Today's Life Lesson: Tolerance

Today I received a beautiful reminder from the Universe to remain humble and tolerant and to not assume everyone knows and feels exactly the way I do. 

People are at different stages in their lives and in their development, and in my opinion need to be picked up exactly at the point they're at by any kind of teacher if they so desire. Or left alone.

I was at a local health food store here in Frankfurt and had a little chat with the owner. I casually told her about my new distance Reiki work. She frowned and was almost whispering when she said "you know, I've received 2 initiations myself, but I don't really use it anymore." 

"Why???" was my surprised question, given the benefits I see Reiki having on myself and others all the time... 

After hesitating briefly, she responded in a quite arrogant - almost fearful - manner: "I'll tell you how it is for me now: with the new age we're entering, and all this wonderful healing energy freely available, I don't see the point in old techniques such as Reiki where you need someone to be initiated and to channel it to you. I don't think that is timely anymore. I work with singing bowls now, which I am turning into a new business at the moment. I'd love to give you a demonstration."

"Huh???"... This exchange initially left me wondering if I missed some development and all the sudden everyone already knows exactly how to get back in touch with our energetic bodies. Because surely, if that was the case, nobody would need any Reiki healers anymore. Or doctors or yoga teachers or any other type of teacher - not even someone working with singing bowls. We'd all be super enlightened and living consciously and happily ever after. Actually, we wouldn't be living in duality, but would all have returned to unity.

My daily experience is rather the contrary: while more and more people open up to the non-linear, intangible aspects of life in accordance with nature, they often don't know where to start. I didn't know, either, when I began my own search for meaning. 

So, rather than boxing myself in within my world view, I strive to be open for different opinions. Being tolerant of those does not mean that I have to throw out my views and sign up to those of others. Peaceful coexistence and curiosity about the differences are key to me. Being able to live with ambiguity is a simple thing, but not easy. 

After my initial irritation with this lady's comment, I managed to smile and accept that she and I are simply on different pages in life - regardless of how much exposure we both have had to spirituality. As they say, the teacher always shows up when the student is ready. She was a great teacher today.

How comfortable are you with diving deep, sharing that depth and sitting calmly and powerfully with a difference of opinion? 

Love and light,
Solveig