A Strategic Orientation: Mindfulness and Meditation - Essay Example

Section 1. Mindfulness has been described as having COAL qualities. What does COAL stand for? Discuss. By definition, mindfulness is a strategic orientation which involves attentive listening and practice. Such attentive practice must be focused on a specific purpose at any given moment, and must equally remain non-judgmental. Basically, the aspect of mindfulness involves four basic properties. Firstly, mindfulness advocates for curiosity. Through curious analysis of underlying circumstances and events, one is able to learn more about their settings. As a result, they are enabled to make more accurate and informed decisions. The second property is the aspect of openness. This quality enables any mindful person to freely interact with their environment. From such free interactions, the person gets to learn more on the ideal response strategies to specific common scenario. Thirdly, mindfulness is characterized with acceptance (Baer 130). In this respect, the person is ready to accept fate and influences of the environment. This dictates that one makes various observations but remains non-judgmental. It is only through acceptance of various uncontrollable developments that one is able to enjoy their lives to the fullest. Finally, Mindfulness is characterized by love. This can be love for oneself or for others and the environment. This aspect of love promotes the acceptability of the mindful person to a wide range of audience. 2. What are the five facets of mindfulness according to Ruth Baer? According to Baer, mindfulness involves remaining non-judgmental. In this regard, one is to be a keen observer of occurrences in the environment, but avoid forming stereotyped opinions on the occurrences. Rather, one should accept things as they are, only looking for ideal ways to make the situation better. Further, mindfulness should be present-oriented. This enables the person to tackle and respond to issues in real-time. Such present orientation also enables the person to maintain self-consciousness. Baer further notes the need of mindfulness to involve capacity for self observation, a property that is essential in alleviating over-reliance on secondary data sources. The fourth facet of mindfulness is the association of different scenarios with the intentions behind them. This labeling of words and occurrences is important in creating better understanding of the world. Finally, mindfulness involves non-reactivity. This dictates that one makes critical observations, but exhibits no negative reactions towards such developments. 3. List and explain the two aspects of mindfulness. The two aspects of mindfulness include: a. Knowing what is happening while it is happening (Awareness): this aspect is promoted by the focus of mindfulness on present setting. Through such present- centered approach, one is able to learn many new developments in their environment. Such learning process is essential in development of ideal measures to deal with the changes that are occurring, and to foreshadow what might happen in future thus develop preparedness towards dealing with similar occurrences. Therefore, this aspect promotes development of curiosity with which future developments can be approached. b. Development of non-reactivity to what is happening; as at the time of occurrence of an event, one may not be best placed to make sound decisions. As such, it is important that one accepts the developments as they are. However, it is essential to formulate techniques and awareness that can be used to prevent occurrence of similar developments in future. 4. What does SIFT stand for? Discuss. Basically, SIFT is an acronym for sensation, images, feelings and thoughts. These are essential tools in mindfulness. In mindfulness-based practice, the practitioner and the patient must be sensitive to the various observations and changes occurring within their internal and external environments. Further, they must be in a position to be imaginative, a characteristic that can be integral in foretelling the likely consequences of various probable actions. Nevertheless, the persons must be able to suppress their feelings to prevent uninformed course of actions (Fulton 5). Similarly, the parties to the procedure must be able to suppress their thoughts to prevent formulation of subjective conclusions. Indeed, it is advisable that one is able to see the various changes without trying to think intensively about the various changes that are occurring or that might occur in eventuality. Section 2 This section is intended to address information obtained primarily from the readings. 1. Mindfulness-based interventions in context: past, present, and future. Pease describe research findings in the brain, immune system, and emotional processes as the result of mindfulness. According to the principles of mindfulness, no emotion is considerably final. As such, there is need for continuous input into good health promotion efforts. This requires continuous concentration on the various developments and developing ideal response measures. Through positive focus, one is able to escape issues of mental health and other related disorders. In addition, research show that mindfulness promotes brain activities, especially integration of information in the cortical regions of the brain. Emotionally, mindfulness’ promotion of positivity helps in prevention of emotional breakdowns, a phenomenon commonly observed in other medication programs. 2. Please describe how mindfulness meditation can be helpful for incarcerated populations with substance abuse problems. Based on research ventures, it is notable that mindfulness is usable as an ideal treatment for substance abuse problems. It acts through provision of a tolerant environment in which the victims of the disorders feel cherished and valued. In addition, mindfulness is integral in formulation of flexible objectives of the treatment, taking into account the feelings and aspirations of the incarcerated persons. In this regard, mindfulness plays an integral role in alleviating stigmatization problems observed in other treatment programs. Basically, mindfulness focuses on the development of different attitude towards the problem by creating a 3non-judgmental view on thoughts and feelings. To this end, it is conclusible that mindfulness-based treatment is integral in helping out patients seeking alternatives to traditional models of treatments (American Psychology Association 343). 