In Penelope Quest’s book Living the Reiki Way, she outlines what Reiki is and how it is complementary therapy to physical ailments.
The word Reiki itself means healing energy. It is the “secret method of inviting happiness; the wonderful medicine for all diseases,” according to Mikao Uri. The method is able to help you identify negative thought processes, fear and anxiety and how to change those habits.
Begin your happier, healthier life by incorporating these five Reiki-based techniques.
How to be in the now
Set an alarm on your watch or phone every hour for eight hours. Pause for three minutes and notice things around you. Notice colors, temperature, people and silence. Pay attention to anything in your environment. If you find it hard to be aware of the things around, you start simple. Wash your dishes instead of plopping them in the dishwasher. Notice the water temperature, the bubbles and the scent of the soap. This exercise helps you be aware of your surroundings and ultimately you become aware of yourself in your surroundings.
Simplify meditation
You don’t have to wear a robe, go to a mountain or sit in pretzel position to meditate. Meditation means to concentrate your undivided attention to a single thing. The point of meditation is to quiet your mind. Scientific research shows that meditation helps to decrease the fight/flight response causing a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, which is heart healthy! To practice meditation, find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed — even a bathroom stall can work and take a few minutes to take eight deep breaths and focus on something you can see such as a doorknob or tree.
How to live without anger
Penelope Quest says, “Your emotions can guide you, but you don’t have to let them control you.” If you find yourself quick to anger or are generally angry, you have formed a habit to react to situations with anger. However, you can change your reactions. You can use jogging, walking and breathing as immediate ways to decrease your anger and help change the way you react. A long-term technique is to reprogram your reactions such as perceptual positions. Notice the “self” first. Notice what you hear, feel and see. Then try to be the other person in the situation. Notice what they see, hear and feel. Now, be an observer and notice what you would see, hear and feel as someone standing nearby.
Realize that you are what you think
You’ve heard, “You are what you eat” and the same is true for “you are what you think.” Try this: Stand in the mirror and repeat the words “I am sad” 15 times. Notice what happens to your posture — slumping shoulders, head drops, breathing changes. Now repeat “I am happy” 15 times. See what happens to your body language and breathing. Find a word every week to repeat to yourself in the mirror. Make a list of your attributes: good cook, good mother, thoughtful friend, good athlete and so on.
Have an attitude of gratitude and work your spiritual fitness
Begin your day giving thanks for five things in your life. If you’re having a rough time finding something to be thankful for, start with the weather. Give thanks for rain or sunshine. Do this every day and soon it will be an automatic process.
Also practice spiritual fitness to be more grounded, clear and compassionate. In a normal situation such as meeting a friend for lunch, question the reason why you’ve been given the opportunity to share time together. Find the higher purpose of the situations and opportunities you are given. Another way to exercise spiritual fitness is to make a list of 10 things that make you happy. Do one of the things every week.
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