Finding time for the loving kindness practice on a regular basis makes a whole lot of sense but it’s a practice that can feel a bit awkward to start off with. It took me a little while to get comfortable with it but perseverance really did pay off and I heartily recommend it.
In this blog I’ve included a short version which offers a practical glimpse into the power of this practice. In a more formal setting it would be at least twice as long as this one because the full practice explores more levels of emotional energy. The benefit of starting small is that it’s easier to get a good foothold and realise the benefits for yourself before the deep dive.
The basic principle behind loving kindness practice is to remind us of how good love and compassion makes us feel. We readily offer them to family and friends but forget to save some for ourselves. This behaviour carries a warning i.e. your reserves won’t last long and you will suffer. We need to let in loving kindness not just give it out.
On the other side of the coin, this practice reminds us how holding on to negative energy can be health-sapping. Conversely, by releasing ourselves from ill feelings and resentment is liberating and health giving.
So how do we do this? Simple, just do the practice and find out. I hope you enjoy this short version of the loving kindness practice.