Not only does love make us feel better, i.e., have more positive emotions, but the health benefits are significant, ranging from the production of Mother Nature's feel-good chemical oxytocin, nicknamed the hormone of love, to deeper sleep, and reduced depression. Furthermore, it increases trust and resilience.
Among other research findings, Fredrickson reports that in as little as 10 minutes of loving kindness meditation a day over a three-month period we can change the vagal tone of the heart, something previously believed to be unchangeable. What occurs is that our heart slows on the exhale, actually producing a positive moment of warmth and love.
I wondered, exactly what is loving kindness meditation? I did a little research, and, while there are countless descriptions, quite simply put, it is thinking positive thoughts of love about the world around us and imagining those positive feelings flowing in and out of our hearts with the breath. (If there are authorities on loving kindness meditation out there cringing, please jump in on the conversation, but this is a three-line description, not a dissertation.) In 10 minutes of this practice a day, we can literally change our physiology in a positive way.
In the three weeks since I first watched the video, I've been practicing for 10 minutes a day, and I've discovered an amazing thing. Just by starting my day with the loving kindness meditation, I am able to "plug into" that wonderful positive, relaxed feeling at just the expression of intention during the day. Very cool stuff...when I am awake enough to realize I need to pull in the heavy duty love chemicals.
The second item of interest in the video that I will talk about has to do with creating connection. Eye contact and smiles have an amazing ability to evoke mimicry, whereby we unconsciously begin mirroring the other person which creates even more connection. (The technical term if bio-behavioral synchrony.) A virtuous cycle of connection leading to more connection to even more connection is perpetuated. We build escalating love and trust. As long as we feel safe we can generate "micro-moments of love" just by making connection--eye contact, smiles, touch, or voice.
I've been pondering The Grocery Store Game, which I've written about a number of times. (See the blog-post for December 1, 2013, "Could We Change The World in 30 Days?") The secret to the game was to make eye contact and really feel gratitude as the player says, "Thank you." I've played it many times, as have a number of my coaching clients. There can be a real and sincere connection made in a split second at a grocery store check stand. While Fredrickson spoke of connections with those we know, as I read about Fredrickson's micro-moments of love, I couldn't help but wonder, is that what is happening in The Grocery Store Game?
While the intention of The Grocery Store Game is to give a simple gift of gratitude to a stranger, it would seem that as we play it, the giver of gratitude is actually starting in motion many positive physical benefits for him/herself as well.
As I think about both my ability to "drop into" the feeling of loving kindness and generating micro-moments of love through connection, my belief in the ability of humankind to generate a "river of love" that connects all of us is renewed. That we might be healthier because we have is an added benefit.
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxoPLtRnxZs
I wondered, exactly what is loving kindness meditation? I did a little research, and, while there are countless descriptions, quite simply put, it is thinking positive thoughts of love about the world around us and imagining those positive feelings flowing in and out of our hearts with the breath. (If there are authorities on loving kindness meditation out there cringing, please jump in on the conversation, but this is a three-line description, not a dissertation.) In 10 minutes of this practice a day, we can literally change our physiology in a positive way.
In the three weeks since I first watched the video, I've been practicing for 10 minutes a day, and I've discovered an amazing thing. Just by starting my day with the loving kindness meditation, I am able to "plug into" that wonderful positive, relaxed feeling at just the expression of intention during the day. Very cool stuff...when I am awake enough to realize I need to pull in the heavy duty love chemicals.
The second item of interest in the video that I will talk about has to do with creating connection. Eye contact and smiles have an amazing ability to evoke mimicry, whereby we unconsciously begin mirroring the other person which creates even more connection. (The technical term if bio-behavioral synchrony.) A virtuous cycle of connection leading to more connection to even more connection is perpetuated. We build escalating love and trust. As long as we feel safe we can generate "micro-moments of love" just by making connection--eye contact, smiles, touch, or voice.
I've been pondering The Grocery Store Game, which I've written about a number of times. (See the blog-post for December 1, 2013, "Could We Change The World in 30 Days?") The secret to the game was to make eye contact and really feel gratitude as the player says, "Thank you." I've played it many times, as have a number of my coaching clients. There can be a real and sincere connection made in a split second at a grocery store check stand. While Fredrickson spoke of connections with those we know, as I read about Fredrickson's micro-moments of love, I couldn't help but wonder, is that what is happening in The Grocery Store Game?
While the intention of The Grocery Store Game is to give a simple gift of gratitude to a stranger, it would seem that as we play it, the giver of gratitude is actually starting in motion many positive physical benefits for him/herself as well.
As I think about both my ability to "drop into" the feeling of loving kindness and generating micro-moments of love through connection, my belief in the ability of humankind to generate a "river of love" that connects all of us is renewed. That we might be healthier because we have is an added benefit.
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxoPLtRnxZs
I just read this today... I save up these gems for the perfect right moment... On Tuesday night I did a pod cast on being a change agent using the tool of compassion. I was asked for an exercise to help to live compassionately as you deal with change and I told them to do loving kindness mediation daily. OMG we are so in synch!!!
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