495 SEE ATTACHMENTS FOR THE TWO DISCUSSIONS 5 AND 6 AS YOUR RFERENCE DOCUMENT 2 SEE ATTACHMENTS FOR DOCUMENT 3 AND 4 AS YOUR REFERENCE DOCUMENT 3 Pie of Life reflection journal DOCUMENT 4

Pie of Life Weekly Reflection Journal

Shaneara Terry

UMGC

01/13/25

Pie of Life Weekly Reflection Journal

Introduction

The Pie of Life Chart is an excellent concept which enables people focus towards prioritizing which areas to spend their time, energy, and money on, in relation to the basic pillars of life. As a psychology major I have come to see how my studies have affected a number of aspects in my life. In this respect, the various theories, principles and findings studied in my undergraduate program have greatly contributed to the way I am and the nature in which I view the world. This reflection will explore five domains that resonate deeply with my personal and academic growth: Seven major classes of leisure activity are interpersonal, work, emotional, personal growth, and recreation. Such domains serve as the reference points in my educational process, which enables me to assess the change and the sides of the knowledge gained in my educational process. This way, I will demonstrate how psychology not only enriched my knowledge but also enriched my experience in life. That said, it has let me think through the patterns of the gains in growth and apply the principles of psychology to enrich my life even further.

Relationships

The most crucial area that has been shaped by my psychology education is relationships. Self-of-other, or the tendency to perceive other individuals as objects of self’s impulses and desires, was an issue I encountered before approaching this topic: I used to get annoyed at other people’s behavior and motivations that seemed unjustified or malevolent. However, the courses I have taken, especially Theories of Personality and Social Psychology as part of my coursework, equipped me with the means to comprehend the endearing and defensive characteristics influencing other people.

For example, understanding attachment theory changed my views on interpersonal relationships with family and friends. Understanding how secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles affect conflict has made me more empathetic when dealing with such issues. For instance, I recently learned that this particular friend of mine pulls away during conflicts because of her avoidant attachment pattern rooted in childhood. Instead of feeling rejected and unappreciated, I was able to learn how to open up the lines of communication and improve our relationship.

Moreover, the aspect of active listening, which was discussed in Counseling Skills and Techniques, has drastically changed my approach to communication. I now ensure I do not interrupt the flow of conversation, laugh, or interject, but instead, acknowledge the feelings of the other person and respond appropriately. This change has been most significant in the way I relate with my junior sibling, who used to feel inferior whenever I excelled. I have also ensured that I am more courteous to her than before and this has made our relationship much more healthy as we are now more understanding towards each other. I now openly seek their input and support their successes, making them feel as important as they are. It has not only deepened our relationship but has also provided an environment for voicing our concerns freely without feeling pressured. I have enjoyed their confidence and the level of trust that developed between us due to better communication.

Psychology has also enhanced my understanding of how to establish appropriate boundaries. Before enrolling in the Abnormal Psychology course and having the understanding of codependency as one of the disorders, I used to attend to other people's problems instead of focusing on my own needs. Understanding this has helped me in managing my relationships without overstressing myself and creating unhealthy bonds. This has helped me in that I am now able to differentiate between being supportive and being a burden to myself in terms of emotional capacity. For instance, it has become easier for me to say no whenever I realize that I will be overwhelmed if I accept other tasks. It has not only served the purpose of preserving my sanity but has also taught other people in my life the importance of not overstepping boundaries and invading personal space. In essence, I have come to learn that the secret to being there for others is starting by being there for ‘me,’ thus nurturing healthier and mutually beneficial relationships.

Career

I want to note that my career path has changed dramatically since the time I decided to become a student of psychology. To begin, I planned on pursuing a business career due to the associated regularity and predictability of business careers. Nevertheless, some courses such as Introduction to Clinical Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology exposed me to the importance of advocating for mental health and for people who struggle with mental health issues and who seem to be left out.

One of these transformative experiences happened during a group assignment on childhood trauma. We discussed how ACEs affect human mental and physical health in the long term considering the impact on brain development, the ability to regulate emotions, and social interactions. This research ignited my passion for working with children and adolescents because it is evident that early experiences influence lifelong courses. This passion deepened in Developmental Psychology class where they learned the significance of early childhood intervention as well as the possibility of preventing the impacts of ACEs. Knowing that high levels of support during critical developmental periods can bolster protective factors and change development pathways further strengthened my desire to work with youths. Furthermore, hearing about other successful interventions showed me how effective psychological tools and different therapeutic approaches can be when it comes to helping young persons become better, thus strengthening my decision to choose this field.

Furthermore, my education has also prepared me for my future career by providing me with the necessary skills and knowledge. Classes on research methods and statistics helped me understand how to assess a study, which is crucial for practice. Moreover, getting acquainted with the ethical standards mentioned in the APA Code of Conduct has helped me to strengthen my resolve to act ethically concerning cultural sensitivity as well.

