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The Five Reiki Principles: A Guide for Everyday Living
- ruthjeffkins
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
Reiki is more than a healing technique — it’s a way of being. At its heart are five simple yet profound principles that invite balance, peace, and awareness into our everyday lives. These teachings remind us that healing begins within, and that every moment offers an opportunity to reconnect with our inner calm and strength.
For many women juggling life’s many roles, mother, partner, friend, carer, or professional, these principles become gentle anchors that guide us back to ourselves.
Let’s explore how each one can be embodied in daily life.
1. Just for today, I will not be angry
Anger is a natural emotion, often arising from frustration, fear, or a sense of unfairness. Yet when we hold onto it, it can create imbalance in both body and mind. This principle invites us to pause before reacting — to breathe and soften instead of resist.
In daily life:
When you feel your patience thinning, take a deep breath and place your hand over your heart.
Remind yourself, “Just for today, I choose peace.”
Anger can be transformed into clarity, helping you express your needs with honesty and calm rather than tension.
2. Just for today, I will not worry
Worry is the mind’s way of trying to control what we can’t. For many women, the emotional labour of caring for others often brings endless “what ifs.” This Reiki principle encourages surrender, trusting that things are unfolding as they should, even if we can’t yet see how.
In daily life:
When you catch yourself spiralling into “what if,” pause and ask, “What can I do right now?”
Bring yourself back to the present moment with a grounding breath or a short mindfulness practice.
Try journaling your worries before bed, releasing them onto paper can free the heart for rest.
3. Just for today, I will be grateful
Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s present. It reminds us that even in difficult times, small moments — a smile, a sunrise, a quiet cup of tea — hold light and meaning.
In daily life:
Begin or end your day by naming three things you’re grateful for.
Express thanks — to yourself, your body, and those around you.
Gratitude nurtures compassion and softens self-criticism, allowing more joy to flow through your day.
4. Just for today, I will do my work honestly
This principle isn’t only about paid work — it speaks to living with integrity and presence in all that we do. It’s about showing up authentically, following through on our intentions, and honouring ourselves as much as we honour others.
In daily life:
Approach tasks with mindfulness rather than rushing through them.
Be honest with yourself about what feels aligned and what doesn’t.
Recognise that your “work” includes the energy you bring into your relationships, your home, and your self-care.
5. Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing
Kindness is the purest expression of Reiki energy. It begins with how we treat ourselves — with gentleness, patience, and compassion — and radiates outward to others and the world around us.
In daily life:
Speak to yourself as you would to a dear friend.
Offer small acts of kindness — a smile, a listening ear, or a quiet moment of presence.
When you nurture others, remember to nurture yourself too. Kindness is a circle, it must begin within to be shared fully.
Living the Principles
The Reiki principles are simple, but their effects are profound. When practised daily, they create subtle shifts in awareness — helping you move from reaction to reflection, from chaos to calm, and from striving to being.
You might choose to begin each morning by softly repeating them aloud, or end each day by reflecting on how they shaped your choices. Over time, they become not just reminders, but a way of life — one rooted in self-awareness, grace, and compassion.
Just for today... breathe, soften, and remember that peace lives within you.
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