During loving kindness meditation, you focus benevolent and loving energy toward yourself and others. In this practice, you allow yourself to give and receive love which boosts self-love and well-being. Those who regularly practice loving kindness meditation are able to increase their capacity for forgiveness, connection to others, self-acceptance, and more.

The original name of this practice is metta bhavana, which comes from the Pali language. Metta means ‘love’ (in a non-romantic sense), friendliness, or kindness: hence ‘loving-kindness’ for short. It is an emotion, something you feel in your heart.