| Metta was inspired by the teachings of Buddha. By | | | | Instead of feeling anger that the doctor's office is |
| consciously practicing random niceness we develop | | | | wasting your time, consider that the doctor is caring for |
| into peace promoting individuals - even when our | | | | someone who may be much sicker than you are. If |
| stress threatens to control our world. 'They' say if we | | | | the situation was reversed would you be thinking about |
| consciously practice anything ten or more times it can | | | | the people who had to wait a little longer? |
| become habit. What a great habit it could be if | | | | How about being stuck in traffic and then finding out |
| everyone practiced being nice to others. While it is a | | | | that there was an accident and someone was |
| basic instinct to care for family and friends, consciously | | | | injured? Do you blame the drivers' recklessness for |
| being nice to people we don't know is a different story. | | | | making you late or are you grateful that you are |
| People are afraid to reach out to others, often with | | | | healthy and safe? Maybe say a prayer for the injured |
| good reason. The violence we read about, and | | | | and their families or go home and hug your own family. |
| sometimes experience, makes us keep a safe | | | | Have you seen someone struggling to reach |
| distance from anyone we don't know. Even still, there | | | | something in a grocery store and walked right by? Or |
| are plenty of safe opportunities to lend a hand. There | | | | do you offer to reach it for them? Would you let |
| are often community outreach programs that help | | | | someone go before you in line if they only had a |
| seniors and/or children. Volunteering always makes | | | | couple of items? Or do you rush to get to the register |
| you feel good. When you feel good, you naturally want | | | | first? |
| to share that feeling. | | | | Although I try to practice metta all of the time, there |
| In my experience, practicing yoga encourages metta. I | | | | are always situations where I need to step back and |
| find that when I feel great physically and less stressed | | | | ask myself if I reacted, or could I have possibly acted |
| mentally - I am simply nicer to people. It can be quite | | | | differently. Bring some awareness to your outgoing |
| difficult to take a step back when stressful situations | | | | attitude, however you need to, and then try to take |
| arise and we want to act out in anger. Practicing | | | | that step back and look at your actions from a |
| metta; knowingly being extra nice to people, can be | | | | different standpoint. When I feel stressed and my |
| habitual if you allow it to be. My Yoga practice | | | | metta practice seems difficult, I try to get back to my |
| promotes the awareness to look at situations | | | | yoga mat, or at least practice some stress relieving |
| objectively. | | | | breathing. Find your source of virtue; that place in your |
| Structured programs are not the only example of | | | | soul that you can be to see clearly. Ask yourself |
| opportunities to practice loving kindness. You can | | | | honestly if a situation was handled in the most positive |
| practice during every day circumstances ~ just by | | | | manner that it could have been. |
| adjusting your attitude. | | | | Action and reaction are two very different things. Your |
| Let's take road rage as an example. Here you are, | | | | general attitude can promote either. Your outlook in |
| rushing here and there, always trying to stay ahead of | | | | any given situation can determine the outcome. Should |
| the clock and get everything done; everyone wants | | | | you react to a negative situation or take action to |
| something and it seems to never be enough for | | | | improve the circumstances? |
| anyone and then --- someone cuts you off and you | | | | The bottom line is that you can control your attitude |
| have to slam on your brakes to avoid hitting them. | | | | and your perception of any given situation. A positive, |
| Yikes! | | | | friendly attitude can lead to others being kind. It simply |
| Controlling your angry thoughts and thinking about the | | | | multiplies itself. If someone is nice to you, you feel like |
| other driver is difficult. What if it is a mother rushing to | | | | you should be nice to someone else, and so on it goes. |
| pick up a child - sick from school, or she may be late | | | | You create a ripple effect of kindness. |
| from work? What if it is someone's son rushing to a | | | | There are countless ways to practice metta. Project |
| hospital or home to care for a sick parent? If you can | | | | kindness and avoid negative reactions. Opportunities |
| find some empathy - understanding - in your heart, you | | | | await you every day, wherever you go. |
| are practicing metta. | | | | Promote peace. |
| Another example: Waiting in a doctor's office for hours. | | | | |