Loving Kindness Practice

I enjoyed this practice.  First, I think it was the first time since the beginning of blogging that I was able to clear my mind a bit and feel as though I didn't have a thousand other things going on.  That said, I still had trouble finding a quiet spot.  I settled for the living room once the kids were in bed, but there was still a great deal going on.

The experience was beneficial.  I often feel the weight of others' suffering.  I am a very empathetic person.  The exercise allowed me to be active in some way.  I have had experience with energy healing, such as Reiki, and believe it is useful.  There was certainly some difficulty as I begin the practice.  As I breathed in the suffering, I felt overwhelmed until I was able to dissolve it in my flowing love.  Sometimes, it seemed harder than others to dissolve.  As I breathed out happiness, peace and health I felt the same.

The mental workout goes beyond rest and relaxation.  Since I was a young child, I have always been able to easily close my eyes and feel myself in another plane.  It may sound strange, and perhaps just imaginative, but I always felt I was truly removed from my body.  I would often search out my father who did not live with me.  I can now do the same, but since I am often encumbered by the days worries or activities, it takes me much longer and a greater intensity of meditation. 

Dacher discusses that regular contemplative practice can improve many functions of the brain and even possibly cause structural changes.  Beyond this, it seems to also seems to give "the capacity of the trained mind to function at a higher level of integration and organization" (2006).  The founding of loving-kindness begets peace and self love.  These can only improve psychological health.  According to Dacher, psychospirtual health is a foundation of integral health (2006).  With regular practice, one's overall health will likely improve. 

Reference

Dacher, E. (2006).  Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA.: Basic Health Publications, Inc.