Reflections on the things I am learning, unlearning, and discovering as I become.
Lesson #1 – The Art of Receiving
One of the things I am learning on this journey of growth is how to receive. I have realized that giving comes more easily to me than receiving. It is easier for me to show up for others, offer help, and be a blessing than to sit back and allow someone to do the same for me.
I am beginning to understand why. Giving puts me in a position of control. I decide what to give, when to give, and how much to give. But receiving? Receiving makes me vulnerable. It places me in a position where I have to let someone else show up for me, and sometimes, I do not know how to sit with that feeling. It can be uncomfortable, unnerving, and leave me feeling exposed. So, I find a way to leave that space as quickly as possible, explaining it away by saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Yet, receiving is the other side of the coin of giving. Giving cannot be complete without receiving, and receiving is just as much a blessing as giving.
Perhaps one cannot fully master the art of giving until one learns the art of receiving gracefully. Giving allows us to be a blessing to others; receiving allows others to be a blessing to us. Both are acts of love, and both require an open heart.
Sometimes, when someone blesses us, our first instinct is to figure out how to repay them. We want to return the favour, balance the scales, and free ourselves from the feeling of owing someone something. Without realizing it, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to simply enjoy being loved, supported, and cared for. Not every kindness is a debt. Not every gift requires an immediate return. Sometimes, the most beautiful thing we can do is receive a blessing with gratitude and allow the giver to experience the joy of giving.
I am learning to sit with the discomfort, to resist the urge to repay every kindness immediately, and to allow myself to be helped without feeling less capable.
Perhaps growth is not only about becoming someone who gives generously but also becoming someone who can receive graciously. Because sometimes, the next level of our growth is not learning how to give more, but learning how to receive without fear, guilt, or the need to regain control.
Leave a Reply