Leading by Example

If I were to tell you to be kind to others while at the same time I yell at you every chance I get, would that encourage you to do as I told you? What if I asked you to work on your spiritual awareness even though I am not willing to evolve my own? Would that be fair? As the saying goes, one cannot lead another where one has not gone him or herself. (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005) In order for you or anyone else to fully practice what I am saying, I would have to practice it first. If I asked you to be nice to others, I would have to display this kind of behave toward you and actually represent what I am saying. Or if you were to experience spiritual evolution I would have to model this ability. I do not think it is fair when others ask or expect you to do something that they are not willing to do themselves or have never done before. Therefore leading by example is the best way to implement the importance of what you are trying to say. This allows you to understand and explain to others why they should work toward the things that you have asked them to do. Additionally, if you make something clear, precise and have already experienced what you are asking from others, it makes it easier for others to respond to your requests in a more positive way and know that they can look to you for guidance. 

            This can be applied to health and wellness professionals in a majority of cases. If a health care provider advises you to eat healthier and perform routine exercises to achieve greater levels of wellness you would be more amp to do so if you didn’t just see they eat a double quarter pounder with cheese. If an individual has never gone through the exercises or applied healthy choices to their lifestyle then trying to get others to follow your advise on doing so is going to be very difficult. As a health care professional you want your patients and clients to know that you are credible about what you are asking of them to do. Once they have experienced or gone through similar situations it will help them relate with their patients and advance their understandings of why they are asked to do specific things.   

I believe that all health care professionals have an obligation to developing their health psychologically, physically, and spiritually. If a health care provider is not willing to help themselves in these areas how are they going to be able to guide someone else through these experiences? If I knew a dietician that was well above the normal body mass index I would not go to that individual for advice about nutrition because I would not feel that they were practicing what they preached. This would translate to me that they were not willing to help themselves and would make me question whether they would be able to help me cut calories. Having the ability to experience spiritual, physical and psychological growth will not only increase a health care professional’s health and wellness, but also their relationship with their patients. They will be someone they can turn to when they have questions and need advice. They will be role models that others can look up to.

Implementing psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life would be a little bit easier if I had more time in the day. But this can be the excuse for everyone and if we left it at that then no one would flourish to their full potential of integral health. I think practicing and preserving a time a few times a week will allow me to create a foundation in which I can start to practice the techniques to develop my psychological and spiritual growth. With this start I can then continue on with these exercises to a more in-depth understanding of myself. As time and patience permits I will slowly experience a shift in my inner thoughts and consciousness to encompass a more positive, calm, and still mentality.             

Reference:

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., & Micozzi, M. (2005). Consciousness and healing: Integral approaches to mind body medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Inc.