This week was a crazy week that dragged on forever. I have gotten used to the four day school weeks, and so having five days was an adjustment! Since school was busy and I was focused on other assignments and tests, the ukulele was not my priority. Each night before I went to bed I would play for 10-15 minutes. I kept practicing the same song I learned last week and tried several different strumming patterns with it.
Hasselkus' idea that occupation may enrich one's spirituality and vice versa is something that I have found to hold true in my one life. For me spirituality has been closely connected to occupations that have come through my religion, such as attending church, reading scriptures, or through prayer. In addition to occupations that are tied to both my religion and spirituality, activities such as going running or enjoying nature. Each of these occupations allow me to connect my inner self to my outer self. Most of the occupations that I connect with spirituality allow for meditation and time to reflect.
When first thinking about whether playing the ukulele has enriched my spirituality, I initially thought that there was no way that it has. But as I continued to think about my thoughts and feelings as I play the ukulele I realized that there is satisfaction that has come from being able to create something. The ability to create gives me a sense of connectedness.
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) 3rd edition classifies spirituality as a client factor and defines spirituality as the "Aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred." In my opinion, much of the controversy that has come with spirituality and the health field comes from a misunderstanding of what spirituality is and how it influences the health and well being of an individual. Since spirituality is a way that individuals express meaning and purpose and as Hasselkus explained that occupation and spirituality are intertwined. I find it appropriate for Spirituality to be a client factor because client factors are individual to the client and influence the client's performance in occupations. For each individual spirituality is going to be expressed differently. The impact that spirituality will have on an individual and his or her occupations will be dependent on the meaning he or she associates with spirituality.
Hi Hannah,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this last week was a little crazy! I'm glad you still got some time with the ukulele.
I like your wide, encompassing view of spirituality. I too agree that spirituality is something that should be addressed. I thought it was crazy last week when we read about how nurses have a formal assessment for spirituality and that us occupational therapists, who boast a more holistic approach, shy away from addressing spirituality. I think spirituality definitely influences health and healing and would agree that much of the argument comes from the fact that discussion on religion is uncomfortable for many in our culture. I think focusing on the concepts that you mentioned of connectedness and reconciliation of inner and outer self is the key to addressing spirituality.
Also Hannah, I meant to ask how you would suggest addressing spirituality? You said that you think it should be considered a client factor but how can we address it?
ReplyDeleteAllen,
ReplyDeleteThat is a really good question and to be completely honest I have no idea how best to address spirituality. Since the definition in the OTPF for spirituality is very broad and occupations that promote spirituality in one's life vary so much from person to person. I think the the most efficient way to initially address spirituality is by asking the client if there are occupations the client participates or isn't able to participate in that allow him/her to feel a sense of connectedness. Based on the responses the OT could incorporate such occupations into therapy.