Psychologist Tara Brach guides Noah and Zion through this meditation in a bonus episode of "On Our Minds."
The practice of loving-kindness meditation has been shown to strengthen the connection between heart and mind. It can be a simple way to bring more love and compassion into daily life, and if you can find the space and energy for it, it is a powerful tool that can be used anytime to deepen your relationship with others.
Start with a calm and spacious state of awareness, allowing the mind to become clear and free from thoughts. Set a time and place for your meditation, either in the morning or late at night when your mind is calmer.
You may feel physical discomfort at first, especially if you have never meditated before. This is perfectly normal. The key to meditating with physical discomfort is to let it be experienced as it is, and then to gently meet it with soft attention and kindness.
As you do so, it can be useful to consider all the sensations that you are experiencing: sensations of pain or discomfort, resistance or fear, as well as the pleasant feelings. You might also include sounds and the scent of the room.
A regular meditation practice is essential for gaining a deeper sense of peace and wellbeing, but it can be challenging to start. The guided meditations in this series will help you to establish a daily meditation practice, as well as provide tips and tools for dealing with any challenges that arise along the way.