Mindfulness Practices For Women’S Midlife Transition, Patricia A. Chilangwa

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Every major period of life brings a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Midlife remains a mostly uncharted territory in the field of human development. Given that women of middle age currently comprise over 17 % of the total population, it is essential that we seek a better understanding of middle age and what may or may not be beneficial during this stage of life. The purpose of this work is to present a supportive academic rationale paper and a creative project consisting of a book with a journal component on mindfulness practices for finding ease and grace in the …

The Impact Of Mindfulness On Healthcare Provider Burnout During Covid-19, Natasha Johnson

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Healthcare providers are subject to unique stress as part of their job in a helping profession and regularly suffer the effects of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Mindfulness-based interventions have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing burnout and addressing the impacts of secondary traumatic stress, however the current COVID-19 pandemic poses a new, more debilitating type of stress to healthcare providers. This paper seeks to examine the existing evidence on the effects of mindfulness in reducing burnout and secondary traumatic stress, incorporate new evidence on the unique stress of COVID-19, and determine if mindfulness interventions remain effective. It also …

Mindfulness For Legal Professionals: An Appeal For Positive Change, Dianna Mejia

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Recent studies and reports address growing concerns about high rates of chronic stress, depression, and substance use by lawyers and law students. The National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being identified the practice of law as a profession that is struggling and urged leaders to act now to improve the state of mental health and well-being of legal professionals. Among the recommendations in the 2017 report, The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change, the National Task Force included mindfulness as a practice to address the psychological and psychosomatic disorders permeating the legal profession. The National Task Force urged …

Considering Oppression Through A Buddhist Lens: Conceit Of Self And The Comparing Mind, Joanne Clingan

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This thesis explores Buddhist concepts of conceit of self and the comparing mind and the impact they have on an individual’s interaction with the wider world, specifically in relation to behavior that could unknowingly contribute to oppression. It asks if discussion, dialogue, and mindfulness practice around concepts of conceit of self and the comparing mind could help to illuminate and evaluate bias and reduce prejudice, discrimination, and oppression. Dharma talks and articles about conceit of self and the comparing mind are engaging and relatable (Baraz, 2011; Bradshaw, 2016; Feldman, 2008; Fulton, 2018), as are Buddhist informed social justice views that …

Servant Leadership As Organizational Mindfulness, Cia Kozak

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Abstract

Servant leadership exemplifies mindfulness precepts in a systems environment. Robert K. Greenleaf’s (1970/2008) servant leadership movement launched with his seminal essay, The Servant as Leader, in which he revealed an affinity with the philosophy of mindfulness. There is a commonality of language and behaviors that servant leadership shares with mindfulness principles. In addition, servant leadership’s aspiration for holistic member wellbeing reflects mindfulness teachings. The servant leadership hierarchical model upends traditional organization constructs, demonstrating a mindfulness view of community whereby the leader serves all rather than all serving the leader. This echoes Buddhist monastic communities in which power is …

Lightly Peaceful: Facilitating College Transition Through Instagram Delivered Mindfulness Experiences, Cheryl Lynn Kress

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This creative project is an investigation into the feasibility and efficacy of offering mindfulness experiences to college freshmen through Instagram, a popular social media platform. Research indicates that many college freshmen struggle with issues such as depression, social isolation, anxiety, substance abuse, poor academic performance, overeating, etc., all of which may increase the likelihood of dropping out of college or the establishment of long-term dysfunctional coping patterns. Mindfulness has been noted to mitigate many of the difficulties associated with making the transition from high school to college; however, very few studies investigate the effects of offering mindfulness experiences through social …

Mindfulness Interventions For Educators: Preventing Burnout Through Personal And Professional Development, Jessica Noble

Mindfulness Studies Theses

When it comes to professions with the highest rate of burnout, educators are prime candidates for facing this often debilitating and life-altering phenomena. Although the causes of teacher burnout are vast (and typically depend on the teacher’s context and level of experience), the effects appear to not only impact the life and career of the teacher, but also the students and school community. Despite the sense of both hopelessness and helplessness that arise with burnout, there are accessible strategies teachers can use in order to mitigate the amounting stressors. The growing field contemplative sciences have found that mindfulness, the act …

Mindful Empowerment For Business Transformation: Adapting Inner And Social Technology, Betsy Parayil-Pezard

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This paper develops a program for cultivating mindful leadership skills within an organizational context. Building on the history of digital transformation, it emphasizes the capacity of business professionals to apply learnings from the field of mindfulness to situations found in their environment and relationships. The program, Mindful Empowerment for Business Transformation, is divided into 4 units : Attention and Awareness, Empowerment, Connection and Change. Each unit visits mindfulness theory and practice, and encourages participants to create an action plan to integrate learnings into their lives.

