A Discipline for Happiness
GUEST BLOGGER Susan Mitchell of Reiki Healing Arts was taught to practice Reiki in 1978 by Hawayo Takata, and brings 30 years’ experience to her work as a Reiki Master –
“It’s almost amusing to think we have to practice being, but if we don’t practice, how can our understanding change our lives?” — Pamela’s 8/25 blog comment
When I think about Reiki as a healing spiritual practice, my attention goes to that third word practice—doing something again and again and again. And that takes discipline. If you’re thinking, “Ugh,” I totally understand. But what if the pay-off of discipline— treating ourselves every day—leads to greater happiness?
In the course of a day, a lot of things can draw us away from feeling happy. We get off- balance: the boss is critical, the kids don’t listen, our partner is demanding. On top of it all, the busy-ness of our days can set our minds in a perpetual buzz. That place of being feels pretty elusive.
What happens around us and to us and our own negative thoughts are potent forces, but they don’t have to determine how we feel. The discipline of daily practice is the antidote, the medicine, for that sense of separation.
When we take time to give ourselves Reiki, we’re able to move into a place of quiet, even silence. The sense of connection with our own being and with all of life that comes from this, nourishes and fills us. When we’re well-fed, we’re better able to respond to whatever life puts on the table—we feel happy, in the deepest sense of the word.
Read more by Susan Mitchell:
Reiki and Money
Hawayo Takata’s Nerve Stroke
No related posts.
I like this idea of Reiki being nourishing, Susan. We have to eat every day, after all. Thank you for this lovely post.
Alice in Brooklyn
Thank you, Susan, for this reminder. Or, to paraphrase that old addage, “Practitioner, heal thyself.”
I perform the Hatsurei Ho, a sequence of dry brushing, meditation and self cleansing/strengthening of my reiki channels. I’d like to say that I do it every day but that would be stretching the truth………until it broke. (smile) But I definitely feel the difference when I rush through my day without grounding myself in my energetic and spiritual practices.
My spiritual practice is to chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. This comes from the Nichiren Daishonin school of Buddhism. It is my anchor and gives me the confidence and peace of mind to challenge my daily obstacles. When I don’t chant in the morning, my day is like a runaway freight train.
A friend in faith once mentioned, in relationship to our practice of chanting, that what doesn’t get done in the morning, doesn’t get done all day. I find the same is true of grounding myself in Reiki as well. If I don’t make time to be still and “touch base” with Reiki, so to speak, in the morning, the rest of the day flies by without my making the time for it. By the time I remember, I’m usually crawling into the bed, exhausted and promising myself to do better tomorrow.
It’s funny, I will drop everything and send Reiki to someone who is in need, but I won’t drop everything to take care of myself regularly. This is something I must change. I want to be healthy and happy and that is not going to just happen on its own. I have to make the causes that bring this about and that involves dedicating myself to my spiritual and energetic paths everyday – not as a chore that has to get done, but as a blessing I am grateful to have access to.
Gratitude is a tremendously powerful emotion. It can lift our vibratory levels and wash away lethargy and sorrow. When I remember how fortunate I am that I not only know about Reiki, but can channel this amazing force at anytime, then I remember that taking care of myself so I can continue to share this gift with others is truly a blessing beyond measure.
Nothing like a little wake-up call now and then.
Thanks, Susan
Peace-filled awakenings,
Stephen
To Susan: So wonderful to read your thoughts in this site. I miss our talks! I appreciate your wise words during my writing of “Reiki and You: Awakening the Healer Within.” One of these days we will ‘meet’ again…In Reiki Love, Marge Lyles
To Stephen: I appreciate your reminding us [me!] to take my Reiki ‘faith walk’ first thing every day…like you, I find when I put it off to go open house and fix breakfast, the day slides by and it doesn’t get done. You have now fixed those thoughts about “first things first” firmly in mind. Best Blessings to you and yours,
Marge Lyles…www.reikiandyou.com
Thank you both for writing. Like you, I practice in the morning. However, I don’t want to leave readers with the misconception that they must practice first thing in the morning. That time of day is not available for some people, and practicing at other times is a better fit for their lives.
Practicing every day is most beneficial. Practicing at the same time in your schedule every day helps you to maintain a regular practice because it builds habit strength.
The best time of day to practice is the time when you will practice.
I’ve just gotten back to Tucson from the wilds of the Sonoran desert where wi-fi was as unpredictable as weather.
Marge, lovely to hear from you.
Stephen, I share this same sense that becoming happy and healthy means creating the causes. The more we’re able to develop that consistent practice, the more easily we’ll be able to live from that place of deep connection.
As you say, it’s not a chore, it’s a blessing.