We recently connected with Teresa Bennett-Yates and have shared our conversation below.
Teresa, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
Self-discipline is an element of upmost importance to me. I have so often struggled in the past as so many do with self-discipline. It wasn’t until I began practicing the system of reiki that I was truly able to have self-discipline in my daily life. I did this by practicing and eventually embodying the five precepts or principles or the system of reiki.
Sometimes translated “Just for today” 0r “For today only” the precepts are as follows.
For today only – Do not anger
Do not worry
Be grateful
Be true your path and your way
Show compassion to myself and all living beings.
One may ask how does one “embody’ such precepts? For me it began by simply repeating them several times a day and then after studying with my teacher Frans Steine from the International House of Reiki i learned to chant the precepts in Japanese.
As a sound healer learning to chant these in Japanese resonated so deeply within me that not only did I begin to speak this I slowly began to embody each precept as I was ready to do so until eventually it just is who I am.
You may ask how does this apply to practicing self discipline?
If we look closely we notice the word ‘today’ in the precepts. For today is the only thing we have. Today is the present moment with no worry or anger about the past or future. It is when we are NOT in the present moment that leads to worry, anger, not being grateful, not being true to ourself, which leads to not being compassionate,
When the task at hand feels overwhelming I will say “For today only”….. and if that feels daunting I dissect it down even further to “just for this moment”,
Reminded that today is ALL we have as the past is gone and the future never comes. It is only in THIS moment that anything has to be, Not yesterday or tomorrow.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have been teaching reiki and sound healing for approximately 6 years in the small little town of Calabash on the coast of North Carolina. I have had the privilege of receiving my reiki master certification through The Lowcountry School of Reiki. I have since done extensive studies with The International House of Reiki and became a licensed Vibrational Sound Therapist through the Vibrational Sound Association in 2019. My goal is to hold space for others to remember they are a great bright light, here to lay bare their great bright light, and stand in their true nature.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Some qualities that are most impactful for me are developing mindfulness of oneself, perseverance, and dedication. The best way to take on these qualities is once again practicing and embodying the reiki precepts. Noticing that the in the precepts the word “today’ which brings us to the present moment and makes us more mindful as we are not living in the past or future just the now. When we begin to take off our lamp shades that cover our light through anger, worry, ungratefulness ,not being true to our way and not showing compassion we then start to stand in the luminosity of our true self.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I hold many workshops, classes, and retreats. I love to collaborate with other like minded folks that are on a path of healing and to facilitate in the collective awaking. If someone is interested in future collaborations with me I can be reached by emailing Teresa@cloud9reiki,com
Contact Info:
- Website:www.cloud9reiki.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cloud9withteresa?igsh=bjVzOW0wOTV5M2Fr&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vstwithTeresa
- Email: [email protected]
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-yates-50471619a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
