Empathy Focus For Others

Join Mary Teresa as together we explore our feelings of someone or something of which you have adverse feelings. Work towards peace instead of division. Focus on having empathy for others by placing yourself in their situation. You will find peace. Take these feelings as far into your day as possible and know you are loved.

Transcript

Hi, This is Mary Theresa True and I'm here to begin a meditation to help us work through empathy for other people. There's a practice called Power Up and it is discussed by Lynn McTaggart who created it in the Power of Eight. When practicing this, A group first focuses on a loving kindness then shifts to the focus of one individual within the group. McTaggart's research shows that when eight or more people gathered to focus, The power of intention increases immensely to help move the person forward in their spiritual desire. In practice, Put a person in the center of the circle of like-minded individuals. The intention is said with either a short sentence or just a few words and then the group enters into the process of focusing solely on this individual for a period of ten minutes. Research shows that this was the perfect amount of time to not only hold the intention and desire but a longer time simply wasn't needed. My experience with this process is so profound that I have found that in my meditation practice I have never been so focused as during a meditation when I had a very clear and specific desire to hold for another. By keeping the individual's intention simple, For me it was the key to a calming meditation that fed the individual as well as myself. You know, It's been said that the goal of meditation is to breathe, Call upon the divine and to open to any messages you experience. This is called mindfulness. I'd actually rather call that mindlessness. The attempt at making your mind less so that it can be filled with spirit. In today's meditation, I'd like us to focus on just one desire or intention that is on your heart right now. This meditation is designed to assist in truly anything you have on your heart and you can certainly choose any desire you want but perhaps for today I suggest that we look towards empathy for others. Let's begin. You are not here by accident. You my friend are here by divine appointment. As you settle into your meditation space, Focus on the breath, Hold deep and accepting. Breathing deep, You relax your body and slowly relax your thoughts and feelings into the now. While focusing on the breath, Check in with what you are feeling right now. What are your emotions right now? If there is something you need to release, Release it on the out breath. Let your out breath be longer than your in breath. Now focus on sending loving kindness to those you love, Your family and friends and how do you feel? Send kindness to our community and how do you feel? Send kindness to our country. How do you feel? Send kindness to the world right now and how do you feel? Take a moment to examine how you feel regarding a person, Idea or concept with whom you have a disagreement or adversarial relationship. Focus on this person or idea for a moment. How do you feel? Is there something that you would rather be feeling, If so, Name it. Place yourself in a time where you have experienced something similar to where this other person is coming from. Might you have had the same reaction or feeling and desires as this person has exhibited? When in your life have you been faced with something either the same or close to the same experience as this adversary? And what are you feeling? What would you rather be feeling? This feeling will become your focus of the silent portion of today's meditation. Claim this feeling and state it. Try to keep it to just a few words. While this is deep and extensive work, Keeping the desire simple will assist you in reaching your intention. Now in the silence, Focus on this attention for a few minutes. Focus on this and only this for the next few quiet moments. Have a seat. Take a deep breath in and release. Bring these feelings as far into your day as possible and know that while this isn't easy work, It is rewarding and releasing work. Know that you will find comfort and peace for your desire. If you find this hard to do for yourself, Know that there are others holding the space for you and peace is the focus. So be it. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide today. Allow yourself to focus on those feelings that you experienced in your meditation. They are personal and they are yours and by sharing empathy with another person who is our adversary, We might be able to find peace in the world.