The Harmony Between Worry and Gratitude

By Jess Smith

February 10, 2025

My Journey with Anxiety and the Transformative Power of Reiki Precepts

In my journey to tackle anxiety and stress, the principles of Reiki have really been my guiding light. Like many, I found myself frequently caught in a cycle of worry, where my mind would incessantly search for potential problems and concerns, often leading to overwhelming stress. 

Redirecting the Mind

At the start of my transformation, I really tuned into when my mind was trying to stress me out. Once I noticed that, I could actually flip the script and redirect my thoughts, using the Reiki principles as my guide. Instead of letting anxiety take over, I began to tell myself, "Just for today, I won’t worry." This simple mantra really helped me stay in the moment and not let future worries steal my peace.

The Journey from Theory to Practice

Teaching and embodying the Reiki precepts as a daily mantra can often seem deceptively simple. The concept of "just for today, I will not worry" might sound straightforward, but in practice, it can feel nearly impossible. Many people, me included, have struggled with the idea of completely letting go of worry. Dr. Dori Beeler (Beeler, 2020) insightfully highlighted that by releasing worry, we create space for gratitude. However, it took months of dedication for this idea to truly resonate with me. One day, like a lightbulb switching on, I realized that I didn't need to eradicate worry completely to welcome gratitude. Instead, I could actively replace worry with gratitude. This shift in perspective allowed me to embrace the notion that each moment of gratitude naturally diminished the hold that worry had over me.

Cultivating Gratitude

At the same time, I started to practice gratitude. Whenever I noticed myself getting caught up in worry, I would make a deliberate effort to focus on what I was thankful for instead. Although this change didn't happen overnight, with regular practice, I saw a considerable difference. I began to look for things to appreciate, regardless of how minor they seemed. After a while, I started replacing thoughts of worry with thoughts of gratitude naturally and without much effort. By deliberately focusing on what I was thankful for instead of what there was to worry about, I trained my brain to do this automatically.

The Impact on Well-being

By integrating these Reiki precepts along with my daily self-Reiki practice into my life, not only have I experienced a reduction in anxiety, but I have also cultivated a deeper sense of peace and contentment. By encouraging myself to concentrate on gratitude instead of anxiety, I've discovered more happiness in daily experiences and a deeper connection to the present moment.

This journey has taught me that while worry may be a natural response, it doesn't have to dominate my life. The Reiki precepts have provided me with a practical and spiritual framework to navigate anxiety, transforming it into an opportunity for growth and gratitude.

References

Beeler, D. (2020). The Healing Power of Letting Go: Embracing Gratitude in Daily Life. Healing Arts Press.

Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389.

Hawkins, D. R. (2016). Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender. Hay House.

Siegel, D. J. (2010). aW. W. Norton & Company.