ZU alumni return to learn happiness

ABU DHABI, UAE - Jan. 29, 2017 - PRLog -- Zayed University Office of Happiness, Tolerance and Positivity have been running specially designed "mindfulness" programs for their recent graduates.

Mindfulness is a set of techniques aimed to help people be more emotionally aware and better able to deal with stress and troubling emotions. "This is not something we traditionally teach at university so it is good to be able to provide it for our recent grads, some of who have gone to work in pretty demanding jobs," Dr Justin Thomas, a Psychologist at ZU and the program leader, said.

Shamsa Al Taie, Director of Student Life and CEO for Happiness, Tolerance and Positivity at Zayed University, said: "We want to ensure, that as a university we connect to the community, and what better way than through our alumni. Zayed University has always been committed to be a beacon of tolerance through disseminating happiness and positivity among its students."

The program ran over eight weeks and participants learned techniques to help them better manage negative thinking and develop useful ways to better manage moods and destructive emotions. "We learned to respond rather than react," Nowf Al Qarni a Graduate Manager with Etihad Airlines crew care section, said.

Mindfulness has become popular the world over for reducing stress and improving focus. One of the main reasons behind its growing popularity is the scientific data supporting its effectiveness. The program at ZU was specially tailored to be culturally appropriate.

"We make lots of references to cultural and religious practices that are familiar to participants, things that are from their world," Dr Thomas added.

He also pointed out that the program also includes a session where participants do archery.

"Archery was traditionally a big part of Arabian culture, but it is also an excellent activity to capture the essence of mindfulness; it is mind and body focusing on a specific goal – the bullseye – and it also involves being aware of breathing," Thomas explained.

The university will be offering more similar programs also making them available to faculty and staff. Zayed university has increased its commitment to happiness and wellbeing in the workplace and this is just one of many initiatives aimed at achieving this.