I love this quote from Pema Chödrön:

We cling to a fixed idea of who we are and it cripples us.  Nothing and no one is fixed.  Whether the reality of change is a source of freedom for us or a source of horrific anxiety makes a significant difference.  Do the days of our lives add up to further suffering or to increased capacity for joy?  That’s an important question.

I read this passage in The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times  several days ago.  I keep coming back to it because her message is so simple, yet often so difficult to affirm deep in our heart. 

We don’t get to choose who we are (at least not on a fundamental level.)  We don’t always get to choose circumstances in life that have an effect on us.  But we do get to choose how we accept ourselves, our lives and the decision to be joyful in the midst of all of life’s uncertainty.

In the beginning, it takes mindfulness.  It takes a gentle reminder or corrective action to recalibrate how our mind perceives the way we feel about ourselves, the situations we find ourselves in or certain life-changing circumstances. 

One of the gifts I appreciate most about Reiki is that first and foremost, it is an affirmative practice.  When doing Reiki, I affirm my connection to divine, positive energy.  I express gratitude for the healing and lessons I’ve learned, even when the circumstances have been painful or I had to confront and accept certain truths about myself.  I used to be afraid of allowing myself to feel joy, because I would think, “What if it doesn’t last?”  I thought I was protecting myself from suffering, but I was actually manifesting it.

I realized recently that even though those life experiences are not persistent phenomena, it’s OK.  What matters is my ability to be truly open and present to them, rather than anticipating loss and expressing anxiety.  The other thing I realized recently is that I want to give my daughter the gifts of joy and affirmation.  Life is more rewarding when you can recognize something about each day as inherently wonderful, rather than as a series of moments you need to just “get through.” 

Meister Eckhart, the German theologian and mystic, said, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”

Look!  There’s a wonderful moment!

Thank you.