Contemplative Practices Facilitating Awareness, Compassion, and Healing in Study Abroad: A Reflective and Explorative Study

Contemplative practices such as meditation and mindfulness can enhance self-understanding, reduce stress, deepen connection to host communities and cultures, and promote healing during short-term study abroad. Drawing on personal experiences and integrating relevant literature, the essay argues that intentionally incorporating these practices into study abroad programs fosters individual and collective growth, connection, and healing.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This reflective essay focuses on the relationship between contemplative practices and participation in a short-term study abroad trip. The study explores how contemplative practices help facilitate self-understanding, alleviate stress, enhance connection to the host community and culture, and enable healing. We use our experiences participating in a short-term study abroad program as an example for examining the role of contemplative practices in the context of study abroad. We discuss and integrate relevant literature on the topic of meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative inquiry to offer insight into how contemplative practices can be integrated into study abroad in a way that enhances growth, connection, and healing on an individual and collective level.