3. Briefly describe how mindfulness practices can be helpful in alleviating mental health issues. Through mindfulness, the patients are taught the impact of negative thoughts. As such, patients are taught to focus on positive outcomes of mental state cases including depression and anxiety. In addition, patients learn to avoid extrinsic focus which has been established to be of negative impact on treatment programs. On the other hand, mindfulness stresses on intrinsic focus as a way of minimizing anxiety and depression hence elimination of their degenerating effects on performances. Finally, this promotes realization of mental health and extrinsic satisfaction (Kabat-Zinn 147). 4. Please describe mindfulness-based relapse prevention for alcohol and substance use disorders. So far, many strategies have been put in place to control substance abuse and alcoholism. However, all indications point towards failures of such medication programs to achieve their desired effects. This has promoted addiction and relapses of the cases. With the adoption of mindfulness, however, an alternative cost effective program has been realized. This lower cost promotes more affected persons to enroll into the program. In addition, mindfulness promotes tolerance, a prospect that makes the affected persons to feel valued within the society. Further, early prevention of worsening states of addiction is important in its effective elimination. As a result, mindfulness has been instrumental in training the persons on early symptoms and the right response measures to take. Finally, mindfulness uses a slow but steady approach to treatments. This is integral in promoting tolerance, acceptability and adaptability to various psychological, emotional and situational changes that characterize substance withdrawal (Witkiewitz, Marlatt and Walker 224). 5. What are the nine prefrontal cortex functions? How might this relate to substance abuse treatment and recovery? They include; dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, hippocampal regions, temporal lobe, anterior cingulated cortex, striatum, and precentral and postcentral gyri. These components are vital in promotion of attention. In addition, they are instrumental in the operations of the automatic nervous system which is essential in the integration and relay of information within the CNS. Through meditation, the functioning of these centers is enhanced. Consequently, there is increased alertness and response to various medication programs. Further, it promotes relaxation, creating lower tendency for rapid reactions. This is an aspect which is essential in effective mindfulness-based treatments. In addition to attention control, the integrated operation of the above centers promotes laxity in action. Section 3 This section is intended to reflect your personal point of view. 1. Describe three things that are helpful to remember when doing a meditation practice. Firstly, it is important to remain open-minded during the process. This prevents development of subjective thinking which could hinder the realization of the target goal of the treatment. However, objectivity as opposed to subjectivity must be observed. In addition, there is need for curiosity. Through curious reasoning, one is able to observe the changes that are occurring within the internal and external environments. It is, however, critical to remain non-responsive to the various observations made in the process. Finally, it is essential to promote love. This ensures adherence to the treatments, and cooperation between the [parties involved in the program. 2. List and discuss three practices from the seminar that were most helpful for you. The discussion on alleviation of negative health practices through mindfulness-based practice was of great interest to me. This stems from the worrying trend of mental conditions in the society, with many relatives and friends to the affected persons, and the patients themselves hard to accepting that their condition. Based on the learnings from the seminar, accepting present is an essential tool in recovery process. Also, the discussion on the role of mindfulness in controlling addiction was essential since it provides me with a platform to help youths out of this crave concern. Finally, I was interested by the presentation on the core values of mindfulness. Without a doubt, I will try to promote use of the proposed core values of the practice to realize social good. 3. How did this seminar alter your perception on alternative methods of treatment? Through this seminar, it was apparent that mindfulness is a highly cost effective approach that can be used to solve a wide array of psychological, physiological, mental conditions. through various observations, it has been notable that many people who are not economically capacitated are often forced into suffering within the community. In addition, it is apparent that the alternative treatment methods have constantly promoted discrimination within the society. However, it is obvious that these privacy and stigmatization issues can be promptly tackled through mindfulness-based practices. 4. Describe a population that would benefit from mindfulness practices to address addiction. Why? Through successful adoption of mindfulness-based practice, it is undoubtable that many institutions will benefit. Firstly, the general community will be at ease. Through drug cases, rates of crimes within the societies have often shot high. Therefore, elimination of the addiction is likely to reverse the trend. Also, hospital institutions are likely to benefit. Through intensive drug use, many have fallen ill. They are hence forced to seek medications from the hospitals. Moreover, the government and correction units will experience ease and de-congestation respectively. Above all, the greatest beneficiaries will be the family and friends of the addicts. Works Cited American Psychology Association. “Mindfulness Meditation and Substance Use in an Incarcerated Population”. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2006. Baer, Ruth. “Mindfulness Training as a Clinical Intervention: A Conceptual and Empirical Review”. University of Kentucky, 2003. PDF. Fulton, Paul. “Meditation and the Therapist”. Insight Journal, 2003. PDF. Kabat-Zinn, Jon. “Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Context: Past, Present, and Future”. American Psychological Association, 2003. Witkiewitz, Katie; Marlatt, Alan ; and Walker, Denise. “Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders”. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2005. Read More