Loving Kindness

In my latest episode on YouTube, I talk about the phrase “loving-kindness.” In English, we think of loving-kindness as having some kind of an affinity for another person. But in the ancient language of Sanskrit, loving-kindness translates as the word metta; and in the language of Pali, maitri.

Previously, we talked about not considering meditation as a tool to become “better” or to change ourselves, but rather to befriend who we are already. Having loving-kindness means that we can still make mistakes, cause trouble, say something we didn’t intend, or even be angry and have feelings of unworthiness and loneliness.

Maitri, or loving-kindness, is the very basis of the Buddhist traditions reminding us to be kind toward all of the qualities of our being and who we are. Even the toughest and most painful parts and even if we’ve just made a huge mistake, feel ashamed, or are simply falling apart.

Loving-kindness means sticking with ourselves even if we feel as though we have nothing to offer.

Practice noticing when you are treating yourself without loving-kindness. See if you can catch yourself in the act of saying something negative about yourself. In that very moment of noticing, challenge yourself to shift your internal dialog into a dialog of loving-kindness instead.

As you continue to practice loving-kindness with yourself, over time it becomes an automatic way to treat yourself. This then becomes the basis for extending that same unconditional loving-kindness toward all others.

As a life, business and spiritual coach, meditation practitioner and spiritual teacher, Maggie Kelly has helped hundreds uncover, discover and discard their conditioned existence, habitual patterns and limiting beliefs which prevent them from living the life they envision. Join Maggie for a Complimentary 30-Minute Life Coaching Session today.