Realizing Compassion Using Heart-Focused Breathing

Compassionate latitude is an attitude of compassionate understanding that most people are doing the best they can based on their stress overload, anxiety and the clouded thinking so many of us are experiencing.

Practicing compassion with each other can quickly begin to reduce and prevent the stress build-up from our anger, judgments, and resentments. It increases our tolerance, patience and deeper understanding of another’s situation. This is so important for maintaining balance, resilience and flow during these pressing times of change and unpredictability. Latitude is the consideration and respect that all of us come up short at times in our choices and make mistakes in our words or actions.

Transcript

Being especially kinder and more compassionate with ourselves reduces our stress and increases our well-being.

This takes a little practice,

But this chapter in our lives calls for practices from the heart.

To increase compassion,

Start by sitting up tall,

Or perhaps standing tall in the shower,

Grounding the feet,

And feeling the water trickle down your body.

Find yourself in an aligned body and move your breath in a rhythm that is comfortable and sustainable.

Inhaling through the nose for 4,

3,

2,

1.

Opening the mouth,

Exhale for 4,

3,

2,

1.

And bring it into your mind's eye,

The qualities of your life that help you feel appreciation and maybe a deeper quality,

Gratitude.

Notice how this helps to shift energy from the mind to the heart.

Now,

Ponder for a moment where you could give others more compassionate latitude at home,

At work,

With family.

Now visualize yourself replacing judgments,

Angered responses,

Lack of tolerance,

And separation with compassion,

Care,

Kindness,

Acceptance,

Cooperation,

And tolerance for others and yourself.

Now,

Radiate compassion and latitude to people with different biases.

Unconditional love and compassion increase our well-being and resilience.

Namaste.