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Can you truly give if you don’t know about receiving?
Curious? Come on in...
Perle Laouenan
July 05, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
Hello, hello,
My life is often guided by a couple of questions that interchange based on the season I am in.
The questions currently guiding me were gifted to me in a birthday card from an old school friend:
Do you know when to give, but keep enough for yourself?
Can you truly give if you don’t know about receiving?
These questions have been sitting with me since May. I often notice for myself and others close to me that giving comes easily. Yet, we get stuck on truly receiving.
Receiving help without feeling in debt.
Receiving compliments as they are truly intended.
Receiving feedback without becoming defensive.
Receiving rest without feeling unproductive.
Receiving love without questioning your worthiness.
So how do we start to work on receiving in balance with how much we give?
Facilitate this…
GRATITUDE RELAY
Purpose: to foster gratitude and connection
When: At the closing of a workshop, meeting or event
Round 1: Invite participants to walk around the room and show gratitude to one of their fellow workshop participants.
Round 2: Invite participants to walk around again and repeat the compliment they received to someone else.
Repeat: Continue alternating between rounds 1 and 2 a few times.
Debrief: Gather everyone back into a circle and invite participants to share their reflections on the exercise.
This exercise not only fosters a sense of appreciation but also helps internalize the positive feedback received.
Start by noticing your approach and making small adjustments. Here are some simple tips to help you practice receiving:
Acknowledge Compliments: Instead of deflecting or downplaying compliments, simply say "thank you." Allow yourself to absorb the positive words.
Accept Help: When someone offers help, accept it graciously. Remember that receiving help allows others to give, which can be a gift in itself.
Embrace Feedback: View feedback as an opportunity for growth. Listen without immediate judgment and consider the value it brings to your personal or professional development.
Prioritize Rest: Give yourself permission to rest without guilt. Recognize that rest is essential for your well-being and productivity.
Welcome Love: Accept love and affection without questioning your worthiness. Believe that you deserve the love and kindness others offer.
As you navigate through your interactions, ask yourself: How can you better balance giving and receiving in your life?
Curiously connecting,
Always,
Perle
P.S. With it being summer, I’m dialing down on NeedWorkshop events. I look forward to sharing a new program full of workshops from September onwards.
