Unit 4 Exercise - Loving Kindness Exercise

Definition:  Tender and benevolent affection ("Loving-kindness," 2012)   

Exercise #4 is a mental workout, a contemplative practice.  While it can be used to provide stress relief, sharpen focus or deepen self- understanding the main goal is to “help develop personal goodness and compassion, and to awaken an awareness of  the interconnectedness of all life”.  ("What are contemplative," 2000-2011) 

The loving-kindness meditation is a “meditation of care, concern, tenderness, loving kindness, friendship – a feeling of warmth for oneself and others”.  ("Loving kindness meditation," 2000-2011)  “. 

Research has shown that when practiced in the workplace, employees “experience less stress, more job satisfaction and productivity” ("Practice in the," 2000-2011)   Contemplative practices need not take long, about 15 minutes like this weeks’ exercise.  

My experience with the loving kindness exercise: 

This was not a difficult exercise to do.  I loved the ocean sound in the background, it’s my favorite relaxation sound.  I experienced a sense of relaxation and calm.  However as a religious person, loving-kindness is already a concept that is familiar to me because I practice it all the time.  I don’t feel the need to practice meditation to learn it.  

Reference:

Loving-kindness. (2012).  Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-kindness

Loving kindness meditation. (2000-2011). Retrieved from http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/subnav/kindness.html

Practice in the workplace. (2000-2011). Retrieved from http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/work.html

What are contemplative practices. (2000-2011). Retrieved from http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/