Close your eyes and imagine a time when you were giving the perfect gift. Giddy with excitement, you can’t wait to give it. It’s perfect for this person you are giving it to, they will love it. and it will create such a close connection that you know them so well. You’re impatient to give it, smiling in a way that prompts the other person to ask you what’s up. Go ahead, close your eyes and imagine it, I’ll wait.
Now you hand the person the gift and they are shocked and taken aback at such a wonderful gift, tears begin to form, they are so touched. Close you eyes again and feel that feeling as the giver, to see the other person’s face, the joy and connection. Both giver and receiver are getting so much from this interaction, because in truth, there are two receivers. The receiver is getting the gift, but you the giver is getting so much pleasure out of giving. By receiving the gift, the other person is giving you the pleasure of giving. You are receiving the incredible feelings from the receiver. Both people are joyous.
Now let’s rewind that scenario. Suppose this time you are the receiver of the gift. Suppose you have in your mind the notion that to give is divine and to receive is something lesser. You see your friend busting with excitement and a crazy smile on his/her face. You’re curious. “What?” you ask, and you are presented with a gift. Immediately you think, “I don’t have a gift to give in return!” You feel unworthy and as you open it, you are taken aback by how perfect it is for you. This person knows you so well. But there’s a resistance to accepting it. You hand it back, “I can’t accept this, it’s too much.”
Now pause and close your eyes, how does that feel for you as the receiver of the gift?
Now feel what it is like for the giver of the gift.
I’m guessing that there is disappointment and sadness that the gift was returned. There is no exchange of good feelings, here. Why? Because the receiver has misplaced ideas about receiving. The receiver has robbed the giver of the good feelings of giving. There is no nobility in that.
It is just as important to receive. By receiving fully you are raising the vibration of the whole interaction by giving back the wonderful gift of gratitude and connection. You are becoming a giver of something that you did not have to give before, the reflection of their love for you. It’s powerful.
This is something to remember this when receiving a gift, but what about a compliment? What about a smile? What about a hug? And hold on to your britches, what about help?
Help is a gift that someone is giving. It is a gift of time and of effort. When we refuse to accept help, it is just like turning away a present. We are robbing others of the reflection of their love. When we are determined to do it ourselves, when we reply to a gift of help with, “no, I got it” we are robbing others. When we say do unto others as you wish them to do unto you, that includes accepting gifts, no matter their package.
