Loving Kindness
Day 9: The Language We Use
You’ve done amazing and hard work up to this point! You’ve identified so many thoughts and feelings that are impacting you. We are now able to take all of that great work, and apply it toward how we work with others we might feel invalidated by.
First, let’s identify all of the people who you feel were invalidating. What did they say to you? How did the treat you? It can be a doctor, or a nurse. It can be your best friend or your cousin. It might even be your mother or your spouse.
Next, identify all of the people who have been validating and supportive. What did they do to show you their support? How did they treat you? What did they say to you?
As you answer both of these questions, notice what feelings come up for you. Notice any thoughts that arise.
Next, we are going to do a Loving Kindness meditation. Loving Kindness, or Metta, is a guided meditation that asks you to send loving kindness to yourself, to someone you have positive feelings toward, to someone you have negative feelings toward, and then out to the larger community.
Click this link below to listen to our Loving Kindness meditation. After you meditate, take note of what is coming up for you. How are you feeling after this meditation? What thoughts are arising for you?
This meditation was recorded for my therapy practice’s podcast, “Taproot Therapy: A Mindful Moment.” It was recorded in May, 2020, and you can skip ahead to 3:58 to the meditation directly.