Peace and love is cheesy as hell. Hippies have ruined everything for us. This one will absolutely test your tolerance for shmaltz. When I landed on these practices, I needed some gentleness and kindness in my life, and unfortunately, those kinds of things are irredeemably corny. After this first one, the meditations spread out into a broader set of explorations that are, I think, decidedly less cheesy.

Still, most of us who are suffering would love some moments of peace. We benefit from feeling connected by love. I’m taking it back. The trick is to genuinely feel these attributes. Feeling truly at peace. Feeling truly filled with love.

It’s a sanctioned practice in meditation to count “one/two, one/two,” as you breathe in and out to help you keep focused on the breath. I’m never content with what actual, knowledgeable people say, so my over-complicated practice just has to sneak in more ideas. Kinda cheating.

 Sorry Buddha. 

This is my go-to. After a couple of years of breathing in peace and breathing out love, it brings, to steal from Chade-Meng Tan, joy on demand. I start with Peace/Love before I ever get to noticing my breath. If I have just a couple of seconds, a quick Peace/Love connects me to my breath and feelings of peace and love instantaneously.