“Love yourself. Then forget it. Then, love the world.”
There are two things that I hope to support each person I work with in doing. The first is being able to tolerate uncertainty. The second is cultivating the ability to be kind to oneself. So much ease comes with both of these tools but people often are unsure of how exactly to go about cultivating them. The practice of loving kindness is the best way I know how. There is so much emerging evidence about the benefits of loving kindness meditation and people often find it easier to begin practicing than the sort of mindfulness meditation where one uses the breath as an object of concentration.
Evidence shows the loving kindness reduces pain and psychological distress in people suffering from chronic pain; it increases feelings of love, gratitude, well being, joy, and awe; it increases vagal tone, which enables our bodies to recover from stressful events more quickly; it decreases symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia; it decreases self-criticism and increases feelings of empathy, connection, and safety; and it actually lengthens our telomeres, slowing the aging process! The practice can truly change your life. In the video attached I outline some of the benefits of the practice and also guide your through a short loving kindness practice so you can get a taste of how incredible it is.