Ramirez 1

UlyssesRamirez

ProfessorMoore

HealthEducation44

08May2017

PrescriptionPaper

Awholesomehealthylifestylehasalwaysbeenanimperativeaspectforme.Oneofthemain

motivatorsforthisistheambitionofhavingalengthylifeeventhoughIhaveafamilyhistoryriddled

withheartdiseaseanddiabetes;therefore,Itrymyhardesttomaintainmysixdimensionsinbalance.It

shouldbesaidthatpriortotakingthiscourseIdidnotknowwhatexactlythesixdimensionwere

necessarily,butIwasawarethatelementsassociatedwithyouremotionsandintellect(tonameafew)

didimpactyouroverallhealth;thuslythisiswhyIsayIhavealwaysstrivedtomaintainbalance

amongstmyhealthdimensionseventhoughIdidntexactlyknowthecompletescienceandcontext

behindit.

Inassessingmyhealthletusfirstlookatmyfirstdimension,thephysicaldimension.Ihavetried

tomaintainthisdimensionongoodstandingbylivingaquiteactivelifestyle.Ateveryopportunity

presentedIpushmyselftodoanyactivitythehardwayratherthantakingashortcut.Oneexampleof

doingitthehardwayiswalkingtoTargetratherthandrivingthere.InadditionIalsomaintainanactive

lifestylebyworkingoutregularly,usually4to5timesaweek.Ialsotrytosustainmyphysical

dimensioningoodstandingbyeatinghealthy;Idothisbywatchingmycalorieintake,andbyavoiding

fastfood(exceptforacheatdayonceaweek).Supplementary,Ialsotrytoinvokesomeamountof

colorinmydietintheformofvegetablesandfruits.
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Intheseconddimensionofmyhealth,entitledthesocialdimension,Itrysustainitsneedsby

invokingsomehoursofmyweektothosethatIholddearinmylife(familyandfriends);thisisusually

accomplishedbyplayingvideogames,watchingamovie/TVshow,ororderingapayperview.Atthe

sametimeIalsoopenmyselftoattendtotheneedstheseindividualsmayhave,suchastakingthemto

theairport.

IntheintellectualdimensionofmyhealthIhavelearnedtosustainthebalanceofthisdimension

byadaptingtothechallengesthatlifebrings,eitherthatbeinschoolorinmyworklife;muchofthe

knowledgeacquiredtosustainthisdimensionderivesfromthemanyexperiencesIhaveencountered

eitherpersonallyorviaaproxy(usuallyasaresultofenduringtheaftermathofeventscausedbymy

othereightsiblings).Theexperiencesgrantedbytheseencountershasallinallallowedmetoraisemy

intellectualdimensionbymakingresponsibledecisionsbasedoffofcriticalanalysisthroughthe

glossaryofmylifeandthosearoundme.Inaddition,mypursuitofreceivingadegreeinhistoryhasalso

allowedmetobetteranalyzelifechoicesbyutilizingthesametechniquesonewoulduseinanalyzing

historylikethecausesandeffectsofmajoroccurrencesliketheColumbianexchange,ortheSeven

YearsWar.

Furthermore,Ialsotrytomaintainanadequateemotionaldimensionthroughmaintainingcertain

aspectsincheck,suchassustainingahighselfesteem.Theaccomplishmentofthisventureissatisfied

bynotallowingmyselftoworryaboutthethoughtsofothers.Thisbeingsaid,Iwilladmitthatmy

emotionaldimensionishinderedbyanimperativefaultonmybehalf;thisismyinflexibilityofopening

upmyselfemotionallytoothers.Atthesametime,itshouldalsobesaidthatthesetypesofeventsrarely

occurinlifeduetothefactthatIdonotputmyselfinsituationswhereeventslikethisoccur(partofmy

intellectualdimensionofchoosingresponsiblepathsinlife).
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TheEnvironmentaldimensionofmyhealthhasbeenheldatgoodstandingduetomyconcerns

withtheenvironment,includingsuchendeavorslikewateravailabilityorclimatechange.Atthesame

timeduetomyincreaseinphysicalactivitiesthatareoutdoors,likejogging,Ihaveactivelyincorporated

myselfineventsthataidtheenvironmentlikecleaningriversnearus,infactIwasinvolvedinsome

thispastApril.

