Originally published: 2024-10-14T20:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
Do you recall a time when you took on a new challenge or went through a difficult period in your life and there were people who rooted for your success? They rooted for you because they supported you and wanted you to be happy. Didn’t it feel great to have that support? Maybe the result didn’t matter as much as knowing that someone was in your corner wishing for your success and happiness.
You have probably also been the one rooting for someone else—a friend, a family member or a sports team you cared about. We have all been in the position of both sender and receiver of goodwill.
Loving kindness
The practice of loving-kindness is just like that—being both sender and receiver of goodwill. It’s a practice we’re already familiar with. We are sending love, support and well-wishes to ourselves and others. Research shows that loving-kindness meditation has tremendous benefits, from improving our physical and mental well-being to improving our social and emotional health.
In this video, Dr. David Kearney from the Puget Sound VA guides us through a 22-minute loving-kindness meditation practice. We begin by settling into this moment, connecting with our body and breath, then turning to the simple practice of sending loving kindness to ourselves and others. By sending positive intentions of safety, health and happiness for ourselves and all beings, we open our hearts to the currents of life, allowing the breath of life to flow through us.
Intention
What’s important in this practice is the intention. We are holding the intention of offering positive thoughts and wishes for ourselves and others. Isn’t it a beautiful miracle that when we offer compassion and kindness to others, we also benefit through enhanced positive emotions, stronger immune system and more resilient health? Take the time to embrace this for yourself today.
Have you set intentions for your own health and well-being? You can start to create a plan for your Whole Health online.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
