The Loving Kindness exercise was something new to me. While I was breathing in the pain and
suffering of others, even those I would consider enemies, and breathing out
love, peace and wellness, I kept thinking this is the opposite of what I would
consider normal. Usually during a
meditation I will breathe in the good, and breathe out the bad. Now, here I am breathing in not only the bad,
but the bad of others, and giving them the good that is within me. I feel this was a turning point for me to be
less selfish in my thinking, and not only want the best for myself and my loved
ones, but for everyone, and to think about that more often. I would recommend this exercise to others
because I feel it expands the mind to be more open and loving.
The concept of a mental workout is about learning and
thinking of things that are not in your daily routine. Opening the mind up to new ways of thought
and experiences helps you to grow mentally and become more kind and
compassionate. To foster my own
psychological health, it would benefit me to think more of others and how I can
help them. I plan on taking more time
during the day to start to implement this way of thinking.
That's the problem I was having! I'm taking on the bad of others? So I guess we have the power to neutralize it so it's ok. I keep thinking I'm doing an exorcism and pulling the demons out and wrapping love around them and then they have a meltdown. Where will my mind take me next? ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteI deal with the problems of others on a daily basis. Being a massage therapist the client sometimes bring their negative energy with them. So before I start a session I do a modified exercise like this one. It helps me clear my mind and bring in positive energy so the session is a good one. Clients upon leaving say they feel better and more energetic and positive. That is good. I never had time before I was busy with a family and a husband but since the kids are on there own and I went back to school I have learned how important it is to keep our minds healthy also with the body and spirit. I send more negativity to mother earth and have her help turn it into positive energy that I can use later. This is a great exercise and will enjoy using it.
Hi Kathryn nice post....I concentrated my loving kindness outwardly after doing the relasxation technique in my blog. But I did find it to be an unusual way to relax overall. When I think of a relaxation technique I do not normally concentrate intentionally on my worldly issues on anyone elses...except in getting them out of my head in the beginning of seeking relaxation. No outward thought running rampant in my head is key for that.
ReplyDeleteSo it was a different way to relax for me too and that made it feel a little weird at the start but in the end I was relaxed enough to fall asleep. I intend to use this technique I think by concentrating on the issues of others and myself by breathing in their pain and suffering I am accepting where they are and laying the ground work to help however I can from that point and not just helping by doing something to their benefit or mine but doing something lovingly and with kindness that may actually be something needed.
~ kg
Hello Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteThis does seem to be an unconventional way to relax. When I relax, I like to try and clear my mind, not focus on problems. Especially the problems of others. I did like this technique but I think it takes time to get into the practice and be able to clear your mind before you begin. I like to try and send good thoughts and wishes to all but I never considered taking in thier bad and replacing it with my good thoughts. I always just prayed for them and never give it much else thought. Did you ever have the feeling that someone was thinking of you and praying for you? I think of this on Wednesdays when I know the prayer team at my church is together praying and answering prayer requests. It gives me a comforting feeling to know that I am among the people they are praying for.
I had a hard time with others as well because I have, what seems like a lot of bad in my life right now. But I have to remind myself that there is always worse going on in the world. I have decided also to try and implement more mental workouts into my daily life. It is so important to keep a sharp mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteYou know, it is not an easy thing to do at all, but at the end of the day, it does the greatest good to us because all good things come with patience, perseverance, and discipline. Also, bad can never win over good, hatry can never win over love, and this is the law of nature, so one can never depart from it.