Maori Model of Reflection

 'E kore te kumara e korero mo tona ake reka'

'The kumara does not say how sweet it is'

The essence of this saying  is about MODESTY. Self-praise is no recommendation.

This week has been a really busy one for me.  I have had 35 antenatal visits, two births,2nd midwife for 2 births,  8 postnatal visits as well as attending day long study day in Hamilton.  I'm quite exhausted as one of the births took me through the night and into the next day.  I'm passionate about midwifery care and continuity of care,  but lately I am reflecting a lot about my workload and I have really come to a crossroad about the time spent with women versus the time I spend at home with my family.  Anyway, this post isn't about my reflection on that,  this post is about the model of reflection I have decided I am going to try to  use.

I have been on a journey of discovery and for the last three months attending a development and leadership course at the Nursing research and Development unit at Waikato Hospital.  This month we looked at portfolio development and listened to invited guests, Maori women who are in leadership positions at Waikato Hospital; what motivates them, who has inspired them and how they have traveled their journey. 

One speaker Christine Baker shared her model of reflection.  Adapted from Te Whare Tapa Wha.  This is a Maori Model of health  by Mason Durie.
The whakatauki or saying that I used in the beginning of my post says something about how many Maori see life.  They do not like to reflect on how well they did something, this would be boastful.  The Whare Tapa Wha (The fours sides of a House)  looks at four sides of health essential to health & Well being.  It is a holistic model  and a model that  suits my world view of  health.  Maori models of health will help me to reflect on my clinical and cultural practices and how my identity or world view impacts on my practice as a Midwife and  Maori women and their whanau. 

Without going into too much depth- the model focuses on

• Te Taha Wairua - the spiritual essence.  The capacity for faith and wider communication.  This determines us as individuals and as a collective, who and what we are where we have come from and where we are going.
• Te Taha Hinengaro - The essence of the mind, communication, to think, to feel.  How we see ourselves in the universe our interactions  and the perception that others have of us.
• Te Taha Tinana - The physical essence.  The capacity for growth and development.
  
• Te Taha Whanau -  The essence of family and our connections with each other and wider social systems.

Going back to my thoughts in the first paragraph of my post. Are you in the same situation as me too much work and no time for anything else.  Feeling like you are at a cross road?  

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Photo  taken by me 2007 Paparamu Marae, Tirau. Traditional Maori meeting House.