What is Vitamin L, you ask? A new superfood? A scientific breakthrough? While the L is not new, if you ask me if is something that is easy to overlook! The L stands for Love. And what an important vitamin it is. For me, fall especially is a time where my body and soul need a little extra TLC. Here are a few things you can do to keep your Vitamin L high as we transition into this new season.
1) Cook with Love 
We already covered this in a recent post on Instagram, but I think it’s worth mentioning again. Have you ever tasted food that someone makes when they are mad? Or cooked when you’re mad and then end up cutting yourself while aggressively chopping vegetables? How does the food taste after that? Do your kids, your partner, or your roommate also become grumpy after they ate it? Food that is cooked with loving energy tastes better and is more nourishing for the soul. And if you’re the one cooking it’s way more fun to cook when you are in a good mood then a bad one. If you have to cook dinner and you’re upset try taking a few deep breaths before you start to get centered and grounded.
2) Get 8 Hugs a Day
Psychotherapist Virginia Satir said, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." Seriously though. Try it. There are so many benefits to hugging, and a recent study from CMU showed that it could actually help you avoid getting sick. Hugging releases oxytocin, which has both physical and emotional benefits including decreased blood pressure, improved immune function, lower levels of depression and anxiety, and help to fight infection and fatigue.
3) Try a Loving-Kindness Meditation
A loving-kindness meditation, or metta bhavana, comes from Buddhist traditions but is a great tool that can be practiced by anyone! This is a meditation that helps bring more compassion and love, both for yourself and others. The traditional metta is fairly elaborate, but here is a simple version that you can practice. I have some suggested phrases below but make it your own and say what feels best for you. Here is how you do it:
- Sit in a comfortable seat. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to relax, letting go of any concerns. Focus on your chest/heart and take breaths from that region.
- Continuing to breathe energy through your chest, mentally repeat these phrases (or similar ones of your choosing). This is a time to really show yourself compassion and feel the power behind these phrases.
- May I be safe and free from harm.
- May I be happy.
- May I be healthy.
- May I be peaceful.
- After a period of directing love toward yourself, you will turn your focus to others. Bring a friend or loved one to mind and repeat the following phrases for them.
- May they be safe and free from harm.
- May they be happy.
- May they be healthy.
- May they be peaceful.
- Again, allow the feelings of love and compassion sink in. Giving love freely without expecting anything in return.
- After a loved one, move to a neutral person and repeat the same phrases. This should be someone that you do not have too many feelings toward- neither positive or negative.
- Then, focus on someone you are having difficult feelings with and repeat the same phrases. This is the toughest part. Notice, without judgment, any emotions that come up for you. Remember this is a practice of love and compassion, both for yourself and others.
- Finally, focus these phrases on all sentient beings. You may even picture specific ones like animals, plants, or a particular forest you love as you are repeating your phrases.
If you’d like to try this meditation guided, there are lots on YouTube and on the Insight Timer app. Give some a try and let us know which are your favorites!
References:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/06/hugging.aspx