Loving Kindness Meditation

When reality stinks, and you can’t change it, a beautiful practice to shift your focus from despondency to hope is a loving kindness meditation.

What is loving kindness meditation? An ancient practice designed to cultivate compassion, love and kindness towards yourself and others.

How do you do it?

Think of yourself first. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and wish yourself happiness, peace and freedom.
Then, think of someone who challenges you. It can be someone you encounter daily, a politician or even someone in your own home. Wish them happiness, peace and freedom.
Next, bring to mind someone who is suffering, in pain or in need. Wish them happiness, peace and freedom.
From here, expand out into the world. Wish all beings everywhere peace, happiness and freedom.

Does it help?

I think so. It helps you to be more empathetic towards yourself and others. From there, you will naturally be more considerate, kind and forgiving. Plus, it yanks us out of our rumination loop, which isn’t much good after 90 seconds.

Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes.