Date of Award

2008

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Education

Program

Education

Supervisor

Dr. Jason Brown

Abstract

A phenomenological psychological methodology was used to investigate the lived

experience of mindfulness meditation. Participants included ten individuals with varying degrees of meditation experience. Through semi-structured interviews, utilized to obtain descriptions of mindfulness as close to participant reality as possible, five themes emerged: motivation towards health, a new way of being, enhanced work life, the struggle with self discipline, and practice evolution. While changes reported by the participants lend credence to previous efficacy research, illustrations of participant motivation to practice, the concept of practice evolution and challenges associated with practicing provide experiences of mindfulness previously under explored. Implications for the counselling profession, such as mindfulness meditations’ possible impact on work satisfaction and use as a self care strategy, are also discussed.

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