Module 1: Naikan Reflection On Gratitude

Naikan Reflection:

Naikan Therapy was created by Ishin Yoshimoto, a Japanese Buddhist, in the 1940s to help individuals reflect upon what they have received and given back and the difficulties they may have caused along the way.

Such self-reflection encourages us to practice and show gratitude and appreciation for something – actively opening up that experience for others to join in.

The principles of Naikan can support you as you develop an awareness of how your relationships and surroundings provide for you, boosting your experience of positive emotions such as hope and joy and encouraging a greater sense of wellbeing.

NAIKAN REFLECTION:

Naikan Reflection Exercise is the perfect activity for practicing gratitude. Please reflect on three themes regarding your interactions over the last 24 hours:

What have I received? Perhaps someone bought you a coffee or supported you at work.

What have I given? You may have remembered someone's birthday or showed someone around who joined your firm.

What troubles or difficulties have I caused? Were you abrupt to someone, or did you push to the front of a queue?

Through reflecting on the answers and recognizing how we relate to others, we cultivate a natural desire to serve, instilling a greater sense of thankfulness and authentic humility. [Link].

For more on Naikan Therapy:

Gregg Krech's book Naikan: Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection is perhaps the definitive guide to Naikan Therapy.

It starts with his personal experiences before exploring the principles underpinning the treatment, then guides the reader on how to develop profound gratitude for all the good in their lives – which often go ignored or unrecognized.
[Link].

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