I want to trust in divine goodness and be open to the beauty of daily things. For example, if I see a beautiful tree or flowers, I allow myself to receive their beauty.
I guess it is a matter of being open to receive support when needed. Sometimes we need support and other times we need to support others. It is human nature. In my life I have needed support and was very grateful for it. I have learned this thru my faith and upbringing. My Dad has been supportive to all of his children at one time or another and so it is only natural for me to do the same in return to my love ones and friends.
I enjoy doing for and giving to others. I try to remind myself that when someone offers help or a gift, whether it’s a gift of time or something tangible, my willingness to receive makes room for them to experience the joy of giving.
My little brother,
dear Barb,
used to refuse offers of gifts or help . . .
it became so irritating
that I sat him down one day
and told him
that he was denying the would-be giver
the pleasure of offering something of him/herself,
and that it was kind of mean spirited.
I told him
it was just as rewarding to receive
as it was to give . . .
I don’t know if he got it or not,
as he lived in Colorado
and I didn’t see him often.
I try to take my own advice. ♥
I might allow myself to receive more easily by not having such a tremendous need to be in control. Today’s reading from Richard Rohr was very helpful to me in understanding the need to be willing to receive. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/positive-power-dynamics/
Thanks Carol Ann for the reminder to keep working on reducing my string-pulling habits to get my ways, especially in the area of how I want to receive care.
Continue to work with shame. Conditioned shame shrinks me into a tiny, concentrated dot. I am hardly sentient in that state; I am concentrated into a small and selfless form that enables others to push me around. I can’t receive as a tiny dot. There’s no substantive self there to receive, let alone by sentient and aware. This is how shame cuts off presence.
The more I hang out with shame, witness its movements, watch myself shrink into a tiny dot and come back, the more I grow immunity to what shame is and how it works. As a result, I can remain sentient and receptive for longer, able to receive naturally and with grace.
Sending strength and healing your way, Christina. I find dealing with shame to be plodding, patient work. One step forward, two steps back sometimes. You are on a brave and worthy journey.
Thank you for this response, Drea. I also have a daily battle with shame and it severely impacts my ability to be present and feel joy. I wish you well on your journey to defeat this sneaky trickster. 💞
EmmaLeah, thank you so much. You are courageous to face this daily. We are both courageous, perhaps we have to be. Acknowledging and knowing the shame is half the battle, I think.
In “Healing the Shame That Binds You,” John Bradshaw recalled a fable about a man who was trapped in a cave. There was a shaft of light at the top of the cave, and he did everything he could to squeeze through the top, to no avail. Sadly, he had not noticed that the exit from the cave was in the darkest spot. If he had just explored the dark spot, he would have escaped.
I think of this when I let the shame permeate and witness it again and again. It’ll take time, but there is a way out.
Being receptive requires me to step outside and be open to whatever is going to happen today and go with the current and relax and by being honest and open and less guarded. It also helps to smile.
Like for so many others, it is super hard for me to ask for help or to be on the receiving end instead of the giving end. It feels like I have to push myself over a big bump in order to ask. But I treasure the memories of times people have brought me meals when I was going through hard times or helped in other ways (just as I treasure memories of helping others). I think that reminding myself that we all are actually interdependent and need each other can help me to receive more easily.
To allow myself to receive more easily, I imagine the process as similar to trying new cuisines. First, I have to let go of thoughts like, “This doesn’t look delicious,” and replace them with curiosity and openness, such as, “I might like this.” Then, I open my mouth, pick up some food, eat it, and observe its taste.
Oh – how many times have I also thought… “ This doesn’t look delicious,” but then think ok – “I might like this.”
Lol! And often I do🤣😋
Tks for seeing myself in your words!
My Ngoc, I know how food is a big thing in our culture that brings people closer together. Vietnamese cooking is a lot of effort. One person cooks for the family. It points to my joke of 10 people sitting at the table eating rice and soup. My tastebuds are sensitive and are incompatible with many of the traditional Vietnamese foods, especially soups, but I can resignate when looking at it from the root of learning to look beyond the surface.
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I want to trust in divine goodness and be open to the beauty of daily things. For example, if I see a beautiful tree or flowers, I allow myself to receive their beauty.
For me to receive more easily, I need to let go of preconceived notions and be open to possibilities not imagined.
I guess it is a matter of being open to receive support when needed. Sometimes we need support and other times we need to support others. It is human nature. In my life I have needed support and was very grateful for it. I have learned this thru my faith and upbringing. My Dad has been supportive to all of his children at one time or another and so it is only natural for me to do the same in return to my love ones and friends.
