Always Find Joy in Your Work

Article by Deborah Lloyd, Reiki Master

During my long career as a social worker, colleagues and I often experienced the “three’s”. This is when clients, with similar problems, come in sets of three’s, in a short period of time. For example, one time I saw three young mothers, who had difficulty saying “no” to their pre-school-aged children, seek counseling – within a week. I continue to see this pattern, both in my hospice work and my Reiki work.

Recent Reiki treatments presented me with three clients who are not living joyful lives. When we see these patterns, we need to stop and process why this is happening now. Is there a message for me, the professional? Fortunately, I feel much joy in my work, but I realized I had just had the “three’s” with three Reiki practitioners who are not feeling joyful in their work! During my discussions with them, the following thoughts were discussed.

A difficulty that many of us helping professionals have is feeling over-responsible for the welfare of others. We give, and give, and give, until our own energies are depleted. When some clients continue to make poor choices in their lives, we might think that somehow it is our fault, that if we could have said just the right thing, or spent more time with them, or somehow done something different, the client would be on a path of greater healing.

These thoughts may rob us of being joyful in our Reiki work. We need to look at our interactions with clients in positive ways, with a sense of confidence and joy. We know energy healing is always available for our clients, through our attunements and loving intentions. We must never doubt this reality!

We must not forget clients also have an active role in their healing journeys. During a Reiki session, the client’s main responsibility is to receive the energies and relax. However, after the session, clients may need to make some changes in their lives to continue healing possibilities. Reiki is not a magic wand; clients (and we) need to take responsibility for our actions, to create ongoing healing. An hour of relaxation is not going to take away the effects of ongoing, unhealthy decisions.

I love the analogy that the Universe sends invitations for healing, but we always have the choice to respond with a yes or no. If a Reiki client declines the invitation to heal, we need to accept the fact it may not the right time for him; or it may feel too scary; or he may be receiving some benefit in remaining in his unhealed state. We should still feel joy in the opportunity we gave the client, and then understand the client has the right to accept, or reject, this gift. We must remember that although the client did not respond as we hoped for, we may have planted a seed, or been a small step in the right direction. We never know how we affect someone – there may be a ripple effect that we will never know.

The joy in being a Reiki practitioner is not dependent on the known successes of our work. It is developing a trust in the Universal Life Force Energy, that all intentions and actions made of love will genuinely help a person, in some way. It is being grateful that you have chosen a path where you can assist others on their journeys, whether you can see it, or not. It is acknowledging all the blessings in your life. Living a Reiki path means you always find the joy in your work.

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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 [email protected] and on Facebook at Deb Lloyd Healing.