Let’s play a game! It’s super simple, and it involves answering two questions. The only rule is to go with the first answer that pops into your mind. Ready? Here’s the first question: on a scale of 1% to 100%, where do you stand when it comes to giving to other people? I’m talking about giving your time, energy, or attention. So, what’s your percentage? Got the number? Okay great!
Now for the second question: How much do you receive from others on the same scale of 1% to 100%? What’s your percentage when it comes to receiving? Finally, I’d like you to compare both those numbers. What do you see?
These aren’t just “percentages” that popped into your mind. These numbers have arisen from the unconscious, intuitive part of you that knows the truth, which means they’re reliable indicators of how much you give and receive in your life.
We don’t know each other, but I’m going to go ahead and guess that you will give more than you receive—probably way more! I know this not because I’m psychic, although I have some skills in that department (but that’s a story for another day!), but because most people—especially women—are raised to equate being good, kind, and loving with how much we give.
We watched our parents give and give and give, and we probably saw their parents do it.
We watch our heroes do it in the movies—Wonder Woman does it all the time (whoever heard of a hero that takes as much as she gives, right?) But here’s the thing—when it comes to manifesting your heart’s desires, the energy of receiving is where the magic happens. Receiving is a magnetic force that is welcomed and rewarded by the Universe.
One of the symptoms you have an energetic block around receiving is when you’re “this” close to manifesting what you want, but then something happens at the last minute to keep it from your grasp. For instance, imagine you want to see Taylor Swift live in concert, and you find out she’s coming to your town. You manifest the best tickets in the arena by winning an online contest. You can’t wait to sing along to Cruel Summer with Taylor and thousands of other fans.
But then the big day arrives, and you’re down with the worst flu you’ve ever had in your life! You can barely get out of bed and have to give away that precious ticket. If you see things like this unfold in your manifesting journey, you know you have a block around receiving.
The good news is there’s an antidote to this manifesting challenge, and it’s a simple practice focused on finding reasons, excuses, and opportunities to receive with grace and gratitude. I call it Radical Receiving, and when you practice regularly, you’ll teach yourself to receive help, support, compliments, and gifts—even big or expensive ones that might make you feel uncomfortable— with a simple thank you from the heart. When you learn to receive with joy, gratitude, and delight, you’re essentially saying to the Universe, “Yes, please, and I’d love more of this.”
Whatever happens, do your best to avoid saying things like “Oh, that’s okay. I can do this on my own,” or “You shouldn’t have,” or “It’s too expensive” when someone offers to help you or gives you a gift. Not only is this likely to disappoint and frustrate the person who was kind enough to think of you and your needs, but the Universe hears you saying, “No thanks, I don’t want to receive. Don’t give me anything.” This is definitely not the signal we want to send out to our all-powerful manifesting ally!
So here’s how you can implement the Radical Receiving practice in the most powerful and effective way. Begin each morning with an intentional devotion, or as I like to call it, The Radical Receiving Mantra, and it goes like this:
Step #1: Place both hands over your heart, one hand on top of the other, so you can bring your attention and focus to your heart.
Step #2: Close your eyes and recite the following to yourself or out loud:
I am ready to receive all that is good and true and aligned for me
It is safe for me to receive all that is good and true and aligned for me
I am ready to receive my desires and my dreams
It is safe for me to receive my desires and dreams
I am ready to receive love and support
It is safe for me to receive love and support
When you’re done, go about your day knowing your intention to receive is now in your heart. Repeat the Radical Receiving Mantra as many times as you wish, and stay open to receiving compliments, gifts, offers for help, time, attention, and love from those who want to give.
When a friend says, “So what do you want for dinner?” Receive their kind offer to let you choose and give them an honest answer. Don’t say, “Let’s have whatever you want!” which I used to do all the time. At the end of your day, write or record an audio about the wonderful Radical Receiving experiences you enjoyed all day so you can look back at your list and reconnect to the flow of Radical Receiving.
Be patient with this practice. When you’ve been giving a lot, it’ll take a while to get to where you feel good receiving. But don’t give up! Just like any muscle, keep using your receiving muscle, and you’ll develop it up to the point where receiving feels as good as giving.
Radical Receiving is a powerful, delightful way to supercharge your manifesting skills. You’ll know your efforts are paying off when you start seeing your biggest, boldest, most beautiful desires come to life faster and more easily than you thought possible!
