Got Class?
Is there something that you're longing to do, yet you just don't think you have what it takes to do it? What holds you back? Circumstances? Not enough time? Self-doubt? Fear? What if you knew that you could be and live this dream? That if you took that first step, your dream would blossom into what you envision - maybe even more than you envision!
I can relate to all of this. Upon becoming a Reiki Master, you have the ability to teach and share the beautiful awakening of the Spiritual Energy known as Reiki. Although I was able to teach Reiki, I initially held myself back for many years. Time and time again, I was approached by many (not a few.....many) and asked, "Do you teach Reiki?" I would then convincingly come up with an array of reasons why I wasn't teaching; I had "great reasons" why I couldn't teach and I'd dish them all out.....all of them but the truth - I was too scared to do it and I didn't believe I could. Although I strongly believed in Reiki and witnessed first hand how it transformed the lives of not only myself, yet also my clients, I did not believe that I could stand in front of a group and teach this beautiful energy work. I held myself back....not life, not circumstances, not time - plain and simple, it was me, holding me back!
In August of 2009, I flew out to California to deepen my Animal Reiki skills by personally studying with my teacher, Kathleen Prasad. At the end of the class, she spoke words of encouragement to me and the class as a whole, telling us that we had what it took to go out into the world and teach what we had learned. Kathleen went on to share how her first class wasn't what it is today.....that through the years, she's grown as a person and as such, grew as a teacher. Kathleen said we all need to start somewhere and that it didn't need to be "perfect," for if we waited for perfection, it would never happen. In that very moment, something shifted within me. I had been waiting for perfection...as a "perfectionist," I needed everything to be "just so" and until it was, I couldn't even begin to consider teaching. Unbeknownst to Kathleen, it was her words of encouragement that ignited something within me.....maybe, just maybe, I did have what it takes to teach.
As I flew home from my weekend of study, this new belief seed ("I have what it takes to teach") began to root deep inside of me. And a couple months later, I bravely put it 'out there'....on my Calendar of Events page, I listed my first Reiki I class. I didn't even have the Class Outline started, yet I knew that by taking a deep breath and putting it on my calendar, I would HAVE TO complete the Class Outline. With faith, I took a chance and believed in myself. Was I nervous? YES! Did I question myself that I did the right thing? YES! Did my stomach churn as I questioned what I had done? YES! Yet, I took it a day at a time. And when taking it a day at a time was too much to bear, I took it an hour at a time. I began to trust deeper and guess what....people signed up for my class! That's when it hit me.....this is really happening! And so I began to prepare - I prepared myself by doing inner work and I prepared for the class, by creating a class outline, handouts, exercises to do, etc.
The day prior to my first class, I was a nervous mess. Did I do enough? Was I really prepared enough? Would I be able to give an entire class their Reiki attunements? What if...what if....what if? I was driving myself crazy with "what ifs." By evening, I had to stop the insanity. I knew I had to walk away and do something for me. So I detached and went to get a manicure to uplift my spirits and recharge my battery. It was the best thing I could have done; I took time to take care of me. And once I did that, I was in a better place. The morning of my first class, I woke up early and spent time in deep prayer/meditation. Then I prepared the room in which I'd be teaching. Soon, my first student arrived, then another and another. And as we all gathered together and sat in a circle to begin the day, I fell into a state of ease. Faces of love and eager anticipation stared back at me, as each person went around and said why they wanted to learn Reiki. Their reasons for wanting to learn Reiki fueled me; this class was going to help so many, in very different ways. Waves of gratitude and love washed over me, as I realized God was using me to reach these beautiful souls sitting in front of me. And so class began and it turned out to be amazing! I was excited, happy and eager to share all that I could with those sitting in front of me. During our opening meditation I let go of the label of "teacher" and instead chose to simply "BE." Yes, I was teaching, however, I was living my truth - fully connected to Spirit, speaking from my heart and being fully present in the moment. I surrendered to what was in front of me. Coming from that place of BEing, the information and materials we needed to cover flowed easily and effortlessly. If I became nervous, I'd gently reassure myself or reflect upon a loved one's words of encouragement, saying they believed in me. Or, I remembered how I too, once sat in the seat across from me, eager to learn all I could about Reiki. By day's end, I was on a high; I had a BLAST! I couldn't believe that the day had come to an end and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed teaching Reiki. I was filled with passion!
Since that first Reiki class, I've taught several more classes. I LOVE TEACHING! And realizing this truth, it shocks me that in prior years, I denied myself this opportunity! Looking back, I remember making lists of names of people who wanted me to teach them - there was a demand for me to teach, and I denied myself the opportunity (although at the time, I blamed it on outside circumstances). I almost held myself back from doing something I greatly love and enjoy! Today, I thank God that I got out of my way and took a chance on me. Days when I teach are some of the greatest days of my life - I love talking about Reiki and sharing how it continues to change my life; I love hearing my students tell me about the shifts that take place in their lives since studying Reiki with me; I love hearing how they are now sharing Reiki with others and empowering not only their lives, yet also the lives of others! I love sensing the shift in energies after sharing an attunement in class. I love going to my "Inbox" and getting yet another e-mail from a student, their words fueled with passion as they excitedly express how their lives are changing for the better since learning Reiki! I almost missed out on all this! Whenever I have the opportunity to teach, to share, to BE, I feel elated! I am so grateful that my teacher, Kathleen, said the very words I needed to hear; I am so glad I'm committed to working on myself daily, with Reiki or The Journey™, as this allows me to grow as a person; I am so glad I listened and got out of my own way; I am so glad that I let go of fear and self-doubt, replacing them with trust and self-love; I am so glad I mustered up the strength to 'go for it.' Had I not done so, I would be missing out on so much in life today; now, I'm further blessed in so many ways. Today, I love to teach; I love to inspire others; I love to share with others what I have learned along the way. When I teach a class, I feel alive with passion; I feel like I'm living part of my Life's Purpose. What is it that you long to do? What's stopping you? Are you ready to get out of your way?
Shine Even Brighter:
I encourage you to reflect upon one or all of the following for your own personal growth:
- What is a dream of yours that you hope to fulfill "some day?"
- Identify the reasons why you feel you can't fulfill that dream now. Are these genuine or are they convenient excuses, shielding you from feeling something deeper?
- Consider how you will feel if you NEVER live this dream. How does that really make you feel?
- Take steps, even if it's one small step, towards making your dream a reality.
