It can be difficult to find peace and inner balance in our chaotic lives. We often forget that our thoughts and feelings are constantly changing, and we can become overwhelmed by these changes.
One way to bring some calm into our daily lives is through the practice of Loving-kindness and compassion meditation.
Loving-kindness and compassion meditation is a practice that has its roots in Buddhist teachings, but it can be adapted for anyone looking to cultivate more love and kindness towards themselves and others.
This type of meditation focuses on sending out positive energy, such as love and compassion, to those around you as well as yourself.
It helps us recognize the interconnectedness between all beings, while also allowing us to take time out from our hectic lives to focus on self-care.
The first step in this type of meditation is finding a comfortable position—sitting or lying down—in which you feel relaxed.
Once you’re settled, bring your attention inward by paying attention to your breath.
Focus on inhaling deeply, feeling the air entering your body, and then exhaling slowly with each breath.
After a few minutes of focusing on your breathing, begin directing loving-kindness towards yourself by saying phrases such as “may I be happy” or “may I be filled with peace” each time you inhale or exhale.
As you continue meditating, gradually expand your loving-kindness outward towards other people in your life until you are finally sending it out into the universe at large.
Loving-kindness and compassion meditation is an incredibly powerful tool for developing understanding, empathy, acceptance and peace within ourselves—and it takes only minutes per day!
With regular practice, we can learn how to cultivate more kindness towards ourselves so that we may extend it to others in our lives who need it most.