The two mental practices that I found to work best for me and create a lasting effect were the Loving-Kindness and the visualization practices. The Loving-Kindness practice is such as peaceful and fulfilling engagement. Practicing this on a regular basis helps me to have and keep love in my heart and radiate it towards others. I dislike my conditioned thoughts towards others sometimes, so by practicing Loving-Kindness, I can change my initial thoughts to pure love. An example of how this positively effected me was a recent train ride I took last week. On this train were so many "gross-looking" and "gross-acting" individuals (the train runs through many poor areas of the city of Chicago) who either littered out the doors when they opened, cussed at their children, or who just smelled really bad. I had poor thoughts of them all but then suddenly the love I remembered from practicing this Loving-Kindness meditation knocked on my door and budged its way inside. Love took over and I no longer held in these negative feelings towards these people or towards my inner self, more importantly. I was able to completely transform my emotions by allowing love and kindness to fill my heart, mind, and the place that I was physically in.
The visualization practice is another wonderful meditative act that has allowed happiness to fill my soul; to fill my inner core. I can at any time, any place, through any situation close my eyes for a minute and visualize a calming scene; a happy scene; a peaceful scene. Whatever it is I need at that time and place, I can create it in my mind which gives me the emotions I'm after. This changes my whole aura which changes those around me too. This has helped me specifically when dealing with my wild three-year-old son: he is always pushing the limits, my buttons, and the dog (literally). I take a few moments to close my eyes to gain calmness and love back into my heart and mind and then I am way more able to deal with the situation in a calm way. My son truly benefits from this, as do I.These are true ways of strengthening my mental fitness as long as I practice them both on a regular basis. They keep my mind and thinking fit by staying positive, calm, kind, peaceful, and loving.
I like how you use the example of seeing people who you have negative thoughts about. I do think that we become conditioned, but that it is good to still see people in a loving way. After all we don't know how they got there or why. I wish I had used techniques like this when my children were little, but now that they are teens it is helping me remain calm!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, I too have utilized the loving kindness routine to send loving thoughts to people I would normally disregard. My spouse and I went out of the holidays. Usually, the both of us will shake our heads and look the other way when we witness people abnormally drunk. However, this time around I decided that we send them a slice of love and happiness so that when they recover it would be easy on them.
ReplyDeleteThe loving-kindness practice can really help people like us with our current or future clients who have yet to cultivate healthy lifestyles. If we are always looking at the bigger picture, that we are all connected then we will always send love to many without our judgements getting in the way. Thanks for sharing.
Emily it is wonderful that you were able to transform your thoughts to positive loving thoughts when in a situation that would normally cause you to cringe. I too have had moments like that were I catch myself thinking a bit negative and then stop and try to think of love or at the very least a neutral thought. I try to not judge a book by its cover because you never know what someone is going through in their life just by looking at them. Every one deserves love and happiness and if I can work towards helping them get a little closer to that with my thoughts and actions then I am doing the right things:)
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