Buddhist Psychology And Mindfulness: Does It Provide A Remedy For Western Shame?, Richard Biehl

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This writing explores shame and its distress. It does so through a historical examination of Western psychological theories of emotion compared to emotions as seen through Buddhist psychology, based upon scholars and authorities within these respective fields. Further, it explores some Western psychotherapeutic approaches used to alleviate (unhealthy) shame compared to Buddhist mindfulness methods for alleviating aversive emotions and their efficacy, alone or in combination. The question examined is whether mindfulness grounded in Buddhist psychology and teachings, when applied within Western therapeutic settings and populations, is an effective and appropriate means to help alleviate aversive states of shame.

To identify …

Considerations For Introducing, Facilitating, And Expanding Mindfulness Training In The Workplace, Laura H. Saher

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This creative thesis is designed to further the understanding of the considerations for offering mindfulness training in the workplace and to offer mindfulness practitioners a guide for introducing and facilitating mindfulness training into their workplaces. This thesis consists of two primary components: 1) a rationale paper and 2) a creative component. The rationale paper includes a literature review that focuses on the benefits and risks of offering mindfulness training in the workplace; these form the business case for bringing mindfulness to the workforce and identify the gaps in the research that prompted the questions underlying this thesis. These gaps were …

Mindfulness And The Need To Minimize The Risk Of Harm: A Proposal To Implement And Enforce Standards For Secular Mindfulness Practice, Michael Falick

Mindfulness Studies Theses

While Western mindfulness practice is indeed beneficial for many participants, the research now clearly demonstrates that for some meditators, there are attendant potential risks. These potential risks to practitioners require a level of care from those individuals (and corporations) that disseminate mindfulness practice. Historically, in traditional Buddhist practice, mindfulness was but one of the eight factors on the Noble Eightfold Path. An important component of traditional practice strongly relies on ethics in the delivery of the practice. A formalized standard of care for modern, secular mindfulness practices, and a method to implement and enforce that standard, will greatly enhance safety …

Addressing The Midlife Happiness ‘Dip’: An Evidence-Informed, Mindfulness-Based Approach To Support & Promote Women’S Well-Being, Shelby Wayte

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This work articulates the need for and introduces a novel model of supportive care: a mindfulness-based wellness intervention that holistically addresses the unique implications and stressors of middle-aged women. Midlife remains the most poorly understood and understudied period of the lifespan. Research suggests that not only are middle-aged people less happy, they have the lowest levels of life satisfaction and experience the most anxiety and stress compared to both younger and older age groups. This marks a trend currently being analyzed: Happiness dips gradually in early adult life until it reaches its lowest point, approximately around a person’s mid-40s to …

Cultivating Social And Emotional Wellness In Teachers And Students Through Sel And Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Course For Pre-Service Teachers, Kathryn Schmoyer

Mindfulness Studies Theses

In a time when more and more children are being diagnosed with mental health disorders and many teachers are leaving the field of education, there is a movement for social and emotional wellness in education. Policy makers and school administrations are acknowledging the need for social emotional learning but are challenged with the logistics of implementing the learning. In addition, the teachers do not feel that they are equipped to implement and teach social and emotional learning in their classrooms. This creative thesis course addresses this need. The course will help prepare preservice teachers to create a socially and emotionally …

Enhancing Creative Thinking Through Open Awareness Walking Meditation, Oliver Carmack

Mindfulness Studies Theses

A documentary which follows 8 novice meditators as they engage in a 20-minute walking open awareness meditation practice for 6 weeks. The goal of the documentary is to explore if open awareness walking meditation enhances creative thinking. This project is important because it brings together several budding research fields: creativity, mindfulness, and walking. The topic of the documentary is inspired by several studies that demonstrate a positive correlation between walking, open awareness meditation, and increased divergent thinking ability—a key element in creative thinking. The participants report many positive experiences and some surprising benefits for doing this practice. Participants report that …

