The Use of Mindfulness in a Traumatic VUCA World

Abstract

This article suggests that VUCA conditions may be traumatic, and one of the causes of increasing numbers of mental health issues throughout the world. One of the ways in which organizations are addressing this issue is through the introduction of Mindfulness techniques. The article presents the data from an evaluative study of a pilot Mindfulness programme in a mental health trust in the UK. The qualitative evidence shows the specific and detailed ways in which Mindfulness can help to develop creative responses to these conditions. Finally, it does examine some of the ethical issues of introducing Mindfulness into organizations. It concludes that Mindfulness programs, even when divorced from its ethical roots in Buddhism, can enable individuals to manage themselves and take a larger perspective on their work and lives.