Key to happiness - cultivate our capacity for kindness!

I am a big fan of Krista Tippet and her National Public Radio program Being (formerly called “Speaking of Faith”). Krista interviews a wide range of experts on topics ranging from religion, spirituality, human brain and learning.   In a recent interview, Krista talked with Sylvia Boorstein – a professional psychotherapist (who combines her professional knowledge with the compassion of a spiritual teacher and the wisdom of a grandmother!).  Boorstein indicates that the secret to happiness lies in cultivating our capacity to connect with kindness with ourselves, family, friends . . . and even with people who may not like.

If you would like to learn more, check out her book “Happiness is an inside job”. I love that book for its simplicity and power of its message.

I recently tried the following set of phrases in a meditation group and many of the participants found it to be very effective to relaxing them. You can try its effectiveness on you by reading these phrases aloud or writing it in your journal multiple times:

• May I be happy and peaceful
• May I be free from fear and suffering
• May I live with love and compassion
• May I fully awaken and be free

(You can repeat the phrases above with a blessing to people around you – May you be happy and peaceful . . . )

(You can repeat the phrase above with a blessing to all being – May all beings be happy and peaceful . . .)

References:

Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life (Hardcover)  Published December 4th 2007 by Ballantine Books

You can find the interview with Sylvia Boorstein here

http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2012/what-we-nurture/

Check out the 7 min video on Loving Kindness Meditation here

http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2012/what-we-nurture/video_lovingkindness-meditation.shtml