Universal Loving Kindness

May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.

May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.

May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.

May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.

 
I said these phrases 10 times each.  This exercise did help shift my focus from personal love to universal loving-kindness. Usually when I think of loving and kindness I am thinking about my family and friends.  This exercise is to think of everyone including enemies. I don’t like to see anyone suffer, it doesn’t matter who they are. This exercise is good for people who come home and are angry at something that happened or with someone they encountered that day. It isn’t good for you to hold grudges and negativity towards someone.  It keeps you from being positive and relaxed. “The development of universal loving-kindness is the final leap in our interpersonal development” (Dacher 2006, p. 93). 

Reference

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