The Law of Giving and Receiving according to Chopra, states the universe operates through dynamic exchange and in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the Universe circulating in our lives.
A while ago I was gifted a wonderful book titled “Eat Mangos Naked” by SARK. As I pulled it off my bookshelf yesterday, I knew I was going to be inspired. I flipped through the pages and magically found myself on page 40. The words that immediately caught my attention were, “The worst receivers are usually the best givers.”
Learning the pleasures and magic of consciously giving and receiving is a life skill. When we consciously receive, we give another the opportunity to be generous.
Giving and receiving are different expressions of the same flow of energy. However, for most of us, giving is much easier to do openly and graciously. In the excerpt from page 40, the author points out that she thinks she blocks her receiving because it makes her feel out of control and vulnerable. She goes on to explain that in receiving, some part of her is measuring and counting whether it is “fair” or “equal”. I stopped there. Fair and equal? I would have never said that in a conversation about receiving! But on further thought, I realized that it definitely could be a stopping point that can make a person feel awkward if they perceived the gift too big and not easily reciprocated.
Reading on, the author drilled down to what she called the crux of not being a good receiver, and her conclusion was the feeling of being unworthy. She explains that when she is giving, she felt powerful, good, and an overwhelming feeling of “I am doing the right thing.” Receiving felt wrong in some way. She felt like she had to falsely give the same or more “amount or type” to regain some sense of control. What she goes on to share is that she learned every giver needs a receiver making each participant an equal part of the dance.
There are many ways to give that do not cost money. A compliment, a flower, a note or just showing kindness are just a few ways of giving and can feel so satisfying. Just remember that when on the receiving end, accepting the gesture with gratitude and the feeling of worth can be equally gratifying.
In the matter of giving and receiving, keeping track will never lead you to a positive end. The point is not giving or receiving – the point is connecting.
The seesaw of giving and receiving is truly a balancing act.
I hope you enjoy the balance, especially as we enter the giving season.
Love to all,
Cindi
