Heartfelt Hug for Everyone

Now the practice of loving-kindness can get challenging, because you are bringing to mind people who you may not like, who have hurt you in some way, said something to you that was not nice, for example. As you practice with your child you can share a situation with them and model your loving-kindness practice with them, and then your child can do the practice for their situation.

Closing your eyes, bring that person into your imagination, bring that  person into your mind, and move into the tenderness of your own heart, start to feel the loving-kindness you have for someone you love and care for, someone who loves and cares for you. Feeling that kindness place your hands on your heart and say

'Just like me, you (name if you wish) want to be happy"
"Just like me, you (name) want to feel safe"
"Just like me you (name) want to feel joy"

repeat 2 more times, move your hand out as an expression of sending this care to that person.

take 2 more deep breaths open your eyes.


The more you practice this loving-kindness for your self, your loved ones and those you struggle with, the more kindness you cultivate. The happier you will be and this happiness ripples out to others.

Children learn from you your acceptance of others and that we all are more the same then different. This does not mean you don't stand up for yourself, have healthy boundaries, it means you recognize we are all one human family and in order for us to inhabit this world in a peaceful way, we need to cultivate kindness, understanding, and compassion.

       Children Cultivating Lovingkindness 

Why do we need to support children in cultivating lovingkindness? It is innate in all of us, we are born with the seed of compassion, we need to cultivate it, to keep it growing. If we all were more compassionate practicing lovingkindness maybe the world would be a kinder, safer, more joyful world for all children, all of us to live in.

The first step in having more lovingkindness in our lives and in the world is to cultivate it within ourselves and to have a common understanding of what we mean by lovingkindness. Ask your child what love means to them, how they would define love. Give them time to come up with their own meaning/s.(Examples could be “hugs”, “family”)So now we sort of know what love is. Now, ask your child how they would define kindness. (Examples could be “when someone does something nice for me”,  "petting a cat not pulling its tail", “sharing toys”) Now we put these two experiences together, now we have this practice called lovingkindness.

 

To begin we will practice lovingkindness for ourselves.  You give the instructions and model for them, by placing your hand on your heart and asking them to do the same, now feel your breath moving your chest under your hand, pay attention to the feeling of your breath moving your hand up a little bit as you breath in and down a little bit as you breath out, do this for one more complete breath.
Now, if you are comfortable close your eyes and imagine that the love and kindness you (the child) described and how you would feel, and using your imagination see yourself standing in front of the mirror in the morning. See your reflection in the mirror.
With your hand on your heart repeat quietly to yourself
“May I be happy”
“May I be safe”
“May I be healthy”
“May I be free from worry”
Repeat 2 more times. Now, take 3 slow breaths to really allow these feelings to be felt in your body.
You can make up any phrases that have meaning to you/child. This is a wonderful practice at bedtime, or anytime of the day.
Next step coming soon. May your heart and mind be soothed with this practice. Love to all.