The Just One Look Method : The Act of Inward Looking and the Self-Directed Attention Exercise

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine personal experiences of an alternative method for improving mental health and well-being called The Just One Look Method (JOLM). Data were collected and analyzed by qualitative content analysis of eight semi-structured interviews of JOLM users resulting in three main themes: The Act of Inward Looking (AIL), The Self-Directed Attention Exercise (SDA) and Consequences of JOLM. The main results where that AIL may offer an additional aspect and definition of the concept of self, a kind of subjective sense of self with possible implications for the field of consciousness science. And that looking at that sense of self may influence attention with possible positive consequences for mental health and well-being. JOLM was contrasted theoretically with traditional attention-based methods for achieving better mental health with a particular emphasis on Buddhist meditation. Further research was suggested to investigate more causal relationships between AIL and SDA and between JOLM and mental health.