I enjoy doing for and giving to others. I try to remind myself that when someone offers help or a gift, whether it’s a gift of time or something tangible, my willingness to receive makes room for them to experience the joy of giving.
My little brother,
dear Barb,
used to refuse offers of gifts or help . . .
it became so irritating
that I sat him down one day
and told him
that he was denying the would-be giver
the pleasure of offering something of him/herself,
and that it was kind of mean spirited.
I told him
it was just as rewarding to receive
as it was to give . . .
I don’t know if he got it or not,
as he lived in Colorado
and I didn’t see him often.
I try to take my own advice. ♥
In general, be less risk averse
I might allow myself to receive more easily by not having such a tremendous need to be in control. Today’s reading from Richard Rohr was very helpful to me in understanding the need to be willing to receive.
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/positive-power-dynamics/
Thanks Carol Ann for the reminder to keep working on reducing my string-pulling habits to get my ways, especially in the area of how I want to receive care.
Thank you Carol Ann.
Continue to work with shame. Conditioned shame shrinks me into a tiny, concentrated dot. I am hardly sentient in that state; I am concentrated into a small and selfless form that enables others to push me around. I can’t receive as a tiny dot. There’s no substantive self there to receive, let alone by sentient and aware. This is how shame cuts off presence.
The more I hang out with shame, witness its movements, watch myself shrink into a tiny dot and come back, the more I grow immunity to what shame is and how it works. As a result, I can remain sentient and receptive for longer, able to receive naturally and with grace.
Thanks Drea. I’m a recovering binge eater and have a lot of shame around eating.
Sending strength and healing your way, Christina. I find dealing with shame to be plodding, patient work. One step forward, two steps back sometimes. You are on a brave and worthy journey.
Thank you for this response, Drea. I also have a daily battle with shame and it severely impacts my ability to be present and feel joy. I wish you well on your journey to defeat this sneaky trickster. 💞
EmmaLeah, thank you so much. You are courageous to face this daily. We are both courageous, perhaps we have to be. Acknowledging and knowing the shame is half the battle, I think.
In “Healing the Shame That Binds You,” John Bradshaw recalled a fable about a man who was trapped in a cave. There was a shaft of light at the top of the cave, and he did everything he could to squeeze through the top, to no avail. Sadly, he had not noticed that the exit from the cave was in the darkest spot. If he had just explored the dark spot, he would have escaped.
I think of this when I let the shame permeate and witness it again and again. It’ll take time, but there is a way out.
Being receptive requires me to step outside and be open to whatever is going to happen today and go with the current and relax and by being honest and open and less guarded. It also helps to smile.
😊
Charlie, your answer brought a smile to my face.
me too
Be open to the possibilities.
Receive with a grateful heart.
Believe in miracles….know I am worthy.
🕊️♥️
You are worthy, dear PKR.
Like for so many others, it is super hard for me to ask for help or to be on the receiving end instead of the giving end. It feels like I have to push myself over a big bump in order to ask. But I treasure the memories of times people have brought me meals when I was going through hard times or helped in other ways (just as I treasure memories of helping others). I think that reminding myself that we all are actually interdependent and need each other can help me to receive more easily.
Maintain openness and remember that I am worthy of receiving.
Be open
Be receptive
Be willing
Be aware
Be grateful
Listening more, speaking less.
Ah! To have open hands and an open heart. Breathing my way through. Blessings this new day of a new week for all⭐️☮️
To allow myself to receive more easily, I imagine the process as similar to trying new cuisines. First, I have to let go of thoughts like, “This doesn’t look delicious,” and replace them with curiosity and openness, such as, “I might like this.” Then, I open my mouth, pick up some food, eat it, and observe its taste.
Oh – how many times have I also thought… “ This doesn’t look delicious,” but then think ok – “I might like this.”
Lol! And often I do🤣😋
Tks for seeing myself in your words!
This reminds me of an old commercial about Life cereal. “try it you might like it ” I like the perspective.
My Ngoc, I know how food is a big thing in our culture that brings people closer together. Vietnamese cooking is a lot of effort. One person cooks for the family. It points to my joke of 10 people sitting at the table eating rice and soup. My tastebuds are sensitive and are incompatible with many of the traditional Vietnamese foods, especially soups, but I can resignate when looking at it from the root of learning to look beyond the surface.