Just for today is a great reminder that nothing lasts forever - and that life is experienced one day at a time.
Just for today is also the beginning of the Reiki precepts, the foundation and heart of Reiki practice.
Just for today is about meeting each moment as it is. One breath. One moment. At. A. Time. Without any interpretation, labels, and judgment.
It’s about letting go. Letting go of the expectations, the shoulds, the fixing, figuring things out, being more productive, efficient, perfect, whatever we feel pressured to do.
“Just for today, do not worry” is the teaching of the second Reiki precept. It sounds so simple, yet it is so hard for most.
Worry sneaks in when the mind starts racing ahead. The mind goes into thinking of what could go wrong, to plan and prepare for worst-case scenarios, trying to prevent discomfort before it even happens. This takes us into the future and out of the present moment. This feeds fear, tightens the body, and clouds thinking.
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
– Louisa May Alcott
But clarity and peace can be found and accessed in the here and now. Here are some mindful practices for you:
Feel Your Feet
To ground you in the present. Bring your awareness to your feet. Wiggle your toes. Feel the floor.
Breathe Into the Moment
Place the left hand on your chest and the right hand on your belly. Inhale slowly. Exhale gently. Pair your breath with these words. I. AM. HERE. NOW. Inhale to “I.” Exhale to “Am.” Inhale to “Here.” Exhale to “Now.”
Turn to Your Senses
What can you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste where you are? Right here, right now?
Do. One. Thing. At. A. Time.
Let go of multitasking. You don’t need to deal with everything all at once. Ask: What’s the next small thing I can do? Then do just that.
May you experience CALM, PRESENCE, and a sense of PEACE – today and every day.