Practicing this revitalized my loving nature; it allowed me to escape from the turmoil of the "real" world to bring back to me the essence of what was really important: to love and to love others. The difficulty lay when I tried to help someone very important to me, and my help was rejected. Though from that experience, I've come to terms with the fact that I can only help and advise so much, the rest is really up to that particular individual no matter how close you may feel you are to that person. From this I've acknowledged that 'patience is truly a virtue' and only time will tell if my words actually initiate a spark.
Mental workouts are in some sense quite similar to meditation. It requires you to get away from the "outside" and to focus in the moment. Although, unlike meditation in which you focus on the now in a physical sense, mental workouts require you to visualize your inner strength and abilities; it's at this time when I'm able to "hear" the Lord and physically feel His presence in my heart again.
I understand the concept of practicing this daily. With cognitive practice, it soon becomes an automatic response. This has actually been helping me a lot with my stress and anger issues, hence the saying: 'Love conquers all, and love never fails.'
Hi Steph, I agree with you that the practice of loving-kindness is not always the simplest. Especially when life gets chaotic. But it is something that with practice, creates such a light and warmth inside of you. It's those few minutes of the day you can really focus on you. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Steph. I think the best part about this meditation was choosing to let nothing but love flow for my youngest son. He can be my biggest challenge and I spend a lot of time feeling at odds with him. It was nice to be able to sit back and just love him. I am going to have to do this meditation with him in mind again.
ReplyDeleteYou are right "love does conquer all and love never fails."
Be well, Christina Holms
Hey Steph,
ReplyDeleteI think your observation is something all of us can relate to. No one likes to feel a sense of rejection and when the emotion of love comes into play most of tend to resort back to our defense mechanisms and put up walls so that we cannot be hurt again. But as you point the lesson we have to learn is we can't make someone accept love or help, they have to want it too.
I have had a lot of bad things happen to me in life and the hardest thing I had to realize is that I did deserve to be loved. I am not sure of when this happened but it had to because I am such a happier person now. Can you pinpoint that pivotal moment in your life that things changed for you?
Hi Steph, Giving love with kindness takes practice, some are born with it but others have to practice. We all have to try a little tenderness. Love is the key. Live well.
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