Loving-Kindness

Author Elliot Dacher of Integral Health explains loving-kindness in this way, “Loving-kindness is more effective in stabilizing our mind and lessening the grip of self-centeredness than the embrace of others.”  During this week’s exercise, when I opened my heart to a dear loved-one, it made me feel wonderful.  I reminisced on all of the fun and enjoyable memories I had with this person.  The feelings at one point felt so over-whelming that I wanted more than anything to stop the exercise and go up to the person and just squeeze and hug them and not let go.  When I was supposed to turn feelings of care and affection towards myself, I did not feel inner-peace.  Honestly, I was quite upset with myself.  I felt like I should be doing more to care and show my love to the ones I truly care about and therefore I could not care and feel affection for myself.  The most difficult part of the whole exercise was taking the suffering of the same loved one I had been meditating on and letting my heart absorb their suffering.  It was so painful and overpowering.  I knew that a lot of the suffering they had endured was due to my actions and this brought even more sadness and discontentment towards me. 

I think I would recommend this exercise to another person.  It can be very eye-opening to one and can be helpful for a person to take time out to contemplate on the things that are most important. 

Mental workout is the concept of training and exercising the mind.  The benefits of a mental workout are a source of peace and calm, ease and delight, creativity and wisdom that will not want to end the practice.   Also, mental workouts help a person continue on the path to integral health and human flourishing.