Often at the face of uncertainty, negative emotions like anxiety and anger surface. It is precisely due to this uncertainty that we need to keep our minds and bodies at ease — so we can remain resilient when faced with difficult situations. Reiki, even in its non-traditional form, can be an effective tool in coping with unpredictability in our day-to-day lives.
How Reiki can help with healing
Reiki is a form of meditation, a self-help technique that can be extremely beneficial for one’s well being. In fact, a global survey showed that Reiki practitioners reported greater mental and emotional stability as well as improvements in physical health even during lockdowns.
The key is to apply Reiki regularly and to help others incorporate it into their daily lives. Healing, while a deeply personal process, is more effective with a support system. Even without the familiarity of hands-on healing, you can improve your life by applying these five Reiki principles and encouraging others to do the same.
Just for today, do not worry.
When you are unsure of something, the natural reaction is to worry. But it can quickly become chronic anxiety which can take a toll on your physical and mental health. It puts your body in a constant state of alertness that affects your ability to think clearly.
There are simple steps that can combat stress and anxiety. Deep breathing is one of the most effective ways to calm the mind, according to a list of breathing exercises by Pain Free Working. If you feel overwhelmed with stress, sit upright and place your left hand on your chest and your right hand on your belly. Feel your stomach rise and fall as you breathe in and out through your nose. Try this for at least five long counts and see how it allows you to clear your head and respond to stress more productively.
Just for today, do not be angry.
Anger is another natural response to uncertainty. While it can be cathartic, this emotion can also be harmful. Psychologist Kathryn Moore, PhD explained on Healthline that you may direct pent-up anger towards a person, including yourself. If you get frustrated, the first step is to assess the source which can help you find a solution. Remove yourself from a certain situation and give yourself time to calm down. Another thing that can help is to redirect your anger. Find an outlet where you can turn this negative energy into something productive, like exercise or creative expression.
Just for today, be humble.
A good exercise for finding the greener side of the grass is to keep a gratitude journal. Note down even the smallest things that made you happy that day, whether it’s the food you ate or that video call with a friend. You can also use this journal to write down the things you want to work on which can help you work on staying humble.
Just for today, be honest.
You may not realize how often you bend the truth. Researchers from the University of California San Diego Lab found that even lies meant to make other people feel good are not helpful over the long term. So just for today, be more mindful of whether or not your words reflect the truth.
Being honest with your words is not the only way to put this into practice. You can also be honest with your work by using company hours to complete your tasks. Another way to practice honesty is to stick to your promises.
Just for today, be compassionate toward yourself and others.
Compassion is the easiest to put into practice because there are many opportunities to do this. Treat other people with kindness simply by being a good listener and understanding their perspectives. Offer a helping hand to someone who might need it. Things like donating food to people struck by the pandemic are great acts of generosity. Or simply asking your co-worker how you can lighten their load is an act of compassion.
Self-compassion, on the other hand, can be practiced with self-care techniques. Reiki is a good way to do that as it allows you to focus on your wellbeing. Even something as simple as drinking more water can be self-care as our article Water, Life, and Wellness highlighted how essential it is to overall health. Meditate, exercise, eat well, and get quality sleep. These are simple but effective ways to treat yourself with compassion and embody this important Reiki principle.
Article specially written for reikiyoga.com By Pia Batra
