In the past few days, it has become clear to me that one of the most important qualities a good teacher must have is patience.

I emphasize the word good because anyone can teach something. But patience determines the quality of the lesson. Without patience, a teacher may not be able to endure what feels like the slow progress in a student, even when they can see the student’s potential. Patience is also what allows a teacher to understand and adapt to the different personalities, quirks, and learning styles that always show up in a classroom with many students.

If the teacher does not have patience, they may put more pressure on their student than they can handle. This can damage the students ability to learn not just the subject the teacher is teaching, but it can damage the students ability to learn anything. Being human it is important to make room for misunderstandings. These can easily happen between teacher and student if there isn’t enough time and care taken to see each other clearly. Patience gives both sides time and space to understand each other’s behavior, teaching and learning styles more deeply.

A good teacher also needs patience because the learning process happens in its own time—and that is almost never at the pace either the teacher or student would like. A teacher may want to move faster than a student is able, but patience will prevent the teacher from putting too much pressure on the student. On the other hand, a student may want to speed ahead, not realizing that certain steps and experiences are necessary for a complete learning experience. When this happens, it is the student who must practice patience with the teacher.

I have been a teacher since 1998. Over the years, I’ve seen all types of learners: some who seem to absorb everything instantly, some who learn at a constant pace and rhythm, and some who take much longer than I would like. In every case, patience has been the key that allowed not to disrupt the learning process to and let it unfold.

The same is true with Reiki. From my very first session, I have wanted to share Reiki with as many people as possible, especially people who don’t think it’s not for them. Along the way, I noticed that some people take to Reiki like fish to water. Others develop an interest more slowly, and some show no interest at all. At times, it can be frustrating to see someone struggling with real life challenges, I offer them Reiki to help them relax and breathe through the situation, and I have been met with a lack of interest or sometimes hostility.

But this is where the Reiki precept reminds me: Just for today, I will be kind to all living things. I chose to study Reiki, Hula, Salsa, and Spanish freely, and that same freedom belongs to everyone. Each person has the right to decide how they live their lives, even if it means leaving aside practices that could benefit them. That freedom of choice is part of what makes us human.

And so, patience is not only a quality for teachers—it’s a way of life. It teaches us to honor timing, respect individuality, and release control over how others learn, grow and heal. Just as Reiki invites us to trust the flow of energy, patience invites us to trust the flow of life. May we all find the courage to slow down, breathe, and meet each other with the same patience we hope to receive.