We’ve become experts at giving ourselves away and beginners at receiving.
I’ve noticed many people become well-versed in giving - giving to partners, work, children, giving outward and yet not as well-versed in receiving, in allowing nourishment.
Old stories and narratives of the martyr, the belief that love equals sacrifice, the belief that our worth comes from doing more and giving more, quietly shape our conditioning and patterns.
And yet, the paradox is - when we are nourished, is when we can show up with the greatest love to give.
I have also noticed personally that it can be easier to think of receiving in the form of large acts: receiving support or a helping hand, receiving money, support through a professional (acupuncture, massage, somatic worker, etc.), but I’m learning to explore a more personal and subtle way of receiving.
Receiving from your soul,
Your spirit team,
The Divine,
Even from the Earth.
In my self-energy sessions, I’m viewing them more from a lens of allowing nourishment versus a pushing for energetic maintenance, which it can feel like at times.
Taking time to be with our souls - through quiet time without stimulation, through meditation, through creativity, a walk, being fully present with a song on the radio, can be an opportunity to receive; even if it doesn’t arrive in obvious forms.
Our ability to receive is tied to our ability to ask.
To know that asking is not “too much.” That our needs are not a burden or bothersome. That we are worthy of receiving.
Our guides are willing and waiting to help - we need to ask and know that we will receive.
*And often not in the way our mind imagines.
Why can receiving be difficult?
Imagine a colleague compliments your outfit.
Perhaps you downplay it and say “Oh, this old thing,” brushing past it, or quickly say “thank you,” wanting to move on or divert the attention elsewhere, rather than pausing, taking a moment of gratitude and of presence to truly accept it.
What sits behind this seemingly small scenario? Whether you are receiving a compliment or a large sum of money, it can bring up discomforts, such as:
1) Past experiences flavor our ability to receive: There have been times we have experienced receiving that comes with strings, obligations, hidden motives, and our body remembers that.
2) Feelings of worthiness: How worthy or deserving do we feel to receive? So often we feel we must earn love, approval, attention, support, and yet we are inherently worthy. Not worthy when you are “good” or “enough,” but always…
3) Our identity becomes tied to being the giver: When we’ve spent years caring for others, receiving can feel unfamiliar. We may be so accustomed to helping, fixing, and holding everything together that allowing ourselves to simply receive feels vulnerable, or even uncomfortable.
It’s one thing to consciously understand these ideas, and another for our energy system to truly believe them.
Receiving can be like flexing and strengthening a new muscle.
A Practice in Receiving
One practice I’ve been exploring is intentionally asking to receive nourishment through each layer of my being. I’d like to share that practice with you -
*Audio version above or text version below -
First, settle into a comfortable position, taking a few moments to center and come back to your body.
Repeat the below aloud, as you move through each energetic body, pause and take three slow, intentional breaths, allowing yourself to receive.
I am one with the Divine,
Connected to the highest vibration of love, truth and compassion -
Calling in the support of my team of helpers and guides of the highest love, truth and compassion,
For my highest good and the highest good of all.
Requesting to receive nourishment for my….
Physical body,
(Pause. Three deep intentional breaths. Relax and allow.)
Emotional body,
(Pause. Three deep intentional breaths. Relax and allow.)
Mental body,
(Pause. Three deep intentional breaths. Relax and allow.)
Spiritual body,
(Pause. Three deep intentional breaths. Relax and allow.)
Inner child,
(Pause. Three deep intentional breaths. Relax and allow.)
For anything else I need in this moment.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
It is done.
Notice the shifts. Start to become acquainted with your energy 💜
Perhaps this week is a week to notice:
How can you nourish yourself?
How can you allow yourself to receive nourishment?
And we can notice the journey of where it is challenging to receive (the thoughts, the resistance, the mental chatter) - those too are gifts and doorways to explore.
