If you ever feel overwhelmed by the suffering you see in the world, or even experience in your own life, awakening your heart forces is a key. When we open our heart through our spiritual practices, then we become active in transforming suffering. If our heart is closed, we can feel isolated or disconnected from the rest of the world. Maybe even overwhelmed by all of the suffering we see and experience. In awakening your heart to compassion, not only is it helpful for the person suffering, but it can bring you to a place of peace and love. Here are a few practices to help you find compassion within your heart, for yourself and others. Just Like Me Practice Ever have an experience where you can’t believe that a person would act that way or say those words? It seems so………. fill in the blank………. rude, immature, incompetent, inconsiderate,… Realizing that another person is “just like me” in some ways can help you to dissolve the feeling of separateness or disbelief. It embraces what’s similar, what’s human, and helps to develop compassion for others in your life. I first heard of this practice from the Buddhist nun, Pema Chodron. She shares, “It is a simple human truth that everyone, just like you, wants to be happy and to avoid suffering. Just like you, everyone else wants to have friends, to be accepted and loved, to be respected and valued for their unique qualities, to be healthy and to feel comfortable with themselves. Just like you, no one else wants to be friendless and alone, to be looked down upon by others, to be sick, to feel inadequate and depressed. The equality practice is simply to remember this fact whenever you meet another person. You think, ‘Just like me, she wants to be happy; she doesn’t want to suffer.’ Here are the steps.
3. Create your own “just like me” statements, as desired.
4. Close the practice by sending wishes for the health and well-being to the person. Loving Kindness Meditation You can use this simple meditation to practice compassion first for yourself, then for those you know, and then for others you may not know. You can also use this for someone who upsets or frustrates you.
May I be healthy. May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.
May you be healthy. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy.
May you be healthy. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy. Breathing out Compassion The Tibetan Buddhists have a practice that is called Tonglen which means “giving and taking.” You use your breath to inhale the suffering of someone and to exhale compassion.
Bringing practices such as these into your life can open and awaken your heart. Not only are they helpful for the other person, but they can bring you to a place of peace and love, even in difficult times. And, in so doing, contribute to the health and healing in the world. This is the 4th in my series on Radical Self-Care. Watch for more over the next few weeks! You can also access an audio of a mantra for Krishna, the Hindu god that radiates love and compassion, here in my Free Healing Library to help you awaken your heart to compassion!
1 Comment
4/6/2019 06:10:46 pm
The secret to such process is to see the goodness in people. Because of our perception and prejudice towards humanity, we forget to look at the beauty of a certain thing or a person. But to be a compassionate person, you must be open and willing to accept these people with all your heart and let them be part of who you are. Actually, being kind is a choice. So, we should always choose to be a good person!
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About JeannineI was born in London, England, educated in Switzerland, and am fluent in English, German, Spanish, and French. I hold a Doctorate in Ministry Degree and Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology and Education. Also, I am an accomplished artist and educator. I use all of this and much more when helping others heal their souls. Archives
January 2021
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