Today we’re exploring the First Face of Love—Lovingkindness. The practice of lovingkindness cultivates our natural capacity for an open , alive, and loving heart. When we dedicate ourselves to a lovingkindness practice, we feel our heart opening and staying open even when troubles happen.It might be hard  to get our heads around the word lovingkindness. Maybe the thought — What other kind of kindness is there? Or, “What has love got to do with kindness?” arises.  When we are loving we show our caring. When we are kind we show our friendliness, generosity, and consideration. So, when we practice lovingkindness we are practicing all these things—friendliness, caring, generosity, consideration, goodwill, and benevolence. And we are expressing our deep connectedness; everyone gets to play; no one is excluded or sidelined from giving and receiving lovingkindness. Note that when we talk about friendliness, we're not talking about friendship or being friends; we are talking about being affable and good-natured towards all. In this episode we talk about how to practice lovingkindness to ourselves and every being around us when there is conflict, doubt, and hurt as well as when our inner critic disparages us.We also talk about expressing lovingkindness to the world in which we live by how we walk in the world. This week I invite you to practice lovingkindness.  One way to engage your lovingkindness practice is through a lovingkindness meditation for the body. I learned this meditation from Sharon Salzberg who learned it from Ananda Maitreya, a Sri Lankan monk, who lived brightly in this world until almost 102 years of age. In this lovingkindness meditation for the body start at the head—the crown of the head. May my head be happy. May it be peaceful. Then continue by visiting each place in the body—the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. The back, the chest, the belly, the organs, the pelvis and hips, the legs, the feet, and the toes. May my toes be happy. May they be peaceful.A recorded version of this meditation, is available on the member's page for the podcast https://www.patreon.com/yourmindfullife. If you are not a member you can sign up and access the meditation on the member’s page.I hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening and I’d also like to thank the people behind the scenes that make it possibleGorgias Romero for original music, audio engineering and production;Bill Rafferty for technical web support;Allie Allen for logo and podcast cover design; andMargaret Haas for announcing the showBe well. Be mindful.SUPPORT THE SHOWFollow or subscribe to the podcast, download the episodes and share them with friends and on social media. Don't forget to review the podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.Become a member via Patreon. Go here or paste www.patreon.com/yourmindfullife into your browser.  All members have access to a new guided meditation each week on Thursdays at the member website.DISCLAIMERThe content in the podcast and on this webpage is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical or health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice and guidance of your health professional. Support the show Thank you for listening!Be well. Be mindful.

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