Loving Kindness Meditation

By Murray

The practice of loving-kindness meditation, rooted in Buddhist traditions, offers as

much mental health benefit to the person reciting the meditation as it does to the

Recipient.

I was reminded recently of the power of practicing a simple mantra following a

challenging interaction with a neighbour.

Finding a suitably contemplative space, we can hold the other person in mind and

direct our attention towards them with three basic feelings and thoughts:

May you be well

May you be happy

May you be free of suffering

Regularly repeating this mantra in a conscious intentional way helps reduce anxiety

and stress, enhances empathy and compassion, improves feeling of social

connectedness and decreases negative emotions towards others. In addition to

improving control over your zoom lens of attention, you’re strengthening neural

connections associated with positive emotions and empathy.

Try extending the meditation first to loved ones, then expanding to “neutral” people

you may only know in passing and finally practicing loving-kindness for someone

who you find challenging to be around. You don’t have to excuse anyone’s behaviour

if it’s not appropriate to do so, but you are choosing to let go of the negative

emotional charge that binds them to you.