From the courses taken, the most inspiring lesson came from the course on Positive Psychology, particularly the study of resilience theory. This concept focuses on the potential of human beings to transform and heal even when faced with challenges. In my future career as a counseling psychologist, my goal is to help my clients to recognize their strengths and fulfill their potential.

Mental Health

In the course of my learning, I can confirm that I have developed in the area of mental health. Before entering this field my understanding of mental health as a phenomenon was minimal and I only thought of it in terms of adaptation and achievement. However, dynamic courses, for instance, Health Psychology and Community Psychology have equipped me with knowledge of the roles of systems and environment in promoting health and wellness.

Of all the theories that have been presented in the class, the particular theory that has had the closest impact on thinking is the biopsychosocial model. This framework as activated in this article is an integration of the body, mood as well as surroundings of a patient. Using my own experience, I was able to understand in what ways academic stress, absence of social contacts, and irregular sleep lead to anxiety during exam season based on this model. With this knowledge, I was able to introduce corresponding changes in my behavior meaning better restrictions for the study time and some mindfulness exercises.

I have also learned how to approach adversity from a positive psychology course. This should explain why today if there is something I can take as a failure then definitely it is due to learning concepts such as gratitude, growth mindset, and optimism. For instance, when I found myself torn by a difficult task, instead of thinking of it as difficult, I could think that could learn from that. To help avoid this frustration as it may arise, I made personal commitment to appreciate the help and assistance needed to use on this endeavor. Embracing a growth mentality helped me to recognize that DWV was not something that got in the way of my work, but rather was an obstacle to overcome in the process of improving my work. This change in attitude also proved beneficial in developing an approach towards problems as well as developed and fortified my perseverance and so my resolve regarding any forthcoming challenges.

Finally, my education has helped me understand the struggles that people with mental health issues go through and be more compassionate toward them. This way of learning about conditions like depression and anxiety has helped me approach these topics with empathy and not think of them as a weakness. This change has helped the bonds between people and inspired me to work towards raising more awareness for those struggling with mental disorders in society.

Self-Development

This is perhaps one of the greatest advantages that I have received from the training in psychology. From such courses as Personality Psychology and Motivation and Emotion, I've gained skills in self-analysis and stereotype recognition. For instance, there are the Big Five personality traits, and when I was introduced to the fact of having high conscientiousness it boosts academic success but it comes with perfectionism. With this awareness in mind, I have tried to strike a balance between petty frameworks and accepting imperfection.

Another idea that I have incorporated into my self-formation is Mindfulness coming from Positive Psychology. It has been beneficial to learn how to maintain concentration and correct my elevated stress levels from learning about mindfulness meditation. Over time this has become a natural behavior and I have learned that it enables me to react to issues with better perspective and a lack of temper. For instance, during stressful moments in our daily lives, for example, during preparation for examinations, dress techniques of deep breathing and grounding have served well in the management of stress.

Further, mindfulness has enhanced my ability to observe emotions, which ends up triggering a notification system to prevent the occurrence of negative emotions. Besides stress decrease it has also allowed me to pay attention in social situations and appreciate even the little things in life. Therefore, the application of mindfulness in my life promoted the establishment of a moderate and steady-state that is ideal for personal and study advancement.

The second deep meaning emerged from the investigation of Carl Roger's concept of unconditional positive regard. They helped me change my attitude to other people and become understanding of myself. I have practiced self-compassion up to now as this has helped me deal with flawless hurdles in a way that I focus more on the procedure and not the result.

Leisure and Hobbies

My lessons in psychology have affected even my free time and hobbies, pointing to the importance of recreation. In my pre-psychology life, I considered leisure as wasteful time, and thus I prioritized work and other obligations over relaxation. However, courses such as Health Psychology taught about the need to take care of oneself and work towards a balanced lifestyle as a way of preventing stress.

One of the themes that influenced me to a significant extent was the theory of flow, presented in Positive Psychology. Thus, activities that require my complete focus, including painting and writing, have turned into active forms of meditation. These hobbies not only give me some variation from the usual tasks but also help me cope with stress. In addition, understanding about advantages of social networks in Social Psychology class motivated me to become a member of a local hiking club. This hobby has enabled me to meet other people, engage in physical activities, and further appreciate the role of community in my life.

Conclusion

As a psychology major, I cannot help but marvel at how much this area of study has impacted my personal growth and development. Psychology has positively affected my interpersonal relationships, mental health, career path, leisure activities, and overall well-being. In the future, I will be able to use these lessons in new situations, not only in my work but also in other aspects of life. The tool known as the Pie of Life chart can be viewed as a kind of reiteration of the necessity to maintain balance and be purposeful. For the next stage in my life, I believe that I am ready for whatever comes next, thanks to the skills and mindsets I have acquired through this process.