Loving Kindness Meditation: A Universal Meditation Cultivating Love, Peacefulness, and Compassion  For my relaxation training recordings and sessions, I use inclusive loving kindness meditations that promote positive feelings toward oneself and others. Although loving kindness meditation, also called metta bhavana, originates from the Buddhist tradition, it is truly universal, and can be adapted and practiced by anyone regardless of personal belief or religious affiliation. Practicing loving kindness meditation fosters a sense of kindness and friendliness toward the self and others through extending good wishes and intentions, and opening the heart to a life of love and acceptance. 

Meditation involves quieting the mind to practice techniques that promote concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and peace of mind. There are many ways to meditate, both in religious and secular contexts. Many people who practice meditation find that concentrating on a theme, such as loving kindness, or a word or mantra, helps them quiet their minds and center their thoughts. If you tend to struggle with silent meditation, my guided loving kindness meditations can provide some focus for your practice. My clients tell me that my voice gives their minds something to follow as they become accustomed to tuning out other thoughts and distractions to enter into a calm, peaceful state.

May we all be safe and protected
May wisdom and compassion live in our hearts
May our bodies and minds be healthy and strong
May we all live in this world with ease
— Loving Kindness Meditation 

The more we practice meditation, the better we become at tuning out the “noise” in our lives and focusing on what is essential. One of these essential elements is whole health. People who meditate regularly tend to be better about making time to engage in other activities that promote physical and mental health. They are also skilled at quieting their minds and focusing on the task (or thought) at hand.