Hi IndieHackers,
I made a Naikan journaling app (which I don't believe anyone has done yet). What is "Naikan" you ask? Quite simply, it's a method of introspection via three simple questions from Buddhist philosophy:
In my experience, Naikan is the best way to practice gratitude. And you are probably agree that gratitude is a great thing to have in life!
Anyways, please please, check out the app here: app.dailynaikan.com/
Some notes:
What I would love to know:
Note, if you want to know about Naikan, I translated the "About Naikan" section from the Japan Naikan Association's website:
Naikan is a method of self-observation/introspection developed my Yoshimoto Ishin, and is based on the mind/spirit self-improvement practice called Mishirabe. As a mind-body therapy in the medical field, it's generally used for self-enlightenment and resolving troubles or worries, as well as being used more broadly across enterprise and business training, school education and corrective education. The Mishirabe practice of mind/spirit self-improvement was originally handed down from the Pure Land school of Buddhism, however Yoshimoto Ishin set out to exclude any religious parts of the practice, simplify it, and make it widely available to anyone. Later, in 1968, Ishin established the three current questions central to Naikan ("What has been done for me?", "What have I done in return?", "What troubles have I caused?"). In Naikan, there is "Intensive Naikan" that lasts a week and focuses on a fixed scope, and there is "Daily Naikan" which is occurs for short periods within daily life. Although Naikan is used practically for various purposes, as a treatment for illness and disease especially, it's referred to as "Naikan Therapy".
http://www.jpnaikan.jp/for everyone/index.html
Finally, a helpful article about Naikan can be read here: https://tricycle.org/magazine/naikan-therapy/
Thank you!
@GoChanaGo I signed up and took a look at the app. I think you are really on to something and some small-ish changes can go a long way.
I knew nothing about Naikan before signing up, other than what you had posted in your description here. That made the ______ at the end of the questions really intimidating - I felt like I was staring at a blank screen. I came back here and clicked on the Tricycle article, which really helped me to understand how to first fill in the blanks and then answer the question.
I think if you approach the screen as if you were guiding someone from zero knowledge (dare I say "beginner's mind"?) and showing them how to create a daily practice, then you reduce the friction between starting and continuing. This could be prompts, suggestions, examples, etc. until someone has progressed to the point that they don't need the assistance any longer.
Also, if you encourage users to start small like "name 1 person who helped you in the past 24 hours" (to fill in the ______) and then "how did they help you?", it will change things from "I'm not sure what to do" to "that's an easy question to answer".
I really like the idea and I'm happy to answer any questions you have or test out changes if you decide to pursue it. Best wishes with your app!
Hi @jaygrieves
I just discovered your really helpful feedback after tabling this project some months ago. Actually, this feedback means a lot to me and I'd be really grateful if you'd have another look after I have a go at changes to address the things you brought up. That ok?
The app was initially quite helpful to me, but with the app as it is, even I quickly lost interest in using it as the answers to the three questions start to feel redundant from one day to the next. I'm sure this is partially due to staying at home mostly in this covid world of ours, but I think it can be viewed as yet another insight into myself -- like 'why' are my answers to the questions getting redundant, and what can I do about it? Even in lockdown I can participate more in online events and find ways to give and receive.