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ADAM IVES - GAMES DESIGN
Mindfullness
What is Mindfulness?
"Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us."
- https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/
Many views being mindfull as a developed skill, however, it is built up from an innate ability we all possess. Through practice and patience, a person can tune into this skill to block out intrusive thoughts and instead focus on the now.
What are the benefits of being mindful?
Scientifically being mindful has proven to have numerous benefits on both mental and psychical health. In a 2013 study, 93 individuals who suffered from diagnosed anxiety disorder underwent an 8-week mindfulness stress reduction program and the results showed that mindfulness meditation improved stress reactivity and coping. That is to say, meditating often and partaking in mindful sessions of relaxation help to improve mental health and lower stress rates. The facts and figures of this investigation can be found here:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23541163
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Aside from helping with anxiety and stress, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is also believed to prevent and help treat depression through the use of cognitive behavioural therapy.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeenacho/2016/07/14/10-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-mindfulness-and-meditation/#4ca002d63cee
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Furthermore, mindfulness has been proven to have physical benefits too and is said to help lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain and improve sleep patterns. The ability to focus and and block out distractions is believed to help people accept painful emotions and sensations as opposed to fighting them which in turn can cause more harm.
https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/benefits-of-mindfulness.htm
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Finally, aside from physical or mental health-related benefits, being mindful allows a person to train themselves to concentrate, make the most of their potential, work more diligently and regard experiences in a more positive manner.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-look-after-your-mental-health-using-mindfulness
How does mindfulness relate to nature?
For many, mindfulness occurs through meditation, which often is aided by the use of a natural, quiet environment to be at peace within. Modern-day urban life has become busy due to constant fast-paced interactions and living, which is believed to be the cause of the decline in mental health on average. The use of a natural environment, however, can relax and encourage a person to get back in touch with their senses and to focus on the now, as opposed to what typically stresses them in daily life. Forest therapy is a relatively new therapeutic approach which encourages a person to essentially take in nature, and bathe in the overall atmosphere of the forest. It is believed to be related to mindfulness and is also associated with enhancing mental health, wellness and increasing a person's positivity.
http://www.inspirationalchanges.com/coaching
How mindfulness can be used in our game...
In regards to the game we are designing, mindfulness is one of the over-arching themes and feelings we are attempting to strive towards creating. The idea we have so far for the game is to give the player the feeling of existentialism, that nothing truly matters and the importance of everything rests on the journey, not the destination. Mindfulness helps a person relax and cast aside their worries relating to benign daily stress, mindfulness instead promotes focusing on the now, which essentially relates strongly to the overall message of this idea. If we use practices for mindfulness, we may be able to convey the message we are after to the player, which in turn could create a relaxing experience through the use of representations of nature.
Field Research - My experience with Mindful Meditation
To try and experience mindfulness, I followed the 6 step guide found above. I went to Winnall Moors in Winchester to find a natural place, away from distractions. You can see photos of the setting below.
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When I found somewhere quiet to sit down, I set a timer for 15 minutes and tried to practice mindfulness through meditation. Upon finishing my experience I made notes on what stood out most to me through this period of time:
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I noticed often that my mind would wander to trying to analyse everything I was doing, I often thought about what was happening, but also what I would write about once the experience was finished. However, as the steps above stated, the mind wandering is natural and when I noticed what was happening, I tried to reel myself in by focussing on my breathing.
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Whenever I focussed on my breathing, I felt more relaxed and spaced out. I wasn't necessarily aware of what was going on around me and tuned out the noises of birds, water running and trees rustling. I picked up on how the cold air felt as it went through my body and into my lungs, and I noticed the pattern of heartbeats which would lightly thud three or four times every time I breathed out.
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Overall the experience made me feel loosened up and slightly tired, however, this was not caused through strain or hard work, but rather an overwhelming feeling of being relaxed.
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