Just Like Me & Offering Kindness

Laurie guides this 13-minute practice of connection by orienting the mind and heart to our shared, human experience, even during times of conflict, misunderstandings, and disconnection. Cultivate a sense of common humanity by deepening connection and compassion with others and end with a loving-kindness practice, offering kind wishes in widening circles to the people in your life.

Transcript

Hello,

I'm Lari Cameron.

In this practice,

You'll work with seeing our shared,

Common humanity and generating compassion for others,

The foundation of creating connection.

The qualities of empathy and compassion allow you to deepen your connection with others,

Even when there is conflict.

We are human,

And these are difficult times.

And especially when the stakes are high,

People are stressed,

Energy is low,

There is fertile ground for misunderstandings,

Unclear communication,

Hurt feelings,

And unintended consequences.

When that suffering is met with empathy and care,

Then compassion is present.

And although empathy and compassion are innate capacities,

They can be blocked.

You can strengthen your capacity to see others as similar to you.

When we see others as similar to us versus other or being different,

We can get curious about what needs might be at play in a situation,

And we can connect on common ground.

That's our shared,

Common humanity,

And that's the birthplace of empathy and compassion.

So let's practice together.

Find a way to sit that's alert and relaxed.

The intention here is to be relaxed and at ease.

To feel your way into a comfortable posture,

With your spine alert but not stiff,

Your hands gently resting in your lap.

Allow your shoulders to soften.

Soften your jaw.

If you like,

Close your eyes.

If that's not comfortable for you,

Just gaze softly at the floor.

You're arriving right here,

Right now.

Take a few deep breaths,

Letting go of whatever came before this moment,

And arrive with your mind,

Heart,

And body right here.

Let's start with extending kindness to yourself,

With phrases that are offering goodwill to you.

See if you can gather your attention behind one phrase at a time as you offer kind wishes to yourself.

You can repeat them over and over again,

With enough space between so you can feel completely present.

May I be safe.

May I be happy.

May I be healthy.

And may I work and live with ease.

May I be safe.

May I be happy.

May I be healthy.

And may I work and live with ease.

Now we'll turn compassion outward.

Bring to mind someone with whom you might have a difficult relationship.

Perhaps someone who evokes fear or hurt or even anger.

First take a moment to bring a kind,

Non-judgmental attention to your own feelings.

And then turn back to this person.

As you see them in your mind's eye,

Notice any thoughts,

Emotions,

Or sensations that might arise.

Continue to breathe here,

The in-breath and the out-breath.

Bring your perspective to include the other person.

What needs might be motivating this other person?

Can you see their basic goodness as a human being with needs?

Maybe it's a need for love and connection,

Safety,

Belonging,

Fairness,

Or respect.

What happens for you as you reflect on these possible needs?

Now let's bring awareness to your shared humanity with this person.

As you see them in your mind's eye,

Softly repeat the following phrases.

This person is a fellow human being,

Just like me.

This person has emotional pain and suffering,

Just like me.

This person wants to feel respected,

Valued,

And safe,

Just like me.

This person wants love,

Connection,

And belonging,

Just like me.

This person wants to be happy,

Healthy,

And at ease,

Just like me.

Now see how it is to send kind wishes to this person.

May you be respected.

May you be valued.

May you be happy and at ease.

Now pause and sense what is happening in your own body.

Is there any shift that you can notice in your body or emotions?

Letting go,

Releasing any remaining tension or emotion that might be there.

You can tighten your fist and then expand your fingers,

Tightening,

Releasing.

Let's practice another round of seeing similarities with this person.

Bring them to mind,

Seeing them there,

Repeating the phrases.

This person is a fellow human being,

Just like me.

This person has emotional pain and suffering,

Just like me.

This person wants to feel respected,

Valued,

And safe,

Just like me.

This person wants love,

Connection,

And belonging,

Just like me.

This person wants to be happy,

Healthy,

And at ease,

Just like me.

Now let's offer kindness to this person.

Read the following phrases in your mind.

May you be happy and peaceful.

May you be safe and protected.

May you be healthy and strong.

And may you live with ease.

This is a practice of offering kindness.

And you can repeat this practice by repeating the phrases for others.

Maybe someone you're meeting with today or somebody new to the team,

A new customer or client or even someone you're in a disagreement with.

You can return to these phrases again and again.

May you be happy and peaceful.

May you be safe and protected.

May you be healthy and strong.

May you live with ease.

The research shows that when we repeat these phrases,

We're strengthening and cultivating a mind that's skillful and capable of empathy and compassion,

Even when it's hard.

As we close,

You might ask yourself,

Who am I when I'm seeing similarities,

Goodness and others and sending out kind wishes?

Allow yourself to rest in openness,

Curiosity and stillness,

Letting whatever rises in your heart and awareness be surrounded by presence and kindness.

Thank you for being here with me,

Building your capacity for empathy,

Compassion and connection by seeing similarities and offering kindness.

As this practice comes to a close,

Open your eyes,

Return your attention to the space around you as you move into your day.

Practice the skill of being attentive to what's needed in the moment.

You can extend kindness to yourself and others by pausing,

Taking a breath and using this phrase silently.

May you be well.

What will best serve here?

Well done.

Take care and thank you for practicing with me.

May you be well.

Reviews

Thank you. 🙏🏻 Beautiful meditation… thank you for taking the time to provide exceptional audio and a well thought out script.

I felt so happy after listening to it ! Thank you for this beautiful meditation 🙏❤️

This medication is a must for everyone who is holding grouches!

Thank you ! Love the Feeling of Kindness and Compassion this meditation offers to self and others. Self-care!💚🥰🙏🌸 Nice to pause in the middle of my day and take it in!

A kind guided reflection on kindness & compassion.

Thanks for this amazing practice, it really helps me

Magic Laurie! Thank you for sharing your guidance. 🙏

Laurie's kind & soothing spirit helped anchor this practice in my soul.

I loved this meditation. Tysm 💓

Great loving kindness meditation! 😊🙏🌈. May all those currently in Texas be safe, be happy, be healthy, and live with ease.

Thank you so awesome just like me! May you be well🙏🙏🙏🙏

Thank you Laurie. Your phrase, just like me, was a beautiful addition to a loving kindness meditation. It helped me become more aware of how at times, I have taken my wife for granted and not noticed how my own patterns of isolation, old fears and distresses related to belonging or lack there of, have unintentionally drawn her into self doubt about her loveliness. I also enjoyed the warm tears, only a guidance full of unconditional love can bring. Love

Ps. With a small change in this guided meditation, so the meditator is invited to choose their partner, as I did, to let your phrases do their work there, you would have a meditation that offers needed relational ethics for couples. And it would not be just for couples who struggle but for all couples. Everyone can benefit by tuning into the common humanity we all share and want to have acknowledged.

Thank you; I loved this, as it was what I needed to hear at this very moment as I’ve been navigating some difficult times with some close family members whom I love with all my heart. There have been a few misunderstandings perhaps due to communication issues. This meditation has helped me to be more gentle with myself with regard to my emotions, as well as the emotions of those closest to me.

Well done! I feel like this one should be on speed-dial, for all that human conflict recurs in life. Thank you 🙏🏻 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Beautiful, loving practice! Thank you for guiding me today sending gratitude and blessings 🙏🙏

Most excellent ... Thank you! 🙏

Your meditation opens my heart, thanx🍀

I truly loved this, especially the kind altruistic extensions to our loved ones. I feel very uplifted and happy. Thank you!!🙏💕

Great start for today

Thank you for this lovely reminder to focus on our commonalities rather than our differences. A wonderful message!