An “Ah ha” Moment, Thanks to a Client

Article by Deborah Lloyd, Reiki Master

Anyone who works in the helping professions will tell you they learn as much (and sometimes more) from their clients, or patients, as they teach. One way the Universe gives us opportunities to learn is through the words and experiences of other people – these people can be a Reiki client, a coworker, an author, a person sitting next to us on a city bus, the list is endless. Children – oh, my – can be the best teachers of all! If we think about some of the “ah ha” moments in our lives, we are reminded how true this is.

One of my Reiki clients, who had openly talked at her workplace about her financial difficulties, with the possibility of bankruptcy in the future, was now experiencing some backlash. She explained several coworkers were gossiping about her, embellishing the facts. People seemed less friendly, and earlier that day, two people turned away when she walked into a room. My client explained this response has only added to her feelings of inadequacy and failure.

Before I could even respond to her, she told me how she is dealing with the whispering coworkers. She sends love and light throughout her workday to the coworkers who are spreading untruths. She said rather than focus on their negative energies, she chooses to focus on building positive energies for herself. She is working on her own issues regarding inadequacy, and not focusing on the issues of other people. As she sends love and light to others, she knows she needs to love herself in the same way.

Wow – what a lesson for me! This was an “ah ha” moment. Could I be this loving, in a similar situation? Would I focus on others’ words and actions, rather than take the time to figure out my own emotional response? Would I step back, not confront the gossipers, and simply send love and light? How often do I send love and light to someone who has hurt me? What a beautiful response my client had – she taught me a very important life lesson.

All of us have “ah ha” moments. Do we take the time to reflect upon them, finding the real meaning and value in them? Do we integrate them into our own belief system and make changes in our lives? Here is one method of doing so:

• Find a quiet place in your home, or sit outdoors. Say a brief prayer and ask for spiritual guidance.
• Take a clean sheet of paper, or open a new document on your computer, and answer the following questions.
  1. Briefly describe a time when another person made a comment, or you read a passage, where you had an “ah ha” moment. (This moment was significant in your spiritual path, causing you to think seriously about a belief, or to change a behavior in a positive way.)
  2. Describe the change(s) you made, in your thoughts and/or actions.
  3. Reflect on the impact it has made in your life, and write a brief description of the impact.
• Express the gratitude you feel right now – on paper, silently, or out loud.

That’s it! The last directive expressing gratitude is the most important aspect of this exercise. When we express gratitude to the Universe, more wonderful experiences come into our lives. We create an openness that will help us in recognizing these events, and we are more likely to follow up with the lessons learned.

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Deborah Lloyd is a Usui and Karuna Reiki® Master and certified holistic therapy practitioner, providing Distant Reiki sessions and training in Asheville, NC. Deborah is the author of two books, 22 Messages from the Archangels; and, Believe and it is True: A Story of Healing and Life Lessons. She is also one of the co-authors of Reiki 101: 101 Answers for Your Reiki Questions. Reach Deborah at deb@deblloydhealing.com and on Facebook at Deb Lloyd Healing.