Giving Silence A Voice: Exploring Religion, Spirituality, And Rap Music As A Medium For Mindfulness, Brian Thompson

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Mindfulness has become increasingly popular in the modern world as a way to find balance in one’s everyday life. A challenge affecting the growth of mindfulness as it continues to gain recognition is the relationship between mindfulness and traditional religious frameworks. Music is an important area of interest in this discussion as research has revealed changes in trends towards contemporary music in favor of classic songs and hymns as markers of personal truth, and the embodiment of celebration and significant events. Rap music has a deep cultural connection and has been used throughout history to depict the lives of the …

Mindfulness For Optimal Performance For Musicians, Larissa H. Carlson

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This paper is a presentation of my creative thesis for the pursuit of my Mindfulness Studies master’s degree from Lesley University. To enhance focus, boost compassion, and support optimal performance states, this work focuses on the potential benefits of teaching concentration, relaxation, and compassion meditations--and other mindfulness techniques--to professional adult musicians who often suffer from stress, performance anxiety, and self-criticism. Included in this thesis is a literature review on that topic, an explanation of gaps noted in this field of research, a discussion explaining the rationale for how the literature review has informed the creation of an eight-week mindfulness course …

Doing From Being: Creating Organizational Integrity Through Mindful Self-Leadership, Adam Stonebraker

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Mindfulness in the workplace is a subject that has seen significant growth in recent years. Mindfulness, which is rooted in ancient contemplative practice, has gained much traction among Western audiences over the last few decades. The application of Mindfulness practices is prevalent now in workplaces, where its efficacy has been well-documented, and impact has included the reduction of employee stress, increased productivity, and enhancement of one’s well-being.

The principles of mindfulness can be applied across disparate workplace settings and in nearly any situation to help bolster employees’ presence and focus in the day-to-day and retain them in the place of …

Addressing Early Childhood Bullying By Supporting Social-Emotional Skills With Mindfulness, Briana Duperval

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This paper explores articles on early childhood bullying, the effects it can have on a child’s well-being and possible interventions. Supporting the social-emotional development of young children is offered as a solution to the issue of early childhood bullying by helping children to develop better self-regulation, as well as compassion and kindness. The research states some of the current data on the positive effects of using mindfulness to support social-emotional development of young children. The mindfulness interventions mentioned include, Early Heart Smart Program (EHS), mindfulness-based yoga, mindfulness-based kindness curriculum (KC), social emotional learning (SEL) and mindfulness-based interventions (MBI). The studies …

Pertenæcer: Eight-Week Mindfulness And Meditation Training And Practices For Latinx Immigrants In The United States., Criss Cuervo

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This paper argues the need for culturally-attuned mindfulness- and meditation-based programs designed to help Latinx immigrants facing acculturative stress in the United States. There are over 43.7 million immigrants living in the U.S (Pew Research Center, 2018); even though research does not show how many are suffering from acculturative stress, research does show that discrimination has been strongly linked to negative psychological consequences and acculturative stress (Torres, Driscoll, and Voell, 2012, p. 18). Research on discrimination from Perez, Fortuna, and Alegria and the Pew Hispanic Center (as cited in Torres, Driscoll, and Voell, 2012) share that on average 30 percent …

Moving Through Grief With Mindfulness, Compassion, And Community, Yasemin Isler

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Grief resulting due to death of a loved one is devastating and life altering. Traditional

approaches, in the Western cultures, to support grieving persons usually include counseling, grief therapies and grief support groups. Grief is a unique experience for each person; however, common responses are observable. Mindfulness based interventions and compassion practices have become acceptable ways to support conditions including stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue and sleep disorders. Some of these symptoms are also present with grief. Grieving persons may not be familiar with mindfulness based interventions or practices. They may not be considered as qualified participants for these programs in …

Teaching Trauma-Sensitive Meditation: Principles And Competencies, Marjatta Moimas

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This study investigates teaching trauma-sensitive meditation, its importance, and its principles and practices. In order to investigate this topic, five experienced meditation teachers were interviewed. The participants of this study were Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teachers and insight meditation teachers from the Buddhist Theravadan tradition, living on the East Coast and the West Coast of the USA. The aim of the research was to gather practical experiences on teaching trauma-sensitive meditation and to share the knowledge that exists among meditation teachers with the ever growing number of mindfulness professionals. The data were collected from interviews which were transcribed and returned …

