Metta For Self

We have so much conditioning to be hard on ourselves, thinking that we should be better than we are. When we hold criticism or judgment or are otherwise wound up against ourselves, it shows up in bodily tension and stress. What is it like to truly wish yourself well in every way?

After touching into our resistance, we offer traditional loving-kindness blessings first to ourselves, and then to all beings.

Transcript

We'll do a kindness to our self practice this morning.

It's a good way to start a Monday.

And so you might just begin by noticing your breath and noticing any way that you are kind of wound up against yourself this morning.

Are you holding any criticism or judgment of yourself?

And if so,

Just noticing that that's there.

Noticing the feel of it in your body.

There's a contraction that comes with self-judgment or self-criticism.

Just take a moment to explore that.

You might invite your body to soften and relax,

Possibly releasing a bit of that holding.

I find that no matter how relaxed I think I am,

There's usually some place in the body that could soften a bit more.

The muscles of the face.

Something in the back or the neck.

And breathing through the internal space of the body,

Softening in your attitude towards yourself.

You might just say something kind to yourself.

And we'll do the traditional loving-kindness blessing for ourself and then make space for just connecting inwardly.

May I be well.

May I be safe and free from harm.

May I be happy.

May I be at peace.

May I be free.

May I be well.

May I be safe and free from harm.

May I be happy.

May I be free.

May I be well.

May I be safe and free from harm.

May I be happy.

May I be at peace.

May I be free.

Breathing through your whole body,

Feel the quality,

The felt sense of that invitation.

What is it like to truly wish yourself well in every way?

Can you feel the quality of kindness?

Meeting yourself as you would a precious friend.

Notice any edges or resistance that you have.

You just can't quite be kind.

And see if you can be kind about that.

We have so much conditioning for always thinking we should be better than we are.

You might offer yourself a gesture of kindness,

A touch,

A hand on the heart.

Maybe I'll be held in the arms of loving-kindness.

And may all beings be held.

May all beings be well.

May all beings everywhere be safe and free from harm.

May all beings everywhere be happy.

May all beings everywhere be at peace within themselves and with each other.

May we live at peace on this earth.

May all beings everywhere be free.