Thefinalofthesixdimensionsismyspiritualdimension,whichismyweakest,thisdimension,

althoughitmaynotbecompletelyhindered,isnotasdominantasthepriordimensionsdueinparttothe

factthatIamanatheist,whoobviouslydoesnotbelieveinahigherpower.InresponsetothisIhave

neverreallythoughtaboutmypurposeinlifeormyplaceintheuniverse,thuslygrantingmealower

thangreatbalance.

Nonetheless,myhealthseemstobequiteadequatesinceItrytoincorporateallthedimensions

neededinmaintainingahealthyholisticlifestyle;theproofofthisproclamationwasverifiedbytheself

assessmentIunderwentviathetextbook.AccordingtothisassessmentIreceivedthefollowingscores;

PhysicalHealth17outof20,SocialHealth17outof20,EmotionalHealth16outof20,Spiritualhealth

14outof20,Intellectual20outof20,andPersonalHealthPromotion/diseaseprevention19outof20.

Inaccordancetotheseresultsitappearsthatmypriorinquiryonmyhealthseemsquiteaffirmeddueto

thefactthatIknewIwasgoingtobehinderedinthedimensionofspirituality,yetitwasonlyoffagood

standinggradebyonepoint.Nevertheless,Iwillimprovethishindereddimension,aswellasmaintain

thegoodstandingsoftheothers.

TherearevariousmannersinwhichImayimprovethegradeofmyspiritualhealth,andalsostill

maintainthewellbalancedqualityfortheotherdimensions.Tobegin,onemannerImayimprovemy
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spiritualhealthisbyallowingmyselfmoretimealonetocontemplatewhatmypurposeinlifemaybe;

thiswillaidmyspiritualdimensionsbyallowingtosuccessfullycultivatinganoutlineofwhatmyplace

intheuniverseis.Now,althoughtheaspectofanyreligionorsenseofadheringtoahigherpowermay

beabsent,Imaystillaccomplishthissearchforanoverarchingpurposeinmylifebyallowingmyself

tomediatewhenImhikingalone,orwhenIamjusthomealonegettingreadyforbed.Inaddition,I

mayalsoaidthespiritualdimensionofmyhealthbybeingmoreinquisitiveandcuriousatopportunities

aroundme;thisactionofbeingmoreopentootheroptionsmayenablemetodiscovernewhorizonsand

possiblymoldwhatmypurposeinmylifemaybe.

Nevertheless,onceIventureofftobettermyspiritualhealthitmustalsobeimperativethatI

sustainthewellbalancednatureofmyotherdimensions;theequilibriumofthesedimensionswillbe

sustainedbymaintainingcertainactivitiesalreadyinplace.First,myphysicaldimensionmaybe

sustainedbycontinuingmyworkoutregimentofgoingtothegymfourtofivetimesaweek,aswellas

joggingoutdoors.Inaddition,Icancontinuetohavegreateatinghabitsbyavoidingfastfood,and

incorporatingalotmorecolorintomydiet(vegetablesandfruits)sincehealthynourishmentis

imperativetohealthyliving.FurthermoreIwillmakeitmymissiontoincreasetheamountofroutine

doctorcheckups,sothatmyphysicaldimensionmaybeanalyzedfrequently.FormysocialhealthI

mayalsocontinuetoinvoketimeintomyweektoindulgeinthelivesofthosewhoaredeartome;this,

aspreviouslystated,alsoincludesbeingtherewhentheyneedmeemotionally.Intheintellectual

dimensionIwillalsoactivelydissectandanalyzeallmyfuturedecisionsandresponsibilitiesbeforeI

engage;thiswillbemetinthesimilarmannerinwhichitiscurrentlybeingutilizedbyusingpast

experiencesofthosearoundme(eightbrothersandsisters,andparents,aswellasmyown)tocultivatea

properplanofaction.FortheemotionaldimensionIwillalsotrytobemoreopeninexpressingmy
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feelings,eitherbyconsultingafriendorseeingapsychologist.Aspreviouslymentioned,Ienjoybeing

