Do you have a hard time receiving? A gift? A compliment? A helping hand? Money? Helpful advice? Love?
We’re brought up being told it’s better to give than receive. To be of service and not expect anything in return.
Many people believe that receiving help, in any form, no matter how small, is a sign of weakness. “I can do it” is their mantra. But, ‘I can do it’ only goes so far.
What happens when you really do want or need help? Can you ask for it? Do you resent that no one sees you need help and they’re not offering it (anymore)? Can you receive it when they do?
There are no rewards for muscling through life and toughing it out. In fact, you’re making it harder (and lonelier) than it needs to be.
Perhaps you’re someone who doesn’t want to bother anyone. So, rather than ask for help, you struggle through getting frustrated and angry.
Others (maybe you) love to help people. You’re the get-it-done-ers. The ones people rely on to show up, again and again, without being asked. Perhaps you’re in a helping profession. How good are you at receiving help when you burn yourself out? Do you resent that no-one helped you before the burn-out? Couldn’t they see it coming? Why didn’t they help you, you wonder.
Learning to receive helps you feel balanced, loved, and part of the world.
I recently started doing tai chi (sporadically, I admit). There’s a movement the practitioner shares where, from a standing position, you bring your hands together near your pelvis, palms up. In a slow, fluid movement, you raise your hands to chest level, as if, as he says, “you gather a ball of energy that floats up.” You then turn your palms over and push your hands (and the ball of energy) out in front of you as you spread your arms wide, as though you are spreading the energy on a surface. Then, keeping arms at chest height, turning your palms up, you gather back the energy toward your heart, turn your palms over (down) and gently push the energy back down, letting it “sink down inside your body.” Repeat this gather, float, spread, gather and sink sequence a few times.
When I do this practice, I imagine I’m gathering life force energy into myself, sharing my gifts with the world, receiving love back, and anchoring it in my body. Gathering love, giving love and receiving love. I feel the balance that giving AND receiving offers.
I invite you try this practice. Imagine the energy you’re balancing is what you most need now. Here’s the link to the 8 minute Tai Chi video. This part starts at 7:12. Notice how you feel before and after this practice (or full video). You may think differently about receiving after this.
This week, pay attention to how well you’re able to receive, in small and big ways.
Is it in balance with how much you give?
You’re GREATER than you think you are.
It’s your time. And it’s your turn.
A happy life is balanced life. Need help finding your balance? Let’s chat.
Join me on July 23, 2026 in the beautiful Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario. We meet in a historic log cabin on the shores of Balsam Lake as you discover how to hear and trust your inner guide. Choose from the half or full-day event. Learn More & Register HERE.