BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Meditation Send Yourself Loving Thoughts

Two different books in a row I've read have both talked about the great value of meditating on "being loved". Apparently studies show that it really helps you relax, lowers your stress levels which then makes all your body's systems work better, helps you not get sick and so on.

Here's what they said to do. Start by sitting somewhere quiet (or heck you can do it when you're in bed waiting to fall asleep). Focus on sending yourself loving thoughts. You are "enough". You have skills. You have good qualities. Think about your accomplishments. Praise yourself for them.

Once you do this a few times, expand your reach. Now think about your very best friend. Send her (or him) loving thoughts, thanking her for being there for you, praising her for her talents.

Again, after a few times, expand your reach to a larger group of friends. Keep doing this over time, working your way outwards, until you are sending the entire world love and comfort. It really will affect your stress levels, your relaxation, and how you interact with people.

Start from the beginning! I will try that tonight.

That sounds like a great technique, definitely worth practicing. Does anyone do something similar?

I did try it last night and I got distracted almost immediately! I completely forgot about it until I saw this point. I will have to try again tonight. It feels awkward I think, so I have to try to focus.

I do do this, and it is tremendously helpful when I am stressed. This theme must be in the air right now, as it is the focus of the book I just featured too. That author, Sylvia Boorstein, stresses how restoring our connection to others through loving thoughts restores our own mind's balance. It seems counterintuitive at first, because when we are stressed we tend to think in terms of 'what do I need to fix', but her point is that then we get more and more self-absorbed, and cut-off from ourselves. By instead gradually restoring a caring connection, from ourselves outward, we calm down and can see clearly.

Susan, I know you feature a lot of compassion based practices on your site too.

Every year my New Year's resolution is to be kinder ...

I keep trying this every night and every night it is VERY hard for me to think of "loving me". What I have compromised on is imagining the earth loves me for all my recycling, that the moss and snuggly ground is comforting me and thanking me for using rechargeable batteries, taking showers instead of baths, and so on. That is something I can do. So I'm working on that, and will soon move on to sending that love to me and to my close friends.

Lisa, thanks for sharing your experiences.

My father and I had a difficult relationship well into my 30s. Then one day getting ready to leave him I gave him a big hug and told him I loved him. He said he loved me too. That was so healing to me.

Since then, I've made a point to reach out and hug family and friends, and sometimes tell them I love them.

Susan

I still really have trouble thinking "I am loved" thoughts at night, but I have worked at it, at the earth loving me and thanking me.

I'm moving on to having the earth love me and my son

Lisa, that sounds like good progress - allowing the universe to love you one step at a time!

Affirmations:

I am loved by the universe.
I feel nurtured in nature.

It seems easier to have the earth love me and my son for some reason That we are doing our part to recycle, to turn off items when not in use and so on. I think because the focus is not on "just me" but on "my family". I will keep at it!