amongstnature,eitherwhenImworkingout(hiking/jogging),orwhenImtryingtorelax,thereforein

ordertomaintainthelevelIhavereachedinthisdimensionIwillcontinuetoenjoythefewnatural

landmarkswehavehereinCalifornia.Inaddition,Iwillalsocontinuetobeapartofcleanupventures,

sothattheenvironmentaroundusdoesnotbecomeoverwhelmedwithgarbage.Supplementary,Iwill

alsotrytominimizemyownanthropogenicpollutants;thiswillbeaccomplishedbyutilizingmycar

less,whichwillthenminimizethespreadofmorecarbonmonoxideintotheatmosphere.Iwillalsonot

usedisposablewaterbottlessincetheplasticofthosebottlesalsodamagetheatmosphere,andevensea

animals.

Encouragingandsustainingthebalanceofthesixdimensionsofhealthisanimperativetaskduetothe

reasonthatthebalanceofthesedimensionswillallowrelishinlifechangingrewardslikeexpanding

yourlifeexpectancy.Yetwhiletheideaofincreasingyourlifeexpectancyisalongtermeffectofgood

holistichealth,theimportanceoflivingahealthylifestylewillalsobringforthimmediatebenefits,like

wardingoffcommoncoldsandnotacquiringunintentionalinjuries(Donatelle,2017).Avoidingand

utilizingcertainactivitiessuchasgettingadequatesleep,andavoidingtoxicentities,likecigarettesand

alcohol,mayallowustoacquirethebenefitslistedprior;thesebenefitsarecloselyrelatedtoallofour

dimensionsofhealthbecauseifourphysicalhealthishinderedthenouremotionalhealthwillbe

triggeredtobecomeerratic.Inaddition,aspreviouslystated,longtermbenefitsmayalsobebrought

forthduetolivingahealthylifestyle;rewardssuchasavoidingchronicdiseases,whicharethosewho

progressandpersistslowlywithavarietyofsignsandsymptoms(Donatelle,2017),willbeavoidedif

youbringfrothharmonyinyoursixdimensions.Horrificlifechangingdiseaseslikeheartdisease,

diabetes(whichIhaveafamilyhistoryof),cancer,andcerebrovasculardiseasesmaybeavoidedifyou
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sustainahealthylifestyle.Theimportanceofmaintainingahealthylifestyleisalsoanimperativeaction

tofulfillbecauseitwillnotjustaffectyourownpersonallivelihood,butthosearound,thisisbecause

manyofourhealthinfluences(alsoknownashealthdeterminants)comeformoutsidemotivatorslike

policymaking,socialfactors,andhealthservices(Donatelle,2017).Oneexamplemaybeinthesocial

factorswesurroundourselvesin,becauseimagineyouliveinacommunitythatdoesnotcareaboutor

regulatesmokingzones,orwheretheyusetheirgasguzzlerseverydaywithouttheworryofspreading

carbonmonoxide.Inthisenvironment/communityitwillbemorelikelythattheresidentsofthisplace

willhavealargerchancetoreceivenegativeinfluencesintheformofsecondhandsmoke,orthe

inhalationofcarbonmonoxide,whichthenleadtoanincreaseofcontractingarepositorydisease,or

evenlungcancer;thereforetheimportanceofusmaintainingahealthylifestylewillalsoaffectnotjust

us,butthosearoundus.

InorderbringharmonyintomysixdimensionsIhaveconstructedthreegoalsthatwillaidmyholistic

health.Tobegin,Iwillbettermyspiritualdimensionbyallowingmyselftohavemoretimetoreflecton

mylifespurpose.Accordingtoarticle,entitledHealthPromotionbytheUniversityofMississippi,

thiscanbeachievedbytakingouttimeeachdaytoreflectontheeventsoftheday,andanyfuture

inquiresthatmayfollow;thiswillaidmeinimprovingthisdimensionbecauseIwillbeallowedto

analyzeeveryactionIdidthatdayandreflecthowitisaffectingmyoverallpurpose.Inadditionthis

mayalsoaidinmyspiritualdimensionbecauseitmaydictateifmypathmightbeconnectedtoanother

hiddenventurethatImaynotbeawareof;thisgoalwillbeachievedduringmyworkingouttime,

whenIamwalking/runningintheneighborhood,orhiking.

