[FuXA8nQM]

Hello All.

I hope we are all enjoying our day and I also hope you might offer me some advice with a 'sticking point' in my attempts to practice.

I read a lot about compassion in Buddhism and of course I see that it is a wonderful thing and something the world needs more of. I regularly include a 10 minute 'befriending' meditation into my daily sitting where I bring kindness and loving wishes to myself and all other beings which feels like a really nice, positive thing to do. So-where is the problem in that?? Well, I have a person in my life who, through their childhood experiences, can be controlling and cold. I try to see this as their fear rather than mean behaviour but I had decided to distance myself from them emotionally because they have caused me some real pain in the past. Dilemma is that by distancing myself I feel I am not showing them compassion. I cannot distance myself physically from this person at the moment so an emotional 'wall' has been my defence against being hurt but how do we show all beings genuine compassion while also keeping ourselves safe...?

I didn't worry about it before as protecting myself seemed to be the logical thing to do but now every time I read about genuine compassion and metta I feel that I am not being a kind person and this worries me and is affecting my sittings as I find it going round my mind. Any advice you could give me, or links to what has been written on this subject-and of course other people's valuable experiences would be wonderful,

thank you and wishing you all happiness,

Joan:hug: