Within the practices we studied: Loving-Kindness, Subtle Mind, Visualization, Meditation, etc., I found the Loving-Kindness and Meditation Practice sessions, the most beneficial at the time I practiced them.
I found them to be the easiest to get into without a lot of practice. The Subtle Mind and the Visualization Practices I feel will be beneficial also, however I think that I will have to work at them by getting a lot of practice before I actually get beneficial effects from them.
With the Loving-Kindness practice all I had to do was smile at people as I passed on the street and in the hallways I travelled and I immediately got a smile back and a comment to have a nice day on occasion. Just this small gesture made me feel better and by the looks on the faces of the passersby, their moods improved also. I could turn and watch after they passed and a few could be observed with an improvement in their gait or the pace in their steps.
While in direct contact with people, I would actually engage in conversations, the attitude and facial expressions would lighten up whenever I would speak cheerfully and friendly to them. Showing Loving-Kindness with kind words, smiles and a friendly voice made my attitude improve and it was like pouring sunshine on the person I was engaging in conversation with. It is amazing when you see someone and evaluate how they are on the "Tone Scale of attitude" and step up your expression of attitude, you can actually pull this person's attitude up with yours. You can also have the inverse affect on someone if you have a horrible attitude by pulling this person's attitude down to your level; with this you do not generally get positive results having negative encounters. By showing Loving-Kindness you can improve your day and everyone you come in contact with and assist with the improvement of the environment for the time being.
I have found that by implementing the Loving-Kindness and Meditation practices within my day on a regular basis, I find my attitude for each day to have me looking forward to the day's challenges and I actually look forward to having the challenges of difficult people and making it into a game. I get up each day and say "I wonder how many grumpy people I can make smile today?"
Hey there, I like it where you apply the loving-kindess in your daily life like simple things such as walking past someone and greeting them. I think this goes a long ways! Awesome! Also, you are right to say that if a person throws out bad/negative energy, then that is exactly what he/she gets in return-Karma I guess.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa. I agree, and I also think that the Loving Kindness meditation and the Integral Assessment are both great lessons in selflessness. Learning to truly be in the moment, whether it is as a listener to others or as a caretaker, is a gift of healing not only for others but for oneself. Personally, I feel that being a good listener is a strong character trait to behold. I think that the majority of people just want to be heard and not necessarily advised all the time. I appreciate your insight.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I found this about inner peace:
Be on the lookout for symptoms of Inner Peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to Inner Peace, and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.
Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
A loss of interest in judging other people.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
A loss of interest in conflict.
A loss of the ability to worry (this is a very serious symptom).
Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others, as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
<< WARNING ! >>
If you have some or all of the above symptoms - please be advised that your
condition of Inner Peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.
- Saskia Davis -
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteYou made some very interesting point by being proactive to the learning experiences you discovered. I think there is nothing better like putting action and testing it to the public to see if it works and it sounds like it did. I know a few times myself walking in a room where I didn’t know what the conversation was about and everyone was laughing and having a good time. I know these people, but I didn’t know what they were laughing about. Hopping I wasn’t laughing at the expense of anything negative about anyone else mention and assuming that it is a positive encounter like you mention.
I don’t have really any suggestion other than trying it for myself with people that I know and it would be even better experiencing it with a stranger. You make is sound even better make a game out of it. Everyone likes games.
I can see doing this with my clients, making a game out of it, I think they would be surprised at some of the response they would receive and if not at least someone smiled and laughed that day. Awesome!