MysecondgoalistominimizetheamountharmIproduceontotheenvironment,eitherthatbeby

receivingalargeamountofmailviapaper,misusingwaterbywateringmylawn,orutilizingmycar
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whenitisnotnecessarilyneeded.AccordingtothearticleentitledtheSevenDimensionsofWellness

bytheGrandRapidsCommunityCollege,itstatesthatImayminimizeharmontotheearthbydoing

suchthingsasstoppingmyjunkmail(GrandRapidsCommunityCollege).Infactitshouldbestated

thatIhavelookedintothisventurejustyesterdayanditwasmadecleartomethatIcanreducemyjunk

mailbygoingtohttp://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/reducewaste/home/junkmail.htm.Nonetheless,Iwillalso

achievemygoaltominimizeharmontotheenvironmentbynolongerwateringmylawn,eventhoughI

rarelydoit;thiswillbeaccomplishedbycooperatingwithmyroommate(mybrother),sothatwemay

convertourfrontlawnintoaCalifornianativeplantgarden;thisventurewillnotjustaidinreducing

harmontotheearthbyreducingwaterusage,butitwillalsoaidinmyfinancialneedssinceIwillno

longerpaytohavegreengrass.FinallyIwillachievemysecondgoalbyminimizingtheproductionof

carbonmonoxide;thisventurewillbeaccomplishedbymeutilizingmybicycleratherthanutilizingmy

carwhenIhavetogotowork.Mycurrentjobisonlyhalfamileawaysoutilizingmybicyclewillnot

hindermeinanyway.ThankstothisutilizationofmybicycleIwillnotjustimprovetheenvironment,

butIwillalsoaidmyphysicaldimension.

MythirdgoalisprobablytheeasiestandthemostrewardingbecauseIwillenhancemyphysical

dimensionbyincreasingmyhoursofsleep.AccordingtobothRebeccaJ.Donatelle,andtheGrand

RapidsCommunityCollege,oneoftheeasiestwaystobetteryourphysicalhealthistojustgetadequate

sleep,whichrangesfrom78hours.CurrentlyIonlysleepanaverageof56hoursaday.Yet,Iwill

improvethisbyminimizingtheamountofgamingandtelevisionIconductrightbeforeIsleep.In

addition,IwillalsominimizingtheamountoftimeItaketogetreadyandmakebreakfast;thiswillat

leastaddanhourtoanhourandahalfofsleeptomycurrentregiment.
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Allinall,asproclaimedinthebeginning,ahealthylifestylehasalsobeenanimperativeventuretome,

duetoitsrewards,likealongerlife,andmyfamilyhistory.Yetwiththeselfassessmentconductedboth

bymyself,andtheoneprovidedbythebook,Ihavecultivatedamorethansatisfactoryprescriptionto

notjustimprovesthedimensionthatneedstheaid,butalsoaidsinmaintainingthegoodstandinglevels

oftheothers.IntheendIunderstandthatoneofthemaininfluencersindecidinghowthisprescription

willbeutilizedinvolvesmyownindividualbehavior;thereforeIvowtoadheretoallthegoals

establishedhereinthisprescriptionaswellasincorporatingthevariousmannersexploredtoimprove

myfiveotherdimensions(exploredinthesecondsection).Iamexcitedandenthralledinstartingthe

prescriptionestablishedinthispapersothatImayrelishinthebenefitsthatcomewithahealthy

lifestyle.
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WorkCited

Donatelle,R.J.,Chow,A.F.,&KolenThompson,A.M.(2017).Health:TheBasics&
MasteringHealth.Toronto:Pearson.

Mississippi,T.U.(2017,January).HealthPromotion.RetrievedApril26,2017,from
http://healthpromotion.olemiss.edu/healthtopics/

College,G.R.(2016,January).SevenDimensionsofWellness.RetrievedApril26,2017,
fromhttp://www.grcc.edu/humanresources/wellness/sevendimensionsofwellness