Day 3: After trauma compassion can be reawakened ~ Jack Kornfield
Music Credit: “Balance & Heal” from the album Body-Field Sound Healing by David Gibson and Harry Massey
Compassion can help us recover & heal
After a breakdown, breakup or burnout, we all need to retreat to lick our wounds. Practicing self-compassion can help us move from being a victim to becoming the hero of our own life story. Whether we did something wrong or somebody did us wrong, we can send ourselves compassion the wish to be free from suffering and we may even become aware of the impact of the situation on others.
Sometimes our actions are driven by fear, anger or ignorance. Compassion allows us to put our actions and our suffering into perspective. As humans, we all make mistakes, we all hurt and we have all hurt others. And we all deserve forgiveness.
Practicing meditation can help us on our healing journey.
Even when our compassion is lost through fear and trauma, it can be reawakened. ~ Jack Kornfield
THE COMPASSION MEDITATION PRACTICE
Begin today’s meditation by taking five deep, slow breaths. Breathe in through your nose slowly to the count of 6, hold your breath for 2 counts, and exhale slowly to the count of 6. Do this for a total of 5 breaths.
With your hands resting on your lap, or on your heart if you wish, recite the loving kindness phrases and really try to generate the feelings of kindness, friendliness and compassion. Starting with yourself, say:
May I be free from suffering. May I be peaceful and truly happy. May I be well in body, mind and heart. May I live with ease.
As you feel the warmth coming from your heart, a sincere desire that you not suffer, see if you can extend that feeling to someone you care about. Imagine a dear friend or loved one and repeat the phrases:
May you be free from suffering. May you be peaceful and truly happy. May you be well in body, mind and heart. May you live with ease.
Finally, as you bask in these wonderful feelings of kindness and compassion, extend the wish to all beings on the planet.
Spend a few minutes allowing this wave of loving kindness to swirl around you and radiate out from you. I will sound a bell when the meditation period is over.
Take this feeling of connectedness with you throughout your day. Always remembering that you, too, are worthy of a life free from suffering, full of peace and true happiness.
Please share this 21-day challenge with your friends and loved ones using the hashtags #Compassion #Meditation
May you be free from suffering. May you be peaceful and truly happy. May you be well in body, mind and heart. May you live with ease.
With love,
