One of the primary goals of meditation is to cultivate a state of mindfulness. While Technalink enthusiastically promotes meditation for mindfulness, we also understand that different people have better responses to other approaches. And surprisingly, despite the stigma behind them, for some people, one of the best ways to cultivate mindfulness is through playing video games, but it must be done in a certain way.
Video Games Provide Flow
One of the goals of mindfulness is to seat participants fully in the present, to be so absorbed by what is currently happening that other thoughts fall away, and even the ability to keep track of time is temporarily forgotten because of the intense focus on the now.
Video game design naturally provides this type of experience since it is an interactive form of entertainment that requires people to be focused on their immediate situation if they are to complete the tasks needed for a game successfully.
Here, however, is where some care must be exercised, as video games can also prove to be a great source of stress. Competitive or time-based games that involve the interference of other players or trying to beat a deadline add unwanted pressure and urgency to this specific goal. But for other games that require the completion of tasks without these added stressors, it can be very easy to get lost in a focus on the present, enjoying the endorphin response the brain rewards us with when tasks are completed.
“Cozy games” like Animal Crossing or even The Sims focus on task completion without making strict demands on time or competition. Playing these games can be a good way to put intrusive thoughts on hold and live in a moment in the present for a few minutes.
Of course, there are other techniques available for people who would like to try traditional meditation, such as using aides like prayer stones, that can help with providing a focus to fix on if meditation without tools is too distracting.
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