find a bridge between?

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

• How would you describe:How would you describe:

MorbidityMorbidity

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

MorbidityMorbidityA diseased state, disability, or poor health A diseased state, disability, or poor health

due to any cause. “Morbidity” may be due to any cause. “Morbidity” may be used to refer to the degree that a health used to refer to the degree that a health

condition affects the patient.condition affects the patient.

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

• How would you describe:How would you describe:

MortalityMortality

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

MortalityMortalitySusceptibility to death.Susceptibility to death.

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

• How would you describe:How would you describe:

SalutogenicSalutogenic

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

SalutogenicSalutogenicThe word "salutogenic" comes from:The word "salutogenic" comes from:

salussalus = health (Latin) = health (Latin)

genesisgenesis = origin (Greek) = origin (Greek)

Term developed to describe "how people Term developed to describe "how people manage stress and stay well."manage stress and stay well."

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

SalutogenicSalutogenicDescribes an approach focusing on factors Describes an approach focusing on factors

that support human health and well-being, that support human health and well-being, rather than on factors that cause disease.rather than on factors that cause disease.

Unit 5 – DacherUnit 5 – Dacher

• The story of the “Teacup”The story of the “Teacup”– What is it that keeps your own mind What is it that keeps your own mind

overflowing?overflowing?– What is there “new” that you need to make What is there “new” that you need to make

space for?space for?

Unit 5 – DacherUnit 5 – Dacher

• What are the three levels of the subtle What are the three levels of the subtle mind?mind?

Unit 5 – DacherUnit 5 – Dacher

• What are the three levels of the subtle What are the three levels of the subtle mind?mind?– WitnessingWitnessing– Calm-abidingCalm-abiding– Unity ConsciousnessUnity Consciousness

Unit 5 – DacherUnit 5 – Dacher

• What is Witnessing?What is Witnessing?

• And how is it different from observing or And how is it different from observing or watching?watching?

• How have you worked on “witnessing” in How have you worked on “witnessing” in your own life?your own life?

Unit 5 – DacherUnit 5 – Dacher

• What is Calm-Abiding?What is Calm-Abiding?

• Is it more than just “being still?”Is it more than just “being still?”

• How have you worked on “calm-abiding” in How have you worked on “calm-abiding” in your own life?your own life?

Unit 5 – DacherUnit 5 – Dacher

• What is Unity Consciousness?What is Unity Consciousness?

• With what are we seeking “unity?”With what are we seeking “unity?”

• What are some of the barricades you have What are some of the barricades you have encountered in obtaining unity encountered in obtaining unity consciousness?consciousness?

Unit 5 – LevinUnit 5 – Levin

• Levin links the experience of Levin links the experience of LoveLove to to specific health outcomes.specific health outcomes.– What are some of those health outcomes?What are some of those health outcomes?

Unit 5 – LevinUnit 5 – Levin

• Levin links the experience of Levin links the experience of LoveLove to to specific health outcomes.specific health outcomes.– What are some of those health outcomes?What are some of those health outcomes?

• Reduced risk of morbidityReduced risk of morbidity• Lower rates of cancer mortalityLower rates of cancer mortality• Strengthening of immune functionStrengthening of immune function• Heart regulationHeart regulation

Unit 5 – LevinUnit 5 – Levin

• Levin reflects on Levin reflects on lovelove as a as a salutogenic salutogenic agent.agent.– How is this agent transmitted from one host to How is this agent transmitted from one host to

another?another?

Unit 5 – LuskinUnit 5 – Luskin

• ForgivenessForgiveness– What are the health benefits of What are the health benefits of forgivenessforgiveness??

Unit 5 – LuskinUnit 5 – Luskin

• ForgivenessForgiveness– What are the health benefits of What are the health benefits of forgivenessforgiveness??

• EmotionalEmotional• PhysicalPhysical

Unit 5 – LuskinUnit 5 – Luskin

• What are some of the steps for training in What are some of the steps for training in forgiveness?forgiveness?– How do you practice these steps in your own How do you practice these steps in your own

life?life?

Unit 5 – Steindl-RastUnit 5 – Steindl-Rast

• Brother David asks: “How can we be Brother David asks: “How can we be grateful in troubled times?”grateful in troubled times?”– As we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving, As we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving,

what might be different about your celebration what might be different about your celebration this year because of what you read from this year because of what you read from Brother David?Brother David?

– Brother David connects his reflections on Brother David connects his reflections on gratitude to an awareness of the “ultimate,” or gratitude to an awareness of the “ultimate,” or the “divine.” Is that necessary? the “divine.” Is that necessary?

Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers

• Congratulations on completing Seminar 5!Congratulations on completing Seminar 5!

• Questions?Questions?– Email Instructor: jaguilar@kaplan.eduEmail Instructor: jaguilar@kaplan.edu