Promoting Secure Attachment Through Parental Mindfulness And Meditation, The Sampp Curriculum, Lauren E. Rubin

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This paper explains attachment theory, its acquisition in early childhood, and the difficulties that manifest from an insecure attachment. First time parents aspiring to raise their children differently than they were raised may lack the skills to alter habitual patterns of behaviors deeply embedded since childhood. The following research provides evidence of the myriad challenges that emerge from insecure attachments. Included are studies illustrating ways in which mindfulness and meditation have been found useful to individuals struggling with some of the challenges brought on by insecure attachments. Insecure attachments developed in early childhood have been found to impact relationships in …

A Buddhist Perspective On The Global Environmental Crisis: Poetics Of The Wild, Cynthia D. Trone

Mindfulness Studies Theses

My thesis is about a Buddhist perspective on the global environmental crisis, including an exploration of how both ancient and modern poetry express a compassionate response to nature, a social science survey, and a creative project of my own poetry. The exploration in the rationale paper suggests that looking inward may be an important way to begin to understand individual responsibility for the global environmental crisis. In consideration of this is a discussion of ancient Buddhist wisdom and teachings about, and the relevance of, mindfulness, compassion, interdependence, and impermanence. In a creative extension of this discussion, an exploration of Buddhist- …

Mindfulness And Law Enforcement: An Effective Approach To Implementing Mindfulness For First Responders, Gina White

Mindfulness Studies Theses

An increasing number of studies show that people employed as first responders in high trauma service jobs tend to experience a high level of stress, at work and after hours. Studies suggest that constant exposure to job related stress leads to both physical and mental dysregulation. This study looks at the effects of implementing mindfulness tools and techniques to those working in law enforcement. Other works on this topic report mindfulness as a successful tool to increase wellbeing to a broad spectrum of populations. The methodology used in this study was designed specifically for first responders. The data findings were …

Effects Of Mindfulness Based Teacher Training On Developing Teachers, Timothy Walsh

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Interest in the effects of mindful interventions in school settings continues to draw increasing interest. Mindfulness techniques for students as well as mindfulness training for teachers are consistently producing encouraging results. This study focused on teachers and support staff at the middle and high school levels. Specifically, teachers and staff who were within 0-5 years of teaching or 0-5 years new to a teaching position. Because other studies have produced positive results of mindfulness interventions on teachers, this study is focused on evaluating the impact of mindfulness training on teachers in the formative years of teaching and in new environments. …

Formative Experiences For Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teachers-In-Training, Margaret Fletcher

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Teacher development is of critical importance in the relatively new field of mindfulness. This study focuses on what can be understood about teacher development, from the perspective of teachers who have trained in this field. Five U.S.-based qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teachers were interviewed to find out about their formative experiences. The data were gathered from interview transcriptions, and have been presented in the context of the literature concerning teacher training pathways and recognized and/or recommended teacher development activities. The teachers described a range of formative experiences, involving formal training, professional, spiritual and ordinary life moments, and including pleasant as …

Mindful Fathering: An Investigation And Curriculum, Andrew Dobson

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This two-part paper explores the current state of fathering in the United States of America, and aims at highlighting the importance of active fatherly engagement in the lives of children. Statistics from the United States Census (2010) show that 29.5 percent of children under the age of 18 in the United States of America live in fatherless homes. When a father is engaged in the life of a child, developmental outcomes increase (Roopnarine, 2015). This signals a need to investigate solutions to this problem. Mindfulness is offered as a remedy, and mindfulness programs like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and …

How To Cultivate Compassion As A Tool For Everyday Leadership, Paula Webster

Mindfulness Studies Theses

In this two-party thesis study, the need for compassion in our world is presented up front. Upon this foundation of the need for compassion, the building blocks that together comprise compassionate everyday leader are placed: leaders and leadership, mindful leadership, defining the everyday leader, mindfulness, compassion, and how to cultivate compassion. The evolution of broad concepts of leadership are reviewed, from a control-based approach to a more mindful leadership, social-intelligence based approach. In a mindful leadership approach, qualities of self-awareness are cultivated within and then manifest in relation to the leadership process. Everyday leadership is a more expansive and inclusive …