| New research shows compassion meditation helps | | | | compassion for people, decrease your stress, and |
| people overcome depression. This article will show | | | | improve your perceptual style. |
| you how to apply these exciting ideas to your life | | | | 1. In meditation we can find peace of mind and |
| and relationships. | | | | inner peace, which helps us to be more positive |
| My practice has provided numerous cases where | | | | about our lives. |
| clients have benefited from thinking in more | | | | 2. It can help us to be more forgiving of those |
| compassionate ways. No expensive | | | | who cause us pain or bring us distress, and |
| anti-depressants were needed to help many | | | | improve our problem relationships |
| clients. | | | | 3. Meditation can help us to respond to conflict in |
| I view compassion meditation as a combination of | | | | a more loving and caring manner. |
| meditation practice and cognitive restructuring or | | | | 4. Meditation can reduce stress and tension, and |
| re-shaping thought patterns in wonderful ways. | | | | help you to relax more dynamically. |
| How To Think Differently | | | | 5. Meditation can help us attune with our Higher |
| The point is to improve the way you see people, | | | | Power. |
| in general, and to react more favorably to | | | | There are many ways to meditate. In essence, |
| situations by changing your thoughts | | | | compassion meditation involves becoming more |
| (interpretations) about them. | | | | self-aware . . . and acutely aware of the love and |
| Instead of getting mad at someone who is rude | | | | concern you feel for people, encouraging an |
| or mean to you, stop and think more positive and | | | | awareness of the love you feel for others to |
| constructive thoughts. Ask yourself if there is a | | | | swell within you. Some have described the |
| better way to see the situation . . . and to handle | | | | process as getting in touch with the natural |
| it. | | | | compassion you have buried within. |
| Let's say someone cuts in front of you in the line | | | | By meditating on compassionate thoughts, our |
| at the grocery store ... you can choose to get | | | | awareness of the needs and problems of other |
| angry and tell them off ... or you can just let it go. | | | | people grows and grows ... and instills an |
| A compassionate response will work like a charm! | | | | appreciation for the whole human family. A love |
| You could react by thinking, "People are so selfish | | | | for everyone takes root in our consciousness, as |
| ... I think I'll tell that guy off! This is such a bad | | | | we push our negative thoughts aside and |
| day, I can't wait until it's over ... why does | | | | concentrate on uplifting ones. |
| something have to happen when I'm in a hurry? I | | | | The longer we sit in the glow of compassion's |
| can't get a break!" | | | | inner flame, the more we will want to do right by |
| Or you could substitute a healthier thought ... one | | | | everyone. It is a mysterious but powerful |
| that will not leave you feeling depressed. | | | | process. One that will lead to inner peace and a |
| For example, you could use the following self-talk | | | | deep-seated happiness. |
| pattern: | | | | A Favorite Meditation |
| "I feel sorry for that person who just cut in line | | | | In the silence of a quiet room ... I am fond of |
| ahead of me. I wonder what has gone wrong in | | | | sitting in meditation, getting past my thoughts, and |
| his life that he feels he must treat people this | | | | patiently waiting for a new awareness to appear |
| way. At any rate, I am not going to let this small | | | | in my mind as to how I can be of more help to |
| event make me feel badly. I don't need any more | | | | others ... if I wait long enough, invariably I will |
| stress. I'll choose to think about the great dinner | | | | arrive at a deeper understanding of the lives and |
| I'm going to make for my family when I get | | | | problems of others ... and a clearer idea will form |
| home." | | | | as to how I can behave in kinder and more |
| People often feel depressed because of the | | | | compassionate ways in my dealings with people. |
| negative meaning they attribute to an event. But | | | | If I am having problems with someone, I may |
| it's just as easy to assign a positive meaning to | | | | ask for images or impressions to appear which will |
| an event and to make our self-talk more positive | | | | help me to solve the problems in a loving and |
| and beneficial. | | | | compassionate way. Surprisingly helpful images, |
| If you see a situation as terrible, chances are, | | | | holding the key to understanding the situation in a |
| you'll make yourself feel terrible about it. Pay | | | | helpful new way, seldom fail to appear. |
| close attention to the thoughts you think and the | | | | Often meditation helps me to get in touch with |
| way they make you feel (you can do this when | | | | my darker side and the mistakes I am making. So |
| meditating, too). You can feel better by | | | | it gives me a chance to correct past mistakes |
| re-framing the situation in a more positive light. | | | | and prevent future mistakes. |
| You will feel better and your relationships will | | | | There are many ways to increase your |
| improve because you'll be putting a more positive | | | | compassion through meditation. They say a |
| spin on human behavior. | | | | journey of a thousand miles begins with the first |
| You may have to practice replacing your old | | | | step. What's important is simply taking that first |
| negative interpretations with healthier ones, but | | | | step, which is the hardest one for most people. |
| you can do it - and once you have built new | | | | Meditation may seem difficult, at first, but if you |
| habits, you'll feel better in lots of ways. Negative | | | | keep at it, you'll soon develop success. And, |
| mind-sets tend to bring us more stress than | | | | compassion meditation will take time to change |
| positive ones. | | | | you, but if you stay with it, it will deepen your life, |
| And they lead to more problems! | | | | help you solve your relationship problems and |
| Meditation can help you replace those old habits | | | | bring you many gifts. |
| with healthier ones, allowing you to attract more | | | | As time goes by, you'll find yourself becoming less |
| opportunities for success. | | | | depressed and more helpful to people, and more |
| Compassion Meditation | | | | joyful in yourself! |
| You may choose to meditate to increase your | | | | |