Mindfulness

• ASSUMPTION APPLICATION

  aim of approach = promote human flourishing

  mindfulness aim = help develop characteristics

  >positive human traits = authentic as negative ones and individuals strive to achieve greater life fulfilment by developing natural strengths and virtues > mindfulness aims to enhance positive characteristics
• ASSUMPTION APPLICATION

  Mindfulness - based on free will > therapy people choose to engage in and helps them become consciously aware of their present thoughts and feelings

  by gaining control of thoughts + emotions > exercise free will over amount of time spent negatively thinking

  take control of feelings = central to increasing life satisfaction and contentment > helps move towards meaningful life
• MAIN COMPONENTS - GAINING CONTROL OF THOUGHTS

  demonstrated in mindfulness course by 'Mind' > week 4 - getting out of auto-pilot

  mental problems - due to uncontrolled negative automatic thinking

  based on helping people become the driver in control of their mind, rather than letting their thoughts run free > anxiety

  aim - help realise their thoughts = transient (passing through) and that they don't need to direct how we feel
• MAIN COMPONENTS - MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION

  Jon Kabat-Zinn - 70s

  treat people struggling with life's difficulties and physical / mental illness

  initially created to aid hospital patients > since used by many

  intensive 8 week course - 45 minute group sessions

  after - able to build techniques into everyday life
• MAIN COMPONENTS - TECHNIQUES IN MBSR PROGRAMMES

  > Meditation + Mindful Breathing

  practitioner teaches people how to meditate properly

  sit in relaxed position with straight spine

  no distractions to focus on bodily sensations (rise and fall of abdomen) as you breathe in and out

  if attention wanders, gently bring focus back to breathing
• MAIN COMPONENTS - TECHNIQUES IN MBSR PROGRAMMES

  > Bodyscan

  lie with back on floor/bed and closed eyes

  move awareness through body and focus on one area at a time

  stop when you find an area that's unusually tight/sore and focus your breath on the area until it relaxes

  use calm and healing visualisations
• MAIN COMPONENTS - TECHNIQUES IN MBSR PROGRAMMES

  > Worry/urge surfing

  approach thoughts/feeling like you're surfing a wave and turn your awareness to the warning signs of negative feelings approaching

  imagine negative emotions coming at you like a wave> gets bigger as it approaches, crests, falls and moves away

  imagine riding the wave as it passes and let the negative emotion go

  celebrate your ability to let the emotion go, but acknowledge more will come, and ride the wave again when they do
• MAIN COMPONENTS - TECHNIQUES IN MBSR PROGRAMMES

  > Yoga

  excellent way to reduce stress and practice mindfulness

  incorporates many mindfulness principles > patience and experiencing simply being without the need to achieve something
• MAIN COMPONENTS - INFORMAL MINDFULNESS PRACTICES

  although therapy initially takes place in group sessions, under the guidance of a practitioner, one of the aims = individuals develop skills to engage in mindfulness in more informal settings without the need of structured sessions