Hello,
And thank you for showing up.
This is a meditation and visualization practice on receiving.
Let's take a moment to arrive right here,
Right now.
Find a comfortable position for your body,
Either sitting up straight or laying down.
Tuck your chin slightly,
Aligning your head,
Your neck,
Your spine.
Allow your eyes to gently close.
Go ahead and take a few deep breaths,
Making your exhale longer than your inhale,
By a few seconds.
If you breathe in for a count of four,
You might breathe out for six or seven.
Do this at whatever pace feels comfortable for you.
Good.
And now allow your breath to return to a natural rhythm.
I invite you to think of a time when someone has helped you,
Complimented you,
Or gifted you with something.
Think about how you felt at that moment.
Did you experience any resistance?
Was your initial reaction,
Oh no,
You shouldn't have,
I don't need that,
I can do it myself.
Or did you maybe counter the compliment by pointing out some flaw?
Now think back to a time when you did something nice for someone.
Maybe you helped them out of a tough situation.
Or shared some food that you made.
Maybe you gave them a thoughtful gift.
How did that feel?
That act of giving?
Either your time,
Your resources,
Your compassion?
Really pretty good,
Right?
There is so much evidence that supports this simple truth.
We are happiest when we're helping others.
When you resist the help that's offered to you,
When you reject the gift,
When you dismiss the gesture,
You're robbing the other person of joy.
As unintentional as it may be,
You're denying them the pleasure of giving.
It's not your fault.
Many of us have been conditioned to value independence,
Self-sufficiency,
To never be a burden,
That to accept a compliment is to be vain.
This made us pretty terrible at receiving all the abundance in our lives.
This response that blocks the flow of abundance is a learned one.
Which means it can be unlearned,
And you can reprogram yourself to receive graciously.
There's a tiny space between action and reaction.
Once you start to recognize that resistance you feel when something is offered to you,
You can pause,
Smile in acknowledgment of your initial reaction.
And simply say,
Thank you,
I appreciate this.
The more you practice receiving,
The easier it will get.
Eventually,
New neural pathways will form.
But it takes time.
The existing ones have been entrenched over years of repetition.
Be patient.
It is a practice.
But by doing it,
You not only raise your vibration and attract more of this goodness into your life,
You allow that experience of joy for the other person,
Raising their vibration as well.
Now let's go back and think of that first scenario again.
Imagine it in as much detail as possible.
Picture the other person.
Their face,
Their clothes,
Their eyes.
Picture the scene.
Where are you?
What's the weather like?
Visualize the act of kindness as best you can remember.
But this time,
Imagine yourself taking a deep breath,
Looking that person in the eyes,
Smiling,
Saying thank you,
I appreciate this.
Keep breathing into that feeling of gratitude for as long as you like.
You can do this visualization anytime,
Thinking back to many different experiences,
Rewriting them.
And the next time you need help,
Or someone presents you with an offering,
You can practice receiving right in that moment.
Sending you love and wishing you sparks of joy.
Take care.
