Almost daily, i use metta phrases to encapsulate & direct my intentions. Sharon Salzberg in her book Lovingkindness describes this practice in detail.

No amount of praise is sufficient for the practice of metta. It sets a baseline for the day which time and again supports & stabilizes my practice. I have elaborated the phrase over the years to suit my specific needs.

A certain amount of every retreat is dedicated to metta. On the two 30 day retreats that i attended, one week was dedicated to each of the 4 basic phrases: safety, physical & mental health, and ease of support.

I decided to add relationship phrases because of the importance of my Beloved in my life. I wanted to set a powerful intention for Her on a daily basis. This was a direct result of long retreats. Each retreat i attended included metta ceremonies at various stages of the retreat (midway & ending). She is very present & supportive for me in my practice.

In Jack Kornfield's book Path with a Heart, he says one should ask & be clear about an answer: "Did i love well?" Part of my answer is daily metta & specifically relational metta.

Each phrase begins with personal direction then expands to significant other, family & friends then all beings. Traditionally, "benefactor" is used instead of significant other.