Reiki Precept No. 3: Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings.

In our modern society it is all too easy to focus on what we don't have. There are basic needs that certainly must be met but beyond that is it really serving your soul to crave more and more? In the media we are constantly being fed messages of what we should have in order to feel happy and successful. For many people the idea that we must 'have it all' just leads to constant dissatisfaction. Even when we get what we want, many of us still feel an emptiness inside - because a physical object rarely enriches our soul or spirit.


On our journey through life one of the greatest discoveries we can make is that it is the little things that matter, not the latest smartphone or the biggest television. Maybe we should all go back to basics and start feeling thankful for what we do have, such as the roof over our heads, food to eat, friendships and companionship. There is always something we can find to feel thankful for. There may be one part of your life that is going well, such as a group of supportive friends, and other areas which are not going so well. If you focus on feeling blessed to have such good friends, you will find even more reasons to feel thankful for your friendships. What you focus on will magnify so your feelings will magnify. Eventually just by being thankful for all the friends you have, this feeling of being blessed will extend to other areas of your life and begin to manifest positive changes there.


Focusing on how blessed we are brings us peace, not dissatisfaction. Everyone will go through difficult times at some stage in their life but at least you can send positive healing energy to situations and feel more empowered to overcome them. Everyone can do this, regardless of whether you have been attuned to Reiki or not. (A Reiki attunement just enables you to hold and channel a greater amount of life force energy which you can direct towards your goals.)


When we feel blessed we are rich in spirit. We are rich in the heart. Material things really don't matter. What is important is how we have loved, how we have made a difference, how we have inspired and helped others, how we have matured as a person and the spiritual lessons we learned along the way. We learn what matters and what does not matter. Judgements, grudges and negativity don't serve us. What matters is what enriches the spirit - the feeling of being alive that love brings, the kindness of a stranger, a beautiful view of nature, the support and companionship of those we hold dear.

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Healer/Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at 15 Wheeler Gate in Nottingham city centre. Helen offers several healing treatments such as Reiki, Angelic Reiki, Faery Reiki, Angel Therapy and Fairy Blessing Guided Journey, as well as Usui Reiki and Faery Reiki training courses. She has been on the spiritual path for 15 years and has extensive knowledge of healing and the healing journey. For further information about her Reiki courses, therapies and workshops, please visit her website http://helenshortland.com or visit and ‘like’ her Facebook page Helen Shortland Holistics & Enchantment.