The Five Reiki Principles

Just for today, I will not be angry.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will be grateful.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
                     -by Mikao Usui (not sure who did the translation)

Now, some people might say, oh, those first two are expressed negatively. Therefore, they must be reframed.

Well, for me, I actually do like to reframe them now. But only like this:
Just for today, I will not be blinded by anger.
Just for today, I will not be blinded by worry. 

Feeling these emotions are natural, however, to me, it's about setting boundaries. It's saying, no, I'm going to choose something else. It can be choosing to use that anger to drive you to help make things better, but then that's transmuting the anger into purpose and hope. It can be choosing to use that energy of worry into planning and preparedness that blossoms into trust.

It's not about denying these feelings, but acknowledging them and transmuting them into something else, into something useful instead of stewing in the juices of anger and worry. Staying that stressed increases tension in the body, so it's about accepting things as they are, and doing what you can do, personally, within your sphere of influence and understanding. It's staying out of scarcity and having faith that you will be taken care of.

If you wish you can add an intention of a different choice. Examples: Just for today, I will not be angry, I will be driven and passionate. Just for today, I will not worry, I will be prepared and trust.

Gratitude helps with this, and, along with the first two principles, it's also the birthplace of doing your work honestly. Too often I hear of energy healers doing healing work on people without their conscious decision, because it's good for them. That is a justification, and in reality comes from a place of not being grateful for the loved one you have now, wishing them to change, worrying about them, and perhaps even being angry that you can't do anything to help them. When you can be grateful for someone just as they are, without a need to change them or impose your will on them, you will have truly known and felt unconditional love.

Kindness to every living thing. This is one that you can practice with your pets. They easily upset us when they commit "crimes", breaking the rules, or when they annoy you by pestering you incessantly. Try a more compassionate approach, and you will see what a difference it makes. It's easy to think kind thoughts about the trees in your neighborhood, not so easy when it comes to beings that can move around, pets, children, insects (of course keep boundaries, don't invite the bugs in, learned that the hard way).