- Feb
- 14
- 2018
A loving kindness meditation for a compassionate heart
In this month of heart awareness, while you take care of your physical heart health, it’s also a good time to assess whether your emotional heart is getting the love it deserves.
Why not try a Loving Kindness Meditation? We all have within us a natural capacity for loving kindness to foster compassion for ourselves and others. “Loving kindness is a natural opening of a compassionate heart,” says Melinda Nasti, Manager of System Chaplaincy and Manager of Wellness. Take a moment to follow this simple loving kindness meditation, and revisit it to help reduce stress and embrace your compassionate self.
Close your eyes and begin with yourself. Simply breathe. Recite to yourself:
“May I be filled with loving kindness.
May I be safe.
May I be well in mind and body and spirit
May I be happy.”
Now imagine a beloved person in your life. Imagine yourself sending love out to this person repeating, “May you be filled with lovingkindness. May you be safe. May you be well in mind and body and spirit. May you be happy.”
Now think of an acquaintance, colleague, or someone you don’t know very well. Send your wishes for well-being to that person, repeating the hopes for loving kindness .
Now think of someone that you feel is a challenge in your life and send the loving kindness to them.
Expand your view to picture the whole world. Send loving kindness to all living beings.
Take a deep breath in. And breathe out. Appreciate the energy of loving kindness that you have created.
And now, bring this practice to a close by coming back to extend kindness to yourself.
Sit for a while and bask in the energy of loving kindness that may have been generated here.
Melinda Nasti, Manager of System Chaplaincy and Manager of Wellness, visits sites throughout Northwell Health to provide guided meditation, reiki, trust walks, and much more. Contact mnasti@northwell.edu for more information.
This was such a powerful reminder of the fact that kindness matters.
Thank you for acknowledging the message, Anne. When so much is going on in every day life, and we are bombarded with tragic images day after day, taking a moment to acknowledge one another goes a long way.
Be well,
Dina
Thank you for posting this, and for spreading loving kindness.
We appreciate the feedback, Joan.
Are there any other well-being topics that are of particular interest to you?
Thanks,
Dina Morgan
Melinda is one of those shining stars who is ” Made For This”. She has the vision years ago to bring peace and tranquility to a stormy sea. We as employees often feel like debris scattered amongst the currents banging into each other but not latching on to each other for support. She provides a gentile ” Mother” nurturing that helps re-center, allows us to catch our breath and brace for the next wave.
What a beautiful note, John. We so appreciate that you took the time to acknowledge Melinda and the powerful, caring work she provides. The Employee Wellness team is dedicated to being truly compassionate and Melinda makes valuable contributions to that value every day.
Be well,
Dina
Love this —came in to work feeling totally stress—clock in and felt dizzy —i took a minute to read, close my eyes and exhale —and got so emotional that this was here, when i needed an outlet —FELT LIKE –I CAN BREATHE !!!!! THANK YOU
Good morning, Tamara,
You made our day hearing that this message was on-point for you and how you were feeling. We all get so caught up in our minds and the hectic pace of our lives, that often, we forget to breathe and regroup. Thank you for taking the time to give yourself some self-care and for making the time to let us know that it helped.
Be well,
Dina
A familiar and thoughtful meditation. Always worth repeating.
Thank you for providing feedback, Betty. It’s always very powerful to hear from our colleagues how these messages resonate.
Be well,
Dina