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From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition  by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permission 
to photocopy this handout is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details).Mindfulness Handout 8   (Mindfulness Worksheet 6)
practicing l oving k indness to increase 
love and compassion
Wha T iS l ovin G kinDneSS?
Loving kindness is a mindfulness practice designed to increase love and compas -
sion first for ourselves and then for our loved ones, for friends, for those we are 
angry with, for difficult people, for enemies, and then for all beings.
Loving kindness can protect us from developing and holding on to judgmentalness, 
ill will, and hostile feelings toward ourselves and others.
prac TicinG  lovinG  kinDneSS
practicing loving kindness is like saying a prayer for yourself or someone 
else.  As when you are asking or praying for something for yourself or others, you 
actively send loving and kind wishes, and recite in your mind words and phrases that 
express good will toward yourself and others.
lovin G kinDneSS inSTrucTionS
1. Choose a person to send loving kindness toward. Do not  select a person you 
do not want to relate to with kindness and compassion. Start with yourself, or, if 
this is too difficult, with a person you already love.
2. Sitting, standing, or lying down, begin by breathing slowly and deeply. Opening 
the palms of your hands, gently bring the person to mind.
3. Radiate loving kindness by reciting a set of warm wishes, such as “May I be