Stress in adulthood is inevitable and has significant effects on a person’s physical and psychological wellbeing, therefore, finding a healthy way to manage stress is essential. Mindfulness meditation practices have been shown to reduce stress and can be used as a healthy way for individuals to combat stress they encounter on a daily basis. The theoretical framework resides in the extrarational and holistic approaches to transformative learning. The process of transformative learning from an extrarational approach includes the awareness of and integration of various aspects of the self. Within the extrarational approaches, two lenses situate the framework: Psychoanalytical and cultural-spiritual. This qualitative study uses narrative interviews to explore transformations that occur through mindfulness meditation for the authors using retrospective interviews, one with each of the researchers. Thematic analysis will be used to identify themes among the two interviews. Through narrative interviews, the researchers will explore the process of learning and practicing mindfulness meditation to help understand the journey of self-directed transformation. Implications for practice and future research will highlight the strengths of the study.  

Keywords: mindfulness meditation, transformative learning process, spirituality, extrarational approach, cultural-spiritual approach

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