Do you let yourself receive?

If someone gives you a compliment - can you accept it and feel pleased about it?

Or do you say, "Oh don't mention it. It's nothing" or "This old thing? I bought it at a thrift shop long ago for cheap".

If someone gives you a gift, do you take it joyfully and open it with pleasure and let yourself have it?

Or do you feel awkward, say "Oh you shouldn't have" and then either put it aside to open later, or open it reluctantly in front of them and feel uncomfortable and anxious and like you now owe them something in return?

Receiving is a skill many of us were not taught..

We so often wish for good things - love, happiness, money, a new car...

But when we get what we wish for, we're often not so good at receiving it.

It's a funny thing.

It probably has to do with our internal stories and 'rules' about what's allowed...

What we deserve...

What is fair and unfair...

The whole Give-Take balance we're taught. If you take, you have to give.

We have fears about receiving too much - like something bad will happen to us if we get a lot, or are too happy with what we get.

'How long can this good last" or "I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop", "The others will be jealous".

The very simple truth is...

If you don't let yourself receive, you don't have.

Because even if the good things come your way, you won't let yourself have them!

Which is NOT self-loving.

You deserve goodness!

So how do you develop this important skill?

It begins with giving yourself permission to exist.

To take up space.

To be who you are and breathe the air.

I know these may sound like odd things to say, but if you are someone who apologises for yourself, and you don't speak out much, and don't know that you have worth, or are good enough...

Or if you've been taught that wanting things is 'greedy' and wrong...

Or your desires and needs are 'shameful'...

Then you don't believe you have permission to exist, or take up space, or have normal needs and desires...

So you cannot allow yourself to receive.

And then you don't get.

Which affirms all of those false beliefs and the cycle starts again.

My challenge to you this week is -

Practice receiving.

Open your heart to receiving love from those around you.

Let yourself receive money when it comes.

Open up and accept a compliment.

Receive a smile from someone and take it in.

See what it does within you to say, "Yes. I can have this. Receiving is for me too."

If you loved yourself, what would be the first thing you let yourself receive now?