Naikan is a form of Japanese Zen psychology that is derived from a set of basic questions first used in monastery retreats. Since then however it has developed into a power tool in psychotherapy. One of it's great strengths lies in changing the balance of our perception. By being mindful of the positives around us during the day, and practicing the "art of gratitude", we can re balance our perception of day to day life.
Naikan is not about viewing life through rose tinted spectacles and pretending everything is peachy! Instead it recognises that we tend to notice the negatives in life in a disproportionate way, remembering them at the end of the day, and carrying anger, guilt and resentment around with us. Conversely we tend not to even notice some of the little positive things that happen, like simply nice interactions with people. By deliberately noticing and being mindful of these little but nice events, we can move towards a balanced view of the day, week, month, year we have had, not being dragged down by negative events, but seeing the "bigger picture".
Naikan fits with with mindfulness training, CBT, counselling and most other forms of psychotherapy.
Naikan is practiced using a combination of journal keeping, meditation and day to day exercises that build new habits, and new balanced perceptions.
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